Tuesday 30 November 2010

More wedding madness....

Hope you are not sick of it yet!!!!  Some of you wanted to see some pics of the bridesmaids and groomsmen.... so here they are:
                            
groomsmen

The girls looked delightful in their black dresses with the lovely bright coloured flowers and the boys looked so handsome in their grey suits.

and finally here are the cards I made... one of my own and one with my Mum 
Wedding card & envelope

As usual, many thanks for stopping by,

Monday 29 November 2010

More wedding fun

A few more tidbits to share from Emma's wedding.... at the reception all the tables had been named and a plan made of where everyone was to sit
Emma had then made a wine glass charm with everyone's name on it which she put into a little chiffon bag together with a piece of a jigsaw puzzle - everyone had to write a little word of wisdom on the back of.... All the chiffon bags were the colour of the table... we sat at Emerald table and our bags a lovely green -

And now for some more photos. 

these were both taken before leaving Emma's place.  My glasses are photo-chromatic so I look like I am wearing sunnies.... but it was just so sunny...
I really love the one of my two beautiful children.... can you guess that I am one very proud Mama....

this last one is my parents with Emma.  It is lovely that her Grandparents were there with us.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great week.

Sunday 28 November 2010

Wedding Day Bliss

WOW.... the wedding came off perfectly!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Incredible doesn't describe it..... Everything went like clockwork, the weather was amazing.... hot and sunny.

The week prior was not without a few concerns, mainly the bride to be coming down with a violent tummy bug on Monday that lasted till Thursday.... but other than that all went well.  The cakes were baked and iced on time ( by the bride no less) and then Saturday dawned ~ a perfect day.

Emma being the incredibly organised woman she is, had everything set in place.  A surprise for hubby to be.... a personal shaving session.... right down to having time to paint her Mum's fingers and toes~!!!!

So  without further ado ~  some photos.
Brides Bouquet

The Bride

Bride

Getting Dad perfect

Dad and his little girl

Emma & Brad

Emma & Brad

cutting the cake

I hope you enjoy looking at these as much as I enjoyed the day..... All in all a ~ Perfect Wedding~ 

Monday 22 November 2010

What a wonderful weekend.

WOW - my weekend was stunning!!!!  It started Friday with goodies in the mail ( see my previous post) and continue to be awesome....
Saturday was my daughter's Hens Party.  She started at 3pm with High Tea at her place....we all took something yummy to eat and she had even made some amazing Neapolitan cupcakes iced in vivid pink
tea table

Tea table


and here is my girl
My Emma.


Isn't she just beautiful.  I can't wait till Saturday and I can get some photos of her in her amazing wedding dress..

And here is a photo of Emma and I....

Dawn & Emma


We had a wonderful afternoon... my Mum arrived around 4.30 and we stayed till 6.00 at which time I had to leave.  Emma and her friends continued partying until the wee small hours... a great time had by all.... in fact her delightful father rang her at 1.00am ( he and I had been out for a work function and I was the sober driver!!!! - ignore that wine glass in my hand earlier in the day!!!) and she sounded full of life.

Sunday we took her grandparents over to see her... she was feeling a bit tired but otherwise fine.  We then ended the evening with a barbeque with our Family Group ( a church group we belong to) after wrapping up food parcels for three less fortunate families.  This is something we do every year.  We all meet and take food items and some more exciting food stuffs that aren't so basic and make up hampers.

Well peoples... I may not get much chance to blog before the wedding,... lots happening but I'll be looking, if not commenting!!!  Take care

Saturday 20 November 2010

Jenny has a giveaway......

The wonderful Jenny who's blog is Wee Memories has reached over 700 followers and she is celebrating and being the generous person she is - is having a giveway

Look at what she has collected ~

All you need to know about how to be eligible for the draw is on this post.  You won't be disappointed when you visit Jenny's blog... it is full of wonderful inspiration.


Friday 19 November 2010

Goodies in the post.

Today I got home to find the goodies I had won on Kelly's blog had arrived.... what a haul... thanks Kelly....
Kelly's Goodies have arrived

and with all of this came this amazing card.
 Isn't that the most incredible colouring in.  It is adorable.

Then there was another padded envelope in the post as well.... this time from Linda (aka rcwidow-indy ).  A wonderful CCC card.  It is soo pretty.
 What a lovely Friday afternoon thing to come home to.  A great start to the weekend that's for sure.

hope your weekend will be as much fun as mine is going to be....

Thursday 18 November 2010

An embarrasing moment....

I had a bit of an embarrassing moment yesterday.... grocery basket full of goodies gone through check out-- but no wallet...no cash, no credit card....oopps...
Had to do a mad dash back to work (10kms) - not on the desk!!!!  Wow bet it's in the work car I was in earlier in the day....yeap - oh but there is no one in the office to get the car bag and keys....:-(   The Workplace Services desk closes at 4.30 and it was now 4.45!!!  Then Suna to the rescue.... she was still in the office and after a bit of  search we located a security tag that let us get the car key and me get my wallet,.. so I made this card to say " Thanks a million" for going the extra mile....and alls well that end well.... got the groceries.....even if I had to go round and fill the basket all over again.....
Thanks A Million


Suna was very excited to see this and showed it to her boss.... hope it helps her get a good rating.... she really saved my day!!!

It was a nice and simple card to make.... lovely PP from my stash, double punched Martha Steward Monarch with a bit of glitter glue and some ribbon.  Stamp from Sullivan's.  Inside I used the computer to write..."thanks a million, you saved my day"

So now my lesson has been learnt..... zip up the handbag so the wallet does not fall out!!!!

Only one more day till my parents arrive and just over one week to the wedding!!!!!  Getting very excited here now.... Hen's afternoon tea on Saturday - the young ones will then go out on the town  - this oldie has hubby's work function to attend.... all go on Saturday  - good thing though - Physiotherapist said I AM NOT TO DO THE VACUUMING!!!!!!!!!!  Puts too much stress on the back.... it's currently taped up after this evening's physio session,...  Great job for the hubby - yeah

Tuesday 16 November 2010

Lucy's Old and New challenge and Stamp TV's sketch

This week over at Stamp TV, Gina has a lovely sketch ( and video).  I liked what she did on the video so decided to CASE it.  I used Kraft, cream and Red card stock.  ( the red being some of the first cardstock I purchased in April 2008) but basically followed the rest of the video.  I chose a large snowflake as my focal image.

STVSKSP2- Christmas sketch

I used a CB folder to emboss the red card and gold embossing powder for the snowflakes ( although the photo looks silver, it is gold) and the sentiment.

I am also entering this into Lucy's challenge ( here) to use something old and something new.  My new is the snowflake stamp~  a recent purchase.  It is by Papermania.

As the card stock is 12 x 12, I had some scraps - so made up this set of mini cards ( all 3x3 in)

Mini set


The ornament is the second part of the Papermania duo set.  I stamped it in various colours of Brilliance inks and quickly clear embossed.

Thanks to everyone for their lovely comments, I really appreciate them.
take care

Sunday 14 November 2010

Deck the Halls

I told myself.... "I don't need any more Christmas stamps!"... but my brain wasn't listening.... I bought three yesterday..... two small Inkadinkado sets and one Stampendous.... mind you it was super cute~~~~
Here is the first card I made with two of the stamps...
Deck the Halls - Orange Moggy

I used one of the Inkadinkado stamps - from the Winter Time Flourish to stamp onto the cream textured card with Scattered Straw distress ink.  I then  sponged on some Fired Brick and a touch of Faded Jeans and inked up the edges. My focal panel used the Scattered straw to stamp the Music Background from Hero Arts and then the Fluffles stamp from Stampendous. I coloured Fluffles in with Copics and added some glossy accents to the ornaments. I distress the edges with Old Mahogany and my fingernail. Added the gems and ribbon and the little panel of pp to finish - covering the join of the red card stock and the main card. 

I then used the same design and some patterned paper from the Kaisercraft "Gypsy Sisters" collection to make the second card.  This time I coloured Fluffles in as a grey cat.
Deck the Halls - Grey Moggy ( WMC#31)


Think I like the orange Moggy better....what do you think?

I had fun playing with this one and have a couple more stamped images left to colour and make up...maybe as an easel card?

Another lovely day here today... pity I have to go back to work tomorrow.... feeling heaps better today.... painkillers seem to have helped!!!!

Saturday 13 November 2010

Happy Birthday to my baby boy!!!!

He won't like me calling him that!!!!!  But 22 years ago today, that's what he was..... my new baby boy.   And he will always be my baby!!!!   He did some Father/Son bonding today as for his present, his Dad took him out shopping for trousers and a jacket to wear to his sister's wedding ( and also for his girlfriend's sister's wedding in 4 weeks time).

Blue Car

this is the card I gave him.  It was made a while back but I had saved it for his birthday.

I was still feeling a bit stiff and sore today so gave Stamp Group a miss.... but not entirely.  I did pop into the store to catch up and buy some new goodies.... Judi has been stocking some wonderful new items.. including some really cute Inkadinkado stamps and a Fluffles The Cat one by Stampendous.  I am half way through making some Fluffles cards.  Just waiting for the Glossy Accents to dry so will show it tomorrow.

Hope your weekend is going well.... I see on Barb's blog that winter is making it's presence felt in parts of USA.... and summer is definitely here in NZ with a beautiful warm day today.   take care


Friday 12 November 2010

Penny Black Saturday challenge

I am still not feeling 100% - I have sprain my sacroiliac joints in my back and the right side one is causing my leg to go numb. And for some odd reason my left knee is in continual pain.... (getting old and falling to bits)  Today I gave in and went to my doctor.  Have to have some physiotherapy for my back and had to have an x-ray done of the knee....

But I did manage to make a card last night for Penny Black's Saturday Challenge this week.  It was to have SNOW on your card.  I stamped the Caroling Trio and added Diamond Dazzle glitter for snow.... under the little carollers and in dots for snow falling.

Snowy Carollers


It is a bit hard to see the snow on the photo, but it is lovely and glittery in real life.

Am off to have a meal out... ( can't be bothered cooking) so we are heading out to a little Japanese place we have found.

Enjoy the weekend all...

Wednesday 10 November 2010

I've been pottering.....

haven't felt much like doing anything the last couple of nights.... suddenly feeling a bit tired and grumpy!!!! Have put out my back and didn't sleep well last night....  Poor DH has copped it.... but have a couple of cards that I made recently to share.

First is for my friend Marnie's birthday is a couple of weeks.... she wears a lot of green colours so thought I'd do this green big flower


I coloured parts of the petal with a Copic.  I had a bit of an issue with the sentiment.... notice it is not straight.  I have misplaced my stamp positioner and am waiting for my new Stampin'Up one to arrive - still all in all, I am pleased with this CAS card.


Second card is for our nephew who is coming up 16.  He is a very good golfer - so thanks to some stamped images send to me by the lovely Paula, I was able to make this card.
Golfer Birthday card

Had fun using distress inks to colour in the image and then using some watered down Liquid pearls to give it shimmer.

Well that's it for tonight... am going to head off to bed with a hot wheat bag and my book and see if I can get some sleep.

The countdown to the wedding day is now well and truly underway.... 17 days to go.... have seen the dress almost finished.... magnificent!!!!! and everything else is falling into place thanks to one extremely organised daughter.  She has everything planned to the nth degree.  So very impressed with her.

Bye for now

Monday 8 November 2010

WMC#30 - Birthday Bash

This week's challenge over at Wee Memories ( Jenny's blog) is "Birthday Bash" to celebrate Jenny's blog birthday!!!!  This is timely as I had to make a birthday card for my son's girlfriend.  Isobel's birthday is next week 3 days after my son's birthday.  They were over for dinner last night and I gave them their cards early as we won't see them before the birthdays.  I had already made Kieran's card a while ago but had left Isobel's.  Yesterday afternoon, I made this for her.... used similar design to my Christmas one of earlier in the day....


Isobel's birthday

I used a pale blue patterned paper and stamped the Music background in Faded Jeans distress ink.  This background stamp is so versatile.  I can see me using it all year round.  I added a sentiment by Stamp-It and the butterfly was punched from the PP and sponged with the distress ink.  I then used some paper that I had made using Joy's watercolour technique ( see here) to roll a flower.  I inked the edges in the distress ink and then added some gems and stickles.

And I have one more Christmas card I made the other night.  I used watercolour paper and white embossed the snowflake stamp but instead of alcohol inks I used distress inks - a very basic resist technique but still very effective.

Resist Christmas


I stamped the Hero Arts sentiment straight onto the paper and added some ribbon and the snowflake.  Finally added some Enamel Accents.... love this stuff.... looks like a brad on the snowflake.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting.  Please feel free to leave a comment...

Sunday 7 November 2010

Barb's 90 minute Scramble....

I was able to take part in the 90 minute scramble today because it started at 9.00am NZ time.  In the past it was middle of the night for me....
So there I was at 9.00am sitting in front of the computer with my stuff around me,.. still in my PJ's, cuppa tea and jammy toast beside me... ( Sunday is my sleep in day and it's normally awake at 8.00 with cuppa tea and the morning papers and up at 9.00am)
Barb's challenge was to make a Christmas card with a non-traditional flower...... so I was off and racing. Grabbed the cuttlebug and cut out some yellow and blue flowers.... then couldn't find any papers or card to match - so scrapped that idea.... so what next.  Quickly searched through my stash of paper and found a nice snowflake background in blues and purples.... that will do.... now stamps?  Love my Music background.... and so it went.... got the background done, stamping around the edge of the base card,... got the sentiment stamped.... oh my gosh what about the flower!!!!!

Now I've been trying to make rolled circle flowers like Jennifer McGuire showed in one of her videos.... but alas they have always look awful and never worked out... always in the bin... but thought I'd just have one more try ........  well worth persevering - got one to work - yeah!!!!
Used some felt leaves I cut out and finally got it all together.... just on the hour.... then to photograph, load up onto Flickr and link to the discussion thread.... woohoo... made it.

Wonderful time of the year

so there it is..... and this is what the desk looked like at the end.....
My desk at the end of 90 mintue scramble


Now on to the big clean up.....
Thanks Barb for such a fun challenge and doing it at a time that was good for me.


Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone.

Saturday 6 November 2010

Alcohol Thinking Inking

I have been following Jennifer McGuire's Holiday Thinking Inking over at twopeas.  One of her techniques this week involving Alcohol ink was to use it on Watercolour paper.  Now as most of you will know, Alcohol inks are usually used with Glossy paper... but the delicate look on watercolour paper is amazing.

Here's what I came up with.
I stamped the large snow flake from a Papermania Duo set onto the watercolour paper and embossed it with white EP.  I then used Stream, Aqua and Cool Peri inks with silver mixative.  I was really pleased with the results.  I added some Enamel Accents in white to the centre of the flowers  ( this stuff is amazing- just arrived in my Simon Says Stamp parcel this week)  As I didn't want to cover any of the wonderful colour or snowflakes with a sentiment, I stamped it with Stazon onto a sheer ribbon and added a double bow. 

I have been making the most of being home recuperating... have made a few cards, tried some other resist techniques, did my tutorial yesterday (here) and generally had fun in my craft room... today have to do the housework :-(  - but if I hurry I can get back to crafting later in the afternoon.  I've got new stamps and really really want to play!!!!

Hope your weekend is great - we have SUN!!!!! 

Friday 5 November 2010

All well... and a card folder tutorial

All is well... my little op went well and I am feeling fit and in no pain... thanks for all the thoughtful comments and wishes.

Now onto a little tutorial.   I made this folder for a set of cards... and thought I'd share how I did it.  Note I can not claim this as my own idea... one of my friends had made it - this is just to show how it is done..

Gift set....




Gift set inside....

Card Folder

Material:
Scor-pal or other scoring tool

one piece  of card stock 28 cm x 23 cm

narrow double side tape

crop-o-dile or similar hole punch
ribbon -  60cm in length
scissors


Step by Step
Step 1

score card at 14 cm







step 2

Turn 90 degrees and score at 6 cm







Step 3

Trim an inverted V in the small part

add narrow tape to both sides



fold up and stick tape down to form flaps

Fold in half on centre crease




Find centre and punch small holes at each side - size will depend on width of ribbon you use






thread ribbon through so it is over the inside portions ( acts as support for the cards/envelopes

 Decorate front as desired

also inside can be decorated ( as shown above)



For those of you who do not work in metrics..... cut card to 11 inches by 9 inches.  Centre crease at 5 1/2 inches and flap crease at 2 3/8 inches.

Hope you can follow this okay... if not email me and I'll see if I can help.

Off to do some more card making.... I like being on recuperation when I feel so good!!!
take care and have a great weekend.

Wednesday 3 November 2010

three of a kind....

Just a short post this morning before I head off to the hospital....
I had stamped off this image from Lei's Stampin'Up! set so managed to make 3 similar cards.... I used the same textured base for all three... just changed up the matting colours.



Made a nice and quick card.  I did have some issues with the Kindyglitz (glitter glue) making the Stampin'Up! soft suede ink run.... but it gave an awesome look to the trees.  Thanks to Lei for sharing her stamps and inks...
Entering into Jenny's Free for All challenge this week

Well off now.... being picked up in about 10mins.... should be home by lunch time tomorrow - as I am off with daughter to her final fitting for the wedding dress..... starting to get very exciting....

take care