Cousin

Yesterday was my dear cousin's birthday.  We have been apart most of our lives, but I am proud to say that we are really close.  I do miss my cousins back in the Philippines, but it is also comforting to know that I have cousins here in the US that I can call and talk to any time. 

Anyway, I made this digital scrapbook layout for her birthday, via Memory Mixer.  Aaah... the beauty of digital!

I am waiting for a special announcement tomorrow.  I wonder what that could be???

'Til next blog!

IDK

Time sure flies!  We're already on the second half of August and the season's almost at its end.  This summer has its ups and downs for me.  The lowest would be when I got laid off from work.  But there are a lot more great things that took place.  One of them is the band IDK where I sing lead.  We have been practicing for about 6 months now, and just this Wednesday we won our first Battle of the Bands.  It's also our first time to perform in public as a group.  It sure was fun!

With that, I'd like to share with you a digital layout I made about our band:

Materials used:

software:  Memory Mixer

digital elements:  Alice Koh "Superhero" kits, "Spider Webs", "Stitches Flo Buttons"

alpha:  Kaye Winiecki "Fuzzy Wuzzy"

'Til next blog!

Movie World

Hi everyone!  I know I should scrapbook more often... but it just takes more time (and effort!) to make one 12 x 12 page.  I'm glad that somebody invented digital scrapbooking, so when I'm in the mood for it, I can make a page or two in a shorter period of time.

And for something different this week, I made a digital scrapbook page of my nephew from Australia, during his last visit to Movie World.  I used a freebie kit from Shabby Princess called "Happy Go Lucky".

Materials used:

software:  Memory Mixer

all elements:  Shabby Princess (Happy Go Lucky)

'Til next blog!

Boracay

One of the things I miss most about the Philippines is the beach.  With over 7,000 islands, there are so many beaches to choose from.  But one stands out for a lot of people, local and tourists alike, and that is Boracay.

I am blessed to visit this island twice, and I'm still hoping for more.  I love its powdery white sand, clear waters and the gorgeous sunset.  I just hope the community there will be able to preserve its beauty and splendor as more and more people from around the world visit this island every year. 

My cousin's recent trip to Boracay inspired me to make this digital layout:

digital elements: Lisa Whitney, Katie Pertiet

software: Memory Mixer V3

I have been telling her to give this place a try as she and her husband love to travel.  They finally did this year.  Of course I'm jealous, but their photos are as close as I can get... for now.

Are you in a scrapbooking mode?  I'm doing my best to scrapbook this month in celebration of National Scrapbooking Day.  Why don't you share your pages here, and maybe you can win some blog candy.

 
'Til next blog!

Summer Bliss

Hello everyone!  Pardon my few days of idleness.  It wasn't due to laziness as I had to work for some craft money.  I sure missed being in my planet, and I'm planning on playing all night.

As you may know that National Scrapbooking Day is just a few days away, and I'm celebrating it in the entire month of May.  I will really do my best to do a lot of scrapbooking in the coming weeks.  Some will definitely be digital, but I hope to make more traditional pages.

And since I'm behind by a few days already, I opted to make a digital page tonight.  When I saw this picture of my friend and his family on facebook, I just had to make a page about it.  This photo perfectly depicts their first summer as a family.

I made this page with the aid of Memory Mixer V3, using the Spontaneous Delight kit by Carrie Stephens.

I hope you can join me in celebrating National Scrapbooking Day.  All you need to do is link your scrapbook pages HERE, and maybe you can win some blog candies at the end of this month.

'Til next blog!

National Craft Month (Day 5)

Hello fellow crafter!  While browsing through Facebook, I saw a former high school classmate's photos of her and her new born baby girl.  They prompted me to make a digital scrapbook page.  It sure has been a long while since I made any scrapbook page.  I have been slacking on that part.

Here's the page I made using Memory Mixer 3:

Would you like to join me for some crafty fun and blog candies?  Click here.

'Til next blog! 

A Few Things...

This past week had been soooo hectic with relatives visiting, 4th of July and volunteer work.  We just held our biggest party at home with 25 people and guess what?  I was so busy that I forgot to take photos.  Not a single photo of the party.  That is frustrating.  But I still plan on making a scrapbook page to notate the details.  That is going to be a challenge but I'm willing to take it.

   

Amidst everything, I stole some time to make a birthday card for my DSIL.  I knew if I mail it on Friday, it would reach her the next day, just before her birthday which is today.  But guess what?  I arrive at the PO and it's already closed.  Apparently, they were only operating til 12 noon on Friday in preparation for 4th of July.  I guess I'll have to revise this card and make it a belated birthday card.  Looking at the bright side, I am now able to take photos to share with you.  Because this was meant to be a quick card to begin with, I used K & Company Designer Cards for my base.  Then I accented with Nestabilities Labels 1, Spellbinders Photo Buckle and Dewdrops Golden Berry.  The embossed cupcake image is by Inkadinkado, cut with SU Label Punch.  All the sentiments are by Cloud 9 Designs.  You can see more photos here.

Also, The Daily Scrapper has just released its 11th issue.  I wrote an article there about Crafty Gardening.  Don't forget to download our free digital kit Tropical Retreat sponsored by Gotta Pixel, which you'll know more about in this article.  What's more special about this issue is the launch of TDS Studio, an exclusive club offering one of a kind kits specially designed by hand picked talented designers and great stores in the digital scrapbook industry.  Currently on display is Radiant Grunge by Armina Designs.  Here is a page I made using this wonderful kit.  I also used CK Ali's writing for the journaling font and Alpha Doodle by Kaye Winiecki for the main title.  This digital page was assembled with Memory Mixer 2.

 
 

Interested to join this exclusive club?  Click here for more information.  Really it doesn't matter where you are.  Once you're a member, all you have to do is download the digital scrapbooking kits, and create away.

 
'Till next blog!

Wednesday

I had a terrible headache last night.  So I went to bed early at 9 pm.  Yep, that's early for me!  LOL

 
Here's a digital LO I made using Memory Mixer.  This is actually a quick page I downloaded free from Scrap N' Art.  All of the elements are also Scrap N' Art freebies (Spring Zest kit) from their March-April Issue, except for the "Spring" alpha which is Ledger Monograms by K. Pertiet.  The "Fever" alpha is also downloaded free from Scrap N'Art.

Also, Paula Pascual featured my planet in her blog.  She features craft rooms from all over.  Be warned that her blog is loaded with a lot of ideas from other crafters when it comes to craft room organization and craft storage, therefore you might get stuck browsing for a while.  Thanks Paula!

National Craft Month DAY 17

As usual, we got home late from another basketball game.  It's the quarter finals of MHSAA Girls Basketball.  And guess what?  We won!!!  This is the farthest our school has ever been in its entire history.  And we're all looking forward to the Semi Finals on Thursday, with high hopes of making it to the Finals.

Everybody was hyped up and we filled up more than half of the gym.  It was a very wonderful atmosphere.

And tonight's event inspired me to create this digital LO.  I used Memory Mixer for this one, and most of the digital elements came with the software except for the following:

• black bg by KH Mize of Designer Digitals
• red bg by Alice Koh (Superhero)
• shout bubble by Alice Koh (Superhero)
• red alpha by Kaye Winiecki of Pickleberry Pop (Fuzzy Wuzzy)
• red stitch by Alice Koh

A lot of people came to support our basketball team, not only from school but also from the communities nearby.  It was about an hour and a half drive to the venue, but they all came and cheered their hearts out.  After the game, the players bowed to the crowd.  That was a really proud moment.

There's more cheering to do on Thursday.  But for now, it's time for me to go to bed... :)

Photoshop Crazy

I don't know what's with me today.  But I just wanted to learn how to do free form text in my digital layouts.  You know, like putting text in a certain shape or form.  Or if I want my text in a spiral, or zigzag...  I just had to know!  So I went crazy searching on the internet on how to do that.  It turned out, you can't do that with Photoshop Elements 6, the one I have.  You can only do that with Photoshop CS3, which I don't have, and which is also very expensive at $649.  But you can download it from the Adobe website and use it for 30 days.  After that, you have to buy it.  So, just for the sake of learning the free form text thingy, I downloaded the Photoshop CS3 (which took a long time due to the huge file!).  If you have little or no experience with Photoshop, like me, it's hard.  After many hours of trial and error, I finally learned the trick.  But I'm not confident enough to tell you how.  I have to practice and practice.  What I plan to do is make these text templates using Photoshop CS3 and incorporate them in Photoshop Elements 6.  I might as well do as many as I can during the 30 day trial period.  And when I get the hang of Photoshop Elements 6, then maybe I can convince my husband to buy me the Photoshop CS3.  Sigh, I just find the CS3 too complicated!

Anyway while searching the internet, I somehow got back to the Creating Keepsakes Magazine.  They featured a computer trick on how to create shaped journaling.  The video that came with it is really good.  I wish I can kidnap the lady who did the tutorial so she can teach me the ins and outs of Photoshop.  Anyway, it comes with a free download of text templates.  And a bonus digital kit by Scrapgirls:  Eternal Love.  Get them all here.  Even though it's 12 midnight, I just had to make a page using this kit.  I do like this one :)

Now time for me to go to bed....

More Digital Freebies

I have three scrapbook magazine subscriptions.  And I would often visit their website to check out stuff, especially the freebies.  Yesterday, I visited Creating Keepsakes and Memory Makers.  This morning, I browsed through Simple Scrapbooks.  There are supposedly 3 digital kits for FREE, but only one of them is available for download, which is the Refresh Kit from Scrap Girls.  Hey, one is better than nothing.  And it's a big kit.  And it's FREE.  Don't you love that word?  This is one of my takes from the Refresh Kit, which you can get here.

Speaking of digital, yesterday i went to the nearest Joann's to do some shopping.  I saw a book on how to create your own digital elements - from pages to embellishments.  So I said, it's perfect to buy with my 40% coupon.  And since I have come to like digital scrapbooking, I might as well try creating my own.  After leaving the store with my new book, I excitedly started reading the book while still in the car.  In the introduction, it said something about a CD that comes with the book.  Now, wait a minute... I don't see any CD in here!  So I had to beg my husband to go back to the store.  And to make the long story short, that was the last book of it they have available, and therefore I can't buy the darn book for not having the CD.  In other words, I wasted a 40% Off coupon.  And I guess I'll just be an end-user for digital scrapbooking.... for now!

Also, I saw a really nice black plastic drawer organizer that's perfect for scrapbooking, for $69.99.  It's the Storage Solutions Scrapbook Cart.  It is really nice.  And stackable too!  The top 2 drawers have dividers for embellishments and small tools.  And the rest would fit 12 x 12 paper.  You can grab these drawers off the frame, and take them with you anywhere.  If I had more space in my craftroom, I would have bought that with the 50% coupon.

Digital Freebies

I just read the February 08 issue of Memory Makers, and they have a digital kit by Michelle Coleman available for download FREE.  It's called Wild Sorbet.  I made a digital layout about my niece using her kit, with the aid of Memory Mixer.  

I used the fonts that came in my computer.  I just love the colors, they're adorable!  And I especially like the acrylic embellishments!  You can get the free kit here.   

Meanwhile, I was browsing through the Creating Keepsakes website, and I chanced upon more free downloads.  I don't know, but I just feel quite girly lately, so I got one of their freebies and made it my wall paper. 

Isn't it cute???  Yeah, my pet hippo said so!  You can get them here and here.

Digital vs. Traditional

OK OK OK!  I'm eating my word.  I said before I'll never be into digital scrapbooking.  But since having a dip into it, I can say that I like it.  But that doesn't mean that I'm saying goodbye to the traditional way.  My standing still leans towards the traditional scrapbooking methods.  

Like what Alice Koh said, digital scrapbooking is for people who just doesn't have the room to accomodate all those tools and supplies available in the market (She travels a lot too!)  It's also for those who doesn't have the time to tinker and ponder with each part of the layout.  Speaking for myself, one layout could take me days or even weeks to finish.  Unlike digital scrapbooking, you can do it with a click of a finger.  Don't like the looks of it?  Just click and delete away.  It's easier to rearrange your layout just by dragging with your mouse.  I have made a digital scrapbook page that looks quite complicated in less than an hour.  Unlike the traditional scrapbooking, making a page requires special planning.  Because if you make a mistake, you better be using repositionable adhesive or have the Un-Do handy.  If you make a wrong cut, you'll have to make a new one.  And yes, traditional scrapbooking is a lot more expensive.  You have to admit.  Scrapbooking is not a cheap hobby.  I love the convenience of digital scrapbooking.  If you have a laptop, you can do digital scrapbooking anywhere.  And if you're into all those software, you can make your own backgrounds and embellishments, all through your computer.  Plus, with all those freebies on the internet (Scrapbook Flair, for example), what else would you ask for?

Overall, I still like the look and feel of traditional scrapbook pages.  Especially the interactive ones with the hidden elements, flaps, zips and pulls.  Imagine, 20 years from now, the generations below you will be turning those pages and oohing and aahing over each one.  Because it would be so advanced 20 years from now, maybe they would even say "She didn't use the computer with this?  OMG!  Isn't that cool!"  The touch is a lot more personal.  It's like reading the book compared to watching the movie version or listening to the book cd. 

Sometimes, the traditional ways still weigh much more.

REVIEW: N.B.K. Digital Scrapbooking Freebies

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

As you can see in my albums, I just gave digital scrapbooking a try. And I actually liked it! But I have to admit, I still prefer the traditional way. I chanced upon N.B.K. in Blogspot. She does really good digital stuff, if that's the right term, as far as my eyes are concerned. And the best thing is, she has a lot of her stuff available for download FREE! You can access her freebies at http://nbk-nicnic.blogspot.com/search/label/Freebie. Enjoy!

Before I forget, hats of to Mabelle of www.myscrapworks.com for hooking a lot of us scrapbookers to NBK in her blog (http://www.myscrapworks.com/mswblog/). Thanks Mabelle! Mwah!