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 DT: Single Coptic Stitch with name - Mini Album

Hi crafters! It's me today sharing my mini album as Made With Love DT and I had so much fun with stitching this time round!

I wanted to personalize the album for my friends. My best friends. There are so many albums I want to document our friendship so I reckon that an album with a named spine might be useful. Think of how they look if you create a few albums and put them side by side on the book shelf?

This form of sewing uses the single coptic stitch. There is so many possibilities with one form of sewing, and I am happy to be expanding the stitches to create the spine I want.

This mini album took me 2 hours to sew and another half hour for decoration. I have to say that the sewing time was long, but definitely worth my efforts! Here's a look into the album.

Sewing cultivates my patience. Really it does. There are so many ways to make the sewing process a lot easier, but nothing can make the perfect sewing except if you are patient enough to go through each and every step with accuracy. One wrong step at the initial stage, and you could go hay wired in the next steps to come. With every practice, the stitching becomes easier, and there would be less room for errors. There is no short cut in sewing, and as the saying goes, practice makes perfect.

I can't say this enough. Each binding is unique to the receiver. I can create different types of binding to suit the occasion, and I can alter the stitches to make it work for me. That is why I keep binding. This is also why it intrigues me every time when I see a particular pattern I want to add to my album. Or maybe I see an apple on the table, and the next thing I know, I would pick up my pencil to draft the sewing pattern on my notebook. (okay, maybe not apple, but you get the point.) 

I like this kind of challenge. It spurs me to think of new ways to showcase my albums. It pushes me to be more patient with every mistake I make (yes, I tend to re-do the entire album until I get it right.) But that's how we learn right?

Look forward to my book binding classes! There is something new which you can pick up to customize your own album!

All materials used for this project are available at Made With Love. Don't forget to also look out for more book binding projects / classes available only with Made With Love. 

Thanks for dropping by my blog today! 

Box Card with Xyron

Hello crafters! Today I am sharing a box card which I have done recently. There is so much fun going on at my craft table with all the small bits of details! Now, with my Xyron in place, adhering small / intricate diecuts are easy!

Here's the box card which I have created:

I like box cards! It can be flattened to mail for your intended recipient as well! It is such an amazing gift to receive! I arranged the elements such that it is also balanced when closed. 

There are so many small elements in this project. Xyron just makes life easier (and fun)! No mess, no fuss. Just drop your diecuts to the Xyron and pull the tab. Viola! You get a full backed adhesive to those hard to glue die-cuts! Perfect adhesion at all times. I used my Xyron for the envelopes, hearts and alphabets die-cut in this project. Life-saver! 

Hope you like the box card I have done, and find some inspiration for your next card project! :)

For those who are looking for the Xyron, you will be able to find them in Made With Love very soon! Dies used in this project are from Made With Love. 

Thanks for dropping by my blog today! 

Single Coptic Stitch with Names Album

Hi crafters! I had 2 weeks off this week from work after hospitalization, and today marks the last day of the leave. I am feeling much better now, and I actually can't wait to pop back to work.

Recently, an old friend from facebook asked if I could make an album for her, for her nephew's upcoming wedding. Of course I said yes! Sewing makes me happy, and I can't wait to sew more albums.

Here is the completed 8.5" album. It houses 16 pages, good for a guest book or wedding album for the couple.

The entire stitching took me the entire night to complete. Piercing through the chipboard pages was tough, but as I sewed through the rows, I totally forgot about it and focused on the stitching. I love customized albums! They are special in their own ways, and can suit the occasion of choice. 

As an add on, I also did the cover page. Since the wedding theme was garden, I decided to use the flowers, leaves and birdcage as the main embellishments. 

I didn't paste this to the cover, just in case the couple would like to add on their photo on the main cover. It is also versatile for the couple to place the decorated piece as per their preference.

Hope the wedding couple would like it and here's wishing the couple a blissful and happy marriage life! :)

Like what you see and would like an album of such? Contact me for more details! :)

 Visit my pages!