Let's Scrap Leap Around The World Blog Hop

The blog hop has seen me creating several cards from wonderful sketches by Debby. I visited 50 blogs altogether...I think I didn't miss a single blog yet I miss updating my own blog! I've been so enthused with cardmaking between hectic schedule so anyway here's some takes of my intepretation of the sketches in each blogs.

Card 1-18-12, LEAP 1 {Host: Mindi Brown}

For this design, I chose to stamp and distress the edges, finishing off with paper flower and wooden button.

Products used:

stamp - KaiserCraft

Prima flowers

ink (floral images) - Versafine Olympia Green

ink (sentiment) - StazOn

others from my stash

Close-up pic:

Card 2-15-12,LEAP2 {Host: Elizna Parsons}

I depend on my trusty sewing maching to enhance my card. Distress the edges with pinky for a softer look against the blue. I love the flower heart, what a pretty blossom :)

Products used:

heart stamp - Micia Crafts

sentiment stamp - KaiserCraft

ink - StazOn

Close-up pic:

Card 9-21-11, LEAP3 {Host: Jennifer Russel}

I focus on the birdie by give it some color blending. I color with Copic and swipe the image with Rangers distress ink, spritz water and while drying, I fussy cut the picture.

Products used:

stamp - KaiserCraft

paper flowers - Momoyo

ink - StazOn, Tim Holtz

Copic Markers

others from my stash

Close-up pic:

Card 4-15-09, LEAP4 {Host: Betty Anne}

Making the flower is my favorite thing! My daughter was puzzled when I asked for her favor to dry the damp punched flower border under the sun. Only after I showed her the flower making, she showed great excitement over my handmade flower doily!  

Products used:

sentiment stamp - KaiserCraft

flower stamp - Kodomo

ink - Versafine Satin Red, StazOn

Martha Stewart border punch

others from my stash

Close-up pic:

Thank you for visiting today! Have a nice day!

Hugs! xxAsmah

The Wedding 1.5.99

The year was 1999. The year I married my husband whom I've known for six years until we tied the knot on May 1. It was the best day of my life. I chose one of our favorite photographs that match the patterned paper. I love the texture and thickness of the patterned paper; allowing easy distressing and smooth sewing. The butterflies are simply the best fun ever! Credit goes to my big girl for offering to make three more butterflies. She's my best critic!
Products used:
Sweet Nothings Collection & Collectables from KaiserCraft
Tim Holtz distress ink
StazOn ink
Martha Stewart 2+1 border punch
Prima flowers
Butterfly stamp from KaiserCraft
Copic Markers
Momoyo sticker

I fussy-cut the stamped butterflies and blended them altogether.

The edges is distressed too.

Thank you for visiting today.

Hugs!

Sneak Preview : Mini Album

I'm currently working on a 8x8 mini album for my little girl. Afza enjoys watching her pics cropped and adorned with embellishments. I just love the look of pure joy on her face as I design each and every pages. I love that about her. I love that she appreciates this most precious gift I'm making for her. I hope this will be her favored keepsake.

Till then. Check back later. Thanks for visiting today.

Hugs! xx Asmah

Flying Unicorn: Color Me Crazy Challenge

I created this card in my usual style - layering! I simply love this element I can't do without. Simply because I have too many precious scraps so why waste. The focal point is the stamping image. The edges are distressed and sprinkle with water. I put the mount under the sun for quick dry. I did spend awhile choosing the sentiment until I found the one that [I feel] sync with the bear and his friends reading leisurely in a relaxing environment.
Sources: Micia stamp (cartoon image), Martha Stewart punch, Copic Markers, KaiserCraft stamp (sentiment), KaiserCraft die cut (Collectables-Sweet Nothing collection), StazOn ink, KaiserCraft ink and Tim Holtz distress ink
Here are close up pics.

Tearing the edges and distress it is so enjoyable!

 I rolled the corner to give the card dimension.

This bear reflects me in a way. I love reading :)
Thank you for your time. Have a nice day. Hugs! xx Asmah

Flying Unicorn: White and Neutral plus One Color Challenge

For this challenge, I decided to make a simple card using stamps from Kaiser Craft, free gift Spring papers from Cardmaking & Papercraft (My Mind's Eye), Tim Holtz distress ink, Staz On ink, Brilliance Ink and chipboard from Prima. I especially love the clock stamp as it reminds me of my late father whose passion besides automobile was his collection of antique clocks.

I love the quote!

Time is so important to me :)

Hugs! xx Asmah

Flying Unicorn: Stitch It! Challenge

February is keeping me busy with cardmaking! Over at Flying Unicorn, the challenges this month has made me sit in an hour or two to make two cards so far. I love the Stitch It! Challenge for I love sewing and secondly the machine is right there waiting to stitch instantly. For this challenge, I used Martha Stewart border punch, Kaiser Craft stamp, Tim Holtz distress ink, Momoyo petals, Copic Markers, embellishment and of course my trusty sewing machine!

Here are details of the card.

 I love the texture of this patterned paper!

The two petals are from Momoyo which I attached both pieces for layering. I distressed the edges with Tim Holtz distress ink. The top flower is stamped, cut out and colored with Copic Markers.

Have a beautiful day. Thank you for looking. Hugs! xx Asmah

Apam Polka Dots

I thank my eldest sister Lili for her endless encouragement or I shall never make this cutie pie sweet treat! My children love them so much that we make these sweet treat every week. My four blessings love making them and instead of polka dots, they create their own designs! I'm sharing the recipe which I get from a site. Thanks Farah Diba for sharing!

3 big eggs (grade A) or 4 small eggs (grade C)

275g wheat flour

*2 tsp baking powder

220g castor sugar (I use only 200g though)

250ml full cream milk

1 tsp ovalette

1 tsp vanilla essence

edible coloring

strawberry/blueberry jam/chocolate flavor for filling (optional)

{*note: some people recommended 3 tsp of baking powder but I use 2 tsp}

 Beat eggs, castor sugar and ovalette at high speed for 5-10 minutes until fluffy.

It should look like creamy ice cream within 10 minutes. Change the speed to minimun level to add in flour...

...followed by full cream milk bit by bit and alternately...

This looks fun, isn't it?

Add in essence vanilla. Beat another 1 minute and the process is done.

 This is the fun part! Divide the batter into several portion for coloring process. Choose any colors and mix well.

Use disposable piping bag to fill in the batter.

Isn't she gorgeous? Pipe in 3/4 batter into paper cups.

Fill in the center with jam or any fillings. It still taste good without fillings either.

 Add in a bit more batter and start decorating the top with polka dots or any designs.

Set your steamer pot and when the water is boiling, steam these sweet treat at lower heat, it will cook in 10 minutes and ready to eat. One batter usually makes fairly 90 apam polka dots.

(TIPS: I recommend you cover the steamer pot lid with a piece of cloth to protect the hot water from dripping on to the sweet treat)

Give it a try! Happy designing! You will love it!

A New Look - Kitchen Windows

After fairly three years living in our new home, it's time for new look. I need changes as it's all white walls, sigh. I thought I would start in the kitchen first, no doubt that's where I cook with love for my family. My cubicle kitchen has two big windows. From the day we moved in, we used our 11 years old curtain from our old home!

Since moving house in August 2008, I had planned to sew new curtains for the kitchen but for some reasons, I couldn't, too busy as always. Finally I bought some fabrics in May 2010 but took me a year later to measure twice and cut once before I started sewing in July 2011. An error occured while sewing which stopped me immediately because I lost mojo! Eventually my mojo came back and yes, I finished sewing on the last day of January 2012! What a relief!

I was used to have natural lightings and sun rays in to the kitchen but ever since I gave it new window treatment, my cubicle kitchen looks slightly darker and pinky yet very comfy! I'm sure we'll get used to it after some time until it's time to sew another curtains. Didn't I say I love changes? 

This is the left view from my kitchen window. Upfront is a seedless guava tree I planted two years ago. Can you spot my topiary trees in a row?

 The right view. Whenever I cook, I surely look at my plants for inspiration perhaps!

 And here's a view of my edible garden in the backyard. Oopsie, pots upside down :-) Sign of gardening time!

Memory and Greenery

I slide into the New Year with similar goal but unlike previous years, the beginning of 2012 was somewhat different for one reason. A reason that's painful to swallow somehow. The passing of my dear father, Lt. Cdr. (B) Hj Zainal Abidin Hashim on November 16, 2011 left me emptiness and memories. Days and weeks saw me reminiscing the yester years I had with him from my childhood throughout my adolescence to the day I left home for college until I begun my broadcasting career and he was always there for my engagement to the man I love until the day we got married and how excited he was on the arrival of my babies! He was always there for me! I shan't forget those days he waited in his then brown Ford Cortina before he painted it metallic green to pick me up from school. He would patiently waited for me at the bus station to pick me home after my bus journey from Kuala Lumpur. He never fail to call me time and time again whenever my family and I were heading back home just to know our whereabouts and that we're alright. He never let me down whenever I need his aid. He's a real craftsman I'm so proud of. Yes, too many wonderful memories I like to keep and move on with positive mind and manner with each passing day saying my prayer for him for I hope the father I love will rest in peace.

Just like my father who loved greenery, what I did in the third week of January was pruning trees! My daughter 'Alyaa helped out and she did the rest. We love topiary trees and because we know we can, I let 'Alyaa shape out the trees and named them as well. I love how my 'syzygium campanulatum' trees look like right now.

It was on the 22nd day of January we did our topiary trees. My children and I were delighted with the end result! I know my father would have been proud of us too.

Back Lawn

In days to come, I can be spotted on my lawn for more gardening work just like my father who had the same passion for gardening. I'm glad I get this trait from him and my mother too!