Decorated lotion tubs

In a previous post I mentioned that I made some body lotion (body butter) for friends and family but I didn't decorate the tubs with anything. That won't do!

I just adhered it with a small piece of double-sided tape so that it can be removed. I don't think the paper & butterfly will survive much handling or handbags. Mine won't!
I used the Unity sentiment kit: http://www.unitystampco.com/shop/everything-wonderful/

xxx
Riette

DS4J release "Washing Line"

It's release Sunday at Digistamps4Joy!  I had a lot of fun making this new set and I'm sure there are a lot of possibilities with it or just to use it for a background too!

The set consists of a lot of little elements that you can add. Just select and resize, rotate as needed and "hang" them on the line! The line can be stretched length-wise as well to fit a horizontal card as you can see on mine.

On my card I just added a simple sentiment implying the birth of a baby boy by using my zentangled nr "3" from DS4J as well.

Visit the DS4J blog for more inspiration and more released images or hop straight over to the shop where you'll see them as well.

As frequent visitors on my blog might have guessed, I love a good quote. So let's end off with one:

We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.

E. B. White

 

God bless you all.

xxx

Riette

Sharing with:
http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/2014/12/challenge-237-anything-goes.html
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/challenge-271-make-scene.html
http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/merry-christmas-and-anything-goes.html
http://paulaholifieldcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/albc-anything-goesbut-not-christmas.html
http://thesistersofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/sisters-of-craft-dec-anything-goes.html
 

 

Jar tag

I love gift wrapping and this time of year I usually have a great time!  Here's another package I've made up with a "jar tag":

I made some home-made body lotion (in the small jar) and added some handmade soap from a friend of mine (she is brilliant and her products amazing!). A little choccie treat will not go amiss either!

Stamp sets used:

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

http://www.unitystampco.com/shop/happiness-limit/

Playing with:
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.ca/2014/12/ptt-challenge-193-anything-goes-theme.html
http://www.baffies-kreativladen.blogspot.com/2014/12/challenge-39-geschenkverpackung.html
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com/2014/12/ttcrd-anything-goes-dec-9th-15th_9.html

DS4J challenge Celebrate Something New

I'm HOSTING at Digistamps4Joy!!  We are speeding towards the end of the year. Just a hop over Christmas and there's 2015 waiting for us!  So let's

CELEBRATE SOMETHING NEW

This can be anything from the New Year, New Baby, New Home, New Craft Toy, New Anything! Or maybe just a NEW BEGINNING....

I decorated a little kraft gift bag with some Bo Bunny papers & scraps.  I used my "Flower Circle" image and a sentiment / quote:

Quote centered

Quote angled (like I used in the circle)

Please head over to the DS4J blog to see more inspiration, get the details & link-up!

xxx

Riette

Playing with:

http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.ca/2014/12/ptt-challenge-193-anything-goes-theme.html

http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/2014/12/challenge-162-anything-goes.html

http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com/2014/12/ttcrd-anything-goes-dec-9th-15th_9.html

DS4J new image 'Zentangle nr 3'

Someone is turning 3 somewhere!!

I saw the idea for the bunting / banner in the Ideas Magazine (http://dailyfix.co.za/crafts/) where they just wrapped pieces of washi tape around yarn / thread and trimmed it into shape. Cool, hey!
I used the layout from Happy Little Stampers as inspiration:

Head over the Digistamps4Joy for more inspiration & links to our current challenge!

xxx
Riette

DS4J new image Storm Lantern

One thing us South Africans know very well is being in the dark. Yes, the darkest Africa gets a lot darker during power load shedding. That's what the government calls it when they wilfully shut down power because the power supply can not meet demand.  We won't go into the very depressing reasons. Gotta look on the bright side!! Oh wait - there's no light to see the bright side!! LOL - need to have a sense of humour about these things.
Anyway, enough complaining, on to my new, very appropriate, image for Digistamps4Joy, Storm Lantern:

 I used my beloved Ranger Glossy Accents to mimic the glass:

All papers Webster's Pages "Family traditions"
The layout is from The Sweetest Things #247 (layout blog):

Here's the free quote to use as you wish (not for re-sale as a digital image):

In Afrikaans we say "Hou die blink kant bo!!" (Keep the shiny side up!")

xxx
Riëtte

PS: Here's my kitchen counter to wrap Christmas presents during load shedding:

Name tags for Christmas gifts 2014

Every year I try to do something special / different with either the name tags or with the wrapping of the Christmas presents. I've done wrapping in bubble wrap (not soon again), had key chains for name tags (last year) and one year I had the picture of the recipient as the name tag. That one was quite fun for the kiddies.

This year I'm stamping on 'tongue depressors' (really, need to call that something else!!).  They still need to get a little hole drilled on the one side for the ribbon:

The 'front' was stamped with a stamp from Unity's "Growing in Unity" and the backs with "to and from" from the October 2013 Kit of the month.

Quick and fun to make!

xxx
Riëtte

Previous years:

The key chain name tags

 

Bubble wrap gift wrapping with 'serviette-decoupage-on-clay" name tags!

 

The year in purple with hand-stamped & die-cut name tags

 

(There was also a 'Furoshiki' year I remember!)

Merry Christmas

This could easily be the last Christmas card I've made for 2014!  I wanted to play with the sketch at Happy Little Stampers for December and I need to get more use out of my Unity Kit of the Month (October 2013)!

Have a great day everyone.

xxx
Riette

I'm hosting "Christmas Climate" challenge at MAWTT!

Hi all

I'm hosting this week's challenge at Moving Along With The Times and we have a "Christmas Climate" challenge for you!!!

(Copy from challenge blog)
Every year this time, some of us in the Southern Hemisphere, looks longingly at all the snowy Christmas cards while we boil in the beating down sun. Our Christmases are filled with beach holidays (for the lucky ones) or finding a swimming pool to cool off in.  So my challenge is to make or share a new card that features YOUR

Christmas Climate!! 

For a random winner I will be giving away one of my images at Digistamps4Joy called "Christmas Baobab". Few things say Africa like a Baobab Tree!

 

Here's my card:

 

I used the layout from The Sweetest Things (a JFF, sketch blog)

Please visit MAWTT to see more inspiration from the Design Team and for the deets & link-up.

xxx

Riëtte (Red)

Playing with:
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.ca/2014/12/ptt-challenge-192-anything-goes-theme.html

 

Zentangle nr 2!

Here's nr 2 in the Zentangle numbers series at Digistamps4Joy!

Pared with Box Kite.

Image link: http://digistamps4joy.co.za/eshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21&products_id=1452

Layout:
Viva la Verve November 2014 week 3

Sharing with Seize the Birthday! (sorry I couldn't include leaves this time!)

Christmas Baobab

Here's a quick post for my Christmas Baobab!  Truly Christmas with an African flair!

 Free sentiment:

 Following layout from Happy Little Stampers

Image link:
http://digistamps4joy.co.za/eshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=1453

Sharing with:
http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/challenge-123-holiday-dt-call-dt-call.html

Gift tag & bag

They're having a Secret Santa gift giving at hubby's work today and it came upon me, of course, to put everything together. He did find out that the recipient (whom he doesn't know at all!!) likes cooking and that was a lot of fun for me to pick and choose.  Here's the tag and bag I made:

Front of tag

Back of tag

Stamped gift bag - with cool gift!!



 

I hope she'll like it!!

 

I used Unity Stamp Co's October 2013 Kit of the month.

 

xxx

Riëtte

 

also sharing with:

http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/challenge-287-27th-of-november.html

http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/challenge-123-holiday-dt-call-dt-call.html (and DT call!!)

http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/2014/11/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-205.html

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-10/

 



DS4J challenge 105 Christmas

So the Christmas decorations are up. I heard the first Christmas 'pop' song on the radio the other day. We must be speeding towards it!
At DS4J we have our CHRISTMAS challenge! So link up all your Christmas creations.

Images: Xmas Twigis - Winter
Sentiment: A retired set from GinaKDesigns
Layout: clean&simple #312 (not a challenge blog)

Ho Ho Ho!!
xxx
Riëtte

Also playing with:
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.ca/2014/11/ptt-challenge-191-anything-goes-theme.html
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com/2014/11/ttcrd-challenge-nov25-dec1.html
http://cardmaniachallenges.blogspot.com/2014/11/cmc60-use-digi_17.html
http://merrymondaychristmaschallenge.blogspot.ca/2014/11/merry-monday-136-red-green-and-white.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-10/

DS4J release Zentangle Nr 1

I love doodling and used to go through pages of paper at University and that's why I really enjoy the concept of "zentangle". You just go where your mind takes you.  Here's the first of a series in zentangle numbers available at the DS4J shop:

 After colouring I covered the number with Glossy Accents for some texture and shine.

I used the 2nd November layout from Viva la Verve Sketches (LOVE their sketches!):

Have a blessed day!
xxx
Riette

DS4J release Birthday Banner

I love the idea of all the banners & bunting I'm always seeing on cards and finally I decided to draw a Happy Birthday banner that can be used as a "scene" item or sentiment!

I paired it with the gorgeous Daylily also from DS4J.
Remember all the new images will be available from today in the DS4J shop.

Here's a SHORTCUT to all my images.

Layout from Freshly Made Sketches #163

I rotated it and then kept the layout in the length.

Here's to a blessed week.
xxx
Riette

MAWTT challenge Autumnal Leaves

We have been experiencing slightly unseasonal cool weather here in the Southern Hemisphere and I am SO thankful!!  So making an Autumn card was fitting in beautifully.  Our challenge this week at Moving Along With the Times is

AUTUMNAL LEAVES

Stamp set:  Unity Stamp Co' "Grateful Hearts"
Layout: clean&simple #312

To everyone being hit by the heavy snows we saw on the news - Be Careful Out There!!
xxx
Riette

Also sharing with:
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-thanksthanksgiving-2/
http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/2014/11/pwc337.html
http://ema-ginationstation.blogspot.com/2014/11/AG-challenge-no-8.html
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/2014/11/november-challenge-2-give-thanks.html
http://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/challenge-91-anything-goes.html
http://cuttinandstampinchallenges.blogspot.com/2014/11/cuttin-and-stampin-thanksgiving.html
http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com/2014/11/challenge-196-thanks.html (1 entry)
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com/2014/11/ttcrd-challenge-nov-18th-24th-2014.html

Christmas Giraffe

Hi everyone

On the home front I am sitting with a little girl with a broken leg and that has been a bit like having a new baby in the house. Poor angel is very brave but very dependent again on Mom!

I did have some time to make a card for my fellow DS4J DT member, SARA who is also over at the Naughty or Nice Challenge blog. Their challenge? Holiday Animals.
Margy (owner at DS4J) created this very cute "Giraffe with Christmas lights" and it immediately popped to mind when I saw the challenge.

Fonts used for sentiment:
African
Angelic War

 I used the layout from Happy Little Stampers (NOV) again:

Have a GREAT day everyone!
xxx
Riette

also sharing with:
http://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/challenge-91-anything-goes.html
http://ema-ginationstation.blogspot.com/2014/11/AG-challenge-no-8.html
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.ca/2014/11/ptt-challenge-190-anything-goes-theme.html
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com/2014/11/ttcrd-challenge-nov-18th-24th-2014.html
http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com/2014/11/get-ready-for-christmas.html
http://rubysrainbow.blogspot.com/2014/11/ch92-non-traditional-christmas.html
http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/challenge-142-make-it-for-christmas.html

DS4J release STAGE

And here is my third release today at Digistamps4Joy. You can either use it as a type of background as I did here or as a frame for a sentiment / image:

My sister is in Musical Theatre (teaching, producing, directing, choreography, script writing ... you name it) and this reminded me so much of her!  And then I had the perfect sentiment to go with it! (GinaK Designs Petals & Wings)

The beautiful drama lady is "Gwyneth" (Margy)

So here's to dreaming BIG!

XXX
Riette

Quick link to SHOP

Sharing with:
http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/2014/11/ttcrd-challenge-nov11-nov17.html ( Hi everyone!! )
http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/dt-call-and-anything-goes.html
http://agirlwhocraftschalengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/november-anything-goes.html
http://memascrafts.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-challenge.html
http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/challenge-83.html

DS4J release 20s HATS

Here's one image used from my set of 2 '20's HATS' for Digistamps4Joy:

I paper pieced the hat and lifted the front edge off with foam tape. A little Sekura stardust pen adds a faint shimmer to the lacy strips.

Fonts used:
Baroque Antique
Park Lane NF

I used the layout from Happy Little Stampers (I LOVE their CAS layouts!!)

 

The second image in the set is on a hat stand:

Visit the DS4J blog for more inspiration or head directly over to the SHOP :D

Xxx
Riette

Sharing with:
http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/2014/11/ttcrd-challenge-nov11-nov17.html ( Hi everyone!! )
http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/dt-call-and-anything-goes.html
http://agirlwhocraftschalengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/november-anything-goes.html
http://memascrafts.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-challenge.html
http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/challenge-83.html