What's New

What’s New

arts and craft, Crafts, decoupage, Guests, mod podge

Guest Posting at Frugal Flourish – Making Glass Citrus Plates

I've been fighting a losing battle this week. I seem to have come home from California with some airplane cooties. Last night I got knocked down by a raging ear infection. This evening I came down with pink eye. My sympathies go…

Bookcase backer board, bookshelves facelift, DIY, Dremel, Electrical, light fixture, Tutorial, Upcycling

Backlighting a Cut Out Bookcase

I promised to show you how I lit my son's bookcase. It really isn't anything fancy. But, a promise is a promise. Here is the view of the back of the bookcase: I purchased the LED rope lights at Home Depot. They came with…

bedroom, Before and After, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, Painting Dandelions

Paint Problems and Surprising My Sister

I just got back from surprising my little sister, Caitlin in San Jose, CA. My sister's husband, Ryan, and I conspired to give her a real treat for her birthday. She was really sad when she couldn't make it to my 40th birthday party. And…

accessories, arts and craft, caulking, Chalkboard paint, Crafts, decor, DIY, drill, Home Decor, memo board, mirrored glass, ReNew, Upcycling, Window

An Artist’s Inspiration Board from an Old Window

Hey guys, today I'm dishing up a triple dose of posts for you. I've been busy, really busy, super busy! And you don't know the half of it. As you are reading this, I'm on my way home from California. I flew out to surprise my little sister…

arts and craft, decor, DIY, Do It Yourself, drop cloths, memo board, printing on fabric, Window

Making Printed Drop Cloth Bulletin Boards

I'm so excited to share this tutorial with you. I knew it could be done, but honestly I didn't believe it until I tried it. When I saw THIS cute project over at Home Frosting, it got my creative wheels turning. I asked Lesa for a…

arts and craft, Crafts, decor, DIY, gifts, Giveaway, July 4th, Pillows, Sewing

Dollar Store Flower Pot Makeover

Another project I completed before the birthday party was a quick makeover for a pair of ho-hum dollar store flower pots. My friend Heather helped me add some jute rope and fake flowers then set them out with utensils in them. Perfect for…

Bookcase backer board, bookshelves facelift, Build It, circular saw, clamps, Crafts, DIY, DIY tools, Do It Yourself, Dremel, Giveaway, hole filling, hole repair, painting, priming, ReNew, Toolbox, Tutorial, Upcycling, wood putty

New Life for a Borders Bookshelf

I hope you will take a moment to view how I test drove my Dremel Trio. This is seriously a really fun power tool! Just be sure you are safe so as not to ruin the fun. Eye protection, face mask, and ear plugs. Check. For those of you who like…

decor, Decorating, Do It Yourself, Giveaway, graphic letters and numbers, Home Decor, Master Bedroom

Leen the Graphics Queen and Installing Wall Vinyl

I had the opportunity to meet Leen the Graphics Queen last week when she, her husband and her two sweet boys were in town. We met at Monkey Joe's (an inflatable playground) and our boys had a fun and energetic afternoon playing together. If…

DIY, fix stripped holes, Furniture, garden bench, Giveaway, hole repair, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, priming, repair, Safety Gear, sander, Stripping Furniture

Refinishing a Garden Bench

Recently I decided my garden bench that used to be a Craig's List bed frame, needed to be refinished. I repaired, sanded and repainted the bench before setting it onto our porch where it would get less exposure to the rain. Well,…

Contest, Giveaway

Happy Birthday-Blogiversary To Me!

Let me hear some noise! Blow the horns, shout out loud, let's get ready to PAARRRTTTYYYY! Could there be a more exciting week? I think not! On this date one year ago, Pretty Handy Girl was born. I wrote my first blog post and since…

Before and After, contact paper, Decorating, organizational tips

How to Use Contact Paper and Pimp My Closet

For the past six weeks I've been taking the Simplify101 workshop: Organizing101. Aby has been a great instructor, and it has motivated me to take back my home! A few of the projects I've completed are: AND... ...Duh,…

art, arts and craft, Crafts, decor, framing

Magnetic Art Display Frame

I don't know about you, but I've been fighting a losing battle lately. I have begged, yelled, and threatened my boys to stop putting stickers and tape on the walls. I think my youngest one upped me, he put tape and stickers on his door!…

DIY, DIY tools, Do It Yourself, Home & Auto Maintenance, Safety Gear

A Serious Talk about Safety While You are DIYing

I had the pleasure of talking to Meri-K Appy the other day. She is the president of the Home Safety Council and has over 30 years experience talking about home safety. Meri-K has a wealth of knowledge about preventing injuries while working…

Before and After, Decorating, Home Tour

Screen Porch Tour

You know the saying about not waiting for your house to be perfect to invite people over? Well, I realized that even though my porch is not 100% complete, I shouldn't wait to invite y'all over. I have wanted to spruce up our screened…

Before and After, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, priming, ReNew, Upcycling

Painting a Bamboo Rug

Back story and my ramblings: Sleeping outside on the screen porch was nice until I woke up with a sore neck. So, I won't be doing that again for a while. But, I won't complain because we are lucky to have a screened porch and I…

arts and craft, Crafts, Resin

Dream Big Butterfly Window – Resin Craft

Phew, what a week. I've been working on about 5 different projects simultaneously. The biggest accomplishment this week was my screened porch makeover. I have been itching to make it an outdoor living and relaxing room for about 4 years now.…

Guests, Photography

Better Composition – Improving Your Photographs

My friend Kristi has dedicated June to "Spreading the Bloggy Love". She asked several (FABULOUS) bloggers to "give back" by writing a post sharing their best blogging tips. You aren't going to want to miss a day, because she has some big names…

arts and craft, Crafts, kids art

School’s Out! Summer Crafts for the Kids

The end of the school year has come and now it is time to load up on craft supplies to keep the kids entertained. My elementary school friend Megan asked me if I had any summer craft ideas to share. So, Megan, this post is for you! Planning…

Plumbing, Toilet Repair

Toilet Repairs – Part 3 – Replacing the Overflow Tube and Flapper

I've received a few emails and comments letting me know that some of you are going to try to repair your toilets! I just wanted to say, way to go! Plus, some of you had a few questions for me as well. Here are the questions: 1. Our…

Plumbing, repair, Toilet Repair

Toilet Repairs – Part 2 – Replacing the Fill Valve

Hey, you came back! So glad you weren't scared off by my toilet repair post. Well, congratulations to you for sticking with me and wanting to learn how to fix your toilet. In Part 1 we learned how to replace the flush lever. If you found…

Plumbing, repair, Toilet Repair

Toilet Repairs – Part 1 – Replace the Lever

Today, I have Part 1 in a 3 Part Series on Toilet Repairs! Today we'll learn How To Replace the Lever! When visiting Scotland, we took a tour of Mary King's Close we learned about life in Edinburgh before the toilet was invented. It was…