AMBER TURNS 3

Entering this for these Challenges:

• DDCC #61 DT Project: So Charming {Birthday Charm}
• Daring Cardmakers: Give them an inchie {5x inchies behind Happy}
• ABC Challenge: C is for circles {Circles on centre of felt flowers}
• One Stop CC #44: Cute and Cuddly {Cuddling a doll}

Cute little Amber is turning three early in September and I thought it fit to make her a birthday card in which I could put some photos I took of her when she was 2 years and 9 months old.

The patterned cardstock is from FabScraps a local scrapbook manufacturer here in South Africa. I inked the edges of the gorgeous Fiesta Felt Flowers and used various punches to embellish the centres. Happy birthday was stamped with clear acrylic alphabet stamps.

Below: The front of the envelope:

Below: The inside of the card with the photo pack on the left.

Below the photo pack.

Below: The Tools.

I must just mention that during my friend Michelle's recent visit with us here in Johannesburg, she mentioned that she recently listened to some of Kurt Darren's music and has fallen in love with his music ... especially his Facebook song. Well Michelle phoned me today to proudly inform me that she has bought three of Kurt Darren's latest CD's, two of them being double CD's. Way to go Michelle ... needless to say that yours truly is a staunch support of Kurt (eye candy in my opinion) and of course his music.

Just a quick mention that I have recently made it to the top 5 over at ABC Card Challenge for the Buttons Challenge ... hoo hoo ... thanks so much to the ABC Team for selecting me as a topper. Can't wait to get my blinkie which was an added bonus of being a top fiver.

Been for a marathon spinning class this morning, all of 90 minutes ... of course leaving me with some wobbly legs ... hopefully a yoga session tomorrow morning will sort the legs out.

We are off to Bella Bella (the old Warmbaths) this coming weekend for a weekend visit to a game lodge ... going with a few friends ... can't wait ... of course the return will be marked by zillions of photos ... hopefully of a baby giraffe or two as well.

Thanks again for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend and may the week ahead be a productive and healthy one.

MOSAICING A MEMORY ALBUM BOX

Yours truly have been trying her hand at mosaicing once again. This is time I attempted to mosaic a box for Duane's 21st memory album. I have been scurrying around in a few local arts and craft shops, but could not find a suitably sized box for a scrapbook album. So I did what we all seem to be doing more and more, surfed the net and by poor chance surfed into the Pridia Arts & Crafts online shop. They specialised in wooden box blanks for the craft industry and had just the right album box with lid I was looking for. So I went ahead immediately placing my order online and the rest of the process was a breeze with such friendly and speedy service ... I was actually amazed.

Pridia are based in Jeffreys Bay, RSA and posting the items to me here in Johannesburg was no sweat and the boxes arrived nicely packed and all in tact. And an added bonus is that they are very reasonably priced.

Duane's Mom, Belinda wanted to keep his 21st album in a box which she could also use as a display item on a coffee table. Her colour schemes were oranges, browns and yellows so I am holding thumbs that my tile choices were the right ones.

If any of you also would like to create a mosaic album box like this, or even just to keep your 12x12 cardstock out of arms way, just contact Pridia Arts & Crafts Online and get your box now.

Thanks again for taking the time to pop in and for all your lovely comments. Will be visiting your space soon. Wishing you all a fantastic crafty week.

HELLO . . .

{DDCC #62: A Card Recipe}

Oooh, I love it when I can just be a small step ahead with my DDCC design team projects. Challenge 62 is a card recipe:

• 2 different colours of cardstock
• 2 different pieces of Patterned Paper
• 2 flowers
• 2 brads
• 2 gemstones/buttons
  

Isn't Miss Turtlina just so girly all in pink. Got my H2O's out again for this, after having neglected them for a while. I used the sketch over at Papertake Weekly's previous challenge (was a bit late with my project) to get the design going. And what a great sketch it was.

I am also entering this creation for the following challenges:

• One Stop Craft Challenge #42 where the theme this week is Pink&Black
• ABC Challenge: B is for Buttons
• Papertake Weekly 100th Challenge: Participants can choose any previous challenge from no.1 to 99 and I chose the 11/8/2008-Button It challenge
• Stamp Something: Something from Summer - This is definitely a little scene to be seen in summer

For my South African visitors don't forget to go and have a look at the great special thats on at the moment over at Doing Life's Online Shoppe i.e. Basic Grey 12x12 Cardstock going for only R4 a sheet. So make sure you don't loose out. Click on the link right at the top of this blog for a quick visit.

Have to quickly check on the progress of my pot of vegetable soup simmering along for lunch.

Thank you all for stopping by once again and for all your inspirational comments.

LIVE YOUR DREAM ....

{DDCC #60 + Stamp Something:Summer + ABC:Anything Goes}

I have been very naughty again, not having a card project ready this week for my design team work over at Dutch Dare Card Challenge. The challenges are bi-weekly now, so really I don't have any excuse. But, I made up for slackness and created another project for my DT work which puts me a whole month ahead now and hopefully I won't get kicked off the design team any time soon ... thanks Karin for understanding.

Challenge 60 is a colour inspiration guided by the picture below ...

... and this is what I came up with. A simple creation of flower pots. I usually associate flowers with Summer so I am also entering this card into this week's Stamp Something challenge. How cute are those little bees zooming in on the flowers ...

Its a beautiful Sunday here in Johannesburg, warm sunny weather, but I have just heard the latest weather forecast on the radio which forecasts some cold wet weather moving in by Wednesday. So unfortunately the winter woollies are not heading to the back of cupboard yet.

Wishing you all a fantastic week and remember to live for the moment as the late John Lennon said:

Life is what happens while we busy making other plans.

21st LAYOUT + SOME PARTY PICS

Above is the next layout in Duane's 21st Album. This layout is of Duane posing with his Mom Belinda at his birthday cake. Everyone at the celebration had to come dressed as something or someone starting with the first letter of Duane's name i.e. 'D'. Belinda was dressed as a Diva and of course Duane as himself.

Below are some of the Grey Loeries who are currently feasting on all the aloe flowers in our garden. Sometimes there are five of them sitting on one cluster of flowers. I put out some fruit on a daily basis for the fruit eating birds and of course the Loerie's can't help themselves. They squeeze themselves around, onto and into the bird feeder just to get a bite of the fruit ... as the pics below illustrates.

Below are some pics I took at Alisha's recent 5th birthday party. It was mostly family that celebrated her birthday on this day, as she had two previous parties earlier in the week celebrating with most of her school friends.

The highlight was decorating their own cupcakes with brightly coloured icing, sprinkles and various other treats. As can be seen, it looked more like a face painting party. But, I guess the most imporant thing is that they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Below, Alisha's Mom, Heidi with Marko the latest edition to the family. Can't believe how much Marko has grown in just four months.

Some more party pics below.

Thanks for stopping by. Each and everyone of your visits are truly appreciated.

THANK YOU HAMPER & 21st FRONT PAGE

My dear friend Michelle (Doing Life's Assistant) flew up on Friday to come and visit us for the long weekend. We had such a fantastic few days of scrapping bliss and got to do quite a few layouts between us. Michelle started scrapping the first week's photos of their recent USA tour. Their trip was six weeks and she is doing ten double page layouts of only their first week ... definitely a few albums in the pipeline here.

Michelle said that she wouldn't mind falling in with our eating plan we have been following since March this year. I felt a bit guilty about this, but it seemed like Michelle enjoyed the food and said she has never eaten so many vegetables in such a short span of time. She even phoned me this morning to let me know that she has lost 1kg over the three days and could not believe it, as we even had carrot cake and lemon meringue pie for our daily treats.

Michelle has also been very naughty in sending us this beautiful hamper of super fresh fruit and bouquet of flowers ... keeping us on the straight and narrow 'eating' track. Thanks Michelle, now we have fruit for at least another week. The flowers already has its proud place on my studio table.

Above is the front page of Duane's 21st memory album commission which I have started. The front and inside of the invite has been incorporated on this page.

Hope you all had a wonderful Women's Day on Sunday and that you were made feeling special. (It was Women's Day on Sunday here in South Africa.)

Oh yes, I wonder how many of you have noticed my beautiful new blog banner ... I am deeply in love with. The very talented Michelle (My Crazy Lekker Life) gave away a free banner design to one lucky commenter on her blog and yours truly was the winner. Michelle I think you agree, it looks beautiful and thanks again for your generosity.