With Love for Cardabilities

It's the eve of the Chinese New Year! Looking forward to a yummy reunion dinner tonight with my in laws. My son will enjoy all the attention from the grandparents, and this year is extra special as we now a new addition; my little niece who is 3 months old and joining the reunion dinner for the first time! :D Well, even though the reunion dinner is a big and happy event, there's always a poignant nostalgic feeling in me when this day comes. Why? Well, in our Chinese custom, once a daughter is "married out", she will no longer join her own family for the annual feast, like for forever. I'll always remember those rowdy crazy and fun dinners at my mum's place with her maternal family, all the uncles and aunts and cousins will come together and turn the house upside down! I enjoy reminiscing those busy afternoons spent with my dear mum preparing food, cooking and decorating the house. At times we even experimented new dishes to show off to the folks hehehe :D My in-laws on the other hand, don't cook at home so we eat at a restaurant, the food is wonderful no doubt but it lacks that raucous merriment and uninhibited chaos of a home setting. Sigh. Anyway, as long as the old folks are happy I guess. Here's where I envy my Chinese girlfriends who are not married to Chinese husbands, they still get to spend the reunion feast with their own families.

Anyway, enough ramblings for the day... here's a little something for the upcoming V Day; using Sketch #47 from Cardabilities. I made this simple 6' x 6' card with some old American Crafts Romance papers bought at a clearance bargain from a LSS *heehee* There are basically lots of fussy cutting here with some liquid pearls and gem accents.

Thanks for looking! If you're Chinese, part-Chinese or part of a Chinese family somehow, have an awesome reunion dinner tonight! See you again after the Lunar New Year celebrations! XOXO

Always Remember

In my last post, I alluded to some major changes to my current circumstances, so here's my reveal; I'll be going back to full time work! Yes, after over a year of being a stay-home-mum I'm returning to the corporate world. Right after CNY (Chinese New Year), I will be joining a multinational beauty company in the marketing capacity. This means I will see much less of my dear Lucas and also alot less scrapping time. However, I'm looking forward to my new role and the excitement and challenges that comes with building a career. While I do enjoy my precious moments with Lucas all this time, there's always a part of me that miss the adrenaline rush and drive of being in the game, all the challenges and accomplishments of my past ten years of work are what made me who I am today and I look forward to picking up where I left off.

So without much ado, let's get into today's post. These 2 weeks are especially poignant for me as I mentally and emotionally prepare my heart to be strong when I'm away from my son, I came up with this layout to remind myself and him, that no matter what, he'll always be my reason why. Why I chose to work and be away from him is ultimately good for us both. And when I go through rough patches, I'm motivated and comforted knowing that I do all this so that we can both have a better life in the future. I sometimes worry if I can cope with the challenges of being a working mum, I look around me and see alot of successful women who maintains a balanced family and work life, I'm encouraged. Also, I hang on to the promise of this verse; "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" [Philipians 4:13 NKJV] And to top it all off, I'm thankful to have a supportive husband and a super helpful and supportive mum who will be vital in caring for Lucas in my absence.

My sweetest darling boy.

I'm playing along with Bird is the Word with the challenge word Remember. My layout is created mainly using Kaisercraft's Sweet Nothings with lotsa Prima flowers and leaves. I just love this Kaisercraft collection with their delicately whimsical and ethereal feel, very midsummer's night dream :)

Thanks so much for dropping by and reading my ramblings :) Have a glorious weekend ahead, and to my Chinese readers, may you have a happy and blessed new year filled with joy and abundance. And remember, say NO to sharksfin and go easy on the cookies hehehe :D

Gong Xi Fa Cai! 
Xin Nian Qwai Ler!

Happy 2012!!!

Hello scrappers!!! I know I've been so quiet since Christmas, and I didn't even manage to post a proper New Year greeting but hey better late than never; so here I am! Hope everyone had a memorable and wonderful New Year celebration. As for us; we stayed home with lil Lucas and watch the amazing fireworks display at The Curve (neighborhood mall). Yup, we're blessed with the most awesome front-seat view minus the crowd, traffic and parking madness on the eve of New Year.

Anyway, I haven't had time to scrap at all, been busy with some commissioned jobs and cards for the upcoming Chinese New Year (CNY). Also, some major changes are coming up to my current circiumstances, 2012 will indeed be a great year of change and fresh new beginnings for me so I've been really occupied with alot of preparations etc... I will announce this major change soon heehee. Stay tune then :P

On top of that, I've been busy working on a Valentine's Day project which will be a class somewhere in February, here's a sneak preview, details will be announced soon :)

Sneak peek of upcoming 'V' Day Class project!

As not to keep this crafty loft of mine empty too long, I'd like to share some of the CNY cards I've been busy with here.

That's all for now. Thanks for dropping by! Have a great week ahead!

'Tis the Season to be Thankful

Another year is almost over and a new one is just around the corner. Christmas is so wonderfully placed at the end so we can all close the year well with gift-giving and spending time with our loved ones. I guess most of you are still busy with your year-end holiday crafting of cards and gifts...and I hope all your shopping, baking, wrapping and party planning are going well according to plan :)

For me personally, Christmas is much more of a time to reflect on the real Reason for the Season, where a Savior was born in a manger 2000 years ago so He could be Lord of our lives evermore. I take the opportunity of this blessed season to be thankful for that and for all the wonderful blessings through the year.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  

Luke 2:11

So in  the spirit of the season, I hope you will indulge me and allow me to share some festive pics...

This Santa wannabe here is Mr Wooloomooloo, my bedtime buddy, I can't sleep without him hehe. This photo was actually taken 2 years back. I was alot more industrious with Christmas decor etc before the baby came along hehe.

I always try baking something special over the past few Christmases (again, before baby came along!) These were some jam cupcakes I made for one of my elaborate Christmas eve dinners. This year, everything is store bought and we're eating OUT! LOL!

Well, alas, I'm sad to say we're not even putting up a tree this year cos Lucas is in his WALKING and PULLING DOWN EVERYTHING stage so a big tree full of shiny ornaments is a major baby hazard! Unlike previous years, I won't be whipping up a massive feast either LOL! I guess Lucas and my scrap work has taken way too much out of me. Perhaps next year... who knows... :)

Oh here's one more; it's a pic of my dad (in red) and hubby trying to carve a turkey LOL. I just love reminiscing past Christmas memories :)


Anyway, I have much to be thankful for this Christmas, the highlight of my year is definitely my new venture into the world of crafting and scrapbooking which started early this year. I never would have imagined a simple exercise to make a baby album would lead me this far and unearth this hidden 'ability' to put paper and glue together which I never knew I had. I praise the good Lord for that :) Also, this lil' hobby of mine has brought me many wonderful friends and fellow crafters. I've made really good friends who are supportive, encouraging, inspiring and simply just WONDERFUL! Thank you amazing and talented fellow crafters, artists, scrappers and cardmakers for generously sharing your works of art, your techniques, your tutorials, your sources and supplies, EVERYTHING! And a special shout out to my ATC swap buddies *kiss*kiss* I'm just so blessed and I hope and pray you will have a lovely holiday and a joyous bright New Year ahead! :)

Blessed Christmas and tidings of comfort and joy to all! 

And to all a happy new year!

GOD BLESS

A Purple Card for CardPatterns #146

Here's another card which my sis-in-law requested for her dear hubby in celebration of his birthday and their anniversary. She requested for a photo scrapping inside so he can display it in his office so I created a large 5" x 8" card using CardPattern's Sketch 146.

A sweet purple family theme card.

Here's the awesome sketch:

Here are some close-ups and details;

Love the new Prima Powder Puff fabric bloom!

Chipboard heart painted with Martha Stewart's glitter paint.

Ali Edward's Technique Tuesday stamp.

Photo scrapping on the left and printed poem on the right.

Close-ups of embellishments on the photo page.

Thanks for visiting despite your busy holiday schedule... I'm pretty sure we're all rushing our last minute Christmas shopping, baking, wrapping and what more hehehe ... holidays are crazy huh??? Well, have a great preparation and enjoy your time with family and friends... I'd like to wish you all a Blessed Christmas and Happy Holidays my dear readers and followers! You guys are super awesome and deserve only the best Christmas ever :) GOD BLESS!

Mixed Media Layout & a Simple Tutorial

It's been such a long time since I've actually done anything for TCR, I always find color palettes so much more challenging than sketch challenges. But when I saw the soft blues from Palette #89 (His Room) I willed myself to give it a try although I had absolutely no mojo, and then I found Sketch #187 on Creative Scrappers and an idea started to form. Still, I didn't have the right colors and I guessed the only way around it is to go mixed media which is SO not my strong point, as opposed to my comfort zone of paper-crafting ... so I googled around and got inspired by this mixed media artist Ruby Claire and her amazing video tutotials. After watching some of her vids, I recalled that we did have a workshop on using tissue to create a textured background with Sharon of Scrappingville a few months back. What a great opportunity to put that into good use here :)

Here's The Color Room's Palette #89 (His Room):
 

Here's Sketch #187 on Creative Scrappers:

Here's the result of combining the two with some tips from the video tutorials...

This is a 12 x 12 layout on a plain blue cardstock which is decorated with tissue, gesso, acrylic paint, spray paint, gauze and a whole bunch of embellies. Below are some close-ups. Blooms are Prima. Clapper board chippie sticker from Bo Bunny.

Since this is not my usual style of creating a layout, I'm actually quite thrilled with it although I ended up with paint everywhere, on my clothes and the floor and the table LOL! Note to self to wear an apron!!! It was more of an experiment for me since I'm not so good at visualizing the end result of a mixed media project so I was pretty apprehensive along the way. I guess it turned out pretty ok albeit a little messy. Anyway I'm happy to share the steps I took here, let;s move on to the tutorial...

Firstly, we start with the background....

1. Cover cardstock surface with Mod Podge using a brush
2. Lay on a piece of white tissue (this was a recycled gift wrap! I'm so earth-friendly *beams* LOL!) Do not make it super smooth, we want lots of deliberate creases and folds, leave the edges of the cardstock uncovered or just tear along the edges.
3. Stick on some torn and crumpled book pages (I should've used bigger sheets as they didn't show up much after the LO is done)
4. Cover the book pages with gesso and sponge off lightly with paper towels
5. Stamp on acrylic paint using bubble wrap
6. Spray ink on selected areas, I tried masking with the butterfly but it didn't quite work out LOL!

Next, we'll move on to attaching the photos and embellishing.

1. Cut matching pattern paper to be photo mats, distress the edges with ink and lay them over the bubble stamped and book pages area. I also placed some mesh netting ribbon under the photo mats. Add on a little bit more bubble wrap stamp over the pattern paper.
2. Paste on photos.
3. Add bits of torn corrugated sheet, gauze and some die cut flourishes.
4. Punch a butterfly, distress with gesso and add on to part of the photo. Embellish with flowers over the gauze. Paste a strip of lace under each photo.
5. I wanted to add a touch of a lighter blue, so I used a chalk ink pad and dabbed randomly around the layout.
6. Decorate the butterfly and flower edges with a fine glitter glue. Add on buttons and gems under the main flowers. I also spritz on some blue glimmer mist around the embellishment clusters, just be careful not to spritz your photos! I kinda ruined the bottom left photo with some spritz! I used my hand to cover the photo, bad idea, will use a dry flannel cloth or paper towel in future.

Well, that's it! It's surprisingly quick to do this LO, except for the oh-so painful cleaning up process! Hope you find it helpful somehow :)

Thanks for visiting and have a nice day!

Cardabilities Sketch #45

Hello again! I'm back with a new card. I received a request from my sis-in-law to make a special "Thank You" card for her mum and she wanted some photos inside and a poem as well. So I created a 6 x 6 card that's also like a 'mini-album' some sort in order to incorporate her requirements... a mini album card LOL!

I used Cardabilities' Sketch #45 for the front of the card.

Here's how the mini album card look like from the side;

 Here are the insides of the card;

Cute baby Christabelle on the right and message space on the left.

A special poem for Grandma :)

Here are some close-ups;

Lotsa fussy-cut flowers.

Well, this is one of the more unique cards I've made so far. Big thanks to my sis-in-law for giving me the opportunity to create something so special for her mum. And thanks Cardabilities for the inspiring sketch!

Thanks for looking and have a nice day :)