Lin Mei's May Maybe Malaise

That about sums up my May. Maybe or maybe not. Mostly maybe not...maybe. If I keep this up, "maybe" is not going to look correctly spelt and this post may just end up on the list of maybes. Yup! That's done it ... "maybe" looks completely wrong now. Maybee it needs an extra "e"... Not! *sigh*

I hosted this month's INKlings Cyberstamp and, being a little stamped out after Convention swaps, nominated as the first challenge to make a card that featured Designer Series Paper mainly. With this month's DSP promotion, I was feeling like I could actually USE my DSP for once as there's still time to buy more on sale if I really messed up...

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
VersaMark

Stamp sets:
More Thoughts

Paper:
Pink Flamingo DSP
Piroutte Pink
White copy

Accessories:
Felt Fusion Too
Heat Tool
Ice Circle RS Brads
Oval Punch
Pink Piroutte Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
Small Oval Punch
White Embossing Powder

Too late for Mother's Day

this year...Maybe I'll keep it for next year!

I made this card using Dani's colour challenge of Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip and Taken with Teal last month. It features my new Marker Over technique - it's new 'cos I've made up a name for it. It involves using a Stampin' Write Marker to accent parts of an image after it has been stamped which is great for jazzing up mono-coloured wheels. You can even add accents of your own ... like dots. I used this terrific (if I may say so myself) technique for my Convention swaps too!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Certainly Celery

Stamp sets:
Bella's Border
Occasional Greetings

Cardstock:
Baja Breeze
Certainly Celery
Whisper White

Accessories:
Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon
Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon
Filigree Designer Brads
Flower Fusion Too
Ice Circle Rhinestone Brads
Stampin' Write Markers Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal and Tempting Turquoise

How predictable am I?

Completely. Utterly. Depressingly so. *sigh*

A year ago, I took part in Jayne's Cyberstamp where one of the challenges was to select two numbers, put them together to make a page number in the Idea Book & Catalogue from which to case a card. IIRC I chose 7 and 8, giving me 78. Since page 78 featured a scrapbook layout, I reversed the numbers to give 87 and ended up with this card.

This year, Dani reissued the same challenge and what random numbers did I choose? Yep! 7 and 8! AGAIN! Didn't realise it until I thought about it days after the Cyberstamp - about the time I started writing up this blog entry for the new card. Just to reinforce the fact that I am a machine, it turns out that I used Orchid Opulence and Tempting Turquoise both times on a squarish card. Oh well! At least the Curly Label Punch is new... *slinks off*

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Gable Green
Glorious Green
Orchid Opulence
Tempting Turquoise

Stamp sets:
Petal Pizzaz
Polka Dot background
Say it with Scallops

Cardstock:
Gable Green
Tempting Turquoise
Whisper White

Accessories:
Curly Label Punch
Eyelet Edge Punch
Mat Pack
Stampin' Dimensionals
Stampin' Write Markers in Glorious Green, Lovely Lilac, Orchid Opulence, Tempting Turquoise
Styled Silver Hodgepodge
Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon
White Gel pen

In gratitude and guilt

In Australia, we've had a compelling lesson in the fragility of existence. The bushfires in Victoria have claimed many lives, 173 people confirmed dead so far, and many homes. I am sure that those who survive the ordeal will eventually recover because, even though our time here is arbitrary, our ability to endure is immense.

As witnesses to scenes of grief and ruin, we have asked each other how we could help and have acted in concert with the response. It is heartening to know that we will still look out for each other in tough economic times.

As someone who is well removed from the flames and those affected by them, I'm stuck strangely between gratitude and guilt. Feeling gratitude for all that I have and guilty that I haven't lost it all. It seems to be the only homage that I can make to those who have lost everything.

I've got no projects that would be appropriate to post but this page features my nephew Shi Wei - I am so grateful that he is still around. Stay safe.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Black
Pretty in Pink
Wild Wasabi

Stamps:
Jumbo Outline Alpha

Paper:
Afternoon Tea DSP
Ginger Blossom DSP
Pumpkin Pie Prints DSP
Vellum CS
Whisper White CS
Wild Wasabi Textured CS

Accessories:
Anchored Rub-Ons
Flower Fusion
On Board Blossoms & Basics
Paper Snips
Photo Corners Punch
Rhinestone Circle Brads in Ice
Round Tab Punch
Sanding Block
Scallop Edge Punch
Silver Brads
Simply Scrappin' Kit Winter Bright
Stampin' Write Journaller
Styled Silver Hodgepodge
White Gel Pen

Embellishmenthoarderism

My name is Lin Mei and I am an embellishmenthoarderholic.

I'd join Embellishmenthoarderholics Anonymous but they are so anonymous that I can't locate them. Nope - not listed in the Yellow Pages, not hiding in the local Rotary Club, not even a single match returned by Google. I tried looking for them in craft forums but, to be honest, it's like looking for an AA meeting in a bar. After hearing about everyone's rave reviews of the happy hour jumbo eyelets and the amazing buzz you get from your fourth shot of Flower Fusion, it's enough to drive anyone to drink and submit that hundredth online order!

And then the waiting begins...all the items in my stash suddenly lose their lustre because something newer and shinier and eminently more desirable is heading my way. But I try to persevere with the next project to take the edge off. But that is when the real problem emerges. What can I use? Do I dare to use two out of the three 4 cm felt flowers that I have in Old Olive - what if I need two for a scrapbook page without which rhythm would be completely impossible? Should I dip into my collection of Rich Regal brads? I only have the 200 (and that is approximately!) in their unopened container - what if they are retired soon? Could I even imagine life without Rose Red round bits of metal? Aaaarrgghh!

Anyway, I came up with an idea to use some of my embellishments - I've altered my 2009 diary so that these embellishments can accompany me wherever I go. Also, most of the embellishments have been attached through brads ... which means that in a craft emergency, I always have the option of looting this diary! Ingenious, no?! Reusing the rub-on could prove tricky, however.

I was really happy that I got to use the boing¹ in the elasticized ribbon from my precious pack of Theatre Ribbon Originals. It holds my diary closed and can be used as a bookmark in a pinch.
Stampin' Supplies
Paper:
Bali Breeze DSP

Accessories:
Circle Rhinestone Brads in Fire, Ice
Eastern Elegance Rub-Ons
Flower Fusion
Scallop Edge Punch
Styled Silver Hodgepodge
Theatre Ribbon Originals
White Gel Pen

The second photo was supposed to be an arty shot of the cover but as you can see the focus was not quite at the front of the picture. I'd take another shot but I am waiting for the parcel guy and that requires my full attention...*runs off to check the front door in case the order has arrived*

---

1. boing: elasticity. Derived from the imagined sound of pulling something rubbery

Peace Love Joy...

... what more could one wish for someone else? How about something Yummy?

Stampin' Supplies
Stamp sets:
Occasional Greetings
Yummy SAB

Paper:
Dashing DSP
Old Olive CS
Very Vanilla CS

Accessories:
Fire Circle Rhinestone Brads
Flower Fusion
Rose Red 1" Grosgrain
Scallop Edge Punch
Stampin' Write Markers in Old Olive, Rose Red

No matter what the occasion, one always has the opportunity to introduce food. In fact, it's not really an occasion unless there is food! [For those of you with resolutions to lose weight: you know I'm kidding, right? But avoid the rest of this post anyway by looking over there! *points left* And there! *points up* And don't miss that! *points out window* See you next post! *wave*]

Back to food and how there's no occasion without it...you know I'm not kidding, right? Perhaps it's just me. I've often pictured myself lying down on Dr. Phil's couch (Hey! On business! And I don't mean the second oldest profession kinda business!) doing a word association test:

Dr. Phil: Head
Lin Mei : Cauliflower

DrP: Green
LM: Mmmmmmmmm...Salsa

DrP: Water
LM: Tap please

DrP: Sing
LM: Tastebuds

DrP: Death
LM: By Chocolate

DrP: Long
LM: Mmmmmmmmm...Degustation

DrP: Ship
LM: Lollipop

DrP: Count
LM: Baker's Dozen

DrP: Window
LM: Breakfast at Tiffany's

DrP: Friendly
LM: Carbs

DrP: Sorry but, other than your obvious food fixation, what episode are you auditioning for again?
LM: What? Isn't this the audience entry requirement for "Ready Steady Cook"?