Japan or Bust!

We left on Wednesday (10/20) from O'Hare Airport and flew straight to Tokyo (NARITA Airport) - 12 hours...sigh. The plane was packed! One of cabin attendants was from Schaumburg and his daughter graduated from Schaumburg H.S. A funnier story: she was on the tennis team (my son is also on the tennis team)! LOL!! Small world!

The boys before boarding the LONG flight...we walked around the Terminal before heading to the gate.

These are our seats - we decided to sit in the back so that we can stretch our legs. We were smiling BEFORE the flight - HA!

10/21 in TOKYO!! We are about to board the NARITA Express train that goes into TOKYO Station around rush hour (I said a little prayer before we hit our destination) - if anyone knows about Japan's rush hour, you can understand why. LOL!!

When we finally got to my mom's, we paid respects to this guy (his picture is hiding behind the white flowers)...my wonderful father at our family alter. His favorite flower is white orchid...can you tell?! LOL!!

Then we had some dinner with my family at NISHI AZABU's TORAJI (Korean BBQ) - great food and great company. It was nice to see the family together again. I think it's been six years! WOW!

A great excuse to get Grandmother Fujii with all her grandkids - love this picture!!

Across the street we go to Hobson's Ice Cream Parlor - can't believe it's still here! It was there before I left for Japan about 20 years ago! There was always a HUGE line for ice cream!

And that is the end of our first day in Japan! Oh, we woke up (except for Taka - that kid didn't have any signs of jet lag! LOL!) and we shopped at 7Eleven at 2AM! LOL!

Scrapbook News and Review Magazine Call!!

Scrapbook News and Review Magazine (SNR)'s Holiday Sampler issue is in the works. Would you like to show off your holiday projects in the issue? You have a chance to but you won't know until you submit.


Check out their Holiday Sampler Calls. You'll have to submit quick. Their deadline is next Monday, November 1, 2010 to be featured in the Holiday Sampler issue (debut on November 28, 2010).

You can send in projects or layouts from Christmas Past or get a jump on Christmas now. There is something for everyone - scrapbooking, cards, mixed media, color challenges, sketches, digital and so much more!

Hope to see you in the Magazine! Good luck!!

Spellbinders' Visit to Haiti

Spellbinders' Stacey Caron (President) and Kim Hupke (Director of Education) also took an overseas trip - a meaningful one to Haiti to visit with some very special people. It is full of information, heartbreak, appreciation and most of all, love.

As I have said many times over and over, I am so proud to be part of  the Spellbinders Family. They not only know how to craft and think of innovative ideas but they also have a heart.

There are four entries. I hope you take the time to read these inspiring insights and comment your thoughts on the posts - I'm sure they would love your feedback.

Stacey Caron Visits Haiti Annoucement

Mission To Haiti (Part One)

Mission To Haiti (Part Two)

Mission To Haiti (Part Three)

Thank you!

Craft Test Dummies

Hey all!

My family and I just got back from Japan. As most of you know, my father passed away last month and we had his memorial in ITAMI (near Osaka) at the family temple. I haven't downloaded the pictures yet but will share when I get a chance.

What I do want to share is a review on TaDa Creative Studios' newest product lines introduced at Summer Craft & Hobby Assoc. (CHA) Trade Show. The review is from Craft Test Dummies (dot) Com. You've seen my take on the Gingerbread house but look at how they made their version. VERY cute! So take a look at what they had to say and leave comment too!

Will post soon!
Off to pass out :0)
MargieH xo

Flourishes Blog Hop - A Gift For You

If you’ve been searching for a perfect set that give class and elegance to your Christmas gift packaging, search no more! Today, Flourishes is introducing a brand new set, "A Gift for You," that will fit the bill! Spellbinders™ is thrilled to be joining in on the fun!

This set was designed to coordinate with Flourishes best-selling Christmas stamp sets and of course, Spellbinders Die Templates! "A Gift For You" was drawn and designed by Marcella Hawley. It offers eight (8) different tag styles and eight (8) different sentiments to fit inside!

With this set, I created a gift and tag set. The image I used in my tag is compatible to S4-290 Labels Fourteen #4 (smallest size die is #1).

Supplies Spellbinders S4-290 Labels Fourteen, S4-219 Nested Poinsettias, I2-1005 Impressabilities™ Circles and F-002 Green Premium Craft Foil; Flourishes "A Gift For You"; Ink: Tsukineko, Ranger Ink; Glitter: Ranger Inks; Cardstock: WorldWin Papers, Aspire Beargrass Linen  Cover & Colormates Cardinal Red; Marker: Copics; Misc: Brad, Foam Tape

I created the gift tag first by stamping all the images onto cardstock. The top part I stamped in green. With Copics, I colored the ornaments and highlighted with glitter. After it dried, I cut the piece to use as a dimensional accent.

Next, I lined the images up with S4-290 Labels Fourteen #4 (tag) and #5 (foil mat) to cut/emboss. Note that I embossed the foil with I2-1005 Impressabilities Circles and sanded. Beautiful! Then assemble all the pieces of the tag with foam tape.

I found an online tutorial on how to create a box. If you do a search, you will find many. Before assembling the lid, I stamped the Poinsettia image.

Then I cut/embossed S4-219 Nested Poinsettias. I bent and curled the petals. Then poked a hole through the flower and the lid, and secured with a yellow brad.

Here's a separate look of the box and tag. An idea for the tag is to punch a hole and thread a ribbon for a hanging tag. Hope you enjoyed my project!

This stamp set coordinates well with many of Spellbinders Die Templates. Here's a list of suggestions: S4-290 Labels Fourteen, S4-291 Labels Fifteen, S4-301 Labels Sixteen,  S4-293 Lacey Circles, S4-304 Eyelet Circles, S4-292 Beaded Circles, S4-295 Lacey Squares or S4-305 Eyelet Squares. So many different choices! Do you have any of these die templates?

Blog Hop Prize: Would you like to win this set? Simply leave a comment on this Flourishes Blog Post (comments here are appreciated but will not count towards a prize entry) . Flourishes will draw a winner and announce this Saturday, October 16th, in their Winner's Circle. Good Luck!

• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Danielle Kennedy
• Dawn Burnworth
• Julie Koerber
• Laura Fredrickson
• Leslie Miller
• Stacy Morgan
• Ashley Cannon Newell
• AJ Otto
• Beth Pingry
• Deborah Young
• Gina Hanson
• Holly Simoni
• Margie Higuchi
• Judy Hayes
• Julie Overby
• Kazan Clark
• Latisha Yoast
• Mona Pendleton

Have a great time being inspired!
MargieH

Spellbinders and Impressabilities are a trademark of Spellbinders Paper Arts, llc.
Nestabilities is registered trademarks of Spellbinders Paper Arts, llc.

Happy 10-10-10!!

First of all, I cannot believe it's October and 10 days in! SO many things to get done before we travel to Japan for my father's memorial and entombment.

Since today is 10-10-10, I thought I'd come up with 10 Random Thoughts...



1. My latest Spellbinders Blog Project




2. 2010 SHS Homecoming Court (Taka is second to left)/Photo Courtesy of SHS website



3. Day Trip to Downtown Chicago with Fiona

4. One of my favorite banners & displayed @ CraftFancy (IL)!

5. My youngest brother, Dave, mom and me @ Sushi Roku (CA)

6. My first Mojito @ Asia de Cuba in W. Hollywood (CA)

7. A Family Dinner @ California Pizza Kitchen in Pasadena (CA)

8. A TaDa Creative Studios Project - Mug Sleeve

9. At Summer 2010 CHA Trade Show w/ Nikki Sivils (one of my first articles w/ "Love My Memories" Jpn SB Magazine)

10. A less painful way to fold clothes - it works!

OK...those are my 10 Random Thoughts of the Day! It is about 80 degrees in Chicago so off to enjoy my day and I hope you do too!

Thanks for stopping by!