hotline to love

edited:  and this post was a fave over at scrapbooker's anonymous! yipee!



life has changed for us in the past 4.5months drastically. our world now revolves around our baby and "me time" or "us time" as we like to call it, seems a thing of the past.  

still, we are much happier despite all these changes.  nelo and i both know that we can always depend on each other no matter what.  as we've said we are each other's hotline to love.

this photo was taken during my friend's wedding back in 2005. they had this cute phone booth in the reception venue, a perfect match for my title.

note:  i've used the tim holtz bird & cage die as an additional element for my design. i cut it using a black & white printed postcard. i like how it turned out. and i even used distress ink on the bird.

this page fits perfectly the october challenge to use die cuts over at scrapbookers anonymous.

materials used:  cardsrock - american crafts; patterned paper - dcwv, jenni bowlin; chipboard - buzz & bloom, american crafts; flowers - prima; crackle paint, ink, mask - tim holtz by ranger; rub-on -basic grey; dies - sizzix; others - bling, lace

eat pray love

last night, i was able to finish my first layout for 2011! can you believe it?! it was nothing fancy, but it was a start. i actually followed a sketch and it made things move easily from there.  i'll share that layout as soon as i finish the journal strip.

in the meantime, here's the last layout i was able to do in 2010.

this was created during the scrap day with my friends last october.  yup, it's been that long since i've last scrapped anything.  

hopefully with that first layout done, i can get things moving faster on the scrapping front. i still have loads of photos to scrap before the baby arrives so i better get started.

back to the subject... this photo was taken during my birthday. nelo bought me that book as a gift. honestly, i haven't started reading it yet until now. ;D which reminds me, i better read it already! 

 materials used: patterned paper - scenic route, sassafras; chipboard, brads - making memories; stickers - cosmo cricket, doodlebug design; ink - ranger; glimmer mist - tattered angels; stamps - unity stamps; rub-ons

bonding time (sketchabilities)

time really flies fast! it's already the start of october and this is also the last time i'll be a part of the sketchabilities design team.  i've had the privilege of being in the team 3x for the past 9 months.

i've enjoyed all the sketches and it has also pushed me in terms of what i can do as a scrapper. thank you karan for the wonderful opportunity.  it's been fun and inspiring!  

i'll still be around following the new sketches at sketchabilities.  i will still participate and be inspired by the sketches and the wonderful creations.  again, thank you!

i leave you with this layout i created for my last term.  this is my niece and mil spending quality time together.

materials used: patterned paper - basic grey, sassafras; stickers - basic grey; cardstock - bazill; flowers - prima; die-cut - sizzix; paint - lil davis, tim holtz; chipboard - provo craft; felt - maya road, aas; punch - fiskars; stamp - autumn leaves; brads; fiber

crazy, crazier

we have a new sketch featured at sketchabilities.

and we have a wonderful sponsor -- ead designs!

they sent the design team vinyl stickers to work with.  we actually had no idea what the theme of the stickers were until we received it.  i was worried at first coz i might get something i couldn't work with. 

luckily, i got an "alice in wonderland" theme and it matched perfectly with the photos of me and my bff taken quite recently.  i used the phrase stickers as captions for my photo. then used the "alice" and "queen" stickers. it was fun working with the stickers, matched with the wonderful sketch from karan.

check out the other dt's works here.  and here is my layout for this sketch reveal...

 journal:  this proves it! we still haven't lost our sense of humor together. after all these years of friendship, we still know when to crack each other up. that's one thing i miss most about you. we truly are crazy & crazier together. (july 2010)

materials used: patterned paper - sassafras; alphas, felt - american crafts; chipboard - mambi; glimmer mist - tattered angels; stickers - ead designs; others - gesso paint

blow out the candles (sketchabilities)

the celebration continues at sketchabilities!

don't forget, we are having the sketchabilities blog hop celebration! you have 5 days to participate in and complete the blog hop.  it's from september 15 until september 20. 

join the fun and get a chance to win RAK's from the design team members and the big prize from sketchabilities.

the mid-month reveal is now up and we even have the talented irene tan as our guest designer.

head on over to the blog and be inspired by the design team's interpretation of this wonderful sketch by karan.

for my layout, i scrapped about nelo's 40th birthday celebration last march.

he has reached the big 4-0 and we are happy for the blessings he has received the past year.

of course, no birthday is complete without a cake!...

blow out the candles!

materials used: patterned paper - basic grey, scenic route; grungeboard - tim holtz; alphas - american crafts, cosmo cricket; stickers - 7gypsies; ribbons; buttons

sweet treat (sketchabilities anniversary)

the celebration continues at sketchabilities. it's reveal time for sketch #25. i really love using these sketches, i'm able to use photos that's been in my photo bin for quite sometime.

the sketchabilities' blog hop will be on september 15.  you'll get a chance to win RAK's from the designers as well as a big prize from our sponsor.

 

these photos were taken in 2008 during our valentine's date. those gift certificates in the photo were nelo's surprise gift for me. so sweet of him! 

 

materials used:

cardstock - dcwv; patterned paper - fancy pants, pink paislee; flowers,  journal pad, alpha stickers - making memories; chipboard - fancy pants, american crafts, teresa collins; punch - martha stewart; paint, glitter - lil' davis

new year, new beginnings (sketchabilities anniversary)

this is it! the start of the month-long celebration for sketchabilities' anniversary!

lots of sketches to work with this month and wonderful inspiration from the design team.

you can never have enough of the sketches and the different ways you can use them for your layouts.

and don't forget the sketchabilities' blog hop on september 15. 

you'll get a chance to win RAK's from the designers as well as a big prize from our sponsor.

here's the sketch and my take on the layout...

these photos were taken during the new year celebration of 2009.  it's the first new year spent in our new home.  and truly a new year and a new beginning.

materials used: cardstock - dcwv; patterned paper - autumn leaves, fancy pants; grungeboard - tim holtz; flowers - prima, queen & co., maya raod; alpha & stickers - making memories, american crafts, jenni bowlin; punch - martha stewart; glimmer mist - tattered angels; paint/glitter - lil' davis

ms. scrap-tastic beauty pageant (week 5)

week #5 - "if i could change one thing"

it was another hurdle for me when i reached week #5 for the ms. scrap-tastic challenge. i had to dig deep for that week's task and it was not easy.  i finished the layout with just a few hours to spare.

the challenge:  the title must be "if i could change one thing..."
Is there one thing in the world you wish you could change? one thing you wish that no one had to experience or live through. One thing that would make a difference in the future. What is your one thing you wish you could change. 

and, we must use 3 photos, a stamping of some sort on the layout and use paint.

it's a good thing the election happened this year and it held a lot of meaning for us filipinos.  using that theme for the challenge was closer to home and more personal for me.

i used the title as part of my initial journal: I knew that IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING I would have to exercise my right to vote.

Journal: For almost 12 years, I was a passive citizen. For 9 years we were stuck with a leader we thought was the answer. Those times, I never voted. I was mute to what I wanted from our government. This year, a decision was made, it is time for change and the first step was to vote. To choose the right leader that will lead us to greatness. And he won... Another chapter begins...

Materials used: Cardstock - DCWV; Patterned Paper - Sassafras, Autumn Leaves; Paint - Making Memories; Stamps - Sassafras, Autumn Leaves; Stickers - Scrapworks, Making memories; Chipboard - Provo Craft; Ohers - Ribbon, Brads

chubby cheeks (sketchabilities)

it's sketch time!  sketch #23 is revealed at sketchabilities.

this is a single photo sketch and i just love how the other design team members interpreted the sketch. loads of inspiration over at sketchabilities so you better head on over there.

i scrapped a photo of my niece, carina. she has chubby red cheeks and i just want to pinch it whenever i see her photo.  good things she's in texas, otherwise i would have really pinched her already. lol!

notice that i've been using "old" supplies on my recent layouts.  this one was made using mostly the monthly kit from scarlet lime.

 materials used:
cardstock - fabriano, dcwv; patterned papers - cherry arte, sassafras, basic grey; journal spot - making memories; alphas - american crafts, ek success; punch - martha stewart; flowers - pink paislee, prima; buttons; ribbons

ms. scrap-tastic beauty pageant (week 4)

week #4 - "enjoy vacation"

it was quite a challenge for week #4 for the ms. scrap-tastic challenge. we were tasked to follow a sketch and use only a 8x10 photo (for a 12x12 layout), theme is focused on what we love about summer and only 2 different patterns of paper are allowed.

it was a bit of a stretch for me at the start but i was able to pull through eventually.  good thing we were allowed to use cardstock for this one.  i had my photo edited (with the help of a friend) and mixed in 2 different photos to have that summer feel.  i used a map-printed vellum for the accent and used bits of pattern from 2 patterned papers.  then it was mostly die-cuts for me.  i love the result and it really shouted summer. lol!

materials used:
cardstock - dcwv, american crafts; vellum - american traditionals; patterned paper - imaginisce; die-cuts - october afternoon; chipboard - american crafts; dymo tape; rub-ons - fontwerks; glimmer mist - tattered angels; brads/turns; diamond glaze

ms. scrap-tastic beauty pageant (week 3)

week #3 - "great escape"

for the week #3 challenge at ms. scrap-tastic, we were to scrap about our hobby, our passion or what we love to do.  and, we must use fabric as part of the challenge requirement.

for my theme, i scrapped about our love for traveling. i included photos of our trips since 2005 until 2009 using one photo for each place we went to.  i used a canvass cloth as the base for my photos, distressed it and stamped travel themed stamps over it.  i also distressed the photo to match the mood of the layout.

materials used:
patterned paper - fancy pants; die-cuts - october afternoon; alphas - making memories, american crafts; flowers, packaging - prima; sticker - 7gypsies; stamps - teresa collins, absolument scraps, prima; ink - tim holtz; fabric - canvass

ms. scrap-tastic 2010 beauty pageant (week 2)

week #2 - "joy ride"

the challenge for week #2 for the ms. scrap-tastic was to scrap about yourself.  for this challenge, i scrapped about these photos of mine taken inside the toy store.  you see nelo and i likes taking pictures inside the toy store (if we're not caught using our dslr. lol!) and playing with some of the displays.  i have quite a few of these photos and i think it fits the theme well.

journaling:
I always enjoy the movie displays at the mall especially those at the toy store. This was one of those moments. They had a Madagascar display at Toy Kingdom and I knew I wouldn't pass-up the chance for a photo opp. I didn't mind looking silly at all, with people taking a second look at what I was doing there. I was having fun and that is all that matters. Much like in life, I feel that I should always be open to anything. Life is an adventure, right! And so I am taking a joy ride in it and enjoying every bit of the ride!

materials used: cardstock - bazzill; patterned papers - sassafras, scenic route; die-cuts, journaling card - sassafras; metal clip - making memories; chipboard - provo craft; buttons

ms. scrap-tastic 2010 beauty pageant (week 1)

oh yes! i joined a beauty pageant...

stop! it's not what you are probably thinking! i have image issues to actually be joining a real pageant! lol!

it's a scrapbook beauty pageant over at scrap-tastic!  scrap-tastic hosted a 6-week challenge with different challenge themes every week.  it was a chance for me to force myself to finish a layout every week. and knowing me, i'll be too lazy or tired to finish anything without the much needed push (and motivation).

it was a bit different being on the other side of a challenge like this. (reminds me a lot of the scrappin' moms idol! lol!)

here's the first layout i created for the challenges...


week #1  - "love fulfilled"

it was a color combination challenge.   there were 3 main colors and we are only allowed to use those colors and others from this color palette only.

the prima paper i used was a perfect match for the palette and i just needed to add on embellishments to match the other color requirements.  this layout is currently one of my favorites i've created this year.

materials used: cardstock - bazzill; patterned paper, flowers, alphas, crystals - prima; transparency - hambly; brads - making memories; stamps - technique tuesday; ribbon lace

five (sketchabilities)

sketch #21 is up at sketchabilities!  it's a multi-photo sketch and there's lots of room for photos and embellishments. you can even twist it up depending on your liking.

i decided to scrap photos from our 5th year wedding anniversary.  that day was spent attending mass and having dinner after.  one of those special moments we are thankful for.

materials used:
cardstock - dcwv; patterned paper - sassfras, scenic route; transparency - hambly screen prints; stickers - 7gypsies, making memories; chipboard - american crafts; felt - queen&co., american crafts; brads - queen&co.; brads & photo turn - making memories; journal card - prima

sixth (sketchabilities)

it's another sketchy day for us at sketchabilities with the reveal of sketch #20!  as always, i had so much fun with this multi-photo sketch by karan.  i just modified it a bit to match my theme.

this is our photo taken during our anniversary last may.  it's our sixth year together (which you can tell by the title! =)). side story, while waiting for our food to be served, nelo noticed that the number given us was "6." isn't that a great coincidence! we played with the number, taking turns using it as props for our photo. i also used six photos for the layout instead of four.

materials used:
cardstock - american crafts, dcwv; patterned papers, flowers, packaging (hidden journal) - prima; stamp - technique tuesday; chipboard - scenic route; sticker - 7gypsies; paper ribbon - daisy bucket; puncher - martha stewart; metal clip - making memories; ink - brilliance; stick pin

close to you (sketchabilities)

it seems i haven't been blogging as much as i'd like to in the past 2 months.

i'm busy at work (what's new!) and we've had some construction going on in the house.  we've finally had cabinets built in our walk-in closet and in the extra room where i scrap. which means, all of our stuff are scattered in the house everywhere, and yes, including my scrap stash!  it's so hard to scrap not knowing where your stuff is and it was hard. i've neglected even some of my scrap duties 'coz of this.  i hope things get back to normal soon after that construction.

enough rambling!  here's our reveal at sketchabilities for sketch #19.   it's the last reveal for this term.  but! i'm quite happy that karan has extended me as DT for another term! yipee!  i've said it often that i love karan's sketches especially the multi-photo ones. check out the others who made it to the design team.

these photos were taken during the election.  aly & i were waiting for nelo and her parents to finish voting.  she got hungry already after hours of waiting.  nelo snapped these photos as soon as he saw us sitting there.

materials used:
cardstock - bazzill; patterned papers - october afternoon, scenic route; stickers - creative imagination; chipboard - buzz & bloom (thanks bjay!); die-cuts - urban lily, buzz & bloom; felt - queen & co.; alphas - making memories, cosmo cricket; stamp - tim holtz (thanks iris!); ink - versa magic, tim holtz; stickles - tim holtz (thanks ems!); others - doily, decorative tape (thanks april!)

lucky (sketchabilities)

reveal day is up at sketchabilities!
it is sketch # 18 and it's another dynamic sketch by karan.  she seems to be loving a lot of circles lately and i must agree, it gives a different feel to her sketches.  the little frills she adds at the corners are things i've always wanted to include in my layouts.

head on over there to check out the amazing layouts of the other design team members. 

this is a photo of nelo & my niece, aly.  she is such a sweet girl and you can feel how she genuinely adores her tito nelo.  although, she can be too much to handle sometimes. lol!

journal:
i can see that you truly adore tito nelo. everytime we visit you, you always enjoy playing with him and talking. you are lucky to have him around coz he treats you like his own. just continue being you. (may 2010)

material used:
cardstock (kraft & decorative edge) - bazzill; patterned papers - october afternoon, scenic route; die-cut - october afternoon, creative imaginations; flowers - prima; brads - provo craft, unknown source; felt - queen & co.; stamps - glitz; ink - versa magic; chipboard - junkitz; paper doily

sunday habit

the new challenge has been up at journaling junkie and my layout's just been posted. the task was to journal about our "weekend days" and to use 5 photos.

i tried something different with my layout this time around. the layout's fairly simple and i just sprayed on glimmer mist to add texture.  i went mist-crazy and sprayed on 3 different colors on the cream cardstock. i liked the overall effect it created.

journal:
It has become a staple part of our Sunday ritual. Before we attend mass, and in case we're not able to eat at home, we head over to McDonald's for our morning fix.  It's always any of the breakfast meals, juice and hash browns. No Sunday morning is complete without this stopover. And don't forget the spiritual fix after...

materials used:
cardstock - bazzill; patterned paper, banners - sassafras; buttons - making memories, autumn leaves, others; chipboard - provo craft; felt - prima; brads - making memories; glimmer mist - tattered angels

make a wish (sketchabilities)

it's time...
for another sketch at sketchabilities!
it's sketch #17 and it's a 2-photo sketch by karan.

the sketch used circles as a base but i opted to change it up a bit by using a square one instead. i used my handy dandy fiskars border punch to create that square base.  love the effect, so girly-girl.  a perfect match for my subject - my niece alex who just recently celebrated her 19th birthday.

materials used:
cardstock - dcwv; patterned paper, bling - prima; flowers - heidi swapp, prima; alpha - making memories, american crafts; stickers - 7gypsies; fiber - basic grey; glimmer mist - tattered angels; border punch - fiskars; pen - staedtler triplus; others - pins, doily, bling

how do you do all that mom?

challenge #80 is ongoing at journaling junkie. it's about finding balance in your life as a mom.

Journal:
I've often wondered about it... How you were able to squeeze in everything in a day... taking care of us, fixing the house, doing errands in between, devoting a little "me" time for yourself... You do it all so effortlessly, it seems there is nothing you cannot do.  Looking closely, I realize, you're able to do it all 'coz of your love for us.  You care for us so much that there is nothing impossible for you. We may not have said this often but, thank you... thank you for your unconditional love, your time, and everything in between. We love you... 

materials used:
patterned paper, die-cuts - basic grey; journal spot - making memories; alphas - creative imaginations, american crafts; others - bling