Followers

Translate my Page

About Me

My photo
Johannesburg, South Africa
I am mother to four and my wonderful dil Lisa recently blessed us with our first grandchild. I share my life with my indulgent husband, and my love of hobbies

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Mo's dp 2 challenge dt

Oh my word! i dont think i have ever been this late with my post and almost didnt do it now either, it is dinner time in our house and i thought it the perfect opportunity for me to check my google reader and noticed that the new challenge for Mo's dp 2 challenge blogis up, it a "back to school" challenge.
I am run ragged trying to get all my work done to send off to Sweden for the next Magnolia ink and i am in a dizzy spin.  I have neglected my house work all week, been short with my children and my dh, and a dear friend of mine pointed out to me that my first commitment is to my family so today i took long breaths, spoke really slowly so that i wouldnt let me bad mood get the better of me, and geuss what?  my husband is doing dinner dishes, LOL.
for this weeks challenge i used Trinity from Mo's digital pencil, colored with my copics and the dp is from my stash a really old one that had no name on it. i stitched around all the layers of dp to add extra interest to an otherwise boring card, so sorry i couldnt have been a little more inspiring. The little pencils are buttons that i cut the loop off of and finished my card with a nice lush bow, and a very simple inside.
Do join in the fun this week i look forward to seeing all the submissions
smiles
Paola
P.S: am gonna enter this in the challenge on Paper play challenges  as it fits their back to school theme.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Magnolia-licious inspiration challenge

We have a new Inspiration challenge for you on Magnolia-licious and it suited my daughter to the "T" as she has loads of birthdays for her friends this time of year.
As i sometimes do i took the inspiration literally and made a bag.  I used Tilda with butterfly jeans available from Magnolia-licious item #3034 where you can expect excllent service and discounts.
I colored my image of course with copics, i embossed the top flap of my bag with cuttlebug folder, sorry didnt note the folders name, i used my copic fine liner and drew the stitching around the corner protectors of the handbag and also along the straps.  The lovely green checkered paper is locally South African from Queen of hearts, i just love their paper.


We filled the bag with a note book and diary and a few other girly things like nail polish and lip balm and my daughters friend couldnt believe her little handbag.  This was really simple to make and gave such pleasure to see how chuffed the recipient was.
Do come and play with our new challenge on Magnolia-licious Diana is so generous and giving away a gift voucher for the lucky winner.

smiles
Paola

Monday, August 22, 2011

Tomic challenge #12 recycle



Its a special challenge this week as Magnolia ink is also celbrating its birthday and the team were all challenged to "recycle."  I had forgotten all about this event when i recieved an email reminding me on Saturday evening.  I scurried around like a chicken without a head, my first thought was to do a Jam jar that i have had on hold to alter, but Murphy's law i couldnt find it as i have already packed up half my stash in the studio for the great move.

I was lucky however to stumble upon this treasure chest that i have a few of and decided that it would be great filled with bon bons for a friends brithday next month.
The girls on the Tomic Team have done a fabulous job altering all sorts, so do come and play this week as there is loads of inspiration.
Paper:  Magnolia: something old something new
Stamps:  Travelling Tilda, suitcase with sign, and many miscellaneaous from my stash
Embellishments:  Lock and key from stash
Flowers: WOC
all the bits and bobs from my stash too, and the lace is really old dont remember where it came from
Inks and coloring medium:  copics, memento rich cocoa and vintage photo

have a great week
smiles
Paola

Friday, August 19, 2011

I am still alive!!!

WARNING!!! THIS IS NOT FOR THE FEINT HEARTED!!
this morning i had to go to the warehouse where all the copics are kept to get a few order together for customers, on my trip back i have to drive through an area that doesnt have the most savoury reputation.  Anywho i was stopped by a traffic light that was red and i was one car back from the intersection and on a slight incline so i had my car in first gear riding the clutch.
All of a sudden an arm appears on edge of my window which was open about three inches, and a knife to my throat and calm as you like he says "give me your cellphone and handbag"  I still remember turning to see who it was and make sure i wasnt dreaming. before i said "F&*( YOU", dropped my clutch and almost went into the car in front of me.  I felt the knife slice across my neck, and could not believe it when i found that i hadnt been cut.
Now if that isnt enough confirmation that someone is looking out for me then its time for me to give up my bag and cellphone.  To all my friends that are gonna be put off coming to RSA, this is not an every day occurrence to me specifically, but we need to be aware that this is the reality we llive with in South Africa and to STOP being complacent and do something about it.
I do hope that all my friends stay safe and have a good weekend
A very shaky Paola

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Mo's dp 2 challenge dt

Time is just leaving me behind these days, its time already for our new challenge on Mo's dp 2 and this week its a "blue challenge"
i wasnt too sure how i was gonna be doing my card when i first saw this challenge and then i remembered we dont have long to go for Christmas, and even although i dont  celebrate Christmas i have loads of friends who do, so am gonna be needing those cards sooner than i know.
I just love this image called "sending Peace" available from Mo's store here she was such a pleasure to color.  The sparkly paper i bough quite some time ago and thought it would be perfect to give my card that extra something with all the blingy bits.
I added a feather down the side to give it an added whimsy feel and a few of those pearly garlands with my pre-requisite flowers.  The inside was decorated pretty much like the front of my card so i didnt add pics, sure you can get the picture just by seeing the front
Do join our challenge on Mo's  this week, i look forward to seeing all the fab entries
smiles
Paola

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Mo's dp 2 challenge dt

Our new challenge from Mo's dp 2 is up and this week it is Anything but a card.

Well believe me this time it was a real challenge for me too.  Once i had my thinking cap on i realised that since the childrens bathroom is gonna have a nautical theme, how cool would it be for them to have a little lighthouse.

My lighthouse was made using an old bottle that i rinsed out real well, add some fun foam around the bottom half and stamped the brick onto, i left an opening at the back of the bottle to turn the light inside off and on.
Colored my image "Out there" available from Mo's store with my copics, and used a sealing agent on the whole things since it is gonna be in the bathroom.
Hope everyone is having a great week
smiles
Paola

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

No lines coloring

I saw the post that Zoe and Jane shared in blog land and was totally floored, i thought "well Paola, its time to pack away your copics cos i am NEVER gonna be able to do that."
I should never have challenged myself, yesterday i made a mad dash to one of my friends craft stores to get some Adirondack in pale colors so that i could give it a go.  Now be kind, i know its no where near as good as the two i mentioned earlier in this post. 
It was hard, not as easy as normal coloring as yes the lines kinda dissapear as you go, also it took me a long time to be satisfied enough to post it here.  I am still not completely satisfied, but will keep working at it.
I doubt i will make a card with this image till i get better at the technique, but here you have it, warts and all as they say, since there are a lot of mistakes i know!
have a great week
smiles
Paola

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Magnolia-licious dt

Time for our new challenge on Magnolia-licious and this week we have a photo to inspire you aswell as we would like to see, Monochrome color scheme or of course black and white.
For my contribution to the challenge i used Explore Tilda #211 available from Diana's Magnolia-licious store, on the inside of my card i used the snail that came with one of the collections, sorry i dont recall which one and cant seem to find it in the inventory.
My sentiment was computer generated.  All my images are coloring with copics, grays.  The black rhinestone flourish was a gift from my BFF, so nice not to have to sit and glue each rhinestone down individually for a change.
Well folks its national womens day here in good ol" SA, i sure feel like a women, i been washing, ironing, baking and running around like a mad woman.  We have been fasting today, so it hasnt been easy, but almost time to break fast.

I do hope you will join our challenge this week i look forward to seeing all the fab intries.
smiles
Paola
P.S: gonna enter the following challenges with this card:
the secret crafter : black & white
DYSU B& W
My mums craft shop: monochrome

Friday, August 5, 2011

Mo's dp 2 challenge dt

As you can see, i am a whole day late with my posting for the wonderful Mo's challenge which is to make an easel this week.  As you know by now i live in Africa, we have copper thieves and Nigerians that steal your telephone and ADSL lines rugularly and this week it was my line.  I could just cry, i hate not being online.
To top it all off, i am without a maid AGAIN!!   i know most of you are thinking, a maid!! yes it is normal to have a maid in Africa, if you dont have a maid you are not normal.  OK so no maid, no internet = very unhappy Paola.

So for my card, i had to try this double easel, which i first saw on my Friend Barb's blog and i couldnt wait to try it myself.
For my card i am using "Patience" available from Mo's store, image colored with copics and the dp's are all locally South African from "Queen of hearts"  On my dotted paper i gave the edges some top boss and added white embossing powder.  The flower were punched out with a NS punch and added a rhinestone flower centre, the border punch is a MS punch and all the ribbons are from my stash.

have a great weekend
smiles
Paola
 

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Dbl display card

i have made this card before and posted the template/ directions for it also, but since i am doing it again i will repost the directions for those that missed it before:
I made one of these for my friend Sharon Keanly's birthday which she celebrated today, however like a real dufus i forgot to get pics of it before i sent it off, so i just had to make another one to showcase here on my blog and also to enter into the new challenge on the Magnolia-licious highlights blog  where there challenge is to only use paper.  Now if you look too closely you will see that i did cheat a teensy weensy bit, by using cotton thread to string my "happy birthday" banner across my card.  Hope they wont disqualify me for it.
The images i have used are:  Lovely Tilda, Hopscotch Tilda and Happy spring, all available from Magnolia-licious store, unfortunately i couldnt get onto the site to get the item numbers for you, but if you look in the search window, sure you will find them.



All the images are colored with copics.  OOPs another little additon to my paper was all the stardust stickles, that i added to my punched butterflies.
have a great week crafters
smiles
Paola
P.S: if you do use this template please link back to my blog here.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Tomic challenge dt

This is so exciting as this is my first posting officially for the dt on Tomic.  Our challenge this week is "Round"
I love having to think about what i am gonna come up with, and for me it wasnt so much about making a round card, but making something with a bit of a twist.
Yes this is a round easel, but look closer::::::: my little roccking Tilda, ROCKS!!
I used the coin mechanism to make sure that my image would rock.

Papers: prima and Kaiser, Basil basics
Embellishments:From my stash, pearls, flowers and lace
Stamps:  do crafts butterfly, hero arts flourish around the edges of my image and Rocking Tilda
punches:  Marianne die for the leaves, nesties to cut my image and card, ek success for the inside.
Coloring and inks:  copics, memnto tuxedo black, Eggplant pigment ink for embossing my butterfly, distress ink:walnut stain for the edges of my image, and star dust stickles for the touch of glam
smiles
Paola
p,s: gonna enter this card for:
Totally Tilda:  ribbons, lace, pearls and swirls, it was pointed out that someone couldnt see the ribbon, it is the first layer of my flowers, a shimmery ornganza ribbon gathered to make the first layer of my flower.