Its been a year since ...

...the discovery of paper thrills. Who would have thought the simple beginings of card making made out of fancy paper punchers painstakingly adhered together (I still have a few of my first Christmas cards) led to a finer appreciation of paper products and stationaries, the art scrapbooking, sewing and even photography!

I've since come to a greater understanding why it is important that a person has other pursuits (healthy and worthwhile, of course!) apart from work ... because for most work can sometimes be a real pain. Sometimes having to deal with crisises (usually not of one's doing), incompetences, tiresome politics and the stress that comes with the rigours of the day.

I daresay for most, work has become somewhat 'passion-less' yet, out of necessity we learn to be adept at what we do (while for some learn to be truly skillful in the art of 'busy bee-ing' while not letting others do all the work!) But for most the 'work' (whether in name or in the true sense of the word) we do at the end of the day defines us, our very identities. It's all consuming that all 'new' conversation almost always begin with the curious inquisition of 'what one does (for a living)' and old conversations end with 'work'.

Unless one revels being defined as a single-dimensional (more or less) 'work horse', picking up a hobby offers one the opportunity to 'get out the box' and to enjoy different experiences and moments that life has to offer. It's not only therapeutic, it's absorbingly enjoyable (for a change) and satisfying - to just be in one's element.

Happy new year, everyone! May all your dreams come true.

A fortunate fluke

This are the picture results of a fogged up lense - resulting from the changes in temperature (from air conditioned car to humid outdoors. I've never been able to capture 'candle lights' that particular way with my cantankerous compact ... Am more than pleased how the simple shot of the dinner table turned out.

But, ask me to repeat the effects i.e. fiddling along the technicalities of aperture width, shutter speed, filter etc. I wouldn't have a clue ...! I do however have some pretty nice pictures to be developed and scrapped ...

This be the cake ...

... that came with the card made for Dad. A cake inspired by Nigella Lawson's Christmas cook up that was shown on the Food Network recently, and the fact that Dad, though not quite having much of a sweet tooth, is a fan of fruit cakes. I suppose I could have 'dress' the cake up abit with royal icing but then it would just be too sweet to our liking :p (while royal icing minus the sugar would not be 'royal'. :p)

Joining the ranks of DLSRs ...

Finally got DSLR photo taking capabilities! Subjects now can take on that certain 'depth of field' effect - given I get all that twiddling of features 'right' and don't hold camera still enough. Am so pleased ... Its a piece of equiment that yours truly been admiring for years but never quite found enough reasons to get one until today, that is.

Woo hoo! This baby takes pretty decent photos at night without flash too!!

Now on to better pictures! Got to work on basic understanding of digital DLSRs. The chap (who also happened to be a professional photographer) that sold me the camera was giving me quizzical looks when I described certain digital terminology and effects in 'baking and scrapbooking terms' ... Got to work on acquiring a new range of technical vocabulary and photo taking skills, of course!

A birthday card for Dad

Glad I finally got this birthday card done ... I've been musing over design stage for weeks now. I had some designing block - realising I tend to gravitate towards the feminine i.e. florals, pastels ... while Dad will always appreciate a homemade card from his daughter, I wanted one that reflected something less flouncy and floral-ly.


Had card cut ou from polka dotted 'sixth avenue' paper by American Craft. The
'mini envelope'was cut out from vellum paper and bordered with glitter glue. Gleefully found I had some metal alphabets stashed in the deepest darkest corners of my drawers (forgotten treasures! sometimes it pays to dig...). Must make mental note no to acquire any more scrapbook supplies until I've taken a thorough inventory of what I actually have stashed throughout the various boxes, drawers and shelves!

Felt booties card

Imported the christmas booties idea into making christmas card - christmas felt booties hanging on clothes line, complete with mini pegs! :) Had to miniaturize the christmas booties to fit card. Used glitter glue to give booties that 'striped' looked.

Homemade Christmas Decors

More felt Christmas decorations made from own template(s) that's drawn and cut out from left over cardstock-like paper. Felt pieces (that are cut out from template) are then blanket stitched together and stuff with polyster fillers.

Christmas tree booties

Been sewing again ... this time 'twas sparked by some felt Christmas decorations sold by Russ at one of the local stores.

This is my first batch of booties to be hung up on Christmas tree. Still working on the next batch of Christmas tree decor. Will post pictures when done. :)

Altering 1-2-3

Ok, my bad. I haven't gotten round posting gift just yet. I found when i was making my way to the post office that I couldn't find a 'nice enough' envelope to house the items. Instead, I found a discarded empty box (which have fortunately hoarded) - perfect enough to hold the 'kebaya' and card without trying too hard (e.g. the folding, the squeezing etc).


I indulged myself ... its not everyday I get to play around with pink hues! So what I did was to cut out pink manila card as box base - to cover up the original box prints. Next step was to layer the pink base with matching patterned wedding wrapping paper that had to be cut out to size.

Next step came the embellishing - which was accomplished fairly simply with various bits of ribbons and lace. Admittedly there was not aforethought in the design alteration. I happily went along cutting, sticking and matching according to present fancies. Come to think of it, I probably spent more time looking for perfect fit box ...!



And there u have it, an altered gift box to nestle the 'kebaya' and card. Next step is to wrap the entire box up with brown wrapping paper, label and post to Greece.

The cookie addition ...

Tried out packaging the chocolate chunk cookies made a couple weeks back (see cookies peeking behind card). It's a trial run - for that small simple homemade Christmas gift ... I daresay, its made those humble homemade chocolate chunk cookies alot 'dressier'!

Believe cookies are long gone now ... happily devoured by some happy reciepients. The ironic thing about baking is that as much as I like to bake I don't usually get to taste the end product. By the time its 'done', have more than my fair share of cake batter (from licking remnants off spoon and fingers ;) and have somehow worked up an immunity to the delectable aromas of cakes and cookies in baking.

The next bake project are them traditional English minced pies. So pleased that can FINALLY find filling for minced pies on the island of Borneo. What used to be was that if i were lucky, I'd be able to find them at the nearest M&S supermarket -which usually requires air travel, before they run out OR reccee the most well stocked supermarket in that particular country or area; and having to pack boxes of groceries or hand carry bits (that can be quite heavy) that simply cannot be chucked into cargo. I've lugged home gammon, bags of whole wheat flour, all manner of cheeses into taxis, onto trolleys, braving the scrutiny of security, customs, immigration; and when they won't allow trolley access, literally lugged them around by hand - usually that means having to suffer some kind of muscular ache the day after ... All that trouble ... just because the local supermarkets don't have 'em!

So you can imagine the thrill of finally being able to find them here. Woo hoo hoo!

For a Greek wedding

S (the very same presenter of felt flowers and grosgrained ribbons) and I got this for a friend from Greece who's getting married in January. We wanted to give her something authentically Malaysian ... and we settled for one of those fine Nyonya intricately hand stitched blouses - which hopefully fits her!

Still unsure whether to attend or not ... checked with the country's airline carrier too - they don't fly Athens direct... the alternatives would be long, meandering and tortuous (KCH-KL-LON-ATH or KCH-KL-CDG-ATH or KCH-KL-DBX-ATH) ... and I have to admit the older I get the less excited I get about air travel. Am morbid about breathing in canned air that's probably infected with someone's cold/flu virus! And there's also the issue of logistics - moving between airport terminals. Just moving in between Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 can be another journey altogether especially when you're shackled with bulky and heavy luggage. I've not factored in security, immigration and customs checks (usually not at all friendly nor welcoming) .... nor the usually LONG queues, the stress and being jet lagged.

The card was made from some really nice white embossed 12x12 cardstock-like paper I found at the local craft shop (in KCH too!). Since it was already quite pretty, all that was needed to embellish were ribbons and a couple of mini 'bells' tied together with silver string.

So in the mean time, while that debate ensues (to go or not to go...??) in my mind, I better mosey down to the post office to get this posted before I lose track of time and the wedding has come and gone!

Out of scraps ...

... comes cards!

From my present load of scrap bits - yes hoarder that I am ... i can't bear to throw out all the itty bits of paper cut out or left over. And this is what I made out of piecing and matching the bits of paper together - like an easy jigsaw puzzle - except you're allowed to cut out pieces to size! The green Christmas trees cut out from left over cardstock. The bits of ribbons, cut out to embellish card.

Finally found some use for my snow flake eyelets that surprising held quite well ... I think I may have finally mastered the art of adhering eyelets. The last time I tried, I ended up wrecking both eyelet and paper - from my over enthusiastic banging ...The trick - is in the hammering. Must remember that am not hammering nails ... they are dainty eyelets.

Must write something about the 'American Craft' felt flowers and yards of really beautiful striped grosgrained ribbons and felt a good friend of mine presented me the other day. They were such lovely bits (thank you S!), I couldn't wait to do something about them.

Out came a flowery felt bouquet of a birthday card, made for Mom who's birthday happen to be today! Also cut out bits of that fancy grosgrain ribbon to make the Christmas tree's 'stump'.

Reflections ...

What do you know ... it will officially be December in a few hours. It hit me this morning while i was taking a stroll around the garden. It certainly smells like December, the prevailing coolness (even if it was nearly noon), the cloudly overcasts skies, the wet green grass growing in great abundance. December has always been a fairly rainy season - at least in my part of the world. Its never going to be a white Christmas where I am (unless the earth flips over on its axis the equator becomes the north/south pole) but its 'that time of the year' - one both filled with festivities and lately of some reserved reflection.

I guess I say that mainly because December is also a birthday month for yours truly. I have to admit that the older I get, the more I learn to dread the day I officially turn a year older. They say a year older, a year wiser ... but usually I don't feel that much wiser, just OLDER. :P I know its all in the mind ... but still the month of December -especially in the last few years, pose as a reminder that time is getting on and you know, there have been many occassions where I let time fritter away senselessly, not really achieving much.

Which brings me to the next point of December ... achievements. The last month of the year and what have I achieved? That thought, I think runs through everyone's mind ... and sometimes the struggle to show for at least some kind of achievement(s) can leave one somewhat weary to the bone.

I daresay, scrapping, card making is all a coping mechanism for this percept of time and achievements. Everyone needs a hobby. Something that thoroughly enjoy. Something in which they can lose themselves, their cares and tortuous afflictionse of time. And I glad I've discovered that bits of paper can be both engrossing and entertaining. At guess in my instance, I can very well say, a year older - a year worth of knowledge of knowing what works for me and what doesnt ...

Christmas cards and its various stages of completeness

I've been indulging myself most evenings. Making cards. It really helps - at least to forget how bad the market is out there. And how bad it will be.

Admittedly, I have been fairly anxious. This heavy hearted-ness that doesn't seem to go away - even after session of strenuous workout. Usually that gets the endorphins running and one feels good about oneself. Having achieved some physical mini-goal. But recently its been a prolonged feeling 'BLAHs' ... except of course when I apply myself to scrapping.

So here it is, my bid to bring some joy to the world. My trying to see the silver lining behind that very dark and gloomy cloud of recession. At least in my own small way, there's still something to be happy and cheerful about. :)

The depressing credit crunch ...and scrap we go...

It's confirmed. Recession is here. Apparently, this unwelcome phenomenon has been giving the world markets hints of its pending 'arrival'. The subprime crisis was a HUGE hint. But did we listen ...or take note? Maybe, for some. But most of us were living in a kind of denial - hoping, just hoping, to make that ONE dollar more and so the market we stayed and dabbled some more .... happily wheeling and dealing ...until some major banks and security firms started insolvency proceedings. While, (this is the ridiculous bit) the various authorities - the business media, market leaders, institutions, businesses, salary earners, research analysts sat about debating on the 'definitions of recession', the effects of the subprime and most of all, denying the looming prospects of recession round the VERY NEAR corner.

It's like developing symptoms of a bad cold - the sneezing, the running nose the watery eyes, the works and yet denying that you're going to fall ill any time soon.

We're all affected. In one way or another, to a lesser or larger extent. Admittedly it's anxious, stressful, scary times. No one spared!

And its important to properly de-stress just to stay sane. Because each morning all that's on the news and daily updates are but more gloom and doom. Enough bad news I fear, to send many reeling and fleeing or suffer a heart attack - under the worst circumstances.

And so we scrap. At least I do. To forget the great miserable plague of gloom and doom. All that absorping moments of cutting, pasting and tweaking. In those moments of simple pleasures, dreams thrive, creativity flows and the satisfaction of watching paper bits 'come to life'. A perfect panacea for a such maddening times.

As for the card I got the other day (see picture), I found myself laughing inspite of the stressful circumstances.

Sketches

Found myself sketching again. Did that cursory sketch of Snoopy the Basset Hound in about 20 minutes (?). All I know is that it didn't feel like a long time ... time can be a relative thing ...

Picked up some printed bits of scrap pictures that I couldn't bear throw out (hoarder instincts am afraid! Might come in handy someday and it did!) and I thought I'd put them to good use by reproducing them in sketches. They were photos of dog(s) took a while back and losing the LOT them when my old laptop heaved and died. Alas, inspite of the conveniences and the wonders of technology, one could still loss the entire lot of bits and bytes if one was foolish enough not to have them backed up!

Not wanting to go down that path of deep regret (all those years of stored data!), I've been busy making christmas cards. Must send them out soon before Christmas arrives, that is!

Here's a sneak peek of the cards I've been putting together ...they are a combination card of paper and felt and a mish-mash of embellishments - from buttons, to ribbons, to die-cut paper. I've got different versions but I've not gotten around taking photos yet. :)

Caleb's card

This be the card made to welcome my newest nephew - Caleb.

Materials used :-
1) A4 dark blue corrugated paper

2) Blue cardstock like paper cut out to strips

3) 6 mini wooden pegs

4) gold string

5) 2 blue brads

6) White felt - cut out to fashion baby outfits and accented with glitter glue and grosgrain ribbons

7) round epoxy font stickers to form Caleb's name and date of birth

Felt ensemble ...

Some felt bits put together over the weekend.

Grappling miniatures ...a creator's angst!

I've been asked to make a few felt pieces in 6cmx6cm dimension but as much as I try to make 'em small, with my present set of tools ... ok, one tool ... I rely on my trusty new sharp scissors to cut out the shapes from the felt pieces. I realised, to cut 'em small is alot harder than to cut 'em big. Like wise, to draw 'em small is alot harder than to draw em big ...

I think I need laser scissors for such intricate specifications if there's such a thing ... and since am on the roll, a template of equally intricate designs and probably a host of other tools and equipment to go with the laser scissors and template! Even a special table or a mat so I won't cut through the floor, the table top ... or what-not am cutting on ... :P

Those triangular textile chalks that we get here, used to draw out patterns aren't much help either. The grip's terrible (its non existent really) ... which leads to clumsy, broad, messy lines. Its either a mess of a pattern or frustrating scratches of odd lines. I daresay, its NOT an effective drawing tool - esp. on felt!

Why can't they make 'em in pencil form where there's better grip and blunt tips can be sharpen ?! Then again, for all I know ... those textile pattern chalks in pencil form do exist ... just, its not sold in Kuching. :p

So what's my alternative? Felt tip pens (no puns intended) -used for writing or architectural designs. Make a mistake and one's felt pieces (not pen) are permanently marred!

I'm soooo sorry K ... this piece has ended up six centimenters high and FIFTEEN centimenters LONG!

Talk about being WAY off the mark ...!

A card in between ...

Ordered some paper flowers from Scrap-N-Crop's sale last week. They arrived a couple days ago. Found myself happily experimenting on a Christmas card design (Christmas after all is a couple months off ...). This is a 'prototype' mixed media design. From paper flowers, buttons, corrugated paper, to acrylic flowers, butterflies, ribbons and sheer frills.

Realised one can't possibly leave the Christmas card making till the last minute ... if i wanted individualised personal designs. Knowing how I work ... when given a limited time frame, all creativity and innovation goes out the window .... one goes with what works. Functional. Almost always that means less frills (and thrills?).

I've made TWENTY cakes in one weekend (yes all on my own!) ... From that experience, sometimes when push comes to shove, a passionate hobby can turn into a laborious task! Enough to put you 'off' for a while ... I know ... after that twenty cake episode, I didn't even want to see, touch or smell chocolate/cheese/fruit cakes for a little while ... :P

Having said that, am still happily baking - another hobby on the side of this absorbing fancy of papers and fabrics.

More Felt Creations

At the rate am going, I ought to rename this blog 'Bits of Felt' instead ...

Anyhow's these be the continuation of that 'Felt Connection' - a current fancy that's been occupying my 'creative hours' - usually hours that go into the small hours of the morning ... esp. when one's on the roll ... its like reading a good book; one so engaging that you simply cannot put down!

Its the same with these felt bits. The sewing's so absorbing you simply cannot put your needle down! I don't believe am saying this but I've since found sewing rather therapeutic. Now I understand why all those women (who's sewing is their passion) can spend hours embroidering elaborate tapestries to adorn the home or stitching together decorative patchwork pieces.

Also, what an interesting evolution of interests - from paper to fabric. Who would have ever thought the hobby that began with paper has now lead me to felt....?! What a lovely adventure ... with all those engaging little discoveries!

Felt accents

I've noted interestingly how when you're looking for inspiration, an idea to nudge you to the next step, or project, life has a way of revealing them to you - almost in the next sequence of events (talk about instant!). It could come in form of a book the sale's person recommended after noting how you pored over those pieces of felt (like it was the only thing that mattered in that entire shop full of sewing inspirations and tools!) . Or it could come in form of a friend's simple suggestion, along with pictures of what she was referring to.

And so, here's the next felt bits I've been creating. Felt accents - to embellish scrapbooking projects, journals, even clothing - I think ...? It begins first with a 'copy job' with a little tweaking here and there ...before venturing into one's own designs.

Now there's the other thing that's surprising as I delve into this felt fancy of mine ... the fact that I actually ENJOY sewing (?!) Who would have thought??!

For the longest time, I saw sewing as a mere necessary fun-less function - sewing a loose button was just about what I was capable off. And when it comes to sewing machine ... I wonder what the term is for someone who has a phobia of sewing machines ... because that depicts yours truly - quite aptly too.

Ask me to mend a hem and well, I'll whip up the cellotape! (The idea being why sew when you can stick??) Needless to say my hems were all temporary patchwork jobs that fell back to its wayward length the minute you wash the attire; until of course I make that trip down to the tailor who'd charge (thankfully not an arm or a leg in my part of the world) to hem.

But oh, the hassle involved. The traffic, the parking ... note also how any trip becomes a mini inconvenience when you don't enjoy what you do. Give me a reason to go to any scrapbook/sewing/bake shop and there's no hassle too great!

The wonder of it all....!

The story of the pink hearts

It all began with the idea of felt pink hearts to be used mainly as embellishments on cards.

But one thing lead to another ... and from one pink heart, the creation grew to four various pink hearts of various shade and sizes sewed together with blanket stitch to form a decorative item that can be hung on handbags or even a keyring.

The process began with the idea of sewing a couple of hearts together (the smallest pink and middle darker shade) for a change instead of taking the quick way of gluing the bits together.

Whilst I was sewing the two hearts together I thought then, why stop at two when the third heart could add more dimension to this hearty embellishment. And so the third heart of yet a different shade of pink was cut out to size and gradually stitched together.

Then the thought occured, why not turn it into a kind of keepsake bookmark or a decorative item ... something that can be taken out of card. For that to be, a ribbon simply has to be added. However, after sewing the ribbon to the back of the heart, I realised my sewing wasn't as neat as I hoped it would be and I needed a 'cover up heart'. And so, the fourth heart was added.

It was not until halfway of adhering the fourth heart to the third that I decided to put in the polyster filling to give hearts that extra puffy 'dimension'. The metal ring was a practical afterthought. Just incase the one decides to use as keychain, to decorate handbag or to be hung on Christmas tree ...?

Felty odds and ends ...

With my current felty fancy, I've been experimenting with making my own felt flowers. Drawn and cut out with my own handy scissors. I fear they (the scissors) aren't as sharp as they should be hence the discrepancy in petal sizes. Also felt tends to slide about as one cuts - unlike paper - if you use something heavy enough (like metal ruler) to hold paper down. I have yet to cut out felt while pinning it down ... not sure how that works with my present set of tools (?)

The flower bits are stuck together with good ol' glue. It doesn't have that polished feel of felt flowers from those designer embellishments but i daresay it feels and looks somewhat rustic!

Pink Passion

These are the cards I've made over the last week or so. one is for a friend who just announced that she's going to be married in January next year.

The other a get well card for a dear family friend. All the pink hearts (its for 'Her') to remind her to 'Take Heart' and get well soon.


Materials used for both cards include:

a) A4 card stocks - 2

b) 12x12 Pink Scratch Cots by Carolees Creation (cut out to size)

c) Ribbons and ric-racs

d) Buttons

e) Fabric and Paper flowers

f) Felt hearts cut out from Felt.

Its October ...

..and no, i've not run out of creative juices - just yet!

Just not been taking pictures of the stuff i've been experimenting with. Mainly because i usually scrap into the small hours of the night and taking pictures in that kind of light with my digital compact just irks me. Pictures taken at that time of the day are either a)blurred b)weirdly hued c)disasterous altogether.

The solution of course is to wait for daylight to take them pictures. But come daytime, there's just so many other things to deal with first and taking pictures of one's handiwork isn't exactly top on the the 'To-do List' - until of course, the hurly burly of the day is done, the dust has settled and one finally has the hours to one self.

The only bits of paper that shapes quite quickly in a few hours are cards!

The 'Felt' connection ....

Ta Daaahhhhh!!!

For someone who doesn't sew this was what I made on Sunday - felt cupcake keyrings!

Admittedly, I didn't dream up design from scratch. Instructions were chanced upon while trawling through the various scrapbook/craft blogs for ideas (http://www.mookychick.co.uk/diy_ethic/indie_craft_felt_cupcake_keyring.php). That was weeks ago, possibly even a month!

The main reason why I took my time trying out the idea (don't get me wrong, it was a fantastic tutorial!) was due to the fact that I didn't know HOW to 'blanket stitch'. I did learn how to sew various stitches in school once upon a time ago ... but that was at least 25 years ago and sewing isn't exactly on my list of interests.

But somehow ... some inpirations just egg you on, demanding that you experiment. Demanding you venture out of one's comfort zone of techniques and preferences.

That's what those pieces of felt did sitting in my cupboard that I bought a while back with the intention of turning them into 'felt flowers' scrapbook embellishments.'No sewing needed' - so i thought ...' Just glue 'em together ...'

But instead of sticking felt flowers, I surprised myself and SEWN together cupcake keyrings - complete with blanket stitches!!

I guess when inspired, one never truly forgets how to blanket stitch after all ...!!

Waste not, want not ...

Spent the weekend putting together bits of leftover papers from previous card making project. Manage to make meself a mini-card of 6"x4" - All put together in no time at all!!

Materials used included:-

a) Leftover of green and white polka dotted DCWV printed cardstock
b) Leftover of green A4 paper (90gsm)
c) White ribbon
d) 2 Off white buttons
e) Embroidery ribbon flowers
f) 2 mini green brads

First sale ...

Its been suggested many many times whenever I present someone (usually friends or a family members) with one of my home-made cards that I ought to consider selling them. As much as I enjoy the design and actual realisation process of these cards, selling them cards is an entire 'ball game' altogether. Apart from the actual product at hand (in my case cards), one's also got to think of pricing, placing, promotion ...

I know me cards are unique. Differentiated from all the mass produced cards out there ... Handmade with various rich textures making cards one of a kind. As much as people may appreciate creative efforts like these they may not necessarily buy them ... esp. when inflation is rising and economy of the world is in the state of gloom.

Having said that, I made my first sale this week. The apple green polka dotted card was purchased by a friend of mine for RM13.00 (plus.50 postage). What a thrill of it all !My very first sale!

Now i understand why some people thrive on selling handmade things ... to know that products are in demand is a real sense of achievement!

The convenience of it all ...

The new stash of polka dotted papers arrived today. They are as lovely (if not lovelier) as the pictures put up by the local online scrapbook shop.

Am more than thrilled that this 'remote' scrapbook enthusiast (more accurately card-making enthusiast) from Borneo finally has access to 'scrapalicious' papers. Having said that, its amazing how much has changed in such short time too. Not too long ago the few ways of purchasing scrapbook bits were either usually long and tortuous efforts. It was either to:-
a) order from online scrapbook shops in the US (and pay and arm and a leg for shipping charges) b) order online from scrapbook shops listed on ebay - and wait just about FOREVER for scrapbits to arrive, IF they ever arrive that is ...!!
c) Fly - either to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore - the two nearest cities where ALL the scrapbook specialty shops are located but unfortunately do not sell online ...

Now with local online scrapbook shops like scrap-n-crop, as soon as one makes an interbank payment transfer for items ordered, one's scrapbook papers and embellishment are soon at one's door step in a mere few days.

Now that's accessibility and convenience!

Digital loss ...

Its confirmed. Nothing can be done to retrieve data stored on my cranky old laptop (am presently using the new one as i type). I find myself grieving somewhat ... all those pictures (admittedly some weren't very well taen) taken over the years, snippets of precious oh-so-fleeting moments, stored in digital format ... all gone! :P

Then there's all those marvellous digital scrapbook files I downloaded at a price ... it was a sort of experimenting. My trying to figure out what suited me -traditional scrapbook or the digital art form. But with my then cranky ol' computer, the only digital scrapbooking I could do was print out pictures that were minimally edited (used the automatic correction alot!). Did try for a while though to figure out the features of Adobe Photoshop ... but it was all really a stab in the dark kind of effort. The uncertain clicking of buttons, not quite sure what the effects would all be. And with a machine then that froze ever so often (something about not having enough virtual memory) I usually gave up in frustration - never quite seeing the end results of my experimental 'clickings'.

Of course, there are those scrapbook projects in the pipeline. I had either painstakingly pick and chose pictures (using MS Word) and saved them under a certain project title or saved the journaling that went along with the pictures ...

Its all gone now.

Got only myself to blame. This silly goose NEVER bothered to back them up! :P Now with the DVD-RW that comes with this computer I intend to put that feature to FULL use. Digital back-ups is the way to go!

Anyone know of anyone who owns like a CSI type of computer lab...? Am not quite ready to give up quite yet - although the tech-guy here tells me that my hard disc is 'kaput, gone, dead, unsalvageable ....' Am sure with the right kind of equipment the documents on my hard disk (I only want MY DOCUMENTS, the rest can be thrashed) can be retrieved ...

Dotty about Dots

I realise I have a thing for dots (see recent and previous birthday cards creations) - polka dots of various shades and hues ...

I don't suppose that has got to do with the fact that the scrapbook book of papers that I got a few months ago came with a few lovely pieces that's surreptitiously lead to my current dotty fancies ...(?)

Apple green - one of my favourite colours ....

Inside of card

Made couple more birthday cards today. Its another one of what I would term as 'mixed media' cards , with floral laces, buttons, ribbons and sheer frills added to embellish the card. Stuff I found from browsing through the local mom and pop sewing-ribbons-buttons wholesaler that I occassional pop into to stock up on nifty looking bits to add to my paper creations.

The latest nifty bits that I found are those sheer like frills they use to show at the end of sleeves or neck-line. Its a kind of ' frilly mini skirting' - (admittedly am not too familiar with sewing terminology nor sewing ...:P) used to soften the edges of the card (as seen in photos). I thought initially that the only way to adhere fabric bits to card was by sewing (blanched at how much I had to sew ... not forgetting how bad I am at that!) But like all creations, there is always an 'alternative method'!

All fabric bits were adhered to paper with SUPER glue!

Was careful not to glue fingers together ... ;)

These cards have a long postal journey to make - once their envelope is finished ... hopefully them floral/button/filly bits glued survive the tough journey.

Transforming 'croc box'

Inspired by Snazzy Jazzy's boxes transformations - I thought i could do the same for this particular shoe box that I've not had the heart to throw away. Its an 'ugly but beautifully recycled box' (as written on the back). I've been using box to store my ribbons that never seem to stay neat for long ... :P (you can actually see bits sticking out from box in the picture)

I didn't have a clue as to transformative design. The only idea I had in mind was the colour scheme. The girl-ish pastels of pinks and greens, a personal favourite - mainly because I've not had much chance in indulging in. (Presently with all nephews and godsons in my life - been working alot with baby blue). Began the project yesterday night by digging out whatever bits of paper that were of that colour scheme - including small scrapbits that i don't have the heart to throw away ... From that glorious mess you see (doesn't that remind one of hamster's nest?!?) I came up with this ....

Wasn't fussy. It was after all a creative experiment. So not having things matched our cut out to size wasn't much of an issue. Paper were off different textures and thickness - from flimsy wrapping paper to cardstock like. Also, I finally found some use for those some of the many fancy paper punchers that was acquired last year to make simple paper accents to embellish box. This is how croc box looks like now ...
You could say its a girly over-kill. But am quite please ... having enjoyed the rigours of experimentations and using up my scrap paper bits. :)

More August Projects : - Recycling bits ...

Been slowly (but surely!) working on compiling a 8' x 8 ' D-I-Y photo album of one of my vacation trips. The photos are of the album covers - made out of recycled cardboard boxes. This is how it all looked like before work is done ...

Cardboard taken from some packed item (if not mistaken it was from bedsheet packaging)

The front cover of mini-album presently looks like this ...Perhaps more embellishments and accents will be added later when inspiration strikes.

Front cover

Back cover

August creations

Some of the creative bits that were completed in August - just not been able to blog about them.

Yummy looking Birthday and Thank you cards

Grandma, the receipient of yummy looking birthday card

Leftover of birthday cake(s) - baked by yours truly ...