Creating Me

Crochet Dinosaur Softie

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

I just have to show you this adorable Dinosaur Softie that I stitched up! It is the cutest thing and I know it’s going to make a little someone very happy!

I used the free pattern from 5 Little Monsters that you can find here. I stitched him up using worsted weight yarn and a G/4mm hook. I’m not sure of the brand or color name of the yarn I used – I had the yarn in my stash and the labels were gone. 😦

The pattern was easy to follow – just remember to use stitch markers to keep your place.

These little spikes are so cute!!

I just love the way he turned out! Oh, and the little rocking chair in the photo – that was mine when I was a toddler! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

Posted in Crochet, Gifts, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Cabbage Roll Casserole – in your Slow Cooker

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

The frosty temps have me hungry for warm comfort food! I remember my Mom making baked cabbage rolls while we were growing up. I have to admit that I wasn’t a big fan of the cabbage back then, but I liked the filling. Now that I’m a bit older (actually a LOT older 😉), I enjoy eating the cabbage along with the filling. 😊

I found this great Cabbage Roll Casserole recipe at Spend with Pennies that you make in your slow cooker. You spend about 20 minutes of prep time, layer it in your slow cooker, and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.

Here it is just before I turned on my slow cooker…

And after about 5-1/2 hours cooking on low…

It’s full of flavor and the cabbage is very tender after cooking on low all afternoon!

Just a note: the recipe calls for long grain white rice – I used brown rice and it turned out wonderfully!

Add some warm crusty bread or garlic bread and you have a tasty dinner on a chilly Fall evening!

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

Posted in Recipes, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Thankful Treat Bag Favor

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

Thanksgiving will be here in just a few short weeks!! Are you hosting this year? Are you looking for a little something extra to add to your table? These cute little Thankful Treat Bag Favors may be just what you need…

These treat bags come together super quickly and you can put one at each place setting on your Thanksgiving table. I found my little kraft treat bags at Hobby Lobby.

I stamped “thankful for you” (the stamp is from the Bountiful Owl set from Unity Stamp Company) with orange ink on white card stock. (Here’s a great orange ink pad if you are looking for one.) I punched it with a label punch and sponged the edges with Memento Rich Cocoa ink. This particular label punch is discontinued from Stampin’ Up, but they have a similar one you can find here. If you are looking for dies instead this set from Spellbinders or this set at Scrapbook.com would be great options!

I punched a tiny maple leaf (using a punch similar to this one) from dark yellow card stock, inked the edges with Memento Rich Cocoa ink, and attached it to the tag. Then I punched a hole in the upper left corner.

I filled the little kraft treat bags with candy and tied the tag to the handles of the bag with orange and white baker’s twine (you can find this at your local craft store).

A little something extra that is sure to make your guests smile! 🍁🍂🍁

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

Posted in Fall, Gifts, Stamping, Tags, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

you’re fa-boo-lous

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Anita

Happy Halloween!!

I wanted to share this cute card using some “fa-boo-lous” supplies from Taylored Expressions. I know it’s too late to make this card for this Halloween, but they have a really cute On a Hinge-Merry Stamp and Merry Die Set that uses the same technique – and I’ll bet there will be more fun sets to come!

To make this card, I used the On a Hinge-Wicked Stamp Set and matching On a Hinge-Wicked Die Set. You’ll also need this On a Hinge Die and these little on the right track discs. They are what you’ll need so the legs can freely swing from side to side – as you can see in the pictures below.

I followed the instructions on the Taylored Expressions blog post here. There is a video that explains step by step on how to put the card together. I colored my stamped images with Copic markers and, after assembling them following the video instructions, I attached them to patterned paper layered to black card stock. Then it is attached to a white card.

The sentiment is stamped with black ink on white card stock and punched with a scalloped oval, then it’s attached to the card. (Here’s a great set of scalloped oval dies if you’re looking for some.)

I just ordered the On a Hinge-Merry stamp and die set…I can’t wait to play with them!

You’re fa-boo-lous!

Anita

Posted in Cards, Fall, Stamping, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

White Chicken Chili

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

Looking for a warm and cozy meal on a crisp Fall evening? Try this tasty White Chicken Chili. It’s super simple to make – just add a side salad and some cornbread for a perfect Fall dinner.

A sweet friend gave me this recipe years ago and it’s one that we eat often during the Fall and Winter months.

White Chicken Chili

1 lb chicken breasts (or you can use ground turkey)
1-1/4 cups chopped onion
4 oz. can diced mild chiles
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup chicken broth
2 (15 oz.) cans Great Northern beans
10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1/4 cup dried parsley (Sometimes I leave this out and it’s just as good!)
garlic salt to taste

Boil chicken until done and shred (or brown ground turkey). Mix together with onions, green chiles, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Place in a Dutch oven. Add chicken broth, Great Northern Beans, tomatoes, parsley, and garlic salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Serve with your favorite cheese sprinkled on top.

You can also place the cooked chicken with the rest of the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low for 2-4 hours.

This freezes well so go ahead and make a double batch and freeze half for a quick meal on a busy night!

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

Posted in Recipes, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Treat Tag

Posted on October 26, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

I have a sweet and simple tag to share with you today! It’s perfect to attach to Fall treats for a little something extra. And so fun and easy to make. 🎃🍁🍂🍁

The pumpkin stamp is from Paper Source and the sentiment is an older one from Amuse Studio.

To make the tag, stamp the pumpkin and sentiment with brown ink on white card stock. (I used Memento Rich Cocoa) Color the pumpkin with Copic markers and punch with a circle punch (here’s a great set of circle dies!). Lightly sponge with brown ink. Punch a scalloped circle from kraft card stock and lightly sponge the edges with brown ink (and here’s a great set of scalloped circle dies!). Attach the stamped piece to the scalloped circle. And that’s it!

I attached the tag to a little bag filled with treats using a tiny clothespin. I love how fun this turned out!

You could also use a jack-o-lantern or leaf stamp. You can find all sorts of little treat bags and tiny clothespins in your local craft store.

Have a sweet day!

Anita

Posted in Fall, Gifts, Stamping, Tags, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Harvest Chicken Casserole

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

I hope you are enjoying this Autumn season! Cool, crisp days filled with blue skies and colorful leaves – the perfect time for this Harvest Chicken Casserole…

You can find the full recipe here on Delish.com. It is filled with sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts and other yummy Autumn flavors.

The recipe calls for wild rice, but I only had brown rice in my pantry so I used that and it was quite tasty. I probably should have baked it just a touch longer so the almonds were more toasted and the veggies were more roasted. I’m still getting used to my new oven…

This recipe is made in a 9×13 pan, but I think you could easily cut it in half if you need to make a smaller amount in an 8×8 pan. Also, a rotisserie chicken can save you prep time on a busy weeknight! Add a side salad and maybe some crusty bread for a wonderful Fall meal.

Enjoy!

Anita

Posted in Fall, Recipes, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Thankful For You Tag

Posted on October 19, 2018 by Anita

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! I know…where has this year gone?!?! I have a sweet little tag to share with you today. I made several of these to give to some of my friends along with one of these Little Crochet Pumpkins to let them know that I am so thankful for them!

The flower stamp is from the Let Your Wishes Fly set from Unity Stamp Company. The sentiment is also from Unity Stamp Company, but it came in a grab bag and I’m not sure which set it is a part of. Update: I found which set the sentiment is from – you can find it here in the Bountiful Owl set.

I used the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch from Stampin’ Up to create a tag using kraft card stock. I stamped the flower several times with Memento Rich Cocoa dye ink and then sponged the tag with the ink. I stamped the sentiment with Pumpkin Pie ink from Stampin’ Up on kraft card stock. I punched it out with a scalloped oval punch (this one is discontinued, but this is a great set of scalloped oval dies if you’re looking for some.) Then I sponged the piece with the Pumpkin Pie ink. I attached it to the tag with foam tape.

To finish the tag, I tied the top with 2 different ribbons and attached 3 gems. (These enamel dots would be really cute, too!)

Here is a tag along with a couple of the Little Crochet Pumpkins I mentioned above. You can see my post about these cute pumpkins here (which includes a link to the free crochet pattern).

I’m so thankful for each one of you reading this post!

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

Posted in Fall, Stamping, Tags, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Crochet Microwaveable Bowl Cozy

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Anita

Have you seen the cute fabric Microwaveable Bowl Cozies at the craft shows? Since sewing isn’t one of my talents, I searched Pinterest to see if I could find a pattern for a crochet one – well, of course, Pinterest did not disappoint!

I found the perfect pattern here at Nicki’s Homemade Crafts. It’s a free pattern and works up quickly. Just be sure that you use only 100% cotton yarn so it will be microwave safe!!

I used I Love This Cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby in Deep Teal and a G/4mm hook to make this bowl cozy for my Mom’s birthday.

Here’s a view from the top…

Here’s what it looks like on the bottom…

Just place your microwave safe bowl with your favorite soup, chili, or cereal into the bowl cozy. Then pop it in the microwave. No need to grab a pot holder to remove your bowl and no more burnt fingers!

These would make great Christmas gifts! You can make them in any color to match the recipient’s kitchen.

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

Posted in Crochet, Gifts, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Pumpkins for Sale

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Anita

Fall cards are so fun to make! The colors are so rich and vibrant and just make me happy! 🙂 This card is so quick and easy to make…

The stamps are from Pink Ink Stamp Company. If you’re unable to find these exact stamps, any Fall themed stamps would work wonderfully with this layout.

Stamp the pumpkin cart with black ink on white card stock, color with Copic markers, and punch with a circle punch or circle die. Layer to a larger circle of green card stock with foam tape. (Here’s a great set of circle dies if you are looking for some.)

Attach 3 Fall color grosgrain ribbons to a kraft card. Stamp sentiment above the bottom ribbon. Attach stamped piece to the card with foam tape.