Kids Will Be Kids

Hello again, blogging world! It's been a while. I'd like to share this layout I made of my baby cousin, Andrea. I used lots of bright colors for this one to reflect the happy, lively nature that kids always possess. I hope you like it!

Journaling:

We thought it was so funny that you

practically begged for ice cream on such a

cold winter's day. What a delight you are,

Andrea!

Isn't she just sooo cute??

Thanks for dropping by! Until the next post!

Of Love and Hearts

Hello again! So happy that I've finally found the time to get crafty again and post my projects in this blog! Oh, you just don't know how much I've been wanting to design, cut and paste again... Just got so busy with work lately.

So let me talk about my newest project! I've been thinking about making some Valentines Cards to sell to my officemates for Valentines Day {obviously} and since December, I've been eagerly researching and compiling inspirations from websites and magazines. I'm not actually after the profit, I might actually sell them at break-even cost {though I'm hoping to get a little extra}. I simply want to practice techniques and get enough money to buy supplies again. That way, I won't be spending my own money but using my sales instead.

For my first four cards, I practiced distressing or coloring edges using inks in order to create dimension and emphasize the shapes. Here's some pictures so you'll see what I mean..

All four of them!

A simple layout of using two patterned papers,

a "love you" stamp and a heart sticker. Easy as pie!

Distressed all three hearts and stamped

"hugs&kisses" using brown ink

Distressed both the frame and the heart.

Stamped the words "to you from me"

Stamped swirls and distressed

heart's edges with brown ink

What do you think?

Hmm.. I've been thinking of maybe doing a tutorial or a step-by-step procedure on making one of these cards. If I'm lucky, I might be able to find some time over the weekend to do just that!

Please do visit again..=) Thanks!

When Push Comes to Shove

My husband, Ron, celebrated his birthday a few days after Christmas and I wanted to make it a bit more special by making him a birthday card. Okay, before I go into other details, let me first lower your expectations for this project. hehe It had to be the most challenging I'd ever done for three reasons:

1. It was an "overnight" project. In all the Christmas rush, I absolutely found no time to create this beforehand and had to do it overnight to give to him when he arrives the next day!

2. I was home in the province where not one "crafts" store has ever ventured and the best things you can find for your project are cartolina, pentel pen, glue and scotch tape!

3. B-L-A-C-K-O-U-T. Can you believe that? I really thought not being able to find better materials was the worst that could happen. But NO, the whole town just had to experience a blackout.

Despite all these, I really cherish the time I spent making this one. I settled myself in our dining area (no other more spacious table to work on) and had my whole family around me telling stories, making jokes and just catching up. That's one positive thing about blackouts: Everyone has got nothing to do (no TV, no computers) but gather around and talk. hehe My brother even joked that blackout time is family time! hehe I used a kinetic rechargeable lamp (the one with a lever that you manually turn to recharge) while working and it went out every few minutes so that my younger brother had to manually recharge it for me. And let's not talk about the humidity when no electric fans or airconditioners are working! hehe Took pictures of it the next morning..

So, no, this is definitely not my best project but I can really say that this is, by far, the one most
laboured with love..=)




This is my version of the famous chipboard album where each page represents a letter of the word. Since most of the people from my hometown have never heard or seen a chipboard, I was forced to use cartolina instead.. hehe Well, my husband loved it and that's all that matters. *wink*

P.S.
We're newly-weds so we're still allowed to be cheesy and a bit corny.. hehehe

Merry Christmas!

Sorry for being quiet for a while. I've been meaning to post for the last few days but parties, family and Christmas activities just did not allow for it. Oh, I'm having a really meaningful Christmas season! Aside from the fact that this is the first Christmas for Ron and me as husband and wife, I spent Christmas with his big, happy family in Legazpi City. A bit sad because it was my first Christmas away from home but they were so wonderful that I so enjoyed the few days I spent with them nevertheless. The whole family spent the day before Christmas at a far flung town in Albay, giving food and old clothes to some 15 families. It was really heartwarming to see how happy one can make others by simply sharing. Here are a few pictures I took.

December 26 came and I excitedly left for home to attend my mom's birthday and spend the rest of the season with my family. It's just sooo wonderful to see everyone again after being away most of the year. Oh and I managed to complete my gift for Mama too! hehe I'm happy to say she loved it very much..

The box I decorated to store the mini album/scrapbook in.


A closer look at the saying that was just right for my mom..


To the birthday celebrant with love..


My Mama.


Zooming in on the pretty flower embellishments.


Just showing that I forgot to erase the pencil marks. hahaha

December 25 may be well over but lucky for me I live in the Philippines where people celebrate the longest Christmas season in the world! Visit our country and you'll see Christmas decorations and hear Christmas carols until middle of January. hehe It's true! So even though this may be a bit late for other people, straight from the heart of a proud Filipina, Merry Christmas to you and to your loved ones! Wishing you a better year ahead wherever you may be out there.. May your days be filled with laughter, memories, love and a whole lot of creativity! =)

Thanks for dropping by!

For the Most Wonderful Mom in the World

My mom and I have always been close but we became much, much closer three years ago when I moved from Cebu to Manila for work. Ironic, I know. Our relationship was inversely proportional to the physical distance between us. I moved farther away, we got closer as mom and daughter. Maybe it was because I already had money for long-distance calls. hehe Since then, she has been my confidante and I hers.

So anyway, it's my mom's birthday on the 26th! And you're invited to come and celebrate with us in Zamboanga del Norte!! hehe

I'm {desperately} trying to make her a handmade mini-album/scrapbook that I know she'll love.. With only a few days until the event, I really, really hope I'll get in done in time. So far, here are a few pages I've completed..





I also plan to have a page for each family member with a solo picture (just like the one above) where he/she can write sweet nothings for Mama..

So what do you think? I hope she won't see this post before we give her the gift.. ;)

Thanks for visiting!