

-Katie
Follow me on Facebook for exclusive coupon codes and more
Check out my blog, CraftyGirl Creates, for great Etsy shop reviews!
Tweet me on Twitter, @CraftyGirlMerch … I’d love to hear from you!
-Katie
Follow me on Facebook for exclusive coupon codes and more
Check out my blog, CraftyGirl Creates, for great Etsy shop reviews!
Tweet me on Twitter, @CraftyGirlMerch … I’d love to hear from you!
-Katie
Follow me on Facebook for exclusive coupon codes and more
Check out my blog, CraftyGirl Creates, for great Etsy shop reviews!
Tweet me on Twitter, @CraftyGirlMerch … I’d love to hear from you!
If you head over to Craftsy right now, you can sign up for a FREE baking basics class!
The class description says.. ” Make cakes with no crumbs, no crowning and no cracking, so you have a flawless decorating surface β every time! Join pastry chef Beth Somers as she demystifies bakeware, pan preparation and measuring techniques. You’ll learn the proper way to combine your ingredients and avoid over-mixing, so you always end up with a tender cake. Then, you’ll see how to level the top of your cake and cut it into layers to make room for your luscious, homemade filling. Beth also will teach you how to use a spatula to spread smooth, crumb-free icing and another “tip” for achieving a rich, textured look. To top it all off, you’ll pipe an easy, elegant star border and embellish further with wonderful decorations!”
It’s a great class for beginners, or even seasoned bakers who just want to brush up on their technique! Check it out today!
Until next time…stay crafty!
-Katie
Follow me on Facebook for exclusive coupon codes and more
Check out my blog, CraftyGirl Creates, for great Etsy shop reviews!
Tweet me on Twitter, @CraftyGirlMerch … I’d love to hear from you!
So, I am a huge fan of berries. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries… I’ll take them all! Sometimes, though, if you’re absent minded like me, you buy too many blueberries and you don’t have enough time to eat them before they go bad…oops. This is where one of my favorite recipes comes in!
My maternal grandfather grew up in Maine, and my mother spent a lot of time there during the summers, on family vacations. I’ve only been to Maine once, and I was too young to remember it, but whenever I bake this cake….it makes me feel like I’m there. π
Maine Blueberry Cake
Ingredients:
3 & 3/4 cup all purpose flour
3 & 3/4 teaspoons baking powder (Or, 1 tablespoon plus 3/4th a teaspoon)
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter
1 & 1/2 cup white sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen (I prefer fresh)
Additional 1/4 cup white sugar
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour your 9 by 13 inch baking pan.
Sift your dry ingredients together into a bowl. (Flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg)
In another bowl (either fitted to a stand mixer, or in a bowl that you can use a hand mixer with), cream your butter and sugar together. Add in your eggs, one at a time, followed by your milk and vanilla.
Gently mix your dry ingredients into your butter/sugar mixture, making sure to fully incorporate it. You don’t want any lumps, but try not to over-mix your batter.. No one likes a tough cake! π
Finally, gently fold in your blueberries. Pour your batter into your greased 9 by 13 inch pan! Now, here’s my favorite part: sprinkle the additional 1/4 cup of white sugar over the top. (When it’s done, it’ll be nice and crunchy on the top..It’s so good!)
Now, pop that pan of awesomeness into your oven for 45-60 minutes. Times will vary, depending on your oven.. Everyone’s oven is a little different! π I’d suggest peeking in on it at around 40 minutes, just in case your oven runs a little hot.
You’ll know it’s done when it’s pulled away slightly from the sides, and you can stick a cake tester (or toothpick!) into it, and it comes out clean.
Now, I know it’s super tempting to just dive into that cake right now, but burning your tongue won’t do you any good! π I’d suggest you let it cool for at least 45 minutes before you slice it, giving the cake time to firm up. Or, if you’re super impatient and you have ample fridge space, just pop it in there after it’s cooled on the counter for 15-20 minutes, and that’ll speed up the process!
Summer may be coming to a close, but you can make this recipe year round! Frozen blueberries work well when you’re in a pinch, or you don’t want to pay out of season prices for fresh. Just make sure to dust your frozen blueberries with a small pinch of flour before you put them in the batter…That will help them not to sink to the bottom. π
Until next time…stay crafty!
-Katie
Follow me on Facebook for exclusive coupon codes and more: www.facebook.com/CraftyGirlMerchandise
Check out the shop blog for great Etsy shop reviews! : craftygirlmerchandise.blogspot.com/
Tweet me on Twitter, @CraftyGirlMerch … I’d love to hear from you!
Just a quick note… This weekend, or early next week, I’ll be adding new items! I have some wonderful handmade crochet washcloths to list, and I also have several skeins of discontinued Red Heart yarn to list! Here’s a quick list of what I’ve got…
1 Red Heart Hokey Pokey yarn in Spearmint
3 Red Heart Bright & Lofty yarn in Snowcone
6 Red Heart Light & Lofty yarn in Creamsickle
3 Red Heart Baby Clouds yarn in Pink Lemonade
3 Red Heart Light & Lofty yarn in Country Club
3 Red Heart Light and Lofty yarn in Bikiki
Check CraftyGirl Merchandise in a few days to see the listings!
Until next time…stay crafty!
-Katie
Follow me on Facebook for exclusive coupon codes and more: www.facebook.com/CraftyGirlMerchandise
Tweet me on Twitter, @CraftyGirlMerch … I’d love to hear from you!
I’ve currently got a wonderful, color block scarf up for auction at eBay!
Handmade Color Block Lime Green and Purple Scarf
The starting bid is only $0.99! Buy it now for $12.99.
Lovingly handcrafted, this super colorful scarf features blocks of lime green and bright purple, with purple edging. It measures 5 inches wide and 60 inches (5 feet) long. It’s made with soft Red Heart acrylic yarn, and comes from a pet-free and smoke-free home.
Check it out!
Until next time..stay crafty!
-Katie
Owner, CraftyGirl Merchandise
Representative, Jewelry In Candles
So, when I’m not being a super awesome business owner, direct sales representative and housewife, I’m also *gasp* a gardener! Now, don’t be fooled…typically, my luck with plants is not that good. But I was tickled pink this afternoon when I went to water my tomato plants and found this:
That, my dears, is a tiny baby tomato on one of the wonderful tomato plants my neighbor gave me. (She ended up with several dozen from the seeds she had sown. Maybe that’s why I’m doing so well with them.. I’m not the one who originally planted them! π )
I am super excited to have fresh tomatoes this summer. I don’t typically eat them raw (except in some salsas) but I am totally thinking of fresh marinara sauce…
Until next time…stay crafty! And get out there and grow something! π
-Katie
Owner,Β CraftyGirl Merchandise
Representative,Β Jewelry In Candles – Two Gifts in One!
A true visionary when it comes to colors and patterns, Erica Waddell’s affordable and stylish line of clothes for men and women evokes a sense of fun, timelessness and an international sense of style. Based in Torrance, CA, Erica’s designs are uncomplicated and beautiful, with unparalleled quality. From silk ties to Japanese inspired dresses, Erica’s designs are sure to impress.
Featuring 2/3 length gathered sleeves and above the knee rolled hemline, this soft and stylish Midnight Garden Japanese Floral Print Cutout Cotton Dress ($38) is perfect for a romantic stroll with that special someone. Available in sizes XS, S, M & L
With a pattern of fans and fine china on top of the off-black and antique gold background, Erica’s Silk Velvet Burnout Manton with 12-Inch Fringe ($40) measures almost five feet across, plus 12 inches of fringe trim along the curved edge. One size fits all!
Reminiscent of the 1960’s, this gorgeousΒ Purple Paisley Silk Short Sleeved Dress ($40) is made of silk jersey knit for slight stretch and bounce. With a flattering fit and close-cut crew neckline, it’s sure to impress.
Erica Waddell’s designs are available on Etsy, and also in her store in Torrance, CA, where ready-made and custom clothes are available for women, men, and kids! Even better, if you use coupon code CRAFTYMERCHGIRL, you’ll get $15 off your order of $75 or more! That’s a great deal for such amazingly styled pieces.
Be sure to check out Erica’s shop for gorgeous designs, timeless designs and bright colors.
Until next time, stay crafty!
Katie
Owner, CraftyGirl Merchandise
Having had the pleasure of purchasing from Frozen Water Designs personally, I can vouch that Elly’s products are amazing. Featuring soaps of all different shapes, sizes and scents, Frozen Water Designs is sure to have a product you’ll love. Normally, I feature 3 random products from a shop during my blog posts, but I’m going to go with 3 very specific items this time: the items I bought!
Here’s a peek at what I got..
The Best Soap in the Verse – Serenity – Firefly, $7
I ordered this one in gray, with the scent “clementine cupcake”..and does it smell like a cupcake? Oh yessss. Both Alex and I are big Firefly fans (and are still gravely upset over the show only lasting one season), so I purposefully ordered it in a scent I thought was “girly” so he wouldn’t use it. Whoops. π
Boba Fett – Star Wars Bounty Hunter Soap, $7
Alex is a HUGE fan of Star Wars, so I ordered this one specifically for him, in green and scented with “summer melon”. He loves it! Melon is pretty much his favorite scent, hands down, so this was perfect for him. π
Series 2 Doctor Who Soap, $10
I’ll admit it. I’m a Whovian….as if ordering this soap didn’t show my love for Doctor Who enough. π I ordered this one in blue, and in possibly the best scent ever created: “pumpkin cheesecake”. Mmm! I may seriously have to make an actual pumpkin cheesecake after I use this soap for the first time. π
So, dear readers, don’t forget to check out Frozen Water Designs and show Elly some love =)
Until next time…stay crafty!
-Katie
Follow me on Facebook for exclusive coupon codes and more:
https://www.facebook.com/CraftyGirlMerchandise
Check out the shop blog for great Etsy shop reviews! : http://craftygirlmerchandise.blogspot.com/
Tweet me on Twitter, @CraftyGirlMerch … I’d love to hear from you!
So, I know this sounds crazy..but ya’ll are going to love this! To move out my current shop stock before I take the shop in a new direction, I’m having a 50% OFF SALE at CraftyGirl Merchandise! Everything is 50% off! That means items as low as $0.50 plus low-cost shipping!
That means you can get items like these….
Crocheted Baby Pumpkin Hat, $3.75
Crocheted Striped Newborn Hat, $6.00
Crocheted Red and White Heart Bookmarks, Set of 3, $0.50
For as low as $0.50!
Act fast, because you never know when the item you want will sell out!
Stay crafty!
Until next time,
Katie
Owner, CraftyGirl Merchandise
While creating a team treasury (that you can find here.) the other day on Etsy, I came across LavaGifts, a wonderful Etsy shop that creates custom, handmade wedding cake toppers and baby shower cake toppers. They are SO adorable! If I had known about LavaGifts when Alex and I were getting married, I would’ve loved to have purchased a topper from them (There’s still always the baby shower toppers though!). Owner Shauna embraces a wonderful mix of colors shapes, with her most popular design being the Lovebirds. Here are a few of her items that caught my eye:
Rustic Wedding Cake Topper – Love Birds in Nest, $80
Wedding Cake Topper Banner – ALWAYS AND FOREVER, $18
Love Owls Wedding Cake Topper, $115
Until next time… Stay crafty!
-Katie
Owner, CraftyGirl Merchandise
You know me, I’m always on the lookout for great patterns. A friend of mine stumbled across this one and sent it to me, and I just adore it!
Meet the Granny Heart:
From Daisy Cottage Designs, this adorable free crochet pattern works up quickly and features a picture perfect daisy in the middle! You can find the pattern here.
Happy crafting!
-Katie
Owner, CraftyGirl Merchandise
Owner Joanna of Etsy shop FMMMaterialGirl loves creating quirky and beautiful items for her shop, including aprons, bibs, badge reels and more. Open since January 2012, FMMMaterialGirl also offers destash items and pet bandanas. Here are a few of her items that caught my eye:
Hot Stuff Flames Bandana, $1.89+
Retro Vintage Graphic Print Style Full Bib Apron, $37.85
Reversible Cup Cosy Sleeve in Upcycled Denim – Environmental Green Girl, $8.52
Until next time, stay crafty!
-Katie
Owner, CraftyGirl Merchandise
Red Heart has a LOT of free patterns to choose from, and is one of my go-to destinations when I feel like trying a new project. Here’s a pattern I came across today:
The Heavenly Lace Knit Wristers pattern is one I’m sure to try if I ever pick up knitting! I really like the pink/purple color of the yarn they used.. What do you think?
Stay crafty!
-Katie
In my browsing today, I came across this super cute Free Crochet Floral Bookmark Pattern, from the blog Scrap Yarn Crochet. Blogger Cherie Durbin, from North Carolina, shares with us a pattern for one of her projects with scrap yarn, the crochet floral bookmark. Here’s a picture of her completed work:
Be sure to check out the pattern here.
Stay crafty! π
Katie
I stumbled across this adorable pattern a few days ago, and I thought I’d share!Β TheΒ Free Carrot Carryall Crochet Pouch pattern is adorable, and I’ve already made one and just love it! Here’s the pattern owner’s picture of the finished product:
Isn’t it so cute?! I think it would be perfect for little Easter or spring gifts, or even just for a little girl (or little girl at heart) to carry her stuff in π
I’ll post a picture of my finished product in a little bit!
Until then, stay crafty…
-Katie
So, tomorrow is my 26th birthday. Woohoo! π My ultimate birthday wish would be to sell out the contents of my shop..yes, you heard me. All of it! So, in hopes of doing that AND in honor of my birthday, I wanted to offer ya’ll a special deal. Use coupon code BIRTHDAYSALE14 at CraftyGirl Merchandise for 26% off your order of $2 or more! WOW!
That means you can get great crocheted items, digital downloads, and more for 26% off the sticker price! You can even use the coupon code on the sale items!
It’s just too good to pass up, so head over to CraftyGirl Merchandise and check it out now!
Until next time…
Stay crafty!
-Katie
I’m only slightly kidding here, folks. I am a BIG fan of chicken and broccoli casserole, and the lack of leftovers prove my point. What’s chicken and broccoli casserole, you may ask? Well, bear with me…when I first heard what was in it, I didn’t think it could possibly be good. But boy, how wrong I was. Chicken and broccoli casserole must be a southern thing, because I never heard of it before I moved down here. It’s cooked, cubed chicken, mixed with sour cream, cream of chicken soup and broccoli, topped with stuffing and cheddar cheese. Oh. My.
I meant to take pictures again last night, but…well…my stomach was rumbling π But for those of you that want to try it, check out the recipe below.
CraftyGirl’s Chicken and Broccoli Casserole Recipe
Makes one 9 inch round casserole
Ingredients:
1 chicken breast, cooked and cut into small cubes
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can of cream of chicken soup, undiluted (put that water/milk away, people!)
Frozen broccoli (or fresh, steamed), about 1 and 1/2 cups
Stuffing mix (think Stovetop)
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Directions:
-Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
-Prepare the stuffing mix according to the package directions and set aside.
-Mix chicken, sour cream, soup and broccoli together and place in the bottom of the casserole
-Top with the stuffing mix, and then sprinkle the cheddar cheese on top. Cover with aluminum foil, so your cheese doesn’t burn
-Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.
-Let cool for a few minutes, and dig in!
And in the near future, look forward to some gratuitous pictures of stir fry and my new wok, which was an early birthday present from one of my sisters! It came in the mail today (my birthday is Friday..Leave me some love, you know you want to) and I am SO excited to use it!
Until next time.. stay crafty!
-Katie
So, I was so excited about making homemade pizza that I forgot to take pictures of it before I ate it. Uh oh.
Today’s day consisted of listing mixed yarn lots on eBay…you can find one of them here. Also, I made the aforementioned pizza (which was delicious, btw), cleaned some more (yuck), did a LOT of laundry (eh) and finally got around to watching The Hunger Games: Catching Fire…and now I’m impatiently waiting for the next one to be released. π
Today was also the first day of what I like to call “The Countdown til B-Day”. My birthday’s on Friday, and I started celebrating today. A little silly, I know, but at least I did it frugally! Hubby picked up a quilt rack that I purchased from a lovely woman nearby (can’t wait to use it!), as well as the movie rental and…my favorite part… a strawberry cheesecake blizzard from DQ. Oh. My. Goodness. It was delicious! I had a BOGO coupon for my birthday, so hubby got a chocolate peanut butter blizzard too, which made him happy. π
Let’s talk craft storage, folks. I’m currently rearranging my yarn, having made (somewhat of) a dent in it with my yarn destash lots. How do YOU store your yarn? Initially, I had it all in a large storage container, but then I arranged the skeins on a wire baker’s rack I have in the guest/craft room. I like it better that way, though I think I’ll decorate some cute boxes to put the balls of yarn in.
And for those of you who have fantastic nerdy taste (like me), I came across this today and totally had to share…
Perfect for any Star Wars fan who cooks, this awesome R2-D2 Measuring Cup Set is exclusive to ThinkGeek and is just…well..amazing. You can bet your bottom dollar (yes, I’m going vintage with my phrases) that this’ll be on my Christmas list!
Well, stick around…Tomorrow is Chicken and Broccoli Casserole (Say whaaat?) and probably a lot more cleaning. =)
Until next time…stay crafty!
-Katie
It’s that inevitable time of year again here in the Wilson household…spring…cleaning! Aaaaah! Today’s main focus was our master bedroom. With a little help from the hubby (aka, Mr. Muscles), I stripped the sheets and blankets off our bed, and we rotated the mattress. Whew..who knew those things were so heavy? In the washer went the sheets and blankets, and I began the long, trudging process of putting away laundry. If you looked into my dresser drawers, you’d realize..well, I’m a bit of a slob. Fold things? Pfft! As if! I mean, they start out folded, but then I go rummaging around and well…messy. π
Another one of my tasks today was one I actually enjoyed, though not related to spring cleaning. (Which may be why I enjoyed it!). I’ve always sworn that I was born into the wrong culture… Don’t get me wrong, I love my Irish/English/Scottish/French background, but I am a sucker for all sorts of foods with international flair. Today? Chinese. I think I could dive into a giant wok of stir fry and be blissfully happy. I’m sadly wok-less at the moment, but a saute pan worked just as well.
Chicken and Veggie Stir Fry
I had a TON of vegetables in my fridge..and I mean a ton…so I decided to make chicken and vegetable stir fry, steamed brown rice and egg rolls. The stir fry (see above) had sauteed chicken, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, garlic and carrots. I would’ve posted a picture of the egg rolls, but…whoops..we ate them first. π I don’t typically use a recipe when I make stir fry, but here’s an idea of what I did.
CraftyGirl’s Chicken and Veggie Stir Fry
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 pound chicken breast, cut into small chunks
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 small head of fresh broccoli, cut into small pieces
about 2 cups of fresh cauliflower, cut into small pieces
2 carrots, peeled & cut into small pieces
1/4 pound asparagus, cut into small pieces
12 fluid ounces chicken broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Directions:
1.) Preheat a wok or saute pan over medium heat; add oil
2.) When the pan is hot, add your chicken, ginger and minced garlic. Cook, stirring every minute or so, until chicken is no longer pink
3.) Add in your caulilfower, carrots and chicken broth. Simmer for 3-4 minutes.
4.) Add in your broccoli and asparagus, and simmer until tender. (Usually about another 3-4 minutes)
5.) Add in soy sauce, and stir; simmer for another minute
6.) In a small bowl, place cornstarch. Add some of the broth from the stir fry until it forms a smooth, thin paste. Add this back into the pan, and stir. (Cornstarch will thicken the sauce)
7.) Simmer until sauce has reduced and thickened, and veggies are desired consistency.
8.) Eat! π
This recipe made enough for hubby and I, but we both LOVE stir fry, so our portions are a little big. π And you can add any veggies in that you want! Personally, I love peppers, but hubby doesn’t…so we compromise and I leave them out from time to time. π
Stick around for more recipes.. Tomorrow, CraftyGirl makes…pizza!
Until next time…stay crafty!
-Katie