You will not believe the amazing things you can do with the Sizzix Big Shot! Look out for make & take dates or come by to see for yourself.

So  seriously, this is the box with the Big Shot Pro. All 24 kg of it! Don’t worry, the Big Shot is completely portable. And Pink. But still, you don’t want to drop it on your toes.

We used some new dies which will be available in November/ December but the 3D flower is HOT! Try it in store now.

Earlier this week, Sheila shared a very useful tip about word or a name of a collection that you could find at the bottom of each sheet of patterned paper. I was inspired by her idea that I thought I would share the card version. I found these colorful strips of patterned paper by Echo Park and to create this card, I cut out the strips from the bottom of each paper and adhered them to a kraft card base. To give the card a little something extra, I created faux stitch borders by using a tracing wheel. I hope this idea will help to spark your creativity! Happy Creating!

Today’s journaling idea is super fun and you can use it for a special day or an event. My layout is about happy Sundays and things to do that make me happy. So the journaling prompts could work for event based photos, or a favourite place or a holiday.

You could start the journaling with some background story like, “these days I often find myself too busy or stressed out to just go somewhere new and try a new activity or explore new places in town” and then continue with the event which changed the routine.

If you begin with your journaling idea first and decide on your title and theme, you can work it into your design. Some title ideas for a project like this might be;

1)    pure bliss

2)    perfect sundays

3)    adventures with you

The journaling is easy enough to start off with, like just a list of where you went, what you saw and why you liked it, sort of like just writing in a diary. You can also add label stickers to the photos and write captions on it.

These are again just some ideas to get your journaling thoughts whirring. Journal away and feel free to leave comments about which aspect of journaling you might want to know more about, or just to share your journaling experiences.

Happy journaling!

Product Feature – Rub-On Tape by Daisy D’s

Stitching is always a great way to add texture to card and there are many ways to do that. I don’t own a sewing machine and if you are like me, you would agree that faux stitching is the best alternative. Lately, I’ve been playing with Daisy D’s faux stitch rub-on tape and consider it as my new favorite product!

It’s effortless to use and works perfectly for any kind of style. Here, I created two cards just to show you how a simple rub-on tape can be used for two different styles. The first is a cute baby card and the other is a shabby chic butterfly card. And oh….did I mention that it took me less than 30 seconds to create the faux stitches? Now, that’s what I call time saving!

Tips to use:

1. Work best when applied to a smooth surface.

2. Apply even pressure when adhering the rub on tapes.

3. Simply use a white eraser to remove any mistake you make.

4. Allow it to dry before touching.

Fun right? If you are planning to get one, it’s available at Smidapaper now! I know I’ll be using this rub-on tape a lot! Happy creating!

Gift Box Tutorial

Having trouble finding the right gift box for a special occasion? Well, trouble no more. Learn how to make this simple box to hold a special gift for an extra special person in your life. You may change the size and dimension according to your own.

To get started, you’ll need:

i) Cardstock (trim to size based on the diagram)

ii) Bone folder

iii) Tape Runner (or glue if preferred)

Using a bone folder score 1 ½ inch on each side (in this case I used Martha Stewart’s bone folder for a crisper and more pronounced score lines).

Pre-fold all score lines and make four cuts on each piece. This is how it should look like.

Fold in the tabs and apply adhesive to each tab as shown.

The completed box lid and base.

Embellish as desired and here is my finished box.

For a twist of fun, I filled the inside of the box with some pretty embellishments (you may have realized that I’m obsessed with pink by now…lol)

You’ve seen it all, now it’s your turn to make one today! Remember, the possibilities are endless. With just a bit of creativity, you will create one of a kind gift box that your friend and family will cherish forever. Happy creating!

Have you heard of the Rascal Flatts song titled, ‘My wish for you’? It’s a song from a father to a child…” may your dreams stay big/ your worries stay small” etc etc. This week’s journaling idea kind of stemmed from that song. This title/ theme will work for a layout about your child, sibling (younger or older, it really doesn’t matter), a friend, or anyone really. It could even work as part of a wedding layout for someone dear.

This journaling prompt is rather versatile and can consist of anything and everything positive that you’re wishing for the person you’re scrapping for or about. You can also start the journaling with some background story like, “do you know that I’ve always thought of you as my favourite person in the whole world? Now that you’re embarking on a whole new journey, my wish for you is that you will find what you’ve been searching for all along…”

If you begin with your journaling idea first and decide on your title and theme, you can work it into your design.

Some title ideas for a project like this might be;

1) my wish for you

2) did/do you know

3) you are so…

For today’s layout example, I wanted to make it more fun by making it a hidden journaling piece. Especially since your wishes for someone might be rather personal and mushy, a good way to make it a little private would be to write it on a separate piece of paper then tucking it into an envelope. (This is also a nifty tip for those who aren’t too proud of their handwriting). As for related design elements, since my layout was about my baby sister who’s not such a baby anymore I used a few butterflies to symbolize metamorphosis, or the process of change. To make it extra challenging, I only used scraps of patterned paper and forbade myself from cutting up a new piece of patterned paper=p. That’s my way of working my way through my scrap stash.

The “wishes” can be in a list format if you like and can encompass different aspects of life to accommodate all kinds of well wishes, e.g finding purpose, love, joy, may your dreams come true (but in more specific terms), etc.

These are again just some ideas to get your journaling thoughts whirring. Journal away and feel free to leave comments about which aspect of journaling you might want to know more about, or just to share your journaling experiences. Happy journaling!

i-mei=)

Product Feature – American Craft Foam Tabs

Do you love adding dimension to your projects too? If you said yes, then the new “This to That Foam Tabs” by American Crafts is a must-have adhesive for you. It’s fuss-free and an easy way to add fabulous details to your projects.

To create 3D effects on my card, I used a single layer of foam tabs on the stamped butterflies and placed it directly on the card. You can stack two foam tabs for even more dimension. It holds pretty strong and once pressed down firmly, you wouldn’t be able to remove them from your project.

Don’t be afraid to add a few foam tabs here and there to add an extra “pop” to your projects. Have fun creating!

If a picture says a thousand words, why do we even have to journal? What is journaling anyway?

Even the most traditionally long-winded and expressive of us all often find our scrapbook layouts and albums filled with random snippets of captions. We are driven by the latest collection of patterned paper, the latest way to make our chipboard pop; and the very last thing that comes to mind is what words to write and how to include the journaling. Worshipper of the written word I may be, and even I find my rushed ramblings on tiny but gorgeous journaling tags stilted and weak.

Hence this new fortnightly segment on this blog, to share with all of you (and remind myself) the true point of journaling and the many meaningful ways we can incorporate it into our scrapbooking or even cardmaking. Our messages in cards can definitely be a form of journaling as well. (and can leave our loved ones weeping in joy)

Over the weeks to come, I hope to discuss the many ways we can approach journaling from the inside out, while also sharing nifty tips and ideas for fitting it into our pages. Sometimes you might even find that your layout will stem from a journaling idea or phrase. My Mind’s Eye tags with their witty phrases have a way of churning a whole lot of page ideas, e.g “the many reasons why I love you”, etc… but we’ll get into technical specifics later in the game.

So let’s hop into square one.

What is JOURNALING?

A journal is a daily record of events of a personal nature. Much like a diary. And in scrapbooking, journaling is what makes your pictures truly speak. In decades to come, even the sharpest of minds will strain to recall what made little Sarah wear that pink fuzzy shirt ALL the time, or the quirky habits you first adored about your husband. Recording your feelings of a special phase in your life while you are in it helps keep those sentiments alive and immortal, readily accessible each time you flip through your scrapbook pages.

In an Asian context especially, we may be prone to keeping a lot bottled up. Now’s the time to slowly bare your thoughts and feelings and make your scrapbooking experience not just an art but a journey for you and everyone you care about and want to scrap about. Of course, language is a handy tool for journaling. Often I hear scrappers say, “I know what I want to say but I just don’t know how to say it”. You may not want the word “happy” in every single journaling spot. Use a handy thesaurus (online if need be) and find the exact word to suit the story you want to tell. Don’t be afraid to stretch yourself and express yourself in new ways, in whatever language you’re comfortable with. Because when you do, your pages will be so much more meaningful, not just to you and your family but to the generations to come as well.

Journaling idea 1-then and now

Journaling always works in tandem with the photos we decide to scrap. In this case, I wanted to chart a relationship that has grown through 4 and a half years. You can use this same format to scrap about a home you’ve lived in, a child growing up, anything with a progression really. Time makes bonds stronger in many cases, so this is a pretty adaptable journaling idea.

If you begin with your journaling idea first and decide on your title and theme, you can work it into your design. Some title ideas for a project like this might be;

1)    Through the years

2)    Along the way

3)    How we’ve grown

4)    Look at us now

5)    Then and now

After deciding on your title, your journaling would then include recaps of what it was like in the past, in the early stages, perhaps some of the ups and downs, highlights of the relationship and how the way it is now is great or different.

Prompters to begin with…

1)    Do you remember when we first met?…

2)    Can you believe it’s really been four and a half years?…

3)    Back then, I never would have thought…

These are just some thought generators. I’m sure you get the idea now and are raring to work on your own project like this. A theme this broad will even work well for an entire album, or mini album. Journal away and feel free to leave comments about which aspect of journaling you might want to know more about, or just to share your journaling experiences. I’ll try my best to address your concerns.

Happy journaling=)

i-mei=)

Remember when we used to post ‘Tuesday Tips’ ? Well, Design Notes is the new Tuesday Tips =) We’ve been playing with buttons lately and are convinced that this tiny accent is as versatile as ever! Today I wanted to share how color sets the mood, the tone, of your project. This card was made in tones of pink , not baby pink but a more grown up palette which makes it perfect for a female recipient. A sister perhaps or buddy or even Mom. Now if we switch it up a bit and use baby pink on an ivory card, that would be perfect for a baby. Now, what if we want to man it up a bit? Now that’s where the fun comes in. Send us your take of a card, using buttons but in masculine tones…

and you’ll have a chance to win one of these fun prizes!