Grade-A Construction

Category: Blog Posts

  • COP26 and world carbon emissions by country per capita – which countries top the charts ?

    It’s a common misconception that Canada & the US are doing ok ish on carbon emissions – as looked at in terms of absolute emissions the usual suspects are there on top. However, looking at per capita CO2 emissions reveals a different story. With the recent COP26 Global Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland…

  • DIY: Paper Concertina Wreath

    Create a fresh take on the holiday wreath with this clever paper craft.

    What you’ll need:

    • Old calendar pages, cardstock or wallpaper ends, etc. (you can use any kind of paper)
    • Utility knife
    • Cutting mat
    • Pencil
    • Ruler
    • White glue
    • Hot glue
    • Paper clips
    • Wooden wreath form (available at craft stores)

    How-to:

    Using a utility knife, cut a piece of  paper into four equal rectangular pieces.
    With a pencil and ruler, mark out 2 cm–wide (¾”) sections on the back of the paper along the length.
    Fold the edge of the paper up to the first mark and then flip it over and fold again to the next mark. Continue folding, concertina-style, to create a fan. Repeat with the remaining pieces.
    Next, use white glue to connect the end of one fan to the beginning of the next (use paper clips to hold them in place while the glue dries) until all pieces are connected in a long, rectangular form.
    Fold up the fan, pinch at one end and allow it to open into a circle, adding hot glue to the centre to secure and squeezing the sides until the glue is dry.
    Finally, glue the ends of the fan together to complete the circular shape. Repeat the process with more sheets of paper in varying sizes until you have enough concertina circles to cover a wreath form. Using hot glue, attach each one to the form and hang it up!

    The post DIY: Paper Concertina Wreath appeared first on House & Home.

  • DIY: Holiday Posy & Tassel and Bell Garland

    What you’ll need for the posy: 

    • Greenery
    • Seasonal flowers, berries, bells or other decorations
    • Twine
    • Ribbon

    How-to:

    1. To make this easy holiday posy, start by forming a fan shape with a foundation of greenery.

    2. Layer in seasonal flowers, berries or other decorations on top.

    3. Gather the ends together and tie tightly with twine.

    4. Finish the look with a decorative ribbon tied in a bow and hang on your door.

    What you’ll need for the garland:

    • Tassels (available at craft or fabric stores)
    • Small bells
    • Macramé rope

    How-to:

    1. Take a length of macramé rope and attach tassels and small bells, alternating the decorations and keeping them evenly spaced.

    2. Place the garland around a tree, along a mantel or over a door frame.

    The post DIY: Holiday Posy & Tassel and Bell Garland appeared first on House & Home.

  • DIY: Holiday Paper Ornaments

    These lightweight paper ornaments are perfect displaying on a mantel, and you can customize the color to your holiday palette.

    What you’ll need:

    • Cardstock or paper from secondhand books
    • Pencil
    • Circle template (approx. 5″ diam.)
    • Stapler
    • Scissors
    • String
    • Glue stick
    • Paper clips

    How-to:

    1, Fold each sheet of paper in half and then in half again.

    2. Using the circle template, trace out a circle. Do this with at least 12 pieces of paper, and cut out.

    3. In groups of four, fold the stacked circles in half and then unfold them and fold them back on themselves. Once all the circles have been folded, put them together in one stack.

    4. Staple along the folded centre seam, at the top and bottom, then find the middle of the stack and glue on a string for hanging.

    5. Glue all adjacent flaps together, alternating top and bottom. Use paper clips to keep the flaps together while the glue dries.

    The post DIY: Holiday Paper Ornaments appeared first on House & Home.

  • DIY: Calendar Gift Wrap

    Instead of buying new holiday paper, wrap your presents with images from your 2021 calendar. For smaller items, use the whole calendar page as gift wrap and, for larger items, start with a foundation of kraft paper, then cut out decorations (like this star motif) or scenes from your calendar, and simply glue them on. After wrapping your gifts, add pretty ribbons and cords, then elevate the look by attaching tassels or bells as toppers.

    What you’ll need: 

    • Old pages from a 2021 calendar
    • Kraft paper
    • Glue stick

    The post DIY: Calendar Gift Wrap appeared first on House & Home.

  • DIY: Painted Wooden Ornaments

    Create your own one-of-a-kind holiday ornaments by hand painting wooden ones found at craft stores.

    What you’ll need:

    • Wooden ornaments (available at craft stores)
    • Acrylic paint
    • Acrylic paint pens
    • Paintbrush

    How-to:

    1. Paint the ornaments with a base of black or white acrylic paint and hang to dry.
    2. Use acrylic paint pens to draw on patterns. Simple shapes such as lines, circles and ovals work best.
    3. Hang on your tree or from branches in a vase.

    The post DIY: Painted Wooden Ornaments appeared first on House & Home.

  • DIY: Waxed Pinecone Name Card Holders

    Set your dining table with organic name card holders with pinecones gathered on a snowy winter walk.

    What you’ll need: 

    • Dry pinecones

    • Broken candles or used  candle ends

    • Thin wire

    • Stainless steel bowl

    • Saucepan

    • String

    • Name tag

    How-to:

    1. Cut up broken candles or used candle ends and place them into a stainless steel bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water.
    2. Then, while the wax melts, thread a length of thin wire around the top of a pinecone.
    3. When the wax is melted, dip the pinecone into the wax, using the wire to hold the cone, or hold it with your fingers after the wax has cooled a bit.
    4. Place on a wood board to dry.
    5. Finally, using some string, attach a name tag. Repeat for every place setting.

    The post DIY: Waxed Pinecone Name Card Holders appeared first on House & Home.

  • DIY: Pinecone Swag

    What you’ll need for the pinecone swag:

    Twine
    Scissors
    Approx. 12–14 dry pinecones

    How-to:

    Start by attaching a long piece of twine to the ends of three pinecones, varying the length of the twine.
    Do the same thing with three more pinecones and make twine lengths a bit shorter.
    Braid the six pinecones together so they nestle on top of one another.
    Then, leave a long length of braided twine for hanging.
    Finally, attach short pieces of twine to the remaining pinecones and tie them individually to the braided twine.
    Fold the braid over and attach on one end to create a loop for hanging.

    The post DIY: Pinecone Swag appeared first on House & Home.

  • DIY: Nut Garland

    What You’ll Need:

    Nuts (walnuts, almonds, chestnuts and hazelnuts)
    Dremel drill with 1⁄8″ bit • Waxed string

    How-to:

    Gather a bowl of mixed nuts with the shells on.
    Using a Dremel, drill a hole through one of each variety of nut.
    Cut the waxed string to the desired length and tie a knot at one end.
    String the nuts onto the garland, then measure their total width. This will help give you an idea of how many nuts are needed.
    Once the nuts are drilled, string them onto the garland and tie off with a knot.
    Finish the look by adding an ornament at each end.

    The post DIY: Nut Garland appeared first on House & Home.

  • DIY: Holiday Simmers

    What You’ll Need:

    3–5 dried orange slices
    2–3 dried apple slices
    Fresh cranberries
    Cinnamon sticks
    Star anise
    Rosemary
    Pine sprigs

    How-to:

    To a heat-safe bowl add dried orange and apple slices, and a handful of fresh cranberries.
    Then, add cinnamon sticks, star anise, rosemary and pine sprigs.
    Pour hot water over the fruit, herbs and spices — the aroma will be pure Christmas.

    The post DIY: Holiday Simmers appeared first on House & Home.