Digital Debut

So a few of my scrappy friends know about my admiration (probably an understatement) for Jennifer McGuire. She is not only a brilliant craft artist. She also has a big heart. I stalk her blog. I get daily inspiration from her work. And I like that she shares her talent with everyone! I love watching her tutorials ad I learn a lot from them. As far as I am concerned, any manufacturer who gets her as an endorser would get very good ROI. I can't count the times I have decided to purchase a product just because Jennifer McGuire used it. Stamps, Inks, Glossy Paper, even tools! It was also because of her that I came across Lucy Abrams and Kathy Racoosin. Between the three of them, I have enough card-making inspiration to last a lifetime. Anyway, stalking these three blogs got me seriously considering digital card-making. So, last night, I downloaded my first couple of digital stamps from Hero Arts over at Two Peas.

I lost no time trying out the digital stamps. So here are my creations.

For this "everyday" card, I used a combination of rubber and digital stamps. I printed several butterfly images on a letter-sized cardstock and colored two of them with varying shades of yellow Copics.

Meanwhile, I stamped a floral set on white cardstock and colored it with Copics. I cut a slit on both sides of the stems and wrapped a ribbon around the bouquet of flowers. I then inked the edges of the cardstock with Peeled Paint distress ink and adhered it on an A2 card.

Then, I layered two butterflies on the cardstock. I added bling on the center of some of the flowers for a bit of sparkle.

My next card is made from 100% digital elements. Even the background paper was done digitally. I used Hero Arts' digital paper that came with the kit, stamped the Word Art Dictionary on top of it, and stamped a Bird in a Cage image on the bottom right corner. I resized the image to fit an A2 card.

Then I stamped the same Bird in a Cage image several times on white background. After printing, I cut out the background paper which is slightly smaller than an A2 card and distressed the edges with dye ink. Then, I cut out a plain white print out of the Bird in a Cage image, distressed it with Peeled Paint ink and layered it on top of the patterned paper background.

Then I cut a small slit on top of the birdcage and tied a ribbon to make it look like that the cage is hanging. I then added a handwritten sentiment and attached it using the Tiny Attacher. A small pearl adds a touch of elegance on this card.

This week, I'll do a bit of coloring on all the butterfly prints. Hopefully, I'll be able to make more cards this weekend.

Thanks for looking!

A Perfect Day

I've decided to make two layouts using one set of photos. I've been wanting to try making two versions - a digital page and a paper layout.

At this point, I've only managed to finish one - the digital version. I already printed the photo and it will be scrapped shortly. Meanwhile, I'd like to share the finished digital layout which I also submitted to this month's Kaya challenge.

For this layout, I started by searching for 3 photos of myself. I opted to use photos from our 2007 Cebu vacation - when I was still fit and fab. LOL! I have recently purchased a template from We Are Storytellers (at 50% off!) and I've been itching to use them. Since the Kaya requirement was to use 3 photos, I thought it's the perfect opportunity to use the Photo Clusters #3 template.

I've already prepped the photo and actually printed it for the paper layout version. The next thing I did was search for the digital kit that will best showcase the photo. I opted for the Express Yourself kit by Ronna Penner. This is a free kit I've downloaded eons ago so I'm just happy to find a home for the lovely papers and embellishements. I chose this because of the clean design and of course, the pink paper and embellishments which perfectly match my outfit in the photo.

Here it is.


It's a very easy layout to make. I just layered, resized and added dimension through drop shadows. I added some "torn paper" effect which took too much time (anybody want to teach me the easy way of doing it?) but I love the effect. When I first finished the layout without the torn edges, it looked a bit flat and uninteresting. In paper scrapping, I normally distress the edges with ink to define the layers. So I decided to spend a bit more time and add the torn edges.

Thanks for looking!

Summer Kickoff

It's been a while since I last made a digital layout. So, for National Scrapbooking Day, I decided to make one. Ok, I admit, I was feeling lazy and I didn't want to create a mess in my scrap room. So I figured, a digital layout will be perfect. However, I was too lazy to get up, get my external hard drive and browse through hundreds of digital kits I've accumulated over the past year or so. Hence, I just chose among the more recent kits I've downloaded (all for free, of course!). I decided to use Jessic Sprague's Thank Ya Kindly and Shabby Princess' Happy Go Lucky kits.

Well, here it is.



The photo was taken at the Antulang Resort in Dumaguete where we spent our anniversary last April. It was a bit cloudy and windy so we decided to just hit the pool instead of the beach since the waves are a bit angry. We used a point and shoot encased in waterproof housing to take this photo. It was our first day so this really kicked off our summer.

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I noticed that I made a little "mistake" in the above layout. Can you spot it?

I'm giving a complete set of the Coke Smile Glasses plus a set of Coke coasters to those who can guess the correct answer. Post your guess on the comment section. You have until 11:59pm, May 8, 2009. One guess per person only.

If no one gets the correct answer (that means it's nothing and I'm just being OC), I'll draw a winner from all those who left a comment.

Sorry, open to Philippine-based Pinay scrappers only. I don't have the resources to send the items abroad. Unless, you are abroad but you want your prize sent to a Philippine address.

Kaya 13 Entry

I made a digital layout for this month's Kaya challenge. You may view the details as well as the other entries here.

Playing with Adobe CS2

I woke up with migraine today. It's the 3rd day and I really feel terrible. I feel a bit feverish as well so I decided to stay at home to sleep it out. Good idea, too, because by 8am, I'm also having diarrhea!

Being cooped up in my room the whole day (I slept most of the day) got me really bored so I devoured the magazines my friend Karen lent me. After going through a couple of pages of the Digital tutorials, I decided to put my new knowledge to the test. The results...

Voila!!! Tell me what you think!

I'm not exactly sure if this qualifies for a digital scrapbook page because this is really just a photo with a bit of journaling. I am so loving the Orton effect that I keep looking for ways to use it. It looks great even with black and white photo! For this page, I learned how to shuttle between Photoshop and Image Ready to edit the photo. The rounded rectangle marquee tool is in Image Ready (unless someone knows how to do it in Photoshop!) unlike in PS Elements where you can use a cookie cutter to crop your photo into a certain shape. I tried the clipping mask but the result looks different.

For this next layout, I used the torn paper effect. I sandwiched the photos between two copies of the brown paper. I erased parts of the one on top to put the photo "under" the lace. I also edited the photo before putting it on the layout. Again, I used the Orton effect on the background, and used the lasso tool to put my parents's image photo on the dreamy background.

Now I have a dilemma. After reading the two issues of Digital Scrapbooking, I kinda fell in love. I know I cannot add to my subscriptions so I guess I'll just have to scour Book Sale for the P90 back issues.

This weekend...

...I was able to finish my Kaya 10 entry. It's a digital layout using Danielle Young's Springtime Feelings Kit. Thanks Danielle for the lovely kit, and thanks Diane for the fabulous challenge.

Here it is.
You can see more details and check out all the entries here. Beautiful layouts as usual. And great turn out, considering we're only in the middle of the month.

I was also able to finish and submit my entry to Studio Azul's Supernova Sketch Challenge. I can't post it though. Not sure if we can, at least not until all the entries are in. Will post it as soon as I can.

Not a bad turnout this week!

Happy birthday honey!

I finished this in time for Ariel's ##th birthday (I don't think he'd be pleased if I broadcast his age on the net). Well, I guess the layout says it all - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARIEL! Love you honey!

Click on the image for a larger view.

Thanks for looking!

Credits: Cathy Boy's Birthday Bash Kit by Rebecca Lynn; HaPea Birthday Kit by Tia Bennet

Sunset - A Digital Layout

I made a layout using the Island Girl line from MyDigistyle. The Island Girl line is designed by Mabelle Rubia of MyScrapWorks. If you haven't seen the kits yet, better head off to the site as the free kits are available at a limited time period only. It is best to download them as soon as they are made available. The complete kits are also available for sale at very affordable prices. If you are like me who is just starting with digital scrapping, you may want to avail of the freebies for now. A simple "thank you" will really make Mabelle's day. One other thing I like to do is to read the comments posted on the site. It makes me real proud that a Filipina digi-designer is well-recognized by digi-scrappers from all over the world. I love reading their thank you notes, some are even sharing their layouts and their stories, and some already moved me to tears!

Anyway, the title of my layout is SUNSET. I posted it at the MyScrapWorks gallery. Just go to MyScrapworks Team, then Alby and click on the latest layout. Happy viewing!

A gift for Joanne

I'm an introvert. Many people, specially those close to me, find it difficult to believe. But that's true! Sure I can be very talkative and loud, and I tend to talk fast. But underneath the loud voice, I'm actually a very shy person. I'm not the type who would walk up to a perfect stranger and say "Hi, my name is Alby, and you are...?" Unless that stranger comes up to me first or someone introduces us to each other, we'll remain strangers even if we spend the whole day in the same room. Proof of that is the fact that I've lived in the same condo unit for the last 8 years and I have not managed to get to know a single neighbor, save for two doctors whom I am forced to get acquainted with due to emergencies. Oh, I got to know Gina, the pomeranian who lives a few doors from our unit. I also work better when left alone. Most of my favorite layouts are done in the quiet confines of my scrap corner in Cavite. I've had the chance of scrappping with friends and I managed to come up with decent layouts. But it's never easy.

Joanne Yap, is so unlike me. Sure she is just as chatty. But she can also walk up to a room full of strangers and be friends with them in a blink of an eye. I can't remember the exact moment we met. It was in last year's Scrapfest 2. Before I know it, we've been chatting regularly on the net. She is just as chatty virtually as she is in person. She is so passionate about scrapping and she unselfishly shares her passion with anyone who cares to listen. I guess I am one of those people whose life she touched one way or another. I'm just thankful for the privilege of calling her a friend.

Since she is migrating to Australia in a few days time, some of the local scrappers decided to give her a send-off party last weekend at the Pacific Plaza Condominium in Ayala Ave., Makati. It was a lot of fun - games, great food, and of course, a lot of chit chats with fellow scrappers. As a gift, we made 8x8 layouts compiled in an album, to send Joanne off with love. I made a digital layout which was printed and inserted in the album. Here's the layout I made, using the Michelle Coleman Antique Garden Kit - my first purchased digital kit c/o Diane Mirabilles' RAK (Thanks Diane!). I used a picture taken during last year's MLA Scrap Party, the only one I could find with me and Joanne in it. I hope you like it Joanne!

Digital Invite

Last year, all the September birthday celebrants of the Marketing Department at The Coca-Cola Export Corporation treated the group to a sumptuous Filipino breakfast. Each one of us brought something from our home province. Since it was a huge hit, people kinda expected we'll do it again this year. Of course, we are more than happy to oblige, making this a September tradition. This year, more new recruits were added owing to the onslaught of new hires celebrating their birthdays in September. Here's the invite I made digitally.



And these are the mouth-watering dishes we enjoyed for breakfast:

Sept 1 - Kristen: Put from Nueva Ecija
Sept 12 - Jenny: Tocino and Sisig from Pampanga
Sept 13 - Jaideep: Starbucks Coffee and Bizu Mango Cheesecake (he's from India and he's new so he's exempted from the home province treat - but we'll expect an Indian treat next year!)
Sept 16 - Sharon: Hopia from the province of Ongpin (the best I've tasted!)
Sept 18 - Alby: Boneless Tinapang Bangus from Salinas, Cavite with matching scrambled eggs (I also brought chicken longganisa for Jaideep who doesn't eat pork or fish)
Sept 19 - Karen: Longganisa from Tuguegarao
Sept 22 - Aileen: Danggit from Cebu, as well as salted egg and tomatoes

Mae brought the garlic fried rice. She's not a September celebrant and she's also not from Marketing. She's not even in the country at that time but her thoughtfulness was very much appreciated. Thanks Mae!!!

Kaya 5 Entry

I was so happy to know that this month’s challenge will allow me to join via a digital entry. I've been wanting to scrap some of the pictures of my friend's daughter Yana. She is such a great photography subject. Other than being a cute little girl, she has a way of looking at the camera that’s just so captivating. Her mom told me that even as a little toddler, Yana's dad would ask her to "look at the lens". Fortunately, her mom shared with me a couple of digital shots I could choose from. She has lots of beautiful photos but I chose this one because the colors of her clothes match my digital papers perfectly.

Journaling:
Where has time gone? In a blink of an eye, you have blossomed into a beautiful young lady.

Credits:
Adobe Photoshop CS2; Summer Afternoon Kit by Bren Boone; Tracy Collins' Raspberry Mocha Button; MacFont - Taylor Mackenzie

Had fun making this layout. You can also check it out at here. TFL!

Siblings - My first entry to the Pinoyscrapbookers Monthly Challenge

The first time I saw the Pinoyscrapbookers challenge dubbed Kayang-kaya Kaya? Kaya!, I was so amazed and excited and thankful at the same time. It was a very clever idea to have a monthly challenge. I was very busy on the first month so I was not able to join but I did manage to finally join this June.

One big reason why I love the idea is that it feels to me like I am joining a challenge for the sheer fun of it. I don't know, but I just don't feel pressured to compete. It's like a group of friends agreeing to a theme and waiting to see what each other will come up with. Nevertheless, the fact that it is a challenge still pushes me to give my best and push my creativity a notch higher. For instance, in the June challenge - which I totally love - we were required to make a predominantly black and white layout with only a bit of a single color. I wouldn't have thought of that on my own. It was difficult, especially with my choice of picture - the two kids of my friends Joey and Tricia. In my mind, layouts that feature children should be colorful, alive and fun. However, in this case, the story is about a heartwarming moment between young siblings, thus giving it license to have a rather pensive mood.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed making my layout and I loved how it turned out. Yup, it's another digital work. I'm really loving it! It compensates well for my lack of time to do a paper layout. Anyway, here is the layout. And don't forget to go through the other beautiful entries as well.

Love: A Digital Layout

This is my third attempt at a digital layout. I'm totally loving it. However, I still have a lot to learn when it comes to using Photoshop. How can Photoshop CS3 be available already when I haven't even mastered CS2?

Anyway, for this layout, I used a photo taken just last Saturday at my brother-in-law's wedding. The picture was taken by yours truly, with my arms extended to get as much of our faces covered in the camera. I then edited the colors through Photoshop to make it look aged.

The journaling reads:

Love bears all things
believes all things
hopes all things
endures all things
Love never ends

1 Corinthians 13:7

Credits for my layout (thank goodness for free digital kits!):

Title - Sun Porch Alphas by Amy Teets
Photo Mat - Sun Porch PP 5 by Amy Teets
Bow (tied to the title) - Sun Porch mini-bow by Amy Teets
Patterned Papers - Festival-Stripes
Solid Paper - Festival-Sack
Ribbon - Festival-Scalloped Ribbon
Stitches - Splendid-Stitched Page Border
Jurnaling Block - Sun Porch Journal by Amy Teets
Mac Font - Zapfino

This is Life!

Another attempt at digi-scrapping. I used the free digital kit Echoes of Asia by Jessica Sprague. The photo was taken by my hubby during our recent trip to Bantayan Island in Cebu.

I've been downloading free digital kits lately. I actually love it! It allows me to scrap during the work week when I am away from my precious scrapping corner back in Cavite. This has definitely taken over my TV watching.

Kuala Lumpur - An attempt at going digital!

Who would have thought I would try digital someday? I always say that paper lo (that's short for layout) is better because it's more interactive. You get to feel it, you open flaps, insert tags, have hidden journaling, etc. But that's the beauty of scrapbooking. It's never boring because there's just too many techniques to try. So this is my first shot at a digital lo. I think it's pretty good. By my own standards at least. It was quite easy to put together. I used the free digital images from the Scrapbook Answers CD. I think I will start searching for free kits from now on. I enjoyed it and it took less than half the time than paper los. I definitely have to polish my Photoshop skills though. Have tons to learn pa!

If you saw my earlier posts, you would notice that I used the pictures from my recent Kuala Lumpur tripi in this lo. Loved these night shots. I will definitely do paper layouts using these pictures. Someday, when I have more time. I haven't scrapped in a month! That's why I decided to give digital los a try.

Anyway, I'm working on my Phuket photos so watch out for those soon!!!