DIY Spring/Summer Tulip Wreath

 

Just wanted to pop in and share this easy DIY tulip wreath I made using faux blooms from Michael's! I used 8 pink tulips and 5 white ones.

First, select a wreath form. I used a bent wire one for mine but grapevine would work too. Next, cut your flower stems to about 6 - 8 inches and strip off the leaves. This gives you enough to bend around the form to support the bloom, without having tons of extra that will bulk up the form. 

Arrange and stagger your stems around the form, wrapping with florist or other strong wire as you go. I finished with some white grosgrain ribbon wrapped so as to hide the wire, then glued at the beginning and end with Tacky Glue to secure it (the glued parts are hidden behind the bow at the bottom).

I used the discarded leaves to make a bow, bending them in half to form the loops (3 per side). I cinched the loop ends together and wrapped a thinner strip cut from a leaf around them to gather them together. I secured the middle strip with more glue, then glued two more thinner strips with notches cut into the ends hanging down as the bow's "ribbon" ends. When the bow was dried, I glued it to the wreath frame.

That's it! Simple and easy. You could substitute whatever flowers you like - peonies, roses, forsythia, wisteria, or poppies (one of my other favorite flowers!). Use lots of blooms or just a few, all one color or a mix of everything - the possibilities are endless!

 

Angel Food Cake with Lemon Yogurt Cream and Fruit Recipe

Inspired by Martha Stewart's Rhubarb Tart with Lemon-Yogurt Mousse, I whipped up a faster, easier version for Mother's Day.

The Greek yogurt adds a really nice tang to this and, combined with the bright lemon notes, reins in the sweetness of the angel food cake without taking away from the decadence of the cream. Everyone was raving about the combination!

Hints:

1 boxed angel food cake mix

1 lemon, preferably organic

1 container CoolWhip or 1 pint heavy/whipping cream

1 container Greek yogurt (I used Fage)

confectioner's sugar

fruit of choice

Make your angel food cake, following the directions on the box. Angel food cake is one of the few things I will *NOT* make from scratch. I tried once and the whole thing plopped out of the pan like a big, old, wet fart shortly after I turned it upside down, and I laughed so hard I cried for the next five minutes. (A shocker for my family members, who assumed I'd be really upset since it was a birthday cake for someone.) The box mix is just easier, foolproof, and delicious!

Once your cake is cool and you're almost ready to serve dessert, get out your CoolWhip or whip your cream. Combine in a large bowl with the yogurt. I used about a 2 parts CoolWhip/cream to 1 part Greek yogurt ratio, but feel free to change this to suit your own taste. Wash your lemon and zest about half of it into the bowl (you won't need the juice). Add a few tablespoons of confectioner's sugar. I used about 2 I think, but again, use as much or as little as you like. Whisk together til thoroughly combined and set aside.

Prep your fruit. Here I used fresh raspberries, but on Mother's Day I stewed strawberries and rhubarb together (adding about a 1/4 c. sugar and some lemon juice) until softened and let the mixture cool slightly.

Slice your cake, top with as much of the lemon yogurt cream as you like, and spoon your fruit on top. That's it! Simple yet delicious.

Tulips and Cherry Blossoms

Everything's finally blossoming around here, couldn't resist posting some tulip and cherry blossom snaps! I hope you enjoy them.

Hope all my fellow mamas out there had a wonderful Mother's Day as well!

Monday Musings

How was everyone's weekend? Don't be fooled by this photo (taken last spring back in Boston). It doesn't look like this here in Portland! Instead, it was cloudy and brisk here, despite the higher temps, so I spent a good deal of time dreaming of spring.

I can't wait for all the trees to be in blossom and for daffodils to peek their sunny yellow heads up from the flaxen grass. When you're in a new neighborhood or area and have never experienced spring there, you get to discover where all the unexpected tulips and crocuses and other flowers are hidden. I'm looking forward to getting out with the kidlet to see what we can find!

The Greenness of a New Spring

“That is one good thing about this world...there are always sure to be more springs.” 

― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

Spring Has Sprung...Sort Of...

Well, it's officially spring! The first crocuses blooming last weekend gave hints that it was on its way. I do remain a bit skeptical, however, as we're supposed to get more cold weather and snow this upcoming week. Let's hope that forecast changes stat!

Apologies for my lack of posting, but my little guy is keeping me quite busy...and very sleepy. I haven't been crafting much, but I'll post what I've been up to when I can. I hope you won't mind that it might be "quick and dirty" (ie less-than-stellar phone pics and basic directions) rather than detailed tutorials until my son is sleeping longer stretches at night.

(The above watercolor is from Created by Storm, and is absolutely lovely!)

Spring Celebrations - DIY Ideas

Sunny days and warmer nights mean it's spring party season! I've collected a few of my current favorite DIY party ideas for easy, brightly colored birthday parties, showers, or get-togethers.

First up are these fringed paper garlands from Mint Love Social Club. They couldn't be simpler! You just cut several layers of a triangle pattern from tissue paper, cut them so they're fringed, then seal the layers together at the top with a seam of metallic tape, binding, or ribbon (if using ribbon or binding, glue in place instead).

These little "oranges" from The Cinderella Project are just scoops of sorbet (store-bought is fine, but you could also make your own) with a clove and two edible leaves poked into the top so they look like citrus fruits. For the leaves, something like mint or lemon balm would work well and complement the flavor of the sorbet.

This larger-than-life crepe paper rose reminds me of Alice in Wonderland! It's from Green Wedding Shoes, via Mon Carnet. I think a few of these would look lovely hung over a table of treats, or strewn across a gifts table. You could also arrange several on a mantle for a lush botanic look.

Let's face it, seating can be one of the hardest things to arrange for a party. Keeping enough chairs around the house for all potential guests without cluttering your space is difficult, renting chairs gets expensive, and using regular inexpensive folding chairs can be, well, ugly. Luckily, The Moon and Me has a really helpful and easy tutorial on how to repaint folding chairs and turn them into these lovely, candy-colored versions instead!

To see more DIY party ideas, check out my DIY Party Tricks board on Pinterest. You can also follow my other boards on Pinterest here!

DIY Glittered Birds from the Dollar Store

Here's another quick and easy DIY project for the holidays: festive birds using inexpensive birds from the dollar store and colored glitter!

I bought a couple doves and cardinals from the local dollar store. They looked okay, but the feathers were a bit thin in places and they looked, well, cheap up-close. So I decided to fancy them up!

I brushed on Mod Podge with a small brush, doing small areas at a time. I put a piece of paper underneath the birds to catch glue drips and spills, and then carefully shook glitter over the glue-painted parts.

For the dove, I decided to do the wings first. Then I did the tail. Finally, I did the beak and feet. I used silver glitter (also from the dollar store, although more expensive German glass glitter would look even better!). I liked the way it contrasted with the white - it seems very Winter Wonderland-y to me!

I used red for the cardinal and covered everything except the black face mask and eyes. However, I only painted one area at a time so that the glue would not dry in places before I'd applied the glitter.

Voila! Here's what they look like from above. Try not to touch them too much after you sprinkle on the glitter. Give them an initial tap or two to get off the excess (and pour it back into the container so as not to waste it), but then let them dry thoroughly. After they've dried, if some areas need more glitter, carefully dab on more glue and shake on glitter again. Repeat until you get the desired effect.

At this point, you have two options. You can leave them as is and when you go to use them, you might get glitter on nearby surroundings as tiny pieces come loose. Or, you can seal the glitter. I recommend the latter! (Side note: also great for DIY glittered heels, gift tags, ribbons, fascinators, etc.)

You have quite a few choices: pastel or charcoal fixatives, acrylic spray sealants, Mod Podge (might take off glitter when you brush it on, though), or other glue-type sprays. I'm going to try an Elmer's version. I'll report back and let you know how it works once I've applied it. Whatever you use, make sure you follow the directions on the can/container!

These have wired feet, so you can turn them into ornaments for the tree after they've dried. They'd also look great tucked into Advent wreaths, Christmas wreaths, garlands, or on top of presents (for very lucky recipients!).

I still have a few of these birds leftover. I might make the dove light pink or yellow for Easter, and do the cardinal in blue (so it looks like a Blue Jay) or another bright color for the summer. Just change your glitter color to match the season!

What would you use these for? Any other ideas?

A Sad Sparrow's Tale

Now that the wedding's over (still can't believe it actually happened - still very surreal!) and I've settled into the new digs, I'll be posting pics of what I've been up to in the meantime.

I found these beautiful speckled eggs when I was moving post-wedding. They sadly will never hatch. Switch over to my Flickr page for the full tale!

1915 New York City Flower Show on Flickr

These photos of women with flower baskets are perfect for bringing a little sunshine to a rainy spring day! They look so suited for the season with their wide-brimmed hats trimmed with ribbon, their light and long cotton dresses, and their baskets filled with flowers they've collected.

 

I wonder about the story behind these shots. Are the flowers grown by the women themselves, ready to be judged at the show, or are the women the judges collecting their favorites from the stalls? Maybe they're selling the flowers as souvenirs to visitors.

At any rate, these photos might finally get me to spring for a straw hat with ribbons dangling down the back for pairing with colorful, vintage-inspired spring dresses and days at the beach.

Click on the photos to view them larger on Flickr!

DIY Painted Chipboard Bird and Birdcage with Seasonal Flowers

I had some chipboard birds and birdcages laying around that I'd bought on a whim (don't we all do that sometimes?...), so I decided to paint them in colorful acrylics and turn them into a crafty example of the birds and flowers in season right now.

I painted the chipboard birdcage white, for a clean background. It took two coats.

Then I cut a door with an X-acto knife, so the bird can stick out.Cut at the top, right side, and bottom, but leave the left side intact.

Here's another view of the door from the side. I just cut it and then gently bent it back.

I used a photo of a real European robin, one of the first birds of spring, to get the coloring just right. I used a few different shades of brown on the tail and wing, shown here. The wing came separate, so I painted the pieces first and then glued the wing on with Tacky Glue.

Here's a close-up detail of the bright, ruddy head. I included a white ring around the eyes, just like they have in real life. I made the red a bit on the orange side. It's more of a orange-red in nature than a pink-red.

Here's the bird from beak to tail. The beak wasn't notched, so I used an Xacto knife to cut it as well. This way, it can hold a sprig.

Forsythia bushes are one of my favorite flowers of early spring, so I snipped off a blossom from the ones in my backyard and tucked it into the beak. If you want the blossom to last, use a silk one instead.

 I already have some ideas for May - maybe a chickadee (they hang around all year) with a cherry blossom? You'll have to stay tuned to see! This would also be a great mobile for a baby's room.

The First Cherry Blossoms of May

Every year, I anxiously await the blooming of the old cherry tree outside my window. When it finally blossoms, it's a pale pink explosion of delicate, ruffled petals that sway and dance in the breeze.

The arching branches curve right over the sidewalk, and passersby stop to admire its beauty and pluck a flower or two. I've even seen speeding cars pause and the people inside roll down their windows to get a better look! It's quite a sight to behold.

If only the blooms lasted all spring!

Ranunculus Season

It's ranunculus season! They look like miniature roses, but the petals almost have little ridges on the edges and they have little nubs in the center.

You can find them in various shades of red, orange, pink, and yellow but the white ones are my favorite! They add this bright freshness to a room - I glance at this lovely bouquet every time I pass through the kitchen.

The Cows Came Home

Seeing this "The Cows Came Home" painting by Elizabeth Pollie reminded me that the farmers' markets will be starting up again here in about a month. I can't wait to come home with a (reusable, have to be green at the market!) shopping bag full of bright spring greens tucked under my arm.

If I'm lucky, there'll be tiny, bright red wild strawberries in wooden punnet baskets that will be perfect for breakfast the next day. (If they last that long...)

Bright Pink Rhubarb

I contemplated opening this with a "crickets" reference, but instead I'll just apologize right off the bat for the lack of posting. An unfortunate early-spring cold has me reeling, and I've spent too many hours in bed or on the couch.

About all I've been able to muster in the kitchen is this delightfully bright pink rhubarb conserve. It's as simple as it gets, and a lovely harbinger of spring. Just dice rhubarb stalks, put in a pot with the juice of half a lemon and sugar to taste (start with 1/4 c.), and simmer until the rhubarb breaks down into little strings.

Let it cool, and then try not to stand over it with a spoon, devouring the entire batch of sweet-yet-still-tart, lemon-tinged deliciousness. If you manage to do this, it's wonderful spread on toast the next day or stirred into vanilla yogurt or ice cream.

Lasting Spring Flowers

What a clever way to display and preserve flowers! Anastasiya of Good Things on Etsy encases the delicate, dried beauties in resin and transforms them into wearable pieces of art. I think the setaria (top) is my favorite - it's so feathery and delicate, and really pops against the blue background! The Queen Anne's lace heart and forget me not pieces, however, are wonderful as well.

See more of Good Things' jewelry here!

Paintings by Kathy Weber

I recently discovered the talented Kathy Weber, and now I can't get enough of her wonderful flower- and nature-themed paintings! I like her bold brushstrokes - they still have a lovely softness to them.

From top to bottom, these three are titled "Fields in Flower", "Wickford", and "The Rose Arbor".

See more of her work here!

Spring Gardening

Hope you all had a restful, wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! Spring is definitely here in the city, although it feels more like summer these days. I even had to put the air conditioner in before June 1st!

Posting will be a bit light this week as I scramble to plant the garden before it heats up too much, in between tending to my shop and working on new prints.

In the meantime, check here to see what's new!

Signs of Spring

As soon as I saw these photos of the many lovely signs of Spring from the Boston Globe's Big Picture, I knew I had to share them with you!

See more here!

Nature Photos

Fall is on its way, but no matter what time of year it is, I always love the flowers and colors of spring. Here are some recently listed images from my photo store, recalling spring's lushness and sights. Hope you enjoy them!