Heritage Day - A day off!

Yesterday was Heritage Day. So that meant a public Holiday. My younger sister mentioned she would be coming to the area to visit our parents. My parents also had my older sister's kids around for the day (my sister was working in the morning, but joined us all at lunch time). I thought it would be great to get the kids out for a while... that while turned into being for the day.
I needed to drop off some stuff with my younger sister for a woman she works with. Her mother had ordered some "boxes" for a wedding she's organizing. She'd seen the little shoes I'd made for her daughter's bridal shower and wanted some of those for the ladies, as well as something for the men. We decided on top hats. They're going to put some sweets & chocolates into the "boxes" - and will be a very nice gift for the guests.

This was the sample. I decided to rather go with a solid satin ribbon for the top hats.
Just some of the boxes! I made 43 shoes and 37 top hats. The theme is red and white

My parents live across the road from Homestead Dam in Benoni. We decided to go have a walk along the dam. Before you get worried about what my son is "eying out", it was dog fur - somebody decided to brush their dog there... although my son did say "look it's duck skin"... he says the funniest things...
We spotted some ducks with their babies, but my mom says they're most likely Egyptian Geese (what would I know? They look like ducks and they swim...)

I spotted 8 babies.
My parent dog's Bonnie and Spike love their walks to the dam, and always have to go have a swim, too.
My neice Erin, my son Kayden and my nephew Liam "posing" for the camera.
The cars were lined up the entire length of the dam. Here's my daughter with Bonnie, and my dad with Spike, along with Erin, Liam and Kayden.
All in all, a great day out spend with my family.

What a Wednesday!!

You know one of those days that you think, "Ok, today all those pending things will get finished". Yeah right....
It started at 2:30 am when I woke up with the dogs barking. On investigating, I discovered our front electric gate wide open. Our tenant in the garden cottage is a waitress, and had obviously just come home and forgotten to close the gate behind her. Ok, send her a message. Close the gate and attempt to go back to sleep. Not easy. But got a little...
Got ready for the day, and then an explosion. I belong to a group of rubber stampers and what started as a reminder about Digistamps 4 Joy ending up in a huge debate of rubber vs digi - I'm sure you've all seen the "arguments". Myself, and other members were quite offended with a negative comment made towards digi's (I still cannot understand how so many people see digi stamps as clipart!). Well, to say I was speechless is an understatement. I won't go into details, but those who were there know what I'm talking about... Needless to say that took up a lot of my energy for the day, as well as time as I checked on the "goings on".

Next, I needed to finish up some cards I'd promised a friend would be ready for Monday. They weren't. "No, prob" she said "get them to me by Wednesday afternoon". And that really was the latest I could do it by. So inbetween everything else I managed to finish off these cards:
Her "specs" were - one pink and purple, one in blues. It's for a 21st birthday, and she's blonde. So I made 4 so she could choose 2 (she took all 4!)
The photo's aren't the best - they were taken inside, with a flash, but they're good enough.

This one is a Kenny K image

Another Kenny K image

Yet another Kenny K image... I used a cuttlebug butterfly (cut and embossed) and a stencil from Scrapbooking-Scrapbook with blue pearls and pink gems

And, you guessed it, another Kenny K (they're just so suitable to the younger audience).

In the afternoon, I had to get my daughter to Speech & Drama classes. She was really excited because they were expecting their scripts for the year-end concert, so she was eager to find out what part she got. She was a little unsure about her part - she'll be playing the part of Jack (from Jack and the beanstalk). But it's quite a nice part, she's got quite a few lines to say. Which is promising - she started the classes in about March this year - some of the others have been there for years.

Climbing into bed, I decided I'd finish off the card I need to do for next week for my DT position at Pattie's. It was already after 8pm when I got an sms from one of the teachers at my son's creche. "I need a card urgently for tomorrow morning". It turns out it's my son's teacher's birthday. I didn't have anything appropriate coloured, so I did what I could with what I had, at such short notice. I often buy patterned paper that I can cut out pieces to use on cards and other projects, and I had this one lying around. I cut out the bird and the flower border. Put together a few elements, added pearls to the centres of the flowers (I actually meant to run the border down the side, but stuck it in the "wrong" place, which obviously turned out the be the correct position... I used a rub on sentiment and the ribbon finished if off nicely. Hope she likes it...

Well that's me for now... Off to finish off an urgent order.

I'll share that with you later.

Mel

21st Birthday Cards

It's my cousin's 21st birthday party tonight, so I needed to make 2 cards - one from my parents and one from myself and my family.
I felt they would need to be very different, so I made the card from myself in my usual-type style.


I used a colour combo of pink and yello, with a fair amount of layering. The image is a Kenny K image coloured with watercolour pencils.

In the bottom right corner I made a flower arrangement, and of course, lots of flat backed pearls and a few flower shaped sequins for extra sparkle.

The card I made from my parents, I felt I needed to make something very special. I made a tri-fold shutter card, and used the cuttlebug to cut out the butterflies and flowers.

I used a stencil from Scrapbooking-Scrapbook and flat backed pearls on the front of the card and decorated the rest of the card using colour-co-ordinated patterned paper and cardstock.
I designed a new sentiment which I'll be adding to the Digistamps 4 Joy store soon.
Hope she'll like her cards, but I'm sure she will.
Till next time (which should be soon - I've got another 2 "21st" birthday cards to make...).

Mel

Great News! I made the Design Team for Patties Creations

This was great news to wake up to. Although I didn't realize it at first. I was busy working, checking mails etc, when I realized, "Oh, Pattie's DT should be chosen by now", but I hadn't received a mail regarding it. I decided I'd have a look on the site, just in case - and there was my name on the Design Team. I discovered later that she didn't have my contact details, but in the meantime we have contacted each other.

I'm thrilled!

So I will now be proudly displaying this blinkie on my blog.
Look out for upcoming challenges. This is going to be fun!

Digistamps 4 Joy Challenge 2 - Recycle It

The first challenge at Digistamps 4 Joy went smoothly. Winners have been announced and the next challenge is up.

The 2nd challenge is great - use recycled items. That could be endless... I'm thinking a chocolate wrapper (or 2 or 3...). Maybe an altered bottle cap... Hmmm let's see what I can come up with.

Proud Mommy Moment

Today is a brag session. Not about my craft work, but my daughter. This week is school concert week. The kids have been practicing hard, and going to bed late every night - but let me tell you, it's worth all the effort that went into it. I've been doing 4 trips to that school every day this week (and a few times before that for practice nights). School in the morning, then fetch her in the afternoon to go home, have a bath, we cook early, then back to school in the evening (5:45pm) to get her to school in time for the concert, and back again later that night to fetch her after the performance (9:20pm). The upper primary children need to be there from beginning to end of concert.
Last night we went to watch the show. Wow! For a kid's school concert, I can tell you it was amazing. You could see just how much hard work had gone into the show. It's called "Ayoba 2010" - and focuses on the world cup soccer. It starts with a tour guide and group of tourists - and visits all the different countries, ending with South Africa. They had the most amazing props, and the taxi was great - along with the typical half asleep taxi driver with his bass pumping.
It brought back all the proudly South African feelings of the World Cup, and made me a very proud mom. Although my daughter only had a "small part" (she was an Aboriginal dancer), it made me proud that she belongs to such a brilliant school.
The kids were great and played their parts so well. There were many "laugh out loud" moments.
Unfortunately, I didn't manage to take brilliant photo's, but what I did take, I'm sharing with you.

All around the hall, there was a painted crowd showing their support.

The beautiful backdrop - the scene is Johannesburg - the Telkom Tower and Ponte with the Vodacom sign was even there.

This is my daughter's scene.

My daughter is the one in the front (in yellow).

The taxi with all the tourists travelling (overloaded, of course). The taxi was also hijacked in the concert, and stopped by a traffic cop who accepted a bribe.

Even the teachers went on strike!

The Kaapse Klopse

The kids carried the boxes through the hall and placed them to create the SA flag.

All the "waving flags"

The finale. This is only the upper primary school kids - the younger ones went home early.

A very proud night indeed. Well done Farrarmere Primary and all the people involved.

That's me for now.
Mel

Some more cards and a nice surprise

Here are another 2 cards I made - with boys in mind...
The first is using a Digistamps 4 Joy image - Lil dragon. I coloured him with watercolour pencils in greens and blues, and added a little orange. I used bright colours for the card and BP's. 2 dragonfly brads and a few gems. The dragon has been raised with 3D foam.

A few close-ups of the card (if you click on the picture, you can see a bigger version):









The next card is using a Mo's Digital Pencil image. This is one of my favourites to use for little boy cards. I added a few handrawn pawprints down the side of the card and added some black stickles.


Here's a few close-ups of the buttons (with embroidery thread tied in the centres), and the paw prints.










Warning: spoiler alert if you've participated in RAK 2 on in2crafts, and have not yet received your parcel.

And then the surprise. On in2crafts, a mainly South African craft forum, we have a very active group - Papercrafters Inc. We have loads of fun swapping ATC's and other papercraft related items. Theresa started a RAK swap recently were you sign up to join and send along some little goodie bags for each person signed up. Our first one proved so successful, that we recently completed another. We're already on to our 3rd (with a twist).
Here's some of the goodies I received. There is too much to mention, but in there is paper off-cuts, ribbon, stickers, lots of little embellishments and sequins ... and ... and ... and ... far too much to mention. But now I need more containers to house all these new goodies.


That's all for now.
Have a fantastic day.

Mel

Some new cards for boys

I've decided that making cards for boys and men is actually a lot more difficult that I thought it was. You can't use all the pretty sparkly stuff in your stash, and pretty much make use of buttons and threads. I was asked to make a baby boy card and a birthday card for a 2 year old boy.
A lot of scratching around and thought, I came up with these 2 cards - both using a MelJen's image (giraffe and lion) that could be used for a new baby, or a small child.

Using mainly blue with a little bit of orange, I've made up this card. I used 2 flowers, cut in half, and tied blue ribbon across the card, and through a blue button. I've raised the matted giraffe with foam tape. You can't really see it in the picture, but I've glittered the hair of the giraffe (down his back). Faux stitching around the giraffe, and three bling gem stones finish it off.










For the next one, I've coloured the lion using oranges and chose some bright patterned paper for the background. I've matched the PP in the the blue card and darker blue matting. I've used a matching die cut shape and border and done faux stitching around the die cut. Stuck brown pearls along the border. 2 patterned ribbon and buttons complete the card.
The lion has been raised with foam tape, and his mane, paws and tail glittered (I can't resist!).









I'll share another 2 (more boy-ish) cards tomorrow.

Take care
Mel

Monday Morning

It's Monday morning. My plan was to make a pile of cards over the weekend. Well, just as I guessed, that did not happen. Not that I wasn't busy - I spent a good part of the weekend digitizing some images for the Digistamps 4 Joy website. It's always good seeing the new images go online. And there's some wonderful new images.
Anyway, I hope to share some new cards soon - so much to do...

I've got no craft projects to share, so I'll share this with you. I'm sure you'll relate...

A Craftaholic’s Prayer

Dear Lord,

I’m going to need some notice
Before my days are done.
You see, I’m a craftaholic.
A fact not known to some.
My craft room, it is bulging
All corners, crannies and nooks
There's loads of boxes under the bed,
I hope no one ever looks
I tell myself when shopping,
“No more craft bits today,”
But the craft shops are like magnets
Drawing me their way.
I’m totally at their mercy
Just "need" a dozen of each.
Then I hurry home to hide them
Before the family starts to preach.
So Lord, I’ll need a little time
To dispose of all this stuff.
And Lord, can we just keep all of this,
Between the two of us

Another 2 I had to share - especially for the card makers...

Reasons for being a card maker

1) It helps keep the economy going. It is one's duty to support card craft manufacturers, timber/paper mills, craft shops and internet sites.
2) It is less expensive and more fun that psychiatric care.
3) It's participation in a contest- The one who dies with the most unused peel offs, toppers etc, wins.
4) Craft bits keep without refrigeration, you don't have to cook them to enjoy them, you never have to feed them, change them, wipe their noses or walk them.
5) It's not immoral, illegal, or fattening. It calms the nerves, gratifies the soul, and makes one feel good.
6) It makes good use of your imag-e-nation

Sound familiar?
1.I will not stuff craft supplies in every corner of my house
2.I will not keep 9 projects going at one time
3.I will not pick up more buttons,lace or fabric when I have a ton at home
4.I will not let my crafting area look like a condemned area.
5.I will not relegate the kitchen table to crafts.
6.I will not attend craft shows just to get more ideas.
7.I will not stock up on more craft supplies just because they are on sale.
8.I will not go off on a tangent when anyone mentions that little word 'import'
9.I will not let my crafting distract me from fixing dinner.
10.I will not stay up all night crafting.
11.I will not save dryer lint,empty cereal boxes,detergent scoops etc.
12.I will not buy every craft magazine I see.
13.I will not make promises I cannot keep...see you at a craft show

Hee hee. That's me... I've broken each and every rule above.

Till later

Mel

Digistamps 4 Joy Challenge 1

Ok, so not an official entry, but I just had to play along with the first challenge at Digistamps 4 Joy.
So here's my card using the inspiration picture for inspiration (see post below).

Wake up Emily has been coloured with watercolour pencils and a I've done the pj edging with gel glitter pens, and added stickles to the teddy on the pj's and her little pink teddy.

I've added a pink ribbon to mimmic the pink strip of the wall, a yellow button to mimmic the yellow lampshade. Blue, pink and green matting with striped paper and patterned paper with dots and circles on.
I'm rather happy with the result.

Digistamps 4 Joy DT announcement and first challenge

Good morning all. And happy Spring Day to the Southern Hemisphere. And what a beautiful day it is.
I've been so busy getting everything ready for the big announcement on the Digistamps 4 Joy blog, that I totally forgot to prepare a post for my personal blog. LOL!!

Anyway, the Design Team has been announced, and it's a fantastic international team with very talented members.

Be sure to go pay them all a visit.

On to this week's challenge - use the photo for inspiration for your card/ project.
It's a beautiful picture and there's so much inspiration to found in the colours, shapes and patterns - you'll have no problem. I was looking forward to having mine ready, but work commitments got in the way (blegh!) and I haven't quite had time yet - but there's 2 weeks to enter the challenge, so join us and have fun.

Love
Melanie