Colorful

Before showcasing my creation for this post, a little ranting:

Scrapbooking has surely changed after being a mom. Although I am on maternity leave and seems like I should have some time to scrap, unfortunately, I don't. Kind of. Baby naps twice a day now, and each nap lasts 1-2 hrs long. Not bad, right? So technically, I could have some time to scrap - that is if I still had my craft room where I could just lay everything out. Now with the baby, my scrap room became the guest room and the guest room the nursery. All my stuff are on the main floor and the dining table is now a desk combo. Since we do eat on our table, that means I have to put away my supplies every time. So by the time I take out all my stuff, nap time is half over and that I need to start packing up. Scrapping like so is just not fun.

I still remember back in the days, if I was on staycation, it would probably take two days to complete a 1-page layout. Now, 1.5 weeks - minimum! Sigh.  Ok, I'm done.

Anyways, this page showcases the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. It was a pretty big market, but many "stores" sold the same thing. Even though it seemed a little dark inside this sheltered market, the majority of the merchandises were so colorful. I like colorful.

Before, I find Basic Grey's Capture collection was a bit hard to use. This is mostly because it was so colorful and the paper design is a bit bold. However, these qualities fit this page perfectly!

Paper: Basic Grey
Embellishments: Punch outs, chipboard,

Walking Tour Frankfurt

This was our last stop of our Europe-Asia trip in 2013.  Frankfurt is a major hub and long hours of layovers are common.  I had a choice to just sit in the airport for the long wait (very tempting since we were arriving at like 6-7 in the morning), or do a quick tour of Frankfurt.  Being me, who likes to make use of every single minute of making vacation, I chose the latter.  And it was worth it.

I started and finished 99% of this page on March 18, 2015.  All I had left was the journal entry portion of the page.  At around 11ish pm - midnight, I was debating, should I put this away?  I'll likely work on it tomorrow.  I chose to put it away.  My mom was staying with me.  With her around, I can't really live in my place like my own place.  My house, her rules - and that is, put things away.  However, I'm glad I did because around 6 am, March 19, 2015, my waters broke and I went to the hospital and had my baby.  So this page is extra special to me: it's my last page before being a full time mom.  It was just recently that I took this page back out to finish the journal entry (during baby's naptime).

Paper: Bazzill, Basic Grey, Scrapbook Customs
Embellishments: Sticker letters

Catch Up Miscellaneous

OMG.  It's been more than half a year since I last posted. I meant to post earlier but I have been so lazy.  However, I haven't been that lazy with creating.  I always try to scrap something on long weekends.  Then when maternity leave started, I had some time to scrap since my little bun decided to bake a bit longer than anticipated.  All this time I want to post whatever pages I haven't posted, like I last mentioned last post.  Of course, I didn't.  And when I wanted to, the baby came out.  Life was over.  Kinda (elaborate later in future post... maybe). Anyways, here are some of the pages I created over the last while. Good thing I wrote down some of the things I used when making these pages.

Paradise Air
This was the most adventurous things I have ever done in my life.  What's best was it was also the first adventurous thing B and I did as a married couple.  On the second day of our marriage, we went to Paradise Air and flew over the southwestern part of Oahu island.  I loved it. I don't think I will ever get a pilot's license, this will do.  The best parts were to "feel" the clouds and hover over rainbows.  It was amazing.

Paper: Can't remember! KaiserCraft?

Embellishments: Thickers, Bo Bunny cutout

Fishy Spa

In Santorini, B and I hiked from Fira to Oia.  We could have took a bus, but 1. people said this hike is amazing, and it was, and 2.  I didn't want to pay for two bus fares (we went back to Fira by bus).  It wasn't meant to be a hard hike, but we did take some detours, which took longer, and I hadn't exercised for ages!  However, it really made me continue to exercise after this trip.  Anyways, after this long hike, we were famished and our feet were overly exhausted.  After a delicious lunch, we dunked our feet into a fish tank and let the fishy eat away our dead skin. It was a pretty enjoyable experience.  B was surprised that he quite enjoyed it.

Paper: Echo Park, Carta Bella, Elle's Studio, Core'dination

Tools/Techniques: Silhouette Cameo 

Embellishments: Basic Grey memo card, letter stickers

Camel Ride

In Wadi Rum, our private tour guide suggested a camel ride. Oh yeah!  How often do I get a chance to ride a camel in a desert. Perfect animal in a perfect setting.

Paper: Crate Paper, Basic Grey
Embellishments: Stickers (Basic Grey, Authentique, Kaisercraft), Punch Out (Teresa Collins)

S'mores

This photo was taken a long time ago, like two years?  Even the stickers on the page was bought a long time ago in preparation to make this page.  However, I'm lazy to print photos from my phone, I just never got to it.  Now with a nice new printer at home, this photo is ready for print.
I love s'mores, but I don't camp.  I'm so happy that my two good innovative friends came up with this so that I could enjoy s'mores without camping outside!  Yum!

Paper: Kaisercraft, scraps

Embellishments: Sticker (Jolee's Boutique), vellum quotes, punchout

Wow!

It's been almost than a year since I last posted.  Have I stopped creating?  Of course not, but I haven't been creating as much as I would like.  Work has been crazy since I returned after Xmas holidays.  My brain was exhausted with specifications, site work, drawings, engineering stuff.  Although scrapping helps escaping it all, but I was lacking the brain juice to create.  And when I finally created something, I got too lazy to post it here.  When work finally slowed down a bit, and creative brain juice replenished a bit, I found out I was pregnant!  My first trimester consisted me camping outside my bathroom and lethargic on the couch.  I could barely hold down water, forget about scrapping.  It was horrible.  I would not wish it on my worse enemy.  Now that's all over, the baby is cuddling warmly in my tummy, and my workload has lessened it's time to start again.  To start, here are some recent pages I made in the last few weeks.  I'll try to find post the other few pages I made this year... maybe.

Floating in the Dead Sea
Our last stop during our big vacation last year, the Dead Sea.  Since I was the camera person, I couldn't take shots of me floating in the water or covered in mud.  Therefore, this page only consisted of B.

Paper: My Mind's Eye, Simple Stories

Tools/Techniques: Cricut B is for Boy

Embellishments: Sticker, Cut out

Little Venice

This little strip of buildings on the island of Mykonos is built near the waters, just like Venice.  I was lucky to capture this shot when the sun was setting.  So pretty.

Paper: Pink Paislee

Embellishments: Sticker, Die cuts

Delos

We took a daytrip to Delos, an island covered by ruins not too far from Mykonos.  If I was a history fanatic, yeah, I would like it but I'm not.  However, I am a scrapbooker - the more places = more photos = scrapbook potential!

Paper: Authentique, Basic Grey

Embellishments: Sticker, Die cut

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

It's been a while... again.

It's been about three months since I last posted.  However, I have been scrapping hard ... well, relatively hard.  Here are my latest six pages - that's an average 2 pages per week!  Provided that I've been working on weekends this summer, I think I'm doing pretty good!!

Byodo-In Temple
On the day after our wedding, our first stop on our one day road trip around Oahu was the Byodo-In Temple.  Didn't think I would scrap this page this early on... until the BoBunny Serenity collection gave me some ideas!

Paper: BoBunny, Recollection, Bazzill
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Pagoda, stamp
Embellishments: letter stickers

Cruise Adventure
Our honeymoon was a one week Hawaiian cruise.  On embarkment day, we had a crew member took a photo of us just in front of the ship.  It was a good photo... to scrap.

Paper: Basic Grey, Sandylion, scraps

Embellishments: stickers, vellum, Bazzill pleated border, pearl bead, ribbon (cut up to make the coconuts!)

Cock-a-doodle-doo
Wild/farmed chickens and roosters are EVERYWHERE in Hawaii.  How could my Hawaii scrapbook not include this bird?!

Paper: Echo Park, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut 3 Birds on Parade

Embellishments: stickers

Stonehenge
For my England trip, I originally didn't plan to see these famous rocks.  However, my friend suggested to visit them since she also never been.  So why not?  I'm always up to see famous things - even if it means being a typical tourist.

Paper: Bazzill

Techniques/Tools: Silhouette Cameo, Gypsy

Embellishments: letter stickers

London
I heart London.  I just love this city.  Too bad my time there was so short.  I haven't seen everything yet.  I will have to go back.
 

Paper: Recollection, Core'dination

Embellishments: Thickers, stickers, stamps

Over the Rainbow

This photo is very special to me.  How often are you in the sky, and a perimeter borders around you?  Almost never.  

Paper: Forgot!

Techniques/Tools: Sillhouette Cameo

Embellishments: sticker

Globe Theater, Cool Treats, @ the Dog Park

I've been trying to keep up with my scrapbooking.  So I try to scrap a little bit every weekend.  So I got three pages done and forgot to post them.  I don't think I remember what I used for them...

Shakespeare's Globe

Another London page done.  I'm getting close!  Although I'm no Shakespeare expert, I enjoyed my time at the theater (and buying postcards).  The best part about this page is the background paper.  It was suppose to be regular price of $1.50, but since it was among my pile of 25c papers, it got charged 25c.  Hahaha.  Lucky me.

Paper: Can't remember...

Techniques/Tools: Silhouette Cameo

Cool Treats

Shaved ice is a popular cool treat in Hawaii.  When B and I were off on our own, we went to one of the popular shaved ice places (forgot what it was called).  Too bad the day wasn't too hot, or else it would have been perfect!  Look at B's face... he looked like an old man.  

Paper: Core'dination, others

Techniques/Tools: acrylic paint, sparkles

Embellishments: stickers, chipboard, 

@ the Dog Park

These photos were taken a long time ago, so long I don't even remember when.  Well, more like B took them.  They're pretty good photos, eh?  Look at Roshi sniff a tree and run!  This one goes into the Memories scrapbook. 

Paper: Cosmo Cricket, BoBunny

Embellishments: stickers

Mr. & Mrs.

So after one year of marriage, I finally got around to scrap one of my wedding pages (no, I'm not scrapping a wedding book.  I have great friends who already printed me a photo book, and I'm happy with that).  This one is for my general Memories scrapbook.

I bought so many paper packs from Homesense for $4.99, so I had to used them for this page.  Luckily for me, I found a layout online that utilized one of my paper packs.  I used to be against copying other people's layouts.  It makes me feel so uncreative.  Now, let's get 'inspired'.  I'm not going to show the comparison, but it's posted here.

Paper: Crate Paper, Little Yellow Bicycle, scraps

Embellishments: Stickers (Doodlebug Design, Fiskars), punch outs (Crate Paper)

London Eye

Another page done for the London portion of my scrapbook.  This one took a while, as I found the perfect color/pattern combinations for the background paper and the London skyline silhouette.  Then I was lost with how to layout my photos and what to use for my mat.  Sigh.  Left it for a while and then over a weekend I checked out my favorite scrapbook store in Calgary and bought new paper.  Haha.  New paper always help.  I'm quite happy with this.  I might add a bit more to it one day, but for now (and to move on), I'll keep it as is.

Paper: Basic Grey, My Mind's Eye Bon Voyage,
Techniques/Tools: Silhouette Cameo, Cricut Stretch Your Imagination, Border punch, Distress Ink pad,
Embellishments: Thickers, Liquid Pearls, stickers

What Are You Pointing At?

During our honeymoon, B liked to point at things and make a face while taking a picture.  They look quite funny.  Since I have some extra photos that are not going into the Hawaii scrapbook (still need to start), I used these to put into my general scrapbook.

Paper: Core''dination, Bo Bunny, Echo Park, SEI. DCWV
Embellishments: stickers, ribbon

The Walking Dead

At this year's comic expo, some of the cast members of The Walking Dead were there.  Since B and I watch this show quite religiously, he pre-paid a photo op for us to take a photo with these three celebrities.  Not only was the photo expensive, the line up of people to get their photo was long too.  However, while waiting in line, I got a good look of some of the cast members of Supernatural and Stan Lee (and boy, does he look old!)

Paper: Recollections, Bo Bunny
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Paper Doll Dress Up, Silhouette Cameo, distressing
Embellishments: Punch out shape, spray ink

Calgary Expo 2013

This year, B and I went to the comic expo in Calgary.  Although we didn't take many photos, he volunteered to take a photo with these two Iron heroes. 

Paper: Pebbles, Craft n Craftin, Recollections
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Craftroom

Burger Joint

Paper: Cardstock, various pattern paper
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Simply Charm
Embellishments: Chipboard letter (K&Company)

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

Ireland Scrapbook ... done

The title of this post says it all, it is finally done. Well, of course, I could think of a few other photos I can put into it but why?  Maybe when I have time.  Now, moving on, the England portion of this Europe 2010 trip.  Hopefully it won't take long since I only stayed in England for a few days.  But since I have full time work, and I just signed up for a 14 week course, I don't see it being done for another year.  Sigh.  

The final pages:

Paper: DCWV, Me and My Big Ideas, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Blackletter

Embellishments: Pendents

Paper: Pink Paislee, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Paper Pups

Embellishments: Thickers, chipboard stickers

Paper: BoBunny, My Mind's Eye, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Car Decals, Gypsy Wanderings, distressing

Embellishments: fabric flower

Paper: s.e.i., Bazzill, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Paper Doll Dress Up, Walk in the Garden, Cuttlebug

A Month of Scrapping

Unbelievably, a month has passed since I last posted.  However, I've still been scrapping hard; so hard that I am stuck in a rut - scrapper's block.  This time round: all Ireland pages.  Is the end near?  Maybe.

2nd Warrior Pose
After the cliffs, we decided to have some fun.  We did some yoga poses for fun, and Joni just captured it just right.  What a fun picture for a fun layout.

Paper: BoBunny, Echo Park, Bazzill

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Wildcard 2

Embellishments: Rub on

Cobh

Cobh was a cute port town.  It was also the last port call before the Titanic set sail for North America, but unfortunately sank in the middle of the Atlantic.  We were here for a quick evening for photo opportunities and some exploring.

Paper: Tinkering Ink, DCWV, gcd

Techniques/Tools: Life is a Beach

Embellishments: stickers, clear skittles

Kissing The Blarney Stone
The goal of climbing the Blarney Castle is to kiss the stone.  Kissing the stone will endow the kisser the gift of eloquence. SWAK!!!

Paper: Core'dination, scraps

Techniques/Tools: distressing

Embellishments: stickers, fabric flower, punch out, Thickers

Fetch

Roshi learned how to play fetch when he was only eight weeks old.  Then for some odd reason at around five to six months, he had absolutely no interest in it.  After he got neutered, he started playing fetch again, and loved it ever since.  He would just pick up either his ball or rope, and dumps it at my feet and gives you this look that demands "THROW IT".  If you ignore him, he will just pick it up and throw it at your feet again.  Silly dog.  This picture took me quite a few tries to get the right shot.  It was definitely worth it.  It came out so well!

Paper: Bazzill, Echo Park,

Embellishments: Stickers, Thickers

Cliffs of Moher

One of the highlights in Ireland was the Cliffs of Moher.  They were absolutely stunning.  Seeing these cliffs gave me the same tingly feeling whenever I see the Rocky Mountains.  When seeing something like this, how can one say there is no God?

It's been a few weeks since I made this page, and I didn't write out what I used!!!  Oh well, I'll leave them out for this layout.