August layout ~ 1.2.3. Smile

Being a new comer to scrapbooking, the quickest to get a great layout idea is referring to sketches.

Since my first layout was featured by My Creative Sketches July Contest, I'm encouraged to submit another layout for their August contest.

Again, not just for getting the prize but to motivate myself to do more nice layout!

1.2.3. SMILE.....!

This time I used a picture of my elder daughter, Anson, the picture was taken last year when I was still on maternity leave. She just woke up from bed, sucking with her thumb, but smiled to my camera.  I immediately pressed the shutter from the opposite direction, that's why the picture is up-side down, however, very adorable!

What a coincide! the concept match perfectly with my new, small, acrylic stamp set - Camera & the word "Smile"; I ordered this as well as various crafting tools from Joann.com earlier this month as my lovely colleague was visiting her brother in the States, she is so kind to help me to bring them back. 

I followed the Sketch of MCS' August contest, which comprises of 3 square-shaped in the background. However I did not put 3 paper square but creates those squares with different elements and textures.

One square was simply a paper square, I put it right behind the photo; 

the 2nd square on the top right hand corner was actually made of light molding paste, I applied the paste with the bricks stencils, so it gave an effect of 3D bricks background; 

the 3rd square was made of layers of lowers which I hand-cut from a nice pattern paper and it became a "Sea of Flower".   

I bought some nice decorating embellishments from Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, where many crafting materials are being sold; I used a few pieces of sunflowers on this layout, as well as the wooden piece of die and leaves

This is from the 2 pieces stamp set - Camera & "Smile"

I love this so far and particularly I like the orange colour tone on this layout. 

Wish me luck for being the winner of the contest and thanks again My Creative Sketches to give me such a great idea to continue my momentum on doing scrapbooking. I think it's time now for me to work on another projects, SEE YOU!!

http://www.joann.com/

Really...my layout was featured?

Remember about 10 days ago, I posted my first ever 12x12 scrapbooking layout here, themed my two lovely daughters, Anson & Hannah.

I made that layout corresponding to the July contest of My Creative Sketches. Not just for the chance to win the prize, but to share my first piece of layout with other artists from around the world.

Finally, the result was announced ....I really can't believe my eyes that my layout was featured - http://mycreativesketches.blogspot.hk/2012/08/we-have-winner.html!!!!

I feel so proud and excited!!!!

I injured my neck yesterday and got serious pain till now. I read the result last night when I was on bed, I then struggled to stand up and show to my husband about the result. He was also shocked that my layout was featured : )

Thanks again everyone and My Creative Sketches for this big recognition and appreciation. I will definitely make scrapbooking becoming one of the important things in my life and will work harder to get more better projects done.

Vintage expandable photo box

While I was in the Mixed Media Canvas class at HK MEMORY CHEST (HKMC) few weeks ago, I saw a very nicely wrapped photo box and Erika told me there will be a workshop making that on 7th August.

I registered myself for the class immediately, and the same tutor Grace Wong will be teaching

Later on I found that my friend Stephanie has also enrolled herself to the same class... Wow, can't wait for that!

Finally... it's the day!

By making this photo box, we also learn some technique on book-binding. So I had to pay extra attention :P

The inner pockets of the photo was actually made of a few brown envelopes, cut in halves and made them as a accordion style, i.e. expandable. The material of the brown envelopes is durable so it's perfect for storing photos and for long-term use.

The paper stock that was being used at the class was beautiful. Recently I fell in love with butterflies, my classmates are very nice to have reserved me a piece of butterfly pattern paper.

We also used the "Gear" die-cut from TIM HOLTZ. The gears are the major decoration of the photo box, so we spent quite some time to colour each of them, by ink, crackle paint, embossing powder, etc.

Grace taught us through the steps of binding and wrapping, I found it is actually quite difficult to bind and wrap perfectly without wrinkles and bubbles. However we still made it!

I think it's very pretty and I am loving it!

I know there will be another photo box making class on next Tuesday 14th August, further info is available at the website of HKMC's WEBSITE  or call +852 25590175 (Hong Kong)

My 1st Scrapbooking layout ~ The sisters

Inspired by the July Sketch contest by My Creative Sketches, I have decided to do my first ever 12" x 12" layout. Not just because of the chance to win the wonderful kit, but to kick start my life in scrapbooking.

As a mother of 2 lovely girls, aged 1 & 4 respectively, I think I should start my first project with "The SISTERS" as the theme.

I picked a pictures taken last month when the elder sister Anson was carrying her little sister Hannah on her lap.

I've also combined a few different techniques including stamping and embossing, punching, die-cutting using Big-shot ~

These two hearts were die-cut using Big-shot + Hero Art Heart frame die; then stamped with the Hero Art Four hearts cling stamps - The stamps & die are compatible with each other. The hearts were then embossed in Champagne gold and Clear respectively.

I've also handmade a ribbon flower learned from a tutorial by Delaina Burns, Design Team member of My Creative Scrapbook. Plus, punched out two little sakuras.

The beautiful Silver glitter alphabets stickers from American Crafts.

I have downloaded a beautiful, vintage, poem printable from a website.

I've pretty happy with my first layout overall, though there are still room for improvement, what do you think?

Beautiful scene of Hong Kong ~ Taken by Me

I am trying hard to update my posts to Bloggers as I am new to it and want to get myself familiar.
I have been using the Yahoo Blog (in Chinese) and that records everything about my life and my family.

While I look back all the photos in my hard drive, I found a really nice picture of the beautiful scene of Hong Kong. Have you been to here yet?

The place in the picture is Ma Wan, and the bridge connects between Tsing Yi in Kowloon and Lantau Island (where our International airport is), so it's called Tsing-Ma Bridge.

It was taken before we having dinner to celebrate my little daughter's birthday on 9th June.

My friend Stephanie has requested me to send her the original size of the picture so she can do a scrapbooking layout with it.... Can't wait to see that!!!


It was the first time I took picture of night scene and I am surprise it looks very good. Of course, I have to thank my great gear - Canon 5D Mark III.

Yes I got such a great gear even though I am a beginner, but it does helps me a lot to capturing every moment of my "fast-moving" girls!