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.

{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!

{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.

{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.