Creating Me

Slow Cooker Meat Lovers Chili

Posted on November 24, 2023 by Anita

Hi friends,

Looking for a yummy chili recipe for the cold winter days ahead? You need to try this Slow Cooker Meat Lovers Chili! You can find the recipe here at Passionate Penny Pincher.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my site are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

It’s super easy to make and because you make it in your slow cooker, you can start it in the morning, get on with all the other things you need to do, and dinner will be ready in about 6 hours.

To make my prep time even shorter in the morning, I browned my meat along with the onions and garlic the night before and put it in a container in the fridge. Then all I had to do was add the meat and the rest of the ingredients to my slow cooker and turn it on.

I took the Slow Cooker Meat Lovers Chili to share with some friends for dinner and one of them said “I think this is the best chili I’ve ever had”. 😊 It really is yummy!

We added cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and some Fritos on the side (or mix them into your bowl 😊). A little side salad with your favorite dressing and you’ll have a great meal!

Anita

Posted in Recipes | Tagged Recipe | 2 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on November 23, 2023 by Anita

Hi friends,

I just wanted to pop in and wish all my friends in the USA a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! I hope your day is filled with lots of family, friends, and food! 🧡🦃🥧

To make this Fall card, I stamped the pumpkin from the Pumpkin Spice Please stamp set from Unity Stamp Company with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white card stock and colored it with Copic markers. I die cut around the image using the Scallops & Circles Nesting Dies from Unity Stamp Company. I layered the image to a circle die cut from orange card stock. Then I layered it to a scalloped circle punched from brown card stock using foam tape.

I stamped “happy fall” from the Planner Gal: Seasonal Hello stamp set, also from Unity, with Memento Rich Cocoa ink on white card stock. I punched around the sentiment with a scalloped circle punch and layered it to a scalloped circle punched from orange card stock.

I wrapped natural jute twine around a piece of patterned paper, tying it in a knot. I attached the paper to a white card. I attached the pumpkin image to the card and added the sentiment over the twine using foam tape.

I’m so thankful for all of you who take a moment out of your busy day to visit my little blog – it means the world to me! 🥰 Thank you for coming along with me on my journey!

Anita

Posted in Cards, Fall, Stamping, Uncategorized | Tagged Cards, Fall, Stamping | Leave a comment

A Little Hello (Handmade Card)

Posted on November 22, 2023 by Anita

Hi friends,

This sweet Winter Birdie Swag stamp from Unity Stamp Company makes the cutest winter card! The set includes 3 fun sentiments, but the one I used on my card is a discontinued stamp from Stampin’ Up. You can really use any sentiment on this card from the ones included with the cute bird to thinking of you to Merry Christmas.

I stamped the bird image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white card stock and colored him with Copic markers. Then I stamped the sentiment with red ink next to the bird. I used the Scallops & Rectangles Nesting Dies from Unity Stamp Company to die cut around the image. I also die cut a piece of red card stock and layered the stamped image to it.

I used a dot embossing folder to emboss a piece of bright blue card stock and attached it to a white card. Then I attached the stamped image to the card.

I love the way the colors on this card pop! You can color up this sweet bird in so many different ways – he’s perfect for sending out warm wishes all winter long. 😊

Anita

Posted in Cards, Stamping, Uncategorized | Tagged Cards, Stamping | 2 Comments

Easy Crochet Christmas Cup Cozy

Posted on November 21, 2023 by Anita

Hi friends,

Do you have a coffee lover on your Christmas gift list? Or maybe a Chai Latte is their favorite hot drink. ☕️ Either way, the Crochet Christmas Cup Cozy will make a great gift!

This is an easy pattern that works up quickly. I stitched up my Christmas Cup Cozy using I Love This Cotton Yarn and an H/5mm crochet hook. You can find the pattern below. I’ve also included a link to a free PDF for easy printing. (There’s also a link at the end of the pattern for the cup cozy template in the pictures below.)

This is a great video on how to crochet in the 3rd loop from Moogly if you need help with that. 🙂

Easy Crochet Christmas Cup Cozy

Worsted weight cotton yarn (size 4) – I used I Love This Cotton in White and Red

H/5mm hook

Buttons (optional)

Stitches used in US terms:

Chain – ch

Slip Stitch – ss

Single Crochet – sc

Half Double Crochet – hdc

Half Double Crochet in 3rd loop

Note: chains at beginning of rounds do not count as stitches.

Chain 30 with White and join to first chain with ss to form a ring.

Round 1: ch 1. sc in each ch around. Join with ss to first sc. (30 stitches)

Rounds 2-4: ch 1. sc in each stitch around. Join with ss to first sc. (30 stitches)

Change to Red.

Round 5: ch 1. hdc in each stitch stitch around. Join with ss to first hdc. (30 stitches)

Rounds 6-12: ch 1. hdc in 3rd loop of each stitch around. Join with ss to first hdc. (30 stitches)

Change to White.

Round 13: ch 1. sc in the 3rd loop of each stitch around. Join with ss to first sc. (30 stitches)

Rounds 14-16: ch 1. sc in each stitch around. Join with ss to first sc. (30 stitches)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Sew on buttons if using.

Here’s the link to the free PDF…

Easy Crochet Christmas Cup Cozy

Here’s the link to the Cup Cozy Template from The Knotty Boss.

Stitch up an Easy Crochet Christmas Cup Cozy and add a gift card to their favorite coffee shop for a fun Christmas gift. ☕️ The cup cozy would also make a great stocking stuffer! It would be so cute in red and green or green and white, too. ❤️💚🤍

Anita

Posted in Christmas, Crochet, Gifts | Tagged Christmas, Crochet, Gifts | 2 Comments

Merry Merry Merry (Handmade Card)

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Anita

Hi friends,

November’s (November!! 😳) Christmas card is simple but really cute! I love this Santa image 🎅🏼 and the sentiment is fun.

This cute stamp set is called 3 Times as Merry from Unity Stamp Company. The set also includes some festive Christmas lights and a star tree topper stamp.

I stamped the Santa with tree image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white card stock and colored him with Copic markers. I used the Wonky Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-Namics from MFT Stamps to die cut around the image. Then I stamped the sentiment in the top left corner with red ink.

Using a snowflake embossing folder, I embossed a piece of light green card stock and attached it to a white card. (Here’s a similar embossing folder.) Then I attached the Santa image to the card.

FYI – this is my favorite adhesive for card making and the refills are available here.

This is a quick and easy card and so cute for sending out Merry Wishes! 🎅🏼

And how is it already halfway through November?!?!? 😳

Anita

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Stamping, Uncategorized | Tagged Cards, Christmas, Stamping | 3 Comments

Bountiful Blessings (Handmade Card)

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Anita

Hi friends,

Sometimes all you need is a great image and some card stock to make a beautiful card. This Bountiful Haul stamp from Unity Stamp Company is perfect for making a wonderful Fall card. 🍁🍂🍁

I stamped the truck with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white card stock and colored it with Copic markers. Using the Deckle & Stitches Nesting Die Set from Unity Stamp Company, I die cut around the stamped image. With the same die set, I die cut orange and turquoise card stock and layered them into a white card. I attached the stamped piece to the card with foam tape.

It’s an easy, clean and simple card – I love the way it turned out! 🧡🍁🍂🍁

Pull out your favorite larger image stamps and try your hand at making a similar card. 🙂

Anita

Posted in Cards, Fall, Stamping, Uncategorized | Tagged Cards, Fall, Stamping | Leave a comment

Little Wood Dice Snowman

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Anita

Hi friends,

Have you seen these unfinished wood dice from Dollar Tree? They measure 1.5 inches and when I saw them I immediately thought they would make a great snowman! ☃️

I pulled out some acrylic paints in white, black, and orange – thinking I would paint the face and button details onto the dice. That didn’t quite work out as planned, so keep reading and I’ll tell you what I ended up doing instead. 🙂

First I painted each die with 2 coats of white paint. Using my Crop-A-Dile tool, I punched 2 different sizes of circles from black card stock. Then I cut the noses from orange card stock. I used Art Glitter Designer Dries Clear Adhesive to adhere the pieces to the dice after the paint was dry.

I glued the dice together using E600 clear adhesive and tied ribbon around the snowman for a scarf.

These cute Little Wood Dice Snowmen are the perfect size to add to your tiered tray or to scatter among some greenery on your mantle. You could also add a screw eye to the top, tie some bakers twine through it, and turn the snowman into an ornament. ☃️

This would be a fun craft to do with the kids! The snowmen would make great little Christmas gifts for their friends. ☃️

Anita

Posted in Christmas, Decor | Tagged Christmas, Decor | 2 Comments

Thanksgiving Hostess Gift Idea

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Anita

Hi friends,

Are you looking for a quick hostess gift for Thanksgiving? Or maybe a little something to tell your friends you are thankful for them? I have a fun idea for you! 🍁🍂🍁

I crocheted a Rice Stitch Cotton Spa Cloth (you can find the pattern here) and added it to a cellophane bag along with a bottle of liquid hand soap. I printed “”SOAP” Thankful for you!” on my computer, punched it out with a circle punch, and layered it to a scalloped circle punched from brown card stock. After punching a small hole in the tag, I threaded it onto 1/4 inch wide ribbon and tied the bag closed.

Here’s a closer look at the tag. 🧡

This is a super quick and easy gift to make. Not a crocheter? Not to worry – a simple wash cloth from the store will work just as well. 🙂

Anita

Posted in Fall, Gifts | Tagged Fall, Gifts | 2 Comments

Heart of Autumn (Handmade Card)

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Anita

Hi friends,

Unity Stamp Company has made it so easy to create this Heart of Autumn Card! Almost everything you need is included in their Heart of Autumn Stamp & Die Bundle. I also used their Dashes and Frills Die Set and an embossing folder similar to this to make my card. 🍁🍂🍁

To make my card, I stamped the heart with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white card stock. Using the solid circle stamps in the stamp set, I added color to the leaves on the heart with several fall colors of ink. Using the heart dies listed above, I die cut around the image and layered it to a heart die cut from matching card stock. I stamped “hello” with mustard colored ink and die cut it using the die in the stamp and die bundle.

I embossed a piece of green card stock with the embossing folder and attached it to a white card. I attached the heart and “hello” to the card with foam tape.

This is a great card for saying hello, a fall birthday, or sending Thanksgiving greetings. The set also includes sympathy and thanks stamps and dies along with some other smaller sentiments to go with them. A great set to have in your collection! 🍁🍂🍂

Anita

Posted in Cards, Fall, Stamping, Uncategorized | Tagged Cards, Fall, Stamping | Leave a comment

Pumpkin Place Card Holder

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Anita

Hi friends,

Place card holders can be used for more than just names! I found these cute Pumpkin Place Card Holders at Hobby Lobby. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do with them, but I couldn’t pass them up – especially since they were 50% off! 😉

I pulled out a few of my stamps and made little signs to go on them since I didn’t need the pumpkins for traditional place card holders.

My sentiments came from the Bountiful Owl and Simply Blessed stamp sets from Unity Stamp Company. I stamped the sentiments in fall color inks on white card stock.

Using the Wonky Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics and the Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle STAX Die-namics from MFT Stamps, I die cut around each sentiment. Then I layered them to patterned paper die cut with the same die sets.

After tying some ribbon and natural twine in a knot around the pumpkin stem, I slipped each little sign into the pumpkin.

This is a super quick and easy project. The pumpkins are the perfect size for your tiered tray or to scatter on your Thanksgiving table. 🦃

Of course you can add everyone’s name to these cute Pumpkin Place Card Holders, too. Instead of the sentiments, write the names onto white card stock before die cutting. Or if you don’t like your handwriting (like me!), print them out from your computer using your favorite font.

Whatever you choose, these little pumpkins will look cute anywhere you put them! 🧡

Anita