National Day

On 9 August, we celebrated our nation Singapore's 44th National Day! Yes we are a very young country, and a very small land, we are a richly multi-cultural society, a modern city, cosmopolitan if I may say, we have our share of problems and grouses, we may not seem particularly patriotic, but we are proud of our young heritage, we have our unique and Singaporean ways, food, even English (which we endearingly call ''Singlish")! And most of all, this is where we call home. I'll like to share this song we love, written locally and sung by a Singaporean singer, Kit Chan, called, "Home". I'm sure you feel the same way about wherever in this world you call home. Enjoy!
Here's the lyrics:
HOME
====
Whenever I am feeling low
I look around me and I know
There's a place that will stay within me
Wherever I may choose to go
I will always recall the city
Know every street and shore
Sail down the river which brings us life
Winding through my Singapore

Chorus:
This is home truly, where I know I must be
Where my dreams wait for me, where that river always flows
This is home surely, as my senses tell me
This is where I won't be alone, for this is where I know it's home

When there are troubles to go through
We'll find a way to start anew
There is comfort in the knowledge
That home's about its people too
So we'll build our dreams together
Just like we've done before
Just like the river which brings us life
There'll always be Singapore

( Repeat Chorus )
For this is where I know it's home
For this is where I know I'm home

On National Day we went to the beach in Sentosa with our friends the Wong family and had a wonderful (and hot and crowded :)) time. This year, we had a thing going nationwide to have everyone say the Singapore pledge at 8:22pm, (where the parade is estimated to end) wherever we are. We were having dinner at the time, and some young people in the next table burst into it, and our boys followed suit (I am afraid we adults embarassingly can't remember all the words of the pledge).
This is our pledge:
We, the citizens of Singapore
pledge ourselves as one united people,
regardless of race, language or religion,
to build a democratic society,
based on justice and equality,
so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and
progress for our nation.
It was quite a nice moment, watching our children say it with so much enthusiasm. :)

Hope I've done my little bit in introducing you to our Singapore!

Here's more layouts I completed, some 12X12s to add to our 2009 album. I've decided to add them into my 365 album for the year, rather than make a separate album. There will be lots of white 365 pages, interspersed with these, I think it will be interesting (!)
This first one is from our first rock concert in many years! (I think I've attended only 3 in my life, one of which is to Michael Jackson's concert in Singapore more than 10 years ago!)
Credits: Background blended from papers by Vinnie Pearce and Lisa Sisneros, Greatest hits record & Super Star & RockOn stamp by Dani Mogstad, foil paper, and title stamp by Studio Mgl, Let's Rock strip by Susan Fitch.

And this one is from a day visiting the science centre and Marina Barrage - which is this amazing engineering thing they did to build a dam across where the Singapore river goes into the sea, making it like a reservoir, to provide water supply, flood control and a new area for water sports!
Credits: background paper by Redju, journal mat from Brandy's project 365, Smile by Leah RIordan, earth and flower by Lyndsay Riches, journal strip by Misty Cato, Border word art by Weeds & Wildflowers, alpha by Brittish designs

Here is an example of how Jared's daydream finally became a reality. He is a persistent child, and a very curious and imaginative one too! Love the boy. :)
Credits: background paper by Cher Pea designs, blue paper by Weeds&Wildflowers, fishing rod by Jady Day Studio, alpha by Suzy Q Scraps, fish element from Seni's little sea, daydream workart by Sahlin Studio

Here's the record for posterity of my (still) nearly a teen. (can you believe he is still twelve and about 5'8''?) He will tell me loads but if I try to pry, then I get the strong and silent type. lol. Love the boy too!
Credits: background paper by Mira designs, title mat by Lisa Marie Hankins, speech bubles by Miss mint, J Crowley, Ksharonk, Mel Wilson, Simply Scraps, word art by Chantal, 'special' by K Pertiet, red alpha by Suzy q Scraps, painted alpha by Weeds & Wildflowers.

And now here's my most enjoyable 365 layout yet, I think! I got this idea off a Jounalling off the edge book, and had so much fun adding bits and pieces and paint strokes to create this. Think I'm gonna use the template more than once for sure! You can download it further down! Show me what you did with it!Credits: flower doodle by Emerritt designs, yellow paint strokes by Rachel Young, plastic paint dots by Sugar Plum Paperie, blue paint stroke by Carrie Bombria, alpha by Weeds & Wildflowers, Days words by Mel Wilson, Girls word art by Miss Mint, doodles by Scrapkitty designs, Britt designs, Megan Turnidge, Lyndsay Riches, blue circle stamp by Jackie Ecles, family element by Jay Day Studio.
Download here to play. Show us what you did with it by leaving a link to your blog/gallery or send it to me at yindgs at yahoo dot com dot sg

And here is another painterly layout I did of the short trip me and dh took to Bintan (it's only an hour away by ferry). I love the graphic look I got, digging through my stuff to find these doodley pics. We had such a good time there, it's really great we still have so much fun, so much to laugh and talk about, still best friends, after 27 years of friendship and 15 years of marriage. We know we are really blessed.
Credits: Background paper by Eclectic Designs by Gabi , heart element by Zazou, doodle frame on right by Traci Reed, doodle on left by Julia Can Der Werf, red dot stamps by E.M. designs, love actually word art by Faith True
This template is now available as a set in the store HERE

Replies to some questions and comments

Forgot to respond yesterday! Here's my reply:

Masv asked how do you get the words to go around the pictures? - I use the Ellipse shape tool from the toolbox in PS CS2 (press shift-u until you get it) then select the paths icon on the top toolbar that pops out. You can now draw a circle path by holding the shift key and clicking and dragging out the shape. Once that's done switch to the type tool click on the circle path and you can type away! I've included the type path in the template 133 to make it easier for you!

Alessandra asked about how to use clipping mask in psp. I'm sorry I'm not familiar with psp, I do have a link in the post here to a psp tutorial, hope that helps. (Update: Linda has posted this in comments: "PSP users can find a great free script that acts like a clipping mask in this thread at DST: linked here It works great - I use it all the time!" (thanks so much, Linda!)

mother of 2 (thanks for your lovely words!) asked if I would be having a sale soon and if the earlier freebie templates will be in the store soon. Well, yes, as soon as I can find the time! :) Actually I was mentally planning to have a sale when I hit 150 templates, but that does not look like it would be in the near future at all, so let me try to make it within August. thanks for asking!

YGS asked if I would consider selling the action I use to make the photo frames/shadows - I'm sorry, I do not use actions, but make each frame/shadow from scratch! I did try to make an action for it, but it did not work because I wanted each shadow to have different angle / lift / size depending on where it was on the layout arrangement.

Just want to thank everyone for your lovely comments and feedback and questions, greatly appreciate them, you always make my day and keep me going!

It's all in the mind

Last week Jared had his Re-Test for the national physical tests for which he 'failed' in the 1.6km run the first time round. During the first test a month ago he had suffered a combination of shoes that did not fit (he was wearing an old pair of Ryan's), stomach stitches (probably drank too much just before the run), no practice (he had no idea how fast or slow he had to run), and loss of confidence (it seems to me he 'gave up' halfway through). I felt so bad as I should have helped and not let him go in so unprepared and end up feeling lousy. So the last few weeks we had been doing a bit of training (together with dh who is planning and training for the marathon in dec), and prep talking, :). And last friday he did it, not just passed, but came back with a 'gold' timing! He amazed me! And of course we are all so proud and he feels great and has learnt a valuable lesson about training, preparation, and perseverance. We read this verse to him, from
Romans 5:3-5"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
It wasn't sufferings, but perhaps to a ten year old failing and being last in something like that is, and then overcoming it - I hope it stays with him! And it is a lesson we have been trying to teach him, and yet do need to learn ourselves. I too am guilty of complaining and wanting to run away from my 'troubles', may this verse humble and encourage us all. :)

And now more layouts from Langkawi!
Credits: Background paper by GypsyCouture, word art by Zoe Pearn, stitching by Creashens, stitched flower by Sweet Genevieve designs


Credits: background paper by Studio Mgl, dots by Nivole Seitler, chandlier by green box creations, Lets'Eat by shabby princess


Unfortunately I did not capture Jared's winning run on camera, but I do have these! This is from a 365 template from Weeds & Wildflowers. I'm beginning to enjoy using templates - so quick to scrap! :)




Here's my next 365, this is inspired by Ali Edwards timeline layout in the latest issue of CK, love her original ideas and most of all, her approach to recording life.
Credits: circle stamps by Miss Mint, dotted frames by Weeds&Wildflowers, Captured Moments stamp by Nina Scrap Designs, All you need stamp by Jackie Ecles
You can download this hereThanks for all your comments and love!

Interview

Today I took leave to bring Ryan to an interview at a prestigious secondary school, as part of his admission application. We have much mixed feelings about him applying to these schools, especially because of the stress of going through GAT tests, interviews, selection camps, and also about whether going to such a school is really necessary, or good for him? Right now we are taking the approach of letting him apply, and supporting him through it, while praying for the Lord to show His good and perfect will for him by opening or closing the doors.

In any case, it has been a growing process for him as he asks himself questions (in preparation) such as why do I want to go to such and such a school, what subjects would I like to study, he even brought along his social studies projects on ''homelessness" and 'nuclear weapons' to show. Here's the cover I did for him!

Before he went in I told him the best thing to do is to be honest about his answers, no need to try to impress. And guess what? When they asked him what are the qualities he has that got him selected twice as model student, his answer? " I really don't know! " Haha! That's my son, I'm sure they'll remember him! He did finally go on to describe what he thinks was the selection process. Great answer, don't you think? So proud of him! :)

I had been lending digi scrapping supplies for my children's many school projects. Here's a maths game project Jared did using the Yellow Submarine kit by Faith True. Cute, isn't it??Since I was on leave, had some time to complete a few more layouts. Here's shots taken around our hotel in Langkawi, so beautiful I had to make a layout just for them!
Credits: Background paper from Eclectic Designs by Gabi , tied string peg by Britt-ish designs, word tags by Chantal, Viewfinder and butterfly by Melanie Johnson.
And here's photos from an island-hopping boat trip we took. For some reason the boys did not inherit the love of the sea from me and dh (who dreams of diving with his sons one day), they are terrified of speedboats, the bumping off the waves, and generally grit their teeth every time we do boat trips. Still, they are improving, and this time they only had to close their eyes and braved it :) I'm sure those diving trips will be coming up soon!Credits: Background paper by Ginna Miller , tabs, "paradise"sign, stitching all by Dani Mogstad, word art by Sahlin Studio
The templates are in the store here

And here's one more layout from the boat trip in Langkawi, to watch eagles feeding - quite an awesome sight - sitting in the boat in silence, watching them swoop down and then up with such precision and stateliness.
Credits: Background paper by Kaye Winiecki, red string by Viva Artistry , string frame downloaded from Scrapartist Muse , alpha by Rachel Giallongo , acrylic element by Veronica Spriggs
This template is now available as a set in the store HERE

From Rested to Hectic

We're back from our trips, back to school, back to work, and boy, how quickly we went from rested to hectic! First we went to Langkawi, Malaysia, with the boys, and then took off to Bintan, Indonesia, just dh and me, for two nights, to enjoy couple time! This is our third trip in 15 years without the kids, and it was soooo good! Still by the third day we were really missing them and talking about them. When we got home, I told them how relaxing it was for us (not to mention rather romantic) without them around, and they said "same for us too!" LOL! How they wish we leave them alone everyday so they can read and play computer games all day long! :)

I know I should refrain from issuing orders at them all day long, and make sure they have enough down time and quiet time (without me hovering around) to just hang and dream, but it is so hard! Mothers are mothers and it's what we do! If you haven't watched this video of The Mom Song you must!! Tell me you didn't laughed till you cry by the end of it... :) I felt so much solidarity with all moms in the world, I am not alone!

Reply to Comments
There was a question on how to separate the double template and save them as left side and right side on my previous post : Please see this post here for some instructions on that, I would have included the same instructions in jpegs in the more recent template zip files too. Let me know if it doesn't help!

Now here's my layout for P365 of the week we spent in Langkawi, Malaysia. We're so blessed to be so near to tropical paradise! This layout is scraplifted from Becky Higgins' sketch and layouts in the August issue of Creative Keepsakes, love her sketches!! I don't think I should make a template out of it, but you can easily make it yourself, the two largest photos are 8x6, the two photos on the bottom left are 6x4, and the three photos down the right are 4x4. Everything will fit in perfectly on a 24x12 double page! A tip: For such layouts where the photos 'touch' each other without gaps or frames, choose photos that are distinct in colors/background to border each other so that they will stand out and pop. Conversely if I want to do a layout with lots of photos that are similar in colors or backgrounds ( like the beach layouts below) then I use frames to visually separate them.







Credits: Purple paper by Andrea Victoria, blue paper from Ohana by Brit-tish Designs

Next two layouts from our Langkawi trip - beach, beach, and more beach! We're beach bums alright! I have so MANY photos! Was in the mood for layouts entirely engulfed in photos, haha! The templates for these layouts are in the store here - thanks for looking!







Credits: Background paper by Faith True , twigs by Carol Abram, leaves by Seni, chalkboard alpha (modified) by Kate Hill.







Credits: Background paper, beach sign, and wooden frame from Ohana by Brit-tish Designs, sea shell from Yardbunny designs.


Now here another of my P365 layouts for the week before, I'm so happy I'm keeping up well with P365 so far, I absolutely enjoy it, and am totally looking forward to seeing it in a book by year end - hugs to whoever came up with this idea!!







Credits: Blue and Purple papers by Andrea Victoria from Designer Digitals' Challenge Gallery, love everything there! date strip by Brandy, numbers by Donna Duncombe, tag by Julie Marie, all downloaded from digiscrap addicts.




And here's the template for you - download here. And thanks for your lovely comments every time!