Full of handmade ~ Christmas 2012

I've been hand-making Christmas cards for years, but they were pretty basic.

Over the year I've been involving in lots of art and crafts and learned much more techniques on paper crafts. This year I tried to make a difference.

I added lots of new ideas, new elements to my cards. On each card I have re-used many scraps such as Christmas catalogues, promotional materials etc. I think it's good way to recycle!

One of my friends asked if I am working as a designer for Hallmark....hhahahahah, Of course not!

But I do have a dream that I can sell out these cards and donate the amount of money to the charity, not sure if it's possible to make it happen next year?

 

 

Handmade baby boy card

My publisher + ex-colleague has become a father, his little boy was born at the end of 2012. I made a baby boy card to circulate around in the office and get everyone signed.

The card was made in a very simple design, the little foot were cut by SIZZIX ECLIPS's, OCCASIONS CARTRIDGE, it's cute.

I know the little boy is named DASH, his family name is Singh, his father said he wish his son to be "dashin : );  I added his name with my beloved alphabet stickers from American Crafts.

The other bits and bops including Crate Paper and Bo Bunny's Little Bo Peep Chipboard Accents Stickers. 

Best wishes to the little baby boy and Singh's family.

The hand-in-hand Sisters

I confess I was too busy last month due to the change of domestic helper and missed the opportunity to submit an entry to the November contest of My Creative Sketches (MCS).

This month, I got a few days off in Christmas so I have been forcing myself to get one done for the December contest.

In early December, it was rainy in Hong Kong. I took a camera with me on a Sunday but did not go to anywhere fancy. We had to stay indoor so we went for a relaxing and some shopping in Tsim Sha Tsui, one of the tourism spots in Hong Kong.

While we were window shopping, my elder sister was so good to hold the hand of her little sisters. My little one started walking not long ago but she always loves walking on her own or hold my hand only, just for safely. That was the first time she allowed her elder sister to hold her hand.

I captured the scene and I said to myself I must create something out of this.

There are 1-2 sets of scrapbooking kits sitting there and I got no chance to touch them yet, I used the one I bought from HK Memory Chest November kit for my layout, Though I used only 1 piece of paper and a few alphabet stickers though.

Before adding anything to the page, I handmade a butterfly stencil by cutting off a a few butterflies using the Sizzix Movers and Shapers die; then I sprayed some colours on it. I love the effects on the background.

I also added a few Prima flowers and a two chipboard butterflies which I cut using the Sizzix Movers & Shapers die.

For the title, Sisters, it was cut by Sizzix Eclips Machine. I bought Eclips for almost 2 months but this is the first time that I really try playing with it... finally!!!

I used the ECAL software, chose the font type and type out the word "Sisters", added a Shadow, and it cut automatically. It's really amazing!

I used Cricut before and I sold it out because I seldomly use it, though I really like the cute graphics on most of their cartridges. Once I knew that Eclips enables to type and cut, as well as import an image and cut.... I made the decision and bought it, and I’m now happy with it.

Merry Christmas & Happy 2013!

Ho Ho Ho... My Christmas houses

Still about 10 days to go to Christmas. 

Since I fell in love with handmades, I really want to create everything for each occasion all by myself. This yesr, besides making Christmas cards, I really want to creative some decorations.

I bought a manger and the holy family figures from Vatican City, Italy when we went there for honeymoon 7 years ago, I have been thinking to build a Christmas house and place it next to the manger, and I was planning to make one with a milk carton box.

However my life has been changed recently due to the change of domestic helper. My daughters are not very well adapted to the new help. I don't have time and strength at all to create anyway. Even for Christmas cards, I have to bring all materials to the office and make them during lunch hours.

2 weeks ago when I went shopping at HK MEMORY CHEST, I was introduced with Angelia McDaniel's CHRISTMAS HOUSES class. After my careful consideration, I've decided to participate in the class so I could get the houses made within a few hours, also learned some new techniques.

My best friend, Stephanie also joined the class and she was so nice to buy me dinner.
Cheers.... Love you!

The Christmas houses were cut out by the Bigshot Pro, which I will never get one at home because the size is almost half of my dining table. 

 Right above the houses, there is a Santa Sleigh with reindeer, which was cut by another decorative strip die by Sizzix

Ho Ho Ho!!! It's so....... pretty!!!

It's really intensive to build these two houses as there are so many detailed involved and lots of new techniques learnt. We finally spent 4 hours to compile the houses and the garden together and briefly decorated the surroundings.

It's gorgeous!!! (I think) 

As soon as I got home, the girls were in bed; Anson, my elder daughter woke up in the mid-night and she was amazed in the middle of her dream. On the next morning, Anson went to check it out right away when she got off her bed... and took a picture with it!

Honeymoon travel Album

 I attended another class at HK MEMORY CHEST and made a photo album.

Tutor was Angela McDaniel, a mother of 3 kids. Angela is talented in creating double layout and other projects recording every precious moment of her lovely family. I heard Angela was actually inspired by Heidi Swapp's idea - Memory File for getting this album done.

Before the class I did not pay attention to the film, I just remember Angela put her kids photos in the album so I prepared some photos of Anson & Hannah too.

Arrived at HKMC, I found the pattern paper are on the theme of "Travel", I think I should change my mind and get another set of photos from previous holidays. Anyway I knew I wouldn't be able to finish the entire album in 3 hours because lots of techniques have been covered.

The cover of the album was simply made of paper file, which are available in any stationery store.
I sprayed a beautiful orange ink over a stencil and created a nice "monogram" pattern on the covers.

There are lots of inner pockets in this Travel fotoflip album which give me lots of space to store pictures and other accessories.

I kept thinking of what pictures I should put on this album. In the past few years, the most memorable,  meaningful and enjoyable holiday is our HONEYMOON in 2005 ~ Rome and London.

As soon as I went home I took out the disc of the pictures and chose some and printed them out. It also gave me (and my husband) a good chance to review them.

I put a cover picture and stuck a "Our honeymoon" sticker below it.

This adhesive is really interesting, just blow towards it with the heat gun and lots of curly bits and bops appeared.

Remember when.... we took a direct flight to London, then took another flight to Rome on the same day of arrival. It was December 2005 and it was very cold, but no snow.

We love Rome, we visited the Colosseo, Vatican Museums (Musei Vaticani), Vatican City, and the city of Rome for 4 days.

The most exciting moment in Rome was when we planned to visit the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano, there was a special mass being held that time, hosted by Pope Benedict XVI. As we are from Hong Kong, we feel so blessed to see Pope in person.

Before returning to Hong Kong we spent 2 days in London, and visited a few places such as the Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, London Eye, etc. I have been working for UK companies, this was not my first time to visit London, while I'm still loving it. I love London!

The best thing to look at these pictures is that I am not looking too much different from 7 years ago. However my husband has changed quite much ...more mature now! : )

Besides spending some time to choose pictures, I've also found I saved a collection of Boarding passes, train tickets, bus tickets from the trip.

This travel fotoflip album is really the best place to store our sweet memory!

Farewell Mini album for my domestic helper

We have recently changed our domestic helper.

Since my 1st daughter was 4 months old, my old helper Lani has been working with us. However she decided not to renew her employment contract with us as she is looking for a more relaxing job. So we took her for a farewell dinner at L Hotel Island South 3 weeks ago and presented her with my handmade album.

Since there has been lots of big changes within my family in the past 4 years, I feel so thankful and grateful for my helper's work and contribution in our family. She took care of my girls so well which make me safe to leave home sometimes to sort out other important matters.

I made this lovely house-shape mini album for her which contains some pictures of my two girls and the precious moments when she stayed with my kids.

Actually there are only a few pictures I've taken when my helper was staying with the girls. It is because I don't usually take my helper with me when I go out with the family. As I always want to take care of the kids by myself. Only a couple were taken last month in a occasion.

The MINI ALBUM is in the shape of a house, representing our family. It was die-cut by SIZZIX BIGZ DIE CUT, via Big shot.

I used the paper stock from My Mind’s Eye’sThe Sweetest thing,very clean and sweet series. The page size of the album is not very big, so I did not add to many decoration. But I used Kaiser Crafts 的 FINE & SUNNY COLLECTABLES,they have many choices of images like Sun, Flowers, Birds, etc. I stamped a few messages and I think they look great as a whole.

On her last day of service, I did not stay home but she reported to me over the phone that she's finished the handover with my new helper. However I still can't control my tear when I said thank you to her on the phone. 

I know she will be staying in Hong Kong and work for another family, but still.... am very grateful for her help in the last 4 years... keep in touch!!!!