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

Peek a boo!

One of my favourite blogs to visit is Jeanie's, the Spotted Chick. Whenever I visit her blog I am so inspired to go make a card, and that's exactly what happened when I visited her blog on Friday evening. I just loved all her new creations, and as you may pick up I even followed her sketch from this post.

Of course that is also her That's Krafty Thursday post, and seeing that I used kraft paper, what a coincidence, lol, I will be entering my card. If you don't have kraft paper just use an old brown envelope it is the exact same thing.

If my card looks skew it's not, it's the photo, I promise :-) So this image is from Bugaboo stamps, and I coloured it probably 6 months ago. It was a good thing I have not used it cause now I had it available at short notice, lol! I coloured it with prismacolor pencils and blended it with sansador (gamsol). The image was cut out with circle nestabilities, and yes I am very proud of myself I still remembered how to do that, woohoo.

We have had a lot of rain here in Jo'burg and although it saves me watering my garden it is getting a bit much now. I like sunshine and warm sunny days! Does anyone have that weather, let me know, I'm coming to visit!

Bye for now

Meahni

Finally a card

I am so pleased I have a card to share, but better yet, I am also entering it for That's Krafty Thursday, my super talented Chicken's challenge, lol! Yes of course I'm talking of Jeanie, she's back and with a bang. Be sure to go check out her new craft room and her latest creations. Nothing has changed in the time she was gone and I'm so pleased she's back to inspire me again, woohoo.



This card is for my cousin's daughter who's having her first birthday party this weekend. Okay so there is no ONE on it, but I'm challenged with those things, so she will just have to read the message inside to know what birthday it was for, lol.

The image is from Penny Black, I coloured it with Prisma pencils and blended with Sansdor (gamsol). The sentiment is from Stamping Bella, and I'm always glad when I manage to get a sentiment on my cards. Am I the only one challenged with that... obviously not, I see such gorgeous cards out there with sentiments all the time, lol.

That's about all there is to say today. I hope to finish one more card this week, but it's a BIG hope.

All the best

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

Hot Stuff

I am online, I can't believe it, lets hope my connection lasts and doesn't die on me like every other time. Yes, I still haven't had my line checked, I will, some day real soon, lol.

This card I made about 2 weeks ago, but haven't been able to post it. Maybe just as well cause I had such a busy weekend I didn't make a thing, so nothing more to post now in any case.

This image is from Bugaboo, it's from the Sassy Gals range, and I love those images! I think they are so nice for guy cards, instead of the usual, golfer or handyman, or maybe a fisherman.... So who agrees with me, or do you think they're too risque?

I coloured the image with my prisma pencils, in fact it was a mix of prisma and lyra, then I cut it out with a craft knife. I used a previous Taylored Expressions sketch, I love the pdf file available from them with all their sketches it's super handy. I did the two circles with a nestie circle die, and the front one I put through my cuttlebug with the polka dot template.

I have to share quickly, I went to see Enrique last week Thursday, he was here for the opening of the Cricket 20/20 series. Anyhow, I am not his biggest fan, I don't even own a single CD, but a friend of mine wanted to go, so I said okay I'll go see him. Well he impressed me so much I'll go and see him again any time. What a genuinely nice guy, so down to earth and really appreciates all his fans, no matter who they are or what they look like! Of course he was yummy to look at, even if we were far, far away from the stage.

That's my post for today, pretty short and sweet, but I know no-one wants to be bored with lots of waffle, and who has the time to read it all, lol!


Meahni

Sold!

It's been a while since I've posted, but I've been a bit busy and haven't had a moment free. We had our department farewell, which was fabulous, I've attached some pictures below. But first about my card.

This is one of the super cute images from Ladybug Crafts Ink, and it's called Buttercup In the Doghouse. I made it with a new home in mind, thought it would be perfect with the sold sign, lol. I struggled to get a decent photo though, clearly my photography course is not helping. Kerry rescued it for me with photoshop, but in real life this card is SO cute.

As usual I coloured the image with my prisma pencils and blended it with sansador, then cut it out with a square nestie die. I hand-wrote the 'sold', which was luckily just one word, I would not be brave enough to write much more than that. Unlike Paula who does the most beautiful hand written sentiments.

On to our farewell. This is the main entrace to the lodge, it is really pretty.

This was the Cheetah run. You cannot image how fast these animals are if you have not seen it yourself.

Here I am with Tarzan the Cheetah and then of course Bumblebee the python, she was adorable.


Now I am done and hope you all have a great week. I am looking forward to having a realiable internet connection again one day. The way I have to work at the moment, losing my connection every 5 minutes is driving me insane. I want to visit my favourite blogs and leave you all some comments, but it's not possible at the moment :-(

Take care.
Meahni

Suggestions please

I'm somewhat brain dead today, I cannot think of a header for this post. Maybe it's because I'm struggling with my internet connection, it's frustrating me so that I cannot think straight, lol. It took about 10 attempts to get my images uploaded, and now they finally are, I've had to try a different setting, so hopefully my post looks okay in the end.

What I wanted to ask was what would you have called this post!? I'm sure there's some great ideas out there, better than my 'suggestions' one, hehehe.

This image is from Bugaboo Stamps and again I was lucky to get it as a free download, and No I did not get all my images as freebies, I've bought plenty too.

I coloured my image with my prismacolor pencils then blended it with sansador (gamsol), and cut it out with a rectangle nestie. Now, in case you're wondering about my little clouds I added in, I did that from following Paula's cloud tutorial here. Please no comparisons, I'm still a learner, woohoo.

The border was done with the Die-namics border from My Favorite Things, and I love it, I want to use it all the time.

I added a little butterfly in the top right corner, but I'm not sure it's visible on the photo, not serious if you can't see it, just trust me that it's there. Lastly, I used the Taylored Expressions sketch number 122. Great sketch, I and might just use it again.



This weekend I am starting my photography course, I can't wait. I sure hope it's not too complicated, I just want to learn how to take great pictures. Then again I think that's like making great cards, you either have the talent or you don't, but I'm about to find out. I sure hope there's a huge big secret they're all keeping and I am finally going to find out what it is. ROFL!

Have a good rest of the week.

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

Dropping in

Hi Everyone, are you having a good Sunday, has your Sunday started yet? I can't believe mine is more than half way done already. I am just dropping in to say hi and show you this cutie bear card I made last weekend, but haven't had a chance to take a picture or post it. Blame it on winter, lol!

I bought all of the teddy bears from Elzybells, a while back already, and haven't had a chance to use most of them. In fact I think this is only the third or fourth one I'm using, and I have about 8 or 9 of them. Not sure if you know, but sadly Elzybells is closing down, so if you want to get these cute images then don't waste time they're 50% off. Talking of sales, Bugaboo Stamps (digital only), are also having a 50% sale. I am definitely going to take advantage of that.

As usual I coloured my image with my prisma pencils and blended it with Sansador (gamsol), then I cut it out with a nestie square die and layered it on another nestie, which i ran through my cuttlebug template, but I don't think that is showing on the photo. I also chalked the edged of the image while it was still in the nestie die, and if you want to know more about how to do that, check out Jeanie's tutorial on my sidebar, or Paula's post last week on her blog, she's also on my sidebar, you'll find her linked under Paper Possibilities.

You may recall that we celebrated my mom's 70th recently. She had a lovely time and I thought I would post a photo of her and I taken on the day. I'm the one on the left, lol, rofl!!! Woohoo!

I may have mentioned on a previous post that our offices will be closing end of September. We have decided to have a final get together with the whole I.T. department, last week I made the arrangements for us. It took me a while, but after searching for two days I eventually found a place I thought would have something for everyone. It's called Zebula Golf Estate & Spa, and no I will not be spending all my time at the Spa, instead with the animals. Go check out their website if you are interested in more info. They have cheetahs, tigers and cubs, lions and cubs, they'll be doing a cheetah run for us, can't wait to see that. There's a crocodile gorge, bird aviary, meerkat den, snake and reptile park, can anyone tell yet why I chose this specific place, hehehe. I want to sleep with the cheetahs though, wonder if they'll allow me, lol!

Alright then, enjoy your day, and have a great week ahead.

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