Heart Pearl Buckles/Ribbon Sliders

In mid November 2011, suddenly I am interested in buying some buckles/ribbon sliders so that I can incorporate this embellishment into next my projects. Thus, I look around in eBay.

There are a lot of sellers in eBay that sell this buckle in different designs, quantities and prices. In the end, I settle for the one I want which is the heart pearl buckles. I choose heart design as I am about to make some wedding wishes cards. This seller, peikuan123 has a store in eBay known as Please Come In. She has this heart pearl buckles package which she bundled 100 pieces of the heart pearl buckles in mixed colors which is suitable for me as I am using various colors of buckles in my projects.

100 pieces of heart pearl buckles

She sells in Australian Dollar even she is located in Penang, Malaysia. For 100 pieces of heart pearl buckles, she selling at AU$6.99 which equals to about RM23.14 with free shipping. Since she offers free shipping, I decided to e-mail her to confirm on the shipping method before placing the order to see if the price is worth that as well as the safety of delivering the item. She replied on the next day that she will use registered post if I purchase this item from her.

Close-up : Various mixed colors of heart pearl buckles

I placed the order on the same day she replied and made the payment. The item was dispatched two (2) days after my payment using registered post. However, when it was delivered on 18 November 2011, I am not at home and was informed to collect from the nearby post office. Then, on Monday, 21 November 2011, the package is collected from the post office.

The total shipping cost of the package is estimated at about RM1.80 and she is using her own printed brown envelope whereby at the back of the envelope, there is a printed customs declaration, her store name, Please Come In and return address. I would say she is professional in selling these craft materials.

Venturing Into Distress Ink

I been stalking Oh My Crafts online store for a while in October 2011. The items I am looking for is distress inks as they offered the cheapest price of all the online stores I visit. Furthermore, they have recently launched double dip discount coupon whereby you can have discount on selected items follow by the store wide discount coupon which means you save twice as much! Imagine that you can get the distress ink at USD$3.84 at Oh My Crafts after both discounts while other online stores are selling at at least USD$3.99. It maybe little but for me, after exchange rate conversion, it means a lot and not to mention taking shipping cost into account as well.

However, due to the cheap price, most of the inks has been sold out. I tried to e-mail them to ask when they will restock the inks in late October 2011 but they have no idea when is the next shipment coming in. That really disappointing a bit as those discount coupons will expire and you never know if they come up with another discount coupons.

Left : Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Tea Dye
Right : Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Broken China

I still stalk Oh My Crafts online store occasionally after that to see if they have restocked the inks. Finally, my efforts paid off in early November 2011 as the new shipment has been arrived and most of the colors are in stock! I quickly select the colors I want which is broken china and tea dye as starter. Since I am newly venturing into distress ink, I also bought the blending tool. Payment is made on the same day I order the items but Oh My Crafts did not process my order until two (2) days later. I guess it is because of year end and the high volume of orders. Even the processing took some time and finally I am informed that the package is shipped on 06 November 2011.

Inkssentials Blending Tool

After patient waiting of ten (10) days, finally the package arrive to my doorstep today! Now, I can use them on my new projects which I have on my mind. Hopefully the outcome is nice as I afraid I am not too good in using the distress ink.

Thank You

Thank You card - Front

I made this thank you card for the nurses and staffs of the Pantai Cheras Hospital surgical ward whereby I was admitted last two (2) weeks ago.

Card Positioning Systems (CPS) #244

This card layout is inspirational from Card Positioning Systems (CPS) #244 sketch/challenge as shown above as well as Lawnscaping Challenge #21 - Thank You.

Close-up : Own creation of pattern paper

I create my own pattern paper using one (1) of the stamps from Hero Arts CL266 Mix and Match Elements. I stamp the stamp onto a yellow cardstock using gold ink. Then, it is layer onto a red cardstock which layer on dark blue card.

Close-up : Corrugated strips and sentiment

As suggested in the layout, I use two (2) light blue corrugated strips to make the bottom of the card. Then, the sentiment "Thank You" from Lawn Fawn 'not-for-sale' or free edition stamp is stamped onto a pink circle which layered on a blue scallop circle. The blue scallop circle is then attach onto the center of the two (2) light blue corrugated strips.

Some textures are added onto the card whereby gold circle gems are attached to the center of the stamped stamp. In the sentiment, a diamond is attached to the 'O' of 'You'.

Thank You card - Inside

Since the dark blue background makes it a bit difficult to write a personal message, I have added a yellow inlay inside the card. I also attached a hat on the right side of the inlay to give some creativeness.

Close-up : Stamped hat on the inlay

Theme : Thank You

Title : Thank You

Dimension : 10.16cm x 15.24cm or 4" x 6"

Type : Vertical fold

Inlay : Yes with stamped image

If you would like to have a similar design of these items or individual item, please e-mail us at msgkeeper@gmail.com for order. Please do include the color or theme you prefer, purpose of the item(s) (farewell, retirement, birthday and etc) and message (if any).

This card is entering the challenge(s) organized by :

1) Card Positioning Systems (CPS) #244 (ending 19 November 2011)

2) Lawnscaping Challenge #21 - Thank You (ending 16 November 2011)

3) Creative Card Crew - Thankful (ending 21 November 2011)

Stamps and tools used :