Smile

Managed to complete these 2 layouts over the psat 2 weeks. I am still figuring out how best to edit my photos. If I use Adobe Photoshop, the colors turn out really extreme dark/bright and retro looking and I am not sure how to change that. So I am back to using Picasa for convenience and quick uploading and hopefully more frequent blogging....

'My Little Star'using the new Basic Grey Oliver Lace Cardstock. The colors matches Asher's dark blue sweater perfectly. I dun think I will see him in such pullovers for a long time. This was taken in winter in Shanghai just before our return.



'Smile' using lots of Websters. I have been hoarding my papers from Websters pages for a long time and I really need to use them out. I have been checking out the new CHA sneak peeks and there are quite a number of paper lines I would like to have...so I have to clear out my stash quickly!!! This picture just makes me smile whenever I look at it. There is rarely such moments of peace and co-operation from the kids these days. But whenever I see this pic, I just feel good and blessed for these two monsters, so this layout is hanging on my wall now, to remind me to remember their cuteness and not their monsterous behaviour!

Pregnancy Journal

I am bursting with excitement over a piece of good news but since the blessed couple does not want to share yet, I'll keep it a secret. But this pregnancy journal is a gift for them and its really pretty, the way it turned out. I am quite happy with all the internal pages except the front. Just dun like the brown color and I dunno why I chose it in the first place....

My favourite page is the one that says '9 months' with the bright red birds perched on the prima lace...Anyhow, I am now able to do a layout or a small project once a week, so I am quite happy about it. It takes me a week cos' I can only complete in small parts. I usually start crafting in the nights after clearing the housework and putting the kids to bed. By the time I am showered and ready to start, I am exhausted and too un-inspired. Scrapbooking will always remain a favourite activity but I have to remember that I have other priorities before that. Being too tired doesn't make me a nice mum and I dun want my kids to remember me as the grouchy, naggy tired mum.

Thick n Thin

I have finally completed the album for the kids! Am very happy n satisfied with the overall results, even though it was mainly just putting together embellishments since the Melissa Frances chipboard album already has very pretty background images. I wanted something to record the children's friendship and dependence on each other for companionship and support and this young age!

The Cover.


The Last Page. Love the transparency there from Fancy Pants.

The inside pages...

I am ready to customise albums or handmade projects if anyone is keen on my works. Just e-mail me at adeline_lal[at]yahoo.com, and I will respond promptly!

Randomness

Have not been up to any layouts last week. I attended Irene Tan's class at my local LSS last sunday. It was definitely exciting and fun! I was looking forward to the me-time away from chores and kids and learning some new techniques and the session definitely did not fail me. However, I must say that my actions and movements feel like the oldest in class even though I am sure I am one of the youngest! Sighs....Need to attend more of these classes to brush up my skills...Anyhow, I have managed to complete the album and here's how it looked like. I love it! Thanks to Irene for her teaching and sharing.

Also am in the midst of doing an album just on the kids alone. It's not yet completed but here's the front cover of it, and I'll share the inner pages once its completed...

I ran into Leena at the course last Sunday. She is so encouraging and so I am inspired to just take random shots and practice my photography...So here goes, the stack of clothes I have to iron and fold daily! LOLs! See u around again soon...Enjoy what's left of the weekend!

Backdated works

I have not been idle...just that I hardly have time to be on the PC. ALso, I make a conscious effort now to switch on the PC only when I need it and not leave it on or in idle mode when not in use. It does make a difference now that we are back to paying for electricity and water on our own. And I dun remember Singapore being so hot previously, so we have decided to make a consious effort to conserve energy.

Some layouts I have been up to. Siblings inspired for MWL's challenge in April hosted by Leena. She is one talented lady with an eye for beauty and is an extremely creative scrapper and photographer. Speaking of which, she has just started her own photoblog too. Hop over for a look...this lady inspires!

And I dunno wats with the photo editing software on my laptop but the colors came out all weird and bright. Guess I will have to re-learn how to adjust them...can someone help me on this? Anyhow, back to the layout, its one of my favourites among those I have completed recently and its now framed up on the wall.

Another one on the kiddos, using my favourite papers from Websters. I really love my DSLR and finally I get a chance to dabble with photography, another one of my underlying wishes since college days. So I do try to take more photos of the kids to practise, but am still stuck with playing around the basics! Sighs...wish there's 48 hours in a day.

I made the banner for this which bore the tittle of my layout, Love. I likey! So bright and cheerful and a change from the cutting and romantic, vintagey chic look on my layouts, using my leftover papers from MME.


Goodbye Shanghai, Hello Singapore! A layout to remember the big day when we are finally heading back home. Looking back, I do have mixed feelings about this country which we have lived in for 3 years. The lifestyle is more relaxed and being away from family and friends, we have less interference in our lives too. I get really stressed when people start asking me where do we plan to send Adah to for primary school, whether she is ready, etc etc...Sometimes, I wish the kids will be stuck at this adorable age and not grow up!

Signficant- to mark Adah's 1 year old. She was such a diffcult and persistent baby that sometimes I wonder how I survived her infant days. But day after day, she grew and she finally turned one and seriously, no matter how diffcult your child is, a mother's love is still unconditional. (Even though, sometimes I think the kids dun think so when their mum is always screaming her head off at them!)

The first time you called mama. Again, another one of Adah's milestones. So I am finally catching up on Adah's first year album...That leaves Asher's to be done and considering the amount of photos I took of them...there are so much to be scrapped. Sometimes I look at the video clips we took of them back then and regret not taking more, as I really have forgotten how they were like back then already...

Hip hip Hooray!

I was chosen as the featured designer over at Your Scrapbook Stash in the month of April. Every month the design team will vote from the contributors to their gallery and choose one to be the featured designer! Woo hoo!!! I am elated that my works are appreciated by such a talented team of girls, given that I haven't had much time to scrap recently.

Some days, I am so exhasuted and in the little bit of free time I have, I whip out my stash and I stare at them, mojo-less and sometimes disheartened at why I spend so much for a hobby that now I find no meaning in. Then on a good day when I can finally complete a layout, I feel so happy looking at the completed work and can't help feeling de-stressed and comforted that I have another piece to add to the scrapbook albums I intend to leave behind for the kids! Thus is the love-hate relationship I have with this hobby! LOL! And I know I have been so behind in my blogging that the few who do opo by are probably not here now! Nonetheless, I am going to pick myself up and re-start my scrapping and blogging. After an outburst at the kids, which left me guilty and the kids nonchalant, I have decided that I do need that small amount of time to myself, so hope to have more to share soon!

Flowers

Flowers...flowers and more flowers...

The best part of coming back to Singapore is the local scrapbook store is so accessible now! That spells bad news for my wallet though ;-) So I have been to the LSS like 3 out of 5 weeks that I have been back and loaded up on lots of new Prima goodness.

It's also more difficult to find time to scrap now. I have to constantly remind myself that the kids and family are my biggest priority now, so I'd rather spend my free time with the kids while they are awake and around. Adah spends a full day at childcare because the lessons for K2 have been spread over the day, so there are no half days for K2 and I hardly get to spend time with her...

Anyhow, I managed to squeeze out these 2 layouts using my new buys! Primas, Websters, G45 papers and GCD studios...very vintage and they just go so well together...

This is Adah and the layout was inspired by Emeline's challenge over at MWL forum. She is getting tp be such a big girl now! And will be attending primary school next year! I totally adore this die-cut from Websters and I love how the orangy tones match Adah's top. The chipboard bird is from GCD studios and I had painted it over with cackle paint for a more textured look. And the butterflies from GCD are totally gorgeous and realistic too...

That's my boy, Asher...Lots of prima goodness on this layout too. I specially picked up some flowers in greens and blues for boys' layout. I thought butterflies were too girlish so I replaced them with birds instead! Used up my G45 papers from last year. I had to resist buying the new papers launched at CHA so that I can clear my existing stash and be more environmental friendly!

This layout was inspired by the sketch over at Pencillines. I now go for ready sketches to speed up my scrapping...hopefully we can settle in to our new routines soon and I can find some time if I am not too exhausted chasing after the kids and doing housework!