Sketch Wednesday Take / 25 Jan ’12

30 January 2012

My weekend was pretty busy, but I managed to sneak some time in to scrap a layout for this sketch challenge!

Supplies: Bazzill Basics cardstock; Studio Calico Countryside, State Fair, Memoir collections; Sizzix butterfly die cut; American Craft thickers, Ruban premium ribbon, foam dots; Maya Road A year to remember sheers; Dymo embossing label maker; Keng paper tape; Versamagic Jumbo Java ink

And a couple of close-ups…

I popped up the butterflies to add dimension and hand-stitched the zig-zag along the edge of my patterned paper to add some texture.

Although the border in between the photos stumped me for awhile, it all came together really nicely in the end and it turned out being my favorite part of this sketch (:

I hope your week is starting out really superly. See you soon!

Sketch Wednesday take

21 January 2012

There have been a TON of really amazing sneaks of new collections this week in the scrapbooking circle. I’m super excited about this, this, and this. I can’t wait for these great products to be out in stores so I can lay my hands on them!

Anyhow, here’s my take on this week’s Sketch Wednesday over at the Green Frog Studio!

Supplies: Bazzill Basics cardstock; K&Company Sweet Nectar designer mat pad, Studio Calico State Fair collection, Sassafrass Starters collection, (I don’t know remember what brand of patterned paper the photo is matted on.); Basic Grey dark chocolate chip chipboard stickers; Kaiser journal box clear stamps, Amy Tangerine Lovestruck clear stamps; buttons; Tattered Angels Mel’s Diner & Mustard Seed glimmer mist; Bazzill Basics paper flowers and flourishes jewel template; Versacolor black ink; Dymo embossing label maker; black staples; washi tape from MWL

I took the sketch and flipped it to the left side to make it work for my photo. And used a cropped 4×6 instead of two portrait photos.

The tab on the right is actually an L-shaped pocket that hold more pictures from my birthday.

I hand-stitched the flower using a Bazzill Basics jewel template. I love how stitching adds extra dimension to any layout!

And so, this is also project #5. I love how the bright and cheery colors work together on this one and convey a really happy vibe (:

Good memories.

This weekend/upcoming week is going to be immensely busy with Chinese New Year; gonna be fun, I reckon! I might be missing for the next couple of days with my hoarde of Chinese New Year goodies (: HAHA. Have a blast!

First Sketch Challenge of 2012

19 January 2012

This year, I decided I would be more active in participating in scrap challenges, and stuff. So this is part of my attempt to do so! Project #4 is part of the sketch challenge by Craft Origine over at the Green Frog Studio.

I had a lot of fun with this challenge – love the banner and the strips of paper that form that photo mat!

Supplies: Bazzill Basics cardstock; DCWV Blossoms and Butterflies patterned paper stack, (I can’t remember what brand of paper I stamped the flower on); Maya Road tags, kraft large ticket strip; AC forest thickers; Amy Tangerine clear stamps; We R Memory Keepers blue lagoon baker’s twine; MWL washi tape; Versamagic Jumbo Java; Tattered Angels decadence chalk mist, Mel’s diner glimmer mist

I wasn’t sure about the look of this at first. But now I love it! Especially the washi tape strips as the background (:

Happy Thursday!

To do Project Life or not?

18 January 2012

That is the question.

Honestly, I’ve been so behind on printing photos this last year that I really should get on the Project Life bandwagon, seeing how horrible I’ve been at documenting life lately. And it really isn’t too late to jump on either, I suppose. But ahh, we’ll see.

And even if I end up deciding not to, I promise I’ll try to document life better this year than I have years before. All the resources and ideas alone about Project Life on the web are inspiring enough. Have you seen the work out there?!

Let’s see how I do on my own this year.
Then maybe, I’ll take on Project Life next year.

Project 52: UPDATE

12 January 2012

Project 52 is underway. And I think it’s coming along quite nicely!

What I love so much about this is that there is no constrain to how many layouts I create in a week, or any pressure to “catch up”. Because I know that some weeks of 2012 will inevitably be busier than others, those weeks that I scrap more sorta “make up” for those weeks when time doesn’t permit me to scrap any at all.

So project #2: Being Us

Supplies: Studio Calico State Fair, Classic Calico, Memoir collections; We R Memory Keepers cream soda baker’s twine; Maya Road die cut kraft doilies, tag, transparency, ticket strip; paper tape by Keng; washi tape; Amy Tangerine clear stamp; Tattered Angels Decadence chalk mist; Doodlebug candy shoppe alpha stickers; Versamagic Jumbo Java; Versamark

Project #3: Me and My Brother

Supplies: Bazzill Basics cardstock; Lily Bee This & That, Memorandum collections; My Mind’s Eye rub-on; Amy Tangerine clear stamp; We R Memory Keepers slate baker’s twine

I happen to actually reallyyyyy like these latest two layouts. And by coincidence, they happen to be about my brother, no less (: But I am constantly reminded that I don’t have to love every single thing I create. I just have to create, and let the magic happen.

In other news, I’m planning on participating in this challenge over at the Green Frog Studio. Join in the fun!

See you soonnnn!

2012: Project #1

4 January 2012

This project also comes with a story about mojo, lost and found.

As I tried to put together my first layout of 2012, I had anything but motivation and inspiration. In fact, I was pretty discouraged: my mojo was low (it wasn’t flowing, to say the least), and I felt lousy over what I was doing. It felt as if I’d lost my touch, like I couldn’t do what I loved anymore.

But after pep talking myself, telling myself that I could do what I loved just because and it didn’t matter what other people thought, and a couple of hours later, I completed project number one.

Supplies: Bazzill basics cardstock, Jillibean Soup Black Bean, Echo Park Sweet Summertime, Amy Tangerine clear stamps, AC thickers, MR ticket strip transparency, MWL washi tape

And it turns out that I’m pretty darn proud of it. I’m convinced I’m okay. My mojo is back. I can still do this.

So there you have it, project #1 of 52 this year.
We’re going to get through this all fine and dandy, all right (:

p.s. I’d love to see your projects if you’re following Project 52 for 2012!

Debut: Scrapbook Workshop

8 December 2011

I taught my debut scrapbook mini album workshop on Tuesday this week. Thanks to the help and co-ordination of one of the moms, I taught seven 7 to 13 year olds how to make a matchbook mini album and a card. The girls were super, and we had a blast putting everything together; I loved seeing how the girls got creative and enjoyed themselves!

Pre-class preparations, waiting for the girls to arrive.

Class time!

And all the girls standing proudly with their creations (:

Thank you for an amazing time, girlies!
This is (hopefully) the first of many more exciting classes!

Have a smashingly good Thursday (:

Lily Bee Sketch Challenge

7 December 2011

This week has been insanely busy.

But, I managed to sneak time in to particpate in the last Lily Bee sketch challenge of the year! Lily Bee papers are one of my favorites and they made the layout come together so easily.

And here’s my take!

Supplies: Bazzil Basics cardstock, Lily Bee This and That teacup, This and that postcards, Memorandum time clock patterned papers, American Craft Lullaby Thickers, Maya Road mini ticket strip transparencies in black, Maya Road sheers, We R Memory Keepers bakers twine, Dymo embossing label maker, badge

I love this layout of me and my little sister. And the sweet and simple sketch really focuses on everything I love about this layout – the photo and patterened papers. And this makes 52 projects for this year! I can’t believe how soon the year is coming to a close.

In other news, I taught my debut scrapbooking class this morning to seven 7 to 13 year olds. Twas’ super exciting and so much fun. More on that coming soon!

Happy Tuesday! (:

A layout & chocolate chip cookies

28 November 2011

Friday was exactly one month until Christmas. Seriously, where did time go? But I’m really glad I’m finally, actually getting a head start on my Christmas presents/gifts this year, and not procrastinating or waiting until last minute to get them done.

Anyhow, my local scrapbook store Made with Love ran a sketch challenge this week. I was counting on joining in, but I got caught up with life over the weekend that I didn’t quite make the deadline. But I decided to finish the layout anyway and here’s my take!

Supplies: Patterned paper – Jenni Bowlin, Basic Grey, Studio Calico, Bazzil Basics textured cardstock, Maya Road kraft journaling tags, American Craft Thickers, washi tape, Hero Arts flower stamp.

I guess that makes 51 projects this year thus far! I can’t believe how soon 2011 is going to be over.

Andddd, I made chocolate chip oatmeal cookies this past weekend. YUMMYYYY!

FAVORITE, MUCH! (:

I like my chocolate chip cookies crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside. How do you like yours?

Enjoy the last two days of Novemberrrrr! (:

Project 52

18 November 2011

Sometimes, the hardest part about scrapbooking is actually finding the time to do it.

So a couple of years back, in 2009, I embarked on a project to complete 52 projects in a year – one for every day of the week. It didn’t matter if I strictly did one layout a week, or if I made a couple within the week and added them to the number. And it was okay if I missed a week because I could always “catch up” at a later date. But regardless of what I did, whether a layout, mini album, or altered project, they had to be something to add to my stash of creative projects. I found that this was an amazing way to motivate myself to take some time out each week, amidst my busy schedule, to scrap. By setting aside 15 to 30 minutes a day to plan, design, and put a project together, I was able to complete a project by the end of the week. So I’ve been keeping that up this year, and it’s been going really well.

We’re currently into week 46, and I’m up to 50 projects!

Project 49: Keepsakes