US Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day to you US scrappy gals! And since it is memorial day, I'm on leave today because I work US days so that means more scrappy time for me. And my dearest friend LG is coming over today and we're scrappin! So excited! Yippeeeee!

And since its Monday today too, time for another sketch over at Scrapbook Challenges. Can't believe we're now at Sketch 202. When I started this January the count was only 98 if I'm not mistaken. Time flies so fast! :)

This time I tried the double page version...

Here's what I did. This is still using the Peachy Keen collection from Kaisercraft. The flowers are cut out the same way as the one I showed yesterday.  This is only my second attempt at doing a double page - the first one was when I was still starting to scrap (one of the stuff you gotta try when starting out right?).  I also used a big corner stamp from Fancy Pants - I really liked the color I chose for it. Perfectly complemented the colors of the paper.

Here are some close ups. I created three ATC-like cards to complete the 6-photo area because I only want the 3 photos. I used some masking and stamping on it.  And those leaves and flowers are so lovely I couldn't resist them so they were all cut and scored and folded for that raised look.

 

These are separate flower cut outs too that I just layered together.

This is just like the one I showed yesterday on the card. I also used some Prima stamps behind this background paper so it's not so empty.

Materials Used:

Papers: WRMK CS, Kaisercraft Peachy Keen Collection

Embellisments: Peachy Keen and Devonshire cutouts (flower, tags, journaling spot), Kaiser Pearls

Inks: Distress Inks, Colorbox Chalk ink

Tools: Prima stamps, 7 Gypsies Stamp, Fancy Pants Stamp, Fiskars border punch, Martha Stewart butterfly punches

That is it folks! Thanks for looking and have a great week ahead!

Cheers!
Cathy

Paper flower cutouts with a little twist

Hello scrappy ladies! I am glad it's finally the weekend, we just got home from watching a college basketball game, yes Gio is a die hard fan. We just saw the pre-season games and come July, we're off to watch the season so my weekends in July will most probably be occupied with it. I have learned to love the game don't get me wrong.  Ever since I met him in 2004 we've been regularly watching the season every year.  After the game, we had dinner at Kopi Tiam and then off to drop his nephew near our area.  We chatted with his brother and SIL and little did we know that when we said goodnight it was already 10 in the evening, we arrived there around 8:30! Yeah, we're a chatty bunch. :) So now, I'm dead tired because I got off work this morning and didn't really get a decent sleep.

Let me quickly share a card I recently made using the lovely Peachy Keen papers from Kaisercraft. You can totally do a lot of stuff from the papers in the collection. I especially love those big flowers and birds so when I saw them I had to quickly grab my scissors! They had to be cut out and used as embellishments don’t you think?
 Here’s a simple birthday card I did for DH’s upcoming birthday. He doesn't really visit my blog so its okay to post it here heehee...

I used 3 patterned papers on this card which are actually scraps / leftovers. I had an inclination to do pleated papers so this card actually started with that drive. Pleating is so easy and fun too!

Then off to the flowers which I love love love! After cutting the flowers, I wanted to make it 3D-like so I scored the leaves in the middle and folded it to give it that raised look. I wasn’t satisfied with it because the flowers still look flat so I ran my X-acto knife on the smaller flower but cutting only half of the petal. I then rolled it up, added a button and thread and Bingo! I was happy with it.

I have a 2-page layout coming soon that features this same technique because I really really loved it!

Goodnight for now!

Cheers!

Cathy

Sharing Nikki Sivils

It's monday once again and that means new sketch over at Scrapbook Challenges. Want to quickly share a new LO I did using Nikki Sivil's paper - Elle's day out & Will he b the 1. I also used my Silhouette for the title on this page. It is made of whilte CS and I misted it with Glimmer Mist Olive Vine and Chocolate. Love that title so much. :)

Materials Used: PP - Will he b the 1, Elle's Day Out

Embellishment: Scrapworks sticker, Scenic Route chipboard

Inks: Distress Inks, Glimmer mists, Shimmerz Blingz

Tools: Fiskars border punch

I thought I was going to be able to scrap a lot this weekend but Gio and I met up with his friends on Sat night and got home really late. Then come Sunday we saw his dad and went out for lunch with the family and we ended up getting home around 5pm and by that time, we were dead tired. So I didn't really get to finish this until Monday. My work starts 2am on Tuesday so I had free time yesterday.

I also had planned the layouts of a mini-album I was working on last week and so I had to complete it this week. These were all from the DT package that Pamela (SC Ning Creator) sent over last January. The album is basically about big events for every month of last year. So in essense a year in review for our 1st year of marriage. :)  So here are the finished pages.

Front and Back cover on top. I used some Heidi Swapp pps for this project and some MM die cuts too.

I also made the round journals using my Fiskars circle punch, Fiskars edge scissor and Autum Leaves montly calendar stamp.

This is the last four months.

Materials Used: Scallop Chipboard Album: Nikki Sivils

PP: Nikki Sivils 6x6 U R My Favorite pad, Heidi Swapp

Embellisment: MM die cust, Heidi Swapp cut outs, MM alpha and Pink Paislee Alpha, 7 Gypsies rubon

Inks: Distress Inks, MM Pink paint, Staz On

Tools: Fiskars border punch, Martha Stewart border punch, Fiskars edge scissor

It was totally heart warming to reminisce about the significant events we went through last year and I am planning to create something like this each year. I loved the fact too that we had a lot of photos for each and every month which surprised me too.

Happy Monday everyone!

Cheers!

Cathy

Good morning breakfast with Gio

It's finally friday here and that means it's Gio's free day already. :) Yes, his friday is normally just spent with client meetings but it's rare that he goes out. Friday is officially the start of our weekend although I still need to work the next day. We're pretty much just cuddling, sleeping on a friday.

So when I got home, I wasn't expecting him to be up real early but he was and asked me if I wanted to have breakfast outside. I was already hungry and can't wait 'til lunch so we went out and had breakfast at Pancake House. It's just a block away from the house but we ate at the ouside tables, it wasn't hot this am so I am glad for the fresh air I had.  We had a really good breakfast and a really good conversation. I really long for times like these. It's what I miss the most when we're both working on weekdays. We love to talk and that's what we do best. I missed him actually and I'm glad we went out. If only I can only pause time... hmnn... sweet day. :)

Before I go to sleep, I decided to blog about it before this warm and fuzzy feeling go away so pardon me for the cheesy opening. I also want to share a layout I made a few days ago. I used my BG Origins pack for the 2nd time, I tried using it once (January) but found it hard. But this time I think I loved it and will surely use it again soon.

This is a print and cut design from House of 3 made using my Silhouette again. And the flower is a Marth Stewart punch.

Handmade flowers I made using circle punches. I got this from the Scrap That forum. Loved it because finally found a lot of use for my circle punches. :) The chipboard is a Tattered traveler chipboard which I misted with Patina. Bought a lot of TA recently. :)

Lastly, here's the title which was also cut out from the Silhouette machine. I just added 3D Pebeo paint on the flourish.

Materials:

PP: Basic Grey Origins, GCD, WRMK CS

Alpha: Silhouette cutout

Embelishment: BG Origins sticker, TA chipboard, MM pearl

Inks: Distress Inks, Pebeo paint, Glimmer mist Patina, Stickles

Tools: Silhouette SD machine, Fiskars circle punch, Fiskars border punch

Good night everyone!

Cheers,

Cathy

Shoes & Personalities

I can't believe it's already the second half of May. This month started really well for me, been really productive and completed a lot of project to date. And since it's the middle of the month, it is time for another layout for my Guest DT spot over at All About Me. 

This time the idea is all about our favorite shoes and how it actually "shoes" our personality - just love that! My ultimate fave now are flats! Whether it's open toed, sandals, just as long as they're flat, I love 'em.  So then came the problem, what shoes to take picture of? I couldn't decide so I decided to rely on my Silhouette SD. Unfortunately I couldn't find any flat shoes to print and cut but high heels oh my there were a lot.

And this actually reminded how attracted I was to high heels - specifically stilleto 7-8 years back. I still like 'em now but would I prefer it over flats? I don't think so. So this stirred up something in my head and I decided to actually use the high heels image and break it. :) So I did exactly that. And lucky me, I went to my LSS last Saturday and got me some new Kaiser papers and the Gypsy Sister is just perfect for this layout!  So here it is, the broken heels and a pic of me right there coming out of the shoe happy to have a broken high heels because I'm all for flats. :)

And reflecting on it, it really pretty much is like my personality. I've never been into make ups, I don't wear 'em although I can't live without cheek tints (that's my only staple). I only wear moisturizer 'coz my skin's really dry, if it weren't for that I'd be happy to let that go.  I've never been into fancy stuff too like nail polish, wild hair colors, contact lenses... there was a time I got hooked into it but when I see past pictures of myself, I get goose bumps. I guess it was just a phase and now I know me and this is me, just flat old me. :)

And character wise, I'm really more of an introvert. Not very social, I'd be happy to just stay home and scrap or read or watch. I know, I sound boring but it is me. I'm not a party gal, never been, never will be... As I aged, I've learned to accept that and I am really happy with who and where I am right now.

Here is the layout. I just love how bright those Kaiser pps are, don't you? And I might as well also calls this a Silhouette SD layout because I sure did cut a lot here and it makes me really think  I actually don't need anything else other than paper! Blaaah! But I still buy stuff haha!

I cut out the scrolls on one of the paper and used that as a top for the shoe and added some bling.

These are all cut out using Silhouette, the font I used is just downloaded online and I just added some Kaiser gems.

Here's a close up of the top left corner. The looped border is also a silhouette cut out. The paper is originally white and I stamped it with clear embossing powder and used distress inks on to of it. Loved it. Those diamonds are just scraps from the cutouts from the machine and I just topped it with liquid pearls.

Here's the journaling these are the same papers as the one I used for the font. And below this is the close up of the shoe. I've attached the cutout on a chipboard so it has dimension.

PP:  Kaisercraft Gypsy Sister
Embellishment: Kaiser pearls and gems, Kaiser rub-on
Alpha: Kaiser paper cut with Silhouette SD
Inks: disress inks, Clear embossing powder Liquid Pearls, Colorbox , Judikins Glaze
Tools: Stampin' place background stamp

I really had fun with the prompts this month and I am so happy to guest design for All About Me. So I hope you try it too and join them this month here. 

Thanks for looking and have a great week ahead!

Cheers!

Cathy

Sharing some LOs & a mini-Album

Just want to share a few LO's I've completed recently and also a mini-album.

Here's an LO I finished last week for Scrapbook Challenges sketch. I tried something new here and finally used one of my many embossing folders. The bottom cardstock was embossed and inked. The top photos were stamped with several BG mini stamp.

This one is for a sketch over at Creative Scrappers. I really loved the sketch so I decided to do it. I used some more of my G45 Domestic Goddess paper.

This one is based on another sketch challenge over at the Scrappiest. Used my stash again and this is from the Feb Nook kit which is now 90% consumed. I only have one pp left with lots of scraps. So happy it's almost depleted. :) I stamped a Hero Arts script text on the sides of the pp and on the chipboard ticket where the title is located.

Lastly, here's the mini-album I completed around two weeks ago. This is from the DT RAK I got from Pamela and yes I only used it recently and it's almost consumed already. This is an album of our back to back two-year trip to Boracay with Gio's family. The album is also just cut out from bare chipboards I have on hand.

Yes, I have been busy and productive and really happy! Have a great week ahead everyone! Thanks for looking!

Cheers!

Cathy

Ribbon Flower Tutorial

This month, it is my turn to do a tutorial over at Scrapbook Challenges. As I was searching for an idea, I looked through my stash and just tried different stuf f out and I ended with this ribbon flower that I loved so I decided to do that one.

Here's the layout and some close ups. I used the DT RAK that came from Pamela and these are My Little Shoebox papers.

Here's the flower I made using ribbons and some sequined trim.

I tied each alpha too with thin ribbons of coordinating colros.

And for the journaling, I added a trim too.

I guess you can call this a ribbon layout coz of all the ribbons I have incorporated. :) I loved it and I hope you're going to check out the tutorial here.

Materials used:

PP: My Little Shoebox

Alpha:  AC Thickers, MLS chipboard alpha

Embellishments: MLS die cuts, borders, Misc. Trims, Misc. buttons, MM vintage findings tag, BG brads

Inks: Distress Inks, Stickles, Liquid Pearls

Thanks for looking!

Cheers!

Cathy

Blogging... lots of projects

Okay so I have been ignoring my blog lately and that's because of our bad internet connection but I have been really productive and have been scrapping a lot! I've been tracking my progress scrapping and I was surprised when I checked how many I made in April - 14! That's a new record I think the max I've made is just about 10.

And then NSD happened! :)  I was actually able to join different challenges and on that same weekend, I think I made about 7 or so. For the first time in my life I was able to make 4 layouts in one sitting!!! Yeah baby! And so for the month of May, I have already made 10 layouts! I'm so proud of me! :) The bad thing is, I couldn't share the details of how I've made the pages anymore, I just can't keep up and I think I was too excited creating! :) 

Anyway, the pages I've been doing are pretty simple. I've been trying clean and simple LO's and am really lovin' it especially when I realized how much time I'm saving. So I've been trying different stuff lately. I am also trying to use a lot of my stash because I can't really buy much scrappy stuff anymore since I'm saving for our out of the country trips coming soon. So gotta save! save! save! That sounds really foreign to me...heehee

I was also in a coffee shop the other day waiting for Gio and I chose to grab the Women's Health magazine amongst all the fashion magazines on there.  And so it got me into thinking as I was reading it and realized I've been taking my health for granted.  I spend hours everyday scrapping, blog hopping and working but I don't really take the time to exercise which I badly badly need because we (Gio and I) love to eat a lot. So I really need to compensate for that since I know there is no chance we'll ever stop appreciating good food (nice way to call it isn't?).

So I started yesterday... I finally used my Timeworks machine again and am planning to do it everyday. As little as 15 mins everyday should help in my opinion rather than nothing at all. I also bought the Abs Diet for Woman which I've borrowed from a friend in the past and found helpful, so i thought investing on it could really help too.  It's not really a diet book but more of what foods are good, really good exercises on there and recipes to try too.  I really am crossing my fingers and will try my best at this daily exercise thing. I've gained about 20 lbs the last 2-3 years and I'm starting to feel like I'm not myself anymore. I've never been this heavy and fat in my entire life and I've started to feel heavy and I do know that my weight is really tying me down so I gotta change that. Pray for me please! :)

So here are the projects I've made the past two weeks, some for NSD, some for sketch challenges.

Here's one I've made for Scrapbookdeals NSD Challenge... Love that photo of Gio. And this photo was actually edited by my good friend LG. Thanks Girl! Love yah!

These are all October Afternoon pps. Love is so much!

Here's one more using OA pps

And I forgot there's one more! On this last one I actually used some of my stash like the K&Co die cut borders and some AC Thickers chipboard frame.

 

The next two layouts are made using Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl and Joyride Line. Had these since February I think but didn't really get a chance to use 'em all. 

The first one's using the cosmo sketch and the second's a sketch from Pencil Lines. 

And these are my first attempt at scrapping 8.5x11 LO's. I used up my old nook kit which features G45 Domestic Goddes papers.  Gotta try more of this soon coz I loved it! 

Loved that pinwheel! 

So you see, I wasn't really kidding when I said a lot on this post. Heehee

Thanks for looking! Hope you're all having a great week!

Cheers!
Cathy

Mom's Day & Winners

Words are not enough to describe the true value of a Mother, and most of all my Mom. For me, growing up without my father's presence (most of the time - because he works overseas) could have been a disaster. Without a father figure who is suppose to be the stronger one between parents, I could have ended up weak, shy and vulnerable but what happened is the exact opposite. And I will give the credit to none other than my Mom. What I am today, what I have become and what I have achieved is because of her... And she did not achieve this well deserved gratitude because she's a career woman I idolized (she's a stay at home mom), not because she's rich (because we barely had enough for the family), not because she gave everything that we wanted (most of the time, we don't get what we want) but simply because she showed us how much she loved us.  She's willing to sacrifice anything for us including her own happiness, she has a big heart for her family and nothing could be warmer, more special than love itself.  Because of this and more I love her so.

Of all the things she's influenced on me, if there's one I wish she didn't it would be the crying thing. :) I cry all the time, even when I'm so happy, that still makes me cry.  Sometimes I feel it's not good because I'm just oo emotional but sometimes I am glad too because it has become my way of releasing my bad feelings and it keeps me emotionally healthy if you know what I mean. :)

I missed her today because she went home to the province last Thursday so we couldn't celebrate. But she is in my hear no matter where she is. Here's a photo of us with my dearest nephew during her birthday last January.

For the winners of the blog hop, sorry for the delay in announcing. I've been having internet problems since the blog hop. I hope the winners are moms too and this could be a real nice surprise on this special day. :)

For the local winnder - it is Benga

For the International winnder - it is Cindy Gay

I have also posted the winners here at SC.

Please PM me your shipping address at catherinecng@yahoo.com

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! This is your BIG day!

Cheers,

Cathy

All About Me Guest DT

I'm so happy to be this month's Guest DT over at All About Me. AMM is a challenge blog focused on "me". They have prompts twice a month that will really encourage you to internalize about yourself, your dreams, your state of mind at some point in your life, experiences in the past that molded you to become who you are and more... And isn't that great? How seldom do we scrap about ourselves and focus on stuff like that? Well, I for one am not. I take it for granted but I do know in the future that I would want to look at those and recall how I was feeling. So I am all aboard AMM's goal! :)


For the first prompt this month, it is about our impossible future. List of what we once hoped our future to be but somehow knew it's impossible. As for me, when I started conceptualizing for my layout I realized I'm not really an impossible dreamer hehehe so I couldn't think of one impossible future which made me think that I know where I am right now and I'm pretty happy with it. So then I decided to focus on a "not so" impossible future but something that could or coult not actually happen.

So this is what I came up with. I decided to focus on what I once thought was an impossible future. It is about our trip to Europe that we started planning 2 week ago. It's not until next year so it's still a dream in the future but I never really thought that it could happen alerady and definitely not this soon. So we are both super psyched about it and couldn't stop talking about it. :)

I used MM's passport line and some MM vintage findings paper and the paper actually has an embossed vinyl like texture but the color is tone on tone so I highlighted some areas by applying white chalk inks on the paper to show that. The main photo is my first trip outside the country more than four years ago. I decided to use a huge exclamation point to place my photo. So the exclamation point is from a board I drew and cutout. I covered it with vintage paper and on top when you open the envelope, you can actually see some postage stamps from the paper that shows paris, loved that. :)

This is the close up of the point and this is cut out from a board too. I painted it in white and stamped using two different stamps. I used black distress ink and while it's still wet I sprayed it with water to give it a not so defined image. Then I colored the entire board with distress inks (faded jeans and vintage photo again). Added the metal frame - I inked it with staz on saddle brown - I had to use Staz On so it'll stay on once dry because the texture of the metal is really slick.

Close up of the title - the E is an old big Prima sticker chipboard and I used the sticky portion of it and applied Ranger Perfect Pearls. Then I used a Hero Arts script stamp with versamark watermark ink on top which lifted some of the pearls. The word "impossible" is a Heidi Swapp invisibles alphabet which comes in white and i inked it with distress inks using a combination of vintage photo and faded jeans and the white checkered lines don't get inked and it's amazing.

This is a Tattered Angels stamp which I stamped with clear embossing ink and applied embossing puffs. It is amazing how the puffs came together after applying heat to it. I'm crazy not to have tried this since I got it which was 5-6 months back? Oh well...not too late I guess :)

This one is the kraft envelope which I attached at the back of the exclamation point. I removed the lock of the envelop and added a button to the center. I used a photo turn and brad to use as a seal for the envelope. Inside it is the journaling I wrote about how excited we were about planning the trip, saving for it and actually scheduling the countries to visit inclusing the train schedules. We were so glad everything is available online!

This is an MM Passport tag which I inked too and I added the Kraft envelope seals there and added a wooded flower.

Materials Used:
Paper: MM Passport, MM Vintage Findings, AC Cardstock
Embellishment: MM fabric tag, Maya road Kraft envelope, misc. brad, photo turn, metal frame, button, charm & wooden flower
Alpha: Heidi Swapp Invisibles, Prima chipboard sticker, AC Thickers, Pink Paislee, MM, Jenni Bowlin
Inks: Distress Inks, Staz On, Ranger white embossing puff, white chalk ink, Versamark Ink, Perfect Pearls (rust)
Stamps: Inkadinkado, Hero Arts, Tattered Angels
 
I hope you try out AMM's challenge and go ahead and head on over to their blog to see what the DT's came up with. Thanks for looking!

Cheers!

Cathy