Caramel Cake, anyone?

Sorry, I'm not taking orders...yet.

This is my 1st attempt to make Caramel Cake -- notice I didn 't feel like doing the buttercream roses so I opted for this rather crude version of cornelli lace as the design. I've been wanting to try this recipe I found almost a year ago but only got around to do it today.

The caramel frosting doesn't taste "caramelly" enough, so I need to work on it some more. Maybe by next month I can put a price tag on it, but at least one of my "things to do's" in 2008 has been done -- yehey!

Santa Bianca

Here are additional pics that go with the "My Work Is Done" LO.

I hate to brag, but don't you think she is just the cutest little Santa ever???

On another note, Scrapfest 5 is in the works -- set aside May 17, 2008 for the biggest event to hit this side of the scrapbooking world!

Several well-known scrapbooking manufacturers have already pledged their support for this event.

Ally Scraps LOs

Here's another LO that I made for my GDT stint at Ally Scraps.

Title: My Work Is Done

Materials: Cardstock - Bazzill; Patterned Papers - My Mind's Eye Festive; Felt - Fancy Pants; Stamps - Basic Grey, Autumn Leaves; Ink- Colorbox, Staz-on; Die-Cut Tag - Daisy Ds; Chipboard - Making Memories; Stickers - Making Memories; Leaves - Prima; Clock - Heidi Swapp; Large Eyelet - Karen Foster; Misc - brads, photo turns, lace

Journaling: Santa Bianca takes a break. 122507

My 1st-Ever Sketch!

I was so honored when Morag Cutts (DT member of Ally Scraps) asked me to do a sketch for the site's sketch challenge. I've never ever made my own sketch before, but I'm always up for a challenge. Check out my sketch and sample LO here.

For those in the Philippines, why don't you indulge me and try it out? Post your link in the comments section here in my blog by March 1, 2008 and I'll randomly pick one to give a RAK to -- that is, if anybody actually submits..haha!

Help Us Promote Scrapbooking!

Grab this blinkie and post it in your blog!

Let's all do our share to make the Philippines the center of scrapbooking in Asia!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's a LO I made for Scrapbukan 2 months ago. There's no better day than today to post this! And after this I'm off to get ready for my hot date with my even hotter hubby!

Title: All I Need

Materials: Jenny Bowlin papers, rub-ons, die-cuts, Heidi Swapp rub-ons, Maya Road heart clasp, Autumn Leaves buttons, Distress Ink, Sassafras Lass stamp, Heidi Swapp alpha rub-ons, Provo Craft heart brad, misc lace

Photo by Jeff Lopez

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Merry Everything - Ally Scraps

Here is the first LO I made for Ally Scraps (I'm only allowed to post it 1 month after it's been there).

Materials: Patterned Paper - Autumn Leaves, Rusty Pickle, Scenic Route; Die-cut - Scenic Route; Alphabets - American Crafts, Doodlebug; Flowers - Prima; Snowflakes - Making Memories with Crystal Brads, Imaginisce; Felt shape - Fancy Pants; Others - misc bling; Pen - Zig

We were in Chicago for a week but it only snowed right as Buddy was putting the luggage in the car. So instead of me helping him out, I ran outside with the kids to enjoy the falling snow and take some photos!

Thank You Sahrie!

Good-byes are never easy...and they're even harder when you know that it's the right thing to do. So if you think you know what this is all about, you're probably right. My 2-year DT stint with Scrapbukan has come to a close.

The last 2 years of my scrapbooking life have been such a blessing...and all because Sahrie thought that I was worthy. I will always be grateful to Sahrie for choosing me and believing in me, way before I won anything or received any kind of recognition for my work.

Because of her, I learned to believe in myself and trust my instincts, to be brave and always to be myself, and when needed, even fight for what I believe is right.

But the best thing that I learned from Sahrie, or Charlie as we fondly tease her (as in Charlie's Angels), is how to be generous -- to always share your blessings. Sahrie has been nothing but generous, not only to us as her DT, but to Scrappin' Moms and the whole local scrapbooking industry. She will give and give and give some more, for as long and as much as she can.

It is a pity that she doesn't live in Manila, for the rest of the local scrapbookers to really get to know her... her kind heart, her humble spirit, her never-ending generosity. Who else (aside from Pia and Iris) can say that her boss sends her flowers for a job well done?

I don't know how Sahrie chose her DT -- some say its because of our talent, but others will argue that, really, it's our visual appeal that got us the job...haha! But whatever it is that got us to where we are now, we can never thank Sahrie enough for bringing us together...Sahrie's Angels, Tres Marias, the Dream Team, etc, etc. ---- Ria, Pia and Iris.

Being part of the growth of Scrapbukan has always been a source of pride for us. But 2 years is a long time, even for our small local scrapbooking industry...and change is needed for further growth. So as our contracts end, we bid farewell to the DT job, but not to the friendships that we have formed...and never to Scrapbukan and Sahrie, for they will always be part of us.

Foot in My Mouth!

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and I figured that it was a good time to introduce the idea of sacrifice to Luis and Nadya (Lent is the current CL topic in school also). So over breakfast they mentioned that they were going to get ashes imposed on them in school -- the 1st-time for both of them.

I start by telling them that Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent when we prepare for the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, and that it's a time for sacrifice because Jesus died for us to save us, blah blah blah.

As an example, I said, since Luis loves chips, maybe he can give that up for the next 40 days and Nadya can give up sweets. And that's as far as the conversation went because after that they started talking about other things that they love and can't give up. Or so, I thought.

And then over dinner, I asked Luis what treat he would like to have since he ate all his dinner and drank his milk -- and he goes, "But I can't have chips, right Mom? It's our sacrifice!". And I say, "So you won't eat chips until Easter? What about me?". And Luis says, "You can't have any chips, too." Talk about putting my foot in my mouth -- and now I can't think of anything else but eating chips!

Here are pics of Nadya and Bianca with their 1st-ever cross on their foreheads. Luis had Phys Ed yesterday and the cross was long gone by the time he got home.