I LOVE THIS CASTLE!!!
This was by far my favorite castle in Japan. Its impressive size and structure took you right back to that ancient time....quite amazing. In this LO I used my Stampin Up Wheel, Paper, and the Cricut to cut out the main shape behind the title. I also used my cuttlebug to create texture, along with eyelets and brads to give it that majestic/royalty type of feel. I like the tearing technique for this spread, it helps to make it look more ancient.
WHO SHALL TAKE HOME THE PRIZE?????
First off, thank you to all who left us comments on our blog. We really do appreciate all the support, it really feels like we have a little family growing here, and we love it! So thank you so very much, and continue to keep in touch with us!
THE WINNER OF THE PUNCH AND MULTIPACK PAPER IS..........Louise Luna! Congrats!!! I will be emailing you to find out your information. Thanks for playing!
ARE WE THERE YET????
Yep, this is my second layout - my first 2 page spread! This is a hilarious story about my flight to Japan. Its a really, really long flight to Japan - including layovers it took us over 24 hours to get there! So we were quite delusional.
But one thing was for sure, 3:00pm kept popping up as we continued through our travels....read the blurb in the picture to get the run down - Its hilarious!
Ya, I quoted Gwen Stefani....but she rocks, so its all good! And I always think of that song when I look at this layout, when we went to Harajuku in Japan. The fashion is totally outrageous and awesome, but it only works in Japan - I know if I tried sporting a stylish Japanese inspired outfit in Comfortable Canada, it would be quite the sight!!!
I put some Japanese stationary on this layout, because it is so cute and it makes no sense, lol. Just read about cool bone guy...
What is cool bone guy trying to say?
ITS TIME FOR ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!!!
Post a comment anywhere on this blog over the next two weeks and we will draw a random name to win a FREE CORNER PUNCH and a pack of 8 1/2 X 11" multicolor paper!
It could happen at any time in the next two weeks, and it could be you!
No where to run, No where to hide...it's Akiko's FIRST LAYOUT!!! (Horror scream)
Well, as promised, Here is my very first LAYOUT! EVER! I had NO paper, No stamps, NO NOTHING....eeek...a bit scary! But I think its important to look back and see your creativity and skills grow and transform. What a fun process!
My sister gave me the Japan stickers for Christmas, and I used Crystal's letters, flower punch, tag punch and gold brads. I got the ribbon and corner stickers from Dollarama! I printed the date on paper I got in Japan from the 100 yen store (Japanese dollar store). Thanks to all for the donations! LOL
These gates were amazing to see. They were featured in the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" when the little girls is running under the Red Tori Gates. They are so beautiful and peaceful, with their donors names carved down the sides. The entire trail was about 4-5 hours, so we took the short route - about 45 minutes.
During our many amazing travels within Japan, we had the pleasure of staying at the Westin Osaka. WHAT A BEATIFUL HOTEL! One day we decided to try the sauna and pool - and we had to wear swim caps. Did we ever look hilarious! We called ourselves the "Westin Osaka Swim Team"....lol (I guess you had to be there to really feel the humor in that). Anyways, here is my layout from that day. I used the cricut to create the swirls all over the page....I just cut the same swirl out in different sizes and stuck them together!
My Typical Day
As I went through my usual day, I decided to take some random pictures. I am becoming a part time photographer!! Also, I thought it would be nice to share a few moments with you:
This is my front desk buddy Boo at my day job :)
And lovely Nicki, with her beatiful NEW Coach bag.....SO JEALOUS!
And my night life...teaching Dance at Ciao Bella - strike a pose Luis and Patti!
Here's my Cha Cha Formation Group, they will be dancing at a charity event on February 6th!
And when I finally make it home at 11pm, I get to snuggle with my cute little squishy face Tobi :)
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!! I love him!!!
DOMA DOMA
In this layout, I did hand stitching with sequins. I had a lot of fun doing this layout because I enjoyed what we did in the pics - we went to a really cool Japanese restaurant where we just celebrated life. And it was fun watching my sister make her grapefruit cocktail!
I'm at work, drinking coffee and running to the ladies room every ten minutes and it totally brought me back to my honeymoon, so how could I not share it with you?! =)
I know this LO seems really weird as might the title, but it was one of the major events that happened to us on our honeymoon...we went 10 days without being able to use the restroom (if you know what I mean) so this was one of the nights we took pictures of our sad and uncomfortable faces....HAHAHA Every night for 10 days following dinner we had cappuccinos with hopes there would be a visit to the restroom, but no luck until the 11th day, guess cruise ship food will do that to ya. (p.s. the crab was a towel animal our room keeper left for us)..love them
All in all, it seems coffee is only a natural laxative when you're NOT on vacation...hehe
RECIPE:
Paper (Stampin Up!): Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard & Whisper White
Paper (Other): Friendly Forest Designer, K & Company Designer
Stamps (Stampin Up!): Paradise
Inks (Stampin Up!): Chocolate Chip
Punches (Stampin Up!): Slit, 1-3/8" Square, Scallop Border, Double Rectangle
Cricut: Storybook Cartridge
Cuttlebug: Swis Dots Embossing Folder
Other: Stampin Up! Gold Brads, Stampin Up! 1/4" Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon, Prima Flowers, Dollarama Pearls & Dollarstore Flowers
Here's how I felt the 11th day:
