Another Valentine ATC

This is another Valentine ATC that I've created for a great friend of mine. For the background, I've distressed the edges of the pattern paper using the scissors distressing technique. I've also created my own torn square template and use it to do a multi-layer masking on it. I've use some distress ink (spice marmalade, vintage photo, brushed corduroy and black soot) to do it.
Then I've added some stamping on it. To add a soft touch to it, I've used a sheer ribbon on it.

Am I in any DTs? Winners for my Valentine ATCs!

A lot of my blog readers had once or even several times asked me whether am I attached to any Design Teams or am I designing for any company at the moment. They've also asked me whether did I submit any of my work for publications? Why I've not put my tips and techniques in books?
I'm going to answer all those questions with this post. I know I've never shared much about myself through my blog but since these questions are bits and pieces of my scrapbooking journey, I think it would be fine to share it here.
First of all, I'm officially a designer for ScrapbooksNStickers. I'm part of their 2008 Design Team where I'll be designing for their store and their booths for some conventions in the states. So for those of you who are going to any scrapbooking conventions this year, keep an eye for my work there.
Secondly, I'm also part of the team for Scrapbook News+Reviews which is an online magazine that will hopefully kicked off this February.
Thirdly, I've not thought about coming out with a book yet at the moment. As I'm not a big writer, I do really need a great publisher and editor in order to do this. So hopefully in the near future, I do have an offer to get my stuffs in books! I know some of you have had a hard time printing those techniques from my blog and have been asking me to have a book on my work and techniques. I would need some luck in this area to fulfill your request. So, wish me luck!
I guess I've shared everything I could about all those questions and I hope all of them had been answered!

Ok, as for the winners of my Valentine ATCs. The winners are:
1. c shell designs
2. danisha
3. Cat

I will email you all in a short while for all your addresses so that I can mail those ATCs to you all. Hope you all liked it! For those of you that do not win this round, please do not be disappointed. I will be doing more of this kind of giveaways throughout this year. So keep an eye for them in future. Thanks for all your support all this time!

"Inside"

This is my latest layout titled "Inside". It's a layout about how I felt about Chloe in my life. I've challenge myself to create this layout using only a piece of card stock, the photograph and some inks, pens, embossing powders, chalks and paints. Totally no pattern papers, embellishments or stamps. I must admit that it's a very difficult challenge for me as I love to heavily embellished all my layouts, definitely some stampings on them and I'm not good at all in doodling.

The title for this layout actually came from a different perspective of my view towards that photograph of Chloe. That photograph tells me she has so much to offer in my life and had always taught me so many things that I would never had imagined. Therefore, I've came up with the title "Inside".

Some of my blog readers had actually request me to come up with a very clear step by step pictures and explanations for some of my layouts. Therefore, 'm trying to do this for the first time with this layout. Since it's a special challenge to me, I would liked to share this in detail.

Here are the steps:

1. First of I've used the scissors distressing technique on the edges of my background card stock and inked it with distress ink (tea dye and vintage photo).

2. Then I've hand doodled a flower and some flourishes on the lower right corner of the page.

3. Later, I've used some distress ink (black soot, frayed burlap) to swipe on the surface of the page to create a further distress look.

4. I've used the "Masking to Create a Journaling Space" technique to create the scroll for journaling.

5. Then I've used the "Embossed to Distress" technique to further distress the page.

6. I've then attached my photograph on the layout and used the "Masking to Create a Distressed Border" technique to create a frame or border for my photograph.

7. Later, I've used the "Steel Ruler Distressing (II)" to create a more distressed border on my photograph.

8. Lastly, I've used the "Paint to Distress" technique to do my last distressing on the layout.

All these distressing techniques had added so much depths and character to this layout. Finally, I've added some chalking around my doodled flower, write my journaling and title.

I'm really glad that I've finished with this challenge and it has inspired me to so many more new techniques. It's definitely an adventure and achievement for me. Hope you all like this layout too!

Sources: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper, Ink: Tim Holtz's Distress Ink and Tsukineko VersaMagic Fluid Chalks, Acrylic Paint: Making Memories, Others: Tim Holtz's Distress Embossing Powders, Zig Memory System pen

Masking to Create a Journaling Space

This is also a technique that I've used in my most recent layout. In this layout, I've challenged myself not to use any extra card stock (except for the background) or pattern papers as well as embellishment.

In my layout, I've used three colours (pine needles, vintage photo and black soot) of distress ink to do my masking for the journaling space. To create the template, I've hand drawn a scroll shaped and later cut it out. I've then used the tear-in technique to tear along the edges of the scroll template.

Embossed to Distress

In my latest layout titled "Inside", I've used the heat embossing technique to distress the background of the layout. I've used an embossing ink pad and randomly rub on the surface of the layout horizontally and vertically. Then, pour some distress embossing powder all over the page. Later, tilt the page to remove any excess and lightly tap on the page to remove more of it. Leaving some uneven distress embossing powder on the page. I've used a embossing heat tool to do the embossing. The effect is awesome and if you ever get any distress inks on it, just simply wipe it off with some wet wipes.