Cricut and scrapbooking

Last Christmas, I received a very special gift from Hubby, my own Cricut Expression, a scrapbooker's dream and I didn't use it until March break when I had a time off from the office. My Cricut only came with the standard Cricut Classic Font and Playtime cartridges. I was happy to try and complete my scrapbook pages with decent titles where I could use different font sizes and styles using base, italics and shadow effects. Amazing!

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I was very happy with my latest toy but then when I searched for other things I could create from my Cricut, I was overwhelmed by millions of projects. I couldn't wait to have a full day with it so that I can create more. I saw this when I was looking for 3D flowers design for an upcoming wedding and I can't help but drool. Look at how lovely these flowers are.

Anyway, I know I have another goal now but I have to catch up and finish all the scrap pages from all the photos I had printed from last year.  I have lots to learn and I'm glad that I met a Cricut  consultant who is very passionate about this craft and is also very willing to answer my questions. I now miss my scrapbooking buddies in the Philippines.

Next step would be to Learn how to explore the Cricut Craft Room (CCR) and maximize the features of my new toy. I just wish I have more time to do it. The reality is when I do scrapbooking, I either forgot to do my chores like cooking or sleep very late at night when I have to wake up early the next day. I don't want to starve my family or sleep while attending a meeting, that would be unforgivable. Well, I know if I like what I'm doing I will have time for it. I just have to manage it very well, like less time "facebooking". LOL!

Scrapbooking (conventional and digital)

I was able to have my personal time off last Saturday after I dropped off the kids at AJ’s Party (Kyle’s best friend). I went to the mall to kill the time and I enjoyed browsing the scrapbooking materials which was on sale. I didn’t bother buying anything because I really didn’t have time to do it. I still have a stash of paper, albums and embellishments sitting there in our cabinets for some time now. I hope I’ll have that inspiration to do some scrapbooking again. I really have lots to do – our photos have accumulated and there were still lots to print.
And then, I also downloaded lots of digital scrapbooking kits and quick pages that I can use for my photobook projects. Up to the wee hours, I was searching for embellishments and themed kits that I can use in the invitation I’m working on. It is then that I realized that I’ve been missing a lot and my hands needed to scrap or make that digital collage. How I wish I can just start on anything so my efforts in downloading won’t be futile.
It’s almost the year end and my Artscow credits are going to be wasted if I won’t be able to use them. Anyway, I felt happy when I was able to finish the invitation for the children’s dedication scrapbook style.

"I Work and Play"

Journalling in my scrap page says: "I WORK AND PLAY"

I was a working student in college, working part-time in the morning and school in the afternoon. I learned the value of quality work and time management at this early stage which I'm still taking advantage of now. Of course, then and now, I consider work as play to enjoy it even more.

I'm proud to be one of the pioneer Drive-Thru crew of Jollibee back in the late eighties in the 50th store of Jollibee then. Look at how "baduy" our uniform was. hehehe.

Scrapbukan and scrapbook Exchange Garage Sale

I was looking forward to this day. Not only do I get the chance to meet my online friends and scrapbook idols but also I will get a chance to buy items from them and probably start doing some LOs after this. I got my stash, all worth 1,500 pesos, I think I spent 3 hours browsing at their papers and other items. I also met an old friend from Jollibee Sucat >> Si Jeannie who is also a seasoned scrapper. How I wish I can also get their skills in scrapbooking. I know this hobby is very expensive and I can’t afford it but in my desire to preserve lasting memories of my family, I will try everything to become creative and resourceful in whatever I have and seize opportunities like this. Anyway, my goal is to just have albums for my kids and family and not compete in challenges and contests or be featured in Scrapbooking websites because I know I will not reach that level. Ang kuripot ko kaya noh! I’ll post my scrapbook pages here or in another blogsite as soon as I finish one…right now, I’m just excited and overwhelmed at the same time. Here’s what I got:

Thank-you-Teacher layout

The school year is almost over and since this is my son’s first time to finish a school year and his teacher made a significant impact in this ala-rollercoaster-ride-school phase in the life of my son, Teacher Grace deserve something special. And since I’m not into giving gifts because I can’t afford to, I’m giving teacher Grace a thank-you-teacher scrap page. I used a 6x6 cardstock and put 2 photos of Aloysius and teacher Grace. Cut a patterned paper using my shaped craft scissor to make a border for the photo and the card and put a green ribbon that holds the key and lock embellishments. I used Aloysius' remaining stickers to form the word Thank you and used metallic pens to write Teacher Grace and my sons name in the card. I used Sakura Aqualip pen in the tag to form the words I will before the sticker miss you so that the effect is a hidden message. I just hope that Teacher Grace will be pleased and Miggy will be remembered.

My First Scrapbook Layout & Month by Month LO

Here is my really first layout where I used a baby themed paper, letter cut-outs from my PC (I used double sided foam tape to have a 3d effect), star-shaped matting coordinating the colors of the base paper and Achilles very first picture on the day he was born. The title depicts the page because for me a star is born.

While buying scrapbook materials, I was already conceptualizing on how am I going to come up with a month by month achievement layout. I came across this little clothespin and leather strip that l visualized to be a clothesline. It comes with coordinated tags that I used with the tracing paper as top layer for the journaling, I was able to write Achilles’ achievements for each month; for the base and papers, I had browsed thru the internet and have seen how paper tearing had a good effect on both monochrome and patterned papers so I tried it and I was happy with the outcome.





I placed the clothesline parallel to the next page to have a connecting effect. The color of the tags and clothespin coordinate with the matting of the picture which I cut out to maximize the page. I am very thrilled after I finished these 2 pages. Thanks to my cousin who help me finish these. She also became addicted to scrap.

Busy Scrapbooking!

I haven’t been updating my blog lately because I’m busy with scrapbooking. I got so addicted that I even wake up in the middle of the night when everyone’s sleeping to do it. My mom would be surprised to see my kalat when she wakes up in the morning. What’s surprising is - Lito giving me 100% support as in when I ask him to go with me at National Bookstore to check some supplies, he comes without question when typically he would say, “gastos na naman yan”..hahaha. True, so I had to grab this chance. I bought cardstocks, embellishments and craft scissors (yung me shapes). Lito even offered buying me different Carl Craft punch at yung alphabet pa ha worth 1K+…strange talaga but I declined because I don’t have projects for those tools yet. It’s so amazing, this new hobby of mine fascinates my hubby too. He’s so excited to see my “projects” >>scrapbook pages which until now I haven’t shown. Wait till I post here so you can view too.

Scrappin' Mom at last!

I got a scrapbooking kit as present for my kids birthday. I got so excited I bought additional supplies without deciding yet which photos to print. At first, my idea is to create a baby book for Achilles and it turn out that we have too many digital photos that needed to be printed and scrapbooked (or is there another term for it? I'm clueless). My digital scrapbooking projects have been started but nothing was printed yet. I guess this is one step forward and another expensive hobby to be spending my hard earned peso on :)...my sons deserve lasting photographs (need I justify more, hahaha).

I hope to join a scrapbook egroup soon.