scrapbooks, etc.

new blog

nobody@vox.com(Ch) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:05:25 +0800

is over at http://christineherrin.blogspot.com! :)

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inspirational!

nobody@vox.com(Ch) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:37:01 +0800

Wow wow wow.

I'm loving Ayako Katayama's layout over at the Pencil Lines Blog. AMAZING. Just the kind of style that I admire. Now if only I knew how to stitch on layouts! :)

Been working on my blog relaunch. Kinacareer ko yata. Ang tagal na. Hahaha! :D

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not happy.

nobody@vox.com(Ch) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:22:51 +0800

After returning my original defective sets of Stampin' Up stampin' spots, this is happening again.

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ARGH! Is there something wrong with me?! Or is it our country's temperature? I don't understand. It's really frustrating because I have two sets of these, and today I open *one* color and it's utterly useless. I don't want to try to open the others because they might spill oil again.

Man. I spent money on this. Remind me to buy Colorbox inks all the way. My Cat's Eye Queue still works perfectly until now. :(

In other news, I've finally scrapped! Ironically I can't seem to find my camera so I'll post it tomorrow ;D

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missing mojo

nobody@vox.com(Ch) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:29:11 +0800

I can't seem to start scrapping! Not like I've had any time lately, but I really want to start again! At least I got a *little* started earlier when I finally cut up the pretty Paris map from the Studio Calico Paris kit and covered my chipboard binder with it. Looks like it'll take a while before that album fills up.

Been VERY busy with a new business I started with my best friend, her twin sister and our other friend.. had no idea starting a business was this busy! I feel employed! It really is no joke but what I love about it is we're having fun in the process :D If you have time, check out our site! Kitchen Couture! We sell specialty aprons and other accessories for those who love to cook ;)

I've been really bothered because I've been eyeing Cathy Zielske's online class at Big Picture Scrapbooking for the past month. I really, really, really want to take it, but $99 for an online class *might* be a bit too much for me, considering I'm currently still waiting on a job offer. Hey, I know! If I *do* get the job, then I'll reward myself with the online class. Hahaha! But really. It's a bit too much for an online class. But it's Cathy Zielske! Aaaah. I'm going around and around here.

Working on my new blog and hope to launch it soon.. been stuck on a header design! Not to mention I wanted to wait till I scrapped more but argh. Been. so. busy.

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toink!

nobody@vox.com(Ch) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:02:43 +0800

It's a bad idea to find out at 3 in the morning that your PayPal account finally works. Hahaha. And you're browsing Etsy, no less.

Ended up getting myself one of these kits. Gah. I couldn't resist!!!! I know I'll probably get it in October (since my mom's heading to the US) but oh well, it's never too late to play along in a Dare!

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Cuteness! Calls for a mini album. Too bad I won't make it to this month's Kaya challenge with this! I'll just have to cook up another mini album using something else. Really love what the others did for the Dare. Jamaica's pretty cool, I really like her art journals and mini books :D

Anyway. Stay tuned for a blog relaunch soon! I'm working on my new blog (to be hosted on Blogger, finally). Of course I'm all OC on the design and stuff. Hehehe!

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first time!

nobody@vox.com(Ch) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:00:58 +0800

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

I attended the Pinoy Scrapbookers' EB last Saturday!! Finally! It's been so long since we last had an EB, and as usual it was fun seeing everyone again. I also finally got to visit Mitch's store which is yumyumyummy and packed with goodies! I had to control myself since, well, being unemployed and all, I didn't really have a budget to shop with. Ended up buying tools instead -- new blades for my trimmer, Fiskars No. 5 Microtip scissors and glue. Couldn't resist the October Afternoon chipboard album (tag book) though and a couple of pretty patterned paper (mostly AC and OA)!

Got to meet a lot of people in person too. Cel and Jeanie, among others! :D Also got this kickass shirt from Rollyn. HAHAHA! I love it. :)

That day's make & take was creating an ATC. Now, for those who know me, know that I can't alter to save my life. Give me a blank can or box, and I'll probably fill it with supplies, not decorate it. Crackle paint? Diamond glaze? I'm clueless. The closest I ever got to altering anything was covering a paint can with patterned paper and smothering it with mod podge. Hehehe.

So during the ATC demo I was totally clueless but glad that the card was small ;) The patterned paper in the kit was also really flowery and pretty (which, again, for those who know me, know that I don't know what to do when faced with flowery vintage paper. Aaah). Glad I brought my Studio Calico kit (July) because I got to use the pretty travel stamps!!

This is what I came up with:

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Patterned paper: Anna Griffin; flowers: Prima; Stickers and paint: Making Memories; Stamps: Studio Calico, Fontwerks; Ink: Colorbox; Rubons: American Crafts :) I also doodled on it a bit :D

Now imagine my surprise when they called out the winner for that day's ATC challenge. Hahahaha. I couldn't believe my ears. It was an achievement for me! It means I can alter little cards. YAY! :) Thanks again to the wonderful Mitch and Visual Creations because I won this:

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Hmmm. Butterflies. It'll be a challenge figuring out how to use this! ;) Hahaha!

And congratulations to the winners of the ATC can challenge (our favorite Master, Iris) and the layout challenge (Rollyn!! I knew you'd win. I'm psychic!).

I'm glad to hear that Ali Edwards' newest book is FINALLY out! Although I don't know when I'll get my copy (perhaps some time in October). Can't wait can't wait! :D

I'm thinking of moving to Blogger for more customizable layouts and sidebars, not to mention more people can comment there. What do you think? I might be of a hassle to people though, since they'll have to update their links! ;)

I NEED TO SCRAP! Time to get my printer ink refilled. Every time I feel like scrapping, something gets in the way :(

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how am I supposed to resist

nobody@vox.com(Ch) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:09:49 +0800

... the yummy kits at Studio Calico??

I had to end my subscription last month because I lost my wallet in Paris (including my US based credit card, which was what I was using to pay for my SC kits. Since the card was lost, the PayPal account locked up, and so on..) and I figured I could wait until maybe I got a job or a replacement card at least (LOL!). Well well well. Looking at the sneaks for the September kit wasn't a very good idea, now was it?

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Well, an upside is that I'm currently job shopping (haha!) and I'm crossing my fingers because I might be able to get one at a place I've been dreaming to work :D Let's hope that goes well because that doesn't only mean I get to finally work there... it means I'm back to enjoying monthly SC goodies! Whee!

In other news.. everyone's talking about the Olympics. I used to absolutely LOVE the Olympics. Sydney 2000, Athens 2004.. I'd get up early in the morning to watch live coverages of swimming events. Ian Thorpe vs Pieter van den Hoogenband, boy was that my favorite kind of event ;) Then in Athens, Michael Phelps came along.. and now he's sweeping everything! Thorpey retired last year (*sob*) and today I learned that after failing to bag the gold in the 100m free (he holds the gold for the same event from the last two Olympics), Hoogie (van den Hoogenband) has decided to retire as well (can't blame him.. he's 30!).

Sigh. All great things must come to an end. Even if they weren't the GREATEST Olympians, they were the most fun to watch. The jacket colors, the camaraderie after each event.. sigh! Thorpey and Hoogie!!

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Hooogie! One half of my favorite tandem. You will be sorely missed! :( (And it goes without saying too that I'd give anything to see Thorpey swim again. Tsk!)

Wish I loved Phelps as much. Hahaha. That boy is my age and is sweeping everything! :D

Should get back to scrapping after I get all these job interviews done! :P

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i'm back!

nobody@vox.com(Ch) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:02:58 +0800

Just got back yesterday from a 3-week trip to Cairo and Paris. Wow do I sound like a jet setter!! :) For some reason, I find myself depleting my savings each year for a big trip with my Travel Club -- last year we went budget traveling around Southeast Asia and this year, still budget traveling to Cairo and Paris. :P

Paris was so much fun, one of my closest friends Luis just finished an exchange program there so he had a flat (which we all took advantage of, of course -- can't say no to free lodging, even if it requires five people to squeeze into one small room). Since we were really on a budget, we'd go grocery shopping each day and cook dinner at the flat! Needless to say, I can finally cook a decent omelet (must. learn. life. skills.)!

Funny thing, I researched scrapbook stores in Paris and ended up going to Le Temple Du Scrap, a huge store along rue Ernest Cresson. WOW. I've never seen a bigger collection of Rouge de Garance stuff (because duh CH, it's a French brand). Lotsa goodies but I controlled myself because I needed my money to eat (if only!). But nonetheless.. yumyum :) Found my favorite spot in Paris (okay maybe not. Musee d'Orsay comes real close.. haha!).

It was fun coming home to a ton of scrapbook goodies! That's roughly translated to two boxes of SC kits (including a very timely Paris add-on) and some stuff I asked my mom to bring home from the States. Finally have a Crop-a-Dile! And the new Fontwerks Aeropostale stamps :)

It was also great coming home to this, even if my fellow Pinoyscrapbookers already told me about it in advance:

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Yaaaaay :) Check out the three other issues behind it, my mom probably bought out the Borders outlet she visited! Hahaha! This is one for the books because I really love this page and it's an honor to see it in CK :) Congrats to Pia because she was mentioned too!

On a completely random note, I lost my wallet (luckily I was just on my way to the money changer in Paris so it was empty except for my ID and credit cards) so I had to block all my credit cards. That includes the US-based card I use to charge my PayPal and since it'll take a while to replace and get my account back up and running... I had to cancel my Studio Calico subscription in the meantime. :( Sad, I know! I'm thinking of renewing it when I finally get a job again. That should be enough motivation to find one!

My Macbook's wonky!! My question mark and delete keys (among some others) won't seem to work. Nooooo!

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one second

nobody@vox.com(Ch) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:39:49 +0800

... that's how quick Ali Edwards' exclusive stamp set from Cocoa Daisy sold out.

ONE SECOND! Or maybe it was sold out even before midnight, yet a big "Coming soon" was plastered all over the website, giving me FALSE HOPE?

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Oh well! Since I was so annoyed that I missed it, I pre-ordered her book instead. ;) Either way, I get me some Ali! She's seriously the coolest. There's now a waitlist for the stamps, hope they do order some more.

Every time Ali comes out with something new (a book, a CK Kit, etc), I find myself scrambling to get it! Sigh. Really love her work, and I remember telling my friends that she was so cool because she's a history major who took up graphic design too, which is exactly like me! :D Haha! So I've found my "idol". Now if only I can scrapbook for a living...

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for the love

nobody@vox.com(Ch) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:00:18 +0800

I fell in love with scrapbooking somewhere between the end of my grade school and the beginning of my high school years. Whenever any of my friends' birthdays would come up, I'd immediately think of a unique gift, whether it be a mini-album on their quirks or a list of things us other friends love about them. Each time I'd make a gift, I noticed, I'd be up all night cutting, pasting, binding and cropping. Without any sleep at all, I'd work with only one thing as my driving force: the idea of how much they'll love and appreciate this project I was making for them, because I knew they'd see how much work was put into it and seriously, who doesn't love a list of things people love about you?

One of my close friends since grade school is going off to Australia for a couple of years, and our barkada decided to whip up a surprise despedida for her. Included in the list of things to prepare was a scrapbook, and naturally, it was handed over to yours truly. Our friends would submit things they'll miss the most about her and their favorite photos of her, and I'd have to put it all together.

I'm glad I got assigned this project because 1) it brought me back to the beginnings of how I discovered that "scrapbooking" was a real hobby and it reminded me so much of the reason why I love this craft; 2) it forced my mojo to come back and work with me and 3) I got the opportunity to make someone really happy.

It is pretty liberating to use all your newest and nicest materials, when you don't think about the cost but only about how much you're sure your friends are going to love it. That's enough for me. :)

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I started with a blank 6x6 mini-album that was all brown. Repainted the cover and decorated it with AC Thickers and some patterned paper. For the inside, I decided to use sheets of double-sided patterned cardstock/paper instead to save paper (instead of cutting and pasting paper onto the scrapbook's original pages). I had to punch them one by one with an cheap old one-hole punch. By the 5th sheet (out of 30, by the way), I was cursing the punch because my hand was aching so much!! I ended up ordering a Crop-A-Dile online for my future projects. Hahahaha. Things you do out of frustration!

Cut up a lot of the new patterned paper from Studio Calico kits. Love all the colors! Also used some of the lovely Jenni Bowlin bingo cards. Since it was a little bigger than 6x6, I trimmed the end and glued it to make it look like a 6x6 bingo card. Very fun!

Here are more pictures from the mini-album:

I didn't care if I didn't get any sleep that night (two days straight of working on this album)... everyone's reaction was enough for me. They all loved it and that's all that mattered! :) Besides it was a joint effort, with two of our barkadas all chipping in their favorite memories of Leah.

We were so many that by the time I was done with the album, i couldn't close it properly anymore!! The ring was too small for all the stuff inside!

I need a Bind-It-All!! But I realized that I can live with a Crop-A-Dile -- do it the long way! :P

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Oh how wonderful it is to scrapbook again. :) Now THIS is what it's all about.

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