Out with 2009 and in with 2010!
Wishing everyone a wonderful and wonder-full year ahead!

This is for Creative Scrappers where I am guest for Sketch 84. I had a lot of fun creating this layout.

I used different mediums on this, including mists, Perfect Pearls, Stickles and Distress Ink.

I first masked off a rectangle and stamped lots of images inside it with Noir and Earth hybrid ink by Palette. I like Palette for the crisp colour and quick-drying quality. Yes, I'm impatient!

Then I misted Pale Ale Memories Mist by Stewart Superior. This particular colour aged the kraft cardstock a little without overwhelming the background nor the stamped images.

Reversing the mask, I stamped a large swirl with Versamark ink and brushed Perfect Pearls over it.

Opaque white swirly rub-ons to contrast the iridescent swirls.
A cluster of red Robin's Nest dewdrops and Worn Lipstick Distress Ink Reinkers around the distressed edges to add a pop of colour to the almost monochromatic page. I also used my finger to dab some Stickles on the edge.
Strips of ribbons and a felt heart edged with Stickles. I punched a scalloped-edge on the bottom of the photo.
Title mounted on Hambly and random splotches of brown mist to complete the page.

Using the brown-based mists and inks gave the layout a vintage, aged appearance which looked like it is a page from a well-loved album.

Photos from this Christmas
The food
The family
The kids
The gifts under the tree
Opening gifts
Thanks P and A for hosting the dinner each year.

This Year's Gifts

Blessed Christmas to all!

Now that the gifts are distributed, I can show what I made.

This year I altered binder clipsand added flowers
and a calendar.
These gift boxes house
gift cards.

The diecut machine really worked overtime this season!

I met up with two dear friends yesterday. Mommies and kids all had a great time. After a delicious lunch of noodles for the children and nasi lemak for the adults, we rummaged through L's stash of rubberstamps and cranked the diecut machines to whip out some cards. Our girls participated too, with C making several clay items and HZ finishing a card. The boys were more interested in the computer, mixing in some energy-expending boxing sessions. E was flitting between the girls and the boys, undecided whether to colour with J or to run around cheering the boys.

Looking back, we have been friends for a long time. L and I were classmates in Primary 4 while F and I knew each other in secondary school. Then in Sec 3, the three of us were in the same class and the friendship thickened.

Despite different career paths, our interests seem to converge over the years. Each time we meet, we have endless things to talk about and do. Yesterday was no exception.

I am deeply grateful for our friendship. Though we don't meet very often, they are always in my thoughts. Wishing L a gratifying job next year.

E is just full of surprises!

Here she is, with her hand on a water jug, making a whirring sound.

Seconds later, she offered a cup to J.
But what's in the cup ?
Vegetable juice made from these ...
E offered another larger cup this time ...
And walked away with a cheeky grin ...

Downtown East Kids

These four kids had a whale of a time at Downtown East this morning.

First the Ball Pool.

Then climbing and sliding for more than an hour.
Finally cooling off and goofing around before lunch.
It's a wonderful way to start the week. Hope your week goes well too!

We celebrated Grandma's birthday yesterday with a wonderful dinner in a cosy setting.
She looks absolutely radiant, happily surrounded by eight grandchildren (1 absent) and four great-grandchildren!