Tuesday Tutorial: Ideas found in blogland

It is Tuesday and I don't have a tutorial ready to post. But have no fear as I have included some great ideas with links to their tutorials found on blogs that I currently follow.

Get ready for the 4th of July with this fantastic Red Hots and Blue Fourth of July Rocket wreath created by Tatertots and Jello. I love how Jen used Dollar Store materials to create festive wreath for under $4.

Looking for a welcoming wreath for your front door? Jen at Tatertots and Jello does it again with this innovative Burlap Wreath. I love the mixture of burlap and Amy Butler fabric.

Want to dress up the refrigerator or a magnetic board? Why not make your own magnets. Coffee Girl Crafts has a great tutorial on how to make Bubble Word Magnets. All you need are some glass pebbles, epoxy glue, strong magnets, and scrap papers.

Want to make more magnets? Coffee Girl Crafts has another great tutorial on how to make Bottle Cap Magnets. Not only is this a great way to recycle bottle caps, but it is a fun project for kids and scout troops.

If you make any of these great projects using the tutorials, please make sure to post a link in the comment section so that we can see your finished work.

Happy Crafting!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Featured Freebies for the Week of June 13th

Hello and Happy Monday to everyone!

Here are this week's featured freebie digital images, stamps, and clip arts that we have found on websites and blogs or that were share with us by friends and followers.

Creative Mamma has a great Spring Mini Kit that includes a to do list, shopping list, and printable grocery list

Another great freebie from Creative Mamma includes the Summer Reading Kit for Kids which features a reading log, reading notes (for mini book reports), bookmarks, and book labels.

Lotta Bruhn features printable stickers including spaceman and everyday animals

Don't miss Lotta Bruhn's current digital freebie Victoria and Daniel paper dolls

Squigglefly has an assortment of digital freebies to try before you buy including a journal frame, speech bubbles, turtle, and hummingbird. Just click on the pictures from the Squigglefly site and they instantly download.

Amanda Parker shares a wonderful Summer Shindig party printable freebie kit

Hope you enjoy this week's freebie goodies. Happy Crafting!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Recipe Friday: Turkey Mushroom Burgers

Looking for something that is healthy but also tasty?! Well, look no further because today’s recipe is for a burger that even the most pickiest eater will enjoy.

Turkey Mushroom Burgers

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground turkey breast

½ cup diced onions

1 cup sliced mushrooms

¼ cups chopped fresh parsley

1 ½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients together in a large bowl and separate into 4 equal –size patties. Grill patties on George Foreman grill, outdoor grill, or in a skillet with a little olive oil. Cook for 12 minutes (flipping half way through) or until a thermometer inserted in the center registers 165°F and the meat is no longer pink

Serve on a bun along with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and your favorite condiments.

For variety:

* Add a diced chili or Serrano pepper to the ground turkey mixture before grilling to give the burger a Southwestern spicy taste. Serve with fresh slices of avocado.

* Substitute 1 ½ tablespoon barbecue sauce in place of the Worcestershire sauce for a sloppy Joe tasting burger.

Happy Grilling!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

So Close to Summer Craft and Vendor Fair

Looking for something to do this Saturday June 11th? The Friends of the Round Lake Area Library is sponsoring a “So Close To Summer Crafts and Vendor” show at the library.  The show is to be held at the Round Lake Area Public Library, 906 Hart Road, Round Lake, IL., 60073,  from 9am to 3 pm.

The Creativity Bugs have purchased a table to sell make your own bookmarks (in honor of the summer reading program), cards, decorative pencils, coasters, tea light flower favors, favor bags, and a whole lot more.

There will be also 40+ other vendors including handmade items such as quilts, stained glass, jewelry, baked goods, ceramics, cat and dog beds, floral arrangements, princess and hero capes, totes and purses, hair accessories, scarves, henna temporary tattoos, candles, stationary, paintings, wood crafts, homemade candy, garden art, cigar box amplifier, wind chimes, birdhouses, fleece blankets and more!

Participating vendors are Scentsy, Pampered Chef, Wildtree Natural Healthy Foods, Cookie Lee Jewelry, Lia Sophia Jewelry, Tastefully Simple, Midwest Fiber and Folk Art, Homemade Gourmet, Tupperware, Windy City Spinners, Reliv International, Mary Kay, and Ice Cream from Handmade Specialties. 

As a special treat, face painting artists from Abundant Life Church will also be participating.

Hope to see you there!

Creativity Bugs ~ Sandy and Sue

BESTeam Weekly Feature - Off the Wall Expressions

Come check out this week's BESTeam featured Etsy site Off the Wall Expressions, a vinyl lettering and wall art design company. 

Off the Wall Expressions is owned and operated by a husband and wife design team specializing in high quality vinyl graphics. They do their own unique designs and order production,  as well as local installation.

Vinyl designs are quick and easy to apply, instantly transforming your space into something special. You can use vinyl to decorate, make a statement, motivate, inspire, amuse, and organize any area. Vinyl can be applied to any smooth surface such as walls, windows, wood, glass, refrigerators, plastic, bathtubs, picture frames, and many more.

Family Tree with photos and leaves

The 'Family Tree with Photos' vinyl decal is a unique way to display your favorite pictures. It measures 74"w X 73"h when applied as shown.  Apply photos to the 'frames' with photo corners or double stick tape. Swap pictures as often as you like!

Girl - Sweetness with Attitude

"Girl, Sweetness with Attitude" definition.This vinyl decal measures 22.5"w by 6.5"h. Perfect for any girls room over the bed, above a desk, or on a bare wall.

Chalk Thoughts

Use  "Chalk Thoughts" vinyl decals so everyone can 'read' your mind. Each 'chalk thought' sticker measures 12" X 10", and you will receive two!

Use regular chalk (we include a piece with every order!) to write on your "Chalk Thoughts" bubble, and simply erase with an eraser when you change your mind! 

These are only a few of the wonderful items available. Please check out the rest of this beautiful collection at the Off the Wall Expression Etsy shop and also take the time to view the Off the Wall Expressions 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

Tuesday Tutorial: Decorative Candles-I did it!

A while back,  my sister Sue posted about creating decorative candles and  I knew I had to try one of the techniques. I have seen these picture candles using tissue paper all over blogland and just never got around to trying it. Well, let me tell you, it took me longer to take the pictures than it took me to create the candle. I love it!

So, just a little something about my crafting style. I am the sister who's motto is "it's good enough." My workspace does not have to be perfect (or uncluttered), things do not have to be exactly the way they should be, they can just be good enough. Case in point. I knew I had white tissue paper. Where? It's in the recycle bin. Yes people, I grabbed crumpled up white tissue paper from the recycle bin to do this project. I figured if it would fail, no harm no foul.

Here are the steps I took to complete this quick project:

1. Remove crumpled up white tissue paper that was included in my daughter's pajamas from recycle bin

2. Search for a decent picture of my family from my laptop

3. Cut and paste picture into Word so that I can crop and make my picture the size I need. No fancy photo program for me. Just use what I've got

3. Tape crumpled tissue paper (with masking tape because I can not find regular tape) to a white piece of copy paper

4. Print photo (Hooray, it worked)

5. Run into my basement and find small white candle that has already been used (why use a new nice candle if this project is going to H-E double hockey sticks in a hand basket)

6. Cut photo from paper and place on candle with push pins

7. Take heating tool and heat photo to candle

Done and it's beautiful!
Creativity Bug ~ Sandy

Featured Freebies for the Week of June 6th

Hello and Happy Monday!

Today we have a number of great new digital stamp and image freebies that we found on blogs, websites, or forward to us from friends and followers.

Paper Dreams of Mine shares a key to my heart, tree, and vase filled with flowers digital image

The Sherlock's Home shares digital images Alyssa, Rainy Day girl, Happy Birthday cake, and Birthday circle sentiment

Anne's Cards 4 U shares a painted seashell digital image

Pop N Stick shares an adorable dog with boa, singing hedgehog, and 3 different pigeon digital images

Paper Squirrel shares a June bride digital image

Beary Wishes shares a bear picking tulips, a tweet bird with flowers, thanks a bunch bears, and love roses digital images

Starry Nights Studios shares a butterfly, grasshopper, baby chick, and an early bird digital image

That's all for this week! Have a wonderful Day!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue