The Paper & Co Show 2008!

I'm so thrilled and honored to announce here that I've been invited to teach at "The Paper & Co Show 2008" which will be at the Palais des Congrès de Versailles, France! The convention will be from 10th Oct till 12th Oct 2008.

I will be teaching a total of six classes throughout the three days there. I've designed a few projects which are heavily technique based for the classes. This is my first teaching assignment overseas and I really hope to meet some of you there! I'm sure you all will enjoy the classes there. Here's the link to the official site of "The Paper & Co Show 2008".

The Paper & Co Show"

I will also be attending some crops there and I don't mind answering any questions that you all may have regarding all my techniques on my blog. If you need some hands on demo, remember to bring the stuffs needed for that particular technique.

Lastly I'm really excited about this trip and hope I could see you all there!!! Mark your calendar today!!

Pocket Birthday Card

This is just a fun birthday card that I've created using some cute stamp images. It's a pocket birthday card. This is my first time using some watercolour pencils and pens to colour stamp images. It's so much fun!

Here are the steps involved in creating this card.

1) First I've used a white 8"x11" white card stock to fold the pocket. Just fold both ends overlapping in the center of the card. Then I've folded up the lower edges about 2" into the middle of the overlapping flaps and glue it down. Lastly, I've also folded down the top corners of the overlapping flaps. (ie. looks liked a collar)

2) I've distressed the folded down corners using the scissors technique and inked it using some distress ink (old paper and tattered rose). Then I've made a torn edges square template and did some masking along the edges of the folded down corners and on the top of the pocket.

3) I've used a patterned paper and wrapped it around the lower section of the pocket. I've used a distressed postage stamp image to layer on top of the pattern paper. I've duplicate part of the stamps and colour them using distress ink and attached them using some foam adhesives for dimensions.

4) I've coloured all the cute images using watercolour pencils and pens and part of their clothes are actually cut out from pattern papers which I've stamped and coloured on too.

5) The flower are created using an alcohol inked glossy paper and layered with a white flower.

6) I've created a simple tab to put inside the pocket for some journaling.

After this project, I must say that cuteness might not be my style but I definitely have fun doing this.

Sources: Card stock: Bazzill Basic Papers, Pattern Papers: 7Gypsies, Ink: Ranger Alcohol Inks, Tim Holtz's Distress Ink, ColorBox, Memories, Stamps: Making Memories, Autumn Leaves, Others: Zig pens, uni-ball signo gel pen, watercolours pencils and pens.

A Mother's Pride & Joy

This is my latest therapeutic layout. I've been working on this layout throughout the night for about 5 hours. Things just don't seem to slow down and going in the right way at my end. Therefore, as a therapeutic measure, I've scrap this page hoping to dedicate it to all my readers who are moms or moms to be. Most importantly, it is also dedicated to my mom. She had been hospitalized with an emergency bypass surgery. It's just such a sad moment to be having all these things happened when Mother's Day is just round the corner. Anyway, I do hope that all mothers could feel at least a little love through this page.

Anyway, here are the steps t this layout.

1) I've used various stitching techniques to stitch on this page. As mothers do reminds me of one who always stitched up old clothes or quilt for their kids, I've decided to go all crazy on stitching in this page. I've used the two-tones zig-zag and cross-stitch stitching techniques here. I've added glass beads to it too.

2) I've also create a masking of a semi-circle on the bottom of the page.

3) I've used a grungeboard letter "a" on this page. I've first inked it using my sponge and later use a black soot distress ink pad to directly rub on top of it to raise the textures.

4) I've used some cranberry, oregano, expresso, meadow alcohol ink to create a marbled effect alcohol inked glossy paper. Later, I've cut out flowers out of it in two sizes. A good and kind friend of mine had cut the flourishes using her cutting machine and sent them to me. I've lightly inked them before attaching them onto the layout.

5) I've used the scissors technique and some inking to distress all the tags, photograph and the pattern paper.

6) I've attached a piece of inked paper doiley underneath the flowers and flourishes.

Lastly, I wish all mothers a very Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Sources: Card stock: Bazzill Basic Papers, Pattern Papers: Basic Grey, Ink: Ranger Alcohol Inks, Tim Holtz's Distress Ink, ColorBox, Stamps: Making Memories, Autumn Leaves, Stickers: Phrase Cafe, Brads: MakingMemories, Others: Grungeboard, Zig pens, uni-ball signo gel pen, vellum.

How to Mask.

This is a post that had been requested by a friend of mine. She wants to know how to avoid ugly smudges or marks when doing her masking. First of all, whenever I do my masking, I always used a sponge. The sponge that you see in the above photograph is a cosmetic sponge where we would normally use to apply our wet foundation. It's triangular in shape. I've always dab the sponge on one edges into the ink. To mask, I've hand cut a self made simple template, place it on my card stock or paper with temporary adhesive. (I would advise that if your masking template is huge, use a temporary adhesive to hold it in place) (Tip: simply use a normal sticky tape and roll it in circle to create your own temporary adhesives)
To start masking, place the inked edge of your sponge on top of the template. This is to avoid too much ink on the masking. Using the portion after the edge to do the masking instead. This will soften the look of your masking and you will avoid any ugly marks. (Tip: Do not over dab your sponges with too much ink too.) I hope this will help any of my readers who also had the some problems while doing masking.

"Just for You" Phone Strap

This is just another little altered phone strap for a good friend of mine. The teddy bear , butterfly and the tag are actually "stamped images" sent to me by some of my friends. I just print them out onto card stocks and vellum and later cut them out. I've coloured the bear using my distress ink and add some embellishment and glitter to it. This is a very easy and fast project. Hope she likes it!