My little cutie - Entry for MCS July contest

Finally, right before the submission deadline, I finished this layout for the July sketch contest.

The typhoon signal No. 8 was hoisted in Hong Kong yesterday and most of us gained a half-day holiday. Therefore I spared a couple of hours to work on this layout.

I picked a photo of my 2-year-old daughter, Hannah, when she was making a funny face during a lunch recently.

She's indeed my little monster and little cutie, a very active, naughty but smart girl.

This is a relatively simple and quick layout and I hand-cut our some flowers from various scrap pattern paper and match them with some fabric flowers and Prima flowers.

I punched a few butterflies using the MS Butterfly punch;

then used the left over paper pieces as "stencils" and spray over on the background.

Therefore you can see the shaded butterflies on the background of this layout.

Thanks for visiting!

Irene

Hurray ~ "Giant duck" layout is being featured!

I woke up early this morning and saw the notifications showing a few inbox message sitting on my Gmail account.

Since the Gmail inbox is only used for receiving messages related to my blog so I guess something should have been happened about my posts.

Oh yes, it's about my recent participation in the My Creative Sketches June sketch challenge.... My "Giant duck" layout is being featured!

Hurry! It is absolutely a great recognition of my work. Thank you very much for picking my artwork.

It has been almost an year since my last layout being featured by MCS. I love playing along with MCS which gives me a monthly brainstorm of scrapbooking ideas. 

I have been participating in their monthly contest since July 2012 but unfortunately missed 2 months in April and May due to my super busy schedule.

I hope I will continue with this and try my very best to get more layouts done, and add in more new elements.

Thank you again - Happy scrapbooking and crafting!

Giant Duck

It has been 2 months for not participating in the MY CREATIVE SKETCHES' MONTHLY CONTEST due to house-move, holiday and business trips. Once everything was settled down last month, I urge myself to create a layout and get it done fore the deadline on 14th July.

This is the MCS June/July sketch which is actually quite familiar.... 

The theme of this layout is Giant Duck - For those who are in Hong Kong, we have been desperate for visiting this 32-meter tall duck which has been sitting on the Victoria harbour for a month. The duck is an art piece created by a Dutch artist 

I took my girls to take a closer look at the giant duck on its last day in Hong Kong, i.e. 9th June.

To create a background highlighting sea waves, I applied some LIGHT MOLDING PASTE over a STENCIL of wave pattern. I sprayed a thin layer of Shimmer blue colour mist over the mold. 

I cut out the Giant duck from the photo, and outlined it.

I created two CHIPBOARD frames for two pictures of my lovely daughters

On the top left hand corner, I made the SUN by cutting out a small circle from an embossed swirl pattern paper, I added a few small pieces of ribbon. And yes it was a sunny day when we went to visit the duck.

There is a big circle on the background of the layout, I cut a circle out using Martha Stewart circle cutter, I hand-wrote some notes on it.

I added a die-cut chipboard of Sizzix bigz die - Picture wheel

Last month I went for an holiday in Los Angeles and I found this pair of cutie yellow duck buttons from JoAnn Store, which are very suitable for this layout.

I stamped some rainbow arrows over the background using the ARROW ROLLING STAMP.... I actually tried to stamp it neatly on the page, however it failed. So I just rolling back and forth and created this messy stamping pattern, which is quite good for the layout

This layout turns out nicely and gives some feeling of mixed media. Thanks for MCS for their sketch idea!

The kissing sisters

This is supposed to be a last-minute submission for the March/April contest of My Creative Sketches. However, I was extremely busy on the day and finally missed the submission deadline. At the time I could do the upload, it is closed!

It's okay, and am still pleased to share what I've done on this LO.

This month's sketch is quite simple to follow, but, that's make it difficult for me to brainstorm what exactly I should do. Behind the scene, I've really tried different series of paper stock and couldn't find one that I'm really happy with.

Until one day, I saw a picture drawn by my 4.5 years old daughter, which has a rainbow on it, I thought that I should prepare a rainbow background myself, instead of using a pattern paper.

Therefore I used a stencil and inked some distressed ink over the background, layer by layer and the rainbow pattern appeared - and I got inky fingers too!

The picture I've chosen to feature on this layout is my most favourite shot of this month. I, just on my own, took my two babies one day during Easter, to Stanley in Hong Kong and spent 2-hours at the seafront. The girls were so lovely chit-chating with each others, looking at dogs, etc and they were very cooperative in posing for my photos.

They kisses and I captured the sweetest moment! How sweet is it?

The decorations on the layout were from everything, such as fabric roses, layered flowers but I dye them with colour spray; as well as some tiny accessories (i.e. the little birdies) I bought from a Japanese zakka store in Hong Kong; as well as the punches butterflies.

I really like the final layout and I am very happy with the background particularly - which was made ALL BY MYSELF!

Happy Scrapbooking!

Irene

February layout: Girls' talk & laugh

I took 3 instagram pictures of my two sweeties and I love them so much.

The pictures were taken in an evening, after dinner, when the sisters were playing together.

It wasn't a game, just the girls making funny face and made the other laugh.

So sweet!


Because of the 3 instagram pictures, I've decided to uses them to make a layout for taking part in My Creative Sketches' February contest.

I love this sketch and it stimulated my creativity to do a layout highlighting my girls.



What a coincide that Echo Parks launched the edorable Sweet Girl collection in February and available for sale at my favourite craft shop - HK Memory Chest. I bought a few from the collection.

Though I only used 3 pieces of their pattern papers but they all look great after mix and match with other papers and adhesives.

I love the girl dresses pattern and I cut them out and add a pearl chain on it, which look like the dresses are being hanged.



I saw from many other artist's layout that they stitch on the papers using sewing machine, this time I've done the same too.

Though I've not used my sewing machine for long, plus I'm not great in sewing.

I love the stitching technique very much, I think I'll do that more in my upcoming artworks.



Pink, red and gardens are always suitable for girls.

I added lots of scraps on this layout.... they are all the left-overs from previously, such as paper flowers, birdies add-on from Kaiser; and the punched butterflies and they really refreshed the entire layout.



I hope you like this too - Happy scrapbooking!!!

Splash time... in Phuket

It's my 5th participation in the monthly contest organised by My Creative Sketches.

It's a really good drive to encourage myself to get at least 1 layout done in a month.

After seeing the January sketch, I thought it is quite simple but actually not!

We recently came back from our annual family holiday in Phuket and the weather was amazing, sunny and clear sky everyday. We have therefore tak en many pictures and some are great for doing layouts.

Seeing there is an unused kit I bought at the end of 2012 - Amy Tangerine Sketchbook, designed by American crafts, and being inspired by Kelly Purkey, who visited Hong Kong in end Nov 2012 and hosted a class for HK Memory Chest. I've decided to use the kit for this layout.

The Amy Tangerine Sketchbook collection features splashing colour, I love the contrast while putting each piece of paper together. 

I love the Indian-style pattern paper and I use it as a background. I sprayed some colour over the background, though the paper got a few colour drops originally.

In Phuket, we went swimming in pool. The picture I chose was taken from there and  a big portion of marine blue, which matches perfectly with the paper pad collection.

I cut out a few piece of textured paper and spray some blue ink over them, cut them in semi-circles and they became the splash... !

The Sun on the top right hand corner was from KaiserCraft's Fine and Sunny collectables, and the "Bring on the Sun" clear stamps set, by Ali Edwards also works perfectly with this layout.

I love this layout so much. By seeing this I can still feel the "Sunshine" and our happy time.

Thanks for passing by and visiting and I hope you like it too. 

Feel free to leave me with your comments too.

Cheers.

Irene

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!

Love my School Life ~ October Contest

This month I've been extremely busy. Not only busy at work, but also on many different projects, e.g. wedding card, wedding gift, farewell album and cards, etc. However I don't want to lose the momentum to participate in the October sketch contest organised by My Creative Sketches and here is my last-minute entry!

October's Sketch...by Kim Keane

This is my 4th LO for MCK monthly contest and I simply enjoy the participation and learning from other participants.... of course, for a chance to win or being featured!

I've been thinking of doing a "School" related layout for Anson. Anson loves everything at her school and she enjoys her school life so far. She has been expecting to return to school after the 2-month Summer vacation since 1st July. Finally she was back to school on 1st September.... Wow! Look at her face and you can see her dream did come true : )





Seeing the October sketch contest, I've decided to do. However I've been struggling how to get relevant materials.

Thanks Pinterest for letting me have the opportunity to download some school-related printables. I printed them by a laser printer and the quality is superb! 

I simply cut them and punched them in scallops.

At the same time, when I shopped at HK Memory Chest in Hong Kong last week, I saw there were good source of "back-to-school" related papers and adhesive; I bought a set of embellishments, which I can use them on this layout! 
*Product used ~ Little Yellow Bicycle Back to school Collection!

There is an envelopes, inserted with 5 cards where you can write something on. I've done an interview with Anson and she told me the top 5 "likes" at School. I wrote them down for her and I wish she will be amazed by what she said when she grows up.







































As for the background, I used light molding paste plus an "alphabet" stencils to add a bit of texture.



























 

I love this layout overall and surely it is a great memory how Anson is enjoying her school life.

Thanks very much.

September layout ~ Cute Hannah

We had a long weekend last week in Hong Kong to celebrating the mid-autumn festival (Full moon festival) and China's national day, which has given me a great productivity. I've been making 3 layouts over the week but one of them is still not 100% happy, so I'm only about to show you 2 of the layouts.

The following layout was done with reference to the September sketch contest hosted by My Creative Sketches. The sketch is basically comprising a few circles.

It's the first time that I trim my photos in round shapes, but they look really nice on my layout (I think!). I've picked 3 pictures of my little daughter, Hannah, which were taken at home few weeks ago.

Regarding paper stock, I used the series of The Sweetest thing (Tangerine) from My Mind’s Eye, I bought from HK Memory Chest, a well-known scrapbooking supplier in Hong Kong.

The sentiments and phrases in this paper stocks are relating to adjectives including sweet, adorable, beautiful... which are all ideal for any projects about girls. Personally I always think my Hannah is relevant to all of these adjectives. Don't you agree with me? : P

I added a few die-cut and punched butterflies in this project and I have embossed two of them.

Recently I'm in love with these flags

I put doilies and scallops behind each photos and they look perfect to go with round-shaped pictures.

The theme of this layout: “Do you know how cute you are? “ - I guess this is the feeling of every mothers towards their daughters, true?