Let sleeping dogs (and children) lie - CSI Challenge #68 / Keeping the Best April Sketch Challenge

Hi Everyone

I hope that you are having a super Saturday, whatever you are doing!
We have had the most glorious day here in sunny Jo'burg! There is just something about the warm, sunny weather that lifts the spirits and gets the creative juices flowing.

I created a page for 2 challenges today. Firstly here was the CSI challenge.



and then using Keeping the Best sketch.

So here is my page.

I did some gesso stencilling on the background with some stamping too. I used a combination of Basic Grey papers and Echo Park papers, with My Minds Eye washi tape and 7 Gypsies tape.  I don't know the make of the chippie owl, but the chain chippe is Enmarc and the brads are Teresa Collins.

Here are some close-ups.

Evidence: Stripes, brads, owls
Testimony: Using the word wise in my journalling.
My journalling tag is under the photo and says this:
A wise Mommy once said: "Let sleeping dogs and children lie" - Joe was 2 years old and Rosie just a few months old. These two had been playing and running around like mad things, until they eventually settled on the couch and promptly fell asleep! They were so pooped out!

The sketch and the CSI challenge really pushed me to try some new things and styling and I am happy with how it turned out.  I always think it's good to try something new.

Thanks for popping in today!

Really much appreciated!

Denise x

Heritage Page - Zeus and Zoe

Hello Everyone

Well the weekend is almost upon us and I am sure you are looking forward to it, as much as I am! ;-)

I have a heritage page to share with you today - Dad & Us.

This is a photo of my Dad and us 3 kids.  This was taken when I was about 7 years old. I just know that we were going to a function and we were all dressed up for the occasion. Don't we look spiffy?

I loved using the Zeus and Zoe crocheted round, buttons and text paper, as they really added to the heritage look and feel. The trim under the photo is May Arts trim and is really soooo divine! You will see I also did some  stencilling with gesso and here I used a beautiful DecoArt classic stencil.

Please check out the Zeus and Zoe Etsy store here, where you will find these wonderful crafting goodies.

Have a super weekend.
Denise x

Easter Egg Hunt - Prima PPP

Hi Everyone

Winter has certainly started setting in here in Johannesburg and the mornings and evenings are really becoming quite chilly! So I guess it's time to haul out those winter clothes and get the heaters all fired up!

The Prima PPP this month is all about spring.



So I remembered that I had taken photo's, from Easter, and thought they would be perfect for this challenge.

I used the Meadow Lark collection. These colours are so bright and fresh.  The chipboard is Celebr8 and was gesso'ed and spritzed with Dazzles. There is also some gesso stencilling on the strip behind the chipboard.

We hid Easter eggs and choccies, all over my Mother's garden.  The kids had to really look to find them! Some were so well hidden, that 2 days later we still found some, as well as my Mothers dog!!! ;-)

Thanks so much for having a look!
I hope you have a super evening.
Denise x

This is Me - Mini Album - Zeus and Zoe April Challenge

Hello Everyone

I hope that you had  a super weekend and that Monday is treating you kindly! I have a mini album that I created for the April Challenge  - Life as it is Now - and I am really excited to show you what I created.

The challenge this month is to create and journal a project about "life as it is now," the subject being "you as an individual."  This challenge is open to interpretation and you can add as much detail as you wish, and share whatever you wish to share about yourself. Hidden journaling for personal information is fine. There is one additional requirement for the challenge, and that is to incorporate the use of buttons into your creation.

This mini album is about Me, as I am now, in 2013, and is called "This is Me".  So one day, I will hopefully look back at this  little album and remember exactly what my life was like in this year.

It was actually quite easy to get my thoughts together for this project, as I had a pretty good idea what I wanted to journal and the points I wanted to highlight.

So firstly I wanted to have a photo of me, as I am now. Can you imagine me in 20 years time, looking back at this moment?

I also wanted to document what my life is all about and what is important to me.

Then I went on to document the things that I really enjoy and love! These are certainly the "stuff" of life!

I certainly had to have a picture of myself and my son in the album, as he is certainly the sunshine in my days! He has added so much joy and love to my life and is certainly one of the best things I have ever done! ;-)

Here is another picture of me and is adjacent to a big 42!! So that kinda tells you exactly where I am at! LOL!

So that is my "This is Me" album and I used some wonderful goodies from the Zeus and Zoe kit.

I loved the metal trinkets and rounds, the stick pins, the beautiful buttons and the wonderful laces and trims, the Prima Say it in Pearls, and so these were what I used throughout this album. 

I was also fortunate to have some Glamour Dust from DecoArt and this was really fabulous to colour the papers and metal round with.  The Zeus and Zoe Etsy store can be found 'HERE'.. and you can obviously purchase these wonderful goodies there.

It would be so super if you could join us for this challenge and we really hope to see your entry soon!

Just a reminder as so the wonderful prizes you could win:

Our main sponsor for May is kind enough to send some extra trim for a random winner this month..

The random winner will get trims from May Arts.

Cherish - Prima BAP April

Hi Everyone

I am back for my second post and this time it's the Prima BAP April challenge.

The sketch has a grungy look to it and so decided on a masculine page of my Dad for this challenge.

I used the Lifetime collection, along with a stamp from the Engraver collection.

My Dad is not a flowery person at all, and so I really wanted to keep this page simple and not use too many blooms.  I fussy cut the blooms from the paper and their centres are Prima tiny junkyard findings.

I spritzed the background with Perfect Pearls Mists - forever green and then did some finger painting over that. I like that it adds a little bit of shimmer and colour, but not too much.

This is not my usual style, but I am happy with how it turned out, and is perfect for the theme of my Dad. 

Thanks for your wonderful patronage!

Have a super Sunday!

Denise x

What are Little Boys all about? - CSI Challenge no.67

Hi Everyone

I hope you are having a super weekend and are finding some scrappy time! ;-)

We had rain from Friday night, about 6pm, right through until 10am yesterday morning, and then the day remained overcast and very chilly! It was a great day to scrap, but certainly not for photo's.
So I am eventually able to share a page with you for the CSI challenge.



The colouring and the sketch, just seemed perfect for a little boy page and so this is what I created.

These are such sweet photo's of Joe and so precious for memory keeping.

Evidence: Dinosaur accent and outlining with pen
Testimony: Title is a question and my journalling is hand written
My journalling is about Joe @ age 3 -
1. You love being outside!
2. You love getting dirty and playing in the mud, with your spade and bucket!
3. You so love water and can easily amuse yourself with the watering can and hose!
4. You adore Rosie and whatever mischief you are getting up to, she is right behind you!

I used the Toy Box collection from Crate Paper, with some 7 Gypsies tape and MME washi tape.

I used a container lid with some paint for the background circles and then did some splodge stamping.

Thanks for stopping by!
I hope you have a super day...
I will be back for another post a little later..
Denise x

Happy Friday!

Hi Everyone

Happy Friday! I am finished work for the day, already been to the dentist with my son, and now home and trying to keep warm! It's a very rainy and chilly day in Johannesburg.

Apologies for very little posts this week, but I have been really busy with DT work and life just being busy in general.  I am definitely going to put some projects up this weekend, if the weather allows me to take some photo's.

Here is a little sneak peak of my Zeus and Zoe project, that will be up on Monday.

Hope you have a super weekend!

Denise x

Happy Summer Days - Scrap Africa Challenge no.16

Hi Everyone

There is a super new challenge at Scrap Africa here.

Create a project, using Black and White photo's, Triangles and Confetti.

So for my DT layout, I created this page.

I did gesso work and stamping on my background and then used Echo Park - Happy Days collection papers and alpha stickers. The chipboard film strip is Enmarc.

I love the look of this page and came together so easily! It's always so great, when that happens with a page!

Here are 2 close-ups.

I really love this photo of Joe! So easy, relaxed and unaware that his photo is being taken.

I hope you will maybe join us for this challenge.
You have until the 30th April.
Have a super evening!
Denise x

A Sister by Blood, A Friend by Choice

Hi Everyone

I hope that you are enjoying your Saturday and hopefully finding a little bit of time to scrap.

I have been diving into my paper stash and decided to use some of my Websters Pages, that I had had for ages and was to scrooge to use.  But I decided that there was really no point in not being used, and so got it out and created this page! I also entered it for the Websters Trim and Ribbons challenge.

So here is my page.

I did a lot of fussy cutting from various papers, in the Wonderfall collection.  My gates chipboards are Enmarc and I used kwik crackle (Heritage Crafts) on them.  The title chipboard is Celebr8 and was just inked up. The flowers are Prima. The background paper is Sweet as Cheery Pie, and is probably the oldest paper that I had in my scrap stash! ;-) I just love that different collections can be used together.

Here are some close-ups for good measure.

This photo is of my sister and I.  She really is my best friend and I love that we are not only sisters, but essentially good friends!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Hope you have a super afternoon!
Denise x

Sightseeing... Bo Bunny April Sketch Challenge

Hi Everyone

Happy hump day! I hope that you are having a good week and that your Wednesday is a real goodie.

I am happy to say that I have really been diving into my stash and found some Bo Bunny papers, that I thought would be great for this sketch challenge.  Here is the sketch.



Here is my take on it.

I used Hello Sunshine papers and accents, with stamps from this collection too.  The only non-Bo Bunny is the Basic Grey alpha stickers.

I just love how easily this page came together! You know sometimes, when everything just falls into place?

This photo was taken in Rome and was a scorcher of a day! So the bright papers are also a reminder of the beautiful summer.

Okay...almost time for me to go and make some dinner...
Take Care
Denise x

The Gr8t Pretender - CSI Case File # 66 / Scrap Friends Sketch Challenge #12

Hi Everyone

It has been a busy Monday and so I am pleased to have a few minutes, before I go off and get dinner ready, to post this page.

I combined 2 challenges, the CSI challenge and the Scrap Friends sketch challenge.
Here they are.




I really liked the sketch and loved the new, fresh and modern look.  So my layout hopefully does it justice.

Evidence: Check/plaid / dog accent on my journalling tag
Testimony: Documenting my doggie
This layout is about my dog who believes she is bigger and stronger than any sized dog! She is certainly the Great Pretender.

My journalling tag under the photo says this:
This is Rosie, eye-ing the boerbul across the road. She thinks she is able to take it on, and often finds herself at it's gate. She is able to squeeze herself through the bars and make a dash for the boerbul. She is all bark and hackles raised! Such a little protector and such a little aggressor!

For the strips I used washi tape and the papers used are Echo Park. I did some stamping of the checked patterns and the splodges, but my rings are painted. The stickers used are also Echo Park, as well as the alpha's.

I really love how this page came together and very pleased with this modern and fresh look.

























I hope you start to the week has been a good one!
Have a super evening!
Denise x