Welcome to my blog and thanks soso much for spending a little while peeping into my world

ARTS, BELLYDANCING, CRAFTS
BELLYDANCING, ARTS, CRAFTS
CRAFTS, BELLYDANCING, ARTS

whichever order I put them in, these are my passion!

... all from my little home studio in Durban, on the east coast of sunny South Africa!

"I used to think that anyone doing anything weird was weird. I suddenly realized that anyone doing anything weird wasn't weird at all and it was the people saying they were weird that were weird." -- Paul McCartney









Sunday, March 31, 2013

KEEP YOUR 'FIN' UP

Sunday's  CAS challenge at The Outlawz today is an anything goes challenge, as it's the fifth Sunday (a bonus!)

Here is my entry:


The image featured on my card is one of the round sentiments from the Bugaboo set called Mini Set - Animal Sentiments, that I coloured using alcohol markers and a white gel pen.

I cut it out using a round die, and used a swirly embossing folder to represent the waves of the sea.  Small silver gems representing air bubbles were then added.  A narrow satin ribbon and bow are the only other embellishments.

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA



STELLA SAYS SKETCH!!! AT BUGABOO'S 'CATCH THE BUG' BLOG


Happy Easter for those celebrating and Happy Stella Says Sketch as well!
So, today, is a BONUS Stella Says Sketch edition - for some reason this crazy woman scheduled two, right in a row!  
Of course, that's GREAT  because that means MORE WINNERS!!!
Ready for today's sketch??


and this is my interpretation:


The Bugaboo image featured on my card is called Make it Snappy - Friend Garden that I coloured using alcohol markers and some Glossy Accents.

and added this cute worm button as my embellishment:



Play along and you have the chance to WIN BIG Bugaboo Prizes....
The rules are simple: Create a Sketch project and post a link to it on Bugaboo Stamps' challenge blog, Catch the Bug, by 4/14/13 at 6:00 AM EST to be entered a random drawing for three digi prize packs –ten (10) (using Bugaboo only) seven (7) or four (4), using any image!
LIMIT 3 ENTRIES PER PERSON PLEASE
New projects only no backlinking please!

Here is your link to the challenge.

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA




Saturday, March 30, 2013

DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY :: NEW RELEASE :: WEDDING DREAMER


Although it’s Easter weekend for many of us, we at Digistamps 4 Joy would love to share some new releases in the store this weekend.
One of them is this image called ‘WEDDING DREAMER’, another image that I drew myself, and is now available as a digistamp in the Digistamp 4 Joy store.

Here is the card I made with the new image :




I coloured the image using alcohol markers and a white gel pen, a cut it out using a circular die and mounted on a black CS diecut.  
Here is a better view :



The diecut was embellished with sewn on pink sequins and beads, and flat back pearls, then mounted onto
a white CS background.  The base card is black CS.

As an embellishment I added an offcut of tulle that is attached to her hair using sequins and beads.  The edge of the veil has Stickles for added bling.

All in all, the card has a lovely soft 3D feel :



I hope you like this image and the card I created with it.

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN

DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY :: NEW RELEASE :: 'TO HAVE AND TO HOLD'


Although it’s Easter weekend for many of us, we at Digistamps 4 Joy would love to share some new releases in the store this weekend.
One of them is this image called ‘TO HAVE AND TO HOLD’, another image that I drew myself, and is now available as a digistamp in the Digistamp 4 Joy store.
Here is the card I made with the new image :


 
I coloured the image using alcohol markers, Stickles and a white gel pen, and kept the card very CAS.  
Here is a better view :

To give the illusion of a very transparent veil, I added threads of the invisible (nylon) that I used to sew on the beads:

The silver swirl is a stick-on.

With Spring now in the Northern Hemisphere, there should be many weddings happening, and this image will be just perfect for those quick cards as it needs the minimum amount of colouring.

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN


DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY NEW RELEASE :: MERLYNDA


Although it’s Easter weekend for many of us, I'd like to share   some new releases in the Digistamps 4 Joy store this weekend.
One of them is this image called ‘MERLYNDA’, another mermaid that I drew myself, and is now available as a digistamp in the Digistamps 4 Joy store.

Here is the card I made with the new image :



I coloured the image using alcohol markers and a white gel pen, and fussy cut it out and mounted on a diecut.  Here is a better view :


The Diecut was mounted onto patterned DP and a turquoise CS card mat.  The base card is white.

I sewed on some beads and did some card embroidery with regular mercerized sewing cotton, and added a very pale blue satin ribbon bow.

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN

AN 'ABC' CHALLENGE AT BUGABOO'S CATCH THE BUG BLOG

Welcome back to another inspiration post for you - and an invitation to take up the challenge over at Bugaboo's CATCH THE BUG blog.

Today we're challenging you with a project using your ABC - no, not the one you learned at school, but  Recipe Challenge:  

ABC - Anything You Choose, Bling & Cardstock

and this is how I interpreted it :



The image featured on my card is called "Block - for you from me flower" an image I simply LOVE as it is of one of my very favourite flowers, the hydrangea.  The image is coloured using alcohol markers, and some Stickles:




So, for my ABC ...


A : anything you choose ... I chose the butterfly diecuts and a yellow organza ribbon and bow
B : bling - lots of shiny gems on my card  
C : cardstock ... I used lilac, white, lavender, and green CS on my card.

Now do you see how easy it is?  Just by entering you could win some of the fabulous Bugaboo images from the Bugaboo store.

Click here to link to the Catch the Bug Challenge blog, where you will find the inlinkz, as well as some of my talented Dteamies' projects interpreting this recipe.

Jen Leeflang
DURBAN

Friday, March 29, 2013

THE OUTLAWZ - WEDNESDAY'S SKETCH CHALLENGE

The Sketch for The Outlawz challenge this past Wednesday is this:


and this is my interpretation:


The image featured on my card is one of my own drawings as a digistamp available in the Digistamps 4 Joy store, and it's called "Hello Bunny"

I chose a vintage inspired colour palette and coloured using my alcohol markers:


I used the following from my stash to make up this card:

salmon pink marbled effect CS card base
2 different DP's (offcuts) with brown CS card mats (edges inked)
satin/organza ribbon and bow
3 Card Candi legless brads

I would like to add this card to the following challenges:


luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA




FREEBIE FRIDAY AT BUGABOO STAMPS

This week's freebie on Bugaboo Stamps' "Catch the Blog" is super-cute!


How many people do you know that are OUT OF THIS WORLD?
Well, with today's Out of this World Block Freebie, you can TELL them you think they're OUT OF THIS WORLD!!


I coloured the image using alcohol markers in a colour palette to match the offcut of DP I had in my stash.

The embossing folder I used (a steampunk one with cogs and gears) seemed a perfect match for the DP:


You can pick up this Out of This World Block Freebie at The Bugaboo Stamps Store and add to your collection!

Please note Bugaboo makes every attempt to have our new  images and freebie  by 7 am however sometimes life gets in the way so please check back later if the new freebie has not been posted!



luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

I would like to add this card to the following challenges:

THE OUTLAWZ, FRIDAY MARKER CHALLENGE, ANYTHING GOES


Thursday, March 28, 2013

Tuesday's Colour Challenge at The Outlawz

Tuesday's Colour Challenge at The Outlawz is to use these colours (and to make it fruity):


Here is my card: 


The Bugaboo images featured on my card are :

and

Here is a closer look at the image:


i attempted something new on this card:

Instead of using Glossy Accents, I used clear crafter's glue on the sunglasses and the jug, and yes, they DO look like they have been coated with Glossy Accents. 

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

I would like to add this card to the following challenges:



365 CARDS, DAY 87, SO STICKY (I used clear glue instead of Glossy Accents on the sunglasses and jug)





A WEDDING CARD OR TWO


One of my regular clients asked me to make two wedding cards suitable for an older couple, and these are what I made:



For this one I used a white CS diecut as my starting point and decorated it as follows:


and this is my other creation, a CAS card:


The image is a free colouring page from the internet (I didn't know that it was a "Twilight" one until my son pointed it out to me) 

Here is how I made the card:


luv'n huggz
JEN LEEFLANG
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

I would like to add the first card on this post to the following two challenges:


Tuesday, March 26, 2013

BUGABOO STAMPS NEW RELEASE TUESDAY

It’s Tuesday s and Bugaboo Stamps has some new images that you are going to love!   

One of them is this adorable image that is the latest of the newest collection called Kidz Fairy ... ~  what an adorable image!




I thought I would try something different (for me) for this card.  I chose the DP first, then coloured the image to match, using my alcohol markers.

Now I have found that I do not own enough alcohol markers cos the paper has colours and i have no matching pens, whereas before I thought I didn't own enough DP cos I couldn't match the coloured image to suitable DP.  Truth be told though ... I have more than my fair share of alcohol markers and DP, but a girl will find any means possible to turn a 'want' into a 'need'.  Am I right or am I right? LOL!

Anyhow, here is a closer look at that cute little fairy :


Click HERE to link to where you can find this image in the store:

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

I would like to add this card to the following challenges:




Monday, March 25, 2013

AN EASTER CARD FOR YOU ALL ...

I have used an image from Digistamps 4 Joy to create this card, with a sentiment that I found on the internet.  I was particularly drawn to the sentiment because it sums up what Easter is all about ... in one simple sentence.  Forget the bunnies and the chickens, the choccies and the hot cross buns ...

Easter is all about the promise of hope and life everlasting....


I coloured the image using alcohol markers and a white gel pen to create some woodgrain in the Cross.  An oval die was used to cut out the image, and I sewed on the flower sequin and beads to attach the diecut to the white textured CS background.  


I would like to add this card to the following challenges


luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA


Sunday, March 24, 2013

Celebrating National Cleaning Week at The Outlawz

Sunday's CAS challenge at The Outlawz today is to  use something old from your stash. You know the stuff that needs to be gone through to make room for the new stuff. Use it on a card or project as it needs some love too. 

So here is my card using one of the oldest metal charms I own.  The image is the current freebie from A Day for Daisies, and my card has been made to fit into the challenge over there too.


I coloured the dear little image using just two colours of Copics (pinkish white and cool shadow) and added Stickles to their wings.



I cut the image using a circle die and added the cool shadow Copic pen around the edge.  Almost but not quite as old as the charm is this very pale blue satin ribbon which I used to made a bow from which my little 'HOPE' charm hangs.

The A Day for Daisies challenge calls for a white embossed background, and I used my hearts folder for this.  I enhanced some of the hearts with a little dab of Stickles.

I think the sweet innocence of the little image is reflected in the colours I used and also in the simplicity of the CAS design.  This is certainly my favourite card of the month.

luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

In addition to the two challenges mentioned above, I would like to enter this card in the following eight challenges too:

ANYTHING GOES this week at 613 AVENUE CREATE!

Don't you just love an ANYTHING GOES challenge!!!  
I know I do, and this week at 613 AVENUE CREATE, just by entering your project, you could win a fabulous prize from the sponsor, 
RICK ST DENNIS!

We, as the DT, were given some of the sponsor's images to use on our inspiration projects, and here is mine:


The RICK ST DENNIS image featured on my card is called "Lady of the Roses", and I have used alcohol markers to colour it.


Here is an explanation of what I used on my card:


I can't wait to see what YOU create for our challenge!


luv'n huggz
JEN LEEFLANG
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

I would like to add this card to the following challenges: