The Winner of The DIY Teddy Bear Kit Goes To....

As promised, here is the result of the draw...



Please e-mail your addie and I'll send it over right over!!!
Congratulations and Have Fun!!!! Thank you so much all of you who took part. There'll be more freebies in the future, I promise!!!! : )

Sandie The Snail - Felt Brooch Template

Happy Easter! With the long weekend ahead, I hope you'll find the time to do Sandie - The Snail. I wanted to decorate this cane bag I bought from Bali and when I saw Nigel's school snail project, I just had to use his snail as a template. Here's Sandie...

You can download the template here.


Some of the things you'll need are colourful felt pieces buttons, pins and if you like flower parts for the antennae. I took this picture earlier and I decided to use smaller buttons and used embroidery thread for the antennae instead of the flower parts. Some yarn for crocheting the petals.
First, pin the printed template onto felt. Remember that the body needs 2-ply.

2-ply for the body. And different colours for the 3 separate circles.

Ready cut and all laid out.

Take a short break. I took Nigel for a swim and then it began to rain cats and dogs!! Got back and continued.

Follow steps 5-10. Blanket stitch 1 body part to the 3 circles. Making sure the stitches are wide enough to accommodate at least 3-4 crochet stitches. Refer to my template for the blanket stitch guide - make sure you have the edges of the felt sewn to the main body. The crochet stitches can start on the outer ring. Slowly work around the anchored blanket stitches. If you don't know how to crochet, beading is a good option too. Or just leave it at blanket stitches.

Blanket stitch the other body piece and stuff some fiber to form a soft body. Sew on buttons for eyes and the flower part for the antennae. I opt to just use embroidery thread with 2 knots to form the antennae.


Attach Sandie on a brooch pin and there you have it - A felt brooch! Isn't sandie cute on my rattan bag!!!

How To - Goodie Bag Tags!

I've always enjoyed making the goodie bags for Nigel's parties and this is one of my favourites. Thanks to my brother's laminating machine (ah! The joy of laminating!), I've discovered a way to preserve the tags so that they can become bookmarks and are waterproofed. Of course, I've to get some nice shots of Nigel and a little photoshop helped to tweak it a wee bit.

Some photoshop fun. Nigel had fun watching his head grow and grow.

Using cheap photopaper, I arranged to have it printed so that I don't waste paper. Trimmed and ready to laminate.

While waiting for the laminating machine to heat, I sandwiched the photos into the films. Do this if you don't want to panic, if you're doing this on your own and in bulks. See the video and you'll see why you need everything prepared beforehand.


The best part, is watching the tags emerge perfectly laminated! Do wait for the red light to indicate that the machine is ready and is hot enough, if not, your laminates will appear bubbly.



This is my new toy, the tag puncher. Had these punched and tied together with the bigger tags.

Everyone received one! What's for next year? (headache! headache!)

Photo Gallery of Nigel's 5th Birthday Party at Home

I just received the long awaited photos my bro took of our little birthday party for Nigel 2 weeks ago. Just some fun photos of his special day. Thanks for all the birthday wishes, pressies and for helping out on that day!

His special request for a chocolate covered sponge cake from Auntie Josie (Thanks!) so that he can decorate it his own. Marshmallow and colourful sprinkles!

Chef and chef assistant at work. We served pizza, hamburgers, salads and pastas. All of Nigel's favourite foods.


My cousins! Grace just got back from her wedding, look she's glowing like a newlywed. Sorry, no picture of Spencer here, will see him in May for a huge Kenduri.

My grandparents enjoying the pasta.

Of course we have to have the chocolate fountain, it's Nigel's special request. We only do this twice a year, for this birthday party and Christmas! Nicky having a nice chocolate dipped chunky cookie.

Thumbs Up! Thanks Meow and Victoria for the help and all that presents for Nigel. He's one blessed boy!!

The cake! Yummy chocolate sponge with peaches by Auntie Josie.

Nigel posing with his cake and a goodie bag. Will show you the tags on another post.

Don't they just love to open presents. It's cute how he uses his two feet for a good grip.

Uncle Meow trying to inflate the howerfloat he got for Nigel.
Having fun with his aunts and uncles!
This kid loves this two love birds like crazy!
Bopping about with his new toy!
Thanks Lucy and Marina. We've been reading this book every evening.

Popo and her precious (spoilt!) grandson!
Thanks AiLin! We made the kaleidoscope the very next day.

Cool shirt! Good taste!
Thanks Kenneth! I know it is hard to get him pressies, but that pen rocks. He carries it everywhere now.
Faith and Nigel testing out the float.
Stan and the spider gang!
Victoria taking a big gigantic chocolate bite!
Even Shanon has got a present for Nigel! So sweet!!!

He received so many gifts and he wants to personally thank everyone for a beautiful day. Thanks Shen-ni for the cool cookie recipe book that comes complete with so many cookie cutters (that is so cool!), and all the other gifts from friends and family who couldn't make it as well (and the angpows!!). Hugs for all from Nigel!!!

Blog Fan Giveaway!

I found this little DIY teddy bear 'kit in a tube' in a cute store and I wanted to give it away to my blogger friends. If you've been visiting me, leave me a comment and Nigel will do a random little draw for someone to own this cute teddy bear kit. I'll ship anywhere in the world. It's a chocolate brown bear kit with the softest fur and a well photographed step-by-step with 'English instructions'. Hurry up now, or else Nigel will want to do this kit himself! Deadline is End of March 2008!!

Nigel's Birthday & Cupcake Exchange NNC 2008

We had a small party for Nigel at school last Thursday and it was a simple one. Except for the Transformer cake he told everyone about before I ordered it. I went to three cake houses and finally I decided to just download the picture from a forum (Yikes, they do have a forum for Transformer fans out there!!!) and gave it to Angel cake house for a 1kg chocolate sponge cake. No fancy cake here, I doubt the kids will like cheese cakes and nutty ones.

Cutting the cute little cake. Look at the colouring on that cake! Everybody's mouth was blue after having a slice.

Waiting impatiently for his party to start. We only have 2o minutes and I was there 20 minutes earlier, so everyone was peeking at the door and wondering about the goodies I've brought.
The boy with the hand held up was the one who told me all about the Autobots and which planet they came from. (Wow, kids these days!)
Looks like everyone enjoyed the sandwiches and the drinks we brought.
This class can really eat! They whacked 45 pieces of sandwiches and a whole cake!!! They must me hungry.

On the very same day, I picked up my Cupcake exchange from Margaret. What a nice treat after a hectic day. This is what I received from Margaret of NNC. The exchange is about crafting a cupcake themed project of your choice for your partner and you must include a favourite recipe with your handmade item.

My first cupcake flatfold from Margaret. It's a beautiful cross-stitched cupcake embellished with tiny seed beads. Simply gorgeous - I can imagine having a little cupcake stand with my new flatfold by my side. I do! I do love cupcakes!!

Of course! Nigel received a pleasant surprise too. Now, he's into paper planes. This gigantic lolly is out of the bag too (I tried to hide it, but where can I hide a giant lolly like this?)!!!


I love the polka dot material! the Merigue topping! The Cherry! And the oh, so pink papercup!!
Thanks Margaret! For the three muffins too. Hmmmmm....Rockyroad muffin is mah favourite! Got to try the mini almond cake recipe from waitrose too!!