Monday, December 31

Looking back: 2007

My select projects from 2007:















Craft Room Update

Our furniture and the rest of our stuff finally arrived!!!  And that includes all my craft supplies from my craft corner back in Japan. 


And now, my planet's in chaos!  There are so many boxes to open and lots of craft supplies to  organize!  I honestly don't know where to start.  I was opening some boxes yesterday, and it felt like I was a kid opening more presents after Christmas.  It was so nice to see my Xyron sticker machine, my laminator, my other Cricut cartridges, my acrylic blocks for stamping, the rest of my cardstock, my punches, my heat gun, glue gun, Big Shot, craft mats, OTT Lamp, and most especially the albums that I have filled with scrapbook pages!  It's so nice to see each page again!  I wonder what else I will find in many other unopened boxes!  However, I did discover quite a number of junk.  Back in Japan, they were precious to me.  I was keeping everything, thinking they would have a good use in the future.  Plus, in Japan, everything is expensive.  But now, it seems my "perspective" has changed.  I was looking at them and I asked myself, "Why did I keep this for?"  They are junk.  I have to have a separate box to put my so called junk in, then maybe throw them away or RAK them to somebody.  I'm thinking now that I have my own craft room, I should have lots of room to put all my stuff in.  But it seems now there still isn't enough space.  Ah... I'll find space.  I'm just too overwhelmed right now.  Considering I have so many projects in mind and that I need to start with them right away!
Can somebody help me?!?!?  LOL

Monday, December 17

Digital vs. Traditional

OK OK OK!  I'm eating my word.  I said before I'll never be into digital scrapbooking.  But since having a dip into it, I can say that I like it.  But that doesn't mean that I'm saying goodbye to the traditional way.  My standing still leans towards the traditional scrapbooking methods.  



Like what Alice Koh said, digital scrapbooking is for people who just doesn't have the room to accomodate all those tools and supplies available in the market (She travels a lot too!)  It's also for those who doesn't have the time to tinker and ponder with each part of the layout.  Speaking for myself, one layout could take me days or even weeks to finish.  Unlike digital scrapbooking, you can do it with a click of a finger.  Don't like the looks of it?  Just click and delete away.  It's easier to rearrange your layout just by dragging with your mouse.  I have made a digital scrapbook page that looks quite complicated in less than an hour.  Unlike the traditional scrapbooking, making a page requires special planning.  Because if you make a mistake, you better be using repositionable adhesive or have the Un-Do handy.  If you make a wrong cut, you'll have to make a new one.  And yes, traditional scrapbooking is a lot more expensive.  You have to admit.  Scrapbooking is not a cheap hobby.  I love the convenience of digital scrapbooking.  If you have a laptop, you can do digital scrapbooking anywhere.  And if you're into all those software, you can make your own backgrounds and embellishments, all through your computer.  Plus, with all those freebies on the internet (Scrapbook Flair, for example), what else would you ask for?


Overall, I still like the look and feel of traditional scrapbook pages.  Especially the interactive ones with the hidden elements, flaps, zips and pulls.  Imagine, 20 years from now, the generations below you will be turning those pages and oohing and aahing over each one.  Because it would be so advanced 20 years from now, maybe they would even say "She didn't use the computer with this?  OMG!  Isn't that cool!"  The touch is a lot more personal.  It's like reading the book compared to watching the movie version or listening to the book cd. 

Sometimes, the traditional ways still weigh much more.

Thursday, December 6

Handmade by Joan Switalski

DH and I love after Christmas sales in the base.  We would go to those every year and just literally hoard on Christmas cards, lights, decor which were being sold at 70% off.  In our last after Christmas sale in Atsugi base, we bought a lot.  And I told DH that we won't be buying any more Christmas Cards for many years.

Guess what?  We don't have a single Christmas card with us right now.  They are all still in storage.  Little did I know that the basement won't be done till December!  And no, I won't buy Christmas cards in any store.  So now, I'm making a bunch of Christmas cards.  With a special "Handmade by Joan Switalski" mark in the back.  I'd like to especially thank HerHobbie from SplitcoastStampers for sending me the Stamp-a-ma-Jig, because it has been very useful in making my Christmas cards.  I'll be making a review about this product soon. 

I'm still in the process of making the cards.  And I'll definitely post pictures once they are all done!  Who knows, maybe I'll go to one of those craft shows next year and I'll sell my cards for a reasonable price.  Might as well make some money out of this hobby!

REVIEW: Stampin' Up's Stamp-a-ma-jig

Rating:★★★★★
Category:  Other
I've been wanting to have this tool for years. But everytime I have the chance to buy it, whether online or in the stores, I always have second thoughts, and ending up not getting it.

Finally, one of my "Secret GFs" from SplitcoastStampers (Herhobbie) sent me the Stamp-a-ma-jig. After learning how to use this tool, I kinda hit myself in the head for not buying this long time ago. It is very useful. With the Stamp-a-ma-jig, you can stamp on any spot you want, effortless. Aligning stamps and making designs with your stamps has never been so easy!

I didn't realize that the Stamp-a-ma-jig won't work without a partner. It comes with an imaging sheet where you temporarily stamp your image to help position the Stamp-a-ma-jig.

I'm really glad I have this tool now. It's one of the craft tools I won't be able to live without.