Inspired by Stamping Design team announement

Hi there. Today I have some very exciting news. I am honored to have been picked to be part of the Inspired by Stamping design team. I'm so excited about this new adventure. To see the official announcement please click here.

And because this post won't be complete without some images, I'm sharing with all of you the card that I submitted for my design team application.

The challenge was to use this image as an inspiration for our project

and my card...

Happy Birthday

With this project I took the flowers and the subdued color of the cork as my inspiration from the photo inspiration provided. I stamped the flower images onto white cardstock and then colored it in with markers. I then cut it out and then adhere it to my card using foam adhesive to create dimension and texture to my card. I also used the beige background to remind me of the color of the cork in the photo.

make sure you stop by the Inspired by Stamping blog to see all of the awesome ladies I'll be working with this term. :)

Till next time,
Grace

Flower Topiary *Spellbinder's dies*

Hello friends. Today I want to share a project I made just before the year ended last year. I participated in the Spellbinder's big craft contest and because I had a big obsessions with topiaries, I decided to make one as my entry for the contest. I took photos of the project during the process and that's what I'm sharing with you today in hopes that it will give you the inspiration to create something beautiful for your home today :)

Celebrate Flower Topiary

Supplies Used:

Grand Calibur, Spellbinders Die Cut Machine

Label’s Eight and Spiral Blossom Three die, Spellbinders

Foam ball- Styrofoam

Pattern papers- American Crafts. Authentique, DCWV, Creative Memories; Lily Bee Design; Kaiser Craft; Fancy Pants Design; GCD Studios; My Little Shoebox; Pink Paislee, Webster’s Pages; SEI; My Mind’s Eye, Imaginesce

Buttons- Vintage, Source Unknown

Twine- Caribbean, The Twinery

Stamp- Pretty Phrases, Paper Smooches

Embossing powder- Black, American Crafts

Ribbon- Celebrate it, Michael’s Craft Store

Glue sticks and Glue Gun- Glue Arts

Adhesive- Glue dot, Scrapbook Adhesive by 3L

Others- Vase, Moss, Toothpick, Green Foam; Dowel

Instructions:

1. Run various pattern papers through the Grand Calibur using the Spiral Blossom Three die. For my 6” Styrofoam ball I used about 40-60 pieces of spiral flowers. *This is a great project to use up those scraps of papers. The best papers to use are double sided so you have more options and designs to choose from.

2. Using a stick (pencil, dowel or in my case a paint brush) roll the die cut shape into a flower.

3. Use some glue gun on the bottom of the rolled flower to keep its shape together.

4. Do step 2 and 3 for the rest of the die cut flower shapes.

5. Stick the dowel on the Styrofoam ball. Put a little glue on the tip of the dowel before sticking it in the foam to keep it secure. Wrap some ribbon around the dowel. Glue the end of the ribbon to keep it secure. Trim excess.

6. Stick the die cut flowers on the foam using stick pins. If it gets hard to stick it, you can use a little hammer to help it through.

7. Do step 6 until you’ve covered the foam ball with the die cut flowers.

8. Add some vintage buttons on the centers of the flowers. Adhere the buttons with more glue.

9. Put together your flower topiary. Place some green foam inside the vase, stick the topiary in the center and cover the green foam with moss. *you can add some glue on the green foam so it would adhere to the vase but I preferred not to so I can use the vase for other projects if I wanted to in the  future.

10. Run a double sided paper (beige/pink) through the Grand Calibur using two nested pieces from the Labels Eight die cut pack; emboss the edges as well.

11. Emboss the sentiment onto the pink piece of paper.

12. Adhere the pink piece onto the beige paper. Add strips of papers to create a banner and a ribbon border on the bottom of the sentiment. Finish it off with some twine and a button.

13. Add a toothpick on the back of the title paper. Secure it with tape.

14. Stick the title piece on the front of the flower topiary. 

and here's a second look at the finished project. 

Oh and if in case you were wondering, my project was picked as an "honorable mention" winner in the contest. I was supposed to submit the project to the head office but because of my trip to Cali, I missed the deadline. It was okay cause when I saw the final winner, the project was super clever and definitely deserving of the coveted grand prize. 

Hope you enjoyed my project and tutorial. Have a great week.

Till next time,

Grace

40% off Grace Worthy Designs

Happy Friday. This week sure went by fast. I recently made some new cards that I'd like to put in my Etsy shop but would love to move some older merchandise first. If you have been eyeing somethings in the shop, take this weekend's sale as an opportunity to grab that one of a kind, especially-made item. Everything in the store is 40% off.

 

Thank you for your continued support and have a great weekend.

Till next time,
Grace

Layouts for Marcus

Hi there my friends. Today I've decided to share with you some layouts about my son and update those that are following our "journey" to figuring out how to help him with his ADHD. Just before we left for our California trip, I had a meeting with some professionals regarding a battery of tests that Marcus had to go through for his sensory issues. The results was mostly things that I've already known but one thing that the physician did mention that threw me off for a few days was that he can really see Marcus having mild asperger as well.

 

I knew that he was, in some way, in the Autism spectrum but I wasn't sure where he really falls. Now the physician's comments were not an official diagnosis as the specific clinic we went to doesn't do that but being that the doctor sees kiddos like Marcus all the time, I highly value his opinion.

 

At first it was a hard pill to swallow to know that we are now dealing with two things-ADHD and Mild Asperger! As if the ADHD wasn't hard enough, now I have to start researching on Asperger and see what I can do to help my son. The good side to this though is after the doctor mentioned the issue, everything that Marcus has done in the past made sense and that I truly believe that this condition, even if it's not an official diagnosis answers a lot of the struggles my son has.

 

But I cannot really wallow in my challenges especially after all the kind words left by friends and family on facebook after I've mentioned it there. It's a comforting thought to know that many people out there are sincerely praying for my son's well being and believes that we, as a family, can overcome the challenges ahead of us. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by "angels" and for that I am determined and have the courage to "fight this fight", whatever that might entail!

 

So with that,I leave you with two pages I made recently for my son. A proof that scrapbooking is not just a hobby but a way for me to let my children know how special they are to me. :)

 

Nine @ Nine

I did a short photo session with my son right after his birthday last year. In this layout, I scrapbooked my favorites from that session along with a journaling of 9 things that Marcus was into at 9 years old.

 

Blues, greens and oranges dominated my page to give the layout a masculine feel. I also added stars and banner for the celebratory theme of the page.

 

 

You

This page was inspired by the quote from Robin Williams. I used it as a pocket for my handwritten journaling in which I declared my belief in Marcus' potential despite the challenges he has to face. I also added a chipboard star which I covered with glitter to emphasize the "sparkle" theme.

 

 

 

Till next time,

Grace

 

Mantra 2013

Hello friends and Happy Monday!

 

Hope you all had a great Holiday break. I took a break myself and spend my Christmas in California with family and some friends and then New Year's back in Colorado with my step daugther and her husband coming to spend a few days with us. It was a great two weeks full of new memories and photographs that captured the essence of the season. I love being with family during the Holidays. It was the perfect gift! I hope to get through the big file of digital images I've taken through the break sometime this week and share the highlights with all of you by next week.

 

Now that our visiting family members have gone back home and my little family is slowly getting back to our routine, it's time to look forward and actually plan out 2013. If you've followed me and my blog through the years, you know that I always start the year off with a "mantra". It's the words that I want to live by during the upcoming year.

 

I like organization and having a plan. It gives me purpose and a path to follow as I go on my year.In the past, I would always take a moment to reflect what the past year looked like. What I've accomplished, the challenges I've faced and of course, what do I need to improve on. So with that, my 2013 Mantra is...

 

 

This came about as I was taking stock of how crazy 2012 seemed like to me. I felt like I was always hustling and bustling; that my to-do list never ended and at the end of the year finding myself looking forward to my "vacation" with excitement not only because I get to see my family but also because I wanted to "get away". That was a sign for me that I was putting way too much on my plate. It was a signal that things need to change here or I'll only be repeating 2012.

 

So for 2013, I'm committing myself to simplifying life. I'm not going to attempt a new recipe every single night (that was one of my obsessions last year), instead I will cook from my "tried and true" recipe file. I will not obsess in trying to make everything in my Pinterest board and feel guilty that someone else is more creative than me. And finally, learning to say "no". That's going to be hard for me but I will try.

 

Another thing I want to concentrate on is "mastering the skills I already have". No more of the "jack of all trades, master of none!" This year I'm committing myself to learning everything I can about my camera and learning new techniques to capture that "special moment". I also want to learn new techniques in papercrafting. I feel like for me to continue to be a viable part of the papercrafting industry, I need to broaden my knowledge of the craft. Like what I said above in  my mantra frame, there's always room for improvement.

 

So with that I welcome 2013. Thank you for your continued support. I'm always surprised at who reads my blog and where my readers are coming from. Stop by and leave a comment when you can, I read them all and try to respond as soon as I can. I'm very honored that you choose to visit my little "home on the web", so please continue to stop by here and I wish each and everyone of you a prosperous New Year!

 

Till next time,

Grace

My favorite projects from this year

Let me start of by saying that I LOVE all of the projects I made this year. They are an extension of who I am. If I can call them my children, I'd win the "mother who had the most children" award this year. And yet, I stop and reflect on the things I've created in 2012 and the following are my favorites because they're the catalyst to stretching my creativity and passion for crafting to the next level.

 

Flower Pillow

I made this project for a design team assignment. I remembered browsing through my pinterest boards looking for a project that I've always wanted to try but never had the time nor "guts" to follow through. I love finding pretty things to create for my home and this one definitely fit the bill. Plus using my scap fabrics to create my colorful pinwheel flower helped me to pair down my ever growing stash.

You've always had it in you card

I made this card for a publication call. I was trying to make my style fit the publication needs. Unfortunately it was not picked up but I still adore this card. The journey I took in making this card was not my usual route. For most of my cards, I usually just "play" with whatever products I have on hand. With this one however, I planned out the papers, the chipboard and down to the quote. I can honestly say that this is not a typical "grace" card but I love how with just a little bit of planning, I'm able to put together a card that I had envisioned in my head.

 

Heart Healthy Altered Journal

This altered mini was another one from the "assignment" project category. I made this earlier this year for Ella Publishing as they celebrated Heart Healthy Month. This book is one of my favorite projects of 2012 because of how practical this can be for my own life. I'm in the process of re-evaluating my lifestyle and how good health fits in the picture. This year I've been so consumed with other things that I've neglected to pay close attention to my weight and exercise. I love the fact that I've made projects like these that will come in handy in other aspects of my life.

 

 

Be My Valentine Banner

This is my favorite banner this year. The knitted pockets was intentionally made for Christmas but I was not able to finish it on time. So I turned around a negative into a positive and used the pockets to make a Valentine banner instead. With a few additions of the pink, I was ready to celebrate the "heart" holiday.

Curly Style layout

This is my favorite layout of the year. Again I reserve a special spot in my heart for ALL of my scrapbook pages but this one stood out because I tried to find all the techniques I can do with twine. I don't consider myself a "technique" person but this layout proves to me that I can get out of my comfort zone once in a while and like the results.

 

So there you have it. My favorites from this year. What about you? What project stood out to you that I've shared this year? What was YOUR favorite project that you made this year? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

 

See you next year. *wink*

 

Till next time,

Grace

 

What a year it was

Hi there. Hope you all had a great Christmas. Now that the gifts are opened and the parties are done, it's time to look forward to the new year. After all we only have a handful of days left in 2012. But before I plan my goals and make up my map for the coming year, let me quickly reflect on this year's events for each one in my family.

 

1. Hubby had a very challenging year this year. He's risen up to unexpected trials and I am very inspired by his courage and determination.

2. He hula hooped at a school function. In the 10 years I've been married to him, he still surprises me as to the things he'll try to attempt.

3. Went back to school this year. He's maintained a perfect attendace record and held a 4.0 GPA up to this point. And everyone thought I was the scholar in the family!

4. He impessed me at how good he was at putting together puzzles. We worked on one earlier in the year and it took him about three days to finish it all. If he has more time, I'm sure he'll get into more puzzles if he can.

5. Took the family in our first camping trip since we've moved to Colorado. He was our outdoor guide and he made everything comfortable yet full of adventures during our family camping trip. I know that the kids and I can survive the "wilderness" if Mitch is with us.

 

1. Took on a few more challenges this year such as a growing Photography business and becoming a college student again. I feel so blessed to be given such great opportunities and I'm grateful for a family that supports me through it all.

2. I was 75% successful in my Project 365 photo challenge this year. I was doing good, taking a picture every single day, up to about October. That's when I had lost the motivation and my brain wasn't in it anymore. I jumped back in December but for most of November, I wasn't taking pictures. :(

3. Upgraded to a better camera this year and I'm loving it! Plus the video capability is making wonders for the way I document our lives now. Snippets of our lives are being captured in moving film. How cool is that?!

4. I wrote my first online article for photography for Ella Publishing. You can read it here.

5. I earned my Young Women Medallion this year. I didn't get my personal progress accomplished when I was young and getting this second chance was a true blessing.

1.Marcus had made some major strides this year, even with the diagnosis of ADHD in the beginning of the year. I'm so proud of his achievements.

2. Wore prescription glasses for a whole 7 days. I am not pushing it anymore but I do wished he's try it again.

3. Is still very addicted to video games. Later in the year he was given the Skylander's game by his big sister and that's all he talks about. That boy sure loves his WII games.

4. Participated in his first Science Fair this year. It was mostly mom that was stressing over it but I'm proud of his efforts.

5. He's getting more and more opinonated about what he wears. I found it exciting to see him pick and choose what he wears for the day plus the reasoning behind it. Sometimes I don't get it but I love that he's thinking for himself.

1. Madelyn is enjoying first grade a ton! She is doing well with her school work and usually needs help with her homework. I love her enthusiasm with school and we feel blessed that she has a great teacher this year. It truly makes a difference.
2. Oh boy, this girl is turning out to be a big diva! She has an opinion about everything. From her clothes to shoes to even what she'd like to be put on her hair. Gone are the days that I can pick her outfits for her and she'll just put them on. Now it's a fight every morning because she wants to have the final say as to what she'll wear. geessshh!
3. I enjoy watching her make and keep friends. She has an official "bff" (best friends forever) and always comes home with tons of stories about friends and classmates. She is friends with everyone and I love that about her. I hope she continues to make everyone her friend and to find the great qualities in every person.
4. She learned to ride her bike this year. With a handful of falls under her belt, I can safely say that she's a bike-riding pro now!
5. Have really embraced the crafts that mom does. She learned how to knit this year and continues to play with mom's scraps and scrapbook leftovers. She's made multiple cards for friends and family and enjoy the crafting time.Dare I say "mini me"?

Thank you for taking a trip back through memory lane with me.

Till next time,
Grace

We Wish you a Merry Christmas

Hello there dear blog friends. One more day before Christmas. Can you believe it? I hope that you found some peace and joy during this holiday season amidst the hustle and bustle that we usually experience during this time of the year. Before I go and enjoy the beauty of the season with the family, let me share with you two videos that I really liked that talked about the true meaning of the holidays. The music in the first one is impeccable and the story of the other one will give you some "warm and fuzzy" feelings. Heck, it might even leave you with some tears! I invited my kids to watch the last one and they really liked the story too.

 

 

 

And here's our official Christmas card this year. I went digital for the first time and designed our greeting in Photoshop. One of my goals this season was to simplify and so for the first time I didn't make handmade Christmas cards. It was hard to let that go but after having the first holiday season in many years that I wasn't lacking sleep and feeling over spent, I have to say that this new method is making me feel very liberated. What do you think?

 

 

We wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Till next time,
Grace

Shows I got hooked on

Hi friends. Today I'm breaking up the crafty projects with a little bit of random,and sort of trivial kind of post. I'm thinking ahead for a future scrapbook page in my "me" album as well.

 

Anyways, my way of catching up with TV and shows have changed dramatically this year. Since we've gone away with cable and Netflix, most of my watching is either done through Hulu or by borrowing DVD sets from the Library. I have to say, I'm liking this kind of entertainment as I can easily screen all the advertisements (still get some through Hulu, but they're manageable) and I can watch a complete series in a few days. I also like the convenience of being able to watch while I craft in my "cave" when everyone's gone to bed. It's part of my "me" time and I enjoy it tremendously.

 

Some of my favorites this year was...

 

The Voice

I was a huge fan of American Idol up to about four years ago. After that, I stopped watching any of the singing competitions until this year when I tried one episode of The Voice and instantly got hooked. I like the idea of the people being judge first and foremost by their voice. I'm still catching up (just on the beginning of the live shows) so please don't tell me who wins or in the top four or anything like that. Don't spoil the cliffhangers for me. :)

Jane By Design

I started watching this when I borrowed the first season DVD at the Library. After that I decided to do a quick search in Hulu and found it in the "free watch" section. Woohoo! I'm inspired by the outfits and the fashion. Although I think it's totally unreal for her to really live the two lives in the real world but it still makes for a good story line.

Drop Dead Diva

I started watching this when we still had Netflix. I was bummed when I didn't even get to finish the first season but thankfully my local library had the other seasons on DVD and all I had to do was wait patiently for my turn to get it. I think I had the second and third season on hold for about a month till I was able to finally get it. The wait was worth it though cause I am inlove with Jane Bingham and her super sassy character!

Downtown Abbey

And finally for this year, I've heard so many good things about this mini series from my sister Glady but I didn't have the time to see it for myself until about a week ago. I love the concept and being a Jane Austen fan, I love the script. There's already a few lines that I'm replaying in my head over and over again. This is a bit more dramatic and have more shocking plots that my fave Jane Austen Novels but I still love the glimpse of the early 1900's. It's so formal, proper and way different than our times. Oh how I love that time period!

 

So there you have it. My show picks of the year. I'm always looking for a new show to get hooked on, any suggestions?

 

Till next time,

Grace

Layout share *Creative Memories*

Hello there. Today's going to be a busy one for me as I attend both kid's Christmas parties and find time to work on unfinished projects. But before I head off to my busy day, let me share with you some layouts I made recently.

 

Ms. Fix It

I used the Summer Additions papers from Creative Memories here. I love the soft blue and the diagonal design. The geometric shapes are the trend these days. I used two of my favorite Creative Memories punches and that is the tag punch and the Scallop border punch. Love, love, love them!

 

This page is about one of my roles in this household and that is...a doctor to my kids' stuff animals. Every time there's a rip or tear to any of their beloved toys, they know immediately to put them on my craft table so I can sew them up as soon as I have the chance. I love it that to my kids' eyes, I'm "mrs. fix it!"

I love layering embellishments. In this page, I added a flag, stickers and die cut shapes to a cluster of embellishments.

US Olypmic Center

This page seemed to have been long overdue to complete. These pictures are almost two years ago. Sometimes I fret about being behind and other times, I don't really care about it. For some reason, this story seemed to be a very important one to document that when I had finally scrapbooked it, it made me feel productive.

One of the neat places to visit in my new hometown is the US Olympic Center. There's just a few in the country and Colorado Springs happen to house one of them. We got to tour the place and learned a few things about what athletes do/train for so they can proudly represent our country in the Olympics.

I used the Creative Memories circle cutter to cut the circles in my top and bottom border of the page. These circles reminds me of the Olympic Logo. I used the Enchanted line in this page.

To learn more about these and other Creative Memories products, click here.

Thank you for stopping by.

Till next time,
Grace