MWL DT: LO | You are Here

Hello! Wheee, time is passing by fast, and school holidays are over. It is the start of July, second half of 2017 already! How has the school holidays been for everyone? Perhaps you have that vacation photo at a beach resort or some outdoor fun? Time to document those pretty photos!

Today I am sharing a stitched layout on Made With Love design team! I am inspired by the Summer Days Collection by Simple Stories, this collection brings me much joy! I am always a sunshine kind of girl, so this collection is really perfect for my outdoor shoots!

When I do my layouts, I really love to add a flair of stitching to the layout. No matter how simple the stitch is, it always brings a good texture. I always find that the stitches make the layout look complete. In this layout, I first did some die-cutting with the Sizzix Framelits Die Set - Dotted Squares. Basic dies like these are important, they make the crafting work much easier. Then, using the Maya Road waxed Hemp (Lemon Yellow and Tangerine), I did some blanket stitches around the perimeter of the die-cuts. 

Another element I love using are wood tokens. These are the Maya Road wood tokens which you can find an array in Made With Love. For the ring wood tokens, I corded the waxed hemp through on both ends. That little loop around the ring wood tokens looks like little hearts on either sides extending out. Little details like these brings a smile!

In addition to wood tokens, acrylic tokens are also another embellishment I used on this layout. Subtle, but it gives a good texture and gives a highlight to other embellishments.

The materials used for this project are available at Made With Love. Hope you like the walk through and perhaps try your hand with stitching on layouts! It is addictive and therapeutic!

Don't forget to also look out for more book binding projects / classes available only with Made With Love. You can also use book binding stitches on layouts! 

Thank you for dropping by my blog today! 

SS DT: 12x12 Layouts | Happiness & Joy

I'm on the Simple Stories blog today with 2 layouts. 

I have been inspired by stars recently, and I love how brightly they shine up above the skies. There is much hope and joy, so I would like to share that today.

In my first layout, i titled it Shine Like a Star, using Sunshine and Happiness collection. On the backdrop, i did some stitching of the Star of David and had them spread out randomly. Add some enamel dots at the corners of the stars, it helps to highlight the shape of the star!

Here is a closer look on the title. I like to stitch through my title and give it emphasis. Here you can also see how I varied the size enamel dots on the edge of the sewn stars.

Layering embellishments is always easier with Simple Stories. The collections can also be mixed to achieve what you desire. Here I used the chipboard frames, floral and memory stamp embellishments (bits and pieces) from Life in Color collection, wood veneers from You Are Here Collection and decorative Clips from Carpe Diem Collection. I think it is cool to mix and match the pieces required to complete the layout, and having significant embellishments to tell your story.

The other part of cluster which I adore! Here you can see the remains of the chipboard frame. I cut them up using a strong pair of scissors and layered it here. 

For the second layout, my influence came from some circular structures I have seen around the buildings recently. I tend to draft and doodle ideas on the go in my notebook and sometimes using them in the layouts I create. In between creating this layout, I decided to go ahead and add some string art! This was fun! 

To create a subtle focus to the circular elements, i added some arrows on the sides and machine stitched them. I chose a plain white cardstock so it does not overwhelm the entire layout and blend with the backdrop. Here I also added some embellishments to cover the area. Love this bird! Around the photo, you can see a scallop border and some string art added as a matting for the photo.

More string art here to the main cluster of embellishments.

Let's take a closer look at the circular elements in this layout. I like how simple it is to embellish using the pattern papers in the Sunshine and Happiness collection!

There has not been much sunshine in my area recently, most days are covered with clouds and the day seems less bright. Using this collection in the layouts have given me much shine and happiness, and I hope they brighten your days too!

For more details, check out Simple Stories blog! I had so much fun with these layouts and i hope you enjoyed them too! There are so much packed in the kits, there is always something in the Simple Stories collections that you will find apt for your crafting needs!

For those residing in Singapore, Simple Stories is available at Made With Love! :)

 Visit Simple Stories for more inspirations!

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Simple Stories Supplies:

https://www.simplestories.com/product/expressions-cardstock-stickers-10

https://www.simplestories.com/product/fundamentals-cardstock-stickers-10

https://www.simplestories.com/product/summer

https://www.simplestories.com/product/happy-day

https://www.simplestories.com/product/total-crush

https://www.simplestories.com/product/tangerine-stripelemon-stripe

https://www.simplestories.com/product/berry-stripelime-stripe

https://www.simplestories.com/product/4x6-horizontal-elements-15

https://www.simplestories.com/product/enamel-dots-22

https://www.simplestories.com/product/4x6-stickers-1

https://www.simplestories.com/product/6x12-chipboard-12

https://www.simplestories.com/product/bits-pieces-21

https://www.simplestories.com/product/wood-veneer-4

https://www.simplestories.com/product/chipboard-frames-9

https://www.simplestories.com/product/bits-pieces-17

https://www.simplestories.com/product/wood-veneer-5

https://www.simplestories.com/product/clips-3

LO: Life is a Fabulous Adventure

Aloha everyone! How's the year been going on for you? I am super busy cleaning the house in preparation of the upcoming Chinese New Year, and squeezing some time to do some crafts to keep me sane! This is one project that had been at the back of my mind for a long while, and I decided to get this going finally.

This photo was taken in May at my ROM reception. I love this picture a lot. During the ROM reception, my best friend assisted me on every single thing - made sure that my make up is in place, that I had water to drink, and calmed me down significantly for the day. I am totally overwhelmed with gratitude with a best friend like her, and I know she is always there for me. Thank you Jaze. You hold a special place in my heart.

The SS "So Fancy" collection was the perfect choice of papers for my photo with my best friend. 

It is a fabulous journey as a friend with her. We knew each other during Polytechnic years, and our acquaintance blossomed into friendship. Over the years, it stayed true. We bicker (jokingly) all the time and we are never sick of it.

In this layout, I wanted to show the kind of happy resilience friendship that we have. Therefore, I placed huge arrows as the background, and having smaller ones below to counter the top. That tells me much about the friendship we have!

It is easy to decorate the layout with the Simple Stories "So Fancy" collection. Everything managed to flow in place and fixing this layout was probably another easiest one. You can see that I did manage quite a bit of fussy cutting, and it is also one of the reasons why I love SS papers. It really allows me to enjoy the crafting as it is meant to be. Fussy cutting is not only therapeutic, it also helps me to create different layouts of the bits and pieces to form a new type of embellishment.

Hope you have enjoyed this layout and that it inspires you to create with Simple Stories.

Do drop by my instagram as well for more crafty ideas! :)

For my chinese friends, have a prosperous chinese new year! 

Maya Road: CHA2016

With CHA2016 just over, I would like to reminisce the projects and new additions for this year. CHA has always been a big craft event for paper crafters all over the world, and this year, I am excited to be in the midst of this huge event *remotely* Ha!

I am in love, all over again and again, and especially with the new products from Maya Road. Amazing products! I am so lucky to be designing for Maya Road where the products are always staple in my scrapbooking needs! 

This year, I have been super pampered by Maya Road with their new products and made some projects for CHA showcase. With so many goodies, I was not even sure where to start with! This journey is bringing me to places I have never expected and I am enjoying this journey so much!

1. Maya Road CHA2016 Projects

Credits: Maya Road

Showcasing some of the lovely projects at CHA2016!

Maya Road CHA2016 Projects!
Roadies, check out some of our fun projects (this time in high res) in our booth! We hope you love the samples as much as we do! #CHA2016
Posted by Maya Road on Sunday, January 10, 2016

2. Maya Road CHA2016 - Double Star Stitched Album

I love to stitch, this fact is not much of a secret actually. For my MR CHA2016 projects, I have stitched up 2 albums and 1 wreath.

The first album - I decided to make a chunky album with a double star stitch which I have came up with. I enjoy the depth of album to incorporate more pop ups in each page, as well as more MR elements to showcase the photos. I love how easy it is to make an album each time with Maya Road Chipboard Albums, it is one of the items which I cannot do without! 

I love the double star stitching on this album. There are total of 8 double stars forming up the spine of the album. The resin centers help to divide the 8 double stars and add focus to the spine. I have also used MR glitter tape - diamond for the construction of the album spine.

2. Maya Road CHA2016 - Star Stitched Album

For this second one, I have incorporated Double Coptic Binding and Altered Star Hemp Leaf Binding in one project.

There is always so much room to decorate your pages with Maya Road chipboards / wood embellishments! I find it easy to change the color or add pattern paper to the embellishments to suit the theme.

3. Maya Road CHA2016 - Christmas Wreath

This is probably my first try with Wreaths, and boy did i have fun with it! Coiling the sewing rack with red cord is really therapeutic and fun! Here I have used the star, feather, Merry and Christmas die-cuts. (did you see the feather diecut below? *squeals*) Another new product that is really pretty is the shimmering pointed petals flower - they come in many colors and you can be sure to find many uses for it!

Although I am not there in person this year, I have consolidated some of my favorites! Viewing through all the pictures of CHA2016, I am so tempted to be there next year! :)

1. Maya Road Booth

Credits: Maya Road

Oh my gosh, look at all the goodies! 

Roadies, check out a quick peek at our booth. Come see us at 2406 for lots of fun products, make and takes and demos.
Posted by Maya Road on Friday, January 8, 2016

2. We love MR!

Credits: Julia Stainton

Oh yes! We love MR!

3. Maya Road Steel Dies

Credits: Julia Stainton

How can one not love these dies? I am in love with every single one of them! They are sturdy and cut materials very well. All of these dies are staples for our scrapbook or planner needs. Personally, it's also in my favorite color - teal!

4. Tassels

Credits: Julia Stainton

Must have! I love the array of colors available!

5. Wood Tokens

Credits: Julia Stainton

As you would have seen some of these on my CHA2016 projects, I feel that this is a must have!

With so many new and exciting products coming up along the way, this year is going to be full of inspirations and creations! Can't wait to see what the other MR Designers have in place as well! Need some ideas? Dont forget to check out MR FB page and MR DT blog for more inspirations!

Maya Road: We are Family LO

How is everyone's new year going? My direction in this year will be geared very much towards my newly formed family, and embarking on a journey as a wife to a lovely husband. There is much to be done, much to be documented. What will be your direction this year?

Today, I share on Maya Road Design Team Blog on a layout of my family. I am loving this picture very much. In this layout, I've chosen lighter shades to complement the photo.

Want to learn more? Do drop by the MR blog for more details!

I had fun making this layout! Hope it inspires you to document your journey in 2016 in a special way with Maya Road!

12x12 Layout: You and Me

A daily conversation, and a challenge emerged! :) It was a fun conversation with Aida and Jasmine some time back, and we decided to each do a layout:

Challenge: 12 x 12 layout, simple, 3 pattern papers, 1 cardstock, using diecuts and (my killer) NO paints!

Here's my take on it:

and here are some closeups:

I adopted a project life style in this LO. Kaisercraft made it very easy for me to adapt this style into my LO with easy to use paper elements! 

So what do you think? :) 

I had a lot of fun with this. The photos were during a random photo shoot which we bought from Groupon. It was hot, it was stuffy and we had to joke with each other to keep each other's spirits up under the hot, gruesome sun. But we were pleased with the effects of the photoshoot! 

Not only was I reminded of the happy times with my fiance, but I was also reminded of the early days where I just started scrapbooking. I have never looked back since then. I remembered having signed up for my first class in the MWL (in PS then) to learn about scrapbook and brought home 2 layouts which still lies in my album till now. I am reminded of the techniques and ideas shared during that time. Simple, clean and using a lot of papers. Nowadays we have much more variations of embellishments to choose from!

Check out Aida's and my take at MWL, from April onwards :)

Happy scrapping!

LO: Wings to Fly

Here I am again with another LO inspired by Scrap Around the World~ Yes, I am totally hooked to the challenges each month, because the mood board and designers always inspire me for some reason. 

This is the mood board for Feb Challenge 22 - Romantic

There are so many ways in this mood board which inspired me to create this layout. The first thing that came to my mind was the swing. Some time ago, my bf and I decided to have some photoshoot taken. There was this photo of me lying on his shoulder on the swing. In many ways, like my previous post, my bf is also my best friend. He never forces me to any decision I make, but always encourages me to live by my decisions and then supports me in every possible way. When I took up scrapbooking and started to be teaching in the LSS, he knew I would spend lesser time with him but he still supported me in my decision anyway. In fact, he would sometimes help me with my class material preparations when the class volume is overwhelming. No matter how rocky the waters were, I know he is there for me. His support gives me the courage to walk on, and the wings to fly.

So I created this layout with a hidden message behind the photo. I rarely write any sentiments for my layout but this was an exceptional feeling that I wanted to document. 

In this layout, I used the Maya road butterfly stencil to create the background (using crackle textured paste and Prima mists) Then I layered with some Prima flowers and Maya Road chipboard embellishments. Next, added a stamp on the right end to balance this layout. For the title element, I chose to use some air dry clay to create a frame and highlighted the word "Wings" by adding transparency behind the word. Lastly, for I added in some butterflies (air dry clay again) to complement the enormous amount of flowers I have used.

Hope you have enjoyed this layout, and do pop over Scrap Around the World blog for exciting challenges each month and DT reveals (twice a month). 

LO: Timeless Journey

It really had been a while since my last layout. But I had to give it a go when I saw this extremely gorgeous and motivational mood board from Scrap Around The World here and here.

This is the mood board which had inspired and sparked off the layout:

To me. the mood board spelt something about my relationship of 8 years. In this relationship, we held hands and we let each other have the space as well. This is the key to our 8 years (& more) of being together. Hence, the mood board really sent a spark to me, with the clock signifying our time together, and the key + quote referring to how our relationship works.

In addition, I have used the frame and color of the rose as my theme, hence creating this: Timeless Journey

Some closeups of the layout:

Well, I noticed something really funny when I was doing this layout. Although I am a great lover of pastel colors, I realized that I do not own a pink mist amidst my huge collection of mists. Oh my, this must really mean more shopping to do! So to change things a bit, I decided to mix my texture paste with my light pastel pink paint (which happens to be 1 among the huge collection of the different variations of pink that I have) for the polka dot stencil, then followed by another harsher shade of peach pink using a water splash stencil. Then, I added some mint green with water and applied it to some portions of the layout to create a little contrast. Of course I just had to use some pearl mists (gives the background a little shimmer but can't be seen on pictures unfortunately) to finish up the back ground. Then comes the layering and it was fun looking through my stash collection. So according to the challenge, I applied elements which were related (like the clock above my title timeless)

So do drop by Scrap Around the World and get ready to be inspired by the talented DTs. I promise you that they are amazing! :)