It's my birthday! And I'll give a RAK if I want to!

It's my birthday this Friday, August 1. I'll be 43 years old and I feel GREAT! I lost weight (since we started aerobics in school), I can now fit into pre-pregnancy clothes (except for the snug bustline, but am still working on that!), and I feel healthy, fit and strong. I have a good career as an educator and a Montessori elementary school I can really be proud of. I've been blessed with a loving hubby who indulges my scrapbooking expenses, and I've also been gifted with a handsome, adorable, intelligent and pilyo 4-year old son. The other day, when I asked my little boy what he'll give me for my birthday (fishing!), he opened his empty palms and said, "Heto, mommy!," signifying himself. I almost melted! Then yesterday, he added, "Pang-scrapbooking, mommy, kasi iyon ang gusto mo!" Haaaay. I am truly blessed.

Because I've always believed that blessings always beget more blessings, I checked out my stuff to see what I can give away to my friends. And lo and behold! I found out that I have double of several items! My original 8 black drawer bins, most of them empty at the start of January, has now burst into 12! I'm barely a year into PS and SE and I've accumulated soooo much! So, to commemorate my birthday, as well as my joining these great and wonderfully supportive groups of friends, I am having a 2-pronged RAK give-away. Above are photos of my little boy obviously ecstatic with the cheap finger "lasers" (actually they're just small colored flashlights) I got in Cebu's Ayala Mall. When we switched off the lights and he waved his hand around, we had a mini-light show.

To win RAK#1, All you have to do is suggest a title for a LO I'd like to make of these photographs in the comment section of this post. The best title wins one of the RAK sets. And even if I don't get to choose your suggested LO title, I will also have a raffle (RAK#2) for everyone else. Hence, two (2) very lucky people will get my humble RAK. So here's what's in store:

For the LO Title RAK#1 (see 3rd photo), I am giving away the ff: 12x12 blue die-cut felt pieces, Fancy Pants 12x12 transparency Beauty, 12x12 transparency Memory, Autumn Leaves French Twist RubOns, heart chipboard pieces, K&Co Glittered Twinkle Type Spring Chipboard Alphas, K&Co Life's Journey Clearly Yours Alpha Stickers, mm LOVE photo decor chipboard, American Crafts Thickers Leg Warmers Felt Letter Stickers, Heidi Swapp Frills Clear Shapes Stamps, Maya Road Secret Box Chipboard Book, and 9 pcs assorted Autumn Leaves Chipboard Journaling Panels.

For the Raffle RAK#2 (see 4th photo), I am giving away the ff: 12x12 blue die-cut felt pieces, Fancy Pants 12x12 transparency My Valentine, 12x12 transparency Nature, Autumn Leaves French Twist Rub-Ons, heart chipboard pieces, K&Co Glittered Twinkle Type Happy Chipboard Alphas, Michele Ackerman's Butterfly Garden Alphabet Dome Stickers, Jo-Ann Scrap Essentials A-Z Large Rub-On Alphabet (white), Exchangeable Clear Stamper Alphabet Stamps, Cosmo Cricket Love Notes Chipboard Pieces Dear ABC's, and 9 pcs. assorted Autumn Leaves Chipboard Journaling Panels.

Everyone is eligible to enter. Deadline for your entries and comments on this post is on August 3, Sunday, 11:59 pm. Metro Manila residents can get the prizes from me in one of our EBs. Non-MM residents can make other arrangements with me. We'll cross that bridge later. --- How exciting!

Done

Since May, I've been busy not just preparing for the opening of classes, but I've also been contemplating on whether or not to join the Memory Makers Masters 2009 Contest. On my own, I've already had doubts on my abilities to even qualify. Why would I when there are extremely great Filipino scrappers in PinoyScrapbookers and in Scrapbooks-Exchange? Sometime in April, Joanne Yap, one of our recognized scrapping motivators, egged me to give it a try. She said that my style, which I acknowledge now to be vintage, is different. And according to her, being different might just help give my LOs some notice by the judges.

I admit, as a certified scrapaholic who just loves the idea of prizes and scrapbook freebies, the idea is extremely enticing. Plus, it didn't seem too hard when I read the rules: 1 actual original LO + 4 copies of different original LOs. Then I got stumped. What should I make? What should I do? I sat on these thoughts for about a month before I finally decided to just go with what I felt.

I came up with the requisite 5 LOs for submission: 1 original, 4 colored copies. Of course, since this was the first time I joined any major contest, I was always second-guessing myself. Truth is, I made 2 extra originals and I reworked 2 as well. Didn't realize it was going to be that difficult.

What made it very hard to choose which ones to submit is the fact that there were practically no rules--- no number of photos, no required papers, no sketch to follow. So basically, they want to see one's style. Also, after making an initial 5 and sharing it with a couple of friends, I realized that opinions really differ. What dawned on me is that although all of my work basically reflects my style, I also saw which ribbons, alphas, basic LO design I almost always use. Not that that's bad. It's just that things can be redundant.

Of course, even if I told myself that I should be done by the end of June so I can just mail it in July, I made last-minute changes, last-minute LOs, last-minute photo releases, last-minute supply lists and last-minute Fuji-YKL 12x12 photo copies. Hence, I mailed the final 5 only last Saturday, July 26. Deadline is July 31 postmark. Of course, it came out expensive. I wanted to insure them, but all 5 LOs (that is 1 actual and 4 photo copies) already costs P1102 for mailing that would take approximately 7-10 days. Also, the colored photo copies that were done in 12x12 (actually 12x18 that was just cut) each cost P81. I had to make my own box and line it up inside with an envelope with bubble wrap. When I paid for that, I realized that just applying is really costly. Some pay a huge amount in FEDEX that go into the thousands for mailing. And still, there is no guarantee that these will be accepted. I suppose that is why they only ask for 1 actual LO which will not be returned. Everything else are just colored copies. Once accepted, I suppose, MMM will ask for the originals.

The mailing cost is certainly an issue. When I mailed the WWII Love Letters original LO, it already cost me P611 (including the bubble wrap envelope inside) for regular mail. And yet, there was no guarantee that it will be accepted. It made me realize that applying for publishing is costly and is not really affordable by everyone, all because of mailing costs. Otherwise, there should be a deluge of applications from this little country called the Philippines in all magazines. Bottom line, you have to have some money to even just apply for publication.

Of course, it would really be nice to be one of those who win in the MMM'09. I do understand that with the hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants all over the world, there is very little to no chance of that. I've accepted that fact. Judges will vary in their opinions as to what constitutes a great LO and what is just mediocre. And, as Nita Ang reminded me, scrapbooking should be done to please one's self, not others. That is so true.

Now if they can just hurry up in the judging so I can post my LOs in my blog, that would be enough.

Tagged again!

Two of my scrapping friends tagged me, Timi and Issa, and gave me these awards. Thank you, ladies, for even thinking that my oh-so-simple-because-I had-no-choice-because-I-couldn't-do-any-better blog is worth such awards, let alone your visit even. To see what I mean, check out the links and see their blogs for yourselves.

Funny, but a while ago, I had to figure out how to import and transfer these awards to my blog. Good thing my learning curve is increasing everyday!

Here are the rules that go along with the awards:
1. Post the award logos on your blog.
2. Link back to the person who awarded them to you.
3. Nominate at least 7 people whose blogs you admire and add links back to their blogs.
4. Leave a message for the nominees on their blogs.

And, here are my nominees for inspirational blogs and very talented artists, not in any order, because mind you, they are all awe-inspiring! Ganda ng line-up, 'no?

Bjay - Pigmentations
Phylline - Indiegurl
Lee - The Armchair Scrapper
Joanne - My Life and My Boys
Marix - Live, Laugh, Love and Scrap
Roxannee - Roksani's Creative Nook
Au - All My Scrap

Webster's Pages RAK for I Love You Contest

I was one of the winners in Webster's Pages' I Love You Contest. For the poem I made, please check it out below. The contest didn't say that there was any prize to be given away so I didn't expect any. So, you can just imagine my glee upon seeing this package in the mail! Now, I really have to make Webster's Pages LOs ASAP!!!

Visual Creations Rak for Love Elsie

Last July 5, during the ScrapJam, I received the RAK from Visual Creations for sending in one of the earliest LOs for the Love Elsie Challenge. Here's what I got!!! Yumyy-yum-yum!!! (Wish I was sexy enough to fit those sizes, too! Hehehe!) Thanks, Mitch Sy for this wonderful RAK! Thank you too, Lee, for bringing it to me!

Requiem

I've been busy making LOs but I can't post them yet. This one is called Requiem , in memory of my son's pet chick named Chickmunk. Because the whole 12x12 board is thick, I couldn't think of any other way of using it except to paint over the whole page with acrylic. This resulted on brush strokes across the page. Next I sprayed Glimmer Mist on it. The recessed areas pooled the ink into its nooks and crannies, showing off the texture of the embossing. To further emphasize the raised embossed areas, I painted white acrylic several times on top of them. I hand-torn the green vellum with the rub-ons, then sprayed 3M Adhesive Mounting Spray. I found out that it was the only thing that would stick to the Glimmer Mist.

Journal: It seemed odd: a 4-year old and a green-colored chick. You instantly bonded with each other. One needed a parent, the other needed to take care of someone. As luck would have it, you only spent 3 days in each other's company. The bond you shared however continues on in memories and dreams.

Materials: Prima 12x12 Embossed chipboard, Kaiser acrylic white, Liquitex acrylic mars black, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist graphite & olive vine, Basic Grey periphery Rub-Ons, Basic Grey Wholly Cow Rub-Ons, Fancy Pants French Market Rub-Ons, Fancy Pants Claire de lune Rub-Ons, Thickers Prancer, Grafix colored vellum, Mokuba ribbon, Tsukineko Walnut Ink, miscellaneous rhinestones, Brilliance moonlight white, Tsukineko Walnut Ink. Adhesives: 3M Mounting Spray.

Now up as Featured Page Idea in MM On-line Gallery

The LO Once Upon a Time Beautiful Belles is currently up as a Featured Page Idea. This is one of those LOs where I truly prized the photo because it is one of those very few showing us as a complete family. In this case, the patterned papers are all Scenic Route. I've always found it difficult to use pps because I find them too busy. Fortunately, with one of the papers, I saw "'corn" so I just had to make one for the LO. Also, to temper the many patterns, I painted brown on the main paper. Unintendendly, the brown spot looked like a paper burn, as if the the paper grew old.

Here's the link: http://us.mc639.mail.yahoo.com/mc/showMessage?fid=Contest%2520Wins%252c%2520GDT%252c%2520Features&sort=date&order=down&startMid=0&.rand=2127016210&midIndex=0&mid=1_18843_AHRhk0UAAYFSSHlDAgoOKh94fEk&eps=&f=1&nextMid=1_176_AHhhk0UAAL5NSGqIkQJrHnEl0Q0&m=1_18843_AHRhk0UAAYFSSHlDAgoOKh94fEk,1_176_AHhhk0UAAL5NSGqIkQJrHnEl0Q0,1_765_AHhhk0UAAA4kSF4BPA2WC30tkgM,1_1490_AH9hk0UAADZ6SEh6cQcHlDdTMpk,1_1985_AH1hk0UAABlTSEh6QQmcXVpqr48,1_2480_AIBhk0UAAMVwSEgjOwVhnW3nd5E,

Aged Wine

For the ScrapJam Challenge, I decided to focus on making a LO about my life-long friends in Confraternitas Jesu. The three photos showed us in 3 different times: 1989, 2001 and 2006. These are my true friends, since they know all my strengths and weaknesses, talents and shortcomings, and yet they have stood by me and seen me grow, in the same way that I have been witness to their growth.

Surprisingly, I was one of the winners in the challenge! (Congratulations to Rita and Cookie too!) I wasn't expecting this since the LO didn't quite turn out the way I wanted it to be. I feel that the journal wasn't quite right and the white rub-ons on top of the masked alphas just wouldn't stick to the sprayed areas. But I guess that is everyone's difficulty as well given that we were only given about 1 hour to make it. Still, I'm not going to complain because the prize package is soooo deliriously delicious!

The journal is revealed when the champagne label with the flower is pulled out from the right. It reads: Life-long friends are like aged wine. They start young and sweet, sparkling and bright. Wine, like friendship, grows stronger, mellower, suave and mature as time passes. Time becomes the true test of all relationships. For those who wait and accompany each other, it is all worth it.

On the bottom corner of the LO, I added a Rhonna Farrer Rub-On Saying. It is only revealed once the journal is taken out. It reads: Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating tyourself.

The prizes are the ff: a 7-opening Picture Frame, Allary Scrapbooking Caddy (finally, I can retire my National Bookstore freebie caddy that is now too small for my needs!), Inque Boutique Phantom Stamps, Heidi Swapp Foam Stamps Drama, Gel-a-Tins Stamps, See-D's Li'l Stamps Vacation Memories, Bazzill 8"x8" Martha's Vineyard cardstock pack, BazzillBetz 2"x3" Alphabet card Assortment, Bazzill Really big 3" buttons, Stickles Dark Blue, Beadazzles Disco Ball, Keepsake Key Chain, and a 2"x2" olive picture frame-covered booklet that can be used for photos or journaling. SOOO YUMMY!!! Thank you very much Marissa of Scrapbooks-Hawaii and Nette of My Little Attic! I am so in-love with your stuff!!! (Proof of that is the big bag of other scrap materials I bought yesterday!)

Materials used: Bazzill (scalloped edges) cardstock, Iron Orchid Grabd Cru , Anna Griffin AG1281, BB Bosher green washer, Rhonna Farrer Phrases RubOns, Basic Grey Wholly Cow white rub-on scrolls, Carolina's lace ribbon, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Merlot, Elit Tracing Paper, UHU glue, Glue dots vellum, Japan Homes foam tape, Polar Bear Photo Memory Double Adhesive Tape. Others: American Crafts Thickers Prancer used for masking and making the title.

SCRAPJAM

This was my first time to attend the Scrapbooks-Hawaii/My Little Attic ScrapJam and all I can say is WOW!!! The projects were great, the challenge was interesting and the prizes are soooo yummy! Everyone went home with a raffle prize, but there were more prizes to be won, as well as thrown at us! An experience I'll never forget.