The Bust DIY Guide to Life: Making Your Way Through Every Day [Hardcover]

Debbie Stoller (Author), Laurie Henzel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2011

Whether it’s sewing clothes, making cheese, or growing a garden, the modern appeal of “do-it-yourself” projects has a broader reach than ever. And who better to teach us how to DIY our lives than the über-crafty editors of BUST, the quirky, raw, and real magazine “for women who have something to get off their chests”? In The BUST DIY Guide to Life, magazine founders Debbie Stoller (of Stitch ’n Bitch fame) and Laurie Henzel have culled more than 250 of the best DIY and craft projects from its 15-year history. Organized by category—beauty and health, fashion, food and entertaining, career, finance, travel, and sex—and written in BUST’s trademark brazen and witty style, this quintessential DIY encyclopedia from the quintessential DIY magazine is eclectic, empowering, hilarious, and downright practical, truly capturing the spirit of women today.

Praise for the BUST DIY Guide to Life:

“This lifestyle manual will come in handy when you need anything from a headache remedy to a dirt-cheap wedding.” —Entertainment Weekly

“Has tips on beauty, fashion, and finance, too, all with attitude. But our dog-eared pages? Decorating, all the way.” -- Los Angeles Times

“It’s a rare do-it-yourself book that combines instructions for both homemade pot holders and Tantric sex. But The Bust DIY Guide to Life isn’t your typical how-to manual. The book, by Bust magazine cofounders Laurie Henzel and Debbie Stoller, is an irreverent yet informative guide to much of what life throws your way—removing laundry stains, lubricating a bicycle chain, even planning a wedding on the cheap.” —Akron Beacon Journal

"Looking for one source to provide answers on how to do practical things? This is it! A friendly compendium that shows you (with many pictures and diagrams) how to replace a broken zipper, make soap, turn your bell bottoms into straight-leg jeans, how to buy an old house, how to buy a vintage car, how to skateboard and lots more." —The Fresno Bee

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Debbie Stoller and Laurie Henzel are the founders and publishers of BUST magazine—Stoller is the editor in chief and Henzel is the creative director. Stoller is also the co-author of the BUST Guide to the New Girl Order and the Stitch ’n Bitch knitting book series. Stoller and Henzel both live in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book (October 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584798963
• ISBN-13: 978-1584798965
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 1.5 x 9.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE this book October 17, 2011

By Rebecca M. Matheny

Format:Hardcover

The books says right on the back that it is a collection of Bust's DIY articles through the years (The last reviewer didn't like that I guess).
But I disagree, and I'm in love with this book. The DIY articles of Bust are some of my favorites. And it's crammed with seriously, anything you could ever need or want to learn. Wanna learn how to buy your first house? No problem. Want to learn how to make your own deodorant from Eco-friendly and natural ingredients? This will teach you. How to put together an emergency kit? Not enough people think of that. I mean seriously, you can learn how to replace a zipper, Create Finger Waves, Make soap, make cocktails, make your own beer, start a business, do your taxes, fixing a flat tire....the list goes on. This is one hefty book!
I just got it from the library, and the thought of parting with it makes me so sad, I'm going to order my own. And one for my best friend, and my brothers girlfriend, and....

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, I can finally get rid of my folder of Bust tear-outs November 4, 2011

By DatDCFrancochick

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have been reading Bust magazine for years and it is one of my favorite magazines. I've been tearing out the crafts and recipes for years. I was excited when I saw the ad for this book, but it went far beyond my expectations. I'm a super busy person, but I find that if you go through there are a mix of projects that are appropriate for all levels of crafting, cooking or tips. For example, I've made the lamp out of books and it was super easy and I've received numerous complements on it. I know I won't be sewing my own clothes, but they have a skirt that you can make out of hem tape.

And cooking. Well, in my little bit of spare time I love cooking and the recipes are mostly handed down from grandmothers, mothers, aunts (which unfortunately, you don't always get the backstory in the book) and run the gamut from super fancy to super easy.

I promise you that if I, the non-artistic, almost type-A MBA working 60 hours a week can find time to do something from this book and love it, you can too!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for the Multicraftual December 22, 2011

By Bohoknitterchic

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is perfect for any woman who wants to know how to do it all, and doesn't mind getting her hands dirty. Every section had projects that I wanted to make or do, and I even enjoyed reading about the things that I might never find a use for. There are quirky projects for every type of girl, every aspect of your world, and every stage of your life. I mean, how many books teach you how to cook a fantastic meal, stitch the place setting and customize the plates to put it on, sew a dress, doll yourself up for the party, clean up the mess, tune up you bike, and then burn off the calories you consumed eating your goodies?