Western Wedding by Valentina's Creations

Available at Valentina's personal store.

My layout for this collection:

Oldies but Goodies: New Releases from Mandy King

Mandy King released several oldies but goodies kits at Gotta Pixel. These kits were previously released at her previous store, and now they are at Gotta Pixel!

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Cheyenne

The kit includes ten patterned papers, five solid papers, a border, three buttons, a charm. a corner set, seven flowers, a heart, greenery, embellished branch, three frames, frayed mat, journal spot, six worded labels, mesh, photo prongs, butterfly, staples, two unique stitches, two strings, two swirls, a tag, seven trims, a watering can and an alpha (uppercase a-z, 0-9 and punctuation). All created at 300 dpi. Drop shadows for preview purposes only. S4H/S4O friendly.

The Cheyenne Collection includes the page kit, hodgepodge and stacked papers. Each piece is available to purchase separately or you can save money and grab the bundle.  

Here is a a layout I created using the kit and one of the stacked papers from the collection:

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Chin Up

Chin Up is a bright and colorful collection that is sure to bring a smile! The whole collection includes the page kit, hodgepodge and stacked papers. Each piece is available individually or you can save some money and purchase the bundle.

The kit includes ten patterned papers, six solid papers, a banner, border, two brackets, five buttons, a corner set, three cut circles, a dangler, date wheel, six flowers, greenery, three frames, two journal spots, five worded labels, blank label, mesh, owl, paisley, pin, pocket, rainbow, ripped edge, scalloped edge, scatter, three sewn circles, two staples, two unique stitches, two strings, two tags, eight trims, two word arts and an alpha (uppercase a-z, 0-9 and punctuation). All created at 300 dpi; drop shadows for preview purposes only. S4H/S4O friendly.

Here is a layout I made with the kit:

Template from Dagi's Temp-tations

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Modern Joy

Modern Joy is a full collection that includes the page kit, hodgepodge and stacked papers. Each piece is available for separate purchase or you can save some money and grab the bundle. The kit includes ten patterned papers, five solid papers, a banner, four buttons, three circles, a corner set, six flowers, three fasteners, flourish, greenery, house, three frames, journal spot, six worded labels, matte, paint smear, four ribbons, two ricracs, stitching, string, swirls, tag and an alpha (uppercase a-z only). All created at 300 dpi; drop shadows for preview purposes only. S4H/S4O friendly.

Here is a layout I made with the kit:

Template by Lindsay Jane

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Wonderful You

The entire collection includes the page kit, cluster waves, hodgepodge and stacked papers. Each piece is available individually or you can save money and purchase the bundle. The kit includes ten patterned papers, six solid papers, two birds, a border, five buttons, a corner set, crumpled paper, six flowers, foliage, three frames, glitter splotch, three journal spots, five worded labels, blank label, leaf stem, two staples, sticker heart, sticker house, sticker tree, two unique stitchs, two strings, swirl, three tags, seven trims, wire clip and an alpha (a-z). All created at 300 dpi; drop shadows for preview purposes only. S4H/S4O friendly.

Here is my layout for this collection:

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Ali-Oop

Weddings

I think my husband and I started our family late... and by late I mean that most of our friends and cousins are already married by the time we had Andrea. And I care about this because that means that Andrea's chances of joining a wedding entourage as a flower are limited.

Stage mother much :)

At 3 years old, I think we haven't done so badly. She's been invited to join the wedding entourage for 3 weddings, the latest being last December for my cousin's wedding. The best thing about this wedding? The motif was PINK!

Elements from Purity by Valentina's Creations; Template by Seatrout Scraps

The first wedding's motif was purple, and the second was red. This time, it was pink... and that made 2 little girls happy.

I made this layout for Scrabookbytes's Template Challenge for March 2013.

Margaret by Valentina's Creations

Available at Valentina's personal store.

Here is a layout I made with the kit:

Guess who? Guess who? Guess who???

ME! ;)

That was me at 3 years old, approximately the same age Andrea is right now. I look older than 3 years old though. Anyway, I scanned my baby album and some old photos a month ago because I needed photos to use for a challenge (yep, I am that addicted). In the end, I didn't manage to finish the layout for that challenge but now, I have a ton of photos I can use for my other layouts. I might actually give my daughter a break from all that posing for mommy so that mommy can have photos to use for layouts.

Gotta Grab It this March at Gotta Pixel

It's time for the new Gotta Grab It goodies from Gotta Pixel!

Look at the beautiful palette:

The Gotta Pixel designers created coordinated element, alpha, paper, cluster and template packs, that you can get for only $1.00 each.

Here's what you can get from Mandy King:

All images are linked to Mandy King's store at Gotta Pixel. I made a layout using the element and paper packs from this set:

Template by Jellebelleke's Designs

How's that for a look of anticipation? We were shopping for a tiara to replace the Snow White headband... or a Merida wig (you know, Merida, the princess from the movie brave with the huge mass of curly red hair?). I never realized playing dress up was this complicated.

Paper Plate Animals

With the school year nearing its end here in the Philippines, Andrea and cousin Helaena came home last Friday with an envelope full of their "artworks" from class. When they got home, they scattered everything on the floor and started playing and comparing their work (aaarrggghhh!!!). Helaena had this chick made from a paper plate that her class did a few months back and Andrea wanted one too. So last weekend, I prepared some materials and helped Andrea make one of her own.

I didn't have a paper plate at home so I used a cardboard which I cut into a circle shape. We used finger paint to paint the cardboard yellow, and glued googly eyes and pieces of corrugated board that I cut into the shapes of wings, feet, beak, and tuft of hair.

The whole process, at least the parts that Andrea got to be part of, took less than 15 minutes and she said she wanted to make more... uh-oh... So while she was taking a bath, I thought quickly of what else we can make and then Timmy came on TV at the Disney channel and lightbulb moment! We can make a sheep. So I prepared another set of materials.

You will need:

• a small paper plate or cardboard cut in the shape of a circle;
• cotton balls;
• glue;
• 1 pair of googly eyes;
• black corrugated board or cardboard cut into the following shapes: 2 feet, 1 head, 2 ears;
• OPTIONAL:  white crayon, white finger paint
• OPTIONAL: a book with a picture of a sheep for inspiration

Now the sheep in that Fisherprice book we used, On the Farm, doesn't look like Timmy, but close enough. Just in case you don't know Timmy the lamb, this is what he looks like:

photo source

STEP 1: OPTIONAL - Color the cardboard/paper plate with the white paint of crayon. I will explain later why I say this is optional. I made Andrea go through this step anyway... it kept her occupied longer *wink*.

STEP 2: Using glue, stick the cotton balls all over the cardboard/paper plate. This is why Step 1 is optional. you can cover the whole cardboard or paper plate with cotton balls if done properly.

STEP 3: Attach the ears and googly eyes to the head using glue.

STEP 4: Attach the head on top of the cotton balls on the cardboard/paper platen using glue.

STEP 5: Attach the legs at the back of the cardboard/paper plate.

And you get something like this:

 

I had to help Andrea position the parts that need to be attached. I will apply the glue to show here where each piece will go and then ask her to attach it. But she glued all the cotton balls to the cardboard all by herself. Proud mommy moment. 

Can't wait to try other crafts with her this summer vacation!

Tell me about you...

There's this little boy in class that likes Andi a lot :) I think the whole thing is so cute. The little boy also played with me the whole time I visited their class. And during their recent field trip, I was able to catch this moment...

Elements from "Loving You" by Viola Moni

 While the rest of their classmates was running all over the place playing, little boy saw Andrea looking at the plants and joined her. So cute!

I made this layout for Gingerscraps' Daily Download Challenge for March 2013.

The Cinderella Dress

Because I now have too much time on my hands (errr... not true most of the time actually) and because Andrea kept asking me for a "Cinderella" dress since she outgrew her store-bought Snow White costume. 

For reference, this is how Cinderella's dress looks like:

Image source

 And here is my version of it.

The puffed sleeves did not puff *sigh*.

I made it from an old bridesmaid dress.

That was the dress... just imagine it plain, with a fuschia corset (don't ask), and an A-line skirt. The skirt was more than enough for the dress, but it was the first time I worked with chiffon and wow, that was hard! It kept slipping, and fraying... and I it was beyond my powers to hem. The chiffon on the sides is actually not hemmed and is beginning to fray... I wonder if I can just singe the edges? Will probably try that tonight.

Tulip

Available at Valentina's personal store.

Here is a page I made with the kit:

 

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Check out Mandy King's March Grab Bag at Gotta Pixel!

Here's a layout I made with this grab bag:

That's Andi and our nanny trying to fly a kite... the kite's wingspan is almost as tall as our nanny so... :)

I used a template from Dagi's Temp-tations new template set, Take a Bite.

This beautiful set of templates is available at Scrap Takeout.