STAMP SOMETHING {Favourite Layout}

I have recently designed and completed this layout {with some of the photos I took at the wedding} which forms part of the wedding album I am scrapping for Enrico and Angelique Nell. This is definitely one of my favourite designs and I just love it in these monochromatic colours. Therefore I found it fit to enter it for this week's challenge over at Stamp Something.

I am also still very guilty of promising some photos of our recent visit to Sabini, a game farm near Warmbaths, and committing to it. So with no further ado, here are some Bushveld photos. I am sure that most of you South Africans who have spent some time in the Bushveld, will agree that its definitely good for the soul.

My Matric Farewell photo shoot of 23 September in Rustenburg went well. Marie-Louise's dress definitely made a bold statement and was surely very unique and creative ... shall I just say that us scrapbookers will definitely love this dress. Will reveal more in due course.

I am off to do a birthday party photo shoot on Saturday in Krugersdorp and am also doing a Playschool photo shoot on 5 and 6 October ... nearly 40 pupils to photograph ... this will be quite a challenge, but I am looking forward to it.

Thanks again for popping in.

SPRING 2009 MAKE-OVER

Okay, so after my horrendous hair experience in Cape Town during March this year when all of you were asking me to see some pics of the disaster, I decided not too shock you all and rather show you how a proper make-over should look like.

I got up yesterday morning and decided enough is enough I need to get with it and cut my hair short once again. I immediately phoned my hairdresser (Fashion Squared) and made an appointment with my personal hairstylist Pieter.

So whilst sitting down this morning I gave Pieter the good news that I was going for a new me and he has carte blanche with my hair (short as possible, but please don't let me look butch). I also showed him some pics of me 12 years ago with short hair. Of course I also went for a new colour and throughout the cut, Pieter and his assistant, Lynette kept on saying that they admire my guts. But my reply was ... a change is as good as a holiday.

I still can't believe that I waited so long to take the plunge and kept on trying to control my unruly long locks. Well the added benefit is that hubby is in honeymoon mode after unsuspectingly arriving home from gym this morning and discovering a strange lady at home. He thinks I have taken 15 years off my age (but quickly corrected himself in saying that I didn't need a haircut to make me look younger as I am still a 'jong bokkie' ... translated meaning a 'spring chicken' ... he quickly realised that he was on thin ice, hey) and of course he is different than most men in that he loves my hair short ... so what can I say, the long wait of 12 years was worth it for him.

So what do you all think ... do I look better with long or short hair?

HIP HIP HOORAY

{Sketch Saturday: Sketch 69 + Stamp Something: Favourite Basic Grey + Pile It On Challenge: Punches}

We had a lovely weekend and for better weather we could not have asked .... beautiful Spring sunshine days. I managed to fit in another card creation today. Sketch Saturday's latest sketch got me going with the design and of course all the patterned cardstock are my very favourite Basic Grey, which fits the bill for the current Stamp Something Challenge. I have also used various of my Ek Success circle punches as well as a square punch for the four squares in the background which fits the bill for this week's Pile It On Challenge.

The cute little froggie prince was a gift from my dear friend Michelle. Thanks Michelle, as you can see froggie finished off the creation just perfectly.

Thank you all once again for your lovely comments and for taking the time to stop by.

SOME YUMMY CANDY & DT NEWS

What a happy Saturday this is. I was going through all the crafty blogs I follow in my Google Reader, late this afternoon, after teaching this morning, and what a huge surprise waited for me when I opened Juls' blog The Glitter Chick and discovered that I have won her latest blog candy, celebrating over 100 Followers.

Contents:

• Crafty individuals - miniatures - people & places 2
• Glue dots mini
• Le Blanche - fancy brads
• Bo Bunny - bella Journee brads
• Dovecraft creative ribbon - purple
• Smirk - creative ribbon
• Le Blanche - precious moments foam backed stamp.
• I will also include some stamped images..they are not in the picture because I have not stamped them yet.

Then there were some more fantastic news today. Whilst going through my emails, I noticed an email from Karin, founder of the Monthly Card Kit Club, who informed me that I was selected as one of four new Design Team members for the Club and that my goodies will be in the post soon to create my first project for the newly launched October Kit. Thank you Karin. I can't wait to start creating with the other very talented girls on the Design Team. Once again I would like to thank all my followers for their good wishes with this DT call. This is a brand new Club and I am sure the new Design Team will help get this Club off the ground.

Off tomorrow for Sunday lunch with family. Can't wait to see Little Marko again. He has probably grown some more since we saw him more than two months ago.

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday ... make sure to rest well with some creative therapy.

DESIGN TEAM CALL FOR ABC CHALLENGE

{... and some other tit bits}

Yes, I know I am stretching myself a bit here, but the ABC Challenge blog has been one of my favourite challenge blogs featuring such versatile themes every week and suits absolutely anyone's style.

So I just cannot resist applying for their current Design Team Call. The requirements are to post three of our favourite creations which reflects our personal crafting style. So here are three creations which I really think portrays my style. An added benefit is that the ABC Challenge is posting a new challenge only every fortnight.

I would like to thank all of you who have been wishing me all the best with my previous Design Team Call entries over at the Monthly Card Kit Club ... all your lovely comments are truly appreciated.

At the moment I am quite looking forward to my next commissioned photo shoot which is on 23 September in Rustenburg. Its a shoot of hubby's nephew's daughter's matric dance. Marie-Louise has had a very unusual dress designed for her ... very much with an African Influence ... can't wait to see her dress. Marie-Louise has also been a model from very young and is seriously creative. A few months ago I gave her a whole bag full of scrapbooking/crafting embellishments which she wanted the designer to incorporate on the dress ... so now you can just imagine my curiosity. Will be shooting Marie-Louise from where she dresses right through to the function itself.

Below is a layout I did in 2004 of Marie-Louise with her parents and little brother Anrich. Marie-Louise's eldest sister, Yolandi was not with when these pics were taken in our Kloof garden. Can't believe this is more than 5 years ago ... scary.

I have been noticing of late, small fuzzy brown spots on some of the scenery shots I am shooting with my Canon EOS 20D and was quite worried about it. I got the number of Camera Tek from my local photo lab guy and visited Camera Tek in Randburg yesterday. Once again I am so thrilled to announce that there are still excellent customer care here in SA. After being received very professionally at reception a technician was called immediately to listen to my problem and said that a blow-out will probably be successful in eliminating these spots. Should the blow-out not be successful the camera will have to be opened up totally and all the parts cleaned thoroughly, with a waiting period of 8-10 work days.

Well I am pleased to say that after only waiting 15 minutes, the blow-out was successful and I have since tested it and no spots anymore. So if any of you live in Johannesburg, Camera Tek is the only qualified camera experts you should allow to work with your camera and they specialise in Canon products. Their telephone number is (011) 251-2400.

Thank you all again for taking the time to pop in here. Will be spreading some love over at your patch in blogland soon.

MONTHLY CARD KIT CLUB

{Design Team Call}

Karin Hoeve from Dutch Dare Card Challenge has started a Monthly Card Kit Club and is looking for Design Team members. I am braving it and thought it would be great receiving the products from which a sample project/card should be created on a weekly basis. To be in contention for the DT we had to submit two cards/projects that we think represent our style, so here is my two creations I think portrays my crafting style.

Wishing you all a fab week and thanks again for all the love you leave here.

DDCC DT PROJECT

{DDCC Challenge No. 63 + ABC: D is for Die Cuts ... + Stamp Something: Favourite Embellishments}

A family member's birthday is coming up soon and Cathy's sketch put to the Dutch Dare Design Team was really a great starting point for this birthday card. I used a photo I took at our recent summiting of Cleft Peak in the Drakensberg as the main image, which I thought is perfect for a male card. A Doing Life template was used to create the star shape on the photo. A Creative Memories Hexagon punch was used for the three embellishments, combined with circle punches. LEKKER VERJAAR means Happy Birthday and was stamped. The final touches were done using my favourite embellishment, namely brads.

Below: The inside.

Below: The envelope

Thanks for having a look and please know that each and every comment as truly valued. Wishing you all a fantastic weekend.

HUGGABLE AMBER

I know I have been a bad blogger of late and hang my head in shame when looking at all you blogger busy bees. But, I suppose life is not just all play ... have been busy with quite a few scrapbooking layout commissions of late as well as doing planning and design for presenting my Free State and Durban Scrapaganzas.

Here is a layout commission for Amber's parents and Grandpa.

We had a wonderfully relaxed weekend at a game lodge just outside Warmbaths with friends and saw loads of animals. Will still post some pics of the weekend ... just bear with me.

Thanks again for stopping by.

LATEST NEWS re CUPID'S ARROWS

Stella Fischer, the one half of the Greek Connection's (as all my ex KZN scrapbooking students will recall) gorgeously beautiful daughter, Nicole (a model) got engaged to to a real 'boertjie', Leon Kruger. Sorry Leon, I hope you don't mind the 'boertjie' thing, but its not often that a gorgeous Greek lass marries a truly handsome Afrikaans Boer. Nicole, you and Leon together make for a stunningly handsome couple. So congrats to the newly engaged couple and their family. I am sure the wedding plans are already being masterfully schemed ... as I have heard through the grapevine.

Below: Bryan (Nicole's Dad), Nicole and Leon Below: The Handsome Couple Below: Bryan, Nicole, Antoni (Nicole's brother) and Stella Below: Stella, Nicole and Nicola (the other half of the Greek Connection) Below: Nicole and Nicola Jennings (Stella's sister)

Another ex KZN scrapping student of mine, Jenny Reid's daughter Robynne got married in April this year and I am sure you will agree that Robynne was a radiant bride (see photos below). I just love the apple green colour combination of the affair. Congrats to the newly wed couple and to Jenny and Bruce ... I am sure you are both very proud parents.

So after all this loving news, here's another layout I completed for our god son's 21st album.

The photos are of Duane with his Mom Belinda, Dad Carel and younger brother Kyle.

Can't wait, we are off to Bella Bella, the old Warmbaths area, tomorrow morning for our game lodge weekend. Looking forward to just blending with nature. No surprise then that all the camera gear are charged, packed and ready to go. I was naughty and spoilt myself with a new Canon 50-250mm lens which is also a great focal distance for portraiture photography which I of course enjoy the most. The 500mm lens also packed for a possible close-up of a buck or two.

Wishing you all a fab weekend, the first of Spring here in South Africa. Enjoy the warmer weather.