I have a few unrelated questions...

[raammartin]

...and where better to come than the DIS for all the answers, right?

1. I have some high traffic areas on my carpet that have flattened down. Can I "unflatten" it and if so how?
2. I stained a small area of grout with grout stain and now don't like it. How can I get the stain up?
3. Why are my hostas (which are mostly in the shade) turning yellow?
4. My kids are having their birthday party at a pool in a few weeks and want a cupcake cake instead of a traditional sheet cake. Got any design ideas for a pool party cupcake cake?

I think that's it for now! TIA!

 

[kaylajr]

...and where better to come than the DIS for all the answers, right?

1. I have some high traffic areas on my carpet that have flattened down. Can I "unflatten" it and if so how?
2. I stained a small area of grout with grout stain and now don't like it. How can I get the stain up?
3. Why are my hostas (which are mostly in the shade) turning yellow?
4. My kids are having their birthday party at a pool in a few weeks and want a cupcake cake instead of a traditional sheet cake. Got any design ideas for a pool party cupcake cake?

I think that's it for now! TIA!

May I suggest asking these seperatly over on the Creative Community individual boards

#'s 1 and 2 on the Home Interior board
# 3 on Flower and Garden
and # 4 onthe cooking board

YOu may get more direct answers to your questions

as for the cupcakes
we do them at all partys now and I let the kids decorate them
I buy a couple of different frostings and sprinkles m&M's whatever
and they seem to love it
even the 13 year olds here last week had a blast

anyway just my 2 cents worth

 

[FreshTressa]

You'll get answers to your first question on www.gardenweb.com home forums.

How about cake donuts frosted to look like an inner tube and put a few toy swimmers in the middle to look like a swimmer with an inner tube?

 

[FreshTressa]

http://www.wilton.com/yearbook/2006/dazzlingdisplays/index.cfm (the swim ones)

http://www.mermaidmary.com/recipe_miniocean.html

A couple more.

 

[jipsy]

Why are my hostas (which are mostly in the shade) turning yellow?

What type of hosta do you have? Are you getting them enough water, hostas love water (evenly watered). Avoid periods of dry and soaked; keep the ground evenly wet. Mulching them will help retain moisture.

Have you fertilized them at all? Maybe too much? Checked them for mites?

Also you say "mostly in the shade". You may need to move them; hostas LOVE dappled shade. They need an hour or two of early morning or late afternoon sun but that's all. If your hostas have shade most of the time, but are being hit with high noon sun, that's not good.

What are they planted around? Tree roots can compete with them and kill them, oaks and maples especially. Is your soil too compact? You may need to dig them up, mix in some compost and replant them in shallow holes.

 

[ADisneygirl]

As for the grout stain that you don't like, have you tried a toothbrush and some floor cleaner? I had my grout restained to a beige from a grey a few years ago. I really liked the beige, but the guy doing the work had a personal problem and had to leave the job before he finished. He had finished staining, just hadn't sealed the grout in one of the bathrooms. Grout sealers are clear, and are a protectant. Well, I didn't feel like getting down on my hands and knees to finish sealing that last floor. I figured, well, it will be ok. There is not a lot of traffic in that bathroom.

Wrong. After a few weeks, the stain began to come off only in that room and reveal the grey grout beneath! Everytime I mopped the floor with water and floor cleaner, the grout would lift a bit. So, if yours hasn't been sealed, I think you could easily scrub it off.

Oh, and as for your flattened carpet, have you tried steam cleaning it? Steam lifts the fibers. I don't know if it will look new, but it will look better.

 

[lowie]

...and where better to come than the DIS for all the answers, right?

1. I have some high traffic areas on my carpet that have flattened down. Can I "unflatten" it and if so how? depending on the type of carpet you have, you can try a carpet rake.
2. I stained a small area of grout with grout stain and now don't like it. How can I get the stain up? a large pencil eraser may help, i know target sells huge ones just for grout in their cleaning supply aisle
3. Why are my hostas (which are mostly in the shade) turning yellow? try pouring epson salt around their base
4. My kids are having their birthday party at a pool in a few weeks and want a cupcake cake instead of a traditional sheet cake. Got any design ideas for a pool party cupcake cake? i like the 'design your own cupcake' idea

I think that's it for now! TIA!

hope this helps!