Working on 2nd Baby Album

While I'm waiting for my scorer (EK success cutterpede score) to arrive on the mail, I thought I work on my son's album. I finished the 1st album a couple of months ago but because I just love all my baby's photos (I'd bet any mom would say the same thing), by the time I finished the 1st album, I realized I only scrapbooked his photos from delivery day up to him being 2 months old. Now if I don't learn to choose less photos I would end up with too many albums and that would beat the purpose of scrapbooking, wouldn't it? Or I would end up with empty albums since the task looks so daunting.


In the past I felt that baby boy album is tougher to create since flower embelishments should not be used. I tried to find patterned papers with rocket, car, train, airplane designs, anything that is boyish. If you've been seeing my cards, you will see that I love flowers. I use flowers almost all the time.

However, since seeing some pages for boys with flowers in craft magazines, I thought, "Hey, if it's not a taboo for others, why should it be for me?" Flowers are not for girls only. So here the pages that I made with some flowers.

Front Page Worthy

WoO HoO!

I made it to the Front Page, dedicated to Canada Day yesterday. I've been wanting to be on FP, so yesterday...it was just like a dream come true. The first time after a while being on Etsy.

There was a time when I was advised by a curator that her treasury made on a FP and one of my cards was included. I was so excited and tried to look at the archived FP (I didn't get a chance to see the live FP) but soon found out that mine was an alternate and unfortunately did not make it to appear on the FP before it expired.

Having my cards and tags on treasuries always makes me happy. It feels so great to be included and be a part of talented artists. Past treasuries with my products can be found here.

So yes, I was doing my happy dance yesterday and a big full grin smile on my face just like when I was on Storque Shop Local Asia Spotlight. I told my husband about this great accomplishment. Is this a big deal? It is for me. There is 160267 sellers on Etsy as I'm writing this article (and growing) and those photographs of artworks made to the FP, they always left me in awe. The facts that my product was picked and made to the FP just provided me with a confirmation that I'm on the right track in making my dreams come true.

Being on a FP for a short period of time translated to 9 new hearts on these tags, 12 new hearts on my shop, and 16 new hearts on other cards/ tags.


This set of 3 Leafy Green Felt Tree Tags are one of my favorites of all time. I made about 5 sets of these, a couple was sold as part of wholesale to a boutique in Nelson, BC and the set that is on sale on my shop is the last set and I won't be able to make more as I don't have the patterned paper anymore. Talking about this interesting paper, I didn't think that I would be able to create something beautiful as these tags (read here).

How Much Do I Really Want It?

So like everyone else I want my online shops, AdoreByNat and Natsupplies to run successfully. Who wouldn't right? Successfuly meaning that I don't have to go back to a day job. Even though I enjoy working as an HR Generalist I would rather do cardmaking.

But really, how much do I really want it? Often times I envy those who have successful shops, those who made many and many sales. Reading their stories on how they achive their dreams on Quit Your Day Job and/ or their blogs inspire me. I got to admit though, inspiration is not enough if it's not followed by determination and action.

Admitedly I kept saying to myself: "I want to be like that one day and hopefully that day is soon." But I think it's about enough to say that to myself. Really, do I really want it?

I need a kick in a you know what. Being successful means working harder. It means less sleeping time. 6 hours should be enough instead of 8. That way, I will have 2 extra hours to make cards.

So, no more yupping but more action. Starting with tonight, I need to finish reading my 'new' sewing machine manual (bought from a good friend about 2 years ago), convo her as I have a question to ask and put the machine to work tomorrow. This machine is going to be my good friend replacing the little missy that I left in Indonesia (see her here).

More actions to plan now on my agenda.

Out There Playing

If you've been following my blog then you know that we just moved back to Canada. So many belongings that we had to leave behind in Indonesia including some of Ethan's toys.

Being in Toronto with no source of stable income yet, we have to be careful in our spending. We try not to spend too much in buying toys for Ethan.

I love taking Ethan out and finding places where he can play. I want to slowly introduce him to other toddlers and improve his social skills. At the same time, he can play with 'new' toys.


Above is a picture I took at Carters OskKosh outlet at Canada Outlet Niagara Falls (read here). Yesterday, I took Ethan to Indigo (below). While he's having a good time playing, I enjoy reading magazines. What a win-win situation.

By the time we had to leave, Ethan did not want to leave the trains behind. A kind Indigo employee who was on the spot told me that he could bring one of them home as they will replacing with new toys soon. How lucky he was :-)

Trip to Niagara Falls

We went to Niagara Falls on Saturday with a rental car. The weather in Toronto area had been great sunny days for the last days. But on the day of our trip, it rained.

Good thing about the rain in Toronto compared to West Coast is that it would stop after a few hours while in Vancouver, it could rain from morning to night and to the next morning continuously. I remember that when we lived in Vancouver, when the rain came we had to change the whole plan instead of postponing it. It was unlikely that the rain would stop in a few hours.

To wait the rain to stop, we went to Canada One Factory Outlet. Carters OshKosh outlet just opened last Saturday and they gave out additional 20% off. Mexx was having 50% off. We could not help but buying a few clothes for Ethan. Good for us for not shopping for ourselves.


By the time we finished shopping, the rain stopped. It was not sunny but I found it as a perfect weather after all: cool instead of hot sunny day.


This is my 2nd trip to Niagara Falls. The first one was in September 2004 when it was just the two of us, hubby and I.