Oh the Places

I made it to the top 10 for Kristina’s color challenge. Yeah!!! I looked and commented on a lot of the ones I liked (there were quite a bit of them!) and I didn’t think I’d make it but for the first time (this is my 3rd week of trying her challenges) my card was picked. Thanks Kristina and thanks to all who came to check it out.

Today I want to share a page that I did for a contest at Scrapperie. I told you a few weeks ago I think that I’m participating in a 7 weeks contest. This was round one’s submission and the challenge was to scrap about something that makes me feel sad or happy and it can’t be about being a wife or a mom. This was what I came up with. Traveling, eating, Starbucks, and recycling. Below are the details of the page…

Journaling: I love to travel. There’s just something about seeing new places and meeting different people plus tasting the local food that makes me happy inside. The idea of traveling also makes me sad because it’s not something I can do all the time right now. Recycling also makes me happy. I love this world and want to preserve it. Oh, I love Starbucks coffee too. One mocha, please.

Journaling around main journal: The world is beautiful. It’s only right if I help preserve it. So little time so many places, oh I wish, I wish, I wish. It’s not my time. One Day!

Journaling on the right: My thought, my feelings, May’08.

Credits:
Background paper: Creative Imagination.
Journaling card: Collage Press
Stamp: Prima
Butterflies and floral stickers: Me & My Big Ideas
Alpha: American Craft
Clear leaf image: My Mind’s Eyes
Train tickets: K&Company
Images: Cut out from Travel and Leisure
Starbucks: Recycled from coffee bean container.
Cardboard: Wow… who knows, it was in my garage

Well, that’s it for today. Thanks so much again for visiting and for leaving me wonderful comments. I appreciate each one of them and I think I am getting better at replying to each one of them. Have a great weekend!! M and I will have a very busy Saturday afternoon — birthday party and auction at her preschool. Oh the Places…. {::SMILES}.

No Mojo

Just got back from a crop at the lss and just didn’t feel it. I got two things put together but the first is missing something and the second, even after a few layers, is missing something else. Ahhh… I’ll stare at it a few days or maybe tomorrow I might catch something. Besides that, I had a good time. M was very good too.

Starting next weekend, maybe, I’ll be working on a few stuff for the lss. Cards, altered, and pages. Just simple designs with their products. It’ll be fun. No minimum, no maximum, just whatever I can do.  I did help out with some challenges today. The store has an EK Success shape template and the challenge was to create layout using that tool. It was impromptu. I think the ladies had a good time.  There were only six of us, hopefully there will be more next time.

Well, not sharing what I did today… they’re just not finished. So I’ll share what I created for The DigiChick.

I used Scarlet Heels Media Spring Tide paper. Isn’t the bird and the flower cute? I don’t have a 12×12 printer, so I just printed it out on an 8.5×11 paper. I was going for the minimalist look but I think I need some chipboard alphas… now that I’m looking at it. I used a distressing tool on the card stock. Not sure if you can see it.

I did some sewing again. I am feeling more confident with my straight sewing lines. So pathetic. My mom is a sewing guru and here’s me.

Then I used Mira Design’s Date Labels and glued it on top of Total Mom’s Sense label. The stamp, number and circle, is from Studio Calico. It was in their May kit, the little birdie is Hambly Screen Prints, and the sticker is Me & My Big Ideas. Oh, card stock is Bazzill.

I dunno, I kind of like it the way it is. It looks better than in the picture. What do you think? Add on or keep it as is?

NSD

Here’s a page that I did using K&Company new Amy Butler items that I picked up last weekend at Michaels. I love these new items because the paper packaging is 95% recycled material. Also, everything that you buy you can use. On the back of the packages there are little cut-out extras that you can use on your page (granted I’d use a cardboard box if I think it’s cool looking).

I wanted to use more of the pretty pattern papers but then I ended up just cutting out the flowers and leaves out of a half a page. Oh well, I’ll figure something out. For the title, I used Heidi Swapp’s rub-on, American Craft felt and foam alpha and Craft n Craftin chipboard. I’ve never heard of the last company but they had a few cool items at the new LSS.

Now, the lace…. check that baby out. Can you see it? I SEW!!!! I was soooooo nervous but I thought if I don’t do it now, I’ll never do it. I did practice a bit before this and I am quite happy with the result.

EDIT: I forgot to add the close-up photo. I used Prima corner stamps and also the journaling box. This is the first time I’ve used Prima stamps and they are nice. They’re really soft acrylic stamps and after rubbing the image side with an eraser and stamping a couple times, the image came out crisp. I can’t wait to use them for other things.

Alright, we’re going to get ready for the birthday party. M’s being a girl… she can’t figure out which outfit to wear. At this point she’s not making a lot of effort in trying. All I’ve got is a little girl in her undies yakking away instead of finding something to wear.

Again, have a great national scrapbook day!

I’m Getting Published!

I received an email from Scrapbook Trends Magazine and they liked what I sent them so one of my pages will be in the September issue. Whoo hoo!!!

I wasn’t serious when I sent them the email. I got to their site from Stampin’ Up! demo site actually. SU’s demo site is not the easiest to navigate and one day earlier this month I felt like clicking around to figure out where things are at (being a web designer makes me uber critical of others’ navigational systems). After clicking here and there I got to the “get your work published” page and one that was listed was Scrapbook Trends. After looking at the different criteria for September (now they’re doing a call for the November issue), there was one that fits and so I sent them a short note and an attachment. I totally forgot about it and it didn’t even click when I read their email stating they’ve accepted my layout (ok, I even forgot what I sent them - glad they attached the image).

Of course I’m super happy this weekend and M is too since it’s one of her pages (granted I think she has no idea what being in a magazine means). In the middle of the email, there was this note:

“Although we are planning on publishing your layout, sometimes space constraints change, resulting in layouts not being published. This rarely happens, but if it does, you will still receive the same amount of product as our thank you.”

Now to wait until Sept. to see if mine is actually published {::SMILES}.

I haven’t posted any traditional pages in almost a week, thought I’d post this. I’m going to submit this to One Little Word. Their word for this week: Grow. Check OLW out, they’re so fun, great words and awesome DT.

I love this page and the picture. I took these last Easter and I’ve done a few pages here and there but saved the best for this layout. Not a lot of embellishments really but with the type of background paper, it makes the page look busy. I used a few items from my Studio Calico kit and also a few chip boards from this big can that I got from WalMart. I picked this up months ago and was going to return it but ended up using it at the crop a few weeks ago for giveaways. But I still have a lot left.

We’re leaving for some sushi. Maybe Michaels will still be open. Might see what they have.

At the Beach

Don’t forget, two blog candies this week — both will be closed Friday, April 25, at 4 p.m. You can participate in both if you like, just leave a comment.

Digi Blog: $10 gift certificate to The DigiChick
Stamp set: H&M new May release

Here’s a LO that I did using a hodge podge of paper. I used Sassafrass’s new paper for the clouds, SEI for one of the circles, K&Company, and misc. others. I also used H&M stamps (coming April 25th) for the turtle and the seashell behind it.

I did some doodling because I wanted to try Daring Cardmaker’s tutorial on this topic. I like it, kind of fun and I still have some white space too — or green space {::SMILES}. You can see a more detail picture in my Flickr gallery.

M was about 4-mo when we were at Ventura Beach. Hubby was on temporary duty at Edwards AFB for 3.5 months. We visited at least once a month. To me, it was kind of like vacation — with free accommodations, ha! We were glad when the duty was over though and M had to relearn to know her daddy again. Because of this assignment (and dad was on night shift before leaving for CA), M became distant with her daddy. She was about two when or maybe older when they got closer (dad was gone again when she was 14-mo for another four months). Before that, everything was mom. I’d be cooking and carrying her because she didn’t want anything to do with dad. Now she’s great with him although on many occasions she’d rather be with me than dad. Ah… the military life.

Specimen: Me

I’ve been doing more me layouts this year. Now that Emma’s older, and loves looking at pictures with me, I thought that it’d be nice for her to see that once upon a time we were little too. I have a few photos of my hubby that I’ll eventually do (right now it’s all about me. ME, ha!).

I created this layout based on Scrap Mojo’s “The Office” theme where you’re suppose to use items that you’d typically find in the office. The layout design I sketched myself. This was a sketch and page that created for last weekend’s sketch challenge. Want to play along? Feel free to. I had fun creating this sketch. I don’t do a lot, this is my third one that I’ve posted but both times have been great.

I used a lot of stuff for this LO. If you’re interested in a particular item, let me know. I’m too lazy to list them all out.

Just some info about my picture. This was me before first grade in Indonesia. I know this for sure because I went to school in the U.S. I thought I was four but I looked at some other pictures and nope, I am for sure older than four.

My mom, still does, always made my dresses. Back then I loved wearing long dresses… I wanted to be a princess. Sounds so familiar. M’s like that too {::SMILES}.

I wasn’t the most outgoing or talkative little girl. I’m off and on now but still not as outgoing as many I know and some take it as snobbish. I loved to read. I read early. My grandpa owned a book store and there were always books all over the place. Nobody taught me, I just figured it out somehow. Not sure how and I still love to read and I’m glad M’s the same way too. I think she’s almost ready to read, she’s so good with her letters and numbers right now.

So that’s mini me. Have a great Friday and more late.

Unidentifiable Brownies

I did another me page. Just last month I found these photos while cleaning my office drawers. Two years later almost {::SMILES}. I used Pencil Lines sketch for this layout. It’s an older sketch, maybe last months. I like it since I don’t do a lot of circles.

The brown paper in the background is handmade paper. Hubby got me this a long while ago for Christmas and I finally got around to using it. The alpha, they were bright green, Stampin’ Up! green galore-ish, but I used Making Memories paints to get them to look the way they do now. It’s my first stab at repainting chipboards, kind of fun.

A few stories… yesterday we helped feed the locals who are in need of warm food. My duty was to bring dessert and I told the others that I’d bake some brownies. Well, after trying two recipes, none of my brownies turned out as brownies. The first one looked like a brownie but the taste and consistency was unknown. The second didn’t look like a brownie, more like a pound cake, but it tasted better according to hubby. So, I gave up and felt so depressed - M was so sweet with the hugs and kisses. We ended up stopping at Wally World to pick up some cakes and apple pie. URGH!!! I am such a horrible baker!!! I thought since my cookies have been great and I did make a cake last year that the brownies (which reviewers said were so easy to make and yummy) would be easy. Wrong, wrong, wrong!

Today I received a t-shirt from Adobe or Kuler to be more exact. A few days ago I received an email thanking me for the Kuler video that I created and he gave me some other tips and also asked if I wanted a t-shirt. I said sure (and before I emailed him back I Googled him first to make sure he is from Adobe… ha!). Today I got the shirt. Quick! It’s a girl shirt too and a size S. Whoo hoo!!! This rarely happens, most freebies are too big for me. Now M’s wearing it. She loves running around it my Ts. It’s a perfect dress for her.

Have a great night. More later…

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Smile

I used Pencil Line sketch to help me with this LO. This was March’s sketch. Here’s the story behind the title… When M was a baby, up to two years I think, she was not the most generous kid in terms of smiles. She’s even tougher when it came time to take studio photos. We’d do everything and we’d just get a stare and she she did smile, either the camera person wasn’t ready or she blinked. So these are a few photos that we got from Sears. There’s one good smiling photo and the rest looked like she didn’t care to be there… of course there’s got to be one where she either has something, her hand/thumb usually, in or in front of her mouth.

Now she’s a totally different person. Quite friendly although there have been days where she’s just not camera friendly or will not smile for people she doesn’t know well. Her excuse… “Emma’s grumpy.”

Now, does any of you have a Ning account? Ning is a social networking account. Once you have one, you can create a group of your own or join another group. It’s like Yahoo group but with a better interface. I’ve used my Ning account to join educational groups… so work only… but recently I just joined two scrapbooking groups: Pink Paislee and Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine. If you’re not socialed out yet, check Ning out and the two groups. You might like it. In my field, I find the groups I’m in very informational.

Just a Page

A nice relaxing Saturday. At least for me. The hubby’s been tearing down the master bathroom and burning the shrubs outside. Once he’s done with the bathroom, I’ll be MIA, maybe. I’ll be tiling and painting. I have more patience and attention to details. I am a VERY good painter. So good that I can paint without the blue tape and hardly any drips (no, I will not come over {::SMILES}). The tiling, I’m still amateur, but getting better. I don’t like it as much either, too dirty.

This is what I came up with today. I used One Little Word for inspiration but was too late to submit. It was fun anyway.

I used:

Felt owl that I made myself.
Sassafrass note card.
Bam Pop paper.
Stuff from my March Studio Calico kit.
The off white paper is SEI and the striped paper is unknown.
SU cardstock and ink.
Making Memories paint.

Emma helped me paint and she also chose where to put the buttons and insisted on the bird. You can see more pics on my Flickr account. Just click the picture and you’ll get there.

My Off Day…

Everybody has an off day, right? Well, this was mine. I can’t remember when I did this. I think it was last weekend and just wasn’t feeling it. This was actually a re-do and the first version (never got it done) was terrible that I never got back to it until now (1.5 years later).

This was our trip to the Zoo. M was 2+ (4th of July break) and dad was one duty overseas. We thought we’d go visit the grandparents. We had a good time but wow, did I not like MS in the summer. The mosquitoes were terrible!! The in-laws live on a lake, might be the reason, but we couldn’t go out for a few seconds without getting attacked. Ekk!

I got tagged. I’m not sure who to tag, so if you’re interested in sharing your randomness, considered yourself tagged. It’s Friday night, not sleepy, and even though I should probably sleep or do something more productive, I am not motivated. So here goes…

1. I am pretty low maintenance and every day, except for training or meeting days, I am on casual Friday attire — minus the jeans. Often times people who doesn’t know me thinks I’m a graduate assistant. Ha!

2. I am a food snob. I am all about quality and not quantity. I’m all about organic and natural. But I eat anything really. A little bit of anything doesn’t hurt, right?

3. I can eat A LOT. It somewhat contradicts my built and really fools buffet restaurant owners. I guess I’m lucky that I’m Asian? It scares my husband though… sometimes he thinks he’s the guy in Shallow Hal… ha ha…

4. English is my second language. Ah ha you say… no wonder her grammar is often off {::SMILES}

5. I love France and anything French. Oh la la… I so want to be fluent in French.

6. I love to sing off key and dance the crazy dance in front of my husband just to drive him crazy.

7. I don’t like to admit it but I am a geek especially in applications.