its been a while since i made this project inspired by tim holtz. somehow it is not speaking to me to add more stuff - you know the feeling when you desperately think and feel that a project needs more...but actually it already says what it needs to say, and in fact it really is complete. so i decided to share it here anyways...the project consists out of recycled masonry boards decorated with patterned paper and canvas. it also features a couple of vintage things...like the pencil i found when cleaning out some of my brother's toolboxes, as well as the little rusted paper clip. i love things like that!

this glass decoupage plate i found at one of my favorite shops to browse...and it says
"things are looking up" - and they really are!

i used the pencil as i found it...i really do think my brother used it as it is....all 1.5 inches of it!

i loved how the painted canvas turned out...a combination of chocolate brown and
naples yellow!

and the other half of my rusted tin used on another projects elsewhere. the little angel i pulled off a piece of ribbon. and since i collect angels and love them this one had to find a place on my project with special meaning!

i have all these things or rather projects that i want to display on a single wall together - but i hardly have an inch of open wall space inside. so...i am hoping that my new studio will be done by the middle of this year so i can decorate and play on the walls to my heart's content! but for now...i am waiting for some kind of solution painted onto the cement counters in the kitchen to react with the lime....and its NOT! the effect is really beautiful if only it would work!
oh well...plan B...

here's a quick heart card or booklet idea. trace the template below and enlarge or reduce as you please to the size you want. trace onto patterned paper and cut out. score on the relevant lines and create mountain and valley folds so that your heart folds into a single heart. write your message inside and there you have a personalised and funky valentines card.

**PS this is an old card i made a couple of years ago...but the idea is still very cool and now you have the template too! i will be sharing another quick and easy heart* idea tomorrow, so pop back and get creative! lots of love....

a reminder to have a look at some of the altered projects i created for a local tv programme in South Africa called "droomhuis" or 'dream house". the programmes are shot on location and features beautiful homes in our gorgeous country. it also focuses on recycling and going green to make living more environmentally friendly. this week featured my altered take-away bag turned into a gift bag. the bag featured here is a 'steers' bag - one of our local take out joints! i dressed it up using old postcards, letters, photos, a silk rose, old postage stamps, tags, stamping, sewing, ribbon and eyelets. it is such an easy project and really does make for a stunning gift bag. and as always i am trying to do my bit for recycling and living just a bit greener in a classy way!

visit www.droomhius.co.za to view the entire project step by step with visuals.

i have been involved in a lot of projects in my artistic career over the past 15 years! but this one has to be one of my favourites to date. I created some recycled projects for a TV program here in South Africa. Gasp! this baby was quite a project to be invovlved in due to time frame, design and some other factors which i won't bore you with! the projects had to all be recycled, classy and be something for the home. my first project premieres on the 8th September 2010 at 22h00 - 22h30 local South African time. the channel is KykNet and the show name is "Droomhuis" (dreamhouse). also see the rest of the schedule for future projects on the website. for the full instructions and photos of all my projects visit their website
http://www.droomhuis.co.za

Cigar box teabag holder with recycled vintage teaspoon

this is still one of my favourite projects done a couple of years ago - and yes it is still in tack with maybe a few dust layers and spider webs but still lovely. I purchased the bodice from a local department store and then set about covering it with 7Gypsies rub-ons, ribbon, flowers, antique keys, charms, tags and whatever else i could find. To get the ribbons all puffy I first made a little tulle skirt. I love how we crafters can take anything an just play and create and change stuff into new stuff!

after all our recent break-ins here in South Africa we had to replace quite a bit of our electric fencing. This lead me to discover some rusted old wire ... and you all know how much I love rusty old wire - so I immediately carted a whole lot into the house and well am waiting for the right moment to start creating and altering and changing....watch this space!
I can't imagine my life without being able to create!!

Every year in October we have our Cardmaking retreat or Stamp Camp as some of us call it. A very informal get together with loads of stamping and crafting enthusiasts who attend the 3 day camp doing 6 different classes and projects. Here's a sneak preview of my little project to get people in the mood - although we are fully booked three months in advance! This is only the one part of my project and the fun stuff is inside! Once camp is over I will post some more photos and instructions. Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Look out for the winner of the Tim Holtz goodies on Monday!

Waiting for spring as the trees in our garden are showing small little green fluffs that I only noticed this morning. So I thought I would share this spring project I did a few years ago. The handbag itself is made of tin that I covered in pretty K&Company paper (who remembers that line?). The paper was basically modged to the 'tin'. The V-flap on the front and back was covered in paper and silk flowers decorated with buttons and brads. On the front,on top of the paper flowers is an acetate butterfly decorated with glitter glue.

Now the handles were a different story - as I recall it took me about 7 nights to cover the handles in little ribbon knots...what was I thinking? Every night after work I would tackle the handles and a couples of hours later it still looked and felt as id I was never going to finish.

And who the hell actually appreciated this spark of genius? The ribbon I used was a tiny 3mm embroidery ribbon - now had I used a thicker and bulkier ribbon it might have been a different story all together! Once the baby was done and decorated I took it to have flowers put in for the photo shoot...those tulips really were magical! Ok...so still waiting on Spring ...

another little clay project done with left-overs, metal mesh, rusted metal sheeting, beads, mosaic tiles and gold leafing. I love how this project turned out - loads of different metallic colours - bronze, copper, silver, pewter and gold - a celebration of metal and all things shiny. On top is a ceramic cross that I bought from one of my favourite stores - Seed Pod Studio - I am yet to get to the stage of making those myself. The clay tiles are all different widths and so you have this wonderful array of textures.

In my lifetime I have done some weird things - and recently came across these pics of stuff I had done for work. Not of free will I have to add, but because some weird person now somewhere in the world lost her marbles and I had to live her fantasy...
Made napkin holder form an old rusk box....

Used real tobacco in a memory box - I had to buy it myself from a spaza shop (a shop that sells everything from toilet paper to muti for those who are wondering)

Ok so these are the bare little drawers freshly washed and cleaned as posted a couple of weeks ago...if you recall I am decorating them and here is the first stage for now...
Doing what I do best - using my off-cuts and scraps of paper that I really love.

The most used papers includes, 7Gypsies, Autumn Leaves, Webster's Pages, K&Company, Basic Grey and Making Memories. The rest include altered book paper, sheet music and some of the original labels that I left on for sentiments' sake. It really does look better in real life! The other set of the same drawers that mom eventually gave to me as well, holds my most used tools such as gum eraser for removing glue, glue sticks and adhesives, my name stamp, Tim Holtz applicator tool and sponges, edge distressers etc. The bigger one seen here currently has small stuff like H2O's, pigment powders and glitter in them. I use these often and they are a pain to store and get to! Now they are right next to me...anyhow check back sometime for the next phase..have a super creative day!

This project has been lingering for a few years now. It all started in 2002 with distress inks when I distressed the pages in the middle of this book. I then drilled holes in the four corners and attached it with hardware screws to the inside of the lid of a box.

Well, then nothing. It has been kicked and bashed around and moved and thrown out and saved plenty of times. This year it resurfaced again...

So I added the angel image on the rusty mesh, and then the heart covered in a luxurious red velvet paper with the grungeboard flourish.

Followed by rolled up vintage pieces of paper above and below...

This is a mini-album I made for a design team call but never got to finish the layouts ... so that was that! I actually enjoyed making this one - you see I am after all not really a mini-album fan. They are hard work and can take up a lot of time and supplies - it just never seems to end.

The inside consists of paper, fabric, cardstock, acetate, acrylic and felt. I used some left over fabric and cut my own pages using my pinking shears. The edges a re cut with my silhouette machine. The front cover is a piece of acrylic with rub-ons and a Tim Holtz game spinner, which then show through onto the rest of the page created on cardboard.

PS. I have finished the first layer of my little drawers. I am pleased! I stuck to my true colours and used products and supplies that are my signature - OFF CUTS! I love the look and will post photos later. The 2nd layer...I as hoping that if I had 48 friends who each make me an inchie...mmmm. back to the drawing board! Have a fabulous day!

Thanks to Laurie Mika for the inspiration of her mixed media art works! This project is right up there with the best things in life - having fun and being creative. Thanks to the girls for playing with clay, the coffee, the chats, the inspiration, the free goodies and for just being there! We have had so much fun creating these canvasses - and using a lot of stamps and things long forgotten.

I'm not sure if this canvas will be in this golden frame fro sure...there may be another creation in a different colour for this one, but it will definitely be frame and hung soon...like today once it is totally dry.

With the colder evenings I tend to wanna climb into bed early and just snuggle down...but then the creative urge sometimes gets in the way and well then I just make stuff. Why - because I can! This house template was designed by Linita a friend and put together with my own type of construction. OK so building was never on the cards as a career opportunity for me.

I wanted to make it a pretty little hide away and opted for the floral patterned paper with a vintage feel and look. I used elements found on my table as usual and then just added random elements.

so its been a while since i have been here blogging. you now the feeling when life gets in the way of creativity and other stuff get precedence...well that's where I've been - dealing with life,

and I've been working...so it hasn't all been bad.

for starters i cleaned and washed and scrubbed this set of drawers. they are drawers that my late father used in his medical practise - they held the stuff to put stitches in wounds....does this even make sense. oh well, i have great sentiment over these little drawers and so i finally got a set out of my mom to use. i am still not sure how i want to decorate them or what to put in them. i have managed to get some kind of system of storage that works for me and now i have these...decisions decisions.

i will let you know as they progress and post some pictures once it is done.

as far as Misha goes....our pregnant mommy who survived 2 snake bites, anti-venom, a night in doggy hospital...she is doing fine. she had her babies last week Thursday during the afternoon and the evening. by 2 pm in the afternoon there were 2 puppies, by 6 there were 6 puppies and the following morning at breakfast.....there were 12!!

they are truly adorable - healthy happy and growing rapidly! mmmm 12 puppies that you just want to snuggle up to. so there's your evidence of the true power of prayer,

the grace of God and a smart mommy dog who really loves her babies.
as for daddy Labrador...well he roams the yard like a true guard dog for the first time in his life. at least she got him off his butt to start doing something.

i will post some pics soon.

have a wonderful creative weekend.

i was here. i was hungry. i was defeated.

i had an idea and a good purpose and

felix gonzalez-torres

supplies: patterned paper Webster's pages & Chatterbox. Other Embroidery thread bobbin, buttons, string, paper flowers, bling, coloured staples & tiny hanger. Grungeboard Tim Holtz. Distress stickles & Distress ink Ranger Industries. Ribbon Hanna Silk.

how does one say thank you to friends and family when they are there for you in times when you really need them...well the only way i know how is to make stuff. this little piece sits on top of the glass of a gorgeous golden frame. the pattern paper is behind the glass while the actual image sits on top. the backing is stunning Moda fabric topped with a piece of rusty mesh. the image is from a sticker sheet by Design Originals and then simply finished off with a few hand sewn pearls and a piece of a stamped image.

so in anticipation of going to T!m's class on Friday, i bet i am not the only one who is truly excited and can't wait. i met T!m in 2004 while spending time with Anne & Vince of Ranger Industries. he truly is a work of art in many ways and a stunning teacher that is so passionate about what he does without the bitchiness of womanhood. i am all packed - pathetic i know...anyhow hoping to post some awesome and inspiring photos of the event and projects here on Saturday! have a fabulous and crafty day!

ok..so if you are sick and tired of hearing about me sorting and throwing away and discovering new old things then i apologize- but that's in our nature as scrapbookers, mixed media artists and crafters...we hoard, we gather, we intend to make, we throw away and gather more and then we create. so while cleaning i found millions (ok a lot)of these little one inch boxes cut for wedding favours that was never made. so i started gathering all the packaging on my table, stamps, and odd buttons and beads and stuff and made some of these. added a few splashes of glitter and there you have it. i think they will make for cute xmas tree decorations with the right colours and theme, or even for easter and halloween and thanksgiving and birthdays or anything else we creative souls can dream up. i will have a few suspended somewhere. have a wonderful and blessed creative week.

i absolutely love my alcohol inks! such a pity that the suppliers in South Africa are having such problems supplying us with the necessary quantities we need to fulfill this need within us! Oh well - so to soak my sorrows I thought I would share this project with you. These are little memory glass frames available from most supermarket stores. They measure 4 x 6 inches. The hardboard is covered with glass and four metal clips keep everything together.
So here's what you will need:
Alcohol inks, glass frame, rubber stamp, black dye ink, white card stock.

step 1: Undo the clips from the frame and separate all the parts.

step 2: cut a piece of white card stock the same size as your frame. Stamp your image in black ink on the white card stock and set aside. Combine two or three images together to form a collage effect if you like.

step 3: turn your glass over so that the side that was facing the paper inner is now on top. This side is generally free from any greasy marks. Use your alcohol inks and create a coloured area on your glass. Do not mix too many colours or else it will turn to mud.

step 4: once you are happy with the result leave the glass to dry. Turn over the glass and make your sandwich with the hardboard, then your stamped image, and then the glass and clip them together. Remember at this point you should turn over the glass so that the alcohol ink is on the inside facing your stamped image.

tips and tricks

• to create the blobs on the alcohol ink, drip small drops of blending solution on top of your ink and let it bleed to form interesting effects.
• if you hate the look, clean off the alcohol ink with the blending solution and start again.
• use a single colour or combine 2-3 colours together.
• these make really cute little gifts to hang in your guest loo, a babies nursery or the kitchen.

supplies: Alcohol ink Ranger Industries. Stamp PSX (discontinued). Ink Archival Black. Ribbon in photo Hanna Silk. Other Memory frame.

**PS this morning, while still on a cleaning spree that has lasted about 2 weeks now I found some pretty dotty serviettes (i think they were intended for an ATC swap) i had some inspiration. So watch out for some frosty covered notebooks as a result of this cleaning spree.

Quick Easter baskets that you can make for family and friends. You can hide them in the garden for the kids or use them of your Easter table as gifts and decorations. I used these little baskets for invitations I made a couple of years ago with a picnic theme. They are made of straw with a cute little wooden button. I replaced the closure with a ribbon that wraps around the button. I sprayed them white on the outside for a fresh clean look. The little card was made using free clip art downloaded from www.stampington.com. I printed the image onto cream cardstock, matted it onto pink Bazzill Basics and then added a gold glitter frame around the edge of the image. The Easter eggs are from Woolies. This was the one time I wished I actually bought a paper crimper. Now if you really knew me you would know that I think it is utterly kitch to use one of those tools, but for the first time in my crafting experiences I now see the use. But instead I made a plan... I simply used a piece of left-over patterned paper from K&Company and folded it into small pleats until the entire piece was one small strip. I then used my scissors and cut small pieces. When I pulled them apart slightly I had little ruffled pieces of paper to put inside the baskets. A quick way of doing things yourself even if you don't have the correct tools. 'n Boer maak 'n plan!
Here's wishing you a crafty week of getting ready for Easter celebrations! And in the case of my friend Natalie...go and buy some more Easter eggs because the box is empty!!