Grade 1

I was planning to schedule this post in time for the reveal last Saturday but busyness got in the way. I was preparing for our big Western party to celebrate the birthdays of 5 family members: DD1 Nadine, DH Mier, DD3 Alyssa, DD4 Cerise and Cousin Sabine. Took lots of great photos that I'm excited to scrap. :-)

So again, this is a late post. I apologize for the delay. Layouts for the Saturday Switch It Up! sketch is up at Sassy Lil' Sketches. Here is the sketch:

For my Switch it Up challenge, I changed the two photos to three re-sized photos allowing me more white space to play with.

Title: Grade 1

Journaling: Raya, my eyes see you in the big girls' uniform but my brain can't seem to accept ti. You have grown so much! Enjoy life! I love you! JUNE 2010

September Sponsor:

Layouts must be uploaded below by October 5th, 11:59 P.M. EST to be eligible for the September random prize drawing*.

Specific rules for both Sassy Lil' Sketches site can be found on our Sassy Lil' Sketches "Rules" page. Please link your Week #1 layout sketches here. Come and join us!

Almost 10

Yup! Another delayed post. Tsk! Tsk! Hope this won't be a habit. LOL! This time, it was for Color Combos Galore - 206.


CCG 206 was really a challenge because I rarely use monochromatic black and white in layout. I thought I'd keep the picture in color to give it a little boost. :-)

Found these wooden butterflies and horsie which I think was just perfect for the layout. Used a striped background beneath the picture. My journaling is on transparencies and I used capitalized letters for my title. :-) Thanks for looking!

Title: Almost 10

Journaling: Four days before you turn ten years old and I am in denial. I can't believe my baby is almost a teenager! You will always be my baby! Nadine Aug. 27, 2011

1st Cousins

Double oops! I'm late again for another layout. I usually get it done days before the deadline but mommy duties crop up and I'm unable to post sooner than I'd want. :-) Oh well, at least I got some scrapping done! :-)

This is a Sketchy Thursdays sketch about Alyssa and her cousin Sabine. Thanks for looking!

Title: First Cousins

Journaling: Alyssa, you and Sabine are just 1 year apart and as close as sisters. You play together and fight too and miss each other when apart. :-) I hope you'll continue to foster this relationship with each other even when you're bigger. :-) April 2011

Manila Girls - Cagayan Girls

Ooops! This post is a little delayed. There's a new prompt challenge over at Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge Blog. :-) The challenge is to scrap your birthplace and year. Since I have minimum pictures for that and needed to finish my layouts ASAP, I decided to scrap about all four of my girls instead.

Title: Manila Girls - Cagayan Girls

Journaling:
2004 pic - Because Daddy and Mommy were based in Manila when we got married, Nadine and Raya were both born there. We lived in Makati City and the girls went to girls to school there.

2011 pic - In 2007, Daddy landed a job in Cagayan de Oro City and the whole family transferred there. Mommy was pregnant with Alyssa then. This is where Alyssa and Cerise were born.

You have until the 14th of September at midnight to post your take on the challenge to be eligible for our prize this month. You will have a second chance to enter a layout for this prize on the 15th of September during our sketch challenge for September.

Our prize this month is a $25.00 gift certificate to Scrapbookers.com!!! Woohoo! Head on to the site and see what the rest of the DT has for you. :-)

LSS: Your Sense of Style

Sketch 92 is up at Little Shop of Sketches. This week's sketch is created by Ashley Van Etten. Doesn't it look wonderful?


I created a layout of my 3rd daughter, who has been showing her fashion sense even at a young age. I used a splotch stamp around the circle and one of my circular girl stamps that I haven't used in a long time. This was also a perfect opportunity to use my flourish rub-ons, which I love so much. :-) Here's my layout:

Title: Your Sense of Style

Journaling: Alyssa, you definitely have your own sense of style --- somewhat of a fashion diva actually. You have your likes and dislikes and have been very vocal about it. We may fight about what you wear at times but you really are a darling. :-) Age 3.

Come and join in the fun and win exciting prizes! Check out the site at the fabulous layouts the rest of the DT created with this sketch. Hope to see you there! :-) Thanks for looking!

Look what I got in the Mail!

I saw the postal van pass by yesterday while I was in the kitchen. "Hmmm... I wonder if that's for me," I thought to myself. Lo and behold! It stopped by my house and dropped off these:


Woohoo! Thank you, Rachel, from Scrapbooking From The Inside Out! I am so loving the kit! Thank you also to Creating Keepsakes! I got a prize for one of the contests I entered. Can't wait to start creating. :-)

Quips at 3

I created this layout for the challenge at Scrap that Baby! but realized that I was past the deadline. Hehehe! Well, I don't mind really. At least I was able to jot this down and journal about it. The challenge was about the words of our babies or kids. In this case, I scrapped about Alyssa's funny quotes. She is really one adorable girl!

Title: Quips @ 3

Journaling:
1. Pronounces "th" as "f"--- fumbs, funder, nuffin, etc.
2. Playing Cinderella, she says to Raya. What are you doing stepsister?
3. Hey! It's Johhny Deaf! referring to the actor Johnny Depp
4. Mommy, your eyebrow is like a porcupine!
5. Nadine: Mommy is Daddy's wife Alyssa: Well, I'm his princess!
6. Singing, I have the time of my L-I-I-I-F-E and I owe it unto YOU, YOU, YOU!
7. I wanted to pee in the potty but I was still sleeping. - when she wet the bed.
8. Me: Did you have a nice dream? What was your dream about? Alyssa: Me!

Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge DT

Woohoo! Check out the news at Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge Blog! I made it to another scrapping team. :-) There will be two challenges every month --- on the 15th of the month there will be a sketch with a little extra, and on the 30th, a prompt with another little extra.

Anne Pennington, the blog's owner has a lot of challenges in stored for you! Someone will win something scrappy each month and we'll showcase your stuff and pick someone to guest design for the next month. Random stuff is likely to happen. Yup! This is another freaking scrappy challenge. And I'm thrilled to be a part of it. :-)

Bookworm

This layout is kinda late for the week at Sketchy Thursdays but I thought I'd still go on with it. I really can't resist multiple photo sketches. This is for the 8.11 sketch challenge. :-) Thanks for looking!

Title: Bookworm

Journaling: Nadine, you are such a bookworm! You love reading so much that you re-read some of your favorites when you've run out of books to read. :-) I was the exact same way at your age. So I perfectly understand the gravitational pull of a good book. :-) Nadine -- summer 2011

LSS: Sparkle Pop

It's time for another sketch challenge over at Little Shop of Sketches. Anne Pennington, once again, created an amazing sketch with so much room for creativity! No, it is not your eyesight or computer screen, the font fades out – it is supposed to signify use something out of your ordinary, maybe something exotic or funky, or very plain if your normal is exotic or funky.


I wasn't sure how to do my title since I wanted to use a certain kind of alpha stickers that perfectly fit my title and theme. I thought I'd do something different instead with my embellishment. :-) I inked the butterfly lace with blue ink but made it fleeting so as not to color it entirely. I also created the flower by cutting a strip of paper, wetting it a little, then bunching it around in a circular motion. I then topped it with a button. Cute, huh?

Title: Sparkle Pop

Journaling: We passed by the marketplace one Sunday afternoon and you insisted on buying a fish. You named it SPARKLE POP. :-) We didn't think it would last long but with your love and care, it's still with us til now. You feed it and talk to it everyday. You are adorable, Alyssa! June 2011

Come and join in the fun and win exciting prizes! Check out the site at the fabulous layouts the rest of the DT created with this sketch. Hope to see you there! :-) Thanks for looking!

Funny Face

I am so loving the challenges at Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge! For this week, we are asked to scrap something funny or humorous using this sketch:


Instead of kites and clouds, I decided to use butterflies. :-) It just so happened that I was looking for files last week and found these photos of my DD2, Raya, when she was about 2 years old. The photos made me laugh and realize that she has always been a funny little girl, MY funny little girl. :-) I love her sense of humor!

Title: Funny Face

Journaling: I was looking for some files the other day when I found these photos! You were about 2 years old her and super cute! You have always showed a sense of humor --- and we love you very much for it. Raya, sometimes 2005; Journaling Aug. 7, 2011

I have also been enjoying my stamps lately. Notice my background and other embellishments? I hope to be able to make use of them more. :-)

By the way, Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge has a DT Call. You might want to come and join us in the fun. :-) Thanks for looking!

Filipina

Another great sketch at Sassy Lil' Sketches! It might not be my reveal week, but I love their sketches that I use them even if I don't have to work on the week other than mine. :-)

Here is my DD2, Raya, in her Filipiniana costume for an activity in school. This is my take on the August Week 2 Layout Sketch.

I'm also submitting this layout for a challenge at Scrappin' Chics --- to use pennants or banners in a layout. :-)

Title: Filipina

Journaling: Raya, you look adorable in your Filipiniana costume. You make us proud! August 2010

Rain Fun

I started this layout with another design in mind. But as I tweaked and worked on my papers and materials, it came out differently than what I expected. But I love the outcome! :-) I used Pencil Lines' Sketch 249 for this layout and Color Combos Galore #203.


This photo was taken on Father's Day 2010. I thought my girls' TEAL shirts were perfect for this challenge! LOL! Love the color combination! :-)

Check out my vellum flowers. I had fun making them! I cut strips and bunched them together in a circular manner and put a button on top. :-) Thanks for looking!

Title: Rain Fun

Journaling: We started our day with breakfast at ever reliable McDonald's. Then off we went to Gaisano City to buy some stuff. I got the girls Speedo cycling shorts for only P50! And some Girl Scout paraphernalia for Raya. Daddy found some Lego plates which he had been looking for and a big Lego ship all at a bargain. He also got the girls the new Toy Story 3 toys. The girls were so thrilled!

We had lunch in Macasandig --- a leg of lechon baka and potato salad. Yum!

When we got home, it suddenly poured! Daddy and the girls had fun splashing in the rain with Ruby. It was a good day to spend with family. June 20, 2010

Sassy Lil' Sketches: 2010, So Blessed

As part of Sassy Lil' Sketches Saturday Switch It Up Team, we are tasked to to do something different with the sketch without losing its look. We can twist, flip, rotate, change size, etc. Here is this week's sketch and this is what I did:

Title: 2010 So Blessed

I stretched the sketch to add more pictures on my layout. I also merged some squares for bigger photos. I had lengthy journaling so I placed this at the bottom. This sketch was perfect for a summary of 2010 which I usually do every year but wasn't able to do last year. :-)

I love multiple photo sketches. :-) Do check out the blog and view how the others interpreted the sketch. And join in the fun to get a chance to be included in the random prize drawing for this:

Paper Sponsor:

Digi Sponsor:

http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.com/

Layouts must be uploaded on the site by September 5th, 11:59 P.M. EST to be eligible for the August random prize drawing. Can't wait to see your take! :-)

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!