Hot Stuff

I am online, I can't believe it, lets hope my connection lasts and doesn't die on me like every other time. Yes, I still haven't had my line checked, I will, some day real soon, lol.

This card I made about 2 weeks ago, but haven't been able to post it. Maybe just as well cause I had such a busy weekend I didn't make a thing, so nothing more to post now in any case.

This image is from Bugaboo, it's from the Sassy Gals range, and I love those images! I think they are so nice for guy cards, instead of the usual, golfer or handyman, or maybe a fisherman.... So who agrees with me, or do you think they're too risque?

I coloured the image with my prisma pencils, in fact it was a mix of prisma and lyra, then I cut it out with a craft knife. I used a previous Taylored Expressions sketch, I love the pdf file available from them with all their sketches it's super handy. I did the two circles with a nestie circle die, and the front one I put through my cuttlebug with the polka dot template.

I have to share quickly, I went to see Enrique last week Thursday, he was here for the opening of the Cricket 20/20 series. Anyhow, I am not his biggest fan, I don't even own a single CD, but a friend of mine wanted to go, so I said okay I'll go see him. Well he impressed me so much I'll go and see him again any time. What a genuinely nice guy, so down to earth and really appreciates all his fans, no matter who they are or what they look like! Of course he was yummy to look at, even if we were far, far away from the stage.

That's my post for today, pretty short and sweet, but I know no-one wants to be bored with lots of waffle, and who has the time to read it all, lol!


Meahni

Who likes mornings?

Definitely not me, lol!!! I am so not a morning person, don't ask me what it is, but I do know if mornings started at around 10, or better yet 11, I would definitely be one.

Here's someone who agrees with me. Margaret from Bugaboo is definitely not a morning person either.

I printed Margaret on a laser printer then left the image to 'dry' for about a day. I coloured her with my prismacolor pencils and blended it with Sansador (gamsol), cut it out with a nestie die, in this case the long rectangle. I added a crocheted flower my mom made me ages ago and of course the button and twine on top to finish it off nicely. That's about it I think, oh the paper is from Basic Grey the 6x6 pad.

I took some pictures of my children while we were outside playing in the garden yesterday. I always talk about them and thought it would be nice to introduce them to you all. It is so difficult to get a good picture of Jingle and Misty. Misty literally turns her head away from the camera and just stands there, I can call and whistle and try what I like, she will not look at the camera. Some times she even ran inside to get away from me, lol!

So here's my little Jingle, not so little anymore, with his pretty pink nose. See it's going to need sun block soon.

Here is her royal highness, Simby, aka as Princess. She sure acts like one, thus the reason for the nickname.

And my little camera shy Misty. Luckily I have a good zoom lens so I could sneak this picture in without her knowing. Although that face does look a little like it's saying "stop taking my picture, ppppplease".

and Jingle again smelling the grass, or something.

No pictures of Pepi (African Grey) and Roxy (Green Cheek Conure). I will try get them another time. Pepi is not too difficult as he comes out of his cage, but Roxy does not leave her little place of safety, so the only pictures I get of her are through the bars which are not very nice. I'm booked to do a photographic course in September, can't wait, maybe they can teach me how to get a picture without the bars, lol.

Have a great week, I know I will cause we have a public holiday tomorrow, and it's Women's Day, yay!

Meahni

One Cool Cat

This is exactly what my little Jingle would look like if I were to dress him, loads of attitude and oh so cool. He is just so full of it, lol! But don't we just love them the more for it. (ps: I would never dress him though, don't like animals to be dressed, it's so not natural for them.)

My little cool cat is from Bugaboo and I was the luckiest person ever, cause I got it when it was a freebie. Bugaboo have a freebie every Friday, don't miss it cause they're very good. Oh and should you be keen to get some images the 50% off sale is still on, ends 10 August.

I coloured my image with my prisma pencils and blended it with Sansador (gamsol), then cut it with my circle nestie and chalked the edges while it was still in the nestie die. Oh no nasty comments about his big pink nose, cause that is exactly what Jinlge's looks like. I can see in summer time I'm going to have to put sun block on it.

In my previous post I mentioned that I'll be joining Ladybug Crafts Ink as a guest designer, well in case anyone is keen to be a full time designer, then go see Kerry's blog she is doing a DT call. Come on I know you want to, besides who doesn't wanna work with her cute images. I can't wait, my parcel is on it's way, woohoo.

I noticed I got some new followers, welcome ladies, I'm always so pleased to see that there are people who like to see what I get up to in my spare time. It's so great to meet so many people around the world.

....till next time

Meahni

Swim anyone?

Okay, definitely no swimming for Paula, lol! and definitely no swimming for anyone in Jo'burg, it's far too cold, actually I struggle to swim when it's summer time. Even then it's too cold for me, lol! I know, moan, moan, moan, so lets move on to my card.

This is the other card I made for my sister for her birthday. I was so slow in taking the picture that my mom gave it to her before I got round to doing it, luckily my sister does not throw my cards away, so I managed to get it back for it's little photo shoot, hehehe.

The image is Tiny tina teacup from Stamping Bella and I coloured her with my prisma pencils, then blended with sansador and then cut the image out with my nesties. The border was done with a fiskars border punch, I like those tiny little scallops on the scallops, not sure if you can see them clearly in the pic.

One of the comments I got from my last post was from Moz to please email her with details of local suppliers of prismacolor pencils. Moz I went to your blog but could not find your email address can you send it to me please.

Poor Brazil just crashed out of the World Cup, shame! I liked them, but I wanted the Netherlands to win, because my money is on them being in the final against Spain and Spain winning. Selfish I know, but hey money is money, lol.

Oh and before I go, I have to share what waited for me when I got home tonight. A little dog, my Simby, full of paint! I was so upset. The gardener was painting today, not much gardening during winter time, and Simby was rubbing up against the wall every time she gave him her ball to throw. So I got home to a rock hard dog, the paint had dried and she no longer had hair on her body, just hard bits of paint. Oh well I gave her a bath and cleaned it all off, but I was still upset, and he is still going to get moaned at, lol.

Have a great weekend, I'll be back tomorrow or Sunday.

Meahni

Puff (the love dragon)

I've been a bit slack with my blogging, but that's probably cause I've not made anything to blog about lol! Since leaving the Bella design team I've taken my time with my crafting and I've pretty much been doing it when I felt like it. It has been quite nice to take a bit of a break and not have any pressure to finish a certain amount of cards a week. Although there was an upside to that, it forced me to keep going cause it is so easy to slack off and leave my craft stuff to collect dust.

This gorgeous little dragon named Puff is an absolute favourite of mine. I find him or her I guess, so adorable. I just want to go and hug him! Look how he has his arms, I mean wings, open and waiting, lol.

I coloured puff with a mix of Lyra and Prismacolor pencils, blended it with sansador (gamsol), and cut him out with my circle nestie. The paper is from Basic Grey, love the 6x6 pads.

I layered the image and the background paper on 2 way foam tape. I like having a raised look on my cards, it's funny how one gets into a style and then find it hard to break away.

My trip to Zurich was good except that I got so sick on my last day. I don't know if it was a stomach bug or food poisoning, but I finally started feeling better two days after I got back. It was not fun especially when I couldn't just crawl into my bed and sleep. But I'm all better now and looking forward to Easter weekend. A nice long weekend is just what the doctor ordered ;-)

take care and enjoy your week

Meahni

Winter Olympics

It's Friday, yeah!!!! Why do we love Fridays so much, shame imagine how the other poor days must feel, lol.

We had an interesting theme for this Bellarific Friday, at least for a South African it was very interesting. We had to do winter sports, with the winter Olympics on in Canada at the moment, I guess everyone thought that it's a great idea, but here, no snow, ever, it's not something we even think about.

That was not going to stop me though, and I used Daisyboardabella for my card, and used the South African sports colours, green and gold, and based the layout on our flag. Even if there isn't a single South African at the winter Olympics, it didn't matter, I thought I'd stay local, hehehe.

As usual I coloured my image with prismacolor pencils and blended it with sansador. Then I cut it with a nestie oval template and layered it on a nestie oval template. I added some baubles to make it look a bit more glamorous.

Then look what decided to come and investigate my card while I was trying to take the photo. Jingle is so inquisitive, as cats are. At least he didn't say terrible card, rofl.

Don't forget to go visit the Bellablog later to see what everyone else got up to, I know I can't wait. It is always a highlight of my Friday.

I'm out of here, have a great weekend.

Meahni

Bellarific Twinchie Friday

Well this Friday's challenge was an interesting one for me. I have had my twinchies for some time now, and luckily we decided on this challenge or I would probably still not have opened them, lol.

I used little Fluey Huggabugg from Stamping Bella for my twinchie. It fitted just perfectly, but of course you can use it with just a portion of an image too. You just need to be creative, which I am so not.

I coloured the huggabugg with my prismacolor pencils and blended it with sansador, then used a nestie cut out as the base of my card, it came out so cute. A perfect little get well card. I just need to share that twinchies can be used with copics or pencils in case you were wondering.

That was it, was a fun quick project. Go on over to the Bellablog now and go and see what the rest of them talented people have done! I am blown away, and so jealous I did not think of half of those stunning ideas. Also remember if you leave a comment you can win some Bella bucks, how cool is that.

It's weekend and I am so pleased, I am going to enjoy every minute of it. Take care.

Meahni

Stella thinks she can cook

Or in this case it's bake! Don't we just love Stella. I can't wait for the day that Emily releases a new Stella, she'll be in my basket faster than you can imagine, lol!

The new year has arrived, and it's already the 4th, thank goodness I am still off work. I need this week to recover from the hectic Christmas and new year I had.

Let me tell you a bit about this card, although it is really not anything you haven't heard already :-). I coloured Stella with my prisma pencils and blended it with sansador. Then cut the image with my nestie and layered it on nesties. The sentiment is also from Stamping Bella, and I punched the corners with a stampin' up corner punch!

Don't forget Bellarific Friday is back this week. Our theme is 'back to school'! I am SO pleased it is not me who has to go back to school, it was never my favourite place.

I am going to attempt to see Avatar again today. I hope it's not sold out again!!

Have a great week.

Meahni

Something funky

I'm a bit late, but I think not many people will notice cause we're not all in the same time zone, lol! It's Bellarific Friday, and I am only posting at the end of the day, as I said, it is in Johannesburg, but luckily in lots of other places the day has only just started.

This week our challenge was a sketch, by our very own Dana. If you have seen the sketch you will know that it was a bit of a challenge for me, cause my card does not look a lot like it should. Sometimes I LOVE sketches and sometimes I am SO challenged by them. Anyone else got that little problem?

I used Suzette Ketto for this week's card, and decided on doing something a little different and funky, cause that's exactly what this image is. I coloured her with prisma pencils and blended with sansador (gamsol or grumtine). Then cut the image with nesties and layered it on nesties. I made some distressed embellishments. I like distressing, but I have to be careful not to get too carried away, lol! It is often very useful to distress if you make a mistake!!

That's pretty much it for this post. I am very glad to be home and so looking forward to seeing what everyone has been up to. I have not had any time yet to catch up and while I was away absolutely no time to visit any blogs. Can anyone tell I am suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Luckily you can't see me shaking, haha!

Go on over to the Bella blog later and go get inspired by all the stunning entries this week. I get so inspired week after week.

Lastly don't forget the Bella party, contest, hop... it's going to be so much fun.
Meahni

A Bella and a HUGE house

I have a Bella and a HUGE house to share today. But first, has anyone missed me yet!!? I'm not back, just joining in the Bella fun. I hope you all have too.

This week's theme was anything Bella, any of the Bella characters and there sure are a lot to choose from. I decided to use Savvyshoppabella. Don't you just love those legs that go on forever, wish I had legs like that, lol.

I coloured her with prisma pencils, blended with sansador (gamsol or grumtine), and cut her with a nestie - yeah I know, so what's new. I added some glamour dust with my quickie glue pen, and added a button with a little bow on top. Sorry the photo is a bit dark.

Now for the HUGE house! When I look out of the window of my study this is the house I see, way on top of the hill. The drive way towards the house looks like the great wall of China, lol! I took some pictures yesterday cause I so wanted to share this phenomenon with you all. I know there are lots of big houses everywhere, but this one just looks so interesting. I just looked up at it again now, and I've been blinded by the sun shining on one of the many windows.

Okay maybe it's just me who's fascinated by this, but it is such an interesting house, wish I could see it inside. I wonder if they are going to light it up like a Christmas tree at Christmas time. Of course I can't help but wonder how many little animals' habitat was destroyed with the construction of this monstrosity :-(

Well that's it for today, just had to share that. Have a great Friday!

Meahni

Such a cutie

That's what this little image is, a real cutie, and I used her for my Bellarific Friday card. It was a wild card this week, so it was really easy to make something, lol!

I got the little lulu stamps a couple months back but have only recently coloured some up. They are so easy to colour, cause there isn't that much to colour :-) Actually at first I thought that was going to make it a lot more difficult, but it actually wasn't. Left more time to make more cards, hehehe.

I coloured Henrietta Lulu with prisma pencils, blended with grumtine (gamsol or sansador) and cut her with a nestie. I used the fiskars threading water border punch for the sides, and I must say I really like that look. Oh the image was mounted on 3D tape.

I have never had a problem with Friday the 13th and have never thought that it was unlucky at all, but I got a call at 5am this morning from an unknown number, it turned out to be my mother, who is on holiday with a friend. She phoned to tell me that they had been robbed while they were sleeping. It is so sad that one cannot even go on holiday here, even then you are a target! So I am not feeling too cheerful right now and don't have much more to say.

There is one bright side to this day, it is my friend Paula's birthday, one of our super super talented Bella Babes. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAULA. I hope you have a wonderful day and a great trip to the Niagara falls!

Just a note

That's what I thought made a good sentiment for this card. Actually my sister phoned me earlier tonight and asked if I could make a farewell card for my niece's choir leader, hmmm, I think that's what she said. Anyhow, I know it was farewell, I got that right.

I had this image coloured up and said that I would finish the card and tomorrow they can check my blog and let me know if the card makes the grade or if I have to make another. I hope it makes the grade, cause the only other image I have coloured up is a surfer fella, from Stamping Bella, lol!!!

This image however is Ketto's Dolly, from the Stamping Bella Ketto range. It was one of the more recent releases, and I didn't have any Kettos, so I started my collection with the doll. Somewhat odd I think, but I liked it. I used the new nesties book shape for the image and that made me think the 'just a note sentiment' would go perfectly. It's a note from a book and a note to say goodbye. Okay, I'll move on, enough already.

I coloured it with my prisma pencils of course, layered it on a nestie mat, and added the sentiment which was cut with nesties too. I must say this image was really quick to colour, I felt a bit guilty, and thought maybe I didn't do enough or didn't try hard enough, but there was only so much I could do, before I had to just let it be.

Well I got to go, I can't keep my eyes open, it's past midnight already and I have a dentist appointment first thing in the morning :-(((

Oh before I go, do go to my fellow Bella DT member's blog, Joanne B, and check her bow tying video. It is awesome, and I could not believe how simple it was for her to make her gorgeous bows.

Don't forget Bellarific Friday!

Meahni

My very first Ketto

AND I baked! Okay that is not a first, but it is a first without egg.... but I'll get back to that later in this post, keep on reading :-)

This is my very first Ketto I have ever coloured and made a card with. Can you believe it. I actually don't own any Kettos, DON'T ask why not, I have no idea. All the Ketto images that I have in my collection were kindly sent to me by Paula! I had to make a card for a ten year old girl (can you see the HUGE 10), and the request was for something pink, yellow and red. (Don't tell but I thought what a strange colour combo, yet now I love it, and really wanna use it again, lol).

Charlotte Ketto, by Stamping Bella was coloured with my prisma pencils, blended with grumtine (gamsol), and cut with long rectangle nesties. I added a little ribbon, and brads, and a big bow, which I made with my bow easy, and is it easy to make a bow with this little thing! I love it. It's the second time I've used it, I made a double bow on the baby card on my previous post, and to me they look so professional. Just what a useless bow-maker like me needed!

Here are my biscuits, okay not all of them, there's more, but I took a picture of only a few. Just so you can see them when I tell you about them, rather than trying to imagine them, lol!! I like biscuits, especially in the mornings around 10 when I start getting hungry. I don't do breakfast, so around 10am I usually want something to eat, just to fill that empty spot. I haven't been able to have biscuits since I stopped eating egg. Then last week a friend at the office sent me an egg free biscuit recipe, and today I decided to try it. I had such fun I made two batches, I know, it's cause I'm greedy and want lots of biscuits.

They are just a little on the sweet side, but still fantastic! I am definitely going to make more. The recipe is really easy to follow and very quick to make. Even for someone like me who absolutely does not enjoy spending time in the kitchen, unless it's to eat food someone else has prepared for me :-)

I just heard the loudest gun shot coming from up the road. I hope no-one got hurt, except a burglar. My poor Misty is frightened of loud bangs, and immediately came running to me for safety. I am not sure what she thinks I am going to do, but I try and console her nonetheless.

I can't believe the weekend is over already, it goes far too quick. But let me get going, things to do, cards to make, images to colour....

Meahni

Girls' night out

Look at these two chickens, how can you not love them. See why I can't eat eggs any more ;-)

My mom's friend Jenni, is turning 80 this weekend, and she said these two ladies are just like her and Jenni when they visit and chat and shop and drink, and all the good things you can do with a great friend! I totally agree, and I think my mom is the one on the right, lol.

I used the Stamping Bella sketch from last week for this card. I have to say, I used to struggle terribly with sketches, but I am starting to like them a lot. If you make sure the image goes with the sketch, which I didn't do in the past, then it is SO much easier to put a card together... especially when you've seen it used.

This image is from Penny Black, the sentiment from Stamping Bella, cut out with a nestie of course. I inked the sentiment with a very light blue chalk ink.

The paper is from Basic Grey, again the 6x6 pad, and the white embossed paper was put through the swiss dot cuttlebug folder.

I've been busy hey? We had terrible weather this past weekend, so I couldn't do any DIY, didn't want to go out for food, actually I got home on Friday from work, parked my car in the garage and didn't take it out again until Monday morning when I had to go to work. That is my perfect weekend!!!

Stamping Bella has a great sketch this week, by none other than Paula, but fear not, it is a sketch for us normal folk this time, it won't give you a huge big headache. So who's going to join me, I am definitely participating. (You can find the sketch here.)

Now I'm out of here, Ellen Degeneres is on and I'm missing it....

Georgina Glamourpuss

Don't you just love that name! I do! It makes me laugh every time I say it out loud.

I'm trying to type this post and eat dinner, when you're hungry dinner takes preference. Especially when it gets cold so quickly. But it's finished now, so the post will get done in no time.

This image is Georgina Glamourpuss from Stamping Bella, and she's been coloured with none other than my little prisma pencils. The baubles, aren't they great, are also from Stamping Bella. I ordered some not so long ago, and boy is it difficult to chose which colour to take. I love them they are such classy embellishments. You'll be seeing more of them soon.

The paper is the new Basic Grey Lemonade collection, 6x6 pad. I really do like these pads, if you haven't got any yet, go get some! Now!!! LOL!!!! Seriously, they should all make them for us card makers.

Now for the sad part of my post. Did any of you know that when chicks are hatched they are seperated, male one side and female the other. The females are kept for laying eggs, the males are gassed to death, cause they have no use for them. I DID NOT know this, and found it out last night. I cannot believe that I am 41 years old and only learnt this now. I was so sad, not only is it madness that they must be killed, but on this show I watched, they uncovered farmers who did such unthinkable things to get rid of them, I am not even going to mention it here. Needless to say, I won't be eating eggs anymore!

Well that is me for tonight, I am off to watch a little TV and do some colouring. Have a great week all.

Happy Birthday Mom

Are these not just the cutest mice in town. Good thing they are not real or Simby and Misty (my 4 legged babies), would try to catch them, they won't care how cute they are.

This stamp is one of my Penny Black stamps which is sitting on the shelf not seeing any ink. I loved this stamp when I bought it and I think this is only the second time I used it. And I've had it for about 3 years. It's a shame there isn't enough time for all the stamps.

I made this card for my mom for her birthday. It is unbelievable how quick and easy it was to put together. The other one took me hours, this one about an hour and a half! (Well I hope it doesn't show ;-))

I coloured the images with ...... lets guess..... prismacolor pencils, what else, blended it with sansador and paper stumps, cut out with.... wait for it.... lets guess.... nesties. OK sorry, I realise my guessing games are quite boring, lol!

I added some glitter to the flower centres and raised the image with 3d foam pads. I also chalked the edged of the image with a little bit of ink, while it was still in the nesties die.

I have now read Paula's grass tutorial, but I have to admit, I need to practice a lot more. I also for some reason, don't ask me what, couldn't get my pencils sharp. I know that sounds odd, but it's true.

That's it from me for today, in fact for the weekend, how did it fly by. I can't believe it's nearly Monday already. I think we should change the 'rules' make weekends 3 days long. I am sure everyone will agree with me....

Guess who's got new paper

..... me of course! I ordered the 6 x 6 Basic Grey pads from Cut at Home. They are really perfect for card making. If anyone has not used them, I would certainly recommend it.

The one I used for this card is the Wisteria range. The are such stunning papers in this pack, I just couldn't decide which ones to use.

This card is for my sister, to give to my mom for her birthday, which was today! I am still full from lunch and my little eyes just want to close so I can drift into neverland, but instead I am being a good blogger and getting my posts out for today.

I coloured the images to match the wisteria paper with my prismacolor pencils, blended with paper stumps and sansador, and cut out with Nesties.

Okay sparky pressed enter before finishing the post, so you might get an email with only half a post....

I added some glitter to her dress and the flower in her hair, and liquid crystal to the tea cup. I love that big tea cup, it is just how a tea cup should be, delicate, big and classic, lol!

We went to a german restaurant for lunch, my mom wanted eisbein. Luckily the also server pizza, so there was at least something for me to eat. Being vegetarian in a german restaurant is not ideal.... very little vegetables and lots of meat, especially pork!