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...

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.

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?

{Belated} Mother's Day

I know it's is done and over with, but I can't pass up not sharing with you presents I gave to my mom, mother-in-law and all the other moms in my life who've chosen this very fulfilling vocation called motherhood on Mother's Day.

Besides my usual paper creations, this year I included special treats from my kitchen to give to these amazing women.

Since I've been trying to improve my baking skills lately I decided to make these delectable Mini Citrus Rum Cakes with Cream Cheese Glaze. The recipe is very straightforward which made it very easy to follow. Most importantly I had all the ingredients on hand.

I then placed each one inside a golden laminated box which I tied with abacca twine along with my very own handmade tag.

They are like little treasure chests, precious like the recipients.

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!

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!

The Stork Is Coming

Being a mother is awesome! I've been a mother for 19 years now to a young adult (Tonito), a teenager (Alexis) and a grade schooler (Enzo). It hasn't been smooth sailing all the way, but there have definitely been more highs than lows. It is a job I take seriously and I am ever so grateful to have been blessed with these three wonderful children.

So, whenever a relative or a friend is graced with the same opportunity, I get so happy, giddy & excited for them because they will get to experience motherhood. Of course, it also gives me a reason to put my creativity to work!


Here are photos of the diaper cakes I made for the baby shower of Jek (my best friend/cousin-in-law/sorority sister/travel agent) and Zoe (my sorority sister). They are simple to make, but provide great joy to the mom-to-be.

"To be a mother is a woman's greatest vocation in life. She is a partner with God. No being has a position of such power and influence. She holds in her hands the destiny of nations, for to her comes the responsibility and opportunity of molding the nation's citizens."

Spencer W. Kimball