A Crowe's Gathering

Beef Spaghettie Pie Ole

2011-02-05T11:00:00.001-07:00

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 (10 ounce) can diced canned tomatoes with green chilies, undrained

3/4 cup light dairy sour cream

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese

Pasta Shell:

1 (7 ounce) package uncooked spaghetti

1/3 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions

1.Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain well. In large bowl, whisk together remaining pasta shell ingredients. Add pasta; toss to coat. Arrange pasta in 9-inch pie dish, pressing down and up side to form shell; set aside.

2.Meanwhile, heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking up into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove from skillet with slotted spoon; pour off drippings. Return beef to skillet; season with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and cumin; stir in tomatoes. Bring to a boil; cook 3 to 5 minutes or until liquid is almost evaporated, stirring occasionally.

3.Reserve 2 tablespoons beef mixture for garnish. Stir sour cream into remaining beef; spoon into pasta shell. Place 1 cup cheese in center, leaving 2-inch border around edge. Spoon reserved beef mixture onto center of cheese; bake in 350 degrees F oven 15 minutes or until heated through.

4.To serve, cut into wedges.

Original Recipe Yield 4 servings

Buffalo Chicken Dip for Game Day

2011-02-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

Another Great Game Day Dip...Enjoy!!!!

Original Recipe Yield 5 cups

Ingredients

2 (10 ounce) cans chunk chicken, drained

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1 cup Ranch dressing

3/4 cup pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot®)

1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1 bunch celery, cleaned and cut into 4 inch pieces

1 (8 ounce) box chicken-flavored crackers

Directions

1.Heat chicken and hot sauce in a skillet over medium heat, until heated through. Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing. Cook, stirring until well blended and warm. Mix in half of the shredded cheese, and transfer the mixture to a slow cooker. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, cover, and cook on Low setting until hot and bubbly. Serve with celery sticks and crackers.

Spinach Dip

2011-02-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

This is a great Game Day Dip that eveyone likes and is fast to make and can be made in advance.

Original Recipe Yield 2 cups

Ingredients

1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

1 (8 ounce) container sour cream

1 cup mayonnaise

1 (.4 ounce) packet dry vegetable soup mix

Directions

1.In a medium mixing bowl combine spinach, sour cream, mayonnaise and vegetable soup mix. Mix well. Refrigerate it for 4 hours. Stir before serving.

Devine MeatLoaf

2011-02-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

1 pound extra-lean ground beef

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 bunch green onions, diced

4 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms

4 ounces saltine crackers, finely crushed

2 eggs

1 (1.25 ounce) package beef with onion soup mix

1 1/2 cups ketchup

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

2 teaspoons brown sugar

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

2.In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, green pepper, green onion, mushrooms and saltine crackers. Stir in the eggs and the beef with onion soup mix; mix thoroughly.

3.Press mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish.

4.In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the ketchup, yellow mustard and brown sugar. Mix thoroughly and pour over the meat mixture, spreading evenly.

5.Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour.

Free Valentine Cards

2011-02-05T00:15:00.002-07:00

Here are some Valentines that you can right click and save to your computer and then print out.

You can use them for school and even give them to your kids teachers and school faculty at your Children's school. Times are tough and this is our way of helping with some of your cost, and the kids can have fun

cutting them out and personalizing them too.

Happy Valentines to you all, and have fun at your parties too.

Remember Teachers really like to be remembered by there students too!

Mom and Dad too, so don't forget them!

Meat Loaf Tips

2011-02-04T22:00:00.000-07:00

Making MeatLoaf

Cheap-loaf

Not just delicious, meatloaf is also easy and inexpensive to make. The mixture can be stretched with veggies, bread, and grains. Meatloaf's small amount of meat feeds a large number of people, and all the non-meat additions make the meatloaf taste even more delicious!

Meatloaf Miscellany

For the all-important "meat" part of your meatloaf, pure ground beef might be the standard, but you could also use any combination of ground beef, pork, turkey, veal, lamb, chicken, or sausage. Add fresh or dry bread crumbs, seasoned stuffing mix, crushed crackers, rolled oats, textured vegetable protein, or bulgur that's been plumped in warm water.

In the vegetable department, try:

Grated carrots or potatoes

•Diced onions, celery, or bell peppers

•Chopped tomatoes or spinach

•Asparagus spears

•Minced garlic

•Canned, roasted, or fresh chiles

•Corn kernels

•Dry soup mixes or dry salad dressing mixes.

Try a little crumbled blue cheese or feta, or grate some Parmesan or Cheddar into the mix. Toss in one or two of your favorite condiments to boot: ketchup, mustard, steak sauce and Worcestershire are just the beginning! Don't forget the fresh or dried herbs; a little spice is nice, too. For really juicy meatloaf, mix in about 1/4 cup of liquid such as broth, vegetable juice, tomato sauce, wine, beer, or milk. Add a beaten egg to help bind the mixture.

To add a little extra excitement to your meatloaf, use half of the meatloaf mixture to form a bottom layer a couple of inches thick, then lay a few rows of long, thin strips of blanched vegetables such as carrots, bell peppers, or asparagus spears down the length of it. Use the rest of the meatloaf mixture to cover up the veggies--be sure to seal the edges completely. When you cut into the meatloaf, each slice will have bright, appetizing stripes of color through the middle. You could even try this trick with a few hard-cooked eggs lined up end-to-end!

Lighten Your Loaf

Comfort food does not always have to be super-fattening food. Meatloaf can taste as delicious as it ever was while still being lower in fat. To lighten it up, use half or all ground turkey, use less meat and more veggies, and cook the meatloaf on a rack or broiler pan to allow the grease to drain off (or drain it from a loaf pan midway through baking). You can also buy a disposable aluminum pan and poke holes in the bottom of it: set this pan in a larger baking pan on top of a rack and the grease will still drain off while the loaf cooks.

Hope this information will help make terrific meat loaf!

Valentine Envelopes Crochet

2011-02-04T20:40:00.001-07:00

Valentine Envelopes

SKILL LEVEL: Easy

SIZE: One Size

About 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (14 x 14 cm)

MATERIALS

1 Ball (A)

1 Ball (B)

Crochet Hook - Size H-8

Large-Eyed Blunt Needles

GAUGE:

Exact gauge is not important to this project

ENVELOPE

With A or B, ch 26.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across – 25 sts.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across.

Repeat Row 2 until piece measures about 8 in. (20.5 cm) from beginning.

Fasten off.

FINISHING

Bring 3 corners together at center to make Envelope. Sew corners and seams.

Edging

With wrong side facing, join contrast color A or B at edge of Envelope ‘flap’. Slip st evenly along flap.

Next Row: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st around. Fasten off.

Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS / REFERENCES

ch(s) = chain(s) sc = single crochet

st(s) = stitch(es)

E Or Free Coloring Page

2011-02-04T10:14:00.001-07:00

This is a free coloring page, all you have to do is right click the picture and save it to your

computer then right print it out to the size you want.

Teachers and Pre-School Teachers you are more than welcome

to print out and use in class.

Happy Valentines to you all and enjoy!!!!

Instant Down Loads

2011-02-04T06:30:00.002-07:00

With society being so geared to the fast track, no one wants to wait for anything, everyone wants its now. The technology of the Internet feeds and supports those wants and needs. When you buy a book, pattern, music, etc., we could go on an on, you can now down load it and you have it. Some times I think "Have it Now" isn't always good, but that's another article.

If you look out there, you will see most sites who sell patterns, web sets, clip art, etc., are mostly done with instant down load, so the customer can "Have it Now" and keep doing what they were doing. With this attitude of "I need it Now" you loose some of the customer service and getting to know your Seller or Buyer, because mostly all communication is electronic (where there is no communication). When you do hear from your customer it is usually when there is a problem and the customer is mostly up set or at least irritated.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm one who loves to use the instant down loads, it frees me up from having to send out all orders that can be done at the time of purchase. Plus if frees up your time to create new product, work on other things and spend more time with your family.

There are so many ways of doing instant down loads, you can pay and have it programed into your website or you can use a third party that you pay a monthly fee. Now I have elected to use a third party and the fees for most part are very reasonable and simple to add the code they provide for your product. With the ID you can add your product to sell on more than one website, your blogs, just where ever you want to sell your product and there is no fee's for selling you just pay your monthly fee. The fee is based on the amount of storage you need. When you have it programmed to your site it's only on that site, so it limits you some what if you offer your products in more than one place.

You can google instant down load programs and you will get a good selection to research.

Here is a site that many of the pattern lady's use and you may want to check it out.

http://www.ipmpro.com/

Plus with this program you are also able to list your product in there download store which is included in your fee's.

Hope this has been informative and helpful to you all,

Happy Downloading to you all!!!

Valentine's Candy Jar Coloring Page

2011-02-03T22:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a Free Valentine's Candy Jar for your kids or you to color.

Just right click and save to your computer and then print out.

Happy Coloring and

Happy Valentine's to you!!!!

Teachers and Preschool teachers you are more than welcome to use for your classes.

Happy Valentines.

Re-Sizing Pictures for your Sites

2011-02-03T21:44:00.001-07:00

So many times I go to sites, that when I click on the picture and it fills my whole screen, and sometimes you still can't see what the products is. When you have pictures that large it takes up a lot of space on your site. I like to keep my Thumb Nails at 150x150 and to enlarge to no more than 250x250. It helps if you start with a clear picture, then you can crop your picture to show just what you want and re size it to the size you want. Smaller pictures take up less space so you get to show more, and also helps your site upload faster to.

There are some re sizing sites that are on the Web that are free, some have free trials, and the cost is small if you don't have a program. So check out these sites:

http://www.webresizer.com/

This one you can crop, frame and resize for FREE. But you can only do One (1) picture at a time.

http://www.picresize.com/

This one you can crop add special effects and it's free too.

http://www.avs4you.com/

This AVS Image converter and you can do multi pictures at one time. Plus AVS has many more programs available too. This program also has a watermark available too.

Happy re sizing to you all.!!!!

Swan Pot Holder Doodle

2011-01-25T18:09:00.001-07:00

Here is a NEW! Doodle that has been added to my Website that you can purchase right here is you choose so.

Happy Crafting to all!

SwanPotHolder801

This doodle can be used in any medium and can be re sized to fit what ever project you are doing, and you may digitize it also. The only thing you can not do is resale it in doodle form, mass production and not claim this as your design or art work. To mass produce or resale as is you will need...

Price: US$1.99

Did you Know?

2011-01-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

Did you know...

... that today is Palindromic Minute Day? In 1001, at exactly

10:01 in the morning, a clock set on European time read: 1001,

1001, 1001 (10:01, 10/01, 1001). The only other time this

happened was at 8:02 p.m. on February 20, 2002. It will never

happen again, at least under current dating systems.

Today's Inspirational Quote:

"Riches do not consist in the possession of treasures, but in

the use made of them."

-- Napoleon Bonaparte --

Happy Thoughts to all!

Christmas Ornament Coloring Page

2010-12-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

This Christmas Ornament can be copied the same as the others just by

right clicking the picture and saving it to your computer and

then copying it. This picture can also be resize to fit your needs.

ENJOY!

Merry Christmas

and

Happy New Year

Be Safe, Warm and Creative!!!!

Christmas Stocking Free Coloring Page

2010-12-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Count down to Christmas is oh so close, but here is your stocking to color and leave by the cookies

for Santa. He can have is very own special piece of Art Work just from you.

Merry Christmas

and

Happy New Year

Be Safe, Warm and Creative!

In a Pinch Homemade Snow

2010-12-24T11:30:00.001-07:00

Is it just murphys law, that late at night when all the stores are closed and you need to finish

that last minute gift and you have either ran out of Snow or you go to the jat and

guess what it is so dry it is almost like dust. So you try adding a little water and nothing, so you let it sit

and now it's just a gooy glob of whatever and it diffently won't work for what you need it to.

So, what do you do? Well here's your answer.

You go into the supply closet and find some rough styrofoam balls, get a bowl and then you rub

the balls together and caught the stryofoam in the bowl, when you think you have enough

add some white glue to the mixutre and mix,(you can also add some glitter if you choose to.)

Now you can smooth it on what ever you needed to and you now have homemade snow.

The left overs I put in either a jar with a lid or a plastic zip lock bag and it will keep for a little while.

This is great alternative when nothing is open, you can also add cinnamon and spices to it for another look and a great smell, too.

Hope this will help you out of pinch for that last minute gift, or creative time.

Candy Cane Free Coloring page

2010-12-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

Here is page 2 Coloring page for the Christmas vacation.

You will be able to copy it the same as the other.

Just right click and save to your computer and then you can print it and even resize it for coloring needs.

Enjoy!!!

Merry Christmas

and

Happy New Years

Be Safe, Warm and Creative!!!!

Today's Inspirational Quote:

2010-12-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

This is one of my very quotes.

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak

out and remove all doubt."

-- Abraham Lincoln --

Did you Know.........

2010-12-22T15:25:00.000-07:00

Did you know...

... that today is the birthday of Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson

(1912)? Lady Bird was First Lady of the United States from

1963 to 1969 during the presidency of her husband Lyndon B.

Johnson. Throughout her life, she was an advocate for

beautification of the nation's cities and highways and

conservation of natural resources and made that her major

initiative as First Lady

A Crowe's Gathering New Look

2010-12-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

Come the first of the Year, A Crowe's Gathering will be doing a new face lift and with product too.

We are changing our direction with our Handmade products and will be caring a

phase with our own twist added to this product. We will not be just prim, but yet prim will always be in

our heart and will always have some prim. I just can't get away from it all.

Come the first of the year Main Street Mercantile will be closing, the economy just doesn't support us staying open, but onto new endeavors.

So Be sure to keep Checking back to see what is up with ACG.

We will be carrying Idaho Dirt which is a great New Product the resembles the Pixie sticks but is fun and you can us it as a learning tool then you can eat it, it is truly a fun item.

This set comes with 6 flavors,(cola,Root Beer,Cherry,Grape,Lemon Lime,Orange)

6 tubes and caps, box with test tube holder and instructions.

This is perfect for preschool teachers, Science Teachers, Camp Directors and Mom and Dad to have fun with on a weekend. You can learn how to mix and then you get to eat it Yummmmmm!

The Kit is $15.00 Plus tax Idaho res. and shipping. We also will be selling the individual tubes in any of the flavors or a tube mixed with all 6 flavors for $1.50 each plus shipping and Idaho res. 6% sales tax.

We will also be caring Iris Boyds Inspiration of her prints of her Hand painted Turkey Feathers. This lady is truly talented and she has sold some of her feathers to the Emperor of China, President Brush, The Governor of Idaho and prints to the Dignitaries of the Vietnam War just to mention a few.

You will be able to purchase her 8 1/2 x 11 inch prints for $10.00 ea. or 3 for $25.00, Gift Cards $2.00 ea. or 6 for $10.00 and Book Marks $2.00 or 3 for $5.00.

You will just love her work plus they are great gift giving items too.

This is just a few things that will be coming to the our new look and products on A Crowe's Gatheirng

A Free Doodle Pattern for The Holidays

2010-12-22T14:03:00.002-07:00

Here is a Free Doodle Pattern for the Holidays.

This pattern can be used for type of medium, can also be digitized all we ask is that you

give A Crowe's Gathering credit as the designer. This pattern is copyrighted, so if this can not be

reproduced in mass quantities without written permission from ACG. You can resale it as a made product at fairs, shows, websites. You can NOT sell it as the pattern is without written permission from ACG.

Otherwise enjoy and have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

To save, just right click the pattern and save it to your computer, then you can start to have fun with your new Free Design from A Crowe's Gathering!

Be Safe, Warm and Creative!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Here is a New Holiday Free Coloring Page for the Kids

2010-12-22T13:47:00.001-07:00

Well Christmas is here and so is the vacation for the kids and it seems like only 1 to 2 days in and they are bored and have nothing to do, so here is alittle something from ACG to the all the Mom's, Grandparents and Dad's who need a little something for the kids to do a Free Holiday coloring page. All you have to do is just right click on the picture and save it to your computer then print out as many as you would like and let the kids have fun coloring, painting or just having fun with it.

Merry Christmas to All and Happy New Years

You may also resize it to the size you want, enjoy Kiddo's

Crocheted Hats

2010-10-04T16:56:00.003-06:00

Here are a few of our New Product line we will be doing in the Handmade in the USA.

Hope you like and you can also now purchase them on Etsy, we are getting there too.

http://www.acreativedesigns.etsy.com/ stop by and check them out.

These are just a few of what we will be offering. We will also have crocheted flower pins for the hats and hair so they will have a double use too.

Hope you all enjoy your Holidays and everyone be Safe, Warm and Creative for the Holidays and the New Year.!!!!

Main Street Mercantile

2010-09-22T16:15:00.000-06:00

The Store is Open!

Well yes all, Main Street Mercantile is open and ready for doing business. You will find many

very talented artists from all over the country and 88% of our products are handmade in

America by Americans. You can check out our Blog where we will be adding our vendors products

that you will be able to purchase if you are not able to get to our store. We will except paypal and Checks at this time, the site url is : http://mainstmercantile.blogspot.com/ we would love to have you

stop by, check us out and follow us on the blog or on facebook too and we would love to have.

You will be able to see the store, purchase product and follow what's up with the store.

So be sure to bookmark us so you know all the happenings at

MAIN STREET MEERCANTILE!

Free Doodle The Witches Hat

2010-07-28T09:25:00.001-06:00

OK! Here we go with another Halloween Doodle to go with the Boot!

Just right click and save to your your computer and then print out and have fun

creating in what ever medium you may want. Just remember to give

A Crowe's Gathering credit as the designer, that is all we ask.

Happy Creating to all!

and

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!!!

Hand Dyeing 101

2010-07-26T11:37:00.002-06:00

Hand dyeing dates back to ancient times. Our ancestors used beads, shells and other materials to produce results similar to tie dyeing. Could Joseph's "coat of many colors" have been an example of early tie dyeing?

Our ancestors also used materials that were extracted from plant roots and from flowers, leaves and berries. These included blackberries, safflower, marigold, red cabbage, sage and indigo. We still use these natural dyes today. However, synthetic dyes produce more permanent, accurate and consistent results.

Tie dyeing emerged again in the 1960s as a new generation sought to express its freedom and individuality. Individuals produced custom results through different techniques and colors, creating their own personal statements on clothes.

What Is Hand Dyeing?

Simply stated, hand dyeing refers to the process of imparting colors to fibers using a dye by hand. The choice of dye you use depends on what you dye and what results you wish to produce. Here is a brief overview:

•Fiber-Reactive Dyes -- Fiber-reactive dye is the most permanent of all dye types. One popular brand used by many artists and craftsmen is Procion MX Dye. Extremely popular for tie dyeing, this cold-water, fiber-reactive dye can be used in many ways including tie dyeing, batik, airbrushing and screen printing. Procion comes in concentrated form and is mixed with cold tap water to produce vivid, almost electric results. T-shirts are commonly used with this dye and can be washed with other garments without the dyes bleeding onto contrasting colors such as black. Most times, fiber-reactive dyes are the dyes found in tie-dye kits and in one-step fabric dyes.

•All-Purpose Dyes -- In contrast to the Procion dye's preference for cold water, all-purpose dyes are used with hot water. They are mostly used when dyeing nylon, cotton or rayon. All-purpose dyes are sold under many brand names including Rit dye.

•Acid Dyes -- They sound a little scary, but acid dyes can be easy to obtain and very economical to use. An example of an acid dye is food coloring. Food coloring can be used to dye certain blends of wool, silk and nylon. Heat is required to produce washable results. Dyeing silk ribbons with sweetened drink mix such as Kool-Aid is a wacky sounding but fun technique.

•Natural Dyes -- Natural dyes simply fascinate me. They are best suited, however, for projects that do not require a lot of washing as they are less permanent than synthetic dyes. Generally speaking, wool is the best fiber to use with natural dyes, so dyeing yarn to use with crochet or knitted projects is an option. Many times a mordant will be used with natural dyes. A heavy-metal ion, a mordant is a substance that helps hold the dye to the fiber. It can be complicated to use and highly toxic. Dyeing with natural dyes produces less accurate results than dyeing with synthetic dyes, and results can be difficult to replicate.

Different Methods of Hand Dyeing

There are two basic methods of dyeing fibers with the dyes mentioned above. Fibers can be dyed using the immersion or direct-application technique.

•Tie Dyeing -- Tie dyeing is probably the most widely used method of direct-application dyeing. Concentrated fiber-reactive dyes are mixed with water and applied directly to the fiber with squirt bottles. Additionally, the garment is tied in places to prevent the dyes from reaching them, which produces an endless array of unique patterns and designs. Fabric can be tied off with string or a rubber band.

•"Scrunch" or Low-Water Immersion Dyeing -- Also know as "crumple" or "crackle" dyeing, low-water immersion involves the use of a small or "low" amount of water mixed with dye while you crunch the fabric together. A dye mix is poured over crumpled fiber, and colors are allowed to bleed and spread to produce unique and varied color gradations.

•Batik -- This method is similar to tie dyeing in that you directly apply fiber-reactive dyes in squirt bottles. Beeswax and paraffin waxes are used to draw designs onto the fibers. The wax will act as a resistant when the dye is applied.

This was some information that I had found and thought I would share with you all.

Happy Creating to All!!!

Labor Day Coloring Page

2010-07-24T09:00:00.000-06:00

Here is a Coloring page for Labor Day Coming up!

Just right click and save to your computer and print out and

let the Kids have all kinds of Fun!!!!

Happy Creating!!!

Burrito Pie

2010-07-21T09:17:00.000-06:00

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 (2 ounce) can black olives, sliced
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chili peppers
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
1 (16 ounce) jar taco sauce
2 (16 ounce) cans refried beans
12 (8 inch) flour tortillas
9 ounces shredded Colby cheese

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2.In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the ground beef for 5 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, and saute for 5 more minutes. Drain any excess fat, if desired. Mix in the olives, green chile peppers, tomatoes with green chile peppers, taco sauce and refried beans. Stir mixture thoroughly, reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

3.Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture in the bottom of a 4 quart casserole dish. Cover with a layer of tortillas followed by more meat mixture, then a layer of cheese. Repeat tortilla, meat, cheese pattern until all the tortillas are used, topping off with a layer of meat mixture and cheese.

4.Bake for 20 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is slightly brown and bubbly.

Today's Inspirational Quote and Did You Know!

2010-07-21T07:41:00.001-06:00

Today's Inspirational Quote:

"If you want happiness for an hour---take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day-----go fishing.
If you want happiness for a month--get married.
If you want happiness for a year----inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a Lifetime---help someone else."

--Chinese Proverb--

Did you Know.......

that today is invite an Alien to Live with You Day?
On the birthday of Robin Williams, the alien Mork of
"Mork and Mindy," invite an alien to live with your or,
at the very least, invite a stranger to lunch!
Williams was born on July 21, 1952, to Chicago, Illinois.

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!!!

A Free Doodle Pattern

2010-07-17T09:48:00.000-06:00

Here is a new Doodle Pattern that is free, just right click and save to your computer and then have your fun

crafting away. You just CAN NOT RESALE pattern as is, but you can sell as a completed project

at craft fairs, craft malls, your websites and blogs. Mass production you will need written permission.

All we ask is that you give us credit as the designer. Enjoy and have fun

using in many different mediums.

Happy Creating from A Crowe's Gathering

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!

If you like Buttons here's a Sale

2010-07-16T10:47:00.001-06:00

Button Galore is having a great sale on there buttons and if you like

to accent with Buttons and Charms, you will need

to check out this site at:

http://us.mg1.mail.yahoo.com/

Here's some of the items that are on sale.

these are the pet eyelets that are .50 a package.

These brads are to only .50 a pkg.

I love Button Frames and there's so much you can do with them

and they are only .75 a pkg

Plus these celebrate tags are only .75 a pkg.

and they are regular 3.49 a pkg.

Just wanted to let everyone know about this great sale, so stop by and

check it out.

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!

Pam - ACG

Little Mermaid 2 Coloring Page

2010-07-14T10:30:00.001-06:00

Little Mermaid 2 Coloring page.

This is a free coloring page for the kid and adults or just anyone who

like to color. All you need to do is right click on the picture and save it

to your file or folder on your computer and then print it out and your

ready to go, it's just that easy! Enjoy and have fun...

Recipes and Tips for the Crafter

2010-07-13T01:11:00.002-06:00

So many times we run out of things at the most inopportune time, or your in a small town and you don't have access to a lot of products and you have to order what you need. What ever it maybe we have all been in that situation at one time or another. Here are a few things to help you out when your in a pinch.

Have you ever ran out of Snow Paste and it's midnight, nothings open, well here is a tip and I use it all the time now, I just seem to like it so much better than the store stuff.

Materials Needed:

2 Styrofoam balls (the coarse kind)

Container

White Glue

Craft Stick

You sand your Styrofoam balls together over a container for the shavings, once you have the amount of shavings you need, add your white glue and mix to farm a paste. That's it, how simple is that. Store in and airtight container.

Sometimes I will add Mica Flakes or Glitter for some variations. I pick up Styrofoam at the dollar store or when I find it on sale, so I always have a supply of stashed away.

Grubby Snowman Heads

Materials needed

Styrofoam Balls approx. size 2.5 to 3.0 inches

Joint Compound or Plaster

You can coat your Styrofoam balls with your joint compound or plaster and let dry. I like to insert a stick in the styrofoam balls so it is easier to coat the balls and let them dry. Once your heads are dry then you are ready to paint them, you can hand paint or spray paint the heads completely.(This also will help your joint compound and plaster cure and get hard.)

Add your faces and ear muffs, hats and what ever else you want to decorate your heads with and also remember you can shade your snowman heads too. If these are going to be an ornie then attach your hanger and your ready to go.

Grubby Jars

Material Needed

Jar

Old Cookie Sheet

Sponge Brush

Wax Paper

Glue

Cinnamon

Ginger, Nutmeg, allspice - optional

Spray sealer

Take your jar that you want to have the grubby look and paint a thin even coat of white glue over the whole jar. Then put your spices in the bottom of the cookie sheet and roll your jar in the spices until the whole jar is covered with spices and tap off the excess and let dry approx. 1 hour. Then repeat the process until you have achieved the desired look that you want, once that has been completed use your spray sealer and seal your project and let dry and you might want to put two to three coats, letting each one dry completely before you put the next coat on. The type of spray sealer is for your desired look, I like the Satin or Matt sprays the best, gloss and high gloss are just to glossy for me, but it is your preference and the look that you want.

Variations: You can use instant coffee grounds to dust with and it will make a darker look for your project.

You can also mix glue and your spices together and paint this on in thin layer and let dry and repeat the process until you have the desired look you want and then seal once completely dry. If you put this mixture on to thick it will slide down the jar and glob around the bottom and peel off, so your key to success is to apply think layers and let dry dry between applications.

We hope these tips and recipes help you with your up coming projects.

Enjoy and Happy Crafting

Little Mermaid 1 Coloring Page

2010-07-12T11:51:00.000-06:00

Here is a Free Little Mermaid Coloring Page for the kids,

all you need to do is right click the picture and save it to a file

or folder on your computer, then print it out and the kids can have

fun coloring, it's just that easy. Hope they enjoy!!!!

Did You Know and Quote for the Day

2010-07-12T02:42:00.001-06:00

Did you know...

... that today is USA Woman VP Day? In 1984, Democratic

presidential candidate Walter Mondale chose Geraldine Ferraro

as his running mate. She was verified at the party convention

a week later on July 19th. Ferraro became the first woman to

run for vice president from a major party.

~~~

Today's Inspirational Quote:

"If you think somebody cares about you and believes your life

is worth saving, how can you give up?"

-- Geraldine Ferraro --

Dutch Babies Yummy Good

2010-07-11T09:55:00.003-06:00

Dutch Babies

Ingredients

2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions

1.Place a 10 inch cast iron skillet inside oven and preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
2.In a medium bowl, beat eggs with a whisk until light. Add milk and stir. Gradually whisk in flour, nutmeg and salt.
3.Remove skillet from oven and reduce oven heat to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt butter in hot skillet so that inside of skillet is completely coated with butter. Pour all the batter in the skillet and return skillet to oven.
4.Bake until puffed and lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Remove promptly and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Prep Time:

8 MinCook Time:
12 MinReady In:
20 Min

This looked so good I must be really hungry..lol not a good time to go looking at recipes.
Enjoy!

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!
ACG-Pam

Home Made Vanilla

2010-07-11T08:49:00.004-06:00

Home Made Vanilla

This is to die for and the best vanilla ever and it is so easy to make and a lot cheaper and it's fresh.

Ingredients

10 vanilla beans, split lengthwise
1 liter vodka

Directions

1. Place the vanilla beans in the bottle of vodka and seal. Store in a cool, dark area such as a kitchen cabinet for 3 weeks, shaking the bottle every week. Three weeks is the minimum, store it 6 months for the best flavor. After using, replace with more vodka. The same beans will continue to flavor the vanilla for up to a year.

I have been making this for a while now and it just gives an awesome taste and the vanilla been, well you just can't get any richer taste. You can also bottle this and makes a great holiday seller too. I hope you all enjoy!

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!

ACG-Pam

Our New Paypal Store Front

2010-07-05T00:46:00.001-06:00

We now have a Paypal Store Front where you can purchase some of our product right from our blog.
The Store Front is located at the bottom of the blog. If you have any questions regarding shipping or other
questions please e-mail me before completing your order. If you click on the box in the upper right
corner of the store front it will tell you the shipping and this is included in the shopping cart. Once you have
decided to complete your order just follow the instructions, it's just that easy.
If you have any questions you can e-mail me at acrowesgathering@yahoo.com
and we will be more than happy to help you. We can also do special orders and we will be adding this product to our Wholesale site soon too. But if you qualify for wholesale you can also e-mail me at the above
e-mail and will be able to give you the pricing information. We are still working out the bugs, so if we
over charge you for shipping we will refund the difference to you via paypal.
We Thank you for shopping at ACG and our Paypal Store.

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!!!

A Father's Day Free Doodle Pattern

2010-06-16T19:52:00.003-06:00

Well has everyone gotten there Father's Day Shopping done? My Dear Hubby is never home for most Holidays, except Christmas, he's a long haul truck driver. Here we have a Free Doodle for the males in your home. These doodles can be resized, used in different mediums, can also be digitized for embroidery, if you want to mass produce you will need writtem permission and to you may NOT sell them as is or colored as your own. But you can use the designs and sell them to family, friends, gifts and on your web sites, just give ACG credit as the designer. We DO NOT require a license. Enjoy!

Now all you have to do is right click on the picture and save it to your computer and then you can print it out, it's just that easy, if you have any problems please contact me at acrowesgathering@yahoo.com

Happy Doodling to you all

From a:

A Crowe's Gathering

My New Embroidery Machine Projects

2010-06-09T09:53:00.005-06:00

Well the first part of May of this year a girl friend and I went to Boise to go shopping. I had remember a sewing machine shop that I really liked so it was still there and I stopped went in and looked at the all great new machines that you just drool over. So I just had to ask that question, how much is? Well I asked that

question and then proceeded to be shown how everything works, so then the brain starts working,

another big mistake...lol It's $699.00 for this and the card reader thing is $299.00 and the

art work digitizer something is $999.00. Then this machine you can use a card or plug directly into

your computer ( Computer!!! then I perked up and the brain went into overtime).

Then I asked,"You can save your designs on a flash drive, plug in your flash drive to your lap top

and use them that way?" No you have to have them on your hard drive."Well I can copy the one's I want to use to hard drive, use them and then delete them, right" Yes you could, but if you go a model you

can just plug in your flash drive to the machine. That bad question again How much is the that machine?

I should know better, it's$3000.00, I'm trying not to have heart failure, now I'm not really sure I even want

or really need one and you have now just jumped from $700 to $3000, so I decided we would do our shopping and then if I had decided I would come back by before we left town to go home.

So, we continued our shopping and I kept thinking (that bad thing I do), bu the time we had lunch I had decided to get the smaller one and for $800 verses $3000 I was a little happier.

I get home and I set it up and found out that I was right, all I had to do was to copy and paste my patterns to the removable disk use the ones I want and then delete them, I really didn't need the card reader, and there

are sites out there that will digitize your patterns at a reasonable fee and your set. Yes if I was designing it would be feasible to purchase the digitizing packing, but since I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them, this was the better way to go an it was for me. But i do have to say I am having all kinds of fun

with this machine. My machine is the little Brother and it Embroiders and sews too and has

great stitches on the sewing side too.

Here are some pics of the projects I have done and are also on my site

http://www.acrowesgathering.com/

Set of 3 Coasters

Simplify Eye Glass Case

Can Huggers

Melting Snowman Checkbook/Calendar Cover

Coffee Cup Hugger

Boo Pumpkin Box
Checkbook/Calendar Cover

Hope you have enjoyed our new adventure!!!!

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!
Pam

Here is your Quote for the Day 6/2/10

2010-06-02T10:05:00.001-06:00

Here is a quote to help you through the day or just something to think about.

Today's Inspirational Quote:

"If you don't know where you are going, how can you

expect to get there?"

-- Basil S. Walsh --

A good thought for the day, enjoy and hope you find your answer.

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!!!!
ACG

Wednesday June 2, 2010 DID YOU KNOW!

2010-06-02T10:02:00.001-06:00

Here is a little trivia for you to add to all of your vast knowledge...

Did you know...

... that today is 3-Ring Circus Day? In 1835, P. T.

Barnum ran the first major three-ring circus in the

United States. The Barnum & Bailey circus was later

formed on March 16, 1881.

This was for the Circus Lovers of all ages.

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!!!

Raspberry Chocolate Supreme Bars

2010-06-02T09:58:00.001-06:00

Raspberry Chocolate Supremes

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup raspberry jam

3 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons milk

1 cup white chocolate chips

2 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped

1 tablespoon shortening

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2.Lightly spoon flour into a measuring cup. Level off. In a bowl combine the flour and powered sugar.

3.Cut in butter with a fork and mix well. Press mixture into a 9 inch square pan.

4.Bake at 375 for 15 to 17 minutes until lightly brown.

5.To make Filling: Spread jam evenly over baked crust . In a small bowl beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Melt white chocolate chips over low heat and add to mixture. Beat until smooth. Drop cream cheese mixture by teaspoons evenly over jam. Spread carefully and refrigerate.

6.To make Glaze Topping: Cut chocolate squares into small pieces and melt with shortening over low heat, stirring constantly. Spread over white chocolate layer. Cool completely. Cut into bars and store in refrigerator.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 290
Total Fat: 17.7g
Cholesterol: 32mg

Nutritional InformationRaspberry Chocolate SupremesServings Per Recipe: 12

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 290

Total Fat: 17.7gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 114mgTotal Carbs: 31.5g Dietary Fiber: 0.6gProtein: .3g

Remember a Free Coloring page

2010-05-27T13:41:00.003-06:00

Here is a great Free Coloring page to help keep the little ones busy and a little bit of knowledge.

All you have to do is right click the picture and save it to your computer and then print it out.

We wish everyone a great Holiday this weekend.

Enjoy and we want you all to

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!!!!

Chicken and Strawberry-Spinach Salad

2010-05-27T13:27:00.003-06:00

This is also a great Spring and Summer Salad and will also be a big hit at that
Holiday BBQ this weekend or that graduation Pot Luck.

Strawberry Dressing

3 tablespoons apple juice

2 tablespoons strawberry spreadable fruit

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Salad

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts

8 cups bite-size pieces spinach

1 cup strawberries, stems removed and strawberries cut in half

1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (1 oz)

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Total Time: 5 hours 0 min

1.In small bowl, mix all dressing ingredients until blended; set aside.

2.Spray 10-inch skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in skillet 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F). Remove chicken to cutting board.

3.Add dressing to skillet; stir to loosen any pan drippings.

4.Cut chicken into slices. Among 4 plates, divide spinach. Top with chicken, strawberries and cheese. Drizzle with dressing. Sprinkle with walnuts.

Happy Eating and BBQ Holiday!

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!!!!!

Easy BBQ Crispy Chicken Melts

2010-05-27T13:20:00.003-06:00

Here is a great BBQ Chicken Recipe from Bisquick and will be great for this
Memorial Day holiday, Enjoy!!!!

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup milk

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lb)

1/4 cup barbecue sauce

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)

1. Heat oven to 425°F. In 13x9-inch pan, place butter. Heat in oven 2 to 3 minutes or until melted.

2.In shallow dish, stir Bisquick mix and pepper. Pour milk into small bowl. Coat chicken with Bisquick mixture, then dip into milk and coat again with Bisquick mixture. Place chicken in pan.

3.Bake uncovered about 30 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F).

4.In small microwavable bowl, microwave barbecue sauce uncovered on High about 30 seconds or until warm. Spoon sauce evenly over chicken; top with cheese.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.

Enjoy this great recipe and

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!!!

Free Kids Coloring Page Anna of Green Gables

2010-05-19T13:57:00.003-06:00

Here is Free Anna of Green Gables Coloring page for the kids.

All you have to do is right click on the picture and save it to your computer

and then print it out and have the kids just color away!

Enjoy the fun and

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!
Enjoy!!!!!!!

Hand painted Tea Lights for the Holiday Seasons

2010-05-19T13:48:00.002-06:00

These I had seen in the store and they were not together, they were all seperate pieces.

I had thought if Iuse this as a base and I liked the different container so I thesprayed painted

the part of the glass then painted my own design and then added the Tea Light and there

it is, a Holiday Tea light and the whole cost was nothing to as if you had bought it all as one.

You can purchase these in a set of 3 for $15.00 plus shipping which is $9.95 for a total of $24.95.

Enjoy and be Creative with what you see and look outside the box.

Be Safe, Cool and Creative

This is for the Chocolate lovers

2010-05-19T10:39:00.003-06:00

I was looking at quotes today and came across this quote about Chocolate and thought I would share it

with you all, since I'm sure most of us out there just can't stand that delicious sweet tasting brown

stuff called Chocolate...lol Ya right!!!!

"I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process.... It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?

Unknown "

I do know that I think this would be a great excuse to eat chocolate,

you are doing this for your health so you need to keep it

in the house. Plus if you set it out for guest you are also helping

there health too. So Remember Chocolate is like the

Fountain of Youth and we all can use that, so Happy Chocolate eating.

Just thought you would like this little tidbit...lol

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!

Graduation Time

2010-05-18T22:25:00.002-06:00

This is my youngest Regan and she will be the 1st graduating class 2010 from Canyon Ridge High School.

This is our new High School where Regan is Decca Secretary, Leo Club President, Concert Choir, Completed the Fiance Academy and won the Hawks Humanitarian Award for the Seniors 1st quarter.

She is planning on going to CSI (College of Southern Idaho) in Secondary Eduction

and majoring in English and Art, then she plans on getting her degree in Graphic Designs.

She definitely has a plan and is going for it, plus she has figured out that staying home as long as she can

is extremely cost effective since housing is so expensive.

We just finish her last Concert Choir of her High School career and she felt a great relief and some sadness

too. She has the rest of this week of school and then next week is basically rehearsals and Senior Trip, Year book signing and what ever else comes up. Plus she will still need to get her classes for the fall, it's a never ending circle...lol

Regan Happy Graduation and

Daddy and I are so proud of you!

MOM

A Free Craft Mall

2010-05-18T21:56:00.001-06:00

How many times do you hear about a Craft Mall being Free? Not very often.

Primitive Handcrafted Directory is free to advertise in and all you will

have to do is place your banner and link it back to PHD and it's just that easy.

If there are some of you who don't have sites but love to shop and get great hand crafted primitive

Home Decor items check this site out and bookmark it so you cankeep coming back and see

any of the updates and all the new vendors. Plus I know it's earlie but I have even started some of

my Christmas shopping and this is a great way to start looking and putting things away and

the season doesn't hurt as much.

http://www.primitivehandcrafteddirectory.com/

Remember this is a great way to advertise your site so stop by and check it out and sign up if you like.

A New Prim and recycling community is now open

2010-05-18T21:44:00.001-06:00

In my travels of surfing I came across a new community that deals with Primitive Home Decor

and Recycled things made and reused. This is a new community but it seems to be a fun one

and if anyone is interested stop by check it out, share your ideas and things created

or if you have questions and need help this is a place to ask too. Here is the link and

have fun and hope to see you all there.

http://www.touchofprim.proboards.com/

And for you that have a great green thumb and want to share your great gardens there is even a place

for those very talented people, along with area's to to display your talents in

Decorating your Home's too or sharing a friends home...lol

I'm sure Tammy and all the members would love to meet and chat with everyone and just have plain ole clean fun. Hope to see you there.

A Free Doodle

2009-12-20T17:17:00.001-07:00

Here is free Doodle that is hand drawn by me. You can use this Doodle in any medium all I ask is that you give me credit as the designer. I do these because I love to draw and I like to give to my friends and family. Merry Christmas and enjoy!!!!!

All you have to do is right click on the picture and save it to your computer, then you can print it out and you can also resize it to what ever size you would like to.

Enjoy! and Happy creating!

Soft Spicy Molasses Cookie

2009-12-20T16:48:00.001-07:00

R2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup lighte molasses

3 Tbsp. milk

1 egg

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/8 tsp. salt

Sugar for Rolling

Combine flour, 1 cup sugar, butter, molasses, milk, egg, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt in a large bowl. Beat at low speed on electric mixer 2 to 3 minutes or until well blended, scraping bowl often. Cover, refrigerate unti firm enough to handle, at least 4 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until slightly firm to the touch. Remove immediately.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

Snowball Cookies Receipe

2009-12-20T16:34:00.001-07:00

This is one of my all time favorite cookies to make, they have many names but I hava always called them "Snowball Cookies".

Hope you all enjoy and happy eating.

1 cup Margarine or Butter, softened

1 cup Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 1/2 Cups PLANTERS Pecans, finely ground

1/4 tsp Salt

1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar

1. Beat margarine or butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer at medium speed until creamy. Blend in flour,pecans and salt. Refrigerate 1 hour.

2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased baking sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake in preheated 350ºF oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from sheets; cool on wire racks. Dust with powdered sugar. Stove in airtight container.

Makes 6 dozen cookies

Pre Time: 15 minutes

Chill Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour and 25 minutes

This is a great receipe for your kids or grandkid make with you.

Merry Christmas to all,

and a happy baking to you.

Free Candle and Pointsetta Coloring Page

2009-12-20T16:04:00.001-07:00

Here is another Free Coloring page this one is of Candles and Pointsetta's, and remember you can also resize these in your favorite program.

Have fun with this one to and happy coloring, this will good for everyone who is stuck in the snow too.!!!

Holiday Coloring Page

2009-12-18T09:46:00.001-07:00

This is a page that you can copy and print out for your

kids to have fun coloring for the Holidays

Enjoy!!!!

All you have to do is just right click and save it to your computer and then print it out and let the kids go for it.

12/18/2009 Christmas Quote for the day!

2009-12-18T09:07:00.001-07:00

I love quotes and when I find them for the Holidays I like to share them.

Christmas is a Happy time and also a depressing time for many, and I think we need to

remember that it's not all about the commericalizism, but it's about being with family and

friends, being giving to the unfortunate and just putting your disagreements behind you

and being happy. It's not about how many presents you have under the tree, it's about

Family, you can have all the money in the world, but that doesn't bring you happiness.

I have found that giving and sharing your love and happiness is by far better than receiving.

So I hope you all enjoy this quote.

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall."

-- Larry Wilde --

Merry Christmas to You All

and your Familys and Friends

How to Stop Online Grinches from Stealing your Holiday

2009-12-18T01:14:00.001-07:00

When the weather—and traffic—outside is frightful, online shopping sure beats going to crowded malls. Available 24 hours a day and accessible from the comfort of your own home, e-commerce sites are incredibly convenient. They offer hassle-free comparison shopping and a nearly endless variety of products and services.

If you’re not careful, however, you can become an easy target of cybercriminals looking to steal your money and information. So whether you are buying from an online store or bidding at an online auction, you need to be diligent about protecting your personal and financial details.

The good news is that safe online shopping is relatively easy to do. Just keep the following safety tips in mind, and you will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

1. Use common sense when comparison shopping

If you’ve found a too-good-to-be-true $150 laptop on an unknown website that you came upon in a search, chances are it is too good to be true. Don’t risk your money, credit card information, or personal identity to find out for sure.

2. If you’ve never heard of the merchant, do your research. Look for customer reviews, and if you are still suspicious, call the company and talk to a representative. You can also do a search to see if they have received any consumer complaints. And remember: never buy anything advertised in a spam email.

Shop on sites that are secure

The smart thing to do is to look for signs that the site you’re shopping on is secure. First verify that the site has a security seal or trustmark, such as the McAfee SECURE™ trustmark, which indicates that the site has been verified as safe by a trusted third party.

3. Even if you’ve shopped at a site before, check the web address to make sure you are on the correct site, and look for a lock symbol, or “https:” in the address bar, which shows that the site uses encryption, which scrambles the personal and financial data you enter when you make purchase.

Decide on a good payment method

Your best bet is to use a credit card instead of a debit card to make your purchases. Credit cards on the whole offer better protection against fraud. Why? If you do use your debit card and end up being victimized by cybercriminals, you don’t want your bank account drained while you’re trying to sort things out with the bank. As an added precaution, some banks now offer virtual credit cards—or one-time-use credit card numbers—that are randomly generated and work for only one transaction. This ensures that the number cannot be used again if stolen.

Make sure your PC is secure

Be sure you have a comprehensive security software suite installed on your computer such as McAfee® Total Protection, which includes anti-virus, anti-spyware, and a firewall. Also, check to make sure your subscription software is up to date and that you are not using an expired trial version. For protection against the latest threats, your software must be up to date.

Make sure your connection is secure

Never use a public computer for online shopping, as information on all computers is saved, or “cached,” to speed up your Internet experience. The person who sits down at the computer after you might have access to your login information.

4. It’s also not a good idea to use an unsecured wireless connection (network) for online shopping. Hackers can use a program to access your wireless network to see which websites you visit, including where you do your banking and the usernames and passwords for your accounts.

Use strong passwords

If you type in “Mary” every time you’re prompted to create a password, you’re setting yourself up for trouble. Create long, complex passwords consisting of a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, and don’t use the same password for all sites. Never share your passwords with anyone—including friends and family.

Read the company’s terms, conditions, and return policy

Take the time to read those terms and shipping disclaimers in small print. Study the different shipping options and delivery dates, and make sure you understand the total price because you may not be getting as great a deal as you originally thought. Make sure you can return an item without charge and know what the time limit is on returns.

5.Also, review the company’s privacy policy to make sure that your personal information is not being shared with third parties.

Keep a paper trail

Always print a copy of your receipt, and note the order number and the credit card you used. Make sure the charge on your credit card statement matches the amount on your order.

Inspect your purchases

Verify your purchases when you receive them, and notify the company or seller right away if you received the wrong product or size or if the item is damaged.

These are good things to be looking for, I had received this information from by Internet protection McAfee and thought I would pass it on. Hope this will help you.

12 Scams of the Holidays

2009-12-18T01:11:00.001-07:00

The holidays are one of the busiest times of year for online scammers. Not only do millions of consumers go online to shop, but many also let their guard down as they get caught up in the festive mood. Keep cybercriminals from taking the joy out of your holidays this year by familiarizing yourself with the top scams and how to avoid them.

1. Charity phishing scams

Knowing that consumers like to give this at time of year, hackers send out fake emails requesting donations that appear to be from legitimate charitable organizations. However, these emails usually link to phony websites that take your money without passing it along to a good cause.
2. Holiday e-card scams

More and more people are sending holiday e-cards instead of regular cards because they are convenient and “environmentally green.” Cybercriminals will send you an e-card, asking you to download an attachment to pick up your card. However, the attachment isn't really an e-card—it's malicious software ready that installs on your computer without your knowledge and wreaks havoc.
3. Email banking scams.

Scammers are aware that during the holidays more people shop online and want to make sure their transactions are approved. Some bad guys send an official-looking email that asks you to confirm account information, including your username and password—often with ominous warnings that your account will become invalid if you don’t comply. Never respond to email requests for your personal or financial data.
4. Fake invoice scams

During the holiday season, you may shop online, over the phone, or through catalogs. This is no secret to stealthy scrooges who try to trick you into giving away personal financial details through fraudulent invoices. These criminals send you an email with a fake invoice or delivery notification that appears to be from FedEx, UPS, or the U.S. Customs Service. The email asks you for your credit card details so that your account can be credited or requires you to open an invoice or customs form to receive the package. When you comply, your information is stolen or malware is unleashed on your machine.
5. “New friend request” scam

With the holidays approaching, many people like to rekindle old friendships on popular social networking sites and are excited about receiving a message informing them that they have a “new friend request!” Unfortunately, scammers like to take advantage of users’ excitement and send out phony friend requests that appear to be from a social networking site but actually link to malware such as viruses, Trojans, and even keylogging software that can record your keystrokes, including passwords that you type in.
6. Dangerous holiday-related search term scams

We often search the web for ways to spread holiday cheer, like downloading a Santa screensaver or holiday ringtone. However, you could be downloading a whole lot more than you bargained for, such as malware or spyware.
7. Job-related email scams

Scammers know it’s nice to have a little extra cash around the holidays, so they send emails to entice job hunters with promises of high-paying jobs and work-from-home moneymaking opportunities. Once you submit your information to them, the scammers are off and running with your information—and your money.
8. Password-stealing scams

Having your password stolen is a sure way to spoil your holidays. Thieves use low-cost tools to guess your password or deliver malware that records computer keystrokes (keylogging) as you input your password. And, according to the experts, virtual on-screen keyboards do not protect from keylogging.

Once criminals have your password, they can access your bank, credit card, or other online accounts to take money from you. They can also use your accounts to spam your friends and networks.
9. Fraud via auction sites

Hackers know that visits to auction sites increase over the holidays, so they often lurk on these sites, hoping to con you out of your hard-earned cash. If an item looks too good to be true, it probably is. Be sure to review the seller’s ratings and feedback. Also, pay with your credit card, since credit card companies usually reimburse you if there is a fraudulent charge.
10. Holiday-themed email attachments and spam

This time of year, we are more apt to open emails that invite us to look at attachments containing holiday-themed pictures or messages. Scammers understand this and will try to lure you into opening these attachments or to click on links that download malware.
11. Online identity theft

With so many people shopping online during the holidays, cybercriminals come out in force by setting up fake websites designed to steal your information and, ultimately, your identity. Be careful about sites that store your online information, and make sure you don’t shop from a public computer since other users may be able to access your stored usernames and passwords. To assess your risk of identity theft, take our Identity Theft Risk Assessment.

One rule of thumb is to shop only from websites that use encryption, or scrambling, to protect your information. Make sure the website address begins with “https:” instead of “http:”. This indicates that encryption is being used. To read more tips for staying safe while shopping online, please visit here.
12. Ransomware scams

We’re used to seeing more online scams around the holidays, so this latest trick takes advantage of our desire to keep our systems virus free. “Ransomware” is a Trojan that acts as though it is running a virus scan on your machine. It tells you that viruses have been detected and that you must pay for phony security software to clean your machine. Meanwhile, you are locked out of your system and you cannot open or access any applications until the payment is made.
How to Arm Yourself Against Holiday Scams, or Any Scams, Any Time of the Year:
- Use common sense—If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you’re ever in doubt about something being legitimate, don’t click on it.
- Educate yourself—Keep up-to-date about the latest scams and tricks cybercriminals use to grab your information so you can avoid potential attacks.
- Use a comprehensive computer security—You need complete protection that includes anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, and a firewall and make sure it is up to date. Software like McAfee® Total Protection can help protect you from malware, phishing, spyware, and other common and emerging threats.
- Practice safe surfing—Use a safe search plug-in like McAfee SiteAdvisor® software to warn you of a website’s safety rating before you access it. SiteAdvisor uses intuitive red, yellow, and green checkmarks to rate websites when you search for them.
- Practice safe shopping—Don’t divulge unnecessary information on e-tailer sites. Make sure you check for trustmarks, like the McAfee SECURE™ mark, which indicate that the site has been verified as safe by a trusted third party; look for a lock symbol; check the web address for “https”; and use a credit card for payment.
- Create strong passwords—Use complex passwords consisting of a combination of letters, numbers and symbols, and vary them between accounts—and never share your password with anyone.
- Click with caution—When you’re checking your email or chatting over instant messenger (IM), be careful not to click on any links in messages from people you don’t know.
Be suspicious—Even if you consider yourself cyber savvy, you still need to keep your guard up for any new tricks and be proactive about your safety.
This is a very good one that was sent to me by Mcafee that we should always be aware of all year not just during the Holidays.Delete Post

2009-12-17T22:12:00.001-07:00

This is a great Christmas Quote that I just fell in Love with.

Christmas Quote:

"Santa Claus has the right idea...He visits only once a year."

-- Victor Borge --

This Quote is great and I do think he has right most of the time.
Merry Christmas to all, and we will have another one tomorrow too.

December 17th Did you Know and Quote of the Day

2009-12-17T22:06:00.001-07:00

Here is the Did you Know for today December 17th;

Did you know...

... that today is Convenience Store Marriage Day? In 1996,

Myrtle Bond and Owen Jack Tate got married in the 7-Eleven

store where they had met six months earlier when Jack stopped

in for coffee and met Myrtle working there. Congrats to the

couple!

and now here is the quote for the day:

Today's Inspirational Quote:

"Education commences at the mother's knee, and every word

spoken within the hearsay of little children tends towards the

formation of character."

-- Hosea Ballou --

Welcome to A Crowe's Gathering

2009-12-17T20:11:00.004-07:00

Welcome to A Crowe's Gatherings Blog.
We Specialize in Country, Colonial and Primitive Home Decor and gifts
that are handmade in America.

We will be posting our favorite receipes, new product we do for our web site, general life, history of the product and new techniques. Also we will be having give aways, and fun in general, with meeting and making new friends. One of my favorite
things is daily did you knows and quotes and special Holiday quotes too.
You can also find us on Facebook too and you can follow us there and be sure to join our fans club to keep up with what's new on the web site and receive specials and ads before everyone else.
All of us at A Crowe's Gathering Wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Years to you all and your familys.