More Happy Mail!

I was surprised by another box of goodies from my friend Cami..  Hi Cami!! Thank you for all the yummyness!  I am totally spoiled!

Cami sent me stuff that she made for Valentine's day, Easter and goodies from Japan.    Here's a close up of the Easter basket.

And here's an adorable mail box!  I got another one from Linda, so I'll share that soon too.

Love how she added this message...

And look what was inside!

And she also made this clip board!  Love it!

I have more goodies to share.. feeling so blessed! Thanks Cami!

Goodies from Nadine Tx!

I was THRILLED to find out that I won Nadine Tx's Hawaii Giveaway!  She is so sweet!  She is from Hawaii but now lives in Texas and sympathizes with us Hawaii girls that can't get their hands on all those Michael's goodies and what not.  So she had a Hawaii subscriber only giveaway and I won!! Woo hoo! 

Now, this lady is so funny.  I'm hooked on her Talk Story Episodes!  My husband calls her my friend because he always catches me watching her videos and cracking up.  You gotta check out her YT channel.  She has great tips and is just plain fun!

To my surprise, not one but 2 boxes showed up on my door step from Nadine.  Thanks Girl!  Here's what was in box #1...

And here's box #2...

OMG- I was in heaven!  And I just have to say that I was desperate to find these balsa boxes!!!!  Michaels has different shaped balsa boxes from our Ben Franklin, so I was trying to find them online and eventually had another fellow crafter send me some... I should have just looked in the box cause it was inside waiting for me!  And check out the frames and birdcages! Love the stamps too...

And she gave me one of her birdcage pin cushions!  So pretty!  She has a tutorial on her YT channel on how she made this.

And I died when I saw this!  Love it!

Here's what was inside!  So pretty- I don't want to use them!  I think I'll hoard them for awhile.

Here's the 2nd box contents.  So much goodies!  Getting this happy mail  really cheered me up.  I remember having a bad week that week and I was so touched by Nadine's generosity.

So go check her out here!  Thank you so much Nadine!

Japan Haul: All About Rilakkuma

I must admit... this grouchy looking bear is growing on me.  Who couldn't love Rilakkuma after you see him all over Japan?  Even Akemi started noticing him and calling him cute!  I targeted the Rilakkuma store located inside Kiddie Land in Harajuku for one reason... my friend Linda is a Rilakkuma fan.  I thought I'd just pick up a few things for her, then I remembered that her birthday was coming up, so I ended up getting a lot more goodies for her.  I really wish I could've bought her the whole store!

Now I'm typically a Hello Kitty fan myself, but when you go to Japan and see all the other cool stuff, you don't even think about buying Hello Kitty.  I guess it's cause I know I can get her back home?  Rilakkuma is not as common in Hawaii... but I did see some new designs that place him in paradise!  How ironic.. I go to Japan to find Rilakkuma in Hawaii!

So here's the stuff I ended up picking out... hope she doesn't have them yet!

This is a Rilakkuma solar powered figure.  His head bobs up and down in the sun...

I also got this pencil pouch.. mainly because she also likes the Eiffel Tower.

I couldn't resist this fuzzy pencil holder.

Here's a close up of the chopsticks.  Doesn't every Rilakkuma fan need Rilakkuma chopsticks?

And here is the mother of all deco tapes!  I swear it is wider than duck tape!

I liked the mini magnets a lot.. also go the clip magnet.  Those are good to hang on your fridge in the event of a clip emergency.

And couldn't forget the Rilakkuma Gachapon! I didn't open it, but I think its Rilakkuma with a hamburger.

And all us paper nuts need labels right?

I did try to find some Japan exclusive stuff... This is a cell phone charm of Rilakkuma on the Kaminarimon (Large Lantern in Nakamise).

And Rilakkuma playing Gangnam Style with the Tokyo Tower.

This shopping bag was actually purchased at Character Street in the Tokyo Station.  That place was fun too.. will post more about that later!

Another Hot Air Balloon

Hi Everyone!  I'm sooooooooo looking forward to my next and almost last furlough day.  Yes, our furlough days seem to be numbered as we are hearing there will probably be no more furloughs next fiscal (boooo).  I know, I'm crazy, but I guess I got used to furloughs and now I really look forward to the extra day off!

Wanted to share this project that I made awhile ago.  I had asked my husband to take photos and then I guess we forgot about downloading them until now.  Decided to take it outside since it is a good size and needed to be hung.  Try not to look at our dirty garage k?

I believe the paper is by October Afternoon.  Love when I can get my hands on full collections.  Makes creating a project so much easier!

Here's a close up of the little banner flags I cut using my PTI die.  I like the twine too- thanks Debi!

On the top of the balloon, I glued a couple of roses.

Here's a closer look at the basket.  Decided to use some of my Maya Road trim.  Oh- and also added some ivory pearl trim around the edge.  Topped it off with some roses.

 If you want to see this in person, its hanging at our LSS Island Scrapbooking.  When I walked in I must've walked right past it!  Totally didn't look up to see it hanging.  Oh well, if you do go to visit, make sure you look up right when you enter the door.

Time to work on some stuff so I can have a fun fun fun weekend!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone!  We actually celebrated Easter last weekend since family was in town.  Also needed to finish up this Easter project early since the recipient was going on a trip and wouldn't be here for Easter.  I knew the only person who would appreciate it here in Hilo is my friend Debi, so I designed it just for her.

While surfing YouTube, I stumbled onto this cool Easter Explosion Box Mini Album by Kathy Orta.  She is a whiz at coming up with cool projects and sells kits/teaches online.  By the time I saw this video, it was over a year after she originally published it.  I bookmarked it for future reference and found it just in time for this Easter.  

I didn't really want to make the box an explosion box, so I decided to just make it a regular box instead but decorate the cover similar to the video- like an Easter Basket... only mine is more Shabby.  Here's what I came up with...

Here's a close up of the box cover.  The box was made using the new Prima Fairy Rhymes paper.  Love love love that paper!  You can't tell cause I covered the cover up, but it has an amazing butterfly pattern on it.  I think you can see it on the box bottom.

After making the box and cover, I attached the handle on with some brads. Kept it simple since I wanted the cover to stand out more.  To decorate the cover, I stared by adding some tulle to the bottom.  Then added some of my home made burlap leaves that I colored using my distress stains.  Then added some I Am Roses roses and some gems/pearls.  Then I used some mini plastic eggs I found at Walgreens (yep, I searched several stores to find the small size and they were the only store in Hilo that carried them).  I decorated them using lace and flowers.  Then I found this chick from my Easter posts last year.  It made a cute addition to the lid.

Around the edge of the lid, I added some ruffled trim and then on top of that added some flower beaded trim.  I wasn't sure I would use this trim I got from Craft Supply, but I'm glad I picked it up.

On the side of the basket, I added some sheer ribbon and made a bow. In the middle, I added a Wild Orchid Crafts rose.

I took a photo from this angle to show you that I had also added one of my home made stick pins to the rose.  You can also see the lace on the eggs too.

And inside the basket, I added in a small notebook I altered.  It was originally a plain kraft recycled notebook I picked up for $1 at Ben Franklin.  With some of the scrap from the box, I was able to cover the notebook.  Then I added some flatback pearl trim along the edge of the book. This was the first time I've ever done that, so I wasn't sure if it would work, but it seemed to work out ok.  Then I decorated the cover using a MS doily (from Debi), handmade flower, and some Petaloo flowers from my stash.  Also added a Pink Paislee buttefly (love!) and Doodlebug heart pearls.  I'm linking these even more than regular pearls!  And finally, I used one of my coveted Melissa Frances lock and key resin pieces.  Love this look!

Here's a better look at those embellies...

 Debi seemed to like these projects a lot!  Glad I decided to give it to her. :)

Film Reel Mini

As I've said before, you need to check out Live Love Scrap's YouTube channel.  I saw this project and fell in love... I HAD to try it out.  I already loved the Picture Wheel die by Tim Holtz for my happy memories of my viewmaster, but when I saw her film reel project, I thought it was pure genius!

I used more of the Hello Pastel collection by Prima to cover the picture wheels I cut from chipboard.  Then I cut the toilet paper roll the size of the Tim Holtz filmstrip die and covered it with more paper and glued the two ends to the roll.  Then it was time to decorate!

I had fun using a variety of flowers by Prima, some flower trims by Sa Crafters, Wild Orchid Crafts and Prima butterfly.  I also splurged and used the Scrabble tiles I've been hoarding to spell Amore.

Here's a side view of the film reel.

I cut the filmstrip die out of more Hello Pastel paper and in each frame, spelled out I love you. Then I accented them with All Natural Accents flowers.

You can also fill the frames with small photos to make a mini album.  Love it!

Shabby Camera

You may remember the camera box I made for my friend Les' birthday present?  That box idea was awesome, but I knew if I ever wanted to teach a class on it, I would have to make it more classroom-friendly.  Then I thought about how I used the Tim Holtz camera die for the layout that coordinated with the camera box, and thought I could use that for the front of the box instead.  After that, I found this YouTube video that did exactly what I was thinking!  She also made a mini album also using the same die.  I just her channel:  It's LiveLoveScrap in case you want to check it out.

Here's what I came up with using the same technique...  I really wanted to use the new Prima Hello Pastel collection that recently arrived at Island Scrapbooking.  Pastels are definitely my favorite, so I was happy to see these happy colors and thought they'd make a cute camera.  I started off by die cutting the camera, but I think next time I'll also cut one using chipboard so that its more stable.  Then I made the lens and embellished the inside using flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, pearls and a butterfly using my MS punch.  Also used some pearl and rhinestone bling along with a Recollections gem and Doodlebug heart pearl accent.  On the top of the box, I used a couple of PTI buttons and added a flat pearl for the shutter.

Here's the back of the box.  Used a different paper from the collection since they all work together nicely.

Oh yah, don't forget the fringe from the Tim Holtz trims set.  I had a hard time using it on other projects but it worked nicely on this one.

And here's a shot of the box when it's open.

Here's a close up of the lens and the goodies inside.

I had so much fun making this simpler version of the box.  Less engineering involved but same great results!

Don't forget to check out the Sister Stamps blog for sneak peeks at our upcoming release!

Shabby Wish

Hi again!  I thought I'd share this card since I shared the other one yesterday... made these two cards in the same night.. was totally on a shabby kick.  

So this time I used some of my favorite Prima paper.. love the butterflies in the background.  Started by distressing the edges of the card base and background paper.  Before adhering it to the card base, I cut a small "x"  using my craft knife and curled up the edges.  I think I distressed them too.  Didn't know quite what I'd be putting inside the hole, but I really wanted to incorporate this technique into a card.

Then I adhered the background piece down and started decorating.  The doily die is also by Hero Arts. Love it!  Cut two, one is the large piece in whole.  I cut the middle out of the 2nd one and mounted that on the larger one. It was a little awkward because there's a hole in the middle of the doily, so I glued the pearl in the rhinestone buckle and then glued it to the doily, then added the pop dot. Seemed to do the trick.

Then I added some roses and finished  it off using some seam binding that I tied into a bow.  I then added my two favorite embellishments... a wish ticket and butterfly chipboard.  The wish ticket is from the Tim Holtz set of tickets and the butterfly is by Pink Paislee.  To simulate the butterfly's flying, I added some crystals.

Then it was time to decide what to put into the hole.  I was thinking of putting in a tiny heart, but then I saw the bag of hearty clay butterflies I made using the Martha Stewart molds.  I never did use them on any projects yet, so I decided that this would be the first time to try.  Just hot glued it down inside the hole and it fit perfectly.. Yay!

Considering making this card in a upcoming class but not sure Hilo is ready for Shabby Chic?

Shabby Love

When I saw this new Hero Arts heart die I fell in love.  Something about the design was so appealing to me, that I knew I had to have it!  I must say, they cut pretty well, didn't have any problems getting the pieces out.

So I'm still on my shabby kick, and wanted to go with a light blue color this time.  Started with some light blue cardstock and punched one of my Martha Stewart edger punches on one end.  Then mounted it onto a kraft card base.  Then I got some of my lace on a roll and trimmed it down to fit on the card.  I adhered it down and then added some rhinestone trim along the edge where the border punch was used.

Then it was time to decorate!  First I added the Hero Arts heart that I had die cut.  Then I went to my new favorite embellishment.. chipboard hearts by Pink Paislee.  They have a resist on it so if you decide to ink it up, a pattern will show, but I think I like them just plain white better.  Now if they will only make them in kraft...

After that I was stuck a bit... decided to go with the "love" ticket by Tim Holtz, since I was using hearts after all.  Then added some satin roses from a trim that was given to me by a friend.  I cut off the roses so I could use them individually.  And finished off the card using the new white Doodlebug heart pearls.  They come in different colors, but I think the white is my fave.  Here's a better look...

I think it's almost the end of the week right?  Can't wait till the weekend.

Mixed Media Waterfall Album

Hello!  I'm pre-scheduling this post, so I'm thinking this will be mid week by the time you see this.  I told you I've been busy crafting right?  Yup, when the creative juices are flowing, you have to seize the day and make as much as you can.  I stayed up till 2am over the weekend working on lots of projects, so now I have lots of stuff to post!

OK so as I was watching Prima Live with Leeza Gibbons, and Frank's previous Prima Live show featuring Leeza's new waterfall album, I was inspired to make my own version.  Yes, there are no stores here  in Hilo that carry that album, so I thought I'd try to make something similar.  Here's what I came up with.. yes, not nearly as nice as the Prima version, but enough to satisfy me...

I started with some cereal boxes for my covers.  Used my new Sunrise/Sunset papers by Prima.  LOVE THEM!  I chose the lace printed ones for the covers.  After I covered both, I punched the holes using my cinch and attached the binding.

Then I started decorating the cover... started with some chicken wire I bought from our local Ace store and sprayed it with white paint to help rustproof it.  After cutting down the wire to the size I wanted, I adhered it using my hot glue gun.

Then I added some burlap leaves I cut using a Sizzix die and burlap fabric.  The fabric was a light sage color, so I used my distress stains again to make the color how I wanted it to look.  Then I added some gesso to make it look distressed.  After going through my stash, I picked out some flowers by Wild Orchid Crafts, some shabby flower trim, pearls and metal flowers from the sunrise/sunset collection.  I also pulled some wood mushrooms and leaves from Prima.  And do you see the keyhole above the mushrooms?  I cut that from a Tim Holtz die and painted it white.

After I was done with the cover, I got the key that was also cut from the same Tim Holtz die and painted it with gesso and added a white heart pearl by Doodlebug.  Used some twine to attach it to the binding.  On the other end of the twine, I added another metal flower, bauble and pearl

 And now for a look on the inside... I picked out different patterns from the sunrise/sunset line and cut them down to 6" x 9 1/2", and about 1 1/2" shorter for each layering piece.  There are 4 pages on each side, so a total of 8 pages.  I thought I could use the bulkier embellishments like flowers on the part that extends past the page above it.  Before adhering it down to the covers, I punched holes and attached them using seam binding.

Now I wish I had distressed the edges of the pages, but I thought it was just my prototype!  Oh well, maybe next time I'll remember to do so.