New Orleans Inspired Vase

One of the things I loved in New Orleans was the iron works. I decided to bring a little of that to our house with the help of my cricut, some vinyl and a vase.

I started with this image from our trip:

Then I created a version of the pattern on my computer:

And sent it over to the cricut:

After the cutting completed I weeded out the negative spaces:

Then I removed the backing from contact paper:

And then burnished it down on top of the remaining vinyl.

After the contact paper was secured to the vinyl I pulled up both layers releasing the vinyl from it's backing.

The two layers were applied to the vase and then burnished so that the vinyl transferred to the vase.

And finally pulled off the contact paper and secured any lose edges of the vinyl to the vase.

So now I've got a fabulous little vase that reminds me of our trip.

Stepping out of the closet...

Because nothing in it was fitting.

: (

For the past 5-6 years, I've had a really bad habit of putting on 10 pounds, and then only taking off 5. I did fine the year I had my son... I put on 50 and took off 50. Ok, so maybe putting on 50 isn't good. But I do I get points for taking it off?

My point is that the extra 5 pounds per year... has added up to 25 pounds that had to go.

And thanks to Weight Watchers - I'm over 10 pounds down in 6 weeks.



I did weight watchers after the birth of my son and did well with it, but I've got to say, their new PointsPlus system - absolutely rocks. That coupled with the amazing recipes that Gina posts over on SkinnyTaste.com and I'm one very happy girl.

Thanks to the support of friends, I've also managed since the first of the year to almost completely give up fast food, I'm calling having it 1-2 times this year, vs. 1-2 times a week a major victory. AND, I think I've finally got my stress eating under control.

So - for anyone thinking of trying out Weight Watchers - I say go for it!!!

Crossing my fingers that in another 8-12 weeks I'll be back with news that I'm back to the weight I was at before I had my daughter almost 8 years ago.

Mardi Gras Jewelry

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I took a trip to New Orleans, we just missed Mardi Gras, but that's ok - Mardi Gras isn't really our scene. But we loved New Orleans. This was my 4th trip there and his first. I have a friend there who told us all the spots to see and she was 100% right, she picked just the right things for us. 

While Mardi Gras might not be for us, the city of New Orleans and Mardi Gras is what she is all about. And I wanted to do something as a thank you - so I created these bracelet and earrings for her. 

 Here are the supplies to create this set:

•  A variety of gold, green and purple beads
• Stretch magic 
• 10mm gold jump rings
• Gold tone crimp tubes
• Ribbon
• Jewelry tools including a needle & crimper
• Tape

Step 1 - Arrange the beads as you'd like them for the strands of the bracelet. 

Step 2 - Cut a length of stretch magic to the length of bracelet plus 4". Then put a piece of tape 2" from the end of your stretch magic.

Step 3 - Then string your beads onto the strand. 

Step 4 - And then attach each of the strands to the jump rings. 

And then loop a length of ribbon through the loops and you've got a bracelet! 

And I'll admit - I liked this set so much, I made one for myself... just because I don't like the wild side of Mardi Gras, doesn't mean I don't want to celebrate it with my own style.