Copper Pennies & Orange Slices

Remember when pennies were actually made of copper?  The more they aged, the darker and darker they became until, eventually, they were almost black.  Nannie, my paternal grandmother, used to call those one cent coins "black coppers". 

I'm starting this blog to chronicle the cost-effective DIY projects that I have planned for updating our humble abode.  "Black Copper DIY" seemed a fitting name.

We'll be putting our Christmas tree up this weekend, and with a two-year-old son, I can't help but wonder/worry about the tree decorations.  I think I'll leave most of the "real" decorations packed away this year.  I've sliced apples and oranges to dry and I plan to make cinnamon applesauce "cookie" ornaments.

Here are the freshly sliced oranges:

I'll be sure to post the final product once they're dried, loops are added, and they're hung on the tree.  I'm not sure whether to use ribbon or jute twine for loops.  Hmmmm...maybe some of each!