diy Archives - Page 5 of 10 - Pretty Handy Girl

Collection, Decorating, DIY, Gift Ideas, Upcycling, vase

Clever DIY Upcycled Vases

20 Clever DIY Upcycled Vases

Vases are beautiful and one of those home decor items that can be used in many different ways. They can sit empty on a shelf adding to the style of the room, hold beautiful flower arrangements, or be given as loving gifts. These clever upcycled vases show only a few creative ways you can make a vase from items you already own, can be found in your recycling bin, or at local yard sales. I hope one of these many ideas inspire you to think outside the bottle ;-).

Can you believe this DIY Sheet Metal Vase is made from a decorative aluminum sheet found at your local hardware or craft store?

These DIY Wall-Mounted Test Tube vases look really cute on the wall and can be used in any room.

Make these sweet personalized gifts by wrapping Pounded Flower Artwork around a jar. It would make a great gift!

Simply slip a Mason Jar into a Boot to create this fun and quirky vase.

Practice your soldering skills to create this unique and pretty Copper Pipe Flower holder.

Decorate lattice and add some privacy to your yard with these gorgeous Glass Jar and Copper Wire vases.

No power tools? No problem! Create this gorgeous Produce Crate Centerpiece to hold your flowers using only hand tools.

Create this Outdoor Patio Living Flower Centerpiece vase using PVC pipe and decorative tin.

Check your recycle bin for bottles and make these Frosted Glass Vases for your springtime flowers or to give as a pretty gift.

Use some beautiful pieces of tree bark to make these beautiful Rustic Birch Bark Vases that can be used year-round.

Make this functional and pretty Reclaimed Wood Hook and Vase to decorate your entryway.

These Simple Bright Colored Vases can be made using recyclables, some paint and tape, and look absolutely gorgeous holding a variety of flowers.

Beautiful Simple Springtime Flower Striped Vases are created just using some decorative washi tape. They make great gifts!

You’ll just need a couple supplies to create beautiful Spray Painted Glass Jars and Bottles.

Use some small glass bottles to make these pretty Hanging Beaded Glass Flower Vases to hang near a window.

Paint some jars, fill them with flowers and show your teachers some love any day of the year with these Painted Vases.

Would you believe you can turn a soap dispenser into a vase like this unique Mother-of-Pearl flower vase.

Use old milk bottles to create these modern DIY Glass-Etched Vases.

Turn an old glass bottle into this fun textured Faux Stone Vase.

Still have some recycled bottles left? Make these super simple (but super elegant) Gold Leaf Bottle Vases to display or give as gifts.

What do you think? I hope these 20 DIY Upcycled Vases collection inspired you to use something old to make something new and beautiful. All of these make great home decor items or gifts to others to show how much you appreciate them. Enjoy, and get out there and create something!

If you liked this collection, please pin this image to Pinterest:

Happy upcycling.

~Read more of Sheri’s posts~

Pin for later!

March 23, 2018/1 Comment/by Sheri

art, Build It, Do It Yourself, Home Decor

How to Build a Custom Vintage Ruler Picture Frame

How to Custom Build a Vintage Ruler Picture Frame

How to Build a Custom Vintage Ruler Picture Frame

Every year when I go to meet my sons’ new teachers, I tell them if there is anything that needs fixing to let me know. It’s my small show of appreciation for all they do for my kids. Before Christmas, one of the teachers took me up on my offer. She asked me to fix a frame that had fallen off the wall and broke. I took one look at the cheap MDF frame and knew it was beyond repair. I didn’t tell her, because I wanted to surprise her with a Custom Built Vintage Ruler Picture Frame.

The great thing about this project is it uses cheap 1″ x 4″ lumber. And you can add your own moulding to dress up the frame if you like. Or just leave the frame plain, either way you’ll save major money by building your own custom frames!

Ready to learn how to build your own custom vintage ruler picture frame? Let’s get framing!

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.)

Power sander
Brad nailer
5/8″ nails
1 ½” nails
Miter saw
Staple gun
1/2″ staples
90 degree clamp
2 long clamps (learn how to use two short clamps as a long clamp here)
Ruler
Wood glue
Ear protection
Safety glasses
1″ x 4″ lumber
Vintage rulers
Framing points
5-in-1-tool (or flat edge to press framing points into wood)

Instructions:

This tutorial assumes you have mounted art and glass, but if you don’t you can follow this tutorial for cutting your own art mats.

Cutting the Frame:

Use a table saw to rip your 1″ x 4″ lumber. Run your board through the saw along the 4″ side, then flip the wood up and run it through again. This will take 1/4″ off one corner to create a rabbet to place your art into.

Lay your ripped 1″ x 4″ boards against the fence of your miter saw. (I like to pre-cut four pieces a few inches larger than my artwork.) Cut one end of your boards at a 45° angle (angle the saw blade to position the rabbet on the short side.)

Set one board against your art. Before cutting the other side, measure the width of the art. Add an extra 1/8 inch. Mark the inside corner and cut to length (angling the miter saw blade in the opposite direction as your first cut.)

Take your first cut board and lay it on to of a second board. A quick way to cut them exactly the same length is to place the already cut board on top of the second board and line up the ends. Then line the blade up with the cut on your first board. Clamp the boards down and cut.

Dry fit the two identical sides. Lay one 1″ x 4″ board over the cut boards at a 9o° angle. Mark the inner corner where you need to cut.

Cut the side piece and dry fit to make sure the cut is perfect.

Repeat the process above to cut two identical parallel side pieces.

Dry fit the frame around your artwork to make sure everything is square and fits inside the rabbet.

Assembling the Frame:

Apply a line of wood glue on the corners.

Clamp the corners with a 90° clamp then use your staple gun to fasten them together (on the back side of your frame). The wood glue is strong, but this will hold it in place while the glue dries.

I like to add 1 ½” brad nails (one on each side of the corners) to further hold the frame together. (I don’t want the teacher’s frame to fall apart ever again!)

Clamp the frame and let the wood glue harden. If you don’t have clamps long enough, here is how to make one long clamp with two short clamps!

While the glue cures, cut off any chipped, broken, or rounded ends from your vintage rulers.

Lay the first two rulers against the outer edge of your frame.

Mark the ruler where you need to trim and cut off the excess.

Continue until the outer edge of your frame is covered by rulers. Then start working on the inside of the first rulers. Measure, mark and cut the rulers to fit. Don’t worry if you are left with a small section of frame showing.

After all the rulers are measured and cut, use wood glue to adhere them to the frame. Follow up with a few brad nails to hold the rulers in place while the glue dries.

Sand the edges lightly with your sander to remove any splinters or rough edges.

Securing Artwork and Adding Hanging Hardware:

Fit your artwork into the frame. Place a framing point onto the back of the artwork with the point toward the frame. Use a 5-in-1-painter’s tool (or other flat tool) to push the point into the wooden frame. These will hold your artwork secure within the frame.

Add your hanging hardware. I prefer using D-rings and picture hanging wire, but you can use any hanging hardware you like.

Congratulations! You are done and now have a beautiful (and unique) Custom Vintage Ruler Picture Frame!

This is an easy project to build and enables you to customize the frame to any size that you need. The vintage rulers add some character and charm to the frame.

I hope you liked this tutorial on How to Build a Custom Vintage Ruler Picture Frame. Check your local vintage shops, Craig’s List or Ebay for some rulers and make one of your own!

Pin or Share this project with your friends! Because friends don’t let friends spend lots of money on art frames!

If you liked this tutorial, you’ll love these frames:

Scrap Wood Shadow Box Frame:

DIY Plywood Frames:

February 23, 2018/4 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

DIY, Electrical, light fixture

How to Hang a Barn Light

How to Hang A Barn Light

Hi everyone, it’s Dean from Diane and Dean today. I can’t wait to show you how to hang a barn light. Some may call it an obsession, but I like to think of it as a significant interest! What is it? Exterior lighting! Most homeowners may not think much further beyond function, but exterior lighting can REALLY make a difference to the curb appeal of your home.

With fewer choices for lighting fixtures on the outside of the house (compared to the inside), getting the right light fixture is important. Like most typical homes, our’s came with the gratuitous flood light circa 1980. The light was mounted in a highly visible spot over a walkway to the paver patio and pergola. Unfortunately, the flood light lacked everything but function!

For a long time, I have been eyeballing gooseneck barn lights. They remind me of my summers in eastern Pennsylvania spent on my cousin’s dairy farm. These fixtures aren’t the most economical in price, but the prominent spot dictated reaching a little further into the old wallet. After placing the order with a local company, that makes replica fixtures by hand, I anxiously waited for its arrival!

Here it is fresh out of the box, and it looks pretty simple to install because it is simple to install!

Let’s get to it and I’ll show you How to Hang a Barn Light!

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.)

Gooseneck Barn Light
Philips screwdriver
Hex Wrench
Wire Cutter and Stripper
Wire nuts
Plumber’s Tape (may be included with the fixture)

Instructions:

Step 1: Turn off the power at the circuit breaker. (It’s a good idea to turn the light on before you turn off the circuit. Then you can visually verify that the power is indeed turned off to the light.)

Step 2: Unscrew the cover off of the flood light (or whatever fixture you are replacing.) Pull the wires out of the junction box. Unscrew the wire nuts. Discard or recycle the old fixture and throw away the old wire nuts. (I like to replace the wire nuts when installing new fixtures because they are inexpensive and it insures a good connection.)

The gooseneck barn light comes with a face plate, a shade, and the gooseneck arm. All light fixtures have a white and black wire (together they provide the power); and a green wire (the ground wire). Thread the wires through the goose neck arm and the face plate (if not already threaded through). One end of the gooseneck arm is threaded and will attach to the shade. Wrap the threaded end of the goose neck arm with plumber’s tape (to prevent water from getting into the fixture.) Screw the threaded end into the shade. The other end is held into the face plate with a hex screw. Super easy, right?

Unfortunately, with this light, you must mount the entire fixture fully assembled (some fixtures can be installed by first mounting just the face plate first.) Therefore, you will need an extra set of hands to help hold the fixture in place while trying to connect the wire nuts and the fixture to the junction box.

NOTE: This fixture is made from real materials (aka heavier than big box retail fixtures). You need to make sure your junction box will hold the weight of the barn light snug against the exterior wall. If not, you will need to replace a plastic junction box with a metal one to support the additional weight.

Step 3: Cut the excess wires with the wire cutter. Using the wire stripping tool, remove approximately 1″ of the wire covering from each wire. (I like to remove a little bit more than usual because it can always be trimmed off if the wires don’t fit within the wire nuts.)

This fixture also comes with a gasket that goes on the back of the face plate (to prevent water from getting into the junction box.) Feed the wires through the gasket before the next step.

Step 4: Holding the fixture close to the junction box, connect the green ground wire from the light fixture with the green or bare wire from the junction box. Connect the white with the white wire and finally the black with the black wire. Secure all the connections with new wire nuts.

NOTE: For safety, all wire connections need to fit inside the wire nut with no bare wires exposed. If you want, you can wrap electrical tape around the wire nut and wires to fully seal and secure the connections.

Step 5: Gently fold the wires into the junction box behind the face plate or mounting plate. Lift the light fixture into place against the wall. Thread the two mounting screws through the holes in the mounting plate and into the junction box. Tighten the mounting screws.

Congratulations! You have just learned How to Hang a Barn Light!

Do you love the look of the barn light? Much better than the bare floodlights, right. I hope you’ll try installing an exterior light to your home, it’s not hard to do.

~ See more of Diane + Dean’s projects ~

If you liked this tutorial, you’ll love How to Install a Motion Sensing Light:

Or How to Install Low Voltage Landscape Lights:

Pin for later!

February 21, 2018/4 Comments/by Diane and Dean

Build It, organizational tips, storage, Uncategorized

29 Hacks to Help You Get More Organized

January is the time of year where we focus on making the next year better than the last. Often that involves new workout goals or resolutions. Other times it means getting more organized. There is something intensely motivating about being organized and saving yourself small bits of time. With that in mind, here are 29 hacks to help you get more organized for the coming year! Learn how to make your own bins, trays, and more to complete those organizational projects! I hope this helps you start your year off on the right foot.

Not enough closet storage? Consider building a Personalized Wall Shelf for jackets, backpacks, and knick knacks.

Keep your jewelry sorted and easy to find with this simple DIY Jewelry Organizer.

Having your morning coffee supplies on a tray like this Rustic Map Serving Tray keeps them looking less cluttered and easy to find even on those mornings that come a little too early.

Build these DIY Rolling Storage Stools for extra seating and hidden storage! They can be useful in any room!

This rustic Ladder Display Shelf is perfect for organizing and displaying keepsakes or supplies. (Not to mention taking advantage of vertical storage.)

Turn a spare Closet into a Reading Nook with some under seat storage to keep your child’s room neat, organized, and adventurous!

Make this DIY Produce Rack to keep fruits and veggies fresh, accessible, and off your counter.

Improve the space in your bathroom drawers with these DIY Drawer Dividers. They’d work beautifully in the kitchen as well!

Make this rustic DIY Decorative Ammo box to add a cool conversation piece to your room with bonus hidden storage inside.

Encourage those little readers by keeping kids books in sight and organized with this DIY Wall Bookrack.

This Industrial Charging Station and Lock Box is the perfect solution for managing devices and screen time in a busy household.

Make this DIY Cell Phone holder and Charging Station to prop up your phone and charge it as you sleep.

Need some laundry room organization? This Scrap Wood Iron Board Rack is perfect for holding those ironing items in a small space yet easy to use!

Turn a galvanized tub into a Storage Bench for your child’s room. It’s a step stool, kid bench, and hidden storage all in one.

Ever lose track of library books? This DIY Library Book Box is a perfect solution to that constant struggle!

Another solution for book storage would be to repurpose Rain Gutter into Bookshelves.

Build a DIY Tray Box to keep small items corralled in one place and looking less cluttered.

Garage or shop organization is crucial, and this Cordless Drill and Circular Saw Storage Center is a perfect solution for a garage workshop!

Build some Rustic Wooden Box Crates to store your paperwork, magazines, or anything you want to store out of sight.

Don’t throw it away! Turn a Cardboard Box into A Decorative Bin to store anything you like. This has to be the most economical storage solution ever.

Build this Tall and Skinny Storage Cabinet to solve storage problems in a small space. Imagine the storage possibilities in a bathroom, guest room, or kitchen!

Gain some easy toss in and take out storage with these DIY Stacking Storage Cubbies.

There are so many awesome garage storage ideas in this one post, like this Outdoor Tool Organizer. Be sure to open this article to see them all!

Organize your pantry with these DIY Pull Out Drawers with Chalkboard Fronts. Now there is no excuse for your spouse putting away the groceries in the wrong spot.

Make a new and unique Cork Jewelry Holder to organize all your necklaces. This little holder is perfect for the back of a door or a small spot between doorways.

Build this Cedar Underbed Storage to make great use of that otherwise empty space.

One board is all you need to make this DIY Storage Organizer that can be used in many different ways.

Build a Scrap Wood Caddy for any supplies you need to keep organized and transportable. Think cleaning supplies, art & craft supplies, office supplies and much more.

This Scrap Moulding Tray is one way to use up those casing and trim scraps. Plus, it’s an attractive way to corral and store project supplies.

I hope this helped give you some more organization ideas! Do you have any great organizational hacks? Share them in the comments please!

If you like this post, you’ll love learning how to build this hallway storage cubes and shoe bench:

January 5, 2018/4 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

arts and craft, Decorating, Holiday decorating, Home Decor, wreath

Make an Elegant Holiday Wreath for Less than $20

Have you ever been in a home decor store and fell head over heels in love with a wreath only to gag at the $50 or more price tag? Put your wallet away, because today I want to show you how you can turn an inexpensive wreath into an Elegant Holiday Wreath for Less than $20! Who knows, you might already have one of these cheap wreaths and some of the supplies in storage — making your cost almost FREE!

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.)

Instructions:

Remove anything you don’t want to keep from your store bought wreath. Fluff out the wreath by bending the branches to make it look larger and more full.

Grab your tree picks and decide where you want to place them on the wreath. Use strong wire cutters to cut off some of the length from the stems.

Curve the main branch of the tree pick so it mimics the curve of the wreath. Push the end of the stem under some of the wreath branches then back up so there is tension to hold the pick in place. Wrap some wreath branches around the entire pick to hold it firmly and disguise the stem. (If you are using heavier tree picks, you can secure them using floral wire.)

Repeat the process for the other tree picks. Leave a blank space at the top for the ribbon.

Time to add some color! Make a u-shape with some floral wire and push it through the top of an ornament. Place the ornament on the wreath. Wrap the floral wire around the wreath, twist the wire to secure from the backside of the wreath.

Evenly space the remaining ornaments, then attach with florist wire.

To complete the wreath, take a length of ribbon and loop it around the top of the wreath. You can tie a bow if that is your preference, but I prefer the simple look this year.