BESTeam Etsy Finds: Week of November 27

Get ready for holiday shopping!  Come look at some of the great products we found on Etsy this week presented by the Boosting Etsy Shops Team.

MEDITERRANEAN Hand Painted Silk Ruana from Joy Flower

Most popular color combination embodies the spirit of water, emerald green, vivid blue and royal purple. A ruana is similar to a cape, but open on the sides. Measures 42x79 inches. Wearable art is not only a fashion statement, but a savvy investment in your wardrobe! Think about it -- you get an accessory that is guaranteed to be one of a kind and looks fabulous on you! Count the compliments as soon as you tie one on! 

Girl's Night Out Sterling Silver and Sodalite Swirls from CK Silver

These gorgeous fashion statement earrings are wire-wrapped from argentium sterling silver wire and hammered for strength and beauty. Attached are beautiful faceted sodalite gemstones wire-wrapped with argentium sterling silver wire. Argentium sterling silver is made with a touch of germanium that is considered to severely inhibit tarnish. All silver on these earrings is sterling silver.

Iris Blank Greeting Card from Empty on the Inside

Vince and I (that's Vincent Van Gogh to you), we like our irises. Sure, his is a masterpiece that is on the top ten list for most expensive paintings ever sold and mine is just a greeting card. The choice is yours: you can either save up, oh around $82 million for his, or snap up this future top ten masterpiece for only $5.25 plus shipping.  This 5"x7" card (image size approximately 4"x6") is hand-painted on cream-colored cardstock and comes with a matching envelope. Each card is titled and signed by me. Left "empty on the inside" for your message.

The Creativity Bugs love the opportunity to promote other artisans including their 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: Boosting Etsy Shops Team or the Etsy team page. You can find information about the team, as well as apply for membership HERE!

Happy Shopping!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue 

Featured Freebies for the Week of November 27th

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

DZ Doodle Digital Stamps has lots to share including 4 snowmen images, a scalloped edge card template,  and fall leaves.

Anne's Cards 4 U shares a Christmas frog, Santa dog, Santa sign, and Santa cat

Diane’s Digital Designs shares Church Christmas Ornament, Hawaiian Sunset Ornament,  and Christmas Candle Swag

That’s all for this week!  Happy Crafting!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

BESTeam Etsy Finds: Week of November 20

Why waste gas and shop in crowded malls when you can get some wonderful gifts online at Etsy.  Come look at some of the great products we found on Etsy this week presented by the Boosting Etsy Shops Team.

Purple and Blue Victorian Floral Fascinator from Poison Garden

Wings amongst the flowers... A little birdie flew too close to sniff the flower and left behind a little tail feather... This Victorian hair fascinator would look great in your hair, on your purse, or anywhere else you can find for a little flair. The light purple flower is accentuated with a blue rose and teal speckled feathers. The clip is easy to put in and would look great on a teen as well as a woman!

Blue Drop Necklace from Blue White Wear

The Chinese porcelain beads are reminiscent of the antique dynasty porcelains which are famous throughout the world. The beads have been hand painted with Chinese characters representing longevity, happiness, wealth, love, and good fortune. Measurements - 18 inches long (46 cm) with a 3 inch (7 cm) extension chain. The drop pendant is slightly over 2 inches (5 cm) long.

Swarovski crystal bracelet with deep blue and clear crystal from Our Home to Yours

A Swarovski crystal bracelet with deep blue and clear crystal Swarovski elements beads. The sparkle of the crystal beads and the color of the rich deep blue beads give this stretch bracelet some real bling. Made with deep blue plated zircon gem cut 8mm beads and crystallized Swarovski elements 6mm bicone beads on a stretch cord, this is a beautiful sparkly bracelet for any age group.

The Creativity Bugs love the opportunity to promote other artisans including their 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: Boosting Etsy Shops Team or the Etsy team page. You can find information about the team, as well as apply for membership HERE!

Happy Shopping!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue 

Recipe Friday: Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes

This yummy crockpot dish is courtesy of Heather Carter via scrapadabadoo.com. It is sure to become a family favorite.

Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes

Ingredients:

2 lb. frozen hash browns

1 12-oz. can evaporated milk

1 10-oz. can cheddar cheese soup

2 Tbs. butter or margarine

1 tsp. salt

1/2 lb. cubed ham

4 oz. cheddar cheese, grated

Directions:

• Place frozen hash browns in crockpot on a low setting.
• In sauce pan add together evaporated milk, cheese sauce, butter or margarine, and salt. Bring to boil.
• Pour over potatoes; add ham and mix together.
• Cook for 3 hours.
• Add grated cheese and cook for 1 hour.

Happy Eating!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Recipe Friday: Chicken and Mushroom with Garlic Wine Sauce

Directly from the pages of Cooking Light magazine comes this fantastic recipe for Chicken and Mushrooms in Garlic Wine Sauce.

Put this Chicken and Mushrooms in Garlic White Wine Sauce recipe together in less than 25 minutes, probably without a trip to the store. It's adaptable to your pantry--if you don't have egg noodles, use another kind of pasta, and if you're out of tarragon, try basil, oregano, or thyme.

Ingredients:

4 ounces uncooked medium egg noodles 

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided 

1/2 teaspoon salt, divided 

1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided 

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 

1 tablespoon bottled minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon

1 (8-ounce) package pre-sliced mushrooms 

1/2 cup dry white wine 

1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth 

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 

Directions:

• Cook noodles according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain and keep warm.
• Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. Place chicken breast halves in a shallow dish. Combine 1 tablespoon flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, stirring well with a whisk. Sprinkle flour mixture over chicken; toss to coat.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken to pan; sauté 4 minutes or until browned. Remove chicken from pan. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to pan. Add garlic, tarragon, and mushrooms to pan; sauté for 3 minutes or until liquid evaporates and mushrooms darken. Add white wine to pan; cook 1 minute. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in broth, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper; cook 1 minute or until slightly thick, stirring frequently.
• Return chicken to the pan. Cover and simmer 2 minutes. Uncover; cook 1 minute or until chicken is done. Stir in noodles; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Place about 1 1/2 cups chicken mixture on each of 4 plates; top each serving with 1 tablespoon cheese.

Happy Eating!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving comes but once a year,

But when it comes it brings good cheer.
For in my storehouse on this day
Are piles of good things hid away.
Each day I've worked from early morn
To gather acorns, nuts, and corn,
Till now I've plenty and to spare
Without a worry or a care.
So light of heart the whole day long,
I'll sing a glad Thanksgiving song."

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Creativity Bugs ~ Sandy and Sue

Design Team Calls

Have you ever wanted to be a designer for a design team? Then check out the latest calls from:

Momenta

Momenta Design Team Call – accepting applications through December 15, 2011. Click here for all the details.

Delightful Challenges

Delightful Challenges Design Team Call – accepting applications through November 30 , 2011. Click here for all the details.

Flying Unicorn

Flying Unicorn Design Team Call – accepting applications through December 31 , 2011. Click here for all the details.

Stamp School

Stamp School Design Team Call - accepting applications through December 9 , 2011. Click here for all the details.

Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker

Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker Design Team Call - accepting applications through December 28, 2011. Click here for all the details.

Good luck!

Creativity Bug - Sue

Recipe Friday: Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes

Tired of serving traditional pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving? Consider a new holiday tradition by making these scrumptious spiced pumpkin cupcakes for your guests.

Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ingredients:

½ cup finely chopped pecans

3 tablespoons sugar

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix

1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

½ cup water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 container Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy cream cheese frosting

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• In heavy 8-inch nonstick skillet, cook pecans and 2 tablespoons of the sugar over low heat about 8 minutes, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted. Spoon and spread pecans onto sheet of waxed paper. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar; toss.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, pumpkin, water, oil, eggs and pumpkin pie spice with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (about two-thirds full).
• Bake 19 to 24 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Frost cupcakes with frosting. Sprinkle edge of frosted cupcakes with pecans; press lightly into frosting. Store loosely covered.

Enjoy!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Featured Freebies for the Week of November 14th

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

The Paper Squirrel shares a Mod Christmas Tree digital image

Little Scraps of Heaven shares an Indian Summer digital image

Edrian Thomidis shares a free coloring page of an elephant and ghost

Lost in Paper Scraps shares 2 octopus digital images and an owl.

That’s all for this week!  Happy Crafting!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Recipe Friday: Spicy Beef Sloppy Joes

In honor of Veteran’s Day, make your special GI Joe (or Jane) a hearty meal with this recipe for Spicy Beef Sloppy Joes.

Spicy Beef Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

2 pounds lean ground beef

2 (16 ounce) jars salsa

3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (8 oz.)

1 ½ cups shredded carrots (3 medium)

1 ½ cups finely chopped red and/or green sweet pepper

1/3 cup tomato paste

2 teaspoons dried basil, crushed

1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

4 cloves garlic, minced

6 – 8 Kaiser rolls, split and toasted

Directions: 

• In a skillet cook beef over medium heat until brown, stirring to break meat in pieces. Drain fat.
• In 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker stir together beef and remaining ingredients (except rolls).
• Cover; cook on high-heat setting 4 to 5 hours or low-heat setting 8 to 10 hours. 

Happy Eating!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

BESTeam Etsy Finds: November 11, 2011

Are you starting your holiday shopping yet? Why bundle up in your heavy winter coats and go to a jammed mall when you can purchase gifts in your pj’s all from the comfort of your own home?

Come look at some of the great products we found on Etsy this week presented by the Boosting Etsy Shops Team that would make wonderful holiday gifts.

Mixed Bracelet from BeaderBubbe

A perfect gift for a teenage girl, mom, aunt, or special female in your life.

This bracelet is made with memory wire. It wraps around any wrist and consists of tiger's eye beads, silver spacers, green glass beads and black glass beads. It is very unusual and one of a kind.

Handmade Crochet Lace Flowers and Ribbon Christmas Ornament from GMaEllen Crochet Gifts

Image a holiday tree decorated with handmade ornaments. 

This beautiful 3 inch satin ball ornament is adorned with lace, flowers and ribbon whose beauty will last forever and  surely become a family heirloom!

Flower necklace with stones from RioRita

Calling all husbands!! Show the woman that you love just how special she is this year by purchasing this beautiful flower necklace with stones.

This necklace is combined of 12 three-dimensional flowers with 5 petals each.  The flowers are connected to one another with stylized links and small flat rings. On one of the flowers is a soldered 4mm Citrin cabochon stone and a 4mm Iolite cabochon stone; on three more flowers are soldered small pieces of 9ct Gold. Size of each handmade silver jewelry item flower is about 0.9" x 0.8".  Length of the necklace : 19.6"

The Creativity Bugs love the opportunity to promote other artisans including their 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: Boosting Etsy Shops Team or the Etsy team page. You can find information about the team, as well as apply for membership HERE!

Happy Shopping!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue  

Veteran's Day 2011

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

The Veterans Day National Ceremony begins at 11:00 am ET on November 11, 2011 at Arlington National Cemetery  and includes a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns. This annual ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.

We want to personally say thank you to all the men and women who serve, have served, and have died protecting the United States and its people. God bless you all!

Creativity Bugs ~ Sandy and Sue

BESTeam Etsy Finds: November 3, 2011

Get ready for holiday shopping!  Come look at some of the great products we found on Etsy this week presented by the Boosting Etsy Shops Team.

True Blood Purple Fascinator from MsFormaldehyde Couture

True Blood Purple Fascinator, Vampire fascinator, NOLA, Wedding couture fascinator
Length is 7.5 inches with purple Ostrich feather, purple bionet feather, purple Peacock feather curled, and purple ranunculus flower. Comes on a sawtooth clip great for thick or thin hair.

Purple Shell Bracelet from Absolutely Kismet

This beautiful dyed purple shell bracelet (likely mother-of-pearl) is great for medium sized wrists. The total length of the bracelet is 8.5 inches (21.5cm), however, because of the size of the beads, the interior circumference is 7" (17.78cm), making it perfect for a wrist between 6.25-6.75", depending on how much wiggle room you prefer.

Handmade Fluorite Heart Pendant and Gemstone Necklace from Jewelry by Jaynemarie

Show her that your love is ENORMOUS by treating her to this vibrant heart-shaped crystal of genuine Fluorite!  This multicolored 2" (5cm) heart is suspended from green, purple and blue Fluorite Crystals. A sterling silver chain with a sterling silver lobster claw clasp finishes the necklace. This necklace is 17 1/2" (#cm) long, a perfect length for your heart to nestle by her heart! 

Austrian Crystal Oil Lamp Personal Sized Vintage from Redemption Art

Perfect for the holidays, as a gift..imagine "You light up my life"..as the caption on the card enclosed! Whatever you choose to do with it will be pleasurable, it really is an adorable and unique find.  The lamp measures 10" tall and 2" wide at its base. In very good vintage condition, It works perfectly and is ready to give someone another generation of beautiful light!

The Creativity Bugs love the opportunity to promote other artisans including their 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: Boosting Etsy Shops Team or the Etsy team page. You can find information about the team, as well as apply for membership HERE!

Happy Shopping!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue 

Recipe Friday: Potato Soup

When the weather starts to get chilly, there is nothing better than hot soup to warm a body up. These two potato soup recipes are sure to become family favorites.

This first recipe is made in a slow cooker or crockpot and requires just a few minutes after cooking to prepare.

Smashed Potato Soup

Ingredients

3 ½ pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes

½ cup chopped yellow and/or red sweet pepper

1 ½ teaspoons bottled roasted garlic

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

4 ½ cups chicken broth

½ cup whipping cream, half-and-half, or light cream

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 ounces)

½ cup thinly sliced green onions

Sliced green onions (optional)

Directions

• In a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine potatoes, sweet pepper, garlic, and black pepper. Pour broth over all.
• Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours.
• Mash potatoes slightly with a potato masher. Stir in whipping cream, cheddar cheese, and the 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions.
• If desired, top individual servings with additional sliced green onions. Makes 8 servings.

This second recipe requires an oven and a little bit of time, but is it so well worth it.

Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients

2  large baking potatoes (about 8 ounces each)

6 tablespoons  thinly sliced green onion (3)

3 tablespoons  butter

3 tablespoons  all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons  snipped fresh dill or chives or 1/4 teaspoon dried dill

1/4 teaspoon  salt

1/4 teaspoon  black pepper

4 cups  milk

1-1/4 cups  shredded American cheese (5 ounces)

4 slices  bacon, crisp-cooked, drained, and crumbled

Directions

• Scrub potatoes with a vegetable brush; pat dry. Prick potatoes with a fork. Bake in a 425 degree F oven for 40 to 60 minutes or until tender; cool. Cut each potato lengthwise. Scoop out white portion of each potato. Break up any large pieces of potato. Discard potato skins.
• In a large saucepan cook 3 tablespoons of the green onion in butter over medium heat until tender. Stir in flour, dill, salt, and pepper. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir for 12 to 15 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Add the potato and 1 cup of the cheese; stir until cheese melts.
• Top each serving with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese, remaining 3 tablespoons green onion, and the bacon.
• Makes 5 to 6 servings (5 1/2 cups)

Happy Eating!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue