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,

Believe to Achieve

{My DT work for STAMPlorations}

Hello everyone and hope you are enjoying the first day of October so far. I just have to pinch myself to make believe that October is really here. In my atmosphere we are having rainy season days almost every single day the past weeks and certain places face flesh flood. I am safe where I live but just cannot imagine to go through the heartache those victims are dealing with every time their areas are flooded all over again. It's very devastating. I keep telling my children how fortunate we are but I also tell them the victims could be us however.

Count your blessings they say.

  This minute I am so excited to reveal my design team project for STAMPlorations October mixed media challenge. That is correct! We are back again after the summer break. Where I am, Malaysia has no summer season as well as the rest of three seasons having located right at the equatorial zone therefore we get either sun or rain throughout the entire year. 

Enough weather talk. Let me take you to this month challenge. As always, it's completely an anything goes mixed media project but we don't want to see cards. Most importantly, we want to see any brand stencils in your creation. That's not so hard, isn't that so?

This is what I have created to inspire you in our first challenge this term. My oldest daughter and her girl friends had Ladies Night event at their boarding school a couple months back. She took her selfie photo during the event and used it for her Instagram profile picture. She does good with selfie compared to her mother who never have interest in selfie. When I noticed she changed her profile picture and I like it, I asked her to send me the picture. She had no idea I was going to make her a scrapbook page so will give this to her this Friday when I visit her. I can't wait to see her reaction :)

 I used two ARTplorations stencils Crisscrossed and Plaid Maker to build up patterns in the background by applying texture paste through the stencils after giving the paper a light coat of gesso. I piled up layers and tucked in some elements for additional interest.

 The plastic zipper is from a broken badminton cover that finally found a resting place. Oh, let me tell you before I forget this...that I use pva glue to stick down everything you see on this layout.

 I curled up the wings so it looks like flying. I placed the layout in a wooden frame without a glass covering it up so the curl will stay as is for a while. Yes I hear you, the no screen wall hanging will gather dust but I keep changing layouts in the same frame like twice a month or so before I keep it in the album at last and straighten the wings in the end, hihi.

 I made the red flower from paper string while giving my mind a thought of where should I place it. At the end I am pleased with the flower cluster I build up. What d'ya think?

I wish to take my layout in these challenges:

1. Words & Paintery

2. Love To Create : Anything Creative / Mixed Media Goes

 That's a wrap for now. I hope you find my layout using all kinds of mediums interesting and that you would spare a moment creating and submit to us before the month ends.

Remember guys, you must use any brand stencils in your project(s) and display the graphic above in your post to be eligible to win. Anything mixed media goes and no card creations in our Mr Linky okay.

And be sure to grab the 20% discount when you purchase just anything from STAMPlorations shop by using my coupon code as seen above.

That's it. Until I see you again soon. Have a great week ahead.

Thank you for stopping by. I really appreciate YOU!

Hugs and smiles,

Timeless Memories @ STAMPlorations

{My DT work for STAMPlorations}

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! 

Second day of April and enjoying the sound of raindrops. How is it on your end?
Today begins a new monthly challenge at STAMPlorations.
As always, it's Anything Mixed Media Goes except no cards creations please.

I created a shabby artsy mixed media layout using combination of different mediums and elements. I have made a lot of scrapbook pages of my loved ones but never the six of us altogether because family picture is never easy to snap. Either one makes silly faces or one is not ready during photo shoot. This one was taken during our holidays last year and to capture the memory, I placed the camera on two pillows and set the self-timer at ten seconds so I had time to run to my position {chuckle}. Even so, it took three shots to produce this {to me I think is} best picture eventually and yes, everyone was at her and his best presentation with pleasant smiles. Otherwise, I'm always behind the camera so thanks to self-timer or to the modern generation who call it we-fie {smile}.   

Here are some up-close photos:

I used two ARTplorations stencils: Plaid Marker and Delicate Links to create the textural background using modeling paste.

 I am butterfly lover who often have them in my creation. I used a cute butterfly stamp from STAMPlorations Trendy Butterflies stamp set.

 The flowers are made by me during my free time. I find flower making is always very relaxing to me. I added beads and glitters in the center part.

 I did a bit of hand-stitching near the edges for additional interest by using my DMC threads for my cross-stitch projects in the past. A hobby I still love doing but keeping it at bay for now. 

 Layers and lots of layers...I love bulky layers when I do shabby-chic designs.

I love details and usually finalize my finishing touch by taking more attention in certain areas where I can add more so I tuck in buttons, gauze, sequins, punched leaves etc to make it more interesting or in other word, satisfying.

 I had a little tough time writing down my feelings on clear gesso-ed layout. Either my gel pen wasn't cooperating or the surface wasn't smooth with a layer of clear gesso.

Splash of white paints towards the end. I love doing it so much.

The white gate from Prima Marketing finally gets her special place on this layout which I kept in a box for some five years perhaps {??}.

 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.

I used this lovely sketch from Scrap Club to kick start my work: 

A few more challenges I play along at:

Archi-scraps : Sewing

Mixed Media World : Anything Goes (2nd entry)

That's it for me today. I hope you get some inspirations from me and will create a mixed media project to play along in our challenge.

Thank you for dropping by and see you soon.
Hugs and smiles,

Love & Miracles @ MHKDesigns

My DT work for MHKDesigns}

Hi everyone! I'm a day late posting this; the scheduled post didn't work so I have to re-post. I could have done earlier but life isn't always a rainbow and flowery all the time. I fell restless on Thursday evening hours after being caught in the super heavy rain soon after the school annual sports day I attended ends. The sickness started taking its toll on Friday morning and by afternoon, the cold starts attacking with bad cough disturbing my sleep. Forced myself to wake up in the middle of the night for warm drink. The medicine and cough syrup made me stay in bed all day long and it continues all Saturday. No fun I must say but thankfully my children helped with housework and cooking. My middle girl was home and told me to rest. Sweet!

At this point of writing I am feeling a lot better with little cough yet unable to stay longer to browse the internet every time I finish writing a blog post. I like to visit places while online but anyway, I hope you will find this post interesting as I am taking you to MHKDesigns blog featuring a new digital release namely Rosy Elements & Rosy Posy Papers.

I created a layout by fussy cut some Rosy Elements  digi images after printing them. Here's another scrapbook page for my youngest daughter and I must say her two big sisters are tired looking at their little sister being the center stage in my layouts most of the time but hey, she loves mamarazzi unlike her big sisters who are bored already {lol}.

   I really adore this set which you can get here.
Please visit MHKDesigns blog on how to get this new set OR the entire release for FREE!  

A few close-up pictures:

That's it for today. I will be back again pretty soon with art journal coming up next.

Have a great day.

Hugs and smiles, 

Forever Love @ MHKDesigns

{My DT work for MHKDesigns}

Hello there! How is it going? Cheerful as always on my end and wishing you the same. I am back again with my newest layout made as part of my dt project for MHKDesigns and we bring you a new month long challenge once again.

Check out more challenge information here and don't forget to grab lovely freebie here.

Last year I accidentally hit the printer button twice so out came this duplicate picture of my little one and decided to keep it in a kiv box. Never do I have the interest to make a project using similar photo. Even my Afza in the picture remember her Beautiful Moment layout using the same picture and exclaimed, "This picture again?" Hmmm, but why not {chuckle}.

Some close-up pictures:

 I printed some Blossoming digital stamp and fussy cut them all to tuck under the layers. 

 When I have finalized the arrangement of composition, I begun to play with watercolors...my favorite medium as always.

 I just can't stop using the punched leaves in many projects even on this one. It's a tool that often stays with me. Perhaps you too have your favorite tool you love using time and again?

 The watercolors dampen the digital flowers and makes a spontaneous crumpling easier. A fast method I love doing.

 I applied texture paste through a stencil for additional interest and leave it as is in the background but colored with watercolors in the center.

I snapped the photo when I spotted sun ray in her direction while she adjusted her seat. We were travelling home by bus at the time. None of my kids can escape from mamarazzi {lol}. 

Here is this month's challenge. Visit MHKDesigns blog for more ideas by the design team.

Last but not least I wish to partake in Words & Paintery challenge. The colors offered are just awesome:

As always my layout always need a sketch. This one #145 from Scrap Club attracts me so much:

That's it for today.

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy your day.

Hugs and smiles,