Inspire

This is my latest layout about "me". It's the second layout about "me". It's been really hard to create layouts about "me". Therefore, I hope to be able to inspire some of my blog readers through this layout. There goes my title "Inspire".

Here are the steps in creating this layout.

1) I've created some masking of curves to the basic pattern paper using self made template and some distress ink. Guess you all would never have guessed what has inspired me to use this shape. The inspiration came from my newly permed curvy hair in the photograph....LOL!

2) Then I've cut out two pieces of curves using black card stock and I've masked, stenciled, stamped and doodled on it to create my own pattern paper.

3) I've also cut out some squares and strips of pattern paper and distressed them using the scissors and inking techniques. Then, I've used them to create some layers behind the photograph. I've also used the masking technique to further create some depths in the layering.

4) As you've seen in most of my work, I seldom use any buttons. Therefore, in this layout, I've challenged myself in using some of them. I've used a label holder which I've stamped in my design here.

5) I've cut out some petals out of white card stock which I've stamped and inked to create the flowers here. All flourishes are hand drawn. I've also added some black flowers which I've cut out from laces. I've also stamped and heat embossed a butterfly too.

This is a very challenging layout for me as the basic pattern paper that I've used is already very beautifully printed. But I just have to alter it to suit me style and design. Therefore, if you have the same problems using some pattern papers in future, why not try altering it.

Sources: Card stock: Provo Craft, Pattern Papers: Basic Grey, K&Co., Ink: Tim Holtz's Distress Ink, ColorBox and Memories, Rub-ons: Basic Grey, Stamps: Autumn Leaves, Hero Arts, PSX, Brads: Making Memories, Others: Zig pens, uni-ball signo gel pen, buttons, vellum quotes and alphabet titles (Hot Off The Press).

Self Vintage ATC

Recently, I've been very busy trying to get some projects done for a publication. If any of you do subscribed to Ett Trykk, keep watch in your June 2008 issue. Despite all this, I'm able to steal a little time to have some fun. One of my friend in a forum had actually inspired me to try this. She had used a photograph of another friend to create an ATC. Therefore, I've thought what fun would it be, to use your own portrait or a photograph to create a vintage ATC.

These are the steps to my ATC.

1. First, distress the edges of the card stock using the scissors technique.
2. Ink, the edges of the card stock with a distress ink. Choose whatever colour that matched your design and photograph. I've used brushed corduroy and spice marmalade in mine.
3. I've used a pattern paper which I've distressed using the tearing, inking and crinkling techniques to layer the background.
4. I've also used a self torn paper template to do some masking (use distress ink) to the background and stamped on some quotes and a vintage image.
5. I've used a self printed vintage frame, stamp and my portrait in this ATC. After attaching them to the ATC, I've stamped on some flourishes, butterfly and the title, use the "paint to distress" technique and heat embossed the butterfly and the title.
6.Lastly, I've also added some details on my portrait to create a little vintage look to it.

This ATC is definitely a very fun project for me. You can definitely try one yourself too.

Chinese Vintage ATC

These are my first vintage ATCs. I've decided to do some chinese vintage ATCs to reflect part of my culture on them.

For each ATC, I've done the steps below:

1. I've distressed the edges of the card using the scissors technique.

2. I've inked on the edges.

3. I've done some masking to it's background.

4. I've stamped some images on it's background and foreground too.

5. The vintage images are printed out and hand cut before attaching them to the ATCs.

6. I've added details such as brads, doodling, tearing, inking or even some bling to all the vintage images.

7. I've also heat embossed some images ie. butterflies, flower or feathers on the ATCs.

8. The red chinese character stamped image is actually from a stone stamp of my chinese name.

These vintage ATCs are so fun to create. I'm sure I will be doing more vintage ATCs after this.

SURPRISE!!!

I've actually received some request from some of my blog readers that they want to have an ATC swap with me. I think it's just fair that I give everyone a chance. Therefore, I've decided to have it through my blog. The first three blog readers that had posted their comment here and state that they want to swap with me, will get a chance to swap with me. If you're the first three, please email me to let me have your address and I will forward mine to you as well. You can get my email from the "email me" tab on the right side of my blog.

Winners of The 4 Seasons Friendship ATC Draw!

Here are the winners for the 4 Seasons Friendship ATC draw.

1. Tejal
2. Linda
3. Andrea
4. Beth Norman

Congratulations to all of you and I will be emailing you all soon! As for those who do not win this time, do not be dissapointed. I will be giving a few of my blog readers a chance to swap an ATC with me. So keep watch for my next post. Thanks for all the support that you all had been given me so far!

Unconditional Love

This is a layout to show my love for Chloe. It took me days to finally get rested and started scrapping again after being too tired and exhausted over the Chinese New Year celebrations. Since I'm still in the celebrations mood, I've decided to create this layout which definitely had the look of the decorations during this celebrations. The main colours during this celebration are gold and red.

These are some of the techniques involved in creating this page.

1. To mat the photograph, I've create my own pattern paper using a card stock and some quote stamps. First, I've torn the card stock on it's edges and then inked it with distress ink. Then I've used various quote stamps to stamp on it usng a few shades of distress ink.


2. I've also created some "Fish Tail" flowers for this layout.

3. I've used a cord to tie two charms at the top of the page and added some beads on the ends.

4. I've printed my journaling onto a vellum and later heat embossed the edges of the vellum with some gold embossing ink. Before attaching it to the page, I've also masked a torn paper design below it.


5. I've created a simple tag and slide it under the photograph too.

6. The big hearts are created using some textures papers. I've also inked and added sequins on it for some bling.

This is a layout that not only show the how much I love Chloe but also my culture. Hope you all like this layout.

Sources: Cardstock: Provo Craft, Pattern Papers: Paper Pizazz, Daisy'ds, Ink: Tim Holtz's Distress Ink, Brilliance and Memories, Rub-ons: Basic Grey, Stamps: Making Memories, Chipboards: K&co., Brads: American Crafts, Others: Zig pens, uni-ball signo gel pen, Sequins, charms, vellum and ribbons.

"Fish Tail" Flowers

The inspiration to create this flower came to me while I was watching a Japanese show. There's a lot of designs or logos of fish tails in that show which had gave me this idea.

To create your own "Fish Tail" Flower, simply follow the steps below.

1. First, cut out circles of different sizes from pattern papers. I've used two pattern papers and a vellum to do my layers above.

2. Then cut a "u" into various sections of the circle. It will create some petals on each circle.

3. Lightly fold the petals in halves and snip a "v" on the folded edge. This will give you the "fish tail" petals.

4. Lastly, to create some depths in them, I've inked on the pattern paper layers and heat embossed on the vellum layer. Then layered them to get your "Fish Tail" flower.

I love how the flower had turned out. I hope you all would give it a try too!

4 Seasons Friendship ATC and a little surprise.

These are some ATCs that I've created for swapping with some of my friends. I've used the theme of 4 seasons to create these friendship ATCs. The "green" ATC represent summer, the "brown" ATC represent autumn/fall, the "blue" ATC represent winter and the "pink" ATC represent spring.

Here are some simple steps to create them.

1. First of all, I've cut out a few pieces of card stocks of green, white, blue and beige. Then, I've distressed their edges using the scissors technique and inked them with distress ink and pigment inks. Here are the inks that I've used for the respective cards.

green cardstock ~ pine needles and black soot

white card stock ~ pink and black soot

blue card stock ~ faded jeans and black soot

beige card stock ~ frayed burlap and vintage photo

2. Then I've chosen repective coordinating pattern papers for each card stock and later distressed them using the tearing, crinkling and inking technique.

3. For more textures, I've used some acrylic paints and crackling medium to distress part of the ATC. You can also use some crackling paint too for this step. Then I've used some nature stamps to stamp some images on the ATCs to further emphasized on the theme.

4. Lastly, I've stamped and heat embossed some wordings on it. I've also added some flowers, doodling, ribbons and embellishment on them for more detail.

Ok, here is the surprise! I've made an extra set of these ATCs and would liked to give away to some of my blog readers. Therefore if you wish to get one of these ATC, just post a comment here saying that you wish to get one of this and leave me your email addy! I will put all the email addys into a hat and make a draw for four lucky winners on the 14th February. All winners will get an email from me.

Before I end this post, I would liked to wish all my blog readers a wonderful and happy Chinese New Year!

Sources: Cardstock: Provo Craft and Bazzill Baiscs Paper, Ink: Tim Holtz's Distress Ink, Brilliance and Memories, Stamps: Stampin' Up, Brads: American Crafts, Others: Zig pens, uni-ball signo gel pen, embossing powders, flowers and ribbons.