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Our regular visitors will notice that we have a new banner!?

The photo was taken in November 2009 when Elna and I participated in an ATC swap with three other friends - Claudene, Ilsé and Val.  We each made 25 (5x5)  ATCs and used a 7Gypsies ATC carousel to display them.


A detailed post on the swap will follow soon...

Card Board Cookies

Yes, That is what they taste like! That was the third batch that I baked.....because I am baking for the holidays and I want lots of cookies, I try different recipes. This one a DISAAStA!

My husband and the dog loves the cookies... maybe because they helped to bake them?

Sunday night we will be baking again, yes, if you fail, try and try again... until you sucseed?!!?

So, no photo this time, maybe on Monday.

Snickerdoodles

Remember to start baking!

That is me talking to myself for the last 5 or more years, yes, that is how long ago I last baked cookies for the holidays. Well look at this, I am so proud of myself and I can't believe that it wasn't that much trouble.

This baking episode took place one Saturday afternoon, and then on Sunday night I wanted to bake

Outydse Soetkoekies.............. That turned out to be much more work, but when you hear that they are much better than the ones from our Home Industry Shop, then you smile and start thinking that it is worth the trouble. But they are already disappearing from the tin ... and I am also guilty. So, come Sunday night, I will have to start baking again.

But with a little help from hubby... it will be done.

Upcoming classes

We have a number of exciting classes scheduled until the end of the year...

The first is a 2011 Calendar project where we will be using the Basic Grey "Basics" range to create a 24-page "album" to display on the Display it All Bind-it-all Stand.

All materials needed to complete the project will be provided (excluding any glues).

Click here to reserve your spot.

On 20 November both Elna & I will be teaching the very popular "Altered Tekkies" class at two separate venues.

To attend Elna's class in Queenswood (Pretoria), contact
Linda at Carrots Crafters on (012) 333 3787

To attend Benice's class in Menlyn (Pretoria), contact
Helena at Mica Menlyn on (012) 348 6095


We look forward to seeing you at these events!!

The desire to travel.

One of my rules are:

A girl should always have a cold beer in her fridge and a valid passport in her safe!
That is besides the rule that you should always have enough money to be able to fly TOMORROW!
*******
I always go a wild colour of green when I hear of anyone traveling to Europe,
but next year it will be my (our) turn. Eating the wonderful and sometimes strange food,
enjoying the small and interesting shops. Seeing the wonderful handmade products......

Visiting the local markets and the impressive old castles.

My friend Alida moved to Switzerland in 1983 and we used to send each other letters, stacks and stacks of them. Later I've learned to type and we send emails. Now we communicate by phone or we skype, but an air mail letter will always remind me of those precious letters I received in the post. It was a difficult time in my life. My best friend living in Switzerland, we living on a nature reserve, miles from anything and I was struggling with infertility.

                                    

 But she is part of a huge family and she came to visit all of us as often as she could,

I have only been there three times, but I am going to visit her next year in June/July. I can't wait.

It will be Opera season in July in Switzerland and as we quickly talked this morning, she said that she will get us tickets to the opening night of the Open Air Opera in StGallen. As a hobby, her husband sings in the opera, so maybe he will be singing that night.

With the cat semi out of the bag... yes, Benice and I will be traveling to France next year and spend a week in Durfort, after that, she will be traveling the rest of France and I will go and visit Alida in Switzerland.

As a good team works, I created this double page and Benice provided the photos.

It was from a previous trip to France......say no more.... I am going green again!

Christmas Cards and Chocolate Marshmallows

It has been a while, but I am getting better. The big tummy bug had me down for a couple of days last week, but I am feeling much better, I had a haircut and I bought some purple nail polish for the summer, so I am definitely feeling better. Living on Cream Crackers and black tea wasn't fun either, but today I had 3 chocolate marshmallows just to make up for last week. 

Here are our Christmas Cards for this year.

 The designs are simple, so you don't have to spend hours on one card.

The swirl was cut with a Sizzex die.

The border pattern was punched with a Fiskars punch.

The swirls were cut with a Kwik Cuts die.

A Spellbinders die was used for the circles. 

 A Martha Stewart Punch was used to punch the circles.

A Cuttle bug embossing die was used to emboss the white paper.

Just cut the trees, don't use a template!

 The new Tim Holtz die was used for the rosette.

The small coloured strips (like the turquoise) are just small coloured strips, not full pieces of paper.

Take one or two designs that you like and start making your cards!

Thanks for visiting.