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

An oldie but still good

This is another image I coloured a while back, and in fact I actually checked, it was way back in April last year. It's a good thing I have some images coloured, cause at least now I get to make some cards, I'm not getting any colouring done though :-( Soon I hope, really soon. I think my pencils have dried up, lol!

This image was another that Debbi sent me, and I have so many other gorgeous ones, so I really should be spending a lot of time colouring. It's not like I don't have time, I'm not working at the moment. If you want to see some gorgeous colouring and some gorgeous cards, do go check Debbi's blog! She was one of the very first ladies who inspired me when I started blogging, and she's super talented.

I coloured the image with my prismacolor pencils and blended it with sansador (gamsol), then cut it out with an oval nestie. The sentiment is from Ladybug Crafts Ink, Kerry was so kind to send me a whole lot of her sentiments and I finally used one! I love sentiments, never know where to put them though.

I thought I'd throw in a picture of little Lady Ayla Belle. She is just the cutest thing, and so clever. She and Jingle (my other cat) have made friends, and she loves him, but boy does he play rough with her. All she does is run and hide when he starts playing, poor little thing. She is so dainty and gentle.

That's my post for today, pretty short and sweet. We have had a few sunny days, but still plenty of rain. So I am still complaining about the weather, well at least it's not snow, woohoo.

Take care

Meahni

Lady at leisure, just like me

I have finally made a card. I know it's been ages, but I'm still alive, just been very busy. I can hardly remember how to use google blogger, lol.

This image, Martini Nikki, from Ladbybug Crafts Ink, is exactly what my life is like at the moment. I am on 3 months garden leave. Although I am exceptionally busy, I am totally enjoying it.

I coloured the image with my prismacolor pencils, cut it out with a nestie circle. The flowers were done with the MFT die-namics die! Love that.  I know it can be done by hand too, but the die makes it SOOOO much easier for stupid people like me. Woohoo.

Okay so even after I have been away for this long, I got to get going. I don't want to go on and on, who has time to read a loooong post. I start my next photography course tomorrow, looking forward to that.

take care

Meahni

Who stole the cheese

Look what I have to share today, a brand new image from none other than Ladybug Crafts Ink. This is my first card that I've made for Kerry, and I sure hope she likes it.

I think this image is just so cute, look at that big eye peeping at the poor little mouse going by. This is Tiptoeing Lily and she sure looks pretty confident walking past Magnum, then again he doesn't look like he needs food, lol!

I coloured the image with my prismacolor pencils, blended with sansador (gamsol), and then cut it out with an oval nestie. The paper is from October Afternoon, the fence is a Martha Stewart border punch and the sentiment is from Elzybells.

Now, I tried something different with my picture. I tried Jeanie's super clever way of taking her pictures with a pretty background instead of the usual dull one I have. I could not however decide which one I liked better, isn't that typical, lol! So please let me know what you think!

That's that for today! Hope you have a great Monday.

Meahni

Who likes mornings?

Definitely not me, lol!!! I am so not a morning person, don't ask me what it is, but I do know if mornings started at around 10, or better yet 11, I would definitely be one.

Here's someone who agrees with me. Margaret from Bugaboo is definitely not a morning person either.

I printed Margaret on a laser printer then left the image to 'dry' for about a day. I coloured her with my prismacolor pencils and blended it with Sansador (gamsol), cut it out with a nestie die, in this case the long rectangle. I added a crocheted flower my mom made me ages ago and of course the button and twine on top to finish it off nicely. That's about it I think, oh the paper is from Basic Grey the 6x6 pad.

I took some pictures of my children while we were outside playing in the garden yesterday. I always talk about them and thought it would be nice to introduce them to you all. It is so difficult to get a good picture of Jingle and Misty. Misty literally turns her head away from the camera and just stands there, I can call and whistle and try what I like, she will not look at the camera. Some times she even ran inside to get away from me, lol!

So here's my little Jingle, not so little anymore, with his pretty pink nose. See it's going to need sun block soon.

Here is her royal highness, Simby, aka as Princess. She sure acts like one, thus the reason for the nickname.

And my little camera shy Misty. Luckily I have a good zoom lens so I could sneak this picture in without her knowing. Although that face does look a little like it's saying "stop taking my picture, ppppplease".

and Jingle again smelling the grass, or something.

No pictures of Pepi (African Grey) and Roxy (Green Cheek Conure). I will try get them another time. Pepi is not too difficult as he comes out of his cage, but Roxy does not leave her little place of safety, so the only pictures I get of her are through the bars which are not very nice. I'm booked to do a photographic course in September, can't wait, maybe they can teach me how to get a picture without the bars, lol.

Have a great week, I know I will cause we have a public holiday tomorrow, and it's Women's Day, yay!

Meahni

One Cool Cat

This is exactly what my little Jingle would look like if I were to dress him, loads of attitude and oh so cool. He is just so full of it, lol! But don't we just love them the more for it. (ps: I would never dress him though, don't like animals to be dressed, it's so not natural for them.)

My little cool cat is from Bugaboo and I was the luckiest person ever, cause I got it when it was a freebie. Bugaboo have a freebie every Friday, don't miss it cause they're very good. Oh and should you be keen to get some images the 50% off sale is still on, ends 10 August.

I coloured my image with my prisma pencils and blended it with Sansador (gamsol), then cut it with my circle nestie and chalked the edges while it was still in the nestie die. Oh no nasty comments about his big pink nose, cause that is exactly what Jinlge's looks like. I can see in summer time I'm going to have to put sun block on it.

In my previous post I mentioned that I'll be joining Ladybug Crafts Ink as a guest designer, well in case anyone is keen to be a full time designer, then go see Kerry's blog she is doing a DT call. Come on I know you want to, besides who doesn't wanna work with her cute images. I can't wait, my parcel is on it's way, woohoo.

I noticed I got some new followers, welcome ladies, I'm always so pleased to see that there are people who like to see what I get up to in my spare time. It's so great to meet so many people around the world.

....till next time

Meahni

Last of Stella and a new room

Hi Everyone, it's been a looong time, and of course yesterday when I wanted to post this post, my internet connection was acting up! It just wouldn't work, yet today it's perfectly normal again. So, sorry for not getting to any blog to leave a comment or two, but I really, really wanted to, lol!

Here's the last of my mom's birthday cards. This was the one her friend asked for, and she luckily, liked it so much she wanted to keep it. Always nice when people are happy with what you made for them. Talking of that, my friend loved ALL the Clown and Number cards, so they all have a new home now.

This is Stella of course, from Bugaboo Stamps, and she was printed on a laser printer, and coloured with prisma pencils, blended with sansador (gamsol) and cut out with a nestie rectangle die. I sometimes wonder if I need to repeat this all the time, but I know when I visit other blogs, I like to see this detail, cause I don't necessarily visit all the time, or it might be my first visit, then it's great to get the info easy and right there in the last post.

I have had the lucky opportunity to buy some of our office furniture. With our offices closing end of September, we have had to get rid of all the furniture. Staff had the option to buy some as well, and for the local ladies reading this post you will appreciate how cheaply I got this. My company paid R18'500 per workstation, that's a desk and 6 of these cupboards you see below (4 wide ones and 2 small ones), I bought it for R500 a set! They are only 3 years old now, which in office furniture is still brand new.

I have tidied my hobby room and I must say, it would be nice to have a bit more container type storage, for the smaller things we so love to collect, but other than that I really cannot complain, I think the pictures speak for themselves. I had to have stuff all over the show, even on the floor. Now everything is neat and tidy, and even Simby and Misty's little beds have a neat space!

See stuff all over !!! It used to drive me insane.

.... and more stuff all over!

Well I am sure you are all tired of this long post, but I had to share my neat and tidy room. Jeanie, what you think?

Take care and have a great week.
Meahni

The end has arrived

No not of me blogging, don't get all excited, only of this series of clown cards! I am now posting the last of the ones I made, and unless someone specifically asks for one, there won't be another one posted in the too near future, lol!

So my last set of clown numbers are a few sixes, a five and a seven, some for girls and some for boys. I tried to do a variety of shapes even though I used the same paper more than once. It does make it a lot easier to stick to the same paper when you have to do a few of something.

The nestabilities dies are ideal for getting cute shaped cards. You just have to find a way for the oddly shaped ones to stand. Otherwise I think they are pretty neat.

These were all coloured with prisma pencils and blended with sansador. I did not add much to them as they are small cards and I didn't want to overdo this little card with a huge big embellishment. I could maybe have included a happy birthday sentiment to some, but I actually clean forgot, oops!

These have now all gone to my friend, and I sure hope she is happy with them. Not sure the 5 or 6 year old who will receive them will ever know how much time I spent on it, but it was all worth it :-)

I need to get going, Jingle is on the table again and acting just like a spoilt kitten playing with everything, standing in front of my screen, throwing things off the table *sigh*.

See you soon.

Meahni

A home-made facelift?

Another Stella did I hear you say, lol. Now can I help it that I love Stella, and that she is just ideal for the birthday cards I have been needing lately. Luckily this is not me, or at least not yet, woohoo! This one is also for my mom for her 70th, and I think it is JUST perfect. So if you are tired of Stella already, sorry, and I have to warn you there's another one coming. My mom's friend asked me to make her a card as well so it will definitely be Stella again. My mother might change her hair style to this after all these Stella cards, rofl.

I coloured her with my prisma pencils and blended it with sansador (gamsol). Then cut the image out with my long rectangle nesties and layered it on a scalloped rectangle. I added a bit of glaze pen to her glasses, as usual not visible in the photo, and no glitter. I didn't think it called for glitter, hopefully I was right.

I have finished my clown numbers cards, I just have to take a picture of the last one and then they'll be up here. There are 4 of them, but don't worry, I will post them all together. They are all cute, and I hope my friend is happy with them. You never know if you really manage to do what people request, but I guess if not they won't come back hey.

That's that for today. I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday, it's at least a lovely sunny day here, but it's still winter, it's not going to fool me, hehehe.
Meahni

Another 1 and 2 fours

Oh to be that young again! I have come to a point in my life where I have to colour my hair once a month or I am so grey my mother wouldn't recognise me! What's with that!!

Anyhow, these are additional cards that my friend asked for. She actually asked for 4 and 6, but I was having such fun with these, I wanted to try them all. So be warned, there are more to come, rofl!! Sorry!!! At least you can all see that I have been busy, I just haven't been posting much, it is too cold in my study. Okay I can turn a heater on, but it's usually such a mission and I am probably just too lazy, who knows!

These were all coloured with prismacolor pencils and blended with sansador. I cut them out with my nesties and layered the image on a nestie mat. I tried to get a bit of a circus tent look with the striped ones, not sure I achieved that, but seeing there's a clown I thought it would be perfect.

I really do like these images for kids' cards, they are so easy to colour and simply great for those who want the number on the card! That is always a HUGE challenge for me.

Now I have to go and see where my irrigation system is leaking. I found the spot yesterday, but I got to go and test it, so I can see exactly without having a muddy dam of water to try and see through, lol, it wasn't a whole dam, but close.

That's that for today! Hope you have a great day!

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

How cold can it get

Some of you may recall from last winter that I never stop complaining about being cold when it's winter. Well, it is simply freezing here in Johannesburg and I cannot stand it! I am going to try and do this post as fast as possible, cause I am freezing my little everything off in my study, lol!

As I mentioned previously, I have been making a few cards with the clown number images I got from Bugaboo. Today I have two more to share, the 5 & 6.

Aren't these just too cute! I love them. I coloured them with my prismacolor pencils blended with Sansador and then cut it with my nestie. I added a bit of glaze to his nose, cause a clown's nose is shiny and big isn't it, pity you can't see it in the photo. I added a bit of glamour dust to the flame, so it has a nice sparkle and the sentiment below is from Stamping Bella.

I really like this paper for boys, and I must say it turned out just as I wanted. That does not happen often. Most annoying.

Tonight Bafana Bafana play Uruguay, I hope we win!!! That will be awesome. I am very grateful though that I will be watching the game from the comfy of my couch with the heater as warm as possible. Good luck to those braving the cold.

Take care!

Meahni

A clown and a number

A friend of mine asked me to make her some small cards, as in smaller sizes, not as is smaller ages, lol! She asked me last year already, I'm so fast aren't I. Anyhow, I was browsing Bugaboo stamps the other day and came across this clown with his numbers. There is 1 - 0, which I thought would be perfect for what she wanted. Usually everyone wants the child's age on a card and with these images I can make that the focal point and make the card smaller. Isn't that clever!? I thought it was, woohoo. (I just hope she likes it.)

I have only coloured 1 & 4 so far, don't ask me why those numbers, and I coloured one girly themed one and one boy-ish themed one. These are for the boys, the girls' ones are pink and seeing I have had so much pink on here lately I thought I'd go with the boys cards for today.

I am also trying to make a few which are similar cause that helps speed things up. A small card is the same amount of work as a big one, and as I've said already, I am SO slow, I thought this way I could save a bit of time.

I coloured these two with my prismacolor pencils then blended it with sansador (gamsol), cut them out with a nestie and layered it on a nestie mat. I added a button and a bit of twine, some glamour dust on the flames and of course I had to highlight his bright red nose with my sakura glaze pen. That's it!

These cards will be entered into That's Krafty Thursday, Jeanie's krafty challenge. I hope some of you join me, look at the fun chicken badge on my sidebar which you could win. It's really easy, you can use any stamp, any sketch, any colour, ANYTHING, as long as you use kraft paper. I recently bought some from Elzybells, and I am so happy that I did, I love it. If you want to see stamping on kraft paper go check the Elzybells blog, it's beautiful. Maybe one day I too will try it.

I can't believe the weekend is over, well almost. I am very pleased though that I have almost finished my mom's invitations. I need to finish colouring 4 images, they are half done, then stick them on and voila, ready to go to their new home. It was quite a task to do them all, but it was such fun. Pity it doesn't pay really really well, I could give up my day job, oh no wait, it has given me up already, lol!!!

Enjoy your week and take care.

Meahni

70th Invitations

I can hardly believe it myself, my mom is turning 70 this year. To me it feels like she's only 50. Although there are days where she acts 90, rofl! (Lucky for me she NEVER reads my blog.)

My sister and I are organising my mom's birthday party, and I for once, am getting in early. I usually postpone till the last minute. Believe it or not but her birthday is only in July, yet I am already on the invitations and had to finish 4 of them for the past weekend, as they have to be hand delivered. Which they were, woohoo.

I made a little box with my crafter's companion and cut a window with the circle nestability. Then I put a piece of transparency as the window. We have loads, I mean loads of transparencies which we no longer use at the office. I could make these boxes until I am 70 and still have some left, lol. I have however, decided to put the lid through the swiss dot cuttlebug embossing folder before gluing it, it just looks so much better, but I had already made this one before deciding that. Sorry, you get to see the plain one.

The image is from bugaboo stamps, and I had to have it for the invites. It is exactly how my mom sits with her fan in summer time. I changed the sentiment, as it seems the Americans and Canadians speak of hot flashes, but that is just totally wrong. It is flushes, Right!!!?? Well no-one here would know what I'm saying if I had hot flashes.

Anyhow, Stella here was coloured with my prismacolor pencils, blended with sansador and then cut out with a nestie. The card base is also a nestie, the biggest circle scalloped one I have.

I have to share the pain I went through. I had finished the 4 cards and then picked up that I had spelt celebration wrong, I had celebartion. I am sure you can all imagine my joy when I realised that. Luckily I could reprint it, but of course my ink was running VERY low and my PC had to crash before I could do that. Murphy, I am sure.

I hope the invitees like their invitations. There's 10 more to be made, lots of work and I think I am going to be so tired of colouring this poor Stella when I'm done. Hopefully she won't hold it against me if I don't use again her for some time to come.

Now I am off to bed. It's late and I can hear my bed calling my name, poor thing must be missing me.

Meahni