Roll call....:)

When you have to take care of someone else's kids (aka my nephews), you got to have a system in place to make sure they are alive and kicking...*LOL* I put the roll call system in place earlier this month. I call out their names and they have to reply "Alive!".  Of course, the littlest one can't really pronounce the word so he says "Awife!" which is pretty entertaining! :)

I was inspired by the challenge at Get Picky.

Supplies: (from Your Scrapbook Stash) Echo Park Papers and stickers, (Others) Basic Grey brad and photo turn, Maya mist, American Crafts puffy stickers, twine, brown pen, buttons.

*Edited* This layout was featured in Aussie Scrap Source reader entries featuring Echo Park Paper.

Make a card for Olivia! :)

I wanted to make a card for little Olivia, Stacey's niece, who has a brain tumour. Stacey's organizing a card drive so that this sweet little girl gets some love from all over the world.  I found out about this through Julie Tucker-Wolek.

If you  are making a card today, why not make one for Olivia? :) If you would like to send your well-wishes or card, please read this post Cards for Olivia Drive to get the details.

Supplies: (from Your Scrapbook Stash) Echo Park Papers, (from my stash) wrinkle ribbon, button.

The reluctant poser

Nephew #2 doesn't have many individual shots because he tends to freeze up in front of the camera...really the reluctant poser.

I wanted to play along with Scrap It Lah's challenge this month...to incorporate misting, stamping and embossing and to dress up a raw chipboard.

Supplies: Echo Park Papers and stickers, Unity Stamp Co stamps, Fancy Pants star chipboard, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Maya mists, Kaisercraft wood embellishment, plastic mesh from Gauche Alchemy used for masking, buttons, thread, wrinkle ribbon, brown pen, white pen, baker's twine.

P/s: Come play along with my guest Erum's ribbon flower challenge! :)

National Day Parade 2011

My country recently celebrated her 46th year of independence and we got tickets to attend the National Day Parade...all decked out in red! :)

I enjoyed making this layout...using bits and pieces from various brands. The way I like to scrapbook. Recently I've been sticking to about 80% of a single brand on my projects so that I can share on manufacturers' gallery/facebook pages. I do mix lines within a brand though...just so I can exercise a little more creativity. Do you like mixing brands or just sticking to one brand at a time?

Supplies: Patterned papers from Echo Park Paper, Scenic Route Paper, Studio Calico, My Mind's Eye and My Little Shoebox, 7 Gypsies tab, Making Memories brads and photo turn, The Twinery twine, American Crafts thickers, Sam and Lucy stickers, SRM stickers, Martha Stewart edge punch, metal bookplate, wrinkle ribbon.

P/s: Have a fabulous weekend friends! Come play along with my guest Erum's ribbon flower challenge! :)

You are my fave! :)

My littlest nephew J recently decided that I'm his fave person of all time [he's 28 months old and hasn't met that many people]. *LOL* He sticks to me like super glue. He wails when he doesn't see me. And nobody else can console him but me. His attachment is pretty surprising since I only see him once a week [or twice]. It has resulted in some inconveniences actually. It's hard to squeeze a workout in when he's around. He sulks when I wear my workout shoes. Yep, serious abandonment issues! The other day I thought I scored a victory when I let him do some colouring while I worked out in the same room. 45 minutes later, I got a follow-up workout...he coloured the floor with his crayons!

I'm thinking this is a phase and it'll pass. I should just milk it while I can right? *LOL*

Supplies: (from Your Scrapbook Stash) Echo Park Papers and stickers, (from my stash) Maya mists, brown pen, ice-cream stick, paper piercer.

I used the sketch from Let's Capture These Sketches.

Would you want to see me doing a somersault? *LOL*

Today's layout features my littlest nephew, J, demonstrating his newly acquired somersault skill. It seems like everything a kid does for the first time warrants a layout...I mean would you want to see a layout of me doing a somersault? *LOL*

                 I used the sketch at Creative Scrappers.

I love the fun shape of the photo mats...they were cut from the remainder of the patterned paper that was used in the Just water..and boys mini album. Love it when the hard work's already done...*winks*

Supplies: (from Your Scrapbook Stash) Echo Park Papers and stickers, (from my stash) Maya mists, American Crafts puffy stickers, Fancy Pants felt embellishment, paper piercer, buttons, ribbon, white pen.

P/s: Don't forget about my guest Mel's layered challenge...it ends on Friday! :) If you are into making altered items, we are looking for a design team member at LESSology! :)

Create a ribbon flower with Erum Tasneem! :)

My guest today is the super talented Erum Tasneem of  VIBGYOR Krafts. Erum makes the most breathtaking creations. Her projects are always full of textures and layers.She has a great sense of colour which she combines with her beautifully handmade flowers to stunning effect! Today she shares an awesome tutorial on how to create an amazing ribbon flower. She's also hosting a ribbon challenge with a fabulous prize for the winner! :)

Prepare to be awed! Check out some of E's creations!

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Hi! I am E.T. of VIBGYOR Krafts. I live in Karachi, Pakistan and we have very few craft supplies here, tons of art supplies but almost zero craft supplies. Because of limited craft supplies, I gravitated towards making stuff on my own. For instance, dyeing my own paper and drawing and cutting my own flowers. I have always been inspired by the Prima flowers I see used by so many crafters. Fairly recently this inspiration has led me to making fabric flowers. I still make paper flowers and sometimes combine both fabric and paper flowers together in one card.  

I mostly make cards with no images and just flowers framing a sentiment (which is usually computer generated due to lack of stamps). I am happy with what I have and I think sometimes my cards come out good enough. I do make a lot of flowers from scratch and today I have a pictorial for you. I have come up with this flower on my own and the resulting flower is gorgeous. 

Thanks to Yvonne for considering my creations worthy enough to showcase here.

Things you need:

Ribbon or fabric (preferably 1 inch or above)

Glue

Glitter (not necessary)

Step 1.Apply glitter or stickles to one edge of the ribbon. Let it dry.

Step 2. Cut out a rough circle, this will be your flower base. This doesn’t have to be perfect, it won’t show.

Step 3.Apply glue on the circle and start gathering your ribbon as shown in the picture.

Step 4.You can also overlap and make a second ruffled layer.

Step 5. Stop at any point you want to or continue to add a third layer. Now start twisting the ribbon instead of adding more ruffles (like you make a twisted rose).

Step 6. Keep twisting and gluing down the twisted ribbon until you are pleased with the outcome. Now cut your ribbon, apply a bit of glue at the end of the ribbon and insert it in the flower’s center.

Step 7.You can finish it off here by adding a gem or button OR

Step 8. You can take a thinner ribbon than the one you are using right now. Cut it 3-4 inches, roll it and glue it in the center like I did.

Step 9. Play around with your flower until you get the desired result. Tuck in and glue a few sharp folds and this is what you will get.

You can see that I didn’t continue with applying glitter along the entire edge. Midway through the making of this flower, I thought I would add glitter once the flower is complete. Here is what it looks like after I placed it on my project.

Here is my project.

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Isn't that a stunning card? Ready to play along? Link up your newly created projects featuring a handmade ribbon flower via Inlinkz (located at the end of the post) by Friday September 9 for your chance to win this awesome ribbon collection...

As always, please leave a little love for my guest Erum!

I have a box full of cards ...and nothing to mail out. *LOL*

Hello friends! :) I was just sorting through my box of completed cards and realized how much I've grown as a cardmaker. And how some of my older cards need a redo! *LOL*

I'm re-evaluating my card-making strategy though...a box full of completed cards.... yet when I need one, I almost always can't find a suitable one in my stash to mail out. And end up having to make a new one....so much for being ahead in the game! :)

This card was inspired by the vintage challenge week at 365 cards.

Supplies: Patterned papers by Graphic 45, green trim by Webster's Pages, Ranger Distress Ink,  button, burlap, swirly chipboard, wrinkle ribbon.

P/s: Don't forget about my guest Mel's layered challenge...it ends on Friday! :)

Let's get together and create havoc...:)

Oh yes, I'm sure there's a not-so-secret pact between my three nephews to get together and create havoc on my bed....yep, my bed is their fortress. There's only one rule: if you stink, you can't get on the bed...now you know why they have so many bath photos! *LOL*

I had a lot of fun layering this...aka my guest blogger Mel's layered challenge. :) I used the sketch at Creative Scrappers.

Supplies: (from Your Scrapbook Stash): Echo Park Papers and stickers, velvet ribbon, (from my stash): Baker's twine, SRM sticker, buttons, Kaisercraft wood embellishment, buttons, wrinkle ribbon

P/s: Have an amazing weekend friends! :)

Love a hearty laugh! :)

It's interesting how grown people work really hard to make a kid laugh for the camera, eh? But I think it's worth it for this picture of my niece...love a hearty [and toothless] laugh! :) 

I used the sketch at Pencil Lines and the prompt at Bird is the word.

Supplies: (from Your Scrapbook Stash) Echo Park Papers and stickers, (from my stash) American Crafts cardstock and thickers, buttons, pom pom trim, Heidi Swapp stamp, brown pen, white pen, paper piercer, 3D dots, ribbon.

P/s: Will you leave a little love for me over LESSology? Thanks sweet friends! :)