Hoppy Birthday Card

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Thank You Card

One more thank you card done!  JJ suggested to place the fox slightly at an angle.  So if you find yourself tilting your head while looking at those pictures, you now know why.
This card was made for JJ's dear friend, M, whom she's not seen for 4 long months.
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1st (Birthday) Shaker Card

JJ and I have always wanted to try making a shaker card.  But the thought of the project sounded daunting.  The heart embossed paper and the large die cuts were my muse.  And I decided to give it a go.  I turned the ornament upside down to use it as a huge balloon. I do not have tiny sequences.  So I rummaged through my drawer and found a bag of bugle beads.  Just the right size and color for the window.  It's more manageable than I thought and it's so fun to make!  My favorite part is having the reindeer holding the string of the balloon (though gluing the string was a pain). The only thing I will do differently if I make this card again is to change the white circle backing to the balloon to another color.   

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New Life to the Keyboard Tray

I have recently "inherited" my hubby's old desk as my new crafting/sewing table.  Before this, I was using a folding table for all my activities.  So, this is definitely an upgrade.  Remember the days when you have to attach a keyboard tray under your desk?  Well, this desk is old enough to have one.
I thought about removing the tray, but wanted to see if I can use it to store my supplies.  Guess what, this tray can hold a lot!  My sewing feet, bobbins, pins, needles now sit happily in this shallow tray.  If you have an old desk like me, check quickly!  You might be one of the lucky ones to utilize an old tool in new ways.
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Color Chart for Color Pencils

Coloring with Copic markers, water color brush pens or color pencils has been quite popular.  I've seen crafters keeping a color chart for their tools.  I've never thought it was necessary until I tried making one for my color pencils.  I have taped the color chart to the inside of the tin lid of my color pencil set for quick reference.  When I fill in the colors, I could for the first time compare the colors of those pencils side by side.  For the browns, especially, I could see which ones have more red than others, which I was not able to do just looking at the wooden body of the pencils. This has helped me in layering and blending colors.  

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Pencil Pouches

I made this one for JJ.  It's baggier than I wanted.  But it turns out that JJ's teacher this year is asking the students to bring many pens, color pencils and different markers to school.  So this is perfect!

I made another one for my sweet young friend.  This one is seriously much neater and a better size than the one for JJ.
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Yellow Pocket Pouch

I made this for my dear friend's birthday back in May.  Now that she's moved, I do not see her everyday as I used to.  I miss her so much.  I am thankful to have her friendship for the past years.

KeyKa Lou Pattern.
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Thank You Cards

JJ and I have had so much fun making cards lately.  We've watched many Youtube clips before trying some on our own.  Since the theme for the past Summer's VBS was Deep Sea, I can't seem to have enough of the sea creatures.  And it reflects on the choice of die cuts on my cards.
The most useful cards we have made so far are the thank you cards.  And we have so many people to thank, from my VBS leaders team, the decorating helpers, my student who brought me something from her trip, to my own kiddos.   I guess I am trying to justify my time spent on crafting as always.  Haha.

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Video Tutorial: Personalized Bookmark Cards

This is my first attempt to compose a video tutorial. My teen boy who's tech savvy offered me tips.  Thanks, son.  I am not  pleased with the speed or the resolution, however.  I am sure I still have tons to learn regarding putting together a video.  So bear with me.  

For this project, I used die cut letters, partial die cut, and watercolor pencils. 

(Update: I just realized that this clip is not smartphone friendly.  Sorry.  

Time to talk to my son and find a fix.)

(Update 2: Issue resolved.  Yay!!)

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Boy's Pencil Roll

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Dinning Chair Re-upholstery

 My dinning chairs are celebrating their 10th birthday.  I loved how easy it was to clean the white vinyl seats until they got stained so badly over the years.  The picture above actually shows a chair that is still in decent shape.  Most of the seats have been punctured and slashed by my cat who loves to jump on them.

There are many re-upholstery tutorials out there that seem pretty easy.  And most importantly, I own a staple gun and I've been waiting to try my hand at it for a long while.  This is definitely the project!
Seriously, from taking down the seat cushion, to cutting the fabric, to staple the fabric to the seat, to screwing back the seat cushion, each dinning chair takes me less then 15 minutes.  Easy and fast.  I get my kids to do all the pounding to make sure the staples are flush.  Great Spring break project with the kiddos, I'd say.
4 done.  4 more to go.

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We Go Together, Like Rama Lamma Lamma Ka Dinga Da Dinga Dong

Guess whose house has been playing Grease over and over and over this past week?
Finally get this set of gift ready.  It's been way overdue.  Anne, my sister, I hope these will brighten up your day!
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Anne Zipper Pouch

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Anne Coin Purse

My intention was to make a frame coin purse.  However,...let's just say that it did not work out.  (I have not had any luck making frame purses yet.  Arrr.)  I had to improvise and turn it into a zipper pouch.  The puffy shape is charming.  But my favorite part is hidden at the bottom.

Look at that.  LOVE!

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My Next Project

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Triple-Zip Cross the Body Bag

I wanted to make my mother-in-law a Christmas gift that she can use everyday.  She travels light and she is very practical.  So I thought a cross the body bag would be just the thing for her.  It was a learning curve for me to make a bag with multiple zippers.  It took me the winter break week to plan and construct this bag.  I love the colors and the light weight of this bag!  Who knows, maybe I will have the patience to make another one someday.

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Checkbook Cover

---using Keyka Lau Patterns

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Doll Headband

During the winter break, JJ made her doll a paper headband.  It was the perfect size and looked lovely...for about 2 days.  Then the bow fell off. 

Remembered the hair bows I made her, JJ asked if I could make her doll one.  Now, that's a real challenge, because...well, the doll does not have hair!  So, I came up with the idea to make a doll size interchangeable headband that JJ can change out the bows and snap them on.  Uhum, I ended up playing with the doll a bit more than I should.  

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