Sunday, September 28

Another Sunday

I can't believe my last blog was a week ago!  Time sure flies...  I don't blame it on my new job because I like it, and it's my "gasoline" for my many hobbies.  I blame it on my chaotic planet... again!  I just can't create as much when my planet's a big mess.  I'm too ashamed to post a pic here because it's really THAT bad. 

So this weekend, I made a pledge to clean it up.

Now, I can see the floor, and my desk, and it feels a lot better to be in here.  My muse came back!  While I was cleaning, I discovered how many images I have. 


Which led me to create an "organizer" for my stamped images.  I receive a lot of images as RAK from friends and a lot more from swaps I joined and hosted.  So I decided to organize them, so I can finally use them.  I wanted to segregate them according to brand and theme.


The first thing that came to mind is the shoe box I bought from Japan a few years ago.  To be honest, one of the reasons why I bought the shoes is because of the box.  And yes, the shoe brand is Nicole.  I was just starting scrapbooking, and I thought I could put that box into good use someday.  And today was the day.  I pulled out a drawer of my black bg papers, and chose which ones to use for my new altered project.  It's not complicated, really.  I just cut each piece of paper to size, adhering them at random.  Then, with black cardstock, I made dividers and wrote categories using Martha Stewart white opaque pen. 


So this is how it looks like now.  The width of the box is perfect, but it's not tall enough to hold all the images.  So I just placed the cover in the bottom.  I guess that would make it more convenient for me, so its easy to browse for images.  Click here for more photos.


By the way, I was guest poster again for ScrapScene.  This time, they featured my altered document tray which I created about a couple of weeks ago.  You can see the entire article by clicking here.  Thanks again Angie for a chance to show my work!

Also, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow crafters who sent me wonderful goodies this week.  I always look foward to coming home from work, anticipating what I'll be getting in the mail.  You put a smile on my face each day.  Thanks ladies!

'Till next blog and happy crafting :D

Sunday, September 21

Sunday

This weekend was great!

On Saturday, I learned that The Daily Scrapper featured my tutorial on making your own embossing templates in their latest issue.  There are lots of really interesting topics in their 8th issue, not just about our dear hobby, but also about real life - questions about women who make a living at home via this "hobby" that we so love. 


Check out the latest issue of TDS by clicking here.  You can see the full article about my tutorial here.  Weeks ago, I made a video tutorial about my custom-made embossing templates which you can view here.

Also, don't forget to check out their digital freebie available for download.  It's the Floral Freebie kit by Amy Sumrall.  I like the colors of this kit, perfect for the starting Autumn season.  Here's a digital LO I made about my friend from the University who lives in Japan. 


All the elements in this page is from the freebie kit, and I used the fonts CK Ali's Writing and WC Roughtrad Bta for the title and journaling.  Download this kit while it's still available (only until September 24th).  All you have to do is click here.
 

Then last night, I was able to create this card for another swap I joined in SplitcoastStampers.  In this swap we had to use Twinkling H20's in our cards.  I don't have that product, but the swap host let me use Shimmerz to add "glimmer" to my card.  Here's the card I made. 
  
I used the following materials: 
  • card base - The Paper Company
  • black cardstock - Embassy
  • background paper - Paper Pizzaz
  • parchment paper - Wausau
  • stamps - Heidi Grace and Hero Arts
  • Shimmerz in Sunflower
  • adhesive - Scotch, Glue Dots
  • ink - SU More Mustard and Color Box black pigment ink
  • miscellaneous - brown hemp cord

I like how "hello" pops out.  Can you see the glimmer on the images?  After making this card, I want to say that I'd have to invest on more colors of Shimmerz.  There are supposed to be 35 of them.  For more information about Shimmerz Paints, check out their blog by clicking here.


And finally, I got these goodies in the mail this week.  They are from my PIF and RAK friends from SplitcoastStampers.  I was out of yellow ribbon and flowers and they sent me these.  Thank you ladies!

Wednesday, September 17

Wednesday

My week started out with frustration.  Remember the altered document trays that I made last weekend?  I took them to work on Monday, and guess what?!?!  They don't fit the darn slots!  They ended up a few centimeters taller.  I was so mad at myself, and I thought I measured it well.  So I went back to town right away to return the black wire trays, and bought me a different kind.  The one's that are shorter.  I took them home, and adhered the "names" I already did for the first ones.  This is how they look like:


Right the next day, I took them to work.  I was crossing my fingers (and my toes!) as I was inserting them to the slots.  And guess what???  This time, they are too wide!!!  Arg!!!!  I have to return the darn trays again.  I guess I'll have to really improvise and just cut thick boxes to the right size.  And this time, I'll make sure they will fit.  Hmp!

Today's a good day, though.  I'm a guest poster for ScrapScene and they featured my tutorial for my Do-It-Yourself Ribbon Spool.  You can check it out by clicking here or here.  I didn't expect it to be posted so soon.  Thank you very much Angie of ScrapScene!  And enjoy your vacation :D

Also, this week I was able to make a card for DBIL's birthday.  This one's a challenge because I don't make "man" cards too often.  This is a bigger sized card, 7 x 5. 


The blue background is leftover cardstock, but the distressed background paper is by BasicGrey.  Then, using SU Night of Navy, I stamped "man of the year" image by Inkadinkado, then I adhered it to a square scrap brown cardstock. 


As you can see I used brown twine to match the lines of my background paper.  I always like to add dimension in my cards, so I adhered the stamped image with EK Success Pop-up squares. 


Then I stamped a phrase on the inside.  It's a clear stamp by Cloud 9 Designs.

I love the way this card turned out to be.  It's simple, and I guess it's something a guy can appreciate.

Before I end this entry, I'd like to shout out a big THANK YOU to the ladies who joined my International Card Swap.  Some of you have mailed your cards to me and I can't wait to see them!  I'll keep you all posted with updates.  I'm brewing something really special for you ladies... but for now, it's still a big secret!

Sunday, September 14

One Sweet Day

Yesterday was extra special for me.  Earlier in the week, I have set my mind to do the laundry and some house chores for this weekend.  Of course, I would do some crafting while doing these chores.  Then, I receive a call from DH who was at work, just to "check on me".  And even though it's embarassing to say, he said that I was talking and snoring in my sleep the night before.  That phone conversation made me smile.  Come lunch time, DH came home from work and we just had leftover pizza for lunch.  Mind you, it wasn't frozen pizza, but the real deal.  Even though we only had leftovers, I enjoyed that lunch.  Sometime after, DH got out of the house and got back in with 3 wooden cigar boxes he got from work.  He said "I thought you might want these." 


Of course I do!  Those are perfect for altering!  I was very happy and thought that it was so sweet of him that he picked those wooden boxes from the dump.  After that, I went back to my planet and continued working on some LOs.  At around 5 pm, I went to the kitchen and started preparing for dinner.  Then DH stops me and says he's going to cook dinner.  DH was going to cook dinner.  I had to ask him if he was sick, but no.  I let him cook, and I went back to my planet.  So what's the point that I'm telling this to you?  Yesterday, my DH made me feel extra special with just the extra little things he did.  I want to keep that memory, and it prompted me to create a scrapbook layout so I won't forget every detail.  I didn't want to wait days or weeks to do it, but right away, so that when I look back and see this layout, I can feel the exact same emotions when this special moment actually happened.  But where's this LO?  Sorry, I can't show you just yet...

But, I was able to make the September page for my 2008 Calendar. 


True it is, the leaves have started changing color and the temperature has gone down -  proof of the new season starting.  I always like Autumn because of its color.  This is going to be my 2nd official Fall in my entire life, and I'm very sure I will enjoy it as much as I did last year.  Maybe even more.  You can see the rest of the pages of my 2008 Calendar here.

As I have mentioned before, I am now currently employed and still in the process of "personalizing" my work area.  I have lots of things in mind, but there are still other projects that I needed to do.  But yesterday I was able to "alter" a couple of document trays for work. 



I didn't want it to be too fancy so I just used mostly black.  The background is corrugated cardstock and the alphas are by Provo Craft.  I just adhered some clear flower sequins to add a little dimension.  I guess that's a good start, because there are still quite a bunch of stuff I want to create for work.

Till next blog!

Friday, September 12

My Very First Inchie!

I apologize my fellow crafters for not being able to update my blog for a week.  I have been busy with work and finishing my "craft obligations."  As for my new job, I am enjoying it a lot!


Anyway, about a week or so ago, Lisa asked me to "angel" for her Inchie swap.  I've never made inchies before, and I thought that her swap would be a great chance for me to try making some.  For the month of September, we swappers are supposed to make inchies with the Halloween/Fall theme.  I chose Halloween.  I actually had fun making these inchies.  And I am really hoping I did them right.  While I was doing these inchies, I decided to make a video tutorial, not really about making the inchies, but to show the different tools and supplies I used in making the inchies.  I hope to upload the video this weekend.  Now I can't wait to see what the others made.  I'm supposed to receive 15 different inchies back.  For more information about inchies, you can check out Lisa's video tutorials here and here.


Also, I received new cards from the "Embossed Image Card Swap" I joined a few weeks ago.  We were all supposed to do dry embossing on our cards, and I love everything I received.  You can see more of the cards by clicking here.

My planet is sooo messy again!  And I think I'm back into hoarding again, which is not good.  This weekend, I need to clean up and finish projects in my "to do" list.

Till next blog :)

Thursday, September 4

Thursday

I have been busy with my newly acquired job, and swapping images in my Image Swap at SplitcoastStampers.  It's the biggest swap I've ever hosted and it is not easy to swap so many images of different kinds.  This swap has a lot of swappers I wouldn't dare count.  And some of the swappers took more than one spot.  Maybe you can count for me? 


You can see the details of my Image Swap here.  But it is very fun to see different images, and a lot of those submitted were different from the typical ones - some of which I've never seen before.  There were images that I wish I own the stamps of.  I'm almost done swapping the images out and my goal is to mail all of the swaps back to my swappers on Saturday at the latest.  After this one, I might have to take a long break from swap hosting... hehe!


Before I started my new job, I was able to make a small project.  It's an altered TicTac container.  My nephew Tim saved his empty TicTacs for me, and now I have a bunch to alter.  They are perfect for organizing small embellishments.  First, I peeled off the label by heating it with a heat gun.  Works like a charm!  Then, using Swirls & Flowers Doodle Template by TheCraftersWorkshop, I doodled with the Pilot Latte pen.  This works really well with plastic and shiny surfaces.  To add shine, I applied Pearl Ex pigment powder in Flamingo Pink on the doodling using Ranger Perfect Medium Pen.  After that, I adhered Pink leftover ribbon and bow on top.  I applied the "bling" (Duncan Next Style) using Kandi Kane Applicator Wand.  For the top opening, I just adhered a small piece of pink cardstock, topped with white flower sequin and another puprle "bling".  I also put pink cardstock in the bottom to finish the look.  I love the result of this one.  You can see more photos by clicking here.

Going back to work, I will be "altering" more stuff for my work desk.  It's going to be my weekend project. 

But for now, I'm going to bed....

Monday, September 1

Published, Featured, Freebies and Whatnot!

My first day of September started out great!  It's because two of my creations were published in the latest issue of Scrap N' Art.  I am really happy :D 


Scrap N' Art is a scrapbooking and paper crafting eZine, and it focuses on more non-traditional, out-of-the-box scrapbooking and paper crafts.  What I like about it is that they don't mind what brand of supplies or materials you use.  If your submission passes, then you're in!  I suggest you subscribe to Scrap N' Art... first of all it's free!  Their issues also come with freebies like digital kits and stuff.  In the most recent issue, they have 3 digital kits ready for download.  Try to submit your work too, and your next LO or project will be there in the next issue.  They have some contests, page calls and even a design team call going on right now.  By the way, after you download the latest issue, you can see my 2 contributions in the Geek is Chic column on Page 18.
Also, you can see something about me in The Daily Scrapper's Scrapper AvenueAlice Koh, the owner of TDS made a very beautiful page about me here


Would you like to join me there and grab that chance to showcase your talent, creations and services?  Click here for more information.  Also, don't forget to download their wonderful freebie by Monika Designs here.
For some good news, tomorrow's my first day of work.  Yipee!!!  But that means lesser time to play in my planet.  But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop....  right?