Storing and Sprouting Seeds

Storing Seeds -- To ensure that seeds wake up refreshed from their long winter naps,take the time to tuck them in properly. Moisture,heat and fluctuating temperatures are a seeds worst enemy,so don't simply abandon your leftover packets to the elements by leaving them in a garden shed. By the next spring they will have lost much of their vigor-the ability to germinate quickly and healthily- and many may have died.

Instead place packets in an airtight container such as a canning jar with a new lid. Then make a few moisture absorbing sachets to store with them by wrapping 2 tablespoons of untreated cat litter or powdered milk in a double layer of tulle. Close the lid tightly, and put the jar in a cool, dark place.

Super Sprouts- Spritz a paper towel with water until it's very damp but not soaking wet;place in a glass jar. Drop in about a dozen dried beans or lentils;cover jar;and set in indirect sunlight so it's neither too hot nor too cold. A plant will angle its leaved toward the light; to make yours grow straight, rotate the jar around halfway daily. Expect to see shoots in 5-10 days

Candle Crafts

Sea Glass Candle-- Create wonder with a glowing sea glass candle. Choose two glass vases or tumblers of the same height but different diameters. Place the smaller one inside the larger one;add a votive. Fill the space between the containers with clear or colored sea glass from a crafts store.

Paper Punched Shapes-- For quick and easy candle holders,punch shapes from construction paper and adhere them to glass candle holders. Here,they punched stars out of black paper

Simple Candle--This simple candle craft takes only a few materials. Cut corrugated paper to size and wrap it around a candle. Tie it in place with raffia. To add more appeal,string beads onto the raffia before tying

Easy Photo Decor Projects

Photo oils and a cotton swab were used to apply color to black and white matte finish prints for an artistic and striking display. A wood plaque is a creative alternative to a photo frame. Mount the photo with double stick archival tape and finish the look by hot gluing a button border around the photo

Mount Photos in a Decorative Cube-- To up your decor space by six,use a cube instead of a solitary frame. For a polished look,paint the cube,then add machine stitched patterned paper pieces. Mat photos and fun quotes with chipboard frames and adorn them with ribbon,tags,stickers,and faux flowers for a feminine look

Quick and Clever Ideas for Organizing Crafts Supplies

Embellishments in a Snap-- Re purpose a pillbox for an eye catching storage system. The tiny containers hold dozens of eyelets and are easily embellished with a label and preview of what' inside.

Chic Crafts Caddy--Organize crafts and office supplies in a collection of milk glass displayed in a vintage drink caddy set on a colorful tray. You can simply carry the tray to any work space

Raspberry Almond Puff Bites

Here's another great recipe for two!! Crisp puff pastry squares a cream mixture flavored with almond extract .



You need



1 sheet frozen puff pastry thawed

1 container fresh raspberries

1/3 cup powdered sugar

3/4 cup whipping cream

1/2 teaspoon almond extract





Heat oven to 400 Roll out puff pastry with rolling pin into 12 inch square Cut square into 6 rows by 6 rows to 36 squares(on ungreased cookie sheet, place squares 1/2 inch apart

Bake 10-12 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool about 15 minutes

Reserve 36 of the smallest raspberries. In a bowl, mash remaining with fork. Reserve 2 teaspoons of the powdered sugar . In bowl, beat whipping cream, remaining powdered sugar and the almond extract. With electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold mashed raspberries into whipped cream

Split each puff pastry square into 2 layers Spread about 1/2 tablespoon of the whipped cream mixture on bottom layers;replace tops. Top each square with tiny dollop whipped cream mixture;add reserved raspberry if desired,squares can be refrigerated up to 2 hours at this point. Just before serving, place reserved powdered sugar in small fine mesh strainer and sift over tops of squares

Ginger Cake with Caramel Apple Topping

Whole wheat flour makes a better-for-you addition to this updated ginger cake. The creamy yogurt topping is like the icing on the cake, it's the best part

You need

2 cups creamy peach or creamy vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup caramel fat free topping

1 1 /4 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup molasses

1/3 cup canola oil

1 egg

1 medium tart apple chopped

Heat oven to 350 Grease and flour a 9 inch square pan In bowl mix 3/4 cup of the yogurt and caramel topping;cover and refrigerate until serving time

In bowl beat remaining 1 1/4 cups yogurt and all remaining ingredients except apple and lemon juice. Stir in half of the chopped apple.Pour batter into pan. Sprinkle lemon juice over remaining apple;cover and refrigerate until serving time

Bake 38-43 minutes Cool slightly Serve with topping mixture and remaining chipped apple

Laundry Room Drying Bar

Cotton button down shirts, which have a tendency to shrink, are best removed from the dryer while slightly damp,then air dried. Unlike a drying rack,which holds a few shirts at most,a bath towel holder mounted on the underside of a laundry room shelf makes a good spot for a row of shirts on hangers. The car can also be helpful when you're ironing;hang presses shirts as you work