Love that Lolly

The last and fourth Kaya challenge for the month is to create a double page. Man! What a surprise! I haven't done a double page in ages! The last time I made a double page layout was back in 2006, I think. Oh, I love Becky Higgins and her double layout sketches. But I just haven't done something like this in a looong time. But I'm glad this challenge came up. Here's my take.


Title: Love that Lolly

Materials: Prima papers and flowers; Bazzil cardstock; Autumn Leaves chipboard flourish; AMM brads; Heide Swapp flower; Love Elsie epoxy sticker; Imaginesce stamp; Alpha stickers - Scenic Route, AAS, Craft Express; Staedler pen; Colorbox ink; Fiskars lace border puncher

Journaling: I do not usually encourage eating sweets at such a young age. But it would be very unfair if I let your sisters eat the lollipop and say 'no' to you. So I relented and allowed you your first lollipop. Funny because you didn't know how to suck it! You bit into it and kept at it until you started drooling. You are such a cutie baby! We love you! - Alyssa, age 1

Toys for the Big Girls

The Journaling Junkie challenge for the week is on Brand Names. My layout is all about Nadine and Raya's favorite toy brands. We cannot go to the mall without first passing by their stores to look at the toys they want. Just look, not buy. They perfectly know that expensive toys are for special occasions only. And they certainly want the expensive ones. LOL!


Title: Toys for the Big Girls

Journaling:
Gone are the days of generic toys!
Nadine and Raya are old enough to know what they want.
And they definitely want the branded ones.
Nov 2008

The Dancing Castrillos

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Just Be Yourself

The 3rd Kaya Challenge for the month of November is to use distressing techniques on your layout. I thought this challenge is perfect for a personal layout for my 2nd daughter, Raya. At five years old, her strong character and personality are more evident now. I have seen how this is manifested in her relationship with her sisters. I have always worried about her having the middle child syndrome but so far I see that she is able to assert herself in some way while still valuing her sisters. She is such a great person! This is my tribute for her.

I used the Studio Azul October kit for this layout. I love the SA kits! (Hi Tin!) I feel so deprived here in Cagayan de Oro of new scrapbook items so subscribing to their kits have made me a little more up to date with new products and materials. :-)

By the way, I took the photo using my Nikon D60 camera and an 18-55mm lens. :-)

Title: Just Be Yourself

Materials: American Crafts and Prima papers, American Crafts alphabet thickers, Prima Essential 4 flowers, Chinese button, Scenic Route Butterfly Chipboard, All About Scrapbooking brads, Letter Rub Ons, Whispers Archival Ink, Staedler Pen

Journaling: I realize now that it isn't easy being the middle of three sisters. I watch you as you patiently deal with Nadine's wants and Alyssa's demands and I admire you for being so understanding. But you are not a pushover! You assert yourself, at times, with dignity and strength when you feel you need to. You are a beautiful person, Raya! And I love you very much! Always remember that! Raya - age 5

Memory Lane Store Guest Designer for November

My sister-in-law, Sherly, and I were tapped by Helen to be the Guest Design Team of Memory Lane Store for the month of November. What an honor! We went to visit Helen in her store in Sta. Mesa when I went to Manila last October. I was tasked to create layouts using DCWV Grade School Paper. Great timing because I had so many school photos of Nadine and Raya that needed to be scrapped. :-) Here are what I was able to come up with. You can also view them at the store gallery.


Title: Back to School - Junior Kinder
Materials: DCWV cardstock, patterned papers and foil chipboard, Daisy D's ribbon, Prima flowers, Staedler pen, Others: staple wires and rub ons
Journaling: First day of school is always exciting! New bags, new books, new shoes. Excited to see old classmates and friends. Excited to play and learn new things. Raya - age 4


Title: Girl Scout
Materials: DCWV patterned papers, alpha stickers and foil chipboard, Daisy D's ribbon, Autumn Leaves Chipboard flourishes, Scenic Route cardstock stickers, Staedler pen, Others: acrylic bracket
Journaling: Being a girl scout wasn't a requirement during my time. And since I was more interested in theaters and arts, I didn't give it much thought. But I'm glad that things are different now and you have to be one. Scouting teaches you discipline, honesty and concern for others --- values that I believe would make a good person. Plus, you look good in the uniform. :-)


Title: Nursery Class
Materials: DCWV cardstock and patterned papers, Daisy D's ribbons, SEI rub ons, Prima flowers, MM jewel brads


Title: You Make Us Proud
Materials: DCWV cardstock and patterned papers; Autumn Leaves Chipboard flourishes; Prima flowers; brads; Staedler pen; American Crafts thickers; Jenni Bowlin Studio alpha stickers
Journaling: Nadine -- 1st honors and Gold Medalist, Pre-school Graduation, 15 March 2008, ROSEVALE SCHOOL


Title: Grade One
Materials: DCWV patterned papers, cardstock and foil chipboard; SEI rub ons; Prima flowers; Staedler pen; Autumn Leaves Chipboard flourishes; MM jewel brads;
Journaling: I feel like I just blinked and you suddenly grew up! Can't believe you are now in Grade One and wearing the big girl uniform. You look so cute! I love you very much! June 2008


Title: Senior Kinder Class
Materials: DCWV patterned papers and cardstock; Prima flowers; Autumn Leaves Chipboard flourishes; MM jewel brads;


Title: Awards
Materials: DCWV patterned papers; Prima flowers; brads; Staedler pen; American Crafts thickers;
Journaling: Raya was awarded ribbons for Most Affectionate and Most Creative during their Recognition Day. 14 March 2008

Then using the scraps, I decorated these notebooks for my kids' teachers. :-)

Thanks for looking!

The Shoe Bandit

It's my turn to set the challenge at Journaling Junkie this week. This is an old layout (Raya was only a year old here!) but one of my favorites. I really liked how I journaled about Raya's fetish for shoes other than hers. I tried to write it like a news story. Thanks to my dear kumare, Joanne, who helped me come up with the title. Thanks also to fellow Scrappin' Mom, Liza, who gave me the shoe for the layout. :-)

Title: The Shoe Bandit

Journaling: The shoe bandit strikes again. Dressed in her pajamas all ready for bed. Who would have thought that she would take another adventure in Tita Ovvian's room and swipe the most coveted shoes? Waddling and struggling to balance herself with the shoes almost twice her own shoe size, the bandit is apprehended and sent off to bed with tickles and giggles. Indeed there is no telling when she will strike. So beware!

Almost 5

I did this layout for Raya to remind us of the stuff she likes and enjoys doing right before she turned five years old.

Incidentally, the challenge over at Mothers and Daughters Creations was to use homemade buttons. I kept on racking my brains as to how to create the buttons and decided on punching a letter "o" using my Fruit Smoothie Sizzlits (and not removing the middle part) then boring two holes in it with my eyelet setter. I thought my buttons looked cute, don't you think? :-) I used the Basic Grey Sugared Collection for this layout. Do drop by the MDC Challenge Blog to check what the others came up with.

Title: Almost 5

Materials: BG Sugared collection, Prima flowers, AMM brads, AAS foam letter stickers, 7 gypsies journaling card, foam, Sizzlits Fruit Smoothie letter "o", Others: chipboard number 5

Journaling: Happiness Card 1. elephants, 2. littlest pet shoppe 3. peanut butter sandwiches, 4. hotdogs and eggs 5. anything Barbie 6. arts and crafts 7. swimming 8. the color PINK 9. Nadine and Alyssa 10. reading books

Two years ago when Nadine was the same age, I created a similar layout for her. It's amusing how my style has evolved over the years. But I think I'm still a simple scrapper. I just have newer and better scrapbook materials. LOL! Thanks for looking!

Mine

Second-of-four Kaya Challenges for the month of November is to make use of Negative Space. According to Wikipedia, Negative Space, in art, is the space around and between the subject(s) of an image. The challenge is to create a page focusing on negative space.

For my layout, I chose three photos of each of my girls which I also used for a shadowbox I made for my father-in-law for his birthday. I'm glad to be able to scrap them again, this time for myself.

I love these pictures of my girls. I think their characters are very evident in them. I also love the outcome of my layout. I think it gave emphasis on the photos.

Title: Mine

Journaling: Nothing makes me prouder than to call you... mine.

Materials: American Crafts cardstock, DCWV patterned paper, SEI patterned papers and epoxy stickers, Maya Road chipboard, Scenic Route cardstock journaling stickers, Fiskars border puncher, Sizzlits Round-A-Bout on foam, Staedler pen

Just Us Girls

This week's challenge at Journaling Junkie is to follow a sketch made by Annie with the following criteria:
- the layout should be feminine
- at least one pink item on the page
- hand stitched flourishes
- the girl symbol somewhere on the page (like the symbol on the bathroom doors)
- and of course journaling since it's a journaling blog. :-)

Here's the sketch:
And here's my interpretation:


Title: Just Us Girls

Journaling: I love having three girls to giggle and talk with. I'm definitely looking forward to just enjoying them --- shopping, eating and singing. Girls are so much fun! Need I say more? :-)

Remember, any LO submitted for any week in October and November in Journaling Junkie gets you a ticket in the draw for a very yummy prize. Head over there and check out the challenges. Good luck!

The Apple of His Eye

I really love this picture of my dad and my daughter, Nadine. I know my dad loves each and everyone of my kids equally but I guess I feel that being the first grandchild, Nadine has a special bond with him. I thought this was perfect for the Scrappin Kids challenge to scrap about a relationship with your little one.


Title: The Apple of His Eye

Materials: Patterned Papers: Sassafras Lass, MM Noteworthy; Cardstock: Bazzil; Prima Flowers; AMM brads; American Crafts thickers; Staedler pen; Others: chipboard flourish, rub ons,

Journaling: Being the first grandchild, you have a special place in Abu's heart. (Note: Abu is short for Abuelito, Grandfather in Spanish. That's what my kids call my dad.)

Beautiful Smile

This layout is my first-of-four Kaya Challenges for the month of November. The challenge is to incorporate a bow into your layout.

This one is of my oldest daughter Nadine who can be very vain at times. So much so that when she lost her two front teeth, she was aghast! She was in tears and refused to go to school saying that she "looked funny." Mier and I had to patiently talk to her and assure her that losing her front teeth was very natural and everyone goes through it. I dug out pictures and layouts from the Internet just to show her that a lot of children have also lost their front teeth. Thank God she was finally consoled and when she went to school that day, she noticed that a number of her classmates also did not have front teeth too. Hehehe!

Title: Beautiful Smile

Journaling: You were so conscious about losing your front teeth. You didn't want to go to school because you said you "looked funny." It took a lot for Daddy and me to convince you that everybody goes through this and that what really matters is the goodness of your heart. Besides you have a beautiful smile --- with or without your front teeth. We love you!

Materials: Papers, stickers, alpha stickers, borders - Basic Grey Sugared collection; MM journaling pad; Others - ribbon

Mothers and Daughters Creations DT!

Oh my goodness! Was so surprised to see this! Woohoo! I am so excited and honored to be part of the Mothers and Daughters Creations Design Team. I can't wait to work with my awesome co-DT members! :-)

Flower Power

Because my father-in-law's birthday falls on Halloween and we were in Cavite for the party, Alyssa wasn't able to dress up for trick or treat this year. Good thing a few months back, my friend's son had a costume party and Alyssa was able to wear this flower costume. Isn't she adorable?

Title: Flower Power

Journaling: Alyssa was definitely the cutest at the costume party. no wonder she won best in costume. Alyssa at 11 months

Materials: Studio Azul September kit