Nikki Sivils.com is LIVE!

Check out the new Nikki Sivils site to see what's coming out at Summer CHA! The Gallery is not yet up but it will be soon!

I have an itty bitty toot...check out my Honorable Mention here.

Had a successful Garage Sale yesterday...I think I sold half my cardstock stash...that gives me more space for new stuff...haha! Happy Sunday everyone!

Scrap Buffet LOs

We had a blast last Saturday when Studio Azul and Pinoy Scrapbookers, with help from Visual Creations, conducted the first-ever Scrap Buffet! It's hard to imagine that something like this was even possible but I guess it only takes a Tin Yao to conjure up this event.

We literally had a choice of papers, cardstock and embellishments to create our LOs and could make as many as we could within the alloted time. I'm so glad I decided to sign up for the Wait List 3 days before the event and made it in by some stroke of luck...or was it Divine Providence?

I so enjoyed playing with the Bam Pop papers that I never had the courage to buy because it wasn't totally me. Here are the 6 LOs I made -- some more complete than others...most still needing journaling...I will post the final LOs once they're done, sooner than later, I hope.

Home is Family

Here's a new LO still using the Victoria's Street line from Nikki Sivils. I had a pic of Bianca laying on a couch and I asked her why she loved our house and this is what she said. At first, it didn't make sense to me, but then I realized that to her it's so simple, her home is where her family is...straight from the mouths of babes!

Title: Home is Family

Materials: Patterned Paper, Stamp and Flag - Nikki Sivils; Sticker and Die-cut - Daisy Ds; Felt & Vinyl Alpha - American Crafts; Tiny Alpha & Paint- Making Memories; Pen - Zig; Ink - Tsukineko; Misc ribbon

Scrappin Kids Challenge #18: Moments

Here's my take on this month's challenge at Scrappin Kids:

Vacation or an outing is always fun for the kids
However, there are some moments that are not the most pleasant
Document the real story behind the photos that captures
your kid's personality right at that moment
Do include journalling as well

Title: Not So Happy Princess

Journaling: Celebrating Halloween in Disneyland was not what Bianca expected it to be. In stead of happy, colorful characters, she saw dar and scary creatures, esp. at night. While waiting for dinner to be served, mommy, Luis and Nadya stepped out to see the fireworks, leaving Bianca and Daddy at the table. She was too scared to go out again but didn't want to be left behind so she just bawled her eyes out until we all got back in time for a spooky Halloween inspired dinner. Bianca, Oct. 31, 2008

Materials: Patterned Papers - Prima, Cosmo Cricket, Daisy Bucket; Journaling Paper - Fancy Pants; Heart Sticker - Creative Imaginations; Direcut Arrow - Scenic Route; Ink - Clearsnap; Pen - Zig; Fabric Sticker - AMM; Bling word - Heidi Swapp; Snapshot Brush Frame

Check out the other DT's work on Scrappin Kids and hope you find the time to join this month's challenge!

Macau

Another LO using the Victoria's Street line by Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker. Check out the whole Victoria's Street collection below. So much fun to play with!

Sisters Are Lucky

Here's my first LO using Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker "My Sweet Cherry Pie" papers and stamps. Letters made using Sizzlits Monkey Tails and Script fonts.

2 More Days to Submit Your Entry!!!

The much-anticipated event of the year is back on its 3rd season!

It’s bigger, it’s better and it’s much easier!

This year’s theme is about going back to basics, back to the true meaning of a scrapbooker –

preserving your family’s memories in pages that transcends time and trends.

And so, let’s unleash those creative juices and start creating!

Be inspired and push your artistry to the limit!

Creativity abounds and we believe you’ve got what it takes to be the next Scrappin’ Moms Idol!

Create layouts that will keep everyone talking about for days.

Join the Scrappin’ Moms Challenge

Season 3

Go ahead and grab your patterned papers, cardstock and embellishments and start scrapping!

Elimination Round starts from

June 16 – June 25, 2009

Deadline for submission of entries is on June 25, 2009 at 3:00pm

And to jumpstart your creativity, here are the details for the Elimination Round:

INSPIRATION SERIES -

Create a layout using this AD MATERIAL as inspiration for your layout.

Anything goes in this round and it is all up to your OWN INTERPRETATION.

THE ONLY REQUIREMENT: Use at least 4 photos in your layouts

You may submit any size format but no lesser than 8.5 x 11

When submitting your layout, submit a short write-up on how the ad inspired you and how you interpreted it in your layout.

Submit all your entries to:
scrappinmoms@gmail.com

• File size of your photos must be no larger than 300KB.
• Anythinglarger than this size will NOT BE UPLOADED.
• It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure that you submit the proper size and requirements for each of the Challenges.
• We will NOT REMIND you of any changes you have to make on your file size. However, if you do realize that you have submitted the wrong file size, you still have a chance to re-submit before the deadline

I Luv Skul!

Here's a LO of Bianca from last year's 1st day of school. Tomorrow is her 1st day in big school and she is so excited. The past 2 days, she's hated waking up to find Luis and Nadya had gone to school already and left her alone.

At least tomorrow we get to take her to the classroom, unlike yesterday for Nadya's 1st day in 1st Grade when they didn't let parents in due to the H1N1 precautions. I guess they wouldn't dare do that to 3-4 yr olds!

Title: I Luv Skul!

Journaling: What a difference two months make. Only 2 months ago, we could not leave you alone in school w/out you crying. Now, as you start Nursery 1, you barely even look at me to say good-bye & even forget to kiss me. I am glad that you love school. So much that being absent is unthinkable for you. You've come a long way Bianca & you make us very proud.

Materials: Cardstock - Bazzill, DCWV; Patterned Papers - Fancy Pants; Chipboard Letters - Buzz and Bloom; Paint - Making Memories; Ink - Clearsnap; Diamond Glaze; misc ribbon; Pen - American Crafts

Scrappin Kids DT!

So happy to let everyone know that I am on Scrappin' Kids DT for the next 6 months! Check out the blog for the announcement.

I think it's cool to be working with a team based predominantly in Asia -- at least now the time difference in the forum isn't so great -- we're actually awake at the same time...haha!

This is a great blog and community that focuses on scrapping our kids photos. We have a monthly challenge where the winner gets a RAK prize. Check us out on July 1 when we unveil the next challenge and see our sample LOs!

Back to Princess School

The past few days have been quite busy as the kids' summer activities wrap-up and we prepare for their going back to school next week.

As it is, Nadya's classes have already been postponed from the original June 9 to June 17 -- a precautionary measure to guard against the H1N1 virus -- as kids who vacationed abroad return to school. These kids have been asked to observe a 10-day self-quarantine but in some schools that did open this week, some students tested positive for the virus and the schools are now closed for 10 days. Here's hoping my kids' schools remain H1N1-free -- they'll come armed with a mask and hand sanitizer though.

So my schedule next week is:
Jun 16 - Luis 1st Day, Grade 3
Jun 17 - Nadya's 1st Day, Grade 1
Jun 19 - Bianca's 1st Day, Kinder 1

Although Bianca is still technically in pre-school, all my kids are now officially in big school (i.e. traffic, traffic and more traffic)...sigh.

Here's a LO of Nadya on her 1st Day last year. I think I just might cry when she dons her checkered yellow and white uniform next week for the 1st time -- the same as I used to wear when I was in Elementary.

Title: Back to Princess School

Journaling: Princess School. That's what I call Nadya's private Catholic girls' school - which also happens to be my Alma Mater! Haha! Talk about irreverence! But what else do you think happens when you put 30+ prima-donna princesses in one room, let alone have a whole school of them??? Nadya started going to Poveda just before she turned 4 yrs. old, as she was reaching the peak of her princess-wanna-be years. Already a girly-girl when she entered, she has become even more so - now with matching facial, voice and body language! I can't even take her picture without a practised pose - usually with her face/body at an angle and an arm or leg raised - ala Marilyn Monroe. I'm sure she doesn't know who Marilyn is, and I'm pretty sure she didn't get it from me - or did she? But never mind, as long as she knows that a princess doesn't always have to be a damsel in distress; that a true princess is someone who is beautiful inside and out - and with a brain to match! Pity the boys who will fall for her, though! Nadya, Kinder 3, June 11, 2008;

Materials: Patterned Papers, Felt Die-cuts, Acrylic Die-Cuts (Fancy Pants); Glitter Chipboard Alpha (American Crafts), Letter Stickers (Basic Grey, Making Memories), Fabric Sticker (7 Gypsies), Ink (Clearsnap), Pen (American Crafts), Stickles, Font: Bradley Hand ITC from the internet