Grandparent's Brag Book

We went back to Cedar Rapids, Iowa (my husband's home town) last summer for a family gathering, I took a bunch of photos of the grandchildren of my sister-in-law Marilyn, it was all planned for this mini album for her......

Grandparent's Brag Book 

**warning - lots of photos**

Amelia had so much fun with the water, a perfect summer afternoon for a happy girl 

Do you recognize some of the items I used on this page for Amelia?

Yes, the vintage sheet music, rose ribbon and wings are all from Pixie January Kit "My Funky Valentine", I don't know how many of my project used this rose ribbon, and I can't even finish what I had in the kit, it is like endless supply....

I leave some space so Marilyn could write some notes on the page....

their latest addition, Abigail, who was just born in November, 2010

I used some tiny bits from my "scrap bowl" for this page.....

like the lace border and the semi-circle tab, they were just things I made for other project but did not turn out the way I want, so I just throw them in a bowl........ they finally put into good use!

Do you have a scrap bowl, or jar, or box too?

And some more punched borders here too, boy oh boy, no wonder my scrap bowl is so full,

because I keep about anything and everything....

A page for the family, Abigail was still in the tummy in this picture

back of the album

whew..... are you still here? 

So hard to show a mini album without that many pictures.....

And this is going to the challenge over at

If  The Shoe Fits..... Scrap it!

I've  played there a few times, and this week so happened to be "Anything goes, except cards"

Thanks for staying........ : )

Project Christmas 2011 ~ card 5

I am so glad that I get my card #5 for christmas 2011, thanks to 
JINGLE BELLES


One card a week, stick to it and you'll have 52 cards by end of the year, how cool is that!


week 5 is a fun sketch from Amy Tsuruta

isn't that fun?


Here's my take.....

Counting down to December 25th....

If you want to get ahead of your christmas project, why don't you hop over to Jingle Belles and join the fun!!!

LINK - Jingle Belles

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Few days ago, I got this award from my dear blog buddy - Stella

Thank you Stella, for always thinking of me, you are a sweet, loving friend yourself, thanks for always making time to visit me and leave sweet comments, I am so blessed to have a blog buddy like you!


And I am passing on this to all you lovely, crafty ladies out there, thanks for your encouraging words, this is what keep this little blog going.... thanks my bloggie friends.....

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Pixie Dust Paperie is having a GIVEAWAY
want to win this?

and this?

Click HERE to enter the GIVEAWAY!

A sister is someone you grow up with.....

This layout is made using the sketch over at

Creative Scrappers

Sketch # 140

I did some doodling on the layered flip hearts

these blooms are one of my favorite from Pixie January Kit "My Funky Valentine"

the chipboard letters are also from Pixie January Kit

this photo of Clare and Dolce was taken in 2004, at the Heshey's Chocolate World, Pennsylvania 

I didn't plan to use the MS butterfly punch this way, but oh well.....

sometimes the project just didn't turn out the way you had in your head right?

Thanks for stopping by today and thanks for your care and concern, I am feeling so much better today, ready to go out and have some fun!!!!

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Click HERE to link to my GIVEAWAY post

Le Louvre

Le Louvre, Paris 2008

This is for the challenge over at

Scrapbookers Anonymous

January Challenge is to use 17 buttons on one layout

One...... and it is my favorite one

because I top another button to make the the flower center, that makes two.....

three, four......

I just love these buttons, they served like bling to me.... 

five.....

only thing is that I have no better way to glue them except the hot glue, where I sometimes leave this gluey mess.....

six......

on that tag in that little pocket

and here are the rest....... 17 total!!!

Supplies:

Paper - Pixie Dust Paperie January Kit "MY FUNKY VALENTINE"

Journaling spot: Maya Road kraft journaling tag 

Crinkled Ribbon 

Stamps and buttons : PTI

Learning something everyday

I listened to the kind advice from my dear blog friend Sylvia - plenty of water, fruits and rest, and I can already tell I am making some improvement today, thanks Sylvia!!!

If you remember I had a 500 cards project days before Christmas, well, it is my biggest order, and it is an important one, as the card I made actually went to some high government officials back home in Singapore, including our Prime Minister, so it is THE order that I pretty much love to have even though I do not enjoy making 500 of the same thing.

Here's the story -

The order came in on a Thursday night, I accepted it almost immediately and need to make as many sample cards as possible in an hour or two, I put away all things and whipped up 7 cards, I am showing a few. When I made those sample, I told myself, I need to make something that I am able to find supplies easily, it is Christmas weekend and I only have 3 days for this project,  it needs to be flat with no heavy bulky embellishment.

 here's card # 1

card # 2

card # 3

card # 4

card # 5

not showing # 6 and 7 as I don't even like them myself

Realizing I made some mistakes on the sample by using the color RED as it is not suitable for that particular event.

The buyer pick the first card but want a different color, no red, no pink.

I then made card # 1 with blue

but they requested blue dots on cream base and cream card, so this was followed ...

ok, they accepted so I got the job.

I started immediately, and not long after that, I learn my mistake!!!

This card has a stamped background, when I made the sample, I am thinking if I have a stamped background, I do not have to worry about supplies, 500 cards, boy, I won't be able to get it done over the christmas weekend and sent out my order on Monday, which is the deadline for this project. I basically have 3 days to work on 500 cards. Little that I know this stamped background is a stupid choice of mine.

Now, the polka dots are clear stamp image, I need to stamp 5 times (2 rows of dots each time) to get one card done, 5x500, I need to go over the same action 2500 times to get it done, and this is not counting if I make mistake on one row and had to start all over on a new piece of paper. 

ok, I am using this the dew drop ink pad in blue

on this clear stamp from PTI (the 5th one from the top)

can you imagine how many time I have to dapped that tiny ink pad onto the clear stamp to get 2 rows of dots? I can't even tell, my fingers all end up sored after I don't know card # WHAT?

Anyway, what i am trying to say here is, when I know it is a 500 cards project, I should not provide a sample that needs that much work, especially it is a job need to be done in 3 days! ok, I learn that lesson after 500 cards (552 to be exact because I picked out 52 cards that I wasn't happy with, and make another 52 to make up the number.

My sewing machine actually broke along the way, so that is one thing I won't use on a 500 cards project too!

We all learn something everyday don't we?

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I hope I have something NEW to share tomorrow, but for now, you might want to hop over to

City Crafter Challenge Blog

for our new challenge 

or 

Join the Pixie January Sketch Challenge

here's the sketch

and click HERE to find out more