New Year Creations

With another week off, I got more scrapbook layouts done.  Also helps when mom came to "visit", and I did not have to worry about cooking and washing dishes.  So I had all the time in the world to scrap (and watch earlier seasons of Supernatural on Netflix).

Hawaii Wedding
The main reason we went to Hawaii last year (2012) was to get married!  I love Hawaii.  It's seriously my favourite place on Earth.  It's a place I can visit again and again.  Just love it, and therefore, it's a perfect setting for our wedding.

Paper: BoBunny, Core'dination

Embellishments: Stickers, vellum love quote, memo card (Elle's Studio)

Marukame Udon

Although it was on my list of restaurants to try in Waikiki, B got to it first and fell in love.  He's not a big fan of cities in paradise, but he sure is a big fan of this place.  Near the end of our short stay in Waikiki, I finally made it there and of course, he had no complaints going there again.  It was good, but I didn't fall in love with it as much as him.  The reason to go back to Waikiki for him is this udon shop.

Paper: Basic Grey

Tools/Techniques: Cricut Create a Critter, Silhouette Cameo 

Traveler

During my holiday, I got a chance to go through and develop my newest vacation photos and getting all gung-ho to start another new scrapbook (yes, I'm crazy!).  So to start things off with this scrapbook, let's start with page 1, the title page!

Paper: Bazzill Basics Paper, Core'dination

Tools/Techniques: Prismacolor pencil crayons, distressing/ink

Embellishments: Sticker (title "Traveler" by Jolee's Boutique), stamps, vellum quote

Puppy Portraits

A long time ago, I took these photos with a borrowed dslr camera.  This holiday, I finally got a chance to scrap these photos.  I actually could have finished this when I was at my parents' but I don't know how I managed to lose one of the photos.  The good news is that I bought a new printer that could print out awesome (backup) photos!  And so to test it out, I reprint the photo I lost/misplaced.  

   

Paper: My Mind's Eye, Making Memories, Echo Park

Tools/Techniques: Silhouette Cameo, circle cutter

Embellishments: Stickers

Holiday Scrapping

For the first part of my holidays, I went to visit my parents' for 5 days and spent Christmas there.  Usually I would also visit some friends and do some catching up, but this year I decided to just be a homebody and stuck around the house.  Husband had no complaints.  During the five days, other than walking the dog and going out for dim sum once, I was either "Alien Hive"-ing on my tablet (damn, that game is addictive and impossible), or on Pinterest getting inspirations for scrapping and catching up with some scrapbooking.  A total of three layouts were completed.  I did almost finish another but due to limited supplies (and technology in the house), I had to save it for later until I get home.

Cambridge
I would consider this the last 'adventure' page in the England/Ireland scrapbook (now just missing the England title page... which I forgot, else I would have worked on that too).  I had a few good photos for it, but I think for this layout, it just goes well with one.

Paper: Simple Stories, Fancy Pants Design, and the plaid paper by...
Embellishments: Stickers, Snippets (Basic Grey)

Life's A Beach
Since I thought I was done my Europe 2010 page, I continued with my Hawaii 2012 page.  I went to a number of beaches in Hawaii, but I really didn't want to scrap them all (plus I didn't have enough photos for each of them).  A beach is a beach... sand, ocean, bare feet... Why not just put them all onto one page?!

Paper: Authentique
Embellishments: Stickers, Tab

Hawaii
After remembering I needed a title page for England, I did a title page for Hawaii.  This page was so fun.  It's also the one I liked the most out of the three.  Simple and bright.

Paper: Basic Grey
Embellishments: Stickers (Jolee' Boutique, Echo Park, Crate's Paper), buttons (Dress It Up), pearls

Merry Christmas to my Parent-In-Laws

It's been a while since I've last posted but I've been spending that time debating on what and how to make my Christmas present for my new in-laws.  I know that family is VERY important to them.  Therefore, I created a 'family' page for them and framed it in a 12x12 display box.  The photo I selected was our 'first' family photo taken during my wedding in Hawaii, which included my two parent-in-laws, my two sibling-in-laws, B and I, and of course, my own parents.  There were quite a lot of problems creating this layout.  Firstly, I was stressing out how to make this VERY nice since it's my first present for my new 'parents'.  Secondly, I screwed up a few times - making the flowers too poofy for the display case.  I almost had to redo the whole layout.  Good thing I found another 'flatter' flower.  I shouldn't have stressed out too much since at the end of the day, it was done and mailed.  I overheard the phone call between B and 'mamee' and they loved it.  Although I gave B some credit on the present (I had him write the Christmas card), they could tell I made the present.  Haha.

Paper: Can't remember!
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Pagoda, Paper Lace, Ribbons & Rosettes, Gypsy, Cuttlebug
Embellishments: Jolee's Boutique

Christmas Gift

Roshi, my dog, has a sitter/day home. Yes, he is my baby and I'm spending money like he is my kid. Well, he is a puppy, and he's been developing well with a sitter so I think it's well worth it. Besides, he doesn't see her everyday anymore - just three times a week to burn off his energy in her yard, and gives me a break when I come home from work!

I'm very grateful of her to take him in. He was a wee pup when I found her. Since it's her home, she was willing to take a non-housetrained puppy, while watching other dogs and pets, and tending to three small children of her own - talk about Supermom!!!

So this Christmas, I made her a little gift. Nothing much, but a cute little sign with the name of her "company". Hope she likes it!

Paper: Echo Park, S.E.I.

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Create a Critter, Sesame Street Font

Embellishments: Brads

Secret Santa 2011

It seems like every year I papercrafted something for my secret santa present for work. This year, I thought I will make an exception, because 1. I got a male to give a present to and 2. he doesn't seem like a guy who will appreciate handmade things. However, my present looked pretty pathetic: it was three giftcards to various fast food places near the office (he's known in the office to buy lunch daily). So, someone (not saying who) suggested that I should also print out nutritional facts from popular fast food places and binder it up as a present. Just to show him the health "benefits" of eating out daily. Sounds good, especially all the print outs and binder were from the office, and hence I didn't go over the secret santa budget of $25.

However, the white binder looked too plain and lifeless. So yes, I ended up papercrafting a cover for the binder. Sigh. I am amazed that it only took me four hours, (which included cleaning the huge mess I made in my dining room and also fighting my dog for my ruler) since I'm totally stuck on one of my layouts for over a week now! So here it is, ready for the Xmas party this weekend:

Paper: DCWV, Bazzill, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Simply Charmed, Graphically Speaking, Create a Critter, Gypsy, heat embossing

Embellishments: ribbon

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!

House Warming Xmas Card

Original Post: December 4, 2008

I posted this card on the Cricut message board, and someone asked for instructions. I'm too surprised. On that message board, I'm like an amateur compared to the rest of the card makers! Anyways, thanks for liking my card and here's a brief description of how I made it!

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Base cardstock:

• 5.25" x 10.5" (so folds up to be a perfect square) - but it can be any size
  

Background paper:

• 5" x 5"
  

House:

• Cricut's Don Juan cartridge (shift G)
  
• Used 'Old Paper' distressed ink pad and yellow ink pad and just created some color on the house
• Taped vellum on the back for window and door
• For the snow, I just cut up some white cardstock and had it fit onto the roof. Make a slit to fit the chimney.
• Wreath: cut out a small circle from dark green cardstock and used a green eyelet to attach circle onto house. Tie a small bow from red embroidery floss and glue gun onto wreath.
• Lights: Use black embroidery floss and just loosely stitch onto house. Used red and green sticker gemstones for lights.

Tree:

• I cut out green patterned paper into square pieces with the base about 1.25" x 1.25", mid-section 1" x 1", and 0.75" x 0.75"
  
• Fold each piece as follows:

1. Fold in half "horizontal" and "vertical" and open (creates cross fold lines)
2. Fold diagonally both ways and open (create X fold lines)
3. Fold in the sides to make a triangle
4. Fold in (top) left and right sides of the triangle towards the middle

• For the snow, I traced out the tree's section triangle and ripped out the bottle. Make sure the snow triangle is bigger than the tree's section. I just stuck this triangle into the tree's triangle
  
• Stack up tree+snow sections.

Snowman:

• Cricut's Doodlecharm cartridge (blackout and shift snowman)
  

Ground snow:

• I just randomly cut fluffy shapes from white cardstock and fit it the way I want it to.
  

For all the snow, I used a colorless embossing marker to 'wet' the edges. I used 'Stamp N Stuff' Kaleidoscope embossing powder to have that snow reflective look.

I think that's about it. Any questions?!

Xmas Cards

Original Post: November. 26, 2008

So I already got my Xmas present from my boyfriend, and it's the popular Cricut (Create) Cutting Machine. Before, I was skeptical about it. First of all, it's expensive. The machine costs $399 and the additionaly cartridges cost $70+. The mat and the blades need to be replace and those cost moola. It's a nonstop investment. Being a somewhat an avid paper crafter, I justify not buying the machine by saying "I can seriously cut things with a pair of scissors, the way it has been done forever." Honestly, why I asked for it as a xmas present, I really have no idea.

Now that I own it, I can't do anything without it! I can't even cut a square without it (just kidding). I try to minimize the usage, so that I can preserve the blade and mat lives. Nonetheless, Christmas season is almost here, and I'll be having an early Xmas get together with my girlfriends soon. Perfect time to make some Xmas cards and experiment with this awesome machine!

First Xmas card with no Cricut Machine:


First card with the Cricut: Don Juan Cartridge (Season's Greetings); and paper tearing for the wreath


Second card with the Cricut: Opposite Attract (W's) and Don Juan (snowflakes and "...arm ... ishes"). I like the gift card pocket. Interestingly, everything matched. Not planned at all!


Third card with the Cricut: Don Juan (tea cup and steam)