It's been one of those days...

Beach, anyone?  We packed up the kids and went to the beach last weekend.  2 reasons really; one was that we wanted to give the kids a chance to get back in the water.  They hadn't been back in since the awful-blue-bottle-jellyfish-incident-of-jan-2008 that resulted in an both boys being stung and an ambulance being called to Jacob. 

Secondly, I won a weekend away through Bachcare.  We've stayed away from home sometime in January for around 4 years now and we rent a bach (holiday home) each time.  We always rent through bachcare, it's easy, you have someone looking after you if you need them while you are away - thank goodness for the Hahei bachcare manager, Mary, when the boys got stung last summer, you walk in to a fully furnished bach and walk out when you are finished.  Anyway, we love the ladies at Bachcare and it was awesome to win a weekend away with them.  We could have gone anywhere in NZ but we chose good old Hahei.

It was SO good to be back at our beach.

 

The kids were a little hesitant and inspected the surf for blue bottles before they jumped in, but once they were in, they had a ball.

 

And they stayed in until they realised that these were in the surf...

 

At which point they high-tailed it back to the sand really quick.  It took a lot of convincing to show the boys that these ones really are just harmless blobs of jelly, nothing like the little critters that embedded themselves in their hands last summer.

Anyway.

The weekend was awesome.  It was extremely relaxing and we really can't wait to get back there in the summer.  And I'm throwing another link for Bachcare in here - I don't know if many people know you can just roll up and rent a bach for as long as you need at beaches and lake houses, even houses at the snow etc, all over NZ. 

Christmas.  Getting closer.  I have a feeling of quiet anxiety about it - mostly because I love it and I want to do so much cool stuff.  This week I bought a train to go around the bottom of the Christmas tree.  You can imagine the look Paul gave me when I told him.   I saw a train around the bottom of a tree on a blog (was it Ngai's blog?) and thought OH I HAVE to do THAT.  One trademe purchase later.... pity we don't own a tree.  We have the train though.  We may be placing our pressies around the train yet. lol

Talking of Christmas.  You must go to the Aussie Scrap Source blog today.  The DT has served up a plethora (like that word?  Makes me feel clever ;o) of ideas for little Christmas bits and pieces.  Here is a quick little tutorial for a pocket gift tag that I've put together for the blog.  This is an idea I originally saw Lisa vanderVeen do at CHA.I've presented a similar thing as a make n take since.  Here's a quick version.

   

This idea is so quick and easy. You can use scraps after each project to create a quick pocket gift tag - if we did this with our scraps every time we'd have a fabulous stash to turn to every time we needed a gift tag.

1. Cut an 8x15cm piece of patterned paper - add embellishments to the top.

2. Make a fold at 7cm down, fold in half and create a pocket by putting one staple on each side. (The red is on the reverse side of my paper!)

3. Create an accordion with a 15 x 5cm piece of cardstock or paper. Stamp an image on to spare paper, cut out and staple to the top of the accordian.

4. Add accordion to pocket.

 

 

It's a long post - I have more to say but I'll save it for next time - enjoy your day!

laters

Quick Post

Just a quick post for the Christchurch girls - I'll be updating again tomorrow with a real update and a few layout shares and stuff, but I just wanted to add this quickly, before I go off to bed to read a book.  Yes, a book.  It's the new me.  I also walked tonight.  I know.  Pick yourself up off the floor.

Alright - the official "What to bring for the Christchurch classes for Saturday" post....
(For those of you that may want to book in - I have indicated next to each class the amount of room left, the classes are mostly fairly close to sold out... if you want to book go to Scrapbook Art website for more details.)

So Tell Me... mini album....(Perfect for a gift!) (About 5 spots left...)
Whether you are looking to capture a point in time with your child, or want to create a fabulous gift for that special someone (father, teacher, grandparent, sister, friend, auntie...) for Christmas.  This class opens your mind to a fun way to look at the subject of your mini album and this new perspective will result in something fun that no doubt will inspire you again and again.  This is the perfect class to sit in on, to make a great gift album about a child for a loved one.

Participants will need to bring:

General tools, (trimmer, scissors, adhesive, pens etc).

Runner type adhesive.  Glue Dots.

Crop-o-dile or 1/4inch hole punch if you have one (we will share if you don't!)

 

Photos - this album can fit up to 14 photos although mine fits around 7. (6 x 4 size, both portrait and landscape orientation). 

In class we will be completing the basic album ready to add photos later - it is not neccessary to bring them to class.  If you really want to finish it, bring general cute kid pics of someone you want to create an album about :o)

(Or if you are like me, just put in lots of cute kid pics, my album is about my hubby, but contains lots of pics of the kiddos!)

 

Sneaky peek -(and this class is AWESOME the class kit itself is worth heaps!)

 

 

All in One:  Layout with Mini Book.  (about 4 or 5 places left?)

 

YEA!  A layout that has it all - amazing detail plus room for plenty of photos! In this layout class you will learn how easy it is to get multiple photos on one layout by building a little mini book right there on your page.   Gorgeous papers from various manufacturers, paired with Hambly Transparencies and various embellishments result in a stunning layout that will suit most themes. A full alphabet is provided to be sure you can customise your layout to any theme that suits the brown, teal and red colour scheme! The layout fits one portrait orientation 6x4 photo plus there will be room to add many more 3x3 photos later! 

 

Participants need to bring:

One 6 x 4 portrait orientation photo, any subject will do as long as it suits the brown & teal colours of this class.

Glue Dots

 

 

 

  

All you can crEATe Card Buffet class (sold out?  maybe 1 or 2 spaces left?)

6 Cards and more! This technique based class is such a fun concept brought to you from the States by

New Zealand

’s own Nic Howard. Your class pack will include gorgeous Prima papers, lace, flowers and other exciting product... pair that with the access the buffet of Prima goodness...all laid out complete with crystals,  leaves, buttons, ribbon, bling and flowers in every colour you can cr-EAT-e with! It's certainly different from your average class,  it's fast paced, fun and sure to inspire!  You'll complete 6 cards in class but leave with plenty of technique and product inspiration to keep on creating for hours

 

Participants need to bring:

General Tool kit & Adhesives.

Glue Dots

 

 

Alrighty - see you in the South on Saturday!

laters

winners winners winners

Hands up who has their Christmas cards done?  Christmas cards are one thing I have an expectation to do each year.  Not just from other people (where is the cute kid card?) but from myself.  I've been making handmade cards for so long that I think I'd feel I let myself down if I didn't do them.  I'm expert at making things harder than they should be - anyone else like that? I've not started yet.  I keep meaning to.

Bring on the giveaways - the following posts (chosen with the "honey, can you pick a number between one and 90?" method...)have won prizes - ladies - email me with a postal address and I'll let Stampin' Up! know where to send the goodies!

Posted by: Lynda | November 13, 2008 at 02:11 PM  Designer Series Paper, Ink Pad and Catalog.

Posted by: topkatnz | November 13, 2008 at 10:21 AM Designer Series Paper, Ink Pad and Catalog

Posted by: kiwimich | November 14, 2008 at 08:16 PM Round Tab punch and Catalog

Posted by: Serena | November 18, 2008 at 09:47 PM  Spring Flower Bouquet punch and Catalog

Short post tonight - I've packaging up prizes for those ladies that won the giveaways on theAutumn Escape Blog. 

I'm also still packaging class kits and sorting flowers for the Card Buffet in Christchurch (only spaces left for the card buffet I think, and about 4 in each of the other classes ?  I'm unsure but I know it's close!) The kids were helping me sort flowers but they've all gone off to bed.  What's up with that?

Leaving you with a layout from the last Tarisota kit - Similar theme to my door hanger from a few posts back.  Notice how very much I'm enjoying the modern distressed look - and thanks Louise for showing me the Faux stitching.  Layout is about how our cat Molly loves Abby, and Abby only. 

 

 

 

Birthdays, palms, more giveaways, and police in the street.

COMMENTS CLOSED I survived the weekend - It was my birthday which I celebrated with a few friends on Friday night (Trina you make the most awesome train cake!) and it took me the rest of the weekend to recover. I had a friends 40th on Saturday night, it was also his brothers birthday.  It was so bizarre, there was probably 25 people at the BBQ and there were 3 of us with our birthday that day!  It was great - I was thoroughly spoiled, with my fav pressies probably being the cards that sit above my desk at the moment.  For the record, Abby got me somethign sparkly ;o)

The palm theif - we've managed to laugh about it a fair bit since last Thursday.  It was hilarious watching the kids 'track' the theif through a trail of dirt that went for a long time - and later that night there were police - flashing lights and all - down our street, the kids were convinced that they were after the palm theif.  Helped along by a half cut mother and a group of friends spurring them along.

Autumn Escape - We drew 5 names to send giveaways to from those that are registered so far - see the Autumn Escape blog for details!

Big week here at the Howard house - kids have athletics, I'm catching up on work that I wasn't capable of doing over the weekend, Paul has the first of his appointments with the clinics to get his skin cancers removed - further proof that we should all slip slop slap - ya here me? I'm finalising classes for Christchurch and enjoying receiving boxes of goodies at the door to pack into class kits.  I've overdone the class kit for the Mini Album especially - it's worth signing up for just the kit if you haven't already. My hubby thinks I'm crazy - he doesn't understand how hard it is to stop shopping once one starts.  Obviously.

Stampin Up!  I have another giveaway here - and a really random card.... yep, really random - I tried not to think too hard about this one, which may show when you look at the card, but I just crumpled and layered and curled and distressed and had fun.  I meant to add a Merry Christmas sentiment to it after I let the dimensional magic dry but I forgot - duh.

Supplies:
Stampin Up Designer Series Paper (all of the papers - including the swirl)
Stampin Up ink Basic BlackStampin Up flowers and pearl brad
Stampin Up border punch
Stampin Up Festive Favourites stamps (snowmen)

 

OK so the Stampin Up giveaway for today (and this is the last one - feel free to add your name to the 2 previous posts though!  I'll draw winners in a few days!).

Today's giveaway - Spring Flower Bouquet punch and Catalog.Same deal - leave your name and I'll draw someone to get a send outin the next few days!

Righto- back to packing class kits, laters!

A quick one

COMMENTS CLOSED Where did the post go that I promised you yesterday?  I have no clue.  And this one will be quick, we've hit 26 degrees out there, the house is wide open, the radio is loud and I have a bunch of close friends coming around for drinks.  Bring it on, I say.

So.  Just briefly.

* Grrrrrr to the person that stole my big 7 year old ponytail palm from my front yard.  What comes around goes around is all I can say.  What gets me is would the type of person that would pull a massive plant from a front yard be the same kind of person that desires a nice garden?  Gets me.

* Did I say it is 26 degrees out there?  Just wonderin'.

* Stampin Up - today I have a round tab punch and catalog to giveaway!!  Read the last post for a pic of the punch and then the comments for lots of ideas of what to do with it - you ladies are awesome bring those comments coming.  And just leave me a comment on this post - say anything at all - for the chance to be in to win the punch.  Suggestions on what to do with the punk that stole my plant are welcome.  Judging by the trail of dirt down the path and walkway to school he CARRIED it too!!  Crazy people.

* I am now the proud owner of a new set of InkADinkaDoo alpha stamps and I couldn't be happier.  I'm thrilled.  I got the 'I need to scrap' vibes when I got them in the mail this morning.  You'll see them on the next 50 layouts at least. lol

Ok. Stuff to do, people to see, voodooo dolls of plant stealers to source, have a good weekend everyone.  Enjoy the sun!

laters.

(Leaving you with a layout created with November's Tarisota!  Awesome Christmassy pizza box of goodness that doesn't neccessarily have to be used for Christmas - as you can see!  Love that...)

 

COMMENTS CLOSED

TheGuy Fawkes thing was interesting.  Really, it was.  It seems that Australia used to celebrate Guy Fawkes day on the 5th November along with New Zealand and various other small English colonies, until the 1970s when the government ruled the Aussies far too outrageously irresponsible (I don't mean it really - just repeating what Wikipedia said...) with explosives, and banned the sale of fireworks.  See now New Zealanders are just as outrageously irresponsible, so our governement has been slowly taking the cool fireworks away for years now - first the double happies, then the sky rockets, and now they only sell them to over 18 year olds and only for a few days around the 5th November.  (And I agree with them doing all this!) Soon we'll be in the same boat as the Aussies and not be able to purchase them at all - anyway - I can't see the good old street party going anywhere... even if the only cool sparkly thing we have to look at is the citronella candle in the middle of the table, it'll still be a great excuse for a BBQ with the neighbours at the start of summer.

So glad we got that sorted. 

I see PInk Paislee are looking for a new DT now.  Both Prima and Pink Paislee are the kind of DTs I would love to be on - if only I actually had the time.  Hoping to see some NZers names though!

Scrapping - let's giveaway some STUFF!  I warned you that I have some Stampin' Up!  Stuff to giveaway, huh?  I have four different prizes - I'll give them away over 3 days, so be sure to check in!
Today I wanted to show you some of the punches I've been playing with.

First there was this cool one.

A scallop square.  *nodding in agreement with how cool that is*

Then there was this one:
   

Which is a tabby one - you punch it out and fold it in half. 

And finally.  There was this one.  And this is clever.  The Fiskar Threading Water punch was so popular (and so is, in my little world) but this is another option - a slightly smaller scallop and no holes - very very clever....

 

And so I created this easy peesy little cardy thing in attempt to do justice with some stampin up stuff, but alas I am useless with cards - I'm hoping here that someone find some scrap of inspiration, or at least goes WOW that's a seriously COOL stamp and my job will be done.  That's a bauble.  A christmas ornament.  It's two layered and pop dotted to make it stick out... Ok so I tried.  Really.

Supplies:
Stampin Up Designer Series Paper
Stampin Up ink Basic Black
Stampin up Dimensionals - the pop dotty thing that has made the bauble/ornament pop off the card.
Stampin Up border punch
Stampin Up Festive Favourites stamps (quote)
En Francais Stamp - that very cool scripty background stamp

But the most important thing - the giveaways...

I have up for grabs, TWO prizes of some Designer Series Stampin Up paper and a catalog (which is pretty much an idea book) and some ink.  Let me a comment - say anything - if you are Australian you may want to defend that "outrageously irresponsible" comment... leave me know what is happening in your scrapping world, just comment on anything.
And I'll pick a few winners early next week.

And then check back tomorrow for me to give more stuff away...

Laters

Monday morning has never come so quickly - the weekend seemed to be one large social event - from the large Pukekohe Fireworks display on Friday night (nothing like lying on one's back with 7000 other people watching the massive fireworks with 3 kids cuddled close and ash and debri falling in ones eyes...).  Then Saturday was a catch up with friends and then a guy Fawkes street party on Saturday night.  I happened to mention at said street party that Guy Fawkes was an English/New Zealand thing and that Australia doesn't share the tradition.  Most the people there didn't know that and even more wanted to know why - if anyone knows why, let me know!  We share most things with Australia, this one seems to be the exception.

What's happening this week? 

The Stars in their Eyes competiton kicks off at Scrappin' Patch...

There is 4 days left to register for the Autumn Escape to go in the draw for those prizes. 

Prima is looking for a new Design Team...

I am busy organising this special Christmas Edition of the Prima Card Buffet - just a note that this is close to being sold out.  Just the way I like it!  I love being busy at these events - busy = inspired=productive!

I'm finalising class kits for Scrapbook Art in ChristChurch - i'm thrilled I get to see the South Island again - I have 3 classes down there...

I'm busy making Stampin' Up! samples for a blog post.  I have GIVEAWAYS again - you know the fabulous Stampin' Up! giveaways that I do?  I will have some posted by the end of the week.  And I'll post pics of some new Stampin Up goodies that are coming out soon  - like a scalloped border punch very much like the threaded water punch except without the holes.  Very clever!  So I'll do all that this week.

I'm starting to entertain thoughts  of a certain Miss 4 in my life turning 5 - about to buy her school uniforms to go to school visits... 

The Tarisota Gallery has gone up over the weekend, I did 3 layouts, a banner and a door hanger -

Speaking of which I'll leave you with some images of it.  It is for Abby's door.  She can switch it from Come in to Keep out.  Guess which one she has it on most the time.  ( I totally under estimated how much she would LOVE this hanging on her door!)

laters

 

Abby's Santa List

I got home from swimming tonight to a note on my desk.  Paul had stayed home with Abby and apparently they had some sort of heart-to-heart about Christmas because this is what the note said:

Abby's Santa List (as dictated to Daddy, 6th November 2008)

* A Real Phone. Ahhh yea let me buy my 4 year old a real phone...
* A Real Watch
* More Barbie Stuff like Mermaid stuff Just like last year...
* Polly Pocket - Ok now I think we are just remembering what we got last year...
* My Little Pet Shop
* My Little pony - Yep definitely this is just last years pressies all over again.
* A dolly that can speak french - Wait, I take that back , this one is new?.
* More Soft toys
* Pretty Stuff (Necklaces, rings etc) - I have those on my list too.  Good luck honey.
* Cool Fabulous stuff, Dresses and dress up stuff
* Lots and Lots and Lots of pretty things - as I said, me too.
* Shorts and T-shirts
* Little Barbie Stuff like knives and forks and things.  And pretty things?

10 points to Daddy for thinking on his feet and writing this stuff down.  But 10 points for Abby for trying to tell Daddy over and over again how much us girls love pretty stuff. 
Next time use the word sparkly, Abby, we'll see if he gets it.

laters.

November the 3rd and we are smack in the middle of fireworks-buying-time.  We only get 3 days to buy them this year.  I've said before that I love Guy Fawkes day, it's like the start to the summer.  I'm looking forward to a street BBQ and fireworks on Saturday night.

So how many of you (In NEw Zealand even!) Know what Guy Fawkes Day is for?  I admit when my kids asked I only had basic knowledge... it kinda went like this... "well in the 1600s there was this guy that plotted to blow up the English Parliament with all this gunpowder and stuff and he got busted before the plan went ahead.  They caught him and tortured him and hung him and when they did that the people of the city celebrated by burning big bonfires and 'Guy's' and over the years they have let off fireworks to represent the blowing up of parliament as well.  Except they didn't blow it up.  They just wanted to."

I apologise to any history teachers out there.  I did my best under pressure.  Truly.  My boys loved the story and you can just imagine them walking away doing the slow nodding in agreeance thing - alright.... blowing stuff up....keeeeewl...... Anyway.  Bring on Guy Fawkes day.  And bring on the summer that follows shortly afterwards.

The Sketchbook Retreat was a blast.  One of the best weekends I've been to probably, even if I did have to cut it short and come home for my family.  If anyone has pics of the Saturday night dress-ups - link me up!

Talking of retreats - I've just updated the Autumn Escape Blog with details of a giveaway we are having - 5 prizes - so go take a look at the blog. We've had an overwhelming amount of interest and a really decent (exciting!) amount of registrations back, but we need to know a more concrete number for planning/sponsorship purposes so we are really hoping to get more registrations in sooner rather than later - spread the word if you can and if you are one of those that KNOWS they are coming and hasn't got around to registering, seriously... do it.. a chance of one of 5 prizes has to be good reason!!!

Who bought Mallowpuffs in their shopping last week?  Just curious. lol.

Alrighty, leaving you with a layout.  Featuring my fab man again.  the journaling:

If you pressed me to say
Why I loved him
I can say no more than
Because he was he
And I was I
And he makes me
Toasted Sandwiches
When I've had a few too many
Drinks with my friends.

*sigh* i know. I know.  So heartfelt. 
Laters.