My 1st Match 'n Memory game

My friend, Madeleen, is hosting this week's Monday challenge at www.stamptv.com. And for it we have to make something for children. It can be a card, game etc.... I've been very inspired and made this little Matching / Memory game for another friend's little boy who is turning ONE on Friday. One card is still turned over to see that I covered the backs with some designer paper (Basic Grey in this case). They were also laminated to lengthen their (probable) short lifespan:

I used Unity Stamps' "Mix up of Cuteness" stamp set.

Birthday Butterflies

This card uses an old Clean & Simple layout #119. I bought some doilies for the first time the other day so just had to add some of that:

Flowers & Butterflies: GinaK Designs "Wild Flowers"
Sentiment: GinaK Designs "Whimsical Wishes"
Thanks to Victoria for inviting me over to Tuesday Alchemy: http://tuesdayalchemy.blogspot.com/2012/05/challenge-15-beautiful-butterflies.html

Clean & Simple #191

I haven't played along with Clean & Simple in a very long time but have been following their weekly layouts! This one was perfect for the anniversary cards I had to make for church. I turned it side-ways...

 http://cleanandsimplestamping.blogspot.com/2012/05/191.html

Background paper: Webster's Pages
Sentiment: GinaK Designs "All Occasion Tags"
Florish image: Unity Stamps "Grow in Unity"

Mixing patterned papers

This is my entry for this week's Make it Monday #67 at Papertrey Ink.
My papers are all from the same paper pack from Prima:

The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Round & Round anniversary set.

Vintage Bike (masculine)

Here is another "coloring picture" that I used for a focal image. Unfortunately I didn't bookmark the page and for the life of me I can't find the image again... :(

Sentiment: Unity Stamps "Birthday Chic"
Background paper: Webster's Pages

This card is entered into:
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/2012/05/ptt69-vintage-or-shabby-chic.html

Musical birthday (masculine)

Here is another handy "coloring picture" to use as a focal image. I found it HERE.

Sentiment: GinaK Designs "Enjoy the Sunshine"
Music background stamp: Kaiser Craft (http://www.scrap-a-doodles.co.za/kaiser-craft-clear-stamp-sheet-music/ - Link correct at time of posting)

Once again I used my Ranger Glossy Accents to mimic the shine of the black grand piano:

Vintage birthday (masculine)

Coloring pictures come in really handy when looking for specific images. This image below is from a coloring picture that I found here: http://www.squidoo.com/1920s-coloring-pages-and-pictures-roaring-twenties-1920s. There is also a really nice-looking trumpet :D

Sentiment is from Unity Stamps "Birthday Chic".
Background paper: Webster's Pages

Really clean

It's great when something simple comes together easily. This is a card that just happened so quickly:

Sentiment: GinaK Designs "Great Sayings"

This is entered into:
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/05/simon-saysclean-simple.html

Floral occasion

Here is an example of how you mask a mistake :D.  I got some ink splatters on the card stock at the top right hand corner AFTER everything was completed. So to mask it I covered it with Liquid Pearls and added some more for balance:

(Sorry about the angle and red background. I forgot to take pics and my sister-in-law bought the card for her sister so I drove over to her office this morning and took the photo(s) in their cafeteria...)

Digital stamp: http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/Flower-Fashion-Digital-Stamp-Set.html

Background paper: GinaK Designs "Petals & Wings"

Gingham Flight of Thanks

This is a quick little number that I made for either a Mother's Day or Thank You card.

Stamp set & Background paper: GinaK Designs Petals & Wings kit

Butterfly Gratitude

Close-up shows Stardust glitter pen on bodies and outline.

Stamps used:
Unity Stamps: Dream.Big (butterflies)
Papertrey Ink: Spiral Bouquet (sentiment)

I'm entering this into:
http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/2012/05/lawnscaping-challenge-clean-and-simple.html

Cool Fun

Here's a "sweet" little card for a birthday with a difference or to celebrate a holiday:

In the close-up you can see that I used my Ranger Glossy Accents to mimic a melting popsicle.

Stamps used:
Unity Stamps' Mix up of Cuteness

Other tools & materials:
Spectrum Noir markers
Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Spiced Marmalade and Broken China

I'm entering this into:
http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/2012/05/lawnscaping-challenge-clean-and-simple.html
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/05/simon-says-sweet-tooth.html

Emboss resist flowers

This is a very simple birthday card using clear embossing powder, Tim Holtz distress inks and a Spellbinders Fancy Tags die.

Close-up showing some Sekura Stardust pen lining the edges.

Stamps used:
GinaK Designs "Wild Flowers" (background)
GinaK Designs "Fanciful Tags" (frame for sentiment)
Papertrey Ink "Round & Round" (sentiment)

Entering this into:

• http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/05/simon-says-stamps-challenge-blog.html (HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY SSS!)
• http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-137-jeremiah-178.html
• http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/2012/04/hi-mim-fans-welcome-to-our-newest.html

A wedding card

Anyone else feel like their 'mojo' carries on having a vacation after you've returned back home? I'm sure mine is having a nice, relaxed visit to the Wellness Spa in Clarens because I sure haven't found it back home...

This card took me AGES to put together. Trying this and that, tweaking here and there ... I guess I don't have a lot of experience in making wedding cards and it's also tricky if you don't know the recipient. So you're not sure if you should go "fun" or "traditional", elegant or romantic etc. This was the final product and that's what I'm sticking to:

Close-up showing Ranger Glossy Accents and some Sakura glitter pen.

Stamp used:
Digichick: Wedding Cake

Other tools & products:
Spellbinders Rose Creations
Spellbinders Ovals & Scalloped Ovals (small)
Letack Craft "corner & border" punch
Spectrum Noir markers
Background paper: Prima "Meadow Lark"
Cardstock: GinaK Designs

Entering this into:

• http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/2012/05/challenge-26-handmade-flowers.html
• http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-9-ribbon.html
• http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/2012/04/hi-mim-fans-welcome-to-our-newest.html

Clarens

I haven't been online for a while partly due to internet problems but also because we went away on a little holiday for a few days. We went to the beautiful little town of Clarens in the Free State Province (South Africa) and it was an amazing trip. We went with very good friends whose kids are close in age to mine and they had an absolute ball. Here are some pics to show my overseas friends a little part of my beautiful country:

 These are a small part of the Maluti Mountains in the Golden Gate National Park.

We did a 4x4 trail near Fouriesberg called "Didibeng" (meaning 'place of fountains'). It was a fantastic drive until we tried to go up a mountain trail that was of a higher difficulty rating. Our friends went ahead of us and couldn't get their car up the second assent - it was too steep. Thank heavens that was exactly at the turnaround point so we could head back to the easier trail. My nerves were shot. In the picture above is my hubby and son on the left, with my girl in the middle. Our friend and his son on the right. My girlfriend was in the car with their sleeping 1 year-old.

 Gabriel re-arranging the pile of stones we found at the first look-out point. The other kids added their stone / stones as well to mark our visit.

 What a view.

 Our friends in their car leading the way up. 

This is a plateau in the Golden Gate National Park. Beautiful grass lands.

There was a little time for artistic pursuits. This is a photo of my FIRST art acquisition and the artist, William Dobbelaere (originally from Belgium).