True XOXO's blog hop

I came across the TRUE XOXO's blog and guess what, they had a blog hop going.  So I decided to participate.  The main price for the blog hop is (wait for it)
a chance to be a guest design team member (with all its glorious perks)
Is that not AWESOME????????????????????????


By visiting each of the blogs listed on the TRUE XOXO's blog and commenting your name will be placed in the draw.  But wait, there is more.....................
For every layout or project that you do based on one of the challenges or inspired by one of the projects of a team member, I'll throw ANOTHER name of  yours into the hat for the gdt drawing. 

So I have decided to enter a layout or two for some of the challenges.  


The challenge I decided on was from Linda's blog (Bits&Pieces ... from my life)   


For my challenge, Ms. Kimmy challenged me to create a layout using products for ONLY three manufactures.


Here is my take on that specific challenge:

Layout 1

The products used in this layout include:

1. Kaisercraft paper and rubons
2. Metal frame from Making Memories
3. Chipboard key from Enmarc

Layout 2

The products used in this layout include:

1. Paper and rubons from Fancy Pants
2. Flowers from Kaisercraft
3. Chipboard pieces and tags from Design Worx

 Layout 3

The products used in this layout include:

1. Paper, pearls/bling and flowers from prima
2. Chipboard from Enmarc
3. Title from My Mind's Eye

Layout 4

The products used in this layout include:

1. Paper, velvet rub-on and flowers from prima
2. Blue and white flowers from Kaisercraft
3. Big white and green flower (behind the brown one) from unknown source

Layout 5

The products used in this layout include:

1. Paper & rub-ons from Kaisercraft
2. Flowers from Prima
3. Chipboard pieces from Design Worx

 Layout 6

The products used in this layout include:

1. Paper, brads & rub-ons from My Mind's Eye
2. Bling doodle from Prima
3. Velvet stars from Making Memories

I also decided on The challenge from Lisa Watson's blog (Pictures2Pages)   

I was challenged by Lindsey to use Sushi as inspiration.  

I don't eat Sushi either, so here is a layout where I also used the paper rolls.

Well that is my take on the challenges.

ladies, the blog hop is really stunning, there are some stunning ideas and layouts and some very creative people out there!!!!!!!!!  So head on over to  TRUE XOXO's blog and go and join in the fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read more

LET’S SCRAP SKETCH 10-5-11

Oh my word, can you believe it, not only is it Wednesday again, but it is also the first Wednesday of October.  That means two things:

1. Over at Let's Scrap it is time for a new sketch, and
2. Can you believe it, here in South Africa, people have started putting up Christmas decorations...  I cannot believe it, is it not a bit too early??????????

Oh well, let's get back to business.................

This week there is another stunning sketch designed and posted by Cheri.  Here it is:

As you can see it is another stunning sketch and so versatile!!!!!!!!!!

Here is my take on the sketch this week:

The pictures I used in this layout was taken at the recent Cannonball Run Africa, held during the first weeken of August.  As you can see, I decided to swop the LHS and RHS of the layout.  This was due to the pictures I chose, they did not loook right the other way, so I did some chopping and changing.  That is the best part of sketches, especially these sketches, you can rotate them anyway you want, until they fit your pictures. 

I used a very old range I had from Kaisercraft for this layout.  The embellishments were also a bit of this and a bit of that.  I had no embellishments from this specific Kaisercraft range, so I scratched through my stash to find some that will work.  Here are some close-up pictures of the embellishments I used. 



The clock is a Kaisercraft rub-on that I placed on a piece of paper and then cut it out, around the edges.  The pocket is also from one of the Kaisercraft ranges I have in my stash. 

The brads are from Making Memories, and the rub-ons from BoBunny. 

The last thing that needed to be decided was of course the title...........................

For the title I used acrylic alphabets from BoBunny.  I used some dry-brushing with blue paint from Making Memories, and then once that was dry, I inked it with brown ink. 

So that is my layout for this week.  Now for some prizes if you enter this week's sketch challenge over at Let's Scrap. 

This week's sponsor is:

Here is a little about them:

Shop this week at Apron Strings and Let's Scrap members will save 30% on their order! Enter LS30 at checkout for your savings. Offer expires 10-12-11.

Join Apron Strings autoship, drop a note that you're coming from Let's Scrap and get a free TV Dinner with your first monthly kit. 

Are you a skeptical about what an Apron Strings kit can do for you? Let's help you become a believer. 

An Apron Strings kits will save you time so you can get down to the fun and create by giving you all you need, right to your door, so there's no searching, sorting and wading through what you want to use (or can't find) for your layouts.

Save your money because an autoship to Apron Strings starts at just $19.  By getting what you need in quantities you can use - so you aren't buying a 100 count pack of brads to only use 5 - you'll get the latest goodies on the market, but you won't break the bank.

An Apron Strings kit is complete, including inspiration. You'll get a full-color newsletter filled full with great designs from the Sous Chefs, including instructions for up to four layouts, plus how to use up those scraps so you're left with a clean plate! Card kits come with full instructions for six cards (sometimes more) and plenty of product left to make duplicate cards.

Now all you need to do is join and you'll be a believer, too.

Here is the wonderful prize they are giving away!

Be sure to check them out HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read more

October Month Long Challenge at Let's Scrap

Are you a member of Let's Scrap and have never ever even once uploaded a layout?

Or MAYBE you've just joined and have not yet uploaded?

Well, this is the month for YOU, yes YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are going to have 2 draws at the end of October.  One for the "first time uploader" and one for the person that encouraged and/or helped them to upload a layout.  All layouts must be loaded from 01-31 October, and tagged correctly.

Check out the amazing prize from Die Cuts with a View (DCWV)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Each winner of the random drawing will get ALL of this paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A little about DCWV

Since 1995, DCWV Inc. has designed, manufactured and sold innovative, quality products to the memory, stationary and craft markets.  Its products are differentiated by their quality, always updated look and feel, innovation and customer respected brand name.  DCWV is known as "THE STACK COMPANY" because they specialize in high-quality papers that are sold in stacks.  These stacks provide our customers with a variety of beautifully coordinated papers at a fantastic value.  They also manufacture scrapbooking papers, cards, brads, stickers, albums and embellishments.  

They would love it if you visited their DCWV Diary Blog often to stay in touch and updated on our latest company announcements, new product releases and plenty of project ideas to keep your creativity rolling!!!!

Link to their blog:  DCWV Diary Blog

Read more

Let's Scrap Sketch 9-28-11

It is that time of the week again - time for a NEW SKETCH on LET'S SCRAP.

Here is this week's Sketch.  Another gorgeous sketch with so much versatility done by Cheri O'Neill!  Thank you Cheri!!!!!!!!!!!!

My take on this week sketch is as follows:

When I first saw the sketch I battled a bit to find the right pictures.  Part of the problem with not deciding which pictures to use, was that I really wanted to use a big picture on the LHS, but did not have one printed, and I could not find one good enough to print.  But in the end I decided to use some of the horse pictures I had.  

The pictures were taken at the Nissan Easter Festival during April 2011.  This is one of the big horse shows that is held annually over Easter.  The pictures are of my sister, Marine and her youngest horse, Glassie.  They won the 0.9m Championship at this show, and as you can imagine, we were very proud, as it was his first Championship win :-)

I used paper from Glitz Design, as it was the only paper that I had in my stash that matched the pictures.  I found that the paper matched the blue background in the pictures, but also emphasized the rest of the pictures.  I kept the embellishing to a minimum, as to not take the attention off the pictures.  

It would really be great if you head on over to Let's Scrap and have a go at this week's sketch and how about winning some prizes??????  

This week's sponsor is:

Our very own Let's Scrap Member

BETTY HORNBOOK

Happy 50th Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  In celebration of Betty's 50th birthday, she decided to provide this week's prize.  She has tried to make the whole year a celebration of this milestone birthday, oh and, the number 50 does not scare her at all.  

Visit her blog http://www.scrappingfleas.blogspot.com

Here is the wonderful prize you can win

  

Read more

MAGALIESBURG CROP DAY hosted by SCRAPPERS SOLUTIONS SCHOOL

Hello everyone, I trust you are all doing fabulous!  I received an email a few minutes back and thought to share it with you.  Unfortunately it is only for the Joburg ladies, but I am hoping that some of you will be able to join in the fun.

Hi Scrappers, have we got a stunning day planned for you!!!!



This one is a must - we will be making an 8x8 album in a day, get your car full of friends and come for the best day EVER!!!!!!!!  Here are some elements that you will be making on the day!!!!!!!


      
 
      

Our "Life" book  is going to be a joy for you to do as it will be a little treasure of special photos.  I have used 12 black and white 4x6" photos - 6 landscape and 6 portrait plus 2 2x2" for a little negative strip.  The title of the book is "LIFE" with quotes like....
"LIFE is not a matter of milestone but of MOMENTS"
"LIFE is for joy, for giving, for sharing and for laughter, but mostly for LOVE"
"Enjoy the little things in LIFE, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things"
"The best things in LIFE aren't things"
"Happiness is not something you experience, it is something you remember"
to name a few.  You will be receiving a sheet of quotes (14 in total).  You can choose just your favourite photos of children, snatches of your family's life, someone else's life, grandchildren or you can do the whole book on just one person - it is very adaptable (black and white photos look amazing).  It would also work with sepia.

Most pages have techniques, from grunge paper, painting, embossing, alcohol inks on different things, mesh, stamps, etc.  I have used 6 beautiful stunning double sided papers  colours are pinks, greens, blues, browns,
creams plus 4 cardstock (we use every single piece of paper) - besides this you receive an alphabet and all the little embellishments that we will use.  We will have work stations for you to do the techniques on during the day from grunge key holes, keys, hinges, a butterfly, cardboard tree for a special effect, a foam camera, a negative strip and memory lane title, and, and, and.............  Unbelievable value.

You will need: a guillotine, ruler, pencil, scissors, corner rounder, brown ink, adhesives, glue, craft knife, paper piercer, foam squares (optional), black koki and anything you cannot scrap without.  We will have stock of all these products, should you need to buy them.

So looking forward to helping you create an heirloom
xox Scrappers Solutions Team

For bookings you can contact Melanie on +2772-731-5503 or www.scrapperssolutions.co.za

Read more

Let's Scrap Sketch 9-14-11

Well ladies it is that time of the week again.  A new sketch has been uploaded on Let's Scrap.

Here is this week's wonderful sketch by Cheri

This week's sponsor is:

A Walk Down Memory Lane

And here's a little about them:

About A Walk Down Memory Lane...
A Walk Down Memory Lane is a fully stocked and full service Scrapbook
and Stamping destination.  We have been online for 8 1/2 years and
opened up our Brick & Mortar store in Rock Valley, Iowa 3 years ago.
Our online store features over 19,000 products, an inspiring Design Team
that posts to our blog every day and our newsletter is to DIE FOR with
some great ideas for your paper crafting.  We feature 2 manufacturers
every month and the DT shows off projects using those companies, PLUS we offer 25% off every product we stock by those 2 manufacturers all month long.  In September, our featured manufacturers are American Crafts and The Greeting Farm.

  http://www.awdml.com/
www.awdml.com

One lucky winner will recieve an American Crafts prize pack.  

Here is my take on this week's sketch.



You will see that I decided to swop the LHS and RHS of the sketch around as it suited my pictures better.  I used the Gabrielle collection from BoBunny, all the embellishments and paper was from this range.  I really had a field day making this layout, and in the end it really came out stunning!

I really hope you enjoy this layout, and if you have not been to Let's Scrap before, head on over there and join us in the fun!

Read more

My Memories Memory Suite Giveaway on Debby's Blog :-)

Hi there ladies, Debby from Let's Scrap is having a giveaway on her blog this month, so please head on over and have a look.  Here is more detail about the giveaway, as you can see, it's awesome!

My Memories Memory Suite Giveaway

I am really thrilled to announce my first sponsored giveaway! A couple of weeks ago someone form My Memories contacted me and wanted to know if I was interested in doing a sponsored giveaway on my blog. The first thing I did was checking out their site and their products. You got to know what you are giving away right? 

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 ot 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!

As I told you I was able to try the software prior to this giveaway and I can tell you it is so easy, fast and even though I was perfectly happy with the software I used to have I am going to use My Memories suite from now on. Many of you know that I create the card sketches for Let's Scrap so from now on these will be created with this software. 

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

1. Become a follower of my blog 
2. Share this post on Facebook
3. Blog about this giveaway and share the link in your comment
4. Visit My memories and tell me what your favorite product is
5. Use the special coupon code below to get $10 credit in the My Memories store
6. 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: STMMMS46599

You are free to pass this code on to your family and friends and even share it on Facebook or your blog. This is such great and easy to use software that My Memories probably won;t mind me sharing the code, LOL.

Oh yes, for those die hard Photoshop fans: All their kits and digital products can be used in Photoshop and all other common software.

DEBBY WILL BE PICKING A WINNER USING THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR ON FRIDAY THE 23RD OF SEPTEMBER

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!

Read more

Scrapbook Convention September 2011

Well ladies, it is that time of the year again - Convention time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are heading out to Emperor's Palace tommorrow evening and then it is 2 days filled with scrapbooking, creativity, giveaways and even a charity scrap challenge.

I will be back on Monday, to show you what we did :-)

Read more

A Kiss on the Chic's Bellagio Retreat!!

Oh my word, I came across this retreat on FB this morning, and it looks awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I wish I was able to attend :-(

Why don't you head on over and have a look.  I have shared the post with all the details below, but here is the link - A Kiss on the Chic's Bellagio Retreat

Registration is OPEN!!

Hello ladies,

This is a VERY exciting day for us! We can hardly believe the day has ARRIVED and we are THRILLED to finally share this Event with all of YOU!

So we WELCOME YOU to...

 A Kiss on the Chic's Bellagio Retreat!!

Yes, we are going to have an Event in Lake Como, Italy for one week of pure RELAXATION and CREATIVITY on September 15th ~ 22nd, 2012 and we want YOU to join us!


This event has been a DREAM of mine for the last few years!  I am SO thrilled and honored to have such AMAZING teachers for this Event,  one of the most BEAUTIFUL locations in the World and artsy friends like YOU that want to come along on this journey!!!

So come on in, take a look around and check out all the information and photos about our Bellagio Retreat on this site.  

Also, there is a VIDEO you MUST SEE!!  (My daughter Victoria is SO proud of it because she put it together on her own and she did a GREAT job)

I hope you have FUN, let me know what you think and go tell your friends!  

This is going to be the "Ultimate Girlfriend Retreat" so find some friends to share this with and lets have a GREAT time together in Italy!!!!!

So Sign up SOON, there are only 40 spots available!! 

Read more

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carolina Garrido, a fellow member from Let's Scrap is the guest designer for Freehand Scraps this month.  She is having a giveaway on her blog.  Below is the steps to follow and a sneak peak at the gift, so please head on over to her blog and stand a chance to win this awesome giveaway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SCRAPPING NOMAD GIVEAWAY

I am so happy to be guest designing for Freehand Scraps this month. I love their kits, their choice of papers just suits my style, and there are so many embellies to play with! And I'd like to share a bit of my happiness with you, so I have prepared a very special giveaway. I have included flowers,  stickers, alphabets, chipboard, lace, die cuts, buttons, tons of stuff. But also, I used what remained from my kit (after making three layouts, two cards, and two altered projects, it really has TONS of stuff!) to make some unique embellies for you. I have made flowers, tags and other embellies, and they are my favourite part of the prize! 

If you'd like to have a chance to win this pack, all you have to do is visit Freehand Scrap's blog and leave a comment on my post: "Ten Ways to make your projects unique". Then come back here and let me know you did (I have had some messages from people who've had trouble commenting. If you are having trouble, try this: just right click on “add comment” and click on “open in new tab” or “open in new window”. If you still have trouble leaving a comment at Freehand Scraps' blog, please leave one in their Facebook Page instead).

If you'd like to have extra chances you can:

1)become a follower of my blog and leave a comment here (or leave a comment saying you already are).

2) advertise this giveaway in your blog, Facebook and/or twitter and leave a link to where you advertised (one extra chance for each  link).

3) "like" Freehand Scraps on Facebook 

(and leave a comment here to let me know you did)

4) subscribe to Freehand Scraps' 

newsletter (and leave a comment here to let me know you did).

The deadline is September 30, the winner will be randomly picked and announced on October 1st. Good luck to all of you!

Read more