Thanks Snow Much - TaDa Creative Studios

Hello! Today is my day to post for TaDa Creative Studios. With all the Christmas cheer coming to an end and we're getting ready for a new year, I need to create some thank you cards for all the goodies we were blessed with. Using scrap left overs from a previous project, I created this fun card...

Thanks Snow Much card by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Cardstock: WorldWin Papers; Patterned Papers and Stickers: TaDa Creative Studios (Rinky Dink, FT Snippets & Clippets papers and Frozen Tozen Sticker Set/Frozen Tozen Collection); Ink: Clearsnap; Marker: EK Success/KURETAKE;  Memo Pin: Advantus; Bling: Prima; Dies: Spellbinders™ Paper Arts (S4-340 Create A Flake Three); Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever); Tool: ScorPal; Other: Foam tape

Here's the inside of the card, I used the FT Snippets & Clippets paper for Frozen Tozen Collection. I love because this paper not only can it provide accents to your projects but also has a selection of journaling boxes....in this case, a place to write your note. TaDa provides this type of paper for each of its collection.

If you're interested in the tutorial on this, visit Thanks Snow Much!! post on TaDa's Blog and visit the many other inspirational posts there too :0)

Thanks for taking the time to visit!
MargieH

2011 Christmas Follow Up!

Hello! I hope that everyone enjoyed their holidays with family and friends...and of course, FOOD!! We had a very quiet Christmas which is how I like it! The advantage of living overseas away from your family (although has its disadvantages) is the lack of hectic traveling back and forth to everyone's home...and making sure you don't leave anyone out.

This year my husband insisted on a Japanese style Christmas. What does that mean? Well, we usually have a Japanese dinner on Christmas Eve (aka NABE) and on Christmas, I cook up a turkey dinner with the works. This year, we celebrated on Christmas Eve with fried chicken (KARAGE chicken), Japanese potato salad and club sandwiches....and of course, the Japanese Christmas Cake with champagne and red wine flowing :0)

That also included party hats and poppers...I got the wrong thing and ended up purchasing party crackers! OOops! Next year, note to self...poppers! The party hats were boring so I had each person make their own using October Afternoon's Holiday Style. LOVED how they turned out :0)

Put it all together and you have a wonderful Christmas celebration!

Thanks for stopping by!!
MargieH

Snowflake Card

This is also posted on ScraPerfect Blog today...

Every year we send out family photo cards for the holidays and we still do. But this year, I created this Snowflake card in blue for a special high school friend who I just reconnected with after 30 years…the power of FaceBook! LOL!! I love how it turned out so I wanted to share with you!

I embossed a piece of 4 1/8 x 5 3/8” white shimmery cardstock with the Swiss Dot embossing folder. In its center, I cut/embossed one large S5-054 2011 Snowflake Pendants and the medium center piece nested inside to create an opening. Set aside the die cuts.

Using the same die template set, I cut/embossed another set with another white shimmery cardstock. Placed the embossed card front onto the A2 card base with The Best Glue Ever. Shifted the snowflake die cuts in the desired look and adhered. The center piece, I used foam tape. With The Embellie Gellie, I was able to place the bling perfectly in the center!

For the inside of the card, I needed an embossed sentiment. So I prepped the piece of paper where I will dump the embossing powder on by wiping with the Perfect Crafting Pouch. This will help the powder slide easily back into its container.

Next I used the Perfect Crafting Pouch on the area where I will be stamping. I used my S5-025 Labels Seventeen die template as a guide. It is very important to use the pouch because as you can see, the font is very fine - no room for mistakes! After it was heated and cooled, place the die template over the sentiment and tape with repositionable tape to secure. Cut/emboss and place in the inside of the card. You’re done!

Snowflake Card by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Cardstock: WorldWin Papers; Stamp: JustRite Stampers; Embossing Powder: American Crafts; Ink: VersaMark; Bling: Prima; Dies: Spellbinders™ Paper Arts (S5-054 2011 Snowflake Pendants, S5-025 Labels Seventeen); Embossing Folder: Sizzix; Tools and Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Perfect Crafting Pouch, The Best Glue Ever, The Embellie Gellie); Other: Foam Tape

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you can get reconnected with friends and loved ones over the holiday season - it's the perfect excuse!!

Happy Holidays and may beautiful moments surround you and your family with joy!!
MargieH

Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop - Last Day!!

It's the last day of Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop and I am sad that it's ending. For five days that started on Dec. 5th through the 10th the FUN began each day Scrap-Mart's Blog. You saw projects from our current design team as well as be introduced to next year's designers - hope you enjoyed them. We were joined in the hop by these great manufacturers:

Canvas® Corp

Boss Kut

Heartfelt Creations™

Sizzix®

LaLa Land Crafts

The Rubber Cafe

Want2Scrap™

October Afternoon™

Not only have you seen tons of holiday inspiration, each of these generous manufacturers will have prizes for you along the way.  All you have to do is visit and complete the hop each day from December 5th through the 10th to be eligible to win!!

Scrap-Mart is giving away an autographed TIM HOLTZ Vagabond Die Cutting Machine, Boss Kut Gazelle Digital Die Cutter and a $500 Spellbinders™ Paper Arts Bundle!!!
To be eligible to win of one the three grand prizes, you must LIKE us on Scrap-Mart FaceBook Page and FOLLOW the Scrap-Mart Giveaway LINK. To be eligible to win the Boss Kut Gazelle, you must also LIKE Boss Kut FaceBook Page and comment on Boss Kut Blog each day of the giveaway. GOOD LUCK!!

I created a huge tag of a Christmas tree made out of buttons using October Afternoon Holiday Style Collection and cut/emboss some of Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Die Templates! What do you think? Guess this recipient won't miss his/her gift - LOL!!

Gift Tag by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Patterned Paper, Buttons, Trim and Stickers: October Afternoon (Holiday Style Collection); Bling: Prima; Dies: Spellbinders Paper Arts (LF-246 Grand Labels Eleven, LF-111 Grand Scalloped Ovals, LF-110 Grand Ovals); Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever)

Hope you have a great Saturday - off to teach my Merry Mailbox Featuring Spellbinders Paper Arts class at Craft Fancy (Arlington Hts. IL)!!

MargieH

Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop - Day 5

It's Day 5 of Scrap-Mart's 2011 Holiday Blog Hop. For five days starting on Dec. 5th through the 10th the FUN will begin each day Scrap-Mart's Blog. You will see projects from our current design team as well as be introduced to next year's designers. We will be joined in the hop by these great manufacturers:

Canvas® Corp

Boss Kut

Heartfelt Creations™

Sizzix®

LaLa Land Crafts

The Rubber Cafe

Want2Scrap™

October Afternoon™

Not only will you get tons of holiday inspiration, each of these generous manufacturers will have prizes for you along the way.  All you have to do is visit and complete the hop each day from December 5th through the 10th to be eligible to win!!

Scrap-Mart is giving away an autographed TIM HOLTZ Vagabond Die Cutting Machine, Boss Kut Gazelle Digital Die Cutter and a $500 Spellbinders™ Paper Arts Bundle!!!
To be eligible to win of one the three grand prizes, you must LIKE us on Scrap-Mart FaceBook Page and FOLLOW the Scrap-Mart Giveaway LINK. To be eligible to win the Boss Kut Gazelle, you must also LIKE Boss Kut FaceBook Page and comment on Boss Kut Blog each day of the giveaway. GOOD LUCK!!

And since you are here, I put together another REAL QUICK card inspired by Karen Walker who posted one on Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop Day 4 (yesterday!) - her last card.

Joy by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Chalkstock, Notecard, Cord, Canvas Mini Star, Cord: Canvas Corp; Sticker: October Afternoon (Holiday Style Collection); Die: Spellbinders™ Paper Arts (S4-287 Fanciful Holiday); Pearl: Prima; Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever); Other: Foam

These are the supplies I gathered to put together my card. I wrapped Canvas Corp red cord around the bottom half of the notecard and secured it by double knotting it.

Next, I placed the canvas mini star using ScraPerfect The Best Glue Ever because it is...the best, that is! It adheres to many surfaces and you will see below what other surfaces I used it on.

I cut and embossed the S4-287 Fanciful Holiday deer with chalkstock in my Spellbinders Grand Calibur® Die Cutting Machine - so beautiful! Then I added a red pearl to its nose = PERFECT!

Taking out the Best Glue Ever, I placed two layers of scrap foam from my stash in different areas of the die cut. I realized AFTER taking the picture one piece of foam decided to join another party...it was fixed! LOL!

After placing the die cut on the canvas star, I added October Afternoon's JOY sticker and it's ready for mailing!

Thank you for stopping by and have a great Friday!!
MargieH

Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop - Day 4

It's Day 4 of Scrap-Mart's 2011 Holiday Blog Hop. For five days starting on Dec. 5th through the 10th the FUN will begin each day Scrap-Mart's Blog. You will see projects from our current design team as well as be introduced to next year's designers. We will be joined in the hop by these great manufacturers:

Canvas® Corp

Boss Kut

Heartfelt Creations™

Sizzix®

LaLa Land Crafts

The Rubber Cafe

Want2Scrap™

October Afternoon™

Not only will you get tons of holiday inspiration, each of these generous manufacturers will have prizes for you along the way.  All you have to do is visit and complete the hop each day from December 5th through the 10th to be eligible to win!!
Scrap-Mart is giving away an autographed TIM HOLTZ Vagabond Die Cutting Machine, Boss Kut Gazelle Digital Die Cutter and a $500 Spellbinders™ Paper Arts Bundle!!! To be eligible to win of one the three grand prizes, you must LIKE us on Scrap-Mart FaceBook Page and FOLLOW the Scrap-Mart Giveaway LINK. To be eligible to win the Boss Kut Gazelle, you must also LIKE Boss Kut FaceBook Page and comment on Boss Kut Blog each day of the giveaway. Good Luck!!

Here is another REAL QUICK ornament I created with Canvas Corp's yummy products - LOVE their canvas minis! Add Spellbinders S5-055 Layered Poinsettia and you're set to go - just 12 minutes on this because I had to wash my die templates! LOL!! Don't forget with Spellbinders Die Templates you can CUT, EMBOSS and STENCIL!!! With this project, the STENCIL part is important - makes the flowers stand out and you can only do that with Spellbinders Paper Arts!

Stenciling is KEY = Beautiful Results!!
Tip: I left the entire paper in throughout the cut/emboss/stencil process. This will keep the stenciling alittle less messy on my work surface.

Jolly Ornament by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Cardstock: WorldWin Papers; Patterned Paper, Canvas Mini, Cord and Mini Clothes Pins: Canvas Corp; Chalk Ink: Clearsnap; Pearls: Prima; Dies: Spellbinders Paper Arts (S5-055 Layered Poinsettia); Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever); Other: Christmas Tree (lol!)

What do you think? This can also be a gift tag or maybe added to a card front...many ideas! In a pinch for an ornament, give this a try :0)

Thanks for stopping by!!
MargieH

Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop - Day 3

It's Day 3 of Scrap-Mart's 2011 Holiday Blog Hop. For five days starting on Dec. 5th through the 10th the FUN will begin each day Scrap-Mart's Blog. You will see projects from our current design team as well as be introduced to next year's designers. We will be joined in the hop by these great manufacturers:

Canvas® Corp

Boss Kut

Heartfelt Creations™

Sizzix®

LaLa Land Crafts

The Rubber Cafe

Want2Scrap™

October Afternoon™

Not only will you get tons of holiday inspiration, each of these generous manufacturers will have prizes for you along the way.  All you have to do is visit and complete the hop each day from December 5th through the 10th to be eligible to win!!

Scrap-Mart is giving away an autographed TIM HOLTZ Vagabond Die Cutting Machine, Boss Kut Gazelle Digital Die Cutter and a $500 Spellbinders™ Paper Arts Bundle!!! To be eligible to win of one the three grand prizes, you must LIKE us on Scrap-Mart FaceBook Page and FOLLOW the Scrap-Mart Giveaway LINK. To be eligible to win the Boss Kut Gazelle, you must also LIKE Boss Kut FaceBook Page and comment on Boss Kut Blog each day of the giveaway. GOOD LUCK!!

And since you're here, I thought I put a REAL QUICK tag...ornament together - all made out of Canvas Corp. Took only 10 minutes :0)

Taking advantage of the patterns in the papers, I fussy cut the images I wanted. Then I realized I didn't have any more foam tape so I cut pieces from leftover foam in my scrap pile. True to its name, I used ScraPerfect The Best Glue Ever to adhere two pieces of foam together to create dimension to the cap and boots. Done...

Santa Claus Tag by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Chalkstock: Canvas Corp (Tags & Ties Corner Chalkstock); Patterned Papers: Canvas Corp (Santa Suits on Kraft & Words on White paper); Adhesive: ScarPerfect (The Best Glue Ever); Other: Foam

Since the tag is chalkstock, you can write in chalk "To" and "From" on the back to make it a gift tag...maybe for your teacher?! LOVE IT!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
MargieH

Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop - Day 2

It's Day 2 of Scrap-Mart's 2011 Holiday Blog Hop! For five days starting Dec. 5th (yesterday) through the 10th, the fun will begin each day on Scrap-Mart's Blog. You will see projects from our current design team as well as be introduced to next year's designers. We will be joined in the hop by these great manufacturers:

Canvas® Corp

Boss Kut

Heartfelt Creations™ (Dec 7th only)

Sizzix®

LaLa Land Crafts

The Rubber Cafe

Want2Scrap™

October Afternoon™

Not only will you get tons of holiday inspiration, each of these generous manufacturers will have prizes for you along the way.  All you have to do is visit and complete the hop each day from December 5th through the 10th to be eligible to win!!

Scrap-Mart is giving away an autographed TIM HOLTZ Vagabond Die Cutting Machine, Boss Kut Gazelle Digital Die Cutter and a $500 Spellbinders™ Paper Arts Bundle!!! To be eligible to win of one the three grand prizes, you must LIKE us on Scrap-Mart FaceBook Page and FOLLOW the Scrap-Mart Giveaway LINK. To be eligible to win the Boss Kut Gazelle, you must also LIKE Boss Kut FaceBook Page and comment on Boss Kut Blog each day of the giveaway.

On Day 2 of Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop, they will feature my projects that I created from October Afternoon. Love the fun patterns and elements from them...so excited to share with you!!

Santa's Mail Box by Margie Higuchi
Featuring October Afternoon's Holiday Style Collection

Gift Bag by Margie Higuchi
Featuring October Afternoon's Holiday Style Collection

For details on how these were created, visit Scrap-Mart 2011 Holiday Blog Hop - Day 2!! Don't forget to enter the contest! Good Luck!

REMINDER: This Saturday, December 10th from 11:00am to 1:00pm at Craft Fancy (Arlington Hts., IL) is my Merry Mailbox class!! Hope you can join!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
MargieH

Scrap-Mart's 2011 Holiday Blog Hop!!

It's starts TODAY!!! Hello friends!  We have some great fun planned for this year's Holiday Blog Hop. It will take place Dec. 5th (today) -10th and will begin each day on Scrap-Mart's blog. You will see projects from our current design team as well as be introduced to next year's designers. We will be joined in the hop by these great manufacturers:

Canvas® Corp

Boss Kut

Heartfelt Creations™

Sizzix®

LaLa Land Crafts

The Rubber Cafe

Want2Scrap™

October Afternoon™

Not only will you get tons of holiday inspiration, each of these generous manufacturers will have prizes for you along the way.  All you have to do is visit and complete the hop each day from December 5th through the 10th to be eligible to win!!

Scrap-Mart is giving away an autographed TIM HOLTZ Vagabond Die Cutting Machine, Boss Kut Gazelle Digital Die Cutter and a $500 Spellbinders™ Paper Arts Bundle!!! To be eligible to win of one the three grand prizes, you must LIKE us on Scrap-Mart FaceBook Page and FOLLOW the Scrap-Mart Giveaway LINK. To be eligible to win the Boss Kut Gazelle, you must also LIKE Boss Kut FaceBook Page and comment on Boss Kut Blog each day of the giveaway.

GOOD LUCK!!
MargieH

Happy December!!

Don't know about you but I am REALLY behind on getting Christmas ON at the house...we lost our tree to yet another flood last winter...sigh. So I have to get a tree FAST!!! That also means no holiday decorations to be found...so unlike me :0( BUT I did manage to put together a MERRY MAILBOX Featuring Spellbinders™ Die Templates class for my LSS, Craft Fancy, in Arlington Hts. IL!!!

Merry MailBox Featuring Spellbinders Die Templates by Margie Higuchi
Saturday, December 10 2011 at Craft Fancy (Arlington Hts, IL)
11:00 am to 1:00 pm

One thing that you will need for this class is a glue gun. If you don't have one, you can borrow or buy yourself a gift and purchase Imaginisce's i-bond Cordless Glue Gun - I did at the store! LOL!!

I used a lot of the most recent releases from Spellbinders Paper Arts such as the S5-055 Layered Poinsettia, S4-340 Create A Flake Three and the popular Spellbinders Edgeabilities® E8-003 Classic Triple Scallop. Patterned papers are from Echo Park's Season's Greeting Collection. So I hope you can join us for a couple of creative hours!! It will be a great holiday addition to your home! Give them a call at (847)670-6095

Thanks for stopping by!! Have a good Thursday :0)
MargieH

Warm Wishes!!

Hello! Hope you are not blowing away as we are here in Chicago...YIKES!! Today is my turn to post on TaDa Creative Studios' Blog and it's all about WARM...as in hot chocolate :0) I created a gift bag perfect for the theme...here's a sneak peek...

Heehee!! For the finished project, you'll have to go to my Sending Warm Wishes! post on TaDa's blog so go visit....please!!!

Head's Up: Scrap-Mart.com will be teaming up with these fabulous manufacturers to bring you a week long blog hop dedicated to Christmas-themed projects!

Boss Kut

October Afternoon™

The Rubber Cafe

Canvas® Corp

Heartfelt Creations™

Want2Scrap™

LaLa Land Crafts

Sizzix®

JustRite® Stampers

Each of the generous manufacturers will have prizes for you along the way so be sure visit and complete the hop each day from Dec. 5th through Dec. 10th to be eligible to win.

Happy Early Thanksgiving!!

Because I'm not sure if I'll be posting or not before Thanksgiving...so I am wishing you all (in the U.S.)  a wonderful and warm Thanksgiving wish :0)

I recently purchased Spellbinders™ Grand Template LF-010 Square Bracket Edge Box from Scrap-Mart.com. I know that the price point can be high but at Scrap-Mart.com I think it's more affordable (esp. with their monthly online coupon - wink wink!).

This die template can be used in SO MANY WAYS - think of all the gifts or home decorations that come to mind! You can customize it to your own theme and they're FUN TO CREATE WITH!! SOOOooo I created a place setting with my die template...

Thanksgiving Place Setting by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Cardstock: Core'dinations; Patterned Paper: TaDa Creative Studios (Bountiful Blooms Collection); Ink: Clearsnap; Marker: EK Success; Dies and Foil: Spellbinders Paper Arts (LF-010 Square Bracket Edge Box, S5-073 Orchard Havest Tags and Accents, and F-012 Precious Metal Premium Craft Foils Assortment); Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever)

What do you think? LOVED how this turned out :0) Do you have the Square Bracket Edge Box? Share your project with me by linking in my comments - would love to see!!

OH...before I forget....the winner of the JustRite Stamper giveaway is....(drum rolling)....

byondbzr said...

Congratulations! I love all the Tim Holtz products available at Scrap-Mart.com! (following ya too!)

WOOHOO!! Congratulations, Rebecca!!! Send me your address through my blog profile email, 'K? Thanks to everyone who participated :0)

Again, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! xo
I am thankful for my friends here!!
Thanks for stopping by!!

November Birthdays...

I have friends who are celebrating their birthdays this month. Mostly male...my nephew, a sweet friend from the industry, Katie's husband and her twin boys...how do you create a masculine card? This is what I ended up with...

Happy Birthday!! by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Cardstock: Core'dinations; Patterned Paper: Donna Salazar Designs; Clock Face: 7gypsies; Dies and Premium Craft Foil: Spellbinders Paper Arts (S5-048 Sprightly Sprockets, S5-049 Carnation Creations and S5-028 Nested Pennants); Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever); Other: Computer Font

And I even managed to get a flower in too! HA! It was cut with a patterned paper of a map and it doesn't look all that girly, right?

Also wanted to add my congratulations to fellow TaDa Creative Studios Design Team Member Lisa Watson for winning the grand prize from ScraPerfect's FaceBook Contest!!!! WOOHOO~! Congrats, Lisa!! See, sometimes it's good to know me ;0P BUT I had nothing to do with picking out the winner - just wanna clarify that point! LOL!!

Don't forget my giveaway below!! It ends tomorrow night at 11:59PM U.S. Central Standard Time - please read carefully...be a follower on my blog, visit Scrap-Mart.com and tell me what you like about it on my post below :0)

Happy birthday (Nov. 17th) to Ken Kume and Kevin Renz!!
Thanks for stopping by!!
MargieH

Scrap-Mart.com Design Team!!!

I am so stinkin' excited to be a part of Scrap-Mart.com Design Team!! They are my favorite online store! While preparing dinner (not my favorite time of leisure - HA!), Design Team Coordinator Katie Piotrowski rescued me for a few minutes to call and tell me the wonderful news! WOOHOO~!

Scrap-mart.com Design Team:

Eva Dobilas

Gini Williams Cagle

Karen Maldonado

Katie Piotrowski

Ly Le

Margie Higuchi (me!)

Talk about being intimidated!! YIKES! Hope I can reach into my creativity bag and keep up with these talented gals!!

To celebrate my recent apppointment, I am giving away a new set of JustRite Stampers Deck The Hall Cling set which happens to be on Scrap-Mart.com's JustRite Cling page.

TO ENTER:

• Be a FOLLOWER on my blog
• VISIT Scrap-Mart.com - what do you like about the site (i.e. I like that they offer Copic refills or they offer Spellbinders at a reasonable price...)
• Make your COMMENT on THIS POST to enter (DEADLINE: Thursday, November 17th at 11:59PM U.S. Central Standard Time)
• INTERNATIONAL entries are WELCOME!!

If you missed your chance to win here, go to their JustRite Stamper Cling Page to order one for you - they offer FREE SHIPPING on this particular item. Join their email list to receive your month 40% coupon. How can you pass up a deal like that?! LOL!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
MargieH

Thank You, Veterans!!

Today also marks a very important day...Veterans Day. For those of my friends outside of the U.S., Veterans Day is an annual holiday here that honors our military veterans. It started after World War I ended with the Germans signing an armistice (a truce) on the 11th hour on the 11th day on the 11th month of the year (1918). So many thanks and gratitude to our Veterans and their families!!

Speaking of Veterans Day, it is my turn to post on TaDa Creative Studios' FaceBook Page (please go visit and "LIKE" them if you are a FAN) so I thought it was most appropriate to create a card to commemorate this important day...

Stars N Stripe by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Cardstock: The Paper Company; Patterned Paper: TaDa Creative Studios (Star Spangled Banner paper, Festivus Collection); Embossing Folder: Sizzix; Ribbon: DCWV; Button: Tessa Ann Designs; Bakers Twine: Divine Twine; Tool: ScorPal; Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever)

I created the medallion to reflect a military theme - did it work? It turned out better than I thought. The pleated papers were used from the same patterned paper from TaDa - love how the flags look! Oh! The star embossed button is over the top wonderful - it's handmade by Tessa Ann Designs and is full of glitter :0)

ETA: I wanted to add that I am including this card for Paper Craft's Championing Award Medallions Challenge in the Moxie Fab World!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Hope you have a great 11-11-11 and a wonderful weekend!
MargieH

I am heartbroken...

My heart is heavy with grief as I write this...a dear friend through this wonderful world of paper crafting, Katie Renz has passed away early this morning.

Katie Renz at 2010 Winter CHA
photo by Vicki Conquest (thank you for capturing the TRUE Katie!!)

Thankfully she passed peacefully in her sleep and was surrounded by her family until the very end. I will truly miss this bubbly personality landing in my email box from time to time...I only wished that I had met her face-to-face over coffee.

Do you know Katie Renz? Would you like to send a card to her family? Please join me in sending sympathy cards to:

The Renz Family

PO Box 5913

Bellingham, WA 98227-5913

This little tidbit, I read on my friend, Kimberly Crawford's blog:

"Also, in case you're interested, the twins, Nate and Will, will be turning 6 on Nov. 19th and Hunter will be 12 on Dec. 1. It would be wonderful if we could shower them with cards for their special day, just like their mom would do. Kevin's birthday is November 17."

Keeping my prayers of comfort for the Renz and the Emerson family. She will be truly missed...rest in peace, my dear sweet Katie...Heaven is lucky to have an angel like you!!! xo

Happy Linky Day!!

JustRite Stampers is having their very first Linky Party!! This is a great opportunity to share your JustRite Christmas projects. The Linky Party is a week long party - although mine is at the tail end of it (tomorrow is the last day). If you want to join in, go tot JustRite Stampers' Linky Party.

I used JustRite Stampers Deck The Halls Stamp Set and Spellbinders Die Template - S4-334 2011 Heirloom Ornaments.

And came up with this shaped window card...

Deck The Halls by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Cardstock: WorldWin Papers; Patterned Paper: Authentique Paper (Wonder Collection); Stamp: JustRite Stampers (Deck The Halls); Ink: Clearsnap, VersaMark; Embossing Powder: Sparkle N' Sprinkle; Ribbon: Offray; Adhesive: ScraPefect (The Best Glue Ever); Tool: ScorPal and ScrapPerfect (Perfect Crafting Pouch and Embellie Gellie); Die: Spellbinders Paper Arts (S4-334 2011 Heirloom Ornament); Other: Foam Tape, Button

Here are some steps that might help when you make your own shaped window card...

It's always handy to have repositionable tape - no slipping or sliding for this die template! And I can use the die cuts for other projects :0)

I used another pattern for the card but you get the idea - lol!! You can't see here but I inked the cut edges of the die template for a reverse stencil on the embossed edges. I love that I can cut, emboss and stencil with Spellbinders dies!!

Before I go...I need to say HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to the most wonderful partner a girl can ever have - LOVE YOU HOSHO!!! xo Nineteen years ago, this guy and I got hitched...it's been a FUN 19 years and hoping for many more to come!!!

Authentique October Color Challenge

Last minute I decided to enter my take on Authentique Paper's October Color Challenge. This is the color combination we were to be inspired by...

At first I was stumped...maybe because I had Halloween in my brain at the time. All that came to mind was Frankenstein! LOL!!! So making the black and cream as my main colors, I used a touch of green and came up with this gift box...

Blossom Gift Box by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Cardstock: The Paper Company; Patterned Paper: Authentique Paper; Ink: Clearsnap; Dies: Spellbinders™ Paper Arts (LF-010 Square Bracket Edge Box, S4-351 Spiral Blossoms One and S5-055 Layered Poinsettia); Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever)

What do you think? I LOVE how this turned out. Great for birthdays, Mother's Day...any day! I used three different collections for this project - Glowing (box top), Blissful (blossom) and Wonder (leaf).

Thanks for stopping by!
MargieH

Happy Halloween!!

Hope you have cute tricker treater coming to your door!! Saturday was my turn to post on TaDa Creative Studios and it was all about Halloween!!

Here's a sneak peek of my page...

HA! Not much I know but go to my Happy Halloween post on TaDa's blog and I promise you there will enough to inspire you!!!

How about an Authentique Halloween project?! I wanted to use up as much of the Glowing Collection as I can. I found this Rossette Pumpkin from one of Archivers' email ads. Had no idea the size or how many to create so I just winged it - lol! LOVED how this turned out but I think I'll lay off on the rosettes for awhile. HA!

Pumpkin Treat Bag & Pumpkin by Margie Higuchi
Supplies Cardstock: WorldWin Paper; Patterned Papers: Authentique Paper (Glowing Collection); Ink: Clearsnap; Marker: Copic; Tools: ScorPal, Artistic Wire (Coiling Gizmo); Wire: Artistic Wire; Twine: Divine Twine; Rhinestone: Want2Scrap; Die: Spellbinders™ Paper Art (S4-281 Jack O' Lantern & S7-017 On The Vine Border Grand); Adhesive: ScraPerfect (The Best Glue Ever); Other: Brown Twine and Mini Sack

My past posts also have some fun Halloween projects like my Happy Accident post (this can also be a great holiday project too). OR my take on the Authentique sketch challenge and a couple more Halloween projects in my It's October post.

Have a safe Halloween!!

Thanks for stopping by :)

MargieH