Saturday, December 26, 2009

Christmas Happenings...

which isn't much in our household...there's only four of us! LOL!!

On Christmas Eve, we had a traditional style Japanese dinner - NABE! With another tradition, a Christmas Cake that sells in Japan during Christmas Eve. Now I never heard of this until I lived in Japan but it's common. The Japanese bakeries here in Chicago also offer it. So every year, we order one...to keep up with tradition! LOL!

Hmm….Christmas cake…how to explain…here’s one definition - It's common to eat Christmas cakes on Christmas Eve in Japan. Typical Japanese Christmas cakes are round sponge cakes with whipped cream and fruit toppings. Another link is HERE.

Here's a picture of our cake this year...



















Then Christmas morning, the boys waited until we woke up around 9:00AM! I was up late wrapping gifts and cleaning up a little (COUGHdinningroom/scraproomCOUGH) so I slept in! Heehee!!

This picture is when we all first woke...don't we look lovely = NOT! I have to say that the boys got their haircuts today...couldn't take it anymore and dad had to get one too for his trip to Japan.















And this is how we spent Christmas....nice and quiet!



















We hope that you and your family had a wonderful Christmas...enjoying each other and making some new memories to last a lifetime!



















Merry Christmas!! xo

Happy Kwanzaa!

Today, it was my turn to post a blog on Spellbinders (Savvy Saturday). Did you know it was the start of Kwanzaa today? I was surfing through the internet and learned a lot about this holiday. The most common factor in Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa is FAMILY. Love it!

Hope you had a wonderful time with your family as we did. For us, the holidays are quiet as our families are overseas in Japan...we haven't been together (all together as a family) for 14 years! YIKES!! I miss it so as I keep telling friends - ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY!!! - and I mean it. Now you know why! LOL!!

Here's the project I made for Spellbinders today...




















Later I hope to post some Christmas pictures!
Have a good & warm day...it's snowing like there's no tomorrow in Chicago! Beautiful but then again, I'm inside! LOL!!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Happy 15th...

birthday to my oldest son, Taka!!

Last night, we took him to his favorite restaurant, DARUMA (Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates IL). He was full and we were broke! LOL!!

When we got home, he was still eating?! OY! Teenage boys! It was fun to see him embarrassed as the staff sang the birthday song...they don't usually sing but they love to embarrass him!! Thanks, Thomas and friends xo!

This is a layout I did for Scrapbook News & Review Magazine a few months back. It's one of my favorites!



















Pattern Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Chipboard Pcs: Cosmo Cricket
Letter Stickers: American Craft
Ink: Clearsnap
Stamp: LostCoast Stamps
Punch: EK Success
Misc: High School ID (from summer school)

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Happy Hanukkah!

I broadcasted a post for Spellbinders today on a take that I did with Tim Holtz's Twelve Days of Christmas Tags...I did the 10th day. It's a really cool tag using metal, embossing and alcohol ink.





















For details on the steps taken to make this tag, click HERE! Hope you like it and do your own interpretation! Would love to see so send me your link in the comments!

To my friends who are celebrating the Festival of Lights, Happy Hanukkah!! xo

Thursday, December 03, 2009

12 Days Of Christmas At Scrapbook News & Review (SNR) Magazine!

Welcome to Day Four of
The 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!


I am thrilled to be a part of SNR's Blog Hop today! For my featured project, I'd like to showcase a kit club that I had SO MUCH FUN with - Mac Mae Kit. When I first received the kit, it was HUGE and the price point was one of the most affordable out there - $29.95 (shipping included). SNR did a review of Mac Mae Kit and I had contributed a few pieces for the article. BUT I still have SO MUCH left that I made a card "YOU ROCK" that I'd like to share. It's not exactly Christmas-themed but I liked how this turned out! LOL!



















EDITED TO ADD...OK, I changed my mind and the sun came out! LOL! I had my Spellbinders™ S4-219 Nested Poinsettias set out...I have been neglecting her SO I made this holiday card with the die templates, Ranger Distressed Ink, Hero Arts word stamps and of course, the Mac Mae Kit!















Here are some of the other projects I created for the article...



































To view the blog hop from the beginning and for the fourth day (tomorrow), please visit SNR's blog HERE!

I hope you get a chance to review SNR and if you like it, please subscribe. You won't get that many eye candy, inspiration, techniques and forum like SNR for each issue - not even the print magazines! AND you go GREEN, save those trees! LOL!!

Thanks for stopping!!

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Thank-FULL!

It's been a crazy November so I'm trying to make up for it NOW! LOL!! But I have a few projects due by this Saturday...UGH!!

So here goes...

















I am so so thankful for a wonderful family, roof over our heads and food on the table (mostly good...when DH cooks! LOL!!).

























Thankful for friends made through scrapbooking. I will miss Frozen Memories (Bartlett IL) as they had closed last month. And I appreciate the opportunity & friendships at Craft Fancy (Arlington Hts. IL)!



















Friends who think of me during their busy schedule to make a card, slap a stamp on it and MAIL it to me!! THANK YOU, THERESA TYREE!!! I miss you girl!! xo




































VERY thankful for the creative opportunities I receive from wonderful manufacturers who trust me. I am humbled beyond words! Thank you, TaDa Creative Studios, Spellbinders and LaserLine.
































To the publishing folks, Scrapbook News and Review Magazine (SNR) and "Love My Memories" (Jpn scrapbook magazine) to whom I write with and create with - thank you!! I have learned so much and hope to learn more...hopefully I am contributing as well! LOL!!

There so many things, people and happenings to be thankful for - I have a good life! Now just to lose some of this poundage and I would BE REALLY HAPPY! Oh, wait...sounds like a new years resolution! Oops, wrong occasion! Heehee!!