Punches Back in Stock

I have just recieved a restock of some of the punches I have in store. The popular large E.K Butterfly punch is now back in stock, but as some were back ordered there is only 1 left for sale, so be quick if you want one. You can find it here

Also a new item now in stock the Marvy Extra Giga Merchant Tag Punch. I love these tag punches (pictured above) and use them all the time. These are great for customer thank you tags. This new punch cuts an even bigger tag measuring 8.2cm x 5.4cm. Never purchase premade tags again. These punches make a nice smooth cut with their lever handle. Perfect for cardstock and patterned paper cut any paper, design or colour to suit your needs.

I am also toying with the idea of bringing in some triangle punches. Decorative flags seem to be flavour of the month. Still need to find a good punch and supplier so more coming soon about that one. I did manage to find a little EK success one but it is tiny I have created this cute detail on this card with it. If you are interested and would like to see triangle punches in store I would love some feedback. You can email me at pontikis@netspace.net.au. Oh by the way this card pictured above is for sale here.

Hope you have had a great start to the week. If you need some motivation a great post is over on the Sunny Mummy blog here.

Ciao

Anna xx

It's great to be back!!

After sleeping on a hospital sofa bed nursing a sick child for the last 5 nights its great to be back home and I am looking forward to sleeping in my own comfy bed tonight without all the associated noise that comes with sleeping in a hospital.

Melanie is recovering really well, thank goodness I am so grateful and each day she seems to be getting better and better. Although at times she is a little sore.

I took a couple of photos only in the last day or so she was there as that was the first time we started to see smiles again. Up until then it was a pretty sad face. If you know Mel she is always happy and smiling so you know things are not right when you don't see that happy face.

Also because my beautiful sister organised a huge package to be delivered to her as she is working in China so couldn't visit. The package was filled with two big boxes of lollies and chocolates and the cutest little get well soon bear with the most divine bunny slippers on its feet check out the photo. Too cute and brought a nice big smile to her face and ours.

Glad to be back online and catching up on everything I have missed. Once again life's curveballs put everything into perspective.

More Later

Anna xx

A quick update

Just a super quick update. I have been nursing a very sick child this weekend, my daughter Melanie was diagnosed with an appendicitis on Friday and had to have surgery to remove it. So as you can imagine I have been very tired and stressed nursing my little one, as well as being at the hospital nearly the whole day and sleeping there at night.

I just wanted to let you know so that if have emailed me or require any assistance with the site I will get back to you but it may not be straight away. Generally I am checking orders and emails once daily when I get a chance to. Orders will also be posted as soon as I can get them out to you but may be slightly delayed. If you have an urgent query you are best to call me on my mobile number. You will find this on the home page of the site. This will only be for the next few days whilst she is still in hospital.

This has been a first for me having a sick child requiring surgery and it has been to say the least an emotional rollercoaster for the last 3 days mixed in with very little sleep.

Back with more as soon as I can.
Anna xx

Bakers Twine - Cotton Its finally Here - Pre Orders Available Soon

Finally I am excited to share with you all at Koko Vanilla we will now be stocking Bakers Twine in Cotton as well as Polyester. There are several colours to choose from see photo above and each roll is 200m in length.

I will be putting these up on a preorder basis firstly on site with delivery estimated within a couple of weeks.

So check back soon or alternatively sign up for my email list becuase I will be sending an email around to customers with a special introductory offer.

Anna xx

Monday Morning Musings

Well a slightly different Monday Morning for me as I have my youngest home sick. It hasn't been my usual adrenaline filled Monday Morning with school drop off, assembly and then a mad rush to make my Fitness challenge class at 9.30am, then home, clean up and then do website work, dinner prep, and then before you know its pick up how quick it goes.

So having a slower pace has been enlightening actually, I wonder sometimes why I push myself so much, only to turn around and be disapointed with myself when I don't achieve all that I had planned in that day. Exercise however for me is not compromisable if that is such a word. I am at the point where I need the energy and the high I get from fitness. couldn't imagine life without it, it's no longer a chore, but it does take a chunk out of my days, so from that perspective it is always a balancing act. When I say a chunk out my days I am talking the 6 hour window whilst the kids are at school. Once they are home my time is over until they have gone to bed.

Anyway funnily whilst I am busy working and packing several orders which were placed over the weekend and of which I have told my son mummy has to do work first this morning on the proviso that he will get a couple of new packs of footy cards (more on that another time, don't get me started on how much we spend on those things over the course of each footy season) when we go to the post office to send all the orders. So to amuse himself whilst he is too sick to go to school he is happily aiming at my head with his plastic sniper for entertainment with his foam bullets, which seemed to be aimed quite well. So I just have to laugh at him because its not every day I get to see his sweet face at home with me one on one. It nice even though it has interrupted my usual Monday that I am just being present and taking the day as it comes even with the endless stream of questions and mum can you help me with this or that. It reminds me of the pre-school days, how quickly one forgets.

Well my little break is over, back to it so you all get your orders super quick.

Happy Monday

Anna

Dolls in the Garden Free Mini Kit

A new Free Mini Craft Kit is now available on site. Spend $50 or more before shipping and you will recieve this cute craft kit free.

Take a closer look here.

Anna xx

Whimsical Wonderland Card Making Kit

It's been a while between kits, it feels like forever since the last card kit and I do sincerely apologise to all my customers who just love purchasing my card kits and want them on a more regular basis. I do aim for a new card kit every 6 weeks or so, but sometimes it just doesn't happen. Anyway finally the newest baby in our unique designer card kit family is now available on site to purchase. You will find it here and view some close up images of the kit below.

No chit chat tonight as I am a woman on a mission as the song goes, I have two more kits to release and my goal is for tomorrow, so stay tuned. A cute embellishment kit coming soon (something new and exclusive) and a new free mini kit as the one currently on the home page is out of stock.

Happy Dreams
Anna xx

Whimsical Wonderland Card Making Kit

Designed by Anna Pontikis

Exclusive to Koko Vanilla Designs

Happy Mother's Day!!

To all the beautiful mums out there and if you are not a mum but have a mum then make sure you make the effort to make your mum feel really special today.

It doesn't have to cost the earth either. Sometimes it is in the simple gestures, the kind words of appreciation a kiss on the cheek, a real hug and I mean not just a quick waffly passing hug a big bear hug that really says I love you mum. There is such a difference.

Just thought I would share this great blog and website I have found in the last week or so, I am just loving going back and reading through Stacey's archives and reading every bit of valuable info. You may have already heard of this blog, Sunny Mummy is the name of the blog.

I love the way Stace writes she is positive and happy. It has also made me realise that some of the readers out there might wonder why most of my posts are about inspiring people when I run a scrapbooking and cardmaking website of which I post little. Well the truth is I love my spiritual journey just as much as I love being creative. This is my way of combining them both. I have always had a flair for helping people with their issues and I did a lot of this in my days as a Massage Therapist, which was my career before kids and after kids up until a few years back when I kind of felt that it was time for a change. I do sometimes think it would be the easy option to pick back up as a career, I know I was very good at it and still have clients ringing to know if I am still doing massaging but to be honest it doesn't have the buzz factor as it did years ago and so that tells me that it's time to let it go. I was even asked by a friend the other day if I would fill in for corporate massage for a company just for a couple of weeks whilst their lady is on holidays and I did stop and think about it but the gut feeling was maybe not.

Anyway I have digressed a little I guess the point here is that sometimes as mums our lives are not defined. Men I think on the whole and I am being general here, (so no hate mail please) choose a career and stick to it my husband being one of them, women however I believe go through such growth and change especially after motherhood that the realisation that life is just too short to waste on doing something that doesn't really make you happy.

So whilst I am still finding my path at the moment my happy medium is maybe helping others in an indirect way through my blog by linking to great sites I find and also every now and again sharing my opinion. I absolutely love creating with my hands and can never imagine not doing that, but how it will all link together in the future I am not really sure and I am happy to just sit back and do what I can do for the moment. As the saying goes we don't need to see the whole staircase to take the first step. Really understand that because sometimes it feels like we have no control and that is sometimes the plan because we are not meant to know the whole story just yet we are not ready for it.

It is all about the journey and not just about getting it done, because the minute you achieve a goal there will always be another to take its place. Actually a favourite affirmation I have been saying lately which I have heard from Esther Hicks and I think it helps to keep me grounded about what is really important in life is " No matter where I am going today, what I am doing today or who I am doing it with, it is my dominant intent to be happy." That's really what it's all about, finding happiness in every moment for yourself. Not just when you buy that new dress or when your husband finally shows you some attention or when someone thanks or praises you. Find the happiness within first, declare that every experience is an opporunity to smile at those around you and spark up their day and in turn do that for yourself. You don't need an external reason or thing to make you happy. It is so important to teach these young kids this stuff. Why aren't we teaching positive thinking and affirmation from primary level right through to Yr 12. I think so much time is wasted on teaching kids really irrelevent things and yet teaching them about how what they speak, think and act is what determines their future. Imagine a whole generation of kids armed with this knowledge, and taught from the outset about positive thinking and affirmations and believing in yourself how powerful would that be.

Well I have gone on longer than I had planned too for a Mothers Day Morning. I suppose that's what happens when you wake up really early in the morning.

I am off to spend the day with family.

Love&Light
Anna xx

Moments that put life in perspective!

If you want to read and see a story of a womans courage, determination and faith even when life's grand plan seems to have changed her path. Take a look http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/.

I first heard of Stephanie's story via other blogs in 2008 when it first happened and it has been amazing to read her story of her miraculous and long recovery. Now she has made a short film about it. I am in this moment totally in awe of her courage, her inner strength and her gratitude for her experience despite the hardship of it.

It's these moments that when you think you are having a bad day over petty little things that mean nothing, there is always someone with a more challenging life story, with real stuff, real issues. Gratitude is something we can adopt in every moment, for every experience we have whether we percieve it to be a blessing or not.

I encourage you to go over and have a look at this video, just to see how powerful the human spirit can be. It is not in the challenges we face that we grow but how we choose to deal with those challenges.

Love and Light
Anna xx

Simply Empowered

This book is next on my list. Crystal Andrus is the most inspirational woman I know. I have one of her other books and love her website and blog. Need to be inspired check out her website.

Happy Sunday
Anna