diy Archives - Page 10 of 11 - Pretty Handy Girl

bedroom, Contributor, DIY, drop cloths, painting, Sewing

DIY 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.

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.

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!

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:

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:

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

July 16, 2014/3 Comments/by Jaime Costiglio

accessories, arts and craft, Before and After, Bistro table, Contributor, decor, Decor Adventures, DIY, ReNew, repair, Tile, Upcycling

How to Tile a Small Table Top

Hello and happy summer pretty handy readers. It’s Jessica from Decor Adventures. With the weather getting warmer, I’m completing lots of outdoor projects these days. One DIY adventure I’ve never actually tackled is tiling, but I’ve always wanted to. Today I’m going to show you how to tile a small table top. It’s easier than you think and is perfect for the outdoors too.

Tile a Small Table Top Materials:

Small table
Tile adhesive (also called mortar or thinset)
Tile (enough to cover the top of the table)
Notched trowel
Rubber float
Grout
Grout sponge
Tile cutters
A bucket
Paint for the table (optional)
Water
Plastic gloves
Eye protection

Tile a Small Table Top Instructions

First, prepare your table. The small table I’m using was the one we used for my pet parrot when I was little! His name was Woodstock, and no he didn’t talk. I guess my mom taught me and my sister to talk instead :-). The table had sentimental value, so I knew I wanted to create something special with it.

How to Stain a Basket

I admit it, I’m a basket addict!

Baskets are one of the best ways to organize and accessorize your home but they can be very expensive when purchased new. Thrift stores are a great source of affordable baskets but they are often out-of-fashion colors and can have missing or broken pieces. Today I’m going to show you how to take those old, thrift store baskets and make them a beautiful accent piece for your home.

Materials:

super glue
hand broom
stain
paintbrush

Instructions:

The first step in fixing up an old basket is to clean out any dirt or debris using a hand broom. Be thorough on both the interior and exterior.

Next inspect your basket for any broken pieces. Use super glue to repair any areas that may need it. Read more

March 26, 2014/2 Comments/by Melissa Riker

accessories, arts and craft, Contributor, Crafts, Gift Ideas, gifts, painting

DIY Colorful Coffee Stirrer Keychain

Hello Pretty Handy Girl readers, Jaime from That’s My Letter back again to share a fun craft project. Today we’re making DIY wood keychains using coffee stirrer sticks.

If you love coffee just as much as I do, what could be better than a nifty craft made from coffee stirrers!

The pattern possibilites are endless, stripes, diagonal, rainbow, chevron and on and on. And what a great gift or favor idea for a party – you could paint them to match the party color scheme.

I may or may not have borrowed a few wood coffee stirrer sticks from my local coffee shop with a green and white logo. Of course, I let my daughter do the dirty work but you only need about 5 sticks for one keychain. Or more appropriately you can purchase coffee stirrer sticks or thin wood craft sticks from most craft and hobby shops.

The painted coffee stirrer sticks are sealed with clear gloss varnish which gives a super hard finish that will hold up to everyday wear and tear while protecting the wood and paint.

Try one and I guarantee you’ll be hooked — then you’ll be making different styles and versions for everyone you know in a school or team color scheme ;-).

Materials:

5 wood coffee stirrer sticks
acrylic craft paint
small paint brush
basswood (purchase one stick at 36″ l x 3/32″ thick x 2″w)
super glue (gel version is best)
scissors
rubber bands
clear gloss varnish (Americana DuraClear or similar)
sandpaper
clear gloss polyurethane spray (optional)
drill & small drill bit
keychain hardware

Instructions:

Step 1: Paint wood coffee stirrer sticks desired colors using acrylic craft paint. Paint the edges too but not the back. Read more

March 19, 2014/12 Comments/by Jaime Costiglio

Build It, Chalk marker, chalk paint, Chalkboard paint, Contributor, Decorating, DIY, Home Decor, kids art, Painting & Antiquing Techniques

How to: Build a Wall Chalkboard with a Chalk Ledge

Chalkboards are popping up everywhere (like Brittany’s DIY chalkboard calendar from last week) and you can easily make one, but how about upping the usefulness by making a chalkboard WITH a chalk ledge? Jaime here from That’s My Letter to show you how easy it is to add a chalk ledge to your chalkboard.

You definitely need a place to put all that chalk (or chalk markers like we prefer). This chalk ledge protudes a minimal 1 3/4″ from the wall but still has space enough to hold lots of chalk.

I also attached a galvanized pail for more chalk markers.

I installed this chalkboard near our back door mudroom area. Unfortunately the key pad for our alarm system is nearly smack in the middle of that wall. I simply cut out a square in my plywood using a jig saw to accommodate the key pad. My kids love their new chalkboard and somehow the key pad isn’t quite so obvious once they start drawing around it.

Supplies:

1/2″ plywood (cut to desired size)
1×2 pine board (cut to length of plywood)
1 3/8″ x 1/4″ thick flat trim moulding (cut to length of plywood)
black chalkboard paint
blue painters tape
stain
polyurethane
foam brushes
drill
Kreg pocket hole jig (not necessary but definitely easier if you have one)
1″ pocket hole screws
wood glue
3/4″ trim nails
countersink bit
2 1/2″ toggle bolts
5/8″ spade bit (check toggle bolt requirements)
pencil
level

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut your plywood to size, using your Kreg pocket hole jig make pocket holes every 8″ along bottom edge of plywood (on back side). (I used the portable base with automaxx clamp here, much easier that slipping a large piece of plywood into the jig.) Read more

February 19, 2014/8 Comments/by Jaime Costiglio

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Tile a Small Table Top Materials:

Tile a Small Table Top Instructions