My Take on Webster's Class by Iris Uy

When Iris Uy holds scrapbook classes, I always attempt to free my sched to attend because, for sure, it will be a treat of various techniques you wouldn’t thought possible and not dare try.  Yesterday’s class was no exception.  We were thought the use of distress inks with mix media materials, - clear granular gel, golden mica, heavy clear gel, etc.  While they looked intimidating to me, they were demonstrated by Iris with so much ease.  It was an afternoon of inking, distressing, misting, stamping, painting and, of course, Iris' class wouldn't be complete without all the hand-cutting.

I made the following layouts through my outmost attempt to copy Iris’ to the letter.  I guess you wouldn’t go wrong with a “kodigo” in front of you when making the LO.  I love how they turned out.  I hope I could incorporate at least one or two of Iris’ styles in mine.

This was the LO where I conquered my fear of distressing inks.  In fact, you could see my fumbling when I quite held the distressing brush a little heavier than it should be.  Good thing, Iris was there to remedy what could have been a messy LO.  I guess I need to practice more.

This is the LO where we used a heavy clear gel to hold the tool and other knick-knacks.

In this LO, we used a granular gel to put texture on a painted house roof.  We likewise used gold mica for the bird's wing.

Big thanks to Iris for sharing, once again, her talent to us.

My First Christmas LO

I never find Christmas album fancy as I am not one to buy stash that can be used only for a particular season. But during the Christmas party of Wednesday Group, Bessie thought us to make a Christmas LO.  While it seemed easy (since all the materials were already prepared for the brats), its kinda complicated with all the layerings.  I didn't have a prepared Christmas picture but my ready hand pictures  were just right for the LO.   I love the finished product. I guess I'll start doing more Christmas LOs from now on.

Thanks Bessie for tirelessly sharing your talent and patience. :)

A Special Gift for a Special Friend

During our annual birthday bash for the November celebrants, who included yours truly, our meticulous and generous friend (another November celebrant), Sharon Chua, taught us a very complicated mini album project, one that could be braved only by a full-time scrapper. . . so our praises go to Sharon who made time to make a sample for everyone despite her juggling career as a medical practitioner and a new Mom to her second. 

The mini album contained various compartments for pictures, mementos, tags, etc. made out of a  versatile and cute colored paper bags purchased from National Bookstore.  Judging from the finished product, you would understand why most of us, naturally, didn't finish the album on that day, with the exception of Bessie, who is a renowned fast scrapper.  Challenged by the promise of an unfinished mini-album, I found the time to finish it at home, at least based on my standards.

With the efforts put out in finishing the project, I thought of only one to whom I can give it to where all my efforts would be worthwhile.  I have a friend who lost his daughter from giving birth to her fourth child. Until now, she is still devastated and could not still fathom the reason for the untimely death.  I have been encouraging her to reduce all her emotions through scrapbooking but still could not find the time and inspiration to do so.  I put the name of her daughter in the cover.  Hopefully, she finds enough inspiration to start confiding with the papers where she could journal all her emotions and memories of her daughter which, in turn, will provide as keepsake for her grandchildren to remember their mother.

I just hope she will like this.

Thanks again Sharon for sharing your time and talent in making this album.

Cheap Finds

It's been a while since I posted something here.  I have been busy with the Christmas preparations, which started 2 months ago and still, the fuss is far from over.  Taking a break from the season's rush, I just thought of sharing some art form I am equally crazy about.

Since I started with this blog in 2008, I have been sharing only my passion with scrapbooking.  Unknown to most of my friends from scrapbook world, I also adore fashion.  Since I was in school, I already displayed some bent in fashion by providing advices to my peers on what to wear and what not to.  Even now, I still find myself giving fashion suggestions, solicited or otherwise.  While most of the items offered by branded lines are sure hits, I especially like the challenge of finding hits from not so expensive sources. I intend to devote some pages to display these cheap finds. . .  I just hope I can sustain it. 

For a start, I want to share with you these lovely shoes and a matching dress bag I sourced from one of the reasonable shops in the Metro.  For the drama this set provides, the prices are just a bargain.  They really got them all for you!

Sketch # 33

I have never been sick more than 2 days after religiously taking paracetamol every 4 hours.  But since Saturday to date, I have been down with cough, colds and muscle pains.  But nothing stopped me from sneaking in to get at least one LO done for Sketch # 33 of Sketchabilities.

Here is my take:

I used here another DIY paper flower made by rolling a paper cut in spirals.  If I remember it right, this was taught by Bessie during one of our Wednesday meets.  I just had to refresh my memory on how to do it through tutorial offered in the net.  For some closer look:

Are you up for a challenge . . .

Just so I will not forget the challenges which are still up for the sake of my skill's further improvement, I want to post them here for my reference.  For those who may have time to visit my site, you may check out the following links to join.  Before I was disinclined to join challenges for fear that I may be ridiculed for having the nerve to join.  But I have realized that people in this craft are very respectful of each other's individual style and creativity.

This is Sketch 211 from Pencil Lines.  Deadline is on November 6, 2010.

These are Sketch Nos. 33 and 34 from Sketchabilities.  Deadline is on November 10, 2010.

There is another one at The Color Room. You can find the sketch at this link http://thecolorroom.ning.com/forum/topics/palette-release-30-his-room.  Deadline is on November 5, 2010.

I hope I have the time to submit at least an entry in any of these challeges.

Recent Loot

While I intended to go to Lasting Impression just to get a puncher and few stuff to get my mojo flowing, I left Lasting with Unity Stamps, Tattered Angels Garden Blossom Trees, rub-ons from October Afternoon, Hambly stickers, Martha Steward chick family punch, and stickles.  The bill was a disaster.  There goes my Christmas bonus . . .  

On hindsight, it is nice to take a picture of what you have acquired so you wont forget what you have accumulated so far.   The picture will provide easy reference so you dont have to ravage your stash to look for something to use in your LO.