Celebrating our 15 years together

Instead of going out for dinner as we usually do for our anniversary, I decided to throw us a "15 year celebration" with some of our friends. I wanted to make a dessert table like some I'd seen online..(by Amy Atlas , Kate Landers, etc...)


The first 4 photos taken by my good friend April...

I bought square white dishes at Ross a few months ahead of time, and stock piled them in my cupboards. I also purchased new matching glasses only $8! I had most of the apothecary jars already, and cake pedestals. (A few are Martha Stewart cake plates and the rest from various thrift stores and garage sales.)
I purchased some white "black out " fabric and cheesecloth for the table. (The cheesecloth gave it texture.)

The day of the party I made the tissue paper balls..the instructions are on Martha Stewart's website. (Because of the humidity here I couldn't make them too early, or they would be droopy).
My backdrop was foam core, covered with some flocked wrapping paper I had bought on clearance a while back. Light weight and easy to hang.

To celebrate our years together I stamped a frame , then stamped "15" and punched out the image with a Stampin' Up punch, and then taped two tags back to back together- with a toothpick in the center. The sugar pearls were purchased at Ben Franklin, the plain cupcakes from a bakery.
(Nice, big, perfectly baked cupcakes so worth the $8 dollars, and much less stressful.)

I also stamped some tags to hang on my jars. (This one had white cheddar popcorn in it.)

I bought some strawberries and dipped them in whipped cream frosting-again much less stressful and less expensive then trying to melt the white chocolate. This white olive dish only $2.49!

I went to Safeway and purchased various "white items" The white coconut candies, yogurt pretzels, coconut cream cake, cheesecake, Boston cream cake, Good and Plenty, mochi balls,

Monterey Jack cheese,and white crackers.

Having them placed straight and orderly made them look much better and doesn't take as much food. I didn't want a ton of leftovers either. Little condiment cups hold the candy.


Donuts even look fancy! Marshmellows were covered with white frosting too, then I put lollipop sticks in them.

All in all I was pleased, and I was especially happy visiting and playing games with our friends. Brian enjoyed the evening too and liked the table and games,etc.. The kids were happy-there were leftovers for them!

Card Class

My first card is using a brand new set called "Artistic Etchings". I love this set! I also used a Stampin Up embossing folder for the background paper.



I stamped the tower on vanilla paper, then masked it (using another piece of paper) then stamped the French Script background stamp over it.


I took the tower and stamped it again on another piece of paper and cut it out,and pop dotted it on the previous image. I added some buttons using mini glue dots.



I used some new background paper and shaded the edges using my new Espresso ink pad. Not hard to make and I love the results.

Now I just need to see Paris in person!

Contest Winner

There was a coloring contest at Vacation Bible School and Lily won 1st place!



She had to color and design Joesph's Sarcophaqus and here's what she did..





She won a beach chair and gave it to Sawyer..So sweet. He loves it. (See it in pool post...)

Card making with a friend

Lily and her friend Rayn made a few cards using my Copic markers, and a Hero Arts stamp set. They were quite busy stamping, cutting, coloring and had a grand ole time. Very cute cards as well!

Popsicle + pool + dinosaur = fun

I set up the pool outside to give Sawyer something to do while I was cleaning up the kitchen. He asked for a Popsicle and I told him to eat it outside...

here's the cool way to eat it.

A beach chair-luxury seating poolside.

Having a plastic dinosaur to share it with is also fun.

Yum yum

Sawyer's Photo Study 2 & 3

I mentioned a few posts back, that while I was unloading my pictures there were quite a few photos I knew I didn't take on my camera...here's Part 2 & 3 of Sawyer's portraits.


Very important subject material, I suppose to a five year old.
I like to call this one


"Goldfish"



(yes, his sunflower seeds in background)

This next one must ring true in every guys heart...

"Ode to Remote"

Lastly
Another self portrait.





The end.

Hilton anyone?

My great friend (shout out to Nicole!) told me about the lagoon at the Hilton hotel...right next to Waikiki beach and best of all- FREE parking nearby. I told another friend about it, so last week we took our kids there and hung out ALL DAY.

IT WAS WONDERFUL! They tossed the football, paddled all around the mini island in the lagoon, paddled on their boogie boards, ate lunch, swam and expended all their energy!
We saw wedding photographers, summer school children, tourists, & honeymooners.


Tossing the football...

Sawyer (took over an hour) -caught a little fish...

Looking at the little fish...

Paddle Board...

Wedding couple taking pics...

Side of Hilton building...relaxing while watching the kids.

I loved that I could pack up and be home in 20 minutes after playing "tourist" myself.

I am blessed- I know it. I just tend to forget it.

Card.

Because I had cleaned my craft room/garage, I felt motivated to make a card.
Clean table = clear mind I suppose.

I needed some baby cards so I used one of my older favorite sets called Brides and Babies.
The decorative paper is SU paper. I love the green, yellow combo.
I taped the decorative paper to white card stock and added white satin ribbon and a small green button for some added "Oomf." That is a word -right?

I stamped the image with Black Staz On and then punched it out with my round Marvy punch. I used my aqua painters again, and colored it in using the Barely Banana, Blush Blossom, Bashful Blue and So Saffron ink pads. I also sponged around the circles with the Saffron ink.
The words were stamped in Certainly Celery ink and then punched out with another SU punch. I adhered the words and circle using my favorite pop dots from SU as well.

Sweet card makes me think of sweet babies!

"Photo Study" by ?

I was unloading pictures onto my computer, and saw tons of them that I know I didn't take. Hum, someone got ahold of my camera

while I was out in the garage

cleaning...


and took alot of pictures of my old coffee table,

with Sharpie marks,



and a toy gun.

Wow, even using the macro setting!

Now, I don't think it was my daughter, and my other son was outside, who could the culprit be?!

Wait, that blue shirt...

and those toes...

Ah-ha! -a self portrait!



Thought so.