{Tropical Boy}

Ethan loves the beach so much that he can talk about our trips with much gusto even after several months! I wish that as he grows up I can show him how beautiful our country is. It is a dream for me and Jeff to visit, if not all (coz that will be quite impossible to do) of the islands of our country - atleast maka-1/4 man lang hahaha!

The photo was taken 2 years ago infront of the beach hotel where we stayed. We were welcomed with shell leis and Ethan wanted all of our leis all to himself!

For this layout, I used Inspired Blueprints' Sketch #23. I've used my stash that I bought 2 Scrapfests ago hehehe (except for the Tinkering Ink that I bought last April).

I used Love Elsie ledger paper as the base, then added the Rhonna Farrer Aqua Twist pp. I matted my photo on Rouge de Garance pp (1st layer) then with Tinkering Ink pp (blue with dots, 2nd layer).

The cluster of flowers is composed of 3 papers from DCWV (light blue Hibiscus), Karen Foster Design (blue Hibiscus), Tinkering Ink (yellow).

matls used: Love Elsie, Rouge de Garance (Urban Art-Urbaine Collection pp), Rhonna Farrer Aqua Twist, Tinkering Ink Beau Jardin - Jardin and Retro Metro - Flossie, DWV, Karen Foster, Heidi Swapp chipboard letters, Chatterbox letter stickers, Scenic Route bracket chipboard, Zig and Uniball Signo pen; Photography by Jeff Lopez

-Pia

Real Boys Don't ...

... Shop? I don't think so. Just take a look at these photos! I guess the saying, "Male Doesn't Rhyme with Sale" isn't true! Have you been with your husband or your son when they shop? Mas maarte pa sila sa atin, sa totoo lang at ang tagal din no! LOL! (hope Jeff won't read this!)

Anyway, I created this layout for Scrap the Boys. The challenge for this month is to create a layout capturing your boys doing things that may be not the most masculine, so a little bit on the "girly" side. Hop on to the blog to see what the other DTs have created for this challenge. And if you have boys too, I hope you can submit an entry for this month!

Did you like the sketch that I used? Guess who was my inspiration when I made that? My very good friend and Kumare, Iris! I saw her layout published at the July 2009 issue of Scrapbooks Etc. and boy am I glad to see how she incorporated 8 photos in her LO! My version though is a little tweaked coz I changed the sizes of the photos.

I also challenged myself to use one patterned paper for my layout. I used the new Scenic Route Garden Grove Scrap Strip. Since it is double sided, I was able to use the back part (yellow) as the base of my layout. I cut the inner portion of the paper so I can use as matting for my photos and for the strips/divisions of my layout. Unfortunately, I miscalculated the size and ended up with smaller pieces of paper not enough for a photo mat. So, I used another paper - Emerson Ave. to mat the 3 remaining photos.

Call me masochist but I felt I needed to challenge myself more (I was enjoying it by the way), I told myself I will use chipboard from my stash as an embellishment and it has to come from various manufacturers : ) I used Garden Grove Superstar, Chatterbox Eclectique and American Crafts. I wanted to add some more pero yun lang chipboard ko hehehe.

I also mixed and matched my AC Thickers becoz I ran out of some letters already.

Journaling: You must be kidding me! I mean, look at you! You love to shop for your toys and even food! You go around the toy store several times just to check which ones you are going to buy. You scrutinize a toy and look closely before you tell me you want it. Most often than not, you change your mind and look for another one! You also have a penchant for character standees and store mannequins - you want to have your pictures taken beside them! One time, I found you imitating a mannequin infront of the store - I broke into laughter! You're really a funny guy!

One thing I love about you though is that you know when is the right time to do "window shopping" and when you can buy a toy. You ask me if a toy is too expensive and if I say yes, you don't insist yourself. You know that big and expensive toys are for special occasions and are rewards for a job well done. (in school or at home). You understand things beyond your age and I'm proud of you!

materials used: Scenic Route Graden Grove pps, chipboard - Scenic Route Garden Grove, Chatterbox Eclectique, American Crafts (pig), DCWV cardstock, 7 Gypsies word stickers, title: American Crafts Thickers, Making Memories letter stickers, Chatterbox letter stickers (boys), hidden journaling - October Afternoon journaling cards, Zig pen, Fancy Pants and American Crafts ribbons, others: buttons

Did I mention that Lasting Impression has all of these products? Ok, it will be an exaggeration to say that I know. So, except for the October Afternoon journaling die cuts, (Thanks Iris for those!) the new SR Garden Grove, Chatterbox Eclectique chipboard and letter stickers are all available at Lasting Impression!

On a side note, Scrappin Kids has already posted the July Challenge at the blog. DTs Michelle, Yatie, Ria and RD Cookie made the samples for this month! I hope you'll join us by submitting your layout!

-Pia

Pinoy Scrapbookers Kaya Challenge

I've been wanting to join the Kaya Challenge. Once, I actually did but wasn't able to submit my entry because I was also waiting for the layout to appear at the Daisy Bucket blog first. Unfortunately, the layout was posted a month after the month's challenge.

Anyway, when I read Janis' June Kaya challenge (she's celebrating her bday this month!), I told myself this is not for me because I don't remember buying any pearl embellishment. But lo and behold as I was recalling my stash, I remember having a few (I think!) from Chatterbox as part of my prize kit hehehe. How many did I find? 3! Dami no?! So, since I was racking my brain how to use the three pearl brads that I have, I overlooked the challenge rules that was to use a photo of myself! So there, I was able to make one pero mali naman! LOL!

I'm proud to say that I used 11 manufacturers in this layout (Yay I mixed them!) - Making Memories (postage stamp paper, letter stickers and yellow paint), Bazzill Kraft cs, BasicGrey (butterly), My Mind's Eye (green, stripes), Ki Memories (pink border stickers) , Creative Imaginations (dotted black border stricker), Chatterbox (pearl brads , green crochet flower and photo frame), Fancy Pants (white and blue crochet flowers), American Crafts (Thickers), Zig (pen), Clearsnap (ink). Also, I was able to use some stash that are more than 2 years old!

I used #24 sketch from Inspired Blueprints in making this layout (another yay becoz I find it hard to follow a sketch!). I tried distressing, layering and even splattering paint (and I intend to do it again!) I painted the cardboard before attaching it at the back of my layout.

Check out the other creations posted at the blog. If you are a member of Pinoy Scrapbookers Yahoo group, you are most welcome to join. Challenges are posted every first day of the month!

-Pia

XOXO

... means Hugs and Kisses

I created this layout using Scrappinkids Sketch #3. . I find it hard to follow a sketch so it's a little tweaked. I'm not sure if the letters XOXO can still be seen from my design. I'm confused as to how I can manage to put so much details on the entire page when my initial plan was to use white space! I'm getting a little frustrated on white space now hehehe.

Anyway, I love this layout so much because it has one of the most precious photos of me and Ethan. I guess the pictures say it all. I was also able to put into words the sweet things my son and I share like holding hands while sleeping, kissing and hugging many times before we part, and so on.

title: XOXO
matls used: Fancy Pants Splendid and Making Memories papers, Ki Memories border stickers, Fancy Pants & American Crafts felt shapes, buttons, American Crafts Thickers, Zig pen and Crayola (my son's crayons). The animal felt shape is a pre made one. I bought that from Lasting Impression (LSS), I only added the flower on his head
Photography by Jeff Lopez

-Pia

Sharing some girl layouts ...

I made these layouts for my inaanak (god daughter), Anika Lucia.

I tried two things here that I don't usually do. The first one is distressing. I'm not really a fan of distressed layouts but wanted to give it a try again anyway. To distress the edges of the papers, I used my cutter : ) I found out that a cutter can be an alternative for an edge scraper. It produces the same effect less the cost especially that I won't really use this a lot.

I love the Prima lace used as the stem of the flower. Maybe I should try to think of ways on how to use that (in boy pages I mean).

I was able to use white space here, something I wish I can do more often.

Second thing I tried is to scrap simply and in color blocks.

It's too simple, my hands are itching to touch that layout again. But doing so will defeat the purpose so I hurriedly gave it to my kumare, Arlene. Now, I can't do anything about it : )

-Pia