Believe/Possible - Berry Bleu September Challenge

Hi Everyone

Hope you had a super weekend and that Monday has been gentle on your soul! ;-)

I have a page to share with you today for the challenge over at Berry Bleu here.

There is a sketch to inspire you, as well as use mixed media.



So here's my take on it.

I love this photo and I am pleased that I used it for this layout! The photo speaks of a journey and so my theme and journalling is based around this idea of a journey.

My journalling is about Joe's life journey and my wishes for him. "Believe that anything is possible and that anything you set your mind to is achievable! Believe that the world is your oyster and that everyday is special."

I used French Country Collection from Graphic 45. I did some gesso stencilling on the background and then added some copper embossing. The chippie swirls and corners are Enmarc.

Thanks for your visit today.
I am off to the sea-side for a little holiday, so will catch up with again next week Monday.
Have a super week!
Denise x

Learning is Fun - CSI Case File no.89

Hi Everyone

Hey, hey, it's Friday!!!! I am sooooo pleased that Friday has finally come around!

I have a layout to share for the Case File no.89 over at CSI.



So here is my page.

I have had this Glitz Design rub-on for ever and eventually this is the page that I decided to use it on.
I used Kaisercraft papers, Wilpro chipboards, October Afternoon stickers, 7 Gypdies washi tape, Prima stamps, Bo Bunny stamps, cotton, gesso, paints and Crate paper alpha's.

Evidence: Polka Dots, 2 different alphabets
Testimony: Fun

This year my son started Grade R and half way through the year the teacher alerted me to the fact that he might need some Occupational Therapy, as his writing and drawing was not age appropriate and perhaps he needed some help! Initially this was really distressing for me and I wondered if I as a parent had done something wrong and I felt very bad for Joe, that somehow I had let him down.
Once I had "got over myself", I just really wanted to help him as much as I could, and really get this OT started. I really wanted him to catch up, before he had to start Grade 1 and possibly fall behind.
He started OT in June and every week we have had to do homework and extra sheet work, as well as physical exercises to improve his small motor skills and crossing his mid-line.
Sometimes it has not been so easy as weekends are meant to be all fun and play, and homework for Joe is not really a fun task.
So I have tried my hardest to make these times fun and really encourage him to think about these little sessions as "fun" and not "work".
So this layout is really about reminding Joe and myself that learning is fun and we can do it anywhere, and the more we enjoy these sessions, the easier they will be.
Yesterday I went and collected Joe's 3rd term report and I was delighted to see that his writing and drawing has improved greatly! There is obviously room for improvement, but I am so proud of this little boys efforts! He is a bright boy and I just know that he is going to achieve great things!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
I so love your visits!
Have a super weekend!
Denise x

Key to my Heart - Prima Sep BAP

Hi Everyone

I really loved the sketch for the Prima BAP this month.  It really is a goodie.

I turned it on it's side and came up with this.

This picture of Joe was taken when he was just a month or 2 after his first birthday! Those big eyes are just too precious and I still remember this age so fondly.

I used a combination of the Life Time Collection and the Romantique Collection. I also used some Prima painterly petals Hydrangeas and it was really great to use a little bit of my stash.

I did quite a bit of die-cutting and even though it was time consuming, certainly adds to this page.

This little boy is certainly the key to my heart and I plan to write a little note, which will go in the little pocket next to the photo, and Joe can one-day read it, when he is bigger.

Anyways, thanks for coming by to visit.

I appreciate it!

Have a super evening!

Denise x

Colourful Memories On-Line Store - Svetlana Austin

Colorful Memories Online Store Now Is Open!

Svetlana Austin has opened her own on-line store! Please check it out below! She also has an awseome giveaway so read a little further for the details! ;-)

Colorful Memories online store is now open and welcomes you!

I understand that this news concerns more my South African scrappy friends but I am thankful to ALL of you for you support and encouragement especially through some of the down times. So I know that since you were with me then you will be sharing in my happiness as well :-))) Thank you to all my dear friends that I came this far. And let me tell - this is only the beginning! :-)))

*************

Настал тот самый день, которого я так долго ждала, к которому я готовилась вот уже несколько месяцев! Я думаю, что это сопособ начать новую неделю  ;-) 
Мой интернет-магазин Colorful Memories сегодня официально "открывает свои двери"!

Я понимаю, что эта новость больше касается моих скрап-друзей в ЮАР, но я очень благодарна ВСЕМ моим друзьям за поддержку и вдохновение, и особенно в те моменты, когда мне было не очень легко. Поэтому я уверена, что раз вы были со мной в то время, то вы разделите и мою радость сегодня :-))) Спасибо вам всем за то, что я смогла это сделать. И знайте, что это только начало! :-))))

So shall we have some party to celebrate my news?
I am giving away all 12 papers from brand new Postсards From Paris II collection from Webster's Pages and a generous box of embellishment some of which can be found in my shop.
Here are the rules how to enter:
1. you must follow my blog (through Blogger or Bloglovin);
2. you must post on your blog the Colorful Memories logo and the image of Post Cards From Paris II collection and share about this giveaway;
3. enter the link to your post using Inlinkz tool below

or if you don't have a blog but you are on Facebook then you need to do the following:

1. you must follow my blog through Bloglovin and must like my Facebook page;
2. share the link to my giveaway with your Facebook friends (please share the link to this post); 
3. enter the link to your post using Inlinkz tool below

If you did both then you can have a second entry :-)

Thank you again and good luck!

Spring - Scrap Africa Challenge no.21

Hi Everyone

Don't you also find that weekends are sometimes so jam-packed, because you are trying to get everything done that you don't have time for in the week? Man, oh man, sometimes I really just wish that the weeks were 4 days and the weekends 3 days! 2 days on the weekend, just never seems to be enough!! ;-)

There is a new sketch challenge up at Scrap Africa here, and it's about using washi tape and twine on a project.

Here's my take on it.

I really wanted to do a page about Spring, as it has just come so quickly this year and I am soooo pleased! Actually the temps are more like summer...so if this is anything to go one, then the summer should be nice and hot!

It's been a while since I did a page, where there were no patterned papers used! But I am really pleased with the result, as I really did want a Spring fresh page!

Here is a close-up of my journalling below.

I did some embossing on my chipboard frame, after I had first gessoe'd it, and love how it turned out.

Supplies used:
My Minds Eye washi tape, Twine, Die-cuts, Stencils, Gesso, Ink, Petaloo flowers, leaves and Donna Salazar chipboard Alpha's!

Thanks for stopping by!
I wish you a super Sunday!
Denise x

Messy Is Fun - Scrap Friends Sep Sketch Challenge

Hi Everyone

It is such a beautiful Saturday and I have been so busy this morning already! After the really warm weather this week, I really needed to sort out my cupboard and put all the winter woolies away and brought out all the summer clothes! I feel lighter already!!!! ;-)

I have a page to share with you for the Scrap Friends Sep Challenge here.



Here is my take on it.

These are photo's taken from last year, when Joe was still in nursery school, and so thought these Bo Bunny papers would be perfect. I can't believe that in just one year he has changed so much! Bigger, taller...soooo boy! ;-)

As I said, I used Bo Bunny "On the Go" papers and accents, as well as Bo Bunny stamps - Stained textures stamp and Detour clear stamp.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Your visits are so appreciated!
Hope you have an awesome Saturday!
Denise x

That Look - Bo Bunny Zip-A-Dee-Doodle

Hi Everyone

I was trying to save this post for later in the month, but I just can't help myself! I sooooo want to share this layout using the super,fun Zip-A-Dee-Doodle Colllection. You can get a good look at this collection here! You will see how fun and fabulous it is.

Anyways, so here is my page.

In line with this fun paper collection, I felt I had to choose a fun theme and so chose this photo of Joe. My journalling tells you the story of "The Look"!.

BoBunny Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Zip-A-Dee-Doodle, Zig Zag, Creative/ Zip-A-Dee-Doodle
Noteworthy: Zip-A-Dee-Doodle
Brads: Zip-A-Dee-Doodle
Jewels: Elf Magic
Chipboard:  Zip-A-Dee-Doodle 12 x 12
Stickers: Zip-A-Dee-Doodle dimensional stickers, Combo Stickers

Thanks for popping!
Your visit is surely appreciated!
Have a super day!
Denise x

So Lucky to have Each Other - OUAS Sep Challenge

Hi Everyone

I am sitting here listening to my favourite songs at the moment, while I write this post! Oh man, what would life be without music!!!! I am just loving Phillip Phillips....isn't he just super!! ;-)

Anyways, I have a page to share with you for the Sep OUAS challenge.


Journalling Theme: "Lucky"

So here's my take on it.

I really wanted to do some watercolours on the background and make it a bit of a grungy page. So I experimented and was happy with the result! Gesso, watercolours and lots of stamping!

I used MME Indie Chic papers, stickers and chippies and stamps! Along with that I used a Kaisercraft stencil, Basic Grey chippies, a Bo Bunny stamp, Prima and Petaloo flowers.

My page is about these 3 children that are cousins! I have done some pages in the past about these 2 girls, that Joe is so lucky to have! They are more like his sisters than his cousins and the 3 spend a lot of time together! The girls are patient and tolerant of him and really look out for him! He really does love these girls and is always eager to spend time with them! I am so pleased that they have each other and I hope that this closeness will continue into adulthood!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hope you have a happy Tuesday!

Denise x

Just Me - Bo Bunny Mood Board Challenge

Hi Everyone

Am I pleased it's Friday!!!! Yay!!!! It could not have come soon enough!

I have a page up on Bo Bunny's blog today and we were challenged to Romy Veul's mood board, which was just super.

So Maryia and I created pages.  Please pop over and have a look.

Here was my page for this challenge.

I love Romy's mood board. It is so soft and romantic. That is what I wanted to bring into my page, along with the pinks of the birdcage and the gold/yellow of that decadent cupcake. So I knew I had to go with The Avenues Collection, because it is perfect for this soft and romantic page.

I created a page about myself and really wanted to celebrate "Me". This page is about knowing that I am "enough" just the way I am.

BoBunny Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Clocks, Dot, Song Bird/ The Avenues
Cardstock: Maize Vintage and Jade Double Dot
Noteworthy: The Avenues
Brads: The Avenues
Jewels: The Avenues
Chipboard: The Avenues 12 x 12
Stamps: Curly Q, Wall to Wall Textures
Blossoms: Buttercup Dahlia

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you will pop over to the Bo Bunny blog and have a look there too!

Have a super Friday!

Denise x

Sweet Boy, Love You - SATW Sep Challenge / Prima PPP

Hi Everyone

It's Thursday already and this week seems to just have flown by!

I have a page to share with you for the SATW Sep challenge here! Its a real goodie.



I used both the dramatic colouring and the sketch as inspiration for my page.

I had some Prima Engraver paper and thought it would be perfect for this challenge, and so that is what I used! I used a Prima stencil and gesso for the entire background and then went and added some Copper embossing powder randomly. I really like how it turned out and will definitely use this technique again! (Thanks Kelly Foster for this little seed of inspiration! ;-))

Joe is now 6 and I really wanted to document how sweet he is at the moment! I mean, there are certainly "monster" moments, but at 6 I still can hug and squeeze and kiss him! He is really such a sweet boy!

I had finished this page yesterday, but could only photograph it today! I had to laugh when I saw the Prima PPP come out for September, and that this page fits perfectly for that as well!

Thanks all for stopping by!
Hope you have a super evening!
Denise x

Moments - Scrap Africa Sketch no.21

Hi Everyone

Two posts in one day!! That certainly has't happened for quite a while! ;-) But while the going is good, why not share?!

There is a new sketch challenge up at Scrap Africa and it a goodie.

Here is my version of it.

I first did some stencilling (Kaisercraft stencil) on the background and then tore and distressed my papers. I am very happy with how this turned out and made for a very soft page.

I used the Bo Bunny C'est La Vie collection. It is such a favourite of mine.

The petals are Bo Bunny and the blooms Petaloo. The chipboard title piece is Enmarc.

This photo was taken 2 years ago, just before we were about to leave for a family wedding! These 2 boys were dressed up and polished for the occasion.

Thanks for your visit!

It is truly appreciated!

Denise x

Aspang - CSI Case File no. 86

Morning Everyone

Happy Spring Day to everyone in the southern hemisphere! It is rather a chilly day here in Johannesburg, but the signs of spring are everywhere and the spring smells abound! ;-)

I had to skip a few CSI challenges, due to time constraints, but I am pleased that I was able to squeeze this weeks challenge in. The colours are so soft and gorgeous.



So here is my page.

Evidence: Scallops and Art Mediums
Testimony: Journalling about a City

My journalling is at the back of my page, as I did not want to compete the the writing on the background already. ;-)
My journallings says this:
Aspang is probably more a town than it is a city, but think it is one of the prettiest towns I will ever go to. This photo is at the centre of the town and is just beautiful in every way, with a stunning statue, beautiful gardens and beautiful surrounding shops and buildings too! It is quaint and so fabulously European.
Aspang is the home of the Mileder family and I will never forget how hospitable and friendly they were and how they opened their family to welcome ours.
We spent 2 and a half wonderful weeks in and around Aspang and enjoyed the 40C plus degrees of the fabulous summer weather!
We had the best time in Austria, and specifically Aspang, and I really do hope to visit it again in the future. Joe often asks "when are we going to Austria" again?" ;-)

I used Teresa Collins Summer Stories Collection, which had the perfect colouring and feel for this page! I punched the edges with a Martha Stewart punch and then did some chalking and stencilling with a fabulous Kaisercraft stencil. I outlined the chalking, which really gave it such a nice effect. The flowers used are Prima and no name brands.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Have a super Sunday!
Denise x