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These DIY ornaments also double as thoughtful homemade gifts: Grandparents, aunts and uncles, or other family members will cherish this sentimental gift idea. How to Make a Handprint Christmas Ornament Supplies Needed 2 cups flour1 cup salt1 cup warm waterFood coloringRolling pinPencil or strawRibbonScissors Step-by-Step Directions Use these simple how-to instructions to make your own handprint or footprint ornaments. You should be able to mix the dough and create a set of ornaments in under 30 minutes, but you’ll need to allow three hours of baking time....

Let’s walk through the steps of creating the perfect pecan pie using this classic Pecan Pie recipe. Step 1: Prepare Crust The pecan pie begins with making a pie crust and rolling out the dough to fill a 9-inch round pie plate. Although making pie dough takes a little time to put together, start this aspect of the recipe early because it helps to give the dough some time to rest....

Polish your best serving platter and grab your favorite pita chips, crackers, and other dippers, because you’ll want to start savoring these cheese balls immediately. How to Make Apple-Shape Cheese Balls Presentation is important, but it’s really all about the cheese. Before you start decorating your fall cheese balls, make sure you have a delicious cheese ball recipe to use as a base. We love these bacon cheddar cheese balls (you can never go wrong with bacon), but there are dozens of options to choose from....

How to Make Ranch Water The beauty of ranch water is there’s no exact science to perfecting this drink, so feel free to adjust it to your taste preferences. If you want a spicier take, try the aleppo-pepper and salt rim featured in the batch recipe (serves 8!) on our sister site, MarthaStewart.com. Ingredients 1½ to 2 ounces of tequila ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice 4 ounces Topo Chico (You can use another sparkling mineral water brand here, but Texas natives will argue nothing else compares....

12 More Outdoor Bar Ideas What You Need: 1×10 pine, 3 pieces cut to 50 inches1×4 pine, cut to 50 inches1×2 pine, cut to 50 inches100- and 200-grit sandpaperExterior white latex paint2-inch finishing brushes (2)StainExterior polyurethane30-inch barstools (2)Straight-side wood trayLevel18-inch ruler1-5/8-inch screwsScrewdriverVintage soda boxes (2) Before You Begin: Sand and Prep Sand all board cuts. Cover one 1×10 board, the 1×4 board, and both barstools with two or three coats of paint....

The best part about this timeless kitchen trend is two-tone cabinets let you play with color without going all in. Splash a daring hue on the island or one wall of cabinets. Layer neutrals on top and color on the bottom. Or choose two complementary neutrals and bring in color with appliances or accessories. Here are a few ideas to integrate two-tone kitchen cabinets into your cooking space. 1. Strive for balance....

There are some precautions you can take to preserve your pumpkin before you even start carving, as well as care techniques to follow when you’re finished to ensure that your pumpkin will be looking fresh until October 31. Before You Start… Let It Dry When cleaning out your pumpkin, make sure that the inside is completely free of guts. Before taking carving tools to your pumpkin, let the cavity dry out; moisture inside the pumpkin, paired with more air exposure from cuts, will lead to faster rot....

1. Propagating Succulents from Leaf Cuttings Many types of succulents will grow tiny versions of the parent plant from its fallen or cut leaves. Try this method with varieties of Echeveria, Crassula, and Kalanchoe. Simply start by cutting off a few leaves from a grown plant. From there, place the leaves in a pot filled with damp perlite ($11). Roots and tiny new leaves will grow within a few weeks. Then, you can move these sprouted leaf cuttings out of the perlite and into their own pots filled with a cactus potting mix ($18)....

What Is a Frost? When weather forecasters issue a frost advisory in late spring and early fall, that’s your heads-up to protect annuals and other vulnerable plants. You might think temperatures have to get to the freezing point (32˚F), but a frost can occur between 36˚F and 32˚F. Also, frost can be light or hard; a light frost around the upper end of that temperature range might kill the tops of tender plants, but the lower parts remain green....

Sunscreen stains are combination stains, which means that they are comprised of more than one stain type. In the case of sunscreen, the formula contains oils that can leave grease stains on clothing, plus a more difficult stain type: mineral stains. Understanding the science behind these complicated stains is the key to unlocking the secret to removing them. What Makes Sunscreen Such a Complicated Stain? Sunscreen is a combination stain made up of oil and mineral compounds, which are broken down for stain removal in different ways....

Newer-model showerheads provide more options for control, including multiple spray styles, pivoting angles, and temperature settings. They’re also more efficient, using less water with equal cleaning success. Learn how to replace a showerhead so you can achieve a spa-worthy bathing experience in the comfort of your home. How to Replace a Showerhead Supplies Needed PliersWrenchClean, soft clothPlumber’s tapeShower armFlange (often comes with shower arm)Showerhead Step-by-Step Directions These five steps will make it a smooth transition, whether you’re simply switching showerheads or getting a new shower arm....

How to Ripen Peaches Unlike apples or strawberries that are ripe and ready to eat upon picking (or buying), fruits such as peaches and nectarines continue to ripen off the tree. According to PickYourOwn.org, varieties ripened on the tree will taste better than anything from the grocery store, but if your peaches aren’t quite ripe, the Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has an easy tip on how to ripen peaches indoors....

Cactus Garden Ideas Cacti—which are a subset of succulents—tend to be quite easygoing. You can plant a cactus garden outdoors, or bring it inside to add unique character to your decor. Cactus Garden Landscaping Ideas: If you live in a mild-winter climate, you can plant a cactus garden. There are many landscape designs, including: Cacti scattered among flowering perennials or small shrubs.A desert-inspired landscape surrounded by gravel or crushed stone.A wall of tall varieties, such as organ pipe cactus, blue candle, or cow’s tongue....

When learning how to use a miter saw, you might be a little intimidated at first. After all, the saw is bulky with a big, powerful blade. But armed with confidence and our step-by-step guide, you’ll be sawing like a pro in no time. We’ll show you how to safely use the saw, make miter cuts, and make angled cuts. Step 1: Mark Material Taking blade width into account, measure your cut....

First, it’s you should know what your sheets are made of. Look at the care label or packaging to identify the fabric content. The most common materials are cotton, Egyptian cotton, or a cotton-polyester blend. However, sheets can also be bamboo, linen, or silk. Cotton-polyester blends will generally come out of the dryer less wrinkled than all-cotton sheets. Bamboo, linen, and silk sheets will probably need special care. Use our guide below to learn how to wash sheets properly to keep your bedding soft and silky for years to come....

Winter weather can also damage important equipment like the pool heater system, so it’s recommended to clean, drain, and store any equipment or accessories that can be removed from the pool. Also, you should purchase a suitable pool cover to protect the interior of the pool until warm weather returns. Use this guide to learn how to winterize a pool and prepare your equipment for the end of swimming season....

What Might Be Causing the Canning Supply Shortage? Manufacturers blame the pandemic-fueled move toward at-home activities. “Consumers staying home over the last few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in shifts in demand for food storage containers like Ball-branded glass jars and lids,” explained one Newell Brands spokesperson we spoke to in the early days of the shortage. (Newell Brands owns Ball, which started making home-canning jars in 1884, and also owns other food-storage labels, like Foodsaver, Calphalon, and Rubbermaid....

Try these ideas when landscaping with ornamental grasses. In areas with warmer winters, this ornamental grass spreads aggressively through rhizomes and self-seeding—to the point where it displaces other species. It is reported to be less aggressive in cooler climates. Watch plants carefully for any specimens that revert to all-green foliage. These rogue green plants are especially invasive and should be eradicated immediately. Japanese bloodgrass is listed as a Federal Noxious Weed under the Plant Protection Act, which means it can’t be imported or transported between states without first obtaining a federal permit....