9 ways to scrap travel photos

Travel/vacation photos are a challenge to scrap because one tends to take a gazillion  photos. And you really want to document everything, right?

Hold your horses. Not everything needs to be documented.
When you stick to the photos that tell a story, there are way fewer photos to scrap. Really.

I'll let you cheat off my travel stories from a 2013 trip to Taiwan...*winks*

The story about the red bean cake

1. Scrap about the highlights of a particular day.

The whole point about travel is to enjoy the experience, not tediously documenting every single waking moment in another country/city. Have I missed capturing certain moments on camera because I was busy enjoying myself in THAT particular moment? Yep.

By the sea

2. Consider documenting the activities in one day.

Let's face it. Not every family vacation day is going to be exciting. Some are chillax days like this one where the highlight of my day was meeting the cute doggy [who reminded me of my doggies in doggy heaven].

The one about the cabbage and pork place

3. Go with a funny title.

Sometimes you remember a place because of some inside joke between you and your travel companions. My sister and I visited the Palace Museum in Taipei to see the two famous exhibits - a piece of jade shaped like a piece of cabbage and a piece of rock shaped like a piece of fatty pork. Photo-taking wasn't allowed in the museum so I scrapped photos we took outside the museum.

We like to play pretend

4. Scrap the funny moments.

Well, you know my family is always up for some fun. *winks* We have very few photos where everyone is posed nicely and smiling at the camera. But I LOVE to flip through my scrapbooks and laughing all over again. Afterall, scrapbooks are to document how you've lived right? 

I've been checking you out

5. Scrap the food.

This one actually features the funny story about the search for a birthday cake. 

Looks can be deceiving

6. Scrap the process of eating the food.

Okay, so this whole family vacation actually features eating. If you've ever visited Taiwan, you will know what I mean - the street food is cheap and yummy!

The squid squad

7. Scrap pics of individuals eating the food.

The pictures tell the whole story. These photos still crack me up! :)

We love our cultured milk drink

8. Scrap the stuff you drank.

We were terribly excited when we spotted the family-sized probiotic drink at a supermarket because we only get the small ones in Singapore. And of course, my sister's expression while holding the bottle is priceless! *lol*

The NT$19 store

9. Scrap what about a fun shopping trip.

One of the most enjoyable parts of travelling is of course, bringing a piece [or more] of the place back home with you...you know...through stuff..*winks* But sometimes, it's the things that we didn't buy that leave the most lasting impression.

There you have it. 9 ways to scrap travel photos. Hope you will tackle that ginormous pile of travel photos you have. :)

Pin It

Using a few supplies to make a "loud" card...

So the other day, after applying a layer of light modeling paste with The Crafter's Workshop stencil on a watercolour card base, I was strangely beckoned to my drawer of Royal Talens Ecolines [liquid watercolours]....

"Come use us...we are pretty!" cooed the 9 bottles of Ecolines I own. *winks*

Yep. My art supplies are "loud" and very persuasive. *LOL*

Playing along with CAS(E) this sketch.

Pin It

Why mixed media = many art supplies ...*winks*

As an aficionado of mixed media, I am always on the lookout for new art supplies to make my projects more interesting. And help me save time.

Each type of art supply has its own unique properties.

Here are the art supplies I used for my art journal page.

I used the tube paints to paint my girl's face with a brush and my fingers for the background work. The paint markers made it easier to draw in the details on the girl's face. It saves time because no cleanup required and the thin acrylic paints dry very quickly.I used an Inktense pencil for the shadows. It is ink in pencil form that "intensifies" when you add water. I love how just one pencil can create so much depth in a drawing.

Now you know why mixed media = many art supplies....*winks*

Pin It

9 (more) ways to give a new lease of life to household items

A few weeks ago, I shared 9 ways to give a new lease of life to household items. How about 9 more ways to give a new lease of life to household items? You can so do these this weekend! *winks*

Mixed media canvas with old computer parts

1. Make a one-of-a-kind mixed media canvas using old computer parts.

10 minute magnet

2. Update your fridge magnet with some pretty stuff from your stash!

Altered book cover = photo stand

3. Decorate an old book cover and turn it into a photo stand.

Upcycled tea tin

4. Make an old tea tin look pretty.

Cool use for a sock hanger

5. Use a sock hanger to hold up your mixed media tag.

Don't throw away that soda can

6. Emboss a soda can panel for a cool metallic mat for your card.

CD cover gift box

7. Turn a CD box into a gift box.

An upcycled clock

8. Use an old glass clock as a "frame" for your photo.

Upcycled gift container

9. Turn a cookie tin into a gift container for toiletries.

There you have it. 9 more ways to give a new lease of life to household items. Which one will you try? 

Pin It

Inspired by elements associated with a beach...

I must confess that I was under the influence of HGTV when I came up with this month's theme at LESSology.... Beachfront Property...*winks* 

Just last week, I escaped the haze in Singapore and spent a few days in Cebu , Philippines, well-known for its white sandy beaches. 

The base was created using one of my fave stencils from The Crafter's Workshop and light modeling paste. The colorants were ColourArte's Radiant Rain and Silks Acrylic Glazes with watered down gesso.

I also used remnant lace for some pretty texture on the base. And added some seashells to my embellishment cluster to reinforce the beach theme.

Hope you find time to play along with LESSology Challenge #52: Beachfront Property.

Pin It

A cute layout for the Maya Road & Ruby Rock-It product swap...

Hello friends! This week is inspiration central over at the Maya Road and Ruby Rock-It blogs in a collaborative swap. I love how the products work well together. :)

I distressed the edges of the patterned papers for texture before adhering them to create a huge mat for my multi-photo layout. [Yes, those are the cute lanterns I bought for my niece +nephews for the Mid-Autumn Festival.]

I am totally smitten with the cute little jars! I decorated mine with pom pom trim and a metallic bow on a wooden tag!

I also had fun "decorating" the birdhouse with glass bead gel, Silks Acrylic Glaze and vintage trim!

There's an awesome Maya Road giveaway during this week's collaborative swap. Go comment on the Maya Road blog for your chance to win! :)

Pin It

For the love of light modeling paste...

One of my fave mediums to use on a card is light modeling paste because 

1. It dries super fast!

2. It can be manipulated to hold peaks for cool textures. 

3. It sits nicely on watercolour paper without causing significant warp.

On this card, I applied a thin layer of light modeling paste with The Crafter's Workshop stencil. Then I added some colorants before applying gesso [black and white] to really define the textures.

Playing along with CAS(E) this sketch!

Pin It

The Yam men

Meet the Yam men. [Dad + brother + nephews] :)
Can you tell that I had fun putting together this layout? *winks*

I challenged myself to use my new washi tapes, paper scraps and my circle and star punches.

I love the punched out photos of the Yam men.*LOL*

Playing along with Stuck?! Sketches.

Pin It