Celebrate card with the Letterpress.

My second attempt with Letterpress went so much better - including the clean up as I had the Letterpress cleaning cloths. (Don't attempt to clean up without it! and baby wipes don't do the trick!)  I have learned to be patient with the ink - I rolled it with the brayer quite a few times until it was uniform and non-lumpy, and I was able to get a nice thin coat of ink onto the plates this way.  I also attempted to do some layering with the plates, using different colors and I must say, I was quite a bit happier with my purchase this time! 

My cards that I made were for my dad and my dad-in-law, whose birthday falls within two weeks of each other.  Here it is - see! see!!  Don't you think that I'm getting better???

My new toy has been ordered!

As some of you guys know, I'm heading down to the States next month, and I thought that I would start my vacation early...  That is, start online shopping.  You wouldn't believe how many things I want are from US and only ships within US.  Or, they would ship it here, but the shipping is double of what anyone living in US would pay, or I get tacked on a huge amount of duty/custom fees and won't be worth it to order it.  So, if you live in US, consider yourself lucky!

Anyway, there are a few things that I've been eyeing, and I am proud to say that I ordered my first (hopefully of many!) and the biggest purchase (most likely) last night (picture below).  (We're going to be staying with our relatives for portion of the time, so I'm getting it all sent there)

This toy is the Teresa Collins Stamp Maker.  You can make your own photopolymer stamps at home!  Basically, you design what you would like for a stamp, make that into negative-like image and then print your image onto the film provided through your inkjet.  Then place the photopolymer packet and your image together, stick it in the UV light box for 3 minutes, wash the stamp, stick it back in the UV light box for 2 more minutes and it's done!  With this, I'm planning to make "mod paperie" stamp, our address stamp, perhaps kids drawings into a stamp...  and if I ever come across a sentiment or saying that I like, I can design my own and make it!  How exciting is that!  I will definitely make some and share with you my creations! Shown below is how clear and detailed you can get from this machine!

In the meantime, I started making some Valentine cards - here's two that is super easy (made from "from my heart" paper from SEI and Technique Tuesday stamp), but I think it's pretty! 

Better go now... that is, back to my online shopping :)

My first Letterpress attempt.

I tried the Letterpress kit yesterday.  It was just so exciting to open up a box with a brand new tool!  In the box comes with a Letterpress mat, positioning foam stickers, double-sided adhesive to mount your plates, ink, brayer (a roller you use to evenly put on the ink on the plate), and some sample letterpress plates.

I took some pics so you can get the idea of how this is done:

You decide where you want the paper on the mat and hold it there with the repositionable foam adhesives.

You decide what plates you want letterpressed on your paper, and adhere them with the double sided sticker to the mat facing the paper (mirror image).  Apply ink on the letterpress plate using the brayer.  This ink was so thick, it was like touching a tar.  It's sticky, and it's impossible to wash it off!  I had ink all over my hands and could not get them off with soap and water. (Then, after some researching, vegetable oil did the trick and thankfully, it came off!  Letterpress has some wipes that is supposed to be awesome for clean-up, so I ordered that right away after this!)

 My first attempt...  I think that there was too much ink... 

After few tries, better... but could be a whole lot better...  I think that I'll wait for the wipes to arrive before I attempt it again!  Not too bad, though, I think for the first time!  I put some rhinestones on them and it became pretty!!!

I have also something exciting  - my fellow SVGCuts designer friend, Tamara (Happy Wife, Crafty Life), has designed for me a new blog linky!  I love how she took half of my flower ball, and used the colors from the flowers for the words.  What an improvement!  Thank you so much!  And, if you haven't been to her blog yet, make sure that you do - 'cause you're going to be blown away by how talented she is!

Finally the weekend that I longed...

I finally got to settle down and get back into my crafting mode....

Earlier this week, I just finished my next SVGCuts project, and all I'm waiting for are the Valentine candies to hit in the stores so I can take pics of them.  Can't wait to share it with you!!!

Then, I started another SVGCuts project and that's rolling along as well...

Yesterday, I did a quick card with the SVGCuts Freebie from last week - Valentine Truffles.  They are so cute, makes me want to eat them!  I used Swiss Dots embossing on the background, and used stickles for the sprinkles.  The stamp was from Technique Tuesday.

Then I got a toy before Christmas, a Lifestyle Crafts Letterpress kit, and I think that I finally going to break the box open and try it today!  I ordered more printing plates, so should be arriving in the mail soon!

So, there's lots to be shared. Stay tuned :)

Christmas Card Pattern - Squash Album

I've had a number of requests for me to post the tutorial for the card that I made this Christmas.  I got the idea from Scor-Pal website and click here for the tutorial.  It was super easy, and it just added something different to the card rather than the plain card that opens up.  We took this idea into Publisher and wrote our letter and then we printed them out.   We made each of the folding squares 4" by 4". 

And I know this is a lot of reading, but for all of you that requested to want to read the whole letter (Actually, it is really funny - I think that my hubby did an excellent job of writing here, so if you have the time, it's a great way to get to know us!)  - here goes: (sorry about the fomatting - this is the best I can do)

Note to reader:
We both know that you aren’t actually going to read this, because Christmas letters are, as a rule, not all that interesting.  I have researched this extensively.  If you are still reading, you have already exceeded the average according to the Christmas Card Letter Percentage Read Index (CCLPRI).

Faced with this data, I simply could not go on. Then it came to me—you can write it!  Think of all the time you will save me!
Just use your considerable creative flair to first fill in all of the blanks, then read it!
- Adrian



Dear ___________ ,
                      your name
We sincerely wish you a Merry __________________
                                                                  holiday you celebrate
and Happy New Year!  We squeezed in a vacation to Japan in the spring, moved out for 4 months because an ________________ took up residence in our home,
                                               imaginary creature
Thienly developed a ___________________ addiction,
                                              word for how you smell today
and the kids turned into even more terrifying monsters.  I dealt with this by spending even more time than usual at work.  That pretty much sums up 2010.
Yes it is true, we did move in with the the in-laws while we renovated our ___________________
         same imaginary creatures
- infested home.  __________ would imagine that it
                                        your name
would be _____________________ living with Thienly’s
                word for how you feel reading this letter
parents, but actually it was awesome and we all really enjoyed it.  We had help looking after the kids, cooking, in-house babysitting - part of me thought we shouldn’t move back!  Our reno, which started as an extension to add a bedroom, turned into changing the flooring, the fireplace, the laundry room, and I think it's safe to say that I won’t be able to retire (ever).


Despite my lackluster efforts, Thienly will still not join PA (paper-craftaholics anonymous). She has collected an arsenal of equipment, started her “mod paperie” blog, and there are even ___________ who pay her to do crafting by giving her stuff to support her habit.
                      scary creatures

Admittedly, the ____________
                                                   same scary creatures
are very nice.  And I can't complain about having more time to do whatever I want — it keeps her very busy.  She took a break from her crafting the other day to tell me that her braces should be out before Christmas, then she went back to her craft-seeking behaviour.


Amelie will turn 2 in January, and continues to find ways to jeopardize her life that neither of the other two did. She also continues to beat them up & escape blame, get into things they never did, and throw everyone’s ___________________ on the floor.  Today
                                                                                                                                          your most expensive mobile device
she pushed a piece of furniture beside her crib and then used it to climb in, barely getting over the rails and then doing a face plant into the matress.  She looked quite proud of herself, but I’m not sure if she was proud of getting into the crib, or producing a horrified look on my face.  One of her favourite things to do is to clamber on top of any unsuspecting adult and demand their attention, and she does it with a princess smile (and a series of distinctly un-princess like grunts).  She further shows her princess behaviour by doing the opposite of what is asked, along with a stuck out lower lip to show her defiance. Nevertheless, this little_____ seems to have everyone wrapped around her cute little finger
                                                                       primate

Speaking of _____________, Kai
                                                same primates
will turn 4 in March. We have weathered the worst of the terrible threes by now, and he is at that veryputting him to bed, he told Thienly that he loves her, Daddy and Amelie.  When she asked about Adly, Kai paused and said, “I like Adly but he is not doing his Japanese homework!”  Apparently, he’s paying close attention to all of the conversations in the house!  He has such a positive outlook -  When I tell him I can't play with him because I am going to work, he says, "but you will come home tomorrow? Oh that's great!" and trundles off to join Amelie’s attempt to break your _______________ .

                                                                                                                                   most expensive mobile device  
Kai loves to play with either of his siblings.  While living with Thienly’s parents he shared a room with Adly, and would wake him up early in the morning by standing on the night table and then belly flopping onto him like a 35 lb bag of frozen ______________.
                                                                                                                                                                                          Your favourite carbs


I am sure that Adly was feeling loved at that moment.  Nevertheless, Adly does love playing with both Kai and Amelie.  Shortly after his 8th birthday this summer, Adly developed a new interest: reading.  Since then we have to limit the time his nose is in a book or else you might never see him.  When we moved back home in October, soon after he found his long lost toys, he was arranging his favourite books in his room. He has also developed a keen interest in technology, and if you don’t pay close attention you may catch him loading apps onto your ____________________.
                                            most expensive mobile device           


There are difficult challenges in life, like what to do with that ________________________________ or that
                 holiday food you don’t like that your relatives made
________________________________________ .
   other holiday food you really don’t like that your same/different relatives made
Unfortunately, there are more daunting burdens than these in our lives.  We wish you the strength to face your trials and the very best of all things in 2011.


Love,


Adrian, Thienly, Adly, Kai, and Amelie


PS -  _________________apologizes for the less than
                                       your name
exciting reading - after all,  __________ wrote it!
                                                                                           he/she

SVGCuts New Design Team!

Here's the announcement for the 2011 SVGCuts Design Team.  Meet the two new designers - Amy and Tamara.  They are both absolutely amazing ladies!  I'm so excited to be working with all 3 fantastic designers and it's looking like there's going to be a lot of fun things coming up for all of you this year.  Click here to meet them.

I've been working away on my next project - almost done - so stay tuned.  It's pink, it's red, it holds candy, and it moves (well, in real life it would). 

There's a new collection out from SVGCuts - it's the Candy Heart Goodie Bags SVG kit and it's adorable!  and it's only $4.99! 

Finally, since I haven't posted anything in a long time, I thought that I would just post a quick card that I did for friend's birthday a while ago.  This is using ?? cartridge (I've been looking at SVGCuts stuff too much - I can't remember what cart this was! - can someone help me!), and it's pretty plain and easy but it's still fun so I thought I'd share. 

Anyway, stay tuned, I promise there'll be a lot of things posted soon - so please don't forget about my blog :)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope that everyone had a great New Year's Eve.

I don't have any projects to share with you today, but here's few things:

1.  SVGCuts are retiring some of their freebie files at midnight tomorrow (Jan 2nd) so make sure that you download them now!  Once they are gone, they are GONE!  Here's all the files to be retired.

2.  SVGCuts are announcing two new Design Team members later today, so stay tuned.  I have a pretty good guess at who they are and these two crafters are AMAZING!  So excited that they are joining me on the Design Team.

3.  My family booked a vacation to Southern California from Feb 9th - 22nd and we're super excited.  We're doing everything including Disneyland, Sea World, Legoland, Universal Studios, Wild Animal Park, Hollywood...  I would also love to go shopping for crafty things...  So - if you are in that area and can give me any advice/tips on anything - good places to go, how to save money, cool stores (especially scrapbooking items), cheap stores, anything - let me know!

Anyway, may this year bring happiness to all of my friends here :)