Sweet Retreat

Ahhhhhhh....it feels so good to be home and finally get to make a card! Don't get me wrong, we had a lot of fun at the Happiest Place on Earth. But I was itching to make a card especially after visiting my favorite blogs!

This card is fairly simple for me, although the sketch is anything but! It's for the 11th Day of Sketches over at the TGF blog.

I used Spa Anya for this one and the PP are from Stemma (blue) and SEI (brown floral). The card is for one of my best friends and we are having a SPA day to celebrate her birthday! I will be getting (and so desperately need) a post-natal massage. Ahhhhhhhh, can't wait for heaven!!!

Anyway, Mattie's eyes definitely lit up what with all of the decorations and lights at Disneyland!! I'll post pictures another time. For now, I hope you enjoy New Year's Eve (be safe!) and have a blessed 2010!!!!

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!! I sure did...felt so blessed spending it with my family and friends. And because it was Mattie's first Christmas, I saw everything through his eyes as well!!

Below are my favorite pictures (so far). They are from Christmas Eve and Day. But we are leaving for a mini vacay tomorrow and will be celebrating the Holiday twice more this coming week. There will be even more pics!

I may not get to make another card till mid week next week. Hope you still stop by as I will probably be posting from my iPhone!

Christmas mass

Meeting Santa before he had to 'work.'

My new ornaments.

(initials of DH, me and DS).

My Christmas Day hair accessory.

My little Frosty

(he is going to kill me when he is older...ha ha!)

My fambam of 3.

Eating wrapping paper on Christmas morning..LOL!

'Tis the season...

Happy Holidays!

Simple & Pure Happiness

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all! I managed to make a card (and post it) during these busy last couple of days before Christmas & I am happy! I hope that the season is finding you with joy and close friends and family.

This card features Alice in Wonderland and Red Riding Hood Anyas from the Signature set. I altered it a bit by 'chopping' off Anya's braids and was going to place them on Red Riding Hood's head. But I lost one of the teeeny tiny bits! Phoooeey! Oh well! ;)

As a Filipino and family tradition, we celebrate on Christmas Eve as well as Christmas Day. We'll be heading to mass later and then to my in-laws'. After that, we go to my side of the family's party (which this year will be held at my Uncle's). I can't wait to celebrate Matthew's first Christmas and neither can the rest of the families! Am pretty sure he won't stay up till Midnight but it is still nice to be with our fam and introduce him to traditions!

I may be MIA for the next week as we will be going on a small trip after Christmas. I do, however, still have some Holiday parties after Christmas and need to make more Xmas-themed cards. I will still be busting out with my Elves and fairies stamps :).

Back to this card, I used Bazzill for the CS. Patterned papers are from TGF's Merry Merry pack and Love, Elsie. Actually, the stickers and buttons and ribbon are all from Love, Elsie. Brads are from American Craft. Miscellaneous items include Copics, paint, hand-written sentiment. And I added a tile I got that Traci added in her kol laj kit to add some flair!! :)



Anyway, I wish you all a wonderful holiday!! 'Tis the season! Hope you are having that warm, fuzzy feeling!! Cuz I sure am!!

Sweet Magic

I can't believe how fast the Holiday season has been...there's only 4 more days till Christmas!! Am really trying to make more cards and post but there's just too many things left to do! Wrap presents, clean the house, pack for our trip. I'm off for two weeks but may not get to post here as often as I'd like.

And so, with every bit of spare time, I try to finish off my Xmas cards. This one features Amy's Sweet November Buttercup Reedweb stamp. I kind of messed up while coloring her wings so I decided to leave them out.

Supplies:
DSP: TGF's Merry Merry pack, a stamped-on CS (it was made in a class).
Accessories: Japanese masking tapes, pearls, Copics, Hambly sticker, handwritten sentiment.

So my hubby and I told each other we would not exchange gifts this year. We have Mattie's first big trip down to Southern Cali next week and with Christmas this year, we have a lot of big expenses. To my surprise, he asked for my TGF account password a couple of days ago. He had wanted to buy me a gift certificate but did not want to start a new account. Wasn't that really sweet? *AWWWW* I thought my DH was never quite happy with my hobbies of scrapbooking & stamping as I have my supplies all over the place (a scrap room is at the top of my wish list, Santa). But recently, he noticed that it is so important to me to be able to make a daily card after Mattie goes to sleep at night. :)

And now, I am SCRAMBLING to find something for him. He isn't the easiest to shop for -- I usually get him Best Buy gift certificates, shirts, or video games. If you have any ideas, please throw it out here.

Season's greetings and movies

Good evening, everyone! Today's post is REALLY late...he he! I usually schedule my posts in the morning but I thought I'd just post when I was done with the card.

This card is really simple for me, but I needed something quick as tomorrow is another work day. And I really need more cards to give to male relatives and friends. Thought I wouldn't make this creation as feminine as my usuals :).

This Sugarplums Winter Emma stamp was colored with Copics. I had finally bought my first pair of Uggs & decided to make Emma's boots black as well! (They are super comfy and warm by the way, and totally worth the price!). The PP is from Me & My Big Ideas and fabric is kol laj. Brads are from American Crafts.

So then, I saw that the well-versed and oh-so-cute Sparkle blogged about her and her DH's favorite Christmas movies. I thought I'd write about mine as well. For all of you who do not know me personally, I am a BIG movie buff. But you can probably tell here as I sometimes write about my latest fave flick :).

Anyway, during the first Christmas after my family and I moved from the Philippines (I was just a wee child), we watched 'A Christmas Story.' My three siblings and I were still suffering through a bit of culture shock but when we saw this funny film, it made us feel a lot better about spending the holidays in a then-strange country. It was hilarious, about a boy who got teased, and most importantly, about family. And so, since 1997, I have been watching this movie at least once every December!



And to add to my favorite Holiday movies' list are these next two movies: 'Love Actually' and 'Elf.'

Do I need to explain about Love Actually? It is SO wonderful!! From the storyline(s) to the soundtrack, the movie is pure genius to every romantic out there! I've probably already watched it twice this year...and it makes me cry and swoon and dance and sing each time! In fact, the first year it came out, I wanted to give this DVD to everyone on my Xmas list ...LOL!



And let's not forget Elf...a lot of my facebook friends' status updates stated that they are watching this movie! *ROFL* Will Farrell is freaking HILARIOUS!!! It is too cute & heartwarming as well!



Oh, wow..this was supposed to be a short post. If you have a chance, pls check out any of the movies above. You will not be disappointed! Have a great weekend, y'all!! 7 more days till Christmas!

Let's REJOICE!

Good Wednesday morning! I have pre-scheduled this post because I am working my 12-hr shift today.

Today's card is a Xmas one, and hopefully, they'll all be Christmas-y from now on since I still have a few left to make before the holiday.

This Holly Starshine stamp is by Amy Young, and she is just the perfect embellishment for this card. It's Christmas morning and all is quiet. Holly zooms by, in a sort of sassy & quick way, and spreads holiday cheer right over people's heads while they are sleeping! LOL! I love it when you can make out a story when looking at a card scene!

I used Bazzill for the CS. The DSP with houses is Basic Grey, and the green and red ones are from Me & My Big Ideas. The Holly DSP cut-out is a scrap from a blog candy that I won. The pearls are from Recollections. Other miscellaneous supplies are Copics, TGF sentiment, Colorbok chalk ink, and Japanese masking tape.

Have a great day, everyone! And i am so THRILLED and GRATEFUL that I was an honorable mention here! My first TOOT at Club Anya!! :) And wasn't that blog hop so much fun?!!! I want to do it again! LOL!

Club Anya's All Customer Holiday Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome to my blog, everybody! Hope this Monday evening is greeting you with merriment and delight! These projects are for the Club Anya Blog Hop! Am so excited for this as I love blog-hopping and discovering new, awesome blogs. And it also pushed me to create a couple of extra Holiday projects!

These Anya & Ian 'take-out' boxes were originally Basic Grey (2005). But I embellished them a bit & will use them as holders for baked goods! There's a boy version and a girl version. I am big on using non-traditional colors for Christmas cards and gifts -- hope you like them! I think the yellow and blue make them bright and happy! Here are more pics:







For the 'snow flakes' on their hats, I used kol laj fels flakes. The brads are from American Crafts. The DSPs are from Cosmo Cricket and Crate Paper. The alpha stickers are from My Little Shoebox, and the gaffer tape is from 7 gypsies. Other supplies include Copics, flower, and ribbons.

And lastly, here is a card I made for the hop. I used Elf Anya and Wild Sprouts Vivi (I know though that we were not supposed to use any Sprouts). For this, I used the traditional green and red with touches of yellow. This card is also for Sparkle's Christmas Card Challenge Week 2. I originally wanted to alter either Anya or Vivi into a boy so that this card would be for my DH. But I decided to make more of a girly card! :)



Supplies for this include American Crafts for the CS. The striped red and white DSP is from a flower-making kit. The painted papers and squares are from kol laj. The Xmas tree stamp is from Purple Onions. Other items used were Copics, mesh net, paper clip.

Thanks for visiting, everyone!! I'd love to hear comments from you and I hope you pop in again! Have fun tonight! Can't wait to see your projects as well!

Precious baby!

Hello everyone! I am blogging from my phone so sorry if there are no links.

Today's card features Eskimo Sayuri, another anime stamp featured in All That Scraps. I love this stamp because of what the baby polar bear is doing. My six-month-old babe loves playing with his toes!

The CS & brads are from Ameican Crafts. The PP are from TGF, Merry Merry pack. The painted fabrics are from kol laj, by Traci Bautista. Miscellaneous items include Copics, hand-written sentiment, Japanese masking tape (got the idea from The Dark Mermaid, Randi- thanks, girlie!!). I just love that tape -- it's decorative like ribbon but you can do so many other artsy things with it because of the design and adhesive backing!

Anyway, we are almost at church! Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday! It's raining here in Northern California but I'll be enjoying it! Hope to see you back here tomorrow for the blog hop at Club Anya!!! Speaking of, are we not supposed to post till 7 pm CST?? *am excited*!!

Spam Musubi's!

WHOA! This is really a bright card! Wanted something happy and uplifting and light today and boy, did I pick the right card! :)

These Spam Musubi stamps are freaking adorable, aren't they?? Now if you are into Spam and Hawaiian food, you would know what I'm talking about!! Just discovered Two Scoops Rice Designs and this brand of stamps are so fun and whimsical! I can't wait to get my hands 'dirty' on some fried rice and Lumpia stamps! DELISH!!!

Supplies:
CS- American Crafts
PP- Scrap In Style TV's Sushi kit
Stamp- Spam Musubi, Two Scoops Rice Design
Brads- American Crafts
Sentiment- Hand-written
Other- Copics, Ribbon.

Twinkle

Happy Friday, y'all! Can't believe that Christmas is just fourteen days away!!! But I am proud to say I have bought almost all of my presents. The only ones left are my hubby's and baby's. I did, however, purchase this to symbolize my DS' first holiday.

Today's card is truly made out of scraps. I didn't even have to cut any of the DSP except the main green one. They are from My Mind's Eye. The stamped-on fabrics are from kol laj. Oh how I wish I could use the sewing machine. I think those fabric would POP out more if stitched! The pearls are from Reflections. Sorry if the photo is poor-- I had to take it at night time again. Thanks, Jo, for this Gorguss image! :)




To end, here's my favorite pic from our department's Holiday party. You might notice from the flower that I changed my mind about the original outfit. Wanted to be more comfortable. And Mattie's wearing a Santa Claus 'fit! :)

Life's Best Things

Another 'boy' card :).

Hope you are all having a great Wednesday! I know I am. I feel a bit better. And we got some great news yesterday. I kinda hinted about going through something stressful on my last couple of posts. You see, my son was hospitalized overnight to rule out a medical condition. Thank goodness, the results were negative. But lemme tell you, that was NOT fun. Especially when you're sick yourself! I think being in the medical field and seeing the things that I see make me worry a lot. I sort of "know too much." But this experience makes me a better nurse. Now I know how truly earth-shattering it is to have your child hospitalized.

Anyway, I mailed out my Cards For Kids today. It has become even more important for me to let these special kids know that they are thought of and prayed over and much loved. I hope you take a moment to check out this great charity.

I've decided to go to my work's department party. Cross your fingers that my cough does not worsen, please! Mattie will be wearing a mini- Santa suit so it'll be really cute!

Supplies-
(Most are from my stash so sorry if I don't list them all)
CS- Bazzill
PP- Mod (circular) and My Mind's Eye (plain mustard)
Brads- American Express
Stamp- Ornament Trevor Sugarplum
Others- Copic Markers, Stickels, Ribbon.

Love is in the (Xmas) air...

Here in California, cupcakes have really gotten very popular! From Sprinkles to Kara's, they've become the latest trend. So it's quite fitting to make a lot of Christmas cards out of these cute Cuppies.

Found a flower paper making kit that contained the red/pink/striped/polka-dotted paper seen here. Used kol laj papers for the dark blue/glittered/painted one. Added colored pearls.

Happy Monday, everyone! Thank you, Sunghee, for the images!

Masculine VS Feminine

As promised, here's a card that is for a boy. Got this cute Gingerbread and Snowman Cuppies images from the lovely Sunghee. Thanks, chica!

Decided to color him green instead of pink. The DSPs are from a blog candy that I won. Used Maya Road rub-ons for the musical notes, stickles on the gum drops and art flakes from kol laj on the roof.

This card is also for Sparkle's Christmas Card Challenge Week 1.

Thought I was feeling better last week, but there was a stressful/scary event that happened in the fam. Hoping and praying that it was nothing but I don't really want to post it here until we find out. *sighs* So now, I feel worse than ever because of the stress. Had to call in for work today.

Am really hoping I get well soon...because I've got the other full time job of being mommy at home, too. And on Wednesday is my department party. I haven't missed one yet. Actually, up until last year, I was head of the committee that planned fun stuff like that. So I'd be really bummed if I missed out. This year, I'm hoping to bring Mattie with me (hubby would still be at work). I am lucky enough to have really close friends at work and we usually have the best time!

Anyway, I bought this for the party. Got the tux jacket when I saw it at Tina's blog. It is pretty flattering -- I've had a hard time finding clothes since I haven't lost the baby weight.



And just like my cards and scrapbook lay-outs, I LOVE to accessorize so I got this to wear as well! It's for my hair. I thought it would dress up my look and it'd be something for my baby to look at and touch! :)



Enjoy the rest of the weekend, folks!

Cards for Kids

I was really touched when I read about Cards for Kids at Jennifer McGuire's blog.



As a Pediatric nurse, I see how devastating it is for kids to be sick. Yet they are resilient and strong. And it would be so nice and uplifting to receive cards from total strangers rooting you on!

I am making cards for 4-year-old Gavin & his family. This card will actually be for his sister as I need to make more cards for boys (so hard for me!). Anyway, take a look at that sweet smile! I encourage you all to send cards to these brave and inspiring kiddos this Holiday season.



The coloring of this Elf Anya was inspired by Mary's purple and silver card! Used kol laj for the DSP, Hambly for the clear sticker, and Martha Stewart for the tag. The tree stamp is from Purple Onion Designs and I won it at the creative & quirky Sunghee's blog! It was my very first blog prize :). I also used scrapper's floss for the tree's trimmings!

Ingredients of this card...

You know when you find an embellishment in your stash and you save it because you know that it's perfect for a certain stamp or card or lay-out?? Well, that's how I felt about that strip of mushroom paper!!!! I knew I had to save it for some kind of forest or fairy-like theme!

And that mushroom patterned paper?? I first saw it at Jo's blog and fell in love with it. So much so that I bought the whole kit at Taylored Expressions. Am not quite sure which brand it is, although there are a lot of Cosmo Cricket in that kit-- LOVE!

My other favorite part is the peacock flumes-like adornment behind Amy's Buttercup Reedweb stamp. I think it just adds enough drama and flair to the card!



Speaking of drama and flair...did you all watch Glee last night? O....M...G...., right?? Poor Mr. Shuester...hope he leaves that conniving, crazy wife of his!

Oh, and I almost forgot. This card is for ICSketch # 45. I love this sketch!



P.S. How buttercup's hair looks like fire?? Purely unintentional. I accidentally picked up the wrong copic and colored with it. And then decided to just "go with the flow." LOL!

Chillaxin....

Told myself that I was supposed to make only Christmas cards from here on out! But the Spa Anya was calling my name! She is just too cute in a tub. I did, however, chose the sentiment that included "rejoice" and may end up giving it as a Xmas card anyway (see all the hoiday colors? :)).

The PP are all from Cosmo Cricket (i think they're my new fave line!). I added the clay adornment in the corner because I felt it was too simple. You know me and embellisments ;). This is stamped on and I got it from a kol laj line years ago.



Toot-a-loo! Am feeling much better! And so glad for SYTYCD and Glee tonight!!!! And I'm loving the mailman/ delivery men during this Holiday Season. Am doing most of my shopping online, and I got this cute little thing for myself!

Let's Celebrate.

Am feeling a bit under the weather after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Sorry if the photo's weird but it was dark by the time I finished this card. This will also be an ultra short post.

Was one of the few lucky people who was able to purchase Elf Anya over at TGF on Black Friday :). For this card, I used the Merry DSPs and kol laj.

In other news, my babe turned six months today!!! Baked him a "half" a cake for his "half" birthday. Got the fabulous idea from Jamie. Can you see the excitement on Mattie's face? Of course, he probably thought he could eat it!! Hahaha!!!

Making do when you forget supplies....

What do you get when you:

Leave out of town last minute + desire to make cards + forgotten supplies like Gina K stamping paper, Copics, and DSP?

You make do with what you have.

Here are three cards that I made yesterday.

For the Sweethearts one -- notice the pretty floral paper? That's actually a packaging from Basic Grey Glazed Brads. It's too pretty to just throw away. The CS is from DCWV and the adornments are from Tinkering Ink. The cupcake stamp is from TGF. Here's a closer look:



This second card is for the Week 9 Basic Grey Challenge. I especially like that the butterflies are 'flying' off the borders.



Supplies used:
CS- DCWV
PP- kol laj
Brads- Basic Grey
Ribbon- Heidi Grace
Stamp- TGF



This last card is a teeny tiny one. And the 'DSP' is really just Heidi Grace ribbons. The supplies are the same as the above cards except the brads are from American Crafts.



Hope you all having fun this last day of the Holiday weekend! We are off to church, then lunch, then visiting the Xmas tree in Union Square (San Francisco).