January 22, 2013

Etsy Shop Update


I’m excited to share my new item on my Etsy shop. Custom tree trunk heart rings! My first sample ring has my firefighter initials and mine. Perfect for Valentine’s Day right?

January 21, 2013

Day 11: DIY Engraved Tree Style Frame


My firefighter told me not to buy him anything for Christmas. So, I didn’t. Instead, Belle and I made him a tree style frame with hearts engraved in it. I made the frame look like a tree that had been craved with hearts, like lovers do on a tree. I carved three hearts onto the frame. They read Belle, Liz, and Chris.

In the frame, I inserted a picture of Belle and I in front of our Christmas tree that my dear friend Amanda took of us. My firefighter loves the frame and he plans to take it to work and hang it in his locker. Then, he can see his two favorite girls when he is away at work.

Here’s what I did:


Supplies Used: unfinished wooden frame (got mine at Michael’s), wood engraver, paint brush/foam brush, color of your choice wood finish, and a pencil.

Step 1: Brush your frame with the wood finish. The more layers you add the darker the frame will get. Let frame dry for one to two days.

Step 2: With your pencil, draw were you would like your hearts to go.


Step 3: Heat up your wood engraving tool. Using the universal point, trace your pencil markings over and over until it looks like the frame had been craved into.

Step 4: Insert a picture in the frame. If your frame doesn’t come with glass to protect your picture you can purchase some transparency sheets from Staples and cut it to size to protect your picture.


Belle and I hope you enjoy this tutorial. It will make a great Valentine’s Day gift for anyone special in your life, even the furry kind.

January 13, 2013

Day 10 of Creative Christmas: From Belle


Belle here! I’m the beautiful furry beast that resides in this house.

On Christmas day, my crazy lovable mom decided I should give out gifts to my dog friends and family. That’s mom for you. I only agreed because I got to sample the oatmeal dog treats again while she put everything together. Sorry about the burry picture. I don’t know why mom insists in taking pictures of me while I’m eating. I’m too busy enjoying my treat to concentrate on looking cute and adorable.


Mom made the oatmeal treats from a dog treat kit grandma gave me. She made extra treats than the box stated and unfortunately was told I was going to have to share with my friends. I did get to sample those fresh out of the oven though and Dad sunk some out of the container for me. Don’t tell Mom.


Mom can never make things simple. She took out the left over cards from my dog birthday party to use as dog Christmas cards. With my help, she wrote a little Christmas message in the cards. I came up with “Have a Barking good Christmas.” Yes, I’m clever and beautiful. Dogs don’t have a Merry Christmas, there’s always some type of barking involved. Each card was signed with my paw signature. I tell you; those dogs of mine are lucky to be my friends. Okay, and vise versa.

Mom wants to make dog treats for Valentine’s Day too. “Deal” I said! I’ll do anything for a treat.

Gotta go, Mommy has a treat for me! Hopefully, you’ll hear from me again soon.

January 11, 2013

Day 9 of Creative Christmas: Embroidered Oven Mitt


This oven mitt with a picture of three snowmen sledding together went to my sister Aurelia and her husband Steven for Christmas. I embroidered the names of my sister’s family, Steven, Aurelia, & Isaac, above the heads of each snowman, made French knots over some of the falling snow, and sewed miniature buttons on each snowman.


I had this oven mitt left over from a year when I made cookies and gave them to some clients of mine; I was doing freelance work for. I original wanted to make my sister and her husband a family monster ornament to match Isaac’s little monster scrapbook but I ran out of time, especially since I had to mail their package to Spain, where my brother-in-law is stationed. When I found the snowmen oven mitt with daddy, mommy, and baby snowmen on it I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. Though not much work was involved embroidery it, I love how it turned out.


I added some of my homemade pretzels dipped in chocolate in the pocket of the oven mitt for them to enjoy. The oven mitt was the last item I needed before shipping my sister’s package to Spain. Everything in their Christmas package was homemade, the personalized Dr. Seuss blanket, the little monster scrapbook, and the embroidered oven mitt. I haven’t spoken to my sister yet but I have a good feeling they loved their gifts. She is a crafter like me by the way.

January 9, 2013

The Guilt Trip, Movie Review


I took my father-in-law, who currently resides with us (that’s a whole other story), to watch The Guilt Trip tonight. The main actors of The Guilt Trip are Seth Rogen from Knocked Up and Barbra Streisand. I remember watching Barbra Streisand movies as a kid, where she use to dance and sing. Earlier today at work while waiting for customers to exit their theatre to clean it, I overhead a group of older ladies say the movie was cute and funny.

After watching The Guilt Trip for ourselves, we agree. The movie is about a son who goes on a road trip with his mother, as he tries to pitch his cleaning product to major companies. The movie depicts the relationship many people have with their mother. Sometimes they drive us crazy but they mean well. As a son or daughter you’ll find yourself relating with Andy, played by Seth. Even in some scenes you’ll hate to admit, like snapping at your mother. Not one of my proudest moments. This is why Dad, my father-in-law, described the movie as funny and sad.

The Guilt Trip also reminds you that the job and role of being a mother never ends, even when you, the child, become an adult. You’ll always be their baby. At the end of the movie, you’ll want to go home and call your mommy!

January 8, 2013

Day 8 of Creative Christmas: Little Monster Scrapbook


I would have loved to be at my nephew Isaac’s first birthday party, in Spain. But I felt like I was there. My sister was very good about posting many photographs of Isaac’s Monster Bash themed birthday party on facebook, making family feel like they were a part of his special celebration. Though we couldn’t attend, our heart was there.


As I enjoyed seeing the pictures of Isaac’s Monster Bash, I was inspired by the little red monster on Isaac’s t-shirt, and wanted to make him something with the little monster incorporated in it. A monster frame, a stuffed monster...a little monster scrapbook! Perfect! Aurelia, my sister, could put all of her favorite photos of Isaac’s party in it.

I used different color poke a dot paper and monster themed paper for the inside of the book. My favorite part of the scrapbook is making the front of it look exactly like the little monster on Isaac’s birthday t-shirt and the googly eyes. Googly eyes make things more googly fun. I added blue feet and a little tail to the back of the book with a butt embroidered message - Love Auntie Lizette 2012. He’ll always remember Auntie Lizette made it for him.


Isaac received his little monster scrapbook for Christmas. Maybe this will be my Christmas tradition for Isaac, receiving a scrapbook inspired by that year’s themed birthday party. Good idea? What do you think?

January 7, 2013

Day 7 of Creative Christmas: A Thrifted Gift


I personalized this thrifted Dr. Seuss blanket for my nephew Isaac, who lives in Spain, for Christmas with alphabetical stamps and oil base paint. Isaac’s room is covered wall to wall with De. Seuss inspired characters and scenery. My little sister Aurelia, with the help of her husband, painted the room. Being artistic runs in the family.

I had originally wanted to make Isaac a blanket when he was first born, September 2011, but one day while thrifting I came upon a homemade Dr. Seuss blanket and I knew it was perfect for Isaac. My sister and I are not picking when it come to used items. As kids, my parents took my sister, my brother Chuy, and I to thrift stores, garage sells, and swap meets. We are no strangers to used treasures. As adults, we enjoy going to these places with our spouses and children, or alone like I usually do. I love the opportunities when I get to see my siblings and go thrifting together. It brings back so many fond memories.


I didn’t send Isaac the Dr. Seuss blanket in 2011 because it was too big for a newborn and I hadn’t gotten a chance to sew together the stitches that were coming apart. My goal of making at least twelve homemade gifts for family and friends encouraged me to finally stitch up the blanket, personalize it, and send it to Isaac for Christmas. The blanket could be use for picnics, as a rug to play on, cuddle time with mommy and daddy, and in the future would cover his twin size bed. It also matches his awesome Dr. Seuss themed room perfectly!

Out With The Old and In With The New Swap

Start this new year being more creative and join the Bee Creative Swaps for our first swap of 2013!!! Emily and I would be thrilled if you joined us!


Out With The Old And In With The New Swap!

• Each person will be matched up with one partner.

• You will share one of your New Years Resolutions with your partner to use as inspiration for the item(s) they are going to make for you and should share a resolution with you as well for the item you will make for them. If you have more than one goal for 2013, you can feel free to give them some choices.

 • The actual items made can be anything: decorative wall plaque with the goal in mind (eat more veggies!) to hang in your pantry, a fun headband to celebrate your goal to grow your hair out, a coin purse as a reminder to save money, whatever!! Just be sure to communicate with your partner to see if they have any likes or dislikes about the type of item.

HERE'S THE CATCH:
To really make this a fun "out with the old" New Years Resolution swap, the item you make for your partner should incorporate at least TWO unwanted craft supplies from your personal materials. We all have those scraps from projects past that we're just not sure what to do with but we also don't want to throw away because they are still perfectly good and intact supplies. This is your chance!

 The Timeline 

Sign up by Jan 14th by e-mailing me at creativitylizette(at)yahoo(dot)com 
You will be notified of your partner by Jan 16th 
You should contact your partner by Jan 18th
 (If you any problems contacting your partner, please let Emily or I know.) 
Mail out your swap item by Feb 1st 

As always,
We love to hear your stories! When signing up for the swap, let us know what the supplies were that you found new life for in your craft or, even better, send us photos of your process and finished item.

Don't forget to check out my swap partner’s blog here and the Facebook group for our swaps here. Welcome loyal followers and new faces!

January 2, 2013

Day 6 of Creative Christmas: Married Christmas


Last year was a very special year from my little brother Chuy. He became a married man! I still remember how surprised I was when he called me to let me know he had gotten married. I didn’t even know he was dating someone. He said he married his best friend and as long as he was happy, I was happy for him too. I told him I couldn’t wait to meet my new sister-in-law.


For Christmas, I made pretzels dipped in chocolate like I do every year for my brother for Christmas and his birthday. Its become my tradition for him because I now how much he loves them. I hope he realizes he's going to have to share them now. To commemorate their first married Christmas together, I used my popular sparrow stamp to make them a special ornament with “Married Christmas 2012” embroidered on the sparrow’s ribbon. Unfortunately, like my parents, he too received his Christmas gift late. During our Christmas day conversation I told him I made him an ornament to hang on his tree and he promised to keep his tree up a little longer to display it. I’m happy they have a first Christmas together ornament that I created!
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