Blog Posts by This Old House Magazine

You've seen their creations in our Best Pumpkin Carvers on the Web gallery. Now, here are the expert carvers' tips for every step of the pumpkin-carving process. Follow their advice to create a potentially award-winning pumpkin, and Enter our Pumpkin-Carving Contest for your chance to win prizes and be featured on This Old House website.

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Want to go traditional and carve a gourd straight from the patch? Or would you like your creation to last forever by carving a synthetic pumpkin? Whichever one you choose, make sure you consider your design or pattern when selecting a gourd. Get one large enough and in a shape that will accommodate the length and width of whatever design you're going to carve into it. And before you leave the pumpkin patch, Ryan Wickstrand of ZombiePumpkins.com recommends the following: "Make sure it can stand well on its own, and never carry a pumpkin by its stem."

If you dread seeing your hard work turn to mush-even with good care, a carved pumpkin will

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Long after you spent the money on them, gift cards can save you a bundle. Handy TOH reader Bill Tuscano clued us in about all the things he does with his used cards.

1. Use as a Straightedge

Keep a few cards in your workshop for marking cuts on small pieces of trim and other materials.

2. Spot-fix a tile floor

Why dirty a trowel when gluing down a few loose tiles? Instead, snip off one edge of a card with pinking shears to make a zigzag edge, use it to apply the mastic, then toss it

3. Get rid of air bubbles

Rub the edge of a card along a freshly wallpapered surface-especially in corners and around tight spots near windows and doors-to help the paper lie smoothly.

4. Mix and apply glues and putties

Use a card to mix and apply small batches of patching compound or two-part epoxy, or to work stiff putty until it's elastic enough to apply.

5. Scrape off gunk

Keep a few cards on hand in your workshop and kitchen to remove paint drips, stubborn labels, candle wax, and other

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I'm just going to say it. This thing right here costs $10,000. No joke. But here's some good news; shipping is free! And it should be. Here's why this funky find costs a small fortune, and why it'll be worth the splurge for some.

Designed by futuristic-style furniture fancier Michiel van der Kley, this white lacquered Baydour shell with aluminum base item (known as the Globus) is, when open, a comfy, compact workstation, and when closed, an eye-catching sculptural piece that's sure to get the conversation going. And thanks to the rotating seat and castors built into the bottom, this baby is fully flexible and functional. So, for instance, say you're penning the next Great American Novel and encounter writer's block, well, just move your mobile office around until your find an inspirational spot to settle into the seat (available in either fabric or leather) and get to work. Or, if you're just tight on space and are in need of a condensed, all-in-one place to sit, read, draw, Read More »from Office on the go

Tube-bird-feederWhen my niece saw a neighbor dismantling his bird feeder, she asked me, "What are the birds gonna eat when all the berries die soon?" So, we jumped right into superhero mode and talked said neighbor into leaving the feeder out, with the little one even offering to clean and fill the thing as part of her negotiations.

Many homeowners are in the habit of putting out a bird feeder in the spring and relegating it to the garage with the lawn mower come fall or winter. Truth is, native wildlife need your feeder most in the cold season, when plant food sources are low and snow covers anything available to foraging birds on the ground.

If you don't have a feeder, now may be a good time to get one since retailers often bulk them into discounted yard and garden decor inventory this time of year. Like the one shown here? This Copper 3-Tube Finch Feeder ($40) is new from my favorite Web shoppe, Doctors Foster & Smith. It's easy to clean, has over 30 access ports, and is great-looking to

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It's official: School's in. Just keep in mind that your kid's homework grades won't be as high as they could be if they're scrawling answers onto loose leaf while watching their favorite cartoon in the living room. Creating an organized, quiet study area (that's cool enough for your prized pupil to actually want to spend time there) means better grades, but it doesn't mean you've got to add on to the house. Here are some great ideas to create a study area that'll make your kids want to, well, study.

You'll need a work surface, seating, adequate storage, proper lighting, and, if you want to go crazy, a bulletin board. Some of my favorite DIY desk ideas come via Instructables.com. You can...

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...make a wall desk with bookshelves

...put a work station in a closet-turned-nook

When considering task lighting, you want something that'll prevent eye-strain and cover the entire workspace.The Verilux Original Natural Spectrum Desk Lamp (right, $49) is designed

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Any tool that can help with home organization is good. Any free tool that can help with home organization is better. Sears Holdings just launched Manage My Home, an interactive website where homeowners can list their to-dos and help each other get tasks crossed off.

After a quick, easy registration, you can access a to-do list-maker, and inventory-keeper, thousands of appliance manuals, and other great features. Since the launch of the site earlier this month, 15,023 to-do items have been added to the site, over 3 million appliance manuals have been downloaded, and 622,765 home items have been added to the inventory database, where you can upload images of your valuable home parts and appliances. - Tabitha Sukhai

For more of this site review from thisoldhouse.com go to The Hardware Aisle

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Sometimes candles just aren't enough. Rather than surrendering your soothing soak to the often too bright overhead bathroom light, sit back, relax, and enjoy this tub's own warm glow. Outfitted with a programmable, multicolored LED light unit (or with a regular light fitting), this freestanding, 69 x 33.5 x 23.5 inch polyethylene bathtub is available in a few funky colors: fluorescent orange, lemon yellow, red, pink, white and multichromatic (for an additional charge). Really, who wouldn't want a punchy-pink colored bathtub? I happen to love the idea. See more at hardwareaisle.thisoldhouse.com

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Fireplace slipcover

My current apartment doesn't have a fireplace, but two of my previous digs did. I remember loving that with just a flip of a switch or a strike of a match I could get a fire going. I also recall that the mantels weren't anything to look at. They were plain and simple, and could have used some jazzing up. But since I rented both apartments there was nothing I could do, save for plopping down some decorative vases and what not on top of them.

Well, too bad I'm now just discovering this Louis Fireplace Slipcover by Ridiculous Design. Though I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I love or loathe (probably too strong of a word) this custom hand-painted canvas piece, it caught my eye and it's downright clever. Whether you're a renter or homeowner who can't spring for a real deal, fancy thousand dollars or so cast stone mantel, this item might be the solution to your fireplace woes.

Canvas fireplace slipcover Available at the online store Supermarket (a great site for interesting fashion and home Read More »from A fireplace slipcover: Fancy doesn't have to cost a fortune