Merry Christmas!

Yipee!!! I can finally say it and mean it since all the baking, shopping and wrapping are finally done! I'm not sure when I'll be able to post again...this is my calm before the storm for in a few hours we will embark on our annual 27-hour Christmas Party Parade --- 4 family get-togethers to go to beginning with Christmas Eve dinner.

Here are a few Christmas LOs I made a while back using pics from last year which we spent in Chicago.

Title: Yes?

Journaling: Not really, but this will have to do. Christmas '07;

Materials: Patterned Papers - Webster's Pages & Scenic Route; Rub-ons - Webster's Pages; Chipboard corner - Fancy Pants; Journaling tag - Jenny Bowlin; Flowers - Prima; Bling - Doodlebug; Pen - Zig; Clip - 7 Gypsies; Velvet alphabets - American Crafts; Stamp - Fontwerks; Ink - Fluid Chalk, Ancient Page; Misc - ribbon

These photos were taken exactly a year ago, right before we left for the afternoon Children's mass. If anyone knows how to get 3 kids to smile and look at the camera at the same time, please let me know asap.

Title: The Equalizer

Ever wonder why I have to starve myself before the onset of the Christmas season? It's because no matter how hard I try, it just isn't enough to keep me from gaining weight.

Journaling: Nothing amazes me more than the incredible power of food to bring people together. And this is no more evedent than during the Holiday season. Even when we try to remind people of the Reason for the Season, food still takes center-stage. This is why, for me, it is the great Equalizer -- everyone's reaction to seeing glorious food is the same, be they rich or poor, young or young at heart, they will ooh and aah and eat their fill, and all will be well in the world. Christmas 2007;

Materials: Bazzill cardstock, Scenic Route pp, Uniball Signo pen, Making Memories metal frame, American Crafts velvet stickers, misc rikrak and bling

This was my first, and so far, only attempt, at a gingerbread house. Needless to say, it was a disaster -- haha! Too bad I wasn't able to get a kit this year but I hope to try it out again sometime -- maybe with the mini kit first.
Title: Christmas Morning

Materials: Creative Imaginations pps and sticker die-cuts, American Crafts alphabets, Prima flowers and glitter stars, misc bling, Zig pen, Alphabet Negative Frames by ACBleser from Polka Dot Potato

My nephews and nieces are so well-behaved that they know not to go down to the living room until they are given the go signal at around 7:30am, giving all the adults to prepare before they open their gifts. Let's see if my kids can do this tomorrow....

5 Days To Go!

I can't believe that Christmas is only 5 days away! How could it have caught up with me so fast when I started planning for it in September??? And somehow, I now find myself planning to do more last-minute shopping next week -- like be at the mall when it opens to avoid the crowds and traffic!

I thought I would have more time to scrap since Luis didn't have any homework this month, but nada. There was Luis' 1st Holy Communion (for which I made stampitas and cookie favors), school Christmas parties, cupcake orders and other things that I now can't recall, but I know they had to be done at that time!

This Christmas Countdown took a whole 2 weeks to finish -- I started it on Dec. 6 and just finished today! It's so unlike me to take too long on a project -- which is why, tired and sleepy as I am, I really had to finish it already because I hate having unfinished business, so to speak.

But for anyone with young kids like mine, it is never too late to have a countdown. Each of my 3 kids ask me several times a day "How many more days before Christmas?" As if my answer will change within the same day -- haha! I love this project because I know I can really use it and show it off as well! Now if only I can find a way for them not to destroy it when they race to be the one to change the number each day so it can make it through several Christmases???

Materials: Chipboard Tree - Kaisercraft; Papers - Pink Paislee; Paint, Letter Stickers, Metal Signage and Lace - Making Memories; Chipboard Star - Jo-ann; Cookie Cutter Embellishments - Dress It Up; Stickles

Scrap 'N Shack December LOs

Whew! I finally got my kit last Thursday and rushed these 3 LOs in between Christmas shopping, attending to school stuff and watching Barbie and the Diamond Castle at the mall! I still have a project to do for the kit plus some cards for the Bonus Card Kit we got this month -- yipee!

Title: Love & Joy

Journaling: "What could be better than spending Christmas with the love of ly life?" Photos Nov '07; LO Dec '08;

Materials: Patterned Papers - Basic Grey, Little Yellow Bicycle, Making Memories; Foil Chipboard letters - American Crafts; Tiny Alpha Stickers - Making Memories; Ink - Tsukineko, Ranger; Journal Paper - Making Memories; Pen - Zig

Title: Reasons to be Merry

Materials: Patterned Paper - Making Memories; Flower - Heidi Swapp; Ribbon - American Crafts; Ink - Clearsnap; Foil Chipboard Alpha - American Crafts; Pen - Uniball Signo, Zig; Other - Dymo Caption Maker

Color-blocking is one of the 1st techniques I learned and something I turn to once in a while for quick pages with lots of photos. I took advantage of this very festive paper to show off pics from this year's Christmas photo shoot.

Title: Believe

Journaling: Bianca & Ethan check out the big present not knowing it's just a prop for the photo shoot. Nov. 30, 2007;

Materials: Patterned Papers - Making Memories, Basic Grey; Ink - Ranger; Leaves - Prima; Ribbon - American Crafts; Foil Chipboard Alpha - American Crafts; Journal Sticker - Jenni Bowlin; Rub-ons - Basic Grey; Brads - Making Memories; Journaling Sheet - Making Memories; Pen - Zig

2009 Calendar

This was one of the projects I submitted to the Chatterbox DT Audition. I loved the playing with these Together papers and the Artyliscious embellishments!

Christmas Cupcakes

I'm offering my cupcakes with my signature vanilla buttercream frosting again this year.

And now you can get my cupcakes in singles for easy and affordable gifts. They remind me of snow globes...don't you think?

The 12's and 6s come in the same size box, except that the 6s have a separator.

I have a new cake flavor to celebrate the holiday season -- Red Velvet Cake with the same Vanilla Buttercream Frosting! Trust me, this is yummy!!!


For whole cake designs, please check the sidebar on the left. Send me an email, SMS (0918-9146012) or leave a message in the box on the sidebar for orders or inquiries. For orders, please allow 3 working days before pick-up. No pick-ups from Dec 27-Jan 1.

Merry Christmas!!!

Sugar Baby

Here's my November LO for Lasting Impression (talk about a delayed post). I finally got to use my Around the Block Paper Tagger on a LO. It's a really cool tool that I need to use more often. Also check out the Maya Road sheers that I cut-out and outlined with a white pen.

Title: Sugar Baby

Journaling: Bianca has such a sweet tooth that we have to keep cupcakes out of he reach or she'll bite or poke each one before it's the right time to eat them. 071908

Materials: Bazzill cardstock, Rusty Pickle papers, Maya Road Sheers, Scrapping Outback cupcake chipboard; Queen & Co. felt, Around the Block tag tails, Dymo caption maker, Tsukineko and Clearsnap inks, Ranger Holographic embossing powder, Making Memories tiny alpha stickers, Uniball Signo and Zig pens

And speaking of cupcakes, I need to get to work on my goodies for Christmas! I'll post them here as soon as they're ready!

Birthday Cupcakes

Here's my other DT project for Little Monkeys using the same The Cat's Pajamas Birthday Stamp set. It just shows how much you can do with even just one stamp image.

I used Basic Grey and Daisy Ds papers here. I cut out the squares from the cover sampler sheet of the Daisy Ds Chloe pack -- talk about being thrifty! Those sample sizes are perfect backgrounds for small stamped images.

Christmas Blessings

I can't wait to get my hands on my December kit from Scrap'N Supply Shack called Christmas Blessings.

My home and my kids have been on Christmas-mode since the 1st week of November, when we came home from our vacation to a house that was almost fully decorated -- except for the tree, which I asked my yaya angels to leave bare so the kids can help decorate it.

We had a tree-decorating session 2 Fridays ago but it's not yet totally done since I decided that I was tired of my 2-yr-old red ribbons. I only got the new ribbons last Friday so hopefully I find time to put them up this week.

And 2 Sundays ago, my cousin Monchu Lucero, a budding photographer, was kind enough to shoot our Christmas pictorial for free. Apparently, it was his 1st time to do a live shoot with live kids (his previous shoots were inanimate objects).

I guess it's a good thing my kids are his favorite nephew and nieces or I'm thinking he might have walked out with all the ruckus my kids make. He said it was good practice and strengthened his resolve to not get into event photography -- haha! And all I had to do in return was to feed him afterwards. I had to promise though not to take undue advantage of him and to just ask him to do this for me once a year.

Ladies Night

I'm so excited to show you my first DT project for Little Monkeys! Not only did we get to try out the Store More Stamps System -- which is simply ingenious - but we also got 2 stamp sets from The Cat's Pajamas to play with!

We received 2 birthday stamp sets (Smells Like Cake and You Say It's Your Birthday) which were perfect for this LO about the joint birthday party I held with some of my favorite mommies last month. Check out their other stamp sets because this stamp company is hot, hot, hot!

Title: Ladies Night

Materials: Bazzill cardstock, Urban Lily paper, Love Elsie fabric paper, Creative Imaginations transparency, Cat's Pajamas stamps, Tsukineko ink, Provo Craft glitter, Zig pen, American Crafts Vinyl Letters; Making Memories Glitter sticker letters;

Journaling: The Hot O.C. Moms went wild for one night as Astrid, Isay, Maget and I held a joint birthday celebration complete with invites, balloons and lootbags. 10-18-08

Prepare to be amazed with my co-DTs stamping projects -- makes me feel like such an amateur with their great stamping techniques! Check out their blog links here.

Unfortunately, I don't get to show you my Store More Stamps System yet since my turn to show it off doesn't come up until January.

Country Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Disco Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

LOs for Daisy Bucket

Daisy Bucket sent Pia some additional materials to share with her friends and I am lucky to be one of them. Here are the LOs as featured on the Daisy Bucket blog a few weeks ago.

Title: Sand Collector

Materials: Patterned paper, rub-ons, paper ribbon - Daisy Bucket; Felt & Chipboard letters - American Crafts; Pen - Zig; Brads - Making Memories; Ink - Clearsnap

Title: Top of the World

Materials: Patterned Papers, stamps, rub-ons, paper clip die-cut - Daisy Bucket; Vinyl Alphabets - American Crafts; Tiny Stickers - Making Memories; Pen - Zig, Uniball Signo; Paint - Ranger; Metal Tab - 7 Gypsies; Leather Corner - Making Memories;

Congrats Ems!

Congratulations to Ems Fronda for winning my Birthday Challenge!!!

Her LO "Fit & Fab before 40" received the highest total points from our distinguished panel of judges (Candy, Lee, Dinah, Mia and April). Ems' LO appealed to the judges on different levels, but most particularly because of the striking color combination and design elements -- and the fact that they can empathize with her goal! Congrats Ems and I hope you make good use of the next 4 years to reach your goal -- it can be done, you know!

For her winning entry, Ems will receive these fabulous (if I may say so myself) prizes!

I'd like to thank the other 6 ladies who joined my challenge -- Jona, Berna, Jeanie, Issa, Ching and Barbie. Thank you for sharing your hearts' desires with me. I really appreciate the time and effort that you took! Don't worry, you won't go home empty-handed -- I'm pretty sure I can find a little something for you in my stash so please attend the SE-PS Christmas Party. Ching, send me your mailing address please.

Here are their awesome LOs (alphabetical order by designer name):

Designer: Lianne "Barbie" Barbieto

Title: Before I'm 40

Barbie says this is the 1st time she's ever joined a contest/challenge and I am so honored that she chose to join mine.













Designer: Berna Acena

Title: Travel

Berna may be new to our e-groups but it looks like she's been scrapping for some time now. We hope to meet you one of these days.










Designer: Ching Philips

Title: Over the Hill

I applaud Ching for always joining contests and challenges. Did you know that she joined the Saling Kit Challenge for the 2nd Scrappin Moms Idol every week? If you want to have a lot of output, joining contests and challenges is the way to go!

Designer: Issa Lucido

Title: Just for a Day

Issa is another talented scrapper who tries to join as many challenges as she can. Her efforts have paid off many times and I'm sure she will continue to win more contests in the near future.

Designer: Jeanie Nieva

Title: Call Me Mom

Jeanie's wish to be a mom struck a chord in our hearts. I hope that God grants your wish because being a mom is one of the greatest gifts and challenges of all!

Designer: Jona Panesa

Title: Life Goals

Jona quietly lurks in the e-groups but is actually quite active in the international scrapping scene. Like me, she is a cake decorator who has slowly pushed that hobby aside in favor of scrapbooking -- hehe.

Thanks again to everyone for joining and I'm looking forward to my last year in the 30's. I hope people are right when they say that 40 is the new 30!

"Legends of the Fall" DT LOs

Here are my DT LOs for the November Kit "Legends of the Fall" from the Scrap N Supply Shack. It's a beautiful kit strangely perfect for both elegant or outdoorsy LOs. I just got my kit yesterday from the post office and rushed to get these done since they were due on Oct 31. Grab your kit now!

Title: Singapore Zoo

Materials: Bazzill and DCWV cs, SEI Windsor pps, American Crafts Thickers Darling Chipboard letters, Maya Road chipboard and jewel, Prima flower. misc fiber; Others - Coloriser copper embossing powder, Versamark, Zig pen, Making Memories Tiny Alpha Stickers

Journaling: Tita Ria Sta. Maria and cousins Lucas and Matteo took us the zoo which had more animals than we had time to see. It was a holiday so the zoo was packed, but it was still awesome and worth visiting again. 10-27-08

Title: Feigned Innocence

Materials: SEI Windsor pps, American Crafts Thickers Darling Chipboard letters, Prima flowers, Maya Road jewels; Others - Joann metal alphabets, American Crafts Slick Writer

Nadya, 10-25-08

Title: Pure and True

Materials: DCWV cs, SEI Windsor pps and rub-ons, American Crafts Thickers Darling Chipboard letters, Maya Road jewels and chipboard, misc fiber; Others - Clear Tops gold embossing powder, Versamark, American Crafts Slick Writer

Journaling: A sister is someone who knows everything about you and loves you anyway. Nadya and Bianca. 9-06-08

Thanks Card

Materials: SEI Windsor pps and rub-ons, American Crafts Thickers Darling Chipboard letters, Maya Road jewels

Featured in Scrapbook and Cards Today blog

My LO "Too Old Too Soon" was featured in the Scrapbook and Cards Today blog last Oct 30 -- you can check it out here. I don't even remember submitting it to them (that's how many LOs I submit, I guess) and got an email about 2 weeks ago requesting for permission to put it on their blog.

And to finish-off the Halloween season, here are a few pics from our Halloween at HK Disneyland! I know these official Disney pics cost an arm and a leg but I had to get them because I don't think we'll do Halloween in Disney ever again (and dress-up for the occasion, too)!

Luis is back into costume mode -- thanks to the Clone Wars Animated Movie. But, true to form, he never goes for the lead roles -- always happy to be in a supporting role like that of a Clone Trooper.

Nadya finally wore her Princess Aurora "itchy" dress with a camisole underneath.

Bianca borrowed Nadya's old Princess Jasmine costume as hers already ripped (and mommy thought she was getting a good deal with the cheaper version).

Bud donned his Christmas Elvis costume once more -- it was a good thing too since it was dark and smoky in the park, it was easy to see where the bright red satin guy was going.

I wore a black velvet gown that I bought and wore over 10 years ago (hurray for my diet -- I can fit into my pre-mommy clothes!) and a velvet witch hat -- but since the kids didn't want me to wear scary make-up, I'll just be the Good Black Witch, instead.

Hallowed Ages

One last Halloween LO for this year, I think. These are pics from last year's Trick or Treat.

It's funny how each of my 3 kids is in a different stage of growth right now -- I have a toddler, pre-schooler and a grade-schooler so you can just imagine how much I have to take into consideration for seemingly simple events like Halloween.

Title: Hallowed Ages

Materials: Bazzill cs, KI Memories pp and ie-cuts, Heidi Swapp clock, Imagination Project die-cut, Making Memories Foil and adhesive kit, misc brads, bling

Journaling:

0-3 Yrs: Will wear whatever costume you give her; Needs help to carry her pumpkin basket; Is happy with the candy she gets after 3 stops.

4-6 Yrs: Plans her costume months in advance; Will carry her own pumpkin basket; Will knock on doors for as long as you will let her.

7+ Yrs: Will not wear a costume...period; Will not carry a pumpkin basket; Will make sure nobody gets more candy than he does.