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

Handmade Chinese Red Packets

For Chinese, we have Chinese new year according to the Lunar (Chinese) calendar.
It's a tradition that all of us who are married to give away red packets to friends and relatives who are still single, as well as children. Each red packet usually carries some cash money.


These red envelopes are usually given away by shops or banks, but for me, it's the 4th year to make some handmade, personalised ones.

Red packets are usually given away in pair, i.e. we give away 2 envelopes to each recipient as we are in couple and both are still alive. 

I tried to be more creative this year on making these red envelopes, Besides embossing, I also applied other techniques including stamping, inking, etc.

I've also placed an order from Taobao, a China-based online shopping site (like eBay) for a few customised stamps. The one in the middle of the picture is "Wong", it's my husband's family name.

I have a funny thought that I wish recipients focus more on the art of handmade, rather than on the money inside! : )

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!