Get organized before the school year creeps up on you. This toolbox homework caddy will help your kids find everything they need. | Toolbox Homework Caddy

I know you are probably sitting by the pool and homework isn’t quite on your list of things to do, yet. But before you know it, the leaves will be changing and the kids will be in full school mode.  Evenings of “Mom, do you know where the pencils are?” are on the horizon. When all the writing and drawing utensils in the house exist in an pile of color, it’s tough to find what you need.

Get organized before the school year creeps up on you. This toolbox homework caddy will help your kids find everything they need. | Toolbox Homework Caddy

Surviving evenings of homework during the school year can be a bear, but having everything in one place will help.  That’s where this toolbox homework caddy comes in.

I used an old toolbox because that is what I had and I like that it has a little paint splattered and not fussy, but you can use anything you have around.  You will need jars. Mason or pickle work great, but I prefer pickle jars because they are free.

Get organized before the school year creeps up on you. This toolbox homework caddy will help your kids find everything they need. | Toolbox Homework Caddy

This toolbox holds 8 jars which is perfect for all the things kids need to get their schoolwork done.

Get organized before the school year creeps up on you. This toolbox homework caddy will help your kids find everything they need. | Toolbox Homework Caddy

Some things you can add to the jars to help with getting homework done are colored pencils, crayons, markers and pencils.  Some chalk, paint brushes, scissors and rulers, erasers and a pencil sharpener are also great ideas.

Get organized before the school year creeps up on you. This toolbox homework caddy will help your kids find everything they need. | Toolbox Homework Caddy

Keep the homework caddy in an easy to reach place, like a playroom coffee table, bookcase or desk. Add a stack of colored paper next to it and you just may encourage some creativity along with productivity.

Now all that’s left to do is decide on a backpack 🙂

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-See more tutorials from Jillian here

Rustic Wine Crate with Rope Handles

Have you ever stumbled across a wine crate and wondered what you could do with it? I have just the idea for you and it will take less than an hour to create. Today I’ll show you how to make a Rustic Wine Crate with Rope Handles. This is a great decor item that doubles as storage. And you can also use this as a gift basket if you fill it with goodies.

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:

1. Clean your crate with a damp rag. Then brush the stain on and let it sit for a minute.

2. Wipe any excess stain off with paper towels.

Add a second coat if you like a darker colored crate. Allow it to dry thoroughly. (This might take several hours or overnight depending on your humidity. Hand raised…hot and humid North Carolina dweller here.)

3. Sand any words and printing on the crate until you start to see some of the wood coming through. Be careful not to sand too deep and expose the bare wood. Wipe off the crate.

4. Mark the location for the rope handle on the sides of the crate. Be sure to measure the same distances from the top and edges on both sides.

5. Choose a drill bit slightly larger than your rope. Drill holes at the marks.

6. Insert one side of the rope through the hole.

7. Tie a double knot inside the crate to keep the rope from slipping back through.

8. Determine how long a handle you desire and tie a single knot in the middle of the handle.

9. Feed the other end of your rope through the other hole and tie another double knot on the inside of the crate.

10. Fray the edges of your rope by untwisting them.

Fill your crate with magazines, blankets, or décor goodies and display it proudly!

Better yet, fill it with several gifts to create a unique gift basket. Keep with the wine theme by adding some wine, crackers, cheese, and nuts.

Easy tutorial right? How many of you are running to your local wine shop and begging for wine crates now? P.s. I’ve seen them at Costco, too.

 

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Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Do you have a favorite street or a town that brings you fond memories? Don’t you wish you could have a vintage sign from that place? But, what are the chances of stumbling across one in an antique shop? Probably slim to none. You could steal a sign, but you’d probably get thrown in jail. Instead let me show you how you can Make Your Own Street Sign!

Materials:

Instructions:

Use the round object to trace curves on the corners of your board. Cut out the shape you want using a jigsaw (for wood) or metal shears (for metal sign.)

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Paint your sign background the color you like.

Create a stencil using vinyl and a vinyl cutter, or make your own stencil with freezer paper.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Lay transfer tape on top of the vinyl stencil.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Mark a light pencil line on the sign where you want the bottom of the letters to line up.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Lightly mist the front of your sign with windex or water with a little soap in it. This will help you  position your stencil without it sticking right away.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy GirlPull the stencil up…Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

…and position it on to the sign. When you are happy with the placement, use a credit card or burnishing tool to press the vinyl stencil onto the sign.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Pull the transfer paper off. Push any remaining air bubbles out of the stencil.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Cover any exposed portions of your sign with painter’s tape.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Lightly spray one coat of spray paint onto the sign. Let it dry and lightly add a second coat to get full coverage.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Once completely dry, remove your stencil.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Lightly sand the letters to gently distress the sign. (After all, you want to make your sign look old and authentic.)

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Dab some glaze onto the corners of the sign.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Lightly dab the glaze until you get a slightly dirty and aged look.Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Add antiquing wax on the edges of the sign for a more aged and authentic appearance.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Drill two holes in the upper right corners.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

You can hang your street sign with two small brad nails.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

And now you have an authentic looking aged street sign.

Make Your Own Street Sign | Pretty Handy Girl

Our street sign adds to the memories on our gallery wall in the living room.

Tips for Creating a Gallery Wall | Pretty Handy Girl

Want to learn how to install your own gallery wall? Here are 12 Tips to Create the Perfect Gallery Wall.

Have a great time Making Your Own Street Sign and stay out of jail. 😉

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How you can Make Your Own Street Sign! | DIY street sign | Pretty Handy Girl #prettyhandygirl #DIY #crafttutorial #streetsign

12 Ways to Decorate a Bathroom | Pretty Handy Girl

12 Inexpensive Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom

Making your bathroom beautiful doesn’t have to be expensive or require a designer. Here are 12 Inexpensive Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom. There are many ways to amp up your bathroom’s style and in some cases add organization and storage.

(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.)

Did your grandmother have a fuzzy seat cover? Or a doll that hid toilet paper under her skirt? I promise these are not some of the decorating ideas I have. But, I do have some unconventional ways to decorate your bathroom. Today, I’m sharing these 12 Inexpensive Ways to Decorate a Bathroom that will make your bathroom look amazing for a fraction of the cost of a renovation!

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

Making your bathroom beautiful doesn’t have to be expensive or require a designer. There are many ways to amp up your bathroom’s style and in some cases add organization and storage. Here are 12 inexpensive DIY projects that will make your bathroom look amazing.

  1. Add shelving in your bathroom to add more storage and provide a spot to display your treasures.

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

2. If your bathroom is large enough, add a bench or some seating to give it a comfortable spa feeling. Add a small basket to hold towels neatly and close at hand.

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

3. Swap out your builder grade mirror with something more stylish. Oftentimes you can purchase an elegant mirror at your local home improvement or home décor store. You can also update a dated mirror with a custom frame you build yourself.

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

4. Dated vanities can be updated in an afternoon with a coat of paint and new hardware.

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

5. If your vanity is beyond saving, consider replacing it with an antique dresser. Not only does this look beautiful, but it can add more storage drawers.

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

6. To increase visual interest, add decorative moulding to your bathroom walls using simple 1″ x 4″ pine boards and detailed trim.

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

7. To make your small bathtub feel larger, install a curved shower curtain rod. Swap out the old shower curtain with a pretty new one.

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

8. Large family? Add more towel hooks by attaching decorative storage hooks to a 1″ x 6″ board and secure the board to wall studs.

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

9. Still need more storage? Use storage baskets or bins to hide your toiletries. You can make a storage unit like the one below using one 1″ x 8″ x 8′ board.

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

You can also gain storage by hanging a wooden crate on the wall.

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

10. Swap out a dated light fixture for a more modern light. If you have some electrical experience you can do this yourself, or look for a qualified electrician on Angie’s List.

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

11. Need inexpensive wall art? Create visual interest by applying wood scrap squares to the walls.

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

12. Finally, the simplest and cheapest way to decorate your bathroom is with a vase filled with fresh flowers.

DIY Ways to Decorate Your Bathroom for Function and Beauty

Hope these gave you some great ideas for decorating  your bathroom on a budget.

Hope you get some great ideas for decorating  your bathroom on a budget. Want to start DIYing your bathroom this weekend? Here are an entire host of bathroom renovation tutorials to help you earn more skills in no time!

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Mini Makeover for a Book Display Shelf | Pretty Handy Girl

Mini Makeover for a Book Display Shelf | Pretty Handy Girl

I love my son’s elementary school library (media center). But, you already knew that after I gave part of the library a room makeover transforming it into a magical forest. Anything I can do to help kids get excited about reading makes my heart happy. I recently received an email from the librarian asking if I could help fix some drywall rips and holes in the computer room. Since it’s summer, she’s been working on changing the room around and wants to paint it before school starts up. I told her I’d love to help. This week we worked together with the principal and his Dad to patch the drywall. While I was there, I walked past this little book display shelf and realized I never shared the mini makeover with you.

It was okay as it was, but the problem was the bottom two shelves weren’t tall enough for most of the picture books.

Mini Makeover for a Book Display Shelf | Pretty Handy Girl

See what I mean?

Mini Makeover for a Book Display Shelf | Pretty Handy Girl

To make the book display shelf work better for the library, I decided to give it a mini makeover. I cut off the middle shelf by sawing through the two screws holding it on.

Dremel-multi-max-cut-screws

I tapped the remaining piece of the screws through the back of the display shelves.

hammer-nails-through

To save time, I used Patch plus Primer to fill the holes and gouges.

Mini Makeover for a Book Display Shelf | Pretty Handy Girl

After the Patch plus Primer dried, I sanded it smooth and used painter’s tape to mask off the sides of the shelves.

Mini Makeover for a Book Display Shelf | Pretty Handy Girl

Next, I applied two coats of black chalkboard paint with a foam roller and used a brush around the edges.

Mini Makeover for a Book Display Shelf | Pretty Handy Girl

For a smooth surface, I sanded lightly between the two coats of paint.

Mini Makeover for a Book Display Shelf | Pretty Handy Girl

After the chalkboard paint dried, I removed the painter’s tape and seasoned the chalkboard by rubbing a piece of chalk on its side over the entire surface.

The students like to populate the display shelf with their favorite books and leave a little review.

Mini Makeover for a Book Display Shelf | Pretty Handy Girl

I love seeing what the students are reading and their notes to other students.

Mini Makeover for a Book Display Shelf | Pretty Handy Girl

Best of all, it’s helping more children fall in love with reading.

Mini Makeover for a Book Display Shelf | Pretty Handy Girl

Cheers to helping kids find their love of reading at an early age!

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This bookshelf didn't need a complete overhaul - check out this mini makeover from Pretty Handy Girl! #prettyhandygirl #DIY #bookshelf