Scrapping Everyday Miracles... challenge

Here's the story...

I have a son... very obedient, loving and sweet.  Everybody loves him, everybody wants to be with him.  Since he was little, he's been a great student.  He has won lots of awards.  He's been in the newspaper, magazines, TV, and several stages around the island.  He's special.

He has several conditions and has been under a lot of medicines during his life, but he's always happy, positive, and ready to do whatever is next.

He enjoys nature, he loves to kiss and be kissed back.  He's now volunteering to be a therapy helper in hospitals and institutions where there are people who needs some love.

I sound like any very proud mom...The thing is, I'm talking about my dog.

The Scrapbooking Everyday Challenge, called All Things have become NEW, is to make a layout about something new in my life... using at least one old and one new element in the page.

The new thing is that I visited a children's hospital with my dog recently and our dog is being evaluated to be a therapy dog, and we (my husband and I) are being evaluated to be certified as Therapy Dogs managers.  It's something that brings a nice feeling but I am experiencing new activities as part of the process.

So here's the layout.

I have several old things here...  The background paper with little squares, as well as the paper used for the journaling is from a Basic Grey collection of dogs and cats... it must have at least 3 years old.   The chipboard words/phrases in the journaling are from a K&Co kit I bought when I started to do scrapbooking in 2007.  The black and white stripe paper is from a b&w collection a friend gave me about 2 years ago.

But these letters.... specially these letters... are from a patterned paper I remember I bought in 2007 or maybe 2008 in local store sale.  The paper was 25 cents!!!!

Well... and then the new thing is this glitter from a kit I bought recently at TJ Maxx and since then I've been using it like crazy...

Here's a closer look to the journaling.

Hope you liked it.  You don't have to leave a comment, but I sure enjoy them.

A Productive Saturday!

How's your Saturday?  Hope you are having a great time...  It could be cleaning the house, doing diligences out, celebrating a special occasion, working, having fun, or just doing nothing...  Relax.  What is important is that you are enjoying life.  You could enjoy anything you are doing when you focus on your purpose of doing it.

I was kind of tired today 'cause I had a short business trip and arrived home very late last night... but after a good breakfast I've had such great news and positive results...

First, I received an email from a very good friend who had been out of work fighting cancer...  She told me she is now back to work and with a great position in our Governor's house.  Isn't this cool?  Not only I'm happy for her because of her self esteem and because I know how good she is at what she does, but also happy for all the cancer survivors.  Oh, what a good feeling.

Then I visited Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog and I found out I made top three from January challenge and also won some candy from Paper Loves Glue.  What a wonderful surprise!  I never thought my work expressing something of my life can be inspiring to others and be able to touch others' hearts.  I love scrapbooking even more now.

Then I started to work with invitations a friend of mine asked me to make for her daughter's 15th birthday.  I sent them a prototype and they loved it... so I started to cut and make some work on them.  I felt very productive.  I will also be the MC on this birthday... cool, isn't it?  It's on late March, so when I finish the cards I'll show them here.  You know... I'm a full time worker, so it will take a while... LOL.

Finally, I had these tins from some of my husband's colognes...  and if you've read some former posts, I've mentioned I am kind of a hoarder when I see something with potential... but 2013 is my year of organization... I'm trying to organize my scrapbooking room and am doing it slowly, but I'm enjoying it.  So, I decided I could use these tins to organize some pens.  I started covering them with patterned paper...

...Protected with some mod podge...

...And embellished.

I still need some more because I have a lot of glitter pens I don't use because I don't see them... and one of the purposes of organizing is to be able to see some stuff I have in drawers and don't use them often.

So, for now these little tins have a space in my room...  I will probably put them in the desk/table later, when I make more room for them LOL..

Tks for stopping by...  Enjoy life... every minute of it!

Family Ties

Hello there!  Happy Friday.

It's FWF at Unity and I wanted to post something... I haven't for a while.  Also, our friends at SEM are having a layout challenge with the theme of Family Ties.  The idea is to make the project about that special family relationship or bonding one has... that could even be about friends or a group of people that you love or care about like family.

Well... I decided to make a layout about my youngest nephew and niece.  Unfortunately, we don't have a day to day relationship.  For different reasons they grew old with their mother's family and we didn't see each other too often.  When everything started to improve, they moved out of country, so we do keep contact by phone or social media but we don't have a relationship that grew with time.

However, I feel that every time I talk to or about them, and when I get to know more about them, there is definitely a strong family tie.  We are family, and even though the relationship is not as we all wish, we love each other and I feel blessed to have them.  They are beautiful inside and out, and they are exceptional kids.

I decided to apply some acrylic paint to the base paper I would use in the layout, to make it more informal, relaxing... like family is.  Same reason why I painted a section in white to hand write my journaling.

I also made a heart with some elements.  I draw it in a little piece of cardstock, then applied red ribbon and some border stickers on the other side.  Then, cut the heart I draw and finished with some ink in the edges.

I used a photo where the children are together.  They are only one year apart in age and even though they are kind of different in personality and of course genre, they seem to get along very well.  I used this stamp from Unity that says: "you+me = happy".  I love it because it does not only refer to them as brother and sister, but also them with me as their aunt.

This is a picture of the whole page.

I hope you liked it... and remember to leave a comment because I am linking this to Unity's FWF and you could have the opportunity to win fabulous stamps.  Also, take a look at the other Family Ties layouts at SEM here.

Have a great weekend.

SEM Sketch Challenge

Here I am again...  Did I wish you Happy Thanksgiving?  Yes...  Happy Thanksgiving!  Hope you are having a wonderful day.

I wanted to share with you a layout I made with a sketch provided by SEM for their sketch challenge going on.  I though it was very inspiring.  Love it.

I made the page about my dog Malbec (yes, it's a name of a grape too).  He is 5 years old and is a big heavy Rottweiler with such a nice personality.  He's kind, obedient, lovable, tender, and I love him so much... like he was my own son.

Sometimes, when I am watching TV or sit at the family room, he places his face in my lap, and all you see is this tender look in his "not so little" face... that you could melt...  like in this photo I chose for the layout.

I used the number 5 because in my journaling I explain about him still being tender and lovable at age 5, like he was when he was a little puppy.  (Actually, I think he believes he is a puppy.). 

The title was handwrote and then cut and placed with 3D dots.

And here's my take on the sketch...   I also used some little circled photos of Malbec being a puppy, as part of the circle elements from the sketch.  Can you see them?

Hope you liked it.  Thanks for your comments.

Go, John! Go, John!

Another Friday... another reason to celebrate... a weekend has just started!!!!  Yeih!

Hope you are as happy as I am!

Let me share this layout about my husband.  In 2009 he started eating healthier and exercising.  He lost about 45 pounds and he's ran in several 5K and 10K events.  He's been a real inspiration to others.  I admire him for that because it requires determination to continue doing it even after he reached his weight goals or considering how sacrificed it is to run almost everyday and eat healthy most of the time.   I am very proud, and I thank God because I have him by my side.  He gives me strength.

So I made a layout about this.  I shaped one of the photos as an oval and placed it with 3D foam dots, and framed with stamped dotted circles around it.  The stamp is from Unity.

I used a paper from Scenic Route I have to admit I have since I started with this hobby around 2007.  Do you have some papers you've had for a long time and have tried to use them but still haven't?  Well, that is the case of this paper.  It has several stars printed on it... very cool paper.  I hand-wrote my journaling in the big star.

I also used a Unity tag stamp with two hand cut triangles, to create a banner.  I love the final result.  It looks very hand made...  I love making my own embellishments when possible...

I also used washi tapes to frame the multiple photos in my layout.

So this is the whole page...

I'm linking this to current SEM Challenge which was the first inspiration for choosing these photos and honor my husband's perseverance.  And I'm also linking it to today's Unity FWF and current  Unity Challenge.

Have a very nice weekend.  Thanks for your comments.

SEM's August Sketch Challenge

Hello my friends...  let's welcome a new week...

I know I know... this means, go back to work, or  school/college, or appointments... blah blah blah...  But it also a new beginning...  a new week of life...  let's thank God for that... and have the best attitude towards this new week...  Agree?

Remember I'm the guest designer for SEM this month?  Well, I made a layout for their August Sketch Challenge...  It is about a  neighborhood called "Pabellones" in Ponce, Puerto Rico and the house my husband grew up in.

You can see the sketch, my pick and others' friends versions HERE.  Besides, you might want to come up with your version and participate in this wonderful challenge.  Please visit SEM and take a look at this wonderful blog.

Here are some sneak peek pictures showing parts of my layout...

Below is the story behind my layout and you can see the completed page by clicking HERE.

Don't forget to leave your comment.  Have a great week!

Whenever my husband and I talk about our childhood or remember any stories from the past, it is about this place he talks the most.  Part of his childhood and younger years he lived at this place called "Pabellones" (pavilions), located in the center of Ponce (a municipality of Puerto Rico).  He always tells me about all the good, funny and even some bad things he lived and saw in that "barrio" (neighborhood), and he always talks about it with nostalgic feeling.  I have this picture of him in front of the house when he was a young boy (about 14 years old), and this other photo of the house the way it looks more recently.  I tried to show in the layout that there's a lot of history behind this house, so I stamped handwriting to use as background, and used vintage patterned papers as well as embellishments and letters that could support the look.  I punched holes around the layout and used twine to frame all the page and ended with two large eyelets to tie the twine several times.  My journaling is also handwritten so it supports the nostalgic, personal and vintage look of the layout.  The journaling says:  "I never lived in this "barrio" at Ponce, but have heard lots of stories from my husband John.  Most part of his childhood and youth he lived here, at house #9.  His stories help me know a little more from his past and roots, which is what make him be who he is today."

Guest Designer Post at SEM!

Hey friends...  Hope you are having a great week so far...  It's the middle of the week, and I hope to be back home in a few days...

I scheduled this post to remind you about my guest designer post at Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog. Please go visit SEM tomorrow to see what I've prepared for the current challenge...  and who knows?  Maybe you can get some inspiration and participate...

I leave you now with a sneak peek!  Thanks for stopping by... :)

August Guest Designer for SEM

Happy Sunday my friends...

Hope you are having a wonderful time today.  

My post today is to link you to another post at Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog.  

I am so excited because they have trusted me to be August Guest Designer.  It's so cool they like my style and appreciate my work.  So, I've opened my heart ... please go visit them HERE.... and get to know me a little bit more.

You'll probably miss me this week because I will be out of town on a business trip so the activity around this blog will be limited... (let's see what happens today... maybe I can schedule a few things... but no pressure...LOL!).

However, you will be able to see some of me in my post at SEM as guest designer...  so don't forget to stop by at SEM again next Thursday... I hope I can somehow inspire you with what I have prepared.

Have a great weekend.

I'll leave you with this photo of me and Malbec at Villa Montaña (Isabela, Puerto Rico).

Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by and for your wonderful comments... and don't forget to love your imperfection and show it with pride!

At the Beach!

Remember about my getaway the other day?  Oh, we found this paradise at home (Puerto Rico).   You might think that because I live in Puerto Rico, every corner can be a paradise for someone who doesn't have beaches around... but this is a beach resort with lots of beautiful spots and excuses to relax... but most of all, they are pet friendly!!!!  Not many places around admit pets in your stay... 

So this was such a special mini vacation with the whole family!!!  LOL!

I made this layout while I was there... yes, I even had some little time to make some layouts.  I started about four of them with the intention to finish with photos and embellishments later at home... and this is the first one I completed.

I used inspiration from the July Sketch from SEM, which you can see HERE.   I am entering this into that challenge...  The twist was to use a computer generated element, so when I got home I typed the journaling in the computer and printed.  Then I cut the text in strips, inked the edges and placed in the designated spot as shown.

The translation of the journaling goes something like this:  "In the quest of some relaxing days in the middle of so much stress, we found a paradise called Villa Montaña, in Isabela, PR.  The best of all, they admit pets.  Malbec was with us enjoying great moments.  July 21-25, 2012."

This is how the whole page look:

It was such a blessing to be able to enjoy a few days OFF and with the entire family, meaning my husband, my dog and myself!  :)  Thanks God.

I hope you liked my bright color, Summer layout!  I used Basic Grey patterned paper scraps I had from past projects, and combined with solid papers.  Also used some chipboard elements from Scrapbooking Supplies brand, and a sticker from The Girls Paperie.  Also some washi tapes to add some accents.  I even hand wrote lines around the edges of the teared paper just to give a special touch... you know I love imperfection!

I also linked this to the Outlawz' Twisted Thursday's Day at the Beach challenge.

Thanks for your comments....  You know I love them, don't you?

Unity Friday, SEM, and Page Maps... all combined!

 Today is Friday... and I'm so excited about having some rest.  I've had so much tension at work lately and the upcoming weeks do not promise to be better... so I'm conscious about it and don't want to let it affect me... so let's enjoy Friday!  And this means Friday Friends with Flair too!

I wanted to participate in the SEM challenge this month.  They are asking for a layout or project to describe "created beauty" referring to nature, things or abstract feelings/concepts you appreciate...  When I first read about this challenge I thought of making a layout about my marriage, or my relationship with my dog and how he has become so special... but then I said to myself:  "You are a beautiful creation yourself!"  It's not that I am selfish or think I am better than anyone... no...  It's that feeling of being thankful about being alive!  It is also true that sometimes I don't like myself... not that I don't accept me, but you know... from time to time I wish not being getting old, or would like prettier feet... LOL!  I am human after all!  But the truth is that I appreciate myself, give thanks to God everyday for being pretty healthy, and for having the opportunity to have lived so many beautiful things in my life.  I know, I know, there are a lot of things I don't have, or will never have... and I've suffered, and I am sure this is part of life, but I focus on the ones God has given me, and the ones he hasn't that make me fight for more... because he knows what he's doing... right?

So once I decided I was going to do the layout about myself (a very difficult task), I saw this sketch from Page Maps and decided to use it.  So it's a double challenge inspired in the "created beauty" theme from SEM, and this sketch from Page Maps:

I had a sticker from Glitz Designs that I soooo wanted to use and had not found the right project.  It says "I feel pretty oh so pretty".

Note that the patterned paper has faux stitching, and I also added some handmade stitching in several sections of the page... I used a ruler and a pen to draw/write it... :)

I also used lots of washi tapes...  Here on top o the page I used one with dots and another one with stripes.. and I used some other in blue lace and another with blue plaid, under the oval tab with handwritten journaling.

The title is "Me myself and I", and is just one of multiple Unity stamps I used in the layout.

 The sentiment "I am thankful" is another stamp, and the arrows, as well as the banner with the yellow word stickers...  all stamps.  Can you tell I love Unity stamps?

I used lots of embelishments from The Girls Paperie, and Glitz, and pieces of patterned papers (Cosmo Cricket and DCWV).

I also sprayed pink mist in some spots of the page.

The journaling says:  "I love the fact that I am alive and was created imperfect, so I can learn, love and enjoy life everyday."

I hope you liked my page and somehow it inspires you to appreciate you as the great creation you are.

Thanks for your comments.

Plano, Target and Golden Bridge!

Hello imperfect friends!

I've been so disconnected these days! I've been away from home in a work trip to Plano, Texas.  Today I'm at the airport waiting to get my flight back home.  So, this is something different for me since I always post from home...
Plano is a nice community.  I stayed at the Marriott Legacy Town Center and is great.  Here are some photos of the view in front of the hotel and the surroundings.

Let me also share with you that while in Plano, I remember I read in one blog, about these washi tapes from Target that are in the office supply section... and I took the advise and found them there...  4 x $4...  Gorgeous!  I didn't find the blog where I read it, but thank you friend.

Finally, I'm posting this layout to participate in the June Sketch SEM challenge.

We visited San Francisco last year and the Golden Bridge is really marvelous.   So I thought it was cool to follow the sketch inspiration to document these photos.

 

I used different sized photos, patterned paper and elements to cover the 12x12 page with squares and rectangles.  Left room for the journaling and also added some stars and embellishments.  I had bought a nice image with San Francisco name on it, and I used it as the title.

 

Hope you liked it... and again... hello from Texas...

Have a great day!