Finally!

This is dream come true, one of the things I've been longing for the longest time. And now my wish is finally granted. Leslie Ackman, owner of Scrapwords announced that I will be part of her Desing Team. Scrapwords DT members are known as the Wordsmiths so it's official, I AM NOW A WORDSMITH.

I'm so excited with this Wordsmith blinkie:



I am supposed to be the Guest Desinger of Scrapwords for the next four months (September to December) but just last week I received a private message from Leslie asking me if I wanted to be a Wordsmith on a regular basis. Who wouldn't want to? Of course I said YES!!!

This is my first DT position ever and I'm very very happy. I've been with Scrapwords since July 2007, two months after it opened. I've been loyal to it, probably because it focuses on JOURNALING and STORYTELLING which is my forte. In Scrapwords, a layout is never complete without the story or sentiments behind the photos.

See the announcement here.

For the first DT challenge I will be hosting, I will be giving a RAK so stay tuned and do visit Scrapwords.

See you around!

Two RAKS in a DAY

Just the other day, I received two RAKS (random act of kindness), one from South Africa and the other one from Sweden.

The one from Sweden is from Anna B., Design Team Member of My Scrapbook Nook. Last July 17-19, the Nook held an online crop which I participated in. I was so lucky to win in Anna's Ad Inspiration Challenge through random drawing. Actually, I won another one, a $10 gift certificate to spend at the Nook's online shop. Lucky, huh? Two prizes in a day!!!

Here's what I got from Anna B (from her personal stash)- some old Swedish papers, cardstocks (Bazzill and KI Lace), stickers, Prima flowers, Scenic Route rub-ons, chipboard shapes and ribbons:









The other one from South Africa was from one of Journaling Junkie's Design Team, Stefanie Semple. I joined in one of their weekly challenges (REMINISCENCE) several weeks ago.

Here's what I got:





Here is the LO that made me win:



This LO is one of my projects for the LB Scrapaholics BINGO.

Materials used: cardstock, Prima and Cherry Arte patterned papers, ribbon and trims, Prima, Making Memories and Heidi Swapp flowers, metal embellishments, Hambly transparency, American Crafts Thickers, Hot Off the Press alphas, Creative Imaginations journaling paper, Fancy Pants tags, acrylic paint, Ranger Glossy Accents.

Journaling reads:

My earliest childhood memories were set in this garden in our old house in Canlubang. I'd never forget the colorful San Francisco plants as well as the butterfly tree with its purple flowers where I discovered the wonder of play and developed my love for nature. 1972

Lookin' for Love Challenge

Yesterday I learned that I won in Colette's Lookin' for Love Challenge. This challenge is in line with the 40 Days Countdown Celebration for Beverley Todd's 40th birthday last August 8. Colette Bate is from Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Her challenge was to post a photo of an old project that you love but didn't get much attention. And then ... the project that receives the MOST comments will be announced the WINNER.

Here is my entry to this challenge:







This is one of my favorite LO's of all time, the first ever LO I entered in an online contest. Do you remember the Challenge of Two's at Scrapbytes last October 2006? This was the entry that I submitted. Unfortunately, it didn't win. I entered this LO to other online contests but wasn't given the recognition that I hoped for. I'm so glad that this time around, it was recognized and chosen as the overall WINNER.

By the way, here is my journaling.It’s an account of my life in a form of a fairy tale.

Once upon a time, a baby girl was sent from the Heavens to the Land of Two in a castle where King Benjamin and Queen Elnora lived, two people chosen by the Divine Being to be the parents of the baby girl whom they named Maria Fatima, the Princess of the Land. Two years later, another addition to the royal family came. This time a baby boy whom they called Benjamin, Jr. Unfortunately, the Queen fell ill so there was no choice but to entrust Prince's care to the Queen's parents --Teofisto and Patrocinia in a land not so far away from the Land of Two. The Queen's two sisters, Brenda and Nerissa painstakingly took good care of Prince Benjamin, Jr.Several years passed and the royal family was already complete with the addition of two more boys - Princes John Dominic and Jerome whom the Princess played with, fought with and basically grew up with.The Princess turned out to be a fine lady admired by many because of the two qualities she possessed - intelligence and leadership. She was always on the top of her class and held top positions in school organizations. She attended one of finest universities of the land and studied Science.When the Princess was already of age, she fell in love with her Prince Charming - Danilo whom she married on the 2nd month of the year, the love month of February. After two years of blissful marriage, they were blessed with two wonderful children, James Genar and Dannah Marie. Life was not always a bed of roses for the Princess and her two children because Prince Danilo had to be away for years in a very far land for a mission. She kept herself busy with her two great passions - teaching and scrapbooking.Fortunately, two months from now, the Princess' family will be reunited for good and surely they will all live happily ever after. MFOM OCT.2006

I will be receiving this yummy Tropical Album In An Afternoon (twelve double sided, heavy quality patterned cardstock papers) along with the chipboard alphabet and a BONUS set of coordinating chipboard embellishments:





You can view the annoncement here.

Thank you very much, Colette for this opportunity. I'm so excited with the prize. Can't wait to play wit it. I have to wait till October to get hold of the prize. I asked Colette to ship it to my cousin's place in California.

Weekend Crop at SK

Scrappin Kids (SK) had once again organized a weekend online crop. The last time I joined was during the National Scrapbooking Day for SK's Ultimate Scrapper Contest where I emerged second to my friend, Issa who was awarded the title. That was around three months ago.

The online crop included a challenge and a tutorial by one of SK's Resident Designer, Wati.

For the challenge, we were asked to create a layout inspired by the Singapore's flag since it was Singapore's National Day yesterday. Here is what I came up with:



I lifted the colors of the Singapore flag - red and white but I added black for contrast. I also included some stars in my layout.

The one in the photo is my eldest Jigs who is 13 years old and in First Year HS.

Here is my journaling:

I still do not understand why you avoid photo opportunities. It just saddnes me that I am not able to document significant events or even everyday moments. Last night was your first Acquintance Party ever now that you are on your first year in highschool. I asked you if I could take your photo...once, twice, thrice, I couldn't remember how many times but all I got for an answer was a NO! I hope it will be a YES next time.
Photo - March 22, 2008; Journaling - August 10, 2008

For the tutorial, Wati demostrated how to make a pop-up mini album. Here's my take:

The album's cover:



The inside pages:



When we met 19 years ago, we promised that we'd be together foever. Now after years of being together, that promise still holds true. We've been through a lot of up's and down's in our 13 years of marriage but we're still here. I thank God for that!



There are so many things I'd like to tell you. For a time (almost 10 yesrs, that is), we were separated by fate. God reunited us and allowerd use to be together for 1 year and 7 months - straight after you decides to resign from SPIMACO.But life is really hard these days that you have to try your luck again in Saudi Arabia. Things happened so fast and one day I woke up, you were already there.



We didn't have a chance to have a heart to heart talf before you left for your job in Saudi Arabia. I forgot to tell you how thankful I am that I am your wife and that you are the father of my children. I thank God for giving me someone who is kind-hearted, prayerful and a good provider. Thank you for giving us the best that you could give. I'd like you to know how much I appreciate you.



Forgive me too for all the heartaches and headaches I might have caused you. I know I can be mean sometimes. So sorry for giving you "nags instead of hugs", "not so nice words instead of sweet kisses and for always finding faults instead of appreciating your good traits. I promise to make up for all these shortcomings. Best of all, I'd like to tell you and make known to the world that I LOVE YOU NO MATTER WHAT ALWAYS AND IN ALL WAYS.

The entire album, opened:

My Little Attic Layout

My Little Attic (MLA) had just concluded its 1st ever blog challenge. The challenge was to interpret Valerie Salmon's sketch and use only items purchased from MLA's store.

Here is my take:



Materials used: Basic Grey (Perhaps and Sultry), Bazzill cardstock, Doodlebug Designs Paper Frills, Basic Grey Alpha chipboard (Wilma), MM tiny stickers, Prima flowers (Sprites), Autumn Leaves Foofala buttons and clear stamps, Fancy Pants clear stamps, acrylic paint (brown and hot pink), Colorbox Fluid Chalk inks (brown and pink), bling, ribbons, heart-shaped brads

Journaling: I am a cutie, sweet and cuddly...why don't you Kiss Me, Dannah - 2006

Got a Blogger Award from Issa

My best friend Issa awarded me with this Creative Blogger Award:



Here are the rules... have fun with the tag!
1. The winner may put the logo on her blog.
2. Put a link to the person you got the award from.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to the blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

I'm passing on this award to Chiqui, Jona, Candy, Donna and Colette. Congratulations ladies!

1st, 2nd and 3rd!

Would you believe that I won first, second and third place in Scrapmuse's Monthly Contests for three consecutive months {April Contest annouced in May, May Contest announced in June and July 2008(they skipped June)}?

My first win at Scrapmuse was for its April contest-Spring at Scrapmuse. I won FIRST PLACE. Here is my winning layout:



Journaling:

10 Random Facts about ME

1. I am creative. And it shows in the way I live, in my art and in the way I do work.
2. I am passionate. I put my whole heart and mind to anything that suits my fancy. I'm passionate with my art!
3. I am a go-getter. I'll do my best to achieve my goals and aspirations in life.
4. I am a hopeless romantic. I still long for candle-lit dinners, red roses and love letters even in this age of computers.
5. I am a scrapaholic. I love documenting important events as well as everyday moments. I love the shopping that goes along with SCRAPBOOKING.
6. I love to travel, going places, meeting people, taking photos.
7. I am a bargain hunter, always on the look out for sales.
8. I am sentimental. Love songs remind me of something. I still keep mementos from way back.
9. I am a nature lover. I love flowers, trees, bees, butterflies and lady bugs. I love being one with nature.

I am MARIA FATIMA MERCADO, TIMI for short. I am all these and more.

I received my prize worth $25 last month thru the kindness of Chiqui's aunt.


My second win was in their May's Journaling Contest. Here is the layout the bagged the SECOND PLACE:



Here's my journaling:

My dearest Danny,

My heart was broken when you left for Saudi Arabia. I thought I couldn't make it without you. Oh how I missed you so much! Good thing there was always the constant reminder that SOMEDAY "time will come when we'd all be together again, all four of us living a better life" encouraged me to just go on. This reminder was always reflected in our letters. After almost ten years, that SOMEDAY finally came. Now we are together - Jigs, Dannah, you and myself, never to be apart again. Thank God that particular SOMEDAY in our lives was realized. Thank you, too for keeping your promise.

There are so many things I want to thank you for. Because of us, you endured almost 10 years of being away from us, your family just to give us a brighter future. You put up with the extreme heat and cold of the Saudi Arabian desert. You missed celebrating birthdays, Christmases, New Years, anniversaries, graduations and recognitions days with us. You took pain in attending to your own personal needs especially when you were sick. You allowed yourself to abstain from pork (which is your favorite) to eat beef, chicken and fish, beef, chicken and fish, prepared with not much variation. You bore up with not so pleasing personalities and sometimes discriminating ones. You withstood a culture very different from ours. FOR ALL THESE AND MORE, JIGS, DANNAH AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.

We may not always be in good terms nowadays but remember, I still love you. I may not show it but I do love you. You are the wind beneath my wings. You always let me shine and be the best of who I am. It's probably because of the long time that we've been together. I'll try to make up, promise, just give me more time.

As I always tell you in my letters, I love you no matter what...always and in all ways.

Love and prayers,
Timi

My prize is a $15 GC to spend in the Scrapmuse Store. I'm already done with my shopping. My prize is going to be shipped to my cousin in California as my Tita Olive
will be going home in October.

My third and latest win is for its July Sketch and Paint Challenge where I got the THIRD PLACE. Here is my winning entry:



Materials used: Prima Morning Song collection (Chattering), Basic Grey chipboard (Wilma), Heidi Swapp flower, Prima flowers and Say it in Crystals, buttons, lace, ricrac, MM acrylic paint, Color box fluid chalk ink, metal photo corner.

I used a metallic mesh as a stamp/mask using paint as medium. I also handpainted around the base paper to add to the already existing painted look around the paper.

My prize is a $10 GC.

3-2-1 Countdown to Summer Contest

Last month I joined in Scrappy Arts 3-2-1 Countdown to Summer Contest and just today they announced the winner. Guess who? No other than ME! Here is my winning LO:



The mechanics of the contest were as follows:

You must create one layout, at least 8.5 X 11 in size, that includes the following elements:

Choose THREE PRODUCTS from this list to include on your layout. You may include other items as well, but be sure to note the three list items you used.
1. Photo corners
2. Anything epoxy
3. Flowers
4. Ribbon
5. Brads
6. Chipboard embellishment (non-alpha)
7. Staples
8. Journaling card/tag
9. Buttons

10.Transparency


Choose TWO techniques to use on your layout:
1. Painting
2. Paper tearing
3. Distressing
4. Stamping
5. Punching (hole punch, decorative edge, etc.)
6. Doodling


Choose ONE song title and/or at least one line of lyrics from any of these songs to include on your layout:
1. "In the Summertime" - Mungo Jerry
2. "Summertime" - DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince
3. "Hot Fun In The Summertime" - Sly and the Family Stone
4. "Sunshine On My Shoulders" - John Denver
5. "Heatwave" - Martha & The Vandellas
6. "Seasons In The Sun" - Terry Jacks

Note: Items in bold were the ones I used for the challenge.

This is what the Scrappy Arts' Design Team has to say about my LO:

We simply loved the design of the winning layout... the sunshine and buttons were too cute! Stunning bright colors!

After several days of not scrapping as I was in Digos City, Davao del Sur where I was assigned to administer the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT), this news is indeed a nice way of welcoming me back to my world of scrapbooking! I'm really, really happy about this!!!