How to incorporate humour in your layouts (Part 2)

Back in June 2017, I wrote a post called How to incorporate humour in your layouts...9 ideas because that's the underlying theme in most of my family layouts. Others may have scrapbook albums filled with gorgeous pics and embellishments, mine almost always makes the viewer laugh out loud either in my choice of photos, embellishments, title or journaling. And that's the way I like it. Here is a Part 2 version of how to incorporate humour in your layouts. :)

At last

1. Use a song title as your layout title.

If you've ever been to Singapore, you would know that queuing up for good food at hawker centres/food courts is a norm. And it can be rather discouraging when your taste buds want to savour the food but the physical body does not want to wait in line to purchase said food. You know, life's hard.*winks* So when you happen to be in the vicinity of said food and the queue is wayyyyyyyy shorter than usual, you jump at the opportunity to finally satisfy your taste buds....and of course, make a scrapbook page out of it. After all, it is a momentous moment in life right? *LOL*

On this layout, I went with At Last by Etta James. :)

Prawn Noodles at Beach Road

2. Incorporate fun text/quotes.

I love to use fun sticker text/quotes on my layouts to help tell my story. Like the van driving down the road with the quote " No journey is too great if you find what you need..." and ending with the journey being lunch!  *winks* Well, you know I did walk to the lunch place in 4 inch heels in the sweltering heat! 

Will I ever get a nice photo?

3.  Include a flying pig drinking water out of a dish.

Of course, in my already "overdone" layout with an overwhelming mix of patterns and colours, I just had to include a flying pig drinking water out of a dish because you know, I'm so extra. Hahahaha!

When I asked for a nice photo..

4. Use ONE large photo that tells the story.

Sometimes you get that one perfect photo that sums up your story succinctly. No, not the one where everyone is smiling sweetly at the camera, the stars are aligned and you get that perfect shot where no one blinked or tried to be funny.

It's the one where almost everything is wrong with the photo but it tells the whole story. You know. Story of my life with The Gangster Gang (aka niece + nephews).

In my photo, the niece looks a little disgruntled, nephew #2 is trying too hard with the oversmiling and of course, nephew #3 is wayyyyyy back across the road (see frame).

Posing at the fire hydrant

5. Create a fun little "scene".

Gather all your fussy-cut cute elements and create a fun little fantasy "scene"...it's so much fun to play with scale and proportion to create your "scene"! :)

You only live once

6. Incorporate an uncooperative subject, an apt title and fun monsters!

Yep, this was way back when dad hasn't quite understood that "the camera eats the food first"...check out his "not-so-happy" face about having to take a photo before eating as opposed to mum's happy face. Of course, the title is quite apt since they were indulging in rather unhealthy food. And, those monsters are clearly playing the devil's advocate! Hehehe!

It was a tiara-wearing kind of day...

7. Make your subjects wear tiaras so that everyone can look pretty!

Well, you know me and my maximalism...of course I would have multiple tiaras to "dress" up my subjects. And the nephews enjoyed their "pretty" moments. *LOL*

The need for self-preservation

8. Put your subjects in cliche poses.

Nephew #2 and #3 were playing with their guns and drill-made-to-be-a-gun as usual so I got them to do the classic Charlie's Angels gun pose...you know, for a bit of fun! ;)

There you have it...how to incorporate humour in your layouts (Part 2)....which one made you laugh out loud??

Pin It

The lazy person's mixed media canvas

Well, putting up a gallery wall of "new" artwork is a lot harder than I first anticipated (which explains why you haven't seen the completed gallery wall yet..*winks*) so I've had to employ a lazy person's technique of "updating"a piece (like yesterday's The updated monogram) or doing a hybrid piece of mixing an old completed piece with something completely new.

Like this mixed media canvas....:)

I started with a 12 x 12 canvas which I covered with scrunched up wrapping tissue (from packaging) and gesso. Next I went in with paints, paints with a stencil, gesso and ink splatters. Once I was happy with the messy textured background, I decided to paint a mouth on it. 

That's when the project stalled for a bit because I enjoy drawing eyes a lot, the mouth...eh not so much. For 2 weeks, this incomplete mouth stared at me, taunting me, "Are you gonna finish painting me or am I too much a challenge???" (Grrrr...don't you just hate it when your artwork gets sarcastic on you? *LOL*)

Mixed media box inspired by Pantone 2018 Colour of the Year- Ultraviolet

Then I remembered that I traced the shape of the mouth from an earlier project that I did and I wondered..."Hmmm..could I do a hybrid assemblage piece???"

Well, you know what happened next....

I just glued the painted mouth-on-box lid on my canvas and my mixed media canvas is complete. :)

What do you think of my lazy person's mixed media canvas?

Pin It

The updated monogram

So I'm finally tackling the decorated monogram stash (previously on my wall before the revamp)...should they go back up on display as is or do they need a redo? That is the question.

For this particular monogram, I decided to change up the embellishments. Okay, you got me. I dropped the whole thing on the floor and the original pink bloom fell off... 

Adding to my monogram collection

Yep...here's the original version with the large pink bloom that fell off (this was done in 2015)...and while waiting for the hot glue gun to heat up, I thought to myself, "Why not just change up the embellishments for a "new" look?" *winks*

I went for the monochromatic look so I just added more white embellishments with little pops of green.

And of course, the old version was missing bling...so I just had to incorporate a few here.

I think the updated monogram is more reflective of my current aesthetic..and maximalist clustering style..*LOL*

What do you think?

P/s: Meanwhile, security has been heightened in Singapore this week as US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meet for the first-ever US-North Korea Summit. I'm just hoping for no traffic jams. :)

Pin It

Imperfect wefies

Well friends, I've come to terms with this fact: the perfect wefie does not exist. 

I mean, the first challenge is just getting the faces in the frame...which is especially tough when you have uncooperative participants (like nephews!)  And then of course, getting the angles (check out that chin in photo #2 *LOL*) and lighting situation on point. 

Plus of course, the bribe (Oreo cheesecake) had already been eaten at this point so there was no bargaining chip to "help" with the situation. *winks*

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the scrap bits that I managed to "throw" at this layout. :)

Playing along with the sketch challenge at The Studio Challenges.

P/s: Happy weekend friends!

Pin It

10 fun ways to use banners on your projects

Banners are a fun way to spruce up your projects. They are often used in celebrations/parties and evoke happy feelings so they add that touch of joy to your projects too. :) Here are 10 fun ways you can use banners on your projects...

Food confession

1. Use it with a group of party critters to really drive in the happy factor. 

Ahhh..you know how I love breakfast food. Even though I wasn't technically at a party, believe me there was a party in my mouth and tummy...and those October Afternoon party critters totally exemplify how I was feeling. *winks*

I "made" the banner by cutting canvas fabric pennants, using brads to secure them and doodling the banner ends with a pen.

The one where we chased chickens

2. Make it an extension to your photos.

Since outdoor banners are typically tied around a tree, I used the banner to tie the 2 photos of the Gangster Gang (aka niece + nephews) standing at a tree as a fun design element.

Guess who's afraid of Aunt E?

3. Make it a part of the design element on your photo mat.

Embellish your photo mat with a banner to document a fun moment in life. I added more texture by incorporating some thread and applying glitter glue on one of the pennants.

On a bus adventure

4. A banner and a monkey are a great combo.

Especially since it's totally possible to spot a wild monkey when we are outdoors....just not one with googly eyes...*LOL*

By the sea

5. Use banners with clouds.

Clouds and banner are a great way to complement outdoor photos. Like the ones here by the sea.

This is real life

6. Make your own banner.

Why not create your own banner with stuff you have in your stash? Like this fun feather banner. 

The double page birthday spread

7. Use them to unify a double-pager.

Here the chipboard banners work with the banner in the photo to create continuity between the two pagers. And of course, we were having an actual birthday party! :)

An obsession with frames

8. Try a fun photo banner.

This is a great way to incorporate smaller photos.

Double page spread for Maya Road/Photo Paper Play swap

9. Go overboard with your banners.

Why not try multiple banners across a double-page spread? And embellish them with twine and bling while you're at it! :)

One Saturday afternoon

10. A word banner is always a good idea.

Especially if they come in pre-made sticker form...just peel off the backing and stick it on!


There you have it....10 fun ways to use banners on your projects. Do you like to use banners on your projects?

Pin It

The shoe makeover

I've been seeing the Spring/Summer 2018 shoe designs in stores - outrageously embellished shoes in bold colours and lots of bling. 

So I thought,"Why not fashion a pair with my embellishments???" *winks*

I started off with a red pair of slide wedges from Hush Puppies. I've only had them for six months but the faux leather has torn at the sides. :( 

Since it was a comfortable pair of shoes, I decided to "save" it. I covered the shoes with black and white canvas printed fabric. It took a really long time! And of course, when I was done, mum asked "Won't it fray?" *palm face plus dramatic sad music*

So I went in with Maya Road pearl trim at the edges. And of course, because, I'm so extra, I had to finish with a large ribbon bloom. *LOL*

Pin It

Help me pick a wall colour!

So, I have had this accent wall colour in my room for a while now. The original paint colour has lost its lustre and it's time for a new coat of paint. The lazy person in me thinks I should just paint it the same colour and just one coat of paint should do the trick, right? *winks*

The creative person in me says that it's time for a change...maybe go a little softer?

Now since blue is my fave colour,  I find myself naturally navigating to the blue colour family. I'm leaning towards Wildflower Wind and Elise.

But since I'm opting for a change, why not change colour families? Pink is such a soft and sweet colour ...and will be such a nice complexion enhancer right? *high fives Julie*...:)

Here's a look at said wall with my creative space in the mix.

The rest of the room is white - the ceilings and built-in cabinets. The two lamps by each of the bedside are clear polycarbonate and I have a chandelier above the bed. The furniture pieces are natural wood.

So let me hear your thoughts....which blue or pink would you choose? Help me pick a wall colour!

Pin It