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Monday, June 24, 2013

DIY Jewelry Hanger

Monday, June 24, 2013

DIY Jewelry Hanger

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DIY Jewelry Hanger

I've been working hard on getting my jewelry organized. My current necklace hanger was getting a little too crowded with only three hooks. So, thanks to Poppy Seed Projects, I made a super cute and very functional jewelry hanger.

Petite Lemon Growth Chart

Petite Lemon Growth Chart

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Ever since my daughter was born, I've been on the lookout for the perfect growth chart. I didn't know exactly what I was looking for, but I knew I wanted something cute, colorful, and something that will work with her bedroom decor as she grows.

Petite Lemon Colorful Words Personalized Growth Chart via artsyfartsymama.com 
Sunday, June 23, 2013

15 Watermelon Recipes

Sunday, June 23, 2013

15 Watermelon Recipes

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15 Watermelon Recipes

One of my favorite things in summer is watermelon! Not only is it delicious on it's own (especially seedless), but it makes a great drink, salad, or inspiration for a cute dessert! Today I'm sharing 15 watermelon recipes perfect for any summer party!

15 Watermelon Recipes

1. Homemade Watermelon Slush by Say Yes to Hoboken
2. Watermelon Sugar Cookies
 by Homemaking Fun
3. Star & Stripes Watermelon DIY Fruit Bowls
 by Passion for Savings
4. Watermelon Pie
 by Make and Takes
5. Watermelon Cherry Limeade
 by Kleinworth & Co
6. Strawberry & Watermelon Spring Salad
 by FoodieCrush
7. Watermelon Push Pops
 by Make Bake Celebrate
8. Tangy Watermelon Rice Krispies Treats
 by Dine & Dish
9. Easy Watermelon Lemonade
 by Cheerios and Lattes
10. Watermelon Freezer Pops by Gimme Some Oven
11. Fresh Mint and Watermelon Soda Floats by How Sweet It Is
12. Watermelon Cupcakes with Sweet Watermelon Buttercream by Bakingdom
13. Watermelon Cookies on a Stick by Munchkin Munchies
14. Watermelon Fudge by Cookies and Cups
15. Watermelon Cake by Bird on a Cake

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

DIY Hello Kitty Bubblegum Necklace

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

DIY Hello Kitty Bubblegum Necklace

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DIY Hello Kitty Bubblegum Necklace

My daughter loves jewelry of any kind, especially now that she is old enough to be making it herself. Soon we will need to make a jewelry organizer just for her! These necklaces were easy to make, take minimal supervision (just make sure no one chokes on any beads!), and make great gifts for any little girl. Since there is a bead in almost every color, this necklace matches almost every outfit. What little girl wouldn't want a necklace that looks like it's made of bubblegum AND includes Hello Kitty?

Monday, June 17, 2013

Melty Beads Princess Magnets

Monday, June 17, 2013

Melty Beads Princess Magnets

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Melty Beads Princess Magnets

Are your kids bored this summer? With just a few supplies and minimal adult supervision, you've got a great kid's craft that will keep the kids busy and creative for hours. My three year old had a lot of fun, and can't wait to make more!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Pasta Chicken Salad

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Pasta Chicken Salad

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I love chicken salad. I also love pasta. Mixed together, it's amazing. My aunt makes this a lot for family parties, and I can't get enough! It's perfect for summer BBQs, parties, or even makes a great dinner.

Pasta Chicken Salad

Ingredients:
4 cups chicken, cooked and cut into small pieces
1 can {20 oz} pineapple bits
2 cups celery, cut into small pieces
2 packages of 12 oz pasta {any shape will work great}
16 oz bottle Kraft coleslaw dressing
1 cup mayonnaise
1-2 cups grapes, halved

Directions:
  1. Cook chicken and cut into bite-size pieces.
  2. Cook and drain pasta.
  3. Cut up celery and grapes. It saves time to do this while the chicken and pasta are cooking.
  4. Mix together dressing and mayonnaise in a large salad bowl. Add in drained pineapple bits.
  5. Carefully mix in the chicken, pasta, celery and grapes and stir until everything is coated.
  6. Cover and refrigerate.  This salad is best served the next day. You may need to add a little more mayonnaise before serving.
Recipe from Marci Smith
Monday, June 10, 2013

The Epic Blogger Giveaway

Monday, June 10, 2013

The Epic Blogger Giveaway

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I am SO excited to be working with some other EPIC bloggers to bring you this equally epic giveaway! 

The Epic Blogger Giveaway

Before we get to the prizes, I want to introduce you to the fabulous bloggers I'm working with to bring you this spectacular giveaway. They are all some of my favorite bloggers, and I look up to each and every one of them! If you aren't familiar with them, take a minute to visit their blogs and check them out!

Craft-O-Maniac
Smart School HouseNo Biggie
Brassy AppleLolly Jane
Capturing Joy with Kristen DukeGirl Loves GlamThe Cards We DrewArtsy-Fartsy MamaJoJo and Eloise

Now, for the prizes! One lucky winner will receive these EPIC prizes worth $580:
A $300 gift card to Target
A Jo Totes Camera Bag
A piece of Lisa Leonard Jewelry
Barn Owl Primitives "You Are My Sunshine" Board

Good luck!!

Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below:
Sunday, June 9, 2013

24 DIY Patriotic Wreaths

Sunday, June 9, 2013

24 DIY Patriotic Wreaths

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24 DIY Patriotic Wreaths #4thofJuly #wreath

Summer is here, and that means the 4th of July is on it's way! I love this holiday, especially decorating my home in red, white, and blue. Today I'm sharing 24 creative DIY patriotic wreaths that are perfect for the 4th of July!

24 DIY Patriotic Wreaths #4thofJuly #wreath

1. Ruffly Patriotic Wreath by Capital B
2. 4th of July Bottle Cap Wreath
 by Our Family Attic
3. Patriotic Wreath
 by Grits & Giggles
4. 4th of July Coffee Filter Wreath
 by Canvas Corp
5. “Red Hots and Blue” Fourth of July Rocket Wreath
 by Tatertots & Jello
6. Red, White, and Blue Tennis Racket Wreath
 by Virginia Sweet Pea
7. 4th of July Tulle Wreath
 by Artsy-Fartsy Mama
8. 4th of July Burlap Wreath
 by The Freckled Optimist
9. Freedom Flag Wreath
 by The Pike Fam
10. 4th of July Burlap Wreath by Gallamore West
11. Striped Straw Patriotic Wreath by Sarah Dawn Designs
12. 4th of July Wreath by Whimsical Perspective
13. Patriotic Rag Wreath by A Diamond in the Stuff
14. Patriotic Bandanna Wreath by Life in Wonderland
15. Fourth of July Licorice Wreath by Fit, Crafty, Stylish & Happy
16. 4th of July Wreath by Moments with the Montaños
17. 4th of July Wreath by Being Creative (to Keep My Sanity)
18. Burlap & Denim Ruffled Patriotic Wreath by The Scrap Shoppe
19. 4th of July Napkin Wreath by Catch My Party
20. Monogrammed Letter/Flag Door Decoration by We Three Smiths
21. Patriotic Wreath by Handmade Homebody
22. 20 Minute 4th of July Wreath by Landee See, Landee Do
23. DIY 4th of July Wreath by The Real Thing with the Coake Family
24. Rustic Americana Wreath by Fast Daze

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Princesses of Everley Masquerade Ball Giveaway

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Princesses of Everley Masquerade Ball Giveaway

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Princess Festival at Thanksgiving Point

In honor of annual Princess Festival at Thanksgiving Point, the UVCVB (Utah Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau) is inviting dads to get their princess on for a chance to win a ticket for two to the Princess Festival’s Princesses of Everley Masquerade Ball. Dads can upload a two-minute or shorter video of themselves performing a song, dance or scene with their daughter.

Enter to win Princesses of Everley Masquerade Ball tickets through UVCVB video contest, plus a giveaway at Artsy-Fartsy Mama

Here’s how it works:
1) Submit a two-minute or shorter video of Dad and your daughter singing a song, dancing together or acting out a scene from her favorite movie. If your video gets the most votes, you’ll be escorting your princess to her dream ball!

2) Upload your video on Visit Utah Valley’s Facebook app.

3) Like the Visit Utah Valley Facebook page.

4) Share your video through Facebook and invite your friends to vote.

The video with the most votes will win grand prize tickets to the masquerade ball on June 29, and two lucky runner-ups will win tickets for one adult and one child to the Princess Festival held June 18 – 29.

Not only can you enter to win by submitting a video, but you have a second chance to win your husband a ticket (good for one adult and one child) to the Princesses of Everley Masquerade Ball here at Artsy-Fartsy Mama!

The giveaway will end on Friday, June 14th at midnight, and the winner will be announced on June 15th.

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below:

I was given tickets to the Princess Festival as part of this giveaway. All opinions are my own.
Friday, June 7, 2013

10 Tips for Allergy Relief

Friday, June 7, 2013

10 Tips for Allergy Relief

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Recently I attended an Allergy Night with University of Utah Health Care. I learned a lot, and I want to share the information with you! Especially with it warming up outside, I'm sure we'll all be spending more time outside, and hopefully this information can help someone out there breathe a little easier.

10 Tips for Allergy Relief

Allergies affect about 50 million Americans of all ages, beginning in childhood or young adult years. They can be seasonal or year-round depending on the allergy. My husband is allergic to almost everything that grows, including fruits and vegetables. My daughter is showing a lot of the same allergies, so having treatment information is important for my family.

Symptoms of allergies include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itching, coughing, wheezing, and itchy-watery eyes. They can also contribute to sinus infections, ear infections, and asthma. You can treat your allergies with over the counter medications, or have immunotherapy treatments. Immunotherapy treatment is a treatment to desensitize allergies through allergy shots or allergy drops. Treatment length is about 3 to 5 years and immunity is usually maintained for several more years.

Allergy testing with University of Utah Health Care

As part of the event I got a free allergy test, and it was a bit of a surprise to find out I am allergic to grass. I've never tested for allergies before, so I had no idea what to expect. It can be useful to know what you are allergic to in order to decrease exposure. The allergy testing was quick and mostly painless, and I only had to wait 20 minutes to get a result.

While medications are helpful in treating allergy symptoms, avoidance is the best way to avoid allergic reactions. Here are 10 tips for getting allergy relief and decreasing allergen exposure:
  1. Take allergy medication at night before bed so the medicine will already be in your system in the morning when allergy symptoms are often the worst.
  2. Check an online pollen tracker (like pollen.com) to know when counts are high.
  3. Avoid the outdoors between 5am and 10am and save outside activities, errands, or workouts for the late afternoon or after a heavy rain when pollen levels are lower.
  4. Keep windows in your home and car closed when counts are high. Use an air conditioner (not fans) to keep cool, and use the car's air recirculation option while driving.
  5. If allergic to grass, have someone else do the mowing. If you must mow it yourself, wear a mask. Keep grass cut short.
  6. Dry clothes in an automatic dryer rather than hanging them outside. Pollen can collect on clothing and be carried indoors.
  7. Wash bedding in hot water weekly. Showering before bed also helps reduce the pollen from being transferred from your skin and hair to your bed.
  8. Add a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter to help remove circulating allergens.
  9. Bathe pets and wash their bedding weekly. Keep pets outside if possible, minimize their contact with couches, and banish them from your bedroom to keep dander to a minimum.
  10. Clean your home regularly. Frequent, light cleanings are the best way keep hard surfaces sanitized and reduces exposure to airborne dust and allergens.
If you have severe reactions, or aren't sure what you're allergic to, see an allergist for testing and treatment options. Thanks to University of Utah Health Care for the free allergy test and for all the helpful information!

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

DIY Jewelry Stand

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

DIY Jewelry Stand

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Sometimes it feels like no matter how hard I try, I can never keep anything organized. I finally had a handle on my jewelry collection, and there was a place for everything. Suddenly, it seemed like it had multiplied overnight, and I was finding jewelry all over the house. Having a lot of jewelry isn't really the problem, it's the fact that I didn't have anywhere to store it, much less keep it organized. Any time I was getting ready, I had to take extra time to untangle a necklace, or try to find the match to an earring. Needless to say, that's a frustrating problem, especially when you're in a hurry.

DIY Jewelry Stand

With a few dollars and some time, I was able to put together a beautiful jewelry stand that holds it all - with room for more. It also makes it easy to find all my earrings, rings, bracelets and small necklaces. In total, I spent less than $10 on this DIY jewelry stand, and it took about a day to make it (including waiting/paint drying time). There are also endless possibilities for customizing the jewelry stand, and with some supervision, most kids could make it themselves.

DIY Jewelry Stand Supplies

Supplies:
2 standard 4.3" (11 cm) terra cotta pots
6.7" (17 cm) terra cotta saucer
8.3" (21 cm) terra cotta saucer
9.8" (25 cm) terra cotta saucer
E6000 glue
Base color paint - I used Americana Bahama Blue
Antiquing color - browns and black shades are recommended. I used Americana Raw Umber
Clear spray paint

Tip: Terra cotta pots and saucers are already quite affordable, but you can get an even better deal if you shop at craft stores and use coupons (sometimes up to 50% off!). That makes most of your pots less than $1-2!!

DIY Jewelry Stand

Start by making a center mark the bottom side of the 2 smallest saucers. Measure horizontally and vertically and mark an "x" with a pencil or pen in the center. The marks will be covered, so don't worry about having to remove it later. The largest saucer won't need to be marked.

In a well ventilated area, add a circle of E6000 glue on the bottom of one of the pots. Place the pot onto the bottom of the saucer over the center mark. Most pots have a hole in the bottom, so you can see the center mark through it to make sure you've got the pot in the right area. Repeat on the other saucer. Let dry a few hours (the longer, the better).

DIY Jewelry Stand

When the glue is dry, paint a light coat of the base/color paint. Any color will work. You could even use multiple colors, create patterns, etc. It's really up to your creativity. If kids are doing this project, this is where I would let them take over. Adult supervision is recommended in case any of the pieces break.

I recommend acrylic or spray paints on terra cotta. Personally, I love DecoArt paints, and used Americana Bahama Blue. The terra cotta may absorb a lot of the paint, so prepare to paint a few coats. I painted 3-4 coats, and made sure to let each coat dry before adding another layer of paint.

If you don't want to antique the jewelry stand, you can stop at this step and add a coat or two of clear spray paint to work as a sealant.

DIY Jewelry Stand

To antique the jewelry stand, mix the antiquing color (I used Americana Raw Umber) with some water. It should be thinned out just a little, but not too watered down. If it's too watered down, the antiquing step won't work as well.

I started with the largest saucer, and painted around a quater of the inner edge. Immediately take a folded paper towel or a cloth and wipe off the paint. Work with smaller areas at a time. It can dry fast, so you don't want to have too much dark paint over the color. You can always add more paint if the pieces aren't dark enough. Repeat the painting technique until all the pieces are covered. Show Me Cute did a great video tutorial so you can see exactly how the antiquing method works.

To add a white wash, water down a little bit of white acrylic paint and repeat the same process as the antiquing. This just adds a little more dimension to the pots and lightens up the brown a little. Not required, but I love how it looks.

DIY Jewelry Stand

Spray the pots & saucers with a few coats of clear spray paint to seal your jewelry stand and help protect it from wear & tear. Let each coat of spray paint dry before adding more.

Stack the pots with the smallest saucer on top. If your jewelry stand is in an area that gets a lot of traffic, I would recommend gluing all the pots together to prevent any layers from getting knocked over and breaking. Otherwise, they should be sturdy enough to stack separately without glue.

DIY Jewelry Stand

Add your earrings, rings, and bracelets and you're all set for jewelry organization! Not to mention you'll have a unique piece to display in a bedroom, bathroom, or on a vanity. Could also make a cute cupcake or food stand if you use larger saucers.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

15 S'more Recipes

Sunday, June 2, 2013

15 S'more Recipes

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15 S'more Recipes

One of my favorite things in summer is sitting around the fire pit (both camping and at home), and making s'mores. S'mores have evolved from the basic graham cracker, chocolate pieces, and marshmallows to all kinds of different desserts - cupcakes, bars, donuts, cookies, and more! Today I'm sharing 15 s'more recipes to get your summer started right!

15 S'more Recipes

1. S’more Pie Pops by The Gunny Sack
2. S'more Cupcakes
 by Sugar Bean Bakers
3. S'mores Cheesecake Bars
 by Sugar Plum Blog
4. S’more Oatmeal Kiss Cookies
 by Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice
5. S’more Mini Donuts
 by SNAP!
6. S'more Stars
 by Artsy-Fartsy Mama
7. S'more Pops
 by A Few Short Cuts
8. S'more Pretzel Bites
 by Cooking with Mel
9. S’more Ice Cream
 by Finding Joy in My Kitchen
10. S’mores Bars with Peanut Butter Cups by KokoCooks
11. S'more Cookies by Artsy-Fartsy Mama
12. Raspberry S'mores by Real Simple
13. S’more Truffles by Pizzazzerie
14. Inside-Out S'mores by Clumbsy Cookie
15. S’Mores Filled Pancakes by Williams-Sonoma