"October Calendar" a new freebie...(you're going to like it)

A new freebie is here: "October Calendar" for all my l♥vely fans & followers...

Use as a desktop background:
     Right-click over it & choose "Open Link in New Tab"...then open that new tab & right-click over it again & choose "Set As Desktop Background..."

Use it as a paper calendar:
     Print it out & hang anywhere or simply stick with a magnet on the fridge, for that warm whimsical touch...♥

N.B: It will appear without the "white" frame...
Enjoy...♥

How to make cute and simple Ribbon Valances...?!

        
           Ribbons are so much fun to decorate with. They are inexpensive and can add a big punch for the cost. That is just my kind of decorating!

     This is a project that is perfect for springtime, and so easy to make. With windows open for fresh air, the ribbons will be blowing in the breeze. The perfect effect for your princesses’ room.

You’ll need a tension rod and about 10 meters each of five different ribbons (the amount will vary depending on the window size).

- Cut the ribbons few centimeters longer than you need in order to reach the sill.

- Then tie each length onto the rod in a necktie knot. - Alternate colors &/or patterns.

- Trim to fit.

     You could also do as I did when I made one when my girls were little, and trim the ribbons in more of a valance length. Vary the lengths. This isn’t about precision!

     

     I wish I had other photos of this, because it is really so sweet to look at. I never took any of the one I made for my daughters. I guess that is the perfect excuse for making another one.

Go ahead and make one, then plz share your photos!

(basic directions and photos from Good Housekeeping)

Desktop Background (Freebie)

What an early morning dear All...♥
Wishing you a warm, sunny & lazy day...♥
Here's the freebie I promised... A Desktop Background with September Calendar... ♥
Plz download 1st then apply as your background (so as to acquire the high resolution)... enjoy...♥

How to make an origami little princess, designed by Jo Nakashima:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4KEG_KZFnA

A freebie "May" calendar in recognition of earth's day:

    Another freebie: "May" calendar in recognition of earth's day...

Use it as a desktop background:
     Right-click over it & choose "Open Link in New Tab"...then open that new tab & right-click over it again & choose "Set As Desktop Background..."

Use it as a paper calendar:
     Print it out & hang anywhere or simply stick with a magnet on the fridge, for that warm whimsical touch...♥

N.B: It will appear without the "white" frame...
Enjoy...♥

"May calendar" a new freebie...

     A new freebie: "May calendar" for all my l♥vely fans & followers...

Use as a desktop background:
     Right-click over it & choose "Open Link in New Tab"...then open that new tab & right-click over it again & choose "Set As Desktop Background..."

Use it as a paper calendar:
     Print it out & hang anywhere or simply stick with a magnet on the fridge, for that warm whimsical touch...♥

N.B: It will appear without the "white" frame...
Enjoy...♥

Spring Cleaning Organizer:

Get your house ready for warm weather with these tasks:

- Clean Rugs, Carpets, and Floors:

     Vacuum rugs and carpets. Machine-wash or dry-clean area rugs, and shampoo wall-to-wall carpeting. Wash and wax floors.

- Clean Windows:    

     Remove dust, dirt, and cobwebs with a soft brush. Wash windows inside and out with a mild dilution of either ammonia or white vinegar in water; dry with a squeegee followed by a rag.

- Renew Mattresses and Cushions:   

     Vacuum mattresses and box springs. Rotate and flip mattresses before replacing them on the springs. Flip sofa and chair cushions.

- Clean Refrigerator and Freezer:

     Unplug refrigerator; discard any items past their prime. Store food in a cooler, then wash fridge from top to bottom with warm, sudsy water. Add baking soda to solution to deodorize surfaces.

- Clean Shades and Curtains:

     Take down window treatments. Dust slat blinds, and launder curtains and fabric shades: either hand-wash and lightly steam in place, or send to a dry cleaner.

- Sort through Wardrobes:

     Separate clothes into piles: off-season, give away, dry cleaner, tailor. Wash and mend clothing before replacing in closet or storing.

- Perform a Safety Check:

     Check smoke detector batteries frequently; replace every six months. Check batteries in carbon-monoxide detectors and flashlights; inspect pressure gauges on fire extinguishers.

- Replace Filters:

     Vacuum and clean grates, coils, and condensers on furnaces, refrigerators, stoves, and air conditioners. Remove filters in furnaces and air conditioners, and either clean or replace them.

- Replace Storm Windows with Screens:

     Remove storm windows; replace cracked panes, recaulk windows, and repaint the frames before storing. Before installing screens, repair holes with tweezers (or replace entire screen).

Roll-Up Pencil Kit :

     Our organizer safely keeps pencils together in one place and rolls up, too, making it compact enough to tote to school and back. We used an old place mat for extra sturdiness and a cheerful design, and added shoelaces instead of ribbons for the ties.

Pencil Kit How-To:

- You will need a place mat that is approximately 18 inches wide.
- Lay it facedown; fold the right edge over to be 2 inches short of the left edge.
- Pin in place (see below).
- Use a ruler and a washable marker to draw parallel lines perpendicular to the fold, about 1 inch apart.
- Fold a shoelace in half, and tuck its fold between the layers at the midpoint of one side. 

- Next, sew up the two sides of the pouch -- the shoelace will be sewn in -- and along the parallel lines. - Slide pencils into the compartments, and roll the case toward the shoelace side, then tie the laces.

    

Lovely, funny, artistic & very creative photos by Jason Lee:

I'll just leave you with these lovely, funny, artistic & very creative photos by Jason Lee...

 

Orange-Yogurt Pancakes with Blueberries:

 

Wake Up Mom With These Outrageous Pancakes:

     Okay, we all know that moms "we" rule the earth, and what do we do about it? Usually, nothing! But here's your chance -- I guarantee you'll be on her good side if you wake her up Sunday morning and lead her to the breakfast table, where what might be the world's tastiest pancakes await her!

     The Greek yogurt in them makes these orange-infused pancakes superfluffy and tangy -- does breakfast get any better? And while Mom's Day is indeed a great time to try these, one taste may create a Sunday morning ritual every week! Makes 8 smallish pancakes, enough for two healthy appetites, so double (or triple) it if necessary.

                              ~~~~

Orange-Yogurt Pancakes with Blueberries:

Topping:

Tons of blueberries -- the more, the better. My general rule of thumb for blueberries: the smaller they are, the tastier.

Pancakes:

- Zest of 1 large orange

- Juice of 1 large orange (about ½ cup)

- 1 egg

- 1 cup Greek (strained) yogurt

- 2 tablespoons brown sugar

- 2 tablespoons melted butter (unsalted)

- 1 cup flour, organic if possible

- 1 teaspoon baking soda

- 1 teaspoon baking powder

- Generous pinch of kosher salt

- Additional butter for the pan

- Additional yogurt for garnish

- Heated maple syrup

How to:

1) Combine the zest, juice, egg, yogurt, brown sugar, and butter in a large mixing bowl, and whisk until well combined.

In a separate smaller bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, then add this to the liquid ingredients.

Mix until just combined; don't overmix. It should be rather thick.

2) Heat a skillet (or several, if you want to make several of them at the same time), add a little butter, let it get nice and hot, and spoon on some batter.

3) Cook for about 2 - 3 minutes on each side, or until nicely browned. Transfer to hot plates and spoon on some berries. Serve with little bowls of extra yogurt and warm maple syrup.

How to make an Origami Kusadama Flowers:

Found this lovely project & wanted to share it with you... 

1. Start with the a square piece of paper.
    Fold the bottom corner to the top to make a triangle.

2. Fold both bottom corners of the triangle to the middle top point

    to form a square.

3. Fold the top two layers of the square backwards as shown. It is 

    important that you ensure that the folded back edges line up with 

    the edges of the square underneath.

4. Open the newly formed triangles.

5. Fold the top triangles over so they level with the edge of the paper.
    Cut these triangle flaps with a sharp scissors.

6. Fold the triangles along the existing crease.

7. Add a small amount of glue to one side and attach to the 

    other  triangle.

8. Your glued petal should look like this. 

9. Now follow steps 1-7 to make four more.

10. Gluing the petals together should not be a problem.
      Make sure you let the glue dry before adding the next petal.

11. The flower is completed.

 Here's the link to the original post...

 http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/origami_kusadama_flowers

Ten Tips for a Perfect Wash:

1. Read the labels:

     The tags sewn into most articles of clothing advise about specific treatments.

 2. Test for colorfastness:

     Labels often indicate whether a garment is colorfast. If you're unsure, dampen fabric in a discreet spot (like an inside seam), wait a minute or two, and blot with a white cloth; if the cloth takes on color, the garment is not colorfast. Wash noncolorfast clothes alone until they stop releasing dye (include an old white handkerchief or sock in the wash each time; once it emerges untainted, you can add the garment to the rest of your wash).

 3. Sort and separate:

     Put whites and light colors in one basket, darks in another. Use additional baskets for extra-dirty garments or items that produce a lot of lint, such as terry-cloth towels and flannel shirts. Divide heavy clothes (like jeans) and lighter sheers and permanent-press items. Zip zippers, tie drawstrings, empty pockets, and unroll cuffs. If you see a loose hem or a split seam, fix it, or it will worsen in the wash.

 4. Pre-treat stains:

     Tackle any stains before loading the washer. Presoak clothes from the "very dirty" basket for a half hour in the washer, a large bucket, or a sink.

 5. Pour in detergent:

     Powdered detergents are better on mud and clay and in hard water; liquids have the edge on greasy stains. Use the recommended amount: Too much detergent won't rinse out, too little won't clean well. Never use more than one additional product -- fabric softener, bleach -- at a time.

 6. Load the machine:

     After adding detergent, add the clothes, distributing them evenly and loosely. Even a large load should be only about three-quarters full, so clothes can move.

 7. Set the time:

     A short wash time of about six minutes is usually sufficient for all but the dirtiest clothes.

 8. Choose a washer cycle:

     Regular -- for sturdy or heavy cottons and very dirty clothes; washer agitates and spins at high speed. Permanent press -- for most average loads; easier on clothes in general. Delicates -- for lightweight, sheer, lacy, and loosely woven fabrics; washer agitates and spins slowly, approximating hand-washing.

9. Select water temperature:

     Use hot water (120 degrees) to keep whites white and to clean very dirty colorfast clothes -- in separate loads, of course. Warm water (90 degrees to 110 degrees ) is good for most average loads. Cold water (below 85 degrees ) is best for bright colors that are likely to fade and for delicates. Detergents are less effective in water below 65 degrees. Shrinkage is caused by heat -- either from the dryer or hot water in the washer. To avoid it, wash items in warm or cold water, and hang to dry.

10. Choose dryer setting:

     Most dryers have a setting called Electronic or Automatic Dry, which lets you choose how dry you want the clothes to be rather than how long you want them to dry. The Permanent Press setting has a cool-down cycle at the end to reduce wrinkling. On Air Fluff, the dryer circulates air but adds no heat; this is good for freshening pillows and reviving clothes that have been packed in a suitcase but don't need to be washed. Or you can dry your clothes the old-fashioned way: on a clothesline or drying rack.

How to make Pom-Poms:

     Joyous bursts of color dance above a table, imparting a cheerful radiance to a rehearsal dinner or casual reception. The dahlialike pom-poms appear to float in the air; in reality they are hung from the ceiling with monofilament. Echoing the vibrant hanging puffs, pom-pom napkin rings in citrus shades adorn each place setting. Square glass vessels in various sizes line tables. Covered in sunset-hued tissue (cut to size and secured with double-sided tape), they cast a soft glow.

 How to Make the Pom-Poms:
You'll need tissue paper and 24-gauge white cloth-covered floral wire.

 Hanging Pom-Poms: 

1. Stack eight 20-by-30-inch sheets of tissue. Make 1 1/2-inchwide accordion folds, creasing with each fold.

2. Fold an 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, and slip over center of folded tissue; twist. With scissors, trim ends of tissue into rounded or pointy shapes.

3. Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time.

4. Tie a length of monofilament to floral wire for hanging.

Napkin Rings:
 

With just a few changes, these follow the same steps as the hanging pom-poms.

1. Stack four sheets of tissue. Cut a 10-by-5-inch rectangle, going through all layers. Make 3/8-inch-wide accordion folds.

2. Fold an 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, slip over center of tissue, and twist to secure. Trim ends of tissue.

3. Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time.

 4. Bend wire into a loop to fit around napkin, and twist end around loop to secure.

How to make a Rose Napkin:

   
 

     Give your romantic dinner for two a practical twist with napkins folded into a rose-inspired arrangement. The "flower" and "leaves" are tucked into a tumbler and set at each place setting. Don't worry about making the corners meet perfectly -- a little unevenness looks more natural.

To Form Leaves:
 

1. Fold a square green napkin in half along the diagonal.

2. Fold it in half again along the long edge.

3. Fold it once more in half along the long edge.

To Form Flower:
 

1. Use a square napkin of any color. Fold the cloth in half along the diagonal. Place it on your work surface so that the longest side of the resulting triangle is at the top. Take the corner opposite the longest side and fold it up so that it just extends over the top. The top and bottom edges should be parallel.

2. Fold the bottom edge up so that it falls just short of the top edge. Begin rolling the napkin from one end. Guide and adjust the cloth as you roll to give it an even shape.

3. Slip the completed flower between the upper and lower halves of the leaves, and arrange in the glass.