My Baby

I hope you enjoyed the video I just posted. We sure all need cheering up after Ondoy devastated major parts of the country just last weekend. I loved that video so much that I posted it here in my blog. Watching it makes me yearn to have another baby. God forbid though! I'll just wait for my first grandchild in about 20 or so years. lol!!!

Here's my latest LO of my "baby" & I for Lasting Impression using new gorgeous 7 gypsies products. The photo here was taken by my brother, Arthur, at a cousin's wedding at Calaruega. He shoots with a Nikon. Thanks for the picture, Brother!!!

Materials used for this layout are all available at Lasting Impression. Please check out their gallery here.

Of Weddings & Pearls

It's the month of June and of tadah!!!..... weddings. The family attended a cousin's wonderful wedding last May in Calaruega in Batangas. Well, she was 2 days short of being a June bride but I guess that counts. I made a special layout to mark that special day. Oh not of the bride but of my mom and my aunts. The story later. First, a short tutorial.

Do you have this in your stash?

I got a the metallic set ages ago at Lasting Impression and like a few things in my stash, I totally forgot about it and let it just sit in the drawer for the longest time. Last week, I was in the mood to do some embossing and decided to resurrect my Perfect Pearls.

Before you start, be sure to read the instructions carefully in the packaging and you'll be amazed with the results. I decided to try out a vintage-y layout with some shimmer using the new 7Gypsies Gypsy Market line from Lasting Impression & this is how I did it:

1) Mix gold embossing powder (TopBoss) with a smattering of the Perfect Pearls. It said that "a little goes a long way" so let's see... You may also use clear embossing powder.

2) Stamp the title using Versamark Watermark Stamp Pad.

3) Dust the stamped image with the powder mix.

I also tried it out on the flowers....

....and the photo corner...

4) Using a heat gun, apply a little heat on the stamped images and embellishments. You can sprinkle a little more powder for a added more bling.

And here's my layout which I call "Golden Girls". I decided to make the title a bit subtle. It's barely peeking through the frame pp. It's a picture of my Mother with my 2 aunts and cousin at the wedding. They're really very close and have gone through a lot together: widowhood, empty nest syndrome, not to mention the menopausal years. Lol!!
Here's another layout which used Pefect Pearls on the flowers. It's a picture of my Mom taken on October 16, 1956 when she was about to turn 18! (God bless her for remembering to write the date at the back of the photo) She's the 3rd one from the right. I never thought my Mom could dance.... Gee, don't they all look pretty here. There's really something about old photos that I really love! It's magical to me! A closer look....
Thanks for indulging me!

Materials used in the layouts are all available at Lasting Impression. Please check out their online store!

And Something for Father's Day

Everyday, I thank the Lord for all the blessings He has given me and my family. I thank him for my husband and my children. I also never fail to thank my kids' guardian angels who watch over them 24/7. Everything's so good and so right! I do love my family! And to the best father my children could ever have, Happy Father's Day!!! (SEI, 7gypsies & Pink Paislee papers; Rouge de Garance rub-ons all available at Lasting Impression)

Belated Happy Mothers' Day Layout

Mother's Day is celebrated each May of the year. It is a special day for us to show how much we love & appreciate them. Should be everyday, Mother's Day.

The moment I became a mother myself I knew that my children and family will always come first. And don't even think that parenting stops when they reach legal age! Even when all my kids leave the nest and have their own family, I'd still worry about them. As they say, a mother's job is never done. Oh but it all so worth it! Materials used for this layout are available at Lasting Impression. Please check out their gallery ! Am flying off for a short R&R! Be back in June!

It's Finally Here!

I finally got my Bind-it-All from Lasting Impression yesterday! In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, check it out here. Yipee!!! Just in time for the album that I prepared for my DB, Alan.

The mini is not quite finished but I just had to try out the Bind-it-All. I am just amazed at what this little machine can do! I used new 7 gypsies paper and some "old" Foof-a-la papers in my stash. Just as my scrapping buddy, Marian King said, it looks so professionally done! Woop! Woop! I can't wait to start on my next projects and see what this baby can do!!!!

The Bind-it-All is available at Lasting Impression. Only a few units left so maybe you can give Ms. Vivian a buzz.

Layouts from the Studio Azul November Kit

Here are some layouts I completed using Studio Azul's November Kit. I absolutely love the gorgeous colors of this kit. Congratulations, Mia & Tin!

For my 3rd LO, I wanted the brads to match my color scheme so I got a couple of Biggie brads, sanded them (I just used an extra nail file), painted with acrylic paint, UTEED ... and voila!

I'd like to try my hand at cardmaking with the rest of the paper. I still have to muster enough courage to paint on the Prima Paintables though...

Other materials: Heidi Grace rub-ons (thanks, Iris!), Prima, Scenic Route, 7gypsies clip, UTEE, MM acrylic paint, DCWV cardstock, Craft Express Alphabet Stickers, Sizzix, Cuttlebug.

A Xmas 2007 Mini-album

I still had a lot of leftover scraps from my 7gypsies layout so I decided to make a Xmas 2007 mini-album. I do love the non-traditional colors of the Pretoria line! Luckily the vibrant colors matched perfectly with my pictures.

The nice thing about doing mini-albums is that I can use my scraps!!!! Not just paper scraps, but any leftover rub-on & embellishment. I was even able to use the beads I got from the last Scrapfest & Studio Azul's mini leaf sequins. Hopefully, all this mixing & matching does not make my work appear chopsuey.

As base, I used 4x4 chipboard sheets given to me by my good friend, Liza G. (Thanks so much, Liz!!!) I cut the pp into the same size and adhered them on both sides of the chipboard using double-sided tape (my best friend when doing a mini!---fast & not messy). After finishing the pages, I used my new crop-a-dile to punch 2 holes on the left side of the chipboard. The crop-a-dile is one mean machine --- it punches holes effortlessly! To put it all together, I just inserted a key ring and further embellished this with ribbons.

I've learned several lessons while doing this mini so next time I do another mini I'd keep these tips in mind:

1. Punch out the holes first before designing the page. This way, no picture, rub-on, or embellisment gets punched out.
2. Tip for the ribbons: Fold ribbons it into half & then insert a brad to keep in place. Makes for a neater look.
3. Use double-sided tape to adhere pages to the chipboard. Wet adhesive will produce a wrinkly effect on the pages when dried. Meanwhile, dry adhesive like the glue stick may not be as long-lasting.

I thoroughly enjoyed making this mini. I hope to make another one soon!

Materials Used:

1. 7gypsies - Pretoria line: Bokburg, Olifants, Benoni, Numbi, Edenvale

2. 7 gypsies Pretoria collection Frames & Tags Stickers

3. Scenic Route Christmas Rub-on Words

4. Swatchbook Impress-ons Narratives by Karen Russell

5. Versafine - Sepia Green

6. Black Staz-on

7. Fancy Pants 12x12 Clear Stamps - From the Garden

8. Maya Road Clear Stamps - Scrolls

9. Heidi Grace rub-ons - Words & Borders

10.Buttons, beads, mini-sequin leaves

11. Prima flowers

12. Lace & ribbons

Christmas Layouts

Talk about delinquent! I still have a few of Christmas 2006 pictures that I need to scrap. So before I get buried under Xmas 2007's new set of pictures, I decided to scrap my backlog pictures using new papers!

For this layout, I used Lasting Impression's new line of Websters Pages papers. The company is a relatively new one which offers beautiful papers. For those into cardmaking, this paper is THE choice for it's thick cardstock quality and double-sided design.

And now maybe I can start scrapping our Christmas 2007 pictures. As an experiment, I tried to veer away from the traditional red & green Xmas colors. Quite happy that I experimented with non-Christmas colors! Love the teals and oranges of 7gypsies' Pretoria line!!

Please check out Lasting Impression's gallery for the credits here and here. Thanks for looking. Cheers to the New Year!