Wood Rack Transformation

When we moved into our home we were given this wood rack as a housewarming gift.  I have never liked it.  For years. this moose and pine tree decorated rack has bugged me.  (Excuse the mess-this is our basement where I store all of my projects-the boxes are my son's new bed.  It has been put on hold since I hurt my knee.)

 I decided this year it would get a facelift.  Here is the before.  I had tried to pry off the metal trees and moose only to realize that they were there to stay.  No matter how hard I pried and used the metal cutters, they would not come off.  In the places where I was able to pry off the trees they left jagged metal edges(you can see the empty spot in the back).  Not a good thing.  

 Then I remembered this:

 For my birthday hubby bought me a Dremel.  

 I ran out to Lowes and bought a wood and metal flush cutting blade. Oops, the picture is upside down.

Then I set out to accomplish this project.  

A few tips:  This project will require protective eye wear and gloves.  When working with the Dremel, let the tool do the work.  If you feel strong vibrations in your hand while holding it, pull back.  You do not need to apply pressure.  The only thing required is keeping the Dremel flush against the metal you're cutting.  Be careful-the metal will get hot!!!

Here it is with all of the pieces cut off.

 I sanded down the spots where I cut off the moose and trees.

 Next-spray paint.

 I love how it turned out.  It will look so much better next to the fireplace, matching the cans I painted here.

Disclaimer:  I was not in anyway compensated by Dremel.  I love this tool and these tips are my opinions only and I hope they are helpful.
Thank you.

Linking to:

Designer Garden

Ruffle Profusion

My little niece had a birthday recently.  I wanted to make her something sweet and cute.  Every little girl needs ruffles.  There was a pattern I printed from the Red Heart website but can't find it on there anymore.  Sorry, no link.  This skirt is so sweet.  There are ruffles upon ruffles.  I just love them all.

The waist is crocheted around a d gathered elastic.

Are there ever too many ruffles?

This skirt makes me smile.  I can't wait to see my little niece wearing it.  She will look so adorable.  I am also finishing a headband to match with a rosette.  I will post pics when it's finished.


Linking to:

Designer Garden

And the Winner is....

I had my little nephew pick a name out of a bowl and the winner of the rosette is...

Rachel from Maybe Matilda.

Congratulations!!

Before & After Cans

As the days get cooler we start to prepare for using our wood stove.  Usually in the summer I put all of these things in the basement out of the way.  These cans we use for ash and for fire starter, usually pine cones.

They were in desperate need of some TLC.  So out comes the spray paint.

They look so much better!  After the spray paint I took a paint pen and a couple of stencils so we can distinguish what each can is for.  This would have been so much better with vinyl but I am one of the lone crafters without a vinyl machine.  Can you hear me sobbing?!  

One of the first fires of the year to chase away the chill.  It doesn't get any better.

Today is a perfect fall day.  The sun is shining, there is a brisk breeze and it's beautiful.  The only thing missing in this picture is the fall leaf colors.  Thanks to copious amounts of rain here this season and damage from Hurricane Irene, the trees are losing their leaves before the fall color peak.  I do miss those lovely colors.  Driving down tree lined streets all dressed in their fall colors is a favorite fall activity.  I am missing it.

There is plenty of beautiful color in my beautiful mums.  These two pictures are the mums when I planted them last year. They were so small and lost in the large planter.

These are the gorgeous mums now.  I think I will need to thin them out next year.  They are a spectacular splash of color.

It has been warm here.  This week is our first week of fall temps.  These are the last of the peppers I picked from my garden earlier this week.  This is the first year that I have had luck growing peppers.  Still no luck with the squash.  Something in this soil does not agree with them. I think it's squash vine borers.  Many people in this area have the same issue.

Tomorrow I will pick a winner in the rosette giveaway.  If you would like a chance to win stop here.

I'm linking to:

Crafty, Scrappy, Happy Me Thursday
Tickled Pink @ 504 Main
Weekend Wrap Up @ Tatertots and Jello
Get Your Craft on @Todays Creative Blog

Crochet Rosettes

The Time Out Cowl that I crocheted for the Crochet Along at Maybe Matilda was a little bare.  It needed a pop of color, something  fun.  A rosette would be perfect.  The yarn used for the cowl was very thick and I wanted to make a rosette that could compete with it and not be lost in the swirls of the cowl.

Here is the bare cowl completed:

 It was in need of a little something fun.  I crocheted this rosette.  It is very large. I believe there are 9 or 10 rounds.

 The cowl with it's little something to make it pop!!

I added a pin to the back and now I can use it anywhere.

 The size is perfect for this cowl.

 I made two of these rosettes pins and have one I would love to giveaway.  There are a few different ways to win

1)please leave a comment~

2) Become a follower~ 

3) Tell your friends about the giveaway and send them over~

Please leave a separate comment for each.  Thank you!!

 I will pick a winner on Friday, October 21.  Good luck!!

Linking to:

Burlap Pennants

I am still hobbling around on crutches and wearing a knee brace.  I have been icing it and hoping it would be better by now.  It is a little better but not back to normal.  I can't believe I did this.  It has not been fun.  My personality is not conducive to sitting while everyone around me has to do everything.  I like to be up and about and getting things accomplished.  I can bear some wait on my leg but have been cautious until I see the doctor this afternoon.  

While sitting on the couch with my leg up I decided the fall and boo banner needed some embellishments.  

Before:

 After:  I added some ribbons and a cute little bat.

Before:

 After:  I added a squirrel and some felt leaves.

This kept me busy for a little while and made time go by a little quicker.  

I am crocheting some flower embellishments for my cowl.  Trying to keep busy and sane.

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Halloween Decor

I have been wanting to post this for a couple of days now.  It's been busy here and while I was lifting something out of the back of my van I sprained my knee and am now on crutches.  I also found out from the doctor that both of my knees are very arthritic.  I suspected this for some time now.  My knees have been making some crunching noises.

Never the less I finally have some thing finished.

Pumpkin vignette on our coffee table.  All of the pumpkins cost $1 or less.  I purchased them at the Dollar Tree and Walmart.  They were all bright oranges and I gave them a coat of paint.  The glitzy pumpkin is in there also.

 Other side of the coffee table.

 The mantle~unfortunately our tv is the most prominent thing but I added some leaf garlands to help hide the wires, pumpkins and halloween candelabras.

 This little pumpkin was first spray painted white but I wanted to pop so I gave it a coat of silver spray paint.  I love the contrast of the twigs and the shiny metallic paint.

 The boo sign 

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