Sketch 123

This is Sketch 123, the last sketch for my first DT term at Scrapbook Challenges. I am very happy that I am able to stay on. Thank you, Pamela!

And, let's give a warm welcome to the new DTs, Liz, Lily and Jen!!!

Scrap a Month of Your Life

When I thought of this for SC's weekly challenge, I told myself that I would like to do this monthly so that I will remember that month in our lives. It's now part of my scrapbook resolution, I hope I can accomplish it. *wink*

This is one of most memorable events of our 2008 --- when Tita E's family came to Singapore. After almost 9 years, I get to spend time with them. I used to live with them when I was still in the Philippines and having them here was a dream come true.

Scrappers, I hope you join us in SC for the last few challenges this year.

My Last Sneak Peeks for 2008

{Create}'s January 2009 Challenge.

Sketch 123 at Scrapbook Challenges.

And, my last challenge at Scrapbook Challenges.

Sketch 122 : Growing Up

I am soooo in love with this layout. It's like going back in time and looking at Dawter T 6 years ago. Isn't she the cutest?! Hahaha... A mother has the right to say that. *wink* She was 3-12 months here. Now, that I've unearthed this from the deepest of my photo pits, I find it so endearing that she looks like Bebi A or Bebi A looks like her (see pic 4) hehehe

I used Pamela's Sketch 122 for this and this is now up at Scrapbook Challenges. Speaking of SC, come next week, there will be new faces in the design team. Do watch out for Pamela's announcement!

A Few More Days

A few more days and it's Christmas. The girls are happilly anticipating it. Can't wait to open their gifts. How easy it is to be a child?! At least they know whose birthday it is? *wink* That's what I want to instill in them. But, they've been going to the Barney show that's being shown at the nearby mall (two days in a row already).

A few more weeks and school starts. Dawter T is starting Primary 1 *scary!!!* and Bebi A is taking her first steps to Nursery. Oh, how different the two are! Bebi A doesn't want to go to school she just wants to stay at home whereas Dawter T is an excited bee hehe. Due to the Christmas fever, I haven't done any preps for their school yet, still no bag for Dawter T and no shoes for both of them.

I just feel so overwhelmed. But, getting really excited with the coming holidays and special events in our lives. *wink* Pre and I are starting our 7th year as husband and wife. Woohoo! Who would have thought he would last long? Haha. Just kidding.

Anyway, 2008 is coming to a close. Despite the not so positive forecast, we're keeping our hope and faith alive that 2009 will be as good, even better year for everybody.

Don't Mess With Texas

Here's my take to Pamela's Sketch 121. The embellishments were from my dear cousin B. She bought it for me to scrap my trip to the US. It was only when I was doing this lo that I realized that the embellishments were from Scrapbook Challenges' December Sponsor, Reminisce! You will fall in love with their products coz I did!

A Peek On Sketch 121

Give Love

I've been working round the clock lately due to server upgrades. I haven't had a decent sleep for weeks now. And, I think it's finally taking its toll. Irritable. Blur. Tired.


But, what turns my day around aside from seeing my girls *wink* is scrapping. I just spend my energy cutting, cropping and pasting. That leaves a smile on my face.


I know that it's just a few days before Christmas. (We don't even have a tree yet! Hahaha) But, I would like to invite you to join our Christmas Card challenge at Scrapbook Challenges. It's my turn to issue a challenge and since Christmas is starting late for me this year, it's never too late to create a Christmas card!

And, of course, the week will not be complete without Pamela's Sketch. It's the 120th sketch! Come join the fun! I fell in love with the wood thingy on my sketch 120 take, it's from my Mommy Jane (my monita)! I love it!!!

Unbound

Here's my take on Pamela's Sketch 119 which was posted last Monday. This is one of my favorites! Do check out the layouts of the other DT members!

And to further entice you to try out the sketches and DT challenges at Scrapbook Challenges ---> check out December's Sponsor, Reminisce! Awesome, awesome, awesome RAK!

And, last but not the least, Sister C is once again Pick of the Week at Scrapbook Challenges! She won November's RAK as well! Woohoo!

Give Love On Christmas Day

Well, not only on Christmas day, but everyday.

Last April (if I'm not mistaken), Scrappers At SG created 124 pages for SCKC. Last Saturday, we managed to create 100 pages. I urge you to help the endeavor, it can be by posting the SCKC endeavor, donating some of your scraps/stash or by also creating 6x6 pages and send to Julie.

And, mind you, Mareng M, tagged as the girl with the big heart (hihi), is promoting this endeavor with a RAK. So hop on over to her site and know more about the SCKC endeavor.

A little help goes a long way!

Everyday Is A Blessing

This is my layout for {Create} for our December Challenge. Please join us this December, all you need to do is submit a Christmas themed card, altered item, layout. And, there' are RAKs from the members of the DT!

This was taken at Cute#1's house. We usually celebrate our Christmas eve there. With a mass at St. Michael's church then potluck dinner before and after the mass (hahaha). That year, 2006, was the last year with my our close friends B and J (whose family both migrated to Australia). Cute#1's idea was that each of the household will color-coordinate. Of course, we chose yellow! Hehe.

A Peek Into December

Here's a peek of what's in store for everyone at {CREATE}. Do join us this December, great challenge and amazing prizes!!! And, thanks to everyone who joined "November brew"!

Sketch 118 Peek

Oh I love this new sketch from Pamela which will be launched on Monday at Scrapbook Challenges! Can't wait to show you the whole layout...

The photos were from Cute#1. Didn't know that their "family" went for their yearly photoshoot until yesterday.

Speaking of yesterday, it was Scrappers AT SG's Christmas Party! Of course, it was a total riot! With all the games Mareng M prepared and the amazing prizes! Thank you to everyone who attended and see you all next year!

Do check out the amazing layouts for the Scrappin' Monito/Monita at Scrappers At SG!

Sketch 118

Sketch 118 Peek

Welcome Home

Sketch 117

I finally did it! I finally used my Sassafras papers. Oh boy, was it hard! Hahaha But now, I am glad I did. That means, I can start using the rest. Weird! Hahaha.

This is my take for Pamela's Sketch 117 at Scrapbook Challenges.

The Last Leg

Of my trip starts tomorrow.

Exciting coz

• I get to spend time with my relatives
• I'll be seeing my college close friends
• I'll finally be able to see San Francisco

It's gonna be chilly but there's fleece jacket to cover me up! Hehe.

After 13 Days

I feel bad that I missed the last 2 sketches that Pamela made. So, I started early with this and managed to finish tonight. Yey! Love the sketch (well, I love all her sketches), here's a peak of what's in store for you on Monday.

All I can say is that it feels so good to finally scrapping again! It's my last day in Austin tomorrow then I am off for a 3 day vacation at San Francisco! Woohoo! I am excited to see my relatives and of course, to eat Filipino food! Hehehe... (Tocino, here I come!)

It's Within Your Reach!

Got an email earlier or was it last night from my SWR's owner, Heidi. She told us all the exciting things that's going to happen at SWR! So happy to be part of the team! Finally met my co-DTs (through email).

Now for the eye-candies! Aren't these adorable?! These are the 4 SWR's lines. 2 more coming in CHA! Watch out for it!

Where Dreams Come True

I was feeling down tonight because of a work problem. I suddenly had a breakthrough... So, I gave myself a break.

The Magic Kingdom

Disneyworld!

Sleeping Beauty's Castle!

The reason my dreams came true. Tita A and family with Pinocchio. The One I've been waiting for.
Say Hello to Minnie Mouse!

Sketch 116

I prepared for photos for my DT duties but I didn't get the chance to print a big one so I couldn't create a layout for Pamela's Sketch 116. But, you guys can!!! Hehehe.


And a toot for CJ for being Pamela's pick of the week!

I Haven't Been Scrapping

Because my mind and body still thinks I am in Singapore. When will this end? Hehe.

Have a great weekend! I am off to Orlando for some wonderful and magical experience *wink*

Walking Down Scrap Street

Please check our Scrapstreet.Com Magazine, I submitted Handle With Care and was selected to be part of the November Issue. Yipee!

Love their write up about it :


Editor's note:

Sookie’s careful hand cutting of the patterned paper adds a wonderful 3-dimensional feel to the layout. Her layering of mixed patterned paper adds a depth and warmth that cannot be denied.

So Happy

The announcement definitely woke me up! *wink* I heard the on-call phone beeped so I even though it's 4AM here, I had to get up and check if it's something I need to look at. It was not! Thank, God! But, of course the lure of scrap blogs made me sit down and check my fave links and found this happy news! *wink again*

Thanks to Scrappin Kids for picking All of Us as one of their Challenge #13 winners. Woohoo! Thank you, thank you! It's one of my personal favorites and I am really, really happy!

Congrats to Vivs and Janis too!

***

On the work front...

I am a cross between an introvert and extrovert hehe I am very SHY at first. I am quiet. But, once I become comfortable --- I tend to talk --- a lot! I was really quiet with the branch admins, most of them guys. And, the two other ladies were cool admins as well as fashionistas from France and Taiwan. So, I felt really left out. Haha. I don't know who to talk to. Good thing my Hungarian teammate was like a guardian angel who sat beside me for the first session. My 2 Hungarian teammates are actually my angels when I am at work because they're my F1 Hehe. Wish they both had come to the conference.

So, it was my first day at our corporate HQ. And, boy, was I shocked when I saw the place! I was thinking of 3 buildings near each other, I didn't realize that the HQ was a big compound. Building part apart. I guess Austin has vast land that they can afford that kind of size. I was so proud to be part of the company.

And, coming face to face with my teammates were just great. Love, love K! That's the other lady in the team. She made me feel welcome, talked to me about anything. And, she had a laugh when I told her I wanted to go to the "comfort room". She said that in the US, they call it "Ladies", "Men's", "Women's". Oh ok, I really have a lot to learn hehe. The other guys were cool and I guess it's just that because we have a cool boss. (Please please, let him not pick on me on today's meeting) And, the best thing is --- I am the thinnest of them all! Mwahahaha!

The Austin guys who coordinated the whole event were amazing. Very friendly and they really looked after us. Lunch was Mexican food from Taco Deli. Don't laugh but all along I thought when you say Taco, it's that curvy tortilla with minced pork, lettuce and stuff. So, I was kinda looking around as to how they eat the whole lunch time.

And, dinner was sponsored by NI again. We had pizza at the conference room plus the boss' brought their Xbox and Wii!!! Oh my, I fell in love with that Rock Star Xbox game! It's so cool (especially for someone who's not into video games).

This is really an amazing experience for me. And, what's more sweet about my day was capping it at Jo-Ann! Need I say more? Nah! Best to let you imagine how I checked aisle per aisle of scrapping goodness at 30% off. 'nuff said. *wink*

Goodness!

Groggy and all. I opened my email to find wonderful news in my Inbox! Heidi from Scrap Within Reach liked the pages I passed to her and I was selected to be a member of her team!

Thank you, Heidi! Please check out Scrap Within Reach's amazing products! You're going to love it!

I still can't believe it! *pinch myself*

Scrapbook Challenges

For the month of November, Scrapbook Challenges' sponsor will be Say It With Letters. Do join Pamela's sketch challenges and the DT's weekly challenges to win the awesome prize!

{Create} Your Own Brew

This month's challenge at {Create} was concocted by yours truly, hehe. And, it's going to be fun, fun, fun!


Double, Double Toil and Trouble; Fire Burn, and Caldron Bubble.


This November, let's have fun making our own Halloween recipe by incorporating 5 of the ingredients below.


1. eye of newt --- 2 buttons
2. toe of frog --- 2 swirl chipboard
3. wool of bat --- 3 different kinds of ribbons
4. tongue of dog --- 6 Prima flowers
5. Adder's fork --- 1 metal embellishment
6. blind worm's sting --- 1 sheer embellishment
7. lizard's leg --- 8 brads
8. owlet's wing --- 1 transparency
9. scale of a dragon --- 1 stamped sentiment
10. tooth of wolf --- journal written using a white pen
11. root of hemlock --- include stitching
12. fillet of a fenny snake --- AC Thickers (Alphas only)


You can add other things as long as it's not in the list. No limit on papers.


Please join us this month and let's {Create} BOO-tiful memories!

Here's my take on the challenge. I used Hambly transparency, white journaling pen, AC Thickers, swirl chipboards, buttons.

Blessings

It's 3 AM and I am still up. Need to wake up by 6AM wahhhh.

A short (I hope) recap of what I was up to during the weekend. The plane touched down US soil at 9AM, Saturday. Encountered no problem with my entry, thank you, Lord! My colleague gave me a run down of what happened to her and I am just so fortunate that I didn't encounter it. I was out in SFO's Domestic Terminal 3 by 930AM. I sms my SFO relatives and my grandma was so surprised to see me. Well, that was what I wanted. My tita told her that they need to pick up a package at the airport. Hehe. They accompanied me while I wait for my flight to Austin. I was so happy to see Lola C, Tita A, Tito R (who drove to pass me their spare cell phone),Cousin R, Cousin B and Kuya P! I am so excited to see them again on the 15th.

When I reached Austin later in the afternoon. I was just so tired. But, when the cab passed by Target and Jo-Ann, a shrill of excitement passed by my veins mwahahahah. But then, when I reached the hotel, I just wanted to just crash in my bed. But, I was so hungry and I was too chicken to go out yet in the dark. I tried to sleep off my hunger but woke up at 3AM so I just ate the peanuts I bought and the dried mangoes. Hehe.

Sunday, I quickly took a bath because I want to catch the 930AM mass at St. Louis. I ate some bread for breakfast which was free from the hotel package. But, mind you, I was craving for some garlic rice and corned beef. I dunno why I was thinking of that. Haha.

I saw my Shanghai colleagues whom I would carpool with. They asked me where I am going for the day, told them I don't have plans yet aside from going to church. So, they waited for me and we went to Downtown Austin. We went to the State Capitol and the Museum (can you see me going there?). Good thing, the security expert J treated us hehehe Managed to get some souvenirs for my loved-ones but that was after 2.5 hours of walking around the museum. Oh well. Next time I know better. Don't get me wrong though, it was fun taking pictures and getting to know Texas. Learned a lot yesterday! However, in the next few days, I think I would stick to the places I love --- Jo-Ann!!! Target!!!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

My luggage are packed but I'm not ready to go. I haven't bought my gifts for my colleagues yet. I am contemplating between Philippine Dried Mangoes or something made from Singapore, definitely not a key chain! Haha. Suggestions are welcome. *wink*

I'll be away for a conference/training for 2.5 weeks. Fairly long that I get sad when I think about my girls. Emotions, emotions, emotions.

This trip has been a dream for me. Eversince I was young, I've been wishing to go to the US. I almost worked there, my H1-B approved and all, but I stayed back because I can't bear to leave the family yet, when Daddy (Grandpa) just passed away. As my sister always tell me, I was not for the US because I had to go to Singapore to meet Pre. How cheesy! Haha...

Hope I don't get lost there.

Lots of Pink at {Create}

So glad with the overwhelming response at {Create)'s Go Pink challenge. There's still time to submit and every layout submitted corresponds to a dollar that will go to the Singapore Cancer Society.

Here's a sneak peak of what's in store for {Create} on the month of November.

Let's Be Clear

That's my challenge at Scrapbook Challenges. All you need to do is to use any "clear" elements. It could be a transparency, something made from acetate or even clear buttons. Can't wait to see what you'll come up with! And, remember, joining this challenge gets you in the drawing for the October prize from Inque Boutique!

Showbees

The pictures are fresh from the oven. Took it last Saturday at Dawter T's graduation concert. She got her Pre-school certificates and she was so happy playing as bee.

This is my take on Pamela's Sketch 114. Used the paper kit that Mareng B gave me for my birthday last year. I love the rubons! The papers were from the Rhonna Farrer collection.

Work Happened

Harassed is an understatement of what I am going through at work (and at home na rin hahaha) But I woke up today feeling refreshed. *wink* Well, it's a brand new day... Though I still managed to create an almost huge blooper earlier on, things went well, prayers work wonders!

Here's my take for Pamela's Sketch 113. I am a bit late posting. Sorry for my tardiness. Work Happened. hahaha.

All Of Us

My entry to Scrappin Kids October Challenge. It's their anniversary this month and they have lots of activities going on. Happy Anniversary, Scrappin Kids!

I chose Challenge #5 because it's about family. My papa who's here for a visit even commented that the title should have been "All 4 One, One 4 All" -- just because we're 4 in the family *wink* and that whatever happens, we are there for each other and that love will bind us together --- as family.

The photo was taken during Today's Parents Family Event as Plaza Singapura. It was actually a complimentary photo from Canon. It turned out great, love the Dawter T's dreamy look --- just shows her personality (sweet and always deep in her wonderland). Bebi sunshiny disposition is so evident in her smile. And as for Pre, the most loving and caring daddy.

Love the photo to bits, just have a tiny wish though... Wish I was thinner in the photo hahaha *dream on*

What I did with the paper? I traced my two pps from one of my "edgy" papers, from Rhonna Farrer. Ok ok, I can't just let go "yet" of that paper hehehe Actually the flowery B/W Imaginisce paper is just attached by glue to the polka dots B/W, also from Imaginisce. The edge on the polka dot B/W paper was originally straight cut but after staring at it for a long time, decided to put some edge to it also.

I especially love the title, I used MM shimmer alphas then used some of my black flowery rub-ons then cut it. I was aiming for MME die cut titles. I know it's a long way to go but I was happy nevertheless. I think of making more titles out of this technique. It's quite fun to do!

Sorry