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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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

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L: 3D Foam Shapes Japanese New Year Hagoita Tutorial

Click on the post title if you are looking for my Seasons Givings Holiday Blog Hop Year 3!
ETA: GIVEAWAY ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU SO SO MUCH FOR COMMENTING!!!

My first post of the year on Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® Blog is about my heritage and a New Year's game that was played in Japan. Hanetsuki game is similar to badminton (hitting a birdie back and forth with a paddle). It is rarely played now and the paddle became more of a New Year's decorative piece in the home. This is my take of the paddle created with cardstock!

I'll show you all a few steps - shhhh, sneak peek (wink wink!)  :)

That's it! Can't show you any more...for detailed tutorial and a full supplies list, visit 3D Foam Shapes Japanese New Year Hagoita Tutorial.

As always MANY THANKS for always stopping by!
MargieH

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

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

My Japan Trip (May 2014): Manza Onsen Hot Springs

This is part 3 of My Japan Trip (May 2014)! If you like to catch up, click on to each blog post title below (don't forget to click on images a larger view):

• My Japan Trip (May 2014): Tokyo 
• My Japan Trip (May 2014): Tokyo Days - Part 2

After saying good-bye to my mother-in-law, we packed up a bag to take for our vacation. The bigger one was taken to our neighborhood 7Eleven who can arrange our bag to be delivered to Narita Airport via Takyubin (similar to a UPS/FedEx). LOVE the efficiency of Japan! LOL!

Then we took the train up to Ueno Station and hopped on the Kusatsu Limited Express Train - a three hour ride to our destination, Manza.

What's a train ride without an EkiBen (aka train station bento box lunch)?! I got the #1 favorite of one store and Hosho got one that can be heated without a microwave - a heating component in the bottom of the box! It works! Only in Japan - LOL!

This was our dessert (we should've gotten more!) - a flaky pastry with light cream and sweet bean paste called Danish Panda. OMGosh, so good!

It rained when we arrived - not a good start but once we got to the hotel, everything was just right. Our room had an amazing view of the hot springs puffing smoke through the earth. Now you don't see that everyday!

After taking our hot spring baths, we joined the other guests for a buffet style dinner. Although not romantic, it was fun to eat a Japanese food buffet! FUN! Notice everyone is wearing the same thing...most Japanese hotels will provide these YUKATAs to use as pajamas and to walk around town in. Less to pack!

The next day it was SO NICE out Hosho had this great idea to go hiking. For those who know me, I don't hike! LOL!! He said it will only be 20 mins - HA! Try more than double that time. BUT it was worth it.

He took me to Mt. Kusatsu Shirane, an active volcano (he forgot to mention that part until later!) to see Yugama Crater Lake (known for its high acidic content).

See the little road next to me with the sign (first picture - click on images for larger view)? That hiking trail I was supposed to take (it's an easy 10 min hike) was close due to POISONOUS GAS! Really?! Why are we here?! OY~!

ARE WE THERE YET? 20 mins later....

This is Yugama Crater Lake with its beautiful (& POISONOUS GAS..did I mention that already?) turquoise blue surface...

After walking down and back to the bus stop, we were off to our next destination...KUSATSU!

Sorry - that's another post :)
To be continued - thanks for reading!
MargieH