New challenge into wax seal project!

Blending Trip to Taiwan (Part 1): 大专期末特会

The trip took place a year ago, and I always thought of writing bout it, but it never happen cause I was just too slothful. Anyway, I suddenly decided that I don't want to be that lazy, so here I am... blogging things from a year ago.. lol.

Taiwan is like a must-visit place since it is the 苗圃 of the Lord's recovery. We started the trip by joining the campus students' semester end blending conference (大专期末特会) of one of the districts in Taipei. The event was held at a quiet, refreshing and comfortable 民宿 in 阳明山. (Oh why Malaysia no such place?) The first part of the blending was more for blending and gospel preaching purposes...

First day when we met the campus saints there

...and we didn't expect station games to start off the blending! Before we could settle down, we were divided into groups for the station games. The games were very creative and fun and each game was not without a spiritual lesson.

Sister was briefing bout the game

Listening attentively to the instructions.

 Too bad I didn't manage to take pictures of how each game was carried out.

Prize giving session after the game

My teammates

After the game  

At night and on the next Lord's day morning, few gospel messages were released.

The Lord's table meeting

After the Lord's table meeting, the conference entered into the 2nd stage - the stage where the high peak truths are released. Unfortunately, we didn't manage to join the 2nd stage of the conference.....because....we're going to Tainan to join another 大专期末特会 there.

Pictures before we left the conference in Yang Ming Shan

From North to the Southern tip of Taiwan - 5 hours of journey by train.

We arrived 5+ hours later and joined the last session of the conference. The sharing of the non-regular saints at the end of the conference were very real and encouraging.

The campus studentsss

Then group photos. Then lunch with them. Then visit the place. 

Yes, this was the place the conference was held

Then we found something to play with. Something to test our coordination....

.

Needless to say - they're the best. haha.

Oh, did I forget to mention that the place is located in a beautiful seaside? 

In short, I would describe the place like this: breathtaking scenery + awesome place + unique design + wonderful weather + mouth-watering food + affordable price.

Wait....what was I writing about....oh yea, 大专期末特会. I was amazed to know the number of universities and total number of campus students in each district and how frequent the campus students are gathered together. Most importantly the campus students are so real in their sharing. They aren't stingy/ paiseh/ scared to share their portion of Christ with all the saints! 

Homemade scratch art paper

I was playing with scratch art when suddenly my curiosity hits me. I wonder how scratch art papers are made so I asked Mr. Google. 

I later learn that most of the people did this craft in primary school. but my art teacher never teach me leh. I have to learn it from Mr Google at the age of 23. :(

Materials you need:

~ Crayons of rainbow colours (neon crayon works the best)

~ Drawing paper/ cardstock

~ Black Tempera paste

~ Paint brush

~ Water colour palette

First, colour the drawing paper real hard with crayons, keeping every possible hole filled. It is advisable to use rainbow colours or any sharp colours.

Then prepare black tempera paste in a water colour palette. A tip I got from a blog - add a few drops of dish detergent to the paste so that it could be scratched off more easily later. 

Now paint the black tempera on the crayon colours.

As you can see above, 1 coat of tempera paste is not enough. You need a second coat.

Wait for the 1st coat to dry before painting the 2nd coat. 

After the 2nd coat

Wait for the 2nd coat to dry. and then you can start scratching the paper! (with toothpick or satay stick or.....)

Though the colours are not as vivid as the ready made scratch art paper available in the market, but hey, there's much more fun in producing your own scratch art paper. 

Das macht spaß! ;)

Paper Crafts (6)

Farewell gifts this time.

As you can see above, it's not really a craft. Just a bunch of group photos being put into mini photo frames bought from Taiwan, the stationery heaven. 

 Well ,we did hand-made something by making the transparent plastic cover for the photo frames....

and handwriting all the words.

The photos are a collection of all the blendings we went together for the past 3-4 years. 

Who's the receiver?

None other than our dear sis. J. 

Next is the 'fold' scrapbook that I'm been really waiting to do. I even jot down all the measurements of papers and hang it on my wall like since months ago. It's either I had no time or not enough materials. 

Tutorial video: 

From upper left: 

10.5cm x 8cm (2), 8cm x 8.5cm(4), 8.5cm x 17cm (1)

From bottom left:

5cm x 10.5cm (2), 8cm x 8.5cm(4)

+

(not in the picture):

the bookmarks -7.5cm x 7.5cm (2)

long strand of paper - 8cm x whatever measurement (1)

I like the index cards idea very much. It's so easy to do and neat-looking.

And everything looks more delicate when you cut round the sharp corners.

Please choose the colour combination wisely - mine's a bad example.

The base

Measurement - 36cm x 27cm, and draw 12 squares of 9cm x 9cm.

Cut out the shape of making a 3D cube.

Paste the pockets, cards, and colour papers, and start decorating!

Done!

Fold it into a 9cm x 9cm square scrapbook and secure with a ribbon.

A 'fold' scrapbook for sis. C. ;)

Paper Crafts (5)

Heard of paper quilling/rolling before? I never thought of trying my hand at it coz it simply looks difficult. 

some awe-inspiring picture of paper rolling art 

Ok la, I just scared myself with those awe-inspiring pictures by punching 'Paper rolling' into Google.

The basics - my version of simplifying the art of paper rolling - roll the paper strips, adjust the rolled paper to a desired size, stick the open end, pinch here pinch there to form a shape, stick the whole thing onto a piece of wood/card/paper, and adjust the shape using a toothpick. 

It requires much patience and a fine character. 

When the sis suggested to make paper quilling craft for the saints in Taiwan, I thought it was quite impossible. 

Anyway, convinced by sis that it's not difficult at all, we started the 3 days marathon of doing paper rolling crafts.  

It turned out that the challenging part was not with rolling the paper and shaping it (coz we're doing real simple shapes), but to be creative, coming out with new designs to be shaped into with our rookie rolling skill. 

Here's our bookmarks decorated with paper rolling craft.

I had to squeeze my right brain to come out with designs. Butterfly is our default idea.
So to be exact, I only produced 4 own designs in...err...2 days time..*mortified*

Just as we thought we have had enough, we realised we had to use the same paper rolling craft to decorate banner frames, which size is 10x larger than a bookmark -which means lots empty spots to be decorated, lots of papers need to be rolllleeedd and lottss of designs and arrangement of the designs need to be done.....

Now this is the true art of paper quilling -rolling thin paper strips into various shapes which are then collectively arranged to form designs.

G.A.V.E  U.P. 

Paper folding, ribbons, stickers, and whatnot were incorporated instead to fill up the remaining empty spots around the banner. We are indeed creative.

Results of our hard work *proud face*

Making crafts for the saints is quite suitable gift, IMO, at least from visiting young sisters like us. The saints love them.

I have been searching for some simple and unique bookmark ideas these days. I came across this corner bookmark idea which I found interesting.

Interesting yet not practical. The flower is so heavy that it can outweigh the book itself. Ok maybe not a book, but it certainly is heavier than a booklet. What's the point of having one big heavy paper flower hanging at the side of your book?

Now this origami heart bookmark is much more practical, in addition that it is easier to do and cheaper in cost. All you need is a paper in rectangular shape. Any measurement will do. (I'll recommend 15cm x 7cm)

Tutorial can be found here:

On a side note, I'm currently obsessed with calligraphy writing. 

What is the first thing you learn to write? Your own name.

...and my blog's name

**I've been MIA long enough. This post was actually written about 4 months ago.

So I guess a definition clause is needed. 

"In this post, 'these days' or 'currently' refer to 4 months before November 2012."  

and drafting lecture said you must show courtesy in everything you write, end it with a thank you.

So... 

Thank you! =)