Mini Monday

Hi there Bloglanders

I'm back with a mini book I made last year after Monika Wright did a tutorial on her five senses at Write.Click.Scrapbook.  If you want to get enthusiastic and finish a project quickly - join in the fun of a challenge. In the end you will have a wonderful book / layout / card that can go towards your Christmas pressie stash or in your "year in my life folder". (or if you're like me a box file) Monika also shared free printables where you can just add pictures. At WCS it is March Mini madness. Hop over there and get inspired.

Of course, my five senses is in Afrikaans but for those of you who don't know  -
TASTE = PROE
SEE = SIEN
FEEL = VOEL
HEAR = HOOR
SMELL = RUIK
Easy peasy, now you know all five your senses in Afrikaans!

Here is a picture of my page layouts:

And my front and back pages:

I laminated the front and back pages as I used a very old paper pad for this mini.

And now for the twist (didn't I tell you that I do my things MY WAY?). As I got a Zutter binder for my birthday, I couldn't wait to try it out. Therefor, I folded pieces of cardstock over the spines of 6x6 postbound page protectors (left over from another project) and sewed it in place.

Here you can see what it looked like.  Look closely, there  is actually a page protector in front on the left.

And now for the newly acquired Zutter. I just love this little machine! Thanks mom!

And here is the finished product with its light blue ring binder:

While at it, I made an extra one with more generic pictures but without the journaling.  I gave it to a friend in need who used it to focus on the things she already has and not on what she doesn't have.

That's it from me!  Happy mini Monday and get into a challenge - you may learn something.

Fridge magnets part 2

Hi there Bloglanders

I'm so glad you're back to play.  Today I wanted to show you my mom's album but due to public demand I'm showing you exactly how I made the fridge magnets.  You see, I get bored very easily and normally I try to figure out stuff myself.  (keeps my hands and brain busy)  I drive my friend nuts as I don't use Permalinks on Pinterest because all I'm interested in is the idea. To my family's horror I will add my own twist as well! After yesterday's post I will think twice about it next time I pin something as there are bloglanders out there who want to see more detail.

No problem, I'll make sure that I take more pictures next time I make something and add measurements where needed. (and a Permalink!! - for Sandra)

Those of you who missed yesterday's post click here for the picture of the fridge magnets.
Here is a picture of all the shapes I punched / cut out.  I only used scraps and tools that I already have.



A scalloped circle with a hole for the front, a piece of transparency, another circle out of thick carton and a circle for the backing.

I just glued all the layers together - the scalloped circle, the transparency and the cardboard circle.

Added beads and glued it shut with the solid circle.

I added a piece of self adhesive magnetic strip to the back and glossy accents to the front. The one I did for this tutorial doesn't have the glossy accents as it would have taken too long to dry but I'll be adding it over the weekend.  It does make it look professional.

And here is the new one playing with its mates on my freezer door!

If you need more info, please leave me a comment and I'll get back to you. Thank you for coming to play. 









Making fridge magnets

Hi there Bloglanders

I'm back to share some fridge magnets I made a while ago to keep the neighborhood kids busy. The inspiration actually came from a project that Monika Wright did with some ready made embellishments from Momenta.  However, it's a mission to get nice goodies in sunny South Africa and I had to adapt the idea.

What's the solution?  Use / recycle what you have and give it a personal twist. I used scraps and punched out different shapes. ( you can cut them out by hand as well but I USE the tools that I have) In the middle I punched out another circle and filled it in from behind with some transparency off cuts. Remember my blindside-son is an architect and uses it all the time for windows in his models. (lots of off cuts!).  At the back I added a frame that I cut out of corrugated carton (then its ticker), filled it up with left over beads, glued it shut with another die cut and added a magnet.

The magnet in the middle of my picture was punched out of black craft foam and I omitted the frame and beads at the back.

To make the fronts nice and shiny I added glossy accents. The secret here is to leave it to dry properly.  I recommend that you do this yourself and store them away for at least a day if you do this project with children as they keep touching it and that totally spoils the effect.

That's it from me for today. For those of you who are proposing - hope your wildest dreams and expectations come true. Please come back to play tomorrow as I'll be sharing the album I made for my mom.

Mini Folders

Hi there Bloglanders

I'm still sitting detention (snowed under with office work) but I have a quick project to show that will reduce your stash and tidy up your desk.  I only used paper I had left over from other projects or old one sided paper that I'll never use.  The white pages is recycled copy paper from the office.

This is what my finished folder looks like:

First I cut the paper off cuts to size and practised my stamping on some of them.

I used half a sheet of cardstock and scored and folded it. For the front I just traced the pattern onto the cardstock and cut it out with my scissors.  To close the folder, I added a string clasp (home made out of a punched out circle) and some eyelets. (you can just punch holes, it will work fine)

I inserted my pages, added a colored one for the front (with a border I punched out) and punched holes through the folder and pages simultaneously with my office punch.  Everything is kept together with an office clip that I bought from our local stationary shop.

The one on top is for my own desk and I made 3 more for pressies.

Packed and ready to be given away.

What I really like about this folder, is that you can refill it once you have used all the blank pages.  I use it all the time for notes and when I refill, I go through all of them, trow away what will never be used and file the rest away in personal or business files. Much better than notes that always gets lost!

Back to detention for me!  Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday and remember, tomorrow is the 29th - if you want to propose, get cracking on your speech.



Thank you pressie

Hi there Bloglanders

Once again I'm sharing a card I made yesterday evening (in about 5 minutes from start to finish).  I used the color palet of  The Play Date Cafe.

Here is the inspiration:

I'm starting to like challenges like these as they get me to use color schemes I don't normally do and also, to use a lot of my stash and scraps. Normally I tend to use the paper and embellishments in tones that I love and the rest gets filed away. While I'm at it, I try to do a set of cards as this makes the perfect pressie for someone. All my tools are out anyway so I can just as well use them X4.

Here is my card:

And the rest of the family:

And my packaging:

These are going to a friend who did me a huge favour last week and I decided to add a little tin with a see through lid just for that extra specialness.

That's it from me for today. Hope you got inspired to give something recycled, reused or re purposed next time you have to thank someone.





Another layout

Hi there bloglanders

In South Africa it is finally weekend!! Nothing like a Friday evening.  I'm still trying to get my work up to date and will probably spend a few hours over the weekend in front of my computer but hopefully I will have less housework and meals to prepare and some time left to do some crafting.

There was a page map at Write.Click.Scrapbook yesterday and even though I didn't have time to submit my take on it, I loved the layout so much that I decided to give it a try.

Here is the sketch:

 

And my take on it:

And the story:
My mom and dad moved into a smaller home last week and she had to take a lot of pictures out of frames as they just don't have enough wall space to put everything up again.  I volunteered to put them into an album for her.  As they are mostly originals (some 70+ years old!) I'm using them as they are.  This one had a huge water stain in the top left hand corner and I positioned the journaling tag over it.  I added a small glassine envelope with a tag to the right of the layout.  This is where my mom can add her journaling. Nothing special but I love the layout so much that I'm going to duplicate it for my own album.  FYI it's me on the right!

You will also see that I stamped the sentiment three times on the journaling card. Actually, my first attempt had some letters missing, the second moved and I finally got it right with the third attempt.  Normally I would redo it but this time I decided to leave it as it makes a fun story about my progress as a stamper. (and there I was thinking that I'm getting better!)

That's it from me. Have a wonderful weekend and please come back to play!

Hybrid crafting

Hi there bloglanders

Tomorrow is Friday and I still have a lot to wrap up before the weekend. To top it all we are very, very busy at work as our financial year end is coming up. Today I'm sharing gifts I wrapped for a friend's children.  As I've told you before, I don't spend a lot on presents but I always try to give something special and wrap it beautifully.

Also, I'm submitting two cards for The Twinery and CPS Sketches card challenge. It's so nice and bright that it ties in perfectly with my tween gift wraps. Enjoy.

First up - my pressies for the girls:

And this one for the boy:

And now for the card layout I had to use for inspiration: (If you want to see the other entries, click here)

And now for my take on it:

I hope you enjoyed my toys and that you will come back to play tomorrow. Have a great day!