Will you be my bridesmaid?

That magic moment when the man of your dreams is down on his knee asking to spend the rest of your life with you. My husband proposed over a year ago and we have been now been married 7 months. I wanted to share with how I asked my close friend to be my maid of honour (matron - as she was married).

Given we'd been through so much together since first meeting at kindy when we were 4, I didn't want to just send her a text saying "wanna be my bridesmaid?" I wanted to ask her in a special way.....so I found this gorgeous idea when searching google and decided to go with it.

Bethany's gorgeous idea.

I found a box that had a lid, some colour pallets from the local colour shop, downloaded my photo ideas I had been collecting, and wrote some information. I wanted her to feel special and comfortable on the day, so we both searched for a dress and shoes that were her and comfortable, so she felt beautiful. It was so wonderful giving it to her, knowing all the love I had put into trying to creatively ask her. Of course the best part is she said YES! :)

The day was absolutely amazing, and it was so precious knowing she was by my side the whole step of the way! If you are getting married and have yet to ask your bridesmaids, be creative when asking them. Go on - I dare you! :)

My gorgeous bridesmaid!

Surprise those beautiful girls in your life that you want to pop the b-maid question too!! :)

Arohanui,
Anna xx

Joyful Ornaments

Christmas had snuck up on us, and we had a Ladies Night for all our Mum's, and I was in a last minute dash to produce a craft the Mum's could make on the night. As always, I went straight for my favourite place - Pinterest, and many ideas caught my eye. But two stood out as a craft that would be awesome to do with a large group these cute joy ornaments and these gorgeous joy to the world blocks. I joined these two ideas to create these Christmas ornaments. Don't be limited to the word JOY, we also used - NOEL, LOVE + PEACE.

Materials Needed:

• wooden blocks - as many per letter (we hunted out for wood at ITM in their scrap bins and had a local handy man cut the wood into blocks 3cm x 3cm)
• PVA glue
• paint brush
• christmas craft paper
• jute
• beads
• glitter pens and/or embossing pen and embossing glitter
• drill and drill bit

1. Drill a hole through all of the wooden blocks. 
2. Cut the paper to the size of the block (front, back and sides x2).
3. Using the paint brush, spread PVA glue over each of the sides of the wooden block, then place the paper on (press down hard as it can bubble). Make sure you don't place the paper over the holes. 
4. PVA glue over top of the paper to finish it off giving it a glossy look. (if you love the plain simple look without the letters skip to step 6)
5. Using glitter pens wait until the glue has dried then write on your letters.
6. Tie a looped piece of jute near the top (to be able to hang on the tree) - make sure it is tied bigger than your hole to avoid it slipping through. 
7. Thread wooden blocks, and then add beads at the bottom.
8. Tie off after the wooden bed.
9. You have a beautiful handmade Christmas decoration - hang it up and admire your decoration :)

***Doesn't matter if its not perfect - its rustic!!! :)

Happy Crafting!!!

Hope you've had a Merry Christmas and are looking forward to seeing in the New Year!!!

Arohanui,

Anna xx

Creative Creations

1 year anniversary scrapbook

Hello lovelys!

I absolutely LOVE creating gifts, I would rather make a gift than go out a buy something so today I am sharing a project I completed last year for my 1 year with my boyfriend -- a home-made scrapbook. 

Materials needed

• Cardboard - any shape or size, but ensure all are the same x 8(or depending on amount of pages you want to do
• Ring binders x 2
• Paper (pick up any type, scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, maps, anything)
• Stickers - flat letters, puffy letters, anything that is going to help make your master piece
• Double sided cello tape
• Craft stickers - I followed a travel theme as we were doing distance for most of our relationship
• Hole punch
• Photos - the key ingredient to an awesome scrapbook
• And anything else you deem necessary

Cover the cardboard with paper of your choice and use double sided cello tape to ensure it sticks to cardboard. Once all are covered hole punch ensuring they all line up for the binders. Next get creating - create themed pages - stick on beautiful jewels and gems - if you have saved maps, or tickets from places you have visited use these as backgrounds or a key piece on the page - they will definitely stand out :)

Go wild with your creation! I believe anything made from the heart is the best gift to receive!

Go on -- GET CREATIVE and make a scrapbook for a loved one, or yourself :) They will keep forever!!!

Arohanui (much love), Anna Jane xx

Awkward Hellos

While waiting for my train to come on a chilly afternoon, I notice a young guy with his head phones in -- looking kind of....awkward. As a train pulled in to the station, I noticed he became more tense and as the doors opened he pulled out his head phones, an extreme case of nervousness came over him with a goofy grin on his face - and embraced someone who I believed to be his girlfriend. It was an Awkward Hello.

Instantly it took me back to my time doing distance with Joe (my boyfriend of nearly 2 years). We have been doing distance for a fair chunk of our relationship, between New Zealand and England, with several stints of spending time together in between. It reminded me so much of the first time he came to NZ and that extreme sense of nervousness with butterflies crowding my tummy as I waited and watched to see him come through the international arrivals gate. That first embrace of do I even remember how to hug him, the thoughts of 'he looks different', what do I say...etc. As much as I was nervous -- hellos are the best part about goodbyes. They make up for the tears and the heartache by bringing so much joy and happiness in such a huge rush of emotions.

In life we come across situations or things such as smells, noises, or objectives that remind us of precious moments that have helped shape a certain experience or us as a person. These moments are what bring me back and help me remember how far I have come in life and also how far our relationship has come.

Everyday I try and look for the small things that make me smile and remind me of the past joy and of the joy to come.

"A moment last all of a second, but the memory lives on forever"

Arohanui & Blessings,
Anna

What defines a joyful noise...

What defines a joyful noise in your life?

A joyful noise in my life is the sound of...
- the piercing squeals of laughter coming from my nieces and nephews as they are being tickled.
- a hot summers day at the beach with the sound of waves lapping onto the shore.
- a tune playing over the radio that you can't just help but smile and sing a long.
- a SPLASH into a river or swimming pool
- a conversation with a close friend

These are just some of what define 'joyful noise' in my life, but one that stands out and one I am trying to live daily is "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord" from Psalm 100. Praise Him in all circumstances, sing a new song to Him.

Today the challenge is to figure out not only what the sound of joyful noise is, but also what do I do to make a joyful noise.

Arohanui and Blessings. Anna