Mintay Papers International Scrapbook Day 2025 Challenges Recap - A Creative Sprint Against the Clock

For the second year in a row, International Scrapbook Day becomes a highlight on my creative calendar, and this year, Mintay Papers truly brought the inspiration with four unique challenges! I had so much fun participating and pushing my creativity with each prompt. Here’s a closer look at my entries and the stories behind them:

A Creative Sprint Against the Clock

This year’s Mintay INSD challenge was, quite literally, a challenge! The prompts were revealed across May 3rd and 4th — but all entries had to be submitted by midnight on May 4. Since we were in Bahrain on May 3, I only had the morning and afternoon of May 4 to pull everything together.

It was an intense creative marathon, but I’m so happy I managed to complete and submit all four projects just in time. Exhausted? Yes. Inspired? Absolutely.

Challenge 1: Sketch It Out!

Layout: “Happiness”

Kicking off INSD with a layout from my bridal shower felt like the perfect way to celebrate. I used the City of Lovecollection — because pink was the theme (and really, when is pink not the answer?).

The hand-stitched border took time (yes, every single stitch!), but I loved the texture it added. I brought in die cuts from Joy of Life to highlight the laughter and joy from that special night. Glitter-paste hearts, sparkly flowers, and a touch of sentiment — “Happiness” — brought it all together.

This challenge was just the nudge I needed to stop procrastinating and create something truly meaningful. Turns out, I really do work best with a deadline!

Challenge 2: Album in a Day

Project: Mini Album - “Through His Lens”

This one-page wonder mini album is a personal favorite. I used Blissful Time as the base, with Written Memories for tags and layers — a dreamy combo!

It’s a continuation of a self-focused album I started five years ago during a crafting class. It’s rare to scrapbook ourselves, but this mini reminded me why it’s so important. Each photo is a favorite, not just because of how I look, but because of the story behind it — and the fact they were all taken by my husband, who always captures me in the best light (literally and figuratively).

A love letter to myself, seen through his lens. Click here to read a blog post I made for this mini project and see more photos of this one page wonder album.

Challenge 3: Monochromatic Magic

Layout: “29 & Loved”

This pink-on-pink layout celebrates one of the sweetest surprises — my 29th birthday and my very first as a Mrs.! My husband planned the whole thing, and it was pure happiness.

Of course, I chose pink as my monochromatic theme (are we sensing a pattern?). The City of Love collection delivered all the softness, sweetness, and romance the memory deserved.

Challenge 4: Dimensional Delight

Layout: “Bahrain Crew”

This layout documents another unforgettable Bahrain trip with our amazing Saudi crew. These memories are so close to my heart — the kind of moments I know I’ll want to revisit again and again when we return to the Philippines.

I used the Mamarazzi collection with bits from Better Times, layering watercolor splatters, flowers, and ribbon for that dimensional, textured feel. 

The last challenge was a selfie with our favorite Mintay product. My fave collection is Vacation but I had to pass up this challenge since a whole day of scrapbooking and chores is not a pretty sight especially since this prompt was released in the middle of the night. Haha!

These challenges reminded me of why I love scrapbooking — not just for the creativity, but for the connection to memory, self-expression, and storytelling. Big thanks to Mintay Papers for the beautiful collections and the push to create with heart.

Currently, I’m diving into Paige Evans’ International Scrapbook Day challenges too — and yes, a blog post on that is coming up next! Stay tuned!