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golden achieverPut a celebratory seal on graduation-party invitations, and then continue the theme—and the color scheme—by decorating party wares such as soda bottles and bags of candy. The embellishments can be made by print-ing a congratulatory message on gold-medallion notary stickers (see the Guide) and placing small notched ribbons behind them before affixing.

photographs by yunhee kim

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room for moremake a favorite notebook or journal an organized repository for papers, business cards, and receipts by giving it a built-in pocket. Fold back the flap of a colorful envelope (such as one from a greet-ing card), and moisten the glue strip with water. Position it on the inside of the notebook’s cover, and press to attach. secure the envelope’s bottom corners with double-sided tape.

an aid for an adean unlikely kitchen tool can pitch in when it’s time to prepare lemonade and other summer refreshments. Use a pair of sturdy tongs to get more juice out of lemons, limes, and or-anges. cut the fruit in half, and place a piece between the prongs. (The inner lip on metal ones will minimize slippage.) working over a pitcher, squeeze the open end of the tongs with both hands. when finished, pour the juice through a sieve.

spoon includedmake multiples of these scoops-on-a-stick and you won’t have to spoon ice cream, one serving at a time, in the middle of a party. Using a small (1½-inch) ice cream scoop, dole out balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Insert a craft spoon (see the Guide) into each, and place in the freezer. chill until hard-ened. roll scoops in sprinkles, toasted coconut, or crushed nuts or candies, and store them in the freezer on a freshly lined baking sheet.

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rock, paper, weightsPretty paper goods are no match for an unruly summer breeze at

an outdoor party. river rocks (available by the bag at garden

centers) help keep plates and napkins where they belong, even

after they’ve left the serving table. Pile them in a bucket on

the buffet table for guests to grab along with their utensils; you’ll

avoid having to chase flyaways.

list takerKeep priorities in sight when planning your next trip by tying a to-do list onto luggage be-fore you store it. we printed our list on card stock and used a metal eyelet to reinforce the hole through which a ribbon is passed. To be able to reuse the card for future jaunts, simply laminate it and check the things you’ve done with a dry-erase marker. wipe off check marks and remove the tag when you head out on vacation.

remember the timeIf you hate the idea of grappling with vacation memorabilia after a trip, create a keepsake as you go. Pack a hole punch and a loose-leaf ring to string together maps, postcards, and other souvenirs you collect on the road. when you get home, make a cover by affixing a sticker to the front and rubber-stamping a title on top.

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links with DadFashion a card to look like a dapper shirt cuff, and then use it to present a gift of cuff links (make a set out of shank buttons, or buy new or vintage links). cut a 3¼-by-9-inch rectangle from construction paper; round 2 corners, as shown. rubber-stamp greeting on 1 side. Gently bend paper in half. cut 4 slits for cuff links. To make cuff links, hook 24-gauge wire onto a button’s shank; secure with needlenose pliers. cut wire to ½ inch; loop through a second button’s shank. repeat.

screen saver, for plants The metal and plastic screens that help keep mosquitoes and other warm-weather pests out of the house this time of year can also prevent soil from washing out of plant-ers during rain or irrigation. Unroll a piece of lightweight screening and set your flow-erpot on top. cut the screen to fit, working around the pot’s bottom with scissors (for plastic screens) or tin snips (for the metal kind). Fit the screen inside the pot to cover the drain holes, and then add soil.

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art for the officeswap the utilitarian look and feel

of magazine organizers for some-thing more artful. Trace the tall back

panel of a magazine holder onto cardboard, and cut out. Using the

template as a guide, trace 1 panel for each holder onto a width of deco-

rative wallpaper (floral and geometric prints work best). cut out. squeeze

craft glue onto the back of a magazine holder, and spread evenly with a

sponge brush. align paper with the back panel of the holder, and affix,

smoothing out air bubbles as you go. repeat with remaining paper and

holders. File issues chronologically, and arrange the holders on a shelf

to re-create the wallpaper’s design.

minimizing meltdownsUse this trick to keep

iCe CReAm from dripping out of the bottom of a cone: Drop in a mini marshmallow or two before you add your scoops.

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four leaf coastersFreshly cut large leaves make natural waterproof anchors for summer drinks. Lush foli-age, such as the hosta leaves we used, add color to table settings and act as reminders of tropical vacations. cut leaves early in the day, and set them in water immediately, keeping them hydrated in a container until it’s time to serve drinks. Dry before using.

chop classFor faster, crisper cuts of chives (or scallions), use a rubber band to hold the herbs togeth-er. as you chop along the stems, simply move the rubber band back. The elastic will keep the chives taut and steady, making them easier to slice through and less likely to get squashed in the process.

dote padLet kids redo this basic office staple as a gift for Dad—their

messages will last well beyond Father’s Day. wrap a rubber

band around a notepad cube (see the Guide) and have kids

write greetings and make draw-ings on 2 sides with a broad,

pointy marker. (Fine tips will get caught between the pages.)

move band, and decorate the other 2 sides. Tie the note-

pad with a colorful ribbon. as an added gift, slide in a pen.

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