Thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! :)

Cannot wait for Baby Julia.

Photos by Ina Serafica

Words are not enough. 

I simply cannot wait for you, my darling, Baby Julia. 

Then and Now.

Who would have thought we would end up together? 

A year has passed and I still have butterflies whenever I think of you...

The Final Stretch.

Like Christmas, the journey through motherhood is anything but joyful amidst the bump and turns along the way.

I cannot imagine that in a few weeks or perhaps days, I will become a mother. The feeling is just indescribable. Nothing can quite compare to it. The joy that I am feeling right now is so extraordinary that sometimes the pain and discomfort that accompanies giving birth seems easy breezy.

I’ve sacrificed so much for Baby Julia and now that I am nearly there – the final stretch… All I can say is that everything is absolutely worth it!

Baby Julia, I cannot wait to hold you in my arms. 

Short note.

I just had my baby shower together with very close family members and I am in my 34th week as I write this. 

Oh Lord! Please be with us. Enter into my life and take charge. Take away all my fears, doubts, pain and worries. Fill me with your Blessed Mother's grace and spirit. 

You are my refuge and strength. My rock and my fortress. With you in my life, I know everything will be alright. Please help me accept what it is that needs much acceptance and always make me strong. I need to be strong for everyone else. 

Oh Baby Julia! Mama can't wait to hold you and shower you with gentle hugs and kisses. 

Christmas music and the rain is just as a soothing feel and is all I ever need today. 

Have a blessed and fun-filled weekend everyone! 

Gift Tags.

Another craft attack. Making use of paper punches as borders for gift tags. All recycled materials. 

Life's simple pleasures in lovely paper and crafts. 

Happy Place.

Where is your happy place? 

Mine is everywhere. I find happiness in almost everything, in every little corner and in every little place.

The first time I went back home was just beautiful. It is nearly 6 months ever since I last saw our house. So much has changed. The yellow Tacoma tree we planted from a seed I brought home from Guam is almost as tall as our house. We have a new pond that I like so much. The garden is just so green and alive. Plants grew everywhere. Fern trees are in every corner. Wind chimes hang around and playfully made their cute sounds. 

The sun was just beaming at me as I sat there beside our pond for quite a long time. I need the sunshine vitamin all the more. 

Breakfast was oh-so-good that I had to devour on it slowly.

The only happy place I wasn't able to visit was my bedroom which was on the upper level of the house. The long climb scared me. I had to settle in downstairs in my Mama's cozy bedroom. 

I had a great day. 

A view from my Mama's garden. 

Her pond filled with Japanese Koi. 

I adore feeding them. They like to be fed all the time. 

Where is your happy place?

Have a happy weekend everyone!

Oh Sunlight!

Today, I was out and about under the mighty and glorious morning sun. Oh how I've missed this feeling so much!

There is hope in you Mr. Sun.

I will forever long for your lovely rays everyday now that I am able to walk under your gentle and glistening power. 

Pretty in Pastels - The Envelope Edition.

Who doesn't love Pastels? Every little girl or even a lady in her 80's would still find it dainty all the time. I made envelopes out of boredom and finally am so pleased with the finished product. Try it and trust me, your day will turn out bright and wonderful! 

The power tools that you'll ever need. 

To get the template exactly like mine please click here

Or you can also use the above template which works perfectly the same.

Try to visit this blog too for many more lovely envelope patterns and templates: 

http://melstampz.blogspot.com

1. You will need a template or an envelope pattern that you can get online or you can simply make yourself. Trace the outline along your chosen colored construction paper or any sturdy paper for your envelope. Cut along the traced line and fold all the edges leaving the top area in place and seal them all together using a glue stick or a double sided tape. This will now resemble an open envelope. 

Remember the Trusty Paper Bag from my previous post? Well, this still came handy. They look so pretty and classy when paired with neutral colors. Reuse and Recycle. 

2. Take a piece of the beautiful pattern from the paper bag and cut along an approximate size that can fit into the envelope and make some steady measurements to create a liner. 

3. Assemble the liner and the envelope and this is what you will get. 

How pleasant-looking can these liners be? They all look so colorful and yummy. The liners used on this envelopes are actually scrapbooking paper given by my childhood friend, Jojo. 

I made a few liners in solid colors as well. You can go as wild as your imagination can ever be. Note that these liners are all recycled gift wrapping papers I used last year for our wedding give-aways. There are so many beautiful inspirations from recycled materials.

Have a lovely weekend!

Only Words.

These are a few of the oh-so-many bookmarks I’ve made over the past few months.  I cannot wait to make a lot more.

My main inspiration for this design is basically circles and spheres.

Have a lovely crafting day!

Floral Envelopes.

With all my bookmarks and other knick-knacks on hand, I finally decided to create a nice packet for them essentially for gift giving and others.

I plan to give all my cousins and nieces a piece or two of my handmade bookmarks so as to inspire them with school or even just to remind them of me while reading a book on a hot summer day.

All you ever need is a nice gift wrapper and your power tools (scissors, ruler, pencil, glue stick or a double sided tape) and a pattern for the envelopes that you will be crafting. I made an outline to house the size of my lovelies. You can also find envelope patterns and templates online but it is always nice to create something on your own, it gives you a sense of fulfillment afterwards.

If only there was a decent craft store in our city with lots of pretty things, I can make more of these envelopes. These wrappers are from Cebu and Tacloban. Hoping to make some more soon. Please let me know if you want a template like mine. I can send you a scanned document for stress-free cutting purposes.

Have a nice day!