Girl and Her Kitchen

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Crafts Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Heart Pillowcover

 

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Love is in the air, and something that I have come to love over the years is PINTEREST. I absolutely ADORE this site. It’s a totally healthy obsession, I assure you!

I love that I can see so many talented people’s ideas, and then recreate those crafts, foods, decor…you name it! I actually really enjoy mixing tutorials I have seen to make the best overall product for me and my family. This is one of those cases.

I mixed this  envelope pillow tutorial from Delia Creates and this sweet heart strings pillow tutorial from Allisa Jacobs. By mixing the two, I feel like I have made a simple, yet beautiful addition to my home, and hopefully your Valentine’s Day decor as well.

Let’s get started!

What You’ll Need:

20x20in pillow form (I actually decided to not buy a new form and just covered two of the pillows I am not currently decorating with right now)
5/8 yard of fabric (I used a suiting material that I found at Joann Fabrics)
-Cut one piece to 20x20in and cut two pieces to 17x20in
white and red felt (I chose to go with a wool felt so that it would be more durable, I was lucky and also found it at Joann’s)
heart template or die cutter (I used a die cutter that I borrowed from a friend to cut out the felt. It was quick and easy that way. You could also just make a template in the shape of a heart.)
– Cut out 15 white hearts, and 1 red heart.

Let’s Get Started:

First: Cut your fabric, as noted before, cut one piece to 20×20 and two pieces to 17×20.

Second: Hem your two 17×20 pieces. Fold one of the short ends over an inch and then fold over again another inch so that you have a nice thick hem. Press, pin, and sew along the hem close to the double fold. Repeat with your second piece of 17×20.

pillow hem

Third: Measure and place your heart’s on the right side of the 20×20 piece. I measured out every 4in and then adjusted their placement from there. You could do them in perfectly straight lines or slightly adjust them off center, which is what I ended up doing with mine. Pin the hearts in place.

pillow straight hearts

All lined up 4in apart.

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Slightly off center.

Fourth: Sew on your hearts starting on the very edge of the fabric and going through the center of each heart. I used a triple stitch here because I really wanted the stitching to pop when I looked at the pillow.

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Fifth: Pin together and then sew all of you pieces together. Place your first hemmed 17×20 piece right side down onto the right side of the 20×20 that you just sewed your hearts to so that your pretty hem and hearts are touching. Match up your edges and make your first 17×20 piece is touching the top edges of the heart pillow so that there is a gap showing at the bottom of the pillow (that way it will look nice when the cover is turned right side out).  Place your second hemmed 17×20 piece down overlapping your first piece.

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The hearts should be at the bottom. Right sides together.

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Nicely pinned all the way around.You don’t want the suiting material shifting on you!

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Sew over where the hem meets twice so that you don’t split your seam when you insert your pillow.

Match up all your sides, pin, and sew using a 3/8in seam. If you have a serger, use it! The suiting material will fray so if you don’t have a serger use a zig-zag stitch along the edge after you have sewn your 3/8in seam. I did one pillow cover with a zig-zag stitch and a second pillow with a serger because my dear husband bought me one! 

pillow zig-zag

Trim your corners to get nice points (don’t trim them if you serged or you’ll have a hole where your corner should be), turn right side out, and insert pillow form.

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I am sure you will enjoy your new Valentine’s pillows. I know my boys sure love cuddling on ours!

Let us know what fabric you decided to go with. Burlap or canvas would be a fun alternative to the suiting material if you are wanting more of a shabby chic look. You might even try this with circles or stars for other holidays or bedroom decor.


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Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

Salads and Dressings

Taco Salad {Easy Weeknight Dinner}

Taco Salad

We have all had those nights where we Just. Didn’t. Feel. Like. Cooking. This is one of my go to meals for those sort of nights. This is really a non-recipe. I mean, I can hardly pass this up as a recipe! My kids can make it! It is super easy, and that is the appeal. There is only one thing you have to cook, and the rest is just chopping and pouring things into serving bowls. Easy. Quick. Best of all? The kids love it! I am giving you what we use, but really, you can use whatever fresh veggies, cheeses, and other toppings that you desire. This meal will help you stay (sorta) on track with your healthy eating for the new year (depending on what your toppings are!) and is a great meal to share at the dinner table. Perfect way to change up Taco Tuesday!

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Taco Salad {Easy Weeknight Dinner}
Author: 
Recipe type: Salad
Cuisine: Dinner
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6 servings
 
A really quick delicious dinner meal idea.
Ingredients
  • 1½ lb lean ground turkey or beef
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • 1½ tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ cup water
  • 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Sliced Olives
  • Diced Red Peppers
  • Diced Yellow Peppers
  • Diced Orange Peppers
  • Diced Cherry Tomatoes
  • Cucumbers, peeled and quartered
  • Avocado, Sliced
  • Corn
  • Scallions, sliced
  • Crumbled Tortilla Chips
  • Salsa
  • 1 Recipe Ranch Dressing (link below) or store bought
Instructions
  1. Heat a skillet and add ground meat.
  2. Cook until cooked through and browning.
  3. Mix seasonings in the ½ cup of water and pour over cooked meat.
  4. Simmer for five minutes.
  5. Serve along fresh vegetables and toppings and assemble to your liking.
  6. Save meat separately from veggies when storing.

Want to make your own ranch dressing? Try this recipe out. It is our family favorite!

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Appetizers Snacks

National Popcorn Day! Sweet and Spicy BBQ Popcorn

popcorn pic

Who knew that there is such a thing as national popcorn day? I love popcorn and this comes as a complete (but delicious!) surprise to me! I really do not need an excuse to make popcorn, but you better believe I will take one.

If I could eat one snack for the rest of my life, I would definitely pick popcorn.It is truly the perfect snack!

Now, let me clarify. I am not a fan of microwave popcorn at all. It is just not my thing. It tastes very…fake to me. If it is your thing, keep doing it, but to me, it is so much easier to make it fresh. Plus, you never have to worry about that awful smell microwave popcorn makes if it burns in there. UGH. Worst. Smell. Ever. I especially loved (not) that when I was working in an office and the same person burned their microwave popcorn EVERY SINGLE DAY. I always thought that he had to be a terrible cook if he couldn’t even make microwave popcorn, and he practiced every day!

I make mine on the stove. It tastes so much better and makes the house smell amazing! There is nothing like getting your kids excited about family movie night while starting a pot of popcorn on the stove. You will find a few recipes for popcorn already on this blog, like this sweet cinnamon popcorn, a decadent caramel one and this delicious party popcorn. You can also check out this parmesan rosemary popcorn that is my absolute favorite, but today, I will share my basic recipe for perfectly popped popcorn, and adding a sweetly spicy twist that you are going to LOVE! This popcorn will make you think of summer with its tangy barbecue flavor.

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National Popcorn Day! Sweet and Spicy BBQ Popcorn
Author: 
Recipe type: Snack
Cuisine: Snack
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12 cups of popcorn
 
This is a delicately sweet and spicy popcorn that will please everyone!
Ingredients
  • To Make Popcorn:
  • ⅓ cup canola or coconut oil
  • ½ cup popcorn seeds
  • To Make Spicy Popcorn:
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 4 tbsp melted butter
Instructions
  1. To make popcorn:
  2. Put oil in large saucepan with a lid
  3. Turn up heat to med/high
  4. Heat oil (if using coconut oil, wait until it melts)
  5. Add popcorn seeds
  6. Put lid on pan
  7. Let the kernels start popping
  8. Start shaking the pan around over the flame to move things around so it pops evenly
  9. When popping slows down, turn heat off and leave it on the burner until you don't hear any more
  10. Take the lid off and carefully pour into a bowl
  11. For Sweet/Spicy Popcorn:
  12. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees
  13. Whisk all the spices, sugar and salt together in a small bowl.
  14. Add to melted butter and mix.
  15. Pour over popped popcorn in bowl and gently turn it over to coat
  16. Pour popcorn onto a large rimmed baking sheet covered in parchment.
  17. Bake for 30 minutes, gently tossing every ten
  18. Let popcorn cool.

 

 

 

Salads and Dressings

New Year’s Kale Salad

kale salad

So… if we are starting the New Year out right, I am eating this Kale Salad. If I am not really starting it out right, I am eating this loaf of buttermilk gingerbread with hot chocolate glaze…but that’s a story, and a recipe, for another time. We need to focus on sticking to healthy New Year’s resolutions, not how delicious chocolate is.

Back to this kale salad. In the world of making sure that you are getting your veggies in, this kale salad is the best way to do it. Packed with leafy greens, sliced crisp cucumbers and topped with a delicious pecan parmesan topping, this salad is the perfect lunch. Adding tender grilled chicken helps fill you up for the day, adding that needed protein punch.  Drizzled with my favorite cider vinaigrette, this salad can do no wrong.

And if I decide to follow it with chocolate…I don’t have to feel as bad. Right?

Check out the full recipe at Little Lake County and get on with your healthy self.

 

Candy Christmas Desserts Snacks

Buttery Caramel Corn with Dark Chocolate Drizzle

popcorn top

Did my post title get your attention?

Well, it should. I mean, it’s the holidays right? Can we fit in one more, deliciously decadent treat? I think we can!

This popcorn has been on my to do list for awhile. The problem is, it’s just not something you whip up in the middle of September. You need a specific time of year for this. A time of year when calories don’t count at all, and cookies for breakfast are totally acceptable. It is a time when heavy cream is a staple in the fridge, and you can never have enough butter.

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The holidays. The time of year where decadence is the new fad diet.

Enter in crunchy salted popcorn, tossed with the most buttery caramel you have ever tasted, and then in one last attempt to win the most decadent recipe ever award, drizzled with rich dark chocolate.

Happy Holidays everyone. Enjoy.

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Buttery Caramel Corn with Dark Chocolate Drizzle
Author: 
Recipe type: Snack/Dessert
Cuisine: Snack/Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: about six cups
 
This is the perfect decadent snack for gift giving or a special occasion.
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup popcorn kernels
  • ½ cup coconut oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 sticks of salted butter
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips, melted
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
  2. Heat coconut oil in a large saucepan with a tight fitting lid.
  3. Sprinkle in popcorn kernels.
  4. Cover tightly.
  5. Pop corn until popping slows down to almost a complete stop.
  6. Pour into a large bowl.
  7. Sprinkle with 1 tsp salt (or desired amount).
  8. In a large saucepan over medium heat, begin to melt butter.
  9. Add in brown sugar and stir.
  10. Drizzle in corn syrup and whisk mixture until smooth.
  11. Bring to a gentle boil.
  12. Stop whisking and lower heat.
  13. Simmer for three minutes.
  14. Add in baking soda and vanilla. Mixture will bubble so be careful. Whisk gently.
  15. Pour over popcorn in bowl. Stir carefully as to not break the popcorn in pieces.
  16. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  17. Bake for one hour, stopping every 20 minutes to gently toss popcorn.
  18. Let cool.
  19. In a glass measuring cup, pour chocolate chips.
  20. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds, stopping to stir each time.
  21. Chocolate should be smooth and creamy.
  22. Drizzle over cooled popcorn.
  23. Let cool completely, until chocolate is hardened on top.
  24. Toss and break apart
  25. Serve for a snack, or bag it for a gift!

 

 

Appetizers Pizza

Buffalo Chicken Flatbread

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Every year for New Year’s Eve, my friend Jill and I get together with our families over at her house. We make as many appetizers as we can possibly fit on a table, mix up some drinks and get comfy for the night. The kids play until way too late, and in turn, we stay up way past our bedtime too, but we all have the best time anyone can possibly have on New Year’s Eve.

I have been ringing in the New Year with her as long as I can remember. It wasn’t always comfy clothes and appetizers in the kitchen though. We had our days of parties and swankier nights at events in the city. We had a blast those days too, but something about the comfort of a home with food and friends, when you know of all the craziness going on around you because it is New Year’s Eve, is the most fun thing I can possibly think of.

Every year, we try to create new appetizers. There have been many amazing ones, and a few ones we said, never again, but it’s fun to try something new and different each time. This appetizer is one that I have already made for a few parties, but will surely be a hit at any event you bring it to. The flatbread is cracker thin, with a slight chew to it, the perfect crust for the tender, spicy chicken and the gooey melty cheese. Dipped in a homemade blue cheese sauce and paired with crunchy celery sticks? This could not be any better! Did I mention easy? It is pretty easy considering you are basically making a homemade crust. This is a no rise crust, so you won’t have to make it way ahead of time. Leftovers? This freezes great and heats up in a hot oven as if you were making it fresh for the first time.

Check out the home page for some other appetizer recipes great for ringing in the new year!

Happy New Year to you and yours!

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Buffalo Chicken Flatbread
Author: 
Recipe type: Appetizer
Cuisine: Appetizer
 
This is a great, easy appetizer that is sure to please and impress! It can also be paired with a salad for a quick and easy weeknight meal!
Ingredients
  • Crust:
  • ½ cup warm water
  • ½ tsp active dry yeast
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp canola oil
  • Topping:
  • 2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed small
  • 2 tbsp butter, melted
  • 1 bottle (about 1½ cups) Hot Wing sauce
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • Blue Cheese Sauce:
  • ¼ cup buttermilk
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ cup crumbled blue cheese
  • Celery sticks, for serving
Instructions
  1. Mix all sauce ingredients together, adjusting ingredients to your taste preferences. Chill.
  2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  3. In a small bowl, mix yeast, honey and water.
  4. Let sit for about ten minutes until it gets foamy.
  5. While you are waiting, grease a rimmed baking sheet with about two tsp canola oil.
  6. In the bowl of a stand mixer, Add flour and salt.
  7. Pour in yeast mixture.
  8. Mix with a paddle until combined
  9. Transfer the paddle for the dough hook.
  10. Knead for about 5-7 minutes, adding more flour little by little if dough is too sticky.
  11. Dough should have a smooth, elastic appearance and feel.
  12. Let dough sit for about 10 minutes
  13. Flour a workspace and knead dough with your hands on the workspace for about a minute
  14. With a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a thin 10 inch rectangle.
  15. Place dough onto the 13x9 cookie sheet stretching it to the edges
  16. Bake crust for about 15 minutes.
  17. While crust is baking, toss together chicken and melted butter.
  18. Stir in hot wing sauce until chicken is coated.
  19. Take out crust, spread chicken mixture on top.
  20. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese
  21. Put back in the oven and change the oven to broil.
  22. Broil the top until the cheese is bubbly and browned, about 5-7 minutes depending on your oven.
  23. Let cool slightly
  24. Slice into strips or squares with a pizza cutter and serve with blue cheese sauce and celery sticks.

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Crockpot Main Dishes Pasta

Slow Cooker Week Night Pasta

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It’s the holiday season. One of the busiest times of the the year. There are holiday parties and get-togethers, and if you have kids,  go ahead and add in  school events, hockey, gymnastics, etc. There is also shopping, baking… do I need to go on?

I am always looking for quick and easy meals during the week and even the weekend.  I created this recipe a while ago because my kids love pasta. They would eat it every day and night anyway I make it. This is simple, and you probably have all of the ingredients already in your house right now.

You are probably thinking “I could just open a jar of sauce “. Well you could….but this is better… trust me. The sausage is so tender and the sauce is perfectly seasoned by the sausage cooking for so long. This is the perfect way to get dinner on the table and make everyone happy…with as little work as possible!

 

 

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Slow Cooker weeknight pasta
Serves: 4-6 servings
 
Ingredients
  • 5-6 Italian sausages (hot, mild or both) cut into 1-2inch pieces
  • 1 28oz can of crushed tomatoes
  • 1 4oz can of tomato paste
  • 1 cup of red wine of your choice
  • 1 tsp of salt
  • ½ tsp of pepper
  • 2 tsp of Italian seasoning
Instructions
  1. Mix all ingredients in slow cooker
  2. cook 4 hrs on high or 6-8 hrs on low
  3. Serve with cooked pasta of your choice.

Christmas Cookies & Bars

Melt in your Mouth Peanut Butter Cookies

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Who is done with their holiday baking? Who doesn’t even DO holiday baking? I love to bake, but I get it, I really do. There is one word that sums up this season.

EXHAUSTION.

Did you think I was going to say cheer? Goodwill? Joy?

Oh I so want to say those words, but right now, all I really feel is tired. The thing about this tired though is that it is a happy tired. I love this season, so even when I feel tired, I am still filled with the excitement of the season.

But man, oh man, is there a lot to do. I wish I could send out some energy to all of you that are feeling the same! Remember the days as kids when the holidays meant a super long break and lots of fun, lazy days? I sure do. I think it is opposite day when you turn into a grown up!

Back to the holiday baking…I keep thinking I am done with it, but then I keep doing more. Could this be why I am exhausted? I mean, I think I am the complete cause of the exhaustion sometimes!

Well, this cookie recipe was one of the first I made. I always try to have a good variety of cookies on hand for the holidays, and a peanut butter one is a must.

There is something about peanut butter cookies, I absolutely love. I have tried several different variations, and they all have something to offer, but of all that I tried, this one is by far my favorite!

Instead of the flat, slightly chewy peanut butter cookie that we all know and love, this one has a fluffier texture. The center is almost what I would call smooth and creamy! When you bite into this cookie, it almost melts in your mouth. Hence the name. I am so creative huh?

I bake a lot of cookies. Some are flops each year and some are winners. This is the cookie recipe you will have on your list to make year after year.

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Melt in your Mouth Peanut Butter Cookies
Author: 
Recipe type: Cookies/Bars
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: about 12
 
Please Note: This dough needs to be chilled for two hours before baking. Do not bake unchilled dough! Also, note that this recipe only yields about 12 large cookies. If you need more than that, please double the recipe.
Ingredients
  • 1 large egg
  • ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1¼ cups + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
  1. With a hand mixer on low, combine egg, peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract.
  2. In a small, separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt
  3. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing on low and scraping down the sides
  4. Mix until just combined
  5. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper
  6. Using a large cookie scoop (about ¼ cup) scoop dough into a smooth ball and place on sheet
  7. Make sure cookies are spaced at least two inches apart
  8. When you have scooped all of the dough, chill cookie balls on baking sheets for at least 2 hours
  9. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  10. Bake cookies for 9 minutes
  11. The cookies will look slightly under baked when you take them out. Do not fear!
  12. They will continue baking slightly as they cool for one minute on the sheet
  13. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and let cool completely
  14. Enjoy right away, store in a sealed container for up to three days or freeze for up to a month

 

What is your favorite holiday cookie recipe?

Candy Christmas Snacks

Cinnamon Sugar Pecans {Great for Holiday Gifting!}

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The first time I had these was a long time ago at a family get together. An aunt of my husband had made a huge batch of them and it was one of those things that I just couldn’t stop snacking on. I was able to snag the recipe from her and they have become a holiday tradition ever since.

The sweet cinnamon flavor is the perfect accompaniment to the toasted pecan. They are great to have on hand for holiday nibbling or to put together some scrumptious holiday gifts. A cute mason jar, some festive ribbon and you are set! Fill that jar up and you have a great surprise for someone.

Besides the intense flavor factor, and the holiday gift option, these could not be simpler! Toss them with their spices and toast them in the oven-done! That is what I call a no fuss snack.

Added bonus-your house smells amazing the entire time you are baking them!

Pecans 1

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Cinnamon Sugar Pecans {Great for Holiday Gifting!}
Author: 
Recipe type: Snack
Cuisine: Snack
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 5 cups
 
Please Note: These bake for awhile, so plan accordingly!
Ingredients
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 5 cups whole pecans
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees
  2. Line a 13x9 baking sheet with parchment paper
  3. Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl, set aside
  4. Lightly beat two egg whites together with water
  5. Coat pecans with egg mixture in a large bowl
  6. Toss with cinnamon sugar until evenly coated
  7. Place pecans on baking sheet in a large heap
  8. Bake for one hour
  9. After one hour, spread out on baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes more
  10. Let cool
  11. Store in a tightly sealed container on the counter for up to five days or in the fridge for up to 1 month.

 

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Christmas Crafts

Interchangeable Subway Art Plaque Knockoff

Subway Art

Subway Art

I found this great  subway art plaque  not too long ago, and I really wanted to make some to give as gifts this Holiday season.

Unfortunately, it was going to be too expensive to make just one plaque.  I wanted to be able to make a bunch, without breaking the bank, so I decided to use a super cute idea of subway art, and then would find my own plaque and scrap wood.  Hobby Lobby sells a slightly smaller plaque for $2.99, and don’t forget that 40% off coupon!

I also found a metallic easel there, and made sure to buy it when it was 50% off.  (This happens every other week on their metal stuff, in case you wanted to know, so that only  cost $2.99).

Gotta love Hobby Lobby.

I had the modpodge on hand, card stock, and paint, so I just needed my scrap wood pieces for my subway art.  I found a great, light-weight 2x4ft piece of wood for $5.00 at the Home Depot.  It was perfect to make 24 pieces of scrap wood (I only printed off my 6 favorite subway art pieces so I was able to make four gifts out of one 2×4.)

Instead of using command strips, I bought the rolled Velcro at Joann’s with a sticky back, and used a 50% coupon for that as well.  I put the rough side on the actual plaque, and used the soft side on all my scrap wood.  This allows me to stack and store the scrap wood without worrying about scratching.  I spray painted my easel using an almond paint/primer color by Rustoleum. (I ended up going back and using the Kilz primer and then the paint due to chipping.)

Because I loved this whole project, just not the price, I didn’t change much other than adjusting the subway art size to accommodate my slightly smaller plaque. (You can do that when you get to the print preview screen). So in the interest of saving time and feeling there is no reason to reinvent the wheel, check out the site above for the directions and subway art.

Have fun getting your craft on!