its Monday and time for a new sketch over at scrapbook challenges. since we started renovating our little humble home the beginning of the year i thought i might as well start a 2011 album off with the renovations. so this turned out to be my front page. the pretty little border around the outside edge was sewn with my machine as a finishing touch - i ended up loving it so much. the splats are perfect pearls, the cute little chipboard tools are by a local South African company Enmarc. i colored them with charcoal chalk, painted with silver perfect pearls and then glazed them.

some stamping behind my title ...

and another stamp by Prima...since my sweet heart has worked so hard in helping me renovate - even though i know he hates it!

i hope you have a fabulously creative week ahead. mine is chock and block full of designing new classes for April, May and June! yes fully booked up until the end of June and need to get creative....and all i want to do is paint my kitchen! oh well...maybe later

these are some of the cards we did yesterday in a full class at Scrapbook Den. thanks to everyone who spent a lovely morning with me - you girls are stars! we used the most unusual Distress ink colours together to create beautiful effects: Milled Lavender, Mustard Seed and Walnut Stain, along with Sunflower Perfect Pearl Mists and Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearl Mists.

the wonderful effect the perfect pearl mists can create if only you play a little.

the second card uses a resist technique with Stazon Opaque courtesy of my friend Niki.

the flowers are from a sticker sheet. we adhered the flowers to white card stock, cut away the clear halo and then inked them before adhering them to the cards. Use foam dots to raise some of the flowers for dimension.

all the colours of distress ink combined together and splattered with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mists for a stunning effect.

the stamps used for the wording is all by 7gypsies.

the patterned papers used, together with the stickers are all old stock by Making Memories and Sandy Lion. but when you combine them with a technique like distress inks and mists, plain card stock and some fun ideas you really can create magic. so instead of getting rid of all your old stock, why not re-invent the magic and get creative with some techniques. our next creative class with scrapbook den is 6May - Mothers-day gift idea...and can be used for a special friend, sister, granny or a just because. contact Jeanette to book your spot. www.scrapbookden.co.za

it's Saturday and time for another challenge over at scrap and stamp Saturday! this week is an easy one...anything goes, as long as you use at least one stamped image on your design. the inspiration for this layout was a colour combo, but sparked by piece of painted turquoise blue paper created while making my she art canvas. so it all came about with stuff that was on my table or on the floor (space is cramped). head on over to scrap and stamp Saturday to see what the other design team members have come up with! remember that if you play along you can win a fabulous stamp set from Autumn Leaves in this challenge!

pink and turquoise embroidery thread tied into knots to form a border.

my stamped image is one by Darkroom Door, stamped repeatedly to create some dimension by popping the leaves using foam dots.

and some recycled postage stamps in gorgeous colours.

i hope you will play along this week and become a regular participant! stamping is great fun and the possibilities are endless! have a wonderful weekend...and if you pop in please say hi!

it seems like everyone in blogland has been inspired by Christy's she art...and yes so i too have been inspired to just play and forget about all the rules.
not that i have ever been one for rules :-) my colouring is a bit off on this photo - but i thought i'd share it anyways! my first canvas in maybe a series of 3 is just about making art...hanging it all out there. those who don't like what they see can move right along...and those who choose to stick around usually do so for a lifetime.

because i couldn't find my fridge art words to use i simply printed these on the computer and cut them out.

the clothes were all cut freehand with some details added.

stamping don with some homemade stamps, lids and a favorite collection of stamps from stampington.

i had so much fun doing this canvas on Monday - we had a public holiday so no class. a time just for me, just playing and making a mess! hope you feel inspired and creative...and thanks for popping in on me!

the creation of something new

is not accomplished by the intellect
but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity.
the creative mind plays with objects that it loves.
Carl jung