To all the lovely ladies at Creative Escape 2010

LUV 'YA!!!Card features the doodle heart stamps from Purple Onion

Me and Ed not in the photo...aiyahThank you Donna!!!! We miss you already!

Remember When?

• Laine's was this tiny little 'goldifsh bowl' of a store in the corner (near the toilet)?
• We had lovely shag carpet on the floor (courtesy of the previous tenants - a lingerie shop)
• We had classes in the middle of the store, sitting around that small table - maximum 6 people, and people would walk around us while we had class going on (and sometimes make comments)
• Classes were simple - like "Ribbon Class" or "Inking Class"
• we had Laura Ashley brand patterned paper
• it was just me and Elaine teaching classes and Nancy, Cyn, Iver and my mum did retail
• we sold French General jewellery kits and memo boards
• there would be nowhere to walk whenever new stocks arrived
  

Ahhhh.......those were good times. Seems like only yesterday yah?
and hey, here's a big thank you all the friends who have supported us and been with us since the beginning - we remember your kindness to us and your smiling faces most of all.

Sneaky Peeks Time Again

Hi h0!

I'm done with April class samples for Laines! And Cynthia very kindly delivered them to the store for me. (Thanks Cyn!)

g.c.d. style mini album

layouts with Martha Stewart glitter

French memo board

This is going to be a busy week for us... Donna's coming!!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!

QUIZ TIME!!!

Q: Why does Sharon love Distress Inks?
A - because it makes her happy when she can stain everything all dirty and brown
B - because she can pretend having horribly stained fingers makes her more 'artsy'
C - because she discovered you can use distress inks on ALL layouts - even the clean ones (see below)
D - All of the above!
Ans: D!

Q: Where was Distress Ink used on this very clean layout? (ok, clean by my standards)A - on the edges (of course)
B - to create the 'city skyline' shape in the background
C - to create the wiggly lines near the bottom
D - all of the above!
Ans: D!

How I made the "City Skyline":
Actually, its not supposed to be a city skyline. its supposed to be those 'light bars' on the amplifier / stereo that move up and down when the music is playing. (What do you call those things anyway???!!!) But everyone in class though it was a city skyline so....oh well.

Here's what I did:
1. I cut the edge of my grey grid patterned paper to make various heights.
2. Then I flipped it over, and used it as a mask and rubbed 3 different colours of Distress ink (scattered straw, vintage photo, walnut stain) over it, brushing the ink downwards.

How I made the Squiggly lines:
1. I tore the bottom edge of my patterned paper and saved the torn portion
2. I placed the bottom torn edge and the torn portion slightly apart then rubbed ink in the 'gap'
3. I flipped the papers around for a different angled line

Ahhhhh.......Distress Inks....where would I be without you?

g.c.d in blue....

Thank you thank you Heidi for featuring this project on the g.c.d blog along with your super kind words... (and everyone for such sweet comments). As we would say in Singapore, "shy, lah!"

I really had fun with this project!
I especially like the overlays - did you notice how they even bothered to make the lady's handbag glittery? That makes me happy for some reason....

Of Comfort Zones

This is me designing in my comfort zone.... (mini album for April class)

Using vintage images....
cooking stuff and painting...everything 'black-black'...
And here is stuff which Merdrey picked out for me to use for our challenge... which is definitely NOT in my comfort zone (except maybe those little black Jenni Bowlin alphas...haha.
We had this crazy idea to pick stuff that we each like, then assign it to the other person to use. This is particularly fun(ny) because she and I have really different styles. Yanni's in on the fun too! And I can't wait to see how it all turns out!

Glad for the Rain...

It's been terribly terribly hot the past few weeks but at last, this week, things have gotten cooler with the rain coming just in time!

It was just as hot on the day the photos in this layout were taken:

Layout Title: "One Very Hot and Sunny Saturday Afternoon"

My Favourite Bits:
1. Cosmo Cricket Love Earth patterned papers - I love the nostalgic colours.
2. The fact that the green pattern looks like grass when facing one way and looks like waves when you turn it upside down (in case you're wondering, the green patch in the corner is supposed to be a pond - haha)

Let's hope the cooler days are here to stay for a while....

Non-Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark

1. Fringe trimming2. Mystery solving
3. Sparkly Scrapbooking:This layout was brought to you by....
- g.c.d's new Homespun Chic collection (love that frame!!! and the little words)
- My ancient set of stamps (so old I forgot what brand) and white embossing powder
- my trusty white Uniball Signo
- all the full stops from my pack of white glitter American Craft lettering (they're the centres of the white sparkles)

The Week In Review

1.This week I had a little bit more grown-up company than usual. (as opposed to just Critter company - I love my kids to bits, but sometimes I really don't feel like talking about Lego Star Wars and Strawberry Shortcake). Had fun creating and working with Merdrey, Yanni and Zn at Papermarket.

2. I had fun teaching the first "Family Traditions" class on Friday - thank you ladies for your perseverance and patience!

3. I worked on 2 layouts and discovered the joy of 'mao mao' (furry glitter) - you'll see it in April's class.

4. I have been tired and busy with many many different things but I am very glad I was able to 'survive' this week.

And so I leave you with a Purple Onion layout that reflects the mood I'm in now. Happy.

Layout Title: Lots of Fun in ToonTown
I am Happy With:
1. the scalloped 'flags' banner
2.the two tone summer noteblock stamp
3.the little raindrops falling from the cloud

I am happy in knowing that Someone up there loves me and a few other special someones down here love me too. That makes for a happy week.

Contest!

In case you didn't already know, Donna is coming back to Singapore again this March!!!

And to celebrate, there's a cool competition going on:I'm not allowed to take part.... :( but you can!

News...

This seems to be turning out to be a rather 'newsy' kind of week...

1. The Laine's Newsletter is out here - You HAVE TO check this out - its our 5th Anniversary celebrations so that means.....super super goodies!!! Oh and check out the pics of our first store! (Any of you out there remember our first 'goldfish bowl' store? With classes held in the centre of the store while shoppers shopped around us?)

and....

2. I got to make this:

altered cotton bag using g.c.d. Homespun Chic collection

some close upsbecause of this - thank you thank you Heidi!

Technical Specs:
1. All the papers and embellishments are from the new Homespun Chic collection by g.c.d studios - yum yum, love those vintage ladies!
2. I glued all the papers on using Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi-Medium (Matte) - works like a dream.
3. The stamping in the background is done with my favourite Purple onion vintage text stamp.

All of this stuff can be got at Laine's of course (except for the bag....I can't remember where I got it from 'cos its been in my cupboard for a while...)

Hmm....might be fun to do this on a t-shirt, except it would probably look quite 'breastplate'- like (like a Roman soldier...?)

Purple Onion Stamps in Action

I get extra happy when I find different ways to use my Purple Onion stamps other than my usual stamp onto cardstock and cut out method.

I used various stamps (star, definition, happiness is... and broken alphabet) to create the background on this layout and I must say I am really happy with the result.

Call me Stamp happy!