My last effort with the January DT kit, this page features another simple layout (I find I prefer the simpler layouts as at some point, my brain absolutely refuses to add anymore embellishments!). Anyways, the picture is of Alvin and me in the ferry that took us to Pulau Ketam. Its amazing how much I can scrap pics of Alvin: as if memories with him are the only ones worth scrapping (I know that's awful but I can't help it! We photograph so well together! hehe).
The Checklist, cut out fishies and the sudden turquoise splash of colour came from cardstock. I love the grungy twine and lace ribbon (which I deffo need to go buy more of!).
Like the seashell charms? RM4 a bag from your local haberdashery! :-D
I am so slow, I am still scrapbooking my Eurotrip 2012. I swear, I feel like I'll never finish but at the same time, it's such a nice memory I love re-living it over and over again.
This is a layout featuring the scrumptious tea serving at the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh: the most luxurious high tea in the city. And yet, I feel I've had better desserts here. But nonetheless, another place I can say: been there, done that! :-)
For this layout I used a My Mind's Eye cardstock from the Life Stories collection as well as these other bits and bobs:
- Cardstock from Graphic 45's Kraft Reflections stack
- liquid pearls
- Prima Tea thyme journaling card
- washi tape
- distress stickles in spun sugar
- regular stationary glitter glue
- lace and ribbon
- K and Company chipboard swirls
- labels die by Spellbinders
- EK Success floral border punch
Project Life is a huge thing in the US these days and is starting to take the crafting world by storm everywhere else. Conceptualised by Becky Higgins, it's a revolutionary way to scrapbook whether you are pressed for time or creativity. It allows you to scrap as quickly or as meticulously as you like using photos and journaling as the core focus. Check out the video before if you haven't already heard of PL.
Joining as Papier DT meant I had to partake of the Crop sessions and this month it was all about Project Life. At first, I was a little skeptical about the whole thing. It seemed like 'cheating' at scrapbooking but as a cardmaker, I soon found the sizing quite conducive to the styles I am accustomed to. I bought a mini album and card set usually meant for kids. I did wonder if the card set would be enough but I soon found I wasn't relying much on their designs at all and I was making most of it up as I went along. I completed one page during the crop and was so addicted, I came home and scrapped another 3 pages!
It was nice that the binder was small and hence less intimidating. Check out my layouts, done with photos from Alvin and my outing to Pulau Ketam on our yearly seafood 'pilgrimage' on Friday, 11 Jan 2013.
The album cover
page 1 done at Crop session. The black marks aren't actually on the layout. They're from photo-editing to protect my journal entry privacy. ;-)
Page 1 was very challenging! I also had no idea what to bring to the crop session so everything you see was purchased in store on that day. It was a lot of fun to challenge myself to conceptualise a layout and find the stuff I needed at that moment within the time allotted. It opened me to new scrapbooking elements like cardstock stickers and doily stamps. Two things I've previously always shied away from.
Page 2 focused more on the pictures: the Love graffiti and Alvin's pensive profile!
Page 3 is actually my least favourite. I don't work well with images of myself as I do with those I love (especially Alvin).
I felt page 4 turned out the best of all simply because the colour scheme was well planned and of course it featured a gorgeous photo of the two of us.
A few disclaimers before I begin this one: I cannot take credit for this idea: it's been done to death on Etsy and Youtube. But I did make some changes to suit the materials I had on hand! Second, yes, I get this isn't exactly papercrafting, but I reckoned you guys may be interested in a new craft project!
Now why in the world?
Yes! My lovely BFF got me a kindle as a birthday gift but I found the cover options available here too plain to be anything Diana Chai would be seen with. Ordering a cute cover online will take about 2-3 weeks so what's a girl to do til then? Well, turn to YouTube.
You'll find a myriad of ideas on Kindle covers so I thought, why not? A simple coverto tide me over til I can afford a fancy-pants one.
What will you need?
Well, a Kindle of course! (hehe...) - a hardcover book about the size of your Kindle. - scrap fabric in your chosen colour/design - foam (any kind! I used packing material foam that came in my Project Life binder!) - strong adhesive - elastic cords - sewing kit - optional: embellishments and washi tape
How to?
1. Cut out the pages neatly from the hardcover. This is usually quite simple when you've got one that's been sewn instead of glued to the cover.
2) Cut the foam into two identical pieces to fit at the front and the back cover. Here's where I messed up: make sure the foam is thin enough to enable your book to close once your Kindle is in it. Do test it before gluing everything down! Then cover both pieces with fabric. You can glue the back or tape it. It doesn't matter as long as it's secure. I tried to be clever and used decoupage gel (like Modge Podge) to adhere it and it was just messy and pointless.
3) Sew the elastic at the four corners of one square. This is to hold your Kindle in place. Do test the size as you don't want your device too snug.
4) Glue both pieces of fabric covered foam down onto the front and back cover.
5) Optional: I used washi tape on the spine both inside and out because I had somewhat mucked it up when I was cutting out the pages. I also made an elastic hold-all band with a felt flower. This was more to hold the book shut as I had, as mentioned before, used foam that was too thick.
Its great if you get it right. You won't have to buy an expensive cover only to find everyone else having the same. For me, it's merely temporary since I've not quite got it right. Good Luck!
The colours are gaudy but it's the only fabric I had on hand! :-S
all snugly
A Kindle Sandwich
The cute flower hides my ugly stitching on the elastic
I have just posted my first project on the Papier Love Blog as DT!
With the January DT kit, I made a clean and simple layout using a picture of my cousin Mel and his son William. The picture was just so full of happiness and life it went perfectly with the colours in the papers. It was definitely a quick project and extremely simple to do!
P.S. I've also got a mini Project Life binder and matching journalling cards! As soon as I can get some pictures printed, I will be embarking on my little PL journey! Stay tuned! (Psst! Yes, I will have to update a lot more often now! Oh the perils of being creative! hehe)
Hero Arts Cling stamps make great centrepieces. The card is complete with just that.
This dancing children stamp has always been a favourite but its crazy expensive over here. I finally caved and got it anyway as the store was having a 30% sale. Heat embossing seems to work great with these! The added dimension to the silhoutte gives it just that extra kick!
Then there's this gorgeous Christmas scene that's just so right for the holidays.
There's so many possibilities with these clingies. I love, love, love them! Hmmm, I sense a Hero Arts shopping spree coming up.
This card is very close to my heart because I made it for myself.
As a flower can't choose the circumstance of where it's been planted; in what kind of soil, in the company of what other kinds of plants or the availability of sunlight and water; people can't always choose the circumstances in which they find themselves in. Sometimes the people around them will hurt them, sometimes they find they haven't the tools or are in the wrong place doing the wrong thing. But they persevere. And some, positively bloom.
I can't control where I am planted and whom the other plants surrounding me will be. But I will do my best to bloom.
