It's been a long while...

Whew!  It's been more than four years when I last posted here.

 

Well, life has been so complicated... 

 

Dual family role while hubby was temporarily working overseas, bigger responsibility at work, health issues while carrying a baby inside my womb, taking care of our new bundle of joy, challenges in raising a tween, additional workload in the office and a lot more... 

 

Stressed...  Busy...  But HAPPY!!!

 

 

I may not be present online to submit scrapbook pages.  But once in a while, I got to use my scrapbook materials and tools for my daughter's projects/homeworks and other special activities such as birthdays, Halloween, office projects, etc.

 

My youngest has turned one year old.  That means a lot of scrapbook pages to do.  Hopefully, I can spare some time and make use of my right brain to the fullest and make my hands dirty with sticky medium again.

 

Love lots,

Lovez'

 

P.S.  It's good to be back here...  Hoping for more posts soon... 

A Better Me

It's been a while since I last joined a scrapbook challenge and I missed it!  Of course, scrapping wouldn't be fun and exciting without any inspiration.  So I browsed on my favorite sites and I found three interesting and related topics.

ONE

Once Upon A... Sketch - the theme of the January challenge is "The start of something new".  Ideas for journalling include the theme sentence as a title, a new job coming up, a child's new toy, a new house, a new relationship, etc.  The layout must incorporate the theme and the sketch below:

TWO

Berry71 Bleu - the challenge for this month is to create something about yourself and must follow this theme:

THREE

Zeus and Zoe - the New Year's challenge is to scrap about your word for 2013.

Here's my take:

All the papers I used are from Webster's Pages while the flowers are by Prima.

Here are the snapshots of the details:

This photo was taken last December when we visited the Little India in Singapore.  The colors of the shawls and wallets behind me compliment with the color of my layout.

These black swirls balanced the colors.  I just colored it with a crackle paint.

The white medium here is Fiber Paste.  I just colored the top with Tide Glimmer Glam.  The flowers were coated with Stardust Stickles and sprinkled with Shaved Ice.  Some portions were decorated with beads and crystals.

Some more snapshots on a different view...

There's a lot to say about being "a better me" in 2013.  That's why I hid the novel under the card so that it won't occupy the whole of my layout, LOL.

The journalling says this:

_________________________________________________________________ 

I would say that 2012 wasn't good enough for me. Why?

1. I've been a single mom.  No, it's not what you think though.  My husband has been assigned overseas and I did the supposedly divided labor all by myself.
2. My father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer. The medical records revealed the negative results only a month after my husband left the country.
3. My father passed away after being in and out of the hospital for years due to lingering illnesses.
4. Our nanny who took care of my family for six years died only a month away from my dad's demise.
5. I crashed the car after Christmas and the rear part was totally damaged!

Sad circumstances do really happen but I did not expect it will come to me in bulk.  To tell you honestly, I was devastated at so many points.  However, these challenges revealed their good sides which helped me find my true self.

1. I realized that quality time does not need the physical presence of a person.  My husband and I spent the off days and wee hours chatting and video calling.  Thanks to Skype and Face Time! But due to time difference and other limitations, we only get to talk about the important matters plus some little soft cuddles before we bid goodbye.  Believe it or not, my relationship with my husband became stronger than ever!
2. Mom and dad (in-law) who were strangers with each other found their long lost love and affection (for each other, of course).  I saw what true and unconditional love is.
3. I've been close to my husband's father who has been aloof from other people, even to his own family.
4. When my father died, I have to be strong for my mom.
5. I personally attended to my daughter's needs which nanny has been doing for the longest time and I enjoyed everything.
6. When I bumped the car, I realized that driving is such a big responsibility and I have to be careful all the time.
7. I learned how to balance the time for my family, work and myself.
8. I became more patient and understanding.
9. I've been more close to my family.
10. I prayed for others because I believe that God will hear my plea.

And a lot more...

This year, I will still do my best to be a better person - as a wife, mom, daughter, sister and friend. I will learn new things, read books, listen to good music, meet people, write letters, connect with friends, see the stars, smell fresh air, drink lots of water, eat healthy foods, reduce weight, giggle with children, create and recreate, work hard, play harder, pray hardest. I will be better than my best self in the past years.

In 2013, I'll be a better me...

_________________________________________________________________

That's it!  I hope you like what I did.  Please wish me luck and cheer with me so that I could do whatever's the best for a better Lovez' this year.

Have a great day!

New WP Layouts

Hi there!

The pretty girls of Manila met again for a Webster's Pages class hosted by Iris Uy.  This is actually an overdue class because we were supposed to meet last December.

We used the Park Drive, Once Upon A Halloween and Royal Christmas Collections. 

The four layouts we did were packed with beautiful colors and texture.  I finally met Pan Pastel and I was addicted to it.  I immediately ordered lots of colors from my friend who will be visiting our country before this month ends.  Iris also introduced the Vintaj Patina which turned metals into vintagey charms.

These are the products of my labor:

Journey

Merry Christmas

Sweet and Charming Girl

Happy Family

Perfect Moments

Thanks for looking!  Have a great week!

Mini Albums

In my earlier post, I mentioned that one of my to-do's is to create crafts for others.  During the holiday break, I made myself busy with these mini albums.

   

  

Thanks for dropping by!  Happy weekend!

Welcome 2013!

I couldn't believe that 2012 has already passed.  Now it's time to welcome another year that's full of hopes and dreams...

Scrapbooking has been part of my weekly activities since late 2009.  For me, it's a form of relaxation.  The colors that I put on my project, in a way, diminish the stress that has accumulated during the day.  Because my daughter usually works with me, this activity or should I say "hobby", serves as a bonding moment too. 

I'd like to make this year more fruitful and well-balanced.  Besides updating my career plan ('coz it's an SOP in our company, LOL!), I also created a to-do list in other areas of my life including recreation, and scrapbooking is part of it!  I named them to-do's, not resolutions, because I intend to make them real this time.  Crossed-fingers...

My first to-do is to create at least one project in two weeks. I guess this is doable than last year's one layout a week.

So to start the year right, I made myself busy during the holidays in creating personalized gifts for crafty friends.  I'll share them with you in my next post.

Other to-do's are the following:

• Don't just shop. Scrap!!!
• No hoarding...
• Avoid being too messy.  Clean-up the scrapbook area after doing the project.
• Re-arrange the scrap room.  Re-paint the wall and fixtures, if necessary.  Since this bullet needs more budget, one of my to-do under financial side is to save a lot.  LOL!
• Create more for others.  Send a personalized card for a friend.  Make a layout for a relative.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.  Help save mother earth!!!

I guess that's it for now. I hope you'll find time to create your own to-do list and I wish you good luck.

Thanks for dropping by!  Happy new year!

It's Christmas!

Christmas has started in our home a week before the month of December.  After the Halloween, I spent two weekends cleaning and decorating the house with old and hand-me-down Christmas items from my mother-in-law. 

Since our Christmas tree had the same decors for 5 years already, I bought some new cherries and twigs to add a little glamour plus some personal touch with diecuts which I converted into Christmas tree decors.

Sharing them with you...

So from our family to yours... 

Merry Christmas!!!

Everyday Days

The Pinoyscrapbookers Facebook mods organized a grab-a-swap activity sometime in July.  Participants must create a mini album with the following requirements:

1.  at least 6x6 inches in size

2.  any shape is welcome

3.  outside cover

     > front - must be decorated and bear the title EVERYDAY DAYS

     > back - must contain the name of the creator and date created

4.  inside

     > at least 4 pages

     > must contain a minimum of 2 tags and 2 pockets

     > add photo mats or at least space for the photos

     > add journalling spots

Sharing with you my very own 6x6 EVERYDAY DAYS mini album:

Front Cover

First Spread

Second Spread

Third Spread

Fourth Spread

Fifth Spread

There's a little envelope between the pages for some special notes.

Sixth Spread

Back Cover

 

Now here's the exciting part --- the revelation!!!

At reveal time, all albums were posted in the private FB page.  The first to comment laying claim to the album gets first choice to the mini album.

Jona Panesa claimed the ownership to the album I made.  Instead of shipping the album, we met personally to get to know each other.  Chit chat while having a yummy dinner ended our day.

Hoping for another swap activity and meet-ups soon.

Thanks for dropping by!