HAPPY 2012 ..... AND A SNAPSHOT OF NEW YORK

Hello my friends

It's been a few weeks since I've posted on my blog .... being rather overwhelmed by pre-Christmas preparations, and then rushing off on holiday the day after Christmas, I haven't had a chance to sit down and catch up with you all.  So, rather belatedly, I must say Happy New Year!!  2012 is full of promise for me, and I hope it will be a great year for you too.

I am still in a bit of a creative slump, post-Christmas.  Until I can come up with a card to show you, I thought I'd share some photos of our fabulous holiday.  Our family travelled, with friends (who also have 2 kids), to the US for 2 1/2 weeks.  We started off in New York (one of our favourite places to be - just love it), then went to Walt Disney World in Orlando, before finishing up in Las Vegas.

Here's the first instalment - a snapshot of our time in New York.


First up, the iconic Times Square, at night.

The location of our hotel in Manhattan was brilliant; here's the view from the hotel bar, over Times Square.  Unfortunately, we couldn't enjoy this view on New Year's Eve ....  a table cost $15,000!!!  Even a 'standing room only' ticket, to be in the room, was $1500.

Instead, we had a private party in our room.  I stuck my camera out the window to try to capture a portion of the crowd.  It is INSANE in Times Square at this time; around a million people crammed like sardines, into the 10+ blocks around Times Square.

A pretty cute shot of Ethan, a bit footsore after traipsing for miles around Manhattan!

Check out the gorgeous Christmas decorations inside Tiffany's on 5th Avenue.  Such a beautiful store, spanning 5 levels (spent hours there!).  I'm not a big wearer of jewellery, but did buy myself a little something ..... how could I not?!

Here are all 'the kids' at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.  Loved the tour, and we helped prop up the American economy while we were there!

You can't go to New York without experiencing Grand Central Station.  It is absolutely beautiful.  I also get a lot of pleasure out of reading destination names like Poughkeepsie, and Yonkers (it's the simple things)!

After capturing this shot, I became the official photographer of squirrels on our trip!  Just love these little creatures.

We caught the subway from Manhattan to Brooklyn, then walked back to Manhattan over the Brooklyn Bridge.  That was one of the highlights of our time in New York; it was great.  The weather was beautiful ( there was no snow at all this year), and there were heaps of great photo moments along the way.  I'll share but one with you:

How beautiful do the clouds look, reflected in the Freedom Tower?  This is the building being erected on the Ground Zero site.  Still lots of construction going on.

A perfect Sunday in Central Park.  We walked from one end to the other on this day; glorious.

These cute little bridges dotted around Central Park really took my fancy:

I hope you've enjoyed this little snippet of our visit to New York.  I miss it already!!

I will be back with the next instalment, of our time in Walt Disney World in Florida, once I've trawled through my hundreds of photos to narrow down the selection.

STAMPIN' UP! CHRISTMAS CARDS IN CHERRY COBBLER AND VERY VANILLA

Yesterday I had a pre-Christmas afternoon tea with some of my dear friends, who spoil me every year with the most exquisite handmade gifts. 

I thought I'd share with you the Christmas cards I gave the girls.  I went with a theme of Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla (as you may well already have determined, by the title of this post).

Stamps: Stitched Stockings, Season of Joy

Card: Cherry Cobbler, Brushed Gold, Very Vanilla

DSP: Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper (retired)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler stampin' pad, Versamark inkpad

Other: Cherry Cobbler embossing powder, Stocking Tag punch, Large Oval and Scallop Oval punches, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch,  Designer Frames embossing folder, Champagne Stampin' Glass Glitter, 2-way glue pen, gold flat-back pearls (not SU!)

Stamps: Merry & Type, Four Frames, Snow Swirled, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Naturals Ivory

Ink: Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake stampin' pads, Crumb Cake marker

Other: Color Spritzer tool, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Decorative Label punch, Basic Pearls, sponge dauber, Lace Ribbon border punch, Very Vanilla velvet ribbon

Stamps: Welcome Christmas, Season of Joy

Card: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler

Ink: Cherry Cobbler stampin' pad and marker, Soft Suede stampin' pad, Crumb Cake stampin' pad

Other: Basic Pearls, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, Crimper, mini glue dots 

I hope you're managing to feel the Christmas spirit, despite it being a horrendously stressful time of year!  I'm feeling quite relieved to have finally posted my Christmas cards, and wrapped all the gifts.  Now to start packing for our fabulous holiday that we'll be embarking on, right after Christmas!

STAMPIN' UP! DOMESTIC GODDESS DSP

I really LOVE the cute, quirky, Domestic Goddess Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up!  Not least of all because it makes me feel slightly virtuous to own something with that title (seriously, I should employ a cleaning lady, because I am far from a goddess in that department!).

I encourage you to check out the 'flip-side' of all the papers in Stampin' Up!'s range, because the variety is fabulous, and patterns are often quite unexpected.  Even though this paper pack is quite whimsical, and "kitcheny", I came up with a card for a friend, that has a bit more of an elegant feel, I think.  I just love the yellow and grey (sorry, Daffodil Delight and Basic Gray) combination.  The colours are a bit 'off' in my photo, but you get the general idea :)

Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Very Vanilla, Basic Gray

DSP: Domestic Goddess Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Gray and Daffodil Delight stampin' pads

Other: Silver Glimmer Paper, Basic Gray satin ribbon, Basics Glimmer Brad, Fancy Flower punch, 5-Petal Flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch, 2 1/2 " Circle punch, Perfect Pennants Bigz die, Itty Bitty Shapes punch, Basic Pearls, Fun Flowers Bigz die, sponge dauber, sticky strip, Tombow multi liquid glue

SANTA OWL BOXES FOR SOME LITTLIES

Due to my current rather "bah humbug" attitude towards Christmas, I am crafting strictly on a need-to-have-something-now basis!!  It actually seems quite a productive (if stressful) way to do things; I definitely operate best under pressure. 

Ethan, who is in Grade 5, is a buddy for two 'preppies' - little boys in their first year of primary school.  When he asked me, with a day's notice, to make something for his two buddies, I knew exactly what I wanted to make - Santa owls, using Stampin' Up!'s Owl Builder punch.  I really did have a hoot (sorry) making these!

I personalised each box with the initial of the recipient.  Here is a back and front view, of the boxes that had been filled with chocolates:

Stamps: Stylish Star, Ho Ho Ho stamp (not SU!)

Card: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Basic Black, Crumb Cake

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Basic Black stampin' pad

Other: Silver Glimmer Paper, Fancy Favor Bigz XL die, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet sizzlits dies,   1 3/8" Circle punch, 1 3/4" Circle punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, Owl Builder punch, Bird Builder punch (for the hat), Square black brad (not SU!), Tombow liquid glue, paper snips.

Cute, don't you think?  I have a suspicion that the boys will make a bee-line for the contents, and probably squish the boxes in their sticky little hands, but that's okay!  I got a lot of pleasure out of making these, and Ethan loved them, so I'm a happy Mama.

JAI #97 : STAMPIN' UP! SWEET FLORAL

Take a look at this gorgeous inspiration photo over at Just Add Ink this week:

I have used Stampin' Up!'s Sweet Floral stamp, with markers.  I coloured directly onto the rubber with Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo and Poppy Parade markers, then spritzed the stamp with water before stamping it onto Whisper White card.  A wash of Pool Party ink softens the background. 

I was thrilled to have this perfect opportunity to play with my new silver flatback pearls - can you tell that I like them, much?!

Stamps: Sweet Floral, Build A Cupcake

Card: Pool Party, Whisper White, Melon Mambo

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo and Poppy Parade markers, Pool Party stampin' pad
Other: Silver glimmer paper, Beautiful Wings embosslits die, Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon, Scallop Edge and Lace Ribbon border punches, Word Window punch, aquapainter, water spritzer, mini glue dots, silver pearls (not SU!), Tombow liquid glue

PENNANT PARADE BRIGHT AND CHEERY CARD

Tomorrow is my lovely sister-in-law's birthday.  (I'm actually blessed to have three lovely sisters-in-law; I am one lucky girl - love them all dearly.)

Despite living only a very short distance from the birthday girl, I am guilty of not always getting her birthday cards to her in time.  This year, however, I was very organised, and delivered it a day early - woohoo! 

Stamps: Pennant Parade, Happiest Birthday Wishes, Up, Up & Away

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Daffodil Delight

DSP:  Big Top Birthday Designer Series Paper

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Real Red stampin' pad

Other: Brights button, White baker's twine, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Petite Pennants Builder punch, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, paper snips, mini glue dots, stampin' dimensionals, Tombow multipurpose liquid glue, , Scallop Square Nestabilities

JAI #96: JUST ADD TANIA GOULD

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to CASE one of Tania Gould's gorgeous creations.  Tania is on the JAI Design Team, and has a beautiful style.  I scrolled back through Tania's blog and chose this card, as the use of the Top Notes really appealed to me - not something I'd think to do:

The starting point for my card was a Certainly Celery flower that I'd made, and not yet used.  After consulting my trusty Stampin' Up! Color Coach, I decided to pair Certainly Celery with Marina Mist, using some white on my card as Tania did.  It's only now that I've photographed the card, that I see I stamped the sentiment a bit crooked - oh well, it adds to the handmade charm, don't you think?!

Here's my version of Tania's card:

Stamps: En Francais, Always Elegant, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Certainly Celery

Ink: Certainly Celery stampin' pad, Whisper White craft stampin' pad

Other: Top Note die, sponge daubers, Marina Mist Scallop Dots ribbon, Certainly Celery taffeta ribbon, Subtles glimmer brad, Fancy Flower punch, 5-Petal Flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Eyelet border punch, sticky strip, mini glue dots