Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Mr & Mrs

This week Let's Scrap features a new sketch and the first time I saw it, I was like "Wow"! Why? The sketch offers a giant photo although it's not a must. Frankly speaking, I don't fancy a sketch with the size of 8x10 because I have problem to d.i.y. Usually I go for the next option by using multiple small photos but however, this sketch by PageMaps allows me to scrap a special photograph I have been keeping 13 years ago! That's right, it is my wedding photo in 1999.
For the first time, I used busy patterned paper from Kaisercraft and yes, I do like the end result especially the right page because of the awesome fabric type paper and I made it minimalist to highlight both the patterned paper and photograph. 
Materials used: Kaisercraft patterned papers and stamp, Momoyo stickers, ink pads: VersaFine, Memory, StazOn, Tim Holtz distress ink, Tattered Angel Glimmer Mist, leaves, grossgrain ribbon and rose trim from My Shop {Qinaahana} that will be launched via online soon  
 
...the sketch...I love PageMaps {thank you Becky}...
 
...some close ups...
I stamped with two different ink pad colors as a header for my title to be filled in soon...I still can't pick my title, well it has to be something meaningful and suitable...
The wedding couple on May 1, 1999 wearing traditional Malay attires; the white one was tailor made for the exchangimg vows ceremony that was held at 10 o'clock in the beautiful morning. The yellow one was meant for bersanding ceremony (that means standing or sitting on the dias) that follows suit at about 1:30pm. The two chairs are very antique! They belong to my great great grandparents if I remember right. My dad sprayed them gold and wrapped it up with red fabric velvet. He was very creative! All my siblings used the chairs for our weddings that took place at our parents' home. My dad also made the platform of the dias!
A Malay wedding ceremony in those days up to now has this tradition where the bride takes the opportunity to wear different traditional dresses just for the fun of it before the actual event begins {that is bersanding on the dias}. Looking back, it was fun because I got to model so many dresses and gain attention...after all it was my day ;). This dress and the headgear  I wore was a remake from the Chinese era and such great pose on my golden bed...how's that for a queen of the day?
Finally after 13 years living in a dark box, this photo which I got to reprint for free in 1999 from the photographer who gave me free 8R coupons will have its place in my scrapbook album at long last!
 
Having said that, I have to start cooking for dinner...queen day is over, lol. With a loving hardworking husband and four children, I'm blessed!
 
Until the morning after, have a great day and take care you hear!
Hugs and smile,

Thursday, October 18, 2012

A New Beginning

Today and every day is a new beginning to me! Hello there my friend!
It's another new digi image at  CDAC this week for its Progressive Challenges. This image is by  Digistamps For Joy.
It has been an awesome journey for me to participate in the Progressive Challenge the last few weeks and this is the 4th series. You can still partake in this challenge and the previous ones so hop over to CDAC for more information. I designed my card based on Let's Scrap card sketch and this is my creation:
Materials used: digi image by DS4J, quote from TLC, Copic Sketch, VersaMark ink pad, Heidi Grace stamp, ribbon and wooden button
 
 
Whenever I see mushroom in my garden, it just lift up my spirit!
I wish the mushroom is as red as this =)
I'm a button girl! This button {and other stuff} will be available at my online shop coming soon!
 
The weekend is here eventually so I'm looking forward to continue with my layout projetcs next. I've been distressing patterned papers and cardstocks the past few days and they have completely dried and are waiting for me to get going.

This card will also go into these challenges:
1. digistamps4joy ~ Challenge #53 Anything Goes
 
Thanks for dropping by today. Have a great day.


...Hugs & Smiles...

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Hugs, Smiles & Warm fuzzy feelings

I decided to spend the morning making one more card before I resume distressing papers for the layouts I will do over the weekend. I had so much fun filling in the free image {by Heather Valentin} with Copic before I start assembling the entire card. Here's the end result:
Materials used: Witchy Susie digi image, Copic Sketch, kitty foam (a gift from my penfriend Mandy Holm), Tattered Angel Glimmer Mist, quote from Ginger's House, sticker lace and Memory ink pad  
 'Witchy Susie' can be obtained from Scrapbook Stamp Society
 
 Misting...is fun ;-)
 My children love the googly eyes :-)

This card will go into these challenges:
1. Make It Monday ~ Challenge #111
2. Simply Create ~ Linky Party #7

Until then...thanks for dropping by and leave comment. You make my day!
Hugs-n-Smiles,

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

A Happy Birthday Girl

Last night was spent relaxing in front of my silky black toy surfing the Internet when I came across a sketch challenge via my blogger friend. I headed to Incy Wincy Designs and had so much joy looking at the wonderful cards by the design teammies and became their new follower. I love the sketch very much, well I confess I love circle...there's a philosophy about circle that I often remember: what comes around goes around and another one life is like a wheel it keeps going round and round. I know I am tempted to make a card today. Here's my take on the sketch:
Materials used: cardstock, MS punch, Tattered Angel Glimmer Mist, VersaFine ink pads, Brilliance ink pad, Tim Holtz distress ink pad, Copic Sketch, Heidi Grace stamp for flower circle, Kaisercraft stamp for sentiment, others from my stash and the rubber stamp girl has been in my collection for over a decade

This is a pretty sketch I know I may use again and again. I did my card with a little twist between the image and sentiment.
 I would like to enter this card into these challenges too:
1. Lollipop Crafts ~ Challenge #92 Happy Birthday
2. Whoopsi Daisy Challenge ~ Birthday
3. Just Keep On Creating ~ Anything Goes

Thank you for your time visiting me and I shall return the favour.
Hugs and smiles,

Monday, October 15, 2012

Precious...Priceless

After a chatty phone conversation with my sister, I hit the scrappy table once more to make a card for StuckOnUSketches first card sketch challenge this month. This is my creation:
 
Materials used: Kaisercraft - background paper & stamp, Tim Holtz distress ink pad, VersaFine ink pad, Tattered Angel Glimmer Mist, Carla Craft punch, digi sentiment from Ginger's House, and others from my stash
 
The sketch:
Some close-ups:
I made the flowers out of drawing paper...tear and mist...fun time!
Punched flowers and butterfly made by my big girl several dawn ago because she was bored after waking up from the wrong side of bed...lol...
 
The sentiment I chose today reflects the sacrifice I did many years ago when I chose to say goodbye to my professional career in broadcasting world to nurture my firstborn then. The turning point in my life brought me to what I love most, my love for art and crafts. Sometimes life is funny. I studied for years to become a broadcaster after earning a degree yet I wouldn't have thought the artsy talent I develop from my childhood is what I do full time at home and able to watch my children grow from day 1.  Hmmm, that is a priceless gem...most importantly I love and enjoy what I do. I'm blessed!

Having said that, I thank you for visiting me and I shall take a moment to visit you soon. Thank you for your comment...oh, should  this be your first visit, I'll be glad to have you as my follower so I can follow you too.

This card also goes into these challenges:
1. Tammy Scrap In Corner ~ Challenge #32 Anything Goes
2. Make It Monday ~ Challenge #111 Anything Goes
3. Simply Create ~ Linky Party #6 Anything Goes
4. My Grafico ~ Challenge #138 Anything Goes
5. Just Keep On Creating ~ Challenge #4 Anything Goes

Hugs and Smile,
        

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Sisterly Love

Two and a half hours taken to create this layout for Colorful Creations before deadline; thought I couldn't make it yet I made it...relief! I have always wanted to scrap this lovely photo of my two girls which had been in a hidden storage for I don't know how long but all I can remember is I took this photo of them in my parents' backyard while they went to the bank...the year was 2007. While waiting, we spent some time in the backyard and as always the girls (especially Anis the joker) were teasing and making fun of each other so this photo is a candid shot indeed. 
  
 Materials used: Kaisercraft Sweet Nothings Collection and sentiment, Prima flower, Tim Holtz distress ink pad, MS punch, Tattered Angel Glimmer Mist, Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type alphas, my trusty sewing machine,doilies and leaves from my stash
 
Heres's the sketch I enjoyed working with:
 ...some close-up photos...
 
 
 
At times I ask myself when I scrap a photo like this and keep the layout in the album, I wonder who between the two will eventually keep this layout forever?  
 
Have a nice day and thank you for visiting.
Hugs and smiles,


Wednesday, October 10, 2012

A Note from Daddy's Girl

Today we feature a new sketch at Let's Scrap...it's a fun sketch to design my double pages this time. Come over and join us scrapping this sketch! I have decided to make a heritage layout for my children to cherish in their living years. It hadn't been easy for me because the layout is a tribute to the man who had brought me up with tender loving care and to top most, with discipline and time factor. I've always been proud of my father's career in the Royal Malaysian Navy, hence this layout is produced not in one sitting but many. I shouldn't mention the teary eyes in the making process however but I can't help it...I miss Dad so much!
 
Materials used: Webster's Pages, Tim Holtz distress ink, my trusty printer, Dad's Navy symbol embellishment and others from my stash
 
 Family members can easily recognise Dad's famous initial.
 This bronze Navy symbol belongs to Dad. He had it everywhere in his home.
 One particular reason I placed the 'clock' is to remind my children that their grandfather was a no nonsence person when it comes to time management and puncuality. He was very strict about that!
Dad loved England!
 Mom found this huge photograph in a file while organizing her stuff but unfortunately Dad didn't jot down the caption on the back of this photo like he always did. I'm not sure where this is {could be at the Royal Military College in Manadon, England in 1978 or Nirimba, Australia}. Anyway I believe this was one of his best moments while serving in the Navy.
 That's my beloved father in the center looking very serious :-)
 
This is a piece of write-up courtesy of my eldest sister
Lili Sulastri about our father that I would like to share with you for your reading pleasure...

~~~~~ooOoo~~~~~
 
Here is a tribute to the man we all loved, respect and admire. A man who brought us all up with a firm and strict discipline and sometimes with a no nonsense attitude. He is also a man full of love and bear no grudges against those who had taken advantage of him, walk all over him or being unfair to him. Revenge was never in his vocabulary even though we know how hurt he had been.
Dad was born on July 8, 1935 at Kesang, Melaka to Hashim bin Muharram and Aminah bte Mohd Baki. He was the seventh child of 14 brothers and sisters and lovingly addressed as Pak Andak by his nieces and nephews or Abang Enal by his cousins and younger siblings. He had a stepmother whom we never met but we did meet his only sister, Maznah, from that marriage.
Dad joined the Royal Malaysian Navy located at Woodlands, Singapore, when he was 16 as an Apperentice Welder, when RMN was then under the British command. Not sure how he managed to enrol himself in when the minimum intake age was 17. He worked his way up the ranks from Chief Petite Officer to Chief Officer - a rank he held on for years without much hope of moving up. Yet he was a patient man and his patience paid off when he was moved up one step at a time until he retired at age 45 as a Lieutenant Commander. His job was mobile. He used to be stationed at Mindeff, Jalan Gurney, Kuala Lumpur from 1967 to 1969, back to Woodlands again before he was stationed at Butterworth. Then he moved back to Woodlands and when I was in Secondary 4, dad moved to Kuching, Sarawak. We did not follow him to Kuching, though. After 2 years in Kuching, he went back to Mindeff, before he was sent to Lumut Naval Base to help set up a training school there. In between he went to Portsmouth, England in 1964 to further his studies, in 1978 to Manadon for a degree in Engineering. He even had a short stint at Nirimba, Australia prior to joining the Naval Base in Lumut. He then returned to Mindeff when he opted for retirement. Below is his record (in his own handwriting) of his career achievements and courses he attended.
Other than snippets of information I gathered from him or Mom in the course of his career, I don't really know anything else. I was young and never really asked much questions. Some things are private and confidential and he maintained that. He definitely was proud of his job and he was always connected to the KD Hang Tuah fighter ship. One thing I do know is that he never failed to deliver command, discipline and timeliness in all areas of his life and he even instilled that in all of his children.
FAVOURITE ROUTINE
Dad's favourite routine with all his grandchildren was to carry them, from first grandchild, Muhammad Azwan, right down to the youngest grandchild, Afza, round the house to introduce them to the crisp morning air, hear the birds chirping and to admire nature. He loved all his grandchildren to pieces, in fact, more than his own children. Around him, these grandchildren are untouchable.
I created this layout for Dad because he kept missing Afza so much. He loved to look at this photo of them together.
HOBBIES
Dad had many hobbies and all of them were related to DIY. He loved cars and one of his first cars was a Mini Cooper. At least I still remember that car when we used to stay at Wadi Hana, Johor Bharu. For small repairs to his cars, he did them himself and that was how he developed the skill in repairing cars (an extension to his apperentice in repairing the naval ships). I remembered his other cars include Ford Anglia, Ford Cortina, Mazda and finally Ford Cortina 2000E. At least these were cars I remembered riding in.
( PHOTO TO BE ADDED LATER)
 
Dad was a green finger. He loved to plant fruit trees like mango, guava and some other decorative plants. He loved maintaining them, too.
(PHOTO TO BE ADDED LATER)
 
We are now very much into recycling and making so much propaganda out of it. Dad was a firm believer in upcycling. As the example below showed, this pretty but simple vase started its life as a Trumpet. When it was broken, the owner just threw it away but Dad took it and with a bit of welding, turned it into a vase holding mum's handmade Hibiscus out of nylon strings.
(PHOTO TO BE ADDED LATER)
 
The swings below were lovingly crafted by Dad from a piece of plank and a block of wood, respectively. These swings had gone through many fights among the grandchildren, a place to relax in the evenings, and a place where much discussions took place.
 
Last but not least, Dad loves Music. He played the guitar and when he was younger, he formed a small band, I think while in the Navy. Not much about this was known but then his children did play an instrument or two. Only we did not graduate from our musical 'career'.
(PHOTOS TO BE ADDED LATER)
Dad loved reading and his favourite read was among others on Cars. Reading is one trait 100% adopted by all his children.
DAD'S LIFE IN PHOTOS
This is a photo of dad when he was 6-months old. He was on the lap of his Indonesian nanny, Sa'erah. The lovely lady on at the top of the stairs was Dad's mom, Aminah and the young man is Bakar whom I always address as Pak Cik Bakar. The smiling gentleman is dad's father, Hashim and the little girl on his lap was dad's deceased sister, Zahara. If I am not mistaken, the girl in the center is Dad's third sister, Zainun.
This is the most famous family photo and I think almost every family member has this photo in their collection. Dad, at 3 years of age, standing close to his father. The other gentleman, looking like a martyr, was Dad's grandfather, Mohd Baki whom I lovingly call Aki. Not sure who the others in the photos are. Notice the car? During Dad's time, to own a car is a sign of wealth. So, too, having stairs with those engraved tiles.
In summary, Dad will always be remembered by his wife, Sity Khatijah, his children, grandchildren and his familes and friends. For as long as I live, I shall present Al-Fatihah to him daily. Amen.
 
~~~~~ooOoo~~~~~
 
Thanks Sis for letting me copy your write-up.
In my own words, Dad was my mentor, my Imam and the one who taught me DIY and craftmanship...and a lot more I know. I miss hearing him say "Anak Abah" or "Daddy's Girl"; truly miss his fried rice, pray with him and I confess eventhough it was gruesome to listen to but I do miss his lecture! Dad's last wish while he was able to talk was to see me before he leaves the world. I'm grateful to God that I was able to make it on his last day
{November 16, 2011} and spent several hours with him before He took him away from us. It was a peaceful farewell, I have prepared myself long before when I knew Dad would leave us some day.
I know that by scrapbooking my father truly heals the pain of missing him.

I thank you for reading my long script. While you still have your loved ones, visit them or pick up the phone and talk to them because you will never know when they  will bid you farewell forever.
Take care my friend and have a nice day.

Hugs and smiles,

Saturday, October 06, 2012

Celebration...and World Card Making Day

I'm tempted to make cards more and more considering today is World Card Making Day ... isn't that awesome? Today's make is about celebration so I think it fits the day appropriately. Anyway, this  card is specially made for Create With TLC in conjunction to World Card Making Day Celebration as well as the Blog Hop to be hosted by TLC.  
Materials used: Kaisercraft pp and white daisy flower, Copic Sketch, digi image from TLC, Tim Holtz distress ink, flower embellies and bling from my stash
This card is also created for today's load at Let's Scrap October LayOutADay {LOAD} Challenge so come and join us :)
 
Oh! Make cards today and deliver...I am sure the recipient will be as happy as you are. Enjoy!
Until the morning after, have great moments. Thanks {always} for dropping by and leave comments. Truly appreciate.
Hugs and smiles,