My Heritage Page was featured!

What a nice surprise when I opened the latest Scrap Affairs (Issue 25) yesterday! The "Dutch Heritage" scrapbooking layout that I sent a while ago, has been featured in the Scrapper Gallery pages (pg.31)! I could not post this layout on my blog earlier, because I had entered it into their competition, and although I did not win (boohoo) I am thrilled that this page has now been printed in their mag. So at last I can show you!! All the big flowers were hand made, the windmill was cut with my Cricut and chalked up, and the clogs I drew, cut out, and coloured in with Copics! There are also 2 little messages that do not show up on the layout as they are "hidden" behind each of the main photos. If you look carefully (zoom in) you will notice a small tag to the left of my grandfather, and to the right of my grandmother. When these are pulled out and opened, each has a little hand written story about what I personally remember about them. Hopefully my descendants will enjoy this bit of information. I get such a warm fuzzy feeling when I look at this layout and it brings back wonderful memories.

heritage {{{hugs}}}

New DIGISTAMPS4JOY releases (29 July 2012)

Digistamps4Joy has released some gorgeous new images into the shop today! To see a summary of the new images pop into the BLOG and see the cards that the DT have made to show off these images!! I made a card with one of the new images called PANSIES.

I bought myslef a new set of quality colouring watercolour pencils last week, and so tried them out on this image. The background paper just 'happened to have' pansies on it too, and I made a smaller version of the pansies image and split it up top right and bottom left.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Dream Valley Challenges - summer
Great impressions - your best colouring

Don't forget to comment on this post!!

Just a friendly reminder that you could win $3 worth of Shelly's images if you leave a comment on my GDT post! That's all - VERY simple! Leave a comment!

New Ning group

There is a new Ning group for those of you who love to make crafts with paper! It is called Lady Annes Paper Crafts. As I said, brand new, so I thought I would join and give it a trial run by entering the first challenge. This challenge is to make a card with ONE layer (so no adding paper layers) and ONE embellishment. A little tricky at first, especially as I am so used to putting layer upon layer and adding a few embellishments. But, nothing is impossibe and here's my card!

I used the Dandelion image from Digistamps4Joy, changed the black lines to sepia on the computer, then copied the image 4 times, and printed these onto white cardstock. The next thing I did was to use 3 different colours of spritzes and I sprayed these around the image, and a quick squirt over the image. I then stamped the words I Love You (an old rubber stamp I had in my stash) and embossed this with gold. Still only 1 layer!! Then I added my embellishment - a chipboard fairy that I glittered up with gold glitter. This is still ONE embellishment, so no rules broken here! Finally I chalked the edge and stippled around the sentiment. So a simple card, yet quite a bit of work, and it required concentration to NOT add layers or more embellishments.

Patties Creations Challenge #49 - Animals and Insects

The theme for the new challenge at Patties Creations Challenge is ANIMALS & INSECTS, and Pattie has many gorgeous images in her store that could be used for this theme. I was a Girl Guide Leader for 15 years and my name was "Ladybird" so what better image to use as a reminder than the LADYBUG image in her store!

 I coloured the image with my Spectrum Noire pens and added a few highlights with a white gel pen. The papers are from a packet of matching black and white papers. The sentiment is handwritten with the white gel pen, and I captured the red in the beetles with a bit of red cardstock peeping out behind the sentiment. Could not resist adding the little ladybird embellishment!

The challenge starts today, and ends in 2 weeks time, so hurry on over to the Patties Creations Challeng BLOG and enter your card under Mr Linky! Remember, you MUST use a digistamp, and if you use one of Pattie's stamps, you put yourself in line to win the special prize!

Digistamps4Joy Challenge #47: SPOT AND STRIPES

YES, it's time for a new challenge at Digistamps4Joy - Challenge # 47 - "SPOTS & STRIPES. This is a super duper easy challenge to enter so get your cards made with those pola dots and stripes. Here is my card - a twisted easel card. I used the WATERLILY image that I drew for the STORE. For some reason I drew a water droplet on the big leaf on the right, but I think it was more a challenge to myself to see if I could create a Trechikoff droplet! I can still remember as a young girl being absolutely fascinated by his ability to make a drop of water look so real in his "The Lost Orchid" painting. Mine is NOTHING like it of course, but I had fun colouring this one in! I coloured the image in with ONLY my water colour pencils. Do pop into the DS4J BLOG and see what the other DT members have created for this challenge, and then enter YOUR creation in the InLinkz to put yourself in line for winning a prize!

NEW RELEASES - Digistamps4Joy (22nd July 2012)

Digistamps4Joy has released 20 new images today into the shop! To see a summary of the new images pop into the BLOG and see the cards that the DT have made to show off these images!! I made 2 cards with two of the new images called School Bus and School Bag. 
The first card is made with the bus image, whicy is a very wonky version of a bus, but I actually like it as it has that 'fun kid' look to it! The card is also very simple with 3 layers of paper to show the road, flowers, and sky! The bus was coloured with my Spectrum Noire pens.

The second card is made with the School Bag image, and I went for bright pink and blue colours - so true to the type of kids school bags at the moment! Coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and a few additional elements added like that amazing 'ruler' ribbon I found the other day.

 Hope you like it! I do.

I am entering the school bag card into the following challenge:
Color me Creative Classroom - anything goes with a girly twist

Comment on this post and you 'may' win the prize!!

Oooh wow, I was invited to be Guest Designer at this weeks' Shellys Images challenge - SHOW US WHAT YOU GOT (which is to make an "anything goes card"), starting today (Thursday) and running for 2 weeks. I was given this featured image to play with, and "play" I did!!! Make sure you read to the end of this post as there is a surprise for all my visitors who comment on this post!

The whole time while I was making the card I was thinking ... "thank you God for sending your Son". Super image Shelly - thank you!!! I decided to go with an easel card and turned the front into a stable scene. The papers are from a free pad of My Mind's Eye papers that came with a copy of a Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine. I punched a star border with a Letach punch, coloured the image in with Spectrum Noir pens, and added glitter, card candi, and white gel pen lines. The 'thatching' was made by snipping some white and yellow gold paper, then ruffled a little. So here's my card!

Now what's the surprise I promised? Shelly is giving away a $3 voucher to her store to one lucky commenter on THIS post!!! 

AND ... there's MORE ...
Besides a $6 Shelly's Images Gift Voucher to one lucky challenge participant, you can ALSO win a $3 Shelly's Images Gift Voucher by leaving a comment at

JEN'S BLOG

Here's a quick summary of the rules for entering the challenge on Shelly's Blog:

• DIRECT Link to your blog posting
• Shelly's Image NOT required
• Follow the theme
• FIVE entry limit
• No backlinking
• Entries for this challenge must be submitted
  by 12:00 noon CST on August 1

Now leave a comment HERE, leave a comment on Jen's blog, and enter a card for the challenge!

 

Digistamps4Joy Challenge #46

The DS4J Challenge # 46 is LIVE and is running FOR ONLY ONE WEEK, which means you only have 1 week to wait to see if you are the winner with your entry!!! The theme is "WHAT IS YOUR WEATHER", and we want you to make a card showing the type of weather you are currently experiencing in your country, and believe me there is some weird weather going around at the moment!!
Digistamps4Joy has some super 'weather' images in the STORE in case you need one! Here are a few examples of what we have for this challenge ...

Hope to see your entries there for this ONE WEEK challenge!

DS4J new releases 15th July 2012

Digistamps4Joy - releases new images every Sunday morning, and this Sunday I have put 15 new images into the shop! To see a summary of the new images pop into the BLOG at 8am, and just take a look at the cards that the DT have made to show off these images!! I made a card with two of the new images called Ballet Shoes, PLUS the rose leaves from the Leaves set. I decided to draw and use these leaves because I got fed up with the tiny, almost invisible leaves that come with the bought flowers! This is a center easel card and I went with pink, pink, and pink, and coloured the image (with 5 different pinks) with my Spectrum Noire pens.  I added some satin ribbon, pearl strings, lace, and bought flowers. Oh, and I embossed the backgound paper with the quilted pattern.

 Hope you like it! I do.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
DigiDesignsChallenge - pile on the flowers
ATCs and Cards with attitude - anything goes
Daring Cardmakers - lace and pearls
Guylou's Inimitability - song and dance
Fat pages and cards with attitude -  anything goes

Patties Creations Challenge #48 - SUMMER

As it's summer time in the northern hemisphere, Pattie decided to celebrate it with a SUMMER theme for the challenge at Patties Creations Challenge.  Pattie has many gorgeous images in her store that could be used for the SUMMER theme, BUT when I saw this new image in her store called Dragonflies Fly, it reminded me of my university days when I used to go out with friends to wade in dams to catch the larvae of dragonflies for research purposes!
I coloured the image with my Spectrum Noire pens and added a few highlights with a white gel pen, and added bling to the wings. The words were created on my 'puter. This is a basic easel card, but the image makes the whole card come alive! Come summer please, to the southern hemisphere! I'm very happy with the way the card turned out.

The challenge starts today, and ends in 2 weeks time, so hurry on over to the Patties Creations Challeng BLOG and enter your card under Mr Linky! Remember, you MUST use a digistamp, and if you use one of Pattie's stamps, you put yourself in line to win the special prize!

DS4J Challenge # 45

I totally forgot this morning to put up my post for the second viewing of the Digistamps4Joy Challenge # 45 - "Black & White, and one other colour"!! Naughty girl hey!!? Ah well, I'll put it down to 'something' perhaps the cold weather LOL. So here is my card for this challenge .... I used the brand new ZEBRA image that I drew for the STORE. What is absolutely amazing and fascinating is that every DT member was given the "same" image, yet every card made is totally different and unique!! I coloured the black bands in on the PC (with PShop) and the eyes with my Spectrum Noire pens. It's super to see how this image focuses entirely on the eye of the Zebra and it sort of draws you into the image. Do pop into the DS4J BLOG and see what the other DT members have done with this same image, and then enter YOUR creation in the InLinkz to put yourself in line for winning a prize next week!

Ethan's 1st Swim!

I managed to squeeze in some time today to do 1 scrapbook page for my eldest daughter's 2010 album, and another page for my youngest daughter's album. The photo was taken in February 2012 when my youngest grandson Ethan, had his first ever swim in my portapool. I would LOVE to know what he was thinking as this was the look I was given when I took this photo of him!

I am entering this layout into the Scrap Africa 'sketch' challenge. This is the sketch that must be used and I turned it around 90 degrees. I used my SLICE machine to cut all the swirls. A pity the photo does not show up the copper coloured paper to its best, because the 'real deal' is a stunning shiny copper colour.

DS4J new releases 8 July 2012

My shop - Digistamps4Joy - releases new images every Sunday morning, and this Sunday is no exception! If you pop into the BLOG you will see the post at 8am, showing all the new images in the store, and the cards that the DT have made to show off these images. I made a card with the new Swirly border/frame image, and added "Sally Sunshine" to the inside of the frame. Because DS4J provides both JPG and PNG (transparent) versions of each image, it was easy to add her inside the frame with the software programme (I used Photoscape). This is an easel card and I went with orange and yellow colours in the Spectrum Noire range, and added some bling as well. The sentiment is also from DS4J. I entered the card into the current Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge.

DIGISTAMPS4JOY FREEBIE

Digistamps4Joy has released a FREEBIE today, and this will be available for only TWO days (6+7 July) so head on over to the Digistamps4Joy BLOG and download it!! Here is a card I made with this freebie (my own image!).

Patties Creations Challenge - RED, WHITE and BLUE

It's time for another challenge at Patties Creations Challenge.  Challenge #47  is such a super challenge with the theme RED, WHITE AND BLUE.  As I have Dutch roots (my mom), and Pattie has this gorgeous  image in her store called Wooden Shoes with Tulips, I decided to do the Dutch red, white and blue colours. You know I love to try out different card folds, so when I saw another card made up with a unique fold, of course I had to try it out. And, what's more the template is on a Dutch card making site!! Now howz that for all coming together!! If you want to see the template ('trapjeskaart') take a look HERE. My first attempt was a bit of a mess, but my second attempt folded much neater. I coloured the image with my Spectrum Noire pens and added a few highlights with a white gel pen. The words were created on my 'puter, flowers created with 2 punches, and a normal doily added as a decoration behind the image. I'm very happy with the way the card turned out.

The challenge starts today, and ends in 2 weeks time, so hurry on over to the Patties Creations Challeng BLOG and enter your card under Mr Linky! Remember, you MUST use a digistamp, and if you use one of Pattie's stamps, you put yourself in line to win the special prize!

DS4J Challenge #44

Team "B" of Digistamps4Joy is showing off their cards today for challenge #44 with the theme "Bride of yester year" and we want you to make an ANNIVERSARY CARD WITH A VINTAGE LOOK.
DS4J has some beautiful images for weddings and so I chose two images (Bella Bridesmaid and Ring bearer) and merged them together before printing, using the .png file versions which have a clear background. It worked like a charm! I coloured them in with Copics and Spectrum Noire and added a little white gel pen lines and clear glitter glue.

Don't forget you must use a digistamp to enter the challenge, and if you use a DS4J stamp you will go into the draw for the amazing $10 prize from the DS4J store, so head on over to our BLOG and enter your card in Mr Linky.

Digistamps4Joy New Releases 17th June

Digistamps4Joy has released 12 gorgeous new images into their SHOP. Here is the card I made with one of the new releases called "Little Ms Liberty", which is perfect for celebrating 4th July in the USA. That funny blue wavy pattern behind her head is actually holographic paper which is impossible to photograph, yet looks super on the card!!
Please pop over to the DS4J BLOG to see a preview of all the releases, as the post goes live at 8am CAT today.

Patties Creations Challenge #46 - Monochrome

I always find making a monochrome coloured card a challenge for 'me', yet the card I made this time for  Patties Creations Challenge #46 with the theme MONOCHROME CARD, was actually fun and quite easy to put together. I used this gorgeous new image from Patties STORE called Cuddles Rocking Horse, and my thought was that these two seem such good friends, so instead of making a baby themed card, I typed out a sentiment to do with friends. I chose the colour brown and used all the different shades of brown from very light to very dark. The cute image was coloured in with my Spectrum Noire and Copic pens, and highlights produced with a white gel pen.

The challenge starts today, and ends in 2 weeks time, so hurry on over to the BLOG and enter your card under Mr Linky! Remember, you MUST use a digistamp, and if you use one of Pattie's stamps, you will win a special prize!

My project for Digistamps4Joy Challenge #43

You've seen the first set of DT project, and today we will show you the second set of projects these ladies created for challenge # 43 with the theme "June Bride - anything but a greeting card".
At first I thought urgh this is difficult, but then I started to think of all the little things we had to make for my daughters' wedding, and the creative juices flowed! One area of a wedding that is often neglected is the ablution room, and what better than to perk it up with a tissue box cover! So easy to make, yet so effective. Don't forget you must use a digistamp to enter the challenge, and if you use a DS4J stamp you will go into the draw for the $6 prize!

I  bought one of those little square tissue boxes, covered the base with a sheet of 12x12 scrapbooking paper cut into two strips and glued together, added some gorgeous vintage braid I had in my stash, and added a few pink pearls.
The image is called "Bridal Couture" and can be found in my shop at Digistamps4Joy.  As the dress is white I had very little colouring in to do, so edged all the lines with a light grey Spectrum Noire pen to give depth to the folds of the dress. The requisite bling was of course added to the veil. The top of the box was cut out of plain silver cardstock, a hole cut in the top and edged with the braid, and VOILA  .... a tissue box fit for the queen of the day! (Well actually, it's in my home now!)

Don't forget there are some super prizes for winners in the DS4J challenge, so head on over to our BLOG and enter your card in Mr Linky.

Outlawz challenge - My Protea

I was asked to make a card for the boss who was ill, and this Protea image from Digistamps4Joy is perfect for her! I coloured it in with my watercolour pencils, added a little bling, lots of other embellishments, and then decided it fits in perfectly for the current Outlawz challenge Paper a la Mode challenge, so have entered it there.

 

Update 10th June 2012: My card was featured on the Outlawz site!

Digistamps4Joy Challenge # 43 is active!

The winners of the Digistamps4Joy Challenge #42 (Cute as a button) challenge have been announced on the DS4J BLOG - congratulations ladies, we received some stunning entries!

Now for challenge # 43 with the theme "June Bride - anything but a greeting card". Because there were so many stunning DT projects, we decided to split up the post into two separate posts, so this week half the team will be showing their projects, and next Wednesday 13th, the other half of the team will show their projects! You will just have to come back here next week to see mine! IN THE MEANTIME, head on over to the DS4J BLOG and see the challenge and this weeks' projects! Amazing and creative, that's all I can say!  Don't forget you must use a digistamp to enter the challenge, and if you use a DS4J stamp you will go into the draw for the $6 prize!

Dad's Western Boots

The current challenge at Patties Creations Challenge, starting today and ending 15th June, is perfect if you are celebrating Father's Day in June. All you need to do is make sure your card has a masculine feel to is, and is targeted at DAD.

 Here is my card, made up with the Western Boots image available here. This was such a fun image to colour, and I used a combination of Copics and Spectrum Noire pens, together with my trusty white gel pen. The card is a middle-stepper card which I think is much easier to make than a side-stepper, but that's just my opinion of course. I added some punched flowers, a die-cut fence, and a little twine hopefully wrapped to look like a lasoo. So whatever cowboys says .... heehaa, yahoo (no that's a search engine!), yeehah or giddyup, here's my card for one lucky man on Father's Day (one of my son-in-laws!)

DO pop into Patties SHOP, as she has some gorgeous new new images there. When you've made your card, head on over to her BLOG and enter it under Mr Linky to put yourself in the winning line! The challenge closes on the 15th June.