Birthday Blooms

Happy MLK Day, everyone! It has been raining here since yesterday. I love the rain and I especially love it on a 3-day weekend when I don't have to leave the house and I can stay in my pajamas all day. I stayed up all night listening to the rain while getting caught-up with Downton Abbey. It's their final season and I am going to be heartbroken when it's over. What will my life be after Downton? Haha! I am sure I'll live just like how I managed after Mad Men.  

Anyway, I want to share with you another beautiful card that we made in Cards class last Saturday. I used Birthday Blooms from the brand new 2016 Occasions Catalog. I just adore this stamp set and it's amazing to color. The coordinating Birthday Bouquet Designer Series Paper is also a must have. I used the Archival Black Ink on Shimmery White cardstock. I love how much thicker it is and it gives off a subtle shimmer. I just have to be really frugal with it because only 10 pieces comes in a pack.

Well, that's all for today. Sadly, chores don't take a holiday. Thank you for stopping by. 

To order the materials used to create the beautiful card above, please click the Supply List below.

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Wildflower Flowering Fields

For the past ten years, one of the things I look forward to about the new year is Sale-a-Bration aka SAB promotion that Stampin' Up! offers. Beginning January 5th to March 31, 2016 - for every $50.00 purchase/order from any of Stampin' Up! current catalog(s) before shipping and taxes, you will receive one free stamp set or paper pack or Project Life Specialty Card Collection. I just love freebies! Don't you? It must be the woman in me and how I do math when it comes to shopping. But for some odd reason, getting a freebie with my purchase justifies the expense. I feel that the freebie somewhat absolves me of the guilt because I get more for my buck. I am sure I am not alone on this theory. Come on, admit it! Haha! Anyway, this year's SAB catalog is super awesome and I truly love everything in it. I was so excited to use the Flowering Fields stamp set and coordinating Wildflower Fields Designer Series Paper. I love it when things are matchy-matchy. They've done all the hard work for me. Everything fits! 

We made the cards below in cards class today. Watercoloring is so therapeutic. It's so interesting listening to all my gals chatting and laughing then all of a sudden they will become quiet and that's when they are coloring the stamped images. Aren't these cards so lovely? You can change the sentiment according to your needs. I know, I always like to have thank you cards handy. However, this is also perfect as a sympathy or birthday card. 

I know that the Clear/Cling stamps require less space, but to me I only buy Clear mainly because it's cheaper. When it's FREE, I always pick Wood mount stamps. I find that it's sturdier and I can trim the rubber according to my preference. I hate getting halos when I stamp and the rubber is not trimmed properly. I also get annoyed when I have to adhere and remove the stamps on clear blocks. Wood mount stays true and whenever I feel like stamping, I just take them out of the container without messing with acrylic blocks plus making sure they stick. 

Well, that is all for now. Have a wonderful 3-day weekend. Thank you for stopping by.

To order the materials used to create the cards above, please click below. 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Bohemian Birthday Card

Our 2016 was not off to a great start. We had a scare with my daughter and had to rush her to the hospital almost a week ago. She first complained that the right side of her stomach hurts. Gradually, the pain increased until she just started screaming in pain and started vomiting violently-like. I thought it could be appendicitis.  After five hours in the ER, lab work and ultrasound, the doctor casually asked, "Any history of kidney stone in the family?" I shamefully raised my hand and hugged my daughter then told her with a grin, "Blame your grandmother!" I stayed home with her for two days. It's got to be one of the worst feelings for a mother - to watch her child in pain helplessly. I am her mom and I wanted to fix it and take it all away, but I couldn't. She is much better now and slowly regaining her strength. Hopefully, that incident taught her to drink more water. 

On the other hand, I had time to reflect and write while she napped after exhaustion from pain. I've not written in my journal in a good while. It's an utter shame on my part because I do plan to sit down and write every morning while I slowly drink my coffee, yet I don't. Why not? Because watching videos on youtube always win. This year, I want to write more. I've proven it to be really good for me all these many years. And I need to make time for it. 

I want to share this really cute and simple birthday card using Bohemian Designer Series paper and Banner punch. I also glued a piece of DSP on the envelope flap. What an awesome way to dress-up an envelope. 

I received an inquiry from one of my blog readers if I could share the measurements of my cards. Ha! I didn't know I had any followers. So, from now on I am going to try and do that. 

Card Recipe:
Base Blackberry Bliss - 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 scored at 4 1/4, 4 1/4 x 3 
Mat Very Vanilla - 5 1/4 x 4, 4 x 2 3/4
Bohemian DSP - 1 1/2 x 5 1/4
Bohemian DSP for Envelope flap - 5 3/4 x 2 1/4 (trim edges to fit the flap after it's been glued)

I found it easier to glue the middle banner first so it guided me when I adhered the others on the sides. I just used the edges of the Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the banners. Worked out awesomely! 

Well, that is all for now. Thank you for stopping by. 

To order products to create the adorable card above, please click below. You can even conveniently print the Supply List on the bottom left corner.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

New Year's Eve 2016

It's hard to believe that I am entering my 5th year blogging about my so-called life and my love for handmade cards. I usually like to share a valuable lesson that I learned the past year. Right now, I am at a loss for words. The year went by way too quickly. I think even much quicker than the previous years. Oh well, getting older is definitely not for the faint of heart. Let me back up, getting older while watching your children get older is very challenging. Trying to educate while learning to let go? Definitely not for sissies! I am so fortunate though, to have such amazing kids. Sometimes, it surprises me that they are mine. Haha. Being with my son and listening to him talk about his passion for dance and self-expression is definitely very inspiring. His dream is for schools and society as a whole to recognize dance as a form of art and include it in their curriculums. He explained to me that he is not a dancer. He is a choreographer, a teacher and a motivator. This kid hustles like you won't believe to make his dreams come true. He truly makes me proud every single day. He definitely has a lot to learn about life, but I personally think he is on the right track. 

My daughter loves music. She loves musical instruments and she tells me all the time that being in Marching Band and Drum Line are the two things that get her up every morning to go to school. I wish she'd love school more, but to have that kind of passion for music at an age when it's so easy to just go online is very inspiring. Practices and competitions for band are very rigorous. Yet, she shows-up every single time while making sure she has good grades.  

I don't believe in resolutions anymore. I believe that when people want to change something about themselves, it's irrelevant when or where they want to make it happen. However, this year I will do my best to hustle more, to create more and to inspire more people to be creative. 

I CASED this calendar from my Upline, Karen Flores. I just changed the colors. I love red and black, don't you? We made this in our Giftables class and everybody loved it. 

Well, this is it - my final blog post for 2015. I wish you all the best of everything in the coming new year! 

Late Christmas 2015

I meant to post on Christmas morning, but I got up a little later than usual. I also cooked brunch for my family, since my son was home for a few days. It was wonderful to eat together and my kids enjoyed french toast and bacon. Then we went to see the new Star Wars movie and that was that...our Christmas was over. It was an awesome Christmas - just to wake-up that morning and find my children asleep in their room was priceless. I want more days like that. 

I took the day off today and so I have all day to putz around the house and be a complete bum. Actually, I started early by updating my planner and also starting a brand new Address Book. Oh yeah, I keep an Address Book - religiously! They still do exist just like my planner. I am very particular though. I only use the brand/artist, Lang. My old one was twelve years old. It was still in good condition, but it really bothers me when people move and I have to cross their old addresses. It makes me look sloppy, and I sure don't want that. So, this way - it's clean and on to a new year, right? Yep, I have issues. Smile.

I want to share this adorable goodie bags I made for my co-workers. I used the Gift Bag Punch Board (135862) to make the smallest bag. I was able to fit in a few Ghirardelli Squares inside. I also tried and you can put EOS lip balm and even a mini sanitizer inside. What a cute idea, right? And oh so simple to make. I think for Valentine's Day, I can use the same concept and just change the colors. 

Well, that's all for today...back to my recorded Hallmark movies. Thank you for stopping by.

To order products to create the adorable bags above, please click below. You can even conveniently print the Supply List on the bottom left corner. 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Catching Up to Christmas

I apologize for being MIA the past month or so. This is my favorite time of the year and also my busiest. Every year I make it a goal to be more prepared. But no, it never happens. I am exhausted, yet I cannot afford to slow down. I was somewhat under the weather for a few weeks and just self-medicated in order to keep chugging along. I am so ready for a few days off during the holidays.

I must admit that aside from being preoccupied with work and holiday stuff, I'd been feeling a little bit melancholic. I made a conscious decision to step away from Facebook. It was draining away my diminishing strength and I thought I'd try to disconnect. It has been a month since I logged-out and I have not missed it at all. My birthday came and went very quietly. I've never been one to make a big deal or to fret over getting older. However, I noticed that as I was approaching my recent birthday, I just had this dark cloud over me. I was easily irritated, bitter and just plain sad. I didn't much mind turning forty-five, but the thought of turning fifty in five years just made me feel crappy. 

Before Thanksgiving last year, I was very restless and anxious. I just needed to change something in my life. It felt like I was in a rut and I didn't like feeling that way. So, on one ordinary Saturday morning, I walked in to my hair stylist's salon and told him to chop off my hair. Just like that. He shook his head at first and asked me a couple of times if I was sure. I said, yes. I want it gone. I don't want to feel it on my neck and on my face. An hour later, I had this what's called "pixie cut", aka boy's cut. I enjoyed the ease and freedom for a few months. Then decided to grow it all back. So for the past year, that was the goal - grow my hair back long enough to be able to put them up. Because being in a rut is something I'd gotten good at. I don't know why I even try. Aughh!

For a few months I contemplated on leaving my job. I received a good offer from a bigger company with an almost comparable pay to my current one. Although I knew it was not a great offer (not one I can't refuse, so to speak), it didn't matter. I was so excited for a while about the thought of the unknown. The possibility of a new adventure gave me butterflies in my tummy. I was nervous, but in a good way, you know? In the end, after weighing my pros and cons, I stayed. I only allowed myself three days to mope around and sort of regret not leaving. After that, I focused my energy on our Company Holiday Party. That was when and where I realized why I am still here after eleven or so years. More than anything, I truly work for my employees. They are the reason why I do what I do. I work with such an amazing group of people. They are dedicated, hard workers and good-hearted individuals. I am so fortunate to know them. 

I CASED this card directly out of the Holiday catalog: Flurry of Wishes stamp set and coordinating Snow Flurry punch, Pool Party, Tip Top Taupe and Whisper White cardstocks 

I CASED this card directly out of the Holiday catalog: Your Presents stamp set and coordinating Holidays Fancy Foil Designer Vellum, Soft Sky and Whisper White cardstocks.
Kissing Technique - learned from 2015 Stampin' Up! Convention

It's Christmas Eve and I still have lots of gift wrapping to do. I am so excited to see my son tonight. I have not seen him since July and I have really missed him. 

Well, thank you for stopping by. Merry Christmas, everyone!

December 2015 Paper Pumpkin

One of the things I love about Paper Pumpkin is the element of surprise. It's like Christmas every month waiting for it. So far, I have always been pretty happy with the kits. This month's kit though...I really LOVE and wish Stampin' Up! would make the refills available to order soon.  

I hope you are already a Paper Pumpkin subscriber. If not, it is never too late to join the fun and creativity in a box. 

Please subscribe by January 10th in order to receive next month's kit by going to mypaperpumpkin.com and please remember to choose me as your Demonstrator: Melinda Pascual.

Thank you for stopping by!