Sweet Inspiration

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Are there times when you get inspired by something you see in magazines or newspapers? This happened to me when I was reading the papers the other day & it this ad struck me immediately:

I know of paper crafters who keep a design journal ie. where they cut and keep snips of photos/pictures from magazines, brochures etc. I tried to once, keep them but oh well let's just say I'm not too great with keeping journals of any sort. [thinking back to the time when I was a kid & tried to keep a diary because that was the 'IN' thing but only lasted 3 days & the occassional diary flip 4 months later].

But! Even though keeping a design/idea journal or book isn't my style, I find that taking photos of things that inspire me works. It could be anything at all! My camera's never too far away from me & every 2/3 days when I upload my new cards/layouts etc I'll definitely see them. [no 'out of sight, out of mind' no longer]. Each to his own, right? What's your style? Do share!

Ok , anyways on to the card! I tried to capture the minty/ pastel colours in the ad & the topic [ice cream, of course!] & my new 'love songs' stamp set from PapertreyInk worked perfectly for this!

I used my 'labels one' nestabilities here to create layers , so fun! Check out this old post of mine for another use of the same nestabilities :)

For the ice cream, I stamped with papertrey ink's vintage cream. I think it came out nicely.
Here's a close up at the front, i stickled on the ice cream but it's probably hard to see from the photo. I also used some liquid applique from marvy uchida for the cherry & just drew in the stem with a red sharpie.
I hope you likey this card! Thanks for stopping by today :)

'I melt with you' supplies:
cs: bazzill basics
stamps: love songs by pti
brads: making memories
button: misc

Love, Inspiration & a Goody!

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Hi all! How's your weekend going? I'm having a good one so far, 3 things to share with you today :)

First of all, a Valentine-themed card that I made late last night. I dug out my new 'heart blocks' cuttlebug embossing folder & embossed my white card, leaving a small space at the bottom for ribbons & sentiments. I used a similar technique {partial embossing} on this card as well. For today's card I also tried a technique called 'cuttlebug smooshing' , only I did it without a brayer because I don't own one & I'm too cheap to get one. hah The cuttlebug smooshing is kinda subtle here, I used 'tattered rose' distress ink with the folder. Just smooshed the whole ink pad on the top side of the embossing folder {the side that shows on the front of the card}

Then using a dauber I highlighted alternating hearts with 'Worn lipstick' distress ink. Kinda turned out splotchy on the hearts but I like that effect :) I then tied a nice ribbon around the front of the card & attached my sentiment onto the ribbon with a small gold safety pin.

Did I tell you how much I love PapertreyInk stamps? If you don't own some, you really don't know what you're missing! :) They are so versatile, don't think i can live wihtout 'em. Annnnywayyysss, I used Mixed messages on the tag & Heartfelt basics for the sentiment inside. Hope you likey !

Still on the topic of Papertrey, I got totally inspired by their senior design team this morning to sort out my cards! The team got a Birthday Organization challenge & came up with so many great ideas! Go see all of them here.

Normally i just stick my cards into this plastic drawer that I have, and try not to look at the mess. {most of the time I just pretend it's not there} But when I saw all the beautiful ideas the team came up with, I HAD to do something. So there you go, behold my new ORGANIZED card drawer! :)

I measured the box & cut out 8 pieces of white cardstock into 5" x 7.5" to fit on the inside. You'd want to make sure you measure the top end of the cs {in this case the 7.5" side to be slight lower so u can add tabs later}

Then I used a piece of scrap PP & trimmed then into 1" strips & just adhered onto the top of each piece. I punched out eight 1 3/8" white circles & stuck them to 1.5" kraft circles, stamping on the top end related sentimens. Almost all of the sentiments I used are from the Mixed Messages set. LOVE it!

Here's another look. I feel so good about myself now, there's just something about getting organized that just gives a natural high. NO chocolate needed in the process!! Can you believe it took me 30 minutes to get everything done? {including making the separators}

Last but not least, I got my goody from Heroarts this morning too! It's a little prize for my Honourable Mention win I think about 2 weeks ago. I woke up to this package sitting on my dining table :) *beaming*
.

Look what I got! Heroarts is so generous, I love the flower stamp they sent me. Off to play with my new goodies, you have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by! :)

Feeling Pinkish..

Sunday, November 30, 2008

God Knows how much i love pink, from my decade-old obsession with Hello Kitty stuff to my everyday accessories to the revolving scrap tool holder on my scrap desk.

Only thing is, i realised just how little i tend to use this colour on my cards/layouts. (maybe i see them so much in other times, perhaps? :p)

Just a thought that ran through my mind while i was making this card.

Here's a closer look:

supplies:

paper- Jenni bowlin die cut mini labels & basic grey

chipboard butterfly-maya rd

buttons- basic grey

stamps-Heroarts

I must add that i got the inspiration for this card by this K.Werner's vdo for 2peas.The usage of the thick acetates (saved from some backing off stamp sets, recycle & save the world yeah?) i stamped with my fave Judikins 'circles in circles BG stamp w' white stazon & attached the acetates together with MM eyelets.

Ok, some great sites finds next (shall i call it enabling like JenMcguire? makes it easier). Anyways, I was browsing through Ali e's blog & found a page of great creative links here. You should go check it out, lots of inspiration there :)

Also, i'm thinking of using a different template for this blog. Finding it abit tight on the columns, am looking around for a solid 3 column one that matches my blog banner.

Please let me know if you know where to find one. :) On that note, have a great weekend!

What's in the Xmas Goody Bag?

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Gift Cards from Borders Bookshop, made the gift card holders myself. Instructions can be found on my last post :)

Apple body lotion. Used the fabulous PTI B&C monogram edition & simple alphabets. Also used a polka dot stamp i had & a cute heart from a chatterbox stamp set i had. Cute labels, yes?

I've been searching around for these cute bottles to hold the apple cream & i found them at Watsons for $3.50 for 2. Really love how these turned out, have every intention of keeping one for myself :)

These had got to be my favourite, after the apple cream lotions that is. Also got this idea from PTI.

All these will be going into brown paper bags (decorated w PP, of course!) & labelled. I'm done wayyyy before Xmas, isn't it crazy?

Have fun getting your Xmas gifts done :)

Philosophy of life - creative therapy #35

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Creative Therapy's challenge #35 this week was to create art about your philosophy of life. The first thing that came to my mind was my favourite quote "Contentment is the Greatest Wealth".

I remember seeing this on a huge poster in front of a buddhist free clinic as i was driving home years back. At that point of my life i was going through some inner struggles about materialism, love and what it all means. This quote brought clarity to me, living life and endlessly striving/fighting for bigger and better things can get pretty tiring. I don't want to live my life like that. People always buy things they don't need to impress people they don't like. There's truth to that. So now i tell myself to slow down, take a look at all the good things around me and BE content. :)

Anyways, seeing that quote made me felt as if God was trying to tell me something. Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous, right? Well, that's another favourite quote of mine that has never failed to amaze me, and that's another story :)

Oh, and the photo of the sunrise is one i took on the plane on the way to Hongkong a couple of weeks back. I love taking photos of clouds and such on planes, always makes me feel like i'm just hitching a ride with God on this little journey called Life.

Card: Sending Love Your way

Monday, October 20, 2008

Made this card inspired by the CPS sketch just before i left last week, playing with Gamsol here and rub ons :)
And a little album i made quickly to remind him how much i love and miss him for every single day that i was going to be away. It's for him to open and read the note i left for him on the corresponding dates. Love my mini tab punch, really came i handy for this :)

Kwerner Color Inspiration

Friday, October 10, 2008

My entry for Kristina's color inspiration, always so fun !

PP: Cosmo Cricket
Alphas: EK success
Chipboard: Basic Grey
Ribbon: American Crafts
Cardstock: Bazzil