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Tuesday, June 27, 2017

DIY Unicorn Shirt

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

DIY Unicorn Shirt

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This a sponsored post with Expressions Vinyl and may contain affiliate links.


DIY Unicorn Shirt made with vinyl and fabric spray paint!
Sunday, June 25, 2017

Free Printable LEGO Batman Bookmarks

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Free Printable LEGO Batman Bookmarks

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Thanks to LEGO for the books that inspired these Free Printable LEGO Batman Bookmarks. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The LEGO® Batman™ Movie is now available on DVD & Blu-Ray, and we've been watching it non-stop at our house! My daughter can't get enough LEGO Batman. Since I am a mean mom that won't let her sit in front of the television all through her summer break, I've found a great alternative that she's definitely on board with: reading about LEGO Batman!!

Encourage reading with The LEGO® Batman™ Movie books and Free Printable LEGO Batman Bookmarks

Did you know there are a bunch of The LEGO® Batman Movie books available for kids of all ages? We're talking about four of our favorites here today!! If that isn't enough to get your kids begging to go to the bookstore or library to pick one up, I've also got some Free Printable LEGO Batman Bookmarks for you to print off to get them excited about reading!

Encourage reading with The LEGO® Batman™ Movie books and Free Printable LEGO Batman Bookmarks

Want to know everything there is to know about LEGO Batman? The LEGO® Batman Movie: The Essential Guide has it all. The perfect companion to LEGO Batman's first solo movie, this 64-page fact-filled book showcases the full range of exciting LEGO Batman sets and minifigures that will be released to tie in with the film's release. Heroes, villains, vehicles, and locations are all explored in classic DK style, with lively and informative nonfiction text to annotate and expand upon lavish reference images of LEGO Batman sets and scenes from the movie.

Encourage reading with The LEGO® Batman™ Movie books and Free Printable LEGO Batman Bookmarks

My personal favorite, The LEGO® Batman Movie: Batman's Guide to Being Cool will have you laughing and feeling pretty, well, COOL! This guide features full-color images from The LEGO® Batman Movie. It's the coolest guide in town!

Are you ready to stalk the night, fight crime, defeat your greatest enemy, and find a crime fighting partner who is almost as awesome as you are? Are you ready to do something cool? If you answered "yes," then this is the guide for you! Discover your inner cool with help from Batman, the coolest super hero in all of Gotham City and, yes, the universe.

Encourage reading with The LEGO® Batman™ Movie books and Free Printable LEGO Batman Bookmarks

Perfect for beginners learning to read, The LEGO® Batman™ Movie: Team Batman will take readers on an adventure find out about the minifigures, vehicles, and locations of LEGO Batman, while learning to read with support. The book contains short, simple sentences with an emphasis on frequently used words. Crisp photographic images with labels provide visual clues to introduce and reinforce vocabulary.

Encourage reading with The LEGO® Batman™ Movie books and Free Printable LEGO Batman Bookmarks

The LEGO® Batman Movie: Ultimate Sticker Collection combines fun and informative captions with a range of innovative and engrossing sticker activities! With more than 1000 stickers, this one is a must-have for all LEGO Batman fans. It showcases many of the exciting LEGO Batman sets and minifigures that are being released to tie in with Batman's first solo movie!!

Encourage reading with The LEGO® Batman™ Movie books and Free Printable LEGO Batman Bookmarks

There are 8 The LEGO® Batman™ Movie bookmarks that are free for you to print and use for personal use. On them you'll find your favorite characters: Batman, Batgirl, Robin, and Joker! For best results, print the bookmarks on cardstock and laminate.


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'd like to share this project, credit must be given to Artsy-Fartsy Mama & linked back to this post.

Encourage reading with The LEGO® Batman™ Movie books and Free Printable LEGO Batman Bookmarks

Be sure to visit LEGO to find the COOLEST LEGO® Batman books to read with your new bookmarks!

Who's your favorite LEGO® Batman character?

Friday, June 23, 2017

4th of July Backyard Party Ideas

Friday, June 23, 2017

4th of July Backyard Party Ideas

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Oriental Trading provided product for this 4th of July Backyard Party. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The 4th of July is a holiday that always brings my family together. Every year we would have dinner, play games, and end the evening by watching a fireworks display. We have been working hard all spring to renovate our backyard, so this year we wanted to celebrate the 4th of July in our new outdoor living space with a little help from Oriental Trading!

4th of July Backyard Party Ideas #OrientalTrading

Our central display was a 6-foot table that we covered with a blue plastic tablecloth, and a tiered patriotic fringe table skirt. Adding a festive table skirt is a simple and effective way to bring the patriotic party vibe to your party! I also hung up a blue patriotic garland mingled with shimmering tinsel stars for an eye-catching decoration as the backdrop (aka our fence) to coordinate with our sparkly table skirt.

4th of July Backyard Party Ideas #OrientalTrading

Every tablescape needs a centerpiece, and ours was this easy-to-assemble cupcake stand! Since it's made of white foam, it's simple for you to dress it up to match your decor with ribbons, felt, etc. I kept it simple by leaving the cupcake stand blank. The bottom two layers were filled with patriotic mini cupcakes and sugar cookies. On the top layer, I filled a gift bag with a patriotic pick with shimmery stars, sprigs of tinsel, and flags.

4th of July Backyard Party Ideas #OrientalTrading

Now that we've got the treats covered, you can't forget drinks! I filled up a mason jar beverage dispenser with a fruit punch, because it's both delicious AND brings that bright red color to our tablescape! Next to the dispenser, I arranged mason jar glasses and patriotic paper straws for my guests to enjoy their beverages in style!

4th of July Backyard Party Ideas #OrientalTrading

On the left side of the table, I arranged patriotic gift bags to keep the kids busy until the sun goes down. Each gift bag was filled with treats, a mix of fun patriotic toys, flag bracelets, glow sticks, and you can't forget sparklers and bang snaps/poppers!!

4th of July Backyard Party Ideas #OrientalTrading

While waiting for our food on the grill or just passing the time until the fireworks show, playing patriotic games and activities is fun for the whole family like this Patriotic Backyard Tic-Tac-Toe Game! All you have to do is arrange the nylon strings and decide whether you want to be X or O.

4th of July Backyard Party Ideas #OrientalTrading

Bowling is a another party activity that provides hours of family fun! This Glow-in-the-Dark Bowling Set is a great after-dark outdoor game that's perfect for barbecues, 4th of July parties, birthday parties, and more! The set comes with 10 pins, 10 red glow sticks, and two bowling balls.

4th of July Backyard Party Ideas #OrientalTrading

While this set glows in the dark, that doesn't mean you have to wait for the sun to go down to have some fun! You can set up the pins and roll the balls across the lawn to knock pins down throughout the day.

4th of July Backyard Party Ideas #OrientalTrading

To make the pins "glow" you'll need to activate the glow sticks by bending at the center until you hear it crack. Shake the glow stick to disperse the "glow" and place it inside the bottom of the bowling pins. Kids love helping with this part!! The holes in the bottom of the pins are a little bigger than a dime, so the glow sticks are easy to remove and replace.

4th of July Backyard Party Ideas #OrientalTrading

The glow sticks are a one-time use, but they stay lit up for hours!! We had a ton of fun bowling the night away, and it was nice to have some yard games that families of all ages enjoyed playing. Since it's made of lightweight plastic, you can even play indoors! My daughter has been bowling down our hallway for the past few days - hooray for summer break entertainment!!

4th of July Backyard Party Ideas #OrientalTrading

We are so excited to host our 4th of July celebration in our freshly renovated backyard with family and friends. Grab some patriotic decorations from Oriental Trading to get more party for your money, and have a safe holiday!!

How do you celebrate the 4th of July?

Friday, June 16, 2017

Amazing Shopkins Birthday Party on a Budget!

Friday, June 16, 2017

Amazing Shopkins Birthday Party on a Budget!

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Thanks to Oriental Trading for helping make our Shopkins Birthday Party even more amazing!

Throw an Amazing Shopkins Birthday Party on a Budget with Oriental Trading and FREE printables!

This year my daughter was adamant that she have a Shopkins-themed party and had been making plans for months. This was her first birthday party with friends (rather than just family and cousins), so the pressure was on to make this party awesome!

While "Pinterest-perfect" parties are the goal most of us strive to achieve, our budgets don't always agree with these huge birthday party plans. I know I'm not the only one in this predicament, so I wanted to share some simple tips, FREE printables, and more about how we were able to throw an amazing Shopkins party on a budget for my daughter that her friends are STILL talking about!

Throw an Amazing Shopkins Birthday Party on a Budget!

Shopkins are a popular item right now, so of course Shopkins-themed party supplies will be more expensive in stores - ultimately eating up your budget quickly. After shopping around, I found that Shopkins party supplies at Oriental Trading had the best prices. Best of all, it was shipped to my house so I didn't need to set foot in a store!

To prep for the party set a table with a Shopkins plastic tablecloth, and arrange the banners and centerpieces from the Shopkins decorating kit. I also taped a Shopkins door cover on our wall for some extra decor and a fun background for photos with friends throughout the party!

I also placed some colored pencils on the table inside Shopkins paper cups to get the party started along with some free printable Shopkins coloring pages to work on while waiting for all the guests to arrive!

Throw an Amazing Shopkins Birthday Party on a Budget!

Once everyone was done coloring, we took a break to enjoy some Shopkins-themed snacks like Pretz-elle's pretzels, Kooky Cookie's chocolate chip cookies, and Poppy Corn's popcorn on Shopkins paper plates. We then played a few rounds of Free Printable Shopkins Bingo, which is always a favorite game to play at birthday parties!

Free Printable "Pin the Candle on Wishes" Party Game for an Amazing Shopkins Birthday Party on a Budget!

When my husband and I were growing up, we always played some kind of "pin the..." game at birthday parties! I haven't seen it played in ages, so I put together a fun "Pin the Candle on Wishes" (the official Shopkins birthday cake) that is totally free for you to download and use at your own birthday parties (personal use only, please)!!

To play the game: place a blindfold on the player, spin them around a couple of times. Add a piece of tape to the back of a candle piece and the player tries to place the candle on Wishes in the empty spot. The player that gets the closest to the missing candle is the winner!


For best results: print the party game on cardstock. Because printing posters can get pricey, I've put the poster file together so that you can print it on just 6 pages and piece it together (as shown above). To get more life out of the party game, I would recommend laminating the candle pieces and the poster itself.

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'd like to share this project, credit must be given to Artsy-Fartsy Mama & linked back to this post.

Grab a Kooky Cookie Piñata for an Amazing Shopkins Birthday Party on a Budget!

The highlight of our party was definitely the Shopkins Kooky Cookie Pull-String Piñata! This isn't your average piñata! This one gets filled with candy and prizes, then party guests take turns pulling the strings to release the candy instead of ducking for cover while a blindfolded kid takes a whack at the nearest object(s). Plus Kooky Cookie stays intact, which made my daughter beyond ecstatic to make him (her?) a piece of decor in her Shopkins-themed bedroom! Win-win.

Adorable Shopkins Party Favors for an Amazing Shopkins Birthday Party on a Budget!

Along with candy, we also put together party favors for our guests. We gave two Shopkins temporary tattoos, a few Shopkins stickers, a Shopkins pencil, a stretchy Shopkins rubber bracelet, a candy bar to look like the character Cheeky Chocolate, and a Shopkins 2-pack (the most expensive part of the favor)! As always, these are just ideas! You can go as big or as little on the party favors as you want depending on your budget.

Adorable Shopkins Party Favors for an Amazing Shopkins Birthday Party on a Budget!

Place all of the party favor items into a clear plastic gift bag and tie with a ribbon. For more Shopkins cuteness, some stability, and a great way for guests to hold all the piñata goodies is to give the gift bag with an empty Shopkins paper cup!

Free Printable Cheeky Chocolate Candy Bar Wrappers for an Amazing Shopkins Birthday Party on a Budget!

I'd also love to help you with party favors by offering some Cheeky Chocolate candy bar wrappers for you to use! They will fit around most chocolate bars. Print the designs on regular copy paper, cut, and tape the edges together in the back. Simple as that!!



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'd like to share this project, credit must be given to Artsy-Fartsy Mama & linked back to this post.

Throw an Amazing Shopkins Birthday Party on a Budget with Oriental Trading and FREE printables!

This party was a ton of fun to put together, and it makes it even sweeter that my wallet didn't take a huge hit from it. I need to try to remind myself that these parties are more for creating memories, not perfection. If you're looking for party favors, decor, and games for your birthday parties, be sure to check out Oriental Trading to make life easier!

What do you think? If you've got any ideas or suggestions to help make parties even better on the budget, let's hear them in the comments!

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Chicken Bacon Kebabs

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Chicken Bacon Kebabs

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #IceColdSummerMoments #CollectiveBias

Summer Share A Coke Gift Idea with Chicken Bacon Kebabs Recipe #IceColdSummerMoments

There's nothing quite like sharing an ice cold Coca-Cola™ with family and friends during the summer! A lot of my family will be camping in their fancy trailers and tents this summer, so I decided to put together a "cool" camping-themed gift basket filled with all kinds of goodies to help them enjoy their summer adventures to the fullest!

Summer Share A Coke Gift Idea with Chicken Bacon Kebabs Recipe #IceColdSummerMoments

Share a Coke is back with 1,000 new Share A Coke names featuring first AND last names this year! I was able to find all the names I needed (and more) for our "cool" camping gift basket. I also grabbed a Coca-Cola Zero™ with my husband's name on it so he didn't feel left out!

Summer Share A Coke Gift Idea with Chicken Bacon Kebabs Recipe #IceColdSummerMoments

We found everything we needed for our "cool" gift basket at Target, including the Share A Coke bottles! I'm always so excited to see all of the fun and colorful items you can add to the cooler (including awesome cooler designs) in the summer displays in Target.

When you purchase Coca-Cola from Target, be sure to check use the Cartwheel offer to save 20% on 20oz Share A Coke bottles! 

Summer Share A Coke Gift Idea with Chicken Bacon Kebabs Recipe #IceColdSummerMoments

We're also going to include a recipe card and ingredients to make Chicken Bacon Kebabs for our friends to make while their camping this summer!

Cut a chicken breast into 1-inch pieces. Place into a bowl and pour about 1/4 cup over the chicken and stir until the chicken is coated. Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes. You can also cover and place in the refrigerator overnight to let it really absorb that Coca-Cola flavor!

Summer Share A Coke Gift Idea with Chicken Bacon Kebabs Recipe #IceColdSummerMoments

To assemble the skewer, first stick the end of a slice of thick-cut bacon onto the skewer. Place a piece of chicken, then fold the bacon over it and skewer it as well. Keep repeating until you get to the other end of the bacon.

*Feel free to also incorporate vegetables, pineapple, and other meats onto this kebab. My husband is allergic to most fruits and vegetables, so we kept things simple with just the chicken and bacon.

Summer Share A Coke Gift Idea with Chicken Bacon Kebabs Recipe #IceColdSummerMoments

Place the skewers onto the preheated grill and cook for about 5-8 minutes per side, or until completely cooked through. Enjoy immediately, or brush lightly in a barbecue sauce and place on the grill for another couple of minutes.

I think these kebabs will be perfect for Memorial Day, Father’s Day, and Fourth of July. Actually, they are great for really any occasion you can make up to grill: think summer pool parties, graduation parties, camping, random weekdays... The point is, you just need to try them!

Chicken Bacon Kebabs
Makes 4-5 kebabs

Ingredients
1 lb chicken breast
5 strips thick-cut bacon
1/4 cup Coca-Cola
Optional - vegetables, pineapple

Directions
  1. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces.
  2. Place chicken into a bowl and pour about 1/4 cup Coca-Cola over the chicken. Stir until the chicken is coated. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
  3. To assemble the skewer: stick the end of a slice of thick-cut bacon onto the skewer. Place a piece of chicken, then fold the bacon over it and poke it through with the skewer. Keep repeating until you get to the other end of the bacon. (If adding optional ingredients, incorporate those into the skewering pattern)
  4. Preheat the grill on high and place skewers directly on the grill.
  5. Cook for about 5-8 minutes per side, or until completely cooked through.
    *To cook in the oven, bake at 400º for 10 minutes, or until completely cooked through.

Summer Share A Coke Gift Idea with Chicken Bacon Kebabs Recipe #IceColdSummerMoments

This awesome cooler is the perfect size for holding everything you'd need for a picnic or for camping goodies to enjoy on summer adventures. We filled the cooler with Share A Coke bottles, ingredients for chicken bacon kebabs, skewers, cute bags of popcorn, and more!

Summer Share A Coke Gift Idea with Chicken Bacon Kebabs Recipe #IceColdSummerMoments

No matter which variety you prefer, you can never go wrong with sharing an ice cold Coke with a friend! Be sure to visit Coca-Cola to find more summer inspiration!

Who will you be sharing an ice cold Coke with this summer?

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Chicken Teriyaki Pizza

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Chicken Teriyaki Pizza

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Conagra Brands. All opinions are mine alone. #SimpleSecret #CollectiveBias

Chicken Teriyaki Pizza is a delicious meal loaded with Asian flavors and made with just a few ingredients!

Make Chicken Teriyaki Pizza for dinner tonight! #SimpleSecret

This Chicken Teriyaki Pizza recipe is a family favorite with NEW P.F. Chang's® Home Menu sauces found at Walmart, chopped chicken, crisp salty bacon, fresh pineapple chunks, and scallions.

Make Chicken Teriyaki Pizza for dinner tonight! #SimpleSecret

Right now you can find the P.F. Chang's® Home Menu sauces at your local Walmart. You will see the sauces in the Asian Food section in the condiment aisle. Making Asian food at home is easier than ever with these sauces in your kitchen!

Make Chicken Teriyaki Pizza for dinner tonight! #SimpleSecret

Let's talk about ingredients. My pizza dough recipe is one of my favorites because it's literally mix-and-go! Fry up some bacon, chop some scallions, and open a can of chopped pineapple and your pizza is ready to assemble.

Make Chicken Teriyaki Pizza for dinner tonight! #SimpleSecret

P.F. Chang's® teriyaki sauce is the "simple secret to extraordinary flavor"​. It's packed with the teriyaki flavor you love without the work of making a sauce from scratch. Just pour it straight from the bottle onto the dough and add the toppings for the perfect pizza.

Add extra flavor to the chicken by marinating it in P.F. Chang's® teriyaki sauce beforehand, and cook the chicken with a little more of the sauce to keep it moist and flavorful.

Make Chicken Teriyaki Pizza for dinner tonight! #SimpleSecret

Add the rest of the pizza toppings and bake according to directions. This pizza isn't your typical Asian dish, but it certainly brings those flavors together in a simple way that saves you time and is a recipe even kids will love!

Make Chicken Teriyaki Pizza for dinner tonight! #SimpleSecret

Chicken Teriyaki Pizza
Makes 12 inch pizza

Pizza Dough:
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter (room temperature)

Directions:
  1. Mix dry ingredients together.
  2. Add in milk and butter and mix until it becomes a dough. Do not overmix!
  3. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes.
Pizza Toppings:
P.F. Chang's® Home Menu Teriyaki Sauce
1 cup chicken, cooked and chopped
8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup fresh pineapple chunks
1/4 cup scallions, chopped

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 425°.
  2. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
  3. Place pizza crust on baking sheet.
  4. Spread teriyaki sauce evenly over crust, leaving a 1/4 inch border around edges.
  5. Marinate and cook chicken with P.F. Chang's® teriyaki sauce and chop into small pieces.
  6. Top pizza dough evenly with chicken, bacon and pineapple. Sprinkle cheese and scallions over the pizza. 
  7. Bake 12 to 14 minutes, or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

Make Chicken Teriyaki Pizza for dinner tonight! #SimpleSecret

This is one of our newest favorite family recipes, and I can't wait to create more with P.F. Chang's® Home Menu sauces! Don't forget to enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to Scottsdale, AZ (home of the first P.F. Chang's® China Bistro) and to find more Asian recipe inspiration!

What’s your favorite Asian cuisine dish?

Cheerios Breakfast Gift Basket

Cheerios Breakfast Gift Basket

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This is a sponsored post on behalf of Cheerios. All opinions are my own.

Put together a Cheerios Breakfast Gift Basket for friends and family!

Put together a Cheerios Breakfast Gift Basket for friends and family! #GetOneGiveOne #Cheerios #WithLove

Gift baskets are a lot of fun to put together, and this breakfast-themed basket works for all occasions. Cheer up a friend, family member, or even a new neighbor with a box of Cheerios and some other breakfast essentials so that they have at least one meal that they don't need to worry about! I've even included a free printable card for you to download and add to the gift basket when you're done filling it up with your favorite breakfast items.

Put together a Cheerios Breakfast Gift Basket for friends and family! #GetOneGiveOne #Cheerios #WithLove

By participating in the buy a box, give a box promotion you can give the gift of Cheerios to your loved ones! Find your code inside specially marked packages in Walmart stores and enter it on http://wm6.walmart.com/Gluten-Free-Cheerios to send a coupon for a free box of Cheerios to someone that matters. There are a variety of Cheerios to choose from that are part of the promotion, so there's something for everyone! We grabbed a box of regular Cheerios and some Honey Nut Cheerios to share with friends.

Put together a Cheerios Breakfast Gift Basket for friends and family! #GetOneGiveOne #Cheerios #WithLove

Along with the cereal, I wanted to include a few breakfast essentials. Cheerios taste amazing with sliced bananas and strawberries, so I picked out some of each to add to the gift basket. I also found some fun bowls and spoons, because a meal is just a little more fun when your dishes are cute!

Put together a Cheerios Breakfast Gift Basket for friends and family! #GetOneGiveOne #Cheerios #WithLove

Arrange the cereal, fruit, bowls, and spoons in a basket. I lined the bottom with some tissue paper sheets and a colorful cloth napkin. Finding ribbons in coordinating colors also help to bring the gift together. For example, I used a thin ribbon to tie the spoons together, wrapped some tulle around the jar of strawberries, and tied a large red ribbon around the basket handle.

Put together a Cheerios Breakfast Gift Basket for friends and family! #GetOneGiveOne #Cheerios #WithLove

Every gift needs some kind of a card, and I've created the perfect one for this Cheerios Breakfast Gift Basket! An adorable Cheerio sits on the front, waving his little hand, and greeting you with a "Cheerio!". For best results, print the card on a heavy cardstock and use a scoring tool along the center of the card to get a clean fold line.


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'd like to share this project, credit must be given to Artsy-Fartsy Mama & linked back to this post.

I'm excited to see my friend's reaction when she receives this Cheerios Breakfast Gift Basket. It was a lot of fun to put together, and I'm looking forward to sharing a lot more Cheerios with the the buy a box, give a box promotion!!

Who would you share a box of Cheerios with?

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Easily Blend Colored Pencils with Baby Oil

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Easily Blend Colored Pencils with Baby Oil

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I have been compensated by Johnson's® Baby for this post; however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own.

Easily Blend Colored Pencils with Baby Oil to take your coloring to the next level! #JohnsonsBeautyHack

I have always enjoyed coloring and creating with colored pencils. It wasn't until recently that I discovered a new technique of using baby oil to take my coloring to a whole new level! In fact, I am kind of obsessing over it and have been SO excited to share this awesome hack with all of you. So without further ado, here is how you can easily blend colored pencils with baby oil!

Easily Blend Colored Pencils with Baby Oil to take your coloring to the next level! #JohnsonsBeautyHack

Besides your image to color, you will also need a few other supplies. First, you will need some colored pencils. My favorite brand is Prismacolor because of the quality and vibrant colors. However, you can use any brand of colored pencils with this trick.

You'll also need some baby oil. I grabbed some Johnson's® Baby Oil at Walmart in the baby products aisle right next to the baby wash and body lotion.

Last, but not least, you'll need some precision tip cotton swabs. They are perfect for blending your colored pencil projects because the pointed end is shaped just like your pencils. You can also find these at Walmart in the beauty aisle or near the regular cotton swabs.

Easily Blend Colored Pencils with Baby Oil to take your coloring to the next level! #JohnsonsBeautyHack

Download and print the cactus printable at the end of the post. You will need to print on a laser printer for the baby oil hack to work. Using a print from an inkjet printer or water soluble ink will bleed and ruin your project. You will also need a high quality cardstock for best results. Paper texture will also make a difference. A smooth paper will result in smooth color, while a rougher surface will show lots of texture.

Now that your image is printed, you can use any technique you want to color your picture: color lightly or press harder for a more saturated color, stipple (dotting), crosshatch, or just scribble to your heart's content. Like any skill, the more you practice with colored pencils, the better you'll get.

Coloring lighter to darker and layering colors will also give the illusion of shadows and depth. I used 3-4 shades of green on each cactus, but in different orders and areas to get a slightly different look on each one.

Easily Blend Colored Pencils with Baby Oil to take your coloring to the next level! #JohnsonsBeautyHack

Once the picture is colored, it's time to get blending! Grab some cotton swabs and pour a small amount of baby oil into the cap or a small container. You may also want to keep a paper towel on hand.

Easily Blend Colored Pencils with Baby Oil to take your coloring to the next level! #JohnsonsBeautyHack

Dip the tip of the cotton swab into the baby oil. Start with the tiniest amount, because a little goes a long way. Blot on the paper towel if you pick up too much. The trick is to use just a little bit of oil, otherwise it can leak through the paper and cause it to rip.

Hold the cotton swab like a pencil, and rub it on the colored area with the same amount of pressure that you use to color. The colored pencil strokes will immediately begin to smooth out and blend together like magic!

My best tip is to work slowly and start small with the oil. You can always add more. You can re-dip the colored cotton swab into the oil if you need to "reload". You'll notice you need more oil when the colored pencil isn't blending as easily.

Easily Blend Colored Pencils with Baby Oil to take your coloring to the next level! #JohnsonsBeautyHack

To show you the difference the oil makes, I only blended half of this cactus. The left side is smooth and vibrant, with an almost watercolor-like look. The right side is the unblended colored pencil with 3-4 different colors.

Use a different cotton swab for each color so you don't accidentally blend them together. By using a small amount of oil, I didn't have any problem with oil leaking through the paper. If you happen to over-do it on the oil, don't panic. You can sandwich your image with paper towel and a heavy book on top overnight and it should absorb some of the extra oil from your paper.

The image dries almost immediately, and you can frame it that day! Pour the extra baby oil back into the container to use again next time.

Easily Blend Colored Pencils with Baby Oil to take your coloring to the next level! #JohnsonsBeautyHack

I think I may have a new obsession with this colored pencil and baby oil technique! I just love the way it looks, and it's so unbelievably simple!!

You can print out this image, along with one other cactus image to color and frame in your own home. I have also included both images on one sheet in smaller sizes for you to practice on if you'd like to.

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'd like to share this project, credit must be given to Artsy-Fartsy Mama & linked back to this post.

Go grab some Johnson's® Baby Oil and try it out. You're going to love it! While you're at it, check out these other Johnson's® Baby Hacks for more creative ideas!

If someone is reporting an adverse event or a product quality complaint, please tell them to call the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) North America Consumer Care Center at 800-361-8068 during normal business hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. After normal business hours, they can report adverse events or product quality complaints through www.jnj.com Contact Us page.