Minnie-Styled {Salma Turns 2}

50 {Salma Turns 2} Birthday Favours /
Deadline, 17 June 2011

My little munchkin had just turned TWO – how time flies…!

She had recently created this adoration towards Minnie Mouse which inspired me to throw her a Pink Minnie Mouse-themed Birthday Party… There were pink balloons, pink table cloths, pink napkins, pink plates, spoons and forks…

I dressed her in a cute Minnie Mouse outfit so she stands out as the “Birthday Girl”… her face was painted so she looks like a little mouse.

I also dressed in a black & white polka top and put on my own Disney Minnie Mouse Glitter Ears (my bow was red)!

The kids got mouse ears and Minnie/Mickey pins to match the theme too…

The birthday cake design was inspired from her Disney Minnie hat…

My mum baked Mickey Ears butter cookies which I decorated with pink marzipan dough and drew a number two. I then put each cookie into a transparent plastic bag and sealed it with a “Salma Turns 2” tag – these were the favours I distributed.

We blew Salma's two year candles... Things went perfectly and everything looked synergized.

The kids were adorable. The parents were lovely. The food was yummy. Everyone was happy. Salma was ecstatic. Happy Birthday Salma <3

{Kooki} the Cookie Monster

60 'Kareem Turns One' Favours/
Deadline, 14 June 2011

I hadn't blogged in forever and I'm very far behind with posting the new projects I had worked on but it has been a very hectic summer. Though... it's never too late!

Also born on June 14th, little Kareem (a.k.a. cookie monster) had just turned one. His wonderful parents decided to throw him a cookie monster-themed birthday party and I was asked to create 60 favours that work for both kids and adults.

I therefore developed blue boxes (using the cookie monster blue pantone colour) and illustrated the cookie monster face.

Striped and dotted blue & white tissue paper was then inserted and filled with 3 chocolate chip cookies (per box) to match the theme. The back of the boxes said "Kareem turns ONE"...

The result was adorable little blue boxes that made cute favours.

May Kareem's coming years be filled with laughs and giggles amongst his loved ones... everyday... Happy Birthday!

Bachelorette in {Pink}

40 Bachelorette Favours for Saleh and Ban /
Deadline, 13 May 2011:

A group of girls were throwing Ban a bachelorette party… their theme was pink! So, I was asked to create 40 party favours that match the theme.

I decided to create little white boxes which were filled with pink tissue paper and 2 squared chocolates. The boxes had Saleh & Ban's names; and a pink crystal (symbolizing the rock/ring) topped the “i” in congratulations. Finally, a thin pink ribbon was wrapped around the boxes creating a little pink bow on top.

Congratulations Saleh & Ban! Wishing you a lifetimes of happiness...

{Paper Beading} Beyond the Hour

I, NOOR, GO BEYOND EARTH HOUR: I USE SCRAP PAPER

And after being very inspired by Earth Hour yesterday, and referring back to my commitment card (posted earlier this month)… I decided to create some recycled bracelets - supporting the Earth Hour spirit!

The bracelets's beautifully vibrant and featherweight beads are made out of paper. I am therefore recycling my catalogs, magazines, newspapers, and any other form of paper that I could get my hands on!

Above: Beads made out of recycled newspaper; Arabic calligraphy gives an oriental touch

The paper beads can be crafted into different shapes and sizes. In addition, I love to add other bead types when forming my handmade jewellery. The results are very fascinating. The possibilities are endless.

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Also available are paper beading bracelet kits for your little ones: Each kit (box) includes paper beads, glass beads, elastic cord, and instructions. These could be customized as giveaways/favours for birthdays, etc… (I will be posting samples soon)

For more information, please email bead.paper.scissors@gmail.com

Yes We Can

Maternal and Neonatal (newborn) Tetanus is a deadly disease that can be easily eliminated through 5 simple vaccines that will ensure both the mother and her unborn child are immune for life.

Most of us in the GCC are privileged in having top notch medical facilities, that something as serious as Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus became something of the past. It is never thought of, rarely talked about nor discussed as we are automatically vaccinated against it from birth. We only hear about ‘Tetanus’ when we are cut by glass or step on rusted metal.

Unfortunately, this is not the case in our neighboring country, Yemen. With about 40% of the population having limited or no access to health facilities, Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus and it’s dangers is so much a reality, a very sad and life threatening reality.

Pampers and UNICEF have joined hands to eliminate Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus in Yemen through the Pampers UNICEF Campaign “1 Pack = 1 Life Saving Vaccine” where for each Pampers pack with UNICEF branding sold across the GCC, Pampers will contribute 1 Tetanus vaccine to Yemen.

This is a disease that does not need research to eliminate. This is a disease WE CAN eliminate.

Please join our efforts in spreading awareness on the campaign and reaching the target of contributing 5 million vaccines to our sisters and children in Yemen, to prove, as an Arab nation; We stand united in our efforts to eliminate Tetanus in Yemen”.

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Do feel free to copy and paste the above to further spread the awareness.

Madame Errazuriz

Madame Errazuriz was my first oil painting. As a matter of fact, it was my first painting ever.

In the Summer of 2004, I took an oil painting course as an elective (back in Design school) - that was, by far, the most enjoyable course I had ever taken.

Our first assignment was to paint a portrait – a replica of a famous portrait. That was when I came across Madame Errazuriz, a beautiful portrait by the famous John Singer Sargent.

I loved the colours, brush strokes and simplicity of the portrait. It was simply fascinating. So I attempted to paint her. Below is the result:

The funny thing was that many assumed that it was a self portrait (of myself); while others thought it was a portrait of my mother. They saw the resemblance in the nose and cheekbones I guess.

I felt that this piece is very much worth sharing.

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About Madame Errazuriz

Madame Errazuriz
c. 1880 - 82
John Singer Sargent (American Painter)
Oil on canvas

21 x 19 in (53.3 x 48.3 cm)

Private collection

Madame Eugenia Errazuriz née Eufenia Huic (1858-1951) was a keen art supporter. She was friends with noted writers and musicians such as W.R. Sickert, Baron de Meyer, Diaghilev, Stravinsky, Jean Cocteau and Cecil Beaton.

Sargent became very fond of her and had painted her a number of times.

Besides Sargent, Madame Errazuriz was also painted by Jacques-Emile Blanche (French painter 1861-1942), Giovanni Boldini, Paul Helleu, Augustus John, and Pablo Picasso.

Go Beyond the Hour

Over one billion people turned out for Earth Hour 2010 (the biggest Earth Hour ever). It involved 128 countries on seven continents celebrating a worldwide commitment to help save the planet.

On March 26th, 2011 at 8:30pm (local time), Earth Hour will cascade around the globe, again - from time zone to time zone - uniting the planet under a single, simple, call to action: GO BEYOND EARTH HOUR.

Watch the below video to learn more about Earth Hour and sign up. Help save our planet. Start by turning off your lights for the hour.

But after the lights are back, go beyond the hour. Make a difference. Together our actions add up.

For more information, visit www.earthhour.org
For UAE Residents, visit www.ewswwf.ae

Pop Phenomenon

Phenomenal! That was my first thought when I came across Bakerella’s genius mini-cake/cupcake pops (she is the creator of this innovative concept).

Being inspired by the amazing Bakerella (a.k.a. Angie Dudley), I decided to give it a try and create those delightful mini cupcake pops for a family gathering. Surprisingly, they turned out better than I had expected - very delicious and super-cute (regardless of the technical difficulties that I faced at some point while decorating – I didn’t know the best chocolate-melting technique so I made a mess and then had to improvise).

My cupcakes were a brownie mix; the bottom bit was dipped into milk chocolate and the top part into white chocolate for some and coconut sprinkles for others... little red chocolate M&Ms were the cherry on top! (I used wooden barbeque sticks instead of the lollipop sticks.)

Bakerella (aka Angie Dudley) was featured on the Martha Stewart Show and had published her first book CAKE POPS: Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Irresistible Mini Treats.

I plan to get her book as I want to take it to the next level and try some of the other unique mini treats (using the correct techniques)!

For more creative ideas, do visit her blog!

And remember, you can't look at a cupcake and not smile.

February Love

“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides; and when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.” – St. Augustine (Captain Corelli's Mandolin)

Every year, I am so eager for February to approach. I love February. And no, it’s not about Valentines, it just makes me happy. It brings along so much positive energy therefore creating many joyous thoughts, precious memories, and a happier ME.

So, I was inspired to create my first flower bouquet (see below).

The idea derived from my husband’s passion for m&ms (and the Exotica Flower Shop).

I filled up a vase with tons of m&ms and then topped the vase with a bouquet of beautiful red roses. I then wrapped the whole thing with felt hearts pinned with little heart-shaped pins. (The roses, felt hearts and pins are from Exotica).

I have to admit that it does sadden me that February’s coming to an end; but as Richard Bach once said: “True love stories never have endings.”

Thus, I am looking forward to February next year.

“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” – Maya Angelou