Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Altered Jar tip - for the woman you love!

Thank you for your patience!

I'm sharing this little project I did sometime back as Christmas gifts to my girlfriends and mom. To celebrate their love and friendship towards me.

These are the materials you need for the altered Jar:

1) An Ikea Glass Jar or any other similar cookie jar. I got mine at SGD$2
2) Stickles - The Frosted clear type
3) A strip of patterned paper (2" x 12")
4) Rub-Ons
5) Prima "Lollipop" flowers or any other flowers you might like.
6) Alphas (I used American Crafts Thickers)
7) Flowers (I used Prima Flowers)
8) Organza Ribbon (optional)
9) Faux string of pearls (optional)

Steps:
1) Open up the jar and use a dry cloth/tissue to wipe the insides clean. Then squeeze a thick line of your Stickles around the inside of your jar. Using your finger, smear the Stickles all around the jar. Leave it to dry for about 30 min - 1 hour.

2) For your strip of patterned paper, leave about 3/4" - 1" of tip and tail to be overlapped. Arrange the alphas slightly spaced apart (this allows for the alphas not to come right off when the strip is placed into the circular body of the jar - I used the power of estimation). Do not glue the tip and tail of the patterned paper till the Stickles on the inside of the jar is dry. For those with slightly shorter names and there's a whole lot of space left, plan and arrange your flowers on the paper strip and stick them down (do remember to leave some space for overlapping). Leave the paper strip with the alphas and flowers aside. You should have the effect like below once the Stickles had dried:

3) Work on the lid of the jar. I used the Prima Lollipop Flower to be stuck down on the top of the jar. You can use faux pearls and do some looping out and around the flower. Add a little butterfly/dragonfly if you like. I actually removed the metal rim off the lid and added lace (or you could use an organza ribbon) around the groove of the lid and placed the metal rim back (this is optional).

4) Once the Stickles are dried, put a strip of glue tape on the short side of the strip of patterned paper that will be placed under its other end. Place the paper strip into the jar gently and allow the paper strip to "expand" and touch the glass jar (please do not stick the entire strip against the glass jar). Once you're comfortable at how the paper strip looks, clamp down on the two ends of the paper strip with your fingers to stick them together. If there is anymore space, you may add on another flower to "hide" the seams. See example below: Can you see the "seams"?

5) Add finishing touches to your jar with the use of rub-ons if you like. After which I added a touch of faux string of pearls around the neck of the jar. Here's an example:
This should be your finished product:
I hope you liked this simple tip to make a beautiful altered jar gift to the women in your lives that made life count for you!
Do keep your submissions coming in! We would love to see and hear your story about how the Women in Your Lives affected your present moment.
Have a great week ahead!
Cheers!
Sophia

Monday, May 18, 2009

RAK - for Women in Our Lives challenge

Today was not a good photo day to show the step by step "mini tutorial" which I have in mind to share with you.

BUT

I have something to show you that might get you ladies excited and submitting your layouts for this month's challenge. You have till 25th May to submit!

This is the RAK which I'm giving for the winner of this month's challenge:
(picture was taken sometime back)
Front:

Back:
I hope you like what you see!!!

In the meantime, I'm praying for clear weather here in Singapore so that I can load the decent photos of the mini tutorial to share.

I'll be preparing the post! So wait up for me k?

Friday, May 1, 2009

Time for May's Challenge

And we are back with a new challenge - which I, Sophia, would be hosting this month!

Just to share a little bit about myself and my story:

I'm from a little dot of an island nation called Singapore (somewhere in South East Asia). I'm wife to David and mom to a precocious tyke called Daren, of both whom are my constant inspiration in my scrapbook pages!

I was raised in a single-parent family unit, but it was full of love and sacrifice from the amazing women in my life - my mom and my late granny. Without my mom's determination to make ends meet and my late granny's devotion in helping my mom raise me while she's out working, I would not be the woman I am today.

And with that, I present to you this month's challenge:

"Women in our Lives " - How they have shaped your present life constructively or not-so constructively.

Do share with us your story on how the women in your life has affected you positively or perhaps negatively. It's that simple.

Here are the stories from our TSM authors:

Sophia:
Journalling: I've been exceedingly blessed by these wonderful women in my life - my mom & my beloved late granny. Without my mom's sheer determination to bring me into this world, despite being a single mom; I wouldn't be here telling & sharing my story & giving all glory due to the Lord. My mom & I have been blessed by my granny's unconditional love, in caring for me, helping my mom to take care of me while my mom had to make ends meet. Both my granny & mom had taught me to live my life with faith in the Lord. To grow in His love and in His wisdom. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to have such an enriched life that I could confidently pass that legacy down to my children & my children's children.


Megan:
Journaling: I have been so blessed to be #4 of five girls. I could have never asked for a better family to be a part of. You're my #1 "girls" and best friends always!

Candi:
Journaling reads:These two girls are amazing! They inspire me with creativity, teach me to be a better person & friend and above all... believe in myself! Thank you for the encouragement & friendship Kim & Lynn... my sistas!

Tina:
Journalling: This woman will always have a special place in my heart. She's been a single mom to me since I was 2 yrs old. We have been thru alot together - good times, bad times, & in between times. We moved to N.C when I was 8, moved back to Iowa when I was 15. I put this woman thru hell & back in my teenage yrs. Alot of fights, yelling, rebelling. But she was always there for me no matter how "bad" I was. That's a great mom. She made sure I had nice things. Now she's not only my mom but my best friend. I'm so grateful to have her in my life!

Angela:
Journaling: Dutch Born, became a wife, then a mother, immigrated to Canada in the 40s. Now a grandmother, great grandmother and great, great grandmother. Was a farmer's wife and favourite neighbourhood mom. Lost her husband to a sudden heart attack, became a social butterfly. Survived ovarian cancer, has type II diabetes and now is legally blind, living in a nursing home. And through it all, always happy, positive and smiling. I love you Grandma


Monica:
Journalling: My Mom has been so, so instrumental in every aspect of my life. But most importantly, she has taught me what it is to be a mother. I stand in awe of her love, patience, and compassion everyday. I love you mom.


Liesbeth:
Journaling reads:“ My mom and I – we have a somewhat turbulent relationship. Since I was a little kid, we don’t get along really well. There seems to always be some sort of disagreement between us. As I got older, I realized that she is her own person, and that we are just very different. It saddens me a bit because I would love to have a good and close relationship with her.”


Alrighty! We'll be back on the 15th to share some tips/techniques as well as to show the RAK I'm putting together for a winner for this challenge!

Don't forget to share your story with us by 25th of May! Link your layouts under the comments in this posting!



Cheers!
Sophia