Saturday, August 10, 2013

Bon Appetit

It's truly been a scrappy weekend and I am super pleased with all my layouts. These gorgeous papers are from graphic 45's French Country collection. The papers are so decadent that really,  it was all the layout needed. The food was just some of the lovely dishes I had in Ireland.

Products used:
1) Graphic 45 French Country papers
2) Grunge twine
3) Crafty Secrets What's Cooking? stickers 

Granny's Kitchen

We found this adorable shop near the rock of Cashel in County Tipperary in Ireland. Unfortunately,  it was closed but we found awesome cake at another little shop nearby. Lovely day all around.
Products used:
  1. Prima Divine thickers
  2. Spellbinders foliage die
  3. Marianne Designs metal bench die
  4. Cheery Lynn small doily die
  5. Prima flowers
  6. Polka dot washi tape
  7. Prima journaling card 

Friday, August 9, 2013

The Secret Garden

Though not a secret nor really a garden, the grounds of Bunratty castle was dotted with museum cottages that preserve the simplicity of life in rural Ireland. There were also real ponies to  be seen.
I'm terribly late I am afraid. Still scrapping the pictures of my Europe adventure that now seems a world away. I realised my memory was failing too. I couldn't even remember the name of the castle!  It would be sad indeed to forget; hence why scrapbooking is honestly more important than most give it credit for.
I've finally gotten over my reluctance to use my pretty paper stash. What's the point in keeping and not using eh?
So now it's no holds barred.  The best of my stash for the here and now.
Products used:
  1. Prima Fairy Rhymes papers
  2. MFT medium swirl die
  3. Marianne Design small flowers die
  4. Graphic 45 Secret Garden paper
  5. Holly Hobbie stamps (FOC frm Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine)
  6. Kaisercraft butterfly stamp
  7. Distress inks
  8. Derwent watercolour pencils 

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Watercolour wonder

I just invested in a set of 24 Derwent watercolour pencils. Now these are the absolute best. Artist quality. I was worried I wouldn't be able to do these lovely pencils justice.

I'll let you decide if I've done a good enough job.

The stamps are Micia - a Taiwanese brand that have become popular here. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. Unlike the made in China equivalents,  these stamps were deeply etched and of thick quality clear rubber. They feel a lot like their made in the USA counterparts. For RM49.90, it's pretty much value for money (because clear stamps are just too expensive here as is most everything hobby related).

Enough of my rambling! On to thd card.

Distressed & bejewelled

A quick card using Distress inks to blend a two-tone background. All stamps are from a Prima cling stamp set - the set doesn't have a name but the number is #557126 if you're interested to source it. It's not new- maybe early this year so you've been warned it may be harder to find! 

I loved the blue & green mix which looks quite decadent.  The swirl die is from cheery lynn and is my favorite die hands down (can u tell?  It's on almost every project).

And of course,  some awesome washi tape with lots of birdcages!

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Craft shopping at the supplies surprise bazaar #10

Today, after a sobering trip to the doctor, I headed to a craft bazaar in Sunway. I have never been to one and was excited at the goodies I may find. Also, I expected hefty bargains because the bazaar featured fellow crafters selling as individuals and not large retail stores. Such sellers had fewer overheads and thus, passed the savings on to the buyer.
Firstly,  I must point out how impressed I was by the turnout. The bazaar was tiny with very few sellers but even at opening, the room was already filling out with customers.  It was heartwarming for a crafter to see how the hobby has taken off.
As a proper review, let me give you a rundown on different areas. 

Variety of stalls
Mind you,  the space available was very small. Approximately 15 stalls selling sewing craft items, miscellaneous bits n bobs, charms and jewellery findings and one large stall for papercrafting items.
There's no surprise in where I was first!
Washi tape was definitely a hit with 3 out of the 15 selling quite a variety. Prices varied greatly but the fun part was that the assortment rarely overlapped. Washi is made in such an abundance of designs that it was perfectly possible for variants to rarely overlap!
Many sold rubber stamps, stickers and postcards but were mainly cheaper China made stock and were not acid free.

Prices
Here's where I found myself disappointed.  I cannot pass much judgement on the sewing or jewellery making items because it isn't my forte but I can attest for the prices of the papercrafting products. Memory box, spellbinders and dienamics dies were being sold at quite frankly, rather high prices much akin to that shall not be named craft store in Tropicana that I avoid.
I found this disappointing. The selection available was good and vast but rm80 for one patterned die seemed quite ludicrous. I only bought one and quickly came home and checked Joanna Sheen's online store. Although the die I bought was not available, similar sized dies sold for 10 quid - rm50. Joanna Sheen was already making store profit,  this lady was adding another rm30 to that profit (I'm assuming she is getting her stock from a supplier and not buying off a store herself and selling secondary market).
She also sold 12x12 paper packs divided in 2 for rm60. So if you want a full set it's rm120. Spellbinders dies at rm130-rm145. Magnolia stamps at rm69.90 each. Again, all the same price as Tropicana.
Papier sells spellbinders dies at rm120 plus you get a 10% member discount. Shocking!
Sad. She had a lovely variety of dies but much too expensive for a private seller. Tropicana store has rental and salaries to pay so you can justify such prices. Sorry sweetie, an avid crafter just gave you a thumbs down.  Booo! 

Washi tape sellers were a little more generous with their discounts. Rolls were sold at rm9 ar Hearts & Craft's stall and rm25 for 3 at Maeday's (regular stores sell these 3 for rm40 or 1 for rm16 so it was quite the bargain). There was another stall but I only bought the large washi from her at rm15 (regular stores sell these for rm20-29).

Location
As a Subang-ite, the place was easy enough to find for me but I can see how an unfamiliar could get lost. You would also have to heavily rely on advertising prior because the 3rd floor shop is unlikely to be found by passersby so walk-ins will be few if any.

The shop was small but cosy. Sellers were warm and friendly.  I love that abt crafters. Everyone treats each other as friends immediately. It's the hobby that brings you together.
I only took a few pictures but here's some eyecandy of the stalls.


And of course, my haul for the day. RM250+ spent on washi tape, patterned paper, 1 die, postcard pack, key charms and stickers. 
 

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Rejoice! An 'uplifting' altered notebook

For my dt project this mth, I personalised a regular notebook. An extremely simple project with clean lines and lots of open spaces. Yet, I think it's pretty in it's own simplistic way. 

I can't wait to get it back from rotation so it can serve as the memory keeper and story teller that it was meant to be.