Why shop? Why not just take your able self over to mom's house and do, instead? Whether your mom lives alone or with a partner, there is always a list. The list I'm referring to details things around the house that bother mom -- things that have been languishing on the to-do list for months, years even, that she knows are slipping further and further away from action.

Maybe it's frames that have been leaning up against a wall, maybe it's photo albums that need sorting, maybe it's a broken doorknob or a particularly unsightly junk corner that makes her frown every time she sees it. We all have things around the house that get under our skin, but the time to fix them continues to elude us. Imagine someone just showing up and doing them for you? What a dream to wipe that list clean! A clean slate!

Here are 10 DIY ideas to make mom smile...

1. Solution for Paperwork. We all have piles. Whether in the kitchen, hallway, a drawer or that junk room we call a home office, nothing would feel sweeter than to have someone come over and sort, label and organize our paperwork piles for us. Sure, you can do a little shopping and buy some lovely trays and flowery home office accessories, but the gift is in the sorting!
�

2. Yard Work. Pure that tree, rake and mow the lawn, unearth the flower beds from winter's debris and weeds, and maybe even get rid of that old, balding bush that's taking up prime real estate in her garden. This is a great one to enlist your family in, so make a sunny weekend of it!

3. Porch/Balcony Makeover. Get rid of everything that doesn't belong in these outdoor spaces, and make them inviting again. Wash the patio furniture and see if the cushions need replacing. Replace the doormat, and maybe even touch up some paint. The biggest bang for your efforts will be a planter box or some nice, potted flora and fauna. A blooming bush of hydrangeas is always a hit.

4. Hang Those Frames. My father never had a son, so he was forced to pass basic DIY knowledge unto me. If I can hang a picture frame (popper plug for wall type, drill, level, screw, wire); anyone can.

5. Kitchen Re-Fresh. Sounds very involved, and it kind of is, but not really in terms of skill level -- just labour. One year my husband and I overhauled my grandmother's rental apartment kitchen because we got sick of waiting for the superintendent. We sealed and painted her old MDF kitchen cupboards, changed the hardware, painted the depressing tile backsplash (it's easy, make sure you ask for a paint that sticks to tile) and replaced the swelling MDF countertops with a brand new piece from Home Depot (the most basic product was good enough as it was a renal apartment, and the main goal was cleanliness.) It cost under $200 and took a weekend, and my grandmother still -- 5 years later -- cannot get over it. You'd be surprised how much you can do with a little paint and effort.

6. Paint the Walls. Ok, maybe not the entire house, depending on how big your mom's home is, but everyone has that hallway or room that's so scuffed, it's embarrassing.�

7. Organize the Family Photos. Another good deed that I, as a much younger adult, did for my parents. It was quite the effort, I won't lie, but the result is a gift that keeps on giving. My mother, who really loves her family photos, enjoys nothing more than referring to a tidy stack of labeled albums (by date and event) and reminiscing at her leisure.

8. Put Up Curtains. This may seem odd, but many people, myself included, have rooms in their home that are curtainless. It's one of those things that unless it gets done as soon as you move in, it will continue to get pushed down the list, until it ceases to matter at all. Well, you know that bare window is still bare. Fix it!�

9. Guest Bedroom Makeover. As long as there's a bed in there, you've got something to work with! Unearth it from winter clothes, clean out the spare closet of clothes that haven't seen the light of day since 1985, indulge your mom in a stylish new set of sheets, throw up a few frames and add a potted orchid. She'll love it. (I'd love it, never mind.)


This is in fact my guest bedroom, that I had made over on the cheapest of cheap. Read all about it!

10. Wash and Clean out the Car. A no-brainer!

ANY of these would be a nice gift for mom, and it would only cost you a weekend (or less). And hey, you can still go for brunch or have her over this Sunday -- think on what she may need done, get a nice card and make her an IOU. Buy some flowers in case the card seems sheepish on its own. After your genteel Sunday, make sure to follow up with mom immediately, to schedule your good deed. She'll not only be touched that you're delivering yourself into her service, but her heart will melt over how closely you've been paying attention to her daily life.

Major brownie points on this one, trust us.

Related:

• Party Planner: Mothers Day Brunch
  
• Slice.ca's Mothers Day Gift Ideas
• Mothers Day Menu Ideas from foodnetwork.ca�
  

Continuing our series on DIYs from Saint John's Opera Bistro makeover, today I'm going to show you how to recreate an often seen effect: birch-clad wall panels. Whether you’re talking home or business, great design is all about making a statement. And this statement can be made for under $20! All design ideas were conceived and carried out by Punch Inside, Creative Director, Judith Mackin.

Yellow birch trees cut into “pucks” and mounted on painted Masonite panels, creating a DIY wood surround for a Dimplex electric fireplace (available from Alternatives), at New Brunswick's Opera Bistro. Photo by Hemmings House.

You’ve probably noticed that the use of natural wood is growing in popularity in decor and interior design. This no doubt has something to do with increasing urbanization and a growing sensitivity to our threatened environment. Regardless: Something inherently simple yet beautiful happens when natural elements are imported, more or less intact, into domestic space. While the following DIY project is a little more involved than our previous entrance way makeover, the individual steps are nonetheless surprisingly simple, and fall well within everyone’s skill set.

Materials
• Yellow birch (Note: You can easily substitute whatever species is available, as long as the wood is dry) — free!
• Saws: Chainsaw, and either a table or radial arm saw
• Caulking gun
• Glue: PL 400
• Sheet of Masonite (you pick the size; similar to lumber, most home improvement stores will cut Masonite sheets on-site, to your specifications, for a nominal charge) — approx. $10
• Quart of paint that matches the wall colour
• Sandpaper (fine grade — for the edges of the Masonite)
• Note: A 2' x 4' birch disk panel can be fabricated for under $20, though this cost varies depending on (i) how much gas your vehicle requires to get you to the woods and back; and (ii) if you need to rent saws, or purchase them (but of course, if it comes to that, try to borrow them from your friends, first!)

For this project, wood disks were glued to pre-cut, painted Masonite board (same paint type as the receiving wall; an eggshell latex). IMPORTANT NOTE: It's better to attach the wood discs to a panel that is affixed with screws to the wall vs directly onto the feature wall This will allow you to easily remove the effect should you tire of it, or move the panels as desired.

DIY

STEP 1: Get the Wood
Head out into the nearest wooded area (with a friend, always more fun — but provide a “thank you” glass of wine after!) and cut down or gather enough fallen dead trees to cover your chosen surface area for panel size. As noted above, we used yellow birch for our Opera Bistro project, but any type of tree will do — providing that the diameter is between three and five inches.

My friends Bob (on two legs) and Gus (on four legs, but only two shown) helped me find the yellow birch — right behind Bob! Photo by Judith Mackin.

STEP 2: Cut the Wood
Using your table or radial arm saw, cut your wood disks to a thickness of approximately ½" to ¾", until you accumulate your desired number of disks. Don’t worry about consistency of thickness, here — in fact; a certain variety in thickness is actually desirable.

Cutting the yellow birch. Photo by Judith Mackin.

STEP 3: Dry the Wood
Dry the fresh-cut disks in a warm room. You must allow at least one week for complete drying; this ensures that there will be no warping and that the disks will adhere to a painted surface. Note: As the disks dry, they will lighten somewhat in colour. Recommended: Turn the disks, like pancakes, every couple of days.

The wood disks, fresh-cut. The darker shade in the centre of the wood indicates that it is still wet. Photo by Judith Mackin.

STEP 4: Visualize the Project — Layout Trial
Before you cut your Masonite, ensure you have the correct measurements and design. Simply, tape the outline of the desired size of the Masonite panel(s) onto the floor, and fill the space with wood disks (they don’t have to be dry).

Tape out the shape of you Masonite board on the floor and fill the space with your wood discs. Photo by Judith Mackin.

STEP 5: Visualize the Project — Layout on Cut and Painted Masonite
When the Masonite has been cut and painted and the wood disks (and paint) are 100% dry, lay out the disks on each painted panel. While the spacing between and among disks should be fairly consistent, you should aim for some variety in disk sizes.

Pre-cut Masonite panels laid out on the floor for painting. Photo by Judith Mackin (Can you spot Longhorn “Tex” from our previous DIY post?)

STEP 6: Glue the Wood Disks in Place
As with sourcing the wood, an extra set of hands makes the gluing process quicker and smoother — and more fun. One of you can put the glue [PL 400] on the wood disks while the other applies the gluey disks to the Masonite panel(s). For this step, place an L-shaped gob of glue in the centre of the wood disk, then place and press down for a minimum of ten seconds; this ensures a secure bond to the Masonite. IMPORTANT NOTE: Several wood disks will (eventually) cover the screws that secure the Masonite to the walls. Identify these disks/spots — typically, there are six to eight of them — and glue those placements only after each panel has been attached to the wall.

Me and my friend Sarah (Note: friends always get the gun), gluing the wood disks to the Masonite panels. Photo by Alexandra Moore

STEP 7: Install the Completed Panel(s)
Wait a minimum of 24 hours, for the glue to dry; give each disk a wiggle to confirm bonding. When everything is secure, screw the birch panels into wall or counter, and affix covering disks over screws (see: STEP 6).

Two Birch/Masonite bar surrounds, in place at Opera Bistro. Photos by Hemmings House

ALL DONE!
The beauty of these panels is the flexibility — you can make them any shape or size.� If you are not fortunate enough to have a fireplace, such as the magnificent one at Opera Bistro [pictured below], pick a feature wall, or even a window to surround. Every home can sport a birch-clad wall!�You are only limited by your imagination.

The completed birch fireplace surround,�in place at Opera Bistro. Photo by Hemmings House

Next in Judith Mackin's DIY makeover series: How to (re)invent your guest book
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Judith Mackin is founder and creative director of Punch Inside, an interior design firm in Saint John, New Brunswick. You can follow her regularly updated blog on JudithMackin.ca. Her design and décor studio, TUCK, is slated to open in June 2012. [Photo credit: Kelly Lawson]

• DIY Entrance Way for Under $200
  
• Restaurant Makeover: Opera Bistro, Part 2
  
• Restaurant Makeover: Opera Bistro, Part 1

Last month, HGTV.ca ran a two-part feature about a restaurant makeover for Saint John, New Brunswick’s Opera Bistro. The makeover was carried out by Punch Inside, the design firm for which I am Creative Director.

Opera Bistro’s new entrance, created for under $200!

Today, we unpack the new entrance area of Opera Bistro [pictured, above] and offer you DIY advice on how you create your own entrance way in a similar aesthetic. In fact, it doesn’t matter whether you’re talking about a home or a business setting: entrances are always key. Their role is to be the welcoming space, the first chance to make an impression (and you remember what they say about second chances at making a first impression...). An entrance, then, should — indeed, must — make a statement. Here’s how you can easily make that statement for under $200!

All photos by Hemmings House, unless otherwise noted.

In the case of the pre-makeover Opera Bistro [pictured, left of "Materials" list; photo by Judith Mackin], the entrance badly needed an upgraded “WOW” factor. We knew that we needed to get this space reduced to the essentials (i.e., strip it right down to the walls) and start over, fresh.

Materials
When sourcing materials, be as creative as you are comfortable being. There are always plenty of places to save money without cutting corners, as you'll see from this list.

DIY

STEP 1: Painted Accent Wall
Paint the entrance or accent wall in your desired colour, and with the recommended number of coats. A fresh coat of paint can go a long way towards making a space seem new — even if the space is question is just an accent wall. At Opera Bistro, Black Eggshell was used on the walls, along with Masonite for the birch panel.

STEP 2: The Texture Wall
Assemble a wall panel from birch strips — NOTE: An upcoming HGTV.ca blog will provide step-by-step instructions for DIY birch panels. Attach the panel to the wall with drywall screws. Add and element of surprise: Our visual surprise came from the complementary but distinctive cardboard mounted bull head (Longhorn "Tex").

Longhorn “Tex” (medium brown) from Cardboard Safari, $31, TUCK Studio; photo via CardboardSafari.com

STEP 3: Frame Found Objects
Add framed “found” objects — in this case, beautifully aged music sheets placed in simple frames and hung vertically in a group of three. NOTE: More ideas on framing found objects will be featured in an upcoming HGTV.ca blog.

Detail: inexpensive frames display old opera music sheets

STEP 4: Light Fixture
Install your “In the Right Light” fixture, or something very similar -- the particular proportions and look of each of the objects included in this entrance way are carefully chosen, so if you're improvising, try and stick to suggestions as closely as you can. p.s. Installing your own lighting is not a recommended DIY step — much better (and safer) to have an electrician do this for you.

“In the Right Light” fixture by Rich, Brilliant, Willing, $125, TUCK Studio; photo via ArtecnicaInc.com


STEP 5: Basket
A large, shallow basket can be sourced from a number of locations, e.g. a flea market. You may already have one lying around — since the heyday of Wicker Emporium and Pier One, who doesn’t? (The owner of Opera Bistro purchased this particular basket for $5 dollars.) Source birch or other sticks and branches from an adventure in the woods; stack them in the basket et voilà — a natural décor element. If you're the practical type, use your basket for kids shoes, dog accessories, slippers, etc.

Basketful o’birch: Simple, fast, beautiful

STEP 6: Craft It Up!
Given that the Opera Bistro renovation involved the central motifs of opera and wood, we decided to combine the two whenever possible. Papier-mâché, which everyone’s done a time or two in their lives (and if not: it’s easy to make your own papier-mâché at home — and fun, too), is a great way to turn some already beautiful branches into an unpredictable, “musical” art piece.

Scraps of sheet music, papier-mâché'd over found birch.

Papier-mâché trees:

• Mix an acrylic gel medium with flour and water (all equal approximately parts)
• Rip paper (in this case, sheets of music) into strips of any length or width; dip strips entirely in mixture; remove strips from mixture and remove excess goop; gently apply strips to branches/trunks; once applied, smooth the strips (NOTE: You can apply the strips willy-nilly, or systematically for a desired pattern — it will look good no matter what you do)
• Allow extra time for the mâché to dry completely — drying time is dependent on number of strip layers and thickness of goo

STEP 7: Sculptural Branches
By simply applying a glossy paint, white (or, any colour you prefer), to a bark-stripped tree (or branches), you’ll find the transformation to be surprisingly sculptural. Best of all: It’s soooo easy and affordable!.

Detail: paint brings a sculptural look to a bark-stripped tree, or tree branch

Painted trees:

• Make sure the wood is as smooth (free of loose material) as possible and dry (be patient, allow days if necessary — no point in putting paint on wet wood)
• Apply one coat of white (or, any colour you prefer) interior acrylic latex enamel semi-gloss paint; once dry, apply a second coat

All Done! Now, Wasn't That Easy?
As you can see, it doesn’t take much money or time to really change a space and imbue it with that all-important “WOW” factor. What will you do with your entrance?

Next in Judith Mackin's DIY makeover series: How to create your own birch fireplace or wall-surround panels

�

Judith Mackin is founder and creative director of Punch Inside, an interior design firm in Saint John, New Brunswick. You can follow her regularly updated blog on JudithMackin.ca. Her design and décor studio, TUCK, is slated to open in June 2012. [Photo credit: Kelly Lawson]

• Restaurant Makeover: Opera Bistro, Part 2
  
• Restaurant Makeover: Opera Bistro, Part 1
• HGTV.ca Original Home Tour: Judith and Robert, Saint John, NB