HK Memory Chest Kit Club - November 2012

Hello everyone,

It's the end of another month already! Tomorrow is Halloween, so I'll be taking Miss C out for trick or treat after school. She's been looking forward to that for ages. I must admit, it's one of my favourite too. I love all the ghoulish decorations and all that yummy candy (just one). I usually throw a Halloween party the weekend before. Too bad we couldn't do much more this year, with being away and Halloween falling on a hump day. Hopefully we'll be able to do one next year.

November will prove to be another busy and hectic month. Christmas planning will be in full force and I will have to get a move on to finish all my shopping before we leave for the UK to spend the holidays with the in-laws.

Anyway, without further ado, here is the November kit reveal, with colours reminiscent of the fall. And to show how far your kit (with add-ons) will get you? I managed to get four layouts and a mini album out of the whole thing.

November Kit
2 sheets Basic Grey Clippings "Drafting Table"
2 sheets Basic Grey Clippings "Flannel Suit"
2 sheets Basic Grey Clippings "Gazette"
2 sheets Basic Grey Clippings "Herald"
1 sheet Basic Grey Clippings Alphabet Stickers
1 pack Basic Grey Clippings Mini Envelopes
1 pack Basic Grey Clippings Wooden Buttons
1 pack Basic Grey Clippings Wax Seals
Assorted Metal Clips
Add-On Options
Basic Grey Clippings "5th Avenue"
Basic Grey Clippings "Chronicle"
Basic Grey Clippings "Handmade Quilt"
Basic Grey Clippings "Typewriter"
Basic Grey Clippings Titles Stickers
Jenny Bowlin Pen Nib Stamp
Studio Calico Wood Veneer
November Sizzix Die
Bigz Tim Holtz Typewriter die

Smile & Snap!

 Can you believe most of the layering is already printed on the paper? I just added a few more touches.

 I cut slits in the "polaroid" and threaded some string through..

 I reciprocated the date stamped print on the main paper with my own date stamped tag.

Extra Elements: Washi tape, staples

The Bestest @ 6

 

I tried to keep this layout uncluttered but wanted to give it a bold accent just to frame the photo.

 I took inspiration from the paper itself and stenciled circles onto the base paper with clear matte medium to give subtle texture. I then designed and cut out a pattern of interlinked circles to matt the photo.

 I stitched a row of triangles as an anchor base. The stitching is to emulate the blanket stitch on the dictionary paper under it. For the wooden veneer, I simply shaded it using distress inks to give it some dimension.

 I wanted to do a page on Miss C's favourites. I think I'll have to go back to her previous years and do one each.

Extra Elements: Matte Medium, black cardstock, Thickers foam letters

Way Too Cool

This layout is based on a sketch from MCS

 I love the mini envelopes and file folders that come with the Clippings collection. They are so functional in hiding journaling. I also tried to use the clips to spell the word "so".

 The wood veneers were painted with a thick layer of Old Paper crackle paint before being inked with Vintage Photo distress ink.

Extra Elements: Brown cardstock, Distress Crackle Paint in Old Paint

Viva Venezia Mini Album

 The album had been sitting in my stash for ages and I finally decided to get it out and work on it. All of the papers are covered in Clippings papers and matching cardstock.

Extra Elements: Cardstock in black, browns, mint and light teal, Prima flowers, Basic Grey chocolate step mini album, Tim Holtz ideo-logy metal tag, jute string

So there we go for my layouts and album. Have a look at the other layouts done by the rest of the design team.

 Me @ Disney by Erika Lui

 Man on Phone by Erika Lui

 The Paw-fect Christmas Present by Angela McDaniel

 @ Home by Angela McDaniel

 Seido Karate by Angela Collingwood

 Typewriter Altered Art by Angela Collingwood

Isn't this last one amazing? Angela will have a class on this altered art project on 21st November (Wednesday) from 7:30pm to 10pm using the the Clippings papers, add-ons and the November typewriter die. Dont' miss out on this one. Sign up with Erika here.

Right. Time for bed. Early start tomorrow.

Thanks for looking.

Back from the Big Apple

Hello there,

Wow, what a trip. We finally got back this morning. Our flight back was delayed by twelve hours and the thought of that and the fifteen plus hours of flight time had us all groaning. Luckily we were able to spend the time waiting in the first class lounge in relative comfort (one of the few benefits of the hubby being such a frequent flyer). Miss C was quite content to raid the complimentary food bar and drinks cabinet while I got in a few stages of Where's My Water? in. Love some Swampy action.

It was a quick one week stay in New York; four days in Long Island and two days in NYC (we actually stayed just across the river in Weehawken, NJ, but it was only a short five minute ferry ride to 39th street.

One of the things I wanted to do on this trip was take Calleigh to a pumpkin patch and go on a hayride. Apparently, so did a thousand other people. When we got there, the place was swarming with kids jumping around and adults scratching their heads on why they were there. Nonetheless, we had a good time getting lost in a corn maze and picking out a small pumpkin to take home.

The rest of the time in LI was spent doing my shopping so we could spend more time sightseeing in NYC instead. I didn't have much to get this time; mostly stuff for Miss C and a few party items for her birthday in March next year. Yup, early planning. She won't stop talking about it. Bless.

 Gorgeous autumn day

 Just a little too large to take home

The weather turned a little chillier when we got to NYC. First day there, we went for lunch at Serendipity and their famous frozen hot chocolate. After that, it was a ubiquitous carriage ride through Central Park. We ended the evening with a wonderful performance of The Lion King at the Minskoff Theatre.

 Waiting for the ferry in Weehawken. That's the Empire State building in the background.

Carriage ride

  

Taking in a Broadway show is a must

On the second day,  hubby had to work, so Miss C and I (after a confusing time in the subway system) managed to make our way out to the Bronx zoo. After the long trip there, the visit itself was shorter than we liked, but we got in as many animals as possible. 

After that, we made our way back to Times Square and promptly jumped onto a hop-on/hop-off bus to do a tour of Downtown. That ended at 8pm with both of us practically frozen to our seats. It was cold.

 Maybe we should keep our eyes peeled for roaming tigers

NYC at dusk

So, that was our New York adventure. Hubby may be going there a lot in the future, which means we may get to go again. As it is, our next US trip should be in April to Florida. That will be the ultimate trip.

Now, all that's left is for all of us to get over our jetleg and for me to get back to my scrapbooking. Lots of photos to scrap!

Happy Halloween everyone.

Grace
xxx

HKMC - My November Classes

Hi all,

We have so many great classes lined up for you next month. I have two myself and there are several others by both Angela McDaniel and Angela Collinwood which will be advertised by HKMC soon.

For my first class, we will be making a patchwork shadow box. I saw this in the Ranger booth at the CHA show early in the year which I believe is a Tim Holtz creation. I think he calls it "Patchwork Pandemonium" and I've been dying to recreate it for a while. There is a whole range of techniques on it and looks so great as a home display.

Patchwork Shadow Box

An 8" x 8" (20cm x 20cm) patchwork board encased in a 10" x10" (25cm x 25cm) shadow box. Display case glass was removed for photographic reasons.

 Lots of colours and techniques.

 A variety of trinkets and embellishments to choose from.

This class will run on 6th (Tuesday) and 8th (Thursday) November 2012 (choose one date). Run time is as usual from 7:30pm to 10pm at the HKMC shop in Sheung Wan. The class will include all materials used plus the shadowbox for you to take home. 

eClips eCAL Class

My second class for November will be centred around the eClips eCAL system. This class is targeted towards those who already have the Sizzix eClips and want to learn how to design and cut your own images. You will need to bring a laptop with your copy of the eCAL software loaded, registered and authenticated.  You will also take home a tag made with your cut out designs.

This class will be on 22nd (Thursday) November 2012 from 7:30pm to 10pm at the shop.

For details on pricing and availability for both these classes, please contact Erika Lui at 2559 0175 or email info@hkmemorychestonline.cominfo@hkmemorychestonline.com.

So, keep your eyes peeled for all the other classes coming in November from the other HKMC instructors. We will have some other eClips classes as well as mixed media ones. If you aren't already on their mailing list, give Erika a buzz and she'll gladly add you on.

Thanks for looking and see you soon.

Grace

xxx

Weekly Update

Hi there,

Yesterday marked our ninth wedding anniversary. It was a pretty low key event with dinner at home watching a Selena Gomez movie with the kid. Not very romantic? Well... we may not have had an extravagant dinner in some three star restaurant (we had 300 day grain-fed beef sirloin and strawberry tart instead), but as an alternative, we'll be going to NEW YORK tomorrow!!

 

Nine years ago yesterday. Hmmm... this reminds me I have only scrapped one out of hundreds of wedding photos.

Miss C has her half term break next week and since hubby has some clients to see, we decided to take her to the Big Apple. Hubby and I have been twice in the last twelve months without her and I've been dying to bring her with us this time. It's going to be one long tiring flight there and back, but hopefully it will be worth it. I've arranged for us to go to a pumpkin farm (lots of photo ops), sightseeing in NYC, visits to the museums and zoos. Just the thought of the autumn colours everywhere is getting me very excited (winter in Hong Kong isn't all that interesting and the trees stay pretty green year round over here). Oh, and don't get me started on all the fun Halloween stuff we'll be trying to do whilst over there. I've already ordered her costume (Hermione Granger) and I'm sure I'll be dragging her in and out of craft stores and malls. Bracing myself for all the complaints on that count.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to update whilst over there, so I'll see you after we come back.

Thanks for reading.

Grace
xxx

September Featured Layout

Hi all,

Wow! I was just informed that I'm one of the lucky three that had their layout featured for the September sketch challenge at My Creative Scrapbook: My Creative Sketches. Thanks MCS. And look, I get to slap this on my post! Love it.

Remember I was going to use this one for the sketch? They chose a winner (Congratulations to Linda) and chose three other layouts as features.

I love this  layout so much. I'm so glad I found the pink swiss dot paper to complement the paper line as the soft colours meld together so wonderfully. I had recently gotten my sewing machine back from the HKMC shop and went a little overboard with the sewing, but I think it turned out great. It really gives a different look to the layout. I would have felt something was missing if it wasn't for the stitching. I loved working with this paper line.

It's In Her Smile

Products Used
Papers, stickers, brads and chipboard embellishments from My Mind's Eye The Sweetest Thing Lavender collections
Mini alpha stickers from Prima Fairy Belle collection
Bronze puffy letters Thickers from American Crafts
Large pink flower from Prima
Lace and thread sourced locally

See Ya Soon.

Grace
xxx

A Ray of Sunshine

Hi all,

Oh gosh! Where has the time gone? It's been such a full couple of weeks. Not that I could tell you what has taken so much of my time, because, it doesn't even register with me as to why I was so busy. It's just one of those things, you know? Before you know it, time has gotten away from you.

I've been trying to fit in some scrapbooking and managed three layouts and a mini album in the last week. In fact, I just finished the mini album which is for the HKMC November kit club, so I'll be showing that to you later.

Do you remember the prize pack I got from My Creative Scrapbooks a few months ago? I finally had time to dig that out and get a layout done. Yay!

A Ray of Sunshine

 Gorgeous summery papers and embellishments. I love the blues and yellows.

 I do love the mini alpha stickers that Prima comes out with.

 Layering and matching flowers.

I had to keep in that sun. It helps to balance the page as well.

Products Used
Papers from We R Memory Keepers Anthologie and Prima Sun Kiss collections
Flowers, butterfly, mini alpha stickers and chipboard from Prima
Lace trim and cabochon flowers sourced locally

Thanks for looking.

Grace
xxx

HK Memory Chest Kit Club - October 2012

It's time to reveal the October kit. I've been wanting to get this line for ages and was so happy when HKMC brought it in as a kit. Don't you just love the pinks and teals? So yummy you could lick it.

October Kit
2 sheets Amy Tangerine Sketchbook "Viridian Vignette"
2 sheets Amy Tangerine Sketchbook "Charlotte's Shade"
2 sheets Amy Tangerine Sketchbook "India Ink"
2 sheets Amy Tangerine Sketchbook "Paige's Portrait"
1 page Amy Tangerine Sketchbook Remarks Stickers
Part pack Amy Tangerine Fabric Stickers
1 pack Amy Tangerine Black Foam Thickers "Journal"
1 Dylusions Stencil "Letter Jumble"
1 bottle Dylusions ink spray in coordinating colour
Add-On Options
1 Amy Tangerine Glitter Foam Thickers in Cascade , and/or
1 Amy Tangerine Glitter Foam Thickers in Taffy, and/or
1 Amy Tangerine Acrylic Stamp
October Sizzix Die
Bird on a Wire Die
  
Layout 1

C is for Cute, Clever, Courageous Calleigh

This layout is a mish-mash of different textures, with mixed media accents and grunge accents topped with bright pinks and teal.

 I filled the Dylusions stencil with modelling paste before letting it dry and adding some misting over it.  I used both patterned paper and packaging to create the "pie slice" circle. The birds (part of the monthly die club) were die-cut from kraft-core and sanded to show a little of the distressed look.

 The pink glitter letters are part of the add-on kit and match the papers perfectly.

Extra Elements: Kraft cardstock by Bazzill, Modelling paste by Golden, Kraft Coredinations paper by Ranger

Layout 2

English Summer

 The bright green is to die for. It's such a perfect foil for the black and white frames which I cut out to hold my photos and instead of taking away from the photos, it just balances it out. Little shots of coloured circles around the frames pull your eyes towards the photos themselves.

Add some little stickers around as embellishments.

Extra Elements: red cardstock by Bazzill for word "English"

Layout 3

So Yummy

 These photos make me smile every time I look at them. Miss C is so happy and the pink top she is wearing matches the pink scallops so well.

 These are my most favourite Thickers alphas at the moment. I love the font and texture of these and they are a dream to place on your page.

 I drew a border around the coloured strips to emphasize the shape of them and to tie into the rest of the doodle shapes.  I then drew a scalloped border around the backing page with an embossing pen before embossing with white embossing powder to give a subtle but distinct frame around the layout.

Extra Elements: white embossing powder by Stampendous!

Remember, you can still sign up for the HKMC kit club here. Don't miss out on this kit and the ones coming every month.

Have a great day!

Grace
xxx