Tuesday, February 24, 2009

I'm So Cute Lay-out


this baby is just the cutest ever! lol. i just had to scrapbook the pictures for posterity.

the main paper pattern is a beautiful embossed mother goose and humpty dumpty theme. i tore matching patterned papers for color blocking on top and at the bottom. after layering the pics with matching cardstock, i then positioned the big picture in the center upper half, then arranged the mini pictures at the bottom. i wanted the look of a baby's clothelines so i loosely positioned a string on top and attached the ends with snaps. the other embellishments i made, i hung them with a thin blue ribbon and secured them on the clothesline with mini clothespins. for the title, i used transparent gold alphas. a matching two toned colored ribbon on the side balances and completes the lay-out.

materials: k & co paper, the paper company vellum paper, ribbons, brads, inks, etc.

My Defining Moment Lay-out

am looking over my completed albums so i can archive some of my lay-outs for my blog. i promise to post more scrapbook lay-outs soon.

the picture was digitally enhanced using some special effects (page curl) then i printed it using a calendar lay-out. then i decorated the page with chipboards, flowers, brads ... then chalked and inked for a shabby chic vintage look. the right side has a journaling pocket with some special thoughts regarding this memory photo. i did the calligraphy by hand.

materials: imaginesce papaers and flowers, technique tuesday chipboards (painted, inked and stamped with images), queen & co brads.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

I'll Never Forget Patch Card

this is part of an ensemble. i had many scraps and i couldn't bear to throw them away! so i did a patch up card and coordinated the colors and had two accent points - the tag and ribbon on the side.

the tag is a sticker that's layered on matching lime card stock and topped with layered flowers held together by a single brad. it looks yummy and makes me smile when i look at it especially when i get the blues! it looks better IRL. TFL!

Keywords: k & Co; ribbon scraps flowers
Paper: k & co
Accessories: prima flowers; offray ribbon

From Chaos to Order!










this is how my other storage cabinets look like when they are clean and organized, which is antithetical to creativity, right? i'm creating a basket of goodies for my foundation's auction - still not sure what else to put in it. there's a colorful red/yellow arrangement i made on the left cabinet. i love cherries and they're in season so i now have a fresh stash in my room. i arranged them with some fresh lemons and daisies from my garden. these colors and scents inspire me to create my art. TFL!

Hip Skull Girly Ensemble

here's the rest of the hip, girly, skull gang. don;t throw those scraps away - you can make tons of tags, cards, labels, etc. looks good when things are in a set and are coordinated. the power of the group at work here.

Unapologetic Fashion Victim Card

this is part of my hip skull girl collection. i did the paint can first. then this and other fun stuff such as keepsake box and many, many cards and tags. i love this line and design. a bit edgy but still feminine. i also decorated the inside and tried to mimic a lace border by using the scalloped edge of a paper. i also used a scroll chipboard which i cut from original size to fit the style flow and layout i wanted. it's okay to do that! i was nervous at first. last but not the least, bathed it in brads! various ones - big, small, shaped, and more!

inside of the card: the inside is decorated as well with matching scallops and dots paper. it will say, "no excuses." but still am thinking about the font so i haven't put any.


Keywords: fashion brads hip skull bones
Paper: bazzill, creative imaginations
Ink: colorbox fluid ink black
Accessories: prima flowers; ribbons; eyelet outlet; queen n company; basic grey rub-ons

Organizer: Stamp Swivel Rack

here's a wooden stamp organizer which i got in ebay. it holds 128 stamps. i decorated it with matching heidi grace line of papers and painted some of the borders for contrast. this rack has adjustable shelves so it's very practical and useful. a good investment! (can you see a common theme of buying rationalization? lol)

here's the original wooden swivel rack straight from ebay. i couldn't wait to mess with it. but i have more stamps to organize so i guess i need another one? what would dh say??? the last pic is the section with stamp pads organized neatly.

Organizer: M & M Shelf

i'm so happy with this organizer! it's actually a store's shelf to display M & M products but i convinced the owner to sell it to me (after buying tons of stuff from her store). now my inks, paints and some ribbons are within arm's reach. this is really cool and good investment. it has restored some of my sanity when i'm in a frenetic crafting mode.it's just resting on a chair for now. it's mountable on the wall but dh doesn't like hanging stuff on the wall that's not a painting. but i'm not complaining for now!

Tea Cup and Candles Card

i just love tea stamps. have been expanding my collection recently. got this tea cup stamp from ebay. the artsy candles are from inkadinkado's new line. i stamped the cup then cut it b/c i made a boo-boo. i attached the ribbon on the cup and cut an arc slit on the cup and inserted the candles. then i adhered the cup on cs. mulberry rose: got in thailand ... that's the last of my lime rose stash. sigghhh ... need to go to thailand again (wink, wink)!tfl!

Keywords: tea cup candles
Paper: k & co designer mat
Ink: colorbox
Accessories: ribbon: american crafts; brads

Friday, February 20, 2009

Altered Art Cherry Lunchbox Ensemble Movie

Queen for a Lifetime

this is one of my fave early cards i've made. easy to make, hip, and such an eye candy. i wanted to use the pre-made card stock but found it boring and not challenging to just totally rely on it for the design; i.e. just slap a quote or sticker and it's done (i guess that's the manufacturer's point). so i looked at complimentary colors to frame the bag and shoes. i chose brown and melon colors from the predesigned card base then scalloped the edges of the brown paper, slightly inked the edges of the melon plain card stock, layered them on top of each other, attached bag sticker with the shoes stickers in interesting angles, put on shimmering brads in the melon color family (love it when things match serendipitously!), then put on the sayings!

Stamps: versa ink
Paper: DCWV
Ink: versa ink
Accessories: marcel schurman sticker; mm shimmering brads; k&c quotes
Techniques: sticker layering, color blocking
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 1

It's Party Time!

It's Party Time! Lovely pink and lime combo. Brads on the side add a nice accent. Handmade giftbox accented with two layers of ribbons in analogous shades of pink.

Easter Eggs-travaganza!

even though i might have tons of scrapbooking materials, tools and embellishments that seem to last for a lifetime (tnx to my tolerant dh), sometimes, i just want to use simple but colorful stickers in a dimensional fashion. i always like to challenge myself by being frugally innovative. sometimes the challenge takes the form of doing something stunning using simple materials inexpensive flat stickers and techniques such as hand drawn grass ... of course i'm my biggest fan and my work is a work of love so that's why i said "stunning!" enjoy!

Keywords: easter happy colorful stickers easy eggs butterfly grass
Paper: dcwv
Ink: versa ink
Accessories: mrs. grossman easter egg stickers; doodlebug letter stickers; MM brads
Techniques: layering;chalking
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 1

Daffodils for Mom

a bright and cheery card to welcome the onset of spring and celebrate mother's day. the sheerness of the ribbon complements the intricate details of vellum daffodils amidst the backdrop of a jagged, textured, lime cardstock adorned with pre-stamped fancy scrolls.

MOM alpha stickers were layered on top of matching cardstock and cut for a more outlined effect. a decorated scalloped oblong chipboard provides the background for the MOM word and adds another layer of texture to the design.

Paper: pizzazill
Ink: versa ink
Accessories: jolee's vellum stickers; wild asparagus alphas
Techniques: inking. chalking, vellum overlay, paper tearing

Girly Purse

my invented paper purse. the body is the typical mirrored image trapezoid. the handle was a traced a cigar box handle. the sides were tricky because i wanted it to expand when opened so things can be put inside, so i made my own design with geometrically based scored flaps.

Paper: Making Memories

Damask Mother's Day Card

Angel Mother

"For a special mother who gave so much to her children. I am who I am because of the values you taught me and more so, lived by." Here's a mother's day card made of tranquil pink classic damask design, with textured brown color blocking, accented by a modern chipboard echoing the same color scheme.

Keywords: mother's day; pink; damask; anna griffin
Paper: anna griffin; DCWV
Ink: versa ink
Accessories: lil davis chipboard; offray ribbon
Techniques: color blocking

Altered Art: Hip Girly Skull Paint Can Movie

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Hand Drawn Cards - Yellow Tulips Sympathy

With Heartfelt Sympathy Card

This is one of my popularly viewed cards on splitcoast stampers. It has garnered over 2,500 unique views and several comments. This is card's image is hand drawn and colored using prismacolors and pen. I deckled the edges and used watercolor washout effect on the edges. The background is cuttlebug embossed and the sentiment is a clear saying sticker by DCWV. The arched effect on the tulip was a last minute improv because I drew several images on a sheet and they were too close together that the top of the tulips didn't have enough border space. To create that illusion, I used a circle container top and traced half of it and drew smaller arcs on the edges. That way, i was able to preserve the leaves and didn't have to cut them straight down. Hope i'm making sense. TFL!

Hand Drawn Cards - Miracles Do Happen



hand-drawn rose and colored using prismacolors on textured watercolor paper. i stamped a bamboo backdrop image and chalked with pastels. then i layered the pieces using foam tape and added a two-toned monochrome green ribbon. this one topped my yellow tulip hand-drawn card in terms of number of views at my splitcoast stampers gallery - 3,060 views - woohoo!

Keywords: rose,, hand-drawn miracles
Stamps: my own rose; bamboo stamp
Paper: bazzill
Ink: colorbox
Accessories: ribbons, brads; k n co vellum sticker quotes

Hand Drawn Cards - I Heart Ice Cream

I Heart Ice Cream Card



i love this bright yummy color combo. the main design is hand-drawn on water color cold pressed paper using water color wash-out effect. click on the second pic for a close-up of the ice cream card and you can also see the nice cuttlebug dry embossed background.

Hand Drawn Cards - Lovely Green Orchid

Lovely Green Orchid Card

another one of my hand-drawn cards using pencil, prismacolors, and pen/ink. i love coloring and drawing, especially when the there's no stamp available to express what i want to create. this card is generic in nature.

Paper: making memories
Ink: prismacolors

Digital Scrapbooking


















I've been recently trying my hand on digital scrapbooking. It's different. For one, there are no scraps and clean-ups which is super cool. It also allows me to practice my digital skills. These images took tons of layering and masking but worth it all.