See You Next Year / Day 5 of Creative Christmas

People keep saying, “See you next year!” and it sounds unreal and weird to me. When they say it I literally feel like their saying I won’t see them for a whole year, even though I know what they really mean.

I have so much more to do before this year is over. Too late now! Tomorrow is a new year and here I am still trying to share my Twelve Days of Creative Christmas gifts I made for family and friends and trying to write a cover letter for a possible job in hopes of a career change for the new year, a goal I had hoped to had achieved this year. Like prepaid cell phone minutes rolling over when unused, many of my 2012 goals will be rolling over to 2013. However, instead of having yearly goals I’ll be taking baby steps and spreading them throughout the year, one goal or more a month.

For now, here’s another creative Christmas gift I made. Enjoy, and I’ll see you next year!

One of my favorite handmade gifts went to my dad and mom (step mom). It was a cross stitch of two bears having a picnic with the word, “I LOVE YOU BEARY MUCH” around them. I found the cross stitch kit on eBay, where I tend to find many of my vintage kits. I actually finished the kit in November and I just needed to cover the back of the hoop with felt, with an embroidered message. With my crazy holiday work schedule I couldn’t mail my parents gift on time. Try working at a place, a movie theatre, which opens every single day. I went into work before the post office opened and got off after it closed. I felt awful when I called them the Saturday before Christmas to let them know I had received their gift and theirs wouldn’t arrive on time for Christmas. They’re my parents and naturally were very understanding. They’ll receive their gifts today! Hopefully, it was worth the wait.

Twelve Days of Creative Christmas: Day 4

For my Secret Santa at work I made the person I got, Nicole, a homemade gift that conveyed warmth and love. Gloves and Starbucks were some of the items she wrote down on her Dear Santa list. I made Nicole a heart chalkboard mug, heart gloves, and I got her a Starbucks gift card.

My firefighter helped me spray paint the chalkboard mug with chalk paint. I’m not very good at spray painting items. I tend to get drip marks on items I spray paint. I’ve made this type of chalkboard mug before and the recipient loved it. I have seen online the half hearts on gloves that when cupped together create a whole heart and I had to make a pair for for Nicole. Sewing half the hearts on the gloves was tricky. I keep sewing the gloves together.

I put the gift card and gloves in the chalkboard mug and wrote her name on the mug with chalk. Nicole got to her Secret Santa gift at our Christmas party at Chuck E. Cheese. She said she like her gift. She didn’t even get a chance to ask who her Secret Santa was. A co-worker watching her open her gift happily told her, “Mrs. Guzman made those (the gloves).” Every year my employees hope I get them for Secret Santa because they know I’ll make something just for them.

Like thinking ahead, this homemade gift would make a perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

Twelve Days of Creative Christmas: Day 3

My third homemade gift goes to my swap partner in crime, Emily. Emily and I are the brains behind the wonderful swaps we have bought you this year and the creators of Bee Creative Swaps on facebook. I have never met Emily in person, but she has become a great friend through these swaps we have put on. I discovered Emily’s blog, The Morose Bee, though another blogger, who had won a prize through Emily’s Movie Monday. I soon discovered that Emily and I have lots in common, our love for Frida Kahlo, arts and crafts, and working with children.

I made Emily one of my popular sparrow ornaments. Each sparrow ornament is different to correspond to the person it is created for. In this case, the sparrow’s ribbon reads, “Derby Chick” because Emily is a part of the Boston Derby Dames. This sparrow ornament kicks butt with its little black line under its eye! With Emily’s ornament I had to include a Frida mesh bag. I purchased a few bags for my “Celebrate Life Frida Style” for my 31st birthday party that I will be throwing for myself in February, so of course I had to get one for Emily too. Emily received her package a few days ago and she said it made her day!

Have you received any holiday mail that has made your day recently?

Twelve Days of Creative Christmas: Day 2

 

My second homemade gift goes to Diane, my other Ornament Swap partner. Diane loves nature and all sorts of trees. After sketching ideas on sticky notes and napkins, and googling nature themed ornaments I came up with the idea of making a little tree stump dressed up as a Christmas tree. Hence, “Christmas Tree in Training” embroidered around the stump’s skirt. For its shining star, I put a plastic tea light sticking out of the stump’s head. I added scrapbooking Christmas light on it and also embroidered a smiling face on the stump. Isn’t he the cutest thing ever? He was chilling on my Christmas tree for a few days before I shipped him out to Diane’s. I miss him so that I’m going to have to make one for myself.

This is what Diane said when she received her “Christmas Tree in Training” ornament, “I got it today! Thank you! It was the end of a very long week, so it was a great surprise! Thanks for the Christmas tissue too! The ornament is just darling and on my tree now! Love it! Merry Christmas!”

I’m glad her “Christmas Tree in Training” ornament lit up her day and her Christmas tree a little more.

Oh, and Hallmark if by chance you happen to fall upon my blog and like what you see, hire me! I would love to create an ornament for you!

To see more ornaments from the Ornament Swap check out Emily and my facebook page, officially called Bee Creative Swaps!

New Ornaments from Ornament Swap

This week I received two new handmade ornaments from both of my partners from the Ornament Swap Emily and I put together. I received a bulb ornaments with different colored hippos painted around it and in between some of them have a flower, a camera, a music note, a heart, and a ball. One hippo even looks like a tiger. I told Diane my favorite animals are hippos and I don’t have a favorite color. I love them all. It was love at first sight when hippos became my favorite animal. My dad took my siblings and I took the LA Zoo when we were kids and I saw this huge gray mass in a tank under water. I don’t know what attracted me to hippos but I just love them. The ornament made its arrival on a perfect day, December 5th. I was having a bad day. I had gotten home from the Chiropractor who told me that my neck was out of ligament and he would have to see me three times a week. My firefighter also told me the Christmas wreath we had made from real pine tree clippings that was hanging on our fireplace had fallen and broken one of my firehouses. From all that negative stuff, my hippo ornament brightened up my day.

The other ornament I received was from Tristin. I made her the “Princess in Tower” ornament, which she received yesterday and loved. Tristin made me a sock monkey with a mustache made out of clay and bottle caps that said, “Stashing through the snow…” and “2012.” I’m very proud of Tristin. I know she was having trouble with the ornament swap. She says she isn’t crafty but she is. She did a wonderful job making me my ornament, even though her husband helped her a little. I love my sock monkey ornament! I love sock monkeys because they are one of those old homemade toys, made out of socks. For some weird reason I also love mustaches. They make me laugh.

Do you have a homemade ornament hanging on your Christmas tree this year? I have two new ones I absolutely love. Thank you Diane and Tristin!

Twelve Days of Creative Christmas: Day 1

I believe the best gifts are those that cannot be bought, like family pictures, heart felt letters, home cooked goodies, heirlooms, and my favorite handcraft gifts. This holiday my goal is to make at least twelve homemade gifts to give to my family and friends.

My first homemade gift is an ornament of a princess with flowy long hair. She lives in a tower where her favorite flowers, sunflowers, grow around it. This “Princess in Tower” ornament was made for Tristin, one of my Ornament Swap partners and she is also one of my employees. Her favorite flowers are sunflowers and she has beautiful long hair.

The idea to make this ornament came from Pinterest. Click here to see my inspiration. I can’t take all the credit for myself.

I used felt to make the ornament and I hand embroidered the sunflowers. This ornament took lots of time and patience. My firefighter asked me if it was a toy. It does look like something a child would use to play dolls with. He also told me to stop looking at it constantly, that it wasn’t going to change. I kept looking at it because I was very happy how it turned out. Sometimes I tell myself, “I can’t believe I made that. It looks so good.”

All of my handcrafted gifts have my initials on them and the year they were made. That way people will never forget who made it for them and when it was made. I will give Tristin her ornament today at our work’s Christmas party. I know she’ll love it!

If you're interested in a custom “Princess in Tower” ornament, please contact me for pricing. 

Christmas Mood Up In Here, Up In Here

I’m feeling quite cheery today. Most of my Christmas decorations are up and I’m totally into the Christmas spirit this year. Last year, my firefighter and I didn’t put up the Christmas tree. We had gotten new furniture for our small living room last year and that’s where we put our Christmas tree. Since the tree is big we thought there wouldn’t be enough room for it. Were we wrong! I took the coffee table out and wallah hello Christmas tree!

To be honest I’m starting to enjoy the holidays again because this might be my firefighter and mine last Christmas together, just him and I. Oh, don’t freak out! We’re happily married. My firefighter and I have decided it’s time to add to our family. Smiling sheepishly. If it is in God’s plan, there will be another stocking hanging off the fireplace next year.

For now, I’m enjoying life as it is. However, as I decorate for Christmas I catch myself day dreaming of little hands helping me put ornaments on the Christmas tree, baby’s first ornament, baking cookies for Santa, pictures with Santa…. oh I can’t wait!

Thanksgiving

One place that is always open on Thanksgiving is the movie theatre, where I spend my Thanksgiving Day working. At work, we had a potluck. It was a sad potluck table, where my blackberry pie was the only delicious food to consume. We needed plates for the pie and while I was at the near by grocery store just across the street, I was thrilled to find a mini Thanksgiving feast with slices of turkey, mashed potato and gravy, and stuffing for $4. I ate half of it on my meal and decided to eat the rest for dinner with a slice of pecan pie; instead of the Marie Callender’s turkey potpie my firefighter had got for me to enjoy for Thanksgiving.

Yes, no big family thanksgiving dinner for me. My firefighter also had to work on Thanksgiving. I was in good company though, my lovable hairy friend Belle. I’m so grateful for Belle. For always welcoming home from work at the door with her wagging tail, making me laugh, our cuddling time together, how quick she learns new tricks, and for making days like this less lonely. On Thanksgiving, Belle was one of the things I was very thankful for.

Halloween in Wonderland

For Halloween, I joined Amanda and Christi at High Desert Church, in Victorville, CA, to pass out candy for their Blocktober event. We passed out bags and bags of candy at the Trunk or Treat section.

Amanda had mentioned that she wanted to be the Mad Hatter for Halloween and her mom Christi would be the White Rabbit with a fluffy tail and bunny ears for their church’s Halloween event. When they invited me to join, I suggested that we should decorate Amanda’s trunk in an Alice in Wonderland theme and I would dress up as the Queen of Hearts.

Amanda and I decided to decorate her trunk with teapots, teacups, and a “Tea Party Here” sign for a tea party theme. Amanda and I painted the cardboard decorations and Amanda out lined everything in glow in the dark puffy paint. Parents and their children enjoyed our themed trunk and asked us if we would take pictures with their children.

Amanda with the help of Christi made the Mad Hatter costume out of dresses Amanda wasn’t wearing any more. Amanda decorated her Mad Hatter hat and I stamped the bottom of her dress with my “Let’s Talk Over Tea” hand craved linoleum stamp. Amanda received many compliments on her homemade Mad Hatter costume. Christi’s White Rabbit costume was complete with a pocket watch Amanda made for her mom from cardboard and rope. My Queen of Hearts costume was an old costume I had already worn. The costume was too short and not appropriate for a church event so I wore white leggings and sewed felt hearts on the knees. I made the Queen of Hearts wand and was finally able to use it. The first time I wore the Queen of Hearts costume I forgot my homemade wand at home. I love the way accessories add more personality to costumes!

We had so much fun passing out candy and seeing people of all ages in different Halloween costumes. As we passed out candy, we keep throwing out ideas of what theme we should do next year. Maybe princesses, circus, bugs (butterfly, bee, and ladybug), peter pan…

I can’t wait for next years Blocktober event. Is it Halloween yet again?

Yee Haw with The Bookies

I know this is kind of late, but I recently got a hold of these pictures of us gals at October’s The Bookies book club meeting, that we had on Sunday, October 28th.

I really wanted to be a bumblebee for October’s book club. Due to lack of time, it didn’t happen. Maybe, I’ll be a bumblebee in February since I want to make Bee Mine Valentine’s Day cards.

There was no way I was going to book club without a costume. Dressing up is the best part of Halloween! After you grow up, you seem not to care for candy as much anymore. The day before my book club meeting I had to search my closet and my Halloween tote in the garage to see what I could scrounge up. Surprisingly, I had everything at home to be a cowgirl.

Disney’s Woody was sitting on my bookshelf; the Wrangler’s t-shirt was in the closet, which I got from my mom. The straw hat I got a few years ago at the 99 cent store just in case I ever wanted to be a cowgirl for Halloween. Sometimes you just have to think ahead. The boots were a gift for my aunt up north, who lives on a farm. I’ll be mailing her a picture of me as a cowgirl. I know she’ll get a good kick out of it. The horse on a stick (also from the 99 cent store) and toy gun (I got from a friend when he was moving out) I found in my Halloween tote. The tote stores my old Halloween costumes and many Halloween accessories, which I purchased for guests to wear if they didn’t come in a costume for one of my Halloween parties.

Amanda dressed up as Mrs. Lovett, with her meaty pie. Regina’s costume was inspired by the Day of the Dead, and Amy wore an “I survived a Hunted House” pin, made by Amanda. Amy actually did survive a hunted house! Okay, maybe not a real one. Amy writes for our local newspaper and had to write a review on a fake hunted house.

All the Bookies costumes were homemade. Yee Haw, for homemade costumes!

A Star Is Born

Jackie, one of my employees, had her first baby in September. While pregnant, I kept inquiring what nursery themed she was going to have for her baby boy, for baby shower gift ideas. For a while she was playing with the idea of a galaxy theme. No aliens or spaceships though. She liked the idea of planets and stars. 

Being a cross-stitch lover, I went on the search  for the perfect cross-stitch kit, with a galaxy theme, on Etsy, Amazon, and ebay. After wish listing many kits, I decided on “A Star Is Born” kit on ebay. The only problem, I would not be able to give Jackie this gift into her baby was born and I didn’t even know the baby’s name. Jackie was being secretive about it. 

I couldn’t give Jackie the cross-stitch at her baby shower. I did give her a moon nightlight and a frame, all matching the moon and star theme like the cross-stitch I was working on. At the baby shower, there was a banner revealing Jackie’s baby’s name – Orion Kai. Orion Kai! Like Orion’s Belt! Then it hit me; no wonder she was thinking of a galaxy theme nursery. I showed Jackie my progress on the cross-stitch kit and she liked what she saw so far.

A few days ago, I finished Orion’s cross-stitch baby announcement. I replaced the plastic hoop the kit came with for a wood one I painted in dark blue. I can’t wait to see Jackie’s expression when she sees it. I’m even more excited that this 5-inch hoop will adorn little Orion’s room as he grows.

Fall Candle Centerpiece DIY

My fireman and I made an ice candle a few months ago, it was just sitting on our dinner table on top of a glass candle plate, and it was time to Fall it up. This Fall candle centerpiece is simple to create. No clue required.

Supplies: candle, glass candle plate (You can also a regular glass plate), small pine cones, fake leafs, vine wreath, and a fake berry branch.

Place candle into vine wreath, then place both on glass plate. Tuck fake leafs under vine wreath. Put pine cones in front and behind vine wreath and place berry branch, in front, over the vine wreath.

Since this DIY requires no clue, it can be easily taken apart, and the candle can be decorated differently for the next season.

Stitch & Send

Wild Olive by Mollie is a blog I really enjoy reading. By reading her blog you can tell Mollie is a sweet and caring person and a stitching diva. In February, I participate in a Stitch Swap she was having on her blog. In October, Mollie posted about another stitch swap with a twist. Mollie called it a Stitch & Send. This time I would be making an embroidered patch and in return I would receive the wonderful feeling of making something for someone who is less fortunate.

I send my patch last week to Richmond, Virginia. I embroidered a little blue cloud raining on three smiling shaped flowers (flowers inspired by Mollie’s sketch). The flowers’ roots spell out Made With Love. The outer flowers, which are smaller than the taller one in the middle, are extending their pedals up towards the cloud.

Abbie, from Abbie Living, will sew the patches onto totes bags. The tote bags will be filled with donated toiletries and other living essentials for seniors, homeless, and families in need of Richmond, Virginia for Thanksgiving. The organization that puts this together is called The Giving Heart and I’m glad to be a part of it, even if just a little.

Today this Girl...

Today, this girl woke up early after spending the night before reading propositions and presidential facts. This girl is not a morning person, but around 7:15 am she headed to her voters’ destination, before work. She wore a white tank top with yellow, blue, and red hearts on it, a blank suit jacket, and an American flag brooch shaped as a heart to complete her outfit. She not only wanted be confident about her decisions, she wanted to feel confident too. She voted today because she wanted her voice to be heard, she wanted to be part of making a difference for her, her family, and the future, and to her voting is also a way to thank all those strong and determined women who fought long ago so women could vote. This girl doesn’t judge people who do not vote. To each its own. This girl doesn’t feel comfortable bitching about the economy; if she never even tired to change things with her vote. This is why this girl votes!

Digital Painting of Me

My friend and artist Chris Murray took a picture of me, from my facebook, with a little pumpkin on my head and created a digital painting of it. I love the way the digital portrait turned out and it looks just like the photograph. He has been cleaning up his digital painting skills little by little with every piece, according to him, in hopes to head into the freelance/commission zone. Check out more of his work on his blog by clicking here.

Ornament Swap Sign Ups!

I know, I know, Halloween was just the over day but next thing you know Christmas will be here too. So, why not add some new ornaments to your Christmas tree and give some out too, with The Morose Bee & Creativity Lizette’s first Christmas Ornament Swap!

How It Works:
You’ll get paired up with two people. You’ll make three ornaments, one for each of your partners and one to keep for yourself. The ornaments can be all the same or different to meet the taste of each partner. Then, you’ll mail out the ornament to your partners. In the end you’ll have three ornaments to hang on your Christmas tree. Swap participates must be US residents only.

Rules:
Sign ups open now until Saturday, November 10th.
Sign up by emailing me at creativitylizette(at)yahoo(dot)com.

You will be given the names and e-mails of your partners by Wednesday, November 14th. From there you'll contact them to ask for likes/dislikes and their address.

You should make and ship your ornaments no later than Friday, December 7th. That way everyone will have at least two full weeks of display his or her wonderful homemade ornaments before Christmas.

Any questions, feel free to contact Emily or myself.

Get into the Holiday spirit and sign up!

Halloween Weekend with My Little Brother

I don’t get to see my little brother Andy as much as I want to. But last weekend, October 26 and 27, my firefighter and I had him over at our house.

On Friday, we carved a pumpkin together. Andy came up with the design.

We roasted our pumpkin seeds. Andy said they tasted like sweet popcorn. I used a Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seed recipe from online.

We made Apple Pie Shakes with apple cider. It was easy to make and tasted good. You can find the recipe behind the Alpine Spiced Apple Cider box.

On Saturday, we went to the first showing of Paranormal Activity 4. It wasn’t as good as the last ones and like always the shakiness made me nauseous. The movie plot just seemed to be thrown together just to make another Paranormal.

When we got home, Andy painted an eyeball for his eyeball candy jar. I spray-painted the lid of a pickle jar and a candlestick holder, glued everything together, and added peanut butter chocolate eyeballs in the jar. Andy liked the way it turned out and thought it was cool. No kid can leave my house without doing some arts and crafts.

While Andy played video games with my firefighter, I made pumpkin cookies for work’s Halloween potluck on Sunday.

Andy had so much fun with my firefighter and I. While driving him back home Saturday night, he had a sad face. Poor kid didn't want to go home.