March Candy @ Shoestring Scrapbooking

Not much time left.... even I somehow missed this candy.

Winner will be announced tomorrow so best be quick.

This is what you can win:

8 x Patterned Papers 12 x 12

1 x Large Wooden Tea Cup

3 x Chipboard Butterflies

1 x Lettering Pack 260 pcs

1 x Wooden Heart

1 x Lace Border

1 x Wooden Strip

Assorted Embellishments

Go to Shoestring Scrapbooking's blog for more details on how to win...

Blog award from Margy

It's always so nice to receive something unexpected. I got a message a few weeks ago from Margaret to tell me she had something on her blog for me.
It was a really nice surprise for me.
Now all, I need to do, to accept this award, is list 8 things about myself, and give this award to 8 other stylish bloggers.

8 things I know about myself...
1. I am stubborn, hard-headed and strong willed. Due to those traits, I sometimes come across as rude, but if you take the time to get to know me, I'm really not all that bad...
2. I love being a mother. It's often difficult and very trying, but also very rewarding.
3. I'm a very messy crafter (my tables will be heaped with stuff), but my work is always neat.
4. I have tried almost every craft, and my first attempt at scrapbooking 7 years ago, I hated. Tried it again about a year or 2 later, and loved it. I've been papercrafting since.
5. I studied art at college, and I think my art background helps me with my crafting to a great extent.
6. I love animals, and I'm especially fascinated with birds. I have 3 cats, 2 dogs, and a small aviary with some budgies.
7. I tend to cut myself too thin, I take on too many things and often end up doing things at the last minute (but even if I do, I do the best job I can, or not at all).
8. I sometimes bite my nails...

Now onto 8 people who I would like to pass this award on to...

1. http://handmadebygem.blogspot.com
2. http://paperpiecingmemoriesbybabs.blogspot.com
3. http://scrapbookingbyleann.blogspot.com
4. http://homespunscrap.blogspot.com
5. http://paolaspaperhaven.blogspot.com
6. http://scraptasticalkreations.blogspot.com
7. http://sharonskardzkorner.blogspot.com
8. http://diannesscrappycreations.blogspot.com

Well done Ladies, you're some of my favourite bloggers :)

I've also received another blog award... I'll announce that soon :)

x Mel x

Flowers and Pearls at Patties

Today's challenge at Patties Creations challenge is Flowers and Pearls... of course I'm in my element because those are my 2 favourite things to create with (along with a hand coloured image of course).

I chose Mother and Child 1 available in Patties Shop HERE

I printed the image smaller than I usually did, because I thought it would stand out better - and I think I'm right...

I coloured, as usual, with watercolour pencils blended with spirits.

I chose to use blues and naturals on my card, and I'm really happy with the result. Kind of vintage, but also modern... can be used for a boy or a girl...

A little tearing on the patterned paper, to add some interest. I matted another patterned paper and tied some ribbon around that and off-set it - mainly because I don't always like the "rigidity" of cards that are always "perfect" - this makes it interesting.

Hope you can join in our challenge at Patties... see you there

x Mel x

Kelly's 100 Follower Blog Candy

Kelly has some really great candy up for grabs. She's heading up to 100 followers. Awesome Candy!!! Go see her blog HERE to see what she's got.. I wouldn't mind sinking my teeth (um... paws) into it.

Luck of the Irish... Day 2 - Something Different

Welcome to DAY 2 of the "Luck of the Irish 2 day Blog Hop".

If you have come from Inga's blog, you are on the right track. If not, and just lucked up on this blog, you can go back to the beginning HERE and hop along with us.

We have a fabulous line up with some very talented folks. There will be lots of fun projects, along with some great blog candy, and an AMAZING grand prize for this hop.

This hop runs from Mar. 17 - Mar 18, so you have plenty of time to make it all the way through the hop. Check out each blog and see what BLOG CANDY you could possibly WIN!! Come back both days to see some new projects.

Here is the complete line up

Lisa - http://handmadewithlove-lisa.blogspot.com/
Lisa - http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com/
Shawnee - http://quiverofangels.blogspot.com/
Shelly - http://kccroppers.blogspot.com/
Misty – http://www.abusyplace.blogspot.com/
Creative Kuts - http://www.creativekuts.blogspot.com/
Deb - http://www.scrappingmamma.net/
Corrine - http://celebratingordinarymoments.blogspot.com/
Suzanne - http://cricutcraftingrammy.blogspot.com/
Tristan - http://tristans-time-4-craftin.blogspot.com/
Mickie - http://littlescrapcorner.blogspot.com/
Rachelle – http://rachelle-rachellesplace.blogspot.com/
Sheri - http://highland-eyes.blogspot.com/
Inga - http://mommahobbit.blogspot.com/
Melanie - http://melaniespapercraft.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE !!!
Christine - http://crabbycakescrafts.blogspot.com/
Bobbi – http://rockgirlcustomdesigns.blogspot.com/
Angie – http://luvs2scrapbook75.blogspot.com/
Debbie - http://craftydeb-ddscrafts.blogspot.com/
Lisa - http://handmadewithlove-lisa.blogspot.com/
Scrapping With Lisa on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scrapping-with-Lisa/130882060268842

There is also going to be an overall grand prize, which is being sponsored by Lisa from Scrapping with Lisa and she will be the first and last blog on the hop. See full details about her prize on her blog.

Today's project turned out to be something completely different to what I originally planned. I even bought a paper piecing pattern, but then didn't have anything to do with it - no photo's to scrap.... nothing...
Luckily I chanced upon this digi image from A day for Daisies. She is the good luck pixie. I really felt like doing something pretty, so this was perfect!

The first image is the front view of (yet another) joy fold card. I've put the peg there to hold it closed while I take the picture...


This is the view of the card left to stand on it's own... (I did put glitter on the wings, but it's not showing up...)

This is the view of the opened joy fold card, with the front flap still slightly "closed"(or open ... ?)...

Here is a close-up of my colouring... I used watercolour pencils and artist spirits (my favourite colouring technique, and ever so easy to do)...
Like the swirl? I've used one my stencils (that I make, and available through my store... although currently only South Africa) with 2 different shades of pink coloured flat backed pearls...
I'll be giving one lucky person 2 stencils - all you need to do to win is leave a comment...

I hope you enjoyed the hop... now it's off to see what Christine has to show us today...

Luck of the Irish Blog Hop Day 1

Happy St Paddy's Day... May the luck o' the Irish be wit' you...

Welcome to the very first Luck of the Irish 2 day Blog Hop.

If you have come from Inga's blog, you are on the right track. If not, and just lucked up on this blog, you can go back to the beginning HERE and hop along with us.

We're so excited to being doing this hop, and we have a fabulous line up with some very talented folks. There will be lots of fun projects, along with some great blog candy, and an AMAZING grand prize for this hop.

This hop runs from Mar. 17 - Mar 18, so you have plenty of time to make it all the way through the hop. Check out each blog and see what BLOG CANDY you could possibly WIN!! Come back both days to see some new projects.

Here is the complete line up

Lisa - http://handmadewithlove-lisa.blogspot.com/
Lisa - http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com/
Shawnee - http://quiverofangels.blogspot.com/
Shelly - http://kccroppers.blogspot.com/
Misty – http://www.abusyplace.blogspot.com/
Creative Kuts - http://www.creativekuts.blogspot.com/
Deb - http://www.scrappingmamma.net/
Corrine - http://celebratingordinarymoments.blogspot.com/
Suzanne - http://cricutcraftingrammy.blogspot.com/
Tristan - http://tristans-time-4-craftin.blogspot.com/
Mickie - http://littlescrapcorner.blogspot.com/
Rachelle – http://rachelle-rachellesplace.blogspot.com/
Sheri - http://highland-eyes.blogspot.com/
Inga - http://mommahobbit.blogspot.com/
Melanie - http://melaniespapercraft.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE !!!
Christine - http://crabbycakescrafts.blogspot.com/
Bobbi – http://rockgirlcustomdesigns.blogspot.com/
Angie – http://luvs2scrapbook75.blogspot.com/
Debbie - http://craftydeb-ddscrafts.blogspot.com/
Lisa - http://handmadewithlove-lisa.blogspot.com/
Scrapping With Lisa on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scrapping-with-Lisa/130882060268842

There is also going to be an overall grand prize, which is being sponsored by Lisa from Scrapping with Lisa and she will be the first and last blog on the hop. See full details about her prize on her blog.

My project for today, wasn't quite what I expected... I started cutting the Bear in the Hat (a paper piecing patter from Little Scraps of Heaven) and decided half way through to make the hat green and white... I then found myself putting together one on Saturday afternoon, only to start thinking about a friend (Bridget - who happens to be part Irish). So I made it for her, wrote a note on the back and gave it to her on Saturday... I'm so glad I did because it just so happened she was feeling really down that day, and that made her feel much better... she has since had a bit more luck come her way... and so did I. So it worked :)

This is the bear I made for Bridget

And then I made another and made a "good luck" card with it:
(sorry the lighting is not so great, I'm not sure why I couldn't get it right - neither of the bears photographed that nicely).
I put a shamrock in his hand, and I wrote "good luck" on another shamrock with a white gel pen.

Your next stop : Christine. Enjoy the rest of the hop today, and see you back here tomorrow (and there may be a little something extra tomorrow....)

Luck of the Irish 2 day Blog Hop

Come join us for a 2 day Luck of the Irish blog hop ; 17th to 18th March 2011.

There will be lots of fun going on with plenty of inspiration and prizes

The grand prize for the Luck of the Irish 2 day Blog Hop is as follows:

Nine sets of 2 page layouts with pre-made pages, just add your pictures.
One Halloween mini album with background paper included.
One blank calendar tent with a set of calendar pieces stickers.
One premade Halloween chipboard album.
9 Disney stickers, one book of Disney 8.5 x 11 papers and a Minnie mini album.
One brand new Christmas Mini Album which you put together.
One perfect pages kit.
2 fall photo albums, blank.
One beautiful finished light denim blue album with 20 pre-made pages, all you have to do is put pictures in it and you have a completed album.
Last will be a gift certificate to a secret store.

The total for this grand prize is valued at approximately $212.00

Go Green

Today's challenge at Pattie's Challenge is to use Green for St Patricks Day.

I chose to use the 3 birdhouses and coloured them with my trusty pencils and spirits in shades of green. I added a little orange to give some colour.

I decided to make a Joy Fold card (I taught them last weekend non-stop, so you'd think I'd have had enough of them, but as my friend Jen said - I could put the card together with my eyes closed, in my sleep - LOL, probably!).
(can you see my thumb? I had to hold it closed, as it kept popping open as I tried to take the pic)

I used mostly greens for the background papers, but needed to break the colours too, so I decided to bring in some orange again. I found a perfect off-cut of corrugated board in my pack of off-cuts.
Just a few little embellishments and I really like the result.

The open view
Thanks for visiting, and I'll "see" you again soon.

x Mel x

Valentine ATC swap

I recently participated in an international swap on CDAC (well it supposed to be a South African one, but we had quite a few overseas participants who also wanted in on the action). The only requirement was to use a Digistamps4Joy image.

Here is my ATC I made

It's using the "Frogs in love" image from the DS4J store.

I decided to stay away from "normal" Valentine colours, and opted for something very different, but still kept to the idea. Everything is green and purple, and I'm very happy with the result. A little stitching (my favourite new thing to do), and 2 sequin hearts were the perfect finishing touch.

x Mel x

Winners for LSHD Blog Hop

Hi there.
I promised the winners and here they are:

The winner from the first give-away was announced a few days ago, but just to keep you updated,

Winner of Day 3 candy (sponsored by Theresa):
Lisa from http://handmadewithlove-lisa.blogspot.com

Winner of Day 5 and 100 follower candy (sponsored by myself from my store)
Tertia from http://tertia-craftinggran.blogspot.com/

And the winner of the blog hop candy from Pizzazz Aplenty is:
Stacy at mycraftingtime dot com

Please would you all contact me with your full postal address (remember to add the country, too) so I can send your parcel.

x Mel x

Little Scraps of Heaven Blog Hop

"This post is sticky and remain at the top until the last day of the blog hop, please scroll down for today's post"

Welcome to the very first Little Scraps of Heaven blog hop. If you have come from Shannon’s blog you’re on the right track. If not, and just lucked up on this blog, you can go back to the beginning HERE and hop along with us.

We're so excited to being doing this hop and have an amazing line up with some very talented ladies. There will be lots of fun projects some great blog candy, and an AMAZING grand prize for this hop. This hop runs from Feb 23 - Mar 2, so you have plenty of time to make it all the way through the hop. Be sure to check back everyday to see new projects created using LSHD patterns, and some of us on the hop JUST might have some extra blog candy to share. : )

The grand prize is being sponsored by Tricia from Little Scraps of Heaven and she will be the last blog on the hop. In order to be eligible for the grand prize you must leave a comment on every blog in the hop, as well as become a fan of Little Scraps of Heaven on Facebook and follow the new Design Teams blog.

** This is mandatory in order to be eligible for the overall grand prize.**

Here is the complete line-up of the hop.

Kristy
Patricia
Emily
Kristi
Sheri
Liz
Cindy
Misty
Corrine
Leann
Shawnee
Janet
Lisa
Shannon
Melanie YOU ARE HERE
Inga
Dawn
Shannon
Monica
Jennifer
Lisa
Little Scraps of Heaven
Little Scraps of Heaven Design Team Blog

Little Scraps of Heaven Designs patterns are great to use for all kinds of projects. They're not just for scrapbooking. Use the patterns to make paper pieced items for scrapbooking, cardmaking or altered items. Each pattern also comes with a png to use in digital scrapbooking.

Be sure to check back daily for new posts, and prizes that will pop up throughout the hop.

Blog Hop Candy:
(One package each of: 2mm, 3mm, 4mm flatback Fuchsia Pearls; one package each of: 2mm, 3mm, 4mm flatback White Pearls; one package each of: 2mm, 3mm, 4mm flatback Clear Rhinestones; One package each of: 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm flatback Gold Rhinestones; 5 yards Amazing Aquamarine Dream String, 10 yards Red and White Baker's Twine; One Gel Picker - Total value is over $15.00)

Sponsored by Pizzazz Aplenty
Pizzazz Aplenty began with only a bit of bling and some ribbon, but over the past few months, we've added so much more. . . from cardstock to cellophane bags, as well as a variety of embellishments for your cardmaking or scrapbooking projects. , , stick pins, brads, buttons, cords, twines, laces, lots of ribbon, and over 20 choices of colors in our flatback pearls and rhinestones. Our two newest additions to the inventory are The Best Glue Ever, and the Embellie Gellie - tools to make your crafting sooo much easier!

The winner of this prize will be announced on the last day of the hop.
To stand a chance of winning this prize, please visit the Pizzazz Aplenty store.
Leave a comment below telling us what product in their store you like the most.

And remember, more prizes will be up for grabs throughout this blog hop.

See next post for my project for today

LSHD blog hop day 8

The final day. And what a hop this has been!! I've loved every minute of it, I've looked forward to seeing everyday what everybody has ready.
I have not got another project ready for today, but I've had the most awesome day. Today is the day I finally met an online friend - Jen Lee! We've been online friends for years now, and often chat on the phone, and we started Digistamps 4 Joy together.
So my day has been focused on Jen and the next few days... now for those of you who don't know, Jen and myself are doing workshops at Hobby X - South Africa's biggest hobby show. Jen is demonstrating her colouring technique and promoting digistamps. I'm doing workshops for cardmaking (trifold-shutter cards and joy-fold cards), and I'll share all the happenings once we're done, so please come back to visit early next week.

Please check back within the next day or 2 for the final winner and the 100 member candy winner.

I won't leave you empty handed, so here is a piecing I did using the Little Scraps of Heaven Panda Bears in love (love is in the air)

Hope you've all enjoyed this as much as me, and remember to go visit Inga.
Good luck to everybody who participated for the Grand prize... see you soon...

LSHD blog hop day 7

My goodness the time has flown.

And yes, I finally finished my layout. This one is one I've taken a lot of time and thought with, and I'm extremely happy with the result. I've used the black bears pattern from Little Scraps of Heaven (ready-made embellishments available from my store).


This is the first page...

And the second page...
I made all the photo's sepia tone and faded the edges... I printed out some journalling - all about how my children really do love each other. I cut 2 different sheets of paper (unevenly) and taped them at the back to create a background for a double layout. The background was a little too busy, so I used some cream coloured cardstock to break the pattern. I almost used the background pages as a frame, and mostly put the pictures and journalling within the cream card. I used some brown and some cream coloured flowers with matching flat-backed pearls. The layout was finished off with some stitching detail in gold thread - which brought together the entire layout perfectly.

Thanks for looking, please pop over to Inga to see what she has for you today....