Scrap-It-lah Second Anniversary Blog Hop - Challenge No 5

Welcome to Week No 5 where I am hosting the latest challenge at SIL.  I have a very simple challenge for you to try.  I would like for you to try your hand at altering a canvas.  Easy?  Well - not so easy as I have a few conditions laid down for you:

1)  The canvas must be at least 9 x 9 inch in size

2)  You must use some form of technique on the canvas e.g. I played with transfer medium on mine

3)  The canvas that you submit for the challenge is ONLY made exclusively for the SIL challenge.

4)  All entries must be received before or on the 6th May,  2011 (Malaysian time please)

Here is my take on the challenge.  I have used some old photos which Jessy took of Clarissa during a photoshoot back in 2007.  

Loved the overall effect of the canvas.

I have prepared this very yummy RAK for you. I really love the latest House of Three Soiree papers.  Hope you do too.  All you have to do is to alter a canvas and link yourself down here and send us a comment too. I can't wait to see what you have come up with.

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Easy-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

Everything matters

I am afraid I am suffering form a case of the scrapper's block.  I was trying to scrap all weekend and nothing came to me.  Worse still- I started another layout but it came to a complete standstill as the layout looked horrible.  Luckily when I got up this morning - I found some remnants of the Websters pages in a bog and I have decided to use them.  

I have bought a printer but have not had time to set it up yet.  Dug into my old photos and found this photo instead.  One thing that I always try to stress to my kids is that everything that they do - does matter.  In this world of watching too much telly - and the phrase of "whatever" is so popular that they tend to forget what the really matters.  This became my title that everything matters.

Glad to have used up my old WP stash.

Journalling goes like this, 

There comes a time in life when you realise everything that you do - it all matters.  You must know that in order to succeed,  even the smallest effort that you take in that direction - MATTERS.  Hence,  for all that you wish for, for your wish to come true, always remember,  each ounce of effort - IT ALL MATTERS.

That is it for me today.  I am off to get groceries.  I have a meal to cook which I haven't done in a long time.  I am planning curry chicken and ribs with sea cucumber for dinner tonight.  I may even bake a banana cake for my kiddos if I feel super energetic.  Have a great Monday everyone and enjoy the rest of the week.

Scrap-it-lah Second Anniversary Blog Hop No 4

Time really whizzes by when you are having fun.  Well - at least we hope that you are having fun participating in all our challenges.  A brand new challenge has just been revealed and do hop over here to check it out.

Best Friends Forever

I know - this photo is over-scrapped - I keep scrapping it.  My Canon Selphy printer has gone to heaven - RIP printer and I am too lazy to go out to buy another photo printer.  I have no choice but to dig out my older photos - whatever is there -  will scrap them.  :)  I chose this black and white photo as I want to play with colours.

I dug out my Claudine Hellmuth paints,  my poor Distressed Embossing Powder (yes,  the whole pot was unopened),  the balance of Prima felt from yesterday's layout,  balance of K n Co Que Sera Sera Chipboard,  some old rub-ons,  some mini doileys from Leane's Chip Chop Shop on Etsy and we are all set for another simple layout.  :)

Love how the colours don't really match.  

The combination of the pink distress embossing powder coupled with the Claudine Hellmuth paints. 

Finally finished using the K n Co Que Sera Sera chipbaords - Yippee!!!  Onto the next collection of older stash and I hope to be scrapping and finishing more of my older stash soon.  On another note,  she will be coming home today, can't wait to hear about her adventure in the jungle.  

Always Be Yourself

I cannot find another better message to teach my kids other than to stay true to themselves and "Always Be Yourself." My kids are of the age where peer pressure is immense and for Clarissa - this is most evident.  Two years ago,  she let herself being sucked in by the peer pressure and doing things which she does not necessarily like.  However,  two years later,  she is slightly older and wiser and now she tries to resist the forces of negative peer pressure.

I know it has been a hard road for her.  I certainly hope she will walk her path with strong conviction and with the values that she thinks that is right.

This will be another simple layout.  I managed to dig out some old chipboards by K n Co Que Sera Sera.  The whole layout had to be colour coordinated with the chipboards.  :)  In addition,  I am glad that I am using some of my Prima felts,  a DCVW clear sticker quote and Urban Lily rub-ons that have been sitting in my stash too.  

The background is done using white acrylic paint with some mesh.

Recycling the Prima felt backing on the right.  :)

Added something new too which is the cut banners from the Pink Paislee Junque Collection.  That is it from me today.  Have a great day everyone.

I'll be right here waiting and Scrap-It-Lah Challenge No 3

It has been quite an eventful day and I am looking forward to some down time just before dinner.  I have decided to make a very simple layout with a photo taken by Jessy back in Dec 2007.  Found another unused rub-on quotes which I have been hoarding and I have decided to start using them.  I must admit rub-ons are best used at the time of purchase.  I was lucky that this particular still adhered ok but some parts did fall off in the process but I rubbed on quite religiously.

I have also used some chatterbox flowers and chipboard corners.  This Chatterbox set was given to me by Jessy a couple of years back and it is nice that I am able to take it out again and refresh and use it in my current layout.

Playing with my acrylic inks again. I tried to control the splatters and not make a mess.

Love this quote.  It says:

It seems like yesterday I was holding your small body in my arms.  As you grew,  you raised your arms to me,  wanting to be held.  When you were sick,  my soothing touch made you feel better.  Now that you've grown,  your hugs are a fleeting memory.  But I am comforted that some day,  you might need my warm embrace to ease a heavy heart.  If that day comes,  my arms and heart will be here waiting.

This is going to be a short post as dinner awaits.  Don't forget to check out the SIL Challenge No 3,  a nice RAK is waiting for the winner here.

Create your own Path

As a parent,  I feel it is my sworn duty to guide my kids in everything that they do.  I think I sometimes do overdo it with my nagging and scoldings but I guess thats because of all my fears.  Fear that my kids go astray,  fear that I did not bring them up well,  fear that they make mistakes which they will scar them for the rest of their lives.  However,  looking back,  I realise that I made a lot of mistakes when I was young and I learnt from them.  I am far from perfect and yet still I make mistakes everyday.  I guess I need to lessen on the nagging and let them create their own paths.

I have decided to garner my "nagging strength" and translate it into my scrapping strength.  Still playing with my Echo Park Playground papers,  I have decided to play with another canvas.  Yippee... I am running out of canvases this size - isn't destashing grand?

Another simple layout - trying to use up all my die-cut stickers.  I have also played with my texture paste,  glass bead gel,  acrylic inks and Claudine Helmuth acrylic paints. I have also managed to locate unearth this very nice rub-on quote.  It goes like this:

Listen to the Mustn'ts,  Child

Listen to the Don'ts.

Listen to the Shouldn'ts,

The Impossible,

The Won'ts.

Listen to the Never Haves,

Then Listen

Close to Me....

Anything Can 

Happen, Child.

ANYTHING CAN BE.

Isn't this one of the most beautiful poems ever?  It just sums up what I have to say,  all I have to say to my kids.

Cute photo of Sean crawling through the tunnel at Gymboree.  This is proof that he was not always skinny - he had some meat on him when he was a baby.  :)

I will leave you to ponder with that beautiful poem.  It's 9.30p.m. here in Malaysia. I would like to snuggle in for some reading and t.v. before I go to bed.  I have a serious day ahead tomorrow and I really want to b prepared for it.  See you after I finish my next project.

Fun at the Playground and SIL Challenge No 3

This photo is amongst one of my most treasured one that I have in my collection.  For one - it was not taken by any famous photographer,  it was taken by me but the memories that came with it is immense.  I remember the days when the 2 were still very young and this was their evening routine at my good friend's Ana house playing slides and swimming.  Ana has long gone back to Venezuela and memories is what we remains.

The kids at the top of the slide were another good friend's children and they have moved to Canada. It is always sad when all my good friends move away but I guess thats part and parcel of life.

I have used the Echo Park Playground papers to scrap these photos.  I have been loving paints for a while and hence I have used acrylics as a background.

It is thunderstorming outside and I hope that my older one is safe at camp.  For one,  thunderstorms and heavy rain does not help in the water tubing and white water rafting activities. Gosh - I can feel my hair turning grey from the thought.  There is another 4 more days till she returns,  hope that she will stay dry and safe till then. 

If you fancy an altered tutorial and challenge,  we are now in our Week No 3 of SIL anniversary challenges.  Do head here to check it out.

Believe

I was down for a couple of days with a bad neck and I wish to scrap but I try not to do too much.  Just chill and not scrap too much. I had a scrapbooking session on Thursday with my friend's kids and they were lovely - that took my mind off my pain. I was cleaning up more photos when I found these photos of my friend,  SL.  Jessy took these photos of her at a photoshoot a couple of years ago and I had them for some time now.

Just trying to destash more and I managed to use up 2 Prima packaging,  this Prima patterned paper which Aida gave to me (thanks dear).  The rest is from my older stash,  some from my Scarlet Lime kits from last year and it does feels good to use up some stuff.

A simple layout as I couldn't think much with a bad neck.  A short post too as I need to go to bed.  Good night friends.

Scrap-It-Lah Anniversary Blog Hop No 3

How time flies.  We are now cruising into week no 3 of SIL's Anniversary Blog Hop and we invite you for a TUTORIAL at this designer's blog.  Please do hop over here for details.  I can't wait to try out the tutorial.  :)  Hope to see you there.

Help Needed

I was browsing through blogs yesterday as my neck was still troublesome.  I didn't want to scrap much so that it doesn't worsen.  Here is what I read and I would like to help.  Marion Smith is asking to raise awareness for Reece's Rainbow which is a ministry that helps people adopt kids with special needs.  All you have to do would be to make a 4'x4' chipboard backed art piece and send it to:

Marion Smith Orphan Charity Drive
Prima Marketing, Inc. 
5564 Edison Ave. Chino, CA 91710 

More details at her blog here.  I wonder if we could do something similar here in Malaysia.  Will consult Yatie if she is interested.  

It's going to be a short post for me today.  Toodles.  

Title-less Birthday Layout and A painful neck sprain

I have tried not to scrap today as I somehow pulled the muscles in my neck whilst getting up from the couch last night.  I am having trouble turning to the right of my head and as a result,  I have a slight headache.  This has in turn made me slightly grouchy.  Luckily I kept busy today between napping to ease the pain and helping out at school.

I know that I should not be scrapping as it would not help but I just had itchy fingers as my parcel from the Chip Chop Shop arrived today.  I can't help but to start scrapping with Leanne's beautiful doiley.  In addition,  I just wanted to use up the balance of my Pink Paislee Soiree paper and this is what I came up with.

I haven't had the energy to search for photos to fit here but I guess this is it till then.  I am so proud to have finished what I bought the other day.  Feels good when one sees the stash diminishing.  

Love the bright colours of the Soiree paper by Pink Paislee.  I also loved the yellow and denim which accentuated the paper so well.

Nice dimensions and not forgetting the Momoyo fabric brads - lending texture and interest to the layout.

Heart heart the doiley.  Sigh...  Don't you love  the vibrant colours?  Ok off I got to rest up the neck as I need to be in school tomorrow early again.  Toodles.

SIL 2nd Anniversary Hop - 2nd Challenge - An altered folder

I am currently loving the challenges available at SIL.  It is making me scrap more and this is my take on challenge no 2 here.  Dear Yatie has come up with this brilliant altered challenge and I must say that we don't have enough of altered challenges at SIL.  

I chose to construct my wallet sized folder.  I found a piece of jeans looking material which has been in my wardrobe for years now.  I am so glad that I am taking it out and using it.  Scrapping euqals destashing and I am very happy indeed.

This is the front of the folder.  Love the cute buttons that I added the Pink Paisley Soiree paper and embellishments which I bought in Scrappingville - simply divine.

The folder opened up.

The whole inside.  I left it empty as I was going to send it over to Yatie for Nadiah's birthday.  :)  Happy Birthay Sweetie in advance.  Hugs from Auntie M,  C and S.

The back of the folder.

If you are interested in joining in this challenge,  do head over here for challenge details. You may win the Studio Calico Babbling Brook RAK.  :)

Reach for the Stars and SIL Ongoing Challenge No 2

I am nearing the end of using up all of the Websters Pages Hollywood papers which I bought the other day.  I am very happy that I have used them up and not let them rot in my scrapping wardrobe in vain.  They are simply too beautiful to be hoarded.

Another simple cut and paste layout.  I have to say that Websters Pages papers are so well designed that you do not need much in order to create a beautiful page - well - for me at least.  

Love how the page turned out - simple and yet so me. I have also been hoarding this photo of Clarissa and Sasha for the longest time.  I see a lot of potential in these 2 kids and I really hope that they will go far.

Yes,  heart heart this Unity stamp and it's the second time in days that I have been using it.

As usual,  I would like to end this post with a shout out for the SIL ongoing challenge No 2 by DT Yatie.  Hop over here for details.

April Memories

I was at Scrappingville with the ladies yesterday and Shar was showing us how to to mist and use texture paste in a layout.  Although I must say that in the end my layout did not turn out anything like hers but I had a great time scrapping and catching up with the ladies.

Here is a slightly grungy and very messy layout but I love how it is so different from my usual layouts.  Check out Shar's version here.  

Check out all the techniques here.  Love the distressing on the Embossed Coredinations Cardstock!  They are one of my favourites.  Misting using TH Masks and Mists,  Hambly rubons - the paint splatters - LOVE LOVE them,  Beaded Gel Paste,  Gesso,  some stamping using both inks and acrylic dabbers,  destashing of the sentiment sticker equals to a destressing layout.  :)

Clarissa's friend April will be leaving at the end of the school year.  I thought it would be nice to scrap a layout for her to remember Clarissa by.  

Delight and SIL Blog Hop 2

Some say that Happiness is Over - rated.  Others say that its all in the mind.  For me, everyday I forge ahead :  carrying on my responsibilities,  enjoying what I love and to me that is happiness.  I delight in the little things.  When I drive - when someone gives way even when the traffic is horrible.  I delight that when I go to the market,  the vegetable seller greets me with a smile and tell me what is fresh.

I delight when my kids do and say something sensible.  After all - I am thankful that under all that awkwardness of "tweenage-ness" ,  I did penetrate some goodness through.  LOL... What do you delight in?  What are your thoughts?

I just want Clarissa to delight in the moments.  Here it was just enjoying herself on the rock. Have the strength to be alone and delight on being alone and stay strong. This is a simple layout again utilising my old scraps which I found lying around.  Luckily I had enough to layer the whole layout - plus I manage to hide all the cut parts with the photo .  :)

On another note - have you checked out the the latest SIL Challenge here?  I am certainly ready to tackle it soon.  I am positively drooling checking out the Studio Calico Babbling Brook RAK up for grabs.  

It's a beautiful hot Sunday in Malaysia and I am enjoying my lazy day.  Have a great day everyone.

SIL Blog Hop No 2 and Create Your Own Bliss

I can never resist:

1) Good Food

2) Scrapbooking stuff

Sad to say that my waistline is ever expanding and so is my scrapbooking stash.  There is always no end in sight to my over eating and my hoarding of scrapbooking stuff.  I guess thats how I am built.  

I met Yuzz at the Curve yesterday,  to Sean's chagrin- I had to visit the LSS there - Papier to do some shopping.  The little monster was very hungry after a football work out and yet his mother could not resist stopping by the LSS.  Poor child.

I was looking and browsing and I stumbled upon the Websters Page Hollywood papers.  I know they were not new but I just couldn't let them slip by.  Next I found these new Prima blings,  had to buy that and then the Prima alphas and it just went on.  Sigh...  Here is the layout that I finally scrapped using the papers.  Well - at least they will not be waiting in the cupboard to be scrapped.

Love the circle transparency by Basic Grey.  I made a little 3D frame using pop up foam. The cardboard was from a package that I received.  It was total happiness when I get to recycle some things.  :)

Love the different dimensions.

Heart the photo so much cos C looks great in it. Thanks Sarah.

Wanna win this?  This is such a yummy RAK yes? Just check out the ongoing challenges at SIL (Scrap-It-Lah) this month?  SIL is also having its first-ever DT call - for more details,  hop over here.

Friends layout

I am still going through my stash and I have found a lot of remnants pieces of paper which I have used previously for some other layout. Here is a simple layout using 2 pieces of balance paper and a Prima packaging.  

Check out the very old felt borders that I have hoarded for at least 3 years?  I really don't get myself - why buy if you are not going to use it at all.  Sigh...  Some old Prima pearl swirls - another oldie in the stash.  Last of all - the one I really need to hide my face are those quilted flowers.  Faint - they have been with me like forever.  Oh,  I nearly forgot about the sentiment sticker - more hoarding from Perth - exactly more than 5 years?  Sigh...

Glad I finally took out some of my old chalk inks - they were all drying up.  I had to press really hard to get the green out.  The pink was still ok but reasonably dry.

Photo was taken by Jessy.  I was with a couple of my friends and we decided to hire Jessy to be our photographer.  This photo brings back so many memories.  It was taken on the 1st Jan,  2008.  Such a momentous moment for all of us.

Challenge No 2 is up at SIL and an Altered Canvas for Yuzz (*updated*)

Wanna win this?  This is such a yummy RAK yes? Just check out the ongoing challenges at SIL (Scrap-It-Lah) this month?  SIL is also having its first-ever DT call - for more details,  hop over here.


Foraging into my artsy adventure,  I have decided to make a little gift for Yuzz.  She has emailed me a couple of weeks ago and told me that she made an album for me.  She is just too sweet.  We managed to meet up today briefly and exchenged our gifts.  :)  This is a simple canvas which I made for her:

Well,  Sharon Chan - you asked for a grunge feel - here it is babe.  The grunge was using done using embossing ink and guess what - dragging my nails across to give it those lines.   I love the whole effect of the canvas.

I have used some regular alpha stencils which I bought at the hardware shop and just painted the alphas using white acrylic paint.

Heart heart my Unity stamps - they are so useful.  I mucked up the stamped sentiments a bit.  It was quite hard to stamp clearly on canvas.  One has to be so careful.  Well - thats my signature - imperfections abound in my layouts.  :)

Have a great day and I hope to be back with more projects soon.