Print and Play with Ivytree Studio

Dear #Paperlovers and #Creativegirls,

So it seems like Ivytree Studio has set the tone yet again for others to follow. #PrintandPlay just makes so much sense to us as creatives in these times but it made sense to us two years ago and it still does. It is no wonder that others are now following in our footsteps.

For two years now we have been offering you quality and easy printable #PrintandPlay products and all our customers just LOVE it! The feedback is phenomenal. Check our store for over 200 different printable kits and products and more to be added soon.

Our collections always give any paper crafter everything she would need to be creative. In these times we all need to keep on creating to stay sane and paper has always been such a versatile and affordable way for any creative girl to express her art. We love paper! We know you do too, so if you haven't realized that #PrintandPlay is the new #Pink, then get on board with #HybridScrapbooking and start collecting a library of our very user-friendly and simple to print #Paperlove packs. #PersonalUseLicence included.

We will be expanding the options in store for the #Paperlove section soon and have been working behind the scenes to grow our catalog so you have even more options coming our way. Our collections offer not just the #Paperlove packs you see in this post but each collection also always offers a #CreativeElementsKit, #SweetSentiments kit in both English and Afrikaans, #PrettyPocketCard kits in English and Afrikaans,#Alpha sets, #DecorativeElement kits, #TravelNotebookInserts and the #Gracelilly #BibleJouranling Kits. Everything is printable and offered in JPG and PDF format and our latest kits even offer PNG stamp kits for the digital scrapbooker who love to do memory keeping digitally. No matter if you are a #paperlover, #scrapbooker, #cardmaker, #artmaker, #BibleJournaler, you will never run out of things to use and things to do when you #Print&Play with Ivytree Studio, the top trendsetter in SA! <3

#TellYourFriends #SupportLocalgirls #SupportSmall #SupportProudlySA #WomeninBusiness #GraphicDesign #PrintandPlay #DigitalArtOnPaper #HaveyousupportedanArtisttoday? #OnlineStore #Paperlove #WeLovePaper #CaronaFREE #HealthywayofCreating #StaySafe #ItsTime #JointheClubtoday #ThenewPink #DigitalScrapbooking #Printables #WedesigntheElementsYouPlaywith #HybridScrapbooking #ThankyouforyourSuppport #WeloveourClubCreativegirls

Click here for the #Paperlove section in the store.

At the heart of small business is a family

Hi there #Creativegirls and #Paperlovers,

It's been a while since I blogged. Actually a year. I just have been swamped with a ton of things. I broke an ankle with a serious injury in November 2019 and have been trying to get back on my "feet"...literally.  Then just as I was feeling things returning to "normal", this virus happened. My goodness, and I thought 2020 would be a great year and now the world is on its head. 

Creatively, things are business as usual, but we are all in one boat and nobody can say they are not affected by the current change in the world. As a believer, on the other hand, I am still saved, God is still God, and eternity awaits. So, not affected at all. 

As a business owner, yes very much affected as are all small business owners. As we are constantly reminded to shop local and support local business, I wanted you to see the family behind our little design studio so you know whom you have been supporting.

We are two artists who design and develop our products from scratch. We always have. We never buy image packs to make our life easier. We rely on the art God gives us and the creativity that He allows us, to develop our products. We distribute our own products. Our physical products, when we offer them, are always made to order and we offer "Print&Play" digital products to ensure that our creative community is always supplied with quality art within their reach. Our printable products are affordable and excellent quality. The main focus of our art and products is encouragement as is our heart for our community of #Creativegirls and so we also offer a club you can join with regular online playdates, a special journal to be creative in together and of course all the Print&Play collections to play with. Our products are also friendly and can thus be used in activities with kids too. Secondary to this is the development of personal creativity with a focus on creative journaling. 

My name is Ansu and I am the owner and Managing Director of Ivytree Studio, a boutique design studio in the heart of Pretoria, South Africa. I have nearly 2 decades of experience in the Educational Industry and now also nearly 2 decades of experience in the Graphic Design Industry. I will always

be an Educator at heart, but I regard myself to be an Artist and Content Developer. For the past 5 years

I have focussed my efforts on building an online presence for Ivytree Studio, a boutique design studio, and developing quality products for the creative community at large. I am also HSP (High Sensitive Personality Tempremant), INFP (Mediator Diplomat) and an Ambivert (50/50 Intro/Extrovert). I love kids, cats, art, design, interior design, architecture, someday I will build my own home and write a ton of books. I love to cook, I love watching movies with my besties and I love my online community and the fact that it is growing daily. 

This is my Dad, Pieter. He is our Prayer Partner, my Managing&Business Consultant, and all-round super Dad! I love him so. He is 80 years old with a vast amount of general knowledge

and business savvy. He is also a journaler, family history expert, and memory keeper like me. He is the only full Extrovert in our little circle. 

"No respect for management"

Just joking. This is me and Surita, my partner in "crime". Wink, wink. 

We have been working together for many years on all kinds of creative projects.

We started Ivytree Studio nearly two decades ago, but in its current form, creating our own

products instead of working for design clients, we have been at it since 2016 (5 years).

Surita is our in house Illustrator and Chief Designer and she manages our parent's care, our family home, and sometimes me. Wink wink. She is just like my dad a bit of a genius. She is good at nearly everything. She is a great cook and even greater baker like my gran use to be. She also has a little cat baby called Daisy who is the granny in the home. She can build you a kitchen with basically nothing and our favorite thing to do together is snack on chocolates, Doritos and cream cheese, and watch our favorite movies. 

This is our Mom and she is the inspiration behind our design and art thumbprint.

She worked for the NBI - National Botanical Institute as a typesetter for 30 years. We literally grew

up around the publishing sector. She is also 80 years old and my parents have been married since 1965. Jip, it's possible. 55 years in total. 

This is hubby Henry, who helps out and supports us in all our endeavors. 

He is my hero and best friend. He is currently the owner of his own online teaching business.

He teaches English to Russian students. 

This is my sweet baby Klouye and she is my companion while I work. She does nothing but love on her mommy and has her dad wrapped around her little paws. He is her butler and even opens the door for her when she comes and goes. Totally spoiled rotten. 

So now that you have been introduced to our family, you know who you are supporting when you buy anything form Ivytree Studio.

At the heart of our business is also the desire to create jobs. Henry and I talk about this daily. Both of us have a heart for the poor. In particular for abandoned kids (my heart) and feeding people (both our hearts). It is our desire to uplift and help save lives, so I wanted you to know that about us. We have not been able to employ anyone to date, but it is part of our future growth plan. As we grow over time, we will definitely need to employ more people and your continued support can help us do just that...put food on the table of someone who just lost a job, or who's income dropped or who's kids are going hungry. 

If you feel as strongly about this as we do, and you want to help us achieve this dream, the way you can do so, is by supporting our online store on a regular basis, sharing our posts, and spreading the word. 

So this is our Carona plan: Keep doing what we have been doing. Encouraging the world with our art and a message of HOPE. Be consistent. Put out quality products for our target community and keep doing that. Be brave and pitch up. Keep doing that until God brings the breakthrough not just for us but for those He has called us to love and look after.  

Your challenge: If you pop over to the grocery store and you see someone leave some items they couldn't afford, pay for it and hand it to them. Change a life, give to someone the things you would have wanted someone to give to you if you were in need. Don't wait for someone to ask. Offer to help and then act. #LetsChangelivestogether #BeKindToday #SupportLocalSmallBusinessRegularly 

Pop over to our Facebook page to stay updated with what we are up to

or pop over to the shop and grab a little #Creativegirlgoodness right now. 

We would love to have you in our community.

September Design Team Challenge: #PaperLove Wall Art

The mandate of the Ivy League Design Team
(the fab name we gave our DT),
is to create paper crafting projects of their own choosing that
showcases Ivytree Studio's Print&Play Collections.
They absolutely have the freedom to create whatever they like/love.
But we thought it would be a good idea to shake things up a bit
by introducing a DT Challenge now and then.

And the ladies have stepped up beautifully to the recent challenge we set for them.
They each had to create a piece of #PaperLove Wall Art.

The challenge was to use elements from our new Print&Play Collection - "Vibrance",
along with a favorite quote or Scripture verse, to create an encouraging piece of
Wall Art that could be framed in a 200 mm x 250 mm frame.

Here is a little pop-up gallery of their efforts:

They really are lovely projects, and I wouldn't mind
receiving any of these pieces as a gift myself.

A project like this is so fabulously easy too. 

Just get yourself some Print&Play goodies and make it happen.

A bit of printing, a little snipping, some stenciling or splashing paint,
& a smidge of gluing...and there you have it!

As I said, it's a great gift idea, especially with Christmas around the corner.

What are you waiting for...get creating!

The Vibrance Collection can be purchased here.

Design Team Round-up: Vibrance Collection

 Our Design Team members have been like busy little bees this month,
having fun fun fun playing with the new Print&Play Collection - "Vibrance".
Here's a quick round-up of a selection of their projects.

Scrapbooking - Single Layouts: 

Travel Notebook Spreads: 

Bible Journaling:

Miscellaneous Paper Crafting Projects:

The girls tackled all kinds of different projects. Everything from Gift Boxes, Birthday Calendars, Cards, Mixed Media Art, Pocket Letters to Scripture Memory Cards.

We've also set a special DT Challenge for the team this month. The #PaperLove Wall Art Challenge.

Can't wait to share with you what they came up with. But that will have to wait for the next post.

In the meantime, you can purchase the Vibrance Collection here.

Our DT: Marnelle Vd Merwe; Charmaine Esterhuizen van Jaarsveld; Debbie Minnaar; Wilma Engelbrecht; Lisa-Mari du Plooy & Rochelle Rossouw.

Spring Floral Wreath Tutorial - by Surita Brink (a.k.a. Pearli)

Hi there #CreativeGirls ! We have a lovely NEW #PrintAndPlay collection in the store called 'Vibrance', and I would love to share a quick project I made with the #CuteCutsFlowerShop KIT. I LUV the Flower Shop elements soooo much and had to dig into those first as usual. Also it's Spring in the Southern Hemisphere and we have to do something to celebrate the newness and beauty of my favourite season.

This is an easy-peasy project.

You will need:

1. The Vibrance #CuteCuts Flower Shop KIT

2. The Vibrance #PaperLoveKIT 's Cover Page (to punch out flowers using the paper swatches, you can also use other paper from your stash that match the color scheme).

3. 160 gsm or thicker cardstock (white or colored) to make the 200 mm x 200 mm Wreath Base - you will need 2 pieces.

4. The usual tools: scissors, cutting mat, glue stick, white craft glue of choice, A4 craft foam sheet (or lots of foam tape/squares), twine & a flower punch (or template to hand cut 12 flower shapes) & a bit of bling like Stickles (glitter glue) or diamanté.
5. Optional Extras: a Butterfly or two from the #CuteCutsButterflies set from the collection. 

Steps:

1. Print out the Single Flower & Foliage sheet as well as the Paper Bow sheet from the Flower Shop KIT onto 160 gsm white cardstock.

2. Print the Cover Page of the #PaperLoveKIT onto 160 gsm white cardstock, or gather paper from your stash that will match the color scheme of the the Vibrance Collection.

3. Make the Wreath Base by cutting 2 x circles 200 mm x 200 mm in size. Cut out a 150 mm x 150 mm circle from the center of each. Use a craft foam sheet and glue stick or foam tape/squares to adhere the two base pieces on top of each other. Then cut a piece of twine and add it to the top of the base to hang your wreath with.

4. Cut out the top half of floral elements from the Flower & Foliage sheet.

5. Punch out or cut out 12 flower shapes and layer to make 4 flowers consisting of 3 layers each.

6. Cut out and assemble your Paper Bow according to the instructions, except use the 'tails' of the bow as seen in the photo - cutting it in half so that you can let it hang down.

7. Assemble your wreath on the wreath base as seen in the photo, finishing off with a bit of Stickles on the flower centers and the bow's center loop.
(In the end I needed two more leaves to fill in some gaps and so I used paper scraps left over from punching out flowers, to hand cut a couple of leaf shapes. I just scored them down the middle and shaped them a little before adding them in.)

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

Suggestion:
Use the wreath as an ornament to celebrate the season with and afterwards incorporate it into a Scrapbook Layout with a picture or two documenting you Spring experience.

You can purchase the Vibrance Collection here.