SA International Scrapbook Convention

I am tired and resting....

So I have been honored in that I was chosen to teach the KI Memories class and represent them at the annual SA International Scrapbook Convention in Johannesburg this past weekend and then in Cape Town this coming weekend.
It is always nice to represent your country on an international level because that is really what it is. Meeting up with girls this past weekend was fabulous - fellow scrappers, teachers, store owners, designers and friends.
I had so much fun designing the layout - the kit presented was quite
challenging and in the end I absolutely loved it.
So this week we head off to Cape Town to a much loved venue and part of the country....Stellenbosch! I will have the layout and additional information up on the blog
by next week when I return as well all the techniques and step by steps on www.scrapcouture.co.za .
Thanks so much to all the JHB girls for making it a memorable event!
I hope you had as much fun as I did.
...in the meantime
for those who are interested
Saturday 10th October - Sweet Scrappins, Pretoria
Double page layout focusing on 20 ways of using embossing on a layout
Thursday 15th October - Scrapdragons, Dainfern Valley
Double page layout
if you need more information mail me
jowilna at studioj dot co dot za

...thank you

thank you to everyone who sent me a mail
thank you for all the prayers
thank you to all the special crafters and friends in my life
I am much better!
After repeating my prescription meds 3 times, things seem to be much better
we are hoping that the nerve around my eyes are not too badly damaged and that my sight will not be affected long term - so things are looking up
It is when you go through trying times like these that you realise again how much you depend on sight
simple things are not that easy
getting into a car and driving, sitting down to scrapbook a straight layout for class
making a cup of coffee
but above all how much we depend on God for our health and the little things as well as the big things
thanks once again for all the prayers and support!
I will be back blogging soon
i will finally get up to date with all my life commitments soon
i will be creative again and play
and i will sit down for a cup of coffee with my friends and really enjoy it for what it is!
the simple things in life not to be taken for granted!

a weird artistic journey

I'm on a journey...one that is hard to comprehend. As i type this blog post I have very little blurry vision left in my left eye...it started 2 weeks ago with a simple headache and have had its ups and downs. I have been mostly down and in bed and have enough drugs in my system to outlast me. What started as a sinus infection may be something else, and can even lead to a brain scan! my biggest fear I may add! So I happened to stumble onto Rhonna Farrer's blog and got involved in her 21 day challenge. I have yet to get my entire journal idea up and running - but am only downloading the images for now - and finding inspiration to continue on my own journey.

I used a 7Gypsies folder as my cover as well as their new paper! awesome stuff! Inside will be watercolour paper that I am painting and decorating freestyle. whatever comes to mind and whatever happens. so watch this space. Oh and then to actually write down the happenings, the fears, joys and accomplishments of the past two weeks as I struggle to regain my eyesight!
Check out her site to find your own inspiration http://www.rhonnadesigns.blogspot.com/ - she truly is a master at designing and inspiration! So if you have a spare moment and feel inclined say a little prayer for me to fully recover out of this nightmare!

inspired by ...

This layout was inspired by Barbs du Plessis! She is my total inspiration when it comes to scrapping with your own style - she does what she loves and is good at! No fuss and no frills! Just scrapping from the heart and soul.
Supplies: Cardstock Fabscraps. Patterned paper Websters Pages. Stamps MSE. Ink Versafine. Glitter Ranger Industries.

For my title i used plain white lettering and added some stickles glitter glue for a nice touch of glimmer. I combined the chipboard letters with stamping to complete my title.


The Versafine ink allows me to stamp even on the roughest and most textured cardstock with a perfect finish.

I used my Making Memories Ribbon slot punch to create slots for weaving my paper strips through, and then added a few brads.

Some added journaling in the form of a saying printed onto some of my left over patterned paper.

Paper weaving with a different touch. Layer your strips on top of each other, use mainly off-cut and odd pieces for interest and then add a few stitches for dimension and texture.

sweet scrappin's card class

This morning we had a lovely card class at Sweet Scrappin's in Pretoria! Thanks to Carla for a lovely morning, scrumptious goodies with tea and just a lovely morning of friends old and new.
These are the cards that we did - I wanted to show the ladies different ways of incorporating masks into their designs using different techniques and products.
1. A friend loves at all times card - we used one of the Tim Holtz masks directly onto the patterned paper with Distress ink.

Score and fold your cardstock to form the base of your card.
Cut a piece of patterned paper to measure slightly smaller than the front of your folded card. About 14.5cm x 14.5cm.
Place your patterned paper onto your craft sheet and decorate using your Distress ink and mask.
Adhere the patterned paper to the front of your card.
Stamp your image onto plain card.
Cut a piece of dark brown plain cardstock measuring 6.5cm x 12cm. adhere it to the front of your card just right of the masked area.
Adhere the stamped image onto the dark brown matt using craft foam or foam squares to raise the image.
Stamp your sentiment and adhere just below the stamped image.
Add a strip of ribbon to the left of your stamped images to finish it off. Use a thin double sided tape to make sure your ribbon is nice and flat.
Adhere your 3 buttons and add sewing. Add a card inner to hide the sewing inside
Supplies: Cardstock Bazzill Basics. Patterned paper K&Company. Stamp Artistic Outpost. Ink Versafine. Sentiment stamp MSE. Other Buttons, embroidery thread, ribbon, cream cardstock.
2. Butterfly card - This card uses a Butterfly mask from Heidi Swapp. We used the mask directly onto patterned paper and sprayed the mask with Glimmer Mist.

Score and fold your cardstock to form your card.
Cut a piece of patterned paper about 13.5 x 13.5cm.
Place the patterned paper onto your craft sheet. Place the mask in position and spray with glimmer mist. Leave to dry completely.
Once dry matt your patterned paper onto plain cardstock and cut a small edge all around.
Stamp your sentiment and matt onto cardstock. Add craft foam to raise it.
Assemble your card and finish off with 3 diamantes.
Supplies: Cardstock Bazzill Basics. Patterned paper K&Company. Sentiment stamp MSE. Mask Heidi Swapp. Glimmer Mist My Tattered Angels. Other Diamantes.

3. Forever you and me card - Again the Tim Holtz mask used directly onto plain smooth cardstock using a combination of 'green' and 'brown' Distress Ink to create some interest.

1. Fold your cardstock to form the card base to measure 10.5cm x 15cm.
2. Place your mask on the right edge of your card and ink using 2 or three different colours combined for interest.
3. Add a strip of patterned paper.
Cut a strip of plain cardstock with your scalloped edge scissors and adhere.
Add your stamped sentiment and buttons to finish off your card.
Supplies: Cardstock SEI. Patterned paper K&Company. Plain cardstock Bazzill Basics. Sentiment Scrappy Cats. Other Buttons, scalloped scissors.
4. Tag card - the tag was coloured using the ink on craft sheet technique to add a background colour and then a Heidi Swapp mask onto that using the same colour Distress ink for a tone of tone colour.

Fold your cardstock to form your card measuring 10.5cm x 15cm.
Cover the entire piece of the front of the card using patterned paper.
Colour your tag on your craft sheet and set aside to dry completely.
Place the mask on top of the tag and ink with the same colour ink as before.
Stamp the image onto cardstock and matt onto a darker colour. Add a layer of craft foam to raise the stamped image.
Assemble your card as per the sample. Add a decorative brad and sew button in place.
Supplies: Patterned paper K&Company. Stamp PSX. Ink Versafine. Other Brad, button, embroidery thread, tag.

multi media single page layout

I have once again been drawn to doing some single page layouts. They are quick and easy and the best thing is that you only need a single photo or more. This layout is a fourth in a series on the same trend - using bits and pieces and left-overs.
dimension using diamantes, foam for raising my photo, clay, sewing and strips of patterned paper.


Some clay embellishments left over from another mixed media clay project.

Sewing details - hand sewn stitches with glitter glue added to the holes to cover them up.


rub-ons to add a touch of colour and pattern.

ink splats just for fun! I dropped ink directly onto the paper and cardstock. Once the ink was dry I added a bit of dimensional glaze to them for some extra shine.
Supplies: cardstock Fabscraps. Patterned paper Webster's papges, Prima & Jenni Bowlin. Rub-ons 7Gypsies & Bo-Bunny. Glitter glue Ranger Industries. Ink Distress ink Ranger Industries. Other Diamantes, dimensional glaze & metal plate.

quote of this day

we share the memories of yesterday
and the joys of today
and the hopes of tomorrow
(expressions by Adrienne Lubbe)

altered dummy

this is still one of my favourite projects done a couple of years ago - and yes it is still in tack with maybe a few dust layers and spider webs but still lovely. I purchased the bodice from a local department store and then set about covering it with 7Gypsies rub-ons, ribbon, flowers, antique keys, charms, tags and whatever else i could find. To get the ribbons all puffy I first made a little tulle skirt. I love how we crafters can take anything an just play and create and change stuff into new stuff!
after all our recent break-ins here in South Africa we had to replace quite a bit of our electric fencing. This lead me to discover some rusted old wire ... and you all know how much I love rusty old wire - so I immediately carted a whole lot into the house and well am waiting for the right moment to start creating and altering and changing....watch this space!
I can't imagine my life without being able to create!!

quote of the day


How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly changing the world! How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution toward introducing justice straightaway... And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness
Anne Frank

dust bunnies

excuse me while I play around with my new House of 3 Brushes and frames and create a new header again. As you will notice I get bored very quickly and so I have opted to change my blog header monthly...and dust of and chop and change and add

19 ways of using embossing and counting...

OK so here's the winner of the Tim Holtz goodies...
well no-one actually got it right and therefore I am going with the highest count...
Congratulations - Amanda
I will get your parcel in the post next week!
Below are some close-ups of the embossing techniques and ideas that I have used on this layout... and remember be inspired but please don't copy BUT if you do at least give credit!!
1. Embossing on top of large monogram letters. Layer white UTEE
and then stamp into it with pink chalk ink.
2. Blind embossing on pink floral strip.

3. Multicoloured embossing on flower.
4. Embossing of butterfly on acetate.

5. Embossing on brads.
6. Embossing through metal mesh onto monogram.

7. UTEE on a craft sheet and then stamped into.
8. Embossed wire mesh.

9. Tone on tone embossing. Pink embossing powder on pink background.
10. Embossing around edges of photo corner.

11. Gold embossing powder on a craft sheet and stamped into.
12. Embossed flower in pink and then colour wash of pink dye on top of that.

13. Burgundy embossing powder on patterned paper.

14. UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) on top of a piece of white chipboard and then burgundy embossing powder sprinkled on top and heated some more, and gold leaf flakes dropped into the hot UTEE.
15. UTEE on top of a piece of pink cardstock to mimic water drops.

16. Mixing of embossing powders to create your own
colour and embossed onto patterned paper.
17. Black flourish embossing on pink background.

18. Embossing on metal letters.
19. Blind embossing on background and then sanded.
Hope you have a wonderful afternoon!

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