School and Scrapping Don't Mix

I am so sorry, blog. I have been a big bad blogger - two and a half months of silence? Not good. But I do have a good excuse - blame it all on school.

As you might know, at the encouragement (more like competitive egging) of my DH, I decided to go back to school last June. It was a choice between getting another Master's, this time in Creative Writing, or going for a doctorate since I already have a Master's. I decided that for the same length of time and the same amount of work, might as well go for the higher degree.

I have very pleasant memories of my graduate studies. Academically, I had better grades than when I was a college undergraduate. I was active in extra-curricular activities (student council and school paper) and I was working at the same time. Everything seemed so easy. So I thought post-graduate was going to be a breeze.

Or not. The past three years, my world revolved around my family, my home and my scrapbooking. It has been years since I read an academic paper. And even more years since I received my Master's. Being inside the classroom again, and not as a parent accompanying her child this time, was quite a culture shock. Everything seemed so...academic.

As the semester progressed, my scrap stuff made way for xeroxed articles. Instead of reading for fun and relaxation, I started reading for recitations and examinations. While I am a voracious reader, there were many times when I fell asleep reading the likes of Wilson, Waldo, Sen and Foucault. Blog-writing had to be set aside for book reviews and annotated bibliographies.

I missed scrapbooking so much that many times, I would sketch layouts or write my journaling in class, while the professor droned on and on about ethics and law. And then there was the feeling that I wasn't good enough. What was a SAHM like me doing in school with classmates from the World Bank, United Nations, Congress, state universities? Many times, I felt like signing the blue slip and dropping out.

But the thought of DH's smug face kept me on. I couldn't bear to quit because I knew I would never hear the end of it from him. He of the 1.18 average. Plus, the tuition fee was much more than I expected so I couldn't let it go to waste.

And so I toiled on...every paper finished was a milestone. And like every milestone, it always seemed there was another waiting around the corner. Every exam taken and passed was a validation. Near the end of the semester, I finally started believing I could do this. I could be a doctor (cue thunder and lightning!)

Yesterday, I finally saw my PA Theory grade online. Our professor was very strict and exacting. I wasn't expecting a high grade especially after the final exam. I was the first one to finish in class because there wasn't anything more I could write in answer to the three essay questions. I had to wait two more hours for my classmates to finish. It wasn't looking good. So I was resigned to a low grade.

And then surprise, surprise! I got a much higher grade than I expected. I literally exploded out of my chair as I began to shout for DH to look at my grade. I felt all the stress and the fatigue of the past two weeks of cramming flow out of my body. I did it! I passed with flying colors! I have proven that at my age, I can still cram like the best of them. Woo-hoo!

Next week is enrolment for the second semester and I think I will be lining up for more pain and torture again. In the meantime, I hope to scrap and blog. I've got lots of memories lined up and I still have to blog about the final outcome of the Idol contest. Stay tuned.

Pick of the Week

Idol Cookie chose my layout Ain't No Princess as her POTW. Check out the announcement here.


I've been joining the Scrappinmoms Idol Contests since it's first year (2007) and this is the first time I got picked as POTW. I think I can now graciously retire from Idol. Hahaha.

Thank you, Cookie. And I must also thank Marj for being my sounding board as I was preparing for this round. She was the first one to laugh at my journaling, which to date, is still hidden from my DH. :-)

Just 4 More Days

For you to avail of the early bird fee for the My Little Attic and Scrapbook Hawaii's ScrapJam happening on October 3, 2009. After August 20 you will have to pay the regular price. Think about all the good scrap stuff that you can pay with the difference! Almost everyday, Marisa is posting all the delightful new arrivals at her blog. Go check it out and drool. Just make sure your wallet doesn't get wet. LOL.

For more details about the ScrapJam, click here. Hope to see you there!

Chanelling a Princess

The last and final challenge at ScrappinMoms Idol was to look at our inner selves and ask, what if I were a Disney princess. We were also asked to use at least one photo of ourselves, and at least three scrapbooking techniques.

Now, I have never thought of myself as a princess, Disney or otherwise. The closest I ever got to pretending I was royalty was when I played "Miss Universe" with neighborhood kids. I used to pretend to be Miss Aruba. This was during the seventies when the Miss Universe pageant was held here in the Philippines. Miss Aruba wasn't crowned winner but I guess she must have left quite an impression to have us girls fighting over the chance to be her. I also remember fights as to who would play Star Ranger Five with my cousins - we were two girls and three boys - and Star Ranger 5 was the only girl. Not to mention she had a heart on her helmet. Sometimes, I'd be Star Ranger Three just to keep the peace.

But anyway, for this layout, I finished the journaling first, but was quite stumped with how to execute it. Until, after days of staring at DCWV's Once Upon A Time stack, which I was saving for my daughters, something clicked, and this is one of those layouts were everything seemed to fall into place.

I'll share the journaling first because I really had fun writing it:

I'm no SNOW WHITE. I can't sing to save my own life. much less, attract Prince Charming.
I'm no CINDERELLA. I've never been good at household chores.
I'm no POCAHONTAS either. I don't talk to trees.
I can't be ARIEL. I can't swim and I prefer to eat seafood, not make them friends.
I could be SLEEPING BEAUTY. I'd rather be snoozing than doing above-mentioned household chores.
There's a bit of BELLE in me. We both love books and we're both in love with a Beast. (Hi, honey!)
I could pass for MULAN. We're both Asian and we put our families first.
Or maybe I'm a JASMINE - not afraid to speak her own mind and seek out new adventures.
Could be I'm TIANA...still waiting for my frog to turn into a Prince. (Hi again, honey!)
But then again, I don't need to be a princess to live this fairy tale life I'm living now.

And here's the layout using ageing, distressing, inking, hand stitching, beading, stamping, tearing, hidden journaling, handcutting.

Ain't No Princess




And with that, seven weeks after, six layouts and a mini-album created, I and nine others move on to the final round - on the spot scrapping on August 29. Visit the gallery and be impressed by sheer talent once again.

The Latest on ScrapJam

Have you seen the latest about the ScrapJam in October 3, 2009? Lots of new arrivals and sponsors from well-known companies like Bella Blvd., Crate Paper, and Bo Bunny, to name a few. Check out the Scrapbooks Hawaii blog for more yummy details.


In the meantime, there's still time to register for this event with the cheaper early bird fee accepted until August 20.

ScrapJam in Manila

I haven't missed any ScrapJam by My Little Attic and Scrapbooks Hawaii and I'm not about to start now. But...time got away with me and before I knew it, the deadline for registration was past. Thank goodness, the deadline was extended to August 20.

So scrappers, you still have time to join the event. If it's anything like the previous ScrapJams, we are guaranteed a rockin' good time.

Visit here for more information. See you on October 3!

Book-Inspired

Round 5 of the Idol contest was all about mini-albums inspired by a book. I saw all the books I've ever read flash before my eyes before I settled for a book trilogy that has special meaning to me and DH.

I'm talking about Nick Bantock's Griffin and Sabine trilogy. The books invite readers to examine handmade postcards and open colorful envelopes as they are drawn into the world of Griffin Moss and Sabine Strohem. DH invited me to read the book when we first met. And when we got married, he made postcards artfully depicting our courtship for our wedding invitations.

I used the postcards in the mini-album, and like Nick Bantock made envelopes, art works (in ATCs) and lots of stamped images. Taking the book theme further, I used the five parts of a story line.

Subtitle: The Story Line (first page)
Postcard 1 - Freedom Bar (where we first met)
Layout 1 - Expositon (Setting the Stage)


Journaling:
So, after you showed me your Millenium Falcon, you asked me if I liked books. I said yes, and you asked if I've read Griffin andSabine. And when I said no, you said you'd lend it to me and even brought the books to my apartment. Later, I realised this was yourstandard pick-up line. I'm glad when you asked me what thought, I said, "I didn't get it." That left more an impression on you than any other because you were used to being told the book was "beautiful" or "touching."

Postcard 2 - Caliraya
Layout 2 - Rising Action (Conflict and complications)
ATC 1 - Escape
Journaling - hidden, sorry, too personal to share

Postcard 3 - Batad
Layout 3 - Climax (The highest point of interest. Turning point.)
ATC 2 - Journey
Journaling:
Almost 3 hours of hiking (only because we needed lots of rest stops), being alone together far from the maddening crowd - we learned alot about ourselves and where we want to be.


Layout 4 - Falling Action (Wrapping up.)
ATC 3 - Travel
Layout 5 - Envelope with old letters (The events andcomplications begin to resolve themselves.)
Postcard 4 - Little Chapel of the Child JesusLayout 6 - Denoument (The final outcome. Conclusion.)



Last Page - The story continues...
Close-up of my Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)


While I quickly settled on my theme concept when the challenge was announced, I was only able to execute everything the night before the deadline. I had to prioritize school work and that meant not sleeping at all on Wednesday! Since my body was craving sleep, I punched the paper wrong side up. And it was a text paper! I had to start measuring again. For the first time, I appreciated my Purple Cow cutter.

My scrap table was a mess...the floor leading to the bathroom was a mess...my mind was a mess... At one point, my hands were shaking so much I couldn't insert the ball chain in the chipboard hole. But all's well that ends well, and I finally got to use my Zutter Bind-it-All which I bought about a month ago. Yey for me!

Thank God I have a very supportive husband. He even cancelled his morning meeting so I can use the laptop before he had to leave for work.

And my reward for all that hard work? I get to move on to the next challenge and make something Disney Princess-like. Ugh! That will be hard when my favorite is The Paper Bag Princess. If you have a daughter or a favorite niece, you really should get her this book.)

BTW, you have to visit the gallery. Everyone did such an awesome job with their mini-albums. Simply amazing!

All Play and No Work

...makes me an impoverished scrapper.

Last week's challenge was all about playing. The Scrappinmoms encouraged us to play with our photos, title, paper and embellishments. I took the directive seriously and I think I kinda overdid it.

I found it hard at first because I'm not your average technique kind of girl. But then I took it as a sign to break out all the alcohol inks, shimmering mists, embossing powders, distress inks, etc., that I have been hoarding. In the end, I think I had way too much fun. So here it is:

Journaling:
Lucky you! Papa is an avid toy collector. He bought these Star Wars toys before you were even born. The night we first met, he was showing off his Millenium Falcon. (Hehehe. Really!) But unlike other toy collectors, he doesn't care about "mint in box." He lets you play with his toys because toys are for playing. And really, your Papa is just a kid at heart.


My title is a pun of Darth Vader's famous line to his son "Luke, I am your father!!! "I chose photos showing my husband and kids playing. I especially love the expression on my husband's face as he played (with zooming noises - too bad it can't be captured on paper) with the Tie Fighters. I also painted the edges of my photos with white acrylic paint for definition.


One paper was originally orange, I poured random drops of blue, green, yellow, violet and sand Shimmering Mists on top of the paper, covered it with bond paper, and then using a brayer, I smoothed over the surface, helping the liquid underneath spread. This changed the color of the paper to different shiny shades. I used the altered paper as a mat for my photos. The other paper, I simply added Crystal Stickles to the stars to make glittered paper.

Side Note on the BG paper: When I showed it to DH he said I wasted the paper. In other words, it was ugly. I shouldn't have mixed too many colors on an orange pallette as it made everything look muddy. I had a half-mind to start all over but I decided not to waste the paper. And hey, it kinda look like one of those BG paper from the Motifica line, don't you agree? :-)


I wanted different font sizes to imitate the opening credits of Star Wars. Since I used alphas from different manufacturers, I painted them all blue for unity and covered them with UTEE for an epoxy look. I dabbed different colors of alcohol inks and pearl metallics on the stars for a shiny marbled finish. The frame was initially a boring white so I colored it using Spicy Marmalade Distress Stamp, covered it with bronze Perfect Pearls for shine, and using the tip of a round paint brush, dabbed white acrylic paint on the surface. Originally gold, I painted the brads yellow, dipped them in Clear Polysparkle embossing powder,and set them with a heat gun. They're now like shiny yellow stars.

I'm sure the judges had a hard time judging this round as everything in the gallery is simply amazing. I think I may have managed to squeeze through to the next round by the tip of my acrylic-stained fingernails.

The next round is all about making a mini-album that's inspired by a book. Quite apt as I struggle to write one book review and one oral report (due Tuesday) and two annotated bibliographies (due Wednesday). I hope I meet all my deadlines next week.