DIY Archives - Page 43 of 53 - Pretty Handy Girl

copper lamp, DIY, DIY tools, Do It Yourself, Electrical, Fix It, light fixture, Tool Tutorial Friday Video, Tool Tutorials, Tutorial

How to Solder Metals Together – Tool Tutorial Friday

Wheee, it’s another episode of Tool Tutorial Friday! Do y’all miss TTF? I do too, but this handy gal only has so many tools in her toolbox. I added a new one a few weeks ago, a soldering iron. Let’s learn How to Solder Metals Together!

When I was in college, I took a stained glass elective (one of the benefits of going to art school.) I really enjoyed the course, but once the semester was over I didn’t pick up a soldering iron again. That was 20 years ago. Just this month, someone in our neighborhood posted online that they were selling a soldering iron. I immediately jumped on the chance. But, this time I didn’t have stained glass in mind, I had these DIY farmhouse lights on the brain!

As promised, here is the tutorial on how to solder. Read more

September 28, 2012/13 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

circular saw, demolition, DIY, DIY tools, Dremel, Giveaway, power tools, Product Review, Tool Tutorial Friday Video, Tool Tutorials, Toolbox

How to Salvage Wood from Shipping Pallets

Pallet upcycling is all the rage today. But, if you’ve ever tried to actually remove wood planks from a pallet, you know that it is not an easy task. The nails that are used are typically spiral nails and are designed to really grip that wood. And if that’s not enough, they usually shoot 4-5 nails per joint. Sheesh, you’d think they were building a foundation for a 10 ton elephant. Okay, actually it is the foundation that has to hold tons of product as it is lifted by a fork lift. Which explains why harvesting pallet wood can be a labor intensive task.

I figured you’d appreciate it if I shared with you the quickest and easiest way I’ve found to salvage this beautifully rustic pallet wood. Read more

September 21, 2012/327 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

adfree, Before and After, ceilings, decor, Decorating, DIY, Electrical, glass paint, lantern, light fixture, oven, painting, stencil, Trash to Treasure, Tutorial, Upcycling

Circle Diamond Pattern Light Fixture – Updating a Brass Light Fixture

I have been dying to share this tutorial with you! This project was inexpensive and it made such a big impact in our mudroom. It started with a few Habitat ReStore light fixtures and some NEW! Martha Stewart glass paint and ended up adding some major “WOW Factor” to our entry.

How to Make Farmhouse Style Metal Pendant Light

I admit it, I believe in UFOs. I’ve seen them, honestly! I even captured a picture of two of them, see:

Yup, we have two UFOs that are frequently seen in our kitchen. Why did I purchase and install them when we first moved in? I’ll never know. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t horrible, but they just don’t go with the casual country vibe I want in my kitchen. Read more

August 31, 2012/29 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

adfree, arts and craft, Chalk marker, Chalkboard paint, DIY, magnet, memo board, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, priming, Safety Gear

Chalkboard Calendar for the Refrigerator

You may remember when we created our Summer calendar and bucket list. The boys really responded well to being able to see what was coming up on the calendar. And I enjoyed not having to pull up my Google Calendar on the computer whenever I was put on the spot for a play date. So, continuing to use a calendar in the kitchen was a no brainer. But, creating new calendars on poster board each month — although fun — seemed a bit tedious.

In a sheer stroke of genius ~~suggested by Pretty Handsome Guy~~ I decided to paint a chalkboard calendar on our fridge: Read more

August 29, 2012/14 Comments/by Brittany Bailey