Annie Lang's Blog!

Spring will be here soon so now is the perfect time to get ready for the return of our fine feathered friends!  I made my first gourd birdhouse in 2017 and it's time to replace it with a newer model.  I'm pleased it held up this long under the harsh winter and summer weather events we've experienced here in Michigan over the past few years and I expect it will be the same for this new gourd.  Unlike many of the wooden birdhouses I've had, the original gourd birdhouse has been continually occupied by a variety of nesting bird families for the last four years.  I can hardly wait for the snow to melt so I can hang my new one up amid the blossoming tree branches.  I wasn't able to locate a dried gourd locally, but was fortunate to find one to order online from Gourdaments  .  I hope you enjoy and happy birdwatching! UPDATE It only took a few days after hanging the new gourd birdhouse before a new family of birds began using it!  Within the next several weeks, the tree w

Ready to have more fun upcycling your frappucino bottles?  I recently had a crafting day with my daughter-in-law and here are 2 more quick and easy ideas we came up with.  I prepared the bottles in advance and you can click here to see how in case you missed my previous project post.  The only difference is that I basecoated with white craft paint and left it at that.  I absolutely LOVE crafting with bark paper but it can be difficult to find.  Here are a few sources you can try if you can't find them locally or from a floral supplier.  For the sample project, I used this textured  bark wrap   and it's amazing for Fairy Garden and Nature crafts as well.  You can also substitute with Birch Bark Paper Garland or faux Mossy Bark Wrap.    Green Moss rolls are much easier to find and I use a lot of it for a variety of floral home and garden projects.  So go ahead and Wrap That Frappe! You can trace, transfer and handpaint the seasonally themed frappucino bottle lettering or simp