Welcome to my blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I believe that everyone can have a beautiful home without spending a fortune! One of my favorite things to do is find creative ways to re-purpose things I already have on hand, or have picked up at yard sales and thrift stores. Join me as I share with you some of my favorite ideas for crafting and decorating, as well as travel adventures, and fun things that I pick up on my treasure hunts! Much of my work is influenced by my love all things French, nature, and of course shabby chic! I have gotten so many creative ideas from you very talented bloggers out there, and I hope that I can be an inspiration to you as well!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Trick or Treat, and More Camping Fun

Hello Ladies,
I hope you are having a great day!  After being gone for 2 weeks, I am still trying to get into the swing of things!  I would much rather spend my time blogging than unpacking the rest of our motor home, not to mention all of the yard clean up that I need to do for fall!  I thought I would share with you today some cute little pails that I made a few weeks ago for my Etsy shop.  I had so much fun making them!





I decoupaged copies of vintage Halloween images, then added some Martha Stewart glitter.  Where would I be without Mod Podge and glitter?!  I used some of the wonderful crinkly seam binding ( that I purchased from Blue Bird Lane on Etsy) on the handles.  I adore the seam binding, and in fact have almost used all of it up!  So I just had to place another order yesterday, in some pretty and yummy colors, plus more of the Halloween colors.  I think it has become my latest addiction!!


 I just love these sweet little images!

I also made glittered tags for each pail.  Below you will see how the pails looked when I first spied them at a garage sale.   They were just begging for a makeover!  This was such a fun project, I think that I'll make some for Christmas, too (because it's just right around the corner, you know!!)

 The other day, I shared with you some (ok, a ton!) of pictures from our trip to Michigan's gorgeous Upper Peninsula.  Today I thought I would show you some more.


Believe it or not, there are miles and miles of beautiful sandy beaches in the U.P.  The area is known for it's agate stones, and rock hunting on the beach is very popular.  We collected some pretty stones, and we have a rock tumbler, so I need to get busy and get them polished (the entire tumbling process takes a month!).


At the Porcupine Mountains State Park, where we camped 2 nights, we climbed a big tower to see a fantastic view.  This is part of the boardwalk thru the woods approaching the tower.

And this is the view we were rewarded with after are long hike/climb.  Thankfully hubby did really well on our trip with all that walking and climbing.  Pretty good, considering he'd had knee surgery just a month or so earlier!
Our pup was thrilled to be included!  I think camping is one of her very favorite things to do!!
Look who I had on my lap most of the time when we were driving down the road!!
My very favorite part of our trip was spending time on the Keweenaw Peninsula.  If you look at a map of Michigan, it is the very furthest North part of our state, and the scenery is breathtaking.  This is the school in the town of Copper Harbor.  Can you imagine?  Apparently it is for all grades!  Lots of history in this area, which was once the sight of copper mining predating (and just as big as!) the California gold rush.
 This is the view from above Copper Harbor.  I really miss Lake Superior, it is just a magical place!

On the way to Copper Harbor, we stopped at this adorable little shop, which sold everything from antiques to jams, and freshly baked breads and cookies (the smell was amazing, before we even walked in!).  We bought some chocolate walnut fudge, which was the best we've ever had!!
I love this giant spoon!


At the very end of our trip, we visited the Seul Choix light house.  I took the picture directly above from inside the top of the tower.  I thought the shadow of the tower looked so neat!  It was a long way up, I lost count of the steps at 90!  I didn't mind going up, but down was a little scary to me!

I don't want to bore you with too many pictures at once (I told you I had a ton of them!), so I will share some later this week!
I hope you have a wonderful day, can't wait to get caught up with you all!
I have linked up with the following fun parties:
The Blackberry Vine's Pretty Packages Party.
504 Main Tickled Pink Party
Chic on a Shoestring Flaunt it Friday 
Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday

23 comments:

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

These are really cute! Where did you get the pails? I tried spray painting one I had with the metal paint but wasn't crazy about the finish. Didn't really look galvanized like I wanted.

Erin said...

Love the pails, my girls would love them for trick or treat:) Love your pics, looks so pleasant and I love rocks!

Karen said...

The pails are adorable!

Love your pics from the trip north! Would love to visit that bake shop run by a monk. Were those fruitcakes on the shelf? Yummy looking. What a view the monks have. Lake Superior really is gorgeous...although we haven't seen it lately. The air is so crisp and fresh.

Puppy looks very happy and relaxed traveler!

Cindy Adkins said...

The pails are perfection!!! And the trip pics are so cute!!! Love that staircase and you two are just the cutest!!!
XO

Donna said...

What wonderful views!! Love the buckets too!

Leo said...

The pails are really pretty! Love your vacation photos. I am not sure what a rock tumbler is...I will need to check that out...the stones are beautiful. And the Lake - can't believe how much it looks like the ocean....

Blooming Rose Musings said...

Wow, what a wonderful vacation you had! Have the leaves really turned that much in your area? They certainly are gorgeous! Your puppy is so cute. I also had a wonderful cocker spaniel. Actually, I think I may have told you that. They are the best and so loving.
Your Halloween pails are very cute. I also love the pails with the seed fronts. You are so very creative!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

I love seeing your photos...it looks really beautiful there~ makes me want to visit the area! Your buckets are really charming!

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Donna!
The little pails turned out so cute. I love the images too. You did a wonderful job and I'm sure they will sell right away!

Your trip looked like lots of fun and what beatuiful scenery. I'm so glad the doggies got to go along too.

hugs
Sissie

Christine said...

I love those pails! I'm thinking I need to try Martha's glitter out, huh?

Biljana said...

Wonderful, so many beautiful images:))
Hugs, Biljana

Jami said...

Your buckets are adorable! I hope you'll stop by and link them up at the Pretty Packages Party!
www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com
smiles!

Unknown said...

Donna,
Your pails are fabulous. I love how you used the glitter! and your trip!!! Who wants to clean out a motor home when you can show us all your fun pictures???!!!!!
xo
lynn

Debbiedoos said...

Hi Donna....Modge podge glitter, I had to clue. Those buckets are adorable. What beautiful scenic photos too...looks like a great day!

Jami said...

I'm so glad you stopped by and shared these sweet buckets and tags at the Pretty Packages party. The little children on the tags just make me smile!
Big Smiles!

One Cheap B*tch said...

I just love those little pails. They all came out great! =) Thinking how much fun they would for Xmas too!

Jeanine

Dandelion and Daisy said...

Beautiful vacation photos and your buckets are darling!

Anonymous said...

The pails are terrific! Wonderful job!

Anonymous said...

Oh, your little pails are darling and I love the vintage images you've used! You're right - how cute some for Christmas would look!
These are some very pretty pictures and your doggies is adorable!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Vintagesouthernlife said...

Love your pails, they are just precious.
Looks like you had a great trip. I did not know I was even afraid of heights until I climbed a light house on St. Simons island and stepped out on the ramp, surprise,LOL

Tamara Jansen said...

I love your photos! Thanks for sharing

Holly Lefevre said...

Those pails are fabulous...glitter and mod podge are staples of life!

Your photos of the vacation are beautiful.

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Those pails are so adorable, great idea!
And I love the UP, it's one of my all time favorite places to go!
Pictured Rock National Lake Shore is just breathtaking!
Cindy