Reversible Tote Bag Tutorial by Sawdust Girl | Pretty Handy Girl

Are you enjoying Tote Week?!

Tote Week | Pretty Handy Girl

If you’re just joining in here’s the line up:

Today I have one of my closest friends and blogging buddies here. If you don’t know who I’m talking about, she’s the amazing, the incredible and the always vivacious Sandra from SawdustGirl.com. And she’s going to give you a tutorial for sewing those cute reversible and reusable tote bags!

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Howdy Handy friends! I’m Sandra of Sawdust Girl – formerly Sawdust and Paper Scraps. I try to reduce, reuse and recycle anyway so this tutorial for reusable, reversible, ruffled totes is fitting. Don’t ya’ think? I like to use my totes as grocery bags and have given a pair of these as gifts along with a few reusable produce bags found at the dollar store.

Reversible Tote Bag Tutorial by Sawdust Girl | Pretty Handy Girl

I used an old sheet and a set of pillowcases to make mine but for a gift item, maybe use new fabric. If you look for sheets on clearance you can get a LOT of fabric for just a few dollars.

Reversible Tote Bag Tutorial by Sawdust Girl | Pretty Handy Girl

This is a really easy pattern that I made from looking at a canvas tote. (It fits perfectly on a standard pillowcase.)

*Seam allowance? I run the fabric along the right side of the foot. I think it’s a waste to take a wide allowance and then trim!

Instructions:

1. Use the same pattern for the bag and the liner. You could use the same fabric for both or mix it up for fun. I like to use 2 different fabrics so I can flip it inside out and have a totally different bag!

Reversible Tote Bag Tutorial by Sawdust Girl | Pretty Handy Girl

2. Sew all 4 pieces (excluding the bottom) together like this: front/side/back/side making one long piece of fabric.

Reversible Tote Bag Tutorial by Sawdust Girl | Pretty Handy Girl

3. If you are going to add any kind of embellishment, now is the time. I’m adding three rows of ruffles! Read more

wood-block-picture-frames

Wood Block Floating Picture Frames | Pretty Handy Girl

We are days away from Christmas and I’m sure there is someone on your list that you just can’t figure out what to get for them. I have the perfect solution! Make them a wood block floating picture frame using scrap 2×4″ lumber and plexiglass.

If you don’t have scrap 2×4’s lying around, you can purchase a 2x4x8 foot stud for less than $4! You could make 16 photo frames out of that one board! (Granted, you’ll need to buy the plexiglass for each.)

Materials:

  • 2 – 2 x 4s (cut to 6″ lengths)
  • 4 – 6″ x 9″ pieces of plexiglass (3/32″ thickness)
  • Ipswich Pine Stain
  • gel stain or Minwax Express color
  • small detail paint brush
  • pencil or pen
  • photos
  • tape
  • rag
  • optional: scrapbook paper, double stick tape

Tools:

Instructions:

Set your table saw to a 10 degree bevel.

Wood Block Floating Picture Frames | Pretty Handy Girl

Set the saw blade to a depth halfway through your block (about 7/8″ deep.) Set the fence to 2″ from the blade.

Wood Block Floating Picture Frames | Pretty Handy Girl

Use your GRR-RIPPER to safely guide the 2×4 over the saw blade. Check to see if two pieces of plexiglass will fit in the groove created by the saw blade.

Wood Block Floating Picture Frames | Pretty Handy Girl

If not, nudge the fence over slightly and make a second pass over the blade. Check to see if the plexiglass will fit now. If not, repeat the process until they fit snugly. Read more

how to stamp with potatoes

Hey there! It’s Melissa from The Happier Homemaker back again with a fun and easy DIY tutorial you can even get the kiddos involved with! I’ve been noticing block printing coming up a lot in my home decor magazines and catalogs lately. Last week when I was prepping a little rainy day potato stamping activity for my 3 boys, I decided it may be time to try a little block printing DIY of my own.

Supplies:

  • Flour Sack Tea Towels
  • Large Raw Baking Potato
  • Knife
  • Craft Paint
  • Fabric Medium
  • Iron and Ironing Board

Instructions:

Cut your potato in half and use your knife to {carefully} cut your design.  Simple shapes work best for this type of stamping.

diy potato stamped towel

On a paper plate, or paint palette, mix your craft paint with fabric medium in a 2:1 ratio (or according to fabric medium instructions.) Read more

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

The holidays are fast approaching and the last thing I want to do is wander through the stores aimlessly looking for gifts for my friends or for the service providers in my life. Instead, I came up with the perfect gift idea: DIY Chalkboard Painted Mugs!

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

DIY Chalkboard Painted Mugs

Have you seen those cute chalkboard mugs at Starbucks? They are so fun and I think it would be funny to write crazy messages on them daily. I decided to try my hand at a DIY painted version. Let me say upfront that I did a little test using Rustoleum Chalkboard paint on one mug and Porcelaine Chalkboard paint (made for glass and ceramics) on a second one. I expected the regular chalkboard paint to flake off, especially after seeing this happen after just one coat:

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

However, after a second coat and baking it in the oven, it appeared to hold up after an initial dishwasher run. I can chip off some of the regular paint with my fingernail on the edges. But, overall the paint seems to be hanging onto the mug. That being said, based on the way the Porcelaine paint immediately took to the mug and appears to be harder to chip, I expect the Porcelaine painted mug to hold up much longer. So, if you want a chalkboard mug that will last longer, use Porcelaine paint.

Chalkboard Painted Mugs 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.)

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

Chalkboard Painted Mugs Instructions:

Lightly sand the sides of the mug where you intend to paint. Wipe off any dirt and oils with a cotton pad soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

Creating Decorative Borders:

Lay a strip of painter’s tape onto freezer paper.

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

Cut along one edge (or both) with craft scissors. Cut in the middle with regular scissors to give you two pieces of decorative edged tape.

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

Using a Decorative Border Hole Punch:

  1. Cut along the top edge of the tape to create a straight edge.
  2. Align the cut edge in the border punch and punch along the top of the tape.
  3. Peel tape off of the freezer paper.

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

Tape off the top of your mug to protect it from paint. (This should be safer because you really don’t want people drinking liquid against the paint.) Be sure to press the edges down firmly. You can also tape along the bottom if you want a centered band of chalkboard on the mugs.

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

Pour a small amount of the Porcelaine paint into the disposable cup. Use the foam brush to evenly coat paint onto the mug. Check for drips before the paint dries. After the first coat dries, paint a second coat for complete coverage. (Occasionally three coats may be necessary.)

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

After the paint has thoroughly dried (allow 24 hours to dry), remove the painter’s tape. Clean up any seepage or drips by scratching off the paint with the x-acto knife.

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

Place mugs in a cool oven. Heat oven to 300F and bake for 30 minutes. Let oven cool with mugs inside.

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

The mugs are ready for decorating now! Add some hot cocoa and marshmallows for an instant chocolatey gift.Better yet, you could make these yummy hot cocoa on a stick gifts!

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

These are so incredibly fun! I can’t wait to use one and write something witty on it. At $1 each for the mugs and $10 for the Porcelaine chalkboard paint (enough to paint about 8-10 mugs) this is truly a thrifty gift idea!

Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

So, please tell me, what should I write on DIY Chalkboard Painted Mugs?

  • Fill ‘er up
  • Don’t Let Me Run on Empty
  • High Octane Please
  • Do Not Disturb until I’ve Finished this Cup
  • ___________________

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DIY Chalkboard Painted Mugs | Pretty Handy Girl

Très Frugal DIY Gift Idea Round Up

Can you believe all the wonderful DIY gift ideas that we had for you this past month? 31 DIY gift ideas that are frugal and attractive in this Très Frugal DIY Gift Idea Round Up.

And if that’s not enough, you can view 10 DIY Gift Ideas that take 15 minutes or less to create:

Happy Holidays to you!

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