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What’s New

Lowe's Creative Idea, pail, Paintbrushes, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, past projects

15 of my Favorite Painting Tips, Tools and Paint

I have painted almost every room in our home now. Make that almost every room in two homes! You could say that over the years I've learned a few tricks of the trade and have acquired quite a few painting tools. But, only a handful are my…

antiques, arts and craft, autumn fall decor, dark wood, Decorating, distressing, Do It Yourself, graphic letters and numbers, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, silhouette, Trash to Treasure, Tutorial

Make a Rustic Farm Crate Sign

Last month, I was a little nervous to try a new power tool. I know...I know...shock and disbelief! But, y'all came to my rescue and helped share all your tutorials for using the Silhouette and other craft cutters. You really have to see…

Aged, Antique Heart Pine Flooring, antiques, Beach, distressing, Do It Yourself, Glaze, Lowe's Creative Idea, Paintbrushes, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, Tutorial, Valspar Asphaltum

How to Make New Wood Look Old, Weathered and Rustic

How to Make New Wood Look Old, Weathered and Rustic I have a confession to make. All the wood that you saw on my art studio wall is not exactly old or salvaged. Will you forgive me if I share with you the Secret to Make New Wood Look Old,…

Giveaway, Plumbing

I’m Going to Rock Your World (While Mine is Upended)

Thank you all for your comments about my post on polybutylene pipes. Since that post my life has been squished into a duffle bag and rolled down a big hill. I'm not sure whether we are coming or going. On Wednesday night we all slept in…

drywall repair, Fix It, Home & Auto Maintenance, Plumbing

Water Leaks, Polybutylene Pipes, and Mold – What to Do

Photo courtesy of Grotuk via Creative Commons Today's regularly scheduled post has been interrupted by a leak in our laundry room. I hope my misfortune is your gain. These are the things I've learned about burst pipes, polybutylene…

arts and craft, Before and After, DIY, Do It Yourself, Electrical, energy conservation, light fixture, Tutorial

5 Minute Light Upgrade – Converting a Recessed Light to a Pendant

This post really should be titled: How to convert a can light in 5 minutes or less (if you aren't shooting tutorial photos every 30 seconds), and why did it take me 6 months to do this?! But, that would be a looooonnggggg title. I'll spare…

arts and craft, Before and After, Build It, creating moulding, dark wood, decor, distressing, DIY, DIY tools, Do It Yourself, Home Tour, leveling, moulding, nailgun, Toolbox, Trash to Treasure, Tutorial

How to Install a Scrap Wood Wall

I'm so thrilled to be healthy again, that I'm doing a happy dance (see the video below if you want to witness it.) The pneumonia is gone and my boys are back in school. Can I get a "Woot Woot!"? The bonus room/art studio renovation…

Fix It, hole filling, Home & Auto Maintenance, moulding, repair, scribing profile, Tutorial

Baseboard Trim – How to Remove and How to Install

I'm back to work on the bonus room makeover, and I couldn't be happier with the results of the project. I had to prep the back wall for a little something special. And it required removing the baseboards. I saved them to re-install…

DIY, Home & Auto Maintenance, Product Review, ReNew, repair, Tutorial

How to Seal and Protect Your Deck

One of the home improvement projects that has consistently been at the bottom of my "to do list" was re-sealing the porch floor. And it would have stayed there if I hadn't noticed this: Those would be water stains and a glass ring…

copper lamp, DIY, DIY tools, Do It Yourself, Electrical, Fix It, light fixture, Tool Tutorial Friday Video, Tool Tutorials, Tutorial

How to Solder Metals Together – Tool Tutorial Friday

Wheee, it's another episode of Tool Tutorial Friday! Do y'all miss TTF? I do too, but this handy gal only has so many tools in her toolbox. I added a new one a few weeks ago, a soldering iron. Let's learn How to Solder Metals Together! When…

About Me, Decorating, Home Decor

Get My Look – Joss & Main Curators Collection

I mentioned a while ago that Joss & Main contacted me about creating a curated collection of home décor and furniture that screams Pretty Handy Girl. I was very hesitant, but ultimately agreed to search their virtual warehouse to find…

arts and craft, Crafts, silhouette

Silhouette Deal and Project Idea Link Party

I was so excited to receive my package from Silhouette recently. I couldn't wait to try the machine out. I opened the package, read all the instructions, plugged it in... and then I froze. Seriously! I know — I'm not afraid…

art, arts and craft, Before and After, Chalkboard paint, Crafts, de-clutter, Home Tour

Bonus Room Plans to Convert to an Arts and Craft Room

Hello, this is Pretty Handy Girl reporting from the sick bay this week. If you follow me on Instagram, you've probably seen my trip(s) to the pharmacy and my hopes for those little pink babies: That would be the infamous…

circular saw, demolition, DIY, DIY tools, Dremel, Giveaway, power tools, Product Review, Tool Tutorial Friday Video, Tool Tutorials, Toolbox

How to Salvage Wood from Shipping Pallets

Pallet upcycling is all the rage today. But, if you've ever tried to actually remove wood planks from a pallet, you know that it is not an easy task. The nails that are used are typically spiral nails and are designed to really grip that…

adfree, bloggers, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, Sponsor Spotlight

My Colortopia Show Your Colors

I have to admit to y'all that I have illegal tendencies. I haven't been arrested yet, but sometimes I fear that my prying eyes may get me in trouble one day. I like to walk at night with the dog. But, my eyes always wander into the well…

adfree, Before and After, ceilings, decor, Decorating, DIY, Electrical, glass paint, lantern, light fixture, oven, painting, stencil, Trash to Treasure, Tutorial, Upcycling

Circle Diamond Pattern Light Fixture – Updating a Brass Light Fixture

I have been dying to share this tutorial with you! This project was inexpensive and it made such a big impact in our mudroom. It started with a few Habitat ReStore light fixtures and some NEW! Martha Stewart glass paint and ended up adding…

antiques, bathroom, Before and After, Build It, decor, Do It Yourself, jigsaw, ReNew, Trash to Treasure, Tutorial, Upcycling

Bread Crate Cubby Display Shelves

Hey y'all. I've been busy painting my hair gray. Well, I'm not trying to, but painting the bonus room with its angled ceilings has resulted in a lot of gray highlights. Even Buddy got in the action: So, while I'm busy googling how to…

Before and After, ceilings, Do It Yourself, Electrical, light fixture, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, ReNew, Spray paint metal, Trash to Treasure, Tutorial, Uncategorized, Upcycling

Update Your Ceiling Fan with Paint

I'm back, but only for a minute because I'm working hard on transforming our pinky-beige bonus room into an art and craft studio fit for an art show! This is compounded by the fact that the room has many angles and dormers. Who knew that…

accessories, autumn fall decor, decor, Decorating, Fall Leaves, Holiday decorating, Home Decor, Home Tour, mantles

Fall Mantle and Autumn Décor

You got a peek at my living room fall décor when I showed you how to make the book page oak leaf garland. As promised, I'll let you see the rest of the room and how I decorated for Fall. Before I invite you in, I have a confession…

arts and craft, book, Crafts, Decorating, Fall Leaves, fireplace, Home Decor, mantles, wreath

Make an Autumn Book Page Leaf Garland

Want to make an Autumn Book Page Leaf Garland to decorate around your mantle or a doorway? Two years ago, I saw this beautiful wreath in a magazine. I snapped a picture with my phone and figured I'd try to DIY my own version. Then I forgot…

copper, copper lamp, DIY, Do It Yourself, Electrical, Home Decor, light fixture, Lowe's Creative Idea, new light fixture, school house light, Spray paint metal, Tutorial, Uncategorized, Upcycling

How to Make Farmhouse Style Metal Pendant Light

I admit it, I believe in UFOs. I've seen them, honestly! I even captured a picture of two of them, see: Yup, we have two UFOs that are frequently seen in our kitchen. Why did I purchase and install them when we first moved in? I'll…