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!

3rd project in a week ~ Many Many Bubbles

Further to the recent kids photography class that Daddy attended, he took many lovely pictures of Anson, which has stimulated my ideas on scrapbooking layout design.

And, it's the first-ever that I've made 3 layouts in the same week.

I've use different paper series, mix and match, I've sprayed some Lime colour over the background, as I thought it was too pink. Behind the pictures I added a few punched pattern paper to decorate.

All of my pictures were printed from a digital compact photo printer, which is excellent for scrapbooking as you can print whatever picture(s) for your crafting project, sized from 2R to 4R and in different layout. Fyi, my current one is running out of paper soon and it's hard to buy the photo papers as the manufacturer has stopped producing the printer. I've therefore switched to Canon Selphy CP-900, which can print pictures sent via Wi-Fi, e.g. from your mobile phone. I will try it soon and hopefully it's good.

Last week I bought a new set of SIZZIX DIE die from HK MEMORY CHEST, it cut out a group of lovely birdies. I dyed them with watercolour and they look great.

I have been thinking for a while about what phrase I should put on this layout, as I want to tell about Anson was blowing bubbles and want to thank Daddy for taking these gorgeous pictures. Finally I've themed it as "Many Many Bubbles".

 

I bough a printable masking tape machine and tapes from Tokyo earlier this year, I used that to quote, " Daddy's 1st shots..."

I am very pleased with this layout overall!

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/

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!