As the year end...

Last year, I think I didn't make any christmas cards. In fact, I hardly did any crafting of any sort. It is amazing how time flies. Last night, as I was listening to christmas songs & writing christmas cards to my friends abroad, the feeling of christmas is finally beginning to sink in.

This year, I have had my share of life's lessons. Seeing how some have departed our lives, some still fighting hard for their lives, some have moved on to a fresh start, friends leaving to a better place, & some just wasting their time away... 

- I wished those who have departed will find a better place, at least their suffering has ended.

- I pray for my loved ones who are still fighting hard for their lives, to be strong, to stay positive & to continue to have faith for better days to come.

- I hope to those who didn't do so well this year, to have a better year ahead, to start over... to find a more deserving place & not dwell in the past. 

- I wish all my friends & family, my readers a blessed christmas, good health, good wealth, joy, happiness & love for the coming new year!

Here I have more christmas cards to share :)

Happy post!

I am so happy to announce that we currently have more tape designs in our online store... More quirky and unconventional designs! Check them out at www.cardpuccino.com.

For what's its worth...

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too. It is dearness only that gives every thing its value.(Thomas Paine)

Being an individual who earns from art, this quote does have some truth to it. It's always hard to put a price on your hardwork... How to you compare between the work from a machine and work from just a pair of hands? It's definitely a tough field to be in...

Tis the season to be jolly

It's December... Wow! Time to reflect and learn from the past, rejoice the present and plan for the future. Time really do swift by when you are not paying attention.

Last year, i was juggling to adjust with all the changes... This year, I'm blessed with opportunities to grow! Next year will be better!

Would write more about my plans in my next post...

Now, I would like to share some simple cards I made for the season. :) hope it gets you in the mood!

Food, Family, Fun...

A short weekend in KL means family gathering, food outings and lots of fun times. Lucas' is so loved by his aunts and uncles... He always gets new clothes and toys when he visits... :) so blessed!

I amaze myself sometimes...

I remember when I started drawing using a mouse and a blank paper. I started with the most basic tools of all. Microsoft paint and Microsoft word. Yup. You heard me right... How can you do anything with this two rather not so powerful or graphically savvy apps? Mind you, they are my very first "graphic" tools. Of course, when I was younger I used LOGO before, which I am not even going to go there... Drawing with commands and degree calculations... Fuh! Dislike!

Thank god for mouse! I have always wanted to go to design school during my college days, but looking at the fees I knew my parents couldn't afford it. So I settled for a less expensive course, which I still excel in.

After I started working, I manage to save some money to attend a rather short part time course on graphic design. It was really really basic, but good exposure, nonetheless :) never regret spending my savings for it. I admit I am not a full fledge designer, I am not a design graduate, my works may not be as great but I am proud to say, what I can do today is mostly self taught and from my own hard work and determination.

Today, I got a last minute order for a baby thank you card... It took me less than the time I thought I would need, to come out with a design that I didn't imagine I could.
If this happened years ago, I may not have been able to pull it off as well as I can today... I stare at it again and again, disbelieve how I manage to get it done. But I am grateful, thankful and glad I did.

p.s. Card message is customised based on parents request...

The last chapter of a wonderful trip

Like all stories, there must be an ending. Our trip ended beautifully  :) 

Lucas woke us up at 7am. We got ready and had a morning swim at the warm jacuzzi pool. After which we had to clean him up and put him to sleep while we did our final round of packing. 

After the tiring swim, we put Lucas to bed & Alex went to buy us breakfast. Mine was a Threesome sub & pumpkin soup from Cedele & I made a cup of English breakfast. Yums~

One family pic before leaving the hotel :)

That's my boy and me at the airport. Bye bye Singapore!

Oh i forgot to mentioned... Lucas didn't cry on the plane as he did the first time. Hurray! 

Day 5 Just Us

Today, it will be just us. We tried to catch up with shopping but it wasn't really a successful shopping trip for us. So, I guess there will be no souvenirs this time around. I feel that souvenirs should be a kind gesture and not be something compulsory, however, I have the tendency to succumb to the pressure of returning the kind gestures from friends and family, who have given me souvenirs in the past... :(

We rarely get chances to enjoy dinner together with a lil baby around, usually we have to take turns to eat. Today, was different. Today, we had the chance to enjoy a nice dinner together. *the baby is sleeping* whisper...

Day 4 Catching up

Today was simple and easy. We spent the whole afternoon at my aunts place. Just catching up, drinking tea, enjoying the view and laughing at dorky old photos... While, two young aunties have to babysit & entertain Lucas :)

Followed by dinner with Alex's close friend at a new mall, star vista.

Day 3 was unplanned...

Well, we have only one activity planned for today, which is to bring Lucas to underwater world at Sentosa island. All else was unplanned... Including the wrong train we took to harbour front. We actually took the longer route as a result of our mistake. Really really long route!

Lucas had lots of fun looking at fishes. He was to young to understand what the dolphins and sea lions where doing, but he cheered and clapped along. Halfway through the tunnel tour, he slept... Must have felt like a beautiful dream sleeping amongst the deep ocean fishes.

On the bus

Enjoying underwater world

Then, there was a cheesecake alex bought for the trip at vivo city. It was bad when we took the first bite, so after our tour at underwater world we had to go back to the shop to return it.

When we tried to pay the tickets for the MRT, the machine didn't work. All in a days trip, I guess :)

At the end of the day, three of us were tired out and had a good night sleep.