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Monday, December 31, 2012

Top 10 Posts of 2012

Monday, December 31, 2012

Top 10 Posts of 2012

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According to my stats, these are the most viewed posts in 2012! You can see all the tutorials and recipes ever posted here at Artsy-Fartsy Mama in the Tutorials tab at the top of the blog.



 





 

{don't forget to check out the other version of this printable!}


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 2013! It's going to be a great year!
Monday, December 24, 2012

Happy Holidays!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Happy Holidays!

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our friends & family around the world!
I'm so grateful for all of you who come by and read, comment, and support me in this crafty adventure. This blog wouldn't be what it is today without you, and I hope you all have a wonderful week.


Monday, December 17, 2012

National Blogging Day of Remembrance

Monday, December 17, 2012

National Blogging Day of Remembrance

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How You Can Help:
News Article from The Huffington post on How to Help
United Way fund for the Families
Saturday, December 15, 2012

DIY Stocking Hangers

Saturday, December 15, 2012

DIY Stocking Hangers

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This is our first year with a mantel! I am so excited. Last year we had to make do with what we had, so I got creative and made a different kind of way to display our stockings. This year I wanted to make use of our mantel, so here is how I made some super easy {and super cute} stocking hangers:


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Believe!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Believe!

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I don't think you can ever have too much holiday decor. Especially if it's cute and it goes perfectly with the rest of your decorations! I am so excited to show you what I found to add to my Christmas decorations at Wood Creations here in Utah. There are so many cute designs at Wood Creations, it was hard to choose just one! I finally settled on the Believe Word Set.

Monday, December 10, 2012

DIY Reindeer Shirt

Monday, December 10, 2012

DIY Reindeer Shirt

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Like I promised in my DIY Holiday Glitter Canvas post, today I am sharing what I created with the oh-so-amazing Tulip Shimmer Sheets! I can't say enough about them - they really are so much fun to use!!


Supplies:
Long sleeve shirt {clearance at WalMart!}
Tulip Shimmer Sheets


I'm a glitter addict. The Tulip Shimmer Sheets are now one of my favorite craft items because the sheets are covered in glitter. Not just shimmery - but glittery! Love!! This specific pack of shimmer sheets came with two different silvers, a red, and a black sheet. I used the more colorful of the silvers, and a little piece of red.


Step 1: Prewash your fabric. While that was in the washer, I drew up a little reindeer, including a circle nose. You could also use any kind of premade stencil, silhouette image, or even use letters and numbers.

Step 2: I cut the shimmer sheets using the print as a guide. You could also cut out the image, and trace onto the shimmer sheets, then cut. A wonderful thing about the shimmer sheets is that they are compatible and easy to use with a vinyl cutter! It probably would have been faster and easier if I would have used one for this project, but I just decided to hand cut this time.


Step 3: Arrange the shimmer sheets on the shirt. When everything is just how you like it,
lay a thin cloth over top and press an iron on the shimmer sheets for about 40 seconds.


That's it! Your shirt is ready to go, and the Tulip Shimmer Sheets wash great!


The shirt is perfect for all our holiday outings and parties. We even took my daughter to see Santa in her new shirt, and he loved it! Can't wait to make even more fun things with these Tulip Shimmer Sheets. So fun!!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Andes Mint Cookies

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Andes Mint Cookies

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One of my favorite things during the holidays is being part of a cookie swap. Everyone gets to enjoy the treats of the season without the hard work of baking them! If you've never been part of a cookie swap, then you're in luck! Today's post is going to be a virtual cookie swap. A group of bloggers including myself are sharing our favorite cookie and treat recipes!


Monday, December 3, 2012

DIY Magnetic Advent Calendar

Monday, December 3, 2012

DIY Magnetic Advent Calendar

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Even though we're a few days past the 25 days until Christmas, there is still time to put together an advent calendar! This is probably one of my favorite pieces of Christmas decor. I first saw the idea at Twig & Thistle and couldn't wait to make one for my own home. 
Friday, November 30, 2012

Christmas Countdown Printable

Friday, November 30, 2012

Christmas Countdown Printable

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I love advents and countdown calendars. I count down to almost every holiday, especially for birthdays and Christmas. I found an easy way to make a Christmas countdown was to just make an image myself, put it in a frame, and write the numbers on the glass! Easy, cute, and unique.


Last year I put this design together with intentions of sharing them... but I didn't get them done in time!
Lucky for you, they are ready to go THIS year - and I have added a couple of extra designs. Of course, the backgrounds are covered in glitter. Gotta have that holiday sparkle!!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012

DIY Holiday Glitter Canvas

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

DIY Holiday Glitter Canvas

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Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it's time to fill the house with Christmas decorations! If you regularly follow my blog, you probably know that I'm a glitter addict. I can't get enough, especially around Christmastime! My latest addition to my Christmas decor is this Noel canvas made with Tulip Shimmer Paints.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Free Printable Thank You Cards

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Free Printable Thank You Cards

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I recently shared some printable Thank You cards at The Crafting Chicks!
Click here to download the cards.
Free Printable Thank You Cards at artsyfartsymama.com


For even more free printable Thank You cards, visit The Crafting Chicks series “Thanks A Day Gratitude Challenge”
Thursday, November 15, 2012

Be Thankful

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Be Thankful

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I love having this "Be Thankful" stacker up on my mantel for the fall season. It's a good reminder to think about the things you're thankful for. I might even leave it up year round...

Be Thankful Stacker at artsyfartsymama.com #Thanksgiving #falldecor #thankful

The Be Thankful Stacker was really easy to assemble, and I love that everyone can customize it for themselves to match your home and/or holiday decor.
  1. Paint the blocks. Instead of the traditional orange/yellow/brown "Fall" colors, I painted the "Thankful" block in Apple Barrel Chocolate Brown, and I mixed a few colors to get this perfect Fall/peacock turquoise. I did about 2-3 coats of each color.
  2. Let dry COMPLETELY. Then sand the edges for a distressed look
    {Totally up to you - I think it looks good either way.}
  3. Apply the vinyl. Super easy!
  4. The stacker needed a little something else, so I wrapped some jute twine around it. I love it!
  5. You can glue the blocks together for more stability, but I've noticed mine stay together just fine.

If you want to buy the wood yourself and just order the vinyl, you can find it at FabDecor for only $4! The whole set is also available for just $11. If you just don't have the time or don't want to make it yourself, you can always buy the completed set for $15. Stop by FablifyIt to see her tutorial and see more versions of this project from other bloggers.

**I received the unfinished Be Thankful Stacker from FabDecor.com for this review/project series. All opinions are my own.**
Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Block Turkey

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Block Turkey

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Block Turkey at artsyfartsymama.com #Thanksgiving #turkey

We made these cute little guys at a craft night last month with some friends. I saw the idea at Craft Goodies and had to have one for myself. They were so much fun to make, and I loved seeing how everyone's turkeys turned out so different. Besides using a glue gun, this project can also be very kid-friendly!
Monday, November 12, 2012

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Monday, November 12, 2012

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

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What could be better than a big, delicious Thanksgiving dinner with family? How about a virtual Thanksgiving dinner with some awesome bloggers? I'm thrilled to be a part of this, and I'm sure you'll find a lot of fantastic recipes to help you out this Thanksgiving!

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes at artsyfartsymama.com #slowcooker #easyrecipes

Besides the turkey, one of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes is mashed potatoes. Light, fluffy, and covered in butter and/or gravy... unless you're on a diet, how can you say no? A great thing about this recipe is that it's all made in the slow cooker, not to mention having free stove and oven space to get the rest of your meal put together, plus less dishes to wash. That's really what matters when you're the cook, right?

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
recipe adapted from Pillsbury
Ingredients:
  • 5 lbs potatoes, peeled* and cut into 1 inch chunks {I used Russet potatoes}
    *Peeling is optional. I didn't peel mine, and they turned out great.
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup butter, cut into chunks
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1-2 teaspoons salt {to taste}
  • 1-2 teaspoons garlic salt or powder {to taste}
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 - 1 cup milk, warmed
Instructions:
  1. Place potatoes, chicken broth and butter in a 4-5 quart slow cooker.
  2. Cover and cook on High setting for 4 - 4 1/2 hours or until potatoes are tender. You can also cook on Low setting for 8 hours.
  3. Mash potatoes and add in remaining ingredients except the milk. You can use a hand masher, or I used an electric hand mixer to combine all ingredients. Do not overmix, or your potatoes will become gluey.
  4. Slowly stir in milk until desired consistency.
  5. Cover and keep at low or warm for up to two hours. You may need to add in a little more milk if you wait to serve it so they don't dry out.
Check out more from our virtual Thanksgiving dinner:
Leaf Placecard Tutorial at One Artsy Mama

Cheeseball Appetizer at Create.Craft.Love (left)
and Hot Cheese Dip and Cracker Tray at Jessie Street Designs (right)

Tips For Cooking a Perfect Turkey at Ladybird Ln. (left)
and Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes at Artsy Fartsy Mama (right)

Save oven space with Repeat Crafter Me's Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole (left)
Cranberry Marshmallow Salad at Happy Hour Projects (center)
Cheddar Tea Biscuits at Becoming Martha (right)

Classic Warm Apple Crisp at Chase the Star (left)
Seven Alive's Favorite Pumpkin Pie (right)

Turkey Cookies at Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts (left)
Pilgrim Hat Cookies at Wait Til Your Father Gets Home (right)

I hope you enjoyed this recipe round up, and that you check out my friends' favorites today too!
What's your favorite Thanksgiving recipe?
Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Mostly Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Mostly Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken

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My family had another dinner party where we each picked a menu item {see more how this dinner party worked with my Piña Colada Salad}, but instead of an ingredient, we picked a ethnic type of food. I picked Chinese/Appetizer.

I wanted to be creative, and honestly, I have NEVER made any kind of Chinese food before. Sure, I'll go to Chinese restaurants, but I was always kind of intimidated to try it. Then, after searching my Pinterest boards for some inspiration, I ran across this recipe I saved from Six Sister's Stuff. It is seriously the best chicken I have ever made, and luckily my picky husband LOVES it, too!! Best of all, it's a lot easier than I thought it would be!


Chicken:
3-5 Chicken Breasts
1 cup Cornstarch
2 Eggs
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil

Sweet & Sour Sauce:
3/4 cup Sugar
4 Tablespoons Ketchup
1/4 cup Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
1 teaspoon Garlic Salt

  1. Cut chicken into bite sized pieces. Sprinkle with a little salt & pepper.
  2. Pour oil into a pan and heat to frying temperature.
  3. Put cornstarch into a bowl. Lightly beat eggs in a separate bowl.
  4. Dip chicken pieces into cornstarch, then into the eggs. I also found it to be pretty easy to put the cornstarch into a Ziploc bag, then put all the chicken into the bag and shake it up until all the chicken was coated. Then, take the pieces out, and dip them in the eggs.
  5. Place chicken into the pan and cook until brown. Chicken may not be cooked all the way, but you just need to get the outside crunchy. {Hence, the "mostly" baked in the title}
  6. Put all the chicken pieces into a 9x13 pan and coat with sweet & sour sauce.
  7. Bake at 350º for 30 minutes to an hour, turning chicken every 15 minutes.


Yes, I realize that this is a main dish, but to turn it into an appetizer for our dinner party, all I did was I put some cooked white rice in cups and top with a few pieces of chicken. It worked great, and they were a hit! I would recommend making a little extra sauce if you are mixing with rice, just so they don't dry out.


Linking to these parties!
Monday, October 29, 2012

Candy Corn Wreath

Monday, October 29, 2012

Candy Corn Wreath

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Candy Corn Wreath at artsyfartsymama.com #Halloween #wreath

I love everything about this wreath. It only cost me $3 and really adds to my Halloween decor! Not to mention it only took me about 45 minutes, and we have some extra candy corn to eat.


Candy Corn Wreath at artsyfartsymama.com #Halloween #wreath

Supplies:
Candy Corn: a 1 lb - 21 oz bag should work fine {$1.98 at Walmart for 21 oz bag}
Wreath Form: I used a 12 inch form {$1.00 at Dollar Tree}
Acrylic Paint: I used Americana Bright Orange. Black would work fine, too {Already had some paint on hand}

Total Project Cost: $2.98


Candy Corn Wreath at artsyfartsymama.com #Halloween #wreath

Paint the wreath form. One coat should be fine. This will help to camouflage any spaces you have between candy corns. DO NOT SPRAY PAINT. Spray paint will melt the styrofoam.

Candy Corn Wreath at artsyfartsymama.com #Halloween #wreath

Glue candy corns on, one at a time. Start in the middle and try to use the better looking ones. Put broken or otherwise odd candy corns in a bowl to eat later. I started by gluing the first row of candy corns all facing the same direction. Start the next row going in the opposite direction. They won't always line up perfectly, so just try to align them the best you can. Once you're done, you won't notice the imperfections anyway.

Candy Corn Wreath at artsyfartsymama.com #Halloween #wreath

Repeat the gluing pattern until the entire front, outside, and inside of the wreath is covered in candy corn. It helped to use broken candy corns on the inside and outside to fill in larger gaps that were too small for a full candy corn. No one will see those anyway, right?

Wrap some tulle around the wreath and tie a bow at the top. You can use this to hang your wreath or to just use as decoration.

Candy Corn Wreath Fail at artsyfartsymama.com #Halloween #wreath

A word of warning:
Apparently paint, glue, and candy corn can make a wreath pretty fragile...
I had my wreath out for display on my mantel and it jumped off in the middle of the night. Oops.

To prevent your wreath from suffering the same fate, keep it in a stable place or hang it on the wall with a secure hanger! I cried a little inside when I woke up to see this, but it is easy enough to remake that I'm not too traumatized.

Also, this wreath is not recommended for outside use or to be placed near hot temperatures. The candy corns will melt, and no one wants to deal with that mess.

I hope you all have a fantastic Halloween!