There’s a new paper Lady in town and we are simply giddy about her. It’s the new Lady Pattern Paper range. I am always a bit reserved when it comes to local, yes I know I am a paper snob and I like quality. So when I first got this range of new paper I was careful of judging this book by its paper. And all I can say is I am pleasantly surprised. 

 This paper range is perfect for our market – versatile and basic – a real core product for our local market. You can use it alongside imported products, dress it up with techniques and inks and it looks fabulous.

 It will work for boys and girls, family and friends, pets and pals – and if you can think of it you can create a theme with it. Truly versatile in colour and design, just what a girl needs for her basic paper supplies.

 This high quality paper range stood fast through a couple of tests I did on it while of course creating one of my all-time favourite layouts….like they all usually are – but this one is proudly South African!

 Here’s what I found…

 So at the end of the day I am in love with this paper range. It certainly worked really well with all my favourite techniques when I create a layout- so much so that I can’t wait to start my next layout using this gorgeous essential and basic range of papers.

For me it is a bit of both – I want to be able to create mixed media pieces to experiment and play, but also to use it on my layouts, cards and Project Life cards. So today I created a mixed media block, working directly onto a piece of wood using my favourite art mediums from Prima and some additional embellishments.

To finish off my block I added some Prima flowers and embellishments. To adhere everything to my block I used my Tombow Mono Multi – and it worked perfectly.

 A fun project completed in a few hours – with loads of texture and interest. I really loved working with these high quality products – perfect in every way.

I am a winter person – I love the chill and the cooler weather and I love snow although not much of that here in South Africa. However I am also quite realistic about what the cooler weather brings. It brings a greyness over creativity, a time where things just don’t happen as quickly and passionately – it’s almost like we go into a dormant state and we need to find and discover and grow our creativity again. So how do we do that without spending too much money on things we don’t really need – but we think we do. Buying new stash doesn’t necessarily mean you will be creative – a common misconception.

One way I try and get myself to beat the winter creative blues is to shop my own stash. I stand back and just breathe for a while, to get perspective of everything around me. So this past week I took some time to dig through a pile of off-cut papers and used scraps that have been stuffed into a box under my desk, very convenient – out of sight out of mind. It’s a pile I kept after purging and giving away the rest of my scraps. And what I discovered is the most beautiful papers and scraps – the kind of scraps that really speaks to me, and they really aren’t scraps at all but rather large pieces of gorgeous papers I have used before. So I went through the pile and took out some papers and immediately I could envision a layout.

The one thing that I noticed is that it ended up being the same colour palette I have been gravitating towards for the last couple of layouts and cards – funny that. The only thing I could think of is that I am at peace, I am calm and content and in a perfect state for my own creativity. It’s a kind of peace that I always long for. The colour palette is also one that reminds me of snow and spring and beautiful moments – at the end of the day it speaks of a happy mind and soul.

for my title i used some chipboard letters embossed with AC embossing powders

The beautiful metal embellishments from Prima are unique and fun to use

I bet you know a way of beating the winter blues in your own special way 

and we would love to hear from you!

All the products used on this layout is by Prima and is from The Wholesaler - proud distributor of Prima Products in South Africa!

I am a list maker. I am always writing things down and making lists of things to do, buy or ideas. So this also means I have loads of notebooks all around the house, in my bag, next to my bed and in the car. So naturally when I have the chance to make a cute little notebook using left-overs and pretty stuff then I jump at the chance. I also like using things that I can repurpose into a functional item.

These pretty flowers are indeed a basic scrapbooking necessity – they are one of those products that can turn something simple into something spectacular in a few easy steps. A must have for your basic stash and your next pretty project. There are loads of designs and colours available in the Jewelled range – perfect for all your crafty needs.

As of late I am not a huge fan of off-the-page-projects. Don’t get me wrong I love making them - they have no rules and are uncomplicated to say the least. The problem I have is what to do with them afterwards – unless you have a specific place for them to permanently live or a shop to display them in to inspire others – then they just become dust collectors. So now I have the attitude that if I make something off-the-page I have to give it away to someone that will really appreciate it. And so came to be this little bird house. The base is something I have used before – a cardboard box that used to house Easter eggs – so very appropriate and fitting I think.

 I started by covering the base with the Home to Nest range of papers by DoCrafts. WOW! Does the Ultimate die-cut pack have loads of goodies in to use – and the designs are just so fresh and beautiful! I used Artist Gel Medium to adhere and cover the paper on the base so that it would be protected against dust and general wear and tear (touchy feely people). The roof is covered in a layer of real moss bought from an art store and then decorated with flowers from Prima and Petaloo. The blooms were picked for their beautiful shapes, designs and colours, and then I threw in the colour purple for that something a little different and interesting.

But what I loved most about making this project is that I got to work with the beautiful themed Celebr8 Chipboard elements. No matter what your theme or project you can find something that will work – and the bird themed chipboard worked so beautifully together with the Home to Nest paper range. I used a variety of chipboards and coloured them in different ways – I embossed some with ZING! Embossing powders, others were simple inked using Versafine ink pads and then for my all-time favourite, yes you guessed it – the layered chippies. For the word “faith” I used silver leafing on the bottom and inked the word on top and then added a layer of Anita’s 3D glaze.

gorgeous Celebr8 chipboard designs - to see how i customized some of the chipboards go to 

The Wholesalers blog for sxs instructions

matching blooms in purple, red, yellow...

 birdie stamps coloured with Artiste markers