Ohhhh…..You Mean…….

the word is out? Yes! It is!!!! After months of waiting since September 12, I can finally shout out loud and say that “Hey, I’m a Scrapbooking Memories Master for the 2012 Team!!!!!”

 Praise God!!! Long story follows, for my own sake really, to remember how surreal it all felt…

 When we first arrived Down Under in 2009, I wanted to join this competition. Unfortunately, with all my supplies in transit and us settling in, I decided that it was a no go. Then came 2010. Sage arrived and we travelled for the next 7 months. No go once again. I told the Significant Other, I must at least submit once! So with bated breath this year, I decided that this was it. My time to create and enjoy this competition, an item on my wishlist.

After submitting my entry in August, it was a nail bitting one month where I kept wondering and asking the Significant Other about the possibility of winning. He says it best when he reminded me of the fun I had creating them, and how that is all that matters.  So when 10 September came around, the date when I thought the results would be out and I had no call, I reckon that I can look forward to December to admire the creations of all the talented people in Australia.

Two days later, after Sage finally took her afternoon nap and I was getting ready to get some scrapping done, I thought I heard my phone buzz. Opps, I had silenced it without knowing. Worried that the call might wake the baby, something I really did not want happening, I answered the phone in a whisper. There Cassie was, congratulating me on winning. It all happened so suddenly, I could not catch her name, only head “Scrapbooking Memories” and there I was still whispering, saying “really? Thank you…” and that’s it! Must have come across as really weird for Cassie! With that, the long wait started, but it was really happy days at the Post Office, collecting all my prize parcels. It came to a point that the ladies there knew who I was and would automatically pull out my parcels for me=) Hilarious…

30 November came and went. When I could not locate anyone announcing their win on the internet, I was afriad I got the announcement date wrong again! So I waited…Today, trusty Google showed me who the other winners are and guess what, yup, I’m no. 10 to announce. So if anyone sees this, yes, Hi! I’m Sophie and I’m honoured to be called a Scrapbooking Master for 2012. I still cannot believe that I have won and am humbled to be in this group of ten. The other ladies create such beautiful work!!!!! Next year is gonna be so exciting!!! I’m still getting my head around it all! Now to see my layouts in print. Can’t wait!!!

To my fellow Masters, huge congrats!!! I look forward to knowing each and everyone of you better!

When Living Happens…

this blog gets neglected…

Never mind if no one visits, never mind if no posts get posted.

Life has been fun, fulfilling and fantabulous!

I’ve been creating to my heart’s content, enjoying the company of a little one who is not so little any longer (18 months soon!!!!), and just savouring each moment of the day. More details to come over the next few blog posts, but here’s a glimpse into the little one who brings me so, so much joy!

See why Mummy is the one who decides what she wears? If not, Sage will be more than happy leaving the house with her pants on her head, and completely decked out with Mummy’s necklace!

Zut, Zut!

I realised I’ve loads of Zutter projects that I’ve not shared here on the blog. Below are but some of them. Do click on my Flickr link to see more. Better yet, visit Zutter!

Of all my recent Zutter creations, this one has to be my favourite, given that the idea has been brewing in my head for the longest time and it’s finally completed!

Other ideas that came while creating with the ever versatile Zutter products include: 

A card holder, something I needed so that I have a go to box that is clearly tabbed so that I can reach for that special card for that special someone on that special occasion.

A CD holder, idea courtesy of the Significant Other who thought it might be a good place to hold all the CDs in our car. Yes, we have yet to fall into the ipod/iphone family. This also held CDs we thought we would play when I was in labour, but when that day came, it turned out that I could not focus with music on. I got too emotional with the music we had selected. Instead, silence became my best friend=)

My driving plate album. I like this as it holds pictures taken at the different places we visited while I was learning to drive. I like how I could turn these plates into album covers!

A journal for me to chronicle Sage’s first month in this world. As you can see, when this photo was taken, she has not arrived and we did not know her gender then. Hence no name on the cover! Love that cut pilot and plane there!

A visual album of only black and white images to help Baby Sage see better. Apparently, newborn babies can only see these two colors clearly! Here she is in action, practising to be a Zutter Zister! Can’t believe how much she has grown!

With that, I look forward to having more fun with my Zut Zut once we return to Roo Land!

Blessings, disguised or otherwise

When Sage came along, I found myself telling the Significant Other that “hey, I don’t remember putting my nephews to bed to be such a challenge, or babies waking up so often in the night.” He had to remind me, “Of course! You are an auntie to them. Now, you’re Sage’s Mummy!” True. Mummyhood has opened up my eyes to a whole new world of knowledge and challenges. Much as we go about our days with our eyebags and activities planned around feed and nap times, it is the best thing that has happened. Being parents really teaches us to be less selfish as one continually gives to this little bundle that depends on us for everything. That’s our blessing – our characters are refined.

With that, I decided to challenge myself to create an A-Z album of Sagely goodness and moments, specially for the little darling and to remind ourselves of the blessings we’re given as parents. Given that we’re in the midst of travelling around, most of my scrapping goodies and happily under lock and key in a garage. In a way, this too is a blessing in disguise – my entire scrapping process is shortened, given that I do not need to rummage through loads to determine what materials to use. Also, I love how attention is given to the photos and embellies remain as they should be – there as embellishments, not focus. The following two layouts were created using two patterned papers (yummy cosmo cricket!) and two pieces of cardstock. What I loved most was the fact that nothing gets wasted and I’ve got scraps left to make a card even! I even used the strip found on the bottom of the patterned papers to embellish the pages! Love how they fit in so beautifully together! I told myself this should and shall be the way to go, scrapping wise, henceforth.

So let’s start from the very beginning – A is for Arrival. Sage’s arrival into our world.

Looking back at these pictures, isn’t it incredible how a child’s features keep evolving with time? While creating this layout, I really cannot remember the little one looking like that. These days, this is the Sage we are familiar with. A Sage that laughs loads. So L is for Laughter.

With these, I’m just so happy that as the Little One grows, Mummy is getting time to scrap and it’s certainly something Mummy needs to keep itchy fingers at bay and somehow, the eyebags no longer seem to be such a big deal.

Of Buzz and Bloom – Part 2

My adventures with Buzz and Bloom products continued, especially with the arrival of our greatest blessing.

Our best creation, our Masterpiece to date, is celebrated in the following layouts, as we

gazed on her growth in the womb:

prepared for her arrival with handmade blankies, toys, clothes etc:

asked ourselves:

marvelled at changes, both physical and responsibilities wise:

And finally, values we hope to imbue in her:

Buzz and Bloom, thank you for this wonderful opportunity. I hope all goes well with you Div and here’s not a “goodbye”, but a “see you soon”!

Of Buzz and Bloom – Part 1

One of the saddest news I received in 2010 was the closure of Buzz and Bloom, a company which I was very excited to be designing for. While I totally understand why Div made this difficult decision, I say it’s the loss of the scrapping world that this wonderful manufacturer is closed. Only for a while I hope. Looking back at the projects completed with the awesome B&B goodies, I realised my life story for the last three years can be told!

Starting with “12345”, it seemed only like yesterday that the Significant Other and I were married. In reality, we’ve had three wonderful years of married life! This layout reminds me how important it is to have fun with the title and journaling.

What came next was our whirlwind move from Sunny Island to Down Under, which has been incredibly fun. We say we don’t enjoy travelling. Instead, we enjoy living in a place – eat, travel around, work, etc like the people in a place do. We’re thankful for God’s provision that this adventure of living in Roo land is possible. Much as we enjoy being home, we do look forward to the second part of our living Down Under come May.

My scrapping adventure also became more exciting with doors opening to wonderful design teams. My love for words, types and colors increased,

And I picked up my crochet hooks again.

With all these creations, I was totally enjoying the process of creating with chipboards. They are so versatile and could be altered in so many ways to complement a layout!  More creations to come in the next post! Stay tuned!

Swinging Back Into Action!

If you’re back inspite my missing in action all these months,

let me say a huge “thanks!”

Apologies for not updating…
Please understand that a little one named Sage

has been the centre of my world…
Here she is with a beaming smile…

All of seven and a half months young!

We’ve been travelling all over the world,

as the Significant Other’s carries out his phd reseach…

In Sage’s 7 months of existence,

we’ve  been to Australia, England, Singapore and now Malaysia.

Being home with our families is great.

Having her smile and chuckle makes everyone very, very happy!

For us this year, we say let it be filled with loads of love, growth and chuckles!

I wish that for you and yours too, as we march into the new year!

And of course, this blog will grow too, as Sage grows=)

 

G’Day World!

With much anticipation, Sage, our darling daughter arrived on 31 May 2010. The Beloved and I were so thrilled to have such a wonderful creation be a part of our lives…

She’s everything and more than what we have asked for…

Meanwhile, Mummy and Daddy are adjusting to life with Sage and it’s only now, that in this pocket of time, Sage’s pic is shown here to the world. We’re so thankful for our parents who were here to welcome Sage with us and for all our friends who have been a wonderful support. Thanks too for all your well wishes and for sharing our joy! Mummy will try to post where possible…

On a separate note, Mummy is thrilled to know of Zutter’s new product and hey, you can win some goodies here.

I’m Still in the Waiting Game

Yup, we’re all still happily waiting for bubby to arrive with the only difference being the arrival of my parents from Singapore! I’m totally enjoying myself with them and it’s so good to be able to just catch up and enjoy each other’s company. So thankful for wonderful parents! In the same vein, a big shout out to all you lovelies who have been asking about our well-being. Thanks!

On the Zutter front, did you know there’s a big sale going on? Have a look here!

Maybe Baby….

Here we are, entering into May and this is a much anticipated month. As of Monday, bubby is ready to meet us in person ANYTIME!!!! Woohoo!!!! We’re in Week 37!!! We can’t wait! So Baby, when will it be? We say come real soon!

Pregnancy has been a really smooth journey, with no puking (ok, the occasional feeling of nausea), sickness or complications. Mummy brains did not get to me, it has been fun swimming and walking, with the latter still happening daily. Weight gain has been healthy and phew, while I feel like a whale, It’s been good to know that most of the weight is right in front, as friends would comment (that’s me at Week 35). Father, thank you so, so much for all these and more! Now, all that is left is for bubby to make his/her arrival.  

So baby, know that Daddy and Mummy are ready and can’t wait to meet you to dance together!