Crystal and Akiko

Japan Trip: Tim's Neighbourhood

My sisters and I stayed with my relative Tim and his family while in Tokyo. He took us everywhere. Without the generosity of Tim and his family, this trip would not have been possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Tim, for making one of our lifelong dreams come true!

Tim's neighbourhood had a beautiful garden nearby, so I incorporated those pics with one of the front of his house.

Crystals' very creative mom, Teresa, taught me a wonderful technique she learned from paper-tolling, which was used on the leaves in this layout. Thanks Teresa!

Tools used in this Layout:

Paper:

Background paper from Dollarama

Mixture of cardstock colors from Stampin' Up!

Tools:

Fiskars Butterfly cut-out

Plantin Schoolboock Cricut Cartridge for font
  

How-to Video "Faux Wax Seal" Valentines Card

First, I want to say AVATAR!!!  Rediculously amazing!  The hubby and I saw it in 3-D Digital and will be watching it again in the IMAX with the fawja (father..lol) I know, hardcore.  I love love love artistry on the big screen, and speaking of love...

I wanted to try something different with embossing powders and decided to create a Faux Wax Seal on this Valentines Card  <sigh>  love! I melt to my knees when I do valentines projects.  I love, love...tee he  I really liked the way this turned out, I just might start adding them to seal my envelopes, how cute!

SUPPLIES:
Paper (Stampin Up!):  Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Designer Series
Ink (Stampin Up!):  Chocolate Chip, Versamark
Stamps (Stampin Up!):  Love You Much, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Hostess set *discontinued*
Punches (Stampin Up!):  Circle, Corner Rounder
Other (Stampin Up!):  White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Blender Pen, Bone Folder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Dimensionals
Other:  Ribbon, Zots & Pearls from Michaels

Absolute Bliss

First, my apololgies for not posting my video last week...I had good intentions but Christmas took over my life.  I sat down to rush the video and realized I was missing a punch and couldn't do it =(  guess I need to buy it..haha (that's what I get for hand making over 80 gifts, that's right, I said 80 gifts, lord help me - I loved every minute of it though)  ok, moving on...

Absolute Bliss this was!  Still on my honeymoon getting a GREAT massage over looking the water.  I found this stem of paper flowers at the dollar store and was instantly inspired.  I also fell in love with using pearls, they add the perfect touch to finish off the look.  Tip:  buy natural colour pearls, colour them with any colour of permanent markers to create your own colours.




SUPPLIES
Paper: Stampin Up! Apricot Appeal, K & Company Designer Paper
Embellishments: Stampin Up! Rhinestone Brads, Dollarstore Pearls, Dollarstore Feathers, Dollarstore stem of paper flowers
Other:  Story Book cricut cartridge, (forget front cartridge used)

Japan Trip: Oh, the places we'll go!

This LO was one of my first layouts...before I had any punches or time saving tools. Do I ever remember doing this layout! A running joke between Crystal and I, there things I did to this layout that took waaaay too long!

I hand embossed the background paper (its kinda hard to see in the pics) AND -

I cut out each arrow BY HAND ....... I know, crazy!!! Plus I glittered each arrow....

In total this layout took me 13 hours to do. I can't help but laugh when I think back to that day!

Tools Used on this Layout:

Paper:

Stampin' up! Cameo Coral Cardstock 

Mustard paper from Dollarama

Map Picture: I searched the internet for a map of Japan, and found this really cool map that was from the Military Airforce, I believe in the 20's. (I can't remember the year) It was the inspiration for the color scheme of this spread.

Embellies:

Glitter glue pack from Michaels

 

Japan Trip: Fuji-san

Mt. Fuji....one of the biggest tourist attractions in Japan. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the great mountain, because it was too cloudy. But we had lots of fun that day, feeding the fishies and enjoying the strong breeze coming off of Lake Yamanaka.

We did end up seeing Mt. Fuji later, on the bullet train to Osaka :)

Tools Used in this Layout:

Paper:

Sparkle paper from Dollarama

Stampin' Up! Yo Yo Yellow Cardstock

Stampin' up! Whisper White Cardstock

Tools:

Cutterbee Circle Cutter

Zoobaloo Cricut Cartridge for Mountain and Cloud die cuts

Embelllishments:

Ribbon from Dollarama

Stampin' Up! Silver Brads

Recipe in a Jar

I just LOVE getting homemade recipes ready to make.  What's the fun in eating baked goods if you don't get to make it? =)  My students, Elizabeth & Victoria, gave me Orange Cranberry Bread mix to make Christmas morning....yumm...sounds so good can't wait!

So I decided to make this lovely recipe in a jar for my Grandparents.  The recipe is to make Oatmeal Spice Choclate Chip Cookies...oh wow, it is DE-LISH!  I just bought a jar, layered the ingredients, then cut out the tag on my cricut, wrote the recipe on the back, bought a whisk and tied it all together with ribbon.  And what's a gift without a matching card? lol  I used emboss resist on this with alcohol inks.  I will be posting more videos on this technique in a couple of weeks but TOMORROW....I will be posting another How-to Video so be sure to check back.  Now go get your wrapping done...tee hee

Scrapbook Layout: Sisters

This LO is special to me, because its of me and my sisters :) I took these pics during our trip to Japan, we were taking a long drive to Mt. Fuji (I will post that LO later) and had some camera fun. I am actually thinking of framing this one, in a shadow box picture frame. Does anyone know of good places to get a shadow box frame? If you could let me know in a post that would be wonderful!

Tools used in this LO:

Paper: Black & White Paper Pad from Michaels

Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla Cardstock (for design) and lightly rubbed the edges with black Stampin' Up! chalk

Embellishments:

Prima Flowers

Assortment of ribbon

Pearls and black rhinestones from Dollarama

'Sisters' rhinestone sticker from Michaels
  

Give Joy this Christmas

Want to give a gift that will make a real and lasting difference in someones life?  Give something to someone who has nothing but hope!

A friend of mine introduced me to an incredible way to give this holiday season, through CBM (Christian Blind Mission).  When you give a gift through CBM’s Online Gift Catalogue on behalf of a loved one, you’re changing the world for a child, mom or dad, or family that’s wrestling with the burden of poverty and disability.  Whether your want to spend $3 or over $100, every gift will change someones life.  I think these make FANTASTIC stocking stuffers or even just plain ol' gifts.  I'll be buying Vitamin A and mosquito nets for as many as I can.  Click on the links to see exactly how these gifts give.

Together we can do more!

Japan Trip: The Last Supper

Our last dinner in Tokyo was significant, because we chose the same restaurant as our first meal in Japan (I will post that page sometime soon :))

I loved the contrast and intensity of the colors.

The lantern stickers are K & Company, and the paper and brads are of course, Stampin' Up!

I used the Calligraphy Cricut Cartridge for the title, and K & Company Felt embellishments. The flowers are Prima.

Tools Used:

Stampin' Up! Cardstock in Pumpkin Pie, Not Quite Navy, Basic Black and Green Galore

Stampin; Up! Bronze Brads

K & Company Lantern stickers and Felt embellishments

Michaels Ribbon

Prima Flowers

Dollarama Chipboard
 

Giveaway Winner & Gift Card Holder How-to Video

I'm early for our date!  Well, better early than late again...hehe

It's Christmas next week, AHHHH...so sorry for posting the winner so late, got carried away with all the holiday baking LOVE IT!!!  I never get to bake too much since the hubby doesn't eat sweets...I know!!! who doesn't like sweets right?  I'm taking advantage of the holidays and baking my life away till next year, haha.  Okay moving on....yes...the winner!  Congrats Tyler.  I will email you.

Tonight is just full of wonderful things.  Was spoiled once again by my students at Performing Dance Arts.  They give me the most generous gifts for Christmas, so lucky!  I love creativity so wanted to share a couple photos of shtuff they made for me.  DELICIOUS home made cookies & stunning chocolate sleigh from Karissa and an ADORABLE ring & dance pic by Clarissa (interesting their names are so similar) n e who, loved loved loved all the gifts from yall chicos & chicas at PDA, THANK YOU!  Muah!


What to do with those refill alcohol inks you have?  Try emboss resist!  So much fun creating your own colours with inks.  This video will show you how to use these super easy techniques and make a Top Note Slider Gift Card Holder in the meantime.  These are PERFECT for this time of year!

SUPPLIES:
Paper (Stampin Up!):  Whisper White, Dusty Durango & Old Olive
Inks (Stampin Up!):  Crushed Curry Refill Alcohol Ink & Basic Black Classic Ink
Stamps (Stampin Up!):  Polka Dots &
Punches (Stampin Up!):  1/2" Circle & Large Oval
Tools:  Stampin Up! Top Note Die Cut, Stampin Up! Stamp-a-majig, Stampin Up! Heat Tool, Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Applicator & Felt Pads, Cuttlebug, Stampin Up! Bone Folder, Dollarstore Bead Tray
Other:  Stampin Up! Clear Embossing Powder, Stampin Up! Sticky Tape, Stampin Up! Silver Brads, Prima Flowers, Dollarstore Ribbon, Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Blending Solution, Sharpie Olive Green Marker

More baking tonight and maybe a little eating of the baked goods too =)