Hi Kokeshi Girl Card

A few weeks ago, I purchased a bunch of items from i-Crafter because the collection was full of Japanese designs. You may recall I created a family scrapbook page using their Wisteria Vines die. See Wisteria Vines Family Photo Layout post. Also in my basket were the Kokeshi Dress Up die set and the Japanese Kumiko Stencil. {{BIG GRIN}}

**I receive products from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® for use in my projects. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience and doing so I can share what I personally love to use.**

Using a mixed media piece from another project, I used brown ink and the Japanse Kumiko Stencil to randomly add the design to it. I inked the edges to finish and set it aside.

Let's start with the kimono pieces, I first applied Adhesive Sheets to the back of each patterned paper before die-cutting. It makes it so much easier to assemble and no messy liquid glue to seep out (think stickers).

Ink the edges of the kimono pieces with the same brown ink to give it definition.

Next die-cut the girl in ivory cardstock. I love that the design has embossed areas to add different parts like the collar, eyes, and zori straps.

Take off the liners from the kimono pieces and assemble the girl. For the sleeves, I pop them up with 3D Foam Strips. 

Before die-cutting the hair, eyes, and zori sandal straps, I applied Adhesive Sheets to the back of the black cardstock. I later die-cut her feet in white cardstock.

After die-cutting the letters HI, I assembled all the pieces on the card panel (aka stenciled mixed media piece). I only wanted a subtle dimension for the panel so I used the Crafty Foam Tape 108ft because it had a depth of 1mm (like a Thin 3D Foam Square) to attach to my black A2 size card base. Done!

I hope you enjoyed this card. Would love it if you follow me on the blog or my ILscraps Instagram! Have a wonderful day!

Thanks for stopping by!
MargieH

Skill Level: Intermediate
Creative Time: 30 minutes

Materials Needed:
Patterned Paper: Spellbinders® Paper Arts (Express Yourself Paper Pad)
Craft Dies: i-crafter (Kokeshi Dress Up and Japanese Kumiko Stencil); Memory Box (Vintage Varsity Alphabet)
Ink and Applicator: Ranger Ink (Distress Ink in Gathered Twigs)
Adhesives: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® (E-Z Runner® Grand Permanent Dots, Crafty Foam Tape 108ft, 3D Foam Strips, and Adhesive Sheets 6 x 12in.)
Other: Black, White and Ivory Cardstock; Scissors; Manual Die-Cutting Machine; Blending Brush

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StencilGirl: Woodland Mushroom Canvas

Hello Friends! A wonderful mixed media artist friend, Tina Walker, called out to maker friends who would be interested in contributing to her article over at StencilGirl. I've been a fan of StencilGirl for years! So it was a no-brainer for me. LOL! 

She asked each of us who is my favorite designer over at StencilGirl. Again, that was easy for me! Debi Adams came to mind. I have been a fan of her style for a VERY long time even before StencilGirl! Her projects just make me smile...the colors, the style...she just hits all the feels with me. So inspiring! You can find her StencilGirl stencils here, click Stencils Designed by Debi Adams.

**I receive products from Faber-Castell, Asuka Studio by Memory Place Japan, and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® for use in my projects. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience and doing so I can share what I personally love to use.**

Making the Background

Using a 2.5 x 3.5-inch canvas and white modeling paste, I stenciled the Tall Skinny Mushrooms Stencil by Debi Adams to create my textured background. Let dry.

To color the background, I used a combination of Watermelon, Lavender, Lemon, and Peach Gelatos. With a baby wipe, I spread the colors on the canvas until I got my desired look.

Creating the Woodland Scene

In my stash, I had this adorable woodland-themed patterned paper and was inspired by the stencil and paper to create my Woodland Mushroom Canvas! So I fussy cut the scene as much as I could. I had other papers from the collection to fussy cut parts to lift up for a dimensional look.

Creating & Coloring Gauze Texture

I wanted to create a unique texture to break up the patterned paper and the canvas. After looking in my piles of stuff, I found leftovers from another project that used some gauze material. So why not? LOL! Using the patterned paper as a guide, I cut a few pieces of gauze to use.

I colored the gauze with the same Gelatos color combination as my background and water. Then I air dried the pieces. I love how it turned out!

Assembling the Woodland Scene

To secure the gauze to the patterned paper, I used Premium Double-Sided Tape in 1/4-inch. 

Next, secure and lift the patterned paper and gauze with Crafty Foam Tape 108ft to the canvas. 

The little pieces were also lifted and adhered to the scene with Crafty Foam Tape 108ft.

After it was all assembled, this is what the scene looks like. CUTE~!!! 

Flower Custer Making

Die-cut flowers and leaf stem with white cardstock. Color using the same combination of Gelatos that was used in the background. Then assemble the flower with a pink brad and crinkle it for a dimensional look. 

Fussy cut a wreath design and cut it in half. Use one of the halves and adhere with the Dual Tip Glue Pen on the top edge of the canvas. This will be the base of the cluster.

Cut a piece of gauze to fit behind the flower as an accent and adhere with an Adhesive Dot Medium to the flower. Set aside.

With a combination of Adhesive Dots Medium and the Dual Tip Glue Pen, start building the flower cluster.

Lastly, add the flower in the middle to complete the Woodland Mushroom Canvas.

I hope you enjoyed this Woodland Mushroom Canvas. If you create a mixed media canvas, try this idea of mixing stenciling and patterned papers to use up your stash!

Would love it if you follow me on the blog or my ILscraps Instagram!

Thanks for stopping by!
MargieH

Skill Level: Intermediate
Creative Time: 120 minutes

Materials Needed:
Stencil: StencilGirl (Tall Skinny Mushrooms Stencil by Debi Adams)
Colors: Faber-Castell (Gelatos: Watermelon, Lavender, Lemon, and Peach)
Molding Paste: Golden
Craft Dies: Spellbinders® Paper Arts (Cinch and Go Flowers III Etched Dies by Becca Feeken of Amazing Paper Grace)
Patterned Paper: Kawaii Paper Goods (Forest Freinds Collection by Asuka Studio)
Adhesives: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® (Crafty Foam Tape 108ft, and Adhesive Dots Medium) and HomeHobby by 3L® (Dual Tip Glue Pen and Premium Double-Sided Tape 1/4-inch)
Other: Canvas; Paint Brush; Baby Wipe; Gauze

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Wisteria Vintage Family Photo Layout

Hi, friends! I wanted to share a photo of my father when he was a toddler back in the late 1920s. It is the only photo I have of him at that age so it is a precious keepsake.

I came across a Wisteria die that i-crafter introduced a few weeks ago. Wisteria in Japanese is known as the Fuji (藤) flower. My maiden name is FUJIi (藤井). So when I saw this design, I knew I had to have it. LOL! 

**I receive products from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® for use in my projects. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience and doing so I can share what I personally love to use.**

Wisteria Vintage Family Layout

Grab a couple of 12 x 12-inch sheets of dark purple cardstock to cut four Wisteria Vines designs. One was kept in tack (this is a perfect size for a slimline card front btw) - apply Adhesive Sheet 6 x 12-inch on the back before die-cutting for an edge-to-edge adhesive coverage (think sticker).

The other three Wisteria designs, I fussy cut the frame and some of the leaves out to create hanging flower vines. This die cuts so well! Love it!

For one of the purple cardstock, I cut 3 5/8 x 8.5-inch rectangle around the cut area to make a mat to frame the 3.25 x 8.25-inch navy rectangle.

Layer all of the rectangle mats with the E-Z Runner® Grand Permanent Strips for a stunning focal accent on the layout. The best part? You don't waste the cut up purple cardstock!

Then lastly, center and adhere the Wisteria die cut shape by peeling off the Adhesive Sheet liner in the back. Set aside.

To create a border, I layered a strip of 4.25 x 12-inch purple patterned paper on top of a strip of 4 5/8 x 12-inch navy cardstock with E-Z Runner® Grand Permanent Dots.

Using the same adhesive, I applied the adhesives on the back of two Wisteria vines to adhere on the top and bottom of the border. Trim off excess. I love how the adhesive hits only the design so easy to apply!

Add all the other patterned paper pieces, layered border, double-mat the photo and add another Wisteria Vine behind it. Then add the layered border last.

The finishing touch are the leaves in the upper right corner. In the back of the layout, I'll add my journaling in the back so it doesn't distract from the layout design.

I hope you enjoyed this Wisteria Vintage Family Layout. Would love it if you follow me on the blog or my ILscraps Instagram! Have a wonderful day!

Thanks for stopping by!
MargieH

Skill Level: Intermediate
Creative Time: 40 minutes

Materials Needed:
Patterned Paper: DCWV (Zodiac Premium Stack® Paper Pad)
Craft Dies: i-crafter (Wisteria Vines Die Set)
Adhesives: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® (E-Z Runner® Grand Permanent Strips, E-Z Runner® Grand Permanent Dots, Crafty Foam Tape 108ft, and Adhesive Sheets 6 x 12in.)
Other: Navy and Dark Purple Cardstock; Scissors; Manual Die-Cutting Machine

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New Year 2021 Japanese Style

Happy New Year! A different kind of post today. I'd like to share a part of my heritage with you. Being Japanese-American, I have the advantage to celebrate two kinds of traditions. This being OSHOGATSU (known as New Year but the direct translation is January!), we celebrate with decor, food, games, and being with family. 🎍 🍴💖

Decor

Let's start with the Kagami Mochi display which is a modern version of the original. Most homes in Japan have them for the New Year. The two white round shapes are mochi (rice cakes) symbolizes the outgoing and incoming years. The orange/mikan (daidai) symbolizes generation to generation. The whole arrangement together takes the meaning of long life, family bonds, and continued family generation. The image of an ox underneath stands for the year of the ox (2021). Japanese also uses the Chinese zodiac, a 12-year cycle of zodiac signs. Google search and you'll find some fun facts! What animal are you?

Foods

New Year's Foods are known as Osechi Ryori (direct translation: special season cooking). Foods are prepared days in advance to avoid cooking on New Year's Day. All are housed in a stack of boxes called Jyubako (think stacking bento boxes). There are many different kinds of foods with each having a meaning. But I won't go into that or you'll be reading for days! LOL!! Here's our spread - thanks to my husband and our local Japanese market

Games

There are many games that families play (and not much different from here in the U.S.) such as board games but there are games such as Go and Shogi (think Japanese style chess + checkers). A few years ago, I created a Hagoita (think Badminton) for a craft manufacturer. For the tutorial, click Japanese New Year Hagoita Tutorial.

I hope that you learn something interesting today! To you, my readers, I THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking the time to read, comment, and support my blog.

From our family to yours, wishing for an even better & healthy year! Stay safe!

Much love,
MargieH xo