Secret Santa

At work, we're having a Secret Santa gift exchange. So my gift is my own handmade 12x12 layout framed inside a display box. I'm glad my person was a girl, so the layout could be girly. If it was a boy, it will require some thought. Anyways, I have to say this is my best work ever. I guess the main reason is because it has a lot of 3D components. Usually I don't do it for a scrapbook layout since the book flattens out everything. Too bad I have to give it away. I really like it!

Paper: Dream Street Papers, Recollections, Me and My Big Ideas, Making Memories, K.I. Memories, "remember-hug-love-smile-dance" plastic

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Pagoda, Indie Art, flock, chalking

Embellishments: leaves and berries from Christmas pick

Waah

This was a fun page to make. I bought the monster stamp especially for this page. My love and his silly face. Fun.

Paper: Sassafras, DCWV, Recollections, Core'dinations, scraps

Stamps: Daisy Bucket Designs

Techniques/Tools: Design Studio, Cricut Wild Card, Life is a Beach

Embellishments: star eyelets

2 Peas in a Pod

This page was made for BBTB contest. This was the only 'number' thing that came to mind. It's pretty simple. Very straightforward. In my mind, it was going to look more complicated. However, I'm still glad with the way it turned out. Hope I made the deadline!

Paper: The Paper Company, Core'dination, Sandylion, Bazzill Bling, K.I. Memories

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Stretch Your Imagination, Don Juan, Doodlecharms, Cuttlebug

Embellishments: ribbon

What happens in Vegas...

I am catching up on my scrapbook. Yes. So I'm on my Vegas vacation page - that puts me around October 2008. Anyways... these two pages are totally different from my usuals. It's a collage of colors and different things. I usually don't do collages because I suck. This one turned out quite nice. Too bad the picture doesn't do the layout justice, especially the Thicker stickers. They are AWESOME.

Paper: The Paper Company, SEI, Little Yellow Bicycle, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Don Juan

Embellishments: Thickers letter stickers, rub on letters, Doodle Design Inc. crushed velvet brads

MSc Graduate

Screw the swap! I am tired of making swap cards. So I will work on my scrapbook(s). So I made my graduation page. It's been over a year since my convocation, but with so much going on, I didn't have the time to make the page. It's really simple - title and tons of pictures.

Paper: The Paper Company

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Wild Card

Embellishments: Star brads

Another Wedding

Seriously, more than 1/2 of my girl friends are married. Sigh. What is up with that? Anyways, I couldn't make it to my childhood friend's wedding in Toronto. So all I can give is a card. I think I'm really lacking creativity lately. My swap cards seem kind of bland. This wedding card seem kind of plain. However, I do like this one. It's simple and pure - just like my friend. I wish her all the best... thousands of miles away.

Paper: The Paper Company

Stamps: Penny Black - Every Which Way, Basic Grey - Two Scoops/Sweet Sentiments

Embellishments: self adhesive pearls and gems

September Swap

I am working hard to get this swap over with. Not like I don't like the swap, but I really want to work on my scrapbook pages! For September's theme, it's Thanksgiving. I wanted to stay away from the turkey theme. So a cornucopia of fruits it is! Happy Early Thanksgiving!

Paper: The Paper Company, K&Company

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Paper Doll Dress Up

August Swap

This is my first creation in Edmonton. Funny enough it's a Halloween card. I thought I was so ahead of schedule in my swap, I wanted to be lazy. Good thing I checked that I haven't done my August creation homework yet. I think while I'm up here, I'm going to get all my swap cards done and out of the way, and then onto my long delayed scrapbook. Sigh.

Paper: The Paper Company

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Wildcards, Friskar circle cutter

Table Numbers

Unbelievably, my best friend's wedding is coming up! As her M-O-H (and also the paper crafter among our group of friends), I'm suppose to design her table numbers. There are 24 of these and they will be neatly displayed on the banquet tables on August 8, 2009. 

Papers: Bazzill Bling, Worldwin

Stamps: Penny Black

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Design Studio, Don Juan, Paper Pups, 

Jing's Scrapbook - Ken

This is the last page - yes, I am done! The last page is for the groom. I have no idea how to make a layout for a boy. I did buy this paper for this page. Since it's a guy's page, I didn't want it be flashy (unlike his bride's page!) I didn't get any of Ken's childhood pictures, and therefore, I left two blank spaces for those pictures.

Paper: Creative Imaginations, DCWV, scraps

Techniques/Tools: heat embossing

Embellishments: K & Company chipboard letters

Jing's Scrapbook - Jing

This page is for the bride. Jing is a very girly girl. Her wedding is fairy tale themed, hence, this page is very her. This page is based on a layout from "The Designing with Recipe Book". I don't think Jing will like one of the pictures I selected here. Haha. Oh well. I think she will like the overall theme and colors!

Paper: Paper Reflections, Basic Grey, Making Memories, Core'dination, sparkly vellum, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Life is a Beach

Embellishments: Imaginisce rub-on, chipboard sticks, Prismas, die cut tag

Jing's Scrapbook - Mexico

There were a lot of awesome photos of Jing and Ken's trip to Mexico. Therefore, I kept the embellishments and decorations minimal - literally! Even though there's not a lot going on, I think it's perfect in terms of showing off the pictures.

Paper: DCWV, SEI

Embellishments: ribbon, stickers

Lace Up Thank You Card

There has been some drama going on with my maid of honor dress. After I took my measurements, I saw the size chart she was using to put in my dress order. The dress she ordered for me had a waist-size 2 sizes too small. So I asked her, "Are you sure?!" She said since the dress is empire waist style, I don't have to worry. 

When I went for my fitting after the dress came in, it didn't fit. It zipped up, but only if I was to stand all day and not breathe! Due to the dress style, not a lot of fabric can be 'let go'. Therefore, they have to change the zipper up to a lace up back. I was so pissed. To try to make it 'not as bad', the dress lady was saying it's the trend, it's more elegant, and a lot of girls like it. 

I am not like 'a lot of girls'. I bought this $187 dress so that I can wear it more than once. Now with a lace up, it will be tougher. Plus, they were going to charge me $120 in alterations, but then discounted to $80. But my friend's mom (aka mother of the bride) helped me lower the alteration cost to $60, and offered to pay for my alterations. So therefore, I made a card for them. Obviously, its design is based on the dress.

 

Paper: Bazzill, Me and My Big Ideas, scraps

Stamps: Katie & Co

Techniques/Tools: Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers

Embellishments: eyelets, ribbon

Happy Bridal Shower!

Is there such a greeting? I was invited to Jing's bridal shower. Due to my stupid hotmail hack, I didn't get any notification until this week. These girls are so creative compare to me. They made it a 24h theme. Every invitee got an hour, and the invitee has to buy a present for Jing to use at this hour. I got 10 am. Since Jing's a teacher, 10 am = recess time. I really don't want to give the typical coffee mug. BORING. So to me, what can a teacher do (besides coffee) during recess? Initially, I wanted to get her a travel spa kit. It's a good way to do a short spa treatment while the kids are playing outside. However, they are very hard to find, unless you want to compile one together for $100+. No thanks! So while looking around, I found this: Love Handler by Bliss. Hahaha. I found this absolutely hilarious. I'm not saying Jing is fat and she needs this to reduce cellulite and any fatty appearance. The title and the idea of her using this during recess time are too funny. I love it! Jing is a person who can take a joke. Plus, you'll never know, she might one day use it. She does love chocolate. This may be able to get rid of the chocolate's 'side effects'. Hehe.

Here is the card I made along with the gift. Seriously, this card took me so fast. I never made a card and packed a present in 45 minutes! WOW! It's a pretty simple card. Quick and elegant - I like!

Paper: Bazzill, Me and My Big Ideas

Embellishments: lace, ribbon, scrap die cut tag, clear dot things (on the flowers)

Jing's Scrapbook - Fun in the Sun 2008

I have five more pages on my list for Jing's wedding present. This is one of the five. I want a atypical summer page. Instead of having a bright/light colored background, I chose to use bright summer colors on a black background. Can you tell that the picture frames are sunglasses? Hehe. Inspired by Ken's high reflective sunglasses. It is made by welding two Zooballoo P's together.

Paper: The Paper Company, DCWV, Tinkering Ink, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Design Studio, Cricut Zooballoo, Life is a Beach

Embellishments: self adhesive gems and pearls

Jing's Scrapbook - Miami and Cruise

This is a two page layout of Jing and Ken's vacation to Miami and Eastern Caribbean cruise. It's a pretty simple layout. It's inspired by a layout from Starting Points (idea layout book from Linda Harrison). It's supposedly a one page layout, but I just mirrored it to make it a double layout.

Paper: Paper Reflections, Core'dination, The Paper Company, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Life is a Beach, Wild Card,

Embellishments: self adhesive gems

Jing's Scrapbook - Master Chef

According to my plan, I have eight more pages for Jing's scrapbook. Her wedding is in two and a half weeks. OMG. I don't know if I can make it, especially I'm having a block! Well, thank goodness for scraplifting! For this page, the layout is taken from p. 105 from the 601 Great Scrapbook Ideas - From the editors of Memory Makers Books (it's an awesome idea book). I love this picture of Ken staring at the steak. I heard it was a good dinner. Jing's a very lucky girl to marry a guy who can cook!

Paper: DCWV, Provo Craft, scraps
Techniques/Tools: Design Studio, Cricut Don Juan
Embellishments: ribbons, stickers

July Swap

Yay, got another set of my swap cards done. This is the July set with the theme "Sympathy". I think I am on this butterfly thing (see previous post), but butterflies and sympathy cards just go. I like this set. They're very pretty and elegant.

Paper: Paper Reflections, The Paper Company, Me and My Big Ideas
Stamps: Inkadinkado (inside, see below)
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Wild Card, Indie Art, Martha Stewart border punch
Embellishments: eyelets

This is the inside. On the left hand side, I made a little pocket for two reasons:
1. To hide the eyelet backing. Never a big fan to see the back of those eyelets, brads, etc.
2. A convenient pocket to put condolences.

Happy Birthday, Eunice

Although I have TONS of scrapbooking to do, I still take some 'timeout' and make a card for a friend's birthday. Eunice is a pretty cheery girl. Therefore, I want her birthday card to be bright. When I saw the mushrooms, they made me smile. So I hope this card will make her smile as well. To make it girly, I had to add a butterfly with a trail of pearls. WHEN DID I BECOME SO GIRLY? 

Paper: The Paper Company, K & Company, scraps

Stamps: Penny Black Critter Party

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Indie Art

Embellishments: Self adhesive pearls

A side view so you can see the dimensions. 

I like decorating the inside. Sometimes I'm just too lazy to do it, but I wanted to do it for this one. The inside:

Jing's Scrapbook - Winter Fun 2nd Edition

I really don't like the first 'Winter Fun'. It looks so messy and bad in real life. So I decided to make the extra effort to change it. Seriously, this page is cursed. Even the 2nd round, I still made a lot of mistakes. I'll just keep a hush hush on it. I like this second edition so much more. It's clean and simple.



Paper: Memory Keepers, Cosmo Cricket, scrap pad
Techniques/Tools: Design Studio, Cricut Doodlecharms, Stretch Your Imagination, Don Juan
Embellishments: Snowflake brads, Stickle

Jing's Scrapbook - Footprints

Another simple layout for my friend's wedding gift. I really love the paper in this one. It does look like sand. The most interesting part was making the footprints in Design Studio. By welding the mouse shape (foot) from Doodlecharms and ovals (toes) from Opposite Attract, footprints form! Oh yeah.



Paper: EK Success, Sandylion, Core'dination, vellum
Stamps: Stampin' Up Delight in Life
Techniques/Tools: Design Studio, Cricut Doodlecharms, Opposite Attract, Zooballoo, letter rub-ons, heat embossing

A Blog for my Creations

So I decided to make a new blog, one for just my creations. I noticed that from my other blog I am mixing too many of my life drama and creations. I would like to keep them separate. However, all are welcome to see both. As you can see, this blog for creativity is much more colorful than my other Crazie blog. I figured creativity should be happy and fun and not dark and gloomy.

I moved my previous creations over here. Therefore, all the creations that have an 'Original Post' on them were from the old blog. Thank goodness I didn't have that many. Haha. Just copying and pasting took me half the night!

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Teresa

Original Post: June 13, 2009

Despite of all the drama going on lately, I still have the mood to make a card for my dear friend's birthday. Tomorrow... more like in 8 hours, we're going hiking to go celebrate it. It's a pretty simple one, since I made it so last minute. I hope she likes green. This card is REALLY green. Haha. Too bad you can't see the green foil on the paper.

Paper: SEI, Me and My Big Ideas

Stamps: Studio G, Gel-a-Tins - Happy Birthday

Embellishments: ribbons, gem stickers

June Swap

Original Post: May 29, 2009

I still haven't sent out my May swap yet. I wanted to be a keener like last time and send out the next month's swap as well. However, I procrastinated until now. Nonetheless, they are done and ready to be sent out along with the May swap.

The theme for June's swap is 'Birthday'. For this theme, I wanted it to be fun. Therefore, I wanted the colors to clash as much as possible. As shown below, each card is different (only the swap host and whoever checks this blog out will know). One reason is because I was running low on a single color cardstock. The other is because I wanted to use up some leftover scraps - they were nice scraps too: Core'dination paper! All the mats were from my scrap paper box!

This one caught my eye the most. Hence, I chose it for the close up picture!

Paper: The Paper Company, DCWV, Core'dination (scraps)

Stamps: Studio G, Gel-a-tins Happy Birthday (inside of the card, no picture; just says Enjoy with a cupcake beside it)

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Doodlecharms, Cuttlebug Happy Birthday, Divine Swirls

Embellishments: ribbon

Berry Birthday Card

Original Post: May 28, 2009

Ok, this is something I would have never made a year ago. I'm not a really cutsie person. I don't know what happened! I got this berry paper I really wanted to use. So what the heck?! It's my friend's birthday, and I think she would think this is cute! Cute cute cute, that's what most girls want, right?!

I usually like to add something different to my creations. For this one, I somehow 'discovered' a new way to use those Prima flowers that I went crazy buying! Can you find it? =)

Paper: Core'dination, K & Company, SEI, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Indie Art, Paper Pups

Embellishment: eyelets, Prima flower, green staple

This is the inside. I didn't want to waste the strawberry top from the Indie Art cut, so I used it on the inside. It's cute, right? In a way, it looks like a present ribbon bow, which fits with the birthday theme. So, whatever! Strawberry top/present ribbon bow is in the eye of the beholder!

Jing's Scrapbook - Together

Original Post: May 23, 2009

Jing gave me a lot of pictures of just her and Ken. Honestly, I don't want to make THAT many pages (else I will never get it done), and therefore, I just combined all these miscellaneous 'Together' pictures onto one page. I think this is my very first 'girly' style page: butterflies, floral, pink/green/brown color scheme. I quite like it! Haha.

Paper: DCWV, Basic Grey, K.I. Memories

Techniques/Tools: Design Studio, Cricut Opposites Attract

Embellishments: Basic Grey element stickers, vellum quote

A close up of the vellum quote, which I found perfect for the pictures:

"Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction. " ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Jing's Scrapbook - Winter Fun

Original Post: May 18, 2009

Jing and Ken are snowboarders. Therefore, winter is a fun time for both of them, especially when the mountains are covered with the soft 'powder'. I can't say this was my best creation. It actually gave me a lot of trouble - especially the bow. I now know I am not the best bow maker! And yes, I made errors on it. Please don't try to look for them!

Paper: DCWV, Cosmo Cricket,

Stamps: Studio G, Stampin' Up - Delight in Life

Techniques/Tools: Design Studio, Cricut Stretch Your Imagination, Don Juan

Embellishments: ribbon, brads, Stickles

Jing's Scrapbook - Calgary Stampede

Original Post: May 8, 2009

For this page, it's the annual Calgary Stampede event. I'm pretty sure both Jing and Ken remember those chips quite well. I didn't realize how odd the red (chip container) looked until all of it was put together. Sigh. Oh well, what's done is done. Something different I guess. I do love the Core'dination paper. The fence looks soooo good! It actually looks like wood!

Paper: K&C Company, Making Memories, Core'dination, scraps
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Paper Doll Dress Up, Opposite Attract, Cricut Design Studio, Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Old Paper, Martha Stewart border punch
Embellishments: letter stickers, natural raffia

A close up of the layers. I thought it was pretty cool to wrinkle up the paper to give the chips a more dimensional look.

Jing's Scrapbook - Will You Marry Me?

Original Post: May 2, 2009

It's not a wedding scrapbook without the 'ring'! Thanks to The Scrap Yard lady, I got some good ideas with this page: the Diamond Glaze and the red. However, I still feel like something is missing but not sure what though. I don't think I'll add anything more to it, unless it's small, but for now, I'll just leave it as is.

Paper: Bazzill Bling, K.I. Memories (heart laced cardstock), scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Zooballoo, Diamond Glaze, red acrylic paint

Embellishments: Elmer's glitter glue, chipboard die cut heart (Riff Raff Designs), rhinestone stickers, letter stickers

A close up of the Diamond Glaze effect:

Ok, it's still hard to see, but should be all glossy and shiny. I love it.

May Swap

Original Post: April 30, 2009

I really want to be ahead of the ball game, and therefore, I got May's card swap completed today! Woohoo. The theme for May is 'Patriotic'. I believe I'm the only Canadian on the swap. So why not give my American swappers a Canadian card. However, I have no idea what to do with the 10 American patriotic card that I will be receiving. Suggestions?

Paper: The Paper Company, DCWV, watercolor

Stamps: High Hopes

Techniques/Tools: Cuttlebug Border Just My Type, old skool marker coloring skills!

Embellishments: ribbon, maple leaf brad

Jing's Scrapbook - Phoebe

Original Post: April 28, 2009

Another page from the wedding gift scrapbook: Phoebe. Phoebe is a "Build-A-Bear" bunny that Jing (and Ken) adopted. She a soft cutie!



Paper: g.c.d studios, The Paper Company, DCWV, scraps
Stamps: Sandylion Clear Stamps - Girl,
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Doodlecharms, Watercolor pencils, chalking
Embellishments: Ribbon, brads,
Others: Scraplifted layout idea from "601 Great Scrapbook Ideas From the editors of Memory Makers Books" pg 137.

Jing's Scrapbook - Checkmate

Original Post: April 23, 2009

Continuing on with my friend's wedding present, here is the Checkmate page.

Paper: DCWV, Bazzill Bling, bitty Scrap Pads, random cardstock

Techniques/Tools: Design Studio, Cricut DonJuan, Walk in My Garden (WIMG), Paper Dolls Dress Up (PDDU), Doodlecharms, paper weaving

Embellishments: Sticker gems

All chess pieces were welded with Design Studio:

King: Cross=DonJuan - Flower Pot=WIMG - Vase=WIMG - Flower Pot=WIMG

Queen: Crown=PDDU - Flower Pot = WIMG - Vase=WIMG - Flower Pot = WIMG

Pawn: Snow Globe=Doodlecharms - Vase=WIMG - Flower Pot = WIMG

Jing's Scrapbook - Title Page

Original Post: April 7, 2009

It's been a while since I last scrapbooked. I have just been in this rut with no ideas, but I really have to get going. I'm making a scrapbook for my friend, Jing, as a wedding present (July 2009). I really didn't want to get her a household item or contribute to a registry. So I figured a scrapbook is meaningful and something she would like (and she does, since I had to get pictures from her, she had to know!).

So, here is the title page. I love making title pages. I don't know why. More to come!

Paper: K&Company (pattern), Core'dination, DCWV, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Stretch Your Imagination, DonJuan

Embellishments: Prima flowers, Liquid Pearls

Birthday Card for...

Original Post: April 2, 2009

I made this birthday card for someone (not saying who...) but I just never got to them. Hahaha. Therefore, I'll just add to my collection of "Ready to Use" homemade cards.

Paper: Core'dinations, scraps

Stamps: Hero Arts Four Dolls

Techniques: Watercolor pencils, chalking

Embellishments: ribbon, sparkly gemstone stickers

April Swap

Original Post: April 2, 2009

I decided to be a keener, and got my April's card swap done ahead of time. For April's theme, it's "Thinking of You". So instead of doing a typical "Thinking of You" card, I kind of went outside of that:

Paper: Paper Company, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Walk in My Garden & Stretch Your Imagination, my own handwriting

Embellishments: Sparkly gemstone stickers

These cards were sent along with the wedding ones (March Swap). Hopefully, they won't get lost in the mail.

Free...

Original Post: March 26, 2009

Due to the recession and lack of projects, I was laid off, and today was my last day of work. In a way I'm glad because there will be another round of stressing "Will it be me?" Now that's out of the way, I will have to plan out what I should do next.

I love my team. They were just a bunch of awesome people. I will miss them dearly. I made cards for those who were still around (contractors were gone a few months ago). So in total, 37 cards were made. I made them all within two nights. I seriously should consider a handmade card business.

Only 35 are shown here, because I already gave out two without taking the picture.

Twins' Birthday

Original Post: March 11, 2009

This was a challenge for me. This is my first card that I made for kids. My boyfriend's friend is throwing a little party for his precious twins' 2nd birthday. The gift was easy, but not the card! Good thing I bought some cute stamps recently. Although they are only 2 (and probably don't know what the card is for), a cute and kiddy card is still essential!

Paper: Stampin' Up, watercolor, scraps

Stamps: MSE Party Animals

Techniques/Tools: watercolor pencil crayons, chalk

Embellishments: ribbon

March Swap

Original Post: March 11, 2009

This month's swap theme is Wedding.

Paper: Bazzill, The Paper Company

Techniques/Tools: Design Studio, Cricut Stretch Your Imagination, Cuttlebug Divine Swirls

Embellishments: Bell sticker

I really like this card. It's so elegant. It's initial purpose is for a wedding card, but then the more I look at it, it can also be used as a Christmas card (due to the bell). Therefore, I left out the sentiment and let my fellow swappers decide what they want to do with it. Before I could make 10 of these, my DS gave up cutting on me, and so I had to come up with another design for my remaining 6 cards.

Paper: The Paper Company

Stamps: Stampin' Up - Happy Everything

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Stretch Your Imagination, Martha Stewart border punch

Embellishments: ribbon

This one is nice, but kind of typical and simple. It's ok. I still like my bell one more - it's multipurpose. Very practical! =)

Happy Birthday, Ang

Original Post: February 21, 2009

My first trifold card is for my good friend, Angie. She loves dogs and I believe her favorite colors are blue and red - cuz she seems to wear those colors most of the time...

Opened up:

Paper: DCWV
Stamps: Penny Black - Critter Party
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Zooballoo, Cuttlebug - Happy Birthday Embossing Folder, heat embossing