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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Artsy-Fartsy Mama's Top 10 Posts of 2014

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Artsy-Fartsy Mama's Top 10 Posts of 2014

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Artsy-Fartsy Mama's Top 10 Posts of 2014 at artsyfartsymama.com

It's always fun to see what posts have been the most popular throughout the year. I have enjoyed sharing my recipes, projects, and free printables with you throughout 2014 and am excited to share even more in 2015!
Monday, December 29, 2014

Free Printable Budget Planner

Monday, December 29, 2014

Free Printable Budget Planner

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It's the time of year to be thinking about new goals for the next year, and one thing on my list is to become better organized with our bills. Budgeting can be overwhelming, but if you use the right tools, it doesn't have to be so hard.

Free Printable Budget Planner at artsyfartsymama.com

My husband is fantastic at keeping on top of our bills, but like everyone else, once in a while we'll both forget about one and have to pay late fees. No bueno when your budget is already tight. So, I created this free printable bill calendar and checklist/budget planner to be able to write in bills for each month to make sure it doesn't happen again!

There are multiple boxes for each month, so you can easily organize your bills. There's also a space for you to write when each payment is due with a handy checkbox next to it so you know for sure it's been paid. Plus, it's a great way to keep a record for the future. For example, sometimes we try to guess how much we pay for heating and cooling during the summer and winter months, but now we can easily go back and know for sure how much the bills were during those times of the year.

Free Printable Budget Planner at artsyfartsymama.com


Since everyone organizes a bit differently, I created two versions of the printable: 2 vertical pages, and one horizontal page. The pages are split with January - June on one page, and July - December on the other. You can print multiple pages if you have more bills than can fit on the page. I bound my bill calendar & checklist with my weekly planner pages with menu planner so I can keep everything in one place and organized.

Free Printable Budget Planner at artsyfartsymama.com


The horizontal budget planner works the same way, but has the entire year on one page. This is easier for those who don't have a lot of space, or just want to hang it on the fridge for convenience. Just like the vertical pages, if you have more bills than what can fit on the page, just print more copies and staple them together.


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 credits/watermarks.
*If you post this on the internet, credit must be given to Artsy-Fartsy Mama & linked back to my blog.

Best of luck to you in your budgeting this next year. If you have any tips for budgeting that has helped you, feel free to share them in the comments!!

Monday, December 22, 2014

Easy Kids Friendship Bracelets

Monday, December 22, 2014

Easy Kids Friendship Bracelets

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Easy Kids Friendship Bracelets at artsyfartsymama.com

My daughter has been having fun helping create handmade gifts for friends and family this year. Friendship bracelets have always been a fun and thoughtful gift idea, and these are easy for kids of all ages to make!
Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Free Printable Winter Bingo

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Free Printable Winter Bingo

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We love playing bingo at our house. It's a great way we like to spend time together, and it has really helped my daughter's vocabulary! So go grab some cocoa and extra marshmallows, print out the Bingo sets, and get playing!

Free Printable Winter Bingo at artsyfartsymama.com
Monday, December 15, 2014

18 Hot Chocolate Recipes

Monday, December 15, 2014

18 Hot Chocolate Recipes

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18 Hot Chocolate Recipes at artsyfartsymama.com


Hot chocolate is one of our favorite drinks during the winter. Usually we just use hot chocolate packets for convenience, but there's just something about homemade hot chocolate that is SO much better and really isn't much work at all. Today I'm sharing 18 delicious hot chocolate recipes to warm you up!

18 Hot Chocolate Recipes at artsyfartsymama.com

1. Caramel Hot Chocolate from Cooking Classy
2. Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate from Princess Pinky Girl
3. Copycat Starbucks Hot Chocolate Recipe from My Frugal Adventures
5. Red Velvet Hot Cocoa from Heather's French Press
6. Coconut Hot Chocolate from The Crafted Sparrow
7. Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate from No. 2 Pencil
8. Peppermint White Hot Chocolate Float from Your Homebased Mom
9. S'mores Hot Chocolate from Minimalist Baker
10. Peanut Butter Cup Hot Chocolate from Jade Louise Designs
11. Cinnamon Roll Hot Cocoa from Wine & Glue
13. Best Ever Creamy Crockpot Cocoa from One Good Thing by Jillee
14. Nutella Hot Chocolate from The Hungry Housewife
15. Gingerbread Hot Chocolate from Eat. Drink. Love.
16. Mexican Spiced Hot Chocolate from Gimme Some Oven
18. Homemade Hot Chocolate from One Little Project

Friday, December 12, 2014

DIY Winter Window Clings

Friday, December 12, 2014

DIY Winter Window Clings

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This post is sponsored by Elmer's. As always, all opinions are my own.

My daughter is at the perfect age to help with decorating the house for Christmas and winter, and loves when she gets to help create decorations all by herself. She really loves putting up window clings to help dress up the windows, but we keep losing pieces and they can get kind of pricey when we need to get new ones. Instead, we created our own winter window cling designs with some help from Elmer's glues and glitter glue!

DIY Winter Window Clings at artsyfartsymama.com

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

"Create" Faux Pallet Sign

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

"Create" Faux Pallet Sign

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Sponsored by FloraCraft Make It: Fun®

"Create" Faux Pallet Sign at artsyfartsymama.com #MakeItFunCrafts

I've always been a fan of pallet signs, but have never taken the time to rip a pallet apart (or convince the hubby to get one for me). I really wanted to add some decor to my new craft room, and with a little help from FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Sheets, I was able to create this faux pallet sign with just two foam sheets and a few other materials I had on hand! Using foam is a much cheaper option in the long run. Plus, the sign weighs almost nothing at all, which means no large holes in the wall!!
Monday, December 8, 2014

DIY Glitter Reindeer Art

Monday, December 8, 2014

DIY Glitter Reindeer Art

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This post is sponsored by Royal Design Studio.

DIY Glitter Reindeer Art at artsyfartsymama.com #royaldesignstudio

Creating holiday art is so much fun! I also love that this DIY Glitter Reindeer Art can also be on display throughout the year, which makes it a great gift idea if you are looking to make something handmade for family or friends!
Wednesday, December 3, 2014

DIY Memo Board

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

DIY Memo Board

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This post is brought to you by Consumer Crafts.

DIY Memo Board at artsyfartsymama.com

Creating handmade gifts for family and friends for Christmas is a lot of fun, and you can be sure that they won't be receiving the same gift from anyone else! You can also save big when you make handmade gifts. I spent about $10 on this DIY Memo Board, and did all my shopping at home online at Consumer Crafts!
Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Glitter Peppermint Ornaments

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Glitter Peppermint Ornaments

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These Glitter Peppermint Ornaments will look so cute with your holiday decor, and are so simple to make! You can also easily make them in a variety of colors, so they really can coordinate with any holiday color scheme.


Monday, November 24, 2014

20 Leftover Turkey Recipes

Monday, November 24, 2014

20 Leftover Turkey Recipes

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20 Leftover Turkey Recipes at artsyfartsymama.com

Thanksgiving is really one of the best holidays of the year. How can you not like a day filled with family, friends, and of course, good food?! Before throwing leftovers at your guests to take home (hopefully not literally), keep in mind that you can make some really great recipes with that extra food! Check out these 20 delicious recipe ideas that use leftover turkey!!

20 Leftover Turkey Recipes at artsyfartsymama.com

2. Turkey Stroganoff from Simply Recipes
3. Leftover Turkey Enchiladas from Baked by Rachel
4. Slow Cooker Turkey Chili from Two Peas & Their Pod
5. Turkey Spaghetti Bake from What's Gaby Cooking
6. Thanksgiving Cupcakes from MOMables
7. BBQ Turkey Pizza from White on Rice Couple
8. Crock Pot Hot Turkey Sandwiches from Recipes that Crock!
9. Turkey Cranberry Appetizers from High Heels & Grills
10. Slow Cooker Turkey & Potato Chowder from Baked by Rachel
11. Creamed Turkey Over Biscuits from Frugal Foodie Mama
12. Turkey Empanadas from Cheap Recipe Blog
13. Leftover Turkey Frittata from Domestic Fits
14. Turkey Pot Pie from Pink When
15. Turkey Tetrazzini from Spicy Southern Kitchen
17. Double Cheese Turkey Lasagna from It Happens in a Blink
19. Italian Turkey Soup from Your Homebased Mom
20. Turkey Mac and Cheese Casserole from Organize & Decorate Everything

Friday, November 21, 2014

Elf on the Shelf Advent

Friday, November 21, 2014

Elf on the Shelf Advent

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This is sponsored post on behalf of Michaels. As always, all opinions and ideas are 100% my own.

Elf on the Shelf Advent with Free Printable Clues at artsyfartsymama.com #MichaelsChristmas

We love our Elf on the Shelf that comes to visit every year! In the past, I've arranged the elf to be doing funny (not naughty) things around the house and love watching my daughter's reaction when she wakes up to see what he's up to each day. This year, I'm planning on doing something a little different. Each morning, the elf will be in a different place, but will be holding a clue to find a small, simple gift each day, counting down to Christmas day!!

Elf on the Shelf Advent at artsyfartsymama.com #MichaelsChristmas

All the supplies are Recollections Holiday products. They are found at Michaels, in the paper crafting section (on the aisle end-caps). There are so many products to choose from, including kits and all kinds of embellishments. The paper milk cartons were the first thing that caught my eye. There are 24 in each package, so I immediately knew they would make perfect elf gift boxes. I also purchased bag and card kits, straws with tags, and clothespins to embellish the cartons.

Tip: Even though all the products are already at great prices, I highly recommend watching for sales and use coupons to save even more!

Elf on the Shelf Advent at artsyfartsymama.com

The paper milk cartons come unassembled, which makes them much easier to embellish! I started by taking snowflake stamps and red ink pads from the bag and card kits and laying out the cartons.

Elf on the Shelf Advent at artsyfartsymama.com

Stamp all over the paper using both stamps. I love how the red ink looks on top of the red paper! You can stamp and assemble the cartons as you go, but I found it much easier to stamp all the boxes first, then assemble next. It also gives the ink some time to dry so you'll be less likely to smear the stamps and get ink all over your hands.

Elf on the Shelf Advent at artsyfartsymama.com

There are instructions on the packaging to fold the boxes. They were surprisingly easy, and it helps that there are already sticky tabs on the box so you can peel and stick as you go! One half of the carton top stays open and the other has a sticky tab to keep it together. Since I haven't filled mine yet, I'm keeping them closed with the cute, coordinating holiday clothespins!

Elf on the Shelf Advent at artsyfartsymama.com

Next, I cut a one inch strip from a 12x12 sheet of adhesive-backed cardstock. Regular cardstock would also work great, but I must admit that using the adhesive-backed cardstock makes things a little easier. It sticks easily and you don't have to get the glue out!

As you can see, the carton measures just a little over 12 inches, so the paper ends don't meet exactly. I fixed the problem by sticking one end near the center of the "front", and carefully wrapping it around the carton and getting the other end as close as possible.

Elf on the Shelf Advent at artsyfartsymama.com

To cover the gap, I used one of the stickers from the package of straws! The labels have a strip of adhesive, so just peel off the backing and stick it on the carton! Super easy and it looks adorable.

Elf on the Shelf Advent at artsyfartsymama.com #MichaelsChristmas

Repeat until you have all 24 cartons put together. Now you can fill them with whatever you like! I think we're going to put in some treats, and maybe throw a piece of paper in a few cartons with some kind of Christmas activity so it gives my daughter something different to do to get excited about Christmas than just eat candy.

Elf on the Shelf Advent with Free Printable Clues at artsyfartsymama.com #MichaelsChristmas

For this to work, you'll need to print out the Elf on the Shelf Printable Advent Clues so that your elf (or whatever you choose to use) can hold the clue each morning. There are ten cards that specifically count down to Christmas day, but the other 14 cards can be mixed up to be used any day you want. They all say where to hide the gift, so that makes your job MUCH easier!!

Don't do Elf on the Shelf? You can still do this activity with your kids as a fun way to count down to the big day and add things in the boxes to celebrate however works for you!!


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 credits/watermarks.
*If you post this on the internet, credit must be given to Artsy-Fartsy Mama & linked back to my site.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

DIY Sequin Tree

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

DIY Sequin Tree

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Sponsored by FloraCraft Make It: Fun®


DIY Sequin Tree and Glitter Ribbon Tree Tutorials at artsyfartsymama.com

Creating Christmas decorations is probably one of my favorite things. It's always so colorful, fun, and of course, includes sparkle in one way or another. This month's Make It: Fun® Team theme is foam cones, so I decided to create a DIY Sequin Tree that is super simple for anyone to make!

DIY Sequin Tree Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

What you'll need to create your own DIY Sequin Tree:
Floracraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Cone (I used a 6 inch, but you can create trees in 3", 6", 9", 12", 15", 18", and even 24")
Sequins (any color)
Satin Pins 
Birch Candlesticks or Napkin Rings
Felt (in color to match sequins)
Hot Glue

DIY Sequin Tree Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Before assembling the tree, get comfortable and get Netflix (or other preferred TV or movie watching contraption) ready. The tree is seriously quite easy to put together, but it is a little time consuming.

Pour out some sequins on your table or into a cup. Place a pin through the hole of a sequin and stick it into the tree. I decided to start around the top edge, but you can really start anywhere you'd like. In my personal opinion though, I think either the top or bottom edge would be easiest. Then, add the next pin & sequin right next to the sequin, barely overlapping the edge. Overlapping will help you be able to hide the foam underneath and you can skip painting it or trying to cover it another way.

DIY Sequin Tree Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Now for some craft fail admission. The image in my mind using the white head pins looked much better than it really ended up looking. They were too big, and were covering up the best part - the sparkly sequins!! So, I replaced all the pins with satin pins instead and love it SO much more. Learn from my mistakes and go with the short satin pins to begin with (for a 6" tree, I used a little over 450 pins, so be sure to buy more than you think you'll need)!!!

PS: The long satin pins work, too, but keep in mind they WILL poke through the other side of the foam cone along the top half and are a little more difficult to work with once you get to the other side of the tree...

DIY Sequin Tree Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Keep going with the pins & sequins until you get to the bottom (or top) of the tree. I put some sequins on at an angle at the bottom of the tree because there was a tiny bit of white foam peeking through and I like the way it kind of rounds the bottom out. Also add some sequins to the very top of the tree to finish it off.

DIY Sequin Tree Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

This step is optional, but since the foam on the bottom of the tree is bare, the foam still sheds and it will be a little more difficult to add the base to your tree. So, I cut out a circle of coordinating felt and hot glued it to the bottom of the tree. Now the foam is protected, and you can add the base (also optional) much easier!!

DIY Sequin Tree Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

For the base, I used a birch napkin ring and spray painted it silver. Candlesticks also look great as a base. Once painted and dried, add some hot glue around the top edge, then attach it to the bottom center of the tree.

DIY Sequin Tree Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Once the glue is dry, your tree is officially done! You can now put it on display or start making a bunch more in other colors and sizes!!

DIY Sequin Tree and Glitter Ribbon Tree Tutorials at artsyfartsymama.com

I paired my sequin tree with my Glitter Ribbon Trees (which are also made with Floracraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Cones) and am loving this sparkly holiday forest!! Both versions of trees are simple enough for almost anyone to make, and the supplies are inexpensive and easy to customize to your preferred holiday decorating color scheme.

For more foam craft ideas, visit the Make It: Fun site and follow FloraCraft on Pinterest and Facebook.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Ho Ho Ho!

Monday, November 17, 2014

Ho Ho Ho!

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Sponsored by Wood Creations

Ho Ho Ho Word Set Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Christmas crafting is in full swing at our house, and I'm SO excited to show you my latest creation! This Ho Ho Ho Set from Wood Creations was so much fun to put together and looks great with my holiday decorations. Read through the tutorial, and be sure to enter to win an unfinished Ho Ho Ho Set for yourself at the end of the post!!

Ho Ho Ho Word Set Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

The Ho Ho Ho Set comes unfinished and wrapped up so you don't lose any pieces. You can pick up sets in any Wood Creations store, or purchase them online if you aren't close to any current locations. You can immediately get to crafting, but I like to rub everything down with sandpaper and round out most of the edges to make sure everything is smooth before I get started.

Ho Ho Ho Word Set Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

First, I start with the painting. Decide what color you want everything to be, and then paint the pieces with acrylic paint. I personally use DecoArt Americana paints and love that I only need 1-2 coats for full coverage.

Since there are more parts for it, the Santa is a little more tricky than the rest. I laid out the parts before painting, then kind of marked where his face and beard needed to go. The back is entirely white, and I carried the beard and hat section to the sides.

Ho Ho Ho Word Set Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Once the paint is dry, trace the letters on cute holiday papers. Cut them out, then paint a coat of Mod Podge on the front of the letter and place the paper on top. Rub it with your fingers or a scraper to get out any air bubbles. Let dry completely.

Ho Ho Ho Word Set Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Or, my personal favorite: covering the letters with glitter!! Get a scrap piece of paper to work on, because it's going to get messy. Lay the letter down, and paint a thick coat of Mod Podge. Sprinkle glitter over the entire letter and let sit for a minute or two. Lightly tap the top of the letter while there's still piles of glitter on it to press the glitter down into the Mod Podge. Then, carefully stand the letter up and tap it on the table to get any excess glitter off. Carefully bend the paper or make a funnel and pour the glitter back into its container. Let sit for a while to dry.

Ho Ho Ho Word Set Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

The set came with some "Merry Christmas" vinyl to attach to the block. Since vinyl doesn't normally stick to glitter that well, I tried something different. Glitter the block like you would the letters. Let dry, then cover the glitter with a thick coat of Mod Podge and let it dry completely. Once dry, you will have a smoother surface to stick the vinyl to - AND you get to keep it glittered!!

Ho Ho Ho Word Set Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Santa has been painted, but needs to be assembled. Cut some holiday paper for his hat, and glitter his beard, mustache, and hat brim with white glitter and the holly with green glitter. Let everything dry completely before putting it together.

After the holly was dried, I glued on some sticker gems. Yes, they were stickers, but they won't attach well to a layer of glitter. Instead of Mod Podging the holly piece, I just put a dot of E6000 on the back of each gem and stuck them to the holly.

Ho Ho Ho Word Set Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Once everything is dry, glue them in place with either hot glue or E6000 (I prefer E6000 because it's a little more permanent).

Painting his face might seem overwhelming, but I promise you can do it! Using a dry, small paint brush, dot it into a small amount of dark pink acrylic paint. Dab it on a paper towel or paint tray so that it's super light. Then, lightly dab it onto Santa's cheeks until they are the amount of rosy that you like. If his cheeks get too rosy, you can dab some flesh colored paint over the pink to lighten it up.

For his eyes, dab the end of a paint brush into black acrylic paint, and do a few practice dots on your paint tray or paper towel. Mark where you want the eyes with a pencil on Santa's face, then add the eyes with paint.

Ho Ho Ho Word Set Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Set Santa somewhere safe to dry, lying flat. The glued on pieces might slide if you stand him up to dry. You can add any other embellishments you want (ribbons, more gems, etc), but I kept mine just like this.

Ho Ho Ho Word Set Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Spray all the pieces with clear spray paint or polyurethane to protect the paper and to seal in the glitter (NO glitter mess at all when you need to move or pack up the set!!). Once dry, your entire set is finished!! You can stack the H's and O's on top of each other with the "Merry Christmas" underneath, but I liked the look of the "Merry Christmas" in the middle. That's what I love about these sets. You can make them all your own!! There are thousands of holiday paper designs and embellishments (which you can also purchase at Wood Creations) that will make every set look unique.

See more from Wood Creations on their blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

Monday, November 10, 2014

Glittered Thanksgiving Mason Jars

Monday, November 10, 2014

Glittered Thanksgiving Mason Jars

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Glittered Thanksgiving Mason Jars at artsyfartsymama.com

Looking to make a quick craft for your fall or Thanksgiving decor? These glittered Thanksgiving mason jars come together quicker than you think, and are super affordable! They'd be fun to make for a girl's night before the holiday, or they would look fabulous as your Thanksgiving table centerpieces.
Sunday, October 26, 2014

30 Homemade Soup Recipes

Sunday, October 26, 2014

30 Homemade Soup Recipes

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30 Homemade Soup Recipes at artsyfartsymama.com

It's getting colder outside, and that means it's the perfect time of year to eat more soup!! Homemade soup is a popular comfort food, and is the perfect meal to warm yourself up after being out in the cold. Soup can also get monotonous when you are cooking the same ones over and over, so today I'm sharing 30 delicious homemade soup recipes to give you some new dinner ideas!

30 Homemade Soup Recipes at artsyfartsymama.com

2. Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup by Live Laugh Rowe
3. Pasta E Fagioli Soup by Gonna Want Seconds
4. Vegetable and Beef Soup by The Real Housewives of Riverton
5. Jalapeño Cheddar Chicken Soup by Kleinworth & Co
6. Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup by Your Cup of Cake
7. Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup by Creme de la Crumb
8. Lasagna Soup by A Farmgirl's Dabbles
9. Creamy Tomato, Basil & Parmesan Soup by Tastes Better from Scratch
10. Zucchini Sausage Soup by Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke
11. Ham and Potato Soup by The Idea Room
12. Vegetarian Chili by Yesterday on Tuesday
13. 5-Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Soup by Gimme Some Oven
14. Southwest Chicken Chili Mac by Picky Palate
15. Crock Pot French Onion Soup by Cookie Monster Cooking

30 Homemade Soup Recipes at artsyfartsymama.com

16. Slow Cooker 8-Can Taco Soup by Six Sisters' Stuff
17. Butternut Squash Soup from Among the Young
18. Creamy Pesto Chicken Soup by The Weary Chef
19. Chicken Meatball & Orzo Hearty Soup by Will Cook for Smiles
20. Steak Soup by Your Homebased Mom
21. Cheesy Potato Soup by Ginger Snap Crafts
22. Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup by Two Peas & Their Pod
23. Crock Pot Chicken & Wild Rice Soup by Passion for Savings
24. DIY Homemade Spaghettio’s by Seeded at the Table
25. Chicken Cordon Bleu Soup by Chef in Training
28. Slow Cooker Pizza Soup by It's Always Ruetten
29. White Chicken Chili by Cooking Classy
30. Taco Soup by Baked in AZ

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Paper Flower Wreath

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Paper Flower Wreath

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Sponsored by FloraCraft Make It: Fun®

Paper Flower Wreath Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Handmade gifts are the best. I love giving them and, of course, receiving them. This paper flower wreath is something you can make for a friend, sister, or even your mom. You can also make it for yourself (because you deserve to treat yourself, too)!! Since there are few supplies needed to make the wreath, it will also cost you a whole lot less than purchasing it already made. It's also simple to customize because of paper colors and flower shapes, so every wreath is unique!!

Paper Flower Wreath Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

To make this wreath, you'll need:
FloraCraft® Make It: Fun Foam Wreath 12"
White Ribbon: 1.5" wide, at least 8 yards
Cricut Explore (or hand cut with scissors)
Glue Gun

Paper Flower Wreath Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Foam wreaths can get pretty messy, so I like to wrap the wreath form with ribbon to help keep the foam flakes from getting everywhere. Start by pinning or adding some hot glue to the end of the ribbon and attach it to the wreath. Then, carefully wrap the ribbon around the wreath, overlapping the ribbon a little until the entire form is covered. If you run out of ribbon, don't worry - just glue or pin the end in place, then start a new roll where you left off!

Paper Flower Wreath Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

I bought packages of textured cardstock and chose seven different colors to work with. Using my Cricut Explore, I cut out four different flower patterns in multiple sizes and ended up with around 75 flowers when I was done.

If you don't have a Cricut, you could easily cut these by hand. Cut a spiral, then add a scalloped, fringed, or triangle edges to get different flower designs. Sure, it might take a little longer and is a little more work, but your wreath would still look amazing.

Paper Flower Wreath Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Assembling the flowers is fairly simple, but a little time consuming:
  1. Start rolling the end of the flower. Add drops of glue as needed if you keep dropping the flower or if it slips and keeps coming undone.
  2. Once you get to the end, there's a small circle. Bend it out and add a drop of hot glue, then fold it over the spiraled paper. Be careful not to burn yourself!
    *Other glues will work fine, but I've found that hot glue dries quicker and will hold everything in place more effectively.
  3. Turn your flower over, and spread the petals out and make your flower look more like, well, a flower.

Learn to make paper flowers with your Cricut Explore at artsyfartsymama.com

Repeat the flower making process until all your flowers are assembled! Toss them all into a pile and get yourself some chocolate. You deserve it!

Paper Flower Wreath Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Arrange the flowers on your wreath to get an idea of where things will fit and to see if you need to cut any more flowers to fill in any empty spots. Once everything is where you want it, heat up your glue gun and glue them in place.

You don't have to arrange them if you don't want to - you can also just glue as you go! The result will be fantastic either way.

Paper Flower Wreath Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Now your wreath is ready for gift giving, or hanging up on display. I wouldn't recommend hanging the wreath outside or somewhere that will have direct sunlight since it is paper and can fade or be ruined if it gets wet.

For more foam craft ideas, visit the Make It: Fun site and follow FloraCraft on Pinterest and Facebook.

Check out what the rest of the Make It: Fun Team has been making this month:
Foam Block Snowman by Create.Craft.Love
Money Topiary by Sugar Bee Crafts
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Wall Decor by 733
Succulent Tin Can Gift by Simply Designing
Mini Pine Cone Kissing Ball Ornament by Uncommon Designs
Plastic Spoon Peppermint Inspired Holiday Wreath by Club Chica Circle
DIY Christmas Ornament Foam Sign by Love the Day
DIY Rustic Christmas Gift Idea by Pink When
Flower Bulb Gift by Crafting in the Rain
10 Minute Gift Idea – Tic Tac Toe Game! by Tatertots & Jello