Good Stuff | Project Life for Made With Love

Hey there project lifers! Here's a 2-page spread for you! I used these old photos when the two boys were still small and much cuter. I miss them like this but I tell myself to enjoy them NOW. Because soon, I will also miss how they are today. Live in the moment.  And take lots of photos! haha.

I made these pages using a couple of white cardstock and JUST. ONE. PACK. of these Insta Square from Simple Stories. Available at Made With Love. 

It's amazing how much cool stuff this little pack can contain! The square designs are cute and cool at the same time. Perfect for the B&W photos I printed in different sizes. 

When I do project life, I also have these regulars: washi tapes, wood chips, die-cuts, pins, adhesives and my scissors. 

Here are the few simple steps I do when I create project life pages: 

1. Cut the white cardstock according to shapes and size of my page protectors.

2. Arrange my photos and try to distribute these around the page.

3. Fill the rest of the cards with the Insta Squares. I try to have balance when I distribute the colors.

4. Add washi tapes, pins, wood chips, buttons... etc.

5. Write thoughts and sentiments on the cards. 

It's fast and easy because when you use papers and embellishments from one collection, and in this case, from JUST. ONE. PACK... the colors are all coordinated :) Life becomes easy peasy! Because that's what scrapbooking should be. Fun and stress free. Right?

Look how much stuff I still got after finishing the 2-page spread! Maybe I can still make a mini album out of it :)

Project Life: Rujim's 9th Birthday

I remember the last time we threw a party for Rujim (I think he was 6 that time). He did not like it. He stayed in his room most of the time while all the guests enjoyed outside. Can you imagine how I felt? Being so passionate about party-planning, party details, giveaways, balloons, decors and such, it broke my heart. But then again, it's his birthday. Who am I to choose his happiness right? Birthday is about thanking God for our life, for celebrating this life with our loved ones. In any way that makes the celebrator happy :) And so the next parties became much simpler. We would go to the beach or have a simple dinner with a few friends... and this year, we went on a staycation! 

For those of you who don't know, Rujim has autism. I can't believe I can say that now with a smile and joy and peace in my heart. What a beautiful journey it has been. Not easy but beautiful. Autism has brought so much blessings to our family. One of which is benefiting from Kuya's love for hotels and beaches and cozy places haha! This project life spread is about that weekend. When we went to Shangri-La with no plans but to just follow Kuya's lead.  It's as if we did nothing but just enjoy each other's company and nature. 

Now let's talk about how I go about making a PL layout. 

My Made With Love DT kit for this month consists of papers and Bits and Pieces pack from Simple Stories Say Cheese 2 collection. This collection is really perfect for Disneyland photos but I challenged myself that it can also be used for any photo that's available. Besides, the happiest place on earth is anywhere with our loved ones. But I'm not saying I don't wanna go to Disneyland. Who knows.. maybe next year, on Kuya's 10th birthday hahaha! 

Since the papers and die-cuts I would be using are really bright, I printed my photos in black and white. This way, the colors of the embellishments won't clash with the colors in the photo. The colored version of the photos will be reserved for the mini album I'm making :) 

This is how I do it. I created a collage in picasa and edited it at once. Then printed using A4 photo paper. 

Then I cut white card stock paper according to the layout of my page protectors. 

Next, I arranged the photos, trying to distribute it around the pages. 

Here's the fun part. Embellishing the page. It's easier when the embellishments come from the same collection. You won't have to think about color coordination. It'll just look good however you arrange it. But. You can't just stick anything anywhere.. You have to arrange the embellishments according to how you want to tell your story. Use stamps to add more details. Add embellishments like buttons, dewdrops, sequins or wood chips for dimension. Lastly, show your thoughts about the photos with your own handwriting to make your cards special and personalised. Here are some close-ups of my cards... 

For the title, you can use thickers. But if you don't have enough letters (always happens haha) or the availalbe color you have is not the color you want, you can use Sizzix Block Talk like what I did here. 

The joy to see Kuya smile and enjoy his birthday is reason enough for me to be happy even if it means I'm never gonna be a party-planner-mama for him. It's okay, at least I still have Miguel. I still have the chance. Lol!

Products used* 

white cardstock

Bits and Pieces Pack - Simple Stories 

stamps - Heidi Swapp

washi tapes 

Sizzix Bigshot Machine

Sizzix Block Talk

*All availalbe in Made With Love

Birthday + Valentines Box for my Love :)

40 is the new 20.

So we still can be cheesy!  And it rhymes. LOL!

Today is Benjo's 40th birthday. So I made this special gift for him which doubles as a valentines gift too. Save time and Money. Just kidding :) 

To make this day extra special I made this mini-in-a-box that's not a usual gift box... 

When you open the box, you won't find any store-bought gift. Because there's actually an accordion album that pop's out. Surprise! 

Now would you like to know how to make this? Let me show you. But first, here are the materials you will need. You can get all of these from  Made With Love:

Bigshot Machine

Extended Cutting Pad 

Sizzix Pizza Box die Die 

Extended Premium Crease Pad

Echo Park Paper - Anything Goes Collection 

Beacons 3-in-1 glue

Stickles

Dewdrops - Robin's Nest

Ribbon - May Arts

I started with the Sizzix “sandwich” in this order: Extended Cutting Pad + the Sizzix Pizza Box die Die facing up + patterned paper + Extended Premium Crease Pad. I then rolled the sandwich through the Sizzix Big Shot machine, folded the scored lines and attached the flaps using a liquid glue to make the box.

Once the box was done, I cut 2 strips of patterned paper measuring 3.5" x 12 and scored it at 3.5" so that when I fold it in and out, it becomes a square accordion which fits into the box. The bottom has to be glued to the box as shown in the photo above.

Then it was time for the fun part --- embellishing the box and the accordion album! I used stickers from the Echo Park Anything Goes Collection and two handmade details using the Sizzix Bigz Die - Hearts #4.

First is this heart dewdrops shaker with stickles. It looks like a candy treat! :) 

I made it by diecutting 2 pieces of heart vellum with the same process I mentioned above (but this time, you won't need the Crease Pad. Just the cutting pad will do). Seal the two vellum hearts halfway with the glossy accents. Fill the heart pocket with dewdrops and seal the opening. Add stickles!

Second way to use the same Sizzix Bigz Die  is to make this little heart card detail that I used to embellish one of the pages. What I did was to fold a piece of paper that's twice the size of the heart shape I wanted. When I placed it over the die, creased part of the paper should be inside the blade so that part won't cut because we want to have a heart that opens as a card. I know you get what I mean! You can check this tutorial on how I cut the album pages using the same process. 

So that's how I made this little gift. I'm pretty sure dear husband will pretend he so loves it! Haha! But I won't mind a bit. I want to believe he knows this is just "one of those gifts" but the real gift is my love and faithfulness, my fulfilling my roles a wife to him and as a mom to our kids, my patience when he is most annoying, my effort to feel and look good for him, and many more efforts lol!

Happy birthday my love! I hope I make you happy everyday and extra happier today. I love you so much :)

Supplies: 

Bigshot Machine

Extended Cutting Pad 

Sizzix Pizza Box die Die 

Extended Premium Crease Pad

Echo Park Paper - Anything Goes Collection 

Beacons 3-in-1 glue

stickles

Dewdrops - Robin's Nest

Ribbon

Do more of what makes you HAPPY

Like making quick and easy cards!

This card was super easy to make. Really. The only most difficult part of it was tying the ribbon. I swear!

How is that possible? Only when you have Sizzix Bigshot and the Triplits dies, which are currently my most favourite things in the world. 

If you are a simple gal like me, you would be happy even with just two colors.. and one of them should be white :) 

And then with a little help from Mr. Foam Dots, layer shapes any way you want :)

Making a card base as cool as this is as easy if you have Movers and Shapers XL Card Die because you just need to cut and fold, because the card will already be scored for you. Add a little gold background paper if you like!

Punch a lace border for a textured background.

Arrange and layer the flowers!

Stamp a sentiment, tie a bow and add some dewdrops. Done! You can see more awesome Sizzix projects and tutorials HERE. 

Do you want to make this card  + 4 more different ones yourself? Sign up for my class at Made With Love this July! :)

And here's another card I made using Sizzix Triplits among others. This  will be one of the projects to be done in the coming Made With Love Bigshot Party... 

Speaking of party. I just love the fact that lately, dear hubby and I have started to spend time with friends again. We both love entertaining at home. Since we got married, weekend get-togethers with friends at home were a must. It only stopped when Rujim was diagnosed with Autism. I never ever thought we could ever party again. I thought we would be forever on our own. Taking care of him. 

Fast forward 8 years later... Rujim is now okay. Not so sociable that he would also want to party with us. But he is okay. As long as I tell him "we have visitors".  The other day I told him, "Kuya say hi to our visitor" he replied "Hi visitor!" haha! 

We are living a happy life. Different but not less. 

We are able to do things that make us happy. Simple things.

Like bonding with friends who have the same interests with us.

We are blessed. 

Supplies: 

Sizzix Bigshot 

Triplits

Movers and Shapers XL Card Die

papers - Websters Pages

others - dewdrops, ribbon, stamps, ink

Sketch | Made With Love

I love this day. The boys are home because it's school holidays here in Singapore and while they were napping, I had time to craft in a really great (and by great I mean, rainy and cold) weather.  

I'm starting another round of Design Team Inspirations for Made With Love and this time, we will be sharing with you  sketches we find from around the net and interpret it in our own style. This sketch I'm working with is from pinterest. I like it because it is so me and it suits so well with the supplies I have on hand. 

Upon seeing the sketch I already knew that I'd use just a single photo and embellish it with these cute journaling cards from October Afternoon in a collage form, mix it with the cork slide mount I made using my Sizzix Bigshot, some washi tapes and puffy stickers from Amy Tangerine.

And here are more close-ups... 

I made a little secret card for my journaling that you need to open to be able to know the story which I am not going to tell because it's a secret! hahahah! 

I hope you like the sketch and my interpretation... and it inspires you to create a layout or two. And if you do, please leave a link of your page at the comment section below so I can visit and take a look!

Love, 

Gen

Supplies: 

paper - October Afternoon

dies/tools - Sizzix Bigshot, Slide Mount die

washi tape - MT

clip - Lawn Fawn

stickers - American Crafts/Amy Tangerine

wood veneers - Studio Calico

sequins  - Teresa Collins

5 Things You Don't Know About Me

Good morning! Love the cool weather today here in Singapore. I have my coffee and oatmeal with me while I sit by the window, ready to share with you my thoughts... how about 5 things you don't know about me? :)

• I am NOT competitive. I remember joining beauty pageants (haha!) not for the fame. Not for the crown and for the sash but for the cash. I was in college with my four other siblings and coming from a poor family, I had to do my share to help my parents. So yeah, joining beauty pageants was my part time job. 
• I was once a Gawad Kalinga mission worker.  So I graduated college and became a licensed teacher in a Catholic school (La Consolacion College) but one thing led to another that I ended up teaching pre-school in a depressed area in the Philippines. That was the time when I met Benjo. When I brought him to the place, he cried. I stopped my mission work when we got married. 
• The very first things I bought from a scrapbooking store (Made With Love) were a few pieces of papers and my Sizzix Bigshot. I couldn't stop creating paper crafts ever since. I owe that machine so much because it led me to my passion and it gave me a job that enables me to spend time with my boys when they need me. 
• All the jobs I could get to earn! I used to work as DJ, part time TV host in our small city, waitress in a cafe and I once hosted a body building competition hahaha!  All these before I graduated college. An eldest daughter from a poor family has got to do  what an eldest daughter's got to do!
• I used to not love traveling. I didn't get it. I'd rather stay home and have all my comfort. But it all changed when Benjo brought me to Bali.

For this layout, I picked a few papers from Authentique's Flourish collection that goes well with a Kikki.K inspiration card given by a friend, Juanna for my birthday. Photo was taken while I was walking towards the bus stop a few days ago. It was a good hair day, I recall, so selfie it was hahaha! 

... a sticker, a Prima camera resin, date stamps and mini attachers.

... sequins, sizzix swirls, misted leaves + another thing about me: I love cutting. 

... handwritten journaling,  white paint splatters, dewdrops, washi tape, and a little bit of stitching.

That's all! I hope you enjoyed my sharings. Watch out for more "about-me" posts from the rest of the Made With Love DT in the blog. 

Supplies: 
papers - Authentique
dies - Sizzix
mist - Heidi Swapp, Studio Calico
pen - Sharpie
dewdrops - Robins Nest
resin - Prima
sequins - Teresa Collins 
date stamp - American Crafts
card - Kikki.K 

Hello again!

... that's the collection from Carta Bella I am loving and playing with at the moment. Makes me imagine the things I love.

A relaxed day at home. With not so many fancy stuff but clean and happy with a bit of mess here and there and occasional noise courtesy of K & B. 

Or tea time with a dear friend. 

Or late night movie marathon with Benjo. 

Or just me .... with my craft supplies, my notebook and my favorite pen. 

Journaling: "The older I get, the more I realize that it's the little things that count. Praying to God that He will help me to focus less on this "world" but on things that really matter. 

Here's a layoutI made...  and a cover of a mini album which for some reason, refuses to be finished. It's been 2 years since I started this album LOL! Some things always get in the way I guess. Whatever. At least I already made the cover hahaha. 

Go and and check out the rest of the Made With Love ladies and let their awesome works inspire you enough to be able to do nothing but craft this weekend! 

 Genevive
Jeanette
Pooi
Priscilla
Sam
Yvonne

Supplies: 
paper - Carta Bella (Hello Again)
embellishments - Websters Pages, Studio Calico