Home Decor: Floral Ideas to Chase Away Winter Blues

1. Cheer up your dining table:

Instead of a large floral arrangement that might take the time to put up, you can create floral floating candles. The warm glow of the candles and fresh colors of the flowers will instantly cheer up the dining table. Fill tall glasses with water and place a stem or two of your favorite flowers. Submerge the flowers completely underwater and float a candle on top.

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 2. Cheer up a blank wall with floral ideas

A unique way to fill your home with floral ideas freshness is by hanging flowers instead of placing them on tables and mantels. Bring a blank wall to life with this arrangement which is easy to install. Hang glass jars on the wall with jute twine. Fill the jars with water and add fresh flowers for a pop of color.

Why not make a pretty winter wreath in your abode? How To Make a Burlap Wreath.com has some beautiful winter wreath ideas like this rustic wood slice wreath adorned with gorgeous flowers.

Image via: Etsy – Blessed in the Midwest… Wood slice wreath

 3. Floral Ideas: Cheer up your reading nook:

Another way to cure the winter blues is to bring color into your favorite parts of your home. Every house must have a reading nook to curl up in during the dreary winter months. Use floral pretties to perk up your reading nook and make it brighter. Choose a small but colorful vintage vase for your arrangement. Pick flowers that bloom in winters like lavender and roses to arrange in the vintage vase.  Stack your favorite books on a side table and place the vase on top.

Floral ideas are a therapeutic way to fight away the winter blues when you are stuck indoors. If you cannot get your hands on fresh flowers, consider creating decorative floral arrangements with paper flowers, silk flowers, and plastic ones. A little color can go a long way.

For more winter home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

 Creative Halloween Treats: Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

Halloween Treats Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 egg

Halloween Cookies Directions:

1. Place a fine mesh sieve or a sifter over a medium mixing bowl and add the flour and salt. Sift the dry ingredients into the bowl and set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the butter and sugar; using a handheld mixer on medium-high speed cream the butter and sugar together until the mixture is light in color and has a fluffy texture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and then add the vanilla extract, lemon zest, and egg. Beat until blended, 1 or 2 minutes longer. On low speed, gradually add the sifted flour and salt, mixing until just blended.
3. Remove the dough from the bowl and cover with waxed or parchment paper. Place the dough on baking sheets and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or as long as 24 hours.
4. When you are ready to roll and bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the cookie dough on the work surface and remove the top sheet of paper. Lightly dust the surface of the dough with flour. Roll the dough out starting from the center to an even thickness of 1/8-inch. Using decorative cookie cutters cut the dough directly on the parchment paper. Use a spatula to transfer the dough to the lined baking sheet. Place the cookies at least 1/2-inch apart.
5. Gather the dough scraps and reroll them to make additional cookies. Only reroll the dough once.
6. Bake the cookies 1 sheet at a time for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies are golden around the edges and firm to the touch. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
7. The cookies can be stored in re-sealable plastic containers or cookie tins for 1 week. To frost, the cookies prepare a recipe of royal icing as follows and decorate as desired.

Halloween Sugar Cookies Royal Icing:

2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon milk
1 pound confectioners’ sugar

Place all of the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat slowly until well blended. Then beat at medium-high speed until the icing forms stiff peaks, 6 minutes. If icing is not stiff enough add more sugar if it is too stiff add more milk. Use immediately or place in a plastic container with a lid until ready to use. Allow icing to dry for at least 24 hours before packaging.

Yield: About 2 1/2 cups

Remember to keep your designs simple enough to work with an icing bag and tip. The consistency of the royal icing should be such that it spreads evenly on the cookie with a spoon. If you are new with royal icing, it is a good idea to prepare some icing in a slightly thicker consistency and create an outline on the cookie before filling it with runny royal icing.

Looking for more delicious Halloween cookies recipes?

We love the mummy cookies in these Halloween desserts from Delish.com.

Try 35 of our Best Halloween Desserts too!

For more Halloween treats and ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

How to Make Halloween Specimen Jars and Candles

Halloween is just around the corner and if you still have Halloween décor shopping left to do, you will love this DIY. Create spooky candles at half the price right in the comfort of your home. Creating spooky candles and fun apothecary jars or specimen jars is a fun activity for the kids to keep them busy over the weekend.

Watch a Halloween Specimen Jars Video from Martha Stewart:

Visit the video link: How to Make Halloween Candles  & Halloween Specimen Jars

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Spooky Halloween Candles Materials:

White pillar candles

White tissue paper

Spray glue

Printer

Hair dryer

Halloween Candles Directions:

1. Search the internet for some spooky Halloween graphics and clip art. Choose images like bats, skulls, spiders and ghosts. Resize the images on your computer according to the size of your candles. You can play around with images and even use your creativity to create a collage of these graphics on your candles.

2. Next, stick your tissue paper onto some printer paper with the help of spray glue and trim the edges. Remember to use a very light spray of glue, this is to ensure that the tissue paper does not crumple in the printer if printed on its own. Set the paper in the printer such that that the graphics are printed on the tissue paper.

3. Once the graphics are printed, carefully peel off the tissue from the printer paper. Cut the graphics as close as possible.

4. Place the cut images on your candle. The tissue paper will stick easily because of the leftover glue. Finally, pull out your hair dryer and turn it on the hot setting. Hold the hairdryer close to the image for a few minutes. The candle wax will start melting slowly with the heat and the image will easily set in with the wax. Smooth the melted edges and let it solidify again.

5. The edges will disappear and the picture will appear as though it is a part of the candle.

Set the candles on your mantel and decorate around it with other spooky Halloween decorating ideas. Once you have mastered the final step you can experiment with old vintage photographs, much more intricate graphics and on different colored candles.

Thinking about making a Haunted House for your Halloween party? Take a look at these tips!

For more Halloween ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Summer Gardening: How to Propagate Succulents

Image via: Flickr

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1. Succulents Preparation:

To start your own summer garden with succulents, you will need atleast one plant to start propagating. Pruning succulent plants helps them grow, so go ahead and ask your friendly neighbor for a few leaves from her plant. Pinch off a few waxy leaves from the plant you have in mind. Make sure that you get the entire leaf off the stem. The leaf will not grow roots if it is snapped from the middle. You can also cut about 2 inches of the stem instead of just the leaves.

Image via: Succulents and Sunshine

 2. Succulents Drying:

The succulent leaves and stem that you have collected need to dry completely before replanting. The drying process will help the leaves to callous over. If planted directly without drying, the leaves will absorb too much moisture from the soil and will rot. Leave the leaves out in a shady area for a week to dry out.  Once the leaves are dry, place them over potting soil. In about a week new roots and baby plants will start sprouting. The leaves do not need much moisture so water only once a week.

Image via: Needle and Leaves

 3. Succulents Planting:

The baby plants will take in their nourishment from the mother leaf. In another couple of weeks you will notice that the mother leaf has started to wither and dry. Once it is completely detached from the new baby plant, you can remove the baby plant from the soil and plant it in its own pot. Succulents should be placed in plenty of sunshine. Water these when the soil starts to dry up or atleast once a week.

Image via: Floral Verde

Succulents make great gifts for friends and family. You can also create an indoor terrarium with your new baby succulents. Summer gardening with succulents is fun and free.

For more succulent care and gardening tips on Stagetecture, click here.

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Home Staging Tips: How to De-Personalize your Home

Here are three steps to de-personalize your home:

1. Remove all personal effects

The very first step to de-personalizing your home is to remove all personal effects like photographs, framed wall art and knick knacks that you may have used to decorate your home. Give your prospective buyers a blank canvas so they can see themselves living in the house. If there is anything in the house that you will take away to your new home, like a vintage chandelier, remove it before the scheduled house inspection.

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 2. Refresh the house with paint

A coat of paint on your exterior home and interiors will give your house a fresh, new appeal. There is nothing that refreshes the interiors like paint. It is a cheap and quick solution. Neutral colors are your safest bet when re-painting. Remember that your favorite radiant orchid paint color might not fancy the prospective buyer. Paint the kid’s room in bright colors.

 3. Clear out the storage

Storage in the new house will of great importance to most prospective buyers. Expect them to look into drawers and open your closets. Remove all your personal belongings from the storage area. If you are still living in the house, consider packing them into boxes and placing them in the garage or hire a small storage space. Anything left in the closets and drawers should be placed neatly.

Give your house a welcoming feel. Make the house visually appealing but the décor should not reflect your personal taste. The potential homeowners should be able to visualize themselves in the house and should not feel as if they are intruding on your personal space.

For more home staging tips on Stagetecture, click here. You can also visit About.com Home Staging for more tips.

How To Make Gluten Free Berry Pancake Recipe

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Pancake Recipe Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend

2 tablespoons organic cane sugar

1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

2 tablespoons light olive oil

1 1/4 cup buttermilk

1 cup fresh blueberries

Extra vegetable oil for frying pancakes

How to Make Pancakes Directions:

Measure dry ingredients together in a bowl and whisk to combine. In a separate bowl beat egg until thick and foamy. Add oil and buttermilk to egg and whisk to blend.

Add dry ingredients and whisk until the pancake batter is smooth. Gently stir in blueberries.

On medium high, heat 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil in a heavy skillet. Spoon about 1/3 cup of pancake batter in hot skillet and smooth the pancake. Dot the top of the pancake with 1/4 cup fresh blueberries. Cook until golden brown on the bottom and carefully flip. Cook second side until golden brown.

Serve warm with maple syrup or make double blueberry pancakes by serving with blueberry syrup.

You can modify the gluten-free breakfast recipe into a dairy– free one as well by substituting the dairy ingredients with vegan products of your choice. A great vegan idea is to substitute an equal amount of almond milk with the buttermilk. Add a generous helping of freshly cut mixed berries to top up the pancakes.

Here are more delicious pancake recipes you’ll love:

Chocolate Chip pancake recipe

Protein Mix Pancakes recipe

All Recipes has every type of pancake recipe you can think of! Try these pancake ideas this weekend.

For more brunch and breakfast recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

 Easy DIY Wedding Ideas: Summer Floral Crown

Image via: Etsy – Wedding Floral Crown – Serenity

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Wedding Floral Crown Materials:

Assorted fresh flowers

Measuring tape

Green Florist tape

Thick wire

Thin floral wire

Scissors

Satin ribbon

How to Make a Flower Crown Video:

For a link to the floral crown video, see it here.

Floral Crown Directions:

1. Pick your favorite flowers. Take a mix of big and small blooms along with some green foliage. Trim the stem to 2- 3 inches in length.

2. Play around with an arrangement of flowers for the crown. Before you start lay out the arrangement on a table. Click some pictures so you can remember the one you most liked.

3. Take a measuring tape and measure around your head to arrive at the circumference required. Take a piece of thick wire and create a round wire crown according to the measurement. The wire will make your floral crown sturdy and durable. Create a hook at the two ends of the thick wire so it is easier to put on and take off the crown.

4. Use the thin floral wire and floral tape to secure your flowers to the wire crown. Wrap the stem with wire and tape over to hold the flowers in place. Make sure to distribute the weight of the flowers evenly around the crown wire.

5. For larger and heavier flowers like roses and peonies, you make want to add extra tape for sturdiness.

6. Clip of extra wire or stem and tape off any loose wire ends to avoid scratches.

7. You can also attach a piece of ribbon and create a bow to add on the magical feel of the floral crown.

Image via: Etsy – Wedding Flowers Crown Ideas – Serenity 

For more floral crown ideas visit How To Make A Burlap Wreath!

Floral crowns are best made with fresh flowers, but you can also create this easy DIY with silk or any other fabric as well. Readymade silk flowers are available at hobby shops. Although silk flower crowns are much more durable, fresh floral crowns will lend a magical touch to your outdoor set up. Imagine yourself enjoying whiffs of fresh roses from the crown every time the summer breeze blows.

For more wedding flower ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Valentines Day Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Image via: Sweet Little Details

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Valentines Cake Directions:

For the Cookies:

1 ounce semisweet chocolate, chopped

1/2 ounce milk chocolate, chopped

12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup sour cream

2 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon red food coloring

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Filling:

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise and seeds scraped

Image via: Pinterest

Valentine Dessert Directions:

Make the cookies:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine the semisweet and milk chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 50 percent power until melted, about 2 minutes. Whisk until smooth.

Whisk the melted butter, sour cream, eggs, vinegar, vanilla and food coloring in a bowl until combined. In another bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in four equal batches, whisking each batch completely before adding the next. Stir in the melted chocolate.

Scoop heaping tablespoons full of batter onto the prepared baking sheets and smooth the tops with a damp finger. Bake until the cookies spring back when lightly pressed, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

Image via: Yummly

 Make the filling:

Beat the cream cheese and butter with a mixer until smooth. Beat in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla seeds. Sandwich a heaping tablespoonful of filling between 2 cookies; repeat with the remaining cookies and filling. Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.

Image via: Annies eats

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, experiment making these red velvet cookies in different shades of red. Line paper printed with heart shaped template to help in making heart shaped red velvet whoopie pies. Remember to pull out the template sheet before putting the whoopie pies in the oven.

For more dessert recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

Fourth of July Recipe: Patriotic Popsicles with Summer Berries

Image via: HGTV

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Ingredients

2 1/2 cups strawberries
8 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 cup plain yogurt
4 tablespoons heavy cream
1 1/2 cups blueberries

Image via: The view from Great Island

Directions:

1. In a blender, combine strawberries, sugar, and 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice. Puree, scraping down sides as needed. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on solids; discard solids. Divide puree among six 4-ounce or eight 3-ounce ice-pop molds. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.

2. Combine yogurt, cream, and 2 tablespoons each sugar and lime juice. Remove molds from freezer and top with yogurt mixture; insert ice-pop sticks. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.

3. In clean blender, puree blueberries, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice. Pour through clean sieve into a bowl, pressing on solids; discard solids. Remove molds from freezer and top with blueberry puree. Freeze until solid, 6 hours more (or up to 1 week).

4. Just before serving, briefly run molds under hot water to release pops.

Enjoy this patriotic Fourth of July recipe with kids and adults alike.

For more desserts on Stagetecture, click here.

Fourth of July Recipe: Quick Veggie Pasta Salad 

Image via: Clean and Scentsible

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Ingredients:

1 450g box of your choice of pasta

1 cup mayonnaise

¼ cup red wine vinegar

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup red onion, chopped

3 cups broccoli, chopped

1 cup snow peas

¾ cup red pepper, chopped

½ cup boiled corn

½ cup roasted, unsalted sunflower seeds

½ cup pine nuts

Image via: Sugar and Grace

Instructions:

1. Boil the pasta till al dente or follow the instructions on the box. Drain and rinse with cold water until cooled. The pasta can be stored in a covered box in the refrigerator. Take it out when you are ready to prepare your salad

2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, sugar and set aside

3. Add vegetables, sunflower seeds, and pine nuts to the pasta and toss to combine. Add the dressing and toss to coat. Cover pasta and chill for at least one hour.

Image via: Bare feet in the kitchen

This vegetarian fourth of July recipe can be quickly converted into a non-veggie one. For those who love their meats, you can change this veggie pasta salad into a non-veg one by simply adding ½ cup of crumbled bacon or ½ cup of boiled chicken to the salad. Toss to combine with the dressing. Add your own touch to the recipe by adding or subtracting the veggies that you like or dislike.

For more recipes on Stagetecture, click here.