Posts

This & That October 2024

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  I just looked back and let me tell you, it's been a while!  There is SO much to share I hardly know where to begin!  It's going to be a long one so sit back and pour yourself your favorite beverage.  You don't want to miss a thing! Hello October - the leaves are turning their beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow, yet the temperatures are still mild.  Believe me, I don't mind at all since winter is that one season that seems to go on forever!   But, before we get to October, let's go back to the beginning of Summer.... This post may contain affiliate links. Yard Sale Season was in full swing.  If you missed this post , here's a sneak peek at my finds: June had the BEST ending!  My blogging friend Kim came for a visit!  We've been friends for several years, chatting via messages and video chats but we've never been in the same room together.  She and her husband were vacationing nearby and we met for dinner.  Our husbands hit it off immediately an

SpookEasy Sign

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  Halloween will be here before you know it and I have a fun sign to get in the 'spirit' of the season. W elcome to the 'Do It Over' Designers blog hop.  We are a group of bloggers who love to recycle/upcycle/DIY.  I'm happy to host this hop and I hope you'll visit everyone to see what they have to share with you. The links will be listed at the end of this post. This post may contain affiliate links. It all started with the back of my Lemonade Sign .  I found the blank sign in the free pile at a yard sale and I love the Lemonade side, but the back was looking rather...shall we say.... boring .  Time to give it a makeover and have a 2-sided sign!   So, I gave it a quick coat of white paint for a base. Some black and gray paint was sponged on and... ...I immediately  hated it! Isn't that awful? So I sanded it off, leaving some of the white and a purple 'frame'. Wanting a distressed look, I applied some black paint and antiquing medium with a rag. Fina

Apple Pie Banner

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Hello September!  School started last week and that's always been the beginning of the Fall season for me.  In honor of those two things, I've created an Apple Pie Banner. Welcome to the  Creative Craft Hop  hosted by Sara from  Birdz of a Feather .   If you just came from Donna @ Modern on Monticello ,   welcome to the Cottage!  At the bottom of this post I'll direct you to the next stop on this hop, but be sure to visit all of the other stops too for some amazing inspiration. They will all be listed. This post may contain affiliate links. This project got its start on Design Space.  I found a pie pattern, sized and cut it on felt using my Cricut Maker. I used a blanket stitch to put them together and made a total of 5. Then I went in search of an apple pattern.  Found one, cut and stitched it. I made 4 apples. Next, mini clothespins were attached with hot glue . The pies and apples were clipped to a piece of jute and the banner was complete. Nice and easy.  Just how I l

Wind Chime - Wine and Copper

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Did I mention it's still summer at the Cottage?  It's hot and humid and while so many others are starting to embrace fall, I'm hanging on to summer until after Labor Day.   That being said, let me introduce you to my latest wind chime project.   This post may contain affiliate links. It started with a wine bottle.  The bottom was cut off and the edges were carefully sanded.  I use a bottle cutter for the job and I've shared my technique before, so I won't bore you with all those details.  I also wear eye protection .   I've never had a bottle shatter/spray glass while doing this, but better safe than sorry! After sanding the edges, I applied some copper tape around the bottom. It just makes a pretty edge. Then I screwed eyes into an old bottle stopper and a wooden mushroom that was leftover from my Glam Girl Terracotta Planter  (I'm a big fan of 'Use what you've got'!) , connecting them with a piece of leftover necklace from my last Dress Form