Jeaunes

SIMPLE & SWEET MEMORIES

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

With my DT duties over at Let's Scrap I have not really been able to to a lot of other layouts these past few months, other than those for Let's Scrap. So with all of those up to date, I got a chance last week to make a layout without a Let's Scrap sketch.

But oh my word, what a mission it was..............................

I had 4 pictures that were taken at my aunt's wedding, 24 years ago, where I was the flower girl. Initially the layout was going to be for the DT application for Pencil Lines (which closed in October already), but I never got round to it. The layout just never got "together". I was not sure whether it was the paper or all the pictures, it just did not want to work. Then I came across (and bought) the new range from Prima - the Pixie Glen Collection.

When I saw the paper and embellishments, I just knew that those pictures would be perfect for this range. So I headed home and the creativity started. Here is the end product

In the end I decided to only use two of the four pictures and to make another layout at a stage with the other two pictures. All the paper and embellishments I used were from the Prima collection. Here are some close-ups of the detail.

I hope you enjoyed it and are now inspired to use that collection.

Happy scrapping!

LET'S SCRAP SKETCH 11-09-11

Hi there everyone,
It is that time of the week again - a new sketch on Let's Scrap has been posted.

Here is my take on this week's sketch!

I only used the left hand side of the sketch this week and rotated it 90 degrees anti-clockwise. Instead of using one big picture, I used 4 postcard size pictures, but you will see I matted them on one sheet of paper, thereby making it look like one picture.

The pictures in the layout are from the stack of pictures for the "Baby Ulrick" album. I used paper from a My Mind's Eye range, that was all black and white and the tag at the top of the right hand corner is from Kaisercraft. The rub-on on the LHS is from Scrapbook King.

When Cheri posted the sketch in the DT group, she warned us, that she hopes we have a square punch... Luckily I bought one a few years back, that I do not get to use that often :-) Thanks to Cheri, I used it in this layout, by creating the border at the bottom of the layout.

Now for some information about this week's prize......................

This week's sponsor is none other than

The Cutting Cafe is your one stop shop for affordable printable stamps and cutting files.

And the wonderful prize they are giving away this week - any three (3) of their sets

So let's see what you do with this sketch!

SOME DIGITAL WORK

Dear readers, you will see that my blog has changed a bit..................

I came across an awesome website and blog yesterday while searching for a blog background, namely Leelou Blogs. Leelou blogs is run by Julie, a blog-a-holic who designs some awesome blog templates and backgrounds, as well as buttons and answers just about any question you have about blogging. Here is a little more about Julie that I got from the Leelou blog.

My name is Julie...and I'm a blog-a-holic.

Four years ago, I was sick of viewing boring/generic blog designs. I like to customize just about everything I can, so I knew that there must be a way to make these blogs a little more attractive! I began studying HTML like crazy! I was becoming such a nerd...and I loved it. Thus, Leelou Blogs was born.

I get asked a lot where the name Leelou comes from. When I was 3, my best friend Jason Johnson couldn't say Julie, so he called me Leelou and it kind of stuck. If you're out there Jason, let me know! I'll give you a free blog design :)

I am also one of the co-founders of the Casual Blogger Conference and I occasionally find time to update my family blog. I am addicted to buying domain names and have at least 4 more sites I hope to launch by 2045. When I'm not blogging it up, I can be found consuming baked potato skins, laughing loudly, attempting to take pictures, reading Fancy Nancy and changing diapers.

Leelou Blogs has changed my life. I really do love what I do. Everyone is unique and I want to help make your blog more creative, more exciting, and more YOU!
Whether it's your family journal, recipes, an upcoming wedding or a business you're sharing, custom blogs are the way to go! There are over 175,000 blogs created every single day. Make yours

!

If you're looking for a free blog template, custom blog layout, logo design, invitations or even just some free printables...whatever you need, we've got it! All your graphical needs in handy one place :)

Well, enough about Leelou for now and a bit more about why I am really here............

While looking for a background I not only came across a new template, but also came across this awesome blog post about your computer desktop background

November 2011 Free Computer Desktop Background

So I decided to download it and of course, this is now my Desktop Background

But there was also a template where you could add some pictures and an awesome tutorial in using My Memories Suite. So I jumped right in and followed the instructions, which I must say is very easy to do. And this is what I came up with:

I hope you enjoyed that and head on right over to Leelou and have a look at her AWESOME templates and downloads!

BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY AT SHOESTRING SCRAPBOOKING

Over on the Shoestring Scrapbooking blog, Canica is having an awesome giveaway with some blog candy :-)

Here is the prize that she is giving away........................

This blog candy will be running over October and November, is that not AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will be entered into the draw to win the following:

1 of each chip Halloween embellishment
1 of each chip Christmas embellishment
1 Christmas wreath
12x12 blank clock kit

All of the products can be found at www.shoestringscrapbooking.co.za

Now the most important information - HOW TO ENTER:

Become of follower of Shoestring Scrapbooking's blog
Leave a comment on the post about the blog candy - Oct/Nov Blog Candy

Then there are also ways for you to earn extra entries into the draw:

Post about this giveaway on your blog linking it back to the blog candy post
Like their FACEBOOK PAGE
Join their FACEBOOK Group
Share this on FACEBOOK
Sign up to our newsletter @www.shoestringscrapbooking.co.za

Remember for each extra thing you do your name will go into the draw. So if you do all 5 your name will go into the draw an extra 5 times, but you will need to leave a comment telling Canica what you have done in order for your extra entries to go into the draw.

The winner will be announced on 1 December 2011.

Please note:

- Well will only do the draw for the blog candy if we have 30 or more entries. This does not include the extra entries.

- The winner will need to claim their prize by 10 December 2011 or they will forfeit the prize.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Morning Ladies
It is that time again, the current Let's Scrap Design Team term is coming to an end and it is time for a new DT.

If you love being on the computer, encouraging others AND making layouts off of sketches then this could be your chance to join the Let's Scrap Team!!!

This call is open to scrappers around the globe! We welcome digital scrappers!

Please email your take on the sketch to letsscrap2011@gmail.com by November 15, 2011. We will be announcing our team by November 20th.

Please include the following in your email:

Your name and email address;
Your layout from this sketch (one or both sides);
A link to other examples of your work (or attache some examples);
Tell us about yourself and why you would be a great choice for our team;
Let us know if you feel you are able to fill the requirements listed below and if you are on other Design Teams.

Here are the DT requirements so you know what you are expected to do during your term. The sketches will be posted at least a month ahead of time so you will have plenty of time to work on them. We understand that things will always come up and are very understanding as they do, but this is what you are signing up for:

The DT term is for 4 months. It is important that you are active in the group.
You will be expected to upload a layout each week based off of the sketch.
Create and post one challenge during your term.
Post one question of the week during your term.
Pick one inspiration of the week during your term.
Posting daily on the site (including welcoming new members, wishing members Happy Birthday, leaving some "love" on members layouts, etc).
Help get weekly sponsors.
Have lots of fun connecting with your team (well you don't have to but we always do and seem to form some amazing friendships here!).

Good luck and Happy Scrappin!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Good morning ladies, I am thrilled to announce my FIRST SPONSORED GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last month Liz Gardner from My Memories contacted me and wanted to know if I was interested in doing a sponsored giveaway on my blog! I immediately said yes and have been very excited ever since :-)

I can right away tell you that I was impressed and I wondered why a digital or hybrid scrapper could live without this software.

The product that I am going to give away is My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software. I was able to try it out prior to this giveaway and let me tell you: YOU WANT TO WIN THIS!!!! And even if you don't win:
I have a coupon code that will give you an instant discount of $10 when you purchase the software and another $10 discount when you buy some of their other products. That is a amazing total of $20. So I guess you are all winners in the end! I'll give you more specific details later on in this post.

Here's a little about the software:

Create in minutes

Fast, and easy to use. Simple enough for beginners, yet powerful for serious scrapbookers.

Not just looks

Take your scrapbooks beyond traditional photo albums with interactive features.

Speaks for itself

With video and narration features you can experience your memories all over again.

Go ahead, show off!

Countless ways to share your creation with friends & family again and again... and again.

My Memories Suite version 2 software is a complete digital scrapbooking solution that provides a powerful set of creative tools and multiple sharing options that no other software can offer. Its intuitive workspace and enhanced time-saving features are perfect for a beginner to build an entire album in minutes, or to empower the design pro to build a scrapbook album masterpiece.

Share Your Creativity

Once you have made your scrapbook album, you want to share your creation with others, right? My Memories Suite can help you show off your scrapbook in so many different ways-and as many times as you want. Print your pages and share them as a traditional scrapbook-or use the one-click share option to turn your album into professionally-printed and hardbound book. And not just one book either; you can make 3 or 4, or even a hundred published books from your one album. Turn your scrapbooks into treasured keepsakes by giving copies to family and friends.

You're not out of options yet...Take advantage of a full suite of sharing options and turn your scrapbook into a movie to watch on a DVD-or view on an iPod. My Memories Suite allows you to share an interactive album on a disc (DVD or CD) that will automatically play on a computer (PC or Mac). Viewers can interact with your scrapbook by clicking on video, playing narration or navigating through your scrapbook like a website. You can even place in web links for them to visit or embed hidden files like Grandma's secret cookie recipe.

With My Memories Suite you can even create and share professionally printed and bound calendars, make posters or trading cards for your son's soccer team, post a movie of your scrapbook on your Facebook page-all with the click of a button. If you are serious about creating the ultimate scrapbook that preserves and shares your memories with a serious amount of "wow" factor, then My Memories Suite is the one-stop solution for you.

What can Your Software Do?

My Memories Suite will help you build beautiful pages from scratch or to make a page using one of the many professionally-designed scrapbook templates provided within the scrapbook software. A large collection of papers and embellishments are available at your fingertips to help you make each page uniquely your own. Drop in your in pictures in seconds-then crop, edit, retouch and rotate them right on the page. If this were any other scrapbooking software, you might be finished. But with My Memories Suite, the real power-and fun-of this software is just beginning.

You can make a beautiful scrapbook an interactive memory experience for anyone who sees it. Use simple one-click options to enhance your scrapbooks, with music, narration, video, and even the Internet. Go beyond pictures by showing off video of the birthday party, or record a narration to capture the memories that pictures alone cannot. With My Memories Suite you simply don't look at a scrapbook-you experience it!

To make a little more exciting you can earn more than one chance to win this great software.

Become a follower of my blog
Share this post on Facebook
Blog about this giveaway and share the link in your comment
Visit My Memories blog and tell me what your favorite product is
Follow My Memories on Facebook

Please leave a comment for each entry. So if you do it right you can have 6 draws!

As a special for all of my readers, I am giving you my very own share the Memories code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value! Please use the following code during checkout: STMMMS89536

I WILL BE PICKING A WINNER USING THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR ON FRIDAY THE 25th OF NOVEMBER

Geeh, I hope I covered it all and got everything covered. Please feel free to ask questions of you have any.

Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the draw!

FABSCRAPS GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!

Hi there ladies
Here in South Africa, we have this awesome scrapbooking company called FABSCRAPS!!!!!! They have recently ventured overseas and attended the CHA this year, so they are now also available overseas :-)
They have decided to do this awesome giveaway

FABSCRAPS HANDBAG ALBUM

All you have to do, is to like their Facebook page

FABSCRAPS ON FACEBOOK

Then post/comment/shout my name and the country you are from on their wall.

Is that not awesome, and so easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They have two prizes to give away. One to a South African scrapbooker and one to an international scrapbooker!

You can also go and have a look at the video link

FABSCRAPS FABFRIDAY - 4 NOV 2011

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

As you all know it is that time of the year - the Christmas decorations are up since the beginning of the month; you hear Christmas carrols playing in the stores; the scrapbook stores have unpacked all the Christmas paper and embellishments and the classes have started on Christmas layouts and projects.

I attended a class at the beginning of the month where we did a Christmas layout. The layout was designed by Belinda de Nobrega from Scrapachinos.

All the paper and embellishments we used are from one of Fancy Pants' stunning ranges, called Saint Nick.

Here are some close-ups of the layout:

Hope you enjoyed that and happy scrapping!

LET'S SCRAP SKETCH 10-12-11

When I received the sketch layouts for the month of October from Cheri over at Let's Scrap, I did some planning.................. I picked pictures from my recent trip to the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga, South Africa, matched them to the sketches and printed them. I then started.................... well sort of.........

This sketch was the second sketch for October, designed by Cheri O'Neill.

I had all the pictures printed and I did the layout, but I just could NOT decide on a title or what to do on the LHS of the layout. So needless to say, I did not upload my layout that week :-( But I finally sat down this weekend and decided, this is it, I AM GOING TO FINISH YOU KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And this is what the final product looked like.

I used a farely old range from Fabscraps for this layout. The main focus of the layout was the pictures. What was nice about the sketch was that there was space for TONS of pictures, so I did not use a lot of embellishments, no I barely used any embellishments :-)

The pictures on the layout is about the Royal Hotel in Pilgrim's Rest, along with a newspaper clipping that I found in one of the shops. Here is a bit more about the Royal Hotel:

The Royal Hotel, situated in Pilgrim's Rest, was impeccably restored, to reflect true late Victorian style.

It is perhaps one of South Africa's best-known hotels. This national monument is famous for its atmosphere and world-class service and facilities.

Composed of ten authentic buildings dating back to the latter part of the nineteenth century, the hotel offers charming en-suite bedrooms.

Declared a goldfield in 1873, Pilgrim's Rest became a cosmopolitan centre of activity in South Africa. Today it stands as a legacy to these pioneers. The town was proclaimed a National Monument in 1986.

Trapped in a time warp, the lounge reflects an epoch of time honoured hospitality and elegance so typical of the late Victorian era. Upon entering the Royal Hotel, visitors are immediately taken on a nostalgia filled trip into the past.

The reception walls are lined with the most interesting photographs and artefacts providing vivid glimpses of Pilgrim's Rest's history. This theme is carried forward into the lounge as well as the very famous public bar.

The restaurant is informal and serves hearty old-fashioned meals in a historical atmosphere in keeping with the rest of the Hotel. Enjoying a meal outside while taking in the scenery, is an experience worthwhile.

The Royal Hotel is the centre attraction of Pilgrim's Rest. From here visitors can plan all daily excursions and then come home to a relaxing evening of Victorian comfort.

LET'S SCRAP SKETCH 11-2-11

Oh my word, it is November already! I cannot believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This year has really flown by...............

It's Wednesday, which means, a new sketch over at Let's Scrap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is this week's sketch, designed once again by the talented Cheri O'Neill.

Here is my take on the sketch.

All the paper and embellishments I used were from Kaisercraft's Seaside range. I battled to get the right paper and at first I did not want to look at this range, as it is a beach range, and the pictures are definitely NOT beach pictures :-) But in the end I decided to use it. I used some of the embellishments, like the tickets, journalling diecuts and brackets, but kept it to a minimum as to not take the focus off the pictures.

Recently I was on a conference in the Kruger National Park. On one of our sightseeing trips we headed to Pilgrim's Rest (a small little town in the area). The pictures in this layout were taken outside the Pilgrim's Rest General Store and Photographic Studio in the downtown area. Here is a little history about this awesome town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HISTORY OF PILGRIM'S REST

Mining in this region of Mpumalanga dates back many centuries, when unknown miners worked quartz reef in the area for gold. Proof of these digging can still be found in this area.

The history of this small delightful village dates back to 1873 when a miner, Alex Patterson, discovered alluvial gold on the farm named Ponieskrantz. He had left the Mac-Mac area to search for a place that was less congested.

Though the discovery was kept as a secret, the inevitable happened when a second prospector, William Trafford also discovered gold close by. What they had found in this beautiful valley drew optimistic gold panners and prospectors from all over the country and the world.

On 22 September 1873 Pilgrim's Rest was officially proclaimed a gold field and the scatter of tents and rudimentary shacks soon grew into a flourishing little village complete with sturdy brick houses, church, shops, canteens, a newspaper and the well-known Royal Hotel (a layout and some more history on this later). The diggers called it Pilgrim's rest because here, at last, after so many false trails and faded dreams they had truly found their home.

In due course the alluvial deposits were depleted and the locals turned to forestry, but their village, whose residents still number in the huundreds, has been painstakingly preserved as a "living museum" and major South African tourist venue.

You can read more about Pilgrim's Rest at http://www.pilgrimsrest.org.za/index.htm or http://www.pilgrims-rest.co.za/

Ok, enough of the history and facts, back to scrapbooking :-)

This week's sponsor is

Here is a little about them:

LE SHABBY CAFE

Our addiction to Scrapbooking led us to this wonderful venture, where we take the guesswork out of matching pattern paper, cardstock and array of beautiful embellishments for each month. Our niche is sourcing directly from the US, therefore having the latest products in our kits that sometime has not even reached South Africa. So why not try one of our beautiful packed kits.

Here is the wonderful prize they are giving away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!