International Charm Day

We had an amazing day yesterday...

More than 30 of our friends and clients joined us in celebration of International Charm Day.

There were eight different designs to choose from - each person had to make three identical charms, keep one and swap the other two with charms made by two other guests... Most of our guests are paper crafters and this event has opened a whole new world to them!!

These are the eight designs that were available. We also had a pink range - especially for Claudene!! We used rubber-stamping, double sided tape and glitter, rub-ons, alcohol ink, paper serviette decoupage, paint, wood domino's, quilting fabric, tulle, paper flowers and sewing material to transform ordinary beads into extra-ordinary beads and in some cases even create charms from scratch!? Charm # 1 was inspired by Disney from Ruffles & Stuff.

Needless to say there were many cupcakes, tea and chocolates!?

The charming (pardon the pun!) Michelle and Retief from the Bead Book popped in for a cuppa and we are now even bigger fans of their publication:)

Elna made these divine business cards to ensure our guests remember our blog address ;)

Here Elna is busy explaining a technique to one of our guests while Retief (from the Bead Book) is looking on.

We would like to thank Amber Dawn for her vision when she proclaimed 28 April International Charm Day!! Yesterday has most certainly created at least 20 new beading converts!!

Mission accomplished!

Nine Love Stories ATCs - Part 5

We have reached the half-way mark!

Once again the same Anna Griffin background paper, ARTchix Studio image and some flowers in various guises...

I've placed a ribbon flower into an itty bitty frame and used a brad from Making Memories as the centre of an organza flower.

Hope you have a stunning weekend!

Nine Love Stories ATCs - Part 4

Here is the fourth installment in the series:

Same Anna Griffin background paper, another ARTchix Studio image and other stuff :)

I just love this charm - it was one of the elements that inspired me to design this series!?

Less than a week to go before our OPEN DAY!! We are looking forward to see you on the 28th...

Nine Love Stories ATCs - Part 3

Here is the third part in my "Nine Love Stories" ATC series...

Same Anna Griffin background paper, another ARTchix Studio image, other stuff & also a tiny tag from a box of K&Company Tags To Go.

I love adding seed beads to safety pins for an unexpected splash of colour on projects :)

Have a stunning week...

A Birthday Pumpkin

Last night we had a birthday party for my husband. A few friends and some farm style food.
He is not a very big fan of pumpkin, but he has a good sense of humour, so I decided to treat him to a huge pumpkin with lots of candles, as the centre piece on the table.
Around the pumpkin were some fairy lights and in between the raffia and lights, were his favourite home style spice cookies. (Which disappeared before the night was over)
He managed to blow out all the candles in two breaths. Happy birthday to all of you celebrating your birthday this month.

Nine Love Stories ATCs - Part 2

Here is the second ATC from the series...

Same Anna Griffin background paper, ARTchix Studio image and some additional stuff.

I just love these mother-of-pearl buttons and include them on most of my "vintage" styled projects!?

Have a great weekend!!

Nine Love Stories ATCs - Part 1

An Artist Trading Card (ATC) is one of my favourite paper craft formats! The size (2½" x 3½'") allows you an opportunity to use up all your "itty bitty" embellishments...

I've made a series of ATCs a while ago, called "9 Love Stories", and mounted them onto a stretched canvas. This canvas now stands on my dressing table where I can look at it every morning while I make myself look "pretty"!?

Here is the first one...

Every ATC has an image from a sticker sheet by "ARTchix Studio" ; background paper byAnna Griffin; and "Love" related embellishments...

The cupid charm was attached with a brad. I've used StazOn to stamp a word onto the back of a mini domino and "framed" it with some bling.

The rest of the series will follow soon!

All for the love of stickers.

7 Gypsies Top Ten booklet.

The stickers and paper got me started on this project.
The book is all about yourself, but no photos required. Wonderful!

When I was small, stickers barely existed, so now I had my chance to go wild and use them all, yes, the whole sheet! I used two black book boards, five medium envelopes, paper from the "7Gypsies Avignon" range and the 97% Complete Top Ten Stickers. I did some stamping and attached the envelopes to one another by using an 1" wide strip of paper scored in half and glued with double sided tape.
The edges of the envelopes were distressed with "Tim Holtz Distress ink" using Cut-n-dry foam to apply the ink.The Shipping tags were sprayed with "Tattered Angels" and then stamped.

The Shipping tags were folded in half and then stapled to the flap.

The last envelope's flap was punched, distressed, glued shut, the top cut off and a hole punched in at the top to make a pocket out of it.

For the grand finale a few extra tags were added.
Inside each envelope is a blank page stamped with numbers so you can list your Top Ten 'whatever'.

Test Tube Canvas - 2 Versions

Elna and I are huge fans of Rebecca Sower's and we were delighted when there was a feature on her in a recent Somerset Studio magazine! After searching far and wide, we were finally successful in locating a South African supplier of glass test tubes...

My first attempt was with this pink "Test Tube Baby" :) After painting the canvas with pink acrylic paint, I stamped an image from Darkroom Door onto it and embossed it with a "pearly" embossing powder.

At the bottom is a rub-on and strings of silk ribbon and beads.

The tubes were filled with beads, pearls and other "Pretty in Pink" stuff.

Here is my "Vintage" take on the same idea. I've used a paper serviette as part of the background on the canvas and then toned it down with a wash of paint.

Add a bead cap to the bottom of the tube to add interest!? You can change the colour by dabbing some alcohol inks onto the metal.

Rusted metal mesh and some quilting fabric were wrapped around a tube to fit in with the vintage feel of this project.

May you be inspired in the same way we were!?

Benice
PS - Elna's version will be published SOON!!

I am thankful

Hi everyone
I am back from a well deserved break. We went camping in Natal and it was great. Sun, sea, good friends and great food, what more can you want. Today I spent the day cleaning the camping gear, doing the laundry (but only doing 6 loads), welcoming my mother in law for a 5 day visit, helping my niece with her wedding invitations and celebrating our 26th wedding anniversary. I think I need another holiday!
My 87 year old mother in law's is a wonderful person and she has Alzheimer's. When we discussed her age during dinner, she said that she can't believe that she is 87, because she still feels sweet sixteen!
I decided to tell her about our Blog. So as she sat next to me, in front of the computer, I explained to her what a Blog is. How the Internet works and that there is two of us creating the Blog. She sat there shaking her head, but she tried hard to understand the whole concept. But in the end she said: "So it is all make believe." Tomorrow I will probably have to explain everything again, but I will do so gladly, because it is a blessing to still have her in our lives.

"Play date" at my studio - 28 April

It is International Charm Day on April 28th, 2010!! Go check out the official site and register as a follower.Elna & I have decided to have an open day at my studio and invite our friends to come and play with us "Between (eating) Cupcakes and (drinking) Tea".

In keeping with the intention of International Charm Day (Wear & Share), we will have workstations set up where you can learn how to create your own charms from unusual materials, including buttons, paper flowers, mosaic tiles, etc... The idea is that you make 3 identical charms, keep 1 and get 2 others made by someone else in return!!

Check out the "Classes and Events" section on the right to RSVP. You are welcome to pop in anytime between 10am and 4 pm. Cost will be R25pp, which will guarantee you the materials needed to make at least 3 charms, a cuppa and some cupcakes!? Directions will be sent to you, once you've booked.

You only need an hour to make 3 charms, have some cupcakes & tea and catch up on any gossip!?

Looking forward to seeing you on the 28th...

Elna & Benice
PS. This is NO April Fools joke!?