Before (top) and after. More experiments with editing vintage photos. This is actually One Degree Marina at Sentosa Island. In addition to tweaking the colours and intensity, I added a little more green. Don't you just love the almost perfect reflection in the water?
This is one of the projects I completed on the side. It's my wedding photos from 2004. I already have 2 huge albums of wedding photos but I wanted a make a small tribute that I could just take out and view anytime. I used Fancy Pants Mixed Media Album. Most of the papers, rubons and ribbons are from Making Memories Wedding. I also used alphas from Doodlebug and AC thickers.
This is the inside of the cover. I used a wooden piece from Harmonie. It's gorgeous.
These are 2 sample pages from inside.
Before (top) and After. I like vintage style photos. The slightly washed out look with a bit of cross-processing. I've seen photoshop actions for the vintage look sold over the net and I've always wondered how it's done. So last night, I googled it and presto, I got excellent tutorials about how to DIY. It's really not that hard.
So since Hubbie's in camp, and I have the late nights to myself, I've been surfing the net and stumbling onto scrapbook blogs. This month's Prima's Picks include all these bright and cheery embellishments. Perfect for perking up any scrapbook layout. I especially love the light and floaty butterflies. 
Patterned paper by Cosmo Cricket Early Bird. I also used AC thickers, Hambly's rubon and clear stickers. I cut out the cherries and punched out the flowers from the patterned paper and used them as embellishments. I hand drew the flourishes with Ranger's Stickles. And added an old ribbon that I had. This was also done with Laine's Gallery Ed's Stickles challenge in mind.
I used Jillibean Soup Staples for the background. And October Afternoon Cherry Hill patterned papers and journalling cards. I threaded a few buttons with a string and tied it to the top. I also used a Maya Road chipboard apple, coloured it and decorated it with Prima jewels. Other supplies include Lily Bee rubon, Little Yellow Bicycle clear stickers. Inspired by Pink Sketches #50. I rotated the sketch 180 degrees.
It's been a busy few weeks for me. I haven't had a chance to even document Gabriel's 1 year milestones. He walks with support, but still very much prefers to crawl. Even in the baby wading pool, he would walk for a while then try to crawl. And he talks more too. He'd say 'ba-ba' and 'da-da' and 'hei' and the occasional 'wa'. I'm still working on 'ma-ma' though. He now would pick up a pencil/crayon and start scribbling. Then he'll try to chew on the crayon. Gabriel eats two big meals and a few smaller ones in between. He has porridge or soft pasta with some minced meat and pureed vegetables. He loves his fruits too. He still drinks his milk, three times a day. Gabriel still has 4 teeth and I think he's teething because he'd get these urges to bite things.
Bryan has 'Fun in 2s'. Patterned paper, blossoms, diecut stickers, paper whimsies by Sassasfras Jungle Bungle. 
Pattern paper, diecut stickers, blossoms by Sassasfras Jungle Bungle. A layout about some of the animals in the zoo. The main feature is the beautiful white tigers. Journalling is about the time when these white tigers attacked and killed a zoo employee last year. The employee was suicidal and jumped into the tiger enclosure on purpose. The exhibit was closed for a while but everything was back to normal by the time we went to visit. This was also done for The Story Matters October challenge.
This is a very rare photo because my family came from Malaysia and the USA for a visit. It was great to see them. We had a big dinner at a very popular chicken rice restaurant, Boon Tong Kee. Papers from Cosmo Cricket Early Bird. White alpha from Doodlebug. Journalling spot from Jillibean Soup. This celebrates our togetherness as a family even though we live in different countries. Done for the (Create) Make it Happen October challenge.
My father came down to Singapore for a visit with my sister. We went to the zoo for a day and had a great time together. It was nice to have the kids spend family time with their grandfather. Papers from Cosmo Cricket Early Bird, alpha stickers from Doodlebug, flowers from Prima, journalling spots from Websters Pages and Jillibean Soup. Layout inspired by Pink Sketches #49.
It's nice to have the entire weekend off. I usually keep my clinic open on Saturday mornings. I get to sleep in a little, at least until the kids get up. And then Bryan wanted to go to the zoo. We go there often because we are 'Friends of the Zoo'. It's a family membership of the zoo. And we get to go as many times as we want.
We took a walk down to the children's play area. Where Bryan sat on his pony ride. It was a very hot day and we decided to take the riverboat ride back to the entrance. It was a lovely ride, comfortable and cooling. Bryan rested...
Meanwhile, Gabriel was a rather quiet through his whole morning ride. He enjoyed it I think. We all shared some Ben & Jerry's ice-cream after the trip.
This is the One Degree Marina Club. It's tucked into a corner of Sentosa. In the middle of all these developments. But it's actually very nice. Quiet, serene. When we were arriving, we saw a couple taking their wedding photos. I think it's a very unique venue to have a wedding dinner. 
And Congratulations to the happy couple, Larry & Connie. The decorations were a lovely mix of roses and lilies. I especially liked the centrepieces, a very pretty candle. The bride wore a beautiful wedding dress, embroided with beads and crystals in the bodice. Absolutely gorgeous. It was too bad we had to leave early. I would have liked to have tried out the dessert, a mix of ice cream, cakes, brownies... Yumm...
So over the weekend, we were in Sentosa to celebrate birthdays and have a look at the Amara Sanctuary Resort over there. Since we were already there, we decided to have a look around. There's lots and lots of construction going on there. With the IR (integrated resort) coming up. And adventure parks springing up everywhere. It all sounds very exciting. 
Patterned paper by Fancy Pants Little Sprout and Hambly's transparency. Gabriel at 10 months. He loves his books and will flip through them on his own. 
Paper, diecut stickers, blossoms by Sassafras Lass Jungle Bungle. And Hambly's rubon giraffe. Yet another zoo trip. Bryan's very open to new animals, new routes, and new poses.
This is one of the older hotels in Sentosa. But it has a lovely suite room. It's on the ground floor but has it's very own outdoor jacuzzi. Filled with warm bubbly water. Bryan loved it so much. He kept diving up and down picking up pebbles and stuff. 
And in the room, there was a beautiful four poster bed. It looked very dreamy with the fabric at the sides. Very nice for a city getaway.
Last night, we celebrated Chun Chong's father's 70th birthday; Gabriel, Luke and Samuel's 1st birthday. We booked a restaurant in Sentosa, 'Silkroad of the Sea'. They were quite accomodating. We wanted a separate menu for the children and they managed that, even though it was something like one and a half tables of adults, and half a table of children. And throughout the dinner, there was a hostess who made sure that everything was ok. The dinner was more seafood than a traditional meal. But it was very good. We even had chilli crab. Yum.
And the three babies sat in their chairs and ate and ate and ate. From porridge to bread to biscuits to puffs. Even while taking photos, Gabriel was munching away.
Patterned paper, die-cut stickers, journal tag, alpha stickers from Websters Pages. Flowers from Prima, rubon from Hambly, brads and cardstock from Bazzill. This layout is about Bryan and his best friend Katelyn. Who is actually his cousin as well. They get together every week. 
Gabriel can be so adorable. Especially when he is having fun. Patterned paper and diecut stickers from Fancy Pant's Little Sprout. I also used Ali Edwards stamp, Lilybee rubon, Maya Road chipboard scroll, MT masking tape, Little Yellow Bicycle brad and journalling tag.
I had a great time with the pets yesterday. I bought Dusty a new hutch. The old one was literally falling apart. Then gave him a half bath. Just his paws and the dirtier parts. The parts that he can't reach to clean. He's so soft and goes all limp when you cuddle him on his back. Such a bunny.
Later, it was Kandy's turn. She was due for her annual vaccinations from the vet. So I gave her a good brush, a good cuddle and a photography session before we went.
Bryan meanwhile, wanted to be part of everything. He came along to get the new hutch, to the vet with Kandy and even when I was taking photos. He's such a great little helper.
This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival (aka mooncake festival) came a little late. It's usually in August - September. It's when they get to carry a lantern and go out to look at the full moon. Unfortunately, this year, not only was it drizzling, there wasn't much of a moon to see. That didn't dampen the mood. The kids still enjoyed themselves. Bryan had a Barney lantern which he asked me to get just for him. He was so proud of it. And he was very careful while carrying it.
The babies meanwhile, were in the playpen. They spent family time learning to play with their cousins. And about sharing toys. And not to smack each other. It was fun to watch.
