Love Today + Little Giveaway

It's my turn at the Sizzix blog now and I shared a tutorial on how I made this planner dashboard using the latest dies from Tim Holtz. One of which is the uber cute coffee cup! Look! 

There is something in a cup of hot coffee that makes me alive.

And there is something in planners that makes my day complete.

Having both makes me one happy person! And I'd like to share the happiness ... I must. 

So if you like to these coffee cups here's how: 

1. Like my blog post. There's a LIKE button at the bottom of this post. 

2. Leave a comment. 

Will pick a winner on 1st of March, Singapore time. Winners will be notified directly by me and will be announced in my next post. Goodluck! :) 

*There is also a separate INSTAGRAM giveaway which will double your chance of winning! Find me at instagram: @genevive for more details :) 

Thanks for dropping by and don't forget to check out the tutorial HERE :) 

{Mother's Day} suggestions + GIVEAWAY!

Hey everyone out there --- don't ever forget 12 May is mothers day. Do something sweet for Mom if you don't want that dreaded "silent treatment" lol.

Seriously, our Moms deserve the best from us everyday of our life but I'm sure she will appreciate even the little things. Like a phone call or an SMS. Or better yet spend time with her over dinner at home. I know it's not possible for all of us. Like my mother is miles away from me so I will just Skype of Facebook chat with her and maybe send her some cash for shopping (that one is a sure win haha!) to make up for the fact that I can't spend time with her in person.

In the case of my friend Grace, whose mom is already in the better place, she wrote a memoir --- a book Lovingly Yours Mom. I have read it and I couldn't put it down - finished reading it in two days. It made me resolve to spend time with my loved ones, so that when the trumpet sounds, I am at prepared, at peace, really ready knowing I haven't wasted my time on the things (of this world) which really won't matter in the end!

Here's more about the book and Grace...

You can purchase the book online as an e-book. It is also available in paperback. Really perfect as mother's day gift! See all the details HERE. 

Now for the AWESOME part... you will get the chance to have this book for FREE! Grace gave me a paperback copy of her book for my followers (and two more for my Instagram and ThoughtfulCrafts followers!Yay!) Here's all you have to do...

1. Follow my blog (find "JOIN THIS SITE" button at the side bar).

2. Click Facebook "LIKE" button at the bottom of this post.

4. Comment on this post. 

Comments close on Mother's Day! 

That's only my first suggestion.. here's more! Make her a handmade card (that will get her to say:  WOW! coz you made it yourself) using these embellishment kits: 

I packed 10 of these. Each pack is beautiful. Unique. See them HERE. And buy now before it's gone :)  

Sharing some simple cards I made using* these embellishment packs.... 

(*some papers used in cards are not included in the kit)

So I hope I have helped you with this post! And make sure you do all the three special steps to enter the giveaway (that sounded like my son's fave show Special Agent Oso!) See you soon! Love, Gen. 

ATC from trash

Introducing... my little bowl of trash treasures! I have this on my desk. It holds little papers, those extra papers I can't afford to throw away (hands-up all hoarders!). It's always been so useful. It helps me "finish" my projects.  Do you have those moments too?  When you think you have done EVERYTHING but you look at your layout/card and you feel it's not enough? It happens to me and when it does, I turn to this bowl take whatever and make it into hearts, tab, tag, arrow, etc.. and add it somewhere in my layout... and then I'll be satisfied.

Today I will share with you how I used this bowl for something else.. 

CHALLENGE: To make four (artist trading cards) ATCs for Sookie, Marix, CJ and me using anything and everything IN THIS BOWL without lifting my butt. So here's how it went: 

| 8:49 AM |

I cut 4 white cardstock as my ATC base (ok, I can't find an ATC in this bowl so I had to lift my butt and get it somewhere some  challenge rules need to be broken)

| 9:10 AM |

I hand cut  banners, arrow, hearts and wrote "make today awesome" on the cards.. now I need paste them (I had to stand up again to take those sequins, and my pen. Sorry I couldn't help it. I guess next time I had to really get ready before challenging myself. Lol!)

| 9:39 AM |

After a few interruptions courtesy of Miguel who asks me endless questions and the Starhub guy who changed the cable something something, I managed to stitch the banners, pasted all the little details and draw some broken lines. Done! 

I had less than an hour of scrapping fun before it's time for me to attend to other matters named Rujim and Miguel. But before I go, here's the winner of my NSD giveaway: 

Congratulations Lili! Please PM me here with your address so I can send the goodies. To all who joined me, thank you! I will visit your blogs soon. Love, Gen :)

challenge entry for Crate Paper + GIVEAWAY!

I have been in the mood to scrap lately. I couldn't stop. When this happens I love to visit my favorite paper company blogs and join in some challenges. It's not always for the prizes or the fame that I do it (although of course I am always very happy if I get to win, because of the goodies!) but more than that, it is really fun! And there are things I learn and discover in process. 

Last Friday I observed my son watching Minute To Win It,  and I saw how sad he was when his favorite blue team (boys team) lost the game.  On that show, one mom was asked to say some words of encouragement to her kids and she said: "FOCUS! FOCUS!" with her eyes really wide and her face showed how stressed she was!

 I felt sad for the kid. If it was me, cheering for my son, I will tell him: "Just enjoy! Have fun!" because I believe it is NOT in the winning.. It is in the PLAYING. So I turned to my sad son, and told him what my parents told us when we were young: In anything you do, make sure you do it with joy. Have fun. Love every moment. With that, whether you win or you lose, you already WON. And if in case you win the game, that's just a bonus! 

I hope my 5 year old son understood all of it. 

The challenge was to create something in one color in varying tints and shades.  So I collected all the yellows I could see from the different  Crate collections I have. I also made my own embellishments such as this "candy". I just rolled a paper, wrapped it with a torn yellow paper, tied with white twine and added some rock candy stickles. I think the elements go well with my son's photo taken on his birthday picnic at the beach... 

Another handmade embellishment is this twine spool from a grey board and Tim Holtz sewing room die. Will be submitting this piece to Crate Paper Color Challenge. Now check out this guy who assists me in taking photos of my projects. He does this all the time ... 

Most part of the world celebrate National Scrapbooking Day today. I am a bit lonely over here, wishing I was having some crop or a scrapbooking party with more than just myself.. but since I can't I thought of something to join in the fun ... GIVEAWAY! Comment in this post by Monday 8:00 PM and I will draw a winner to have these stuff I made with love...  If  you are my follower, I promise to visit your blog and follow you back too! 

These are some handmade greeting cards, a blank mini book, handmade tags and embellishments and stamped cardstocks I sell in my my shoppe. Thank you for participating and for checking out my blog. Have a happy weekend! Love, Gen. 

Sweetest Days WORKSHOP + Winner!

Here are some sneaks for this month's workshop. Thanks to those who have signed up yesterday! Four of them so far :) 

Workshop details... 

Create a chipboard mini album with ring binders FROM SCRATCH! Use those basic tools tools like crop-a-dile, corner rounder and punches... Techniques like stamping, distressing, layering, making handmade embellishments like this 3D rose (using just the scissors, no machine needed!) will be learned too... and take home this sweet keepsake that’s perfect for MOM.

When: Dates to be confirmed once a class of 4 pax is completed and confirmed*. We have 3 schedules available for this workshop. Where: Right here at my Creative Space :)
Fee: $45
Duration: 2 to 3 hours
Things to bring: precision tip scissors, foam dots, Beacons glue, distressing ink and tool.
*Note: Confirmed slot means participants have paid the workshop fee.

And now.. the winner for our Mothers Day Mini Blog Hop is... Sim Kailin! Congratulations! Please PM me your details here, and tell me which of the four minis you like best on or before 5th of May (for I will be putting up the rest for sale). Thank you so much dear scrappy friends for joining us in our blog hop... I know we all had fun so there will definitely be more!!! Stay tuned :) 

winner! :)

Thanks to Michelle, Cheryl, Margaret and Salme for commenting and joining my first ever humble valentine giveaway...

I asked my son, Miguel to help me draw the winner and since he is starting to read, I prepared a little script for him and here goes the winner...

Congratulations Margaret! I will be sharing my Pebbles goodies with you! ... and since this is my first giveaway, I will also give brand new stamps to Cheryl, Michelle and Same :) Please email me your addresses so I can send my little gift! 

Thank you again! :) 

Much love from my happy place, Genevive