Denim Mini Album

Here's the thing. I have a sewing machine. Have had for 3 years, but have I used it? Not really. It had been sitting in it's little home collecting dust until I was handed some denim from Angela of HKMC and asked to do something with it for a February class. We both thought mini album and I immediately decided to lug out the machine and do some sewing.

As the album was for class, I needed to keep the sewing to a minimum so that everyone could get their albums done within the time period. With the denim, I was also given several sheets of Basic Grey's Piccadilly collection papers and stickers and stamps to embellish the project and also got to play with the Cinch binder system. Now, that is fun.

I glued the sewn denim to cut pieces of chipboard to make the covers before lining the inside with Basic Grey papers. I then die-cut and altered some embellishments for the cover.

I stamped some extra circles note paper as well as using the rest of the patterned papers to make some folded pockets to go in the album. The whole album was Cinched together and finished with sticker letters and elastic ribbon thread.

The classes were held on two Thursdays in February and everyone seemed very happy with their take home project. Mine is still on display at the shop but I'm hoping that it can come home soon so I can use it. All products can be found at the HKMC shop.

Products Used
Denim from Canvas Corp
Papers, stickers, brads and stamps from Basic Grey Piccadilly collection
Dies from Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations line
The Cinch from We R Memory Makers

Treasure Box

Remember those Authentique papers? I just had to do something else with them but instead of another layout, I knew I wanted to do a trinket box of some sort. My daughter's art centre sells a range of unfinished wooden boxes, so I quickly grabbed one to do up.

Mod Podge. This seems to be a term that is used ubiquitously with crafters everywhere but is actually a product name for a decoupage glue/sealer, Mod Podge, made by Plaid. It provides a waterproof coating as well as conceals the edges of where your paper meets the surface you are working on.

I first took off all the fastenings on the box before sanding and painting the whole thing with white acrylic paint to give it a base. I then cut all the papers to fit all the panels, glued them down and Mod Podged the entire box to seal the edges.

The inside was also papered and Mod-Podged. The whole box was given a light brushing of gold paint around the edges and corners.

To embellish the box, I added a few Authentique paper accents, hot glued a few Prima flowers I had on hand and added a brass bird cage trinket along with a strip of ribbon lace.

I now have a cute little trinket box to put on my dressing table or to place precious keepsakes in.

Products Used
Papers from Authentique Genuine collection
Flowers from Prima Marketing Inc.
Stickles glue from Ranger Inks
Mod Podge from Plaid
Iridescent gold paint from Golden Paints 
Bird cage trinket and pins from local sources

You Are One Of A Kind

Prior to this project, I had not heard of this new brand Authentique. I then saw their booth at the CHA and fell in love. I was asked to do a layout by HKMC to showcase the papers and I jumped at the chance. I love the denim/bandanna vibe of this collection and this shade of blue is to die for.

The papers have a heavy distressed look by themselves but I wanted to add more to that with paper tearing and making it look as worn as possible.

Adding a stitched accent makes the "denim" feel more prominent.

The flower and butterflies were cut from one of the papers and I used distress inks to tie in with the rest of the design.

Products Used
Papers from Authentique Genuine collection
Cardstock from Bazzill Basics
Distress Inks from Ranger
Glimmer Mists from Tattered Angels

Rejoice

I got to work with some stunning papers on this layout. My Mind's Eye always comes up with beautiful papers, but this time, they really outdid themselves. I got to see the whole collection during CHA and was so happy that HK Memory Chest (HKMC for short) brought them into the shop, that I got the whole lot of papers. I wasn't quick enough on the embellishments and the chipboard was all gone by the time I got there.  These papers are just so versatile. They come in two colour palletes, blue and pink, with modern prints, as well a shabby chic look so you can mix and match.

How pretty is this paper? I cut a hole through the top piece and layered the back with the green piece to give it some contrast. From there, I layered on the the frame and photo before adding the hexagon cut outs and bling. I wanted to add a few more romantic accents in the chair and chandeliers and finished it off with a border of liquid pearl dots.

 I backed the music paper onto grungeboard before die-cutting the butterfly. On top of that, I added Glossy Accents and Perfect Pearls. The edges are rimmed in Smooch ink.

After cutting out the hexagons, I distressed and inked the edges. I then ran a couple of them through an embossing folder to give it some texture.

For the title, I crackle distressed them with Crackle Accents and used a white marker to give it more depth.

I still have lots of the same paper line to work with for my next project and I can't wait to do a page for my hubby's birthday layout late next week.

Products Used
Papers and stamps from My Mind's Eye Follow Your Heart Collection
Bling flourish from Kaisercraft
Butterfly, chair and chandelier dies from Sizzix
Liquid Pearls from Ranger
Smooch pearlized ink from Clearsnaps

Shadowbox Tray Calendar

Here's a project that I'd been dying to do for a while. My first thought was to turn the tray into some sort of picture frame, but then, I decided that I was lacking a calendar for my window sill.

The 7 Gypsies tray was bought from HK Memory Chest (they still have them in at the moment, in black or white, so get one quickly). They are only 6.5" x 6.5", so make a quick and easy project. I used Teresa Collins papers from her new Every Day Moments collection. I actually got her papers from the CHA where she was doing mini album "make and takes". Instead of completing the album, I took it apart and used the papers in this project.

The trinkets were sourced from Sham Shui Po, a mecca for scrapbookers looking for that something extra to put on their layouts. They sell anything from buttons and beads, to ribbons, trims, appliques, feathers and jewelry pieces. Love that place. I could browse for hours and hours, up and down those streets.

Patterned paper was cut to size to fit the inserts. I then used mod-podge to seal the edges and to give it a nice waterproof coating. I used Excel to create the calendar and stuck one month on each side of six pieces of patterned paper.

I printed and cut out a tiny picture of Miss C to place under the glass pendant. I used Glossy Accents to seal the pendant but in future, I may try something else as it seems to leave tiny air bubbles in between which I couldn't get out.

I punched out a strip of black cardstock and stuck it to the edge of the tray, sanded it and added a little gold acrylic paint to make it blend in and look seamless. A row of black bling completes the tray.

Trinkets were stuck on with Glossy Accents to give them the extra strength and support they needed. As most of the trinkets had a necklace loop, I used a pair of wire cutters to take them off and sanded down the raw edge. I love the roman-numeral clock die-cut peeking out from under the calendar.

Products Used
6.5" x 6.5" black Shadowbox tray and hooks from 7 Gypsies
Papers from Teresa Collins Every Day Moments Collection 2012
Weathered Clock die from Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations

Happy Valentines Day

Done just the day before St. Valentine's Day, I wanted to finally use the Sizzix flower 3D die that had been sitting on my shelf for the last two months. I had played with it before but just couldn't get the flowers right. This time, after a lot of fiddling about and banging on the table, I came out with several misshapen flowers that I stuck to the layout. In the end, I think it doesn't matter that they aren't perfect, flowers in nature aren't perfect either. That's what makes them unique and beautiful. And you know what? Now I know how to do them, they are so easy. Don't know what I was complaining about at all.

A tone on tone layout on a plain background can speak volumes.

Draw and cut out a desired shape, like this heart, and use it as a mask before spritzing your paper with some glimmer mist. After it is dry, add some stitching to accentuate the heart shape.

Cover plain chipboard shapes or letters with your desired papers, trim around, sand and ink the edges to bring it together.

The "imperfectly perfect" 3D flowers.

Products Used

Papers from Making Memories Love Struck Collection 2010

Cardstock from Bazzill Basics

Chipboard, hearts and transparencies from Making Memories

Die from Sizzix 3D flowers

Crackle Accents, Distress Inks and Stickles glue from Ranger

Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels Candy Apple Red 

Here's a little extra off the Valentine's day project. This was based on an online tutorial by the man himself, Tim Holtz. 

Products Used

Grungeboard, embossing folder, cherish tag all from Tim Holtz range

Cherub, chipboard and papers from Making Memories

Ribbons and crochet flowers sourced locally

Remember This

So, I'm going to start out with a layout that I did earlier in February. This page features Teresa Collins Friendship collection papers among other things and was so much fun to work with. All papers and embellishments came in the My Creative Scrapbook November 2009 main kit.  The photo was taken during one of Miss C's ballet lessons. Although I love the pose, most of the right side of her face in the photo is in shadow. In the end, I felt it lent a certain atmosphere to the picture and goes well with the brighter papers it is featured on.

A striking tri-coloured layout, with pink being an accent colour to make the light turquoise and black pop.

Pretty houndstooth papers provide a wonderful backdrop for silk flowers and gorgeous pearl/diamante bling flourishes.

Transparencies can be stuck on by adding a brad in the middle or in this case, a few strategically placed glue-dots behind the printed areas. If you look on the left, I've used a white marker to draw on a faux-stitched border for my photo matting. The black scalloped edging was made by punching out thin strips of black cardstock and carefully adhering them down to the back of the patterned paper, following the edge of the houndstooth paper.

Carefully cut out transparency circle is embellished with individual pink jewels while the journalling in framed in a Bo Bunny rub-on.

At the end of each layout, I will try to list out all the products I have used and a link to the manufacturer, however, this may not always be possible, so bear with me. Although I can provide a link, some products may be from past seasons and therefore, could be discontinued.

Products Used
Papers from Teresa Collins Friendship Collection from 2009
Cardstock from Bazzill Basics black
Flourish Bling from Prima Marketing
Rub-ons from Bo Bunny

Back Tracking A Little

I've decided to back track a bit and fill you in on what has been happening in my world of scrapbooking.

I was approached by one of the scrapbook stores, HK Memory Chest, here in Hong Kong to help teach classes. I have known them for a couple of years and was flattered that they wanted me as part of their team.

I started in September last year, teaching a few adult classes and assisting with kids' classes. In January of this year, the company, myself included, flew over to Los Angeles to attend the winter CHA (Crafts and Hobbies Association) convention. Wow, what an eye opener. You should have seen us; like eager puppies let loose. A crafter's dream.

My first CHA show

 One of the workshops I attended

 Peeking over Tim Holtz's shoulder

Amazing paper crafted peacock @ DCVW

February has seen me make use of all that I saw and learnt at CHA and adapting them into projects that can be taught in classes.

I'll be updating on projects and layouts I've done from this year onwards. I may add some of my previous layouts from yesteryear if I feel there is a design or technique I would like to showcase.

Introduction

Hi all,

I've read hundreds of blogs and have always wondered how bloggers have such dedication in updating frequently; finding the words to write as well as taking and posting some amazing pictures. I've tried numerous times to start one but can never seem to get going.

I was encouraged by a friend to put my thoughts and crafts online. Now, I do this on a regular basis on my facebook page but I've never sat down to write whole paragraphs to go with it, but here goes. I hope I don't bore anyone too much and maybe I can impart some of my passion for scrapbooking to anyone who reads my ramblings.

I've been a scrapper for five years now. As the case with many scrapbookers, I started when I had my daughter and wanted to document her life and what she meant to me. At the time, I had heard of "scrapbooking" but it was only after a search on the internet, did it really open my eyes to what this word meant as a craft. I fell in love. How could I not? It meant being able to work with beautiful papers and embellishments like you have never seen before. There were buttons, ribbons, brads, jewels, stickers, chipboard, inks, paints, stamps... oh, how I drooled over them all.

Five years on and I have five albums full of layouts showing a beautiful little girl as she grows from babyhood, toddlerhood and into the little madam that she is today. As I continue to record her growth in pictures (as well as other layouts), I have learnt so much about new techniques, trends and design which I try to incorporate into my work.