Cleaning Blinds - Quick and Easy!

Cleaning is not really my first activity choice on any given day.  And cleaning blinds . . . uggggg.  Hate it.  And as you can see . . . it's not something I do as often as I should.  Here you can see where I wiped away a spot of grime . . . yeah, they were bad.

I was looking on Pinterest (when I SHOULD have been doing something more productive) and saw this post from The Intentional Mom on cleaning blinds.  I decided to give it a try.  I tweaked a little bit by using Dawn in my water.  SO, all you need is a few old socks, some Dawn and a sink or bucket of hot, soapy water.

Wet your cleaning sock puppet in the water, add a tiny drop of Dawn and squeeze to distribute (You don't want your sock TOO soapy . . . just a tiny bit to help remove grime.)

You can clean the top and bottom all at once.  I started with the blinds straight open to easily clean both sides.  Depending on how dirty the blinds are, you can do a section, go rinse your sock puppet and begin fresh.

EEEEEW!  This was after about 1/3 of a blind!  Just take the sock, rinse, add some Dawn to clean it and start again with the same sock.

Once you've cleaned the whole blind, close it in one directions and go over it with a clean, rinsed sock to pick up any stray gunk.  Close it in the other direction and do the same.

And if you have a cute puppy, of course let them have fun by trying to grab the socks while you're working.  

Does anyone do "spring cleaning" any more??  My mom did (and fall cleaning).  I remember her taking down all of the drapes, curtains, blinds and washing them all or replacing them with seasonal window treatments.  She washed the WALLS, BASEBOARDS, and scrubbed everything top to bottom.  She also ironed sheets.  I did not inherit this gene.

What's your favorite cleaning 'tip'?  

How to Age Clay Pots

I wanted to make some little gifts for the Sunday school teachers who serve with me and thought a little flower or plant would be perfect for Easter.  I found these lovely Viola plants at our local nursery and some cute little terra cotta pots at the dollar store (3/1.00).  The pots were way too "new" looking so I decided to 'age' them.

I didn't really have a plan so I just looked online at "old" clay pots and tried to duplicate some of the features.  I started with what I had on hand which was a tub of joint compound that will probably never been used for 'joints'!  By dabbing this on with a piece of towel, I thought this was a good start. I would think you could use things like spackle or other 'construction' compounds too.

After the joint compound dried, I mixed some green, white and dark brown paints sponging on in random places with another piece of towel to give them a dirty, mossy look.

Next I decided I wanted to 'mute' the colors so I used sandpaper to go over certain areas to blend it together.  

Here's the finished product!  Now, IF I were going to actually use these outside (and if I make bigger ones to use outside), I would seal these because the joint compound and paints would probably wash off after time.  

The pots are ready for their little flowers!

I love how these turned out . . . no two are the same.

The nice thing is . . . you can't mess these up! If you don't like the look, just go back with more white paint to lighten areas, more joint compound, more sanding . . .

To finish off the gifts, I added some green, shredded paper to a little bag, put the pot in and tied with a ribbon and this tag.  I'm including little boxes of chocolate too :)

I have to share these photos before I go.  Two days ago it was of course, Palm Sunday . . . and we got a record-breaking snowstorm!  This is what it looked like when we came out of church as my husband began cleaning off the car!

Those who know me, know that after March, I do NOT wear anything related to cold weather, including boots.  No. Matter. What.

Now . . . I took THIS picture TODAY . . . just two days later.

It's true what they say: If you don't like the weather in Chicago, just wait a day and it'll change!

Have a wonderful Resurrection Sunday!

EASY Fabric Flowers

When making a collar for a friend's dog, I wanted to add a fabric flower.  After playing around with some different ideas, I came up with this simple method.

Here's what you'll need:

Cotton fabric (To make 8 flowers I used 6 pieces of fabric, each 1/8 yard)

Pinking Shears (probably NOT a must but you'll get more fraying . . . which is what you want, with pinked edges)

Fabric scissors

Two sizes of circle patterns

You can use one fabric or several.  Find something for your pattern.  I used this plastic container's TOP edge for the larger circles and the BOTTOM edge for the smaller ones.  You can make these as big as you want though.  Cut 7-8 large and 7-8 small in any combination of fabrics. Layer your large pieces and then top with your small pieces.

I have to say that this part is a bit tedious with all the cutting so you definitely need sharp pinking shears or fabric scissors.  I just sat and watched a movie while I cut!

I have to say that I spent too much time making sure the pieces were in a repeating pattern.  Once the flowers are finished, I don't think it really shows or matters that the patterns were in a certain order.  Once you have your circles stacked (7-8 large topped with 7-8 small), stitch through all pieces in the center.

Now the fun part.  Wet each flower and crumple, crunch and smoosh into balls then . . . toss in the dryer.  They will come out like the center picture with frayed edges.  Next, dampen them (don't soak them this time or they'll take days to dry).  Gather them up and rubber band as shown in last picture.  Let them sit out to dry (overnight).

The next morning you can unwrap them and this is what you'll have!  I scrunched and wadded them up and peeled back each 'petal', fluffed and scrunched a bit more.

Just play around with them until you are satisfied with the look and amount of fraying.

I just placed these around my different Easter vignettes for a pop of color and softness.

I'm thinking these would make pretty hair accessories for a little (or big girl!) or a brooch.  I'm thinking of making some for a summer robe I'm making.  Lots of possibilities.

We are finally enjoying REAL springtime here in the Midwest! Hoping it's the same wherever you are!

He Is Risen Easter Signs

I know  . . . you're thinking, wait, that looks like CHRISTMAS.  It is.  I used the reverse side of these same boards and painted them for EASTER.  It's a great way to get double duty out of your decorations when you do this!

It's a simple process.  I have a bunch of reclaimed fence boards I use for these projects.  A light coat of white chalk paint and sanding and they're ready.

I print the words out on paper playing with the size and font. Since you're going to paint these, you want to keep the font simple and clean.  

I highly recommend getting a roll of graphite paper.  I have this box for years.  You can use one piece of paper over and over and over.  It looks like a box of plastic wrap or foil and I got mine at an art supply store.  I put a piece under my paper and using a pen, trace the letters out onto the board.

You'll get a faint outline that is now ready to be painted.

I use a fine, round tip brush which I also highly recommend. This one was only about 8.00 and again, I've had it for years.  Important Tip:  I put a little bit of acrylic paint in a lid and have a lid of water.  Dip the tip of the brush in the water FIRST and then into the paint.  This makes the paint go on SO much easier and smoother!

Here is is painted and ready for a little distressing.

Carefully and using a very fine sandpaper, rub gently to get this distressed look (if that's the look you want).

Here are some more of my Easter/Spring decorations.  

I always have fun decorating this 'ledge' in the living room.

This year I decorated my ladder with a few of my mom's Easter hats and her hankies.  Remember the days when ladies wore their Easter hats to church on Easter Sunday? 

Hopefully it's beginning to feel like spring for all of us! I think it's ALMOST safe to put the snow shovels away . . .

Banana Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

How many of you have a freezer full of nice, overripe, black bananas? Raise your hand.  I personally do not like bananas but my husband does so I always buy them for him but bananas don't last long so each week I probably toss at least one or two in the freezer.  When I cleaned my freezer the other week, I found bananas EVERY WHERE.  When it was all said and done . . . I had 18 bananas in there!! So I went on a hunt for a recipe that would use a lot and my oh my . . . 

I found this AMAZING recipe from Spend With Pennies. Not only is it an astoundingly good recipe, but I used up 5 of those 18 bananas.  As I said, I do NOT like bananas but I will make an exception when they are combined with wonderful things like butter and sugar.

I was having company so I decided to make this as a layer cake and pipe the frosting on.  I coated the sides with finely chopped walnuts as well.  This is a moist, crumbly cake so I did what is called a 'crumb coat' on the sides.  You spread a thin layer of icing to adhere the crumbs to cake, refrigerate to harden that coat of frosting and then you can top with a clean base of frosting. I wish I had piped a pretty edge around it before doing the roses but oh well, next time.

The top was also very moist and crumbly so I spread a thin layer of frosting on top before adding the roses.  Of course this would be wonderful just as a 9X13 which is how the original recipe is done.

You could add walnuts to the cake as well which I may do the next time.  It was very moist and everyone loved it.

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cup mashed bananas
• 2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice divided
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 tablespoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup butter softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoons vanilla

FROSTING

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/3 cup butter softened
• 3-3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest from 1 lemon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan.
2. Place 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice in a measuring cup. Top to 1 1/2 cups with milk. Set aside.
3. Mix together mashed banana with 1 tablespoon lemon juice, set aside.
4. Beat together butter, brown and white sugar until combined. Add in eggs one at a time and vanilla. Mix on high until light and fluffy (almost the texture of frosting).
5. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk to egg mixture stirring just until combined. (Do not overmix). Fold in bananas. Pour into prepared pan.
6. Put into the oven and reduce heat to 300 degrees. Bake 60 – 70 minutes (see note below) or just until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (do not over bake).
7. Remove from oven and place in the freezer for 45 minutes to make the cake extra moist. Cool completely before frosting.

FROSTING

1. Cream together butter & cream cheese until fluffy. Add in lemon zest and juice.
2. Add powdered sugar a little at a time until you reach desired consistency. Spread over cooled cake.

Just look at that pathetic face!  Hudson is singin' soprano now, if you catch my drift.  The world can only handle one Hudson so yesterday, we did the deed and he is none too happy about 'the cone of shame'.

When I'm with him and can watch him, he is allowed to wear a onesie and no cone.  He's not thrilled about that either but it's better than the cone!

I've been down again this week with another bad cold/bug so we are both laying low and looking forward to warmer, brighter days . . . who knows WHEN that will be!