Balloon and Party Bird Congratulations!

Balloon and Party Bird Congratulations!

Made this card for my new manager who promoted to replace my previous manager. He is officially my boss now.

Retrosketches #116

I adopt the sketch from Retrosketches #116 as shown above.

Close-up : Custom balloons background

As it is a congratulations and celebration card, I adopt balloon as my background theme. I created a balloon background by stamping the balloon randomly on a yellow card stock and colored with Copic markers. Then, I die cut the center of the card using scallop square.

Close-up : Party bird

On a white card stock, the party bird is stamped and colored using Copic markers. It is then attached onto a blue card base. The balloon background is attached on top of the party bird using pop dots.

Close-up : Sentiment in the banner

A banner with sentiment is stamped on a light blue card stock and die cut using matching dies. It is attached onto the balloon background as in sketch.

Dimension : 13.97cm x 13.97cm or 5.5" x 5.5"

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) Retrosketches #116 (ends on 30 May 2014)

2) Created With Love Challenges CWLC 82 - Lots of Layers (ends on 31 May 2014)

3) Sentimental Sundays Challenge #208 - Things With Wings (ends on 01 June 2014)

4) Craft Your Passion Challenge 215 - Frame It! (ends on 01 June 2014)

5) Crazy for CAS - Challenge #45 Balloons (ends on 06 June 2014)

Stamps and tools used :

InLinkz Project Manager account expired

Runner-up at Eclectic Ellapu for Feeling Fruity Challenge

My winning card, Thank You Berry Much

My Thank You Berry Much card is selected as runner-up at Eclectic Ellapu for Feeling Fruity Challenge! I made this card for one of my Copic markers buyers.

Even though I did not win any prize (only a "Runner Up" badge), I am so glad that I was selected as one of the runners up! This is because Eclectic Ellapu is not randomly selecting the runners up but is carefully evaluated by the design team! A big thanks for Eclectic Ellapu design team for picking me!

This is the second time I was picked by Eclectic Ellapu.

Hip, Hip, Hooray! Flowers

Hip, Hip, Hooray! Flowers

Made this card for my manager who just promoted to ASEAN role as well for her coming birthday in early June 2014. Since I will be only seeing her next week, I combine both the congratulations and birthday wishes into one card.

Always Playing With Paper - The Challenge #7

I adopt the sketch from Always Playing With Paper - The Challenge #7 as shown above.

Close-up : Stamped flowers

On a white card stock, the flowers are stamped according to sketch and colored using Copic markers.

Close-up : Sentiment

Later, the sentiment is stamped to the left bottom corner as in sketch. The gap of the letters are colored using Copic markers.

The left edge of the white card stock is punched with starry scallop. It is attached onto an orange card base.

Close-up : Gems in various sizes and colors

The card is finished with some gems on top of the flowers as in sketch, on the flower and sentiment.

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) Always Playing With Paper - The Challenge #7 (ends on 01 June 2014)

2) CASology - Week #96 - Flower (ends on 26 May 2014)

3) Addicted to Stamps and More! - Challenge #96 - Anything Goes (ends on 27 May 2014)

4) Charisma Cardz Challenges - Challenge #11 - May Flowers (ends on 28 May 2014)

Stamps and tools used :

InLinkz Project Manager account expired

Paper Smooches A Little Lovin' Stamp Set

From left to rightPaper Smooches A Little Lovin'
Tsukineko Memento Dye Reinkers - Tuxedo Black
Lawn Fawn Peace Joy Love

Is National Scrapbooking Day (NSD) in the US on 03 May 2014 and it means more sale! I know Custom Crops will have a sale too like last year with some big discount. Anxiously, I wait for the newsletter announcing the sale and it came on 03 May 2014. But the discount start from 25% to 45%, a 5% decrease from 2013 NSD sale. Nevertheless, I still seek a peek at my favorite brands if I can get a great bargain on this sale.

Lawn Fawn Peace Joy Love

As usual, my first priority is to Lawn Fawn products. I browse through the products and sorting the price from low to high. Those 12x12 pattern papers come into view first but did not interest me as usual. I skip them and my eyes landed on Lawn Fawn Peace Joy Love stamp set which is at the price of less than USD$9! Upon seeing that price, without any hesitation, I just add that stamp set into my cart. I seldom buy Christmas stamp set as I have a few that I think is good enough for me to survive for the season. But Lawn Fawn Peace Joy Love stamp set has lots of stamps that you can build those season cards! Thanks goodness it was this cheap which enable me to own it!

Paper Smooches A Little Lovin'

Then, I browse through the rest of Lawn Fawn products but nothing else that interest me - pricing wise. So, I move on to other brands that I have interest in and finally landed on Paper Smooches products. Well, well, well. The entire Paper Smooches products was on 25% off! Usually Custom Crops will have up to maximum of 15% discount on Paper Smooches products and with this new discount, it was a great saving for me! So, I weighted my choices on the Paper Smooches products as I have limited budget. Finally, I settled for Paper Smooches A Little Lovin' stamp set. I love this set so much as there are many cute images on this set especially the elephant mother and her baby. I see a lot of usage on that image either for welcoming newborn or sending hugs and kisses.

Tsukineko Memento Dye Reinkers - Tuxedo Black

As there still some 'room' in my budget, I have included Tsukineko Memento Dye Reinkers - Tuxedo Black to my order. Recently, I feel that my Tsukineko Memento Dye ink pad is not that 'juicy' anymore. Thus, I think it is time for me to refill the ink inside the ink pad.

This time order packaging - small box of 8" (W) x 4" (H) x 4" (D)

I made my payment on the same day as the sale was last till midnight. Then, after about six (6) days later, an e-mail shipping notification came to acknowledge that my parcel has been shipped. Almost two weeks later, today, my parcel finally arrived! I am lucky that I am at home today to receive the parcel as usually I expect the postman drop it to my mailbox. But this time, Custom Crops sent me a small box instead - a 8" (W) x 4" (H) x 4" (D) box. I was curious as why it is so and quickly open up the box. It is because I ordered that Tsukineko Memento Dye Reinkers - Tuxedo Black which cannot be included in a padded envelope!

Hope I get to play with these new stamp sets soon!

27 May 2014 - Edit to add:

Today I received a refund note from Custom Crops which surprised me as I did not have any recent purchases with Custom Crops. The last order was safely arrived with 'all the items' as per my order. At first, I thought that it was a scam e-mail or what but I still open up the e-mail and read the content. Well, it seem that not 'all the items' was delivered. I had actually purchased Scrapbook Adhesive 3D Foam Squares - White on my last order but Custom Crops did not ship it due to out of stock and I do not realize it until Custom Crops refund me! I am not sure at first and search for my invoice and indeed, I have purchased the Scrapbook Adhesive 3D Foam Squares - White! I do not even realize something is missing when I received my parcel! Guess during that time, I am just too happy receiving my stamp sets and forgotten about what I have ordered. Thanks Custom Crops for being so honest and refund me! I told my husband about the incident and he teased me that I been shopping online these few months and forgotten what I have actually bought. Silly me.....:O

Disappointment with My Favorite Things (MFT) Bookmark Duo Stamp

From left to right :
My Favorite Things (MFT) Bookmark Basic stamp
My Favorite Things (MFT) Bookmark Duo Die-namics
Tim Holtz distress ink mini kit #4

After about two (2) weeks of anxious waiting, the parcel from Simon Say Stamp finally arrived on 05 May 2014 and I am excited about it. However, when I open the parcel and pull out the contents, something is not right! The My Favorite Things (MFT) Bookmark Duo stamp set is not the one I wanted - no 'save' icon image!!! I did not panic and I persuade myself maybe Simon Say Stamp posted it wrongly for me.

The stamp set that I ordered - My Favorite Things (MFT) Original Bookmark Duo Die-namics and stamp set

Thus, I quickly wrote an e-mail to Simon Say Stamp and inform on the 'wrong' item delivered. Tiffany reverted to me two (2) days afterward and apologized. She asked me to send her photo of what I have received so that she can resolve it faster. Immediately, I replied with the photo of what I ordered and what I received.

The stamp set that I received - My Favorite Things (MFT) Bookmark Basic stamp

There been a silence of two (2) days before I decided to e-mail Tiffany to ask for updates. Tiffany reverted that she contacted the brand manager regarding this issue in which the brand manager contacted MFT to see if they have that set I want available. Tiffany also informs that MFT may have changed the sets on them. Tiffany promised to revert to me once she gotten any updates.

My Favorite Things (MFT) Bookmark Duo Die-namics

After a week, finally I got a revert from Tiffany. She informs that MFT do not have the old or original stamp set available. She said that they already updated the picture in the store listing to avoid further inconveniences. She apologize again and offer me a 50% refund for the set. I am really upset but I could not do anything about it since MFT does not have any stock for the original set. I reverted to Tiffany and voice out my upset and asked what I need to do if I opt for 50% refund. I also ask what other option do I have other than the 50% refund.

Tiffany reverted the next day that either I return the whole set (both stamp and dies) and get a full refund or I keep the set and they will refund me 50%. After much consideration, I decided to keep the set since I want this set in the first place - just that now it is a different version. Furthermore, if I return the set, I am the one going to bear the shipping charges! I better keep it and get my 50% refund. I reverted Tiffany my wish. Actually, I am hoping that Simon Say Stamp can offer me some of their in-house stamp sets or products as compensation but Tiffany did not. So, I just go along with what she suggested.

Tim Holtz distress ink mini kit #4

Four (4) days later, today, Tiffany reverted that she will perform the refund by today. Yes, refund gotten and I acknowledge her. Well, I will keep that refund for my next purchase then. But I am a bit disappointing as I thought I get my wish list covered but in the end, it is not. It is not entirely so bad after all as I really wanted that set in the beginning - just that I hoped a bit high that some vendors still have the original set.

Nevertheless, hopefully I be making some bookmarks soon as I have number of books waiting for me to read! :)