Thank you all so much for all the support in 2013. I'm so excited to share more tutorials, recipes, and creative ideas in 2014!!
Monday, December 30, 2013
Top 10 Tutorials & Recipes of 2013
Sunday, December 29, 2013
14 New Years Eve Party Ideas for Kids
New Years Eve is a fun holiday, but can be kind of hard for kids to be able to celebrate (especially when most kids can't make it to midnight). Today I'm sharing 14 party ideas for New Years Eve that will be fun for the whole family!!
Thursday, December 26, 2013
15 DIY Vinyl Projects
Creating with vinyl is a lot of fun, and there's so many things you can create with it! Wall art, holiday decor, favors, and handmade gifts are just a few ideas to get you started. Today I'm sharing 15 easy DIY vinyl projects you can make in an afternoon!
**If you're looking for a great deal on vinyl to refill your stash or start a new one, you're in luck! Silhouette is having a sale starting December 26th until January 2nd. Maybe you need a late Christmas present, or just looking for some supplies for your machine? Either way, these are amazing prices!
By using the promo code FARTSY, you can get these bundles at a discount:
- Silhouette CAMEO® and Vinyl Starter Kit for $269.99
- Silhouette Portrait™ and Vinyl Starter Kit for $129.99
- 25% Off Vinyl Starter Kits
- 25% Off Vinyl and Transfer Paper
Monday, December 23, 2013
DIY Ribbon Jewelry
I'm excited to share three fabulous jewelry tutorials with all of you today! Even if you're a beginner at jewelry-making, these pieces are simple and fun to make to dress up your holiday wardrobe.
With a little ribbon and some basic jewelry supplies, you'll be able to create custom jewelry in no time! If you make this jewelry as a gift, it looks really cute packaged in a gift box, then tie it up with the same ribbon you used to make the jewelry!!
DIY Ribbon Chain Bracelet
To make this DIY Ribbon Chain Bracelet, you'll need:
Chain (try to find one that the links lay flat, all facing the same direction)
*I actually found a necklace and it ended up being the perfect length
Toggle Clasp
Satin-Double Faced Ribbon (I used Lemon) in any color you'd like
Jewelry Pliers
Jump Rings
Super Glue
DIY Ribbon Chain Bracelet instructions:
1. Cut two chains for your bracelet. Measure your wrist and add half an inch or so to get your custom bracelet measurement.
2. Cut a piece of ribbon 2-3 times the length of the chain. The longer, the better. You don't want to run out of ribbon in the middle of your project!
3. Lay the 2 chains next to each other. Loop the ribbon through the first 2 chain pieces, then wrap them around each other or tie a knot to bind them together. Make sure both ends of the ribbon are the same length.
4. The ribbon ends should be in the "back" side of the bracelet. Cross them over and bring them up through the next chains like you would thread a shoe lace.
5. Thread the ribbon through front to back, then back to front again to get the "X" stitch.
6. Once you get to the end, tie off the ribbon and cut the ends. Secure the ends down with some super glue.
7. Add a jump ring to each end of the chain, then attach your clasp.
8. Enjoy showing off your new accessory at your next holiday party or wrap up as a gift!
DIY Ribbon & Pearl Bracelet
To make this DIY Ribbon & Pearl Bracelet, you'll need:
Stretch Magic
Toggle Clasp
Glitter Elastic (I used Aquamarine) in any color you'd like
Strand of Pearl Beads
Quilting Needle
Super Glue
DIY Ribbon & Pearl Bracelet instructions:
1. Thread some Stretch Magic through the quilting needle. Quilting needles have larger eyes, so be sure to check the thickness of the Stretch Magic to choose which size needle will work best.
2. I kept all the Stretch Magic and Glitter Elastic on the roll, so I didn't need to measure/cut before starting. After I was done though, I probably used about 20" of ribbon.
3. Fold the end of the Glitter Elastic over about 1/2" and thread the Stretch Magic through the ribbon.
4. Next, thread on a pearl bead.
5. Fold some ribbon again and thread through. Repeat threading the beads and folded ribbon until the bracelet fits around your wrist.
6. Tie a knot out of the Stretch Magic at the end of the last folded ribbon. Pull as tight as you can, then add a drop of super glue.
7. Loop the Stretch Magic around the hook of the toggle clasp, and tie multiple knots, pulling the Stretch Magic tight. Add another drop of super glue on the knot to secure it.
8. Repeat the knot tying and attach the other piece of the toggle clasp at the other end of the bracelet.
9. Enjoy showing off your new accessory at your next holiday party or wrap up as a gift!
DIY Bow Tie Necklace
To make a DIY Bow Tie Necklace, you'll need:
Chain, cut to preferred necklace length
Jump Rings
Lobster Clasp
Jewelry Pliers
DIY Bow Tie Necklace instructions:
1. Turn the bow over and with a needle, poke a hole on the right and left sides of the part that wraps around the bow in the center.
2. Use the jewelry pliers to open two jump rings and push them through the holes you just made.
3. Hook one end of the chain on each jump ring, then close the jump rings with the pliers.
4. Add a jump ring to the other ends of the chains. Close one, then add the lobster clasp to the other.
5. Put on your "bow tie" for your next holiday party!
I received the ribbon used for this jewelry from Ribbon Retreat. All opinions are my own.
I received the ribbon used for this jewelry from Ribbon Retreat. All opinions are my own.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
12 Breakfast Recipes for Christmas Morning
Do you have a breakfast tradition on Christmas? We usually have cinnamon rolls or french toast every Christmas morning, but we might be changing that after finding all these fun and delicious holiday-themed breakfast recipes! There are thousands of breakfast recipes out there, but today I'm sharing 12 breakfast recipes that are perfect for Christmas morning!
1. Epic Cinnamon Rolls from My Kitchen Escapades
2. Santa's Elf Pancakes from Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons
3. Eggnog Monkey Bread from Lemon Tree Dwelling
4. Snowman Breakfast from Hoosier Homemade
5. Candy Cane Coffee Cake from Shower of Roses
6. Overnight Eggnog French Toast Casserole from Five Heart Home
7. Gingerbread Pancakes from Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons
8. Easy Breakfast Casserole from Artsy-Fartsy Mama
9. Rudolph Pancakes from I Heart Naptime
10. White Chocolate Gingerbread Crescent Rolls from Lemon Tree Dwelling
11. Christmas Tree French Toast from The Joys of Boys
12. Mini Hash Brown Crust Quiche from Pizzazzerie
What do you have for breakfast on Christmas morning?
Friday, December 20, 2013
DIY Glitter Earrings
I love jewelry. My husband would probably agree that I have more than I need, but feel a little more justified if I can get jewelry on sale. Even better, I enjoy making my own jewelry when I can to save even more. These DIY Glitter Earrings were so simple, and they would be a great gift idea for your jewelry-collecting, glitter-loving friends!
Start with a cameo pendant (these ones can be found at Wholeport) with a metallic base/blank and a resin or glass cabochon that fits over the blank. These ones measure about 18mm, so they are a perfect size for earrings or a small necklace.
Add a drop of Mod Podge into each blank. Then with a small paint brush or q-tip, carefully spread the Mod Podge around the inside of the blank. Try hard not to get the Mod Podge outside the tray area. if you do, just wipe the Mod Podge off with a wet tissue or cloth.
Pour your glitter color of choice over the pendants. The finer the glitter, the better. If you are using a larger pendant, you could get away with using a chunkier glitter. Let sit for a few minutes, then carefully pick up the pendant and tap off the excess glitter.
Tip: Work over a scrap piece of paper. That way you can easily pour the extra glitter back into the container.
Leave the pendants to dry for about an hour. Then, add a drop of E6000 onto the back side of the resin or glass cabochon. Place the cabochon over the glitter/in the pendant tray and apply a little pressure to spread the glue out.
Let the pendants dry for a few hours. If you bump the cabochon before the glue is dry, you could make the glue bubble or even pull up some of the glitter.
Using jewelry pliers, open the ring at the end of an earring hook (can also be found at Wholeport). Place the pendants onto the earring hook, and carefully twist closed. Repeat with any colors of glitter you love to match your wardrobe and enjoy your new, custom piece of jewelry! So easy, and they really are quick to make. That is, minus the wait time - but you could make multiple sets while you're waiting for each pair to dry.
Big thanks to Wholeport for the products used in this post. As always, all opinions are my own.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
DIY Elf Kids Craft
Need a quick kid's craft that your kids will love putting together? Try these paper DIY elves! I found this cute idea from Art with Ms. Chiddo that she did with her first grade class. So get out that construction paper, glue, and let's make some elves!
Monday, December 16, 2013
Easy DIY Hair Bows
Hair bows are fun to make, and are wonderful gifts for any little girl! The bows I'm sharing today are easier than ever to make, and you can whip up a whole lot in almost no time at all if you're making them for a group or as a lot of gifts! They are also really inexpensive to make, but look like they cost a bunch more.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
30 Holiday Cookie Recipes
One of the best parts of Christmastime is the baking!! Nothing beats homemade treats. They are fun to make as a family activity to share with friends and neighbors, or just for eating by yourself after the kids are in bed. Or if you participate in cookie exchange parties, any of these 30 delicious holiday cookie recipes will surely be a favorite!!
1. Andes Mint Cookies from Artsy-Fartsy Mama
2. Santa's Favorite Sugar Cookies from Babble
3. Andes Mint Chocolate Fudge Cookies from Crunchy Creamy Sweet
4. Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies from Sally's Baking Addiction
5. Mini Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies from Pinch of Yum
6. Peppermint Meltaways from It's a Party Palooza
7. White Chocolate Ganache Filled Gingerbread Macarons from Dessert Now, Dinner Later!
8. M&M Pudding Cookies from Artsy-Fartsy Mama
9. Thumbprint Snowman Cookies from In Katrina's Kitchen
10. Cashew Shortbread Cookies from Forgiving Martha
11. Colorful Spiral Cookies from Sprinkle Bakes
12. Caramel Molasses Cookies from Sally's Baking Addiction
13. Oreo White Chocolate Pudding Peppermint Cookies from Two Peas & Their Pod
14. Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies from A Little CLAIREification
15. Peanut Butter Snickerdoodles from Crazy for Crust
16. Turtle Thumbprint Cookies from Tastes Better from Scratch
17. Chocolate Sugar Cookies from Sprinkle Bakes
18. Brown Sugar Cookies from Eats Well With Others
19. Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies from No Diets Allowed
20. Hot Cocoa Cookies from Glorious Treats
21. M&M Shortbread Cookies from Something Swanky
22. Iced Gingerbread Cookies from A Family Feast
23. Sprinkle Sugar Cookies from Artsy-Fartsy Mama
24. Cherry Shortbread Cookies from One Sweet Appetite
25. Rocky Road Cookies from Amandeleine
26. Lofthouse-Style Soft Peanut Butter Chip Sugar Cookies with Peanut Butter Frosting from Averie Cooks
27. Soft Chocolate Gingersnaps from Taste and Tell
28. Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Meringues from Chocolate, Chocolate and More
29. Easy Rolo Cookies from Artsy-Fartsy Mama
30. Candy Cane Blossoms from Baked Perfection
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Merry Days Plaque
As I've mentioned hundreds of times before, I really enjoy creating holiday decor. There's just something about the Christmas season that brings so much joy, and I love being able to bring that into our home. I found this Merry Days Plaque at Poppy Seed Projects, and absolutely love the message. It brings together the fun part of Christmas while reminding us of the real reason we celebrate.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Personalized Christmas Stockings
Use iron-on vinyl to easily personalize your Christmas stockings!
I made these stockings a few years ago, and had intentions of adding names to the cuffs, but just never got around to it. The main reason I didn't add any was because I wasn't sure the best way to go about it without having to unpick the sewing or add something permanent that I ended up not liking.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
DIY Glitter Ornaments
It's no secret that I love glitter. Personally, I think that glitter makes everything better. My Christmas decor is filled with glitter, and my ornaments are no exception. I love how magical it all looks once the Christmas lights hit the sparkles. These ornaments are simple to make, and really go quickly once you get started. The technique is quite similar to my other holiday glitter projects like the Glitter Snowman, Valentine Love Jars, Love Potion No. 9 Jar, and the Eek! Witchy Jars.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Sharpie Snowflake Block
“This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Sharpie, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #StaplesSharpie http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.”
Ahhh Sharpies. One of my favorite office supplies ever! I have loved creating with Sharpies for years on school projects, posters, and especially in crafting. I love how Sharpies come in every color imaginable, and love seeing all the different project ideas out there. I'm excited to share my newest piece of holiday decor using Sharpies and hope you love it as much as I do!
Sunday, December 8, 2013
18 Christmas Kids Crafts
My daughter is so excited for everything Christmas, and we've been working on all kinds of Christmas crafts and activities. Today I'm sharing 18 awesome Christmas crafts for kids that will entertain children (and adults) of any age! Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season so far!
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Santa Christmas Countdown
Do your kids (or you) love counting down to Christmas? This Santa Christmas Countdown kit from Wood Creations was so much fun to put together, and my daughter has loved being able to start counting down the days until Santa comes!
The kit comes with the main Santa piece, his mustache, hat, blocks for counting down, and the vinyl "Santa's Almost Here" and numbers for each block. And just FYI, the kit comes pre-sanded and ready to go, but you might need to do a little sanding yourself on some areas to get them really smooth.
I started by painting the countdown blocks white with a few coats of Americana Snow (Titamium) White. Let dry between coats, then apply the vinyl numbers. After you apply the vinyl, press all the edges of the vinyl so that there are no areas that paint will seep underneath.
Next, I added a few coats of Americana Brilliant Red. I needed about 3-4 coats on each block. Be sure to let each coat completely dry between coats.
Once the paint is completely dry, carefully peel off the vinyl numbers. If you have any paint that peels up, or notice some of the red paint bled, just touch it up with the white or red paint with a small paint brush. After the touch-ups are dry, spray a coat or two of polyurethane varnish on top to protect the paint and give it a nice glossy finish.
If you don't want to do this technique, no problem! Just paint the blocks red, and apply the vinyl! The black vinyl on the red looks really nice, too.
To paint Santa, it's a but trickier, but definitely doable. Place the hat and mustache piece on the large Santa piece and lightly mark with a pencil about halfway under the hat piece, and a semi-circle around the mustache to form the face. You'll also need to make a circle on the mustache piece for the nose, and a small area on the hat piece for the red to show through/for the band and "puff" on the end of his hat.
Once you have everything marked, get painting! I mixed my own concoction for the skin color, but Americana does carry a few different flesh-tones. I mainly used a sponge brush on all the large pieces, and a smaller paintbrush for the smaller details.
*Yes, pizza boxes are extra handy when you have to craft on the couch!!
Once all the paint is dry, glue the mustache on with E6000, hot glue, or wood glue (don't attach the hat piece yet). Let the glue dry, then dot on some eyes with the end of a paintbrush dipped in black paint or use a permanent marker. You can pre-mark the eyes with a pencil if you are nervous about it or want to make sure that the eyes are even/where you want them. Black paint is hard to remove or cover, especially with a light-colored paint!!
Apply the "Santa's Almost Here" vinyl, and press well to make sure there aren't any air bubbles. The project could be complete at this point, but if you know anything about me, it wouldn't be an Artsy-Fartsy Mama project without glitter!
With a small paintbrush, paint some Mod Podge on the beard area, then pour white glitter over top. Let sit for a minute or two, then stand Santa up and tap the excess glitter off. Repeat for the mustache (not the nose), hat band, and hat puff. Since the hat isn't attached yet, you won't get red glitter all over the hat band. Once the red glitter areas are dry, attach the hat piece with your glue of choice.
A few tips: I highly recommend working in small areas at a time on the beard. Otherwise, the place you started painting could be dry by the time you get to the other side. I also took the time to carefully paint the Mod Podge around the vinyl. It was time consuming, but the effect in the end was worth the effort.
I'm sure you're thinking, "but I HATE when the glitter comes off and gets all over the house!!" While I do love glitter, my husband isn't a huge fan of having to go to work covered in it. So, to prevent most of the glitter from coming off, take it outside and give it a few coats of the polyurethane varnish (spray paint). It also adds an extra glossy finish that brings it all together.
Shop Wood Creations online, or you can visit one of their store locations in Utah and Idaho. You can also follow them on Facebook for new products, updates, and giveaways!
Disclosure: I received the Santa Christmas Countdown kit in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.
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