Cloud's Silver Lining in Scor-It

If you're read my Scrappin' Moms Idol3 post, I said I was very disappointed with how I tackled the Idol Finals Challenge (scroll down for the reasons behind it). Still, I was happy with the LO I was able to make in that grueling 4 hours.

This same LO entitled "(If I Were a Boy) We Wouldn't Be 5 Girls" (a mouthful!) is going to be displayed in the Scor-It website and newsletter at http://www.scorit.com/ next week! Tim Hammonds loved the idea of using the Mini Scor-It board to scor horizontal and diagonal lines on both the cardstock and the main photo! In fact, he asked me to do a Project of the Month for December and I've accepted! WOW! WOW! WOW! Just shows, every cloud does have a silver lining!

I decided to get the Mini Scor-It because I wanted something that was small enough to bring around if I wanted to use it on crop-meets. Truth is, I wasn't disappointed at all! It was a no-brainer to use and it really looked very sturdy. I'm just beginning to realize the many possibilities this tool can actually do.

What are you waiting for, ladies? Get your own Scor-It now!

Scrappin' Moms Idol Finals LO

Here's my take on the Finals of the Scrappin' Moms Idol3 last Saturday, Aug.29. The challenge itself was quite difficult, with 5 required patterned papers, 2 required cloths, required pins, clear buttons and flowers. There were also several items included in the challenge packet like card stock, etc. The theme was based on a song by Beyonce called "If I Were a Boy."

I'm quite proud of what I was able to make for the challenge. We were given 4 hours to make the LO and by the 2nd hour, I was starting to hate my LO. It's because it turned out quite dull. I didn't think I could pull it off and make it presentable. I decided that instead of giving up, I'll see it through. Wonder of wonders, it came out pretty well, something very "me."

Unfortunately, I didn't make top 3. That honor goes to my dear friends Lee, Diane and last but not the least, Bjay, who won as the Scrappin' Moms Idol this year. I actually was 4th in the top 10. And as soon as I got eliminated in the top 3, I knew why--- I didn't follow the rules.

The rules were not really listed down. It was just mentioned to us a few minutes before we started. Since there were many rules and materials to take note of, I actually forgot that one of the rules is that a big percentage of the score is based on the amount of patterned papers used. That meant we had to use quite a lot of it on the LO. My mistake is that I used the accompanying grey cardstock in the kit, not required in the challenge, as my base and used the pps for matting the photos, instead of them being center stage. I completely forgot that patterned paper percentage rule.

The patterned papers themselves were really very difficult to use. There was a light yellow, a golden yellow, a black & white, a purple and a seagreen patterned paper. Together, they didn't really blend quite well. The LO became really a very big challenge when it was coupled with the black & white patterned cloth and the black gabardine cloth (Yup, the one used for men's tailored pants!). I think I pulled off the papers and cloth well in the LO. But since I used the grey card stock inside the kit, I basically sealed my doom.

I didn't know it at the time I was working on the LO. In fact, I was quite happy to have the new Mini-Scor It to play with. I scored my main photo, making it appear to have raised bumps and scratches all around, and I scored one side of the grey card stock with uneven parallel lines as well as diagonal lines. When I sprayed 2 colors of Glimmer Mist, then rubbed walnut ink all around the LO, and later added white crackle paint, the scoring on the card stock popped out. I was so proud of that! I really thought during the first 2 hours that I wouldn't be able to pull it off but with a little perseverance, it paid off!

Finishing in the top 5 however, was a big thing. Last year, I couldn't even finish the LO properly because I got cold feet in making the Christmas LO given patterned papers. I really don't know but I think I might be patterned paper-challenged. Namimili ako ng papel! I often would use card stock instead of patterned papers in most of my LOs. My thinking is that, I can do more with card stock than with patterned papers. And since the Finals was about the patterned papers, I just couldn't make myself use them well.

Still, after the Scrapfest ended, I couldn't help but kick myself mentally on the butt. I could have used the golden yellow paper as the basic paper instead of the card stock, just painted grey or white on the side I wanted to score and the LO just might have been good enough to reach top 3. I really could have. But when I look back, I actually said to myself, "But I'm not a yellow type of person!" Hence, it wasn't automatic for me to use the yellow patterned paper. In fact, in the few times I did use yellow, I would use a patterned paper that looked like an artist's canvas that had splotches of paint for texture, not patterns of flowers or scrolls even.

That's when I realized, maybe I really am not meant for the Idol thing. I'm picky with my papers. I pick my papers to suit my personality. Although I didn't win, in the end, I realized that the only person to whom I'm answerable to is myself. As an artist, I owe myself only that, never mind the world. I did this for myself. That's why I'm happy with the LO I made. It is worthy of going into my albums.

To the Finalists of Scrappin' Moms Idol3, congratulations! Making that LO was really extremely difficult to do and we all deserve a pat on the back for even completing it. To Diane and Lee, you proved your mettle in the challenge and I deeply feel you deserve the accolades. And to Idol Bjay, you have always been one of my idols and I'm really happy your immense talents are now recognized. I am truly honored to be a friend and a co-scrapper. Bow ako sa iyo, Idol Bjay!

Title: If I were a boy, we wouldn't be 5 Girls.

Photos show the latest photo of us 5 Bonoan Girls, plus individual photos.
Journal: As the eldest, had I been a boy, we wouldn't be 5 girls. In the end, my parents got their wish. We are all strong-willed and independent --- like boys. And, we can be just as dirty.

Techniques used: Using Mini-Scor It on the photo and on the left side of the card stock; using crackle paint for texture and to highlight the scored side; rubbing walnut ink on the sides of the LO; hand-tearing the sides of the LO and inserting the patterned cloth on some torn sides; stamping on the clear buttons; spraying Suede (brown) and Dew Drop (bluish silver) Glimmer Mist on the sides of the LO for highlights; masking lace using Deep Plum Glimmer Mist; distressing edges of the photo matting using a blade cutter.

Scrappin' Moms Idol3 Challenge4-6

I confess. I haven't been good at updating my blog in the last month or so. I've been busy with the Idol and with schoolwork, I've neglected posting my projects in Scrappin'Moms Idol 3. So, I'm just going to lump them all together here.Challenge 4's theme was Let's Play. We were supposed to play with the papers, as well as use any combination of teal, orange, and yellow. Since the colors were not eye-catching enough, I added maroon to it. I literally played with the papers by cutting the papers and arranging them in a fan-fold to make it appear more than they really are. I also made a paper flower as the main embellishment. Photos I used were of me playing with the paper.
Challenge 5's theme was a Mini-album based on a favorite book. I chose mine to be Berenstain Bears, a favorite children's series that my son and I read almost every night. I basically used chipboards to cut them into shapes and layered them to make the album appear like a scene. We were required to use at least 2 ATCs and these had to be incorporated into the album. I used 2 to make one vegetable and one flower patch, 2 ATCs to make the garage doors, and 1 stamped with text about Imagination. Each of the photos I used were based on one of the series titles of the Berenstain Bears. Hence, I also placed the titles of the book on each photograph (Too Much Junk Food, In the Dark, The Trouble with Pets, Too Much Vacation). I guess, I just had too much fun making the shaped album!Challenge 6 was the Disney Princess theme. I couldn't relate to the theme because I've never seen myself as a princess. Although I grew up in a relatively well-off family, we were never spoiled nor taught to take money for granted. I guess because my dad worked hard to make his fortune. Hence, I centered the LO on my being Reluctant as a princess. Over the years, my friends would jibe me, saying, "May pera si Papa!" It meant, I could spend much if I wanted to. They didn't know that my father is very careful with his money, because he was a banker, an investment banker at that. I guess that rubbed off on me as well. I tried my best to be as simple as possible, learning to take public transportation rides (often incurring the ire of the dad quite a lot!), dressing down, buying wisely, by getting cheaper versions of the "in" things. I sort of felt guilty having much, esp. when I see others struggle with money just for the basic necessities in life. I became detached from money and I learned to live my life as simple as I could. In the end, I realized that money isn't everything. I'd rather be who I want to be, than someone's idea of a spoiled little rich girl.
For this LO, I played with the Ranger Melting Pot. I dipped the flowers in melted beeswax, then into Barbara Trombley's Vintage Glass Glitter (Diamond), before attaching them into the LO. It made the flowers look sugary in appearance. I also did emboss resist, hence the stamped lace design on the bottom. I also painted white all over, then poured melted beeswax and sprinkled Beadazzles and vintage glass. I also tore the paper several times to reveal the Prima Journals I attached from the back.

All in all, I was proud of what I was able to finish in the Scrappin' Moms Idol3 Challenges. I won the 1st Week's Pick of the Week on Paper Piecing. I think I've also matured in my style from last year. I now know what I want and who I am in my LOs.

Scrappin' Moms Idol3 Challenge3-Space It Out!

This is my 3rd Challenge entry for Scrappin' Moms Idol 3. This time, we were required to use at least 8 photos. In my case, I used 10 showing a sequence of Galo eating a sandwich. The funny thing is, Galo is in Krispy Kreme in Bonifacio High Street for a field trip. He made his own donut, only to take one lick and decide that he doesn't like donuts after all. He was the only child who didn't patronise the establishment!

Journal: You took one bite of the donut and realized that your ham sandwich was a better treat.

Do check out the gallery here for more cool LOs.

Materials: Bazzill cardstock in blue green and in greyish white; AC Thickers Sprinkles white; mm Tiny Alphabets white on black; Prima Say it in Crystals; Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Suede; AAS metal wire metallic green; Carolina's laces in grey and peach; Carolina's cloth flowers; Shoemart paper flowers; Kanlaon paper leaves; Pigma micron 03 black pen.

Scrappin' Moms Idol3 Challenge2-Reduce,Reuse,Recycle

Here's my LO on the theme Reduce, Reuse, Recycle for Scrappin' Moms Idol 3 Challenge No.2. Do check out the gallery here to see what all the other contestants came up with.
Journal: Father and Son, a sweet twosome from the very beginning and for always.

For this LO, I used one cardstock and 1 patterned paper and 1 scrapbooking item which I reused, meaning I used twice. I also used 3 different scrapbooking packaging for repurposing or recycling. By making this LO, I wanted to prove to myself that it is possible to come up with a LO that is still environmentally sound. Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it?

Half a length of the Prima Viola was masked against the cs, before attaching it to the lower left corner of the cs. The Viola adhesive backing was used to make the opposite of the Viola felt on the opposite corner of the LO. I also used the other half of the Prima Viola as a decorative flower embellishment, then also used the same adhesive backing into another flower right beside it.

Prima Belle Fleur packaging cardboard was used as a photo matting, but I used it first for masking after cutting the design. Hence, the photo matting created a "white shadow."

The title was also cut from the back part of the Belle Fleur packaging name which happened to be black. I used the letters for masking "twosome" and for misting the black words "sweet." The title made a positive and a negative tandem.

The last packaging material I used was a pair of 7 Gypsies Gaffer Tape Tags as an embellishment, but I used it also as a mask to make the perfect journaling spot.

All packaging materials were reused as well as recycled. I wanted to point out that reusing and recycling always come as a pair, just like the "sweet twosome."

Materials:
Required cardstock - Light Grey Bazzill; Required patterned paper - MME Wild Aspen 24; Required scrapbooking item - Prima Viola; Required repurposed/recycled scrapbooking packagings - Prima Viola adhesive backing, Prima Belle Fleur cardboard packaging, 7 Gypsies Gaffer Tape Tags 2 pieces. Others used: Glimmer Mist Deep Plum & Suede, Uniball Gel Impact black pen. Tools used: Sidekick, Quickutz Sophisticate.

Techniques Used:
Masking; Distressing by rolling inside edges plus corner rose of pp; Distressing by misting suede for an aged look; Cutting design of the Belle Fleur cardboard packaging; Making the Viola felt AND the Viola adhesive backing into flowers; Using adhesive backing into lace embellishment; Using Belle Fleur cardboard packaging as alphas and for masking.

Scrappin' Moms Idol 3- Challenge 1 Pick of the Week

I was lucky enough to be chosen as Pick of the Week for Challenge # 1 Paper Piecing!!! Woohooh!!! This is a first time for me! I never thought I'd get chosen. Last year, I never got chosen once, so I must have done something really good this time. I'm on cloud nine, feeling so lucky to have been chosen. Even if I don't make it to the finals, this is enough for me. Besides, I don't know if I can keep churning out LOs that will meet the requirements with the challenges getting more difficult as the weeks pass.

To see the announcement and the LO entitled My Small World, please check it out here. Thank you very much, Idol Cabbie!