For The Boys

Hello peeps! How are you all doing? I just wanted to pop in with a quick share. Don't want you guys thinking I've been slacking off with my paper crafting. If you recall, I made a carry along mini brag book for my soon-to-arrive niece, a couple of posts back. Now, here's the male version of it...

Pink & Blue | I Love you!

Next month I will have a new niece. Thus, I've just been inspired to make baby themed cards lately.

Aren't they just perfect to give to new parents?

Dreams Come True

Zooooom!

Three more days and it's October. Where did the time go? To be honest, I don't have any paper craft projects to post because I haven't been making any. Why? Just not in the mood for it lately. However, I can't not let this month pass without having at least one entry for September.

Two things I enjoy doing: crafting & writing. And last July, I was given an opportunity to do both in an article I wrote for Northern Living Magazine, August issue.

Seeing my work printed in a glossy publication was exhilarating and surreal. It's a dream come true.

P.S. Notice anything new here? =)

M is for Miley {Rose}

It was six months ago when your Papa and Mama first told me about you. They were filled with pride and happiness as I talked to them over the phone. I was ecstatic not only for them, but for the entire family because God has blessed us once more with a precious gift.

Of course, at that time, no one knew what your gender would be yet, but we all wished for a girl most especially your brother, Elijah.

Lo and behold! All our wishes came true a month ago.

From then on, I've racked my brain trying to come up with something I can make that will show how I love you so much already even if you're just a teeny tiny pea in your mama's tummy.

Take a look at what I came up with. Can you guess what it is?

It's your first mini scrapbook. Each of the pages contain pockets where your mom can slip in your photo for each of the months of your first year.

As you can see, there are 12 pages after the front cover, one for each month of the year. It measures 3" x 6" making it very handy for your mom to carry it along in her bag so she can show it off to her friends and brag about you.

I decorated it with colorful stamped animals and assorted buttons. I've even added tabs and provided plenty of journaling spaces where your mom can write anecdotes about your growth and development.

Everything is bound together with a clip ring which I've embellished with pretty ribbons.

I hope one day, as you flip through this album, you will feel my joy and exuberance on your impending birth as I patiently cut, crookedly sewed, and carefully pasted each element in this album. I love you and am so terribly excited to meet you, Miley Rose!

Edit: I cased this project from Pine.

{My} Cup of Tea

A very merry Monday morning everyone! So, how was your weekend? Mine was awesome! I hosted a party last Saturday for my sister Deltans and had a huge turn out. It was great to see sorority sisters whom I haven't seen for a long time and to also meet the younger ones for the first time.

Now, after all the fun it's back to the work grind for me.

Today am featuring my mom-in-law's blue & white porcelain teapot collection. My favorite color is blue in any shade and I find the cobalt blue pigment used on these to be refreshingly vibrant.

Drawing inspiration from these teapots, I came up with a "Get Well Soon" card with tea cups as the main attraction.

I've even included additional details to inform the recipient on how to best enjoy one's tea.

So, what's your cup of tea?

Have a fruitful week ahead!

Enjoy The Ride

The color yellow always lifts my spirits. I noticed that I tend to gravitate to anything yellow in my closet when choosing my outfit for the day whenever I have the "blues". Mind you, it's not my favorite color, but it's my mom's fave color on me. She told me that she would often dress me up in yellow when I was a baby. Could this be why it makes me happy?

Well, last month I attended my friend Jessica's surprise 40th birthday dinner organized by her sweet husband. I know for sure that this thoughtful gesture made Jessica really happy.

Take a look at the card I made for her.

It just complimented the way I put together her gift.

Just making this ensemble put a smile on my face. Hope it did Jessica's as well.

A Whale Of A Card

Hi there! As mentioned previously, I've been really inspired in making cards for the kiddos. Therefore, I decided to work with the whale image of my SU! Animal Stories stamp set.

I then mounted the cut image with foam tape atop a brown die cut cardstock.

Here's the assembly line for my cards.

I've even added a bit of sewing for additional detail.

Any kid getting this card on his birthday will surely have a whale of a time most especially if it's attached to a very nice gift.

{Happy} Father's Day

Hey everyone!

Before I start babbling about my project today, I would like to give a big HAPPY FATHER'S DAY shout out to my loving dad, Luis, and also to the father of my three wonderful children, Tonyboy. Thank you for your love, patience, understanding and time. Your dedication to your respective children is immense. I salute and love you both very much!

I am sure you've noticed that I don't make a lot of masculine cards. Whenever I attempt to make one I get stumped.

However, I've decided to venture out of my comfort zone and hone my skills even if it takes a whole day to come up with one note worthy card for a man. Take not: I used the word man and not boy.

As I sat down to conceptualize my design, the one thing that popped in my head that men in general have a great interest on besides women is cars. With that in mind I went ahead and die cut a car image on foam to be used as the focal point for my card.

Yes, it took me longer than usual to put this card together, but it's all worth it because I made it for the very first special man in my life...and that's you, Dad!

Sentimentally Romantic

I am lovin' Adele!

I adore her sultry and soulful voice which could melt even the sturdiest of souls. And the manner she writes her songs, mostly about hurts and heartaches, makes them so easy to relate to.

Listening to her croon lovesongs all day long yesterday left me feeling sentimental resulting with this card.

The colors I used are very subdued. The combination of kraft and white reminds me of beach houses in the Hamptons (not that I have one). Very shabby chic!

The flower is made from a corrugated carton I saw lying around the house. It's the first time I've experimented on this material and I know it's not going to be the last. I'm bubbling with excitement with the limitless possibilities.

Notice the sewing I've done along the borders. I'm a newbie sewer; the reason for the crooked stitches. Even though, I am highly satisfied with the results. The not-so-perfect stitches add enough charm to complete the romantic look of the card.

Side By Side

Here are two cards I made yesterday.

Similar and yet different.

Both have the same color elements, texts and images save for the scallop strips in the middle. A very subtle modification and yet the effect is quite profound.

So, which card packs the meanest punch?

An Easy Sunday

Today is lazy Sunday in our home. 
Everyone is happily contented,
Savoring each moment of togetherness,
Recharging for the week ahead.

Happy Independence Day!

Project Life | Catching Up

If you think about it I am so way behind my Project Life since I only got a hold of it last March. And, with my dad in town for a visit and all the out of town trips we've been making during the summer break I hardly had any time to sit down and sink my teeth into it. However, this does not worry me because I've devised a systematic method on how to organize my photos along with their proper documentation. That's why as of today, June 8, I've completed the months of January and February and have started on the second week of March. What's my secret? Well, it's not by having a photographic memory that's for sure. It's my no-nonsense, but quite dependable 2011 Planner.

I've always kept a journal ever since high school where I write down my thoughts and daily activities. It's because I like to peruse through them once in a while and remember what I did, who I was with and where I was on a specific day.

The difference between this year's journal from the old ones is that there are now corresponding photos for each entries because from the beginning of the year I had Project Life in mind.

Now, like all Project Life users, I had to assemble my kit first before anything else. Once all the photo pockets and journaling inserts have been put into place I was completely psyched to get the ball rolling with this baby.

As you can see in the above photo I used Post-it strips to help me plan the placement of each photos. Once I'm satisfied with the layout I then print the photos I've chosen in my Canon Selphy.

I am really trying my best to catch up on my Project Life. Feel free to share how you're able to keep up with yours. I would really like to hear your ideas.

Have a great day!