Scrap Affairs magazine

Pics 'n Tales seem to be a regular feature in the Scrap Affairs magazine lately! Here is one of the layouts in the current issue:

This layout was created using a competition kit bought from The Scraphouse. The paper was provided, with the instruction to create a double page layout using only the paper - even to create embellishments. I used a number of different dies and punches to create the title and the detail along the sides of the layout. The little bird, christmas trees and the red glitter swirl on the left of the layout were all hand cut from the patterned papers in the kit.

One can never have enough wishes for your children. And sometimes it is difficult to decide which ones are the most important. However, wishing for a bit of cheer in their lives, is one of the simplest wishes to make. And probably right up there as far as importance goes...

A clever mini album

My friend's very clever way of dealing with her two little girls' need to have the same toys as their friends, was the ideal opportunity for me to use a template for a clever little mini album found in an issue of Scrap365.

The template is SO versatile! I've used it to make no less than 5 albums, all with different themes, from travel to a puppy, but all based on the same principle.

The album uses a little more than 1 sheet of cardstock, and consists of a number of flaps and a pocket for additional journaling cards. All the flaps are decorated with patterned paper and embellishments that are not too bulky. Five flaps and the pocket creates loads of space to tell a story through pictures and words. Enjoy the pictures!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking!

Special layout and new classes

This layout celebrates my father's 70th birthday. We all got dressed up, took a few props to a nearby farm, and set up a lovely area for a family photo shoot. Most of the photos found their way into a mini album, but these ones of Oupa and his boys needed to be scrapped on their own.

I've used Fabscraps patterned paper for the background, combined with a bit of Graphic 45 paper for a contrasting colour. There are a few 7Gypsies tags, a covered envelope and a bit of washi tape thrown into the mix. A library card (my favourite embellishment of late...) and Fabscraps letters covered with Ranger's Enamel Accents completes the picture.

 

We've had our second last class for the year on Saturday. Here is a photo of part of layout:

 



Patterned paper from Bo Bunny's Gabrielle range was used as the background. Lots of individual pearls and bling were scattered all over the layout, combined with flowers, metal butterflies and butterflies die cut from acetate and then embossed. The layout features a tag booklet, which creates additional space for photos or jouraling.

 

 

Kits are available from info@picsntales.co.za. Watch this space for a sneek peek of our last class for 2012, which takes place this coming Saturday!

I made a card ?!?!

I'm not really into making cards. However, every now and again, I really enjoy making something quick and small. And when it turns out like this one, I wonder why I don't do it more often, as I really enjoyed the process?

This card was inspired by Ezme's gorgeous examples using coated paper, normally used for encaustic art.

I used white ink to stamp a "script" image as a background. Because the card is coated, the Ranger Distress Ink blends beautifully over the dry white ink. I stamped more random images over the Distress Ink, and used an embossing tool to make sure that everything was dry before stamping the main image, using black Stazon ink.

A little bit of lace, a chipboard piece covered with black washi tape and a piece of beautiful butterfly washi tape was then added. A few yellow bling bits completes the card.

Scrap 365 November Sketch Challenge

Thank you, Scrap 365, for naming me as one of your "super scrappers of the month" for the October challenge! What an honour!

This month, the sketch for the challenge was designed by Tiff Firth, and it looks like this:

Those gears immediately caught my attention, as I already had a layout where I've used them before...

For this layout, I used a Kaiser Kraft patterned paper range, and it was the first one I ever scrapped on a black background.

Don't you just love the little robot holding the heart in its hands?

Old pics, old stash

I seem to be on a roll with producing layouts using old photographs, and old stash! This picture was taken in 2009. Don't you just love the amazement on that little face? He just COULD NOT BELIEVE his luck!

I was happy to find quite a large piece of soft blue patterned paper in my "scraps" box, that went so well with the theme for this layout. The colour scheme and embellishments were purposefully kept "calm", so that the main focus of the layout could be the photograph.

The metal frame was originally a red copper colour, and obviously did not go with the rest of the layout. So I painted it with an Espresso Ranger Dabber, and added highlights using the Snowcap Ranger Dabber. A little journaling on an October Afternoon card adds the finishing touches to the layout.

Something a little different

Scrap Africa's current challenge is to create a white project, using only white and one other colour. The idea is that white will be the dominant colour of the project.

When I saw the challenge, I knew I had the PERFECT photo for this!

It was taken about 6 years ago, and although I literally have thousands of more recent photos of this little man, this one remains my absolute favourite!!!

 

I've used white die-cut letters to create the title. There is a tiny little birdcage and a fabulous Fabscraps flourish, both covered with Ranger's Enamel Accents. I've used the same on the numbers on the right. The red tape between the 2 and 3 serves as an accent, but it also reminds me of his age when the picture was taken.

 

 

Photos printed on cardstock

I was going through one of my albums this afternoon, looking for a particular layout, when I stumbled upon these two that I did a few years ago.

In both layouts, I first desaturated the photo colour in photoshop, before printing it onto cream cardstock. This almost creates the same effect as printing your photo on canvas.

As you can see, liquid chalk was used quite liberally, adding to the vintage feel of the layouts.

Scrap365 Challenge

I love the Scrap365 magazine! I find it to be full of fun and innovative ideas, and quite literally cannot wait for each new edition to hit the shelves. I found this great sketch on their blog, and decided to create something using Kaiser Kraft paper and sticker sheets.

 

So this is my take on the sketch:

 

And here are a few close-ups showing a few of the details:

Why don't you hop on over to their blog, or better yet, go to CNA and get the magazine?

 

Mini album for a good cause

Last week at our regular crop session, one of the ladies told us about an orphanage who wants to give mini albums to the children who get adopted, so that they have a keepsake to remember the people at the orphanage by. We immediately decided to participate in this project. So this weekend, I made this album. Each decorated page is opposite a blank page, where the child can put a picture.

If you want to participate in this project, you are welcome to contact Pics 'n Tales for more details.

Creative play in Jeffereys Bay

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to teach a class at the Scrapbook Studio in Jeffereys Bay.

I was really excited, as the format of the class was somewhat different to what I am used to. Pics 'n Tales provided the class notes, and each lady provided their own paper and embellishments to create a layout similar to example which I had made.

Well, what a creative group of ladies! Obviously the layouts all looked different. Not only did the paper make a difference, but each lady's personal style came through in the embellishments that she used.

I really enjoyed teaching this class, as well as the shopping in Cariena's awesome shop. I am not so sure that my bank manager shares these emotions, though.... 

One great day, one great layout

This beautiful layout  which Ezme designed, is featured in the current edition of the Scrap Affairs. Be sure to get your copy, as there is no less than 5 Pics 'n Tales layouts in there! Wow!

J-Bay, here I come!

I am so excited to be teaching at the Scrapbook Studio in Jeffereys Bay on Thursday! This is the layout which we will be doing:

Something quite simple to put together, but with a few finishing touches that adds just a little bit of magic to remind me of a wonderful afternoon on the beach with three very busy, but totally adorable boys!!!

Inspired by days gone by

As they say in the infomercials: "Here's one I made earlier!" This layout was created for a heritage theme in the Scrap Affairs. I really did not want to create something with the normal, brown vintage look, so I took my inspiration from the grey colour of the photo.

To soften the grey colour scheme, and the very bold Girls Paperie number stickers at the bottom, I added little details such as a bit of bling, soft pink flowers and cute embellishment cards. Click on the image to enlarge the photo and see if you can spot the date stamp that was on the original photo, which also found its way into the layout...

Jowilna's take on our album

 

As promised, today it is time to showcase the pictures of the mixed media album Jowilna Nolte created for Pics 'n Tales. I love how Jowilna and Cariena's front covers look similar, but that they ended up creating albums quite different from each other, with the same supplies.

 

 

 

 

Jowilna created a sweet "clothes line" page, using different techniques. Then she used sheer leaves as wings to add a special touch to a Tim Holtz dress from on the next page:

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Jowilna! We hope that you've enjoyed this project!