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Tag: DIY

  • Make Your Own Custom Sticky Notes with the Memo X

    Make Your Own Custom Sticky Notes with the Memo X

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    Zenlet’s Memo X is unique gadget that turns any paper you want into removable sticky notes. It combines cutting and adhesive application into a single step. Slide a sheet of paper into its slot, press down, and in a second you’ll have a custom sticky note in one of three sizes. A $4 roll of tape makes about 250 notes.

    Crowdfunded projects pose a degree of risk for buyers, so be sure to do your research before paying your hard-earned money.

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    Paul Strauss

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  • The Surprising Bathroom Accessory That Makes Any Kitchen Feel Instantly “Fancy”

    The Surprising Bathroom Accessory That Makes Any Kitchen Feel Instantly “Fancy”

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    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    Luxe kitchen upgrades, like Cafe Appliances and colorful Smeg refrigerators, are trending right now in a major way — and it’s hard not to see why. With French doors that open side by side, a sleek design, bright colors, and seemingly endless customization options, it’s no wonder they’re all the rage. However, you might not be looking to drop a few thousand dollars for the look (who can blame you?). Plus, if your current refrigerator is in great condition, why fix what isn’t broken? TikToker and DIY design expert Kelly Cousineau (@homeonarborpointe) gave her fridge a makeover to create a “DIY Cafe fridge” — all with one bathroom staple you may already have in your house.

    In the video, Cousineau thoroughly cleans the surface of the fridge to remove any grease stains, food residue, and fingerprints, then adds a coat of primer as a base before adding three coats of white paint. You might not necessarily need three coats, but because her fridge was black, the extra layers were crucial. In a subsequent video, she also mentioned using “regular flat paint,” reiterating that there is no need to spend on high-end appliance paint. And while she used white paint, you can opt for any color (think: teal, neutral beige, or even a retro orange). You can always paint over your fridge again if you don’t like it! Here are more tips on how to paint your refrigerator.

    The creator decided to build a wooden platform to fill in some space, but you can certainly skip that part. After removing the original handles from the fridge, she then attached towel racks as the new handles to mimic the design of the Cafe refrigerators. The process of removing the handles of your refrigerator may be different from fridge to fridge, but you may need some mounting fasteners or studs to install the towel racks.

    How ingenious! And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Other TikTok users swarmed the comments to express their appreciation for the hack, even offering some suggestions of their own. “Amazing!!” said one user. “I have the Cafe one and I promise yours looks better.” Another commenter shared, “I will be doing this, but I think I will use contact paper.” 

    The best part? Towel racks come in all shapes and sizes — even at the dollar store — so it really comes down to personal preference, whether it’s brushed gold or a funky red. Or maybe you’re more of a brass handle person — it’s totally up to you!

    Get creative, because you really can’t go wrong! This simple DIY hack goes to show that giving your kitchen a refresh certainly doesn’t have to break the bank — and that even the things you don’t think you can upgrade, can be totally transformed with just a few simple changes. 

    Buy: Kitchen Towel Brushed Gold Bar, $14.99



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    Emma Taubenfeld

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  • Before & After: Sky Blue Cabinets Instantly Update This Dated '80s Kitchen — For Only $200

    Before & After: Sky Blue Cabinets Instantly Update This Dated '80s Kitchen — For Only $200

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    “I found creative ways to brighten and update the room without spending much money.”
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    Cullen Ormond

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  • Winter Planting: What to Plant in Your Garden in December

    Winter Planting: What to Plant in Your Garden in December

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    December is an interesting month for most. It’s filled with fun things like parties and holidays, but the fun is inevitably accompanied by a whole lot of chores and stress. Wouldn’t it be great to get outside and do some stress-relieving gardening? Sigh.

    Good news: You can garden in December! What you can plant will vary with your location, but there’s still plenty that can be done.

    1. You can plant vegetables.

    Above: Garlic growing in snow. Photograph by Marie Viljoen, from Gardening 101: Garlic.

    Cold-hardy vegetables can be planted in beds where the winters aren’t too harsh and the soil is not frozen and still workable. They include root vegetables such as carrots and turnips. In the brassica family, you can plant cabbages, kale, and cauliflower. You can even plant garlic. Know that the low temperatures and limited sun will slow the growth rate. How much depends on your microclimate and if you have access to hoop houses or floating row covers, both of which provide protection. If your beds are out in the open, exposed to the elements, your vegetables will grow far slower than they would in a sheltered spot—such as up against the foundation of your home, protected from wind and in full sun. At night, the foundation releases the sun’s stored energy, keeping the bed from freezing.

    If you choose to winter sow using milk jugs, be sure to fill each with at least three inches of soil. Photograph by SK via Flickr.
    Above: If you choose to winter sow using milk jugs, be sure to fill each with at least three inches of soil. Photograph by SK via Flickr.

    If your soil is already frozen, you have two options. Grow your vegetables in a cold frame, or winter sow by using milk jugs (or other repurposed plastic containers) to create a miniature greenhouse for the seeds. You can sow nearly everything this way—and you end up getting larger seedlings when it’s time to transplant. (For more information on winter sowing using milk jugs, read this.)

    2. You can plant flowers.

    Above: Winter is the season for bare root planting. Photograph courtesy of David Austin Roses, from Dreaming of Roses? Now’s the Time to Plant Them Bare Root.

    You can plant many different flowers by way of winter sowing. This is particularly good for those plants needing cold stratification. These include natives such as echinacea, goldenrod, and milkweed, and more showy plants like artichokes and hollyhocks.

    But you’re not limited to seeds. You can plant bare-root roses, daylilies, and peonies. Did you forget about that box of daffodil bulbs in the mudroom? Plant them. So long as the soil is not frozen, you can plant. The same goes for tulips, snowdrops, and one of the main harbingers of spring, crocuses. If you see pansies in your local garden center, pick some up. They are remarkably hardy for a delicate looking flower and will bloom in the snow. Remember to protect the newly planted plants by mulching them. Mulch helps regulate soil temperature and reduces the amount of frost heaving.

    3. You can plant trees.

    Above: For best results, soil temperature should be 60°F or warmer when planting an evergreen tree. Photograph by Justine Hand, from DIY: Plant Your Christmas Tree in the Garden.

    There is a magic number for planting trees in the winter. If your soil temperature is 50°F or higher, you are good to plant deciduous trees. For evergreens, 60°F is the minimum. Below the minimums, you run the risk of the tree dying. Trees are a huge investment. It’s best to give them the greatest chance of survival with a simple meat thermometer for less than $10. (Just remember to clearly label it “for soil use only.”)

    With planting any plant, it’s important to match the right plant to the right place. In winter, the right plants are ones that are cold hardy, and the right place requires that you know what zone you’re in and if you have a microclimate you can take advantage of.

    See also:

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  • How to Make a Christmas Wreath from Scratch (With Video!)

    How to Make a Christmas Wreath from Scratch (With Video!)

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    Making a fresh wreath has quickly become one of my absolute favourite holiday traditions. Using greenery in your garden and neighbourhood, you can create a beautiful and local wreath to decorate your front door with. Here’s how to make a Christmas wreath for your home.

    Every year we like to hang a different Christmas wreath on our front door during the holidays. We’ve amassed a collection of wreaths to match the holiday season trends of red berries, Christmas ornaments, peacock feathers, and square-shaped boxwood, but my favourites are most certainly natural, fresh wreaths.

    A fresh wreath makes for an individual work of art that smells as good as it looks. Florists and garden centers are wonderful places to find one to suit any style, but if you are feeling adventurous, a homemade wreath made with garden clippings or purchased greens can be most gratifying.

    Given the current popularity of lateral space gardening, supplies are available for all sorts of wreath plantings. Evergreen, succulent, moss, and flower wreaths are beautiful micro gardens that will suit almost any style or climate. Care will vary depending on what type of planting you decide on, but many will last for months, if not years, with a couple of weekly squirts of a spray bottle.

    Let’s dive into how to make a Christmas wreath, shall we?

    Fresh wreath on light wooden doorFresh wreath on light wooden door
    I like to use lots of different foliage for tons of texture.

    Watch the Wreath Making Video!

    Follow along with me as I make one of my fresh wreaths from scratch.

    YouTube videoYouTube video

    How to Make a Christmas Wreath

    My go-to style is wild and local. I forage for all kinds of greenery beyond the traditional holly and pine (though I like those too!) and incorporate lots of colour in my wreath. The best part about learning how to make a Christmas wreath is that you can truly design it in your own style.

    Materials

    Make It!

    Step 1: Gather a variety of foliage, berries, twigs, pinecones, ribbons, and anything else you want to add to your wreath. Some of the evergreen cuttings that work very well are holly, cedar, cotoneaster, pine, pieris, boxwood, laurel, camellia, fir, cypress, and magnolia.

    I like to contrast needles with broad leaves and vary the colour, but a wreath made entirely of one type of foliage can be incredibly dramatic. Also, think about tucking in herbs like rosemary, sage, and lavender into the foliage to add another delightful aroma.

    how to make a Christmas wreath using a grapevine formhow to make a Christmas wreath using a grapevine form
    The size of your grapevine wreath will determine the size of your finished wreath.

    Step 2:  Using a grapevine wreath as your base (you can buy one or make your own), start by choosing a firm branch with a stem that is thick enough that it will not bend easily. Add other cuttings of different foliage on top and gather the bunch in your hand. Snip off any long stems.

    Bundling fresh evergreens to make a wreathBundling fresh evergreens to make a wreath
    Save time by making all your small clippings ahead of time.

    Step 3: Using the twine, wrap around the bunch and the grapevine wreath together a few times until secured. For the first bunch, tie a knot in the twine to hold it in place, but do not cut the end of the twine.

    Adding fresh greens to a wreath formAdding fresh greens to a wreath form
    Wrap around the bunch a few times first, then wrap the bunch to the grapevine wreath.

    Step 4: Gather a second bunch of foliage. Lay this bunch, overlapping the twine of the first, securing the first bunch to the wreath. Wrap twine around the base of the new bunch a few times and set it down.

    Adding bundles to a wreathAdding bundles to a wreath
    Overlap in different directions for a more natural look.

    Continue adding foliage to the wreath by overlapping the previous bunch and securing it with twine until there are no more gaps to fill.

    A DIY fresh wreathA DIY fresh wreath
    Use different foliage in different bunches to mix things up.

    Step 5: Secure the final bunch by gently lifting the foliage from the first bunch and tucking the stems underneath it. Secure with twine and tie off the final bunch with a few knots.

    how to make a fresh Christmas wreathhow to make a fresh Christmas wreath
    Use your first bunch to hide the twine of your last bunch.

    Step 6: Now, take a last look at the wreath. You can tuck in a few more greens to even out the design or add a few embellishments such as pinecones (using florist wire to attach them), berries, ribbons, or even ornaments. Feel free to prune unruly parts as well.

    How to make a fresh wreathHow to make a fresh wreath
    You can always add more and prune afterward.

    Step 7: Hang and enjoy!

    An easy homemade Christmas wreathAn easy homemade Christmas wreath
    Your wreath is ready to welcome guests!

    FAQ About Making a Christmas Wreath

    How long will a fresh wreath last?

    I make my wreath in November, and it lasts until March. I live in Vancouver, so it’s pretty rainy and moist outside to keep the wreath hydrated.

    Is there anything you can do to make a fresh wreath last longer?

    I don’t do anything extra for my wreath, but if you live in a warm and dry climate, you can try misting your wreath daily with water. Before making your wreath, let your clippings sit in water for a few hours to get hydrated before you trim them.

    There are also spray preservatives you can use to help keep your wreath hydrated.

    Can I keep a fresh wreath indoors?

    It will dry out more quickly indoors with the heat, but you can certainly keep it indoors.

    Can you make a fresh wreath using yew?

    Yew is toxic and can lose its needles really fast. It’s one of the few I recommend skipping in this post.

    Can I use wire instead of twine to make a fresh wreath?

    I like twine (it’s compostable!), but wire should also work fine. Use whatever you have on hand.

    fresh Christmas wreathfresh Christmas wreath

    The final word on making a perfect wreath: just have fun with it. Experimenting with different foliage will allow the wreath to become traditional or modern, contained or wild, themed or every day.

    A special thanks to the wonderful neighbourhood gals who provided all the foliage, wine, and treats that go along with the annual wreath-making afternoon.

    More Ideas for Christmas Decor

    How to Make a Christmas Wreath

    Make a fresh wreath using greenery from your own garden and neighbourhood.

    • Gather all of your clippings and separate them into groups. Holly, cedar, pine, fir, cypress, laurel, magnolia, boxwood, camellia, and pieris are all good options.

    • Choose a firm branch with a thick stem for the base, and add a couple more different foliage on top. Snip any long stems.

    • Wrap around the base of the bundle a couple of times with the twine before securing it to the grapevine wreath and wrapping the twine around the wreath. Tie a knot to hold it in place. Do not cut the twine.

    • Repeat the last step, overlapping bundles all the way around the wreath.

    • Secure the final bunch by gently lifting the first bunch and tucking the stems underneath it. Secure it with the twine and tie it before cutting it.

    • Hang the wreath and prune any unruly parts. Add decorations if you want or leave it as is.

    YouTube videoYouTube video

    How to Make an Evergreen WreathHow to Make an Evergreen Wreath

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    Stephanie Rose

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  • Before & After: A “Bright White” Kitchen Gets a Warm, Cottage-Inspired Update for Only $600

    Before & After: A “Bright White” Kitchen Gets a Warm, Cottage-Inspired Update for Only $600

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    The goal was to add “personality and warmth” to a once all-white kitchen.
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    Cullen Ormond

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  • People Are Just Discovering This Brilliant Use for an Empty Broth Carton

    People Are Just Discovering This Brilliant Use for an Empty Broth Carton

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    Before you toss that empty carton, read this!
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    Shifrah Combiths

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  • DIY: Foraged Thanksgiving Tabletop with Berries and Branches – Gardenista

    DIY: Foraged Thanksgiving Tabletop with Berries and Branches – Gardenista

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    Above: In autumn, shrubs sport all color of berries. Branches with green leaves and colorful berries make pretty garlands. In my Northern California neighborhood, there are lots of orange bittersweet berries, black privet berries, and purple privet berries. Other berries to look for: purple beautyberry and orange winterberry. (See What’s that Berry? Test Your Knowledge of Fall’s Red Fruits.)

    .

    Above: Before arranging foraged finds, rinse them–extremely well–in the kitchen sink. Bugs are not welcome at the dinner table.

    The Look

    Above: I used garden twine to tie a sprig to each napkin. You can also get fancier and make a tiny bundled bouquet for each guest’s napkin. See how at Botanical Napkin Rings for Thanksgiving.

    Above: I like a big napkin, preferably made of soft linen because the fabric drapes beautifully and absorbs spilled wine better than cotton.

    Available in nearly two dozen colors, 22-inch-square linen napkins from Hudson Grace are washable and can be tumbled dry (and if you pull them out of the dryer while they’re still warm, you won’t need to iron them–they fold beautifully). Hand-dyed in San Francisco, the napkins are $18 apiece.

    Above: To assemble the floral arrangement, I laid a linen runner down the center of the table. The fabric defines the boundaries of the floral arrangement (a helpful visual cue for when you don’t use a vase or other vessel).

    Next, I laid a line of smoke bush branches down the middle of the table runner. Into them I tucked shorter lengths of privet, allowing the smoke bush leaves to cup clusters of privet berries. For extra drama, I tucked one hydrangea bloom into each end of the free-form garland.

    Above: I placed the napkins on top of the plates to add some height to edge of the table and offset the bulk of the foraged floral arrangement. This prevents the table from looking like it has a big, impenetrable hedge in the middle of it.

    Above: I wanted the table to contradict itself, to look glamorous and casual at the same time. So I skipped the tablecloth this year and instead relied on the runner to create a painterly frame around the florals.

    The Day After

    Above: After you disassemble the tabletop arrangement, turn the water pitcher into a vase with a sprig of long-lasting berries.

    We’re feeling thankful. See:

    N.B.: This post was first published November 2017.

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  • Lowe’s Sales Disappoint as Consumers Pull Back. The Stock Is Dropping.

    Lowe’s Sales Disappoint as Consumers Pull Back. The Stock Is Dropping.

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    Lowe’s earned more than expected in the third quarter but the stock was tumbling after the home-improvement retailer reported disappointing sales and noted that consumers were reining in spending.

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  • Before & After: Bold Black Cabinets Give a Modern Edge to a “Dated ‘80s” Kitchen

    Before & After: Bold Black Cabinets Give a Modern Edge to a “Dated ‘80s” Kitchen

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    “I’m regularly pinching myself when I see this total dream kitchen in my own home.”
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    Cullen Ormond

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  • Before & After: A “Claustrophobic” Kitchen Gets a Dreamy Neutral Treatment

    Before & After: A “Claustrophobic” Kitchen Gets a Dreamy Neutral Treatment

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    This family of seven finally feels comfortable spending most of their time here together.
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    Cullen Ormond

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  • HTVRONT Initiated a Series of Non-Profit Craft Events in October

    HTVRONT Initiated a Series of Non-Profit Craft Events in October

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    The leading craft brand launched 10 social events facing craft lovers and families with media influencers from October 10 to 15, 2023, in the US and the Dominican Republic.

    HTVRONT, known as one of the top-ranking brands in the handicraft industry, held a series of non-profit, local events in the US and Dominican Republic from Oct. 10-15, gathering 10 famous craft influencers and its newest intelligent tumbler heat press, the HTVRONT Tumbler Heat Press, in an effort to deliver care to society and creative groups before the winter comes.

    These social events were held in schools, churches, parks, stadiums, markets, and communities in the US and the Dominican Republic, standing not only for HTVRONT’s candid dedication toward society but also for its brand value of delivering happiness to everyone through its better-valued and premium products. Herman, the CEO of HTVRONT, said they expected to help explore more innovative thinking and practical ability in people’s daily lives at these events and also give back support and love to local customers.

    At the events sponsored by HTVRONT, all participants were equipped with an abundance of craft materials like heat transfer vinyl and sublimation paper and the latest advanced craft machine, the HTVRONT Tumbler Heat Press. With all the supplies and careful instructions, people onsite were empowered to design and create more independently. Most attendees praised HTVRONT for its devotion to conveying the importance of creativity and hoped there would be more events like this. 

    One participant commented, “My family and I just came by, and we’re really glad to join this event. This smart heat press machine massively amazed us by its fast and even heat. It is equipped with an intuitive display screen and several setting buttons. You’re then allowed to set and monitor freely. I have to say, DIY seems unprecedentedly easy and efficient under the support of HTVRONT machines and materials. The moment I got my own unique and custom tumbler in hand, I felt that this was a terrific day!”

    These non-profit events also won the recognition and acknowledgment of the 10 influencers who collaborated with HTVRONT. “Through these events, I have felt the immense hospitality and inclusiveness HTVRONT performed in these places. The school, the church, the park, the community, and more! It makes us realize that creative activities are genuinely for everyone in this globe. And to some extent, these events deepened the bond of our neighbors while encouraging people to embrace the fun of handcrafting,” said Christy Kanashiro, one of the YouTube Influencers.

    This series of social events is part of the “HTVRONT Care” project, staying steadfast in implementing the brand’s social responsibility, and there will be more online and offline activities, including non-profit sporting and pets-related events, continuing in the future.

    For regular updates on HTVRONT, follow us on:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/htvront
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/htvront

    Source: HTVRONT

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  • Before & After: Pink Cabinets Brightened a “Regrettably Neutral” IKEA-Clad Kitchen

    Before & After: Pink Cabinets Brightened a “Regrettably Neutral” IKEA-Clad Kitchen

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    Yes, thats the before. Just wait until you see the after.
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    Cullen Ormond

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  • To Carve Pumpkins Safely, You Only Need These Two Tools

    To Carve Pumpkins Safely, You Only Need These Two Tools

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    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    While those inexpensive pumpkin carving kits you see at the grocery store may seem appealing (they promise everything you need — and when is the last time a plastic saw ever hurt anyone?), they’re actually not your best bet.

    “I don’t use them,” says expert pumpkin carver Hugh McMahon, who heads a team that makes 300 jack-o’-lanterns a season (including portraits of Michael Jackson and Albert Einstein!). Not only do those chintzy orange knives break too easily, but they’ll also never give you very detailed results. They’re not always the sharpest, and you know what they say about using dull knives (they’re more dangerous than sharp ones!).

    Instead, McMahon says there are only two tools you need to carve a pumpkin safely.

    The Only 2 Tools You Need for Pumpkin Carving

    1. A Serrated Vegetable Knife

    The best tool for cutting the eyes, mouth, and nose out of your jack-o’-lantern is something that’s probably already sitting in your kitchen: “I use a fruit and vegetable knife with a serrated edge,” says McMahon, who notes that his chosen knife is eight inches long. “You want one with a thin blade so you can turn it easily, which will give you a more precise shape.”

    Just as when you’re cutting fruits and veggies to eat, a sharper knife is a safer knife. “You want to saw through the pumpkin with it,” says McMahon, explaining that the motion should be a slow back and forth — not a pushing one. This way, the knife has a better grip on the pumpkin and makes easier cuts, which means you’re less likely to have an accident. We like Victorinox Swiss Classic Paring Knife, which you’ll get plenty of use out of the rest of the year to slice through everything from tender tomatoes to hearty root veggies.

    You know how those plastic pumpkin-carving kits always come with a scooper meant for scraping out the seeds? McMahon has a much better suggestion: “I go to the 99-cent store and get a soup ladle — and then I break off the handle,” he says. It’s deeper than those kit scoopers and it can hold a lot more pumpkin guts at once. Note: You don’t have to break the handle off; doing so just makes it easier to really get in there.

    Bonus tip: McMahon actually likes to cut a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin (instead of the top, as is more traditional) and scoop from there. “Then you can hide the electric cord to a light, and it keeps the shape of the pumpkin better,” he says. Our editors love GIR’s inexpensive silicone ladle for soup season, and it’s sturdy enough to make scooping out all those delicious pumpkin seeds (and the corresponding pulp) a breeze.

    You really don’t need any extra tools, but if you’re looking to create a super-intricate design this year, there are two other instruments that will come in handy for your carved creations.

    The best way to take your carving skills up a notch is to invest in an X-ACTO knife (you can buy one at any art supply store) for detail work. McMahon says he uses these artist’s knives when he wants to cut into — but not all the way through — the pumpkin’s skin.

    A word of warning, though: It is much easier to accidentally poke yourself with an X-ACTO knife than with a paring knife, so you’ll want to be extra careful. That said, a sharp paring knife could also be used.

    Wire-end modeling tools are meant for sculptors — and you are kind of sculpting a jack-o’-lantern when you carve it. Most at-home carvers probably won’t need the level of precision that this tool gives you, but McMahon says he scrapes it against pumpkin skin to smooth it after he’s cut into it with an X-ACTO knife.

    A note on safety: No matter which tools you’re using to make your jack-o’-lantern, you’ll want to clear off a large workspace and keep all of the instruments you’re using in one place, so you know where they are at all times. “What you don’t want is to be blindsided by a sharp point when grabbing something,” says McMahon. Because the only thing you should be cutting is your pumpkin.

    What do you use to carve pumpkins?

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    Robin Hilmantel

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  • These 20 stocks in the S&P 500 are expected to soar after rising interest rates have pushed down valuations

    These 20 stocks in the S&P 500 are expected to soar after rising interest rates have pushed down valuations

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    Two things investors can be sure about: Nothing lasts forever and the stock market always overreacts. The spiking of yields on long-term U.S. Treasury securities has been breathtaking, and it has led to remarkable declines for some sectors and possible bargains for contrarian investors who can commit for the long term.

    First we will show how the sectors of the S&P 500

    have performed. Then we will look at price-to-earnings valuations for the sectors and compare them to long-term averages. Then we will screen the entire index for companies trading below their long-term forward P/E valuation averages and narrow the list to companies most favored by analysts.

    Here are total returns, with dividends reinvested, for the 11 sectors of the S&P 500, with broad indexes below. The sectors are sorted by ascending total returns this year through Monday.

    Sector or index

    2023 return

    2022 return

    Return since end of 2021

    1 week return

    1 month return

    Utilities

    -18.4%

    1.6%

    -17.2%

    -11.1%

    -9.6%

    Real Estate

    -7.1%

    -26.1%

    -31.4%

    -3.0%

    -8.8%

    Consumer Staples

    -5.4%

    -0.6%

    -6.0%

    -2.2%

    -4.4%

    Healthcare

    -4.2%

    -2.0%

    -6.1%

    -1.7%

    -3.3%

    Financials

    -2.5%

    -10.5%

    -12.7%

    -2.5%

    -4.7%

    Materials

    1.3%

    -12.3%

    -11.2%

    -1.9%

    -7.0%

    Industrials

    3.5%

    -5.5%

    -2.1%

    -1.8%

    -7.3%

    Energy

    4.0%

    65.7%

    72.4%

    -1.9%

    -1.4%

    Consumer Discretionary

    27.0%

    -37.0%

    -20.0%

    -0.6%

    -5.2%

    Information Technology

    36.5%

    -28.2%

    -2.0%

    0.8%

    -5.9%

    Communication Services

    42.5%

    -39.9%

    -14.3%

    1.1%

    -1.3%

    S&P 500
    13.1%

    -18.1%

    -7.4%

    -1.1%

    -4.9%

    DJ Industrial Average
    2.5%

    -6.9%

    -4.5%

    -1.7%

    -4.0%

    Nasdaq Composite Index
    COMP
    28.0%

    -32.5%

    -13.7%

    0.3%

    -5.1%

    Nasdaq-100 Index
    36.5%

    -32.4%

    -7.7%

    0.5%

    -4.2%

    Source: FactSet

    Returns for 2022 are also included, along with those since the end of 2021. Last year’s weakest sector, communications services, has been this year’s strongest performer. This sector includes Alphabet Inc.
    GOOGL
    and Meta Platforms Inc.
    META,
    which have returned 52% and 155% this year, respectively, but are still down since the end of 2021. To the right are returns for the past week and month through Monday.

    On Monday, the S&P 500 Utilities sector had its worst one-day performance since 2020, with a 4.7% decline. Investors were reacting to the jump in long-term interest rates.

    Here is a link to the U.S. Treasury Department’s summary of the daily yield curve across maturities for Treasury securities.

    The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes

    jumped 10 basis points in only one day to 4.69% on Monday. A month earlier the 10-year yield was only 4.27%. Also on Monday, the yield on 20-year Treasury bonds

    rose to 5.00% from 4.92% on Friday. It was up from 4.56% a month earlier.

    Market Extra: Bond investors feel the heat as popular fixed-income ETF suffers lowest close since 2007

    The Treasury yield curve is still inverted, with 3-month T-bills

    yielding 5.62% on Monday, but that was up only slightly from a month earlier. An inverted yield curve has traditionally signaled that bond investors expect a recession within a year and a lowering of interest rates by the Federal Reserve. Demand for bonds pushes their prices down. But the reverse has happened over recent days, with the selling of longer-term Treasury securities pushing yields up rapidly.

    Another way to illustrate the phenomenon is to look at how the Federal Reserve has shifted the U.S. money supply. Odeon Capital analyst Dick Bove wrote in a note to clients on Friday that “the Federal Reserve has not deviated from its policy to defeat inflation by tightening monetary policy,” as it has shrunk its balance sheet (mostly Treasury securities) to $8.1 trillion from $9 trillion in March 2022. He added: “The M2 money supply was $21.8 trillion in March 2022; today it is $20.8 trillion. You cannot get tighter than these numbers indicate.”

    Then on Tuesday, Bove illustrated the Fed’s tightening and the movement of the 10-year yield with two charts:


    Odeon Capital Group, Bloomberg

    Bove said he believes the bond market has gotten it wrong, with the inverted yield curve reflecting expectations of rate cuts next year. If he is correct, investors can expect longer-term yields to keep shooting up and a normalization of the yield curve.

    This has set up a brutal environment for utility stocks, which are typically desired by investors who are seeking dividend income. In a market in which you can receive a yield of 5.5% with little risk over the short term, and in which you can lock in a long-term yield of about 5%, why take a risk in the stock market? And if you believe that the core inflation rate of 3.7% makes a 5% yield seem paltry, keep in mind that not all investors think the same way. Many worry less about the inflation rate because large components of official inflation calculations, such as home prices and car prices, don’t affect everyone every year.

    We cannot know when this current selloff of longer-term bonds will end, or how much of an effect it will have on the stock market. But sharp declines in the stock market can set up attractive price points for investors looking to go in for the long haul.

    Screening for lower valuations and high ratings

    A combination of rising earnings estimates and price declines could shed light on potential buying opportunities, based on forward price-to-earnings ratios.

    Let’s look at the sectors again, in the same order, this time to show their forward P/E ratios, based on weighted rolling 12-month consensus estimates for earnings per share among analysts polled by FactSet:

    Sector or index

    Current P/E to 5-year average

    Current P/E to 10-year average

    Current P/E to 15-year average

    Forward P/E

    5-year average P/E

    10-year average P/E

    15-year average P/E

    Utilities

    82%

    86%

    95%

    14.99

    18.30

    17.40

    15.82

    Real Estate

    76%

    80%

    81%

    15.19

    19.86

    18.89

    18.72

    Consumer Staples

    93%

    96%

    105%

    18.61

    19.92

    19.30

    17.64

    Healthcare

    103%

    104%

    115%

    16.99

    16.46

    16.34

    14.72

    Financials

    88%

    92%

    97%

    12.90

    14.65

    14.08

    13.26

    Materials

    100%

    103%

    111%

    16.91

    16.98

    16.42

    15.27

    Industrials

    88%

    96%

    105%

    17.38

    19.84

    18.16

    16.56

    Energy

    106%

    63%

    73%

    11.78

    11.17

    18.80

    16.23

    Consumer Discretionary

    79%

    95%

    109%

    24.09

    30.41

    25.39

    22.10

    Information Technology

    109%

    130%

    146%

    24.20

    22.17

    18.55

    16.54

    Communication Services

    86%

    86%

    94%

    16.41

    19.09

    19.00

    17.43

    S&P 500
    94%

    101%

    112%

    17.94

    19.01

    17.76

    16.04

    DJ Industrial Average
    93%

    98%

    107%

    16.25

    17.49

    16.54

    15.17

    Nasdaq Composite Index
    92%

    102%

    102%

    24.62

    26.71

    24.18

    24.18

    Nasdaq-100 Index
    97%

    110%

    126%

    24.40

    25.23

    22.14

    19.43

    There is a limit to how many columns we can show in the table. The S&P 500’s forward P/E ratio is now 17.94, compared with 16.79 at the end of 2022 and 21.53 at the end of 2021. The benchmark index’s P/E is above its 10- and 15-year average levels but below the five-year average.

    If we compare the current sector P/E numbers to 5-, 10- and 15-year averages, we can see that the current levels are below all three averages for four sectors: utilities, real estate, financials and communications services. The first three face obvious difficulties as they adjust to the rising-rate environment, while the real-estate sector reels from continuing low usage rates for office buildings, from the change in behavior brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Your own opinions, along with the pricing for some sectors, might drive some investment choices.

    A broader screen of the S&P 500 might point to companies for you to research further.

    We narrowed the S&P 500 as follows:

    • Current forward P/E below 5-, 10- and 15-year average valuations. For stocks with negative earnings-per-share estimates for the next 12 months, there is no forward P/E ratio so they were excluded. For stocks listed for less than 15 years, we required at least a 5-year average P/E for comparison. This brought the list down to 138 companies.

    • “Buy” or equivalent ratings from at least two-thirds of analysts: 41 companies.

    Here are the 20 companies that passed the screen, for which analysts’ price targets imply the highest upside potential over the next 12 months.

    There is too much data for one table, so first we will show the P/E information:

    Company

    Ticker

    Current P/E to 5-year average

    Current P/E to 10-year average

    Current P/E to 15-year average

    SolarEdge Technologies Inc.

    SEDG 89%

    N/A

    N/A

    AES Corp.

    AES 66%

    75%

    90%

    Insulet Corp.

    PODD 18%

    N/A

    N/A

    United Airlines Holdings Inc.

    UAL 42%

    50%

    N/A

    Alaska Air Group Inc.

    ALK 51%

    57%

    N/A

    Tapestry Inc.

    TPR 39%

    49%

    70%

    Albemarle Corp.

    ALB 39%

    50%

    73%

    Delta Air Lines Inc.

    DAL 60%

    63%

    21%

    Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc.

    ARE 59%

    68%

    N/A

    Las Vegas Sands Corp.

    LVS 96%

    78%

    53%

    Paycom Software Inc.

    PAYC 61%

    N/A

    N/A

    PayPal Holdings Inc.

    PYPL 33%

    N/A

    N/A

    SBA Communications Corp. Class A

    SBAC 27%

    N/A

    N/A

    Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

    AMD 58%

    39%

    N/A

    LKQ Corp.

    LKQ 92%

    44%

    78%

    Charles Schwab Corp.

    SCHW 75%

    54%

    73%

    PulteGroup Inc.

    PHM 94%

    47%

    N/A

    Lamb Weston Holdings Inc.

    LW 71%

    N/A

    N/A

    News Corp Class A

    NWSA 93%

    73%

    N/A

    CVS Health Corp.

    CVS 75%

    61%

    67%

    Source: FactSet

    Click on the tickers for more about each company or index.

    Click here for Tomi Kilgore’s detailed guide to the wealth of information available for free on the MarketWatch quote page.

    News Corp
    NWSA
    is on the list. The company owns Dow Jones, which in turn owns MarketWatch.

    Here’s the list again, with ratings and consensus price-target information:

    Company

    Ticker

    Share “buy” ratings

    Oct. 2 price

    Consensus price target

    Implied 12-month upside potential

    SolarEdge Technologies Inc.

    SEDG 74%

    $122.56

    $268.77

    119%

    AES Corp.

    AES 79%

    $14.16

    $25.60

    81%

    Insulet Corp.

    PODD 68%

    $165.04

    $279.00

    69%

    United Airlines Holdings Inc.

    UAL 71%

    $41.62

    $69.52

    67%

    Alaska Air Group Inc.

    ALK 87%

    $36.83

    $61.31

    66%

    Tapestry Inc.

    TPR 75%

    $28.58

    $46.21

    62%

    Albemarle Corp.

    ALB 81%

    $162.41

    $259.95

    60%

    Delta Air Lines Inc.

    DAL 95%

    $36.45

    $58.11

    59%

    Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc.

    ARE 100%

    $98.18

    $149.45

    52%

    Las Vegas Sands Corp.

    LVS 72%

    $45.70

    $68.15

    49%

    Paycom Software Inc.

    PAYC 77%

    $260.04

    $384.89

    48%

    PayPal Holdings Inc.

    PYPL 69%

    $58.56

    $86.38

    48%

    SBA Communications Corp. Class A

    SBAC 68%

    $198.24

    $276.69

    40%

    Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

    AMD 74%

    $103.27

    $143.07

    39%

    LKQ Corp.

    LKQ 82%

    $49.13

    $67.13

    37%

    Charles Schwab Corp.

    SCHW 77%

    $53.55

    $72.67

    36%

    PulteGroup Inc.

    PHM 81%

    $73.22

    $98.60

    35%

    Lamb Weston Holdings Inc.

    LW 100%

    $92.23

    $123.50

    34%

    News Corp Class A

    NWSA 78%

    $20.00

    $26.42

    32%

    CVS Health Corp.

    CVS 77%

    $69.69

    $90.88

    30%

    Source: FactSet

    A year may actually be a short period for a long-term investor, but 12-month price targets are the norm for analysts working for brokerage companies.

    Don’t miss: This fund shows that industry expertise can help you make a lot of money in the stock market

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