Optional Excursions

Aloha,
I was checking out the optional excursions when I was pre-registering and they are very interesting.  Keep in mind that doing organized optional excursions through Carnival gives you a few worry free benefits.  For instance, if for any reason, the transportation for the excursion is late, the Captain will wait, and will not set sail without the passengers from the excursion.  Also, Carnival has pre-screened these tour operators to ensure that the excursions are safe, the staff knowledgeable, and your experience is as expected.

If any of you wish to "meet-up" for an excursion, I have booked the following excursions for myself and my little 15 month sidekick.  Alternatively, if you don't want to be on an excursion with a squirmy 15 month old, you will know which excursions to avoid.  Tee hee.
-Kona Coffee Living History Farm
-Kauai North Coast & Hanalei Valley
-Hilo Historical Tour
-Iao Valley & Maui Tropical Plantation (Sept 27)

Cheers, Celina

Free Make N' Take and Door Prizes

With less than two months left until boarding, we have been busy getting all the background stuff done so you  can have a fun time on the cruise.

Here are two samples of the free Make N' Take you will be making on the cruise.  This is called a double pocket card.  It is really easy to make, yet looks complicated.  The card has two decorated blank tags which you can personalize when you return home.  You can attach a gift card, photo, lottery ticket, or write a nice message on each of the tags.  You have a choice of several cool bright Hawaiian inspired colours.  Each make n' take kit will receive written instructions if you wish to replicate the card at home.  I am the hostess and will guide you how to make the card as well as have illustrations on the walls for your assistance.

Please bring scissors and the following adhesives:  narrow double sided tape (sook wang, Be Creative tape), glue pen, and whatever choice of glue you use for cardmaking.

Did I mention door prizes?  I have more than TEN DOOR PRIZES for this free event.  Oh yes, you heard correctly.  The Grand Door Prize is a brand new shiny pink Quick Kutz Squeeze die cutting tool with a complete alphabet.
A big thanks goes out to Donna Athey, our fabulous travel agent who booked this group.  Donna designed and machine embroidered four elegant change purses.  I will randomly place them in four of the prize bags.  Also another big thanks to Don and Cheryl Adams, the owners of Cruiseship Center where Donna works.  They have contributed many Carnival themed items for my Make N' Take.  Thanks so much.

Remember, all you need to join this free make n' take is sign up for at least two classes and bring your adhesives and scissors.

Cheers
Celina

inside of card and view of tags

Daily Stamping Technique Newsletters

Phew!  It has been busy.  I have completed all the content for your daily newsletters.  The newsletters are filled to the brim with cardmaking techniques.  Do you have a brayer that you're not sure how to use?  Have you been saving some cool paper napkins because you feel they are too pretty for wiping crumbs off guests faces?  Do you have acrylic blocks for your cling mount stamps and wonder if there are any other uses for them?  Well, my friends, these questions will be answered in your newsletter.

One of my favourite memories from the previous cruise was delivering the daily newsletter.  We saw more variations of pajamas than you can imagine.

I like to decorate the newsletters so earlier today I treated myself to a beautiful Tim Holtz Collection, Stampers Anonymous cruise themed stamp set called Artful Voyage CMS129, from Jessie's store, Cherish the Thought.  Annie is one of Jessie's employees, and she was in charge.  She is a super sweet person.  Of course, I don't think I have walked out of Jessie's store without a roll of Be Creative tape.  This time I bought two!

Cruise themed stamp set,  Be Creative Tape and sleeping cat haul from Jessie's store, Cherish the Thought.
Just kidding about the cat!

Pre Registration for the cruise

Please don't forget to pre-register for the cruise.  You just need to go to www.carnival.com
Have your booking number available for logging-on.  If you have any problems or questions, please call our fabulous travel agent, Donna Athey.  I just did this last night and it is very cool.  You print your boarding pass and your luggage tags.  Fortunately, as a card maker, I have lots of Be Creative tape for the luggage tags.  Ha ha.

You can also book your excursions when you pre-register.

Please remember to keep the morning of September 29th open, if you want to join Gail Matsuba on a guided visit to J's Knicknacks.


Yay!  Less than two months until sail date.

Paper Bag...What's This???

Why do I have a picture of a paper bag?  Well, this paperbag contains my wood mounted stamp for the Wood Mount Game.
Please bring a new, or gently used (like new) wood mounted stamp that you no longer need, that is at least 2 inches by 3 inches.
Jessie Hurley has a very funny story that will enable you to have a new stamp for yourself, as well as find a new home for your old favorite.

What wood mount rubber stamp is in this  paper bag?

Make n' Take in Honolulu at J's Knicknacks

Don't let the name fool you.

J's Knicknacks has a massive inventory of papercraft products.
They carry a huge selection of Memory Box dies, Sizzix dies, Cheery Lynn Dies, Spellbinders as well as die cut machines such as the Eclips and the Big Shot.  The stamps lines they sell include C Stamp; C Design, Dandelion, Greeting Farm, Hero Arts, Sister Stamps, Imaginesce, and La-La Land Crafts.  Let's not forget about punches by EK Success, Martha Stewart, Fiskars and Mcgill.  Finally, you can pick up Copic markers, paper, ink pads and all types of embellishments and bling.

Cliff and Cheryl, the owners of J's Knicknacks, have kindly coordinated a Make n' Take with our talented instructor, Gail Matsuba.

Those of us who are interested, will meet Gail Saturday morning, September 29 at 8:45 am.  The meeting location will be at the Guest Services Desk on Promenade Deck 2, midship. Gail has been to Honolulu many times and she will advise us how to get to the store, either by bus or taxi.  In addition, after our outing at J's Knicknacks, Gail has volunteered to take anyone interested in shopping at a nearby mall.

Is this going to be fun, or what?

J's Knicknacks is located at 1869 South King Street, in Honolulu.  The store hours are 9:30 am to 6:00 pm.

Check out the store blog for lots of interesting product information and sample pictures:
http://jsknicknacks.blogspot.ca/

Thanks Gail for organizing this Make n' Take.  You Rock!

Card Swap Update

I'm sure you're wondering about this mixture of cardstock.  Well, these are the papers that I will be using to make cards for the card swap.

At this point, you will be safe if you make 20 cards.  We have 18 members in our group (including the fabulous K who just signed up this week).

We definitely urge all 18 of you to participate.  You will have so much fun.

Here is a great true story about a guest from our previous cruise.  This guest had just started stamping and was worried that her cards were too simple for the swap.  No way!  Sleek simple cards are very versatile.  After the card swap, and the cruise, this gal had gained enough self-confidence and knowledge from the classes aboard the cruise, that she began selling her cards at craft fairs.

How cool is that!

Remember if you are new to cardmaking, or a seasoned cardmaker, please join us in the card swap.  You will love the experience.

Just a couple of notes about the cards:

-Please make a full card with a front and a back side.
-Please don't write inside the card.  In this way, it can be used to give to someone special in the future.  Attach a post-it-note to the back of the card with your name.
-Including an envelope for your card is optional, but is a nice touch.
-Please make 20 identical cards.  You may have one or two extra but that's OK.  In fact, I used a couple of my extra cards from last time to give to special people I met on the cruise.

Happy Canada Day!!!