Get your garden GUEST-READY with these easy projects
Simply stylish
CREATE SOME SHADE
Some folk prefer sun, some prefer shade, so give your guests the choice with this easy-up sail shade. How you install it will depend on your garden features but if you don’t have handily placed trees then it’s simple to attach mounting anchors to a wall, any wooden structure such as a fencepost, or the side of your shed. Choose a tensioning anchor and it’s also easy-peasy to keep the sail taut.
Simply screw in a wall mount anchor for each corner and attach the sail using braid-on-braid rope. If you don’t have a support in the right spot, install a wooden fencepost (2.1m x 7.5cm x 7.5cm Incised Timber Fence Post, £16, wickes.co.uk). Paint with a wood preserver (Liberon Exterior Wood Protector Clear, £18.99/1L, screwfix.com) then dig a hole deep enough to sink one-third of the post. Stand the post in the hole, using a spirit level to ensure it’s upright, then add some concrete to keep it firmly in place (Blue Circle Multi Purpose Ready To Use Concrete, £9.50/20kg, diy.com).
6 EASY PROJECTS TO DO NOW!
Summer sizzler SPECIAL
FESTOONED TABLE FRAME
An overhead frame hung with foliage and festoons will turn any old table into a delightful setting for an al fresco meal. And it’ll only take 10 mins to set up! Simply adjust and attach the frame to the table, wrap the festoons around the top pole, using wire to ensure the solar panel is secure and angled towards the sun, then add the faux foliage garland to finish.
EASY-PEASY TILE COASTERS
Using an image transfer medium makes adding a design to tiles ridiculously simple and the effect is sure to impress guests. Wash the tile and leave to dry. Print out a pattern you like on normal printer paper, cut out a square the same size as the tile, then use a decorating paintbrush to apply a generous amount of Liquitex gel onto the tile.
Lay the paper right-side-down on the tile and hold in place while gently rubbing all over with your finger, being careful not to move the paper. Leave to dry for 24 hours then use a wet cloth to saturate the paper. Gentl
