Sugar Skull Cake & Cupcakes

For my Day of the Dead/Frida Kahlo themed birthday party in February my friend Amanda made me a carrot cake (my favorite cake flavor) in the shape of a sugar skull. She used a skull shaped pan. She also made the cupcakes and the flower tissue cupcake toppers. I commissioned my friend Debbie to make me some colorful sugar skull toppers. Everything tasted delicious and looked great!


My 31st birthday was a memorable one because I have great friends who were willing to use their
creativity and talent to help me celebrate another year of life, my way. It made me feel loved. I saved all the flower tissue cupcake toppers and the sugar skull toppers. I even dug some out of the trashcan to save. You can get your own sugar skull toppers (or holiday toppers) at Debbie’s Etsy shop, SnowBuddiesInk. Check out Amanda’s Etsy shop too, called ArtisticAmanda.

Today is the last day of Day of the Dead. Let’s not only celebrate and honor the lives of those who have passed away but remember to celebrate life with the ones you love everyday. Life is short. Enjoy it damn it!

Mrs. Bones Day of the Dead Ornament

Mrs. Bones is the new addition to my Day of the Dead tree. She came alive a few days ago as I stitched her together. It was a time consuming project especially since it was my first time using beads in a cross-stitch project. She is a flashy mama and I love her. She even glows in the dark. I got Mrs. Bones on ebay about a year or two ago. I can't remember. Mrs. Bones is looking for her Mr. Bones and I hope to play cupid and unite them next year.  

Permanent Altar to Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos in Spanish) is my favorite Mexican holiday. I love it so much that I threw myself a Day of the Dead/Frida Kahlo themed party this year for my 31st birthday. In my craft room, a shelf is dedicated to  some of my favorite Day of the Dead decorations.  It’s a permanent altar; it’s displayed all year round. Many of the items on my shelf are gifts from family and friends who know how much I enjoy this holiday. This year I’ve decided not to display all my Day of the Dead decorations but you can see for the links above pictures of my pervious Day of the Dead altars.

Do you display something that is meant to be displayed for a certain period of time but it's display permanently?

Day of the Dead celebrations starts today and ends tomorrow. Feliz Dia de los Muetos everyone!

If you like Day of the Dead as much as I do, you’ll love CasaArtelexia, a blog, which celebrates Mexican culture and is full of DIY Day of the Dead tutorials.

Frida Kahlo Altar

To honor my favorite artist Frida Kahlo I made her an altar at my “Celebrate Life Frida Kahlo style” birthday party, which covered my dinning room table. My altar which is more like a shrine celebrates the life of Frida Kahlo, her pain, her love for Mexico, the flowers in her hair, the artist who expressed herself in her paintings. Many of the pieces making up my altar come from Mexico which my mom purchased for me during one of her visits, the books on Frida’s life come from the library, and the Mexican blanket everything lays on came from a thrift store (blankets are always on my list when thrifting). Most of the items on the altar are displayed in my home year round.

“There have been two great accidents in my life. One was the trolley, and the other was Diego. Diego was by far the worst.” – Frida Kahlo

“I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.”

- Frida Kahlo

“I tried to drown my sorrows, but the bastards learned how to swim, and now I am overwhelmed by this decent and good feeling.” – Frida Kahlo

“Painting completed my life.” – Frida Kahlo

“Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light. Tragedy is the most ridiculous thing.” – Frida Kahlo

“I love you more than my own skin.” – Frida Kahlo

“I hope the exit is joyful and I hope never to return.” – Frida Kahlo

“I paint flowers so they will not die.” – Frida Kahlo

I’ve learned from Frida that life is raw, uncensored, and we must learn to live it to the fullest! On that note, I leave you with my favorite Frida quote…

 “At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.” 

 Nicely said Frida!

Thirty One

A week ago, Saturday, February second, I turned thirty for the second time. Fine! I’ll say it! I turned thirty-one! Ahhh! This year for my birthday I made sure I requested the day off from work, even if that meant staying at home doing nothing. After dealing with upset customers on my birthday pervious years, I refused to work on my birthday again if I didn’t have to.

On my birthday, my family and friends made me feel special. My facebook became popular. Whose doesn’t on his or her birthday with corner reminders on facebook that it’s someone’s birthday. Which is alright by me because I tend to have a crappy memory when it comes to remembering birth dates. I got texts, calls, and Happy Birthday songs got left on my cell phone. For lunch my best bud Pam took me to Souplantation, where I tired to taste all the soups they had. I had two more left to go, but stopped to leave room for dessert. It was my first time there and I don’t do well at buffets because I try to eat everything. Driving back home, Pam said she felt bad letting me go home so early on my birthday and without having a drink. It was 8 pm and we stopped by my favorite Mexican restaurant, La Casita, and had my favorite margarita, Coronarita. Around 9:30pm, I started feeling my age. My stomach was aching because of all the food I ate and I couldn’t even eat my free birthday cake. Sad to say, I was ready to go home. My plan was to crawl into bed and watch a movie but I ended up saying up until 1am working on a swap piece while watching “Pitch Perfect” in the living room. There is no other way I could have imagined my birthday. Phone calls as far as Spain, lunch with a good friend, my favorite drink, and ending the night with what I love to do best – crafting. Let’s not forget the cherry on top, and no mean customers!

Some pictures of gifts I got before and after my birthday from people that love me!

Thirty-five homemade Day of the Dead inspired cupcakes made by my work pal Ms. Thayer and her sister Tawnya. The only card I got from my favorite aunt Rosa. She has never missed a birthday. McDonald breakfast from work pal Maria. Frida Kahlo themed tea lights made by Amanda for my Frida Kahlo themed birthday party, a week away!

Loving from Australia!

As the end of May (Oops, I meant March) approached I eagerly opened my mailbox in hopes for the arrival of my Wild Olive Stitch Swap package. I keep reading on Flickr how other swapees were receiving their beautiful 4” embroidered hoop and I knew mine would arrive soon. There were two sugar skull stitch hoops on Flickr and I knew one of those little fellows would be for me. Of course, the day my husband gets the mail my packaged arrives. It was sitting on the kitchen counter on I walked in from work. I knew immediately whom it was for and what it was! I got loving from Australia, from Michelle, who got me for the Wild Olive Stitch Swap. This is what I got! 

My motif for the stitch swap was Day of the Dead sugar skulls, Catrina, and skulls. I don’t have a favorite color so I typed that I loved them all. I’m a big fan of Day of the Dead and I fell in love with with my colorful embroidered sugar skull that Michelle made for me. She also included other fun goodies, like two embroidered bird buttons, which I can’t wait to use. Michelle, if you are reading this…. THANK YOU! It makes me feel very special that a complete stranger took the time, care, and patience to create something just for me. This is my 6th swap I have practiced in. And yes, like my friend Debbie made me aware of, I’m addicted to swaps. I’ve received swaps from creative people in different parts of the word. How awesome is that!

 I love the feeling of receiving happy mail thus, I have decided to start some of my own swaps this year and I have also team up with a fellow blogger for a very special and different upcoming swap. Interested? Keep your eyes peeled!

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?

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.

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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?

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!