We have a spectacular mood board challenge at Scrap Africa: Planes, Trains & Automobiles. It's perfect for any vehicle OR travel photos.

I used a photograph of Karla from almost 7 years ago, sitting in the car her Grandpa made for her.



My background is a mix of glass bead glitter gel, stencilling, webbing spray and mists. The chippies are from Enmarc.





Check out the mood board!



Check out some more DT inspiration and join the challenge here.

There is a fantastic mood board up at Scrap Africa this week. All retro and bright colours, so much fun to play with!

I created a layout with lots of layers and bright washi tape.





These images are probably more vintage than retro but I thought these ladies belonged on this layout.







And check out the mood board!



Fore more DT inspiration and to join the challenge click here.

Scrap Africa is kicking off the month of May with a sketch challenge.

I just had to use this photo. It was taken on our last family hike close to the top of Tygerberg Hill. The view from up there was amazing.







Check out the gorgeous sketch by Denise Deventer.



Please join the challenge here!

The challenge at Scrap Africa this fortnight is to use pencil in your layout. There are some pretty awesome ideas on how to use pencil in your artwork.



I used this layout to document a major change in our lifestyle. Last year I started seeing a dietician who helped me find a meal plan that works for me. I also started exercising and have steadily been losing weight and becoming healthier over the past 7 months.
Last month I increased my exercise. Since then I have felt a major change. I have loads more energy, am more positive, more patient, less moody and overall just feel so much better. I am now exercising 5-6 days per week and am becoming like a drug addict chasing a high.
I have decided that the rest of the family needs to feel this good too. When I changed my diet it was inevitable that the rest of the family would start eating healthier too. I don't cook separate meals so everybody eats what I eat. I also pack healthier lunches and don't buy all the unhealthy snacks we used to stock up on.

Last weekend we went on our first family hike. There is a nature reserve 10 minutes away from our house. It is a famous hill in the Cape Town area that I can't believe we have never visited before. It was a misty morning and, because you couldn't see the houses and roads through the mist, it felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, although we were still in the middle of the city. We are planning to do this every second weekend. Just one more way for us to spend quality time together as a family, while becoming healthier, better versions of ourselves.

My journaling is on the back of my layout.



I used smooth texture paste for the stencilling, then outlined the stencilled images with pencil and blended it with my finger to reduce the colour and make the images pop.





I also outlined the chipboard leaves with pencil for some extra detail.



Check out some ideas on using pencil in your layouts and artwork.



Also check out the Scrap Africa blog for some more DT inspiration and to enter the challenge.

There is a new sketch challenge up at Scrap Africa and it is such an amazing sketch to work with... so many possibilities!



I experimented with Finnabair's mica flakes. I'll definitely be playing with that more often.



And of course, my favourite part: flowers!



And finally, Denise's awesome sketch.



Check out the rest of the DT inspiration and join the challenge here.

Our current challenge at Scrap Africa is a bright, sunshiny mood board challenge. I have to admit that yellow is one of my least favourite colours (I'm not into citrus colours - yellow, orange, green in any shade) but all that yellow in one mood board HAS to brighten up your day. I also have to admit that I LOVED working with this mood board and especially combining all my yellow elements.



These photos were taken at my husband's aunt's 50th birthday celebration last year. I have a few more that still need to make it onto layouts.
My sister-in-law (family's designated photographer at all events) put together a photo booth with some cool props. I love photo booths and the awesome photos produced by them.





And some more yellow...



And our mood board...



Join our challenge here!

It's a lazy Sunday evening after another very windy day in Cape Town, South Africa. Summer has been short lived and autumn is EARLY! I have to admit, I'm not a fan of autumn at all. Freezing cold in the morning and boiling hot by midday has never worked for me. At the moment we have the cool mornings and evenings of autumn combined with the howling wind of summer. It is definitely not my favourite combination.

On to happier things... I took this photo of Karla after she rubbed an Easter egg (one of the white candy eggs with the chocolate centre) all over her lips. She made me promise not to post the photo on Facebook or send it to anyone. Without thinking, I used it on a layout. She walked in while I was busy with the layout and said, “you're not going to take a photo of that layout and post it on Facebook”. I fumbled a bit, realised my error and then said, “uhm, I kind of have to”. It took a LOT of persuasion to convince her that everybody will LOVE this photo. She finally agreed that I may post it on my blog and Facebook. Ha! Like she had a choice.



I achieved the lovely texture with Faber-Castell glass bead glitter gel and some micro beads, covered in Dazzles.







Check out the AWESOME sketch over at Scrap Africa. The possibilities are endless.



Join the challenge here.

Our current challenge at Scrap Africa is to use die-cuts and show off how creative we can get with them.

I created a layout featuring my gorgeous cousin in a photograph I took of her as a bridesmaid at her sister's wedding.



The steampunk frame (cut in half and used on opposite corners of the photo) is from Creative Embellishments. I started off with 2 base coats of white dabber, followed by Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and ended off with a layer of Distress Crackle in Tarnished Brass.



The wings, also from Creative Embellishments, also received 2 base coats of white dabber, followed by white spray paint and white opal Liquid Pearls. The tips were treated with Finnabair's Glass Glitter in Sterling.



The hexagon in the upper left corner was cut out from a 12“ x 12” sheet by Celebr8. I coated it with 2 layers of gesso, followed by several layers of Lindy's Stamp Gang mist in various colours.



Some more close-ups.





Come on, show us how creative you can be with your die-cuts. They can be store bought or cut with your favourite die cutting machine.

Oh how I loved playing with this sketch! Denise van Deventer has really outdone herself with this one!



I used papers and elements from the Kaisercraft Key to My Heart collection and enjoyed combining the romantic look with some grungy stamps.





The heart was drawn with a Sew Stamper.



I realised afterwards that the barbed wire stamp around the title might be a bit creepy. I love you forever... (and ever and ever and will do anything and everything to keep you from ever leaving me...)
Lol! But my sense of humour has always been slightly evil so I guess it suits me.



This little cluster contains a brooch that used to belong to my mom. She is always passing on little trinkets for me to use in scrapbooking.



And finally, the gorgeous sketch.



Please join our challenge and check out the rest of the amazing DT's work here.

Happy creating!

For our One Little Word challenge at Scrap Africa I was inspired by a recent tutorial by Gabrielle Pollacco to create something a little bit out of my comfort zone. I love mixed media and I love working on canvas and I have been wanting to do lots more of it. I think this was a good kick start to my creative year. I didn't do quite as much to my canvas as Gabrielle did - just used the general idea as inspiration.



I chose “Fearless” as my word for 2015. Last year my word was “Believe” - believe in myself that I can do whatever I put my heart and mind to and believe in God that He will equip me and bring me through any task He sets before me.
This year I have decided to JUST DO. No over thinking, no worrying about what other people are going to think, no wondering if I'm up to it or not - just let go and make it happen - Fearlessly.



I used a branch chippie by Creative Embellishments - love their products!



And one of Ingvild Bolme's new Stamp 'n Add designs.



My first choice for OLW for this year was “Challenge.” I work well under pressure and deadlines are a great inspiration as they force me to use my time productively. I have found that I can challenge myself to do more and be more creative. That is my goal for this year. So far I'm off to a great start, having started my decor project with Annie Sloan chalk paints. My house is currently in a state of disorder that I am too ashamed to let anybody see but it's my mess and I know how awesome it's going to look when it is done. I have furniture in different stages of completion standing and lying around and I am constantly covered in paint and wax. What a great holiday I'm having. Ha! I will post pictures next week when most of it will be done.

If you read this post, let me know what your One Little Word for 2015 is.

xxx