MWL DT: LO | LOL

Hello hello! I am posting as Made With Love DT today, sharing a stitched layout this time. It was Father's day yesterday, so today's post is really dedicated to my hero. Happy Father's Day, daddy! You are always my hero and first love *kisses*

When I started out this layout, I knew I wanted it to be in a geometrics theme. My dad is an engineer, he is also the one who had inspired me to be one. So when I laid eyes on Paige Evans' Pink Paislee Pick Me Up collection, I immediately got inspired by one of the papers.

Pink Paislee - Paige Evans - Pick Me Up Collection

What do you see from this paper? I literally saw diamonds jumping at me! So I took out my trusty scissors and immediately cut those shapes up, knowing they would well fit onto my layout. In addition, I did have them matted onto another pattern paper in the same collection just to give it a boost of contrast on the layout.

Oh, but I really had to add some more texture to the entire layout. Of course there had to be stitching! I decided to use another geometric design as the background, hence deciding to fill it up with a hexagonal/diamond pattern. Adding stitches adds a whole new dimension of texture and outlook to the entire layout, so I really love to add these stitches to my layouts.

Journal on your layouts! This is such an important part of layouts, but most commonly neglected. Most are afraid to write, but documenting memories really means recording the thoughts of the photo or layout. I use my trusted WRMK typecast for my journal purposes. It can take in 12" papers, and that is one big bonus for scrappers! In this case, I chose to cut them out in strips and adhered them with adhesive foam.

The title meant a lot to me. While acronyms are part of our lives, my father is trying to decipher the acronyms that commonly arise during our Whatsapp conversations. While the official meaning of LOL is "laugh out loud", my father really thinks otherwise. On one occasion, he asked what is the meaning of LOL, and he thought it was "lots of love"! Creative for sure! That is how LOL got its new definition and definitely something special between my dad and I.

To create the alphabets, I turned to my WRMK Mini Alphabet Punch! It provides me with easy access to title making, and also covers a good area on my layout, making it prominent.

I must say, I am really a fan of fussy cutting. I added dimensions on the diamonds with smaller diamond/triangle pieces from the same pattern paper. As the word fussy suggests, cutting papers in rough fashion, so there is really no stress about it. Trust me, even if there was an over-cut in the paper, no one will notice! That is really the beauty of scrapbooking!

Another element I love to add are vellum. They are translucent, so they create a whole new detail without over emphasis. To adhere, simply use glossy accents where the glue dries clear so the glue stains will not be apparent.

Nowadays, we are also lucky to be able to use foil and glitter paper onto our layouts! That little bit goes a long way, and it helps to highlight the details on our layouts!

Finally to complete the layout, I added some clear and blue dew drops. They fill up the empty spaces without over cluttering - that's why they are my favorite! (And I really must add, MWL has just recently stocked many different colors of dew drops!)

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there! Hope you have enjoyed the walk through of this layout! You can learn more about stitching on layouts at Made With Love, we have a new workshop "Stitch and Sew" coming right up in July!

Materials used are available at Made With Love.

Made With Love B2-08, 313 Somerset, Orchard Road Tel : 67337630 Facebook |  Instagram

Supplies Used:

Pink Paislee - Paige Evans -
Pick Me Up Collection

WRMK Typecast

WRMK Mini Alphabet Punch

The Robin's Nest Dew Drops

Sizzix: Gift Box | Smile

Back on the blog today sharing a gift box I made recently using Sizzix UK #662542 Amour thinlits die by Sophie Guilar.

I always find myself looking at dies in different ways. I guess it is the engineering aspect in me which prevails. I like the variety of ways to use 1 thing, and that keeps me going.

This time, I built a gift box instead. Great to have in handy, and simple to build. Most importantly, it also has the touch of elegance!

This envelope header die cuts the most elegant flourishes ever. How can one not fall in love with it?

I hope this gives you an idea of what you can make with this die. To me, it is not only an envelope die, but can also be used as a gift box flap or an album cover.

Do check out the Sizzix UK blog and instagram for more ideas! While you are at IG, also check out #mymakingstory for even more inspirations!

Sizzix Supplies Used:

MWL DT: Album | Dream & Explore

Hi everyone! How has March been for you? I am feeling refreshed after a week long holiday with my family, and now catching up with my work. Before I went on this holiday, I thought of making an album for my parents as we rarely get to go on a trip together.

I wanted to house as many photos as it could in one album, and I was right to think of that - we took over 1500 photos in this trip! Gosh, thank God we are living in a digital era. Films would have been expensive!

After some experimentation, I made some adjustments so a pivot swivel card could be used in an album format. What do I mean? Well, I will be getting to that soon.

Here is the album I have made as Made With Love DT - a paradise and travel themed album using Kaisercraft Havana Nights Collection. This collection is gorgeous! Not only does it have the bright elements, it also has the geometrics to match up!

Now let's flip the pages! I am always intrigued with albums with some moveable elements, and this pivot swivel mechanism was the fun thing to make! As the pages open, it unfolds a series of pop up page in a swivel motion.

There you go! Each page consists of this special swivel element, and I bet my parents will not only be thrilled to see the photos but also play around with the album!

Here is another page with the same construction. I left enough space for some journalling, and still debating if I should add more photos!

Materials used are available at Made With Love.

Made With Love B2-08, 313 Somerset, Orchard Road Tel : 67337630 Facebook |  Instagram

Thanks for joining me today and hope you have enjoyed the walk through for this project! Time to get your hands working for a travel album! 

MWL DT: 5 Questions (and a hand stitched wedding album!)

Hi everyone! I am joining alongside with the other Made with Love design team members who will be answering 5 questions for our DT posts. This marks a special edition and hope you get to know us better!

For first, I would like to share a recent project I have done. I believe in simplicity- so cardstocks, some simple/basic pattern paper and diecuts aid the creating process in most of my works. 

Here is my recent work:

In this 8.25" album, I used primarily cardstocks for the album cover and spine. The navy blue cardstock really helps to enhance the stitching. Here I used single coptic method to stitch the names. Since I was going to use the Sizzix Plus Ampersand die set on the front cover, I decided to use a smaller N in the stitching. The front and back covers were embossed by the Sizzix Plus Embossing Folders - Botanical Swirls. Embossing is a beautiful method. It gives texture and yet not too much detail. It is just enough for other decorations to take place above it! 

Here is a closer look at the front cover:

Using the Big Shot Plus machine really expands my possiblities of crafting and book binding! Want to know more about the Big Shot Plus? Be sure to make a trip down to Made with Love and the friendly staffs will be able to show you a demo.

All products used are available in Made With Love.

Ok, now its time for the 5 Questions (and 5 answers) :

1) Who am I ?

This year marks a new beginning to my life. I am a new wife to my dear husband, who is super supportive of my other love life - paper crafts and book binding. I began book binding as little as age of 5, but concentrated on it more during my teenage years (up till now and beyond!). It was by chance I got to pick up scrapbooking 10 years ago, and I never looked back since. It has been a wonderful journey merging 2 things I love in my projects. Currently, I am on a few design teams - Made With Love, Simple Stories and Maya Road. I am also an instructor at Made With Love alongside with the creative brains. 

2) What is my creative style ?

I was known to many for my browns and vintage style in the earlier days. Throughout the journey, my style has changed towards brighter tones. I really like the changes along this journey, it helps me explore more into the creative process and experience different moods. Embrace the changes! It is fun to look through the past works and see how different your style will change! Afterall the creative process is one filled with joy and experience!

3) What inspires me ?

Everything. I like to stare at building structures, artwork of posters or a stitching design on a sweater. They give me the inspiration I need. It can be in the form of structure on a layout or a stitching pattern I use on my books.

4 What I love about being Singaporean ?

The harmony of different races living in one country. This is especially special for me since I have travelled to countries. Because of the racial harmony, there is also a well balanced spread of food choices in the food courts! Oh well, where else can one find such a spread of food just in one place? I am super proud to be a Singaporean!

5) What do I wish for ?

Health. For my family and for my friends. There is nothing more important than health. With good health, everything else is possible.

There you go! Hope you got to know a bit more about me. Do stay tuned to the DTs who will be sharing their answers to the 5 questions too!

MWL Workshops: Documented Journey (Sept 2016 ~)

Hello! Time just wheezes past fast, isn't it? We are now in the month of September, and I am holding a new book binding workshop at Made With Love! Learn how to make full use of your tools and die cuts to bind!

Description: Long stitch binding has always been a pretty and well used stitch in book binding. This time, we will make use of templates to help construct this journal and sew! Work together with embossing techniques to showcase a faux metal look to complete the journal in style! Come join Stacy in a fun packed class to make this journal and document your most precious memories!

Techniques Learnt: Long Stitch Binding, Journal Construction, embossing

More details of the class time slots are below. Do take note that there are limited classes and kits available. Don't miss out! 

MWL Workshops: Cross my Heart (Aug 2016 ~)

Yes, I am up with another binding! This time round, I am using cross stitch to construct this album, sure to make your receivers go "wow!"

Class schedules are already up on Made With Love FB page, do check it out or pop over the store to see the class sample today!

Description: Who doesn't love a beautifully stitched named album? Color your love with a chunky album filled with loads of pop ups for that special occasion! This time, we will construct and stitch this sturdy album in 4 different colors!

Techniques Learnt: Cross Stitch Binding, Album construction, spine construction

Looking forward to seeing you at Made With Love! Limited classes and kits available. Don't miss out! Check out MWL facebook page for more details!

MWL Workshops: Wedding Album (July - August 2016) & Chunky Star Album (Last Call!)

Exciting! This month, Aida and I are collaborating on a wedding series for you! Here at Made With Love, we are inspired by theme Wedding!

In Singapore, most couples like to get married in September. This is a hot wedding season, since it coincides with the 8th month of the lunar calendar. For the Chinese, the 8th month is an auspicious month. So we thought, why not come up with a wedding series?

While Aida is working on the wedding ang bao box, I am working on the wedding album to complete the theme! Want to know more about what Aida is making? Go check out Made With Love page for more details!

Here is my wedding album:

Sized at 8x10", this is one album which packs a punch! Check out the samples at Made With Love today!

Here is the reason why we got so inspired with the wedding theme. Recently, Aida was very kind to help me with my wedding box for my traditional wedding. Boy it took my breath away! Both hubs and I were over the moon with it! Here's a look at the wedding box she had made for me for my wedding:

Gorgeous! I am so in love with it! Yes, and this was what sparked off our wedding series idea!

On another note, I will be having 1 last class for Chunky Star Album in august 2016 due to some requests for additional class slots! Thank you so much for your love! I enjoyed this workshop very much. There is only very limited kits left! 

This had been an inspiring and creative season of love! Looking forward to seeing you at Made With Love! Limited classes and kits available. Don't miss out! Check out MWL facebook page for more details!

MWL DT: Hungarian Braided Chain Stitch Album

Hi everyone! Time passes really fast and I am back with another book binding project inspired by a die-set! Yes, I am amazed at this journey, how we get inspired by different elements and dies etc. I have often found myself inspired by the dies I see on the racks on Made With Love! I put this project together in about 3 hours and I also found myself trying out a new stitch again!

Project planning helps to save some time for the entire process. Before I started on this project, I pulled out some dies which I am using. I really like the mini album die by Sizziz - Lori Whitlock. There are so many elements in this pack so it was really sufficient to make an album with this pack. In addition, I picked out the Maya Road rolled flower and geometric leaf die to complement.

After the necessary die-cutting, I assembled the album together. I didn't make use of the holes in the die-cut, but I decided to add a spine with the existing score line. Honestly, this idea came about only after the pieces were cut out and I decided to go with the flow!

Here's a look at the album:

This stitch is known as the Hungarian Braided Chain Stitch. I use it as a book binding stitch as it gives an embossed looped outlook, and it is very pretty when done with a thick spine. I find that this stitch gives a "full" look to the spine and creates a good amount of interest.

The rolled flowers and leaves are such a gorgeous pair! 

The die set also includes the insert page die. Here, I've used various Simple Stories "You are Here" collection pattern papers for the insert pages. There are also numerous dies from the pack which I used randomly in the pages of this album.

Supplies used are available at Made With Love.

Do also check out Made With Love FB page for more book binding class schedules! :) 

Hope you enjoyed this album and have a creative filled month of May!

MWL Workshop - Lattice Binding [Feb 2016~]

" My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice." 

- Song of Solomon 2:9

Welcome February! Time really flies super fast and we are now in the month of love! This month is also a month of celebrations for the Chinese as we celebrate Chinese New Year!

Inspired by the word love this month, be it family love or valentine love, come join me in an all new Lattice Binding to showcase all the sweet, lovely photos in a simple-to-do album! 

Techniques Learnt: Album Construction, Spine Construction, Lattice Binding

I love how the stitching on the outside forms a lattice structure, while it swirls on the inside. The binding gives the spine a durable structure, yet at the same time more elegant than usual album spines. It is an answer to quick albums, and at the same time looking good! Don't we all like the easy way out? :p

Looking forward to seeing you at MWL, do remember to check out our facebook page for more class schedules and updates!