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Friday, September 22, 2017

DIY Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl

Friday, September 22, 2017

DIY Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl

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Thanks to Oriental Trading for helping make this post possible. As always, all opinions are my own.

Make a glam Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl filled with allergy-safe goodies to share on Halloween!

Make a glam Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl filled with allergy-safe goodies to share on Halloween!

As a family with a lot of food allergies, I wanted to make a project to help bring awareness to the Teal Pumpkin Project. By simply placing a teal pumpkin on your doorstep, it means that you have non-food treats available for those trick-or-treaters with food allergies or other conditions. This pumpkin was a lot of fun to decorate, and I was able to find a lot of non-food treats from Oriental Trading that every kid will be excited to choose from.

Make a glam Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl filled with allergy-safe goodies to share on Halloween!

To make my treat bowl, I found a white diorama craft pumpkin at the craft store. To transform the white pumpkin to teal, I used Rustoleum pearl metallic spray paint in "Sea Mist". You could also paint the pumpkin with teal acrylic paint.

If you can't find a diorama pumpkin, you can also find carvable craft pumpkins. It's important to make sure that they say "carvable" - otherwise, they are a solid foam and will not work for this project (ask me how I know).

Make a glam Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl filled with allergy-safe goodies to share on Halloween!

Spray 2-3 coats of paint on the outside of the pumpkin - but make sure to let each coat dry completely before adding another to prevent bubbling.

Make a glam Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl filled with allergy-safe goodies to share on Halloween!

Once the paint has dried, you'll need some black acrylic paint. Add a 2-3 of coats of paint to the inside of the pumpkin. I also added a few layers to the stem. Let the paint dry completely.

Make a glam Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl filled with allergy-safe goodies to share on Halloween!

To add a bit of "glam" to the pumpkin, I found some black faceted round gems in different sizes.

Make a glam Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl filled with allergy-safe goodies to share on Halloween!

With a little bit of clear glue, I attached the gems to the stem and around the top of the pumpkin. This is a great time to get creative! Because you can see in between the gems, it's important to paint the stem well with the black acrylic paint. Set the pumpkin somewhere safe for it to dry for a few hours or overnight.

Here's some examples of safe, sugar-free fright-night goodies that will work great in a teal pumpkin:

Make a glam Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl filled with allergy-safe goodies to share on Halloween!

These Nerdy Pumpkin Stickers are adorable and are a safe alternative to sugary treats. The 5 sticker designs are 1 1/2" and you can get 100 on a roll!

Make a glam Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl filled with allergy-safe goodies to share on Halloween!

Multicolor Porcupine Balls are a ton of fun to play with, and are a colorful alternative to food and candy. They measure 1 1/4" and come in a set of 36!

Make a glam Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl filled with allergy-safe goodies to share on Halloween!

Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween Bouncing Balls are a perfect alternative to sugary sweets for trick-or-treaters! These 1" glow-in-the-dark bouncing balls in four different spooky designs will give the pumpkin an eerie ambiance. There are 48 balls in a set.

Make a glam Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl filled with allergy-safe goodies to share on Halloween!

No bones about it - these Glow-In-the-Dark Tumbling Skeletons are a spooky addition to your Halloween treat bowl. Toss these 1 3/4" creepy rubber Halloween toys against a wall and watch them tumble - day or night! There are 48 skeletons in a set.

Make a glam Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl filled with allergy-safe goodies to share on Halloween!

Throw all of your allergy-safe goodies into the pumpkin and give it a good shake to distribute everything. This will also help it to be more more random when the kiddos reach in to take their treats!

Make a glam Teal Pumpkin Project Treat Bowl filled with allergy-safe goodies to share on Halloween!

I can't wait for Halloween to get here so that we can share our teal pumpkin with the kids in our neighborhood. This would also be a great idea to share at school since there are usually a lot of kids with food allergies and other conditions that these prizes would be perfect for.

What Halloween toys and non-candy items would you add to the pumpkin?

Monday, September 18, 2017

Free Printable Autumn Word Search Coloring Page

Monday, September 18, 2017

Free Printable Autumn Word Search Coloring Page

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Welcome autumn with this Free Printable Autumn Word Search Coloring Page!

Free Printable Autumn Word Search and Coloring Page

I love coloring with my daughter, and we enjoy doing word searches even more. Autumn is just around the corner, so I created this Free Printable Autumn Word Search Coloring Page for everyone to enjoy. It's the perfect mix of brain games and a coloring book!

Free Printable Autumn Word Search and Coloring Page

Not only do we have a ton of fun with these at home, but my husband also loves taking these kinds of activities to school to entertain the students and keep them busy. With school just starting, this is the perfect worksheet to incorporate autumn vocabulary words!

What are you waiting for?! Go grab some colored pencils and a pencil sharpener and get to work!!

Free Printable Autumn Word Search and Coloring Page

The top section is filled with fun autumn images like a pumpkin, leaves flowers, as well as the word "autumn" to color. My daughter had a ton of fun with this printable, and I've found it to be pretty calming myself! There are 30 autumn vocabulary words to look for that will be horizontal, vertical, diagonal and backwards. The printable download also includes the word search with the solution.


Some things you should know before downloading:
*Artsy-Fartsy Mama printables are for PERSONAL USE ONLY (home, school, libraries, etc).
*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.

What's your favorite part about autumn?

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Free Printable Back to School Lunchbox Jokes

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Free Printable Back to School Lunchbox Jokes

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Take the lunch box up a notch with these 3 EASY (non-sandwich) Peanut Butter Lunch Ideas
and Free Printable Back to School Lunchbox Jokes!

Free Printable Back to School Lunchbox Jokes are sure to make your kids smile!

The past few months, my daughter has refused to eat PB&J sandwiches. As a mom who often sends lunches from home, this can get to be a challenge to come up with something she'll actually finish. Turns out she just got tired of them and doesn't like the flavor of peanut butter and jelly together. After a little thinking, I'm going to see if we can work some peanut butter back into the lunch rotation by getting a little more creative. I've come up with a few new ideas using different flavors from Peanut Butter & Co. that I think just might work!!
Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Halloween Character Treat Bags

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Halloween Character Treat Bags

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Make Halloween Character Treat Bags to fill with spooky goodies to share with friends!

Halloween Character Treat Bags made with Cricut Maker #CricutMade
Monday, September 11, 2017

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta Skillet

Monday, September 11, 2017

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta Skillet

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Thanks to Sam's Club for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

Simplify dinnertime with this 30-minute Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta made in just one skillet!

Simplify dinnertime with this 30-minute Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta made in just one skillet!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta is an easy 30-minute recipe that is perfect for busy weeknights. Plus, you cook everything in one skillet, so you don't have to wash a sink full of dishes afterwards! This dish has everything you love about traditional Chicken Cordon Bleu, but without the work. The addition of pasta makes it comfort food at it's best!

Simplify dinnertime with this 30-minute Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta made in just one skillet!

A good and well-cared for cast iron skillet can be a versatile kitchen tool that you will use for years! The Emeril Lagasse Cast Iron Skillet is easy to take care of, and even comes pre-seasoned so you can use immediately. Measuring 12 inches, the skillet has incredible heat retention to help make cooking easier than ever on a glass stovetop, oven, bbq and even a campfire! It's the perfect vessel for one-pot meals, and you can safely move it anywhere with the removable silicone grips on the handles.

Simplify dinnertime with this 30-minute Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta made in just one skillet!

To make Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta, start by heating the skillet up on medium to brown up the chicken. Because the skillet is pre-seasoned, it helps to keep your food from sticking so you don't need to add any oil. Cut some chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. To make things quicker, I used Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Breast Strips from Sam's Club.

Simplify dinnertime with this 30-minute Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta made in just one skillet!

Next add diced ham (we used a ham steak), pasta, chicken broth, mustard, and seasonings into the skillet. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down and simmer until the pasta is tender.

Simplify dinnertime with this 30-minute Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta made in just one skillet!

There will be a little bit of liquid left, but don't worry. We're going to use it to help create a sauce! Add in some cream cheese and a slice of Swiss cheese (broken up) to the pasta and stir until both have completely melted. If it seems a little too thick, you can add in a teaspoon or two of water or milk.

Simplify dinnertime with this 30-minute Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta made in just one skillet!

Remove the skillet from the heat and immediately cover the pasta with Swiss Cheese slices. Cover the skillet with some foil for a few minutes so the cheese will melt.

Simplify dinnertime with this 30-minute Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta made in just one skillet!

For a little added crunch, you can also sprinkle some breadcrumbs on top. That's it!! Serve immediately with a side salad for a delicious dinner that your family is sure to love. I'm sure we are going to be making a lot more one-pot skillet dinners in the future now that I know how easy it is and that I don't have a kajillion dishes to wash!!

Simplify dinnertime with this 30-minute Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta made in just one skillet!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta Skillet
Serves 6

Ingredients
2 chicken breasts (or strips), cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup of cooked ham, diced
2 cups bowtie pasta
3 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dijon or honey mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon cream cheese
8 Swiss cheese slices
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs

Directions
  1. In a 12" skillet, add the chicken and cook until golden brown (does not need to be cooked through).
  2. Add diced ham, pasta, chicken broth, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and mustard. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
  3. Break up a slice of Swiss cheese and add it, along with the cream cheese. Stir until both are completely melted.
  4. Remove from heat and top pasta with remaining cheese slices. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top and cover the skillet with foil for about five minutes until the cheese is melted.
  5. Serve immediately.

Simplify dinnertime with this 30-minute Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta made in just one skillet!

To keep your cast iron skillet in tip-top shape, be sure wash it properly, avoid soaking it in water, and re-season it every time you use it. Easy enough, right? Purchase this skillet Sam's Club today (pssstt... this would also make an excellent holiday gift!!).

Want an Emeril Lagasse Cast Iron Skillet for yourself?
Enter to win one using the Rafflecopter form below:

Friday, September 8, 2017

Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

Friday, September 8, 2017

Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

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These Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares are the perfect spooky treat for your Halloween party!

Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. The weather gets cooler, the decorations are pretty awesome, and making some fun Halloween-themed treats never hurts anyone! Because the end of summer has just been so hot, I decided to make my first Halloween treat of the season a no-bake dessert.

These Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares are chock-full of peanut buttery goodness, layered with crunchy graham cracker and topped with delectable chocolate. Last, it's drizzled with the colors of Halloween that will be perfect for your parties!

Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

Making these peanut butter squares takes a few steps, but is incredibly easy. Start off by breaking some graham cracker sheets in half. Melt some chocolate chips and coconut oil in the microwave or in a double boiler. Dip the graham crackers in the chocolate and lay them on a lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate for 10 minutes until the chocolate is set.

Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

While the chocolate-covered graham crackers cool, you need to mix together the best part of the treat - the peanut butter layer! Combine peanut butter, powdered sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl until it's nice and smooth.

Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

Use a medium cookie scoop (or your hands) to create a 2" ball of peanut buttery goodness and add one to the top of each chocolate graham cracker. It might look ginormous, but trust me on this one.

Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

Use your hands or a spatula to evenly spread peanut butter layer over the chocolate graham cracker, making sure to get the peanut butter all the way to the edges. The peanut butter and chocolate will warm up quickly, so place the squares into the refrigerator for another 5-10 minutes to get nice and chilly.

Disneyland Copycat Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Melt some more chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave or in a double boiler. Place a square into the melted chocolate and use a spoon to cover it completely. Carefully lift the square out with a fork and gently tap it to remove the excess chocolate. Immediately place the peanut butter squares back onto the lined cookie sheet. Cool in the refrigerator again for another 10 minutes or until the chocolate has set.

Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

Separately melt some orange and purple melting wafers in the microwave according to package directions. Pour the melted wafers into small baggies and cut off the corner. Drizzle the orange and purple (or any other colors) over the peanut butter squares to add some Halloween fun!

Let the drizzles set and enjoy. Remember that they will melt quickly, so keep them cold until you are ready to share them!

Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares
Makes 12

Ingredients:
6 graham cracker sheets, broken in half
2 cups milk chocolate chips
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 teaspoons coconut oil or shortening
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
orange and purple melting wafers

Directions:
  1. Break graham crackers in half and set aside.
  2. Place 1 cup milk chocolate chips and 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl and melt for one minute. Stir and microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between until the chocolate is melted. You can also melt the chocolate with a double boiler.
  3. Dip the cracker halves into the chocolate, and gently tap to remove any access chocolate. Gently lay the crackers onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat baking mat.
  4. Place the baking sheet in the fridge for 10 minutes or until the chocolate has hardened.
  5. Add peanut butter, powdered sugar and vanilla into a mixing bowl and stir until combined and smooth.
  6. Use a medium cookie scoop to add a 2" ball of peanut butter mixture on top of each cracker.
  7. Use a spatula or your hands to spread the peanut butter mixture evenly over the crackers to the edges. Place in the refrigerator for at least 5-10 minutes.
  8. Melt the other 2 cups of chocolate chips with coconut oil in the microwave or double boiler.
  9. Dip the peanut butter chocolate-covered crackers into the melted chocolate and gently lift out with a fork. Let the excess chocolate drip off and set it back down on the lined baking sheet. Place the peanut butter squares into the fridge for the chocolate to set for at least 10 minutes.
  10. Melt some orange and purple melting wafers (separately) in the microwave according to package directions. Pour into a small baggie and cut off the corner. Drizzle some of each color over the top of the peanut butter squares for a fun Halloween look.
  11. The Halloween Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares melt quickly, so keep them in the refrigerator until you are ready to enjoy them!

5th Annual Cupcake Diaries “30 Days of Halloween” #30DaysofHalloween

I am thrilled to be a part of the 5th annual Cupcake Diaries “30 Days of Halloween” where 30 bloggers will share 30 recipes throughout the month of September! Check out the link party below to see more creative Halloween recipes that other bloggers are sharing in the series, and be sure to come back throughout the month to see all 30!


Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Halloween Emoji Gift Bags with Free Printable Tags

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Halloween Emoji Gift Bags with Free Printable Tags

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Thanks to Oriental Trading for helping make this post possible. As always, all opinions are my own.

Perfect for party favors and trick-or-treaters, these Halloween Emoji Gift Bags with Free Printable Tags are fun for kids without the added sugar!

Perfect for party favors and trick-or-treaters, these Halloween Emoji Gift Bags with Free Printable Tags are fun for kids without the added sugar!

Trying to cut down on the crazy amounts of candy at Halloween? Grab some Halloween items from Oriental Trading to put together a simple non-candy gift to hand out to those with allergies, and to share with friends or the classroom!

Perfect for party favors and trick-or-treaters, these Halloween Emoji Gift Bags with Free Printable Tags are fun for kids without the added sugar!

Emojis are all the rage right now, and these Plush Halloween Emoji black cats, jack-o'-lanterns, ghosts and skulls are sure to make everyone smile! You can also find some Puffy Halloween Emoji Sticker sheets to add to the bags for even more Halloween emoji fun!

Perfect for party favors and trick-or-treaters, these Halloween Emoji Gift Bags with Free Printable Tags are fun for kids without the added sugar!

I also designed some gift tags with Halloween emojis for you to tie to the bags. All you need to do to use them is print them out on white cardstock, cut them out, and then use a hole punch to attach them to the bag with some string or ribbon!

Download Free Printable Halloween Emoji Gift Tags

Some things you should know before downloading:
*Artsy-Fartsy Mama printables are for PERSONAL USE ONLY (home, libraries, classrooms, etc).
*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.

Perfect for party favors and trick-or-treaters, these Halloween Emoji Gift Bags with Free Printable Tags are fun for kids without the added sugar!

I added some orange metallic shred to the bottom of the clear favor bags, then placed a plush Halloween emoji on top. Next, I added a sheet of Halloween emoji stickers behind the plush and closed up the bag with some twine and the gift tag.

Perfect for party favors and trick-or-treaters, these Halloween Emoji Gift Bags with Free Printable Tags are fun for kids without the added sugar!

These are going to be so fun to give away this Halloween. I am always looking for more non-candy options to share with trick-or-treaters and in the classroom, and was so excited to find these fun Halloween favors that we could include in this emoji gift bag idea!

Which Halloween emoji is your favorite?

Friday, September 1, 2017

DC Superhero Girls Bookmarks

Friday, September 1, 2017

DC Superhero Girls Bookmarks

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Free Printable DC Superhero Girls Bookmarks

My daughter absolutely loves the DC Superhero Girls. She's seen the movies and reads the books whenever possible. They are an amazing team that inspires confidence, friendship, and adventure! We had so much fun putting this post together, and wanted to share some Free Printable DC Superhero Girls Bookmarks for you to use and share with your friends!