3 Little Monkeys

Did this LO a while back. These are my 3 kids when let loose on a playground. They can stay there for so long even when it's so hot outside.

Title: 3 Little Monkeys

Materials Used: Bazzil cs, Bo-Bunny papers, Scenic Route and Daisy Ds die-cuts, Queen & Company bold sequins, Fancy Pants stamp, Tsukineko ink, Heidi Swapp chipboard alpha, Zig & Sakura pens, 7 Gypsies metal clip, Fastenator, misc lace & burlap

8 Quickie LOS!

I took advantage of the Holy Week break to scrap some photos that have been waiting forever for their turn. But because we went out of town, I had to limit myself to bringing 2 Artbin cases and a stamp binder.

Title: Princess Dress Up

Journaling: Nadya you are a princess through and through. I hope that someday you will find your Prince Charming who will treat you like the princess that you are. Photos taken 2006;

Materials: MME patterned papers and die-cut title, words, definition; Making Memories fabric tape, Fancy Pants rub-ons, Heidi swapp Fuzzy Rub-ons, American Crafts pen, misc bling crown, Prima tape, Sassafras Lass stamp, Ancient Page ink

Another executive decision I made for this trip was to use the MME page kits which have been sitting in my cabinet for years.

I went through my stuff (and am still going through them) to see what I can sell to make room for new stuff and saw all these page kits.

Title: Baby Girl

Materials: MME Patterned papers, die-cuts and frame, Hambly transparency, Making Memories cyrstal brads, Doodlebug stamp, Ancient Page ink, American Crafts pen, Fancy Pants rub-ons, Prima tape

Initially, I was going to sell them all but I reminded myself that I got them for a reason, because I liked them. So I looked at the photos that I already had and matched them with the page kits. Before i knew it, I had 15 pages waiting to be scrapped.

Title: On The Edge

Materials: MME patterned papers and frame, Scenic Route chipboard, 7 Gypsies rub-ons and fabric stickers, Queen & Co felt, Daisy Ds rub-on tape, Prima tape

I spent the early evening of Maundy Thursday and most of Good Friday scrapping and "finished" 8 LOs.

Saturday and Sunday were "non-scrap" days since friends came over (more pics to scrap) and we left for home on Sunday.

Title: Home & Family

Journaling: Father's Day 2007, Eastwood City, Breakfast at Heaven n Eggs;

Materials: MME papers, Daisy Ds die-cuts and rub-on tape, 7 Gypsies fabric reinforcers, Basic Grey rub-ons, Zig pen, American Crafts chipboard

I took Iris' advice when we go on crops to just make-do with what I was able to bring -- and not think of what I left back home. I didn't even get to bring any chipboard alphabets!

Title: Friendship

Journaling I hope that, when the two of you are older and have your own set of friends, you will always consider me as one of your best friends, as you do now. Love, Mommy; Photo May '07, LO Mar '08;

Materials: MME patterned papers, frame, diecut words, quote, Daisy D's hinge, Making Memories clip and paint, Ranger Grungeboard & Distress paint, We R Memory Keepers flock and adhesive, Creative Imaginations wire clip, Jenny Bowlin journaling paper, American Crafts pen, misc photo corner

Problem is, as soon as I got back home, I couldn't resist the urge to go through my stash to see what else I could add to the LOs.

Title: Little Lady

Materials: MME patterned papers, frame, and die-cut title, Creative Imaginations paper lace, We R Memory Keepers metal hardware, Making Memories metal word, misc lace, KI Memories quote

After 2 days of doing this, I decided to stop it already -- cos it was defeating the purpose of the whole exercise.

Title: Dad & Me

Materials: MME patterned papers, frame, die-cut title and words; 7 Gypsies gaffer tape, Fancy Pants felt, Making Memories leather frame and brads, Hambly transparency, Zig pen

So here they are! I doubt if any of these LOs will win any contests but I'm just happy I got them done! These LOs use a maximum of 2 patterned papers. And since I couldn't bring a lot of stuff, there aren't many techniques except for paper tearing -- haha!

Title: Sweet Miracle

Materials: MME patterned papers & frame, Karen Foster metal word, AMM twill sayings, Making Memories velvet stickers, misc lace and bling

As much as this looks, there are still 7 page kits waiting to get done -- I wonder if or when I'll ever get to them???

On the Move

Did this LO for Scrapbukan way back in November.

Materials: Bazzill cs, Chatterbox pps, Fancy Pants felt shapes & stamp, Ranger Holographic Embossing powder, Versamark ink, Tsukineko Brilliance ink, Imaginisce metal plate, Heidi Swapp Fuzzy rub-ons & chipboard alpha, misc butterfly

Bianca was barely a year-old at this time and was just learning to walk. Photo was taken during Luis' 6th Birthday party at KFC Megamall.

Are You Ready for Scrapfest 5?

What do Prima, Gel-atins, DCWV, Basic Grey, Making Memories and Absolument Scrap have in common?

Other than the fact that they are favorite brands of scrapbooking products, they are also contributing in one way or another to Scrapfest 5!

On May 17, 2008, one of the country's biggest scrapbooking events is going to happen -- the much-awaited Scrapfest 5 will be held at Max's Restaurant, Scout Tuazon Branch.

This is a whole-day affair filled with fun activities, classes, challenges and, of course, shopping! Meet and mingle with fellow scrapbooking addicts who understand your passion for this craft.

Ticket price of Ps700 includes class kit, challenge kit, loot bag, raffle stub, lunch and an afternoon snack.

So save the date and stay-tuned to our website and blog for more announcements and promotions soon!

March 2008 Scrapbytes is Up!

Check out Scrapbytes March 2008 issue where these 3 LOs can be found:

The first LO is my portion of the Pinoy Scrapbookers Round Robin Challenge -- I was the last one in the list at #32.

Title: Bloom

Journaling: How I wish we had a big yard that you can explore and run around in, like you do in Lola's vacation home in Canyon Woods. Only here can you stay entertained for days, without ever asking for the TV to be turned on. Here where the grass is always green, where the air is clean, where there is room for you to bloom! Nadya, Nov 2007;

Materials: Cardstock - Bazzill; Patterned Papers & Stickers - Basic Grey; Chipboard - Maya Road, Heidi Swapp; Felt - Fancy Pants; Metal Label Holder - Making Memories; Metal Alphabets - Joann; Paint - Tim Holtz; Ink - Clearsnap Chalk; Glitter - Stickles;

The 2nd LO is my entry to the

Rekindled Moments Ki Memories Pop Culture Challenge -- thanks to Merry Jane Go for letting me use it even before the contest is over. This LO can be found in Ria's Corner.

Title: Ugly Eggs

Journaling: Our 1st-ever Easter Egg decorating project from a $1 store kit. Even the kids thought the eggs looked too gross to eat! Mommy will have to find a better-looking project next time. April 6, 2007;

Materials: Bazzill and DCWV cardstock, KI Memories patterned & lace papers, Daisy Ds sticker frame, KI Memories chipboard and softies, Doodlebug glitter alphabet, Jo-ann alphabet buttons, Luxe jotters, Hambly screen prints, misc fibers, Zig pen

The 3rd LO is for the Same Product, 3 Ways article.

I have to admit that I'm not so crazy about the way this turned out -- but I wanted to focus on the journaling and didn't want to hide it. Because the journaling is quite lengthy, I resorted to color-blocking my LO -- which I haven't done in so long, I've forgotten how to do it.
Title: Unsolved Mystery

Journaling:

Ma. Margarita D. Maningat
Beautiful, uncommonly beautiful. (My first sight of her made me realize how inadequate my concept of beauty was.) In her beauty was coolness and warmth, cold fire. A siren's song that enticed and gave warning. And sureness, an easy self-possession, knowledge of herself that unravelled a little of the confidence in men. Yet predisposed to smiling, stilling apprehension, giving back in assurance what coin was taken of courage. A smile that promised wit, and connived with the intelligence that lay cat-like in her eyes. In her beauty, also, was innocence and age, a child's candor playing against a woman's will. Yet always with strength. Of character, of values, of conviction, of friendship. Strength that was gentle and firm.
My first impression of Ria. Arrived at through the process of observation, reasoning, intuition, instinct and magic...
... (where was I?)
Aegis 1991, Ateneo de Manila University Yearbook;

The 1st time I saw this was when I got my copy of the yearbook, about 2 years after we graduated. I didn't know what to think of it - is this someone's idea of a joke? How can I even take this seriously? Geez, if I knew someone felt this way about me, I might have married him right there and then!

How could I not have known what my write-up would be? Because I was on the AEGIS '91 Write-Ups Committee - we were too busy editing other peoples' write-ups, that I just asked my fellow staff-friends to do my write-up, and then forgot all about it...until I saw this. At least I have a write-up, right?

The few times I read it in the last 15 years, my reaction has been the same. First, a smile, followed by a burst of laughter, then a chuckle here and there, and a secret smile for the rest of the day!

I'm not even sure who wrote it, but I do have a hunch. I only know 2 people who can write like this, and one of them was among those I asked to do my write-up. I never saw him after I got my yearbook, and the few times we've exchanged emails, the topic never came up.

Maybe one day I'll get up the courage to ask him point-blank if he did make my write-up. But for now, I'm content to leave this mystery unsolved.

Materials: Patterned paper - Webster's Pages, Stamp - Prima, Velvet Alphabet Stickers - American Crafts - Paint - Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint, Making Memories; Ink - Clearsnap Chalk Ink, Staz-On; Metal Tag - Making Memories; Ghost Bird - Heidi Swapp; Transparency - 3M, Foam Adhesive - 3M; Pen - Zig; Fonts - Consolas, Futura BK (Microsoft); misc brad & photo anchor

Sketch Entries

Wow! I'd like to thank these 7 women for indulging me and taking me up on my sketch offer.

Bjay Jaminal


Dinah Maningat


Jona Panesa


Khei De Dios


Mia Castrillo


Techie Gonzales


Ytet Solivet


Zabeth Tan

I decided to give each of you a little something for your efforts, instead of giving away just one RAK (God knows I have more than enough scrap stuff). Let me know if you'll be at the March 8 fundraising event or at the March 15 Scrapbooks-Exchange EB. Mia, come back to Manila so I can give you a hug since I wasn't here when you last came home!

Thank you also to Wendy and Michelle who expressed their desire to join but, unfortunately, are not based in Manila -- sorry, shipping costs were not included in my original budget but who knows, maybe next time :(

Last 2 for Ally Scraps

Here are 3rd and 4th LOs, respectively, that I made for Ally Scraps last January.

Title: Fabulous 8

Journaling: We celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary on Dec. 30, 2007. If not for the fact that our eldest is already 7 yrs old, we wouldn't accept that it's been that long & we look forward to more!

Materials: Patterned papers & Die-cuts - Sassafras Lass Royal Bliss Peace on Earth, Royal Bliss Grandiose, Owl Pals Flirtation, Owl Pals Allure, Owl Pals Honeybunch, Owl Pals Trims; Stamp - Heidi Swapp Fabulous, Ink - Chalk Ink Chestnut Roan, Chipboard Alphabet - Heidi Swapp She Pink; Misc lace

Title: Child's Play

Journaling: China China Boom Boom Boom Arigato Arigato Pik Pak Boom! This is the chant game that Nadya taught cousins Anna & Katherine on Christmas Eve. 12-24-07

Materials: Scenic Route Roxbury Dearborne St, Whiting St, Loveland Die-cuts, Fancy Pants Tis the Season Felt Shapes, Basic Grey Figgy Pudding Winterland stamps, Making Memories St. Nick Chipboard alpha, Clearsnap ink, Stickles Gold & Red

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.

Ally Scraps LOs

Just posted my 3rd LO for Ally Scraps -- Fabulous 8. Didn't think I'd buy Sassafras Lass pps again but these papers somehow called out to me even before I had those pics.

I wasn't able to post about my 2nd LO, so here it is -- My Work Is Done. Christmas Day was so hectic that the only time I was able to take pics of Bianca in her new Santa outfit was when she fell asleep!

8 Years!

Here are some pics from our 8th Anniversary lunch at the Rooftop of the K'ya Restaurant in Laguna Beach. Vince and Diane were so kind to offer to watch the kids for us so we can drive off for a few hours. The Rooftop has the best view of Laguna Beach and had great food to match!

How I gained 8 lbs in 3 weeks!

Thanks to all these yummy treats, I am now having to starving myself to get back my pre-vacation body (and then some) asap. Next week I am definitely hitting the gym!

Weight gain culprits:

Caramel apples & Fudge from Disneyland's Main Street Confectionery

In N Out burgers and fries

Fuddruckers burgers -- sorry no photo of burgers

Trader Joe's Chocolate Truffles -- sorry no photo but have some in my fridge

Lunch at PF Chang's -- sorry no photo of food

Christmas Eve Dinner hosted by Ken & Karen Marz

Christmas Day

Tito Romy's 70th Bday party

Our 8th Anniversary lunch at the K'ya Rooftop Lounge in Laguna Beach

Ally Scraps GDT for Jan 2008

My GDT stint at Ally Scraps has begun! I love all the goodies I got for my kit (and then some)! Check out my 1st LO for them here.

We're all still recovering from jet-lag. The kids have been sleeping at 7:30pm and waking up at 3am the past 3 days! I think I'm almost over it since I woke up at 5am today so it's not so bad. Luis got home from school yesterday at 2:30 pm, took a nap and didn't wake up until 3am today! At least he had enough time to study for his test -- haha!

I'm still trying to organize my life after the trip and backing-up vacation pics. Hopefully things will get back on track by next week.