LSS: Love the Little Things in Life

There's a new challenge over at Little Shop of Sketches. Come and play with us! This week, Lindsey Krauss has her sketches featured. There are two similar sketches and you can use any one of them to inspire you to create your layout:

OR

The photo on my layout is one of my favorites that was taken by my husband. We were at the beach and my baby, Cerise, looked up at me with her adoring eyes (and her tongue sticking out! LOL!) I love it that my husband was able to capture this! It makes me appreciate the little things in life. Someday, Cerise would grow bigger and older and I would definitely miss the time when I am the center of her life.

Title: Love the Little Things in Life

High Hopes

There's a new challenge blog that was launched today! Anne Pennington's Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge showcases a challenge on the 15th of the month with a sketch and a little extra, and on the 30th, a prompt with another little extra. I was fortunate to be a Guest DT for the launch. Do check out their site for the challenges and join in the fun!

The launching challenge is to make a layout that tells about one's dream! In the layout, we must incorporate any two of:

• cloud
• rainbow
• kite, or
• symbols of the dream – you can use a photo or drawing that is representative of your dream.
  

Here's my layout:

Title: High Hopes

Journaling: I have simple but high hopes for the four of you. I pray that you grow up to be strong and independent women. I wish for all of you to be successful in whatever you wish to pursue. I hope that you find peace and contentment in life. I dream that you be the best that you can be and make a difference in our world. I love you all very much! Be happy!

Part of the challenge also is to include a link to a scrapbooking technique or tool video in the blog posting for this challenge. I've been a big fan of Becky Higgins and love her philosophy on Documenting Life. Here's a video I found on her blog:

Thanks for looking! Come on in and join in the fun!

Out and About

I was fortunate to find time to scrap again last night. The creative process gives me such a sense of relaxation. I am at my element when I scrap. :-) I used the July 21 Sketch of Sassy Lil' Sketches which uses three horizontal photos on the right side of a 12x12 paper. I also found this site --- Scrap that Baby! --- that has prompts in scrapping babies under 4 years old. This is just right for Cerise's layouts. Alyssa is still three but turning four in a few months, so I guess I can still use some of her pictures. Here's my layout. Thanks for looking!

Title: Out and About

Journaling: Because of your weak immune system, we don't take you to malls or highly crowded places lest you pick up germs and get sick again. But on this day, we and other families spent the day at the beach. You enjoyed the fresh air and warm sun. It's so nice to see you out and about. We love you very much, Cerise! April 09, 2011

Climb

Title: Climb

Journaling: I watched with pride as you climbed the 2nd time. Before that, you froze midway up, panicked and cried to be brought down. I thought that would discourage you to climb again. But no. Again, you climbed. I love your perseverance! I love your passion! I love your spunk! I love you, Raya! July 31, 2010

I just love how this layout turned out! Raya has always been my bold and independent adventurer. So I wasn't surprised when she gamely wanted to wall climb one Saturday afternoon. As she put on her harness and started climbing she got cold feet halfway to the top and started crying uncontrollably. We brought her down and soothed but after a few minutes, I asked her if she wanted to climb again, and she surprisingly said yes. My heart swelled with pride that she didn't easily give up. She went on to climb 3 more times, not really going very high up but at least she would try and not give up. :-) I am just so proud of her!

I used the 7.21 Sketch of Sketchy Thursday for this layout. Thanks for looking!

Sassy Lil' Sketches DT and a layout: Let's Read

I just love sketches! So it is with great pleasure and honor that I announce that I was chosen to be part of the Sassy Lil' Sketches DT! I am part of the "Switch it Up" Saturday Team where we can flip, rotate, use a different number or orientation of pictures, make it a double page layout or anything else we can think of that shows how to stretch the use of the sketches. Phew! What a challenge! And I can't wait to start on mine. Check out the site in August for the start of our challenge. :-)

In the meantime, here's my take on the July 14 Sketch of Sassy Lil' Sketches. I've had this background paper for years and I'm just so glad that I was finally able to use it. LOL! Thanks for looking!

Title: Let's Read

Journaling: Reading is a passion in our home. Whether it be books, magazines, I Spy, comics, etc. we readily embrace our love for it. And it brings me joy to see us all into it. Books will bring us to far away places and allow us to experience adventures. Enjoy the little moments. :-)

LSS: Family 2011

Want a challenge? Check out Sketch 89 of Little Shop of Sketches for this week! The sketch, by Anne Pennington, makes use of multiple photos that are small in size. You can see the DT's different interpretations of the sketch using bigger photos or less number of photos, etc. The ideas are endless! This is the sketch:

I had printed wallet size photos that I wanted to use for this layout but wasn't sure whether to cut them out or not. I decided to just tweak the sketch a bit to accommodate my photos. :-)

By the way, check out the corners of my layout. I brought out my stamps and wanted to use them but found myself limiting myself to just those corner stamps and a flourish stamp in the middle. Hmmm... I'm a little timid playing with stamps and paints. Need to be more bold about that. Will try next time. :-) So here's my layout:

Title: Family 2011

Check out the rest of the DT's work over at Little Shop of Sketches. You'll be amazed with all the creations. :-) And if you decide to use the sketch, upload them at our Ning site or Facebook page for all of us to see. :-) Thanks!

Full of Life

One of the best ways to encourage myself to scrap is to join blog challenges. I've been following quite a number of blogs and picking up ideas from them. I'm usually happy with the stuff I've created guided by these blogs. Here's my layout:

Title: Full of Life

Journaling: My dearest Cerise, I admire you for yiur strength and courage. you have been through so much in your young life and yet, you continue to be good-natured and cheerful. You have taught me to embrace life as it is and to trust in Him for peace and strength. You are so dear to us and we love you so very much! Thank you for your presence. Love, Mom

I brought out my paints and stamps for this layout. I think I need to practice more using these media. Hehehe! I used the challenge at Color Combo Galore to use these colors:


I also used the July 7 Sketch over at Sassy Lil' Sketches but I turned the sketch clockwise to accommodate my photo.


Lastly, I used the journaling prompt at Bird is the Word to make use of the word Admire in your title or journaling. You can read my journaling at the bottom of my layout.

Combining challenges was fun to do. I'm sure to do it again sometime. :-) Thanks for looking!

Buwan ng Wika

I'm afraid I haven't been very productive with scrapping lately. My baby has been sick for the last two weeks and as usual, sick babies make me really tired and sleepy which I take advantage of during my free time. I was able to squeeze in some "me" time last week and I was able to make a layout based on Got Sketch? Sketch 121.

I worked on Alyssa's Buwan ng Wika pictures last year. Buwan ng Wika is a Filipino term roughly translated to Language Month. It is actually a month long cultural celebration in schools that showcase everything about the Philippines. Alyssa is wearing an authentic Ifugao (an ethnic group) costume given by my father-in-law to my girls. I love how she looks wearing the costume. :-) Here is my layout:

Title: Buwan ng Wika

Journaling: I was so happy and proud that you agreed to wear the Ifugao costume for Buwan ng Wika. You look so cute! So patriotic! Aug. 2010

Thanks for looking!

LSS: Howdy

It's time for a new sketch over at Little Shop of Sketches! I'm so proud of being part of this Design Team because all the layouts are awesome! Love everybody's interpretations of the sketch. And I've already picked up one or two design tips from each one. Great work! Here is Sketch 88 created by Anne Pennington:


I knew right away which pictures to use for the sketch and how I'd like it to come out. Doesn't Alyssa, my DD3, look adorable in these photos? This was her first time on a horse and she was brave enough to ride on her own! She just enjoyed the ride. :-)

Title: Howdy

Journaling: This was your first time to ride a horse and you insisted on doing it on your own. :-) Alyssa - 2 years old

Check out the rest of the DT's work over at Little Shop of Sketches. You'll be swept away, I'm sure. :-) And if you decide to use the sketch, upload them at our Ning site or Facebook page for all of us to see. :-) Can't wait to see your creations! Thanks for looking!

Big 7

I cannot resist multiple photo sketches! It's the best way to put more photos in a scrapping page and I just love it! So when I saw the June 21 Sketch from Sassy Lil' Sketches, I couldn't help myself. Teeheehee! Here's my layout using pictures of Raya's 7th birthday party at the beach.

Title: Big 7

Journaling: You wanted a beach party for your 7th birthday. We found the perfect place. You really enjoyed celebrating your day. We love you very much! Nov. 6, 2010


For the design, I incorporated her invitation (printed on photo paper) into the layout. I also used a letter "O" as a slider to emphasize the num 7 on the inch line. I added buttons on top to accent the circle background paper. This was a fun layout to do. Thanks for looking! :-)

Beautiful Sunshine

Another great layout challenge from the PageMaps blog! Couldn't resist using this sketch to scrap Cerise's 8th month photos. She is such a cutie! Our sunshine at home. :-) Here's is the sketch:

And here is my layout. I used my Basic Grey Sugar Rush papers for this. I printed the journaling block from my computer and cut it out. Cerise is such a cutie!

Title: Beautiful Sunshine

Journaling: Cerise, you brighten up our days with your smile and loud sounds. You are such a sweetheart and we love you so very much! May 14, 2011

GDT Butterfly Crafts: Dressing Up

My layout, 4+3=7, was chosen as the April winner for Butterfly Crafts's April challenge. For this, I am the blog's June Guest Designer. Woohoo! :-) For this month, the challenge is to create a layout following this sketch:


And this is my layout... I used the picture of my parents-in-law and all their grandchildren when we got together with them last October. Incidentally, my father-in-law's birthday falls on the same day as Halloween. That time, we decided to have the kids dress up in costumes which they enjoyed doing.

Title: Dressing Up

Journaling: Since Lolo's birthday falls on Oct 31, Halloween, this is the perfect opportunity for dressing up. You were all excited to choose your costumes and are all already thinking of what to wear the next time. Oct 31, 2010 Bacoor, Cavite

Head on to Butterfly Crafts and check out the rest of the DT's work. You may want to join in for this month's challenge. Who knows? Your layout may be chosen too. :-)

Cupcake

Here's another page for Alyssa. I have so many backlog pictures to scrap that I don't know where to begin! LOL! Wish I could have a whole day of scrapping so I can get a lot of layouts done too. :-)

Title: Cupcake

Journaling: Alyssa, you looked adorable with your mouth full of cupcake crumbs. This is one of your favorites. :-) Alyssa - 2 years old

Club CK

Woohoo! Just found out that my layout Life is Good was chosen as one of the inspirations for Club CK for the week. I am so thrilled!

Every week, some of the editors from Creating Keepsakes magazine check out the gallery for the most inspirational layouts. CK Amber Ellis liked my layout "because of its warmly colored layered paper that frames the beautiful photo, attracting the eye instantly."

Thank you Club CK! It is such an honor! :-) Here is my layout again. This was created in January 2010, when I just found out that I was pregnant with Cerise. :-)

Journaling: I love this photo! It reminds me of how blessed I am to have a wonderful husband, three adorable and beautiful girls and another one coming soon! Indeed, I am blessed! Indeed Life is Good!

LSS: Mine

The first sketch reveal of Little Shop of Sketches is now live! I've actually been waiting for this for a week already because I've been so excited to see everyone's creations! I'm not disappointed, believe me! The layouts are all fabulous! Here is Sketch #87:

I have to admit that I got the jitters while doing this sketch. LOL! I kept on changing pictures and looking at papers that match. Took awhile before I finally decided on what to scrap and how to do it. Hehehe! This is another page of my youngest girl, Cerise. She is just such a joy!

Title: Mine

Journaling: I look at you with awe and wonderment. How blessed I am to have you as mine. Cerise --- 2 months

Do check out the rest of the DT's work over at Little Shop of Sketches and give some love! Better yet, make a layout on the sketch and upload them at our Ning site or Facebook page for all of us to see. :-) Can't wait to see your creations! Thanks for dropping by!

Amazing

I finished this page the other night about my youngest daughter, Cerise, who just turned nine months old.

Cerise has gone through so much in her young life --- At 1 week old, she was hospitalized for sepsis, a blood infection. About the same time, she was also discovered to have congenital heart disease. At 2 months, she had anemia and was diagnosed as a failure to thrive infant. At 3 months, we found out about her thyroid problem. At 5 months, she was again hospitalized for amoebiasis. Two months after, her thyroid acted up again and this time her liver enzymes are up too. Despite all her health problems, she is such a happy and cheerful baby, always ready to give a smile to us. She is one amazing little baby. :-)

I used Sassy Lil' Sketches June 14 sketch. Incidentally they also have a DT Call. :-)


I also used Color Combos Galore 197 for this layout. I thought the colors were just fitting for this picture of Cerise.
And last but not the least, I used the challenge in Bird is the Word site to use the word "Amazing" in your title or journaling. I'm happy how this layout turned out. Thanks for looking!

Title: Amazing

Journaling: I am sure that anybody who knows what you've been through in your life would agree with me --- you are simply AMAZING!

4 Girls

When I was still young and single, I've always thought I'd have a brood of boys. I was kinda boyish in school although not really athletic. Never did I imagine that I'd be having 4 girls instead. But I would not have it any other way. These girls are my life. :-) I used a PageMaps Sketch for this layout.

Title: 4 Girls

Journaling: to cherish, to nurture, to adore, to take care of, to influence, to pray for, to LOVE

Girl

Here's another page from Cerise's baby album. I love doing her baby pages because I get to see how small and cute she was then. I can't believe how fast they grow. My dad took these photos at the nursery and I'm just so grateful that he also took that hospital announcement with all her statistics. Love that part of the layout. :-)

From the start of the pregnancy, I had a feeling that the baby would be a girl. I know a lot hoped that she would be a boy already since we already had 3 girls, but I just had that feeling. And the truth is, I don't mind having another girl. I love them to pieces. :-)

Title: Girl

Journaling: We knew in our hearts that you would be a girl even before the ultrasound confirmed it. We are thrilled to have you in our lives!

Lovin' the Bumbo

I think I've said it, time and again, that I love sketches. LOL! Another thing I love? Multiple photo sketches! So when this challenge came up at the Page Maps Blog, I just couldn't resist working on it. And I think I've got the perfect photos for it. Isn't Cerise adorable?

Anyway, the challenge is for "scrappers in the United States and Canada, or anyone with a US or Canadian postal address." Hmmm... I've got an aunt in New York and another one in Chicago. Maybe I'll qualify. Hope I'll win. Fingers crossed. :-)

Title: Lovin' the Bumbo

Journaling: Thank you to cousin Brendan for passing on his Bumbo to Cerise! She is now able to practice keeping her head up. She enjoys sitting on it and playing with her sisters. :-) April 28, 2011

Cecilia Amarise

This is the cover page of my baby album for my 4th daughter, Cerise. I'm making an 8x8 album for her and I'm slowly filling up the pages. I've made quite a few layouts already but will post them one by one on this blog instead of one whole album. I'm using PageMaps sketches for this album. Thanks for looking!

LSS Design Team!

Remember my You Make Us Proud! layout? Well, it landed me a DT stint at Little Shop of Sketches!

I am so thrilled to be part of a group of very talented ladies. Please check out the site of who else made it on the team. And do watch out for weekly inspiration from the group. Can't wait to get started!

A Mini Album for Brendan

My sister-in-law and her 1-year old son, Brendan, will be leaving for Canada soon to join Brendan's dad there. We will surely miss them. I thought of creating this 6x6 mini album for Brendan so he'll remember all of us on our side of the family. :-)

Found this 6x6 album in our local department store
C is for Castrillo :-)


Title Page

Cerise is Love Love Love

Here's my take on Pencil Lines Sketch 237. This is my youngest and fourth daughter, Cerise, in an outfit given by my sister-in-law. :-) She loves having her picture taken. LOL! Thanks for looking!

You make us Proud!

There's a DT Call up at Little Shop of Sketches and those who would like to apply should create a new layout based on Sketch 82.

Here's my take on the sketch:

Title: You Make Us Proud!

Hidden Journaling: I have to admit that I was worried that you will not make it to the honor roll. Your 4th and last quarter in school was also the 1st trimester of my pregnancy with Cerise. I was too sick to even get up from bed and I couldn't tutor you for lessons and exams. But you did it! You weren't only on the honor roll but you even made it to the First Honor list! We are so proud of you for bringing home that Gold medal. We love you, Raya!

I love sketches and hopefully a DT stint in a sketch blog would help boost my layout numbers. :-)

4+3=7

Last January 2010, we had a family (my side) picture with only four (4) grandchildren. On that same month, we found out that we, three sisters, were pregnant! (I made layouts for these that are found here.) So in a years time, my parents suddenly had a a baby boom of grandchildren. What fun! This picture was taken right before we went off for New Year's Eve Mass.

I had fun doing this scrap page. I used the April Challenge of Butterfly Crafts, which is a color challenge, as a guide for this layout. I used all three colors --- yellow, pink and blue. I also used Sketch 4.28 of Sketchy Thursdays.

Hope to have more scrappy time soon! :-)

Title: 4+3=7

Journaling: Who would have thought that in a years time they would have, from 4 to 7 grandchildren? Not Abu and Mama Flory! They are thrilled to have 3 more babies to add to the clan. We are all excited to watch Marko, Maggie and Cerise grow in the family. 12.31.10

Raya at 7

Raya made a list of stuff she likes at her age seven and gave it to me. I thought it would be perfect for a layout. The girls are growing up so fast! It's so difficult to document each and every movement they make especially that there are four of them already! So little by little, I try to document their growths so we can relish the moments when they are grown.

I used a PageMaps sketch for this one. I really do love Becky Fleck's sketches! Thanks for looking!

Title: Raya at 7

Journaling:
Happy List:
1. Elephants
2. Color Purple
3. Games
4. Soccer
5. Scrapping
6. Drawing
7. Playing with toys
8. Watching TV

Orange You Cute?

Here's another layout I created last week. This time I used a sketch from Got Sketch? blog. These are pictures Mier took of Cerise last January when she was only 4 months old and starting to gain weight already. I do believe this is my first 12x12 layout of Cerise. I have started her 8x8 album but will post that only when I'm done.

By the way, I used Basic Grey papers I got from Nette Madero of My Little Attic. Love how accommodating and generous Nette is. :-)

Thanks for looking!