The Purple Magnolia

06/06/2026

Perfect day to craft - with all kinds of “keeping warm” comforts.
What are you crafting today?
Lots of layered paint blending, stencilling, and texture added with jute ribbon, fabric flowers. Depth added by mounting some elements with Olba glue.
The quote also reflects the change of seasons, with the real winter cold that has reached us since Thursday.

04/06/2026

Fathers' Day is coming up.
Make this gift bag and make a tag using our fabulous new A4 paper collection, Old World Traveller (see the next post for tag ideas and an idea of what the paper pack looks like. R120 for 16 sheets of A4 paper.

Never be without a handy gift bag again! 🛍️ Download the free gift bag template from CraftWorld. It's quick to make and you can personalize it to fit any oc...

04/06/2026

When last did you make a “romantic” or shabby chic card?
The Dreamy dreams self-cutting sheets by Alchemy of Art are perfect for this. Ask more information via WhatsApp - 6 sheets 15x30 cm of self-cutting images for only R 135.
0832990484

Hello everybody! My beloved Alchemy of Art recently released an a...

04/06/2026

The ultimate junk journal - using Alchemy of Art papers.
I love the In Silence collection, with the 8x8 inch paper pack and the packs of 6 self-cutting sheets 15x30cm. The pack of self-cutting sheets is only R135. WhatsApp 0832990484

02/06/2026

Why are you hesitant to participate in craft challenges?
There is a BIG differece between a competition and a challenge.
The purpose of a competition is to award excellence, to recognise skill, creativity or technical ability and to award prizes.
A CHALLENGE, on the other hand, is usually designed to encourage participation, creativity, learning, and community engagement. Participants are invited to create something based on a theme, technique, colour palette, sketch, mood board, or product range. The main purpose is to inspire people to create and showcase different interpretations of the same theme.
The monthly challenge on the Ujabule Art Journal page does exactly that. It is initiated and sponsored by Kcraft, and every month a winner is chosen randomly, not based on skill. and the prizes are SO generous.
Look at the wonderful prize I have just received. thank you, .
send a WhatsApp to be added to our list for dates for monthly mixed media and cardmaking classes in Moreleta Park (Pretoria East)

28/05/2026

Too little time for creativity?
I started my newest mini journal - perfect for when I have only 10 minutes for crafting.
I covered the front with a piece of paper from Art By Marlene’s new card making collage A5 paper pad and added a house cut out from the same pad. The moon is from an AALL & Create ephemera pack. Took 5 minutes including the cutting out.
My first pages inside use left-overs from the mixed media cards I designed for our class on 27 June. I merely added a pretty lady cut out from the cardmaking collage book, blended Distress oxide ink picked raspberry on a piece of cardstock left over from my card designing activity and wrote a short quote on it.
Who else is in for 10-minute crafting?
Order your ABM ATC journal from our online store, for those moments when you have a short creativity break.
https://www.purplemagnolia.co.za/products/art-by-marlene-abm?_pos=1&_sid=68845a1ae&_ss=r

28/05/2026

Mixed media class with ABM.
4 cards or 6x6 inch journal pages.
27 June 11:00. Moreleta Park, Pretoria East.
Class fee of R400 includes 30 xA5 sheets from Marlene’s new card making collage book - a feast for the eyes.
Book your spot now via WhatsApp to 0832990484.

28/05/2026

Need a quick card or gift?
4 cards, 6 steps in 40 minutes.
Step 1: use an A4 sheet of our extra smooth 300gsm cardstock and paint broad, bright stripes. I used ABM acrylic paints. Dry with a heat tool and drag a paintbrush dipped in black acrylic paint or black gesso between the lines of colour. When dry, you can add a few white marks with a white acrylic pen.
Step 2 Prepare 4 A6 card bases. Hold A4 cardstock in portrait orientation and score down in the middle. Fold and cut into 2 cards. Repeat for 2 more card bases.
Step 3 splatter black paint or ink onto a separate sheet of white cardstock and when dry, die cut 4 circles, approximately 6 cm diameter.
Step 4 Cut 4 mats from black paper cardstock, 10x13.5 cm. Adhere to card bases.
Step 5 Cut the striped background cardstock into 4 pieces, 9,5x13 cm. Adhere to black matting.
Step 6 Adhere circles and Art By Marlene paper elements (I used some from a previous collector’s tin. Add envelopes and slip the 4 cards into a flat gift bag, and you are ready to go.
Get your ABM latest release plus some older items from our online store.
https://www.purplemagnolia.co.za/collections/art-by-marlene

Have fun!

28/05/2026

What is on your craft desk?
I have some fabulous cut-out pieces from Art By Marlene’s new A5 card making collage book, and the little frames paper elements.
This lovely collage collection has sizes and designs perfect for cardmaking and tag making. 30 sheets with loads of pretty background papers with designs in a size suitable for smaller projects such as cards, tags and smaller journals.
Order yours now at this link. Limited stock available.
https://www.purplemagnolia.co.za/products/art-by-marlene-abm-mixed-media-art-journalling-collage-paper-book-color-happy-a5-copy?_pos=1&_sid=120f2edb6&_ss=r