What's New - Pretty Handy Girl

What’s New

Writing Name in Sand Art | Pretty Handy Girl

DIY Glass Window Shelves

I love african violets! They can be fickle, but once they have the right amount of light, and slightly damp soil, they will happily put on a show for you. My violets used to perch on the kitchen window sill, but occasionally they would take…

accessories, autumn fall decor, Decorating, Empowerment, painting

Fall Accessorizing, it’s Definitely Not Perfect!

I've had some time this week to catch up with some of my girlfriends. Sometimes this means it was a few minutes in the parking lot at preschool. Or a phone conversation. I definitely value their friendships and wish I had more time to spend…

arts and craft, Crafts, Magnolia leaves, wreath

Mag-nolia-fying a Fall Wreath

I promised you that I'm embracing Autumn now that the weather is cooling off. In fact, I've been switching out the summer decor for some more seasonally appropriate reds, oranges, brown and greens. I even spent time Mag-nolia-fying a Fall…

Before and After, Electrical, light fixture

Installing New Exterior Lighting

If you were here the other day to see my dormer window transformation, you may have seen my exterior lights. I'll be talking about Installing New Exterior Lighting today! Then again, maybe you didn't because they are miniscule! Not only are…

Before and After, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, shutters, window dressing

Dressing Up a Dormer Window with Shutters

Our home has beautiful dormer windows. I love the little recessed ledges inside each dormer. But, the window in our hallway always looked so sad. Then one day it hit me! This poor window has been neglected and has no character, jewelry…

arts and craft, Crafts, Matching Game, Shells, The Painted Cottage

Sea Shell Matching Game

Oh so sad that summer is over. If you were fortunate to get some time at the beach, you may have come home with a few dozen of these: Especially if you have little children who insist on keeping every shell that they find! So, what to do…

Build It, Easel, Ladder, ReNew, Stashbusting

Ladder Stepping Up to the Stashbusting September Challenge

Robin over at TheTshirtDiaries is a gal after my own heart. She has thrown down a challenge to anyone willing to close up their pocketbooks this month (well, at least for spending on arts and crafts and DIY projects), and use what you have…

distressing, Do It Yourself, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, Popular, sander

Aging is so Distressing – Techniques for Antiquing Furniture

Well, despite the fact that I am starting to feel my age, this post will help you achieve that beautiful well worn, loved, aged and antique look on furniture and decor items. This is something you can do to new furniture or to give old furniture…

Before and After, Build It, distressing, Furniture, Trash to Treasure

Trashy Coffee Table Finds Her Beautiful Beachy Self

Okay readers, so the truth is out, I just can't seem to pass up discarded furniture. They look so sad and pitiful awaiting the trash trucks. They plead with me to rescue them from life in the dump. That is how I found this coffee table. It…

Chalk marker, Chalkboard paint, Crafts, distressing, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, ReNew

Chalk it up…to a busy day.

...to another busy day in the life of Pretty Handy Girl! I had fully intended on posting a tutorial on distressing furniture for you today. But, I got side tracked today and then let's just say that my evening ended up with a visit from…

Before and After, Door, Home Office, Home Tour

Home Office Makeover – From Dark and Dreary to Light and Dreamy

Why do we wait to remodel the rooms that we spend the most time in? Our home office had very humble beginnings. No overhead lights meant we had to use a floor lamp and table top lights to see. The walls were a deep burnt sienna color that…

Build It, Chalkboard paint, memo board, mirrored glass, ReNew

Message Center for the Mudroom

If you came by for my mudroom tour, you saw this message center made from a curbside window frame.This was a super easy project and I built it in about 2 hours.First, I gave the whole window a fresh coat of white paint. Then, I taped off the…

Antique Heart Pine Flooring, Build It, Hardwood floor installation, Home Tour, wood floor refinishing

Installing the Antique Heart Pine Flooring

Welcome back! If you are just joining us, we are on the fifth step of a five part series on our living room. A living room that started out as a dark cave of a room: Before picture shot during daytime with a lamp lit. VERY DARK! Previous…

Antique Heart Pine Flooring, Before and After, Build It, Home Tour

Preparing to Install Antique Heart Pine Floors (and buying antique lumber on Craig’s List)

While writing this post, I thought about some alternate titles. Here are some of the contenders:1. How to entertain your kids while installing hard wood floors2. How to cover your screened porch with debris from demolition3. When you really…

Build It, Do It Yourself, Home Tour, Trash to Treasure

Building a Shoe Storage Bench from Kitchen Cabinets

Welcome! If you are a friend, you know that all our friends and family enter through our mudroom. This door is the closest to our driveway. Only the door-to-door salesmen go to our front door (heh, heh, heh!) Come on in! This blackboard,…

Before and After, Home Tour, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques

Painting Decorative Graphics on a Wall

On Monday I showed you my fireplace painting from white paint back to brick. This was only one step in our major living room renovation. I hope you will hop back again this week to see some of the other transformations we made to this room: 1.…

Before and After, Benjamin Moore Aura, Home Tour, painting, Sconces

Lighten Up! 5 Ways to Bring Light into a Dark Room

Before and After, Do It Yourself, Home Tour, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, ReNew

Painting Brick Fireplace – From White to Beautiful Brownstone

This is the first in a five part series on renovating our living room: 1. Faux painting brick over a previously painted white brick fireplace (this post) 2. Lightening up a room in 5 steps 3. Painting decorative graphics on a wall 4.…

Armoire, Destinations, Ocean Isle Beach, re-upholster seat cushion, Summer, The Painted Cottage, Upholster Chair

The Painted Cottage – A Tour of My Favorite Store at the Beach

We just got back from a very relaxing week at the beach. The weather was perfect and our boys really enjoyed playing in the surf. I think we brought back a bit too much of the beach with us (sandy sheets, hair and toes). But, at least we had…

Before and After, Guest room, Home Tour

My Home Tour – The Guest Room

Having guests over is such an exciting opportunity to catch up and show off your home. Here's a tour of our guest room for you to enjoy. Come on in, kick your shoes off and stay overnight if you wish! The room had humble beginnings. These…

arts and craft, Beach, Crafts, framing, sand writing

Writing in the Sand Picture

This is a fun project to do with your kids (or by yourself) while you are at the beach. Collect some cool shells, beach glass or driftwood. Use a broken shell with a sharp edge to write your name or message in the sand. Decorate your…