DIY Archives - Page 20 of 52 - Pretty Handy Girl

Vintage Map Lampshade | Pretty Handy Girl

Do you want to update a plain vanilla lamp shade? Do you have a vacation you want to remember? You can do both with this vintage map lampshade!

The process to create a Vintage Map Lampshade is easy, especially if your lamp shade is close to a perfect cylinder. But, what do you do when you have a cone shaped shade? The instructions are a little more complicated, but I can show you how.

Pull up a seat and I’ll show you how to create a cool decorated lampshade. (Keep in mind you don’t have to use maps. You could use wallpaper, fabric, a poster, or anything you want!) Let’s do this.

During a trip to my local thrift store, I discovered an old atlas and knew I could use it for oodles of projects. As I walked out of the store a flood of ideas came to me. One of them was to make a Vintage Map Lampshade.

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

To add a vintage glaze you will also need:

Paint brush
Mod podge
Cocoa acrylic paint
Cup to stir paint in
Stirring stick or palette knife

Instructions:

Start by selecting the maps or paper you want to use. Carefully cut them out along the spine using a fresh x-acto blade — don’t let your blade get dull. (I use a new one for each project. Your cuts are much cleaner when working with a fresh blade.)

Set your pages aside for now.

To make a template for your shade, roll out a large piece of craft paper. Lay your lampshade on the craft paper. Start at the vertical seam on the shade (to give you a visual of where to start and stop) and set your pencil along the bottom edge of the lampshade.

Gently roll the shade on the paper and mark along the bottom edge of the shade.

When you reach the end, reverse your shade and draw along the top edge. At the end, add an inch or two for overlap. Cut along the outlines to create your lampshade template.

Tape the template onto your lamp shade using the low tack tape. Make sure it fits snugly.

Trim any excess from the edge of your template. Should you choose, trim excess to allow room for the grosgrain ribbon.

Make sure your template fits perfectly before you proceed.

Lay out your craft paper template on top of the map pages. Make any adjustments to the page layout.

Tape your map pages together using clear packing tape on the inside only.

Trace the template on top of the map pages.

Cut out the shape along the pencil line.

Wrap the lampshade with your cut out map pages. Clip the edges with clothes pins.

Working in small 8″ sections, brush rubber cement onto the map and the lamp shade. Wait a minute or two for the glues to dry. Then press them together. This is the best way to get maximum adhesion when using regular rubber cement. It creates a stronger bond than just one coat applied and joined while it is still wet. Alternatively you could use spray adhesive (especially if you are using fabric.)

Continue by gluing another section until you reach the end. To finish the seams on the outside, brush some rubber cement under the seams where your maps overlap. Press and hold them down until the glue dries.

Add a Vintage Aged Glaze:

Time to give your maps a vintage aged look! Pour 2 parts mod podge into an empty cup. Add about 1 part cocoa paint. Mix them together. Test some of the glaze on a scrap piece of paper. If you like the glaze color, start brushing it onto the lamp shade. Be careful not to use too much of the glaze or the paper will start to wrinkle. (If it does, no worries, some of the wrinkles will come out when it dries. Any remaining wrinkles make it look old.)

Let the glaze dry.

Cut two strips of grosgrain ribbon the circumference of your lamp shade plus an inch for overlap.

Hot glue the ribbon onto the top and bottom edges of your lamp shade. (Please, please, protect your fingers, read my hot glue gun safety post before working with hot glue!)

Put your lampshade on your favorite lamp.

Admire your unique lamp shade that brings back fond memories of a special trip.

If you make one of these, what map would be on your’s? Your home state? The place you were born? Where your family’s heritage resides? Or something completely different? I would love to hear your ideas.

Did you like this tutorial? Want to learn how to revamp another lamp shade with paint chips!

The result are a beautiful ombré lamp that is fun and colorful.

March 17, 2017/75 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

DIY

Wooden Party Banner

Love this twist on the traditional party banners! This rustic wooden version can be used again and again.

Hello! This is Lindi, visiting again from Love Create Celebrate. This month I was planning out some decorations and I realized that I didn’t have a party banner anywhere. When I looked around, all I could find were banners that you use once and throw away the next day. So I decided to make myself something more permanent. This Wooden Party Banner is perfect for any occasion and it’s reusable!

I could’ve made the triangle banners as well, but I already had these prepared wooden banners sitting around at home – which made the project even easier!

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Blank Wooden Banner pieces (or cut triangles with holes in the corners)
Chalkboard Paint
Plywood (1″ x 5″ pieces for each banner
String
Quick Hold Glue
Miter saw (or hand saw)
Sander

Instructions:

Cut your plywood into 1″ x 5″ strips. I wanted my pendants to look a bit bulkier than the pre-made edges, so I cut the plywood pieces by cutting 1″ strips on the table saw, and then cutting those to 5″ in length on the mitre saw. After cutting all the plywood, sand down all of the sides and edges so that they are nice and smooth.

Next, paint your banners with chalkboard paint. Chalkboard paint makes everything re-usable!

Once it’s dry, paint the back to make your banner look finished (even though people don’t usually see the back).

Cut a long strand of string and run it through the pre-cut holes of the wooden banners. Run your banner pieces onto the string. Space them about an inch apart (they will look closer together once the plywood is attached.) Glue the plywood pieces onto your banner. I used Power-Tac glue (you could also use E-6000 or any quick drying glue) to adhere the pieces.

Now grab some chalk and decorate your banner! I love how sleek and modern this banner looks.

It’s definitely not like any you can buy in the store.

I recently used my banner in my Modern Valentine’s Day decor and I LOVE how it turned out! I can’t wait to rub the chalk off and use it for another party!

I’m sad to say that this will be my last time contributing for Pretty Handy Girl. I’m so grateful of the opportunity and it’s been a wonderful experience. Don’t forget to stop by and visit me from time to time!

For more great modern projects, like this Wooden Arrow Decor, visit Love Create Celebrate!

~ view more projects by Lindi ~

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February 22, 2017/3 Comments/by Love Create Celebrate

arts and craft, Crafts, DIY, gifts, recipe, Tutorial, Video

Easy Peppermint Star Ornaments

Last year I made these Easy Peppermint Star Ornaments. They were a lot of fun to watch as they melted and fuzed into a snowflake ornament. My son asked if we could make them again this year. Because the kids are officially out of school now, I thought this would be the perfect holiday activity today.

Won’t you join us as we make these Easy Peppermint Star Ornaments?

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Materials:

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 300˚F.

Unwrap the candies. You’ll need 13 candies per star. Lay the peppermints onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Arrange them into a snowflake design:

Place the baking sheet into the pre-heated oven. Bake for 8 minutes.

Remove the tray and immediately use a large needle to create a hole in the top of one of the outer points of the snowflake.

Allow the peppermints to cool and thread a green ribbon through the hole and tie.

Wrap up the Peppermint Star Ornaments in treat bags and give them to your friends and neighbors!

Or hang them on your tree ;-).

Here’s the quick video wrap up for how to make Easy Peppermint Star Ornaments:

Be sure to plan on making more than you need. The melting process can create some not so desirable snowflakes, but they still taste good ;-).

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December 23, 2016/1 Comment/by Brittany Bailey

Build It, DIY, Door Hardware, gifts

Switches & Locks Playboard

Switches and Locks Playboard | Pretty Handy Girl

Hello readers, it’s Jaime from That’s My Letter here and we are nearly to the end of 2016! I have a super easy and fast last minute gift idea for kids – a switches and locks playboard that uses up all those spare hardware bits lying around your workshop!

I scoured my workshop pulling together all the spare pieces of hardware I had stashed away to use on this playboard. Anything that moves, turns, twists, flips, or latches will be great for this project. I always save random pieces of hardware from renovations or from previous projects and today they are coming in handy.

This playboard makes a great gift for toddlers and young kids to keep them busy with all the different hooks and latches. Just be careful to steer clear of anything that could pinch or snap little fingers.

I added the pine board frame to finish off the plywood and make this board a nice, completed, functional board perfect for my almost 3-year-old nephew.

Supplies:

3/4″ plywood scrap piece about 19″ x 19″
Paint
1″ x 2″ x 8′ pine board
Misc. switches, locks and hardware pieces
Nail gun
Wood glue
1 ¼” finish nails
French cleat

Instructions:

Step 1: Paint the plywood and let dry. Gather all your miscellaneous switches, knobs, locks, pulls, chains, magnets, etc.

Switches and Locks Playboard | Pretty Handy Girl

Step 2: Attach all the hardware pieces to the plywood.

Switches and Locks Playboard | Pretty Handy Girl

Step 3: Frame out the plywood using 1×2 boards attached with wood glue and 1 1/4″ finish nails. Add a french cleat to the center top back and hang on the wall:

Now you’re ready to add a giant bow and give to that special little someone! Take a look through your workshop and I guarantee you’ll find a few miscellaneous hardware bits that would be perfect for a switches and locks playboard. Happy Holidays!

~Read more of Jaime’s tutorials ~

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December 21, 2016/2 Comments/by Jaime Costiglio

arts and craft, Decorating, DIY

Rustic Bark Vases

Hi everyone! This is Lindi, visiting again from Love Create Celebrate. We are in the thick of winter here, which means I spend my evening curled up under a blanket reading or dreaming up new DIYs. That’s where the idea for these simple Rustic Bark Vases came from. I love DIY decor that I can use all year long. Wouldn’t these be great with some fresh string flowers in them? I can’t wait to show you how easy they are to make!

The hardest part of this tutorial is getting the bark. If you are collecting it off of fallen trees or tree branches, you can soak the bark in shallow, luke warm water to make it pliable, and then flatten it between cardboard sheets. Alternatively, you can buy sheets online through sites such as Ebay and Etsy. Soak those sheets for a little while if they are too stiff to bend too.

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Instructions:

Be gentle when handling the bark at first. You don’t want it to split. I would recommend a tin can being the smallest size vase you use to wrap the bark around – if you try to wrap it around something smaller, the bark may split. You can cut the bark with a good pair of scissors if needed. I wanted mine taller than the tin cans, but you can cut it to any height. The best way to attach your bark to your tin cans or glass vases with this a two-part epoxy. This stuff is like magic! It sets in five minutes and holds forever.