The MADE WITH LOVE founding story >>>

Sandra and Elvira were co-workers, teaching English Language, English Literature and World History at a high school, and through scrapbooking, they built a firm bond with each other. Their passion for scrapbooking grew so enormous that they had an insatiable urge to share the joy and fulfillment they derived from scrapbooking with as many people as possible. They started to dream of starting their very own scrapbooking retail store. At around the same time, Sandra met Swee Ching on the net in a chat room and found that Swee Ching was also a passionate scrapper who fantasized about owning a scrapbook retail store as well.

And so the story goes - Three very uniquely different women, but all with one same passion, came together and explored the possibilities of making their dream a reality.

In Nov 2003, they realized their dream and Singapore 's very first scrapbooking specialty store was created – Made With Love. A tiny 100 sq ft booth was the birthplace of Made With Love . By God's grace, just a year later, they were able to move to a 750 sq ft retail store in the heart of town. And the year after that in Sept 2006, by faith they moved to an almost 2000 sq ft retail space to accommodate all their dreams.

Made With Love has grown from strength to strength through the support of many scrappers who have turned friends and family members who have supported and believed in these 3 ladies' dreams.

However, Made With Love's growth has really only just begun as it continues to seek out the most innovative and inspiring scrapbooking products for all their scrapping customers, many of whom have become their dearest friends.

Describe your scrapbooking style
Eclectic! Schizophrenic....sometimes i like clutter, sometimes i like clean, simple lines. It really depends on the theme of the layout or scrapbook project and the mood I want to convey.

What are must-haves in your layout?
CHIPBOOOOOOARD!!! I love giving dimension to all my scrap projects. And of course glossy accent, sepia or otherwise, stamps and inks, ribbons/ fibre..... oh noooooo...please don't make me decide!!!! It's too stressful. I neeeeed everything....


Favourite scrapbook brands?
Autumn Leaves, My Minds' Eye, Ranger, Basic Grey,7 Gypsies, ...Oh noooo... another difficult decision....

Favourite item on the menu from Café@MWL?
Of course it has to be Steak and Mushroom Pie and Potato Salad.

Something about yourself that is not scrapbook related
I love scuba diving. The feeling of absolute weightlessness with just the sound of my breathing and the myriad of colours and textures that surround me make all the hustle and bustle that I've left back on land simply melt away and time stops still. I feel like I become one with nature whenever i'm underwater....

Unfortunately, after baby #1 and being 15 kilos heavier and loving pies a little too much.. it'll be a while before I dare step into a wetsuit again!!!

Your thoughts about the MWL Team
I am very blessed to work alongside people who put their heart and soul into all that they do and think nothing of working 24/7.... ya they get a little grouchy sometimes cos they're so sleep deprived but we love each other anyway....

Describe your scrapbooking style

Straight lines. Clean & Simple. Equal margins. Muted Colours. Straight lines. Clean & Simple. Equal margins. Muted Colours. Little details. Straight lines. Clean & Simple. Equal margins. Muted Colours. Straight lines. Clean & Simple. Equal margins. Muted Colours. Little details. Straight Lines. Clean & Simple. Equal margins.

What are must-haves in your layout?

- Cardstocks. Cardstocks. Cardstocks. (What's my colour? Bazzill!!!!)
- Journalling. (My new year resolution is to do the journalling first then create the layout)
- Inks. (For inking edges and stamping words... nothing fanciful or messy.)

Favourite scrapbook brands?

- Bazzill (cardstocks. cardstocks. cardstocks.)
- Making Memories (everything.)
- 7 Gypsies (everything.)

Favourite item on the menu from Café@MWL?
classic chicken pie + salad + freshly brewed coffee

Something about yourself that is not scrapbook related

Your thoughts about the MWL Team

coming soon

Describe your scrapbooking style
I'm still learning - can't say I have a specific style.

What are must-haves in your layout?
Black Ink.

Favourite scrapbook brands?
Kuretake.

Favourite item on the menu from Café@MWL?
Grapeade Snapple.

Describe your scrapbooking style
Eclectic for sure! When i first began scrapbooking, I was sure that my style would be clean and simple. I simply ADORED Cathy Zielske and how her philosophy is to focus on the photograph and journalling. Now... I love getting all artsy in my layouts. Doodles, paints, hand written journals, cut-out motifs, stamping.. well anything goes! I also love to layer patterned papers together in my layout and almost never measure anything! I believe in trusting my instincts and just trimming the papers. The idea and concept will fall into place usually.

Having said that though, I still love the clean look every once in awhile - kinda like a breath of fresh air!

What are must-haves in your layout?
Anything hand-written or hand drawn at the moment. Oh and inks. What would I do without my distress inks! Also, TEXTURED BAZZILL. Gotta have my bazzill!

Favourite scrapbook brands?
My Mind's Eye, Fancy Pants Design & Basic Grey [can you tell, I'm loving the artistic stuff!]

Favourite item on the menu from Café@MWL ?
Gag! I may be the top customer at the Cafe.

Something about yourself that is not scrapbook related
I'm a Beanie collector. I have about 700 different varieties of beanies and they are mostly bears. I have been collecting them since 1999 and have a room just for displaying my beanies and other toys. Working at MWL and also NEXT to a beanie store is definitely hurting my pocket! (EEEEKS!)

Your thoughts about the MWL Team
I think we are the Dream Team. PERIOD.

Any other thoughts/things to say?
Love Your Handwriting.. seriously. Love it. :)

Describe your scrapbooking style
Simple and clean

What are must-haves in your layout?
BRADS.. brads and more brads!

Favourite scrapbook brands?
Making memories & 7Gypsies

Favourite item on the menu from Café@MWL?
Baked Potato with Brown beef sauce

Something about yourself that is not scrapbook related
I'm a freelance dance instructor

Your thoughts about the MWL Team.
You Girls Rock!

Any other thoughts/things to say?
I found a new therapy man! .

RESIDENT DESIGNER

Hi, my name is Brenda, and how I got into this mad, mad hobby, I don't know! What I do know is that I take it very seriously...perhaps more seriously than I should at the expense of other things.

I'm a paper and glue kind of girl, although the computer is an indispensable part of my process. I'm a paper hoarder, a ribbon lover, a magazine junkie and an idea book enthusiast. I also love having my tools, camera, sewing machine and printer! Can you tell that I really love doing this thing? :-)

My two boys give me the inspiration and space I need to be imaginative and creative, and my husband is a true supporter of my love for the craft! I'm so glad to have them on this journey of life, where we are constantly discovering how big our God and His purposes for us is. I look forward to sharing my passion with you all!

- B (blogging at http://fruitloop.org/ )

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Previous Design Teams:
Scrapgal (May - July 2006)
The Scrapper's Loft (July 2005 - September 2006)
Paper made Memories (July 2006 - December 2006)

Current Design Teams:
Scenic Route Paper Co.  (September 2006 - August 2007)
Story of My Own (November 2006 - April 2007)

Previously Published in:
Creating Keepsakes:
July 2005 (1 layout)
August 2005 (1 layout)
May 2006 (1 layout)
30-Minute Pages Special Issue (2 layouts)

Scrapbooks, Etc:
Nov/Dec 2005 (1 layout)
Jan/Feb 2006 (1 layout)
Oct 2006 (1 layout)
November 2006 (1 layout)
Made in Minutes Special Issue (1 layout)
Baby Special Issue (1 layout)

Autumn Leaves:
Freestyle Idea Book (9 layouts)
Freestyle 2 Idea Book (4 layouts)

RESIDENT DESIGNER

This is absolutely exciting !!!  My name is Aida Haron and being invited into Made With Love’s Design Team is such a huge thrill. When the gorgeous, jewel of a shop opened, I really did wish I could permanently camp in, and I guess this is as close as the wish coming true !

I am mother to two girls : Nura who is nine and Stasha, fourteen. Augustine, my husband of twenty six years, is amazingly supportive, and the truest enabler in my freedom to pursue scrapbooking to this current level.

Anything *ART* or hand-made has always fascinated me. Two and the half years ago, a chance walk into a stamping shop with its exquisite display of stamps and hand-made cards caused me to become irresistibly hooked ! It seemed natural to go into scrapbooking when I wanted to do more with my growing collection of stamps. My strengths are elegant layouts that are textured, touched with accents that have been re-worked or are self made. Mostly I scrap in the 12 x 12 format and I love, love the challenge of creating mini books filled with details and surprises. I scrap about my family the most, as well as my feelings and phases in my life. Real life ain’t always pretty, and scrapping  a page provides me with a way to see the moments more objectively from the distance of time and they always remind me I have loads to be thankful for

2007 is going to be a great year for Made With Love and I am just so happy to be along for the ride !

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Moderator ~ Scrapbook Gang Moms4Moms (2005 to current)
Design Team: Buzz and Bloom, an Australian Craft Manufacturer (2007)
Fancy Pants Honourble Mention Jan 2007
Design Team: Scrapgal (August – October 2006)
Prima Marketing Manufacturer’s Album winner ~ August 2006
To be published layout ~ Scrapbook Trend’s June 2007issue

RESIDENT DESIGNER

Hi, I am Soo Jen. Single but attached to my family of four, my fulltime vocation, my closest friends, my godson, and to this life enriching thing known as scrapbooking or memories keeping or life journey documenting…

I have always been and still am interested and energized by art, crafts and the arts. Since a child, I’ve dabbled in quite a number of crafts and art, such as doodling, sketching, origami, Chinese calligraphy, jewellery making, card making, stamping, paper toling, and pottery. So much so that my house is filled with craft materials and unfinished projects collected over the years. So when I stumbled upon Made With Love when it was a little booth area at the forum area of Liang Court, I held myself back from starting on another new craft. But not for long. Very soon, I was purchasing the materials at the shop and it was not till 2 months later that I started scrapping, with guidance and ideas from Elvira. Since then it has been no turning back…and months after, I was given the opportunity to try my hand at teaching at the shop on a part time basis. While I am currently taking a break from active teaching, I am grateful to the MWL founders for their confidence and gung ho spirit in taking me on their team of teachers. Teaching and the process of planning out the classes have really helped me expand my repertoire of techniques and challenged my creativity. And now, I have been invited to be on this very talented MWL Design Team. Such honour.

What I love about scrapbooking is the SPACE it provides me to explore, experiment, exercise, and experience creating and creativity, in the process of documenting life’s precious moments and memories. It also helps me to reach within myself and get in touch with and hold the loves, the joys, the pains, the sadness, the hurts, the fun, the excitement, the fears and so much more of my being and my life. To embrace all that life is, can be, will be, might be, shall be…to me…and then to record them on paper in a creative manner. To remember, to reflect upon, to grow along with and to be the person who can reach out not only to herself but to others through a craft I so enjoy.

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Previous Design team: The Scrappers Loft (January 2006 – December 2006)

RESIDENT DESIGNER

My name is Emeline and i am a blessed SAHM to 2 very precious children. I began scrapbooking 3 years ago after the birth of my daughter.

In the beginning, i merely journalled and pasted pictures onto albums. Along the way, things got interesting and more products became available. I began to add more and more onto my pages ! This addiction of making my pages look pretty became a lifestlye - and most importantly to record life's precious moments.

I love to play with colours and finds that scrapbooking is theraputic and a form of self expression. I am neat freak and needs my surrounding to be in order for me to function. It's a really a challenge to scrapbook with young kids around; ironically, they are my source of inspiration. I am thankful to have a very understanding and supportive husband who wholeheartedly encourages and provide for my passion in scrapbooking.

I am thankful and feel blessed to have several opportunities knocking on my doors and i hope to use my layouts to reach out to fellow scrappers. As i learn along the way, i hope to inspire and be inspired by you! I truly am honoured and humbled to be part of the team!

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Blog: www.scrapvilla.blogspot.com

Current Design Teams:
Fancy Pants Design 2007
Frances Meyer 2007-2008
Scissor Sisters 2007

to be published layout :
Memory Makers Annual Idea Magazine (oct 2007), Scrapbooking Memories (Au) (oct 2007)

RESIDENT DESIGNER

Hello! My name is Merdrey and I love anything artsy! Before ‘scrapbooking’ has any real meaning to me other than sticking stuff in jotter books, I was a stick-my-photos-in-non-acid-free-albums-with-tons-of-memorabilia scrapper. Photography was also on my list of likes and I was always going around saying ‘Take photo Take photo!’

Sometime in late 2006, my cousin told me about a craft shop hiding in a corner of Plaza Singapura. There, I discovered a treasure cove full of scrapbooking materials and I was hooked! What better way to preserve both my photos and the memories at the same time!! I did my first layout in Feb’07 and I just kept going. I am quite a dreamer and I love to think about new ideas, techniques and materials to incorporate into my layouts. My dream is to be able to think out of the box each time I scrap and be able to scrap with any supplies and photos I have! Being on the design team of Made With Love gives my that great opportunity and I hope that you will be inspired by my creations, just like I am inspired by yours =)

Scrapbooking provides the creativity and element of surprise I need in my life as no two layouts will be the same. So, follow your heart, grab your supplies and scrap!

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Blog: dreamieland.livejournal.com

RESIDENT DESIGNER

Hi! My name is Anne-Marie and I'm very happy and excited to come onboard the team at MWL.
When and how I got into scrapbooking? It's been almost 5 years and it's thanks to my sis, Brenda who got me into the place of 'no return'. I have 2 children and they are my main inspirations for scrapping. And through the years, I've found how enriching scrapbooking has been to my family and myself. Not forgetting the many good friends I've gained and a new family at MWL.
I'm thrilled to be invited to share my passion and come up with creative and fun activities for MWL scrappers. Looking forward to meeting more of you!

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Blog: muffyvan.wordpress.com

Current Design Teams:
Tinkering Ink

Previous Design Teams:
The Scrappers Loft (January 2006 – December 2006)
Eye Candy Kits (January 2007 - April 2007)
Dare or Not Guest Designer (March 2007)

RESIDENT DESIGNER

Heeelo! My name is Erlia, but most people call me Lia. I’ve been blessed with loving parents who encouraged my love in crafts since I was a child, and as a result I’ve dabbled in many handicraft hobbies in my 27 years! When I stepped into MWL some 18 months ago, I fell in love with the pretty supplies and my hoarding instinct immediately took over! So much so that I believe it has helped my scrapping style to evolve to what it is now – I try to utilize my stash of pretty embellishments as much as possible! ;) I love using flowers, buttons, ribbons and blings on my work, with random touches of patterned paper cutouts.

I’ve never been good at Art in school, but being able to enjoy scrapbooking and producing very satisfying work gives me hope that I might have an Arty bone after all! I love seeing the happy faces of my family and friends when they look at my artwork – and at the end of the day, spreading the joy of scrapbooking makes it all worthwhile.

What I love about scrapbooking is its ability to expand a person’s creativity, and how it can transcend any ‘barriers’ like race, language, religion and sex which we would normally wall ourselves up with. I’ve gotten to know oh-so-many wonderful people from scrapbooking, many of whom have become my close friends. Scrapbooking has enriched my life in so many ways, and I’m so thankful to MWL for introducing me to this hobby. A very big thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in me and giving me this opportunity to be part of the extremely talented Design Team, and also to share the beauty which is scrapbooking with other Made With Lovers!! See you all around!

Lotsa Lovin’, Lia

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Blog: http://lialuvsblythes.blogspot.com

RESIDENT DESIGNER

Hello there! My name is Leena, I’m a mother to a wonderful 3 year old boy, Ethan and I’m married to my best friend Rainer of 6 years. My 2 lovely “girls”, both are Jack Russell Terriers, Belle & Piggie have been my best companion for years & they’re very much part of my family!

When I discovered MWL in Feb ’07, it was like love-at-first sight & I just fell in love with all the wonderful SB things they can offer! I’m so passionate about my new found interest that I’m always scouring for inspiration through my family & friends. They are truly supportive of my interest in scrapbooking, especially my dear DH. He is constantly amazed with what I create because he knows that I am one person who would draw a cat that will look like anything but a cat!! lol….. ; )

Scrapbooking has given me the pleasure of relieving myself from a hard day at work. It has also given me the opportunity to bring out the creative side of me which I never knew I had. My years of traveling in my early years have also given me tons of inspiration I need to pursue my interest. And most importantly, scrapbooking helps me preserve memories for my future generation.

Besides scrapbooking, I spend the best part of my time reading, learning photography, inline skating, spending time with my family & hanging out with my friends.

I am so excited to be here to share my passion for scrapbooking with everyone else & I am truly blessed to be given my first ever DT assignment by MWL. And I can’t say enough how honoured I am to be part of the team!

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Blog : http://findingnana.wordpress.com

To be published ~
Scrapbook Trends Feb 2008 Issue (Mini Album)