The Wedding Preps...

What took more than a year to prepare was completed in just one day. It was all worth it!

Back in 1993, I was so busy making my own bouquets, wedding cake decorations and favors, that I didn't even get to paint my nails for my wedding! Maybe that's why I've always been in awe of weddings and the countless details and creativity that go into making them so real. Now, as we prepare for my own son's wedding, I find myself more excited than ever. Perhaps it's because I know firsthand how much love, thought, and effort go into creating a truly memorable celebration. I may be the most enthusiastic visionary behind bringing their dream wedding to life! Alyssa explored color palettes before finally settling on beautiful shades of pink. Let me share how we transformed those ideas and inspirations into reality...

Flowergirl's Head Dresses. I love them! I used here pink kimono cloths and organza ribbons both from scraps, pink buds and cloth covered headbands. 

KKV's Stuffed Massagers. KKV is a Korean store here in the Phils. One time we stopped by just to fancy our eyes and we saw these wooden handle massagers. They are so perfect for game prizes during the reception.

The Entourage's Flowers. 2 days before the wedding, my brother drove me to Dimasalang St. in Manila to get these fresh roses, chrysanthemums, carnations, and gypsophila.. I made like 22 hand bouquet for the ninangs and the secondary sponsors, 4 flower girl baskets and 20 bottonaire for the boys.

The Guest Book. This is my style of a guestbook, scrapped page that I can keep. I used here scraps of Websters Pages pps, Prima flowers, Bazzil cardstocks, DMC threads, pearl blings and Ranger inks. 

I'm so happy to share all these projects. TFL!

The Caricature Craze!

I just thought—what if I scrapped our current lives and hobbies altogether?

Not out of boredom, not out of frustration, but out of curiosity. What if we hit reset, tossed the rulebook, and followed whatever sparks excitement? What if life wasn’t about sticking to what we know, but chasing what makes us feel most alive?

So here we are—me, Luigi, and Chuy—imagining new versions of ourselves, driven by curiosity, chaos, laughter, and the thrill of trying something wildly different. This is our little experiment: a playground where we explore what excites me, what energizes Luigi, and what lights up Chuy. No pressure, no permanence—just discovery.

Huge thanks to ChatGPT for helping us splash color onto this idea and turn it into something playful, vivid, and alive.

Here goes nothing—and maybe everything!

 

Professor and Crafter... I am a College Professor teaching Management and Economics courses, and I have a great passion on Scrapbooking and other crafts. I used here DCWV pps, Bazzil cardstock, DMC threads, buttons, metal embellishments, brads and ribbons.

Entrepreneur and Cyclist... That is my Luigi! He took over our family business on food and finds time to bike for his exercise. I used here. Bazzil PPs, DMC threads, clear buttons, lots of paper scraps, ribbons, brads and cardstock sticker.

Chef and Gamer... This is my Chuy! He dreams to be a good Chef one day, now trained to be one in school while computer games makes him wild! I used here Prima pps, Bazzil cardstocks, ribbons, pearl stickers, brads and metal embellishments.

I can’t get enough of creating. It’s built into my system—an endless urge to imagine, shape, and bring things to life. Happy scrapping!

TFL!

Georgina's 6th Grade

Happy New Year peeps! 

This holiday season wasn’t exactly what I’d hoped for, but with the days slowly ticking away until I return to work, I’m doing my best to make the most of the time I have left at home. I’ve already managed to scrap 15 pages of my niece Georgina’s 2025 pictures—such a fun way to relive her milestones and add my personal touch to her memories. It’s always a joy to see how much she’s grown!

With a little extra time on my hands, I’ve also been able to squeeze in some blogging. It feels like the perfect way to balance creativity and relaxation while I count down to the inevitable return to the grind. I’m definitely cherishing these moments, even if the holiday season was a bit rough.

Here goes...

6th Grade.. I basically used SCRAPS of different brands and names, and put together, the harmony begins to mix and match! I used here buttons, DMC threads, DCWV paper cut outs, embossed stickers, thicker letters and cardstocks. Its always fun to scrap school memorabilia and events, I hope Georgina will love them, just the I do.

Thanks for looking! 'Til the next page....

Mother's Day!

Reposting my Mom's scrapbook pages...

And honoring her as the very person who molded me to become who I am now. My Mom is an agriculturist by profession, gardener and cook by passion, and a prayer warrior by devotion. Through the many years of her life, she excelled in doing all these. She is turning 86 in July and except for her age, she is perfectly fine!

My Mom named Dory! I used here assorted PPS, cardstocks, paper flowers, Prima flowers, Thickers' letters, brads, glitters, metal and wood embellishments, native twine and threads. 

Happy Mother's Day Mommy! We love you so much!

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms out there too!

TFL.

Lorenzo's 21st Birthday

I'm spending much time in my scraproom lately, creating that much needed work-life balance. I have been setting this positive mindset on both physical and mental health, but sometimes our bodies need to slow down and rest. This is my share of creating my work-life balance... SCRAP!

21 Gift... Lorenzo turned 21 last March. He asked for a gadget for his present and dinned out. We found this Japanese Resto at SM Sto. Tomas, Batangas and had ramen and tempura. I was inspired to paper sew again and this page was a bit heavy on stitching. I used assorted patterned papers scraps, American Craft white cardstock, DMC threads, chipboard letters and numbers, some Prima flowers and pearls. 

Lately, I also enjoy blogging... I'm pretty sure some people are still reading. And oh, lets go back to scrapbooking to use our old stash. If you think you don't know how, I can teach you or even scrap for you. Let me know.

TFL!

 

Christmas 2024

Hello Holy Week!

I finished these two Christmas pages today and it feel soooo GOOD! Its Black Friday today and I had a lot of cleaning and planning in my scraproom before I get hold of my scissors and tapes. And here's what I got... 

Christmas '24... As my family is growing big, I can't help but think of Dodo, I wish he is still here to see this. I used assorted Christmas papers from DCWV, white cardstocks, cardstock and chipboard embellishments, epoxy stickers, lace and DMC threads.

I finally started my 2025 Project Life today. I am a bit worried about the PL page protectors since I heard that they discontinued producing them. I only have a few left, maybe enough for this year's highlights. But that won't stop me from creating my memory making, promise!

Thanks for looking! 

Repaired pages: 2015 Ilocos Trip

Its Holy Monday and I am on leave, because of vaccination side effects. 

I tried to move around a bit to forget that I am sick, Fortunately, while looking at my pages for some inspiration, I saw these two pages of our Ilocos Trip in 2015. It was only pictures, stitches and the title. And so, I played for awhile...

Ilocos Trip... It was the summer of 2015 when the family had a trip to the north. It was such an experience specially the trip to the Marcos' Museums. For the repair, I started with adding some buttons, stickers, journaling and some Ranger distressing. And I am happy with the pages!

 More creating this Holidays! TFL!

Lutong Ala Eh!

Here's another outside the school competition... This time, Chuy and partner Eara joined the National Food Showdown sponsored by Batangas University at Lipa, Batangas on November 21, 2024. They cooked the traditional Pinakbet and the gourmet inspired Pumpkin Soup. 

Lutong Ala Eh! again, was coached by the THM Dean, Mr. Francis Pine. Another experience to add in his cooking portfolio. I used here DCWV patterned papers, assorted patterned papers, buttons, stickers, DMC threads and washi tapes.

'Til the next page... I am getting ready for another national holiday next month, the Holy Week!

Thanks for looking!

Kusinang Calambeno

I'm back!

Captured Chuy's first cooking competition outside the school on June 10, 2024 at the Rizal Coliseum. STI College Calamba was invited by the local municipality to compete for a main dish out of yamang dagat of the Laguna de Bay and a gourmet dessert. Chuy and his bestfriend Cy created the Gourmet Bilo bilo. Bilo Bilo is a traditional sweet dessert which originated from the Visayas province, it is made out of glutinous rice balls cooked in coconut milk. What made their dish gourmet is that the different ingredients were made into layers like sapin sapin, another local kakanin in the Philippines. They were coach by their very talented teacher, Mr. Francis Pine.

Kusinang Calambeno was an experience, think about it and learn about it, my son. My heartfelt gratitude also to Kuya Kim and Kuya Allan, Chuy's senior schoolmates that helped them too. I used here assorted scraps of patterned papers, DCWV patterned paper, ribbons, buttons, metal and cloth covered brads, DMC threads, stickers and washi tapes. 

Thanks for looking... as always.

Chef Xpress 2

Hello, I'm back!

Been so busy with work (as usual!) and been thru a lot of emotional ride this past few days. And what a better way to unwind is to play and blog. 

Another academic year will be over in less than 2 weeks and everyone in the faculty room is rushing their last requirements, checking their exams and ELMs, and doing their grades. Graduation will be in 3 weeks and we are all moving for it. Wheew!

This second semester, STI held its Tagisan ng Talino for the students to showcase their skills and talents in their respective program interests. Lorenzo and his friends joined again this challenge for the second time. Chef Xpress is a cooking challenge where the ingredients are given on the spot and the challengers make an appetizer, main course and a dessert menu out of it. Here is their take for this year....

Chef Xpress 2... Lorenzo, Cynold and Kurt won the 1st Runner-Up for the year. The magic ingredients were porkchops and squash, and they created a salad appetizer, braised porkchop and a pannacotta dessert from it. I used here MM pps, Bazzil white cardstock, DMC threads, pps and cardstocks scraps, a Project Life card, assorted stickers, buttons, green baker's twine, and Rangers' distress inks. Colors make memory keeping more lively and worth remembering.

I am currently updating my 2024 Project Life which I'm 3 months delayed. I am STILL polishing my 2023 Project Life which needs a lot of embellishing. Backlogs can still be exciting as ever... but for now, got to do some self care again.

Happy SCRAPPING everyone and I hope you enjoy every minute of that cutting and pasting!

TFL.

Chuy turned 20!

I miss blogging! and scrapping!

Every year, I anticipate 2 major long vacations from school-- its the Holy Week and the Christmas Season. Last month was the Holy Week vacation for us Catholics. Unfortunately, I was not able to scrap much, I just updated my journals in my Project Life 2023. I have both traditional and digital scrapping assignments to be doing, I guess Mr. Mojo is not yet around!

Oh well, I have to look for that mood, this is my all time stress buster! So, I finally did Lorenzo's 20th Birthday celebration photo. My big idea again is to use scraps-- mix match paper colors, brands and patterns, use old embellishments and still paper sew, to give that Issa's signature touch. This is a simple layout, but a playful one.

Happy 20th Birthday Chuwee! My youngest Boy turned 20! I can't believe he is 20 and I am getting old. We celebrated it at Casa Rebecca's Resort in Los Banos, together with my cousin Chelle's Birthday too.

Wait, I am totally out of the brands that I used. I used DCWV metallic cardstock (this is silver, I do not know what happened in the picture?!), checkered and dotted pps, assorted embellishments like stickers, wooden buttons, staple wires, fibers, pps scraps, metals, cork arrows, and DMC threads.

I had FUN doing this page... this is soooo ME! 

Thanks for looking...'til the next page!