What to do with old wine bottles? An Upcycled Wine Bottle Project

At the start of our second summer at our #1951renovation found me removing wine/liquor bottles from a rock wall the surrounded the pond. Although I didn't dislike them, I was finding so much broken glass that I knew I had to take them out as I was worried about my dog cutting her paws.

Securing the posts and frame with quick set foam.

I had no idea how many bottles were buried in the wall, it was crazy! I kept pulling more and more out!

Built and installed the frame.

After I rebuilt the rock wall surrounding the pond I pondered what to do with all the bottles. What I really wanted was one of those cool bottle walls but I knew I didn't have the time or resources to build one. As I was researching other ideas I had no idea my husband was planning the bottle wall. So, while it took a couple months to get completed, my husband built me a beautiful bottle wall!

Adding the bottles one row at a time.

My husband built the frame (didn't take pictures) and after we installed the frame he started adding the bottles one row at a time. This was quite time consuming. First he power washed the bottles as they were full of mold and dirt from being in the ground. Then he used a glass drill bit and drilled hole in the bottom. Added hooks to the top and bottom of frame where he wanted the rows of bottles then ran cable thru the bottles and hung on hooks. He used a kind of clamping thing in between each bottle so they won't slide around.

Added pavers and secured with Paver Set from Lowes

Added some landscaping. Since it was end of September, choices were limited for perennials.

Plants and mulch added. Reusing limestone from an old retainer wall for behind the bottle wall.

Upon completion, I decided to lay some patio stones and landscape the area better. While not 100% finished as I have a couple of stumps behind the wall to remove and will then landscape that area.

Patio area and bottle wall finished. 

The dirt area in back needs a couple stumps removed. 
Will then add more limestones and mulch.

After I remove the two stumps behind the bottle wall, I will finish with more lime stones and mulch. Additionally I have a large mirror that I will hang on the fence in back to reflect the bottles and light.

Linking up to:

Home Style Saturday 263

New Upcycled Projects at Funky Junk

Grace at Home No. 440

A DIY Review

Pin It
I love all things DIY and I felt the need to go back and take a look at all the diy I've accomplished in the past couple of years. It did my heart good to see how productive I used to be and inspires me to keep plugging away and trying new things. I hope you feel inspired too!

Pretty in Purple

How to Refresh a Tired Table.

Breakin' the Rules Guide to Stenciling.

Ways to Drive Your Husband Nuts!

Linking up this week to:

Share Your Style at Northern Nesting.
Trash to Treasure Tuesday at Kammy's Korner
Table It Link Party

Learning to be content

Pin It

Sometimes I amaze myself. Sometimes I am disappointed in myself. Yet sometimes, I am status quo with myself. But at all times, I have learned to say thanks. Thanks to God for allowing this life.

Many would say it's a little life and yeah, it probably is. But it's my life and I love it!

A dresser upgrade, using homemade chalk paint. See the full story Homemade chalk paint.

Over the years, I have learned to be content. Now this did not come naturally, I had to fight long and hard and go through many trials to get to that place. I'm sure that much of it could be contributed to age but much of it has been due to the many trials and down times that I have encountered.

Just Call Me a Thief. Read about my Pinterest Inspired DIY Wall Art.

God has such a sense of humor because oftentimes, when I feel like I have 'arrived' and am at a new level of refinement, another trials comes my way. But much like the roller coasters I have ridden, over the years I am more content riding the smaller coasters that have less drastic ups and downs. Which is a great reflection of how I coast through life. I am finding that as the years fly by and the trials come and go, I am less likely to have the drastic highs and lows but tend to coast along with only a few bumps in the track.

Pottery Barn Knock Off

Maybe it's because I am learning. Yup, learning to be content.

Linking up to:

Inspire Me Tuesday
Trash to Treasure Tuesday
Happiness Is Homemade Linky Party
Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party

Adventures in DIY

Pin It

I love DIY. I mean really, you can create so much cool stuff with so little. I love to pull ideas from Pinterest and then create my own versions. So I thought I would share some of my best projects here.

Up first is my curbside find last summer.

One's Mans Garbage is the story of my curbside loveseat find.

Then there is the tale of my wood wall in "Wood'nt you like a wood wall?"

My dresser curbside find during 'junk days' at a charming town just 20 miles east of where we live.

"You Say Junk, I Say Treasure"

Here I recreated a bathroom mirror for under $50.00.

DIY Bathroom Vanity Mirror

Every garden needs stepping stones, right? In this post you can learn how to make "Quick and Easy Stepping Stones" for pennies.

Learn how to make this easy crystal tree here.

 

Linking up today to:

Tip Me Tuesday
Inspire Me Tuesday
Inspire Me Monday
Making Monday #85
Amaze Me Monday #107

Have a great week and leave a comment so I know you stopped by!

DIY Bathroom Vanity Mirror

Pin It

A few years back, when we gutted and updated our 70s bathroom, we had a real problem. Not uncommon with 70s bathrooms, there were two recessed medicine cabinets with rather dated, and dare I say ugly...oops, I mean vintage, mirrored doors. These were one of the many things that I couldn't wait to get out of there!

Temporary solution to cover the two holes in the wall by
using mirrors from another room.

But it unfortunately left me with a problem. Two holes in the wall that were surrounded by light fixtures on the top, left and right. This left me with a very awkward space to fill!

Searching for the perfect mirror was not easy, it had two very big qualifications to fulfill! One, that it covered the holes but fit between the two wall sconces. Two, that I liked it! That wasn't easy.

DIY mirror for just under $50.

So I decided to make my own but that did not come without its challenges! After seeing a great DIY on Pinterest using a stock door mirror that you can purchase for $15. at any big box store I thought I had my answer! So I purchased the mirror, purchased the wood and got to work. Along the way I discovered that, even with a 1x6 wood frame around the door mirror it was too big. So I went with 1x4 and that was too small. Yikes. So I did my own thing by combining 1x6 side pieces with 1x4 top and bottom. Stained it with a steel wool/vinegar aging finish and waxed it.

Linking up to:
Before and Afters Linky Party at Remodelholic
Best DIY Linky Party at Redoux Interiors
Grace at Home at Imparting Grace
Dare to Share Saturday
Weekend Wind Down Party