This is why I can get my cards done in 5 minutes...

Whenever I get new dies from Maya Road, I tend to grab my paper scraps and my die-cutting machine...and spend the next few hours "in the zone". *winks*

Since I'm the lazy sort who will not get my die-cutting machine out every single time I need a die-cut, this is the best way for me. :)

I also have my card bases cut out, scored and within easy reach.

This is why I can get my cards done in 5 minutes...[my butt doesn't leave the chair! *LOL*]

Pin It

One fine Saturday....

I love watching the nephews and niece interact with each other. They exclaim openly how much they "hate each other" but really stand together when it comes to exasperating their fave aunt. *winks*

Case in point: Photo #1. We were early in sending the niece for ballet class so we had to hang around the nearby sports store. Of course, they were loud and ran around the store. They only behaved when I said I didn't bring my wallet and if they broke anything, they had to work a very long time there to pay off their debt. *LOL*

This fine Saturday was also the day when the Gangster Gang refused to pose for photos. *A bad day for auntrazzi...*

Still working through my scrap pile...:)

Playing along with Stuck?! Sketches. 

Pin It

14 gift-wrapping ideas

I love gift-wrapping presents, especially when I can utilize my "save-it-for-a-rainy-day" stash to make something pretty to brighten up somebody's day. :) Here are 14 gift-wrapping ideas.

Upcycled tea tin

Upcycled gift container

1. Shabby chic tins

Sturdy metal tins make great packaging. Make them pretty with lace, flowers and bling.

Currently loving kraft pillow boxes

Decorating a pillow box

2. Fancy pillow boxes

If you are giving away something small, decorate some pillow boxes with stickers and stamping. I get these when I buy charm bracelets [that I collect but never wear..] and I like to fill them with sweet treats. :)

Or if your gift is a little more substantial, you can go for a more decorated pillow box - patterned paper, lace, ribbon, chipboard and blooms.

A Christmas gift box

Upcycled gift wrap tutorial

3. Decorated pull-out boxes

I love pull-out packaging boxes. Try a glittery cute "scene" or a pretty textured look.

When I found a brown paper envelope

4. Make a brown paper envelope cute

If your gift is long and flat like a notepad, go with a decorated brown paper envelope. I embellished mine with cute stuff.:)

Decorated paper bag for Maya Road

Baby boy paper bag

5. Pretty up a plain brown paper bag

Patterned paper and pretty/cute embellishments can make any plain shopping bag look much better.

A quick decorated box

The decorated paper bag

6. A decorated box and matching paper bag.

If you want to get a little more fancy, decorate a box and a matching paper bag. :)

A piece of remnant fabric makes a great gift-wrap

7. A bento box wrap

When you don't have wrapping paper big enough for your box, go with some remnant fabric.

An altered tea box

8. Go for a metallic look.

A little bit of mixed media texture and some hardware can dress up an otherwise plain box.

Tiered cake box for Xyron

9. Tiered cake boxes

If you have a few gifts, you can go for some pretty tiered cake boxes. They look pretty individually but really pack a punch when they stand together. :)

There you have it...14 gift-wrapping ideas. Which is your fave?


P/s: Happy weekend friends!

Pin It

This week's quick card...:)

Presenting this week's card using stash from the scrap pile! :)

Why yes, it's those Basic Grey birds yet again. Seriously, all those birds came from one sheet of 12x12 patterned paper! 

Another postal friendly card all done! The scrap pile seems to be getting smaller...yeah right! *LOL*

Pin It

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.

Pin It

The 10 minute card from the scrap pile...

I must say that I am quite enjoying the process of using the little bits and pieces from my scrap pile to complete my projects. Even though it might take years before I can see an actual reduction in the scrap pile [just trying to be realistic...*LOL*], the rediscovery and utilization of old faves has rekindled my love for the basic paper and glue kind of crafting. :)

Like this 10 minute card that I made with bits and pieces from the scrap pile [and yes, apparently I had a fussy cutting phase where I would painstakingly cut out all the cute images from patterned paper and organized them into ziplog bags..].

Your hands stay clean, your manicure isn't ruined and one of your friends gets a handmade card. :)

Pin It

An obsession with frames...:)

Well friends, you know how I get when I am obsessed with something. And my latest obsession is the wood frames from Maya Road. I just want to use them on every project. :)

Here on this layout, I used them to "frame" faces and made them into banner pennants for a fun design element.

And yes, my fave cousin just had a baby boy...another chance for me to be fave aunt of course! *winks*

Pin It

Baby boy paper bag for LESSology

I found this cute little bear in my stash when I was reorganizing my stash...it was one of those freebies you got with a purchase...and I thought it would be cute to incorporate it on my paper bag for LESSology Challenge #61: Bag Collector. 

I started with this sturdy kraft paper bag from Kiehl's. I cut patterned papers to fit the bag on both sides and ran them through my Xyron creative station for an even layer of adhesive.

For a pop of colour, I added a remnant piece of felt from my stash and some colourful polka-dotted ribbon. The black cord handles didn't match my colour scheme so I braided some twine to make new handles for the paper bag.

I added some washers both as reinforcement as well as a decorative feature.

I thought it would be fun to have the teddy bear wear a diaper so I enlisted my mother's help to fold a nappy with some remnant fabric. :)

Pin It

Back to basics: graphite pencil drawings

So, a couple of weeks ago, I decided that in order to draw "loose", I must first master the basics of drawing. Which means using the graphite pencil and learning about values and shading.

I have a new found respect for graphite pencil artists because it takes hours to shade and blend each facial feature. And the more time you spend on a portrait, the better it looks.

P/s: I was travelling last week and will play catch-up on your blogs this week...happy week ahead friends! :)

Pin It