Deep blue sea


photos: yahoo image search

Isn’t this incredibly pretty?

Tomorrow, we leave early at five in the morning while the rest (or most) of the world is still asleep.

I’ll be away this week, going swimming with the fishies in Tioman, Malaysia, with a bunch of church friends and four-fifths of my family.

Not being much of an outdoors-y person, scuba-diving is going to be both a scary (in a good weird way) and exciting experience all at the same time.

Somehow, I’m not excessively pumped right now (which happens to be pretty normal for me, haha); but I know I will be once we get there (:

I’m praying for lots of good weather, and looking forward to plenty of sun, sea and waves.

Fingers crossed for a good tan when I get home! (: haha.

This new experience is going to be good fun.

Sketch Wednesday / 14 Mar ’12

It’s time for my take on last week’s Sketch Wednesday!

I didn’t follow this sketch to a tee, but I used it as the starting point for this layout!

Project #18: JUMP

jump1

Supplies: Bazzill Basics cardstock; American Crafts Amy Tangerine collection, lovestruck clear stamps; Maya Road mini kraft jotter tags, mini ticket strip transparencies, fresh chipboard brackets; We R Memory Keepers lollipop baker’s twine; Versamagic cloud white chalk ink; Versafine white ink

jump2

I used the Amy Tangerine camera stamp to create the background. And I covered the chipboard quotation marks with patterned paper, inspired by this challenge (albeit overdue).

jump4

I journalled on the white space of the photo with a permanent marker.

jump3

And I love how the baker’s twine adds such a touch of whimsy to this layout.

Happy Thursday! (:

Basic Sketch Challenge

This sketch was due like, one week ago. And although I didn’t make the deadline, I went ahead and used the sketch anyway (:

Anddd, I used the Basic Grey Picadilly papers I received in the mail in this post!

Project #17: Moments

Moments1

Supplies: Bazzill Basics cardstock; Basic Grey Picadilly patterned papers, stickers; American Crafts premium ribbon; Maya Road mini ticket strip, transparencies; Tattered Angels bronze, mustard yellow glimmer mist; Versamagic aspen mist chalk ink

I used a landscape 4×6 photo instead of a portrait one, and used the empty space on the photo for my title.

Moments2

I adore that little birdie from the sticker sheet. So cute!

Moments3

Moments4

I cut circles in different sizes and layered them for the background.

Moments5

What I love so much about collection packs is how everything is already coordinated for you, making it so easy to put the layout together!

I hope your weekend’s been good (:

Heart Garland

heartbanner2

I was inspired by all these garlands/banners on pinterest so I decided it was time to make my own! And to make it even better, I got to use all those yummy Dear Lizzy Neapolitan papers (:

Supplies: Sizzix heart, butterfly die cut; Tattered Angels Mel’s diner, bronze glimmer mist; Cricut script embossing folder; ribbon; Making Memories celery acrylic paint; foam stamps; American Crafts Dear Lizzy Neapolitan collection; Studio Calico butterfly masks

heartbanner3

It’s so pretty hanging on my door, and I had so much fun making it!

And here’s a couple of close-ups, all in the order that they’re hanging.

heartbanner4

I die cut the scalloped hearts with my Sizzix, and embossed them with the Cricut script folder. Then I used Mister Huey’s butterfly masks by Studio Calico, and misted with Mel’s Diner glimmer mist. The rest was just about adding details – stamping with paint, die cut butterflies, and a couple of quotes from pinterest.

heartbanner5

heartbanner6

heartbanner7

heartbanner8

I don’t really know if you can tell, but I misted the butterflies with bronze glimmer mist for that little bit of shimmer.

heartbanner9

heartbanner1

I hope you have fun making your own!

Sketch Wednesday / 7 Mar ’12

Hello again! And welcome to my take on last week’s Sketch Wednesday challenge.
I am honestly having so much fun with these (:

Project #16: Be You

beyou1

Supplies: Bazzill Basics cardstock; American Crafts Dear Lizzy Neapolitan collection thickers, Amy Tangerine thickers; washi tape; tag; Maya Road kraft jotter tag; Versamagic tea leaves chalk ink; Tattered Angels bronze, mustard seed glimmer mist; We R Memory Keepers slate baker’s twine; badge

I flipped the sketch to the right, but pretty much everything else is the same. And I suppose I could’ve added more layers, but I decided to keep it simple instead.

beyou2

beyou3

beyou4

The handwritten quote reads, “Stay true to you and you will end up incredibly happy.”
From my pinterest here.

beyou5

beyou6

beyou7

No misted background this time (save the tag). But I did sprinkle a handful of confetti, yay (:

I am still loving the Dear Lizzy Neapolitan collection. Absolutely darling!

We’re already halfway through the week. Heads up! The weekend’s just round the corner (:
I hope your day is fabbbb.

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

Or sealed with packing tape, in this case.

BGpackage

My prize from the Basic Grey challenge arrived over the weekend!

I just love receiving mail, like actual letters and parcels and such. This was so exciting because I didn’t know when it would come in (:

BGpackage2

Aren’t the papers so pretty?

I’m working on a layout with these papers now. I’ll be sure to put it up when I get done!

Happy Tuesday!

20 recipes / Monkey Squares

Why, hello again!

I hope you had a super duper weekend. It seems as if the weekend flew by because it was so busy. Makes me wish for  longer weekends! Haha.

monkeysquares

I made these on Friday before the weekend. And they were so good!
But I was in a hurry, so these photos don’t do justice.

The cake was moist and the browned butter icing was delicious! Plus, the taste seems to get better with each passing day.

You can find the recipe here. I used a different sized pan and added more walnuts. But those are the only tweaks I made to the recipe. Although, I reckon I would probably cute down on the icing next time (unless you like yours really sweet) because the quantity yielded from the recipe would probably have been enough to cover two cakes.

In my opinion, I think they taste best chilled. But honestly, they’re good any way.

7 down, 13 more to go!

March birthdays

March is always a busy month of making birthday cards and gifts for friends.

Just thought I’d share the simple projects I made last week. It’s the thought that counts (:

card1

card2

Supplies: Bazzill Basics cardstock; Imaginisce festive blossoms; Tattered Angels decadence chalk mist; My Mind’s Eye patterned paper (I think); Versamagic jumbo java chalk ink; 3D foam dots

card3

card4

Supplies: Bazzill Basics cardstock; SEI patterned paper, ribbon; Lily Bee Memorandum collection patterned paper; Happy birthday clear stamp; 3D foam dots; Versamagic white ink

card5

card6

Supplies: Little Yellow Bicycle patterned paper, (I don’t remember what brand I cut the circles out of); Bazzill Basics cardstock; Versamagic black ink

card7

card8

Supplies: 3×3 canvas; Jillibean cardstock stickers; SEI patterned paper; Maya Road sheers, kraft doilies; American Crafts ribbon; Tattered Angels Mallard glimmer mist

Pinwheels again. Yay (:

I think I need to work on making cards ahead of time so I’ll at least have some on hand when I need them! That might be one of my new creative goals.

Thanks for looking!