Pucker Up!

Here's a recent LO I did for Absolument Scrap, following a sketch by Becky Fleck and using the new Daisy Ds papers that I won from the Daisy Ds May Challenge.

Title: Pucker Up

Journaling: The princess and her knight -- Nadya & Luis. And if someday you'll find yourselves fighting over something, just turn to this layout and remember that you love each other, no matter what. Photo Mar '08; Layout: 071408

Materials: Daisy Ds papers, Absolument Scrap chipboard flowers and stamps; Ranger Distress paint, Distress ink, Distress embossing powder, Adirondack embossing powders; Tsukineko & Clearsnap inks; Judikins Diamond Glaze; Heidi Swapp clear heart; American Crafts foam letters; misc burlap and buttons; adhesive: glue dots, thermoweb, saunders

Check out the various ways I embellished the chipboard flowers from Absolument Scrap.

My coolest discovery yet is that when you heat diamond glaze before it dries fully, it will puff up, creating a bubble that deflates when the heat is turned off, resulting in a plastic-like finish -- cool!

Not Quite The Star Athlete

Did this LO a few weeks ago. Luis has tried a lot of different sports already -- soccer, swimming, basketball, karate, tennis, and even, archery. Unfortunately, none of these seem to be "his thing" as seen from the way he plays. Bud says he plays decent tennis, though, but tires after 30 minutes.

But nevertheless, he enjoyed attending his classes and never really complained about them. He just kept on going for the sheer fun of being able to play -- and that, I think, is important, too. He's learning that he doesn't always have to win to have fun.

These photos were taken last summer at his basketball clinic. He didn't want to do basketball, but it's almost a sin to grow up in the Philippines and not play basketball where there's a "ring" practically in every street corner. So we agreed that if he took basketball I'd let him take archery, and so he did both.

But as he gets older and other kids his age are becoming more competitive, we'll just have to try harder and look for "his sport" -- now he says he wants to try fencing. I just want him to find a sport that he likes so it would be easier to stay fit and healthy, and gain self-confidence. So he doesn't end up like me, having to drag myself to the gym just to keep fit.

Title: Not Quite The Star Athlete

Materials: Fancy Pants paper; American Crafts vinyl letters and Slick Writer; Making Memories Tiny Alphas; Maya Road Sheers Journaling spot; misc white cardstock;

Journaling: I don't know if you will ever be a star athlete. But as long as you try your best and have fun, you will be a winner! Luis, summer '08

Wish Upon A Cloud

Played with shrink plastic for the 1st time at home -- we did this at the Fontwerks class last May.

I love this Jouets stamp set from Absolument Scrap and the little dolls are even more adorable when they're shrunken! The journaling blocks make perfect "labels" when they're tiny, too!

This is a really old photo of Nadya, almost 3 years ago -- please don't ask me about my backlog. But she's pretty much the same now as she was back then, just louder and more head-strong.

She's turning 6 yrs old on Sunday and I couldn't believe that my princess wanted a Pokemon party! But, of course, we're having a PINK Pokemon party -- her invite has pics of only the pink-colored Pokemon and we changed the yellow and blue logo to monochromatic pink! And for her cake, I'm making her a 3D Pokemon castle, in pink, of course!

Journaling Written by Nadya: I want to be a princess ballerina; more toys; I love stuffed toys; I love Pokemon; Photo Nov '05; Nadya Jul '08;

Materials: Sassafras Lass papers, Absolument Scrap stamps, Clearsnap inks, Cosmo Cricket chipboard letters; Making Memories Glitter letters and small letters; Zig pen; Ranger Distress paint; shrink plastic

Pool Party!

Here's another LO that I haven't posted. The girls and their families visited us for a day in Canyon Woods last Easter break and the kids had a blast!

A new discovery in this LO are the Ranger Adirondack embossing powders. I used it for the big "P" in the title and it has an amazing effect -- kinda like alcohol inks but in an embossing powder with the hint of silver thrown in.

For added texture, I filled half of the "P" with some stone beads I've had in my stash for a few years already!

Title: Pool Party

Journaling: An inflatable pool has to be one of my wisest purchases ever. The mere sight of it gets the kids all excited. All you need to do is to fill it with water, throw in a few toys and you've got a party! 3-22-08

Materials: Luxe Designs patterned paper, Bazzil cardstock, Tim Holtz Grungeboard, Ranger embossing powders (Adirondack, Holographic, Distress), Heidi swapp and American Crafts chipboard letters, Rusty Pickle chipboard swirl, Collage Press Playing Card, Versamark ink, misc pebbles, Zig pen

Chatterbox...OMG!

Okay, I know they're call-backs and nothing is a sure thing yet. But for my name to be included in the list of 18 International Call-backs??????? OMG! This feeling is enough to last me a month, or at least until I get the goodies and see what Courtney has in store for us.

And the best part of it is that there are 3 Filipinas on the list -- Pia, Cookie and myself -- I'm so proud to be Pinoy!

Pia wasn't online when the announcement came up so I called her on her mobile and we spent a good 5 minutes screaming our lungs out! Haha! We never really discuss the calls and contests that we join so it's a great bonus when we see each other succeed at something.

You can check out the announcement here. Woohoo!

Meal Planner

I think that one of the most difficult jobs for a SAHM, or any mom, for that matter, is planning what to have for dinner, that adults (my husband and I) and the kids will both like. And if only my kids all like the same stuff, because they don't.

We already have a short-list of "hits" that includes sukiyaki, fish and chips, Salisbury steak, lumpiang Shanghai, Chinese sausage pasta and, of course, fried chicken -- but that's about it.

For most other dishes we end up either having a kid-friendly version (set aside the kids' portion before adding the spicy stuff) or at least 2 entrees so everyone has something to eat.

I used to do my menus a month in advance and typing them up in my pc but that took so much time, and when I discovered scrapbooking, that just flew out the door because I found something better to do.

The fact that I'm also an avid collector of recipe books, didn't help much because, half the time, I spent salivating just reading the recipe, that I ended up taking so much time to finish my menu.

This stamp set from Absolument Scrap inspired me to try again but this time with a simple notebook -- which presumably I can take around so I can plan my meals wherever I go...yeah right!

I used scrap Fancy Pants papers to cover the notebook. For the stamped images, I played around with some alcohol inks on glossy photo paper before stamping the images and cutting them out.

All That You Are

Did this LO for Absolument Scrap using a stamp from the Spring set.

Title: All That You Are

Materials: Bazzill cardstock; Teresa Collins patterned paper; American Crafts velvet letters and Slick Writer; Making Memories Glitter alphabets; Maya Road Sheers Journaling spots; Absolument Scrap stamps, misc bling;

Journaling: Watching your personality develop as you grow older is the best part of being your mom. At 5 yrs old, you are Dad & I taken to the extreme. Know that wen we reign you in, it is not to stop you from growing, but to make sure that you grow in the right direction, to be all that you can be. June 2008

Photo by Orient Light Studios.

Cool Off!

Here's another LO that I haven't posted...it looks kinda weird now but I swear I liked it when I first made it:)

Here are Nadya & Bianca taking a dip in the "batya" (basin) 2 summers ago. I converted the photo to black & white since the colors were so off -- orange basin with pink and blue bathing suits plus the green grass, etc.

Journaling: When the temperature rises and Mommy's too lazy to take them swimming, Nadya & Bianca are happy enough to cool off with the garden hose! May 2007

Materials: patterned paper - Junkitz; cardstoc - Bazzill; Die-cut - Luxe Designs; Adhesive Scroll - Around the Block; Glitter - We R Memory Keepers; Chipboard alphabets - Doodlebug; Felt - Queen & Co; Pen - Zig; Adhesive - Saunders

Tagged By Wendy

Wendy is my cyber-friend -- she always leaves nice comments on my blog and she's a very talented scrapbooker and cardmaker, too! Thanks Wendy!

Now I have to pass it on to 7 other talented scrappers....There are some rules to it though.
The rules for this award:
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls you've nominated.

There are so many great scrappers blogs around but for now, I will tag my fellow Scrappin' Moms:

1. Joanne Yap

2. April Lim

3. Mia Castrillo

4. Pia Lopez

5. Liza Bermudez

6. Iris Uy

and since Sienna doesn't maintain a blog, I will tag my sister-in-law:

7. Dinah Maningat