How To Decorate

4-H kids learn the art of cake decorating

For most youth, eating a sweet smelling, beautifully decorated, mouthwatering cake is a treat, but for the youth of the Somerset Clovers 4-H Club, learning how to decorate a cake was almost as much fun. There’s something magical about decorating a cake, and through a one-day workshop, these 4-H youth were given the opportunity to express their artistic talents by decorating a cake. They soon realized that cake decorating is an art—and they were the artists.  Expert cake bakers and decorators, Lawanda Fager and Wilma Westerfield, co-led a Cake Decorating Workshop for the youth of the Somerset Clovers 4-H Club at the University of Illinois Extension. They taught the youth the basic steps of how to use the writing, leaf and shell decorator tips.  Practice time on a sheet of wax paper proved to be a valuable learning process.  All the youth applied the knowledge learned and were able to decorate a cake.  While the art of cake decorating is centuries old, both Lawanda and Wilma shared tips and personal experiences of baking and decorating cakes combining age-old traditions with modern trends for this magical art!  They both agreed that it is not impossible to learn the art of cake decorating, but it does take practice and patience. It is a labor of love, and no matter how their design turns out the first, second and even third time, they encouraged the 4-H youth to always be proud of their work and to keep trying.  It’s workshops like this that encourage youth to start a new hobby, and hobbies can lead to careers.  4-H and other youth programs give kids a chance to develop life skills that will help them succeed in life. 4-H members explore projects that interest them, and they gain leadership, citizenship and public speaking skills. Schools can also request 4-H programs that help them meet state goals for learning.  For more information about the 4-H in Jackson County, call 618-687-1727 or visit them on the web at http://web.extension.illinois.

How To Decorate Your Home Inexpensively

Watching the decorating channel on TV can be intimidating, you can often feel like you have to win the lottery to get your house to look as good as the ones on TV. With a little innovation and inspiration, your home can sport a new look with very little money. Home decorating tips and some new ideas will be discussed to help you get a vision.

When you enter a room, your eyes are likely to first of all notice what’s on the walls – posters, paintings, mirrors, a calendar, etc. If you appreciate fine art, you may want oil paintings or watercolors on the walls, and these don’t have to be expensive. There’s no need to buy expensive art, as you can find many low cost yet fascinating and attractive objects, including paintings, prints, poster and even mirrors. When it comes to art, you can find great items in all price ranges -even an inexpensive framed print of a painting you like, for instance, can add a great deal to a room’s ambiance. If you like to take pictures, photographs can be used to decorate your walls, as can posters, tapestries or even an artistic calendar. Websites, including retail and auctions sites, stores in your area, flea markets and auctions can all be good places to find inexpensive artistic items.

A budget friendly way to enhance your homes appearance is with candles. Additionally, candle holders or sconces are often striking. Modern or antiquated candleholders can be elegant way to decorate your house.

Candles themselves can give a room a soft or romantic look, though too many may make it look a little spooky or goth-like! Many Goodwill stores carry different types of candleholders. A nicely scented candle enhances the mood of any room. Rooms with aromatherapy candles can be mood enhancing.

Finally, decorating creatively doesn’t mean spending a lot of time and money. Commonly, removing the clutter or rearranging the furniture can make a big impact. Stay mindful of different ways to improve your home decorating.

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