My First Bouquet

When I first graduated (there will be a 2nd and 3rd time InsyaAllah) back in 2002, I never got any bouquet of flowers like others normally did. All I get was a small bear wearing a graduation cap and carrying a heart-shape balloon.

My sisters said they looked everywhere for flowers, but unfortunately, all were sold out. It was a convocation fiesta after all - everybody wanted flowers. I'm not really into flowers, but of course you would want to hold something in your hand when you take the photos on one of the best days in your life. Oh well, I'll make sure everyone brings a bouquet each for my next graduation then. :P

Back to my post then.


Ever since I started quilling, I've always wanted to do bouquets of flowers but always ended up doing something else (and it made me think of graduation too). This is the first time I made a small bouquet of flowers -that carries only three flowers hahaha. It's still experimental, as it's my first time doing the flower arrangement.


The flowers were made made ages ago, and been lying in my box for quite sometimes. So I finally had the chance to experiment them together. And please ignore the uneven width of the strips (for the flowers. That's what you get if you freely cut papers into quilling strips without using any ruler. The leaves were made using strips that were cut using the paper cutter. Will show you the result of the strips cut using the paper shredder later. :)


Now I know quilled flowers can be addictive too, huh. I'll try referring to real bouquets of flowers for my next project. :)

FOUND!

I'm starting a new Found! section. :) Found! will focus on craft tools and ideas that can be found anywhere, and came with drop dead prices. I'm a craft addict, and yet, I'm very calculative when it comes to buying some 'spensive crafts. So I would usually look for the craft substitutes that would work the same, but with cheaper value. I love window shopping (who doesn't) and sometimes you could really find some items that comes with very good value!

For example, I bought my first quilling tool at RM15, at a local craft shop. I later found out that the same type of tool was sold at an art shop for RM15 - for two! And the ink pads that are usually sold at craft shops for RM9.90 to RM15.00 per box - I found similar pads (but not branded) at only RM3.50 per box!

Okay, will tell about the other founds later. For this entry, I would love to share my latest found - Paper Shredder. You have no idea how long I've been looking for that perfect paper shredder - not to big, portable, shreds papers of good sizes for my quilling etc. I've searched almost all bookstores and stationery shops that I could find, and the cheapest was sold at RM99.90 - and that was only for limited time. It's huge in size, and the shredded papers were not really good for quilling purposes (6mm per shredded piece).

Ever since I started quilling, I've never bought any specially-made quilling papers that can easily be found at craft shops. I cut my own papers, and I recently bought a paper cutter (at only RM39.90!) so the task was getting easier. Getting a paper shredder would make all my hard word paid off easily. So when I found this paper shredder on sale yesterday, I got really excited and could not stop grinning inside the shop.


It's very light, portable, and the shredded piece is 3mm - which is PERFECT for my quilling! I could simply plug in the usb port to my computer and tadaa.. the shredder is ready.


And guess how much this shredder cost? It's sold at only RM29.00! The A4 size shredder (with similar lightness but a bit bigger in size) was sold at RM39.00. I took the smaller one coz I don't really care about the sizes, what I do care is the shredded pieces hehe.

Can't wait to start using the new machine!!

Oh, it also comes with this instruction - which I thought was quite hilarious haha.


After all, it was made in China. :)

Found at: IT Hyperstore, now at Ground Floor, Cineleisure Damansara.
Sold at: RM29.00 (mini shredder) and RM39.00 (bigger shredder for A4 size paper)

The Green Experiment

Did I mention that I lost my big yummy pencil case at school? Was so frustrated over the loss as the case contained lots and LOTS and LOTS of multi-coloured pens and pencils, and the worst part was that my quilling tool was also inside the case. Together with my few other craft tools. Sad, isn't it?

So what should you do when you're frustrated? Buy MORE craft tools haha. Which I did. So I went to Art Friend at Mid Valley and splurge some cash on TWO new quilling tools (one traditional quilling tool and another one is slip quilling tool), a set of embossing tools (come in 4 different point sizes) and a pink paper cutter cum paper creaser (which cost @ RM39.90!). The paper cutter/ creaser was the cheapest that I found so far so if you're interested, drop by Art Friend. Will talk more about craft items found later in other entries k.

So when I reached home, this was the first card that I made using the items bought at Art Friend.


Yes, green is and will always be my favourite colour - just in case you're wondering :P. For this card, I use the new quilling tool, and experimented with other items for the bigger rolls of the papers - pencils and paper glue matched the needed rolls perfectly.



Since now I have the cool-looking paper cutter/creaser, it was really fun cutting through strips of papers for my quilling. I no longer have to free-handedly cut the papers using scissors (which always resulted uneven sides). I still need more practice in perfecting the width of the strips, but at least most of them are now cut in straight lines hehe. (Told you I'm lazy, ain't I?!)



Hope you love the card as much as I do. It has officially took over the top spot of my favourite cards list right now. :)

To A Butterfly.

I'll let the pictures (and the poem) do the talking. Enjoy.


To A Butterfly.

I've watched you now a full half-hour;
Self-poised upon that yellow flower
And, little Butterfly! indeed
I know not if you sleep or feed.
How motionless!--not frozen seas
More motionless! and then
What joy awaits you, when the breeze
Hath found you out among the trees,
And calls you forth again!



This plot of orchard-ground is ours;
My trees they are, my Sister's flowers;
Here rest your wings when they are weary;
Here lodge as in a sanctuary!
Come often to us, fear no wrong;
Sit near us on the bough!
We'll talk of sunshine and of song,
And summer days, when we were young;
Sweet childish days, that were as long
As twenty days are now.


Stay near me--do not take thy flight!
A little longer stay in sight!
Much converse do I find in thee,
Historian of my infancy!
Float near me; do not yet depart!
Dead times revive in thee:
Thou bring'st, gay creature as thou art!
A solemn image to my heart,
My father's family!


Oh! pleasant, pleasant were the days,
The time, when, in our childish plays,
My sister Emmeline and I
Together chased the butterfly!
A very hunter did I rush
Upon the prey:--with leaps and springs
I followed on from brake to bush;
But she, God love her, feared to brush
The dust from off its wings.


It was William Wordsworth (1770-1850)'s first poem. By now you should have known that I'm so into butterflies, huh.

1, 2, 3 Love.

This card reminds me of this song:

Plain White T's -1,2, 3, 4.



Love comes in many shapes and sizes.


This card took me nearly three hours just to do the hand stitching job. It should be easier if I use the sewing machine, but the thrill of hand stitching beats the machine, I guess. The first thing crossed my mind was the complicated technicality of arranging how the stitches should be, and which way should it go.

Just like love, I thought. Complex and complicated.

But once I finished the card, I realised that it's not really as complex and complicated as it has always been seen.

This card has showed me that no matter how complicated and complex our life is, love is the one that keep us going. No matter how twisted, and entangled the paths may be.

The stitches represents the roads that I take every single day of my lives, and whoa, they sure did look like some complicated roads haha. Regardless, I'm glad that even after some lost ways and dead ends, these loves are always there to support me, and give me strengths.

Alhamdulillah.

Measuring Happiness

What measuring tapes are for?


This card was made on a very sunny day, and lights were peeking through my room's window. And all I could think of was: How could I measure how beautiful today is?

So I used an IKEA measuring tape and few quilling flowers to measure my day. Heh. Who said you can't measure happiness? I just did. :P

This is a very simple card made in less than 5 minutes (I have the flowers ready beforehand). So go get your free IKEA measuring tapes and starts splashing your creativity now! Have fun! :)