Special Blog Team Member ~ Catie

I would like to introduce to everyone our special blog team design member Catie (aka. Catie Bug). This 8-year old little cutie is my lovely niece who is a craft addict like her mom and auntie. This is definitely a trait she inherited from our side of the family!

As her proud aunt, I have nothing but good things to say about her. Besides her crafting talent, Catie loves to dance and takes Jazz and Ballet classes. She loves dancing so much that she makes up routines for everyone to see her do a "one girl show". Her love of dance has branched out into cheerleading, which she is proud to dance and cheer for her favorite team (GO VIKINGS!).

A few week's ago Catie joined me in the kitchen to try out my new Sizziz BigKick. Forgetting that she is now a "big girl", she instantly pushed me out of the way and said "I can do it all by myself". Grabbing the Hello Kitty die, a few scrap pieces of paper, a star handheld punch, and her favorite glue (Tombow), she created this card for her mom.

I wanted to try out the machine too, but realized that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Before I knew it, she pulled out the Cupcake die, more scraps of paper, and was creating this card for her oma & opa. Unfortunately for them, she liked the card to much that she hasn't given it to them yet!

While I had a chance to use the machine, she used the negative from her Hello Kitty die to create a cat card to give to her dad.

Catie is already working on some more projects, so I promised I would do another feature of her "artwork" on the blog in the next week or so.

Thanks for stopping by the blog and taking a look at Catie's creations!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Recipe Friday: Berry Cheesecake Parfait

The stores are starting to bring out all the summer fruits including berries. So what is better than a great summer time berry dessert recipe to start out the barbecue season just right!

Berry Cheesecake Parfait

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (8 oz.)PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1-1/2 cups cold milk

1 pkg. (3.4 oz.)JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1-1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, divided

24 NILLA Wafers, coarsely chopped

1-1/2 cups mixed berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries)

Directions:

• Beat cream cheese in medium bowl with mixer until creamy.
• Gradually beat in milk.
• Add dry pudding mix; mix well.
• Whisk in 1 cup COOL WHIP.
• Layer half each of the wafers, berries and pudding mixture in 8 parfait glasses. Repeat layers.
• Top with remaining COOL WHIP.

** variation ~ instead of NILLA wafers, use cubes of angel food or pound cake**

Enjoy!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Thank You ~ iLoveToCreate

Last week I took part in the "Let's Create Live" event sponsored by iLoveToCreate which was a blast! The event included live demos and chats with Kathy Cano-Murillo (a.k.a. Crafty Chica), Jen Hadfield of TaterTots and Jello, Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club, Lead Fiskateer Angela Daniels, Traci Bautista of treiC Designs, and Tiffany Windsor of Cool2Craft!

During the live event, viewers could watch, chat, and have opportunities to win awesome prizes. I was the lucky winner of the Tulip surprise glitter pack for answering the question "what prime time TV show recently had a baby shower and created onesies using Tulip, Scribbles, and Aleene's products?". The answer was "Grey's Anatomy".

The prize package arrived at my door today and including all of this:

Thank you iLoveToCreate for the wonderful package of goodies! My sister, niece, and I will be making a lot of creations which we will post to our blog to share.

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Cinco de Mayo ~ Santa Fe Chicken Casserole

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

I made this recipe for my mom and sister a few weeks back for a ladies lunch and we all agree that it tasted yummy. For those that prefer a spicier meal, have the hot sauce handy on the side to shake it on.

Ingredients:

3 cups shredded cooked chicken breasts

1 can (15 oz.)black beans, rinsed

1 can (14.5 oz.) no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained

2 green onions, sliced

1 tub (10 oz.)PHILADELPHIA Santa Fe Blend Cooking Creme, divided

4 flour tortillas (6 inch)

3/4 cup KRAFT Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese, divided

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375ºF.
2. Combine first 4 ingredients in large bowl. Add ¾ cup cooking creme; mix lightly.
3. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the chicken mixture into 9-inch pie plate; top with 1 tortilla.
4. Place one third of the remaining chicken mixture and  ¼ cup shredded cheese; top with second tortilla.
5. Place one third of the remaining chicken mixture and ¼ cup shredded cheese; top with third tortilla.
6. Place final one third of remaining chicken mixture and  ¼ cup shredded cheese; top with fourth tortilla.
7. Top with remaining cooking creme and shredded cheese; cover loosely with aluminum foil.
8. Bake 20 min. or until heated through; uncover. Bake 5 min. or until cheese is golden brown.

Have a wonder Cinco De Mayo!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Teacher Appreciation Gift ~ more flower pots

On Monday, I posted a little how-to on making flower pens with flower pot holders for that special teacher. Today, I am just showing you a few more of the finished pots that I have made.

Purple with Ribbon:

Orange with Ribbon:

Pink with Gems:

Orange with Gems:

Pink Twine:

Grouping of Flower Pots:

I am really having a fun time putting these together that a few will probably be sold in the craft fair that the Creativity Bugs are taking part of in June.

Happy Crafting!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

BESTeam Weekly Feature - MysticWynd

Come check out this week's BESTeam featured site MysticWynd owned by Karen from Scottsdale, Arizona.

Embrace your spirit of fashion with jewelry and gifts for your every mood! MystcWynds handcrafted artisan necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, accessories, and gift items are sure to please!

Karen’s creations are designed in the hopes of igniting that special spark of uniqueness that lies within us all. Some things are elegant, some are fun, some are outlandish, some are colorful, some are calming - but the great thing is that I know there is someone out there who will recognize something that just makes them feel good about themselves! 

What I love most about Karen’s shop MysticWynd is that she knows her customers. The career woman looking for that bold and powerful jewelry ensemble. The stay at home mom looking for something fun and trendy or simple and understated for day to day, or glamorous and exotic for those occasions she gets to break away and let her hair down. Students on a limited budget or who are still exploring a variety of styles. Fashionistas who love to start new trends. Grandmoms who prefer a little bit of nostalgia. 

Pink Rose Floral Glass w Pearl Necklace - Claire

Soft pink hues warmed with antiqued brass, bronze, and golds and the gentle luminescence of Swarovski pearls make this vintage inspired necklace beautifully feminine and nostalgic.

Purple Rose Necklace w Pearl, and Glass Beads - Reverie in Indigo

A beautiful lucite rose creates the focal point of this design, graced by a string of glass faux pearls and iridescent foiled glass beads in complementary shades of indigo purple. Add in a length of antiqued brass chain and you've got a feminine and flirty look that's perfect for any occasion you want to feel extra special.

Rose Necklace in Champagne Blush w Pearl and Crystal

Light bronze Swarovski glass pearls and medium topaz bicones blend beautifully with this palest of mauves acrylic rose in this vintage inspired necklace. The antiqued brass station which the rose rests upon, as well as the antiqued brass chain and findings which complete the necklace create an old world feel in an updated design.

Faux Pearl and Crystal Bracelet in Champagne Blush

This ultra feminine bracelet features light bronze Swarovski glass pearls and medium topaz Swarovski crystals matched with the vintage inspired beauty of antiqued brass findings.

MysticWynd Gift Certificate

Not sure what to select? Problem solved! MysticWynd gift certificates are a great way to give a gift to someone when you aren't sure what to choose for them. A gift certificate will allow the recipient to make a selection of one or even several of their favorites from MysticWynd.

Your electronic gift certificate is redeemable on ANY merchandise from any of the MysticWynd family of shops - MysticWynd ( http://mysticwynd.etsy.com ), MWElegance (http://mwelegance.etsy.com ), or TheCraftersCabinet ( http://TheCraftersCabinet.etsy.com ) and may be redeemed for any item including sale items, custom orders, and even shipping and handling charges where applicable, as well as sales tax on items shipped to an AZ address.

These are only a few of the wonderful pieces of jewelry available. Please check out the rest of this beautiful collection at MysticWynd Etsy Shop and also take the time to view the MysticWynd 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

Teacher Appreciation Gift ~ Candy Bouquet

Here is another great gift idea to give to your favorite teacher. I showed this about 2 years ago on the blog, but decided to revisit the idea.

Supplies:

paper flowers (punched or cut from large flower die)
straws
small lollipop (such as Dum Dums)
floral tape
glass vase
jelly beans

Step One: Take two paper flowers and punch a hole in the center

Step Two:  Insert lollipop throw hole in flowers

Step Three: Insert straw over lollipop stem

Step Four:  Wrap floral tape from the base of the flower all the way down the straw. Arrange paper flower shaping petals.

Your flower is now complete!

Step Five:  Fill a glass vase with jelly beans and arrange with lollipop flowers. Add additional arrangement materials to personalize.

Your candy bouquet is now complete and is ready for gift giving. Here are 2 arrangements that I made using different flower dies and lollipops.

Hope you enjoyed this project. I would love to see pictures if you decided to try to make a bouquet too, so post links in the comment section!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue