another Monday means another challenge over at scrapbook challenges. my layout is based on some of the most memorable moments during 2010. i love doing review layouts like these to end off albums. how about you? what do you do to capture a year at a glance?

and here's my take on the sketch...i had some fun with Glitz girls rub-ons and paper and that oh so divine pink clock paper by Teresa Collins. i threw in a orangy-yellow Halloween spot from making memories.

some close-up details...lettering by Basic Grey from way back when!

a Kaisercraft rub-on directly onto patterned paper.

and my journaling tucked in behind one of my photos for a quick review on happenings during the year.

we hope you will play along if you have some quiet time during the holidays! head on over to scrapbook challenges for the dingle page version of this layout and check out all the other challenges and to win some awesome goodies.

this is the last challenge for 2010 over at scrap and stamp Saturday! how time as flown by! this week the challenge is Christmas! lucky for me we had our Christmas dinner last month and had some gorgeous photos to work with. the layout below was designed by my friend Barbs but i changes mine up a bit as i didn't have all the punches she used.

the images above the flags are a combination of rub-ons and stamps. I have an adorable set of miniature birthday stamps - you know the type you buy when you first start stamping because they are so versatile - oh yes you do! anyhow, they worked perfectly...

the trees and stars were die-cut and some of them even cut freehand like the little flags. i love how you can use odd rub-ons, like the ones between the little tag photos, to fill in some gaps. the silver strips across the top and bottom are double sided tape with glitter on them! still love that technique! hope you will play along with us this week and stand the chance to win some awesome goodies just in time for Christmas! we will be back the 1st January 2011 with a new challenge! happy Holidays everyone!

a fun layout featuring some of my current favourite products as well as my favourite colours to work with at the moment, yes i know they do change quite often! on this layout i used some of Tim's patterned papers along with distress inks on the hearts and his die-cut butterfly, mask and grungeboard letters. the layout is based on sketch 228 from scrapbook challenges.

my chipboard hearts were first covered in old dictionary paper and then inked using distress ink. i layered and popped some of the hearts and also glazed them to create a play on texture.

added some interest on the background patterned papers by masking directly onto them.

and created a banner for my subtitle which was stamped with one of my favourite stamps reading "my heart has wings".

hope you are having i creative holiday! today i kept myself busy mounting some new stamps from Darkroom Door onto easy mount and then stamped a couple of them and just played with whatever was on my desk and within arms reach. i have loads of new class ideas and playing with some techniques as well...quite brain quite!

this is exciting times! this baby below has landed in South Africa and is now
on sale
it is my latest book on scrapbooking techniques using products you have in and around the home already. On the cover is a layout about my niece featuring paper doilies and recycled postage stamps. I also used a lot of my favorite products on the layouts and give some handy tips and alternative ideas on how you can utilize your scrapping supplies. There is definitely a bit of everything for anyone in the book with a lot of different scrapping styles. Some talented friends also helped me on my journey in putting the layouts together and I am so thankful for them - Melani de Groot, Barbs du Plessis and Cariena Basson.

to get hold of the book for your shop or for personal use you can contact
Lapa Books directly or visit their website www.lapa.co.za
it is also available through Leisure Books and soon in your favorite book shop and craft store.
it will also make a great Christmas gift for someone just starting scrapbooking and even for the seasoned scrappers in your group. Let us know if you have trouble finding the book and we will make a plan for you!

another Monday...well a day late...means another sketch over at scrapbook challenges. Pamela did a super job of this one and i love the possibilities it offers. to see the single page version and some samples of the other design team members head over here and then load your page into the gallery section over here to win some fabulous goodies. don't forget you can also become a member and be a part of this awesome community of creative souls...and here's the double page sketch

and my take on it...

closer details of my crackle paint butterfly filled with distress stickles afterwards...

and a fun grouping of favorite things ...

i hope you will play along as we would love to see what you have done with your sketch this week. we have had a lot of rain over the past three days and the world is looking a lot happier right now. so here's to a creative week filled with paper and glue!

a new challenge is up over at scrap and stamp Saturday...and this time it is some kind of winter tradition. while we here in South Africa are dealing with heat waves in the midst of summer and praying for rain....i did some of my sledding photos from my trip to Germany. i absolutely love snow and could move to the coldest place on the planet in the blink of an eye - i just don't like Africa and its hot weather! anyhow...i combined some stamping onto my photo to fill the empty spot as well as some of my many snow flake stamps in shades of blue distress ink.

the sleigh is from Making Memories and was originally a gold shiny metal colour. i added some alcohol inks to get the brown shades and love the look.

so head on over to scrap and stamp Saturday and play along!

i love patterned paper...sigh! and this layout proves it. 8 patterned papers layout i am totally in love with this layout, and it was my first time using some of Prima's totally beautiful pearl and bling swirls. i have always loved them but never quite knew where to use them - and then there was this layout. perfect!

the sketch is by Pamela and can be found here. she really is a whiz at creating sketches and this is one of the best among the best I have seen! below is a close-up using one of my other favourite...vintage stamps and a stamped image onto a brown paper bag.

let me know what you think and head on over to scrapbook challenges to see some more awesome sketches and loads of inspiration!

it's been a long wait, but here it is! my name on the cover of Stampington's Take Ten magazine as guest artist. i have been a fan for ever and a day and this is such a great honor to be picked and be featured in their awesome publications. i am yet to receive my copy and see which cards are featured but am so excited! thanks for letting me share my awesome news with you all - and for those loyal supporters and followers you girls rock!

pinch...pinch...

another Monday means another sketch over at scrapbook challenges, and i simply love this sketch from Pamela!! it is right up my alley and i may just do a couple of versions for different albums...just because i can. i did the 2 page version for this challenge and used some of my current favorite patterned papers including glitz girls, Parisian anthology, Teresa Collins and Tim holtz.

and here's what i did...using some old favourite photos for my album. i am totally OK with scrapping my favourite photos several times...afterall i have double the albums to complete since jayson insists on having his own albums too - what a guy! :-)

and used some kaisercraft rub-ons directly onto my photo in the background.

the stamps are by Hampton art and one of my new favorites! i see plenty of layouts and cards in the new future and even a possible class on using circles, so watch this space.
to see some more samples of what the design team came up with using the single page sketch, head on over here and then load your take on it into the gallery area here for a chance to win some awesome goodies!

this week at scrap and stamp Saturday we have a wonderful sketch challenge for you. to see the sketch head on over to scrap and stamp where you can also see some of the other stunning layouts the design team has come up with. i can hardly believe the year as come to an end so quickly...but luckily you still have some time to play along today and for a few more Saturdays! remember to use at least one stamp on your layout and then submit it to stand a chance of winning some fun prizes.
and here's what i did with my sketch....

and a close-up of my stamped image. i cut a piece off to run off the page, inked it with distress inks and then added a bling border.

the stunning patterned papers are by House of Three with its beautiful resist print. I inked it using 2 different colours of distress ink. my title consists out of rub-ons and chipboard letters.

for the bottom edge of my layout i used a strip of tags coloured using a brown mist. i simply love tags and the colours worked perfectly with the red and yellow Teresa Collins' patterned paper. my journaling block, decorative tag and photo were slightly tilted to match the sketch. hope you like it. i hope you have a fabulous and creative saturday! i am off to clean my work table and then maybe do a couple of tim's christmas tags!

prima meets kaisercraft in this fun layout. i love how the colours just matches and compliments each other beautifully. the stamped corners are from Tim Holtz and the little green bracket and tags are from a local talented designer Tracey Schimper. the little circles are punched from scraps of patterned papers and i just love how this layout came together!

and if you need something a bit more challenging then try your hand at the sketch below...
this weeks' layout sketch over at Scrapbook Challenges is a stunner! i love how you can really interpret it any way you want...my layout isn't done but i hope to finish it today sometime! so keep a lookout. in the meantime head on over to scrapbook challenges to see what the other fabulous design team members have come up with!

remember to load your layout into the gallery section to stand a chance to
win some awesome prizes! till later...

yesterday was the big day...i was invited by Bona Magazine & Caxton to do a gift wrapping presentation for their annual Food For Fun and Funds day held at Gold Reef City. by 8am Saturday morning we had 250 booked delegates arrive at the doors very eagerly and then an additional 30 showed up just in case and we gladly accommodated them! whew....is all i can say! we had been setting up since 6am which meant that i left home at 4:30am. I had my presentation at 10am for an hour in which i showed them some economical gift wrapping ideas. the idea is for them to wrap and present their baked goodies in a way that they can sell even more. the day is essentially an uplifting project that enables people to make a living from their baked goods. we had lots of fun and they loved my ideas - simple and manageable - things that they can afford and do themselves!
below is staff from the Bona Magazine, editor and marketing manager.

the chefs in action came after my presentation and make divine little cakes and biscuits.

a clear gift box decorated with some scrap papers, paper doilies and a stamped sentiment...

glass is wonderful since it is environmentally friendly and can be dressed up easily

a simple Christmas wreath made from a piece of lampshade and strips of Christmas fabric torn and knotted around the metal base.

gift tags coloured using food colouring...they loved that idea and tied to a biscuit bag using ribbons

this little guy zips open at the back and his tummy can be stuffed with all kinds of goodies...

i also made this explosion box with a cupcake inside...they loved this

an ordinary clear box wrapped in ribbon with a mince pie inside. finished
off with a simple sticker.

Sonia made some cupcakes and i added the cupcake toppers with festive messages and images on top as a finishing touch!

and last but not least my cupcake liner Christmas tree! this was the show stopper on my table and a big hit with everyone!

so these are just some of the things i shared with them yesterday....and now i am off to relax as i am pooped! hope you have a marvelous Sunday.

it's that time again...its Saturday...well maybe not officially here in South Africa but maybe somewhere in the world. i have issues with scheduling posts and since i will be out for the entire day tomorrow i thought i might as well post it now! so if i offend anyone - it sure is not intended that way! today i am hosting a challenge over at scrap and stamp Saturday...colouring paper with fabric dye. back in the days before the fancy scrappers dye, mists and sprays i used good old fabric colouring to colour ribbon, paper, lace and paper flowers. it is still a firm favorite with me as it does give such a nice effect. for this challenge i used it on old book paper - just look at the natural lines and patterns it forms - that is when it is left to dry naturally! BUT you could speed up the process with a heta gun! so head on over to scrap and stamp Saturday and play along with us...and remember to use at least one stamped image!

below is an atc sample i did with old book paper and the same blue dye!

some close-ups....

my stamped image across two tags coloured with red food colouring...yummy

step 1
mix some dye powder with water in a spray bottle and shake well.

step 2
spray your paper liberally and leave to dry or use your heat gun to speed things up.

step 3
cut to size and use as desired. as simple as that!

i hope you have a fabulous and creative weekend!

having some internet issues since last week but everything seems OK again for now! so I'll start my week creatively with class this morning and this layout i did a while ago.
the photos were taken of my nephew in October when they came to visit...he has grow so much and is a real little man.

hope you have a fabulous creative week.
PS. i got to see the sample copy of my new book this week! it is due for release in January 2011!
*sigh*
supplies: card stock by Worldwin. Patterned paper by 7Gypsies, Kaisercraft and Japanese handmade paper. Lettering by Fabscraps. Rub-ons by Scrapbook King & Delish. Other diamante, thread.

today over at scrapbook challenges I am hosting a challenge on words or quotes. I love these challenges - not only do they jump start some great journaling ideas they also inspire stunning layouts one would not normally think about! for my challenge i chose the word "play".
my layout was inspired by Barbs du Plessis whose work i totally love and whom i greatly admire as an artist and person! so thanks queeni!

i used the word play in my layout, but they actual activity is also featured in my photos. this is my nephew Jonathan playing with what used to be my Lego when i was a child! i absolutely loved my Lego and they were favorite gifts on birthdays and Christmas.

i used dimensional glaze on my title letters to jazz them up

glitter glue on a chipboard heart

the little truck was cut from the patterned paper and adhered onto another piece of patterned paper. the inking around the edges adds a dirty look to it that i love. the small strips of patterned paper of the left hand side are highlighted and separated by rows of diamante and sewing for extra dimension and texture.

so hop on over to scrapbook challenges and see what other challenges you can take part in..and hop into the gallery section for loads of inspirational layouts and cards!