the Police in Concert

Layout done with Club Scrap 'Weekender' kit. Design copied from the current CK Magazine. I have been seeing a lot of 'inchie' swaps happening and so was inspired to incorporate inchies into my layout too - of course my inchies are no brainers... lol!

I never imagined that I would be able to see the Police in concert! So when I heard that they would be getting together for a last tour, and coming our way, I just had to go see them. They would be playing at the Venetian in Macau, just an hour's ride by jet foil from here. A jet foil, for those who have not seen one, is a ferry boat powered by jet engines. It actually rises above the water surfaces and skims along at amazing speed.

The concert itself was more than I could have hoped for from a trio of aging rockers (lol!) ... much more! Sting was hypnotic as ever. His voice is just incredible! They kept the audience enthralled for almost 2½ hours.

After the concert our group of friends went for dinner to a Brazilian Churrascaria. I love this kind of steakhouse - it is so much more fun. The strange thing about these restaurants under the 'Venetian' sky is that one cannot really tell how late it is. It is a good thing we were staying the night at the hotel. It was 3 a.m. by the time we got to our room! The next day we woke late, had brunch and went shopping. We came home in the early evening tired but happy. All in all a very enjoyable way to spend 2 days.

This is slightly morbid but I just had to share!! In Japan everything has a 'cute' option. Even tombstones! Check out the choices in this video :-)

Another Disney trip

Layout done with Jenni Bowlin Studio - Vintage black ledger paper, Lil Davis Designs (printed papers); Sassafrass Lass journaling note; 7 Gypsies red photo turn; Jenni Bowlin Studio Blue label sticker; Hero Arts alpahbets & Stayz-On red ink.

Lily & Ricky with my nephew at Hong Kong Disneyland during the Christmas hols. At 21 this was the first time my nephew saw Disneyland. He loved it! And there they are, waiting for the parade to start. We got really good places to view the Christmas parade - right on the curb!

The first card is done with sei stitches paper and a Club Scrap stamp. I kept it simple because I love the way printed paper looks so realistic and wanted to emphasize the fabric look.
The second card is done with a Magenta stamp. Embossed with Encore Ink & Stampa Rosa filigree EP. Coloured in with photo colouring markers. I do not colour my B&W photos anymore but I love using these delicately tinted pens to colour my cards.

The following video is 10 minutes long. It shows Earthships - a very interesting concept. It has its drawbacks but immense potential in certain areas. I also really like that it uses up tires. I hate tires - especially when they wash up on the beach in front of my home! People still throw tires into the sea thinking that is a solution!!

My friend Michi sent me some photos of really cool products. Great design ideas. Two of these I have decided are 'must haves' and I would like to share them with you!

Copying Laura Lou!

All three layouts are from my 'Imperial Cities' travel album. The following three layouts were done as part of a challenge to copy digital layouts. Putting as many photos as possible on each page is always a priority for these kinds of albums (for me that is ...). And so I chose 3 layouts of Laura Lou (a digital designer from SS Reflections) that had a lot of photos. All papers are from Club Scrap. Heidi Swapp chipboard alphas, Gel.a.tins alpha stamps & a few other doo-dads complete these layouts.

And a message from long ago that is still relevant today ... perhaps even more so!

Sisters Friends

All printed paper is Basic Grey. This is the first time I am using Grungeboard by Tim Holtz (am constantly amazed at how talented the guy is...). So of course I had to give it prominence :-) I colored the grungeboard swirls with Golden Acrylics Violet interference color. The 'S' is also grungeboard. I applied Suze Gluez and then covered it with this EP called Cloisonné - easier to use than UTEE but looks just as good. The color here is Molten Granite. Wonder if anyone still makes these. I know that the company that made them shut down. I miss my Fresco ink pads too. The 'photos, snapshots' stamp is by Art Warehouse. 'Friends' alpha stickers by Heidi Swapp. I started by printing out the word 'ISTERS' on the blank cardstock and continued from there. Of course I had a rough plan on the layout already sketched on.

I have been trying my hand at digital layouts for a challenge on SS Reflections. I used the following digital kit to make all the 4 following layouts: Water color Scribbles by Christine Borgfeld (Polka Dot Potato)

A Night on the African Queen

Embossed cardstock used for the base is from Club Scrap. Animal print paper from HOTP. Also some scraps of handmade paper from my stash. The 'A' is from a Club Scrap stencil. Not sure who makes the brown chipboard alphabets. Alpha stamps are from Art Warehouse & Stampendous. I used a coffee coloured ink to distress the background.

This is the party we went for on New Year's eve. It was African themed called 'A Night on the African Queen', the 'African Queen being a boat used for exploration. I wish I could photograph the way everything was decorated - it was stunning. And then there were so many 'African' props like those hats, animal print scarves, moustaches, false bones through the nose, the list goes on and on! And of course, when one is with friends, one really does have the best of times!