I wanted to share my latest creation. A friend of mine is due to have her second baby in a few weeks and we are having a baby shower for her this weekend.. as it’s her second child she doesn’t need the usual gifts and she also doesn’t know what she’s having so I decided to create something for her.

When I saw these Webster page’s Lullaby lane papers I knew they were perfect. I only used the one sheet of paper and cut it up and layered it with some Bazzill cardstock cut with my new Martha Stewart punches. I put it on a cream 12×12 inch think canvas so they can hang it in the baby’s room.

Anyhow I better got on with preparation for the baby shower. I will be back over the weekend with some cool photos from last weekends adventures when we took Grace to the local heritage park.

Haven’t had time to do much creating the past week and this one was a real challenge. It’s for the April monthly challenge at Scrap the girls, you had to use 5 buttons, 4 pieces of pattern paper, 3 flowers, 2 photos and 1 alpha. I struggled most with a title and are happy finally to have it finished.

It’s been a busy few weekends, two weekends ago we headed over to Moana (Lake Brunner) to spend some time with the in-laws and we had a wonderful time. Grace enjoyed 100% attention from her grandparents and it was nice to relax and just enjoy time out. Didn’t really get any photos of our trip but here is beautiful photo of the lake taken on another visit.

Then this past weekend (ANZAC weekend) we had Grace stay at her grandparents and Craig and I celebrated 10 years together by having dinner on the Tram restaurant. It was brilliant to have some quality time together and we hope to do it more often as Grace had a ball with Nana and Granddad too. A win/win situation The evening was a lovely experience but the food wasn’t up to much for the cost, defiantly a tourist thing. We had one young Asian couple opposite us who mentioned they were on the honeymoon (married 1 week), they seemed lovely however they spent the entire evening playing on there cell phones. I felt lucky to be 10 years down the line and still able to have a conversation with my husband.

Then on Sunday we attended the Lyttelton harbour ANZAC parade and service. Although we don’t live in this community we enjoy going to it as there is a nice community spirit in the service. This was Grace’s second service and she was so good through out it, sat and watched the proceedings. It was great to see so many children there watching and participating. They had little sea cadets read out the fallen solders from the area, so lovely and moving.

We celebrated my father in laws birthday on Sunday with a bbq lunch and catch up with family. Was nice to catch up.

Finally just some photos cause I can, Grace and I were playing with the camera the other night and this was the result. hehe

Well better get back to trying to sort out my scrap stuff.. is that job ever really done?!? hehe

Enjoy your weekend!

Just thought it was time to share a few layouts, some older and some recent ones. I forget to share these first two when I completed them for some challenges.. oops

I did this layout of Grace and her cousins for last months “Scrap the girls” monthly challenge. Love the photos of the cheeky wee monkeys.

Here is a layout I completed for a multi photo challenge over at “Scrappin Patch”, cute photos of  a friends son Cameron and Grace.

This is one of my recent layouts, I completed it for “Scrappin Patch’s” boy zone challenge that is running until Sunday. You had to do a layout about a challenge / struggle with a guy in your life. I wasn’t going to do this but decided  I wanted to capture my thoughts and feelings about my Grandfather’s death last year.. I love how the page turned out. I’ve found I’ve been getting more and more drawn to heritage layouts and soft muted colour schemes so have been collecting some papers then I can start scrapping my family history.

Since Megan has been part of the design team over at “Artistic Document” I’ve been having a look at their challenges and decided to give one a go. Megan actually set this challenge so I had to do it You had to scrap lift a layout from their gallery and this is my take on one. Check out their website if you want another forum to noisy about

I’m thoroughly enjoying doing challenges at the moment, they are getting me to scrap outside the square and I’m scrapping photos I wouldn’t normally scrap. It’s all good!

Well there have been a few Fridays pass and no blog post.. big oops on my part and although I’m sure I could dig up a wonderfully creative excuse I think I am best just to say “oopsie daisy” and start a fresh! hehe

It’s been a busy few weeks but I’m glad to say this week has been relaxing, however  it has still flown by at the speed of light! It’s been a super short week as Craig took today off work too. The sun is out and it’s a beautiful day out there but I figure I should catch up on my blogging while Grace naps, will head out for a coffee and walk later on.

I hope a good Easter was enjoyed by everyone and that their weren’t to many sore tummies from chocolate overdose. I came through Easter with most of my chocolate stash in tact. I have never been a chocolate lover and when I was a kid you could always find my Easter eggs in a bag months after the event had passed. I did however find “Pineapple Lump” marshmallow eggs this year thanks to Mum, scrummy! I think the appeal is that they don’t resemble chocolate marshmallow eggs but just huge pineapple lumps. If I find some more at the supermarket I shall stash them for later

We had a busy old Easter, hoped for a relaxing one and although it was super enjoyable it was over too fast due to our commitments each day.

On Good Friday we decided to take a day trip over the Moana at Lake Brunner and catch up with the in-laws. It was a fun day out and Grace enjoyed her first trip out in the family boat. She got so excited when Craig put the throttle?? down and took off. I see she’s going to be a speed demon like her Nana hehe

Saturday was enjoyable, in the morning Grace’s Granddad popped in with Easter treats and in the afternoon her Nana visited with even more sugar! hehe but luckily they both hung about to entertain her and burn off some energy too

Sunday was relaxing, I was in my P.J’s until 4pm as I potted about preparing dinner for that night and watching Easter movies. We had the family over for Mum’s birthday dinner that night and was nice to catch up and enjoy Easter together. I made some wee Easter baskets up for Grace and her cousins, the bunny ears were a hit! Not a particularly great photo of the girls but you try photographing 3 little tired bunnies

Grace’s first chocolate egg and I can tell you it didn’t last very long! 

Sharing Easter eggs with her new bunny toy.    

Over the weekend there was lot’s of hut building in the lounge too. During the past few weeks there has been a large cardboard box that has been used to make huts but Grace and Craig upgraded to the living room furnishings over Easter! hehe

There was also baking with Mum, most of which was successful except for the Pavlova! hehe I had a friend over for a cuppa and got a little distracted when I was cooking it, but Grace had a blast licking the beaters the first and second time! hehe Luckily the second pavlova was just delish!

I also had some fun whipping up these cupcakes for Easter. Chocolate cupcakes with green grass, little chocolate bunny rabbit cookies and mini Easter eggs.

Well I trust you all enjoyed your Easter! As always I hope to create this weekend so may be back to share something but don’t hold your breath! hehe

    The weekend before last saw us celebrating a very special occasion.  My sister Vanessa and her partner Tc of many years got married. They chose to have a beautiful simple ceremony on the jetty at Governor’s bay. The end of the jetty sits several hundred meters out in Lyttleton Harbour and is a very peaceful place to have a wedding ceremony. The weather was a bit dubious but it didn’t rain and the dull light will l have made for some beautiful professional photos!

Vanessa and I arrived and made our way down the jetty with our girls in hand, they looked so lovely in their little white dresses. We were greeted by Vanessa and Tc’s close family and friends blowing bubbles and the soft sounds of one of their friend’s playing the guitar.

Vanessa and Tc proceeded to exchange their personally written vows, they had incorporated the sea and surroundings into the words which added a special and loving touch.

Craig and I were their Maid of honour and Best man and we were honoured to stand with them on this special and memorable day.

Maddi, Grace and wee Georgia were so sweet and lovely, all dressed in white. It was so lovely to have them involved in the marriage of their parents / auntie & uncle.

After rings were exchanged, first kisses had and bubbly shared we were presented with a very happy and proud husband and wife.

  The happy family, all bound together by lots and lots of love!

The bridal party.

The very beautiful bride!

A masterpiece cupcake tower full of deliciously rich chocolate mud cake cupcakes. They were divine and oh so pretty!

They did a fantastic job of turning their backyard into a setting fit for any wedding celebration. When it got darker the twinkly little fairy lights shimmered and helped to create a magical night. It was a simple yet lovely wedding, the perfect way to celebrate the joining of this husband and wife.

To Vanessa and Tc, may you forever share the happiness and love you shared together on this wonderful day! Welcome to married life!

Love from us all! xoxo

There is a post in the making about the beautiful wedding on Saturday, I just need to finish it and track down some photos to carry the story of my Sister’s wedding day. Check back soon!

I can now share with you what I have been busy creating over the past week or two. I have been surrounded by the colour black and hot pink, a fabulous colour combo but I am over it now hehe

Firstly here is the wedding card I made for my Nessa and Tc’s wedding. I still LOVE my slice and it got a workout with this wedding. I used it to cut the scallop circles and letters on the card.

We got the bride and groom a new dinner set but I always like to give something to remember the special day by so I made this mini 8×8 album for them to add their photos to later. I used the new Lush range from “My mind’s eye” The flocked black album was perfect, I have a spare to make one for myself too. They had pink lilies as bridal flowers so I bought the  prima cream flowers and inked and kindy-glitz them to look a little more like lilies.

I left space for a lovely photo of the bride and groom on these pages and maybe one with their little girls.

I made a small version of the wedding invite and put it on this page so they can add photos of the special details of their beautiful day here.

This is the back cover of the album and it is flocked so adds a different touch.

I decorated this box for any vouchers and money gifts to be kept safe in, they can use it to keep keepsakes from the day in now. Also I covered the guestbook to go with the theme of the wedding. I used my Slice for a lot of the wording and embellishments on both of these.

The pink and black crafty explosion!

Over the past few weeks Craig and I have hosted the Stags and Hen’s nights for my sister’s wedding. They were some nights full of fun and craziness, just what you expect for such an occasion.

Just a few photos’ to share from both event’s. As you can imagine there is hardly any photos from the stag do (less evidence I’m sure hehe ) but least they had a fun time!

My sister, the beautiful bride to be!

My sister and I with yummy cocktails!

One of Nessa’s dares! hehe My tree’s will never be the same

To finish  the night off, a VERY rowdy round of 80’s Singstar!

and finally a photo of Tc and his best man (my hubby Craig) with the boobies!

It was fantastic to have some fun and send these two off into married life with a  bang.

A couple of weeks ago we had a Sunday free so headed out for a drive to Oxford. A small township in North Canterbury. We took some sushi and had a picnic lunch at the local domain, Grace had a run around and enjoyed exploring. I played with the camera and enjoyed lying under a tree on the picnic rug. A perfect lazy Sunday!

This week has passed very quickly yet again. Yesterday Grace and I joined some friends for a visit to Willowbank, a local wildlife park. We’ve not been there before and I figured Grace would enjoy the animals as she is mad about them. Loves watching “The Zoo” etc. She was into it but not as much as I had thought, here are some photos I snapped from our visit. I felt sad for the animals today and I remember feeling sad when we visited when I was a little kid. It just doesn’t seem right to have them in cages etc and just there for our viewing pleasure. The zoo’s we see on TV, like Auckland zoo etc look as though they care more about the animals mental welfare then what I saw today. What do you think?

Anyway this will have to be a quick post, we are being invaded by a Stag do very soon so Grace and I are outta here for the night! I will post again over the weekend as I will have photo’s to share from the hen and stag’s do. It’s been a busy little time but heaps of fun.