Friday, April 8, 2011

What have I been doing....

.... or should it be, "what haven't I been doing?"... (warning ... long post)

It's been a while since I've actually posted anything, but with good reason... life has been hectic and I haven't really had a chance to do much crafting...

But let me catch you up on a few recent happenings...

Firstly, about 2 weeks ago, I "by the way" applied for a DT position at a new paper piecings company... The Saturday morning I woke up to new news that I had the position, and I was already added as an admin on the Facebook group... I was so excited that I put 2 sugars in my coffee instead of 1 (ugh, that woke me up!!)

Please go and have a look at their website. They have also just added digistamps to their range...

Our first project for the DT was "anything"... so I chose Skye's shoes from the store and started on my project.

As it was also my mom's birthday coming up, I decided to combine my DT project with the layout I was already in the process of making for my mom (and her twin sister)... I was making them each a Scrapbook layout. I'd already ordered a custom digi stamp from A Day For Daisies. I sent Tammy a photo of my mom and her twin as babies, and she made a custom image - it's adorable!

I then printed some photo's from copies we had made from my Gran's box of photo's of all the "Smith" kids.

I presented my mom with her page at her 60th Birthday Party, and she was so happy with it. She was showing it to everyone who walked in.
When my aunt arrived I handed her her page (in an album) and I don't think any of us expected her reaction. She burst into tears, which triggered my mom and my sister! It was so nice to see her reaction. My mom is always appreciative of everything I make her, but my aunt has never received anything like it. The layouts are almost exactly the same... as my aunt said to my mom while opening their gift: "you would think we're twins"...

Their younger sister commissioned my to make them each a very special birthday card. In my usual manner, I thought about it, but left it to do a few days before the event... Not expecting the world to turn upside down...
Last week Tuesday, I got a phone call that my uncle had passed away. It was such terrible news, but at the same time, I almost breathed a sigh of relief... He's been battling cancer for quite a few months and had spread throughout his body and he was in a lot of agony. We'll miss him dearly - our hippie uncle - but knowing he is no longer in pain, does give me sense of comfort. We said our final goodbyes on friday, April 1st - and I'm sure he was looking down from Heaven having a good chuckle about it - always had a sense of humour...

So back to the cards... cutting it fine (again) I finished the cards on the Saturday morning - the party was on Saturday afternoon. But I'm glad I spent the hours on the cards that I did, because everyone - the giver and the receivers were ecstatic (and so was I).

The front views of the cards:
I made this one with my mom in mind, and it's the one she got...


This one screamed my aunt's name and it's the one that went to her... Funny how things turn out (I had no say in it - it was up to their sister who got what)...
Tri fold cards always get such a great reaction from everyone, and I love making them.

Well, now that I've kept you busy for the last while, I let you get on with your own things... I hope you can leave here with some inspiration, and thanks for stopping by...

x Mel x

Spring has Sprung?

Not in South Africa, it hasn't - winter is well and truly on it's way here... but on the other side of the world, everyone is getting ready for Spring... and by the sounds of the winter they've been having (snow... snow... snow...) they well and truly deserve it...

At Patties Challenge this week, the theme is Easter or Spring... I chose to go with something along the Spring line... and I used Phoebe the Fairy Pig...


I went with pink as my accent colour, and I like how it turned out... I found a really cute spring poem, which was originally supposed to go on the card, but I didn't have space for it, so turned it into a book mark.

Hope you can join us for some digi stamping fun and show us your Easter or Spring projects...
Have fun :)

x Mel x

Thursday, March 31, 2011

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...

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

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

Friday, March 25, 2011

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

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

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.

Friday, March 18, 2011

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...