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Sunday, July 31, 2011

Scrap-Friendzy Design Team Call

Scrap-Friendzy is looking for a few design team members. Scrap-Friendzy is a challenge based site with a laid-back, friendly environment where everyone is welcome! They focus on inspiring and encouraging their members, as well as, teaching new techniques to take scrapbooking and paper crafting to the next level! 


If you are a kind, energetic paper crafter that enjoys inspiring, encouraging and educating others in our craft, then this might be the perfect place for you!

Chosen DT members will be responsible for:

  • Daily posting on the message board
  • Creating 2 challenges per month for Scrap-Friendz members
  • Participating in the challenges created by other design team members
  • Promoting, organizing and hosting events throughout their term
  • You will also be asked to promote the sale of the Scrap-Friendz monthly kit.
  • In return, Scrap-Friendz will promote your work, blog, etc through their site, blog and facebook page.
  • You will also receive one free kit during your term, as well as, discounted kits throughout your term.
The call runs Monday, August 1st through Sunday, August 21st. This call is for a 6 month term beginning September 1st through February 29th.

Send the following information by e-mail to scrapfriendzy@windstream.net to apply:
  • Name
  • Email Address
  • Username (name used on Scrap-Friendz message board)
  • Site Most Active On
  • Link To Gallery
  • Link To Blog (If you have one)
  • Please attach photos to the e-mail of at least 3 pages or projects or cards that you feel best describes your style.
Good Luck!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Arts and Crafts Examiner: Weekly Wrap-up July 31, 2011

This week at the Arlington Heights Arts and Crafts Examiner, I focused on end of the summer classes, events happening in the area, and a crafty idea.

Here are the articles for your reading enjoyment:













I hope you enjoy this week’s articles. If you have any suggestions for future Examnier articles, please feel free to post a comment or send an email to me at creativebugs2-blog@yahoo.com

Happy Crafting,
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Stampin' Up! Event

Calling all crafters and crafter wannabes! Are you interested in paper crafts, stamping, or scrapbooking? Then consider coming to a special Stampin’ Up! event this Sunday!



Event Info:
When: Sunday July 31st
Time:   11am – 2pm
Location: Courtyard Marriot, 505 Milwaukee Ave, Lincolnshire IL

A group of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators are having a special sales event for their customers and are inviting the public to attend. This is a great opportunity for stampers, scrapbookers, and paper crafters to purchase new products and soon to be retired products at special sale prices.

Hope you can make it!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Friday, July 29, 2011

Recipe Friday: Creamy Tomato and Goat Cheese Salad

George Duran developed this simply delicious recipe for Hunts. Tomatoes, fresh basil and goat cheese are combined to create a creamy dressing for a unique side salad.


Ingredients:

1 can (28 oz each) Hunt's® Whole Peeled Tomatoes, drained
4 ounces soft goat cheese, crumbled
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, chopped
3 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  Bibb lettuce leaves, optional

Directions:

·         Place drained tomatoes in large bowl; cut into large pieces with kitchen scissors.
·         Add cheese, basil, shallots, oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
·         Toss gently.
·         Cover; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
·         Stir gently.
·         Serve at room temperature as a side salad or in lettuce leaves, if desired.

Enjoy this as a light lunch with crusty bread or serve as a dinnertime side dish alongside your favorite entrée.

Bon Appétit!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Thursday, July 28, 2011

National Cheesecake Day July 30th

July 30th is National Cheesecake Day so why not consider making a cheesecake for those you love!

PHILADELPHIA Classic Cheesecake


Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups HONEY MAID Graham Cracker Crumbs
3 Tbsp.  sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
4 pkg.  (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp.  vanilla
4 eggs

Directions:

HEAT oven to 325°F.
MIX graham crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
BEAT cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and vanilla with mixer until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
BAKE 55 min. or until center is almost set. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate 4 hours.
SPECIAL EXTRA…Top with fresh fruit just before serving.

PHILADELPHIA 3-STEP Low-Fat Berry Cheesecake



Ingredients:

2 HONEY MAID Low Fat Honey Grahams, crushed (about 1/4 cup)
3 pkg.  (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Fat Free Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp.  lemon zest
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp.  vanilla
3 eggs
1/2 cup  sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup  raspberries
2 Tbsp. strawberry jelly, melted

Directions:

HEAT oven to 300°F.
SPRINKLE graham crumbs onto bottom of 9-inch pie plate sprayed with cooking spray. Beat next 5 ingredients with mixer until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended.
POUR into pie plate.
BAKE 45 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 3 hours. Top with fruit just before serving; drizzle with jelly.

Lem'n Berry Cheesecake



Ingredients:

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup  COUNTRY TIME Lemonade Flavor Drink Mix
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 cup  milk
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
1   HONEY MAID Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.)
1 cup mixed fresh berries (blueberries and sliced strawberries)

Directions:

BEAT cream cheese, drink mix and sugar in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Gradually beat in milk. Whisk in COOL WHIP.
SPOON into crust.
REFRIGERATE 1 hour. Top with berries just before serving.

Have a terrific Cheesecake day!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Inspired to Scrap – Design Team Call

Inspired to Scrap is looking for designers!! No experience on a design team is required and everyone is encouraged to apply.  Please join the Inspired to Scrap message board so everyone can get to know you.  The term will be for 4 months (September-December 2011).

Designers will be asked to help plan and create sample layouts for classes, teach techniques, create blog posts, participate in challenges, post regularly on the message board, and promote Inspired to Scrap on their blogs and elsewhere. We will also ask our designers to commit to no more than one other design team while working with Inspired to Scrap.

As a thank you, designers will receive a scrapbooking package every other month during their term, one free class following their term, and they will be highlighted on the design team page of the website.

Please submit the following information to stacey{at}inspiredtoscrap.net by August 15th, 2011 with “Design Team” in the subject line.
1.  Your name, mailing address and email address
2.  Your blog and/or a link to your online gallery
3. A list of online communities you are active in.
4. Two layouts plus an additional project (layout or altered item) that reflect your current style.
5.  A blurb about why you’d like to be a designer and what you can bring to the team.
6. A list of other design teams you have been on or are currently on.

Call is open to scrappers in the U.S. and Canada. The new design team will be announced no later than August 20th, 2011 on the blog and message board.

Good Luck!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

For The Luv of Art ~ Card-a-Palooza

For The Luv of Art presents a fun event you'll want to be a part of....




So, to be involved just head over to the FTLOA Community where you'll meet a great group of people who love to craft and you'll have lots of fun!


Happy Crafting
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

My Scraps & More – Design Team Call

My Scraps & More is looking for 2 new design team members! The term for these positions will be September – December 2011. If you love challenges and friendly, fun sites, then this is the place for you! 
Design team members are asked to sign up and create examples for daily challenges issued on the message boards. Being active on the forums is also very important as we want this to be a fun place to go and share our hobby with others who are as enthusiastic as we are about scrapbooking. 
If you would like to be a part of our great team, please do the following:
1)  Become a member of the My Scraps & More message board. My Scraps & More would really like to get to know you and see how you fit into our community.

2)  Send Tammi two of your favorite layouts that you have recently (in the last 3 months) completed. Also send a NEW layout that you have completed using a sketch made by Heather, a design team member. You can view the sketch here

3) Please  provide Tammi with the following: 

Name, Address, Phone, email, blog

Why do you want to be a design team member at My Scraps & More? Have you been on any other design teams or are you currently a design team member of another scrap community?

All design team members receive a great discount on all products in the online store during their terms and periodically you will receive some scrappy goodies as well! As a design team member, My Scraps & More asks that you are not a design team member on another scrap site with an online store. At this time, because of shipping, My Scraps & More cannot take international team members.

Please send all applications to teajays@aol.com This design team call will end August 28th and the new team members will be announced by August 31st! 

BESTeam Weekly Feature - Poison Garden

This week’s BESTeam featured Etsy shop is Poison Garden.

Poison Garden is a collaboration of three artists charmingly eccentric and impressively crafty ladies who share a love for the romantic with a bit of an edge; Suzette the butterfly queen, Crystal the pumpkin tender, and Melissa the toad catcher.

Having never grown up at all, no decision was ever made between them as to whether they would like to be Victorian ladies, swashbuckling pirates, playful fairies, bloodsucking vampires, steampunk captains, or feathered Indians. As a result of this indecision, their outfits are quite colorful, resulting in endless commentary from the disapproving neighbors.

The Ladies spend most of their time creating the fantastical adornments of their vivid imaginations. They offer many handmade, vintage and revamped vintage items in several styles including Victorian, Neo-Victorian, Steampunk, Gothic and whimsical. Using found material, vintage jewelry, ribbons, beads, feathers, bones, crystals and more to bring you original jewelry, accessories, decor and artworks.

Much of Poison Garden’s ribbon jewelry and accessories have been lovingly stitched by hand. When ordering a handmade or vintage item, keep in mind that the stitching will not be factory perfect and vintage items will show signs of wear. Poison Garden strives to offer only the best they can produce or discover, and it is their belief that these little imperfections are what make the items special.



Just the thing for a midnight stroll through the garden. This cracked glass tassel necklace drapes comfortably enough for a picnic, but would certainly be welcome at a formal dinner. made with icy cracked glass beads, accented by glowing blue crystals this vintage inspired piece is very cool and classy.

Garden Fairy Pink Lemonade Sun Catcher



Drink in the refreshment! You'll feel instantly renewed with this cheerful sparkly hanging in your window. Pink and white beaded strand with detachable glass drop.

 

Queen of Hearts choker


 

This listing is for a whimsical, Gothic, black ribbon choker with black and white striped trim. It is inspired by Alice in Wonderland, specifically the red queen. Choker comes to a point in the center and has a heart lock and red button center piece. Button and beaded hoop fastener, black button, red hoop. 

 

Eudora Whimsical Neo Gothic Necklace


 

This lovely Gothic butterfly necklace sparkles like moonlight dancing across inky waters. The detailed scrollwork of the wings is reminicent of old wrought iron gates. This all black piece even has gunmetal toned hardware. The centerpeice is the focal point, supported by a simple, elegant sinlge strand of highly light reflecteive, jet black beads.


These are just a few of the wonderful items in this shop’s collection, so make sure you stop by the Poison Garden Etsy shop for more. Don’t forget to check out the Poison Garden blog for great features, product reviews, and articles.

The Creativity Bugs love the opportunity to promote other artisans including the fellow Estians but especially the BESTeam group. These friendly, talented, and very hardworking individuals work together to promote their shops and help others with marketing, advertising, and tips and tricks for running an online business. If you are a seller on Etsy, have a blog, and either FB or twitter, then you might be interested in joinging the BESTeam. You can find information about the team, as well as apply for membership HERE!

Happy Shopping!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue 

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Big Pictures Idea Festival

You are invited to a FREE festival packed full of big ideas at Big Picture Classes this August!


Come join in for 12 fun-filled days featuring 12 of our talented instructors. Each instructor will be giving you a word of the day, which will inspire you, along with a downloadable template (in both printable and digital format) so that you can create a mini layout about that day’s word and how you applied it in your life. Finally, each teacher will leave you with an inspirational video message and a preview of the page they created with their word.

More fun with daily challenges and giveaways provided! Registration is completely FREE, and you’ll have forever access to the materials in class!  Click HERE to sign up for this amazing opportunity!

Happy Crafting!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Monday, July 25, 2011

Snickerdoodle Dreams Design Team Call

Are you interested in becoming a part of a design team creating cards, paper crafts, and scrapbook layouts? Snickerdoodle Dreams is looking for a wonderful design team of five (5) Creative Artists to create paper, card, or scrapping magic with their range of Snickerdoodle Dreams Digital Stamps.


The Snickerdoodle Dreams online store brings lots of new items and goodies to delight not only the graphic and digital crafters, but they also offer a complete range of brand new patchwork and quilting patterns to tempt you!

REQUIREMENTS
=> Design 2 ~ 4 projects per month using our Digital Stamps
=> Post your finished projects to your Blog, FB, etc
=> Be an active part of our team
=> Use your CREATIVITY & have FUN

You will have complete free access to all the Snickerdoodle Dreams Digital Stamps

HOW TO APPLY
1. Download the free SD Digital Stamp (add the free image to the shopping cart)
2. Using your creativity and the free SD Digital Stamp send a photo of your finished project to admin@snickerdoodledreams.com
don’t forget to include...
3. Your Name and Email
4. Link to your gallery/blog or You Tube (bonus)
5. Would you like to make video's of your work/projects using our stamps?
6. What's your favourite medium when using Digital Stamps? Copics, Paints, Prisma Pencils, Distress Inks, Digital Colouring, etc
Call Closes:: July 30

Good Luck!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Featured Freebies for the Week of July 25th

Good morning and a Happy Monday to everyone.

Here are this week’s freebies of digital stamps and images from websites, blogs, or shared by friends and followers:


Altered Scrap is sharing a brand new free digital stamp called Lucy the Dolphin

MelonHeadz Illustrating has two new sentiments to share; I miss you and dog gone it

Foxycrafts shares with us an adorable frog and a hot air balloon




That’s it for this week. Stop on by next Monday for more digital freebies.
Creativity Bug ~ Sue