only a week late with editing and actually getting this post up - wow a new record for sure. i recently hit another speed bump in life which slowed things down a bit...but not entirely a bad thing as bad things go. so this was last week's sketch over at scrapbook challenges. i again turned it into a double page to suit my style better - but i simply love the single page version too. so head over to scrapbook challenges to see the sketch and some awesome samples by the rest of the design team. these were really bad cellphone by my mom...but scrap-able and still a wonderful memory of Jonathan's 4th birthday.

the gold dots are made using an ancient making memories foam stamp set and some gold paint dabber from ranger - love the imperfectness of stamping with paint

more stamping with the awesome pink paislee stamp set

stars punched from coloured paper and adhered...these are really tiny - what was i thinking?

and more banners stamped with the same pink paislee stamp set in black ink and decorated with patterned paper. the ticket is by house of 3 and printed on archival matt (epson) and adhered to white card stock to firm it up.

well tomorrow is the start of a brand new week and another scrapbook challenges sketch so watch this space i will be back! we are just heading into summer here in South Africa and the stormy weather season is upon us. we have had some much needed rain and some nasty thunder and lightning which means half the dogs on the property are nestled real cozy on pillows in my lounge because apparently they are just as weary of thunder as i am. however i am thankful for the rain - less dust and a green lawn yeah! hope you had an awesome weekend. lots of love...

so sorry for being missing for a while...it's been downhill all the way. is it just me or does time just fly by as soon as we hit September - everything seems to happen all at once. in between being busy with other stuff, i have been scrapping too. my days have been filled with making cards, prepping and kitting for our annual card making retreat in October, painting furniture for clients, more photo shoots, designing classes, spring cleaning my home and scrapping stuff, helping out in the community to name a few! but alas it is time for another sketch and this time it is my sketch! this sketch is now up over at scrapbook challenges! so go and see what the rest of the team came up with - some awesome samples!

my layout features one of my new found loves lately...vintage goodies!

some vintage buttons...bliss

and a couple of techniques featuring paint and perfect pearl mists...

my apologies for not even letting you know that i would be MIA for a while. you see i have found a new love...for painting that is...furniture! it all started with a friend's dining room table and chairs that needed a serious make-over from black to french. well, it was quite the challenge since we here in the dark African continent of south Africa can only dream of the beautiful Annie Sloan Chalk Paints and wax. aah you see this is why i could live happily ever after in another country that has stuff - stuff that i want to use - stuff that can fulfill my life even more. since the new found love i have done a smaller table, working on an old bench and cupboard and many more lined up it seems. it's hard work let me tell you - which i love - i love getting down and dirty! and then i have discovered the beautiful blogs of girls professional and non-professional who paint and restore and repair and i am sick with envy - and elated at the same time as i spend hours drooling and following links and getting new ideas! ah the wonderful world that is creativity! the world of paint! now to choose a new colour for the front door...
hope you are having a good week - i promise to be back soon with some more crafty stuff and maybe some painted french furniture pics. thanks for hanging around, understanding, for being human and just being supportive. i appreciate you all!

so i am currently trying to work my way through the pile of half-done, almost-done, just about-done projects and class samples. i am getting there. the problem is, whenever i have so much to do and obligations to fulfill i tend to wanna paint, decorate, move and sort stuff around the house. anyone else suffer from that? in between painting a dining room set (table and 6 chairs) for a friend (a lot more work than i have envisioned) i managed to photograph this little bird atc frame that i did a while back. this project also just happened to be a lets make something else cause' the thing i am working on isn't working kind of thing. i am pleased with how it turned out though. so here it is...

the images are printed on Epson archival matt paper and covered with layers of bee's wax with a few simple decorations.

recycled tags from another project that i am also trying to finish off and will share later. and guess what - i actually have a before and after photo of that project. something that i struggle with. i am always in such a hurry to get started that i tend to forget to take before pics. i am trying to get better at it though.

the egg sticker is one of my favourite images. the colours fade to something dreamy when layers of wax are added.

hope you are having a dreamy and wonderful lazy Sunday. seize the day!

join me for a fun card class with a difference....using gold leafing and stamping on your cards. we will use beautiful bright and cheery patterned papers ringing in Spring 2011.
Contact Carla at Sweet Scrappins to book your seat
Saturday 10th September 2011

all that glitters is not gold....

in this case all that glitters is gold leafing...

it's monday again and time for a new sketch reveal over at scrapbook challenges. it really is true - the older you get the faster time goes by, the shorter days become and the more insignificant the daily bull seems. it really is the small little things, the beautiful friendships and those close to us that matter most. this weeks layout is simply one of those - the little things that matter! i loved the sketch. i had a vision of turning it into a layout BUT laziness of the pure speed of life and other things collided with my momentum and it will stand over until another time..in the meantime here is my single page version of this awesome and versatile sketch.

and here's the sketch...

still having that love affair with my postage stamps - sorry if you're getting bored. don't you just love the mystery behind these meaningful embellishments and accents? something real and tangible like life - not just a fake embellishment representing "fakeness" (is this even a word) and fake people and fake plastic and fake memory keeping...

the little blue holy piece of vintageness is the backing from my glass vintage buttons that i removed from their home so that i could use it here and on my little bird project i am working on. love it.

and another recent love...grey felt - using it for flowers, bags, buttons, accents, hearts and more. i simply cut the circles freehand and then layered two pieces on top of each other with some sewing. free and wild!

hope you are having an awesome monday. the weather is simply awesome - cold, cloudy with soft spells of rain to wash the dust away. simply loving it at home! oh yes and all the dogs gathered on the rug next to my table...snoring away blissfully happy and content with their simple lives. oh to be a puppy free from care and worry - filled with faith!