MY ENGAGEMENT CARD

This took me ages to decide as it had to be something special.  I trawlled the Internet and came up with a few ideas until I finally settled on this.

Explosion Box

Top of box

Guest Book

Found the pattern on the internet and changes to meet my size requirements.  Printed paper on Gloss Photo Paper, prints came from Delightful Doodles and Crafts U Print.  I went shopping and bought various embellishments to incorporate in the card.  The appropriate words I found on the Internet and I then foiled them for added effect.  Stacey absolutely loved the card and took it around to everyone at the party proudly telling everyone her Mum had made it.

I also bought a Guest Book for them and bought some grunge lettering and embellishments which I embossed about 5 times using Alison Ellis embossing powders.  The effect came up very well.

STACEY'S ENGAGEMENT

My daughter Stacey has just gotten engaged to Luke Patterson.  We had the engagement party last weekend.  It was a great time, I am so happy for Stacey and Luke and they look very much in love and I wish them well for their future together.  Luke is such a lovely guy and he absolutely adores Stacey.

Engagement Cake from
Partake of Cake
www.partakeofcake.com.au

Son Brant and his partner Tara (centre) with their friends Steve & Bec

My niece Michelle, Stacey & Brant

Michelle & her hubby Nick

My sister Trish and hubby Ian talking to their daughter Jenny on Skype
from Germany

Murray, Warren (my hubby), Royce & Loris Graham (my inlaws)

Stacey & Luke

Luke and his parents Margaret & Bruce

Speeches

Luke & Stacey

CRUISING NEW ZEALAND

Well just returned from an amazing two weeks cruising New Zealand

We left Sydney on the 31 January on the Carnival Spirit on its inaugural trip round New Zealand.  First time I have ever travelled by ship and the experience was wonderful and relaxing, no meals to cook, no housework, just laze by a pool or on your verandah and watch the world go buy.

My family, being my brothers and sister and their working children, all put in to buy Mum the Cruise and my twin sister, Trish and I accompanied her.  She and Trish had cruised before, and while my sister and I had previously been to New Zealand, Mum had never been there and it was one place she wanted to go.

My husband thought it was funny the three of us were sharing one small cabin but we got on OK.

We spent two days at sea and I was surprised how fast the days went, we shopped (a lot), prices on the ship were really good and there was a different sale on each day.  We played trivia, I got third in the Star Wars one, lazed around.  Meals were fantastic.  Funnily enough are cabin steward was named Ketut which we did think was hysterical but he was wonderful.

Out first day in New Zealand was Bay of Islands, non of us had been, it was disappointing that it was a misty day but we enjoyed a lunch cruise out to Russell, and visited a Craft Market.

Next stop Auckland, again misty but weather cleared eventually.  We took a tour across the harbour to the NorthShore, it was a great way to see Auckland.  We eventually ended up in Devonport and after going up the two extinct volcanoes for views, were dropped in the village where we wandered and then caught a ferry back to the ship.  Unfortunately it was not clear enough to warrant a trip to the tower.

Again sailed overnight to Tauranga, where we hoped on a bus to Rotorua.  The driver, a tiny woman was a very informative tour guide.  On arrival at Rotorua we boarded the paddle steamer for an enjoyable morning tea while cruising on Lake Rotorua.  On return to docks we were taken to Hells Gate Thermal Park, where the staff treated us to a tour and a Hangi lunch.  Again the staff were great and Mum struck a conversation up with one of the Maori girls working there, who tolk her about how proud she was to be working on her peoples land.

Well second post, was busy before Christmas completing card orders so will post some here.
Above I was asked to produce a Birthday/Christmas Card for one of the girls at work who shares her birthday with her Nan  on Christmas Day.  Apparently they try to out do each other with cards and I was asked to create one.  Part of the card is from Tina Fitch from Forever Memories for You Forever-Memories-For -You, check out her blog her designs are really wonderful.  I created the wording myself, the fireplace is from one of Tina's cards, cut out a spiral Christmas tree. So one side is Happy Birthday and the other is Merry Christmas.  I was very pleased with the result and heard Nan was going to frame the card.

Will show some more cards I made both digital and cut files soon.

Maryanne

FIRST POST

My name is Maryanne Graham and I am very new to blogging.  I am an avid crafter - making cards, average folk artist, ceramicist.  I love craft about which this blog will mainly be about.

I live in Victoria, Australia and I work full time for the emergency service as well as being wife to a semi patient husband and mother to two adult children.

My first love is making cards, I am the proud owner of a Black Cat Lynx cutting machine which I purchased from Designs Made By Me www.de-signsmadebyme.com.au.   I don't design many but love to collect cutting files, infact you could say its a compulsion, if there is a new file I simply have to have it.  I make cards made to order as well as digital cards.