Fun times at the California Gift Show

On Saturday, I attended the California Gift Show. I went to visit my friend Kathy a.k.a. Crafty Chica who was demoing love shrines as well as selling her original art in a booth at the show. In a nutshell, I mainly just hung out, got to see some cool giftwares (couldn't take pictures though...that's a no no) and made some cool new friends. Some of the ladies (Sylvia, Lizzy, and Lisa) that went on the Crafty Chica cruise were there and they were a hoot! We had such a great time. Meeting them alone made the trip.

Above is a love shrine that I made in Kathy's demo make and take booth. Below are some of her wonderful new prints! I love this new empowerment style that she's taken on. I think a lot of people can relate to them and they are just fun and whimsical!



Oh, and I'm going to be attending CHA at the LA Convention Center (the same place where the gift show was held), so I just want to let you know I prob. won't be blogging as much this week, but I'll be back on my game in a week or so. :)

And I'm writing this like super early in the morning. Yesterday when I went to bed I had a scratchy throat. I didn't feel bad, but I was coughing. Tonight I'm feeling a little more icky. I took some Zicam so I better lick this thing. The last thing I want to be is sick at CHA!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

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Let's get this straight...

1. I have bangs for the first time in like 10 years. Crizazy!
2. My hair is only straight once or twice a year. Thank you Bobby at Regis at Fashion Faire Mall in Fresno for styling it this way tonight.
3. I never can pick out a look in those hairstyling books they give you at the Salon. They are all so way over the top and they hardly ever show curly hair like mine. I'd really like if they had a book for realistic hairstyles.
4. I do have a straightening iron. It's not the greatest, but straightening irons are a wondrous invention. Where was it throughout my teen years when I actually attempted to blow dry it straight? This never worked for me. Did it work for you?
5. I'm really enjoying typing this out as a list. It's easier for me to write this way.
6. I rarely have a stylish hairdo. I'm always a bit envious of girls that do, then I realize I am lazy.
7. I stay up too late (It's almost one now) and wake up too late (um, 7:45) in order to achieve a hairstyle everyday to this effect. I'd have to wake up earlier. if you're my co-worker, you are probably bulging your eyes out right about now.
8. I also got my eyebrows did as well as other lip/chin waxing. Again, I realize I'm lazy...shout out to Olena at JCPenney Salon in Fresno.
9. I'm going to CHA next week with my company, so I should look a lot spiffier with this new 'do.
10. This hairstyle makes me wonder if I should straighten it more often.What do you like better? Curly or straight? Leave me a comment below :) I'd like your feedback.

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

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P.S. Does it make me look younger or older?

More typography love

Just a few of the favorite typography/lettering finds I found on Flickr tonight. Inspires me so!


Shake by CubaGallery.


Play with Shapes Print byPablo Alfieri.


Every Pooper Has A Party by Carolyn_Sewell.


The Earth Laughs in Flowers by mallory,


Kunst (Oversaturated) by 96dpi.

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

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Senior Photos made better with the Cat Paint App

So tonight I downloaded the Cat Paint App that my friend Patty had shown me at work. It's a hoot as you can probably already tell! I decided to apply it to a few of my senior photos (since I had conveniently taken those photos over the holidays on my phone). I don't know what's better...cats or senior photos, but the combination, well it's pretty freakin' awesome in my book. My favorite is the photo above...it doesn't get better than a cheesy legs with barefeet crossed pose and a leaping cat shooting laser beams from its eyes!


Here's another one with the more poofy cats to match my even poofier hair. I remember that I was so proud of myself for making my hair all cute for the photoshoot. And btw, I don't rock the rolled up sleeve look anymore.


Since this was one of the more formal looks, I decided to frame it appropriately. The perfect touch for a high school graduate. I wish I had taken a picture of myself wearing that navy blue drape they made us wear in our offical yearbook photo! That would have even been more awesomesauce!

Now if only I could use this app to lose 50 pounds and look like I did in these photos...that would be the purrfect app for sure!

And when I was using the app, it meowed any time I painted with a cat and Pixie was getting super distressed. Her eyes were super wide and she kept crying at me. I think I really freaked her out!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

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Photos in the Dressing Room

Do you take goofy photos of yourself in the dressing room like I do? Sometimes it helps me see a different point of view I may not notice when I'm staring in the mirror. These were the two outfits I were interested in. I ultimately got the black and white one. I will prob. wear it with black leggings and boots to sass it up a bit. The black built in cardigan was nice cause it took attention away from my problem zone (my middle).



I didn't get this one cause I just look so darn busty in it. These honeycomb tops have a way of doing that. If it had been more blousy, I would have liked it more...I liked the sleeves, length, and cinched belt.

Admittedly, I did something kinda bad. The belt came with the green dress and I paired it with the black and white number and kept it that way. I have a wide waist and that belt made to go with the black and white outfit was just too small and tight. I probably shouldn't be admitting this. Please don't call the Fashion Police. I know retailers hate when you do that!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

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Fun with my Instagram App

Tonight I went over to my friend Patty's house for dinner and crafts with 5 crafty friends. Here's some of the fun photos I took and wanted to share! The photo above is of Patty's pretty yarn! She was working on a scarf


This is a photo of a rainbow of colors on the cardstock packaging.


Celena used her Cricut machine and made a layered cherry. She attached it to an envelope that Kim had made with her wooden envelope folder (using Dollar Tree metallic star paper).


Silvia and I made funny faces.


Stacy posed for the camera. How adorable is her lifted paw?


Here's a happy Donna and Orange Kitty.


And here's a very angry Orange Kitty wearing a Sew Doggy Style party hat! Orange Kitty doesn't want to party just like it's his birthday!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

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If you're a blogger, you need this book!

This book was in my Christmas stocking this year and it is really, really good. No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog by Margaret Mason has over 100 ideas to get your brain jumpstarted for a new year! I don't know what the negative reviewers on Amazon were expecting, Mason offers up a lot of prompts and ideas to get your mind started down the right path for an interesting blog post. Some of her blog prompts include making a timeline of your past in (I think this would be fascinating with photos), opening up your medicine cabinet/purse and revealing the contents, and posting about items and ideas you need to let go of...think about that old ugly sweater from the 80's that has sentimental value or that dream of becoming a rock star.

The chapters are broken up into blogs you can write in 15 min., 30, minutes, 1 hour, and beyond. While they are just prompts, some of the 15 minute prompts would take me much more than 15 minutes! Maybe if I didn't include photos that would take less time, but I must include photos. It seems like the days of a straight blog post without a photo are practically gone.

The one big thing I wonder is about the cover of the book. There's a mini spoon in with the french fries on the platter. I don't know who would ever use the spoon when you could just dip your fries into the ketchup. Haha. Just sayin'.

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

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In search of the perfect black flats

I love me a little black flat with a bit of flair. I had a pair a couple years ago that I loved and lost. Now the Target pair I'm wearing is about to fall apart (the inside sole is all a mess). So, I've been scoping out some of my favorite black flats and these are the ones I really like!


I love this one by Blowfish of Malibu called Smooth. Modern, cute, and fun. I just wish they didn't have to put their logo all over the place on the shoe.


This one called Segment is also by Blowfish of Malibu. The buttons remind me of a trusted denim jacket. I approve :)


These Jellypop Raindrop shoes are playful too and I love the mix of textures and shapes.


And Rocket Dogs continue to be one of my favorite brands. These Rocket Dog Memories actually look a lot like the flats I currently have, so I'm not so sure about them.


Then again, I could always go for vintage! These are the same Sam and Libby flats I wore in 7th grade. Did you ever have a pair of these?

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

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Mad Men meets Social Media!

I'm a Mad Men nut, I'm also a social media nut, so it makes total sense that these faux ads by Brazilian Ad Agency Moma Propogranda are right up my alley! Found via the Lushpad Blog!

I can just imagine Don Draper pitching the Facebook campaign to Mark Zuckerberg can't you?







Love the old take on the logos and vintage computer "devices" too, don't you?

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

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How J.R. Ewing won me over

I am not really a shopaholic or compulsive when I buy. I would say that I'm a very random shopper. I have a lot of mix and match items I've shopped for around my house that wouldn't make a lot of sense to some people. This shirt, for example, was a pop culture impulse buy. The thing is this...it's a size medium (I outgrew that size a long time ago). I guess I got a hankerin' that I would make a pillow or something from this when I bought it for myself and shelled out the $10 bucks for it. It will probably be a while before I make that happen.

Part of why I fell in love with this shirt was the amazing plastic iron-on design and the sparkle finish it had. These designs from the early 80's were the best. They really moved well with the shirt and always had a sheen that couldn't be beat. So I guess I'm a sucker for 80's nostalgia.

And for the record, I vaguely remember watching Dallas as a kid, I'm not sure who shot J.R. Do you?

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

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Letter Lighting: A fun font craft

Want a quick and easy way to make your space look super hip in only a couple hours? I wish I could tell you that this was hard, but it was sooooo easy. It just took the time to randomly stick vinyl letter type stickers in various sizes (I purchased mine at Michaels) to a plain white paper lantern. You could do this with really any kind of plain sticker. It would also be cool if you used all of the same color but then put in a sticker in another color (I'm thinking red) for an added pop of color.

I know you've seen me do this same sticker look on other projects, but since I have so many extra vinyl stickers, I decided to whip up another project! Besides, I never get tired of this graphic look! If it ain't broke, why fix it?





I'm submitting this project to the Iron Craft Weekly Craft Challenge. This week's theme (and the first challenge ever) is Lighting the Winter Gloom.

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

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P.S. I added this to the following linky party as well!

How I spent my New Years

Well, I brought New Years into fashion with William and a few great friends! We went out to eat to Cheesecake Factory with Silvia and Garrett and Joshua and then went over to their house afterward. Both William and I really enjoy hanging out with this super cool family! Silvia and Garrett are so laid back, funny, and insightful and little Joshua is a real chip off the old block. He can make you laugh without even trying.



Silvia and I perused through some books. I love just taking it easy and keeping it low key! The boys played chess. Later we played Pictionary (I hadn't played it in years) and counted down the New Year with Carson Daly.



And for weirdness sake, I brought over the creepy Dracula guy...I called him Baby New Year. It's so ugly it's cute. Everytime I look at this thing, it makes me laugh.

And I took pics of Joshua's cars. I need to get back into my photography. I haven't really taken photos in over a month!



And finally a pretty picture of Silvia...



What did you do for New Years?

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

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