SCRAPS of (my) Life: 2014

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Seasons Givings Holiday Blog Hop 2014: Year 3!

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH FOR COMMENTING!!
~BLOG HOP IS NOW CLOSED FOR ENTRIES~

HAPPY NEW YEAR~!!

明けましておめでとうございます～！

I am so thrilled and honored to be a part of this blog hop to THANK YOU for following me through my blog on my creative journey!

Today I'd like to share a layered and textured Happy New Year card. I was inspired by a card that Designer Christina Griffiths shared on Spellbinders® Blog recently. By adding gold mirror and white cardstock, it creates a festive new year celebration - don't you think?

I cut/embossed Spellbinders Card Card Creator series as the foundation for my card panel: 5 x 7 Matting Basics B Die #7 (the smallest size die is #1) with gold mirror cardstock and 5 x 7 Matting Basics A Die #6 with white cardstock. With the latter die cut, I embossed Venetian M-Bossabilities™ Folder through the Grand Calibur Die Cutting and Embossing Machine.

Labels Forty Dies #6 and #7 were cut/embossed with the gold mirror cardstock and Labels Forty Decorative Elements Dies #3 and #4 were cut/embossed with white cardstock. Nest the die cuts together to their corresponding sizes and they fit perfectly! I adhere them together with E-Z Runner® Permanent Strips.

To give the smaller Labels Forty/Forty Decorative Elements die cut dimension, I placed 3D Foam Squares - Regular to the back and adhered.

For more sparkle, I heat embossed gold embossing powder to the sentiment on white cardstock and hand cut a ribbon tail on both side.

I wanted to layer a little more gold behind the sentiment so I cut/embossed JustRite Papercraft's exclusive Vintage Filigree Layer die with gold mirror cardstock. So beautiful! To adhere this intricate design, I used 4 x 6" Adhesive Sheet (just the center part).

Just add pearls and place on a 5 x 7" white card base and it's ready to send out!

Project Supplies:
Cardstock and Card Base: WorldWin Papers (Gold Mirror Cardstock) and Darice/Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock®/David Tutera™ Celebrate Cardmaking System (110 lb.White Cardstock Pack and 5 x 7" card base)
Die Templates, Embossing Folder and Tool: Spellbinders® Creative Arts (5 x 7 Matting Basics A & B, Labels Forty, Labels Forty Decorative Elements, Venetian M-Bossabilities Folder, Tool 'N One™, Grand Calibur Die Cutting and Embossing Machine) and JustRite® Papercraft (Vintage Filigree Layer Die)
Stamp: JustRite® Papercraft (Extra Grand Holiday Sentiments Clear Stamps Set)
Ink: IMAGINE Craft®/TSUKINEKO® (VersaMark Watermark Ink)
Embossing Powder: Reflections (Gold)
Pearls: Want2Scrap©
Adhesives: SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L® (E-Z Runner® Permanent Strips, 3D Foam Squares – Black, Regular and 4 x 6" Adhesive Sheet)
Other: Heating Tool

Last year's winner, Nance Carroll, was kind enough of share her birthday card that she made using the prize package I sent:

Now to the goodies! As a way to thank you all for always visiting my blog (if you're new, please become a follower on FaceBook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram), I have a fun assortment to give away (some you can't see but let's just say you won't be disappointed! LOL!). Simply leave me a comment on this post and I will announce the winner on Tuesday, January 6th. International entries are welcome!

Here is the list of my fellow hoppers - ENJOY THE INSPIRATION!! Your next stop is Lee Ann Barrett!

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®

Lawn Fawn

Spellbinders® Paper Arts

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store

Avocado Arts

A Jillian Vance Design

Margie Higuchi = YOU ARE HERE!!

Alice Wertz

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas and a Project to Boot!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Hope that you are with loved ones or remember those who are no longer with us. Hosho and I are missing our fathers so thinking of them during the holidays :)

What are some of your traditions? Ours is getting a Christmas cake from our local Japanese bakery. BUT the kicker is eating BEFORE dinner! It is made mostly of cream so it doesn't last long. After a BIG holiday meal, we are TOO FULL to eat dessert. SO why not START with dessert (around 3pm)?! LOL!! Then dinner is usually around 7pm...enough time to recover! HA!

Today I wanted to share one more Christmas project that I created with Spellbinders Beacon St. Chapel (right now it's not on their website - sold out so fast! LOL! Will be back in a couple of weeks), using Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® product to put it together! What do you think? I used the tree light bulb inside the chapel for a wonderful glowing effect :)

First I cut/embossed all the pieces from the die set. Note: you have to cut the roof piece twice (white cardstock), chapel wall twice (white glitter cardstock), big window six times (black glitter cardstock) and small windows four times (black glitter cardstock).

I used a combination of Crafty Power Tape, E-Z Runner® Permanent Fine Adhesive and 4 x 6" Adhesives Sheets to put together the chapel structure. Note: I used vellum to cover the window openings before adhering the window panes.

For the chapel roof, I covered it with adhesive using the 4 x 6 Adhesive Sheet. Then I sprinkled chunky silver glitter and press. Tap off excess. Repeat the process for the steeple roof.

I had an idea! I cut/embossed the steeple structure with vellum to use the window cut outs to cover the window panes. They leave an edge from the window pane exposed (and have adhesive on them) so it's easy to add the windows in! I used Dodz - Small to adhere the roof and steeple to the chapel roof.

Here's a second look at the finished project...

Project Supplies:
White Cardstock and Glitter Silk Cardstock - Darice/Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock® (Opulent Opal and Black Prince Glitter Silk Cardstock)
Die Templates and Tool – Spellbinders® Creative Arts (Beacon St. Chapel and Tool 'N One)
Glitter – Advantus (Silver Chunky Glitter)
Adhesives - SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L® (Crafty Power Tape, E-Z Runner® Permanent Fine Adhesive, Adhesives Sheets – 4x6” and DODZ™ - Small)
Other - Vellum; Bone Folder

I hope you enjoyed it as much I had fun creating it! Want to see more projects from this amazing die template set? Visit Darsie Bruno, Latisha Yoast, Teresa Horner, Julia Stainton, Beck Beattie, Becca Feekan and Linda Duke.

MERRY CHRISTMAS~!!
MargieH xo

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L: A Warm Wishes Shaped Wine Tag Tutorial

Hi there! I'm up on Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® Blog with a quick idea to bring sparkle into your gift giving. Using the 3D Foam Shape - 3D Foam Trees to put together a wine tag that will bring a smile to your recipient instead of using a boring wine bag.

I started with a sheet of 3D Foam Trees shapes. First I covered the surface with anti-static powder to control the glittery mess :)

Went a little crazy on the glitter - just bought a pack of 18 WONDERFUL COLORS! LOL!! So some have tri-color (just tear the liner ⅓ of the tree, add glitter and repeat two more times to achieve the effect), silver, teal, yellow, etc.

After I decided which tree to use, I took off its trunk liner and colored it with Stamper's Big Brush Chestnut Pen - I colored two coats (dry between coats).

AND that's all I'm going to show you HERE! HA! You'll have to visit my A Warm Wishes Shaped Wine Tag Tutorial post on Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® Blog for the rest of the tutorial and full supplies list! LOL!!

Thank you for visiting and see you over on the Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® Blog!
MargieH

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Mixed Media Family Canvas Tutorial

I created a mixed media canvas themed around my family and maybe this is something for you to try and give as a gift. Using Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® products, I secured the family photo to the die cut mat and "popped" up it for dimension. Let's get started!

For the background, I used Faber Castell® Design Memory Craft® Chalkboard Paint and Gelato® colors. I love how the black contrasts against the colors :) By using the water mister and baby wipes, I was able to blend into a wonderful background.

The butterfly stencil from StencilGirl Products was my inspiration for the canvas. Isn't the design amazing and designed by my uber talented friend, Maria McGuire! I used E-Z Runner® Repositionable Dots to secure the stencil to the canvas. When you're done, just rub off the dots.

I cut/embossed Labels Thirty-Nine Decorative Accents die with thin chipboard to use as an anchor for the other side of my dark butterfly. Next paint the entire piece with Chalkboard paint.

Metallic colors are in trend so I edged with Design Memory Craft® Champagne Gold Gelato® to my photo and canvas for a subtle highlight. Next I melted thin slivers of the color with water using my Palette knife on wax paper, and flicked with a watercolor brush to create splatters.

After assembling everything, I placed enamel dots and sequins with Dodz™ Small. Lastly, I hand wrote "FAMILY - we don't have our act together but together, we have it all!" LOVE it! LOL! Another look at the finished canvas...

Project Supplies:

SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L®:3D Foam Squares - Black, Regular, Dodz™ Small and E-Z Runner® Tape Permanent Strips - Refillable and Repositionable Dots
Coloring: Faber Castell® Design Memory Craft® (Design Memory Craft® Gelato® - Champagne, Mango, Guava and Red Cherry; Textural Accents - Chalkboard Paint) and Tools (Palette Knife, WaterColor Brush)
Dies: Spellbinders® Creative Arts (S4-463 Labels Thirty-Nine Decorative Accents and Spellbinders Grand Calibur Die Cutting and Embossing Machine)
Stencil - StencilGirl Products (Butterfly Stencil by Maria McGuire)
Enamel Dots - My Mind's Eye
Sequins - Hazel & Ruby
Canvas: Artist's Loft
Other: Thin Chipboard; Water Mister; Wax Paper

Make a canvas as a special gift for someone!
Thanks for stopping by!
MargieH xo

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Holly Jolly Christmas Card

Hey everyone! I'm back to share with you what I created with Noteworthy (pack of die cuts) from Bo Bunny's Christmas Collage Collection and some fun Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® products!

Break open that wonderful package of die cuts and decide which pieces to use...I picked mine out!

Sprinkle gold glitter over 3D Foam Stars shape and place it on the end of the border...

Color the Creative Photo Corners - White with Stamper's Big Brush Permanent Green Olive Pen to match the card. Place on the corners of the Christmas Tree music sheet and center on the card base.

Start to layer the die cut pieces on top of the Christmas Tree music sheet. Adhere the pieces with a combination of E-Z Runner® Permanent Strips and popping up some with 3D Foam Squares - Black, Regular.

Just add a snowflake button with a DODZ™ - Medium and place on top of the shipping tag. Now it's ready to be sent off!

Project Supplies:
Adhesives - SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES BY 3L® (3D Foam Stars, Creative Photo Corners - White, E-Z Runner® Permanent Strips, 3D Foam Squares – Black, Regular and DODZ™ - Medium)
Card Base - Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock®/David Tutera™ Celebrate Cardmaking System
Shaped Die Cuts – Bo Bunny® Press (Christmas Collage Collection)
Marker - Faber-Castell® Design Memory Craft® (Stamper's Big Brush Pen - Permanent Green Olive)
Glitter – Hampton Arts (Extra Fine Glitter in Gold)
Other - Snowflake Button; Anti-Static Powder

Thanks for stopping by - hope your holiday preparations are going well!
MargieH

Thursday, December 04, 2014

Scrapbook Adhesives by3L: A Sparkly Christmas Page

Greetings! I am SO EXCITED to be a part of this wonderful and talented design team - many thanks to Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® and Social Media Director, Beth Pingry, for the opportunity!

Today I am using Designer Shapes - 3D Foam's 3D Foam Stars to create my Sparkly Christmas page. Doesn't it go well with this patterned paper - my inspiration!

Here is how I used those wonderful 3D Foam Stars with gold glitter!

Oops! Can't show you any more - you'll have to visit my A Sparkly Christmas Page post for detailed step-by-step tutorial and a full list of supplies!

Thanks for stopping by and visiting!
MargieH

Monday, December 01, 2014

JAPAN in November!

Hey all! Didn't realize it's been a month since I last posted...most of November I've been away in Japan. My mother was seriously ill at the beginning of the year and recently started doing rehabilitation (aka starting walking again, etc.) - won't go into details but she is making her slow and good recovery :) I went to harass her and made sure she was doing what she should be! LOL!!

We walked almost every day for two weeks and for SEVERAL HOURS! Her weekly rehab has nothing on us! HA! These are several images that are around my mom's neighborhood....for those who are familiar with Tokyo - it's the Azabu Juban area. WARNING: PICTURE HEAVY!

My mom's apt building

Azabu Juban Entrance/Subway Sta.

Juban Open Market

Mt. Fuji at Sunset (sorry - bad picture)

Tokyo Tower

Most of these pictures were not shared on FaceBook because they were in my NIKON DSLR! LOL!! Hopefully I can get back there in June 2015 - fingers crossed. Hoping to post more soon but have CHA prep work to do which has taken up my time and holiday - no turkey this year. Hanging in there :)

Thanks for visiting!
MargieH

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