The Apple Street Cottage

 🎜 Christmas Time is Here🎝....can you hear the song from 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'?  I read that the lyrics were written to capture the blend of melancholy and hope from the special.   Hmmm, almost 60 years later and still so relevant. Christmas has come to the Cottage.... The wreath is on the door. It's a live wreath that I dressed up with velvet ribbon and some things from a former wreath that was taken apart.  This post may contain affiliate links. The candles are in the windows. They are battery-powered with dusk-to-dawn sensors.  I'm impressed since they've been in the windows since Thanksgiving and I haven't had to change the batteries. The kitchen window has this little lamp found on Marketplace. Yes, the windows are a hot mess.  This was a rental house and new windows are on the list.   Sadly, Santa will not be bringing them this year.   Maybe in 2026... My upcycled cutting board is now adorned with a little Christmas t...

Just when I thought I was done making glass bowl Christmas trees ...  ...I went to an estate sale...   ...and brought home this: I was SO excited!   Why, you ask?   Because it makes the perfect tree topper.    I really did think I was done making these trees.  The first one is on display and the second one I gave away.   Then I saw that sweet little bell with the bird on top and I just HAD to make one more! This post may contain affiliate links. A few more pieces of glass were acquired. I already had a candlestick for the base. If you want detailed instructions, start HERE .   Time to get started. The two largest bowls were glued and left overnight to dry. The next day they were turned over and the candlestick was added. After another overnight wait, the whole thing was turned right-side-up and the next piece was placed on top. One more day and it was time for the final piece. First the glue : Then that sweet little bir...

Hello, Friends!  It's December and the holiday crafting is in full-swing. I'm all about the upcycle DIY projects and here's a cute one for you!   Today, I'm using Scrabble tiles to make an ornament for the tree.  I've made them before using paint stirrers  and there was the Grinch ornament .  Incredibly, I still have a bag full of Scrabble tiles, so let's get started on a Santa ornament. This post may contain affiliate links. I pulled out 2 things:  scrabble tiles that spelled 'Santa" and some little Santa hats. Do the hats look familiar?  Yes, they are the same ones I used for the Grinch ornament !  They must be multiplying in the box since I still have a bunch of them! Anyway, I started gluing the tiles together along the edges.   Once glued, they were set aside to dry.   For a little more stability, I glued a craft stick to the back. Once everything was dry, the Santa hat was attached to the edge. Some ribbon was glued to t...