DIY Faith Frame

Have you been noticing cross pictures similar to this one? Maybe you'd like to create one.

The cross is normally fashioned from two swatches of printed fabric, but the busyness of the material and the raw edges didn't excite me. I decided to go with some sort of a finished-edge ribbon instead. I happened to have the burlap ribbon in the craft room, but I have seen nice burlappy-looking ribbon at the dollar store that would do the trick. If you don't have an 8 by 10 frame, the dollar store has lots of options.

For this project, you will need an old picture frame (sans the glass), ribbon of your choice, staple gun and shears. You will also need some sort of an embellishment for the center of the cross. I made a tissue paper flower for mine.

Staple the edge of the ribbon to the backside of the frame. When I did mine, I stapled the top, cinched it about a third of the way down with a thin twine and then stapled the bottom edge so the ribbon was evenly distributed.

Repeat the same process for the other piece of the cross, cinching it with the same twine as the vertical piece. Remember to staple one side, cinch and then staple the other side.

To conceal the twine where everything is tied together, you need to consider what you want for an embellishment. Possible ideas include a single silk flower head, large button, gathered lace, etc. I had a woodgrain beverage napkin in my crafting supplies so I used that to make the  flower (I use various napkins for a card-making technique).

The little "faith" piece is wooden and adds some dimension. Again, it was in my paper crafting supplies.

Especially with the Easter celebration approaching, this may be a unique decoration for you home. Let me know if you try it!

Green Recipe

I decided we needed a "green" recipe for this week! This tasty broccoli salad would be good for your St. Patrick's Day meal in a few days. It's good and can be tweaked a bit to fit your personal tastes!

Broccoli Salad

1 pound fresh broccoli , chopped into very small pieces

1 cup golden raisins (or Craisins)

1 cup sliced almonds (or sunflower seeds, pecans or walnuts)

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar

1 small red onion, chopped

6 sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled

dressing:

1 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup sugar

3 T cider vinegar

Whisk ingredients and pour over salad. Toss to cover well.

(This makes a lot. I make halved it for us and it's still plenty.)

Once I posted a different broccoli salad, which is also a good one. Click here to see the former one.

Consider giving it a try! I think you'll like it!

Tuesday's Tablescape (on Monday)

Tuesday's tablescape is a day early because I had to take advantage of the lovely table covering I found on the patio this morning!

We awakened to the trees beautifully trimmed in snow.

This snow created a pretty landscape, but did not stick to the pavement---which pleases most people!

A few years I ago, I saw a picture where someone had set a table in the snow and it planted a seed of inspiration in my bird brain. That woman had used her nice china, but--on a lark-- I decided to pull out these plates.

The centerpiece is made of pussywillow branches, a faux bird and a vase of thistle seed. I should have taken a better close-up.

The real birds seemed a little surprised by this light snowfall. While I set the table, I saw robins flitting about and literally heard several feathered friends singing! So, what do you think? Is the snow pleasing or "fowl"?  Is this March snowfall pretty...or is it for the birds?!

Bringing Spring Inside

The wet snow showers predicted for tomorrow won't hurt our spring flowers too much, but there is a possibility of a hard frost Sunday night and that will be a problem. Since I always enjoy bringing-in the outside, this seemed a good opportunity to do so. You can see the beautiful pear, Saucer Magnolia and Lenton rose are already colorful  and...

the crab is days away from popping!

(Additionally, the forsythia shrubs are magnificent, but I didn't take a picture since I have focused enough on them this week!)

I brought in some clippings.

 The daffodils are not real. We don't happen to grow any and I don't know why, but I need to do something about that! ☺

Happy Friday and have a blessed weekend!

Easy Lemon Cake

This recipe was first introduced to me several years ago by a friend at school. Our grade level was very close and we always enjoyed helping one another celebrate our birthdays by having a yummy dessert during lunchtime. When this was brought for my special day, I knew it was a keeper! Since that time, I have served this refreshing cake many times and it's always popular.

Easy Lemon Cake

1 lemon cake mix

2 boxes instant lemon pudding mix (3.4 ounce size)

1 1/2 cups milk

1 tub Cool Whip

Prepare the lemon cake mix according to the package directions to make two round cakes. Allow them to cool for about 10 minutes before tuning out of the pans.

When everything is completely cool, whisk together the lemon pudding mix and 1 1/4 cups of cold milk. Immediately pour mixture over the top of both cakes, spreading evenly.

Stack layers. Frost entire cake with Cool Whip. Cover and store in the refrigerator.

I can't cut this to show you a slice because I am taking it to a friend of ours. He loves this lemon cake and since he's recovering from  surgery, we thought that he and his wife would enjoy a treat.

You may want to try this. Not only does it taste good, it is so simple to make. You might say that it's easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy!

Updated Spring Watering Can

A year ago (ironically, a year ago yesterday!) I bought a decorative watering can. I liked its size and design, but wasn't so crazy about the color so I adjusted that with a trusty can of spray paint (you can see the former post here). I used the can on the porch last spring and wanted to do so again this year. I decided to fill it with something other than daffodils, though. These mini sprays of forsythia are available at Dollar Tree, so I snagged two.  I know it must seem like I am obsessed with  forsythia since they were used in yesterday's tablescape! 😃

Years ago, a friend taught my mother and me that you can greatly improve the looks of an ordinary silk stem by simply bending and twisting. It creates a much more realistic appearance. See?

After adjusting both bunches, I grabbed a few twigs from under the river birch tree, comingled them and then bound them with a rubber band. I wanted it to seem like a mini "shrub" in the can.

I used some stones to weight the bottom of the watering can and put the forsythia in a foam oasis. I topped it off with some shredded excelsior (which I had saved from a Christmas gift basket).

For $2, I was able to update the looks of my watering can...and I promise not to use any more forsythia this spring!!

Make it a great day!

Tuesday's Tablescape

As I've said before, forsythia reminds me of liquid sunshine. I love when the pretty shrubs dot the landscape with their bursts of vibrant color. Usually an early bloomer, this year is atypical. This spring everything seems to be opening at once. These beauties are in our backyard.

Although I didn't cut these for the table, the imitation stems look like I had. The vase is a real tree stump a friend gave to me after buying it from a local artisan who creates them. I have highlighted the container before when I had it filled with pine boughs for wintertime. I love the springtime forsythia in it!

I think everyone watches for these early bloomers each spring. Some folklore states that there will still be snow after the forsythia shrubs flower (in fact, we have a chance of a rain/snow mix Saturday). When these shrubs begin to burst with color, we always know the soil is warm enough to apply crab grass preventative. Today, though, the forsythia stems are gracing the table.

Victorians used flowers as expressions of their feelings. All flowers hold a meaning and forsythia means anticipation. That's pretty appropriate since  these cheery blossoms are a tease of what's to come the following spring days.

Have a cheery, bright day!