Paperie Designs' Studio

Marina Khong has wowed her fans always, and that's why she's here today! Her projects are a perfect balance of accents, a spot-on choice of papers, and a bounty of techniques :) Without further ado, let's introduce you to our star:

1. When did you start this hobby?
I started scrapping early this year (2011) simply because I wanted to make an album as a gift for my baby's first birthday. It was supposed to be just that one album and I never imagined I would eventually start a blog and be this active! As I was scrapping, I ventured into card making and altered art which are just as fun.


2. Who inspires you the most?
I draw my inspiration from everywhere and everything. Most of the time the photos themselves are the inspiration. Also, there are many seasoned scrappers I admire and I frequently stalk their blogs for ideas and inspirations. I love sketch challenges, I can always count on them for a quick jumpstart.


3. Define your style?
At this point I can't say I have a definite style but I do love going in the shabby-glam direction, a little vintage, a little worn yet with a touch of glitter and bling. Having said that I'm still very flexible and fluid with my scrapping, I guess it's because I'm still pretty fresh at this. Generally, it depends on the mood or occasion of the photo and what I really want to convey . One thing for sure; I believe that with scrapping, the photo(s) should always take centrestage. The art and embellishment should bring out the photo and the story behind it and not overshadow it.

4. What are your favourite tools?
As a paper crafter, the few basics I can't do without are my best scissors, my paper trimmer and favorite adhesives. Next I would say are my edge scrapper and punches. I love my glitter glues, liquid pearls and all my inks too, although they are not tools, technically :)

5. What are your favourite techniques?
I don't think I have a favorite here as well, it really depends on the project at hand but I do find myself doing a lot of these basic techniques: layering, distressing, inking, misting and stamping. I'm still very much in the process of learning.


6. Do you follow the latest trends?
Only if it works for me and my project at hand. I do believe we should try everything as much as possible.

7. What are your favourite colours?
Again, these really depends on the projects at hand, though some colors are easier to work with than others. Somehow, unconsciously, I find myself working with a lot of teal. I also love classic neutral shades like kraft brown and beige.

8. Are you designing for any products, brands or scrapbook store?
I'm on the DT for Scrappingville, a local scrap & craft retailer in Kuala Lumpur.

Here are some pretty pieces:







Just stunning, isn't it? What fabulous colour combos, and way to go giving that amazing boy the full glory he deserves :) I love the backgrounds too, and the touch of buttons and brads. Thank you for sharing this beauty with us, Marina!!! See you all soon...
Smooches,

Hello friends!!! Hope all are well :) :) Its been a week since I last posted and am still waiting for the end of coming week to get stable. I'm just praying that things go the way I want coz this step will be a milestone in my career life!!!
Now back to Fascinating Fridays as we're featuring a smart and vibrant talent in cardmaking... Its Kasia whose cards are undoubtedly awe-inspiring!!! Without further ado, lets get to know her better:


When and how did you start Card making? 
Technically, I guess I started cardmaking when I was about 13 or 14. My mom got me into it, I remember her showing me how to heat emboss and I was hooked! I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Then high school hit and well you know....it was put on the back burner. Sometime in 2005 my mom discovered a local scrapbooking store and started taking classes, which got me totally intrigued but I had just bought a condo and started a new job, life was too busy to start it up again. Excuses, excuses! So when my mom passed away in 2007 I promised myself I would put her stuff to good use. The bonus is I find it a great way to keep her close. And the rest is history!! :) 

When would you say you are most creative? 
Honestly, when I'm not trying. Sometimes if I sit down because I have to make something for a design team challenge the creativity doesn't flow as well. A lot of the time I can be blog surfing, or perusing Pinterest, or even reading a magazine and something will trigger an idea. Those are the times I find I am most in love with my cards. 

What is your favorite technique?
I don't know if I have a favourite! My favourite style is definitely Clean & Simple. I see new techniques all the time and I just HAVE to try them. I have so much stuff from trying something and then realizing I can't make it work with my style. I do love paper piecing and colouring with my copics. Not that I'm any good with the copics as they are supposed to be used, ie the blending, but I have always loved to colour.

Do trends inspire your creative process? 
They do in that I love learning new things, styles, techniques etc. I don't necessarily follow it whole heartedly, but I will use them to try take my style in a different direction.

Is there something about paper crafting you find challenging?
Yes, embellishing! I am always in awe of designers that can pair multiple patterned papers together, and put abundant amounts of ribbon, and buttons, and bling on their cards and have it look so fabulous. If I try to make a card like that, I end up finding it too busy and start taking things off!

Is there a designer in the paper crafting industry that inspires you? If so, what about their style or technique inspires you?
There are so many designers to choose from! Emily from Art From The Heart, a fellow Canadian who has mastered CAS and has a keen eye for finding multiple uses for stamps and things, I just love how her mind works. Cristina from My Paper Secret, another CAS master who puts a wonderfully unique spin on everything she does. I also love Heather from Witty Title Here, her style is fresh and clean and the way she uses colour is amazing. 

How would you describe your style?
Clean and Simple, for sure. I try and branch out sometimes, but it's something that I always come back to. 

How long would you say it takes you to complete a card or project? 
It could take anywhere from 10 minutes to all night! It depends on how my creativity is flowing on a given day. 

When you are finished with your beautiful creations what do you do with them? 
Right now I either give them away, or they are stored in a beautiful box in my craft room. I have recently been toying with the idea of selling them, I just need to figure out what avenue would work best for me. 

Are you on any Design Teams or have served on any in the past including guest design spot? 
Yes, I am currently a design team member for ColourQ colour challenge, Bows & Berries digital stamps, and Scrapbooker's Paradise Playing in Paradise challenges. I was also privileged to be the first monthly guest designer for Paper Smooches stamps. 

Now have a look at these very clean creations:







Simply beautiful and cheerful!! Your work is so professional and creative, Kasia!! Thanks friend for your inspirational doses and thanks to all who popped by,,, See ya soon :)

I’m Lay Hoon from Malaysia. I’m mother of 2 children, a full time Quantity Surveyor and I make art during my free time. I do Art journaling, mixed media, scrapbooking, ATC, altered art, altered book, and handmade book, etc. I maintain 2 blogs, a craft blog called http://mescrap.blogspot.com and a postcard blog called http://travelpostcard.blogspot.com
1. When did you start this hobby? 
I started art journaling 4 years back and first came to know about Art Journaling from a Soul Journaling class generously conducted by Sarah Whitmire. From there on, I started exploring new world other than scrapbooking. I learnt various techniques throughout the process and way to express the thought via Art. Art Journaling then became my tool to release / relieve my pressure.

2. Who inspires you most? 
There are many great talented artists / art makers out there, for e.g. Michelle Ward, iHanna , Kathryn Anty, Alisa Burke, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, DJ Pettitt, Milly (Taiwan) and etc.

3. Define your style.
It is quite difficult for me to categorize my own style. I love blending the essence of retro and vintage also sometimes with mixture of zakka style. I’m not the kinda of neat, organize and clean type and allow the imperfection (that’s Handmade, made by hand and heart). 

4. What are your favorite tools? 
Acrylic paint, distress ink, and spray.

5. What is your favorite technique?
I dont pre-plan the pages but rather let the creative juice flow on the point of time. I just enjoy the process of getting all the pieces together.

6. Where do you normally do your artwork?
I must thank my hubby to share me the room where my art supplies are more than his stuffs in the room.

7. What are your favorite colors? 
Unconsciously I use blue green more and can’t resist with beige as well. 

8. Are you designing for any products, brands or scrapbook store? 
Not at the moment. I wish I will have such an opportunity. 

9. How much do you spend per month buying your art supplies? 
Not really calculated as the supplies are collected throughout the years of creating. For example, I hoard at Japanese washi tape one time that a hundred is spend in order to start the collection. Recently, I sewed handmade book and spent for about few hundreds for getting some papers, fabric and embellishment and etc.




 


 

Hello folks!!! Hope all are doing well :) Extremely sorry for not commenting on your wonderful blogs but soon I'll be visiting you all, yeah. Today's card is quite simple and I intentionally used this ribbon to finish it off as it had been waiting sooooo long!!!! 


Love the colors in this October Afternoon DP,,,


Thanks for peeking!!! Catch you guys tomorrow with Fascinating Fridays!!!!

Welcome to the first week of October with Fascinating Fridays!!!! Its really interesting to come across different creative minds as we get exposed to a wide variety of styles and techniques...
This Friday will be inspired by Dana who creates terrifically elegant cards. Unsurprisingly she has proudly worked on several Design Teams in the past and until present. Now let's get to know her better:

 
When and how did you start card making? 
As a child my mom always insisted I make cards for family on every occasion possible. I dreaded it. It wasn't until college in 1996 that I really started making cards for fun, and I didn't discover stamping until 2004. 

When would you say you are most creative? 
Definitely early morning! Sometimes I wake up around 4 am and sneak into my studio for some crafty time before the family wakes up.

What is your favorite technique?
I love emboss resist. Love it. 

Do trends inspire your creative process?
Not really. I'm kind of clueless about what's trendy and what's not, and just like to work with whatever sparks my interest.

Is there something about paper crafting you find challenging? 
Oh sure! The most challenging thing to me is working "on demand" for Design Team projects or to meet deadlines. I'm really a "go with the flow" kind of person, so working "inside the box" is not easy for me! 

Is there a designer in the paper crafting industry that inspires you? If so, what about their style or technique inspires you?
I'm really inspired by so many people, and not all of them are stampers. For instance, Alicia Paulson at Posie Gets Cozy is one of the first places I go for creative inspiration. She blogs about knitting, cooking, sewing, and lots of other inspiring things. It's total eye-candy over there!

How would you describe your style? 
I'm pretty eclectic, not sticking to any particular style, but using them all from CAS to Vintage/Shabby as my mood sees fit.

How long would you say it takes you to complete a card or project? 
Generally, about an hour, but I make lots of 10 minute cards too! 

When you are finished with your beautiful creations what do you do with them? 
Mail them out, give them away, donate them to fundraisers, and sell them. 

Are you on any Design Teams or have served on any in the past including guest design spot? 
I currently design for CAS-ual Fridays, Denami Designs, and Practicing Creativity Designs. In the past I've designed for Verve, Sasya's Sketches, Firecracker Designs, Tuesday Throwdown, Simply Scrapping Crafts, and CS Designs.

Have a look at these so pretty cards:





Such gorgeous cards, Dana!!! You're absolutely creative :) Thanks dear for making us smile and thanks to all who visited us... Fabulous Friday!!!!

As winter is approaching everyone is complaining of cold and flu (among them is the one writing this post!!!) The worst thing is that I have to suffer for quite long, any remedies??!!
My shabby card uses, for the first time, papers from The Girl's Paperie- pretty aren't they :) Just distressed the edges with mustard seed and finished the card with twine and stickers,,,

A closer view:

THANKS blog buddies for swinging by!!! See ya soon ♥ ♥ ♥