Friday, September 25, 2015

Autumn Gift Set

Happy Friday, everyone! I meant to post this last Wednesday to welcome the autumn season, but you know how it is. Oh well, I want to share with you what I made for my mom on her birthday. Her birthday almost always fall on the first day of fall, so I thought I'd use fall colors. 
The Designer Series Paper I used was from last year and has been retired. Sorry :-( 
I just love the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits. I put two pieces of fun size candy bars in it.
CASEd from a demo (Linda Persoon) swap I received at Convention. Isn't that Ronald McDonald's stamp set, Sprinkles of Life just too darn cute...and versatile? I am loving the Fringe Scissors.

I got the idea to create this adorable mini coffee cup (with Hershey kisses) in it from my upline, Karen Flores. I am really liking that Ronald McDonald's Sprinkles of Life stamp set.  
Corner Bookmark
Back of the Corner Bookmark
Make a Difference and buy Sprinkles of Life stamp set to support Ronald McDonald's House Charities
The coordinating Tree Builder Punch (138295) makes it all easy to create.  

I had so much fun creating all of the above. I think I will incorporate them in my upcoming Christmas/Holiday Giftables in November. I hope you can join us. 

Thank you for stopping by. Have a nice weekend, everyone!
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Monday, September 21, 2015

September 2015 Paper Pumpkin

I can't wait to play with my September Paper Pumpkin kit. I am set for my Halloween goodies. What an awesome idea to have Stampin' Up! do all the hard work and I just watch the video and put everything together. 
I hope you are already a Paper Pumpkin subscriber. If not, you can participate by supporting a very good cause.

Stamp Out Breast Cancer with Paper Pumpkin.

Stampin' Up! is showing their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, they are going PINK . . . or at least their October Paper Pumpkin boxes are! And because they know subscribers want to share the love too, they will be making a donation on your behalf to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

Stampin' Up! will donate $1 for every active Paper Pumpkin subscriber. Plus, an additional $1 for every new subscriber.
Together, we will make a difference!

Here's how you can help: 
Subscribe by October 10! If you're new to Paper Pumpkin, go to paperpumpkin.com and click join to get started. Please remember to choose me as your demonstrator: Melinda Pascual.

Your first kit will arrive in a limited-edition pink box that you'll want to hold onto forever-and we'll donate $2 because you're new!
Stay active if you're a subscriber so we can donate $1 for you. Only those who receive the October shipment will be counted for the donation.
Spread the word! Help us get as many new subscribers as possible. Every current subscriber adds $1 and for new subscribers it's doubled, so let's get the word out and raise as much as possible.
Remember, those who get the October kit will not only be donating to a good cause, but they will also get a one-time only, pretty pink Paper Pumpkin box! No one will want to miss it. Promise.
Thank you and have a wonderful week, everyone. 

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Haunt Ya Later

I am going to take a break from Christmas cards to share with you my first Halloween card of the year! As soon as I saw this stamp set, Haunt Ya Later in the 2015 Holiday Catalog, I knew I had to have it. I couldn't resist and CASEd the card straight out of the catalog. It is so darn cute and any opportunity to watercolor? Yes, please! This cute little Dracula reminded me of my nephew, Max. He is the only kid I know who could totally pull-off a handsome Dracula. Another item I am crazy about recently is the Handheld Stapler. I just love how it's so efficient and easy to hold. 

CASEd directly from the Holiday Catalog
Haunt Ya Later (Wood 139696) Clear (139699)
Handheld Stapler (139083) Silver Mini Staples (135847)
Well, that is all I have for today. My chores await. 

To order products used to create the adorable card above, please click below. You can even print-out the supply list simply by clicking the Supply List on the bottom left corner. 
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Sunday, September 13, 2015

The Wilderness Awaits

When I was in fifth grade I had to live with my maternal grandparents in the province because my paternal grandparents who raised me went to Canada to visit my aunt. I remember this one particular afternoon when I came home from school after placing 2nd at an academic contest. I showed my grandpa the ribbon I got and as he was looking at my prize he got in front of my face and told me, "You know being second is good, but let me tell you what would be great...being first. First means you are ahead of everybody else. First means you're the BEST!" My grandpa was in politics so he was loud all the time. Not in a rude way, but he had this powerful voice that was both inspiring and annoying (at least to a twelve year old girl). Of course it was not his intention to discount my efforts but to challenge me. And boy, did I take that taunt like you would not believe. I was restless and annoyed at the same time. I had to prove myself. So, the next day I told my teacher I wanted to sign-up for the Spelling Bee contest. For eighteen months, I studied. I read day and night learning every word my mind could absorb. I watched my cousins play outside or in the fields, while I buried my head in the dictionary. I was obsessed. I had a mission and that was to prove I could be first. I won the Spelling competition 3x. As a matter of fact, I was the very first student our school ever sent to Regionals. I got that far. However, just like all things, my lucky streak ended and I eventually lost. I was so disappointed in myself. My grandfather with his very loud laugh told me, "Why are you sulking? You got the gold and you've made your point! Go out and play!" I had no idea at that time that those couple of years were going to be a defining moment in my life. From then on, each and every time I would doubt myself, I'd close my eyes and think of that twelve year old girl who got the gold because she worked hard and believed in herself. 

To this day I think one of the very few people who got me and knew how to push my buttons was my maternal grandfather. He teased and provoked me because he knew that I would get back at him by proving him wrong each and every time. He also knew that my obsessions usually had an expiration date. He knew that given enough time and once I got it out of my system, I'd lose interest eventually and that would be it. He gave my Spelling Bee obsession two years and he was right. I remember another time when I told him I wanted to become a fashion designer and instead of fighting with me, he just said okay. That fixation ended after eight months. I also dated this boy whom everybody said he and his family were only after our land. Our relatives told my grandpa to stop me from getting involved with him. My grandpa instead of getting angry and telling me to stop seeing the boy just grinned and watched it all end in a few months. He knew I am that way with things, people and hobbies. He told me one time that I would someday find something that I'd stick to simply because it will bring me joy like nothing else could. The other day as I was doing the dishes, it just hit me. This unexplainable ache and longing for him. I guess that's just how life works. No one really completely gets over a loss of a loved one. It could be a song, a certain smell or even a movie, a favorite dish, a particular month or date. It will just come to you at the most unexpected moment. How you wish you could get another chance to hear their voice, get a hug, see their smile or just hang out with them one last time. I wish he lived long enough to meet my children and to see how my life turned out. This post is for you, Tatay Mading. Happy birthday! I miss you every day of my life. 

Well, that's all I have for today. Thank you for stopping by. 

To order products used to create the card above, please click below. You can even print the supply list by clicking the Supply List on the bottom left corner.
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Sunday, September 6, 2015

Cozy Christmas

Here is my second Christmas card post for 2015. I was really surprised how lovely this card turned out to be. I wanted to use this stamp set so much, but I could not decide on a layout. It's unbelievable the amount of time and paper I wasted trying to come up with ideas. I should have known the old adage, "less is more" works every time. I am so in-love with this stamp set. I want to live in this cottage and stamp all day. I won't even need a TV or internet. Just books, my arsenal of stamp supplies and maybe wine, coffee and chocolates. In that order. Smile


I used the 2-way Glue Pen on the cottage and trees then sprinkled it with Dazzling Diamonds
Well, that's all I have for now - have to go back and prep for my Fall Stamp-a-Stack Cards class next Saturday. Yesterday, I made 20 Christmas Cards. It feels great knowing I am ahead of my schedule and check list. Thank you for stopping by. 

To order products used to create the card above, please click below. You can even print the supply list by clicking the Supply List on the bottom left corner.
 Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Christmas 2017

Merry Christmas, everyone! We had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner at my mom's last night. Lots of great food: lechon (Filipino ham), pa...