photo home_zpsd143792f.png photo About_zpsce4e5ab7.png photo portfolio_zps5df6240e.png photo NavBar5Photos_zpsc8efe369.png photo contact_zps2ba4ac0e.png

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Christmas Book Advent Labels

I am so sorry about not posting yesterday! I really want to get What I {heart} Wednesday rolling, but I went into town with my family for an all day shopping excursion. It literally takes all day to go to town, shop, and come home. But I wouldn't trade small town life for anything! Anyway, I apologize for not getting the post set up and ready. But I am making up for it today with another FREE printable! 

This year I am starting the Christmas tradition of reading a Christmas book to my kids every night before bed. I have bough about 15 books and the others we will read from online, and I will also be giving them each a Christmas book on Christmas Day. I am so excited to begin this tradition and create memories with these stories.

I am wrapping each book so we can open one a night until Christmas Eve when we will read the Nativity Story from the Bible and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. For each wrapped book I designed a label, and I wanted to share them with you! 

I am not sure if you do this tradition already, or if you want to start like I am, but here are some labels to help you along!


Have a fabulous Thursday everyone!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Holiday Letter Template

Today I am sharing with you a FREE holiday letter template! This file is perfect to create and send out those holiday letters we all love to get! Share your family's highlights and accomplishments from 2012 with the easy template.

Here's a simple example of what you could do with it!


Click HERE to download the PSD file.

This file is PSD format. But if you need help, I would love to help customize this for you too! If you are interested, email me. Customization will cost...yep you guessed it, $3!

Contact me with any questions or concerns. 

Happy Letter designing!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Christmas Cards

Hey readers! Today I am bringing you my newly designed printable Christmas Cards!
I just love how they turned out and would love even more to customize it for you!
These cards can be designed as a 4x6, 5x7 or 7.5 x 6; and will include your pictures and family name all for only $3

Here are your card design choices:

#1:
#2:
 #3:

#4:

And here's what you need to do:
1) Email me at 281fourthstreet{at}gmail{dot}com 
and send me your pictures, family names, number of the card you'd like and size of the card.
2) Once I receive this email, I will invoice you via Paypal for your customizations. 
3)When you pay, I will email you back the final file to print as many as you'd like.
I will send the file in two formats, one in the size you requested and the other with two on an 8.5x11 to print them at home yourself! 


**Costco will print the 7.5 x 6 size for only $14.99 for 50 cards with envelopes included! Click HERE for details. They will also print the 4x6 or 5x7 sizes. Or you can print them where ever you'd like. **

Please email me with questions or concerns. I can also do unique customized designs if you are interested. Please email me for details. They will be priced at $10 a design.

And lastly, I will be offering other amazing FREE Christmas digital prints this week too, so come back to see what I''ll be sharing!

Have a wonderful day!

Photobucket

Ch, ch, ch, Changes!

So I love being able to post all of my delicious recipes, craft ideas, and digital goodness. But I realized something, I hate posting on a schedule. I hate feeling like I HAVE to post something everyday, it sometimes stresses me out! So to keep from dealing with that, I have decided to switch things up and post whenever, whatever I am making/doing, and keep this blog fun and perfect for all my ideas! 

I will leave all my links up from my previous Daily Posts so you can check back and grab them, I am also going to keep doing What I {Heart} Wednesday (reminder: It's a linky party! Please join!) that way I can share things I love and link to them.

I am also going to be doing a lot more digital freebies. As my passion for designing grows, I am excited to share with you some of my creations!

That being said, check back later for an awesome digital christmas card! The best part?! I will customize it for you, for only $5!! Check for the post after noon today!

And because I hate to leave you hanging on what was supposed to be Make It Monday, 
here's a delicious Pinterest find that would be perfect for those turkey leftovers!
Enjoy!

Gourmet Cranberry Turkey Sandwich, perfect for grown-up brown bag lunches.

Get the recipe HERE.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone! 
 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Tutorial Tuesday - Turkey Hairbow

Photobucket
It's tutorial Tuesday!! And I am so excited to bring you this tutorial. I apologize in advance if the pictures are crummy and to all the Momma's of little boys. I had every intention of completing a boy and girl tutorial, but...it's the holidays, and I am swamped! :)
 
 Anyway, here's today's tutorial, it's an easy faux turkey hairbow. I wanted something festive for my girls, but also not too goofy looking. Basically this bow looks like a turkey but is still super cute! 
 
Photobucket
 
Here's what you need, 

Photobucket
(1) 5 1/2 inch piece of 3/8 brown ribbon 
(I had to use brown binding because I was out of brown ribbon!)
(1) 3 inch piece of 3/8" red ribbon
(2) 3 inch pieces of 3/8" yellow ribbon 
(2) 3 inch pieces of 3/8" orange ribbon 
(1) 1 ribbon wrapped alligator clip 
Hot Glue Gun 
 
Step 1) Take your brown ribbon and wrap a small section at the top around to meet the ribbon. It will look like a small turkey head. :) Glue in place.
 
 
Photobucket

Step 2) Now take the rest of your ribbon and meet the back of the "turkey head". This will form the body. Glue in place.

Photobucket

Step 3) Next make each of your remaining ribbon into small loops to create the turkey's "feathers". Glue each at the bottom where the ribbon meets. 

Photobucket

Step 4) Now glue the ribbons to the back of your turkey in this order, yellow, orange, red (this should be above the turkey's head), orange, yellow. 

Photobucket

Step 5) Now glue the red, orange and yellow feathers on top of the ribbon feathers. 

Photobucket

Step 6) Attach the clip and you're done! 

Photobucket

Photobucket
If you have any questions, or run into any problems, don't hesitate to email me! 

And, just in case you missed my awesome holiday printables, check out my Thanksgiving ones HERE. There's everything you need to decorate for the feast!
You can also find my Christmas Organization Printables right HERE, or just click the button on the top of my sidebar!

 Have an amazing Tuesday everyone!

Photobucket
Linking up with:
Photobucket

Monday, November 19, 2012

Make It Monday - Creamy Apple Salad

Photobucket
It's Monday, the week of Thanksgiving, and I am busy prepping to visit family out of town for the holiday! I can't wait to go and be with family and celebrate all we are thankful for! 

Today's recipe is one I made to go with dinner last night. It is super easy, kinda high in calories and sugar (but who's counting?!) and super delish! It helped me to use up some of my apples and Halloween candy. Hope you enjoy it!

Creamy Apple Salad


3-4 large apples, diced 
2 regular sized Snickers candy bars, diced
1 1/2 cups cold milk
1 package of instant vanilla pudding
1 tub of Cool Whip
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp powdered vanilla

In large bowl, whisk vanilla pudding, cinnamon, vanilla powder and milk together.
Place in refrigerator to firm up.
Meanwhile, dice up apples and snickers into bite sized pieces. 
Grab your bowl of pudding and fold in the Cool Whip.
Add apples and Snickers and mix until covered. 
Refrigerate and serve cold.
Print Friendly and PDF

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Christmas Organization Printables

I can hardly believe that November is almost finished. I still have so much to do in preparation for Christmas! But I will say, I have a lot done. I am excited to start new traditions and really bring the Spirit of Christmas into our home.

Also, in order to keep things straight and organized, I designed some fun printables for you!
They are perfect for Christmas preparations and just what you need to get everything done. 

Included in my FREE download are: 
2 sheets of Christmas Card lists, which help to keep all names and addresses in one place.
1 sheet for individual Christmas Wish Lists, these will help you keep your kid's wishes straight.
2 sheets for Christmas Gift Shopping: there are two columns that will help you to see what you need to buy and what you have already have.
1 sheet of Christmas Treat labels, these are meant to go on any item you choose, and have enough space to sign your family's name at the bottom.
You can print these on an 8.5 x 11 paper or cardstock and make a folder for all your lists! 
 Download links:

As you can tell by my past designs, I kept these clean and crisp, but also a little whimsical with the candy cane strips and traditional Christmas colors! :)
Like I always say, please use these, share them, and remember they are for personal use only!
Email me with any questions.

Good luck to each of you in your holiday planning and preparations.
Be sure to keep checking the blog, some $3 customizable Christmas Cards are in the works! Post to come soon!
Wishing you an early Merry Christmas!


Photobucket

Friday, November 16, 2012

Fabulous Friday

Photobucket
Here we are, Friday again, I honestly don't know why I am so surprised when each week flies by! The holidays have totally taken over my brain, and all I want to do is cook, craft, and enjoy the cooler weather and time with family.

Speaking of holidays, Thanksgiving is next week, and just in case you missed it, click HERE to see my awesome Thanksgiving table printables. They are meant to go with your Thankful Garland to create one entirely cute tablescape and decor! Click HERE to get my Thankful Garland printable. 

This week has been full of fun and mostly things I am loving lately. I have been visiting family, traveling and working on orders for my shop. I apologize for my lack of really good tutorials, recipes and crafts. Some new ones are in the works, so hopefully my next week will be successful!

As for today, I find just a few things absolutely fabulous this Friday, here's my favorites:

1) This is for all you digi scrappers and beginning photographers, Adobe Photoshop Elements is currently onlu $49.99 on Amazon! It's a screaming deal and one you don't want to pass up! Go buy yours now, or start your Christmas shopping early!
Click HERE to view the deal.


2) To go along with this amazing deal on Amazon, there are some totally cute kits flying around the digi sphere that are perfect to scrap all your Fall and Thanksgiving happenings. Here are a fabulous few:


Autumn Blush


Autumnal Aura


Autumn Splendor

3) And lastly on this Fabulous Friday, Kindle by Amazon has a deal for a FREE book! It is Twas' the Night Before Christmas, and I already downloaded my copy! You don't have to have a Kindle account to get it! Check out the deal info HERE on She Saved.com!

http://www.shesaved.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/free-Christmas-book.jpg

Have a Fabulous Friday everyone!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Thankful Thursday #3

Photobucket

This month has been one spent with family and friends and given me so much to be thankful for. So today, I am thankful for family. I come from an amazing family, full of drama, love and chaos. But we have blended so well over these last 19 years, it's been amazing!

My back story is one of deaths, marriages, adoption, biological children, and step children. Our family is made up of some pretty interesting people and personality types, but I love them so much!
I am adopted, have two little sisters who are my parents biological girls. My dad died when I was three and then my Mom remarried when I was six. He had two children from his previous marriage which are now my stepsisters. Together we there are two parents and five daughters.

Four of us are married to the men of our dreams, three of us have children (six grandkids total for my parents) and we are all happier than ever. Our family is a miracle and I am so thankful for the amazing story we have written in our years together! It is definitely something to be thankful for.


Hope you have a wonderful Thursday! And just because I love to design, here are some Thanksgiving Printables to use for the holiday next week! I hope you like them and can use them! There are a Thanksgiving Menu, Place Cards and Food Labels. They match my Thanksgiving Garland to give you the perfect designs for your celebration!


Click HERE to download.

Click HERE to download.

Click HERE to download.

Linking up with:
The Fontenot Four

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

What I {heart} Wednesday

Photobucket
I can't believe it's Wednesday already! this week is flying by!
 I am so excited to bring you some of the things {heart}ing this week.

 Remember, this is a linky party!
Here are the rules:
1) Follow this blog.
2) Add a link to your blog and what you're loving lately.
3) Have fun and meet new friends!

Need a button? Grab my newly designed button on my sidebar!

Here's my list for this wonderful Wednesday:

1) I {heart} pumpkin spice hot cocoa. Seriously. Best. Stuff. Ever.


2) I {heart} these amazing Thanks bottles
created by Nike @ Thrive.


btl.2

3) I {heart} the colder weather and all the cardis and sweaters I get to wear! Right now I am needing a yellow cardi similar to this one:

For the fashion challenged...outfits put together with links to each element of the outfit.
 (Source HERE)

4) I {heart} neutral nail colors. I am totally into them right now. Don't you just love this simple nail design for the holidays?

pretty 
(Source HERE)

What are you hearting?! Remember to link up!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Tutorial Tuesday - Blogger Tutorials

Photobucket
I probably shouldn't celebrate holidays before their actual date. I am having a hard time recouperating after my side of the family celebrated Thanksgiving this past weekend. I am in holiday mode and can't bounce back!

For today, I am going to share a few tutorials that I have found that I love! They are for the beginning blogger and a perfect way to start sprucing up your blog! Hopefully you can get some use out of them. They come from none other than the amazing Juile at Leelou Blogs!
Click HERE to visit her list of basic blogger tutorials!

  Next week I will be sharing my own original tutorial. For now, Happy Tuesday everyone!


Monday, November 12, 2012

Make It Monday - Gluten Free Cheesecake

Photobucket
Today was a busy busy day for me and the kidlets! We woke early, packed our bags to leave my parent's house and headed to my hometown's Veteran's Day parade. It was so much fun for the kids, and they ended up with a bag of candy and happy memories.

 After leaving the parade we ate lunch and then headed to the nearest major grocery store to go shopping. I managed to finish my shopping with a screaming 13 month old and her two very busy older siblings. I am proud to say that nothing was broken and no children were lost!

 Then began the two hour drive home... it was scenic and actually successful. And now here I sit, 10:30 at night to post today's recipe. It's too good to not share, so here you have it...Gluten Free Cheesecake!

Why Gluten Free you ask?! My mother has Celiac's disease and can't eat gluten. We accommodate her in anyway we can and enjoyed a Gluten Free Thanksgiving as a family this past weekend. This cheesecake was surprisingly delicious and a perfect blend of sweet and creamy! Definitely a must try...enjoy!
 {P.S. Don't mind the horrible photo...I didn't have my nice camera with me! :/}



Ingredients:

Crust:
1 package of Pamela's brand soft shortbread cookies
1 1/2 cups of Cinnamon Chex
1 stick of butter, melted

Filling:
2 (8-ounce) cream cheese blocks, softened
3 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 pint (16oz) sour cream
1 lemon, zested
Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. 
Lightly coat the bottom and sides of an 8-inch spring form pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Crust:
In a mixing bowl, crush up chex and cookies until you have a fine crumble. Add the butter and mix until crumbs are moistened.
Pour the crumbs into the pan and, using the bottom of a measuring cup or the smooth bottom of a glass, press the crumbs down into the base and 1-inch up the sides. Refrigerate for 5 minutes.

Filling:
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese on low speed for 1 minute until smooth and free of any lumps. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to beat slowly until combined. Gradually add sugar and beat until creamy, for 1 to 2 minutes.

Add sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. Periodically scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters. The batter should be well-mixed but not over beaten. Pour the filling into the crust-lined pan and smooth the top with a spatula.


Set a large roasting pan with 1" water on bottom oven rack, place cheesecake on middle rack. Bake for 60 minutes. The cheesecake should still jiggle (it will firm up after chilling), so be careful not to overcook. Turn off the oven, crack the door open with a wooden spoon handle and let the cheesecake sit in there for 30 minutes. Remove from oven to cooling rack, let cool in pan for 30 more minutes.

Cover with saran wrap and chill in the refrigerator, for at least 4 hours. Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a thin metal spatula around the inside rim. Unmold and transfer to a cake plate. Using a spatula spread a layer of desired topping over the surface.

Recipe adapted from Mommy I'm Hungry



Print Friendly and PDF

Friday, November 9, 2012

Fabulous Friday

Photobucket

It's Friday!! I always love Fridays, I relish the weekend and love time spent with family. As I mentioned in my last post, I am visiting my parents and we are busy with all things Fall and are celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow! It's been oodles of fun!

In honor of this turkey holiday, here are some of my Fabulous Friday Finds:

1) Pinterest now has secret boards!! I am so excited! Perfect for the holidays! You can hide things you want to gift, ideas you don't want to share, etc. Check it out HERE. Interested in following my 281 Fourth Street Pinterest Board? Click HERE.


2) We made these adorable turkey cookie treats today with the kids. I just love Our Best Bites and all their fabulous ideas! 


3) I am a blog designer for Leelou Blogs. I am sure some of you have heard of it. Because I do designing I see a variety of digi scrap sites and kits. Here is a fabulous fall freebie!



I hope you find other fabulous things this Friday! Have an amazing weekend!


Photobucket