Strangest Thing I ever Altered

Guess what this is?Ans: Its a Dove Shower Gel bottle - after a scrapbooking makeover

I had fun designing this for a workshop we ran last week. The challenge was to turn the bottle into something useful. So I made this thing that's got little hooks (made from brads fixed into the flowers the 'wrong way round') where you can hang things like rings and little earrings - although personally I think you have to be quite chao pattern princess to be the kind to hang your earrings and jewellery on a special stand before you take a bath - wouldn't you just put them on your dresser table? (Hmmm....but then, I have no jewellery to speak of, so what would I know eh?)

Here's version 2: You can hook earrings onto the rows of lace.

The workshop was fun - and I got free shower gel (which smells great incidentally) - so all in all, it worked out great.

By the way, thought you might like to know - the lovely ladies on the Laine's design team now take turns to blog every day on the Laine's blog - I share a little technique every tuesday and each of the girls shares inspirational projects and ideas and sneaks of their classes - lots of good stuff and free ideas! (Even better than getting free shower gel!)

Actually Martha Stewart Quite Clever Lah...

Been doing quite a few 'clean and happy' designs for classes at Papermarket. Here are pics of the very first class I designed exclusively for the new store which ran in September. I got to work with a Martha Stewart album kit - which is really quite a clever one - I like the binder a lot... (and did you see the little Martha Stewart punch car?)... ...Plus these too cute envelopes (that come with the kit) ...and a handy ziploc bag for stashing bits and pieces The red kit that we used for classes is sold out but there's a very pretty pink set still available (for those of you who were asking). I like that its actually adapatable to any theme.

I've also been indulging my inner 'artsy scrapper' and I'm very happy with how this turned out. It's gonna be a class in November at Laine's.

One down, two more to go! Deadline is 20th Oct so forgive me if I don't chat so much when you visit me at the store. Still friends ok?

It Isn't Lantern Festival Unless Something Gets Burnt

We celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival over the weekend. The kiddies had fun...And Hello Kitty got 1st degree burns....This happened to my rabbit lantern too when I was little, and also one of last year's lanterns, so I can see Beth is carrying on a grand tradition.

And speaking of tradition....

Layout Title: "Reminisce" (can't believe I had to look up how to spell "reminisce" - don't tell the MOE ok?)

I like
1. how the Purple Onion definition stamps turned out on the right side.

2. The photo - yes, that's me (and no, I cannot be bothered to try to look like that everyday)

3. How the coloours came together - everything looks sepia now!

Song for the day: "We'll go dancing in the dark.....walking through the park and reminiscing..."

It's Good to Get My Hands Dirty Again...

I've missed this....getting messy, playing, not knowing how things will turn out....The recent projects I've been designing have been rather 'clean' and so its nice to feel that spark of child-like enthusiasm again.....makes me feel like 'me'.

Here's the result of my 'playtime':

Layout Title: "Popcorn" - There's a Reason Why They Call It Popcorn - 'cos you just can't stop going pop! pop! pop! pop! pop! pop!Purple Onion Stamps: Circle Set, Skinny Dip Alpha (I am addicted to colouring these in with white pen)

Wanna Play?
Let's Make An "Exploding Nebula" Background:

You will need:

1. Glimmer Mist
2. Embossing powder (a few colours) and heat gun
3. Liquid glue
4. White Staz On ink

Playtime! (aka Happy Accidents Which Happen When You Can't Find Your Embossing Ink or Glue Pad - See Step 3 and 4)

1. Stamp white shapes with white Staz On ink (I used the ring from the Purple Onion circle set) - these will later give you 'ghostly' images in the background

2. Spray on glimmer mist varying the intensity in different spots patchy is good - this will give you a 'soft cloud' effect - reminds me of a distant galaxy

3. While the glimmer mist is still wet, sprinkle on various colours of embossing powder and heat set. - I poured lime green, yellow, orange and red embossing powder into my hands, then rubbed my hands together (with glee!) to sprinkle the mixed up powders onto the wet glimmer mist - I suppose you could just sprinkle it in the more 'conventional' way, or sprinkle with 3 fingers like a princess, but this way is more fun!4. Draw ' streaks' or 'explosion lines' with liquid glue, sprinkle on white embossing powder and heat set. - The nice thing is that as the embossing powder melts, the liquid glue also starts to bubble which sort of 'raises' your embossing powder taller plus breaks it up a bit and gives it more 'bumps' and texture.

And speaking of playing - a happy hello to the ladies who had fun playing with me in class today! Thanks for the yoguru Val & Caroline!

*sings* - somebody come and play, somebody come and play today....