Creative Adventures Downunder - Part 1

I have been waiting for this event for six months.
At first it seemed like it would never get here. It was months away. No need to worry about it, just keep it somewhere in the back of the mind.
But then it was very soon and very nearly here and the time just seemed to be full of anticipation that it would be here.
And then it was the week before and time to get organised, pack and suddenly it felt like it would be here too soon and I wouldn't be ready and I needed more time...
And now it's over.
But they have announced there will be a 2014 version so I have that to look forward to now.

Until then and while I am still surrounded in the glow and happy feeling of a weekend full of crafting and spending time with like-minded people, I want to share with you some images and thoughts about the weekend.
It started officially on Friday 24 May 2013, but for those who were in Auckland and available could go through the registration process on the Thursday afternoon instead of rush through it all on Friday morning (at 8.00am - who's idea was that???). As I was available and had the time and so I could check out where I had to go and what the parking was like, I rocked up Thursday afternoon to complete my registration and check out the lay of the land.
There were a few others with the same idea. Some were local (Aucklanders) but there were a few who had come in from out of town or from overseas early as well. We checked in our name, received our name badge and group allocation (pink, red or orange), picked up our pre-ordered goodies, did a little extra shopping if we were so inclined and then were given a goodie bag of items donated by the generous sponsors of the event.

I was stagging it (didn't go with anyone else in particular) though did meet up with some friends that I made online during the lead-up process. They ended up in the orange group... and I was in the pink group. (As it always ends up).

I resisted the urge to check out my goodie bag until I got home, though it was very tough to resist!! Look at all the amazing goodies we received. The Cappuccino and 6" x 6" paper pack were given to us at the dinner of Friday night, but everything else along with our timetable and last minute updates were all included in the bag. I have to confess that I did remove things from the bag before taking my photograph, but hopefully I managed to get most if not all the things back together for the photograph.

We received...

Bazzill Basics "In-Stitchz" bag to hold everything in with a lovely blue ribbon around it so they all looked pretty. Bazzill "Just the Edge" Cardstock Stripes - mine are black with embossed spot - 12 pieces, 2 of each. Bazzill clear gemstones and a bag of "Punctuation" die cut chipboard also from Bazzill.

Pair of 8" Orange Handled Scissors from Fiskars.

Inkessentials Glossy Accents 18ml bottle from Ranger Industries.

Permanent Adhesive Glue Stick from Xyron. This has a curved edge as well as a corner so is a very interesting design.

Teresa Collins washi tape - grey with globes on it.

Clear mist bottle and a wooden block with velcro to attach felt ink blending pads (some were included). These were both labelled with the CAD logo. The wooden block had the logo burned into it - a detail I loved.

KaiserCraft file set.

Mini flowers in burgundy, cream and mauve.

Some wrapped lollies and a chocolate bar, which unfortunately did not make it through the weekend alive!

I hope I managed to capture everything there, my apologies if I didn't. This was a fantastic goodie bag with lots of useful items for the weekend of crafting and beyond. Thank you so much to all the sponsors who donated the goodies and for the organisers for preparing the bags for us. I know we all appreciated your generosity!!

Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 6

Day 6... Secret Santa Swap... Part 1

I love Christmas time (in case you hadn't noticed...)

I love it because I love giving gifts...

I also love receiving gifts especially when they are scrap booking and crafting related...

I don't usually get much (read anything) scrap booking or crafting related from my family for Christmas or birthdays... so I really, really, REALLY love a swap like this when I know I am definitely getting something scrapping or crafting related from someone who knows what are the really useful and cool things that someone like me will like... 

This year I was given my friend Jude to buy and create a present for. I knew she liked vintage, shabby chic styles so I knew I would have to do some shopping as I really didn't have much in my stash or my store that would fit the bill. 

I have to confess that after my shopping excursions for Jude's gift, I now have a bit more vintage style stuff in my stash as I bought a few things for myself as well along the way.

Here are some pictures of the altered box as well as the goodies I included inside...

This was a plain paper mache box from Spotlight. I painted it white with Gesso. I scrunched up patterned tissue paper, then smoothed it out so that it still had a little texture to it, then I adhered the tissue paper using Elmer's glue. The tissue paper also lines the inside of the box as well. Around the edge of the lid and the bottom of the base, I adhered a single stripe of washi tape in a coordinating script pattern.

On the lid I also added a little clear paint with a crystalline glitter in it to highlight the larger stars, though it's probably too subtle to show in the photograph. I also added a wired ribbon bow I made as well as some white paper roses, carnations and small flowers which I spritzed with gold Glimmer Mist.

All the goodies packed inside the altered box. 

 This was what was included inside... stick pins inside a decorated petal-fold envelope, laces, doilies, wooden butterfly buttons, paper flowers, glitter coated flower stems (because we make a lot of flowers as swaps), bag of ribbon slides and charms, some vintage style printed tickets and a bottle of My Huey's mist in white.

The doilies... from KaiserCraft in the packet and some that I hand made myself... proof I have learnt to crochet... as long as it's a round thing!! 

Close up of the stick pins and some plain fancy pins.

 I covered some recycled cardboard in some leftover tissue that matched the box and then wrapped the laces around them. One for whites, the other for ivories and creams.

The paper flowers I enclosed... roses, carnations and mini flowers in white and pink. If you like these I will soon be adding some to my stock so be sure to look up my website for these and many other styles, sizes and colours.

Blog Candy for Me

Earlier this year I entered a contest that I had spotted on Facebook for a blog giveaway from Gel-a-tins. I didn't think any more about it until a while later I received a message from Bonnie the owner of Gel-a-tins letting me know I was the lucky winner of the contest and so she needed my postal address to send me my spoils.

Needless to say I was somewhat stunned and overjoyed at my luck... and then somewhat impatient to see what goodies were headed my way.

Bonnie and I messaged for a wee bit as the parcel was returned to her, instead of being delivered to me. The New Zealand Customs Service in their wisdom had not allowed the parcel into the country... no idea why not. So Bonnie once again dutifully sent my bag of goodies of to me.

A few weeks later and a nondescript Kraft bubble padded envelope turned up in my letter box. As I opened the parcel I racked my brain to think what might be included inside. I hadn't ordered anything, I wasn't expecting anything, so what could it be. A quick read of the sender's address and I knew exactly what it was... my prize from Bonnie at Gel-a-tins.

With bated breath I slowly opened the parcel... 

Then gradually pried apart the sealed edge...

And looked inside...

WOW...

Lots of goodies for me. (Sorry before I go any further I am stating categorically I'm not sharing these with anyone... they are all mine!!!)

It was like a late birthday present/early Christmas present.

I took the bits and pieces out one at a time... prolonging the anticipation (and yes feeling a lot like a kid at Christmas!!)

Bonnie had definitely spoilt me.

So without further ado (because I know you are keen to see as well) here are the totally wonderful goodies I received from Bonnie at Gel-a-tins.

 Look at all these goodies...

 Gelly Gem Roll Ups - Silver

Sheet of Gelly Gems - like a flexible fabric 4.5" x 12" made up entirely of gems. Can be adhered onto paper craft projects or sewn onto fabrics and clothing.

 Gelly acrylic stamping block - colour Lemon Splash; size 2.5" x 2.5"

Transparent stamping block but in a really cool colour.

 Gelly Jr - Mini clear rubber stamp - Snowflake.

About 2" x 2"

 Gel-a-tins clear rubber stamp set in small metal storage tin 2.5" x 3.5"

Theme - Love and Kisses, includes 20 individual clear stamps.

The really cool tin that the Gel-a-tins clear stamps are stored in.

I would like to thank Bonnie and Gel-a-tins for the amazing parcel of goodies. I really do appreciate these the effort and kindness in sharing these with me.

To see more of the Gel-a-tins range and to let me know which ones you really like so I can order them in (hint hint), you can check out their range of clear stamps, acrylic stamping blocks, Gelly Gems and embossing powders on their website at http://gelatinstamps.com/ or to follow Gel-a-tins on Facebook you can find them here.