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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Cheesy Chicken Bacon Pasta

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Cheesy Chicken Bacon Pasta

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When it comes to making dinner, I need something that doesn't take a lot of work and that will satisfy my family. This Cheesy Chicken Bacon Pasta is comfort food at its best with a delightful combination of chicken, bacon, and macaroni & cheese all baked to perfection! This is one of my husband's favorite meals, and my daughter loves it, too! It reheats well, so leftovers (if you have any) are no problem at all. You can even pre-cook some of the ingredients beforehand if you want to save time!

Cheesy Chicken Bacon Pasta Recipe at artsyfartsymama.com

Ingredients:
16 oz pasta (any shape will work - I used Rotini)
3-4 chicken breasts
5-6 strips bacon
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

  1. Cook bacon and crumble.
  2. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Place chicken in hot bacon grease and cook thoroughly. 
  3. While the chicken is cooking, boil your pasta according to package directions.
  4. Drain the pasta and put it into a 9x13 baking dish. Add in the chicken, cream of chicken soup, half of the bacon crumbles, and 1 cup of shredded cheese. Stir until everything is combined.
  5. Top with 1 cup shredded cheese and the remaining bacon.
  6. Bake at 350º for 30 minutes or until the cheese on top is melted.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Vinyl Transfer Glad Press'n Seal Hack

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Vinyl Transfer Glad Press'n Seal Hack

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Save yourself time and money with this clever vinyl transfer hack!

Vinyl Transfer Glad Press'n Seal Hack at artsyfartsymama.com

The things you can create with vinyl are endless. One of my favorite gift ideas is putting a cute vinyl design onto a painted block. It's really an inexpensive gift that you can customize in no time! I'm excited to share one of my favorite vinyl crafting hacks with you today that can save you even more money: using Glad Press'n Seal to transfer your vinyl!! Sounds crazy, I know. But it really works!
Monday, June 22, 2015

45 Strawberry Recipes

Monday, June 22, 2015

45 Strawberry Recipes

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45 Strawberry Recipes at artsyfartsymama.com

One of our favorite things about summer is that strawberries are in season! We love using strawberries in all kinds of sweet treats and desserts, and love getting creative with our favorite fruit. Today I'm sharing 45 amazing recipes featuring strawberries that everyone will love!!
Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Foil Watercolor Gift Tags

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Foil Watercolor Gift Tags

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I received product in exchange for this post. All opinions shared are 100% my own.


Free Printable Foil Watercolor Gift Tags at artsyfartsymama.com

I've always loved watercoloring, and pairing that look with foils is simply gorgeous. With the Minc machine, some free printables and watercolors, you can create some uniquely stunning foil watercolor gift tags and artwork in just minutes!!

Free Printable Foil Watercolor Gift Tags at artsyfartsymama.com

Start by printing out the "You Are My Sunshine" gift tags on heavy cardstock or watercolor paper with at little texture as possible. Cut the gift tags out and grab some watercolors. Any kind of watercolors will do!! You'll also need a paint brush and a small cup of water.

Free Printable Foil Watercolor Gift Tags at artsyfartsymama.com

For best results painting on cardstock, wet the watercolors, then paint on the dry paper. Get creative! Paint in any colors, make messy or clean paint strokes, and paint a section of the tag, or the entire thing!

**Very important: let the paper dry completely before adding foil in the next step! When the tags have dried, take a damp cloth or paper towel and wipe the front of the tags. This will help remove some of the paint off the printed text.

Foil Gift Tags in a snap at artsyfartsymama.com #HSMinc #foilallthethings

There are tons of ways to foil projects, but none are as easy and quick as using the Minc, especially for this project!! The Minc is an incredible crafting tool that turns laser printed items (both pre-made or your own custom designs) into a beautifully foiled creation in just seconds. You can see more in my previous post introducing the Minc and showing what it can do!

Turn on the Minc machine and set the heat setting to 3. The Minc foils come in a variety of colors, so it's fun to be able to coordinate them with the watercolor colors I used on the tags. Cut the foils with sharp scissors to cover the wording on the gift tags.

Open the carrier sheet and place the painted gift tags face up. Carefully lay the foil pieces over the tags (color side up) and lightly press down and make sure none of the text is uncovered. Carefully lay the top of the carrier sheet down over your project and smooth it out with your hand.

Tip: Sometimes static on the carrier sheet can cause the foil to shift, so just work slowly and try to keep everything in place as best you can.

Free Printable Foil Watercolor Gift Tags at artsyfartsymama.com

Run the carrier sheet through the Minc, then remove the tags and foil. Peel up the foil, and voila! Foiled, watercolored tags in just minutes!!

**The reason you need to find a watercolor paper with little to no texture is because the foil won't stick properly on textured paper. The smoother the paper, the better.

Free Printable Foil Watercolor Gift Tags at artsyfartsymama.com

To finish turning the tags into usable tags, simply use a standard hole punch to punch a hole in the center of the beveled side of the tag.

Free Printable Foil Watercolor Gift Tags at artsyfartsymama.com

Use some baker's twine, ribbon, or jute and thread it through the hole in the tag so you can easily attach it to any gift or package.

Free Printable Foil Watercolor Gift Tags at artsyfartsymama.com

I love the unique look these tags give to any gift, and will really "brighten" someone's day! Even though I don't have a lot of gifts to give out right now, I just can't stop making these tags because it's so easy and fun!!


Make your own Foil Watercolor "You Are My Sunshine" Print at artsyfartsymama.com

I've also made the "You Are My Sunshine" into a printable 8x10 for you to frame and put on display! Print it out on cardstock or untextured watercolor paper, then paint to your heart's content. Let it dry, then run it through the Minc the same way as the gift tags.

Make your own Foil Watercolor "You Are My Sunshine" Print at artsyfartsymama.com

Peel the foil, and place your print in a frame or hang on a clipboard. It really adds some color and shine to your space and it's fun to create custom decor for your home!


If you want to make your own foil creations, the Minc starter kit and accessories are available at Hobby Lobby and Jo-Ann, as well as local stores and online shops.

Monday, June 15, 2015

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

Monday, June 15, 2015

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

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Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes at artsyfartsymama.com

Strawberry shortcake is a must-have during the summer. Instead of making an entire pan of it and eating it all myself in one day, I decided to make a smaller, more portable version of my favorite dessert: strawberry shortcake cupcakes with a whipped cream cream cheese frosting!!

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes at artsyfartsymama.com

Using your favorite white cake recipe (or cake mix), bake 24 cupcakes. Let cool completely.

While the cupcakes are cooling, wash and cut the tops off 25-30 small or medium sized strawberries.

With a spoon, scoop out the center of the cupcake so that there's just enough room to fit a strawberry. Place a strawberry into the center of each cupcake.

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes at artsyfartsymama.com

Next, it's time to top that cupcake with some light, fluffy whipped cream cream cheese frosting! This frosting also makes a delicious fruit dip!!

Frosting Recipe:
8 oz Cream Cheese
12 oz Whipped Topping
3-4 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar

Directions:
  1. Combine the cream cheese and powdered sugar with a hand mixer until fluffy.
  2. Fold in whipped topping with a spatula or hand mixer on low until combined.
  3. Add frosting to tops of cupcakes with a spoon or using a piping bag.
  4. Slice strawberries and add a slice to the top.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Patriotic Necklace and Pinwheel Hair Clip

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Patriotic Necklace and Pinwheel Hair Clip

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DIY Patriotic Necklace Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

The 4th of July is on its way, which means lots of bright red, white, and blue decor, fireworks, and a full day of celebrating our country. To get my daughter all ready for the big day, I've teamed up with Fizzy Pops to create some unique accessories to wear in celebration of our country's birthday.
Friday, June 5, 2015

Free Printable Minions Bingo

Friday, June 5, 2015

Free Printable Minions Bingo

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In anticipation of the new Minions movie coming to theaters on July 10th (and because Minions are pretty much the best thing ever), I decided to create a free printable Minions bingo game for you to play!! My daughter loves everything Minion, and we've been having so much fun playing this bingo and seeing all the Minions being, well, Minions!!

Free Printable Minions Bingo at artsyfartsymama.com
Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Father's Day Candy Bar Wrapper

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Father's Day Candy Bar Wrapper

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Put together this Free Printable Father's Day Candy Bar Wrapper and Questionnaire for dad this year!

Father's Day gifts from kids are pretty much the cutest thing ever. Especially if it includes their handwriting! This free printable Father's Day Candy Bar Wrapper is simple to put together and is a gift that any father (or grandfather) would love!!
Monday, June 1, 2015

Dolly & Me Tie-Dye Party

Monday, June 1, 2015

Dolly & Me Tie-Dye Party

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Dolly and Me Tie-Dye Party at artsyfartsymama.com #TieDyeYourSummer

One of my daughter's favorite things right now is playing with her 18 inch doll and coordinating their outfits. Her other friends with dolls are the same way, so we teamed up with Tie Dye Your Summer to throw a Dolly and Me Tie-Dye Party!! It was such a fun, colorful way to start our summer, and I'm excited to share the details with you today!!