Paint bathroom vanity cabinets  

Are your bathroom cabinets looking tired from years and years of use? Consider giving them a fresh coat of paint in a quality semi or high gloss paint. It is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to instantly update the look. Make sure they are sanded free of old stain/finish. If unsure, consult a home improvement store for help.

Learn how to paint your bathroom vanity at Do It Yourself

Increase bathroom storage space

Boast the cabinet efficiency by adding pullouts to deep bathroom vanities. You can also include amenities like plate racks, display shelves, and wine storage. Not only will these help to update the current look but will also keep necessities in order and viewable. And of course, will help you avoid more of the things you already have on hand.

Here are some clever bathroom storage ideas from HGTV we love.

Remove cabinet doors

Who says bathroom cabinet need doors? For an easy and budget friendly way to give your bathroom an update, remove the doors on the cabinetry. Not only will give your space an instant face lift but also make the small space feel larger. Add a few perfectly placed and folded towels, and the look is complete.

Install mirror on bathroom wall cabinets

Another great way to instantly spruce up your bathroom is by adding mirror on the wall cabinet. It is a functional addition that will provide a stylish complement to your daily grooming needs and will make your space seem much larger. And you will be surprised how easy this project is.

Who says that bathroom cabinets need to be all work and no play? After all, it is an important element of your space. Use these easy ideas to inspire your next bathroom update and do let us know how it was?

21 of Our Favorite Football Themed Desserts

1. Football Themed Desserts: Sugar Cookies Recipe

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Super Bowl Dessert Ingredients:

For Cookies:

2 cups flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 stick room temperature unsalted butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon milk or cream

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For Football Themed Cookies Icing:

2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 tablespoon milk, plus more if needed for consistency

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Brown food coloring

Football Themed Desserts Directions:

1. Use your mixer to cream together the butter and sugar together. When thoroughly combined, add in the egg, milk, and vanilla extract.
2. Meanwhile, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
3. Turn the mixer to the lowest setting and gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Continue mixing until a cohesive dough forms.
4. Flour a work surface and flatten the dough into a disk. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and transfer it to the freezer to set for at least half an hour.
5. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
6. Flour two sheets of parchment paper. Unwrap the dough and roll it into a 1/8 inch thick sheet between the two pieces of parchment paper, dusting as needed to keep the dough from sticking.
7. Remove the top sheet of parchment paper and use a football-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Gather the dough scraps into a ball, roll it into another sheet, and continue cutting out shapes until all the dough has been used.
8. Bake the cookies for 10-15 minutes, rotating them halfway through.
9. Allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
10. While the cookies cool, start the icing by thoroughly sifting the confectioners’ sugar.
11. Mix the sifted sugar with the milk until a spreadable consistency is achieved.
12. Beat the corn syrup and almond extract into the icing until it becomes smooth and glossy.
13. Separate 1/3 of the icing into a different bowl. Stir brown food coloring into the larger portion until it reaches the shade of a football.
14. Leave the other icing white. Cover the bowl with a moist paper towel to make sure the icing does not dry out.
15. When the cookies have cooled completely, use the back of a spoon to spread a dollop of brown icing across each one.
16. Let the cookies stand for at least 20 minutes to allow the brown icing to harden.
17. Put the white icing into a pastry bag with a 2” tip. (Note: If you don’t have a pastry bag, you can use a thumbtack to work a small hole into the corner of a sandwich baggie.)
18. To decorate each end of the cookie: Pipe two lines of white icing to create a thick, curved C-shape. Fill in the space between the two lines with more icing.
19. To decorate the center of each cookie: Pipe a single vertical line. Then, pipe several smaller horizontal lines across it in order to create the laces.
20. Allow the white icing at least 10 minutes to set before serving.

This recipe will make around 30 football-shaped cookies. But when planning for your party, aim for two cookies per person. Feel free to play around with cookie shapes, food coloring, and piping designs in order to make this recipe work for you. While, as it stands, this is a super bowl dessert, it could easily be made into a go-to recipe for every special day.

20 Football Themed Desserts from our Blogger Friends

1.  Chelsea’s Messy Apron – Sugar Cookie Football Stadium
2. Life Love and Sugar – Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Footballs
3. The First Year Blog – Football Bark
4. Brite and Bubbly – DIY Dairy-Fre Football Shaped Fudge
5. Jenn’s BlahBlah Blog – Nutter Butter Football Cookies
6. Life is Poppin – Dr. Pepper Football Brownies
7. Jman and Miller Bug – Ice Cream Football Pops
8. Thrifty Jinxy – Snickers Rice Crispy Football Treat
9. The Country Chic Cottage – Snickers Football Cake
10. Mom Endeavors – Football Oreo Pops
11. The Suburban Mom – Dairy-Free Football Truffles
12. Well Plated – Football Peanut Butter Blondies
13. B Inspired Mama – Football Brownie Cupcakes
14. Sweet Simple Stuff – Sweet, Salty, and Gooey Footballs
15. Your Cup of Cake – Football Field Cupcakes
16. Shugary Sweets – Cookies and Cream Football Cheese Ball
17. Jman and Miller Bug – Iced Football Cookie
18. Chelsea’s Messy Apron – Football Shaped No-Bake Granola Bars
19. The First Year Blog – Football Oreo Balls
20. Sarah’s Bake Studio – Chocolate Football Pretzel Rods

Are you looking for more football themed appetizers and snacks for the big game?

Take a look at our 24 Super Bowl Snacks that are sure to get the party started!

For more desserts on Stagetecture, click here.

If you love desserts, take a look at our desserts recipes on How To Make a Burlap Wreath website too!  The new redesigned site has more than just wreaths. Look to the new site for ways to celebrate, decorate and organize.

19 Of Our Best Holiday Cake Recipes

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1. Holiday Cake: Turtle Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Starting off this holiday cake recipes list with a sweet and succulent cake that will have you and your guest begging for more.Oh who doesn’t love rich goodness of cheesecake? And how many of us like cheesecake that carries extra goodies on top, bottom and inside? If that is you then this holiday cake recipe is made for you. Turtle Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe, has all of the usual ingredients but has a mixture of pumpkin spice as an additional flavor. Not to mention chocolate and caramel sauce drizzle on top along with toasted pecans. Make your tongue say “Mmm-hmm.” Go ahead and make this holiday cake recipe a family favorite this season. We also like this Brandy Cheesecake Recipe.

2. Sugar-Free Dessert: Applesauce Cake Recipe

Now not all cakes have to be sugar filled like this next recipe for example. Typically, being on a sugar-free diet is not a part of the holiday plan. However, just because something is sugar-free doesn’t mean that it can’t be just as flavorful as a sugary delight. Try this Sugar free dessert: Applesauce Cake Recipe. This cake is completely simple to make and there are only a few substitutions that will only add to the deliciousness. Plus, when eating this cake you can still appease those sweet tooth cravings without feeling any guilt or heaviness when you’re done. Go ahead try it out!

3. Brown-Sugar Bourbon  Bundt Cake

You can’t have a true holiday without a bundt. And here is one bundt cake recipe that you can’t miss out on. Ladies and gentlemen, now introducing the Brown-Sugar Bourbon Bundt Cake recipe. Who doesn’t remember when you were in the kitchen and your grandmother or mother was filling the bundt pan with batter right before sliding the mixture into the oven? From this recipe you get the wonderful goodness of the maple brown-sugar emersed with a little liquor to enhance the sweetness of the entire cake that the family will adore.

4. Holiday Cake Favorite: Ambrosia Coconut Cake Recipe

Thanks to Southern Living, the Ambrosia Coconut Cake recipe is at our fingertips. This exotic cake recipe not only gives the sweet and refreshing flavors that everyone will love but can also serve as wonderful décor. It only takes a few easy steps to make and even better to taste, it is sure to quickly become a holiday tradition.

The holidays are a great time of the year. And what better way to celebrate it than with a baking recipe that will help to bring the entire family together. And these holiday cake recipes are just a small few of what you and your family can create. Don’t be limited and see what you all can come up with. Also, Stagetecture readers, do you have any recipes that you would like to share for the holidays?

15 Blogger Friends Holiday Cake Recipes

1. Holiday Rum Cake
2. Cranberry Orange Cake Recipe
3. Eggnog Bundt Cake Recipe
4. Tropical Christmas Cake
5. Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake
6. Gingerbread Bundt Cake With Vanilla Glaze
7. Gingerbreak Cheesecake
8. Ferrero Rocher Cake
9. Old Fashioned Jam Cake
10. Cranberry Pumpkin Upside Down Cake
11. Butter Crunch Cake
12. Cranberry Upside Down Cake
13. Simple Chocolate Peppermint Cake
14. Spiced Chocolate Eggnog Cake
15. Fresh Cranberry Cake Recipe

Do you want a chocolate cake recipes for the holidays?

Try this Moist Chocolate Cake Recipe!

Looking for more yummy desserts? Take a look through our dessert recipes category.

Easy DIY Halloween Crafts Ideas

Welcome Guests with a Halloween Chalkboard

Image via Etsy – Lily & Val – Halloween Chalkboard

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Handy Candy Dish

Do you remember “Thing” from the Addams Family?  Well for this idea we are going to bring “Thing” back but in a good way.  This idea works best for parties and small get-togethers.  But take a candy dish, tray, large bowl or plate that has some type of food, drink or item on it and place a stuffed black glove or a severed hand in the center of the dish holding a card.  Now it is completely up to you for what you want the card to say.  You could describe what’s on the dish, state a greeting, have a haunted saying etc. again up to you!  Or, you can put the hand to the side like the image above you will still get the same effect.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall – Halloween Craft Ideas

Now this idea can be used for any mirror that is placed around the home.  From the mirror placed in the entryway all the way to the mirror that is in the bathroom, it doesn’t matter.  First, cut some construction paper or if you can find a marker that can be erased on a mirror, cut or draw a crazy hairstyle and place it in the center of the mirror.  That way anyone who looks into it will have a funky hairstyle on top of their heads for them to remember.

Toilet Paper Disguises and Ghost Tootsies

Toilet paper is used for so many things and now we are going to use it for something else.  First, you can wrap the toilet paper in orange tissue paper and tie it at the top then put a face on it to look like a pumpkin jack-o-lantern.  Or you can just take a roll of toilet paper and paste a face on the paper with black felt and glue.  Either way you have your own mini disguise showcase for all to see. Now for the ghosts.  (This trick can also be a treat for kids)  Take a tootsie roll pop and place a small cloth over it, then take a ribbon or string and tie it in a knot underneath the tootsie head then draw a cute face on it.  These make great goodie gifts as well!

Halloween Decorating Idea: Walking Table

One simple decoration that you do not have to go on a splurge for is dressing up your table legs, literally.  Take four long socks that you might have (preferably those that have Halloween designs on them) and slip them on the legs of your display table.  Then for spunk, take 2 pairs of shoes and place one shoe on the bottom of each leg.  This will definitely be a crowd pleaser and one that the smaller kids will love and enjoy!

Halloween is always a super fun time of the year.  It’s filled with spooks, candy, mystery and fun.  So for this year go all out without having to go all in your wallet.  It’s the little things that can make a huge difference.  So take at the ideas above and also see what you can come up with then have a Happy Halloween!

For more Halloween ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture.

How to Make Halloween Specimen Jars and Candles

Halloween is just around the corner and if you still have Halloween décor shopping left to do, you will love this DIY. Create spooky candles at half the price right in the comfort of your home. Creating spooky candles and fun apothecary jars or specimen jars is a fun activity for the kids to keep them busy over the weekend.

Watch a Halloween Specimen Jars Video from Martha Stewart:

Visit the video link: How to Make Halloween Candles  & Halloween Specimen Jars

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Spooky Halloween Candles Materials:

White pillar candles

White tissue paper

Spray glue

Printer

Hair dryer

Halloween Candles Directions:

1. Search the internet for some spooky Halloween graphics and clip art. Choose images like bats, skulls, spiders and ghosts. Resize the images on your computer according to the size of your candles. You can play around with images and even use your creativity to create a collage of these graphics on your candles.

2. Next, stick your tissue paper onto some printer paper with the help of spray glue and trim the edges. Remember to use a very light spray of glue, this is to ensure that the tissue paper does not crumple in the printer if printed on its own. Set the paper in the printer such that that the graphics are printed on the tissue paper.

3. Once the graphics are printed, carefully peel off the tissue from the printer paper. Cut the graphics as close as possible.

4. Place the cut images on your candle. The tissue paper will stick easily because of the leftover glue. Finally, pull out your hair dryer and turn it on the hot setting. Hold the hairdryer close to the image for a few minutes. The candle wax will start melting slowly with the heat and the image will easily set in with the wax. Smooth the melted edges and let it solidify again.

5. The edges will disappear and the picture will appear as though it is a part of the candle.

Set the candles on your mantel and decorate around it with other spooky Halloween decorating ideas. Once you have mastered the final step you can experiment with old vintage photographs, much more intricate graphics and on different colored candles.

Thinking about making a Haunted House for your Halloween party? Take a look at these tips!

For more Halloween ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Greenhouses are a great way to achieve optimal surroundings around your plants, as well as keep your plants from being chewed up by animals and pesky insects that would normally be found outside in the open air.

You Tube Video – How to Build a Greenhouse

Hobby Greenhouse Building & Construction Planning 101

Owning a hobby greenhouse is probably every gardening enthusiast’s dream. This is because greenhouses allow you to grow the kind of plants that you want at any time of the year under controlled conditions.

• But before you rush into constructing one, here are some very important points that you need to determine first before starting anything and if you get stuck read additional green building plans.

If gardening really is your hobby, then it is best to invest in the biggest greenhouse that you can find.

1. It may be an expensive initial investment yes, but it will be more costly to get a smaller spaced greenhouse and have it expanded later.
2. Most of the time, you are bound to fill up your greenhouse space in no time at all so it’s best to utilize what space that you have rather than invest in more costly expansions in the future.

Build a Greenhouse: Heating and ventilation requirements

This is probably one of the most important parts of a greenhouse.

1. The real essence of greenhouses is the ability to grow plants at a controlled condition and this can only be done through proper heating and ventilation systems.
2. There are actually a number of heating systems available in the market – from the natural gas, electric, gas and propane heating.
3. It is just a matter of your budget and the availability of these heating systems in your area.
4. One of the most convenient systems to use is the electric system but can be a problem during blackouts and power shortages.

Siding materials for your Greenhouse

The kind of siding materials you use is very important because this will affect the amount of sunlight penetrating into your greenhouse during the day.

1. As much as possible, you would like to have the most amount of sunlight into your greenhouses because it is essential for plant life.
2. The best siding option here would be glass. Aside from light diffusion, insulation is also an important factor.
3. Siding materials should be able to keep your greenhouses well insulated and prevent too much temperature fluctuation, which could damage or even kill your plants.

Greenhouse Framing Ideas

Frames should be strong enough to support your entire structure during harsh weathers – from heat, rain or snow.

• The choice of framing materials will depend in the kind of siding you use. Use stronger frames for heavier sidings.
• Wood is great aesthetic-wise but PVC and aluminum frames are mode durable and requires less maintenance.

There are actually hobby greenhouse kits available in the market.

• They come complete with materials and instructions and with pre-measured materials so make sure that the kits you buy fit your space.
• This can save you the hassle of buying and selecting materials one by one. But if you want a more customized greenhouse and love the work, then by all means, go the other way and start your greenhouse from scratch.

Aside from these, you also need to keep in mind that some areas may require local building permits for greenhouse constructions so check if your local government requires them or not before starting the work.

Love to garden? You may like this Container Gardening post too!

For more DIY Saturday‘s on Stagetecture, click here.

Grill Cleaner: Green Ways to Clean your Charcoal Grill

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Preheat the charcoal grill and scrape away grime

If your grill has been sitting unused for a few months, simply heat it for 10-15 minutes, and then scrape it using a wire brush. No need to use any toxic chemicals. While it may not give it a thorough clean, it will help to remove the food residue from the previous season.

Clean your outdoor grill with baking soda

Cleaning your grill using baking soda is one of the easiest ways to degrease the appliance.  Simply dip a wet brush into some baking soda and scrub out the grate until it’s clean. Then, rinse it off, throw in some burgers, and get set to party. Easy isn’t it?

Learn how to green clean your grill without lifting a finger on Apartment Therapy.

Use an eco-friendly grill cleaner

If you need something that is somewhat stronger than baking soda, consider buying environment friendly grill cleaner. There are many conscious brands that produce cleaning products made with all natural ingredients. They are mostly available at local stores or can be bought online.

Good Housekeeping recommends these best grill cleaners.

Clean grill grates using aluminum foil and vinegar   

Yet another eco-friendly way to clean your charcoal grill. Simply spray white vinegar on the grill grates and allow it to remain on the surface for few minutes. Now thoroughly rub it with crumpled up aluminum foil. And that’s all it takes to make your summer appliance shine.

These are some easy ways to clean your grill that will save you money, as well as help you avoid the harsh store bought products. What other methods are you using to clean your grill this season?

For more home cleaning ideas see our house cleaning checklist.

How to Give Creative Graduation Presents this Season

What will make your recent graduate happy? Jewelry, desk accessories, or an engraved token of your appreciation of their hard work? We’ve got graduation gift ideas for all occasions!

Image via: Etsy – Amy Waltz – Graduation Gifts for Her Ideas

Image via: Etsy – Lazer Designs – Graduation Presents

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Good graduation gifts

Giving creative and good graduation gifts doesn’t mean that you have to spend a small fortune. By choosing unique items, personalizing them or engraving them with a special message can make all the difference in the world. Take a look at these wonderful ideas for graduation presents from Real Simple for more inspiration.

Graduation gifts for him

An elegant, unique item for his desk can accompany him through all of his professional life. Give practical gifts that will be used for sure so they won’t end up inside a drawer. Designer or hand-crafted desk lamps or personalized business card holders can be a cherished item. Also, giving a quality leather journal or sketchbook, embellished with his name and a meaningful phrase can be a wonderful graduation present he will always care for.

Image via: Etsy – DLight Creation – Graduation presents for him

Graduation gifts for her

Personalized jewelry or even family heirlooms are wonderful graduation gifts for her. Crafting an individual wooden photo frame or giving her a beautiful handcrafted jewelry box can be an everlasting present as well. Of course, anything that can beautify her home in a unique way, like unique wall art you made or had it made especially for her can be an invaluable gift, too.

Image via: Etsy – White Lilie Designs – Graduation presents for her

How to give the best grad gifts

To find out what the best grad gifts for someone are, you have to first think about his or hers personality, talents, hobbies and other personal preferences. This is the most important aspect in order to give an exceptional present that will be really valued and won’t be forgotten. For smaller presents or even money, we just love this DIY graduation hat box idea from Martha Stewart.

Giving original graduation presents can be tricky, but if you really try to draw inspiration from the person you want to give it to, you will find that there are many options to choose from. Handmade, creative and person-specific items that last in time are often the best way to go, since they will always be special and matchless. They should however reflect a small part of you as well if possible, because that is what it makes your graduation presents even more special for the one you give it to.

For more gift ideas on Stagetecture, take a look at these gift suggestions.

Mason Jar Crafts: Our Best DIY Mason Jar Ideas

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How to Make A Mason Jar Chandelier

Let’s begin the list off with some lights.  No matter who you are or where you from you will always need light and mason jar- with their translucent and bulb-like shape can make some of the greatest light fixtures known to man. People have revamped the look of the mason jar light chandelier to their own liking and without breaking the bank and the same can go for you as well.  Chandeliers always have the ability to enhance a home’s decor and add better lighting within a space, place a mason jar and you just made your home more unique.

How to Make Jarred Recipe Gifts

You can even use mason jars for storing food and quick gifting ideas.  What’s so great about these jarred lovelies is that they are containers so you can treat it as a convenient lunch case that you want to pack a mixed salad with dressing in or even your breakfast/ lunch smoothies.  Or say you want to give a unique gift to friends and loved ones then you could take a jar and layer it with ingredients of a favorite recipe of theirs to make in their spare time creating a mason jarred recipe.

How to Make a Mason Jar Bathroom Organizer

Stenciled Jar Vases

There’s no doubt that chandeliers can enhance a home’s interior. This is not only for decorations but for better lighting as well. The cluster of bulbs that are arranged creatively are so glamorous and elegant to see.

There are quite a number of chandeliers available in the market. But it will have a greater impact if you do it yourself. You don’t have to look any further for materials because you can create a chandelier out of the mason jars you have at home.

How to Make a Mason Jar Chandelier

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You Tube video – How to make a Mason Jar chandelier

Mason Jar Chandelier Materials:

Mason Jars with lids

Flat cord wire

Light bulb receptacle

#10 Washers

Small Hose Clamp

PVC cap

Hex Nuts

Steel Nipples

Electric Drill

Wire Staple

Base (wood, metal or anything that can hold the jars)

How to Make a Chandelier Directions:

1. Prepare all the materials.
2. Drill a hole in the center of each Mason jar lid. This hole should be fitting to the steel nipples.
3. Then, drill at least 4 to 5 small holes in your Mason jar lids. This will provide the necessary exhaust for the heat produced by the bulb.
4. Attach the steel nipples in each lid and secure it using the hex nuts with the washers.
5. Insert the flat cord wire in the steel nipple. At the end of the wire, screw the wire to the bulb receptacle. Connect the bulb into the receptacle and seal the lid. Do this step in all the mason jars.
6. Ensure that all electrical connections are done accurately. Take note that electrical safety should be your priority. Also, it is very important to make it neat and clean.
7. Fasten each wire connected with the mason jar to the base. Do this according to your desired style.
8. Connect all wires in parallel. Arranged the wires properly so that it will not look messy.
9. Securely fasten the mason jar chandelier on your ceiling.

This personalized mason jar chandelier will surely be an eye-catching fixture at home.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, click here.