The outdoor girl

My niece Sophie is always happy when she's outdoors. Her face lights up the moment you suggest a walk. :)

Here is the outdoor girl, posing for photos before we head out for a walk. :)

Playing along with the December challenge at Inkido and The Studio using the sketch from Sketchbook 365. 

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Morning tea at The Tearoom...

So I finally got to enjoy morning at The Tearoom at the iconic Queen Victoria Building in Sydney. It was a decadent indulgence after a long red-eye flight. :)

The couple seated before us was dressed to the nines in labels to match the grand decor of the place....while I was still wearing my in-flight outfit because it was too early to check-in! At least they didn't turn me away...*LOL*

The morning tea was scrumptious and terribly sinful. Even the macaron was yummy. [I typically find meringue-based confections too sweet for my liking.]

Lot of fun with a new medium - Liquitex resin sand, mixed with glass bead gel and mica flakes. Love the shimmering effect.

Playing along with the challenges at Skissedilla and The Studio.


P/s: Come play along with my guest Ashley's patterned paper challenge and LESSology Challenge #29: Birthday Party.

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A lesson in messing around...

Ever thought your finished project just needed a little extra something, then proceeded to add that "extra something" and have it pretty much backfire on you? 

Well, this was mine. 

The 30-minute layout that became a 60-minute horror show....

I started with a little grid stamping with my new distress paint on the background, then proceeded to lay my photos and embellishments.

Then I thought it might be a good idea to add more distress paint [yes...I just got this distress paint...*winks*]. For some reason, I loved the circles I got with the dabber and I swear something possessed me...and before long [like 2 minutes later], there were orange circles all over my layout! [dramatic music plays in the background...]

Then I thought I should add some stamping to tone down all the orange. After the first stamping, I realized that I stamped the text upside down [yeah...it just got more messy!]. At this point, I was feeling like the lead actress in a crafting horror show...*LOL*

In the end, I added some fiber paste with a stencil and finished with distress glitter. Glitter always saves the day! :)

What about you? Ever been the lead in your own craft horror show?  Join me, I'm an A lister...*LOL*

Playing along with the glitter challenge at The Studio Challenges...I used stickles and sequins.

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The angry birds story...

So littlest nephew J and niece S asked for a story the other day. It had to be about Angry Birds. I had to make one up...*winks*

Me: Once upon a time, there was a boy named Jeremy. He had 3 angry birds. One was....

Jeremy: Blue

Sophie: Red

Jeremy: Yellow

Sophie: Green

Me: Okay, so he had 4 angry birds...

Jeremy and Sophie: Yay!

Me: One day, a green pig came to visit. "Can I see your angry birds, please?"

Jeremy and Sophie: No!

Me: "Okay, how about we get your angry birds to sing for me?" asked the pig.

Jeremy: Okay!

Sophie: Okay! 

Jeremy and Sophie proceeded to sing all the songs they knew [they were singing for the pig, remember?]. It was highly entertaining for me....definitely one of our best days together ever! *LOL*

Playing along with the challenges at Once Upon a ...Sketch, the Studio and Scrap it with a Song. :)

P/s: Come play along with my guest Lizzy's challenge! And don't forget about my Faber Castell Design Memory Craft giveaway! 

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One of the best things about living in Asia....

One of the best things about living in Asia is the close proximity of other Asian cities. Just a couple of hours on a plane and you find yourself a whole new place to explore and savour. :)

I was inspired by the sketch at The Studio.

Supplies: American Crafts patterned papers, Maya mists, Imaginarium Designs chipboard letters, Jenni Bowlin stickers, Golden glass bead gel, brown pen, paper clip.

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When time stood still...

I love this beautiful photo of my cousin and her husband...sharing a passionate kiss right after the vows...when time stood still. :)

I decided against cropping the background scene out because I think it aids in telling the story of this magical moment...when time stood still. [plus both the bride and groom's mothers were clapping happily in the background.:)]

Playing along with the vintage challenge at The Studio and the sketch challenge at C'est Magnifique.

Supplies: Carta Bella patterned papers, Crafter's Workshop stencil, Maya mist, Jenni Bowlin button, Prima canvas letters and swirls, trim.

P/s: Come play along with my guest Miae Rowe's masking tape challenge and LESSology Challenge #15: The Bookend Challenge! :)

*Edited* This layout made Top 5 at C'est Magnifique.

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The gangster gang: the fire hydrant edition!

So last week, you met the gangster gang *winks*.... this layout features them [my nephews] posing with the fire hydrant. Yeah...they were still very hyper after an hour at the playground [except for little J who was really tired] and posed with a few inanimate objects on the walk home...*LOL*

I had fun making and misting the background for my little "scene". I added some clay strawberries and a wooden cat [from a keychain] and made a signboard from ice-cream sticks.

A little stamping on the canvas banners...

Supplies: Artful Delight May 2012 kit, Prima mask and canvas letters, SRM stickers, Technique Tuesdays stamps, Maya mists, ribbon, various embellishments, brown pen, twine, safety pin, brad.


I love that this layout incorporates a lot of my fave things - white cardstock, misting and masking, stickers, banners and fun dimensional elements to create a "scene"....so I'm linking to The Studio's favourites challenge.


P/s: Happy weekend friends! If you have time, come play along with LESSology Challenge #14: Birds of a feather! :)

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The story about the belated birthday celebration.

Hello friends! Today I want to share with you the story about littlest nephew J's belated birthday celebration. Yes, this aunt dropped the ball and celebrated her fave nephew's birthday 12 days later *Gasp* [bad, bad aunt!!!]. Not only did this aunt blame the heavy rain for ruining her trip to the cakeshop, she even attempted to....[wait for it, it's so bad it's good]...quietly "manufacture" a fake birthday memory for her nephew's scrapbook!

Oh yes, my intent was to let the nephews pose with the 3 angry birds cupcakes and then make a layout about J's birthday...even though I was totally late for it [sheepish grin]. The older two nephews weren't too happy about having to sing the birthday song again but perked up immediately when they were told that henceforth, all their birthday celebrations will be month-long! I think they were thinking about month-long cakes and presents! *LOL*

J was very happy about munching off the angry bird's head and then sharing his cupcake with his sister S. :)

I went a little crazy with the stickers...*winks*

Playing along with song title challenge at The Studio [mine's "Happy birthday to you! "] and the sketch at Creative Scrappers.

Supplies: Echo Park patterned papers and stickers, Crafter's Workshop templates, Maya mists, American Crafts thickers, SRM stickers, Ranger distress ink, ribbon, washi tape, foam, black pen, white pen.

P/s: Happy weekend friends! I would love for you to play along with my guest Sonia's recycling challenge and LESSology Challenge #13 Chest of drawers!

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A sparkling personality.

Littlest nephew J has a sparkling personality. :) He's polite [says "thank you" for everything you offer him], is super affectionate ["Can I hold your hand?" Or "Can the kissing monster kiss me?"], is a stickler for neatness [puts back his toys after playing with them] and has the sweetest singing voice. :)

I misted the white background with a Crafter's Workshop template, then used distress inks for the masked stars.

Playing along with the challenges at Bird is the Word and The Studio. I used the sketch at Lily Bee.

Supplies: Lily Bee patterned papers and stickers, SRM stickers, Maya mist, Crafter's Workshop template, Heidi Swapp chipboard and stars (as mask), Ranger Distress Ink, Stickles, buttons, handmade felt blooms, washi tape, buttons, twine, black pen, white pen, ribbon, embellishments.

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I have a thing for heels. And so do my nephews. *LOL*

I have a thing for heels. And apparently my nephews do too....they were very excited about trying on my new heels...*LOL*

 

Oh yes, they had a lot of fun...*winks*

I was inspired by the sketch at Lily Bee, the challenge at The Studio to use chevron and the challenge at ScrapFIT to include dripping and splattering.

Supplies: Lily Bee patterned papers, Maya mists, Studio Calico mists, American Crafts thickers, SRM and 7 Gypsies thickers, Ranger distress inks, brads, thread, white pen, black pen, ribbon, punchinella, corrugated cardstock.

P/s: Come play along with my guest Emily's multi-loop bow challenge! :) 

*Edited* This layout was picked as March's ScrapFit winner!

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I love these photos! :)

Hello friends! :)  I love these photos of my cheeky nephews...just being themselves. :)

I was inspired by the sketch at Sketchy Thursdays, the word at Bird is the word, the 7-ribbon challenge at Scrapbookers Anonymous and the handcut shapes challenge at The Studio.

Supplies: Imaginisce patterend papers, Craft Affair ribbon (train), 7 Gypsies stickers, twine, ribbon, brads, brown pen, glittered chipboard, 3D dots, stickles.

P/s: Come play along with my guest Chantal's postage stamps challenge! :)

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So glad to be working with colours! :)

Ahhh..so glad to be working with colours again! :) The vintage photo features my mother and older brother....perfect for my guest Debbie's vintage photo challenge. I would love for you to play along! :)

 

I made these spiral flowers from an old piece of demin. And added a row of colourful buttons. 

Inspired by The Studio challenge to create your own background, the sketch at Sketchy Thursdays and the colour inspiration at Get Picky.

Supplies: Maya mists, Crate Paper chipboard, patterned papers and stickers, buttons, denim flowers, twine.

*Edited* This layout was a Sketchy Thursdays fave! :)

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