Time Capsules

Now There're Three

2010-08-03T19:29:00.033-05:00

Christina and Stephanie always dressed alike. When Stephanie came to visit, Christina would dig up clothes that were similar with what Steph wore. Here Stephanie is wearing a set of Christina's clothes. Nikka, Steph's younger sister wanted to dress just like them, too. Luckily for her, Christina had another denim dress and purple shirt which she outgrew.

I love the purple butterfli I bought in the Philippines during my visit earlier this year. I wish I bought more! I just got about 8 different colors.

TFL.

Joy

2010-08-02T20:14:00.010-05:00

I just love this picture of 33-month old DS. In all of the the pictures taken of him at this time, he was holding a greeting card. He must have felt very special to receive a big one from us. It was like a very important treasure. It went wherever he went.

When I make a layout, I just keep on going, picking out the pieces from different ziploc bags until I am satisfied with what I have. I didn't have time to jot down the different scrapbooking supplies I used; nor will I have time to do so in the future. Mine is just to cut and glue and be happy I'm done with a page.

TFL.

Amazed

2010-08-01T20:58:00.009-05:00

These are baby pictures of DD when she was a couple of months old. DS and I looked for a baby hammock - something that we used to put little children in and swing them to sleep. We had those when we were kids back home in the Philippines. They were made of woven rattan. We couldn't find any within the Chicago area, so DS came up with this idea to tie each side of a baby carrier with a sturdy rope and hung each on the walls across the room. So there was this baby carrier suspended in the middle of the dining room in our apartment building.

DD loved it! She would be comfortably asleep a few minutes after we put her in it.

When DD's awake, she talks to her Disney mobile friends and tries to reach out to grab them. After sometime wriggling and gurgling in her make-shift hammock, not being able to reach the mobile above her, she starts to get impatient. That's the end of being in the hammock for her! Time to be in Mama's arms!

These are flowers I cut from a patterned DCWV paper. I applied glitter glue and that made them look fancy. The leaves were stamped and cut out. I crocheted the tiny pink flowers which I adhered in the center of the green cutouts. I then sewed pink pearls in the center of the crocheted flowers.

TFL.

A Pregnant Picture

2010-03-01T17:59:00.047-06:00

I always say this is my second pregnancy, but that's not quite true. In reality, this is my fourth. #2 and #3 were miscarried and I still remember how devastated I was during those days. With this 4th one, I took all the precautions. I took a long leave of absence (3 months) before I went back to work. My doctor made sure it was safe to go back to work. I cried when I started spotting just like the previous two. Not again, I thought, and prayed so hard for it not to happen again. Not when two days before I just saw my baby in an ultrasound waving her tiny hands as if to say, "hello, here I am...". Not while I was alone in the apartment... DH was at the airport for a trip back home to the Philippines for our first born's 12th birthday.

I took one of my music boxes and put it next to my tummy and played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" over and over again, just to let my baby know I'm with her and will be with her all the way. That seemed to ease the physical and emotional pains I was going through.

...and here I am.... in this picture.... 6 months pregnant with my fourth...

The leaves were cut out using a Martha Stewart puncher.

The flowers are Prima. Sorry, I am one who does not take note of what supplies I use but I'm sure most of you recognize them.

I wish I could say the lace was made in the Philippines, but I am not really sure. But I bought it there during my visit earlier this year.

The center of the Prima flowers are tiny ringlets that I crocheted. Then I sewed the pearls in the center.

The Year was 1972

2010-01-15T18:56:00.001-06:00

I was very young then....never had any premonition I would be married to the boy next door, who I thought was never interested in me. Never had a thought I would have two kids to scrapbook for.

So yes... this was taken a long time ago... so long ago that I've forgotten the names of some of the people I've worked with.

I tried the technique of digital tearing. I still need practice. But it looks OK, wouldn't you think so?

Credits: In Memory of Miles Kit; Jessica Bolton's striped papers & background paper;C.Edwards' bow & clip and journaling paper; FafBr's Unforgettable flowers

Forever My Baby

2009-10-29T21:42:00.008-05:00

This picture was taken a few days after we took Christina home. I just loved holding and kissing her; watching her sleep and make little baby noises. When she's awake, I loved how she stared back at me, She seemed to be memorizing my face.

I heard somewhere a long time ago that babies are God's messengers... that they were sent to us with a message that God loves us; rhat when they look at us, they are trying to tell us what the message is; that they cry because they get frustrated they can't voice it out and that we do not understand them; that it is unfortunate by the time they can talk, they have forgotten what the message is.

But all was not lost. I felt the love Christina gave back when she looked into my eyes. I thank God for her and for the love.

Supplies used: Butterfly - cutout from K&Co; fonts: Palace Script MT; Pristina; all other items from: Scrapbookflair - Ava & Lilly's Mom: Expecting kit; torn notebook [Craftfairy1]; scraplifted from KellyGoree [thanks for the inspiration!]

Deep In Thought

2009-10-28T20:48:00.033-05:00

I caught Christina staring into space with hands on her chin; something adults would do if they were looking out the window as they lean on the window sill. It looks like she was so deep in thought. I stared at her for a little while before I decided to take this picture. For a moment, just like her, I was also deep in thought. I wondered what on earth babies think about. How they know when to smile, when to cry, and how they get startled. They are such a bunch of little wonders that make us wonder!

Supplies used: graph paper & yellow border [Cays Creations It's Easter Kit]; Love wordart [Digital Scrapbook Memories In the Mood]; all other items from Digital Scrapbook Memories Collection 2 cd; fonts: Chiller and Birch Standard

Purse Card

2009-10-22T21:40:00.000-05:00

My first use of the Crafter's Ultimate Companion! It is soooo AWESOME!!! The best thing I've ever purchased. I've made tons of cards since then. I just have to figure out why I can't upload the pictures without putting them on a background first. Can anyone let me know why?

Inside the card is a folded piece of paper. When the card is opened, the folded piece of paper opens up also. Instructions on how to make this card is included in the CD that came with the Crafter's Ultimate Companion. I believe you might even find it somewhere in You Tube.

Supplies used: Pink Armadillo cardstock, silk rose, dotted brad, and 2 pieces of pink ribbon. I made the green fuzzy flower using green yarn. The pink center of the green flower is something I crocheted. I knew they would come in handy sometime!

TFL.

Beautiful Autumn

2009-10-15T18:00:00.003-05:00

It's Autumn! DH's favorite time of the year - because it is so colorful. I like it too because it looks like it's the time that everything comes out to life, every creature showing their beautiful plumes! The only thing about Autumn that makes me sad is what comes after.... cold, cold, WINTER!!!

But in the mean time, I have to enjoy every moment of Autumn, which is cool, windy, sometimes, cold. I've made 2 layouts using Cay's Beautiful Autumn kit. Just look at the rich, warm colors!

DD and her cousin Stephanie [the birthday celebrant] were both born in Autumn. For years, they've been celebrating their birthdays dressed in Halloween costumes, and of course you can just imagine the eerily cute layouts I've been making. But for the past 4 years, no costume parties...just typical teen parties.

What's special about this picture is that it seems each cousin caught up within the hands of Time. Where one was still a baby and the other still toddling around, 3 were already playing with make-believe make-up and such. Look at them now! They seem to be all of the same age! Why are they in such a hurry to grow up?

Those freezing Autumn nights didn't deter these adoring fans to watch a home game. With Cay's Beautiful Autumn kit layouts can be made with pictures taken indoors and outdoors.

TFL!!

For Jaymie

2009-09-02T10:47:00.018-05:00

I met Jaymie online. Well...not exactly for the first time. First and last time I saw her in person was when she was 4 or 5 years old. Then through YIM, I got to know her more. She was at the time going to TSU and wanted to learn more about computers. I downloaded some of her pictures which she shared and made some wedding LOs for her.

Pictured above, my son's goddaughter, Jaymie, her husband, my husband's brother, Benjamin and on the far left, his wife, Rosalina.

Best of luck to the newly weds!

TFL.

Potted Flowers

2009-08-29T18:04:00.002-05:00

I saw some pretty potted flower cards and decided to make some for 3 friends who were going to have their birthdays. I had everyone in the office sign them and boy! did they love 'em! Everyone wanted one!

I apologize for the blurred pictures. I didn't use any flash because the flash washed out the details. I do not know which is worse - blurred pics or washed out pics ...LOL!

Anyway I used flowers I cut out from various patterned paper, threading water border punch, ribbons, a few beads, stamps and ink. The flowers in the background can be pulled out. They are attached to a tag where everyone signed their best wishes.

TFL..

Alexandra's Garden

2009-08-15T12:30:00.003-05:00

Cay's Alexandra's Garden Kit is fun to play with! I did a lot of layering in this layout! It's good that I found the perfect background picture for it. The picture was taken from the Chicago Botanic Garden last Spring, and DD's picture was taken at the food court in Starved Rock, IL. It was perfect that she was seated on a bench and I replaced it with one of the bench elements that came with the kit!

Below is a preview of Alexandra's Garden. Just look at it! I haven't even used all of the elements for my layouts. There are just so many beautiful flowers it took me a long time to choose which ones to use!

Thank you Cay, for a wonderful design! and TFL.

Sensational Layouts

2009-07-26T21:59:00.007-05:00

Well, Cay has been a very busy bee. She just whips up one kit after another, watches her stores, and had time to prepare to give away freebies. So head on to Cay's and grab those freebies while they are available!

And here the latest LOs I made using Cay's latest Sensation Kit. These pictures were taken during DD's Home Coming. The kit is just perfect for the occassion.

DD's best friends... of course they have to have their pictures taken by their cars. Did they really plan this? Get the dresses that match their car?!

The last LO is a closeup of the BFFs. It so happened that this LO is almost the same as Donna's LO. Great minds think alike, eh Donna?

Hope you enjoyed these as much as I did! TFL!!

Eating Out

2009-07-18T11:13:00.033-05:00

One thing I love about Summer is being able to go somewhere and eat out. My brother loves to try different restaurants and food in the area. We spent Friday nights at the Golden Coral. As the name implies... it is a feeding station for two-legged animals [LOL!] Buffet any time of the day and breakfast, lunch, dinner is served any time of the day as well.

This one cold evening we went to the Outback. It being the day before Mother's Day, there was a very long wait. But hey! we were there anyway, so we waited... and waited... and waited...

My brother had a taste for BIG juicy steaks! I wasn't able to take pictures of what DH and DB had but I had the baby back ribs and DD had her usual...! Ugh! Isn't she tired of burgers and fries? But that is one very juicy burger! I wouldn't mind having that for myself!

The following weekend, DD, DS, DH, and I, celebrated Mother's Day again at China Chef. DB wasn't able to join us due to his work. So much food!

Secrets

2009-07-18T00:52:00.003-05:00

I'm back from whatever it was I was busy with these days. I found out that I do enjoy digital scrapbooking so much and that I missed creating! I missed my computer!

Here's anotherLO I made using Cay's Beachin' Fun Kit. Just to prove that the kit isn't solely for beach layouts. I've re-sized and re-colored a few items to match the most of the colors I used. The border is from one of the templates I made using shapes from Photoshop. I also used paper tearing and I hope it really does look like torn paper. I have yet to master this technique!

Also, I can't take credit for the design...I scraplifted this from Yukari.

Thanks for looking.

Beachin' Fun

2009-07-16T22:13:00.001-05:00

Here are a couple of layouts I made using Cay's Beachin' Fun Kit. Hope you like them.

...and here's that fun kit from Cays Creation Designs.

TFL.

The Move

2009-06-10T19:01:00.006-05:00

Well, it's happening! DH couldn't wait to get out of the house. 44 days after we checked out the apartment in the UIC area, which she will be sharing with 2 girl friends, the day has finally come for her to move out.

She's been packing her things by herself, deciding what to bring and what to leave behind.

A few pairs of shoes, some pictures DH framed himself which were

just stored in a corner in the basement...

... boxes of clothes and books...

... and here are the movers....

The new apartment... new roomies... new friends.

I won't say good-bye, Babycakes! I know you will be back soon!

If anyone got really affected by the move, it's not me. Now I can move some of my scrapbooking things into her room ngye-he-he-he-he!

Well, OK. My brother, Nani, who "lives" in the smallest room in the house, which has a window facing the west has mentioned that it's too hot and too bright in his room. He's a nurse and most of the time works in the evenings and is asleep all day. So I moved him to where my kalat room is and I moved my kalat to DD's room, and moved DD's bed and a small dresser into the small room. It worked out fine! With the new arrangement I can easily access everything. Now I just have to memorize where everything is!

So.. here's who got affected by the move. Poor Sarge. He went around sniffing everything wondering where all the kalat came from.

Poor, poor Sarge! He was so depressed the first week DD was gone. He didn't eat. He just laid in a corner in the dining room. He didn't even go upstairs to visit me. Usually he sits by my side when I'm working in my kalat room. He lost weight! I had to hand-feed him but he just refused.

I was so worried that on the 4th day of DD being away, I called her to come home and take Sarge to the vet. DD came home the following day and Sarge perked up a little. He came over to eat his food. He didn't eat much and still didn't visit upstairs for another week. When DD went back to Chicago, at least he was still eating but not his usual appetite.

He was himself again the second weekend DD came home. So now, da cat knows that DD didn't really go away. He hasn't gained his weight back but at least now he's eating!

Whew! Never thought this move would affect da cat so much!

Happy Birthday, Lee

2009-06-04T01:00:00.000-05:00

...and many, many more...

Supplies used: Cay's Ice Diamond; recolored background paper and crown; positioned diamonds on butterfly's body; yellow flowers by CraftFairy.

If All of the Raindrops...

2009-06-02T13:00:00.000-05:00

Alright, I'm guilty... guilty of using the diamond elements (from Cay's Designs Ice Diamond kit) again. They just reminded me of rain.

I wanted to make an LO where DD is enjoying a shower of diamonds so I started searching for the perfect picture and I found this!

She wasn't holding an umbrella in this picture but I managed to scrounge around for a picture of an umbrella. I think the umbrella gave the complete story that it's raining diamonds and flowers.

Then I remembered a happy little tune she learned in pre-school, which she taught me. I changed the words a little bit and made that my journaling.

The song is by Aimee Leigh

If all of the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops
Oh, what a rain that would be
I'd stand outside with my mouth open wide
Singing " Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah"
If all of the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops
Oh, what a rain that would be

If all of the sunbeams were jellybeans and ice creams
Oh, what a sun that would be
I'd stand outside with my mouth open wide
Singing "Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah"
If all of the sunbeams were jellybeans and ice creams
Oh what a sun that would be

If all of the snowflakes were chocolate bars and milkshakes
Oh what a snow that would be
I'd stand outside with my mouth open wide
Singing "Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah"
If all of the snowflakes were chocolate bars and milkshakes
Oh what a snow that would be

If all the mosquitoes were nacho cheese Doritos
Oh what a bug that would be
I'd stand outside with my mouth open wide
Singing "ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah"
If all the mosquitoes were nacho cheese Doritos
Oh, what a bug that would be

If all the tornadoes were French fried potatoes
Oh what a wind that would be
I'd stand outside with my mouth open wide
Singing "ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah"
If all the tornadoes were French fried potatoes
Oh what a wind that would be
Ah, ah, ah, what a world this would be.

And you can listen to the tune here... I tell you, it's a very catchy song...

http://www.boyscouttrail.com/content/song/showsong.asp?docid=626

TFL.

Ice Diamond

2009-06-01T21:23:00.005-05:00

This is Cay's latest kit showcased in her blog. Visit her blog and see the lovely LOs the other DTs made using this kit! Truly amazing!

There are more than 70 elements in this kit which you can combine any which way you want. I'm sure each layout will be uniquely beautiful!

She even has a freebie from this kit. Thanks, Cay!

I enjoyed making LOs using this kit.

TFL

Best Friends, Like Diamonds, Are Forever

2009-05-31T01:29:00.009-05:00

Best friends since the 7th grade, they hug and squeal every time they see each other, like it's been a thousand years since they last did...when in fact it was just a few hours ago!

Distance did not make their hearts forget. Every opportunity they got (holidays, school breaks, etc.), they have to meet, go to the movies, have a party, sleep over at someone's house and catch up with what ever BFFs talk about. Truth be told, whenever they meet here at home, I don't hear any conversations, just bursts of laughter...like laughter is their own language, and they have mastered it so.

Each is a unique diamond, giving another meaning to they saying "diamond is a girl's best friend". Theirs is a friendship unbreakable and sparkling. Theirs is a bond more precious than anything on this earth.... and may it remain that way.

The kit I used is called Ice Diamond and it's from Cay's Designs. It is so sparklingly delicious! It makes even the simplest layout look elegant and complicated! Of course, I love bling so, from out of the many elements that came with this kit [I think there were more than 70 of them!] I opted to use the diamonds over and over again!

TFL!

Another Spring LO

2009-05-14T20:20:00.001-05:00

Another Spring LO. I have to take advantage making and posting them while it's still Spring. In another 4 weeks it will be Summer. Don't the days go by too fast for you? It seems to me that the do.

There's really nothing new about the digital elements I used here. I just love colorful flowers and I tend to use them over and over again. That's just the beauty of digital supplies - you never run out of them!

This was taken in the backyard of our first home. It was our first Spring. DH and I looked around the yard figuring out what kind of plants and critters lived around us. A pear tree, a yellow apple tree, a red apple tree, a green apple tree, a 2 big maple trees, lots.... I mean 7 cypress trees, 3 really big pine trees, a crab apple tree with pretty flowers, plenty of orange spotted lilies, lilies of the valley [very sweet smelling], green plants with white star-shaped flowers - also fragrant, though the leaves smelled like onions when you break them off; lots of rose bushes... and other shrubs we can't identify. According to one of the friendly neighbors, the previous owner planted everything everywhere!

Supplies used: MyMind'sEye background paper; SF Ava & Lilly's Mommy: Spring is in the Air kit; Fonts: Arial & Alba Matter

TFL!

A House for Babycakes

2009-05-11T22:16:00.020-05:00

I started to make an album about Christina's playhouse that DH and DS built from scratch. This page started out as a traditional LO. When I took a picture of it I thought I have to add more embellishments which I didn't have. So while it was there on the monitor staring at me, I opened up my digital kit supplies and started putting this page together.

The fonts I used for the title are from a font template. I traced and cut each alphabet on a pink cardstock and pasted them on a brown one, which again, I cut around leaving a little of the brown show up to give it some shadow.

I believe the other embelishments I used, like the wild flowers, Scrapbook Flair's Ava & Lilly's Mommy: Spring is in the Air kit. The house, I "built" myself. Doesn't she look so proud standing in front of her house?

TFL.

My [Little] Prince

2009-05-11T19:51:00.012-05:00

These are my layouts using Cay's "My Little Prince Kit".

The first one is of my sister-in-law, Maria Theresa Ibarra, she now bears my maiden name. I still can't get over this... that someone has my name! But I am glad she's the one and not anyone else.

This picture was taken during her son's baptism. I made this layout for her in time for Mother's Day. I used one of Cay's round mat template freebie. I had to cut it in half and separate the two because if I had to change the shape from round to oval, the decorative flower-edge will become distorted. A blue button came with the kit. I extracted the face of the baby and a crown and pasted these on the buttons. I did the same thing with the word art - instead of using it as one single embellishment, I made it look like it's on the button.

If you take a closer look to the bow, I added dimension to the knot so it will look like the safety pin was really hooked through it.

Journaling on the teddy bear reads: Dear Jan Rafael, we don't know you yet. But we love you. You are new beginnings, new life; you are family. The gift of tomorrow belongs to you [quoted from Judy Janish].

The next layout is again, that of Jan. I had to borrow baby boy pictures from my brother as my son's baby pictures are of poor quality. We didn't have digi-cams during the time he was born. Even the negatives were no longer good.

To subdue the white pattern on the background paper I re-colored it green and added red for a splash of color.

And last but not least.... is a layout of my Prince. This is my son, all grown up... 6' tall and still single and available [he'll probably hate me for announcing that he is, hihihi]. His pictures as a young boy are now faded because I stored them in those !!! magnetic albums. Although I've been able to salvage a lot of them through Photoshop, the quality is not as good as digi-cams.

I made it look like I threaded the ribbon through the chains of the heart charms and recolored a few other things. The boy icon and crown is from Photoshop. The template used for the mat is put together by CraftFairy.

Journaling reads: If you can't be a highway, be a trail. If you can't be the sun, be a star. It's not by size that you win or lose, be the best of what you are.

TFL!

The Man on the Moon

2009-05-08T23:58:00.010-05:00

These images were taken by DH using the Nikon D80 connected to his Celestron C5 telescope. The first image was taken on May 5, 2009 at 8:28 pm CST, the second, two nights later at 7:38 pm. DH was not able to take another picture last night as it was cloudy and drizzling.

When I zoomed in these pictures using Photoshop, it's so awesome to see the details we can't see with the naked eye. It's just so amazing that this chunk of cold rock somehow plays a very important role in our survival. It is Earth's faithful companion, pulling and tugging, as if keeping Earth to stay in it's orbit. Thus this gravitational pull between Earth and Moon causes atmospheric and oceanic high and low tides, which in turn, have an effect on climate and weather on Earth. Think of the chain of effects on plant and animal life that depend on cold or hot weather to survive.

Anyway, this is not about a science lesson but to share these pictures. DH sharpened the pictures a little bit. No other revisions were made. As I examined each detail, I found the man on the moon; well... at least, the face of the man on the moon.

It seems there are two different faces. Can you spot them, one on each picture. ....and no, these were not "photoshopped"!

TFL.

You Are So Loved

2009-05-08T21:54:00.004-05:00

I'm still playing with the digital kits Marj gave me. There are 3 CDs with hundreds of supplies to choose from! I can't wait to use them all! I've been making lots of pages with no pictures yet. I usually pick out my picture/s then the supplies. But this time, it's the other way around. I find I scrap faster this way. What slows me down is choosing supplies for my picture and I just can't make up my mind which ones. It seems that, like traditional scrapbooking, I should bring out a few supplies to use and stick to them!

This is DD...again...! It seems like she has been my favorite subject lately. Being a teen and having her own digicam, she produces so many pictures of herself and her friends. It is sometimes so difficult to choose which ones to put on layouts.

For this LO I used supplies from Digital Scrapbooking Memories' In the Mood CD: Funky & Fun kits; Calm alpha from Collection 2; Font: Minstral.

Girl icon template from CS3, modified by CraftFairy; Yes, I've been playing around making my own templates. I'm trying to give my digital layouts a kind of a traditional look. I need more embellishments to do this. I know I've got great ones from digi supplies I've purchased and gotten as freebies somewhere in my vast collection. So vast I can't find what I need right away! Oh, yes, I admit, just like traditional supplies I also hoard digital supplies..shame, shame... but I don't have any other hoarding habits anymore. You should have been present when my family started complaining that our house started to look like a department store! They confined me to one room and one room only, but I am now slowly creeping out into the loft. Complaints start pouring in about my kalat when they expect guests and I couldn't clean my mess as fast as I spread them out!

TFL!

Supermom Layouts

2009-05-02T11:31:00.013-05:00

The digi supplies used here are from Cay's SuperMom Kit. I first made an LO for my sister, Lee, for Mother's Day. She is one of the supermoms I know. Just reading her blog and viewing her pictures make me stare in awe! All the activities her kids do, places they have to go, her stories about being with her husband on business trips...! Then she comes up with beautiful traditional layouts that take more time to make than digital layouts! Where does she find the time to do all that? Has she found a way to "keep time in a bottle"? I need some of that time!

With her LO I erased parts of the blue paper that came with the kit to give it a torn/tattered look. To say the least, I was satisfied with what I did. The design of the paper made it easy. I folded a corner using another piece of paper in the kit. Sadly, I forgot how to do a fold that looks real - you know, one with the shadows and dimensions. I have to bring out my photoshop tutorial book sometime to review techniques I haven't done in a long time.

A few days after, I decided to make an LO of Super Mommy. She is really a supermom. She took care of 8 kids of her own, took care of my siblings' kids also, and I'm sure the grandchildren are being looked after as well.

This picture was taken when she and Dad spent a few years with us in the U.S. Looking at this picture tears me up. It was taken a few days before they left for the Philippines and I have not hugged her since. It also reminds me of what she said.

She was on the sofa crocheting baby blankies [it's her therapy because she had a stroke sometime ago and lost full use of her right arm]. I told her how my kids are growing old and pretty soon we'll be empty nesters; and I blurted out wondering if any of the two kids will take me in and take care of me when I am really, really old. She stopped crocheting, looked me in the eye and said, "if only I would still be alive when you grow old, I will take care of you." I will be hearing echoes of those words for the rest of my life! I love you, Mommy! I miss you!!!

And who says that this kit is just for super mumsies?! Here's a playful one I made for my Babycakes. This is DD when she was 6 years old. I still call her Babycakes. In fact, when I call her on the phone [or when she calls me], as soon as I hear her voice, I have to sing Babycakes [to the tune of Baby Face]. She patiently waits until I'm done. Patiently, I say because I am soooo out of tune!

I discovered some blings in Cay's kit. Yeah... discovered. The kit is huge I can't get to see everything in detail right away! I re-sized and re-colored the bling to fit my purpose. And have you noticed the ribbon I used? that's the very same heart ribbon that came with the kit, except that I replaced the hearts with blings [I hope Cay doesn't mind. I just love to play around with digital supplies!].

Now, I have to post Cay's blinkie so you can find your way to her blog. It goes right here!
where is it? It doesn't seem to work. I will have to try again this PM. Hubby needs help killing the weeds! TFL!

You Keep My Heart Beating

2009-05-01T00:23:00.001-05:00

This picture was taken long ago. Just like the first First of May when I carried your heart in my heart. On this our anniversary, let me say it again, "I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad,in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life."

Supplies: Kit: Digital Scrapbook Memories Collection 2: Heartbeat Kit and Digital Scrapbook Memories In the Mood: Love kit

An Album for Jaymie

2009-04-29T19:06:00.002-05:00

I am making a wedding album for Jaymie, my husband's grandniece who lives in the Philippines. Here are a few pages I made.

RAK.....!

2009-04-27T19:16:00.005-05:00

I am one of Sarah's fans. I love her layouts and I see how she enjoyed those memories so much! I can see it on the pictures, on the journaling, and on her pages.

So here's Sarah.... organizing her room. In so doing, she is getting rid of some stuff. She is starting off with two RAKS!

To play, you have to…

Leave a comment with your favorite scrapbook brand… and for those of you who do not scrapbook, she is interested to know whether or not you have ever tried to scrapbook.
If you have a blog, post her giveaway on your blog for more players. If you do so, she will add your name in twice… but make sure to let her know that you shared it on your blog.
You have until Saturday (May 2), by 11:59 pm PST to play!

Conga, Conga, Conga...Hey!!

2009-04-27T18:43:00.006-05:00

I'm doing the Conga... right behind me is Lee. So how far can we go?

Instructions are:

when you receive an invitation to join you add the image as a sidebar picture widget [which I didn't do because I don't know how to do it!]
then link the image to the one person who's blog you want to be next in line.

Rules:

You can only join the line if you are invited-
You can only pass it on to one person-

So how long can we go??? Lets make the longest conga line in the world!! I'd like to see go all the way around the world and back [to the person who started it, or perhaps to me?]

Make sure you follow through until the person you invite has added it to their blog otherwise the chain will be broken and it won't work- If you receive an invitation and don't want to be in the line then kindly let the person know who sent it to you so they can invite someone else.

I think this goes also for one who already has received the invitation. Let the person who invited you know you've already been invited so the person can invite someone else? Since it says you can only pass it on to one person... if you are invited twice, would that be considered passing it on to two people??? Any comments on this? Anyone? anyone? anyone?

We are really excited to see where this will end up! I am passing this to.... Sarah de Guzman... come on down!

Into Her Secret Playground

2009-04-25T22:35:00.003-05:00

Meet Hannah... my niece Erika's first born. Isn't she cute? and the collection in this kit from Digital Scrapbook Memories, In the Mood: Playful kit is full of fun things to do. I love colorful supplies such as these. I love to use flowers. There should be more of these of different varieties included in every digital kit out there. These give life to every layout, don't you agree?

Just playing. hmmm... how many traditional LOs have I done so far? Digital LOs are far easier to do, I think. No mess to put away either.

I've been back to digital scrapbooking lately. It's fast and easy. Yes, I can make fast and easy traditional layouts but nothing fast and easy and handy is comparable to digital scrapbooking.

Marj gave me 3 CDs of Digital Scrapbook Memories 2 birthdays ago. I haven't used any of them and I even haven't opened the other two. So the last few evenings I've been completing one or two digi layouts. TFL!

On to the Next Grade Level

2009-04-20T10:09:00.004-05:00

I found this picture amongst my brother's documents. It's that of his daughter, Bianca-Marie. I asked to have a copy and made an LO instead of just saving it on a disc. Her picture is too beautiful not to share.

I wish Bianca good fortune and all things wonderful she'll find along the way.

Credits: Font: Tall Paul; Swirl: WeRMemoryKeepers; Stars: Kim Crothers [ScrapbookFlair]; Background paper, mat & flowers: Anne Langpap [ScrapbookFlair]; mat template: CraftFairy; Word Art [discover: maryann wise [bhg]

TFL.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2009-04-16T21:55:00.002-05:00

I saw a message from my niece Erika asking that I make scrapbook pages for her [again]. Said message was somehow lost in a big pile of unread messages. Hadn't I played catch up with reading my emails, deleting unimportant ones and filing the rest in folders, I wouldn't have seen that request.

I found this picture in her Friendster site. I had a perfect kit to use for it. Something about Mom and Me. However, just when I needed it, I couldn't find it!!!

I am happier with this kit I found in Scrapbook Flair. I've been a fan of Scrapbook Flair and it has been a long time since I visited them. The cleaning up of emails reminded me. This kit is called Whimsical Garden by Gigi. [Thanks much for sharing, Gigi!!!]

I thought I'd do an extraction this time to get rid of the "noisy" background. In place of a bee flying around, I used a butterfly which is also included in the kit. The font used for the title is called Pussycat. It came with my CS3ext. I cut the pink border in half and inserted the title in between. So Erika, my dear... how does your garden grow? I see that Hannah is growing beautifully every day!

Once Upon A Time...

2009-04-13T13:51:00.001-05:00

...not too long ago, there was a shy, quiet Princess who didn’t know what the future will bring.

She was known as Princess-Dream-A-Lot. She always day-dreamed all the wonderful things she could imagine, thinking, "why not"? If the dreams don’t come true, then at least in her imagination they did!

Soon enough Princess-Dream-A-Lot married Prince Forget-Me-Not. They lived in a castle in a kingdom far away. In due time the giggles and laughters of a young prince and princess filled their hearts with joy.

Princess-Dream-A-Lot saw all these in her dreams. She now knows that reality is far better than dreams.

The end...!

Well, not quite the end. Princess Dream-A-Lot still dreams a lot and is now also known as Princess Nag-A-Lot by the kids, Princess Scrap-A-Lot by her friends, and Princess Chat-A-Lot by her husband.

Parts of this layout is a sneak peek of what Cay has for us for May.

Supplies used: Cays Creations's Spring Blossoms : blue background with dainty embossing, the flower swirl stickers, and the yellow paper I used as a mat.

Ava & Lilly's Mommy [Scrapbook Flair] Spring Is In the Air blue mat and leaves.

CraftFairy: flowers and template used with the yellow paper from Spring Blossoms.

Font used: Vivaldi

..and yes, there is hidden journaling. It is a digital layout but it has hidden journaling.

TFL!

My Own Blinkie!!!

2009-04-13T13:36:00.004-05:00

Cay made me this personal blinkie and I just love it! It is just so perfect because it has a fairy on it and I love fairies!!!

At last, after several attempts I was able to post it on my blog. I found out what the problem was. When Cay emailed me the link there were spaces where shouldn't be. I've noticed the email carrier I use does that. When people attach a hyperlink in their emails I can't always open it because of unnecessary spaces that appear wherever.

I am so loving my blinkie. Thanks so much, Cay! I love you!!!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T10:20:00.008-05:00

Happy Easter one and all!!!

I will be celebrating mine with family and friends - just for eats right after church. The kids [or teens] slept over at Jessica's house, then we will all meet at Emy's house for a little gathering [I really mean idle gossiping]. The men.... well, they will be bored. So perhaps they will all go back home to sleep. The kids... they will be bored too if there is nothing to watch on TV and I don't think Emy has video games at her house. So the kids will probably spend time in the park across the street and do what kids love best or maybe hang out at Gurnee Mills. As for us women.... it's scrapbooking time, yeyyyyyyyy!!!!

Cay has templates available at her blog. One of them is a freebie! Thank you, Cay! Have a wonderful Easter!

Life Springs Forth

2009-04-08T18:10:00.002-05:00

All right...! this is my favorite layout of all layouts this year! I've never done something like this before where the embellies are larger than the picture...but isn't it just perfect? It seems that the trees, flower, and the bush [yeah, the small tree is a bush] are part of my backyard!

This is from Cay's second It's Easter Kit. Told ya it's full of awesomeness! I enjoyed making this layout so much. I re-sized and re-colored the flowers to have colorful ones, I colored some of the leaves on the bush. With the use of one of the papers in this kit, I made a border using a template I made. I just love it!

2009-04-07T21:37:00.001-05:00

These are the 2 kits from which I made my new layouts. Cay has them available in her blog. There are so many beautiful pieces in them. I had fun making my layouts . Check out the trees and the birdies! They are so awesome! Well, not just them trees and birdies...! Check out everything. She's got cool papers and other embellies which you can mix and match!

Renew

2009-04-06T21:41:00.005-05:00

If I loved Cay's first It's Easter kit, I love the second one even more! Everything in this kit is just awesome!

My first LO using this kit is about renewal.

Journaling: There's this side of Easter that some people forget about. It's not just about bunnies and chicks and chocolates and such. It is the forgiveness of sins and renewal of life!

The pictures were taken during Jessica's Easter confirmation. She chose St. Christina as her patron saint and my daughter Christina as her sponsor. Frances Cardinal George, 8th Archbishop of Chicago officiated the Sacrament.

So Grown Up

2009-04-03T23:12:00.006-05:00

They are so grown up now. Especially DD, what with her attire; so very professional-looking.

These pictures were taken during Jessica's confirmation on March 29, 2009. Cardinal Francis George officiated the confirmation. Jessica chose Christina to be her sponsor.

Credits: bg pp - from DCWV luxury pack; circle lace template -CraftFairy1; Fonts: Pristina, Tunga, Ravie; all other embellishments - Scrapbook Flair's Nayan-Dream of Spring Collection; layout scraplifted from Sarah de Guzman

TFL.

Easter Eggs-citement

2009-03-28T21:13:00.004-05:00

After painting the eggs, Diego and Sarah went hunting for them. Hunting??! they're all spread out in the front and back yards... for lack of shrubbery at Xavier's new house.

Just like I said... the paper I used for the mat is one of my favorites, so I'm used it again....and oh, what fun to use the round frame for a basket. It was like an Easter egg hunt for me too, gathering the different eggs in this kit and putting them in the basket.

The other kids in this picture are Xavier's sisters and cousins. Xavier and family moved to California. Sarah and Diego went back to the Philippines. All the other kids live in the western suburbs... too far to go celebrate with them the following Easters after these pictures were taken. Ahhh... sweet memories...!

Supplies from Cay Creations

Take It from the Eggs-Perts

2009-03-27T22:01:00.001-05:00

It's going to be Easter again. This year, there won't be any egg-hunting with kids. All the kids have grown up and are no longer really interested in coloring eggs and hunting for them. This year, I will just reminisce on Easters long gone.

As I was scanning negatives, I found these pictures in the computer. These were taken in 2005 when my sister, Lee, her kids, Diego and Sarah came to visit. It was fun to paint eggs once again!

This layout was put together using It's Easter Kit 1 by Cay Risholm. The yellow borders at the bottom and the journaling tag were made using two of the papers in the kit and two templates I made. The background paper is one of my favorites from this kit. I love the gridlines and the swirls. Fonts used: Chick, Quigley Wiggly, Bradley Hand ITC, and Vivaldi script.

Purple Is Your Pink

2009-03-22T18:30:00.003-05:00

Christina's favorite color is purple, not pink! never pink!

Ever since she was a able to reach out for a toy, she always grabbed something purple. When we went to the mall, she'd zoom in to something purple. When out shopping for clothes, she'd pick out something purple.

Her clothes in these pictures look blue but they are really purple!

Cay Risholm's Pretty In Pink is really packed with fun! I enjoyed making the second LO so much, I want more! The stamped flowers with the green swirls made it so colorful! I cut a portion of the swirls and positioned them at different angles to give the LO more splash of green. I used one of the papers for my scalloped border. As for the fonts used for the title, I used the same alpha fonts that came with the kit, only I recolored them purple (from the purple bow) and pink (from the pink flower). I threaded the pink dotted ring through the brown ribbon. Perhaps I should have threaded 2 more..hmmm.... bright ideas just keep popping up! TFL!!!

Texting

2009-03-21T17:00:00.003-05:00

Wherever they are... in the car, at home, during a party, you'll see them holding and fiddling with their phones. What is it with kids these days? They'd rather be texting than talking! Even my DD wants me to text her instead of phoning her. Thank goodness I have one of those phones with a keypad! I would have gone crazy if I didn't.

This is my first layout as one of the DT's for Cays Creation. This LO is made using Pretty in Pink kit. It was the easiest LO I've ever made.

St. Patty's

2009-02-14T21:43:00.007-06:00

I was cleaning my Kalat Room, putting things I don't need in boxes, when I found these pictures in one of those photo boxes. These were posted in a magnetic album. I was able to rescue them in time before the fading process began. After scanning the pictures I cut and pasted them on scrapbook layouts.

These pictures were taken years ago in an apartment in Chicago. Christina was 5 months old. It was her first St. Patrick's Day celebration. We're not Irish, but hey, who says we can't celebrate the feast of St. Patrick? We went to the mall, walked around, and had lunch there. That's how we celebrated the day...uneventful!

I made Christina's outfit: her headband and her pretty green & white dress. I gave away most of Christina's clothes that didn't fit her anymore, but this is one I kept. One of her brown teddy bears is now the proud owner of this dress!

This is the first time I used the sewing machine to make stitches. It didn't go very well because the sheet was not flat. Next time I will glue the sheets together before stitching them; or the easiest thing to do perhaps is to just stitch one piece at a time and then glue them in place.

I used one of Becky Fleck's sketches to do this LO. I saw this in the March 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes. Wow! using one of Becky's sketches really saved a lot of time!

Supplies used: white Thickers; background paper & journaling tag, DCWV Nana's Kids; flowers from Prima; bling from Darice; pink Ofray ribbon; Fiskars' sunburst punch; scrap papers from My Mind's Eye, Colorbox fluid chalks (green and brown).

Stitch Me A Song

2009-02-01T12:40:00.001-06:00

I get to be the February challenger for the Kaya! All Filipino scrapbookers...wherever on this wonderful planet you are... are invited to join this challenge.

February is love month [I just made that up, just 'cuz Valentine's Day is embedded somewhere in those 28 days]. So the challenge is all about making a loving layout about the thing, or people you love using a love song or two [3 is maximum]. Use any scrapbooking style you have but for this challenge, you have to use stitches! Real ones - hand- or machine- made. Because of this requirement, only traditional scrapbookers can join the challenge. But then, Lee suggested to have the digital scrapbookers join, too. I am also a digital scrapbooker so I don't want to disregard my fellow digi-scrappers. So, OK, digital scrapbookers, you, too can join the challenge!

The stitching technique might be a little intimidating, perhaps because they look so complex and too time consuming. Those were my thoughts when I saw super beautiful layouts using real stitches! So I challenged myself to make one and I love it! The technique I used is very simple. Perhaps using the sewing machine would have been simpler but I was too lazy to pull that out.

Here's how I did my stitches:

I used supplies that are pre-holed - like the journaling tags which I "unscrewed" from the wire that bound them together, and the canary yellow border with the tiny little holes in them.

I arranged my layout on black cardstock and took pictures so that I will know how to put them back together again. I glued just the tips of the first layers in place so that when I make the holes on the black cardstock, they won't be moving out of place. I found a 12" cube styrofoam cooler and used that as my table [I did my work on the floor while watching NCIS]. I punched the holes with a big safety pin, going through each hole of the journaling tags and through the black cardstock. Then I stitched away! It is really so easy and not so time-consuming. I finished this LO in one night. The longest part was planning the layout - it took me days and several headaches!

As for the picture, I placed one of the journaling tags on one edge and punched holes through the picture, through the journaling tag behind it, and through the black cardstock. Of course I glued two corners of the picture first so it won't move out of place.

The hardest one to do was the swirl with the string of pearls along its side. I have previously glued this swirl on 2 layers of white cardstock to give it some dimension. It wasn't my plan, during that time to sew the beads along side it, so boring holes through it was really, really painstakingly-slow. But it's all worth it!

My original title was Cherish by Kool and the Gang. But since I only chose a few lines from the song and I love the lyrics of It’s Easy for Me to Say sang by Clint Black and Linda Hartman Black, I wrote the entire lyrics on another journal tag. I opted to use "I Love You" for the title instead of "Easy for Me To Say". The real title probably would have been a better choice but I ran out of space and didn't have smaller fonts to use. TFS!

Ching's Kaya 21

2009-01-27T22:27:00.005-06:00

Kinayanan ko. It was really challenging, the fact that I don't have any of the old things I treasured long before my kids were born. I would have loved to inherit my paternal grandmother's jar of buttons. I wonder what ever happened to those when she passed away. It was unfortunate I was half-way around the world when she did. I would have wanted my paternal grandfather's harmonica. He always played Que Sera, Sera on it, a song he is so fondly remembered for. From my maternal grandmother, I would have loved to keep that beige silky blouse she always used on special occasions. No matter how old and tattered it would have been, I would still keep it; along with the very simple comb she always used to hold her hair bun together. From my maternal grandfather, I would have liked to keep one of his pipes. Every time I smell tobacco burning in a pipe I remember the kisses I tried to avoid when I was a kid. I wouldn't mind it now just to feel the warmth of his hugs and kisses on my cheek!

I debated as to whether to have used a ring my mother gave me when I was still in college. It was one of her earrings. She lost one and had the other one made into a ring. I will treasure this forever.

The one precious item I chose was from both of my parents. It is a box of prayers. It symbol of their love for me. The way I see it, they put all their prayers in one box and gave that to me.
When I take out a card to pray, it is their voices I hear saying the prayer out loud, praising God and asking them to keep and guide me. It reminds me of how they taught me to pray and believe; that I am not really alone - there is always Someone to talk to and Someone who always listens.

Supplies used: Black cardstock, paper scraps from a collection by My Mind's Eye, flower cut-outs from a patterned paper, Prima flowers, Colorbox fluid chalk used to distress the edges of the Prima flowers; adhesive blings from Darice, Fiskars Threading Water punch, foam dots, K&Co Blue Awning journaling tag.

Oh, What Fun!

2009-01-01T11:20:00.003-06:00

Rhonna Farrer is giving away 209 of her fabulous designs to one lucky winner! A generous heart always is a successful heart, I say! So visit her blog and spread the fun! I got this news from Lee.

I love Rhonna's designs! I've used her designs in both traditional and digital layouts. Lately, I've been purchasing more and more of her papers and clear stamps. One is more beautiful than the other!

Whoooooo-hoooooo!!!!!

Oh, BTW... have you noticed Rhonna's Christmas ornament in her blog? Ha-ha.... we've got the same idea... her mind is greater though...

Auld Lang Syne

2009-01-01T00:17:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year to one and all!

May we have peace, may we be healthy, wealthy, and wise!!

It's the year to make the Earth green!!!

Part of the Tree

2008-12-30T21:05:00.004-06:00

This is my entry to the "'Tis the Season: A Photo Journal Challenge" by friends at Bookoto.com

Our normal holiday season routine is making a list of material things we want for Christmas, picking out a tag or two from the Angel tree at church or from a shopping mall, then shopping for gifts and groceries for the holiday meal we share with others. After all the hustle and bustle of shopping, wrapping, cooking, and cleaning is the spiritual wishes we make at church; after church is taking pictures by the Christmas tree.

Taking pictures by the tree has been a family tradition since we were kids and we carried on with our own kids. Year by year, we’ve taken photographs of us with the tree behind or beside us. Whether or not presents over-flowed under the tree, the Christmas tree is the focal point where we all gather with hugs, kisses, well wishes, thank yous, laughter and sharing. This family picture is the most important event for us. It signifies our closeness and the love we have for each other.

The tree has been a part of us every Christmas season. This year, instead of making the tree a part of us, we made us a part of the tree.

Happy holidays, everyone, may they be merry and bright!

Christmas Doll

2008-12-13T01:53:00.005-06:00

Once upon a time, there was a craft fairy who had the time and energy to make crafts such as this doll:

How it's made:

I used a 4x4 piece of wood, about 7 inches tall as the doll's body. I glued this on a another piece of wood, about 3" in diameter and 1/4" thick. This was the base. I used a scrap of red material (a remnant of DD's Christmas dress which I sewed years ago when she was over a year old. Whew! Talk about a pack-rat!). I used running stitches (hand sewn, as I was too lazy to bring out the sewing machine) on one end of this material and pulled it together to make the neckline. I used a round wooden ball for the head. I couldn't find one that has a pre-painted face on it, luckily Michael's has these doll face rub-ons which I used for the face. I cut several strings of brown raggedy yarn, tied all strings in the middle and glued this on the top center of the head. I arranged the strands and glued some pieces to the wood to cover the head. A piece of gold and red bows (from a gift package) was glued on the head.

Then I glued the head on top of the body in an angle to make it look like the doll is lovingly looking at you.

I made the arms by sewing a piece of narrow scrap along its long edges, used some white stuffing, cut the edges of a popsicle stick and used these as hands, glued the hands on one end of the arm, glued the white lace around the wrists, glued the other end of the arm on the shoulders, glued a piece of white lace around the neck to cover the neck and edges of the upper arm, glued the back of the dress together, and glued another piece of white lace at the bottom of the dress. (whew!) There's a lot of glueing. I made the little gift box (out of a jewelry box) and glued this to the hands. The doll was supposed to be an angel. I put off making the wings...and never did get to do it. It looks cute as it is, though!

So here it is.. the first thing guests see as they enter the front door.

And oh... the tree is store-bought which I decorated with whatever small ornaments I could find. TFS

Supplies used: wood scraps, wooden ball, fluffy brown yard, red & gold ribbons, white lace, red remnants, popsicle stick, face rub-on, timy jewelry box and scrap of gift wrap, hot glue gun.

You Never Promised Me a Rose Garden

2008-12-08T09:06:00.006-06:00

It was a simple marriage ceremony. We led a simple life. It would have remained simple and sweet had we not had our first child. That was when DH started thinking more of a good and stable future. We were not able to find it back home so we had to go farther out on the other side of the fence.

It was a big change, a big challenge, a completely new life and culture. It was very difficult the first few years. My DH... he never promised me a good life, but he gave me a great one!

Another one of Marj's challenge for November - distressing. It was night time when I took the picture. I used a fluorescent light which showed the depth of my layout.

Close-up of the journaling and one of the flowers I made by cutting a circle, wetting it on the edges and curling the edges inwards. I distressed the edges with Chestnut Roan fluid chalk and inserted a paper flower in the center.

Supplies used: background paper, mat and cut out flowers [the Paper Studio/Della Fantasia collection]; brown patterned cardstock [DCWV/Butterflies and Blooms]; pink & dark pink bling [Rhinestone Stickers]; inks [Color Box/pigment copper and chestnut roan fluid chalk]; silk flowers [Michael's]; foam squares [Miss Elizabeth]; journaling tag [Making Memories /{Note} Worthy

You Called It Home

2008-12-05T09:02:00.007-06:00

Home is where the fun is.

Ever since we moved to the USA, we made several apartment buildings our home. A year after Christina was born, we rented my SIL's basement. It was an English style basement. It has a sliding door that led to a short stairway and into the backyard. Christina just loved the outdoors. The fenced-in backyard gave her the opportunity to play safely in the open space. During that time I worked at a company which manufactured leisure products such as slumber bags and playhouses [tent-like]. With employee discount, I was able to purchase one Barbie playhouse. Then there was another one that was used in a photo shoot for advertising which was given to me by one of my supervisors. I had those set up in the backyard. Christina and her cousins had fun playing house, pretending to be neighbors, or turning one of the playhouses into a shopping store. Their imagination was endless! And so was Christina's wish for DH to build her a tree house. DH promised her that when have our own house and yard he would. So here it is....

Several years later, one summer DS and DH built this house from scratch (no, this is not a kit). DH made drawings and measurements; he started cutting out the materials for the posts, the roof, the doors, the windows, etc. With the help of DS the house took shape.

Of course, the Christina and her cousins who visited often were very excited to see the house and their imaginations and plans took shape. Christina chose the colors - milky white, pink and her favorite color, purple! She even helped paint it.

The house is 6' high from the center of the room on the top floor. DH built the ground floor by putting up a lattice fence on 3 sides and putting in wooden floors. When we had summer backyard bbqs, the kids would dine underneath the house. Upstairs is a room that would fit 3 adults [my size (^.^)]! There was a bookshelf filled with books, little toys adorned the walls, I put up a wreath above the front door, and there is a "home tweet home" hanger by one of the windows. There are plexi glass walls on both sides of the front door to let in more light. The door was taken out after a little accident with someone's fingers. The spindles used to decorate the front porch were made in the Philippines! Oh yes, I brought those back with me when Christina was only less than a year old, with plans to use them in building book shelves. The roof is made of real roof material to protect everything against the weather.

The house is complete with a little green mailbox! I remember one time, Christina came up to me with a sad face. She expressed concern that the mailman does not see her mailbox that's why she doesn't get any letters. Doh! How could I forget that. There were times that I would sneak in the back and put all the junk mail in her mailbox. She was happy as a lark when she opened her mail!

The house was finished in time for Christina's birthday. We had pre-schoolers crawling all over it, although the plan was not to have the party outside because it was a cold October day. They saw it from the main house, opened the back door and out went the goblins and witches and fairies [it was a halloween b-day party!].

People who visited couldn't resist not having their picture taken by the playhouse. The following summer, DH added a regular stairway so the little kids could go up and down the steps safely. He also added a back porch so there'd be more room.

The last two pictures on the second page is of Christina when she was 13 years old. I took lots of pictures of her in and around this house. That was the year when we moved to another city. It was sad to leave this house she called home. But we know that it will make another kid as happy as Christina was!

Supplies used: Papers and cutouts [the Paper Studio]; birthstone gem stickers blue zircon [Martha Stewart]; flowers [Prima]; heart charm [Blue Moon Beads]; fluid chalk Chestnut Roan [ColorBox]; journaling tag [Making Memories]; foam squares [Miss Elizabeth]; chipboard alpha [ChipChatter/Pressed Petals]

TFL

A Pocketful of Dreams

2008-11-23T22:28:00.026-06:00

This mini is about my dreams and wishes and hopes since I was a little girl. I will be adding pages to it as a dream comes true. I will also make a page about dreams that never came to be.

I first made this mini just for myself. Then came the PS challenge about making a mini book. It gave me the motivation to finish more pages. When I saw Bookoto's Show Me the Mini, I thought...hmmm... why not. It might not be the same style as Ali Edward's because of the lack of journaling but I thought the pictures and my mini journaling will tell the story.

I am so lucky that most of my childhood dreams have come true. Not all of them yet, but most. I am truly lucky.

This is me, the Dreamer. Always day dreaming. In fact, that was my nickname in HS. Miss Day Dreamer.

This page says it all about my first crush and first love. Behind the journaling tag which opens to the left is a picture of that guy and me. I had this huge crush on the boy next door. But he didn't pay attention to me. He avoided me like the plague! Whenever he's out there on the sidewalk and sees me come out of our front gate, he goes back in their house. If I chance to meet him on the street, he'd either cross the street or turn around just to avoid me.

So here's that guy who's the reason for the teardrops on my school books [bwahahaha! sounds like the song "...you're the reason for the tear drops on my guitar"]. I had a crush on him when I was in the 4th grade. There he was on stage singing "We Three Kings" with two other "kings". I was hiding behind a classmate because he might see me staring at him and decide to not finish his part of the program, turn around, and hide.

I had the biggest crush on him [still] when I was in high school. When all my HS friends were talking about their crushes guys they say are to die for, I was the silent one. In my mind, wishing I could talk about him.

My true love and I never did talk to each other. I thought it would be different when I went away to college. Perhaps he'd miss me and send me letters. Valentine cards? uh.... birthday cards?.... uh, I'll settle for Christmas cards?... no...?

To my surprise, 3 days short of turning 23 he asked my mom if he could take me out for lunch on my birthday. I didn't know this until the day before. My mom asked me where we were both going to celebrate my birthday. Yup! for the first time in 23 years, he talked to me.

You see, we were neighbors since we were born. I know all of his relatives as he knows mine. He says he never talked to me then because he was always teased by his older siblings. Ah! so it's my fault. I am the reason why he never talked to me and why he avoided me.

The first dream

We got married 2 years later on the first of May. It was a simple wedding. My only regret on that day was that in all the excitement, no one thought of hiring a professional photographer. I only have 12 shots of our wedding day [boo-hoo-hooo...]. His hand around my shoulder, he now comforts me and says, "that's OK. We have all the wonderful and happy pictures/memories in the world". Yes, I agree. Better than those who have the most expensive wedding gowns, and biggest diamond rings, several albums full of wedding pictures + videos to show off, then yell and fight most of the time and eventually get separated after a few years, I am indeed lucky!

The second dream

This is Lennart, our first born. There were no ultrasounds yet during the time I was pregnant with him. I didn't know if I was going to have a girl or a boy but we did prepare two names: Lennart Nillson and April Ann. After 2 days of labor pains, I had a C-Section. The last thing I remember, the anesthesiologist asked me if I wanted a boy or a girl. I said, "boy." He turned around and said, "You heard that, Dr. Zamora? You have to deliver a boy!"

I knew it in my heart that I have a boy. It broke my heart when we have to leave for the USA without him. It was a great sacrifice but we were thinking of his future. Sometime I wonder what life would be had we not left the Philippines.

He is Philippine-grown. He takes your hand and kisses it to ask for blessing. He says "po", and "opo". He doesn't talk back much as he wants to defend or express himself. I didn't see my son grow and missed a lot of his milestones. I still wonder, the move we made...was it all worth it?

The third dream

This is Christina, the girl I wished for! My very own baby doll! We waited a long time for her to come along. Papa's princess; my excuse to buy girly stuff and lots [and I mean lots!] of dolls!

And here she is, a senior in HS. Fiesty and sassy. But deep within a good kid who is ready for college life.

The fourth dream

Every wife's big dream is a house she'd call their own. After several years of moving from one apartment building to another, we purchased our first single family home. It was old and who knows how many families have lived there before us. It took years before we were able to have our first home, built from the ground up. I hope for us to grow old and share this same home together with kids and grand kids for a long time!

Thirty-one years of being married to my first crush, my first love! Thirty one years and it gets better every year!

Supplies used: border puncher used is Fiskar's Sunburst; background paper by K Ology; cut-outs from various patterned papers by DCWV [complete list to follow]

Pieces of Me - Challenge #19-2

2008-11-19T22:04:00.005-06:00

This picture was taken during our trip to Toronto. No wonder the kids were quiet. I turned around and this is what I saw! Thank goodness for Marj's challenge I was able to come up with an idea of how to put this on paper! This challenge is all about the use of negative space. I love how this turned out. I would love to keep this as my own style but that would cost me lots of albums [LOL!] I already have a huge back log of unmounted pictures, and what I'd really want to do right now is cram them all on a few pages just to get done!

But that won't be any fun now, would it?

These are pieces of me, born 12 years apart. Looking at them now, it seems DD has caught up in maturity with her big brother. I am so proud of these kids!

The crocheted doily gave the layout a dreamy look. I have to start making smaller crocheted flowers to use. There was a time I crafted lots of bead bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. I have so many left-over beads that I want to incorporate into my layouts. I like how this turned out. Perhaps there will be more beads used in the future! It will be fun for my kids and their kids to look at my layouts and talk not just about the pictures but also how I crafted the embellishments I used!

Supplies used: Background paper [Basic Grey's Granola]; strips of paper [Basic Grey's 8x8 Boxer pad]; crocheted doily, flower [Prima], journaling tag [Making Memories' Note Worthy], rhinestone stickers, glass beads [Bead Gallery], hemp cord [Jewelry Design], journal tag [My Mind's Eye Laundry Line]; thicker foam dots used under the photo [United Manufacturer's Supplies]; thinner foam squares used on the title [Miss Elizabeth]; permanent orange marker [Bic].

Marj's Challenge #19-1

2008-11-10T20:01:00.006-06:00

Marj came up with this idea of challenging PS members to make one traditional layout a week for the month of November. I thought...whoa! that is too much! But I am loving it. It forces me to make more traditional pages.

The first challenge is to use a big bow. I've seen Marj's layouts using big bows. They are beautiful. That's coz Marj artwork is always awesome. I don't know what a big bow would look like on my page. Also I couldn't find any ribbons that are more than 1.3" in width except for this holiday ribbon so I was forced to make a Christmas layout. I found this picture of DD with a big red sash and bow around her waist. The big bow challenge was a perfect fit!

I wasn't too happy about this layout after it was done. I tried too hard to balance everything on the page. I wanted the break [the line of punched borders] lower but I made a mistake cutting the paper and I don't have duplicate copies of the sheets. Oh, well.... Next time will be better.

Supplies used: Lace border punch [Martha Stewart]; papers, swirls, tag, and flower [Me & My Big Ideas Christmas specialty pack]; liquid glue [Scotch]; foam dots [Sticky Doos]; sticky bling [Claire's Boutique]; journaling tag [Blue Awning by K&Co]; Child of Mine mini tag [Sharon Ann/Deja Views]; holiday ribbon [Michael's Arts & Crafts Store]

Halloween

2008-10-30T09:50:00.006-05:00

This looks like Egypt is burning [tee-hee]. This is DD at a Halloween Party hosted by a friend. They had a bonfire to keep the bugs away and to keep them warm on this nifty Hallow Evening. I thought she's too old to go trick or treating. I completely forgot that this age group has something called "parties"!

This is my take on a PS challenge issued by Marix - the use of decorative edge on the layout. It can either be digital or traditional. I usually make digital layouts, but I have these cute embellishments for Fall and Halloween and I thought I'd play with them. It wasn't too bad. I like the outcome, not to mention I love the rich warm colors of Fall.

In addition to the layout, we were asked to make a card using the scraps from the page we made. As I was making the card, I thought to myself... I could have many cards made if I made at least one for each layout I complete! Wow! Perhaps I have to make that a habit. So that I don't get a box full of scraps that usually get filed in the "forgotten box". The other good thing is the brand names of supplies used are still fresh in my mind.

In Mama's Shoes

2008-09-30T19:12:00.006-05:00

Marian's PS challenge is to create a mini book. I've never done one before although working on small things like tags and cards [and perhaps] a mini book is something I love to do and enjoy doing! My problem with mini books is storage. They would be too tiny to put on the shelves along with the bigger albums. I would have to adjust the shelves to make a special place for them. There would be sooo many little albums lying around for people to pull and view and left cluttered on tables, chairs, or on the floor. If we decide to move [again] they will occupy a lot of boxes to be carried out. There is a possibility of a few getting lost; or a box of them getting tossed out [argh! it has happened before , no, not with photo albums, but other records and unmounted pictures].

But it's a challenge so I made one. This Mini Book about my DD is not the original one I made for this challenge. I saw another challenge about a mini so I decided to save the first mini for the other challenge and quickly whipped this one up.

This is DD when she was over a year-old. She loves to wear our shoes. Of course, since DH's shoes are bigger and heavier, she'd wear mine. There was a picture of her wearing my heels too but at the time I was rushing to complete this mini I couldn't find that one so I used this one instead.

Truly, this proves the saying "Monkey see, Monkey do". So be careful with what you do [and say] when little mini yous are around. My little princess painting her TOES! Yes, toes... how can a 2-year old paint just the toe nails?

The thing I love about this picture are her pig tails. DD was born with thick black hair which fell out every time she got a bath. She ended up with fine brownish hair that took forever to grow! We were both excited [she, especially] when I was able to pull together a handful of strands into 2 tiny pig tails!

Ahhhh...! the fur coat! I remember buying some faux fur remnants at JoAnn's to make into teddy bears. But when we went to the Philippines for a visit when DD was 6 months old, I decided to have a fur coat made for her. It took a few more years before she could wear it. I should have bought white fur!

Driving away in a little red Mercedes convertible, which matched our little red Subaru. It was Spring, a little chilly outside but she couldn't wait to drive away.

How antique is this?!!! This is like the first lap top I've seen! She was so mesmerized to see the letters pop up on the screen. If you are wondering about the title for this page, it says, "IYQ"

Come on, say it fast 3 times in a row. Get it? Awwww..... IYQ2 !!!

Little munchkin found the calculator and highlighter. Couldn't decide which one to use first. She must have seen me do something like this!

DD was so excited about this new toy! So whenever I iron the clothes she plays with this. I believe in toys that make kids mimic grown ups. It is a preparation for when they become adults!

My baby doll nursing her baby doll...how cute is that???

I've always wondered what made her pick up the broom and do this. She seemed so intent on getting the job done!

Ah...! my favorite. Really just like me...

The END! TFL!!

Twinkle In Your Eyes

2008-08-30T19:28:00.007-05:00

My sister, Lee bought a stack of DCWV Blooms and Butterflies, which I totally LOVE!!! The colors are pretty and the designs are awesome! I commented that they are so deliciously beautiful I just want to cut out the flowers and butterflies! She said I can have half of the stack [meaning, one of each unique page]. Wow! I didn't give her enough time to change her mind. I tore out one of each duplicate page and started cutting out the flowers, butterflies, and diamond designs. I even brought out my Cricut to cut out some alpha and swirls.

I placed some of the cutouts on top of my work table, it just happened there was a black cardstock there and the bright colors looked to beautiful on the black background!

Here's what I came up with.

Journaling: I love how your eyes twinkle when you smile. They're full of happiness and contentment, of love and admiration. We wish you all the reasons that will keep you smiling like this.

Thanks for sharing, Lee. I did find a stack of DCWV's Blooms and Butterflies at Jo-Ann's and replaced this with your stack. You might want to have 2 sheets of each design after you see how beautiful they are!

Supplies used: Foam dots, assorted bling, Cricut to cut out the swirls and the embellishment on the left; Doodlebug border swirls, Prima flowers, pink pen to add the doodles to the diamond borders.

Thanks for looking.

Cookie's PS Challenge

2008-08-23T10:36:00.006-05:00

I wanted to make an altered clock to join Cookie's August challenge. My plan was to make a square one - out of a 12x12 layout... with the clock in one corner - a smaller clock. I have this small mantel clock that hasn't ticked for months now because the battery size is so odd I keep forgetting to buy one as it is not one of the sizes that's on display at the check-out lines. I just thought the clock doesn't have to be round and of the same size as the other contestants'. I wanted mine to be different so I can put it up on the wall. I can perhaps ask DH to frame it for me.

The layout I would use is something about remembering me and the love I have for my family throughout time. Perhaps, that altered wall clock will stay on someone's wall to remind them of me long after I'm gone. But I am not going to make my intention that obvious.

The tiny clock didn't work as its casing was glued to its crystal frame. So the next plan was to go to Michael's and buy a new one - just the clock parts. My sister, Lee, however, reminded me it has to be a complete, working clock in order for it to be altered.

I looked around the room. There on the shelf is a round clock with green, brown, black, reddish-colored patterned frame. It has a matching 12x11 photo frame. I didn't want to separate the pair. I stared at the clock for hours...for days...[not continuously, of course, only when I am in my Kalat Room]. I have to revise the planned layout. How on earth can I make a clock with a patterned frame look good with a patterned face???! It won't go!

I really don't want to miss another PS challenge. OK...this is really getting to be a challenge... finding the perfect clock with a perfectly matching layout!

I took the clock down turned it over and I couldn't find screws or any openings in the back! I found out after several hours I have to pry open the plastic face cover! I hope I don't break it.

After several hours [again] of being careful to take out the plastic face, I succeeded [OK...by this time I still don't have a planned LO in mind!] I took out the battery, then carefully lifted up the round thing that held the hands together. It won't budge! It felt springy. After several tries, it seems this is not the kind that I can take apart so I gave up for fear of ruining a perfectly operating wall clock with a matching photo frame!

I ran out of time.... for the challenge..... [sigh....]

Best Friends

2008-08-05T18:54:00.006-05:00

I took out a lot of pictures from old magnetic photo albums and stashed them in a shoebox...until I have time to post them on scrapbook pages. Since most of the pictures I have of my DD were taken before I even heard of a digital camera, most of the pictures were dark, not too clear, size 4R, not to mention, fading because of the acid from the glue used in the photo albums.

These brought back memories, the instant I saw them. It was just like yesterday... Christina had her baby-check-up, the pediatrician suggested to start shopping around for a dentist, and in the mean time, brush her teeth.

Hmmm... that wasn't a bad idea, why not let the baby play with the toothbrush and perhaps in the process her teeth will get cleaned somehow. So one hot August day I opened a brand-new toothbrush package for Christina and gave it to her. She didn't know what to make of it at first, so we "demonstrated". Soon she caught on, she liked it, and enjoyed it.

I was taking pictures of her first toothbrush encounter when Stephanie and her mom came by for a surprise visit. Christina usually would forget anything and everything she's doing when she sees Stephanie but on this particular moment, she was engrossed in brushing her teeth.

Stephanie sat by her, eyeing the toothbrush, tried to take it away but didn't succeed, but she was intent and it seemed in the pictures that she effortlessly picked the toothbrush out of Christina's hands and as soon as she got her hands on that toothbrush, straight to her mouth it went! Christina cried bloody murder! We tried to bribe her with a toy, which she in turn used to bribe Stephanie, but it wasn't successful. In the end, Stephanie lost interest on the toothbrush so Christina got it back. This was their first fight, at less than a year-old! I do not recall them having another "fight" about anything else. They were always kissing and hugging whenever they saw each other.

Supplies used in the traditional LO: Nana's Nursery, K-Ology Berry Sweet paper, orange cardstock, foam used to give the cut-out flowers and title some dimension, Cricut Expression to cut the title.

Credits for the digital LO: jewel flowers by Mrs. Schmuck [Younique Photos], I don't remember where I got the papers from.

Rock Star

2008-06-25T21:02:00.007-05:00

These are some LOs I made sometime ago using DCWV's Rock Star sheets. The flowers I cut out from various sheets I bought as an open stock at a scrapbook supply store.

I caught Christina playing her guitar and singing in the loft. I've always asked her to pose with her guitar for me but she'd always say she's not in the mood.
She has a great singing voice. Buti na lang di nagmana sa akin [heheheh].

I used some bling in the LO below. The black ribbon-like thing I placed below the pictures is a plastic lace with white bling in each square. I found this at my favorite craft store where it was sold by the yard!

These pictures were taken last Thanksgiving. The delos Reyes girls spent the night at home for a big "after Thanksgiving" shopping the following morning. That night, they had fun taking pictures of themselves with the D80 with the use of the remote control. What a cool gadget. Gotta try that one day when there is no one at home but me and Sgt. Pepper! I could have fun clicking away then hiding all the pictures in a secret file nobody knows about.

Here, both Christina and Jessica were pretending to be fashion models - which they always wanted to try out for. At first I didn't know what to do with that sheet with the big half-a-guitar print on it. So I cut out the guitar and the swirls, added cut out flowers which I've been saving in boxes. I had fun making this LO.

A Card For Natasa

2008-06-18T22:22:00.007-05:00

Natasa [pronounced Natasha] is leaving. She found a better opportunity at the University of Southern Florida. Tomorrow, both of us will go to Gurnee Mills just to walk around, get something to eat, and gossip [hahahah!].

I made her a card, which I rushed to finish in less than an hour. I spent more time thinking of how to make an envelope.

Supplies used: Fiskars All-a-Fleur embossing puncher, K&Co Happy Trails 2 patterned cardstock, prima flowers, American Traditional Designs "Life's A Beach" charm; EK Success fiber, DCWV mat stack, Joann's Scrap Essentials alpha punchers.

I purposely left the card blank so everyone can sign their best wishes.

Invitation / Announcement Cards

2008-06-15T21:59:00.003-05:00

June is a very busy month. Lots of parties: graduation, baptismal, birthdays, weddings, backyard barbeques, just a lot of get-togethers. We didn't have weddings to attend to, but people we know might have been invited to one. That is why DH's graduation party won't happen until July 5.

I made some invitations using scraps. I made a lot of cards, half of which are announcements that DH is going off to college and soon we will be empty nesters. My cards were made of 3 pages. I didn't have time to make the pages into a mini album. There was no time. I had to send out the invitations right away, otherwise, I might lose the spot - as I said, lots of get-togethers are happening now that Summer is here.

Front cover of card is DH's picture when she was a year old. I used Photoshop to cut the cap from one picture and pasted it on this picture.

Second page is a picture of her during her tandem sky-diving experience. I wanted to depict she's off to college and what better way to show it. It will also be an exciting topic when people who didn't know about her adventure will get to see this picture.
The last page, inside back cover is a picture of DH. Sorry, I had to blur some information on the invitation. I wanted to put some small prima flowers and a little bit more color but there just wasn't any time.

Supplies used: scraps of DCWV papers, EK success corner puncher, Fiskars Doodle embossing puncher, yellow dotted ribbon from Michael's, "C" monogram made with the use of Cricut, foam dots.

Forgotten Supplies

2008-06-07T17:32:00.006-05:00

My computer is finally working! DS bought me a new power cord for my laptop. I think the old one gave up because it got over-heated. My laptop is now 4 years old. It might go anytime... so as soon as I got my new power cord, I began transferring files to the desktop in my Kalat Room - another old computer which I use as an extra storage for my ever-growing digital supplies [thanks so much to all generous talented digi-artists who shared their art as freebies]. As a thank-you for them I am putting up samples of their art through my layouts.

Anyway, as I was transferring files I found some forgotten supplies in my laptop. I've used supplies from 3 talented designers in my layout below.
I choose for my background a pink dotted paper bordered with flowers at the bottom from Elizabeth Jenkins' [Little Dreamer Designs] Beauty is But a Flower mini kit. I cut a corner of her "fancy-free green swirls and flowers" paper - chose the part with the curved lines to use as a mat or frame. I recolored this peach. I found that green was too much for this layout. Included in the kit is a twig with white flowers and green leaves. I cut this into 3 separate sections and repositioned them so they'd curve and hug the frame. I recolored the white flowers blue. Elizabeth saved me from thinking about what to write as she provided a quote with her mini kit. Then I went looking for some swirls in another folder and found a nice swirl overlay from Franzisca Altmann's [also from Little Dreamer Designs] mini kit "Growing Green". I didn't need the entire overlay so I just copied a portion of the overlay [the swirl], pasted this copy about 5 more times and positioned them in different places. Included in Franziska's kit is a green butterfly and a green bow. I re-colored the bow pink and the butterfly, blue, which I copied two more times and re-sized them in various sizes. Last but not least, I used Stephanie's [from Steph730] Paper Tear 1 large flower center glow placed it on top of the photo I chose for the LO. I erased whatever picture edges showed around [outside perimeter] of the paper tear. This made it look like I bore a hole through the peach frame to expose the photo underneath.

Thank you Elizabeth, Franzisca, and Stephanie for your awesome work!

Re-Coloring a Digital Element

2008-04-30T07:54:00.007-05:00

My DD is having piano lessons tonight so while waiting for the lessons to be over, I have time to do another tutorial.

This one is about re-coloring a digital element - like the background paper, the frame, a ribbon, etc. What I have here is a purple flower (by JJJosianne - LittleFlower). If any of you have any ideas about re-coloring digital elements other than what I do, please drop me a line. But for me, this is how I do it. As usual, I used CS3 to create the following pcitures. The recolor tool is in a different location in other versions but the steps I use are the same.

Open the element you want re-colored. If it is already on your layout, choose that layer. Choose a color you want by clicking on the SET FOREGROUND COLOR BOX at the bottom of the TOOL BOX. Choose your color from the COLOR PICKER. I chose yellow.

Locate the COLOR REPLACEMENT tool in the TOOL BOX. In older versions of CS it is the RED EYE TOOL. If you don't see the red eye tool, locate the band-aid icon; click on that one and you'll see the red eye tool - click to choose. Re-color the entire element, make the brush size bigger to do the job quicker.

You may find that the color you expected is not the one you want. Like the one I have above. I chose a bright color but when applied on the flower it looks yucky! That's because of the purple background. So what I'd do next is to adjust the color. There are 2 different ways I do this and choose the one that gives me the best results.

The first one is by adjusting the brightness/contrast of the image - see below.

Move the sliders [I really don't know what they are called] in the CONTRAST/BRIGHTNESS box towards the right to make the image's color brighter. Keep moving sliders until you achieve the desired result.

Or if not satisfied, the other step I use is as follows: Instead of choosing BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST, I chose COLOR BALANCE.

In the COLOR BALANCE BOX, I moved the yellow slider all the way to the left.

You'll notice that the yellow is now a little brighter. I clicked OK and repeated this one more time. By repeating, the yellow became "yellower". Experiment by moving all the other sliders one at a time or in combination with each other until you achieve the result you want.

Remember, although you changed the color of the element, re-sized it, rotated it, you still cannot claim it as your own if you are not the original creator. You still have to give credit to the artist/designer who created it.

Happy recoloring!

Aspiring Dreamer

2008-04-21T21:41:00.006-05:00

I'm loving the digital supplies at Little Dreamer Designs. I bought four kits for $2.00 each. These were made by new Dreamers and they are so lovely. Here are a few more layouts I made using Little Dreamer Designs kits.

My Hidden Journals

2008-04-15T18:32:00.021-05:00

My sister, Lee, came up with this month's idea for the Pinoyscrapbookers' Kaya! Challenge. See here for details of the challenge.

I am mostly a digital scrapbooker for the reason of convenience. Anyway, digital layouts are excluded from this challenge. I think because my sister thinks that digital layouts won't meet 2 of the requirements:

1) the hidden journaling component

I don't see any problem with the hidden journaling component. It is hidden anyway. True, the time comes when the recipient has to take out the sealed message. And you probably have blurted out loud... "How in the world are they going to do that with a digital layout?!"

I don't know how other digital scrapbookers save their layouts, but this is how I preserve mine.

I have hidden journals and messages behind my pictures.

Credits: Coralie's Fanciful Kit: journaling tag, blue ribbon, swirls, butterflies; Avril's Karine Kit: paper, flowers, mat; fonts used: Fonts: Depressionist Three & Freestyle script

See where there are those tags and pieces of paper peeking out at the side? Those are not just there as part of the decoration.

Credits: All supplies used are from ScrapFamily;fonts used - Fajita ICG & Chubby Trail

Those are where my journals are written. Journals that may not aesthetically go well with my layout have they been written out there in the open.

Credits: KSharonk's Faded freebie mini kit [recolored blue flowers into yellow; Miss ViVi's swirls from Kit A Vende; Fonts: Free style Script & Palace Script MT

Most of my layouts have hidden stories of what happened during that day. Not just who are in the picture, where it was taken, what the occasion was, who didn't show up, who messed up, who was funny, who cried, but also my inner most thoughts and feelings.

Lately, I have been making these hidden journals a little conspicuous... and not so conspicuous... see that greenish piece of mat behind the picture? There's journaling right behind there!

Angela Sharrow - A Spring Garden QP; flowers & swirls added from Avril's kit
Yellow bow is from one of Angela Sharrow's QP; Font: Edwardian Script

So now, the answer to the million dollar question... how will one be able to read those journals?

I save my digital layouts in two different versions. One in jpeg version so I can upload them easily in galleries; and the other in psd version where some of the layers are preserved as separate from the rest. I don't merge or flatten all my images. Then I burn my digital layouts onto DVDs.

So in the future, when any of my loved ones want to know what's with the picture, they insert the DVD into the computer, open the file, and with the use of the mouse, drag out the hidden journal to read it. Since by this time the files are read-only, there is no fear of messing up the arrangement of my layouts. When they are done reading, whether they return the note back in its original position or not, it will go back to how it was saved. Ready to be pulled out and read again.

I showed my daughter how this works so she will be aware of what to do.

2) recipient to be able to touch and feel the components of the scrapbook page.

Well, this one is a winner. No matter how much they'd touch the monitor, they won't feel anything but the warm smoothness of the screen. But still, my journals will keep them informed; they will feel the thoughts I will leave behind; they will be touched with the love I have for them.

If you think this digital scrapbooking idea is awesome, something you will consider to use on your future layouts, please drop me a line. I'd like to know what you think. TFL.

Hooked

2008-03-31T20:14:00.001-05:00

I am so digitally hooked! In my line of work, I'm in front of the computer almost 6.5 hours a day. When I get home, after dinner, I am plopped in front of the TV "listening" to CSI while digitally scrapbooking pictures.

Here are a few I've made the last week.

Credits: PetaBoardman-Girls Wear Blue Too bg ppr, crumpled notebook ppr, paper used as background for the title, blue frame re-colored orange; AneczkaW- Flowers
Font: Rock It!

Credits: Anja John's kit Blogparty. flowers extracted from one of the bg pprs.
Font: Gigi

Credits: DaleAnnCubbage LittleDreamerDesigns; Font: Freestyle Script

Credits: Mrs B - LittleDreamerDesigns - Spring Romance kit and Wildflower doodle
Fonts - Edwardian Script and Times New Roman

Tagged by Jill

2008-03-31T19:55:00.001-05:00

I've been tagged by Jill - well, nominated to be one of her 10 people who make her day! Thanks Jill.

So passing along the Make My Day tag... here are my nominees. Thank you for making my day!

Lee
Chikai
Jenn
Jill
AU
Donna
Zabeth
Rox

I seem to be having a difficult time looking for addresses. More to come.

Thank you, ladies!

Above All

2008-03-21T16:50:00.002-05:00

We sang this in church and it made my eyes well up.

Above all powers, above all kings, above all nature and all created things; above all wisdom and all the ways of man, you were here before the world began.

Crucified, laid behind the stone, you lived to die, rejected and alone. Like a rose trumpled on the ground, you took the fall and thought about me... above all.

Credits: Carrie Stephens - PrimaH copper foil heart; GinaMiller - PrimaH Firsts bg paper, overlay; Kim Christensen-PrimaH First Blush leaves, buttons
Fonts: Freestyle script & Deppressionist Three; crucifix downloaded from internet; Jesus painting 1heart.com

Now I know My Typing Speed

2008-03-14T23:12:00.002-05:00

I know I type fast and without even looking at the screen and keyboard, just the document I'm copying. I type my emails, blogs, whatever... while watching TV. I don't know how fast I can go so I tried this.

76 words

Speed test

305 points, so you achieved position 153492 of 1091856 on the ranking listYou type 402 characters per minuteYou have 76 correct words andyou have 1 wrong words.

The incorrect word is "Indian" which I didn't get to capitalize.

I found this in http://sanden2007-ourlifetogether.blogspot.com/ . Thanks, Sandra.

Baby Pictures

2008-03-12T22:14:00.001-05:00

I've been busy scrapbooking baby pictures of my DD and DS. I like digital scrapbooking because it is so versatile. Here's one that I created using materials from the Sunporch Kit by Amy Teets.

Who says with digital scrapbooking you are locked with just the available embellishments included in a kit?

In this LO I used copies of embellishments from the old scrapbooks I made for my DD. Years ago, I've never heard of "acid-free". So I used anything cute I could get my hands on. The teddy bear is from a gift wrapping paper. The stork is from a magazine ad.

I liked Amy Teets' kit so much I used it on 3 more LOs. On this page is another embellishment I cut out from a greeting card. It is also a copy of what I used in the original album.

All Time Low

2008-03-06T19:04:00.001-06:00

I don't know why they're called All Time Low. How could it be when the band is so popular with the kids? I made LOs of DD''s concert experience with 5 different bands on this one night.

Supplies used: Fiona Hugo's MimiLou KitFonts: Happy & Freestyle Script; created using PS8

Did I go overboard with the flowers and bling? I'm beginning to like overflowing my pages with these.

Supplies used: FionaHugo MimiLou Kit; Font - La Jolla ES; created using PS8

Cat's Meow

2008-03-05T21:23:00.001-06:00

Here's another picture of Sgt. Pepper. So seldom do we get this view. I just love this cat. He is my shadow. He follows me everywhere. When I'm working on the computer he sits nearby. When I stand to go somewhere, he follows. He fell asleep under the computer desk while I was working on this LO.

Supplies used: K-Ology-Roam paper background; embellishments from Marlies Kieninger's Spring Time Mega Kit; fonts- Monotype Corsiva & Frosty; LO made using CS3ext.

Kilig to the Bones

2008-03-03T20:14:00.001-06:00

I love Mia's challenge for KAYA! #11. Whooo-hooo! I had a chance to drop by this weekend to check out what's going on. When I saw what's up, I immediately set out to work! And here's the fun I whipped up in less than an hour!

Supplies used:

Kim Christensen: journaling stamp from Prima's Be Beautiful kit; butterfly from Prima Hybrid's First Blush; Diane Rigdon: ribbon with flowers from Prima Hybrid's Firsts; Meredith Fenwick: crisscross from Prima Hybrid's First Blush; Trish Jones - glitzstar and glitzswirl from Prima Hybrid's Firsts; Doris Castle: swirly brown bag background paper from Prima's Dreamsicle kit; Monica69: glitter circles; Graphic Jam Designs: blue, green, & orange FairyLights [used in the center of the Prima flowers]. Blue blings on the butterfly is also by Graphic Jam Designs.

I just have a blue background on my desktop, but this one, I uploaded. Drool...drool.... I better make an LO for my DH. He doesn't really mind. When it's time to watch Smallville, I always announce that nobody bother me for an hour because I have a meeting with Tom Welling. He'd sneak in and watch my facial expressions sometimes and tease me about it. I'd always assure him and say, "Don't worry, Honey, you are always my number one." To which he'd respond, "I know. Besides he can't come out of the TV screen." [hehehe]

Oh, here's one for my Honey.

For this LO I used the following: lace, blue mat, and butterfly from Peta M. Boardman's February Sample Bag "BlueBliss"; newspaper flower and background paper from Journals of Life; blue flowers from Good Ol' Years; Font: Cynthia Script.

I made a lot of copies of the blue flowers and scattered them all over the background paper in place of the yellow star-like prints. I re-sized the flowers in, I believe, 4 different sizes. Wow! there are 67 of those blue flowers! 67 layers all shrunk into one!

Cat LOs

2008-03-02T19:40:00.001-06:00

I just love the Prima kits I bought a few weeks back! It seems that I've been using them for most of the LOs I've been doing lately. Here are two more I made about our cat, Sgt. Pepper, using Prima's Twitter-Pattered Kit.

Sarge quietly sat by me while I was digi-scrapping. He patiently waited for me to get up. DH was able to take pictures of him watching me. Sarge is not afraid of the big camera [D80] because he knows it doesn't light up unlike mine. With mine, I always catch him with his eyes closed. He hates the flash.

Yes, flowers and bling (by Fiona Hugo) for a male cat. I don't think he'd care.

Turn About

2008-03-01T17:39:00.000-06:00

I've never heard of Turn-About until my daughter had her first one 3 years ago. Turn-About is when the girls ask the boys to the [school] dance. This year's Turn-About photo shoot was held at home. We were all excited to try the new D80. DH set up the basement for the photo shoot. Kelly showed up first. She and DD Christina were the first models. When the rest of the gang showed up, we noticed that the photo shoot was kind of "stiff". So I told my DH we better leave them alone so they can have fun. Christina took the pictures using the remote. Everyone had fun. They were all excited about the "studio" setting with the umbrella lights and spotlights.

Here are a few LOs I made of the occasion.

Supplies used:
Michele Coleman's Wild Sorbet Kit;
Crumpled note by Peta Boardman's Girls Wear Blue Too;
Swirl by Scrapbook Flair;
Fonts: York Script and You Rook Marbelous

Supplies used:

A Little Bit of Nature by Lisa-2006-Lisa.blogspot.com

Glitter Circles by Monica69

Font: Fiolex Girls

Supplies used:
A Little Bit of Nature by Lisa
Font: Rock It

The big 4-oh!

2007-12-08T18:42:00.001-06:00

Somebody turned 40 today. It is my husband's nephew's wife. We were invited to celebrate with them tonight. It is going to be a long drive - about an hour. (And it is freezing! It snowed yesterday and the other day. It's very pretty though very cold.) I have to go to give her a hard time about being 40. She did that when it was I who turned 40. Kakain ako, then gaganti, hehehe......

I made her an LO. DH was supposed to frame it but he only has 10x12 frames. So now we'll just give it as is... I don't have a current picture of her so the LO is blank. I will let her put her 40th birthday picture on this LO. We inserted a birthday card with a gift certificate. She can buy her own frame if she wants... or perhaps a photo album.

I chose black, red and white because these are the colors she has in her house. If she decides to frame this, it will not clash with her decor.

Supplies used: Cardstock: DCWV textured cs; big flowers cut from patterned papers from the Inspirations stack by Memory Block; border is from DCWV Black & White Stack; Live, Laugh, Love red ribbon; fonts: Jasmine [Cricut]

Card greeting:
On your birthday, count your candles, count your years, count your gifts, count your lucky stars, and count all the people - like me - who are wishing you a wonderful day!

Debutante of the Year

2007-10-28T21:54:00.002-05:00

It will probably take me another week to finish a digital album of Stephanie's 18th birthday. This is one of 3 pages I have made so far. The other two have no journaling yet.

The party was held at a banquet hall in Schaumburg, IL. It was so "marangya".

DonnaMoore: Morning Sunshine tan ribbon & flower colored pink; floral paper; tan paper; CorreenSilke: We Escape beads; Lemonade Lucy: newspaper swirl; Font: Vladimir Script

Stephanie is Christina's first cousin once-removed. She is my husband Ed's sister's grand daughter; therefore, Stephanie's Dad and Christina, who are of the same generation, are first cousins. Stephanie is a cousin, one generation apart, hence, once-removed.

Grandpapa Aqui

2007-10-25T18:03:00.002-05:00

This is another picture I took in 1986 when I went home for a visit. My Grandma passed away 2 years after we left the Philippines. According to my Dad it was a big blow for my Grandpapa. I couldn't imagine how it feels to lose a mate after decades of being together. 'Papa endured it all.

BrandyHackman Stylize Scratched paper; Fonts: Times New Roman; Vladimir script; CinziaL - Beauty tag

4 IBARRA Generations

2007-10-24T20:07:00.001-05:00

I found this photo among old pictures I kept in a plastic shoebox. This was taken in 1986, my first balik-bayan in five years. During that visit, it was so shocking to see how old my father [Cipriano] became during my absence. The brother [Julius] I left has married and has a son [LeeJay]. My grandfather [Aquilino] still strong as ever. In fact, we even went bowling during that visit.

Fonts: boldly go out [four]; you rook marbelous [pride]; Zenith Script [honor]; zodiastic [love]; Ænigma Scrawl 4 BRK [with]; Stencil OTC [3, husbands]; BN BenWitch Project [bound, generations]; Ultra Condensed sans 2 [remember, memories]; Vladimir script [family, fathers, sons]; xerox malfunction [4]; virgin [brothers]; times new roman-names

BlytheEvans-PineappleParadise paper #2[blue] & 3[orange]

Freeze

2007-10-22T17:44:00.002-05:00

Whenever I take a picture of my daughter, she makes faces. She goes cross-eyed, sticks out her tongue, or gives out a crooked smile. So, what to do with all those goofy pictures?

Supplies used: sequins, ric-rac, ProvoCraft diecut alpha, buttons, beads, DCWV cardstock and patterned papers.

Supplies used: Nana's Attic Foofaraw papers, flowers, ribbons, tag, lined paper

Fonts: Latchboy, Lucida Fax

Graduation Album

2007-10-21T21:35:00.002-05:00

I made a digital album for Aira, my husband's grandniece... who is kind enough to call me "Tita" [hehe].

Here are a few pictures... but the rest [all 41 pages which I made in one week] are found here.

Aira graduated the top of class 2007. The journaling I used is from her speech. I find it quite difficult to journal someone else's memories, especially because I wasn't there to celebrate this great milestone with her.

Most of the supplies I used were from Nana's Attic. I have yet to put the credits on each LO.

Heaven's Gift to Me

2007-10-07T22:10:00.001-05:00

Oh, my! I really have neglected my blogspot. I just find myself spending a lot of time reading emails, blogs, and chatting on the internet.

I have just submitted my KAYA! 6 challenge entry tonight and am waiting for someone to upload it. Donna Espiritu came up with the challenge - the use of basic supplies: cardstocks, basic pens and pencils, glue, hand-cut titles, hand-written journaling, no store-bought embellishments, nothing fancy such as glitter, metallics, stamp inks. Regular glue, regular scissors...and everything has to be made with the use of these supplies.

The scenario is that I was shipwrecked and washed away on an island. I am alone except for a luggage with my scrapbooking supplies. Only the basic supplies survived the wreck.

I prepared my LO digitally first. I wanted to see how it will look like. The beauty of a digital LO is that I can change embellishments, move things around, add, delete, re-color as much as I want until I get the desired effect.

This is my digital version.

Supplies used:
Nana'sAttic: Muddled white swirl; black&white flowers; photoprong, and doodles;
Seishido brushes used on the background;
BrandieValenzuela brush flowers on the green cardstock;
Font: Helena Script ES
Photo mat: CraftFairy
Journaling: from the song "You Are Beautiful to Me" by Joe Cocker.
Photography by Tracy Whiteside.

Below is the traditional version. I have pictures of how I did the LO in my http://craftfairy1.multiply.com/

Since we cannot use patterned papers, I drew my own patterns on the cardstock.

I hope the pictures I posted on my Multiply.com site will give you ideas of how to make an LO just using basic materials. You really do not have to buy fancy embellishments. You can make your own, you can make them simple or fancy.

Thank you for looking.

Quick Pages

2007-08-04T15:07:00.001-05:00

I hadn't had time for more serious digital scrapbooking lately. I have been busy re-organizing my kalat room and downloading free digital supplies. A big thanks and a bear hug to those who are so generous in sharing their works of art!!! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have these quick pages [ploppers] to use in times when I am too busy to do anything complicated.

Here's one of them!
Supplies used: Springtime Quick Page by Alma Townsend at Scrapbook Bytes.

TFL.

Pop LOs

2007-07-01T13:53:00.000-05:00

Pop layouts seem to be getting popular these days. I've done several of them but it was just 3-D and don't really look like they're popping out of the picture if you don't look close enough.

A picture of Kahlo was the first 3-D picture I made more than a year ago, I believe... I revised the LO when I entered the June Pop Challenge at A Cherry On Top. However, I couldn't decide which one to submit.

I liked the one above because the paper background is colorful. However, I have to use something that is supplied by A Cherry On Top...(the patterned paper with circles and dots) so I had to revise it to the one below.

Should I "pop" the bottom part of the picture? or the top part of the picture? That's another decision I had to make.

Supplies used: shabbyPrincess - striped gel silde and dotted ribbonsKristianne Swanson: ACOT It's My Party background paper & yellow metal rim tagCarla Gibson/OS - flower

To check out what I submitted for the June Pop Challenge, here's the link: http://www.acherryontop.com/gallery_show/,932,4/

I also tried my luck at the Bigi Digi Digital Scrapbook -(http://scrapbook.com/gallery/?type=digital&start=60&page=1&vote=0&c=305)
Please visit and leave me some comments. You can vote for your favorite entries. I don't think there is a limit to one vote per person/computer. I will post my entry in this blogspot when the contest period is over.

Thank you for looking.

On a Roll

2007-06-09T18:09:00.000-05:00

It's a beautiful day outside, but I opted to stay in and catch up with my scrapbook projects. DH is busy tending the garden in the backyard, the cat is by the glass door watching, DD went to shop for hair coloring highlights with a friend. It's her first time to drive - she got her driver's license yesterday. I have to keep busy to not get nervous about her 18-mile drive to Vernon Hills.

For all of my LOs today, I used Khristy Schmidt's Flirty Flowers Kit. I am featuring my husband's brother's (Benjamin's) family.

The first LO is about Jhing, Benjamin's granddaughter. She is the one on the far left. I used Tekton for the font; re-colored the flower from yellow to pink, made a frame out of a row of beads.
The second LO is of Jaymie [Jhing's older sister] and Rosita [Benjamin's wife]. I used assorted colors for the flowers to give more color to the LO.

This is Jhing again. I don't know who she is with. Jaymie sent me the pictures via Yahoo! IM. For Bloom and Grow I recolored the flowers pink to give the LO some color. I used Gina Huff's Creating Beauty swirl2. I cut the swirl as it
was going to make the bottom part too busy. I copied the part that I cut and connected both halves to make a different swirl. The font is Script MT Bold.
This is Jolo, Jhing's and Jaymie's younger brother. What a ball of energy!

The swirl is from Kate Hadfield's Just Minty Mocha Kit. I recolored one of the papers into burnt orange, recolored the tag blue, and used the font, Roddy.

I love the scotch tape that came with the kit. It is the first time I used scotch tape to "adhere" the picture. It was so perfect for a boy's LO.
The next LO is that of Lynne's Benjamin's youngest daughter. I re-colored the flower from yellow to blue and added the butterfly epoxy in the center. I also used stitches from FafBr'Scraperia Savana.

I enjoyed making these layouts. Thank you, Khristy, Kate, FafBr, and the guys who designed the fonts!

The Black and White Challenge

2007-06-04T21:20:00.001-05:00

I've wanted to do journaling in swirls for some time now but didn't get the time to do it. Thank goodness for the June challenge hatched by Jenn (http://janu-jenn.blogspot.com) for http://pinoyscrapbookers.blogspot.com.

Although the journaling is about what I believe in, the title of this traditional LO entry is Black and White and Read All Over.

Supplies used: Zig white chalk writer; DCWV b&w patterned papers; red glitter gel pen, Sweets double-sided flowers by Making Memories, red and white ribbon from Michael's craft store, and Dress It Up red petals.

I also made a digital LO using the color orange this time. I just couldn't resist making one. Digital gives me a lot of freedom in choosing my supplies, re-coloring, re-sizing, cropping, turning them around whichever way I want. It is quicker to complete as well. I think as I go until I achieve the effect I wanted.

This is Ysabella, Elisa Faye's daughter and my sister Josephine's first grandchild. I wanted to show that black and white is also fun to use for kids' LOs. I recolored everything to meet the specifications of the challenge.

Supplies used: MarieStones Blue gel alpha - which I colored orange, BethNixon's Shabby Blooms torn mat which I turned into grayscale; Amber Clegg's Charmed wings recolored orange; Font used is Tekton

I enjoyed making Ysabella's LO that I just had to make another one! This is Hannah, my sister Blesilda's first grandchild - only a few weeks older than Ysabella.

Supplies used: Nancy Kubo's black and white kit - Sweet Memories, portions of which I re-colored in pink. Font used is Script MT Bold.

Thank you for looking. Comments are welcome. If there is anyway I could have improved these LOs, please let me know.

Live it! Love it! Scrapbook it!

2007-05-20T21:31:00.002-05:00

Making crafts is one of my hobbies. Thus, the name CraftFairy [with a "1" just because Yahoo! insists on having at least one number on the user ID. I have accumulated so many craft items that I have bins of ribbons, lace, yarn, felt squares, wooden shapes, beads, glitter, cardstocks [to name a few] in the basement. I made party favors for birthdays, baby and wedding showers, weddings, Christmas, and other occassions. I sew, crochet, crewel, made dolls, made Barbie furniture out of foam-core boards, stuff-toys, made earrings, bracelets, shoulder bags, tree ornaments, snowmen, scarecrows, witches, brooches, crocheted baby blankets, made scarfs, all-occassion cards...alas! cooking is not one of my crafts.

I discovered the pretty scrapbook papers and cute embellishments when I went shopping for more craft items. I buy anything cute, btw, ^o^ so I bought those fancy scissors that cut different edges, a stack of scrapbooking paper, some pens, a lot of templates, some glue and a handful of cardstock. When I got home I happily announced to my husband (who was eyeing the plastic bags I brought in the house, which were clearly marked Michael's, Joann's, and/or Archiver's ) that I finally found my one true craft...scrapbooking.

I made this decision when I realized I've got a box full of undeveloped rolls of film, discs upon discs of digital pictures, and shoeboxes full of printed pictures. I decided I have to catch up with my scrapbooking. However, there was just too much. My daughter and I take pictures faster than I can scrapbook them. Then I discovered digital scrapbooking. It was faster and there was no fear in making mistakes or making decisions. So here I am... a collector of so many things, a digital scrapbooker, a traditional scrapbooker, and sometimes, a tradigital scrapbooker.

My entry to the Kayang-Kaya Kaya? challenge for the month of May. Supplies used: Love Is You Kit by Jenny Limayo; Kirsty Wiseman's Torrent overlay; Willy Wonka font; CS2; Dell notebook; Lindor chocolate truffle; Olympus Camedia.