Buttons & Ribbons Paperie

LOVE

2011-04-23T12:58:00.001+08:00

Today marks the second anniversary of our marriage. I can't believe it's already been a year since the last anniversary card I made for my husband. Time flies when you're having fun...and a baby! I'm glad no matter how busy and all-over-the-place I am, I still found some time to make him this card, coz every time he receives one from me, I will end up feeling over the moon with his gushing compliments and appreciation. Now that's what I call LOVE. Ever since I got to know Haikal and especially so after marriage, he doesn't fail to define the meaning of love in his own ways... it's not about gifts he presents me, nor a candle light dinner or even poetic letters and cards (by the way, I am still awaiting that handmade card.....!); it's the little and caring gestures he does that assure me that I am one lucky girl to have chosen him as my life partner.

Happy 2nd Anniversary, Love!

I realised that the card I made him on our first anniversary was also red; don't you think it's the nature of the color that simply exuberates love!

Love,

We're now open for Mother's Day card orders!

2011-04-16T11:41:00.001+08:00

Almost six months being a mother now, the surreality of it all still lingers. Having my baby girl is one of the greatest gift I could ask for, with that, also came the greatest responsibility. This past six months have been nothing but wonders, as I see my baby grow from that tiny newborn to a cheerful and happy baby who never fails to ease my tiredness away, especially after a long day at work.

As I discover myself even more through motherhood, I find myself thinking of my own mother, of how she had gone through (still is) motherhood with all five of us! I've said it before, and I will keep saying it again, I appreciate her much more now that I am a mother myself. Unconditional love used to be just a phrase I read in books, but a mother's love truly is one with no strings attached.

So let's tell our mothers how much we appreciate and love them with a personalised card this coming Mother's Day. I can't wait for the day my baby girl makes me her first card!

Place your orders with us at buttons.ribbons.paperie@gmail.com before 1st May 2011.

Love,

12 years and counting

2011-04-03T21:57:00.000+08:00

Once again, the yearly event that we definitely can't miss - our birthdays! Mel and I have known each other for......hmm let's see, 12 long years! Doesn't feel like that long till you say it out loud. 12 years, so much have changed, I can't even believe it. Besides Buttons & Ribbons Paperie, our birthdays would be the next most special thing for us (we were born 2 days apart). Each year, we make it a point to have a meal together and exchange little gifts. Though our lives have moved on since our JC days, we are pretty much the same inside. I hope, with all my heart, that our friendship will continue to grow stronger throughout the years and we can celebrate our 80th birthday together (I'm not even going to try to imagine how we'd look like)!

Love,

Project 8.9

2011-03-30T13:56:00.001+08:00

Hi Everyone! We are sorry for the silence the past few weeks. The "B" word is yet another reason why we've been away from the blog lately- orders have been consistent and there are many things pending to share! So don't abandon us just yet!

In light of the recent disaster in Japan, we are doing our part by helping raise funds for the devastated victims. We are helping The Front Desk Group with their project. Below is their message:

The Front Desk Group has come together to come up with Project 8.9 in support of the Japan Relief Fund. We are hoping to raise some money, promote awareness and shift some attention back to an important issue; the daunting aftermath that the Japanese people are going through.

The media has diverted much attention on the nuclear situation that is happening right now. Although we do not dispute the fact that it is a very real problem that the respective authorities are trying to deal with, we at Front Desk refuse to be part of the speculative audience worrying about how this crisis might potentially affect OURSELVES when there is already a crisis at hand.

Let us shine some of the spotlight back on on our fellow humanity who are trying to rebuild their lives and focus on the people who are already affected, picking up the pieces of their lives in the wake of Japan's twin disaster.

We appreciate your support and hope we can come together in solidarity to be part of a solution.

The t-shirt, designed by Iskoi designs, highlights the great magnitude of the quake and is also a reflection of the tsunami that followed showcased by the traditional Japanese art wave design. The red dot between the 8 and the 9 signifies the alarm sent out by Japan to the world.

Buy a T-shirt today to show your support to the cause. For orders, email: mtengku@frontdeskgroup.com.

How well do you know your Neighbour?

2011-02-23T14:19:00.001+08:00

They say a friend in need is a friend indeed... and we add, a friend who gives is a friend for life! :) The two bookmarks below were ordered for a couple who lives next door. It's always good to befriend your neighbours coz they will be the first people who can help you in case of emergencies at home. Granted, you may have those nosey neighbours who will not miss a chance to stick their neck out and see what goes on behind your closed doors, but in general, people are just plain curious. There are also neighbours who love to share their homemade food, who doesn't like a free meal?! So get to know your neighbours and make more friends!

A bookmark fit for a fashion designer.

An intellectual bookmark for the teacher.

Love,

R-E-A-D

2011-02-17T15:31:00.000+08:00

As a child I enjoyed reading alot. I remembered how I would be in my school library combing the bookshelves for new arrivals and using up the maximum quota to bag home the books. I enjoyed reading the books out loud to myself, making up the voices of the characters as I read along. I especially loved Dr. Seuss' books for it's wild and funky imaginary characters, and of course not to mention the fun rhymes he concocts!

I find relieving my childhood memories with my baby now as I read to her;I have every reason now to read out loud with many expressions and tones!

A bookmark to encourage a young girl to enjoy reading. We were requested to add a quote to emphasize the message; what better words than those of Dr. Seuss'!

May this bookmark bring Ziani to all the wonderful places of fantasies and adventures in her reading pursuit!

Love,

What's in a business card II

2011-02-12T19:42:00.000+08:00

We had new business cards printed with the introduction of our new logo. It looks perfect with my mini cafe blackboard cute which I got on one of my overseas trips!

Just some photos to share - Happy Saturday all! =)

Love,

{Mini milestone} - Baby 1st month celebration invites

2011-01-30T15:47:00.000+08:00

A customer ordered invitation cards for her nephew's first month celebration. We kept to the colour theme of baby blue and white and also added extra touches to each of the cards to make them special =) Aren't they sweet!

Love,

Valentine's Day cards - FREE GIFT with any card order!

2011-01-18T13:34:00.002+08:00

Email us now!

Love,

Valentine's Day cards - OPEN FOR ORDERS NOW!

2011-01-16T13:03:00.006+08:00

It's time to get all lovey-dovey again!

Pledge your love to your darlings and sweet hearts this V'Day with a personalized card complete with your very own mushy message......

Closing date for orders: Friday 5th February

Love,

Put my name on it!

2011-01-13T10:57:00.001+08:00

A thoughtful teacher approached us to design and make bookmarks as 'going away' gifts for her students. She wanted each and every student to have a bookmark with his/her name at it complete with an inspiring quote on the back. These bookmarks are a gift of encouragement to the kids as they complete their 'O' Levels and embark on the next chapter of their lives.

Here're some pics of the 120 bookmarks we worked on. These are some lucky students, I must say!

It's probably the sense of identity or the fact that no one else has the exact same thing, personalised things are just closer to the heart and such a delight to have! Maybe it's time to get one of these personalised bookmarks for yourself, email us (buttons.ribbons.paperie@gmail.com)!

New year, New Look - Unveiling the new Buttons & Ribbons Paperie logo

2011-01-10T15:50:00.000+08:00

To start the new year off, we decided to have a mini make-over! Our logo is now more defined and stands out more, but we kept with the pink and brown theme ('cos they just go so well together!).

We hope everyone likes our new look!

Do continue to stay tuned to more photos and stories of our work which we completed toward the end of 2010 =)

{Thank You}

2011-01-04T16:52:00.000+08:00

A simple two letter word, yet so powerful... A small gesture to express your gratitude to someone sometimes goes a long way, even without realising it. As a small child, I was taught by my parents to say thank you to anyone who has offered a helping hand or given me something, no matter how minimal the help was or how small the gift was. As I grow older, I realised that sincere people who are helpful and giving will not expect anything back, but it makes them feel good when their gesture is recognised with a simple thanks...

This card was made for a customer's big boss who had given him a gift for his newborn.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers and supporters who have made Buttons & Ribbons Paperie alive... we look forward to another exciting year ahead with all of you! THANK YOU!

Reflect on 2010 ~ Welcoming 2011 - Happy New Year!!

2010-12-31T21:12:00.000+08:00

Before we step foot into the new year, we think it's worthwhile to take a few minutes to look back at 12 months that zipped past us so fast that it didn't feel like a year went by! Let us reflect on our joys, sorrows, achievements, disappointments, or if we managed to fulfill any of our resolutions we set at the beginning of 2010.

Let's start with Mel:-

The year 2010 for me has been a life changing one; I achieved a new status to live up to- MOTHER. From the time my husband and I got to know that we would be parents in the early part of the year, till we finally met our Lil' Princess on 29 October 2010, the year has been more meaningful than we could ever imagine. The nine months of pregnancy I must say was challenging, physically as well as emotionally. And then came labour and delivery after which I appreciated my own mother a whole lot more having gone through it myself! But by the minute Baby Halimah came out, the morning sickness, the waddling with huge tummy, labour pains and anxiety were just but a distant memory...

Even after two months of motherhood the surreality of it all still lingers (even after seeing a panda in the reflection!)... it's amazing how a small being can bring out so much love... Despite the crying, soiled diapers, sleepless nights, everytime I look at her (especially when she's fast asleep) my love for her grows...

I've started on a scrapbook for her and hopefully will continue throughout her growing years... Enjoy the pictures of the completed layouts so far!

For me, 2010 is the year I got hitched! The husband and I flew to Santorini and Paris (2 of the most romantic spots in the world) for our wedding photo shoot. It was truly an experience. Although no one knew us there and vice versa, wearing the wedding gown and walking around the streets trying to look loving was really uncomfortable! We drew countless stares, congratulatory smiles, handshakes and even some compliments! But all in all, it was fun, and the photos turned out fantastic! Check out some of our non-wedding pics here.

On top of that, I also moved out of my parents' place and into our own home. The 'moving out' part was more emo than the 'getting married' part, I must confess. I miss my old room till now, sob sob (yikes, is this a problem?!). Read my post about the new home here.

I must say, judging from the events which took place for me in 2010 (Santorini, Paris, new home, got married, etc. etc.), I've got to work doubly hard to make 2011 even more fulfilling!!

Pics for all to enjoy!!

Santorini, Greece

Paris

And lastly, something both of us are truly proud of: Buttons & Ribbons Paperie!

We started our humble little business back in April this year, and everything's been smooth sailing so far. Although it's only been 8 months, we've come a fairly long way since our first orders and we're ready to embrace more orders in 2011!

Happy New Year Ya'll!!!

Love,

X'mas giveaway - Thank you!

2010-12-18T11:13:00.000+08:00

We would like to thank all of you who have submitted descriptions of your most memorable X'mas gift. The first 5 entries will be receiving the mini X'mas card sets in your mail soon! Please continue to support us and do look out for more giveaways in the future :)

We here at Buttons & Ribbons Paperie, would like to wish all of you, Happy Holidays!

Love,

One date - Two celebrations

2010-12-12T12:23:00.010+08:00

A recent order from a customer for a dual celebration card (3rd year anniversary and birthday).

The customer requested for a brown and pink colour theme card, with both their initials.

Names are blurred out for privacy.

I'm all for dual, 'triple and above' celebrations, I see it as convenience and cost-saving (we can have 'all-in-one' presents and dinners). Dates do not have to be exact, as long as they are quite close, rule of thumb: plus minus 1 week.

Some of the celebrations throughout the year which coincide, in my case:-

1. Mother's day and my mum's birthday
2. Birthdays of grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, the husband and Rocco (my dog)
3. Dad's birthday and National Day (not that we really celebrate National Day, but it's nice to have a public holiday!)
4. Our anniversary (the husband and I) and Mid-Autumn festival (we do eat mooncakes, that counts as celebrating!)
5. X'mas and bonus (a true cause for celebration!)

What are some of yours? Share with us!

Love,

{wedding wishes in blue and silver}

2010-12-05T11:57:00.015+08:00

"Hey, thank you so much for the card you made for us! So pretty!!"

An sms I received a few days after my friends' wedding. A simple message like this, made my day =)

My well wishes for the newly weds, tucked in a baby blue money holder, sealed with a silver ribbon....

As we approach the end of the year and welcome 2011, get ready to expect many more weddings, birthdays, engagements and other celebratory events coming your way. Why not order a personalized money/voucher holder or greeting card, for a change? A little gesture like this, goes a long way. =)

Love,

X'mas Giveaway!

2010-12-04T12:30:00.001+08:00

When I grow up, I wanna be a rockstar!

2010-12-02T18:41:00.000+08:00

When you were 16, who/what did you aspire to be when you grew up? I was quite the nerd, I wanted to be:-

Martha Stewart - Baking, cooking and crafting guru, sans the insider trading jail term.

Oprah - Who doesn't want to own an entire media empire, be worth billions, to have celebrity friends, and, have the power to give away cars?!

Accountant - Look how well that turned out!

We must admit, times are different. Young ones these days are more liberal, creative and they have got a world full of opportunities! 16 year olds today probably want to be:-

Katy Perry

Taylor Swift

Rihanna

Adam Lambert

whole cast of Gossip Girl

I mean, who can blame them, even I wanna be a flashy celebrity!

This card was made for a girl turning 16, we heard she is quite the rocker, even at this young age! We used a grey denim background and added elements of pink and purple. We hope this card does represent the rockstar that she is or dreams to be deep inside =)

Love,

{hello world!}

2010-11-26T14:00:00.000+08:00

My dear friend and other half of Buttons, Mel, gave birth to baby Halimah last month (how time flies, she's already 1 month old!). It feels like not long ago, we were still pranky JC students, now Mel's a mother.....so surreal and hard to believe!

The few days before Mel gave birth, I was on my toes as well 'cos I had to complete my gift for mommy and baby, and I didn't know how soon it was going to happen! Thank goodness, I was able to finish up on time for the delivery =)

The perfect 'mommy + baby' gift tray. It contains stuff mommy loves as well as stuff for baby's needs! Baby theme scrapbook materials for Mel and an adorable teddy blankie (and other baby essentials) for Halimah. I used a wooden tray instead of a basket, which I felt is too common. In order to prop up the items, I made steps with styrofoam and lined them with pink felt.

I wanted to be unique, instead of making a conventional card, I made little wooden 'lollipop' signposts and wrote my personal messages at the back.

New Mom!

New Baby!

The finished product! Adorable? I had so much fun during the process of making this hamper, despite the tight timeline. Hmm, maybe I perform better under stress?!?

Baby Halimah and her gift! How cute!

To Mel: "Congratulations on this beautiful beginning of a new chapter of your life!"

If you would like to have something like this made for your loved ones, whether it's for a new baby, or just a gift to cheer someone up, talk to us! Send us an email at buttons.ribbons.paperie@gmail.com, we will be able to personalize and customize to your requests =)

Love,

A post about flowers

2010-11-23T21:09:00.000+08:00

Well, not really, this is just a post with pictures of flowers in it, and a floral theme card (of course). Besides looking pretty, flowers are also known to have emotional and behavioral benefits. I've even seen flower petals being used as a garnish on gourmet meals! Some beautiful flower photos to share...

Tulips are gorgeous don't you think? Too bad we don't have them in tropical climates, like here in Singapore.
A recent order - a money holder for a newly wed couple.

Love,

Love for a friend

2010-11-14T22:49:00.000+08:00

True friendships withstand the test of time, hardship and life's drama. A true friend understands and knows the real you, he or she stands by you in times of need and celebrates with you in times of joy. In my lifetime, I am really lucky and fortunate to have a few true friends whom I cherish forever.

Our customer ordered a personalised card for her friend with a lovely and truly touching message inside. I can almost picture the recipient touched to tears when she sees the card (ok, I'm being overly dramatic here, but you know the deal, a little gesture like this goes a long way!)

These photos were taken with my new toy, the Panasonic LX-5. This camera is so much lighter and more convenient than my 30D (though bulky, I still love it).

The following were taken using the 'pinhole' mode. I love the nostalgic look it produces...

Taken at Labrador park where I took my dog for a walk.

Cute round leaf.

Normal looking leaf, just that the sun was shining on it, so I took a shot =)

Talk to us (buttons.ribbons.paperie@gmail.com), if you would like to send a special message to that beloved friend of yours, by way of a personalised card, show him or her how much you mean to them!

Love,

matchy-matchy....not!

2010-11-11T21:25:00.001+08:00

Sometimes, we go by the books, follow the rules, align too much...resulting in...'booorrringgg'....

We say, live a little, go crazy, be creative! Who says we can't mix different patterns together?

A recent order and our most 'multiple patterned' birthday card so far.....daring!

Love,

Harry Potter/London scrapbook - [Project completed] Yay!

2010-11-06T17:33:00.000+08:00

After 3 months (good thing the customer came to us early, we had the luxury of time...this is a gift for her daughter's birthday in November), 15 scrapbook layouts, countless photos+brads+paper+glue+stickers, overflowing ideas....we finally completed the Harry Potter/London themed scrapbook for our customer!

The customer also requested for some of the Harry Potter memorabilia to be framed up. Here are some stones, nails etc. which were picked up from the Great Hall.

An original script from the Harry Potter Goblet of Fire movie, also picked up from the Great Hall.

For the all the hard work and effort we put in for this project (we made the scrapbook as if it was our own), we really hope the customer appreciates it! =)

If you like what you see and would like your own photos to be complied into a beautiful scrapbook (without doing the work), talk to us! buttons.ribbons.paperie@gmail.com

Love,

How many ways are there to say 'thank you'?

2010-11-06T16:08:00.000+08:00

Thank you (English)
Terima Kasih (Bahasa Indoesia)
Xie Xie (Mandarin)
Merci beaucoup (French)
Danke (German)
Sas efharisto (Greek)
Mahalo (Hawaii)
Arigato (Japanese)
Kamsahamnida (Korean)
Gratias (Latin)
........................

You could say Thank You in a thousand and one languages (http://www.squidoo.com/say-thank-you-in-different-languages). But as they say, action speaks louder than words. One of the best ways to do so, we feel, is via a personalised card (what else?)!

This is one of those 'from all of us' cards, specially ordered for a dance teacher, from all her students. It was requested to be larger than our usual big card, so we made it twice as big (A3). We don't usually make jumbo cards, only on special requests. We don't know how many students exactly, but we presume there are quite a few!

Teacher's initials on the cover.

Teacher's photo inside.

Love,