Firenze Cards

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-25T08:33:00.001+02:00

Advent Countdown at Ten Two Studios...

2011-11-29T16:56:00.003+02:00

Hop over to Ten Two Studios for Lisa Vollrath's 6th annual advent countdown!

TFL!

Blog Hop at Gecko Galz...

2011-10-24T08:25:00.002+02:00

Head over to Gecko Galz for a chance to win free Ephemera sets for a year!

TFL!

Mini album continued...

2011-10-16T08:02:00.001+02:00

Here are a couple more pages of Joshua's mini album...

Inside cover with my own wording...

I really like that DP! The wording is layered onto fine cork paper (for want of a better name). Stamps are Hero Arts Kimono Silk set.

The celebrity...

Joshua is layered onto mint green, then lime green CS and matted onto some fun, baby DP. A small brass word plaque describes him perfectly.

Fourth page...

Here in South Africa onesie's are called Babygro's - and that stamped image was too cute to resist including in a baby album. The words are rub-ons, on Vellum. The background flourishes are also Hero Arts.

A blank photo-mat... For da mama...

Being da mama, she is behind the camera all the time. So I matted this beautifully elegant DP with bronze and ivory CS, ready for her pic...

Close up of the flower detail on da mama's page...

There's still more to come!

TFL!

A mini album for Joshua...

2011-10-05T11:15:00.005+02:00

Here are a some pix of the mini album I was making recently. I finally managed to get it finished and hand delivered to the sleep-deprived mom and dad and snoozin' Joshua...

The cover...

I used Bazzill CS, edged with Vintage Photo Distress Inks. Don't you just love that yacht? The letter "J" is a wooden letter, painted with Silver Distress Paint, then sanded and lightly inked with Stormy Sky Distress Ink. The flat-back glass beads are adhered with Glossy Accents, as are the rest of the items. I found some fun ribbons which are knotted to the book rings to give them some dimension.

It was a great experience making this album, as it taught me quite a bit about scrap booking... Like OH MY WORD it's difficult to choose the RIGHT picture! Especially when it's not your own picture/event.

I'll edit and post a few more pix in the next couple of days.

TFL!

Off the page... and onto the wall...

2011-09-16T18:25:00.001+02:00

I recently showed you a sneak peek that had beautiful, big pink flower... Well, here's the rest of it!

I made this as a gift for our lovely friend, P, who enjoys horse riding. I went along with her one day and snapped some superbly candid shots.

The present started out life as a plain, blank canvas (30x22cm).

I printed draft versions of the pix I was using to layout my idea and see which I preferred.

I tried a grunge board flourish, and We R Memory Keepers chipboard letters...

I moved the pix around, tried other glitter-covered chipboard letters and hearts...

I decided to add some Distress inks to the canvas...

The Hero Arts and 'el-cheapo flowers were placed and silver stars were attached with glue dots, to join the sequence of smaller pictures...

And then, it was done...

The birthday girl, all pretty and sparkly, next to her already-hung present!

As I had printed the pix on my inkjet printer, I taped them to firm cs, and stuck them down with Glossy Accents, to avoid any chance of moistening the ink. The central flowers were attached to the back of the canvas, by way of a pin through the canvas, and the stem of the flowers stuck down with tape. The chipboard letters, embellishments and large flower were also adhered with Glossy Accents. (Gotta love that stuff!)

TFL!

It's all in the "resist"...

2011-09-12T15:29:00.004+02:00

Jennifer McGuire is such a talented gal, and I'm lucky enough to be participating in the Inspiration Showcase, an online class hosted and taught by Jennifer McGuire, as well as several wonderful guest teachers.

Here's what I've played with so far...

My first heart is nothing to write home about - all the glossy cs I have doesn't show the resist very well... Will get more this week.

The second heart is just fab! Yes, I do say so myself! That's paint resist.

And the third heart is my fave so far - trapped resist - sooooo cool!

More to come!

TFL!

Creating, creating, creating...

2011-09-09T18:00:00.001+02:00

I am so pleased with myself...

I have made time to craft and create every day this week!

Gosh it's been good.

On the wall - a sneak peek...

2011-09-04T14:19:00.001+02:00

I spent a few hours in the last few days creating a present for a great friend, and here's a sneak peek...

More will follow (once the photo tutorial & editing is complete)!

TFL!

A birthday card - to me...

2011-08-30T15:28:00.009+02:00

Although it's more than a month since my birthday, this card is still being displayed on our piano (where the good stuff goes!), so that I can continue to enjoy and marvel over it's elegance.

It comes from a lovely friend, Jenny, whom I met at HRH's card classes, and whom I've watched develop her creative card making skills with delight and awe. And this card is a wonderful example of her skill.

I love the graduated sizes of these butterflies, and the roses - so pretty!

And, pearls and lace... Is there anything more elegant?

Thank you Jenny!

TFL!

"M" for (a) birthday card...

2011-08-28T14:02:00.011+02:00

Yeah, I know... It's a silly, cryptic heading, but I'm having fun :)

"M" is for the wonderful chap for whom the card was made, which means it could also be "M" for masculine (phew, glad I thought of that...)!

The CS, papers and ribbon were from a little kit gift bag I received when attending an open day at Simply Creative a while ago. I stamped Hero Arts Manuscipt Background on the DP with VersaColor Turquoise, distressed the edges of the DP and inked it with the same ink.

And here's a close up of the tag with the (Name to be added) stamp. The image is coloured with Copic Markers.

The tag is edged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. Bling was added with Blue Distress Stickles, and a lovely big blue brad.

TFL!

Re-purposing a flea market find...

2011-08-27T12:11:00.010+02:00

Such an interesting word - re-purposing...

YG doesn't really get my penchant for boxes and bags and cases - but sometimes he enables the (small) addiction and finds unusual items for me during his flea market trawls.

This is just such one find... It's an old Revlon make-up kit!

With an extra layer that folds out...

And now is a fab receptacle for my selection of Distress Inks and applicators!

Now this lovely little hinged box can live the rest of its' life surrounded by other re-purposed items, in a warm and comfy creative world.

TFL!

Learning layouts for a mini album...

2011-08-21T20:24:00.008+02:00

So I can happily say my friend Pia is proud of me... I FINALLY am heeding her years of scrapping experience, and not sticking anything down! LAYOUT, LAYOUT, LAYOUT... Once it's been moved here and there, and changed completely, then, and only then, can it be stuck in place.

Looking okay...

Looking much better!

Lacking something...

There it is!

Learning as I go... And feeling good about creating again...

TFL!

A few changes... to the look...

2011-08-20T17:34:00.003+02:00

I decided that the old cliché about changes and holidays was worth investigating...

So for now, I think I'll live with this Blogger template and layout, with some minor colour adjustments.

Some mini album pix coming up soon! And a birthday card or two...

TFL!

Away... but not lost...

2011-06-25T09:28:00.010+02:00

Life... What can we say about it? It happens... And in some instances, it H.A.P.P.E.N.S.

The short version...

A creative meltdown; a close-shave in the family; a business malfunction; a death in the family; creativity still challenged; de-cluttering of note; moving ahead...

So look out for some sneak peeks in the coming days...

Well, actually, why not NOW?

Ooooo - a beautiful suitcase you say? (A gift from an equally beautiful friend.)

Actually... It's what you'll find inside! I'm using the case to keep the makings of a mini-album together. More to come!

TFL!

A Christmas card or two...

2011-02-20T18:18:00.001+02:00

Just a brief look at some Christmas cards I made last year... (Seems I started this post in January!)

This was such a simple card - some beautiful musical scrapbook paper, lovely red card stock, a ready-made ribbon (I am ribbon-tying challenged), a stamp and distress inks. Could it be easier?

The small images on this card were cut from really lovely Christmas scrapbook paper, the edges were distressed, as were the mats, and YG suggested putting the green ribbon between the layer and the mat - worked out quite nicely I thought. It was a bit too dark for my liking, but thank fully it was well received!

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Stamps
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Distress inks, scrapbook paper, card stock

TFL!

Hinged canvas photo frame...

2011-01-16T12:51:00.027+02:00

It's been a while since I was here, and I hope you're all still well and having fun with your creative spirits!

In early December 2010 we had our end-of-year card class, bringing to a close another year of card classes at HRH Amanda - and what fun they all were! Creating cards and gabbing with the "gals", and of course, making our end of year present for the name we chose out of the hat...

I picked HRH Amanda - and that's always a toughie. She has such style and flair and it's a good exercise in out-of-the-box creative thinking to come up with a HANDMADE gift. I had help in the form of the great tutorial on Laura Carson's Artfully Musing blog.

I think I did OK...

I had found an old, dinky French/English dictionary at the market in November, and although I wasn't planning to use the pages for crafting purposes, it just seemed to be the right thing to use.

The canvases are 5x7" (13x18cm) and the pages were modged onto the canvases, inked with Distress Inks, embellished and finally, presented to HRH.

Here are a few of the steps...

Pages modged onto the canvas...

The edges are inked with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink...

A bit of a jump to the next pic where the front of the canvas has been embellished with Hero Arts flowers, grungeboard letters decorated with Crackle Paint, and pearl strips. Waiting for the paint to dry is very difficult. My fingers were itching to continue, so I prepared the inside photograph while I waited.

Here's a close up of the letters, showing the cracks which were then distressed and inked with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink to fill in those cracks.

I always have the same argument/debate with YG about when to stop, but I really felt that the completed object needed something extra, so I used these wonderful strips of tethered flat pearls to embellish the upper and sides of the canvases.

The inside view... The glamorous gal on the right is HRH herself, and the left panel is covered with card stock and some lovely DP.

The canvases are hinged together with lovely little brass hinges...

TIP: Mark your holes for your hinge screws AFTER you've glued/inserted the inner sections. I found the holes were off by about 2mm because I marked before putting the pics inside...

And finally, another look at the front cover...

I had so much fun making this canvas project that I've stocked up on my canvas supply so I see a few more of these in my future.

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Stamps, dimensional glaze
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Distress inks, pearls, DP
Deckle Edge
Card stock
Merry Pak
Canvases, Modge Podge
Kanje Crafts
Stamps

TFL!

Lisa Vollrath's Countdown...

2010-12-04T13:57:00.004+02:00

Pop over to The 5th Annual Original Printables Holiday Countdown for a new dowloadable item each day till Christmas!

Thanks Lisa for these wonderful freebies!

TFl!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T04:51:00.000+02:00

To all our friends, family and online friends - we wish you a wonderful Day of Thanksgiving!

Here's something to make you giggle...

Halloween...

2010-10-30T16:27:00.002+02:00

We don't celebrate Hallowe'en here, although it is more popular now to have one's kiddiewinks dress up and be little devils...

So keeping in the spirit of things...

I'll be a Batty Girl today!

TFL!

A Folded Book - Part 4...

2010-10-25T13:38:00.001+02:00

Here we have the final section of my Folded Book, entitled "Sharks Girl!"

Olivia Rose and her family are avid supporters of their provincial Rugby team - The Sharks - and here we see Olivia Rose dressed up for her first big game!

CS is Black Bazzill, stamped with Hero Arts French Manuscript in Brilliance Silver ink. Word stamp is Stampin' Up! The CS under the photo's is Coredinations, which I sanded to reveal the layer beneath, then used Distress Inks to highlight the edges and the embossed layer.

Lots of bling, flowers and Stickles and the page is ready to go!

I'll make some time this week to prepare and upload a tutorial for this project.

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Hero Arts stamps, bijoux
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Distress Inks, Swiss Dots embossing folder
Scrapaway
Card stock

TFL!

A Birthday Book...

2010-10-17T08:00:00.003+02:00

A week ago I attended a "Midnight Project" at Simply Creative, where Ronita taught us how to make this wonderful Birthday card holder and perpetual calendar.

It was quite a bit of work to begin with, but lots of fun. I finished my embellishing and sprucing at home, as the time passed swiftly while doing the scoring and folding and covering.

I loved these Prima flowers and thought they'd work perfectly with the cover paper. The decorative edge on the black layer is created with by a Fiskars punch.

The flat-backed pearls are adhered to the cover with Dimensional Glaze. The chipboard letters are stuck down with 3d foam tape.

Detail of one of the calendar sheets. Cards slot into the flap above the decorative trim. I had already stuck down the DP when I decided to edge the flap with gold pen, so I used some scrap paper to protect the black card - believe me this takes a steady hand and eye!

I chose to add some stamped images to the calendar sheets, as they appeared a bit bald against the black paper. This is a Great Impressions (South Africa) stamp, inked with Brilliance ink.

The end product, showing the ribbon holding the covers together. Ronita punched and bound the book with a Zutter Bind-it-All. Now that takes some learning to use!

Now to finish a few more cards to pop into each month's flap and it'll be ready for presentation!

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Tutorial, all papers, Brilliance Ink, stamps

Scrapbook Factory Shop
Flat backed pearls

Scrapaway
Prima Flowers

TFL!

A Folded Book - Part 3...

2010-09-28T03:55:00.003+02:00

Gosh - this weekend was something of a social whirlwind! We celebrated Heritage Day, also known as National Braai Day (braai = BBQ), so I was a bit delayed in posting the final two pages of my Folded Book.

This is the third of the four pages - entitled "Eat, Sleep, Play"...

CS is Lime Bazzil, Flourish Stamps are Hero Arts, inked with Shabby Shutters Distress ink. The words are Penny Black Alphabet stamps, inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. Butterflies and flowers are lovely stickers from the Jayme Shephard kit from last year's Scrapbook Expo here in Cape Town. The edges of the paper have been distressed and inked with Vintage Photo Distress ink, as have the scored lines.

Some bling, cute baby shots and we're ready to go!

Just one more and then we'll be done and ready for the tutorial!

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Hero Arts stamps, bijoux
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Distress Inks
Scrapaway
Card stock
Kanje Crafts
Penny Black stamps

TFL!

A Folded Book - Part 2...

2010-09-20T19:35:00.005+02:00

Here is the second page I've completed, of the Folded Book I began this weekend. This one is entitled "Sister"...

CS is Pink Bazzil, Flourish Stamp is Hero Arts, inked with Victorian Velvet Distress ink. I started off with just the Petaloo flower and the photo of Olivia Rose in the centre, but it lacked oomph. Come on down bijoux! What started as one or two decorated petals became a landfill of glistening beads! I sanded the chipboard word "Sister", inked it with the Victorian Velvet Distress inks and used Cotton Candy Stickles to brighten the letters.

Two done, two more to go! And I'm still having fun...

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Hero Arts stamps, bijoux
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Distress Inks, flowers
Scrapaway
Card stock, Stickles

TFL!

A Folded Book - Part 1...

2010-09-19T20:32:00.008+02:00

I attended a Folded Book class yesterday, at Scrapaway in Edgemead, with my friend Pia, and had a great time learning how to create the template - we used a dinner plate - and then the folds and decorating... So much fun!

I was confused about the numbers of photo's required, and their sizes, so I chose to complete the book at home, where I could print and resize and reprint piccies as required.

Here's a look at the first page I've finished - entitled Biker Girl...

Olivia Rose is only 6 months old but already has her own Biker Girl outfit, and is seen sitting on her dad's bike (with dad of course!).

The base paper was fantastic - it was already embossed and behaved like Core-dinations when sanded. I used Vintage Photo Distress ink once the paper had been sanded and the highlights are Diamond Stickles and Antique Linen Distress Stickles.

Stamps are Snag 'em Stamps (Scooter) and Hero Arts (sentiment). The Scooter has been coloured with Gelly Roll Pens.

More to come!

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Hero Arts stamps, Stickles
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Snag 'em Stamps, Distress Inks
Scrapaway
Card stock, paper, ribbon

TFL!

Thank you...

2010-09-18T07:08:00.004+02:00

Here's a very quick card - once the concept had been decided upon of course... And it's amazing how long the concept can take!

Just one layer, some inks, a flower, a Cuttlebug folder, and it's done.

Today I'm off to do a Folding Book album at Scrapaway - I'll show you the results tomorrow!

TFL!

My first Easel Card...

2010-09-05T11:22:00.012+02:00

Here we have my first attempt at an Easel Card, which I made as a birthday card for our lovely friend Pia.

CS is Curious Metals Cream, layered with Keyes Reindeer Brown and blue scrapbook paper. Stamps are Hero Arts Essential Messages, stamped with Versafine Onyx.

The flower, although already so lovely, just needed some bling. I used Diamond Stickles on the petals and centre of the flower to brighten it up.

A side view of the card...

A close up of the buckle, to which I also added Diamond Stickles to really 'bling-it-up'.

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Stamps & inks
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Scrapbook paper, ribbon & Stickles
Deckle Edge
Cardstock
Merry Pak
Flowers

TFL!

Blog Candy Winners!!!

2010-09-04T15:42:00.018+02:00

Finally - yes - here they are! All the Blog Candy Winners!

Firstly, my apologies for taking so long to get to them - it's been a busy time since my birthday! First of all we had to continue celebrating my birthday, then it was an overload of work after the Soccer World Cup finished, and then I got sick, YG followed suit, and then it was the game of catch-up.

Thank you for being patient!

Anyhoo, I compiled the list of Followers and Subscribers, and then re-sorted for the local draw, and let Random.Org do it's thing and pick the winners...

Blog Candy #1 Winner is...

DOMINIQUE in Miami who wins this wonderful Overnight/Big Shot Bag!

Blog Candy #2 Winner is...

HELENA in Milnerton, South Africa, who wins a R50 Gift Voucher from the Scrapbook Factory Shop!

Blog Candy #3 Winner is...

JOANNA in Durban, South Africa, who also wins a R50 Gift Voucher from the Scrapbook Factory Shop!

Blog Candy #4 Winner is...

ME, MYSELF & I who wins this fun Goodie Bag!

Blog Candy #5 Winner is...

ILZAAAAAY in Johannesburg, South Africa, who wins this fun set of bling strips and a lovely set of Flower Stamps.

I'll be contacting each of the winners directly to arrange postage/delivery of your Candy.

Thank you so much for playing with me and visiting my Firenze Cards Blog!

The birthday blog candy...

2010-08-05T06:01:00.000+02:00

No I haven't forgotten about it, I just haven't had a second to pool the names and do the drawing...

We have a long weekend coming up here in South Africa and I will make full use of the extra day to fill the hat with names and get YG to draw the winners.

More to come!

The OCCSC26 challenge...

2010-08-04T14:33:00.006+02:00

I haven't participated in online challenges in a while, although not for lack of trying. I keep downloading the sketches and putting a reminder in my scheduler, and then work and play and birthday celebrations get in the way, and well, nothing happens. But I was able to make use of the Our Creative Corner Sketch Challenge from last week, and made a birthday card for a lovely friend.

The sketch...

What I did...

CS is Curious Metals White. I distressed the edges the lovely blue scrapbook paper with my Tim Holtz distressing tool and inked the paper with Stormy Sky distress ink. The upper layer was embossed with one of the lovely Sizzix embossing folders and also distressed and inked. The stamp is from Stamp It!. I didn't have a blue chipboard letter so I sanded the brown one I had, inked it with the distress ink, heat set the ink and then covered it with Glossy Accents.

A deep chocolate brown ribbon and blue flowers complete my version of the OCCSC26.

Suppliers and links:
Simply Creative
Stamp It! stamp, flowers, chipboard letters
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Scrapbook paper, distress inks and tool

TFL!

Can you say BLOG CANDY?

2010-07-31T17:56:00.000+02:00

Having birthdays are such fun and sharing them with you doubles the pleasure for me! Here's what's in my BLOG CANDY store for you as I celebrate my birthday on the 18th July...

Blog Candy Draw #1 (international draw)

I'm using this bag as my Big Shot Bag - and loving it! You can use it for your own craft tote, an overnight bag, anything you can think of!

Blog Candy Draw #2 & #3 (local draw)

The Scrapbook Factory Shop has generously sponsored TWO x R50.00 gift vouchers - which I will use for local draws.

Thank you Carolyn of the Scrapbook Factory Shop for sponsoring these prizes!

Blog Candy draw #4 (international draw)

This candy consists of the storage container, along with a variety of embellishments.

Blog Candy Draw #5 (international draw)

This candy has a lovely set of Chiswick unmounted stamps, and some fab self-adhesive bling strips.

What to do to win some CANDY...

1. Be a follower or an email subscriber.
2. Leave a comment about someone who inspires you to be creative, whether it's your favourite designer, your mom, husband, kids, friends, etc.

If you'd like to post a link on your own blog or website, to the blog candy giveaway, you're welcome to do so, and you'll receive an extra ticket in the draw. Let me know in the comment!

The draws will take place on the 31st July and winners names posted on the 1st August.

TFL!

Happy biffday....

2010-07-18T12:27:00.003+02:00

... to me and Nelson Mandela and Richard Branson and Ilzaaaaay!

A Wedding Journal...

2010-07-16T17:45:00.031+02:00

Around midday last Friday I received an 11th hour call for a Wedding Journal. Of course I didn't have anything ready made so it was a quick dash to the store to get as many lovely goodies as possible.

It started as a Bo Bunny Album, and quickly developed into something more...

Each insert was modged and then covered with beautiful scrapbook paper. (You'll notice that there are Elephants in the background... I use old desk pads/calendars for my scratch paper and to cover my working surface.)

I used my wonderful HERITAGE brayer to smooth out any wrinkles and bubbles. I used a piece of scratch paper to cover the modged paper so I didn't get any modge podge onto my brayer.

We'd been invited out to dinner - after I'd agreed to do this rush job - so I demurred but sent YG out on his own. When he came back he assisted by removing the excess paper from the album pages/inserts.

As soon as YG was finished with the album pages I got down to sanding the edges of the paper, preparing it for the distress inks. I'm using a lovely sanding block from Making Memories in this picture. It really made the job so easy.

Then it was time to ink the pages with Ranger's Distress Inks and the Tim Holtz Distress Ink Applicator.

How some of the pages were inked... This paper was plain black and white so adding the Victorian Velvet and Old Paper Distress inks really helped to age the paper and add to the vintage/shabby chic look.

This page had subtle yellow and gold hues so the addition of the Wild Honey and Old Paper Distress Inks added some depth.

I'm fairly girlie about getting my hands messy so I had to take a picture of my fingertips - wonderfully coloured with the different shades of the Distress Inks!

Then it was onto the tags that were for the guests to leave messages of love and snippets of wisdom. I used my Sizzix Tags #2 die and Big Shot, then distressed and inked the edges of each of the tags.

Time to start layering... These were two messages sent from abroad to the bride and groom. I inked up part of a Blockheads stamp with Brilliance Cocoa Bean, and stamped it onto the message. A beautiful pre-cut butterfly adds lightness to the page.

Here I used the whole of the Blockheads stamp then split the messages. I used dimensional glaze to adhere the wooden bracket (which was to be inked a little later).

This message contained words about luck and life and living so this coupon/bingo card seemed most appropriate. I crumpled the card then used distress inks to age it.

One of the completed tags...

Another email message, with the month (and day to be highlighted), and a gorgeous Tim Holtz Idea-ology embellishment...

The inside cover of the album, which was modged, covered with lovely scrapbook paper, the sanded and inked with distress inks, and a ribbon laid over the join onto the binding.

The back cover of the album, showing the beautiful lace ribbon lying on the join of the scrapbook paper and album binding.

And finally, the finished cover...

The wedding words are from a sheet of scrapbook paper and the super bling buckle seemed to add the right touch for me. The buttons have had their shanks removed and are adhered to the binding with dimensional glaze.

All products are from the Scrapbook Factory Shop.

TFL!

Goodie bags for the card class girls...

2010-07-12T15:35:00.003+02:00

I love getting prezzies, and I really (truly) love giving prezzies too - so I always make a little goodie bag for everyone else at class when it's my birthday.

Isn't the little bag just too twee? I love the Burberry pattern and this was as close as dammit so I had to get it. YG laughs at my enjoyment of the Burberry line (I have an umbrella with the pattern), but even he was "taken" with the cuteness of the bag. Just shows ya, it's how a gal displays it!

And inside the bag...

A bijoux holder/tackle box/pill separator - with some embellisments.

TFL!

It's here it's here it's here!

2010-07-10T06:59:00.007+02:00

My next birthday present to myself... the Martha Stewart score board has arrived! WOOOHOOOO!

Still in it's wrapper, fresh from collection at the post office. I'm taking it with me to my HRH card class (to show it off a little - well, maybe a lot).

And, while I'm at card class we'll be having a lot of fun as it's my birthday month and I'll get a bit spoiled with wonderful cards and goodie bags from the other girls.

See you later!

A birthday present from me...

2010-07-01T00:45:00.004+02:00

...to me! And you!

Yep, it's the start of my birthday month (the fun day is the 18th) - I do like to celebrate a *lot*! And I treat myself a *lot* during this month - and I like to treat others too.

For ages now I've been on the lookout for a bag in which to carry my much loved Big Shot, and as much as I'd love one of the doctors-style bags from Sizzix they are a bit out of my budget when it comes to our exhange rate.

But today I found just what I needed - and I'm such a HAPPY almost-birthday girl! It was marked as an Overnight Bag, and it looked just perfect, sitting there happily smiling at passersby. So in I went and ooh'd and ahh'd and made the decision. I did enlist the help of two unsuspecting ladies in the shop, when I asked them for their choice in colour of bag... There was this one...

...or a brown and cream striped bag. The other ladies and I agreed that practically the darker bag was a better choice - it could hide scuff marks and dirt more easily than this pink & blue candy striped bag, but then we also all agreed that the pink was more appropriate... So Pink it is!

Here's the bag with the Big Shot nestled happily inside...

Where the feet do fit quite easily into the base of the bag, the handle of the Big Shot always presents a problem - so I tried it sideays and it's perfect! There is ample place inside the bag to add my multi-purpose platform and cutting mats.

A side view of my new "BSB" (Big Shot Bag)...

And another of the front zipper pouch - which seems capable of holding several dies and embossing folders!

And, because I love sharing my birthday, I'm going straight back to the shop tomorrow and get one of the brown and cream striped bags, to give away as BLOG CANDY to followers and email subscribers of my blog!

I'll be doing a few more blog candy draws so watch this space! (Draws will take place at the end of July.)

TFL!

Lovin' these stamps...

2010-06-29T23:36:00.011+02:00

Since I first saw these sentiment stamps on Jennifer McGuire's blog I knew I had to have them, and now, here they are...

HERO ARTS Caption Messages

and HERO ARTS Essential Messages

I used one of the stamps from the Essential Messages set today, while making a quick card for one of our suppliers. She was most impressed with her card, and more than that, YG was impressed that I "knew when to stop" on this card...

CS is Curious Metals Ivory, which has been embossed with ProvoCraft's Rough Diamond embossing folder and trimmed with Creative Memories Corner Rounder punch. The scrapbook paper has been edged with VersaMagic Ocean Depth ink, and the word stamped with Versafine Black Onyx. I pierced a tiny hole in the scrapbook paper to thread the stalk of the flower through to the underside of the paper, and added DS tape to hold the stalk in place.

The butterfly is ProvoCraft's Cut & Emboss Butterfly set, which has also been edged with the VersaMagic Ocean Depth ink, and then lightly stickled with Blue Distress Stickles.

Shortly after arriving at the birthday girl's office, one of her colleagues came over and showered her with balloons, which is why you can see some balloons peeking out in the background.

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Inkpads, Stickles, Hero Arts stamps, Creative Memories corner rounder
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Scrapbook Paper, Cut & Emboss Butterfly set, flower

TFL!

Lighthouses...

2010-06-25T10:48:00.008+02:00

I - like many others - really love lighthouses. They can be pretty, tall, squat, funkily painted, white, red, round, square - the licorice-allsorts of buildings I guess!

A few years ago I learnt about the timing of the lighthouse's glowing beam of brilliance: each lighthouse has a different rate at which the beam is shown, which gives sailors another means to know where they are. Pretty cool I thought. Now I count the seconds between beams every time I see a lighthouse!

Here's a small homage to lighthouses...

CS is Curious Metals White, embossed with my Big Shot and Divine Swirls embossing folder. The image is stamped with Versafine Black Onyx ink and heat embossed with black embossing powder. I went the "traditional" route for my lighthouse - and used Jelly Roll pens for colouring. Diamond and blue Distress Stickles are used on the sea spray and Diamond Stickles highlight the glass and beams.

The mats are distressed using the Tim Holtz Distress Tool, and edged with Denim Distress ink. The sea horse and starfish are a sea themed die from Provocraft, and they have also been Stickled.

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Versafine inkpad, Stickles, Hero Arts & Great Impressions stamps
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Distress tool, Distress inkpad, Distress Stickles, embossing folder, ProvoCraft Die
Kanje Crafts
Embossing powders, VersColor inkpad

TFL!

Supporting friends...

2010-06-24T17:31:00.006+02:00

Well we're still deep in the morass that is the Soccer World Cup and today we have a game at the stadium in Green Point, where Netherlands will be playing Cameroon.

In support of one of my great online buddies I will be dressing to support her home team - and I'll be dressed in as much orange garb as I have...

VIBRANT orange T-shirt, bright orange scarf and slightly scuffed - but orange - Crocs... Hetty and I will be doing the same thing, at the same time, just in different countries and hemispheres - we'll be crafting while keeping an eye on the game.

Good Luck HOLLAND!

TFL!

Blog candy over at The Stamp Man...

2010-06-20T20:33:00.003+02:00

I've been neglecting my blog as I've been a mite poorly - another cold! Goodness, could be a rash!

I'll be back up and posting by the coming weekend, but in the meantime, have a look at this great blog candy being offered by the The Stamp Man.

There are a ton of wonderful TIM HOLTZ goodies to be won!

TFL!

The world has come to South Africa...

2010-06-11T09:54:00.009+02:00

The Soccer World Cup starts today, here in South Africa, and the nation has been partying since Wednesday in the lead up to the kick off.

South Africans around the country went out at midday on Wednesday to show their support for our national team - Bafana Bafana - and blew their Vuvuzela's and danced and sang in the streets. Even for someone not interested in the soccer, it was a moving experience to see the nation come together as one.

Here are some pics to get you in the mood...

Google always gets in on the act - so clever!

The Cape Town Stadium - just down the road from where I live...

All of the stadia hosting World Cup games in 2010...

South Africa is called the Rainbow Nation - check out the actual rainbox in this pic of the staff of the Community Chest showing their "Gees"...

Welcome to our world!

TFL!

Score Board dilemma resolved...

2010-06-10T02:08:00.000+02:00

Thank you to EVERYONE for the informative and invaluable input regarding my score board dilemma.

With your help I have been able to make an informed decision and I am definitely going to buy...

... the Martha Stewart Score Board. (That's me enjoying a photo-op with MS when she visited Cape Town earlier this year.)

TFL!

Another card class...

2010-06-10T00:00:00.001+02:00

I received a wonderful compliment at my 2nd card class on Saturday - a lovely lady named Jacqui said she'd learnt more in 3 hours with me than she had in the last 5 years of scrap booking! Goodness gracious I was taken aback! Thank you Jacqui!

Here's a pic of one of the cards we made - a stair step card - using a wonderful Great Impressions (South Africa) topiary stamp, and Twinkling H2O's.

CS is White Bazzil, 15 wide x 20cm long.
Score the card at 2, 4, 7, 10 and 15 cm
Make mountain folds on the 2, 7 and 15cm score lines
Cut scrapbook paper (green in this case) to fit each of the mountain folds
Distress the edges of the scrapbook paper and ink them with the distress ink applicator and Ranger's Shabby Shutters Distress Ink
Stamp sentiment onto front panel using Versafine Onyx Black ink
Stamp GI Topiary with Versafine Onyx Black and emboss with Black Sparkle embossing powder
Colour topiary bushes with Twinkling H2O's and cut out each bush
Adhere to card steps using 3D foam tape
Cut and emboss butterflies using ProvoCraft butterflies
Layer the butterflies and embellishments with Ranger's Glossy Accents
Apply Diamond Stickles to the layered butterflies
Mount butterflies onto a punched out circle of complimentary scrapbook paper

A couple of steps...

I enjoy the distressed look, and here is a pic to show the difference between a distressed and non-distressed card. Both cards are edged with Shabby Shutters Distress ink.

Stamped and embossed with Black Sparkle embossing powder...

Painted with Twinkling H2O's and ready to be cut out and mounted.

A side view of the card, showing the steps...

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Distress Ink applicator, Stickles, Great Impression stamps

Scrapbook Factory Shop
Distress inks, scrapbook paper, Glossy Accents, CS

TFL!

Score Board dilemma...

2010-06-08T19:37:00.005+02:00

The great debate rages in my head - toss turn, turn toss... Okay I'm not really having sleepless nights about it but I am wondering which board is the one for me.

The pic is taken from a great blog article on Crafting with Sue - she does an incredible comparison between two score boards. (And she has some fantastic cards and projects to look at while you're there!)

My questions to my blogland friends are:

If you've used both - can you transpose the measurements of the Scor-Pal projects (of which there are many) to the measurements on the Martha Stewart Scoring Board?

Have you seen any projects or tutorials dedicated to the Martha Stewart board? (And where?)

Which is your choice?

TFL!

Watch this space...

2010-05-29T13:07:00.001+02:00

... for blog candy!

What? When? Where?

I've been featured at Paper Craftorium!

2010-05-27T06:29:00.005+02:00

The lovely ladies at Paper Craftorium have featured my blog!

I came across their great blog recently, when I was chasing down a canvas I'd spotted - you know my new love affair is with canvases (which is not to say I'm not still absolutely in love with my Big Shot and Cuttlebug accoutrement...).

The canvas in question was on a blog called Handmade by Dorothy, and featured on Paper Craftorium too.

Thank you Penny and Dawn for featuring FIRENZE CARDS!

TFL!

New look for my blog...

2010-05-27T00:17:00.003+02:00

Hey blogland friends - what do you think of my new look?

I decided to tone it down a little bit for winter - I'm in the southern hemisphere - and go for a trés chic look.

Is the post text easy enough to read against the scripted background? Would it be better in a darker/different coloured font?

I'd appreciate your feedback - really I would!

And thanks to the wonderful designs at The Background Fairy for the beautiful background image and banner.

TFL!

Simon Says Magnolia stamp up for grabs!

2010-05-22T08:44:00.007+02:00

You could win this cute Simon Says stamp - Magnolia Elf Tilda will be won by someone on Sunday evening...

Post a link to their site for your chance to win!

TFL!

Pages from the Brag Book...

2010-05-21T13:13:00.009+02:00

A few weeks ago I went to Scrapaway to make a Mini Album which I decided would be a brag book for my mom.

Here are two pages of my utterly gorgeous great-niece Angelica. This really is the first time I'm doing any kind of scrapping and it was DIFFICULT! What to put with what, where to put it, how much to put, etc... But it was fun too. And I must say I rather enjoy the size of these pages - the 12x12's seem a bit daunting!

There are so many gorgeous pics to choose from - that was possibly the hardest part of making the mini-album...

The green page is embossed with my Big Shot and a new Sizzix embossing folder, and then the embossed section has been lightly sanded to reveal the core of the paper. The page is beribboned, bejeweled, bijouxed and Stickled. I distressed the edges of the photo mat's and inked it with Ranger's Vintage Photo ink. The brown page has been embossed with Cuttlebug Script embossing folder and then I dragged Brilliance Turquoise ink over the embossing. The flowers have been Stickled, as has the butterfly charm. The sticker is from a 7 Gypsies set.

TFL!

Black and blue... in a good way!

2010-05-19T17:27:00.009+02:00

Here's a Black and Blue exploding box... It was made as a birthday card and gift holder for our lovely friend Julia, and we celebrated her birthday in style, and costume, this Saturday evening. We went along as "80's Biker Trash" and boogied our butts off! And outlasted the 20-somethings...

Anyway - back to the box... It is a single layer box, using Black Bazzil and Blue Coredinations CS. The layers have been cuttlebugged, stickled, inked and beribboned and bejeweled

No Camera Flash:
The Stickles that look green were actually Diamond Stickles, and the Blue butterfly was made using the Blue Distress Stickles. I inked up my butterfly embossing folders with Brilliance Silver ink. The Dimensional Glaze I used to hold the bijoux was not dry when I took the pic so it still looks murky, but it did dry beautifully clear - as is always does.

With Camera Flash:
Now the Diamond Stickles look coppery! And at least the Blue Distress Stickles still show up as blue... The Happy Birthday is a ribbon which is tucked under the Cuttlebugged layer of the lid. I used the Divine Swirls on the lid and all sides of the box, and dragged the Brilliance Silver Ink pad over the embossed sections.

I received such a wonderful compliment from the birthday girl, saying "Do you realise how talented you are??? Your present was the most beautiful present I have ever received - WOW! I had tears in my eyes..." With praise like that I am more motivated than ever to keep on evolving with my craftwork. Thanks Jools!

The centre of the box held a jewellery tin with an Art Deco styled necklace as the "bigger" present.

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Inkpads, Stickles, Hero Arts & Stamp It stamps, Creative Memories Corner Rounder punch

Scrapbook Factory Shop
Sizzix Embossing folders, Ribbon, Bazzil & Coredinations CS, Upikit Circle punch

TFL!

A Stair-step musical card...

2010-05-13T16:59:00.014+02:00

I really enjoy making my cards as personal as possible, so in the case of friends it is quite easy to make a card. I generally know at least some of their interests and I try and incorporate them into said card.

This was for a friend, a muso and "musophile", so I thought the elements of this card would be just perfect for him. (It's actually the card that I made for his girlfriend to give to him...)

CS is Curious Metals Cream, layered with some musical scrapbook paper. The paper is edged with Walnut Stain Distess ink, and I used the residue to colour the background CS of the musicians. The Great Impressions Musicians stamp is stamped with Versamark and embossed with Black Sparkle embossing powder. The musicians are coloured using Stickles and embellished with bijoux.

A close up of some of the elements of the card...

The Hero Arts flowers are distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and embellished with Stickles and bijoux. They are adhered to the card using Ranger's Glossy Accents.

I didn't have an appropriately coloured "N" or "Happy Birthday" tile, so I coloured them both with Brilliance Coffee Bean ink and Rainbow Clear embossing powder. Some of the notes on the music paper have been highlighted with Diamond Stickles.

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Inkpads, Stickles, Hero Arts & Great Impression stamps
Hero Arts Flowers (product #CH167)

Scrapbook Factory Shop
Distress inks, scrapbook paper, Glossy Accents

Great Impressions - George, South Africa

TFL!

A bound heart...

2010-05-10T11:49:00.000+02:00

I was trying a techique over on Ikki's blog and made a mistake. Instead of trimming half the card and leaving the half heart exposed, I cut out the heart from the centre of the card instead. But, as we've all learnt in card making - there are no mistakes, just new designs!

I decided that I didn't necessarily want the heart just "bare" so I punched small holes through the card, used a large darning needle threaded with gold trim to sew the thread diagonally across the heart. I attached a second piece of card, also with the heart die cut from the card, on the inside of the cover o cover up the thread trimmings.

The card front is embossed with Swiss Dots and coloured by dragging a VersaColor Ash Rose inkpad over the dots. CS is Curious Metals Cream and card size is 14x14cm square.

This is another of the cards we did at my first card class held at the Scrapbook Factory Shop in April.

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
VersaColor Inks
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Card class bookings, gold thread
Ikki's Cuttlebug Cupboard

TFL!

Apologies...

2010-05-09T22:59:00.003+02:00

... for the slowness in posting anything, new or other...

I've been man/girl down with a nasty throat infection and good old cold all week. I was feeling that grotty I didn't even go to my regular card class! Now you know I wasn't faking it...

Bedrest, OJ, TLC and lots of stamping mags have seen me through it all and I'll be back to posting early in the week. Keep playing!

TFL!

Blog Candy over at Create 4 Fun!

2010-05-06T08:46:00.003+02:00

Pop over to Create4Fun for a chance of some awesome blog candy!

TFL!

What card making bought...

2010-05-01T12:40:00.007+02:00

Hey friendlies! I have to share my exciting new buy - not a "stamping" tool as such - but almost as much fun to have around...

For years YG and I have been salivating over these items of furniture - just loving the look and practicality of them. And then, at the Sunday market we frequent, there it was... just waiting for me.

The drawers are 18.5cm/7in in width and 35cm/14in in length. Each draw is going to hold a lot of goodies! And hopefully help me tame my organisational beast!

TFL!

Some quick cards...

2010-04-30T07:56:00.013+02:00

Here are two more "quick" cards from the April card class at the Scrapbook Factory Shop - and both can be made in around ten minutes...

"Thoughtful..."

CS is Bazzil White Linen, layered with brown hued scrapbooking paper, then overlaid with blue CS, which has been embossed with ProvoCraft's Floral Fantasy embossing folder, to halfway up the card. The edges of the blue cs have been coloured using the Brilliance Cocoa Bean ink, as was the Hero Arts stamp. I had fun making the ink "bleed" into the blue layer. A brown ribbon is added to separate the two halves.

"Adorable..."

CS is Bazzil White Linen, layered with black CS, the overlaid with white CS, which is also embossed to halfway up the card. This time I used the Divine Swirls embossing folder. Brilliance Silver ink is used to edge the embossed layer. Black ribbon separates the embossing from the stamped Hero Arts word.

Both cards are A6 in size.

Suppliers & Links:
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Bazzil & CS, scrapbooking paper, ribbon, embossing folders
Simply Creative
Brilliance Inkpads, Hero Arts Hand Drawn Captions stamps

TFL!

Enough of the sneak peeks...

2010-04-28T10:37:00.006+02:00

Here's the full canvas!

Dimensions are 40cm wide by 30cm high.

The story behind the canvas: My dear friend Sam is moving to Johannesburg, and this was the farewell "card" from her office. I had originally planned on an exploding box, with pictures of her and wonderful colleagues to decorate the box, but when she told me she was doing something similar, plans had to be changed. So, the canvas was born.

I mailed a list of word stamps to the office, requesting that each person chose a word that they felt epitomosed their friend and colleague - and well, now you know how the rest goes.

After all my teasers and sneak peeks I hope it has lived up to its' full reveal!

TFL!

More canvas teasers...

2010-04-26T08:43:00.011+02:00

After distressing the canvas using Walnut Stain, Shabby Shutters & Vintage Photo distress inks, I inked up three Hero Arts stamps - Manuscript Background, Old French Writing & Flourishes - with Brilliance Coffee bean ink, and stamped directly onto the canvas. I wasn't going for complete coverage, just background "noise".

Close up of script stamping...

Close up of corner Flourish stamp...

The whole distressed and stamped canvas...

Then onto the Modge Podge part of the evening...

As you can see, under the canvas, I use old calendar deskpad sheets for my scratch paper. And I think I'm headed for a tutorial from YG about getting my edited photograph colours to match...

What's on the canvas? Tags... with words... and initials...

Okay, one more...

And still more to come!

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
Inkpads, Stickles, Hero Arts stamps

TFL!

It's "CC" Day!

2010-04-24T08:03:00.004+02:00

Well it's my first card class this morning, and I'm really excited to be doing it! I've made up little gifts to thank each person for coming to my class - just some fun little things to use to make up a card.

Here's a pic of one of the cards we'll be doing - I'll have to post the details of the card a little later.

TFL!

Canvas sneak peek...

2010-04-21T19:37:00.003+02:00

I'm preparing a canvas for a project I'm currently working on, and I'm too excited to keep it all to myself... So here's a sneak peek!

I've distressed the canvas using my wonderful Distress Inks from Ranger. More to come!

TFL!

A brag book for my mom...

2010-04-19T12:05:00.003+02:00

On Saturday morning two girlfriends and I went to a mini-album workshop, which was great fun. It's always interesting to go to different workshops and classes, meet new people and teachers, and create out of one's own comfort zone/box.

The task of covering, decorating and layouts was for us attendees, and I got part of the way before needing to play with more of my Cuttlebug and Big Shot toys for decorative purposes. So, I brought my album home mostly covered, to continue with all the fun trappings I have on hand.

Here's a pic of the current status of the mini album:

I'm making it as a brag book for my mom, with pics of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, so I chose colours that I know she will enjoy. One of the pages is covered and ready for use (but not the reverse side), with pieces of off-cuts from my album covering. I'll post more pics as it comes to life.

Suppliers & Links:
Scrapaway

TFL!

Fantastic blog candy...

2010-04-19T03:00:00.000+02:00

...to celebrate a Blogoversary over at Bev's Blog!

Would you look at that stash! Congratulations on reaching such a great milestone Bev!

TFL!

A STOMPing thank you...

2010-04-15T16:10:00.012+02:00

A late call from the Editor of The Next 48 Hours brought excitement and earplugs into our lives yesterday afternoon - when he said he had two tickets for us to attend the opening night of STOMP at the Artscape Theatre here in Cape Town.

We washed our faces, put on happy clothes and off we went, but not before making a thank you card for the Editor & his lovely wife , Naushad & Roxanne.

CS is Curious Metals White (15x15cm folded), the scrapbook paper is a double sided sheet, with the brown on the reverse of the blue pattern. The butterflies are from cut-offs of the scrapbook paper, and after cutting & embossing the first butterfly, I sanded down the embossed edges to reveal the core colour of the paper. I then applied some Blue Stickles to add some bling. The second, smaller butterfly, is from the same paper, but this time YG sanded the paper before we die cut the butterfly. It too has some Stickles for blinging purposes. Lovely brown satin ribbon completes the card. I added a third butterfly to the inside of the card, to carry the theme through.

After seeing the show I must say one thank you card was nearly enough! If STOMP is going to be near you I suggest you get your tickets now!

Suppliers & Links:
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Cut & Emboss sets, scrapbook paper
The Next 48 Hours
Artscape
STOMP

TFL!

There was a slight mix up...

2010-04-14T16:38:00.002+02:00

... about the Blog of the Week.

Seems it's going to be in April... Just not sure when now :)

More later.

TLF!

Blog candy over at Particraft!

2010-04-13T08:13:00.003+02:00

Pop over to PartiCraft for a chance to win their fantastic BLOG CANDY! They'll draw when they reach 700 followers, and I was follower 684...

TFL!

Card classes begin...

2010-04-12T16:08:00.003+02:00

Well the email went out, now to wait and see how many folk will come and play with us at my first card class, presented at the Scrapbook Factory Shop.

I'll let you know how it all goes!

TFL!

It's an Honouriffic day!

2010-04-12T12:41:00.007+02:00

Today is the day my blog celebrates being BLOG OF THE WEEK - on ScrapbookingDotCom!

Thank you Jami et al! It is wonderfully motivating and empowering to have such an award and honour bestowed on my blog.

And then, totally OT... After a fab motorbike ride to Hout Bay yesterday for scrumptious Fish 'n Chips for lunch, we took a walk around the harbour and found these happy and frolicking chaps in the water!

It looked a lot like a water-ballet (synchronised swimming)!

Autumn days in Cape Town are just wonderful.

TFL!

My own "design" book...

2010-04-11T11:32:00.008+02:00

Now that I am starting to get more orders, and teach my own classes, I felt I needed to keep something around that I can jot down ideas and sketches when they hit me. Up till now I've used my computer or bits of paper in my handbag, but you know how those bits of paper get lost, and those notes on my pc are stored in arbitrary places, making them just as difficult to find!

A few years ago I did a workshop on bookbinding/making and made a book with YG in mind. We have so much scrap paper around here that he has never used it so I commandeered it last week for my own use.

So, Welcome Helen's Design Book...

This is the current cover, and where it worked in the past, the binding glue is showing through and it has the whole masculine/Leonardo feel, I'll definitely be updating the look to be more in line with, well, Me!

YG's comment, when looking at my first "sketch", was along the lines of "if you practice enough those lines might actually look like what you're trying to draw...". Please don't take offence on my behalf - he's completely right - even when it comes to drawing straight lines I have a hard time. I recall a teacher saying of my "what we did on holiday" sketch that I was obviously a cardboard cut out type of girl - ie. use them and don't draw!

I'll definitely practice and do what I can, but happily there are wonderful stamp companies out there that make drawing a moot point for me!

TFL!

A blue and white exploding box...

2010-04-09T03:00:00.002+02:00

Yes, another one! I am soooo loving playing with these, and as I have several orders to complete I think you'll be seeing a few more of them in the next few days.

The white base layer is accented with Bazzil Nassau Blue CS, embossed with my Big Shot and ProvoCraft embossing folders. I had great fun sanding the embossed edges to reveal the core of the CS. Bijoux, Diamond & Arctic Blue Stickles highlight the Daisy pattern and flower embellishments. The Dragonfly Dreams word tag is brass, but as I wanted a silver look I coloured it with a silver highlighter.

The inner blue layer is accented with the white corner cut-offs, softened with a corner rounder punch, and decorated with Stickles, ribbons, butterflies and flowers. To carry the "outside in" I die cut one of the butterflies with the same scrapbook paper as the exterior of the box, and glued it to a butterfly that was die cut from firmer material. The envelope in the centre is for a tag signed by the "giver". It is a McGill punch. Stamps used are Stampin' Up!, Hero Arts and Stamp It.

Suppliers & Links:
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Cut & Emboss sets, Bazzil & scrapbook paper
Simply Creative
Inkpads, Stickles, Stamp It, Hero Arts stamps, Creative Memories Corner Rounder

TFL!

And yet more surprises...

2010-04-08T10:54:00.006+02:00

This is obviously my week! I found out yesterday afternoon that I'd won more Blog Candy - set of rubber stamps from Sweet Pea Stamps - from Holley's Blog!

Thank you Holley! I look forward to playing with these when they arrive :)

TFL!

What an honour!

2010-04-07T08:28:00.004+02:00

I have received notification that next week (2010/04/12) my blog will be honoured as BLOG OF THE WEEK by Scrapbooking Dot Com. Thank you Jami for this wonderful honour!

TFL

Not quite a card...

2010-04-06T18:31:00.007+02:00

But pretty as a picture.

TFL!

Subscription problems

2010-04-05T19:06:00.004+02:00

Hello blogland friends

My email subscription service is experiencing some problems which are being attended to as we speak.

If you would like to subscribe to my updates-by-newsletter, then please leave a comment with your email address and I will add you to the subscriber list once it has been repaired.

And thank you to KATHLEEN who brought this to my attention!

Stepladder Wedding Card...

2010-04-04T12:45:00.008+02:00

Boy it took me a while to master this Stepladder! I lost the instruction sheet I received from HRH, so I browsed the web to find some "simple" instructions... Easier said than done! Eventually I found the measurements for a Sidestep card and just adapted it to fit my own. Thanks to Andrea of Creating Cards with Andrea for her clear pics and tutorial!

Front view of the stepladder wedding card...

CS is Curios Metals Ivory, layered with wedding themed DP, which is edged with Brilliance Pealescent Olive ink. The hearts are ProvoCraft Cut & Emboss heart set, edged with Ranger Vintage Photo distress ink and covered with Diamond Stickles.

Side view...

The small hearts are also ProvoCraft die cuts and are adhered to satin ribbon and embellished with tiny bijoux.

Back view...

The back of the card has an "I Do" brad to complete the picture.

Suppliers & Links:
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Cut & Emboss sets
Simply Creative
Inkpads, Stickles

TFL!

TFL!

Jowilna's Blog Candy!

2010-04-03T12:09:00.004+02:00

And now there's more candy to be found!

I love visiting Jowilna's blog - "imagine the possibilities" - for eye candy and inspiration, and now she's giving away a bag of blog candy when she reaches 10 000 on her hit counter!

Here's an idea of what's in store...

So pop over to her blog for a look see.

TFL!

I won! I won Tiffany's Animal Pack!

2010-04-03T11:02:00.003+02:00

WOOHOO! I'm a blog candy winner!

It seesms like I'd only just posted a link to Tiffany's Blog about her blog candy... And last night I found out I'd won that wonderful set of digital stamps!

Thank you Tiffany - they are just gorgeous stamps - I can't wait till they arrive to get playing!

TFL!

Tiffany's Blog Candy!

2010-03-30T14:02:00.005+02:00

Pop over to Tiffany's Blog for some really great blog candy!

You could win this incredible Digi-Set!

TFL!

Things with wings...

2010-03-27T16:49:00.014+02:00

Another exploding box... This one with a butterfly theme to participate in an "all things with wings" challenge, and to give as a birthday card/gift.

I chose Lime and White for this box - there really are some truly wonderful colours in the Bazzil paper range and it's sooooo hard to choose which ones to use!

The closed box and lid...

The edges of the box have been inked with VersaColor Lime, as have the edges of the DP. The DP was trimmed with a Creative Memories Corner Rounder. The butterflies are the ProvoCraft Cut & Emboss Butterfly set, and the small butterflies die. They have Diamond Stickles on their wings.

The White layer of the box...

These boxes are a lot of work as each panel is effectively a whole card on it's own... So now I have lots of ideas for upcoming cards!

The Lime layer of the box...

I decided to leave the centre of the box lime, and added a punched envelope with a tag for the birthday message.

The combined layers...

We used some ribbon to hold the inner layer up to get the pic - it was not part of the box itself.

Suppliers & Links:
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Bazzil CS, DP, Cut & Emboss sets
Simply Creative
Inkpads, ribbons, embellishments, brass tag, corner rounder punch, Stickles

TFL!

March birthday cards...

2010-03-25T08:53:00.014+02:00

We always get to celebrate birthdays in style at our HRH card classes - and March is a busy month with three of our Girls sharing the birthday morning.

I was going to get all creative and give each CCBG (card class birthday girl) a separate, ornate card, but as usual I let time get away from me. And I'm enjoying making "sets" at the moment...

CS is Curious Metals White, background paper is Bazzil (Blue) and DP for the orange and pink cards. Each white layer was embossed with a ProvoCraft embossing folder and embellished with ribbon and complimentary bijoux. I used the VersaColor inkpads to edge the card and dragged the inkpad over the embossed areas. Stamp is from Hero Arts Birthday Wishes Fancy set. Stamped with VersaFine Onyx Black and highlighted with Stickles.

Sorry the quality of the pic is not great, due to this cute little girl... She kept trying to eat/lick my toes while I was taking the photograph in HRH's garden!

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
VersaColor, VersaFine & Brilliance inkpads
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Embossing folders, Bazzil CS
Kanje Crafts
Hero Arts stamps

TFL!

A simple wedding card...

2010-03-22T13:41:00.005+02:00

Here's a quick and easy wedding card - although I must say the preparation took hours... simply because I couldn't settle on an idea!

CS is Curious Metal White, layered with some beautiful wedding-themed DP, which is edged with VersaMagic Wheat chalk inkpad, as is the stamped image, which is layered onto gold CS. A strip of beautiful ribbon with a blingy buckle add some texture. Diamond Stickles are used on the buckle and the stamped image.

TFL!

Details of the BBW Exploding Box...

2010-03-19T05:35:00.015+02:00

Here are those details I promised a few days ago...

The base card is white bazzill CS edged with VersaColor Turquoise ink. Use a distress ink applicator and drag some Ranger Vintage Photo Distress Ink around the outer edges of the "squares".

The blue insets are CS embossed with my Sizzix Big Shot and ProvoCraft Divine Swirls, Happy Birthday, Swiss Dots and Numbers embossing folders. Two of the insets are coloured by dragging a Brilliance Coffee Bean ink pad over the embossed card, and the other two with VersaColor Turquoise ink.

The butterflies are ProvoCraft Cut & Emboss Butterfly, embossed with Spots 'n Dots embossing folder and inked with either the Brilliance Coffee Bean ink or VersaColor Turquoise ink. They are attached to the ribbons with glue dots and decorated with strips of bijoux and pearls.

One more small ProvoCraft butterfly die, a Hero Arts flower and the inside of the box is done.

The outside of each panel of the box was also decorated with a butterfly and stamped with Hero Arts Flourishes and Inkadinkado Spots. The box lid is embellished with wonderful rich chocolate brown ribbon and strings of tiny flat pearls.

Suppliers & Links:
Simply Creative
VersaColor & Brilliance inkpads, Hero Arts & Inkadinkado stamps, Numbers embossing folder, Hero Arts flowers
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Cut & Emboss dies, embossing folders, Bazzil CS, ribbon, flower (top of box), chipboard letter (top of box)

TFL!

Lion's Head fire...

2010-03-17T13:46:00.003+02:00

We have had a very hot few days here in Cape Town, and the chances of runaway fires are high so we are all on high alert for any wisps of smoke in the vegetation.

I was at my kitchen window, getting a glass of water, when I noticed the start of a fire. Instantly I grabbed the phone and called the central fire line - 021 535 1100 - and gave the operator as much info as I could. I suggested that he call our local fire brigade office as they would be able to see the fire from the station. I was told our guys were in standby in a suburb about 20 minutes away!! Shock - horror - gasp! We are the one's with the mountain that could go up in flames in a second, not the the flat, low-lying suburb they'd been sent to.

Anyway, with the help of Google Earth to give the operator the correct road name, pretty soon we saw the firemen starting to dash the flames and then the glorious sound of the fire-fighting helicopter rattled our windows and I knew we were safe - or at least our mountain was. In less than 40 minutes from my call (and they had others calling in while I was on the line too) it was all done!

Well done to the guys in the chopper and fire engines, and especially those hardy ones that go out there with those flappy blanket type instruments, who slap out the fire from ground level. Kudo's to you all.

TFL!

Incredible cake at HRH Card Class...

2010-03-15T13:19:00.005+02:00

We had a wonderful card class at HRH's this Saturday, and we celebrated three of our girls' birthdays too!

Debbie made this incredible cake to celebrate the three birthdays...

How about those shoes? They're edible, but not the bling - that's just gorgeous!

And now she's started her own blog to spotlight her beautiful creations, both cake and card!

Suppliers and Links:
Debbie's blog - Ollie and Co

TFL!

A white, brown and blue theme...

2010-03-15T01:07:00.005+02:00

Another "quick" exploding box, this time as a birthday card so I only used one layer...

The lid - monogrammed for the birthday girl using a coloured chipboard letter, covered in Diamond Stickles and a Petaloo flower, also highlighted with Diamond Stickles.

The box inner... Full of butterflies, cuttlebugged CS, ribbons, stickles and bijoux.

After midnight here so details to follow in a subsequent post. Night all!

TFL!

What Craft Critique has to say...

2010-03-13T18:08:00.004+02:00

...about the BIG SHOT!

"If you read the review of the Cuttlebug on Monday, you know it is a wonderful, little machine that allows the user to cut and emboss. It is easy to use and fairly inexpensive...so why am I not suffering from that little bug-itis? Because I got a shot to cure me...A REALLY BIG SHOT! After doing lots of research (check out a product comparison HERE and HERE), I decided that the Big Shot from Ellison would be a better investment for me."

And all I have to say is.... "Hello, my name is Helen and I'm a BIG SHOT Addict!"

Suppliers & Links:
Craft Critique

TFL

An Exploding Box...

2010-03-07T15:00:00.010+02:00

I needed to make a Wedding-themed red and pink exploding box this week, and this is how it came together...

The closed version. The lid is decorated with wonderful Petaloo flowers, ribbons, brads, DP and VersaColor ink. It is made of White Bazzill which has been edged with VersaColor Ash Rose ink. I layered the narrow pink ribbon onto the broader red ribbon to carry through the wedding colours. The four sides of the box are decorated with lovely DP, also edged with VersaColor Ash Rose ink.

The pink Bazzill CS layer is the first of the two layers of the box. The red sections have been run through my Sizzix BIG SHOT using the Divine Swirls and Heart Blocks embossing folders. One is edged and coloured with Silver VersaColor ink and the other with Pink Petal VersaColor ink. They each have ribbons, bijoux and ProvoCraft Cut & Emboss Hearts. The white sections have been stamped with Hero Arts Hand Drawn Captions, and only half of the CS is embossed with my BIG SHOT and ProvoCraft Floral Fantasy & Daisy embossing folders. Ribbons are used to edge the embossed section, with a string of tiny bijoux on the red ribbon.

The centre post is decorated with DP, edged with VersaColor Ash Rose and stamped with JT6 bridal couple (I'll have to find out the "proper" name of the company), using VersaFine Black Onyx ink. Parts of the couple are highlighted with Diamond Stickles. Some Fiskars flowers and bijoux complete this layer.

The red layer is also Bazzill CS. I left one pink panel clear of embossing and stamping, for a personal message to be written to the bride and groom. The white panels are stamped with Hero Arts Love Letters and Paper Inspirations Celebrate Calligraphy stamps. I stamped the LOVE letters before running the panel through the Swiss Dots embossing folder, and then highlighted the letters with Diamond Stickles.

The other panels have been embossed with Divine Swirls and Script embossing folders, and edged with Pink Petals VersaColor ink (on the white) and Ash Rose VersaColor ink on the pink panel. I also dragged the ink pads across the embossed sections to highlight them. I used the ProvoCraft Heart Die set to cut out the red and white hearts for decoration. Ribbons, bijoux and flower rhinestones finish off this layer.

And although I usually photograph everything quite efficiently, this time I forgot to take a pic of the assembled, open box... Next time...

Suppliers & Links:
Scrapbook Factory Shop
Bazzill CS, Petaloo flowers, Embossing folders & die sets
Lolly's Arts & Crafts in Milnerton
Ribbons, Diamond Stickles, Bridal stamp, Pink Petal VersaColour inkpad
Simply Creative
DP, Fiskars flowers, bijoux, embossing folders, Hero Arts stamps
Kanje Crafts
Paper Inspirations stamp

Time to swim now... We're back up around 100F...

TFL!

Blog Etiquette...

2010-03-07T11:56:00.005+02:00

I have a question(s) about Blog etiquette and the comments people leave regarding posts on my blog.

I love that other bloggers and browsers have taken time to stop at my blog and have a look at my creative moments, and then take some extra time to actually leave a comment regarding the post. I think that needs to be admired and appreciated.

I try and respond to every single person that has left a comment, although if they have signed in as "anonymous" that's a bit difficult.

What do you do? Do you leave a comment on your own blog below the other comments? Do you not respond at all? Do you reply to each comment individually?

TFL!

Another overnight guest...

2010-03-05T15:48:00.007+02:00

We had another overnight guest inhabit the bath this week - the cutest little baby seagull you can imagine! We heard a "parent" calling all morning and then finally YG managed to see where the parent and baby were, but before he could get downstairs the baby had run into underground drain. Probably to keep cool, and to keep away from the predatory neighbourhood cats.

Finally the little head popped out, so with me watching carefully with binoculars from our 2nd floor kitchen window, YG ran downstairs and finally managed to rescue the baby gull. The mother, in the meantime, had retired to the coolness of a neighbouring roof (under shade) as she was panting horribly in the intense 37C (98F) heat. As there is no way we can find the nest, we always make sure they're healthy, with nothing broken, and then feed and water them, and then get them to the seabird sanctuary and rehabilitation centre SANCCOB. Once there they are kept until they are able to fly.

Here I am getting "closer" to the baby gull - and the expression seems to say "I'm not touching that!" Of course that's probably just me thinking that ;b

And the next morning, before heading out to SANCCOB, our birds had their regular morning treat of OUMA Muesli Rusks (dunked in coffee). This is a morning ritual which gets the "perils" up and happy. This is Robyn enjoying her rusk...

And a bit more... After it's been re-dunked and softened a bit more in that coffee!

TFL!

Martha Stewart in Cape Town...

2010-03-02T12:33:00.017+02:00

Well gosh - I enjoyed myself! It wasn't so much the "breakfast with..." as it was a buffet breakfast with a presentation by MARTHA STEWART afterwards.

We went off bright and early to the CTICC, collected our tickets and grazed at the breakfast buffet. Then, into the auditorium for the presentation, which I thought was well done. However I, and a few others, seem to be alone in that regard. The South Africa public, and business CEO's were not as enthralled with her presentation as they might have been, if, apparently, she hadn't gone on about her Glitter range.

Personally I can't understand the shortsightedness of these CEO's. Here is someone who has taken an existing item and re-invented it - parlaying it to an industry that netts billions each year. I thought that the fact that there is so much money to be made from something as small and as (almost) inconsequential as Glitter would be an idea to be worked on and from, not scathingly rejected outright.

Martha Stewart was here as the guest of the Design Indaba - an event that highlights innovation and creation - just what she, and her company have done, with the Glitter range.

The rest of the presentation was great to see - the diversifiation of her interests and media is incredible. Something we can all learn from to grow our business, whether craft related or not.

After the presentation YG was snapping away to get pics for me, and here we have the two of us "deep" in conversation - well, not really deeply, just commenting on the glitter and the fact that I was covered in it... I love using body glitter to sparkle...

And here we are smiling together for the camera, with Ms Stewart holding the card I had made for her.

The bane of my life are ENVELOPES! I always run out of them for some obscure reason. My original plan to give her a small gift pack of cards I had made went downhill after I discovered that I didn't have the envelopes to match. So, a card it was.

Work is calling so I shall add the details of the card a bit later.

TFL!

Martha Stewart NOOOOOOZ

2010-02-26T15:30:00.002+02:00

Oh my goodness could my week be any more exciting!!!

I just found out that I have won two tickets, to breakfast tomorrow morning, with MARTHA STEWART!!!

YG is joining me for this breakfast-in-a-million (well for us it is!) and I'm so excited I can't stop smiling - again!

I'm off to make a little handmade gift for Martha!!

TFL!

Noooooooz... (or News if you prefer...) *amended!

2010-02-26T12:36:00.014+02:00

CARD CLASSES... They're here and they're happening!

I'm going on a new adventure in my crafting life - I shall be giving monthly card classes at...

from the end of March 2010.

Carolyn, the owner of the Scrapbook Factory Shop, has been so praiseful of my work and so now I get to play and have fun and create with the other regulars of the shop.

I will be focussing primarily on my beloved Cuttlebug cards, with some other goodies thrown in. I hope you'll come and join us!!

The details of the classes will be posted on the Scrapbook Factory Shop website and if you aren't already on their mailing list then head over there now to sign up for early notifications of all their classes and sales.

And thank you too, to all the wonderful readers of my blog, who have also motivated me to take this step!

Of course this all started with my original card class gift from my wonderful cousin REV, and the whimsical and stylish musings of HRH!

TFL!

Too much hot'th...

2010-02-22T21:07:00.003+02:00

This is just nasty! Us Capetonians are accustomed to a bit of heat tempered with a nice cool day - but for now - no cool day in sight!

And it's too hot to try and contemplate a creative idea - as it comes into my mind it just melts away... So this pic of hot weather will have to suffice for now.

Till later when it's cooler!

TFL!

What the heck?

2010-02-19T20:41:00.004+02:00

Last Friday when my BIL was here I commented to him and YG that I had 75 email subscribers and suddenly, today, I have 100!

How? What? When? Gosh!

Thanks for subscribing - all of you! And letting me ramble on as I do! And thanks too to all the "followers" of my blog! You count too :)

TFL!

Stamping on Dominoes...

2010-02-19T10:11:00.011+02:00

A few years ago I participated in a swap which involved stamping on Dominoes. I chose not to go the standard card route, but instead created a little collection of words to use as daily affirmations.

When stamping on dominoes it is important to clean them with a solvent to remove any oily residue left by ones own fingers. After cleaning the dominoes I inked up my Great Impressions (South Africa) stamps with Versamark and embossed them with silver embossing powder. I discovered that dominoes can heat up quite a bit so be careful when touching the domino after you've heat set the embossing powder.

I printed the descriptive card wording on my computer, and stamped the reverse side of the card with the Dragonfly from the HERO ARTS Kimono Silk set of stamps.

I presented them in this pretty lilac organza bag, along with a descriptive card and white feather - presentation is everything!

TFL!

A Puppy Shower!

2010-02-14T22:23:00.010+02:00

I know you're thinking... "A puppy shower? What will they think of next..."

Yesterday at card class we had a surprise for our teacher - HRH - we threw a shower to celebrate the arrival of her bundle of joy - a Golden Retriever!

Sharon - one of us "card class girls" - suggested the idea. She said that we celebrate all the other "arrivals" in each others lives so why not this one too? What a fab idea and what a great surprise it was for HRH. A very aptly named "Princess" was coming to her new home this weekend and we wanted to help celebrate the fun and excitement that goes with the arrival of a new member of the family.

Here are the lovely prezzies for the new arrival, and the delicious Dogbone-shaped biscuits that Debbie baked in honour of the occasion. I brought along simply-to-die-for Chocolate Brownies baked by Nicky of LimeScales which she had decorated with some toy dogs and white chocolate words like Dog and Woof.

I decided my card had to fit the occasion so it too was bone shaped. I couldn't quite work out the template so trusty YG came to the rescue and created the template and cut out the cardstock for me.

CS is plain white card, which is embossed with ProvoCraft's Swiss Dots embossing folder. I used my Vintage Photo Distress Ink and applicator to edge the card and then dragged a Brilliance Twilight inkpad over the dots. Flowers and bijoux decorate one side of the bone and I used while a lovely digital image of a dog from Robyn's Fetish, called Dog Gone, to decorate the other side of the bone. It is coloured with Twinkling H2O's, a glue pen and glitter.

A gorgeously twee charm of a dog bowl completes the picture. HRH chuckled and chuckled when she was looking at my card so I know it was well received.

I luckily got to meet Princess late yesterday afternoon and now I'm super broody - for a puppy! She is the most darling little thing. Well I say little - Golden Retrievers at 6 weeks old are BIG!!

TFL!

20 Years of Freedom...

2010-02-12T09:17:00.004+02:00

This week in South Africa we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela, from prison. To honour him Virtual Africa have created a panoramic view of Nelson Mandela's Robben Island cell.

And - as I know you most of you don't know it - I share my birthday with Madiba!

TFL!

Jacque's BIG Blog Candy...

2010-02-08T08:44:00.004+02:00

Jacques is having a BLOG CANDY giveaway so pop over to his blog right away to see all the wonderful candy going to some lucky reader!

That's a whole party's worth of fun goodies!

TFL

Challenges...

2010-02-06T09:32:00.003+02:00

I love doing the card, colour and sketch Challenges found in abundance on the web and in Blogland - so I've added a CHALLENGES gadget to my sidebar - it'll keep me (and you) updated with the latest postings to the linked challenge sites.

Let me know if there are any Challenge sites that you really enjoy.

Enjoy & TFL!

An Anniversary Card...

2010-02-05T06:00:00.003+02:00

This card is an anniversary card for YG's brother & SIL. During the wedding photo shoot we hammed up with some of the shots and all had a great time - which is why I chose to use a photo stamp and slide mount, to remind us of the fun times on the day.

CS is Curious Metals White, embossed with my Sizzix Big Shot and Floral Fantasy embossing folder. The photo-stamp is Rubber Romance (I think - I'll have to get confirmation on that). The image is layered onto some fun black and white spotted paper, and then onto another layer of white, then black, mats. The slide mount is embellished with Silver Stickles. A flower and pearl brad complete the picture!

TFL

A Cuttlebugged Valentine

2010-02-03T11:48:00.015+02:00

Do we love our Cuttlebugs and Big Shots? Yes we do!! And we love Ikki's Cuttlebug Cupboard because she does some truly fun, amazing and wonderful things with her Cuttlebug! Here's my take on her recent tutorial.

My CS was quite stiff so it wouldn't stand closed by itself - so excuse the fingers in the pic...

CS is Curious Metal White, as well as the inner heart. Red hearts are DP, cut using the ProvoCraft Cut and emboss Hearts. The front panel of the card is embossed with my Big Shot and ProvoCraft Heart Blocks embossing folder. I didn't have any co-ordinating matt paper for the inner of the card, so I took some White Linen CS and stippled it with Brilliance Rocket Red ink, then lightly stamped some Hero Arts Flourishes, also using Brilliance Rocket Red ink. Paper is also edged with the ink.

The layout of the white heart is directly under the top (card front) heart - and as there are two "different" hearts in most loving relationships - I offset a second heart. The white heart is raised on 3D foam tape.

Now for my loving message and I'm all set for "Wellington's Day"! (As we call it in our family.)

TFL