1st Year Blog Anniversary - Giveaway

Hi all,

Can you believe I've had this blog for a year now? Actually, I'm a day off since my very first post was on 29th February, but I don't think I could have waited another three years before celebrating with all of you.

When I first started the blog, I wasn't sure if I could keep it going (it's actually a bit of work), but I've had a lot of fun updating and sharing my projects with everyone. I hope that I will be able to post more projects, tutorials, challenges and prize give-aways for the coming year.

To celebrate the one year mark, I'm doing a give-away. I went through all my lovely kits and chose one which I think you will love. This is a full past kit from MCS, that features Fancy Pants papers, lots of Prima flowers, stickers and ribbons.

All you have to do is answer a few questions, and send me the answers in an email.

So, on with the questions:

1. How many posts have I made, up to this one, on this blog since I started it?
2. Which Hong Kong scrapbook shop do I design for?
3. I have another passion apart from scrapbooking. What is it?

Email your answers to callibeescraps@gmail.com. Deadline is midnight of 7th March, 2013 (HK time). I will then randomly draw a winner who will receive the above prize pack.  
Entries open to Hong Kong residents only. 

Looking forward to giving this kit pack away.

Hey Good Looking!

Hi there,

Another new week and I've just come back from teaching my second ribbon spool class. I love to see how everyone arranges their flowers and embellishments. Everyone's spool turned out so beautifully. I wouldn't mind doing this class over and over just to see all the pretty that comes from it. Well done ladies.

 Second round of spool albums

I said I would have another layout done before the end of the month, so here it is. I've been hoarding this Prima Craftsman collection since last September but I thought it was time to break out the pack and do a layout. I really love this paper line with the draftsman drawings - so beautifully designed.

 Hey Good Looking

I love these photos of hubby as he usually makes faces at the camera and these are so natural and unguarded. The collection is a great combination of gears, light bulb and balloons. I added stenciling and sprays to the red paper before layering on my matting papers.

If you don't think you can use flowers on male pages, think again. A few dotted around the place won't "emasculate" the layout as long as you don't make it the focal point. I love the metal lamps on the top left.

 I'm sure the title of the layout will amuse hubby somewhat. I hope so, anyway. Do you see that bumpy texture on the back paper? That's Goosebumps - such a fun texture spray, which you can use on stencils or stamps.

Products Used

Papers, chipboard, flowers, leaves, wood accents, pendants, metal gears, stencil and mini alphabets all from the Prima Marketing Craftsman Collection

Metal Lamps by Prima Marketing

Suede, Burnt Red and Sapphire Glimmer Mists from Tattered Angels

Goosebumps Clear Texture Spray by Imagine Crafts

Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Tim Holtz for Ranger Inks

It's nearing the end of the month. Don't know if I have time to squeeze in one more layout but I will have the HKMC March Kit layouts posted out on the 28th, so keep an eye out.

See you soon,

Finally, A New Layout

Hi there,

Does anyone else feel like this February is longer than usual? Not sure why. Maybe because CNY seems to be stretching out forever. I finally got to do my first ribbon spool class. What fun that was and everyone left with the most beautiful mini album. What a lovely gift this one will make for someone special.

 Almost finished album by one of the girls

 All lined up, looking pretty

 Everyone with their wonderful spools

Thank you to my first batch of girls who joined me for this project. I can't wait to meet the second lot. Reminder that the next class is on Tuesday, 26th February at 7pm.  If you wanted to do this project but there was no space, as long as you can get together four to six friends, we can work out a private lesson as well.

On to my layout. I usually have a crop session at my place on Friday mornings and it's great fun to sit with friends, catch up and have a few nibbles and lunch. I don't always get a whole layout done in one session, but I do try to finish it the same day. I'm one of those people who can't leave a layout alone until it's finished.  Anyway, here's the layout. Pretty simple, but I love the colours together.

Remember This Day

 I've previously used a black and white version of this photo on a tutorial layout, but have not yet scrapbooked it for my own album. It's part of a series of photos taken by a good friend of ours a few years ago.  As for the papers; aren't they beautiful? The primary colours of the papers coordinate so well together and the patterns are simply gorgeous.

 You know I love my flowers - have to have them somewhere on my page.

The papers came with a whole sheet of tags to cut out, and I couldn't stop cutting and ended up with a pile of them, so I used them like a matt instead. Each tag is different and so pretty.

Products Used
Papers, chipboard labels, sticker borders and buttons by Carta Bella Traditions collection
Sticker word labels by Teresa Collins Now and Then collection
Flowers by Prima Marketing
Distress Inks in corresponding colours by Tim Holtz for Ranger Inks

I'm now working on some new layouts, especially for the HKMC March kit club, but hopefully will be able to squeeze in a few extras before the end of the month.

Thanks for dropping by,

Bringing in the Year of the Snake

Hello there,

How is everyone doing? Happy Chinese New Year (yes, it still is for a few days). The last couple of weeks have been pretty full, from cake orders and helping out with an art class project, followed by a week off for Chinese New Year.

My cake orders are quite sporadic, and that's the way I like it for now. I'm still thinking of whether I want to make of turning it into a full blown cake business, as it would be a 24/7 deal for sure. I don't think I'm ready for that yet. Family comes first for me and being able to look after my hubby and daughter take precedence.

Having said that, here are the two cakes I made in the last two weeks:

Barbie Fairy Cake

 I've done a few doll cakes but this one is really pretty. I love how the wings, which came with the doll, really brings the cake to life.

Gordon the Big Engine Cake

This one was for hubby's Godson, Josh, who's visiting from the UK. Joshy, as any other three year old, loves Thomas and Friends. His mummy asked for a Gordon train - I had to google the difference between him and Thomas - they are both blue afterall. The bear is a representation of Joshy's lovey, Stinky bear.

Aside from the cakes, last week was one big holiday. Since both the hubby and Miss C were off from work and school respectively, we spent some time with friends and family. We went to a barbeque, to the movies, tottered around on ice skates and in between, lounged around and just vegged out.
  

Miss C in her Chinese outfit.

Celebrating Valentine's Day 

Out and about during the holiday

The absolute, absolute highlight though, was adopting this little kitty. We've (I've) been dying for a second cat to keep our Jake company, so when an adoption request came about for the cutest little kitty, we knew we had to have her. She's the sweetest little cat; almost five, and had to be parted from her former owners, as they are leaving Hong Kong. She's only been with us for a day and is still being acclimatised to her new surroundings and still quite wary of us, but we're hoping she'll be able to integrate into the family soon. I can't wait to have lots of cuddles with her.

Miss Molly Bluebell

It takes a little getting used to having a cat with pointy cat ears. Our Jake is a Scottish Fold, so we're used to an "earless" cat

 

Looking a little unsure

Love her beautiful golden eyes

So, not much scrapbooking at all in the last two weeks. It's back to the grind though and I'm looking forward to getting some new layouts and projects done this week.

Thanks for dropping by,