Nadine’s Favourites

Products, people and ideas that Nadine just loves!

Nov 27 2016

Chalkboard Christmas Baubles

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2016 – Day 12
chalkboard-baubles

With all the chalkboard ideas amongst our 2016 collection it only seemed natural that we brought this look to the Christmas tree as well. A very simple little D.I.Y project to do, all you need are some unwanted Christmas tree baubles, gold paint, chalkboard paint, a chalkboard pen and some time for the paint to dry. I began by carefully removing the top piece, from which the bauble hangs and then painted that gold. I then painted the main part of the bauble with chalkboard paint. Making sure I allowed plenty of drying time between each coat, each piece received two coats of paint.Once they had fully dried I carefully put the two pieces back together. I then used the chalkboard pen to decorate them.

baubles-2

Overall, a very simple project – unless you get carried away with your chalkboard pen design. If you love this look, but don’t have the time or inkling to make your own, don’t fret we currently have these on sale in our Etsy store – check out our store for these and our other handcrafted items or contact us directly.

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Credits:

 

© 2016 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 26 2016

Chalkboard Wrapping Paper

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2016 – Day 11
Black, Gold and White Christmas Tree

Nothing says ‘Christmas’ more than a pile of stylishly-wrapped gifts carefully stacked under the Christmas tree. I love being able to take something that we would tend to take for granted, like wrapping paper, and turn it into a decorative feature. I also love wrapping paper that has a little more substance to it, so that you can actually use it without the fear that it will rip as soon as you touch it. Boxes are another strong favourite, especially for housing those awkwardly shaped gifts and thus making them easier to wrap.

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Nov 24 2016

Guilt-Free Christmas Cookies

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2016 – Day 9

This year I decided to make some big changes to the way I eat in an effort to improve my health. For me this basically meant saying goodbye to refined sugar and reducing the amount of wheat based products that I consumed. While I can’t say I’ve been 100% successful all of the time I have seen some amazing improvements. With Christmas just around the corner I wanted to be prepared for continuing along this healthy path without missing out on the yummy treats that come with the festive season, so I set about creating some tasty recipes. These cookies are refined sugar free, gluten free and dairy free. I hope you enjoy them as much I do.

cookies

Guilt-Free Christmas cookies – with Pecans, Cranberries and Chocolate Chips.

 

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups Almond Flour
  • 1/4 cup Coconut Flour
  • 1 Egg
  • 1/2 cup Rice Malt Syrup
  • 1/4 cup Chocolate Chips (70% Cocoa or higher)
  • 1/2 cup Cranberries
  • 1/4 cup Pecans, chopped
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 2 pinches of Salt
  • 1 tsp of Vanilla Extract
  • 6 Tbsp of Coconut Oil, melted

 

Method:

Step 1: Pre-heat the oven to 180 °C.

Step 2: Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl, making sure the coconut oil goes in last (if it is hot from being melted it can cook the egg). Mix together until well combined.

Step 3: The mixture will be a bit sloppy so set it aside for 5-10 minutes to give the coconut flour time to absorb some of the moisture. While you wait line a baking tray with baking paper.

Step 4: With wet hands roll the cookie dough into balls, no larger than a golf ball. It will still be rather sticky. Flatten each cookie slightly.

Step 5: Bake for 10-15mins. Cool on the tray for a few minutes then transfer to a rack and allow to cool completely.

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Credits:

 

© 2016 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 2016

Christmas Table Setting – Rustic Elegance

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2016 – Day 8

As another Christmas comes around, I again have had the pleasure of creating a holiday table setting. The inspiration for this year’s Christmas ideas was largely influenced by two very different styles, the rustic farmhouse look and classic elegance. I wanted to blend the two styles together to create something classic yet festive. The key elements in achieving this look were the careful use of the black and white gingham along with the white ceramic reindeer antlers.I had a great deal of fun putting this look together with big thanks to the following collaborators:

 

Jun 23 2016

In The Off Season

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
Nautical quilt as you go Quilt

People often ask me if, in my line of work, winter is rather a quiet season. Now while there always seems like there is something to do, every now and then it’s quite nice to have a few moments to focus on other interests. One of these interests is patchwork. I’ve been working on this quilt for my son’s bed for quite some time – I just hope I can finish it before he out grows it or leaves home. I really wanted a pattern with a nautical theme, but couldn’t find one so I ended up designing this myself. It’s probably why it has taken a bit longer.

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Apr 07 2016

The Best Plain Cookie Recipe

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments

I started this week by doing some baking with my 4 year old son. While I tend to do most of the work, he likes controlling the speed on the cake mixer,  licking the bowl and occasionally helps with adding in the ingredients. We began by making a banana cake, as I had some over-ripe bananas to use up, then I suggested we make some cookies. I was thinking we could just whip up a batch of my Grandma’s Plain Cookies, but my son had other plans. “Mummy, can we make rainbow cookies?” he asked. I quickly thought it through and replied with “We can sure try.”

Best Plain Rainbow Cookies

Now you may be thinking, but that’s not very plain at all. Well here’s the ‘Plain’ part:

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Jan 13 2016

Strawberry Soufflé – The Perfect Summertime Dessert

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: 2 Comments

Growing up, every summer when the strawberries came ripe, my family would look forward to our mum making for us our favourite summer dessert – Strawberry Soufflé. I don’t really know why it is called a soufflé since it is nothing like your traditional variety, you don’t even bake it (apart from the crumbs). All I know is that it is yummy, goes a treat and that I want to share the recipe with you.

Strawberry Souffle

So let’s get cooking!

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Dec 02 2015

The Pre-Christmas Gift

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2015 – Day 10

I’m really excited to have some of my favourite people join me for our 12 Days of Christmas this year. Today we have Susan Wong joining us – you’re just going to love her idea!

Christmas Tags from Stampin Up

It’s that time of year when schools are wrapping up and we’re all winding down for Christmas. Or are you winding up? In any case, here’s a great gift idea for teachers – or colleagues and friends – when you need a Christmas gift before Christmas.

The Oh What Fun Tag Project Kit from Stampin’ Up! comes with supplies to make 30 gift tags – three of each design. I’ve been making them in lots of ten and boxing them up ready for my daughter’s kindy teachers.  Everyone loves a little handmade something right? (Bonus – no extra calories!) And what a cool way to make them think of us when they’re busy wrapping gifts and extending Christmas cheer to their own family and friends.

Oh What Fun Christmas Tags

With the vellum paper on the front, I’ve designed the packaging to become a luminaire so the teachers have something left just for them when they’ve used all the tags. Include a faux tealight candle and it’s a simple affair. What’s more, the 4×4” box is really quick and easy to make using our Stampin’ Up! Gift Box Punch Board.

Tag Packaging luminaire

Check out my blog for more details on how to make these boxes and a full shopping list for making your own set of tags.

Merry Christmas!

Susan Wong

Stampin’ Up! Artisan Design Team & Demonstrator

If you want to see more of Susan’s work check out her blog here ‘Stamping with Susan’ or 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 28 2015

Designer Christmas Crackers

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: 2 Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2015 – Day 6

Homemade Christmas crackers have come a long way since I made them as a child out of crape paper and toilet rolls. I am super excited to share today’s idea with you as it is my first ever video tutorial! This idea also comes with 2 free downloads – the Christmas Cracker template and our Cracker Jokes.

Tip: When printing out your template, print onto paper that is slightly thicker than your ordinary photocopy paper (120gsm – 160gsm). You can also print directly onto scrapbook paper if you cut it to a size that will fit your printer.

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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 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 LtdHaving 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.