Candy Won! (Doodle Pantry)

So happy today when I received an email from Laurie of Doodle Pantries that I won the blog candy giveaway. Here are what I've won:-

• $15 gift coupon to use at doodlepantry.com
• 4 clear polymer stamp sets of Doodle Pantry images (previously marketed under CDS) Seasonal Swags, Classic Monogram Alpha, Josephine Clematis, and Moose Friends
• 8 individual mini clear polymer stamps of Doodle Pantry images (previously marketed under CDS) Mr. Spike, Flying Dove, Tiny Tree, Baseball Cap, Muffin Cupcake, Norman Snail, Harietta Hippo, Pizza Slice
• 3 satin ribbon spools
• 1 Spellbinders Decorative Labels 22 die set new
• 1 mini THANKS die (was a free die in October from Taylored Expressions)

Mini Clear Polymer Stamps

4 clear polymer stamp sets

Dies and Ribbon

Yippee...yay..yay...doing happy dance!

L/O - Remember This Time

materials: Bazzil cardstock, K&C Berry Sweet paper, chipboard embellishment

Done this layout based on sketch by Stuck?! Sketches Dec 2014 Challenge.

Challenges:

1. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
2. Bizzy Becs - anything goes
3. Papertake Weekly - pick your favourite (mine is anything goes theme)

L/O - The Hands

Paper: DCWV 'The Weekend Neutrals' stack, heart and star punch

Done this based on DCWV December 2014 Stack-a-holic Sketch challenge.

Challenges:

1. SSS Monday challenge - anything goes
2. Stamp & Create - anything goes
3. A Little Bit Crafty - anything but Christmas

L/O - Happy Holidays

paper: Bazzil cardstock,My Little Shoebox 'Winter Wonderland-Gum Drop Lane', Making Memories 'Twinkle-Glitter Stripes', Imaginisce 'Gingerbread Village', MME 'Winter Wonderland-Tags', Woodward border punch, EK 1" punch, blings, 

Believe chipboard

Family Flair stamp by Technique Tuesday

Happy Holidays chipboard

Done this layout based on sketch by Anna's Craft Cupboard  December sketch challenge.

Challenges:

1. Anna's Craft Cupboard - December sketch
2. Rochelle's Scrappy Friend challenge - tic tac toe (flair, snowflake, red)
3. Picture This - 1 photo+Christmas+paper strips+layers
4. Stamp & Create - anything Christmas

Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop bookmark

I made this fun bookmark using watercolour and gesso masking. Stamped the tiny coffee cup 3 times and stack upon each other, just indicate coffee break time in-between reading. The images were coloured using Faber Castell watercolour pencil. The tiny tag is punch out from American Craft tag punch.

Challenges:

1. Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Candy Won from I Luv Scrapping

I won this sweet candy from I Luv Scrapping blog. I love the cute monster theme Jillibean Soup papers, perfect for making my son's photo layout or mini album! Thank you so much Michelle!

Merry Christmas winter snow

image: Magnolia (Tilda, fence)

tools: Lifestyle Label die, Sizzix BG embossing folder, Faber Castell water colour pencil

Challenges:

1. Frosted Friday - Holiday theme without red or green colour
2. MidWeek Magnolia - use 2 stamps (Tilda, fence)
3. Magnolia Mania - anything
4. Time For Magnolia Christmas Challenge - Christmas without red, green, gold
5. Stamp & Create Magnolia challenge - winter in the snow

Gift Box 5

material: pink card stock,Bazzil pink and purple card stock, MFT Leafy Flourish die, retro punch (big,medium,small), EK Success scallop circle punch, circle punch,MS Frond punch, Lifestyle Nesting Frame 4 die, Scpr-pal score board, Thank You sentiment stamp, pink ink pad, Sizzix BG Ornate Swirls,  Perfect Layers set 2 ruler, Perfect Square ruler

Made the flip-top box based on this tutorial and the flowers to store a box of chocolate for my child's teacher appreciation day.

Challenges:

1. Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - thanks/thanksgiving
2. Bizzy Becs Store Challenge - anything goes

Gift Box 4

material: pink card stock, MFT Fancy & Leafy Flourish dies, retro punch (big,medium,small), EK Success scallop circle punch, circle punch, Lifestyle Nesting Scallop Square dies, Scpr-pal score board, Thank You sentiment stamp, pink ink pad, Sizzix BG Snow Flower, 

Made the flip-top box based on this tutorial and the flowers to store a box of chocolate for my child's teacher appreciation day.

Challenges:

1. Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - thanks/thanksgiving
2. Bizzy Becs Store Challenge - anything goes

Gift Box 3

material: pink card stock, MFT (Leafy, Fancy Flourish)die, retro punch (big,medium,small), EK Success scallop circle punch, circle punch,MS Frond punch, Lifestyle Nesting Frame 4 die, Scor-pal score board, Thank You sentiment stamp, pink ink pad, Sizzix BG Flower Cluster embossing folder, Perfect Layers set 2 ruler, Perfect Square ruler

Made the flip-top box based on this tutorial and the flowers to store a box of chocolate for my child's teacher appreciation day.

Challenges:

1. Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - thanks/thanksgiving
2. Bizzy Becs Store Challenge - anything goes
3. Scor-pal - Challenge #10  more than 1 score+family/thanksgiving

Gift Box 2

material: pink card stock,Bazzil pink and purple card stock,Spellbinders Foliage 6 die, retro punch (big,medium,small), EK Success scallop circle punch, circle punch, Lifestyle Nesting Frame 4 die, Scor-pal score board, Thank You sentiment stamp, pink ink pad, Sizzix BG Ornate Swirl embossing folder, 

Made the flip-top box based on this tutorial and the flowers to store a box of chocolate for my child's teacher appreciation day.

Challenges:

1. Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - thanks/thanksgiving
2. Bizzy Becs Store Challenge - anything goes
3. Scor-pal - Challenge #10  more than 1 score+family/thanksgiving

Gift Box 1

material: pink card stock,Bazzil pink and light orange card stock, MFT Leafy Flourish die, retro punch (big,medium,small), EK Success scallop circle punch, circle punch,MS Frond punch, Lifestyle Nesting Frame 4 die, Scpr-pal score board, Thank You sentiment stamp, pink ink pad, Sizzix BG Flower Cluster,  Perfect Layers set 2 ruler, Perfect Square ruler

Made the flip-top box based on this tutorial and the flowers to store a box of chocolate for my child's teacher appreciation day.

Challenges:

1. Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - thanks/thanksgiving
2. Bizzy Becs Store Challenge - anything goes
3. Scor-pal - Challenge #10  more than 1 score+family/thanksgiving

Wishing you brighter days card

Sentiment stamp : Hero Arts clear stamp, black embossed card stock, ribbon, floral trim, handmade crepe flower, MFT leaf die, Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad.

Challenges:

1. Bizzy Becs - anything goes
2. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes

L/O : Grateful

Paper: MME (Whirly Bird stack and Bright Dots stack)

Challenge:

1. MME November 2014 challenge - gratitude

L/O : Enjoy Every Moment

Paper : DCWV ( Sky's The Limit, The Snap Shot, The Weekend's Neutral) 

Embellishment : arrows (fussy cut from MME 'Lucky In Love), heart button, Baker's twine, die-cut doily (given by a facebook friend Papercraft Supplies, tx sweetie!) and Prima chalk ink 'Branch Bark'.

Done this layout based on DCWV November sketch challenge.

Challenges:

1. My Scrappy Friends Challenge - Tic-tac- toe (journal card-4+patterned papers+button)
2. Sketches 4All - Stacy H-W's Nov Stash challenge using black.
3. DCWV - Nov sketch challenge
4. Scrap & Play Challenge - 'THANKFUL' (T-twin, H-heart button, A-arrow, N-new journal card from DCWV stack, K-kid, F-four embellishment button+ 2 arrows+ doily, U-uppercase title, L-layers)

Sending Christmas wishes

Image: Penny Black 

others: Spellbinder Nestabilities Classic Oval Large and Florals Ovals, MS corner punch, Faber Castell watercolour pencils

Challenges:

1. The Artistic Stamper - Christmas is coming
2. Penny Black & More - anything goes
3. Penny Black Saturday Challenge - all wrap up
4. Bearly Mine - Christmas card
5. Creative Card Crew - Christmas Joy

L/O - 1st Birthday

materials: MME paper, Bazzil Card stock, Heidi Grace note, misc chipboard birthday stickers.

Done this layout based on Kreative Koncepts Sketch Challenge#30

Other challenges:

• Bizzy Becs - anything goes

L/O - One Year Older

Done this digital layout based on Sketches In Thyme sketch#131

Other Challenges:

1. Bizzy Becs - anything goes

L/O - Think Positive

 

patterned papers: DCWV Fal & Halloween 6"x12"

card stock : Bazzil, DCWV Fall & Halloween combo 4.5" x 6.5"

embellishment : DCWV The Magnolia Way stack (green leafy), DCWV Burlap (burlap flower)

others: Sizzix TH Tattered Florals die, Sizzix BG Branch w/Leaves & Flower die, Pebeo pearl liquid, pearl, scallop heart border punch, doily, gesso.

Made this fall colour layout based on DCWV October challenge sketch. Photo of me and my best buddy during a trip to Indonesia. The affirmation quotes are the words which my buddy kept on reminding me when I was so down and having really difficult time coping with life. It was the darkest moment in my life. She was there for me all the time.  She still is but we both now sharing laughters.

Challenges:

1. DCWV October sketch
2. Challenge YOUrself - affirmation
3. Frosted Designs - ink, bling, fall colour
4. Bizzy Becs Store - anything goes
5. SSS Monday - O for orange colour patterned paper

Char Siu Pau

Top left: proving the dough, top right: after steamed bun

bottom left: voila!  bottom right: my lil' monster made his 'nipple bun'..lol

I made it!

Just something non-crafty that I made today. They are 'char siu pau' or bbq pork buns which normally available in most of the Chinese restaurant dim sum and at our local coffee-shop.

I made them following Wendy's recipe which is quite similar to Hainanese pau-making method. The difference between the dim sum bun and this is the texture of the bun. Growing up in a Hainanese family whereby my late father used to make them using the traditional baking yeast, I can immediately tell the difference when I eat them. Dim sum bun (which use baking powder as the raising agent) texture is almost like the muffin texture, 'fluffy and powdery' and it will hardened when left in the cold for long.

For the filling, I did not follow through Wendy's step. Instead of boiling the pork, I straight away diced it and marinated overnight with the sauce. I added 1 tbsp of hoisin sauce and 1/4 tsp of sesame oil. Simply heat up a wok with 1/2 tbsp of oil and cook the diced pork for about 5 minutes before adding 1/2 cup of water+1tbsp cornstarch, covered and simmered for another 7 minutes until the gravy dried.

Recipe (yield 12)
Bun
300gm pau flour (or highly bleached flour, 8-10% protein )
60gm sugar
1/4 tsp fine salt
30gm shortening

150ml lukewarm water
2 tsp instant yeast
1 tsp sugar
(premix all these until bubble arise)

Filling (marinate overnight in the freezer)
600gm pork belly without skin (cut into small bite pieces)
3 tbsp sugar (I use brown sugar)
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 1/2 tbsp mei kwai lu chiu (Rose wine)
1/2 tsp fine salt
(I also added this)
1 tbsp hoisin sauce
1/4 tsp sesame oil (added during cooking)

1/2 cup water
1 tbsp cornstarch
(for thickening and drying the sauce during cooking)

Follow Wendy's instruction here.

I like the bun. The pork taste just nice especially with the aroma of rose wine. The bun is very filling. Lil's monster immediately ate 2 pieces, gave me a thumb up and asked me to make again the next day.

Have these for dinner too and for tomorrow breakfast and tea-time.

For further reference about flour:

1. http://everybodyeatswell.blogspot.com/2013/05/different-types-of-flours-for-chinese.html
2. http://www.craftybaking.com/learn/ingredients/flour-and-grains/wheat-flour?baking911=true
3. http://www.joyofbaking.com/flour.html

L/O - Oh, Happy Day

paper: WRM 'Simply Spring', Bazzil card stock

others: Technique Tuesday 'Family Flair' stamp, Spellbinder circle die, Lifestyle scallop circle die, EK Success 1" circle punch

Photos of my son playing water in a swimming pool. It was his first time stepping into a resort swimming pool and he loved every minute of it.

Done this layout based on this sketch from Stuck? Sketches.

Challenges:

1. Stuck! Sketches - 1st September reveal sketch
2. Bizzy Becs - anything goes
3. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes
4. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes

Just For You Tag

Image: Magnolia Tilda, butterfly embossing folder, doily, Faber Castell watercolour pencils, pink card stock, pink yarn.

Challenges:

1. Time For Magnolia Challenge - black, white and another 1 other colour.
2. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - tag
3. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes
4. Bizzy Becs Store - anything goes

L/O - Dream Big

Paper: MME In Bloom, Stella Rose,  Bazzil cardstock

Others: Daisy punch, EK Retro flower punch (various sizes), MS border punch, MFT Flourish die, doily, TH distress ink pad, gesso, air-dried superlite clay, angel silicone mould.

I have a fun time creating all the handmade embellishments. I bought a silicone mould from a bakery supplier and used it to make the angel embellishment with air-dried superlight clay. At first, I air-dried it by putting near a window with lots of sunshine and left overnight in the room but it did not dried thoroughly enough and had difficulty getting the clay out from the silicone mould. After that, I tested frozen it in the freezer for about 12 hours and voila, the clay dried and had hardened enough to be easily taken out from the mould! Easy peasy!

I was inspired by Danielle's layout using only 1 photo and the minimal embellishment at the corner of the photo.

Challenges:

1. Back Porch Memories - August (inspired by Danielle C's layout)
2. Bearly Mines - anything goes
3. SSS Wednesday - anything goes
4. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes

L/O - Fun Playtime

 Paper stack : DCWV Birthday
others: Star punch

Done this layout based on DCWV August Sketch challenge. 


Challenges:

1. Bearly Mines - anything goes
2. SSS Wednesday - anything goes

L/O - Splash!

Paper: MME Lucky In Love, 
others: bling, swirl, chipboard alpha, EK Success scallop circle punch, star punch, AC tag punch, Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder, Prima chalk ink Branch Bark

Done this layout based on GrandDiva's August sketch challenge.


Challenges:

1. GrandDiva's Creation - August Sketch
2. Rochelle Spears - August tic-tac-toe (dry emboss, circle, chevron paper)