Happy Bees

My mom asked me for an engagement card today, which she needs for Saturday. Now if you are anything like me, then that is extreme short notice, lol. I need at least a week's notice, I am so slow when it comes to making cards, just the colouring alone could take me 2 hours or more.

I was clever though, I chose an image which did not require a lot of colouring, so it took me only a few hours this afternoon to make the card and colour the image. Wish I could always be that quick. I will never get rich making cards, that's for sure, lol.

I coloured my image with prisma pencils blended it with sansador (gamsol), and cut it with a Nestie circle die. I sponged it with a little chalk ink and layered it on a scalloped circle mat. I added lots of glamour dust to the wings and flowers and hearts, not sure it shows on the photo. The border at the bottom was done with a fiskars border punch.

Of course I had to throw in a picture of Lady Ayla Belle. I'm thinking of changing her name though to Lazy Ayla Belle, rofl! She is such a little lazy girl that sleeps all day, okay almost all day, the rest of the day she follows me around the house, aaah!

That's my post for today, I got to go wish Debbi a happy birthday, even though the day is now over.... it still counts doesn't it, woohoo.

Take care

Meahni

Swim anyone?

Okay, definitely no swimming for Paula, lol! and definitely no swimming for anyone in Jo'burg, it's far too cold, actually I struggle to swim when it's summer time. Even then it's too cold for me, lol! I know, moan, moan, moan, so lets move on to my card.

This is the other card I made for my sister for her birthday. I was so slow in taking the picture that my mom gave it to her before I got round to doing it, luckily my sister does not throw my cards away, so I managed to get it back for it's little photo shoot, hehehe.

The image is Tiny tina teacup from Stamping Bella and I coloured her with my prisma pencils, then blended with sansador and then cut the image out with my nesties. The border was done with a fiskars border punch, I like those tiny little scallops on the scallops, not sure if you can see them clearly in the pic.

One of the comments I got from my last post was from Moz to please email her with details of local suppliers of prismacolor pencils. Moz I went to your blog but could not find your email address can you send it to me please.

Poor Brazil just crashed out of the World Cup, shame! I liked them, but I wanted the Netherlands to win, because my money is on them being in the final against Spain and Spain winning. Selfish I know, but hey money is money, lol.

Oh and before I go, I have to share what waited for me when I got home tonight. A little dog, my Simby, full of paint! I was so upset. The gardener was painting today, not much gardening during winter time, and Simby was rubbing up against the wall every time she gave him her ball to throw. So I got home to a rock hard dog, the paint had dried and she no longer had hair on her body, just hard bits of paint. Oh well I gave her a bath and cleaned it all off, but I was still upset, and he is still going to get moaned at, lol.

Have a great weekend, I'll be back tomorrow or Sunday.

Meahni

The World Cup

I have to be really honest and admit that I never in a million years thought I would be watching this much soccer! Hopefully those of you outside of South Africa are all aware of the fact that the Fifa Football World Cup is held in South Africa this year, and are we all enjoying it. I never watch soccer, really never, but I have watched almost every game in this cup, AND best of all I went to see Bafana Bafana (South Africa) live against France on Tuesday night! AND we won, yay!!!!

Here I am all geared up with my vuvuzela, and I included a pic of the one section of the stadium just to show how many South African supporters there were. I had an absolute ball even though it was a 4-5 hour drive there and back, it was worth it. I doubt I will go to another game, but I am very glad I did attend one live and best of all my country.

As for my card today, this is one I made for my sister. Her birthday was on Tuesday, yip the same day I went to watch the match, needless to say I have not yet given it to her, lol!! She has a teenage daughter and although my niece is the model daughter anyone could ask for (that figures, everyone says she's just like me, rofl!!!), she has her teenage moments so I thought this card would be perfect for my sister.

I printed Stella from Bugaboo stamps on a laser printer, left it for a day to 'dry' really well and then coloured it with my prismacolor pencils, and blended with sansador. I cut the image with an oval nestie and layered it on an oval mat. The scalloped border was done with a fiskars border punch, one of my favourites (do I say that a lot!!??). I added some glaze to her glasses with my sakura glaze pen, it makes them look so good, but sadly the photos never show that kind of detail.

That's it for today, not much more I can add and I have already made this post longer than it should be. Do people read them all. I know I try when I visit other blogs, but it is often just impossible to keep up.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, my next post will be some more Clown Numbers! MORE!!??? I hear you all say, lol! They're really cute, you'll not want to miss then, honest, hehehe.

Meahni

Born to shop

Here's an image I have had for some time, but seeing time is the one thing we would all like more of, only for crafting though, I have never had a chance to use it. The image was sent to me by Debbi (thanks Debbi), with MANY others. I was so excited the other day when I went through them all again, I wanted to use them all at once.

The image is one of the Miss Anya range, and I coloured her with my prisma pencils, then blended it with sansador (gamsol), cut it out with an oval nestie and layered it on an oval nestie mat. I added some glitter glue to her head band and although I felt I must add more glitter somewhere, I decided not to. The scalloped border was done with my fiskars border punch and the sentiment is from Elzybells. Of course a bit of ribbon, a button and a bit of twine and that's it, card done. No, it took me a lot longer than that sounds, I'm slow :-(

Not much else to tell for today. I am home alone, my mother is on holiday (again), so I got to run. I have to make my own supper, man alive do I hate that, but when you're hungry you have to make a plan, even if it's just toast, lol.

Have a great week.

Meahni

Here comes the bride

No! it's definitely not me. I haven't lost it yet, or at least not completely, lol!

One of the guys at the office is getting married, shame poor guy, and we have all contributed some cash for them to spend on whatever their little hearts desire. I think it might go to the honeymoon spending money.

I used Hitchedafellabella from Stamping Bella for this card, and think that it is such a classy image. Who could ask for better. I coloured the happy couple with my prisma pencils, blended it with sansador, then cut it with a craft knife and used my fiskars border punch for the edge. The paper is from Penny Black, I've had it since forever, lol, and am so pleased I finally used it.

Our theme this week for Bellarific Friday is Valentine. I am sure you have all got something Valentine you can share with us, don't say no lol. I have just about coloured my image and was hoping to start working on the card tonight, but right now, as I sit here, I feel nauseous, I am so tired and have such a headache.

I have been woken at 4:30am every morning by none other than little Jingle. For those who don't know, it's my Christmas present from mother nature, the little kitten I adopted. He decides to wake up at that time and climb on my face and then starts biting me. It can't be that he wants food cause there is food out for him. I think he's looking for milk, but he is NOT going to find it by biting me on the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, mouth.... everything gets bitten and it's not gently :-) Yet if you had to see him now, sleeping on my lap like a little angel, you'd think I'm the biggest liar on the planet, rofl.

Alright I'm out of here. Got to get away from the bright screen it's not helping the migraine.
Meahni

Peek a Pookie

Look at pookie lollipop peeking at us, isn't it the cutest thing. I love the lollipop range from Stamping Bella, they are all so adorable.

I have a few of them, and just don't seem to get enough time to use them all. Does anyone else have that problem, loads of gorgeous stamps you're dying to use and just not enough time, lol!

I coloured Pookie with my prisma pencils, blended her with Sansador, and added some grass. I think I need to go through Paula's grass tutorial again, it doesn't look anywhere as good as hers! The image was cut with nesties then layered on a nestie and layered on another nestie... Can anyone tell that I love the fiskars apron lace punch. I try use it on every card, rofl.

I'm going to make this post short and end it here, my PC keeps crashing since we had a power failure today. It's very frustrating. I hope I get to publish the post.

This week's Bellarific Friday challenge is twinchies or a 2" square. Can't wait to see that, cause it's a major challenge for me, lol.

Have a great week.

Meahni

Lovey dovey Friday

Today is Lovey Dovey Friday at Stamping Bella, but I think Fridays are so cool they should all be lovey dovey. Don't you all agree!

Today is also release day for Stamping Bella, and my little image here, Eunice and Irving, is just one of the gorgeous new releases you will be seeing. I cannot wait. I love mice they are so cute and I love cute it's my absolute favourite, AND with Valentine's day around the corner who would not want these two cuties to tell someone you love them.

I coloured these two with my prismacolor pencils and blended it with sansador. I used my bow easy to make my perfect bow, yeah I'm not that good. And I did the borders with the fiskars apron lace border punch.

Be sure to go and visit the Bella Blog to see what everyone else has done and of course what gorgeous new images they got to play with. I know I can't wait and I know I am going to have a basket full of rubber on it's way to Africa pretty soon, lol.

I am so pleased it's Friday, I am exhausted after 3 weeks no work and one work all work. I still think we should have 3 day weekends.

Take care, have a great weekend.

Meahni

Back to School

You might be wondering, what on earth was I thinking, how is this back to school!?!?. Well my pupil is going back to Art School, lol rofl! Not everyone has to be the same. She might win American Idol one day. Speaking of American Idol, I hear it's Simon Cowell's last season, how sad is that.

Back to my card... This is such a cool stamp from Stamping Bella, All punked up and nowhere to go, I love it. Reminds me of myself in the 80's, woohoo! I coloured her with my prisma pencils, blended it with sansador and cut the image with nesties. The 'sentiment' at the bottom right, was paper pieced, it is part of the DP, I just wanted to make it stand out a little. So I cut it out and put some liquid crystal on.

The other sentiment is from Stamping Bella and it's probably one of my favourites. It's great with so many occasions. (I think :-))

So that's all about the card I can share. Don't forget to go and check the Bella Blog for all the other stunning creations this week. I am pretty sure my fellow babes have made things I am going to envy, in a nice way of course, lol! Oh and leave a comment, you could win some bucks.

Before I go, I've got a few more pictures of Jingle to share. He's grown!! He is still very small though, only a hand full.

Now I'm done, finally.
Meahni

It's release day!

Finally the day has arrived, Stamping Bella's 3rd Birthday and with that a brand new release. Isn't that exciting.

I was lucky enough to get given one of the new images to play with, but unfortunately I forgot to ask Emily what the name of the image is, lol. I am sure it will be easy to spot under the new release section once Emily has uploaded them.

I coloured these 4 cuties with a combo of prisma and lyra pencils, and blended it with sansador. I find that the grumtine smudges the images if they have been printed from a digital image. Weird, but at least there was solution. The image was cut with nesties and layer on nesties. I used my new fiskars punch, which I just love. I have seen it used on so many cards and finally I just had to get one myself.

I tried to have the one little girl stand out as the 'unique' one, but she is a little dull, I guess that could make one unique too! Anyhow, she looks different to the rest and that is what I wanted :-))

I also added some baubles for a little something extra, and some sakura glaze pen to her glasses. It is so clever, makes it look just like glass in real life.

Be sure to go and visit the Bella Blog to see what all is in the new release. I have seen some gorgeous images that my fellow Babes have on their blogs, you can find their links on the sidebar. I predict lots of new rubber is going to be on it's way to me, whooohooo!

By the way, I went to see The Killers last week Thursday, they came to visit South Africa as part of their world tour. At least they remember to include us, so many great bands just skip S.A. Anyhow, the concert was excellent, so if they're on their way to you, best you go and see them. Brandon Flowers, the lead singer, is just yummy!

till next time....

Meahni

Such a cutie

That's what this little image is, a real cutie, and I used her for my Bellarific Friday card. It was a wild card this week, so it was really easy to make something, lol!

I got the little lulu stamps a couple months back but have only recently coloured some up. They are so easy to colour, cause there isn't that much to colour :-) Actually at first I thought that was going to make it a lot more difficult, but it actually wasn't. Left more time to make more cards, hehehe.

I coloured Henrietta Lulu with prisma pencils, blended with grumtine (gamsol or sansador) and cut her with a nestie. I used the fiskars threading water border punch for the sides, and I must say I really like that look. Oh the image was mounted on 3D tape.

I have never had a problem with Friday the 13th and have never thought that it was unlucky at all, but I got a call at 5am this morning from an unknown number, it turned out to be my mother, who is on holiday with a friend. She phoned to tell me that they had been robbed while they were sleeping. It is so sad that one cannot even go on holiday here, even then you are a target! So I am not feeling too cheerful right now and don't have much more to say.

There is one bright side to this day, it is my friend Paula's birthday, one of our super super talented Bella Babes. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAULA. I hope you have a wonderful day and a great trip to the Niagara falls!

Tangled Stella

It's Friday, and this week I am REALLY happy to say that. It's just been one of those weeks where I could've stayed in bed rather than having to face life. No particular reason, everything is just hunky dory, but I was just so not in the mood.

This week's theme for da Bellarific Friday was Christmas/Winter. I went with Christmas and used Tangled Stella. I love Stella, she is my most favourite of the Stamping Bella range.

I coloured Stella and her lights with my prisma pencils and blended it with grumtine (gamsol or sansador). I cut her out with an oval nestie and matted the image on a scalloped oval nestie. What was card making life like before nesties came along! I added some extra effects with my glaze pen and glamour dust with my quickie glue pen, and that's pretty much it.

I guess I got to be off and try face the world again... work is waiting, funny how it never gets tired of waiting and goes away, lol!!

Now hop on over and go see all the gorgeous designs by my fellow Bella Babes and of course all of you, I hope you participated.

Enjoy your weekend.

Meahni

Just a note

That's what I thought made a good sentiment for this card. Actually my sister phoned me earlier tonight and asked if I could make a farewell card for my niece's choir leader, hmmm, I think that's what she said. Anyhow, I know it was farewell, I got that right.

I had this image coloured up and said that I would finish the card and tomorrow they can check my blog and let me know if the card makes the grade or if I have to make another. I hope it makes the grade, cause the only other image I have coloured up is a surfer fella, from Stamping Bella, lol!!!

This image however is Ketto's Dolly, from the Stamping Bella Ketto range. It was one of the more recent releases, and I didn't have any Kettos, so I started my collection with the doll. Somewhat odd I think, but I liked it. I used the new nesties book shape for the image and that made me think the 'just a note sentiment' would go perfectly. It's a note from a book and a note to say goodbye. Okay, I'll move on, enough already.

I coloured it with my prisma pencils of course, layered it on a nestie mat, and added the sentiment which was cut with nesties too. I must say this image was really quick to colour, I felt a bit guilty, and thought maybe I didn't do enough or didn't try hard enough, but there was only so much I could do, before I had to just let it be.

Well I got to go, I can't keep my eyes open, it's past midnight already and I have a dentist appointment first thing in the morning :-(((

Oh before I go, do go to my fellow Bella DT member's blog, Joanne B, and check her bow tying video. It is awesome, and I could not believe how simple it was for her to make her gorgeous bows.

Don't forget Bellarific Friday!

Meahni

A little thank you

I'm still alive, winter hasn't frozen me to death, yet. I'm doing a quicky tonight, post that is. I want to share this thank you wallet I made for Debbi. She sent me a WHOLE lot of images and a set of stamps! 'Guy' stamps, so I didn't have to struggle so much making guy cards. Isn't she just the coolest.

I used one of my little Gorjuss Girls cause Debbi is such a gorgeous girl. I can't say I have used this image that often. Isn't it strange how we have to have all the stamps we could possible get our little hands on, but we don't have the time to use them all. Or is it just me who has that problem....!!???

This little girl was coloured with my lyra pencils, woooohooo the lyras came out the box, blended with sansador and paper stumps. I used a fiskars lace punch for the ribbon bit on the right. I guess there isn't much more to say about it is there now. No glitter, no glaze pens, no nesties - OH MY HAT!!! NO NESTIES!!!

Got to run, got colouring to do, deadlines to meet - hehehe, cards to make, and try and stay warm.

Don't forget the Bella release tomorrow! It's gonna be great, I just know it!!!! I feel it, in my bones!!! LOL!!!

Brave cat

So here's a very brave cat, or maybe not! I don't think anyone will be too scared of a dog with a ladybug on his nose. However, are these two not adorable. I want to grab that lazy fat cat and hug and hug it.

I keep wanting to go rescue a kitten from the shelter, but I am worried what Simby and Misty, my two Jack Russells would do with it. They try and hunt anything that moves, and the other problem I have when the cat is big, Pepi and Roxy, my two parrots might not be too pleased with the new family member.

In the meantime I'll stick to colouring images of cats for people who love animals, just like me. This card is for a lady who loves animals, and as tempting as it was to put even more images on, I guess it would've made for a very busy card.

These are two Elzybells images which I love colouring. I find it so easy to work with Elzy images, I don't know why. Their bears are my utmost favourite though, and I wish I have had more time to have used some of the others I have.

I coloured these with my Lyra pencils for a change, and the cat was really supposed to come out some very different, but I just couldn't get the effect I wanted. I am no artist, so I have to rely on whatever comes out once my pencils hit the paper, lol.

I cut the images with my nesties and mounted the dog on 3D foam pads. Isn't he sweet with his little friend on his nose. The borders where done with a fiskars border punch and I felt it was a bit too much once I put the card together, but it was late and I wanted some sleep so I left it as is.

Well that's all there is to tell about this card. I am going to continue working on my mother's birthday cards while watching Desperate Housewives and then CSI - New York.

Oh and I have to share, our days are getting longer. When I drove home tonight it was still light until about 6pm. Usually by 5:30pm it is dark. I was so happy to see that winter is getting it's little boots on and getting out of here slowly!

The Cutest Ballerina

I have to admit that this is just the cutest ballerina in town! I absolutely love this little bear in her tutu. Isn't she just too adorable for words.

I coloured her just for the fun of it. I couldn't wait for the day that I had a specific occasion to need this image. Once she was coloured up I made a birthday card for a colleague's niece who's turning eleven. I hope she loves her as much as I do.

A little confession here... I coloured two of her, one in a pink dress and one in a green dress. I'm about to go and make something with the other one. Just because they are so cute.

She was coloured with my prismacolor pencils and blended with sansador. Then cut out with nesties, and mounted on 3D pads. The sentiment is by Stampingbella and also cut out with nesties. The border was done with my brand new Fiskars border punch! I don't know for the rest of you, but here in Jo'burg, the good quality punches are very expensive. But I wanted it so I had to spend the money.....

I put lots of glitter on the dress and shoes and the background paper. I am not sure the photo does it too much justice, but some of it can at least be seen.

I heard such devastating news earlier today. There are 55 Pilot Whales beached at Kommetjie beach in the Cape, here in South Africa. People are trying to get them back into the sea and keeping them alive with water. Apparently there are more coming ashore. They don't know yet what caused this. It's terrible, I wish I was there to help, but it's pretty far from Jo'burg. At least the sea rescue people are there doing something. I just hope they will all be okay. My heart just breaks when I hear of something like this.

Anyone feel like a bit of blog surfing, go see what everyone got up to for the latest Bella challenge. It was a sketch again, there are some gorgeous creations to ooooh and aaah over. Then Elzybells is celebrating their blog-a-versary, yip it's one year old in June, and they're planning all sorts of exciting stuff during the month.

Oh one other thing I wanted to share, my mother's been crocheting flowers for me, to use as embellishments. I can't wait to use one or two, she's nearly done with them. Hopefully soon I will post a card with a homemade, handmade crocheted flower on it :-))

Have a great weekend. Till later.....