Congratulations to the May Kaya Challenge Favorites!

To all who took on the very first Kaya challenge, a million thanks! To all who faithfully awaited and took time to view the Kaya posts, then voted and supported their favorites, our heartfelt appreciation to you as well. Since this is also the debut of the Pinoyscrapbookers Challenge Blog, it is especially meaningful for myself and all involved in it and contributed their skill, thoughts and time to put it all together. Special thanks to PS Mod Lee who initiated this blog and works very hard to administer to it. Our challenge is all in the spirit of fun and is meant to push us to put to good use our accumulating stash and flex our creative muscles. To this end, I think we have accomplished our goal.

Now, to officially declare the favorites of our First Kaya Challenge: Congratulations to Ella Go for her entry Bottoms Up as the most popular Traditional LO. Congratulations also to Marissa for her entry Will Scrap for Chocolates as the most popular Digital LO.

We originally did not intend for the challenge to have prizes since we agreed that “a finished LO is the best reward”. However, some kindhearted and generous people (ahem! :-D) have volunteered to give goodies for the winners during the previous EB so now we have a little something for our very first challenge favorites.

Again, our thanks to all the participants who answered a resounding KAYA! Watch out soon for June’s Kaya challenge callout! It promises to be very challenging indeed.

Vote for Your FAVORITE Kaya 1 Layout

KAYA!

Has it been that long since we launched the Kayang-Kaya Kaya challenge blog? It seems only yesterday when we were discussing the possibilities. And now, thanks to your support and invaluable participation we had a pretty good showing this month.

You think you had a hard time determining your most favorite thing/item? Well, now YOU have to vote for your most favorite traditional and digital layout. With the many wonderful and creative entries we received, this may be one of your more difficult tasks yet.

So readers of this blog (yes, you do not have to be a PS member to vote), time to review the entries and choose your favorites. We are letting you set your own criteria and be the judge, jury and executioner. Note that some layouts have hidden journaling, so to review them further, just click on the titles.

TRADITIONAL LAYOUTS

March 31, 2007

Italian Lemon Soda

Tulip Blossom '99

(Magazine) Junkie

Books

Bottoms Up

The Hand that Holds the Remote Rules the World

My Obsession

A Good Pair

I Love My N73

Cherish

I Only Have Ice for You

DIGITAL LAYOUTS

Perfect Match

You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman

A Most Favorite Read

I Love My PC

Tennis Champ

Love of Reading

Musical Notes

Eye Glasses

Scrapbook Book Love

Will Scrap for Chocolates

My Security Blanket

Thank you. Watch out for the results to be announced on May 31.

I Only Have Ice For You

Beth says, KAYA!


Journaling Reads:
Ever wondered how brownies and cupcakes felt as they are being baked? I may be in a position to describe this for you as I experienced living in an oven this summer. Fighting the urge to turn on the airconditioning unit was difficult. I imagined myself shrieking and hitting the ceiling after I’d gotten hold of our Meralco bill. So, I resorted, instead, to taking frequent showers to make myself comfortable. Also, I made this tall glass of ice with water my favorite and constant companion to every room of our house.

Materials Used:
Cardstock, Scrapworks Skinny Cathode Bungalow and All About Scrapbooking PPS, vellum, Prima flowers, brads, lace, fiber, eye embellishments, orange Colorbox inkpad, Fancy Pants Soho Swirls chipboard, MM Scrapbook Colors Specialty Glaze – Glitter, DMC thread.

About ME:
I’ve had a purely retail professional experience of more than 20 years before I stopped working March of 2006. So far, I have not considered going back to work as I’m enjoying my new role as stay-at-home wife to Raffy and mom to Erika (9). I graduated from UP Diliman with a degree in BS Industrial Engineering. I discovered about scrapbooking only through the internet. I used to be involved in cross stitching and candlemaking before I learned about this craft. I began collecting scrapbooking supplies and tools late 2006 but only started making layouts early this year. I used to wonder why scrappers would still subscribe to expensive scrapbooking magazines when there are a lot of materials in the web. I found the answer to this question after I bought my first magazine, the Top 10 issue of CK. I also enjoy shopping for patterned papers but would rather look at them than use them. Scrapbooking relaxes me. It also complements my love for taking photos of everything.

Cherish

Leica says, KAYA!


Journaling Reads:
Every girl wants to be a princess. I always wanted to be a princess. That is why, when I celebrated my 18th birthday, I made sure that my dress would be like any princess would wear. This uber glamorous long pink gown will symbolize all the beautiful things happened in my life that I will always cherish.

Materials Used:
Basic Grey Scarlet's Letters, Heidi Swapp black label holders, ribbons, gold rhinestones, gold staples, photo corners, black Bazzill cardstock, pink Colorbox, distress ink, Staedtler pens, foam tape, glue, and double-sided tape.

Techniques Used:
Distressing for the picture so it would blend in with the paper and also handwritten journaling for an added personal touch.

About ME:
Hola! I am Leica Ann Odulio y Jiongco, you can address me by my nickname Leica. I'm named after a German camera, Leica since my dad's hobby is Photography. I, being a frustrated artist, do love artsy fartsy things even though I'm not that creative. As of now, I really love scrap-shopping than scrapping itself. I have started shopping for scrapbooking materials since December 2006 and now I have 3 diecut machines (which I dont use) and have oodles of things that a normal pro-scrapbooker has. Although I always have a reasonable excuse behind my endless hoarding escapade. You see, I'm a third year BS Child Development and Education student at Miriam College, who really wants to be a successful pre-school teacher who also wants to run her own daycare. Hence, I believe that I could use my scrapbook materials with my career and I hope I could prove that I could use scrapbooking itself in the education system. I am thinking of using "Scrapbooking: Could it be a major breakthrough for the educational system?" as one of my papers. Maybe after few years, your soon to be children's cards would be like scrap pages wherein you could see pictures of them painting or writing their names and the written observation of their teachers. So there, I love scrapbooking not just because it is my most beloved hobby nor because it is one of my greatest investments in life but because I truly see a beautiful future behind this most intriguing and engaging hobby ever.

My Security Blanket

Ems says, KAYA!

This is my third try on digiscrapping. I was really confused on what fave thing I would want to show, there are so many. I love romance pocketbooks and I have tons of them. I love watching T.V. I love eating and I was thinking of my comfort food, Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream. And, needless to say, there's scrapbooking, too. But I noticed my ever reliable mentholated thing (really don't know what this is called---the original brand name is Bohrer-ding so I tell that to the pharmacist whenever I buy). I would really make sure it's in my bag before leaving the house, or else, I will have panic attack! I never thought that I would be doing a LO about it. So thanks for this opportunity.


Journaling Reads:
This mentholated rock goes wherever I go. It’s always in my bag when I’m out of the house, on my desk when I’m in the office & on top of my bedside table when I’m about to sleep. I put it on my forehead & nape if I feel hot, dizzy, hypertensive or simply not feeling well. I surely have panic-attacks when I can’t find my rock!

Materials Used:
Rhona Farrer Spring Fling Kit & tag

About ME:
I'm Ems Fronda, working wife to a wonderful hubby, Oliver & Mommy to a beautiful girl, Gaby and another one on the way (after almost 7 years). Started scrapbooking when I was in High School using magazine cut-outs, ordinary stickers & other knick-knacks. Got hooked on "real" traditional scrapbooking in 2003 with the push and shove of my dear friend, Joanne Yap (thanks dear). Since then, the bug has never left me. I would say my style is clean and mean but would love to develop from there. I envy those scrapbookers who can just dump a lot of patterned papers and embellishments in a single LO and still look clean and not busy. Since I'm a working Mom, I'm ecstatic just to finish 1 or 2 LO/s a month. My subject is mostly my daughter Gaby so I'm glad that she'll have a sibling soon (another backlog on the way too).

I Love My N73

Marix says, KAYA!

Ever since I owned this N73 which boasts of 3.2 megapixel camera, I had cute, funny and memorable photos and videos captured in my phone.

Journaling Reads:
more photos, more moments, more fun

Materials Used:
Bazzill cardstock, Cloud 9 Design by Fiskars patterned paper, K&Co Brenda Walton chipboards, Heidi Swapp chipboard letter N, Prima flowers, microbeads, white uniball signo pen

Techniques/Process Used:
paper cutting, doodling

About ME:
Hi! I'm Marix, single and currently working as a Systems Analyst in Singapore. I've been scrapbooking since highschool but never knew such a term ever existed. Back then I've been using magazines to cut out titles and images and used the magnetic albums which sadly are all not acid free. I only discovered the term scrapbooking and acid free in 2004 and have been doing it since then. It was on and off until I became addicted to it last year. I scraplift, use sketches and find inspiration through advertisements. I'm a traditional scrapper and haven't tried digital yet. I consider myself as a free style scrapper who loves embellishments and texture in a layout. You can view my other layouts at www.scrappalific.blogspot.com.

A Good Pair

Pearl says, KAYA!

If I were to chose between comfort and fashion, I would chose comfort in a heartbeat. And to those who really know me, it will be no surprise to them if I say that my Converse AllStar sneakers is on the top of my favorite things in the world. If I can afford to have these pair in all the colors of the rainbow (and in monochrome) I would. If I can come to the corporate office wearing these pair, I will. That's how much I love them :)

Materials Used:

Patterned paper: Creative Imaginations (scalloped) & Autumn Leaves; Stamps: Autumn Leaves (Journaling block) and Cat's Life Press (Exhibit A); Transparency: Hambly; Brads: JoAnn's; Stamping Ink: Dew Drop Tsukineko; Pen: American Crafts; Alpha Stickers: Making Memories; Decorative Tape: Heidi Swapp; Flowers: Prima

Techniques Used:

For the journaling, AL journaling blocks were stamped in AL patterned paper and adhered to the layout with foam tape for dimension. Apologies for the blurred pic - I'm still saving up for a really nice high-end camera..

About ME:

My name is Pearl Rigonan, I recently moved to Singapore to work for a MNC. I'm in my late 20's, single but that's okay.. My interest in scrapbooking started in 2004 but only seriously considered it as a hobby in 2005. Scrapbooking is my hobby of choice as it allows so much freedom in creativity, be it art in paper, words or pictures. Through this hobby, I have met and acquainted myself to so many people who share the same passion as I have in scrapbooking and they continue to inspire me to make more layouts and be better at the craft. When I scrapbook, I try to do whatever I want but my cardinal rule is always MAKE IT ACID FREE. I still haven't found my scrap-style but discovering how much you can do is half the fun of creating. Apart from scrapbooking, I also love to read, listen to music and travel. I'm addicted to chocolate and coffee. And I already miss Manila terribly!!!

Will Scrap for Chocolates

CraftFairy1 says, KAYA!


Journaling Reads:
I am a recovering Frango-Mint-aholic. But now I am addicted to extra, extra dark Lindt Lindor truffles. To keep my dignity, my sanity, and my body from spreading sideways ^o^ I have to work hard to support my addiction. Then again, scrapbooking is another obsession!

Who says chocolates and scrapbooking don't mix? I don't live out in the boonies but I don't have anyone to scrap with. My love for chocolate [and not just any chocolate] gives me a little boost to complete a layout. At the end of a LO is the satisfaction of completing one and my favorite chocolate is just the “cherry on top”.

Materials Used:
Almost everything from Jenny Limayo's "Love Is You” Kit; KirstyWiseman - Torrent Overlay; Willy Wonka Font; Olympus Camedia; PCS2; Extra, extra dark Lindor Truffle which melted while I was taking pictures of it.

Technique Used:
I just grabbed and dropped everything I thought I needed and discarded what didn't go with the LO (the beauty of digital scrapbooking) until I achieved the effect I wanted. Note to self: do not open too many files at the same time. It super slows down Photoshop!

About ME:
Name's Marissa (aka CraftFairy1, why craft fairy is another story). I started scrapbooking years ago when my son was 2yrs old. It wasn’t of archival quality then, but thank goodness for technology I was able to make our pictures look better than the first time they were processed. Scrapbooking our pictures was put on hold when my daughter was born and my work involved 90% travel time. I started scrapbooking again when I discovered all these wonderful printed papers. By this time we have accumulated boxes of pictures. It is supposed to be a relaxing past time but the stress of looking at all the boxed pictures and not knowing where to start just made me sit and stare and dream.

I discovered Photoshop in 2003 and with a few tips here and there from a friend in the office I learned my way around just enough to start my digital layouts in 2004. Digital supplies available on the web during that time looked so fake they did not impress me much. I scanned my own papers and embellishments and used those for my digital layouts. It was a long process but digi-scrapbooking was a faster way for me to put those pictures on attractive pages. Why do I do it? For the future. For the time when I forget what happened when, where, why, how, and who are the faces on those pictures. For my kids and future kids when we are no longer around to tell them stories and answer their questions. My scrapbooks are time capsules for my future.

Scrapbook Book Love

CH says, KAYA!

Finally trying to get out of my scrapbooking rut.

Nothing makes me happier than new scrapbook idea books. I super love looking at layouts. I think these scrapbook books are more for me to stare at pretty scrapbook pages than to actually scraplift them or be inspired to create.


Journaling Reads:
My scrapbook idea books never fail to put a huge smile on my face. The colors, artistic layouts and bright photographs only make me love this wonderful hobby more!

Materials Used:
Star brushes - downloaded from the internet; Fonts: CK Elsie, Courier New

Techniques Used:
Digital layout made in Photoshop CS2. Made the heart using the selection tool - took me quite a while.

About ME:
Ch. Fresh grad, history major. I've been scrapbooking since 7th grade (on and off, I say. Either school gets in the way, or I'm uninspired). Most of my earlier scrapbooks were gifts for friends and family. I love scrapbooking mainly because it's a mixture of all the things I love the most -- photography, paper and history. Sometimes I see layouts in my head, but usually a great photo or a funny memory inspires me to scrap. My scrap table is my bedroom floor, much to my mother's dismay. I love the look of paper scrapbooks but end up doing digital pages when I get lazy to head off to have photos developed. I'm not really too keen on the usual scrapbook techniques, my style is more just photos and paper and some random memory I want to remember forever. I'm really glad to have found a great scrapbooking community locally -- finally, people who understand me.

Eye Glasses

Marian says, KAYA!

Although my eyeglasses are not a favorite thing, it is something I need to enjoy my favorite things and activities.


Journaling:
I used to have really good eyesight until about 2 years ago. I had to focus longer just to read a book. Glasses were not an option as it was an inconvenience and a telling sign of age. Gradually my eyesight became worse with letters merging into each other. The crafts I enjoyed doing like beading and scrapbooking became a chore. and so I finally junked vanity for practical reasons. Now I have a pair of glasses in my bag, beside my bed, on the dresser, beside the computer and in the car.

Materials Used:
Echoes of Asia digi-kit by Jessica Sprague downloaded from CK, Edge Layers Overlays by Suzanne Walker downloaded from Digital Scrapbook Place and a brush from PSE.

About ME:
I am Marian King and have been a member of PS for a while now but usually in lurker mode. So glad for the PS Blog challenge. It's an opportunity to finish an LO. I am married and have two daughters and one grand-daughter. My daughters enjoy scrapbooking with me when they have the time. I am trying to learn digital scrapbooking using Photoshop Elements although I enjoy the feel and look of real paper and embellishments more. I have always enjoyed crafts - from baking, cake decorating, paper mache, cross stitch, beading, candle making, making hair accessories, stamping, cardmaking and scrapbooking. I also want to learn to use a sewing machine so I can make throw pillows and baby dresses. You can view some of my LOs at www.making.multiply.com.

Musical Notes

Cabbie says, KAYA!

The piano has always been my passion long before scrapbooking penetrated my system. I was taught the basics of piano when I was 7 years old and ever since, my love for this musical instrument became a source of inspiration and a sort of relaxation for me. Whenever I play a tune, I feel so relieved and soothed. This piano, sadly, is in my hometown and I can only play this when I go home. This Schubert brand piano was brought to our abode during my 3rd grade and it became my best friend. It also became the essence of style in our house. The love for music inspires us to feed our emotion with the seed of integrity. It makes a person in control of his life with balance. Music and passion make us whole and help us in our journey called life.

Journaling:
The piano is the soul of my emotion. I feel so relaxed whenever I play a tune...

Materials/Techniques Used:
Rhonna Farrer digital valentine kit (doodle flower accents); Festival kit (by Shabby Princess); Veronica Ponce's overlay (Romance kit); Scriptina fonts; created in Adobe Photoshop CS2. This is my first ever digital scrapbook layout.

About ME:
I am known as Cabbie in the scrapbooking world but my real name is Nathalie Jane Lim-Lopez. I am a stay at home mom to four boys since year 2002. Aside from scrapbooking, I also have a passion for books. I am a physician by profession but now, my family is my obligation. I have always loved scrapbooking ever since high school using different materials like fabrics and wrappers. Last May 2006, I discovered that there are stuff in scrapbooking which are way beautiful and addictive, so from then on, life was never the same again with scrapbooking. Aside from this hobby, I also gain new friends and that made scrapbooking even more interesting. My style ranges from vintage to colorblocking. I also love to experiment with colors especially oranges and greens. I love to do minibooks and anything small, some altered projects. (You can view my other projects and layouts at www.cabbiejanescrapper.blogspot.com.)

My Obsession

Nita says, KAYA!

Just in case any of you scrapbook magazine subscribers are wondering why this LO looks familiar, it's because it is a scraplift of the table of contents of Creating Keepsakes magazine. As for the photo collage, I got the inspiration from a wall display of Banco de Oro’s West Avenue Branch. It is displayed at the back of the New Accounts section and I was struck with the ingenuity of the photographer and decided: "Hey, this would be a good idea for an LO." So here you have it.

Journaling:
Call me quirky, but whenever I hear the words compartments, organizers and storage systems – I get goose bumps and that pleasurable tickling sensation at the pit of my stomach. Yes, I’m obsessed with containers especially the clear or opaque ones.

I would swoon over gifts of travel pouches and keep myself entertained for hours shopping in the plastic house ware departments. I also take pride in using ordinary kitchen or hardware storage systems in unconventional ways – I fondly call it ‘thinking outside the box’ (pun intended).

I would buy stuff with the premise: I’m sure I’d be able to find a use for it later. Needless to say, I have an assortment of containers in my cabinet waiting for the perfect use for it in the future. It’s a compulsion I couldn’t resist. Perhaps there is truth after all to my best friend’s theory that the reason I love to scrapbook in the first place is because I get to organize the materials in neat pile of boxes.

Another motivating factor for me to hoard containers is that I’m an incurable pack rat. The cheaper and queerer an item is, especially if it looks romantically old – it will be in my basket faster than you can say “garbage”. With my wide variety of knick knacks, it is but understandable that I have to own an assortment of organizers and storage materials. So you see, it is not just merely an obsession, it is clearly a necessity.

Materials Used:
Bazzill & Canson cardstock ; Scrapbook Walls Butter Dots and Sky & Spruce Stripes ; Elmer’s Craft Bond glue ; Carla Craft corner rounder ; Coluzzle craft knife, cutting pad and circle template.

Techniques:
I cut 4 pieces of 4”x5” photo into 1”x1” and assembled into a collage of photo mosaic. Using a ribbed white Bazzill cardstock as a base, I took advantage of the vertical ribbing of the cardstock as a guide in aligning the 1”x1” photo. Additionally, I used Elmer’s Craft Bond to adhere the photo mosaic on the cardstock. Since it is a slow drying glue, I was able to move the picture around a bit while eye-balling the alignment. Next, reverse-printed the title and date in plain white Bazzill cardstock and cut to size. Using the actual glued photo mosaic, I penciled the desired height for the different colored cs & pps components. Before gluing them to the ribbed cs, I used Carla Craft corner rounder for the four edges. Finally, using the Coluzzle circle template, I cut a 2” dia. circle on a 5th photo and glued it on top of the date and journaling CS as a finishing touch.

About ME:
Recently turned real-mom last November 2005 at the age of 42. Adopted mother of three spoiled tomcats. Working for a living. Certified pack-rat and organization buff. Re-discovered scrapping after my daughter was born and have fallen in love with the craft ever since. (Learn more about Nita at www.copycatscrapper.blogspot.com)

The Hand that Holds the Remote Rules the World

Lee says, KAYA!

When I wondered out loud what my favorite thing could be, my son Diego immediately replied - the TV. Yes, I will have to admit that I was weaned on Sesame Street and Electric Company, and a day without TV is almost like, well, a day without chocolate. So here's my take on one of the greatest inventions of the 19th century.


Journaling:
A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...TV viewers actually had to stand up and twist a knob on their TV set to change the channel. Today, thanks to the brilliant minds that invented the remote control, couch potatoes like me do not have to move a muscle to change the channel.

All of us in our house love our TV but we love the remote control the best. Not only does it make it easy for us to channel surf, but s/he who holds the remote has power over what to watch. Thus, everytime they get the chance, Diego hides it in a place only he knows. Sarah walks around with it under her kili-kili. And Kahlo tucks it under her waist band. Me? I just claim parental authority and hold the remote like it was my very own sceptre.

Materials/Techniques Used:
Basic Grey Motifica (Chalk and Jade); white cardstock. Downloaded screen shots of our favorite TV shows from the internet. Alot of cutting and pasting, and arguments from the KiDS as to which show should be displayed prominently.

About ME:
Blissfully married to a sculptor/painter, with three KiDS - Kahlo (5), Diego (9) and Sarah (7). Until recently I worked as the Grants Administrator of an international philanthropic organization. Now enjoying life far from the maddening crowd. My husband is encouraging me to pursue my doctorate so I might be a UP student again this coming June. I did some old-school scrapping in college. I was given my very first acid-free scrapbooking materials in October 2004, started buying more in May 2005, and finally started scrapping again last May 2006. I still have much to do and learn from fellow scrappers, so you can say my style is a work in progress. (Learn more about me at www.pinayscrapper.blogspot.com)

Bottoms Up

Ella says, KAYA!

This is my collection of shot glasses. They come in different sizes and colors.


Hidden Journaling (inside the bottle) :

I started collecting shotglasses in my 1st trip to the US in 2001. I got attracted to the different designs I saw. From then on, I make sure that I would bring home one in any new places I go. To date, I have 27 shotglasses. 14 of which, I bought. Others were given by friends.

PS: I am not alcoholic. I just love looking at them. Actually, haven't use them in any drinking session or party.

Materials Used:

CS: Bazzill, PPS: DCWV, K&Co, Scenic Route or SEI, Cbox inkpad, K& Co cloth, Zig Pen.

Techniques Used:
Handcut Title
Distressing

About ME:

Soon-to-be 31 YO wifey to my scrappin hubby Ariel for 25 months nows. An engineer by profession. Got no kids yet but hubby & I are now working on it after choosing to be childless for 23 months. Started scrappin june of 2006. Influenced by a family friend. Learned about modern scrapbooking thru Pia Lopez. Created my 1st 12x 12 LO in the Scrap for a Cause Event. I am scrapping for my family, friends and hubby. It is my way of expressing my appreciation, love and care for them. I haven't discover my style yet. Trying hard to learn and apply new techniques. Thanks to our E-group for being helpful. (Learn more about Ella at www.arielandella.blogspot.com.)

Love of Reading

Donna says, KAYA!

My first digital layout for public viewing.

I started to love reading when I was in Grade 6. My first paperback to read was Sydney Sheldon's Bloodline - a very adult thing to read for a 6th grader! I shifted to Robert Ludlum (read: at Grade 6) and got hooked. Alongside with that, I also used to read Sweet Valley Hight & Sweet Dreams paperbacks. That's also when I started liking Danielle Steel and other Harlequin writers. I don't give away my books (unless someone really special asked for it) but I misplace some of them. As of now, my fave author is Nora Roberts. In general, I love romance with a twist of suspense, action and almost anything about mystical or magical stories like the Harry Potter series. So, I really don't know which one to choose it's hard for me I love them all like babies!

Journaling: Books by these authors are my all-time fave. I've been collecting these since HS. I can't choose which one I love best. May it be romance, suspense, sci-fi, mystical or magical stories, it's always as if I'm there in the middle of the story, feeling...living it. May 2007

Materials and Techniques Used: Digital kits - Going West_WW (CT Freebie), Circle of Friends _ACOT, SpringFling_ACOT, Fenderskirts flower image from Scrapbooks Answers CD, Discovering_WW. Used Adobe Photoshop 7 to edit the photo.

About ME:

30-year old wife to Marlon Espiritu. I used to work as an IT support but for some personal reasons I gave up my job (but looking for one right now) and became a stay-at-home wife. No kids yet (but wish to have one someday) that's why the subject in my LOs is always my niece, Cheska. I've been scrapping for more than 3 years now and it gives me so much happiness and a sense of fulfillment. It is an outlet for the creative side of me. (Learn more about Donna at www.scrappydonna.blogspot.com)