Graphic 45 Design Team Audition 2015

Yes it's the Graphic 45 Design Team Call; one of the most exciting event ever!!! I was very glad to make it into this wonderful team for 2014/15 and I should say my experience with Graphic 45 was truly a heaven one... I love my fellow teammies, the amazing people behind Graphic 45 and truly enjoy the cohesiveness and support we had together as a team... It made me feel like a family... As much I'd like to wish we could never part, I know I'll miss my current team dearly... 

Sieving through my past Graphic 45 projects from my last audition to being on the team till date, I've seen myself grown artistically, evolving into a different creative level; an experience that I'll truly treasure for sure... Though I'm still searching for an identity as a budding artist, I'm very grateful for this wonderful opportunity that have brought me this far... Here again, I'm trying out for another year, in hope I can have this opportunity again to share my works in a brand new different level...

And here is my entry, featuring some of my favourite projects...

Project #1 - Come Away with Me Stacked Suitcases

This was one of the biggest projects till date; building all these suitcases from scratch and took me almost a week to complete everything... Wasn't an easy job but due to my obsessions on stacked suitcases, I wanted it so much that I just went crazy to build this mini version...  

More details about this project can be found here... 

I guess I can never had enough suitcases, these little matchbox suitcases are just part of my addiction that I had to create a tutorial...

Project #2 - A Snowman's Baggage & Christmas Suitcase

In sequel to my matchbox suitcases, I did these suitcases for last Christmas... It's a sudden inspiration coming from Disney's movie Frozen and my niece, after hearing her singing the snowman song to my dad... 

More details about this project can be found here... 

Project #3 - Botanical Tea Violin Display Stand

I tend to keep things and when I found my violin, I felt old... Those were the days; bringing me memories... Each time I dug things, there'll be something that caught me and I'll always get inspired somehow... Nevertheless, making this stand for my violin was a result from digging old things... Spring cleaning don't sound that scary after all... It became one of my inspiration sources...

 More details about this project can be found here... 

Project #4 - A Christmas Kaleidoscope

This was one such recycling project that I put in extra effort to conduct some research in making functional kaleidoscope... I've seen quite a number of tutorials online but not all are able to attain favourable results... I tried and made several attempts before finally make this into a tutorial...

More details about this project can be found here... 

Project #5 - Come Away with Me Altered Postbox

I'm always a big fan of Nicola Battilana and love minis and little things... I altered this post box piggy bank and revamped into a vintage one with failing parcels and mini mailbags... Away from the traditional red postbox, I decided to make it blue to match the paper collection... 

More details about this project can be found here... 

Project #6 - Time to Celebrate Patina Box

This was one of my Graphic 45 newsletter assignments using the 5" x 5" mixed media box... I was tasked to alter the box with stenciling and stamping technique on the exterior of the box only, strictly no papers but only in the interior of the box... This challenging assignment had actually pushed me one step further, putting my creative brain cells into a new level.. And finally I came up with this Patina look which a tutorial is available...

More details about this project can be found here... 

Project #7 - Precious Memories Baby Boy Patina Keepsake Box

For this Winter CHA, I revisited my Patina tutorial and create a pastel blue version of Patina together with Precious Memories paper collection... This keepsake was especially made for a friend of mine who is currently residing in Chicago and just had a baby boy last December...

More details about this project can be found here... 

Project #8 - Typographic Grunge Altered Bookend

This wooden bookend was built by my youngest sister as part of her school project and has been kept in one of the drawers for more than 10 years... We managed to discover this one day when I was doing some spring cleaning at home... Again, another "digging" inspiration, I altered this bookend for her using a great amount of Graphic 45 staples and other metal embellishments I had in my stash...

More details about this project can be found here... 

Project #9 - A Thanksgiving Card

I made this card during the last Thanksgiving; my very virgin attempt on the Big Shot machine... Owning a Big Shot was never at the top of my mind despite I crafted a lot... It's because of the various dies given to us as part of our DT package, this indeed had changed my mind... 

I had penned down my maiden voyage with this virgin trial here...

Project #10 - Time to Celebrate Birthday Pop-Up Card

Never once in my life I attempted to make such a big card... This was my first attempt... Stands at A4 in size when close, this card will pop into a bouquet of flowers when open... This birthday card is especially handmade for a 98 year old granny...

More details about this project can be found here...

Though I managed to get into the DT last year, my Graphic 45 teaching opportunity at The Art Republic (AR) ended shortly... Very sadly, due to the rental hike they are unable to sustain the business and was forced to close shop... Here are the final 2 projects I had taught before AR close shop...

Project #11 - Botanical Tea Spring Duet Album

An album full of pockets and all pages are hand-bound together using modified saddle stitch which I put in an extra effort to explore and modify the stitches just for this album...

More details about this project can be found here...

Project #12 - Wanderlust Mixed Media Shadow Box

My very last class project for The Art Republic using Come Away with Me paper collection and 8" x 8" matchbox staple... This project was inspired by the 90s sitcom Friends' Central Perk fictitious coffee shop, just that there's no coffee served but more towards a travel shop...

More details about this project can be found here...

Thank you so much for viewing this entry of mine and I hope my projects have been an inspiration... I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Charee, Joanna, Aimee, Diane, Jeff and all people from the Graphic 45 family for providing me a great year in the DT... I hope to work with this amazing team again very soon...

Last but not the least, I hereby wish all applicants Good Luck for this audition... 

Thank You!!!

A Typographic Grunge Altered Bookend for Core'dinations & Graphic 45 Blog Hop

On today's Core'dinations and Graphic 45 Blog Hop entry, I'm sharing this altered bookend which was orignally built by my youngest sister as part of her Design & Technology school project... We managed to find this bookend at a drawer near her desk one day while doing some spring cleaning back in my mum's place...

To give this book end a new lease of life, I decided to alter this bookend as a gift for her... Using some embossed clock images on Photogenic cardstock from the Core'dinations Signature Series as a texture foundation, I white-washed it and added on tons of metal staples and embellishments to achieve this typographic grunge look… Typography certainly has some interesting verses that I find it applicable to serve some wisdom for my sister - a reminder that life is not just about dreaming and hope for the best, but to live, laugh, adopt, encourage and be genuine… Patience is key and hope this sentimental altered piece will serve as a good life reminder...

I've also created a video tour in how I came up with the idea in altering this bookend as well as concept behind... Hope this will give you some ideas in how to alter pieces as such...

Happy altering!!! Cheers!!!

Guest Designer's Spot for Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog

I was honoured to be invited by Gloria to part of her challenge blog, Craft Hoarders Anonymous guest spot for this month... For this month Challenge #13, it's about upcycling and recycling.. I've created this stationeries container using a toliet roll (the big one) and Graphic 45 Typography collection...

Hop over and join in the fun...

Graphic 45 Design Team 2014 Audition

It has been coming to 6 months I've been teaching at The Art Republic; a place where the owners and scrappers get addicted to Graphic 45... Needless to say, I'm one of them... This explains the reason why almost 90% of my classes are Graphic 45 projects... When the 2014 DT call announcement is up, I was so excited, and without a second thought I'm grabbing this opportunity!!!

For this audition, I've created a couple of new projects and the rest are my past projects and teachings at The Art Republic... Starting from the most freshly baked from oven, here I'm presenting my Graphic 45 creations...

Project #1 - By the Sea Altered Display Shadow Box

Freshly baked from the sea!!! Despite of my busy schedule for my footwear design course, I managed to bring this project out in time for this audition... I constructed this shadow box using the Ikea photo frame which I altered using colours that will goes with the paper collection; creating a worn-out look...

Those twigs are actually fallen branches from the trees surrounding my estate... So one evening on my way home, I decided to pick a few up just for this project... Love to incorporate some nautical elements, I handmade these little glass floats using glass marbles and crochet thread...

Project #2 - Botanical Tea Altered Clock

This clock was the Ikea clock that used to have a torn face at The Art Republic's studio... Instead of trashing the clock away, I decided to revive it by giving this clock a brand new vintage chocolate minty look to match the Botanical Tea paper line...

This clock is widely-loved and I'm so happy to know it has inspired a lot of people and get them wanted to altered their used clock... And... I found this clock being pinned on Graphic 45 Pinterest... Oh I'm on cloud nine...

Click here for more details about this project...

Project #3 - A Secret Garden Pincushion and A Grower's Tag

This is one project that I used a combination of fabric (Wilmington Prints) and paper from the Secret Garden collection... And again... I found this project pinned on Graphic 45 Pinterest... I'm on double cloud nine already...

Click here for more details about this project...

Project #4 - Sweet Sentiments Forever & Always Hanging Ornament

Inspired by Ferrero Rocher, I created these Love Rochers for this Valentine's... Yummy and sweet, I wished I could just eat them... And again!!! I found this pinned on Graphic 45 Pinterest!!! Oh my God! I'm on triple cloud nine... Can't love you guys any lesser...

Click here for more details about this project...

Project #5 - Bohemia Bazaar Addicted to Shoes Mixed Media Layout

This is one of my favorite layout, partly because there's a story behind which makes this entire layout so different from what I've done previously... Featuring my designs, this layout is created after I've won a shoes design competition this January, landing myself a scholarship to study footwear design... Thanks to this vibrant collection, which I used greatly for my display showcase during the finals which plays a major part in winning the competition...

Click here for more details about this project...

Project #6 - Typography Altered Cosmetics Box

Inspired by Z-palette, I upcycled  this holiday gateway cosmetic box to house my pots of blushes and eyeshadows... Small and handy enough, I love how portable this palette is which I actually brought it along with me during my last holiday trip...

Click here for more details about this project...

Project #7 - Happy Hunting Halloween Album

My very first attempted Halloween album, comes with a frame that's removable from the album cover which can be used as a wall hanging ornament or frame yourself in and take a picture...

Click here for more details about this project...

Project #8 - Bird Song Altered Rotating Flipping Mirrors

An oriental project created for the mooncake (aka mid-autumn) festival during Autumn... My very first attempted altered project...

Over here are the various Graphic 45 projects that I've designed and taught at The Art Republic... Starting from the last latest project I've taught... 

Project #1 - Typography Communique Mini Librarian Matchbox Book Cover Dresser

A modified book cover matchbox dresser that houses lots of mini scroll, books and scripts owned by the messy Librarian... Inspired from an online game Typing Maniac...

Click here for more details about this project...

Project #2 - Sweet Sentiments Spring Blossom Mixed Media Album

My first mixed media full album class for this Spring season... Specially mixed the colours from various mediums to match this paper collection, this shabby chic diary is spacious enough for lots of embellishments...

Click here for more details about this project...

Project #3 - Couture Avant Garde Shoe Art

One of a kind, inspired by Alexander McQueen, there's actually an album on top of the shoe... This grand ensemble can be dismantled into various parts, revealing a glass slipper, a top hat that can be worn as a fashion accessory, a stationery holder that holds the album and 4 ATCs... 2 of the scrappers who attended this class of mine appreciate this piece so much that they had customized an acrylic showcase to display the shoe...

Click here for more details about this project...

Project #4 - Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes Handy Caddy

Something childhood and functional, this caddy is sturdy enough to house every scrappers' craft tools... Built from scratch, it comes with 3 mini handbound notebooks which can be used as a craft inventory...

Project #5 - Twelve Days of Christmas Victorian Box 

A treasure box for the last Christmas; it opens up like a book cover and beneath the door houses a mini album...

Project #6 - Twelve Days of Christmas Eco-Wreath

My pilot project for The Art Republic; for the very first time I build this whimsical Christmas wreath using solely toilet rolls... This is one such recycled eco-art project that I actually conceptualized and came out a different way to create this wreath... 

End Note Project - A Secret Garden Thank You Pop-Up Card

Lastly, a big Thank You to Graphic 45 for featuring my works on Pinterest and Instagram, as well as the beautiful pretty papers and creations which have inspired me so much in almost all aspects of my life, especially in my current persual in footwear design...

Click here for more details about this project...

I'd like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to The Art Republic who believes in me, my lovely scrappers peeps who love my creations, and of course my wonderful husband (also my best critic) who encouraged and supported me for this audition...  It has been a wonderful journey, especially with such excitement, I'm enjoying this creative mojo almost every day...

Thanks for viewing and I hope you've enjoyed what I've shared here... I hereby wish best of luck for those who have applied for this DT call... =)