Thursday, October 31, 2013

Fiskars SureCut Card Making Paper Trimmer

I received Custom Crops newsletter on 17 October 2013 that they are having a Fiskars Sale! Well, I always wanted a new or proper craft paper trimmer to replace my current trimmer which I deem not so professional (in card making). My ideal wishlist is Fiskars! Thus, I quickly pop over to Custom Crops to check the trimmer that I want.

Fiskars SureCut 9" Card Making Paper Trimmer - still in its original packaging
I am wishing for either Fiskars SureCut 12" Deluxe Paper Crafting Trimmer or the Fiskars SureCut 9" Card Making Paper Trimmer as recommended by Jennifer McGuire in her 'Favourite Trimmers' video. The prices that offered by Custom Crops indeed quite cheap. On a non sale period, most of the Custom Crops' prices are already below Manufacturer's Recommended Sale Price (MRSP). With this sale, the prices are below the regular price that Custom Crops usually offer! 

After much consideration on item price, shipping cost and its usability, I finally settle for Fiskars SureCut 9" Card Making Paper Trimmer. I did not select Fiskars SureCut 12" Deluxe Paper Crafting Trimmer because both the item price and shipping cost are higher - almost 50% higher.

Fiskars SureCut 9" Card Making Paper Trimmer - different angle
I made my payment on 20 October 2013 and the item was shipped 4 days afterward. A week later, my new trimmer has arrived! I always like Custom Crops shipping as it takes about a week plus to arrive to my doorstep.

I gotten the same sample as previous order - a bunch of different sizes and colors card stocks, a partial of Cosmo Cricket - Delovely: Delirious and a little brad! Now, I have three (3) sets of the same sample! Wonder how I can use them.....

Monday, October 21, 2013

Free Wooden Mini Pegs

Today, I got a surprise package! Why I say it is a surprise package? It is because I did not had any recent purchases online and secondly, I did not expect this package to arrive after so many months! This wooden mini pegs is now officially free! Here is how the story goes as to why I gotten this wooden mini pegs free.

Mini wooden pegs (free)
I bid and won some wooden mini pegs at eBay on 28 August 2013. Payment was made on the same day as well. Then, the next day, 29 August 2013, the seller updates that the item has been shipped using economy International shipping which takes minimum 15 days or maximum 30 days to arrive to its destination! Well, I cannot complaint much since I got the item at just USD$0.99 with free shipping.

However, after about a month waiting for its arrival, the item never did arrive! I already began to give up hope when the 15 days has passed but I still hope that the next 15 days the item will turn up. But it never did! *sob sob*

As I purchase the item through eBay using PayPal, I am eligible for 'Buyer Protection'. Thus, I open a case in Resolution Centre. The system automatically given me two (2) options after I selected some answers to the pre-questions. The options are either to re-send the item or have a full refund. I end up deciding to opt for full refund after a careful consideration on the options given. The reason I opt for full refund is that I will be moving soon. Secondly, I also afraid that the re-send item have the same issue or if the seller did re-send the item or not. Thus, I lower my risk to the minimum which is full refund. The next day, the seller refunded my item price in full and the case is closed.

Never crossed my mind that after 21 days receiving my full refund, the item arrived at my doorstep today! Well, the resolution case has been closed and I received my refund but also received my item now. What should I do? It crossed my mind if I should contact the seller and tell him/her that the item has arrived and pay him/her back the item price. But after a rational analysis and thinking, I decided to keep it quiet or as the way it is. First, the seller mention that the item will arrive after maximum of 30 days but I did not receive the item after 30 days of waiting. Secondly, what if the item never arrive and I never open a resolution case? Then, I shall be the one on the loss side. Thus, it is legal that I ask for refund as the estimated arrival time was not fulfilled in the first place. If the seller were to put a longer expected arrival time, he/she would not be on the loss side then. :P

Anyway, it is great that the item finally arrived even after pass due its expected arrival time as I can experience using it in my coming project.

Owl Thanks For Being My Friend

Owl Thanks For Being My Friend
Made this card for my tomorrow training roommate. I am making 3"x3" mini card as I would like to include a gift for her as well in a transparent gift pouch. Hope she likes it!

Sketch Saturday Week #281
This card layout is inspirational from Sketch Saturday Week #281 sketch/challenge as shown above.

Close-up : The owl
The owl is stamped on a white circle and colored using Copic markers. The edges are distressed with ink to tone down the whiteness. Some black faux stitching are added as the circle border.

Close-up : Punched border
On a pink card base, it is layered with a pink polka dots pattern paper which seems mimic the snow! Just perfect for the owl wearing scarf! A strip of stripe pattern paper is punched with border is attached to the card as in the sketch.

Close-up : The sentiment
The sentiment is stamped in two tiers since the card base is not lengthy enough to accommodate.

Finally the owl is attached to the card base as in the sketch using pop dots to give some dimension. Two (2) googly eyes are added to the owl! Just love him with eyes open rather than closed!

Dimension : 7.62cm x 7.62cm or 3" x 3"
Type : Vertical fold
Inlay : None

If you would like to have a similar design of these items or individual item, please fill up the custom order form here. 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) Sketch Saturday Week #281 (ends on 25 October 2013)
4) MilkCoffee Challenge - Spots and Dots (ends on 23 October 2013)
7) Desert Islands Crafts Challenge - DICC #64 - I choose 'use stripes', 'sentiment on front' and 'die cuts or punches' (ends on 31 October 2013)

Stamps and tools used :

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Perfection 3D Rose Birthday

Perfection 3D Rose Birthday
Made this last minute birthday card for my childhood best friend whose birthday is on tomorrow again! I did the same last year and she live in Singapore! Well, when this birthday card reach to her, its gonna be a belated birthday wishes.....haiz! Sorry, my dearest friend! I will try to make up to yo next time you back to Malaysia or next year!


Clean and Simple Stamping - FTL263
This card layout is inspirational from Clean and Simple Stamping - FTL263 sketch/challenge as shown above. I adopt this sketch as I plan to make another 3D rose as previously did! So in love with the 3D effect that the rose brings!


Close-up : 3D rose with the pop dots colored
On a white card stock, four (4) roses are stamped and colored using Copic markers. Then, the four (4) colored roses trimmed so that they can be layered upon each to create some dimension using pop dots. Two (2) leaves are tucked behind the rose as decoration as shown in the sketch. I learnt a little lesson back when I made the another 3D rose. Well, it is the pop dots thing whereby the white pop dots will show under the layers. Thus, this time, I colored the side of the pop dots using one of the color I colored the rose.


Close-up : The doily, 3D rose and sentiment
On a purple card stock, a small background is used to stamp the pattern randomly as in sketch. Then, a white paper doily is attached onto the card base as in sketch. This is my first time use paper doily in my card! The 3D rose is attached to the top center of the doily.


Close-up : Sentiment
The sentiment is stamped on a yellow card stock and fish tailed at the two ending. It is attached onto the doily below the 3D rose as in the sketch.


Close-up : Colorful gems scattered
The card front is finished off with some colorful gems scattered as shown in the sketch.


Perfection 3D Rose Birthday - Inside
Inside the card, a darker yellow paper is used as inlay. On the center of the inlay, another sentiment is stamped. Some flowers are stamped to the side of the sentiment to give some personalize. The stamped flowers are colored with Copic markers and some silver glitter is added to the center of the flowers.
Close-up : Sentiment inside

Dimension : 10.16cm x 15.24cm or 4" x 6"
Type : Horizontal fold
Inlay : Yes with stamped sentiment and images

If you would like to have a similar design of these items or individual item, please fill up the custom order form here. 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 :

Stamps and tools used :

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Chalkboard Style Thanks For A Great Year!

Chalkboard Style Thanks For A Great Year!
I am starting to make some thank you cards for my daughter's teachers since the end of the school is coming up. Here is my first card!


Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Sketch Challenge - SSS232

I adopt the simple sketch from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Sketch Challenge - SSS232 as shown above.

Close-up : Chalkboard style sentiment
I decided to make a chalkboard style card using the very popular now chalkboard technique. I been longing to try this chalkboard technique and now is the chance! Furthermore, this card is for teacher even though nowadays most of the schools has changed to use whiteboard. The sentiment is stamped onto a black card stock and heat emboss. There is some smudges on the sentiment during heat emboss but guess what. It makes the whole thing look more chalkboard like as there is no right or wrong about it! More 'chalkboard look' is add on to it by smudging some white ink onto it. The whole chalkboard is stamped on a white card stock and the board edges are colored accordingly. The black board is attached onto the chalkboard accordingly.

Three (3) pattern papers are trimmed accordingly and attached onto a cream card base as in sketch. The chalkboard is attached onto the card using pop dots to give some dimension.

Dimension : 10.16cm x 15.24cm or 4" x 6"
Type : Vertical fold
Inlay : None

If you would like to have a similar design of these items or individual item, please fill up the custom order form here. 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) Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Sketch Challenge - SSS232 (ends on 17 October 2013)

Stamps and tools used :