{scraps of jacki's life}

making cards, and a facelift for typepad...

i have been making these mother's day cards, to sell in the shop.

i am on typepad's beta team, which means that we get to test all new typepad products before they get rolled out to the other users. and i can tell you that there is a major facelift on the way.

as with all changes, it takes some getting used to. since it is quite a dramatic change, it takes a while to find your way around. and, as with all changes, there will be complaints.

but, after the initial confusion, i must say that is looks good. i think the improvements make all the changes worth the initial inconvenience. i'm working in the 'new' version now, and it works well.

i need to blog about tim holtz and the convention, but i have had so many things going on at the same time.

my man had a shoulder operation on tuesday. he is doing well, but in some pain. and the worst is that he cannot drive! that makes life very difficult. but before we know it, it will be over...

jacki janse van rensburg - SCRAPPIN TIMES scrapbook shop, benoni, gauteng, south africa

a card...

i was commissioned to make a card on friday. that sounds sooo much better than i was suckered into making a card...

 

it is for a man retiring from his job. the people from the office all want to sign it to say goodbye. it is a big card, when opened up it is a A4 size.

 

while digging through my stash for some 'manly' embellishments, i found this sticker. i thought it was perfect for a goodbye.

and yes, i did actual sewing on the card.

i hope he likes it!

love, jacki

jacki janse van rensburg - SCRAPPIN TIMES scrapbooking shop, benoni, gauteng, south africa

here is a prezint...

a few days ago it was my sister paula's birthday, and two of her kids were visiting my mom. she brought them to my shop, and they spent some time making cards, amongst others for her.

 

on the inside tian wrote this:

it says: 'here is a present'. does a card really need to say anything more?

 

jacki janse van rensburg - SCRAPPIN TIMES scrapbook shop, benoni, gauteng, south africa

christmas cards

these cards were featured yesterday on scrapscene as day 11 on their 'handmade christmas card a day' feature.

 

I always use 3 sheets of 12'x12' (30cmx30cm) cardstock that mix and match to make cards. In the case of the Christmas cards, i used a pale gold, red and green. I cut 2 cards from each cardstock, each measuring 8'x6' (20cmx15cm), and folded them in half, making a total of 6 cards.

The remaining 6 pieces of cardstock, each measuring 4'x6' (10cmx15cm) I cut a little smaller, so they fit on the front of the cards with a little edge of the card showing as a border. These pieces I use to decorate the cards with. These steps I use for all my card-making.

 

For these Christmas cards I got my inspiration from card sketch #85, by Tami Mayberry (http://tamimayberry.blogspot.com/) on http://www.cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/.

I cut scraps of Christmas paper into little rectangles so they fit 3x3 on each of the loose pieces, in a grid of 9 blocks, and stuck them with a little tape. Then i used my sewing machine, and using green cotton, i stitched with a zig-zag stitch around the edges of the loose pieces, and between each of the paper blocks, creating a quilt effect.

Then using foam tape, I stuck a block with some decorations on it, in the middle of the card, raising it a little. I cut little Christmas trees from paper, or used a little inspirational quote, or used a cuttlebug to cut and emboss a Christmas wreath.

Finally i stuck the loose pieces on the cards.

i made more cards using this style, and showed them here.

these cards were linked to on scrappin' mojo.

 

jacki janse van rensburg - SCRAPPIN TIMES scrapbook shop, benoni, gauteng, south africa

new cards

i have been making some more cards. i used sketch #85 from card positioning systems as inspiration:

i like to use scraps from my layouts so my cards 'match' my layouts, and these cards go with the butterfly layout i showed before. so, i scrapped the butterflies, then blogged about the butterflies, then scrapped the blogpost, then blogged about scrapping the blogpost. then i also made cards that 'match' the layout, and then blogged about the cards...

sorry. this just amuses me no end. just skip to the next bit while i sit and giggle here...

i would have used butterflies on the cards, but my cuttlebug butterfly template is worn out! it is so blunt, it won't cut through anymore. look, it did cut way over 1000 butterflies in 6 weeks, so i suppose it is ready to retire. i'll have to get a new one soon.

that is real sewing you see. i 'quilted' little blocks of scrap paper. i have even been so inspired by this sketch, that i'm using the 'quilting' effect on a layout too. it is not finished, but here is a sneak peek:

i also made some christmas cards using that sketch, but that is another post for another time.

 

jacki janse van rensburg - SCRAPPIN TIMES scrapbook shop, benoni, gauteng, south africa

cards

 

the 'shiny' butterflies are made from transparency, and embossed.

i wanted to make some cards today, as examples for a kids card-making class that i want to do next week, while the schools are on holiday. so, as always when i need card-making inspiration, i went to card positioning systems.

the sketch for this week looks like this:

 

for 3 of the 6 cards i made, i used this sketch, for 2 of them i flipped it over. it is hard to see, but i used the cuttlebug to do embossing. on the photo above, the left of the white card and the top of the black card have embossed flowers. i used little pearls as the hearts of the flowers. everything is embossed, a border on each card, all the paper squares, and all the butterflies.

 

the red card on the right, the bottom butterfly on the left, is made from transparency.

i could have done so much more to these cards, but i wanted to keep them low-budget, so the kids could do more cards for their money. besides, kids really want to do their own thing, they don't need me to give them any more that just a start.

i used 3 sheets of cardstock that mix-and-match. i cut them across 20cm (8') down, so i had 2 pieces, one 20x30cm (8'x12'), and one 10x30cm (4'x12'). then i cut them both in half, so i had 2x 20x15cm (8'x6') and 2x 10x15cm (4'x6'). the bigger pieces i folded in half, to make 2 cards, 6 in total, and the smaller pieces i used for the decorations of the cards.

to make 6 cards i used: 3x sheets of cardstock, 30x pearls, 2x flowers, 2x scraps of pattern paper, 1x A4 sheet of transparency. i used the cuttlebug to emboss everywhere.

you can read more about making those butterflies here.

 

these cards were featured on card positioning systems.

jacki janse van rensburg - SCRAPPIN TIMES scrapbook shop, benoni, gauteng, south africa

verjaarsdag...

the afrikaans word 'verjaarsdag' means 'birthday'.

here is a layout i scrapped on friday. the photos are of francois's 11^th birthday, in 1997:

i haven't made cards in quite a while, so i thought i would use the scraps and make some. i used card positioning systems sketch #78:

see the sewing? it's my current addiction.

jacki janse van rensburg - SCRAPPIN TIMES scrapbooking shop, benoni, gauteng, south africa

these cards were featured on card positioning systems

i'm still here...

i have been a bad, bad blogger!

i have just been busy with life. and haven't had much to write about. same old same old...

here in south africa we are in the middle of a holiday week. sunday was freedom day, so monday was a public holiday. thursay is workersday. and, because the poor, overworked south africans lost a public holiday this year as it fell on the same day as good friday, and we already had one extra working day this year in the form of leap day, friday was also declared a public holiday. so this week is a 2 day work week. except if like me you have a shop, then you work! lots and lots of people put in 2 days of leave this week, and got a 9 day holiday.

here is a card i made for my brother-in-law neil, who's birthday was yesterday, using card positioning systems sketch #61.

 

here is a close up of the stickers:

 

i did not enclose any money...

this week i will post another tutorial.

did you miss me?

 
jacki janse van rensburg - SCRAPPIN TIMES

surviving ronnie-week, and what i did for twelve-of-twelve

it started yesterday morning as a crankiness, and a distracted feeling. there was a tightening in the solar plexus. a little later the crankiness became irritation, the distraction became a full blown inability to concentrate, and the tightening became a stomach ache. it felt as though nothing was going right, and everything was a battle. a headache started to form. the neck muscles started to bunch, and the jaw began to tighten. the breathing became shallower, and the heartbeat quicker. at about 2pm, when i went to fetch sean from school, i was in the middle of an anxiety attack. i had to go to the bank, and wait in the queue, and while i was standing there i realized what was happening and tried to calm myself. when i got home, i took a painkiller with a muscle relaxant, and relaxed a little.

i am now officially in what i call ronnie-week. it starts on the 14th, on his birthday. it continues past the 19th, the anniversary of his death, and only ends on the 26th, the date of the funeral. actually more than a week then... and it always hits me harder than i expect. that's not quite true. these days i have learned to expect that it hits me harder that i expect. so i expect it. but, even if you expect it to be difficult, it is still difficult.

thanks to all of you who sent me messages, emails, and comments of support. i appreciate it. i am ok, i really am. i'm not writing about all this because i'm overwhelmed, but, as i have said before, because it is my way of processing, of thinking it through. and, as wonderful as the manis, and while i can really talk to him about anything, this is something that he doesn't really want to share with me. he gives me space, and i spare him the details.

so, on a lighter note, i thought i would share my photos i took on saturday, for the twelve-of-twelve thing i wrote about on friday.

here are 12 photos taken on saturday 12 april 2008. they tell the story of my day. they are not 'pretty' or well shot, or of some memorable moments, just an ordinary day in my life. that is the point.

 

i got up at 07h12. a little later than i should.

 

it was dark outside, and raining hard.

 

the chickens and ducks and turkeys were making a noise, as they do every morning, as they were waiting for their breakfast. it is so special to hear them every morning! they live right outside the bedroom window.

 

the man pulled the pillow over his head, and swore loudly when he saw me pointing the camera at him. this is not so special to hear in the morning...

 

sean was lying in his bed, reading his harry potter book. he is not a big reader, so i love this!

 

in the shop, liza had a class.

 

as i left the shop in the afternoon, i looked back to take a photo of the centre. it was sunny then.

 

i put the finishing touches to the tin i made for tian, for his birthday.

 

and finished his card too.

 

we had frozen pizzas for supper, that we add extra toppings to before we pop them in the oven.

 

the man fell asleep on the couch, as usual.

 

i HATE photos of myself, and this one is no exception. but, the rules of twelve-of-twelve say that you have to include a photo of yourself. it is about MY day, after all..

i went to bed earlyish, about 10pm. and i didn't see francois at all until after i was in bed.

so you see, an ordinary day. an ordinarily happy day. but in light of the fact that i am this week remembering the day my husband died, i have learned that an ordinary day is great!

 
jacki janse van rensburg - SCRAPPIN TIMES

invitations, and a card

i made this card with sketch #56 on card positioning systems, a cardmaking website.  i love using their sketches for cards, as it gives me an idea, but leaves me free to make it my own.

linda made these invitations for a client:

this is what they look like inside. it is for a girl's party.

thanks for the positive response to my question yesterday, when i asked if you would like it if i did mini-tutorials. one of my clients, janine, who moved to USA in january, said she loved the idea of doing a scrap class in her pajamas! as long as you brush your teeth first, janine... that's what i love about the internet, i could be teaching the class in my pajamas too, if i wanted to!

jacki janse van rensburg - SCRAPPIN TIMES

Card Posistioning Systems #57

i made these cards last night. i used sketch #57 from card positioning systems

 

i find that i don't want to use the cards that i have made, so if i make a few that are the same, then a least i use some of them. also, making 2 or more of the same goes quite quickly. i will pop these in my card tin, to use later. 

i used white treasures cardstock, the red scollop is from bazzill, and the blue 'happy birthday' paper is from pebbles. the birthday charms are part of a pack from making memories.

i figured out how to cut one sheet of 12x12' / 30x30cm cardstock to make 3 cards.

cut off the barcode strip, if there is one. measure 20cm or 8' from the top of the page, and cut across. fold the narrow piece of paper in half, so you have one card. the bigger piece you cut in half again from top to bottom as shown, and fold both pieces in half, to make 2 cards. the resulting cards are all about 10x15cm or 4x6'. you can cut some sheets of cardstock in different colours this way, and keep the 'blanks' ready for when you need to make a card. of course, if you use your scraps to make cards, then the size of your card will be according to the size of your scrap.

as there are people who read this blog who do not have access to scrapbooking classes, i have planned a few 'tutorials' to post in the next few weeks. i will show you how to make a shaker box, and how to fold an origami box. i'll even show you how to ink/distress. would you like that? let me know. also, if there is something you would like me to teach you, tell me, and i'll see what i can do.

jacki janse van rensburg - SCRAPPIN TIMES

this post was featured by: card posistioning systems

would chuck norris make cards?

i made some more cards. it seems to be the only creative thing i have been doing lately. unless you count creative accounting...

card positioning systems, a cardmaking website, places a new sketch every week. this week's sketch (# 55) looks like this:

here is what i did with it:

and:

as usual, i used only scraps and leftovers. this is my 'rule'. if you want, you can look at some of my older cardmaking posts here, here, here, here, and here, for some inspiration.

also, read my post about getting a computer font made in your own handwriting here. then, if you want to write on the inside of the card, you can print it on your computer, but it will still be your own handwriting. the best of both worlds!

did you know:

When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make it drink.

Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.

Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

Chuck Norris does not get frostbite. Chuck Norris bites frost.

if you want more of these need-to-know facts, go to the chuck norris facts site.

jacki janse van rensburg - SCRAPPIN TIMES

this post was linked to by card posistioning systems

antoinette, and blogging

behind the scenes on blogs, or on the blog itself, as you see in my left column, toward the bottom, you have a place where you can check the 'stats' of the blog. this tells us how many people visited this blog, and where they came from. what i mean is that it tells me the 'referring address'. so, if you typed in www.scrappintimes.typepad.com, you came from there, and if you found me by clicking a link on another website or blog that has a link to me, it gives me that website's address. don't worry, it doesn't tell me who you are... so, quite often, it tells me the hit came from 'google'. if i click on where it says 'google', it takes me to that screen, and shows me what that person 'googled'. this can be very interesting.

of the 6 hits i got from google in the past 24 hours, there was 'scrappin times', 'artist trading cards', 'allie hoopes own handwriting', and here is the weirdest for today: 'modge podge'. i checked, my blog was the 121st mention, on page 13! wow, what are the odds of that person finding me? once, i got a hit from 'post-christmas blues'. as i am quite a 'googler' myself, i find this info fascinating. it was very important that you know this. why? sommer. cause it's interesting to me, that's why!

the layout below was done by antoinette. she is one of the workshop teachers in the shop. i apologize for the quality of the photo.

i have told you about the following people before, but today i want to remind you to visit the following websites and blogs:

wilna furstenburg, especially read about 'a card for lois'.

jody ferlaak is inspiring and easy to read.

clean your screen. trust me, you need this! i hope you can get this link to work, because when i checked it now, it doesn't work. it worked before, i promise!

if you are a south african scrapper, read about the south african scrapbook convention.

if you are, or want to be a card maker, visit card positioning systems.

the march sketch is out on page maps.

and, last but certainly not least for today, you just have to visit the incredibly entertaining pioneer woman. oh, i wish i could write like her!

how are you today? please tell me.

Making more cards

i really love the tag i found on tim holtz's website, and i featured it on this blog on 22 february. i scraplifted it, and made my version of it. then i wasn't sure what to do with it, so i made it into a card, according to card positioning systems, sketch #53. you can see on yesterday's post what the sketch looks like.

i used a scrap of colormates cardstock, that i inked by blending yellow, red and light brown. then i stamped with my writing stamp, and the postmark and key stamp in dark brown. i crumpled a strip of pattern paper a little, and stuck it down. i inked a wood heart, and used rub-ons (making memories flourishes) for the wings and the crown. the swirl is a chipboard flourish from making memories. the heart i distressed a little and i used dimensional glaze on the flourish and the heart. the ribbon and 'dream' embellishment came out of my stash. the brown circle was from brown cardstock, and i added it to make it comply with sketch #53. thank you, tim holtz, for the inspiration! his is still nicer...

next week my son is getting his degree. i cannot wait for the photos!   

love, jacki

SCRAPPIN TIMES / scrappintimes

making cards

this week's sketch on card positioning systems is this:

CPS #53

and this is what i did while i was watching the oscars:

the card on the right, the one for lois, is for wilna's request for a card for her friend lois, who is sick. you can also still participate, get more info from wilna's blog.

i used only scraps, as usual. to me that is part of the challenge. the left card is done with daisyd's patterned papers, treasures cardstock, a making memories rim and brad, and the flower is from prima. i sanded and the inked the edges of the patterned papers.

the right card is on deep blue cardstock from treasures, the flowers are from prima, and the brads are making memories, the circle is part of a chipboard flourish pack, also from making memories. the red check is from fab scraps, and i think the circles are from scrapbook walls (chatterbox).

i make the cards without sentiments on them. i store them in a tin. then, when i need them, i choose a card, and use rub-ons or stickers to make it a birthday or sympathy or thank you card. so, though they are still rather unadorned now, they will be a little more jazzed up when i give them. i write inside with a gold or silver or coloured gel pen. that's if i can bring myself to give them away...

i have some more things brewing in my life, will let you know later! amazing how creative i get when month-end is looming...

hope you are having a creative day!

love, jacki

SCRAPPIN TIMES / scrappintimes

this post was linked to by: card posistioning systems

valentine's day

We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.  ~Author Unknown

these are the cards in my shop. most were made by my clients. thank you ineke, linda, liza, laetitia, deneile. this was so much fun, and a good challenge.

check out this website: sketch this. it is similar to card posistioning systems in that you get a sketch, and then you do the layout.  also similar is pagemaps.

check out this idea at paper crazy. it is for painting chipboard letters.

i entered a layout in a contest, i'll show you later.

it has been a week since i posted a chatty post. i'm not sure if you are relieved or if you are missing it. tell me what you think.

i hope you had a romantic/fun valentine's day. the restaurant upstairs from the shop is packed tonight! and the fish and chippa sold 21kgs of take away prawns. tell me how you celebrated.

love, jacki

SCRAPPIN TIMES

eduard sparrius, and the crying game

Heavy hearts, like heavy clouds in the sky, are best relieved by the letting of a little water.  ~Antoine Rivarol

i cry. i am one of those people who cry. about anything. when the couple run in slow motion across the beach in a cigarette advert, i cry. when someone else in the room cries, i cry. every friday night when i watch extreme home makeover, i cry. one year, toyota invited ronnie and myself to sun city. they had this huge do in the superbowl. there were dancers with lit torches, and music and smoke, and with great drama and fanfare they flipped the lightswitch, and launched a brand new toyota truck. the tears were streaming down my cheeks...

Tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it.  ~Albert Smith

shortly after ronnie died, i went on an antidepressant. this stopped me from crying. it was good, at the time. but when i was ready to go off the tablets, it was a relief to be able to cry again.

so, i cry. if you love me, you would accept that, right? when i am stressed, i cry a lot. i read somewhere that tears excrete some of the adrenaline in your system, and relieve some of the stress. unfortunately, mike hates it when i cry. he probably doesn't know how to deal with my tears. either that, or it's the fact that my face goes all red and blotchy and ugly that puts him off. he says he can't talk to me when i put on the waterworks. i can't talk without putting on the waterworks. so, you can see the problem? just when i need his support the most, just when i need a hug the most, he gets annoyed with me, and walks away. fortunately i get the hugs and support later.

What soap is for the body, tears are for the soul.  ~Jewish Proverb

what is the point of all this? how should i know? i just work here!

this week i have been extra blessed! besides the usual, daily blessings, we got 2 breaks that are answers to our prayers. so, lots of thankfulness in my heart at the moment. GOD does look after us. i am just too impatient..

here is a page i scrapped this weekend. eduard sparrius was my grandfather.

i used scenic route paper, 'laurel sail maker lane' and 'cape town devonport', and scenic route alphas. the tape measures are from 7 gypsies, and the tabs  from heidi swapp. i didn't do much else. no embellishments, or anything. the paper was so beautiful, that i felt it didn't need much else. the little girl in some of the photos is my mother. unfortunately, as today was a grey, cloudy day i had to use a flash, and it reflects in the photos, making them difficult to see.

these are the 'matching' cards i made with the scraps:

i have been working on my project from wilna's amazing valentines class. last night i was all unpacked and ready to work, when the power went off. the man thought i was insane when i scrapped by the light of the battery camping latern. even after the power came back on, i scrapped till 2am. the things we do for this craft... this project is not finished yet, but here is a sneak peek:

i'm tellin ya, it's going to be a great valentine's month, thanks to wilna!

love, jacki

SCRAPPIN TIMES

valentine's card again

i while ago i mentioned that i had found a cardmaking website. they post a sketch, and then every day they show an example of how you can make a card with it.

this is my take on it.

i used black cardstock, deep mostly mauve colormates, bazzill metallics in pale gold, and a bazzill blossom. i stamped on the flower, and the stem of the flower. i used dimensional glaze on the stem. the gold paper is raised with foam tape. the ribbon and pearly button are from my stash. everything i used was scraps or from my stash.

i noticed once again that a photo does not do any justice to the real thing...

i once read that when you have finished your layout, before you pack up, you should use your scraps and make some cards. you can store them in a (scrapped, of course) tin or box until you need them.

i am new at cardmaking. annette and ineke got me started. but i find it a nice way to be creative if you only have a little time. it is also something you could do in front of the tv. and for us scrappers, it should cost us next to nothing, and save us a fortune in the long run.

come on, make some cards. you might be surprised at how you enjoy it!

love, jacki

SCRAPPIN TIMES

this post was linked to by: card posistioning systems

valentine's card

I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day.  When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.  ~Author Unknown

yesterday annette showed some cards on her blog, and she challenged her readers to make at least a valentine's card this year. so last night i got to work...

it was quick and easy! i thought i would challenge my readers too to make a valentine's card. make a card using your scraps. email it to me or drop it off at the shop before 14 feb. between 14 and 28 feb my shoppers will be able to judge them. i will announce the winner on 29 feb. the prize is a hug from me, or some product that has been on the shelf for more than 6 months and doesn't sell... tee hee...

ok, i don't know about a prize. but i will post the winner on the blog. come on, it's just for fun!

i am also scrapping a layout of my baby sis - carla - who lives in australia. and now i'm reeeaally missing her! it's nearly finished. and speaking of sisters, my other sister, paula, visited my blog too! hi sis! she even left 2 comments! i couldn't believe it. as far as i know, she can't even send an email... hi to janine too. you see, you can still visit us, even if you are so far away in seattle.

my power has just gone off. thank you for laptop batteries and wireless internet.

i got my inkstained little fingers on something delicious that heidi swapp would get a kick out of. i just have to post it. working on it. thanks, jowilna!

if ronnie hadn't died, then tomorrow would have been my 22nd wedding anniversary. wow, that's ages!

ok, off to do some work.

love, jacki

SCRAPPIN TIMES