A quick pre-holiday post

Tomorrow we're heading out to the dirt roads of South Africa and it will be, God willing, about 2 weeks before I'm posting again. Here's a journal I decorated for a friend's daughter's birthday:

I've used these recycled paper journals before and they're easy to decorate.

I used GinaK Design stamps:
Petals & Wings
http://www.shop.ginakdesigns.com/product.sc?productId=1290&categoryId=-1
Organize It!
http://www.shop.ginakdesigns.com/product.sc?productId=771&categoryId=146

To all my blog friends I pray you are very Blessed Christmas. Let us remember the REASON for the SEASON. The coming of our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus.

Love
Riette

DS4J challenge: Anything Goes!

It's our favourite challenge! It's ANYTHING GOES at Digistamps4Joy (make sure you read the challenge rules).

I used the adorable Giraffe Christmas Lights. This is so appropriate for us here in South Africa :D
The sentiment is from Unity Stamps' October Kit of the Month and the background DP is Bo Bunny.

So head on over to DS4J and share your creations.

xxx
Riette

PS: Yes, if you scroll down you'll see more of the dotted Bo Bunny paper which I loved for their "happyness".

Twinkle wreath

Here's another card using the bubble DP from Bo Bunny. I thought it went well with the idea of Christmas baubles:

Unity KOM http://unitystampco.com/shop/oh-christmas-tree-kom-1013/

I stamped the little light bulbs in 4 colours and covered them with Glossy Accents before cutting out.

Dino trail

Here's a quick card using the dinosaur from Unity's "Mr Boy":

I stamped the 'spine' of the dinosaur a second time and cut it out to pop up.
Sentiment: PTI's Think Big Favorites #12

A sketchy challenge at MAWTT!

My apologies to my teamies for being late with my post! My kids have been sick and things have been hectic! So without further delay, here is my card for Moving Along With The Times "SKETCH" challenge:

Here's the super charming sketch we used and ask you to play with:

I used an image from the sponsor Scrapper's Delight "Kyoko Happy Birthday 1". The sentiment is from GinaK Designs.
Background paper: Bo Bunny

xxx
Riette (Red)

Happy Rainbow

Here's another card with more of that Echo Park paper.

It's another fun kiddies' card using the Unity Stamp Co's "Could I be any Cuter" set.

I covered the rainbow with Glossy Accents and the clouds with some Stickles.

Playing with:
http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/2013/11/through-craft-room-door-challenge-nov_25.html
http://www.inklingsandyarns.com/2013/11/inky-linky-37/
http://loriboyd2.blogspot.com/2013/11/by-lori-designs-challenges-bld60.html
http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/2013/11/challenge-66-birthdays.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-3/
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/2013/11/challenge-114.html
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/2013/11/ptt148-anything-goes.html

Illusion in a jar

I love this paper from Echo Park (should've bought more...) and I wanted the background to 'show through' the jar. I used the Unity Stamp September 2013 Kit of the Month. So I paper pieced the jar and positioned it over the background so that the hot air balloons line up. I also stamped on some clear transparency and glued that over the jar with a cut-out heart (from the same set) behind it.

I used the Unity Stamps Co's September 2013 Kit of the Month.

One of these is for the birthday of a little girl at church (I wanted something fun and 'heart-y') and decided to make two so I can keep one for another occasion!

Playing with:
http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/2013/11/through-craft-room-door-challenge-nov_25.html
http://www.inklingsandyarns.com/2013/11/inky-linky-37/
http://loriboyd2.blogspot.com/2013/11/by-lori-designs-challenges-bld60.html
http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/2013/11/challenge-66-birthdays.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-3/
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/2013/11/challenge-114.html
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/2013/11/ptt148-anything-goes.html

A "distressing" challenge at Digistamps4Joy

Christmas is hurtling towards us at great speed and I thought I should get some Christmas cards done. Just in case (we don't really 'do' cards here in South Africa). And this was perfect for the Digistamps4Joy challenge...

DISTRESSING

 I printed out a "back copy" of the tree and then a further three trees to shade with my distress inks (Tim Holtz) and small sponge daubers. The pot & three tree layers were then glued down and the top two popped up with foam tape.

Some bling to round it off....
Image used: Christmas Tree (1)

Get those inks & distressing tools out and join us!
xxx
Riette

Gift wrapping ideas

MAWTT DT card: Inspired by Music!

Moving Along With The Times has a new challenge and it is INSPIRED BY MUSIC!

Oooh I LOVE this challenge theme. Having been a bit of music geek in high school I can truly dig into this theme.

The music strip at the back is stamped with a clear stamp (sorry I can't remember if it's Prima or Kaiser Kraft!)
The bauble and sentiment is from the October 2013 Unity Kit of the Month. The bauble was gold embossed and then shaded with Fired Brick (Tim Holtz) distress ink before being cut out.

Please join us!
xxx
Riette
MAWTT DT

Christmas gift ideas with a crafty twist

I LOVE Christmas shopping. I can do without the stress and budget-limitation though. I do try to start very early in the year but I always find myself having to sprint later. I thought I would share some gift ideas I came up with this year:

Fabric crayons & a t-shirt

Card-making kit (using some of your stash)

This was probably the most fun to put together. I found some pre-cut blank cards & envelopes and bought a packet of A5 and one with the small ones. I added a packet of pre-printed sentiments, a little compartment box with die-cut embellishments, buttons, flowers and buttons. There's some rolled ribbons in packets & some doilies. I pre-cut some DP panels (they're behind the small card base packet). And then I printed some of my favorite digital stamp images from Digistamps4Joy, Meljen's and Digital Pencil (viewed top left). My niece who is the recipient just need to color them herself :D.
For the smaller cards I cut some plain cardstock and stamped some images from Unity Stamp Co. and GinaK Designs (viewed top right). 

Hand-made fondant cake decorations

Oh dear, my friend Lianne might see this (LOOK AWAY LOOK AWAY!!!)

I bought pre-made fondant in different colors and used a star cutter in two sizes to cut the shapes. They dried overnight and I packaged them. The "name tag" is also fondant. I used my biscuit Letterpress set to "stamp" the name of the recipient. I very quickly made 5 such sets.

A jolly jar

I made this for the combined challenge at CAS-ual Fridays and Curtain Call.

I used my new Unity KOM October 2013. It's not clear on the photo but I stamped another jar on some thick, frosted vellum and cut it out to cover over the back image. The candy canes were put in loose behind it.
The holly & bow were paper pieced separately.
The background DP is from Webster's Pages.

Here is their inspiration photo: CHRISTMAS!

Another FMS card with Flair

I was on a roll so I used the same sketch from Freshly Made Sketches (#112) but turned my card horizontal.

I used the background stamp from my Unity KOM June 2013. The tag is from the Unity KOM October 2013 and the sentiment is a Bitty Happy Birthday

Sharing with:

http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/2013/11/friends-with-flair_15.html

FMS with Flair

I used the current Freshly Made Sketches #112 layout for this card:

 I stamped the flowers with Unity's Flowers from Neverland and just added some washi tape (torn by hand) underneath.
I needed a small sentiment and used this one from Papertrey Ink from the 3rd anniversary set "Round & Round".
Note that the washi tape is slightly transparent and quite smooth (slippery). I found that my Ranger Archival ink stamped the best on it.

Sharing also with:
http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/2013/11/friends-with-flair_15.html

DS4J challenge: Stitching

It's a new challenge at Digistamps4Joy and it's all about STITCHING - Real or Faux!
This card ended up not looking at ALL like I started when planning. I was going to use the DS4J images "Button set" but then when I matched my colored images with the DP I wanted to use it didn't look right. So I switched my image to "Dress on a hanger" and cut it out to glue to a "real" hanger and that looked a lot better. The dress was actually printed on DP as well (something I seldom do) and the top part covered in Stickles. Lots of bling added as well :D

 The stitching was done by piercing a row of holes down the right-hand panel and then using a needle and some gold embroidery floss to stitch the row. Some bling was added in-between.

The close-up shows the Stickles and DP pattern. For some reason the Crystal Stickles made some lines on the top show up green. Quite nice I think :D

I think this is my "shiniest" card ever :D

Please join us at DS4J with some Stitching.

xxxx
Riette

Sharing with:
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com/2013/11/ttcrd-november-12-3013.html
http://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/ltscb-17-anything-goes.html
http://cardmaniachallenges.blogspot.com/2013/11/cmc-33-anything-goes.html
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/2013/11/mim-166-with-little-miss-muffet-stamps.html
http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/2013/11/ch-23-sparkle.html
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/2013/11/stitching-real-or-faux-and-its-goodbye.html
http://lacysunshinechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/lacy-sunshine-challenge-21-its-bling.html
http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/chall-105-gems-gems-gems.html
http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/challenge-71-anything-goes.html

MAWTT challenge: Swirly, Pearly and Girly!

It's time for a new challenge at Moving Along With The Times and here's my DT card for the SWIRLY, PEARLY AND GIRLY challenge!

 My friends and followers know I'm a CAS girl so when you hear Swirls & Pearls images come up of lots of embellished die-cuts & layers. But I wanted to show you can still stick to CAS using the theme. I actually love how this came out.

Swirls: Unity "Grow in Unity"
Sentiment:  Unity "Everything Wonderful"

Playing with:
http://www.cardsbyladyanne.com/stamp-challenge.html
http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2013/11/challenge-93-feminine.html
http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com/2013/11/anything-goes-with-smeared-ink.html
http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/2013/11/challenge-105-anything-goes.html
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com/2013/11/ttcrd-november-5-11-challenge.html
http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/2013/11/challenge-77-anything-goes.html
http://www.sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/2013/11/challenge-32.html

Anniversary blessings

Here is what the November anniversary cards look like for 2 church couples:

Used 3 stamps from the Unity KOM September 2013 (See if you can spot them)
Sentiment from the Unity KOM June 2013

Sharing with:
http://www.inklingsandyarns.com/2013/10/inky-linky-35/
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-2/
http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.com/2013/10/challenge-65-anything-goes-digital-team.html
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/2013/10/ptt144-anything-goes.html
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com/2013/10/ttcrd-october-29-november-4-challenge.html

Congratulation meadow

(Click HERE for my DS4J DT card)

Here's a simple card for anniversaries at church in December:

The meadow stamp is from UNITY KOM September 2013.
Sentiment is from UNITY Best Wishes & Blooms

Just added some washi tape to finish it off.
Take care everyone.
xxx
Riette

Sharing with:
http://www.inklingsandyarns.com/2013/10/inky-linky-35/
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-2/
http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.com/2013/10/challenge-65-anything-goes-digital-team.html
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/2013/10/ptt144-anything-goes.html

DS4J Challenge: 3 DP in 3 layers!

Here's a fun challenge that will make great use of your designer paper stash!! The new Digistamps4Joy challenge is to add 3 layers to your project using 3 different designer papers.

My project used paper from the same paper pack (easiest way to co-ordinate):

I've only recently "discovered" wasi tape and I'm looking to add some whenever I can!

DP: Prima "Meadow Lark"
Image: DS4J "Lady Rose"

So pull out that stash and play with us!
xxx
Riette

Sharing with:
http://www.inklingsandyarns.com/2013/10/inky-linky-35/
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-2/
http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.com/2013/10/challenge-65-anything-goes-digital-team.html
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/2013/10/ptt144-anything-goes.html
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com/2013/10/ttcrd-october-29-november-4-challenge.html

Filled with love

I recently received my Unity Kit of the Month for September (yep - it takes a while to cross the Atlantic) and I just absolutely LOVE it. I had to make a birthday card for a little girl and just HAD to use the jar.

I drew some hearts at the bottom with black fine tipped marker & then colored with Spectrum Noir. I then shaded the edges with some light turquoise before covering most of it with Glossy Accents. I pierced some holes at the top on the ends and threaded some thin red string through that and the cut out heart (same set). The bottle "label" is also from the same set and was glued in place after the Glossy Accents were dry.

When I took a photo there was a slight smudge on the right hand edge hence the addition of some wasi tape (which I'm starting to get addicted to; need MORE). A butterfly just finished it off.

Sharing with:
http://stampedblessings.com/amusing-challenge/
http://eclecticellapu.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/new-challenge.html (Inspired by film: Message in a bottle)
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2013/10/week-143-recipe.html (Twine / String)
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/challenge-240-butterflies.html
http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/2013/10/challenge-30.html (Anything goes)

Simple elegance

A simple paper pieced card:

Used some Perfect Pearls on the stand's ends and paper pieced the dress. The bottom frill was paper pieced twice to lift a little at the bottom.
Image: http://unitystampco.com/shop/love-the-little-things-kom-613/

Sharing with: http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/2013/10/friday-fun-time-for-friends-with-flair.html

1st Birthday Rocket

Here's a card that's a blast for a FIRST birthday boy!!

Rocket & Stars: http://unitystampco.com/shop/mr-boy/
Pulling on some foam numbers

Sharing with http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/2013/10/friday-fun-time-for-friends-with-flair.html

Happy Birthday Bicycles

Background: http://unitystampco.com/shop/happy-day-authentique-paper-itty-bitty/
Focal image: July KOM http://unitystampco.com/shop/spirit-of-summertime-kom-713/

Sharing with http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/2013/10/friday-fun-time-for-friends-with-flair.html

Floral delight

Some quick shares for Unity's Friends with Flair. Due to limited PC access these days I'm limited to the time I have in the week to post. So here goes:

Stamps: http://unitystampco.com/shop/flowers-from-neverland/
Sentiment: http://unitystampco.com/shop/happy-day-authentique-paper-itty-bitty/

MAWTT Challenge: Shape it Up!

Despite problems with a broken computer I'm so happy to be able to add my DT card for the Moving Along with the Times SHAPE IT UP challenge!

I hand cut the "pot" by leaving the folding edge along the angled left side (so it's open at the right). This is the reason why I had to photograph it lying flat hence the nasty shadows.... I added some white cardstock from the back to stick out the top on which I could adhere the foam cut-outs (bought in a pack from a scrapbook shop). The butterfly was die-cut.
Sentiment: Unity KOM September 2013

So get in SHAPE and join us!

xxxx
Red

DS4J challenge #78: Embossing

We had a great blog hop for World Card Making Day and now it's time for another challenge at Digistamps4Joy! This time use EMBOSSING, either wet or dry or both!

I used Grandfather Clock and coloured the black trim with an embossing pen before embossing with black. The 'gold' parts were coloured with clear embossing pen before being covered with gold Perfect Pearls powder.

The 'glass' and clock face were covered with Ranger Glossy Accents.
Cog wheel stamp on tag: Prima Marketing "Craftsman"
Embossing folder: Darice Steampunk
The sentiment was made with my Brother Labeller. Inside it says "...for a party".

Please join us at DS4J and enter your embossed projects.

xxx
Riette

Winner Blog Hop!

The winner on MY page for the DS4J Blog Hop that wins the image "Karoo Water" is...

Edwina!!!!

Please email Margy at info@digistamp4joy.co.za to claim your prize. Please note that it was on Riette's page for Karoo Water.

To see the winner of the grand prize go to: http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

xxx
Riette

DS4J BLOG HOP to celebrate International Card Making Day!

BLOG HOP EXTENDED TO 11 OCTOBER!

It's BLOG HOP time to celebrate International Card Making Day!! You should have come from PAM's page. If you need to go back to the beginning CLICK HERE.

I used a merge of Karoo water and Aloe and a lucky commenter on this post can win the "Karoo water" image. (See rules of the hop below.)

This image is very well known throughout the Karoo (semi-arid area of South Africa). My Mom grew up near a town called Kakamas in the Northern Cape which is known for it's desert-like landscape AND export quality grapes!! It's a sight to behold - desert landscape broken up by lush-green vineyards.

DS4J is also offering a whopping $30 Gift Voucher to the Digistamps4Joy store where you can choose any images up to a total value of $30! Now isn’t that a fabulous prize? But what do you need to do to earn it?

Many (not all) of the blogs will have a unique Letter of the Alphabet displayed in the Blog Hop post. Collect all these letters and put them together to create a short quotation. Send your answer to Margy at info@digistamps4joy.co.za with the subject title of “DS4J Blog Hop answer”. A randomly drawn winner will be chosen from all the correct entries received. (see rules below)

Here's my Letter to complete the Mystery Phrase!

RULES FOR ENTERING THE RANDOM DRAW ON MY BLOG

To win this image:

 

Please read carefully - we do not want you to miss out!

1). Be/become a follower of THIS blog

2). Leave a comment under this post

 

RULES FOR ENTERING THE $30 DRAW ON THE MAIN DS4J BLOG

Please read carefully - we do not want you to miss out!

1). Be/become a follower of the main DS4J blog

2). Collect all the letters scattered over the participating DT blogs, put them together to create a quote, then email this quote to Margy at info@digistamps4joy.co.za with subject title “DS4J Blog Hop quote”

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Your next stop will be the talented SHARON.

 

The Hop will end at 1600 (Central African Time) on FRIDAY 11 OCTOBER.

The full list of winners will be announced on Sunday 13 October at 7am CAT. on the Digistamps4Joy blog. 

Each blog will also indicate its own winner on the 13th :D

----------------------------------
Sharing with:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/october-anything-goes-challenge.html
http://disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/09/show-off-those-coloring-skills.html
http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com/2013/10/anything-goes-with-sassy-studio-designs.html
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2013/10/cas.html
http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/2013/10/challenge-201.html
http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/2013/10/challenge-27.html

MAWTT is back with Anything Goes!!

Moving Along With The Times are back from a break and our new challenge is ANYTHING GOES!!
Here's a quick and striking card using blue and red inks. The gears stamp is from Prima and the Sentiment from Papertrey Ink:

Come and share your latest creations with us. (Rules are on MAWTT's blog)

xxx
Riette

Sharing with:
http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2013/10/dlart-thankful-thursday-october-linky.html
http://www.ladyanneschallenges.com/3/post/2013/10/12-stamp-anything-goes-challenge.html
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2013/10/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-147.html
http://rheddandrosies.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/something-for-men16th-challenge.html
http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.com/2013/10/challenge-20-anything-goes.html
http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/2013/10/challenge-72-anything-goes.html
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com/2013/09/ttcrd-october-1-oktober7-challenge.html

DS4J challenge: Recycling with a twist (snowflake)

Here's my "Yuppiechef" thank you card for our new DS4J Challenge:

RECYCLING WITH A TWIST - Use a snowflake

You need to use a recycled item and you can get as creative with that as you can!BUT the twist is to add a snowflake!  I wanted to show that you don't have to do a Christmas or Winter card but still comply with the requirements :D 
I kept this cute piece of wrapping paper from a package of products I ordered from www.yuppiechef.co.za. It's got their logo on it and I've been meaning to make them a card to say Thank You for their awesome service.

I used "Kiss the Cook Apron" and images from the newly released set "Baking". And yes, I used a small snowflake stamp to add to the background recycled paper :D.

So scratch around in your scraps or take a look around the house - you never know where creativity might strike!

xxx
Riette

Sharing with:
http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2013/10/dlart-thankful-thursday-october-linky.html
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2013/10/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-147.html
http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.com/2013/10/challenge-20-anything-goes.html
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com/2013/09/ttcrd-october-1-oktober7-challenge.html

Cool Boy

Here's a cute card using the great Unity set Mr Boy and A Little Destination:

I shaded the open lined text with two colours (darker on top). I love this effect and then covered it with Glossy Accents.

Hope he'll like it!

Sharing with:
http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/2013/09/friday-friends-with-flair.html

xxx
Riette

Guest DT @ Lady Anne's Christmas challenge!

Not only am I so excited to be guest DT at Lady Anne's Christmas challenge but it's also my BIRTHDAY today!! What a happy coincidence :D.
Digistamps4Joy are the proud sponsor this time around and I used Christmas Tree (1):

I printed three copies of the tree and layered the sections in different shades of green. Added some red liquid pearls & sparkling stones.

Sentiment: Unity KOM June 2013.

It would be great if you could dust off your Christmas stamps and join us at Lady Anne's!

Falling leaves

Quick post #2:

Leaves: Unity KOM August 2013
Sentiment: Unity Birthday Chic

Useful links:
http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/2013/09/friends-with-flair_20.html
http://unitystampco.com/

Sharing with:
http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.com/2013/09/cfc115.html