Shameless Plug: Arlington Heights Arts and Crafts Examiner

As many of you know, I am not only a crafter but I love to write. Give me a topic and I will research it, summarize it, and share what I have learned. Now I get to do two of my favorite things at once; craft and write. I am officially the new Arts and Crafts writer for the Arlington Heights Examiner.

With this new adventure, I am going to be reporting to the Arlington Heights community and surrounding areas such things as art and craft events, local festivals, spotlights on local stores, crafts and hobbies to try, trash to treasure ideas, and things to make for little money.

If you live in Illinois and would like to share with me a few of your favorite places to shop for crafting items, places to take crafting classes, or crafting events in the area to attend, please contact me here or post links in the comment section below.

If you don't live in Illinois, but know of blogs or websites that you would love to share with me for article ideas or tutorials, please contact me here or post links in the comment section below.

I will keep you posted on my new adventure and include a weekly link on the blog to articles that may be on interest.

Happy Crafting,
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Featured Freebies for the Week of July 11th

Hello and Happy Monday!

Here are this week’s wonderful paper crafting freebies, digital images, and printables that we found on the web, from blogs, and received from friends and followers.

GTC Crafty Corner features a Dotty about Flower series with part 1 and part 2

Spyders Corner features a hand drawn Mia the Mermaid image

Sandi’s Samples has a half dozen digital freebies including a truck,  hummingbird, and teacup

Whoopsi Daisy Designs is offering a free digital image of a dancing girl

MelonHeadz Illustrating is offering a few freebies from each of their collections including  a princess,  a camel, and a tube of lipstick

MelonHeadz Illustrating also created a special angle in rememberance of Caylee

DigiStamp Boutique offers a freebie of swimming Molly and Tom

Pop “N” Stick are offering a girl and love heart image collection

That is all for this week. Have fun crafting!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Recipe Friday: Dirt Cake

Yesterday I had my 8 year old niece over and I wanted us to do something besides sit around in the air conditioned house watching movies.  I don’t live far from a lake, so we decided to take a nature walk. The nature walk turned into a fun filled day of collecting pine cones, feeding the ducks, and a little fishing.

A very sweet older couple were fishing on the docks and my niece Catie instantly took a major interest. After about 15 minutes and Catie “trying” to help by pointing out fish bubbles, the man handed over an extra poll and told her to catch herself a big fish.

About 10 minutes later we hear a loud squeal and I soon help Catie reel in very first fish. Of course, it was a baby but I know years from now the fish story is going to grow and we will be hearing about the 12 inch fish that was caught and let go.

All the way home, she mentioned going fishing next week with her Opa and how they were going to be catching lots of fish together. I told her that part of fishing meant putting the worms on the hook and taking the fish off the line. One look into my eyes told her that as a child I was able to get my dad (her Opa) to not only put the worm on the hook, but also take the fish off. We agreed that worms and fish were just plain slimy! The only worms we were willing to touch are the gummy kind.

In honor of Catie’s first time catching a fish, this week’s recipe is for Dirt Cake. Which uses our favorite kind of worms.

Dirt Cake

Ingredients

1 (20 ounce) package chocolate sandwich cookies with creme filling

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 (3.9 ounce) packages instant chocolate pudding mix

3 cups milk

1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

15 gummy worms

Directions

• Put the cookies in a food processor and process until they become fine crumbs. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the butter or margarine, cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla flavoring. Beat on low speed to mix then beat on medium speed until smooth. Add the chocolate pudding mix and milk to the bowl. Beat on low speed to combine.
• Fold the whipped topping into the pudding mixture with a rubber spatula.
• Assemble in the ungreased 9x13 inch pan in layers as follows: first layer, 1/3 cookie crumbs; second layer, 1/2 pudding mixture; third layer, 1/3 cookie crumbs; fifth layer, 1/3 cookie crumbs.
• Tuck the ends of gummy worms in the cookie "dirt". Be sure to have a worm on each piece. Store in the refrigerator. Chill for at least 3 hours before serving. Cut into 15 squares, or serve with a clean garden trowel or a toy sand shovel if serving in the flower pot.

Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend.

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

BESTeam Weekly Feature - SandyVern

This week’s BESTeam Etsy featured shop is SandyVern (aka Sandy’s Soaps and Homemade Things).

Sandy identifies herself as a self taught crafter. She tends to be one of those people that sees something and instantly thinks “I think I can make that”.

Sandy has been making soaps for about 3 years and uses both the cold process and “melt and pour” process methods. While she loves the mixing of ingredients and the process of making soap from scratch using the cold process method, she enjoys the artistic details of the melt and pour process. When she is not making soap, you can find her either knitting or dabbling in jewerly making.

All of Sandy’s soaps are made from scratch using the old-fashioned cold process method of combining various oils, butters, and lye in just the right amounts to create a luxurious soap that she is proud to offer to her customers. Sandy makes all her soap in very small batches so she has precise quality control over the entire process. After curing for 4 - 6 weeks, she hand-cuts and individually package each soap. This means you know you are getting a soap that is finely crafted and one-of-a-kind!

When you enter Sandy’s Etsy shop you enter some of these great products:

Vanilla Soap

Goats milk and cocoa butter make this mild and extremely moisturizing soap and with the light fragrance of vanilla.

 

Blueberry Crunch Soap

 

Goats milk and cocoa butter make this mild and extremely moisturizing soap and with the light fragrance of blueberries...sprinkled with rolled oats. It looks pretty and feels great!

 

Watermelon Soap Popsicle

 

Just in time for summer, these Watermelon soap pops are a calorie free treat guaranteed not to melt within minutes!

Soapsicles are a great way to get kids in the bathtub and an even better way to keep them in there. Each soapsicle is a standard popsicle size and is made from gentle, vegan friendly glycerin soap base and each comes shrink wrapped and decorated with a ribbon.

 

Pink Grapefruit Bath Bombs

 

Each bath bomb is approximately 8-9 oz 

Simply drop into your tub and enjoy! They leave your skin silky smooth and the scent lingers on your skin.

Don't have time to soak in the tub? Bath bombs are perfect for your shower! Simply place on the floor, away from direct water stream and enjoy an aromatherapy shower any day of the week!

 

These are only a few of the wonderful items available. Please check out the rest of this beautiful collection at SandyVern Etsy shop and take a few moments to check out The Adventures of SandyVern blog.

 

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 

Happy 4th of July

Americans in Strength

Americans in strength unite This union born in freedom’s light United States, how sure we are We’ll pull together, near and far The world can see of what we’re made Each state is of the highest grade Determination, filled with pride Our people’s will won’t be denied Our founding fathers set to stay The road we’ve traveled to this day A quest for right cannot be wrong With help from God, we will stay strong Support our troops ranks number one For the job they do is never done When forced they put it on the line True patriots, when called they shine Let’s raise Old Glory with a cheer And thank all soldiers, past and here

by Roger Robicheau

Wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th of July!

Creativity Bugs ~ Sandy and Sue

Recipe Friday: Awesome BBQ Side Dishes

Last weekend I had a backyard BBQ with family. Along with hamburgers and the traditional European sausages on the grill, I served up two new side dishes that were a hit.

Broccoli Salad

Ingredients:

4 cups broccoli, chopped

1 cup dried cranberries or golden raisins

1 cup mayonnaise (I used light)

4 tablespoons orange marmalade (I used Smucker’s Sweet Orange Marmalade)

¾ cup chopped pecans, divided

¼ cup red onions, diced

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine broccoli, onions, cranberries, and ½ cup of pecans

In a small bowl whisk together mayonnaise and orange marmalade.

Pour dressing over top of broccoli mix and toss.

Sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup pecans and refrigerate.

Steakhouse Potato Salad

Ingredients:

3 lbs small red potatoes, quartered

½ cup mayonnaise (I used light)

¼ cup ranch dressing (I used Hidden Valley Light)

6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided

1 cup shredded cheese (I used 4 cheese blend)

4 green onions, thinly sliced, divided

1 stalk celery, diced

Directions:

In large pot filled with boiling water, cook potatoes until tender about 10 minutes.

Place cooked potatoes in large bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour or until completely cooled.

Whisk together mayonnaise and ranch dressing.

Pour dressing over top of potatoes and mix lightly.

Add celery, half of crumbled bacon, and half of green onions. Mix lightly.

Sprinkle top with remaining bacon and onions.

Refrigerate

Enjoy!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

BESTeam Weekly Feature - HeadpinWear

Come check out this week's BESTeam featured Etsy site HeadpinWear

HeadpinWear is owned by Cathy from Benicia, California. She started designing jewelry a few years ago and  really just wanted to make jewelry for herself that would be unique and would complement her apparel. In creating and designing, she has found that she has to be "In the Mood"! Cathy is not one who can just sits down and makes something, for the sake of making it. She is thoughtful and meticulous in the complete design from start to finish. Sometimes it may take days to finish a piece, and then sometimes it’s simple and easy, but that’s rare. Although she calls her jewelry simplistic, Cathy can assure you that it is all quality work.

At HeadpinWear you will find classic and retro designed jewelry with Gemstones, Swarovski Crystals, and other varieties to flatter you, and your own style! Cathy believes that jewelry is an accessory. It is not meant to be center stage or steal the show. Jewelry is meant to enhance your being, inside and out, and complete your sense of style. It is the cherry on top of your sundae"!

Here are just a few of the items that caught my eye while browsing Cathy’s HeadpinWear Etsty shop.

Raspberry and Key Lime colored Czech Glass Bead Earrings on Vintaj Brass

A romantic sorbet of Key Lime and Raspberry make up this delightful combination in these Czech Glass Earrings. A juicy Raspberry Drop dangles from the bottom of a two tone translucent round Czech Glass Bead. The edges of this two toned round are exquisite in their Picasso finish. Above this center Bead is a Melon Bead which mixes the flavors of Key Lime and Raspberry thoroughly. In appearance these two colors are now a swirl! To complete this flavorful combination the Melon Bead is capped sweetly, with a Vintaj Brass Flower Bead Cap. 

Orange Chalcedony, Fire Opal, Carnelian Gemstones and Thai Sterling Silver Bracelet

A luscious and lovely combination of striking Orange’s and Rust’s are combined in this bright Bracelet! Each Gemstone is separated either by a Thai Sterling Silver Rondelle Spacer Bead with an engraved Flower Motif, or by an AB Carnelian Rondelle. The Gemstones consist of orange sorbet Chalcedony Rondelles, Fire Opal Nuggets, and Faceted Carnelian Rondelles.This Bracelet closes with a Bali Style Sun Burst Toggle.

White Starfish mixed with Pearls, Larimar, Sterling Silver, and Brass Set

A distinctive White Patina Starfish set amongst sparkling and complementing shades of our coastal waters completes this stunning necklace. Wire wrapped on Vintaj Brass Wire, between double strands of Solid Brass Hand Antiqued Chain are light sage Freshwater Pearls, Larimar Gemstones, Swarovski Crystals topped with Vintaj Brass Bead Caps, and a Pewter Clamshell Bead. An Antiqued Brass Ball and Socket Clasp close this necklace.

For the earrings, three sparkling Swarovski Crystals in shades of Indian Sapphire dangle from Antiqued Brass Chain and are connected by a loop to a bold and captivating Swarovski Indian Sapphire AB Crystal. An elaborate Vintaj Brass Bead Cap adds more detail to this already gorgeous bead! This ensemble hangs directly from Handmade Vintaj Brass Ear Wires. 

These are only a few of the wonderful items available. Please check out the rest of this beautiful collection at the HeadpinWear Etsy shop and don’t forget to stop by the HeadpinWear blog.

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