Jeaunes

I HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE LIEBSTER BLOG AWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Oh my word, before this morning I have NEVER heard of the LIEBSTER BLOG AWARD........................ But when I got the email this morning fromCathy van de Bruinhorst at Cathy's Obsessions, nominating me to be given the award, I was really happy, truly surprised and ecstatic!!!!!!!!!!!

Cathy van de Bruinhorst is one of my fellow Design Team members over at Let's Scrap. She is an extremely talented scrapbooker and does the most beautiful layouts. Along with that she is such a huge inspiration to a lot of us! I really enjoy her layouts and her posts very much! I am really honoured that she thought of me!!!!!!!!!

Along with me she also chose 4 other ladies, they are:

Kay Wallace at KAY WALLACE SCRAPBOOKING
Mindi Brown at SCRAP CHAT & COFFEETALK
Debby de Wilde at SCRAPSOUL and
Michelle van Wyk at HOMESPUN SCRAPBOOKING

These four ladies are really talented and I would be honoured if you could head on over to their blogs and become followers (if you are not already a follower) and leave them some love :-)

Now the question is, what is the Liebster Award and how does it work.

This is what the Liebster Award represents:

"Liebster" is a German word meaning dearest, beloved or favourite, and the Liebster Award is sort of a chain letter among bloggers that is intended to showcase exceptional up-and-coming blogs (typically, those with 200 or fewer followers). There is no evaluation committee or formal award process for the Liebster Award, but in a way it is even nicer. It is recognition that a peer has noticed and appreciated your work.

Here are the rules:

Choose 5 up-and-coming blogs of fewer than 200 followers to award the Liebster Award to. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them. Post the award on your blog. Link it back to the blogs you have given the Liebster Award to, so everyone else can pay them a visit.

And now I am sharing and passing on the award to five up-and-coming blogs that I am sure will want to stop by for a visit and say hi. Here are the ladies who's blogs I have chosen. I have chosen them for different reasons, but it all boils down to the fact that they are ALL EXTREMELY TALENTED SCRAPBOOKERS and are a huge inspiration to me personally. There work range from techniques and unique tips to a giggle or some motivation every now and then. Here are my Liebster Blog Award Nominees:

Cariena Basson at MY LIFE IN STAMPS
Desire Fourie at DOING LIFE
Elizna Parsons at ELIZNA PARSONS
Canica van Loggerenberg at SHOESTRING SCRAPBOOKING
Carla de Zinger at SWEET SCRAPPINS

So these are my picks for this awesome award. I would love if you could go and check them all out and see for yourself and support them by becoming followers!

Scrappin' Regards

Monday, January 30, 2012

Oh my word, I am so excited............................

I found out on Friday that I made the cover of one of the South African magazines, Scrap Affairs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scrappin Regards

Jeaunes

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Oh my word, Suzy realised on the 21st of January that she had 500 followers to her blog Scrap with Suzy! That is really an achievement, CONGRATULATIONS Suzy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She has decided to celebrate her milestone with a GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you drooling all over the new CHA releases like I am? How about a $15 gift card to the scrappy store of your choice to get you started!!!!!!!!!!

How to enter in order to win:

Become of follower of Suzy's blog - Scrap with Suzy
Leave a comment with one (or more) new line on your scrappy wishlist

For an extra chance - leave a second comment with a link to your blog, sharing her giveaway badge, linked back to her blog.

She will be using random.org to choose the winner on Friday, January 27th.

Scrappin Regards

Jeaunes

Thursday, January 19, 2012

We are very excited to welcome you to our brand new challenge blog - Scrap Africa!!!!!!!!!!!

Why did we start this blog? Svetlana Austin and Evgenia Petzer started this blog for the simple reason - they want to showcase and celebrate the creative talent we have in our beautiful country. At the same time, they want to share it with the rest of the world and be inspired by others. While the focus is on scrapbooking in Southern Africa, we hope that the challenges will attract scrappers from different parts of the world!!!!!!!!

Along with three other very talented ladies, I was approached to be one of the Designers for the Scrap Africa Challenge Blog. You can just imagine how ecstatic I was when I received the initial request......... I am really looking for to working with these ladies, they are some of the finest in the country!!!!!!!!

So, how does it all work:

Every 2 weeks, on Thursday, we will be piblishing a new challenge for you. You will have 3 weeks to complete the challenge. We will alternate the sketch challenge for layouts with theme challenges. For out theme challenges you can create any kind of scrap object (it can be a layout, a card or an altered project, as long as you follow the requirements of the challenge).

You can combine our challenges with challenges from other blogs. Just make sure that you do not combine similar challenges together. You cannot take part in two challenges on our blog with the same project (our challenges will overlap and therefore you cannot for example make a layout using a sketch and then enter the same layout into the theme challenge on Scrap Africa.

The design team will choose the best entries which will feature on Scrap Africa blog. We will also choose someone to be our guest designer for one of the challenges. We plan to have sponsors for our challenges. After every two challenges (a sketch and a theme challenge) we will randomly draw the prize winner among the participants. We think that this new venture is something worth celebrating.

But wait a moment. What is a celebration without a gift?

Copy the picture from this post and post it on your blog or in any other internet community. Tell you friends about Scrap Africa and our give-away. Then link your "hoot" with the linking tool at the bottom of this post and stand a chance of winning a gift pack with wonderful scrapbooking goodies to the value of R300 from the authors of Scrap Africa.

*** This give-away is only open to South African and Namibian scrappers. Only one entry per person!!!!!!!!!

Good luck and don't forget to check out our first challenge.

Scrappin Regards

Jeaunes

http://scrapafrica.blogspot.com/

LET'S HAVE AN ADVENTURE

While we were in Natal last year June, my husband and a friend decided to go to the Moses Mabhida stadium and do the "Big Rush Big Swing". This is the world's only stadium swing and the largest swing of any kind anywhere. Jump into the void, 106 meters above the world cup football pitch and swing out in a huge 220 meter arc under the iconic arch.

As anyone, the were terribly excited and full of adrenalin, even on the way down still. Days afterwards they were still talking about the rush!

I used one of the sketch from the September 2011 Pagemaps.

The picture in the layout I took on the way down from the top, with the sun behind the ramp. I used a range from Glitz Design, named Vintage Blue. When I saw the range with all its embellishments I fell in love with it. I used some of the embellishments, for this layout. But unfortunately a lot of the embellishments are hearts and very lady like, so I had to be very careful! The flowers and butterflies I used were from Prima. And then I also included a metal frame from Tim Holtz.

I attempted to do some heat embossing, but it was a bit of a mess. The embossing powder only stuck to a portion of the stamp, so half of the stamped image is embossed, and the other half is not. But in the end I actually like the way it turned out. Here are some close ups.

I hope you enjoyed it.

Scrappin Regards

Jeaunes

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Oh my word ladies, can you believe we are in the third week of January 2012 already? Well that means that over at Let's Scrap Debby has an awesome card sketch for us and it is Team A's turn for the front page :-)

Here is this week's gorgeous LS card sketch by Debby, along with my take on the sketch.

I must say I was not particularly impressed with my take on this week's sketch. But, unfortunately I also did not get round to making another card before d-day........ Maybe I'll get a chance later in the week and redo the card :-)

I used some black cardstock for the base of the card. The pattern paper that I used is from BoBunny's Crush collection. The cardstock die-cut which I used for the title of the card is also from the same range.

There is also of course some prizes to be won. Here is this week's sponsor...........

Here is a little about them:

WeScrap offers monthly and limited edition kits always at low prices and never with any commitments! Make sure to check them out at:

http://wescrapkits.blogspot.com and http://www.etsy.com/shop/WeScrapKits

Here is the wonderful price they are giving away!

Hope you enjoyed it,

Scrappin Regards

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

One of the more recent blogs I started to follow on Google reader is "Keeping the best.........." It really is a beautiful blog with authors and designers from all over the world. Their main aim is as follows:

Sketches and excellent prizes are waiting for you twice a month. We will be glad to see your work and we hope that your sketch will help you to preserver the best memories of life! We wish you never ending inspiration and happy scrapping!

Well they are replacing their DT partly, and not sure how many new designers we're going to add to our DT, because they're afraid they'll be so amazed by the beautiful works that they won't be able to limit themselves - so go ahead! The new members of the DT will have a 6 months term, some of them may stay longer after that period depending on the results of their work.

Conditions:

make a layout based on the any sketch;
post a banner announcing the DT call to your blog and place it on the sidebar too (optional);
send your project to our email keeping.the.best@gmail.com, include your real name, nickname and a link to your blog;
one project from one participant only;
your projects are accepted till the 30th of January inclusive!
results will be announced on the 31st of January.

Requirements to the members of "Keeping the best...." DT:

create a new project (layout by sketch) twice a month;
make a new post with your projects to your blog (live journal or any other resource) after the challenge is announced in "Keeping the best..." blog;
leave comments for the projects of challenge players;
take part in voting for the guest designer and the top works;
create one tutorial during your term.

So hop on over to "Keeping the best..........." and have a go!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Hi there blogger friends! I am very excited to announce that there will be a MASSIVE blog hop during the entire month of February!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of my talented DT collegues, over at Let's Scrap - Mindi Brown from Montana, US is the organizer. And she is doing an AWESOME job, thank you Mindi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are a lot of talented ladies, 50 to be exact (yes 50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) that will be hosting with each one offering some wonderful prizes! Each hostess will be offereing some wonderful blog candy along with 2 chances on each blog to win some RAK!!!!!!!!!! That means you have 100 possible chance to win, is that not AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The blog hop will be running from the 1st to the 29th of February 2012, so make sure to mark your calandars and be ready to make some beautiful cards and of course win some AWESOME blog candy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As Mindi states it - you only get a chance to Leap Around the World every 4 years :-)

Luv

Jeaunes

Thursday, January 5, 2012

And here we are, not only at the beginning of 2012, but the first sketch for 2012 has arrived

This is another stunning sketch by Cheri, and I really enjoyed making the layout. The thing I love the most is the banners!!!!!!!!! Here is my take o this week's sketch.

When I saw this sketch I battled a bit to get some portrait pictures, but once I found some I really enjoyed making the layout. The pictures I used in this layout is from my trip to the Lowveld in Mpumalanga during August 2011. I took the pictures on one of our day trips up the panorama route. This place is called Bourke's Luck Potholes.

The paper I used is from Kaisercraft - their Hunt and Gather range. I really enjoyed using this range. Initially I bought the range to scrap with some of my husband and dad's fishing pictures (but unfortunately there have not been that many pictures this year, as the fish are not really biting). So I then decided to use some of it on this layout. The best part is that there is not that many paper that I used - only 2 sheets for the background and another 2 sheets of which I used both sides of the layout, that is awesome (I think!!!!!!!!!!!).

When it came to the embellishing I really battled. I made the layout prior to Christmas, left it for a week and then finished it just in time for the post :-) Here are some pictures of the detail.

I used some of the Hunt and Gather chipboard embellishments with the banners that I cut from the left over paper. All of the swirls are from BoBunny and the flowers are Prima flowers. I wanted to do something different with the chipboard swirls and the chipboard letters of the title. So I inked them with Tim Holtz distress ink; I then used some dimensional glaze and just after glazing the elements, I squirted some Perfect Pearl Mist (heirloom gold). You cannot really see it on the pictures, but I really like the effect (you should try it)!!!!!!!!!

I am also not a massive journaller. I do however like to add some general knowledge about the area. So here I included how the potholes were created and how it got the name. The journalling reads as follows:

The natural water feature marks the beginning of the Blyde River Canyon. Through countless eons the swirling whirlpools which occur as the Treur River plunges into the Blyde River caused waterborne sand and rock to grind huge, cylindrical potholes into the bedrock of the river.

The potholes were named after a gold digger, Tom Burke, who staked a claim nearby. Although his claim did not produce a single ounce of gold, he correctly predicted that large gold deposits would be found in the area. Hence the name - Bourkes Luck Potholes.

This week's sponsor on Let's Scrap is

Here is a little about them:

Hi I am Sheila Oxley, owner of That's Jazzy Stamp Dreams!

You can see the stamps at my Etsy shop and if you are the winner and find one you would rather have, please let me know! My goal is always to please you!

I have been making and selling my stamps since October 2007 and I've been a member here since September 2009!

If you have any questions, or just want to chat with me drop me a note!

I also want to thank you all for the inspiration I see every time I'm in the Gallery. So I hope you'll keep up with my shop. I'm always working on new designs to turn into stamps in fact I have several almost completed!

And for my Let's Scrap friends for the month of January you get 20% off at my Etsy shop! Just use code LetsScrap20 at checkout!

Here is the wonderful prize she is giving away!!!!!!!

So head on over to Let's Scrap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Wow, can you believe it - Christmas is over! And here is the last sketch for 2011.

As you can see, it is another stunning sketch designed by Cheri - and what makes this one so awesome is that there is a flap on the left hand side, where you can add another 6 pictures!!!!!!!!! Here is my take on the sketch.

So what did I go and do - swap the sketch :-) I must say I had a bit of difficulty with this layout and it did not really turn out as I wanted it to, but in the end I just left it. I could actually not decide what else I could use and do with it.

All the elements in the layout (paper and all the embellishments) are from Simple Stories. This is one of their newer ranges that have just landed in South Africa - Year-O-Graphy. I really enjoyed using this range! It really is such a fun and versatile range!

Here are some pictures of the detail:

With the DT at Let's Scrap being divided into two groups, we each get a week off. Now this was my week off (ending this past Sunday, New Year's Day) so that means my layout also gets placed in the draw for the weekly sketch draw. This week we have another awesome surprise by

That's right, they sponsored us again this week, isn't that great!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a little about them

In 2007 I started with Art from the Heart, with a vision to create locally produced Scrapbooking products. During this time, Scrapkits.co.za was also launched, offering correspondence kits to scrapbookers. As a graphic designer, my time is divided between being creative in my different fields. With a job that is drived by briefs and stringent deadlines, I find scrapbooking a therapeutic way to record my family's stories. My goal is to leave behind documentation for my 2 daughters, about our everyday lives here and now, our experiences, the good and the not so good.......... Hopefully when they're my age one day, they will be able to reflect on these albums and learn more from them and remember days gone by. I hope you enjoy these products as much as I've enjoyed creating them.

Warm regards, Tracy

http://www.artfromtheheart.co.za/

Here is the wonderful prize they are giving away!