Friday, March 30, 2012

In What Order Should I Paint My House?

Are you considering freshening up the exterior of your home this spring?  If so, here are some helpful tips from Glidden® paint on what order you should consider before dipping in!

Paint in the following order overall:

1) Gables
2) Main siding
3) Windows
4) Siding trim
5) Doors

When painting siding, always paint from the top down, and paint next to the trim first, creating a border about two to three inches from the edge of the trim.

Then begin painting the rest of the siding, remembering to paint under the edge.

(Hint: Paint in small sections of three to four clapboards and a few feet at a time, applying a fresh brush full of paint to unpainted areas and working back into the areas you've already done. Be sure to paint in the direction of the siding.)

When the siding is dry, paint the windows, siding trim and doors.

Learn how much fun and easy painting can be. Tomboy Tools and Glidden paint help women gain confidence, motivation and add color to their lives!

Contact your Tomboy Tools Consultant to book your painting party today. Your Consultant will show you how you can beautify your living space or painting project with ergonomically designed painting tools, color selections, techniques and tips. 

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

5 Easy DIY Painting Projects

Maybe it's been a while since you've painted, or maybe you've never done it before. Even if you feel like you barely know which end of the brush to hold, that's OK — Glidden® paint and Tomboy Tools have you covered with simple instructions, tips, ideas and tools for common projects and helpful answers to FAQs.

Learn how much fun and easy painting can be. Tomboy Tools is excited to partner with Glidden® paint to help women gain confidence, motivation and add color to their lives!

Here are five simple ideas to add color to your home in a single day's work.

1.  How to Paint a Door
There's nothing like a first good impression.

1.    The first step to a good first impression? Give the door a quick wash and rinse, letting it dry completely.
2.    Next, just cover the metal hinges so they don't get covered in paint - a couple coats of rubber cement should do the trick. Mask the doorknob, lock and any other hardware as well.
3.    Now you're at the fun part. Start by painting the frame, making sure to work up from the inside bottom, across the top and then down the other side. This is done best with a 2" to 2.5" brush. When you start on the door, use a 4" brush or foam roller.
Glidden color idea:  Red Delicious (GLR30)

2.  How to Paint a Planter
Add a little color to your greenery.

1.    If you're painting a planter that's already been used, start by giving the plant a new home and scrubbing the planter with warm, soapy water.
2.    Give it a quick rinse and let it dry completely before applying any paint. This is a good time for lemonade. Try it with a little mint for a refreshing twist.
3.    Apply the first coat, inside and out. Follow that up with a couple more coats for denser color, allowing enough time to dry between coats. Looking for a little color inspiration? Why not run with the whole refreshing beverage theme and try Sweet Tea?
Glidden color idea:  Soft Sage (GLG18)

3.  How to Paint a Doghouse
Even your blacklab will be green with envy.

1.    Start by treating the wood with a coat of primer. It's a great way to protect and seal the wood and ensure durability.
2.    Using a paintbrush, apply one coat of paint to each side of the house. Once that dries, just brush on a second coat for denser color. Remember, dogs are color-blind, so the choice is entirely up to you, but they'll probably like anything named after food.
3.    Oh, and to keep this simple project from getting a little complicated, you may want to keep your dog indoors until the paint's dry.
Glidden color idea:  Antique Silver (GLN51)

4.  How to Paint a Window Box
Your view just got even better.

1.    Start by removing any soil or debris left in the box and rinsing it with soap and water. As always, don't forget to let it dry completely before you move to the next step.
2.    Before you paint, spray the entire box with one coat of white enamel.
3.    Once that's dry, it's time to pick up a paintbrush. Paint the box with the color of your choice. You can even match the paint color to the flowers you plan on planting.
Glidden color idea:  Natural Straw (GLY20)

5.  How to Paint a Fence
Consider it the perfect frame for your masterpiece.

1.    Start by rinsing the fence with a hose. It's important to remember to unhook the sprinkler if it's still attached.
2.    Once it's dry, dip a 4" to 6" brush about a third of the way into your paint. Follow the grain of the wood, painting each slat in an up-and-down motion.
3.    Add a second coat using the same up-and-down strokes you did the first time. Simple as pie. As for color, try a twist on a classic, like Granny Smith White.
Glidden color idea:  Wood Smoke (GLN40)

Contact your Tomboy Tools Consultant to book your painting party today. Your Consultant will show you how you can beautify your living space or painting project with ergonomically designed painting tools, color selections, techniques and tips. 

Monday, March 26, 2012

Hanging Pictures on Drywall - A How To Guide

Hanging pictures on drywall seems like a simple task: hammer a nail into a wall, hang the picture on the nail, and make sure everything is straight. Unfortunately, there is a little more to the whole procedure than that. When hanging pictures on drywall, you need to consider several factors like the weight of the object, the appropriate fastener to hold the object, where you want to hang the object, and whether or not the drywall will provide enough support by itself. If you want to avoid damaging both your pictures and your walls, read on to learn more about hanging pictures on drywall.

Finding the Right Frame For Hanging Pictures On Drywall

Driving a nail through a sentimental photograph is probably not the best way to hang a picture on a wall. Picture frames not only offer a way to properly hang a picture on a wall, they also protect the picture. A framed picture is a popular piece of interior décor, suitable for any style of interior design. Depending on the color and size, a picture frame can be used to accentuate a particular area of a room, or draw attention to a certain spot on a wall. Here are a few tips for finding a frame for your picture:


  • Match the room: Look for a picture frame that matches the colors and design styles of the room you plan on hanging it in. Picture frames are a great way to enhance the room, and should help tie the room together just like a piece of furniture. The color and material the picture frame is made out of will determine if it matches the room or not.


  • Picture Mats: A picture mat acts as a border for a picture in a frame, and also protects the picture. Try using a picture mat that enhances both the picture and frame. A neutral colored mat won't draw attention away from the picture, while certain colors can be used to enhance the picture by either matching or contrasting with the colors in the picture.


  • Find the right size: Find a picture frame that is appropriate for both the size of your picture and the available wall space. If you plan on using a picture mat, select a frame that allows for extra space around the picture so the mat can be seen.


  • Find the right weight: Lightweight picture frames can be hung almost anywhere on drywall, while heavier frames require an area on your drywall where a wooden framing stud can be found. Heavier frames also require stronger wall fasteners, while light frames can be hung with standard picture hangers.


  • Where To Place Frames When Hanging Pictures On Drywall

    Now that you've found the perfect frame for your picture, it's time to figure out where to hang it. Determine whether you want the picture to accentuate a room, or if you want it to be a focal point. A lone picture centered on a contrasting wall will most certainly catch people's attention. In most cases, a picture should be hung somewhere at eye level, typically 60 inches from the floor with the center of the picture used as your reference point. If you plan on hanging multiple pictures grouped together on a wall, choose your favorite picture to act as a centerpiece. Lightly mark areas on your drywall with a pencil or chalk to help you determine the best spot for your picture. 

    Great Tip:  Use your Tomboy Tools Picture Perfect Level to help hang your pictures.  It allows you hang objects horizontally, vertically, or in a group with precise measuring!

    Lightweight Wall Fasteners

    The most common fastener used to hang a picture on drywall is a picture hanger. These small hangers are placed flat against your drywall, and require a nail to be driven through their upper portion to fasten them to your drywall. The lower portion of the picture hanger consists of a small hook, suitable for light objects to be hung like pictures in lightweight frames. Push pins and plastic hooks with adhesives do not require any hammering or drilling, and are also suitable for lightweight objects.

    Heavyweight Wall Fasteners

    Larger pictures with heavier frames require a little more attention and care when being hung on drywall. If placed in an inappropriate location, the weight of the picture can pull the anchors out of the drywall damaging both the wall and the picture. The best location to hang heavier objects on drywall is in front of a wooden framing stud. Use a stud finder to locate the wooden framing studs behind your drywall. These devices typically use a magnet to detect the nails or screws used to hold framing studs during wall construction. A wall stud provides adequate support for heavier objects that require fasteners that are nailed or drilled into your drywall.

    Hollow Wall Fasteners

    Some wall fasteners are available that are made specifically for hollow walls like drywall. Molly and toggle bolts are designed with wings that expand behind drywall after they have been inserted through the wall. Toggle anchors also have collapsible wings that expand behind your drywall as you tighten the screw holding it in place. Expandable, metal anchors are great hollow wall fasteners for heavier picture frames. When purchasing these types of fasteners, be sure to read the packaging labels to find fasteners designed to handle the appropriate weight needed to hang your picture. Some fasteners are capable of holding heavier objects depending on the grade selected.

    Hanging pictures on drywall requires a little more thought than simply hammering a nail into your wall. Just be aware of the weight of the picture, and make sure you have the right fasteners to keep it secured, and prevent the picture from damaging your wall. 

    Resource:  IdealHomeGarden.com, By Matthew CenzonΙ Published March 22, 2012

    Wednesday, March 14, 2012

    Color Ideas To Get You Going!

    Choosing coordinating colors for a room is a lot easier than you think.  A great way to start is to find what color family you like the most (reds, greens, blues, etc.). 

    Once you pick your color family, choosing that final color is much easier. 




    Follow these easy steps to start:

    - Collect pictures of rooms and accessories that you like from magazines and catalogs.

    - Next, gather up your favorite things in a room.  Vase.  Pillows.  Floral arrangements.  Comforter.

    - Then step back.  Take it all in.  Do you see a common color family or scheme?

    Another trick is to steal from the largest pattern in the space.  Upholstery.  Rug.  Even your favorite painting.  Use its background color for your wall color.  Then choose one or two of the other colors for your accents. 

    You've now successfully coordinated color! 

    Piece of cake.

    Wednesday, March 7, 2012

    10 Tips for Living Green

    Small changes made by individuals can add up to big changes for the environment. Everyone can do it. We can choose to lessen our environmental impact with these easy suggestions. 

    Here are 10 to get you started:

    1. Get a High-Efficiency Showerhead
    A high-efficiency showerhead saves up to 3,000 gallons of water per person per year. You'll also save $50 in energy costs and 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per person per year. The showerheads are specially designed to conserve resources while still providing like a luxurious-feeling shower. Sink-aerator attachments also save major amounts of water and are very inexpensive.





    2. Recycle Water in Your Bathroom
    Use devices that allow you to reuse sink water for flushing your toilet. Or keep a bucket by the shower or the tub and fill it with the cold water that comes out before the hot water kicks in. Then take the bucket outside and use it to water your plants.


    3. Compost
    Use a compost bin to turn your food and lawn wastes into rich mulch. It's a great way to reduce your trash production, and next year you'll have rich compost ready to go for spring planting.


    4. Buy Green Power From Your Utility
    Most utilities charge less than $5 per month extra. Not only will your power come from a renewable source, but you'll use the power of your spending to show utility executives and government officials that we need more investment in renewable-energy projects.


    5. Improve the Efficiency of Your Existing Water Heater
    Tankless and solar water heaters are great, but simple changes to your existing setup can cut your energy bills and carbon emissions by 25 percent or more. Reduce the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees, wrap it in a water-heater insulating blanket and insulate the first 3 to 6 feet of hot and cold water pipes. These inexpensive changes should take you less than an hour to complete.

    6. Use High-Efficiency Outdoor Lighting
    A typical 100-watt floodlight, if used for six hours a day, can consume up to $40 of electricity over the course of a year and produce upwards of 400 pounds of carbon dioxide, depending on where you live. For starters, replace those floodlights with compact-fluorescent versions-they're just as bright and use a quarter of the energy. Next, replace low-wattage halogen landscape bulbs with LED versions. They cut energy use by over 80 percent and can last for 10 years or more. Finally, install motion sensors on any nonessential lights. New versions just screw right into your existing light socket.

    7. Replace High-Use Indoor Lights with Compact Fluorescents or LEDs
    With high-quality light, sizes for almost any fixture and even versions that are dimmable,  compact fluorescents have it all. They're more expensive than normal light bulbs, but between the energy savings and their much longer life spans, they pay for themselves in less than two years. And consider LED bulbs for non-dimmable circuits (especially for holiday lighting). They're true energy misers and will last for as long as you live in your house.

    8. Load Up the Washing Machines
    Make sure you run the dishwasher and the clothes washers only when they're full. Clothes washers are huge energy and water users, so make sure you're doing full loads (or adjusting the water setting) whenever possible. And most of us use far more water (and soap) than we need to when hand-washing dishes, especially when compared with high-efficiency Energy Star dishwashers. So save your time, water and power by putting those dishes directly in the dishwasher after a meal.


    9. Drive Smarter
    Simple changes in our existing driving habits can improve fuel efficiency by up to 25 percent. Drive at or near the speed limit, keep your tires inflated, make sure oil and air filters are clean, and step on the gas and the brakes carefully. Driving like a drag racer may be fun, but it has a substantial environmental cost.


    10. Avoid the Daily Waste of Fast Food and Shopping
    Next week, keep track of how much trash you generate by eating out and making trips to the store, I guarantee you'll be amazed. All those bags, cups and containers really add up and are stuffing our landfills to capacity. Bring your own plastic or metal boxes to your favorite take-out joint. You'll save resources and save them money. Use reusable shopping bags whenever you go to the store. Say "no thanks" when the pharmacist or the fast-food clerk tries to put your one or two items in a bag. Use reusable cups for coffee, soda and other beverages. And reuse some of the extras at home -- keep extra napkins and reuse plastic cups and cutlery.


    Resource:  HGTV.com.  Jason Pelletier is a certified auditor with Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design.

    Spring Cleaning! March Home Maintenance Tasks

    It is March, and spring is about to be sprung.  With warmer weather and longer days, March is a great month to add a few projects to your home improvement to-do list:
    1. Daylight Saving Time begins. Honor the occasion by replacing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.


    2. Review the contents of your medicine cabinets and throw away dated prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines. Be sure all medicines are out of the reach of children or contained in a cabinet equipped with childproof locks.


    3. Celebrate spring by cleaning the garage. Hold a yard sale, or organize a community yard sale with neighbors. Dispose of paint thinners, household cleaners and pesticides properly. Contact your city's department of public works to find out the next scheduled collection of hazardous materials.


    4. Clean the refrigerator, inside and out, with mild detergent. Remove all trays and shelves, wash, and allow to dry thoroughly before replacing them. Remove old ice from ice-making tray.


    5. After heavy rains, inspect your basement walls for signs of moisture. If you detect wetness, run a portable dehumidifier. If condition persists, consult a waterproofing contractor.


    6. Check to make sure your sump pump works properly by pouring water into the pump silo to raise the float and activate the motor.


    7. Test the pressure and temperature relief valve on your water heater by opening it and allowing some water to flow out. If little or no water flows out or it doesn't shut off, replace it. Bad valves can cause explosions.


    8. Spring is a good time to build a doghouse. Make sure to provide adequate roof ventilation to allow hot air to escape. And don't use pressure-treated wood in any area where your dog might chew it.

    Resource:  The Weather Channel

    Friday, March 2, 2012

    Getting Involved - Conservation Tips Around the Home

    You know the global benefits of conserving energy and water — including saving on your own costs. But maybe you're not sure where to start. Here are a few ways to embrace earth-friendly practices in your own home and routine. Remember, even the smallest steps help make a difference.

    1. Update to green:  With new government standards and technology, modern faucets are more efficient than ever. Saving up to 32% on your water usage, WaterSense certified faucets make going green practically effortless.
    2. Look, no hands:  Homeowners waste gallons of water everyday by leaving their sink faucets running, but with hands-free electronic faucets you will ensure water is used only when needed.
    3. On-demand hot water: Tank-less water heaters offer a great way to cut home energy costs without impacting performance. By flash heating water and eliminating tank-water heaters' long cycles you can cut your energy use by 20%.
    4. Optimal clean:  Flow optimized showerheads can help further reduce water usage in the bathroom. With a 1.75 gpm, versus the industry standard of 2.5, cutting water consumption and energy costs by up to 30%. 
    5. Cost effective green:  A quick, first step toward going green, flow optimized aerators can add highly effective performance to older faucets with out much cost to you.
    6. Ditch the bottle:  Avoid the need of plastic bottles with water filtering faucets. You will save both your wallet from the cost of purchasing bottled water and help unclog waste disposal sites of these increasingly hazardous items.
    7. Keep water in check:  It's important to check all water-using products regularly, with the bathroom accounting for roughly 60% of a home's water usage a leaky toilet or faucet can waste thousands of gallons a year without you knowing it.
    Resource: http://www.moen.com/eco-performance/getting-involved