2011 Homemade Christmas Ornament

I’ve made a new Christmas tradition for myself this year – to make an ornament for me! I made myself a Day of the Dead ornament from left over fabric my friend had, after making me a Day of the Dead bag. I embroidered the Day of the Dead skull and made it into an ornament. I even gave it a unibrow like Frida Kahlo, one of my favorite artists. It’s hanging on a little black Christmas tree I purchased last year to hang my Day of the Dead ornaments. I love the way my ornament came out! Merry Christmas to me!

What’s your favorite ornament this year?

Completed Projects: Owl Cup Cozy

I made this owl cup cozy for my co-worker Amanda, who loves owls and Starbucks, for her Christmas present. I’m trying not to buy craft supplies, unless I really have to, and use the materials I have at home. That’s what I did with this project! I had the brown and yellow yarn, black recycled buttons, felt, and the embroidery thread. I used a Starbucks cardboard cup cozy as my template. I embroidered my nickname “gooze” short her Guzman, my last name, on the back of the cup cozy. 

I purchased a Starbucks gift card and put it in a Starbucks cup with white tissue paper and inserted a green straw. I put the owl cup cozy around the cup. Thought it was a bright gift wrapping idea.

I know she’ll love it. Amanda is one of those people I always enjoy working with and together we are a Hoot!

D.I.Y. Stocking Garland from Recycled Cards

Ever wonder what to do with old Christmas cards? Make them into garland! A stocking garland that is!

Supplies: Christmas cards, stocking stencil, scissors, pen, hole puncher and ribbon. 1. Trace stocking stencil onto Christmas cards. 2. Cut stockings. I wrote who the card came from behind each stocking. 3. Hole punch top of stockings. 4. Tie the first stocking trough the ribbon leaving enough ribbon to tie the remaining stockings. 5. Display stocking garland!

Book Review: "Memoirs Of A Geisha" by Arthur Golden

November’s book club book was “Memories Of A Geisha” by Arthur Golden. Our dinner theme was Chinese food; one of my favorite foods, and our creative project was to decorate a fan. I dressed up as geisha minus the kimono for the book club and added a –san to everyone’s name, “Hello, Christi-san.” 

 

“Memoirs Of A Geisha” is an intriguing book from beginning to end. The beginning of the novel immediately sucks you in as Sayuri, a retired Japanese geisha, now living in New York, decides to tell her life story to a writer with the conditions that it doesn’t get published until she and the men mentioned in her biography are deceased. Which begs the questions, “Is she ashamed?” “Is she trying to hide something,” etc. Throughout the novel, Sayuri finds herself in numerous conflicts. I couldn’t put the book down, wanting to find out what happened next. “Memoirs Of A Geisha” will teach you about the kind of life a geisha lead during the Depression in the 1930’s and 1940’s in Japan. What I enjoyed the most about reading the book, other than learning some history, is that Sayuri was a very poetic character. She used lots of metaphors and similes. For example, “They just melt away like snowflakes” (page 141) as Sayuri refers not being able to retain information. Is the book based on true events or is it fiction? Read the book first; the author’s acknowledgment page at the end will relieve the answer.

As some of you may know, “Memoirs Of A Geisha” is also a movie. I watched the movie when it first came out in theaters so I vaguely remember it but it did help add a few faces to the characters in the novel. I didn’t want to watch the movie again until I finished the book. Plus, people always say the book is always better. I plan to borrow the movie from a friend soon and I can’t wait see the differences and similarities between the book and the movie.

Overall, I give “Memories Of A Geisha” by Arthur Golden four stars. I highly recommend book!

5K Turkey Run

 I am so proud of myself today! I ran a 5K race in 36 minutes and 10 seconds. This was my first race and though I didn’t practice as much as I wanted to, I think I did great. Running might be my new thing. Now, I can mark off running in a race on my list of “29 Before 30.”

DIY Pin-back Cupcake Toppers

This is the easiest cupcake topper tutorial ever!

Supplies: Pin-backs that match your occasion, tape, toothpicks, and of course cupcakes! 1. Grad a toothpick and tape it behind a pin-back button. 2. Now, insert topper into cupcake. The cool thing about using pin-backs as toppers is that your guests get two treats – the cupcake and a pin!

Dog Party

In September, I threw Belle her first (seven in dog years) birthday party.

It was suppose to be at the park but it was very windy that day and it was moved to my house instead. I made custom birthday invitations for her party. Click here to see the invitations.

Things I made to make her party a memorable one:

Balloons, hats, napkins, and plates that said, “Bitch Party” or “My Bitches,”

Dog trivia on Belle,

Peanut butter dog cupcakes,

Doggie goody bags for guests to take back to their dogs,

 Pin-back cupcake toppers,

 Mini Polaroid with photo holder for prizes,

Custom dog keychain party favors,

 And thank you cards with Belle’s signature (her paw print).

Belle and her guests had a great time. Belle even showed them the tricks she knows how to do. She got lots of toys and couldn’t decide which one to play with. She would pick one up then drop it to get another one. She looked extremely happy that I’m tempted to throw her another one.

I’ll be doing a DIY for doggie goody bags, pin-back cupcake toppers, and custom dog keychain souvenirs soon.

Have you ever thrown a party for your pet?

Pocket Pillow Project Complete

I always come up with these great creative ideas but I never have time to sit down and execute them. Well, I’ve had this idea for a pillow with pockets on the back made out of my old jeans and I finally got it done! I went over to my buddy’s Christi’s house from book club and she helped me make a pillow for my dad’s birthday, since I haven’t sewn in a very long time.

To make the pillow, I purchased a pillow form, fabric with printed tools on eBay, Velcro, my old denim jeans, and an iron on “Made with love by” tag. I got fabric with tools on it because my dad is a tool man, he can fix and make anything, and if he doesn’t know how to do it he teaches himself. I attached Velcro to the pillow in case it gets dirty, making it easy to remove from the pillow form to wash. I used the bottom legs of my jeans to make the pockets. I embroidered “tu guera” on the “Made with love by” tag, which means your white girl in Spanish. I drew a remote control using the back of a box and tucked it in the skinny pocket so he knows he can keep it there. No more, “Where is the remote control?” My hubby shipped my dad’s gift two days ago. I can’t wait to hear how much he loves his gift!

I had a blast making this pillow that I’m going to make a firefighter themed one for my hubby and a Day of the Dead one for myself for Christmas. When I read at night I can put my book in the big pocket and my cell in the little pocket instead of the floor, before I go to sleep.

Book Review: “A Stolen Life” by Jaycee Dugard

I just finished reading “A Stolen Life” by Jaycee Dugard. The book is a true story, a memoir, of Jaycee Dugard, who was taken at age eleven in 1991 and was raped, manipulated, and bore two children of her abductor. After eighteen years she was reunited with her family in 2009. I give the book three stars. It’s a difficult read in the beginning as Jaycee goes into detail on how her abductor, Phillip Garrido, rapes her. Obviously, we know that Jaycee returns home and that’s what motivated me to continue reading, waiting for the moment when she is finally free. Though, I felt she rushed describing the part when she was free from her abductors and I had to read that section twice. I did get upset with Jaycee as I read the book because I saw many opportunities when she could have escaped, but then again I had to remember that she was young when she was taken and manipulated by a sick man. This book left me feeling grateful for the freedom I have in my life. I will always think of Jaycee Dugard when I see a pinecone.

Day of the Dead Etsy Items Must Have

There are thousands Day of the Dead items on Etsy many that I absolutely love; here are a few of my favorites.

 source

source

source

source

 source

 source

source

source

source

source

Happy Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead also known as Dia de los Muertos in Spanish is a very significant holiday for me. I didn’t learn about this holiday from my mother who is from Guadalajara, Mexico, where they do celebrate Day of the Dead. I learn about it in college from my Latino History class and my Printmaking teacher, Joe Moran, who sadly passed away this year.

Day of the Dead is a celebration for the dead. It’s celebrating the life of our past loved ones and being happy that we had the pleasure to have them in our life. Every year I put up a Day of the Dead altar. Most of my decorations came from Guadalajara, Mexico. My mom bought them for me when she visited her hometown a few years ago. Putting up my altar is an emotional process for me. It reminds me of how much I miss my uncle, grandparents, and other important people that have influenced my life and reminds me of the memories we shared together. And, yes I do lots of crying. They’re tears of sadness and joy.

Happy Day of the Dead! Feliz Dia de los Muertos!

Who’s in your thoughts today on this special day?

The Bookies’ October Meeting

Yesterday, my book club, “The Bookies” had our monthly book club meeting. The book chosen by October’s host Regina was “The Witch’s Daughter” by Paula Brackston. I gave the book three stars for being an okay book. The book goes back and forth from present time to the past as Elizabeth, a 384 year-old witch, tells a neighborhood girl, Tegan, who she befriends about a evil sorcerer she keeps hiding from throughout her life. I enjoyed reading the stories of Elizabeth’s past than her present life, especially when the author places Elizabeth during the time of Jack the Ripper. The other book club members weren’t very fond of the book either.

Regina, the hostess, wanted us to dress up as our favorite witch at the meeting since we were reading a book on witches and she also gave us a wooden witch mask to paint. I didn’t get a chance to paint my witch mask but I did dress up as a witch. By default I won the best witch costume because I was the only one who dressed up except for Regina. Can you guess whom I dress up as? The green face and the monkey should be an easy give away.

Like always, the food was delicious and above are the fun and tasty desserts we had.

Remember to brush your teeth and have a safe and happy Halloween!

The Psycho Giveaway Winner is...

The winner for the Psycho Giveaway is… screams please…is Jen! Congratulations Jen! I’ll be contacting you soon so I can send out your goodies!

If your favorite Disney princess was real

I saw this post on Shine from Yahoo on what "If Disney princesses were real” and I had to share it because what girl doesn't have a favorite Disney princess. Check out the post and see what your favorite princess would look like in real life. My favorite Disney princess is Ariel. Who's your favorite Disney princess?

Halloween House Party

This is my last post for “The Haunting of Past Halloween Parties” and it’s a very special party because it’s the one that got me addicted to throwing my own Halloween parties.

In 2007, my friend Abebra asked me if I would help her throw a Halloween party at her house and how could I resist. I made the invitations, which have become my favorite part of planning a Halloween party. As you have seen from my previous Halloween Party posts my invitations have gotten a little more elaborated since this one. Click here and here to see other invites. We printed the invitations on different color stock paper.

The party was hosted by, “3 HOT CHICKS.” Abebra got three of her friends to help her host the party. We had a DJ, which was the brother of one of the hostess, we had four costume contests, and all guest received emailed photographs of themselves with the party’s logo on it.

I had a great time helping plan the party and at the party! My friends enjoyed themselves thus I decided to throw Halloween parties when time and money permits.

D.I.Y. Guest Post at Paper Sparrow & Giveaway

Celebrate the creative genius of Alfred Hitchcock over at Paper Sparrows’ Alfred Hitchcock blog party! Yours truly will be hosting a guest post, today at 11 am, on how to make a Marion Crane costume inspired by the famous shower scene from the movie, “Psycho." So, don’t be a nut and head over to Paper Sparrow.

Then come back to my blog for a Psycho Giveaway! Giveaway includes six bloody envelopes inspired by the movie, “Psycho.” Envelopes come with blank address labels too. Getting mail has never been so scary!

To Enter

1. Leave a comment telling me what was your favorite Alfred Hitchcock post is over at Paper Sparrow or your favorite Alfred Hitchcock movie.

Extra Entries: Leave a separate comment for each extra entry.

2. Write a post about this giveaway on your blog or facebook.

3. Follow Creativity Lizette blog through Google Friend Connect.

Giveaway ends, Sunday, October 30 at Midnight, the winner is announced on Monday. Good Luck!

Jenyffer Maria's Custom Doodle

Can you guess who this is in the doodle above? It’s my dog, Belle and me! I had the very, very talented artist Jenyffer Maria make a custom doodle of Belle and me and I asked her to incorporate my favorite holiday, Day of the Dead. I am blown away on how great the piece turned out. It totally went beyond my expectations. I can’t wait to get it in the mail so I can get it framed. This has totally made my day!

Check out Jenyffer’s blog and her Etsy!

Boneyard Bash Party

This is a continuation of “The Haunting of Past Halloween Parties!” post. Two thousand and nine was a big year for my husband and I, not only did we get married but we also purchased a home. It was no surprise that after throwing a Halloween party the year before at our apartment that we were going to throw another one in our new home. Our Halloween party was Boneyard Bash themed and I made some awesome glow in the dark “Don’t Forget Skeleton Hand” invitations, that you can learn how to make by clicking here.

I was extremely excited when I carved this pumpkin because it welcomed our close family and friends to our home. Unlike last years invitations were I separated both of our names I was now able to just say, “The Guzman’s” which represented the both of us!

This is our front porch Halloween decorations. The black curtains were made out of big black plastic trash bags.

Since I was throwing a Boneyard Bash party and the Day of the Dead is my favorite holiday, I thought it would be a great idea to have the hostess, me, dress up as a Calavera.

Amy, me, and Amanda

My Boneyard Bash guests. Who will be the best costume winner?

I made this best costume award ribbon to match the Boneyard Bash invitations. The BEST COSTUME letters glow in the dark too!

And the winner is…Kristen dressed as Pocahontas.

This was the best Halloween party my hubby and I have thrown so far! Oh, how I love Halloween!