How to make a Wire Heart!

You can make  a lot of things your heart desires with wire . . . like this heart!

You will need:

• 2.5 mm thick corroded low carbon (mild) steel wire
• 1.6 mm thick corroded low carbon steel wire
• wire cutters
• nose pliers

Search by scrap yards for low carbon wire that is already rusted.  Otherwise you can let nature go its course, or ordinary galvanized wire and use it afterwards with corrosive treatment.

Start making your heart:

Use the wire cutters and cut a piece of 2.5mm wire of about 1m away.  Bend 1.5cm from the two ends of the cut piece of wire at an angle of 90 degrees to each other around.

Now bend the piece of wire in half and then bend the two halves of the wire in half a heart shape as shown in the picture.

Bend open the heart and turns the two ends together firmly re flexing with 1.6mm wire.  

Now the trim around the heart.  Wrap a piece of 1.6mm wire in a spiral around a thin cylindrical object (a broom handle works well), but do not bend points.

Remove the spiral gently down and turn one end over the middle of the heart down with the forceps.  

Now turn the spiral around the rest of the heart.  The loop fold itself open as you work.  

Cut the wire marks off cleanly and turn it to the heart with forceps.   

And viola, your own wire heart!  

For example (see below):

You can decorate your heart with little Christian verses on cards, variety of ribbons, whatever you desire.

How to Fold a Rose out of a Napkin

A paper napkin flower made with paper folding can be used to impress a date.

Make a paper napkin flower with folding instructions from a graphic artist in this free video on paper folding.

Things You'll Need

Paper napkin

Instructions:

1.  Unfold a paper napkin, holding it vertically.  Fold about two inches from
     the top of the napkin towards you.  On the upper right hand corner of
     the napkin, hold with your right hand.  On the upper left hand corner of
     the napkin, hold the corner between your pointer and middle fingers. 

2.  Holding both corners of the napkin, move your right hand counter

     clockwise, winding the napkin in around the two fingers of your
     left hand.  The folded portion of the napkin should continue to face you. 

3.  Continue to wind the napkin until a couple of inches remain.  At the very

     edge of the fold that is facing you, fold the corner of the edge upwards.
     Continue winding the napkin. 

4.  Grip the napkin with your right hand, directly underneath your left fingers.

     The space above your right hand is the flower and the space below your
     right hand will be the stem.  Begin twisting the stem area of the napkin
     from the top down.  Stop when you are about halfway down the stem. 

5.  At the center of the stem, pull the unraveling corner of the napkin upward

     and outward to create the leaf.  Continue twisting just beyond the leaf,
     until the stem is complete.

Tip:
This fun napkin trick can be created with any paper napkin or paper towel, but a thin, two- or three-ply sheet is easiest to work with. Also, using multi-colored napkins in pinks or reds, or any shade you can get your hands on, can add a fun touch and give your rose some added colorful charm.

While the paper rose is an impressive bar trick for a first date, please be sure not to substitute paper roses for the real thing as your relationship progresses! Remember, particularly on those special days like Valentine's and birthdays, that a real bouquet of beautiful roses just can't be beat!

Bible Cake Recipe

Scripture cake was also known as “Bible Cake,” “Scriptural Cake” and “Old Testament Cake,” and was extremely popular in the latter part of the nineteenth century, especially in the southern Appalachians. The cake was meant as a way to teach young girls baking and Bible verses; the original recipes didn’t include the ingredients out to the side as provided on this one. The earliest recipe for this cake I have been able to find was published in the Atlanta Constitution on June 27, 1897. Some researchers believe the cake dates to the late 1700s in England or Ireland, while others claim the cake a favorite of Dolly Madison, wife of U.S. president James Madison.

Recipes differ on amounts of ingredients and occasionally the Bible verses used to find them; this recipe is based on one found in Key to the Pantry, published by the ladies of the Church of the Epiphany in Danville, Virginia in 1897. This cake may also be baked in two 9-by 5-inch loaf pans, with a reduction in cooking time of about 15 minutes.

Ingredients for the cake:

• 3/4 cup Judges 5:25 (butter)
• 1 1/2 cup Jeremiah 6:20 (sugar)
• 5 Isaiah 10:14 (eggs, separated)
• 3 cups sifted Leviticus 24:5 (flour)
• 3 teaspoons 2 Kings 2:20 (salt)
• 3 teaspoons Amos 4:5 (baking powder)
• 1 teaspoon Exodus 30:23 (cinnamon)
• 1/4 teaspoon each 2 Chronicles 9:9 (spices-nutmeg, ginger, allspice)
• 1/2 cup Judges 4:19 (milk)
• 3/4 chopped Genesis 43:11 (nuts)
• 3/4 cup finely chopped Jeremiah 24:5 (figs)
• 3/4 cup 2 Samuel 16:1 (raisins)
• Whole Genesis 43:11 for garnish (almonds)

Directions:

In a 4-quart mixing bowl or the bowl of an electric stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and spices.

Beat flour mixture into butter and egg mixture, alternating with milk, until flour is just blended in. Beat egg whites untill stiff; fold into batter. Fold in chopped nuts, figs and raisins. Turn into 10-inch tube pan that has been greased and dusted with flour.

Bake at 325 degrees F until a cake tester inserted into cake comes out clean, about an hour and ten minutes.
Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. After fifteen minutes, turn cake out from pan onto wire rack to cool completely. Drizzle with Burnt Jeremiah Syrup.

How to make Burnt Jeremiah Syrup:

• 1 1/2 cups Jeremiah 6:20 (sugar)
• 1/2 cup Genesis 24:45 (water)
• 1/4 cup Genesis 18:8 (butter)

In a 2-quart saucepan over low heat, melt sugar, stirring ocasionally to prevent sticking. After sugar melts, continue cooking, stirring continuously, until it is a deep golden brown. Add water and cook, stirring frequently, until smooth. Remove from the heat, add butter and stir till until it melts; allow to cool.

Drizzle over cooled scripture cake and garnish with whole almonds.


Decorating Idea: