Holiday designs are up!

I was finally able to get both my camera and my editing software to cooperate today, so all of our holiday exclusive designs are available for you to peruse. There is a limited number of each item, so don't let them sell out before you can get to them!


Sharra Holiday Headband - $8.50

Cupcakes on the Road: San Antonio

Greetings from San Antonio! Mr. Cupcake and I decided to take the weekend away and celebrate our wedding anniversary and just plain relax. After a super tasty brunch on Thanksgiving Day (I did the big turkey cooking thing last weekend) we packed up the car and headed down here to San Antonio and one of the most beautiful and peaceful resorts we have ever had the pleasure of staying at.

Mission San Juan Capistrano nearing sunset.

Today was spent walking around downtown, through the River Walk and exploring several of the Missions that were set up in the 1700s along the San Antonio River. Mr. Cupcake even got us tickets for the Spurs vs. Mavs game. After all that walking (who designs these sports arena parking lots, anyway?!) we are beyond exhausted and are looking forward to letting our heads hit the pillows.

Tomorrow we are off to explore the outerlying towns which, we were excited to discover, were settled by Germans and still maintain much of their heritage. Never being ones to turn down a 'Fest and being suckers for anything holiday related, the festivities planned in these towns sound right up our alley!

Just in time for stocking stuffing...

Preppy key fobs are here! A long time favorite at street fairs, our popular preppy patterned key fobs are now available on our website. Over the next couple of weeks all of our Medium width ribbon choices will be available and individually listed. We're just waiting for reshipment of some of the more popular webbing colors to be delivered.

Over the years I've found that these key chains are so popular because they are so useful and user friendly. They are sturdy and rediculously durable. I've run mine over with our car, washed them accidentally, gotten all matter of stains on them and pretty much used and abused the heck out of them and they've always held up. My favorite feature, and the one my customers rave the most about, is that I make them long enough to slip over your wrist. I've seen so many designers and retailers selling similar styles and so many of them were shorter and I couldn't understand why. What am I supposed to do with a loop that I can't wrap around my wrist or hang anywhere? Well, that's not an issue with those from The Creative Cupcake. Getting groceries into the trunk no longer requires fumbling with your keys!

Studio Friday: This Is Me - Part Deux

This week's Studio Friday topic is: This is me.

OK... so I actually read the whole topic info and I was a little quick on the draw with my earlier post.

This week's topic for Friday November 17th suggested by Jill: THIS IS ME!

" How about photographing a collage of the things we work with? An arranged collection of papers and embellishments, or fabrics and trims, or paints and paintbrushes, or whatever it is we do that says "this is me." I know we did tools and supplies already, but I thought it would be fun to create a little collage of all the things we use - tools and supplies both, and even other things like a favorite cd, dvd, cup of coffee, nail polish etc that say "this is me and this is what I do".

*** My image is coming soon -- I promise! I've been having technical difficulties with my camera. I haven't forgot! ***

Studio Friday: This Is Me - Part I

This week's Studio Friday topic is: This is me.

I could go with my first thought and slap up a picture of me. I could rifle through my (now) old modeling portfolio and pick out a fabulous, strategically lit shot of me. But that wouldn't necessarily be fair because it's not like I walk around with perfectly coiffed hair and a makeup team everyday. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Then I realized that no one would want to see me in my yoga pants, with my hair in a ponytail and no makeup on - which is how I (sadly) spend most of my working days dressed. One of the beauties of owning your own business and/or working from home is the severly relaxed dress code. It is also one of my biggest frustrations, seeings as deep down I like to look remarkably cute at all times. It's somehow become a constant struggle as of late.

But anyhow... stay tuned for my entry!

Studio Friday: Studio Indulgences

Introducing: my Singer Quantum Futura!

I recently indulged a long time want (not need) of mine and purchased a new sewing/embroidery combo machine. Not that I really had the extra money, but when did that ever stop me before?! It is quite literally 100 times better than the old machine I was working with and, quite frankly, I was due for an upgrade. I cannot wait to show you all what this puppy can do. As someone who is mildly obsessed with monograms and initials, I am thrilled to get started initialing everything in sight. On the business end of things, I have had customers clamouring for intialed bows and monogramed belts and keychains and now I am all too happy to oblige. Official announcement coming soon...

PS - Yes, I am fully aware that it is Tuesday and this post is about Studio Friday. Working from home means not knowing what day it is sometimes, but I'm not that bad!

Mea Culpa...

After I recently got in touch with my inner blogger and had a renewed energy to keep up with semi-daily posts, I had to go and have family fly out for a visit and throw off my whole momentum. I missed an entire Studio Friday topic not to mention some fun new items that will be up on the site soon.

On the bright side, I got some much needed downtime and did some serious baking. Lemon sugar cookies, banoffee pie and lemon blueberry muffins made their way through our kitchen this past week along with some quick and tasty Rice Krispy treats that I cut into the shape of Texas via my handy new cookie cutter! Completely unnecessary but Mr. Cupcake couldn't help but laugh at me and my newly found Texan enthusiasm.

Speaking of which... if you live in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, be sure to check out our show schedule for some fun holiday shopping. I generally like to do quite a few shows around the holidays but the move threw our schedule off a bit, so you'll have to catch us when you can. We'll miss our loyal NJ shoppers but are really looking forward to meeting our new local friends.

A little attention for Eva!

Ever since I had my site re-designed over the summer, I have been struggling with how to incorporate Eva, my mascot of sorts, into the design. I absolutely loved her intial design when we first opened more than 2 years ago, but at the time she was relegated to a small icon at the bottom. When the initial re-design was done and she had a snazzy new outfit, she was put as an image on the front page, but she kind of interrupted the flow of what I wanted to do with that area. I didn't want to take her out, but where should I put her? It dawned on me earlier tonight and I spent some time playing around with the design and came up with my new header image:


It looks pretty pixelated here, so to see it in all it's splendor, click on the image. I may play around and tweak it a little more, but for now I'm pretty darn happy. Welcome back, Eva!

Introducing... Studio Fridays!

Part of the reason we chose the apartment we moved into was because the second bedroom was quite large which would allow me to have plenty of space for my studio. In the past, my office/studio was in what would normally have been our dining room. Well, that was the plan. By the time we moved, it overtook that entire room in addition to the better part of the living room. No matter where you went, there was no way to get away from it all. As much as I love ribbon (and fabric, and paper, and about 6,000 other supplies) sometimes I just needed to get away and I couldn't. And Mr. Cupcake would make me feel incredibly guilty by not complaining when things got so out of control that you had to practically pole vault over the back of the couch to grab a seat. But now, I have an entire room (plus rediculously large closet) all to The Creative Cupcake! I could just take pictures and show you... but that wouldn't be all that exciting, now, would it?

I came across this wonderful idea called "Studio Fridays" which has a theme each week that you (I) use as inspiration to take a picture and show off your office. For example, last week's theme was "My Collections" so I think I might have photographed my ever-growing collection of "C" letter monograms. It started with the peridot Swarovski encrusted topper I made for our wedding cake and has been added to a bit at a time as I come across one that is unique or fits with our decorating style.

So stay tuned for this week's topic and picture(s) tomorrow and every Friday!

Random Blog of The Week

I'm a blog reading junkie. I'll admit it. In the mornings I feel like I can't get my day started until I check what's going on in my favorite corners of the blogosphere. In my effort to keep you all entertained (and keep me on track in updating here regularly), I'm going to dedicate Wednesdays to sharing some of my favorite non-work related blogs.

Up this week: PerezHilton.com. I have a certain weakness for celebrity gossip and this site is essential to my daily fix. A devotee since his days running PageSixSixSix, Perez/Mario keeps the gossip coming with his own snarky and sometimes down right cruel commentary. Say what you will about him, the boy gets the inside scoops!