Totally Gorjuss (DT) - A "Happy" Theme

Hello friends.... welcome to the final challenge for 2011 at Totally Gorjuss.  We've had enormous fun this year and have so enjoyed viewing your beautiful creations.  Let's go out with a bang today and next Saturday we'll start a whole brand new series of challenges for 2012.... woohooo!

I've decided to go for a Birthday Card for my Happy theme and decided to make a bright and cheery one for this challenge (something different to all the pinks I love using).  I hope this little number will inspire you to take part in our challenge this week.

Don't you just love this double-sided paper from Bazzill Basics Paper, called Divinely Sweet/Jumbo Red Dot.  For the local girls, I purchased this from the Scrapbook shop in Bellville.  The sentiment is one of LOTV's, our sponsor for this week.  Please visit them for all your crafty needs.  For this card, I've used Magnolia's Ribbon Tilda.

Thanks for popping by. If you'd like to leave a comment, that would be appreciated.

hugs Sharon x

Just sharing...

Hello friends... Just sharing some new stash that arrived in the post today.  I've generally been very happy with my orders but am somehow so disappointed with the Magnolia Merry Christmas sentiment stamp.  I didn't realise how flippin' HUGE it was - 11cm x 4cm in size.... that takes up a whole flippin' card.   I suppose the positive is that if you want to make one of those Clean and Simple Christmas cards, then you only need to use this sentiment stamp and NOTHING ELSE!!!! :(  Had to share this pic so that you can see what I mean!!!

Here's some more new stamps that I have catalogued in my Magnolia Stamp Catalogue book.

The Hello Tilda stamp was what I won from Simple Simon Stamp and will be nice to use for some Easter cards and Tilda with Striped Apron and the Rolling Pin are 2 older Magnolia's from the Yummy collection.  They'll be nice to use if I want to make some recipe cards in the new year.

I have not been idle mind you.... I've been stamping and colouring in and have 4 new coloured images just waiting to go onto some cards.

Don't forget to pop around tomorrow (31 Dec), where I'll be sharing the last DT card for Totally Gorjuss for 2011.  And on Monday (1 Jan) I'll be sharing a new DT card for 2012 on the Simply Magnolia challenge blog.  Hope you'll find time to play along with us.

Wishing all my friends and followers a wonderful New Year's Eve tomorrow.  May your 2012 be filled with lots of love, laughter and good health!

hugs Sharon x

Anything Goes (DT) - The Colour BLUE

Hi Everyone

I am sure you all had a wonderful Christmas, now we have the New Year to welcome in. 

Our challenge at the Anything Goes challenge blog is for you to use the colour BLUE on your card/project.  I've used Tilda Wants a Hug, she is such a cutie, isn't she?  I hope she'll inspire you to take part in our challenge.

Please visit the Craft Den for all your crafty needs.  Lynn has some wonderful products in her store.

Happy crafting! hugs Sharon x

Merry Christmas to You

I know a lot of my blogfriends have probably posted their last post just before Christmas, so if there are any of you, like myself, still lurking through blogland, then this card is for YOU!

I've teamed up Winter Tilda from the Sweet Christmas Dreams collection, with a little Reindeer Scottish Terrier.  He was a freebie stamp with the Cardmaking magazine and they look so cute together, don't you think ? 

Challenge:  Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Winter

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has visited my blog regularly (and not so regularly ;) ) during 2011.  I have so enjoyed reading each and every comment.  It really makes blogging all the more worthwhile. Thanks so much for your wonderful support and friendship.  I've made so many new friends this year and am so pleased that my little blog has inspired some to start blogs of their own.

Wishing you all a very Blessed Christmas on Sunday and may you all experience good health, love and laughter throughout 2012. 

hugs Sharon x

Sweet Apples

Hello friends

Only 2 days to go before Christmas.  I'll be venturing out to the shops in an hour or so to get the last minute groceries and gifts... wish me luck... the shops are a nightmare and I am NOT looking forward to going out!!!! I hate long queues and crowds!!!

Made this little card the other evening.  The image is Sweet Apples, an Elisabeth Bell creation, which is unfortunately out of stock now at the Belles 'n Whistles store.  It's been a while since I used an EB image and I so enjoyed colouring in this one. 

The floral design paper was a purchase from Paola's shop.  The image is coloured with Copics and matched the paper beautifully.  The centre rose was a gift from Paola with my purchases.

The Postage Stamp in the centre is a newby from Kaisercraft, I just love it and used it inside my card as well, which you can see below. A purchase from The Scrapbook shop in Bellville.  Not often that I make a side-view card, but it shows the inside perfectly.

One final view, which I hope will pick up the dimension glaze I used on those apples and flowers.

Right... now I must dash, lots to do today.  Thanks for popping by and if you have time to leave a comment, that would be great! 

hugs Sharon x

Get Well Card

Now that my dear DT sister, Hazel, from TG has received her Get Well card, I can display it on my blog.  I just loved making this one and hope you like it too. 

I just adore this image from LOTV... it is such a cute one, don't you agree?  The image was coloured in with my Pebbles Pearlescent Pastel Chalks again, except for our cute Nurse's hair and skin, which was coloured with Copics.

The pink DP with the daisies on it was the last piece from a sheet that I had.  (Correction: I've just found a few more pieces the same size...woohooo!)  Am actually sorry it's the last piece, as it makes such a pretty picture.  The Get Well Soon stamp is from a local supplier, Great Impressions, purchased from Merrypak.

As I said, I just loved making this one, it just came together so nicely and from the peek you can see I went all out to decorate the inside too.

Only 4 more days until Christmas... we're very relaxed here in SA.  Everything is just about done, just to get some fresh veggies on Friday morning.  Friday afternoon I'll take Mom to our hairdresser for a "tune up" and then we'll start our cooking on Saturday.  Hope you're just as relaxed wherever you are and looking forward to Christmas on Sunday.

Thanks for popping by.  If you'd like to leave a comment that would be great! 

hugs Sharon x

Totally Gorjuss (DT) - For Someone Special

Good morning my lovely friends and fellow bloggers.... have we got a super challenge for you at Totally Gorjuss this week.  We'd like you to make a card for Someone Special.  This was such an easy one for me, as my dear Mom is having a birthday next week, so I made her a birthday card.

She loves green and red, so I stuck with the Christmas colours for this card and am sure she will love it.  This Tilda was kindly stamped for me by a friend, she's an older one, but such a sweetie!  I added some dimension glaze to that pie she's holding and lots of stickles on her wings. If you enlarge the image you may just make out those clouds in the backgroud. The stamp I've used for the ground is a local one from Great Impressions C036, purchased from Merrypak.  The ribbon, flowers and flat-backed pearls from my stash. The leaves were kindly punched for me by another friend.

Here's a side-view so that you can get a peek of the inside.  I just stamped a few stars down the sides and in the centre matted white card onto red cardstock, which I'll use to write my message.  Added a red metallic star in the corners.  Pity I didn't take a pic, but my pics always turn out blurry when I try to take them of the inside of a card... makes me so mad!

Our fabulous sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp.  Please pay them a visit for all your crafty needs.  They have some awesome products in store.

As we'll only be back on 31 December with our next Challenge, I'd like to wish all our Totally Gorjuss friends a

hugs
Sharon x

Simply Magnolia Challenge Blog

Hello friends

It is my last day in office today and then I am on leave for a month... wooohoo  I will hopefully be crafting up a storm, hauling out those long forgotten and neglected stamps of mine and just having some FUN!!!

For those of you who love your Magnolia stamps as much as I do, please visit the Simply Magnolia Challenge blog and come play along with us at our challenges.  Tracy, the owner of our blog, has done some awesome work revamping it and I think it looks absolutely STUNNING!  Thanks so much Tracy for all your hard work, you are a star!  We also have some new Sponsors on board, so there are awesome prizes for you to win!  Sound appealing ?  Then hurry on over to the brand new look Simply Magnolia Challenge blog and come play along with us.

We are still looking for some new Sponsors, so if you are interested in sponsoring us, please email Tracy directly.

It is cold and damp in Cape Town today... where is Summer?  Wishing you all a fabulous weekend ahead.

hugs Sharon x

Anything Goes Challenge (DT) - Anything but a Card

Welcome to another challenge at Anything Goes Challenge blog.  It seems like ages since we had one, doesn't it!  Wow, your creations for the last challenge was absolutely amazing.  Congratulations to those who made the Top 5! woohoooo

This fortnight we'd like you to make Anything but a Card and I can't wait to see what you come up with. I decided to mask this gorgeous Tilda onto a candy cane stamp I had and then I placed her on a Tag....  Hope you like her?

Please visit the Craft Den for all your crafty needs...

Thanks for popping by. If you'd like to leave a comment, that would be much appreciated. hugs Sharon x

Thank you Bev and Simon Says Stamps

What a start to the week.... As most of you know Bev Rochester has some wonderful sponsors who kindly donate a stamp for her to give away over the weekend....  Hello Tilda was the prize...

and Simon Says Stamp the sponsor...

and little ol' ME (out of 370+ entrants) was the lucky Winner...woohooooo... I've always loved this little stamp and she'll come in handy for some Easter cards.

Thank you Bev and Steph at Simon Says Stamp.  You've made my day and my week!   

hugs Sharon x



Simply Magnolia (DT) - Christmas

Happy Sunday and welcome to another challenge at the Simply Magnolia blog.  So nice to have you with us again...  Like most of the other challenge blogs out there, we're also having a Christmas theme, so this is your opportunity to make that one last Christmas card, if you haven't done so already.

Our wonderful sponsor is Jacobi and if this doesn't whet the appetite, then I don't know what will...  Please pay them a visit for all your crafty needs.

I received this gorgeous little Sweet Christmas Tilda in the post, my first order from the Magnolia-licious Online Store and guess what, the sweet Diana Crick put in a mini Holding Tilda as a gift.  Now ain't that sweet?  Thanks so much Diana.  My parcel arrived safely in SA!

Do you like the DP I've used.... guess what?  It's my first piece of Magnolia Design Paper (Mini Sweet Christmas Dreams paper pack), also a purchase from the Magnolia-licious Online Store.  I tell you, I was so nervous to use it as it's so pretty, I just want to hang onto it for ever!  My American friends must realise that it's travelled a faaaar way to get to me, so I'm not that keen to part with it just yet!  But, as I have no other Christmas paper, I just had to give in.  So pleased that I did.  Love it!

Thanks for popping by. Hope your Sunday is a blessed and relaxed one. I have 1 more week and then I am officially on leave (are you tired of hearing this??? hehe).  hugs Sharon x

Totally Gorjuss (DT) - Let It Snow

Oh my gosh, we're getting closer and closer to Christmas aren't we? 14 days to go!   Hope all your shopping is done or nearly done.  It's a nightmare on the roads now with all the holidaymakers from upcountry flocking to the coast where I live.  We love them as it's a boost for our tourist industry, but the queues at the ATM is so much longer this time of the year and at the tills too, which is not so nice for us locals!  Oh well, it's only for a month ;)

We have a wonderful challenge for you this week at Totally Gorjuss... Let It Snow!  Get those little snowmen images out of the drawers and let's see what you've got.   I've gone for a gorgeous LOTV image this week.... Only realised when I was colouring her in, how adorable a stamp this actually is.

Now ain't she a cutie pie?  Once again I have used my chalks for colouring and I cannot tell you how much I enjoy using them.  I am able to create those "white" patches so perfectly, which I really struggle to do with the Copics.  I have used Copics though to colour her skin.

Here's the rest of the card...

I created some snow around her by using some acrylic paint and then going over it with some glitter to give it loads of sparkle. 

Our wonderful sponsors for this challenge are Crafter's Companion.  Do visit them for all your crafty needs.

Thanks for popping by and if you'd like to leave a comment that would be AWESOME!

Take care, hugs Sharon x

Year End Lunch @ Tobago's

Well, we had our last office function for the year yesterday afternoon at Tobago's Restaurant at the Radisson Blue Hotel at the Waterfront. It was our Year-end Luncheon.  Just thought I would share some pics with you, so that you can see a part of our beautiful city.

It was a beautiful, but coolish day in Cape Town.  Here's a close-up view of Table Mountain.  The building on the right is the Radisson Blu Hotel and I am standing on the Terrace where we would have had our tables set up, but because it was so cold, we sat inside.

Here's a pic of the terrace where we would have sat. If it were a hot day, it would have been awesome.  The Hotels rooms are in the background. They overlook the cold Atlantic ocean - awesome view. Not a place we locals can afford to stay in, but for overseas visitors it would probably be seen as cheap accommodation.

As our group consists of 23 people, we had to sit at 2 long tables.

As you can see a very cold wind was blowing. The Restaurant provided us with some warm fleecy blankies to keep us warm.  This was taken way after lunch.  These are a few of my colleagues.

A close up view of the Waterfront Yacht basin.  That is Table Mountain in the background.

Now what is an office party without gifts !  Makes for a FUN afternoon!  The tag on each gift read "Did You Know".... you had to write something about yourself, which no-one knows.  On receipt of a gift, you opened it, read the Tag and then you had to guess who that person is.  If you guessed correctly, then you got to keep the gift. If you didn't, then it went into the pot so to speak and you got to try again later.

And what would an office party be like without cocktails... this was my Pina Colade... hmmmm yummy!

A wonderful afternoon was spent with my friends and colleagues.  We're like a small family... Love them all !  Thanks for popping by and sharing my pics with me, hugs Sharon x

Christmas Cards to Share...

Good morning....Like a lot of you out there, I too have left my Christmas cardmaking until the last minute... shew, we're already in December and I feel as if I still have loads more to do.

I just thought I would share some cards which I made last night.  This gorgeous stamp, Christmas Tree In Words, which I ordered from Whimsy Stamps arrived in the post on Friday and I couldn't wait to ink it up.  I just knew that it would make the most wonderful simple Christmas cards and hope you agree.

I love shopping at Whimsy Stamps, as their stamps arrive within 2-3 weeks.  They also put in an extra stamp or two which is nice!  As you can see, in the background I have Tilda sitting on a candy cane, she's waiting to be placed on a card... So much to do and so little time... 

Gotta go.  Have a blessed Sunday. hugs Sharon x

Totally Gorjuss (DT) - A Sketch

Welcome to another challenge at the Totally Gorjuss bog.  This week Net has given us a lovely sketch to work with, so hurry on over and join in the FUN!

Here's my little number.  I've used a cute little Tilda from the new Christmas Collection, which was stamped for me by a friend... I wanted to purchase her, but she was an out of stock item...drat!!

 I just love that border die and use it far too seldom... will have to rectify that soon! Tilda has been coloured with copics. Flowers, ribbon and pearls from my stash.

Our wonderful sponsor this week Joanne Sheen... do pay her online shop for all your crafty needs.

Thanks for popping by and if you'd like to leave a comment that would be wonderful!  Take care, Sharon x

Sharing A Proud Mommy Moment

Hello friends... I experienced another 'proud Mommy moment' today and thought I would share it with you all, seeing that I also have family overseas who would like to hear about this too.

As my regulars will know Kendall was admitted as an Attorney in February 2010 and today she was admitted as a Conveyancer in the Cape Town High Court.

A very proud, yet emotional moment for us as a family.  My father as you know passed away in May this year and he was so incredibly proud of Kendall and her academic achievements.  He was sorely missed today, as he would have loved to hear about the day's proceedings.  But we believe he is with us in Spirit and is swelling up with pride.  Miss you so much Daddy and Oupie (for my overseas friends, Oupie is our endearing name for Grandpa in my second language, Afrikaans).

Here's a pic I took (without anyone seeing...shhhhh) of the Cape Town High Court before it started to fill up.  Please excuse quality of pics. They were taken with my Blackberry, as no cameras are allowed in Court...  yeah right, I wasn't going to let that stop me!  When I sent these pics to my sister, she sms'd me back saying "you're damn lucky they didn't "cuff" you".... hahahaha

Kendall and her friend/colleague, Olivia (they work at the same Law Firm) waiting for the Advocate who represented them to the Judge, to conclude his business, before they could leave the Court. At this stage the Court was just about empty and I thought I'd try taking a sneaky pic...   Oh my word ...I didn't realise quite how quiet it was in there, you could distinctly hear the CLICK.  Kendall told me afterwards when she heard it she thought "Oh my gosh, that can only be my Mother"... She looked up as if to say "I HEARD THAT MOM", but her face just broke into a smile...shew!  Excuse quality of pic, but I was sitting way up in the Gallery.

Finally.... Once outside, the girls had to pose for friends and family and I quickly took this one as well...

Kendall (left) and Olivia (right)

Right, after the proceedings we then headed off to Cape Town's famous Charly's Bakery for some sweetness and here's a pic of Kendall's favourite treat, petit fours.

Thanks to a select few who knew about today's proceedings beforehand.  Your sms's, emails and cards are much appreciated.  Special thanks to Kendall's colleagues, Letitia and Michelle, who specially took a day's leave to attend the ceremony.  Kendall's boss popped in too and was there when the Judge admitted them and congratulated them.

Apologies for the lengthy post, but just had to share this day with you all!  Thanks for popping by, hugs Sharon x