Baby 6 x 6 Mini Album Gift

I'd like to share one of my FIRST commissioned project to create a mini album as a gift for a baby's full moon celebration (note: in our Chinese culture, a baby's first month is celebrated as a very important event).

For this project, I used American Craft's 6 x 6 ring binder album which comes with 10 protective sheets so it's more practical for the recipient and it offers more protection when the album is passed around among the relatives to view.

Oops the alphas seems to be crooked and coming off in this picture (sorry!!!), don't worry though, I rectified and reinforced them with some extra adhesive after I noticed that heehe, I just didn't manage to retake the photo as it's now in it's box on it's way to a new owner. The cover is part canvas (blue) and part paper. I opted for a cheerful and simple design for the front.

The versatile ring binder album, side view, inside view and back view. This album offers alot of flexibility for the recipient to toy around with or make changes or to add more pages etc.

There are several themes and color schemes within the album, each theme is paired within a double-page-spread as seen here. The top-most left corner image is a combination of the FIRST and LAST page which is matched to the cover of the album. Please forgive me if I won't go into detail of supplies and materials used as you can imagine it will be really LONG and tedious!

Thanks for looking! Have a lovely Sunday!

Guest Designing on Cardabilities #36

BIG THANKS to Karan of Cardabilities for the honor to guest design for sketch #36. I was so surprised and excited when I got her email a few weeks back. Truly truly truly delighted and honored! :) :) :)

Woohoo! Here is a screengrab of the page :) It's my first ever guest design stint heehee so you can imagine I'm really thrilled about this moreover I'm still pretty new to the scene! Pardon my going on and on about it heehee :P  Anyhow, do pop over and have a look at the gorgeous cards created by the Design Team as well, they have wonderful inspirations for sketch #36.

Here's the sketch:

Isn't it awesome??? Won't you come over to Cardabilities and play along with us?

My interpretation of the sketch

Trying to stay true to the sketch so I kept the body of the card empty and focused on the cluster of embellishment. I'm using Basic Grey Sweet Threads papers and chip stickers here, the background dark brown is the underside of a Basic Grey Hello Luscious Dandy, sandpapered. Happy Birthday tag is handwritten on a BG tag.

Used some netting underneath to add some dimension and texture. Butterflies are my favMS Royal B'fly  Punch.

Again using BG papers but the base 'script' paper is Prima's Botanical.

Thanks so much for popping by! Have a lovely blessed Sunday!



Once Upon a Sketch July 15th Challenge

Here's my layout for my first participation on Once Upon a Sketch. The requirement in addition to the sketch is; Journalling Criteria - your journalling has to be a quote (handwritten, printed, rub on etc). My quote is an anonymous quote picked up randomly online realted to GRANDPARENTS; "Grandparents are a delightful blend of laughter, caring deeds, wonderful stories and love!" My layout features Lucas with his paternal grandma and grandpa taken early this year.

Using PP Daily Junque for the background and CC Odds & Ends in the centre. Butterflies stamps are Jenny Bowlin (big) and Martha Stewart (small) plus lotsa Prima flowers, some netting, a doily, a corrugated sheet and lace trim. The flourish is Basic Elements painted with Mister Huey's mist, I used the same flourish to create the background masking.



The July 15th Sketch on Once Upon a Sketch - such an inspirational sketch!



Thanks for looking! Hope you like it :) Have a lovely day!

CardPatterns Sketch 125: My First Copic Card!

Yet another lovely and inspiring sketch from CardPatterns!

Here's my take on the sketch ... and this is a very special card for me because it's my first ever attempt at Copic markers! Yay! I've always wanted to try them out ever since seeing cardmakers using them on those cute stamped cartoons on their cards, but I couldn't find Copics in any local scrapbook store. Fortunately for me, a fellow cardmaker, Kim so kindly led me in the right direction to Art Friend, Gardens Mall (bless her!) I totally went crazy at the store! *guilty*


My first Copic painted card! The stamp is Micia, also bought at Art Friend. Papers are from Cosmo Cricket's amazingly lovely Odds & Ends - 'Remnant'. I'm so in love with this range now; all that retro-vintage romance. Cream trim and lace from Daiso, cheap and good stuff! And I topped it all with a satin red ribbon.


  The inspiring sketch:

Sketch 125: such a simple yet versatile sketch with so many possibilities.




Closeup of my painted little girl, still yet to master the Copic shading techniques.



A closeup showing the lace, ribbons and my handwritten birthday sentiment.

I really enjoy decorating the inside of a card too!

As you may have noticed, I'm rushing one post after another because of all the month-end challenges deadlines! Hahahah! It's madness!

Thanks for visiting! Have a lovely colorful day!

Stuck! Sketch July 15 Challenge

When I saw this gorgeous sketch, I just had to do it, maybe it was the butterfly that did it ;)

Here's my take on the sketch, yet another masculine layout, but I found a way to sneak a butterfly into it hehe.  I'm happy to say that I took this shot, I'm no photographer but I think I did a good job with this pic! I was so inspired with the way hubby was looking at our boy Lucas.You can just feel how proud he is of our son :)


I'm using 7 Gypsies' Lillie range here along with 7 Gypsies tissue and the baby feet rub-ons. Aside from that the journaling tags are BG. Take note though their papers are not thick like cardstock so you need to lay it on a cardstock if you have heavy embellishments or it won't hold up so well.

 Here's the sketch:

STUCK! Sketch July 15.

Here are some close-ups:



Got inspired to cover the chipboard using 7G tissue as seen on 7G's blog. The tissues are amazing. I'm so in love with it! The circle masking is done using a large paper doily and Studio Calico's Warm Calico mist.

 

I did this thing with the tissue here and used TH Distress Stain dabber. The inkpads won't work so well with tissues but the dabber works like a dream! Don't you just love the baby foot prints?



I did the tissue thing here again, the netting goes so well with it. Loving the giant word "LOVE" from one of the papers. It inspired my title immediately.

 Are you loving the Lillie collection yet? Well, you can get the collection at Scrappingville! ;)

The Color Room Palette #68

TCR palette #68 is so sweet! It's the kind of color combo I love; pinks and browns! I usually play with more boyish or masculine layouts so I was wondering how to play along with this and I found some old photos taken with my mum's princess aka the house pet aka Cuddles the jack-wawa. We call her the jack-wawa because she's a cross-breed between a Jack Russel and a Chihuahua. These pictures were taken back in 2007 when we first got her and she was such an adorable puppy you just want to hold her and shower her with kisses. Now she's so big and hyperactive she won't let you pat her for long before she runs off to chase something.



I'm using a craft background with papers from MME Stella Rose and PP Daily Junque plus a little bit of FP Happy Together (dark brown bits & butterflies) and BG Sweet Threads (pink fussy cut flower on the left). I added some pink acrylic paints to mess-up the layout (turns out too messy?). The brown centre bit is a craft corrugated sheet treated with some TH Distress Stain Dabber in Walnut and coated with some Sparkly Mod Podge. Crystals are from a knit shop in Subang Parade.


Here's palette #68 from TCR:

Here are some close ups:

Fabric flowers from Prima Whisper collection and random buttons. I layered them on some beige netting and a small piece of jute fiber cut out from a jute bag I bought from the dollar store (Daiso)

Title from AC Glitter Thickers, "hello" is a Micia rubber stamp, "sweet pea" is 7G Babycakes rub-ons.

I stamped some butterflies using MS clear stamps with acrylic paint but the effect wasn't quite what I expected so I used the punched out butterflies and netting to camouflage it. If you look at it alone, it's kind of messy-weird I think.

Well, that's my attempt at trying to play with some acrylic paints, uuurghhh I'm still not so good at it :(

Before I go, here's how Cuddles looks like now... past and present:

Cute cuddly puppy (left pic) turned into the crazy mutt (right pic) who chews on everything and chases anything. But we love her all the same.

Thanks for visiting! Have a lovely week ahead!

Good News to Share!

I've been out of the picture this week as my poor baby fell sick with acute tonsilitis, which to me sounds like some kind of glorified nasty bacterial throat infection which gave him really high fever and white patches on his throat. As you can imagine, mummy and daddy have been suffering from severe lack of sleep over tha past few days. He is much better now, recovering very well and life is starting to go back on routine. Praise God for that!

Well, aside from that, let's move on to some happy news... I'm delighted to share that I've been given the wonderful oppurtunity to be one of the resident designers at Scrappingville, our neighbourhood scrapping boutique, along with Yuz of Blossominch. For the next six months or so we will be working with the latest most happening kits and collections and we'll be showing you how to create wonders with them! Do check out Scrappingville's blog for more information or if you;re in KL/PJ, do pop by and drool over the amazing array of scrapping goodies.

Your neighbourhood scrapbook store!
Locaed at Bangsar Shopping Centre.

Anyway, come August, I will be conducting a couple of classes using 2 of the latest kits in town; 7 Gypsies Lillie and Prima's Botanicals. If you've been waiting for these collections, check them out at Scrappingville as they bring in the embellishments and other ephemeras along with the papers.

Here's a sneak preview of what's coming up in August ... class details and schedules will be available by end of the month. You may enquire at Scrappingville or just leave me a note and I'll come back to you.

Travel Themed 12x12 Layout Sneak Preview

I really love this collection! 7 Gypsies have outdone themselves again! Create a shabby chic travel themed layout using 7 Gypsies' latest Lillie collection.Techniques in this class includes distressing, misting, handmade tissue flowers and layering for that unique multi-textured layout page. This theme is perfect for preserving memories on travels, adventures or even the special people in your life!

Butterfly Mini Album entitled "Live Life!" Sneak Preview

Ever wondered what on earth do we do with those crazy shaped chipboard albums? I used to, but it turns out to be a really fun challenge! Learn how to create a unique butterfly shaped mini album using Prima's latest Botanical collection. Techniques in this class include wallpapering chipboard, distressing, misting and using various materials to create a whimsical floral themed mini album. Document your own life, a lovely journey, a special party or make it a perfect gift for a special someone.

Thanks so much for dropping by. Have a lovely weekend :)

Scrap-it-Lah's July Challenge

This is my first submission for Scrap-it-Lah for their July Challenge. Here is the criteria as stated in their blog post:

1) at least 5 photos in one layout which means the layout must be multi-pics. There must be 5 visible photos in it

2) Photos must be a mixture of black and white and coloured photos please

3) There should be visible journalling on the layout

My layout is based on some pictures we took during our honeymoon to Italy back in '08. We were roaming the streets of Rome looking for some breakfast because we arrived so early that the hotel room is not ready and not many cafes were open at that time. Luckily we found a small place serving the most scrumptious paninis and coffee. These memories are really special to me and hubby as it's the first meal on our honeymoon and it's our first trip to Europe :)

There are 5 photos with the main pic in B&W with 2 spots of journaling as per the stated criteria. Papers are mainly Bo Bunny's Gabrielle plus one Gabrielle fluer elise chip sticker with lots of BG Curio Chip stickers, prima flowers and some misted doilies. The background is misted with Mister Huey's mist in Warm Calico and TA Yellow Daisy.

Flowers, birds and a sunny color theme because it was summer in Rome when we were there.

"Cappucino & Pannini" is on Smash's travel journal note which came with the Studio Calico June kit.

This close-up shows the layers and textures of the chip stickers and flowers.

Thanks for dropping by. Have a lovely week ahead!

Sketchabilities Sketch #50

Playing along with Sketchabilities Sketch #50 is my layout entitled "My Retro Shades". I want to immortalise those 'camwhoring' (i.e. camera-whore, pardon my French) days when I was a carefree, younger, quirkier vainpot (before the baby came along of course!) I used to like to take pictures of myself using my phone. Now I only take pictures of my son!


Misted the background along with some gesso circles (made by dipping a bottle top into gesso and stamping all over the paper). Papers are Cosmo Cricket Odds & Ends and MME's Stella Rose along with some Simple Stories 100 Days of Summer.



Sketchabilities Sketch #50

Title made with AC chipboard Thickers and Glitz tiny alphas.



Fancy chipboard trim by Dusty Attic, butterfly is from Bo Bunny's Gabrielle collection.



A close up.

 Thanks for visiting! Have a lovely day!

July Sketch on Stuck?!

Yet another amazing sketch on Stuck?! Here's my layout based on July 1st's sketch, it's a photo of my dearest childhood girlfriends taken at our girly weekend trip to Cameron Highlands back in 2008.

All patterned papers are MME's Stella Rose range with some scraps from PP Parisian Anthology and Daily Junque. background is made using a Prima mask and some distress ink.

July 1st Sketch

Alphas are AC Fabric chipboard Thickers and Glitz tiny alphas.

Embellishments are Prima flowers, BG Chip stickers, pearls, liquid pearls and butterflies from my favorite MS Royal butterfly punch.

This girly trip has a special palce in my heart because it will be a long while before we can another such trip. Rini and I are busy moms to our new baby boys. Jen is expecting and due in September so we're gonna be really really tied up for abit. Guess our future trips will involve kids!!!

Thanks for visiting! Have a great week ahead!

Cardabilities Sketch #34: A Wedding Card

Here's my first play-along with Cardabilities card sketch. It so happens that I'll be attending a wedding next Saturday; a union of two of my school-time classmates. I'm really looking to the function as many old school friends will be reunited after many years! Also, I believe this lovely couple deserve a specially hand made card on their special day.

Here's my card:

"And the two hearts shall become one" - a special card for a special couple as they tie the knot. Papers from PP Daily Junque, Hambly transparency and random ribbons, flowers and pearls. Unfortunately, I'm not entirely too happy with my handwritten sentiment but I don't have a wedding sentiment stamp ...  hmmm, need to practise and improve my handwritting!

Sketch #34 from Cardabilities.



Close up of the bottom half; featuring a Prima rose.



Close-up of the centre uper half. Butterflies from MS Royal Butterfly punch. Fussy cut flowers from the background paper itself. Tiny satin daisies are trimmed of a strand of daisy trim.

I was so in love with this white, yellow and pale teal theme; I just could not get enough of it so I used the scraps to make two little bookmarks....

Two whimsical bookmarks based on the same theme.



Here's a close-up of the smaller bookmark.



Here's a close-up of the larger bookmark. I used a TH stamp for the sentiment in TH distress inkpad Pumice.

Thanks for visiting and have a lovely day! :)