Post Christmas

Hello! Its been a month since i've blogged and look at how fast time has passed. I really need to make it a point to blog more often and be less busy. So much to say but yet lost for words on how to go about saying them.. I travelled a lot this December and now that the trips are over, it is time to mentally prepare myself for the new school term.

I have so much insecurities about myself, I worry about expectations but i realised that at the end of the day, God will provide and he will prepare a way for me. So yes, I am learning to let go of my fears and cling onto things that matter.

So yes, with 4 more days to the new term.. it is time to enjoy every moment I have. How about sharing a project (perhaps the only project I did in December)? I altered an artist tray to give to my parents for their Xmas's present. It was fun doing it, given that I needed to complete it in a day. I am so glad they loved it when they saw it. It is now hanging in their room. (:

 Some close up details on the tray, using the lovely Fourteen Collection by Crate Paper. By far, one of the best lines they have produced. Love those bold colours and those sweet valentine motifs.

I am a little late on posting these past few layouts that I have done for CSI. The first two layouts are for Case #49 and Case #50.

 So keeping things updated, this current layout is for this week's challenge. By far, one of the best case I have done. Simply love the colour schemes and it really challenged me to use RED. I am not a big fan of the colour but seeing how we were supposed to incooperate kraft, white and black with RED sold my soul over. Haha. I love how these colours complement with the christmas theme. Hence, I did a lot of embossing, cutting, misting to get the effect that I wanted.

So come and join us for Case #52. Challenge yourself to scrap beyond your own comfort zone. If you look carefully, I journalled my thoughts using the typewriter. There are some typo errors (for pressing the wrong keys) but it is all in good fun. Haha.

Have a great week ahead and Happy New Year!
Lets welcome 2013 with open arms! (it's going to be awesome!)

December already?

How did time pass so fast? 2 weeks of holidays is almost over and i am left with 25 more days. I must treasure my time well and use it wisely before the next year arrives. It has been good so far, hasnt it? I went to HK and came back recharged and refreshed. I have been staying at home lately, catching up on good dramas and scrapping away. This is life, at least to me. Not going out sometimes is better for the pockets.

Oh well, I will be travelling to Malaysia next week so it will be a good time bonding with the family members. This is the first time we are travelling together since my two nieces were born. Cant wait for it!

How about a layout before I retire for a nap? Recently, i purchased some papers from Crate's On Trend line. I have comtemplated buying this line for the longest time, simply because the papers werent me. Scrappers around me have been saying the line was 'bad' and quite frankly, i agreed. I have always been a huge fan of CP and this has not changed since they released their Restoration line a few years back. I hesistated when i first saw the sneaks online but oh well, every once in awhile.. we need to venture out and try on papers and embellishments that are not norm.

So I started on this layout yesterday and my motto was "THINK LIKE CHRISTINE MIDDLECAMP!" Haha. She is one talented lady and she is really good at layering embellishments and papers. I matted each paper and embellishments with black cardstock and surprisingly, i really loved how it turned out.

It was nice venturing into this line. This is my current favourite picture of B. I have printed tons of this photo and in such rare moments, we can see how serene she looks. (:

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Also,I am a little late for this posting. Do check out this week's challenge at CSI #48. I had so much fun playing around with patterns and misting. Do join us!

One random thought to share: I changed my laptop today. So it is goodbye to Fujitsu (of 4 years) and hello HP. It was a good deal after all. I will not sulk anymore.

Haha. Have a great week ahead.

Serenade

It is the last week of school before the holidays arrive. I simply cant wait to pack my bags and leave for Hong Kong. It would be great to be back there again, after one year. This week has been jammed packed with so many activities that it got a little crazy. Well, my CGLs got married last night and though it was a long day, I am so glad I was there to experience it all.

In any case, here to share some more layouts from Basic Grey's Serenade collection. Hooked, I must say and I keep playing with those papers and embellishments.

 

Some close up of the embellishments. My latest obsession is to use my craft knife to cut various shapes. That way, I could fill it up with a different pattern paper or in this case, I filled it up with a variety of buttons. I misted some mistable hearts (Pink Paislee) so that it will match the colours. I so love how it turned out.

The next layout was done for CSI #45 challenge. I am in love with this week's colour scheme. I am such a big fan of kraft colours and what better way than to use the Serenade collection again!

 Using more of what you see from the collection, gessoed some of the paper with a mask and added some tissue tapes for texture. I hope it inspires you this week to join us!

Have a great week ahead!

Winner of Giveaway and CSI #44

I am a little early for the giveaway but i figured that I was really tired so I will announce the winner early so that I can retire for the night.

And the winner is ...... *drumroll*

Congrats Joelle!! Please contact me about your mailing details so that I can send your stuff to you asap. The email address is magnette_86@hotmail.com OR you can message me on Facebook.

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I have some exciting news to share. As you all know, I made it to the design team of CSI: Colors, Stories and Inspirations. It is an online community that has tons of talented scrappers. Like many of you, I normally visit manufacters' blogs for inspiration. I first knew about CSI because two of our local scrappers used to design for them. I knew some of our local scrappers were also members and I decided to check out the site. I was instantly drawn into the community as it was different from other challenge sites I've seen. They were well organised and their challenges were intriguing (Crime Scene Concept). Not long, I decided to join in some of their challenges, my layouts were featured in some of the challenges and you know the rest is history. I applied to join their design team and here I am right now... I am so thankful for this opportunity. 

So are you ready for this week's challenge? In November, our thoughts turn to the holidays and getting together with family and cozying up in our homes, so our theme that will tie our Case Files together this month is "Coming Home." Our beautiful Scene that inspires this week's Case File comes from Stagetecture.
Grab your forensics kits, CSI members, and get ready for some serious sleuthing as we open Case File No. 44.

Here is my take of this challenge...

I chose the background paper from OA Midway collection, cut out dollies from the EP's For the Record 2 collection, die cut a couple of dollies, embellished with some Prima flowers to match the colour scheme and documented 4 things about our friendship. To be honest, I took the longest time to decide how I was going to crack this case. Maybe it was nervousness but I managed to get it done in the end and I love it!

So what are you waiting for? Do join us today at CSI. Check out my DT profile at http://csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com/page/our-detectives-aka-our-design-team too!

Phew! Long post, thanks for hanging in with me.
Have a great week ahead.

How about ...

a giveaway?!? I havent gave one, in such a long time! The pile of mess was getting to me and I really had to sit down and reorganise everything again. I found stuff that I really didnt need anymore so I am going to give it to someone that would want it even more.

So this is open to both local and international scrappers. Postage would only be free for local scrappers. All you have to do is to leave a comment on this post and I will randomly pick a winner by next week, 4th of November 10 pm.

Here is what you can expect for this giveaway:

 Embellishments include both new and old items from the past collections. I see Prima, American Crafts, Anna Griffin, Crate Paper, K&Co, Pink Paislee, 7G and much more.. (:

So hurry and leave a comment right now! :D
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Oh and before I leave, some layouts that i have completed over this week. I am really loving the Basic Grey Serenade Collection. I was never a fan of this brand but i think this season, it nailed it home for me. Loving those soft subtle colours..

 1. This is my current favourite. Loving this lovely shot with my brother and his two daughters. (:

 2. Mixing up Basic Grey with American Crafts and Hampton Arts.

3. Mixing some Serenade and Fact and Fiction Collections together...

Okay, it is a wrap for this week. Have a great week ahead.

Lovely Sunday Morning

The weekends are finally here and I have finally been able to relax and find some time to recharge. The months leading up to this have been crazy hectic and right now, school is kind of slowing down and it will be good to finally catch up on some reading, television and of course! scrapbooking. Here is to share some layouts that I have done over the last few months.. I wonder how i found the time but i am glad that i managed to dig through my stash and used collections that I have not touch in ages. (:

I am still very much in love with OA's Farmhouse Collection from last CHA! It is so me and I can do every layout using those papers! Haha. How about Amy Tangerine's latest Ready Set Go Collection? Lovely and so versatile since it can be used for both travel related photos and the everyday photos. Still using these like crazy since her line was so huge and i practically swapped everything up from the store. (:

Oh Ya! Thanks to Prima and OUAS for the features. It is always heartwarming to know that somewhere out there, people do appreciate your stories and layouts.

I will be back with my first DT CSI work in the following week when reveal day is released. Stay tune and have a great week ahead.

The wait is finally over...

I MADE IT ! I MADE IT! I MADE IT!

I couldnt print screen the whole page but CONGRATS to all the ladies who made it to the Design Team. If you havent heard of CSI: Colors, Stories and Inspiration.. Please take a look at the sketch site. I have been a member of the site a few months back and it has been amazing thus far. The amount of talented people there is overwhelming. I am so glad i made it to the design team! I was overjoyed when i received the news this week and i cant wait to start. (:

Insta Love

Wow, it has been almost a month since I blogged. I have been that busy but things are going to be much better for the next few weeks. Cant wait for the holidays to finally come. I dont have much time to upload my pics but here to share some scrapbooking updates from my favourite app, Instagram.

First two pics are tags done over the weekend, with some washi, stamps and the use of the typewriters. These are for my first batch of graduating students and as weird as this might sound, i am going to miss them! All ready to be given and I am so glad that the typewriter helped to speed us the process of writing.

Some cards made recently, for this Christmas. Getting a headstart and using lovely washi tapes and Hero Arts stamps. I cant believe i have gotten hook on washi tapes. (:

 I think i posted this before, but i am still loving this card that i made for the school's cluster sharing. This card was eventually given to P for her bday. (:

Lastly, even though it is not related to scrapbooking, these two are my precious ones! Look at how they are going and in a blink of an eye, one just turned 4 while the other is turning 2 soon. Where have time gone? I sure hope they learn to enjoy every bit of life.

Promise to be back soon, to share more layouts. For now, have a great weekend ahead!

Pressing on...

It has been a rough day but i am finding some time to upload more layouts as well as to take a breather from the hectic life. Sometimes, life takes you on a rollercoaster and you often find yourself lost and confused as to how the future looks ahead. I can rest assured that i have a family who loves me and a God who is far greater than all my problems. I am staying positive!

So how about more layouts to share? What better way then to scrap about two favourite people in the world now? K and B... they are growing up so fast and i want to seize every moment I have with them.

 1. This first layout was very much inspired by the need to focus on the pictures itself. I chose to do a collection of photos i took with K and to minimise my usual embellishments. A quick tip: Brads can be use as an awesome embellishments to add interest to the page.

2. This was also done in conjunction for the CSI#37 sketch and Sept OUAS challenge. 

This was the most recent layout i completed of B. I find that i hardly scrap about her since she is not of that age where she can smile into the camera. However, i managed to get this photo from my sil and it is my current favourite. This layout talks about my desire to be watching how she grows and not to miss a thing. It was inspired by Taylor Swift lyrics " Come Morning Light, you and i will be safe and sound."

Okay, i hope that it inspires you to scrap this week.
Till then, have a great week ahead.

PRIMA GALORE

Wow, one week has passed so fast and before you know it, its back to school tomorrow. Why does time pass so fast when you are having fun? Nonetheless, it was a great week catching up with friends and loved ones as well as finally been able to scrap more.

I have been busy packing up my scraproom, considering that I have been buying alot since my LSS is having a major 60% off sale. My room was so packed with Prima flowers that I couldnt find more space to keep them. I start rummaging through my whole pile, decided on which ones I didnt want and gave it to my sil. The remaining ones that I kept, i decided that it was time to use them. So this whole week was PRIMA week. :D That means, i made an album and did two layouts. Hooray but I STILL HAVE A LOT MORE LEFT! Oh well, i am sure there is no harm keeping them for rainy days right? :D

Here to share what I did...

 1) A layout on my dearest niece, Beth. Using all my pretty flowers and papers from the Tea Thyme Collection. I am so in love with this layout. :D

2) This was for OUAS Sept Challenge as well as CSI #36 challenge. I am so glad that they partnered together since they are really the two sites that i patron the most. This challenge was all about using the sketch given as well as including the necessary evidence, testimonial and colour scheme. I am so glad I challenge myself to journal through acrostic. I so loved how i textured my background too: the mesh gesso and the subtle bricks misting. :D

3) Lastly, a lot of mistings, masking and use of flowers for this album. I am not a big album person but i am so glad that i managed to do so much for this album. I love my happy project! :D

 

That will be all for this week. Hopefully, I will much time to blog in the coming weeks. For now, it is pouring outside and it is time to take a short nap. (:

8.5 by 11

Its Week 10 already! I cant believe the last week of Term 3 is finally here. I am really looking forward to having a one week break, catching up on my sleep, scrapbooking and some quality family time. I am going to hang in there since this week would be yet another crazy week.

Here to stop by and share 3 layouts.. Have you ever tried doing a 8.5by11 layout? When i first started scrapbooking, I always thought that layouts should be 12by12. Some scrappers in Singapore have also told me that the 8.5by11 layouts were not a popular concept by Singaporean concepts and thats why the stores do not carry these dimensions' cardstocks. Quite frankly, i love this concept. Why? Whenever I am experiencing with a scrap block, i tend to do these layouts. The area size is obviously smaller and you dont need to crack your creative juices to fill up a page. It seems to be my starting point in getting my layouts done.

If you didnt get what I just said.. its alright. I guess I am just a layout girl. I was never really into making cards or albums but I just love putting a different concept into each layout i do. With albums, i feel the need to be consistent in my pages and sometimes, i struggle to complete an album because of the number of pages. With layouts, it is just easier. It is like starting a new theme/concept each time I do one. It keeps things fresh for me and I see my style shining through.

So here to share some recently completed layouts :

I hope you like what I see. I have been using my old stash up and I am quite happy with the current storage I have on embellishments. I seem to be grabbing more of my old stuff, like the MR alpha chipboards. If you need more inspiration on 8.5by11 layouts, here is to share my current inspiration: Jen Gallacher She is truly a source of inspiration through her life stories and her layouts are done to perfection. I love her style and I love how her layouts are so ever inspiring. Do check her out! :D

Here is to a great week ahead!

Meant to be

This is meant to be a happy post, considering what a bad day I had at work. Sometimes, office politics are inevitable and as much as you try to keep a low profile, there will always be some people who will try to make your life difficult. I am praying for favor and that I will glorify all that I do to God, be it my actions or my words. Col 3:23-24 is a great reminder for me at this point.

Okay moving on, I recently did a layout based on the August Challenge at OUAS with a seasonal theme. I decided to focus on the season, summer. Here in Singapore, we have no seasons and all year round, it feels like summer. But over the course of June Hols, I was fully immersed in how people live out their summer days in Canada. We were fortunate enough to spend 10 days in Toronto and boy, do I miss that place.

Summer in Toronto was lovely. This was when you get to see flowers blooming and the bright colours brighten up your day when you first see them in the morning...

 This also means it is a perfect weather to drive down to the Falls to see one of the wonders of the world.

 It is a time for outdoor dining where it makes sense to hang out in the backyard and indulge in good food.

 The food was simply delicious with a mix of grilled meat and grilled vegetables. My stomach grumbles even just by looking at the food.

 Summer calls for more outdoor playtime which means getting dirty and just having fun. (:

 Most importantly, it calls for good family bonding where the family sits around and enjoy each other's company.

 

 This layout sums up my take on the summer season I got to experience in a country far away from Singapore. My heart yearns to go back even though the jet-lag will kill me. Maybe in a couple of years time, I will make it across the world again. Happy Thursday! (:

Life

It was the long weekend due to our National Day break. We managed to take a short break up to Malacca to enjoy some good food in the midst of good company. It was always amazing to relive the good old days with pals that you grew up since young. We have matured over the years but I am so glad our friendship is still strong.

Our trip was cut short halfway after hearing that Grandma was sent to the hospital. She was not feeling well and they have to call an ambulance to send her to TTSH Hospital. It didnt occur to me on how serious her condition was until we found out that the brain scan showed that she suffered from a stroke and there was a blood clot in her brains. She is too old for surgery so they are trying to sustain her through medication. Please pray alongside for my family as we deal with this. Flashbacks and memories of her started flowing back into my mind these few days and I am going to choose to remember the good parts about her life. (:

Well, on a lighter note.. I promised that I will share some layouts. How about one layout for this blog entry? I have been too busy scrapping but have been too lazy to upload pictures. This layout was done for CSI #32 Challenge. i was really drawn in by the colour inspiration and decided to give it a go.

I love the quote by WIilliam Brake. It went really aptly with the theme of the layout. During the June Hols, we managed to visit the famous CN tower in Toronto. As usual, I was super scared of heights and was apprehensive to do it. Well, the experience was phenomenal and I managed to conquer my fear of heights with some help, of course. There was particular section with glass panels placed on the floor so that people can look down or step on the glass panels to take pictures. I was so scared I thought i might faint. But after some encouragement, I managed to take some pictures while holding my mum and auntie's hands. (: Well, life is about accepting who you are while embracing your fears. I am glad I pulled through. (:

Here is to a great week ahead. (:

Has it been that long?

I have neglected this space completely. It has been a good two months where I stopped blogging. Well, the truth is that work has been crazy busy and I just had no energy to blog or to scrap. The scrap table was empty for a good month until there was a need in mid July to use my materials. Over this weekend, i finally completed two layouts that were left uncompleted since before the June Hols. Yes, sometimes when life gets a little crazy, the creative juices die along with it. But hopefully, i can pick up from where i left and start scrapping a little more now.

Sharing some pictures from my Instagram (favourtie app!)

 I had the honour of designing a card kit to be taught by 33 Ps and VPs during some cluster sharing. It all started when I did a small class for the teachers during our staff welfare and this has snowballed since that last class. P loved this idea and hence, I spent close to 2 weeks preparing for the cluster sharing. These two samples were some cards made for the class. (:

Just over the weekend, I spent some good quality time with Mum and K at the Equinox. The food was good and the view was breathtaking. Well, indulgence in ATAS food is all good for the stomach and soul. :D

I will be back to share some of the layouts I completed.
CHA summer 2012 has descended upon us. Good luck to our pockets once again.

Have a great week.