Toread - Legendary Tiny Nymph Toread

Got a day off work today!! Woo-Hoo!

I did mention in my last post that I will share some of my Xmas cards this year. I bought these decoupage papers probably...... 4 years ago in Taiwan. As they are so so SO cute, I kind of want to keep them as they are and have the urge to keep them to myself and not wanting to share them. Since they are in my possession for 4 years now, I thought it was a bit silly just to keep them in the drawer and it is about time that I make good use of them and turn them into pretty cards. These cute nymph like creatures are made by Toread Co., Ltd. from The Netherlands. You can purchase them from http://www.jalekro.com/ or if you search under "Toread decoupage" I am sure you will be able to find an online shop that sells these.

Alright, I shall not keep you waiting any longer. Here are the cards I made this year by using the Toread decoupage papers. Sadly none of these cards are with me any more, as they appear to be quite popular and I sold them all!! (I should be happy that they all found good homes!)

  This is Poya

This is Comge

This is Happy

This is Flora

Comge again

And my favourite Kissmas card - Happy and Flora 

Luckily I still have a couple of Toread Xmas sheets left and loads of none Xmas Toread decoupage sheets. I am sure I will use them to make cards again (when I can stand the separation! ).

Have a great day!

Abracadabra~

Hi, It has been a long time since I last blogged. Although there is little movement on my blog world, I have not stopped. I have been busy making Christmas cards to sell and to fulfil my Christmas card orders. Now, I start to think "When can I start to make MY Christmas cards for my own family and friends?!" Well, I am sure I will somehow fit this in my busy life.

I thought I would share this magic colour card with you today. (This is what I call it, if anyone knows a proper name for it, let me know!) I saw this technique in children's story books before, but never thought of applying them to cards until I received a birthday card from my friend Erin this year. She made me an amazing card by using this technique. I loved it so much and I just had to recreate it. (Sorry Erin, I had to take your card apart to reveal the secret!) So here it is, a birthday card for my mum with the same technique. The front of the card shows just the outline of Tilda which was stamped on clear acetate. I used mainly reds, oranges, yellows and gold to reflect the autumn theme.

And here is the picture of the card pulled half way which begins to reveal the message and colour.

Finally, here is the picture when the card is fully pulled out to show Tilda in full colour.

Isn't this amazing? Very magical! 

When my mum received the card, she couldn't resist to show all her friends. Apparently, they all gathered around their patch work table to study and discuss how the card was made. I hope you like this card too. 

Thanks for stopping by and I shall share some of my Christmas cards with you soon. Have a good Sunday

Frothy Beer

After receiving the Big Shot as my birthday present, I bought my first ever Nellie Snellen Multi Frame Die (MFD0005). Gosh! Now I know what I missed before I had Big Shot! These dies cut intricate and beautiful frames. I spent a while experimenting with them.

I made this card for my dad's birthday. Just had to use one of the die cutting frames for this card. When it comes to cards for men, it is always a struggle. I thought, since I used my faviourite beads and wires to make a bottle and a glass last time, maybe I would try to use beads and wires again to make a frothy mug of beer.

So how did I do with this beer? It took few goes for my husband to finally guess it but my daughter immediately said it is a mug with bubbles coming out at the top. (Well, I guess for a seven year old she doesn't know her drinks yet!! Hee hee!) I think it is not too bad for a first attempt!

Anyway, Happy Birthday Dad! I know this card is late but my warm wishes to you are bigger than ever. Hope you had a great and enjoyable day. Love ya!

A birthday card and a new birthday toy

Sorry that I have not posted lately. I decided to give myself a little break as it is my birthday this month!!

First, I will share a birthday card with you. I made this for my colleague's birthday. With all the pinks and reds, you can say it is a very girly card alright!

My friend, who is into patch work, gave me a bag full of material samples. These fabrics are fantastic. They come pre-cut in little squares and contain all sorts of colours and patterns that you can think of. I think they are just the right size for card making. For this card, I stuck 3 fabric squares on the left hand side. This will give some texture to the card and also compliments the dress stamp image. I also used metalic gold thread to add a few simple stiches on the tag.

Birthday greeting message is stamped on vellum and then attached by tiny eyelets. I also used gold wire to make a small hanger for the dress. Here is another photo for a closer look.

I think the card is full of details and textures. I do like it!

Now for the big news.... (well, to me it is a big one!) I finally got my black and pink Big Shot as my birthday present! Woo Hoo!  

My lovely husband decided to buy this wonderful present for me this year. I started with the small Sizzix Tagalong machine and loved it. But as time went on, all I could see is more and more fancy and brilliant large dies, embossing folders in the market but I just couldn't use these in my small die cutting machine. So I wished and wished that one day someone will buy me one as a gift and here it is. My own Big Shot! (Thank you darling!!)  I know many of you already have one (I am a bit late on this huh?!) but at this moment I am just so excited!! Particularlly we had to wait nearly 4 weeks before our order arrived! Gosh! Can't wait to use embossing folders and dies like Nestability. Well, now I just need someone to buy me those for gifts!! Hee hee!

Another photo of MY cute Big Shot. Just loving it, even before I play with it! ^_^

Oh~ by the way, if any new crafters out there are interested in the small Tagalong die cutting maching by Sizzix, please do email me. Mine is for sale. (Will go on eaby sometime too.) It is a great starter machine for anyone who is new to crafting or wants to have a go at die cutting but does not want to splash out on an expensive machine.

Hope you had a great weekend~

Cheers!

Here is a card I made for my brother-in-law. I used beads and wires to create this wine bottle and glass embellishment. I love beads and wires!!

I am entering this card for the following 2 challenges:

The Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC43: Lime greens, lighter shades of blue and greens
I like this colour combination. Very refreshing!

Papertake Weekly Challenge Sketch #46: This sketch is very simple and clean.

I used handmade paper this time as I like the feathering effect from the paper fibre. I also added some gems  and glitters above the glass. Just to give the card some shine! 

Really like this male card! And Happy Birthday Marvin!   Have a great day tomorrow!

Happy 3rd birthday!

Where has the time gone?! My friend's little boy is now 3 years old. I can't believe that!

Since I made my last card, I fell in love with the colour combination which was on The Play Date Cafe challenge 42: dark brown, green and beige. Hence, I thought I will use these colours again and made this card.

I also used this George stamp image from Elzybells again. All boys like dinosaurs right? (Dragons = Dinosaurs???) I have also used the sketch from Friday Sketchers #115:

And yes, I am slightly late for posting this to be able to enter the challenge. Hey! But never mind, it is the fun I had making this card that's most important. Do you like my shining shield?! Here is a closer look at it:

I really enjoyed making this card. Particularly, I quite like my shield and the oldy font I chose for personalising this card.

Have a nice day!

Blog Candy from Pink Gem

Hello! Yes I am off work today hence a post in the morning. Woo-Hoo!

Just want to say Janet is giving away some blog candy on Pink Gem Blog. It contains:

ProMarker Pen Set 'Garden Design'
'Lenny Lion' stamp from Pink Gem Designs

'Peek-a-Boo Marvin' stamp from Pink Gen Designs

I use Copic markers but never use ProMarkers before. However, I wouldn't mind winning them and try them out!!

One card, two challenges

I made this card last Friday for my neighbour's little boy's 6th birthday. All kids had a great time at the Hollywood Bowl playing two games of bowling!

                 

This is the first time I used this George stamp from Elzybells. Sadly Elzybells is closing down and all their stamps are 50% off. Unfortunately George is now out of stock. But if you like their stamps, you better be quick. As you need to get them while you can!

OK, back to the card. I used water colour pencils to colour in the stamped image. All background papers and border are from Cardmaking and Papercraft's free summer paper and docraft's Daisy & Dandelion Picnic Patch collection. Here is a closer look of the image:

I am entering this card for Cardmaking and Papercraft's Sketch Challenge. The sketch is quite easy to follow and I like it.

I am also entering The Play Date Cafe Challenge 42 by using the colour combination of dark brown, green and beige. I have to say for a million years I would never use these colours together. Now I made this card and I think I am starting to like these colours together. Quite masculine, great to use on men's cards!

It's getting really late now. Better get off to bed. Sweet dreams!

Happy Father's Day , Dad!

It's Father's Day today in Taiwan. I made this card for my dad nearly a week ago and I hope it has arrived on time by airmail!!

I am sure you all agree that it is difficult to make men's cards. For a few days I couldn't make my mind up as to which image or style I should make. In the end, I decided to use a few of my daughters recent photos to make the card. Since my dad hasn't seen them for three years, I am sure he will appreciate the card! This is the first time I have used photos on a card. I quite like it! These are the strawberries which we grew in our garden this summer. It was quite lucky that I found this brown backing paper in my card stash. The lime green boarder and 2 large strawberries just coordinate with the photos so well!

I had to make this card into an easel card. It is one of those cards that should be displayed on the mantlepiece. Hee hee! Here is another photo from the side. The strawberry boarder at the bottom is quite cute too.

I used peel offs for the greetings and added green coloured gems along the lime green boarder.

This time I thought I will try acetate for the card. I used white coloured ink to stamp the swirl image and I've also used white colour ink to stamp 3 stars and placed peel off alphabets in each star that reads Dad. I think acetate always gives the card another dimension
. 

Hope dad will like this card and I am sure mum will find a place to display it somewhere in the house proudly!!

Happy Father's Day, Dad! Hope you have a wonderful day!

Love,

Suspension Card

It's been a short while since my last post. I have met two of my high school friends in Cambridge last Saturday. We had such a great time. It has been a good 10 to 15 years since I last saw them! WOW! Time flies and looking back at it, it's kind of scary!

I have been busy making cards over the last few days and now all I need is to find the time to post them! So I will start with a quick and short post today.

I made this card for my neighbour's little boy's third birthday last week. On the most recent August issue of Quick Cards magazine, it has featured a suspension card under their Card School project. It has been a while since I last made a suspension card, so I thought I will give it another go. 

The stamped image of Bentley Bear blowing candles is from a free stamp set which came with Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine. Text and number have been stamped by using Stampendous - a la Mode lower case alphabet set.

I just love the movable element , with its spinning centre, on a suspension card. It's fun, it spins and it's eye-catching! Here is a picture of the greeting on the other side. 

It certainly impressed my neighbour and her little boy!

Smiles,