My New Obsession: Washi Tape

I learned about washi tape over a year ago and I never really researched on where to purchase them...until bff told me that Michaels has its own section!

Washi tape (or crafting tape) is a high quality masking tape made from natural fibers. Best of all, they come with different designs, patterns, and sizes. You can tear it, stick it, reuse it, and even write on it. The low tack adhesive makes it really easy to use. Now you can understand my new obsession....

...Hello, I'm Sheryl and I'm a washi tape user

Within a month, I already have four washi tapes. The Hello Kitty tape (as pictured below), was a gift from bff which I immediately opened it and taped it onto my phone. Thank you!

My collection of washi tape...more to come :)

Home Sweet Home & Wooden Stamps

My best dudette, A, and her family recently moved into their new house. What's so awesome about this is that we're only less than five minutes walking distance from each other! Muhahhaa! We're neighborinos ;)

I had to quickly make them a card so I can help A pack her very last box. I bought this "Home Sweet Home" wooden block stamp set a long time ago, so I was very excited to use it. Unfortunately, I dabbed too much ink onto the rubber stamp so it left a weird ink spot :( I even tried to cover it up by dabbing a little bit of ink to create an antique look...didn't really work.

Home Sweet Home

I'm more comfortable in using clear rubber stamps mainly because I can see where I'm stamping on the paper. If you're like me, here are some tips on how to use wooden stamps that may help you:

Making Presents Out of Scrap Papers

Hello hello! It's the weekend!

I have a lot of scrap papers from previous craft projects and I like to keep them thinking that I will use the excess paper in the future. Although I use scrap papers once in a while, I just can't throw away or recycle good paper. Does anyone else feel that way? :P This kinda remind me of my "I Like to Collect Stuff" post.

Using scrap papers to make presents

Click on "Read More" to learn a simple way on how to make presents out of scrap papers

**Note: Not recommended to give this as an actual and only "present" to anyone ;)

Birthday Cards from May

As promised, here are some pictures of the birthday cards for the May babies. Enjoy! :)

The first card was requested by DC. He specifically asked for a black suit and red tie. During a card making workshop for SFU Origami Club, he picked up one of the suit cards and asked me if he could have one (now you own one!). The very first suit card was for  Father's day which was two years ago.

DC's birthday suit
I submitted this picture to craftgawker. Check it out.

October Birthday Cards

I thought I should blog about these birthday cards from October before this month ends. I'm a little late posting these cards, sorry!

This first card was made for CS. The floral paper reminded me of her, so I had to use it! And the "make a wish" stamp goes really well the birthday candle sticker. So, here's another birthday card for her to add on her book shelf...Happy Birthday! Don't forget to click here to see her last year's birthday card.

Make a wish

Hello, you make me smile

I used my perfect-ish bows to make cards. What I like about these cards is that they are great for other occasions or even last minute things. Sometimes it's hard to find greeting cards to go with a celebration or event, so these cards are simple enough to say whatever you want...just make sure you write something inside to make it more personal :P

For Sale.
♥ Email me for Hello 08-2010

Tying the Perfect Bow Update!

Last week I said that I would try to tie the perfect bow and show you guys what it looks like. I was following the tutorial video, but my bows don't look like hers! After tying a couple of bows, I learned that various fabric creates different shapes. For example, stiff ribbons create fatter bows and loops are bigger. I was using thin ribbons, so my bows don't look so bubbly :P

My advice is to take your time when tying your bows. Make sure you put your fingers through the loops and pull because that method will create bigger loops. Anyway, here are my (perfect?) bows....

I will keep practicing :P

Sash- Multilayered bow

This is how I made my sash bow...you will need:

Tying the Perfect Bow

I have some favourite craft blogs that I visit almost everyday. I'm always amazed (and jealous) by how they can tie the perfect bows. After some whining to A about how much I want those bows on my cards, I did some research on YouTube and found some tutorials on how to tie the a perfect bow.

Visit Martha Stewart's Ribbons and Bows to learn the different types of bows. I hope one day I can tie these...

Oh, Martha Stewart...you just made me drool.

Ready to learn? Here's a tutorial by butternutsage.

Martha Stewart's Bow How-to

Oh, I also bought new ribbons yesterday! I have a lot of small ribbons, so those won't work if I want fat bows :) Aside from ribbons, I bought a lace border. They come in different lace patterns and they're stickers so you don't have to use glue or tape. I love the border stickers because they're so easy to use! (I used heart border for my Mother's Day card).

I love the scalloped edge ribbons

In the video, she said it's like tying a shoe...well, that's not how I tie my shoes :( but it shouldn't be that hard, I hope. I will update you guys on my attempt to tie the perfect bow!

Happy Crafting!

I like to collect stuff

My brothers and cousins made up a nickname for me when we were younger. They used to call me 垃圾婆 (laap-saap-po), which translates into "Garbage Lady." Why? I used to collect all kinds of stuff! ...some stuff were useless though; hence "garbage." I used to have a collection of stickers (including those stickers on fruits), flyers that I like (mainly Toys "R" Us), clothing tags....yep.

Now I use my collecting habit into good use! In this example, I can shop AND collect goodies. I think some retail stores are eliminating plastic tag attachments because I'm starting to notice safety pins being used to attach clothing tags on garments. This is a great collection to my craft box/sewing kit because I can use it for my cards, like this one.


FREE safety pin! ...no, not really...

Another collection to add is the strings that are used for hanging on the hangers. I usually cut them off because I find them very annoying. Keep in mind that you should only cut the strings if you don't need to hang them. I like to keep the nice, satin-looking ones to use them as ribbons. Here's an example.


This is only an example. I need to hang this because it's a silk top. I guess I have already removed all the strings.

Also, don't forget to save those extra buttons! Collecting items like safety pins can be a great way to save money (a little means a lot!) and you can use them to add a special touch to your handmade card ;)


My collection. I have more buttons saved somewhere else :)

By the way, I'm loving this warm weather! I took some pictures in my backyard. It was awkward at first because my neighbour was hanging her laundry on the clothesline and most likely saw me taking pictures of myself -_- But that doesn't stop me from enjoying the sunshine!


My new converse shoes that I bought from Las Vegas


I have decided to make my necklace with the key on the side.Thanks to maybegirl and Noodle Kaboodle for their help!


Who took this picture??? Scroll down :)


My "handmade tripod." One small easel + an empty shoe box + a small stand

To the Best Pair!

A friend of mine just recently got engaged during the holidays and I finally got to see her last week for her birthday! For the newly engaged couple, I've made them a simple, but detailed, card. Glitter glue was carefully added onto the borders, the dash lines, and the outlines of the hearts :) And I finished it with a pretty embellishment of a pair of matching rings.

♥ sureL's Tips and Techniques:
You don't have to restrict yourself in using pre-made borders. You can make your own! What I like to do is use a nice scrapbook paper with border-like designs on it...like this one:


Then I measure how much I need, cut it, and decorate it!


And here's the end product:

Congratulations to the new couple!

Come back to see her birthday card! :)

Crafter’s Toolbox: Basic Tools- Part 2

This is part 2 of Crafter’s Toolbox! Click here to read Part 1 of Crafter's Toolbox: Basic Tools. Enjoy!

6. Double-sided Tape/ Foam Tape
   
   
   
   My most favourite tool to use! This tape has adhesive on both sides and it sticks on materials quite easily. I don’t use glue anymore because it’s way too messy and it creates funny bumps when the glue dries up. Also, I find that glue don’t stick as well as double-sided tape.
   
   
7. Paper Punches
   
   
   
   They are a quick and easy way to create adorable shapes. You can use them to decorate cards, scrapbooks…basically anything you want! The most common punches are corner rounder, circles, hearts, and stars. I really like my Martha Stewart cupcake punch! Although the size is a bit big, I like how it’s really easy to use compare to the thumb punches. TIP: You can sharpen them by punching through aluminum foil or lubricated by punching through waxed paper (from Michael’s Craft Store).
   
   
8. Glitter Glue
   
   
   
   Of course glitter glue is on my list! What can I say? Clear glue with glitter stuck to it...AMAZING!
   
   
9. Pens and Markers
   
   
   
   You’ll need at least one fine-tip black marker… to sign your name on the back of the card so that people would know who made the card =D lol For Christmas, a friend of mine gave me a box of colourful gel pens! 84 pens to be exact!
   
   
10. Card Stock
    
    
    
    They’re thicker and sturdier than normal writing or printing papers you use at home, work, or school. Card stocks come in different colours, thickness, patterns, and textures. I prefer to use card stock for card making because it’s thick enough to hold a good amount of glitter and stickers that I use for cards :P
    

Other tools that didn't make the cut:

• Rubber Stamps- Want to know why my rubber stamps are in CD cases? Click here to find out! :)
  
  
  
  
• Hot Glue Gun- PLEASE make sure you work safely when using hot glue guns!
  
  
  

I hope you enjoyed the past two posts! Because I did! Are there any tools that you would like to see on the list? If so, leave a comment or send me an email! I would love to hear from you!

Happy Crafting! :)

Crafter’s Toolbox: Basic Tools- Part 1

You’re in for a treat because this is neat topic! :) It’s going to be really useful for anyone who wants to start a new hobby or any card making projects.

It’s quite easy to get carried away with the selection of tools and supplies available in craft stores…and it’s sometimes overwhelming. You don’t need a room full of supplies to make cards...just a few basic items (and your creativity ;) ) will create gorgeous cards and other craft projects.

To keep things simple, I’m going to list, in no particular order, the 10 basic tools (in my opinion) that are essential for cardmaking.. BUT i'll be listing only 5 for today, so be sure to come back to read the next 5 tools! ;)

Note: The pictures below are my craft supplies! :) enjoy!

1. Paper Cutter/Trimmer
   
    
   
   The ruled grid lines in a paper trimmer make cutting straight lines a piece of cupcake! lol it doesn’t take up a lot of space and blade is easy to operate and replace. I kinda regret buying a cheap paper cutter, but oh well…it still works fine.
   
   
2. Craft Knife
   
   
   
   It’s one of the tools I use the most! It would be hard to make cards without using a craft knife. To choose the best craft knife, find one that is easy to grip and has changeable blades. To use a knife, hold it at a 45-degree angle to get the clean and crisp cuts.
   
   
3. Cutting Mat/ Self-healing Cutting Board
   
   check out my Hello Kitty sticker on the bottom right side! :P
   
   You’ll definitely need a cutting mat when you use a craft knife! The cutting mat is used to protect the blades of your craft knife and the surface of the table. It can also be used as a ruler because they have horizontal and vertical lines every centimeter, inches, or millimeters.
   
   
4. Scissors/ Decorative Scissors
   
   
   
   Having a good pair of scissors is important to successful papercrafting. It’s extremely frustrating when you have use dull scissors or ones that are too big or small for the job. I would suggest spending a bit more money on a pair of sharp micro-tipped scissors because they’re perfect for cutting in small areas.
   
   Decorative Scissors come in unique patterns such as the scallop design (my favourite!), wave, lace, ripple, and so much more! You can use them for edging stationary, photos, page layouts, and more!
   
   
5. Ruler
   
   
   
   A metal ruler is better than a plastic ruler because it’s safer when you'r cutting paper with a craft knife.

Ready to find out the next five tools? Click here for part 2!

Card Kits + Baby Card

My BFF suggested that I should make some pre-made cards to save some time...what a wonderful idea! Thanks! :) So I made some different shapes of cards..some are squared-shaped and some with windows.

soooo...

sureL's BFF's tips and techniques. lol

pre-made cards = save time = good.

♥Card Kits ...almost like emergency kits ;)
Most card kits are sorted by themes, such as birthdays, love & romance, and weddings. It's so useful because you can put anything together and it will still look pretty. This party-themed card kit by DCWV (see picture below) includes:
- over 190 stickers
- 10 printed textured cardstock cards
- 10 solid textured cardstock cards
- 5 sheets of printed paper.

So, if you're in a hurry (maybe because you forgot someone's birthday? ...lol) be sure to take out your emergency card kit! =D



From DCWV- The Stack Company.

I was in a rush to make this card, so it looks kinda plain :( And I didn't have an emergency card kit...which I'll now add to my "Things to Buy" list. :) I'll redeem myself for the baby shower party or when the baby comes (or perhaps both? muhaha)


Congrats to my uncle and auntie!

Sparkle Sparkle!

You know me...i love adding glitters to my cards…actually, to anything! Whether adding sparkly stickers or using glitter glue, it will always add a little dazzle.
Here are some ways to sparkle ‘em cards:

1. Sparkly Paper.The Glitter Stack comes with different colours and lots of sheets- all sparkling with glitter! The cards are acid-free and thick with a textured surface...perfect for cutting or tearing!
   
   The All Occasion Glitter Stack
   
   From Michaels Craft Store.
   
   - Comes with 21 designs and 42 sheets
   - 8x8 cards with an assortment of prints in stripes, polka dots, flowers, and more!
   
   
   
   
   Solid Glitter Stack
   
   From Michaels Craft Store.
   
   - Comes with 12 glittery colours and 30 sheets (12x12)
   
   
   


2. Glitter Glue. Glitter Glue is the best way to personalize everything! It dries puffy to add extra dimension and texture. If you’re messy like me, make sure you buy washable glitter glue.
   
   
   From Michaels Craft Store.
   


3. Shimmer Stickers. I saved the best one until the end =) You can also add dimension and texture to your cards and other decorating projects with colourful, sparkly stickers. Ohhh, there are so many different types of stickers to choose from! I have a box full of stickers! :) ...the one on the right is sooo cute! lol
   
   
   Left: Michaels Craft Store.
   Right: Flicker--Uploaded by [RUNMIARUN].

sureL's tips and techniques.


♥Here's a way to add some sparkle to plain and simple stickers:
Use a glitter glue and start decorating!

Here's your chance to be creative! :)


PS: I'm changing my layout...slowly ♥

saving the world, one rubber stamp at a time!

...well, not really. but rubber stamps will sure save me A LOT of time.

Rubber stamps come in all different sizes and cute designs! By using simple stamping techniques, you can add beautiful pictures on your handmade cards! And here’s the best part: since there are sooooo many designs, you can still be creative and go buck wild.

I really like this card!
From Michaels Craft Store.

I'm hoping my cards will look something like this one. It's so simple, yet very cute!... but if it was me, I would add some glitter here and there, but that's okay! haha =P


Oh, I just got the best deal! I bought a set that included 53 clear stamps, 2 stamp blocks, 3 ink pads, and 8 cards with envelopes for…wait for it…for only $4.94CDN!!! it was about $10CDN. Don’t you just love it when your item is marked original price, but then your cashier tells you that your item is on sale??? I wanted to droooooool. haha

sureL's tips and techniques.
♥ Look for unmounted stamps (rubber only) that can be used with stamp blocks or acrylic blocks. That way, you can save a lot space. Check out a video of how pinkcatstudio demonstrated 3 clever ways to store unmounted rubber stamps.

From Michaels Craft Store.

♥ If this is your first time purchasing rubber stamps, figure out what style you like. Do you like fancy designs? Flowers? Letters and Phrases? Or even better, you can buy themed stamps…that way, you can keep your designs consistent. But you don’t have to limit yourself to buying themed stamps…you can always mix and match!

From Michaels Craft Store.

happy stamping! :)

after midterm exams

I haven’t made a card for the longest time…all thanks to school! I kinda went buck wild after I finished my last midterm…I stayed up until 4am making cards. Anyways, I hope I can buy a better camera this year. This camera doesn't capture the sparkle-ness on the cards! lol …enjoy!


This is an example of a window-shaped card.

♥Card is 25cm x 12.5cm
♥Window is 8cm x 8cm
♥Cut four strips of paper (1.5cm x 10cm) with decorative-edge scissors
♥Attach paper to the inside of the card (in this case, I used a green paper)
♥Start decorating!

This idea was taken from "The Art of Card Making" by Claire Sun-ok Choi, et. al.


This card wins the award of the fastest card to make! It took me only 30mins to make! Well, nothing to be proud of because my cousin didn't know what that "yellow thing" was and little brother thought it was an egg yoke. Anyways, I don't really need to explain how to make this one...kinda simple. Oh, it's supposed to be a sun. lol



I hope she's not reading this right now because I didn't give it to her yet. She's in Taiwan right now and I miss her a lot =(
I went overboard with the sparkly red flowers, but I can't help it...they're so shiny! =)

♥Card is 25cm x 14.5cm
♥Pot: Use paper with cute patterns on it. Top pot is 9.5cm x 2cm. I guessed the bottom part of the pot =)
♥Cut out a heart. And, using a different colour paper, use a decorative-edge scissors to cut out a heart
♥Add green leaf and stem

sureL's tips and techniques.


To get the perfect fold, don't just fold your card in half. Use the other side of an exacto/x-acto knife or a craft knife. This will create a neat crease where you can easily fold your card.

♥use a ruler!

♥remember: don't use the sharp side! you don't want to cut your card in half!