Birthday Week!

It has really been a hectic week for me and I expect more busyness next week. It's Nadine's 7th birthday on Sunday and we will be joining Alyssa's birthday party too although her birthday is still on September 9. My in laws will be arriving tomorrow and we are sure to be busy taking them around and enjoying their company. They'll be staying until after Alyssa's birthday. Incidentally, it is also Mier's birthday next week, on the 8th.

Aside from Nadine, Mier and Alyssa, it will also be my mom's 60th birthday on September 2. I am making her an 8x8 album. Will post the pictures as soon as I'm done.

So, no layouts yet right now. I promise to post some next week. Happy weekend everyone!

Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles

Here's my latest contribution to Journaling Junkie with the theme: MIRACLES. If you noticed, I used the same papers as my BLESSED layout. The truth is, I had difficulty using these papers as I felt that these weren't really my style. It certainly was a challenge for me. So I'm happy to note that I not only made one but two layouts using these papers. :-) Thanks for looking!

Title: Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles

Journaling:
...But of all God's miracles great and small,
The most miraculous one of all,
Is the one I thought could never be:

God has given YOU to ME!--- Fiddler on the Roof

Scrapbytes July-August 2008 is out!

We, at Scrappin' Moms, started Scrapbytes E-zine way back in September 2006. At first we wanted to have a locally printed scrapbooking magazine but when we saw the costs involved to do this, we opted to have an E-zine first. (But the printed mag will always be a dream we can work on in the future.)

Almost two years old now and we are still going strong, providing people with inspiration and information about anything that involves this wonderful hobby of ours. Ria has taken over the editor-in-chief reins and has done a very good job with it.

For this issue, I interviewed Lee Imao for the Designer Spotlight portion. I also created this layout for the Same Products, 5 Ways article:

Title: Blessed

Journaling: Many have told me that having 3 daughters is lucky. But who needs luck? When I am already blessed! April 2008

Materials: K&Co Papers, Prima flowers, DWCWV brads, Autumn Leaves Journaling Stamp, Colorbox Ink, Staedler Pen, Sizzix alpha die cuts on foam, Carl Border Puncher, Carl Corner Rounder Puncher, Others: Ricrac and Rubons

Nadine's Happy List at 6

My Nadine will be turning seven years old in a week's time. It may sound cliche but time does seem to go so fast. Nadine has become quite a young lady already --- very sweet, very responsible and very loving. But she will always be my baby. :-)

I asked her to list 10 things that make her happy and this is what she came up with.

Title: Nadine's Happy List at 6

Materials: Sasafrasslas and DCWV papers, Fancy Pants (flourish) and Craft Express (number 6) chipboard, Mrs. Grossman lace sticker, Prima flowers, AMM brads, assorted buttons, Doodletag Sizzix on foam, rub ons, twill Staedler pen, Autumn Leaves stamp, Colorbox ink.

Journaling:

1. Hugs and Kisses
2. Chocolates
3. Sisters
4. Books
5. Swimming
6. Playing
7. School
8. Animals
9. Princess
10. Arts

Altered Clock

I have been a Kaya (Filipino for I can!)lurker for a long time now and have been thinking of joining the challenges but somehow have never been able to. But with Cookie's challenge to alter a clock, well, maybe I just got challenged myself. :-)

I've been wanting to alter a clock since the time I saw Pia Lopez do it a few years back. It isn't as hard as I thought! I was able to finish my clock in about 30 minutes or so and I'm quite happy with the results.

My daughter, Nadine, wasn't too excited at first when she saw me working on my clock. "But I like it as it is," she was insisting that I don't alter it. I told her to just be patient and wait for me to finish. When I was done and showed her my finished product, her reaction was of great joy. "It's beautiful, Mama!" she exclaimed. Now she's asking when I'll be altering the rest of the clocks in our house. Hahaha!

Title: Beautiful Moments, Precious Memories

Journaling:
Life is a series of beautiful moments that, over time, add up to precious memories.

Materials:
Clock, DCWV patterned papers, Bazzil cardstock, Sizzix mini papers, buttons, ricrac, journaling paper

There's Always a First Time!

I've joined contests and challenges before but I do so because it helps lessen my backlog. I've always thought that winning is just the icing on the cake. So when Nette of My Little Attic launched her blog with a contest, I was so game to join in. The challenge was to interpret a sketch by Valerie Salmon. Val does make really interesting sketches so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to do so. And what do you know? Val chose my layout! Wow!

These are pictures of Raya when she had her first pictorial for Smart Parenting magazine way back in 2006. She was only two and a half years old then and she was so adorable during the shoot. When she'd get bored and start to act up, all I had to do was ask her if she wanted to come out in the magazine and when she says yes, then I tell her she will need to behave and do what the photographer asks her to do. That would automatically make her behave and smile her sweetest smile. She was really so cute!

Took a while for me to scrap these photos because I was always looking for the right papers and sketch. Thanks for the opportunity Nette and Val! Here is the winning layout:

Title: Angel Mine

Materials: Bazzil cardstock, Bazzil Decorative Edges, We R Memory Keepers papers, Prima Flowers, Heidi Swapp Flowers, Fancy Pants Die Cut Flower, Fancy Pants Swirl Chipboard, Craft Express Chipboard letters, MM brads, Queen & Co brads, Othres: Label maker and plastic alphas

Journaling: Raya - Age 2, October 2006, Smart Parenting Shoot

I am Brads.

Found this quiz in Arnie's blog and just thought I'd try it. Turns out that I am Brads. :-)

You are Brads! Your life is all about the details! You like to embellish your life like you embellish your scrapbook - with lots of details! You tend to be a perfectionist and like everything just so. You make time to stop and smell the flowers and try to fill your life with things to make you happy. You don't like to take a back seat in life - you like to stand out and are often in leadership roles. People love you because you always seem to have it all together. But Brads Beware - Your life can be overdone with details and can find yourself with too many projects on your plate to finish them all. Try to stay focused and prioritize more.

Interesting huh? Want to know your scrapbooking personality? Check it out here. Let me know what you are by leaving a comment in this post. Thanks!

Only In Mommy's Arms

Did this layout for the "Only In..." challenge at Journaling Junkie. Was racking my brains as to how I would interpret the challenge --- what pictures to use and how to journal it. Then the other night, while I was breastfeeding Alyssa (You know, I just realized that a lot of my bright ideas come while I'm breastfeeding. LOL!), I remembered a series of photos that my cousin Rico took in December 2007 while we were in Manila. I thought this would be perfect and I started forming my journaling in my head.

I love the concept and I love the outcome of my layout! I was so excited that I emailed Stefanie right away and even took a photo of my layout not realizing that it was still unfinished! LOL! Hope you like it too! :-)


Title: Only in Mommy's Arms

Materials: Sassafras Lass papers, Prima flowers, DCWV brads, Sizzlits Fruit Smoothie alphas on foam, Staedler pen, American Crafts Alpha rubons, Glue Dots

Journaling: Only in... Mommy's arms ...do you find comfort when your are sick, scared or down. Remember that I will always be here for you when you need me. I love you very much, Raya!

Page Maps Challenge - Toe Dipper No More

I must say, Becky Fleck of Page Maps makes really interesting sketches. I love how she simplifies pages with her sketches and yet leaves room for creativity. I'm happy that she now has a Page Maps blog and has challenges once in a while. For her most recent sketch challenge using vacation pictures, I created this layout. I turned the sketch to accommodate my picture. I think the wavy side is perfect to mimic water and so does the flourish die cut which I punched using Sizzlits. Plus, of course, Alyssa looks adorable in her baby floater. :-)


Title: Toe Dipper No More

Materials: DCWV Cardstock and Patterned Paper, SEI word patterned paper, American Crafts rub ons, 7 Gypsies Journaling Card, Prima Flowers, DCWV brads, Fruit Smoothie Alpha Sizzlits on foam, MM acrylic paint, Flourish Sizzlits on foam, Others: Circle paper clip

Journaling: April 2008 Like your sisters before you, you were officially introduced to the pool waters at 6 months when we went to Cavite for vacation. I don't think you'll settle for toe dipping again after this.

Featured!

Guess whose layouts are posted in Just Your Average Scrapbook Blog? I'm smiling from ear to ear. :-)

Oldest and Youngest

Nadine has always been the perfect Big Sister to Raya. So it was no wonder that she would be the same for Alyssa. She is always eager to take care of the baby and give her hugs and kisses. Alyssa readily awards her with the sweetest smiles. Such a beautiful bond. Wish they would stay like this forever.

Did this layout using the sketch at Scrap Schemes where my good friend and kumare (her son is my godchild), April, is part of the Design Team.

Materials: DCWV cardstock, Cherry Arte papers, Fancy pants chipboard flourish, Prima flowers, AMM and Queen & Co brads, DCWV chipboard words and heart, Sizzix photo corner on foam, Sizzlits Fruit Smoothie alpha on foam, Staedler pen, Journaling paper

Journaling: Nadine and Alyssa, My oldest and youngest girls. Both have a special bond with each other. Nadine plays her role as big sister quite well, ready to watch over her and entertain her. Alyssa, on the other hand, starts kicking and gets excited as soon as she sees Nadine. I hope their bond gets stronger every year. Nadine-Age 6, Alyssa- 5 months