School Goes Back Tomorrow … Finally!!!

Well …first day back at school on Friday {after the Summer holidays}, and I get a call to say that JorjaRose has thrown up and could I collect her.
Poor baby ♥

Reilly goes back to school tomorrow {I mean today as it is 2.25am!!!}, after 7 weeks of Summer holidays.

This will be Reilly’s final year at Intermediate {Middle School}, before he goes on to College {High School} next year.
I have just finished covering his school exercise books with glossy Clear Cover-Seal.

My how easy it is to work with Clear {NZ$1.99 per roll}, rather than patterned {NZ$5 per roll} or my DIY on JorjaRose’s school books! {please click to read Tutorial}.

I polished {pun intended} them off in just over an hour.
My biggest hint is to cut the Cover-Seal to about 2cm bigger than the exercise book.
Start covering the back first, as I found that the last side of the book covered always came out best.
Use a ruler to smooth the Cover-Seal as you go.
Mitre the corners, and cut a V into the Cover-Seal where the spine of the book is.
And wah-lah … job done!

My hubby Wayne made the kids school lunches, as this is one job I do detest!

We ♥ to re-purpose in this household, so Reilly’s lunch box was originally an Ice-Cream container!

On a side-note, with the kids back at school, I can {finally} get back into my craftin’ and I can’t wait!!!

My project for tomorrow is the gorgeous Stampin’ Up! “Burlap and Blooms” …

 

Anyways … must dash as I need to get some sleep before shepherding the kids off to school tomorrow, I mean today!

School Goes Back Tomorrow …

The end of the Summer holidays are almost here!

I spent the better part of today covering JorjaRose’s school books.

This year I refused to pay NZ$4 > NZ$5 per roll for book covering {which covers 2 exercise books}, so instead designed my own…

In my craft stash I have a bunch of really gorgeous serviettes.

JorjaRose decided on the Eiffel Tower Parisian them serviettes {which were 3Ply} and the hearts and music notes serviettes {4Ply}.

Because the serviettes were 3Ply and 4Ply Serviettes, I needed to separate 

the Plys down to a single layer.

I cut the serviettes in rows to fit the school books.

I layered the books with cling wrap, and then placed the single Ply serviette on the cling wrap; I then placed a sheet of thick cardstock on top, to form a sandwich.   

I used my clothes iron to iron the thick cardstock, which heated the cling wrap, which then formed a glue to adhere the layers together 

{the exercise book with the single Ply serviette}.

On the back of the school books I used double sided craft tape to attach a sheet of Stampin’ Up! Naturals White, which gave the books a 

really clean and elegant {I thought!} look.

I used my SU “Decorative Label” Punch, and punched out tags for the subject labels, in SU Naturals White, and wrote on the labels with my 

Early Espresso Stampin’ Marker.

I then covered the books in clear covering, the books looked gorgeous and unique, and JorjaRose was really happy with them.

 

This process took all afternoon, and in the long-run, I value my time, so in hindsight, it may have been a better idea to have paid for the decorated cover-seal after all!

My girl was in bed by 7.30pm tonight, as she was so excited about her first day of school tomorrow, after 7 looooong weeks of Summer holidays!

Recipe Ingredient List

Cardstock : Stampin’ Up! Naturals White

Punches: Stampin’ Up! Decorative Label

Inks: Early Espresso Stampin’ Marker

Other: School Exercise Books, Serviettes, Cling Wrap, Clear Cover-Seal, Double Sided Craft Tape

Special Tools: Clothes Iron

Summer BBQ/Cook Out

On Saturday, we hosted our very first “Summer BBQ/Cook Out”!

 

Although we have lived in our home for 12 years now, this was the first time we had had guests over for a BBQ, other than immediate family.

The guest list was small, just two couples and their children, but we had great fun in planning the occasion.

I really wanted the atmosphere to be relaxing, so after hubby had mown the lawns, Wayne and Reilly lifted the 3-Seater couch from the lounge and wicker furniture set {from our bedroom} outside onto the grass.

We also had 2 sets of matching outdoor wicker furniture, each seating 4, with glass topped tables, and we popped the sun umbrella up between the tables.

 

 

 

 

As a centre piece on the tables, I used a lovely floral arrangement in shades of pinks.

 

I came across these gorgeous bottles from The Warehouse for only $2 each.

I purchased 3 of the plain bottles for chilled water, and I just love the one with Lemons on the front, which I had to fill with my "Homemade Lem♥nade", which I have tweaked the recipe to ...

 

Kathe's "Homemade Lem♥nade"

Zest of 3 Lemons
Juice of 8 Lemons

3 cups of Water

2 and 2/3 cups of Sugar

1 teaspoon Citric Acid

1 teaspoon Tartaric Acid

1/4 teaspoon Epsom Salts

After juicing the Lemons, I then strained the juice to get rid of any stray seeds etc.

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan, bring to the boil and then simmer for 1 minute.

Leave to cool before bottling.

This recipe is very strong, so you only need to add a fraction of syrup to a glass {approx. 1cm in depth} before topping with carbonated water i.e. Soda Stream {but without the flavour added} .

An xtra cool and refreshing drink, which any spirit can be added to, Vodka, Tequila, Gin ... yum!!!

As is the Kiwi custom, each family bought a salad and some meat for the BBQ.
We had a yummy selection, including chicken kebabs, and the crumbed sausages went down a treat!

 

The salads were xtra healthy, and the favourite one was mine {or course}, which was Pam’s “Sweet Mango Mesclun Salad”, my secret is that I purchase it pre-prepared and ready to serve, it even comes with the dressing!

My Summer Look ...

 

 

I painted my nails the night before in shades from OPI:

OPI “Italian Love Affair” from the OPI Italian Collection, a very light cotton candy pink with iridescent shimmer

OPI “Wonderous Star” from the OPI Mariah Carey Holiday Collection, this gold-flecked shimmer has heavenly shine.

OPI “Which Is Witch?” from the OPI Disneys Oz The Great and Powerful Collection, Is this silver glitter with iridescent sparkle or the other way around?

 

 

When I first came out dressed in my gorgeous floral sundress, and my husband, {and I am not kidding you} said ‘You’re wearing that to this?!!!”

To say I was heartbroken was an understatement, so off to the bedroom I went, and changed into this casually Summery Clarity Tunic, matched back with nude wedges by Pulp.

I had just finished making my latest piece of jewellery {from my JorjaRose Jewellery Collection}, so wore this cute necklace and matching earrings, which  matched back perfectly with my nails and the Clarity Tunic, so I felt a tad glam after all!!

We had a fantastic evening, and I can’t wait till we do it all over again!

   

 

“Create With Kathe” For Thursday 19th December 2013

I made this gorgeous card at my “Create With Kathe” Class last December, but have just had a chance now to photograph it.
I first made it in Pear Pizzazz and Naturals White, but having demonstrated it so many times, it looks a tad squashed!

So I made up another sample in Pool Party and Naturals White, which I think is my fav!

I love how effective this card is, yet how simple it is to create. + the added bonus is that it can be flattened to allow postage!
I used the gorgeous Stampin’ Up! Hostess set “Postage Collection”, and “That’s The Ticket” with the matching “Ticket Duo Builder” punch.

Designed by Linda Marie, and showcased on the Stampin’ Pretty Blog by Mary Fish, you can watch the video tutorial here ...

“Postage Collection” {Hostess Set}

#129237 Clear Mount

#129240 Wood Mount

“That’s The Ticket”

#128075 Clear Mount NZ$37.95

#131946 Wood Mount NZ$47.95

Recipe Ingredient List

Stamp Sets: “Postage Collection” {Hostess Set}, “That’s The Ticket”

Cardstock: Pool Party and Naturals White, Pear Pizzazz and Naturals White

Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe, Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Pistachio Pudding, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy

Punch: Ticket Duo Builder, Decorative Label

Other: Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Stampin’ Trimmer,

”Artichoke” Denim Jean Ribbon (R), Flower Trim (R)

Guest Blogger: Sally Rice with “Springtime Hello”

The very talented Sally made this gorgeous card as a swap for an upcoming 2014 Seasonal Catalogue Swap.

Sally featured the beautiful stamp set “Springtime Hello” on her card, and used the “Painter’s Tape” technique.

I just ♥ the little bee hovering over the flowers, so cute!

 

 

 

Sally’s tip, if purchasing the clear Mount set, that you can cut the words in two, so instead of having a single stamp saying “hello spring!” you can then have two stamps, one saying “hello” and the other “spring!” {which can also be put back together again to say “hello spring!”}, which make this stamp set all the more versatile.

This can also work with any other worded Clear Mount stamp set - thanks Sally!

“Springtime Hello”

#133415 Clear Mount NZ$22.95

#133412 Wood Mount NZ$28.95

 

 

"Scalloped Tag Topper Punch"

#133324 NZ$47.95

Recipe Ingredient List

Stamp Set: "Springtime Hello"

Cardstock: Naturals White, Pool Party, Crumb Cake

Ink: Stazon Black, Pool Party, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Crushed Curry (Stampin’ Marker), Crumb Cake (sponged)

Punch: Scalloped Tag Topper

Embossing Folder: Needlepoint Border, Honeycomb

Other: Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin Ribbon, Linen Tread, Envelope Punch Board (used for corner rounding)