A Poem & A Shadowbox You set fire to the freedom we builtWhile we're home protecting our youngYou threaten to shut us up, clamp us downBut we won't cower, we're not done From the kitchen counter,from the balcony,From the nursery and the nightstand,We will take our shots,write down our rights,our authority, our fightWe will launch our words into the darknessFrom our windows at nightWhile we sing our lullabiesLet our light burn ever so bright Because we won't stop speakingOur truths that you so terrorizeWe will sing if we have toDance, make art, write poems,Tell it to our Read More
Papel at Pandikit: 100 Tiny Collages
I finally completed my 100 Day Project for this year and I enjoyed it so much that it makes me a little sad to end it. Like what I've mentioned many times before, I like playing along this activity because it pulls me out of my comfort zone and gives me an opportunity to creatively express myself. 100 Tiny Collages did just that and more. I never thought I'd be able to bring to surface so many thoughts and ideas in my head through it. It turned out be way more than just cutting up magazines and gluing pictures together. It was introspective, revelatory as well as comforting. Most of the Read More
100 Days of Making
I'm happy to be part of this year's round of Elle Luna's #the100dayproject! It's my third time to play along and even if my last project took three times longer to complete (ikr?!?), I am not discouraged. Why, you say? It's because embarking on a daily creative activity like this one has done me so much good. #The100DayProject has allowed me to explore my artistry; challenged me to be creative with the time and materials available to me however limited; and let me discover and be inspired by many other artists and makers participating in the same project. Not only that, I also get to make Read More
Paper Doll Printables
I get constant demand for arts and crafts at home. My three girls are perpetually tinkering, cutting, gluing, folding and making things with whatever material they find — most of the time it's paper. (Our house has piles of paper sculptures and cutouts everywhere!) A couple of weeks ago, our talented illustrator friend, Soleil Ignacio, gave little Jo one of her glam paper girls (as shown above). Naturally, when my other two daughters saw it, they pleaded that I make them their own. I can't draw as well as Soleil, but I did what I could and made them these little girl paper dolls with Read More
The Juice Hut Craft Party
Yes! I get to update my blog! Ha! The last month has been amazingly crazy and ultra busy that I have been having difficulty squeezing in some writing time. But I finally got to make it happen, so allow me take you back to a month ago and tell you about my first ever event in collaboration with Juice Hut — The Juice Hut Craft Party! It's actually funny how this came about. It happened one afternoon when Mia, JH owner, and I were exchanging emails, talking about work, as usual, but also sharing with each other our hopes and dreams for our respective passions and creative pursuits. We do Read More
Valentines DIY: Sweetheart Piñatas
Who says piñatas are only for children's parties? I just made a couple of cute heart-shaped piñatas which I think is the perfect craft project to work on this Valentines season! It's also a fun and unique way of packaging those Valentines treats for a special someone. What makes it even sweeter is that it's very easy and inexpensive to make! Here's how: 1. Prepare your materials. You will need the following: a cardboard box, red or pink Japanese paper, red or pink paint, glue, glue gun, glue sticks, scissors, string, candies or chocolates 2. Cut some cardboard into two heart shapes, both Read More
DIY Zebra Piñata
My godson Vito turned five last Saturday and his Mom, Martine, put together an animal circus themed party for him over the weekend. Vito loves animals and one of his favorites is the zebra, so Martine thought it would be a great idea to have a zebra piñata at the party. I've secretly been wanting to make a piñata (Okay...if you know me, it's probably not so secret), so I gladly volunteered to make one for him! The materials I used are the following: big empty cardboard boxes, black and white crepe paper, black construction paper, white glue, white paint, paint brush, scissors, cutter, Read More
Words To Live By
I sometimes leaf through the Bible and read random passages until words leap out of it and speak to me. Sometimes, I just find words and numbers, but many times, I discover beauty, strength and hope. Occasionally, I come across words that not only leap out of the page but also cut to the heart. I personally see the Bible as a complex collection of words, verses, stories and phrases that can build up or tear down, give joy or cause tears, enlighten the mind or awaken even deeper questions. You could say the Bible is an adventure and the destination is never the same for every one. Read More
DIY Toy: Summer’s Cardboard Pizza
We usually bring home our groceries in cardboard boxes, so I always have an abundance of them. When we don't use them for throwing trash or storing things, I use them for various craft projects.Most of the time, I end up making Summer and Emma all sorts of cardboard toys. They never last long, maybe three weeks max, even shorter if Emma has her way with it, but it's a fun, inexpensive way to encourage creative and imaginative play at home. It's also a great way to teach them how to recycle and be resourceful. Even if they break after a few days, it wouldn't matter because they don't cost a Read More
60 Minutes
People think I have so much spare time because I get to do a lot of crafts but in fact, I can only do these things when my girls are asleep. That goes double or triple when the task involves sharp tools like cutters and scissors. That means an hour or two in the afternoons, max. That's also if I'm lucky enough that they nap at the same time! So I've learned to make the most of my 60-minute or so breaks when I get them. If I'm not napping myself, you'll find me reading, painting, working on the computer or — you guessed it — crafts! That involves scrounging around the house for junk that I can Read More