Plywood, paint and a bit of imagination can turn your front yard into a winter wonderland complete with snowmen and an array of colorful characters.

All you'll need is half a sheet of half-inch-thick plywood, some carbon paper and a pattern that can be found at a local craft shop.

1) Lay the pattern over the plywood with a layer of carbon paper sandwiched in-between.

2) Transfer the pattern to the plywood by tracing over the lines, using a pencil.

3) Remove the pattern and carbon paper and draw over the pattern lines on the plywood with a black marker. Cut the outside shape with a jigsaw.

4) Apply a light coat of white oil-base primer to both sides and the edges. The black lines will bleed through the primer, making it simple to apply the finish colors.

And that's the On The House tip for today.