Handmade gifts featured on show

Information on making handmade gifts, mixing succulents with fresh flowers, and using border punches for a variety of projects will be the featured topics on "Creative Living" 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday and noon on Thursday. (All times are Mountain.)

Connie Moyers is with the NM Cooperative Extension Service in Portales, and she's going to show some handmade gifts that include a casserole holder, note pad holders, coasters and even a corn cuddler — just to name a few.

Casey Schwartz is a floral designer, and she's going to demonstrate how to mix succulents with fresh flowers, as well as share other helpful tips on what to do after flowers have faded. Her company is Flower Duet and she lives in Redondo Beach, Calif.

Megan Thome is the spokesperson for EK Success Brands, and she's going to show a variety of border punched projects from scrapbook layouts to cards to home décor. Thome is from Kansas City, Mo.

Information on candle safety, using the computer to make assorted projects, and refinishing a vanity cabinet will be the featured topics on "Creative Living" noon on Tuesday and 2 p.m. on Saturday. (All times are Mountain.)

Safety is a "must" when it comes to burning and enjoying candles in the home. Beth Vesco-Smith and Bob Rosenberger, PartyLite Gifts, Inc. in Plymouth, Mass. will share some precautions that help ensure candle safety every time.

Deborah Durham, Hewlett Packard, will show assorted projects designed for family events, school fundraisers, and rainy day activities. She lives in Santa Fe.

Furniture refinishing expert, Bruce Johnson will show how to refinish a new vanity cabinet to provide an update to an existing bathroom for much less money. Johnson represents Minwax in Upper Saddle River, N.J.

Folded fabric coasters/ potholders

This is a great project for using up scraps and left over coordinating fabrics. For each coaster: Cut six 5-inch squares and one 4-inch piece of batting (cotton is preferred). Make a fabric sandwich (like in rag quilts) with one fabric square right side down. (This will be the back of the coaster.) Next layer batting in center of fabric square, place second fabric square on top right side up. Pin to secure and sew diagonally across sandwich to hold together. If desired, you can sew an "X" across it.

Press four squares in half. These will make a 4-patch block on top of your coaster. Place pressed squares on sandwich with folded sides to the center to make the 4 patch block. Pin and sew around outer edges of block using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Clip corners, turn right side out from the folded part of the center. Make sure corners meet well in the center of the block. Top stitch outer edges to stabilize and give the finished look. Potholders may be made using a 7 or 8-inch square.

"Creative Living" is produced and hosted by Sheryl Borden. The show is carried by more than 118 PBS stations in the United States, Canada, Guam and Puerto Rico and is distributed by Westlink, Albuquerque.