My favourite layout of 2009

This is my favourite layout of 2009. It features my nephew O in the bathtub. I love that I captured him at play unaware of the camera. It is not fancy by any means but I put in a lot of effort for the title work. The chipboard letters were painted with crackle paint, then colorized with distress inks and faux stitched with a white pen. I love the stamped music notes on the background ....doesn't it appear that the bird is singing out the title? 


What was your favourite layout/project for 2009? 

Inspired by These are a few of my favorite things.

Always be yourself

In everything you do

Always be yourself,

And you always will be true.

 

 

My guilty pleasure

Oh yes. I confess. My guilty pleasure is entertainment news. I love to watch it and read about it. I may not believe everything I hear or read but I'm secretly happy to know that celebrities aren't "perfect". I don't appreciate the methods the paparazzi use to get the so-called scoops but I enjoy seeing pictures of "stars without makeup" or how the celebrities have to starve themselves to look good for a premiere...Poor things...all the money and they can't eat what they want and pay trainers to torture them...haha! (insert evil laugh here)... What's your guilty pleasure?

Just a little misting on cardstock, lace, lovely 7Gypsies velvet flower (thanks Amy!), American Crafts letters, Kaiser Craft paper (babuska doll), We R Memory Keepers gromlet...

Inspired by the challenges at Method Playground and All About Me.

2010 calendar

Hello! Hope you had a great holiday weekend! It rained heavily for most of the weekend in my part of the world...which was actually good for me because I could give the garden a good scrub with the rainwater...:) How was your weekend? Did you get all the items on your wishlist? Or have you been shopping in the post-christmas sales? I was just reading my local newspaper that the post-Christmas sales has been dismal because of shoppers' fatigue from too many pre-Christmas sales! :)

Just wanted to share a 2010 desk calendar I made...using Bo Bunny patterned paper and a cute bird feltie from Sassafras (Thanks Amy!)...my bind-it-all finally saw the light of day in 2009! I actually had to watch a video on how to use it (yes, it's been that long!)...here's one of the inner calendar pages...

I printed out the calendar pages on transparency, then handstiched onto a white base. I love how the transparency gives a nice texture without bulk. The calendar pages are designed by my talented friend Aimee and available at her Etsy store.

Merry Christmas to you!

Merry Christmas to you my friends! :)

X'mas is coming!

Oh yes! X'mas is coming! :) I just got my nephews some presents yesterday and am pretty excited to watch them open their presents. Ah...to be a kid again! :) How about you? Are you ready for X'mas?

Here's a X'mas card I made for the Get Sketchy challenge which is to use your favourite colour. My favourite colour is blue but I love to use red in my projects - the colour just pops! Graphic 45 papers..ribbon, stickles in rock candy and gold, ink, glossy accents and an ornate button. By the way, Get Sketchy having an awesome Basic Grey giveaway on their blog...go check it out here.

Sitting up is hard

Indeed, sitting up is hard to do when you're only 3 months old..I had to "engineer" this shoot by propping my nephew J up against a sturdy cushion, yes, the same one who peed on me and laughs a lot. His grandma was on standby in case he lost his balance while his two brothers tried to make him look at the camera. J lost his balance of course...and everyone giggled...especially his 2 brothers. :)

Crate paper, handstitching, some misting (orange & blue), some buttons and American Crafts vinyl letters. Aren't the birds cute?

Hope you are having a great Tuesday! :)

Celebration

This week's song at Scrapping the Music is Christmas Vacation. It is a really catchy tune...totally puts you in the Christmassy mood...:) My layout features a double family celebration in October - the day my nephew O turned three and the Mid-Autumn festival. It was a happy day indeed! :)

I love this photo of S & O, hamming it up for the camera with the nice glow from the lights in the lanterns (okay I was too lazy to take out the tripod)...Some misting with a Tim Holtz mask (very subtle because the cardstock's peach and the mist is orange)...handstitching (the gate took a really long time)...stickles on the airplanes and American Crafts vinyl letters...patterned paper cutouts are from Collage Press.

Have a great week leading up to Christmas friends! :)

Dreaming of a white X'mas

I'm dreaming of a white X'mas...tough in my part of the world :(.....but the cooler weather at this time of the year means some pretty blooms to admire...:) Are you having a white X'mas?

Papers are from Basic Grey...except for the shaped base mat, KI memories I think...lace, ribbon, pearls, flowers (thanks Juhi!), distress inks, rub-ons, white pen and distress stickles in rock candy (the glass glitter looks like snow!)

Have a great weekend!

Inspired by Let's Get Shabby.

The one who peed on me

Meet J, the one who peed on me. You would think that after 3 nephews, I would be an expert on diaper changing, never mind that it typically happens just once a week...surely, I would be fast enough to avoid all accidents of such nature in the changing process. But no, this third one is the charmer...he smiles so sweetly at you that you are momentarily distracted from the task at hand and hence... get peed on...:( He is however, not the first boy to pee on me. His daddy, my own brother, peed on me when we were kids (on purpose, I must add!)...J was apparently, continuing the legacy...

You can now seriously laugh out loud....:0

Just some masking (Tim Holtz) and misting (Maya mists)...:) American Crafts vinyl stickers...journaling printed on transparency.

Inspired by this week's sketch at Creative Scrappers.

Peace

Wishing you peace this holiday season my friends! :)

A quick card with Graphic 45 papers, handstiching and stickles...I love how the dollar store ornament looks a tad more festive with stickles..:)

Inspired by Get Sketchy.

Snow

This was the first time I saw and played with snow...Mount Sorak, Korea..:) This was done for this week's challenge at Scrapping Out Loud...which is to include all the colours of the rainbow on your layout. This is sadly, the last challenge over at SOL...Denise and Jessica have decided to close the blog...:( It has been an amazing 6 months on the DT though...I've grown so much creatively through the weekly challenges (kudos to me for not missing a single one!) and even got one of my DT layouts published! So, if you've been meaning to play along, do find time this week!

Happy holidays

Happy holidays! I finally got my Christmas tree out...I love that it's so small, I keep it in its entirety (ornaments and lights) in a large bag. ...:) My nephews were excited to see it even though they were disappointed that they didn't get to decorate the tree...

Love these papers by Collage Press...I actually whipped out a Fiskars border punch for this card...love the Santa ornament I got from my local dollar store...:)

Inspired by Card Patterns.

All dressed up

My maternal grandparents...all dressed up for my parents' wedding many years ago. I have no memory of this grandfather because he passed away before I was two. But my mum has the sweetest stories to tell of her father...especially ones pertaining to the love he had for my grandmother...(hence the love quote in the round journal tag)..Do you like to hear stories about your grandparents?

Bo Bunny papers...Adorn It letter stickers..handstitching....

With grandma

Here's my nephew O, with his grandma (my mum)...I have so few photos with my own grandparents...:( so I'm making it a point to ensure that my nephews have a lot of them!

I misted a stencil over the cardstock for a subtle design on the background. Added the photo, then used white paint for the border of the photo...text and leaves are from Scenic Route paper...flowers from Prima...I handstitched along the flourishes and wrote my journaling with a white pen....title letters are stickers from Adorn It.

*Edited* I was one of the winners at Create with this layout! :)

Retro gals

Check out the retro gals...my mum and her sister...as single gals in 1969... Those dresses are back in fashion! :) This layout was done for this week's Scrapping Out Loud challenge which is to incorporate a ribbon weave. I went for a graphic feel with the dark cardstock and the pops of red. I did a simple ribbon weave then braided the ribbons and added EK Success stickers for the title work (hard to photograph though!). Happy Tuesday friends!

CJ & M

Meet CJ & M - my new friend Sherry's grandbabies...aren't they adorable? Sherry commented on this post and "won" herself a little handmade project! Told you I take comments seriously! :) I decided that I should randomly pick people to make stuff for so keep a watch on your mailbox! :)

This was done on a B4 canvas. I used the Heidi Swapp butterfly mask and misted (love maya mist...it adheres to almost every surface!), stamped with Technique Tuesday stamps, then heat embossed with gold embossing powder. I outlined the stamped and embossed images with a white pen for added definition. I used a black pen to outline the butterflies. ..inked the edges of the canvas and also doodled around to create a frame.....stickles on the butterflies..and some butterfly bling...added some American Crafts rub-on dragonflies. The "frames" for the photos came from packaging (a little upcycling)...added some bling for a little sparkle!

You make me smile

This week's challenge at Scrapping the Music is the song Smile by Uncle Kracker. Have you heard it? It's such a catchy tune...with lovey dovey lyrics....:) My layout You make me smile features my nephew O and the funny face he gave me when I asked him to pose.

I used a Heidi Swapp mask and Maya Mist...some handstiching, some doodling (along the edges) and a lot of glitter.

I want to take the opportunity to thank my friend Carrie for this award. She has three adorable daughters and they do amazing craft projects together. She's one of the sweetest people ever - she went away to Disneyland for a week or so and came back to comment on every single one of my blog posts that she missed! How sweet is that! :) You make me smile Carrie!

Season's greetings

Check out my new Season's Greetings stamp...one of the few goodies from my friend Amy...thanks dear! :) Assembled from various scraps (Cosmo Cricket, Basic Grey & Scenic Route) stickles, ribbon and some bling...

Inspired by Card Patterns.

25th

I think I enjoy December 25th the most as a child...being on the receiving end and not getting stressed out over buying gifts for others. There were also the annual phototaking sessions with all the pretty lights at the shopping malls to look forward to...ahh..to be a kid again!

The pleats on this card drove me crazy...and note the imperfect circle...oh well, it does look handmade then...*LOL*. Papers are from Bo Bunny.

Inspired by CPS.

Pink

Pink...yes...pink makeup...that was what my nephews were wearing when they had their year-end school performance....and a whole lot of hairspray! I was tickled pink of course and had to take some incriminating photos [insert evil laugh here...*LOL*]

I was happy to use some really girly papers for this LO...three bugs in a rug! Pressed petals chipboard...puffy floral stickers (courtesy of Jeanet)...brads from Making Memories.

Merry Christmas

Merry merry Christmas...I'm finally getting to making some Christmas cards...:)

Just a simple one using some scraps, a Martha Stewart butterfly punch, stickles and a little handstitching.

Inspired by Get Sketchy & SPCC.

* Edited* I made Top 5 at SPCC!

A December memory

This week's challenge at Scrapping Out Loud is to scrap about a December holiday memory. I found this old family photo...I must have been 3 or so...My brother and I were very into reading books...check out the stack of books on the table...and look at my hair...(oh well, my mum cut my hair all the way till I could afford to pay for my own haircut *LOL*).

Love these retro papers from Prima...lots of fussy cutting and handstitching...a little red stickles.

You are my world

I really love these Bo Bunny papers...with lovey dovey sentiments like "you are my world" - just perfect for cards! :) Have a beautiful week my friends!

Inspired by Card Patterns.

Look at me

It is so hard to photograph my nephew O...Look at me features him refusing to smile for me despite being really happy at the bird park.

Bo Bunny papers on clear acrylic...(love these papers!)...handcut letters for the title work...All elements propped up on 3D foam...glossy accents for added dimension...Stazon for edges of acrylic...felt frame is from Fancy Pants. It was a really fun layout to put together...:)

Inspired by The Creative Type.

Fun

I'm having fun scrapping some old family vacation photos...:)

Scenic Route papers..some handstitching...and glitter! Happy Friday! :)

Inspired by Creative Scrappers.

Rejuvenate

Rejuvenate is my take on the challenge at Scrap Mojo...What do you do to destress?...I tried this neat trick I saw by Maggie Holmes on the Studio Calico blog - misting/masking/painting which you can see here. I masked and misted, then added paint around the misted circular journaling block. I love the effect...it is really a quick way to achieve a focal point on the page. Patterned paper is from Scenic Route...some handstitching...

Forever friends

Forever friends...Websters' Pages paper, chipboard by K & Co, Stamp by I/O, buttons, lace, pearls, stickles and of course, some handstitching.

Inspired by CPS.

Freeze!

This week's challenge at Scrapping Out Loud is to scrap a family photo. Okay friends...have a good laugh...Freeze! features a family photo taken years ago...when we went on vacation in Korea in totally uncoordinated winterwear. This is what happens when you borrow winterwear from various friends and relatives...you get caught by the fashion police. My sister says my dad looked like a Russian mobster. *LOL*.

October Afternoon papers...stickles, handstitching, labels from K & Co, American Crafts chipboard, letter stickers are from Provocraft and Toga.

Happy Tuesday!:)

Me

This week's challenge at Scrapping the Music is the song Love, me by Colin Raye...one of my favourite songs ever...I love the lyrics! My layout features me at 9 months...I was cute eh? *LOL*.

Scenic Route papers....some handstitching and journaling on the chipboard title....Have a fabulous Monday!

Treasure

Hello! Hope you are having a great weekend! I made this little treasure project for my friend Amy, a super fantabulous cardmaker! Check out her beautiful family photo - a treasure indeed! I "met" Amy through Card Patterns - she always stopped by to leave me the sweetest comments on my early cards (disasters!) which meant the world to a novice cardmaker. She left a comment on one of my layouts that she wished she could just send me her photos to scrap...So i did! Of course, she had to send me the most beautiful photo ever - I love that they are all hugging each other...so instead of a layout, she got an altered item! :)

The photo frame was from Ikea which I painted blue (I mixed blue, green and white to get his shade). When the paint dried, I added crackle paint in rock candy (LOVE this!) which gave subtle cracks and a light glossy finish. I only used one sheet of patterned paper (Webster's Pages of course). Ribbon, tulle, pearls, flowers, bling butterflies.chipboard from K & Co...rub-on from Stemma.

So now you know I take my comments very seriously...*LOL*.

Joy

Webster's Pages is currently having a 12 days of Christmas crop...a new project is shared everyday...and you can take part in the challenges if you upload your projects within 72 hours...really challenging. Joy is the only project I managed to do so far (they are on day 8)...glass frame on easel, inspired by this project by Iris Uy. It looks nothing like hers though...I'm bad at scraplifting...*LOL*

I used crackle paint in rock candy on the papers for a nice subtle crackle effect. I inked the edges of the glass with Stazon, added some stickles, then poured glitter over. The trim on the easel was originally silver...I dunked it in gloss medium, then poured glitter on it. I adhered the overlay to the easel with stickles. American Crafts chipboard on an upcycled chinese butterfly trim. Added some paper flowers and leaves. Easel is from Ikea.

Two

Two features my parents at their wedding dinner. I love this photo of them....they looked a little shy...about to start their life journey together.

This was done on a piece of 12x12 clear acrylic...if you look carefully, you can see a clear border between the white lace and the red paper. I inked the edges of the acrylic piece with two shades of Stazon (you can't see from the photo) because the distressed edges of the outermost border was not completely glued down (to create a little extra dimension). The Graphic 45 papers were inked with various distress inks. The buttons were originally white - I inked it with Stazon for the aged look. I made a floral bow (tied a bow twice) and added 2 twirled paper flowers. I snipped the petals, inked them, then folded some of them down to show the backside of the patterned paper.

Inspired by Let's get shabby.

Monstrosity

Monstrosity...of the cute kind! :) My first "engineered" photo shoot gone awry...I love the expressions on my nephews' faces...:)

I love these Sassafras monsters (if you don't know by now *LOL*)...it's amazing how much mileage you get when you fussy cut the patterned paper (I never buy more than 1 sheet per design)..Brads are from Basic Grey, American Crafts chipboard, some stickles and handstitching.

Inspired by Creative Scrappers.

O big baby

This week's challenge at Scrapping Out Loud is to use numbers on your layout. My layout O big baby features my second nephew enjoying his birthday cake...:)

Pink Paislee papers...some lace...butterfly bling..Imaginisce brads, American Crafts chipboard...some distress inks (masking)....journaling on brown paper...and no handstitching!

Sugar & spice

Sugar & spice...and everything nice! Hope you are having a beautiful week my friends! :)

Inspired by Get Sketchy.

There is something quirky about you

This week's challenge at Scrapping the Music is the song Something Beautiful. My layout...There is something quirky about you features my oldest nephew and his love of chicken feet...not exactly the kind of stuff pre-schoolers like...or me...it certainly is a delicacy I do not enjoy.. even though I'm pretty adventurous about food (except anything that is still alive and moving!)

I went for the homely feel using papers from Graphic 45. (Doiley is from a restaurant I recently lunched at...I'm so into doilies that I get excited whenever drinks are served...needless to say, everyone at my table had to pass me their doilies before they got soiled! *LOL*) Chipboard letters are from Heidi Swapp. Letter stickers from Provocraft, Toga and Adorn it. Some handstiching, paper piercing, journaling printed on brown packaging paper. Tab is from 7Gypsies.

Love you

Just a simple card -Love you- using my scraps from October Afternoon. I tried out my new Martha Stewart glitter...(messy but so pretty)...some handstitching. ...a nice big bow...Have a fabulous weekend my friends! :)

Inspired by Card Patterns.

Happy birthday

Happy birthday to my bestie A! Using scraps from Graphic 45...embossed cardstock (inked with Brilliance gold ink), butterfly bling and some handstitching. Happy Thursday!

Inspired by CPS.

No big secret

Love this photo of my oldest nephew S, carrying his youngest brother J...it's no big secret that they both adore each other...:) October Afternoon papers...and some handstitching..

Inspired by Kiddie Lit.

African Safari

So I haven't been on my favourite vacation yet...because I wanna go on an African Safari! Nature at its best! Someday....soon. It is on my bucket list! Check out my garden tribute...cacti in an old fish tank complete with plastic wild animals... (It looks really good at night with tealights!) Right now, I'll just have to be contented with visiting the zoo...and watching National Geographic...

Just animal felt stickers, paper scraps, letter stickers and handstitching!

Inspired by the prompt at These are a few of my favorite things.

3.10.9

This week's challenge at Scrapping Out Loud is a recipe challenge...the ingredients are 3 circles, 1 picture, 5 buttons, scallops and 1 heart. My layout 3.10.9 features an awkwardly composed shot of my three nephews...(I'm still searching for the elusive perfect shot)..okay, so not everyone's looking at the camera but at least everybody's happy...could be the prospect of eating cake (always a happy moment *LOL*) but this shot captures the typical "craziness" when the kids stay over.

So I tried my best to stick strictly to the recipe...1 picture, 5 buttons, scallops (sort of...more like waves actually), 3 circles (I used 3 puffy round stickers...small grey ones at the bottom of the journaling panel), 1 heart (incorporated in my journaling). And a whole lot of handstitching for the panels...totally necessary because this layout was assembled totally from scraps (some serious overlapping sections at the back)...which sort of explains the weird combination of patterned papers (the fishes and the monsters). *LOL* :)

Still haven't found what I'm looking for

This week's challenge at Scrapping the Music is the song Still haven't found what I'm looking for by U2. My layout features my youngest nephew J in a series of photos taken in the few minutes that I had his attention ( I lost to the stuffed animals!)...Sassafras papers, buttons, ribbons, crepe paper, American Crafts chipboard (outlined with a white pen)...a little handstitching (around the flowers)..journaling with white pen on photo....:)

Lovely

Hello my friends! A quick card using Sassafras scraps, stickles, ribbon, doiley and handstitching... Have a lovely weekend!

Inspired by Card Patterns.

Do not peek

Do not peek....a long Christmas card (4 x12)...scraps from Luxe and Sassafras...some handstitching, bling and stickles..

Inspired by CPS.