Simply put: One apron, many looks! Change the front panel with a sassy tea-towel or fabric panel quick as a wink!

True to my More Splash Than Cash roots, this apron is one of my favorite items I have designed. I always thought waiters look great in their knee-length aprons at fancy-schmancy restaurants. Always knowing they would be easy to make, I just never took the time to make one.

When I make something, I always want it better than what I can buy. Then it hit me: kitchen towels! They can be added to the front with hook and loop tape. Of course, this morphed into interchangeable towels and voilá—My Bistro Apron pattern was designed and written!

This is what I love about the apron:

• Uses one yard of fabric
• Can make it in an hour or less
• Can personalize it for many people
• It’s something I can make for the men on my gift list

To make it easy for you, I have also put together kits that include the fabric, hook and loop tape, and apron strings. Then check out the my selection of tea towels— you are sure to find one that “speaks” to you.

Oh, yeah! Did I mention it could be made in less than an hour?

Watch the demo now!

Who is Home Dec Beck? Click here.

Donna Babylon is a DIY and sewing guru. Her latest book is Decorating Sewlutions: Learn to Sew as You Decorate Your Home. Learn more at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com

Enjoy the fall and make an easy scare crow!

Fall is my favorite time of year for decorating. It’s kind of like setting the stage for the winter. It’s also the perfect time to decorate organically with nature as your inspiration. Think of acorns, pine cones, seed pods, branches, even pretty rocks as natural ornaments for the home.

One of the most traditional fall decorations is a scare crow. But, I have to make a confession. You see… I have never made one. I had a great Mom who was blessed with an athletic gene, but seriously lacked a craft gene. She would play basketball, take us skiing, go on canoe trips and hikes in the mountains. But when it came to crafting… well, we were on our own. So, I never made a scare crow among other crafty things.

So when I was talking to Tammy in the office one day, the subject of making scarecrows came up. So she told me how to do it.

How to Make a Scare Crow

Tammy suggests to get your neighborhood involved and create an entire scarecrow community. Choose bold colors and set up a display with corn stalks and bales of hay.

Materials Needed:

• Old pair of jeans (think about adding some patches)

• An old button down shirt (preferably plaid)

• Gardening gloves

• Boots

• Pillow case or pumpkin for the head

• Plenty of leaves

• Fiberfill, newspapers, rags, or straw for stuffing

• Twine

• A straw hat or other kind of hat (baseball, skull caps, etc.)

• Pencil, paint and markers for face

• Thick rubber bands

• Large safety pins

• Rake

• Buttons (optional)

• Stakes (optional)

Assembly

• Gather a HUGE pile of leaves. If you do not have an abundance of leaves, you can make up the rest of the bulk with straw, fiberfill, or newspapers.

• Wrap a rubber band around the bottom of each jean leg to close off the holes. Stuff the pants through the waist. If you want your scarecrow to be sitting in a chair don’t put as many leaves at the knees so they can bend.

• Button the shirt and wrap a rubber band around the bottom of each sleeve, as well as around the bottom of the shirt. Stuff the shirt through the open collar. If you want the scarecrow to have his arms bent, use less leaves at the elbow area of the arms.

• Stuff the socks and gloves and tie the openings closed with twine. Fasten the socks (or boots) and gloves to the pants and shirt with safety pins. Tuck the shirt into the pants.

• If you’re using a pumpkin for the head, carve it into a jack-o-lantern (this will make the pumpkin lighter in weight). Use wire to fasten it to the body. Or, you can decorate a pillowcase by using a pencil to draw on a face. Use paint and/or markers to give the face unique features. Then stuff the pillowcase and fasten it to the body with safety pins (the neck goes inside the shirt).

• Don’t forget to add a hat. You might want to have straw coming out from under the hat to resemble hair. Fasten the hat firmly so it doesn’t blow off on windy days.

• Create a vignette with bales of straw, corn stalks, mums and more pumpkins. To secure your scarecrow in place, attach him to some stakes with a hammer and nails.

Donna Babylon’s More Splash Than Cash decorating concept is designed to help everyone have a beautiful home. More Splash Than Cash doesn’t mean cheap. It means that the time and cash you invest–whatever the amount–are well spent and the results will be enjoyed for many years. Learn more at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com.