Tickled Pink No. 83

Happy Almost-Friday!

It was a cold, sick week at my house...AGAIN!
We all were better for like 24 hours and then right back at it. Seriously?!

Sorry, I am way behind on returning emails from last week
(oh heck from the last 6 months), but working on it!

Visit the

Tickled Pink Features Pinterest Board!!!!

(if you are not on Pinterest and need an invite, let me know!)

Also, leave me your link in the comments

and let's follow each other and be inspired

FEATURES!
Grab a featured button HERE
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Polaroid Wall from {Sisters, Sisters}

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Landing Makeover from The DIY Showoff. It is gorgeous!

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Fab headboard from Too Much Time on My Hands

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How cute is the fabric backdrop from Shirley's Craft Blog

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Sweetheart Pillow case from Yesterday on Tuesday

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Earring Stand from This Girl's Life

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50+ Organizational Tips for Kid Spaces from Attempting Aloha!

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Stuffed Paper Hearts from The Scrap Shoppe

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A gorgeous furniture makeover from Emily's Up-cycled Furniture

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A story of hope, giving, awareness, and how we can all make a difference. I am in awe of families like this. Thank you for sharing Kalyn from ...And I Thought I Loved You Then

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50 Things Every Woman Should Own from More Style Than Cash

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Bakewell tart from Rachel Cotterill

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Cheesy Olive Dip from The Misadventures of Mrs. B

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Goodwill Treasure Hunting Tips from Inside BruCrew Life

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Adorable Woodland Creatures Birthday Party Prep from Primitive and Proper.
What a great theme!

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I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone
who links up, reads, and visits. I truly appreciate it.

So, go on over and LIKE 504 Main on Facebook!

I am also inviting you to share your

link on my FaceBook wall.

Feel free to share the link on my Facebook Wall.
If I feature you on Facebook or twitter, be sure to grab a button HERE too!

Have a GREAT weekend!

NOW FOR TICKLED PINK!

A craft...a recipe...a tip...a party...a short story...a  poem...
a  fashion find...a  favorite product...your favorite  post...
whatever makes  your blog  fabulous!
That is what Tickled Pink is all about!
{and it does NOT have to be PINK}
Grab a button HERE!
or here!

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PRACTICE PINK KINDNESS
1. Link  up...whatever makes  your blog  fabulous. Family Friendly please. Guess what? Your post does not have to be PINK!! 
2. PLEASE LINK TO A POST URL, ****NOT YOUR MAIN URL****
3. Pretty please...add the Tickled Pink button to the post* {people need  to know what the heck they are doing!}. 
4.  I reserve the right to remove posts that are offensive or do not  adhere  to the rules, without any discussion, at my discretion.
5. Please visit at least 2 other links!

TICKLED PINK Now Has Categories
I won't banish you if you mess up, but try to link appropriately, pretty please!

Craft, DIY, Decorate
crafting, diy, decor type links

Cook, Bake, Eat
stuff to eat, cook, drink, and bake

Read, Write, Share
posts you love, stories, favorite things, ideas to share

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DIY! Be My Valentine Coin Cards

I actually have a Valentine's Craft...before Valentines!
OK, it is a repost from last year...but I am counting it.
I actually have a few more hearty crafts...but seeing as how my family cannot stay well for more than 24 hours, I may never finish them...so a repost it is!

I am not a fan of Valentines...but I love the sweet simple crafts my kiddos and I make, and I remember loving the Valentine Card Exchange at school...and later a card at home.

One of my favorite types of cards to receive as a kid were these cards that had slots for dimes all over them. I just did a search and found a few on ebay even!

I so wish I had one of my old cards...surprisingly I do not! I can hardly believe it!

My parents would give us these cards and I thought they were the best. I have actually had these on my mind for quite some time. I just think they are the perfect little "present." Of course I am prepared for my son to just look at me and ask "What I am supposed to do with it?" My daughter will be thrilled - she thinks coins are better than paper money!

So here's the thing...you can make these cards with just about anything...crayons, markers, paint, scrap book paper! I am going to list the specific supplies under each card, but here are the

BASIC SUPPLIES

(I have includes some more specific supplies under

the photo for each type of card  below)

• Cards (I used watercolor cards or creative, about $8 for 10). I get mine at Aaron Brothers.
• You can get card stock cards for much less, about $6 for 25 or $8 for 50. You can also simply fold some paper in half (the good old-fashioned way!)
• Rubber cement or glue stick (I used rubber cement)
• X-ACTO Craft/Utility Knife
• Cutting mat
• Ruler
• Coins (dimes and quarters)

See Below for specific supplies for different styles of cards

BASIC DIY

(I have includes some more specific DIY under each type of card)

1. Determine design (Lay it out - you may want to sketch some ideas out)

2. Transfer to card - cut out design or paint it on.

3. Determine placement of coins: use light pencil marks to mark each side of the coin.

Can you see my pencil points on the heart?

4. Use the X-ACTO Craft knife to cut a slit from point to point.

5. Cut a piece of scrap book paper or cardstock that is the same size/slightly smaller than the front of your card (this is the backing). Just lay the card on a piece of paper and trace around it and cut.

6. Flip card over/open card and use rubber cement or glue stick. Apply glue to edges of the front of the card and throughout the middle. I made "U" shaped swipes around the slits on the back (see photo - I drew in the area to where I did not apply glue).

7. Take your scrap book paper/cardstock from step #5 and apply it to the back of the front cover (this is to cover the slits and money when you open the card. Press to adhere it.

While you are at it you can decorate the inside of the card - or not! I used my Cricut to cut a few heart shapes and just glued them down. With the scrapbook paper you may be able to see the outline of the coins when you open the card...card stock would make this less noticeable.

 (I just realized this is the inside of the pocket heart card, so there is no backing on the front, as the hearts were applied to the front of the card to act as a pocket.)

8. Let dry.

9. Place coins into the slits - you may need to use a knife or skewer to loosen up the slit. I did not - they all slid in fine...but I also used rubber cement which has a little give to it.

SPECIFIC SUPPLIES AND DIY

Supplies for Birdies in a Tree

Water colors and a brush

(and water)

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Supplies for Heart Tree

Water colors and a brush

(and water)

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Supplies for Dinosaur
Originally shared at Sweet Rose Studio Holiday Handmade

Here is a link to the dinosaur template
For a complete dinosaur tutorial, visit Sweet Rose Studio
Template, water colors or colored pencils or good quality pens
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Supplies for Painted Heart Pockets

DecoArt Glamour Dust in Celebration Pink

DecoArt Thickening Medium

Paint brush

(Mix Glamour Dust and Thickening Medium together at a 1:1 ratio and paint on to card. You do not need to use the thickening medium, but I choose to because it gave some heft and depth to the Glamour Dust)

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Supplies for Scrapped Heart Pockets

Scrap book or decorative paper, adhesive.

Use a punch, cut by hand or use your Cricut to cut heart shapes. Be sure to make sure whatever type of coin you use fits the pocket.

Glue the bottom of each heart and up the sides (you want the top portion to remain open like a pocket.

Let dry and insert coins!
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Supplies for Lightning Bolt

 This one is for my son - much more manly, eh? I actually made this a post card by just gluing the back or the card to the front!
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I wish I know how to make a printable!
Here is the tree outline if anyone wants to cut it out or print it out and trace it off.
I'd be happy to email it to you too.

Anyway, I think they are pretty cute and am looking forward to making more..for birthdays and other holidays! I will also I am sure have the title of cheapest mom on the block.
(of course you can make more slits to hold more money!) 

What do you remember from your childhood holidays and celebrations?

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Veggie Chili...Full of Healthy Goodness! #HuntsRecipe #spon

Thank you to Hunt’s for sponsoring this post and encouraging my culinary skills!

Visit Hunt’s Signature Recipe Collection to find tons of delicious ideas

for using Hunt’s tomatoes in your meals.

My kiddos LOVE tomatoes - pretty much in any form. I feed tomatoes a lot and am always tyring to get more healthy options into their daily diet. "Heart healthy diced, whole, stewed and crushed canned tomatoes are a perfect addition to many recipes." I agree wholeheartedly...I find myself adding varieties of these tomatoes to many of our meals - chicken, stews, soups...you name it. These tomatoes add flavor and nutritional value and make my kids smile!

One dish we love around here is chili!

We love chili...it is a mealtime staple!

I have a few different versions of chili that I make,

but I wanted to mix things up a bit with a vegetarian dish.

I am loving this Veggie Chili!

And so did everyone else!

Ingredients
This is a mild, chunky chili. Using the delicious Hunt's Diced with Basil, Garlic, and Oregano added some great flavor right in, so I used less seasoning/herbs that in my usual chili. You can adjust some of the spices (cumin, chili powder) to your liking (I added more garlic, because I cannot get enough!). This is what we prefer. 

• 1 Can Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes
• 2 Cans Hunt's Diced Tomatoes, Basil, Oregano and Garlic
• 1/2 can Hunt's Tomato Paste (I generally freeze the other half of a can)
• (Optional) 1 Can Hunt's Tomato Sauce (depends on how thick you like your chili)
• 2 cans black beans (store brand)
• 1 can pinto beans (store brand)
• 1 can kidney beans (store brand)
• 1 16 oz can diced green chilies
• 1 can chopped olives (store brand)
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 3 gloves garlic
• 1 Teaspoon cumin
• 1 Teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 to 1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
• 1/2 to 1 Teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• (Optional, chili powder, depends on your taste)
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Cook It!

• Chop red pepper and red onion

• Chop or mince cloves or garlic
• Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat, add garlic.
• Cook for approximately 3-4 minutes, add red onion and red pepper.
• Cook until just caramelized, about 15 minutes (just watch it).

• In the meantime, empty the contents of the Hunt's tomatoes in a large stock pot. (I had a helper!)

• Add the chilies and olives.
• Empty the cans of beans into a colander and let juices drain, rinse off and let water drain.
• Add beans to the stock pot.
• Place on stove at a medium/low heat and begin to heat.
• Add the dry mustard, salt, pepper and chili powder (if you wish)
• As the stock pot heats, add the pepper/onion mixture.
• Stir
• Cook for approximately one hour on low, stirring occasionally. You can cook this in a crock pot on low for 4-5 hours.

I am continually working on improving my family's diet

and making my home a healthy place. I want to teach my kids good nutrition and instill it in them early. And what better time to renew these goal than now - the new year!

"New Year’s Resolutions are often tough to stick to, but here’s one easy-to-follow recommendation from USDA’s new MyPlate model – fill at least half of your plate with fruits and vegetables including one or more servings per day of red & orange vegetables. That’s easy to do when tomatoes are America’s favorite non-starchy vegetable!" - Hunts

The exceptional flavor and quality of the Hunt's tomatoes made this chili A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

It was hearty and yummy!

Now, if you prefer a non-veggie chili, I also cooked up some ground beef for the hubby and made a separate pot of chili - no beans (he does not like beans), added the meat - but the tomatoes and spices were the same. Super-simple!

Visit www.Hunts.com for more recipes, and check out

the Hunt’s Recipe Rewards program for some great coupons!

What do you like in your chili?

Thank you again to Hunt’s for sponsoring my post. Find more ideas for cooking with tomatoes at Hunt’sSignatureRecipeCollection. I was selected for this opportunity by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own. #HuntsRecipe #spon

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