Wednesday 25 December 2013

Merry Christmas!

To my lovelies,

May this day bring you health and success. 
May you and your family experience God’s loving embrace.

Christmas is a time when
everybody wants his past forgotten
and his present remembered.
Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas!

Here are some of colourful Google images that caught my eye : 

image source : google

image source : link


image source : link

 image source : link

Hope it inspires and brighten up your day! :)

Thursday 24 October 2013

Wedding Theme (Mr & Mrs) - Papercutting

Hello My Loveliy Crafters,

Just a short quick update to share with you. I did this papercutting few weeks ago (or maybe month ago). It is a papercutting of wedding theme (Mr & Mrs) with floral design. I am still in practicing phase; for this papercutting, I am using a basic craft knife on a 80gsm white paper. I am in love with the ampersand! The Mr & Mrs words look a bit small tho'. What do you think? Feel free to comment. This papercutting design can also be used for cardmaking or frame it just as it is. 

Mr & Mrs Papercutting

Till then,
Happy Papercutting & Crafting! 

Sunday 18 August 2013

Inspirational Paper Rosettes for Wedding DIY

I always forgot what to call this 'thingy'. It is paper rosette! I've found a beautiful wedding deco using paper rosettes as backdrop via KaLice-Events website. I'm sure there are plenty similar design out there but I kinda like this one. Pinning my fav here in my blog...



source: KaLice-Events

DIY Paper Rosette from LemonJitters

Found a tutorial for paper rosettes DIY via LemonJitters website. She's using a scoring board for the paper rosettes. I still haven't buy any scoring board yet. *wishlist* But I managed to make few paper rosettes for a wedding last May. Will post up the photos soon. Did you DIY your wedding / engagement deco with paper rosettes? Feel free to share your DIY creations!

Happy Crafting!

Sunday 11 August 2013

Salam Aidilfitri 2013

Sorry, I've been on hiatus. Juggling between busy work, study and life :s Don't worry, I still ❤ crafting / cardmaking ! It's the 4th day of Raya Celebration and it's still not too late to wish you all out there a Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri! Enjoy the ketupat, lemang, rendang and so many more... now I'm craving. Hehe...

Just to share few of my attempts to stamp a Hari Raya sentiments. I ordered few customized stamps from a local stamp company and bought alphabet clear stamps - Micia Crafts brand and tried on my newly bought papers from Daiso. Here's my raya stamping:- 


Ink used : Multi-surface Chalk Ink VersaMagic Ocean Depth
Works well with the clear stamps (Micia brand) and look a bit faded when stamped with the red rubber stamp (customized order stamp - Aidilfitri word)


Another attempt to stamp with Fade-resistant Dye Ink Memento Bahama Blue Ink - with customized red rubber stamps (Selamat / Hari / Raya / Aidilfitri - individual stamp). The words look faded with this ink. 

*Ignore the misalignment* :P  
Ink used: Fade-resistant Dye Ink Memento Bahama Blue Ink, Multi-surface Chalk Ink VersaMagic Turquoise Gem and a no-brand yellow ink

I can say that the chalk type inks work well with the stamps and the no-brand yellow ink is not bad too. I can't recall where I got the ink tho'. Spot anything wrong with the words in the last photo above? (hu...hu... ) The word "aidilfitri" missing its "i" (*sobs*). That's all from me now... 

Till then, hope you have a blessed Eid and holidays!

Happy Crafting!

Sunday 16 June 2013

Happy Father's Day

A quick recap of my last week activity as a member of the Scrapbooking & Cardmaking Malaysia; where the theme of card swap for this month was Father's Day Card + Extra. 


The swap category includes an exchange of a blank father's day card to the partner assigned and to send some small portion of craft supply such as embellishments, tapes, ribbons and etc wtih the expected value between RM5-RM10.

Due to my nature of work where I need to work outstation, I was late for this card swap. So sorry to my assigned partner for the delay. It should arrive to her by now... For the craft supplies, I've sent to  washi tapes to my partner in separate mail and here's my take for the Father's Day Card with lots of stamping (Hero Arts stamps) and foam tapes were used to add dimension to the card, 'hard translucent plastic sheet with some silver glitter on it' (I'm not sure what to call it. You can see the background of the card below), translucent colour papers/vellum, die-cut heart shapes, glossy effect, red twine and some jewels for embellishment.

Close-up View

Before adding glossy effect (taken without flash)
After added glossy effect (taken with flash)


 
Inside of the Card (above) with elements of stamping, twine and die-cut heart shapes
Inside of the Card (below) - stamping of blue green border and the sentiment

That's all from me now. Hope my partner will like it. Wish you all a Happy Father's Day!
- Off to work and Happy Crafting!

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Thank You Card

Hi Lovelies,

Recently, I've joined a cardmaking class with the theme 'His & Hers' from onlinecardclasses. The class gives card-making ideas and designs for both girls and guys and you can create a lot of cards from the tutorials and techniques.

Due to my busy schedule, I was unable to join and make the cards each day.  :(  The class has ended but luckily I can still access and get the contents of the class. The theme for the final day of His & Hers class is Thank You cards. Here's my 'Thank You' card inspired by Kristina Werner's Thank You Cards. The room lighting gives a different colour at different angle of the card. So, I snapped a few shots hopefully you can get the real colour of the card. I've put the tutorial below after the photos.




Thank You Card Instructions

Card size : 4½" x 6.3"

1. Create a top-folding card from Bazzil white cardstock.

2. Cut a strip of White cardstock to 2.35" x 4.2". Stamp greeting in Versafine Onyx Black ink on cardstock strip.

3. Stamp flowers in VersaMagic Pink Grapefruit and leaves in VersaMagic Turquoise Gem on cardstock strip. (I'm using Inkadinkado Special Thought for You Mini Stamp)

4. On another white paper, stamp 1 flower in Cherry-Bravo Raised Rainbow Pigment Ink Pad Micia Ink (using red and dark pink colour) and cut out the flower and adhere it on the cardstock strip using double sided tape/dimensional adhesive.

5. Embellish the flowers and greeting with jewels.

6. Cut a lace ribbon and adhere to the bottom portion of cardstock strip, above greeting.

7. Scallop edge of pink polka-dot patterned paper using a scallop border punch. Cut polka-dot paper to 3.7" x 4.1". Adhere to card with the scalloped edge along the right-hand side.

8. Round bottom edges of stamped cardstock strip using a corner puncher.

9. Adhere stamped cardstock strip to card using double sided tape/dimensional adhesive.

10. Round right corners of card using a corner puncher.

Hope you have a beautiful day ahead! :)

Monday 13 May 2013

Wrap Up Day Class - Thank You Card

Did this thank you card from the wrap up class from onlinecardclasses 
Will post more details of this fun class I joined. 

Till then... 

off to work~~

Monday 11 March 2013

White Theme : Wedding Congratulations Card

Hello Monday-Crafters!

I hope you've had a wonderful day today! Today, I'm going to share a card I made inspired by simonsaysstampblog previous challenge which is white-on-white challenge. The difficult part for me is that I'm not really good at white and white... so, I'm challenging  myself to make one. :)  Here it is, a white-on-white theme "Wedding Congratulations Card". You can see the two techniques I've applied on this card in my previous posts : heat embossing and textured embossing. I've added white satin ribbon bow and also heart-shaped brads on the sentiment. Scroll down for close-up photos and a quick tutorial:

 White Theme : Wedding Congratulations Card
(photo taken in low light condition)


 Close-up: Hand-stamped "Congratulations" Sentiment and heart-shaped brads

Close-up: White Satin Ribbon ("fluff it up")

 Close up from below angle

What do you think? Is it too plain? Feel free to comment; I would love your opinion and you can share your link if you have made any white-on-white cards. :)

If you would like to make something like this, here's a short tutorial:
  • Card base (White cardstock) - 16.5cm x 12cm (Corner punch the card)
  • (a) Cut a smaller 15.5cm x 11cm piece of white cardstock and emboss it (Corner punch the embossed card)
  • (b) Die-cut a doily paper and heat emboss it
  • (c) Glue the doily paper on textured paper
  • (d) Glue a white satin ribbon strip on top of the paper and a ribbon bow on top of the ribbon strip
  • Glue the assembled (a)-(d) to the card base
  • Cut 2 small rectangular papers; 1 small rectangular and 1 slightly smaller than the first one (I'm using pearlescent paper for the smaller one).
  • Stamp Congratulations
  • Adhere smaller rectangular to the big one
  • Attach 2 cream colour heart-shaped brads
  • Adhere the sentiment with foam pads below the ribbon
Supplies: White cardstock and pearlescent paper (you can use any extra papers), Corner puncher, Quickutz Dainty Doily die, Sizzix Bigshot, Flourishes Stamp (Congratulations stamp), Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders 5PK - Wedding Set #2, Acid-free pastel brads (cream colour heart-shaped brads), foam pads, white satin ribbon, Tsukineko Embossing Powder Iridescent, Tsukineko VersaMark Dazzle Pigment Inkpad - Frost-Clear Shimmer, heat embossing gun, VersaMagic Midnight Black Ink

Have Fun!

Thursday 7 March 2013

Preview: Butterfly Hearts Birthday Card

Hello Lovelies,

I just made a birthday card for my lovely friend. I name it the 'Butterfly Hearts' birthday card. I'll be posting out more details of the card after this. Prepare for pink, hearts and glitters!


Can you guess which patterned paper I've used?

Till then... stay tune!  :)

Monday 4 March 2013

Artsy Ocean Crafts

 Playing around with free fonts and came up with the above. What do you think? :) Will be using this for next papercutting practice. Stay tune! If you like cute fonts, you can try MissTiinaFonts. They are very cute and simple. Love them! Make sure to read her T&C before use.

Free fonts from dafont.com and fonts101 (link below)

Sunday 3 March 2013

Papercraft Inspirations Magazine - Issue 110

Hello lovelies! How fast time flies and it's March already!! 
Let us welcome 'March' with a big hug! ❤ 
I bought Papercraft Inspirations today at Borders bookstore. :)  For those who wanted inspirations for Easter and Mother's day cards, this is a great magazine to start with. The freebies are 25 sheets of Sweet Memories 6x6 Luxury patterned paper designs and Sweet Memories Vintage resin flowers. The beautiful resin flowers and matching papers help to create stunning cards for every occasion! There are free printables too. There are many ideas for Birthday, Mother's Day and Easter Day cards for this issue. More pictures I would say.


Papercraft inspirations Issue 110 March 2013

Do you have any favourite cardmaking magazine and which is your fav? Feel free to share. :)
Till then... 
Happy Cardmaking!

Saturday 23 February 2013

Textured Impressions Embossing : Wedding Theme



If you love textured embossing...   

Just to share an embossing I did few days ago on a white cardstock. This is one of my successful embossing attempt as I always end up with few tears on the paper I used. Have you experience that before? I'm not sure if it is due to the thickness of my cardstock or other factors. Feel free to share some tips and tricks if you have any  :)

Supplies used :
  • White cardstock
  • Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders 5PK - Wedding Set #2 
 
Happy Crafturday!

Friday 15 February 2013

Let's do heat embossing!

Remember my dainty doily from Quickutz / Lifestyle? I'm going to heat emboss it with VersaMark Dazzle watermark stamp pad (frost) and Tsukineko Iridescent embossing powder. Sparkle sparkle! 

Ok, some of you might be familiar with embossing or heat embossing. For those who are not, here goes the definition for heat embossing:   

Method of creating raised logos or characters (such as in letterheads, call cards, invitations) on paper with ink instead of dies. The item is printed as normal in the desired ink color and the printed area to be embossed is sprinkled with the 'embossing powder.' Then the item is passed through a heater which makes the powder to swell and create raised (embossed) appearance. 

Eversince I invested on my first heat embossing gun few months ago, I can say that I'm quite addicted to try and emboss almost everything I can. Hehe... The feeling of ooh aah and wow! when you see the embossing powder melt is ah-ma-zing! I remember showing it to my friends on how heat emboss works and they went oohhwow... exactly like my first time. Haha! My favourite embossing powder as for now is iridescent colour. I need more moolah to fund for my craft supplies and more embossing powder. Will have to make/sell more handmade cards for artsyocean fund..

So, if you want to try out and start embossing - the basic ingredients of heat embossing are -
  • embossing heat gun / embossing heat tool / heat gun 
  • embossing powder (Extra Fine, regular, and Ultra Thick)
  • stamp
  • ink
 The final look of the embossed dainty doily paper. Can you see the shiny sparkles.
Close-up : Right after heated (I embossed twice)
 
Close-up:  Flatten it

Still thinking what to do with it... Hmm. Any idea? Feel free to share with me... So, what's your first embossing moment like? Do you still remember? 

Happy Weekend and Happy Crafting to you!

Cardmaking Challenge

Pinning these few cardmaking challenges to play along :

CAS card challenge


Other Card Challenge
Malaysia Cardmaking Challenge 
...and I've found our local cardmaking challenge space, kudos! 

Hope this will encourage more people into cardmaking hobby.

Happy Crafting! :)

Thursday 14 February 2013

CAS project : First Clean and Simple Card

Hey lovelies!

Happy Valentine's Day and wishing you a beautiful day ahead! I just found out about CAS card which means 'Clean and Simple'. I googled for the definition and found on simplylessismoore blog. Their CAS terms are:

Clean & Simple
A design of card with clean lines, minimal elements, areas of white space and few or no embellishments.

White Space
An area of the card which has no image, layer or embellishment.
This can be any colour dependent upon the colour of the card blank.

OLC - One Layer Card - One piece of card folded in half with no additional layers and minimal embellishments, where the image is stamped or printed directly onto the cardstock.

Generally, from what I've read around the basic rules is the design, less embellishment and white space area.

I thought of joining the challenge to try out CAS card but just found out that the challenge theme for this week is music. For those who wanted to join, you can go to their blog. I made a CAS and OLC card tho' but without music element on it but with inspired song title. I don't think that will count .. hehe. 

So, I'm gonna enter CAS-sual Fridays challenge - CFC89. The theme is love song.


CFC89:  With the Grammys coming up in a few days, we thought it would be fun to have a song inspired challenge.  Choose a song you love, then create a CAS project that is inspired by it!

CAS-ual Fridays' CAS terms are :  
Clean. And. Simple.  |  uncluttered  |  lots of open *white* space |  one clear focal point

You can have color... pattern...smart embellishments...even a few well placed layers...
Your style can be graphic, fun, elegant or even vintage...
It all comes down to the design...
Clean. And. Simple. 

But because I use the OLC CAS theme to enter the challenge, I thought of trying one with only a layer of cardstock base and stamping. Here you go my very first CAS card with song title inspired by Blink 182 - I miss you. I'm not use to CAS card and I will need more practice to make CAS cards, hopefully can enter more challenges like this.

Submitted to : CFC89

I'm using my fav bird stamp (I can't recall the brand), DewDrop Multi-surface Chalk Ink VersaMagic Midnight Black, Missing you by Ali Edwards, my newly bought ZIG Memory System Wink of Stella (Black), corner puncher and purple cardstock. The card size is 10cm x 16.5cm.

I tried to ink the bird stamp using DewDrop Brilliance Lightning Black at first but the ink wont stick on the stamp so I change to the Midnight Black. Then I add on the black Wink of Stella pen on the image and words. They look very sparkly and I love the effect. Here's the close-up not sure if you can see the sparkle effect but in real life, it looks pretty. Now I'm thinking to get the other colours from this range...Ohh my my..

 Close-up : Sparkle effect

 Close-up : I Miss You

Feel free to share if you have any designs using the ZIG Memory System Wink of Stella pen. 
Happy Crafting!

Wednesday 13 February 2013

QuicKutz Die : Dainty Doily

Hi All,

Just wanted to share my new cutting die I received from my happymail box few weeks ago. I came across this brand in Ebay and I never heard of it actually, but because I love the doily die design, I bought it. Tadaa... 


A short history of QuicKutz brand, in July 2010, QuicKutz sold all of its assets to an investment group that formed a new company called Lifestyle Crafts around the company’s product lines. The original QuicKutz, renamed legally as QK2015 because the QuicKutz trademark had been sold to Lifestyle Crafts....  (source : scrapbookupdate.com).

I use Sizzix BigShot Tab2 platform to cut this. Roll it and voila! The dainty doily paper with lovely intricate design. The cutting die is 4x4 and the doily paper (shape) size is approximately 3.5" x 3.5". Let's see what we can do with this. :)  Happy Crafting!


Hearts for the Valentine's day

Valentine's Day is just a few hours away and one of the many ways you can show your appreciation for someone is with a handmade card. So, let's celebrate the colours of love: red, pink, and white! Below is one of the cards I've made for Valentine's day and can be used for any other occassion. 

  
I incorporated different shapes of die-cut hearts from various cardstocks and patterned papers. I always wanted to try to make ruffled ribbons but I don't have a sewing machine to do so. So, I thought of doing it without one. There you go, ruffled polka dots ribbon with pink and white ribbons on top to embellish the card. Final touch to the card is the embossed sentiment 'with love'.

This card was made using high quality cardstocks (acid free & lignin free) with Bazzill Embossed White Cardstock - Polka Dot as the background on pink base card.

 Close-up: No-sew ruffled ribbon (polka dots) with pink and white ribbon on top 
and the embossed sentiment

Close-up: different sizes of heart shapes with pop-up hearts

Hope this inspires you! Happy Crafting! :)

Supplies used: 

  • Sizzix Bigshot Machine
  • Sizzix Die - Originals CutsHearts
  • Sizzix Die - Heart w/Wings #2
  • Pink Polka Dots Ribbon
  • Light Pink Ribbon
  • White Ribbon
  • Free Stamps from Simply Cards & papercraft magazine (Issue 105)
  • DewDrop VersaMagic Midnight Black
  • VersaMark™ Dazzle watermark stamp pad - frost
  • Tsukineko Embossing Powder #11 Iridescent
  • Foam tape
  • Bazzill Embossed White Cardstock - Polka Dot 
  • Pink Cardstock
  • White Cardstock (Inside) 
I'm always curious 'bout the cardmaking challenge happening around the globe, so I thought of submitting mine. It will be fun and you can see so many talented cardmakers out there. Here's mine. Will look out for more sites to submit for the next coming cards :)

Tuesday 12 February 2013

Happy ChineSe New Year!

To my dearest ArtsyOcean-ers,

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Xin Nian Kuai Le! 
{wishing you more prosperity in the coming year! happy new year!}

Wish that the Chinese New Year of the Snake brings 
peace, happiness, good health & fortune to you & your loved ones.

I have no internet connection few days ago and hence, my late wishes. Hope you all had fun playing, laughing, catching up with friends/family/relatives and not forgetting the joy of receiving 'ang pao' (red packets) for the singles.

I didn't manage to make any CNY cards but I did a small mini CNY card (a request by sis) and I bought tons of papers and craft supplies again. (will share with you all in another blog post). Ohh no, I'm about to become a Scrapping Hoarder. :) 

Below is my CNY blossoms card on red base cardstock, metallic copper background, and a patterned paper. I embossed the tree branches with copper embossing powder, I drew the black thingy in the blossom flowers and I embossed the 'Gong Xi Fa Cai'.


 Close-up

So, 2013 is thought to be a lucky year by many (because the snake resembles the dragon, and the dragon is the luckiest zodiac animal of all). *wink*  Let's hope 2013 be good and let us welcome 'cai shen dao' (the God of Wealth).

I hope that I can make and share more of my creations here in artsyocean and also contribute something to the cardmaking/scrapbooking industry.

Till then, Happy CNY!

Saturday 5 January 2013

MIss Piggy Christmas Card

This is a recap for one of the Christmas cards made last year... and today is also the 12th day of Christmas which is also known as Christmastide and Twelvetide. It said that the twelve days and nights are celebrated in widely varying ways around the world. Some give gifts only on Christmas Day, some only on Twelfth Night, and some each of the twelve nights. So, let's open and reveal few 'gifts' from ArtsyOcean.  :) 

This Christmas card was made specially for a friend who is a big fan of Miss Piggy.  Few info about Miss Piggy :
  • Miss Piggy is a Muppet character
  • In 1996 TV Guide ranked her number 23 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list.
  • Miss Piggy began as a minor character on The Muppet Show TV series, but gradually developed into one of the central characters of the show. She is a pig, specifically, a mangalitsa who is convinced she is destined for stardom, and nothing will stand in her way. She has a capricious nature, at times determined to convey an image of feminine charm, but suddenly flying into a violent rage whenever she thinks she has been insulted or thwarted. [source:wikipedia

Here, presenting to you, none other than the glamourous Miss Piggy!! It wasn't easy for first-timer like me, especially to bring out the glam of Miss Piggy... pheww... 



(p/s:  image has been watermarked)

I used:-
  • Pastel green cardstock (card base), red and white (image) cardstock, silver metallic paper
  • Kaisercraft Silly Season Collection Paper and Holly Hobbie Christmas Joy Paper Collection (free from Cardmaking magazine Issue 110 November)
  • White, red and green ribbon
  • Foiled Christmas sentiment (free from Cardmaking magazine Issue 109 October)
  • Sakura souffle pen (for white dots, eyelid and blue eyes)
  • Copics colour (E00 skin white, R37 Carmine, a little of B12 Ice Blue, E93 Tea Rose and 0 Colorless Blender) - not much shading as I'm still learning
  • My mind's eye - Fine and Dandy by Jen Allyson - True Blue Bling #FAD137 (yellow rhinestones)
  • Embossing gun 
  • Beacon glue 
  • Bone folder
Embossing for Christmas hat and poinsettia flower 
  • VersaMark Dazzle Watermark Stamp Pad (Frost) 
  • Embossing Powder Tsukineko (#11 Iridescent) 
Embossing for the hair
  • Embossing Powder Tsukineko (bottle in Japanese characters - I can't read but the colour looks like shiny copper)
  • Embossing pen (clear)
Embossing for eyelid
  • Embossing Powder Tsukineko (#11 Iridescent) 
  • Embossing pen (black)


Scroll down if you would like to see close-ups of the card.


Can you see the VersaMark Dazzle (frost) effect combined with Iridescent embossing powder effect on the Christmas hat? It's a bit hard to emboss the hair as I've embossed the eyelid first and both the black and copper colours were mixed up a little bit there.

Wishing you joy! foiled sentiment


Red ribbon on top of green ribbon (antique trim from makingmemories vintage findings - trims cool/froid)

Embossed poinsettia flower with yellow bling rhinestones


This is the inside view of the card - red cardstock with Season Greeting's sticker elements (found/bought from a scrapbook store in Perth) and handwritten Happy New Year!

Ok, that's all from me now. Hope you enjoyed my Miss Piggy presentation and feel free to comment. Happy 1st Weekend of 2013 and Happy Crafting!