Articles by Nadine Crozier

Nov 24 2015

Fabulous Foils for Christmas

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: 2 Comments

12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2015 – Day 2

Foil christmas cards from Pinc Ltd

If you’ve been following this blog for any amount of time you will most likely know how much I love shiny things. Yes, I’m quite the magpie. While on a recent search for wedding stationery I came in contact with Margriet, from Pinc Ltd. This great local business, having started out specialising in pocketfold envelopes, had recently branched into foil printing and the minute I saw the samples I fell in love.

Margriet from Pinc Ltd Having had the pleasure of seeing their foil product range grow over the last few months, I was thrilled to have Margriet join us in an interview for our 12 Days of Christmas Ideas – after all what time of year goes better with shiny and foil than Christmas, right!

A few years ago Margriet started manufacturing pocketfolds and sleeves for wedding invitations and gift vouchers. This range quickly grew to accommodate various other small items, embellishments like starfish, charms, printed ribbon and more. Earlier this year they were presented with a wonderful opportunity to start foil printing, which they took on with much excitement. The business is now based in Red Beach on the beautiful Hibiscus Coast here in Auckland.

Margriet, it’s lovely to have you join us. Can you please tell us about your range of readymade foil products?

We started the foil printing earlier this year, like you I am drawn to shiny, sparkly things and as soon as the idea of foiling was presented to us I was so excited! We have printed such a range – business cards, wedding invitations, Christmas cards, packaging… and more recently we have acquired a large format foiler that can do up to A3 size. We’ve been having a lot of fun with that machine, making décor prints and various wall art pieces. Doing one off little frames as art pieces too. We currently have gold and silver foil for the A3 prints, and we’ve actually just today ordered some samples from a local supplier to see if their coloured foils work on that machine. So many options! Very exciting!

Foil christmas cards

They are just so beautiful. How would we go about getting our hands on some of these?

At this stage we have a facebook album with prints for sale – click here. You can message us via that or our contact details are on the page too. We have also attended a few local markets which has been a lot of fun.

One off framed foil print

Do you take orders for custom designs? If so how would someone go about that?

Absolutely! We’d love to add to the range so message us your ideas, we’ve very happy to do custom designs.

Thanks Margriet, for taking the time to share these gorgeous products with us.

Wow, this is exciting stuff. These would truly make beautiful gifts or lovely additions to your Christmas décor. Make sure you get in touch with Margriet and her team at Pinc Ltd. You can do this by visiting their website www.foilprinting.co.nz or keep in touch with them by following them here on Facebook.

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© 2015 As You Wish Events Ltd. Want to use this article in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Auckland, New Zealand – Event Planner & Designer Nadine Crozier publishes the ‘As You Wish Events’ blog filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous event. Get your exclusive inspiration, tips and tricks at http://www.asyouwish.co.nz. As You Wish Events is an event planning and design company based in Auckland, serving the Auckland region and certain areas of Northland.

Nov 23 2015

7 Christmas Terrariums We Love

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: 1 Comment

12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2015 – Day 1

Growing up I remember going to visit my Aunty and Uncle who had these amazingly detailed little ceramic houses displayed on the shelves in their living room. I would spend ages staring at them imagining what it would be like to play in them had I too been of a miniature size. It was like a window into another world. A world where my imagination would take over and everything seemed magical. It is this same sense of magic and imagination that has drawn me to include this as one of our Christmas Ideas for 2015.

So whether you call them terrariums, snow globes, aqua jars or something else completely, I hope this collection will inspire you for your own creations.

As seen on: Shopterrain.com

As seen on: ‘Simple Every Day Life On The Hill’ blog via Pinterest.

As seen on: 1800 Flowers

As seen on: Cute Cottage Overload

As seen on: ‘My Name is Yeh’ Blog

As seen on: HGTV Gardens

As seen on: Pink Pistachio

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Nov 10 2015

The Ultimate Guide to Creating Stunning Lolly Buffets

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: 1 Comment

The Ultimate Guide to Stunning Lolly Buffets

Who doesn’t enjoy a sweet treat every now and then? To be honest, I probably enjoy them way more than ‘every now and then’, and when I’m faced with a stunningly put together Lolly Buffet (or Candy Buffet – depending on where you are from) the likelihood of me resisting is even smaller. But I love Lolly Buffets for more than just the sweet treats – when put together well they add to the décor of the occasion; if you’re only serving a light dessert option they help add to this part of the menu; they make for a fun and interactive party favour option; and lastly, they create an awe and wonder that brings out the inner child from even the oldest of guests.

But what does it mean to put a Lolly Buffet together well? What is it that makes the difference between throwing some bowls full of lollies on a table, and creating that space which inspires awe and wonder in your guests? Really it comes down to following certain steps. Steps which I’m sharing with you here today.

Before you do anything else you need to ask yourself a few questions. How many guests are you catering for? This will determine the quantity of sweets you will need. What is your colour scheme? This will help guide your sweet selection and overall design. What style are you going for? Rustic, Boho Chic, Classic, Elegant, Modern etc. And do you wish to add any design elements? These are things like glitter, crystals, and specific patterns etc. This will also help guide your overall design.

Once you have this sorted, it’s time to go sweet shopping. I suggest breaking your sweet search down into 3 categories.

Bulk Lollies:

These are the kinds that are usually sold by the packet e.g. M&Ms, Jellybeans, Milk Bottles, Liquorice Allsorts, Marshmallows, Chocolate Éclairs, Fruit Bursts etc. Quantity wise, I would recommend buying around 100g – 150g per person of this type of lollies.

Designer Sweets:

These are more likely to be sold individually or in smaller amounts. They tend to cost a little more and look rather fancy. Examples of these are Ferrero Rocher, truffles, handmade fudges etc. Of course, if you are keen, you can always have a go at making some of these yourself. Quantity wise, aim for one piece per person – give or take a few.

Display Sweets:

These can be anything you like really – it is all in the way they are packaged to match the theme. Some examples are cake-pops, Hershey’s chocolate bars, and mini bags of candyfloss. I would also be inclined to include those swirly lollipops and rock candy-pops in this category. Quantity wise, whatever you like. These are mostly used to fill in spaces on the buffet table and make it look more decorative.

More Shopping Hints:

Whatever sweets you choose make sure they fit in with your colour scheme – this contributes to your overall design. Also if you have favourite lollies that don’t work in with the scheme, don’t despair, consider packaging them so they do match.

Lolly buffet, in gold mint and white - bulk candy repackaged to match the theme

Lastly, shopping at your local supermarket or at the nearest Warehouse can be a little frustrating when you are looking for specific colours – so I recommend shopping with online lolly shops such as Crazy Candies, LollyShop and Hey Hey Candy. These companies are all based in New Zealand and they organise most of their lollies by colour.

Lolly buffet in gold mint and white - apothacary jars

Now that you have purchased all the sweets it is time to design the layout of the buffet table. Let’s break this down into 3 parts also.

The Vessels:

While the fancy apothecary jars with their curvy lids look lovely, you certainly can still achieve great results without them. Hunt around to find a selection of jars, vases, glasses, trays etc. that will work with your selection of sweets and overall design. Mason jars and jam jars would work perfectly for an occasion with rustic design elements. Crystal bowls, cake stands and cut glass vases from Nana’s china cabinet or the second-hand store would work beautifully for a more elegant, classic themed. These day most hire companies stock a variety of lolly vessels too. You will also need to find scoops, spoons or tongs for the handling of the lollies. And last but not least the little lolly bags or favour boxes for your guests to fill.

Here’s a few extra tips for filling your vessels:

Put your larger bulk lollies, like marshmallows, into your bigger containers.
Show off your designer sweets by using trays or cake stands. We used photo frames with paper in them that matched our theme.
If the containers look too empty once you’ve put the lollies in, you can place an upside-down cup in it first to take up some of the space in the container.

The Placement:

The two words to remember here are levels and symmetry. When you look at the layout of your buffet table you should see 3 obvious height levels – flat (at the front of the table), medium (around the middle of the table), and tall (towards the back of the table). This can be achieved with the size of the vessels but tends to look even better when you use risers (boxes covered in paper or painted to match the theme). Symmetry is basically trying to have the right-hand side of the table mirror the left-hand side of the table. Just keep in mind that this isn’t an exact science – if you have a play with these aspects before hand you will generally find a balance that works.

Lolly Buffet in gold mint and white - buffet layout

Lolly buffet in gold mint and white - buffet centrepiece

The Printables:

You can do everything mentioned thus far and have a nice Lolly Buffet, but I believe it is this step that will make it truly stunning. Whether you design the printables yourself or buy them it doesn’t really matter. The main thing is that they pull together your overall design, which includes your colour scheme, design elements and style.

Lolly buffet in gold mint and white - printable swing tags

Lolly buffet in gold mint and white - printable tent cards

Lolly buffet in gold mint and white - printable wrap and flat label

Oh and don’t forget the signage informing your guests of how to use this enchanting space. This will further enhance your guests’ experience.

Lolly buffet in gold mint and white - printable signage

I hope this guide sets you well on your way to creating your own stunning Lolly Buffet. Of course if you wish to have the pleasure of enjoying one of these without all the hard work you can always get in touch with us. As always, feel free to like and share this post with your friends.

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Oct 22 2015

Go the All Blacks!

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments

Create your own Sports Bar at home!

We’re now getting down to the final rounds of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. What better time to gather with friends and watch the games. Technically even the most casual of ‘get-togethers’ qualifies as a party so why not kick things up a notch and set up a refreshments station for all your guests to enjoy. Here’s some great ideas and products to help get your creative juices flowing.

Set up a table that is in view of your TV, but not obstructing it, and add a few decorations to it. If you’re not keen on making them yourself, then Build a Birthday have a great selection to choose from, and you can order them online too.

Next you need food. Some of New Zealand’s favourite brands are supporting our team by going black, so why not make use of them. Photo credit: 100% Pure New Zealand

I think these tins full of popcorn, are a must. Available at most major supermarkets, not only is it a great game watching snack it adds to the décor. Photo credit: Countdown

So that all your snack food isn’t out of a packet, choose 1-2 sweet and savoury options to add to the table. Here’s some tasty ideas from KitchMe – if you choose dishes that can be prepared in advance, even better.

And if you feel like getting a bit fancy, you could even give these a try. Photo credit: The Whole Cake and Caboodle

Now while this may seem like a lot of work, as my Mum will often say, ‘there is a method to my madness’. Not only will this look amazing and help build a great atmosphere for watching the game – because you have put out everything your guests could possibly need on this “self-serve” food and beverage station, you’ll get to enjoy the game more because you won’t have to keep getting up to get things.

For more ideas check out our Rugby/Football Party pin board on Pinterest, and if you do give this a go we’d love to see your photos.

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Oct 15 2015

The Cheat’s Iced Cookie

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments

I love having Iced Cookies on the party menu. They always look colourful and fun, and they decorate the food table too. For my son’s recent Space Rocket party we absolutely had to have iced rocket shaped cookies and they most definitely had to match the rest of the party’s design. I really didn’t have the time or patience to make them myself, nor did I want to spend the money to have them professionally made (last time I got a quote for a detailed iced cookie it was around $12 each – I love cookies, but I don’t love them that much!). So when I came across this idea, I was pretty keen to give it a go. So armed with my computer, a few graphics skills and a recommendation from a couple of friends for a company called Photocake, I was off on a mission.

I started out by purchasing a rocket shaped cookie cutter from Kiwi Cakes and then created my rocket image to fit the cutter. This took a little bit of trial and error – having to print it out a few times to see if it would match, but I got there without too much fuss. Then I tiled multiple copies of my rocket onto a page that matched the measurements listed for the size project that I wanted to use on the Photocake website (this was an A3 Landscape Edible Image). I followed the remaining instructions to complete the order – pretty straight forward. They then printed my images onto a thin layer of fondant like icing and couriered it to me.

A couple of things I need to mention here are that Photocake only prints what you upload and submit – so if you get your sizing or positioning wrong it’s not their fault. Also every printer and computer screen has some variances in colour so be prepared for the fact that the printed icing image may vary slightly from your screen. And lastly due to copyright laws you must own the rights or have permission to upload your chosen image.

You can see I added a few other images to my page which I used as cupcake toppers.

The edible icing image arrived in good time and was very well packed. Overall I was super impressed with Photocake’s service.

Then it was baking time. Once the rocket shaped cookies were cooked and cooled I used the cookie cutter to cut out the rockets from the icing sheet.

I then brushed the cookie with a little water before placing the icing on top of it so that the icing would stick. And it was done!

All that was left to do was to serve and then eat them.

If you decide to have a go at making your own iced cookies the cheat’s way, we’d love to hear from you. Either send us an email or tell us about it on our Facebook page.

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Oct 08 2015

Space Rocket Party

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments

Space Party Title Photo

I couldn’t believe that another year had passed us by, when we recently celebrated my son’s 4th birthday. This year it was a Space Rocket theme. Earlier on this year I found this awesome rocket ship puzzle at Kmart. We have had hours of great imaginative play with this simple toy. We’ve taken many trips to Jupiter and occasionally Saturn or Mars, so it was only natural that this became the inspiration for the whole party.

Party Highlights:

I really wanted iced rocket shaped cookies but didn’t want to spend the time piping on all the little details. So I was pretty excited to create an image that matched the cookie cutter and then to have it printed onto icing by a company here in Auckland called Photocake. (More about this next week.)
As always we work hard to have the food match the theme too. So this time we had Cupcakes decorated with our printables; Planet Pops; Rocket Cookies; Star Sandwiches; Meteorite Meatballs; Saturn Rings (Burger Rings).
I always try to have a combination of games and activities at each party I create – this time we made a cardboard rocket shaped playhouse to match the theme, along with Galactic play-dough and a game we called ‘Twinkle, twinkle eat a star’. This game involved cookies in the shape of stars hanging across the doorway for the kids to try and eat without using their hands. Very entertaining to watch!
I love to use child sized chairs, so I was super excited to find that Carlton Party Hire in Henderson had just added to their range child sized Chavari chairs – eeek! They have been available overseas for a number of years, but have only just arrived in New Zealand. In fact I was the first person to hire these ones. They looked so cool and matched the theme perfectly.
Lastly, I have a bit of a thing with the concertina rosettes at the moment so I was thrilled to use them in the birthday banner and as coasters.

Kids Space Rocket Party Table Setting

Kids space rocket party table centrepiece

Kids space rocket party kids chavari chairs

Kids space rocket party helium balloons

Kids space rocket party table setting from above

Kids space rocket party centrepiece

Kids space rocket party astronaut

Kids space rocket party drink bottles and coasters

Kids space rocket party table setting and playhouse

Kids space rocket party playhouse

Kids space rocket party playhouse and food table

Kids space rocket party game galactic play-dough

Kids space rocket party favours

Kids space rocket party favour bags with printables

Kids space rocket party food table

Kids space rocket party iced cookies

Kids space rocket party cupcake printables

Kids space rocket party printables

Kids space rocket party planet pops

Kids space rocket party cakepops

Kids space rocket party theme colour candy

Kids space rocket party themed candy

Kids space rocket party buffet table

Kids space rocket party star sandwiches

Kids space rocket party star sandwiches and printables

Kids space rocket party saturn rings printables

Kids space rocket party meteorite meatballs

Kids space rocket party meatballs

Kids space rocket party birthday cake

Kids space rocket party cake topper

Kids space rocket party rosette banner

Kids space rocket party birthday banner

Kids space rocket party food and banner

Summing Up:

With every party that I do I put a lot of time, thought and energy into it. Sometimes I even get stumped over what to do next. But when the day arrives and it all comes together perfectly and the guest of honour just beams from ear to ear it is all worth while.

If you have any questions or comments regarding how we put this theme together or if you would like us to create a party for you then please contact us either via email or through the comments section below.

Vendor Credits:

‘Space Rocket’ Party Printables: As You Wish Events Ltd
Décor & Styling: As You Wish Events Ltd
Shopped At: The Warehouse; Kmart; Look Sharp Store; Spotlight; Susan Wong – Independent Stampin’ Up Demonstrator.
Catering: As You Wish Events Ltd
Printed Icing: Photocake
Photography: WonderFerris
Child Sized Chavari Chairs: Carlton Party Hire Henderson

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Sep 03 2015

5 Fabulous Father’s Day Ideas

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments

Father’s Day is coming up this Sunday. If it has snuck up on you and you haven’t got anything planned yet then we’ve pulled together five of our favourite Father’s Day ideas that are bound to inspire you.

A different more manly take on the gift basket, this gift bucket is a great way to put together lots of those little gifts for the Dads in your life.

As seen on: Tried and Twisted

If socks are what your Dad needs, then this is a novel and fun way to present them.

As seen on: One Good Thing

If your Dad loves an adventure, then this could be the perfect gift experience.

As seen on: The Dating Divas

I think there is always something special about giving and receiving a photo gift. This idea is awesome, and would be fairly easy to make too.

As seen on: House Hunt

If you’re planning a Father’s Day brunch or dinner why not dress things up with these bow tie bundles.

As seen on: BLOGLOVIN’

We hope this inspires you for your Father’s Day celebrations. But if you’d like to see more ideas for Father’s Day then check out our Pinterest board by clicking here.

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Aug 27 2015

Coca-Cola Theme Party

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments

Earlier this year I put together a Coca-Cola themed party for my husband’s birthday, and I have finally got the photos sorted and ready to share. It was a fairly casual occasion so it mainly consisted of a Burger Bar, Drinks Station and Dessert Table.

Party Highlights:

The burgers were soooooo gooooood! Everyone made their own, along with all the trimmings we had two main meat options – Cola BBQ Shredded Chicken and Cola Beef Patties.
Drinks were simple – Coke, Sprite, OJ and Water.
Décor wise I loved the paper circle garlands. We used vellum paper and overhead transparency sheets to create a look reminiscent of bubbles.
Desserts were also simple. We had ice cream sodas with you guessed it Coke, donuts from Dunken Donuts to which we added our own Coca-Cola glaze and some iced cookies in the shape of Coke bottles.

Burger Bar 1

Burger Bar 2

Burger Bar 3

Burger Bar 4

Burger Bar 5

Burger Bar 6

Burger Bar 7

Drink Station 1

Drink Station 2

Drink Station 3

Dessert Table

Dessert Table 8

Dessert Table 2

Dessert Table 3

Dessert Table 4

Dessert Table 5

We hope you liked this party as much as we did. If you have any questions or comments regarding how we put this theme together or if you would like us to create a party for you then please contact us either via email or through the comments section below.

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Aug 12 2015

The Blossoming Bride – Florals for all Styles & Tastes

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments

This month’s guest blogger is the very creative Erin Swaney from Rosebud & Willow Floral Design. Her artistic approach to floral work is sure to inspire you.

For women their wedding day is one of those days that are especially important to them and it is not often I meet a bride that is not particular about how they want their day to unfold. Even if they have no idea about flowers, you can bet they have still thought about what elements they want to incorporate into their day and type of ‘feel’ they want to capture. Wedding flowers play an important role in helping to achieve this, and more than most people realise.

Different flowers evoke different feelings and senses, and once these are identified they can really help to bring a wedding to life! As I mentioned earlier most brides already have an idea of what they want their wedding to look like. As an example, I worked on a wedding recently where the bride wanted to keep things very classic and minimal but wasn’t sure on flower choices. When I met with her, I was able to show her the best florals to achieve this. The result was gorgeous foliage table garlanding consisting of Ruscus, Berried Ivy and Deep Green Mistral and the bouquets consisted of a mix of White Avalanche Roses, and White Spray Roses with White Carnations and Crisp White Bouvardia.

Other looks that are super common with brides at the moment include the Romantic Bride, the Bohemian/Rustic Bride and the Funky/Alternative Bride.

The Romantic Bride generally has visions of a luxe occasion with flowers and props that emphasise love. Romantic Brides are usually after blush pinks in their flowers and soft delicate, dreamy colours. This type of occasion is usually rather elaborate incorporating lots of flowers to create the ultimate wow factor and atmosphere. Florals that would usually be included in a wedding of this nature include: Roses, Lisianthus, Hydrangea, Stock, Peonies, Dahlias & Queen Annes Lace.

The Rustic Bohemian Bride covers a large range of looks but all have one thing in common in that they are all after a more relaxed look and approach to their day. Brides who are after this type of look generally like more natural tones and colours and like to incorporate lots of foliage into their arrangements. Creams, Peaches, Gold and Greens are common colours to feature. Flower Crowns are so popular in this look incorporating lots of vine and leaves with a few flowers for the ultimate Bohemian look. Another item that is really trending at the moment are “all foliage bouquets”, these bouquets look amazing when done right and the way to achieve this is to incorporate different tones and textures within the bouquet and utilise a combination of berried foliage and flowering foliage. Other Florals that are regularly used to achieve this look include: Garden Roses, Hellebores, Scabiosa, Flowering Jasmine, Ivy, Berzillia Berry, Hypericum Berry, Eucalyptus, Conifer, Viburnum and many more.

Our Funky/Alternative Bride is quirky and loves different, she is not your run of the mill Bride and delights in standing out. This type of Bride is probably a florists dream as we are able to use our own creative licence to produce something different and something that stands out. Funky can be in the way colour is used in an unlikely way or in the types of flowers that are used to create an alternative look. Quirky and different types of florals that would work for this type of bride could include, King & Queen Protea, Leucodendron, Sea Holly, Scabiosa Pods, Orchids, Hypericum Berry and Green Trick (Dianthus). The above mentioned combined with regular florals and foliage can create something unique and beautiful.

It is important that all Brides have a chance to express what they want on their Wedding Day and it is a Florists job to help guide and advise Brides on the best way to approach and achieve what they are after. A good florist will know what is available to use in the season of each wedding and if something isn’t available, will be able to provide similar alternatives to the original ideas.

Regardless of what ‘Type’ of Bride I am working with, I always count it a privilege to be invited into the Bride & Groom’s day and to work closely with them to produce something I am proud of and that they love.

Rosebud & Willow was founded by Erin Swaney at the beginning of 2015 and since then has seen swift growth. They specialise in bespoke wedding and event work, and as their name suggests they work best with natural products drawing much of their inspiration from their natural surroundings. Rosebud & Willow relish in creating gorgeous arrangements that are beautifully crafted and speak for themselves.

To see more of Rosebud & Willow’s work or book them for your wedding or event, check out their website or find them on any of the social media links below.

www.rosebudandwillow.co.nz

www.instagram.com/rosebudandwillow

www.facebook.com/rosebudandwillow

www.pinterest.com/rosebudandwillow

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Jul 16 2015

Re-O Week Theme Parties

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments

Introducing today’s guest blogger, the talented Laura Sherson. Laura is currently studying event management at Uni and is also our intern here at As You Wish Events Ltd. With all the experience she has been gaining this year we felt that it was time to add blogging to the list.

A celebration is a great time to bring people together and to have good food, good décor and good company. The week before a university starts back is often filled with parties and celebrations. These are often thrown by the universities, the student bars and the students. This time is called O (Orientation) week and Re-O (Re-orientation) week, the parties surrounding this celebration period are often themed parties, here are some inspiration photos for a few of our favourite theme idea’s for next week’s Re-O week parties.