Welcome to my blog and thanks soso much for spending a little while peeping into my world

ARTS, BELLYDANCING, CRAFTS
BELLYDANCING, ARTS, CRAFTS
CRAFTS, BELLYDANCING, ARTS

whichever order I put them in, these are my passion!

... all from my little home studio in Durban, on the east coast of sunny South Africa!

"I used to think that anyone doing anything weird was weird. I suddenly realized that anyone doing anything weird wasn't weird at all and it was the people saying they were weird that were weird." -- Paul McCartney









Friday, May 31, 2013

ANYTHING GOES WITH AN (OPTIONAL) CHRISTMAS TWIST


ANYTHING GOES
(with an optional Christmas twist)

...but remember - you must use Copics or another brand of alcohol markers as your colouring medium.

Here is my inspiration for you:


My card features a Ricvk St Dennis image called Esmeralda 2 - Jaleo, available in the Rick St Dennis Etsy store here.  She is just lovely to colour as there is lots of detail and texture, and so much scope for different colour palettes!  Here is a view of the image up close:


I added details with a white gel pen.

To make up my card I used the following from my stash:

white CS card base
deep red CS background
deep turquoise CS background
white/lilac glittered DP
deep red CS card mat
lilac CS card mat

I sewed on sequins beads in hand-drawn swirl shapes and hand beaded an offcut of gold trim :


the layered silk and paper flowers have fancy flat back pearl centres that have been Copics coloured to match the flowers:


(the pearls and paper flowers are available from BLUEBERRY BEAR)

The challenge is  great opportunity to get a head start on those Christmas cards, but if you feel my is too soon to start, please join us and enter your ANYTHING GOES project!

Click HERE to link to the challenge

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

I would like to add this card to the following challenge:


JUST INSPIRATIONAL, #1, PHOTO INSPIRATION (I USED THE COLOURS RED AND PURPLE)
USE IT TUESDAYS, #56, ANYTHING GOES (HOARDED SUPPLIES RAIDED FOR RIBBON, BRAID, BEADS, SEQUINS, DP OFFCUT)



Tuesday, May 28, 2013

THE OUTLAWZ CAS CHALLENGE

The theme for Sunday's CAS challenge over at The Outlawz is ...

"In S.A. where I live, Winter starts in June. Get ready for Winter and create a CAS card/project by hauling out those umbrellas, wellies, raincoats, scarves, etc."


Here is my CAS card, featuring the Bugaboo image called DEACON - RAIN


I printed the image directly onto the DP and then coloured with COPICS.

After the edges of the DP were inked, I added a length of seam binding that I coloured myself, tied a bow and added a metal umbrella charm.

I love the way that the image seems to be floating above the clouds and how the ribbon sort of looks like the sea.

luv'n huggz
jen leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

I would like to add my card to the following challenges



BUGABOO STAMPS :: NEW RELEASE !!!

We at Bugaboo Stamps have DADs in mind today - the new releases include images just perfect for Father's Day!



I have made two cards, one with each of the versions of the image and paper-pieced the word DAD on both cards.  Both cards have the same layout, same embellishments, but in different colours.

Click HERE to link to the Catch the Bug blog to check out the other creations by the fabulous DT members, and to find the link to these images in the store.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

FITZTOWN CHALLENGE #1, ANYTHING GOES

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

Monday, May 27, 2013

THE OUTLAWZ GREETINGS CARD CHALLENGE :: VINTAGE CARD FOR A MAN

Over at The Outlawz today the Greeting Card challenge is to create a vintage card for a man - with a sentiment, of course, and wouldn't ya know - I made one yesterday - to be delivered today - for a man turning 50 tomrorrow ... and it's my attempt at VINTAGE:


The image is a free one I found on the internet that I printed onto textured cardstock:


I used the following from my stash to create this card:

brown CS card base
two different DP's -sponge ink-distressed
brown CS card mat
twine
metal embellishment from BLUEBERRY BEAR


and a peel off "50" sentiment recoloured with Copics

I can't wait to see what you create for this challenge!

luv'n huggz
jen leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

i would like to add this card to the following challenges :








A PHOTO INSPIRATION CHALLENGE AT BUGABOO'S CATCH THE BUG BLOG

At Bugaboo's Catch the Bug blog you have this photograph as an inspiration for your challenge card :

clip_image001

and this is how I interpreted it :


My card featured two merged images from the Bugaboo store called Ava and Deacon Word Love and BBrat girl flower sitter and I coloured the image using Copics and a white gel pen:


To make up my card I used the following from my stash :
 white CS base card
red CS background
black CS card mats
two different DP offcuts
die cut flourishes (2)
layered paper flowers
gems

Click HERE to link your card to the challenge - you could be the winner of one of the fabulous digi packs up for grabs!

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

i would like to add this card to the following challenge:




DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY :: NEW RELEASES :: RETAIL THERAPY

Yesterday’s new releases in the Digistamps 4 Joy store include three of my own drawings now available as digistamps.

The first one of these is called TWO TRENDY and this is the card I made using it:



I coloured the image using  Copics and a white gel pen.  Here is a closer look at the image:



To construct my card I used the following from my stash:

white CS card base
black CS card mats
bunting themed DP
large layered fabric and paper flower with gem and bead centre
sentiment (friend - love - happy sunshine) cut from DP offcuts
bunting cut from offcuts of DP and popped up on foam squares



luv’n huggz
Jen Leeflang
Durban

South Africa

DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY :: NEW RELEASES :: MISTERI - MY GUITAR

Yesterday’s new releases in the Digistamps 4 Joy store include three of my own drawings now available as digistamps.

The first one of these is called   MISTERI - MY GUITAR and this is the EASEL card I made using it:


 I coloured the image using  Copics and a white gel pen.  Here is a closer look at the image:



To construct my card I used the following from my stash:

white CS base card
striped DP
turquoise diecut
layered paper flowers
hand sewn on sequins and beads
satin ribbon and bow
butterfly embellishment

The sentiment is from the lyrics of the song "I wish I was a punk rocker .." by Sandi Thom :



luv’n huggz
Jen Leeflang
Durban

South Africa

DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY :: NEW RELEASE :: TWO TRENDY

Yesterday’s new releases in the Digistamps 4 Joy store include three of my own drawings now available as digistamps.

The first one of these is called TWO TRENDY  and this is the card I made using it:



I coloured the image using  Copics and a white gel pen.  Here is a closer look at the image:


To construct my card I used the following from my stash:

White CS base card
denim blue CS card mats
blue print DP
flatback pearls
flowers and fancy pearls from BLUEBERRY BEAR
gems
birthday sentiment on a ticket


Thanks for looking!

luv’n huggz
Jen Leeflang
Durban
South Africa

Sunday, May 26, 2013

BLOG HOP WITH THE LITTLE MISS MUFFET CHALLENGE BLOG

Hello- welcome to the LITTLE MISS MUFFET CHALLENGE BLOG HOP!  You are now in Durban, on the east coast of sunny South Africa:


If you have arrived here from Jane's blog, you are right here where you should be!  If not, and you'd like to start at the beginning, click HERE to link to the first stop on the hop.


Can you hear squealing? You can? That would be the noise of a collective group of Little Misses, bouncing around with excitement! And why are they bouncing around with excitement? No, they haven't had too much cake. We are proud to announce that Jodie, from Bugaboo Stamps, has designed some exclusive Sunbonnet Rubber Stamps for Little Miss Muffet Stamps. Oh, ok. You're squealing now too!

And, as if that wasn't enough, this week, they're also releasing a rather fabulous new Birds on a Wire Die too. Sorry, I'm excited... I'll stop talking, so you can take a look SNEAK PEEK:

Bugaboo - Fancy Sunbonnet Bride

Gorgeous, aren't they? You can get hold of all these goodies, right now from the What's New! Section at Little Miss Muffet Stamps. And, we're running the following Special Offers:
  • Buy the Combo Set, that's all eight Rubber Stamps, at a special introductory price, and get one random Little Miss Muffet Rubber Stamp in with your order for free
  • Buy any combination of four Sunnbonnet Rubber Stamps, and get one random Little Miss Muffet Rubber Stamp in with your order for free
 To celebrate all this exciting news, The Little Misses have joined forces with the Bugaboo Stamps Design Team for a fun Blog Hop, just so you can see these great images, in action. But. It's not just a Blog Hop, Peeps! We have prizes too:
  • Two randomly drawn winners, will receive a Fancy Sunbonnet Miss Muffet Stamp, plus, a random Little Miss Muffet Rubber Stamp
  • A Further four randomly drawn winners, will receive a random Little Miss Muffet Stamp
It goes without saying, the more comments you leave, the more your chances of winning. 

The Blog Hop will close at 8pm, Central time on Sunday 26 May.

To give you an idea of how cute these are coloured up and on a card, here's Miss Muffet on my card:

Ingredients of my card:
Copics coloured image
white CS card base
green CS card mat
maize coloured CS card mat
printed DP
fibre trim
white lace
felt flowers
bling gems

Here is a better look at the image:

Your next stop on the hop 


but remember to leave a comment below, for a chance to win one of those wonderful prizes!

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
Durban
South Africa

Friday, May 24, 2013

SISTER ACT CARD CHALLENGE #8 - SPONSORED BY RICK ST DENNIS

The awesomely talented RICK ST DENNIS is the sponsor of Challenge #8 at SISTER ACT CHALLENGE BLOG today, and I have the privilege of being the Guest Designer.

My card features a beautiful Rick St Dennis image called "Three Chimney Cottage", that I have coloured using Copics:


I have kept my creation very clean and simple so that the image is not upstaged.  It is printed on textured cardstock to give it a watercolour feel:

I created some 'clouds' to ground the image, and inked the edges of the cardstock before matting it onto black CS.  Some twine, a metal embellishment and a bronze coloured flat back pearl are the only additions.

The Rick St Dennis Etsy Store is packed with really fabulous images, and by entering the Sister Act Card Challenge, YOU could be a winner of 2 images of your choice!

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

FREEBIE FRIDAY AT BUGABOO STAMPS!

BUGABOO STAMPS has a cute freebie for you today, and this is the card I made with it:


This cutie is called Baby Moon, and if you link to the the Catch the Bug blog you can see the other projects made with it, AND find the link to the store to nag the freebie.



To make up my card I coloured the image using Copics, and used some Stickles on the moon.

I also used:
white CS card base
yellow CS background
blue and yellow card mats
2 different DP's
satin ribbon and bow
diaper pin charm
pearls
peel off "Boy" sentiment 

I would like to add my card to the following challenges:


luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

THE OUTLAWZ FRIDAY CHALLENGE USING COPICS OR OTHER ALCOHOL MARKERS

It's time for me to share with you the details of this week's Copics and Other Alcohol Markers challenge over at The Outlawz.  

How about making a ONE LAYER card for this challenge?  

I found it difficult as I like to pile on the layers and embellies, but did make this one to share:

My image is from Mo Manning, printed onto Bazzill textured cardstock and I used Copics and a white gel pen to colour it.

Here is a better look at what the colouring looks like on texture:


To create my card I used a scallop border punch for the bottom edge of the card front.  I also scored two lines along the border and wrote the sentiment by hand.

The back of the card is royal blue cardstock, on which I used the scallop border punch along the top edge.  I then scored it and folded it over the front and glued it down.  The 'faux' brads are actually a white gel pen blob with some Stickles.



I would love to see what you come up with for this challenge.
luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

I would like to add this card to the following challenges:


Thursday, May 23, 2013

OLDIE BUT GOODIE DAY WITH BUGABOO STAMPS

Oldie but Goodie Day  on the Catch the Bug blog is such fun because we at Bugaboo Stamps get to create with our favourite oldies.

Today's share is a card for Father's Day, for whih I have used Bugaboo Stamps' GUY - SUPER.  Is/was your dad your Superhero?  I am certain most girls think so! (I know my dad was ... cos he could see through walls, could see behind him, and knew exactly what I was doing in my bedroom while he was in the lounge - how did he do that!!!??? LOL! And now that he is in Heaven his superpowers have not faded as he is still looking out for me and he is with me every day ... just wish I could give you a great big hug again, Dad!)

Here's my card:


The image is coloured using my Copics and a white gel pen :

I kept the card clean and simple, as I wanted the fabulous image to speak for itself, without having to vie for attention with patterned papers and embellishments.  

the sentiment was created in MS Word and I added a red CS card mat and stick on gel stars for impact.

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

I would like to add this card to the following challenges:








Wednesday, May 22, 2013

A SKETCH CHALLENGE AT THE OUTLAWZ

Just sayin' .....
This is my 1300th post since starting my blog in June  2010 ... phew! that's more than one post a day ....

Well, onto the important stuff ..

The Outlawz Sketch Challenge today has a really easy sketch to work with:


and this is my interpretation  (As you can see I flipped the sketch, because it work better with the orientation of the vine diecut:  


The image featured on my card is from Saturated Canary that I printed ont cream textured cardstock and coloured with Copics and a white gel pen :


I fussy cut the image, and pasted her onto patterned DP that was matted onto turquoise CS.  The swirl in the sketch I interpreted as a vine die cut and added flowers and pearls, available from BLUEBERRY BEAR.

Also from BLUEBERRY BEAR is this metal embellishment, that I Copics coloured from copper coloured to maroon, to match the colour palette of my card.

The sentiment was also Copics coloured to match.

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

I would like to add this card to the following challenges: