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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Artsy-Fartsy Top 10 of 2011

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Artsy-Fartsy Top 10 of 2011

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I can't believe how fast this year has gone by! It has been quite the adventure - and this blog wouldn't be what it is today without you, my fabulous readers! So first and foremost, I want to thank you all for all the support and encouragement. You guys are awesome!

So here are the Top 10 projects of 2011!


 

 






 

What were some of your favorite posts? 

Thanks again to all of you for inspiring me, supporting me and for all the friendships!
Can't wait to share all the fun ideas I have in store for 2012!
It's going to be a great year!
Monday, December 26, 2011

Strawberry Cranberry Jell-O

Monday, December 26, 2011

Strawberry Cranberry Jell-O

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I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!

I know my family did! Lots of food, fun, and fantastic gifts!
It's kind of sad that it's already over and we're starting a new year.

I just wanted to share a super easy, super yummy Jell-o recipe I took to some family parties this weekend.
It was a hit! I didn't even have to take any leftovers home :)

I call this:
Strawberry Cranberry Jell-O
...because I can't think of anything more creative...


{For a larger group, just double the recipe!}

  • 1 large package of strawberry Jell-O
  • 1 bag of frozen strawberries (or 1 container of fresh), thawed and cut into pieces
  • 1 can cranberry sauce - make sure it says WHOLE berries on the label!
  • 1 container Cool Whip

  1. Mix Jell-O according to directions on box.
  2. Open cranberries and stir well in a separate bowl to break up the sauce a little bit. Then add in cranberry and sauce into Jell-O and mix well.
  3. Add in strawberries and stir/spread evenly in Jell-O
  4. Refrigerate Jell-O for at least 4 hours or until set.
  5. Top with Cool Whip and serve!

 Linking to these parties!
Friday, December 23, 2011

Magic Santa Key & Printable

Friday, December 23, 2011

Magic Santa Key & Printable

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As I've mentioned before, we don't have a mantel or fireplace.

So, how does Santa get in to an apartment or home without a chimney?
With a Magic Santa Key, of course!


All you need is a key - any skeleton key will work great!
{You can find skeleton keys at the craft store, yard sales, thrift stores, or I found mine in the jewelry section of the store!}


Then I tied a piece of glittery silver ribbon to the top of the key to hang on the tree until Christmas Eve - when you hang your key on the doorknob with the note/poem so Santa can use the key to deliver the presents! Make sure to attach Santa's tag so he knows that's the key to use!

Santa will usually leave the key when he's done next to the empty cookie plate!

{I made both a green and red version of tag & poem}

Download Green Tag & Poem Here
Download Red Tag & Poem Here

Hope you all have a fantastic holiday!


Some things you should know before downloading:
*Artsy-Fartsy Mama printables are for PERSONAL USE ONLY.
*You may NOT modify, re-sell, redistribute, or claim the design as your own.
*Please do not remove the watermark.
*If you post this on the internet, credit must be given to Artsy-Fartsy Mama & linked back to my blog.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Winter Apothecary Jars

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Winter Apothecary Jars

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So, remember my awesome apothecary jars I made earlier this year? ...No? Well, that's okay. It was one of  my first posts... I know this post is a little late for Christmas decorating, but you can still do this and keep them up for the rest of winter! Right? This is a quick project, so I guess you could still do it in time for Christmas if you wanted to. These really could work for any holiday - just change up the colors!

Aaaanyway.... here are my
Winter Apothecary Jars
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Grasshopper Pie

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Grasshopper Pie

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Do you need a fantastic pie recipe? Well, this one is quick to make, and SO yummy!
It's a no-bake crust, no-bake filling and delicious!!
You may not want to share...


Here's what you'll need:
1 package Keebler Grasshopper cookies
1/4 cup butter {melted}
1 package instant chocolate pudding
2 1/2 cups milk
1 container whipped cream

  1. Put about 22 cookies into the food processor (or in a baggie and use a hammer or rolling pin) and crush into crumbs. Measure out 1 1/2 cups.
  2. Melt butter and mix with cookie crumbs in a bowl until crumbs are completely covered and have a consistent texture.
  3. Using fingers, press mixture into bottom and sides of a 9 or 10 inch pie pan. Try to keep crust about 1/8" thick.
  4. Chill crust for about an hour before filling.
  5. Crush about 5 more cookies into bite size pieces.
  6. Mix instant pudding with milk and add in a few of the cookie pieces. Add in about half of the whipped cream.
  7. Pour pudding into crust and spread evenly in the pan. Put the rest of the whipped cream on top and pour the rest of the cookie crumbs on top.
  8. Enjoy!!

 Linking to these parties!
Thursday, December 15, 2011

Stocking Hanger Makeover

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Stocking Hanger Makeover

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I'm a little jealous of all the amazing mantel displays I've been seeing lately. Sadly, in our apartment we don't have a fireplace or mantel at all to hang our stocking on. So, I improvised!


I found this on clearance for about $.80 - EIGHTY CENTS, people!! Brand new, not thrift store {not that there's anything wrong with the thrift store}. How could you not pass that deal up?! Originally I didn't know what I wanted to do with it,  then it clicked - make it our stocking holder!

I'm a little excited about it, if you can't tell...

I love "before" and"after" pictures!

Not that it was ugly "before".
It just didn't match any of our decor and I'm all about a fun makeover.

The knobs are pretty awesome, too.
Even better that I could keep them the way they were...

First, I removed the knobs and painted the entire board white.
It took a couple of coats, but bye-bye, polka dots!

Next, I sprayed it down with some AMAZING silver Krylon glitter paint!
{Seriously, love that paint!}

After letting it dry, I put the knobs back on.

 and.... ta-da!! The makeover is complete!!

 Then I placed the board on the wall and hung my Christmas stockings!
{Forgive the pathetic-ness that is my Christmas stockings post - it was my first EVER blog post...}

 Linking to these parties!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Button Wreath Ornament

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Button Wreath Ornament

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Make some Button Wreath Ornaments with the kids this holiday season!


These ornaments are a fun, simple, inexpensive and quick project that even the kids can do!
Friday, December 9, 2011

Glitter Ribbon Christmas Trees

Friday, December 9, 2011

Glitter Ribbon Christmas Trees

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Glitter Ribbon Christmas Trees at artsyfartsymama.com

One of my favorite traditions is decorating for Christmas. Although it can be a lot of work, I always try to get my Christmas decorations up the day or weekend after Thanksgiving. Last year I decided to change my color scheme from the traditional reds & greens to bright pinks, purples, blues and greens. Other than the tree and an adorable wreath my sister made me {yes, I'm bragging about it AGAIN - I love it!!!}, I don't really have very many Christmas decorations in this color scheme. So, I did some shopping and was able to find all the things I needed to make these fabulous, sparkly, fun Glitter Ribbon Trees - on sale!
What you'll need:
4 styrofoam cones
4 rolls of glitter ribbon
4 wooden candlesticks
Paint
Felt {matching ribbon colors}
Hot glue/glue gun

First, I painted the candlestick holders with a couple coats of silvery white paint. Then I added a coat of silver Extreme Glitter paint over top to give it some glittery goodness! Set aside to dry.

Next, I cut a large and small circle out of felt to fit the bottom and top of the cone.
Hot glue them on.
You can also do this step after wrapping with ribbon. Either way works just fine!

Start by hot gluing the end of the ribbon on the top edge of the cone. I left the ribbon sticking up a little at the top since the angle I was wrapping it showed the top of the cone.

Add a drop of hot glue when you bring the ribbon around the "back" {the back will be where you started your ribbon - see picture above} to keep the ribbon from shifting or coming undone.

Keep wrapping until the cone is covered and glue end down.

Once candlestick is dry, hot glue it  to the center of the bottom of the tree.


Stand back and admire your sparkly trees! Super easy, and so cute!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Glitter Snowman

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Glitter Snowman

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I recently shared this tutorial at Newlyweds on a Budget and Embracing Messy...
Introducing:
Glitter Snowman!

You can also see a similar tutorial I did for Halloween when I made my Glitter Witchy Jars.


Here's what you'll need:
2 Glass Jars
Floor Finish
White/Iridescent Glitter
Top Hat (found mine in the doll section)
Fabric (hat band & scarf)
Glitter Stickers (eyes, mouth & buttons)
Orange Felt (nose)
Glue Gun
Amazing Goop or other glass adhesive


Wash the jars out & dry thoroughly. Try not to get any lint or dust inside of it, or the floor finish may not stick. Pour a small amount of finish in the jar and slowly swirl it around the jar. Don't shake it up or it may get bubbles. Keep swirling the finish around and tilt the jar to completely coat the inside of the jar. Then pour the excess finish back into the container.


Next, pour some glitter into the jar. A finer glitter will coat the jar better, but regular glitter works fine, too. Swirl & tilt the jar slowly like you did with the finish to cover the inside with glitter. You can pour out the excess glitter back into the container, but DO NOT tap the jar. If you do, the glitter will look a little sparse in some areas.


Set jars aside to dry for a little while.
While they are drying, you can put together the hat and get your glue gun warmed up.


For the hat band, I just cut a thin strip of glittery purple fabric and folded it into thirds so the raw edges weren't showing. Then I just hot glued it to the hat. I also cut a strip of fabric to use as the scarf.

Add some hot glue around the inside corner edge of the hat (where hat and brim meet) and place the hat on top of the jar.


Next I put a small amount of Amazing Goop (you can use any glass adhesive) around the top edge of the other jar and place the jar with the hat on top. Let it dry completely before putting the rest of the snowman together so it doesn't shift or come apart.


Once dry, it's time to decorate that snowman!
Tie a strip of fabric around the "neck" (it also hides where you glued the jars together). I cut out parts of a black glitter sticker alphabet to make the eyes, and used other stickers for the mouth and buttons. As for the nose, I just cut out a carrot shape out of some felt and hot glued it on.


And that's it!
Super easy and looks so cute!
Thursday, December 1, 2011

DIY Rice Bag Warmers

Thursday, December 1, 2011

DIY Rice Bag Warmers

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DIY Rice Bag Warmers at artsyfartsymama.com

It's getting colder {where I live, anyway}, and there's nothing better than coming home and snuggling up on the couch with a blanket and warming up your toes! My tutorial today isn't necessarily a new idea, but it's an idea that I'd love to share anyway.

These rice bag warmers make for great gifts to friends and neighbors for the holidays. Plus, these work great for when you're sick and need a heat or ice pack, too! I also used them a lot when my daughter was a colicky, gassy newborn. It seemed to help a lot.

Supplies:
Fabric - Cotton, fleece, or flannel fabrics work best
White rice {NOT instant rice}
Sewing machine, pins, etc.
Scented oils (optional)

To start out, cut fabric 14" x 11" {adjust size for different sized bags}. Fold fabric in half, right-sides together so it measures 7"x11". Sew along the longest edge so you make a sleeve or tube.

DIY Rice Bag Warmers at artsyfartsymama.com

Flip sleeve right-side out. Tuck one of the edges in and pin. Top-stitch closed using a 1/4" seam allowance.

DIY Rice Bag Warmers at artsyfartsymama.com

Fill bag with rice. I used about 2 1/2 - 3 cups. Don't overfill the bag, otherwise it won't conform to your body and will be difficult to sew closed. If you are using scented oils, add a drop or two in your rice and mix well before adding the rice to the bag.

Tuck edges and pin other end and top-stitch closed. Now your rice bag warmer is complete!

DIY Rice Bag Warmers at artsyfartsymama.com

As you can see in the picture above, I also decided to make some pocket-sized warmers! These fit perfectly in your hands and pockets for early mornings out or if you are going to be spending time in the cold and want to keep your fingers warm. Just heat before you leave and you're good to go!

DIY Rice Bag Warmers at artsyfartsymama.com

I used a couple of scraps that measured about 6 1/2" x 2 1/2". Fold the strip in half, right sides together so it measures 3 1/4" x 2 1/2". Sew along the edges, starting at the fold, leaving an inch or so gap. Flip the bag right-side out. Carefully fill the bag using a funnel with about an 1/8 cup of rice. Fold the gap closed and top-stitch closed.

...and ta-da!
A tiny, adorable, comfy, pocket-sized hand warmer!

DIY Rice Bag Warmers at artsyfartsymama.com

Heat bags in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until warm. Don't overcook or make too hot or you could burn the rice {and you thought burnt popcorn was bad...}, or worse, burn yourself or your child. No bueno.

If you'd like to make and give some bags away as a gift, I've created a printable tag for you to attach to your rice bag warmer.

DIY Rice Bag Warmers Poem Printable at artsyfartsymama.com #printable #freeprintable
I found this poem here.

Just click on one of the images below, right click, "Save As", and print!
I tried to make one wintery colors, traditional Christmas colors and the other can be used any time of year!

DIY Rice Bag Warmers Poem Printable at artsyfartsymama.com #printable #freeprintable DIY Rice Bag Warmers Poem Printable at artsyfartsymama.com #printable #freeprintable DIY Rice Bag Warmers Poem Printable at artsyfartsymama.com #printable #freeprintable


Some things you should know before downloading:
*Artsy-Fartsy Mama printables are for PERSONAL USE ONLY.
*You may NOT modify, re-sell, redistribute, or claim the design as your own.
*Please do not remove the watermark.
*If you post this on the internet, credit must be given to Artsy-Fartsy Mama & linked back to my blog.

Hope you enjoy and have a WARM winter!!