Make your own Christmas Crackers this year

This year I am not buying Christmas crackers because they are so expensive. So join me in making your own crackers.

Print a copy of the Christmas cracker template or draw up your own. You can make it larger or smaller depending on the size you would like to make. Cut out the template using a craft knife, especially the central holes.

Trace it onto the back of single or double sided Christmas scrapbooking paper. Cut it out and score and fold all the score lines.

Punch a decorative edge on either end.

Cut a piece of tissue paper just a little smaller than the decorative paper.

Lay the decorative paper face down and on top of that the tissue paper. (This helps to prevent the contents of the cracker from falling out.) In it place your gift, a cracker bang and a message.

Roll up the tissue paper first and then the decorative paper to form a triangular shape. Stick the decorative paper together with a little double sided tape.

Tie two ribbon bows to close off both ends.

Stick a gift tag or a left over photo in the centre of the cracker. You can also decorate the cracker further.

Happy Christmas.

Adrienne

IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS....

We started off by going to see the whales in Hermanus...

then the next weekend...myself and a group of other teachers, hosted 150 ladies at the The Scrapfest celebrating the four seasons ... Great success...

The next weekend Bev and I were off to Phoenix, Arizona where we....visited the Bazzill warehouse....

went shopping at Michaels ....

Did the Creative Escape Convention ....

where we met Mr. Bazzill... and took classes with Ali Edwards...

and Heidi Swapp...amongst others...

Survived the 45°C heat with a little help .....

then went off to California...

to visit my sister and her family...

went to see the Pandas at the San Diego Zoo....amongst other things

....flew back home ....

and the next weekend attended the SA Scrapbook Convention...

Jet lag............................................:(

Then flew to Eshowe to teach a weekend crop for the scrapping ladies from Scrapbook Avenue.....back to Jhb.....

and then this past weekend have spent the most amazing time in Mapungubwe National Park on the Limpopo River where 3 countries meet - South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana...

and now I have some photos to scrap...

...and then some!

What a ride it has been.

Thanks for catching up.

Adrienne

Scrapfest Four Seasons

I have always had a thing about the four seasons...why I don't know??

It started off with this little cross stitch pattern which I found in one of my mother's Woman's Weekly Magazines from the 1960s. I embroidered this for a God Child in 1981.

When I started scrapping in 1999 this page was in the first album that I made

and was published in Creating Keepsakes.

Then in 2002 we travelled to Yosemite and I made this page about the
four seasons of Yosemite and it is still one of my all time favourite pages.

More recently I made a mini album about myself titled 'A Woman for all Seasons' which was part of the Imagine Magazine Covergirl Competition. This little album got me a first place!

And this year in 2011 the theme for the SCRAPFEST is THE FOUR SEASONS.

For those of you who do not have all the information required here we go:

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT!
NO ENTRY WITHOUT YOUR PRE-PAID TICKET

DATE: Saturday, 13th August 2011
VENUE: Edenglen High School, Steyn Ave, Edenglen, Edenvale
(Safe parking on the property)
PRICE: R450.00
TIME: 09h00 until 16h30

This amazing price includes the kits for
FOUR SEASONAL DOUBLE PAGES,
lunch, teas, goody bag and prizes.
Cool drinks and sweets for sale

PHOTO REQUIREMENTS:
All photos quoted are jumbo size: 10 x 15cm unless specified

WINTER:
Colours: Grey and white
Photos: 1 Vertical and 4 horizontal

SPRING:
Colours: Green, mauve, yellow, pink or blue
backgrounds (only one of the above)
Photos: 6 vertical photos 5 x 15cm
2 horizontal
2 cropped to 10 x 10 cm

SUMMER:
Colours: Yellow, orange, red and lime
Photos: 5 horizontal

AUTUMN:
Colours: Khaki, brown and sunflower yellow
Photos: 5 vertical and 1 horizontal


SUPPLIES REQUIRED:
Cutting mat, ruler and craft knife
Pair of scissors
Pencil and eraser
Glue dots
Foam squares
Double sided tape
Gel glue eg. Glossy Accents, Tombo liquid glue
Brad hole punch and pad
Large eyelet hole maker and setter/hammer
Black thin pen
Black permanent marker
Stapler
Bone folder
Small paintbrush
Small container for water
Inks: Autumn - Dark brown
Spring: Dark green and a selection of pink, lime green, mauve, blue or yellow

REMEMBER TO DRESS WARMLY AND BRING A BLANKET FOR YOUR LEGS.

IT CAN BE VERY COLD IN THE HALL .

See you on the 13th
Adrienne

And the winner is BEV

What was the competition? It was the Slice competition which ran from September 2010 until June 2011. The participants had to use a Making Memories album with 10 page protectors. All of the pages had to be scrapped and each page had to feature Bazzill cardstock and something cut from the Making Memories Slice electronic cutter.

And the prize is a trip to Phoenix Arizona in the USA to attend Creative Escapes www.creativeescapeaz.com How cool is that!!



Well done Bev and to my other 7 ladies who all worked really hard

to complete their beautiful albums.

Bon Voyage!

Its been a long time ...

I know, I know!

Using quotes on pages - this links to my newsletter and these are just two exmples of pages showing the use of quotes.

It is interesting the way this leaf blew onto the page as I was taking the photo. Just makes the photo a little different, don't you think?

Next time I won't stay away so long!

Adrienne

Textures and colours of Mozambique

A taste of some of the beautiful textures and colours from our getaway to Nyati Beach Lodge in Mozambique. A place to rest, relax and recharge and of course fish!

Till next time

Adrienne