Late Valentine

It's all about creating backgrounds again!

This time, I used the same old resist technique but did a little twist to it. I used MT tape to create a border. And instead of using bright distress inks, I used something darker, pumice stone. This is the next colour that is a must have. It's in between a grey and black. When used for stamping, creates a very dreamy and watercolour effect.

The making memories embellishment pack is a good buy. Every design comes in 2 each and there are more than 30 pieces in a pack. If you're into some Victorian style, this is a good investment.

For this layout, I tried my best at layering. Had inspiration from Betty, to create layout not based on photos first. Tried layering with different media. So as you can see, flowers, plastic rulers, lace, crystals. And of course, a photo that is missing. This layout is actually a gift for someone where hopefully he is able to find that someone special to give to.

The thing I like best, the birdcage! So happen to be browsing fb and saw something similar. And of course, did my usual style of copying. Or to put it in a nicer way, modifying.

Materials Used: Making Memories Valentine's pack, 7 Gypsies School Ruler, Prima flowers, Hero Arts background stamp, Distress Inks (Black Soot, Pumice Stone, Old paper), Sickles, Martha Stewart Punches, Doily paper.

aDoRe

After finding my niche area in inking, dear was nice and gracious enough to give me last Sunday afternoon to create backgrounds.

And I simply adore this background created.

This time I didn't use anymore of the old resist method. I tried to rub inks, a mixture of blue, yellow and green tones. After that, I used scattered straw to rub at the edges where 2 different colour inks meet. I thought scattered straw work excellently as a blender. Then I used a brick mask and spray highly diluted vinegar. I didn't want to use water as it's too not obvious. Neither did I want to use acid, as it would make the paper turn too acidic and brown. So a good balance was to use very diluted acid and I thought it turn out very well.

For the layout, I tried recycling the concept of Sharon's Learn layout. I'm never good at layering and could not a full layout like Jaz or Sharon. So copying their ideas is the best idea. :)

I also want to take this opportunity to introduce my latest love paper, kaiser craft. Their recent papers are really pretty and even the labels are so pretty that you can even cut them and use them instead of wasting them.

Materials Used: White cardstock, Kasier craft Bonjour pattern papers and stickers, Prima flowers, pebbles and brick mask, Tim Holtz tissue paper and philosophy tags, Donna Downey Unity Stamps.

Timeless: Dusk to Dawn

Recently, my work colleagues have been talking about finding our niche area. I've been finding my niche area in scrapping for a long time, with not much success. I like techniques. I like to show to non-scrappers, scrapping isn't all about cutting and pasting. There are a lot of cool techniques that are beautifully unique. And of course, you need to attend classes or do some self reading to learn these techniques. Scrapping is definitely not child's play.

So last weekend, after creating this layout. I had an inspiration. My niche would be in inking. Since I love Tim Holtz, I love distressing, why not take the distress inks to another level by creating bright colour layouts using inks instead of the grungy brown black ones.

 Basically it was originated from the Chinese New Year cards. I took it further by experimenting with my cracks stamp. Using it as a resist with clear embossed before I rub inks on the cardstock.

Also inspired by the Merly Impression sketch challenge, I used the multi photo sketch to include as many photos as I can, from my Japan trip, in a layout.

The thing I like best, was my first attempt in using non-people photo in a layout. Turns out quite cool and I shall try to take more non-people photos.

 Materials Used: White cardstock, Impression cracks stamp,  Kasier craft clock transparency, Maya Road tags and clocks, 7 Gypsies paper clips, doily paper, Tim Holtz metal clock

Colorbok Scrapkits

To confess, I'm not a scrapkit person to start off with. I never liked scrapkits as I thought the materials provided are usually of lower quality. And I never liked the fact that I don't like everything in a pack, and yet I still have to buy the whole pack.

Anyway, two weekends ago, I had a long break while waiting for the next class to start. I decided to pick up a kit to scrap at Clementi Mall, trying to create a sample.

Surprisingly, the Colorbok scrapkits are really quite worthwhile. The papers match very well, with a good mix of pattern paper. The embellishments provided were also in abundance. It's really hard to describe here, you have to go down to Papermaket@Clementi Mall to check it out for yourself.

This is the layout I created. Simple layout that takes me only less than an hour and everything created is from the pack. You need not buy anything extra.

On top of that everything in the pack is so useable. Even the wrapping of the pack could be used! That's how I obtained my brackets.

Materials used: Colorbok Baby Girl  

CNY cards

This has the busiest CNY I've ever had. As it was so near to Christmas and school's orientation, I had no breathing space at all. Hence, this year, the CNY cards had taken a back seat. In fact, I didn't want to make any cards at all this year. Not until the yesterday where I really wanted to give a card to my deputy principal for his guidance and encouragement.

 Thankfully, Joyce was nice enough to drive me to Junior to get the stamps.

Created only 2 variations.

The first one, was an idea copied from Freddy. Using distress stains and resist technique. There is a combination of 3 colours here. Fire brick, spiced marigold and mustard seed. I like the way the colours turned out. Considering doing something similar for a CNY layout.

The second one is really a simple one. Very typical simple scrapbooking card.

Hopefully next year, I've more exciting cards to share.

Sketch Challenge 2

The sketch was so inspiring that I not just manage to had ideas for one layout. For the second layout, I've decided not to deviate too much from the sketch.
As I just returned from my Japan trip, I've decided to work on something more pastel coloured. Not the usual vintage style.

 Not much technical stuff here. The only interesting thing was I used the maple leaves from Japan as embellishment to create the background.

Photo corners from Prima. I love these embellishments.

Prima roses mixed with Webster pages flowers. Something special to note is the ribbon I used at the border of the page. Those ribbons are from Japan. And I really loved the ribbons in Japan. Though they are expensive, they are really exquisite!

Materials Used: Authentique pattern paper, Webster pattern paper and ribbons, Prima embellishment, Tim Holtz bingo numbers, Martha Stewart doily lace punch.

Sketch Challenge 1

I'm loving this new UK magazine scrap365. They always have beautiful and inspiring sketches at the back of each issue. On top of that, they have a monthly sketch challenge. More details of it can be found on their website: www.scrap365.blogspot.com
This month sketch challenge is as shown below:

And I had 2 rendition of it.

The first one is more technical. Using G45 back to school papers, decided to make a layout for Chloe's Shichida teacher. This teacher had been with Chloe since her first lesson in Shichida. It's very sad that she leaving.

For the background, I used a stamp to create a resist using gesso. Then rub the background with Victorian velvet, very similar technique to the altered mooncake box.

I've also distress all the edges of the paper to give it a more crumbled look.

The wooden embellishment was distressed using vintage photo and later a thick coat of rock candy crackle paint. I like the way the stain bleed into the wooden embellishment. This is a technique I've learnt from one of the design class in Laines.

A G45 metal flower, bent with a lousy scissors

Guess what does IOQ means? Hahaha, it's meant to represent 10 - Q that is Ten(Thank) Q (you). Well, I didn't have numbers in that embellishment. It's all alphabets. So that's the best I could have created. I've also topped the whole thing up with glossy accent, which used to be my favourite item when I first started scrapping.

Materials Used: G45 Back to school pattern papers, G45 metal flowers, G45 Back to school stamp, Distress Stains includes Victorian velvet and Vintage photo, rock candy crackle paint, Ranger glossy accent.