More Different Than Alike

I started this LO last Saturday, but was only able to finish the title and embellishments last Monday. Today, I finally added the journaling. This is the first time that I didn't finish an LO in one sitting. And it doesn't sit (pun intended) well with me. Unlike some people who can work on several LOs at one time, I have to completely finish an LO before I could move on to the next one. So until today, I was stuck on this one.

This is a scraplift of one Karen Buck, who's work was featured in a scrapbook adhesive ad.

When I looked closely at this photo of Sarah and Kahlo, I saw that while they have obvious physical differences, they also have physical similarities. So I thought I would focus on how alike they were despite their differences.


My original quote was "More alike than different." However, when I was putting on the title, the word "different" wouldn't fit on the bottom. So I ended up switching the two words to read, "More different than alike." That bothered me no end because I wanted to focus on their bond as sisters, that despite of their many differences, they have so much more in common. But then I wrote the journalling and everything fell into place. I acknowledged that these two girls are as different as chalk from cheese. But they are sisters to each other. That is what matters most.


Materials Used:
Making Memories & MAMBI paper, DCWV cardstock, Karen Foster embellishment, MM acrylic paint and foam stamp, Creative Imaginations sticker, EK Success Phrase Cafe, magnet phrase (unknown), Sizzix Bounce diecuts.

Journaling Reads:
There is no denying it. You two are different from each other. Sure, I look at this picture and I think: you have the same lips and the same smile. But that's where the similarities end. SARAH - you are sometimes shy and always sensitive. You like the color pink and girly-girl toys and games. While you, KAHLO - are always gung-ho. You like the color orange and playing rough. But inspite of these differences, you are the best sisters anyone can ask for. Barring the usual sibling disagreements - and you do fight - you clearly love each other. I don't know what the future holds for you two, but I hope you continue to be good friends and always have the best of times together. Love Mama 4/11/2007

The Process:
Scraplifting is certainly easy as the decisions about color schemes or placement of photos, or whatever you want to copy are already made for you. However, the final finishing touches are still your own. This may be easy or not, but this is the part where your own personality comes through. (And this is where I really sweat it out.)

The MM papers also came as part of a kit so it was assumed that the colors will work well together. And then I discovered for myself (although I've read and heard it before) that the MM acylic paints match their papers exactly. How cool is that?

This is also my first time using hidden journaling, simply because there was no room for it in the LO. But when I saw the "Secrets" tab, I knew it was just perfect. My message being just between us girls. That is also why I used my own hand-writing when I would usually use a printer. I wanted this to be very personal.

The Anatomy of a Cry

Middle-child syndrome anyone? My daughter, Sarah, sandwiched between the acknowledged leader Kuya Diego and the feisty "can-do" Kahlo is quite the sensitive child. She cries at the least provocation and at the most unexpected times. One minute we would all be laughing and the next Sarah would be crying her little heart out. She bawls if she is hurt - real or imagined. And she doesn't just cry, she wails. I try to be patient but many times it just drives me insane.

One time I took photos of her (which just made her cry more) so I can show her what she looks like when she cries. It didn't help. But I thought the photos would make a good LO. The title and journaling had been brewing in my mind since last year and yesterday, I finally scrapped those photos.

I used a Becky Fleck Page Map, which made it easy, and I was in the company of good friends, which made it fun. So here it is, the LO from our Holy Crop Thursday.


Materials Used: Basic Grey Aged & Confused Sublime Colletion - Confused and Cinnamon Stripe; black DCWV CS; orange Fabriano CS (Au's scrap); green DMC embroidery thread; black and white ribbon (courtesy of Nita); Making Memories Magnetic Stamps; Mini Pop-Up Dots; metal heart-shaped tag.

Journaling Reads:
muscle-clenching
eye-popping
heart-stopping
ear-piercing
gut-wrenching
head-splitting
nerve-wracking

The Process: I used the BG papers because it reflected the color orange in my photos, and I liked the word CONFUSED in the pattern. I immediately cut the paper, otherwise I would have wasted time moving things around and second-guessing myself. I tried to borrow zig-zag scissors from Au but she suggested that I stitch instead of cut. So she lent me her thread and needle, and using the Simply Scrappy stitch guide, I started stitching. Four holes in and I started to remember that I hate sewing as much as cooking! I was never good in the so-called Home Economics classes. I spent alot of time in the sewing so there was no time for other LOs. My fellow scrappers got an earful of complaints while I hemmed and hawed. Hahaha.

I used Symbelly's Big Shot to cut the Cherish and Round-a-Bout alpha dies. Wow! That was quick and fast. (I wish my Sizzix orders would arrive soon...) Nita shared her ribbon and it was the perfect finishing touch. She even knotted it for me. I was all done except for the journaling. Au suggested we use her Making Memories Magnetic Stamps. So she demo-ed the product to me and Mai, and actually ended stamping all the words herself. Thanks, Au! If it's any consolation, expect orders for those stamps from me and Mai soon. They're really very versatile. A fortuitous thing - Au initially stamped heart-stopping using q's, not p's. So to cover the mistake, we stamped the word on another CS. We did the same to three more words, and it actually added dimension to the LO. All's well, that ends well.

When I got home, I showed the LO to Sarah, and as expected, she cried.

Holy Crop!

Crop party with some friends yesterday, Holy Thursday. Emphasis on the word par-tee! There were only six of us (Au, Nita, Mai, Symbelly, Cabbie and moi) yet they brought tools fit for an entire army of scrapbookers. There were Sizzix dies, Sizzlits alphabets, a Big Shot, a Cuttlebug, Making Memories stamps, a Basic Grey Notch and Die tool...Truly an arsenal I cannot wait to try. It was so generous of them to lug and share their tools for the day so I gladly added my Bazzill colorwheel to the tool pool. LOL. When Mai arrived, she added not tools, but chocolates and chips, for truly a scrapbooker should never be caught without them.

I regret now that I didn't bring my camera to record this event. But I'm sure Au will upload some photos in her blog and Cabbie already posted a few in hers. I purposely didn't bring my camera so that I will not be distracted. My goal for the day is to finish three simple LOs. Yes, I know it was ambitious, but I really thought I could do it, as I usually finish my LOs in half a day. With all the tools at our disposal and with the company of scrappers who are just too willing to help out, I was confident that goal was attainable.

I didn't quite do three, for reasons I will go into later, but I am quite proud of what we all accomplished. Four of us finished LOs that day. Au and Mai just need to adhere their photos and add finishing touches to their work. We had fun, good food, good company, a good place to scrap and the day wasn't too hot.

Thanks to Nita and her family for letting us use their lanai. It was like being in Manila without the heat and dust of Manila. As Mai said, everything was much appreciated.

An April Fool's Joke

Last Sunday, April 1, we, Pinoy Scrapbookers had our third EB in Pasig City. There was quite a turnout of members. Read Jenn for a detailed account and Au for the background and the photos.

After the EB, I went online and wrote this to the group:

"Hi guys, just got home from the EB. I'm tired and I don't feel very inspired by today's happenings at all. I wish I had just stayed home and watched TV. That would've been more productive. For the people I've met before, it seems that I am seeing too much of you already. To those I met for the first time, it wasn't very memorable. I think the money I contributed for the food and the venue was not money well spent. I'm sure that this will be my last EB for awhile. I am sorry, but I have to be honest. I am sure we can all be and do better next time.

So there, now that I have given you my unsolicited opinion, let me just say, happy April Fool's!!! Mwahahahaha."

I got varied reactions. Nita in particular was hyper-ventilating by the third sentence. But am glad, too, that there are those who know me well enough that this was just a joke. Of course, I enjoyed myself immensely, and am looking forward to the next EB.

I Am A Foodie

I started this LO yesterday afternoon and finished it this morning. I left the journaling for last. My printer takes about 10 minutes to boot so I usually print things in bulk.

This is another attempt at heat embossing after my first disastrous one about five months ago when all the UTEE powder flew in the room and my embossing gun blew up in my hands. Despite all care and precaution I plugged my brand new 110 volts gun in 220. I think I am more successful this time because I just singed my fingers with the hot UTEE and didn't blow up anything.


Materials Used: Karen Foster Micro Paper Bundle from Nina. She actually gave them to Cabbie but we hijacked a few from her. Black dymo tape. MM acrylic paints. UTEE embossing powder. Queen & Co. photo turns.

Journaling reads:
Some Food Facts About Me

I took up Essentials of Cooking at the Heny Sison Culinary School for 20 days just to confirm to myself (and my dear husband) that I don’t like cooking.

I’d always eat dessert first if I could.

I heart chocolates, especially the dark and minty kind.

I have a food blog about my culinary (mis)adventures called www.food-envy.blogspot.com.

I like to bake. Unlike cooking, it doesn’t leave much room for guesswork. And I like knowing that if I follow the recipe exactly, I will be rewarded by something delicious in the end.

I can’t cook rice.

I am sooo lucky my husband is a very good cook.

DYMO labels: Loves to eat...Explorer of food.

The Process: I thought the micro papers looked like small table napkins/mats so I hoped they'd go well with the B&W photo of me eating ice cream at Cold Rock, Mall of Asia. I reversed printed the journaling in red. (I tried black too, but it looked heavy and red is more fun.) I searched www.thinkexist.com for food quotes. I liked Emma Bombeck's "I am not a glutton - I am a food explorer." But I left out the glutton part. Not quite there yet. Hehehe.

The Sweet Life

I received an e-mail from myscrapworks that a video coverage of last week's Scrapmeet 3 will be shown on The Sweet Life with Lucy Torres today. I wanted to see it - I might see myself in the video hehehe - so at exactly 6:30 PM, I parked myself in front of the TV and waited. Today's episode dealt with workshops, it being summer vacation in the Philippines, so most parents enrol their kids in different activities.


It was a pleasant surprise for me to see Diego when a video clip of their final performance at PETA (May 2006) was shown. Diego has been a PETA workshopper since he was six. Three of his godparents are PETA artists and I worked very closely with PETA in my previous reincarnation as grants administrator for an international foundation. We have had a very good experience with PETA and have always tried to watch all their plays. If Diego hasn't decided to take up sports this summer, he would again be a PETA workshopper.

Anyway, it was quite exciting to see the footage of the Scrapmeet. The camera panned the scrapbook layouts and even on film, WOW! Galing talaga. The activities were highlighted and Mabelle of myscrapworks and scrapper Joyce (?) Ejercito were interviewed about scrapbooking.

I didn't see myself amongst the crowd, but seeing my child earlier made the show for me. I was also reminded that I still have to request a copy of the final performance video from PETA!

Sanjaya Rules

...his own universe, as Simon Cowell put it. At least somebody (Sanjaya) is having fun. Feeling super-nova na siya. Di ko alam kung maaaliw ako o maaawa. Hahaha.

My Sassy Girl

Finally got around to scrapping a series of Kahlo photos. Whenever I look at these, I am reminded of what a funny and smart girl Kahlo is. She is a regular commedienne - always making faces and saying the most outrageous things. Kahapon, makult na naman siya kaya pabiro siyang pinalo ng tatay niya sa puwet. Just a playful smack so she wasn't really hurt. Takbo siya palayo sa tatay niya habang sumisigaw ng "Fire in the butt! Fire in the butt!" Hay, naku. Ang batang ito talaga...

Anyway, started and finished this today, even watched Prison Break and Alias in between. Followed the 3BugsinaRug February/March sketch.


Title: My Sassy Girl

Journaling reads: Sometimes naughty, always sweet, forever loved

Materials Used: 3BIAR PPS - Groovy - Girl and Tickled Pink - Dream; DCWV CS; Scenic Route chipboard covered with MM glitters.

The Process: I used my Coluzzle circle and alphabet templates for the first time and enjoyed it very much. I should use them more often.

******

I also took the time to revise my Separation Anxiety LO. I changed the DCWV patterned paper using half the orange DCWV CS I used above. I think it's much easier on the eye. I only used the patterned paper before to meet the criteria for a challenge. I was never quite happy with it though. Don't you agree this is a better version?

Don't Trivialize It

(Swiped photo from myscrapworks.com site)

When Lala, Scrap Trivia's Quiz Master asked me to join the Scrapmeet 3 Trivia contest, I didn't hesitate. I have always liked playing games like Trivial Pursuit, Jeopardy and Cranium. Heck! I even tried my luck at Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Game KNB once. Besides, it's about time I put those times I spent reading scrapbook magazines and books to good use.

So I enlisted for the individual category and drafted Tin to partner with me in the team category amidst her protestations. I was confident she would make a good partner because a) she is a very good stamper and scrapbooker (if there are questions that had anything to do with techniques and actually doing something, she would be my secret weapon), 2) she also reads alot, with subscriptions to magazines I have never heard of, and 3) she was one of the smartest in our VIE class.

When they called the six individual category participants onto the stage, I set out to enjoy myself. It didn't matter whether I won or lost, the best part of any game is the playing. We were all given pens and paper where we could write our answers. Lala announced the official contest rules and the games began.

I remember the first question was filling in the missing letters: _ _ L_ _ _ E _ A _ _ _ N. I know we all correctly answered VALERIE SALMON to that one. Succeeding questions included, "What was the name of the first scrapping store?" Nobody got Keeping Memories Alive right. Lala also had GNILLEPS questions where you had to spell words backwards. That would have been more effective if we had to recite it on time pressure. Some of the contestants figured out early on that they could just write the word from right to left. So that was why they were fast and their Rs and Bs were also written backwards. I realized that too late and got stumped actually trying to spell backwards. Several multiple choice and true or false questions later and I lost track of time and the scores. I just answered what I can. As I'm sure the other contestants did.

I have to hand it over to Donna. She really knows her scrapping stuff. In the end, we had to have a tie-breaker between us. It was a really really close fight.

I don't know how long the game was but I was feeling tired and drained by then, and there was still the Team Category to go through. Good thing Tin was fresh and ready. To be honest, I let her answer most of the questions, discussing only when we weren't sure of the answer. There was a round of charades and that was really funny. I dare you to act out dry embossing. Tin and I got embossing (I have no idea how) but got stumped on dry. She kept gesturing to her hair and I kept shouting, hair embossing, embossing hair. All the while I was thinking what does hair have to do with scrapbooking, except when you can't manage an LO and you want to tear your hair off? She was hoping I would get the word "dry" from her blow-DRYing her hair. Hah! O di ba mahirap? I don't know how the others got Basic Grey Notch and Die Tool and Eyelet Setter. They must be psychics.

Cabbie and Mitch won the Team Category round by a matter of two points. If Tin and I had only remembered who the founder of Simple Scrapbooks was (I even reviewed Stacy Julian's book, how could I have missed that), Erin Lincoln as the web hostess of CK (I remembered too late), and answered Making Memories Precision Paper Trimmer instead of Memory Makers Precision Trimmer to "the paper trimmer with the self-sharpening blade" (we got confused about the similar sounding names - I even added an S to Tin's Memory Maker) we would have had a shot at the championship. And to think that we had to persuade Cabbie and Mitch to join the contest at all. Hmmm...not very strategic on my part. Tin and I should have taken to heart one of our AIM professors' favorite mantra - KILL THE COMPETITION. But I have to admit that has no room in scrapbooking. We are all just too nice.


I got a trophy and several goodies for joining the contest. Not bad at all for an hour's work. From left to right: 1) Case of button embellies from Memory Box. My name was the very first drawn in the raffle. I'm not sure that was lucky. Who invented the rule that the best raffle prizes should be saved for last? I know, I should be thankful I got a prize at all when many didn't get anything. 2) Green SEI 8 1/2 x 11 album - my prize for the individual category. 3) Marriage overlay (P50.00 from Memory Box). 4) Daisy D's Kit - prize for team category. Tin also has a set. Courtesy of Memory Lane. 5) Three 12x12 vellum sheets from Memory Box (P70.00) 6) 3bugsinarugs tags, actually Tin's prize which she shared with me. 7) My Scrap Trivia Champion Trophy which Tin suggests I put it right beside my DH's art awards. Maybe I'll add it to my resume. Right after Ms. Science Fair (19-kopong-kopong). Hahaha.

Thank you everyone, to all the other contestants, the audience, the organizers, and especially to the Pinayscrapbookers. Truth to tell, many of the questions in the contest, we have discussed in the e-group. O, Nita, special mention ka na naman - thanks for lending me your books and magazines.

********************

When I got home, DH was having dinner. I gingerly placed my Scrap Trivia Champion trophy on the table without saying a word. He peered at the words written on it, then he bowed his head in reverence (or so I thought), tears of joy came to his eyes (wish ko lang), his shoulders shook from trying to control his emotions. Then he burst out laughing. Hindi na nakapag-pigil! I laughed along with him. Our KiDS couldn't understand why we were lauging so hard, but they laughed along with us. Ahhh...another scrappable moment.

PS - my DH laughed, not because he thought my win was trivial. His first words to me were, "That still has nothing to do with actual scrapping..." He has been encouraging me to make layouts, you see. And he is right. In the end, it doesn't matter what you know. What matters is what you do.

Scrapmeet 3

The scrap meets organized by myscrapworks.com are special to me. The very first scrap socials I ever attended was last year's Scrapmeet 2. Going backwards, the first locally-based scrapbooker I met was Lala Evangelista (great person, this Lala), also of myscrapworks. Really, I was led to their site by serendipity. I was geared for world domination reading Jessica Zafra's blog when I saw the link "Scrappin'." Now, anybody who knows Jessica knows she is not the scrapbooking type. So I thought, hmph...this is probably a satire and has nothing to do with scrapbooking at all. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be a website for Manila-based scrappers. Yoo-hoo. Finally, I didn't feel so alone in this passion.

I always get a high attending EBs, small crops, scrapmeets, scrapfests...The energy and the enthusiasm set off by other attendees are very contagious. I always come away feeling wired and inspired. Scrapmeet 3 was no exception.

I almost wasn't able to attend but for the generosity of a special person. I will have to admit the price of entry (P850) was quite steep for me. I have been out of work for quite a while. I was so happy other friends were attending, too, and I reminded them to come early so we can register to all the workshops which were limited to 20 persons each topic only. Good advise that I didn't quite take. I wasn't late. I arrived at 10:20 am. The sched said 10:30 am. But I was too late to sign up for the make-and-takes. In fact, I was #20 on the photo uploading workshop, the last one open. (A groan and a mental kick in the butt for not leaving the house earlier, I could have avoided the traffic.) Mabelle said we could sit in in any of the workshops sans kits and we couldn't ask questions. Those who were able to sign up get those privileges.

A screenshot of the movie Scrapped

First activity of the day - shopping: Pressing Matters (really tempted by those Technique Tuesday stamps but way beyond my budget), SMILE (got to try the new Cuttlebug and the embossing templates - drool, drool, drool), Memory Box (which had all of their stuff onsale. I guess they're trying to unload their inventory since their shop in Robinson's Galleria has closed), Handcrafted Expressions (showcased Airees Rondain's creativity using local materials), A Perfect Creation (familiar faces since their store is walking distance from my house), Memory Lane (the ever enthusiastic Helen pushing me to buy this and that - I held on to my willpower) and last but not least, Lasting Impression (which always has good stuff so I didn't even dare peek.)


I distracted myself by looking at the entries to the various challenges - Valerie Salmon's sketch and scrap, 3bugs in a rug, K&Co., and Haribon. Good thing they announced the premiere of the movie "Scrapped" not long after. Watching a movie is safer for my wallet. BTW, attendees of the scrapmeet get an original copy of the DVD. The Kiddie Srap session for kids 6-12 years old was held simultaneously with the movie screening. I didn't finish the movie though as lunch called. (I could watch the DVD in the comfort of my home and the reluctant company of my DH later.) It was a heavy lunch but I was disappointed there was no siomai since Dragongate was touted to be one of the best places to get Chinese food in Manila. We couldn't even order it from the restaurant downstairs. Sigh.

Mich & Cabbie with her Haribon entry

Lala then announced the start of the first-ever scrap trivia contest - individual and team categories. Since I partcipated in both, I think it deserves an entry by itself. Will post about it later. It was fun, exciting and quite draining. Hey, I know this is just scrap trivia, but never did my brain cells work so much since I joined Game KNB. Basic scrapbooking was held at the same time as the trivia contest, as it was assumed that you are way beyond basic if you can identify patterned papers in your sleep.

After the scrap contest, it was sort of a free for all. The workshops were running late so some were held at the same time. Except for the make and takes, it didn't matter much anymore if you were able to sign up for all. You had to make a choice. I chose to attend May Chong's stamping demo over Din Cordero's photo uploading workshop. Hopefully, Din will upload his instructions in his column in myscrapworks. I missed Airees' craft demo though.

Then came the most awaited part of the day for those who submitted entries to the challenges. My, I don't envy the judges their role of determining the winners. All the entries were well-crafted. Valerie Salmon even sent a recorded voice message regarding her top choices. So sweet of her! She's one of my inspirations. You can see the complete roster of winners in the website but I'd like to congratulate my friends - Donna (1st place, Valerie Salmon sketch and scrap), Tin - my classmate in AIM whom I last saw four years ago (3rd place, 3bugs in a rug), and Nenette Madero of My Little Attic (Retailer of the Year). Kudos, too, to the LB (Los Banos) scrapbookers for winning many of the challenges. Great work indeed.

Huh! Last minute shopping! But I was very very good and didn't spend more than P300, inclusive of the fare going to the venue. Somebody hug me!

Congratulations to the organizers of Scrapmeet 3 for all your hard work in bringing us a well-organized event. If I may suggest though, that next time if there are few workshops and slots are limited, maybe you can have participants sign to 1 or 2 workshops only. That way, there would still be open workshops for those who arrive later. I know it pays to arrive early, but still, people have to get their money's worth. And please, next time, some siomai? LOL.

Sanjaya Rocks

Sanjaya is safe again. I rest my case.

Cabbie and Me

Maybe being this close to her will make me a more prolific scrapper? Look, we almost have the same eyes! Parehong nawawala pag masaya. Hehehe. Maybe soon I will be as good as she.

And of course, a signed layout for the day when she is rich and famous and I can tell everyone I knew her when.

Thanks, Cabbie, I really really like it. And one of the nicest thing about this hobby is finding friends like you.

All About Friends

My friend Au said that there are scrappers who either have it, or don't. We both agree that Cabbie is one of those who have it. She is one prolific scrapper, making three to four LOs a week. It is always a joy to visit her blog and find new LOs have been uploaded. It is an even greater joy to see her in action. That is why I cherish our Friday crops so much. If only some of her talent would rub off to me, I would be one happy scrappin' gal.

But since that is not to be, I've got one better - a layout done for me by Cabbie. We were chatting away one day when she said that she's running out of photos to scrap. Not one to shy away from OPPORTUNITY, I immediately offered MY photos. I'm glad she took me seriously because I was only half-joking.

I know it took her less than a week to make this LO because she gave it to me last Friday.


Materials Used: I gave her 3 patterned papers by Anna Griffin and 7Gypsies, she added Daisy D's PPS and flower, Prima flowers, Mod buttons, alpha stickers, chipboard, acrylic paints, MM foam stamps. I am not sure about the quote box but it was quite apt. (Thank you, Cabbie, for so generously sharing your stuff, talent and time!)

Journaling Reads: "There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved." - George Sand. My friends and I had high tea at the T Salon in Glorietta on June 22, 2002. These girls have been my roommates/dormmates/housemates, at one time and another, since college. We were steadfast friends then, and we continue to be close friends now. Although we don't see each other as often as we'd like (life has a way of happening and taking us to different places), I treasure this photo and our friendship. The T Salon may be gone, but our friendship is not.

The Process: The Cabbie Jane process - She's very good at mixing patterned papers and she makes it seem so easy. Me? I may have my colorwheel or my DH beside me, and it still isn't any easier.

And oh, by the way, I asked Au if she thought I have the it? Her answer was sort of middle of the road. Hey, Au! I thought you either had it or you don't?

American Idol Conspiracy

Sanjaya Malakar is not one of the better singers in this season's American Idol. Yesterday's rendition of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" was walang ka-dyugi-dyugi. It has no arrive (walang dating). But still tonight, he was declared safe, yet again.

Here's my theory: call center agents from India, the call center capital of the world, are using their international phone lines to call those 1-866 numbers and vote. Maybe hoping that Sanjaya will be the next Norah Jones?

I Scraplifted - Sue Me!

Since I started scrapbooking, some friends have been encouraging me to scraplift. They tell me, don't make it hard, find an LO that you like and scraplift it. They say since I am just learning I can use other scrappers' LOs as a guide. Learn their designs and techniques. And then as I grow more confident in my work, I can eventually spread my own artistic wings.

So today, after reading on the etiquettes of scraplifting, I finally decided to go for it.

I would like to thank Renee Camacho, for inspiring me with her Princess layout in the book Designing with Simplicity. I apologise in advance, my work is a poor copy of her wonderful work.

This is my first LO of my youngest daughter Kahlo, the feistiest of my three kids.

Title: YOU


Journaling reads: YOU are remarkably independent, funny, smart, sweet and sassy. Being the THIRD child, you feel you always have to prove that you are as grown-up as your Kuya Diego and Ate Sarah. YOU always assert yourself - sometimes to the point of annoying them...And us. But you are always loving and affectionate. You are adorable. I hope you continue to grow up to be YOU.

Materials Used: SEI Aunt Gerti's Garden PPS (thanks to Cabie for inspiring me to use my old stash), 3 Bugs in a Rug Inspire, Karen Foster stickers, Mod Designs Alphabets, Creative Imaginations Alphabets, Colorbox Ink, acrylic stamps, wooden butterfly, Prisma glitter.

The process: Once I committed to Renee Camacho and to my choice of papers, I cut and adhered everything. I wrote the journaling on the spot - something new for me since I usually have my thoughts organized way before I start on an LO. I inked the edges of the Canson tracing paper and adhered with Vellum Glue Dots. I cut the bottom with dull pinking scissors so the edge is not straight. I then stamped butterflies on the LO and at the last minute added the stickers YOU. That would've been the end of it but then DH came home and said that there was something lacking. I felt that, too. So I stamped on the white swirls. As you can see, I may have stamped on too much every which way.

I'm afraid I made a complete and utter mess. But when I showed it to Kahlo, she was very happy with it. Years from now, when she has an eye for design and she feels something is not right, I will remind her that long ago, she liked Mama's work.

The Journaler's Handbook

The Journaler's Handbook by Tracy White comes in an attractive three-fold binder that contains an audio CD, the main book and a blank journal. Minus the time I spent analysing the included layouts, this book was a quick read.

The main handbook is not meant to be read through as more than half of it consists of journaling prompts. The questions go beyond the usual 5Ws and H (who, what, where, when, why and how) we were taught in Journalism 101. It is a handy reference to have on your scrap table, for those moments when you have writer's block. The prompts are arranged by theme - baby, child, teen, adult, everyday life, relationships, school, birthdays, travel, holidays, and heritage. So instead of spending the precious little time we have to scrap thinking of meaningful journaling we could quite easily turn to the page that suits our LO.

Those of us who are quite confident in our journaling may not immediately see the need for this book. But the book asks around 100 questions per theme, surely there is one question there that we haven't thought of asking ourselves? The answers could only make our writing more interesting. And if like me, you are scrapping photos from way back when, the memory triggers will help bring back information beyond that which is obvious from the photos. After each chapter, Tracy also gives suggestions on how to complete a page, like adding and collecting ephemera to support your journaling.

The CD is a 30-minute (or thereabouts) workshop/discussion on journaling that you can listen to while you are driving or scrapping. You can close your eyes (NOT - when you're driving, please) and pretend that you are attending Tracy's "Write from the Heart" class at Creating Keepsakes University.

The journal is like a slum book, with questions like what books do you like reading or what is your favorite food or drink? It's up to you whether you would want to use it, but the value, I think lies in the exercise and in plumbing your deepest thoughts from your mind.

Last Song Syndrome

There's a song (okay, an entire CD) playing over and over in my head. Since the last mini-EB (Au's account here and Cabbie's here) when Nita, Au and I sort of fell into a discussion about Broadway musicals, I have been singing the whole Les Miserables soundtrack. Complete with theatrical gestures. Not a pretty sight nor sound, I tell you.

But that and all the reading I've done these past few days are pushing me to make a Broadway layout. Like Stacy Julian said, I do not have to wait until I make a New York album to scrap my memories of Broadway Street. And Tracy White has given me enough journaling prompts that this morning, between sleep and wakefulness, I thought of a journal entry while "On My Own" played in the deepest recesses of my mind.

So now, I am going to lift my butt from this computer chair, take those photos out of the box, and scrap. If you don't hear from me for awhile, that just means I'm busy scrapping.

Now Reading

I am now halfway through Creating Keepsakes' The Journaler's Handbook by Tracy White. I started reading it yesterday afternoon. So far, so good.

The BIG Picture - Part 2

I finished reading the book today. I plan to analyse and internalize each and every layout next. In the meantime, here are more Big Picture gems from Stacy Julian:

*Scrapbooking is not a science. It's a dynamic changing collection of your life's stories.

*Don't stress about letting pictures sit - it's okay, and maybe, even good.

*Things don't always have to be so straight. And it's okay to just cover up mistakes.

*DON'T MAKE IT HARD!!!

*Remember, the size, shape, and ultimate resting place of a scrapbook memory is less important than the fact that you did what felt right.

*SIMPLE SCRAPBOOKING is the permission you give yourself to scrapbook what's most important to you, when it's most important.

If you think I've shared all the secrets of the book for you, then you have another think coming. There are more things to learn from The Big Picture. I know that in the next few days, I will keep the book within reach so I can review it. This is one book I will always want to refer to as I grow in this hobby. (Hmmm...maybe I should get my own copy then. Hahaha.)

I like how the book just segues seamlessly into the heart of scrapbooking. Stacy Julian starts by sharing her layouts (and her life) and you begin to think, "Oh, yes, that's what's important." As I read the book, I find myself nodding and smiling and having what Oprah calls "A-ha!" moments. And Stacy is not even giving you a lecture. She just shares what works for her. And truly, it should work for every Ms. Scrapper who doesn't want the unnecessary work, stress, and expectations that sometimes comes with the territory. (Think comparing your work with others'.) But take a look at Stacy's work. They're really quite simple, not too many accoutrements, but they all tell the story. Which is what our scrapbooks should do. Tell our stories to our own.

There is one thing though that Stacy wrote that I disagree with. She wrote, "Scrapbooking is cheap therapy." Hmmm....not really. And especially not if you're from this part of the world.

Thanks, Nita, for trusting me with your precious copy. I can now see the big picture, and it's just wonderful.

The BIG Picture

I am now reading Simple Scrapbooks' The Big Picture by Tracy Julian. This was published in 2005, but the words still ring true now as they must have then. Only in page 50 and I am reminded that:

*Scrapbooking is about your most important memories, not about the many pictures.

*You create because you feel compelled to do so, not because you have a place for it to go. (Aha! I don't really have to worry about making theme albums.)

*Scrapbooking products don't have an expiration date. (I say, yeah! Who knows and cares that I bought most of my stuff in October 2004 and am only using them now?)

*Anytime you hear yourself say, "I wish I had..." look around and say, "What if I...?" (I see necessity is the mother of invention in scrapbooking, too.)

*You can change your approach anytime you need to. (Score! This is not SODOKU.)

*If a design works for you once, do it again. (So if my page 2 is the same as my page 15, it would only mean it's still as pretty as it was the first time. Hmmm...if a design works for others, scrap lift. Hehehe.) Also, you can scrap a photo more than once.

*This wonderful hobby needs to work for you - not the other way around. (Hmmmm...it shouldn't even be called work.)

*Journaling doesn't always have to be "composed." Just write. (No more drafts and re-drafts. This is not a career in journalism. LOL.)

*You don't always need an obvious title for every page you create. (Alleluia for those times when I can't think of the perfect punchline!)

*If you love it, it ought to be part of your scrapbook. (Expect an LO about this book. Grin.)

*You can incorporate childhood photos into your current scrapbook to tell a story about you. (Those photos are coming out of their magnetic homes.)

*All our kids really need are the highlights, not all the pictures of events, etc. (Thank, God.)

And at this scrapbooking stage I am now in, these really make me stop and take stock:

"Remember, it's paper, pictures and glue - you can afford to experiment and discover and make mistakes."

Whew! That takes off a huge load called expectations from my shoulders.

"Everything changed the day I realized I have exactly enough time to scrapbook my most important memories."

I don't have to stress over my kids' baby pictures I haven't scrapped or that I added more to my "backlog" with last Saturday's party pictures. In fact, don't even say the word backlog or never being caught up. Who's putting me on a deadline anyway?

No rush, no hurry, just the pleasure of scrapbooking my life as it unfolds. I am so loving this book and I can't wait to read more.

Look What I Found!

Scrap shopping is always exciting for me. What's even more exciting is when I find scrapbooking items in the most unexpected places and at very cheap prices.

Big bags of multi-colored foam die cuts - alphabets and numbers, animals, shapes and flowers for only P55 each. Buy one take one packages of multi-colored buttons and wooden flowers at P55. Dome alphabet stickers for P55 too. No, I didn't get these from the 55 peso store, if such even exists.


The best find? Acrylics in various shapes and colors. Each bag contains 28 acrylic pieces. At P88 per packet, that comes down to P3.15 per piece. Even my DH can't afford to complain at that price.


Look at the many designs available. And I should mention that these weren't meant to be used for scrapping. They're really parts of a DIY curtain pack. How cool is that?


It was actually the @ sign that drew my eyes in at first. The price made those same eyes open wide. I have seen an LO titled "Where I'm @" and I have always wanted to make one just like it. The flowers, musical notes, bears, pac-man ghosts, hands, feet, L-O-V-E, chicks, and diamond shapes filled my mind with endless possibilities.

If you want to know where I found these lovelies, leave a comment or read this entry again. The answer is right in here. :-)

Grateful

Thank you to My Little Attic (MLA) for bringing on a challenge that encouraged us to look at ourselves and what we are grateful for.

When Nette Madero, the always gracious owner of MLA, announced the parameters of the challenge last January, I knew immediately what I wanted to create - something about where I am now and how it's not so bad. You see, I recently found myself unemployed. I have been working for 15 years, the last 12 years with an international philanthropic organization. It was the perfect job, made sour only by the commute that I had to endure going to work and back. Because of the traffic situation in Manila I would have to leave the house really early and return home late enough to find my kids already in bed. Some days I was just too tired, I'd just hit the bed, too.

Losing a job. At first I could only think of the derailment in my career and the income that I lost. Thanks to the challenge, I can focus on what I gained instead.

Here is my entry, titled: Job Lost. Joy Found.


Journaling reads:

I lost my job of 12 years five months ago.
For some people, that is not something to be thankful about.
But I am GRATEFUL.
Instead of an 8 to 5 job, I HAVE:
•Time to linger over my eggs in the morning
•Hugs and kisses from my children before they leave for school
•Naps anytime of the day
•No traffic, no rush. Just ME, marching to my own drummer
•Spontaneous lunch dates with my husband
•The pleasure of tucking my children into bed
•No worries about being late for work even if I stayed up all night scrapping and watching TV
•Books that I can finally get to reading
•The luxury of growing my hair long

Materials used:
We R Memory Keepers Restoration PPS - Drapery, Upsholtery Tacks, Jacquard, Bed Linen; Prima flowers attached with faux eyelets; photo corners, acrylic stamps, mini-pop up dots.

The process:
I am a slow scrapper. I let things brew inside my head. Usually, the title and journaling happen first. I always have a small notebook with me to jot down my thoughts. The journaling this time just flowed easily because it's so true. Originally, my working title was Job Lost, Self Found. But then I had a eureka moment while pounding on the treadmill in the gym and it was revised to Job Lost, Joy Found. I thought I would use We R Memory Keepers Diner papers but I knew much still depended on the pictures I will use.

I don't have that many photos of myself, so a photo shoot with my DH was in order. But I wanted a new haircut before the photo shoot (vanity is thy name) which I didn't get around to getting until three nights before the deadline. My DH took my photos the next morning, but then he brought my printer to his office so I didn't get to scrap (or chose not to?) until Tuesday afternoon. I started photoshopping two pictures around 6 pm, six hours before the deadline. When I finally printed out the pics neither went well with the Diner papers which were too bright. I went with the Restoration papers instead, which had a distressed shabby look. After that decision was made came the toughest part: commiting to a sketch. Since I knew I had no time to waste, moving things around endlessly, I took a deep breath and started cutting and adhering. I didn't dare second-guess myself anymore. Finally at around 11:00, I finished and uploaded my LO in the MLA gallery. I missed watching Desperate Housewives, but I felt very satisfied and happy with how the LO came out. It really reflected my thoughts and feelings at this time.

Future Scrapbookers

I had the privilege of interacting with the gradeschoolers from my kids' school last February 12. I volunteered to teach them how to scrapbook as one of the school's Literacy Week activities. I was initially being drafted to be a parent representative for Family Day which involves games, cheerleading and lots of running. I figured I would do better with scrapbooking. I was never any good at games and our family track record for Family Days is lousy. The team we are in always loses. (This year was a happy exception!)

I decided to teach the kids how to make a mini-album about their families. It will make a for a nice Valentine's gift for their parents. I had extra paper from my slabs and stacks (each design usually comes in threes or fours) so I didn't ask the children to bring anything except for their pictures, glue, ribbons and other art materials they wanted. I just bought these long linen cartolinas to cut for folding into an accordion and I was all set.

Special mention and thanks have to go to Nita who helped me cut the papers the very night before my "class." I swear, this lady's brain is like a ruler. One look at the papers and she knew exactly the sizes to cut to avoid wastage. Left on my own, I would've used a system that was far from efficient and would've taken me the whole night to make. I had to prepare 18 kits - 10 girls and 7 boys. Thank God, for scrapbooking friends.

I was quite excited on the day, no, wasn't nervous at all. I think my kids Diego and Sarah who are in grades three and one, respectively, were more nervous than I was. But basically, I think they were proud to have their mother there. There was some moment of confusion though with how they would address me. Sometimes I was Mama, at times, Teacher, more often, Teacher Mama or Mama Teacher.

The session went well. We went through the kits page by page. The kids could follow. (More so than I could say for some of us during scrap workshops). A little slowly for the grade 1 students. The grade 3 students, specially the girls were far more advanced, as expected. The best part was when I let them do their own thing - add their pictures, decorations, messages, etc. I set up three stations for stamps, decorative scissors and punchers. Finally, my supplies and tools put to really good use.

I was really touched with what the children wrote on their albums. One 7 year old girl asked me if I thought her Mom would like her message which read: "Dear Mom, You really nice. You are the nicest Mom in the world." A six year old boy stamped "I love my family" on the cover of his album. Not quite content, he further wrote, "very much." It wasn't the precision work of adult scrapbookers but these kids had fun creating something all by themselves.

The class gifted me with a scrapbooking album afterwards, but really, the experience was reward enough.

Bright curious creative innocent minds. I am so honored.

(Digital kit from Scrapgirls.com Refresh Collection)

The basic kit for the accordion mini-album


Cover pages of Diego and Sarah's masterpieces

Sarah's message - so sweet

Diego's message - so practical

I love how they personalized their works


Proud of her handiwork

Proud of his album and recycled robot in the background

Challenge Yourself

Last December, I joined the Scrappin Mom's 1-2-3 Challenge. It proved a liberating and rewarding experience. I learned to let go of my fears and insecurities (well, at least, some of them) and was rewarded by a layout that I would never have done otherwise.

This January, the challenge is to scrap your travel photos. Hmmm...where to start? Too many travel photos. Finally, decided on a photo of me and DH in front of the Taj Mahal, drafted the journaling, printed out the photo, planned the layout (not necessarily in that order). I had even chosen the patterned papers. 7 Gypsies had papers called Mumbai, Sultan, etc. Just perfect for the olde worlde feel that I wanted my layout to exude.

Meantime, the deadline looms larger. On the last day, I finally stopped delaying and put my plan into action. I was so frustrated that the papers I had in mind didn't work with the photo. I wasted hours trying to make it fit, it just didn't. Maybe if it were in black and white. But I didn't want to print another copy. Sayang naman the photo I already have. So I literally threw my hands in the air and grabbed the few SEI paper I had (special prize goes to the best LO using SEI products). I don't have that many to choose from, so that was easy. Took me less than an hour to put everything together once I made a commitment.

So, here is how it came out. So different from what I had in mind. It won't win any awards, but just finishing it and sending it in was a big enough reward for me. This is LO #10 of 10. Wow! I'm in the two-digits.



Materials Used:

SEI Stitches cardstock; SEI serenity vellum; AMM Twill ribbon; phrase cafe sticker; Deja Views Fresh Verse; charms; MM foam stamps for the corner design (added some prisma glitter); acrylic stamps for the title. Photoshop CS2 for the Taj Mahal photo with text prints. The texts are actual descriptions of Taj Mahal written by poets and historian through the centuries. Scanned my Philippine passport and Indian visa.

Journaling: Standing on the bank of the River Yamuna, the Taj Mahal stands tall and beautiful. Built by an Emperor for his princess wife, it is truly a tribute to beauty and love. We were lucky enough to be there on a full moon. Like a jewel, the Taj sparkled in the moonlight when the semi-precious stones inlaid in the white marble caught in the moon's glow. It was, like our love, truly magical.

A bit of background. My DH and I had a chance to visit India last November 2003. I went for a work-related conference in New Delhi. My DH got bored just hanging around so he took the train to Jaipur and stayed there for three days. On the weekend of the conference, our office brought all the participants to visit the pride of Agra - the Taj Mahal. My office paid for everything, except my husband's personal expenses (Jaipur trip included) and his airfare. He was seated in economy so I just threw him cocktail peanuts from my lofty perch in business class. Haha.

Review: Photography for Scrapbookers

Photography for Scrapbookers
Tracy White, Creating Keepsakes, Primedia, 2006



No, I didn’t purchase this book. I only borrowed it from friend and fellow scrapbooker, Nita. Not because I was too cheap (huh!) but because I seriously believed I didn’t need it. I have dabbled in photography since high school, and even took a photography course when I got my Nikon FM2, a fully-manual SLR. It’s safe to say I know about f-stops, apertures and ISOs. So no, I was not interested in another photography book.

Professional photographers will find the tips and techniques in the book common sense or purely intuitive. But for beginners, it is a good resource. It gives advice on taking every day pictures, portraits, places, nature and landscapes, holidays and special occasions and action. There is also a section of helpful hints for photographing babies, toddlers, children, teens and adults. I like how the book presents photos by different photographers and how it discusses their individual approaches. The approaches are practical and easy to follow. No f-stops and aperture settings to confuse you or make your eyes glaze over.

I am neither a professional nor a beginner but I still found some value in this book, particularly on lighting and composition. It guides you to take photos that tell all the details of the story. It’s not just taking photos, it’s taking photos that would look good in your layouts. In fact, just looking at the photographs inspires me to grab my camera and take photos. Something I have come to think of lately as a chore more than a fun activity.

These days, I use my point and shoot digital camera more often than my trusty FM2. It is easier to lug around and I love the convenience of being able to preview the shot immediately after it was taken. Not to mention, no film costs. I am frustrated, however, that my digital camera has no manual controls. The book reminds me to use the different scene modes in my camera. It tells me when to use these settings. So for now, I am quite happy with what I have (though I won’t stop wishing for a Nikon D80).

The best prcatical advise in this book? Read your camera manual. It is not as exciting to read (or look at) as this book but it tells you what your camera is capable of. Then practice, practice, and practice some more. Take more pictures than you will ever need. Then choose the best photos of the lot. And remember, you don’t have to scrap them all.

Why I Should Scrap...Now!

Conversation with my eight-year old sometime last December 2006:

Diego: Mama, you buy so much scrapbooking stuff but you don't scrapbook.
Me (a little hurt): Isn't it that I made a scrapbook for your swimming lessons last summer?
Diego: That's not a scrapbook. That's a scrap page.

Out of the mouth of the babes. But it wasn't just a scrap page. Two pages actually.

I have only done nine paper LOs so far. This #2 of 9. Made last June 2006. Inspired by a Becky Higgins sketch.

Why I Scrap

I prepared this 3x5 poster for Maria Grace Abuzman's class last January 13, 2007. Grace made me reflect on why I am really into scrapbooking. Nope, it's more than just the pretty paper and embellishments.

I used Adobe Photoshop CS using the trial and error method or kapa method. I'm starting to enjoy making digital LOs because while I am not really good at it, it's so easy to undo mistakes. But I love the feel of paper LOs still. Courage, Lee. Like other scrapbookers before you have realized, there are no mistakes in scrapbooking. Embrace the imperfection. - Ali Edwards

EB Means Eyeball

When I got started on this hobby, I stumbled upon a group in the web which turned out to be an important part of my growth as a scrapbooker. The Pinoy Scrapbookers turned out to be a great resource, not only for ideas, tips and techniques but for friendships and yes, shopping buddies. The e-group has been around for a long time, since 2001, but has only recently climbed to a record number of memberships.

The group held it's first eyeball or meeting or get-together, last October 2006. You can read co-moderator Sheryl's account here. For a while, there were no general meetings but the exchange of ideas and layouts continued through e-mail. But there was a continuing clamor for another EB and we finally had one last January 7, 2007.

What, exactly happens in these EBs? Is it some secret scrapbookers' society meeting that must be kept hidden from the prying eyes of "struggles" or non-scrapping people, otherwise known as those-who-struggle-to-make-LOs? (Inspired by the word "muggles" or non-magical folk from Harry Potter).

Well, it is a day full of camaraderie, creativity, food, sharing, and fun. So what exactly do we do at these EBs? Watch the video and be inspired. Then join us at www.pinoyscrapbookers@yahoogroups.com. This Pinoy society of scrapbookers is secret no more.

NOTE: Please click on the small square with arrow at the bottom (third icon from the left) to minimize the screen. The resolution will be better.

Pinoy Scrapbookers EB

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Merry Christmas One and All

May the true spirit of Christmas live in our hearts, today and always.

From my family to yours -



Every year, we take a family portrait under our Christmas tree. It is always exciting and trying. I don't know why, but it seems to me to always be a big production - making sure the kids stay put, that they put out their best smiles, that they don't place bunny ears or sungay on their siblings, that the lighting is just right and so on and so forth. It is always excruciatingly painful but we do it every year nonetheless.

This year's resulting photos are not that great but definitely better than last year's. At least, this time the kids stood up straight and smiled for the camera. I will tell you a secret though. We bribed the kids into behaving and smiling. We promised the kid with the best smile a special gift. So who do you think has the best smile?

For comparison, here's last year's best Christmas photo. We tried, oh, how we tried, to get a seriously formal family portrait under the tree. But I guess with our individual and independent personalities, it will never be easy. But you know what? I wouldn't want it to be any other way.



Happy holidays everyone!

(Thanks to Shabby Princess for the free digital kits.)

I'll Have a Chocolate Now...

After weeks of turning things in my head, I made my very first layout (post scrapmeets, scrapfests, buying sprees and memorizing magazines and idea books.) As far as I am concerned, the few I did before these do not count. Let's just say it's the beginning of a new era.

With the help of my sister Marissa and scrap friends Nita, Au and Mai, I am finally ready to debut my work, such as it is.

This photo is of my daughter, Sarah Melisande at her very first day in Nursery school, June 2002. She was only two years and two months old then. Photo was taken just outside the door of our old apartment by paparazzo dad.

While she looked filled with trepidation in this photo she was actually excited to go with her Kuya Diego to school. Thus, journaling reads:

While you may look so YOUNG and VULNERABLE in this photograph, you were actually EXCITED to be going to school for the first time. If anyone was feeling ANXIOUS that day, that would've been ME.



Materials Used:
Patterned Paper - DCWV (Spring stack, I think) and Three Bugs in a Rug (Tickled Pink - Inspire); Title - Creative Imaginations Stickers, which I highlighted with Schneider White Gel It pen; Wooden flowers (from my sister, I do not know the brand name); Pink ric rac for the border; Mini pop ups to give dimension to the flowers on my journaling but placed there primarily to cover the adhesive that would have shown through the Canson paper; "First Day" sticker from Joann's.

It took me a long time to finalize this LO because I just couldn't commit. The patterned paper I had to choose from were all so pretty but I dreaded cutting them up. However, it's impossible to see how the elements would look together until they are cut down to size, so drawing a deep breath, I finally did it.

I know this is not yet perfect, but I am ecstatic just to have started at all. I think the adrenaline of accomplishment pushed me to post it at the Scrappin Moms' gallery. Guess who is feeling anxious again?

I welcome all your comments and feedback, but please be gentle. :-)

Now, kindly excuse me while I take a bite out of my reward and do my dance of joy.

There is No Excuse

The dust has finally settled. The workers have long gone. After weeks of living like a nomad, moving from room to room, as the renovation progressed, I can say, I am finally home.

I have a spanking new bathroom. New pin lights in all the rooms of the house. New shelves and bookcases. And just for me, a new place to scrap. Of course, I was also left with a monumental bill and massive cleaning up to do, but even that has slowly been dealt with. Everything now has a place and everything is in its place.

Now I have to really get scrapping. There is no excuse.


This used to be where I scrapped. A small dining table and galinera in the masters' bedroom.

Let me just share my new corner, at the third floor attic, with you.

All my stickers and other embellishments are safely tucked away in clearbooks. My foam stamps and colluzles are in the mini-file drawers. So are my 8.5x11 cardstock. My acrylic paints are in clear containers on the shelf with the decorative scissors. I tried to have everything within sight and within reach so I will remember to use them.


My daughter is a cute addition but hopefully when I scrap, she will be busy with her own stuff.


I had special racks with doors made for my patterned paper and cardstock, but until they are ready, this shelf will have to do.


What few ribbons and fibers I have are prettier displayed. Candy jars from Japan Home Store (P88.00).



New books and magazines should provide inspiration.


Look, Ma. Frango mints.

With my stash of CS, PPS, acrylic paints, coluzzle alphabet templates and foam stamps (ordered compulsively from joanns.com) my craft fairy sister sent me two boxes of Frango mints. With the agreement that I should reward myself with a mint for every layout I finish.

One layout: one mint. So if I want them chocolates (and God, how I want them...) There can be no excuse. Really!

My Bad...

First, the good news: I won the Real Living Magazine Ultimate Shopping Spree last July. The prize? Thirty thousand pesos worth of gift certificates to Metro Living - a furniture store in Megamall, and another thirty thousand pesos GCs to Federal Design Expo in Makati.

Lucky me. I simply answered the question they posed briefly and honestly. They asked, "Why do you deserve to win the shopping spree?" And I answered, "Because for once I would like to see how it feels like to walk into a store, just point out what you want and come home with that item." Many a time, my DH and I fall in love with furniture in home stores, debate about it and we always end up with him saying, "I can do that myself and save us money." And because he is both an artist and an architect, of course, he can. Better in fact. But does it save us money? Of that I am not really sure. More often than not, the pieces of paper where I listed the expenses (a couple of nails here, some wood planks there...) have been buried under the dust and rubble in our garage, where he works noisily for several months on end.

So when I finally had the gift certificates in my hand, I was ecstatic. My DH and I decided it would be a good time to have some minor repairs done around our three-year old townhouse. Especially, since our plumbing has developed a major leak, sometimes flooding our second floor TV room. With my DH's permission (I didn't want to hurt his feelings), I am collaborating with one of his architect friends for professional advise and assistance.

The bad news: So finally yesterday, plans and a list of materials in hand, my DH and I went to the Federal Hardware. Mindless of the tag prices, we filled our carts with all the materials we needed to renovate the ground floor (living room, dining and kitchen). Only to receive the shock of my life at the checkout counter. It turned out that my GCs were not for the hardware, but for the furniture showroom. At that point, we couldn't really back out, not only because it was potentially embarrassing but because the plumber, electrician, carpenter are coming in Monday and they need the materials to work with. I reluctantly handed over my credit card. This was a cost I didn't budget for and I terribly hate being caught unawares. But it was my fault for not checking in the first place. Like I said - my bad.

So this morning, the workers are wrecking my second floor master's bedroom to find the source of the water leak. But only after they had removed the ceilings on the ground floor. Each thwack of the hammer on the tiles is a blow to my wallet, which is still recovering from my online shopping spree (see previous post).

So there. Another excuse not to scrapbook (too dusty and noisy). I was so hoping I could get a scrap room out of this endeavor but I am not so sure it will happen now with the unforeseen expenses. I will keep you posted on how the renovation goes.

Ordering Scrapbook Items Online

Temptation not only lingers in scrapmeets and scrapfests, but in cyberspace as well.

It really is so simple that it's very easy to get carried away. No matter that I told myself that I would not spend more than $25 (that's the least you can buy to get free shipping), I clicked and I clicked and I clicked and pretty soon, I had many items in my virtual shopping carts.

I cringe in virtual pain for the moment I receive my credit card bill. When I pay my dues, the pain will be excruciatingly real. It doesn't help that the bill will be arriving before my shipments do. So to make the days go easier, I'll just put myself in that happy place where I am surrounded by idea books, acrylic paints, foam stamps, cardstock and patterned paper. Or maybe I should just start scrapping and put what I have already hoarded to good use. Hmmmm...there's an idea.

I will not write how much damage this little online shopping spree caused my bank account lest my husband read this post. While I control my own funds, I will be out of a job by the end of the month, so my practical self was practically screaming - STOP! But I just have to have those things I ordered. Who knows when I will have my own funds to spend for my own stuff again?

In the meantime, can anyone tell me how to block joanns.com and amazon.com from ever appearing on my browser?

Philippine Idol Scraps

When Philippine Idol came to the Philippines, I was really excited. I am a big fan of American Idol - I scrapped (OK - organized my photos) to American Idol Season 5. I really looked forward to scrapping while watching Philippine Idol in the next 12 weeks.

Alas! It is not to be. My bet, Ira Marasigan was not included in the top four females. Neither did she make the last two slots in the wild card episode.

My connection to Ira? Nothing much really. I first heard Ira perform when she sang the national anthem at an awards program at the CCP. I always get goosebumps when I hear Lupang Hinirang sang beautifully a capella. Her soulful rendition moved me to tears. No kidding! (In college, Lupang Hinirang was the choice audition song to join the likes of the UP Concert Chorus or the Singing Ambassadors. If you can't sing "Bayang Magiliw", then you can't sing. Period.) And then at the dinner that followed the ceremony I got a chance to get to know her, albeit briefly. She is a vibrantly young and pretty woman, smart as a whip and full of self-confidence. And she has a beautiful voice, to quote Maestro Ryan Cayabyab.

I campaigned for her to relatives, friends, even e-mail groups. And testament to friendships, kinships and Ira's talent, they voted for her. Even before the voting officially started! (Thank you so much for your support, you know who you are.) But we were not enough to overturn the votes received by the other finalists.

I am not sure I will continue to watch Philippine Idol. It will not be an interesting competition for me because not all the remaining finalists represent the best of Filipino talent.

I am also disappointed at the judges. Only Ryan Cayabyab does his job well. Francis Magallona should say what he really means and not retract his comments because on second thought, he thinks he's being too mean. Hello! That's what you are there for. Comments like "I do not like the song choice, but while she was singing it, she was becoming the song." Duh. Remarks like those should end up on the cutting room floor. Pilita Corrales simply follows Francis' lead. She's being too nice. And what about that May-December repartee with host Ryan Agoncillo? Oh, please. Enough already!

Enough also of the regional calls for votes. This is PHILIPPINE Idol, not Zamboanga or some province idol. Enough also of the gimmicky "I am doing this for my mom, so she will be proud of me..." "I want to help my family." Please... Do it for yourself because you want to prove to everyone that you have talent. That you can make it on your own. Like Ira!

Oh (s)crap...Now I have to look for some other show to scrap to. This is one case where I don't want to put up with scraps or to put it bluntly, watch the tira-tira. Re-runs of House sound really good for my Sabado nights at this point.