Tuesday, April 28, 2015

CRAFT HAUL PART 2


Hi again! Here is the second part of my craft haul. I think I mentioned in my previous post that I went to divi to get some materials for the wedding invitations that I am currently working on. So, here is another account of my divi adventures. No kidding, but I might just get to memorize the nooks and crannies of the shopping district where wedding supplies could be found. I am getting more and more requests to help out friends with their wedding preparations. This is the third invitation set that I was asked to make. There are three more on queue for this year and one already booked me for March next year.

Honestly, I didn't quite have a liking for weddings. What I loved was making things for birthdays and Christmases, but I feel like I am being directed to weddings. This might just be my calling. Imagine how many of my friends and acquaintances who have been asking me to make their invitations and help them out on their decorations. Just wow! And I continue to receive inquiries if I make invites and souvenirs. I might just make this a business in the future.

The demand for DIY weddings is growing over the past two to three years and so a lot are turning to Pinterest for inspiration and some brides-to-be are looking around to find people like me who have the knack at making these types of projects.

I am touched by my friends who turn to me for assistance for their special day. For me, helping them out with literally my own two hands is very fulfilling. It makes me happy to see that the couples are happy with what I did or are doing for them. I appreciate how they trust me for my tastes and my skills. If I may say so, I am not rich. I am the literal starving artist, but I don’t charge for the labor that goes into making the invites and decors. I only ask for the materials cost, but sometimes I actually shell out some more money to get the necessary supplies which doesn't bother me that much (My sister would scold me if she reads this). No matter I am just glad that I am part of a memorable event in my friends’ lives.

Oh my. I veered to another topic again instead of sticking to my divi trip. I guess I will have to stop myself from saying too much about these invites at this time and pour everything out when I write about the most recent wedding project in another post. I will definitely put a link in here.

Anyway, as the title indicates, this is part two of my most recent craft haul. I got my first ever pay from my new job and well, I obviously spent a portion of it on a couple supplies.


This here is what I bought from four different stores in divi.


 When I arrived in divi after a veeery slow ride from Quiapo, I got a bit dazed because almost all the streets were covered by stalls.  Before, there would just be two rows of stalls outside the stores, but this time I was amazed that I had a hard time orienting myself where to go because I could no longer see the first row of stalls especially the stores behind them. Gad. I didn't know how to get to the entrance of one of the malls. Haha. With my size I had a difficulty moving here and there. Imagine someone twice my size. Good luck to him or her.

The first store that I entered was Michelle's Lace and Ribbon. I went here in particular to buy some paper flowers and stamens as well as those pretty rose buds which only cost P20 per bundle. I bought one bundle of assorted colors at the mall once and it was triple the price. Tsk. 

The last time I went there was last February when I accompanied a fellow crafter. There were more paper flowers then, but fortunately there were still some left for me to buy.

The stamens are very important. You know how I love making mixed media cards and altered boxes with floral themes. I have been wanting to use stamens, but I just didn't have them. I even thought of making them myself, but I didn't have the right materials and besides the alternative was much more expensive (using liquid pearls and other dear paint products). I wish they had more sizes and colors. All in all, I am still glad of what I was able to find.


Another thing that I have been dreaming about these past few months is getting my hands on yards and yards of pretty lace trimmings. I found this lace store in 999 on my last divi trip and I vowed to return and buy some of them. Woohoo! I finally did. I just focused on the thinner ones this time, but I would definitely get some of the wider and more elaborate ones in the near future. I wish I have more rest days to start a mixed media project. TT.TT. I have to wait for a few more weeks until I finish the invitations.


These lovely charms are from Wellmanson's in Quiapo. I got somewhat lost again trying to go back to North Ave. I was not supposed to go there anymore since I already spent a lot on the flowers and lace, but my feet brought me to their store. What do you know. I was just looking around in the first 15 minutes or so. I didn't even get a basket at the entrance when I went in thinking that I won't be buying anything. Well, while looking for the way where I can go back to the entrance desk, I came upon this area where so many charms were looking at me with radiant smiles. Gah. I couldn't stop myself from grabbing one, then two, then more that twenty. I can't remember exactly how many packs I took from their hooks on the wall. Whoa! I ended up buying P541 worth of them. Okay. I'll just try not to feel guilty in the next days. By the way, this was the last stop before heading home.

The store that I visited before this was in 999. After paying for the lace, I went to this other store who sells various sewing notions and some random stuff. I knew it from my last trip there.

I bought the silk ribbon for the invitations there as well as the pearls for the flowers. I bought some pearls for myself. I didn't know how the flowers would like with the materials that I was able to find so I will most probably keep the ones that will not be used. 

You will see these supplies used in my next projects especially the cards for Mothers' Day. I am looking forward to this weekend to start them. I hope you check out the finished projects when I get to post them here.

So that's that. Thank you for bearing with my long chatter as always. Have a great week!

CRAFT HAUL PART 1

Hello there! Here’s another post. Hah. I know. I am bombarding my blog with several posts on the same day. Sorry if I have been MIA for so long.

I finally got my pay and of course I wasn’t able to resist those clear stamps and pretty papers. I am now broke! Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. I must stick to my budget for the next four weeks or else I would not have any source to draw money from. Ugh.

My sister told me my hobby is expensive. It is not just a hobby. It’s my life! Anyway, let me show you what I bought. There’s also a part two because I just went to divi yesterday. I was not supposed to buy anything else aside from the materials for the wedding invitations and a couple of lace trimmings for myself, but then again I ended up buying more than 15 packs of metal charms. Aww! They were so cute that I couldn’t resist them. Besides I am going to make mixed media cards. I can use them really well. And I have to make more card/bookmarks.

[Sigh.] I must sell at least 10 cards to get back a part of what I spent on my new supplies. There’s my sister and myself to feed for a month before I get my pay again. Hah. I can be seen more like a starving artist—literally. I starve for the chance to make something with my own hands and I get hungry because I don’t usually get paid for what I do. So that’s that. Poor me.
Enough of the pity party. Let’s not think about depressing things like money or the lack of it.

Hmn. So I got clear stamps, stencils and paper pads. You just don’t know how I have been eyeing those papers and stamps. It always made me sad seeing the Out of Stock note in red underneath the image of the product that I wanted to have. If only I had the means to get them sooner was my thought every time I check the store’s order site. Huhu. I am so happy I got some of the ones I really wanted this time.

PAPER PADS AND CARDSTOCK




CLEAR STAMPS






STENCILS




RANDOM STUFF


Monday, April 27, 2015

CARD HPJ-2015-18: Purple Madness



Hi again! I have a loooot to catch up. More post are coming up after this. Haha. I’ve not been in touch for far too long.

Moving on. This time I am going to share to you the most recent card that I made. It is a mixed media one with a purple, black and silver color palette. I don’t use purple that much so I thought it would be great to utilize my mostly untouched purple stash. It is actually a part of my Mothers’ Day project. I am thinking of making different cards using the ROYGBIV scheme. I mean I won’t do indigo, but I would try to make all the other colors. Wouldn’t that be fun. And I will make several mixed media cards. Woohoo! I love the texture and the dimensions.

Anyhow, I feel happy about this card. Aside from the front, I also decorated the inside. See. I am employing the techniques I learned in making mini albums. Thanks a lot to all the artists who are so generous to share their knowledge and their talent to the world. I learn a lot from them and I am inspired to create even more awesome projects. I love you guys!


As for the front of the card, I layered two distressed patterned paper. I added molding paste and stamped an image for the background. I cut a small part of a die cut and also cut the center to make the image show through. I then adhered a couple of paper flowers which I gessoed and put glitters on before doing so. I also affixed black pearls and some charms to add more flare.


At the bottom left of the card, I adhered another die cut. I am thinking of writing or stamping the name of the recipient later on. For now, I do not know who will get it so I will leave it at that.



Inside, I made a small pocket where a cardstock for the message will be tucked in as well as a journaling card from the Graphic 45 Secret Garden Collection. I debated on whether to make a matching box for it or just put it in an acetate box. Well, the acetate box seems to be more appealing. I could make a small stand at the bottom and decorate it a bit to match the card. What do you think? I’ll add a photo of it inside the acetate box once I made the stand, but for now, I’ll only show images of the card itself, okay?




I had a great time creating this piece. I hope to make the other cards soon. Thank you for stopping by! Till the next post.

[MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: Bevania Splendorgel Board Paper White, Rives Board Paper Tradition Black, Stardream Board Paper Silver, All About Scrapbooking 12x12, paper flowers, lace trimming, pearls, charms, crystal, Marie’s Gesso, white glue, glitters, Kaisercraft Clear Stamps Windsor, Golden Molding Paste, The Crafter’s Workshop Mini Stencil Mini Punchinella, Stanley Glue Gun, micro pearls, Spellbinders Nestabilities Splendid Circles, Spellbinders Shapeabilities D-Lites fancy Framed Tags One, Cuttlebug Machine V2]

TUMBLER MAKEOVER



Hi there! Gad. I can’t believe it. April is almost over and the last post that I made was last March 25th. I have truly neglected my blogs again. Sorry for that.

I think I have mentioned in my previous post that I have a new job. In fact it has been a month since I started. I am loving my new workplace! I will most probably talk about this even further in my personal “general” blog. You can check it out here.

Anyway, I am on night shift and I usually sleep when I get back from work so I don’t get to make much these days. I am still trying to work something out so I would still be able to craft during the weekdays. As you know, I mostly craft at night.

I don’t have much to show this month, but I did get to dress up my old tumbler a few weeks ago. Here is what it looks like.


I wanted to add more embellishments, but there isn’t enough space for them. The crystals were all it could take. Sad, but at least it now has the vintage steampunk feel to it. So yay for that!

If you noticed, I used the balloon again. I’ve made several projects using this same stamp and I would most definitely make some more with it. I just love it! I wish I have more steampunk stamps though.

I also used the Bo Bunny flourish clear stamp and added the crystals to make it more interesting. And that was that.

Thanks for looking! You’ll find a delicious card on my next post if you continue reading. Thanks again!

[MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED:  Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Stash French Industrial Revolution, Inkadinkado Clear Stamps Inspirational Lift, Bo Bunny Clear Stamps Flourishes and Such,  self-adhesive crystals, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, ColorBox Cat’s Eye Pigment Ink  Black]