my life in stamps.....

day 5 give away

2012-01-27T20:24:00.001+02:00

can you believe we are already on day 5 of the give aways? and it is FRIDAY!! jippeeee!!! on day 5 of the 7 day give away marathon, we have a 12 x 12 sheet of Heidi Swapp Glossy Extras - World Traveller, Tattered Angels Outdoor Bingo Boards, Kaisercraft Rub ons and a Mini Alphabet set, a 12" Daisy D title Rub on and a Bazzill Basics border template. if you would like an opportunity to win this, please become a follower of my blog. to increase your chances to win, please share this on your Facebook page, visit our Facebook Page and LIKE us, and to increase your chances even further, please visit the shop's website , subscribe to our newsletter and please click on the "please promote us" button at the top left! (don't worry, all the current subscribers will also be entered into the draw) so, we are getting closer to the 20 000 visitsa target here on my blog, and we have 2 more days of give aways. then we wait!!

monique + graphic 45 = magic

2012-01-27T20:04:00.003+02:00

my scrapping friend monique loves graphic 45. but i actually think it is the other way around. graphic 45 papers love monique. in her hands they become alive and she knows exactly what to do with them so that they come to their full right............... the picture above is a glimpse of what she made for me. blogger does not allow me to upload so many photos at a time, and as my internet connection is slloooowwww, please view the complete project here......... thank you, monique. xxxxxxxx

day 4 give away......

2012-01-26T21:14:00.002+02:00

and here we have the give away for day 4!!! hope you like it! we have a Heidi Swapp 12" clockface overlay ( you know these were discontinued in 2009, so this is almost like GOLD in the Scrapbooking community), a 7 Gypsies 97% complete sticker, a stunning Daisy D title rubon, a whole vellum quote stack from DCWV, a Karen Foster sticker sheet, a glitter MM Noteworthy Alpha and a Bazzill Basics scallop border chipboard template. if you would like an opportunity to win this, please become a follower of my blog. to increase your chances to win, please share this on your Facebook page, visit our Facebook Page and LIKE us, and to increase your chances even further, please visit the shop's website , subscribe to our newsletter and please click on the "please promote us" button at the top left! (don't worry, all the current subscribers will also be entered into the draw) so, we are getting closer to the 20 000 visitsa target here on my blog, and we have 3 more days of give aways. then we wait!! enjoy the rest of your evening and it is almost weekend!! xx

day 3 give away....

2012-01-25T21:13:00.002+02:00

well, here we are on day 3 of the 7 give aways!! the reason for the give aways is the fact that i am almost at 20 000 blog hits, and i wanted to give something back. when i reach 20 000, i will do the give aways!! in order to qualify, please become a follower. to increase your chances to win, please share this on your Facebook page, visit our Facebook Page and LIKE us, and to increase your chances even further, please visit the shop's website , subscribe to our newsletter and please click on the "please promote us" button at the top left! (don't worry, all the current subscribers will also be entered into the draw) i have 7 give aways in total, and i will post one a day for the next 7 days. then i will wait until i reach 20 000 visits to do the draws! good luck and thanks for visiting!

my clever husband......

2012-01-25T14:08:00.001+02:00

my husband is a wonderful, likeable guy. i make him think that he has many flaws, but he actually only has a few. one of these is a major flaw, but also a major attribute. he is always looking for a new project. that in itself is great. the flipside is the fact that very few of these ever get finished. he has been talking about a "grey water system" for the past 6 months. i listen, but i keep on hoping that it will be a passing idea. this week, though, the "grey water system"-project was kickstarted.

Stix dug the hole last saturday, and the whole thing was assembled. there was a slight problem with something floating, but last night Marius sorted it out. and voila! today we are recycling our "grey" water!!! in our instance it is just the water from our main shower, but as we shower twice a day, it should be ok. in the picture above, you can see the water running into the barrel. the green thing in the barrel is a little pump that kicks in when the water reaches a certain level. and then, this happens.................

water comes out of the sprinkler and your garden is happy!!!! we are in a terrible draught again here in the eastern cape, and i moan all the time about the high cost of water (marius LOVES his garden and he always has a hose in his hand when he is home) so, for once i think one of my husband's projects is really fantastic! the challenge for him will now be to COMPLETE it..... and keep me impressed!! on a more serious note, we watched a documentary last night about soil. how soil is being covered in concrete and eroded by fire, urbanisation and litter. one lady from Nigeria ( i think) told a fable about a beautiful forest that caught fire. all the animals ran to the edge of the forest where the river was, and stood watching as the fire set about destroying their habitat. all of them, except the little hummingbird. she flew to the river, and scooped up some water into her little beak. she then dropped it onto the fire. all the animals thought she was crazy. "what are you doing", the elephant said "you will never be able to put out the fire. you are too small and your beak only holds a few drops. you are wasting your time." the little hummingbird looked at all the big animals, shook her little head and said " i know i am small, and i know that i can only carry a few drops at a time to put out the fire. but i am doing everything i can as a hummingbird to put out the fire." WOW. this really made me think. we are all essentially hummingbirds. God made us custodians of the earth. we were told to take care of it and work it for the benefit of mankind. are we being obedient? i am not big on environmental issues. but i am thinking that just maybe, i should also do my "hummingbird" best to make a small difference. and if that includes letting my husband put in 10 grey water systems without finishing them up 100%, so be it!!!!

day 2 give away

2012-01-24T12:34:00.002+02:00

hello everyone!! i am back with day 2 of this week's daily posts to wet your appetite for some prizes! today we have a collection of various goodies - some alphabets, a Hero Arts Stamp, some Kaisercraft wood flourishes, some Jenni Bowlin, Fancy Pants and Heidi Swapp (i see she is making a come back, yippee!!) the reason for the give aways is the fact that i am almost at 20 000 blog hits, and i wanted to give something back. when i reach 20 000, i will do the give aways!! in order to qualify, please become a follower. to increase your chances to win, please share this on your Facebook page, visit our Facebook Page as well, and to increase your chances even further, please visit the shop's website , subscribe to our newsletter and please click on the "please promote us" button at the top left! (don't worry, all the current subscribers will also be entered into the draw) i have 7 give aways in total, and i will post one a day for the next 7 days. then i will wait until i reach 20 000 visits to do the draws! enjoy the rest of your day!!

Scrapcake Give Away!

2012-01-24T09:27:00.003+02:00

wow!! don't you just love this time of year!! CHA is around the corner and one of the companies i am desperate to get into SA, The Scrapcake, is giving away a set of their new collections! you could be the winner!

blue eyed girl

2012-01-23T18:59:00.002+02:00

i had some time and did some blog-hopping. i found this stunning layout by Jen Gallacher for Echo Park. i just loved it. so effective, yet so quick and easy! it made me want to scrap something using mostly - PAPER!!!

this is my take on it. i had so much fun making this layout and it went so quick!! thanks, Jen, for inspiring me!

giveaway...........

2012-01-23T18:47:00.000+02:00

hello all! i am busy "summer-cleaning" and i have decided to do a few give aways. as i never do things half measure, i decided to do big ones!!! i was pleasantly surprised to see that my blog has been visited just over 19 000 times! thank you!! when i reach 20 000, i will do the give aways!! in order to qualify, please become a follower. to increase your chances to win, please share this on your Facebook page, visit our Facebook Page as well, and to increase your chances even further, please visit the shop's website , subscribe to our newsletter and please click on the "please promote us" button at the top left! (don't worry, all the current subscribers will also be entered into the draw) i have 7 give aways in total, and i will post one a day for the next 7 days. then i will wait until i reach 20 000 visits to do the draws! ( if i forget, and you see that i am on 20 000, please remind me!!! i don't visit my blog every day!!) SO, first up we have some artistic surfaces! from Canson and Copic, Bleedproof marker pads ( especially for the Copic Addicts), to Strathmore Canvas Paper and Bristol pads, with a few other Canson pads thrown in. unfortunately i can only send the goodies to South African followers....................but, there might just be one draw especially for my international followers..... enjoy the rest of your week - we just had a few drops of rain and the heat has subsided slightly! xx

quick cards

2012-01-22T17:03:00.003+02:00

my first week of being on official "leave" from work, is over. i cleaned out my scrapbook supplies, the spare bedrooms and Tiny helped me spring clean the house. i re-arranged my workspace and now that i have de-cluttered, i find that it is much easier to just quickly make something. while cleaning out, i found this image Amanda Harrod sent me almost 3 years ago. i had wanted to colour it since then, but (seriously????) just never did it. so i did it yesterday. took out my Prismacolor pencils and my Sansador, and played a bit

here is a close up. i mounted it a few times, and the sentiment was stamped with Versamark ink and then embossed with superfine White EP. i added some glossy accents to the bucket and his hat. quick and easy!

this card i made with the leftovers of a layout i was doing. i also promised myself that i would make a card every time i finished with a layout - even if it is just a quick and simple card.

i literally used scraps. the image is a Paperbag Studio image stamped onto plain, smooth white CS, and i just punched it with a scallop punch. i misted it with some home made mist i made using my Currant re-inker, and the shadow scallop is white cardstock inked with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink. ( i did not have anymore of the maroon plain paper.

this simple card was also just made with the same leftovers. i cut 3 circles using Lifestyle Crafts Circles ( you get 20 dies for a ridiculous price here from Elizna) and layered them on top of each other.

i stamped the sentiment with Archival ink and then used Glossy Accents to just make it look a bit more? more? added a row of pearls, and that is it! i have been thinking about this hobby for the past 3 days, and the direction it seems to be taking in certain circles. i am busy forming an opinion and will bore you with it a bit later ( once i have a coherent opinion!!!!) xx

welcome home

2012-01-18T21:52:00.000+02:00

this is the first layout of our new baby in the house. she was officially baptized Beethoven by Julina when we went to fetch her, but i just call her "babba". she has a few other names that Marius calls her - but he seems set on "oubaas" (yes, i know. i told him she was going to be confused about her gender, but as she is a puppy, i am not sure if that argument is valid!!)

i have been wanting to use this piece of paper since it arrived in the shop at the end of 2011. but i had no idea of what to scrap with it. when i finished yesterday's layout (escape) and this piece was left, i knew i was going to scrap our new baby. i layered using a very dark prism chocolate cardstock, then some Tim Holtz tissue paper that i scrunched up, swiped with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, and misted with a home made gold glimmer mist ( i misted it ALOT). i then dried it with my heatgun. this stuff is amazing! i then only had bits and pieces left of some of the lighter patterned paper, so i punched the pieces and made them fit around my green bazzill dots that i also punched with the same MS around the page punch. you can see how imperfect the patterned paper border is, as it does not line up 100% everywhere.

the rose vine is obviously one by Prima. it was light cream. i made a glimmer mist from Broken China reinker and some gold pearls. i misted the vine quite extensively. when i was done misting, there was so much mist on my craft sheet, i decided to wipe it up with a 10x15 piece of white cardstock. it looked so good, i used it as part of my layering! it is the piece just on top of the green cardstock! i also used the left over pieces of chocolate cardstock. i misted it again with my gold glimmer mist, and then i stamped a music note stamp with palette's canvas inkpad. i have to say that i don't know if they make these pads anymore. they are hybrid pads. i tried brilliance moonlight white and stazon opaque white - too white. colorbox was too light. this was perfect for the look i wanted. the bracket was a really old Making Memories one from a pack of chipboard dating back to 2007 - it had light red and yellow glossy colouring on it. i just sanded it off and then embossed it with brown embossing powder. the journal block was cut with a Tim Holtz die. i just stamped the journaling dots with Tea Dye distress ink, and did the journaling freestyle. hope you like the page! it was a fun page to make - not alot of thinking!

the meaning of escape

2012-01-17T15:08:00.003+02:00

escape means different things for different people. for me it is being home alone. for my husband it is fishing - any kind of fishing. this was one of those times he really escaped. april 2009. he went fly fishing with my uncle. i know he had a wonderful time. i tend to forget how hard he works. physically. i forget that he also needs to escape sometimes. switch off and just relax. what is your escape? to read all the details about the page, just follow this link.

snapshots

2012-01-16T09:41:00.003+02:00

two years ago i was fortunate enough to attend a class Jowilna Nolte taught at Scrapaholics in Port Elizabeth. she did a stunning layout featuring a few interesting techniques. the layout above is the one she created and taught in class.

i have been cleaning and re-organising, and i found these photos and papers that Dalena asked me to scrap. when i saw them i immediately thought of using the basic design and elements, and just change them around a bit. the original layout had a very large photo on the right and a few small ones on the left. i only had 5 jumbo's, and i trimmed them to 3 x 6 inches to fit where i wanted them.

this is a stunning technique Jowilna taught us. using clear embossing powder, clear UTEE and perfect pearls or pearl ex ( which i used here, as i wanted the brighter colours) you create this amazing effect on a plain piece of chipboard or grungeboard.

i cut the title with a sizzix font i bought at convention in 2011, you're my cupcake. i just love it. i added glossy accents to just make it stand out a bit more. for the first time in 4 years i opened a new bottle of glossy accents, and i just loved it. i had forgotten how great glossy accents works on detailed pieces - when it is new and you have not yet started trimming the little spout down!!!

i used a Tim Holtz mask and frayed burlap distress ink to create this effect. matted two papers, stitching and some bling

i decided that i was going to use rubons on every single page i made in the next two weeks. i only have a few ( i used to hate them) and i never use them. so, i found an appropriate quote on a rubon by 7 Gypsies. i then cut the shield from the Tim Holtz die with my Cuttlebug, and placed the rubon on it. i then cut another shield from thin chipboard, and glued the shield with the rubon onto it. i then used my magic matter circle to trace a perfect shadow on the red paper, cut it out, and glued the two together. love the way it turned out. for the flourish - a piece of grey chipboard i found while cleaning. inked it with my versamark inkpad ( JUST LOVE THAT INKPAD) and added some of the red pearl ex. i then put a nice thick layer of glossy accents on, and let it dry overnight. hope you like it - i loved making this layout again. i had not scrapped anything by anyone else for a long time, and it was so relaxing not having to figure out all the details of a page. i can understand why some people buy kits. if you don't have alot of time, and you just want to create something quickly, it really helps to make scrapping easy and therapeutic. that is it for today. i am going to try to at least make a layout every second day while i am on leave - i was so happy when Donsie told me i could take 2 weeks off! i actually cried! have a super Monday and remember that there is Someone who really loves you unconditionally, and wants your burdens. He says it plainly in Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are tired of carrying heay loads, and I will give you rest." unqualified. xxx

adorable....and a prize up for grabs!

2012-01-14T18:41:00.002+02:00

my friend from Bloemfontien, Amanda, made this layout in Jeaunes Viljoen's last class at the shop. it is so pretty. she used the stunning Baby Steps range from Simple Stories.

she used a FabScraps chipboard title. these sometimes don't colour nicely with chalk inks. so we used some Walnut Stain Distress ink to add the brown. then i misted it with Heirloom Gold home made glimmer mist. then Amanda embossed it with two layers of UTEE. and wow. just look at that finish!

here is a close up of the journaling spot and the two little owls that Amanda used glossy accents on to emphasise them. and just look at those stunning FabScraps buttons! Jeaunes' layout feautured her kitty kat - just goes to show how versatile scrapbooking is - anything goes!

this is the original layout by Jeaunes. she is a very talented lady and she just loves using paper - and rightly so! you can view some of her work on her blog, and she is also a design team member for Let's Scrap. beautiful scrapbook papers are the basis of this industry. i know that the trends predict a year filled with even more other crafts being incorporated into Scrapbooking, but for me a stunning layout is still what draws me to this artform. i enjoy the beyond the page and mixed media projects, but i started scrapbooking to preserve my memories and to tell a story about that memory. what do you like most about scrapbooking? please share your feelings - i have a stunning Joe Niemand (english) cd and some scrapping goodies up for grabs as a lucky draw at the end of the month for someone who leaves a comment about this topic. i will post overseas, so it makes no difference where you are. you can post your comment it here and then just share it on Facebook as well if you like. enjoy the weekend! xx

back to earth.......

2012-01-08T22:36:00.000+02:00

my friend Monique did this layout during the December holidays. she is a phenomenal scrapper. very detailed and precise. and if you want to know how glossy accents works - she made the most fabulous gift for me that showcases her detailed (surgeon's) hand and i love showing it off. this layout was done of her 9 year old son, CJ, enjoying himself on the beach during their holiday in Jeffreys Bay. so carefree and thoroughly enjoying himself. the way life should be when you are that age. today at church, a 6 year old boy had a very different experience. i am in charge of the kids. i hug them, berate them, (try to) keep them quiet and slightly ordened, and allow bathroom breaks. they are all from the poorest of the poor township areas in Humansdorp. most of them have parents who are HIV positive or already not there anymore, or just plain useless. they are all underfed and under-loved. once a week i try to overdose them on hugs and praise and love. ( i sometimes wonder if it really makes a difference, but i suppose it eases my conscience just a bit and as i also get loads of hugs from little kids, at least i get alot from it (selfishly!!!)) today Justin had a little (HUGE) accident in his pants. a very messy one. he is going to grade one. if you could see him - he looks 3-4 years old. skinny as a chicken bone. all the kids laughed at him. i took him to the bathroom. i have never changed a baby's nappy. i am not used to kids - apart from hugging them on Sundays when they are as clean and dressed up as they possibly can be - and the kids of my colleagues, clients and friends. this was a surreal experience. i grabbed a dish swab and some Dettol hand wash ( it was closest to me). i made him undress and put him in the basin ( yes, he fits). he was covered in his own excrement. i washed him down. i washed his tracksuit pants. when i asked him where his underwear was, he whispered that he had thrown it faaaaarrrr away. i washed him again. i washed his tracksuit pants again. i hugged him and told him it was ok while i dried his tears of shame. and i kept asking God - i have never even changed a nappy, why are You making me do this? and i kept hearing the same answer - to bring you back to earth. it has been a recurring theme the past 5 weeks ( between God and me) He is slowly getting me off higher ground and back to solid ground. where i need to be. grounded in Him. and as i was looking for a layout to share tonight, i realised something when i found this one - Justin has lived less than 15km from the beach his whole short life. he has never been to the beach. CJ lives 1200 km from the beach and he comes at least once a year. CJ has a mother who dotes on him. when i asked Justin where his mom was, he whispered that she was "home". and i wondered what Justin's life will be like. where will he end up. i am glad i was there to help him clean up. it was not a pleasant experience, i promise you. but seeing his selfrespect restored when i walked back into church in front of all the kids, holding his hand and giving him a big kiss when i put him back on his seat, made me realise that God sent me straight back to where i was supposed to be. back to earth. on ground level. helping one person at a time. with God's help. Jesus came to save each one of us - individually. not collectively. i would like to salute the people who do these things for a living - cleaning up old and young alike - the people working in children's homes, old age homes, homes for the disabled, etc. we take being able to perform basic functions for granted. i think the people that do those jobs must be really grounded in Him. i want to be as grounded. xxxxxxxxxxx

monique's page

2011-12-29T22:58:00.000+02:00

sometimes people blow you away. with things they say, do, the way they act. my friend Monique does all of those, but she also blows my mind with the way she scraps - especially with Graphic 45 paper. i am not going to say much about the layout. it speaks for itself. it only needs photos - she is waiting for them to be developed. wow. this inspired me. i really hope it will inspire you too. thank you, Monique, for sharing. xxxxx

carefree

2011-12-29T22:51:00.000+02:00

donsie scrapped this page for Amanda of her daughter. i did the journaling and added the parenthesis. she is such a beautiful girl. i don't see the Spirit of Christ truly in many people. but in this young lady - she beams. she is a walking, talking epitome of what it is like to be Christlike. she has so much potential, beauty, maturity and raw honesty, that it actually scares me.

it is a very plain and simple page - we did not want to detract from the stunning photo. the title was cut with my Slice - we chalked it a bit and clear embossed it. a few blings and some journaling - all you need!

Graphic 45 Travelogue

2011-12-26T09:25:00.000+02:00

We hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas lunches and that all the plates have finally been cleared, the leftovers placed in Tupperware and today is just being spent with family and friends! The new Graphic 45 Travelogue collection arrived at the shop on Thursday ( just in time for Christmas) and when Amanda asked me to do a page of her and her daughter, I immediately knew I wanted to use this range. A very simple layout - using only two of the papers and two pieces of cardstock. I cut the frame from the Jungle Fever sheet and the leaves from the Rainforest sheet. The title was cut with my Cuttlebug and some Lifestyle Crafts Alphabet dies ( they are stunning and available here) distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and then I used Glossy Accents to give it an epoxy finish

The tag is from 7 Gypsies and the swirls were cut from Prism Cardstock in Ivory, distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and I used Cinnamon Stickles all over. The button is a new one by Fabscraps and the scallops and brown strip with the holes were cut using my Cuttlebug and Sizzix Dies. I added some stunning brown pearls as a finish and there you have it! Quick and easy!!

Blessed Christmas

2011-12-25T11:04:00.000+02:00

Blessed Christmas to everyone! may the love of Christ fill you this season and may you find comfort in the fact that He was born to save sinners. that means i am included. i pray that you will find time to reflect upon this between gifts and a feast on the table. it is, after all, the biggest gift we received when God sent His only Son to become flesh, so that we may receive eternal life. if you have not accepted this gift and made Him your sole purpose in life - it is never too late. He is always there, waiting for you to make the choice to turn from the world and it's shallow appeal, to His promise of Life. choose Christ today. He will change you forever. xxxxx

more tags........

2011-12-12T10:07:00.006+02:00

hello everyone! well, i managed to get two more tags done this weekend! the first one was made using fragments to enhance the stamped images and the ephemera - i did not have really clear packing tape at home to do the image transfer like tim did, but i think it looks pretty neat!

i was a bit disappointed in how this one came out on the glossy cardstock - the distress ink does not "take" all that well on it, and i had to do several layers on the background. but, it is a stunning effect - especially once you flick the water on! it really does look like plastic!! i did not have anything that i could use to try out the UTEE technique, so i just used a whiteboard holly - inked it and added glossy accents and stickles! hope you like the tags and that you will be inspired to create your own! remember to visit our online store for all your Scrapbook Supplies and to make use of the 20% off Tim Holtz and Ranger sale that is on!

12 tags of Christmas

2011-12-05T22:01:00.001+02:00

hello all!! well, yes, i know i have been missing. thank you to everyone who has been asking where i am - i am alive and kicking!! we have just been so busy with the new online store, that there was literally no time to be creative, and now i am experiencing withdrawal symptoms!!! after the launch of the site on Friday, i took a day to recover, and jumped right into Tim's 12 Tags on Sunday!! i must say that it is really hard for me this year - he is using alot of items that are not yet available locally, but after i got out of "website" mode and into "creative" mode, i was able to make two tags! i am quite happy with the way they turned out in the end, although i think it was the most effort i had ever put into two tags!

i firmly agree with what Tim says - you have to make do with what you have. improvise and make it your own! no use in just being a copy cat! ( also nothing wrong with it as long as you are having FUN!!!) we carry most of the items i used in stock, we are also running a 20% discount on Ranger and Tim Holtz products in store until 31 December - online only! we are also running a competition in conjunction with Scrap Affairs where you can win Tim Holtz/Ranger products worth over R3000!!! also remember that The Wholesaler competition is also still running - loads of people have already won prizes - you could be next!! hope you enjoy your week and please visit our online shop for HUGE specials if you have a chance!! happy crafting!!

missing in action...........

2011-11-27T14:12:00.000+02:00

i know i have been missing in action............. i have a few good reasons - one of which you can see right here!! the newest addition to our canine family! she is an ADORABLE puppy - and yes, she is a dog. nothing else. not a purebred anything. but such an amazing, well behaved little angel. as for the other reasons - they will be revealed within the next few days!! ( i might be back tonight with something to share.............)

a useless fact about marshmallows and a layout..

2011-11-09T21:03:00.003+02:00

did you know that marshmallows prevent or stops heartburn? true. one of my clients' daughter in laws is a doctor, and she told me that when patients ask her what she can prescribe for heartburn, she tells them to have a few marshmallows. they are also fatfree. so, i have been eating a few here and there. not because i get heartburn, but because i want to prevent it........ ( that is a good thing, is it not?)

Desiree made this beautiful layout about her youngest daughter. i love the way she used the patterned paper by Prima as the base and just accented it with stickles and glossy accents. i love scrapbooking. nothing makes me happier than scrapping, teaching people to scrap and seeing how they evolve and begin to create and interpret for themselves. when they develop their own unique style. when they come and show off their work. when you see how they beam when they know they have mastered a technique. when we share and share alike. i think when it is not just about creating, uplifting and sharing anymore, even when it is also your livelihood, and you get caught up in the "scrap-race" you lose something very important. there is a tendency in this industry of people being horrible to each other and not allowing each other a place in the sun. it is really sad. then again, i suppose it is everywhere. maybe it is because the industry is dominated by women that it is so obvious. it is still sad. i choose to do my own thing. i choose to scrapbook and not get involved in trying to copy others and steal their ideas, even if it means it will take a while longer to come up with something that attracts the "masses". if i am wrong, then at least it is a conscious choice i made and i will have no one to blame for the consequences but myself. i realised again today that when you give yourself out as a doormat, people will use you as one. but, doormats also have a purpose. very insignifficant when they are there. but when they are not, it always seems to rain and you always seem to need one! my failures are my own. i can't and won't blame other people for them. my successes i credit to God. for i am nothing without Jesus Christ through Whom all things are possible!

first Christmas layout 2011.........

2011-10-19T21:56:00.001+02:00

can you believe that in just 9 weeks it will be Christmas! the new papers started arriving about a month ago, but i could not bear to unpack them already!! i thought it was WAY too early! now i see that i have no choice, and we unpacked the last of them embellishments today, and dedicated a whole paperstand and wall to Christmas. when we unpacked the Christmas storage unit, the most amazing things were discovered! among them these papers from Christmas 2010. Bo Bunny and My Mind's Eye - two of my favourite brands. i took one look at them, and knew i had to do a page! choosing the paper was no problem, neither was deciding what to do with the paper - the layout came easily. finding photos was the big problem! i am not big on commercial Christmas and as i don't have much "close" family close by and no children, traditional Christmas is not really a big event for me. that does not mean that i don't enjoy the whole tradition! luckily i dug up these two old photographs ( one was taken before the digital camera age and although the other one was taken during the digital camera age, i think i was too stupid to know what to do with them!) so i only had this one original.

i used plain white cardstock as my background that i misted with my own home-made mists - ( it was a bit of a mission to get the colours matching the papers to my liking, but in the end i got the perfect combo of Distress Re-inkers and Perfect Pearls to suit the colour scheme).

i use lots of stamps on this layout - the border around the top was created with a 7 Gypsies Christmas set and the Baubles are from a set by MME. i used Coffee Archival ink to stamp with. i used the Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers dies to cut the "naughty/nice" tags. stamp is also from the 7Gypsies set. ( yes, we do have them in stock!!) the blings are from the shop, but the gold ones i coloured myself ( they were clear) i just used some Gold Mixative Alcohol Ink and some stickles to get them to look like really old gold rhinestones.

i put some strips of the various papers down and i used my new Fiskars Postage Edger Punch to do the borders as well as my EK Success Donut Chain border punch to create the circle edges.i used the Tim Holtz Ticket Strip die for the Merry Christmas tickets and stamped them with one of his stamps. for the date tags i used a McGill punch and the date stamp is also from the 7Gypsy set. the beautiful door with wreath stamp is by Artistic Outpost and i also stamped it with Coffee Archival ink and just added some Christmas Red and Gold Sticklens. i sprayed a piece of white cardstock with my green mist, and printed my journaling on it. and there you have it! hope you will be inspired to create a Christmas layout of your own - remember that we have everything you need to create your Christmas layouts, make your Christmas Cards, gift tags and many more! We have most of the products used on this layout in store - just phone us or email us for the supply list!! enjoy the rest of your week. lots of Blessings!! xxxxx

class with Elizna and Webster's Pages

2011-10-18T18:45:00.004+02:00

What could be better than a combination of brand new Webster's Pages papers and an Elizna Parsons double page? Not much, if you are a scrapbooker!! Join us at Scrapbook Studio this Saturday, 22 October for a great class. This layout was designed exlusively for Scrapbook Studio JBay with the new Webster's Pages collection we received from the USA a few weeks ago. For those of you who are not yet familiar with Webster's Pages, visit this link to view some of the stunning layouts Robin Shakoor, one of their design team members, made with some of their collections. We don't have all of them yet, but depending on your support of the range, we will be getting lots more! So, join us for a creative morning, packed with gorgeous papers, twine, stamping and more! Phone the shop on 042-2932781 or send an email to sales@scrapbookstudio.co.za to book your seat! We look forward to seeing you there!

from a distance...........

2011-10-16T21:56:00.003+02:00

so, today was a good day. i bathed Grunter ( the big Boerboel), opened the shop for an hour for a few eager shoppers, scrapped and went to church. church was good. God has a way of talking straight to me when i need it most - i really was kinda not in the mood to go today - i was just getting into the swing of my new page, but knew i had to go ( i am big on duty that way - even if i don't feel like doing something, i will - just because i feel so bad if i don't!!!) anyway. so oom Piet opens the sermon and asks us where Jesus is now. and we agree that He is with us. so he reads Luke 22: 54-62. key verse was v54b: " But Peter followed at a distance." now we all know what happened - Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him ( Jesus) 3 times before the rooster crowed. and it happened as Jesus said it would. Peter felt terrible. the Bible says he 'wept bitterly". to get back to the distance - alot of us are like that. we follow Jesus at a comfortable distance. there is the story of a head deacon in a church. (true story, i can give you his name - he lives here in town) so he tells us how he used to stand with a hangover on Sunday mornings collecting the tithes in church with the other deacons ( who all also had hangovers from the previous night). and everyone was quite happy. the minister would preach feel good sermons, the churchmembers all felt good 'cause they were seen on Sunday in their best attire, and life was just dandy. until he went to visit his grown children in another town for a weekend. he went to church with them. the minister there did an alter call. ( that's when they ask the congregation if there is anyone who would like to accept Jesus as their Saviour). and this man tells that it was the first time in his life he heard an alter call, and he accepted. he was also babtized and his life had to change. he says he came back home, went to tell his minister that he was now truly Saved, and that he was a changed man. it did not go down well. people could not understand why things could not stay the same. suddenly he did not drink with the boys on a Saturday evening, so he made them feel all bad on Sunday mornings when he was all bright eyed. eventually it got so bad, he had to sell his farm and move away because people were pushing him out of the community due to the fact that he was now CLOSELY following Jesus. people want to follow Jesus where it is comfortable. they are Christians - only if they don't have to talk about it, or do anything to show the world, or as long as it does not interfere with their lifestyle, or Jesus' word tells them how to lead Holy lives. they follow Him at a distance. how wide is the gap between you and Jesus? how big is that distance between the two of you? are you right behind Him so that He can grab you when you are falling? or are you so far behind Him, that you are out of His reach? i know it is hard. most of the time i also only want to do what feels good and what i want to do, when i want to do it. i know that i am also way too far from Him. i need to close the gap. if you need to also close the gap between you and Him, ask Him to wait for you while you catch up. He will. unload those burdens that is slowing you down. forget about what other people are going to say. all that matters is what He thinks. other people won't get you into the Kingdom of God. only through the Cross of Christ can you get there. may you have a blessed week and remember to follow Him closely. xxxxxxxxx

COMPETITION TIME!!!!!

2011-10-10T07:34:00.002+02:00

click on Mary for more info...........

kaisercraft bonjour collection cards

2011-10-09T12:30:00.001+02:00

so, i was finishing my Kaisercraft layout from the Scrapbook Convention - you can see it here - and i decided to follow my own advice and make some cards while everything was on my desk. these went so quick!! for the top one, i just collaged some of the left over papers to cover my card base. then i added some of the Distress Stained lace, added an Eiffel Tower sticker from the Bonjour sticker sheet. i then stamped the "for you" sentiment and i then added some paper flowers over the printed flowers. quick quick!!

for this card i covered the card base with some pink left over Bonjour paper. i then added a journal tag and a leftover piece of a border sticker from the sticker sheet. i cut a butterfly from another piece of leftover paper ( it was not a whole butterfly). i then adhered it to the left edge of the card. i then added some more leftover distress stained lace, and some bling. stamped the sentiment "just for you" and card no 2 finished!

this card could not have been simpler. once again i covered the base with a left over piece of Bonjour paper. i then added a little strip of butterflies that were cut off from one of the papers. the stem of my flower was cut off when i needed the big hydrangea for the main layout, and i tried to create my own hydrangea by folding and layering some paper flowers. stamped the sentiment and another one done!

the last card was just as easy - once again covered the pre-cut base with left over Bonjour paper. then i added a leftover strip that i just cut to size. i then layered two Bonjour journaling tags over each other and stamped my sentiment. i used a hydrangea sticker from the sticker sheet as the one on the journal tag was a bit hidden and i cut another butterfly from the leftover paper. and there you have it! four quick, easy cards! i am sure i could make about another 5 or 6 with all the leftovers. i could then give a pack as a gift, or keep them for when i need a quick card. have you made quick cards lately? why not share them!!

the lilies and us.......

2011-10-04T21:31:00.000+02:00

i am busy downloading my photos from the Cape. this little lily was photographed in a farmer's field. it has not been edited, and Marius took it. ( he knows NOTHING about f-stop or aperture.......) and i know that what Jesus said is true...... Matthew 6:28 " so why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the valley, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin" you should read the next few verses as well, but if you can't or don't feel like it - Jesus says that you are worth so much more to Him than the lilies of the valleys. won't he also take care of you if you truly trust Him and follow Him with all your heart? give Him a chance, if you have not yet. and if you are far from Him now, ask Him to come closer, and He will. He loves you more than you know - He died so that you can live. sleep tight everyone!

life's recipes

2011-10-04T20:58:00.000+02:00

so, we had a charity scrap challenge again at the SA Scrapbook Convention. i love doing those. the products are all donated by Kaisercraft Australia and we pay for the kits. we then have an hour to scrap a single page using only basic tools. if you use something else, you have to pay a penalty ( it all goes to the charities) we also have auctions and give aways. i sponsored a Cuttlebug that was auctioned as well as loads of other Tim Holtz goodies and really nice scrapbooking tools that Melissa auctioned off, and she also had alot of Kaisercraft goodies she gave away. when time is up, you have to hand in your layout. the layouts are then judged by the International teachers and 15 finalists were chosen this year. we then all go into the competition for a ticket for next year's convention. the winner is judged by an independent panel, and announced in the last 2011 issue of Scrapping & Kie! it is really quite something Glenda does. the theme this year was "Life is a bowl of Cherries - Recipes for Life". my life is centred in my faith, and all the "ingredients" that make up my Life's Recipes flows out of that. my husband, the shop, my best friend Gail and the magical ladies who work with me at the shop. a key ingredient in the recipe is the outreach we do to the children in the community every Sunday, feeding them and teaching them about Grace. my life's recipes. i am thankful every day for such abundant and undeserved blessings!

who knew life could be this good....

2011-10-04T19:13:00.000+02:00

so, at last i am back in action. it has been a whirlwind 4 weeks - we celebrated the shop's second birthday, i went on a week's holiday to Stellenbosch, the SA Scrapbook Convention, unpacked over 30 HUGE boxes and captured over 1000 new stock items and took over 600 photos that need to be edited, uploaded and scrapped. the shop has been so busy, that it feels as if i don't get time to do anything....... BUT, on the 24th of September i actually decided to finish a layout that we were taught by Elizna Parsons at I-Scrap's second birthday bash. ( read all about that here) I used photos that my good friend and fellow scrapbooker, Dalena Muller gave me of her grandson. he is so adorable, and these stunning shots were taken by a friend of her daughter-in-law's in Cape Town. i think they suit this layout pefectly. Elizna's style is classic, clean and focuses on the photos. i still have 3 other projects from that weekend to finish........all in good time!! ( i hope!!) i have also been without internet for almost a week now at the back office - i don't normally complain about service, but today i got so mad that i actually almost cried when i spoke to the Telkom lady for the 6th time. i got so upset, i told her that if they don't come today, i might just plant a bomb and blow their internet connection to smithereens, so they can feel what it feels like to be unable to do a HUGE part of your job. of course she was not impressed - she said that they take bomb threats very seriously, and that maybe i needed more help than Telkom could offer!! LOL!! i actually could not believe i said that either!! no wonder they are still ignoring me! would love to know if anobody else have ever said something so UNBELIEVABLY stupid????? anyway, God is still GOOD and i am still safely nestled in His Grace ( even if i say such stupid things) so i guess a few more days without internet at day time won't kill me........

tim holtz configurations - africa style!!

2011-09-01T21:11:00.004+02:00

so, i have this friend/client who is OBSESSED with the continent we live on. Africa. she lives, breathes, eats and sleeps the land, it's wildlife, it's people - all of it. so she created a stunning piece of art to display all the places she has been to and all the elements of Africa that is so dear to her. i won't say much. i will let the piece speak for itself. well done, Charmaine!!!

photo album

2011-08-30T19:32:00.001+02:00

hello all!! if you went to I-Scrap's birthday bash at Evergreen and did not bring your camera, here are some photos for your entertainment!! all unedited, so ENJOY!! you are welcome to copy the ones of you and SCRAP them for I-Scrap's challenge!!

what a blast......

2011-08-29T15:59:00.002+02:00

i-scrap had their 2nd birthday this weekend at a stunning venue, Evergreen. 40 of us scrapped for two days while being fed, winning STUNNING prizes and being taught the most stunning layouts! it was done so professionally and smoothly, i actually thought it was one of the best "conventions" i had ever been to. the goodie bags were filled with yummieness. the shop had stunning items for sale, and what made it even more special, is the fact that Jenny had all the ladies who taught promote themselves, offer what they had to offer and it was just amazing. i firmly believe that when you share, you will always have a piece of the pie. Jenny and Anel - thank you. it was a landmark event in PE, and i assure you that i will be at the next one and the next one and the next one!! WELL DONE!!!!!!

a stolen kiss.....

2011-08-25T08:06:00.003+02:00

another layout using the Fun House collection by Ella Blue. i have these pictures of Gail's daughter Leilani sneaking a kiss on her husband's cheek while they were camping, and i have been wanting to scrap it for a very long time. when i went through the Fun House papers, i realised the colours were spot on!! they hearts were cut with the new My Favourite Things die and my cuttlebug. i used the pink cardstock, but the blue and green were white that i painted and then added stickles to. i faux stitched the edges just to emphasise them

here is a "full frontal". the "kiss" was done using Fabscraps alphas, painted and stickled. the 'a stolen" was cut with my cuttlebug and a new font that i got from Elizna that is selling Lifestyle crafts.

the journaling box was also cut by one her her "Nestabilities". visit her site here and get yours NOW!! they are STUNNING . this was a very quick and fun layout to make - not much faffing. only three cardstocks, and 4 patterned papers. the rest were all things i had in my stash. hope you have a stunnning day and remember to give someone a friendly word or a smile today!!!

fun at the fair

2011-08-24T08:02:00.000+02:00

gail did this stunning layout with the gorgeous fun house collection by GCD Studios. for more detail hop on over to the shop's blog...

involvement

2011-08-21T18:26:00.002+02:00

i am sure that the more "educated" and "civilized" we "think" we are, the less we mean to society. we just do our own thing. we don't get involved. we go to work, and come home, close the door and want to be left alone. i watched a documentary on the Lost Boys from Sudan. when some of them got the "opportunity" to relocate to the USA, they were very grateful, but they could not understand how Western Society operates. we just don't talk to each other. you can't just walk up to someone at their house and say you got lost, are hungry, or need help. you can't even go for just a chat. i felt as if they were pointing their fingers right at me. i do my thing, see people at the shop, but when i leave, i want to be left alone. and i was ashamed. there are so many people who need someone to talk to. who need a helping hand. who need someone to just ASK if they NEED something. we are all so "busy" with our own things. i am so selfish with MY TIME. the time when i can just do what I want to do. MEMEMEMEMEMEME. we get so ME-oriented that we don't even smile when we walk around in a mall, or drive. we all look so serious. everything irritates us. people must just not inconvenience us. and i wonder - would Jesus be happy with the fact that, although i did not bother anyone and just did my "own" thing, i never got involved in anything? never fed the hungry. never clothed the naked. never gave some water to the thirsty. never went to visit someone in prison. never went to an old age home and just read to an elderly person. never just gave a rejected child a hug. never just took the time to ask the person that looks lost if he needed direction..................and we do have excellent excuses in South Africa. everything is DANGEROUS. well, if you read a little Bible history - it was also very dangerous in those times. maybe it is time for me to live a little more dangerously and reach out MORE. maybe if we all did something good for or to someone who does NOT deserve it, we will one day not be seperated from those who took the chance........ Jesus is very clear about what will happen to me if i don't follow His command in Matthew 25:31-46. as a matter of fact, He is not even subtle or tactful - He is quite graphic in His description of what will happen to me and you if we don't do it. i am going to pray that God will show me ways this week through the Holy Spirit to be obedient. imagine if all of us who say that we are Christians actually LIVE this command, and not conveniently forget about it. i am convinced that each of our corners of the world will start looking better, act of kindness, by act of kindness. may you have a Blessed week.

ella blue potential

2011-08-21T09:01:00.003+02:00

Ella Blue by GCD Studios arrived at the shop last week. WOW. that is all i can say. a vintage collection like none i had seen before. of course i had to do a layout as soon as i had a chance!!!

i used Tara for the background. i placed a large Doily over the page, and sprayed it with a home made mist, made up of Walnut Stain Distress reinker and water. removed the Doily and dried it with my Heatgun. these papers have a wonderful linen texture, so they react quite well to water and heat. very little, if any buckling. then i cut the big rose from Savannah, and dressed it up with some True Blue, Cinnamon and Waterfall Stickles. i cut two strips from Grace and layered it at the bottom of the page with some Tim Holtz Coredinations cardstock inbetween. added a nice Blue ribbon and a stunning shimmer brown ribbon on top of that. Next I took a title tag from Authentique and distressed it, adding Walnut Stain ink to the edges. then i added a sentence from the Authentique Diction sticker sheet as my journaling. Made a ribbon with my Enmarc Bow Master and added a VERY old MM brad.

i took the big butterfly from the Celebr8 range (distributed by The Wholesaler - did you know they have an online shooping facility?)and covered it with Cloudy Blue Paint Dabber. then i took Blue Glass Embossing powder and randomly added it to the butterfly. i used my heatgun to melt it. i also took some Espresso Alcohol ink, and dabbed it randomly all over the butterfly. added some Distress Vintage Photo Stickles to some areas afterwards, and let it dry. for the title i used really cheap W & M chipboard letters, carefully embossed with Copper UTEE and Blue Glass. i just wanted a little bit of the Blue Glass to come through, and this took a little bit of time. but the end result is worth it!! i did the same with the swirl at the top of the butterfly and under the tag. i just matted the photo 3 times on cardstock, distressing the edges roughly with my Tim Holtz Tonic Distresser. i find his works the best if you are working with smaller pieces of paper and also thinner paper. the light cardstock is actually a Colormates Light Fairy Tale Pink! And there you have it!! the shop has all 12 papers in the range, selling only at R8! the papers are all double sided. any ideas of what you would create with this range? Watch this space - i will have another layout soon - just to show you that you don't just have to do Vintage layouts! all products used are available at Scrapbook Studio Jeffreys Bay. the shop posts countrywide, so if you would like some of these papers, just phone the shop on 042-2932781 or send an email to sales@scrapbookstudio.co.za. enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

david vs goliath

2011-08-18T20:36:00.004+02:00

i heard a few stories today about people being bullied. my whole life i have been trying to fight Goliath. i don't like bullies. i don't like it when the fragile and oppressed cannot let their voices be heard. i was watching a documentary on Wallmart the other night. it did not paint a very nice picture of the company. as a matter of fact, i was a bit disgusted. but i will not get into details - you can watch it for yourself. it was quite relevant, as they have just acquired 51% of Massmart shares, so they are in South Africa. and here to stay. i did see they guaranteed all the employees their rights etc. i just hope they will not negate on their word. big corporations are sometimes big bullies. but there are bullies everywhere. husbands who intimidate their wives. wives who intimidate their husbands. bullies at school. the workplace. everywhere. people who do not want to allow other people a place in the sun. who want it all for themselves. who yell, belittle and begrudge others everything. who thrive on the suffering of another. who cannot wait to say something negative in the company of others in order to deflect attention from themselves, and try and focus on the other party. people who try and make life so difficult for others, that others who are not so confident, sometimes just give in and give up - they just don't have it in them to stand up against the bully. it is a real shame that even as adults, we allow ourselves to be bullied and we turn a blind eye when we see someone being bullied. but then i should not be surprised. the Bible warns us that in the last days this will happen. 2 Timothy 3:2a "For people will love only themselves and their money". i am a business person. it is my bread and butter. i do pray that i will be able to do business in a way that is fair, honest and leaves enough room for everyone to also make an honest living and not let money and power become my god. my swordmanship is not what it should be, so i will continue to fight the Goliaths of the world the only way i know how. with the pen ( or keypad!!!) (picture courtesy fotosearch)

unpopular...........

2011-08-11T21:41:00.003+02:00

i am very happy to say that this matter has been graciously resolved. LIFE IS GOOD - i have parcels containing BEAUTY in my car.............on my way to the shop to unpack. YUMMIEEEE!!!
happy weekend to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND REMEMBER TO SMILE!!! (picture courtesy darius)

happy birthday to my mother in law...........

2011-08-11T12:18:00.000+02:00

it is my mother-in-law's birthday on 17 August. my in-laws went to visit my sister-in-law in Mozambique two years ago, and i decided to make a double layout for her in a frame, for her birthday next week. the papers are all last year's collections, and i was moving paper around and taking them off the shelves to make room for new CHA releases, they just all looked so nice together!!

my only REAL embellishment - a Celebr8 chipboard flourish dressed up with Stream Embossing powder and copper Utee............hope she likes it!!

limited edition........

2011-08-08T12:55:00.004+02:00

sometimes you have a limited edition of an event. last year that happened to me. marius had been building the whole of 2010 at Oubos. every single weekend. from the previous November. we NEVER saw each other. we both have full time jobs, working really hard. and every weekend he would go and help at Oubos, doing all the work mostly by himself. our marriage took alot of strain. at some point i did not think we were going to make it. then, about a month before his birthday in november, my aunt phoned me and said she was going to give me some money to give to marius - he did not want anything for the work at Oubos, but she knew i would take it. ( she was right!!!) so, instead of the money disappearing into the daily abyss of living, i did something outrageous - i booked a 2 night stay at a 5 star game lodge!! YIP!! we also have never been on a honeymoon, so it served a double purpose - something so out of character for me ( i am a bargain person) and for marius - the less fancy, the better!! so, we did it!! we spent two glorious nights at the wonderful Kichaka Lodge. (you can read more about it here). anyway, when i was moving papers around in the shop last week, i moved these Prima papers - the collection is Reflections. and i saw the layout in my head. i also never use fancy flowers, but i knew that i wanted to use some of these stunning new Prima and Petaloo flowers, supplied by the Wholesaler. i have also never scrapped with yellow, so i knew it would be a challenge for myself. i am very happy with the result!! you might think that the paper is not really suitable for lions, elephants, rhinos etc, but i say who cares!! anything goes and it is supposed to make me happy! ( i think alot of scrappers worry so much about mainstream and what others are going to say, that they forget to scrap in a way that makes them happy!! the opinions of others are quite simply irrelevant when it comes to YOUR memories!

i used a chipboard title that i painted with butterscotch paint dabber and added glossy accents over it. to the right you can see my journaling spot. it is an index card that i sprayed with the same home made glimmer mist ( actually perfect pearl mist) that i sprayed all the pages with before i started taping the photos down.

a close up of those pretty flowers!! also, please note the Tim Holtz film strip stamped in Versafine Sepia ink, and the PRETTY Prima pebble - was looking for something to fill the gap, and seriously, this pebble just jumped out at me! those are really the greatest little embellishments!

more stamping and my corner - it is an Enmarc corner, and i embossed it with Ranger's Rust Embossing powder ( i had the wrong bottle out first, and i was embossing until i was sure my heatgun was going to burn out, and then i looked at the bottle - HA - i was using Vintage Photo Distress EP instead of Rust!! it can happen when you get excited about finishing a layout!!!) and that is it! i really hope you like this and will let me know if you do! just a note - i used 9 3inch x 3inch photos on this layout. that is about 7.5cm x 7.5cm. i did have 10, but then i wanted to journal, so i took the one photo away. i am fairly sure you could add about another 2-4 photos of the same size to this layout without crowding it too much. if i knew how to do those sketches, i would put a sketch here for you guys to use - but alas, i don't know how and those who do don't want to tell me how, so you will have to use pen and paper!! you are welcome to copy any of my layouts - if you feel like it, please refer people back to my site or give credit, but if you don't want to - that's also ok. your choice! enjoy the rest of your week! xxxxxx

windows on the world.........

2011-08-03T20:48:00.000+02:00

when was the last time you viewed the world from your window? what is your window on the world? the theme of Genevieve's swap "windows on the world" was just that. you had to depict your window on the world. and WOW is all i can say. i have taken part in lots of swaps, but this one had to have been the best. the quality of the participant's work, the effort Genevieve as the hostess put into the binding of the books ( at basically no cost - except time) and the variety of the artwork - fantastic!!!

here is a view of the binding of the book. stunning.

and a side view. what really caught my attention was the fact that none of the 10 ladies who finished the swap, used the same colour scheme!! so you have this rainbow book filled with magic!! it is a pity that all the participants did not deliver, but i do think that the book is 100% perfect!!!!! thank you to all who took part and to Genevieve for hosting it!!! YUMMIE!!!!

using your heatgun.....

2011-07-26T21:36:00.000+02:00

donsie is a genius when it comes to using her heatgun. she makes it seem so effortless. the two of us collaborated on this layout. she dressed up the Enmarc Garden Tools plain whiteboard set, and i did the layout. it was alot of fun. to view the complete layout and more detail on the page, go to the shop's blog. please let us know what you think. also, it would be great to hear of ways you have used your heatgun and embossing powders...........

innocence has wings

2011-07-24T10:56:00.000+02:00

an innocent child. born into this world. truly innocent? when i lived in the USA 20 years ago, United Colors of Benetton had an advertising campaign. it had 4 little babies from 4 different race groups sitting next to each other naked. the caption said "Nobody is born a Bigot". that caption has stayed with me for over 20 years and made a profound difference in the way i view people and the world. bigots are created by the parents they had, the community they grew up in. although we are all born in sin, i firmly believe in nurture vs nature. as Jesus can wash away every sin with His blood, so can we too, when we have accepted Him, throw away that which we grew into, and become new creations - and throw off the burden of bigotry and prejudice. with innocence restored through Christ's sacrifice, we are cleansed before God and we can come to Him shameless. what a glorious opportunity!!

i will be begging........

2011-07-23T22:26:00.003+02:00

in the streets one of these days!!! for what?? money to pay for all the new collections the shop has to have!! my goodness. have you seen what they have released at CHA? HOW and WHERE will i put it all? please, guys, PRAY that i will get the space next door so that i can get YOU all the paper you DESERVE................as a teaser, how can you resist this? ( by the way, if you click on the picture, it will take you to the WHOLE collection)

an onion.....

2011-07-20T22:38:00.002+02:00

having a business is fun. it is also hard work. it is rewarding. it can be frustrating. it can be a place of safety. it can be a place where you feel exposed. it can be a place where you earn a living and provide the opportunity for other people to earn a living. it is a place where you can grow. it can, also, be a place where you can stagnate. in my shop, i have learnt alot of lessons. when you deal with the public, you are exposed. you cannot stagnate in the scrapbooking business, you will lose clients. they want to see new stock daily. you are confronted with clients who view the world very differently from the way you do. you cannot force your view upon them or your creative style. you also have to be friendly - even when clients are not. the past month we have had a tough time with really rude clients at the shop. people who walk in, and regardless of how friendly you are to them, are just miserable and mean. unfriendly and rude. normally we ignore them, and let them be on their way ( thank goodness) as quickly as possible. we had one client, however, that came into the shop with a mission, and regardless of what we did, had the sole purpose of being rude and beligirent. i admit, when she got insulting, i kindly told her that i did not think that we had what she was looking for. both Donsie and i were stunned. we had seen our share of strange people in the shop, but this one took the cherry. worst of all - i can be very direct, and i have been on a mission to try not to be, and if i had been direct that day, i could have understood the events that followed. but i could not. i got an onion!! she sent an sms to our Think Local to say the service in the shop was horrible. and that the lady with the hair ( that would be me) was bombastic and rude. jeepers. i was shocked, to say the least. if i deserved it, i would have owned up to it. but this was so unfair - it just yelled against everything i deem fair. BUT, it made me stop and think. how do i come across? seriously. i might think i am friendly and outgoing, but what if other people see me as blunt and bombastic? what if i speak too loud and i don't listen enough? what if i am not as "ok" as i think? and then it dawned upon me - we are all works in progress. situations like these are used by God to point something out to us. my pointer was that i should beware - although we believe that this lady's visit was no coincidence, the incident did make me acutely aware that the close knit community i call my "scrapbooking community", was expanding, and people i don't know were coming into the shop, and they had different agendas. But, as Romans 8 makes it clear - God can use everything that happens to our good - if we love Him. and i thank him for people like this lady, who make me look at myself and see where i am failing Jesus. where am i not reflecting His mercy, His Grace, His Spirit. and i can only apologise to those i have been less than kind to. i will try to be kinder, gentler and less bombastic!! with the shop growing, it is inevitable that these things will happen. but, by the Grace of God, i believe that with the help of my friends and enemies alike, the journey will be worth it. thanks to all of you who are my mirrors, and help me grow...............xxxxx

logen turns 4..

2011-07-20T22:18:00.003+02:00

Louise brought me some photos of Logen's 4th birthday. when i saw the colours of the photos, i knew that the Quite Contrary Range by MME would be perfect! and it was ( i think!) i focused on the papers and the photos and used very little embellishments, for fear of distracting from the stunning papers and photos.

don't you just LOVE the big butterfly? it is a sizzix die that i cut 3 times. i then cut the top one "inside the lines" slightly, so that the light pink would "shadow" it. i mounted it on top of the maroon one. i then cut those thin little strips of paper with my metal ruler and craft knife to make the pigs' tails. love that! n the "4" was embossed with Lettuce EP and then i made the white spots with the Ranger white pigment Inkssentials pen, and added the black dot with the Zig pen.

this layout feautures my border punches. i literally cut strips of the patterned papers and added a plain cardstock in between every pattern, punched with a border punch. i know some people don't like border punches, but i have to tell you - it makes a huge difference to a layout. it is effective - both cost wise and design wise! hope you like the layouts!

good enough to eat....

2011-07-04T19:52:00.001+02:00

yip, that will be this saturday's class at the shop...... eliza will be doing a paperbag album that looks so good, you want to sink your teeth into it!!! book your seat now!!

down memory lane.......

2011-06-29T20:18:00.003+02:00

this is a layout that goes back 35 years..........my eldest brother was about 2 years old when the main photo was taken, and the others up until he was about 5. i don't have alot of photos from when we were kids - unfortunately most family photos were lost a few years ago. but just look at my dad and Johan - so happy!! and johan was such a cute little boy!! i remember some of these outfits. my mom used to make all our clothes - just look at his little church suit on the last photo bottom left! it was white and navy blue. it is my dad's birthday today. i really miss him sometimes - especially when i need advice! he was always my "go-to" guy!!!! as the photos were really old and the colouration poor, i scanned them all and then changed them to black and white. love how they came out! the paper is a range by FABSCRAPS - i just cut lots of the bracket pattern and layered the patterns over each other and did another piece in the centre. the title letters is by MME - velvet and so luxurious!! yummiiiieeeeee!!!

the only other embellishments is a stamp by Paperbag studios - stamped on a no8 tag with coffee archival ink, and then blended with peeled paint distress ink and splattered with water, some 7Gypsy strips from Time, as well as a 7G paper clip and some typed journaling. plain and simple! hope you like it!

happy birthday event @ I-Scrap!!!

2011-06-29T20:17:00.001+02:00

One of my colleagues, Jenny Spicer, is celebrating her shop's 2nd birthday this August! Why not join us for the 2 day event? It is sure to be filled with GOODNESS!!!! Phone Jenny on 041-3636666 to book your spot before all the spots ar FILLED!!!

Lifestyle Crafts..........

2011-06-28T17:15:00.003+02:00

well, another first in South Africa!! My friend Elizna is bringing in Lifestyle's dies - visit the link here to get yours ASAP!! stocks are limited, so don't waste time!! above is a sneak peak of what you can get.....

dean....

2011-06-26T14:47:00.004+02:00

dean is marius' eldest son. he turned 20 on june 17. i have known him for just over 12 years. that is almost 3/4 of his life. he is tall and handsome. i wanted to make something as a tribute to him, and also something that he could get one day when he starts his own family. as i am now preparing for my own child, i realised that i was way behind in scrapping the children already in my life - dean and christoff, and i also have not really touched my childhood or my family. so i started sorting photos. i found alot of singletons of dean - we did not see him that often when he was young - he was very busy and his dad was also very busy. i would always, and still do, think of the song "cat's in the cradle" in this situation - and pray that it would not be true here. i used the Pink Paislee Old School paper kit for this layout. it really is so versatile. the colours look like "school" but also has a boy/vintage feel to it.

i dressed the page up purely with stamping and deep red pearls, as well as some journaling. i hand stitched the flourishes ( Bazzil template) and i used an EK Success punch for the edges. i created my own "patterned" paper by cutting strips of the papers and glueing them onto bright YELLOW cardstock ( i knew that was the colour i would least likely miss from my CS stash).

the big stamps are by Teresa Collins. they are so versatile and the quality is excellent. the bicycle is by artistic outpost. i made "dean" by using some really old alpha stickers that were glued to cream cs, then mounted onto chipboard, chalked and then added a layer of glossy accents to dry over night. VOILA!! your own epoxy embellishments. this technique was introduced to me by jowilna nolte when she taught a class in Jeffreys Bay in 2008. so, i am on a quest to get through the photos...............so i will have lots of time to scrap the new addition to the family when baby arrives!!

are you up to the challenge??

2011-06-22T20:09:00.003+02:00

there will be a "class" with a difference this saturday at the shop. no formal instructions......each to her own creativity.......... visit the shop's blog to find out more............

gaby.........

2011-06-19T22:35:00.003+02:00

as you all know, i had to say goodbye to my baby girl Gaby last monday evening. i was devastated. some emails, videoclips and cards from friends made it bearable. i don't liket highlighting things people do, but this card Monica made for me, is so special, i had to share it with you. just look at it. look at the wings she added to Gaby. and the words.........so true and uplifting! Monica, thank you. i know you know how i feel. i hope that your pain will also get less as time goes by. your talent amazes me as well as your thoughtfulness. thanks again. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

my diet and a green pepper..........

2011-06-19T22:20:00.004+02:00

hello all!! well, i am sure you are wondering how the new "me" is doing with the new way of living! i am pleased to say that apart from two bumps in the road, very well!! the first bump was last Wednesday evening through Thursday morning. we had a scrap-a-thon at the shop - 15 hours of non-stop scrapping! from 5pm until 8am! Leeanne brought cupcakes and cheesecake, and although she promised us they were fat-free and sugarfree, i am not sure if i believed her completely!! then, today, my family in law converged upon us to celebrate my birthday ( tomorrow) and father's day. my SIL made lasagne ( sigh) and her MIL made a chicken pie. she had to twist the knife in my side, and also brought malva pudding. i was frugal - but still, not the most ideal position to be in the first week or so of your "new" you!! but, tomorrow we will start from afresh! i have lost just over 1kg - it is a HUGE struggle for me to lose weight - my metabolism is sllloooowowowwowowow because of the diabetes, the thyroid has been underactive for 21 years also, ( poor eltroxin, just can't get it going as it should) and as i hate sweat, my aversion to hard exercise also does not help. i do walk diligently, though. and yes, from tomorrow it will be 3 blocks, or twice a day. that is my favourite part. as for the green pepper - i coloured it last week, ( stunning stampset from Cornish Heritage Farms - it only has vegetables in the set and cooking words) purely because i wanted to see if i could and what it would look like. now it is sitting on my desk. i have taken it to work to show it off ( and to the scrap-a-thon - i don't think they were impressed) but now i am at a dead end as to what to do with it. any suggestions will be welcomed!! remember for this week that it is more important to keep starting over, than to just continue in the wrong manner. Jesus died for all of us who choose to accept Him - NO EXCEPTIONS. His Grace is enough. forget about people. they are just that - human. God will not fail you. He is faithful and true. He knows what He has in store for you. Just surrender..............it really is not that hard. just let go of all the worries, sin, stress, irritations - literally GIVE it to Him. He wants you to. He loves you and is knocking at the door of your heart. open it. don't say you'll do it later - later might never come, and then it will be too late. may your week be blessed and filled with His Grace!!!!

cards...........

2011-06-19T10:20:00.006+02:00

i have been threatening to make cards, and i actually made these two!! i have been operating a little under the radar - still grieving for Gaby ( more about that later) and other major decisions to be made have been on my mind. my cellphone has been off for a while ( LOVE THAT) and i have had some serious time to think.

the turquoise card was made thursday morning at about 5 ( we were at the all night Scrap-a-thon at the shop, and Julie, Leeanne and i were fading, they had never made a card before, so we quickly put one together) it really only uses leftover papers and a stamped focal image. this one is by Artistic Outpost.

the other card was made when i opened a cupboard and saw my prismacolor pencils that i have been neglecting TERRIBLY. i just got this stampset from Unity with the post box at the shop's sale a few weeks back, and was itching to use it. and voila! two quick cards! hope you like them. i will be back later with a beautiful ode to Gaby by my friend Monica....... enjoy your Sunday!!

goodbye, Gaby Girl......

2011-06-13T19:50:00.000+02:00

i came home tonight to a sick baby. i took her to the vet after Donsie said i should - it might be tick fever. i took her. the vet told me that she has the most wonderful temprament. she told me she is beautiful. she also told me that she had a tumor that had ruptured inside and that she was bleeding to death internally. last night this time she was fine. she was nudging me for some attention. we went for a walk. this morning she was fine. now she is dead. she was almost 12 years old. she had a wonderful life. she was the most fantastic dog. my heart is so sore. i keep thinking that all my dogs are old. the other two will also die soon. i don't have children. i have been praying for a miracle child. i know i cannot have a small child with the old dogs. although my heart is breaking and i cried so hard that i thought the neighbours would come complain, i cannot help but wonder if this is not all part of God's plan. i know Gaby did not suffer. she smiled and kissed me when i said goodbye. she had never done that before. she always turned her face from mine when i hugged her. it is as if she knew. and all the time she did not make a sound................if God blesses me with a girl, she will be called Gaby. goodbye, Gaby girl. your absence will leave a huge, gaping hole. xxxxxxx

Masculine Card Competition

2011-06-10T22:30:00.006+02:00

i love Ellen Hutson's classroom......... the tutorials are stunning and i love the versatility of the projects they do. they are running a competition for a shopping voucher, and i have decided to enter. i am not sure if i followed the instructions to a tee, but it is worth a try!

i used a B-line stamp that i have had for ages. i only realised now how few masculine stamps i have. i don't even have one that says "Father's day" or anything like that!! i really racked my brain. plus, i only decided to enter the competition about an hour ago, and it is already way past my bestime - it is now 10:36pm................. the entries have to be in by midnight USA time, and i can't wait any longer - have a huge class tomorrow..........so, here goes!! hope you like the card! if you do, please let me know! also visit the stunning classroom entry that inspired me here. why son't you play along? $50 is a HUGE prize!!!

enough is enough

2011-06-07T18:02:00.003+02:00

it is cold today in jeffreys bay. it will, according to the weather report, be cold for the next 3 days. ( well, cold enough, anyway) i don't own alot of WARM clothes. i am a jeans and shirt girl. so, it should not be hard to find clothes. well, it is. extremely hard. everything is frilly and fancy. and all of that in muted colours. nothing in TURQUOISE. ( my favourite colour). a small factor in the search for clothes, is, believe it or not, my dress size as well. i am slightly (sic) larger than a 12, 14 or 16. ( very slightly...............LOL!!!!!) and today i decided it is enough. the last time i really, really dieted was in 1996. i went on some obscure heart diet, and lost about 15kg's in less than 2 months. i was much smaller back then, danced like no one was watching ( really) and had a hectic social life - and all that goes with it. ( not a time i want to really remember). the diet was not very healthy ( neither was i, so i supposed it was a perfect match). now, however, i want to really lose weight. but, i have one HUGE disadvantage. i am a type 1 diabetic. this means that apart from taking 4 shots of insulin a day ( for the past 21 years and the rest of my life) weigh less and the rest of the weight loss fraternity, refuses to touch me. so when i want to lose weight, i am all on my own. and that, as any person who has ever wanted to lose weight can tell you, is no walk in the park. it is a miserable road to take. why am i telling you this? i am looking for HELPERS!!!! people who might also want to lose a kg or two, and who is willing to share with me! i have the dietplan. i have the will to do it. i will sort out the husband - he can either eat with me, or cook for himself ( hehehehe). but this time it is happening. BECAUSE - there is a TURQUOISE real knitted jersey in Truworths that has my name on it - the size is just wrong. SO, i need to lose 3 sizes. i know i can do it. i have 6 weeks per size. HELP ME!!!! here is the eating plan:

Breakfasts

30g all bran
175ml fatfree milk
15ml raisins

Or

1 boiled/poached egg
1 slice wholewheat toast
1 tomato

Or

1 slice toast
60g fat free cottage cheese
1 slice tomato
1tbsp grated cheddar

Or

2 scrambled eggs
1 slice toast
2 tbsp baked beans
1 pear

Or

1 slice wholewheat toast
Grilled onion mix – 50g mushrooms, 50g tomatoes. 50g onions fried in 10ml olive oil

Lunches

120g skinless chicken breast
Salad greens
1tsp olive oil 1 tsp lemon juice

Or

1 seeded bread roll ( 1 slice wholewheat bread)
1 slice ham
Cucumber & tomato
1tsp mayonnaise

Or

Spinach and chicken pasta salad
80g pasta
50g chopped spinach
60g shredded skinless chicken breast
20g walnuts
20ml low fat mayonnaise

Or

100g tuna in brine
2tsp mayonnaise
1 brown pita bread
Cucumber slices

Or

1 medium baked potato
30g feta cheese
Salad greens
1tsp olive oil
1tsp vinegar
10g pecan nuts

Or

Lentil salad – 50g shredded lettuce, 50g chopped tomato, 50g chopped cucumber, 50g sliced mushrooms, 50g cooked brown lentils, 10ml olive oil

Or

¼ medium Avo
Sliced tomato
60g fat free cottage cheese
4 provitas

Suppers

80g pasta
Tomatoes
50g ham
Cheese sauce – 5ml maizena, 100ml fat free milk, 30g cheese

Or

1 grilled chicken breast
100g cooked butternut
100g cooked broccoli

Or

120g grilled white fish
150g cooked carrots & green beans

Or

120g lean beef steak
Potato and mushrooms made with 100g cooked potatoes, 20g peppadews, garlic to taste, 50g chopped onion, 100g garlic baked tomatoes, 50g garlic baked mushrooms

Or

Spaghetti bolognaise made with
120g lean mince
Chopped tomatoes
Chopped onion
Garlic to taste
¾ cup cooked spaghetti
Small salad with olive oil & balsamic dressing

Or

Chicken stir fry made with
100g chicken breast strips
5ml sunflower oil
1 cup stir fry vegetables
¾ cup brown rice

Or

100g grilled salmon
Roasted vegetables ie 90g sweet potato, 90g cubed butternut, 50g sliced red pepper, 50g green beans, 5 black olives, garlic and 10ml olive oil. ( cover with foil and roast at 180 degrees)

DAILY TEATIME SNACKS

1 fruit
175ml fat free yoghurt ( ¾ cup)
Tea or coffee – fat free milk – no sugar ( xylitol)

i really think it is not too bad!!! obviously 30 minutes of brisk walking 3 times a week will help ( i do a block every evening ( when it is not too cold, or the wind does not blow too much) which is not nearly enough) so i will try and do 2 blocks per night, briskly. it takes less than 10 minutes per block. i am determined. with the Grace of God, i will persevere.

here is my before photo - taken a few months ago at a Scrapbook Convention ( tracie hudson is next to me) ( don't really have more recent photos that show what has to go quite like this one!!!! )so, as from tomorrow, i am on EATING RIGHT. and by the way, i am doing this for ME. my new spirit deserves a new body, wearing that TURQUOISE jersey!!!! if you want to join me, do so privately, leave a comment or send me an email. the link is at the top right of the blog. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

being sad..........

2011-06-05T13:14:00.001+02:00

i am very sad today. have been for a whole week. but today i am really sad. my spirit is crushed. i think it has been irreparably damaged. i have not had literal heartache in many years. it hurts so much that the pain makes me feel as if i will break into a million pieces. i am not depressed. i don't get depressed. i am fully aware of my sadness and the reason for it. although i am very pragmatic about it, it is still almost unbearable. i have therefore turned to my Heavenly Father, and reminded Him of a promise He made to me and all His children in Ezekiel 36:26. He says " and I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put into you." i took that today. i took my new spirit. i choose to let go of the sadness. my reason for being sad is not going to disappear. it will not go away. but with a new spirit, i know that i will be able to bear it. i know that i will be able to tackle the sadness head on. i will not be crushed again. i will not allow my new spirit to be broken down. i will remind God of the promise that His Grace is enough for me. He has to sustain me. He is my anchor. sometimes we can only see the rainbow at the other end through the tears in our eyes. and , should i falter, i know that God is faithful, and He will renew my Spirit again. i trust Him completely. i am so thankful that He does not forsake me, regardless of how weak i am. Thank you, Father.

what's perking?

2011-06-05T13:01:00.002+02:00

i have not made a card in ages. i suppose i have just not had the incling to, and i have been very busy scrapping. but today i thought of how nice it would be to just every now and again get a card. we all send emails these days, and no one writes to anyone anymore. i am also very sad today. so, i decided to make a few cards. just because. it is so nice receiving one in the mail, or just be given one. as i am very disorganised, i thought it would be better if i just got out some stuff i had not used in a LLLLOOOOONNNNGG time. so, out came the twinkling H2O's! i forgot how magical these little tubs are. a pleasure to work with and the end result so pleasing to the eye!

i stamped the coffee pot ( Hero Arts) with Archival ink and then used a few colours of H2O to colour it. i cut it out and then i mounted it on a walnut stain blended blue circle ( cut with my cuttlebug and a Spellbinder die). the scallop circle was done the same way. hope you like it!

life is a journey....

2011-06-02T20:32:00.000+02:00

life is a journey. sometimes i look at my life and i wonder how on earth i got here. right here where i am, right now. and i think of where i have been, and how it truly is a miracle that despite all the detours i took in the last 20 years, i am sure that i am exactly where i am supposed to be. and i am sure that regardless of those detours, God is in control of my life, and He has a plan with my life - as He does with all who call Him Father. it will be Father's day in 2 weeks. my father is no longer in my life, and i sometimes pine for him - he was a wonderful dad. i think that is why i cling to God as a Father - and why it is easy for me to accept Him as my Father. because i had a great dad, so when i think of God as a Father, i think of someone who is patient, loving, kind, firm, available, consistent, true to himself and safe. like a safe place to be. a refuge. when it is chaos around me, i cling to the promise of Peace He gave to His children. and i know that i can claim that peace. this week, once again, He came through for me. i needed help. and miraculously, He provided. now that i can put all the puzzle pieces together, i see His hand in everything that happened in the last 10 days. how, when something i thought was bad, happened, He already knew why it had to happen that way, because He had a PLAN!!!! so, once again i am amazed at God's grace and faithfulness. how when, as soon as i surrender and i am obedient, ( although i have to tell you, that is REALLY hard for me!!!!) He just proves that He is a Living God. today was also Ascension day. it is the day that Jesus went back to Heaven to sit at the Right hand of His Father. He will descend again, one day soon. and until that day, i will glorify His name! to Him be all the praise! i choose to hold on to His promises through the journey i call life. may He be with you also.

the dress....

2011-05-18T13:44:00.003+02:00

when i was little, i had a dress my mother made me. it was dark red with little flowers. Jillibean soup now has a paper that looks almost 99% the same ( brown rice) - the flowers on my dress are just a slightly different shape. i have been thinking alot about growing up. i am mentally preparing myself for a meeting with a social worker about adopting a baby/infant/toddler CHILD!!! i have never really gone through the albums of when i was little, and as digital cameras were not even an idea in someone's head almost 40 years ago, i don't have hundreds to choose from. the ones i do have of myself as a baby and a toddler and little girl, are faded and textured and SMALL!! so, as i am being inspired, i am scanning them and changing them a little to make them fit better. i think that i will will use the original ones too. maybe on a collaged page. who knows!! anyway, when i saw this picture i remembered this dress. i loved it. my mother made all my clothes until i was about 15 and then she still made alot of it. i was a real tomboy growing up. but i had this dress, and i remember always feeling very pretty when i wore it.

i actually remember this photo being taken. i think i was about 5 years old. it was taken at the side of our house, and on the original photo you can see my mother's baby carnations peeking out from behind me. i used a piece of the left over Laced with Grace paper spritzed with my home made glimmer mist, also misted on the page before i added the elements, to just break the white. i then printed my journaling on it. i matted it twice just to make it stand out a bit. i then used one of my border punches to make a small border and used my new Paprika stickles to dress it up

i wanted to add the scallop border with pearls, but i don't have any orangy pearls. so i stuck them all down in a row on my craft sheet and dabbed some Terra Cotta and Sunset Orange alcohol inks on them. only when someone at Let's Scrap reminded me of COPICS, did i remember that there is another way to colour them! i cut the butterflies from one of the sheets of paper and added them instead of the strip on the sketch.

i love the title frame. i stamped it with Archival ink on the lightest paper in the range. i then cut it out as nicely as i could, and added some liquid pearls and stickles to dress it up. i used my Making Memories magnetic stamps to stamp the title also on the light cardstock, and then i spritzed it again. the archival ink acts as a resist to the mist, so you don't have to worry about anything. the roses were cut from another sheet and raised. the strips are just the cut offs from the papers, back and front ( love double sided papers!!) i do hope you like it! i discovered "let's scrap" last night when Jeaunes Viljoen invited me. she has a stunning blog - have a look here. i am very glad she did ! sometimes we need to be challenged!! pay them a visit by following this link.

laced with Grace

2011-05-16T21:03:00.003+02:00

i used a paper range called "Laced with Grace" to make this layout. i am not sure if the Glitz Girls who designed the range meant it as i, as a "Graced" person, take it. fully clothed - not just "laced" by the Grace of Jesus Christ. and how blessed i am to be clothed in that Grace!! we can do nothing to deserve Grace. i suppose because it costs us nothing, is also the reason most people have little or no respect for it. people are like that. easy come, easy go. if they did not work for it, or have to spend their hard earned money on something, they just don't take care of it. unfortunately Grace is not like a toy a child can discard after playing with it for a day or two, or an unwanted gift that gets thrown out or given away. if you don't handle Grace with care, you will forfeit it.............. i know that there are people who say that you can never forfeit God's Grace once you have accepted it. but, if you have accepted it, surely you will take care of it? surely you will guard it, nurture it, be thankful, share it and hold it as sacred? not diminish the meaning of it, by making it cheap, reducing it to "part time" Grace - a soft landing in emergencies? a false sense of security? God says: "BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY". can we just eat, drink, blaspheme, swear, steal, worhip false gods ( ie money, tv, posessions, other people, our jobs, our children, husbands, wives) etc and think it will make no difference, as we have received Grace? the Bible is very clear about this - we should NOT sin more to increase Grace - BECAUSE we have received Grace, we should sin LESS. Grace might not have cost any of us anything, but it cost God dearly. if you think for one second that it was a walk in the park for Jesus to be crucified - think again. imagine if you would want your son or daughter crucified. if you would be willing to give them for the sins of vile, despicable humans who care nothing for anyone but themselves? would you be willing? think about that question, and think again if you want to handle Grace so recklessly............... God will not be mocked. Yes, He is patient, kind and enduring. But He is also a God of reckoning. He does not want any to be lost, but it is also clear that the hearts of man are hard, and some will stay hard, and miss out on Grace. it is your choice. accept it or reject it. but, if you accept it, make sure that you LIVE it. full time. completely "laced with Grace.............."

logen's High Tea

2011-05-13T21:00:00.000+02:00

another one of the layouts i made for Louise. this was at Logen's 4th birthday. they had a real "high tea" for her! i used the MS Daisy Fan deep edger punch for the main attraction at the top, and i cut the "h" and the "t" by hand from white cardstock, that i embossed several times with cranberry embossing powder to get the right colouring.

i then rubbed stickles all over the letter. i also painted the rest of the chipboard letters with my Cranberry paint dabber and added a nice thick layer of Stickles. used my Bazzil stitching template to stitch the flourishes, and then used Raisin Dimensional Pearls to make the pearls. the rubon is from Kaisercraft.

i punched lots of little baby butterflies and added them all over the layout. Logen reminds me of a butterfly - fluttering around! this was really a great layout to do! i enjoyed it tremendously - loved the colours and playing with my inks!!! hope you like it too!

Birthday Girl

2011-05-02T16:30:00.002+02:00

here is another layout i did for Louise. Logen's 3rd Birthday. i must say, although i don't have kids, i am really enjoying making the layouts about the kids. the only thing that is really hard, is the fact that i can't really journal about the events, as i was not there. it really makes me wonder what i am missing out on - not being a mother.............

i used a Kaisercraft journal stamp stamped on the blue cardstock, and i embossed it with red pearl embossing powder. i then cut it out. the crown was stamped with victorian velvet distress ink on white cardstock, and i just clear embossed it and cut it out.

i stamped the party images and the crown below directly onto the cardstock with just my versamark inpad. LOVE THE EFFECT!! i also stamped the little flags ( MME Lost and Found) with the red pearl, cut them out and added some waterfall stickles.

and once again liquid pearls for added detail! i am really loving using these! amazing how it just adds something to the page - the pearl effect. hope you like the page! xxxx

Using scraps

2011-04-30T20:42:00.005+02:00

As scrappers we often have strips of paper left over from a layout, or small pieces. When making a layout, we can use these left overs to make a feature on a page. This layout was made using one patterned paper ( Girl's paperie On Holiday) and a few left over pieces from the same range, different layout. I cut a strip from the numbers paper and as I only had a small piece each of the blue paper and red dot papers, I cut two strips and punched the edges with the Martha Stewart Double Loops edge punch. I then glued it to the page vertically and arranged my photos over it. I cut the little flags from some of the other left over paper.

I punched the heart from a small piece of red cardstock, glued it to the page and then added Stickled to dress it up. Various left over alpha rubons and alpha stickers were used to create the title. What have you done with your leftover pieces of paper lately.................?

Please vote for your favourite....

2011-04-26T07:02:00.003+02:00

hello everyone!!! remember a while ago i posted about the Wholesaler giving away a Cricut machine? well, the time is here to cast your vote!! please follow this link and vote for your favourite layout! some stunning layouts out there! the competition closes on 25 May.

using a stencil/template

2011-04-25T08:54:00.001+02:00

i made this layout using a template to make a new background paper. to see full details, visit Scrapbook Studio's Blog here...............

fabscraps baby album

2011-04-20T19:12:00.002+02:00

i am not a baby scrapbooking person. maybe the fact that i have never had one has something to do with it. when Michelle from fabscraps came to the shop and showed us the new Vintage Baby range last month, i really liked it. but i did not know how popular it would be. Donsie used one of the pram chipboard albums, and created a masterpiece. for more detail, visit the shop's blog here.

Beach Babe Graphic 45 style!

2011-04-19T19:43:00.006+02:00

i have NEVER used Graphic 45 paper to scrap anything. i think i am, like most scrappers, pretty scared of cutting up the beautiful paper. when Louise Gerber gave me loads of photos to scrap of her two girls, i knew that some of them would be on the beach. and when i found these black and white ones of her youngest, Logen, i knew that the perfect fit would be the Graphic 45 "Boardwalk" range. i had seen a layout on a blog somewhere last year how they used the on the Boardwalk paper as a frame, and i decided that it was a good starting point!

i lifted the frame that i cut with some thick chipboard, and punched a border with my new double loops MS border punch. i added a strip of G45 paper to the bottom edge, just for variety. added some random stickles to the punched border. my "babe" word is just plain chipboard that i inked with my Adirondack Stream inkpad, and then added 2 layers of clear embossing powder. i then rubbed some lagoon stickles on with my finger for some BLING! the little postage image was cut from the tag sheet, and just raised.

on the other side i cut and image from the "inside" leftover piece of my frame paper, ad layered it half onto the photos. the Beach label is from another G45 Boardwalk paper. i really hope you like this layout. don't be scared of the G45 papers - they are just that - beautiful papers!!!

another cuttlebug layout

2011-04-15T06:46:00.004+02:00

here is another layout using only the cuttlebug to embellish the page. this photo was taken by Desiree, and i have used this girl before. she is just so gorgeous!!! i have to admit - i first put all the elements of my page together usingleftovers, and then i went looking for a photo that matched the colours (do you also do that sometimes?)

i used one of my border embossing folders to make this little scalloped mat. also cut the main title with the cuttlebug. had to dress it up a little with..........yip, STICKLES!!!

everything was cut with the cuttlebug. the sign post is a Tim Holtz die as well as the rosette and the swirls. the leaves are a set that both cuts and embosses from cuttlebug. the little alphabet letters are from Kaisercraft. i honestly hope this will inspire you to get your cuttlebug out and start USING it!!!

Margie's Class Part 2

2011-04-14T09:51:00.005+02:00

here is the double page we did with Margie. it was a fun layout - i just would not have used Kraft as a background, it feels to me as if the patterned papers don't come to their right, and it also seems a bit bland. i tried to spice it up a bit. once again, completely out of my comfort zone with the pretty pastels, but i must say, her paper designs are stunning!

i used the alpha stickers we got in our packs, but they did not show up at all against the paper, so i grabbed my stickles once again, and also outlined each letter. the little butterflies we punches at the convention.

i added my table ticket stub as a memento! great that the colour is so perfect!! i made the ribbon flowers using the basic technique Tim showed us when we made the tissue tape flowers. if you want to see him make these, here is the link to that

happy tim holtzers.............

2011-04-13T08:57:00.010+02:00

some pictures of the happy people at the Cape Town Tim Holtz convention..........

elizna looking very dangerous with a butterfly punch in hand!

penny, zoe and dalene - ready for action!!!

liesl and frind - she is now a CT girl, but she sat with the PE and JBay girls

colleen butler and linda kelly......... very excited!!

it was also Leilani's first convention. she loves mini albums and projects, so she was in her element!!

gail flashing ( as usual).......... hehehehe

jeanette with her "blinged" up apron...........

here Genevieve wins a mini-cirque alphabet stamp........just look at that face! she was so happy and excited about everything! it was her first convention.

margie and my shirt.......

2011-04-12T21:40:00.004+02:00

margie wanted my shirt..........she practically wanted to buy it off my back. in the end i agreed to mail her one, in return for a package from her. she said it made her want to design another paper. i have to say, the resemblance between the motif on the shirt and the design of one of her papers is uncanny!!!

Margie's class...........

2011-04-12T20:47:00.003+02:00

hello all!! i have been asked by several followers to show the projects we did in Margie's class. i have only managed to finish this one - i used a picture of Jennifer, my stunning shop assistant, to complete the layout. i also gave it to her as a gift for all her hard work. she is so reliable. it is not often that you find a worker that is so dedicated. she is a real STAR!!!

i used my new stickle colours on my new nestabilities die and matted the photo on it. i used some of the butterflies we punched in Margie's class as accents

i wrote her name with some Margie stickers, and then added Stardust Stickles over it to give it some sparkle. it looked a bit bland, so i framed it with my brown journaling pen. the button is a brown one that i embossed with Ranger's Magenta EP and then added Thistle stickles. hope you like it! all the new Girl's Paperie papers are in the shop.............YUMMMIEEEEE!!!

you have to know when to quit......

2011-04-11T21:18:00.003+02:00

my timing has always been off. apart from the fact that there is no athletic fibre in my body, i have the worst timing in the world. when i was in high school, i desperately wanted to play hockey. and i did. in grade 8. for like the 12th team! seriously! i hit that ball with all my might - either too fast or too slow! i only had perfect timing on stage. when everything was rehearsed and planned - improvisation came easily, but since i only did dramas, timing was not that important. so it has been in my life. i used to make really quick decisions, based on feeling. if it felt good, i did it. i did not even contemplate the word "consequences". as i grew older, i realised that actions had consequences. that sometimes you have to do things you don't FEEL like doing. it was really hard for me, as i was a real hedonist. it had to be good if it felt good. the last few years i have really come to my senses. sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do, never mind FEEL like doing. you just have to try, through rain and sunshine, make the decision to plough ahead, even though you feel like just crumpling up and bawling your eyes out. God helped me get through those days. i used to think that i will never give up on certain things. that some things are so sacred that i had to endure horrible times in certain areas of my life, because God expects me to. i had an epiphany at Bible Study tonight. sometimes we pray so hard for God to do something - something we think He really wants, because we want it so badly. and then maybe it is not what He wants for us at all. i begged God this morning to show me the way in an aspect of my life i have been struggling with. i did not understand His method, but now i do. sometimes you have to let go of something. i believe God has plans with all our lives. the decisions we make determine how long it will take before we actually reach our destiny. when i think of all the detours i have made in my life with bad decision-making, i just shake my head thinking of all the time i wasted. i know that God will use every poor decision in His greater plan, but i still have to live with the CONSEQUENCES of those decisions. but i can choose to make better decisions going forward. and i plan to do that. let go and let God.

Tim Holtz was here...........

2011-04-11T20:09:00.003+02:00

so, the 9th of April came and went............ tim holtz was in the house!!! it was a spectacular weekend away with Gail and Leilani at Spier. we laughed and laughed - i did not want to come home and let the laughter stop!! ( we were creative too................) if you want to look at all 250 photos of the weekend, here is the link. UNEDITED!!! some are really bad, others are great!

this is what we made with Mr Holtz............ a stunning journal from scratch!! it was wonderful! the man truly is a master at teaching and he so loves the product!!

here is a few of us with Tim. i have to say, he was so patient. i would have had a fit a long time ago from everyone wanting a picture! and i think this shot was taken about 10 times - it was so HOT and there were about 7 cameras clicking!!!

our table at the beginning of the day - you can see we all look relatively fresh........

i got a sneak photograph with Tim on the Friday evening - we were at the shop and he was in the same vicinity as me........dangerous!! i did tell him that if he took his shot with me then, i would not have to bother him again on the Saturday, and i was true to my word!!! i will post some more photos every night this week! here is the link again if you want to look at all the photos............ sleep tight!

Layouts for Louise

2011-04-07T08:03:00.002+02:00

Louise asked me to do some more layouts for her. This one is of the 2 elephants and the lion at Lalibella. The 2 elephants made a HUGE impression on her youngest daughter, Logan. She constantly wants to go back to visit them!

i discovered a new favourite embossing powder - Blue Glass by Ranger. i cut the journaling blocks with my Spellbinders die and embossed the back part with the blue EP. added the pearls as a border below the photos

used some Kaisercraft wood flourishes that i got at a convention 2 years ago and also embossed them. also had some gaffer tape in my stash that i have never used, and thought it went well with the colour scheme. added two flowers ( they were the only two left) to complete the layout. hope you like it!!!

Win a Cricut Imagine

2011-04-01T12:59:00.003+02:00

WOW!!! just look at what you can win from The Wholesaler............ visit them here for the details

One photo - two layouts

2011-04-01T07:40:00.003+02:00

this photo of Marius and Christoff was taken in October 2010. it is such a poignant shot - if you know the two of them! they are always captured with a fishing rod or a fish in hand, so i was so happy when i saw this picture. i had been itching to use the Old School papers by Pink Paislee. but, as i do not have children, i am denied the privilige of having first day of school, school events, last day of school etc photos to scrap. ( sometimes the physical pain because of the hole in my life due to this fact is really unbearable - and the worst of all is that i only have myself to blame!!) anyway, so i decided that i will use the paper - even if it is not for school, just to show how versatile it can be. i sometimes get the feeling that fathers and sons have "members only" clubs, that mothers, sisters and stepmothers can't belong to, and this picture just made me think that the die cut page would be a good fit. i mounted it on a reverse green patterned paper, and also printed 4 smaller size photos.

banners are so popular right now, so i made one, and just for added interest clear embossed the edges and then gave it a faux stitching finish. added a nice yellow brad in the centre.

here is the second layout with the same photo. i used the For the Record Collection by Echo Park. just love these retro colours. i glimmer misted the background paper first and then mounted my photo twice on two patterned papers from the range. i cut the scallop border from the border page and the "remember this" as well. i die cut a swirl from Tim Holtz and embossed it with Red Hot Utee and sprinkled some black Utee over it to just break the red.

the journaling strip is also from the border page and the title is from the sticker sheet. i just mounted it twice. added the little button just for fun!! so, if you REALLY love a photo, no rule ANYWHERE says you are only allowed to scrap it once! just have fun!!!

Tim Holtz is in the country!!!

2011-03-31T19:25:00.002+02:00

the man himself has arrived!!!! how exciting can that be!! Monica made a gift, to remember us by and to show him how much he has inspired us with his products, the way he uses ordinary findings, and how to just CREATE ART!!! she used a basic boxed canvas, loads of Ranger and TH products. the little house that keeps the heart was made by using various memory frames. the TH metals were arranged in such a way as to add visual interest and the heart's wings were made using an ordinary metal corner that was cut up to resemble wings. we will present this to Tim on the 9th of April in Cape Town when we attend his convention. i am SO excited!!!

ask, and you shall receive...........

2011-03-30T21:04:00.006+02:00

well, maybe not everything that we are asking for - which is a whopping R6,9 Million Rand from Lotto to build a learning centre in the location where we have our ministry and try to bring the Gospel to children who are so dedicated and have so much potential, but no opportunity to realise it. we have had the vision to start a learning centre for almost 2 years now, and the "gazebo" just is not cutting it anymore! we need a real roof with real desks and chairs - a safe place where these kids can do their homework, get extra lessons and get at least one proper meal per day.

so, a group effort was made to get plans drawn up, get quotations for everything, make an offer on land, ask for written endorsements, type motivations and finally the almost 100 page application was ready to be signed, bound and sent off with counter to door postage to the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund. now we wait. it could take up to 18 months before we know if we will even get a cent............so until then, we will pray. we need to ensure that these children have a fighting chance and do not end up as criminals or vagabonds, but have the opportunity to become citizens who contribute to the building of our country. we cannot expect governments to do everything. we have to do our bit. APATHY is the biggest killer out there. standing back and saying that "it is not my responsibility or it has nothing to do with me". it does. God gave us all talents and compassion for our fellow man, and He will one day ask us what we did with the talents He gave us. and as we all know, He was not too impressed with the guy that buried his............you CAN make a difference. even if you smile at someone who does not deserve it. if you let someone in the queue before you. help an elderly person across the road. wipe someones tears. give someone that upset you a hug even though you are still angry. forgive someone who should not be forgiven. is that not what Christ did for you? were you not forgiven when you did not deserve it at all? what have you done today to make the world a better place and to show God's Grace............................?

when you die....

2011-03-19T21:38:00.000+02:00

my best friend's mother passed away this week. the funeral was yesterday. i don't reflect much on death. it is a fact of life, and i like to think that i am looking forward to it, as i believe i am Saved by the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary and that because of that, even though i will leave my physical, ailed body, my soul and new body will live eternally with Christ and all other believers. to me that is very comforting. to Gail it was comforting to know that her mother loved God and gave her heart completely to Jesus, and was now with Him. but what if someone you love dies and you don't know where they are going? what if your husband dies and you seriously don't know? or your teenage child that tells you he does not believe in God/Heaven or Satan/Hell? is it a phase or does he really not believe? what if YOU die and you had a false sense of security? what if you half heartedly answered an alter call 20, 30 or 40 years ago under pressure at a church camp when you were young, and did not give it a second thought after that? what if you sit in church week after week and as soon as you leave you just fall back into your routine until next Sunday when you get to feel good about yourself again? you lie, have wild drinking parties, cheat on your wife/husband, swear, destroy people in fits of anger or with your mouth, you break "little laws", make excuses for bad behaviour, and then on Sunday you console yourself again when you put your money into the offering basket. all ok, now! you leave church, and there you go again. first person that does ANYTHING even mildly annoying to YOU - and you are off like a rocket. as the week goes on, you don't give another thought to God - why should you? He is not LIVING and HE does not KNOW what it feels like to be YOU. He does not UNDERSTAND anything. why should you try to live a Holy life? BECAUSE GOD SAID SO. "But just as He who called you is Holy so be Holy in ALL you do, for it is written, Be Holy, for I am Holy" 1 Peter 1:15 & 16. YES of course we will NEVER be ABLE to be ANYTHING like Christ. most of us fall FLAT on our faces everyday! does that matter? NO! because we must not give up and we sure have to run the good race and at least TRY. to just sit back and say that you are the way you are, is a COP OUT!!! what if Jesus looked at you and said, "you know what, it is just too much hard work to get you to Heaven. I am tired of trying." but no, He is always there. waiting for you to come to HIM. admit that you can't do it yourself. GIVE Him your burdens. why do we so love to CLING to all our problems and bad character traits. we are no better than drug addicts! we refuse to let go of our "fix". i feel angry, so i will yell, swear, hit someone or something, kick the dog - whatever. i feel, i feel, i feel.......... believing is not a feeling. it is a daily decision you make. daily. it is tiresome. it is hard work. it is wonderful. it is rewarding. it is sometimes boring. it is sometimes exciting beyond description. somedays it is just too hard, but you have to DECIDE to......... what if Jesus just did not FEEL like forgiving you? what if HE just got fed up? what if you die tonight and you renounced Him yesterday and never took it back and committed yourself to Him again? what if someone you love dies tonight, and you did not tell them about Jesus? we are scared to offend. Jesus says that if we are ashamed of Him, He will also be ashamed of us. i don't want Him to be ashamed. i want to know more of Him and shout from the rooftops that He is the only way to Eternal life!!!! make sure you KNOW - not THINK you know - where you are going when you die. it is NEVER too late to find out..........and if you are not sure, make sure.

oh normal day

2011-03-13T09:05:00.000+02:00

i was at a class yesterday! My first locally in over 7 months! it was so much fun! Genevieve came to teach a double layout - "Oh Normal Day". everyone did different styles, but it was just so amazing to be able to just play and let the creative juices flow!

i used the stunning "For the Record" collection by Echo Park. it is all retro colours, bright but not overwhelming. i cut elements from the packaging ( bird and rose below) and raised it and dressed them up with stickles. the scalloped edge is also from the packaging.

here you can see the stamping done to repeat the rose theme and the cute swirls cut with the Cricut machine.

the daisy fan punch by Martha Stewart is really a stunner. i am very sorry that i did not buy one when it was available last year! i did my journaling on a piece also cut from one of the papers in the collection. i loved working with these papers. it is not my usual colours - i don't really like red, but i have been trying to puch myself into using things that i don't normally use! all the papers and sticker sheets are available at Scrapbook Studio. hope you have a super Sunday!

making art

2011-03-09T12:45:00.000+02:00

a few weeks ago i posted about Monica's owl class. genevieve was in the second group that took the class. she made a blue owl. we took some photos to put on the blog, but when Elizna came for her class the next week, she had a kit that i knew i had to use to scrap Gen's owl making!! and this is the end result! i did chop and change it a bit, but in essence it is all Ms Parsons!

i embossed the swirl with red EP, and i had to made the white dots with white paint from my paint dabber and a very fine brush - the pigment ink from my Inkssentials white pen, did not want to dry, not even after 24 hours. same with the heart that i covered with glossy accents. just for interest's sake - the heart was almost copper. i just added some burgundy palette hybrid ink to it, to get it the colour i wanted.

my title was done with WRM chipboard - COMSTOCK for those of you who still remember that ( 2007, i think!!) i painted the letters white and added the text stamping with the same burgundy ink. we often forget that we can transform our chipboard etc with a simple layer of paint, instead of running out there and buying new things! everything i used on these pages, except the paper, came from my old stash. when i told Genevieve that i was scrapping her "owl making", she told me that i really needed kids to scrap............... i agree. something i will have to work on SERIOUSLY.................xxxx

my purpose in life........

2011-02-28T21:55:00.000+02:00

is to feed these kids every Sunday afternoon and make sure that for 2 hours every week, they are in a safe place, with nothing to fear. some of them are AIDS orphans, some are from the streets, some come from really below-the-breadline homes and others are just hungry.

i look at these faces and i thank God for Blessing me with the means and ability to be able to do this. spread butter on loaves of bread, add a filling, slice them up, and one by one, feeding the 120 kids placed in my care for the 2 hours every Sunday. for some of them - the only meal for the day. for others, maybe they eat once or twice a day, but here at least they get a hug and a smile as well.

as long as i am physically able, i will be here. i will feed these kids and make sure they are as safe as i can make them. we are in the
process of starting a learning centre to keep them off the streets in the afternoons and give them a place where they can do their homework in a safe environment. it has been a vision for almost 2 years, and we are close to it actuallybecoming a reality. if you pray, we ask for your prayers. if you are not a praying person and would like to contribute in some other way, please contact me. we really need your help. change a child's life - one day at a time.

how to store ATC's, Moo's and Twinchies/Inchies

2011-02-27T10:09:00.000+02:00

i love making ATC's and other small things. i also LOVE taking part in the swaps on the RSA Stamping group. the biggest problem after a swap, is WHAT to do with them?? i want them to be visible, but i need it to be economical in a way that saves space and does not cost a fortune. when i first started making ATC's 3 years ago, i bought a FABULOUS book on ATC's and Gail and i each made a storage book. very simple concept - just an accordian book. i remember, however, that it was a lot of work - it was before Scorboards, Scorpals etc. times have changed, and as i am busy organising my craft space in the new house, i am finding alot of things that i put away for "one day". Yesterday was the day for sorting the swaps. i had some Kraft paper left and i decided to make these albums for all the swaps.

this is the album for the twinchies. i put a twinchie on my cutting mat, and decided how much space i needed around the twinchie. i also knew that i would have to write each person's name next to the work of art, as i was glueing it down. i was so glad i had bought a Scorboard!! it makes life so much easier! all the folds are perfect!

the moos were a but more difficult - i could not put them on one/one, as it did not want to fold nicely. so, i decided to do them 2/2 on a page.

here is my "friend" ATC album. i used ribbon to close all of them, and they are now on my coffee table, for all the visitors that i will get at my new house ( sic) to see! i think doing all of them took me less than an hour and a half - and i was doing lots of things inbetween! what are you busy with!

what have i done lately.....

2011-02-21T21:34:00.003+02:00

what have i done lately..............lots of things. i have packed up my whole life of the last 12 years and reduced it greatly ( the STUFF, that is.) i have tried to be a better wife to my husband over the last few months ( that is, however, still a work in progress.) i have been very busy at church with the kids ( but not as productive as i know i should be.) i have been working hard at two jobs (but not as hard as i KNOW i can.) i have been trying to live as a person that has received the greatest Gift in the world ( but i look as if i just received a death sentence some days.) so, what have i really done? not much, i suppose. if Jesus came back today, what would He find? did i multiply the "talents" He gave me? we all know that His business was PEOPLE. bringing them to Him, to the Cross. am i doing that? or am i failing miserably? would it matter how many flags i made for the kids, or how many cookies i baked for the fete or how many sandwiches i made? would all of that matter if i passed up every opportunity i had to be Jesus for someone or let His light shine because of all the excuses i can think of? the timing was not right. i was too shy. i don't like talking to people. i don't like interfering in other people's business. i like to be left alone, so i leave other people alone. what other people do has nothing to do with me. people will think i am crazy if i talk to them about Jesus. all very valid excuses. just remember what JESUS said in Luke 9:26 "For whoever is ashamed of ME and MY words, of him the SON of MAN will be ashamed when He comes in His own Glory" and Matthew 25:30 "...cast the unprofitable ( lazy, wicked) servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." so, after having a very peculiar day today, i have come to the realisation that i am a wicked and lazy servant. i bury my "talent" ( spreading the Good News) under the ground and although i sometimes think i use it, i don't really. i resolve from today to use my talent. in whatever way i can. does it matter if people don't like me for it? do i want to be liked by people or accepted by Christ? are people going to guarantee me eternal life and salvation? am i putting a smile on God's face with EVERYTHING i do? i don't think i made him smile alot today. but, lucky for me and all of us who believe with our hearts and confess with our mouths, we serve a GOD of many chances. so, i know i will have another chance tomorrow to be a good servant. i pray that someone will come my way to whom i can bear witness..............or many someones!! enjoy your week and remember that Jesus loves you just as you are!!!! xxx

Valentine's Hat.

2011-02-16T13:14:00.000+02:00

just look at this MARVELOUS Valentine's gift Donsie made for her husband. she is a genius! for more pictures, follow this link........

special people..........

2011-02-13T22:27:00.000+02:00

i meet lots of people in the shop. mostly fantastic people, (here and there less fantastic people), and then sometimes, really special people who come and nestle themselves in your heart.......Monique and Sammy are people like that. their love of life, their absolute committment to tap everything possible out of every moment and to just love life, is contagious. i miss them - seeing them every day to just say HELLO after they have been to the beach and just to have a chat. they have wide open hearts. lots of love to share there. God also wants us to open our hearts to Him. if He is already in our hearts, we need to open wider, let more of Him in, allow Him to fill every chamber. Psalm 24:9 & 10 - "Open up, ancient gates, open up, ancient doors, and let the King of Glory enter. Who is the King of glory? The Lord Almighty - He is the King of Glory!" sometimes we allow God into our lives, but only in a certain area. there are "rooms" in our "house" that we never clean. we don't allow Him in there. we seperate our relationship with Jesus from the rest of our lives. almost as if we say - just stay out of my life until i need You and ask You to help. when i am having fun and doing things that i should maybe not be doing, just stay away. Your only job is to help me when i can't help myself. that is all God is good for. it should not be like that. our hearts should be so wide open - our minister said today that the doorframes should be pulled from the walls of our heart so that the door can never shut again and God's Glory can fill us completely. are you filled with Jesus? how wide open is your life to Him? are you allowing Him into every area of your life, or are you still shutting Him out of certain areas? are you harboring resentment towards someone? are you being less than honest in a business transaction? were you mean to someone on the other end of a telephone? or a beggar? or someone behind a counter? do you owe someone something? an apology? money? are you really showing the world that you belong to Jesus, or are people unsure of who you belong to? clean out those rooms! i have a few that i will try and springclean this week - and, as we all know, springcleaning occurs regularly. cobwebs appear overnight. go and wear His Grace like a "tattoo on your face" - impossible to miss. everyone will want to know where they can get one......................... have a super week and i hope you all get spoilt rotten this Valentine's day!

owl always be yr friend........

2011-02-13T11:33:00.001+02:00

monica taught us how to make this STUNNING owl in a mixed media canvas class yesterday. we made a HUGE mess, used a toiletroll, corrugated board, TIM HOLTZ, Golden and Ranger products and had a BLAST!!!

here is a close up of the leaves. cuttlebug embossing folder embossing leaves done with Grungepaper, distress inks, as well as distress embossing powders. just look at that!

here is a close up of my little owl.............isn't she cute!! various ribbons stitched together to make the little body. just look at the little feet, wings, ears, beak and eyes!!!

here is a close up of the little bucket. texture paste and black paint with some golden dabber and hessian.................i am in love!!!! if you want to see more of yesterday's class, follow this link.............

thank you...

2011-02-03T22:10:00.000+02:00

i am so honoured - Susan Nel gave me this award! the award tries to get relatively unknown blogs out there. the rules are the following:

to say thank you and accept it - i do!!
link back to the person that gave it to me - i did!
give the links of 3 -5 other relatively unknown blogsters, and link to them - so here goes!!

Desiree
Elizna
Marcelle

pay them a visit and see what magic they are up to!!!

going green.............

2011-02-03T07:43:00.000+02:00

LOOK!!!!! here is my wonderful husband busy putting the handles on my new chest of drawers......................

and here she is!!! what a BEAUTY!!! 28 drawers in total ( yes, i am short of some handles) but i am planning on looking for them today.

here you can almost get the idea of how much space they have. i sold alot of my stamps to"make room" as i was not sure how many the chest would hold, but now i only half filled 4 drawers!! i am so excited!

here i put all my brads etc into little plastic containers - they are so cheap! they have lids, and the ones in the front are the lids. they are half as shallow as the container, so if you don't have alot of one thing, you can put it in there. they are about R2-50 each ( which is about 35 US cents i think). in the bigger drawers i plan to put all my dabbers etc and bigger things. i chose the colour - i wanted it practical and as i love green and blue, it just screamed at me! it is a Velvaglo paint, so you can just wipe it off if it gets dirty!! can't wait for the weekend to put some more stuff in! BUT - i ran out of little containers and i can't find any more!! so i will have to wait until i can get them again for the little things! let me know what you think!

missing my friend......

2011-01-28T21:07:00.000+02:00

i am missing this lady. my wacky best friend, Gail. come back quickly and WHOLE .................

summer days..............

2011-01-28T20:18:00.000+02:00

i know, i know............. i have been missing in action for a while now!! i am so sorry! i have been moving to the house in town, and it has been a mission, i am still unpacking. mostly my scrapbook stuff. i have sold over 250 stamps, taken boxes full of stuff to the shop for the class and charity give aways, given goods to some people and i am still busy decluttering! i have finally asked oom Kobus to make me a chest of drawers for my wood stamps and then when i saw the frame, knew that the little clear boxes i ordered from W & M to sort out my darling husband's fish hooks etc, are going to be mine. you guys have no idea how excited i am. i cried when i saw the chest, and it was not even finished. he said i could get it on Sunday, the paint just needs to dry. i will post a picture immediately. i am so blessed! last year this time i posted about my chest of drawers from my husband ( he misunderstood me - although i drew a picture and gave him measurements) but in the end i am also still in love with that chest of drawers. this one, though, is the one i have had in my head for almost 2 years now!! i have lots of other surprises up my sleeve for this year, but one day at a time! the layout above i did two nights ago as i was purging - finished a gift for Gail who is coming home after her back operation next weekend, and i just could not throw away the leftovers. i am making even more gifts for her with the leftovers, just love the bright summery colours from this range by October Afternoon - an old one, but a stunning one! Fly a Kite! i will post the whole picture after tomorrow's class. in the meantime, here is some inspiration for you............go look at this and this and this...................does it not just make you want to jump into your supplies and CREATE????? all of these papers and most embellishments are available from Scrapbook Studio Jeffreys Bay................ 042-2932781.

on holiday..........

2011-01-16T16:04:00.000+02:00

i am dreaming of going on holiday, or just not being at work! the last break i had for longer than 5 days was in 2008. although i know how blessed i am, i also know that i need to slow down. i was forced down on Thursday - FLU! unfortunately i had to work as everyone else is on leave, but i got into bed last night, and only got up after 11 this morning! my body just refused to co-operate! i then took a bath and had the best intentions of getting up and ready for church, but i was EXHAUSTED after that! so, i excused myself from church this afternoon, and i have been very restful the rest of the day. as i was looking at new collections and tracking shipments from the USA, i stumbled upon Pink Paislee's inspiration page. i was really inspired by a digital page on the Fun Freebie page, by Rebecca Cross. i had been holding on to these papers by Margie from Girl's Paperie since April 2010, and although the shop has almost sold out of the second shipment as well, i have never found the right project to make with the papers. well, i had no idea what photo i was going to use, but i knew i was going to do an "ON HOLIDAY" page, as i have been DREAMING about a few days to myself. while i was preparing the page, i remembered that i had gone down to the beach on January 2nd, and took some random photos. there was a great photo of a beach umbrella. the colours were all wrong, so i just made it black and white. i also knew that i had promised myself that the next layout i made, had to use LOTS of patterned papers, i had to mat the photo and NO distress inks, blending etc! i did ok - i only altered the daisy chain - punched some patterned paper with the new Deep Edger EK Success Daisy Chain punch that arrived on Friday, and used Adirondack Denim Embossing powder to make it match the layout. everything else is from the On Holiday range by Girl's Paperie, except the background is a paper in the Paper Girl range. i even chalked everything and the edges of my background page. i had a blast, and it made me feel alot better! the shop still has all the papers and the sticker sheets as well as the die cuts and stamps, and loads of new EK Success punches, but we are sold out of the other Girl's Paperie embellishments after the holiday season. i might be back later to share some random thoughts . things are normalising again after the season, so i will try and get back to my regular ramblings shortly!! xxx

Ons huisie by die see

2011-01-11T09:13:00.001+02:00

I used Tim Holtz' new filmstrip die cut and the fence die on this page. I love the versatility of the dies and the way one can colour and blend it to suit your page! I used one of Ranger's new Manila tags and blended it with Rusted Hinge Distress Ink- my new favourite colour! It is so AWESOME! I used Weathered White Embossing Powder by Ranger for the fence. I coloured the title with a Sunset Orange Paint Dabber and added some orange stickles for some sparkle. The blue photo corner was embossed with Ranger's turquoise Embossing powder with Turquoise Stickles over it. The other corner I gave a base of Rusty Hinge DI, then added 2 layers of clear UTEE and then some Orange Stickles. Punched some strips with my Fiskars Threading Water punch and added brads to finish it off! The title says "OUR COTTAGE BY THE SEA"

A QUEUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-12-30T20:26:00.000+02:00

the shop had a queue today!!! read all about it here!