It's a Frugal Time

This year has been all about frugality.

As you know I'm making most of my Christmas gifts,

when possible.

My Sister's Birthday came along.

I finally got to make this idea I have had for quite some time now

This was the inspiration photo for my idea.

I don't even remember where I saw/found this.

You see she has a thing for pulleys.

I had hoped to find a great wooden pulley,

as in the inspiration photo,

but no such luck.

I ended up buying a new one,

 which I had intended to "rust" in a rusting solution.

I put it out side until I got around to "rusting" it.

Jump forward 3 yrs....

(it never made it into the rusting solution)

nature did it for me.

So here is the nice rusty pulley with rope and wee "buckets''.

Again I didn't have any "buckets" like in the photo,

 so I used peat pots left over from Easter.

They seemed kind of flimsy

so I gave them a couple of coats of Mod Podge (homemade version).

Then with another coat and dredged them in my spice mix...

to give them a rusty/aged look.

I then filled the "buckets" with Sweet Annie sprigs (yes, from my garden),

old stained clothespins, moss rocks and some Cinnamon sticks. 

Brass wire was attached for the handles.

I also tucked in a tiny horse

She has a fondness for them too ;)

Between the Sweet Annie and the Cinnamon Sticks,

it smelled heavenly

This is a small Hostess Gift I put together for

 her and her husband for Thanksgiving.

 Homemade Jams, a votive, and Thanksgiving Tea Towel

along with a handmade hang tag.

All inside a pretty basket that when started was a navy with white drips!

Thank goodness for some Hammered Copper Spray Paint I found in my Treasure Pile!

I'm hoping she liked her Birthday gift and 

that she has had time to open it by now

 so that is was safe to show here! LOL

Love ya Sis

To Infinity and beyond!

♥♥♥♥