Something New From Something Old

Everything has a purpose. Well, almost everything! There are some things that have even more than one purpose. If you can look beyond what something was to what something can be, sometimes you can end up with a really neat new piece. For example, a wire basket that's old and rusted, can be painted, turned upside down, and made into an awesome light fixture. Here's a thought for a funky, cool headboard...an old picket fence with salvaged wood. You can make it look so many different ways. It can be painted or stained and in this case, it is white washed. It will give you that country or coastal feel to your room. With just a few supplies and just a few simple directions, you can create a headboard with a new purpose. Just click on the link below to see how to do it.



http://hippshelp.com/how-to-repurpose-a-picket-fence-into-a-headboard/

Closet Under The Stairs

You buy a little house in the country with a loft upstairs and move what small amount of possessions that you have into it. Then you get married and start a family. Over the years, your small amount of possessions that you had turns into a lot of stuff! With a house that has a staircase, you can create an extra little nook where you can store a lot of stuff that you might otherwise have run out of room for. Things like videos and dvds, books, or toys. Maybe even a place for your pet's food. It can be a place where you can turn a space that was wasted into a space with a purpose.  In just six simple steps you can have it finished and put whatever you want there and give it a creative flair that you designed all on your own, with shelving and paint that makes a statement.  Take a look at the link below to see how it can be done.


http://hippshelp.com/how-to-construct-a-closet-under-the-staircase/

A House Fit For A.....Dog

Our dogs. They do so much for us. They're happy to see us when we get home, they protect us, and they love us unconditionally. A lot of our dogs live inside the house with us living their luxurious lifestyles, but there are so many that are outside dogs. It would be really nice if we could give them the kind of house that every dog deserves that would keep them from getting wet when it rains or even protect them from the temperatures, whether it is hot or cold. The only kind of dog house that would give your dog this kind of protection would be an insulated dog house.  With a few materials and six steps, you can make your mutt very happy and know that you have provided him/her with the kind of house they need.  Take a look at the link below to see how to build your dog a house they can call a home.



http://hippshelp.com/blog/2012/06/26/how-to-build-a-dog-house-with-insulation/

Enjoy Birdwatching From Your Back Yard

It is always a joy to watch animals, no matter what kind they are, but some people especially enjoy watching birds. The spring is when everything comes alive, but this easy project can be done any time of the year. Maybe you are an avid photographer and enjoy taking photos of birds or you might have a grandparent that just enjoys seeing them build their home and watch as they make their daily trips in and out of it. Whatever the reason, you will make your feathered friends a lot safer by putting their birdhouse up on a post. This will help keep out unwanted animals such as cats from being able to get at them and their babies. Putting a birdhouse up on a post is an inexpensive and easy thing to do.  With just a few materials and a few easy steps, you will have it done. Click on the link below to see how to get it done.


http://hippshelp.com/blog/2010/05/19/how-to-install-a-backyard-birdhouse-post/

Pecan Tarts To Melt Your Heart

Do you ever want a dessert that is so good, like a pie, but in smaller versions? Well, here is just the thing. Pecan tarts. They are essentially a tiny little pie. These are the perfect thing to take to a party or a reception when you have a lot of people to serve and you can't cut each one of them a uniform piece of a pie like pecan because it would just be messy. This way, they get their very own pie all to themselves! They may take a while to make, but are easy and they will look and taste so good you will be proud you made them. Just click on the link below to get the recipe,which will make 36 tarts.



http://www.hippshelp.com/how-to-make-pecan-tarts/

Jiminy Cricket....or Not!

There are people that love to hear the sounds of the cicadas and the crickets in the summertime, but there are also people that don't like the sound of any of the "bug" noises at night when they are trying to sleep. To them, this is not any more pleasant than hearing a mosquito buzzing in their ear. There are several ways to get rid of crickets without using harmful pesticides and unless you want to catch a bucketful of them daily to go fishing, you can check out some of the ones in the link to the article below.  Not only is it informative of the natural ways to get rid of crickets, it also gives tips on gardening!


http://www.hippshelp.com/how-to-get-rid-of-crickets-naturally/

Cleaning Out The Clogs

I know that checking the gutters ranks right up there with working on or replacing a toilet. Nobody wants to have to do either of those jobs, but with the abundance of rain we have had this year, it might be time to check the old gutter system of your house. High winds and rain from all of the storms could have blown numerous amounts of limbs and leaves onto the top of your house and into your gutter causing it to become clogged or maybe even damaging a section of it. A lot of times we forget about the things we can't see and think that everything is fine or that a gutter that might not be functioning properly is not a big deal, but it can cause real problems if you let it go, such as roof damage and damage to the ground surrounding your home, which in turn can cause structural damage if your house were to settle in the uneven areas. But all of this is preventable.  With a few easy steps on how to problem check your gutter system or on how to replace your system entirely, you can keep costly problems from arising and save yourself a lot of hard work in the long run!  Click on this link below to see how to check your gutter system and some tips of keeping it maintained.



http://www.hippshelp.com/how-to-stop-clogs-in-gutters-and-downspouts/