Painted Stripes on Walls

A while ago I painted some stripes in a little girls bathroom.

First, I taped the lines with the help of a picture hanger level with a lazer :)  It helped out tremendously!!!  Then, I painted it all, cleaned up the mess and removed the tape.  It turned out GREAT!!!

  

 I love the way it brought the whole bathroom alive!!!

I will be painting stripes again soon for a friends baby's room,  I am looking forward to seeing how it turns out!!!

A New Venture in Jewelry Making

I have always wanted to dive into the art of making jewelry, but it is such an investment to get started.  Thankfully, I am blessed to have great friends who share.  Recently I was given a lot of glass beads, so I invested in a $10 kit from Walmart to get started, I had so much fun arranging them and figuring out which colors to use. Here are my first five bracelets, and some earrings!!!

This was my first piece and I LOVE it!!!

Earrings to match

This one was specially made for a very dear friend on her birthday ♥

Sodalite

These I am actually keeping for myself,  I love purple ♥

  I am so excited to be starting a new venture in jewelry making!!!

Making Wrapping Paper

This year, the budget is exceptionally tight.  So, I decided to make wrapping paper instead of buying it.  I cut a long piece of paper from a spool, taped it to the dining room table and got to work.  I used an acrylic paint and a stamp I found a while ago.  I hope you enjoy the inspiration!!! It was quite simple to do and didn't take too much time!

First I taped it to the table...and got to work stamping and painting. 

I may still add some more color,  but I am not sure.  I almost went to the edges then I thought about folding and taping my hard work and I decided to stay away. I like the fun simplicity of it! I hope I have inspired you to make something, out of something you already have. Merry Christmas!!!

Banana Crumb Cake

I have always LOVED banana bread, sometimes I look for a banana cake recipe, but I never find one.  Well I finally found a GREAT one!!!  Again it is from Good House Keeping, December 2010 edition.  It called for coconut in the topping, but I am not a fan, so I omitted it.  I can imagine it would be quite delicious with that extra flavor, if you like coconuts!!!
      

~Ingredients~

Coconut~Pecan Topping

1/2 c. Pecans, toasted and chopped

1/4 c. unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted

                   (I omitted)

1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 c. packed dark brown sugar

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 Tbsp. butter

Banana Cake

1 1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

4 Tbsp. butter at room temperature

1/2 c packed brown sugar
3 Tbsp. pure honey

2 lg. eggs, lightly beaten

1 c mashed bananas
          (from 3 ripe bananas)
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Prepare Coconut~Pecan Topping: 

                               

In Medium bowl blend topping ingredients with a pastry blender,  or two knives used scissor fashion, until it resembles course crumbs as pictured Below: 

Set topping mixture aside.....

1. Preheat Oven to 350.

2. Grease 9 inch round cake pan, or springform pan if you happen to own one ☺

3. In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon until well blended, set aside. In large bowl with mixer at medium speed,  beat butter, sugar and honey until light and creamy, about 5 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Gradually add eggs, beating after each addition. On low speed, add half of flour mixture, then mashed bananas and vanilla. Add remaining flour mixture and beat just until smooth.

Spoon batter evenly into pan evenly. Sprinkle with crumb topping. Bake 50-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. Loosen from sides of pan with a knife and remove from pan,  cool completely .

Starting to cover the batter with the crumb topping...

Topping finished and ready to be baked!!! 

And here it is complete!!!

I hope you Enjoy!!!