“Burlap and Blooms” Simply Created Wreath Kit Class ...

Yesterday the “Crafty Wenches” got together for a craft off!

Sally’s craft class is called the “Crafty Wenches” and we get together every fortnight. Usually Sally, has between 4 and 10 crafters attend, and yesterday we had mother/daughter team Liz and Sophie, Anne and myself.

Monday's theme was the new “Burlap and Blooms” Simply Created Wreath Kit {NZ$35.95 #133333}, and to be fair you need to allow 3 hours for this gorgeous project ...

 

The Kit comes complete with everything you need provided; however I did add a couple of gorgeous butterflies to my Wreath from the “Papillon Potpourri” stamp set.

My favourite part was putting together the fringe flowers, these are genius, and so easy to replicate, with some DSP and the new Fringe Scissors {NZ$19.95 #133325}.

The wrapping of the Burlap around the flattened Wreath is very therapeutic, and quite easy to create such a stunning rustic/shabby chic piece of art.

I love the way that you can {carefully} remove the flowers to change up the Wreath for any season or any occasion … think Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Easter …

Here are some step-by step photos I took {one handed!!!}...

This Simply Created Wreath Kit has recently been released, in the new “Celebrate The Everyday” Occasions Brochure, available 28.01.2014 till 30.06.2014

The only downside of making this gorgeous Wreath, is that I burnt my fingers terribly with the HOT glue gun!!!

“Papillon Potpourri” Stamp Set

#123759 Clear Mount NZ$31.95

#132058 Wood Mount NZ$39.95

Fringe Scissors 

 #133325 NZ$19.95

Recipe Ingredient List

“Burlap and Blooms” Simply Created Wreath Kit {NZ$35.95 #133333}

Stamp Set: “Papillon Potpourri”

Ink: “Coastal Cabana” and “Crisp Cantaloupe”

Punch: Elegant Butterfly and Bitty Butterfly

Xtras: Pearl Basic Jewels

Special Tools: Glue Gun

Liz's “Burlap and Blooms” Simply Created Wreath

Sophie's “Burlap and Blooms” Simply Created Wreath

Anne's “Burlap and Blooms” Simply Created Wreath

Kathe's {my} “Burlap and Blooms” Simply Created Wreath

If you look closely at the Wreaths made by the ladies, you will see they have added their own individual touches ... can you spot the Dragonflies, Pearls, Rhinestones and Decorative Leaves? 

I ♥ that we each started out with the same Kit, yet each of our projects turned out so differently!

I hope you have as much fun making your "Burlap and Blooms" Wreath as we did!

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!