Grasshopper Explosion! digital clip art

Grasshoppers explode like popcorn

as you walk through the lawn

in these waxing, hot days

of Summer!

Celebrate & mark your Summer

memories by scrapbooking

or creating party invitations

with my digital grasshopper clip art.

It's on sale for just $3 at my Etsy.

100 Day Project: Grasshoppers in Gouache by I Gotta Create! on Instagram

Check out my Instagram feed

for all the things that have been

inspiring me this summer!

And join in the link parties here on the blog each week on Wednesdays!

Gingham Picnic Cooler Tutorial for Tailgating

'Tis the perfect season for

picnics, camping and tailgating!

We had a beat-up cooler

that I decided to upcycle,

and what is more picnic-y than

GINGHAM?

Isn't she cute?!!

So today I'm sharing

How to make a Gingham Tailgate Picnic Cooler

otherwise known as the

Gingham Picnic Cooler Upcycle Tutorial.

Let's take this step by step:

How to Grow Lettuce, Kale and Spinach

Growing lettuce, spinach and kale 
is easy, rewarding and SO healthy for you! 
These are some of the easiest

and most prolific crops to grow in the Spring and Fall garden.

And that is fantastic because these dark, leafy greens are exactly what our bodies crave. They're great in salads, smoothies, and cooked up in recipes.

We've grown these crops from seed

planted directly in the ground in our  raised bed,

as well as from

from plants started at the local greenhouse.

Watermelon Cucumber Refreshing Sipper

 You know how cleaning out your

refrigerator can lead to 
using up the items in a fresh new way?

Well, today I'm sharing one of those
times that resulted in a new creative concoction!

When you slice up a watermelon

there is a lot of pink near the rind

that sometimes can go to waste.

Once you try this refreshing little sipper

you'll never waste that part again!

I call it my

Watermelon Cucumber Refreshing Sipper

Western Painted Turtle: Symbolism and Facts

My hubby found the sweetest

little turtle near our new garden.

It is literally the size of a quarter!

I love turtles!

The beauty of this creature inspires 

ancient stories and symbolism.

Observe a turtle and let it speak to you

of the wisdom in its nature... 

Turtle Symbolism:

the ability to stay grounded

peace and harmony

strength and stability

reminder to slow down, pace yourself

determination and persistence

patience and understanding

ancient wisdom

Here are a few more turtle tidbits:

Spotted Pony Milkshakes!

Stick a straw in them and call me done! 

These little fillies are a runaway hit 

for parties and family nights.

They couldn't be easier to wrestle up. 

Here's how to make Spotted Pony "Milkshakes"

or, depending on your theme,

Spotted Cow Milkshakes:

Skinny Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Sorbet!

I've gone to heaven!

Let this little concoction I dreamed up

take you there, too. 

It's a skinny peanut butter, chocolate 

banana sorbet. 

Or at least that's what I'm calling it!

At less than 100 calories per serving

 this combination of ingredients tastes 

so decadent and is so satisfying it

is hard to believe it's a "skinny" dessert!

Here's how to make it:

Gingham Americana Peace Coasters: A Printable

Red, white, and star-spangled blue gingham 

make fun and groovy

Americana Peace Coasters!

Keep these around all summer

and of course for Independence Day, too.

You can make your own

coasters today with this

Americana gingham coaster printable.

How to Make a 3D Paper Star

Stars are wonderful symbols

for so many seasons and uses.

You can make 

big, bold, beautiful 3 dimensional stars

like you see in ~this post~

to brighten any party,

room, patio or deck

with this

3D Paper Star Tutorial

Here are the directions:

Kids Craft Camp Summer Ideas

 Today, it is officially

in these parts!!

Summer ~ that lovely, less structured time of year

for children that very often has them

asking their loving families:

"What can I do? I'm bored!"

Well...

Here are some GREAT

Kids Summer Craft Ideas

to answer that question:

Stars and Stripes 3D Paper Stars!

Bold and beautiful

3D Paper Stars

sporting stars and stripes

are great for your July 4th celebration

and all Summer long!

20 Spring to Summer DIYs at I Gotta Create!

As we get ready to Spring into the

Summer season,

here's an overview of all the

Superb Original Spring projects 

shared here at 

I Gotta Create!

Just click the following photos or links 
for full details on my 20+ original ideas
plus another 60 shared here at I Gotta Create!

Wild West Party Theme Ideas

 

I'm sharing

party theme ideas suitable for guys

and gals. Check out these dozen

Wild West Party Theme Ideas!

DIY Jump Rope Butterfly

Nothing evokes childhood innocence like

jump ropes and butterfly wings!

You can make the cutest little

DIY Jump Rope Butterflies

for a mere $2 
with supplies from the dollar store.

A Jump Rope Butterfly

can be used for

party decor and favors,

as well as a

gift package embellishment

that is a gift in itself!

Here's how to make

A Jump Rope Butterfly:

The Best of 2012

As the year draws to a close, it's time to take a look at our:

Reader's Choice of the 
20 most wildly popular 
original projects of 2012 here at 
I Gotta Create!

*.
You can see the Ultimate, hands-down #1 reader's pick for 2012 and all time *here*


1.

A giant surge the day after Christmas results in what is now the number one post for 2012:

Valentine Heart Cone Tree Tutorial

2.
Throughout the year prior to Christmas, here's your number one run-away-favorite post...

Summer Wrap-up 2012

It's a wildly wonderful Summer here at I Gotta Create! Here's an overview so you don't miss a single moment of Summer fun:

Udderly Silly Water Balloons are a Summer Bucket List fun activity! There's a full tutorial and fun photos.

Our feathered friends splash around despite the drought with our rigged up Bird Spa ~ but birds weren't the only critters to visit!

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade is refreshing and healthier with Simple Syrup as the basis of an array of summertime drinks. Get the recipes for both.

July gifts us with a patriotic trio of fantastic Pringles Can projects! The Firecracker Tutorial, DiY Straw Caddy, and Patriotic Rocket! Stop by for full directions on all three projects.

Of course, we must have a little bit of Christmas in July! You'll want to see what those snowflakes are made of ~ you will be wow'ed!!

A whole herd of wildlife visits the back yard all summer. Along with the bobcat by our back door that WE saw & snapped the photos, our wildlife cam catches many other amazing photos!

The wild theme runs strong all summer with our Wild West party ideas. This theme is so versatile for birthdays, father's day, summer fun and Back-to-School:

Wild West Fringed snack bags are great for movie nights and parties. Sour cream party favors get decked out with fringe, too. You'll find thorough directions for each project.

Of course, Root Beer floats are a Summer tradition! Give it a new twist this summer.

Have fun preparing embossed gift packages and cards for Fathers Day in June. {Tackle This!, Fish Tales, and so much more.} Lots of great ideas and embossing lessons included.

The Inspiring Creative Women series features in-depth interviews with these amazing bloggers: Lizy B Bakes, Creatively Living, and Bliss Ranch. Stop by and recharge your DiY batteries with their tips, techniques, and unique take on being creative.

I share my Pinterest Woes and you will want to know about this great tip from a reader that became a fun fix. It changed my approach to linky party hosting to generate more traffic for YOU, too.

Back-to-School Grab Bags mark a turning of the season to thoughts of Fall. You can bring the whole Wild West Round Up theme to your Back-to-School parties.

We amble down country roads on a cool day for this photo shoot in anticipation of Autumn... Come along for the ride.

....Take a little picnic lunch on our road trip in this darling Upcycled Jean Lunch Tote with a belt handle... You can make one, too, in a style that suits you ~ stop by for ideas and inspiration.

A picnic deserves a great dessert. How about this adorable Fresh Peach Crisp in a Mason Jar!  Get the recipe and directions for this yummy, portable way to celebrate the peach harvest.

It's a smokin' hot summer at I Gotta Create!  Thank you for your visits, kind words and sharing at the Wildly Original linky parties. 

I hope you'll stay in touch and follow along.

       

Are you ready for Amazing Autumn ideas?

Spring Overview at I Gotta Create!

{I host a weekly linky party. Come find out more here!  I'm sharing this Summer 2012 Wrap-Up with...Monday:  Craftomaniac, Making The World Cuter, Alderberry Hill, Skip to My Lou, Cherished Bliss; Tuesday:  Not Just a Housewife, Nap-Time Creations, The DIY Dreamer, Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog, Savvy Southern Style, Uncommon, What We Wore & Made, Gingersnap Crafts, The NY Melrose Family. Elizabeth & Co.; Wednesday:  The 36th Avenue, Live-Laugh-Rowe, Someday Crafts, Handy Man Crafty Woman, The Trendy Treehouse,  Snap; Thursday: Johnny in a Dress, My Repurposed Life, Tidy Mom, Shabby Nest; Friday:  Funky Junk Interiors, Anything Goes, Finding Fabulous, My Simple Home Life, Romantic Home, French Country Cottage, Tatertots and Jello, Thirty Handmade Days, Naptime Crafters, Stuff & Nonsense, One Creative Mommy; Saturday:  Be Different Act Normal, Tutus & Tea Parties, Positively Splendid, Sew Country Chick; Sunday: Nifty Thrifty Things, DIY Project Parade, Under The Table and Dreaming, My 1929 Charmer, Sew Darned Crafty}