Made in Shanghai

I will fly to Beijing tomorrow. Before i pack my luggage, i decided to make another card since it is thanksgiving day today. I will send this to my boss later via his driver. Although it looks similar with the other cards (well, this is the only and only fall stamp i have @ Shanghai) but i still love the simple outcome :) Hm... well... i just want to show my appreciation to my boss though....

Made another 3 quick Christmas cards too. but... i gave them 60% only. The colouring part can be improved! I made them till 1:30am in the morning :p that's why i feel so sleepy this morning :p

OK. time to continue work! Will be more detail in blogging when i reach Beijing. Life is really CRAZY and STRESSFUL @ Shanghai :(

God bless... Marlene :)

Thanksgiving Cards

It is not my culture to celebrate thanksgiving day [Well....we give thanks everyday :)] but i know some of my USA friends do celebrate this day! I quickly custom made this stamp (give thanks) and decided to make 2 thanksgiving cards. One for Byron and Karen (my church pastor from the States) and Liza (the lady who inspired me in card making). Well, of course, i am going to make another special card for my godfather in Holland. So,... again.... with limited tools,.. here comes my cards :) I quite like it though ;) Ah.. these frosted card base are from sheetload :)

I will post them tomorrow! Blessed Thanksgiving day!

Joy to the World ... with limited tools

I am still at Shanghai - far from "home" and only brought very minimum card making tools with me. 2 punches, some ink pads, some Christmas stamps and Christmas ribbons. Well, i decided to custom made my stamp with John 3:16 and make my own Christmas cards for my Non-christian friends. I designed the stamp and sent to the stamp shop to get it done. The stamp doesn't give the best effect due to the material used by them :( However, i still quite like the outcome :)

I made these cards few days ago. I received some StazOn ink and special papers as gifts! Wow! Yay! I tried out the white Staz-On with transparent card. I got the idea from kwenderdesign :) Well, my outcome not that nice but still share with everyone who visits my blog. Here comes more simple cards with limited tools :)

Oh ya! Everyone knows i love handmade cards. My team and my good friends tried to make cards for me too. I love it! Thank you my friends :) Oh you can see Mel, Mac and May from the video i attached in my birthday blog :)

Time to work again :) Spent 10mins during lunch to post my cards :)

It's my birthday today...

It is my birthday today. Yes,... it is:) Happy Birthday, Marlene : )

I am alone at this moment, reading bible, praying, listening to music, meditation, answering calls.... Although this is what I hope to have today, but out of sudden I feel very lonely... Perhaps most of my friends are in Beijing...

One thing i feel sad - I didn't even manage to do what I promised myself today - that is to treat myself a Starbucks Iced Blended Mocha :( I spent most of my time "working" today and ya.. i will do something good to myself tonight :)

K....

I want to say a simple prayer for my family and friends.

"God... I just want to give thanks for You are good. Thank you for my family and friends who love me and care 4me. Thank you Lord for created me. Bless them and protect them. In your name i pray, Amen."

Sharing some photos with you - who visited my blog


Days before my birthday....
Celebrated with my good friends - Wan Yeen, Kam Hoe, Stella, ...

Yummy Awfully Chocolate cake

On Saturday - we went for massage and Hee Zee + wan kit bought me dinner in advance :)

Celebrated with Wing on sunday afternoon @ Grandma's Kitchen

Celebrated with my gangs - Wan Yeen, Kam Hoe, (again) Wan Kit, Wing and June @ Hot pot center on sunday evening

Wan Yeen is currently my best friend @ Beijing

Yummy Fapai Cake

Celebrated with my Shanghai staff this afternoon (away from Beijing on my birthday) and Singapore friends with yummy blueberry cake :)

Oh my staff from malaysia recorded this for me. :) So CUTE!

My staff from Beijing designed a t-shirt and posted to me @ Shanghai. I am very happy for this present :)

Oops: I sent 2 bunches of flower to my dad and my mum. I used to say THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU to them on my birthday! Without them - there will be no Marlene :) Dad was excited to received RED ROSE this year :) Dad used his mobile to take this photo and MMS me :) Thank you Jason for making this happen :)






... ... ... 7 November 2008....

My good friend Wan Yeen called and confessed: She forgot it was my birthday yesterday! Ok Ok i forgive her although i feel little bit disappointed :)

Christine knew i failed to get myself a Starbuck's Ice blended mocha and she ordered the normal mocha from a coffee shop nearby our office. She printed the Starbucks logo on it and gave to me as a surprise. My tears almost drop that time - cause i can feel the love given by her. Thanks Christine :) It is not easy to get a simple Starbucks coffee nearby our working place. The nearest will be 20KM from our office :) can you imagine how far we stayed?

Jon chiew treated me dinner as a belated birthday celebration. He is one of my good friends in Beijing. He is fun and humour. He treated us japanese food. Sara, Kenny joint us as well! It was great.

I think that's all the celebrations. Should end now. Time for bed - more works to do tomorrow although it is a saturday. Marlene, God will bless you and lead you in all you do. Amen :)

Happy Birthday, my sister...

I always spend time making cards for my friends - and i thought buying gifts for family members are enough for them. I know, I am wrong. My sister's birthday is coming soon and i decided to make a birthday card to her this time. I made this 2 days ago - the "morning" before i depart from Beijing to Shanghai. I am going to post this to her tomorrow. I love you, sister :)

The paper is from American Crafts: Cover Band, Piata and Barbeque. White card stock from Beijing and added touch of Prima flower. Oops, huge and love button - from Shanghai though :)

Joy to the World ... Again :)

I tried to search from internet to see what paper i used for these cards but the website i used to visit is down :( Well, i designed these 2 cards for my card making group last Saturday.Everyone got chance to play with embossing and they were so excited about it. Joyce prepared yummy chocolate banana cake for us that day too! Well, these are the simple card i designed for them and they made exactly the same card during the fellowship time. Well - the purpose of the cards - to explore tearing effects and embossing.

I shoot this card in my room @ Shanghai. I am here for work for 3 weeks :( Well, the outcome still not bad though :)

At night, before i do my packing, i manage to make a 2 mins christmas card. It is all in Real Red colour. Well, i think this is very simple but I juve love it :)

When the West meets the East...

Marilynn from my church sent me an email and ask for help to make a card with Red Packet! Well, it is a culture in China country - when a couple get married - you have to give Red Packet (of what we called ANG BAO) with some money inside :)

She didn't give me the detail of the couple but i assumed they are christian :p - so i made a "White + joyful" card with envelope cutting which could insert an ANG PAO in this card. I used eyelet to make 2 holes in order to tie a lime "string" and to "'LOCK" the card...ya, to avoid the ANG PAO dropping!

Aha~ I got almost everything in this card from China. The ribbon, the button, the string and the eyelet. The paper (just a small loose piece i have) is from American Crafy and the Stamp "Happiness" is from SU :)

Thanksgiving Day...

It is not my culture to celebrate Thanksgiving day in Malaysia but my family as Christians always count His blessing and give thanks to the Lord for He is Good.

Joyce called me and mentioned she wants to make few quick cards for Thanksgiving. I told her that I have no stamps that related to Thanksgiving :( I feel bad to see someone disappointed. So I went home and searched for whatever thinggy that related to Thanksgiving. Well, i found some Fall papers and some not-so-related stamps. I decided to design it by myself. So i use Adobe Illustrator and created some text and printed out on the paper. I mx and match - and time myself - and keep reminding myself "Marlene, she wants to make lots of cards - you better design something quick and simple!"

I sent a message to Joyce and told her that we could make some quick cards tonight - with whatever I have. Well, I hope I could accomplish my job earlier today and leave on time and I hope the card making sessions won't be too long as well - as life really very busy recently. I made these few cards (design and think...... ) till almost 2am. I hope this cards can be guideline to Joyce tonight.

Copy Cat

I modified the card i learned from Kelli. Well, i recall Liza did demonstrate this technique to me before. So, using the same layout and skill, i modified the card using different colours and ribbon. Well, i will send this card out to my good friend - Shin Ying - who is currently very tired of her job and always feel unhappy. Ha...this is the 1st time i play with my own brand new sponge!

The secret recipe: (not so secret though... hee hee)
Card Stock: Kiwi Kiss, Purely Pomegranate, Cameo Coral, Ivory: Stampin' Up
Ink Pad: Kiwi Kiss, Purely Pomegranate, Regal Rose: Stampin' Up
Stamps: Bud Basic, Short & Sweet: Stampin' Up
Others: Grosgrain Ribbon: Purely Pomegranate, Versa Mark, Clear Embossing Powder, Heating tool and Sewing Machine - to create the holes....

Oh Ya! I received some new ribbons today. I have 100yards each :| Think it is enough for me to use for the rest of my card making life - if i don't share with others :) 2 are grosgrain and 2are Christmas ribbons. I quite like it :)

I am in LOVE....

with Cuttlebug die-cut and embossing machine!

I attended a workshop by Kellie. She is such a great demonstrator. She knew i was curious about dry embossing and she demonstrated it today and WOW, I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS TOY! It is just like a Magic BOX! (well, it shows that i am really a new baby in card making world though... )

I made 2 cards in this workshop. I keep looking at my fall card - Ah.. i hope i could do dry embossing more. It is so nice and so classy! And this is the first time i play with chalk as well. (in card making, not drawing) I love the soft effect as well!

God, I think I want to get this toy - the little cuttlebug, is that ok God? Can you provide me please? :)

Family Trip to Taiwan

Dad, mum, marcus, mary and Jie fu....
Thanks for making this trip happened. The trip is perfect with all of you around. I miss home. I truly miss home. I love you all.

God, I wanna pray for my family at this moment. I pray for your protection to them. I ask for your blessings and your grace upon them. God, thanks for the love you pour into my family. I love you, God. In Jesus name, Amen.

My Trip to Ping Yao

Pingyao is a very nice place which located @ Shanxi Province. During the Qing Dynasty (well i am not good in history as well), Pingyao was a financial center of China. Therefore, we can see the 1st China Bank here :)

Pingyao is famous for its city walls and huge huge compound such as Wang's compound and Qiao's compound. Of course it is famous for the Old Old feeling and the nice + cheap food too! Oh, not to forget the RED LANTERN. Share some photos with all of you. Yap, this is NON-Card-Making thinggy :p

I miss home

It has been quite some time since i wrote home last time. I miss home. I was not in the mood of card making yesterday night until my mum called and said "Happy Children's Day!". I asked her "So, are you suppose to buy me a gift since it is the Children's day?" She replied: "If you come home, I will buy you a gift".

I know my mum misses me and I know i miss home.
I want to make a KID's card now! (I told myself) I know I am a KID in their eyes! I want to make a card to tell them how much I love them... and send home tomorrow!

so.. this is the outcome... Hm... Not too nice but.... just wanna share with everyone who visited my blog :)

Another Monotone card

After playing with Red and Black colour base - i challenged myself with White base. Ah... this is something simple. :) Can you feel I am sincerely say THANK YOU through this card? :)

Stamps: Say it with Scallope: Stampin Up; Floral: Stampin Up; Short & Sweet: Stampin Up
Card stocks: Rose Red: Stampin Up; White.
Inks: Rose Red: Stampin Up
Punch: Scallop Square
Others: Grosgrain Rose Red Ribbon.

Monotone Card

I got my 1st GIANT Floral stamp last week and Wow...it is really a HUGE STAMP! So i decided to play with it! I tried few versions of cards but it didn't come out nice :( So i set a goal - MONOTONE, and play with tone of 1 colour for this card :)

I stamp this to a Ruby Red card stock with Versa Mark and add on clear embossing powder and embossed it with heat tool. Again, i stamp the image of Floral with Bravo Burgundy colour onto a Vanilla card stock. Cut it out and paste on a Chocolate chip card as base - and another layer of Vanilla Card Stock. Finally, i stamp on "Say it with Scallop" using Bravo Burgundy as well and Tadah.... here comes the card.

I tried out Black colour (grey scale) and i really love it.



black
Stamps: Say it with Scallope: Stampin Up; Floral: Stampin Up
Card stocks: Basic Black: Stampin Up; Basic Grey: Stampin Up
Inks: Basic Black: Stampin Up
Punch: Scallop Square
Others: Versa Mark; Clear Emboss powder; Heat tool, sewing machine

"Red"
Stamps: Say it with Scallope: Stampin Up; Floral: Stampin Up
Card stocks: Ruby Red: Stampin Up; Chocolate Chip: Stampin Up
Inks: Bravo Burgundy: Stampin Up
Punch: Scallop Square
Others: Versa Mark; Clear Emboss powder; Heat tool, sewing machine

Guess what, I am in-charged of a brand new quilt donation for poor project in my church (for 4 weeks) and in order to raise funds, i brought 35 cards that i made and sell it during the fund collections - and all the money collected will be donated to this project. I was so happy that the cards gone in 2-3 mins!!! Even my friend who was with me get shocked to see this! I hope is because my card is beautiful :p but not because of it is cheap :p Well, some asking me if i am going to bring more cards next week :)

Time to work.. again :) Life being too busy - i hope i have more time to do more cards. I miss making cards....

SheetLoad of Cards (part 2)

I just came back from Taiwan and Hong Kong (family trip) and was trapped in Hong Kong due to typhoon :) However, i just can't wait to share with you the cards i made for SheetLoad. Here comes the cards. Click here to download the October issue. It is FREE! Opps. this is the cover for the October issue :)

Again, Thanks Alicia for your guidance and your encouragement! Of course, i want to say THANK YOU to my staff who helped me to take photos for my cards when i were busy with my works! What a great team i have :)

Card 1
Stamps: Always: Stampin Up; Pocket Silhouettes: Stampin Up; Think Happy Thoughts: Stampin Up
Paper: two scoops : Basic Grey
Card stocks:Clear card: ShortCuts; Pumpkin Pie: Stampin Up; Very Vanilla: Stampin Up; River Rock: Stampin Up
Inks: Pumpkin Pie: Stampin Up
Accessories: 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Vanilla
Punch:1/2" Circle punch; 1-1/4" Circle punch; 1-1/2" Circle punch:
Others: Versa Mark; White Emboss powder; Heat tool

Card 2
Stamps: Always: Stampin Up; Short and Sweet: Stampin Up
Paper:Infuse : Basic Grey
Card stocks: Clear card: ShortCuts; Tracing Paper; Straw Mat
Accessories: 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Vanilla
Others: Versa Mark; White Emboss powder; Heat tool

Card 3
Stamps:Upsy Daisy: Stampin Up; Priceless: Stampin Up
Card stocks: Frosted card: ShortCuts; Basic Brown: Stampin Up; Very Vanilla: Stampin Up; Bordering Blue: Stampin Up
Inks: Chocolate Chip:Stampin Up; Blue Bayou: Stampin Up
Accessories: 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Chocolate Chip; Brads Chestnut: American Craft
Punch: Scallop Circle punch : Stampin Up; 1-1/4" Circle punch; 1-1/2" Circle punch