DearCreatives.com — Creativity, Crafting & Inspired Living

INSPIRATION SPOTLIGHT #LINKUP 42 #CRAFTS, DIY & MORE

24 May posted by Theresa Huse

Dear Creatives, Ready to get your inspiration? Time to share your crafts, recipes, decor, diy, sewing, blogging tips… or any blogging posts that you think will inspire us! Last week we had so many great entries I wish I could feature each one, but you can still see them right here Linkup #41 on the blog. This week we have a special co-host, meet Ruth, see her & interview to get to know her better! If you’d like to co-host & be interviewed for the link-party just email me. Now onto the Link Up Party & getting your weekly dose of inspiration!

In the Spotlight

10 Tips for a Successful Craft Show

Thanks to Ashley of SweetPeaLifestyle you can be a little more prepared if you are ever going to do a craft show or tips if you never have. Ashley cherish s the family heirlooms that she has been given. Her Epiphanie camera bag makes her heart happy every time she carries it. She loves journaling the world around her through photography. Ashley says she is an entertainer to the core – she loves hosting people for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and nap time between. She loves using her hands to create things that make her world a little cuter and a little sweeter.

Keep Your Strawberries The Natural Way

Strawberry Rocks Diy

I have to thank Marcy of Day2DaySuperMom for this tip & diy! I had never heard of this & I have even taken organic gardening. Of course I never get to harvest a lot of strawberries as I have set up my yard to be bird friendly & you know what that means, right? They love eating the fruits of your labor. Now I can even see doing this project with the kids. Marcy say’s “oh Pinterest, oh glorious Pinterest! It’s like her crazy addiction to find these super cool new craft ideas, recipes, kid activities, prepper projects, gardening tricks & health tips…. and Pin-Pocket them! You know, steal someones else’s ideas to try it out for yourself! Well not just for myself, but you too”. Marcy is a self proclaimed super mom, ” See, I’m super! Well, at least I play one on my blog.”

Up Cycled Denim Purse

Mandy from HongKongChic shared this great step by step tutorial. She has great sewing skills, despite what she says. You’ll love seeing all her up cycled bags & re-purposed clothing into bags! HongKongChic is a diary of Mandy’s sewing. She claims she is not a great writer or has very interesting topics to discuss,( I love her Pinaholics Anonymous Meeting Posts! ) she simply hopes to share her sewing experiences with others. Mandy considers herself a newbie sewing for 3 years, with more to learn, trial & errors, along with discoveries. Mandy was born & raised in HongKong & decided to broaden her horizons with travel. Over time Mandy found the joy of making up her own designs and using used clothing, re-purposing thrift store finds and now she is also embroidering.

Summer lemon bar recipe, watermelon margarita, backyard shade diy

Backyard Shade Diy via Twoboys=OneGirl=OneCrazyMom
Easy Bake Lemon Bars via BigGiantFoodBasket
Watermelon Margaritas via CookingWithCurls

LinkUp Shout Out’s:

Backyard Shade Diy via Twoboys=OneGirl=OneCrazyMom

Easy Bake Lemon Bars via BigGiantFoodBasket

Watermelon Margaritas via CookingWithCurls

Thank you to all who linked up last week & to see more great recipes & diy’s just check out last week’s Inspiration Spotlight Party Linkup #41 Honestly I hate to stop there! So I’ll continue by tweeting & pinning entries. Thanks for linking up & hope you can all join in the party! I can’t wait to see your diy, crafts, recipes & other posts!

This week’s Co Host: Ruth

Ruth from Cataldolife.com Co Host Inspiration Spotlight DearCreatives.com

Visit Ruth who is a foodie & follow along @ Captain America & His English Rose

Would you like to co-host the party? Email me to be a featured co-host!

Don’t forget to enter the two giveaway going on right now before you go here. Then stay tuned for another, soon!

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Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Link-Up

Blogger Interview:Ruth @ Captain America & His English Rose

23 May posted by Theresa Huse

Dear Creatives, Today I am going to share a blogger interview & introduce you to a blogger. I interviewed a fellow blogger Ruth at Captain America & His English Rose. Ruth will be co-hosting this weeks Inspiration Spotlight & I wanted you to get to know Ruth of Captain America & His English Rose before the party!

I hope you enjoy the blog interview & Meeting Ruth from Captain America & His English Rose now

Introducing Ruth @ Captain America & His English Rose

1) Why / How you started to blog?

I started to blog in February 2013. The inspiration came from two main sources….one, my best friend Deborah who months ago suggested I start a blog! My answer was “I can barely write a Facebook status update, what on earth would I blog about?” But she got me thinking? What would I blog about and why? The second reason was boredom! As a newlywed, in the process of becoming a Legal Resident in the US, and therefore not being allowed to work, I was stuck at home for hours everyday, while my husband was at work, in our tiny apartment with nothing to do! I was cooking at every opportunity, and climbing the walls in my spare time! I needed a purpose, a focus. I believe God reminded me of what Deborah had said and challenged me to use my voice for Him! In doing so I found the purpose and focus I was looking for.

2) What do you blog about & how did you come up with the name?

My husband, Todd, gained his Captain America nickname after I saw The Avengers movie, we were engaged at the time and I thought it was cute. He’s built like Captain America (except even hotter in my humble opinion!), is honorable, defends those he loves and fights for what he believes in…so what better title for him. The English Rose part of the title is me, Ruth! I was born and raised in England, and then moved halfway across the world to California in 2007….the Rose part is less me as I don’t really see myself as ‘the delicate flower type’, however Todd says I have my ‘delicate moments’ when I think no-one is looking, so maybe the flower analogy is more apt than I care to admit!

The blog is about our life primarily, the things I love, the things that challenge me, the things that make me think, the things I am doing, the things I feel challenged to share with others. I love food, hence al the recipes; my husband and I joke that food is our 6th Love Language! I love to cook and bake.

Click here for more information about us.

3) How long have you been blogging?

Since February 2013…..so I am still learning the ropes, struggling, failing, winning…..but I love what I do so I keep on writing and trusting God to do the rest

4) I enjoy cooking and baking because….

I want to show people that delicious recipes DO NOT have to be complicated and DO NOT require years at Culinary School! I learn’t to cook and bake from people around me, and by trying things out…sometimes they were successful and sometimes the results were dreadful. I’m always surprised when people get overwhelmed while cooking or baking, as it can be so simple and produce beautiful, delicious results. My aim is to help people do that by sharing the little I know, in a step-by-step guide.

5) Do you ever blog in your pj’s?

The question should probably be do I ever NOT blog in my PJ’s??? I tend to do most of my writing in the mornings, so I am still in my PJ’s with bed head!! Most of the time I get caught up in what I am doing and totally lose track of time, so I am often still in my PJ’s at noon….or much later!!!

6) Favorite big blog? Favorite newbie blog?

My favorite big blog is: In The Name of Love by Bianca Olthoff. She is a fellow Christian, we are the same age, and she too is married to a Pastor. I discovered all of this AFTER I fell in love with her blog. She is the Chief Storyteller for The A21 Campaign, a Global Anti-Human Trafficking organization – another passion of mine and my husband. I am yet to read a blog post by her that does not make me laugh, cry or full a passion in me! I fully identify with her, we are passionate about the same things and she inspires me!

My favorite newbie (ish!) blog is: On The Willows. I am friends with many of the contributors, which is how I discovered the blog. I love that it is a blog by women who are passionate about what they believe in and they share so beautifully. I am truly inspired by every blog post, and knowing many of the women personally I know that they write with truth and integrity based on their real lives….something that is often hard to find!

7) If you could be meet any blogger who would it be?

This is really difficult as I would like to meet so many! Ree Drummond – The Pioneer Woman, as I would like to cook and bake with her…and pick her brains about how she does what she does! Bianca Olthoff for the reasons I listed in question 6! Jon Acuff as I think he is hilarious! And…….any blogger who is doing a similar thing to me, but better than me…so I can pick their brains!

8) Early bird or Night Owl?

Neither! Does that make me a lightweight??? I don’t really like early mornings and I tend to fall asleep before midnight…..wow I sound so old right now! It depends on the occasion, but because I am a people person, I can stay up late or get up early for the right group of friends!!!

9) Favorite food?

Impossible question! The only viable answer is ANYTHING DELICIOUS! I really do mean that, I will eat nearly anything at least once, if it is delicious I will eat way too much of it and probably regret it!!!

10) Favorite book? movie? television show?

Book: My husband will vouch for me that I HATE reading books….sorry to all you book lovers, but it really is the last thing I would ever choose to do! However I have just recently read Real Marriage by Mark & Grace Driscoll. I love this book! It is an excellent insight into Christian marriage and a great read for me as anew Pastor’s wife!

Movie: I have about a thousand favorite movies….far too many to list here! The most recent favorite that comes to mind is Les Miserables! I loved the movie, the singing EVERYTHING! I was so excited about it I cried just watching the preview! I have been a huge fan of Les Mis for years and years since seeing it in the West End in London, it gives me chills everytime!

Television Show: Again, I have a few! Recently, I really enjoyed The Following…I like a really gritty thriller! I loved Downton Abbey, of course! I have a thing for trashy shows too….I love The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and Bachelor Pad, and my husband I like The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills!!

My one blogging tip is also a link to my favorite blog posts: Rachel Schultz is a fellow Christian and primarily a food blogger. In my very early days of blogging I found her and read a couple of articles she wrote about blogging. I was challenged and inspired by her. Here are some of those articles: Blogging For A Career, A Day In The Life, Blog Turns 1

Where you can find Captain America & His English Rose:

Captain America & His English Rose

Thanks Ruth of Captain America & His English Rose for letting us get to know you better from the blogger interview & see you back here tomorrow for the Inspiration Spotlight link party! Want to be the next blogger interviewed & co-host, just email me & we can talk!

What is a blogging tip that you can share with Ruth of Captain America & His English Rose?

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Filed Under: Blogger Interviews, Blogging, Blogging Tips

Spring Summer Trends #NaturalBeauty +Tree Hut

22 May posted by Theresa Huse

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tree Hut for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine. Dear Creatives, Spring is winding down here & summer weather is already starting where I live. That means wearing sandals 100% of the time. I am always looking at products to keep my hands & [...]

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Journals, Compact & more designed at Cafe Press: Review + #Giveaway

21 May posted by Theresa Huse

Deer Girl Compact © 2013 Theresa Huse 2013

Dear Creatives, I am excited to share with you the products I decided to make over at Cafe Press & how my experience was along with what the results were. This Cafe Press review was one I was super excited about not only for myself but, because it also involves a chance for you to [...]

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Gift Wrap & Tag Printables + Blogging Life & Call for Submissions

20 May posted by Theresa Huse

Dear Creatives, Here is a freebie printable perfect for topping summer gifts & printing out your own personal use gift wrap! Along with a little blogging life. You’ve gotta keep it real every now & then. Seriously I have visited the most amazing blogs lately. Do you ever wonder how they do it all? Many [...]

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Smart & Final Santa Rosa, CA Pre-Grand Opening: Event

20 May posted by Theresa Huse

Disclosure Collective Bias Social Fabric Member Shopper Insights

Dear Creatives, I was lucky enough be to be selected to attend the Pre-Grand Opening Celebration of Smart & Final in Santa Rosa, CA. One of the reasons I was super excited to be able to attend & see the new Santa Rosa, CA store first hand is that there will be a new store in [...]

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#Free Class Day at Craftsy! 1 Day Only!

18 May posted by Theresa Huse

Dear Creatives, Free Class Day at Craftsy! ONLY ONE DAY! This is definitely the Deal of the day! May, 18th, Only! Yes, You heard it right Free! Free! Free! This is the perfect opportunity to sign up for a free Craftsy Online Creative Class & take a test drive of how amazing their crafting classes are! (This [...]

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Filed Under: Crafts, Tutorials

INSPIRATION SPOTLIGHT #LINKUP 41 #CRAFTS, DIY & MORE

17 May posted by Theresa Huse

Dear Creatives, Time to share your crafts, recipes, decor, diy, sewing, blogging tips… or any blogging posts that you think will inspire us! Last week we had so many great entries I wish I could feature each one, but you can still see them right here Linkup #40 on the blog. Next week we will have a guest co- [...]

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Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Link-Up

Kidobi Children’s Educational Online Videos & App : Review

16 May posted by Theresa Huse

Dear Creatives, I had the chance to review Kidobi . Kidobi is an online video content provider for children ages 2 – 6 that removes parents guesswork by automatically generating customized video playlists, completely personalized to fit children’s learning needs and developmental stage. Since all the videos are pre-screened by educators and child development experts, parents are reassured of [...]

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Teaching Kids to Bake & Snicker-Doodles: Recipe

15 May posted by Theresa Huse

Stack of Three Snicker-doodle Cookies, Snicker-Doodles Theresa Huse 2013

Dear Creatives, When it comes to baking we just can’t get enough lately. We love trying new recipes like these Snicker-Doodles. Not only does baking have results but, you can teach your kids a lot when baking. As they get older the tasks can get more complex. When they are young you can start out [...]