Sweet Shoppe Designs – The Sweetest Digital Scrapbooking Site on the Web

Selfie-ness

I don’t have kids, so I would say it’s an almost natural assumption that I would scrap a lot about myself. So I got comfortable enough to take photos of myself. One of the best selfie tutorials I’ve used is Krystal’s, using the Video Pix app. 🙂 Late last year and until now, I’ve also gotten more comfortable taking photos of myself without makeup (lighting and angles are crucial! it’s amazing how sunlight can wash out acne scars and hyper pigmentation). It also helps that it is SO hot here that bothering with makeup for simply running bank or mall errands is kind of insane.

Current Favorite Layouts

From left, clockwise: It’s funny, I thought I would end up choosing layouts where I remember doing fun techniques I’d learned. But most of these have more to do with the the photo or my journaling. (1) My sister is one of my favorite topics to scrap about. Jenn’s kit was perfect for her and I love the random feel of the elements placement; (2) I was inspired by a blog post and wanted to list down things that defined my 35th year on earth. (3) This photo is very important—it was our last family photo during our last family vacation before my mom was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2004. I resisted scrapping this photo for a loooooong time. When I saw Julie’s kit, it felt like the right time to scrap it. Yes, it was one of those “cried buckets” layouts 🙂 (4) When I scrapped this, I was laughing at myself for the tongue-in-cheek tone of the journaling. Reading it again, there’s an almost poignant feel now, since it’s been two years since this layout.

Favorite SSD products

From left, clockwise: I find it hilarious that when I first started scrapping in 2006, brushes and masks gave me the heebie-jeebies. Now I can’t get enough of them! They are addicting! (1) This set of Ru’s is awesome because it’s not just brushes and paint splats, she adds tons of ephemera and stitches and journaling spots as well! (2) Julie’s Paint Wash is perfect for SO MANY things—a photo mask, paint underneath a cluster, a way to blend two patterns together—beyond its primary use; (3) I’ve lost count with how many layouts I’ve used Penny’s masks. The brilliance of these is they are various masks layered together! Recolor them, clip photos or papers to them, there’s so much versatility! (4) This pack of Jenn’s is a perfect mix of gesso, doodles, paint, ink blots, etc that I use over and over again.

Current favorite Kpop acts

From left, clockwise: I always say my taste in music is eclectic. I have no problem listening to music whose language I don’t understand. Prior to Kpop (Korean Pop), I listened to J-Rock (Japanese Rock), French, Norwegian, and even a bit of Bollywood soundtracks. I love Kpop not only for the music, but the whole performance aspect of it—some of the most fun choreography around! (1) SNSD or Girls’ Generation as they are known outside of Korea: I love their bubblegum pop, I love their group dynamic, and they have some of the most memorable choreography (in particular “Hoot” and “Run Devil Run,” which was actually demo’d by Kesha); (2) SHINee: Beautiful ballads and uptempo songs, one of the industry’s best dance groups for their complex choreography, and in reality, they are utter dorks off-stage. My favorites include “Sherlock” and “Lucifer”; (3) Ailee: this New Jersey native has mind-blowing vocals and she always seems to have a blast on stage (“I Will Show You” is a joy to watch). Plus, one of the best voices for English song covers. Her cover of Beyonce’s “Halo” (when she was still a trainee) is amazing! (4) Spica: they are Kpop rookies but already I was amazed at their vocal ability and I love the symbolism and sassiness of their music videos. “You Don’t Love Me” and “Tonight” are awesome!

Summer Staples

From left, clockwise: It’s the middle of a ridiculously sweltering summer here. Since I work mostly from home, I’ve found myself shopping more for these. (1) Shorts – I can’t get enough pairs! I like classic patterns in a cool cut, like these seersucker ones; (2) I will always buy flat sandals—these days I am gravitating towards bright colours like yellow or orange; (3) One accessories trend I am loving are knuckle rings! I also love thin rings mixed with thicker bands; (4) And sometimes it is SO hot that sitting for too long will give you sticky legs. Mini dresses in fun color block prints and breezy fabrics are my option if I want to be a little more dressed up.

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Don’t forget to check back in with us next Sunday and every Sunday after that as we put the rest of our incredible Babes and community members into the spotlight. Each of them have such quirky personalities that I’m positive each week will bring new surprises and special treats that we can’t wait to share with you!