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Archive for the ‘Creativity’ Category

Creative Easter Egg Dyeing

Posted in About me, Art and Crafts, Creativity, Holidays, Parenting, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on March 27, 2012| 2 Comments »

Surprise crossed my face when, several years ago, my daughter informed me that Easter was her favorite holiday. “Really? Not Christmas?” I replied while thinking about all the years I attempted to create wonderful Christmas memories for my children. Holiday season after holiday season, colorful decorations covered every nook and cranny in our home and the scent of fresh pine mingled with the sweet smell of cookies baking. The Christmas holidays always sparkled with good times, love, and laughter. I listened while my daughter explained about her favorite holiday and soon my initial disappointment over perceived Christmas fantasies faded away. I hadn’t failed, after all. The good times, love and laughter I longed for my children to have, were not just restricted to one holiday. For my daughter, Easter brings the promise of spring, with its sense of renewal, fresh colors, and beautiful flowers. But it also brings back fond memories of silly egg dyeing experiments, crazy, competitive Easter egg hunts with her brothers, and much anticipated visits from her grandparents. She’s an adult now and home for only a brief visit, but I can still create good memories for her. She was childishly happy when I asked her, “Would you and your friends like to dye Easter eggs?” After gathering supplies, I let the three creative gals take over. Below are tips and techniques on creative egg dyeing from my daughter and her friends.

Supplies:

Hard boiled eggs
Box of assorted food colors
Boiling water
Vinegar
Bowls
Spoons
Electrician’s tape
Sharp scissors
Rubber bands
Paper punches
Contact paper
Old pantyhose
Small leaves
String, optional

Electrical Tape:

Electrical tape is great for cutting out shapes and sticking to an egg. Because it is so sticky, it can be used multiple times and is easily repositioned. Remember to gently smooth down all edges of the tape, so that dye does not seep under the tape and clean lines are formed. Plan ahead the sequence of colors you will be dipping – always start with a white egg or dye the egg the lightest color first. Let the egg dry between colors.

Contact Paper:
Smooth, adhesive, shelf paper, such as Contact Paper, acts like electrical tape by blocking out dye, but the advantage the shelf paper has is that it can be punched out into shapes. Using paper punches, punch out shapes from the adhesive shelf paper. Peel off the paper backing, place shapes on egg, and smooth edges down. Dye egg as desired. Bigger and simpler shapes punch out better than small intricate shapes. Some shapes may require additional trimming with scissors.

Rubber Bands:

Wrap rubber bands tightly and securely around an egg. For more interesting and intricate designs, vary the width and number of rubber bands used. Dye the egg and let it dry. After drying, some of the bands can be removed and the egg can be dipped in another color.

Leaves and Nylons:
Select small leaves that can lie flat against the shell. Herb leaves and carrot leaves work well for this technique. Place leaf on an egg, being careful to spread and flatten all parts of the leaf. Cut out a piece of sheer pantyhose and wrap it around the egg. Twist stocking at the back of the egg and tie it tightly with a small rubber band or a piece of dental floss or string. Dye the egg. Let it dry completely before removing the stocking and the leaf. The nylon wrapped around the egg slows down the drying process.

Tips:
1. The best way to hard boil eggs is to put eggs in a single layer in a pot and cover them with one to two inches of cold water. Bring the water to a boil and immediately reduce the heat to low. Let simmer for no more than a minute and then turn off the heat. Cover the pot and let the eggs sit for 10 to 12 minutes, depending on the number of eggs and the amount of water used. Drain water and run cold water over the eggs in the pot until they have cooled. Blot eggs dry before dyeing them.

2. Don’t rush the dyeing process and be sure to let the eggs dry between colors.

3. To avoid an egg from turning an ugly brown color, it helps to plan out the color sequence before dyeing each egg.

4. Keep hands clean to prevent dye transfer to other parts of the egg.

5. I lined a baking pan with paper towels and placed a cooling rack in it, to provide the eggs a place to dry.

6. Refrigerate completed eggs as soon as possible.

7. For another fun way to dye eggs, check out my post on Tie-Dyed Eggs.

Have fun!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (3/23/12)

Posted in About me, Aging, Art and Crafts, Creativity, Entertainment, Health, Helping Others, inspiration, Recipes, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 24, 2012| 1 Comment »

It was raining cats and dogs when I spotted a pretty bird perched on a tree in my yard. While other birds ate ravenously in the pelting rain, this Spotted Towhee was resting and taking in the sights. Here’s a lesson for us all – even in undesirable conditions, it’s always good to sit, regroup, and regain perspective.

#1 – What Time Is It?
Whether for business, travel, or staying in touch with friends and family, we all occasionally need to know what time it is in other parts of the world. With its easy slider bars, Every Time Zone makes it convenient to check the time in major cities worldwide. You will want to bookmark this site for future use!

#2 – What Happened Back Then?
Do you ever wonder what the world was like the year you or your parents were born? At What Happened In My Birth Year, all you have to do is type in the year you want to learn about and you’ll find out fascinating facts, such as popular songs and books, which movies were hits, who the movers and shakers were in the world, and so much more!

#3 – Amazing Goldfish
Artist Riusuke Fukahori takes painting to a new dimension. Carefully layering paint and resin, he creates incredibly realistic 3-D goldfish. Watch the brief video of his painstaking process. It’s amazing!

#4 – Healthy Recipe
This month’s Nutrition Action Health Letter offers a delicious recipe for Roasted Asparagus that is very similar to one that I’ve prepared for years:

Toss 1 pound of asparagus with 1 tsp. of canola oil. Roast in a 400 degree F oven until lightly browned and tender, about 15 minutes. Drizzle with with 1 tsp. of toasted sesame oil, 1 tsp. of soy sauce, and a squeeze of lemon. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, Serve hot or cold.

#5 – Design Your Life
“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” ~Jim Rohn

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (3/2/12)

Posted in Art and Crafts, Creativity, Gardening, Health, inspiration, Photography, Recycling, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 2, 2012| Leave a Comment »

In the depth of winter, when most garden plants look ho-hum, camellias, with their perfectly-shaped glossy leaves and their delicately-layered blossoms, add incredible beauty to our lives. Don’t let the shorter days and the stay-inside-weather prevent you from recognizing and appreciating their winter perfection. Everything on earth has a purpose, even camellias.

#1 – Purposely Repurposing
The party’s over and you have plastic cups lying around all over the place. They’re headed for the trash bin, right? Well, what about this – what about using them to construct a hanging lamp? This lamp and many more creative ideas appear in the article Most Popular Repurposing Tricks of 2011. Not into hanging lamps? What about making a lunch box from a plastic milk jug or creating a home security device from an old webcam?

#2 – The World We Live In
The world we live in is an amazing place. By checking out this series of photos, discover sights around the world without leaving your desk. All the photographs are interesting, but I was most intrigued by the Danxia landform.

#3 – Stick To It!
Need help deciding which type of glue to use on a DIY project? Go to Design*Sponge’s post on adhesives. Glue descriptions and an easy to read chart take the guessing out of what glue to use where and when. There’s even a recipe for making a natural glue at home – a DIY glue for your DIY project!

#4 – Fat Fighting Fiber!
Browsing the internet the other day using StumbleUpon, I “stumbled” across a health article titled “Fiber Supplements – Which One You Need?” The article points out the difference between insoluble and soluble fiber and describes the types of fiber used in supplements. Did you know that fiber supplements that become viscous, help your body in two ways? They not only help you to stay regular, but they also help to lower your blood cholesterol.

#5 – Life is a Contact Sport
Life is a contact sport, but it should never be played without joy.

Based on Senator Robert Byrd’s quote about Ted Kennedy, “He believed that life was a contact sport but that it should never be played without joy.”

Have a lovely weekend!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (2/24/12)

Posted in About me, Art and Crafts, Creativity, Gift Ideas, Helping Others, In The Kitchen, inspiration, Recipes, Recycling, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 24, 2012| 1 Comment »

Chirping up a storm, the birds in my backyard are letting me know that their feeders are empty. I look out the window to the feeding station and see that the sunflower seeds have disappeared and all but one-inch of Nyjer seed remains in another feeder. It’s a quite a job to stay on top of filling three feeders, a suet cage, and a hummingbird feeder every couple of days. Not to mention, hauling and storing the bird seed, cleaning and filling a bird bath and making sure my husband puts only bird-safe algaecide in our fountain. It’s a lot of work, but the sweet songs of thanks I hear every time I step outside remind me of why I do it!

#1 – Repurposing Phone Booths
The other day, my husband and I were talking about things that are becoming obsolete and one of the items brought up for discussion were phone booths. Shortly after that discussion, I read about John Locke, a Columbia architecture graduate who wants to convert New York’s pay phones into sharing libraries. To date, he’s placed bookshelves and books in two phone booths with mixed results. Read about his interesting project and see additional photos here.

#2 – Got Lemons?
Wanting to save the remaining Meyer lemons in my yard from being half-eaten and left to rot by pesky squirrels, I decided to look for yet another way to save them for future use. In the past, my husband has made limoncello, an Italian lemon liqueur, but unfortunately, there’s only so much limoncello we can drink! I’ve also tried juicing the lemons and freezing the juice, but it’s such a waste of flavorful rind. This year I’m preserving the lemons in a more traditional way – in jars with salt and lemon juice. Read the New York Times article on “Preserving Lemons the Traditional Way” if you’ve got lemons and want to learn the technique.

#3 – Paris vs. New York
The introduction reads “Macaroon vs. cupcake, Proust vs. Salinger, bobo vs. hipster, bordeaux vs. cosmo.” These are some of the comparisons that graphic designer Vahram Muratyan illustrated with his minimalist-style portraits and they are included in his book Paris versus New York: a Tally of Two Cities.

#4 – An Arm and a Leg
A recent email from my fitness club contained a link to the Limbs for Life Foundation. After checking out the site, I became more grateful for my healthy limbs and more aware of the difficulties amputees face. Depending on the specific type, a prosthetic limb can cost anywhere from $6000 to $65,000 and possibly even more. Due to wear and tear of the prosthetic or growth of the wearer, prostheses have to be continually replaced. Most insurance companies pay a very small fraction of the cost and usually on a once per person per lifetime basis. Many leg amputees, who cannot afford to pay their share, become wheelchair-bound. If you want to learn more about Limbs for Life click on the link above or watch the video below:

#5 – Going Somewhere?
“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you are not going to stay where you are.”
— John Pierpoint

Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (2/10/12)

Posted in Community, Creativity, Health, Helping Others, In The Kitchen, inspiration, Photography, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 10, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The world’s other 6,993,541,793 human inhabitants are more like you than you think. People’s emotions, actions and reactions are not so different from one part of the world to another. Cultural and religious customs do exist, but smiling, kissing, and hugging are among the many emotional gestures people around the world share. So the next time you deem someone as “different,” consider all that you have in common, rather than the few differences that separate you.

#1 – What Is It?
The photo above looks like something from outer space, so what in the world is it? Call it what you like: Romanesco, broccoli Romanesco, Romanesco broccoli, broccoflower, Romanesco cauliflower (North America), Romanesco cabbage (French), or broccolo Romanesco (Italian), but whatever you call it, call it delicious! Fresh Romanesco is loaded with Vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. The next time you see Romanesco in the market, widen your culinary world and buy it. Prepare it as if you were cooking broccoli or cauliflower – just don’t overcook it!

#2 – Creative Projects
Mark your calendars for noon (EST) on February 24th and help document a global event. Join people from around the world and share a meal with them. Take a photo of you with your meal, mail it to the Art House Co-Op, and be part of an exhibition of people and their food. While you’re signing up for the Meal Project on the Co-Op’s website, check out its other creative community projects: Letters to Home, where you write a letter to your childhood home, and the Sketchbook Project, where artists across the globe donate their sketchbooks to the Brooklyn Art Library to provide artistic inspiration to the public.

#3 – Spread the Mood
According to CEO Peter Bregman, moods are as contagious as colds. In his article “How to Use Your Super Power for Good,” he recounts how his mood changed one day from bad to good based on his encounters with different people. Here’s a quote from the article that focuses on his analogy of moods spreading like colds: Look at it this way: If you catch a cold from someone, does that mean you can go around sneezing on everyone else? You might be able to blame your mood on someone else, but you’re still responsible for what you pass to others . . . Know your emotions, be in touch with your moods, and think of them like the common cold. If you feel infected by bad cheer, take a deep breath, recognize how you’re feeling, and choose not to pass it on. If everyone practiced this philosophy, think about the collective difference it could make in the world.

#4 – In a Galaxy Far, Far Away . . .
Photographer Royce Blair captured some of the most awe-inspiring images of the effervescent-looking Milky Way juxtaposed against some of the iconic landscape features of Utah. If you need an escape from work during the day, just sit and gaze at these breath-taking wonders of nature. You’ll soon feel more relaxed!

#5 – Wisdom of the Universe
Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.
Joseph Campbell

Why not listen to what the universe is saying to you this weekend? Have a great weekend!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (1/13/12)

Posted in Creativity, Entertainment, Health, Helping Others, inspiration, Photography, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 13, 2012| 1 Comment »

New Year resolutions speak of hopes, dreams, and new starts, but shouldn’t every morning bring with it the same potential? Why wait a day, a month, or 12 months to start something new or to create the life you want? There will never be a better time than now to eat better, to sharpen your mind, to make a difference, or to see the world with all of its colors!

#1 – Walk Through a Rainbow
Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson designed an enclosed circular rainbow walkway above a building in Denmark. I wonder, along with another commenter, if your mood changes as you walk through the colors?

#2 – Fast Food Reality
Is the food shown in ads the same as what’s served? Here’s an interesting side-by-side photo comparison. On the left are ad photos and on the right are photos of food actually served. Why do we eat fast food when it’s not so great to begin with and is even less appealing than promised?

#3 – Online Jigsaw Puzzles
When I was a child, my mom and I would sit for hours working on jigsaw puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles are addicting because you can’t stop searching for that one particular piece you need. When I found out that National Geographic’s website had a jigsaw puzzle generator, I immediately bookmarked it on my computer and sent the link to my mom. Although they do not contain very many pieces, these puzzles, made from National Geographic photographs, are difficult because the image disappears once you start working on the puzzle and you must reconstruct it from memory (unless you cheat by using the preview function). On top of that, your effort is being timed!

#4 – In the Beginning . . .
Watch this charming 4 minute story about global warming with its amazing painting by Alice Ninni and soothing background music by Matteo Negrin.

#5 – Don’t Stop Changing
“When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.” -Benjamin Franklin

Have an enjoyable, but safe holiday weekend!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (1/6/12)

Posted in About me, Aging, Creativity, Health, Helping Others, inspiration, Photography, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 6, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The daunting task of “undecorating” my house lies ahead of me. Unlike decorating, “undecorating” is no fun. There is no thrill to wrapping things up and putting them away. But, if I don’t make haste and strip each room bare of its holiday cheer, a paralyzing-effect will come over me. It happens every year. In my head, the New Year is symbolically put on hold until the past year is tidily put away. No new projects can start until the last sparkle snowman is bid adieu for the season. So, without further delay, I’m pushing up my sleeves and singing this “Happy Working Song.” It seems to work in all the Disney movies!

Click to play Happy Working Song:

#1 – Time Is Nothing
A new year brings new dreams and new energy to pursue forever-dreams. Kien Lam is an example of someone who is pursuing his dreams. He says on his website, “I graduated with a business degree from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and worked in finance as a strategist for a few years before I parted ways with my company and started on a journey to live out my dream of traveling around the world.” As he traveled the world he took videos of what he saw and after careful editing created a beautiful five-minute movie called Time is Nothing//Around the World Time Lapse. Click on the first square on the left to start the movie.

#2 – Miniature Food
The idea of miniature food is probably appealing to those of you who are starting the New Year off on a diet, but the miniature food that artist Shay Aaron creates is not edible. Check out the tiny and intricate food made from Fimo clay. They are incredible inedibles!

#3 – Life’s Third Act
Here’s more food for thought. Watch this TED video in which Jane Fonda addresses the promise of life’s third act. The video description reads, “Within this generation, an extra 30 years have been added to our life expectancy — and these years aren’t just a footnote or a pathology. At TEDxWomen, Jane Fonda asks how we can think about this new phase of our lives.”


#4 – It’s Free!
If your pocketbook is suffering from the effects of holiday spending, you might want to check out these sites which link to offers for free things:

100+ Sites Offering Great Literature for Download

Surprisingly Things You Can Get For Free (Or Almost)

100 Best (Free) Science Documentaries Online

#5 – A New Start
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Carl Bard

Enjoy your weekend!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (12/23/11)

Posted in About me, Creativity, Health, Helping Others, Holidays, inspiration, Pets, Photography, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 23, 2011| 1 Comment »

The Christmas tree glimmers with joy and cheer,
and colorful stockings hang by very near.

The pantry’s filled with an indulgent load,
’cause the kids are home and in a snacking mode.

Snippets of red ribbon cover the floor,
but the greatest gifts given are those to the poor.

Now is the time to give thanks and reflect,
and be grateful for those you love and respect.

So spread peace and joy of which angels sing,
celebrate the meaning that true Christmas gifts bring!

Linnell Chang

#1 – It’s Not Too Late!
If you haven’t had time to mail off holiday greetings, it’s not too late. E-greetings don’t take a lot of time and have many benefits: they do not create landfill waste; they normally cost next-to-nothing; their delivery is almost instantaneous; they do not require postage; and as an added perk – you often receive a quick reply from your friends and loved ones! Just write your sentiments in a word document and press send – that’s all. If you include photos in your document, which can make the file too large for some emails, just convert it to a PDF before you send it. Words from the heart need no fancy trappings!

#2 – ‘Tis the Season to Be Careful With Fido and Kitty
Don’t let holiday gifts or treats send the four-legged members of your family to the emergency veterinary hospital. Chocolate, alcohol, macadamia nuts, and raisins are common ingredients found in holiday treats, but they are toxic to dogs and cats. Refresh your memory on potential food dangers to your pets by rereading my post, What Not to Feed Your Pet and make sure not to leave any of these items lying around!

#3 – Food Safety
After reviewing food safety for your pets, don’t neglect commonsense food safety tips for you and your family. When in doubt or for a quick seasonal review, go to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service Fact Sheets.

#4 – Winter Wonderland
Winter creates a wonderland of beauty. As soon as I saw these photographs of snowflakes, I knew I had to share them. The natural beauty and incredible intricacy of these crystalline formations highlight the amazing artistry of Mother Nature.

#5 – Peace
If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.
Lao Tzu

May your holidays be filled with peace and joy!

Note: Inspirational photo made by using one of my own photos and iPiccy.

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (12/16/11)

Posted in Creativity, Gift Ideas, Helping Others, Holidays, inspiration, Recipes, Recycling, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on December 16, 2011| 4 Comments »

The holidays are right around the corner: Hanukkah begins on the 21st, Christmas, of course, is on the 25th, and Kwanzaa is on the 26th. There’s still so much to do, so many people to see and so many ways to help others. Check out the links on today’s Friday’s Fresh Five! – help and inspiration is just a click away!

#1 – Charities
Giving to others during this holiday season is a kind and generous action, but be sure to check out the charities before you donate. If you want to check the legitimacy of a charity, go to the Better Business Bureau’s charity page or go to the nonprofit American Institute of Philanthropy. Although it puts a damper on the spirit of giving, it’s wise to do your homework before you give.

#2 – Life Is a Gift
Feeling like you need to refocus or regain perspective on your life? Here’s a brief video that will give you a boost.

#3 – WHOLE FOODS to the Rescue!
WHOLE FOODS has a page on its website that is devoted to gifts from the kitchen. You’ll find recipes for Apple Almond Gingerbread, Hot Chocolate Buttons, Sweet and Smokey Popcorn and Nut Mix, Sweet Potato Apple Dog Treats, and a WHOLE lot more. Another nice touch is that WHOLE FOODS also provides a link to a printable gift tag for each recipe!

#4 – Oh, Christmas Tree
Is “creativity the mother of invention” or is “necessity the mother of invention”? I think either saying fits the bill in this story about a frugal town in Lithuania. City officials asked an artist to help them with their holiday decorating. Appreciating the shortage of city funds, the artist created a huge 13-meter tall Christmas tree constructed from some 40,000 recycled bottles and zip ties! Lit from inside at night, it is a beautiful sight to behold and a wonderful testament to the creative spirit.

#5 – My Wish for You
“This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays!”
– D.M. Dellinger

Have a wonderful weekend!

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DIY Holiday Decorating – Falling Snowflakes

Posted in About me, Art and Crafts, Creativity, Holidays, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 13, 2011| 1 Comment »

Call it decorating on the cheap or call it creative decorating, but I call it using your imagination! Holiday decorating doesn’t need to be expensive, if you shop in the right stores and think outside of the box. Two years ago I wrote “Tablecloths Masquerading as Tree Skirts” where I described how to make inexpensive Christmas tree skirts from round table cloths. This year, I’m sharing how to decorate chandeliers with falling snowflakes. Being fortunate to have a double-high entryway and a chandelier with “arms,” like the one in this photograph, I create a little bit of sparkling winter wonder in my home every holiday season.

To create this effect, you will need: monofilament or fishing line, thin wire ornament hooks, plastic “crystal” ornaments, and a pair of scissors. Look for sets of plastic snowflake ornaments at stores like Marshalls, Ross, T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, etc. The number of snowflakes you buy will depend on how many “arms” your chandelier has and the type of look you want to achieve.

Cut the monofilament into varying lengths. Bend the bottoms of the ornament hooks to form loops. Tie one end of a strand of monofilament to the small loop with a secure knot. Tie the other end of the monolfilament to the loop on the snowflake ornament. Cut off any excess filament extending beyond the knots.

I am lucky because I can reach my chandelier from my staircase, but depending on the height and location of your chandelier, you may need a ladder to hang your snowflakes. Hook the large ends of the ornament hooks over the “arms” of your chandelier, alternating the lengths of filament to achieve a cascading affect.

If you don’t have the vertical height, you can still accomplish the effect of falling snowflakes on a smaller scale, by decorating an “armed” dining room chandelier. After purchasing Swarovski crystal snowflake pendants online (pre-drilled with holes) and cutting varying lengths of monofilament, I securely tied one end of a strand of filament through the hole in each of the pendants. Because the monofilament would be seen up-close, I strung each filament with clear glass beads. I then tied each strung filament to a small silver jump ring. At this point a short piece of clear, elastic, beading thread (found in craft stores or bead shops) was threaded through the jump ring and knotted to create a small loop. A short piece of monofilament would work, too, but would be slightly more difficult to slip over the chandelier ends and would be less forgiving if the loop was not the correct size. I’ve found that the elastic loops slip very easily over the outer scrolls on the chandelier. For the interior arms of the chandelier, I threaded short lengths of monofilament through the jump rings and then tied them to the “arms.” The process sounds very complicated, but is plainly depicted in the photos.

The effect of falling snowflakes is difficult to photograph, but in person they are lovely to look at!

You are only limited by your imagination. Dangling snowflakes in window frames create a dazzling look, too. Again cut varying lengths of monofilament and tie one end of the filament to a snowflake. This time you will tie the other end of the filament to a clear push-pin or white thumbtack. Then push or tack all the strands into the top of a wood-framed window and let them sparkle in the sunlight!

Have fun in your newly-created winter wonderland!

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