Stampfairy Challenge 2

I've hurt my hand and I'm really battling to type and do all the things I like to, but it doesn't get me down, I wrap it up and bear with the pain and continue doing what I like. It's got something to do with a type of rheumatism, and I've had it since college days, there's just times that it gets almost unbearable. I think the weekend didn't help - went drumming Saturday night and the banging on that drum is quite hard on the hands. And I still played poi (fire spinning - and also singed my hair...), and did a lot of colouring in. So my hand is currently wrapped up and smothered with cream...

But enough about that, and onto a challenge I'm entering. I discovered Stampfairy a few weeks back, and recently bought some images - they have a special on this month - all images are discounted.
They've got some really cute images, which are very easy to colour, which I like... I've been looking around for some teddy images, and they have quite a few.

This week's challenge is an easy one - "Anything goes". I've used one of the Donny and Donna images.

This card almost put itself together, and was not what I envisioned for it at all. But I absolutely LOVE the result. I mentioned in another post that my friend sent me a "lucky packet" of paper off-cuts... well most of the paper used on this card is from that pack (except the floral background paper). The embossed cream metallic paper is backed onto a metallic red card and the image is backed onto metallic cream cardstock which is backed onto the same red card. The only embellishments are the 4 pearls. I added just a little red glitter glue and it goes to show, less is more... The card has a vintage/ antique type feel and I think it would be great as an anniversary card.

I'm entering this card into:
Stampfairy - Anything Goes

Patties Creations Challenge no. 9

This was a fun card to make. The theme for this one : Use a punch / punches.


I have to be honest, I don't own much in the line of punches. I have 2 corner punches (one small, one medium - and I use them all the times), and I have 2 Fiskars punches, that I have only because I won them in a raffle a few years back. The one is a fancy corner punch (that's the one I've used for this project), and the other is a beautiful border punch. Oh, and I also got a butterfly punch in that same prize (I think the majority of my stash came from that - that was a really "WOW" prize and it all came in a stunning designer travel case). Everyone was insanely jealous of my win...

But back to this week's project.

I decided to use one of Pattie's new images - she's been experimenting with new images and has added a range of stunning images to her store, including parrots, daisies, tulips, dragonflies and lots more. Do yourself a favour and go check them out.
I used "Baby Mine". It's such a cute pic I had to use it. I guess she is a girl, but I don't see why you can't colour in blues and make "her" a "him"... I'll still give that a go :)
I went against the usual soft pinks for a new baby card and decided to go bright and cheerful. It worked! I love this.

The sentiment is something I found and printed. I cut it a little too small so needed to stick it to another piece of white, but it doesn't look bad. I cut away the background behind the baby, but left the bottom half. I backed it against bright pink, and again in silvery white (which both come from a pack of paper off-cuts I received from my friend Jen - it's a real lucky dip and every time I go back into that packet I find something new). I found a piece of pink polka dot paper which worked great, and a bright pink ribbon. I like the way nothing is really lined up - I do that a lot, it makes the card more fun.

I added three flowers and a dash of baby pink with the pearls...

Hope you can join in the fun at Patties Creations Challenge Blog - you'll even find some freebies here and another here, so no excuse that you have no Patties images...

A little bit of what I've been up to...

I haven't got around to posting much lately but I have been busy, so today I'll share a few cards I've made recently. I'll leave some over for other days...

These are all using images from Digistamps 4 Joy.

This one is using "Sammy Jo" from the Freckle Faced Cuties collection. Paper, flowers and ribbon from my stash.

Another Freckle Faced Cutie, again using paper, ribbon etc from stash.

Mel waving hi... this is me....

One of the new designs - Preggie Tilly... love this... 2 cards made from the same image in 2 different ways...

Manger and star. One of the Christmas images, which is now discounted to half price!!
Hope you enjoyed, and I hope to share some more cards with you soon (I have been rather busy)...
Till then...
Keep well

Notepads and Drama

I'm sure many of you are in the same boat as us around this time of year. Money is tight and there's gifts to send out...
My daughter wanted to give her friends something, but with limited cash and a few good friends I started worrying...
My daughter found a notepad a few days ago in a shop and loved it. It cost R45 and the cover was a plastic cover that was printed to look like it was covered in paper with a ribbon around it.
So off to the local supermarket to buy some plain notepads. They cost R8 each.
Ashleigh got home, covered the notepads with some scrapbooking paper on the front cover and the back cover, stuck a strip of ribbon down the front and voila. A few really pretty gifts.
The drama?... Ashleigh's speech and drama concert...

Ashleigh has been attending speech and drama classes with the Helen O' Grady Drama Academy for a year now. And she's doing really well.
She got the part of Jack (of beanstalk fame) in their annual concert. The concert was called "Storyland" and the storyline was about some of the well known storybook characters who are convinced by the "new ideas" to change the storylines... Goldilocks should pay the bears back for the damaged caused, Jack should help out the old lady (who lived in a shoe), with a golden egg to help her financially (as living in a shoe is not very hygienic).

Ashleigh played her part really well and we were so proud of her (that's her on the far right).
Here she is receiving her certificate.
I really hope to share some projects with you soon. I've bought a whole load of new digi images and I've been busy colouring (at night in bed), now to just find some time to put some cards together, but you know how it goes... Companies will be closing for Christmas soon and I need to get orders out before then... work has certainly been keeping me busy...
Till later...
Mel

Digistamps 4 Joy Design Team Call

Digistamps 4 Joy are having a design team call.

For more details go to the blog : http://digistamps4joy.blogspot.com/2010/12/dt-call.html

My baby is not such a baby anymore...

Today was another proud Mom day for me.
My little boy graduated from Pre-Primary (Grade R/0).
He looked so smart and cute in his cape...
They put on a short presentation for us, and all did so well.
Once that was done, all the kids at the Nursery School had their Christmas Party, and a visit from Santa.
Kayden and his friend Ofentse.
So next year it's big school...

Patties Creations Challenge #7

Wow, challenge #7 already!!
This week's week's challenge is "a recipe". For the Recipe, you must have a ribbon and at least 3 embellishments. Use 3 embellies either the same or different from each other.

For more info please visit Patties Creations Challenge Blog.

I used Holiday Reindeer, which can be found here.

My 3 embellishments are the flowers. To jazz it up a little I used some stamens behind the flowers. I liked the contrast of the striped paper against the red paper. I also liked how the striped paper almost mimicked the scarf around the reindeer's neck. I just stuck a simple white ribbon with red stitching along the bottom half of the card. I tried a few variations - this worked best.

My image is coloured in watercolour pencils, blended with spirits. I stuck the reindeer on a white scalloped cut-out (edges chalked in chestnut roan).


I stuck red dewdrops in the centre of each flower - don't they look yummy - almost good enough to each (but I wouldn't recommend it...).

Hope to see your entry in our latest challenge, and please visit Patties store - there's a lot of new images there, including stuffed toys, birds (parrots & cardinals & doves), as well as some other gorgeous images, including dragonflies and flowers. Most of the new images are only $2 each!

I know I'll be getting a few, but which ones?

See you soon, and have a fantastic day.