Keep crafting

Some weeks I craft more and most weeks less. I have not gotten around to scheduling my posts so they are still fairly random at the moment.

One thing I did wish was for more time to craft, and more time to play with my kids. Both parts are linked in some ways, since ms E is bogged down by spelling revision every week and she too can't craft - while I would be entertaining bbC while ms E studies.

Anyway, in the moments that I do manage to grab, I do make quick birthday cards while peeking guiltily at my project life stack from the corner of my eye...

Here's one I did recently with my spellbinder tags dies, worked my sizzix and pull out some loose supplies for a quick fix. The end result is viola!

Birthday girl Esther & the celebrating party loved it. And well, so did I :)

Till the next crafty post, keep crafting!

Goodbye school

After the concert, we wanted the girls to have a break before they started new school next year. As 30 Nov was their last day, we arranged for them to give "Thank You tags" to their teachers for all the love they had received throughout the year.

We incorporated the girls' painting into the tags as background and bling them up to be hung as decor.

For BbC's teachers

For Ms E's teacher

All the frills that defines ms E.

And the roses, crystals and blings.

BbC is more eclectic, with a mishmash of bright little things.

and heavy on textures, and shapes and touch.

Thanksgiving

It's the time of the year to keep crafting for thanksgiving and gratitude. And for the kids, it's making thank you cards for teachers.

Today it's bbC's turn to start the process as she will be leaving the current preschool in two weeks time, to change to a new preschool next year.

Here's a sneak of work in progress as I work with her to put together her items.

And what ms E was making last week? It's been completed and filled with her friends notes and addresses, as it is also her final year in preschool before she steps into primary school in 2013.

Myself, I've been crafting as well. A quick thank you card exchange in a course I was attending, & my recipient is a male classmate.

Maybe it's time to think about crafting and thanking someone today too. Start yours :)

Spending time

The best way to spend time with your children is to do things together.

For my girls, it's simple crafting, playing, baking that they enjoy with me. Baking especially because they get to lick the batter & meringue!

Ms E recently had an eyelid op and had been home alone with me for a couple of days. I did not want to resort to tv, so we crafted together. Taught her how to get inspiration from others creations and here are cards we made together.

I always feel her choices are different from mine even though we selected from the same pile. Do you think so?

House Warm



Whistle Bird Key Chain roosting to warm the little hook up house.



Yesterday I went to attend a housewarming of an ex-colleague, Bee Yee (or Bee which was her nick), who had been my mentor when I first joined my current organisation.  Of course, my entire department had been invited as well.  I didn't want to give her a standard goodwill red packet although that money would have been useful (since when money wasnt'?). 

Anyway, so I connived with my nice boss Pei Ling and my lovely neighbor Nalini  to get Bee a gift.  Something that I think she would enjoy more than a little red packet, or a fake crystal fruit punch bowl with a ladle and 9 matching cups (Yes, that was the de facto house warming gift in the 80s~!).  Bee in my memory loved to snack.  And more than snacking, she loved Jelly Belly jelly beans.

 

I made a super quick trip on Friday evening to the nearest Cocoa Trees and snapped up a 50 flavour variety box, a mini dispenser and 3 pocket dispenser worth of beans.  Three pocket dispenser because I figured one for her pocket, one in her bag and one in the office drawer in case she left home without it hahaha...



Typewritten : For all the colorful moments in your life (just like jellybean!)

I made a bee clear embossed tag, stained it with rainbow colors and typed the message on my Hanima Regal typewriter. Happy colors yes?


.Since it was shared by 3 persons, I made 3 mini card tags to paste each of the 3 pocket dispenser. Within each tag was a best wish from each of us. 



  



 The message is hidden within. 

As for that bird house on top? That was the first thing I gave her when I stepped in.  I altered it with Tim Holtz tissue tape, and covered it with a thin layer of protective matt medium.  It's cuteness isn't it? :)









Stress + Cards = ♥

Just two days ago on 23 March, two of my closest friends, part of my 7 rainbow sisters, had their birthdays.  I wanted to make their cards as they were special to me.  I used an assortment of materials but recently, thanks to this facebook group called Scrapbook Market, my collection of Washi Tape boomed from a small 8 or 12, to a whopping 55.  I'm not ready to post up photos of the washi tape, but I have been diligently using them because I have to kinda justify why I keep collecting!

I really love birds shape/ stamps/ images and the when my favourite punch brand Fiskars had the new Jenni Bowlin collection with a lark on it, I was sold.  Did I ever share why I so ♥ Fiskars?  I broke my oval XL Punch and wrote in to them.  Although I was so far away in tiny Singapore, they actually responded and shipped a replacement to me.  I think they have the bestest service ever - and needless to say I am now a die-hard fan!  

Okay back to my cards.  I made this crepe flower after being inspired by a share by Phoebe (another sister) and made this version for the card, topped by my favourite new lark.  So here are the birthday wishes, crowned with flying birds to bring all the love to my sister Angela and all her worries and stress away. 

Of course, I wouldn't leave out Jin's card either and so I made her one that was all together, all lovely and all so cute.  Again, I sent her some bright love, and a happy bright birthday.  To celebrate we had this barbecue at Lovely (another blessed sister)  place with all the kids running about and playing. 

June once taught me that when I was stressed and don't have much time, the fastest way to get a scrapping fix was to make cards.  I have to say it was really true because the month of Feb was super busy for me as there was lots of publicity work to be done at my workplace.  I pulled out 4 hours and finished these two cards, made them with love, and they were equally received with love.

What about you? Feel stressed? Then maybe it's time to create a card.

Materials : Cards - DCVW La Creme and Plain cards; Cardstock - AC white; Fonts - Pink Paislee, Jenni Bowlin; jute string; crepe paper; scraps - kaisercraft, sassafras lass; washi tape.

Communicating Thanks

Recently there was a major event at work and I had been so busy I missed a tape layout challenge that I'd been looking forward to making! Anyway, the rush is finally over.

Last night, I made a thank you card for a colleague in Communications who helped me quite a bit in the media aspect recently, hence the elements of gramophone, and the little background of newspapers. The little measuring tapes were to denote that her help was immeasurable. It's definitely much lesser than what I'd normally do but I was sleepy! Hope she gets the message though.

On the side, my nifty Canon has gone for servicing as it grew a black patch on the lens after several months of rain. Sad! So now I have to rely on my iPhone.