CARD# HPJ-2016-20: Extraordinary

Hi again! Here's the card I mentioned in the previous post. I just made it simple. I hope you like it.

I made the envelope using a page of patterned paper. I thought I still had those long white envelopes in my stash, but when I rummaged through the trays, I couldn't find any. I just had to make one from scratch.

This is a tall card that folds on the side. I usually have a struggle in making masculine cards and I didn't know what to make for Boss Kiko. He is one extraordinary cool guy. That I know, but it's hard to think of a design befitting his personality. It should be simple as Donna and I have agreed upon. I don't have much supplies for masculine cards, but I have lots of black and white paper! Ha! And there's my set of owl clear stamps. So I set off thinking of making a card along with these supplies and this is how it turned out. I love the owl and the triangles in the background! What do you think of it? I hope you'll say it's really pretty or it's awesome. Heh.

I stamped the owl onto the card base and stamped another one on a cardstock. I cut the image out and adhered it over the stamped image on the card with a chipboard at the back to add dimension. I took one of the printed sentiments from my stash and affixed it onto the card as well. I also added crystals to complete the set.

I adhered patterned paper on the inside of the card. The paper is from the paper pad that I bought from Wellmanson's when Donna and I went there last month (or was it last June?). 

I made one huge mistake on this card. I adhered a length of cotton tape on the inside of the card to hold the messages, but the cardstock would not fit onto the cotton tape. I tried to loosen it a bit, but the left part ripped off. Oops. 

This was one of the easy and fast cards to make. I had fun making it. I just can't get enough of the paper pads I bought recently. They are just too pretty! I hope I find more of them the next time I go to Wellmanson's.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: Bevania Splendorgel Board Paper White, Eno Greeting 12"x12" paper pad Floral, Recollections 12"x12 paper pad Blackjack, Kaisercraft Clear Stamps Triangles, MultiCraft Clear Stamps Owl Medley, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, printed text, self-adhesive crystals

CARD# HPJ-2016-19: Explore

Hello! It has been raining hard everyday for over a week now so I had to take photos of my recent projects indoors. Hmf. Sorry for the poor quality of the photos.

I made this mixed media card for Vina, a friend who left our company several weeks ago. It's not a farewell card but rather a best wishes card because we will surely still be able to meet her outside of work. She loves to travel and we ask her to include us in her tipid trips. We just spent the weekend with her at another friend's farm. We certainly had a great time amidst the torrential rain.

Anyway, here's the card. It didn't turn out like what I originally imagined, but it still looks good. I was supposed to put a picture of her (from when we went to the Tall Heritage Village last April), but I was just too lazy to have the picture printed so I just came up with this. I hope you like it.

I distressed the papers before adhering them onto the card base. The steps I took in making this card are similar with how I make my canvases. There's just a slight difference on this one since I used glimmer mist to add color to the resin frame and I splattered some on the background.

I used one of the cute pin buttons that I bought from Papemelroti to embellish the front of the card.

I also adhered designer papers on the inside of the card. I made a pocket to hold the cardstocks for the messages. I punched the edge with a Martha Stewart Edge Punch to add more flair to it. I didn't notice that I have not taken a photo with the cardstocks on. Hmf. 

Anyway, I know you have an idea how it looks like with the cardstocks. I placed the completed card inside a Papemelroti box with a mini notebook and key chain from the same store.

Check my next post if you have some more time. It's a card for another colleague who will be moving on to another post.

Thanks for looking today! Have a great week!


MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: Bevania Splendorgel Board Paper Ivory, Prestige Board Paper Zulu Black, Eno Greeting 12"x12" paper pad Retro Series, Rosie's Studio Sticker Book of Phrases, paper flowers, metal charms, Eno Greeting Resin Embellishment, Papemelroti Pin Button, Golden Molding Paste, The Crafter's Workshop Stencil Mini Bricks, Prima Marketing Clear Stamps Vintage Vanity, Mod Podge Matte, micro pearls, Pebeo Gesso, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Olive Green and Cinder

ART JOURNAL PAGE# 5: Time

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: Black and white photo, printed text, lace trimmings, Heidi Swapp Clear Stamps Mixed Media, Prima Marketing Clear Stamps Vintage Vanity,  Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, Ranger Distress Ink Mini Squeezed Lemonade, Golden Molding Paste, The Crafter's Workshop Stencil Mini Bricks, 

ART JOURNAL PAGE #4: Escape

"Let the things you love be your escape."

"Think positive and positive things will happen."

"Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle!"

Four years ago, I was accepted into graduate school. I didn't get enough sleep for the first two years trying to juggle work and school, but I persisted. I endured the agonizing commute and I tried my best not to doze off at work or in class (I think I have managed to sleep while my eyes are open. What a feat!) which was a total fail. Why did I put myself into such a situation? When I started working on my first job right after graduation, I felt like everything is routinary and that my mind is getting empty. I mean I felt like I'm getting dumb. I was getting nowhere doing the same things everyday. I thought I needed to study again. So I did. But after missing a semester which was totally not my fault (The only class that I could enroll in was not offered.), everything related to graduate studies had been cast aside, shoved somewhere it could never be seen again. I tried to return the following sem, but there were circumstances which did not allow me to go back. I did try, but it was just not meant to be. After two years of absence, I applied for re-admission once more, but then again, I had to withdraw. While the enrollment was drawing close, I felt uneasy, burdened if you may. I was hesitant to go back to the Graduate Studies Office and continue my re-admission application. I don't have the drive to finish it anymore. So many things happened during my two years of absence and so many realizations came to mind. Almost all  of them could be traced to my desire of following my passion. I talked about this with my friends and they asked me, "What will you do if you get your degree? Are you going to teach? Are you going to get a PhD? What happens next?" I had no answer to all of them. I had a change of heart. Well, if you look at it closely, I haven't changed my heart at all. It has always been my love for art. Now that I am slowly discovering myself and uncovering what I want in life, I only have the heart to pursue my dreams, of focusing on expressing myself through uniquely personal art. 

I want to go beyond trying to imitate the works of artists I admire and love and discover who I will become, know more about the reason of my existence, or rather the essence of my existence, my purpose in this world.

I don't think it would be the academe. It is something else entirely. So I have to let go of those years I spent in school. It would not be for nothing. I may not have finished it, but I have learned a lot from it. I'll move on and follow the path that my heart dictates and I won't let anyone stop me from doing it. I am who I am and more.


MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: Heidi Swapp Clear Stamps Mixed Media, Prima Marketing Clear Stamps Vintage Vanity, Inkadinkado Clear Stamps Inspirational Lift, Papermania Clear Stamps Bellissima Alphas, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, Ranger Distress Ink Mini Squeezed Lemonade, Crushed Olive and Peacock, Ranger Liuid Pearls Avocado

ART JOURNAL PAGE #3: Fly

"Take wing. Fly!"

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: Kaisercraft , Eno Greeting 12"x12" paper pad Retro Series, Bevania Splendorgel Board Paper White, Eno Greeting Wooden Embellishments, Kaisercraft Clear Stamps Perfume, Butterflies, Grid and Boutique, Heidi Swapp Clear Stamps Mixed Media, Prima Marketing Clear Stamps Vintage Vanity, Inkadinkado Clear Stamps Inspirational Lift, Papermania Clear Stamps Bellissima Alphas, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, Ranger Distress Ink Mini Squeezed Lemonade, Crushed Olive and Peacock, Ranger Liuid Pearls Avocado

ART JOURNAL PAGE #2: Black

"Love your dream and wear your passion."

I started to wear all black this year and I don't think people understand. They would always feel the need to ask me why I choose to dress the way I do. They assume that I am gothic, dressing for a funeral, depressed or downright emo. (I like goth, but I'm not one. I don't want to offend a culture.)

I was incensed upon hearing what a friend's friend told him about me. I always go out on breakfasts and trips with my colleagues who have become my closest friends so we have so many photos together that are posted on our SNS especially on Facebook. One of his friends had asked him who was the person on the pictures that always wear black. "What an emo!"

Okay. I was upset when I heard that. I told him to ask his friend what an emo means and wearing all black does not totally equate to being one. People tend to overgeneralize and of course they make you into a stereotype. I wanted to yell at that person to stop and dig deeper, to go beyond what she's seeing. She had programmed her mind into thinking that those who wear all black are emos. She does not know a thing! Each one has his or her reason to wear what he or she wants. Whatever reason that may be, it is a representation of the type of person he or she is. 

This is who I am right now! This is how I want to express myself. I don't dress for anyone but myself! 

So there. I told you I was quite incensed when someone attributed my wearing black to being an emo. I just hate it when people try to get me to wear pink. I don't necessarily have a dislike for colors which is evidenced by my works. On the contrary, my wearing all black is a manifestation of my creative self. Just please stop insisting that I wear a different color! I will do so when I want to and if there really is a need to. Sorry for the outburst. This just gets into me at times. 

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: Eno Greeting 12"x12 paper pad Retro Series, Rosie's Studio Sticker Book of Phrases, Ranger Distress Ink Mini Black Soot, Golden Molding Paste, Prima Marketing Stencil Harlequin, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Cinder, Bo Bunny Clear Stamps Dreamer, Prima Marketing Clear Stamps Vintage Vanity #1 and #2, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black 

ART JOURNAL PAGE #1: Dreamer

I have kept journals for years--until college that is. I would write anything under the sun. Even on an ordinary day, I would still have something to write about. It may be a little thing I did or how boring and routinary the day was. Sometimes I would rant how unfair the universe is or how difficult a person is. I go on and on until I get to go past some baggage. 

Another thing I love (which I have abandoned for over a year now or is it more than two years already?) is reading books especially classic novels. I would take note of quotes that have caught my eye as I read through the pages and write what I feel and think about them on my journal. I would include a character map of the story and while I'm at it, I would also make a list of the characters with a short description of each. Man, how I miss doing this. 

I remember reading Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre twice and associating myself with the heroine. I had that special connection with the lead character in that I, too, am plain and vain at times. We share similarities in perspectives and complaints about life in general. Through her eyes, I get to see myself more.

I start several journals but I could never stick with one for long ever since I became a slave of the corporate world. I would discontinue after a few entries. I would miss a day, a day would turn into a week and then a month and that would be the end of it. I just put my pretty notebooks into waste because of slacking. 

It is almost the end of the year, but I thought it is not yet too late to begin an art journal. I need to express myself more and get rid of the stress of daily life. I'll try hard to commit myself to finish at least a page each week and at the same time write something or anything everyday. I must get back to journaling! It feels like I haven't looked at myself deeper in the past few months (and years!)--who am I at this moment, who was I yesterday, who will I be tomorrow. The long absence of journaling feels like I abandoned a way of finding and revealing my true self. It is time to continue the discovery, of recovering pieces of myself.

I have made five pages so far since the other week. I'll be posting them one by one. Here's the first page.

IMAGINE. ESCAPE. DISCOVER.

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: Black and white photo, Rosie's Studio Sticker Book of Phrases, paper tape, Graphic 45 Staples Flowers, Eno Greeting 3D Stickers, metal charms, buttons, diecuts, lace trimmings, cotton tapes, Kaisercraft Clear Stamps Wanderlust, Film Edges, Edges and Boutique, Prima Marketing Clear Stamps Vintage Vanity and Checkered, Bo Bunny Clear Stamps Dreamer, MultiCraft Clear Stamps Let's Travel, Heidi Swapp Clear Stamps Mixed Media, rubber stamps, Golden Molding Paste, The Crafter's Workshop Stencil Mini Brocade and Tile Texture,  Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, Ranger Distress Ink Mini Dried Marigold and Spiced Marmalade, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Jack O'Lantern and Butterscotch

CARD# HPJ-2016-18: Happy Birthday

Hello! Here's a trishutter card that I made for Sam's best friend. If you're wondering who Sam is, she's my colleague's daughter. She asked her mom to find a gift for her best friend's birthday (which was last Friday) and her mom thought of me. She told Sam that I make pretty cards and I can definitely make one for her. She showed her some of my work (I don't know which ones) and she said she liked them. When she asked me about it, I obliged of course. It feels great to find that people appreciate what I do and it's exhilarating to know that they think of me on this type of occasion. I'm so thankful for having such supportive friends! 

Anyway, enough of the background story. Let's look at the card. It rained on the day that I finished the card so I was not able to take photos of it outdoors. I took snaps of it at work before handing it over to Ate Liz. So, excuse the poor quality of the photos.

It measures 4 1/4" x 6" when closed.

Just as I always say when I post a trishutter card, I just love this special fold card! I don't get tired of it. It displays the pretty designer papers well and I can make a lot of stuff on the different panels. Well, I only made the decorations minimal on this card. I focused the embellishments on the front of the card. The inside (center part) would be for Sam's message. I wanted to make it easier for her to write on it. Besides, the papers are all so pretty already they don't need that much embellishing.

So that was that. Thanks for looking today! Have a great week!


MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: Bevania Splendorgel Board Paper White, Amy Tangerine 6"x6" paper pad Stitched, American Crafts 6"x6" paper pad Dear Lizzy, Heidi Swapp 6"x6" paper pad Mixed Media, chipboard embellishments, tag, paper doily, paper flowers, pearls, string, metal charms, Golden Molding Paste, The Crafter's Workship Stencils Mini Tile Texture, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Olive Green and Bahama Blue, Kaisercraft Clear Stamps True Friend, Bo Bunny Clear Stamps Sentiments, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, FolkArt Metallic Acrylic Paint Pearl White