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

It's been a while...

Original Post: February 21, 2009

... since I last blogged and made cards. A lot went on in the past few weeks:

1. Grandma passed away
   
2. I got the most horrible flu
3. Worrying about the security of my job

My grandma's final arrangements are all dealt with. I recovered from my flu. But #3 will be ongoing until this recession is over.

Life goes on - and so does my crafting!

Joined a card swap and the first card package is themed "Easter". I had to keep it simple because I have to make 10 of them. So here they are:



There's three variations (honest reason: I don't have enough paper!)



Paper: Coredinations, The Paper Company, Provo Craft
Stamps: Stampin' Up - Happy Everything, EK Success - Antique Alphabet
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Doodlecharms, Walk in My Garden

Crazy for You

Original Post: January 5, 2009

January 19 is my professional engineering exam and SHEIST... I can't read those ethics books anymore. It's like eating cardboard... DRY. So instead, I took up a challenge on the Cricut Forum and made a card instead. The challenge is to make a monogram based card. I chose 'C' since my name starts with it. Also, since Valentine's Day is coming up, let's make another cheesy one. Can you read what it says? I'm somewhat not quite satisfied with the inside. Maybe one day I'll build more on it. For now... STUDYING!

Paper: DCWV and scraps
Stamps: Penny Black - Critter Party
Embellishments: ribbons
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Don Juan

Seasons may change...

Original Post: December 31, 2008

Last last weekend, I spent some bonding time with my dad to install a closet organizer system for my closet and some wall shelves for me to put (or buy) more stuff in my room. Because of this, I was forced to clean my room and do some reorganizing! Besides throwing out some "you'll never catch me wearing this again" clothes, I also reorganized my papercrafting supplies. I stumbled upon these SU stamps that I got a while ago. I have never really used them. Somehow, I got this cheesy idea for a card: Seasons may change...

Paper: DCWV Neutrals and Jewel Colored, The Paper Company (vellum and white cardstock)
Stamps: Stampin' Up - A Tree for all Seasons
Embellishments: eyelets, sparkly heart sticker
Techniques/Tools: Cuttlebug (Celebration Stamps die), watercolor pencils, printer

Merry Xmas

Original Post: December 22, 2008

Before half of my coworkers left for their holidays, I decided to make them each a personalized gift. So last week, I made 44 of these boxes filled with a mini candy cane, a Lindt Lindor, and three Hershey Kisses. It took me 3 nights and 2 lunch hours. The response were great, which made the effort all worth it! Each box was made with 4"x8" card stock. There's four 'flavor' tags: reindeer, poinsettia, winter tree, and snowflakes.

They were then filled with goodies, and tied with a ribbon. On the ribbon, I added a little metal letter charm to personalize it (first letter of coworker's name).

The response from my coworkers were good. Therefore, all the hard work was worth it!

FPS Birthday Card

Original Post: December 13, 2008

For this card, my craftsmanship is not the best, but it's definitely the most creative!

A christian themed FPS for birthday

On the inside...

A little rushed, but they all worked out!

Original Post: December 6 & 7, 2008

So my coworker called me up yesterday and requested two birthday cards, one for a pastor and the other to a friend and he needs it today. He gave me the following criteria:

For the two cards:

1. Cards must be big for a big group of people to sign
2. Cards must have some Christian theme/content

For the pastor, it can have either guitar or video games content, and for the friend, guitar or music content.

Since I had only 24 hours, I have to say I did quite well!

For the pastor:
Outside/Inside:

First of all, I went on the Internet and looked for a Mario face. It was actually quite difficult because most of them were side view, or not the right look. So, I found one from someone's blog:

http://jimboscoloringpages.blogspot.com/2008/04/more-super-mario-coloring-pages.html

Note: This head comes out to be about 2.5" wide and 3" high.

The first step is to print out two copies: one on skin colored card stock and the other on scrap. The skinned colored one will be the 'template' and the other one will be used for tracers. Since I was going for a "God" look, I had to omit the hat, and put some "Mario hair" on him. This was where the Cricut came in. I used "Paper Dolls Dress Up" Clown hair. I had a few trial and error attempts using Design Studio to get the hair to look right on the head. (For those who just want a Mario look, just keep the hat). However, the hair didn't quite cover all the black outlines, so I modified the picture a bit:

Mario has brown hair, and therefore, I cut out his sideburns, eyebrows, and mustache. They were then traced onto brown card stock. However, I think if you have a moon crescent shape on some cartridge, they will make good eyebrows... now that I think of it, I might have one on the Don Juan cartridge! (DOH!) These pieces were glued on first. Note: before gluing the mustache on, I colored in the mouth with a black marker.

Next were the eyes. My Cricut cartridges are limited, and I don't have any skewed oval shapes for the eyes. Thus, I had to trace and cut them out as well: the whites and the blue. I was lazy, and just drew in the black pupils with a nice black marker! These were glued on next.

Last is the nose. I also traced and cut.

I do suggest the trace and cut method. It's nice to get the perfect circles and ovals with the Cricut, but it takes forever to get the right proportions (i.e. hair).

Hope this helped a bit. If you find any improvements on the method, please inform me! I would like to make it a more user friendly paper craft.

For the friend: