April Showers bring May flowers Project Life Title Card

Happy Monday Bloglanders

I hope you are having a wonderful day!! Today, I want to share my handmade Project Life Title card for week 16:

My inspiration came from the SimonSaysStamp Monday Challenge - "April Showers bring May flowers". Not so easy if you live down under in Sunny SA where we are heading for winter!! I decided to take my inspiration from a rainbow and use the rainbow colours.  This is what I got from my scrap stash:

I just glued strips of paper from my scrap stash onto a 6x4 piece of cardstock - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. Then I toned it down with some white acrylic paint and distressed it a bit. Some stamping and embellishments from my stash and it's done!!

Another week in my life captured!

Thanks for looking at my blog today. I have heaps of office work but will be speeding through it to get time to do some more crafting. Please come back to play as I have lots more to share right here on Play as U GO.

Just a sneak peek - over the weekend I made 2 Layouts. They fit onto 6x12 pages in my Project Life album. Love them. I'll be back to share some detailed info later this week.

Until we meet again ................................  have FUN and remember to try something new - TODAY!!

Happy Easter 2016

Hi there Bloglanders

I'm off for a few days at the beach house but before I go .........................................

Hop over to last year's Easter post to see al lot of my previous Easter projects with links.

This year I made carrots for the Easter Bunny as I have more than enough Easter decor left from previous years. Love it!!

And this is what I did:

1. Cut squares of all your yellow, orange and green papers to the size of carrots your bunny would like.
2. Roll around a pipe and glue the long open edge.
3. Flatten one of the short edges and glue.
4. Fold the other short edge the other way and flatten.
5. Add your leaves.
6. Now it looks like this.
7. Fill with sweets.
8 & 9. DONE

Easy Peasy. Get going, I see you have a lots of scraps waiting to be turned into carrot treat bags. ENJOY!! I'm off to have some fun!!

Travel Journal 2016

Hi there Bloglanders

Did you try out my ideas about "scrapping" with your phone? If you missed out, scroll down and give it a GO!!

Today I'm sharing a page from my Travellers Notebook. Down under in Sunny SA it's summer - hot and dry. Therefore, we spend most of our time out of doors camping and having alfresco dinners. And ice cold West Coast Sauvignon Blanc - of course!!

This is what my page looked like before I added the photos and embellishments.


I don't use Copic markers but have a few in my stash - used every single one that I own on this page. Around the edges is a bit of Navy Simply Kelly ink.

And here it is:

Once again I edited, collaged and journalled with my phone, printed 1x 6x4 picture, cut it apart and added a few embellishments. They are all "home made" and part of my PL stash for 2016. My quest is to streamline my process, spend less money and hoard nothing.

The second page has most of my notes and a map.

 And a few close-ups:

I use this embellishment a lot. It's from an Amy Tangerine stamp set. I made it into a print and cut file for my Silhouette as my stamping skills are awful. This way, I add one whenever I do a Silhouette project and have some space left on my page.

That's it. Another project done and dusted. Everything recorded in one place. Should I want to check back for info or pic's - it's all in my Travel Journal.

Thanks for looking at my blog today. Have a GREAT weekend and please come back to play!

Happy Valentine's Day 2016

Hi there Bloglanders

This morning when I wanted to write a brand, spanking new blogpost, I remembered that it's Valentine's Day tomorrow. I didn't prep anything special as Wynand and I are alone most of the time (with both the boys having their own, grown-up lives) and we do special things for one another every day.

I'm planning a picnic in our garden en have more than enough projects from past years lined up to make it special.

I just typed "Valentine's Day" into the "search" option on my blog and all these came up!! Have a go and you are in for a treat -a Valentine's Day treat  - from me to you.

We will be having coffee in the mugs, I'll serve cool, summery cocktails in the bottles, I'm printing the Subway art onto copy paper and it will be our placemats, the tins will hold small hearty chocolates.  I loved doing all these projects and are glad that they can be altered and re-used in years when my mojo is low.

That's it. Hope I brought you some inspiration. Have a hearty Valentine's Day and please come back to play as I'll be back with another project soon.

DIY Spring Jar and Flower home / garden decor

Hi there Bloglanders

Yesterday I showed you my DIY Jar and Flower home (garden!!) decor and a bit of info on how I did it.  As the only picture I posted, was a collage, I received numerous request for a picture showing more detail.

So, Ta-da!!! By public demand:

For Wynand's birthday we had it on our front gate to welcome guests to his party. After that, I hung it on the wall next to our front door where it still is.

I recycled empty jars into vases, filled it with flowers and ivy from my garden and hung everything with wire hangers from Typo and some pretty, pink ribbon. I also made some of the same jar hangers to fill with tealights. Sorry, I didn't take a pic of these but when we lit them again, I will surely do and include a link right here. Check back and all will be revealed!!

I'm submitting my project to the Craftaholics Anonymous Friday Finds Linky Party. I totally love the projects they showcase every Friday. Hop over there and see for yourself what the rest of Blogland did with their creative juices.

That's it. Recycle, reuse, re-purpose and use what you have on hand. Love it!!

Have a GREAT day and thanks for looking at my blog today.

Travel with your Crafts - Making Softies

Happy Sunday Bloglanders

I hope you are having a ball and that your weekend-dreams exceed your wildest expectations.  Currently, I'm making Softies. Never heard of them??  Check out my Pinterest board.

As I had to do a Craft Storage Ideas post about storing new trends, I thought I'd give this trend a go. And meet them - Maya the Bee and Flower Power. Initially I decided to make the bee for a garden loving friend but as she is more of a pink person, I decided to give the trend a second go with Flower Power.

I'll show you exactly what I did in another post but first I want to share how I travel with my crafts.  Wynand and I hop between our home in Stellenbosch and the winery on the West Coast quite regularly. Nothing better for me than sitting on our "stoep", drinking Sauvignon Blanc and CRAFTING.

Here is what I used:

A whole stack of old suitcases stacked in our entrance hall. The bottom one dated back to my first day of school, the bottom brown one is from my daughter-in-law's brother, then another brown one from Wynand's first years of school. On top you can see the bright, blue striped one that I retrieved from our attic recently. Pieter used it in pre-school more than 25 years ago!!

As I love to try out new things, I needed a space for non-permanent projects.  And this is IT!!

I decided to make a cover for the inside as I needed pockets for my tools. Step one: Cut pattern pieces using the suitcase as a template. Remember to add seam allowances!

I used fabric scraps (what did you  expect???) therefore my pockets and backing are different black tartans, leftover buttons and an old shirt from my mum for the flowery piping.

Stitch and it's done:

Even though it wasn't necessary, I wanted brightly colored bows to keep the cover in place. I've sewed them to the stitching that go all around the suitcase.

 And packed with all the tools and products needed to make gorgeous Softies:

I love the fact that everything is in one place and that I can just open up the suitcase and get going.

I hope you enjoyed my version of  "Travelling with my Crafts".  I'll be back with a "Try a Trend" post. Then, I'll share the info on making your own Softies.  In the meantime, I'm off to try my hand at a Butterfly. Check back and I'll share the inside info right here on Play as U Go. If you can't wait, check my Instagram feed and you will see as I go.

That's it - I've got a butterfly waiting to be made! Have a Happy week and thanks for looking at my blog today.

Travel with your Crafts

Happy Friday Bloglanders

I hope you are having a ball and that your weekend-dreams exceed your wildest expectations.  Currently, I'm making Softies. Never heard of them??  Check out my Pinterest board.

As I had to do a Craft Storage Ideas post about storing new trends, I thought I'd give this trend a go. And meet them - Maya the Bee and Flower Power. Initially I decided to make the bee for a garden loving friend but as she is more of a pink person, I decided to give the trend a second go with Flower Power.

I'll show you exactly what I did in another post but first I want to share how I travel with my crafts.  Wynand and I hop between our home in Stellenbosch and the winery on the West Coast quite regularly. Nothing better for me than sitting on our "stoep", drinking Sauvignon Blanc and CRAFTING.

Here is what I use:

A whole stack of old suitcases stacked in our entrance hall. The bottom one dated back to my first day of school, the bottom brown one is from my daughter-in-law's brother, then another brown one from Wynand's first years of school. On top you can see the bright, blue striped one that I retrieved from our attic recently. Pieter used it in pre-school more than 25 years ago!!

As I love to try out new things, I needed a space for non-permanent projects.  And this is IT!!

I decided to make a cover for the inside as I needed pockets for my tools. Step one: Cut pattern pieces using the suitcase as a template. Remember to add seam allowances!

I used fabric scraps (what did you  expect???) therefore my pockets and backing are different black tartans, leftover buttons and an old shirt from my mum for the flowery piping.

Stitch and it's done:

Even though it wasn't necessary, I wanted brightly colored bows to keep the cover in place. I've sewed them to the stitching that go all around the suitcase.

 And packed with all the tools and products needed to make gorgeous Softies:

I love the fact that everything is in one place and that I can just open up the suitcase and get going.

I hope you enjoyed my version of  "Travelling with my Crafts".  I'll be back on Sunday with a "Try a Trend" post. Then, I'll share the info on making your own Softies.  In the meantime, I'm off to try my hand at a Butterfly. Check back and I'll share the inside info right here on Play as U Go. If you can't wait, check my Instagram feed and you will see as I go.

That's it - I've got a butterfly waiting to be made! Have a Happy weekend and thanks for looking at my blog today.

April Showers bring Spring Flowers

Hallo Bloglanders

What a  weird heading for Sunny South Africa heading for winter BUT .................... it's the inspiration for the SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge. You know me and a good challenge ...........................

This is what I did:

Some time ago I invested in a pack of air dry clay and when we went on our last camping weekend I took it with to try.  It's wonderful, soft and easy to work with and dries quickly.  Back home I painted them with acrylic paint and they are ready to use on layouts, decorating presents and I'm even adding one to a bracelet. Watch this space and you will meet again ...................

I've used this one to decorate a pressie:

It's an inexpensive shop bought jewellery box that now looks like a million dollars and would be the the perfect place for a little girl to store her valuables.

Even if you can't get hold of a similar box, you can hop over to this post and see how I've recycled an old book cover to make one. And a peek for the lazy ones:

That's it. I'm off to my craft desk to work on Amy Tangerine's latest challenge - sweet potato, seeds and a food magazine!! I'll be back to show what I did. Just check back on my blog or join me on Instagram and you'll be the first to know.

Have a GREAT day and remember to try something new - TODAY!!

DIY Card Kit

Hello Blogland

And a Happy Wednesday to you all!! I'm rushing around to get everything done before the LOOOOOONG Easter weekend but first I want to show what I made.

My mom is very sick and a lot of people go out of their way to make her life easier and of course, they have to be thanked.  She has a full time carer and as mum sleeps most of the day, Gerda (the world's most wonderful carer) are always looking for ways to fill her hours.

So, I gifted her with a DIY Card Box. When she has time, she makes cards, write thank-you-notes and keeps up to date with mum's admin. What a brilliant idea! (even if I have to say so myself)

A peek inside the box:

And I packed everything in a box that I cut with my Silhouette. If you have one on hand that can be recycled, it should work just as well but I wanted to stay with my milky, pastel colour scheme which reminds me of my mom's clothes.

My cut files are from Wilna Furstenberg's  shop. When I cut some for myself, I do a whole page and keep the rest in my stash to decorate my planner, pressies, art journal and cards. I love her stuff.

I wanted square cards as they had to fit into quarters of the square box. Also, I wanted them to fit the envelopes which were shop bought (the cheaper option!). So, I customized my envelopes (will show you how I did it in my next post) and cut the cards accordingly. These were my "dry goods":



































And some of the finished cards:

And here you can see what went where in my DIY Card Kit:

It's a GREAT way to recycle and share your crafting leftovers with family and friends.  The only item that I bought, was the glue stick  - the rest all came from my stash. I have more than enough for a few more kits.

That's it. Have a Wonderful Wednesday. Tanks for visiting my blog today and remember to try something new today.