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arts and craft, christmas gift wrap, Crafts, Gift Ideas, gifts

Creative Gift Wrapping Day #3

Today I have two creative gift wrapping ideas that have a more natural feel. Perfect for the eco-conscious recipient in your life! Rosemary Gift with Bells Materials: Brown paper bag or wrapping paper Fresh cut rosemary Red ribbon (fat) Smaller…

arts and craft, christmas gift wrap, Crafts, Gift Ideas, gifts

Creative Gift Wrapping Day #2

Welcome back! I have some more creative gift wrapping for you today. Next up at the wrapping station: Clustered Butterfly Gift Materials: Wrapping Paper Wire Ribbon Butterfly hole puncher Colored scrapbook paper or other colored…

arts and craft, christmas gift wrap, Crafts, Gift Ideas, gifts

Creative Gift Wrapping Day #1

The last few years I found myself up late on December 24th frantically wrapping presents, not exactly the way to get into the spirit! This year I knew I wanted to do it differently. These are the three things I wanted to happen: I wanted…

Before and After, Home Tour, laundry room, painting

Laundry Room Makeover

Wash...Rinse...Dry...Repeat...Wash...Rinse...Dry...Repeat...This is the story of my life. We are a family of four and yet, I wash three loads of laundry two times a week. That is six loads per week! Or broken down, it is 1.5 loads per…

DIY tools, drill, Tool Tutorials, Toolbox

I Love My Cordless Drill

Recently I was asked what my favorite tool is. My Ryobi 12 volt Lithium Ion battery cordless drill was the first thing to pop into my head. Barely a week passes that I don't reach for my drill to assist with a few loose screws (not that I personally…

Anti-tip device, Fix It, Home & Auto Maintenance, oven

Installing an Anti-Tip Bracket for Your Oven

I hate to break up the holiday glamour-fest, but it is time to put on my tool belt and share with you an important safety device. As some of you may remember, we had an oven fire this past September. We ended up replacing our oven and when the…

arts and craft, Crafts, gifts, kids art, mod podge

Glass Jar Votive Holders

Glass Jar Votive Holders This has to be one of my favorite activities to do with the kids! Start by saving jars for a month or more! Salsa, jelly, vegetable, and baby jars all work well. Soak the jars to remove the labels and scrub any…

Crafts, Gift Ideas, gifts, Holiday decorating, Sewing

Mini Gift Pouches from Napkins

Oh the quandary of what to get my boy's teachers, the sitter, and all those other important people in our lives. Usually I take the easy way out and buy gift cards. Well – okay – I'm still going to give the gift cards, but this year I wanted…

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

Presto Chango Christmas Wreath

Sneak Peek at my Christmas Wreath I am getting a lot of mileage out of my white base wreath I bought at Target several months ago. With it I've been able to make a Magnolia Leaf Wreath for the fall. I made a Feather Wreath for Thanksgiving. Now…

faux painting brick, fireplace, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques

Fireplace Makeovers – Readers’ Spotlight

Up on the rooftop click click click, down through the chimney with Good St. Nick! I think about this song when I gaze at my beautifully painted fireplace. That's right, I said painted! Those bricks you see – well – they are bricks, but…

Build It, Christmas Card Display, Holiday decorating, Painting & Antiquing Techniques

Shutters for Displaying Christmas Cards

Thank you to everyone who left me such wonderful comments on my rustic Christmas décor! I may not have been able to reply to all of you, but I DID read each and every comment! And thank you to the rest of you who took time out of your day to…

Decorating, Holiday decorating

Rustic Christmas Decorating

"SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN!" Cover your ears because a very tone deaf woman (myself) was belting out the Christmas songs this weekend. With Thanksgiving behind us, I released the restraints and broke out the Christmas décor. The kids…

Aged, Build It, decor, DIY, DIY tools, Door, Door Hardware, Holiday decorating, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, power tools

Making a Decorative Barn Door

When Miss Mustard Seed and I were junkin' on Black Friday, she asked what I was looking for. I immediately answered rustic, rusty, and anything that looks aged and has a story to tell. I am so wacky like that, I could care less how well…

Destinations, Guests

I Spent Black Friday with Miss Mustard Seed

What better way to spend Black Friday than with a kindred spirit? This creative genius; thrift and antique loving blogger was so much fun to hang out with today. Her name is Marian, but you may know her as the fabulous Miss Mustard Seed. If…

Destinations, Thanksgiving

Thankful for…

I am thankful for a warm bed to sleep in......and a roof over our heads.I am thankful for the food that we put on our table, to sustain our bodies.I am thankful for mother nature, who reminds me that we are not alone on this planet.I am thankful…

birdhouse with winter tree scene hand-painted, pine cone roof, and branch for perch

arts and craft, Birdhouse, Crafts, gifts, Pinecone roof

Pinecone Roof for a Hand-Painted Birdhouse

I love creating decorative birdhouses to donate for silent auctions. Over the years I've created a few, but this pinecone roof hand-painted birdhouse is one of my favorites! (You can see the other hand-painted birdhouses I've created and auctioned…

arts and craft, Birdhouse, Crafts, Gift Ideas, ReNew, Trash to Treasure

Hand-Painted Birdhouses with Style

Our preschool silent auction is today. Every year I donate a one-of-a-kind hand-painted birdhouse to be auctioned off. I never spend more than $3 on the birdhouse and usually buy the unpainted versions at Michael's or ACMoore. Then I get creative…

arts and craft, Crafts, Home Decor, wreath

Feathers in my Wreath

I bought this basic white base wreath at Target a few months ago. I knew it would take me through several seasons.Case in point, my magnolia-fied wreath from September.Well, I stripped out all the dried magnolia leaves and was determined to…

Before and After, Empowerment, Home Tour, painting, staining vanity cabinet

I have a dirty little secret….my master bathroom is UGLY!

I can't believe I'm about to show you my dirty little secret. But, I feel bad for my friend Sandra from Sawdust and Paper Scraps. She has some work to be finished in her master bathroom. So, I hope she'll feel better after I share my awfully…

decor, Guests, painting

Guest Blogger – Michelle from Dream Home DIY

Hey guys, I'm a blog hoppin' today. Michelle from Dream Home DIY and I are trading places. Without further ado, take it away Michelle! Hello fellow Pretty Handy Girl followers! I'm Michelle dropping by from…

painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques

Easy Clean Up Paint Tray Liner

The other day I started to show you some of the DIY projects we worked on at my sister, Alana's house. I mentioned the touch up painting we had to do in her kitchen. So, I figured I'd show you our tried and true paint tray liner. Easy clean…