A diy craft for all ages - great gift idea too!

Those wishing to grow indoor herbs, a sill sanctuary filled with flowers or a simple resting place for healthy, veggie sustenance can bank on this craft-idea to bring joy to their homes or that of loved ones (should you wish to gift it).

Here’s what you need: a drill machine, a store-bought or home-made window box with drainage provided, drainage tray, sand-paper, compost and soil (or mixture bought from a nursery), favourite seasonal flowers, acrylic white and coloured paints, overcoat of clear gloss to hold in the colours, a 2 inch paint brush and turpentine.

Method: rub the sand-paper over the outside of the window box to smoothen out the rough edges; in smooth strokes, apply the base coat of white paint, wait for it to dry fully before applying a second coat.

When completely dry, paint in coloured designs you like hearts, leaves, lattice and stripes are some popular choices and wait for the colours to dry before going ahead with the overcoat of clear gloss. Let dry in sunlight overnight.

Fix the painted window box to your chosen spot by the window after machine-drilling holes into it, placing drainage tray and inch-thick layer of pebbles at the bottom, then before covering these with compost and soil mix and sprinkling the plant seeds.

Lavender and geranium grow well in small areas as do chives, mint and sage.

Whatever plants you choose, take care to water them regularly and treat them with adequate fertilizers (even slow release ones are available, so do find out about these) to keep from withering.

If opting for different varieties of plants, sow the tallest at the back, bushy ones in the middle and trailing kinds towards the front of the window box to give it an aesthetic look that s peachy keen for the outsiders looking in.

(yeah, you re sure to have plenty of those too with such a great garden idea decorating your home!)

Selling Your Home Increasing Chances of a Sale by Rich Bendall

The old saying that first impressions count is particularly relevant to people buying a new home where initial impressions can be very important. For homeowners there are a number of simple things they can do to attract potential buyers and increase the chances of selling of their home. Most of these can be done at little or no expense.

On many occasions potential buyers will drive or walk past the property before deciding to arrange a viewing. Therefore homeowners should ensure that the outside of their home looks in the best possible condition. If the property has a garden then something as simple as cutting the lawn and adding a few plants and flowers can make a difference. To further improve the outside appearance of the home, window frames could be repainted or varnished, broken roof tiles replaced and gutters cleared.

If a potential buyer does decide to view the property homeowners have a major opportunity to encourage a sale by presenting their home in the best possible light. Even basic maintenance and decoration can be enough to tempt the buyer.

Before the viewing the homeowner should check each room and look for ways to improve them. Some common examples include ��"

Re-decoration

Repair any damaged paintwork with a new coating and fix or replace peeling wallpaper. When selling property it is beneficial to try to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. With this in mind when decorating homeowners should stick to neutral colours.

Clean and Remove Clutter

An untidy and cluttered room can appear smaller therefore homeowners should make their property seem more spacious by tidying up and storing away clutter such as ornaments and knick-knacks. The two most important rooms in a house tend to be the kitchen and the bathroom and so extra attention should be made to keeping these rooms clean.

DIY and Maintenance

Make the home appear well looked after and in good condition by performing basic household maintenance. For example broken light bulbs should be replaced and leaking taps fixed.

Lighting

An easy way to improve the look of a property is to have the right lighting. For daytime viewings curtains should be opened to let natural sunlight in which again will have the effect of making the room appear to be more spacious.

As can be seen there are many ways for homeowners to increase the chances of selling their home. In an increasingly competitive housing market these are becoming more and more important.

About the Author

WOW Property is a UK online property agency. Choose WOW Property and sell your house for a fixed fee of just £999. Visit our website and advertise your property online.