How to Build a Paver Patio with a Built-In Fire pit

This paver patio took some work to build, but it turned out great. The built-in fire pit really makes this patio special.

Sandra Downie of The Rustic Life built this paver patio to complement her gorgeous rustic-style deck, part of our Patio Style Challenge series here on The Home Depot Blog.

Follow along as Sandra uses paving stones to create her new patio and fire pit.

How to Build a Paver Patio

Picking out the pavers I would say was the hardest part of this project. There were so many beautiful options at The Home Depot, from single pavers to block pavers. I decided to go with the Rockford Cotswold Mist Patio Stone pavers. These paving stones give me the look of several smaller bricks, but with the convenience of having to lay fewer pavers.

The paver patio and fire pit turned out beautifully. I've already enjoyed a night of fun, dinner and s'mores on the new patio, so there are no regrets in taking on this DIY project.

Materials

For the Paver Patio

• Pavers


• Paver Joint Sand


• All-Purpose Sand


• Paver Base


• Rubber Mallet


• Tamper

For the Fire Pit

• Paving Stones


• Concrete Trowel


• Rapid Set mortar mix


• Furnace Stove Cement

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Step 1: Level the area for your paver patio

First, after measuring and laying out the 13 x 14 area, the area was dug out with a Bob Cat, also called a skid steer. Doing this by hand would have taken a lot longer; the area was dug down 8 to 9 ft. deep. You can rent a skid steer at The Home Depot, as well as other leveling equipment.

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Step 2: Fill the area

Next you want to fill the area, only 6 in. deep with paver base or process (process is a type of rock mixture).

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Step 3: Fill area with sand

After the stones have been tamped, you want to fill the area 1 in. deep with all-purpose sand. An associate at the Home Depot will be happy to point out the correct sand to use. The sand is made exactly for laying down patio pavers. Rake the sand to even it out as you go along. Tamp down the sand once it has all been raked out evenly. Again, tamping creates a level base.

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Step 4: Lay the pavers

Now you want to start laying down your pavers.

Level the sand underneath as you go along. (We used a piece of wood to rake across the top of the sand). Lay the paving stones down in an even line, ensuring that you level along the way using a level.

Be sure to leave a quarter inch space between the pavers as you lay them down. You can use a rubber mallet to drive the pavers down into the sand so that they become more embedded. Next you want to tamp the rocks down to compress it. (A tamper can be rented at The Home Depot) This is necessary so that there is a level and flat support base for your pavers to rest.

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Step 5: Pour polymeric sand

Once all the pavers have been laid down, you want to pour polymeric sand into the joints. This is like grouting a tile wall in your kitchen or bath.

There are various colors and types out there. Because we used gray stones, our polymeric sand was also gray. The lovely folks at The Home Depot can help you find the best one for your project.

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Step 6: Brush off and hose

After all the excess polymeric sand has been brushed off, use a hose to lightly spray the entire patio.

Getting the polymeric sand in the cracks wet will allow it to expand and become a solid product vs. a sandy texture. DO NOT over water. You don't want puddling of the water to happen as this will put too much water in the creases and the polymeric sand will not harden.

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Step 7: Let it dry

The paver patio was nearly finished. We just had to let everything dry overnight before moving on to the building the fire pit.

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Building the Fire Pit

Step 8

To build the fire pit we picked out coordinating pavers that went well with the colors of the patio pavers. We used Rapid Set mortar mix to apply between each paver.

We started by applying a layer of mortar on the bottom of the first layer of pavers so they stuck to the patio. We did this all the way around. (Yes, that is a spatula in my hand LOL. We wanted to get the job started, so for 10 minutes we used two spatulas and then ran up the street to grab proper concrete trowels.)

Repeat the layering of mortar and brick until all the the pavers have been laid out.

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Step 9: Line the inside of the fire pit

The last step was to use high-heat furnace cement to line the inside of the fire pit.

Don't worry about the product being gooey or it looking not so perfect once it is applied. It will harden a bit and then become even harder once you light a fire in it for the first time.

We let this dry 48 hours before using it for the first time.

Before we got the first fire started, we put some of the broken pavers we had leftover (because pavers can crack as you are working on your project) at the bottom of the fire pit. We thought it would be a good barrier between the fire itself and the patio pavers.

Overall this paver patio and fire pit could easily be a two-weekend job, and we found it to be easy and fun to do.

Looking forward to many nights of hot dog roasting and s'mores making.

Sandra Downie shares her life and love of the rustic chic lifestyle on her blog The Rustic Life. It's her creative outlet where she spends time sharing all the beautiful things that she loves and that inspire her…home decorating and design, entertaining ideas, recipes, style, beauty tips and much more.

Be sure to see how to built a paver patio with gravel here on The Home Depot Blog.

See more DIY projects here on The Home Depot Blog, and follow our Backyard Ideas board on Pinterest.

The post How to Build a Paver Patio with a Built-In Fire pit appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

Dadgum Good Smoked Brisket Recipe

There's nothing that quite beats a slow smoked piece of lean brisket covered in caramelized spices and hickory smoked. Why do we love smoked meats so much? It's the same reason we love sitting around the campfire, the smell of smoke tantalizes our senses and makes us think of barbecues and campfires past. Check out our smoked brisket recipe; it's what some people would call “Dadgum good,” and that's all there is to it.

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What You'll Need

• ½ cup paprika


• 4 tablespoons garlic powder


• 4 tablespoons onion powder


• 2 ½ tablespoons dried oregano


• 2 ½ tablespoons kosher salt


• 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper


• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper


• 1 beef brisket (about 5 pounds)

Preparation

1. Dry Rub: In a medium bowl, combine paprika through cayenne pepper.


2. Add hickory wood chips and preheat smoker to 250° F.


3. Coat beef brisket evenly with dry rub mixture. Place brisket on middle rack of smoker and smoke for 3 to 5 hours or until internal temperature reaches 180° F. Check internal temperature halfway through smoking.

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For more unique Grills & Outdoor Cooking tips, check out our Pinterest board. Shop our Smokers & Pellet Grills Department for all the cooking tools you'll need to create the perfect slow smoked meal.

The post Dadgum Good Smoked Brisket Recipe appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

Fried Fish and Hush Puppies Recipe

When was the last time you had fish and hush puppies? It's probably a common dish at your favorite local seafood restaurant, but why make your own fish combo at home? We're using an indoor electric fish fryer for this fried fish and hush puppies recipe. It's easy, fun and we promise you'll enjoy all the crispy, golden goodness as soon as you dive into this classic combination.

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What You'll Need

• 1 gallon cooking oil


• 4 pounds fresh or frozen catfish filets or whiting fish (about 24 filets)


• 2 teaspoons salt


• 3 cups cornmeal

Hush Puppies:

• 2 cups yellow cornmeal


• ½ cup self-rising flour


• ¹/₁₆ teaspoon baking soda


• 1 large egg, lightly beaten


• ¼ cup yellow onion, chopped


• 1½ cups buttermilk

Optional Ingredients for Hush Puppies:

• ¼ cup chopped jalapeño peppers


• ½ cup grated cheddar cheese


• ½ cup corn

Preparation

1. Fill your fryer with oil. Heat to 375° F, which should take about 15 to 20 minutes.


2. Thaw fish (if frozen).


3. Clean the fish and season with salt. Coat fish with cornmeal and shake off any excess coating.


4. Place fish into hot oil and cook for 3 ½ minutes per side. Fish should be golden brown on both sides, crusty on the outside and moist and flaky on the inside.


5. Allow the fish to drain in fryer basket before removing.

Hush Puppies:

1. Combine cornmeal, flour, baking soda, egg, and onions in medium bowl. Stirring, add buttermilk until the consistency is thick enough to form golf ball-sized hush puppies.


2. Drop the batter, 1 tablespoon at a time, into the oil. Dip the spoon in a glass of water to clean it after each hush puppy is dropped into the oil.


3. Fry hush puppies for 4 to 6 minutes, until golden brown, turning the hush puppies during the cooking process to cook evenly.


4. Once the hush puppies are done, turn the turkey fryer to MIN and unplug it from the outlet. Allow the hush puppies to drain in fryer basket before removing.

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Get all the Grills & Outdoor Cooking tips you can imagine on our Pinterest board. Shop our Grill Accessories Department, where you'll find an array of supplies for all your cooking needs.

The post Fried Fish and Hush Puppies Recipe appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

Cajun Deep-Fried Turkey Recipe

Fried turkey isn't just for the holidays. Enjoy this southern delicacy year-round, whether you're having friends and family over for a patio cookout, or simply enjoying a small, quiet dinner at home.

We love the versatility and crispy, juicy flavor of fried turkey, which can be prepared with any of your favorite marinades and spices.

Warm up your outdoor turkey fryer and try this crispy Cajun deep-fried turkey recipe. Serve your fried turkey with a wide variety of side dishes, including hush puppies, macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, roasted broccoli and fresh salad.

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What You'll Need

For the Turkey:

• 10 to 14 pounds fresh or frozen turkey.  Serves 6-12.


• 2 gallons cooking oil, preferably peanut oil


• 1 (16-ounce) bottle Butterball Buttery Creole Turkey Marinade


• Butterball Cajun Turkey Seasoning

For the Sauce:

• 1 (10 to 12 ounce) bottle of your favorite hot sauce


• ½ stick butter (¼ cup)


• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder


• 1½ teaspoons freshly-squeezed lime juice

Preparation

1. Thaw turkey, if frozen. To properly thaw a frozen turkey in the refrigerator allow approximately 24 hours for every 4 pounds.


2. Fill fryer with oil to the MAX line; heat to 375° F. Remove giblets and neck. If present, remove and discard plastic leg holder and pop-up timer.


3. Rinse turkey thoroughly with warm water or completely cover with warm water and soak for no more than 30 minutes to ensure cavities are free of ice.


4. Pat turkey completely dry on outside and inside of cavity with paper towels.


5. Using an injector syringe, inject ½ cup (4 ounces) Butterball Buttery Creole Marinade in each breast. Inject ¼ cup (2 ounces) marinade into each leg and thigh.


6. Sprinkle turkey generously with Butterball Cajun Turkey Seasoning, completely coating the outside of the turkey and inside of the cavity.


7. Place turkey breast side up in fryer basket. Slowly lower the basket into hot oil, being careful not to splatter hot oil. Fry turkey for 3 ½ to 4 minutes per pound.


8. Lift the basket from the hot oil slowly, hooking the basket's drain clip into drain clip mounting hole to stabilize as you check doneness.


9. Insert a meat thermometer in the meaty part of the breast; turkey is done when it reads 165° F. If the turkey is not done, lower it carefully back into the oil for an additional 5 minutes.


10. Once the turkey reaches the desired temperature (minimum 165° F), turn the turkey fryer to MIN and unplug it from the outlet.


11. Allow the turkey to rest and drain in the fryer basket for 10 minutes before removing for carving. The turkey can remain in the basket to cool until ready to serve.

Sauce:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine hot sauce, butter, garlic powder, and lime juice, and heat over low heat.


2. Use as a dipping sauce or pour over turkey slices.

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For more tips and inspiration, check out our Grills & Outdoor Cooking board on Pinterest. Shop our Grills & Grill Accessories Department for all the tools, fryers, smokers and everything you'll need to make all your backyard meals a success.

The post Cajun Deep-Fried Turkey Recipe appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

Brie Fondue Recipe

People love the communal serving style and fondue is guaranteed to be a great conversation starer. For dipping, try crusty bread like sourdough, baguette or rye, steamed broccoli, asparagus and zucchini, or incorporate your favorite sausage or fruit for a unique flavor combination.

Making fondue is easy. You can use Gruyere, cheddar, Swiss cheese and many more depending on your personal taste, preferred ingredients and selection of sides. Check out this brie fondue recipe for a unique twist on a traditional favorite. Serve on your fondue grill set and enjoy!

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What You'll Need

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed


• ¾ cup dry white wine


• 1 teaspoon sherry


• ½ lb. brie cheese, triple cream, rind removed and cubed


• 2 teaspoons cornstarch


• 1 pinch white pepper


• ½ teaspoon fresh thyme


• Salt to taste

Preparation

1. Crush garlic cloves with the blade of a knife.


2. Rub garlic around the inside of a small sized, heavy bottom saucepot and leave inside the pot.


3. Add wine and sherry and heat until just bubbling on high heat. Turn heat down to medium low.


4. Roll cheese in cornstarch. When wine is hot, begin adding brie and stir to melt into the wine. As cubes dissolve, add more cheese until all cheese is incorporated.


5. Stir frequently to avoid scorching cheese.


6. Add fresh thyme and pepper. Taste fondue and add salt if needed.

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Check out more Grills & Outdoor Cooking tips on our Pinterest board. Shop our Grill Accessories Department for all the cooking utensils you need, whether you're serving fondue or fish filet.

The post Brie Fondue Recipe appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

3 Musts to Make the Perfect Backyard for Entertaining

These three “musts” for creating the perfect backyard for entertaining come Alexi Politis of Seeking Alexi. It's her contribution to the Patio Style Challenge series here on The Home Depot Blog. 

For Alexi, it really comes down to good patio or deck design. See how simple she makes backyard entertaining with her remarkable skills.

The Perfect Backyard for Entertaining

I have wanted a cozy backyard area as long as I can remember. I also love to entertain, and I have never had the chance to entertain in any backyard, before. It seems that every year, I yearn to spend hours outside during those long, summer nights, so it feels like a dream to finally have the perfect space to spend my evenings this summer.

Through all my research on the Home Depot Pinterest page, as well as my own backyard board, I realized there were three essential things that I deemed necessary for my own perfect backyard for entertaining.

But first thing's first, what type of entertaining space did I want to create?

The type of gatherings I like to host are intimate, friendly, and allow hours of good conversations. So in order to create a space that would facilitate this type of environment, I sought to implement the three best “musts” to create the perfect, cozy backyard space.

Must #1: An entertaining outdoor activity

To keep people around when you have them over, give them something to keep them entertained! It could be a cute tic-tac-toe boards, a volleyball net, or even backyard bowling. 

For me, I chose two of my my most favorite backyard entertainments ever, a grill and a fire pit! Nothing screams summertime gathering more than BYOM (bring your own meat)! Grilling burgers, steaks, or even salmon on the grill is an amazing way to get people to come over, because who doesn't love a good summer grill?

And the the new grill that I have to give a huge shoutout to is this Weber 3-burner grill. First off, it is such incredible quality, it's very strong and sturdy, and made of extremely high-quality materials. The flame coverage is amazing inside the grill, which is really important for when you're trying to cook a lot at the same time. And if the quality isn't enough, it comes in a gorgeous copper color! It is surprisingly elegant and sophisticated, and also looks amazing with the terra cotta pots, and other copper accents I brought into my outdoor space. I honestly plan on using that beautiful thing every single weekend!

So if the grill gets people to come, then it's a fire pit that gets people to stay! I don't know what it is about fires, but it keeps people (myself included) mesmerized and sticking around for hours. Not to mention the ability to roast hot dogs or s'mores around the fire, too. There's also just something about fires that makes people open up and talk about topics they wouldn't normally open up about. If you decide on a different activity, just make sure it's big enough to entertain a number of people at one time!

Must #2: Intimate lighting

Bringing lots of beautiful lighting to an outdoor space is what makes it truly magical. I myself, brought four types of lighting to my space (five if you include the fire)!

First, the porch light attached to my house (just make sure to turn yours on).

Second, I brought a large lamp outside that I normally keep indoors to light up the darkest part of my backyard. Don't be afraid to bring lights outside temporarily so your space is well-lit.

Third, I got the most adorable copper and white lanterns from The Home Depot that I filled with battery-powered candles that flicker. Love those.

Forth, and obviously most magical, are the string lights that I hung above my new deck! I used four packages of the stunning rattan spherical string lights, and then I also have five packages of Edison string lights hanging as well.

I knew I wanted to take the lights down every long, Utah winter, so I installed them in a way they could easily be taken down.

To do so, I used steel wiring.

First, I finished the ends of each steel wire into a loop with a wire clamp/crimper, pulled the wire through itself like a simple slipknot, then put each wire around a fence post on one side of my yard.

Then, I ziptied or clipped the lights to the steel wire so I wasn't pulling electrical wires too tight across half of my yard. On the other side of the wire, I also finished it off with a loop, then with one ziptie, I connected the ends of the wires to one eyelet screw that I drilled directly into the side of my house.

It will be so extremely easy to take them down come winter. I'll just cut the ziptie and unloop the other ends off of the fence posts!

Lastly, to get power to my lights, I strung just one outdoor extension cord from the eyelet screw (all my plugs ended right here, so they could plug into the same extension cord) then down to my outdoor outlet, so each time I want the lights on, I just have to plug-in one cord! Smart, right?

Must #3: Seating, seating, seating!

Finally, the most important requirement for a cozy backyard is seating.

Not just one seat per guest, but enough seats, as well as a variety of seats, that people can mix and mingle with each other. So in my space, I planned or added as much seating as I could! I created at least six different areas for seating, which will hopefully result in at least six different groups of conversations.

1. I added seating around the fire pit.


2. You can sit on the fire pit itself (if the fire is mild).


3. There's the gorgeous Hampton Bay sectional.


4. Guests can sit on The Hampton Bay ottoman.


5. My staircase leading to my backdoor is a place to sit.


6. Even the edge of my new low-level deck allows for seating, as well.

The many seating options I've added to my backyard  will really help facilitate intimate conversations between old and new groups of friends.

I really do believe in these three musts to make the best intimate and cozy backyard space, and the perfect backyard for entertaining.

Thanks again to Home Depot for having the best store for creating backyard spaces. I couldn't have done it without that massive store, love it!

Alexi Politis of Seeking Alexi is a design-aholic, Instagram junkie, wannabe blogger, novice letterer, master DIYer, expert chip-snacker, pretend traveler, semi-outdoors-(wo)man, football supporter, church-goin' person, self-proclaimed foodie, domestic-lovin', & hugely motivated creative director, graphic designer and web designer.

Browse our customizable patio collections, each with at least 16 fabric color choices and plenty of coordinating outdoor accessories. Follow our Patio Style Challenge board on Pinterest for more great outdoor decorating ideas from some of the most talented bloggers on the internet.

The post 3 Musts to Make the Perfect Backyard for Entertaining appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

Spicy Grilled Salmon Recipe

Aside from being delicious, salmon is really good for you! It's packed with so many nutrients, including the omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, which benefits your brain and heart. So why not find an excuse to cook some of this healthy and delectable fish for your next party on the patio?

Salmon is easy, versatile and cooks pretty quickly on the grill. Pair your salmon with a variety of sides, including seasoned asparagus, zesty rice or fresh arugula. Check out this grilled salmon recipe and we're pretty sure it'll become a favorite among all your guests!

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What You'll Need

• ½ pound black beans, soaked


• 1 small onion, chopped


• 1 small carrot


• ½ celery rib


• 2 oz. ham, chopped


• 2 jalapeno peppers, stemmed and diced


• 1 clove garlic


• 1 bay leaf, tied together with 3 sprigs thyme


• 5 cups water


• 2 cloves garlic, minced


• ½ teaspoon hot pepper flakes


• 1½ lemons, juiced


• ⅓ cup olive oil


• 2 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped


• 24 oz. salmon steaks

Preparation

1. Combine in a large saucepan the beans, onion, carrot, celery, ham, jalapenos, whole clove garlic, bay leaf with thyme, and water.


2. Simmer on your grill side burner until beans are tender, about 2 hours, adding more water as necessary to keep the beans covered.


3. Remove the carrot, celery, herbs and garlic, and drain off the remaining cooking liquid.


4. Toss the beans with the minced garlic, hot pepper flakes and the juice of ½ a lemon. Set aside.


5. While the beans are cooking, combine the juice of a whole lemon, olive oil, and basil leaves.


6. Pour over the salmon steaks, and refrigerate for an hour.


7. Grill the salmon over a moderately high heat for 4-5 minutes per side, basting with some of the marinade every minute.


8. Serve each salmon steak with a portion of beans.

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Stop by our Pinterest board for Grills & Outdoor Cooking recipes. And don't forget to check out our Grill Accessories Department for a wide selection of cooking utensils and grilling gear.

The post Spicy Grilled Salmon Recipe appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

Smoked Pork Loin Roast Recipe

Pork loin is probably one of the most versatile and delicious meat cuts you'll find. It's lean, cooks quickly and you can use the leftovers for sandwiches, soups and more. Looking for a fun way to try out your new smoker?  This season, gather a few folks on your patio and try this flavorful smoked pork loin roast recipe. There's nothing like a good pork loin roast, and this one will be a surefire crowd pleaser.

Pair your pork loin roast with your favorite Pinot Grigio or light beer. Serve with rice pilaf, fresh green beans, carrots, roasted apples or baked potatoes.

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 What You'll Need

• 1 rib end pork loin roast (3 to 4 pounds)


• 5 cloves garlic


• 5 whole black peppercorns


• 1 10-ounce bottle soy sauce


• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil


• 1 large yellow onion, cut into rings


• ¼ teaspoon cracked black peppercorns

Preparation

1. Randomly cut 5 slits about ½ inch deep into roast. Place a clove of garlic in each slit, along with a peppercorn.


2. Place roast in an 8-inch square disposable aluminum foil pan and pour soy sauce over to cover at least half of roast. Marinate in refrigerator for at least 2 hours, turning after 1 hour to cover the other side of the roast.


3. Preheat smoker to 200° F. We recommend using mesquite wood.


4. In a medium skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently until onions are beginning to brown. Set aside.


5. Remove pork loin from marinade, discarding marinade. Place on middle rack of smoker and smoke for 2 hours.


6. Remove and wrap with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Return to smoker and smoke for an additional 2 hours or until internal temperature reaches 170° F.


7. Remove meat from smoker. Discard garlic and peppercorns and top with cracked pepper and reserved onions. Let roast rest for 5 to 10 minutes.


8. Slice and serve. (Serves 6 to 8)

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For more Grills & Outdoor Cooking tips, check out our board on Pinterest. Shop our Grill Accessories Department for all the cooking tools you'll need to create the perfect meal.

The post Smoked Pork Loin Roast Recipe appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

DIY Wedding Candle Holders

These DIY wedding candle holders are inexpensive and fun to make, and they'll add and elegant look to your wedding reception. We used decorative metal sheet to create them.

Follow along with our step-by-step tutorial to make your own DIY wedding candle holders.

DIY Wedding Candle Holders

Materials

• Duckbill Napping Shear


• MD Building Products 12×24 Silver Mosiac Aluminum Hobby Sheet


• MD Building Products 12×12 Cloverleaf Aluminum Sheet


• Rust-Oleum Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint


• Hobby Wire


• Sharpie

Step 1: Measure and Mark

Lay your piece of hobby sheet on a flat surface. Place the size candle you will be using in a lower corner, leaving enough room on the edges to wrap the candle for full coverage. Here we're using flameless LED candles, since these candle holders did not have a base to catch wax.

Tip: When marking your placement, leave 1½ mosaic designs from the top of your candle to the placement to cut. You will go back and create a decorative edge around the top later, and this will give you enough room to work with.

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Step 2: Cut Hobby Sheet

Using the Duckbill Napping Shears, cut along the line you marked for placement. We highly recommend using these shears when working with metal sheeting as they cut through the sheets with ease and make crafting a lot easier with this tough material!

For the second cut you will need to find a similarly shaped item that is slightly larger than your candle. We used a can of spray paint as it was also round and the circumference was larger than the candle. Take your cut strip and wrap it around the paint can, leaving yourself some extra room for the cut. Mark the area and cut with duckbill shears.

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Step 3: Fasten

Cut a small strip of hobby wire and loop it through the decorative mosaic where the edges meet.

Twist the hobby wire until it creates a tight seam and cut off excess.

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Step 4: Cut Top

Using your Duckbill Shears, cut the half mosaics and in-between for a more decorative element. Go piece by piece, and afterwards go back to clean up the edges. Don't be concerned if your full mosaics need to bend a little to get your desired cut, they will bend back into place.

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Step 5: Paint

Apply an even coat of paint to desired candle holders. Spray the paint from a short distance to avoid pooling of the paint. For best results, move the can of paint from one side to another at a steady pace while the can is at a distance. We used Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint on some of the candle holders and kept the antique brass finish for others.

Allow paint to dry before use.

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Step 6: Set the Table and Enjoy

We grouped the candles around the centerpiece on both sides of the tables.

Check out more DIY wedding decor ideas here on The Home Depot Blog, and follow our DIY Wedding Ideas board on Pinterest.

The post DIY Wedding Candle Holders appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

Tequila Lime Shrimp Recipe

Are you a seafood fan? With chicken, beef and pork starring at most barbecues, don't forget there's plenty of room at the table for fish.

Many cooks enjoy grilling salmon, tuna, mahi mahi or swordfish, which can be cooked in a variety of ways, and taste just as good as your traditional ribs or burgers. If you're looking for a unique and easy grilled appetizer for your next get together, you're in the right place!

Spice up your next cookout with this appetizing and flavorful tequila lime shrimp recipe. Toss grilled shrimp over a salad, skewer on a kabob or serve with your favorite steamed vegetables. This dish is sure to be a hit among all of your guests!

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What You'll Need

For the Shrimp

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined


• 6 10-inch wooden skewers


• Himalayan salt plate

For the Marinade

• 2 tablespoons lime juice


• 2 tablespoons tequila


• ¼ cup olive oil


• 1 large clove garlic, minced


• 1 pinch ground cumin


• 1 pinch ground coriander


• 1 pinch dried oregano


• Ground black pepper to taste


• 1 large lime, quartered

Fresh Cilantro Pico (optional):

• 1 medium tomato


• ¼ red onion


• 1 bunch Cilantro


• Pinch of salt and pepper

Preparation

1. Combine marinade ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and mix to incorporate.


2. Reserve 1 tablespoon of marinade. Finely chop tomato, red onion and cilantro.


3. Combine finely chopped vegetables with reserved marinade.


4. Combine remaining marinade and shrimp in a plastic bag or container and marinate for 2-4 hours.


5. Drain excess marinade from shrimp and place on skewers.


6. When salt plate is fully preheated, place skewered shrimp on plate and cook 2-3 minutes per side.


7. When shrimp have finished cooking, remove from block and serve with fresh cilantro pico.

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For more Grills & Outdoor Cooking tips, check out our Pinterest board. Shop our Grill Accessories Department for skewers, cooking utensils and more for your next backyard barbecue.

The post Tequila Lime Shrimp Recipe appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

Dream Deck Arises Despite Backyard Obstacles

This dream deck is quite an achievement when you see the work that needed to be done to make the backyard ready for a deck.

Chelsey Curtis of Housewife2Hostess and her husband started with a backyard with a pretty severe slope. But with patience, hard work and some clever ideas, they now have a truly impressive outdoor space.

Here, Chelsey explains how they managed to get this amazing deck built, and she shares some of the clever ways they made the most of the outdoor space.

Creating a Dream Deck

In order to truly appreciate something, sometimes you have to go way back to where it all started.

Landscaping a Sloped Backyard

This was my (very average) backyard that was given to us the day we closed our house. Something you can't tell very easily from this picture, it's actually sloped at nearly a 45-degree angle from the highest point (on the side of the house) to almost completely level with the street on the side where this photo was taken.

Because the lot was so severely sloped, it was one of the only lots remaining in our neighborhood. When neighbors saw where we were building, we heard comments like, “Your backyard would be great for sledding in the winter,” or, “Good luck with that hill.”It  didn't deter us one bit from the big plans and overall vision we had for our beautiful dream backyard.

Above is an upper angle looking down.

The above photo really shows how high up it sloped on the side, that upper cement pad was our highest existing point. We started by hiring a landscaper to help us with Phase 1 of this transformation.

We added a cement pad on the upper level for more storage with a connecting path to an outdoor fireplace (see DIY Ideas for the Christmas Mantel for a look at the finished fireplace). Our landscaper finished our retaining walls, positioned the cement blocks and gravel area (for our deck), removed nearly 10 dump trucks full of dirt (mostly rocks), brought in topsoil and finished by leaving us with enough sod for us to cover our quarter acre lot.

Building the Deck

Then it was time to pick the colors for our deck and come up with our overall design. We decided to build the deck with a composite material called Amorguard made by Veranda. We chose Armorguard decking planks in Seaside Gray and a white railing.

I was a bit nervous when my husband wanted to take on this project (because he would be building the deck alone) but my mind was at ease after visiting with the associates at The Home Depot's Pro-Help Desk. They created a full blueprint and detailed booklet of deck plans (made to our specifications), with step-by-step instructions and the exact number of materials needed to complete this project (isn't technology amazing?!).

Within five weeks my husband had built our beautiful 32 x 15 ft., two-level dream deck.

Here is where we left off from last summer- our gorgeous deck needed just a few finishing touches.

We decided to start with the stairs coming off the deck. But because of the angle (of the edge of the deck going toward the hot tub) we decided to keep things uniform and only go the length of the shorter angle (where you see the cinder blocks in the photo above).

This created two problems:

1. There was an exposed bit of cement next to the steps, which looked funny.


2. We still needed a solution to enclose that long edge and give it that “finished” look.

I threw out the idea of building a 12-foot long planter box to extend the full length that remained and meet up at the steps. After some back and forth (and serious hesitation) from my husband, he finally agreed (yay!) and he started to build it.

The 12-Foot Planter Box

This project alone took him almost 8 hours to do because he had to cut out part of the lawn, move the sprinkler, build the planter, add the vinyl covering, do the finish work and fill/add plants to it. It was built with pressure treated wood and finished with white vinyl sheets that looked like white painted wood.

It was a lot of work but in the end, we both were so glad that he ended up doing it and we both love how it turned out. It really finished up that side and added so much visually to the space.

Finishing the Back of the House

Over the past 18 months in our adventures of home ownership, I've learned that I'm a low-maintenance yard kind of girl. Since I'm the one caring for the plants in our yard, I find that I keep them alive longer if I limit my flowers to one large pot and have lots of shrubs. So that's exactly what I did, and it's been working out really well for me.

I really wanted to add something that broke up our flat builder-grade back of the house, so we decided to add a trellis above the sliding glass door. It was built out of 4 x 4s, 2 x 6s and 2 x 2s that I painted bright white (to tie in the white railing of the deck) with exterior paint.

The hardest part was finding the studs to secure it to. Luckily for us, we were able to find them using the inside walls, and we had photos of all of the framing from when we built the house. (If you're having a house built, I highly recommend taking photos of the progress. They can come in handy in unexpected ways.)

We also swapped out the dinky light fixture for this larger three-bulb one.

Outdoor Furniture for the Deck

The Home Depot has so many styles of outdoor furniture, grills and accessories to choose from, it took me a while to decide on which ones would be best. With two spaces on the deck, I knew I wanted an outdoor dining table and a conversation set.

I fell in love with the Hampton Bay Woodbury dining set. I chose cushions in the Textured Sand color, but the Woodbury Outdoor Collection comes with 16 color choices, so it you're bound to see the color that looks best on your patio.

The Hampton Bay Edington conversation set and stunning round ottoman looks different enough from the Woodbury dining set to avoid being too matchy-matchy. The Edington Collection also offers 16 fabric choices, and a whole array of coordinating patio accessories. To coordinate with the dining set, I chose Textured Sand cushions and a matching umbrella.

More Outdoor Accessories

The selection of outdoor lights, pillows, lanterns, dishes, trays, pots and plants at The Home Depot are fantastic. The potted flower color scheme and inspiration came from the bright floral pillows, can you tell?

My two favorite finds were the two faux cement tall pots and the large white and copper lanterns.

After the big projects were done, it was time to give the deck a good power washing, set up all of the patio furniture and accessories and make this this space ready for entertaining.

I chose to put the dining table on the upper level (since its right off the kitchen) and put the conversation set off to the side to create a path for walking and a cozy spot for us to visit with friends, have barbecues and make lasting memories.

After working so hard to get this space ready, you bet we celebrated with an inaugural barbecue. I know ceramic grills are all the rage right now, but this Kamado Pro Ceramic Charcoal Grill cooks some of the best grilled food I've tasted.

We grilled corn, hot dogs and hamburgers, and smoked bacon and chicken that were so delicious, we basically had to force ourselves to stop cooking more meat. And the leftovers, oh the leftovers! The were just as tender and juicy as when they were first cooked, which is hard to do on a traditional grill.

What a transformation. Phase 2 is complete and I am elated with how this outdoor space turned out. Oh, and in case you were wondering, the most recent backyard comment that was made to us was, “We were looking at buying your lot, and it was down to yours and the one we chose.”

I have absolutely loved participating in the Home Depot Patio Style Challenges and can't wait to do another one! So until next time, may all of your backyard dreams come true!

Chelsea Curtis is author of Housewife2Hostess, a lifestyle blog about the ups and downs of life as a stay-at-home mom. Seeing and sharing beauty is a passion of Chelsey's, with an emphasis on organization, hosting parties, DIY, home decor, beauty and more. She lives in the Salt Lake City, Utah area with her husband and little girl.

Browse our customizable patio collections, each with at least 16 fabric color choices and plenty of coordinating outdoor accessories. Follow our Patio Style Challenge board on Pinterest for more great outdoor decorating ideas from some of the most talented bloggers on the internet.

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