Fire Fly Lanterns , To Glow or Not to Glow?

Last yr I decided to spruce up our garden shed...One of the things I wanted to do was an idea I had seen with hanging mason jars. I was fortunate a few days later, to happen upon a big liquidation sale!! (Yeah, like that happens! ZELLERS was closing so I rushed over there!) I scored these metal lanterns on clearance for 1/4 of their price...so I got 4 Med sized ones for $5 each! to hang at each corner of our Gazebo and one Large one for $10 to hang outside the shed.

 The idea was so simple. Get some moss...and hidden in amongst it a string of mini lights that are battery powered. I actually found some at the dollar store. I loved how they looked...but only every turned them on when we had company. Batteries are pricey and they don't last long. I did love how they looked when lit. ...But.......

and there's always a But.....Daytime, when not lit, Some...ok....many ppl had to inquire why the hell I had green stuff packed in my lanterns! To which I would answer....."SSHHHHHHH u will wake my fireflys! They like to sleep in there!"

Needless to say, I wanted to retire those "FireFlies" for good!

I also wanted a better source of light or glow this time that cost less then batteries...

I love Pinterest! and I saw the perfect idea by CakeryPapery.com ! So this spring I cleaned all the moss out of my lanterns and put the lights away for some future project ..maybe....

First, I found a cute stencil with 4 different Fireflys on it...Stenciled the outside panels with black paint so they would show up against the bright sparkle I planed for the inside....

I got some inexpensive glitter (any colour u want) I used bright silver and white mixed together. I mixed

 2 tbsp of Elmer's glue with 1 tbsp water...(u can make it thinner if u want) I brushed glue on inside panels then generously sprinkled glitter on them...Hung in their places to dry...Place Tea Lites in and Voila!  Low cost and they last a few hrs! My larger one holds a larger candle...and we can see it from across the yard! 

Yes, I love lanterns and Candles! I also love how these turned out...the 4 I put in the Gazebo all glow as much as the shed one AND they look pretty during the day also!! Win Win....

What do you think? Which do u prefer?

PreLoved to ReLoved!

We found this adorable log table set at a Garage Sale a few weeks ago. Actually, I spotted one of the little benches first and loved it!My 1st thought was that it looked like a Hobbit's bench to me...When I asked the price, the lady said it belonged to a whole set, as she pointed towards a round table and the other 3 benches with a sticker price of a whopping $30...SOLD!

Now normally I love to haggle but sometimes even I know a darned good deal with I see it! We were lucky because the lady was willing to keep the set until Monday as we were 3 hrs from home. It was our weekend away in Quebec City..and having to cart that set in our vehicle over the weekend would have been cumbersome to say the least!..

I was hoping to find a project that would allow me to use some of the left over paint we had from painting our Deck last Spring. This was just Perfect for that!! I Sanded the tops with a power sander...Nothing fancy as this set will remain outdoors..

And so it begins....Dark Grey for the legs...

Now, I realize this may look weird...just bare with me...I have a plan......and btw, the shutters are for another project to come lol...

This is isn't the panel I used for this project....the ones I did use still had wet paint on them...Basically, it's the same as this one,with different shapes...I used them as a stencil...To make it look kind of like there was a Lace tablecloth on the table ...I painted the edges and parts of the pieces with left over black paint....

So with the panels/stencils in place on the table, on the areas I painted the lighter grey...I then used a can of Black Spray paint to spray over all...and thought the benches would look cute with some random lace on them also...I plan to take a sanding block to the edges here and there to distress it a bit tomorrow...I just couldn't wait until then to post some photos of this set....I have a little parasol I can stick in there for some shade also! What do u think of my quaint Hobbit Set? 

Garden Shed Garnished by Garage Sale Finds!

I started this project last yr. I had a bland boring blank slate of a shed starting at me from the deck view......

                                                                      BEFORE...


I just LOVE garage Sales! Unfortunately for me our area does not allow garage sales during the summer monthS! I know! Stupid right? There's gotta be a good reason, but I just haven't found it yet. So spring and fall , usually the long weekends...is the time for Power Saling!...It's also time to think out of the box every once in a while...If u remember one of my recent finds...of an electric chandelier...we removed all the wiring & electrical elements, glued some shot glasses to it, plopped candles in it to hang outside...Total cost with glasses & candles $17...

This week I gathered a bunch of different things I intended to use as planters...

Everything here, except the Bird Bath...(a clearance Avon item ) and the Milk jugs I've had for close to 20yrs...(the white one I painted and stenciled 15 yrs ago....The large Cornucopia, I found in Quebec City for $3, the Cast Iron pot with lid was $2, the little white pot is actually a glass lamp shade I turned upside down..got the 2 of them for $3..

Vase was $3 and there's the other glass Lampshade turned upside down..(I cut a piece of  planting fabric (geo textile) & Styrofoam to put in the bottom to keep from losing the dirt ) It's sitting on an old Ashtray that makes the a perfect pedestal ...$1...

 The old chair was free and the large terracotta bowl on it was $2 ....

Put all together, my garden/pool shed looks more like a quaint little place and makes for a nice view from our deck...I started last yr with a blank slate..Painted the door and edging.., added $2 scarfs as curtains, repainted my old dollar store frogs, the metal sun and above door swirls were things I had for yrs...

Once the flowers fill out much more, things will look even better!! 

What do u think of my quaint little cottage?