ReZoom

ReZoom puts domestic divas to the test. Is it really that easy to do it yourself?In a DIY world that seems driven by domestic divas, home and crafts projects abound. But are those "easy-to-follow" steps really easy to follow, and how much do you really have to spend to have these heavenly homemade creations? In a new series, ReZoom takes on the great goddesses of home design to see what passes snuff and what is better left by the wayside.

Thumbs Up
4th of July Planter (from Woman's Day, June 2002)

Cost:
Painting Supplies (Paint, Brush, Crackle Finish, Varnish): $8.74
Hardware (nails, lumber, sandpaper, handles): $9.69
Extras (tracing paper, white pencil for marking design): $3.48
Total: $21.91 (+ tax)

Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes to assemble lumber; 10-15 minutes to paint each coat and crackle (four coats total), one hour wait between coats for them to dry; 10-15 minutes to apply varnish; 20 minute wait to for varnish to dry; 15-20 minutes to attach handles

Modifications: I must admit that, being a somewhat impatient person, I skipped the wood glue step to this one. I skipped over the pre-drilling too. Since the lumber was pretty soft, I just went ahead and drove the nails in. It took ten nails total. I did pull out a few that went, um, askew, but that had much more to with my limitations as a carpenter than the quality of my resources.

Tips: If I wanted to make another planter, I would definitely make sure that my handles screwed in from the outside. I chose a pair that needed to be screwed from the inside, and trying to align both screws while navigating the limitations of drilling from inside a box led to a mishap or two. Luckily, my mistakes are out of sight, but I definitely think a different style of handle would have been a lot easier.

Also, the stripes required for the flag design nicely coincide with the width of a piece of masking tape. If you have tape lying around, it's a lot easier to use that when painting on Old Glory than trying to stay within the lines.

Pay-Off: The only truly time-consuming part of this task was waiting for the various layers of paint to dry. Otherwise, the steps were clear and easy to follow. I spent as much money as I would have on any holiday accessory, and I'm pretty proud of myself for the way my planter turned out. I look forward to filling it with cutlery and napkins when I serve friends on the Fourth.

Thumbs Down
Star Glasses (from Martha Stewart Living Television)

Cost:
Glasses: $7.99
Tape: $1.78
Paint Pens: 2 @ $3.29
Total: $16.35 (+ tax)

Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes prepping and painting glasses; 40 minutes in oven to render glasses dishwasher-safe

Notes: While attaching the word "eglomise" to this project makes it sound a bit intimidating, there isn't much to this one. If you can color within the lines of the template and turn on an oven, you'll be just fine.

Tips: When you're painting the dots that make up the interior of the star, larger dots are better than smaller dots. The glasses look pretty with bigger dots, and the smaller dots don't survive as well in the dishwasher.

Pay-Off: I wouldn't want to do this project again. The glasses look fine, but I wouldn't call them special. And, even though I know that putting the painted glasses in the oven made the design dishwasher-safe, I still feel as if the star will rub off the moment anyone dares grasp the glass to drink from it. I'd rather spend my time and money on a better project and give my guests Dixie cups for their beverages.

Ready for more? Return to Life at Home.