Paper Stash

October 28, 2010

One of my 101 goals is to reduce my paper stash by half.

In order to accurately achieve my goal, I have to know how much paper I have to begin with! So last weekend, I cleared up some space on my crafting desk and piled my paper on top. This is what I ended up with, not including a few piles of scraps I have lying around on my shelves.


When I first started papercrafting, I used to go on people's blogs and obsess over pictures of their craft rooms. I was envious of their supply and thought that having too many supplies would be a nice "problem" to have.

But now that I face the same problem, I know otherwise.

In the next couple of weeks before baby comes, I'm hoping to make a few more cards and tags*. Maybe if I'm adventurous enough, I might even make my very first scrapbook layout!


*The only thing with making lots of cards and tags is that I likely won't be able to use them before we move to Australia which means it's another thing to pack! Oh the joys of moving overseas!

Sparkle and Shine

January 21, 2010

When you're living off of one income, you have to come to terms with the fact that you can't get everything you want. I would love to buy every single paper-crafting tool and product that makes my heart skip a beat, but let's face it, that just really isn't going to happen.

So when you're in a situation like mine, you just have to use what you have.

I've been wanting to colour in many of my stamped images lately. But little things like blender pens always get bumped down on my list of things to buy. I have a couple markers but sometimes the colour comes out too strong. So what did I do? I dug around in my crafting area and found a box of pens from my childhood.

I've been collecting and hoarding these pens ever since I discovered them. I'm pretty sure just about every Asian girl knows about these gel pens. I loved them. The colours. The variety. I had to have them all. One of each colour, in every style. Had to get the Tiara ones. Had to get the Souffle ones. Had to get the Aqualip ones. And sometimes, I'd get doubles {just in case} I ran out of one colour.

It was a little overboard, but now I'm really glad I have them because it gives me some options when I don't have what all the other crafters are using.

So if you're strapped for cash, try digging around your stash to see what treasures your past has to offer.

Too Simple

January 4, 2010

Is it possible for a design to be too simple?

I've been noticing that my cards have been getting simpler and simpler. It's gotten to the point where I'm almost wondering whether it's even worth it - the cost of materials, the effort of gathering the materials and cleaning them afterwards - to even make some of the cards I make.


It seems like a waste. Like painting a $100 canvas completely black.

Is it a waste? Or is it art? And if it's art, is it worth it?

Maybe I just need to get out of my own head and get back my crafting desk.

Corner Rounder

November 13, 2009

It gets a little lonely without someone to craft with sometimes. Luckily, I have my son who's always into whatever I'm doing.

I usually don't let him do too much on his own (with my stuff, that is). I let him help me adhere things, stamp on some scrap papers, but he's not allowed to do any cutting.

Then tonight as I was getting him to help put my punches away (oh yeah, he's allowed to help clean as well), he discovered my corner rounder. I showed him what it did and he decided to give it a try.



And then he was hooked. For the next 15 minutes or so, he punched corners off of my scrap paper, then got me to cut the rounded corners off so he could rinse and repeat.

It's a great way to get rid of scraps and keep a kid happy and occupied, in case anyone's wondering.


He said, "I love machines!" Now, if only I could get his father to see things the same way!

Ladies of the crafting world, I present to you my son - corner rounder extraordinaire. Happily leaving a trail of little triangles wherever he goes.

Dry Spell

November 10, 2009

Don't you hate it when you have a crafty dry spell?

There have been multiple times where I sit at my desk with an idea, cut out some pieces.. and just never end up putting anything together because things just don't seem right.

So the other day, I sat myself down and told myself I had to adhere a few pieces of paper together, stamp a few things and put something together, even if it didn't seem right.



This is what I came up with. It's nothing spectacular. Really simple and took virtually no time to put together. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it but at least it helped me put an end to my dry spell!

The juices of creativity are flowing once again. Yippee!

Paper Crafts Connection

November 6, 2009

This morning, I started off my mornings as I usually do (when I have a little extra time) going through my Google Reader to see what kind of inspiration I can start my day off with.

To my great surprise, I found out that I was a winner of a copy of Paper Crafting with Photos from Paper Crafts Connections.

What a fantastic way to start a morning? I mean, who doesn't love to win some free stuff every now and then?

I was super excited and I was checking my email day to see when they'd email me.

Turns out, they can't send their awesome prizes outside of the US, which is a bit of a bummer, but they gave me the option of getting a free 1-year subscription to Paper Crafts magazine!

I can't wait to get those. I really need to get my creative juices flowing again!

{Thank you sooooo much, PCC!}

btsoidesigns on Etsy!

September 29, 2009

I am pleased to announce the grand opening of btsoidesigns on Etsy!

This was a real challenge for me, wandering blindly into this foreign territory, but slowly I picked things up here and there. After months of preparation, I had no more excuses not to open the shop. So I gathered every ounce of courage I had an listed my first item. Then the next... and another one...

Now, I just have to sit tight and wait for customers! Maybe I'll get some and be overjoyed, or maybe I'll get none and be a little disappointed. But at least I'll know I tried!

I've replaced my Card Gallery over in my sidebar with my mini Etsy.

Hope you'll head over and check it out :)

First Challenge

July 24, 2009

I'm pretty proud of myself for actually completing this. It's nothing fancy but I think it represents a lot of "growing" for me (whoa.. getting a little philosophical here).

Here's the two things I did with this card that I never thought I'd do:

1. This card was made for a challenge*. I keep convincing myself that I'm not ready for a challenge, I can't do it. But when I saw the due date for this challenge, I knew I had to try. August 10th is like half a month away! That's plenty of time to come up with something. And whaddaya know? I've got it done already and it's only been a day.

2. Using an assortment of colours and patterns. I've always sucked at "matching" colours and patterns. For this one, I just threw caution to the wind and said, "Screw it!" and put whatever paper was within reach onto this card. Of course, there was a bit of debating going on in my head but in the end, I really tried not to care so much.

* Moxie Fab World is running a Bag Lady Challenge. I was inspired by this bag:

Paige Fabric Crossbody Bag from Fossil

to make this card:



So what do you think? You can check out other submissions over at their flickr group.

Take A Peek!

July 17, 2009

I can't believe it's already the middle of July! This summer is really blowing by.

Unfortunately, I've been spending pretty much the entire summer with my nose in my textbooks, or rather, with my eyes glued to the computer screen and my fingers stuck to the keyboard. It's been an intense term of courses, but I'm almost done and I can't wait until I'm free to craft whenever I please!

In the mean time, I've updated the pictures in my card gallery so go check it out! There's a few new cards in there and while you're there, you even get a little sneak peek of my new craft space! Exciting stuff!

Garage Sale

July 7, 2009

Alison's sisters had a garage sale and I thought I might check it out, if not for the good deals that might be had, then just to meet them in person. At first I was debating whether it'd be worth the long drive, but I think it ended up being totally worth it.

They treated me like a celebrity. Really. The second I walked in the door, they knew who I was (and I have no clue how!) then took my picture! Now I kind of wish I whipped out my camera and took a picture of them too!

Then I got some really great stuff for myself. I believe it was Mo who was kind enough to remind me that as a demo, I don't really need too much of the retired stuff, but I couldn't help myself.


I'm a sucker for papers so I got some of that. Plus a couple of old stamp sets that were retired before my time that I was interested in playing with.

So thank you to Mo and Ellie for having the garage sale and for treating me so well. And whoever's house that was, you have a lovely pool. I should have told you that while I was there.

Card Gallery

June 24, 2009

Check out my card gallery over there ---> in my sidebar!

I've decided to display my pictures there for now, instead of writing a post for each of them.

And as it says, I'm hoping to set up shop in the near future to sell my cards, so stay tuned for that next step in my creating journey!

Almost! Here!

June 10, 2009

I can not believe it. Ever since June 4th, I've been checking the UPS site at least 50 bajillion times a day to see if maybe they had decided to put a GPS tracking device on my packages so I could see where they are at each and every second.

Of course I had no such luck. I even had to go the entire weekend wondering where in the US of A my package was because they didn't bother to update it!

Then, today at 2pm, I found out it was in Windsor, ON. WINDSOR! That's like 3 hours and 50 minutes from my home! (Yes. I checked on Google Maps. Don't judge me.) So my package should arrive at my door at 6pm.. maybe 6:02pm if the UPS guy has trouble parking.

I waited and waited for a knock on the door, or for the phone to ring. And nothing. I cannot believe it. I wanted to cry.

I was really hoping to get my package tonight because ever since I placed that order, I've been thinking up a bunch of different projects to do and now all I need are the things to make them with!

Tomorrow. Tomorrow's the day. I can feel it. Well, that and because the UPS site originally said that tomorrow would be the delivery date.

You've Got Mail

June 5, 2009

I love mail more than ever now.

I've always loved mail. I check the mail every single day hoping to get something (does that sound greedy?). I think this all started back when I started getting letters in the mail. That was the most exciting thing ever.

Then, as my friends started traveling more, I got postcards in the mail. Even when I go on vacation, I send myself postcards! Really! I'm not crazy. I just want to have a memory of that trip for myself so one day, I can put all my memories together. I send Nathan postcards too so he'll have memories of our trips when he grows up.

Anyway, what was I talking about again? Oh, yes. I love mail.

It makes me sad when my mailbox is empty. Even if I get bills, I'm okay with that. But the best thing to get in the mail? A small package... which is what I got today!

Yay! Another stamp set (Cheep Talk) is here! And this time, I have to give a big thanks to Alison for sending me this set as a thank you for joining her team and for her super speedy mailing! Wheeee!

I love love love this set because of the cute little birdies. They're so... well, cute! I'm just a little bit intimidated by this set though, because unlike my problem yesterday (with having 'too little' images), this one has lots and lots of tiny images! So now I have to figure out which one goes with which block!


I don't know what to do! Oh wait, yes I do. I should go have lunch with my husband. We have a date.

Couple of Things

June 4, 2009

There's a couple of things on my mind tonight.

First of all, my order has finally been shipped! In about 6 days, I'll be receiving two big boxes filled with STUFF! Oh my, that sounded a little materialistic... We'll have to work on that.

Second of all, my dear husband went downtown to the Pottery Barn Kids to order a desk wall system that I had recently fallen in love with and thought would be a fantastic crafting and homework-ing table (for when my baby boy gets old enough to have homework. But that'll be a long time from now, right? Right?!). Am I spoiled of what?

And last of all, remember when I was all excited about my Yummy set? Well here's a little something that made me a tiny bit less happy. Dawn, over at Dawn's Stampin Thoughts had this great idea of splitting images for more use! I guess I should have thought of this myself because when I first got the set, I was a little disappointed that it was 3 images instead of 4. But being the naive person I am, I didn't change anything and put it on 'like we're supposed to'.

I blame that on the fact that before this, I used mostly acrylic stamps that can be unmounted and mounted to whatever position you like.

In any case, the fact of the matter is that rubber stamps and their labels are extremely permanent and there's nothing I can do about the set now. Oh well! Live and learn, I suppose.


P.S. Go check out Dawn's videos. She has tonnes of them and they're really helpful!

My First Order

June 1, 2009

Despite being really sick last night and having an incredibly high fever that left me almost immobile, I woke up at 3am this morning and couldn't go back to sleep. So what do I do? Log on to Stampin' Up of course because today's the day they release the Last Chance list and give us Demonstrators a sneak peek at some of the things in the new catalog!

Let me just say, I don't think I have ever been this organized about any other purchase in my life. I had it all meticulously done up in an Excel file so that when I got into the system, I could just click and go.

As the title suggests, this was my very first order so I was a little anxious but it turned out to be sooo simple. I can't wait for all my stuff to get here. I'll do another post then to share with you all the fun stuff I got!