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Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Free Printable Roald Dahl Bookmarks

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Free Printable Roald Dahl Bookmarks

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My daughter and I love reading. We love reading on our own, and especially love reading together. One of our favorite authors is Roald Dahl, and we've been working through reading all of his books. We recently finished Matilda, and one of my favorite things about this book is Matilda's love of wonderful books and reading, along with the clever shenanigans! 

Free Printable Roald Dahl Bookmarks and DIY Mini Tassel Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

3 Ingredient Ranch Pretzels

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

3 Ingredient Ranch Pretzels

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Whether you're looking for a simple snack in the afternoon, or want to impress your friends with something delicious, these ranch pretzels are a must have. With only 3 ingredients and the tiniest amount of work, you can have warm ranch pretzels ready for any occasion in minutes.

Easy 3 Ingredient Ranch Pretzels at artsyfartsymama.com

Ingredients:
15 oz pretzels (either twists and/or sticks work great)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 oz package Ranch dressing mix

Directions:
  1. In a small mixing bowl or cup, mix oil and ranch dressing mix together well.
  2. Pour pretzels into a large mixing bowl. Pour ranch and oil mixture over the pretzels and combine with a large spoon until all the pretzels are covered. Let sit for 30 minutes - 1 hour, stirring the pretzels every 10-15 minutes.
  3. Pour pretzels onto a baking sheet and bake at 275º for 20 minutes.
  4. Let cool, then store pretzels in an airtight container or Ziploc bag.

These really are that simple! With a little help from an adult, this is also a fun recipe for kids to help with. My daughter loves helping me make (and eat) them. These pretzels are also fun to give as a tasty gift!!

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

DIY Back to School Supplies

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

DIY Back to School Supplies

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Thanks to Elmer's and Mead for the supplies used in this post. All opinions are my own.

DIY Back to School Supply Ideas at artsyfartsymama.com

Back to school supplies are popping up in stores everywhere right now, which means summer is slowly coming to an end. The only thing better than brand new school supplies is being able to make them your own! I'm excited to share some DIY back to school supply inspiration using products from Mead and Elmer's to get your kids excited to start the school year off with some personalized school supplies!

DIY Back to School Supply Ideas at artsyfartsymama.com

Let's start with my personal favorite: the Mead Trapper Keeper Binder! I used to have one of my own when I was in school, and loved it! I was always excited to organize all my school supplies in one place, and looked forward to choosing from the large array of Trapper Keeper designs available each year to carry in my new backpack. 

My daughter loves Hello Kitty, so naturally the Hello Kitty Trapper Keeper Binder was a hit. We decided to dress it up by adding some bling to the outside. We used Elmer's X-Treme School Glue to attach gems in different sizes and colors because of its stronger hold than regular school glues. Plus it's washable so you don't have to worry about letting your kids go crazy decorating their supplies.

DIY Back to School Supply Ideas at artsyfartsymama.com

To attach the gems, add a small drop of glue to the back and press it on the Trapper Keeper. Make sure the binder is lying flat while the glue dries so the gems don't shift or slide off! 

DIY Back to School Supply Ideas at artsyfartsymama.com

Once the glue dries, the binder is ready to use! We added gems randomly to the front of the binder, on Hello Kitty's bow on the spine, and on the flap. My daughter loves the extra sparkle, and there won't be anyone showing up to school with *exactly* the same thing!

DIY Back to School Supply Ideas at artsyfartsymama.com

Personalizing folders is super easy, too! You can get Mead folders in tons of designs, and some are even designed to coordinate with the Trapper Keeper. We cut some hearts out of glittery cardstock (to coordinate with Hello Kitty) in colors that matched the folder, and simply glued them on with Elmer's X-Treme School Glue Stick and let it dry. You could also glue on gems and other embellishments to make it your own!


You can find Mead notebooks for awesome prices in all different sizes, colors and patterns. This red one fits perfectly in the Trapper Keeper with the Snapper Trapper binding, but the red color just didn't match the rest of the folders! So, with a little glitter cardstock and glue stick, we were able to personalize it in a snap!


Measure the notebook (up to the wire binding), then cut a piece of glitter cardstock to fit. If you don't have the Snapper Trapper on the binding, be sure to mark where the holes need to go and punch them out with a hole punch so you can easily put the notebook in the binder when you're done.

Cover the back of the cardstock with a good amount of glue stick, making sure to get the edges and corners covered really well. Align the paper with the edge of the notebook cover, and smooth it out and press it down with your hands. If needed, place something heavy on top until the glue dries. We also added a heart with a gem embellishment to the corner of the notebook to bring in the Hello Kitty theme.

DIY Back to School Supply Ideas at artsyfartsymama.com

Even though it won't snap into the binder, we also decorated a Mead Academie Wirebound Sketchbook with a glitter cardstock cover, and added a couple of glitter cardstock hearts to the folder inside the sketchbook with X-Treme glue stick.

DIY Back to School Supply Ideas at artsyfartsymama.com

Don't forget to add some Elmer's School Glue and glue sticks to your pencil case! When it comes to personalizing your school supplies, the possibilities are endless. I hope we've inspired you to get creative with your back to school supplies to make them the best looking supplies of the year!!

To really kick off Back to School season, join me to chat about school supplies with Elmer's and Mead at a Twitter party on August 4th from 12pm - 1pm ET! Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

DIY Foil Notebooks

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

DIY Foil Notebooks

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

DIY Foil Notebooks at artsyfartsymama.com

In my opinion, you can never have enough notebooks! Being able to make some yourself for a fraction of the cost of buying them in the store is even more of a bonus. These DIY Foil Notebooks are really fun and quick to put together with some printables and the Minc machine. The notebooks are a both stylish and functional way to organize your shopping lists, and as a journal or back to school notebook for the kids!

DIY Foil Notebooks at artsyfartsymama.com

To create your notebook, you'll need to start with the cover. Simply print out the notebook cover (free printable available at the end of this post) on cardstock using a laser printer and trim. Make it fun by printing on any color of cardstock, then choose a coordinating color foil!

Using a ruler and a bone folder, make a crease along the center of the cover. This will make things a lot easier later on.

DIY Foil Notebooks at artsyfartsymama.com

There are tons of ways to add foil to your projects, but none are as easy and quick as using the Minc!! The Minc is one of my favorite crafting tools that turns laser printed items (both pre-made or your own custom designs) into a beautifully foiled creation in just seconds. You can find the Minc starter kit and accessories at Hobby Lobby and Jo-Ann, as well as at some local stores and online shops.

To create the beautiful foil look on the notebooks, set the Minc heat setting to 3 or 4. Then, cut a piece of Minc foil in a coordinating color to cover the paper. Open the carrier sheet and place the notebook cover face up. Carefully lay the foil over the paper (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.

DIY Foil Notebooks at artsyfartsymama.com

Place the carrier sheet into the Minc until the rollers grab it to pull it through the machine. Let it run all the way through, then carefully open the carrier sheet. Remove the paper and foil, then slowly peel the foil off the paper. Now your notebook cover is foiled and looking gorgeous! It really is as simple as that.

DIY Foil Notebooks at artsyfartsymama.com

Now that your cover is ready, you need some paper to go inside the notebook! I've created 3 different designs that you can print on regular copy paper:
  1. Large lined, for kids to be able to draw a picture and write a short sentence below.
  2. Standard lined paper, which is great for journaling or making lists!
  3. Blank, for when you just want to do what you want.
Each notebook will need no more than 8 sheets of paper. You can print the sheets double sided, or mix things up. It's your notebook, so create it to work best for you!! Once the pages have been printed, crease the center fold of each page with a ruler and bone folder.


DIY Foil Notebooks at artsyfartsymama.com

Now it's time to assemble the notebook! Lay the pages flat and align the creases of each page, including the cover. Make sure everything is centered, and use binding clips to hold the pages together.

DIY Foil Notebooks at artsyfartsymama.com

Turn the notebook over, and use a sewing machine to bind the book together. Set the machine to the longest stitch and sew VERY slowly along the fold line. Be sure to back stitch at the beginning and the end.

If you don't have a sewing machine, no problem! You can hand sew (punch small holes along the fold line with a thumbtack), or even use staples along the fold line. Just make sure to keep the pages together with binding clips so the pages don't shift and make for a crooked notebook.

DIY Foil Notebooks at artsyfartsymama.com

Once the book has been sewn, trim the excess thread. Now your notebook is finished and ready to be written in!! These notebooks will make great gifts, or would be a unique back to school notebook!!

DIY Foil Notebooks at artsyfartsymama.com

When you first close the notebooks, they will probably pop right back open. Press along the seam with the bone folder a few times, and that should help the notebooks stay closed. I have two different printable cover designs to share with you so you can create your own DIY foil notebooks!

Download the "Be Silly Be Honest Be Kind" Notebook Cover
Download the "The Best Ideas" Notebook Cover

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 share this on the internet, credit must be given to Artsy-Fartsy Mama & linked back to this post.

Monday, July 13, 2015

DIY Pie Stand

Monday, July 13, 2015

DIY Pie Stand

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DIY Pie Stand Tutorial at artsyfartsymama.com

Whether you are throwing a party or just want to enjoy some dessert with the family, EDWARDS® Whole Pies are an affordable and delicious way to celebrate. Your pie will look even more appetizing on this easy DIY Pie Stand, and it will only cost you a few dollars to create!
Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Free Printable Dinosaur Bingo

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Free Printable Dinosaur Bingo

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Have some ROAR-some fun playing this Free Printable Dinosaur Bingo!


Free Printable Dinosaur Bingo at artsyfartsymama.com

My daughter has recently become very interested in everything there is to learn about dinosaurs. We've been reading all kinds of books about dinosaurs and watching television shows and movies. For those of you that are also dinosaur fans, I've put together a FREE printable dinosaur bingo
Monday, July 6, 2015

Easy Banana Muffins

Monday, July 6, 2015

Easy Banana Muffins

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We absolutely love banana bread here at our house, but I am not a huge fan of complicated recipes. These easy banana muffins really are incredibly easy to throw together, and taste amazing plain or with additions like chocolate chips (our favorite), nuts, or other berries! So, next time you have some bananas starting to brown on your counter, whip up some of these muffins for your family. You won't be sorry!!

Easy Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins Recipe at artsyfartsymama.com

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 medium ripe bananas, mashed
1 egg
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Easy Chocolate Chip Banana Mini Loaves Recipe at artsyfartsymama.com

Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350º.
  2. Mix the mashed bananas, egg, butter, vanilla extract and milk. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together.
  3. Stir the banana mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined (do not overmix). Stir in chocolate chips.
  4. Fill muffin liners or greased mini loaf pan about 3/4 full. Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top, if desired.
  5. Bake for 30-32 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  6. Cool on a wire rack. Makes around 12 muffins.
Recipe adapted from www.epicurious.com