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!

My first Mixed Media Canvas

I can't believe that I could really make this!

I'm never an Art person, and I always feel my drawing or painting is really bad; I always feel tired in creativity or imagination.

While I am a typical Virgo, i.e. a perfectionist, may be that's why I'm not happy with my works so far, I think they are not good.

Recommended by my new friend Stephanie, I went to a scrapbooking workshop based here - HK Memory Chest, which is not very far from my office.

Erika knew that was my first visit and was really nice to introduce me their products, works, kit club as well as classes.

I saw a very pretty canvas displaying there; Erika told me that is a sample of Mixed Media Canvas and she told me that there is a class to be held in that evening... WOW... so tempting!

(Photo Courtesy by Grace Wong, the tutor)

I had been thinking and thinking and 5 minutes later I made decision to enroll in the class and asked Erika to sign me up for the class; and I had been so excited and went directly after work.

Tutor of the Canvas Mixed Media class is Grace Wong, a very experienced scrapbooking, and also a mother.

Grace talked us through the steps and introduced various materials and how to use them. But she said the layout and design of the canva had to be created by ourselves.... "OMG!!"

(Photo Courtesy by Grace Wong, the tutor)

Grace also asked us to create the image by "free-hand", i.e. try not to sketch... oh wow... !!! How???

I spent about 1 minute to think about the design and I knew that I must draw a rainbow as my daughter, Anson, loves it...

Oh. why don't I draw or cut "happy birds" as they can represent our family.... YEAH!!!

Thanks for one of the classmates to have printed some clip arts for our reference, so I could easily cut out a "bird" shapes!!

(Photo Courtesy by Grace Wong, the tutor)

We have been trying different types of media, such as rub-on, acrylic paint, patterned papers, stickers, stamps, stencils, etc and finally I've done mine in about 1-2 hours.

Hurray I could really make it!!!

*****************
Here is the blog of Christy Tomlinson, the expert in doing Canvas Mixed Media, our tutor Grace Wong was also inspired by her

My first trial - Decoupage Art

During my visit to the Book fair 2012 in Hong Kong last week, I saw many crafting materials are on sale and one of them is Decoupage.

What is Decoupage?

Decoupage (or découpage) is the art of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cutouts onto it in combination with special paint effects, gold leaf and so on. Commonly an object like a small box or an item of furniture is covered by cutouts from magazines or from purpose-manufactured papers. Each layer is sealed with varnishes (often multiple coats) until the "stuck on" appearance disappears and the result looks like painting or inlay work. The traditional technique used 30–40 layers of varnish which were then sanded to a polished finish. This was known in 18th century England as the art of Japanning after its presumed origins.

Actually this is the 2nd time I see these materials since my last visit to the Flea Market @ Cyberport Hong Kong, I remember I've bought a kit last time but haven't had a chance to work on that.


This time I got no excuse and try to make one..

Hm... what should I make on my 1st trial... well, I've decided to test that on my used, nearly worn mobile phone protector. As I am using Samsung Galaxy Note, the protector is pretty big for me to put some design on.

Basically Decoupage can used on all kinds of materials including wood, paper, fabric, glass, stainless stell, plastic, etc I got a can of Decoupage medium (glue), a brush for applying the glue and some patterned tissue paper - This time I chose a beautiful rose patterned tissue

 

What I did was to apply an even layer of the Decoupage glue on the surface where I want to have the pattern on, then take the very top layer of the tissue paper, i.e. the layer printed with the image.


I pasted it slowly on the surface where I already applied the glue, then used a bone folder or ice-bar stick or simply use your finger to gently wipe the tissue from inside to outside. This is to ensure the tissue paper is smoothly laid on the surface without any bubbles.


After that, apply another even layer of  Decoupage glue to seal the image, so it looks sealed completely on the cover.

I found that the white background of the tissue paper has turned transparent.

I added a little bit of glitters on the flowers to highlight but you may skip it; then let it dry for 10-15 minutes.

It's pretty easy! However I am still not 100% satisfied with the ridge of the phone I think it's due to the "folder lines. But bear in mind this is just my first trial so I believe the technique can be improved soon.

Enjoy you day!

Home Craft - Ocean animal hand-painted magnets

I bought this Ocean Animal DIY magnet set from Eslite Flagship Store in Taipei about 3 weeks ago, which is designed for children. I saw this in Hong Kong before but the price in Taipei was cheaper plus it was on sales on the day we were there.

I thought this is a perfect activity for my 4-year-old daughter, Anson, to do during her Summer holiday!

There are 2 packs of powders (like that for making a plaster cast) already included in the box, you'd only need to add about 50ml of water, mix that well and you can pour into their molds which were also provided.

6 pcs of magnets are also included so simply stick them on the back of the molds and leave them dry for about 20-30 min.

The theme of this pack is Ocean Animals therefore you'll see these lovely sea animals such as fish, sea horse, Starfish, Turtle etc.

Included in the box, you can also see a set of 5 acrylic colour, as well as a painting pen

As there were only 5 color, if you wish to have a greee one, simply mix Yellow to Blue and its there!

This is a great way to let Anson learning about mixing colours

Look! She was really working hard.

On the day I let Anson paint all base colour and I just helped to touch up and decorate with multi-colour on the surface. Around 15 min; 6 ocean animals magnets were done!

Are they looking cool when I put them on the fridge door?

I highly recommend this for kids and if you are interested please let me know as I have asked for buying this at a discount.

Enjoy!

My first trial - 6" Mini Baby Girl Album

6" Mini Baby Girl Album 

Recently the best friend of mine has given birth to her adorable baby girl, being a best friend, I know she loves photography and loves handcrafted products

Therefore I made her a mini baby album 

Because of this, I picked up my paper craft hobby again!

The cover﹣A piece of FABRIC PAPER STICKERS is used. And the lovely paper girl doll was created by my newly bought - CRICUT EXPRESSION 2

The album was binded by ZUTTER Bind-it-all V 2.0

My friend has whatsapped a few pictures of her girl in the last few weeks -

Of course I should add them to the album - Sweet Baby!!!


My friend has still not decided which English she will give to her daughter on the day I visited them so I just put her Chinese name there "Chor Kiu" - this was picked by my friend as soon as she knew that she was pregnant.

 

A couple of different techniques were applied to this album, such as:


Magic Card - When you pull of the teddy bear card from the pocket, you can see the teddy filled with colour, isn't it amazing?


Here is the tutorial about how to do this

Hide-and-Seek Pockets - Look! the baby girls is taking a bath!

The Precious Moment Stamp was bought from Taipei - the only place I can find now. They accept overseas order and can ship overseas too.

I also used different kinds of embellishments such as CRYSTAL stickers.

This crystal stickers are really cheap - as they were from the "mobile phone decorating sticker" which costed me only HK$10 for a whole sheet of crystal, I cut them out one by one and they can be stuck on the paper, not even need to apply glue

The stoller can be rolled and slided - simply added two 10 cents and combined with double-sided foam tape - super easy!

The last page is reserved for celebrating the baby's 1st birthday, themed with the LITTLE MERMAID, which I persume every girl likes