Double happiness + life

Hello friends, I am still here. Life has been pretty hectic ever since i started full time work. It has been a journey... learning to trust God everyday.... learning to enjoy all that is around me I am still growing... still learning..... and sometimes I realised I may not have as much time as I like for scrapping. It is ok. After all, it is ONLY a hobby. I do not want it to become a dread.... it started as a intent to preserve my memories for my family....and secondly a creative outlet for me. Then as time flew by, I enjoyed perks in being DT.... the joy of winning challenges.... I am grateful for these. But in a certain part of me, I went back to my core values.... what is important to me? My family, My God, my ministry.... scrapping is not really "IT"..... not that important. Good to have but it is not necessary for me. I had to give time for what is important........ thus I chose to stay active only when time permits. I choose to play in challenges only when I feel like it... i dont want to feel I had to meet deadlines... scrap for the sake of it... of course, I dont believe in scrapping the same photos again and again. it says alot ... it means I have nothing to scrap and I am just doing it. So not good! I do not want to feel upset with losing another DT...... feel lousy with those who grab every DT at every chance (whether they even like the product or use it)... these things used to irk me ALOT as i see greed in this industry. I would even cry when I lose my chance. And I will scream 'unfair' when I see people 'cheating' and not playing by the rules. When I step in that emotional thing again, i feel I have lost the purpose of scrapping. I do not want to be in that ugly and unhappy place. I want to enjoy scrapping again!!! and i will take my time. I may not be able to scrap or post as often except for my 2 DT role which is fairly easy. Hope you understand... thank you for listening to my rumbling. I am just being real here. Meanwhile 2 magazines/books arrived at my door last week and it was double joy. In this Big Book of Scrapbook Pages... I have 4 layouts in there. Very honored to be there! My girls were like 'we are on a book"... they went oh, well, mom is at it again. and this little surprise... Australia no 1 scrapbook magazine. I have 1 layout in there. Hope you have a happy week ahead. God bless you

Thank you for all your lovely comments on our BLOG HOP. Remember to join in the YSS DT Call. Details here. I have finally read all 51 comments in the earlier post. I asked what your favorite product was? I think punches seem to be the favorite purchase for most of us. Me included...LOL.... I added at least 6 more punches in the last 6 months. Help... now I am short of space. But if Martha Stewart keeps doing those lovely punches, my bank account is forever doomed!

Now the last $10 GC goes to................

ADRIENNE.........

Email me at solouloulou@yahoo.com for details. Happy shopping, Adrienne. So, what are you up to this weekend? I want to dig into my scrapping... i want to scrap!!! Did you hear about the new Prima DT? Huge congrats to Alyssa for getting in. Also a shout out to Leena...... I am so glad she is the Singaporean representing this part of the world. *WINK* Woohoo... she has a unique style and a fresh vibrant vibe to her LOs. And those photography skills are to die for!!!! And some of my favorite scrappers are still in ...... I am glad my Prima inspiration - Ingvild - will still be there. Iris too.

Winner of the RAK

Hello there!!!! We have a WINNER!!!! for the RAK. You are JChew!!!!! Congratulations! Drop me a email at solouloulou@yahoo.com thanks for following my blog.

yippee hooray

I thank God for April showers, at least it is cooler...... and I believe this will be a good month. After Easter, it was a long long weekend of serving in my church and I really enjoyed it. Here's some good news: - I've got 4 LOs picked up for publication. Woohooo........ ! - my canvas project was featured over at AMM....... HERE. - both my April classes are full now. I just popped into MWL (my local scrapbookstore) today. You can put your name on waiting list cos we may have 1 or 2 who backed out if they have not made payment, due to work or last minute schedules. And here's 1 I did using Prima March Build A Page. "Learning to WINK"..... Dont you think this piggy is really cute? Her sister and I were doing the WINK, our code for our secrets. And she wants to learn. And see the contorted face.... she is cute, funny and feisty... all roll in 1 package! There is a technique which I taught in my previous class before. Yes... dunk the paper in water, crumple it, roll it, distress it... tear it... and throw all your stress on it!!! LOL That's how I can get the roll up and folded effect. See you soon!

Where did March go?

Wow.... April is here and in Singapore we are getting a bit of rain...... wet days are here! I like the cooler weather but I hate the dampness........ and not enough sunlight to photograph my LOs. LOL. Talking about March, I totally miss this. My LO was featured over at Crate Paper BLOG. And a huge congrats to my friend, Lucy for making it as their blog contributors. Woohoo! What else did I do? I taught 3 classess for my LSS. It was a blast......!!! All classes were full... and I want to say a big "Thank you" to all of you. I know many of sign up without looking at the samples. Wow... that's huge faith in my work. THANK YOU THANK YOU! We had lots of new faces...... and of course we tried new new Shimmerz products. Everyone LOVE LOVE the Shimmerz and Blingz...... and every person bought 2-3 bottles. Everyone love the Prima papers, blings and flowers too. Dont we just go BLING BLING? Thank you for coming. We will have 2 more classes in April. I know many of you were on waiting list.... I hope you can get a slot. This sat and next, I will be teaching. See you. And I tried out 2 challenges sites which I have been stalking.... Pencil Lines and Creative Therapy. Pencil Sketch #177 "Silly" I love these photos of the girls and I. One day I was planning to take some photos of myself. Then these 2 silly girls squeeze in and we had a huge roar of laughter because I was trying to stop them from hiding my face. In the end, we capture such spontaneous silly moments. It was fun! Now i learnt a trick - if I want to take photos of them,(usually they dont want to) ..... i will tell them I only want to take pictures of myself. You know, Reverse psychology! It is working here. At least I can save money on the candies, lollipop, crackers, chips etc.... Yes.. I bribe my kids to take pictures. Bad mama... LOL Thanks for your lovely comments on my last posts. Enjoy your day!

where have I been?

Where have I been? This week is our children School Holidays. We called it the Mar holidays here. Just 1 week break from school. We head up to Malacca, just 2.5 hours drive up North to Malaysia. We love the place. Always quaint, always slower pace than Singapore... and loads of good food. Seriously we go there at least once a year. It is nearer than KL and less busy..... and definitely safer than Johor Bahru. (Hee..hee..) My hubby and I always want to sneak in time for the family... esp during the school holidays where it is not so rushed and hurried. We love being together with the kids... laughing silly in the car although less of 'are we there yet?" will be nice. We love holding hands and roaming along the streets and roads..... jumping at some cute stuff to buy. My kids love spending the whole day at the pool though not very wise with the blazing sun. Thank God for family. Thank God for little getaways like these! Here's a pic of our hotel pool. It faces the sea! Holiday Inn Malacca. Best view of the sea. And see what i found. A lovely vintage looking birdcage. Good price too. And 3 lovely birds. My children's fav now. They are playing with them as if they are real birds. And today I collect my 'loot' from my scrap/spree pal. Such scrapping goodies waiting for me.

The best are the Heidi Swapp Mists. Not in Singapore yet!

I should be posting some projects this week

I had been rushing for the MM layout calls deadline.

Managed to complete 7 LOs since last week.

thanks for dropping by, my friends!

Artsy GCD

I am in the mood to paint, mists and play... Using GCD studios papers.

I gesso the background paper... I like the paper but find it too dark so adding gesso helps.

Then I mist with Red, yellow and gold.... Just spray!

Dont bother about being right or making mistakes..

Haha... that's ART!

I like this photo of myself... taking on a cable car ride across some mountains and it's rare I am so calm.

Well, the title is "becoming''... I cut it from one of the gcd papers.

This LOs speaks of my journey "becoming":

I am becoming... I am not there yet

I am learning to rest and relax

I am learning to let creative energy flow

I am learning to be joyful

I am learning to see beauty around me.

These are just the right papers to express my moods, emotions now! Loving them.

And those butterflies... love love them....

It's my day!!!!

Yay... it is my birthday today and I celebrated with the people I loved. I didn't want a cake.. just not a 'cake' person so i asked hubby for Royce Chocolate... the ultimate choco-aholic dream. The yummy Nama chocolate. It just melts in your mouth. But the kids want candles and sing the BD song... so we lit a little candle and put it on the box of the choco. LOL. See this gorgeous bouquet....... it's from my lovely girl friend. And this dream toy... wow.... a bunch of my beloved friends bought me this as a surprise.... they had to ask hubby as a spy... what shall we give her.... a personal photo printer... wow.. that's so generous of them!!! I love ya! haha.... so what did the hubby get me? Still on the way from USA....... hee..hee.. And my little darling girls..... she gave me a little bottle of colourful sand .... is she cute!!! I told her I will hang that in one of my mini albums....... so cute and tiny.... totally adorable. Show you next time. Thanks for dropping by. I am a very loved girl today! Thank God for all his blessings

I want you to win!!!!

I am sneaking in a post here.... YSS is giving some new CHA goodies........ leave a comment to this POST.

Hope you win. I am so excited with all the new CHA stuff YSS will be bringing in.

Here is a LO I created with my Crate Paper kit from YSS: I cut the die cut paper into 1/4 and 3/4...... place a row of photo across the page..... cut some flowers the papers and added stamped butterflies. I love love these cute pictures of my sweetie. She just celebrated her 3rd birthday on Sunday...... how time flies.... I love you, my sweetie pie chubby cheeks!!!! Love mommy

Ready for change

Goodbye 2009.......... here are some of favorite works for last year........

I am thankful for many scrapping opportunities in 2009.

- teaching in my LSS

- DT for YSS

- GDT for MM and Websters Pages

- some LOs requested for publication. Finally, they will be out this year.

- amazing friends I have made ....... across the globe to USA, Australia.... etc. wow... NOW....................... Yay......... to 2010..... it is finally here. When it was the 1990s, I couldn't imagine reaching this far......... LOL. What are your plans for 2010? What are your resolutions? Where are the places you plan to visit? Who are the people you want to know more about? What new skills are you picking up? I started with lots of questions for myself......... which is good.... always get me thinking and reflecting so that I dont expect the 'same-old....same-old".......... I am someone who needs variety in life. I plan to put these thoughts into a mini album this month......... thinking how I want to launch that idea. I plan to scrap Christmas photos....... yes.. I have tonnes of them and I dont scrap them every year. I plan to sew more this year.... hee...hee..... Now some news over at YSS....... you just got to check out their HOMEPAGE. And many exciting changes over at YSS. 1) A new Design Team 2) Load your LO/Projects/Cards to the User Gallery and you may be picked for feature. Cool, right? 3) A celebrity scrapper every month .......... ooooo... I love this cos I am a stalker! LOL I am so excited to be part of these changes at YSS........ So, hop over to the BLOG now! Dont forget the sale going on now! Take 20% off...... birthday month! Woohoo........ And if you are Singaporean, you can always join the spree many scrappers are organizing....... YSS ships FREE to Singapore with orders above $250........ now, that's not difficult to reach if you get 5-6 people to spree! Hee..hee... trust me... I started spree-ing with YSS some time back... way before I was DT. Have a great year ahead! Happy New Year

so thankful

hello friends, how was your week? Mine was filled with some good and some 'not so good' news. Here... I am one of the winners at White With 1 challenge.... I love this blog for its inspiration. And I just got a email from Prima that I won in this random draw. I love Prima. What a lovely surprise! I dont usually win things. LOL And not so good news... say a prayer for my sister........ she is going for a surgery thurs...... she found a lump on her breasts and things just escalate so fast.... surgery is quickly scheduled and the danger is she is pregnant so that adds some fear and stress. I am just praying that our GOOD AND FAITHFUL God will carry her through. I will be with her..... next week, playing nurse and being with her in the day............. Friends, I am shocked... my sister is barely 30 and this happened to her. I am trusting in the Lord. Ok........ the crop at Webster Pages starts tomorrow......... go in and there and join us.... Yes... just sign in... very simple process and you can chat with us. I will be squealing in delight........ cos there are so many gorgeous projects! And hop over to YOURSCRAPBOOKSTASH.COM (YSS)......... some news stuff arrived ........ Studio Calico papers... and of course the DT call. Go for it! I am working on my Nov DT stuff now... .will come back in a few days and of course 1 piece of good news! "Keep the faith"........ I like this quote from the Bible. Keep praying!

these are a few of my favorite things!!!!

My girls were watching "Sound of Music" and this song is my fav..... "these are a few of my favorite things"... oh.. maybe the title is something else but there is this cute song which i love!!

And of course, some things made me really happy this week.

Like this cute SEWING MACHINE!!!! Yes.. I have been wanting this for the longest time... and I finally convinced hubby to buy me 1. Spotlight (my local craft store) has this huge sale... $199... original $298.......... now my collection of fabric can see some daylight.

Can you see I have been buying fabric? The lady at the store is soooo helpful... I told her "I am a complete idiot when it comes to sewing"....... she laughed... yes.. this tool is for me and my scrapbooking.

She went on and on... she conducted beginner lessons for those who buy this brand of machine. She can't believe me when I said I never sew. She taught me all the buttonhole technique... whatever it is... I told I just want to sew a straight line....... hahahaha.. she was trying hard not to laugh!!!! I sounded like a nerd, right?

And this cutie of a tool bag.......... my sister went to China last week..... I told her to go to the garmet district (in Shenzhen) and get them to tailor-made this bag for me. Guess how much it is??? I told my sis.... has to be pink polka dots and a dash of vintage fabric........ she knew my heart. She got it spot on!!!! Love love my new tool bag.... my adhesive, my scissors... my pens... etc.. It is only Singapore dollars $6!!!!!!

I need to go China now! I could give them all the specifications of all the bags I want.

And finally I got a piece of good news which left me screaming this morning........ will share more in mid Nov....... when the big reveal comes! I am soooooo overjoyed..... thrilled and I consider it a honor!

So, what are your favorite things now? Have a great weekend

Calling for Sophia

Calling for Sophia. See post here. I need to send out your winning package. I will have to pick another winner if I dont hear from you by Wednesday. Hope it is ok! The good news I have not been scrapping but clearing my mind a little. Reading a little here and there......... reading non-scrapbook stuff......... That's called clearing my mind. Sometimes creativity lurks around these corners. Took time with my family for a bike ride today which nearly killed my butt. Poor bum.... it is too painful now after riding for 1.5 hours. LOL! I think I exceeded all my exercise quota for this month!!! hahaha.... Then I did general shopping...... you know... the kind where you weren't looking for specific stuff. Then I stumbled upon a load of alter-able things......... can you imagine I found them at the gardening section of a store. That's really cool! That's freeing up my mind. To think outside the box... to think out of the scrapping stuff we are soooo used to!!! I like.... Thanks for popping by! See ya!

It's TIME - celebrate

Yes... my blog is 1 yr old. I knew it was last Aug but i forgot the date and I am toooooo lazy to check details. And it took me a week to figure how to put this NEW! blog header and background. Do you like it?

oh.. and this cupcake picture is sooo yummy... I found it online! I certainly can't bake like that.

I am thankful for bloggy (is there such a word???) friends. I made friends from across the globe. Hello from Singapore (waving to you)

I am thankful for the scrapping opportunity. Esp to YSS (Erica) for making me DT.

I am thankful for many online challenges I can take part in

I am thankful for blog eye candy......... I am a blog stalker!!! LOL

And yes....... it is time for a GIVEAWAY. Sponsored by YSS.

That's right! I will draw 2 winner.

One gets a prize from YSS (NEW CHA items)

One gets my "Wendy's vintage finds"........ full of lace, trims, pearls, little vintage something.

Either one, it will be GOOD!

Post a comment here by Sunday midnight (Pacific Time)and tell me what you are creating lately. Simple! I will announce the winners on MONDAY.

A BIG thank you to all my friends!

Still in shock

Wow.... Ellen left me a comment and asked if I am buried under the rubble... she is soooo funny. Yes.... I am buried under the whole reno thing....... so many details to look at. And not forgetting all the packing I am doing here. How come I have stored up so many stuff? In between the busy reno and packing...... I managed to teach 2 classes this month at my LSS. But something happen yesterday (just before class) that left me speechless and stil in shock. I was getting ready to teach a class in my LSS when news that the Princess of Thailand is coming to the store in 10 mins. Wow....... yes.... she is HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. But there are staff enough around to assist them. So I was in the Scrap Lab (that's the classroom) when one of her aides stepped in and talked to me about scrapbooking. She asked questions about what i teach..... my LOs... then in came the Princess........ she was so humble and polite...... there's a calmness about her. Now my tummy is creating chaos... I am trying to sound corherent. Too 'star-struck"....... HRH Princess was very patient to listen to me - about scrapbooking....... Later Elvira (one of the owner) came down and told me that HRH scraps and her nieces told her about MWL.... she purposely planned to visit the biggest scrapbook store in Asia. How cool! And the bummer.... nobody took a pic of me and the HRH........ we were too shocked still! LOL

great news + some ramblings

Woohoo... I won the Feb Challenge over at Graphic 45........ check it out here. I can choose the paper collection I like _ TransAtlantique papers. I dream of doing a travel mini with these papers! Hooray! Now if you have the patience, stay with me as I off load something off my heart. I am feeling lousy because none of my mini albums were picked up for pub....... I sent in 5 for the recent ST calls for mini albums. I wonder why. Yes.. I go this phrase....... wondering why........ wondering if mine were really that bad. Of course, i celebrate with those who toot in the forums .............. but I feel the questions coming from within me "what happened to mine?"........ Maybe I need to step back and take a break from submitting to ST. I never had the luck with them. Well, I will still go on creating - that's my first love (not the submitting) but it still sucks not being selected, right??? Anyway, thanks for listening.......

Check this out

Woohoo....... I am featured as Guest Designer over at Making Memories Blog. I am super excited and sooooo thrilled. I wish this day last forever............... I bet it will (in my heart)....... Check it out, my friends!

Birthday Cake

Today I am 1 year older, wiser (hopefully) and near to the 4-0...... hahaha... I celebrate with some of my fav people.... my hilarious, awesome church group. We had lunch over at one of their homes... Mike is such a great cook...... i ate so much! My cake is a home made cheesecake..... very delicious.... hmmm... when it comes to the no. of candles... I told them.... cap it at 35.... i am forever 35.... hahahaha.... Then at home, my lovely hubby treated me to black pepper crab (this is a Singaporean dish).... and I am sooooo touched. Of course, I told him to skip the cake.... over the last 3 weeks, we had cakes overload.... first my mom's birthday, then my sister's and Ellise (she had 2 cakes)....... now I just cant take another cake. So, this is my cake: I couldn't be happier........ see the PINK cutie there......... I have been spying that for a long time. Okie.. off to try my zutter.... any tips?

I didn't disappear to some caves!

hi friends, some of you are wondering what happened? Where did I disappear to?

I wish I could tell you I was whisked off to St. Barts and sipping some cola on a beautiful beach.

No!

I was lying on a hospital bed........... on NEW YEAR's DAY! What a bummer!

Well, I was very sick since Boxing Day.....shoo.... I miss all those post Christmas sale. 1st bummer!

Then the next 7 days were spent at home, moaning from the body aches, the shivers and the high fever. Yes.. it went up to 40 degree Celsius...... (American friends, you got to convert this to F). Went to see doc but the medicine didn't help.

Then New Year's Day, I went weak, breathless.......... off to the A&E (equ to ER) of my local hospital. Blood pressure very low..... heart beat weak... breathless.... not good signs.

Took blood tests, chest X-ray.............. they immediately put me on a drip... first to hydrate me.... then some antibotics drip to get to the viral infection. Then a put on a oxygen tank to help me breathe!

After hubby settled the adm procedure and came to the ward... he went "Wow.. this is serious".

Doc came with a chirpy voice "You've got PNEUMONIA".......... wait... I can't even spell that!

No arguements... you got to be in hospital for a week!

A week! That's hell!

So that's my story........... what a start to 2009! What a wake up call for me and my health!

I was out within 5 days, which means I am recovering..... GOOD thing!

Thank God I brought my humor along.... while fighting the viral infection... some days on the hospital bed, i dreamt of sipping a ice cold orange juice. I think I may be too dry in my throat and the fever too high......... so... my hands stretched to reach for that drink........

Then reality came in "Mdm...... hold that hand... I am going to take your blood pressure."

hahaha.... I was reaching my hand to 'take' that drink..... the nurse caught hold of my hand......... LOL! She woke me up from my dream!

Along with that.... I was still dreaming of my ice cold lemon tea.... no amount of bribes could get someone to bring me that.

My mom (in her Chinese Cantonese fashion) pronounced "No cold drinks for a month... let your lungs rest!".... oh my goodness... I am dying! She is already thinking of the traditional Chinese Medicine to feed me! Yucks!

So, for a rough start to 2009, I made this LO to remember this BIG start!

Just nice... OLW word up is "START" so I did this one.

"Not exactly a good START to 2009"

using all my fav Webster Pages papers..... i did a Purple Onion stamp at the top.... a music note... did some fake stitching with Doodlebug rub-ons. I love that curly paper which house my journaling and title. Love it so much!

Journaling: 01.01.2009, I ended up at ER@ my local hospital. I had been sick since Boxing Day, high fever, shivers, pain all over my body. The dread continued for 7 days till New Year's Day. cannot breathe.. too weak seriously... this is no joke. Doc said "Pneumonia"... hooked up to a drip, IV for antibotics..... worse... need a oxygen tank to breathe. NOT EXACTLY A GOOD START to 2009. Spend the next 5 days at the hospital. More determined ever to start

- my vitamins regularly

- my exercise routine.....ok...ok.. brisk walking counts...LOL!

- listening to my body. If I'm tired, I need to rest.

- laughing more.... I'm way too intense.

Well, a rough start does not mean I will live like that.

For the next 360 days ahead, it will be good.

A healthy start to a good, mental, emotional & physical well-being.

That's my wish fora start.

I will end 2009 better and well!

Yummy goodies in my mail

Wow... I have 3 goodies packages this week. I am 1 happy woman!

1) Webster Pages

I really love this collection "Hello Beautiful"...... this is from my win from WP Oct challenge.

I can't wait to play with this. Lots of ideas floating now!

2) Jenni Bowlin

Wow... this came from the Jenni Bowlin contest at CMK. Thanks Lisa... shipping is really fast! Appreciate it.

3) Kate Spade

How can I not go weak over this? My hubby got me this for our anniversary. He is my guy! He knows what makes my heart melt! LOL. He really dotes on me! A red Kate Spade wallet... yums!

I am smiling and grinning from ear to ear ........... definitely a happy weekend!