Crafters Need A Lift Too

A friend just shared this song on FB. Found it simple but very true... gripping. Despite all the beautiful stuff we make and see on craft blogs, we or someone we know (from all parts of the world) have struggles of one kind or another. I dedicate this song to all you crafters who needs a lift right now.

Blessings by Laura Story.

Lyrics:
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
As long as we have faith to believe

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not our home

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Listen to the story behind the song here.

.

Lazy Lacey One

Used Promarker colours and Blender to achieve the similar affect of distress inking on the sentiment element. Round scallop is made from a brown paper bag.

This lacey one has been 90% done and put on hold for the past one week as I was waiting to get the sentiment done with embossing powder. Why the wait? Well I didn't own any embossing powder till I attended the Hobbycrafts last Saturday. 

Glad, this card is finally done. I have many first times with this card. First time using:

lace

sequin

more ribbon

embossing powder

heat tool

tidy tray

Handmade distressed paper flowers with tulle. 

Romantic Vintage?

Stamp : Sentiment (May Hughes)

Paper: 5"x7" Opalescent Orange Card (Royal Langnickel), Pearlescent Cream card, Scrap Brown Paper Bag, Scrap White Card

Accessories: Peach Tulle, 3" width Peach Single Edge Lace, 1cm width Cream Ribbon (Rayher), 0.5cm Cream Ribbon (Sopp) Sequin

Tools: Threading Water Border Punch (Fiskars), Multi Frame Dies MDF020 (Nellie's)

Promarkers: Blender, Coral, Saffron

Others: Gold Rich Embossing Powder (WOW!), Glitter Glue

This is my entry for these challenges :

Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Ribbons & Bowes

Simply Create - Do It Yourself

Ladybug Crafts Ink - Handmade Flowers

Scrappy Frogs - Flowers & Lace

Whoopsi Daisy - Let's Glitter & Glitz it

CES Challenge - Die Cut Crazy

Colour Create - Pastels
Allsorts Challenge - For A Special Lady




.

Preparing my 1st Blog Candy!

Welcome everyone from all around the globe. ^_^

I have just came back from a craft fair in Birmingham. See my post about it here. I managed to grab some great bargains and will be allocating a whole bunch of stuff for my 1st Blog Candy. It's dangerous to stare at the items which I bought intended for the Blog Candy as it makes me consider keeping them for myself instead. But no, that shall not happen because I am too excited about having my 1st Blog Candy Giveaway!

Anyway, I will post about the Blog Candy soon after I am done adding more items to the bunch and photographing it.

Stay tune!

P/S : You may begin following me now if you are not already a follower. This will help you keep track when I finally post up about the Blog Candy. 

.

Overjoyed at Hobbycrafts Fair

It was such a great experience at the Hobbycrafts Fair in NEC, Birmingham on Saturday. I was so determined to be involved in some free workshops, so I arrived the venue at about 9.15am and began queuing up with some other eager ladies (and some obviously-not-so-eager guys that came with their wives) at the entrance before they were open (9.30am) for the day. So there I was waiting among the small crowd of about 150 persons and only approximately 15metres away from entrance. When they finally opened the entrance, I almost squeaked in excitement (oh, maybe I actually did!). The initial glance at the varieties of craft items and booths was overwhelming but before I went bonkers and began shopping, I went straight to hunt for the two booths to get myself registered for their workshops. I attended workshop with WOW! Embossing Powder.

My first time using the embossing powder. 

and made this little mdf booklet.

Have decided it's time I invest on embossing powder as it's not an impulse buy. I have delayed this purchase since last year. So I got some powder and ink from WOW!'s booth itself and a heat tool for £7.50 from Samuel Taylors' booth. What a steal!

I also attended the Debbi Moore Designs Workshop. 

My first time making an easel card. Real easy to just cut and paste the elements. This is like a cheating way to make a quick card without needing much thought for design ;) At the end of the workshop, participants are each gifted with a Debbi Moore Designs CD of 100 Beautiful Vintage Flowers.

After that I couldn't spare too much time taking too many pics or looking at any more stuff at the other fairs (same ticket entitled one to Sewing For Pleasure and Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch) within the same hall because there are seriously too many things to check out. So much stuff, so little time! Anyway, here are some photos I managed to take just to remember the craft fair by.

I went to the fair prepared with a foldable trolley. Without it, I think I would have had more strains on my arms and legs carrying all my new treasures through the whole day. I literally meant the whole day because I was in the fair till the vendors were packing up and when the organizer kick the visitors out! Plus after that I had the trolley with me (from Birmingham) till I got back to my accommodation in Redditch at 11pm.

The bargain I got at the fair made my day. And when the group of friends I met up with after the fair decided

to go for a Japanese dinner, it was double yay!!! We went to Woktastic near Bullring Mall.

I went for their Unlimited Japanese Fusion Buffet for only £12. I had about 27 items including sushi, tempura, noodle soup, fried ramen, katsu curry chic with rice, cheese cake, apple crumble, fruits, jelly and etc. What a cool deal!

It was an extremely pleasant day for me.

.

Hobbycraft Fair

This weekend I will be attending the Hobbycraft Fair at NEC, Birmingham. The ticket also entitles me to free entry to Sewing For Pleasure and Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch at the same venue, at the same time. How cool is that?

This shall be my 1st time to a craft fair. So looking forward to it. Hope I will get some good buys.

.

Ballerina Of Blogland

I had the making of this card put on hold since last week because when I placed the embossed sheet on the card base, I decided it has to go with some lace and frills which I don't have at that moment. So I waited till my order came which was 3 days ago. Even when it reached me, I still had to wait till it's after my dance audition on Saturday.

So this Sunday, I made this card. I am pleased with how it turned out. Made me think of Mother's Day.

With daylight

Just as I wanted it to be - without image, simple and elegant. Doesn't the touch of tulle makes it even more girly?

Under indoor lighting

Ran white chalk over the embossed pattern to further highlight it

Everything girly ;)

Paper: Pink Card, 5"x7" Opalescent Pink Card (Royal Langnickel), 

Accessories: Grey Tulle, Ivory Single Edge Lace, 1cm width Cream Ribbon (Rayher), Anita's Pink Gemstone

Tools: Damask Embossing Folder (Crafts Too), White Chalk

This 'ballerina  chick' just sashay-ed to...

One Stop Craft Challenege - Diamonds are a girl's best friend

Paperplay Challenges - Embossing

Sugar Creek Hollow - Anything Goes

Sarah Hurley Challenge - Embossing

Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Trio Tastic

Do You Stack Up Challenge - Add A Bow

Crafty Creations - Mother's Day

House Of Gilli - Pastel Colors & Bling

Creative Cowgirls Challenge - Monochromatic

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - Mother's Day

Craft Your Days Away - For Mum or A Special Lady
Stampin' Royalty - Texturized

My apology if I have accidentally entered this card to a challenge that  does not allow more than 10 combined challenges. Sometimes, I hunt high and low for the challenge  rules because not every challenge blog display them on the side bar.

.

Retrieving My Unaccomplished Dream

As I have mentioned in my profile, dance is my passion. It has been my dream to receive professional training for dance. 

Ever since I got relocated to London with my husband, I have not danced much - not for fun and not for ministry either. But I managed to participate in a dance project at Laban which went on for 3 months and ended with a 2-day performance. The performance was themed Danse Macabre and performed with life orchestra.

During rehearsal

With other participants

The look  I did as required for the show

Full rehearsal with live orchestra band

I realized I am being in the right country to pursue dance. London is a place with the wealth of performing arts. With much prayers and surfing online for the past few months, I came across a perfect place to get the kind of training I want. It's Spring Dance. They offer training for those who has the desire to minister dance through the Christianity context. I made my inquiry and application for that course within the past 3days and voila, they are inviting me for the audition which happens to be on this Saturday. 

The audition will take form of a contemporary class, a short improvisation, a solo and an interview. I have to find a song and choreograph a solo in such a short time. The audition is this Saturday! 

If they accept me, I will be training with them from September 2011 till either December 2011 (foundation) or July 2012 (full course). I will get to be in the full course if they deem me qualified.

My husband and I prayed for inspiration and the word, 'Earthquake' came to mind. So it's a good start with an idea of what kinda song to look for - one that gives awareness to the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. 

I have spent quite a long while searching for the song of hope in remembrance of Japan's incident and mostly likely I'll be using the song which I discovered from this youtube.
 

This is a slideshow of Japan after earthquake. The song is entitled, 'Build Us Back' by Know+Hope Collective which was formally a band called Audio Adrenaline. This is the song lyrics :

We’ve been crumbled, we’ve been crushed
City walls have turned to dust
Broken hands and blistered feet
We walk for miles to find relief

When the thief takes, when our hopes cave
You build us back
You build us back
When the earth shakes, when the world breaks
You build us back
You build us back

We are scared, we are poor
All our safety nets are torn
We’ve been humbled to our knees
From these ruins, we believe

Redeemer, redeem us
Restorer, restore us
Oh build us back
Though the mountains be shaken, the hills be removed
Your unfailing love remains
After all that’s been taken, Your promise, still sacred
You build us back with precious stones

May God speed Japan!

I have mixed feelings about this audition. But I am definitely excited about it. Oh well, it's close to 4.00am now and I ought to catch some sleep. Please pray for my inspiration for choreography to come soon. 

.

Orange With No Envy

Ahaks! That's the kinda title you get when one is in the mood of lame joke : p

It's spring but it is still not so spring-like in London. It's still so cold. Brrr. But card challenges in blogland are all going for spring theme sporadically. So I get to make more cards with cheerful colours. 

I have this habit of displaying my latest card design on a small easel beside the TV after completion. The card stays there till another card is made and that's when the display is changed. 

The card on display now is bursting with citrusy zesty colours...

The bible verse chosen for sentiment.

The glitter sticker behind the image has brilliant shine in a certain angle.

Ta-dah!

Digi Stamps: Lord Is Faithful & Flower Girl Image (TLC Creations)

Promarkers: Pastel Blue, Leaf Green, Coral, Amethyst, Canary, Satin, Saffron, Rose PInk, Henna, Pumpkin, Blender

Paper: Orange Card, Yellow Card, Purple Card, 5"x7" Opalescent Pastel Yellow Card (Royal Langnickel),  The Spring Stack (DCWV), White Paper

Accessories: Blue Trimming, Plain Glitter Sticker, Doily, Round Orange Foam , Yellow Foam Button, Green String, Brown Brads

Tools: Multi Frames MDF020 (Nellie's), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft)

From the colour study research during my Interior Design course days, I learned that colours do not only make things beautiful but they do have some psychological effects on human beings. Orange colour as most probably would know, is an energy colour. It's like green, refreshing but evokes one's excitement, enthusiasm and energy too. This cheeriness of this colour helps one to be positive and able to help lift the mood of  a grieving person. And guess what? Orange colour (not sure about the fruit though) helps with digestion too. It is said that a hint of vibrant orange placed on your desk could booze you at work ;)

This orangy card has been submitted to cheer some folks here:

Southern Girls Challenge - Use Flowers

Paper Romance  As Many Colours As Possible

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Lemon Zingy

For Fun Challenges - Spring

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT - Spring Colours

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - Make It Girly

Do You Stack Up - Layers

.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's SuperOwl...

Well, it is confirmed a bird. An owl to be exact ;)

This round I am using one of the new digi image stamps I bought for my first collection but the sentiment is a freebie. Both the sentiment and the image are from TLC Creations. Paulette from Creations regularly gives out digi stamps as freebies at her blog. Anyone can download the freebies and all she ask is that you leave her a comment of which you took, so she knows who loved it. I think it's only fair that you thank someone from whom you taken the gift even if it's a tactic to draw people to the blog. Do check out the angel policy for the freebies before you use them though.

Oh, I am not getting anything (other than the freebies available for all) from TLC Creations for mentioning the blog. I just thought it's nice to acknowledge someone's hard work even if you are a stranger.

Okay, now here's the card I made with one of my digi stamps.

In daylight...

... with flash.

Upclose. See the glittery owl ;)

Digi Stamps: Faith Of A Bird Sentiment (TLC Creations), Owl Cuddles (Pink Cat Studio)

Promarkers: Pastel Blue, Leaf Green, Meadow Green, Amethyst, Denim Blue, Coral, Fuchsia,

Paper: Green Card, Purple Card, 5"x7" Opalescent Pastel Blue Card (Royal Langnickel),  The Spring Stack (DCWV), White Paper

Accessories: Flowers (made from Foam Sheet), Green String, Glitter Glue

Tools:Threading Water Border Punch (Fiskars), Multi Frames MDF020 (Nellie's)

Sent this owl to fly off to...

Paper Playtime - Anything goes

Cute Card Thursday - Signs Of Spring

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Spring

Stamp Something - Anything Digi

Polka Doodles - Flower Power 

Stampin' For The Weekend - Spring Time

Card Making' Mamas - Something Green

.