See Ya 2015

Hi guys, long time no see! I know it's probably longest time since last post, but I have my own reason. I have this blog as personal interest to push myself to learn more to create more but my day time job has occupied most of time in this season and I seriously couldn't spare any extra energy to produce more. Plus a wedding ahead next year.

I am lucky enough that I don't have a massive wedding, but as headstrong as a stone, I rather have my own invitation which represents myself so I have to manage my invites all by myself after work every day and that was hell of stress. I could have picked some designs from some printers but on the other hand, I thought it would be the best opportunity to practice with professional printers in terms of design formats. And I learnt it in a difficult way with anxiety and tears. Who knows how thin a picture it has to be to get foil stamped properly, who knows how long the turn around really would turn around? So I had to do all the cutting, sticking, and labeling excluding the design, eventually I finally got those raw yet imperfect invitations sent out. The other tip from me is do not underestimate the festive season if you also send out all the stationaries in the same season, because lots stuff you thought it's easy to get would be run out in no time. So at the end of the day, you spend way more at the local news agency who is trying to rip you off massively. C'est la vie.

For last couple of years, I had designed my own Christmas cards, gift wrapping or tags, but look at the dates now, I am too late for making anything but I love making my own personal touches on the cards, so even this costed me 2 hours wright after I finished my wedding invites, I still hope you enjoy my simply yet sincere design. And remember, a happy life is not about the perfection, it's balance, this is one of my new year resolution for 2015. How about yours?

Other wishes on my list will be:

1. Take more photos, especially portraits. I am too shy to ask someone to pose in front of me but I truly love taking photos for people.
2. Make more cards. I have made cards for my loved ones for years, but I want to make more for different occasions. Even business cards.
3. Be more patient. I thought I am patient because I used to teach kids until I realise I am not patient for waiting good things to happen. I need to be more relax.
4. Balance. My parents told me the the stress only made us a more skilled person, I wish I can joggle between stress and productivity better and not to get too upset.
5. Love my self and don't forget that.

Above are my new year resolution for 2015, what are yours? And I sincerely wish you have a lovely time with your loved ones and I will see you next year!


xxx Aka

{ DIY } Mini Cupid Arrows For Valentine's Ideas

Hello my friend,

How is every one's Australia Day? Summer is definitely the busiest time in Australia, all the big holidays all squeeze in this time frame and we just can't get enough! Coming soon will be the notorious Valentine's Day and summer certainly adds some more heat to it.( The ideas burn out as well and it gets harder every year if you do it yourself...) So after a bit of brainstorming, I went back to simplicity and had this super simple yet lovely idea: mini heart-shaped arrows.  It's soooooo simple and the materials are very easy to find or to be replaced. I actually don't think I really need to post the instruction because you know I just glued paper on the sticks. So what I am going to share is how I modify the materials and uses.


Here is what you need:

*A lover/ a few lovers. (just kidding, you can share your love to anyone.)
*Paper- if you have coloured paper then you don't really need the paints.
*Paints- I use watercolour this time because I like the soft touch it gives.
*Skewer sticks/ tooth picks- I couldn't find any toothpicks so I cut the sticks instead.
*Scissors
*Glue

p.s 1: You can also use washi tape to make it, I think washi tape would probably save more time but my washi tapes are not really fit the Valentine's vibe.

p.s 2: I also used some rose pot pourri to decorate the macarons. You also can use them on everything for this event. They make everything smell great and romantic. I bought these raspberry flavoured macarons and they smell like roses after the photo shoots. Ohh, I really love this kind of surprise.

The other reason I like these mini arrows is they are so versatile. You can play them around on every thing you can think of. I have a few ways to use this cute little arrows:

1. Desert toppers. So go make anything sweet and place them in each piece. Make them heart shapes to step up to another level.
2. Make a card. Who can resist a handmade card says " be my valentine" with little arrows and hearts.
3. Plant decors. It will look great with your pot plants and if your gift is a tiny succulent pot, they will look cute together.
4. Ornaments. You can tie/ stick them to the windows, fridge, branches, backdrops...etc.
5. A cocktail/ mocktail stirrer. I made a jar of sangria and poured them into some chubby glasses. Make some long arrows and stab a couple watermelon pieces then put them into the drinks. What a good party topic as well!!


And most importantly, let's celebrate!!




xxx Aka

{ Booooya!!!!} New Year Resolution

Happy new year my friend!!!
Have you got your new year resolution yet? Here is my new year resolution, simple and essential, nothing fancy. Even most of them on the list is already my year in 2013 but keep them active is another challenge. We are getting old every single day so we should treasure what we still have in our palms and live at present!! Don't be scare what you are afraid of and just do it cause you will never know what's gonna happen next. I sincerely wish  every one I love has a fantastic new year eve and joyful year all around in 2014!!!!

xxx Aka

{ Boooooya!!!} Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas my friend!!!
Made this print yesterday and I am so happy to share with you! Christmas time can be really overwhelmingly busy and its finally at door step, to me that means I can finally have a break and spend time with my family without thinking about work. Wish you a very joyful and warm Christmas and have so much great time with the ones you love.

I have also recycled my sketch into gift tags and it turn out nicely!! The colour pecial drawing madw these tags so vivid, so don't be hesitate to use your drawings because you will never know how it turn out! Mixing some geometric shapes and you are in business. See below for my own version:

{ My Work } My a year in review pieces have finally arrived!!

Hi guys! Sorry for my slackness of posts, I have got so many things to plan in my head and Christmas time absolutely got me super busy! A few weeks back I sent my work to be printed and I am so happy to tell you that they are finally here!! I want to make them as tea towels so I made them printed on cotton fabrics and asked Andrew's lovely mother Dianne ( I don't know how to sew....) to help me make them! It's my first tea towel/ fabric work and I've learnt a lot from the whole process and next time I want to make a pillow case with summer colours!

Hope you all have a great week! Christmas is coming very soon and I am very keen for a break as well!

xxx Aka

{ My Work } Good Old Christmas Cards

Hello my friend!
How's Christmas preps going? Can't stop my finger scrolling pages after pages of Christmas inspirations, this holiday season easily causes massive procrastination ever!!

Well, here are a couple of old designs that I made last year. I am still struggling about the new coming ones and poor Photoshop skills, so bear with me and wish your preparations for this holiday season are going very well!

xxx Aka