Kreative Living Quarterly Fall 2013 by Kreative Living Quarterly

™

From The Editor Welcome to the very first issue of Kreative Living Quarterly™! I am so happy to bring you the best in cooking, crafting, decorating, and DIY every season. I’ve been planning this project for a while and it finally has come into fruition.

I first realized I wanted to self-publish a magazine a few months after I started my personal blog, Kreative Creationz. I loved reading everything other bloggers had to share, from family recipes, to kids’ crafts, to personal life stories. I feel that KLQ will allow you all to see what I love about blogs and bloggers all in one place. This magazine is not just for bloggers, by any means, but blogging is what brought along my passion for wanting to publish my own e-zine. Yes, we are a small group and will make some changes along the way, but we are looking to grow and share more with you all. I want to thank my family, friends, and loyal blog followers who have supported me along the way. I also want to thank the wonderful bloggers who contributed to the first issue of KLQ. Without you, I think this issue would just be filled with my ramblings. Now on to the fun stuff... This issue is all about fall! The air is cooler, the days are getting shorter, and I will surely miss summer, but there is something about fall that is just so refreshing. I love the aroma of cinnamon throughout my home and baking batches of cookies for my family. And of course, any recipe with pumpkin! I think that is my favorite part of all. This was my first year taking my son to a pumpkin patch. Yes, he’s only fourteen months but I just couldn’t wait any longer. It was over an hour drive to the nearest one, but it was well worth it. I let him roam through the pumpkins to pick out the one we would take home. I thought he was so cute exploring the pumpkins, that I had to buy every single one he picked up. Luckily, it was only four. We had fun hand-painting them and now they are on display in my home. I hope you’re loving your fall just as much as we are! Until next time, remember to always Live Life Kreatively!

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU KreativeLiving@kreativecreationz.com http://www.pinterest.com/kreativelivingq

@KreativeLivingQ https://www.facebook.com/KreativeLivingQuarterly

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Ask KL Have a kreative question? Email Ask_KL@kreativecreationz.com.

Hi KL,

I live in an apartment, but I want to start my own herb and veggie garden. Any suggestions? -Shayla Hello Shayla, When starting a vegetable garden in an apartment, the first thing you need to determine is the location where you would like your garden to grow. Ensure that it has proper light for your garden. The amount of light you get determines the type of herbs and veggies you can grow. If you don’t get a lot of direct sunlight, you can try using fluorescent or incandescent lighting. Keep in mind that the temperature also plays a part in how well your garden will grow.

Hello KL, How can I make dry beans taste great without cooking them with meat? -Lakawthra Hello Lakawthra, That’s a great question! There are a couple ways you can make this happen. The first way I can suggest is to use vegetable, chicken, or beef broth. If you’re worried about the salt content, then use a low sodium version. If you don’t want any meat by-products, you can always use fresh herbs and veggies. My go to for dry beans is cumin, oregano, garlic powder, basil, sautéed or ovenroasted onions, and a little salt. Make sure you add the cumin, oregano, garlic powder, and salt at the beginning of the cooking process and the basil and onions towards the middle. These ingredients will bring a fresh new taste to your beans. Enjoy! KL

After deciding which herbs and veggies to grow, choose which type of containers you want to use to grow your garden. Depending on the space you have, you can grow a garden in anything from flower pots to plastic soda bottles. The possibilities are endless.

Dear KL,

I wish you luck in your new gardening venture and please share some pictures of your garden along the way.

Hi LaTasha,

What you said What is your favorite fall pie? An overwhelming 45% of you chose sweet potato pie! That was followed by 19% for caramel apple pie and 18% for both pumpkin and pecan pie!

Fall is my favorite time of year. Can you give me some decorating pointers? I always seem to go overboard. -LaTasha

Decorating for fall is all about bringing the outside inside. However, you do not want to feel as if you’re literally outside. If you think you’re going overboard, try choosing one or two areas in your home to focus on. A mantel, dining room table, or the entryway to your home are good focal points for fall decorations. KL

Do you let your children celebrate Halloween or prefer they attend church or community fall festivals instead? Our neighborhood has a tradition of all the kids trick-or-treating together through the neighborhood. We all start with a cookout and then take the kids out. Plus, our church has an annual Fall Fest that’s super fun! - Nikki

What is your favorite fall fragrance for your home? Cashmere Woods - Carol Apple Cinnamon - Asha

Pumpkin Pecan Waffle - Simone The percentage of respondents who say boots are their favorite fall accessory.

Contributing Writers Hi! I’m Becky from Love to be in the Kitchen. I am a mom to 2 adorable little boys and am married to the best recipe tester a girl could ask for! I love to bake and create in the kitchen. New recipe ideas are constantly on my mind. On my blog I share quick and delicious recipes that are easy on your budget.

Jaime is a wife, mom, Virtual Assistant & the blogger behind Mom’s Test Kitchen, where she shares simple recipes with busy moms in mind! Boxed mixes & semi-homemade goodness are always welcome! You won’t find anything too fancy in the Test Kitchen, just good food any mom can make while stepping over kids! On the rare occasion she finds some spare time, you’ll find Jaime enjoying a movie night with her husband or making a mess in the kitchen!

Marilla is the editor-in-chief and art director of the popular magazine Martha Stewart Living… in her dreams. The other half of a duo that includes her death metal band bassist/superhero boyfriend, she resides in New York where she is a blogger for Cupcake Rehab, freelance graphic designer & artist. She is a Catholic school & art school survivor. In her spare time she does charity work, raises wolves, bakes cupcakes & takes pictures of them for her blog (the cupcakes- not the wolves). She also enjoys a good beer, a good meal, liquid eyeliner, traveling, knocking over convenience stores and looking as much like a cartoon character as possible.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Nikki Rex is a crafter/party designer/blogger who lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, daughter, dog and cat. By day, she works in Creative Development for Dell, Inc and by night she writes, crafts and designs party printables. Nikki’s blog, Flairy Tales, celebrates the fun and pretty details of everyday life by sharing free printables, tips and ideas. Whether it’s adding an easy, personalized touch to a gift or turning a an ordinary movie night into a special event, she believes there’s always a way to turn your everyday story into a Flairy Tale. You can find Nikki at www.facebook.com/flairytales, www.twitter.com/nikki_rex

My name is Trine and I blog over at Creative Pink Butterfly. I am a 22-year old living in Norway. I have a wide range of interests and blog mostly about organizing, decorating, sewing and DIYing, just to name a few. I am currently working on a huge project: Project Organize Entire Apartment. This is just a general organizing of all the rooms in my home. I have done the living/dining room, home office, bathroom and now I am working on the guest bedroom. I would love it if you would stop by my site and take a look.

Want to Contribute? If you love cooking, crafting,

DIYing, or decorating, we would love to have you on our team! Send an email to contribute@kreativecreationz.com. We are always looking to grow and for new ideas to make KLQ a success! Can’t wait to hear from you!

Advertise With Us! For more information, email Advertise@kreativecreationz.com (All Ads Are Clickable)

5 Kreative Living Quarterly Fall 2013

In This Issue 7 Saving Money On Your Pumpkin Spice Latte

16 All About Fall

9 Blueberry and Honey Muffins

29 Easy Ways To Flair Wood Letters

10 Pumpkin Frosting Brownies

38 Organizing a Successful Thanksgiving

11 Caramel Apple Shortbread Bars 12 premo!Accents Leather Bracelet Charms

In Every Issue 1 From The Editor 2 Ask KL/What You Said 3 Contributing Writers 35 Kreative Corner

Potluck Dinner

Saving Money On Your Pumpkin Spice Latte

By Marilla

My mom is one of those people for whom the arrival of the Pumpkin Spice Latte means autumn has officially started. Whether it’s the Starbucks version, Dunkin Donuts version, or in K-cup form… she’s a pumpkin coffee addict. So I was pretty psyched to see this on Pinterest. I pinned it just for her to see & make, but she recruited me to make it for her. Have I mentioned I’m a great daughter? Mind you, I don’t even particularly like pumpkin spice lattes myself. Yeah, I’ll maybe have one each season… but I’m by no means obsessed. I like my coffee straight, I’m not one for flavorings. But if you too are one of those fanatical pumpkin latte people, I present to you something that quite possibly will save you a lot of money.

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I think this is one of those “best hidden secrets on the web.” Because as many people there are who know about it, most of the people I know didn’t. But they should. ‘Cause it’s insanely easy to make and costs practically nothing. So thank you to Farmgirl Gourmet for her genius Homemade Pumpkin Spiced Latte! I never would’ve thought to put actual pumpkin in a latte- silly me. If you factor in the cost of all of this stuff, and divide it into how many lattes it’ll make, I guarantee you you’ll see a humongous savings, especially if you buy one every day. Let’s break it down & see: 1. 15 oz. can pureed pumpkin (Libby brand) – $1.79 – one can is enough for 7 1/2 batches – one batch costs roughly .25¢ 2. 1.12 oz. pumpkin pie spice (McCormick) – $5.99 – one container is enough for 13 1/2 batches – one batch costs roughly .44¢ 3. Quart of milk – $3.50 – one quart is enough for 2 batches – one batch costs $1.75 4. 4 oz. pure vanilla extract (Rodelle) – $7.99 – one bottle is enough for 4 batches – one batch costs $1.99 5. 4 lb. bag sugar (Domino) – $3.99 – one bag is enough for 74 batches – one batch costs .05¢ .25 + .44 + 1.75 + 1.99 + .05 = $4.48

PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE And of course, all of that is assuming you use name brand products, and that you use each product just for the latte mix, which isn’t practical, because of course you’d be using at least the milk & sugar for other things, if not the vanilla, too. Factor that in and you’re paying less because those are items you already have/use. So yup. Major savings, and major thanks to Farmgirl Gourmet for creating it …you can thank me for turning you on to it, too. I mean… you’ll have all that pumpkin left over from the muffins, right? ‘Cause you bought those jumbo cans of it while it was on sale, right? Right. Although I’d never expect you to go shopping & not stop in to buy one at your favorite coffee shop. That’s just cruel! I poured it into jars for storage in the fridge. How long they’ll last I don’t know, because my mother is having hers every day (and she already went through the original 2 jars and is on the second batch). She just takes out the jar, gives it a little shake, then pours out the amount she wants to use into a saucepan. Then she heats it up (very quickly!) and uses it right away. I will also say this: if you aren’t normally into these, you might want to give the homemade version a try. It’s probably a lot healthier than the fancy coffee chain ones, and you can personalize it & play around with it to suit you.

Okay, so by that reasoning (and omitting the coffee price itself, because that’s too large of a range to even For the uber pumpkin experience, I highly recommend incorporate), each batch made at home (which makes enjoying your new DIY latte with one of my Pumpkin anywhere from 2-4 lattes) costs $4.48. So each latte costs Cheesecake Cupcakes. You’re welcome! $2.24, or, if you’re more frugal with it and get 4 lattes out of each batch, $1.12. Now I’m bad at math, but if I did that correctly (and I hope I did, but I welcome any & all mathematical corrections) even factoring in the cost of coffee, you’re still way ahead of the game. WAY AHEAD. Even if you figure in the whipped cream you’re still good. And if you made your own pumpkin pie spice, it’d be even cheaper. Seriously! Look how much money that saves!

One of the things I love the most about cooking is that you always want to make things better and you can tweak a recipe to make it perfect. Today I am going to share a blueberry & honey muffin recipe. The best part is that there is no sugar! Ingredients (12 muffins) 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder 1 Teaspoon Salt 1 Large Egg 1 Cup Milk 4 Tablespoons Honey 6 Tablespoons Melted Butter 1/2 Cup Blueberries 3. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and blend together. Stir in the blueberries.

By Trine Directions 1. Position rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 200 degrees. Add the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl.

2. In a separate bowl, mix the egg, milk, honey and butter.

4. Get out a muffins tray and line it with muffins liners and fill them about 他 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Let them cool slightly on a wire rack and enjoy the deliciousness!

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By Becky

Brownie Ingredients 10 Tbsp. Butter 1 1/4 Cups Sugar 3/4 Cup plus 2 Tbsp. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (Natural or Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder) 1/2 Tsp. Salt 1/2 Tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract 2 Large Eggs, Cold 1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour Pumpkin Frosting Ingredients 4 Tbsp. Butter, Softened 3 Tbsp. Pumpkin Puree ½ Tsp. Cinnamon Pinch of Nutmeg ½ Tsp. Vanilla 1 ½ Cups Powdered Sugar 1 Tsp. Milk Directions:

Fall is my favorite season of the year. I love the falling leaves, fall scented candles, apples, cinnamon and pumpkin! Brownies are one of my favorite desserts so I thought it’d be delicious to add a pumpkin frosting. I love creating new recipe ideas and love it even more when I get to try it! These pumpkin frosted brownies were amazing and so pretty! The brownie layer is a quick and easy brownie recipe. It comes together all in one bowl! These brownies are super chocolatey and fudgy. These are my all-time favorite cocoa brownies! Then to top it off, you frost them with a decadent pumpkin frosting. If you’ve never had pumpkin frosting before, be prepared to be amazed! The flavor is so good!

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line the bottom and sides of an 11×7-inch (or 8×8) baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides. Lightly grease with cooking spray and set aside. Cut butter into chunks. Combine the butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for one minute intervals, stirring in between until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Set the mixture aside until it cools slightly, it should be warm but not hot. Stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Add the eggs one at a time stirring vigorously after each addition. When the batter looks thick, shiny, and well blended, fold in the flour just until incorporated and no streaks remain. Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake 25-30 minutes, until just set. Let cool slightly then refrigerate until cool to the touch. For the Frosting: Cream the butter, pumpkin puree, cinnamon nutmeg, and vanilla, blending well. Add powdered sugar a cup at a time, blending well after each addition. Add milk and blend well. Frost brownies and cut into squares.

Caramel apples are a perfect fall treat! They make you think of state fairs and pumpkin patches. Of hayrides and sweaters. Now you can have those flavors all year round with delicious Caramel Apple Shortbread Ingredients Shortbread Layer 2 Sticks Butter, Room Temperature ½ Cup Sugar ¼ Teaspoon Salt 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract 2 ½ Cups Flour

Directions For the Shortbread Grease an 8x8 pan with cooking spray, then line the pan with aluminum foil allowing foil to hang over the edges and grease again. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the 2 sticks of butter, sugar and salt on medium speed until soft and light, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla. With the mixer on low, add 2 & ¼ cups of the flour, beating just until the dough is smooth and the flour has been absorbed, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl as necessary. Transfer ½ of the dough into the prepared baking pan. Press the dough evenly into the pan to form the bottom layer. Put the pan in the refrigerator while you make the filling and top layer. Add the remaining ¼ cup of flour to the remaining dough in the mixer bowl and work it in with your hands until crumbs form. Set aside.

Caramel Apple filling 4 Tablespoons Butter, Softened 1 Tablespoon Honey ¼ Cup Dark Brown Sugar, Packed 1 Can (14 ounces) Sweetened Condensed Milk 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract 1 Cup Diced Apples For the Caramel Apple Filling In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, condensed milk, and vanilla. Bring to a simmer, whisking occasionally. When the mixture begins to boil, add in the diced apples and whisk frequently until it begins to thicken and darkens in color slightly, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool while you preheat your oven. To Assemble Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the pan from the refrigerator and pour the caramel apple filling over the bottom crust. Use the back of a spoon to spread it evenly. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the filling. Bake for about 1 hour, or until the filling is gently bubbling and a dark caramel color. If your edges start to get too dark, cover with foil while you continue baking. Cool the bars in the pan about 15-20 minutes. Use the foil to lift the bars out of the pan and onto a cutting board.

Once completely cool, cut into bars. 11 Kreative Living Quarterly Fall 2013

premo!Accents Leather Bracelet Charms Designed by Jennifer Bezingue for Polyform Products

These leather charm bracelets hit the sweet spot for contemporary chunky jewelry. Get more looks from your leather bracelet when you make interchangeable charms from polymer clay. SUPPLIES: Premo Sculpey®: Blush Pink – 2oz, -- 1 Block Premo Sculpey: Burnt Umber – 2oz, -- 1 Block Premo Sculpey: Wasabi – 2oz, -- 1 Block Premo Sculpey Accents: Antique Gold – 2oz, -- 1 Block Sculpey Super Slicer Set Sculpey Etch ‘N Pearl Tools Sculpey Clay Conditioning Machine Sculpey Acrylic Roller Sculpey Clay Extruder Sculpey Texture Sheet: Edgy

ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES: Cornstarch and Brush Craft Knife Parchment Paper or Deli Wrap Oven-proof Gloves or Pot Holders Leather Bracelet and Coordinating Clasp Epoxy Glue

ADVERTISEMENT GETTING STARTED Do not use unbaked clay on unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Start with clean hands and work surface area. Good work surfaces include wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Knead clay until soft and smooth. For best results, clean your hands in between colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces together firmly. Bake on oven-proof glass or metal surface at 275 °F (130 °C) for 30 minutes per 1/4” (6 mm) thickness. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME. Wash hands after use. Baking should be completed by an adult. Begin by preheating oven to 275 °F (130 °C). Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay. For best results, condition all clay by running it through the clay dedicated pasta machine several passes on the widest setting. Fold the clay in half after each pass and insert the fold side into the rollers first. Step 1 Make 14 Antique Gold raised dots with small Etch ‘N Pearl tool (see Tips). Make bead form by rolling a 3/8” wide x 6” long scrap clay log; press log to flatten. The log should be the same height and width as the leather, or slightly larger. Bake dots and form for 20 minutes.

Step 2 Make thin spacer beads. Using Clay Extruder and small three-leaf clover disk, extrude 4”-5” clay. Twist to make rope. Cut two 1-1/2” lengths, wrap around bead form and press ends lightly together. Using medium round disk, extrude 8” clay log. Cut into two 4” lengths. Press end of small Etch ‘N Pearl tool into one length to make a dot row. Cut two 1-1/2” lengths, wrap around bead form and press ends lightly together. With remaining log, cut two 1-1/2” lengths. Wrap pieces around bead form and press ends lightly together. Press in baked dots on sides and top.

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ADVERTISEMENT Step 3 Make striped beads. Start by making a striped cane, layering 2” x 2” sheets and pressing to eliminate air bubbles between each layer: 1 layer Blush Pink on #1 setting 1 layer Antique Gold on #1 setting 1 layer Wasabi on #1 setting 1 layer Burnt Umber on #3 setting Press layers together and run through Clay Conditioning Machine on #1 setting. Trim edges. Cut in half and press one layer on top of the other; repeat to get a tall stack of thin stripes. Cut two 1/8” slice off long side of cane. Wrap around bead form, trim and press ends together lightly.

Step 4 Make patterned center bead. Make 1” x 2” sheets Blush Pink, Antique Gold and Wasabi on #1 setting of Clay Conditioning Machine. Layer sheets on top of each other, rolling with acrylic Roller between each layer to eliminate air bubbles. Roll stack through machine at #1 setting. Cut in half, stack and roll through again; repeat. Dust one side of sheet with cornstarch. Lay clay on parchment. Press in map design from texture sheet and remove. Using flexible Super Slicer blade, shave off raised surface. Lay shaved sheet on #3 sheet of any color and use roller to adhere sheets together. Cut 1-1/4” wide x 1-1/2 long piece. Wrap around bead form, pressing ends together lightly.

ADVERTISEMENT Step 5 When you have made all the beads you want, turn bead form over and use blade to slice through the raw clay. Bake 20 minutes. When beads have cooled slightly, use oven-proof glove to remove them from the bead form. Allow beads to cool completely. Place beads on leather cord, place around your wrist and determine breacelet length. Trim leather and glue clasp to ends.

TIPS • Make baked pearls with the Etch ‘N Pearl tools on a ceramic tile or clay-dedicated baking surface. Lay clay sheet on baking surface. Dip concave end of tool in water. Press concave end through clay sheet onto baking surface. Lift up clay sheet and pearl will stick to baking surface. Repeat for as many pearls as you need. Bake at 275°F for 10 minutes. Allow to cool completely and remove from baking surface. With craft knife, remove extra clay from pearl edges. Set aside. • The wide center bead should be a little smaller than the distance between your wrist bones. • Use other clay colors and embellishments to make more beads, then customize your bracelet each time you wear it.

Become a Facebook fan of Polyform Products for a chance to win $100 of merchandise. Visit Polyform’s page for fun contests, fantastic projects, clay related articles, interesting Q&A, the opportunity to give opinions and post projects and much more! Go to www.facebook.com/PolyformProducts and like Polyform by Tuesday, November 19, 2013. Post a comment saying “I’m a friend of Kreative Corner Quarterly”. Your name will automatically be entered into a random drawing to win $100 worth of our products. Good Luck!

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Apple Recipes

Apple Spice Muffins By Vegan Mother Hubbard

Apple Harvest Squares By A Family Feast

Apple Pie Dip By Will Cook For Smiles

Apple Pie Spice Mix By Gal On a Missions

Caramel Apple Cream Puffs By The Bizy Mommy

Caramel Apple Cupcakes By Glued To My Crafts

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Caramel Apple Milkshake By With a Blast

Momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Apple Cobbler With Caramel Sauce By 365(ish) Days of Pinterest

Caramel Apple Pork Chops By Mommy Musings

Oatmeal Stuffed Baked Apples By Mom Endeavors

Indian Spiced Pears and Apples By Happy Hour Projects

Sausage and Apples with Pineapple Teriyaki Sauce By The Bizy Mommy

Autumn Wreaths

Felt Flower Wreath By The Thinking Closet Easy Burlap Wreath By 724 South House

Who’s There Owl Wreath By About Family Crafts

Autumn Coffee Filter Wreath By Recaptured Charm

Fabric Fall Wreath By This Silly Girl’s Life

Pumpkin Wreath on the Patio By Thrifty Decor Chick

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DIY Rustic Fall Wreath By It Comes Full Circle

DIY Fall Wreath From Paper By Make Life Lovely

Welcome To Fall Wreath By Knock It Off Crafts

Fall Wreath By Place of My Taste

Fall Wreath DIY By Rain on a Tin Roof

Pumpkin Recipes

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread By Quick & Easy Recipes

Caramel Pumpkin Snack Cake By The Kitchen is My Playground

Gingersnap Pumpkin Milkshake By Little Miss Celebration

Pumpkin CrĂ¨me Brulee By Dieters Downfall

Pumpkin Fudge Squares By We Do Fun Here Pumpkin Butterscotch Bars By A Thrifty Table 21 Kreative Living Quarterly Fall 2013

Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Bars By Love Bakes Good Cakes Pumpkin Breakfast Smoothie By Busy Mom’s Helper

Pumpkin Marshmallows By Home Cooking Memories

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix By Queen of the Red Double Wide

Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino By Cinchy Shopper

Pumpkin Spice Pretzels By Heather’s French Press

Decor/Crafts

DIY Rustic Planter Box By The Pin Junkie

Autumn Mantel Decor By Mabey She Made It

Fall at the Back Gate By The Feathered Roost

Coffee Filter Autumn Tree By Church Street Designs

Crafty Pumpkin Projects for Fall By Lilikoi Joy

Fall Entryway By Vintage, Paint and more...

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Harvest Pumpkin with Pallet Frame By Lake Girl Paints Fall Tile Sign By Architecture of a Mom

Harvest Tablescape By Pink Fortitude, LLC

Fall-ish Dining Room By Place of My Taste

Natural Fall Centerpiece By The Shady Porch

Fancy Frugal Fall Table Setting By Fancy Frugal Life

Rustic Meets Elegant Fall Mantel Display By Anderson and Grant

Comfort Foods Chicken Pockets Stuffed with Feta and Yogurt By Culinary Flavors

Chicken Burrito Bowl By Practical Stewarship

New England Clam Chowder By A Little Claireification

Crock Pot Chicken Meatballs By Stacey Makes Scents Thai Curry with Chicken and Butternut Squash By Captain America and His English Rose 25 Kreative Living Quarterly Fall 2013

Roasted Red Pepper and Sun Dried Tomato Dip By White Lights on Wednesday

Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi By Second Chance to Dream

Sesame Chicken Strips By I Thee Cook

Buffalo Ranch Chicken Quesadillas By Frugal Coupon Living Sweet Potato Shepherdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pie By Anyonita Nibbles

Fashion Felt Flower Necklace By Los Dos Aikos

Sweater to Cardigan Refashion By Mabey She Made It

DIY Plaid Flannel Skirt By Studs & Pearls

DIY Team Scarf By VMG206

Forest Girl Hood By Maz Kwok

Flirty Fall Skirt By Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom

Twine and Pearl Bracelet By Crafty Texas Girls

27 Kreative Living Quarterly Fall 2013

Printables Fall Printable By Martha Anne

Fall Bucket List By Domestic Super Hero

Fall Recipe Cards By The Grant Life

Fall Chalkboard By I Should Be Mopping The Floor Fluttering Leaves Fall Quote By Five Heart Home

Fall Printable By Katherineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner

Happy Fall By Live Laugh Rowe

By Nikki When it comes to decorating with typography, the ideas are limitless. There are so many creative, elegant and fun ways to personalize your home or next big event with oversized, decorated letters. Check http://www.etsy.com or your local craft store for plain, unfinished letters and then let your imagination take off with these simple ideas . . . 29 Kreative Living Quarterly Fall 2013

1. Wreath Letter

For fall, I think raw wood is so pretty – especially when paired with the burlap wreaths that are so popular right now. This letter was super easy to flair. I just added a few rhinestone stickers and a store-bought flower that matched the rustic, natural color scheme and then let the raw wood shine through . .

2. Yarn Letter

I love experimenting with Yarn and should probably learn how to crochet. But, until then, I can’t get enough of wrapping things in yarn and making yarn pompoms. To make your own yarn-wrapped letter, simply select the color of your choice and start wrapping. TIP: If you need a little help keeping yarn in place while you wrap, add double-sided tape to the wood. Once you’re done wrapping, cut the yarn and loop it under one of the strands in the back of the letter and tie a knot… Depending on the curve and corners of your letter, there will be places with more yarn layers than others and that’s OK! I personally like the look of an imperfectly wrapped letter. It gives it charm and personalization. If you’d also like to add a few pom-poms, checkout this DIY pom-pom tutorial

3. Faux Framed Letter

Think outside of the frame! Whenever I try to frame a wood letter, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usually too thick for the frame. And, with this particular font, the letter was also too wide to fit most of my frames. So, I simply framed scrapbook paper and put the wood on the outside of the frame! To decorate the R, I used several coats of gold metallic spray paint. And, to adhere the letter to the frame, I used double-side sticky dots . . .

4. Scrapbook Paper Letters

Recently, my dad-n-law made this pretty wood monogram for my daughter so I wanted to do something different with scrapbook paper to make the M and G stand-out . . .

31 Kreative Living Quarterly Fall 2013

FLAIR LETTERS

Instead of Mod Podge-ing the whole thing, I just used a little scrapbook paper for the M and the G. I first painted the whole monogram in Macy’s favorite color … bright blue (I used latex paint which covered the wood beautifully). Then, I traced the M and the G on the back of the scrapbook paper, cut it out and glued it to the front. This took less than 30 minutes. It was super simple! Just 4 easy steps: 1. Paint the letter. 2. Trace the letter on the back of pretty scrapbook paper. 3. Cut the letters out. 4. Use adhesive to glue the letters onto the wood. (I use Mod Podge because it goes on smooth, doesn’t crinkle and you can still play with it if you don’t get it on straight the first time. TIP: Rather than buy a big can of latex paint, I get the $2.50 sample paints from your local hardware store. You can cover a lot of letters with this little jar of paint! P.S. I used the color “placid sea” . . .

5. Distressed Wood Letters This is one of the messiest techniques of them all, but it’s so fun and easy. The distressed look isn’t for every design taste, but I think it makes for a great, unique look! And you can distress it as much or as little as you like! There are several ways to distressed wood, but I used the Vaseline method. Here’s the supplies you’ll need: Vaseline, steel wool or sandpaper, paint brushes and 2 colors of paint (I used a brown acrylic paint for the base coat and blue latex for the top coat. Also, be sure to cover your work surface with newspaper or an old towel because it will get a little messy. Step 1: Paint the letter with your basecoat and let it dry completely. I used Liquitex Basics in Burnt Umber . . .

Step 2: Apply Vaseline any place where you want the basecoat to show-through. This is where you can really experiment in terms of how much or little you want to distress. I wanted a distressed look around the edges of the letter (kind of like an old metal sign that’s been outside in the elements), so I only applied Vaseline around the edges . . .

Step 3: Paint on your top coat color of paint and wait for it to dry completely (on the non-Vaseline areas). I used the same “Placid Sea” color from the scrapbook letter . . .

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Step 4: Once your paint is dry, use steel wool or sand paper/sand pad and start “scrubbing” the Vaseline areas . . . Make sure the non-Vaseline areas are completely dry or you could get paint that smears and rubs off in places where you don’t want it to look distressed. And that’s it! You’re done. This technique may be a little messy, but it’s very easy and doesn’t take that much time. I did this over the course of a few hours (mainly just waiting for the top coat of paint to dry)

For more ideas on decorating and crafting, visit me over at www.flairytales.com or find me on Facebook and Twitter. Happing Flairing!

Kreative Corner RECOGNIZING & SUPPORTING CREATIVE SMALL BUSINESSES

GyGante’s I’m Gino Escate, I am a Peruvian Engineer working full time at a jewelry company. I own the Etsy shop GyGante’s where I sell my own pictures of my country’s beautiful landscapes (the Andes, the Amazon, etc), of my trips around the world and even of my daily life. I also create lamps using recycled material, and design and renovate old furniture. I love to show my art around the world, and I can do this through Etsy. My wife is a graphic designer and helps me with my shop and supports me in everything I do. We have a blog, Depa 202. It’s about design, photography, fashion, recipes and our life together. This is our first year living together as a married couple, so maybe you can find something funny or interesting on it!

Bing Art Rachel Bingaman lives in the Washington DC area with her husband and two children. She is a self- taught artist whose favorite medium is oil. Her current artistic focus mainly revolves around abstract realism and contemporary landscapes. Rachel’s inspiration comes from a variety of sources, but the inspiration she finds in nature surpasses all. In her own words; “The beauty in God’s nature is a constant inspiration. From the storms that roll in on late summer afternoons to the waves lapping against sandy shores. In autumn, the landscape is set on fire with a brilliance of orange, yellow, purple, and red from the changing leaves. These are the things that drive my palette.

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KREATIVE CORNER

Sun7Designs My name is Valery Klassen and I am married to a very supportive husband with whom we share two great kids and a son-in-law. After 21 years as the manager of a private oil and gas company, I retired in October of 2012 to focus on growing my company. It was a difficult decision to move from running a part-time business while working in the corporate world to full-time but it came down to doing what I love. I wanted my business to be my number one priority and in order for it to succeed I had to give it 100% of my time and commitment. It really came down to making the decision to spend each day doing what I love to do and I’ve never looked back. Sun 7 Designs is an online business located in Calgary, AB Canada that specializes in creating one-of-a-kind custom designed personalized Minkee baby blankets for that special baby in your life. My customers become part of the creative process choosing the fabric colours, the design and adding the option of personalization to create a unique gift. Orders are shipped worldwide.

My 3D Nails Hi there! My name is Karolina Dubuc and I’m the owner of My 3D Nails! My shop specializes in creating Japanese 3D nails – we have a wide ranging selection of nails, from wedding nails to traditional Hime-Gyaru nails. My aim is to make the best designs for you at the lowest possible prices! Every one of my nails is lovingly handmade and designed by me, truly unique and one at a time! I want to give you the best service possible from the moment you purchase the nail set until you put them on your nails! Check us out at our Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/my3dnails. Alternatively, visit our website at http://www.my3dnails.com.

KREATIVE CORNER

ChelDesigns Hi all, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Chelsea, a fun, energetic, preppy young woman. I recently graduated from college in May of 2013 which is where, without realizing it, my Etsy shop began. I began making picture frames my sophomore year because the bare, white, concrete dorm walls were not cutting it and did not make my room feel like home. Every summer, the number of frames I painted would double and by my senior year my wall became one huge collage. It looked amazing and made me feel right at home. This is how my Etsy shop started. I have decided to share my passion with you! My frames are designed by me and customized by you. Each of my frames are hand painted and completely customizable. You can mix and match patterns, add monograms, names or words and pick the exact colors you would like. This allows your frame to be exactly the way that you would like it. My frames are perfect gifts for all occasions including baby showers, birthday presents, Christmas gifts, teacher gifts, wedding gifts and so much more! The possibilities are endless. My goal is to make a product the way you customize it so that you are proud to display it anywhere in your home! Thank you and I hope you enjoy your ChelDesigns!

Do you want your creative business featured on Kreative Corner? Email kreative_corner@kreativecreationz.com for more information. We would love to have you!

37 Kreative Living Quarterly Fall 2013

Organizing a Successful Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner

Thanksgiving is just a few short weeks away and if you’re anything like me, you can’t wait to eat all of the

yummy holiday food that you only get once (ok, maybe twice) a year. However, if you’re hosting Turkey Day at your home, you may be dreading all of the cooking and the cleaning up afterwards. To avoid the headache, here are five easy ways to organize a potluck dinner for the big day. 1. Be Organized: Write a list of who is bringing what. It is best to separate your list into categories, such as appetizers, meats, sides, desserts, and drinks.

4. Have Extra Serving Dishes on Hand: Some people may not have time to cook or they know that their cooking skills are not up to par, so they may bring dishes that are prepackaged and only need to be placed 2. Request Special Dishes: If your mom makes the best on a platter (think cheese and crackers). Always be mac n’ cheese you’ve ever had or your best friend makes prepared by having extra serving platters and utensils the greatest homemade cranberry sauce, ask them to on hand and easily accessible. bring their special dishes. They will be more than happy to share with everybody. 5. Send the Food Home: Since you didn’t cook all of the food, it wouldn’t be fair that you’re the only one who 3. Don’t Forget Tableware: What’s the point of gets to eat the leftovers. Have enough foil, plastic wrap, having a dinner party if you have nothing to eat from or or disposable containers for your guests to take some of eat with? You may choose to use your own fine china, that yummy food home. but if you want to go the easy route and have everything disposable assign somebody to bring spoons, forks, BY Kendra knives, paper plates, and napkins.