| How to Decorate Lanterns Posted: 01 Feb 2020 12:00 AM PST On their own, lanterns are great decorative items that bring warmth to an otherwise plain space. However, when a special event or time of year approaches, you may wonder how you can add some personal flair to your lanterns to bring your decor up a notch. This wikiHow will teach you how to decorate these pretty lanterns. [Edit]Decorating a Lantern for Different Seasons - Tie an ornament to the handle of your lantern in winter. Purchase a relatively flat holiday ornament, such as a sparkly snowflake, from a local craft store or a local holiday store. Since there should already be a string attached to the top, it should be easy to tie the string to the center of the handle on your lantern to give it some wintry flair.[1]
- Wrap a pine garland around the base of your lantern in winter. Purchase a fake pine garland from your local craft store or holiday store. Wrap the garland around the outside of the base of your lantern. To add a holiday feel to the garland, string some cranberries onto a strand of dental floss and weave it throughout the garland.[2]
- You may need to wrap the garland around more than once, depending on how long it is.
- Surround the base of a candle with fake fall plants. Get orange and purple fake plants, such as fall leaves, gourds, and berries, from a craft store. Place a container underneath a candle inside of your lantern to act as a base and elevate the candle. Then, spread the fake plants all around the container to hide it.[3]
- When the candle is lit, keep a close eye on it to prevent any fire-related incidents from occurring.
- Attach a makeshift bouquet of fake fall plants to the lantern's handle. Gather the stems of several different fake fall plants, such as grass bush and berries. Hold them together by the stem and then wrap the stems together tightly with floral wire. Then, use some more floral wire to attach the bouquet to the handle of the lantern so that the bouquet hangs upside down and over the corner of the lantern.[4]
- Wrap a green summer garland around a battery-powered candle. Place a battery-powered cylindrical candle inside of your lantern. Purchase a green leafy garland from a craft store and wrap it tightly around the candle inside of the lantern several times to give your lantern a summery feel.[5]
- Glue a sheer bow and silk daisies to a corner of the lantern in the summer. Cut a long piece of wired sheer ribbon and tie it in a bow. Then, glue three silk gerbera daisies to the center of the bow with a hot glue gun. Attach the back of the bow to the corner of the lantern with hot glue as well.[6]
- Make a resin bird the focal point of your spring lantern. Line the bottom of your lantern with fake or real moss. Place a fake bird's nest in the front center of the lantern's interior. Place a resin bird in the nest and fill in extra space around the nest with pastel-colored silk flowers.[7]
- You can get fake moss, silk flowers, resin birds, and fake bird's nests from most craft stores.
[Edit]Decorating a Paper Lantern - Glue fake flower petals to the outside of the lantern. Purchase some white silk flowers from a craft store and carefully pull the petals apart. Attach a single layer of petals to the lantern with a hot glue gun until the entire surface is covered. Then, use the hot glue gun to glue a single sequin to the center of every petal.[8]
- Color-block your paper lantern with markers. There should be multiple vertical seams along the inside of your paper lanterns. Decide which 2 colors you'd like your lantern to be. Then, use a marker to trace each seam with one of the colors. Use this marker to color in every other section. Then, use your second marker to color in the remaining alternating sections.[9]
- Put fake flowers inside your paper lantern. Buy some matching silk flowers and ribbon that you like from a local craft store. Flip your lantern upside down and tie your ribbon into a bow around the base of the opening. Then, fill the lantern with your silk flowers and display the lantern on a flat surface.[10]
- Dye your paper lantern. Pour 34 oz (1 liter) of cold water into a big bowl. Separately, stir together of a dye of your choice and 17 oz (½ liter) of tepid water. Pour the mixture into the bowl of cold water. Place your lantern into the bowl on top of the surface of the water and tip it slightly so that the water gets inside of the lantern. Rotate the lantern all the way around so that it gets completely coated in dye, and then hang the lantern up to dry.[11]
[Edit]Decorating a Lantern for a Wedding - Fill the base with fresh flower petals. Hold a wedding flower of your choosing, such as a rose, by the stem and gently pick all of its petals off. When you're done, repeat this process on several different flowers. Then, sprinkle the petals all over the interior floor of your lantern to achieve soft, simple, prettiness. These can be used as additions to centerpieces or you can hang them on small poles along the ceremonial aisle.[12]
- This may be a great option if you have some flower pieces leftover after you've made the bouquets, boutonnieres, and all other wedding decorations that your flowers were intended for.
- Surround the base of the lantern with flowers and/or candles. If you're using lanterns in your centerpieces, embellish them on the outside with 2-3 small candles that match the rest of your decor. Then, put a few flowers into 2 or 3 identical small vases around the outside of your lanterns or wrap them around garland-style. This should help to tie the lanterns into the rest of the decorations effectively.[13]
- Tie a ribbon to the handle of the lantern. This is a quick, simple way to add some personal flair to your lantern. If you're going for a vintage and/or feminine look, tie simple white lace ribbon around the handle. If your decor is centered more around a color than a style, tie a silk ribbon that's one of your wedding colors into a bow around the handle instead.[14]
- Place the lantern inside a wooden box. This works especially well for rustic-themed centerpieces. Center the lantern inside of a short, topless wooden decorative box and fill in the extra space in the box with flowers and/or greenery of your choice.[15]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Decorating a Lantern for Different Seasons - Ornament
- Pine garland
- Cranberries
- Dental floss
- Fake fall plants
- Candle
- Container
- Floral wire
- Summer garland
- Battery-powered candle
- Sheer wire ribbon
- Silk daisies
- Moss (real or fake)
- Fake bird's nest
- Resin bird
- Pastel-colored silk flowers
[Edit]Decorating a Paper Lantern - Silk flowers
- Hot glue gun
- Sequins
- Markers
- Ribbon
- Water
- Large bowl
- Fabric dye
[Edit]Decorating a Lantern for a Wedding - Fresh flowers
- Small Candles
- Small vases (optional)
- Ribbon
- Wooden box
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Mango Jam Posted: 31 Jan 2020 04:00 PM PST Making jam is a great way to capture the natural sweetness and delicate flavor of mangoes. Chop the mangoes into small pieces and cook them with lots of sugar, lemon juice, and pectin. You can even customize your mango jam to come up with completely unique flavor combinations. Once the jam is as thick as you like, transfer it to sterilized jars and enjoy the jam on toast, waffles, or pancakes. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Basic Mango Jam - 6 to 7 large mangoes
- 1 cup (200 g) of sugar
- of lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons (25 g) of powdered pectin
Makes 2 cups (650 g) of jam [Edit]Cooking Basic Mango Jam - Slice the flesh from 6 or 7 large mangoes. Rinse the mangoes and put them on a cutting board. Hold a mango against the board and carefully cut down 1 side of it. Try to cut as close to the seed in the center, so you're able to remove the most fruit. Then, slice down the other side of the mango. Scoop the flesh from both pieces and chop it into pieces.[1]
- Use a small knife to trim the flesh around the seed itself.
- You should get around 4 cups (660 g) of mango pieces.
- Put the mango pieces in a pot with sugar, lemon juice, and pectin. Place the chopped mango in a large pot on the stove. Add 1 cup (200 g) of sugar, of lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons (25 g) of powdered pectin.[2]
- The pectin helps the jam set up. If you prefer a looser jam, you can leave the pectin out.
- Stir the mixture and cook it over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Stir well so the mango pieces are coated with the sugar. Continue to stir the mixture every few minutes until the sugar dissolves and becomes liquidy.[3]
- It should take about 3 to 4 minutes for the sugar to dissolve.
- Bring the jam to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn the burner up so the liquid becomes syrupy and starts to bubble vigorously. Stir the jam occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the pot or boiling over.[4]
- It's important to use a large pot so the jam doesn't bubble over as it cooks.
- Cook the mango jam until it reaches . Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pot or occasionally insert an instant-read thermometer into the jam to see if the jam has reached the setting temperature of . Stir the jam occasionally as it bubbles and thickens.[5]
- Skim off foam that floats to the top of the jam and discard it since becomes rubbery if you leave it in the jam.
- Spoon the jam into sterilized jars. Get out 2 sterilized half-pint jars and place a funnel on a jar. Carefully spoon the mango jam into the jar and leave headspace. Place a sterilized lid on the jar and screw on a band until it's finger tight.[6]
- Although you can soften the lids in hot water before pressing them on the jars, you don't have to in order to get a good seal.
- Process the jars or store them in the refrigerator. For long-term storage, place the jars in a water bath so they're covered by at least of water. Boil the jars for 10 minutes and then set the jars aside until the jars are at room temperature. If you don't want to can the jam, put the jars in the refrigerator and use them within 3 weeks.[7]
- If you process the jam, store the jars at room temperature for up to 1 year. Press down on the lid to check that the seal doesn't pop back up before you open the jar and eat the jam.
[Edit]Trying Variations - Swap half of the mango for peaches or nectarines. Although pure mango jam is delicious, it's also fun to add another fruit to the jam. Use half of the mango called for in the recipe and replace the other half with peeled peaches, nectarines, or stonefruit. Mango also pairs well with any of these fruits:[8]
- Strawberries
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Raspberries
- Plums
- Substitute honey or alternative sweetener for the granulated sugar. If you don't want to use white sugar, add as much of your favorite sweetener as you like. Try honey, agave, or a low-calorie sweetener. Keep in mind that since sugar acts as a preservative and you're leaving it out, you'll need to refrigerate the mango jam and use it sooner.[9]
- Store jars of the mango jam in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
- Add 1 teaspoon (2 g) of your favorite ground spice for a unique flavor. Customize your mango jam by stirring in dried spice halfway through the cooking time. You can use a single spice or a combination that equals 1 teaspoon (2 g). Consider using any of these spices or seasonings:[10]
- Cardamom
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Nutmeg
- Vanilla paste
- Leave out the sugar and pectin to make a loose mango spread. If you want the natural sweetness of the mango to really come out, don't add any sugar, honey, or sweetener. Cook the mango with of water over medium heat until the mango breaks down and thickens.[11]
- If you'd like smoother spread, push the mango spread through a fine-mesh strainer set over a bowl.
- Because there's no added sweetener to the spread, store it in the refrigerator and use it within 2 weeks.
- If you can't find fresh mangoes to use, buy frozen mangoes that have already been peeled and chopped. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before making the jam.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Measuring cups and spoons
- Knife and cutting board
- Large pot
- Spoon
- Small plate
- Candy thermometer or instant-read thermometer
- Funnel
- Jars with lids
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make a Paper Straw Posted: 31 Jan 2020 08:00 AM PST Paper straws come in all sorts of colors and are a great way to add a unique touch to any event. They can get expensive, however, and sometimes you just can't find the exact color or pattern that you need. Fortunately, it's possible to make paper straws at home. All you need to get started are dowels, scrapbooking paper, some glue, and paraffin wax. [Edit]Cutting and Rolling the Straws - Cut patterned scrapbooking paper into wide strips. Find some scrapbooking paper in a pattern that you like, then use a paper slicer or paper guillotine to cut it into wide strips. How many strips you cut is up to you. Each strip will make 1 straw.[1]
- Don't use scrapbooking cardstock; it's too stiff and heavy to hold curls, which is vital to making straws.[2] You can also use printer paper for plain white straws.
- Look for standard, patterned scrapbooking paper. It's a medium-weight, paper.[3]
- Apply glue to the back of a strip, from a long edge. Flip a strip over so that the back is visible. Next, draw a line of liquid glue along 1 of the long edges. Rather than having the glue touch the edge, however, apply it from the edge. The glue should still touch the narrow edges of the strip, however.[4]
- In most cases, the back of the paper will be white. If you're using double-sided paper, work on the side that you don't want to be visible.
- Any type of liquid glue will work as long as it says "non-toxic" on the bottle. Make sure that you make the line as thin as possible.
- Set a thick dowel at a 45-degree angle at 1 end of the strip. One end of the dowel should be sticking out just part the corner that has the glue on it. The rest of the dowel should be facing the un-glued edge of the paper.[5]
- Choose a dowel that is about long. This will be much easier to work with than a long dowel.
- If you can't find a dowel that short, cut a longer one down with a hand saw or heavy-duty gardening shears.
- Roll the paper around the dowel, overlapping it with each wrap. Make sure that you overlap the paper enough so that the glued edge touches paper—not wood. A little over would be good. This is sort of like making a candy cane, except that you aren't leaving any gaps between the "stripes."[6]
- Keep the paper snug so that it holds its shape, but don't roll it too tightly, or it will be difficult to remove.
- If the end of the paper doesn't stay down, secure it with a drop of glue.
- Slide the paper off the dowel and allow it to dry overnight. The paper should stick together on its own, even after you slide it off the dowel. If you're worried about it coming unrolled, however, wrap painter's tape around each end before you pull the paper off.[7]
- Painter's tape is a great choice because it's easy to remove and doesn't leave residue.
- Once you have removed the first straw, you can use the dowel to create more.
- Trim the ends of the straws to make them flat. Because of how you rolled the paper, the ends of the straws will be pointy. This won't be very comfortable or convenient when it comes to drinking from the straws, so use a pair of scissors to snip the points off.[8]
- If you made more than 1 straw, measure the straws against each other to ensure that they're all the same length.
- How short you cut your straw is up to you. Make sure that both ends are flat and not angled, however.
- The ends of the straw may get dented as you cut them. Use a chopstick, knitting needle, or other tapered tool to push them back into shape.[9]
[Edit]Coating the Straws - Break some canning paraffin wax into a jar. Find a large glass jar that's deep enough to fit your straw all the way in. Break some paraffin wax into smaller pieces, then add them to the jar. Use enough wax to fill the jar 1/2 to 2/3 of the way; how much you end up using will depend on the size of the jar.[10]
- Don't use candle-making wax as it may not be food-safe. If you can't find canning paraffin wax, use beeswax. Be aware that it will have a slight fragrance.
- Do not use soy wax. It melts at low temperatures and will give your straws a sticky, greasy feel.
- Melt the wax in a pot of hot water over low to medium-low heat. Place the jar into a pot, then fill the pot with a few inches/centimeters of water. Turn the stove on to low or medium-low heat, and wait for the wax to melt. This can take 10 to 15 minutes, so be patient.[11]
- As the wax melts, you may need to add more pieces of paraffin wax; it needs to be deep enough to fit your straw 1/2 or 2/3 of the way in.
- Paraffin wax is flammable, so don't be tempted to speed the process up by turning the heat up. Slow, low, and steady is the key.[12]
- How much water you use will vary. The top of the water needs to be level with the top of the wax in the jar.
- Dip the straw into the wax then pull it out. Don't leave the straw in the wax for too long. Just dip it in and pull it out. If you leave it too long in the wax, the glue may dissolve and the straw may come apart.[13]
- You won't be able to dip the straw all the way in, which is fine. As long as you can get it 1/2 to 2/3 of the way into the wax, you're good.
- Let the wax drip back into the jar then wipe the rest off with a towel. Hold the straw over the jar of melted wax until it stops dripping. Next, run a paper towel across the waxed portion of the straw to remove the excess wax.[14]
- Don't remove all of the wax—just the excess. A light sweep of your paper towel should be plenty.[15]
- If the end of the straw is clogged with wax, stick a chopstick into it, twist it 2 to 3 times, then pull it out.[16]
- The wax shouldn't stick to the paper towel. If it does, use a paper towel with a smoother texture. Don't use tissues or toilet paper; they're too soft and will stick.
- Dip the other side of the straw into the wax, then wipe that off too. Rotate the straw by 180 degrees, then dip the other end into the wax. Pull it out immediately, then let the wax drip back into the jar. Use a paper towel to wipe the excess wax off.[17]
- The wax should already be hard by the time you rotate it and dip it. If it's still wet, however, let it dry first; otherwise, you'll get fingerprints.
- Dip the straw a little more than 1/2 or 2/3 of the way so that the wax overlaps onto the already-waxed portion. This way, you won't have any gaps.[18]
- Let the straw finish drying on a plastic bag. The wax layer is very thin, so it should harden almost instantly. The inside of the straw may still be wet however, so set the straw down on a plastic bag and let it dry for a few minutes. Once the straw is dry, it's ready to use.[19]
- The straw may look translucent once it's dry, which is normal. This is due to the nature of the paraffin wax.
- If you have other straws to dip, now is the time to do so.
- If you don't have access to a stove, heat the wax in a jar on a candle warmer or mug warmer.[20]
- If you can't find paper that you like, print out your own designs. Since you'll be coating the paper with wax anyway, you don't have to worry about the ink bleeding.[21]
- If the hot water is generating too much steam, turn the stove off. The wax will remain in a liquid state long enough for you to be able to dip at least a couple of straws.[22]
- Don't pour the leftover wax down the drain. Let it harden, then discard it in the trash. Alternatively, use it to make candles.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Scrapbooking paper
- A paper trimmer or paper guillotine
- Non-toxic liquid glue
- Scissors
- wide wood dowel
- Paraffin wax
- Glass jar
- Pot
- Paper towels
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário