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









Wednesday, January 30, 2013

THE OUTLAWZ TUESDAY COLOUR CHALLENGE

Tuesday's colours at The Outlawz are fabulous to create with this week:


and this is how I used them :


The image featured on my card is one of my favourites from A DAY FOR DAISIES, and I used alcohol markers as my colouring medium:


The sentiment was printed directly on the the white base card.

This is a one layer card, without embellishments and glitter, no white gel pen that I love to use ... and it was a challenge I set myself - I think I won!  I just goes to prove that one doesn't need all the frou-frou to make an eye-catching card!

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








luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN 
SOUTH AFRICA

BUGABOO STAMPS : NEW RELEASE :: 29 JANUARY


Monday, January 28, 2013

THE OUTLAWZ GREETINGS CHALLENGE : SHOW US SOME HEARTS!

My last post as Guest Designer for The Outlawz Greeting Challenge today features a round tag I made using a Bugaboo image called Ava - Heart:


I coloured the image using alcohol markers and a white gel pen for the highlights:

I cut the purple CS tag using a round die and added a plaited circle die to it.  The fussy cut image was pasted on top of it.  Tiny peal beads were sewn onto the die. Some layered flowers, a fancy pearl centre and a satin ribbon bow were added.  Baker's twine was threaded through a tiny punched hole in the top.

Click HERE to link to the Outlawz challenge today, (you need to sign in as a member!)

The Outlawz Challenges

However if you are not a member of The Outlawz, you are missing out on great fun and friendships on one of the greatest crafter's communities on the web.  Membership costs nothing and you are sure to see very many family faces!

Click HERE to join.

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



luv'n huggz
JEN LEEFLANG
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA




Sunday, January 27, 2013

'WHITE OUT' - THE CAS CHALLENGE AT THE OUTLAWZ

WHITE OUT

that's the them of the CAS challenge at The Outlawz today, so that means white on white  except for the image, so this is what I made:


The image featured on my card is by Mo Manning, called "Stole my Heart" and is available in her store Mo's Digital Pencil, here.  Isn't it just gorgeous!!!

The image was printed onto textured white cardstock, and just the heart was Copics coloured.  I laid down a slight shadow around the image too.


Here is a better look:



luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA



DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY :: NEW RELEASE :: PINUP - DEAR VALENTINE

Three more of my drawings are now available as digistamps at the Digistamps 4 Joy store, and the first I have to show you is one called Pinup -Dear Valentine. 


Here is my card using the new image, together with an older image from the store, called Pinup - Pippy Poser.  I merged the two image to make a new single image, using the png versions of both :


Alcohol markers and a white gel pen were used for the colouring and the elements on my card are according to the EASY AS 1-2-3 Challenge on CDAC where the following are required:

1 image
2 designer papers
3 items of bling

Together with those I used:
3 red CS diecuts
paper rose
sewn on sequins and pearl beads
and a key charm tied with a piece of baker's twine

So, my sentiment is on the key.

I think these two images have merged to form one new image in a perfect match, don't you?
I think I will give this card to my friend for her daughters to give to their dad.

I would like to add this card to the following challenges:
CRAFTY CALENDER, WHAT’S NEW – The baker’s twine is VERY new – I bought I yesterday from a vendor at our Card Guild meeting and the charm was bought on Friday.  The circular die was also bought at the guild meeting yesterday)



luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN 
SOUTH AFRICA






Saturday, January 26, 2013

DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY :: NEW RELEASES :: RONNIE READER


Three more of my drawings are now available as digistamps at the Digistamps 4 Joy store, and the first I have to show you is one called 'Ronnie Reader'.  Here is my card using the new image:



I teamed up the image with another older image from Digistamps 4 Joy, called 'Book Worm'
I printed the image onto white CS and then had a little fun with the colouring, which I did with alcohol markers and a white gel pen:


The checked effect is achieved by using a blender pen.

I used the following to create my card:

cream CS card base
checked DP
green CS
a page torn out of an old dictionary
a black leather label holder that surrounds the word 'discipline'
two flags using the DP and green CS offcuts (with brads holding them in place)
a stick-on sentiment "DON'T DISTURB"

I'll be back later to share the other two new images with you.

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

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


DARING CARDMAKERS, SETTING THE SCENE – You HAVE  to visit this challenge post on their blog to see the wonderful inspirational designs, all made using gorgeous dies from Docrafts.com, and the prize for the challenge is one of those dies – HOW FABULOUS!
OUR DAILY BREAD DESIGNS, #159, FOR A CHILD


Friday, January 25, 2013

A 4 CARD SWAP AT THE TOTI CREATIVE CARD GUILD

Tomorrow is our first meeting of the Toti Creative Card Guild, and my first official meeting as the Chairlady. Hold thumbs for me, won't you, as I am a little nervous!

Each month we have a 4 card swap between members - and our theme for January is "Masculine".  These are my four cards for the swap:


I coloured the images using alcohol markers and a white gel pen :


My card is assembled according to The Outlawz Wednesday Sketch,


 and I used a white CS base for my card, offcuts of blue DP and darker blue CS mats.  Blue gems were added in the corners and a strip of silver edging diagonally along the top.

I will also add this card to the Anything Goes Challenge at CDAC.

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA




ATC's & CARDS WITH ATTITUDE

This little easel ATC is the first sample as part of my DT term at ATC's and Cards with Attitude for the challenge that starts today:


The image featured on my card is "Mulan" by CDEE Designs that I coloured using alcohol markers and a white gel pen.  I added some Stickles to her kimono cos a girl's gotta have some bling!


From my stash I used the following to create my card:

white CS card base
black CS card mat
deep pink card mats

I followed through the branches of the tree onto the pink card mat using a black pen and addded some white gel pen highlights.

As embellishments I sewed on little flower sequins and beads


For the base I used an offcut of deep pink CS which I embossed and added little flower sequins and beads, a deep pink satin ribbon and bow, and a layered flower with a sparkly gem centre.


The theme of the Challenge is Ribbons and Lace/Anything Goes, so this fits in perfectly.

Sp then, are you inspired to join in our challenge?

The sponsor is the fabulous CDEE Designs, so the prize is fabulous!

I would like to enter my project into the following challenges:


LINK UP FOR PINK, #9, PHOTO INSPIRATION (I WAS INSPIRED BY THE LOVELY DEEP PINK!)
BEARLY MINE CHALLENGE, #70, TIC-TAC-TOE-4-IN-A-ROW (lots of embellies, stamped image, ribbon, the colour pink

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY :: CUTIE PIE PIN-UP :: FRENCH MAID

I managed to get one of the older (new) releases coloured up and this one (my own drawing for Digistamps 4 Joy) is called Cutie Pie Pinup : French Maid.


I have used the colour palette from The Outlawz Colour challenge :


so that I can enter their challenge with this card.

I think the image is perfect for a fun and cheeky Valentine's card.  The image was coloured using alcohol markers:


I also used the following from my stash:

white CS square base card
orange CS mat
pink/white checked DP
white diecut
orange CS flower spray diecut
sewn on flower sequins and beads
3 orange flower gems
layered paper flower with bead centre
orange satin ribbon bow
pink gem bow charm

Check on Sunday, 27 January, for some new releases at Digistamps 4 Joy (I have inside information that there's at least ONE fun Valnetine's image there too!)

I would like to add this card to the following challenges:
BEARLY MINE, #70, TIC-TAC-TOW 4 IN A ROW (LOTS of embellies/stamped image/ribbon/the colour pink)


luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA






Tuesday, January 22, 2013

CDAC INSPIRATION CHALLENGE

This is my second entry into the CDAC INSPIRATION CHALLENGE, and I decided to challenge myself this time ... to CASE the inspiration picture:


and this is it:



The digital image featured on my card is the sunflower of the Sunflower Digi Set of 3 from the Priscillastyles store.  I coloured using Spectrum Noir markers and added some textural stuff (I have no idea what it is called!) to the centre of the flower.

For the rest of my card, I used offcuts to create the colour swatches at the base, offcuts for the mats behind the image and a the background was coloured using eye shadow powder.  I used a fixative to prevent the colour coming off and smudging the rest of the card.

The sentiment was generated in MS Word.

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

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


Monday, January 21, 2013

DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY :: NEW RELEASE :: THROUGH THE FARMHOUSE WINDOW

I am back again to show you another of the new releases in the DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY store uesterday.  This image is called "Through the Farmhouse Window" and it is one of my own drawings as a digistamp for the store.



I coloured the image using alcohol markers and a white gel pen, fussy cut it and mounted it onto a woodgrain DP.  Here is a better look:


I used the offcuts of the DP to create a pelmet and a flower box.  There are tiny sequin flowers sewn on amongst the flower images.  I also used two foliage diecuts as an embellishment.

 

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

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

AUD SENTIMENTS, BINGO (Diecut/”Happy”/Flowers)
HAPPY CAMPERS, #8, BUTTONS, BEADS OR BOWS  (I have beads holding on the flower sequins I sewed onto my card)






THE OUTLAWZ Greeting Card Challenge

Today's challenge at The Outlawz is an "Anything Goes" Challenge, and the only stipulation is that you have a sentiment on the front of your card.

This weeks's sponsor is Digistamps 4 Joy, and here is my inspiration for you, using a Digistamps 4 Joy image called "Protea"


I coloured the image using alcohol markers and a white gel pen, fussy cut it and mounted it on a kraft cardstock diecut.  Here is a better look at the image:


Now, for the majority of the followers of my blog, let me explain the sentiment :




A "Suikerbossie" ("Sugarbush") is the national flower of South Africa. It's also a term of endearment that could be translated as "sweetie".   "Suikerbossie ek wil jou he" (Sugarbush, I Want You So) is a traditional song of South Africa.

The sentiment is the words of the song (in Afrikaans) and translated they mean …


“Sugarbush, I want you so

Sugarbush, I want you so

Sugarbush, I want you so
What will your mother want to say?”

So, in essence, this card expresses


'LOVE'


I can't wait to see your entries for the challenge!

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

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

Sunday, January 20, 2013

CDAC "INSPIRATION" CHALLENGE

One of the new challenges over on CDAC is the Inspiration Challenge .... and this is the photograph to be used for inspiration for an entry:


and this how the photograph inspired me :


The image and sentiment featured on my card are a set by Bugaboo Stamps called Ruby - Tidbits - Coffee

I used the sentiment on the outside of my card and placed it in a speech bubble.  There is a strip of washi tape down the side.  A round die was used to cut a window in the front.



This card has two folds, and the Ruby image was printed on the right hand side (inside).  I coloured the image using alcohol markers, according to the inspiration colour for the challenge.



luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN