Robot 1st Birthday

I took a few precious moments to whip up a quick card for a friend's son's 1st birthday.  Well, actually it was a belated birthday card but I'm glad to have been able to use my copic markers after such a long time. 

I stamped the robot image from Market Street Stamps on Neenah White Solar card stock.  I used to stamp all my images on cryogen card stock for copic colouring.  I must say, I prefer the cryogen to the neenah for this purpose.  I find that the colours don't blend as well together.  Or maybe my colouring just isn't that good after so long.  Hehe...

On the inside of the card, I stamped gear images from a Technique Tuesday  stamp set called 'Get it in gear'.

I die cut the alphabets from the Igloo Die-versions die. I use this font quite a bit.  The number '1' though was cut out using the Score Die-versions die.

As always forgive the poor quality photos as they were taken with my phone.  

Thank you for visiting!

Welcome Sweet Babies

The year 2012 saw many many babies being born including ours.  :) So recently I made two baby cards, one for a close friend who had a baby boy and one for my cousin who had a baby girl.

Both cards were made with stamps from The Greeting Farm, the Build a Onesie, Boy and Girl version.

The first one is the boy version.  The 'Welcome Sweet Baby' sentiment is from the Ali Edwards, Sweet Baby stamp set.

I stamped the tie on a piece of kraft card stock and coloured it with Copic markers.  The onesie is matted on a romantic rectangle die cut on neenah white card stock.

I stamped another sentiment from the Sweet Baby stamp set inside and I love this sentiment.

The one below is the girl version. I matted the onesie on another Spellbinder die cut called Butterfly Circles.  It doesn't really show up on the photo but I added Star Dust stickles on the outline of the onesie.

I really love how both cards turned out although I've had to steal a little time here and there to make the cards. 

Thanks for visiting my blog and Happy New Year! Many blessings of joy and happiness to all!

More Thank You Cards

Here are another two 'Thank You' cards I was able to make with my limited supplies.  Seriously having colouring withdrawal symptoms.  My Copic markers have all been packed away in storage and I won't be able to access it for another 4 months!

The above is a super simple card using Labels 23 from Spellbinders and patterned paper from the Simple Stories' Fabulous collection.  The sentiment is from PTI's Over Under Easy stamp set and I really love this set because it comes with all the flourishes that fit with the sentiments separately.  The little punched out heart at the side is actually to cover up a boo boo and I put glossy accents on it.  

The card above is a 4.5" x 4.5" square card and I used the Spellbinders Asian Motifs to cut out Neenah White cardstock and PTI's Aqua Mist card stock.  The sentiment is from Just Rite stamps.

Due to lack of time nowadays, the pictures above were taken with my phone.  Hehe.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Thank You Card

After many months and not having my full set of supplies with me, I have managed to churn out a simple 'Thank You' card.

The card base is using PTI card stock in the colour Winter Wisteria. Love this colour. I embossed the white card stock with the M-bossibility folder from Spellbinders called Garden Delight.  Love the imprint that the M-bossibilities produce.

I then used PTI's clear stamp set called Heart-to-Heart #3 and stamped the hearts and 'Thank You' in both Winter Wisteria and Plum Pudding ink.  The 'Thank You' is stamped on a cut out using Spellbinders Fancy Tags Number 2 and the flourish underneath is from the Over Under Easy stamp set.

I apologise for the bad picture.  It was taken using my phone and the lighting was bad plus I don't have my photo editing software with me...Grr...

Hope you all have a nice weekend. 

Thanks be to God

I just wanted to write a short post today about how the Lord works in mysterious ways.  Isabelle always had trouble being bottle fed (either with expressed breast milk or formula milk).  We would only be able to bottle feed her if she was asleep or what we call during a dream feed.  Although I know that breast milk is best for a baby, I was very stressed during the first few months as I did not feel that my supply was sufficient for her needs.  It really got me down because I knew that if I did not produce enough milk for Isabelle, she would have nothing else to drink since she did not take formula milk.

Then suddenly the most miraculous thing happened.  About 2 weeks ago, I felt she had not fed enough from me and I prepared a bottle with expressed breast milk.  I fed it to her myself and she drank every last drop while she was AWAKE (although it was only 2 ounces).  I could not believe it.  After, I tried giving her formula milk just to see if she would take it and she DID.  I was just in shock.  Although she does take formula milk, I still endeavour to provide her with breast milk.  But at least now, I can enjoy being her mother and not stress about my milk supply.

The Lord works in mysterious ways because if she had taken to the bottle or formula milk earlier, I probably would not have persevered in completely breastfeeding her.

Happy 6 Months Old to my beloved Isabelle

Today my beloved Isabelle turns 6 months old.  How time really flies.  It has been a trying but blissfully happy 6 months with this little someone I never thought I'd get to meet.  I look at her everyday and wonder how the Lord chose me to be the mother to this beautiful being.  

I want to thank the Lord for keeping Isabelle in good health except for the cold that she is having right now.  I hope it does not take a turn for the worse but am thankful that she has not had any major illnesses or complications and is in reasonably good health.  She is a very happy child and does not fuss very much (except when I am trying to feed her).  Can you imagine?  She fusses when there IS milk and I am trying to give it to her.  I have only heard of babies who fuss because there is no more milk coming out from their mother's breasts!  Isabelle loves to play and is at the stage where she is most curious about everything new. 

She loves to go out and I feel she knows we are about to go out of the house when she sees me wearing different clothes or carrying her diaper bag.  Her level of understanding really amazes me sometimes.

I am now trying to start planning for her 1st birthday party much to the chagrin of her Papa.  Hehe.  I am hoping to make it an afternoon to remember.  She will have to remember it via photos of course when she gets bigger.  Hopefully I get around to making a scrapbook album for her.

I also want to say that as always I believe all things happen for a reason.  My husband and I are at a point where we've sold our old house and awaiting to move into a new one.  There were some complications getting the keys to our new place and during this time, we have been staying with my parents and I must say, it has been great having my mom to help me out especially during her night feed.  Not sure what I would have done without my mom.  

I have not been able to get any craft done yet but I am still hoping to find time to make some 'Thank You' cards very soon.  Will post them up when and if I have the time.

Thank you all for visiting today.  Have a great weekend ahead!

My Precious Darling Isabelle

I have not been able to blog since my last post as I delivered my darling baby girl on 2nd May 2012.  She arrived via an emergency C-section because I had originally wanted to have a normal delivery.  However, baby girl decided she was not going to come out the normal way and so we had to have the c-sect to get her out.

Her name is Isabelle Jade Sim and how time has flown by.  She is now approximately two months old. During these two months, it has been an emotional roller coaster, from being deliriously happy, to being upset and to feeling guilty and so forth.  I am thankful though that she seems to be a relatively easy to understand child.  Isabelle does not cry for no reason (or rather not for reasons we do not understand) and I would say is a happy and contented child.  The only time she gets pretty impatient (and you would know that she is impatient with you) is when it is eating time.  

The role of motherhood is not an easy one which I have found out.  Another thing I've realised, I think breastfeeding is harder than the actual labour! I had sore and bleeding nipples pretty much for the first 2-3 weeks and thankfully it is better now.  I only wish that I had an oversupply of breast milk for my little one so that I know for sure that she is always getting enough.  I stress about whether she eats enough and currently, she is under the 50th percentile when it comes to weight gain.  Another point to worry for me.  I've realised that as a parent, there is always something to worry about day after day.  Does she have enough to eat, why is her poop this colour, why is she soooo sleepy, why won't she sleep in her bed and so forth.

For all the difficult times, I truly forget with every smile she gives me.  Isabelle is now able to lift her own neck (started way before she turned two months), sucks on her thumb, coos, laughs and even has conversations with those talking to her.  It is the most amazing thing.  

It took my hubby and I a long time to be blessed with her presence and now that she's here, I couldn't and wouldn't ever want a life without her. Cliche I know, but true.

Till next time......