Washi Tags Mini Tutorial of sorts...

What a week it has been!  Very hectic and most of my afternoons were burnt due to meetings and courses.  Sorry for the silence.  April has never been a good month in my work calender and is infamously known to be one of the hell months.  July is the next one.

Managed to create some washi tags this weekend and was very happy with the end result.  Washi is my lastest craze and addiction, no thanks to SBM and the many companies producing washi tape with the lastest CHA collection.


Let me explain how I did these:

First, I got hold of some manila tags and inked them with Versamark.  I tried to stamp on the tags and realised that it turned out very light.  I added some Versafine Sepia onto the stamp pad and using my pinky finger, rubbed it all around to distribute the color.  Thereafter, more Versamark and you're ready to stamp!

Here's how it'll look like after u stamp on the tags:

Photo on the left shows the lightest Versamark without any ink and the next two show varying degrees on how dark the background image can be.  I like the middle one the best as it creates a very soft background and perfect for decorating.

Thereafter, PILE ON YOUR WASHI!!  I added an Ali Edwards Technique Tuesday stamp 'The absolut blessing of Today' to complement the washi.

Tag No 1: A Thank You tag...

Tag No 2: 'For you'...

Tag No 3:  Happy Birthday...

Tag No 4: Another Happy birthday....

Don't you love playing with Washi?  I'm having so much fun.  For these tags, I used about 4 different washi designs and 3 from the Colet collection which has the words 'Happy Birthday', etc.  They're really very fun and easy to use.

Some simple guidelines if you like to create something similar:

1. Plan in advance which tapes you have will 'match' in colour and use them generously.  Washi really does not cost that much and it'll take you very long to use up one roll so just bring it on!

2.  I started out by creating one tag first, as I always do when I'm creating multiples of anything.  Once you are happy with it, you can 'copy' your design to the other tags. Line them all up in a row and you're good to go!

3.  Have heaps of fun!  Washi is meant to bring you joy! :)

Have a great week and thanks for dropping by!

Jo

Instagram Love

Can't believe I'm hooked on Instagram.  Me, the techie noob. hahahah :)

Among my favourites are Early Bird and Sienna..Or rather, I should say Early bird cos it's about the only one I use.

Aren't these photos pretty????

Cute buttons I made..decided to type words on them but aligning it to appear in the centre of the button was tough work.  Many redos.

My other Royal baby.  MUCKS!!!  Put some washi to make it look better!

Smashed away last night and this morning.  I love my smash journal. As J rightly put it, it's like a mini layout.  Only easier. 

Another page of my smash.  Dedicated to Terence who left us at work this month.  Sure gonna miss him. 


Updates on work:  This week was way better.  Next week will be hell but I will try my best to survive.  I hope it will not be as bad as I think it will be.  Following week is exam.  Different kind of hell but there are perks for us adults when the kiddos take exams. 

Thanks to one and all who have left me positive comments, esp those who are praying for me.  I know that God is good and He will continue to see me through. :)

What makes me happy...

Couple of updates for this week...

1.  I bought a typewriter!!  Yeah!  Really very happy that I finally got my hands on a good piece and I hope it will be with me for a long time to come :)

Introducing Mr Quirky: Made in the 1950s or 60s in Japan.  Still in case and I have the manual :)

2.  Had an idea of using this typewriter to type on washi tape...and then to cut them to fit my little pegs.  Love the end result:

3.  Loving my ever growing washi tape collection.  I can simply say this: I love every single one of them heaps.  I've kicked out the not so nice ones in my collection and these are my precious babies.  Just looking at them makes me happy. And i think that's what matters most.

P.S: Don't ask me why I have 2 air mail washi tapes.  But i am more than happy to have 2 in my posession.

On another note, I had a really bad Thursday, quite possibly triggered by a draining Wed and poor sleep which left me totally in the shambles on Thursday.  Somehow, i really wished i never lived to see that Thursday cos it was one of my worse days ever.  Was so tired throughout the whole day, i literally felt I was on drugs and just floating my way through the day without actually KNOWING what I was doing.  Went for 3 lessons in a daze and slightly high on adrenaline and gasoline in my system.  I have no idea how i survived that day but I do know I came home, plonked myself in the shower and had a big cry.  The big ugly cry.  And then I just sat there for half an hour trying to compose myself and garner back some of my lost energy.  Thank God it's over and that today is a better day.

I really feel very drained these few weeks. Actually, should rephrase this. I've been feeling drained for the past 7 years.  My first 2 years were good years..then everything went downhill.  Work started piling up and reached the point of no return.  How do you compensate yourself for 7 years of sleep deprivation? 

Pray with me if you've read this far ok? I need God's strength to carry me though..

Joanna

Go Team!

Darr asked me yesterday to help make some cards / tags for his kids who were going for competition soon.   He's really so sweet and passionate for them.  He was actually thinking of buying a card for them but decided to ask me to help him and he would pay for the materials.

As you know, I love any reason to craft, whether i am getting paid or not for my efforts.  If someone can cover the cost of the materials, I don't mind helping out, especially for a friend like him who has been nothing but kind to me. He gives me lifts frequently and always watches out for me.  Am blessed to have a friend like him.


Thankfully I had a chance to pop by the LSS yesterday and managed to chance until these Jillibean Soup papers.  Bought only 3 sheets and mixed them with Echo Park Charming..

Thank you Justina for these lovely PTI Tags.  They're so pretty and I can't wait to cut more tags.  Used versa mark vintage sepia ink.  Still the most crips and sharp ink in the market today.  Nothing comes close :)

And here's all 4 of them.  Actually there are 6 but I couldn't fit all on my typewriter to snap this photo.  And yes, I bought a typewriter yesterday.  H agreed to buy one for me for my birthday present this year and partner in crime went with me yesterday to pick it up.  So kind of her to drive me all the way down.  For her efforts, I'm going to Clementi Mall on Monday to get her a smash tape!

Let me digress - here's my new baby:

And where it sits in relation to all my other stuff.

Long story but this baby will not be with me for long.  I'm going to exchange it cos I've spied another one which I believe is better.  Let's save that for another entry ok?

Have a smashing weekend! 

Will be back soon on my first smash journal entry!

More Echo Park Charming....

My partner in crime was not able to complete the 15th book due to work commitments so I undertook it.  Decided to use one of my current favs - Echo Park Charming and it's also one of those few lines that I have bought enough to make a decent book! :)

Here are the pics!

Final book:  I took the liberty to write a love message from the bride to the groom on the last page for this book.  Just a sudden idea I had and I thought it would be quite sweet when he sees it.  To be fair, i went back to one of my previous books and did the same for her.  I think it will be a nice surprise.

Daniel came by on Monday to pick up the books.  I carried all of them in a box to go down and meet him at the lift and as I was going down..my heart felt more heavy than the total weight of the books on my hands.  Turned a bit cold, some shivers down my spine..all the in span of 2 mins.  Not sure why I felt this way but it was kind of sad to part them all of them..given I've spent the last month of my life working on them.  Felt like a part of me was gone :(

But all good things come to an end some day.  These books were commissed work and were never mine to begin with.  I just grew (too) attached to them, especially how I frequent look through each book to ensure that each embellishment was in place, every little detail was down to a T...

Anyway, congrats to Dan and Yvonne!  Have a smashing wedding ceremony next weekend!

Giveaway Winner!

Congratuations Ai Yen!

You're the winner of my notebook!

Will be in touch with you soon.

Thanks to one and all for participating in my giveaway!  Hope to have one more next month or by May!

Jo

Sunday morning..

Did some tags over the weekend to destress and I also wanted to try using up more of my stash!  The house will be undergoing renovation in October so I think by June will will have to start packing into boxes the stuff we seldom use.  I'm trying to cut down my scrapping purchase (but also failing equally as badly).  I forsee myself lugging my paper stash and some tools over to my mum's house where we will be staying temporarily.

Also, I've been dying to use my washi (which reminds me..i have to bring them along!) tape and I think making some banners are cool!!


Here they are!

And all 4 of them beautifully lined up!

One issue I constantly have is what to do with the stuff I make.  I have an issue with clutter and having too many things around the house. It kind of pisses me off...If u have any ideas (besides givng them away) on what I can do with the stuff I make, pls leave a comment! Or pls share how u keep the stuff you make!  If you're lucky, I may pick u to receive the above tags cos as of now, i still have no idea what to do with them!!

Have a smashing Sunday!