Happy Halloween CSI Las Vegas Style

Happy Halloween! This year is a CSI Las Vegas Style Halloween for me. When thinking about what costume to wear...I decided to be a character from one of my favorite TV programs! Which is CSI Las Vegas...and lucky me I had the chance to visit Vegas last year for a few days and see the real thing! Although the filming is done in L.A. and only aerial shots are taken at the Strip. During my walks along the strip I got myself a T-Shirt which was a perfect fit for my Halloween costume! All I needed to get was black shades...and no smiling...Catherine rarely does... here she is!


My friend Celina and I always joke around about who is who from the CSI's. She is Olivia in CSI Miami and I am Catherine in CSI Las Vegas.

And being Catherine Willows is not easy working at the Las Vegas Crime Lab.
My gorgeous boss...Gil Grissom is leaving {and married Sara just before she left!}...and Warrick Brown who I was also interested in "connecting with"...ended up being married and now he is dead. I "won't be fooled again"! :o) See my photos of Vegas right here.

If you love the show as much as I do...watch a tribute to CSI Las Vegas I found on Youtube. It's very well done!

Have a fun filled Halloween Day!


*And Mr. Bruckheimer...keep me in mind for future cast changes...I am here!

What are you going to be?
Do you watch CSI? Which one is your favorite?
And if you are also a huge fun like me, check this site out!

Gift Wrapping Assignments already started

Gift Wrapping gives me so much joy, combining papers and embellishments into wrap designs it's such a creative rush! Every season brings a different surprise of colours, textures and prints. I start decorating packages at this time of the year and usually things start to get really busy in November all the way through December. This year things started a little earlier and I am already in the process of choosing my decorative materials...some I have at home and some come from far. Some packages I will be working on are for store displays, others for my classes, magazine articles and TV segments.
And you are invited to join me in the process. I want to show you the wonderful products I will be using and all details! And of course I will share with you what's happening.
*Don't miss the start of my "Gift Wrapping the Holidays" in November.
I will be posting lots of photos from the shows I attended, there is so much to see, gift wrapping products, accessories, ornaments...Learn about gift wrapping styles, how to beautify your presents with embellishments, fun techniques and trendy colours.

Gift Wrapping The Holidays Starting Soon

Stay for the starting of my "Gift Wrapping the Holidays" series in November! It will be a month of non stop "playing" with papers, embellishments...beautifying presents. I will post about the latest trends, colours, textures, patterns, combinations, about "wrapping green" and more!


You will see photos from the CGTA {Gift and Tableware Association} Shows Spring and Fall...many of you live in other climates, so let's talk gift wrapping in general and for all seasons.., let's see the photos I have been waiting to show you just before the Holidays. I want to show you what I saw, I want to inspire you. Get all your questions ready, send them to me!
And I will be answering them along with my posts. It will be lots of fun!

Happy Diwali the Festival Of Lights

ततस्तुः लोकः प्रतिवर्षमादरत् प्रसिद्धदीपलिकयात्र भारते |
समुद्यतः पूजयितुं जिनेश्वरं जिनेन्द्र-निर्वाण विभूति-भक्तिभाक् |२० |
tatastuh lokah prativarsham-aadarat
prasiddha-deepalikaya-aatra bharate
samudyatah poojayitum jineshvaram
jinendra-nirvana vibhuti-bhaktibhak

Translation: The gods illuminated Pavanagari by lamps to mark the occasion. Since that time, the people of Bharat celebrate the famous festival of "Dipalika" to worship the Jinendra (i.e. Lord Mahavira) on the occasion of his nirvana.

Happy Diwali, the Festival of Light!

Toronto is such a multicultural city and during my last stroll around Little India, I got a few tiaras. I absolutely love crowns and tiaras...These are beautiful, full of life, colourful beads and sequins! Right before the end of October there is a great festival, DIWALI. And this year is today!

Diwali, or Deepavali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal) (Markiscarali) is a major Indian and Nepalese festival, and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. Many legends are associated with Diwali.

Today it is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe as the "Festival of Light" where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being. The festival is also celebrated by Buddhists of Nepal, particularly the Newar Buddhists.

According to one theory Diwali may have originated as a harvest festival, marking the last harvest of the year before winter. In an agrarian society this results in businessmen closing accounts, and beginning a new accounting year.




The deity of wealth in Hinduism, goddess Lakshmi is therefore thanked on this day and everyone prays for a good year ahead. This is the common factor in Diwali celebrations all over the Indian subcontinent.

The Sanskrit bin array of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness. As the knowledge of Sanskrit diminished, the name was popularly modified to Diwali, especially in northern India. The word "Divali/Diwali" is a corruption of the Sanskrit word (also transliterated as "Dipavali"). "Deepavali", Deep/dip means "light of the dharma", and avali means "a continuous line". The more literal translation is "rows of clay lamps". Diwali is the Hindu way of celebrating the new year.

The festival marks the victory of good over evil, and uplifting of spiritual darkness. Symbolically it marks the homecoming of goodwill and faith after an absence, as suggested by the story of Ramayana.
On the day of Diwali, many wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks. Some North Indian business communities start their financial year on Diwali and new account books are opened on this day.

While Deepavali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is "the awareness of the inner light".

Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With the realization of the Atman comes universal compassion, love, and the (awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (Inner Joy or Peace).

Diwali celebrates this through festive fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship. While the story behind Deepavali varies from region to region, the essence is the same - to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying reality of all things (Brahman).

*Find more information about Diwali right here.
* Indian Classical Music to listen right here.

New Year's Countdown In Style Crowns

Many of us love to party and also do the New Year's Countdown in Style! Every year I look for the most beautiful papers in town to design these crowns...I love especially metallic shades, velvet like patterns, Japanese papers for incredible elegance, glitter and sparks...and add my own embellishments to them.
Today I am sharing with you the most popular New Year's Crown designs. Please click on the images to see even more detail.

*This year I decided to let you make your own using my Crown Kits.
I will only put together just a few kits. Some of you already visited my Crown Kits page and kits are already going fast! Thank you! To see what's available and to get them, have a look right here. You can always contact me with your questions.

Pre-Halloween Pink Saturday Post

Happy PINK Saturday everyone! This is my Pre-Halloween PINK Saturday Post and what a better opportunity to remember Elizabeth Montgomery, "Samantha Stephens", the most beautiful witch!

This is far my most favorite show as a little girl, the one I came running from school to watch...and the one that I love watching over and over again as a grown up...kid of sort of...LOL


*Dick York is my favorite Darrin in Bewitched, who is yours?


I barely found these photos of Elizabeth wearing PINK, it was hard! But I did and hope you like them! And because I love TV Shows...of course, I went "hunting" for some clips...and clips with lots of PINK in them...

And here they are! Happy watching! And Happy Halloween to all of you as well!

Do you remember how Tabitha got her name? Watch this!

What if you...were given three wishes? What they would be? Watch this!

And last...fun, fun, fun! Enjoy!

Now head over Beverly's "How Sweet the Sound" blog for more PINKNESS!

Have a great weekend!

Mid Week and Another Happy Face

Thursday is when it feels that half work is done and when we start looking towards the weekend. And depending on what you are up to...it could be a long day...I thought about begining this Thursday with another happy face. This is Mauri, Sofia's brother, I also received his photo...you just saw her on Monday...and probably remember his "I am a saint" face from another story right here. Mauri is getting BIG as well...he looks like a "little cool guy" now! Wow!
Again I got a small photo and "built" a fun frame around it with my digital brushes, embellishments, papers and fonts. Another digital composition ideal to make an all occasion card for grandma...

Publications - Paperback Vs. Downloads

Most of us love our printed publications...Don't you anxiously wait for the next one to come out? Who doesn't love going through a stack of magazines or books looking for ideas? Some even became collectors! Times have changed and some publications have gone online and are now offering downloads that you can print at home right from your own computer.

Imagine that you are working on a craft project and need instructions, photos and see the whole process...Would you rather buy the book/magazine? And add it to your collection?

What would be your favorite project/s?
PAPER ART, MIXED MEDIA, GREEN {RECYCLED} CRAFTS...

What materials would you rather use on your projects?
PAPER, FABRIC, FLOWERS, GLITTER, PAINT...

Or would you go for a quick download of the project/s to print and file later? Would pricing and time would make a difference in your decision?

Which option would be more practical and at the same time more economical for you?
Let's discuss this subject...I will tell you about my preferences...