Somebody really likes to make cards...

Now that the Gangster Gang [aka 3 nephews + 1 niece] is into digital media [games on the tablet], I see a lot less of them on Saturdays. I mean, I still hear them when they are arguing over whose turn it is, but I don't really spend time with them until they get bored and ask to watch something on Netflix. Or when they turn into "zombies" and I have to bring them out to the playground to get "unzombified". *LOL*

The first one to get bored is usually the niece. She would come to my room and just stare at me. Apparently, I'm a mind reader. *winks*

"What do you want?" I would ask her.

" I don't know." She would reply.

"You want me to tickle you?" 

"Noooooooooo....."

"You want to sit on my lap?"

"Yes."

Of course, having a child sit on your lap when you are drawing/painting/scrapbooking is not exactly the most ideal of situations. Especially when the child asks a lot of questions. And there's also the weight situation. I draw the line when I can't feel my legs anymore.

"Would you like to make cards?"

"YES!!!!!"

And that was how I got somebody interested in making cards....

Just look at her happy face...somebody really likes to make cards...;)

These days I'm challenging myself to really mix it up when it comes to patterns. Tucking in little bits and pieces here and there...

And then trying to pull the whole thing together with embellishments.

It takes a lot longer on each layout but there's a great sense of satisfaction when the little bits and bobs get used up. :)

Playing along with My Creative Sketches.

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The story about the 15 minute dinner

It might seem like fun and games at the Yam household when the nephews and niece come around on Saturdays but unless the meal is like pasta with cheese or pizza with cheese [yes, cheese is very popular here...*winks*] or something sweet (tea time is their fave), mealtimes here are pretty much like attending a funeral. 

Yes, super sad faces that would grimace at the sight of vegetables or meat or brown rice [you know...all the healthy stuff] and it would take like hours for them to finish the meal, you know, with most of it uneaten.

The other day, I offered them an incentive to finish their dinner. 

"If you finish ALL of your dinner, you will get dessert." I said.

"What is the dessert?" they chimed.

"Green tea ice-cream." I answered.

Their faces lighted up immediately [note: before that, it was "funeral" expressions...*LOL*] and after a mere 15 minute struggle (hahahaha), they cleared their plates!

Yep....they had tried my green tea ice-cream the week before and loved it so it was a good enough incentive. :)

Shhhh...don't tell them that all I used was a Japanese green tea ice-cream mix whipped with fresh milk and frozen for a couple of hours. *winks* They still think I'm brilliant because I can make panna cotta which they LOVE. ;)

This layout took a bit of time though...because I really wanted to fit in as many paper scraps as I could. I even got some mismatched American Crafts chipboard letters in there [pats self on back...hehe] and yes, even the border punch came into play, along with some brads and stickers. :)

Playing along with My Creative Sketches.

P/s: I am travelling this week so I might be slow in blog visits..I promise to catch up soon! 

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Sweet treat party

So my sister went on a skiing vacation in Canada back in December/January and came back with sweet treats for us.  

Here is the Gangster Gang (niece + nephews) posing with their maple syrup lollipops.  And why yes, it was totally staged. I made them take a video to thank aunt E. *winks*

And I got a few baking related pressies too! *big smile* Yeah, that is a really tiny whisk. *LOL*

I had fun rummaging through my paper scraps for this cutesy layout. It was a sweet treat indeed to find bits and pieces that somehow "work" together on a layout.

Playing along with My Creative Sketches.

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How many paper scrap pieces did I use on my layout?

These days, the goal is to use up as many scrap pieces on my layouts as possible....and it is hard! I have a lot of small pieces that I just can't bear to throw away. 

How many paper scrap pieces did I use on my layout? Go ahead and count....I'll wait for you. *winks*

Did you guess 23? Then you are right! *LOL*

Playing along with My Creative Sketches.

P/s: Layout features my cousin, her husband and their little boy- my nephew E!:)

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The layout with lots of stuff...

Meet my layout with lots of stuff on it...*winks * 

I was sorting out my paper stash and the scraps were driving me crazy. So I challenged myself to use them ALL on my layout. All? I didn't even make a dent in the scrap pile. *LOL*

Anyway, my sister went skiing in Canada during the Christmas/New year holiday season and only returned after her birthday. So we had a family celebration for her before she left.

It was my first time preparing a birthday celebration breakfast....I kept it simple even though I made everything from scratch (and it took forever for an amateur cook...hahaha). Of course, now that I'm into baking/cooking, I need to invest in some lovely serving dishes...note that the square cake is on a too-small round plate. It was either that or serving it in the baking tin. *LOL*

Playing along with My Creative Sketches.

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Sometimes it is totally necessary for your photos to be in black and white...*winks*

You know how it is friends...sometimes it is totally necessary for your photos to be in black and white...just to coordinate with your patterned papers, right? *winks*

Especially when you found the perfect piece of patterned paper in your stash that already looks like the sketch in the challenge you want to play along with. *LOL* 

All I did was add some textural elements for a little depth and the layout was done! Don't you just love a patterned paper that does most/all of the work for you? :)

Playing along with My Creative Sketches.

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Yam shenanigans...*winks*

Well, my sister got herself a huge new scooter and the Gangster Gang [aka nephews + niece] were super excited that they got to "ride" on it for photos. You know,  typical Yam shenanigans. *winks*

Check out those happy faces sitting on a stationary bike! *LOL*

After that, they all got to try on Aunt E's helmets and pose for photos of course!

Playing along with My Creative Sketches.

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Cheeky kids...

So I spent some time with these 2 cheeky kids [aka nephew + niece] the other day. Yes, they are past the age when you can get them to do stuff for you without asking why...and getting them to do your "bidding" requires serious negotiation. *Okay, it's called bribery! LOL!* But we still had a lot of fun!

I kept the layout really simple because I really wanted to use the Sassafras patterned paper with all the animals that I have been hoarding for a few years. Yes, I've been ruthless in the patterned paper usage of late...[Okay, it's either use it or get rid of it because of spatial issues]. 

I also took out my Art Anthology stone effects paint out for a spin on the chipboard title. 

Playing along with My Creative Sketches.

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Guess who got to "ride" on the scooter?

So the nephews were pretty excited when Aunt E said they could "ride" on her scooter for some photos...:)

The photos were not great because of the lighting so I printed two photos - one in colour and another in black and white - and "combined" them. 

I ran out of 3D dots so I propped the photos up with cardboard for a dimensional look.

Random bits of patterned paper were added for pops of colour. I did a little machine-stitching for a more "finished" look.

I added some twine and cork paper for texture.

Playing along with My Creative Sketches.

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