Sunday 31 July 2011

Guest Blogger at "Do More with Less" {Yvonne Yyam} & Dealing with Chaos!






Hi there everyone!
Back at last & full of beans!!  
First thing Sunday morning here &  I have a long luxurious day of crafting ahead of me.  Hubby is "holding the fort" {when he gets up that is...} so I can get myself caught up here in my little studio.  

This week has been my craziest this year for sure.  
Durban is renowned for it's hot, humid weather, although right now we are in the middle of winter here in the Southern Hemisphere.   
However, our winters are usually mild & jerseys are the only additions needed for our winter wardrobes.  Monday a cold-front hit us like never before & we were engulfed in gloom, mist & horror-movie like winds all week!  
Crazy stuff indeed!!

Our homes here are not geared for that type of weather, ours in particular, with double-volume rooms, making them almost impossible to heat with our two little oil-filled heaters.  If this weather became the norm we would have to refurbish our home with double-glazing & central heating to cope with it as we suffered indoors, despite everything being locked & bolted, the freezing air was still seeping in!  

I had to buy thermal vests & long johns - something I have never owned in my life!  And a woollen blanket!!  INSANE...

After 3 days of rain our roof eventually gave in & started leaking in 2 places! 
 In the midst of it all I had TWO punctures {on different days!}, fell on the stairs {injuring both wrists & a knee!} then the piece de resistance of my entire week would be crashing my husband's car into a stationary vehicle.  Yup that does take a certain kind of talent LOL!!  

Anyway, I'm laughing about it just thinking back on it & I've had a very good night's sleep & a major prayer session so I'm looking forward to GOOD TIMES AHEAD!!   3 days with no bandwidth this week {and 9 frustrating phone-calls later to our internet "provider"} eventually resulted in our band-width being topped up after 4 hours of phone calls on 4 consecutive days.  
I woke up to sunny skies today so all is well in my world :) 

 I got a couple of layouts done this week & have one to share over at Color Combos Galore here.  
{That's a link to my actual layout}.  
You can take a peek at who won the BLOG HOP RAKS here.  
Check out the awesome COMBO 202 AND REVEAL here.
I am going to have to have a Color Combos Galore extravaganza post as I haven't been able to share my last 4 layouts here so far, for one reason or another!!  
Soon....I promise!!!

YOU HAVE UNTIL WEDNESDAY MIDNIGHT EST to get your Color Combos layouts in.  The combo is very cool.  2 shades of green, red & grey.  Go take a look via the links provided...

I do have something exciting to share though ;)

Looky here & see that I got to be
 GUEST BLOGGER over at Yvonne Yyam's blog "Do More with Less".


Yvonne hosts a Guest Blogger every fortnight & she chose me this week - yay!  If you would like to be featured on Yvonne's blog you need to become a follower & let her know that you are interested in her work and the concepts that she believes in for crafting (recycling etc) to be considered.

I came up with a challenge called GO MODERN SHABBY! 
{a cool new phrase I've coined which I think is the perfect way to describe my style}.

The challenge is to MIX YOUR MISTS (Modern Shabby Style!)

1)     Use at least 3 different colours of mists (diluted acrylic paint in a spray bottle works too).

2)     Use chipboard that you have first used as a mask for your mists (like I have done with 
the Imaginarium Designs butterfly).

3)     Use up some of your old (or new!) rub-ons (stickers work too)

4)     Add an eclectic assortment of other elements to give your creation a MODERN SHABBY STYLE – here I used Hambly Screenprints Doily stickers, American Crafts chipboard elements & tags, plus some flowers, twine, a pretty pearly brad &  glossy American Crafts badge.


I am also offering an international RAK for the winning layout!


As you can see...pretty much everything required to make your own modern shabby layout.  
A couple of doilies, some bling, some dimensional stickers, rub-ons, flowers, chipboard, Sassafras stamps, paint brushes, journaling stickers, metallic journaling pens.

All you need to do is follow the specifications above & add a link to your layout in the LINKITZ tool just below the post then leave a comment in the comments section of my post on Yvonne's blog here, letting Yvonne know you've done that.

You have until Friday 12 August 2011 
but if I were you I'd add it on Thursday 11 August unless you are in Asia as they are about half a day ahead of the US & I would hate for any of you to miss out :)

Happy Sunday everyone!!





24 comments:

Jasmine S said...

I so wish our winters were as warm as yours. I guess we are still lucky they are not below 5 really but still, to not have to have heating....
And I am glad you are back on board, no more punctures or falls....
And this LO looks sooooo good. I love the idea of multiple mists. A technique that has scared me but I am sooooo going to try it. Yours is just so inspirational. Well done on the GD spot. So well deserved.

Toni Cartwright said...

WOW i just love this layout looks so so fun!!!! Those butterflies are really cute!!!
Congrats on your guest blogger position!!!!
Hope you are enjoing your weekend
TONI
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Marelize said...

You certainly have had a very eventful week Helen!! I hope this week makes up for all the bad luck you had last week.
Your layout is gorgeous and I think 'modern shabby' descibes your style perfectly.
Hope you have a wonderful week. :)

yyam said...

Oh boy! Sounds like a really eventful week! The Chinese believe that you have to spend $ to avoid tragedy (rough translation)...I think the worst is over...look forward to good stuff from now on!

Thanks for being a guest on my blog! Love your modern shabby style! :)

phamil said...

Oh Helen, I'm so sorry!!! I hate cold also, and it does get cold here in Winter, but I can't stand it, chills me to the bone! And for the internet issues, I can relate, ours has been messed up for quite awhile, I have called almost daily, I think I know all the techs by name now, we've had them out and now they are coming back out tomorrow!!! LOL! Feel your pain here!!! But, your work hasn't suffered! It's just gorgeous as always!!! Here's to both having better internet luck and a better week too!!! Hugs!

Diana said...

What a beautiful page. The misting is divine! The butterflies... so gorgeous!

HappyScrappy said...

Hi Helen!
I do hope that this week will counter-balance the events from last week.
Your layout is gorgeous, as always, and I love the 'modern shabby' expression that you just launched :). Have a wonderful week and thanks for the nice comment on my blog :)!

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

So so so so sorry about your week love :( I hope it gets better soon! I loveeeeeeee your challenge over at Yvonne's ... I am hoping to play! And the lo you made is FABULOUS!! LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE it! :):):):):):):):):):)

Aussie TM5 Thermomixer said...

Congrats again Helen! I love this page, the misting and those letters look fab! Very well done! I hope you have a better week this week :)

Yolande (pronounced you-land-a) said...

Shame Helen, sounds like you had quite a week! Hope you have an amazing week going forward to make up for the challenges of the past one. :) Your layout is stunning...I LOVE your misting! The doilie stickers, rub-ons and fun photo are all really fab too. Congrats on being the guest Blogger over at "Do more with less"...you've created a lovely piece of artwork.
Looks like the weather is starting to improve..has been freezing our side too...you know how cold JHB gets..taking some getting used being back to minus tempretures after living at the coast for two years..hehe. :) Take care doll..

topkatnz said...

Sounds like you have had a very eventful week indeed! Weird how the cold snaps hit you guys and here at the same time - well, I guess it wasn't quite, given the time diff! Onward and upward eh?

Rachael Funnell said...

Gee Helen!! sounds like you had week Ruff Week.....
BUT that LO is Super F.I.N.E girlfriend!!!
LOVE it to Bits..
The Misting & the Rubons Stand out for me!!!
Also a GR8 pic too.......
Hope you have a Wonderful Week!
xx

Kiki Aposeki said...

Hi my sweet friend from cold South Africa!!!! I love the misting and beautifull bytterflies in your stunning LO!!!!

Chantal Vandenberg said...

Awesome layout Hellen!!! I really love your misting, masking and those rub-ons! So cool!!!!! :D

Jessy Christopher said...

Wow you have so much going on eh?! But I am glad you are doing fine. Love that layout alot especially the misting!! And of course the "haha" stamping. That is brilliant :)

Eila Sandberg said...

Dear me, you certainly have had a memorable week! main thing is you're well and safe. Hey hey Mrs T CONGRATS on the GDT spot, well done!! so curious to hear more about that secret you're holding back ... We sure do live in different climate zones Helen; wearing a jersey for winter? All windows in Sweden are TRIPLE glazed and many also have under floor heating. Radiators in all rooms of course. Worse than the dry cold we get, is the wet, muggy seeping-into-your-bones chill that you seem to have. Brrr! That is one mighty generous RAK you're having! brilliant misting my word, mine still end up looking a frightful mess. Is that pic taken on Cami's birthday? xoxox

Lea said...

Wow, that is some week! I'm glad you can smile about it now. Hope to play along with your challenge at Yvonne's this week!!!

Unknown said...

Oh Helen you certainly have had a rough week but its all good when we can look back laugh about it hey! CONGRATS on your GDT spot and again you are one talented chickie!! This layout is gorgeous!! How do you do multi coloured misting without it blending...please do tell cause its so pretty :))xx

Heather Jacob said...

hey Helen this page is awesome .. love, love, love, the misting and those colours are magical ... wow what a week ... maybe there is a message here Helen my friend ... slow down is my guess and taking it a little easier on yourself .. stay safe and be gentle on yourself My friend, big hugz x
hope your injuries are getting better ?? xoxoxo

Cathy said...

Oh my goodness you really have had a terrible week.. hope you didn't injure yourself too badly and that your are OK!! Congrats on your guest DT spot.. you're on a roll!! OMG ADORE your LO Helen, the misting is fantastic.. I love using my chippies as a mask first.. it's like getting 2 for one! Hope the coming week is kinder to you :))) hugs

scrapbookertink said...

Oh dear Helen not a good week, would you like to borrow some of my winter wardrobe as I am basking in hot, hot, hot, temperatures at the moment, sat out yesterday in bikini and had some Bacardi mojitos! (Sorry couldn't help myself) Never mind sounds like the end of the week was better, congrats on feature and your layout is so pretty, take care my friend and hope this week is better x

Pearl said...

ooooo ! my ! that winter situation here is sooo NOT funny , hun !!! Trust the worst is over !

Fab challenge you've set here - look at the misting pro you are now ! woot !

sandi said...

Wow! What a week you have had!!!!!! Thank goodness everything seems to be falling in place now! I really don't like the cold either...I don't know how I would have stood the cold like you did. It's a good thing you were able to get some warm cloths for yourself! Your lo is stunning Helen! I love the look of the three different color mists and the way you used the butterfly is great. I like that challenge...spray on it and then use it! Everything looks fab!

Alison said...

Just found 5mins to catch up with a couple of blogs, while my visitors are sunning themselves! Well done on surviving the weather..and love your LOs as always.....especially this one!
Alison xx