My Christmas Gift: TravelPack Plus!

It has arrived! I've been waiting for this for a month now, and my TravelPack Plus has arrived!
When I ordered it a month ago,I just
wanted a bag organizer for scrapping. I figured since I've been joining EBs, I have to be ready to pack things quickly and also return things easily. Now that I've seen it, I'm SOLD! It has organizer pockets for pens, scissors etc. in the inside. It also contains a spinder (a 3-hole metal holder that has a velcro back) that can be attached and detached easily. The 3-hole spinder holds plastic that can contain PPs and also embellishments in an organized manner. Also, it can accept 2 more spinders should I need it. What's more, I can (if I chose to, have the money and the table space) also opt to use the spinders with their ScrapRack Organizers. Haaaay! I'm in love!

Favorite Lay-outs/Projects

Candy's Scrapping Treasures

Marj made a contest wherein everyone shows everything they've got. She'll randomly select winners for this contest to win a RAK she displaced in her blog.

In the beginning, I was hesitant to show all of my materials. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to spread out all of my things since this will show my compulsive buying habits. However, the exercise was actually good since it made me see what I really have, and also take stock of what I shouldn't have gotten. I saw the many things I've forgotten about, and I realized that I actually have favorite things I use often.

I've accumulated many papers since I've started scrapping. By going through each one (making sure to fan it in such a way that I'll still be able to return them all in their proper places), I realized that there were quite a number of papers I have that I will probably not use. It makes me think of setting aside these papers to give away for the Christmas Exchange Gift.

Since I've joined different scrapping fora, I've managed to triple or maybe quadruple my stash in barely 4 months! In the last few months, my goal was to increase my collection of rub-ons. Now, I'm into collecting clear stamps and metal embellishments. Next month, who knows? I'm actually looking forward to the Christmas Party, partly because there will be things to buy again. It seems never to end!--- Woe to me for being a scrap junkie.

Check out my Slide Show!

Little Child's Ancestor Book

I am currently making a Little Child's Ancestor Book. I started this on a whim while pondering on what to do with the many Maya mini-booklets I've accumulated. It started with only just myself, my husband Arn, my parents, and Arn's parents. Later, I felt the need to include my 2 sets of grandparents as well. I wanted to teach Galo who his ancestors are and since I am into genealogy, it will help him understand his personal family history.

Life

I just finished a LO for Scrappin' Moms' Oct.-Nov. 2007 Challenge: Seeking Inspiration. Rules are: it needs to have a 1-word title, must have buttons, contains a circle. I enjoyed doing this LO because I found the perfect papers as well as the perfect buttons for it. Who wouldn't fall in love with cute red ladybug buttons?! The papers took a while to be just right. I had this pink roses scrap of Vintage Roses of Paper Pizazz. Then I saw this sepia patterned paper of roses of DCWV and I fell head-over-heels in love! Just had to scrap it. I can't post the picture nor the journal here yet because it's a contest, but I'm really proud of my work here.

Pinoy Scrapbooker's Nametag Challenge

Last Sunday, I joined my first PinoyScrapbooker's EB. I had so much fun buying things from Au's Simply Scrappy Closeout Sale, and from other sellers, I just couldn't help myself! I learned how to make a mini-booklet from scratch with dimensional pop-ups from Mitch of Visual Creations, how to dismantle and make wall clock really special c/0 Cookie, and how to use Adobe Photoshop for better photos c/o Maybs. Since I was required to make a name tag, this was what I came up with. I used a peach Bazzill cardstock layered back-to-back. In front, I used Heidi Swapp Chipboard Letters Sea lowercase which I punched up with Leeho Glitter Powder, then I added Chatterbox Rub-Ons for bon-bon designs all-over. I also used the throw-away plastic for PPs to make the wrapper and tied both ends with 2 peach ponytail holders. To finish the edge of the nametag, I added Carolina's light blue to grey mini-rick-rack cord. At the back, I wrote this about my reasons for scrapping:

I scrap to live,
I live to scrap.

I like photos, journals, stories,
cardstock, vellum and PPs,
Add some fiber, rub-ons, brads,
paint, chipboards and ink pads.

Planning for a lay-out,
sitting for a time-out.
Pressure and worry,
ending in a flurry.

I scrap to live,
I live to scrap.

Funny thing is I won one of the 3 prizes for the Nametag Challenge. Everyone said, "Now, everyone will remember you!" And who wouldn't? I was walking around with this funny looking candy card around my neck!!! Complete with a wrapper! Good thing they asked us to take them off to display all of the tags on the wall.---Kidding aside, I really enjoyed this fun homework activity. I specially enjoyed the RAK that also came with it. Thanks Cabbie, Lee, Au and Nita! I didn't think I'd have fun embarassing myself, but I really did enjoy every minute of it!

Breastfeeding Connection

Last September, Scrappin' Moms had a sketch challenge. This was my first time to do a sketch. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this one since I liked cutting through 3 different layers of papers to get a color I wanted using a cutting knife.

The story behind breastfeeding was something I really had to make as a lay-out because it was something that I fought for really hard to prove to everyone that it can be done. I cried making this journal when I remembered all that struggle.

Hidden Journal: I thought it would be easy. What could be more natural than to breastfeed you?

Since I wasn't allowed to travel, Daddy sneaked me into the hospital so I could spend a few minutes with your every other day. Sometimes, I was successful in feeding you, but more often, not. That first instance we were successful, you looked at me, as if you could see me. We connected and it felt right. Daddy took a picture of us to remind us of that special time. Since then, I knew I will have to fight for this right to feed you.

When we brought you home, we couldn't seem to do it again. Many close to me advised me to give it up. I cried and you cried. Bottle-feeding for 6 weeks in the hospital made you not want to work for my milk. On a friends advice, I strengthened my resolve and dropped the bottle entirely. It was your third month, and we struggled and both cried day and night for 3 whole days. We stayed in the living room so Daddy couldn't see and hear you cry from hunger and frustration. On the third night, you finally got it. WE finally got it. We connected once again. And you didn't seem to want to let go.

We kept this connection for 3 more years. And when it was finally over, we both can say, it was all worth it. This bond that we shared, we continue to keep in our hearts.

When in Rome

Last summer, I did this LO on our family's pictures for the 2006 United Nation's Day Celebration in Centro Montessori. Since I was pressed for time, I had to make do with whatever I could to make our costumes.

Journal: CIRCA 2006. A pillowcase, a bedsheet and blue ribbons....When desperate for a costume, one can still find the means to dress up a family.

Pirate

This one was a lay-out I did for last year's Trick-or-Treat at Xavierville Phase III. This was Galo's 2nd Trick-or-Treat celebration, but it was the first time he seemed to enjoy receiving soooo many treats. It was fitting that he was dressed as a pirate. I couldn't resist making a lay-out since he was too engrossed in counting his halloween stash of candies and goodies to eat.

Hidden Journal: X Marks the spot. When you saw the candy loot they gave away, your eyes lit up... as if to say, "I have now found my treasure!"

Lifeguard

Lifeguard was made for the KAYA 6 Challenge of PinoyScrapbookers. The theme centered on the idea that having been shipwrecked and marooned on an island, I find only my luggage of photographs, cardstock (no patterned papers) and a pair of scissors, crayons, watercolor paints, regular markers, glue, etc. I decided to ditch the scissors, pretending it turned rusty, and ended up doing paper tearing for everything. Since being marooned in an island, I figured that having an LO of my son saving me would keep me sane. Besides, it was the perfect excuse for that series of beach pictures I took of Galo in Punta Fuego this summer.

Hidden Journal: If I were stranded on an island, I'd like you to come and find me. You will be my inspiration, my hope, my dream. My lifeguard, guarding my life.

China Doll

Just finished my last LO on my last day of vacation. This time, it is about my niece, a cute and pretty baby who resembles a doll. I had a hard time cutting the cardboard of the patterned paper. I guess, for fine cutting, paper is easier. The hardest thing about this LO however was the journal. Since I am making a journal of my niece, and my sis didn't know what to write either, I had a challenging time making a journal for someone else. In the end, I really liked how it turned out.

Family Heritage

I finished another lay-out. I'm quite amazed at how fast I can make one now for as long as I'm on vacation. Trust that next week will be different when school begins on Monday.

This one is entitled Family Heritage. I really like this one. It's about combining my love for genealogy and for scrapping. I like how it turned out. For this page, I did paper toile to add dimension to the page.

Tapestry

I just finished my first lay-out of my dad today called Tapestry. I plan to show it to him on his birthday, Nov. 10. It took me quite a while to get this done and I'm pleased with the outcome. Will post it sometime.