When times are tough...

Here is what I learn today.

When times are tough, whether it be financial or emotional tough or when I just feel blah, here are things that make me feel better.

• Look back to these beautiful pictures from our vacations. Imagine that I'm there. Reminisce the good times.

December 2005, Bali. A view from our suite.


August 2006, Long Beach Lodge Resort, Tofino, BC.


July 2007 Alaska Cruise. I was about 23 weeks pregnant with Ethan. It was quite hard to control my appetite as foods are available for 24 hours.

• Hug my little one. This afternoon, he cried during his nap. I picked him up and rocked him back to sleep. And as I hug him closely to my chest, I feel peaceful, knowing him feeling secured in my arms.
  

• Make crafts helps me to feel better. Little that I know, my feeling becomes my inspiration for the day. I guess this is what differentiate handmade cards and mass produced ones, where feeling of the artist is involved. I also learn to appreciate my cards a little bit more. A simple card like this surely make someone's day brighter. What a strong impact it could have! I hope someone besides me will enjoy this card as well.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway contest. Click the graphic located on the very top left sidebar.

A Baby Accordion Album

For a while I've been meaning to try to make an accordion album, but it never happened as there have always been other paper crafts that 'prevent' me for making one. You know, when you have so many ideas that you want to try out, you tend to make one over and over again with a little tweak here and there and somehow the other thing on your must-to-try-out-list is kind of slip away.

According to Chinese calendar, last Sunday was my mom-in-law's birthday. That morning my husband informed me that we're going out for dinner that night to celebrate her birthday. A birthday card, is that suffice? I could not get out to buy her present. It's too last minute.

I then had a great idea. An album of Ethan, her first grandchild, will put a smile in her face. But I don't have an album to start with, plus to fill a whole album will take more than a day. So, an accordion album came to mind. And here it is:

I only had hours to finish it. Stressful? Yes, somewhat. I was happy with the result though I probably could do better if I have more time. But to see my mom-in-law's smile when she opened the album...PRICELESS. I'm sure it made her day.

Funny thing, the next morning, she told me that my dad-in-law wanted to borrow the album to show it off at his workplace. She said no and asked him to get one from me. Eekk! That will have to wait. I'm still working on Ethan's scrapbook album(s) on top of christmas cards that I have make and list real soon at my AdoreByNat store.

Sale in On!

I've been looking at my inventory and I need to make more room. Plus, I've been drooling over beautiful patterned papers. With enough money, I hope I can buy them soon. The process then continues. I will be able to make more cards with those gorgeous papers and have them available for sale.

Therefore, it's about time to have a sale. I have decided to give 1 item free, excluding destash/ supplies item, for purchasing 4 or more items in my ETSY store. That's right! Buy 4 Get 1 Free. You won't get this kind of good deal with Hallmarks!

Hope to see you soon at my ETSY store!