Monday, October 29, 2012

Pineapple Angel Food Cake



I made it!  I really didn't believe it would work, but it did!  I made a delicious cake with only two ingredients:
                                        1 Box Angel Food Cake Mix
                                        1 20 oz. Can Crushed Pineapple


Directions:

All you do is put the dry cake mix in a large bowl (do not add anything else that's stated on the box). Add entire can of crushed pineapple with juice. Mix carefully until all dry mix is well blended. Pour into either a tube pan, 9x13 pan, bundt pan or cupcake pan with liners. (I lightly greased the bundt pan)  Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for time stated on box for size pan (around 30-40 minutes). Insert toothpick to check if cake is done.


Quick and easy!



 I served each slice with fresh cut pineapples and a scoop of cool whip or ice cream. Hmmmmmm!


 It's light, moist and amazingly, very delicious!!! 

Enjoy!






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Thursday, October 25, 2012

Outdoor Fall Decor

When I put together my outdoor fall decor, the mums I planted in my urns had not yet opened, and things were looking a bit bare.  With the warm weather we've had lately, the buds have popped open and it's time to share what I've done with my front.

 I got these urns from Sam's Club back in July for half price.  I saw them last year but waited too long for them to be reduced and missed out.  Luck was with me this year since these were the only ones left at the clearance price and I quickly snatched them up.   I can always paint them another color.
 The wreath is from last year and I added the black eyed susans and pumpkins to lighten it up a bit and blend in with the larger white pumpkins.


My sister-in-law, Maria, brought me the wheat stems from her home in North Carolina when she and my niece came to visit last spring.  I've been holding onto them all summer waiting for Autumn to arrive.

 Originally, I had the white pumpkins and mums in the basket out by my lamp-post but they were too light to stay in one spot especially if the wind was blowing so I had to put them in the corner. Couldn't figure a way to weigh them down.

 I wanted to add some "height" and "interest" to the mums so I placed these twisted wood shavings (Michaels) in the center.

I also planted ivy in with the mums for additional texture.



This is what I would call very traditional outdoor fall decor  .   .   .

Enjoy!






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Monday, October 22, 2012

Friday, October 19, 2012

Styrofoam Spider




                                                  The Spider and the Fly
                                                                                Mary Howitt
Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I've a many curious things to show when you are there."
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."

I know I've been saying I'm not really into Halloween (because I have no children close to me), but here in Blogland I can't help but get on the bandwagon of making cute little items in the spirit of Halloween. I, therefore, couldn't resist making this cute spider out of styrofoam balls.  

 To do this, I used:
Three styrofoam balls, 4 inch (body), 3 inch (head), and 1 tiny one (eyes)
Utility knife
Black acrylic paint
Copper acrylic paint
Foam brush
Black glitter
Copper glitter
glue/hot glue gun
Painter's tape
4 black chenille stems
To Make:
  Cut all the styrofoam balls in half using a sharp utility knife 

Attach the smaller half ball to the larger half ball using low temp hot glue. 
  Place one strip of painter's tape across the middle of the body and one       across the middle of the head 
  Paint the body and head black and sprinkle black glitter over the body and  head.  Allow to dry.


   Paint the tiny half balls copper and sprinkle with copper glitter. After drying, hot glue to the head


  Remove the painter's tape and paint the stripes with the copper paint. While the paint is wet, sprinkle copper glitter on the stripes and allow to dry


   Hot glue four chenille stems (together) across the bottom front body.Shape after drying:



   Bend each leg in half to create the knee joint and  bend each leg tip to create the feet
Have fun in decorating with your spider!










Happy Halloween and Crafting!

                         









































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Monday, October 15, 2012

Decorating Fall Cloches

Decorated glass cloches can be pretty, but I had never really paid any attention to them, that is, until Marty from A Stroll Thru Life announced a "Cloche Party"  on October 16th.  You better believe I paid attention this time. In fact, I think I got carried away.  Marty said in addition to a glass cloche, you could use birdcages or metal containers, or hurricanes, or anything that suits you  .   .   .       I think I just made that up.  Anyway, she did say anything you can dream up to decorate in and under  .   .   
Now that's a wonderful idea!

Lets see, I have a birdcage, a metal container, and a glass cloche.  Hot diggety dog!!!

Decorated the outside of my birdcage with autumn decor  .   .    .

It looks ok, but I'm not really feeling this.


Next, I take my wire container, turn it upside down and string acorn ornaments from the top (bottom), 
add a mesh bow and pumpkins  .  .   .


Hmm, now this is different  .   .   .  but,

I got out my glass cloche and added some funky leaves  .   .    . and trim





 But then I decided to go a bit with a Halloween design and came up with


 Taken at night  .   .   .  

 Lit Haunted House  .   .   .
 Look at those eyes  .   .   .   (dollar store)

That's cute, but I'm not really into Halloween,
so I wanted to glam things up a bit and painted my little pumpkin, coral, added some bling, lace and ribbon  .   .   .










Now this is what I'm talking about  .   .   .   A Pretty Decorated Fall Cloche! And it definitely has my attention!  Thanks, Marty.

Enjoy!










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