The "Shabby Chicks' Cottage" Mini Makeover

{Hope you don't mind my play on words in the title, Gina.}

Several years ago, my good friend L gifted us with a small plastic playhouse for our backyard. Her three girls were spilling out of it, and at the time I only had one girl.

The little cottage was a huge hit with Natalie, but over the years it lost its luster as we got busy with activities, a new baby, and my desire to stay in the air conditioning.

After a terrifying wasp-in-the-cottage incident last week, I took on a mini cottage makeover while the girls played at their Mimi's house. As with many things at the T house, the cottage is still a work in progress....

I used slate stolen migrated from the trashy former neighbors' yard to make a rustic floor and front stoop.

Added some marigolds to a pot I had sitting in the shed.

I won a chalkboard sign ages ago on a blog Giveaway and I used twine to wrap it through the cottage's front door, which desperately needs to be repainted. When I figure out how to get it off the hinges, I'll do that!

Cleaned up their picnic table for outdoor dining.

Used stolen transplanted white garden edging (also from the trashy ex neighbors) to make a little faux picket fence.

Grass doesn't grow in this little spot of the yard, despite our best efforts, so I'd like to mulch that in and add some stepping stones.

So...not horrible for spending $0. That's right. Nada. Zilch. I really shopped the house with this one!

We got busy with swim lessons last night, so they haven't seen their new-old Shabby cottage yet. We'd invite you all over for some acorn tea (a Natalie and Michaela Byrd specialty), but I don't think we'd all fit inside. And also I don't know if that wasp is gone yet. I may have angered him when I sprayed the hose in his direction yesterday.....Maybe some acorn tea would calm him down.

Linking to Sarah's Before and After Party and The CSI Project's Outdoor Decorations Party.