Fun In The Sun | CSI

Hi my gorgeous friends!

Over at CSI, there is a lovely challenge for you to help us solve!  So many of the palette’s that Debbi selects makes me think of food – and this one is no exception!  ICE CREAM!!! 😀  She snuck some orange in there (and if you follow my blog, you must know by now that orange is my nemesis!), but I managed okay with it, I think!

Here is how I solved the case:

Scheme : all there

Evidence : flowers, triangles, stamps, sun, plus signs

Testimony : document a summer getaway

Somewhere in the middle of our April trip, we popped into the Stadsaal Caves in the Cedarberg mountains.  It was on one of our hottest days, but the temperature inside the caves was at least 10 degrees cooler.  We must’ve spent almost an hour there, walking around, looking at the flowers, climbing rocks, exploring the various caves.  It was Isabella’s first time in a cave, and she took full advantage.  Climbing up (mommy’s nerves!) and crawling in.  When we sat and chilled out for a bit in the largest of all the caves, she said that she would love to live in said cave.  And then she went on … and on… and one designing the interior; where she’d sleep, where we’d build our fires, etc.  It was definitely one of the most memorable times on our long road trip.

 

Beautiful

And my second piece, is for the July challenge over at Mix It Up Challenge Blog.  The theme for this month is “Anything Goes + Distressing”.  I opted to distress two ways – namely with my distress tool and I also decided that it was time to stop being scared of my new Oxide Inks, so I played around with them – and I’m VERY excited about the results!

Here is what I put together.  Both the layered pieces and the background were created using the Oxides.

Head on over to the challenge site and play along with us!  Can’t wait to see what you create!

How Blessed Are We | CSI

Hi friends,

It feels like absolute ages since I have blogged right here – and indeed, since I’ve spent time in my art room.  Life has been so crazy, but I’m happy to say that things are beginning to slow down and I can finally spend more time in my room.

TWO shares today – but my piece that I want to share with you right now, is for CSI: Color Stories Inspiration.  This is a colour palette that reminded me of macaroons!  Gorgeous icy pastels!  Em has designed yet another fabulous sketch for this one too; love that I got to use THREE photographs to create this piece.

Here is what I did.

Scheme : all there

Evidence : flowers & leaves, text print, cursive title, triangles, decorative border

Testimony : Weekend Mental Health writing prompt – The Healing Has Begun

Never in my wildest of dreams could I have imagined the journey that we had to take when daddy passed away.  I knew it would be hard – and it still is at times.  I knew there would be sadness – there still is.  I knew that there would be emotional troubles affecting us and our decisions – there still is, but we’re dealing with them as they come.  In truth, it is becoming easier as time goes by; as time heals all wounds.  I am blogging less and less on my Dear Beary blog.  I am crying less; though I have moments of missing him that knocks the breath from my lungs.  But I just cannot look past my blessings.  I have the most amazing child, who I love endlessly and would do absolutely anything and everything for.  I am so very fortunate to have a second great love.  A man that supports me, makes me smile, makes me laugh all the time, understands and accepts our situation and all the baggage that comes along with it.  A man that adores my daughter to the ends of the Earth and treats her as he would his own.  Family that support me wholeheartedly and I know are always, always there for me.  With all the troubles I have been through, I have the love and support to match it – and then some. I really, really am so very blessed!

Where Time Stood Still | CSI

Hey there.

CSI have a lovely new challenge for you to play along with.  This palette is absolutely wonderful; and I just love the ‘nature’ aspect of it.

I’ve used, again, a photograph taken on our road trip in April.  Here is what I created.  It’s safe to say that I LOVED working on this one!

Scheme : all there

Evidence : woodgrain background, mesh design, foliage, enamel dots

Testimony : document something about the outdoors

En route from one destination to another, our Wolfie took us to a semi-secret rock pool that he’d visited before on a previous road trip he’d done with a friend.  This is one of those places that only the locals would know about – you cannot just get there with a day-to-day vehicle – you do need a 4×4.  He’d told us all about how amazing the place was – but I was in awe of just how magical it was.  The sound of the water gently rippling behind us.  The sounds and sights of the birds, as they came there for a drink.  We had to climb down a little, so as we sat on the edge of the pool cooling down our hot feet, we were totally and utterly surrounded by nature.  Rocks carved out by the flow of the water over the centuries, on our left.  And on our right, an array of pretty fynbos and flowers; butterflies flitting all around them.  It was an incredible place and I really wish that we could have stayed just a little longer.

Here are some close up shots of my work.

Super Scream | CSI

Hey everyone!

Thanks for stopping by!

Today I’m going to share with you, my take on the latest challenge over at CSI: Color Stories Inspiration; such a delectable colour palette!  This one includes a diving sketch by our ever gorgeous and talented Em of The Nifty Pixel.

And here is how I solved this awesome case:

Scheme : all there

Evidence : solid white cardstock, stripes, speech bubbles, stars, hearts

Testimony : what’s your super power?

Well,  I *could* write about my own super power… you know those that all mom’s possess?  Eyes on the back of our heads.  Just “knowing” stuff.  Multitasking at its finest.  And on it goes.  HOWEVER.  I want to write about my Bluebirds’ super power.  See, she *actually* belongs to a super hero “club” at school.  Her super power changes often, unsurprisingly.  But the one which she possesses at home is (drumroll please) … a Super Sonic Ear Piercing Scream.  Really.  She tells us she can break glass.  No, really.  You *have* to believe an almost-seven-year-old, don’t you?  Fortunately for us (and our precious ears), The Scream only emerges when there is a tickle fest on the go.  Sometimes all it takes is a finger poke in her ribs to get it going.  And powerful though it might be, it’s not much fun to hear when all you’re trying to do is gently wake up with your piping hot cup of tea.  Seems as if she has yet to control it’s emergence…

Here are some additional photo’s of my piece.

Okay bye!

Time Spent Together | Ivytree Studio

Hi friends,

Today I’d like to share with you, the latest layout I worked on for Ivytree Studio, using their rather dreamy LOVE range.  You can head on over to their online shop here to purchase your own set of papers to play and create with.

Remember to scroll down to find out what papers I used in this range, as well as all links to touch base / interact with us, shop and where to share with the world of Ivytree Studio Friends, the master pieces that you created!

The papers from Ivytree Studio which I used for this were:

172/4 Rosy Wood Candy Stripes

172/5 Flower Accents

172/8 Pretty Pocket Cards

172/8 Hugs & Kisses

172/10 Dotty Blackboard

172/11 Candy Ombre

172/11 Hearts & Filligree

Additional materials : glitter glue, enamel dots, tombow glue, foam tape / dots

Visit Ivytree Studio to see more of what they are up to: www.ivytreestudio.co.za

Buy some of their pretty paper here

Connect with the team on their Facebook page here

Share your Ivytree Studio layouts with us here

Until next time!!

Road Trip | CSI

And for my second post, I want to share my take on the challenge over at CSI: Color Stories Inspiration.

Green, blue and white have become firm favourite colours for me to work with, so I particularly enjoyed working on this one!  And just look at that stunning sketch that Em put together for us!

Here is my piece:

Scheme : all there

Evidence : Plain cardstock, stripes, flowers, arrows, word/phrase sticker

Testimony : 100 random questions – sharing a new exciting thing (no 98)

We decided to take a road trip in the second week of the April school holidays; our Wolfster planned everything to a fine, fine detail.  In 10 days, we stayed at 6 different places – one highlight in particular was our trip to the Karoo.  I had never been before, so it was so special that he included this beautiful part of the world amongst our travels.

But the biggest highlight of all – for me – was when we stopped in the middle of a pan.  I couldn’t get enough of the texture and appearance of the cracks in the soil.  I actually ended up lying down on it to get some very interesting photographs.

There was something magical about it.  And my excitement at finally having to literally touch a pan must have rubbed off on my daughter.  She grabbed her blanket and “flew” all around us, shrieking “YEAH” most of the time; and just generally laughing and carrying on like an absolute loon!

It was the most amazing few minutes I’ve ever had!

You Always Brighten My Day | MIUC

Hi everyone,

I think it’s been practically a month since I’ve done any artwork!  It’s not by choice; April was practically a write off, as it was school holidays, we went away, then my daughter had a skin growth cut out of her knee, then it was her recuperation, then it was yet another long weekend for us here in South Africa (we were away again for 5 days).  Today is the start of busy-ness again – for pretty much everyone, I’m sure, as we’ve all had loads of ‘days off’.  Please bear with me as I regroup and re-prioritise!

Also, I have a terrible head cold – I’ve not been sick in about 2 years, and it has me seriously down in the dumps!

Anyway!

I have two posts to share with you today – and the first one is as my brand new role as DT for Mix It Up Challenge blog!

Our first theme is “Anything Goes + Embossing“.

I decided to do a single page layout.  I heat embossed the background with clear powder and a stamp; and then I watered down some distress ink and kind of dragged my page through it to achieve a water colour effect.  I hope you like it!

 

Always Laugh Always Smile

Hi guys!

First day of a two week school holiday – and I’m SO happy to still be in my jarmies, at 08:15!!  Much to do this week though, as we are going away for a little over a week at the crack of dawn on Saturday!

Anyway, today I want to share the latest case file over at CSI: Color Stories Inspiration.  This one is a major case file and as such, also includes a lovely sketch, done by Em of The Nifty Pixel.

Here is the single page LO I made for this case:

Scheme : all there

Evidence : stripes, flowers, wood, frames, triangle, circular element

Testimony : Prompt idea – what was your funniest moment

We need to laugh at ourselves; we really do.  Even in those incredibly embarrassing moments.  A few weeks back, I was walking around a clothing store when suddenly I bumped into someone, I turned to apologise profusely, until I realised I was apologising to a mannequin.  No one saw it happen – but a few heads turned when I burst out into the most raucous laugh.  It was one of those ‘you had to be there’ moments.  Life is very short; how boring it would be if we didn’t laugh every single day.

Totally Perfect

And now for my final post for today.  This one is for the gorgeous colour palette over at Words & Paintery:

For this one, I did an SPLO.  It feels like ages since I’ve done a layout – so addicted to Mixed Media am I!

Here is what I did: