Featured Freebies for the Week of January 9, 2012

Hello and Happy Monday to Everyone!

Here are this week's free digital images or printables found on websites, blogs, or submitted to us from friends and followers:

Create with TLC shares a number of free word art including “you are my rock”, “a cluttered desk”, and “happiness is bubbles”

MelJen Designs is sharing seven free digital images to download by clicking here

Patty Wraps is sharing  a few lollipop wrappers for Valentine’s Day including doggie, kitty, and love bug

Jane's Doodles shares  a coffee cup of love digital image

That’s all for this week!  Happy Crafting!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Recipe Friday: Beef and Bean Enchilada Casserole

I love Mexican food and have been craving it for a while. When I discovered this recipe a while back on the Better Homes and Garden website, I knew it was going to be added to my “recipe to try” pile.

What I like about the recipe is that you can easily substitute some of the ingredients for healthier things such as ground turkey or ground sirloin for the ground beef, while still maintaining the taste.

Beef and Bean Enchilada Casserole (adapted from bhg.com)

Ingredients:

½ pound lean ground beef (or ground turkey or ground sirloin)

½  cup chopped onion

1 teaspoon chili powder

½ teaspoon ground cumin

1 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed (or kidney beans or black beans)

1 4-ounce can diced green chili peppers

1 8-ounce carton dairy sour cream (or light dairy sour cream)

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

8 (6 inches) corn tortillas (or whole wheat tortillas)

1 10-ounce can green or red enchilada sauce

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese (or Colby-Jack, Monterey Jack, 3-blend Mexican, or 2% fat cheese)

Directions:

• In a large skillet cook the ground beef, onion, chili powder, and cumin until onion is tender and meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir beans and undrained chili peppers into meat mixture; set aside.
• In a small mixing bowl stir together sour cream, flour, and garlic powder until combined; set aside.
• Place half of the tortillas in the bottom of a lightly greased 2-quart rectangular baking dish, cutting to fit if necessary. Top with half of the meat mixture, half of the sour cream mixture, and half of the enchilada sauce. Repeat layers. Cover dish with plastic wrap; chill in refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
• To serve: Preheat oven to 350F. Remove plastic wrap; cover dish with foil. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until bubbly. Uncover; sprinkle with cheese and bake 5 minutes more. Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories 429
• Protein (gm) 19
• Carbohydrate (gm) 36
• Fat, total (gm) 24
• Cholesterol (mg) 64
• Dietary Fiber, total (gm) 6
• Sodium (mg) 632

I hope you enjoy this week’s recipe!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

ABC Toys and Crafts Design Team Call

ABC Toys & Crafts are looking for a few new design team members. The term is from January 30th – May 25th, 2012 (4 months). 

Designer Requirements:

• Someone self motivated, that can create freely.
• Any style or skill level may apply
• Must be familiar with the ABC Toys and Craft Product line
• Must have your own Blog and are willing to post once a week on that Blog about the store and the project you made.
• USA designers only at this time (due to cost and the time delivery of items.)

What is expected of the DT Member: 

• You must submit a project once a month to the ABC DT Challenge Blog with detailed items used and links to the items currently available in the store. Projects must be submitted to the Challenge Blog on the scheduled day. Challenge is posted on the first Sunday of every month. Projects are due by the Friday before.
• Comment on the DT Challenge entries Blogs thanking them for playing.
• Post once a week on the DT Blog on your assigned day and on your own blog that same day or if not able to do it on your Blog the assigned day, a day that works for you. (This would be the same project on both blogs.)
• You must display that you are on our Design team on your blog with links to the Blog and Store. Blinkies are provided.
• Most of all enjoy what you are doing and have fun!

What is expected as a project? 

• Create a project within the stated theme or product line of that week.
• Create a card or project using at least 2-3 items currently available in the store.
• You may do a how to video to show how to make a project. (Not required)

How you benefit: 

• You will receive a $20.00 credit each month in your account to purchase the items you will need to create projects. (extra items may be sent with your store order by us)
• You will receive a 25% discount of the SRP of each item in the store when purchasing from the store.
• Inspiration from a great team of designers.

What you need to do to apply:

Email your resume to abctoysandcrafts@comcast.net  with the subject line: DT CALL
Include:

• Name
• Address
• Email
• Link to your blog
• Tell us why you think you are a great fit for ABC Toys and Crafts.
• What design teams you are on and have been on.
• Something about you that we should know that could help us pick you.

Deadline for application is January 15th, 2012

Good Luck!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

LSHD Design Team Call

Little Scraps of Heaven Designs is on the lookout for creative people to add to their design team.

They are looking for artists who mainly focus on making paper crafting layouts.

Here are the requirements:

• Each week the DT member will have a project to make for the DT blog (be it a layout, a card, an altered project, etc).  These will be due every Saturday to be posted on Monday.
• Each week the DT members will also have 1 other required project to make.  If you can create 2 projects plus the weekly DT project each week of the month you will earn an extra $20.00 in patterns a month.
• Check in LSHD DT Group DAILY and post.
• Post on the LSHD Facebook fan page DAILY.  (commenting on posts)
• You must keep your blog up to date.
• Although we have no problem with you creating projects using other pp designs, we do ask that the majority of your work on your blog and Facebook fan page be LSHD paper piecing.  We want those who visit your blog to see that you are a LSHD DT member.

You must be able to commit to the following terms.  If you are unable to commit to the following terms please do not apply.

For your participation on the LSHD Design Team,  you will be given $50.00 in free patterns each month.

To apply please send your submissions to lshdesignsmail@aol.com and include the following:

• Your full name
• Your email address
• Your blog name and link address
• A short Bio of yourself
• Three projects with Little Scraps of Heaven Design paper piecing on them
• A brief statement why you would like to be a part of the LSHD DT.

Submissions for the LSHD Design Team will be accepted until January 5,2012.

Good luck to all those that apply!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Featured Freebies for the Week of January 2, 2012

Hello and Happy Monday to Everyone!

Here are this week's free digital images or printables found on websites, blogs, or submitted to us from friends and followers:

Cre8tive Hands shares a jar of smiles, moon and stars, and sending you love digital images.

KayBeScraps shares a funny kitten, snowman, holiday rabbit, and happy moose digital images.

Bugaboo Digital Stamps shares freebies every Friday here.

That’s all for this week!  Happy Crafting!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

A Green Thought: Recycle Your Christmas Tree

Goebbert's Farm & Garden Center has some great ideas to recycle your live Christmas Tree.

Give your Christmas tree a second life by using it in the garden.  Anchor it in a snow bank or on a fence or trellis.  Hang homemade or purchased birdseed feeders, orange slices and other food for the birds.  The tree provides needed shelter and the food will helping bring additional visitors into your landscape. 

Use it as a windbreak - Help protect your boxwood, rhododendrons and other broadleaf evergreens from drying winter winds and winter sun.  

You can also cut the branches of the tree and use them as winter mulch over perennials and bulbs.  Place several branches over border-line hardy perennials, late plantings or bulbs that are subject to early sprouting.  Winter mulch keeps the soil cold, preventing early sprouting and frost heaving during our winter thaws.  At the end of the season, contact your local municipality.  Many will chip the remnants of your tree along with other gardeners' landscape trimmings for use as mulch in the landscape.  

Go Green!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Foodie Examiner Roundup: January 2, 2012

As one of the new Food Examiner writers, last week I introduced my new column with recipes for breakfast, healthy side dish alternatives, leftover holiday meal recipes, appetizers, how to keep a healthy kitchen, and the first of my “read it and eat” series.

Pumpkin Pancakes

Many New Year’s resolutions include eating right and exercising. We all know vegetables are a staple in any healthy diet, so why not increase your vegetable intake and incorporate them into every meal including breakfast.

Easy breakfast strata

This crowd pleaser is easy to make, uses healthy ingredients, and has them all asking for more.

Healthy cheesy potatoes

Healthy doesn’t mean skimping on taste. Add these cheesy potatoes as a yummy side dish to any meal.

Turkey Paella

Try a new recipe for leftover holiday turkey or substitute holiday ham.

Quick Party Appetizers

Prepare quick and easy appetizers for your next party!

Healthy kitchen: Foods to keep in stock

The new year is here which means creating a healthy kitchen filled with foods for you and your kids.

Read it and eat: Eggs in Purgatory

Enjoy a new food related cozy mystery series by Laura Childs including recipes!

Happy reading and eating!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue