PrettyShabbyChicky

Still here!!!! RAK winner

2010-04-17T09:52:00.004+08:00

So sorry!

Just when I thought I have the time to start updating.... LOL. I started staying late for work AGAIN... after 2 months hiatus and what I thought normalcy is coming back to my life.

Anyway, and the winner is..... Tinkerbell!!!!

Woohoo!

Pls give my little a kiss. I just asked him to randomly point to either postings in the comments and his finger pointed to yours!

Kindly email me at soh.sophia@gmail.com with your address so that I can send out the RAK pack to you! =)

Till then....

p/s: I just did something really exciting... well, it's the final closure of the chapter of my life for this journey...so I'm gonna move on!

New Look for a Fresh Start!

2010-03-17T23:43:00.003+08:00

While uploading songs into my iTunes, I was just surfing around and chance upon another free blog skins site and loved the shabby country chic feel of it all.

After all, I've named this blog as PrettyShabbyChic{ky) did't I? duhzzzzz

Ok, I've got some country vintage patterned papers to give away from MME's older range (Wild Asparagus)!

Time for a RAK!

Not sure if anyone else is reading my blog ever... LOL

So post me a comment, leave me a link to blog hop so I can leave some love. Share with me any happy news - what's been happening.

I'll draw a winner by 31st March 2010!!! So spread the word!

That leaves me some time to be able to start scrapping a layout or two or maybe three to start sharing once again.

note to self: dare I even hope to have any friendly faces come by here?

Uploading

2010-03-17T20:45:00.003+08:00

Songs into my iTunes in my newly acquired iMac so that it can by iSync with the iPod Nano.

LOL.

I've brought the towering stacks of CDs and slowly feeding into the new machine to build up my song list.

Mostly Praise and Worship songs from Hillsongs, Australia.

of course, not forgetting some of my favourite artistes from the secular music world - Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat, Ting Tings, Gwen Stefanie, Olivia Ong...just to name a few.

Loading my iPod with awesome sermons from Pastor Prince. Gotta feed on the Word.

I'm still stuck at my first layout for year 2010. LOL

Hopefully I'll get somewhere tonight with all the songs to keep me company.

Catch ya later!

It's been a while

2010-03-17T00:26:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone! How's everyone been?

I nearly forgot that I even had a blog! LOL! Now that is really bad isn't it?

I've finally moved and settled into my new place albeit there's still much things that needs tweaking and some minor touches of embellishing the new place with pots of plants.

Moving on in 2010 definitely. New year and new changes.

In fact, lots of new changes.

In fact, I've moved on away from my DTs... well, Dreamgirls is kinda defunct now, which was slightly a shocker for me as I thought the challenge blog was really fun to do though I was on a break and I thought it was going on strong. But nevertheless, I wish Dolores all the best in her new venture! I'm really grateful for the opportunity to be working alongside great and amazing and inspiring talented ladies!

I've moved on from Pink Sketches. Since Kelli is having a break from the sketch blog and we won't know for sure when she's coming back to it, I decided maybe to just step out for good. It's been a great run with Kelli and the Pink Sketches team! I've known tremendous people and had met really nice ladies. In fact, Pink Sketches was my first DT and I do feel nostalgic about Pink. But all good things must come to and end eh?

I've moved on from The Story Matters.... well I think I've been dropped, but doesn't really matter :) They have a new lease of life and it's became a kit club in Penny Smith's hometown in Iowa (I think - I'm so not good with the geography of USA). And I believe it's going in the right direction and it's great to see Penny bringing in more new talents to work the kit and the challenge! I'm really grateful for the opportunity that you (Penny) had given me. I really think out of the box on some topics and tried scrapping out of my comfort zone. And I've had more personal pages than I didn't think I would have coz it's a natural inclination to be scrapping more on your little-tyke (now pre-schooler) or family as a whole.

I still have yet to get back to the Groovie Forum though I would very much love to! In fact I should drop by and say Hi! sometime this week. I really missed the groovie ladies there!

So what have I been up to? Nothing much really...just work...contract's been extended till June 2010 which is a good thing. So I'm looking around for a new job/new portfolio to go to. Job hunting is no fun, what with things like interview and all...I feel really rusty going for interviews...I really have no idea what to say anymore... I'm working for the sake of having to work to earn my own keep...

On the scrapping front...well, I did a last minute impromptu farewell gift for an ex-colleague whose gone of to UK for good and I put together a couple of pages for colleagues to sign all around, giving her their best wishes as well as scrapped some pictures of her and her husband (they just got married)...and that was that in December last year.

Till date, I've yet to scrap a single layout since moving into my new place.

Oh where, oh where did my mojo go? Oh where, oh where could it be???

Anyway, I should be coming back with some photos to share, taken over the past few months while we were in transition and in between homes.

Till then, thanks for always checking back!

Love,

Sophia

It's OFFICIAL

2009-10-05T22:30:00.005+08:00

I'm taking a sabbethical break from

ALL

Design Teams.

I apologize to my scrapper friends and blog friends who have been faithfully dropping by from time to time to check up on me, to see how I'm doing/holding up.

I'm doing alright now, just busy, still get the bouts of stressed up feelings but it's better manage now.

I'm really really grateful and THANKFUL for my various DT owners, mainly Kelli, Penny, Dolores and Debbie, Edleen and Dorcas for allowing me to settle my busyness with work and house moving.

It took alot of thinking and deciding to just do it and email all of them to ask for a sabbethical break.

I will definitely miss working with them during this period of time, the opportunities they had given me had been had been wonderful and mind-blowing too!

I've grown much in my scrapping style, in the topics, in the use of different techniques/products, scrapping outside the box and out of my comfort zone.

Through these design teams, I've gotten to know tremendous talented scappers from around the globe, always inspired by what they contribute to the team, and they go beyond the SB mags/publications.

I don't see it as a lost by going on a sabbethical break or even if the need be, to step down/give up being on the design teams.

As much as it feels good getting some form of recognition

(come on! most of us who are on design teams do somewhat wants some form of recognition)

but honestly, if you take all that away from me,

I'm still me

and I still love to scrap and will continue doing what I've been doing.

I'll still share my layouts here coz of friends from far and wide who do ask me to continue to share.

So,

I will be back scrapping for the current DTs come Feb 2010.

(provided they still want me around. LOL!)

Maybe I'll just post the status of my house moving with pics!

Cartons are starting to stack up around my home now.

So till then, stay blessed and thank you for your love!!!

And the RAK Winner is

2009-09-28T22:14:00.003+08:00

.... Kheng Yan!!!!

Yay!

Do email me at soh.sophia@gmail.com on how best to mail out your RAK to you!

I apologize for the week-long wait.

Was really busy with work and packing and tired out by all the busy-ness!

Will try to update my blog soon!

(I hope)

On the scrapping front,

I'm gonna be taking a long break to concentrate on finishing my work project (late nights, weekends) and packing my home into boxes.

We're scheduled to be moving by 7th Nov 2009 and I'm doing the packing mostly by myself and assisted by my domestic helper.

Coz I'm the packer in the family.

So till then, thanks for dropping by anywayz!

Love,

Sophia

DreamGirls Challenge #36

2009-09-17T00:05:00.005+08:00

Just to share what I managed to crank up over last weekend for DreamGirls Challenge #36

The challenge:

Prompt: "First Impressions" - Using the first line of a book - eg: Jane Austin's Pride and Predjuice "IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife

Product: Paper with words on it

Technique: Paint washing - watered down paint to create a sutble paint effect.

And so here's my take on it:

I used Glitz Designs Olivia pattern paper and mixed it up with a little of Jenni Bowlin and Little Yellow Bicyclen and Making Memories. I played with Adirondack Dabber Acrylic Paint in Pearl to get the paint washing effect.

Hope you liked this one!

Remember the chance for a RAK and a chance for me to blog hop too!

Look at the post below!

Some Layouts to Share

2009-09-15T10:20:00.009+08:00

Alrighty, some layouts to share before I post more of my San Francisco trip Day 2 onwards.

First Up for Pink Sketches:

For Sketch #44

For Sketch #45

And guess what? Kelli is having a Design Team Search! If you fancy sketches and love scrapbooking, we welcome you to come join us!

Hop on over to our Pink Sketches blog for more details!!

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Over at The Story Matters

This layout was delayed for Sept's challenge but I got it done anyway after recovering from a nasty cough and sore throat (I'm still recovering).

This month's challenge is all about your daily rituals and routines. To share them. So I just shared Daren's daily MUST-Have as part of his everyday routine.

Here it is:

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Here's the layout that I got done in Sunnyvale, C.A when I was over at Sarah's place:

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I'm slowly catching my groove back in scrapping ... but work now is taking precedence in my priorities after my family.

I was just sitting and thinking what to scrap for my DT assignments, yet at the back of my brain I keep thinking about my workload... and I realized that scrapbooking and blogging can become full-time jobs all on their own!!

I was totally amazed at how some people I know of are "speedsters"! They can churn out 4-5 in a day!!!

(Pssst! You know who you are *winks*)

I can sometimes sit at my scrap table for an hour or two, stare at my photos and supplies and have them stare right back at me! And at times, I still cannot get anything done!

LOL!

So I'm gonna pace myself and not get stressed out with my DT work... if need be, I will request for a sabbathical break or a step-down...whichever works best for everyone (DT owners and myself).

I'm grateful and thankful that Dorcas (MomentsRecorded) and Edleen (Groovie Covers) are graciously covering for me during this period of time. Though I feel bad towards them both - I feel as though I'm letting them down in one way or another, but their friendship and support are so precious to me.

In the meantime, thank you for still coming by my blog from time to time.

Whoever you are.

And stay tune for more updates on SFO and RAKs!!!!!

I'm gonna be going through my stash and start to pull out items to de-stash!

Coz I'll be moving house in a couple months time and I seriously need to lessen my moving load.

How about this? Add yourselves as followers to my blog if you haven't already and to double your chance for winning a RAK, leave me a comment with the following:

1) Who you are and where you're from

2) Your blog addy (if any, so that I can leave you some love)

3) What you like about my blog/scrapbooking works.

Isn't that simple?

I think it's a fun way of getting to know you my fellow scrapblog friends!

International friends are welcome to join in too!

So join my blog and leave me some love by 20th Sept 2009 - 1159hrs Singapore Time!

*hugz*

Sophia

San Francisco Part 2 - With Sarah and Gloria

2009-09-15T09:13:00.009+08:00

Saturday 22.08.2009

(Continuation of my day with Sarah and Gloria)

And they brought us to this beautiful place called the Legend of Honor - a place where they exhibit historical artifacts (i.e. Dead sea scrolls), etc. I love the Greecian feel of this place.

Took a quick picture with Sarah when we hopped off the car.

Dave and I.

Another pic with Sarah for the scrapbooks!

Love the above inscription!

Love the details on the underbelly of the arc frame!

Love this pic!

A replica of Rodin's - The Thinker

Photos taken by David.

Next stop after coming downhill from Legion of Honor - Golden Gate Bridge.

But alas! It was a really foggy foggy day (it was already 1 plus pm)

And this is all we could take of the bridge.

(I was really dissappointed by the FOG...I read so much about walking along the bridge and taking some awesome photos online but.... nevermind there's always a next time *right Dave?*)

So we headed to the Coit Tower! Another famous landmark in San Francisco!

Here's one of Dave with the stately tower:

Our perspective of the tower.

This is the famous Lombard Street - The Crookedest Street!

Photo was taken from the carpark of the Coit Tower.

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We went to Chinatown for a quick lunch break at one of the Hong Kong Cafe style restaurant. The food servings were huge!!! Sorry! No photos...we were way too hungry!

LOL!

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Next Stop - The Palace of Fine Arts

I totally love the Renaissance feel of the whole place! It's whimsically romantic!!! I totally heart this place! My breath was totally taken away!

Now I wish I could do my bridal photos with Dave here!!! Hmmm, maybe for our 10th wedding anniversary? (I still have my wedding gown)... time to lose the excess kilos that I've piled on... oh Dave!!!!!!!

Don't you just {heart} this place??

A couple pic.

One for the scrapbooks with Sarah!

A random shot of a couple having their bridal photos taken.

I'm not a very renaissance artsy person, but I sure love the above two pictures of the architecture! The details are so intricate and amazing!

A parting shot with the palace of fine arts.

Next Stop - The Painted Ladies

I thought it's a feature of some theatre actors/actresses dressing up during the Vicorian times sitting in an original Victorian home with all Victorian Decor.

But no...they are these:

Interesting huh?

Apparently these are the original Victorian houses here and Sarah/Gloria was telling me that they have to maintain the original structure and overall design of the houses when new buyers buy over the place. There are 6 of the houses but one of them is under renovation works so we kinda shift the camera to crop that house out.

Love the beautiful garden bed across The Painted Ladies. Just had to take a picture with Sarah and sweet Maui!

And before our day ended, we took a drive down Lombard Street - The Crookedest Street!

Thanks Sarah and Gloria for being the hostesses with the mostest!!!

We covered much ground than expected and we had a great time!!

Oh man...I totally fall in love with both your pups... especially "The little man" - Hilo... his behaviour somewhat reminded me of Daren :P Playful but yet affectionate.

That's all for Day 1's photos.

More to come...do stay tuned!

San Francisco Part 1

2009-09-04T23:11:00.013+08:00

Friday 21.08.2009 - Singapore

Here we are at the Changi Airport Departure Hall. We did our own self-portrait. Can you tell how happy and excited I was to be going to SF?

After a long flight (estimated 18 - 20 hours, sorry I wasn't really counting!) with a short transit in Hong Kong, we've finally arrived!!

It's USA Friday 21.08.2009 - night time.

Here I am getting my passport and immigration card out.

Yes, Welcome to San Francisco!!!

We had a really, really, really, really, really.... long wait at the customs!! OMG! I was tired from being cramped up in economy class and I had to stand for a really long time just to clear the customs! Too slow!

As soon as we got our luggages at the airport, we hopped unto a yellow taxi and headed to Bush and Powell Street in downtown San Francisco where we stayed at the Orchard Hotel. It's a really LOVELY (I betcha Sarah and Gloria are laughing at this word :P) boutique hotel. It's good enough for Dave and myself and I find it really comfy!

And as soon as we placed our bags in the room, we layered up and ventured out in search of some chow! We were hungry! We decide to venture out to the next block where they had this really awesome diner called Lori's Diner and we had a sumptous meal of Fish & Chips and Chilli HotDog.

Yumz! Sorry! We were hungry! So no photos of ourselves at the diner!

We went right back to the hotel after our dinner and decide to catch some shut-eye as we were meeting Sarah and Gloria the very next day - they had so graciously and awesomely to show us around the best places in SF!!

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Saturday. 22.08.2009

Meeting time: 10.30am!

We woke up at 6am!!!

LOL!

We couldn't sleep (lah).

We were really jet-lagged!

So we got out really early at 7.30am for breakfast back at Lori's Diner again!

David took a quick picture of me with the upriding cable car in the background on the way to Lori's diner. This is the corner of Bush and Powell street where Orchard Hotel is just along side Bush Street.

And yes! I was cold in the early morning!!

As usual, we didn't take pictures of our yummy breakfast. :P We were just too hungry.

Since we were still early, we decide to take a walk around. We just walked straight down Powell Street (that passes Union Square - a major fashion shopping district to famous US brand names)

and we ended up at the "terminal station" and starting points for the cable cars running along this street. Where we stayed was a good 4-5 blocks away from the station. It's not really that far off!

As usual, Dave and I took turns to take a picture.

At the T- junction of Powell street was Market Street.

And there stood a stately GAP building!!!

(I'm not really sure if the whole buidling was owned by GAP but we did our main GAP shopping there!)

We made our way to get ourselves a pre-paid phone by T-mobile (they have a shop along the GAP building) that made it easier and cheaper for me to contact Dave and Sarah without incurring too much IDD charges.

They opened at 10am! So by the time we were done, it was close to 10.30am!! Yikes! We were really late!

We rushed back to the hotel by brisk walking and got there by 10.35am and saw Sarah sitting in the hotel lobby. Yikes! Sorry about that Sarah babe!

We dropped off our stuff at the room and came back down with a meeting gift for Sarah and Gloria - a jar of yummy Ya Kun Kaya (it's like coconut/egg jam).

We were greeted by their beautiful Schnauzer (did I spell that right?) pups - Maui and Hilo! Boy were they excited and they were generous with their puppy kisses! I'm really sure Daren would have loved to hug them both!

First stop for us - Scrapbook Territory!

Dave was NOT surprised.

LOL!

We headed to Berkeley area just outside of San Francisco via the Bay Bridge. Sarah and Gloria decided that we should work from outside and back inwards towards SF!

And here we are:

Clear evidence of our buys! I swear I didn't really buy as much and went overtly crazy in there! But I think I bought enough to help Sarah gain a 5% off her future purchases. *winks to Sarah*

Next stop - TeaCake Bake Shop @ Bay Street Mall. Emeryville, CA

For CUPCAKES!!!

I was swooning to Sarah time and again via email and on her blog comments how I wished I could sample the yummilicious cupcakes that she had "advertised" on her blog! And boy did she and Gloria brought us to try the yummy cupcakes!

Here are some pics to share:

A gleeful me!

Yumz!!!

They were the most scumptioulicious cupcakes I've ever had!

The ones in Singapore doesn't even come close!

On our way back to the car, Dave found these stone ornaments around the outside of the cupcake store highly amusing and thus snapped the pictures of these.

They reminded him of the Japanese cartoon version of poop!

And away we go to another site to see the sights!

Driving through the Bay Bridge! I'm amazed at the suspensions!!

Gloria and Sarah proceeded to share with us the history of a great earthquake that took place and how it had disrupted the bridge or something. But they had assured us that it is still safe to drive through. LOL!

See how foggy SF bay area can be?

And here we are at Ocean Beach!

It was freezing cold!!! We had a ball of a time to see Maui and Hilo run through the sand and having lotsa fun!

The waves were strong and "high" and the wind was really blowing really cold! I was freezing and had to have the hood of my sweater over my head to keep warm!

A great lovely shot of Sarah and myself! Great for the scrapbook pages!

Look at the huge waves!

Gloria and Sarah drove us up a little higher to see the Ocean Beach from a vantage point.

We hopped off and took some more pics!

And away we go..... to more interesting places to see.

Stay Tuned! More SF updates underway!

JTS the layout I did in SF For Pink Sketches #43

2009-09-04T17:14:00.000+08:00

Just to share the layout I managed to crank out over at Sarah's place when I visited her while I was in San Francisco. :)

This is for Pink Sketches #43.

I know, I'm late in posting this. I just managed to up-load the photos from my camera into my computer last night!

I had fun with this! Most of the materials are from a Scarlet Lime Kit except for the background cardstock which is from Basic Grey and the Jenni Bowling Mini Calender.

Thanks for looking! :)

Hello Reality!!

2009-09-03T09:32:00.004+08:00

I'm back from San Francisco. It is an amazing place, with diverse cultures and people and its climate/temperature. I totally love the picturesque place and of course, the shopping!!!! American brands in USA itself is always a good 30 - 40% cheaper than buying them in Singapore...yes despite the whopping 9.5% sales tax that we tourists have to pay and we cannot get a refund back at the airport!

So Dave and I shopped to our hearts' content. We bought lotsa clothes for Daren at GAP (downtown SF) and Carter's (outlet mall) , a surprise toy for Daren which I had to order online - thanks to Sarah's and Gloria's help, COACH bags at the outlets, some Bath and Body works handwash (totally love the fragrance since I used it at Sarah's place), etc etc.

Since being back, I've been nursing a sore throat/cough that developed on board the plane while coming back home, recovering from the Jet Lag and being thrown into my piles of work... Again... sigh.

Hello Reality....

After a happy trip to SF with Dave, I'm now back to my reality - at work and facing throngs of unfinished business that I must now face once again and try to conquer them.... as if things are not rosy as it is... I'm required, no, demanded by a fellow colleague to start working late nights and weekends... and nope, I don't think my boss is aware what's been made of us.

I just feel so torn and starting to stress out now... with Dave travelling for work next week and I'm required to work late nights, how on earth am I supposed to be home with Daren? To start packing for the impending move that's to take place in a mere 2 months - away to my mom's and part to be sent to the storage?

I'm starting to get 'bouts of anxiety again.... bummer....many a times I wish I can just quit and look for a simpler and happier job. Is that option even open now? I don't think so... whatever it is, I'm just hanging on for monetary reasons (which is sad but practical).

sigh.... anywayz, I'll try to update my blog with happier things like photos of my trip to SF and recent layouts that I managed to get done while in SF and visiting Sarah.

In the meantime, do check out DreamGirls challenge blog! They're up with a new challenge and the divas totally rock that challenge! Wish I had ample time to do the challenge too!

Cheers!
Sophia

Layouts!

2009-08-20T18:04:00.002+08:00

How's everyone doing?

It's the same-old, same-old with me, busy with chasing paperwork, nursing a nasty cough bug that Daren had and that I caught,

EXCEPT THAT

I'm heading to San Francisco for a short getaway while David is there for a work trip! I get to tag along! Yay!

Yupz!

That's why I've been relatively quiet and slow in blogging my layouts done for the respective DT teams. I've been getting some work cleared so that I can go play!

I've also been doing some researching and reading up on things that I can do in San Francisco. Apparently about.com gave me some hints and pointers to take note of.

So far, I've only booked tickets to visit Alcatraz Island on 23rd August! muahahaha, I figured after Alcatraz, we could visit the famous Pier 39 and perhaps Fisherman's Wharf.

And guess what? I should be meeting with dear Sarah (owner of RedOakLines)! Finally! I get to meet someone from my DT team in USA! Hopefully she's free to meet up with us on 22nd!

For my DT assignments (I'm getting to them now, slowly but surely)

I did this for Pink Sketches #41

I'm really loving me some Sassafras!!!! I love their colorful papers and it's really run using them for children's layouts!

I just had to use my "new" stash [actually, they have been sitting around for too long] for the newly taken pictures of Daren at the zoo. He's really into the animals lately and during the recent public holiday in Singapore, I brought him to the zoo and we many things!!!

The Bungle Jungle range of papers and the chipboard stickers are just so apt for these photos!

Over at DreamGirls is a totally fabulously white affair of a challenge! :)

The challenge: White It Out

Be sure to check out the challenge details over at their blog!

Here's my layout, prepared a few weeks back:

This is a very time that I used ALL cardstocks on this layout. I used the Bazzil textured cardstock and all derivations of "white" for this layout. But being me who loves color, I can't help but add a touch of red in the form of the rosette on the layout :)

The layout looks much better in person actually...I guess it's too "white" to have its photo taken. LOL!

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I'm now trying to pack "correctly" for the San Francisco as much as possible. Sarah was kind to advise me that the weather could be chilly and it's best to layer on the clothings...

AND

I'm packing some of my scrapping supplies to bring along with me too!

LOL!

Crazy right?

I figured while David is away at the company for his training, I could catch up on some DT assignments in the mornings and venture out to walk around on my own in the afternoons... It's been awhile since I could actually sit down for long hours and give some thought and proper input into my layouts. It's a great "Me" time I suppose and yet draw inspiration from a foreign land.

When Dave found out that I'm gonna be bringing some scrap supplies, his eyes grew really wide! :P

Ah well...hopefully I can find time to load some pictures taken in San Francisco.

In the meantime, stay blessed my friends!

Love,

Sophia

Happy Birthday Singapore and Pink layouts

2009-08-10T10:32:00.008+08:00

Hey everyone! How are you all doing?

Yesterday, Singapore celebrated her 44th birthday!

Happy Birthday Singapore!!

Both David and I were impressed with yesterday's National Day Parade (which we've been watching since kids) and I think that this is by far the best NDP show ever!

And it's a no wonder, Ivan Heng is this year's Creative Director and I totally love how the usual national day songs were put together in a lovely medley ala musical style!

There's a great showcase of the diversity in Singapore's culture - an electic mix of races and culture that makes up Singapore.

When we were to say out pledge together as a nation at 20:22 last night, David and I had tears and conviction to our eyes. Sounds too corny but it's really true. There's unity in what we do as a nation.

Truly this is the place where we call home. The place where we grew up with family and friends. The country in which David and I met and got married and started our home and adding to its number.

A place of comfort and safety - familiar with its surroundings and how things work.

At times, we might not agree entirely with the policies or the decisions made for the country, but we know that no matter what, we are proud to be Singaporeans.

Once again, I love you Singapore!!

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This week over at Pink Sketches is Sketch #40.

I did 2 layouts this time round. Really simple layouts with Kraft Cardstock!

Title: Me Likey Ice-Cream
Journalling: You totally love the soft ice-cream in a cone from Ikea - your favourite hang-out with Nana. You can totally have an ice-cream cone all to yourself!! Love, Mummy.

Supplies: Bazzil Kraft Cardstock, SassafrasLass papers, Imaginisce Papers, American Crafts Thickers

Title: Pox of the Matter

Journalling: Twenty Seventh May - You started to break out in watery blisters on your thigh and the small of your back. Before we know it you were covered from head to toe. Praise God that you didn't have fever or any other discomfort.

Supplies: Bazzil Kraft Cardstock, My Little Shoebox papers, SassafrasLass papers, American Crafts Thickers, Making Memories Tiny Alphas and October Afternoon Cardstock Sticker Alphas.

I do hope you like my layouts...I'm feeling somewhat "rusty" after not scrapping for nearly 2 months!

Do come by Pink Sketches and play along with us yah?

Out of my dry spell

2009-08-03T21:03:00.005+08:00

I've decided not to mull around too much and too long and got around to getting some scrapping done, it's only fair to my DT owners and fellow DT mates.

I've done a couple of layouts and here's two layouts to share:

Here's for The Story Matters:

10 of my favourite things.

I've taken tags from my various favourite brands of bags/clothing/Starbucks sleeve and put them together with a photo of family which is dearest to my heart and of course a photo of Daren snuggling up to me to represent hugs and cuddles from my boy.

Be sure to pop by the site and give some support to Penny and this month's host, Monica!

Next Up:

Here's for MomentsRecorded Challenge #14:

This challenge is clean and simple and to use 50% of white space of the layout. I think I only managed to achieve 45% white space I think. haha. But do visit the site and see what the awesome, new DT members did!

In the meantime, do play along with the challenges and destash some!

Pink Sketches would be back on Sunday with a new sketch!

So stay tune!

Aiyoh....

2009-08-02T22:51:00.002+08:00

Just when I wanna get back with my groove and start my engine with scrapping. My printer died on me!!!

Bah!

And now we are contemplating whether to get a new printer or to get this one fixed. It still looks and feels new to me!

Ah well, I might have a blast from the past of pictures from years back!!!

Goodbye my beloved baby...

2009-07-26T18:14:00.005+08:00

It's been quite a week for me, this past week. I'm sorry for the lack of updates here but I did update my status of being via Facebook which is rare for me.

But strangely, I started to find a "life" via FB and it does help with their range of games to take my mind off things as well.

In a nutshell, this is what I've posted on the SingaporeMotherHood forum thread on just last Tuesday

"Hi fellow mummies,

I went to the gynae earlier on today in the morning...when I saw the monitor of the scan as my gynae scanned me, my heart sank and I knew immediately before the gynae could say anything. My pregnancy is non-viable. The cavity where the fetus is supposed to be is still empty... based on LMP, I'm in the 9th week or if it was really early, 7 weeks. I had no prior spotting/bleeding whatsoever other than the usual pregnancy symptoms like MS and sore/heavy boobs.

My gynae sent me to go for another round of scan at the AMC (Antenatal Monitoring Centre) department just outside the clinic for a 2nd opinion from the sonographer...while waiting to be scanned again, tears just kept flowing though I remained strangely calm.

I'm scheduled for a vacuation of the womb early tomorrow morning, so for most of you by the time you've read this (at work), I would be having the procedure done ... I'm feeling sad but not hysterical, I guess the fetus was not a healthy one or maybe had a blighted ovum which I can still have the pregnancy symptoms...

But I will not give up on trying for #2, will take time to rest and see when is the best time to TTC again. Especially now I'm in the midst of settling my house stuff i.e. selling, buying and moving...

sigh..."

And after the procedure that I had and found time to share this next posting:

"Hi mummies I'm back home after the procedure. Hb brought me out for a quick lunch of some comfort food and some retail therapy which helped...we talked about what happened, how I cried just right before the procedure as I was walking into the OT and how he had cried when he was at home. - it's our form of grieving for the final closure on this chapter

I'm feeling much better now, somehow, I'm at peace with everything, though tears had flowed while I griefed for that moment. The love of a mother for her unborn child, empty sac or not, is a supernatural thing and that I cannot deny. It was when my gynae popped his face in front of mine, I knew he had arrived for the procedure and that the time had come, I started crying quietly, but before I started crying uncontrollably I was breathing in the oxygen while they administered the G.A.

I really Praise God for a speedy recovery from the G.A with no side effects, even able to eat some biscuits and drink hot milo soon after I'm conscious. I know it takes time to heal and I will rest and have the mini confinement my mom is preparing for me."

Right now, I'm feeling much much better though I've requested a break from my DT assignments for the time being, while I'm allowing my body recover from the procedure.

I just know within that I'm at peace with what had happened and at rest in the Lord that its all in His hands. I know and believe that He never meant this to happen and I've never questioned the Lord "Why??"

I've been through enough of tougher times to know that the Lord is ever faithful to see me through whatever comes my way and I've witnessed the countless times that He had always turn things round for my good.

It's like the verse that says ," He causes ALL things (the good, the bad and ugly) to work for our good, to those who love Him" the bracket insertion of words being my own.

And I just know and believe within my heart that His restoration is already taken place, right from the moment I walked into the OT for the procedure to be done.

What the Lord restores and returns in 7-fold/100-fold, it would be totally blessed and GOOD! So I'm looking forward to my being pregnant again when the gynae had given the go-ahead after having let the womb rest for awhile.

Thank you all my friends for the love and smses that you had dropped in for me the past week. I'm really blessed by your kind words and the love that you have given me.

Luv,

Sophia

Back with 2 layouts to share

2009-07-16T11:01:00.003+08:00

I'm on Team B for the DreamGirls challenge blog

and Challenge #32 is up and we're it!

The challenge:

Prompt: Use the word Measure on your layout

Technique: {Distressing}Sanding,inking

Product: Measuring tape

My layout for the challenge

(I did this last week over 2 nights!!! SHEESH!)

Here's a belated layout for using Pink Sketches #37

I didn't get it to Kelli coz I was mooning over my tiredness and lethargy-ness.

It's not my best layout but it's really simple. :)

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On the pregnancy front, I'm getting hit with more morning sickness, I can feel it's starting to peak and now it's accompanied with more puking, especially in the evenings... similar to when I was expecting Daren.

I'm still somewhat mojo-less... but am pushing myself to scrap a little more...I feel bad letting my design teams down actually....especially when I do hand in my work most of the time except for now. I'm really grateful for the initial break that I had for the first few weeks of my pregnancy.

House hunting had its fair share of contribution to being mojoless... like what David had told me in the beginning, house-moving (with all the selling, viewing of potential houses and negotiations to purchase the new home) is really stressful...

I did tell him that it should be smooth sailing, by God's grace...but what I didn't expect was the emotional involvement, especially with all the hormonal changes due to the pregnancy... I got really tired out from it all - physically and emotionally...and having found out that I was newly pregnant didn't help b'coz it meant that we are in an urgent need of settling for a new place.

With the property market going really crazy right now in Singapore, sellers asking for over-the-top cash-over-valuation (COV) as well as if we needed a bank loan, it would be an additional 5% cash upfront of the valuation of the apartment, on top of the asking COV...that meant alot of cash involved from the overall cash portion we would have gotten from the sale of my current flat.

We can't take the HDB loan (it's a loan from the housing development board in Singapore) as we exceeded their combined income maximum cap only by a few hundred dollars and there's no exception.... mind you, this combined income maximum cap had been already since more than a decade ago....

Can't they see? Inflation had happened since ages ago and even much more recently.

Though we might be earning more than the average Singaporean a decade ago, but that doesn't mean the cost of living hasn't gone up since then!

But after having had a tearful surrender of the whole situation to the Lord during last Sunday's service, I just felt a sense of relief coming all over myself... I told the Lord, as your child, you will not leave me homeless. I remembered Matthew 6 where it talked about the Lord clothing the lilies of the fields and feeding the birds of the air, how much more will your heavenly Father clothe and feed you?

It's really taking no thoughts for tomorrow and worrying too much.

After that same Sunday's service, we had a call from my uncle who was my representing agent, to view another apartment within the area that we are currently staying at...without much expectations, we went to view the flat.

It was nicely renovated, acceptable enough for moving in immediately if we wanted to. But of course, I'm pretty sure all we need is a fresh paint of coat, change the W/C of the toilets and install window grilles for to make it child-safe - in case Daren decides to be a Spider-Boy...

Of course, no viewing is complete without another person's perspective - my mom.

While David was away on a work trip to Vietnam, he liked the flat so much that he asked me to arrange a second viewing with my mom...and so we went to take another look another time. She too found the place nicely done up and we had minimal works to do and she found the overall area of the place not too bad, quite pleasant and all.

And thus the negotiating started since that night, with David's and my mom's go ahead with that flat... Uncle Peter did and is still doing a great job with the negotiations...

All I could say for sure is that I'm step closer to purchasing our new home and likely we can only move in sometimes beginning of next year.... but I have to move out of my current place by end October to my mom's for the time being and thus having to rent a storage warehouse for my furniture that we plan to keep.

In the meantime, these are the little notes of what's been happening to me physically, mentally and emotionally :)

Thanks for dropping by once again on my blog and being so patient with me!!! :)

Love,

Sophia

I'm back with some good news!!!!!

2009-07-10T09:27:00.003+08:00

As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words.

Taken nearly 3 weeks ago.

This explains my sudden "dissapearance".

Thanks to Penny (TSM), Kelli (Pink Sketches) and Edleen (Groovie Covers) for your understanding and allowing me to take a temporal and needed break from scrapping during this short period of time while I'm still battling the tiredness and the "evening" sickness (yah, my morning sickness takes the late afternoon/evening shift).

As I was explaining to some of my DT founders, I'm found sitting in front my scrap supplies and spacing out!!! And then, I would leave them on the table and climb into bed and sleep!!!

I just saw my obstetrician on just this Wednesday, I was excited and hoped to have seen the little one's heartbeat....but I only saw a SAC.... which means I'm still relatively early in my pregnancy (despite delaying my visit to see my doctor by 2 weeks).

So, I'll have to go back for a follow-up visit in 2 weeks time and I pray that all will be smooth and well.

My energy levels are slightly better... I'm trying to get started my mojo engine and scrap...but I find myself doing it really slow (back to the good ol' beginning days)...

And oh yes.... Happy birthday to me! :)

Thank you dear friends who sent me your birthday wishes :) I greatly appreciate them and thank you for thinking of me too!

Hope to come back and share some layouts!!

Love,

Sophia

Where oh where????

2009-06-23T22:46:00.002+08:00

did my mojo go to??

I'm completely scrapless for the past 2 weeks!!!

I want to scrap...really I do... but I'm just feeling so tired to want to do anything.

All I wanna do is hole up in my bed and under the covers and snooze!!!!

Can someone help return my mojo to me please?

It's lost somewhere out there!!!!

Sigh.............

Plus I'm feeling highly irritable and snappy and bloated and sigh.... major PMS-ing!!!

Help!!!!!

Layouts to share this week

2009-06-16T22:01:00.008+08:00

Over at DreamGirls for the 2nd part of the month, is an awesome challenge.

I'll bet it's perfect for that summer holidays that everyone is enjoying right now!

The challenge (off the DreamGirls blog):

Prompt: We want to see action photos

Twists: Use either Pink and orange or blue and orange on your layouts

Technique: Doodling

Having trouble with the whole action photo idea? Well, what about sports photos, a first dance perhaps, summer water park fun or even twirling in the summer grass.There is so many cool action shots you can take, and its a great way to remember those "fast pace" moments in your life.

Here's my layout:

Photos were taken recently on Mother's Day in May. Our family had a gathering at my aunt's condominium and Daren had an awesome water-play time at the kiddies' pool.

If you have some exciting action shots to share, be sure to play along with us over at DreamGirls! And to check out the awesome layouts that the rest of the DT did!

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Over at Pink Sketches,

Kelli will be having the sketch on a fornightly basis due to the summer vacations that everyone is having.

And here's my layout.

Title: Bangkok Alley

Journalling: Where - BKK Alleyways near Baiyoke Sky Hotel. With - Daren, David, Sophia. Notes - We saw a man walking with a baby elephant hawking peanuts!!

Supplies: All from Scarlet Lime Dec 2008 Kit: Papers - Making Memories, SEI and Chatterbox, Alphas - American Crafts, Embellishments - OneBrightSpot Calender Tag, Sassasfrass Chipboard Sticker, American Crafts Travel Button, Chatterbox Felt and buttons from Scarlet Lime Kit.

Do come over and have some fun with the sketch!

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Up next is for MomentsRecorded.

The challenge is to use the sketch as provided for by Dorcas, and you need to use at least one color from your photos for your patterned paper.

I mirrored the sketch and used the color yellow from the background of balloons as seen in the photo. I kept the layout simple and uncluttered.... like how I normally scrap nowadays.

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Thanks for stopping by and looking at my layouts! It never fails to brighten up my day to see fellow scrappers drop by and say, "Hi!" and I often would love to hop right back to your blog and drop some love too. :)

Dave is slowly recovering from chicken pox. I really thank the Lord that at least his fever has subsided and the poxes doesn't look as angry as it did last week. He's still recovering, waiting for the poxes to be dried up and the scabs to drop off on their own.

In the meantime, he's so happy relaxing at home, watching his NBA matches via cable and all the TV-shows series on DVDs i.e. LIFE..

I've been busy entertaining Daren. Fetching him around (since I'm car-sitting for my uncle whose away), bringing him to places on my own.

For the first time, I brought Daren to the zoo last Saturday, on my own. Funny how friends would say that I'm so brave to do it on my own and Dave was a little concerned that if I could handle him alright on my own without our live-in helper.

I did and we, Daren and myself, enjoyed ourselves tremendously, having a wonderful mother-son bonding time. And mind you, for a 3.5 year old sitting in a booster seat behind me, could possibly be a challenging thing, but my boy really make this mama proud! I had a really cute encounter with him in the car with this conversation:

(whilst I'm driving)

Daren: Mummy, is this the way to the zoo?

Me: Not yet darling. We need to put petrol in the car before we can get to the zoo.

Daren: Noooo.... cannot. We must go to zoo

Me: But with no petrol, we will get stuck on the road and cannot go to the zoo.

Daren: Ok... we must drive to the jungle and then the zoo

(he associates the road to the zoo through the"forested" looking area as a jungle)

Daren: *starts to sing "Doe a deer" till we reached the zoo*

And after our trip to the zoo and right after I parked the car at our home's parking lot, my little buckaroo unbuckled himself, came forward to the driver's seat and told me:

Daren: Thank you mummy for bringing me to the zoo

*puts a kiss on my lips*

Thank you mummy for bringing me to see my elephants!

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww.....

My heart just melted and I really was touched by his gesture.

That really sealed my day! It made my day! It makes parenting (with all that blood and sweat) really all worth while!

Doesn't it? :)

Have a great week ahead!

And then there was 1 more

2009-06-11T13:51:00.002+08:00

who got the pox in the family.

Nope, it ain't me.

My darling husband, Dave, got the pox and it's full-blown!!!!

OMG!

He's having it worst than Daren.... plus he's got the fever too.

(Daren never had an accompanying fever).

So my poor big baby is covered in poxes.

He believed that he had the chicken pox when he was much younger.

My MIL came over last night and I asked her if he did get the poxes. She said that he had the measles...

So I'm like confuse...

Maybe Dave thought the measles he had back then were chicken poxes?

He really can't remember.

But I'm certain I've had full-blown chicken pox before.

Nonetheless, I hope my poor baby recovers soon... especially from the nagging fever!

In the meantime, stay tuned...

Cheers!

A shout out for another RAK giveaway

2009-06-10T23:37:00.002+08:00

Well, this time, it's Dorcas whose doing a RAK giveaway at her blog!

And is she generous with her RAKs too! If you want a chance to win a RAK, hop on over to her blog.

She's a swell scrapper too with lotsa inspiration!

Winner of my Celebration RAK goes to...

2009-06-10T19:59:00.004+08:00

joyinthelord!!!

(all thanks to Random.Org List randomizer. you are #7 which was first on the list)

Yay!

You've won yourself some yummy lasered cut chipboard pieces as well as some handmade flowers from my Big Shotz and.... a lovely LUXE Carrie (as in Carrie from Sex and the City) paper pack!!!!

contact me at soh.sophia@gmail.com with your mailing address so that I can have to RAK sent out to you!

Thanks ladies who dropped by with your lovely wishes on the sale of my current home

(though I'm a little sad and nostalgic to be leaving this cosy nest).

It's been lovely to hear from you all and I get to blog hop over to your blog!

Cheers!

Sophia

I have finally succumbed....

2009-06-06T23:09:00.008+08:00

to this

Do I hear a Eeeeekkkkkkkk! In the background?

ah yes... what was meant to be a SGD$199.95 promo of the main thing with 3 dies resulted in a SGD$500 plus purchase worth of dies and getting the machine free.

Sigh....... BUT...

Don't you just love the color of the Big Shotz? :)

My partner-in-scrapology-crime, Dorcas, just bought herself a set after witnessing my purchase yesterday.

LOL!

Well, as we are likely to be scrapping quite often with each other, we each got different dies so that we can do some fun swapping around!

I'm having fun so far with one of the Bigz Card dies I got.

I'll be making lots of cards with that!

And yes, I was busy cutting some felt with the Build a Flower Bigz die and was happily piecing them together and using my under-utilized crystal brad to hold them together!

Happy happy happy!

I've waited for 9 months before deciding to embark on this "investment". I'm gonna use my existing Quickutz 2 x 2 dies on the Big Shotz.

Yes, I'm gonna include some of the felt flowers I made with my Bigz die and include in the yummy RAK I'm putting together.

Want a RAK?

Do post your comment under the posting "Let's Catch up!".

Double your chances by mentioning my giveaway on your blog and linking that blog post together with your comment so that I can blog hop right over and leave some love too.

Have a great weekend!

Sophia

MomentsRecorded DT call

2009-06-04T13:34:00.006+08:00

I forgot to mention in my earlier posting that MomentsRecorded is having a DT call!

Both local and international scrappers are welcome to apply!

Each month there will be 2 challenges which will be posted out on the 1st and 15th, the dateline for both challenges will be on the 29th before the next month (we prepare our challenges in advance).

Be sure to email Dorcas if you are interested to apply.

You need to submit the following in your email:

1) 3 of your best layouts that best represents your overall style

2) A little intro of yourself and why you think you want to be part of MomentsRecorded

3) Your scrapblog/resume (if any)

All the best in your application!

Let's Catch up!

2009-06-03T13:03:00.007+08:00

This week over at DreamGirls is a card challenge!

In support for our Card Designer Eva who have been designing fabulous gorgeous cards btw! We had a card sketch from 2Sketches4you

The twist?

Stamping technique and diecuts to be included.

Here is my card:

The materials other than the cardstock and faux pearls are from my Scarlet Lime March Kit.

Be sure to check out what the other Divas did! Their cards are fanta-bu-lous!!

Do remember to load your cards onto DreamGirls Flickr Group!

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Over at The Story Matters.

Our Fabulous and uber talented Megan Klauer is hosting this month's challenge!

It's very simple. We had to share our favourite summer memory. And the best summer memories I had was in Perth Australia.

I did a 2-pager for this one:

Do come over and give us your support for this month's challenge yah?

I'm sure you have some awesome summer memories to share with us!

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Something for Pink Sketches, Sketch #35

Here's my layout on a photo taken last July at my cousin's wedding.

It's a group shot of all the cousins in my generation on my mom's side of the family.

I placed the layout into a Clear Scraps 12 x 12 Frame for my Uncle and Aunt to take back to Perth (they were in town recently and just flew home) to be placed in their home.

I started using my Little Yellow Bicycle Paper Stash that I had in the beginning of this year. :)

Simple but lovely! Don't ya think?

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For Groovie Cover-It Challenge this month.

Groovie Edleen chose this book cover:

Here is my layout inspired by the cover:

Gotta love me some Sassafrass lass!!!! Yay!

Be sure to check out the Groovie Cover Challenge Blog and look at the rest of the Cover Gals' works! I love the different takes on this one.

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Last but definitely not least.

I've been honoured over at Ed's Sketch blog as her Guest Designer this month. (Thanks Ed for the honor!)

A double-paged Sketch! (I really think Ed must have Sketched this layout for me! haha!)

So I did a layout for my Ferguson Valley experience in Perth here:

I hope you like this double paged I did. It's more photo heavy than anything else!

Be sure to check out Ed's Sketch Blog! The DT did such an amazing job!

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##Some Updates and a RAK Giveaway##

It's been a field week the past 6 days!

No doubt I was busy with Daren, but I was really happy doing it and entertaining him at home to distract him from the itchiness of his Chicken Pox. I feel the bond between my boy and I much much closer than before. It's really a difference as compared to being at work and so caught up with work that I lack the energy to actually spend playing and nuturing him when I get home at the end of the day.

How I long for the day that I can dedicate my time to my boy and my home!

Good news too!

We had a buyer for our home! The advertisement was out on last Thursday and by Saturday, we had a keen and confirmed buyer! The Option to Purchase was signed that night (it was their 3rd time back at the house, they came back a 2nd time with their parents to view the place in the early evening). I'm so glad that the couple is in love with the concept of our home :) I must add that this isn't possible without the Grace and Favor of our Lord Jesus! Not only that, we are able to sell the house above valuation! Imagine that! This is really His favor and goodness in our lives and to God be all the glory!!!

In the meantime, we'll be taking our time to look for an ideal home that's comfortable for our budget. I'm so glad that Dave and I took the time and sit down and work out our sums for the new home. What's the budget for a possible future single income, etc etc.

I just pray that the Lord will lead us into our Promise Land, in this case, a cosy home to grow our Chan family.

Thanks for dropping by today and staying on to the end of this post and I'm in such a delightful mood, I'm gonna dig out some of my treasured scrapbooking possessions of lasered chipboard and papers and little bits and pieces for a RAK!!!

**To double your chances of winning**

1) simply spread the word on your blog and link your blog together with your comments in my comments section.

(I would love to blog hop and visit your blog too!)

Just leave me a comment in this posting for a chance for a RAK by 10th June!!

Love,Sophia

Aaaarrrrggghhh!

2009-05-29T10:12:00.004+08:00

Took some time to blog

(yah...this is a none scrap related posting).

I was busy busy with Daren. He got the pox.

Chicken pox that is.

I took time off from work to care for him and to stop him from putting his finger to the poxes (is there ever such a word?) and picking at them and scratching them out. Offering to put calamine lotion every 2 hours or so to relieve him of the itch.

It's easier to manage in the daytime coz he's occupied with activities i.e. simple writing, drawing, colouring, join-the-dots or playing bowling with the plastic-make-believe pins or plastic golf clubs.

And that's not all.

we are having people coming to view our place.

Yupz.

We're selling off our home and in search for a bigger home since we plan to expand the family.

And by the Grace of God and beyond my expectations,

the valuation of our home was really high!

In fact, the valuation price alone had already profitted when we first purchased this first home of ours. And I'm pretty sure it might be enough to cover the renovation of our new home to come.

Nope, we have yet to find a new home yet. We were advised to sell off our current place and then start hunting for a new place once we've a confirmed buyer!

So we'll be pretty busy these few months to come!!!

I'm just praying and hoping that the "right" buyer that comes will fall head over heels in love with our house and doesn't mind paying a slightly premium price.

Wish Dave and I all the best!!!

Layouts to Share

2009-05-26T22:18:00.003+08:00

Pink Sketches is back with Sketch #34!

Here's my layout:

Description: I used Glimmer Mist and part of my recycled K.I Laced Cardstock for some masking fun. It resulted in a nice diagonal spray across the white cardstock. I made this layout for Dorcas' daughter, Levion. I just love this picture of her that I took when we went out to the Marina Barrage for an outing.

Supplies: Bazzil White Cardstock, K.I Laced Cardstock, Glimmer Mist in Candy Apple Red, Fancy Pants Rub-Ons, SEI Ally Chipboard Flowers and My Mind's Eye Transparency.

Yup, a picture of my "cover gal", none other than Dorcas' Levion.

I love the glimmer misting effect on this one. And how things are placed together.

A layouts which I did in between DT assignments:

Daren has officially been able to button up on his own! I'm so proud of him!! Finally found a way to use the remaining scraps of some patterned paper and a chance to use that Fancy Pants patterned paper given generously to me by MemoirActs.

I don't know... I just like the color combi on this one! :)

I did another layout actually, started digging into my stash of Pink Paislee papers and Little Yello Bicycle papers as well. But I'm somewhat stuck. Will go work on it... if I think it's not so nice... well, I guess I won't be posting up here.

Oh yes, I did up the Making Memories 8 x 8 Passport mini album for my MIL - photos of her taken during our Perth trip together. It's relatively simple actually, I let the pictures do most of the talking than too much embellishments. (I just love the blue blue BLUE sky in the photos!). I didn't journal much of the trip though... I'll leave that to Dave since he had much nicer handwriting than I do.

*winks to Dave*

(I know you're reading this)

I'll take a picture of the mini album if I have the chance and when the weather is better for photo-taking.

In the meantime, have a blessed week ahead! I know I will!

Coz His Grace much more abounds in my life in the areas I fall short of!

DreamGirls Challenge #28

2009-05-18T20:25:00.003+08:00

Live. Laugh. Love!

That's what this challenge is all about!

Prompt: the quote "Live, Love, Laugh" - use these words somewhere on your creation.

Products: We want to see a piece of fabric (at least 3x3 in size) AND the colors RED, TURQUOISE, BLACK & WHITE

Technique: Cut up some patterned paper and use that cutout to embellish your project

For this challenge we wanted you to be inspired by the famous quote "Live, Love, Laugh"

Here's my layout:

I think the photos are so apt! I love this series of photos taken with Dave's handphone camera! Obviously my darling boy was in a very cooperative mood and just got "into" taking self-portraits with us.

I just adore the Live. Laugh.Love moment!

Most of the items are from my Scarlet Lime Dec'08 kit except for the Prima Marketing Burlap/fabric material which I think was from the recent CHA winter release?

Anyways,

just a shout out here to those who read my scrapblog.

There's a DT call over at DreamGirls!!

Yupz, the winter DT girls' (including moi) term is till June'09.

So Dolores and Debbie are looking for people to come join in!

Think you got what it takes to be a Dreamie Diva? Hop right over to the blog for their terms and conditions to apply.

All the best!!!

Pink Sketches #33

2009-05-18T19:42:00.004+08:00

Over at Pink Sketches is Sketch #33:

Here's my layout:

Supplies: Bazzil White cardstock, Patterned papers from: Cosmo Cricket, Imaginisce, Been There Done That, K.I memories laced cardstock. Rub-ons: Been There Done That and Glitz Designs.

This is for my Perth Trip Travel Album :)

It's actually became another double page layout. after I submitted my layout to Kelli!

LOL!

I had some leftover materials from the original layout and used those for the other page since I have more photos taken at the same location.

Am I gonna show the other side of the page?

Hmmmm.... when I'm feeling a little more diligent in taking the layout out of the album!

haha!

In the meantime, do play along with us over at Pink Sketches k?

I'm here!

2009-05-14T08:34:00.004+08:00

Is it mid-week already??

I'm so tired and tied up that I didn't realize that it's already mid-week!

I'm more tired actually... feeling a little slow and lethargic and I've been trying to up my energy levels by doing some evening brisk walking past couple of days.

Anyway, just to share my layout for Pink Sketches, for Sketch #32:

Title: Counting Blessings

Journalling: It was a little pre-bday surprise for you by your GrandAunt Cindy. It was a little chocolate brownie cake just for you. You were really pleased and your eyes were transfixed on the lil' cake instead of looking at the camera. All your fav. Uncles and Aunties celebrated with you for your 3rd birthday. Photos taken 5th Jan 2009.

Supplies: American Crafts - Papers, rub-ons and Thicker Accents, Tim Holtz Adage Tickets, 7-Gypsies Gaffer Tape, Heidi Swapp Blings, Making Memories Clipboard clips and Maya Road Sheer Journalling Tag.

Thank you all for dropping by and leaving some lovely comments for me. It really made my day! You don't have to but you wanted to and I'm really glad!! :)

I'll check in later for some more updates (hopefully).

I'm done

2009-05-06T18:17:00.005+08:00

with some blog hopping and leaving love for my fellow DT mates on the various DTs that I'm on.

It's never a chore I tell ya!

I enjoy doing it coz they are just so awesome and amazing with their crafts!!

I always leave feeling refreshed and inspired by what they bring to the table.

Makes me wanna get scrapping!!!

Have you left your love for scrappers whom you've been stalking for inspiration but never left word? :)

It's good you know!

LOL!

Have a great Wednesday!

DreamGirls Challenge #27

2009-05-05T10:26:00.007+08:00

Another new month has come and it's May!

When we mention the month of May, what comes to my mind are lovely carnations and our beautiful mothers! What a time to remember and celebrate our mother's unconditional love for us and likewise celebrate our relationship with our children (the husbands should celebrate their wives for being moms!)

Over at DreamGirls, the challenge is this:

Prompt: create a layout about a mother/child relationship this could be you and your mom, or you and your children or just a relationship that you admire.

Product: Kraft Paper BackgroundTechnique: folded / rouched ribbon

I did a relatively simple layout using my LabelTulip January Kit. I just love the border rub-ons!

Here's my layout for DreamGirls:

{Treasure}

Journalling reads:

I will always, always treasure you mom, for being the strong woman that you are. Thank you for making the sacrifices for me and for the family, to go through the hardships as a single mom to make sure that I was well provided for, that I will never see lack. Thank you for loving me with your practical ways, with your "my action speaks louder than words" motto.

And.....

for this challenge, we've been graciously sponsored by Graphic 45!!!

How cool is that? Do hop by the DreamGirls blog (we're now at blogspot) for more details and I look forward to your layouts!

Have a fun week ahead of you all! :)

Pink Sketch #31

2009-05-05T09:58:00.010+08:00

Over at Pink Sketches this week is Sketch #31:

Here's my layout:

{Capturing the moment of affection}

Some details:

Journalling: It's the little things, that touch of affection & love, expressed in the form of hugs & kisses that makes our relationships richer & much more memorable. Always remember your affections for Mamah & how much she dotes on you.

(Mamah is a term used to addressed your paternal grandma)

Supplies: DCWV papers, Hamblys Birdcage paper, Maya Road Sheer Journalling Tag, Prima Marketing Say It with Crystals and felt alphas, Basic Grey Chipboard Alphas, 7-gypsies Themed stickers, Fancy Pants Rub-Ons and Making Memories Memo Clip.

Do come by and play along with us yah? And also see what my other design team members had come up with!

Send your layouts in the Kelli to be added into the gallery at kelli11181984@mac.com.

Remember to include My layout for Sketch #31 in your heading!

Just to share my work for the month of

2009-05-01T14:23:00.006+08:00

May!

Happy May day everyone!

It's Labour's Day in Singapore and we're all "labouring into rest!"

LOL!

I've got layouts to share here which I did during the past couple week-nights for some of my DT assignments for May.

Over at Groovie Cover-It Challenge for the month of May,

here's my layout:

I'm sure having lots of fun with my Sassasfrass Lass papers!!

Be sure to come by and check out the Groovie Cover that my layout is inspired by! :)

Not to mention what the rest of the amazing Cover Gals had done.

Over at The Story Matters, I'm hosting this month's challenge over at TSM :)

**Pssst! I'm RAKing a prize for the challenge too*

Thanks Penny for the opportunity once again for hosting the challenge.

Since May is Mother's day month and I'm always inspired by how my life had been influenced by 2 amazing women, that's what inspired the theme for the challenge over at TSM.

Here's my layout to share:

{Women in my life}

If you feel inspired by the topic, do come support us over at The Story Matters and play along with us yah?

MomentsRecorded is back with challenge #8!

It's mainly all about rub-ons and using whatever stickers/embellishments we have in our stash. What a great way to be using up my hoarded stash of rub-ons and stickers!

Here's my layout for the challenge:

Be sure to hop on over for the exact details of what goes into the layout yah? It'll be fun, I guarantee you!

Have a fun long weekend ahead!

Love,

Sophia

A little toot

2009-04-29T13:24:00.004+08:00

My layout "Top Of the World" got featured in Memory Makers Online Idea Gallery for this week on April 27th!

It's the same layout I did for Pink Sketches. :)

Just thought to share.

Toodles!

Slow Mojo Slowly coming back to me, Scrap Table

2009-04-27T08:48:00.005+08:00

Hey all!

How's everyone doing? It's been a long slow weekend for me.

I finally got back into a scrappy mode on Friday, did a couple of layouts for some DT work.

And my highlight for last week?

My long awaited "scrap" table came in from Ikea!!

Yay!

Thanks to my darling Dave, he's willing to "sponsor" this Gateleg Table from Ikea

How cool is that??!! I like that it's collapsable on both sides so that I can stow it away at a corner of my study area and that it has 6 drawers for storage of some tools/embellishments! Now I can organize and store my items in an easily reached area. Think I'm gonna use my Dymo Tape Writer and label which drawers contains what items.

Thank you darling!!

Anyway,

over at Pink Sketches this week is Sketch #30.

Here is the my layout for this week's Sketch:

{3 Goats Gruff & Daren @ 16 months}

As you can see I used minimal patterned paper. I played with my Ranger Distress Crackle Paint for the borders and added 2 strips of Sassasfrass Lass Bungle Jungle range of papers as well as its oh-so-cute chipboard Stickers!!

I found some older photos of lil Daren at the pre-renovated KidsWorld at the Singapore Zoo when he was 16 months!! Sigh... time really flies and he's such a baby still at 16 months!

I like this layout, simple but colorful!!

Coincidentally, this layout is also done for MomentsRecorded Challenge #7 :)

Do take time to come play along with us over at MomentsRecorded.

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I've been in a scrapping rut lately. I feel really tired out to be able to scrap anything.

I'm not sure if I might be "burning out"...or it could be plain tired out physically thus affecting my mojo.

But nonetheless, by the grace of God, my mojo's slowly coming back to me. I think partly because I know Dave is back home from his work trips and he could help me care for Daren at night.

May my layouts continually give glory all to the Lord as it reflects His goodness in our lives time and time again. :)

I hope to be able to do some more non-DT related layouts!

I still gotta finish up somemore of my Perth trip layouts! It's coming May very soon and I hope to be done by then! Not to mention a smaller 8 x 8 mini album from Making Memories' Passport Range for my MIL!

Will catch up with you all soon!

Love,

Sophia

Another 6 x 12 Not-So-Mini Album

2009-04-24T23:47:00.003+08:00

It's called Our Family First Studio Shoot and I used my Scarlet Lime November kit which has got their exclusive papers! I loved it to bits! Hope you'll enjoy it too!

I've loaded them on Slide.com:

Love RAK Giveaways?

2009-04-22T09:45:00.006+08:00

I have 2 exciting blogs to share with you all on some yummy blog giveaways!

1st Stop:

Lisa Howard

This sweet lady is celebrating her birthday this coming Saturday!

And for that, she wanna have a giveaway to a RAK!

So do hope by and leave her some birthday wishes and your comments to have a chance in winning the RAK!

Next Stop:

Dorcas

She's clearing lots of her yummy stash

(trust me, I've been RAKed by her before and she's really generous with her RAKs!)

So you would want to leave your love for her too!

Don't say I didn't tell you about these yummy giveaways yah?

Cheers!

Sophia

Picturesque Post

2009-04-21T00:15:00.007+08:00

This week over at Pink Sketches. Here is Sketch #29:

Here is my layout:

Description: I did this for my god-daughter, Jayda. She's such a cutie! I used part of the K.I Laced cardstock as a mask when I glimmer-misted the white cardstock. I smeared Stickles over the laced cardstock as well as the alphas to give it a slightly textured look.

Supplies: Papers - Bazzil Cardstock, K.I Memories Laced Cardstock, Making Memories Flower Patch, Imaginisce, Alphas -American crafts Thickers, Making Memories Tiny Alphas, Embellishments - Tim Holtz Philosophy Tags, Making Memories Ribbon Trims and Buttons

Do come over and play along with us for this week's sketch.

Do remember to email your entry to Kelli yah?

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I had a really long (and tiring) but fulfilling weekend.

Dave travelled and still is travelling for work and he was back home for about 24 hours before he flew off again.

We went for some dim sum at Yum Cha at Chinatown.

Totally YUMZ!!!!!

I like that for the price we paid, it's really nice and not overtly expensive!

We were too hungry...so I didn't take much pictures in the dim sum restaurant.

BUT.

I did take some photos of the nice and brightly coloured shophouses.

Love the colour of this shophouses!

You gotta love the assortment of colours here too!

Here's like a lane of shops to attract tourists to get some souvenirs.

Then off we went to the Marina Barrage to meet up with Dorcas and her daughters, and my good friends with my god-daughter. We thought it would be good to bring them there for some water-play in this hot weather.

I'll let the photos do the talking here :)

Here's inside the gallery :

A Huge "Wall" made up of plastic drinking bottles

Levion

A happy and bouncing boy

Here is outside at the water-playground:

Jayda

Levion

Daren

(it's so hard to take a nice picture of him here, He keeps facing his back away from me)

A slightly better shot (but his face is not looking into the camera)

Kerris getting a dip with her little feet.

Can you see that Kerris is one contented baby?

One of my favourite pics of the day

(despite that it's not the most ideal "composition")

There's still a bit more photos to share. I'll do so when I find the time to load up the 2nd part of it.

In the meantime, have an awesome week!

DreamGirls at a new DreamSite

2009-04-17T23:23:00.004+08:00

And we are back at the DreamGirl's new address with Blogger!!!

If you've bookmarked us at the old address, time to update it now :)

And what better way than to kickstart the new site?

A challenge of course!

Challenge #26

Prompt: Use a quote from a movie for your page title (You can choose any movie, we just used Jerry McGuire as examople).

Technique: A penny for your thoughts (Show us some visible journaling).

Product: Use chipboard or grungeboard on your layout.

I used the infamous phrase from StarWars (courtesy of Dave).

So of course, since he suggested the title, he gets to journal on the layout!

LOL!

Here's my layout which I did:

{I'm Your Father}

My Dave's journalling:

My little birdie which I altered from Jenni Bowlin with Glimmer mists, but I had to sand the surface to allow the chipboard to take up the colour.

Actually, I happened to do a layout whose title happened to be part of a quote from a movie too the same time I did the above layout.

Here it is:

{Are We There Yet?}

And guess what?!!!!

Scarlet Lime is sponsoring DreamGirls this month!

So if you're drooling for a Scarlet Lime April kit, do submit in your layouts for a chance to win!

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Just to share a layout I did on the flip side of "Playdate". The PP on the back of the double side is too nice to be wasted. LOL!

Here goes:

{Tiny Xplorers}

Happy Easter!!!

2009-04-13T09:07:00.006+08:00

Pink Sketches is back with Sketch #28:

And here are my layouts:

(I did an extra layout to cover for dear Sarah)

Journalling: This is our family's 1st time to the Singapore Flyer on 14th Feb 2009. We became Friends of the Singapore Flyer.

Supplies: Paper - American Crafts, Alphas - American Crafts and Prima Marketing, Buttons - Sophia's own

Journalling: This is your first meeting with Levion for a playdate at the zoo. Both of you were taken to each other instantly.

Supplies: Paper - Sassafrass, Alphas - American Crafts, Tim Holtz Adage tickets, Dymo Tape and Buttons - Sophia's own.

I'm having a ball of a time playing with those Sassafrass papers! I'm hooked! In fact, for the {Playdate} layout, I like the behind pattern so much, I'm working on doing another simple layout on the back too! These gorgeous double-sided pattern papers can't be wasted!

Will share the back layout once it's completed!

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How was everyone's Easter weekend?

Mine was rather packed and then, I have the onset of a nasty cold coming my way now.

My family was off to the zoo on Good Friday and we arranged to meet up with Dorcas and family too. It was also a playdate for both our older kids, for them to interact. They were so cute together!!!

Daren was quite friendly towards Levion, and well, Levion took sometime to warm up to us all. But once she warmed up, she's a really warm and friendly lil' girl!!!

It was crazy crowded at the zoo I tell ya! The queues were snaking but Dave and I decided that we would renew our Friends of the Zoo membership and so we did! (It helped that the Q for that was shorter as compared to the regular entrance tickets Q).

We reached at 10.15am... we finally got in at 12pm! Even the Little Tykes Explorer Wagon had a wait list! So being the typical, sensible a.k.a kiasu Singaporean that I am (kiasu = scared to lose out, loosely translated), I left my name on the waitlist for a wagon so that we could ferry the pre-schoolers around. It was a good thing I did that as half and hour later, they called me and I had an available wagon! When I got to the counter, there was an Indian man demanding why can't he have the wagon as he was back there twice! The service staff politely told him that this is because I had placed my name on the wait list. Then again... I remembered having to ask the staff what was the clipboard they were holding to for... and I had to ask if I could be on the wait list.

The wagon was a good rental investment! The lil' ones enjoyed sitting in it and getting pulled around.

We didn't get much pictures this time round though while walking around. But we did get some cute shots of the little ones in their wagon!

Then there was the waterworld at the Kidz' Rainforest area. But our poor babies didn't get wet much and it started to drizzle/rain! Everyone was making a beeline for the limited shelter spaces. Daren and Dave continued playing in the rain ( since Daren is wet anyway, Dave reasoned.)

I could see and tell that Daren was really enjoying himself! Levion had to be out of the rain as she had just recovered from a bout of fever not too long ago. But she was really concerned about Daren and kept asking to "find" him. So I brought her out once she's dried and dressed, with an umbrella of course. So we stood in the rain with an umbrella watching Daren running around the waterplay area. But soon, the drizzle got heavier and heavier into a potential downpour, I had to get Dave to bring Daren out of the waterplay to dry him up. Gosh, we're so NOT going to let his grandparents know that we allowed him to play in the rain, else we (the parents), will get an earful from his grandmothers!!!

Our Friday ended on a wet note.

Weekends came and we spent our weekends recuperating from Friday!

LOL!

But we had some nice family time with Dave's mom to celebrate her birthday (in advance as Dave will be out of town) on Saturday at a restaurant nearby our place. I had to ask Dave to convince his mom not to cook and to keep the prepared dishes back into the fridge (we would be back at her place for dinner on Sunday instead) with the help of Daren's asking her in his limited Cantonese.

I mean, it's her birthday!!! Don't let the birthday gal do the cooking. Bring her out and pamper her with some family lovin!!!

She was a really happy lady on Saturday night. =)

Indeed the bliss and warmth of family gatherings really leaves wonderful memories in our hearts! It's these little things that we do to show that we care, even though we have to "insist" and "convince" our loved ones to do so. At the end, happy memories are what lingers behind!

Don't you agree?

More layouts to share

2009-04-09T10:13:00.009+08:00

LOL!

Yes...I did a couple more layouts this week.

Here's one for MomentsRecorded challenge #6:

cutting work to be seen
Use of scalloped edge paper

Use of photo corners

Use of buttons (can you tell it's my fav?)

{I am 3}

I love this range of Sassafrass Lass papers! Especially that yellow crossword puzzle paper! It was the last piece in my LSS!!!

erm.... yes I did go shop a little last weekend. I got entitled to an instant lucky dip to offset my purchases....and I got the dip for 8 pieces of patterned paper for SGD$4.40!

What a deal!

So I got 8 pcs of those cute Sassafrass papers!

It's not my usual choice/style of papers.... it's really my first time getting those cutesie papers!

Ok...I'm rambling on and on.

But do check out MomentsRecorded challenge hosted by myself and Dorcas.

It's a fun, fun challenge blog, especially for scrapping moms

(but NOT limiting to moms, everyone is welcome to join in!)

Come play with us k?

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Ok...I did some more really simple layouts for the land of Koalas and 'Roos.

Focus is definitely more on the photos.

Here they are:

Koala

Kangaroo
All pictures were taken at the Caversham Wildlife Park.

So you've seen the double paged in my previous post

(it's done last week by the way hehehe)

I did one of Daren in the goats enclosure.

So here we are looking at the Koalas and 'Roos...

I've got one more planned before moving on to the Bunbury and Busselton photos - on the farmshow we watched and Daren up close and personal with some lambs and milking a cow!

So stay tuned yah??

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To my dear friends visiting my blog and wondering and asking where I get all the energy to do so many layouts or at one time?

Well....

Don't be fooled by the blog posting!!!

LOL!

Some of the layouts seen for the challenge blogs

(for those that I'm on their DT)

Had been done like a good 2-3 weeks in advance.

So when each time the 1st of the month or 15th of the month comes, it will seem like I've been on a scrapping roll!

I usually scrap about 2-3 layouts a week (including Pink Sketches LO).

And yes, I normally scrap at night (weekdays and weekends).

Prior to the night that I will sit down and scrap, I will print out the photos that I want to scrap on as well as pull out the kits or paper stashes that I have to go with the photos (this in itself is already rather time consuming).

And I would set them aside for the following night's scrapping.

Sometimes, I just like to keep the layouts simple and to the point with minimal embellishing.

But there are the occasional moments where I like to put more details and embellishing the layout.

Basically, I use the DT work as for my own personal layouts and albums that I wanna do.

What about you?

How fast or how frequent do you normally scrap in a week?

Pink Sketches #27

2009-04-07T11:11:00.007+08:00

This week's Pink Sketch #27:

Here's my layout, and yes another double-paged layout:

(Woohoo!!!! I'm on a double paged roll!)

THe new CHA released Prima Flowers.

I thought it's a perfect touch for that hot/dry summer we had in Perth.

Journalling: 27th Dec 2008 - Off we went to the Swan Valley area where Caversham Wildlife Park was. We packed our own lunch & went to see the various MARSUPIALs unique to Australia. It's a fun, fun day but really hot & warm with flies!!

Supplies: Cardstock: DCWV, Patterned Papers: Kaiser Scrapbook, Been There Done That, Flowers: Prima Flowers, Buttons: designer's own, Alphas: Autumn Leaves Clear Stamps Freestyle Alphabet, Journal Tags: Label Tulip Stamp and Scarlet Lime Remember Stamp.

Do come over and play along with the Pink Sketch girls and remember to submit your layout to Kelli at kelli11181984@mac.com :)

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I had some time over the weekend and did 2 non-DT related layouts.

One was on Daren's recent Pirate Themed party, I recycled his invitation card as part of his layout and recycled some parcel string as well on this layout.

Here it goes:

Some hidden layer below the Basic Grey Archaic pp.

The party invitation, lovingly made by Liza Yet for her son, Aaqil.

Some stiching done here.

I love the crystal skull! Really cute touch!

I used some Tim Holtz Hitch fasteners too and philosophy tags as well

(yup, some new stash to play with).

Here's another page with some "new" K.I memories papers:

(in my stash that is)

We were at the goats' enclosure within Caversham Wildlife Park where children get to go in and feed the animals. Daren was really excited on this one and he got to feed the goats. He was surrounded by lots of goats and some sheep!!

I kept this layout simple and plain.

Winner of my RAK...

2009-04-06T09:22:00.005+08:00

(Pssst! Do you see some of Tim Holtz Adage Tickets?? I just got them from my LSS)

goes to

Sasha!

(thanks to random generator of random.org)

Email me @ soh.sophia@gmail.com for some yummy RAK ok?

Thank you for all for taking time to share with me if you had the same vice as me with regards to using PP repeatedly as your background for layouts!

Have a great week ahead!!

You know....

2009-04-03T22:30:00.006+08:00

sometimes the most talented and amazing scrappers without that dash of diva-ish-ness is right in your backyard!

At least for me it's in my little tiny island Singapore.

Here are 2 scrappers that I feel should get more recognition that they so deserve:

I just found of their scrapblog from another talented scrapper's blog.

Check out Sharon Ong!

Most of the local Singaporean scrappers have heard of her or/and have at least attended her class once. I've attended her class once and I really enjoyed it tremendously!

She's simply amazing!

Always bringing fresh ideas to the scrap artist's table and enjoy sharing how to get our hands dirtied to create that art =)

I think my overseas friends will seriously enjoy her art pieces and her shared techniques!!

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Of course the other talented scrapper is Wendy Kwok!

I can just look through her blog postings of her shared work for hours on end too!!

Totally inspiring!!!

She does great work with laces too!

I guarantee that you will really enjoy both of their work!

I left their blogs feeling inspired and somewhat ready to create some more layouts!

I believe you would too!

Dreamgirls Got Pubbed!!!!

2009-04-03T00:11:00.005+08:00

On ScrapStreet.com Magazine - April issue!!!

This is really an exciting time for us as we turn 1 year young!

(though I just joined this amazing team of Dreamies)

And for this, we have Challenge #25

Prompt: Time After Time- Cyndi Lauper

Create a project using part of the lyrics as your title or journaling
You can find the lyrics here Time after time

Product: Must have a clock visible on your LO

Technique: Sewing or feaux stitching

And here's my layout:

Some details:

Supplies mainly from my LabelTulip kit, except for the Maya Road Sheer Clock.

Do come and play along with us over at DreamGirls!!!

(btw, we'll be moving over to blogspot for the next challenge!)

Not to mention, check out the rest of the divas' works!!!

Simply amazing!!!

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On being pubbed together as a team...

I'm totally pysched!!!

It seemed a little surreal initially (for me that is) when we got the news from Dolores and we went about doing up the layout for the challenge and submitting to ScrapStreet.com .

It's my first time ever being part of a feature on an online SB mag or any other mag for that matter!

Thanks Dolores and the Dreamie Divas for letting me work along side you talented ladies and being part of this Dream team!

But I was sharing with Sarah (my fellow Pink Sketch mate) that this might likely be my one and only pub :P

Coz I'm still far from being pubbed!

Or rather, I'm still lost in submitting my layouts for publications and the layouts in turn get lost too!

LOL!

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Ok, playlist.com is acting up due to some song restriction issues that they had to remove some of my initial song choices.

So I made some more new song choices and tried finding my favourite songs in a different name/arrangement format.

I won't know how long more this will last but enjoy the songs with me while you still can

(Dorcas, I know you're reading this and listening to the music!!)

Till the next posting of the next Pink Sketches reveal.

Groovie Cover for April

2009-04-02T10:44:00.004+08:00

Groovie Cover-It is back for April!

Here is the groovie CD-cover which Edleen had chosen for the Cover Gals:

And here is my layout inspired by the CD cover:

I used the Bicycle, the black and white photo as well as the placement of the title at the side in the cover for my layout.

It was really apt for this photo of Daren on his very first bicycle which he received for his 3rd birthday from his godparents!! Not to mention that I have some Hambly Bicycle Transparency goodness to play with!

I hope you like my take on this one!!

Do find time to play with us at Groovie Cover-It k?

Per layout submitted allows you to stand a chance to win a yummy RAK!

When I grow up....

2009-04-02T10:25:00.008+08:00

over at the newly revamped, The Story Matters, challenge.

Or rather, it's meant to be

"What did you want to be when you grew up"

OR "What DO you you want to be"

OR you can submit a layout about your child regarding this subject!

So I did a layout on Daren on what I think he might wanna be during this phase!

LOL!

(that's my perception of course, not his)

Without further adieu, here goes:

I've done this layout about 2 months back =)

I really had a fun time doing this layout!

Do come over and play along with us over at The Story Matters! I guarantee you that you will not be dissapointed with the new format that we've come up with and you will see more of the TSM Authors in action and involved.

Challenges now are on a monthly basis.

Challenge is up on the 1st and you have till the 25th of the month to submit.

And on the 15th of the month, each author will take time to share a technique/tip/ or even a story with the followers of the blog.

How cool is that??

Oh yes! If you add yourself to be a follower of The Story Matters blog, you'll be entered with a chance to win a RAK!!

So what are you waiting for? Hop right over!

I know I'm...

2009-03-30T12:35:00.004+08:00

seriously overstashed when I'm using patterned paper as a background paper for my layouts like 90% of the time!!!!

Don't get me wrong now

It's perfectly alright to use a patterned paper as a background, especially when it fits the photos nicely.

And I still love using cardstock

hmmmm

I wonder if you understand what I'm trying to say.

LOL!

But if you ever noticed I've been using patterned paper as a background for my layouts more often that the norm...it would probably mean I'm seriously overstashed but still loving to hoard those beautiful papers!

On the brighter side, I'm thinning my LabelTulip kits (October - January) and utilizing them to every piece of scraps even! My November and December kits are unctouched at the moment. Need some mojo on how to utilise them best!!!

BUT... my Scarlet Lime kits... the Sep'08 is 1/3 left, Oct'08 kit is 1/3 utilized, Nov'08 and Dec'08 kits are still untouched!!!

Boo Hoo!!

Seems like the 6x12 album would be the best way to use them up!!

Do you have the same vice as me???

*Grinz*

Share them with me!!!

I'll RAK you some of my hoarded and well-loved stash too!!!

(Help me spread the word around yah??)

You have till 5th April 2009, 1159hrs (Singapore Time)!!

Love,

Sophia

It's the little things...

2009-03-30T11:43:00.005+08:00

that goes a long way.

As most of my dear friends know, I've been battling with the Battle of the Bulge.

I've been feeling weird in my body...I cannot ignore the signs that I'm experiencing too.

I've put on far too much weight too fast in a short span of time which is really hazardous to my health. So if I can't afford a personal trainer to help me get started to get back into shape,

I've decided to make the little things in my everyday count in keeping that bulge down:

1) Opt for a healtheir breakfast meal - Instant oats with 2 spoons of Milo powder

2) Take the stairs to the 5th floor where the laboratories are each time I have a blood sample to process at my work place.

3) Go for a quick 30 min brisk walk each day after work and before dinner, maybe bring Daren along with me for a walk/quick run.

4) Avoid sugared/sweetened/carbonated drinks: I've unknowingly and happily been drinking far too much of these stuff since God knows when in the past year!! It's like a must-have everyday at home! But the calories are crazy!!

5) Go to bed earlier so that I can avoid snacking/supping late at night!

6) Bring salads to work for lunch.

I think the above are easily achievable and doable...just gotta tweak the changes in my everyday lifestyle. I started my instant oats for breakfast today! And I sure hope to be able to continue that everyday!!

Oats are good for the heart and should help to lower cholestrol over time.

(I have to listen to my heart...if not, I'm stressing it's health)

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Did this on Sat night while watching Criminal Minds Season 3 on DVD

It was a really quick and simple layout.

The focus was more on the collage of photos randomly throughout my Perth Vacation and then printed on an A4 photo paper.

It's used as my "cover" page of my Perth trip in my travel album.

There's just something about the Perth Skies that makes the photos taken really awesome!!!

Wassup????

2009-03-29T11:53:00.006+08:00

Heya everyone!!!

How's your week been?

I had a journal club presentation on Thursday and spent most of my Mon-Wed preparing for it.

I'm glad it's all over...was really nervous as it was my first journal club. Actually I did enjoy it, reading scientific journals and presenting it to my colleagues.

My boss thought it was good as I presented to the lab what's been hot the past year in the area of cancer research and its advances.

I shared my prepared slide show with Sherry, so of course from her experiences of countless of presentations, she shared a couple of useful tips that can help further improve my presentation skills and powerpoint slides!!!

Seriously, I went home to actually jot down what she shared.

I really love that girl!

She's totally self-less and cares enough to share her knowledge and expertise rather than keep everything to herself. That's truly what a teacher is all about!!!

Anyway

Pink Sketches #26 is up! Kelli decided to keep this week's sketch simple. And I too decided to keep my layout simple.

Here's the Sketch:

Here's my layout:

{Memories}

I decided to go down memory lane by scrapping on my very rare picture of myself nursing Daren when he was 3 months old. I really miss the moments I had with him. It's like time stood still for us both each time I nursed him, enjoying every moment of it.

Journalling (Partial): This is a journey that I want to always remember. That as a mother, I've given you my best, my love via breastfeeding you...

Supplies: Crate Die-cut paper, Scenic Route paper, Basic Grey paper, Jenni Bowlin Paper and journalling card, Kaiser Pearls, Heidi Grace Punchboard Hearts, 7 gypsies Velvet Flower, Making Memories Clipboard Clip, and Creative Imagination Remember Rub-On.

Pink Sketches #25

2009-03-23T09:12:00.012+08:00

Happy Spring time to my international friends from the USA!

It must be an exciting change for you all from the cold, cold winter??

Pink Sketches is back with Sketch #25!

And do check out my other fellow teammates' work!!! It's truly awesome!!!

And here's my layout for the sketch:

Hidden Journalling: We took a road trip down south to Bunbury & Busselton. We stayed at Ferguson Valley near Bunbury at the Ferguson Farmstay. Daddy drove while Mummy read maps.

Supplies: Bazzil Cardstock, Been There Done That pattern papers, Creative Imaginations pattern papers, American Crafts Thickers, American Crafts Travel rub-ons and Maya Road Sheer Travel Journal Tags.

Yupz! Those are my road trip photos from my last Dec'08 Perth trip. I'm playing catch up in whatever ways I possibly can =) I even got the Making Memories Passport range 12x12 D-ring Album for the trip! It's really exciting! I've got quite a few more layouts to do with lots of photos to put in!!!

You know, sometimes when I scrap and Daren comes up to me and points to whoever was in the photos that I was scrapping on, I would put aside whatever I was doing and channeled my focus on him instead and explaining to him of when the photo was taken. We even went through his first year album and I asked him,"Who is that baby in the photos?" He would quickly reply ,"Daren Chan!"

We would then recount the moments and for certain things that I "caught" him on camera doing i.e. blowing bubbles... he would say to me that, "Mummy, I want to blow bubbles"....

On my! There's a lot of things recounted on that he wanna do!!!

Well, I'll gladly oblige!!

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We had a birthday invitation to a Pirate-themed party. Liza Yet had so kindly extended the invitation to some of us to attend Aaqil's bday party.

Since it's Daren's first even themed-birthday invitation and not knowing what to expect except to be dressed in his striped T-shirt, we brought him along to Aloha Changi.

He was soooo excited that he didn't even take a quick nap while on our way up to the place!

(we travelled from West to East in my my mom's mini van)

And when we finally arrived there, I was really blown away by the set-up and all the little heart-work details that went into making the party a success!!!

The goodie bags that came with a plastic pirate sword, had Daren's name stitched on it!!!

There was a pirate's bandana and the waist belt made of cloth and an eye-patch too!

Here's my little pirate going, "AArrrggghhhh!"

Look at this uber cool Pirate Ship!!! It's made by the bday boy's dad!!!

Awesome!!!!

Party Games by the party Host! Daren really enjoyed being "involved"

But....hahaha, I guess a 3-year old's attention span is still not quite there. He wandered away on his own after a while but still kept close to the group. Do you see him trying to "walk the plank"?

Having a go at the Pirate Ship Pinata!!! Bday boy is on the right!

My favourite "nature" shot for the whole year? This beautiful orangey sunset in the East of Singapore!!! It gives me the "small, fishing village" feel, come to life from my old history lessons of Singapore!!

By the time we left to pick my mom up.... Daren must have been so tired that he dozed off in the van at about 8pm!!!! I panicked as we were still a long way from home!!!

But while waiting for my mom, he did wake up but was all grouchy and itching all over!

But nonetheless....he had a fun, fun, fun day (in his own words!)!

Layouts to share

2009-03-18T23:46:00.007+08:00

Sweet Dave helped me take some quick shots of my layouts this morning.

So much so that I'm able to share them here tonight.

Here are my double-paged layouts on my Perth Trip as a 'follow-up' to my earlier layout on Churchman Brook Dam. =)

{Margaret River Chocolate Co.}

{Raeburn Orchards}

Some details on the layout

Love that butterfly (and the PP and materials) from my Scarlet Lime Oct 2008 kit!

And here's one layout of Daren when he was 16 months old!!!

(He's 3 years old now, found some unscrapped photos of him when he was younger in my D-drive, hehehehhe.)

Using my LabelTulip Oct 2008 kit:

I'm just happy with what I'm "producing" so far =)

Thanks for taking time to look at my humble layouts and I hope you enjoyed them!

I'm happy...

2009-03-17T17:33:00.005+08:00

that I'm beginning to eat into my stash of past kits.

(I had a Scarlet Lime October 2008 kit which I really had no idea how to scrap with the autumn themed colors until recently)

It feels really good to use up as much as I can.

I'm trying my very best to start scrapping on my Dec'08 trip to Perth by doing more double-paged layouts! To include most of the photos with a very handy tool - Picasa 3 (it's a free software btw, and I love the usability and it creates the coolest collages!!!) and pack them all in onto the layouts! I've decided to do an event basis travelogue i.e. Farmstay layout, Dolphin Discovery Layout, Busselton Jetty Layout, Rottnest Island layout, etc etc.

So far, those layouts are still in the planning works.

However, I've done an additional 2, double-paged layouts on top of my recent 2-pager (for Pink Sketch #23). - mainly our visit to the Fruit Orchards and to the Margaret River Chocolate Company.

I do hope to take some pictures this weekend to load and share. My mornings are really quite rush-rush these couple weeks. So no chance for me to take a quick snap and load unto my lappie.

Hopefully once I get started on the Beach-themed photos from the trip, I would use up my latest yummy stash of Cosmo Cricket Papers which I got from a PP exchange programme at my LSS. (this is for you darling - in case you're wondering if I went shopping again!)

But then again, there's really no way of destashing, isn't there??!!!

LOL!

And I'm drooling over the recent CHA releases! They are oh so cute and pretty!

And I want some!!!!

But I can't shop now.

I have to finish 80% of my paper stash

until when,

like how a fellow Groovie girl mentioned

" I don't have enough stash to make a layout!"

LOL!

On the workfront,

Work has been keeping me pretty busy and it'll be getting busier!

There are days that leaves me just so tired that I would be in a dazed mode and won't have much mojo to scrap. Even if I do scrap, I would keep it to a minimal...clean, fuss-free layout to record the moments.

In the meantime, do keep talking to me in my comment box yah? Would love to "talk" to you and get to know you and how's it been with you!

DreamGirls - If I were a Rich Girl...

2009-03-16T10:15:00.005+08:00

na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na...

(to the tune of Gwen Stefani's "Rich Girl")

Ok, I can't help but keep thinking of that song each time I did the my layout for the challenge.

LOL!

And yes, DreamGirls is back with our mid-March challenge!

Prompt: Use title if I were a rich girl

Twists: Use some green on your layout & we want to see bling

Here's my take on the challenge:

You know, I was just browsing the DreamGirls' entries and I was thinking in my head "Eeeeks!!!! My layout pales in comparison to their gorgeous layouts!!!"

Suddenly I found it a little tad plain!

But then again, the rest of the Divas have been consistently been bringing their scrappy-goodness time after time!!! They are a source of inspiration!!!!

I do hope you like my take on this one nonetheless!

Be sure to play along with us for this challenge and submit your layouts by linking your layout in the comments at the DreamGirls' blog!!

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How was your weekend??

Mine was pretty tiring and slightly burnt out! So much so that I just went to bed really early at 10.30pm!!!! (I usually stay up till 12 plus 1 am)

I had a gorgeous time with Sherry on Friday evening after work. Coincidentally, as I was leaving my campus office, I decided to call her up to see if she was still on campus and whether she would have liked to meet up for a quick drink before our respective dinners. Turned out that she'll be having dinner alone that evening as her husband was due to attend his colleague's farewell dinner. Coincidentally, my husband had a dinner appointment with his out-of-towner colleague (from Germany).

So we met up for a nice, all-girls-no husbands-around dinner at Hog's Breath Cafe. Had their yummy steaks (my first time there). We sat there from 6pm to about 8.30pm - lots of catching up and fun, nonsensical chat!!! So much so that their service staff weren't paying much attention to us and we waited quite awhile for them to collect our bill. We ended up deciding to just bring the bill and our money to their cashier instead.

We then walked around abit and went to get some yummy ice-cream dessert at Awfully Chocolate's. Yumz! I had a really fun girly-girl time! Thanks babe!

Come Saturday, Dave and I both woke up at 6.45am to be at the local hospital by 7.45am.

Why?

Because both of us had volunteered to be simulated patients for the annual, local medical exam on the soft skills for the final year medical students. Since we're paid (and considerably, it's good money), we were there for both a.m and p.m sessions. Of course at the end of it, we were both really zonked out!!! I fell asleep right after dinner at 8pm, but woke up again to get a quick shower, settle some emails and went right back to bed again!

Come Sunday, as I knew beforehand that both of us were MIA from Daren on Saturday, we had planned to bring him for the Children First Singapore International Festival for Children - a play meant for children his age, aged 2-4 years old, called "In The Garden". It's also great timing for us as our live-in domestic helper had her day off! So off we went to The Arts House!

[I really love the view of The Arts House, I think I should go back there to try to take some nice pictures and practice my "compositional" skills for photography.]

Both Dave and I really enjoyed the session with Daren. It's a really new concept, being Dave's and Daren's first exposure to the performing arts scene, Daren really enjoyed himself, chuckling and laughing to the funny scenes that the performers had played on his imagination. It was a short 30 - 35 minutes session but it's money well spent!

And to the request of our dear son, he wanted to bring his airplane to the airport, we drove up to the Changi Airport for a short excursion. We had lunch at their staff canteen and off we were to the viewing mall in the airport! Daren is really fascinated with airplanes and many a times when we were at the airport, he would ask us to bring him to sit in the airplane!!!

We can't help but laugh among us adults...but seeing his eagerness and genuine-look on his face, we had to tell him that we will plan for another overseas trip but not so soon. We have to save up the vacation money first. Poor boy, he does not yet know about having to save up for certain things...it's different from being able to instantly gratify oneself with direct shopping.

Soon my boy, soon. In due time, daddy and mummy hopes to bring you to Hong Kong's Disneyland at daddy's next work trip up to HK!

Be patient my child, be patient.

In this case, if I was really a rich girl, I would bring my husband and son to see the world along with me!

Pink Sketches #24

2009-03-16T09:41:00.004+08:00

Here's this week's Sketch:

And here's my take on the sketch:

Coincidentally, this was for MomentsRecorded challenge #05 too!

LOL!

(Getting two birds maybe three with one stone!)

Journalling: You are at a really fun stage where you willingly make the cheekiest & funniest faces for me. You volunteered the faces while I was taking your photo!! ~ @38 months

Supplies: Scenic Route paper (background), Creative Imaginations laced cardstock, Basic Grey Ambrosia paper, Colorbok speech bubble journal tag, Maya Road Arrow Chipboards, American Crafts Alpha Thickers and buttons. (Most of the items are from LabelTulip kits)

I hope you like my take on this week's sketch!

Thanks for looking! =)

Pink Sketches #23

2009-03-09T22:56:00.005+08:00

Pink Sketches is back with Sketch #23 along together with the new design team members on board and with their layouts!!!

Here is the sketch:

Here is my 2-pager layout on the sketch:

Decription: I saw the unlimited possibilities with this sketch once again and went on a 2-pager spree with this multi-photo sketch - perfect to scrap my last Christmas Holiday in Perth. The photos were taken in a surburb in Western Australia called Roleystone. My uncle took us to a dam with a breathtaking view! Daren had a field-day with those binoculars too!

Supplies: Bazzil Cardstock, Kaiser Craft pattern papers, 7 Gypsies Gaffer Tape, Prima Marketing Decorator Tape, SEI Buttons and Twiddleybitz Chipboard Flowers/Swirls/Butterfly

Thanks for looking at my work!

I do hope you'll join us for this week's sketch!!

RAK Winner

2009-03-09T09:45:00.003+08:00

And the RAK goes to:

JustLisa!!

She said:

Love layouts with no photos sometimes too!! And your take on that sketch is super cute with all those numbers! satisfaction for me is always spending time with my hubby and girls - family time and knowing we all love each other! Oh yeah and my sweet little cocker spaniel! ;-)

Congrats babe!

Do email me your mailing address at soh.sophia@gmail.com k?

I'll have the RAK send out to you ASAP!

DreamGirls Challenge #23

2009-03-07T11:21:00.004+08:00

And DreamGirls is back with a new challenge for March!

It's an Ad challenge!!

Here's the Ad:

The prompt?

Must use an item out of the scrapbook aisle

and use a safety Pin!!!

So, here's my take:

I used those packing tape easily bought from a hardware store and used that for my title.

I used some "baby pins" from my MM pack that's been left untouched for a long time!

I gave that vintage look by crumpling and folding on the patterned paper and sanding the edges a little to give a slightly worn look for this challenge.

I hope you like my take!

You should go check out the rest of the Dreamie Divas' work! They are absolutely rocking this challenge!

Be sure to come by and play along with us over at Dreamgirls!!

Groovie Cover March Challenge

2009-03-07T10:48:00.004+08:00

Just to share a layout I did for

Groovie Cover-It March Challenge

Here's the book cover that served as an inspiration:

And here's my layout that's being inspired by the book cover:

It's a simple take, playing with mostly rub-ons. The rub-on was bought in Perth, Australia when I went shopping there.

And I was surfing on the internet to look for a nice father-son poem which I wrote in blue.

Here's the poem:

Hero Dad

- by Joanna Fuchs

You are my hero, Dad

You're my secure foundation

When I think of you

I'm filled with love and fond appreciation.

You make me feel protected;

I'm sheltered by your care.

You're always my true friend;

When I need you, you're always there

You have a place of honor

Deep within my heart

You've been my superhero, Dad

Right fom the very start

Isn't the poem lovely? When I read it I was like," Wow!!"

This poem has best describe the father-son relationship which I'm so very privileged to witness at home.

I'm envious of my son for having such a wonderful relationship with his Dad.

(I grew up in a single-mom family, the closest love to a father's love was my beloved late-grandpa and my maternal Uncles)

I feel really blessed and privileged to know that super Dave is being such a wonderful Dad to Daren. There's really nothing more that I could ask for. It was a little hard for us both to adjust in the beginning as new parents, but I'm glad that Dave made the decision to journey with me to be an involved parent.

It's like, you can be a father by your child's birth, but being a DAD (endearing term that little ones call their fathers) and an involved parent is by making a choice and decision.

I've heard of how some other mum friends who will lament that their husbands do not really take much of an interest in what their children do and take an involved role in bonding with their children.

Mine? He will be on his knees when he's home from work to play with Daren, rough it out with him and get all silly with the boy.

So most evenings, I will hear squealing and lots of laughter!

And of course,

My dear Daren would insist that

"Daddy bathes me"

"Daddy makes sleep"

"Daddy poo me"

(his grammer and sentence structure is not there yet)

"Daddy, I want read Spot Says Goodnight"

And so Daddy "This" and Daddy "That"

In my little boy's eyes, Daddy is his superhero, stronger and better than all the X-Men in the world!

LOL!

Anyway,

If you love the book cover as much as I was inspired by it, do come and play along with us over at Groovie Covers!

Lack of Updates

2009-03-06T10:37:00.003+08:00

Sorry for the lack in updates!

I've been really busy with work.

So much so that when I get back home, I will just go into a "screensaver" mode in front of the computer and then decided I need to go sleep.

So no scrapping and blogging for the past couple nights.

But I will be back with updates of layouts I had done earlier for my DT challenges.

In the meantime,

I will draw the RAK for the posting for "What satisfaction means to you" on 8th Mar 2009, Sunday.

It's stamping related RAK.

So do post your comments and I will get Daren to draw one of your names!

(International Scrappers are welcome too!).

I've been such a Gong...I totally didn't indicate when the dateline to post the comment would be.

So please forgive me k?

*hugs*

Sophia

I'm now...

2009-02-28T12:01:00.004+08:00

A proud mom to

The Zutter Bind-It-All with the Bag!!!!

LOL!

You thought I'm pregnant with #2?

LOL!

Not yet...planning on getting there.

(I do hope it'll be soon)

But yes, for now,

I have a new baby

My much thought about Zutter-Bind-It-All!

There was a local promotion at my LSS

Zutter + Bag

= SGD$139.90

(Local retal price of Zutter: $SGD159.90 and Bag: $59.90, I think)

So I thought it was quite not too bad a deal.

Rather than wait till a possible upcoming USA trip in August...

Oh yes,

I just got a heat gun too!

Yay! Looking forward to utilising my stamps further!

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On the homefront, my poor baby (toddler actually) is breaking out in uncomfortable hives! He gets really scratchy comes bed-time and would have a hard time falling asleep.

He's been refusing his milk feeds too.

As for work, I'm really tied up lately, looks like it will be this way for March/April.

I've not scrapped at all the past week!

Arrrrgggghhhh!

Pink Sketches #22 and The Story Matters

2009-02-23T09:03:00.007+08:00

*Updated post with picture of RAK*

This weeks sketch over at Pink Sketches:

Here's my take on the sketch:

Title: [D]aren

Description: I rotated the sketch to best suit my boy's portrait photo taken when he was in his Playgroup Class. I had fun with the papers, the alphas and the buttons - making the page look messy, busy and fun to look at! Isn't Playgroup meant to be like that - Fun?

Supplies used: American Crafts Cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Papers, October Afternoon Papers, K.I memories papers, Scrap Within Reach Chipboard Alphas and Numbers, Luxe Labels, 7-Gypsies 97% complete stickers and buttons. (From Scarlet Lime Oct'08 Kit)

I had fun doing this layout. Honestly, I had some challenge using this particular kit to play around with as most of the colours are quite fall-autumn colours. I'm glad that I found the right photo with the papers. I think it worked out splendidly cute!!

I had a busy/rough week and life happens...so I was late in handing in up my layout.

But I'm glad I got it done and submitted to Kelli =)

I hope you'll have fun with this sketch! Do come and play with us over at Pink Sketches yah?

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Heads up, a new challenge over at The Story Matters.

What is Satisfaction to you? What makes you pleased as punch and really satisfied?

Tell us! Share it with us in your long journalling!!

Start your title with "Satisfaction is..."

And here's my layout for the challenge:

{Satisfaction is my reward}

I substituted my photo with a block of journalling instead.

So what makes you satisfied???

Care to share them with me?

I'll make sure you are satisfied too with a surprise RAK!

Leave your comments in this posting yah?

I'll be looking forward to reading what satisfies you. And don't forget to come play along with us over at The Story Matters!

Thanks for looking once again! =)

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Here's the stamping-related RAK that I'm giving away!!

Quick! Dateline is 8th March 2009 1800hrs (Singapore time) before I do the drawing of a random winner!

My Christmas in Perth 6 x 12 Album Slide show

2009-02-16T22:14:00.003+08:00

Alright, I'm reposting this as I've been experiencing some technical difficulties in my earlier MomentsRecorded Challenge #4 posting.

I suspect that I cannot copy and paste the embed code within a posting. I've been trying my eyeballs and brains out!!!

So there you have it!

My 1st not-so-mini album for the year using Scarlet Lime's Sep 08 kit. I'm loving it so far!!!

It's not bound together yet as I'm waiting to borrow a friend's Zutter to bind it together.

I did think of the Zutter but I'm afraid of commiting to another tool as

1) Dave will give me the "Not again, another tool" look.
2) It might be another white elephant. (But then, I told myself to make more mini albums this year)
3) Where would I store it anyway??

I think it'll be a once off thing for the use of the Zutter, so unless I can get a real deal/steal...I might consider.

Anyway, let me know if you like my album k? =P

TGIM! It's a brand new week! (extended post)

2009-02-16T09:53:00.010+08:00

Ok, I sound a little insane

But TGIM!!!

(Yes, Thank God It's Monday)

LOL!

Yes, it's a brand new week and I'm looking forward to it!

A new week of possibilities and opportunities.

And Christ's grace and mercy is always new every morning!

I'm gonna be doing some presentation for work this Thursday.

So I will lay off the scrapping this week till it's over!

On the scrapping front:

Over at DreamGirls, a new challenge:

We {Heart} American Crafts challenge!!

Loving the diverse range of patterns that American Crafts has to offer in your papers?

Come use at least 80% of A.C range in your layout!

The twist?

To use a heart and flourish/swirls in your layout.

Here's my take:

I've cut out the foam heart free-hand from craft foam

and did blanket stitching all around on the edges.

Had some A.C Thickers Swirls from one of my sub kits and used that.

I doodled on the swirls too.

Papers are from the Amplified and Moda Bella range.

I hope you like this take of mine.

The layout is now framed up in my bedroom in a shadow-box.

First framed up photo of Dave and myself in our room after coming 5 years of marriage!!

Anyway.

Do come and play along with us over at DreamGirls!!

Check out the rest of the divas' works! They are totally rocking this challenge!

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Over at Pink Sketches:

We had a play with circles this time! The Pink Sketch DT definitely rocked this sketch!

I just love the play with circles.

When I 1st saw the sketch, I was like,"OMG! I have the perfect photo and pattern paper for it!"

So I had a chance to use my older stash of papers.

Yay!

Here's the sketch:

Here's my take:

{CNY}

I hope you're liking what I did. I went layer happy on this layout once more!

Some up close details:

Do come on by and check out what the other Pink ladies had done! I love how everyone's takes are so awesome!

Also, the Pink Sketches DT search is still ongoing!

Dateline is 26th Feb 2009.

Do give it a try yah?

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David, Daren and myself had an awesome weekend.

On Friday, Daren told us that he wanted to get a hair cut!!!

Imagine that!

That's definitely a first that he initiated it!

So we thought, why not? Since his hair was getting long and a little thick for our Singapore weather.

Off we went to town

(to look for his usual "Mr Snip" hairdresser),

and on the way there, Daren said "I want to eat Chicken Rice!!"

And he kept chanting "Chicken Rice!" during the cab ride.

LOL!

So when we got to Junior's league within Toys 'R' Us at Forum shopping mall

Much to Daren's dissappointment,

His Mr Snip wasn't there and it was already closed for the day.

So off we went in search of his chicken rice at the foodcourt at another mall

(which was within walking distance).

Come Saturday,

we went The Singapore Flyer for the very first time.

(Actually we heard of some promotion with regards the first 2009 people to show an sms from Singapore Tourism Board for free tickets to get free tix).

When we reached there, the free tix were fully redeemed.

(That's another story for another day)

BUT

We became Friends of the Singapore Flyer!!

(I figured that for the price we pay per entry, per pax, we're better off getting the family card as I forsee that Daren would ask to visit it a few more times)

I will share photos later. They're still unloaded from my camera.

Come Sunday,

We went to church on our own with Daren

(my domestic helper had her day off).

It was Miracle Seed Sunday for Dave and myself.

And we sowed.

We sowed what we have to One North

(our church building that will glorify the Lord)

and I'm glad we sowed what we have.

In order to see harvest in this time of famine,

we gotta sow!

And we're really blessed by these few week's sermon and it just set in our hearts to sow, to see and to reap a harvest in store!

To be in a place to witness supernatural cancellation of debts in our lives!

To be a blessing to bless others around us further.

Dave intially told me 2 months back that the money would be for my scrap table (From Ikea).

But after hearing last two Sunday's sermons, I just told him that let's use the money as our Miracle Seed for sowing.

That's way more important for us than any scrap table or holidays.

And I can't wait to be able to share our testimony in due time.

And after service, we headed for lunch at Raffles City's foodcourt where they had the most delicious Japanese Tempura Food Store yet again

(thanks to Sherry and her husband's recommendations).

Dave had the tempura meal while Daren had his favourite fishball noodles while I tried out the Olive Fusion store (Western/Italian food).

And yes,

We headed back to Forum the Shopping Mall once again in search of Daren's Mr Snip.

Lo and behold! He was there!

Daren was really excited as he recognized this kid's hairdresser from a distance.

For the 1st time ever,

He calmly sat on the chair.

He allowed Jimmy (That's Mr Snip's name btw)

to put the apron around his neck.

(Now that's definitely a first!!!)

We were definitely thrilled and amazed.

We didn't have to hold him

nor did Daren struggle.

He just sat very still.

Amazing!

And of course, I went shutter happy with the compact camera!

I hope to be able to come back with some photo updates later.

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Sweet Jana had tagged me couple days back.

So here goes:

The Rules:

Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.

1. Pick the 6th Folder, then select the the 6th picture in that folder.

2. Post that picture on your blog and the story that goes along with the picture.

3. Tag 6 other people that you know or don’t know to do the same thing and leave a comment on their blog or an e-mail letting them know you chose them.

Here's the photo:

This photo was taken recently from my Perth Trip.

We flew on 24th December in the wee hours of the morning to arrive at 7am in Perth, Australia.

Our first (definitely not last) Christmas away from Singapore to be spent with my beloved Uncloe and his family.

I was dead tired (from clearing work and got sick) when I got to my Uncle's place, so I crashed out.

My mom who arrived couple days earlier than us, brought Daren out to Gateway Mall with Dave.

She brought Daren to see and sit on Santa's lap!

Daren was really thrilled and taken to this concept as we've not done it with him before.

(I don't think much places in Singapore has this...it's not a mall tradition, we prefer much shop!)

And so here it was, his first encounter with Santa.

When he got back to my Uncle's place, he kept telling me excitedly who he saw.

So that's the story.

To tag 6 people:

(I will be back to do this bit later, sorry about that!!)

In the meantime, have a great week ahead!!

Check out the RAK

2009-02-13T13:46:00.004+08:00

Over at Groovie Covers Challenge blog!

This is the RAK for February's challenge:

Papers are from Little Yellow Bicycle and Flair Designs, Frame from MME, rub-ons from Heidi Grace and string of pearl from me!!

What you gotta do to stand a chance to win this RAK?

That's easy!

Come show us your take on the February cover!

Submit your layout to

soh.sophia@gmail.com

with the heading:

My Take on Groovie Cover February!

I will draw the one participant's name from the pool that had participated!

Can't wait to see your takes!!!

in Singaporean lingo,

Don't shy! Don't shy! Come and play with us lah!!

Sneakie Peeks

2009-02-13T11:55:00.005+08:00

I'm done with my layouts for Pink Sketches and Dreamgirls!

Some sneaks for DreamGirls' next challenge.

Some sneaks for my next Pink Sketches take.

One of my favourite things on this layout:

Layering!!!

Also,

Did a LO for a gf, to remember the Hen's Party she had last April.

So yes, this was really belated! Her photo was taken in end March/beginning April.

So here's a layout I did using my LabelTulip October kit!

Some upclose pics:

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Anyone watching American Idol 2009?

(Just airing my thoughts, the below are just my opinions and not meant to slander anyone!)

I'm glad Danny (I think that's his name, bespectacled gentleman whose best friend is Jamar and whose wife passed away due to a illness)

He's one of my favourites!

And

I was dumb-founded that Norman Gentle made it and not Jamar!!!!

My husband was saying that it's such a joke!

And yes, there's this really annoying, shreaky female contestant!

Sure, she's got a voice, but she's darn hyper, shreaky and sheer annoying!

Am I'm glad that Bikini Girl didn't make it either!

Anyway, I liked the addition of the new judge, Kara DioGuardi =)

She's like a breath of fresh air and I like her feisty attitude!

Especially in her banter with Simon at times!

LOL!

Season 8 auditions has proven to be really good with lots of funny moments

and of course...drama!

Can't wait for the start of the contest!

So, let Season 8 begin!!!!

Who are your American Idol 8 favourites?

Share with me!!!

In the meantime, have a great weekend ahead!

Pink Sketches #20

2009-02-09T10:59:00.006+08:00

Pink Sketches is back with Sketch 20!

This is a real fun sketch and the possibilities endless!

I mirrored the sketch yet again for this week.

Here's the Sketch :

and here's my take:

{Shape My Life...RUN}

Description: This is to record the moment where I made the decision to run 5km at the women's only SHAPE' Singapore run 2008. It's a satisfying moment for myself to have completed the race.

Supplies: Pink Paislee pattern papers, Hambly Screen Prints, American Crafts Thickers, Prima Decorator Tape and Tim Holtz Journalling Tickets.

I hope you like my take on this week's sketch.

Do remember to come and play along with us over at Pink Sketches!

p/s: the DT search is still on. Remember to check out the site for my details.

Thanks for looking and dropping by my scrapblog!

Love,

Sophia

MomentsRecorded Challenge #4

2009-02-06T19:13:00.013+08:00

MomentsRecorded is back with challenge #4.

This challenge is great for those with stashes of kits,

from our favourite subscription kits club.

The challenge?

To use up one whole kit to make a 6" x 12" album!

Of course you can use things outside the kit to embellish your album.

However, you are highly encouraged to use up as much of the items in the kit as possible.

I'm a HUGE fan of Scarlet Lime and LabelTulip kits.

I was however a little behind time in using my Scarlet Lime kits.

So I used my September Kit

( with their exclusive print of their own papers)

As the papers were perfect for my recent Christmas spent in Perth with my relatives.

So I scrapped a not-so-mini album

(1st album for the year too!)

Check out my submission here:

(for some strange reason, I can't link the slide show here)

http://widget-97.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=3242591731712909207&site=widget-97.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle">

Oh yes!!

Just to share a layout I did for MomentsRecorded Challenge #3 for January 2009 too.

{Mom & Me}

Papers: American Crafts

-------------------------------------------------------------

And...

I just completed this layout last night while watching Americon Idol on TV.

This is for LabelTulip's January 2009 challenge where you had to use 5 items from their January 2009 kits on the layout.

I have yet to "properly" scrap about my Great Eastern Women's 10K run photos. I'm just glad to be able to look back and say,"Hey! I did it! Nothing is all that difficult if I put my mind, heart and soul to it" (I know, contrary to the post on my weighty issues - which means that IT IS POSSIBLE for me to get fit and healthy once more!!)

Here it is, as a reminder to myself:

{You Go Gal}

Journalling reads:

That's what I thought was written all over Dave's face when I approached the finishing line. I wasn't in my top form but hey! I'm proud to say that I did a 10km run in my lifetime and I'm darn proud of it. Maybe I'll do a 21km??

Papers used: Basic Grey, SEI, Jenni Bowlin

Alphas: Creative Imaginations

Journalling Tag provided for in the kit.

I did some real fussy cutting for this one and I liked the overall effect with the help of curling the paper and using 3-D foam adhesives.

I hope you like what I've created so far =)

And thanks for looking here!!

Have a great week ahead!!!

Love,

Sophia

What I struggle Most...

2009-02-06T00:16:00.011+08:00

over at The Story Matters!

Yes, we are back!

Refreshed and ready for a brand new 2009!

So what do I struggle with most?

Let me think...

Chocolates

Carbs

Desserts

Sluggishness

They do sound weighty yah?

I mean, as I get to read more and more blogs,

I think it's a common problem among us women.

From the already skinny to those who are voluptously blessed with curvy figures.

(And no, we are not fat, just big-boned with slow metabolism - Ha!)

Well, you might have guessed it by now that I have weight issues with myself.

I'll let my layout and journalling do the talking yah?

Supplies from my LabelTulip October 2008 kit

(except for the Kraft and Brown cardstock)

Journalling reads:

In the recent years, this has always been a struggle for me - my weight: it was alright before I got married and had Daren as I had an active lifestyle; dancing actively in church, running with friends and hitting the gym. Right now, because of the kilos I've piled on over the last 5 years - 20kg to be exact - its left me feeling sluggish & lazy. I've tried to get back into the routine of gym but I couldn't. I felt guilty of not being around during Daren's bedtime if I did hit the gym.

Dieting is totally out for me as I still needed my carbs. Of course with the weight gain, other than the effect I felt on my body, It has affected my esteem over how I looked, always yearning back for the chiselled face and averagely ok 'bikini' body. It's a struggle with this weighty issue!!!

SO...

There.... that's sharing my story with you all.

And so,

Do play with us over at The Story Matters and share with us what you struggle with most. It could be anything from your relationships, spritually or even life.

Do give us your support once more yah?

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As promised earlier in my previous posting.

Some other layouts I created also using my LabelTulip November 2008 kit.

(yeah, I know, I'm playing "catch-up" in using my kits to the uttermost)

This layout is for {Create}'s February Challenge.

About the person you love and why you love that very person.

So I used a photo from my wedding day from 4.5 years back.

Journalling reads:

If you hadn't done any lovey dovey layouts for the month of February, do hop on by {Create} to check them out!

--------------------------------------------------------------

This layout is for the challenge over at Scrappin Kids.

This challenge is for us to scrap about that one thing we love our lil' one and to use an adjective to describe that one trait we love about them.

So here's my take:

(Sigh....I don't feel that this is my best layout but am still happy with it)

Again, I played with my LabelTulip November Kit.

Journalling:

Isn't Daren one cheeky lil boo?

He really has got that glint in his eyes when the little light bulb goes off in his head!!

And nowadays,

he'll tell me ," Mummy, funny!"

When he sees something funny and giggles over it.

LOL.

And I just love him to bits!

He can be cheekily sweet too!!

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Oh yes, over at LabelTulip,

Tulip Girl, Holly Hanks

(She totally rocks and is uber talented!!)

Had shared about her 1st attempt at SB and shared her 1st layout.

(Her 1st layout looks good!!! Gosh! That girl oozes with talent right from the beginning!!)

So I thought,

Maybe I can share my 1st layout with you ladies too.

Promise you don't laugh k?

I consider this my 1st piece after attending my 1st basic class at a local store about 2 years back.

Here goes:

{Expressions}

hehehehe.

I painfully stenciled out the alphas on cardstock and used craft knife to cut them out!

I was seriously worried that I migth have sliced off my fingers!

LOL!

So whatcha think?

Wanna share about your 1st layout ever with me?

(As well as over at LabelTulip's blog? They have a RAK!)

*Winks*

I hope you have a great week ahead!!!

XOXO

Sophia

Love is in the air!!

2009-02-05T09:54:00.003+08:00

Yupz, I've actually updated my Fun playlist.

Oh yes, I just realized that "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles is not exactly a love song

But

I love the tune and the attitude behind it!

But at the end of it, I see it as you can't co-erce a love song.

You gotta love and be loved in order to write one

Or scrap one!!

Anyway, I've scrap some for the past 2 nights. Will share some later.

So what's up with you all for Valentines?

For me and hubs, we don't celebrate it.

LOL.

Seriously now, I think Valentine's day is way too commercialized.

In the form of waaaaayyyy inflated, ridiculously priced roses and dinners.

And it's the time of the year to celebrate this one occasion...

No, I'm not against Valentine's Day, don't get me wrong.

I think it's nice and all

But

I feel that love should be celebrated with your loved ones

even when there's no special days or occasions to call for it.

Just to share anyway,

When I was much younger in my teens

I used to moon over celebrating Valentine's Day with my ex-teenage BF.

I threw up a big fuss if he didn't remembered or bought anything for me

Well, what do you expect for a die-hard romantic teenage girl?

But as I progressed to young adulthood.

It sort of became just a farce

(not because I didn't get flowers, I still did)

It seemed like a competition all over in Singapore.

Couples would stroll the streets with the guy holding of bouquet of flowers instead of the girl.

And it seemed like "Whose bouquet is bigger??"

The girl seemed really happy, beaming and glowing.

The guy, well, seemed broke.

LOL.

So when I met Dave and when we dated.

We made an agreement that we will do away with V-day celebrations.

I insisted no flowers for V-day.

(He has the rest of the year to buy me a bunch if he wanted to)

And so, for the past 7 years,

We did not celebrate V-day.

But the "I-Love-Yous" and hugs and kisses did not stop ever.

We still love.

We still kiss.

But in the scrapping world,

I can't help but be infected by the love bug!

I made a layout of Dave and myself

(it's for a challenge too).

I'll update the picture later.

So you see...

I'm not a cynical person.

Just a dreamy but practical girl.

But nonetheless,

If you are really into celebrating V-day,

Go ahead!

Share with me what you're planning to do with your loved ones yah?

Like I said,

It's better to love and be loved in return.

Long Blog Post

2009-02-02T13:40:00.005+08:00

Where shall I begin??

In alphabetical order!

(So I wouldn't be biased!)

-------------------------------------------------------

DreamGirls Challenge #21 - Clearly Yours

This is one of my favourite challenges! I'm so glad Dolores and Debz and the rest of the awesome DreamGirls Divas went for this one!

As you all know I've been experimenting lots with my Hamblys as a background for some of my layouts. So this challenge was really awesome for me to experiment further!

So this challenge is to use any form of clears as your background - Hamblys, Acrylic backings, K.I Sheers, etc and the twist is to use the word You, Your or Yours anywhere in your title as well as any form of journalling on your photograph!

And so, here is my take:

{You & Me in Love Forever}

What I Used: K.I memories Sheers, Hamblys Raffle Leaf, MME's photo overlay, Basic Grey Chipboard Alphas and WRMK's chipboard words

I love how the photos and everything else go together hand-in-hand!

Frankly speaking, the K.I Sheers I had for quite awhile but never got around to using it. So now it's absolutely perfect for the photos and challenge!

And yes, those photos were from my recent Perth trip! We were swimming in the waters around Rottnest Island.

So, whatcha waiting for?

Come over to DreamGirls and play along with us!

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Groovie Crazy About Covers challenge blog is officially Up!

Woohoo!!

What is Crazy About Covers all about?

Well, we see so many forms of designs all around us in the media (think advertisements), postcards, even funky CD covers of our favourite Artistes and even book covers!

Whatever inspires us from these sources, we could use them as inspiration in our scrapbook pages - placement of photos, overall design or even the colors!

Ed had decided to launch this groovie challenge that's been happening in the Groovie Scraps Cafe and open it up to you groovie scrappers from all around the world! And, we would be putting together a RAK monthly too!

I'll be helping her out as her humble DT blog co-ordinator.

And so...

Here is my layout for what I did for February Cover:

{Love was never promised to be easy}

Wonder what the February Book Cover looks like?

Hop on over to find out!!

And play with us and show us your intepretation

and have Groovie Fun!!

Also, check out what the rest of the Groovie Cover Gals had done!

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Pink Sketches #19

Here's my take on this week's Sketch:

{Soldier Boy}

Description: I mirrored the Sketch this time round. This layout is about my boy donning on a soldier's uniform and was beaming with so much pride, marching around at home and even taking the initiative to put on his cap to "complete" the look. He got so obsessed with soldiers and policemen eversince watching the National Day Parade. I've made a hidden journalling behind the photo with a pull out Maya Road Sheer Journalling Card.

Supplies: DCWV Cardstock, Making Memories paper, Crate Paper, October Afternoon paper, 7-Gypsies ATC sticker, American Crafts Chit Chat Accents Thickers, Creative Imaginations Felt Alphas, October Afternoon Rub-ons and Making Memories Ribbon and Star brads.

Oh yes!

Kelli will be looking for a new designer (maybe designers) to add to the Pink Sketches team!

More news and details can be found over at the Pink Sketches blog!

So stay tuned!

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Some Altered Ikea Jars

Since after getting back from Perth, having getting settled down from being on a lazy vacation, spring cleaning for the Lunar Chinese New Year (it's an annual thing), did up some layouts for DT work. I got caught up altering some belated Christmas gifts for my Secret Groovie GF as well as the wonderful ladies from MemoirActs whom I design projects/classes for.

In fact, before I went on my much needed break, I went to Ikea and bought some lovely items which I had some ideas of altering. And I got inspired by the DreamGirls Challenge #21.

Now they're done and given out. And my Secret Groovie GF had found out that I made her gift, I can now reveal what I did.

Here are some pictures to show:

For my SGG:

For Angie:

For Cheng:

I hope you enjoyed this ultra long blog post!

And of course, I do hope to have inspired you as much as you had inspired me!

In the meantime, chill, relax and enjoy the rest of your Monday as well as the rest of the week.

If I could find the time tonight, I'll start loading up some of my Perth Trip photos!!

The winner of the LUXE Paper RAK goes to

2009-02-02T11:01:00.006+08:00

The 1st on the randomly organized list!

(Using www.random.org/lists)

There were 8 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

8
1
6
7
2
4
3

Timestamp: 2009-02-02 03:00:35 UTC

And #8 on the comment list was

VerySherry!

You've got yourself this:

Do contact on how best to pick up your RAK yah?

Thanks everyone for playing along with me and sharing what your scrappy goals for 2009 were!

p/s: I'll be following up with a long post later. Gotta go and remove my stitches 1st.

Relaunch of The Story Matters...

2009-01-31T18:38:00.005+08:00

Next Wednesday!

However...

There's an exciting new RAK to be given away from Making Memories exciting new line, Flower Patch, by Penny (Blog Founder)!!!

This is to show an appreciation to you fellow scrappers on how thankful we are of your support!

To win this

Kindly leave a comment under the latest posting over at

The Story Matters

and you could stand a chance to be randomly picked for the RAK!

How awesome is that?

I wish I could be the winners!!!!

So what are you waiting for?

Help spread the word around yah and show us some love.

------------------------------------------------------

Yikes!

I know I've got a RAK to giveaway too from my last posting on sharing with me your scrapping goals for 2009.

I will be picking a winner shortly as well as post the picture of the yummy LUXE paper RAK I'm giving away too.

(By yummy, it meant that I wanted to keep it for myself but decided to bless a fellow reader/scrapper who would use it more and better than I do)

Stay tight with me yah?

Chinese New Year (CNY) visitations are keeping me busy the past week and I barely had time to blog much and scrap.

Catch up soon!

Love,

Sophia

XOXOXO

A Pink Start for 2009

2009-01-25T16:05:00.004+08:00

And Pink Sketches is back!

We all took a nice break due to the festive holidays to get caught up with life itself as we were all busy!! But I'm pretty sure we all had a good break and are refreshed and what a way to start the year with 2 sketches!!! Yupz! Kelli included a bonus sketch for all of us to play with, especially those suffering from Pink Sketches withdrawal symptoms!!

LOL!

Here are the Sketches if you've yet to check them over at the Pink Sketches Blog!

Title: love Nana

Description: I realized that I didn't scrap much photos of Daren and my mom together. So decided to start doing some layouts of their time spent together for Daren to look back on when he is older! This is also a tribute to my mom for loving us all unconditionally and her love transcends generations!

Supplies: Bazzil Basics Cardstock, Making Memories - Vintage Hip papers, Ribbon trims, Alpha Stickers, Buttons and rub-ons.

Title: Smile, Are We Having Fun together

Supplies used: Cardstock - Bazzil Kraft CS, Patterned Papers - October Afternoon, Alphas - American Crafts Thickers and Basic Grey Chip Stickers, Rub-Ons - Scenic Route

Hope you'll enjoy the sketches and my take on them!

Do remember to come play with us over at Pink Sketches!

Love,

Sophia

New Do!

2009-01-22T20:37:00.002+08:00

I just got home from a gruelling 6-hours in the hair salon!

Chinese New Year is round the corner and it's that time of the year to give my "crowning glory" a new do - new layering, new perm and new color. And of course, I did a pedicure in between each hair treatments.

My hair was washed 3 times in a row!!!!! By the 3rd round, my scalp felt a little sore from all the washing but I must admit I do like the head massage bit while my tresses were being shampoo-ed.

Color of my hair? - Red highlights with a burgundy base.

I'll get Dave to take a few photos of my new "crown"

Also, I'm recovering from a minor op I had on my right arm/shoulder area yesterday to have a cyst removed. Experiencing some numbing/pulling pain currently but it's tolerable.

It's a day surgery, nothing major really.

I was operated on under L.A so I was conscious when the surgeon did the gig on me, just that I was on my side and my face was covered so I didn't get to see what's going on.

I wasn't scared or a tad nervous really.

I mean, after having gone through an emergency caesarian birth (under epidural) after being in the delivery ward for nearly 10 hours in 2006; this little 4cm incision was nothing.

But thanks to friends and groovie scrappers for your love and well wishes nonetheless.

I do hope to get scrappy this weekend for some LOs.

I have lots to scrap but a little lazy to have the photos printed.

Yes yes...I need to process my Perth trip photos and have them loaded up to my Flickr.

In the meantime, to my fellow Chinese Scrappers, have a Prosperous Lunar New Year!

It's time to play TAG!!!!

2009-01-19T18:31:00.008+08:00

I've been tagged thrice the past week by 3 wonderful, different and creative people of whom I do stalk their blogs!

I should start in the order of the people who tagged me 1st.

The 1st person was Edleen!

This is what she bestowed unto me!

This is called The Proximity Award.

"These blogs believe and invest in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers, who must choose eight more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their awards".

Wow!

Thanks Ed! It's really an honour for me that you think of me with this award! I've been really blessed to know you too and am totally inspired by your person! I'm so glad to have gotten to know you from Groovie!

-----------------------------------------------------

The 2nd award came from Jana!!! I was pleasantly surprised really =) Thanks Jana!

The Marie Antoinette Award - A Real Person, A Real Award.

The award is for regular people posting about their everyday life.

I got to know Jana via Pink Sketches and she's a tremendous creative soul! I just adore her works and she's an inspiration too!! Not just in her creative artwork but in her everyday life.

There are 5 simple rules: -

1. Post the logo on your blog (above pic of Marie Antionette herself)

2. Post a link to the person’s blog from whom you received the award (thanks, Jana!),

3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs (see below listing)

4. Link to the blogs you’ve nominated, and

5. Post a comment on those blogs to tell them of their nomination! Simple!

Here are my nominees:

1) Sherry - She's a real friend and a real person! Heart in all the right places!

2) Sarah - A new friend whom I made from Pink Sketches too =)

3) Penny Smith - She's as real as you can get and I just love her attitude towards life!

4) Theresa- Got to "know" her via The Story Matters

5) Dorcas - My co-founder of MomentsRecorded. She's really awesome in her creative works! Do visit her and leave her some love too!

6) Sasha Farina - She's an amazing lady with an eye for details and color! Love her style and her Oommpphh for life!

7) Sasha (From The Story Matters) - I love her "In your face" realness! You go girl! She's one mean creative lady! Just love her spunk for life!

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Last but definitely not least, Debbie! One of the blog challenge owners of DreamGirls!

Wow! I'm once again honoured to receive the award from you. Thanks so much!

I'm sure many of you have had this award given to you before. But hey, this time, there's a questionnaire that comes with it as a twist!

So I am now supposed to answer the following questions with a one word answer:

1. Where is your cell phone? bedroom
2. Where is your significant other? here.
3. Your hair color? black
4. Your mother? reliable
5. Your father? where?
6. Your favorite thing? cienna
7. Your dream last night? don't remember
8. Your dream/goal? SAHM
9. The room you’re in? cozy
10. Your hobby? scrapping
11. Your fear? insufficiency
12. Where do you want to be in six years? better
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you’re not? slim
15. One of your wish list items? WISH (Toyota)
16. Where you grew up? Singapore
17. The last thing you did? Bathe
18. What are you wearing? Sleepwear
19. Your TV? Criminal Minds
20. Your pet? No pets
21. Your computer? on
22. Your mood? Light
23. Missing someone? nope
24. Your car? refer to No.15
25. Something you’re not wearing? contacts
26. Favorite store? DorothyPerkins
27. Your Summer? Hot
28. Love someone? Yup
29. Your favorite color? Green
30. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday
31. Last time you cried? hmmmmm.

Ok, I know I'm supposed to nominate another 3 more people, but hey! I love all the blogs that I have listed on my side bar and they are stalk-worthy!

Why not pay each and every one of them a visit and get inspired? =)

And

While it's an awesome privilege to be receiving them awards

But you know what?

I'm just an ordinary person.

With dreams.

With a family.

Learning to love life more.

Who happens to love to scrap to record life's moments.

And it's new friends like you who make my life much more interesting!

So thank you!!!

I'm Not.....

2009-01-16T10:41:00.006+08:00

Heads up! New challenge over at the DreamGirls!

This is a Use-Your-Stash-Challenge with the title of "I'm not..... (fill in the blanks)"

We had to use patterned papers from at least 6 months back!! No problem for me on this one as I have tonnes of stash from more than 6 months back!!! Some even up to a year back even! The twists - Technique: add a touch of tearing somewhere in the LO, Prompts: Must use "I'm Not" in your title.

The prize that you're going for is a lovingly sponsored Jan Kit from none other than

So do get participated with us and link your works under the comments of the I'm Not challenge over at Dreamgirls to have the chance to win a kit!!

This was really great for me for the new year as I know I'm an avid patterned paper collector of the new but yet holding on preciously to the old... LOL! But one of my scrapping goals for this year is to use up 70% of my paper stash and avoid too much buying for the time being (yes, we've all said this a million times!!)

Anyway, just to share what I did for this challenge.

Since my boy just turned 3 years last Sunday, I decided to do a LO that says

"I'm Not Baby!"

Papers used: Scenic Route PPs and a leftover October Afternoon PP for the papers used. Embellishments and stickers were like from more than 6 months ago too.

I hope you like my 2nd LO for the year! And I do hope I'm doing it justice!

I'm slowly starting to get my mojo back and I'm looking forward to a great year for 2009!

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As I shared with my fellow Groovie Gals what my scrapping goals were for 2009, I'll share them here:

1) Use up at least 50% of my stash - new or old (especially the old ones), I'm not really bothered by whether it's the latest in my LOs.

2) Hold the online and real life SB shopping (easier said than done) till I'm like 70% used up my PP and stashes!!! Other than that, I think I have more than what I need to scrap with.

3) Am thankful and contented for the DTs I'm on. 2 of them are on break currently and will resume sometime mid Jan i.e Pink Sketches and The Story Matters, I'm grateful to be given the chance to be on DreamGirls and being a Groovie Cover Gal. Will work hard at them and for each challenge. Of course I do hope I have the time to participate in {Create}'s and Groovie's challenges. No plans to apply for DTs unless invited (dream on!!)

4) Hmmmm, I hope to be able to venture out to do more mini albums. So far I think I've only done 2 last year!!! I hope to see more minis for 2009.

5) Organize my scrap space and hopefully get my "scrap table" from Ikea =P

So what's your scrapping goal for year 2009? Share them with me!!! I've got a delish LUXE paper kit to RAK away!!!

And I'm Back!!!

2009-01-13T17:43:00.005+08:00

I'm physically back in Singapore!

But somehow I'm not all that back home.

Some parts of me I think I forgot to pack into the suitcase when coming back!

Anyone has got that post-vacation feeling?

And I was due to hand in some DT assignments which I took awhile to get to as I was rather mojo-less.

Funny how my mojo and creativity took a longer vacation than I did!

I think it was the pre-vacation status - busy and high-strung and everything was rushed rushed. And the major episode of flu (which I spent the 1st few days resting in Australia).

Now that I'm back home, I'm feeling a little lost.

LOL.

Anyway, I just hope it's just a temporal phase.

I've tonnes of photos from my holidays!

Gimme some time to get organized to go through and arrange my photos, to slightly process them a little before sharing with you all. Likely it'll have to be via my Flickr account.

Oh yes, just to share a LO I did for DreamGirls before I flew off and it was launched before I got back:

{New}

The challenge was to use ALL Black and White patterned papers with a one-colored, hand-made embellishent. I made a folded flower (I remember seeing this on someone's blog ....I think it was June who shared the link of a famous someone who shared this). I hope you liked the LO.

In the meantime,

I wanna thank all of you friends for taking time to drop by and say,"Hi!!"

I really appreciate all the love and well wishes for the new year!

I promise I'll get to you ladies and leave some love as I take some time to recollect what I've been doing before my trip!

Love,

Sophia

XOXOXOXO

Welcome 2009!

2009-01-01T10:15:00.003+08:00

G'day Mates from sunny Perth, Australia!

Wishing all my scrappy-friends a wonderful, hope-filled 2009!!

May this year be a greater year

(despite all the bad news of the economic meltdown around us)

A year of new beginnings.

New Hopes.

New Dreams.

New opportunities.

New scrapping resolutions.

New Goals.

New Dreams.

New Friends.

May 2009 be a year of all things new.

I'll be back next week with more pictures of my trip and new layouts.

I'm missing my scrap supplies back home and I'm really itching to do more layouts.

On the holiday front, my family and I are having a wonderful time in Perth.

It's our first time being here for Christmas and it's not all that hot.

We felt more of the summer heat after the Christmas period and we've been basking under the hot, scorching sun and we're all browned and tanned.

Had some nice pictures with David and Daren

and I can't wait to scrap them all !

In the mean time,

here's to wishing all of you a blessed 2009

from myself and my family!