Flashback Christmas...20 projects to get you into Christmas mode

Well friends, it's that time of the year again. If you haven't gotten your shopping done or your cards made. you should be in panic mode right about now. Like I am. Because things need to be mailed out in the first week of December to have it remotely arrive before Christmas. In 2018. *winks*

Anyway, to get me into Christmas mode, I revisited some of my old Christmas projects to see if I could get some much-needed inspiration. Since I was at it, I thought I should just share them with you, in case you were in panic mode like me. *LOL*

An upcycled tea box with Xyron and Doodlebug products

Getting into Christmas mode

A holiday decor project with Xyron

An upcycled tin  box of Christmas cards

A decorated Christmas tree and coordinating canvas

Holiday gift set with Xyron and Heidi Swapp

Happy merry everything!

Gift-wrapped boxes with Xyron

A Christmas gift box using a packaging box and Christmas cake decorations for Xyron

5 minute Christmas card

When I went crazy with my Maya Road dies..

A cardboard Christmas tag

I finally made some Christmas cards

Tag on gift box

Quick Christmas gift bags

A Christmas gift box in September

The result of makeup shopping

Projects for Maya Road/Chameleon Pens Swap...tutorials included

A Christmas card for the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

A trio of clean and simple Christmas cards

There you have it....20 Christmas project ideas to help you (actually me...hehe) get into Christmas mode. As always, all projects are linked to their original posts (some include tutorials).

P/s: Who's all prepared for Christmas?

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Mixing patterns on a layout

As the year edges closer to the end, I find myself frantically trying to scrapbook the photos on my phone lest I fall further behind. And of course, trying my best to dwindle the ever-growing (using stash creates more stash!) scrap paper pile. It gets a little disheartening when you haven't bought any new patterned papers for years (not counting the ones obtained via design team collaborations) but just can't seem to finish up your existing stash. :(

However, I do still enjoy scrapbooking my family memories immensely. Especially when I challenge myself to be "clever" and incorporate bits of humour amidst the mix of patterns n a layout. *winks*

Here on this layout (which features my mum with my nephew celebrating this year's Mid-Autumn Festival by carrying a lantern in a neighbourhood walk), I tried to incorporate rather elaborate patterned papers together while minimizing the use of plain papers to help break up the busy patterns.

I think the word die-cuts + stickers do help to divert the eye from the busy patterns to the photos.

Playing along with The Studio Challenges.

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New additions (October 2018 edition)

So I'm a little late but here are new stuff I got in October 2018!

First up...Kokuyo Drawing Markers. These are solid drawing graphic marker pens with a cool translucent finish. I had a lot of fun playing with the tester pens at Tokyo Hands so I bought a few home too. Love that I can just buy refills when I use them up. :)

I'm currently loving my new wood watch! Except for the part where I had to remove parts from the strap to fit my wrist. Seriously. I had to watch a YouTube tutorial on how to do it. *LOL*

Yes, it's a men's watch. I like my watch faces big!

And I finally got myself some marble contact paper! Woohoo! More faux marblizing projects to come but the first "victim" was a white foam board that had seen better days. It looks so much more "expensive" now. *winks* Also, check out my first attempt at a cheese plate. [Note: the avocado, tomatoes and banana are props.]

Last but not least, art supplies for the face of course.

What have you bought lately?

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The cookie incentive

"Study and you get cookies." I said to nephew #1 during the year-end school examinations. The kid wants to be a doctor so he has to maintain a high GPA.

Then I put freshly baked cookies on a cooling rack in front of him, with a fan blowing towards him so that he gets to smell his incentive. Now, that's how to motivate a kid. *LOL*

Since the kid really loves cookies, he was happy to "work" for them.*winks*

Which kind of explains the title work...*hahaha*

Playing along with More Than Words.

*This layout was a Mystery Winner at More Than Words. :)

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Lunch at My Melody Cafe

So the other day, my sister and I had lunch at My Melody Cafe (Suntec City). As usual, she scored a great deal on Fave (formerly known as Groupon) so she was pretty happy about it. :)

I was pretty excited because it was a My Melody Cafe! You know I love my bunnies! *winks*

It was a pretty small cafe so the menu wasn't extensive. We went with Waffles with Fried Chicken and Japanese Curry Rice and shared a pot of blueberry lychee tea. 

The presentation of the food was super cute and Instagram-worthy...in fact, the waitress "helped" set up this food shot, complete with basket of fake strawberries/plants and cafe signage. But of course, the cafe isn't going to be awarded a Michelin star anytime soon. *LOL*

I finally whipped out my Limited Edition My Melody MT Tape because it was PERFECT for this layout. *hahaha*

Since neither of us wore pink to the pink-themed cafe, I "made" up for it by using lots of pink on the layout. :)

Playing along with Let's Get Sketchy.

Happy week ahead friends!

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A mixed media girl from my art journal

Last month, I bought the A4 Strathmore Mixed Media Art Journal in Toned Gray and was eager to give it a test-run. I haven't had much luck with mixed media papers I've tried because in theory, they are supposed to stand up to lots of wet media but in reality, they tend to peel when there's too much water involved. 

Can you tell that I struggled with this mixed media girl? *winks*

I started with a quick sketch and then went in with some watercolours (a mix of Schmincke +Holbein + Daniel Smith). Unfortunately, the paper started to peel once I really go into the wet on wet technique on the girl's face. So I went in with some Faber Castell gelatos to "save her face" and used coloured pencils to render the details.

Check out that pissed-off face on my girl! She's certainly channeling my frustration! 

And can you tell that I don't enjoy drawing ears? The ones I draw always look weird. Hahaha!

I think she will look a lot better once I give her a nice bright background. When I eventually get to it of course. But let's just call her done for now, shall we? *winks*

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