Blog Posts by Country Living

Want to salvage a chipped piece of china? Just paint it. Use painter's tape to cover the parts you want to preserve; on the rest, apply two coats of flat, light blue oil-based paint. The result: a striking contrast between the pattern and the blue paint.



Score the stems of two wineglasses with a glass cutter and snapped the stems off by tapping the bowls against a sink. Then adhere the stems to the bottoms of teacups with Super Glue's glass adhesive, which dries in 30 seconds.

Get more ideas for crafting with china and china patterns.

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Few foods instantly elevate the comfort quotient of a meal like a basket of warm, baked-from-scratch biscuits, especially when slathered with sweet butter. Formed from humble, everyday ingredients-flour, buttermilk, butter, baking powder, salt-biscuits are both economical and versatile. Making them takes about 45 minutes from start to finish, and even novice bakers can get the hang of the technique with a little practice.

Tips for the Lightest Biscuits:

• Sift the flour twice before measuring and opt for buttermilk over milk, as the acid in buttermilk combines with baking powder to produce the tenderest baked goods.
• Try not to overmix the wet and dry ingredients since doing so can toughen the dough and produce less-than-lofty results-save that extra energy for spreading the butter instead.

RECIPE

Ingredients

1/2 cup(s)	unsalted butter
2 1/2 cup(s)	all-purpose flour (sifted twice before measuring)
1

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Use a hot glue gun to create this ribbon embellishment on a pillow you already own. Layer two ribbons on top of each other and, tucking the corners under at each corner, make the colorful border. Glue the ribbons together and then glue the completed square onto the pillow.



Sew together tea towels to make new pillows for a windowseat. Add a ribbon around the center for an elegant look.



Gather old clothes, curtains, and other fabrics around your house. Cut squares of equal size, lay them out how you want your pillow to look, and sew them together for a colorful patchwork design.


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Read More »from Ideas for making throw pillows

With just a few simple changes, this hand-me-down looks tailor-made.

Tools & Materials

1. Wood filler
2. Paintbrush and roller
3. Putty knife
4. Screwdriver
5. Craft knife
6. Low-grade sandpaper
7. Spray-paint primer
8. White water-based latex interior paint
9. Drill
10. Drawer knobs
11. Vinyl decal
12. Burnisher
13. Painter's tape

BEFORE

STEP 1: After removing the drawers from the chest, unscrewed the drawer pulls and press quick-drying wood filler into the holes. Smooth away the overflow with a putty knife, but a stiff spatula could work as well.

STEP 2: Gently sand the surface of the bureau's drawer fronts and frame before spray-painting them with primer. Two hours later, go over everything with two coats of white water-based latex interior paint in a semigloss finish. Try applying the first layer of paint with a roller for quick coverage and the second with a paintbrush to create a slightly textured effect.

STEP 3: Allow the paint to dry for Read More »from Revamp an old dresser

Want a cute and fun way to remember your special Valentine's Day this year? We're loving these festive and FREE scrapbook page designs from Smilebox. Just remember to take pictures during your romantic dinner (or when he proposes)! Then stick them on your fave scrapbook page, and email it out to family and friends, or post it on your blog or your Facebook.

Here are some of our favorites...







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For a thoughtful gift, create one of these simple lavender-filled-heart cards. First, cut card stock to desired size and fold vertically in the center. Cut two heart shapes from printed fabric. Stitch them together, outsides in, leaving a small opening; invert the hearts and loosely fill with lavender. Stitch the opening closed and attach the heart to the card.

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Read More »from Handmade Heart Cards

For a Valentine's Day party, make an adorable favor box filled with homemade candy lollipops and other sweets.




To Make Our Valentine Favor...

1. Cut a piece of pleated or plain card stock 4" wide by 2" tall.

2. Connect the ends to make a tube; glue sides using hot-glue gun.

3. From card stock, cut out 1 3/4" diameter scallop edges with decorative scissors.

4. Attach paper tube to the center of circle using hot-glue gun.

5. Thread 3 glass beads to a 7" piece of silver glitter pipe cleaner and hot-glue ends to each inside of tube.

6. Tie a silver ribbon around center of tube.




To Make Candy Lollipops...

INGREDIENTS:
Vegetable oil for coating molds
2 cup(s) sugar
3/4 cup(s) water
2 tablespoon(s) water, (combine with above water)
2/3 cup(s) light corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon(s) food coloring
1/8 teaspoon(s) flavored oil for candy making

DIRECTIONS:

1. Generously brush the insides of the lollipop molds with vegetable oil, place sticks in the molds, and set aside.
2. Make the sugar

Read More »from Valentine's Treats

Vintage rhinestone jewelry is a glamorously unique gift idea that is surprisingly affordable. Check out these beautiful sparklers from Ronna Lee Aikins's collection. Search for your own on websites like ebay, consignment shops, vintage jewelry shows, and estate sales.

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