Hi everyone,
    Just thought I would let you know that the kit from the workshop that I presented in Cape Town 2 weeks ago is available for purchase through Cathy van Vollenstee.

This is my Layout:

Please contact Cathy (craftcrazy@telkomsa.net) if you would like to order one from her. There are also kits available for the other workshops presented. You can view them all on the Craft Crazy facebook page.

NOVEMBER KIT

Hi Everyone,
    It's November already and only a little more than a month until Christmas. Hard to believe the year is nearly over.

This months kit is called ADVENTURE and is themed around Travel/Boy. The colouring is grey blues and red. Included in the kit is some stunning BoBunny paper, which is always guaranteed to produce a super layout. The layout can accommodate 4 photos of vaying sizes.



The technique I have focused on this month is using coffee to add distressing to your page. Just as you would with paint or ink, you can achieve a splatter effect using either coffee or tea.

I have used the coffee to colour the string used to hold the tags as well as the twill accents.

The arrows on the layout repeat the pattern that is in the tag.

This layout would work well for travel or holidays photos, following the theme of the paper but also for photos which depict a personal journey or adventure.

Should you be interested in ordering a kit, please contact me via e-mail (melodyk@mweb.co.za)

Hi there,
This months kit is something a bit more classic looking. With subtle colours of cream and grey, this layout can accommodate 3 photos. Black and white photos will work very well although I have used coloured photos that have been desaturated slightly.

The lacing adds a feminine touch, although the layout wouldn't necessarily be just for girl photos. A variety of themes such as garden, family events or special people could be used . I think the layout would suit wedding photos rather well.

The techniques focused on in this layout include making your own texture paste and mask with which you create an interesting stone wall effect.

A ribbon ring adds interest as well as emphasize the colour palette.



Please let me know (melodyk@mweb.co.za) should you be interested in ordering.



Paper Rose Tutorial.

Here are some instructions on how to create the roses used in the Gorgeous Girls kit.

Firstly cut a circle from patterned paper with a diameter of about 4cm. It is not necessary for the circle to be exactly round.

Then cut a spiral shape into the circle starting from the outer edge. Again it is not necessary for this to be perfect or measured.

Now fold over the outer edge of the spiral all the way to the centre.

Starting at the outer point, begin rolling the spiral in towards the centre. Keep holding on to the outer point until you have rolled all the way to the centre, leaving the centre circle free for the moment.

With the rose held securely between your fingers, turn it over. Snip of the protruding piece so that the base is flat.

Add a good amount of glue to the bottom.

Fold the circle centre over onto the glue and press firmly so the glue seeps into all the gaps.

 Hold firmly until the glue has dried.

Your completed rose.

Hope you had fun creating this rose. They are beautiful on scrapbook layouts as well as cards.

Hi again,
   This month I have got something for the girls. The layout is called GORGEOUS GIRLS and I have used the most stunning paper from Carta Bella. The colouring is pink, grey and black and would especially suite photos that are black and white, but I have included a few colour photos, making sure that the colours co-ordinate with the papers. The layout can accommodate 10 photos of varying sizes.

To make the first and second pages flow together, I have used a pink pencil crayon to colour the left side of the second page, creating the effect of the pink spreading onto the white. You can also ink over the pencil, if you hvae a suitable pink ink pad.

This layout also includes distressing and I have created a folded corner in which I have place a rose cluster. This all overlaps a film strip allowing you to add more photos to the layout.

The roses you will create yourself using the paper in the kit. I will add a seperate blog entry to demonstarte how I made them.

The small lengths of chain help to add interest as well as carry the colour through. The title is created using chipboard letters. You can alter the title to read Gorgeous Girl, if your require the change to suite your photos.

Please let me know if you are interested in ordering a kit (melodyk@mweb.co.za)

Hi Everyone,
A new kit is ready and it is sure to get you ready for summer. The kit has a dual theme being about a father and being nautical at the same time.

The kit can accomodate 5 photos of various sizes. Beach photos work really well with the colouring and theme of the layout.  

As I often do, the techniques on the page include some distressing.  

 The main technique on the layout though, is creating these fun, beachy pinwheels.  

A special saying about a father carries both the Dad and Nautical themes through. 

Please let me know if you are interested in ordering this kit. (melodyk@mweb.co.za)

Hi everyone,
   Just a reminder about the Scrapping Marathon being held on the 27th and 28th October in Cape Town. The event is in aid of AWS Helderberg(Animal Welfare Society) and is sure to be a stunning weekend packed with exciting workshops, goodie bags and prizes. I will be presenting a class, along with some other very talented teachers.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Hi All,

   July kit is ready...... The new kit is called LOVIN' LIFE. The layout is themed around having fun and would suit a variety of occasions. The large photo block in the center emphsizes the photos, drawing immediate attantion to them



I have used stunning Echo Park paper, with beautiful soft pastel colours. I have not used alot of other embellishments on the layout, letting the paper carry the layout on it's own.

Techniqes involve creating a  little bicycle as accent on the layout. This is where you pull out those colouring crayons and coloured pens!

The title is created from cardstock and pen. Carbon paper helps to transfer the lettering onto the layout.



Coloured brads and the chevron pattern add interest and colout to the layout.

Let me know if you are interested in one of these kits.......Happy Scrappin'
melodyk@mweb.co.za





Hi there,
   Well winter has arrived! Luckily that gives us an excuse to do more scrappin'. Hopefully my new kit will brighten and warm your cool winter days.

The kit is called U & Me and is a bright fun layout making use of a variety of photo sizes. The papers and title allow you to use fun lighthearted photos.

             

The layout features a pull tab that reveals a hidden photo.

Photo hidden.



Photo revealed.

I added some pen work to repeat the doodling that already appears on the printed pages. This is optional, although lots of fun to do! Just let you inner doodler come out :)
                                    
                                    

Please let me know if you are interested in ordering a kit....... melodyk@mweb.co.za

Hi Everyone,
   So I am back on track again. After a wonderful trip to the UAE to visit my family I found it rather hectic to get back into the swing of things. The school term has been particularly busy and it's hard to believe we are only 4 weeks away from school holidays again.

My new kit is called EXPLORE and it was created using the beautiful new Fabscraps paper. I had a layout for boys in mind when I created it but ended up using photos of Courtney anyway, thus making it versatile enough either boy or girl pics.

I am particularly enjoying masking at the moment so decided to experiment with some other masking techniques. Using  mesh I masked certain areas and lightly painted over creating an effective distressed look.



I repeated the mesh masking using ink directly onto the main layout.

Applied the same technique to the title too.

Finally I added the mesh itself to create an interesting grouping on the layout

Contact me if you are interested in ordering a kit (melodyk@mweb.co.za)

 

Hi everyone,

  Can you believe it is already the middle of March. I feel like the year is speeding along faster than I can keep up.

My next kit is available now and this one is for the girls! It is a very feminine layout with lots of pink and brown and touch of green.

I have used a combination of Sepia and colour photos making my enlarged photo the sepia print to keep the emphasis on that photo. You can print them all sepia or all colour, depending on your preference.

There are 2 techniques included in the layout. The first being stitching, which always adds a feminine touch.

The second technique is masking, allowing you to transfer a design resulting in a soft subtle effect.

A view of the detail on the first page.

A view of detail on the second page.

Please let me know via e-mail (melodyk@mweb.co.za) or sms should you wish to order a kit.

Hi everyone,
    Since this is the month of Love I have create a layout to celebrate that. This kit is called YOU HAVE MY HEART and is themed around Valentimnes day. If you don't have photos of the love of your life then the layout would suit pics of your children, grandchildren or any other treasured person in your life.

The colouring of the kit is Black, Pink and Red with a splash of grey here and there. Although red and pink are an unusual combination, they work together well in this particular paper set. A giant heart creates a frame around some of the photos.                                                                                                                          

                      

To embellish the layout you will make flowers using heart shapes. This is such a cute technique to add to any layout where you want to use flowers....you are sure to try it again.                                        

Included in the kit are some beautiful diamante letter sliders, just to add a little bling to the page.                    

Please let me know if you are intersted in a kit (melodyk@mweb.co.za).

I wish you all a love filled Valentines Day

Hi there,

    So 2012 is in full swing and I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with lots of rest and relaxation. The first kit for the year focuses around that exactly with the layout being called LAZY DAYS of SUMMER. I managed to capture some lovely photos of Courtney reading while relaxing in the summer air.

 The paper has a beautiful gentle summer feel to it with the soft turquoise and pale orange being the dominant colours.

I've used a paper doilie to create an interesting accent, duplicating the printed patterns on the paper.

I have used an exciting inteactive technique which allows you to scroll through your photos by pulling on a tab.  I have also included instuctions on how to adapt your album sleeve so the pull tab can be used when the page is in your album



I'm sure you find this technique a fun challenge and make use of it in other layouts and greeting cards too.

If you are interested in ordering a kit please contact me by e-mail (melodyk@mweb.co.za) or phone (if you have my number)