'Tis the season to decorate your home for the holidays! Many people opt to purchase a live Christmas tree to serve as the focal point of holiday decor. Sure, they're more fragrant and lush than their artificial counterparts, but live Christmas trees also require care to keep them from drying out--and reducing the risk of fire.
If you've picked a live tree, use these tips as a guide to keep it fresh and hydrated.
*Use a reservoir-type stand, which will hold adequate water to keep the tree hydrated.
*Before you put the tree in the stand, cut a half-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk. Don't cut into your tree at a V-angle; if you do, it's more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and won't allow as much water to travel throughout the tree.
*Keep your tree well-watered. The National Christmas Tree Association recommends a stand that can hold one quart of water per inch of stem diameter.
*Make sure your tree isn't near any sort of heat source. And if you can, lower the temperature in the tree room to slow the drying process.
***We did our own version of this project over on Built by Kids. See our Witch and Grim Reaper Silhouettes***
Even if you (like me) are too old for trick-or-treating, you can celebrate Halloween by decorating your house and lawn. Want to make your home the spookiest on the block? Try these DIY haunted house silhouettes to create an impressive, frightful display.
The best part? The project is relatively easy and family-friendly, too! Before you begin, gather your supplies:
*A large roll of black paper
*White chalk
*Scissors
*PDFs of silhouette images (download here courtesy of Craft magazine)
Optional supplies:
*A soundtrack of your favorite Halloween songs (we're especially partial to Ghostbusters, Thriller and Monster Mash)
*Cold cider
*An assortment of Halloween candy to keep your energy levels up
Tis' the season for Craftsman tools! This holiday Giveaway is a bundle of joy for tool lovers and all of it could be yours, or if you win keep one and gift the rest.
On December 25th, 2010 we will randomly select one winner to receive all of the tools shown above that includes: 20" Metal Toolbox, Dog Bone 8-1 Wrench and NEXTEC 12V Right-Angle Impact Driver.
****THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED - THANKS FOR ENTERING****
HOW TO ENTER
You can enter once-per-day and you've got two options! Enter both ways to double your chance of winning!
1. Leave a comment below saying "Craftsman for Christmas" (or replace with holiday of your choice) and tell us what project you intend to tackle with this bundle of goodies.
2. Tweet this contest on Twitter with the words "Win the Craftsman for Christmas Giveaway from @Charles_Hudson http://bit.ly/craftsmangiveaway"
THE CRAFTSMAN TOOL BUNDLE
Here are descriptions of all the tools the winner will receive.
20" Black Metal Toolbox
* Rugged construction provides optimal protection against harsh environments
* Includes removable metal tote tray
DOG BONE 8-in-1 Wrench
* Fits 8 SAE socket sizes: 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, and 13/16 - inch.
* Go-Thru swivel head allows easy access and fits any angle.
* Built in 8-lb magnet serves as oil drain plug or nut holder.
* Cr-Mo Steel for strength and durability. Ideal for oil drain plugs.
NEXTEC Right Angle Impact Driver
* Powerful Motor Powered by a 12.0 Volt Die-Hard® Lithium-Ion battery for enhanced performance and longer shelf-life.
* Innovative, Compact , Ergonomic Design Powerful and compact, weighing only 2.2lbs with the battery providing extra comfort and reducing user fatigue.
* 700 in.-lbs. of Torque Motor delivers maximum torque in both forward and reverse.
* 0-2100 RPM Fast and powerful for heavy duty applications.
* 1/4-Inch Quick-Connect Clamp For fast and convenient bit changes.
GIVEAWAY DEADLINE
We will select a random winner at 12 midnight EST on December 25th, 2010 and he/she will be notified immediately.
