You Rock Appreciation Gift Idea | Pretty Handy Girl

You Rock 3-D Card | Pretty Handy Girl

This week is Teacher and Staff appreciation week at my sons’ school. Monday was bus driver appreciation. Our bus driver is a really great guy. He’s young, but man is he on top of things! He is always polite and learned the kids’ names the first week.

I wasn’t sure what to get him. I have no idea what a guy who looks to be in his mid-20’s wants. Flowers would seem weird. And I have no idea if he likes cookies. And then it hit me. I remembered Otto, the Simpson’s bus driver!

You Rock 3-D Card | Pretty Handy Girl

That guy loved to Rock n’ Roll! I figured, what young guy wouldn’t appreciate a little iTune credit? In addition to the gift card, I made a 3-D YOU ROCK Card to hold an i-Tunes gift card using the Silhouette. (If you don’t have a Silhouette, you can use a computer print out and an x-acto knife to cut out the letters.

Welcome back to the Teacher Appreciation Gift Idea Series! All this week, we’ll have simple and inexpensive last minute gift ideas for the teachers in your life.

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas Series | Pretty Handy Girl

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas:

Decorated Chalkboard | Thank You for Nurturing My Child Plant | Apple Pencil Holder | You Rock Gift 3D Card | Simple Washi Tape Vases

Read more

Make a Driftwood Gift Crate | Pretty Handy Girl

Make a Driftwood Gift Crate | Pretty Handy Girl

Make a Driftwood Gift Crate

I love making small crates or boxes to use as gift baskets for friends. It’s a great way to use up scrap wood and give a gift that can be used to organize a desk or shelf.  Stick around today and I’ll show you How to Make a Driftwood Gift Crate.

After a short walk on the beach, I was able to collect many broken pieces of dune fencing that had turned into nice weathered driftwood. I knew I could use it to make some beautiful gifts. Here is one idea.

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.)

Make a Driftwood Gift Crate | Pretty Handy Girl

Optional: wood glue for stronger joints

Instructions:

Paint the base and corner supports gray to blend in with the driftwood.

Make a Driftwood Gift Crate | Pretty Handy Girl

Allow paint to dry and nail strips of driftwood framing the 8″x8″ base. For a more secure hold, you can use wood glue around the base before nailing.

Make a Driftwood Gift Crate | Pretty Handy Girl

Can we take a one minute break so I can tell you about this Porter-Cable 20 volt Lithium 18 ga. air nailer? It is battery powered, no compressor needed and it is da’bomb! Porter-Cable sent it to me to try out a while ago. I’ve been using it all winter and have had no issues with jamming or misfiring (like my Ryobi Airstrike nailer frequently does.) The weight is a little heavier than a nailer that needs a compressor, but the benefits of being cordless and quiet in between firing makes it my go-to brad nailer. Sorry for the diversion. I just had to share a little more about my new favorite tool.

Make a Driftwood Gift Crate | Pretty Handy Girl

Finish framing the base. Add the top rail to the corner supports for two sides.

Make a Driftwood Gift Crate | Pretty Handy Girl

Stand up the connected corner supports and nail through the base into the corner support. A clamp will help hold the corner supports while you nail them.

Make a Driftwood Gift Crate | Pretty Handy Girl

Nail all corner supports into the base on two sides.

Make a Driftwood Gift Crate | Pretty Handy Girl

Continue attaching side rails until your crate is complete.

Make a Driftwood Gift Crate | Pretty Handy Girl

Fill your driftwood crate with goodies and give it to a friend.

Make a Driftwood Gift Crate | Pretty Handy Girl

They will surely enjoy receiving this little Driftwood Gift Crate.

drift-wood-gift-crate

Do you collect driftwood at the beach? Or do you have an excess of scrap wood you can use to make gift crates? If you don’t have driftwood, pieces of broken lattice or paint sticks will work just as nicely.

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Disclosure: Porter-Cable sent the Porter-Cable 20 volt Lithium 18 ga. air nailer (affiliate link) to test. I was not paid to review this tool, nor was I told what to write. All opinions are my own. I am very particular about the products I share with you and will always let  you know when something was given to me to review.

 

diy owl bookends

Pretty Handy readers Happy New Year!  Jaime here today from That’s My Letter to share how to make scrap wood DIY Owl Bookends.  It’s January and everyone is in cleaning, purging, and organizational mode.  While you’re cleaning out the scrap wood bin, save a few scraps to make these cute owl bookends. They are adorable and will help straighten up your bookshelf, too.

I used scrap wood pieces straight from my cut off bin to quickly put together these bookends.  These wood pieces happen to be different colors (some stained, some cedar, some painted) but you could easily use new lumber and paint the owls in fun colors.

owl bookends 1

This is a great gift idea for adults and kids alike!  I sent this pair off to my sister who happened to have an owl get down her chimney (someone left the flue open!) and was flying around in her house.

owl bookends 3

Below are the step-by-step instructions including materials and a cut list.  Always follow all safety precautions when using power tools.

owl bookend tml

Materials: Read more

It's inevitable your little ones will get bump or bruise. Make them a Boo-Boo Bear to sweeten those tough times by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

It's inevitable your little ones will get bump or bruise. Make them a Boo-Boo Bear to sweeten those tough times by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Hello PHG readers! I’m coming over from my blog, Prodigal Pieces, to share with you a sweet DIY that is easy to whip up and will make everyone smile (not to mention it makes a perfect last-minute gift!).

Do you remember the days as a child when you would stumble and hurt your knee or have some bump that required a little TLC? As a mom to 6 wonderful kids, I know how precious those times can be, and that’s where Boo-Boo Bear (a rice ice and heat pack) can sweeten those troubled times.

Boo-Boo Bear is sweet little friend who serves as a comforting ice pack that is the perfect temperature for those bumps and bruises that come along, AND he can also be lightly warmed in the microwave to soothe aches and pains. Want to make one for a special little person in your life? Read more

fabric & wood coasters

Pretty Handy readers we are nearing ever so close to the big day!  Jaime from That’s My Letter here today to share a quick and easy last minute gift idea.  These fabric and wood coasters add just a touch of holiday cheer to any coffee table and you just might already have the supplies on hand to make them!

fabric & wood coasters wrapped

All stacked up and tied together they make a great hostess gift or a charming diy gift anyone is sure to appreciate.

fabric & wood coasters 3

The plaid fabric is completely on trend this year as we are seeing plaid and tartan everywhere!  You could use nearly any fabric, this plaid happens to be a thicker woven cotton.

fabric & wood coasters 1

Below are the step-by-step instructions to make your own fabric and wood coasters.  Always use all safety precautions when operating power tools.

Materials:

  • 4×4 wood post scrap (1/2″ thick for each coaster)
  • miter saw
  • measuring tape & pencil
  • sandpaper
  • fabric (4″ square for each coaster)
  • mod podge
  • paint brush
  • rotary cutter & self healing mat

Instructions:

Step 1: Mark the 4×4 post for a 1/2″ cut.  I recommend setting up a stop block (the 2×4 on the right in the picture below) and clamp it to your saw.  This stop block allows you to make multiple cuts of same length without having to re-measure and mark your wood every time.

fabric & wood coasters step 1

fabric & wood coasters cut complete

Step 2: Sand the edges of the wood cuts smooth.  Apply a generous layer of mod podge onto the wood and press fabric in place smoothing any wrinkles.  Let dry. Read more