striped euro shams

Every DIYer loves a little drop cloth project right?  Jaime from That’s My Letter here to share how to make striped euro shams.

Using drop cloth and acrylic craft paint, I made these grain sack inspired shams to finish off our new poster bed.

striped euro shams 1

I added piping to finish the edges. It wasn’t too hard, and it was worth the extra effort.  Brittany has a great piping tutorial here or you could always leave off the piping if you choose.

05-CLX-digging-deep-striped-duvet-cover-0613-xln 1

I found my inspiration for these shams from a Country Living article in the June 2013 issue.  The master bedroom in the featured home had the perfect striped lumbar pillow and I knew I just had to have my own!

striped euro shams 3

Similar but different, these striped shams coordinate well with my Joseph’s Coat quilt.  Check out how easy it is to make your own shams:

Materials:

striped euro shams supplies

  • drop cloth (2 – 26″ x 26″ square piece per sham)
  • cotton cording (2 yards per sham)
  • 22″ zipper
  • painter’s tape
  • stencil paintbrush or stiff bristle brush
  • acrylic paint
  • pencil
  • clear quilting ruler
  • rotary cutter
  • self healing cutting mat
  • scissors
  • thread
  • sewing machine
  • iron & ironing board

Instructions:

striped euro shams step 1

Step 1: Measure your sham inserts and add 1″ to each side.  (My inserts measured 25″ x 25″ therefore I cut the drop cloth at 26″ x 26″.)  Tape the corners of the drop cloth to a hard surface.  Slide a piece of cardboard under the drop cloth to protect your surface. Mark a 1/2″ wide stripe at the center and secure painter’s tape down either side of gap. Read more

How to Paint an Ombre Wall Technique | Pretty Handy Girl

How to Paint an Ombré Wall Technique

How to Paint an Ombré Wall Gradient | Pretty Handy Girl

Ombré painting is EVERYWHERE. Clothing, home décor and even wall paint techniques. An ombré wall is the paint technique I chose to create a misty and ethereal look in our master bedroom. It started when I fell in love with Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore but didn’t want to make our entire bedroom too dark (I have a hard enough time waking up in the morning.) I decided a good solution was to use the dark charcoal gray color on a focal wall behind the headboard. But, I didn’t want to stop the color in the corners and create a sharp line.

How to Paint an Ombré Wall Gradient | Pretty Handy Girl

Instead, I wanted a softer edge that would make us feel like we were being hugged by the room.

How to Paint an Ombré Wall Technique

How to Paint an Ombré Wall Gradient | Pretty Handy Girl

I used Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore to paint the other three walls in the bedroom, but created a random ragged edge where the two colors meet.

How to Paint an Ombré Wall Gradient | Pretty Handy Girl

This is how the side walls look in preparation for the ombré wall technique.

How to Paint an Ombré Wall Gradient | Pretty Handy Girl

Materials:

  • Dark latex paint color (Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore)
  • Lighter latex paint color (Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore)
  • A small container with a mixture of the two colors to create an in between gray
  • Paint brush
  • Dry brush
  • Water-filled spray bottle
  • ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape
  • Damp car wash sponge
  • Rubber gloves
  • Wet wipes or wet rag

Instructions: Read more

HomeRight PaintStick vs. EZ Twist Review | Pretty Handy Girl

HomeRight PaintStick vs. EZ Twist Review | Pretty Handy Girl

Remember when I declared that I only use a handful of painting products that I’ve used for 15 years? I usually detest “new and improved” painting gadgets. I’ve tried many and they are usually a flop or not as efficient as my current arsenal of painting tools. So, you’ll understand that when HomeRight first approached me about trying their PaintStick products, I declined. After saying no, I started seeing many rave reviews from other DIY bloggers. As I began anticipating the task of painting our master bedroom, I began to rethink trying the HomeRight PaintStick Paint Applicator. I was definitely tentative. Finally, I agreed to try out both the PaintStick original and the PaintStick EZ Twist. I warned HomeRight that I have high expectations and that if they weren’t met, I wouldn’t blog about their PaintSticks.

I guess you know where this is going because here I am to tell you that I really loved both PaintSticks! And I will be using one every time I paint a room from now on! Seriously, these products are a game changer.

For one, you don’t have to worry about the messy task of pouring paint into a tray and moving the tray with you as you paint. Both HomeRight PaintSticks come with a paint can cover and fill tube that fits on your gallon paint container.

HomeRight PaintStick vs. EZ Twist Review | Pretty Handy Girl

This keeps the paint from drying out and eliminates the need for a tray. The fill port on both PaintSticks is covered with a sponge type gasket that allows the fill tube to go through, but keeps the paint inside the PaintStick.

HomeRight PaintStick vs. EZ Twist Review | Pretty Handy Girl

But, my FAVORITE aspect of the PaintSticks is that I can roll half a wall without stopping! No joke. With the traditional roller and tray I can usually paint a 4′ x 4′ square and then have to reload my roller. No more! The PaintStick literally allowed me to paint an 8′ x 7′ section (almost 4 times as much) without reloading.

HomeRight PaintStick vs. EZ Twist Review | Pretty Handy Girl

And refilling the tube is almost as fast as rolling. I cut my painting time down drastically. Here’s a video HomeRight made showing a side by side “Paint Off” race between the EZ Twist PaintStick and a roller and tray (and a paint sprayer). It’s pretty accurate in my experience.

The only negative, is that you will spend a little more time cleaning up. The PaintSticks have to be disassembled and cleaned out when you finish painting. But, this process doesn’t add enough time to come near exceeding the time it would take to paint conventionally with the roller and tray.

What’s the difference between the PaintStick and the EZTwist PaintStick? Read more

Super easy card table makeover
I can only imagine that Matt and I are not the only family in America with a less than stellar card table.  In fact both of ours were hand me downs from grandparents and though they may have been fabulous in the 80’s, now they are really lacking in the attractive decor department.  A few years go I picked up some vinyl table clothes with hopes of breathing new life into our sad card tables and once again life got in the way and I never recovered them.  I recently came across the table clothes and decided it was time to move on with my project but there was a small problem, I no longer liked the table clothes I had previously picked out.  Have no fear, after a quick trip to Target I was back in business and ready for my amazing, fabulous, incredible card table makeover!

Materials:

  • Card Table (old or new)
  • Damp rag for cleaning
  • Ratchet with socket
  • Vinyl Tablecloth
  • Drop Cloth
  • Spray Paint
  • Sand Paper – 180 grit
  • Drop Cloth
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Hot Glue Sticks
  • Scissors

Instructions: 

Card Table

Give the table a good wipe down with a damp rag to remove any dust or possible cobwebs that may be lingering on the underside of the table.

Table

Remove the top of the table from the frame and legs. (Be sure to store your screws in a safe place because you will need them later.)  Most tables will be attached with a few hex screws that can easily be removed using a ratchet and socket or a socket wrench.

Read more

Seaside Theme Bathroom Refresh #LowesCreator | Pretty Handy Girl

Seaside Theme Bathroom Refresh #LowesCreator | Pretty Handy Girl

You know those projects that you complete 80% of the room and think to yourself, “This is good for now. I’ll do the rest in a day or two.” Yup, the boy’s bathroom was one such 80 percenter. I finally took the time to finish the last 20 percent of this bathroom makeover by giving it a refresh with some paint and new knobs.

The bathroom used to look like this:

Seaside Theme Bathroom Refresh #LowesCreator | Pretty Handy Girl

But, before that, it looked like this:

I find it comical that I took an underwater themed bathroom and gave it a seaside retreat feel. I guess you could say I pulled this big whopper from within the ocean and laid it out on the beach. LOL.

Let’s break it down now. Here’s how to paint a bathroom vanity so it will withstand the abuse of two young boys: Read more