Great gifts

My sisters-in law Lynn and Liza got me 20 packs of page protectors. If you have as many empty albums as I do. Page protectors are a gift. This is the cheapest page protector I've found at around 10 pesos. The ones from the States usually average around 20 to 23 pesos. Yes ladies, now is the time to hoard. My hubby asked them to get me these. As many as they can find. Clap, clap. I love it, and appreciate the gesture.

And while my Hubby had a meeting at Robinson's. He got me this: a bag organizer from Beabi. I love their stuff. And scrapbooking stuff from the department store. As well as stuff from Daiso. How sweet right?



My embellishments organizer which I use for the brads, the eyelets and alphas is now available at the 88 peso store.



And lately I have been buying a lot of those $1 stamps. Kasi they are so cute and so darned cheap. Sure beats buying those $10 any day. And to organize them, I put them in a 4R picture album.

Some Me time

So a merry Christmas to you all. Our line of business is in the unusual side. My mom sells cakes, and I sell clothes. The rest of the year, we are relaxed. We can take off anytime. Yes, the perks of being self-employed. But come Christmas time and New Year's. When the rest of the world takes its vacation, we are in the weeds. Or very busy.
There was a time on the 24th when the customers were very madami. I cannot complain. But the thing is, I was dead tired on my feet. Plus the fact that I had to stay awake til midnight at my Bunny family's house.
The 25th, we had lunch at Tanabe. And we tried getting inside the Manila Aquarium. But no can do. We barely made it to the parking lot, when the family called it quits.
Me, I asked my Bunny to take me to Mall of Asia. I got a bunch of scrapbooking magazines. That made my day. I was also looking for a place called Heavenly stitchin' memories. Well, more on that later.
And I was back to work on the 26th. But the thing is. I dunno. I just needed some me time. And so a couple of texts later, we were on the way.
Beth was going to pick up her slice at Helen's. Sharon texted that there were new arrivals at Vivian's. How can we NOT go?
Before anything else, see that seagull binder/envelop on top? That is like a totally awesome solution to keeping your papers by the kit or by collection. No need to order from Joann's na. Sigh of relief. Sharon figured this one out. I think this one is available at National Bookstore.




See some of my awesome from Helen? She has tons of Martha Punches, and lots of new stamps. Not shown in the picture is the Bo Bunny Love Bandit paper. The Bella Blvd. Honey I'm Home line. Cute stuff. Totally my thing. She has Jolee's stickers. But so far, I'm lucky. I don't see the need to hoard yet.




And over at Vivian's. The Nook and Pantry line came in. I got those mouthwatering cup cakes and ice cream chipboards from her. She also has the amazing Studio Calico Home Front line. I am also so excited about those cute embelishments from Making Memories that came in. She also has some SEI travel papers and some kangaroo papers. I decided to get the Collage Press Christmas line. I didn't like it before, but now it grew on me. Go figure.
This shopping trip, totally worth all that slaving I did at the store.
And now for the good part. Shopping with friends. Beth, Sharon and I pretty much gravitate towards the same papers, the same color. Our preferences vary with stamps and with punches. Which is pretty good since we can shop for the things we like, but later on share our toys. More fun to go around.
And I guess, I am Sharon's brakes. Don't buy that, I have that. Or don't buy that, we can get that much cheaper. But knowing Sharon, she will find a way to get it. Ay naku, those MS punches gave her a sleepless night or two. Scrappers Anonymous? Oo, member na kami.
And Beth naman, we share the more expensive embelishments. Like hati kami sa box. We don't need the whole thing, just a few, ok na. I like how she's so quiet. She's going to do her project not talking the whole house down. Less talk, less mistake.
I received quite a lot of comments na I have a lot of stuff. Hmm, not really. I'm sure you closet lurkers have more. I use my stuff. And I try to come up with projects for our group to do. Justify my hoard.

Santa finally came!

This is the last bbox I ordered for the year. Look at that Graphic 45 papers. Ang galing galing!
A warm welcome to Home Front by Studio Calico
My new slice cards. Hey, promise we won't have a slice class, until Beth's slice arrives. Para everybody happy.
And the rest of my stuff from Joann and ebay. So I finally have new toys for Christmas!

Shopping na naman!

Paper sets are 99 pesos each, brads, letter stickers are 40 pesos each.
Holy cow! clear stamps, acrylic block, die cuts are also 40 pesos each. Where is this insane store in Metro Manila? Text me! No, I am not selling my stuff. I just want to share with you what I got this afternoon.

A Day at Memory Lane

Helen has the coolest Martha Stewart stuff. I got those fabulous flowers, animals and blings, and border punches.

Kaiser Mini Album, K&Co die cuts, DCWV die cuts, and tons of paper. I got the Nook and Pantry from her. These are the stuff I purchased from her.
Our Party food generously provided by Helen and her hubby. Yummy BBQ, Patatim, Mantao, Noodles, fish, roast chicken and leche flan. I think we shop, eat, and gab a lot. Yes, this is the good life.
And here is our make and take using the 2010 Hero Art stamps. The details are so amazing. And for the bird we used Distress Ink mixed with liquid pearls. Wow! New technique learned. Thank you Helen for being so generous. Next time ulit please.

thrift stores

I got into Japanese thrift stores because of my mom. She got these sushi boats, for her dinner parties. And then came the plates, the huge silver platters. And pretty soon, she has her own shelves to store her stuff. And so now our gazebo, is technically a Japanese ukay-ukay.

I still go because it's fun.

I go to a couple. One is in on the way to Montalban, from Marikina. Ugh. Don't ask me the road. I can describe it to you. My marker is that the store is beside a sari-sari store, right before a stop light. Oh di ba vague? I'll pay better attention next time and post it.

And the other one in is Kalookan. It's called Japanese home or something. Again, I promise to take notes the next time.

These are totally not glam spots. There's alikabok, you will end up with dusty fingers. And hey, you might even need to take allergy meds.

There is this thrift store in Kalookan called Home Station. It's in a building called Araneta square. I think it's on the third floor, it should be on the same floor as the dvd's. I got a huge bunch of these coasters, which we turned into a Christmas mini album.




See this? The Making Memories Distress kit? Naku nagtipid na sila! It used to be a metal case enclosing everything, now it's just chipboard.


I got this shelf for 100 pesos and the metal buckets for 20 pesos each. I'm happier now.


And downstairs there is a new store that opened. It's called Korean home, most products are 55 pesos and 77 pesos. I got my files for distressing there at 35 pesos and my brayer for 77 pesos. Well it's actually a lint brush but not when I'm done with it. I just need some adhesive and rubber matting. Knowing how I spend money, I need to find corners I can cut.

I was finally able to get my brayer in Deovir for 295 pesos. Deovir is at 3rd floor SM north Edsa. The lint brush is now with my Hubby Bunny.

I was thinking that this would be an awesome project for the group. This is a canvas cover for a mini album/book/or travel journal. Just decorate to your heart's desire. Total cost? 10 pesos.
They also have a huge assortment of canvas bags. The smallest one can probably double as a lunch bag. while the biggest one resembles my GH Bass Canvas tote. Apply some gesso, use some medium on a pic, and make a photo transfer. Ngek, too bad this idea didn't make it on time for Christmas presents this year.

A heart wreath for 30 pesos, with some stars, and a silhoutte of a clown. This heart wreath would be perfect for Valentines, if I ever get around to it.
And this house, I got from the talipapa on Dapitan Market for 100 pesos, haggling is key! They have a bunch of stuff there mostly made of wood like shelves, baskets, knick knacks. I'm still torn whether to make this a gingerbread house or a regular house.

Candy

Thank you for the goodies, Marisa and Nette! I love them. What a pleasant surprise.

$1 scrap shopping

I have this fetish for visiting Japanese thrift stores. It stems from the fact that I spent time in Japan. I have lots of pictures, but I haven't even started to scrap them yet.
And so while visiting this particular store, I was able to get Filofaxes for 25 pesos, and the rest of the stuff in the picture for 50 pesos. How awesome right? Hey, if I am buying "junk" as my mom calls it. At least, it's inexpensive junk. A set of wooden stamps cost 10 pesos. Cyempre may play acting involved. "Miss, ano ito?" complete with matching innocent look? Hey, if I get it at dirt cheap prices, I might as well try my FAMAS acting skills di ba?
Downside is: I don't know what the stamps mean! I skipped out on learning Kanji or the Chinese characters, but with the simple Japanese alphabet, I get by. I'm just hoping it's not lewd or something. Haha ha. So that's what you get for being a cheapskate.

On my reading table

I usually stick to my scrapbook magazines, and call it good. I rarely buy books kasi the content easily gets dated. So I just usually browse thru it, and pick up a few ideas.
But when I picked up these two books, I couldn't put them down! So now, they have a good home.

Surprisingly, it is not how you measure your papers up to an 8th of an inch, that makes it pretty. But rather beauty in the unconventional. Great books.

My Crafting Corner

The Bunny (hubby) and I went to the Karl Edwards bazzar today at the Fort. There, I was able to purchase my slice bucket. It fits my slice perfectly. I just put bubble wrap at the bottom to protect the fragile parts.


Slice cards go to the side pockets of the bag. Best thing about the bag? The price! The bucket costs P320 pesos.

Next up, I looked for my favourite store Kahoy-An. The box on the left is actually a tea box. Maybe when I have time, I can fiddle with it, and make it into an ATC display holder or a shadow box. And the smaller cabinet to the right, currently houses my pearl-ex's. Until I figure out what to do with it. It's a buy 1 take 1 deal for 500 pesos. Who hasn't fantasized about the Making Memories embelishment center? At a retail price of $79 plus shipping cost to the Philippines, talk about an expensive dream.

Well guess what? I was able to purchase one for 750 pesos, to house my paints. I had to flip the cabinet on the wrong side up because I don't want to poke holes in my walls yet. The dowel rod on top, unfortunately cannot store my ribbons. I use the rod to organize my adhesive rolls.

And this shelf cost 200 pesos. I'm still thinking of where to attach it. Like most things in the store, they are sold in pairs. They do a buy one, take one thing. I had to wait for a customer to buy a bedside table, for us to be able to get a piece for 600 pesos. At that price, what a steal. And the saleslady took pity on me, since I was just there in her store making her kulit, and she sold me the stuff I wanted without the pairs. So happy!
I got these 12x12 ziplock bags in divi and use them to organize my papers by paper line. Most of my old papers are in the magazine keepers. The cardstocks are organized by color.
I used wallpaper with adhesive to cover my magazine keepers. I purchase these for P88 ($1.75) peso per roll at Japan Home. I used them for covering albums with ugly covers.
Notice how I have a bunch of black albums at the bottom? I got these on sale! I bought each one for 130 pesos at Booksale. You better believe I hoarded them, and just purchased page protectors for each one.
Most of the albums are empty. I just need to work fast to fill them up. The only one with lay outs in them is the fat K&CO mom bought for me, from her trip to the US.
I got this paper organizer for 150 pesos, flipped it to the side, and I use it to house my solid colored cardstocks.
Welcome to my crafting corner. A lot of people have these really cool color coordinated, and even designer looking craft rooms. Mine of is a combination of dumpster diving, and savvy shopping at the local dollar store. I got the left shelf at a Japanese thrift store for $50 or P2500 peso. I was thinking of having the entire thing painted white, but thought better of it. I have yet to attach the knobs though. And the shelf on the right was purchased in Makro for around $40.
My punchers are arranged on a wire shelf, I purchased at the hardware store for P300 pesos($6). EK puches on top, Martha punches in the middle and Fiskars at the bottom.
My current fave toy, the Slice, beside the zutter and the Big Bite. To the right, I have my wood mounted stamps to frame the wall. A bunch of my stamp cleaners in the basket. And my foam stamps on the right.
I arranged my brads, eyelets, buttons, threads and gems in their own tackle box. They are arranged by color. I can't do anything about the look of plastic, but hey it makes my life easier. Some of my scrapbook magazines.

flowers and gems

buttons, clips, pins, ball and chain




eyelets and brads
felt die cuts and ribbon


My tool bag. I've had this bag on top of maletas, on top of my weights bench, on top of the kitchen table. And finally, it now has its own home. Great for cropping on the go. No need to pack for every crop!
I keep a jam jar beside my table to catch all the smaller pieces of paper that can be used for embelishments. And if you notice that small cabinet by the jam jar, it actually opens to reveal my paints and my pearl ex. I got those cabinets in a bazaar for 250 pesos each. This is where I used to store my paints before I moved on to the bigger cabinet.


I got these metal buckets for P100 each, I should've gotten more. But the time, I got back to the store, they were already sold out. I use one to hold my tools. The other one to hold my clear stamps and the other one for my junk. I used Matryoshka dolls cut out papers and used magnets to attach them to the buckets. Makes them cuter.
On the top upper left shelf, are my chipboard albums which I have yet to use. And beside it are Basic Grey chipboard cut outs, Bazzill chips and A2z's.
On the bottom shelf, I organized my house scissors, pretty edges scissors, and then the baskets are organized by pics, journaling stuff, and ephemera. I caught that cute trick reading a magazine. By organizing your pics, journaling stuff and ephs, you pretty much have everything you need to create a lay-out.
Again, I purchased those wire baskets at Japan home for 66 pesos each. or just a little above a dollar each.


this is my desk, with the cute Mickey Sakura flowers laptop protector. My fave pic of me and Bunny on our honeymoon. My Making Memories carousel filled to the brim with pens and whatnot. I got this from Vivian of Lasting Impressions. Thanks Vivian for the great deal!! Beside i, is my sticker holder, which is actually used to hold utensils in a previous life. And in front of that is my fiskars paper trimmer with the ipod speakers.
And underneath my desk, there's my kiddie bins which stores my watercolor pencils, my homemade mists, my inks, my glues and my sanding block.

Getting organized isn't expensive. It just requires a great deal of thought. A very patient and understanding husband. Eventhough, my scrap stuff is organized, we pick our clean clothes off the hampers. Kasi the busy wife( that would be me) has no inclination for putting away our clothes.