Fun at CANSA

Let's Scrap Sketches challenge 12-15-15 is to use this sketch...

This is my second layout using the 12-15-15 sketch from Lets Scrap.

I treated some of my grandchildren and their mothers (my daughters) to a morning at the local CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa) fund raising event. We all had our hair spray painted, and the three younger kids had their faces painted. While the adults browsed the flea market for some goodies to buy, the kids had fun on the jumping castle, and participating in the dance competition. A fun morning for all, while supporting a good cause.

I used 4 pattered papers in this layout instead of plain cardstock, and added some pink speech bubbles and titles to represent the pink in the CANSA ribbons. The chevron stripes were made with Washi Tape.

I am entering this layout into the current Let's Scrap Sketches challenge 12-15-15.

The 2015 Jakaranda Home Christmas Light Festival

Let's Scrap Sketches challenge 12-15-15 is to use this sketch...

My youngest daughter, her husband, and their two kids and I visited the Jakaranda Liggiefees (Christmas Light Festival) last week, and wow these people have really pulled out all the stops this year. The children's home uses this as a fundraising event. They decorate 21 houses with millions of lights, and then open the venue to the public to walk around and enjoy themselves. The programme runs for the whole month of December, and includes popular local artists, orchestras, singers, and a laser show to entertain all the visitors.The kids always love it, especially when this granny buys those light-up wands - or swords as they call them!

I turned my layout a little differently to the sketch above so that I could fit the portrait photos in, and of course there is lots and LOTS of bling to represent the lights.

I am entering this layout into the current Let's Scrap Sketches challenge 12-15-15.

How to make paper flower roses with the rose punch

Do you have one of these punches (large, small, or both), but are stumped what to do with it apart from creating flat flowers for your scrapbook pages or cards? As long as the punch has SIX (6) petals, you can made these stunning 3D roses.

I made this arrangement in 2006 (yes 9 years old this year), and all 5 my grandchildren have at some stage or another pulled the arrangement apart and played with the flowers, and it still looks good! I made each individual rose with this punch and glittered up some of the edges of the petals.

What you need
Rose punch
paper glue
paperclips
good quality scrapbooking paper (plain or patterned or both)
scissors
matching chalk/distress ink to distress the edges
flower stamens
florist wire
two paper leaves













Method
1. Punch THREE flowers out of your papers
2. Fold each flower in half 3 times so that you end up with all folds crossing at the centre of the flower
3. From the first flower, cut out ONE petal; cut TWO petals from the second flower; cut the third flower in half; cut the left over 3-petal half into one petal and 2 petals. Curl the petals.











4. Distress all the edges of the petals with your chalk/distress ink.

5. Starting with the largest piece, glue one of the cut edges with a thin line of glue, then fold the other edge just over, and fasten with a paperclip. Repeat for all pieces except the single petal, which you need to roll up.

6. Using an awl or a thick sewing needle, punch a hole in the centre of each of the glued petals. Bend over the one end of the florist wire to form a loop, and push the other end through all the flower pieces, starting with the single petal and ending with the 5 petal piece, and make sure the loop in the wire is at the base of the inside of the flower. Fold the stamens in half and glue inside the rolled petal. Wrap two leaves behind the rose, and end up with wrapping the whole stem with florist tape. If you want to add some glitter glue, lightly glue some of the edges of the petals.

The end result!

Have fun!

Elf Christmas wreath

Sometimes I put foot to the pedal and create something that I know will always be a one-off! This huge Elf Christmas Wreath is one of those one-offs - now hanging in my eldest daughter's home.

I decided to respond to the monthly competition in the R&R Arts and Crafts Facebook page, where we were tasked to make a Christmas embellishment using not less than 1m of ribbon.

Competition result .... I shared the FIRST prize with another contestant! 

How I made up the wreath 

Materials
Calico material for the face, ears, nose, and hands
Quilting material for the arms and legs
battery operated lights
Dark green feather boa
Small red and gold baubles
Teddybear stuffing
Two old wire clothes hangers
10m of wire (thin and thick)
I used 14m of various wide and narrow ribbons (red, gold mesh, white, green)
4m of gold cord


















Method
Open up the hangers and shape into circles
Wrap some thick wire criss-cross across these hangers so that you will have wire to fasten all the ribbon to.
Cut out head, ears, and hands from calico. I did not use any pattern, just more or less guessed the shapes and sizes.
Cut arms, legs, and shoes from quilting materials.
Sew hands to arms, and shoes to legs, then stitch up side seams, stuff and close openings.
Attach the arms and legs onto the frame with thin wire, making sure they are firmly fastened.



Wind the light string around and through the wire frame and crossed wires, making sure that the switch on the battery is behind one of the arms so you can reach it easily.

Wind the feather boa around and through the wire hanger frame, making sure you cover most of the area.
 


Make up ALL the ribbon bows and cords and bind with thin wire, then fasten randomly onto the hanger frame.
 

Head: stitch ears and stuff, and sew onto head. Make a small nose and stuff. Stitch a mouth using embroidery thread. I made the eyes using two small pompoms which I glued in place. I also glued some stuffing onto the hat brim.
Fasten head securely to the wire frame and fluff the feather boa around it.
 

So, a little madness, many hours of labour, but I love the end result - and so does my daughter!