Spring Fling Blog Hop & Linky Party {Reminder Post} @ STAMPlorations

Hi everyone! I'm back again with a sweet reminder about  STAMPlorations Spring Fling Blog Hop & Linky Party that is currently in action. Come join us if you haven't already. We will end the party on May 31 so yes you still have time to play. Click HERE for the main event post and details.

I created a scrapbook page of my four blessings during our holidays in Penang Island back in 2011. Penang is always our favorite spot for short breakaway up to now. The last we had was this January before stay home order started {ouchh}. During this pandemic {yes it will pass; just don't know when...?😩}; I sometimes can't stop looking back of the memories we have had past holidays. How we love going places and wander freely breathing fresh air and embrace total freedom kissing nature under the sun and rain and not to mention doing our best not to take things for granted but we're imperfect human {oh well}. Definitely now they have the longest school break ever but since March 18, they {and all of us} only roam the world via internet and imaginations. Let's pray hard the scientists and smarties will discover the vaccine soonest. Honestly, I miss normal life as we live the new normal 😳.

 Some close-ups:

 I found some handmade green and orange paper flowers I did some years back stored in a box while cleaning the other day so they finally get to blossom prettier here {chuckle}. I added pearls in the center for some loveliness if I can say that. The smaller flowers were recently made with flower punches few nights ago after breaking fast as a way to relax. If you are regular follower, you may know that I love making flowers to adorn my creation until I took a break some three years back. You can find my flower tutorials HERE if you're keen to try something different. 

 I used Inspirational #1 Clear Stickers to journal this layout. There are 6 inspiring sentiments in the sticker pack. Each sentiment printed on a 3-inch by 1-inch sticker label. Each package has 12 sheets, for a total of 36 stickers (6 of each inspiring sentiments). I cut the sentiment word by word and stick them down carefully and neatly {still unable to get rid the perfectionist in me, bahaha}.

 For additional interest I used Hex All Over stencil to create a pattern by swiping Versafine yellow ink pad. I also included my regular signature style which is doodling through Bloom Succulently stencil.

 This shabby mixed media layout with a mix of soft grungy will not miss splatter of black paint that I can't do without. I feel my work is incomplete without drops of paint {smile}. I also incorporate handstitching using DMC threads from my yesteryear cross-stitch projects. I accumulate quite a number of DMC threads and they're still in good condition.

And here are the STAMPlorations products used:

|| Bloom Succulently stencil || Hex All Over stencil ||

|| Inspirational #1 Clear Stickers ||

Feel free to enjoy May store promotion. All throughout May, products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly and with my coupon code STAMPGIRLASMAH, you can get up to 35% off.

This layout is designed by doing my best to follow a sketch by Shawn Lahr at Sketches In Thyme; a beautiful sketch indeed and decided to play along in these challenges:

1. Sketches In Thyme : May Sketch #421

2. Simply Create Too : Ch#160 Use Flowers

3. Splashy Mix Challenge

{I'm inspired by the colors of orange and yellow and a bit of green to light up my layout}

 That's it for today. I sincerely hope you will  find inspirations from my work and don't forget to grab the free digital Hearfelt Rose image HERE to use in your project as you wish.

Have fun creating and thank you for dropping by.

Hugs and smiles,

Live.Laugh.Love {Art Journal} @ STAMPlorations

Hi everyone! I'm here again to share my art journal and a little reminder that the stencil May challenge at STAMPlorations is still running until this 31st day. Winners will definitely enjoy picking up your prizes so don't wait any longer to create and send in your creation(s) at Mr. Linky. 

I decided to play with homemade gesso, black and green watercolors for this art work. It's so true that even though I have plenty of time to create to my heart content while stay home during the pandemic but it's not all the time I can do so in the best of spirit. Trying hard to concentrate on my work but the right brain constantly worry about the future; what will take place next; my major concern is my children's future like all parents do and so on.
Then my left brain told me it's alright, stay calm, create something positive and positive will come. Hence the use of these three popular words: LIVE...LOVE...LAUGH.

You can't live in misery despite this dreadful occurrence. Life must go on. That's the reason I choose black to depict clouds of anxiety and the uncertainty of the current situation. In between the vacillation circumstances, silver lining does shine unseen (the white and green shades) while the butterflies depict hope, happiness and freedom. One may aware that no matter how difficult life throws at you but all our action is lead by prayer. The power of prayer is an amazing exchange; by handing over our worries to Allah, He hands over His blessings to us. 

 I used Flutter Zen 1 Layering Dies to cut my butterflies but used the reverse as frame to glue down on this page once the gesso dried. I simply combined green and black to light up the butterflies and doodle the edges with black gel pen. The blue portray the power of prayer as one continues to have faith in God while carrying on living.

 I also stamped small butterflies for additional interests. I hope my simple and little mixed media art work inspire you to create something today.
As always don't forget to display the challenge graphic below in your blog post to be eligible for prize winner:

STAMPlorations products used:

|| Artsy Border Maker || Flutter Zen 1 Layering Dies || Trendy Butterflies ||

 That's it for today. I shall be back soon. Meanwhile, if you haven't already joined Spring Fling Blog Hop & Linky Party, you still have time until May 31st. Lots of spring goodies waiting for you.

Take care. Stay safe and have a good time.
Hugs and smiles,

~Spring Fling Bog Hop & Linky Party May 6~

Hello beautiful friends! Welcome to STAMPlorations Spring Fling & Blog Hop.

I'm super excited to be joining the STAMPlorations team in celebrating the flowers season and hopefully life this spring blooms wonderfully for everyone. The winners will receive our newest Spring Products. How beautiful is that...smile.

Inspiring you on this day is a  layout of my middle girl when she was a baby in 2004. I did spin my brain a bit while processing the step by step to finish. I haven't made a layout for ages so I just lost my soul for a while until I had it back {chuckle).

 I used Peekaboo Boy collection from Kaisercraft and well, a little bit 'funny' it seems because my baby is a girl, hence the use of lots of pink and some blue flowers to coordinate her bonnet on a paper design meant for baby boy {shhh, don't tell...smile}.

Here are some close-up pictures:~

 I love making flowers but haven't made some in a while and tempted to make a few blue flowers for this project. I admit my fingers lost its rhythm in flower making after so long (lol). The pink ones are Prima flowers I have kept for many years and finally adorn this layout.

 I love this new Inspirational #1 Clear stickers from STAMPlorations shop. They are laser printed on 100% transparent and high-gloss polyester material with a permanent adhesive. The surface  has a waterproof top coat, making them smear- and smudge-free!

 I swipe homemade gesso over All Blooms stencil for the background. This stencil is approximately 5.5" wide by 5.5" tall and is made from high quality transparent blue stencil material. I was the stencil immediately after use because I like to keep my stencils looking brand new all the time (bahaha, funny me, I know, but they can be my heirloom for my girls later on, smile).

 My middle girl's full name is Nur Anis Farhana and we call her Anis for short. Her name has meaning in Arab which is jovial, friendly and loyal friend. Most of all she is very jovial since day one! She is just so funny all the time, hardly serious!! She loves to smile and laugh and cracks silly jokes as she grows up until now. Her dimples is her trademark. I simply used her middle name to give this layout a title, well of course its her layout anyway. I used Lowercase Alphabet plate die to spell her name and glue down on the banner. 

Below are the flowers again from a different angle. Now that I've started I can't stop making flowers after I finished this layout to have some ready for another project.

An inspiration gain from Mixed Media Academy moodboard. I picked pink, soft pink and light blue to adorn this page as well as coordinate with the baby's bonnet and bunny:~

 Well of course I rely on a sketch for this creation because I'm not so good without one (smile).

I used this layout from Stick It Down. I love the frills so I punched strips of papers:~

Lastly this layout is also inspired from More Than Words. The patterned paper itself is stripey and I created stripes as well using punches for decorative look. As I have mentioned earlier, baby Anis has a funny characteristic that will not stop you fom laughing with her silly jokes and craziness:~

Lastly this is my Anis today, a sweet 16 on February 3, 2020 💓

Anis & her phone are inseparable...selfie crazy teenager!! (L) Anis with Me in high school brass band uniform (C)| Anis by the beach (R)

The STAMPlorations products used:

|| All-Blooms Stencil || Inspirational #1 Clear Stickers || Trendy Butterflies stamp set ||

 || Lowercase Alphabet Plate Die ||

Last but not least you have one month long to hop and leave comment at the design team blogs. Take your time {smile}.

Plus feel free to enjoy May store promotion. All throughout May, products in the SPRING FLING section are 15% off instantly and with my coupon code STAMPGIRLASMAH, you can get up to 35% off.

That's it for today. I look forward to read your comment.....so excited. 

For extra win and bonus prize, you may also play along by creating anything with blooms and link it up at Mr. Linky. Don't forget to grab your free Heartfelt Rose digital stamp.

Enjoy your blog hop, stay safe and healthy..

Hugs and smiles,

Best.Day.Ever {May 1) @ STAMPlorations

Hello everyone and happy May! 

First day of May that often takes me back to 21 years ago! You may wondering huh?

This is the day my husband and I tied the knot in 1999. I'm so grateful the Almighty and our parents blessed our marriage and together we build our marriage life and keep our fort between ups and downs, high and low, difficulties and arguments, laughter and jokes, love and hate, and all that makes our marriage life more meaningful and cherishable. The fact that my husband is the eldest child (and he married to someone's youngest daughter) truly makes him a keeper to me and our four blessings. I can't stop thanking the man of my life for everything he does and can never stop counting my blessings either.

Well of course this pandemic and stay home order forbidden us to go elsewhere to celebrate. Also this is the 7th day we Muslims are fasting in Ramadan so I plan to cook something special to break the fast later in the day, and just enjoy the grey weather indoor.

Nevertheless I wanted to make something special to mark our 21 years so our children will have something to look into one day. I haven't made a scrapbook page for ages (last was October 2017!!). I sincerely hope this will gain you some ideas and inspirations.

This special layout is made part of my design team work for STAMPlorations.

Today is the start of May Stencil Challenge.

This shabby artsy mixed media layout used combination of different mediums and elements. This is the second series of my family scrapbook page [back in 2017 I decided to create a special family album as heirloom for my children and their future kids one day {smile}. Click here to see the first creation]. This family photograph was taken last year when we spent the evening at Mount Jerai. A very cozy and beautiful hill top where my immediate family, my newly married husband and I spent the night on 8th May 1999 before we were celebrated for the second wedding reception at his parents' home on 9th May 1999. By the way our wedding day was at my parents' home on 1st May 1999. This family picture was never easy to snap because of the cloud in the background and it was around 6.45pm but lucky me, the visitors nearby understood I was using self-timer dslr and they stayed put so we can have that spot without distraction but some who didn't understand simply walked by {huhuhu}. Adjusting the camera and running back and forth between the tripod and my loved ones were crazy hilarious. This time I chose 10 seconds timer and 10x continuous shot allowing me to choose the best photo.

 Layering and bulky of craft embellishments tucked in underneath each layers is one of my most favorite thing to do besides focusing on attention to detail. This is very important to me.

 I used basic techniques like punching paper scraps to make paper lace around the heart shape, folding old book pages to create paper flowers and relying on my old school sewing machine to sew the edges. 

 I used ARTplorations layered petals, plaid maker and stained glass stencils to create textural designs with homemade texture paste.

 Splashing black paint for additional interest. The stained glass stencil is one of my favorite stencils in the STAMPlorations shop. I simply adore the star shape so much, not sure why. And I also love using artsy border maker stamp set to stamp designs randomly.

That's how I mat my self printed photograph by gluing down on thick cardboard before I glue down on black cardstock to frame it up. Owh and that gauze is from my son's previous dentist's visit for his braces. A little note, he is twice due for braces change because the clinic is closed since Movement Control Order started on 18th March here in Malaysia until 12th May. I look forward to the day when our Health Director General, Dr Noor Hisham announce the last day of this stay home order and hopefully the dentist is back in action and the real beginning to the new normal - 1m social distancing, no gathering, no handshake, wear mask and hand sanitizer - until the vaccine is found within a year or two or more he said. Today he said that as Malaysia had managed to flatten the curve, the country must “strike a balance between life and livelihood”. 

I can't stop smiling when I look at the punched flowers above. I was madly in love with punches when they were big hit in those years. Now I don't buy them anymore but some day if I ever come across some pretty design I might {chuckle}.

 I used Kaisercraft patterned papers and sentiments and the rest are from my stash to adorn the family photograph of me, my husband and our four blessings.

The STAMPlorations products used:

Artsy Border Maker and Trendy Butterflies stamp set

Plaid Maker Stencil and Stained Glass Stencil

And here's taking my layout into these challenges:

1. Creative Artiste Mixed Media : Ch#60 Anything Mixed Media Goes

2. Craft Stamper : Anything Goes

3. Vintage Journey : Beautiful Blooms

4. Your Next Stamp : Ch#138 Lots Of Layers 

That's it for me today. I hope you get some inspirations from me and will create something special for your heirloom as well. I look forward to see your project/s in our challenge this month with the graphic challenge below in your blog post.

Thank you for dropping by, stay safe and see you soon.

Hugs and smiles,