The Best Remodeling Projects in a Tight Economy

by eclectic on March 26, 2009 in DIY, Green, Home Improvement with No comments

Many families are spending money on smart remodeling and home improvements rather than embarking on major renovations or moving to a new home. What are the best projects to spend your time and money on?

  • Projects that improve energy efficiency. Sealing windows, replacing siding or improving your home insulation will add value and reduce your energy bills, even in the short term. Often your local utility will provide rebates or incentives for projects like these, so check with them to find out more.
  • Pared-back kitchen or bathroom remodels. According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, focusing on cosmetic improvements will cost you less, but still have a good return on the investment, even in the short run.
  • Think green! According to a study by McGraw-Hill, people will pay a premium of up to $20,000 for a “green home.” Spend your remodeling dollars in ways that make your existing home more environmentally sustainable. Even the DIY products you use on project can make a difference. The Wall Street Journal offers several ideas for greening your home.
  • Maintain and repair. Look for opportunities to make simple repairs to maintain your home and prevent expensive problems later. ServiceMagic recommends getting a home inspection. While not the most glamorous of tips, knowing if problems loom can give you an opportunity to head off disaster.

What other tips would you share? What projects are you taking on (or putting off) right now?

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Take the Craft Night Pledge

by eclectic on March 9, 2009 in Crafts with No comments

craft_night_logo1March is National Craft Month – one of our favorite months of the year! This year, the focus of the festivities (sponsored by the Craft & Hobby Association) is Craft Night, a campaign to encourage families to spend one evening together making arts and crafts.

Money is tight – why not spend time at home together doing something that has proven emotional and physical benefits.

“Whether providing a sense of accomplishment, relaxation, or memory keeping*, crafting has therapeutic benefits that are appealing to people of all ages, looking for a creative outlet,” said Dr. Rallie McAllister, family physician. “Knitting, sewing, scrapbooking, quilting, or almost any craft can help people by reinforcing the many emotional and social benefits associated with focus and repetition. Plus, an economical way to have some fun with the ones you love.”

  • Save some money: A family of four can save more than $150 a month by having a Craft Night at home instead of going to the movies or out for dinner. Try a great family craft using EcoGlue – it’s non-toxic, so it’s fun for kids to use on their little masterpieces. An egg carton caterpillar is a terrific craft for preschoolers.
  • Encourage a sense of accomplishment: Parents can help their school-going kids keep up with the latest fashions with a DIY craft night at home. Have your kids try a craft from Mark Montano’s Big Ass Book of Crafts (like the urban corsage) and let their inner creative genius shine.
  • Girls Night In: Rather than go out, a girls night in gives you a chance to unwind and bond while making clever projects with pooled materials – saving cash, catching up on gossip and strengthening your friendships. This lovely jeweled vase is quick, cheap and easy and adds a little sparkle to a shelf or window sill.jeweledvase

How will you celebrate National Craft Month?

*CHA Attitude & Usage Study – 11/30/08

Repair, Don't Replace: Little Girl Shoes

by eclectic on February 23, 2009 in DIY, Repair Don't Replace with 1 Comment

If your little princess’ shoes are losing their luster, a little GOOP will help keep her on her toes.

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Step 1: Clean each part of the shoe that need to be stuck together. Apply a thin layer of GOOP between the shoe and the sole.

princess_shoe2

Step 2: Clamp the toe of the shoe together using a basic plastic clamp.

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Voila! Your little princess is all set for another twirl around the ballroom dancefloor.

GOOP, GOOP, All Kinds of GOOP

by eclectic on February 16, 2009 in Just for Fun with No comments

Maybe our biggest fans?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpEs18QADX0&hl=en&fs=1]

GOOP Rap Lyrics

GOOP. GOOP. All Kinds of Goop.
It sticks like goo up under your shoe
To seal a window on a van
It’s there for every need of man

GOOP GOOP. What is that stuff?
Have you ever heard of GOOP?
GOOP is much more tough
You can use it on a flat
You don’t have to use a spare
You can patch your own tire
GOOP will be right there

GOOP. GOOP. It works great on my cabinets
GOOP. GOOP. It sticks together like magnets

If you happen to break your mother’s favorite vase
GOOP will make it all better, put it back in its place.

GOOP. GOOP. All Kinds of Goop.
It sticks like goo up under your shoe
To seal a window on a van
It’s there for every need of man

Celebrity Crafting with Mark Montano! The Urban Corsage Project

by eclectic on January 30, 2009 in Crafts, mark montano with 3 Comments

Sundance is all about celebrating the independent filmmaker against the backdrop of beautiful Park City, Utah and the Rocky Mountains. So what better place to showcase eco-chic creativity with a decidedly unique twist?

Our favorite crafter & designer, Mark Montano, hosted a celebrity crafting event on January 17 and 18th amidst the buzz of Sundance. Celebs were silkscreening, embellishing and upcycling alongside Mark. Many walked away with urban corsages, one of the clever projects from Mark’s very popular Big Ass Book of Crafts.

Photo by Auxy Espinoza

KayCee Stroh, Aubrey O’Day and Anya Monzikova were among the celebs sporting the corsage. Really the ultimate in eco-chic – you can recycle fabrics from other crafts and use left over baubles, too.

Want one of your own?

Supplies:

  • 2 pieces of 11″ x 3″ fabric (with edges that fray are the best)
  • Buttons
  • Rhinestones
  • Faux flowers & leaves
  • Ultrasuede
  • Amazing E-6000 Craft Adhesive
  • Different colors of thread
  • Sewing machine with zigzag stitch capabilities

Directions:

  1. Place your fabric pieces on top of each other and zigzag stitch them all around, about 1/2 inch in from all four sides. One piece of fabric is the outside and the other is the inside. Kind of like a fat watchband with a button closure instead of a buckle.
  2. Arrange your leaves and zig zag stitch them onto the cuff.
  3. Take your faux flower apart and zig zag stitch it to the center.
  4. Cut out hearts, stars, random shapes and zig zag stitch them around your flower.
  5. Stitch three buttons to one side of your flower (for different wrist sizes)
  6. Wrap the cuff around your wrist to figure out where the button holes should go and mark the placement. If your sewing machine has a button hole setting, stitch one in. If it doesn’t you can cute a slit and stitch the edges of the cut.
  7. Using E-6000, add rhinestones to the center of the flower and the cuff.
  8. Accessorize with your favorite jeans and t-shirt and show it off!

What if I don’t have a sewing machine? No worries! Glue is a wonderful thing. You can glue most of the elements on this project that require sewing.

Mark adds, “You can also use velcro dots instead of a button and button hole, this way you can immediately fit them to different sized wrists.”

E-6000 is waterproof. It does need some time to fully dry, so we suggest waiting 24-hours before wearing your cuff. Enjoy!

Photo by Auxy Espinoza

Photo by Auxy Espinoza

Be Eco-Chic with a Mark Montano Urban Corsage

by eclectic on January 16, 2009 in Crafts, Green with 1 Comment

Our friend, Mark Montano, is hanging out at the Sundance Film Festival this weekend creating eco-chic and sustainably stylish projects and gifts. Mark is a featured guest at The Green Lodge, a special event at the Festival, where he’ll be crafting with celebrities.

Celebs like Olivia Newton John, Rhianna, Mariah Carey, Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens and their High School Musicial 3 cast mates will create their own “urban corsage” from Mark’s The Big Ass Book of Crafts (page 140).

urban_corsage

Because The Green Lodge is focused on recycling, upcycling and using eco-friendly resources, the Urban Corsage is a perfect fit. Mark will be also using EcoGlue with many of his craft projects for this event.

Stay tuned for more info, more projects and more Mark.

A Big Ass Event

by eclectic on January 9, 2009 in Crafts with No comments

What do you get when you cross…

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… with …

picture-1

… some great ideas from…

big-ass-book-of-crafts

…using a little…

ecoglue_logo2

… and maybe a little…?

picture-2

You get a Big Ass Event.

More details to come. Stay tuned.

Clever Bathroom Space Saving Storage Ideas

by eclectic on January 2, 2009 in DIY with 1 Comment

Photo via Flickr by MartinHoward

Bathroom clutter can be a real problem. There never seems to be enough space for all the bottles, tubes and containers that we need for our everyday routines. We found a clever space saving storage idea via the MSN Home Improve and Repair channel.

There are lots of suction cup shelves available, but they aren’t terribly aesthetic and the suction cups typically fail at some point dumping the contents out on the counter (at least mine do).

With a tube of Household GOOP you can glue shelves to mirrors or shower interior to free up space with a permanent stick. GOOP works on most surfaces, so it’s no problem to glue to tile, glass, fiberglass or plastic.  GOOP is also waterproof – handy in the bathroom. Remember the stick is permanent, so check things like whether the door can open all the way with the shelf full of stuff.

Find 19 more do-it-yourself projects that take 20 minutes or less here.

Photo via Flickr by MartinHoward

Repair, Don't Replace: Ceramic Tile

by eclectic on December 29, 2008 in DIY, Repair Don't Replace with 1 Comment

427626636_3268de8bac_b In well-appointed homes, tile is a popular choice from earthenware tiles in the foyer to porcelain in the bathroom and ceramics in the kitchen. A cracked or broken tile, even when it appears to be nothing more than a hairline, can cause thousands of dollars in water damage. Don’t delay making this repair.

  1. Use a hammer and chisel to completely remove the broken tile, taking care not to damage surrounding tile or to break the adhesive seal.
  2. Clean out the broken tile completely, including all the old grout and adhesive.
  3. Apply new adhesive. You can use tile adhesive, or for simpler application, try Amazing GOOP. GOOP is also a waterproof sealant and at about $5 a tube, can save even more money than specialty adhesives. Be sure to read the directions for the best results with the adhesive you choose.
  4. Replace the tile, regrout and leave to dry overnight.
  5. A quick clean up in the morning and your tile is as good as new.

Bottom line: A standard four-inch tile, plus the supplies will cost you less than $10.

Photo via Flickr by Abmatic

Happy Holidays from Eclectic Products!

by eclectic on December 25, 2008 in Uncategorized with No comments

holiday graphics

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