Fall & Halloween Subway Art

There's been a significant craft drought around this blog lately and I shall remedy that directly.

I finally busted out all the Fall decorations last weekend (a little later than usual) and remembered that I hadn't created any subway art for this particular season.  If you remember this post, I shared my creations for summer which seems like ages ago!  I've fully adopted sweaters, boots, soup and pumpkins - even if it still is in the 70's most days.

I created two different printables for this season - The first is for regular old Fall... which is safely tucked away until November 1st.

The second is currently on display and is dedicated to Halloween.  BOO!  I'm particularly fond of the tiny little bats that are strategically placed in this one.

I love these printables because they add a lot of festivity without a lot of work.  Print it out on your regular old computer printer, grab an 8"x10" picture frame and go.


You can download the final products by clicking on the links below.

Fall Subway Art

Halloween Subway Art

You're welcome!
Julie

Subway Art - Summer & Patriotic

Remember a long, long time ago when I posted my Spring Subway Art?  Fine, it was in March, but that seems like a really long time ago.  Anyway, I promised I'd share any future versions of subway art with you and I intend to fulfill that commitment right now.  Just call me accountable.

I created two new versions in anticipation of Summer because Summer is almost here.  Yes, I realize  Spring just started but I have no patience.  Plus, I love Summer because it's the best season there is.  Period.  When else can you wear flip flops every day and get away with wearing a giant t-shirt and calling it a dress?  I can feel the beach calling my name now.

These printables are great because you can print them on your home computer and they fit perfectly in an 8" x 10" picture frame.  It's the easiest and cheapest decoration ever.

The first version is straight up summertime.  I love every word in this little gem.....they make me smile.  I'm definitely ready for Summer.  Sorry Spring, you're nice and all, but Summer's got you beat.

I plan on switching out the regular summer version for this patriotic version for Memorial Day and 4th of July.  It goes perfectly with the Patriotic Pinwheel Wreath I posted yesterday!

You can download the Summer version here.

And you can download the Patriotic version here.

Also, don't forget about the Christmas, Wine, Birdie and Easter versions!

My post is linked up on Fine Craft Guild - click here to see it there!


Hope you enjoy!
Julie

Patriotic Pinwheel Wreath

It's been a while since I did a craft post.  I've been a busy baking bee lately and my stomach needed a butter break so I decided to get crafty today.

I pinned this Pinwheel Wreath tutorial from Michaels on Pinterest months ago and finally got around to making it.  I took some liberties with it based on the crafty items I already had in my house and the theme I was going for.  I really wanted something to hang on the door this summer so I went with a red, white & blue theme and I think it turned out super cute!!!

Supplies
This is what I used, but you can certainly make adjustments based on what you've got hanging around...

• Cardboard Circle - 14 1/2" on the outside and 11" on the inside.
• 24 strips of paper measuring 12" x 1 1/2" (I used 12 in red colors and 12 in blue colors - you're gluing 2 strips together to make 12 pinwheels, so the strips that get glued together should be a matching pattern or color)
• 24  1 1/2" circles punched out of paper (I used 6 in red colors, 6 in blue colors and 12 of any color for the back side)
• up to 12 small flowers, buttons or brads (I used 9 total and left a few of my pinwheels plain)
• Approx. 125 1" stars punched out of paper
• 12" Wired Ribbon
• Glue Stick
• Glue Gun

 Step 1:

The first step was to cut of my cardboard circle from an old cardboard box I had lying around.  I used 2 different sides platters to trace the circle and then cut it out using scissors.  The edges don't need to be perfect since you're covering them up anyway.

Step 2:

Take 2 of the 12" x 1 1/2" paper strips and fold them in an accordion style every 1/2".

Glue the 2 strips together using a glue gun, making sure that the spot where you glue them together still creates a continuous accordion.

Step 3:

Glue the two ends of your long accordion strip together with the glue gun to form a circle (depending on how many folds you made on each strip, you may need to cut off one fold at one end to make a perfect circle).

Press the center of the accordion circle down and use the glue gun to secure one of the paper circles to the pinwheel (I had the best success doing the back side first).  Then flip it over and glue another circle to the front side of the pinwheel.

Embellish the middle of the circle on the front side with a brad, flower or button if  you wish.

Step 4:

Repeat steps 2 & 3 with the remaining paper strips until you have 12 pinwheels.


Step 5:

I wanted the back of my wreath to be cute too so I used a glue stick to glue paper stars to the back of my cardboard circle.  I used a couple different shades of red and blue along with white and tried to keep them in order... red, white and blue... in two rows around the cardboard circle.

I used approximately 100 paper stars on the back side of the wreath.

Step 6:

Glue a few stars to a 3" section on the front of the wreath and tie the ribbon over that part to form the hanger for your wreath.

Step 7:

Use the hot glue gun to glue the pinwheels to the front of the wreath.  I alternated mine between the red and blue versions.

Step 8:

I had some spots in between the pinwheels where I could still see the cardboard, so I glued a few paper stars in those spots to cover up any exposed cardboard.

See how there is a window in the top of the door?  That's why I wanted the back to be pretty too because you can see it from the inside of the house through that window.

I think this turned out so cute!  Especially on my red front door!  I <3 America.

Julie

Peep Topiary

Yes, this really happened.  I have no use for peeps in the context of actually eating them.  Gross.  It's like a fake marshmallow and store bought marshmallows are fake enough on their own (not that I've ever turned down a s'more, a rice krispie treat or some hot chocolate with marshmallows floating on top).  Plus it's kind of crunchy and who wants a crunchy marshmallow?  Not this girl.

I actually hid them in my cart at Target because I thought people might actually think that I eat these little guys.  I'm pretty sure the cashier was judging me.

I now know two people who eat peeps.  One is my brother in law who only eats them stale (not better).  The second is a friend who told me she eats them after I posted a picture of my finished craft on Instagram.  It's quite possible I know more people who eat them but I think they're ashamed and eat them alone in dark rooms.

 

This craft was not my idea.  I steal almost all my craft ideas and this one came from a blog called The Hungry Mouse.  I, of course, ran across it on pinterest.  I give her full credit, I couldn't make this up.

The process is easy, you basically stick the peeps to a styrofoam ball with toothpicks.  I struggled a little bit with the chicks on the bottom - they kept falling off, at one point I even considered hot gluing them but thought better of it - however, once the peeps got stale, they stayed on much better.  Still not better.

We're having an Adult Easter Party next week (another stolen idea, from a dear friend who hosted this party where we used to live) and this will make the perfect centerpiece for our brunch table.  You'll be hearing a lot about this party in the upcoming weeks as I'll be sharing the full menu, games and overall festivities.

Question of the day....  Do you eat peeps?  You can admit it, I won't judge you, much.

Julie

Spring Subway Art

Wait a minute, I thought this was a food blog....

If you refer back to the ground rules, you will see you had fair warning that there may be some crafts on this blog too.

Today I decided that Winter is over and Spring is here.  After the #snowfail that occurred in DC earlier this week I declared Winter complete.  I hate Winter, that's a fact.  I'm a Summer girl through and through.  Give me a margarita, a pair of flip flops and some sand and you've got yourself one happy Julie.   Plus, it's March and it's 50 degrees outside and we Spring forward soon and that groundhog said so.

Therefore, I decided to put out my Spring decorations.  I don't have a ton of Spring decorations (this isn't Christmas when it looks like a snowman convention set up shop in my house) just a few things I put in my apothecary jars to brighten up the joint.  However, I do have two new things this year.  The first I just finished up a few days ago.

Look how happy she is!  I absolutely love her and it couldn't have been more simple.  I got the idea from this girl but I made it even easier by leaving my eggs their original color and just hot glued them onto a foam wreath form.  (I actually tried spray painting my eggs but they were hideous so I bought more and left them alone)

But, what I REALLY wanted to share with you today is my Spring/Easter theme subway art printable.

I'm telling you, this is the easiest decoration on the planet.  You print it and frame it and it's done.  The art prints on regular old paper or card stock and fits in an 8x10 frame and guess what?  I'm sharing it with you so you can print it too.  Aren't I sweet?

Click to download the Spring/Easter Subway Art

I've actually done a few versions of these...

THIS ONE for Christmas
THIS ONE for a Birdie themed baby shower
and THIS ONE for a Wine Night that I hosted

These are pretty fun and I'll probably do them for future holidays as well.... 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving.  The possibilities are endless.  If I do more, I'll be sure to share.

Happy Spring people!
Julie