style me {pretty}

Hello blog peeps! I have been gone way too long. Yes, I can go on and on about the many reasons I have been remissed with my blog posts, but why bother, huh? The important is I am here to share with you my stories and creations.

My share today is about the wedding of my good friend Lily last August to her long time beau, Randy. Early on she asked me to be one of her secondary sponsors to which I said yes to. However, what excited me the most was when she sought my help to wrap and pretty up her wedding tokens for the sponsors, entourage & guests. As you will see in the photo below, I did my best to dress up the plain white boxes that housed the solar flashlights she gave away. Later on, she informed me that many of her guests didn't want to unwrap the gifts because they felt they were too pretty to ruin.

I also made "Thank You" cards for their wedding sponsors.

In keeping with her color motif, I used an eggplant colored cardstock as the background for the sentiment. I kept it very simple by adding a crystal heart on top of the "O".

That's it for now. I'll be back real soon. PROMISE!

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?

{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!

{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!

Ooohh | Baby

Yehey! Blogger is finally working after days and days of being out of commission! I've so many things to share with you. Backlogged is such an understatement.

Let me begin with these tiny cute pair of knitted socks. Aren't they just adorable?

I used them along with this matching knitted welcome banner on a Christening card I made for my friend's son.

I thoroughly enjoyed putting this one together because I rarely make cards with baby themes. Am so inspired to make some more just to have on hand. Watch out for them!

{I love} Raine's Gift

Hello everyone! Yes! It's been ages since I made a post here and I missed it. However, before I go on I'd just like to mention that there were plenty of new visitors who dropped by while I was away. Well, whether it's intentional or by chance, I do hope you enjoyed what you saw and was entertained with what you read. Please visit me again and maybe you can drop me a line.

Now to continue...

I am excited to share with all of you a gift I recently received from my youngest sister Lorraine who resides in New Jersey. Like me, she is also an avid paper crafter.

Am sure many of you scrapbookers/cardmakers are familiar with it, but for those of you who are not, it's The Martha Stewart's Stewart Scoring Board.

I've no complaints against my scoring board and SU! bone folder. I've scored and folded dozens and dozens of all sorts of paper with them and they work just fine. However, after using my new toy I can say, "I ain't ever going back!" (Hahahaha! Ok, I'm exaggerating a bit.)

Reasons why I prefer thee:

1. The grooves on the scoring board occur every 1/8" which makes them closer together.
2. It comes with a triangular ruler that is very useful in making envelopes.
3. The bone folder that comes with it is much thinner resulting into crisper and more pronounced score lines.
4. The bone folder and the triangular ruler can be neatly tucked in their compartments within the score board which makes for easy storage.
5. It's from my baby sister!!!
 

{Always} Thinking of You

Hello everyone! My high schooler & grade schooler are officially on their summer vacation. That's two months of no homework, projects, quizzes & exams which means more crafting time for me. Woot! Woot!

Now, to jumpstart my summer projects, I made a couple of pink daisies made of soft felt. They turned out really pretty.

I placed them right smack in the middle of my "Thinking of You" cards. Yes, I've been making a lot of these cards lately as you might have noticed. I suppose it's because I've been missing my sister so much that my longing has manifested itself in my work.

Hope you enjoyed my share today. Come back and visit again soon.

Mother Earth | Major Catastrophe

Since Friday, March 11, 2011, my mind has been filled with nothing, but the horrifying images of the wreck and havoc the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan left behind.

Waves of tsunami hit residences after a powerful earthquake in Natori, Miyagi prefecture (state), Japan.

It is heartbreaking to see and hear the cries of survivors in the news as they bravely search for missing love ones under the rubble and debris.

Broken home in what was once a suburb in Minami Sanriku in Miyagi Prefecture.

Imagine being greeted to this scene coming home from work?

Nothing left.

Unimaginable?
Unbelievable?
Wrong.
It happened.
And the Japanese are now struggling to survive in the aftermath.

Let us all do our share in helping our brothers and sisters in Japan. Check the parishes, schools and other socio-civic organizations in your area to see how you can best extend your love across the miles.

A Sprinkle of Pixie Dust

Take a look at the invitations I made for Sam. She loves fairies, the colors purple & pink and all things shiny, sparkly & pretty,

Each invites came in with these equally colorful envelopes.

If you have any comments, suggestions or questions please drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you.

Have a productive week ahead everyone!

A Grateful Heart

So many blessings.

For today it's welcome home dad,

For a month and a half.

So very precious,

Must make every moment count.

Time will fly,

I know.

Am already dreading the goodbyes,

But must focus on today.

And simply be thankful.

02.01.11 | A Present for Mom

Mothers always want to care for their children; to hug them and love them. Or simply just to be near them no matter what age they are. However, this was never the case for my mom.

She never had us with her all at one time while growing up most especially now that we're adults and have families of our own. It is also mainly because two of my siblings live in the other side of the world from us. Mom has to take an almost 24 hour plane ride to be with them for a short time until she has to go back home to the Philippines.

So, for her birthday this year my brothers, sister & I along with our respective partners planned a simple surprise for her. Nothing ostentatious, but very much from our hearts.

Here's one of the gift we surprised her with. It's a "Family Love Box".

It is 4 x 4 in box that explodes into a 12 x 12 in scrapbook page with photos of Mom, her children and grandchildren.

It also came with a coordinating card.

Now, Mom can be with her four children and seven grandkids anytime, all the time.

Happy Birthday Ma! We love you!

Dasher

Today's share is a simple card with clean lines.


I love the simplicity of this stamp. I stamped the image on white background and used just enough red to get that Christmassy feeling. Then I added a couple of red crystals to highlight the fluidity and gracefulness of its antlers.

Well, that's it from me today. Thank you for dropping by.

Fair Weather

Wow! Can you believe it? Mr. Sun is actually beaming down on us today. This is defintiely a welcome respite after a week long of gloomy skies, howling winds and torrential rains brought on by Super-typhoon Juan (international code name: Megi).

Many of our "kababayans" in Northern Luzon like Cagayan, Isabela and Baguio City were greatly affected. Many of their homes were submerged by the flood waters and their livelihood of rice and corn crops destroyed. Sadly, many even perished.

According to the weather forecasters, another typhoon, codenamed "Katring", may enter the Phillipine territory by this afternoon. So, before it arrives, here's a bright and cheerful card to help us enjoy this wonderful weather.


I just love the bright colors on this paper. They remind me of the tropical flavored Skittles which are my son's favorite. Immediately after I saw them I knew that a fun and quirky card is the only way to go.



Did I succeed?