Your Help is Needed

On Tuesday, Etsy had a wonderful all day symposium that I was able to watch via Livestream.  They had a half dozen great speakers and keynote speakers that talked about how to get an Etsy shop running properly, obtaining customers & sales, making Etsy team connections, and interacting more with the crafting community.

Based on everything that I learned, there will definitely be a lot of changes happening within the next few weeks both at the CreativityBugs Etsy shop and on the Creativity Bug blog. It will take some time to implement them, but the changes will be well worth the time spent.

During one of the breakout sessions, I made a number of old & new friends via online chat and they were gracious enough to give me a few critiques on the Creativity Bug blog that I really have taken to heart.

Blog Opinions:

Who are you?? – Sue, the blog is really formal in speak and we know that you are a super friendly & funny person.  Posts don’t reflect that person.  Don’t you want people to know that you have a habit of getting glue all over yourself,  that you walk around with glitter on your face (even in stores), like to put stickers on your dog for decorations, and all the fun things you do with your niece?

Suggestion - The blog say’s that it is two sisters, but I only see one making posts. Would love to hear more things from both sisters.

CreativityBugs really?? – The blog used to show challenge items and completed projects, but lately it is promoting other sites or contests. I want to see more of your creative side again!

Aren’t you on a design team? – Sue, there was a post earlier on the blog about you being a design team member. Where is the blinkie and what have you been creating?? Would love to see the stuff or at least links to the completed projects.

More consistency please! – Sue, I found my blog to have more followers when I am consistent with my posts. Maybe you want to put yourself on a schedule to make a minimum of 4 posts a week with only 1 post about promoting other sites, 1 post about contests, and leaving all the other posts to your creative projects and things you sell on Etsy. I see that you only have 22 followers and have been blogging for almost 2 years, you should have more than 200 followers by now.

Wow, this was an eye opener in some areas and other areas I knew changes had to be made. So, devoted followers I ask you to take the time and really review this blog with a keen eye and send me an email at creativebugs2-blog@yahoo.com  letting Sandy and I both know what you think. What do you like or dislike? What do you want to see more of? How do you think we can become a better blog site? If you have checked out our Etsy shop, what would you like to see more of? What can we do better? Don’t worry about offending or upsetting us in any way!  We really want to make a go of both this blog and our Etsy business and need constructive criticism to put us on track.

Thank you for being with us through all the ups and downs!

Creativitity Bug ~ Sue

TU's Radical BNR - February 9th

Come check out TU's Radical BNR currated by FoggyMorningSundries on Etsy. There are 16 items being featured including:

FoggyMorningSundries "I love you" scented soap

 Msformaldehyde's hand painted buttefly barettes and pins

Headstrong Headwear designer Libunnyfoofoo's handmade bow of white satin ribbon with black fleur de lis pattern

And the Creativity Bugs' Creme Brule scented candle with butterflies

The BNR is just underway with lots of wonderful products for everyone to enjoy!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

CraftySteals - Share the Love

Our friends at CraftySteals are offering a special "share the love" promotion with an opportunity to win a great prize.

All you have to do is tell your friends about CraftySteals by inviting them to become a CrafytySteals FB fan, follower of the blog or twitter, or sign up for email alerts. Then follow this link and post a comment of how many friends you invited to "share the love".

Good Luck!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Helpful Tip - Cleaning Stamps

As many of you know, baby wipes are a crafters best friend. They help keep your work surface clean, hands free of glue, glitter & ink, and are great for wiping stamp ink from rubber & acrylic stamps.

But did you know that adding 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol to a new container of wipes will remove ink and other things easier? Thanks scrapadabadoo for the tip!

Once you are done cleaning your stamps, store them rubber/acrylic side down on a soft surface and in a single layer to prevent damaging, clogging or compressing the design.

Have fun crafting with stamps!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Super Bowl Party Food

Are you gearing up for tomorrow's Super Bowl? Since my beloved Bears are not playing, I am crafting instead of watching the game. Irregardless, I thought I would share a few recipes for tomorrow's game or to save for another get together.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 
• 1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
• 1/2 cup any flavor Frank's® RedHot® Sauce
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese or shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cans (9.75 oz. each) Swanson® White Premium Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained OR 2 cups shredded cooked chicken

Preparation:

• Heat oven to 350 F. Place cream cheese into deep baking dish. Stir until smooth.
• Mix in salad dressing, Frank's® RedHot Sauce® and cheese. Stir in chicken.
• Bake 20 minutes or until mixture is heated through; stir. Garnish as desired. Serve with crackers or vegetables.

Bacon Cheeseburger Puff Rolls

Ingredients:  

• 1 pound ground beef (ground chuck recommended)
• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 cup diced sweet onion (about 1 medium onion)
• 1/2 cup diced sweet red bell pepper
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed between palms
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 2 green onions (scallions), thin-sliced with green tops included
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 2 sheets (17.3-ounce box) puff pastry, thawed
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (or your favorite)
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten with a fork

 Preparation:  

• Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a jellyroll pan with a Silpat baking liner or parchment paper.
• Place ground beef, bacon, and sweet onion in a large, deep skillet and saute until bacon has rendered its fat and onions are translucent. Break up the ground beef as you saute. Drain well. 
• Add red bell pepper and garlic to the ground beef. Saute an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in oregano, basil, green onions, and ketchup. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let cool to room temperature. 
• Place one sheet of puff pastry between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently roll out to a rectangle about 12 inches by 10 inches. Remove the top piece of plastic wrap. Spread half of the ground beef mixture on puff pastry, leaving 1 inch clear on each of the four sides. Sprinkle with half of the Cheddar cheese. 
• Use the bottom piece of the plastic wrap to help you roll the puff pastry and filling lengthwise into a log. Use the egg white as glue to seal the roll. Gently press both ends closed. Using the plastic wrap, lift the roll onto the prepared jellyroll pan and place seam-side down. Repeat process with the remaining sheet of puff pastry. 
• Brush the tops of the bacon cheeseburger puff rolls with egg white and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Let rest for 10 minutes, then slice each roll on the diagonal into 4 pieces to serve.

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups peanut butter - divided use  
• 3/4 cup butter or margarine 
• 2 cups powdered sugar 
• 3 cups graham cracker crumbs  
• 2 cups (12 ounce package) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels - divided use

Preparations: 

• Beat 1 1/4 cups peanut butter and butter in large mixer bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in 1 cup powdered sugar. With hands or wooden spoon, work in remaining powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs and 1/2 cup chocolate chips.
• Press evenly into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Smooth top with spatula.
• Melt remaining peanut butter and remaining chocolate chips in medium, heavy-duty saucepan over lowest possible heat, stirring constantly, until smooth.
• Spread over graham cracker crust in pan.
• Chill for at least 1 hour or until chocolate is firm; cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Enjoy!!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

TU's Amazing BNR treasury

I was going to start out this post saying that TU is featuring one of our cards on their BNR treasury, but am excited to say that it SOLD! Oh happy day! This is our first Etsy sale and it feels good to know that someone likes one our cards so much that they bought it. It is such a Sally Field's moment for me.

Anyway, I still want to shout out to everyone that TU is featuring what they call an Amazing BNR today. There are 16 items that are selling out fast including Sun Shine Designs beautiful herringbone earrings and ShaeJus lotion bars. When one item sells, it is replaced with another item from another Etsy shop.

Come take a peak!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Blizzard 2011 ~ Midwest

After shoveling myself out the front door, I took a few pictures of the storm that hit last night here in Illinois. There is still more snow coming and they said we had about 20 inches fall so far. With the high winds and the drifts, the snow at the end of the driveway is 4.5 feet high. Guess I am keeping my 5 feet 2 inch self inside.

The snow is still falling, so I will be taking more pictures for that great "scrapbooking" moment. What else am I to do for the next few days but craft from the comfort of my home.

I hope that everyone is safe and sound from this storm and all the other horrible weather happening around the globe.

Creativity Bug ~ Sue