12 Stylish Energy Efficient Bulbs | Pretty Handy Girl

 

12 Stylish Energy Efficient Bulbs

Remember when the only light bulbs that were energy efficient were the corkscrew shape CFL bulbs? Despite being an environmentalist, I was not a fan of the look or the light put out by CFL light bulbs. Luckily the energy efficient light bulb has evolved. LEDs are on the scene and they have changed the look and color options. As a light snob, I decided to share a few of my favorite light bulbs with you. I’m sure you can find one or more light bulbs that not only look stylish but will save you lots of money over the years!

Here are 12 Stylish Energy Efficient Light Bulbs for you to drool over:
(This post contains affiliate links. To learn more read my disclosure page.) 

12 Stylish Energy Efficient Bulbs | Pretty Handy Girl

Rejoice! Edison Bulbs are finally available in LED format. These attractive bulbs give off a warm light and have the beautiful filament design to look at.

12 Stylish Energy Efficient Bulbs | Pretty Handy Girl

The GE LED Bright Stiks are small in size and fit in most table lamps. They put off a soft white light that is even and bright. Sold in a pack of three for big savings!

12 Stylish Energy Efficient Bulbs | Pretty Handy Girl

Clear LED Dimmable Edison Style Chandelier Bulbs will add the look of glamour to any chandelier. Unlike many white base chandelier bulbs, these bulbs have a chrome base for a more stylish appearance.

12 Stylish Energy Efficient Bulbs | Pretty Handy Girl

If you have can lights in your home, you know sometimes it’s hard to find an energy efficient flood light that doesn’t buzz or look like an energy efficient bulb. These LED flood lights are the perfect answer to those issues.

12 Stylish Energy Efficient Bulbs | Pretty Handy Girl

This Faceted LED Bulb is so beautiful you might want to take off the lamp shade or hang it in a bare bulb fixture! And what’s better than a bulb that will last for decades? A bulb that saves you oodles of money!

12 Stylish Energy Efficient Bulbs | Pretty Handy Girl

The Bloom dimmable LED bulb doubles as an artistic lamp. It can also be dimmed to use as a night light. Thomas Edison would surely ditch his original invention to have one of these in his home.

12 Stylish Energy Efficient Bulbs | Pretty Handy Girl

Gold base candelabra bulbs will elevate your light fixture by giving it luxury and style!

LED-bluetooth-speaker-light-bulb

Want to turn any light socket into a speaker? Yes, please! This LED light bulb is actually a stylish bluetooth speaker and light source in one device.

12 Stylish Energy Efficient Bulbs | Pretty Handy Girl

What could be better than an LED bulb that is also a speaker? A Color Changing LED Light Bulb Bluetooth Speaker, of course!

12 Stylish Energy Efficient Bulbs | Pretty Handy Girl

This stylish Half Chrome LED Light Bulb is perfect in a light fixture over a table or a space that you need to block light glare.

12 Stylish Energy Efficient Bulbs | Pretty Handy Girl

I know I told you I’m not a fan of CFL bulbs, but this Plumen designer CFL has me retracting that statement. The design changes depending on how you orient the bulb.

12 Stylish Energy Efficient Bulbs | Pretty Handy Girl

I saved my favorite for last. This Romantic Edison Tiered Bulb is a must have for your glass shade light fixture!

Those were 12 Stylish Energy Efficient Light Bulbs, which was your favorite?

PHGFancySign

 

10 Cool DIY Gifts for Handy Guy or Girl on Your List

10 Cool DIY Gifts for Handy Guy or Girl on Your List

As an avid DIYer, I know that Father’s Day is a good time to pick up great bargains on DIY tools and more. Sometimes picking out the right gift for that handy person in your life can be a little daunting. Therefore, I’ve created a list of cool products that I love and I know your “handy” person would too. And, hey, if this list is for the handy gal instead, then so be it!

Here are 10 Cool Gifts that Every Handy Guy (or Gal) Would Love, to fit any budget (contains affiliate links.) Read more

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.

PHGFancySign

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