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, July 29, 2011

A DAY FOR DAISIES - CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Happy Friday & Merry Christmas (in July)!!! We thought it might be fun to show you some of the beautiful Christmas images available in the shop! You can find them in the "Holiday Section". You know - it's never too early to start your holiday cards, especially if you have a whole lot to make!
We sadly are saying goodbye to our July Guest Designer, Audrey! She has been SO FUN to work with! Thank you so much Audrey for sharing your talent with us this month!

We are also saying farewell to Janna! We'll miss you, girl! Janna's way with digital stamps is just so unique, I just love the earthy, collage-like feel of her projects! I'll be blog-stalking you, Janna!

This is my creation to share with you ...

I used the image called "Two Girls and Mom" available in the store HERE, coloured using Copics, and cut out the centre of the frame. The background is a Christmas card I have been saving for simply ages. It has a beautiful Christmas scene with an overlay of sparkly snowflakes, just perfect for my purpose.

I added the sentiment which seemed to fit the theme of the image just right.

All the DT's have used a different image, and each one is simply outstanding! Click HERE to see them all.
Or click HERE to go to the A DAY FOR DAISIES STORE.

luv n huggz
jen

PATTIES CREATIONS DESIGN CHALLENGE #27 : FAUX OR REAL STITCHING

Before I share the challenge details with you I'd like to tell you about Patties Creations Design Team Call......

It has been almost 1 year since I joined Pattie on her very first Design Team, but now it's time for Pattie to give other talented folks a chance to join her team. My last challenge will be #30 on September 9th, 2011.
If you are interested in joining Pattie's next Design Team please click on THIS LINK to find out how to apply.

And now for the details of Challenge #27 : Faux or Real Stitching

Click on THIS LINK to find out more details of the challenge.

This is my DT card as your inspiration :

I used Pattie's Ladybug family image but instead of using the traditional colours of red and black, I chose the colours of the backing papers, and to add a bit of fun I added the sentiment "Are we there yet?" - when you're out, with the kids in tow, isn't that what you hear over and over again? That ladybug mom could be me, with my three boys, Nicholas, Blayne and Kellan following behind. The stitching part of the challenge I added by using my faux stitching roller applicator.

I'd love to see what you create using GLITTER & BLING!

JUST REMEMBER, if you use an image from Pattie's Creations, you will get an extra entry to win!

Stop over at her Etsy Store and browse around. There are FREEBIES too.

Here are some useful links :

To enter This challenge ... click HERE
To go to Pattie's Store .... click HERE
To join the Pattie's Creations group on CDAC ... click HERE

AND DON'T FORGET THE DT CALL!

luv n huggz
Jen

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

A NEW CHALLENGE AT DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY : COMMEMORATING CHILDREN'S DAY AROUND THE WORLD

INTERNATIONAL CHILDRENS DAY is celebrated on different days around the world, but International Youth Day is recognised by the United Nations and is celebrated on 12 August. So in keeping with that day, your challenge this round is to create a project using an image of a child on it, no a fairy, not an angel .... but a child! How easy is that?!

One random winner will be chosen (random.org) to win 3 images of choice from the store.

We will then have a DT's choice award. This award will go to the the card / project that we vote to be our favourite (and must be a digistamps4joy image). This winner will receive a $6 gift voucher to spend in the store.

You do not need to use a Digistamps4Joy image to win.
We will choose 2 runners-up who we feel deserve a spot in the top 3.

Challenge Rules
You can use any image for the challenges. See above.
You have two weeks to enter the challenge.
You may enter a maximum of three (3) entries per DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY challenge.
Your entry must be new. No backlinking to previous posts.
Please link back to Digistamps 4 Joy blog.
Projects that do not follow the theme will not be entered into the draw.
Please use the Inlinkz to link to your CARD/ PROJECT only, please don't link to your entire blog.
You may combine this challenge with other challenges.
If you don't have a blog then please load your card/ project into the gallery on the website, and link to that.

The most important rule, however, is to have fun!

My creation for your inspiration is a door sign for Mariah that reads "Princess in Training - DO NOT DISTURB!


I used the Dimple-faced Princess image and coloured using Copics. A couple of flowers, gems and a butterfly are my embellishments.

Here are some handy links for you:

Head on over to the challenge blog by clicking HERE to see the other fabulous creations by the Digistamps 4 Joy Design Team, and for more information on the challenge.

You stand the chance of winning images just by entering your project.
Click HERE to go to the DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY STORE to do your shopping (there may even be a freebie there for you to snag!)

luv n huggz
jen

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

MIDNIGHT MADNESS CHALLENGE #114

Did you know that over at CDAC they have NEW Progressive Challenges Starting!  Vintage ATC Swap OPEN for sign ups and an awesome Mini Paper Bag Album Swap Open for sign ups. 
You still have plenty of time so head on over and check it out today!
This week we must say good bye to one of our long time DT members. Lovely Linda has had some doors open up for her in the crafting world and has had to step down from the MMDT. Linda has been playing the MMDT since the very beginning and has been a huge supporter of our players. We wish her all the best in her new endeavours and will miss her very much!!!
Would you like to be a part of these teams? We always have a look out for some talented crafters. Not only for the Midnight Madness DT, the "priscillastyles" DT but the CDAC Dream Team. So if you are interested in taking a super fun journey with some very talented crafters, we want to hear from you.
Email Priscilla at heatonup@verizon.net with your information!
This weeks sketch...it's "YOUR PICK" Make it fancy, clean and simple, or somewhere in-between. Remember to click on the sneak peek button on the side bar for the following weeks sketch each Friday.
"YOUR CHOICE"
Enter one style or both this week.
Just have fun and come play with us :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our MMSC114 Weekly Bonus Sponsor is..
Stamp and Create and is offering a $25.00 gift certificate.
Stamp and Create is an on-line store carrying many popular brands of stamps, paper, and embellishments including: Wags ‘n Whiskers Rubber Stamps, High Hopes Stamps, Sweet Pea, CC Designs, Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps, Whiff of Joy, Stampavie, Penny Black, The Greeting Farm, Basic Grey, 7 Gypsies, Shimmerz, Nestabilities (always 20% off!!), charms and more!! Lacey is always adding new items to the store…so check it out at www.stampandcreate.com
Thanks Lacey for your wonderful prize this week!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our July Monthly sponsor is....
Petaloo 
Be sure to check out the DT projects made with Petaloo flowers.
Click HERE to see the monthly prize details!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is this week's Sketch and my creations:


For my Petaloo "Color Me Crazy: project I covered a mini photo album using dark blue handmade paper and decorated using some die cuts, and some Petaloo paper wild roses that I coloured with a little fabric dye left over from a tie die project I made the day before. Isn't that a pretty pale blue?




The image on my card is from the Priscillastyles store, and was Copics-coloured. The jar was double heat embossed using UTEE to which I added a little crystal sparkle powdered glitter. Because it is such a girl image I added lots of roses that I sewed on to secure them to the card. The die cut is from Nellie's Choice and I sewed on the sequins and beads. The DP was matted onto white cardstock which I fussy cut by hand.

There are some fabulous prizes to be won so why don't you enter a creation for this week's challenge too?

There are some fabulous new images in the Priscillastyles store that would be just perfect for this sketch so pop in over by clicking HERE

luv n huggz
Jen - in a very cold and wet South Africa

MIDNIGHT MADNESS CHALLENGE #114

Did you know that over at CDAC they have NEW Progressive Challenges Starting!  Vintage ATC Swap OPEN for sign ups and an awesome Mini Paper Bag Album Swap Open for sign ups. 
You still have plenty of time so head on over and check it out today!
This week we must say good bye to one of our long time DT members. Lovely Linda has had some doors open up for her in the crafting world and has had to step down from the MMDT. Linda has been playing the MMDT since the very beginning and has been a huge supporter of our players. We wish her all the best in her new endeavours and will miss her very much!!!
Would you like to be a part of these teams? We always have a look out for some talented crafters. Not only for the Midnight Madness DT, the "priscillastyles" DT but the CDAC Dream Team. So if you are interested in taking a super fun journey with some very talented crafters, we want to hear from you.
Email me at heatonup@verizon.net with your information!
This weeks sketch...it's "YOUR PICK" Make it fancy, clean and simple, or somewhere in-between. Remember to click on the sneak peek button on the side bar for the following weeks sketch each Friday.
"YOUR CHOICE"
Enter one style or both this week.
Just have fun and come play with us :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our MMSC114 Weekly Bonus Sponsor is..
Stamp and Create and is offering a $25.00 gift certificate.
Stamp and Create is an on-line store carrying many popular brands of stamps, paper, and embellishments including: Wags ‘n Whiskers Rubber Stamps, High Hopes Stamps, Sweet Pea, CC Designs, Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps, Whiff of Joy, Stampavie, Penny Black, The Greeting Farm, Basic Grey, 7 Gypsies, Shimmerz, Nestabilities (always 20% off!!), charms and more!! Lacey is always adding new items to the store…so check it out at www.stampandcreate.com
Thanks Lacey for your wonderful prize this week!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our July Monthly sponsor is....
Petaloo 
Be sure to check out the DT projects made with Petaloo flowers.
Click HERE to see the monthly prize details!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is this week's Sketch and my creations:


For my Petaloo "Color Me Crazy: project I covered a mini photo album using dark blue handmade paper and decorated using some die cuts, and some Petaloo paper wild roses that I coloured with a little fabric dye left over from a tie die project I made the day before. Isn't that a pretty pale blue?


The image on my card is from the Priscillastyles store, and was Copics-coloured. The jar was double heat embossed using UTEE to which I added a little crystal sparkle powdered glitter. Because it is such a girl image I added lots of roses that I sewed on to secure them to the card. The die cut is from Nellie's Choice and I sewed on the sequins and beads. The DP was matted onto white cardstock which I fussy cut by hand.

There are some fabulous prizes to be won so why don't you enter a creation for this week's challenge too?

There are some fabulous new images in the Priscillastyles store that would be just perfect for this sketch so pop in over by clicking HERE

luv n huggz
Jen - in a very cold and wet South Africa

Monday, July 25, 2011

MARVELLOUS MONDAY AT SHELLY'S IMAGES

Phew! What a Fantastic week we had last week at Shelly's Images Blog, celebrating our birthday!

Thank you to all of you who participated in our blog hop, played along with us in our games and just helped make the celebration even more special!

Now that the festivities are over, it's time to return to our
usual routine here at Shelly's Images!

So.................

Are you ready for another Marvelous Monday?!

Since we just finished celebrating our birthday here at Shelly's Images, we thought it would be the perfect time to feature our First Birthday Image for
Marvelous Monday! The DT has been hard at work creating some fabulous eye candy for you, using our First Birthday image!


And this is what I created using the beautiful image:


I hope you enjoyed my project today and were able to find some inspiration!

Remember, the Birthday Cake image featured is available,
today only, for a discounted price, here, in the
Shelly's Images Store!

Thanks for looking, and before I allow you to leave my page, I'd like to share some useful links with you :

To check out this and many other fabulous images in Shelly's store, click HERE
To join Shelly's group on CDAC, click HERE
To visit Shelly's blog where you can find lots of new techniques, and view the fabulous inspiration of my fellow D-Teamies, click HERE

Sunday, July 24, 2011

a day for daisies SCAVENGER HUNT .. with a 300 follower freebie to collect


If you're hunting for the next clue in the A Day For Daisies 300 Follower Freebie Scavenger Hunt, and you arrive here by way of our Guest Designer, Audrey's blog, you found your next stop!

Here's a little inspiration for you before I send you to your next clue...



Now I'll say goodbye and send you to visit the awesomely talented Arielle's blog your next destination!

Thanks for dropping by!

luv n huggz
Jen

Saturday, July 23, 2011

A DAY FOR DAISIES CHALLENGE : "SECRET INGREDIENTS"

My creation uses the image called "Morning Dew"



I coloured image with my Copics and added sewn on sequins and flowers, ribbon and an organza bow as embellies. I added glitter glue to the wings and as dewdrops on the flowers.


Our challenge today is a "Secret Ingredients" challenge! What's that, you ask? Well - take a look at ALL the designer's cards and even go read their blog posts if you need to... we ALL used one or both of 2 secret embellishments/techniques for our cards. So study them closely and see if you can figure out what we used! When you make your project, use one or both of them on your card!

I used the two secret ingredients on my card too ...

Go back and read my post and compare it with the other DT's cards to see if you can work it out!

The image set you see above is not the only new release today, there are a few more sets, just as beautiful as this one! Click HERE to see them all.
Or click HERE to go to the A DAY FOR DAISIES STORE.

luv n huggz
jen

Friday, July 22, 2011

CHRISTMAS IN JULY : BUGABOO'S WEEK LONG CHALLENGES

This week the Catch the Bug Blog is having challenges!!!

One of the challenges is to make a Christmas card using non-traditional colours.

Here is my entry:


If you would like the chance to win some AWESOME prizes, click HERE

luv n huggz
Jen

A NIGHT AND A DAY FOR DAISIES NEW RELEASE AND A NEW CHALLENGE

The new release for this week is called NIGHT AND DAY, and it is a selection of the most precious images. You can view them on in the store HERE

My creation uses the image called "Morning Dew"



I coloured image with my Copics and added sewn on sequins and flowers, ribbon and an organza bow as embellies. I added glitter glue to the wings and as dewdrops on the flowers.


UPDATE : CHALLENGE

Our challenge today is a "Secret Ingredients" challenge! What's that, you ask? Well - take a look at ALL the designer's cards and even go read their blog posts if you need to... we ALL used one or both of 2 secret embellishments/techniques for our cards. So study them closely and see if you can figure out what we used! When you make your project, use one or both of them on your card!

I used the two secret ingredients on my card too ...

Go back and read my post and compare it with the other DT's cards to see if you can work it out!

The image set you see above is not the only new release today, there are a few more sets, just as beautiful as this one! Click HERE to see them all.
Or click HERE to go to the A DAY FOR DAISIES STORE.

luv n huggz
jen

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

SHELLY'S IMAGES BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WEEK - DAY THREE



We are now halfway through our birthday celebration week and today’s game is
NAME THAT DIGI

Use this link to get to Shelly’s Images Blog where you will find out how to win an AWESOME prize

Hurry on up … the competition ends tomorrow (Thursday) at midnight and the winners will be drawn the next day.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

JOIN OUR BLOG HOP TO CELEBRATE SHELLY'S BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK -




If you have arrived here from Stephanie's blog, you're on the right track.

If not, you might like to go back to the start of the hop, at Shelly's Images Blog, and pick up the secret word from each of the stops on the hop.......... because ... one winner receives one free image a month for the rest of 2011. All participants who email the right or phrase will get a coupon for "Buy one and get one free". Thank you for joining us to celebrate Shelly's Birthday. Winners will be announced on the Shelly's Images Blog on Friday.


I'd like to share a card I made a couple of months ago that I am particularly fond of because of the way the boot looks like real leather, and the realistic colouring of the pansies, achieved by using regular coloured pencils and OMS in my own technique of colouring. The image is one of the beautiful images available in Shelly's Images Store.

Would you like the chance to win one of the great prizes given away to the winners of this hop?

Well, here's what you have to do next:

1. Make a note of my secret word which is "TO"
2. Leave a comment to let me know that you have been here.
3. Hop to the next stop which is that of my fellow Design team member, Darlene

and you're on your way!

Good luck, and thanks for joining us to celebrate Shelly's Birthday!

luv n huggz
Jen

MIDNIGHT ADNESS SKETCH CHALLENGE#113

Just wanted to let you know that over at CDAC they have some really cool Swaps going on over there. Just posted: A Mini Album with Digi Stamps Swap. Always have a ton of fun going on.
This weeks sketch...it's "YOUR PICK" Make it fancy, clean and simple, or somewhere in-between. Remember to click on the sneak peek button on the side bar for the following weeks sketch each Friday.
"YOUR CHOICE"
 Enter one style or both this week.
Just have fun and come play with us :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our MMSC113 Weekly Bonus Sponsor is..
Photobucket
 This week's sponsor is Simon Says Stamp. One random winner will win a $20 Gift voucher to their fabulous store. Be sure to stop by and check out all their wonderful crafting products.
Thank you so much for your wonderful prizes this week.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our July Monthly sponsor is....
Petaloo 
Be sure to check out the DT projects made with Petaloo flowers.
Click HERE to see the monthly prize details!

I have two creations to show you this week. The first is a little wall plaque using Petaloo flowers that I coloured using food colouring. I altered the artist's canvas that I bought from the Crazy Store (our South African equivalent to a dollar store). It has a cute duck image on it, but I covered that with some well aimed spray paint. I covered the canvas with some hand-made paper, and stitched on a piece of a vintage lace collar, and added the sprig of Petaloo flowers. As extra embellishments I used a metal disc (part of el-cheapo earrings) and three glass pebbles.

My second creation is a card made according to the MMSC sketch for this week, and, once again, Petaloo flowers coloured using food colouring. The DP's are gift wrap that is just fabulous ... images of bicycles and motor cards, cogs, and all the wonderful inspirational words. The coordinating roll has no images, just the
words. It matched my chippie bicycle perfectly

Did you enter the Petaloo challenge on their blog? The winners will be posted on their blog on July 27 - Good Luck!

Love and hugs
Jen

Monday, July 18, 2011

PARTY TIME AT SHELLY'S IMAGES!


Yippeee!!! Shelly's birthday is Friday so we thought we would party all week long!


Are you ready for lots of fun and great prizes? I sure hope so. We have so much fun planned. I wish I could show you all of the "behind the scenes" work that the Design Team and I have been doing to put together this fantastic week of fun, games, and prizes.

So on this first day of our week long party we will begin our Shelly's Images Board Game.



Here are the rules for our Board Game.

All projects must use any digi from Shelly's Images.
All projects must be added using our link tool below.
After you link your project you must make a comment to this post including the number assigned in the link tool and the number you chose on the game board. Each game number can only be used once and only one prize will be awarded for each game space. I will do my best to keep this post updated as to which numbers have been chosen. If two people choose the same number then the first person who chose the number will win the prize.
You will have until Thursday at midnight to enter your project. But be sure to enter early so that you get your favorite game space.
Not all game spaces contain prizes.
If all numbers on the game board are chosen then we will add more game boards. So play often and have fun!

Prizes will include...a very special Shelly's Images coffee mug, Art Advisor (help design a brand new digi and receive that digi), one free digi of winner's choice every month for the remainder of 2011, free digi of winner's choice....just to name a few.

How can you resist that!


Shelly's Birthday Board Game


luv n huggz
jen

NettieG's 1,2,3 Digging in the Sand Challenge

Time for another NettieG challenge.
This is a wonderful summertime image, great for scrapbooking, summertime birthdays,
or a card to send to someone who had to stay home and couldn't go on vacation.

You can use any image you wish, but if you use a NettieG image, you double your chances of winning a free image. If you use the featured image, Digging in the Sand,
you triple your chances of winning.
Here is what we mean by 1, 2, 3 Digging in the Sand...
This is a recipe challenge .....
use 1 solid colored paper
+
2 patterned paper
+
3 embellishments.

Here is what I did with Digging in the Sand

I wrote a poem to go with the image - a poem all about sparkly pink buckets so I chose not to colour the image except the sparkly pink bucket, used 1 plain plaper, two patterned papers and three shell embellishments.

I would love to see what you come up with for this challenge. To join this challenge, click HERE



luv n huggz
Jen