Thursday, September 27, 2012

Enmarc Spring Blog Hop Challenge & ScrapFit Color Challenge

Hello ladies, how are you today?? Just a quick post from me this morning to share my latest layout which I created for Jeaune's Challenge over at Enmarc, which was MONOCHROMIC LAYOUT with a twist, you can find all the details of her challenge HERE on the Enmarc Ning Site. Aren't these Enmarc chippies I used on my page just gorgeous!?!




I based my layout on the latest color challenge over at ScrapFit, I LOVE playing along here. Isn't this a great boy color palette!?!


Thanks so much for taking the time to drop by my blog today, I hope you have enjoyed your time here!!!

Smiles,

Monday, September 24, 2012

My 2nd Tutorial for Scrapbook Studio

No wonder I have been feeling grim!! I finally went to the doctor on Saturday, and he diagnosed me with bronchitis. I have been man down all weekend!!!!

So... hence the delay in getting this tutorial up. Better late than never I say. 

I hope my South African friends are all enjoying the long weekend, and have braaied up a storm today. My hubby braaied us some delicious meat, just what the doctor ordered ;)

So here is the second layout I created with the September kit from Scrapbook Studio. I am so happy with the way this one turned out!!


STEP 1:
I gather all the elements I want to use on my page. In this instance I changed the color of my photos to black & white, as they didn’t match the patterned papers I want to use. I do this fairly often! I am doing a sports themed page, so I grabbed both the lovely “teresa collins” stamps included in the kit.



STEP 2:
I spray some Mister Huey’s Color Mist in the color Leaf Green onto a piece of cream cardstock, I like the effect of spraying mist onto plain cardstock, it gives it a bit of life!



STEP 3:
I decided to make some embellies from the stamps. I used some of the Glossy Cardstock that came with the kit. This is the first time I have embossed and used Tim Holtz distress ink with this cardstock, and it goes on like a dream!!



STEP 3:
I stamp the image with VersaMark ink, and then add white embossing powder. Here is the image before I have heated it.



Here is the image after I have heated it. I don’t have a fancy heating gun, so I just use my toaster to heat the image.



STEP 4:
Sponge some Distress Ink onto the image. I used the Tim Holtz Distress ink in the color “Faded Jeans”.



STEP 5:
Cut out the image. I followed the same procedure with the other “Teresa Collins” stamp in the kit. I plan to pop up both the stamped images with foam tape!



STEP 6:
I fiddle with my photos and other elements until I find a layout I am happy with. I cut out some of the lovely card images from the “Cheer ‘em on” paper from Webster’s Pages, using pieces with blue in them so I can add a little bit of blue to co-ordinate with the blue stamped images!! I use my Silhouette Cameo to cut out the word “athletics”, arrow and the stars. 


A side-on view so you can see how lovely the popped up embossed stamped embellies look on my layout!!


This really is the most wonderful kit, and I still have LOADS AND LOADS of product left after creating these last 2 pages. 

REMEMBER - This kit can be ordered by just e-mailing sales@scrapbookstudio.co.za with September DT kit in the Subject Line.

I will be back with another Scrapbook Studio tutorial soon!! 

Smiles,


Friday, September 21, 2012

FO Summer Waves Cardi - LOVE it!! :)


Welcome back to my blog this fine Friday. I am so glad it's weekend. Even though I have been down and out with flu all week. It's now moved onto a cough, and my chest feels like it's on fire when I cough. I NEED to get better soon though, I am meeting my Mom and Sis at the Sunday Tribune Garden Show in PMB on Sunday and I really don't want to miss it!!

So, moving onto my cardi. I was inspired by the lovely lady from Tangled Yarns to knit this pattern when I saw hers. She knits like a dream, and I am constantly inspired by her!! The pattern is called Summer Waves Cardi, and it is a free pattern available on Ravelry HERE. It was a well written, easy to follow pattern, which knit up nice and quickly and gives a great end result.

The yarn I used is just LOVELY!!!! It is a locally produced yarn called VINNIS COLOURS Nikkim, and is 100% cotton. This is the first time I used this yarn, and I must say I am super impressed! It is slightly splitty (as cotton yarn is), but besides that, it knits up beautifully, with a lovely variegation, and drape. I will definitely knit with this again!!! I purchased my yarn online from SKAPIE. Do yourself a favour and check it out!! They have a great range of yarn and give excellent service!! :)




(Photos taken by my son Caide)


Once again I am linking up to the following LOVELY blogs:



And I have also recently discovered this wonderful South African based blog and shop. Please support Mary-Anne and her blog Woolhogs and link up your creations HERE!!! I won the prize for last month's Made It Monthly Challenge, and received my lovely prize yesterday. Anyone in the world is welcome to link-up their creation, so CHECK-IT-OUT!!! :)


If you have any questions about anything in this post, please leave me a comment, and I will do my best to try and help you.

Hope you are all keeping well and happy, it's a long weekend for us here in South Africa, so happy happy me!!!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

A spring layout for the Enmarc Spring Blog Hop

I created this bright and happy layout for Denise's challenge # 3 for the Enmarc Spring Blog Hop. There are loads of LOVELY prizes up for grabs, we would really love for you to play along with us!!!!! Check out the Enmarc Ning Site HERE. Enmarc is a South African based company that produces the most lovely products, I urge all my South African crafty friends to support local, they have products that are stunning for scrapping, cards and any other project for that matter!!

Here is my layout!!



I used the following products on my layout:

Page Corner: Signboard 1 by Enmarc Crafts
Swirls & Flourishes: Flourish 9 by Enmarc Crafts
Burnt Orange Dazzles by Enmarc Crafts
Chipboard Cameras and Arrows by Studio Calico
Martha Stewart Butterfly punch
Washi Tape
The title and clouds were cut with my Silhouette Cameo.

I also made a card:


So.... come on, grab some Enmarc goodies and come and play along with us!!!! You can find all the details of my challenge HERE (I'd love for you to play along with me!!), and visit the Enmarc site for all the other challenges running until the end of September!!

Smiles,

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

My 1st tutorial for Scrapbook Studio

I recently received my kit from Scrapbook Studio, and was delighted with the lovely goodies included in my package. This is the September kit, and is ideal for those with sporty kids in the family!!!! I created my first tutorial with some of the lovely goodies, check it out!!!


STEP 1:
Position stencil. I placed mine in the left hand corner. Be careful to cover all the rest of your cardstock so as not to get mist all over. I used Studio Calico Mr Huey’s Color Mist in the colour Opaque White.


In hindsight I realize I should have positioned the stencil slightly more to the right!


STEP 2:
Gather the elements from your kit that match with your photos. I am going to use this series of photos of my youngest son riding his bicycle for my layout, hence the bicycle stencil. I want to use the large arrow in my title. I used a free Photoshop action called CoffeeShop Denim to alter my photos and bring out more blue in them.


STEP 3:
Cut out your photos and arrange all your elements in the following design, or any other that may better suit your photos. I kept my layout pretty simple so that the photos and bold bicycle misted shape would be the main focus of my page.


STEP 4:
Add more embellishments to your layout as desired. I chose to use the bold red paper in the kit to cut out the word “rider” as well as the arrows. I used my Silhouette Cameo to do this. I also added some stamped circles in white.



STEP 5:
This is just something I do personally. After arranging the layout as I would like it, I take a photo with my phone so I can remember the exact position of each element, so I can stick it all down correctly.


STEP 6:
I add some straight stitching with my sewing machine. I often sew on my layouts as I love the homely effect it gives my page, as well as extra texture. I did a bit of free hand stitching along the side of each semi-circle.



STEP 7:
I totally love this old typewriter which I bought on auction. If you notice on most of my layouts I love to do my journaling in strips, and the old font and effect I get from the typewriter is just perfect for me. I type out my journaling and then cut into strips and adhere to my layout. Here is the end result!!


I totally love the way this layout turned out. 

REMEMBER - This kit can be ordered by just e-mailing sales@scrapbookstudio.co.za with September DT kit in the Subject Line. For more info of  other product available, PLEASE stop by SCRAPBOOK STUDIO to see their lovely range of scrapping goodies!!!!!

Smiles,






P.S. I am on 299 Followers, only 1 more and than I make 300. Please if you like what you see can you join my Followers group :)

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Challenge №9 at SCRAP AFRICA, LIfe is about using the whole box of crayons


Hello girls! Today we are back with you with our latest challenge at SCRAP AFRICA!

Here is inspiration for this challenge:
...

Now, it is up to you how you will be inspired by it:
***
you can use the phrase on your project
***
you can use crayons in any way you like - color something with it on your LO or use it as embellishments (you can use some kind of image of crayons or the real crayons)
***
use this quote as inspiration and tell a story through your project about living life to the full
***

What a great challenge, don't you think?!?!

This is what I came up with for this fun challenge:



I created this layout all about my middle son, and how he really does live life to the fullest. Everything he does, he does with the greatest of enthusiasm, and he always has the BIGGEST smile on his face!!

This is the WONDERFUL prize that is up for grabs!!!!!

And we are very lucky to be sponsored by Manor House designs


Random winner will get that awesome prize!

You have until the 30th of September to enter your creation:

PLEASE stop by the SCRAP AFRICA blog for more inspiration, and that is also where you should link your creation.

We have had such lovely rain this weekend, SUCH  a blessing!!!

Crafty hugs

Friday, September 14, 2012

My 2nd Color Affection!!!

I have another FO to share with you today. It's my second Color Affection which I finished last month, but only got around to taking photos of yesterday afternoon. I knit this one with  Elle Premier Natural Cotton DK, so it is quite a substantial shawl/scarf. This really is a lovely pattern to knit, it is fascinating to watch the shawl take shape.





I am linking up to the following LOVELY blogs:



And I have also recently discovered this wonderful South African based blog and shop. Please support Mary-Anne and her blog Woolhogs and link up your creations HERE!!! I won the prize for last month's Made It Monthly Challenge, and received my lovely prize yesterday. Anyone in the world is welcome to link-up their creation, so CHECK-IT-OUT!!! :)


If you have any questions about anything in this post, please leave me a comment, and I will do my best to try and help you.

Have a lovely weekend everyone, hopefully we will get some more rain here!! :) 

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Sketch # 9 at Scrap Africa

Ooops, I am a bit late in getting my layout for this challenge posted on my blog. I have had a very sore finger, and have been unable to type. While peeling butternet on Tuesday, I got a bit of the skin stuck under my nail and it got infected. Gross and eina!!! Anyway, lets move onto more pleasant things.

The latest sketch at SCRAP AFRICA, is another goodie, and I must say I REALLY had fun putting this layout together. I had only recently got my Silhouette, and I LOVED being able to play with cutting out all the shapes and title.

Here it is:


Most of the paper is from the K&Company range Actopus to Zelephant! So much fun to work with. And this is our sweet Yorkie Pepper, love him to bits!!!

So, we would totally love for you to play along with us, check out this wonderful sketch!!!


I know you can use this for any number of photos that you may have lying around. It is so great to see layouts entered from ladies all over the world. This is a truly universal challenge blog, but it would be awesome to see more South African ladies playing along. Come on girls!!! Check out the SCRAP AFRICA blog for more inspiration, and also link your layout there when done!!!

Smiles,
P.S. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR THE ENMARC CRAFTS SPRING BLOG HOP!!!