My friend asked me to make an invitation and tarpaulin for my Godson Miggi’s 3rd birthday. I gladly said yes sine I haven’t done any scrapbooking lately. I decided to look for freebies that I can use for the Angry Birds theme. I found one from Shery K Designs and I am very thankful that it made my project cute and it was done with ease. I also found a Dora The Explorer and Minni Mouse theme I might download too in preparation for my daughter’s birthday as well. This site is really awesome.

Thank you as well to my friend Hazel who owns Funtastic Shots Photobooth. She helped me with some Photoshop tips. I am happy with the outcome of the Angry bird themed invitation and tarp I made specially for Miggi.

It’s time for Hump Day $50 Giveaway and today’s event is for following on Pinterest . But wait, this week, you can win $50 and a bonus entry for $10! You can win both if you’re really lucky today, or at least have a chance at $50 or $10. This week’s event is composed of the 25 wonderful blogs listed below so feel free to check them out after joining.

My Tots Exactly | Sonya’s Happenings | Coupon Queen of Texas | Life’s Cheap Thrills | One Proud Momma | My bric-a-brac | My Sugar Free Sweet Life | Charming Junkie | Totally Temberton | Building Carpenters | Frugal Experiments | Lakwatsera Me | Stitches of Life | Happy Mothering | Mirage | Retail Therapy Lounge | Experience of a Super Mommy | Money Saving Mindy | Bambie’s Turf | Extreme Personal Measures | Fabulicious Diva | It’s all about me, Mommy Kat | My Tummy Calls | The Blogger Hub | Travel Unravels 

A note though in joining: You can only join this on one blog/page. There will be a maximum of 32 entries ONLY. If you have more than 32, I reserve the right to delete duplicate or fraudulent entries. May I request that you use only one name and email address for quicker validation of entries. Also, make sure you do the mandatory entries otherwise if you win using an optional entry but DID NOT COMPLETE the mandatory entries, you will be disqualified and another winner will automatically be drawn.

On the first mandatory entry, please do not forget to write Stitches Of Life referred you since it is a mandatory entry. You must complete the first 2 tasks before the others are enabled, and for all your other entries to count.

Thank you very much and good luck. By joining this giveaway, you agree to the Terms and Conditions on the bottom of the form. Contest is open all-day Wednesday, from February 9th, 12:01am EST to February 9th,11:59pm EST (February 9th, 1:01pm Philippine time to February 10th, 12:59pm Philippine time).

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I saw my friend’s daughter posted something interesting in Facebook and so I went ahead and checked the application and its website- WiddlyTinks.com. I immediately tried how to make my own Holiday greeting card. I got lost a little with how to resize the photo but glad to have figured it out. I was already thinking on what and how to ask a 7 year old girl how she did it. haha!

Here’s my younger daughter greeting you all an early Merry Christmas!

 

These totally cute labels are finally Sophia’s own…it has her name in it,right? I am definitely glad that Sophia loved the stickers and is already thinking on where to stick and use them. It finally arrived last October 8 (as stated in the photo). And just so you’d know, I won these Back to School Pack Lovable Labels stickers  from a blog contest.  It was STEFtember indeed.

Pink and Black!

This hair bow is one of the ones I have made so far. I love the combination of Pink and Black in it.

I have not made any hair bows recently. Been quite busy with all the house chores and online work. I am hoping to make more hair bows soon. I really have to, they serve as great gifts for girl friends!

I was finally able to send Masheng our gifts for her birthday. I was a very late hair bows gift for the pretty celebrant but we’re definitely glad she liked them. Masheng even said she wears it at school. I have made several hair bows and if you’ll remember, I have hair bows as prizes for my Pasko sa Agosto giveaway. I plan to sell the ones I have made and will most likely post them here too or in Facebook.

Dutdutan 2011 was held at the World Trade Center last August 26 & 27. My cousin’s other half, Michael and his brother & friends went there. Curious what Dutdutan festival is? I am too!

It is actually the Philippines Tattoo Expo. They call it a celebration of art and ink. Also the nation’s biggest and grandest tattoo exposition. Michael worked for Tribal Gear Philippines which is the company behind the expo. Dutdutan 2011′s highlights include competitions of innovative and creative tattoo artists. They are also called premiere inkers. The competition has various categories and they also have the most coveted award so far – Tattoo of the Day.

Dutdutan event was created to showcase the evolution and innovation of tattoo as an art form. It’s one of the most unique way to express art though has always been refered and labeled to the rebel crowd. Now, we can name a lot of celebrities who started having tattoos which is an obvious sign that the status of body art has improved and the taboo about it set aside.
Supporters not only of Tribal Gear and Dutdutan but also of this body art came out and enjoyed the 2 day event. It has made its mark, there are indeed a lot of tattoo enthusiats. Michael being one.

A lot of my friends complimented that I have a sense of creativity even when I was a little younger. I know how to draw though not as excellent as my Dad. My knowledge in crafts and sewing came from my Mom. She was a sewer and at the same time beautician/hair cutter.  I’ve been interested in so many stuff about photography, different arts and crafts but had a very limited time to really put my heart into it. And, I also have limited resources, err…fund to start up a small biz out of these interests. I remember that I’ve planned together with my Mom (this was way back when I was just starting college) that we’ll set up her own beauty parlor or start a small garments biz. They never came true obviously. Her “own” beauty parlor was a small house in Howmart Road which also became the home of her very small (with one sewing machine) garments factory. Both businesses didn’t bloom but became our bread and butter. Aside from accepting repairs, I also helped Mama design baby & teen dresses. There was also about 2 years in a row when we made heart shaped pillows in small & large sizes and I design them according to the buyer’s order using Tulip fabric (tube) paint. It also made way for me to accept requests to design (draw or write anything) tees, still using the same brand of fabric paint. I find it really fulfilling in a way because I get to enojy what I am doing and at the same time, earns from it.

Now that I decided to stay at home and work part time online, I need to feel back the so called creativity I had before.  I was in grade 4 and in Buhi, Camarines Sur when my Mom gifted me with ribbons and hair bows she made on her own. My grandmother liked them and asked for Mama to make more and grandma will include the hair bows in her store. We’ve sold a lot I tell you. I just can’t remember why Mama stopped making cute ribbons and clips. It could be the lack of time since she was working then. Anyways, this is where I get inspiration. She (my mama) is one of my inspirations in making hair bows and hair clips. There are several clips here at home now, in different colors, styles and sizes. The photo below is just the first ones I have made. I’ll soon post another set I’ve made yesterday.

I get to have plenty of time to make these clips when hubby is off from work. Why? Nobody can get him off the PC, haha! He’s still so addicted with online games, actually.

I will continue on this craft even if I decide to go back working. It will be some form of a getaway or an outlet from the routine an 8-5 job gives us.

INKED!

I got my first tattoo yesterday. I found that I was spending the last couple of days looking on the internet trying to see how much pain this was going to cause me. After reading some testimonials it actually made me quite nervous.

I always thought they were a form of art and was curious about the process, but always backed down on the idea of shelling out money to pay some stranger to stab me and put me through many minutes of torture.

However, when I was actually sitting in the chair and getting it done I realized that it wasn’t really that bad. There were parts that were more tender than others, but I knew I would live through it.

So for anyone getting their fist tattoo don’t worry about it. I got mine on my arm and I would explain it as a scratching sensation. Don’t get me wrong it does hurt, but its not that bad. So don’t sweat it out, take the step if its what you really want. Don’t let your fear hold you back!

Big thanks to Apple and Whopper!

 

Guest post & photo by Noel Mirando

Ito ang unang pagkakataon na gumawa ako ng pakontes sa aking blog at ako’y tunay na nasasabik. Huli man ako sa launch ng Pasko sa Agosto, nagpursige akong pakuhanan ng litrato sa aking pinsan ang premyo. Nais ko kasing maging presentable at maganda ang itsura ng mga premyo ko, syempre! Nakakalungkot lang kasi na hindi ko na magamit ang aking  4 na taong gulang na camera, bumigay ito bago pa man magumpisa ang caravan.

(It is my first time to run a contest or giveaway in my blog and I’m very much excited about it. Though late for the Pasko Sa Agosto launch, I insisted and took an effort to have my cousin take these pictures. I wanted my prizes to look pretty and presentable of course! It’s really awful that I had to bid farewell to my 4 year old camera just before the caravan launch.)

So what is Pasko sa Agosto? It’s a blog giveaway caravan! All Filipino Bloggers who would like to somehow thank their readers and followers held hands and made this caravan possible which started last August 10. The mechanics are very simple and each of the contests are open to everyone who’d like to join.

So here are my prizes. They may be simple but will definitely look good when used by yourself, your daughters, nieces, God children, or even by your pet kittens or dogs too! And, just so you’d know, I made them personally. I am glad to find myself back in crafting.

Here are the mandatory requirements:

1.) Like my Facebook Fan Page: Stitches Of Life

2.) Follow me through Google Friend Connect

3.) Leave a comment below with your Facebook Profile name, Twitter and Google Friend Connect Username.

(FB Fan page and GFC can be found at the right sidebar.)

 

For additional entries, you can:
1.) Click on Google +1 at my homepage.

2.) Be a Subscriber. Just enter your email addresses on the upper right hand of the sidebar where it says “Subscribe”.

3.) Follow me on Twitter @septembercharm.

Just to remind you though, please make a separate comment if you decide to follow these additional tasks. And, the caravan giveaway will run until August 30 only. Everyone can join as long as you have a Philippine mailing address. No one’s required to purchase to join and these items are something I’ve made myself. Shipping fee will be shouldered by me too. Let’s all have fun with this caravan and you are  encourage to join the other Pasko Sa Agosto participants as well. Just click on the badge below to see them.