CHA Sneak Peek - TaDa Creative Studios (#2325)

Here's the sneak peek for TaDa Creative Studios!!! Hope you all like them as much as I do!

Well, what do you think?

Collection comes with coordinating tags and pockets have been laser cut, as opposed to die cut. No pesky white tabs! All folds are scored for easy assembly.

Here's what I did with the "Daddy 'O" line:

Card Frame Kits by TaDa Creative Studios are plain die cut cardstock tri-fold bases that come with assorted frames that can be layered over the photo window. What a great idea to send photos of the kids to loved ones! Once received, the card turns into a free standing personalized photo frame! GO GREEN!!! LOL!!

I used the kit to make a "Cute Sweet" card! These papers are, of course, TaDa Creative Studios too! AND they're cute & sweet...don't you agree? LOL!!

Playing with the background design of those "dots" - I pop-dotted a few as you can see on the side picture of the Card Frame Kit. Love this kit...you can use it in SO SO MANY ways!

The best part for you CHAers, come join Tracey Wilder as she will do demos on Saturday from 10-12 and 1-3.

Please take a peek at my fellow TaDa DTers' blog like Julie's & Tracey's for more eye candy!

Blog lag...

as to opposed to jet lag! LOL!! Which my parents are probably experiencing right now as they are back in Japan.

Catch up of June events:

I thought summers were supposed to be "lazy days of summer" but no! I have been driving around taking little boys (well, not so little anymore) to camp. And of course, the two locations are one end to the other! GRRrr!

Also I have been holding scrapbooking classes but not as much as during the school year. But I have been fortunate to have a huge interest in them! So thank you to all my scrappers for hanging out with me between camp times! LOL!!

It is also CHA time! This time around I have a break! LaserLine (Booth # 4114) has extremely busy with some new accounts! YEAH!!! Good for them! So I won't have new products out...just designing a new MnT. More on that in a different post (when it come closer to CHA, I'll post).

I want to thank all my friends for a very happy birthday wish (June 14th=Flay Day!) and want to wish my fellow June babies good wishes & fortune on their day too! So here's a card for you made from mostly TaDa Creative Studios (CHA Booth #2325), of course! LOL!!

The sprinkle stamp is also from TaDa, "birthday wishes" stamp from Stampin Up! as well as the inks & markers. The bling (aka Stickles) is brough to you by Ranger.

Another thing...happy father's day to my dad and to my dear hubby from the boys! They made a mini album for their daddy. We got him a sport shirt since he joined a health club and wanted to add to his wardrobe! Thank you for all you do for us, dad & Hosho! xoxoxo

OK..back to work on my CHA projects! Just got a box of new stuff from TaDa and can I just say I love it!!!!!!!! LOL!

Reflection...

on Memorial Day is probably the theme of the day.

I spent the day with the family by taking a walk (about 30-40 mins - our boys can only last so long! LOL!!) in a place where you can get some exercise and reflect on your thoughts. As the day was Memorial Day, I thought of my friends' spouses that are serving overseas and how their families are spending this day without them. Made me feel how lucky I am that I can spend the day with my family...it was a beautiful day in more ways than one!

Got to sleep in a little in the morning and in the late morning, we went off to Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm in Schaumburg for our walk. Of course, we had to "bribe" the boys into going by having a late lunch of RAMEN and bubble tea at MITSUWA's food court. You can only imagine how fast two boys can move to get in that car! LOL!!!

If you are ever in the Schaumburg IL area (aka Woodfield Mall), you'll have to make this one of your stops! I never went to the back of this place....there's a farm (duh!) and took some great pictures! I'll share some below:




Can't get over how tall my oldest DS is getting!







This statue is placed by the vistor's center and is such a sweet piece! Definitely one of my favorites!







Can you tell how excited my boys are to be walking in 80 degree weather?! LOL!!! "Deal with it!" HA!






One of the scenes before arriving to Heritage Farm :0)








Such a magnificant bird! Was gobbling all day long! LOL!!





Look at the colors on this one! He is a beauty! This one was the quiet one. There was another who didn't know what time it was...he kept going all day long too. What is up with these birds - it was a very noisey bird coop! LOL!!







I made a friend!








This is Heritage Farm's visitor's center.




It was a very nice way to spend a holiday and after a week's worth of cold weather too!

Hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday weekend....hope that you also reflected a little about those who serve, served and sacrficed.

Have to share.....

OK! It's about two months to this day that I rec'd something really special from my friend, Jen (aka Race Goddess)! To back up, I had a RAK to give out around CHA-Winter when I had debuted my newest line with LaserLine....acrylic-shaped mini albums! Well, Jenn won my scalloped heart mini (one of my favorite)!

Look at her creation!!!! I am so honored and thrilled that she took the time (out of her busy schedule) to make this wonderful album.











Sorry that it took two months to finally post...as you can see I haven't been posting much! LOL!! Thank you, Jen! You rock!!!! xoxoxo

Where did April go?! LOL!!!

Hey all!
So sorry to be slacking in the blogging department....

Many things happening as it is the beginning of the school year for Japanese school and guess what! I was "chosen" (by lottery) to become my oldest DS' class mom (8th grade). Somewhere in the definition of "volunteer," the translation forgot to include own free will. LOL!! Each year, the mothers pick out a number from the "hat" and if you are in the top (at least) five, you're it. It also gives you an automatic "in" to the PTA "inner circle" which means you have to draw a number again at the end of the year to see if you are "it" on the executive board or committee head. Lucky for me that I have a "partner in crime"...almost all classes have 2 class moms. She is very cool so I am lucky to partner with her..well, maybe she isn't so lucky to have me! LOL!!!

Also we had a stamping/scrapbooking open house toward the end of April for the Japanese community. I had only two full days to prep as my parents were visiting from out of town. I think my best seller was the personalized papers that had either CUBS, SOX, BEARS or Chicago landmarks on them. I had some people interested in pursuing scrapbooking so that's always a PLUS!










Here are some of the things I made for the open house. The single flower has a stamped imagine on the back....in this case, either "Happy Mother's Day" or "You're so Sweet." I thought it would be cute to have a 3D "card" rather than just a regular card. The mirrors turned out really nice..my favorite was an all-pink w/ cupcakes on it! CUTE! Unfortunately I did not take a picture of it. That one sold in the first few minutes of the show! LOL!!!!

I mentioned my parents were in town..it was so nice to have them here. The boys just loved having their grandparents over. This time was a VERY SHORT trip. So we'll have to make a trip to LA (next time they're in the States) or to Japan (which is long overdue). Thanks for coming, mom & dad!!! xoxoxoxo

My scrapbooking classes have been keeping me busy! Right before my parents' visit, I had classes almost everyday! LOL! I don't know if that is good or bad but I'm having fun!

Lastly, I do want to wish everyone a very Happy Mother's Day...hope it is a day full of good memories!

Yikes! It's March!!!!!

So sorry for the lack of posting in February!

Been trying to keep up with things...you would think that CHA was hectic but life in general gets a little nutty too! LOL!!

Well, March was started off on a real good foot! I was able to go and crop at a dear friend's MS Crop! First time this year that I was able to just hang out with friends! I did more laughing than scrapbooking but isn't part of the fun?!


This is where we were seated. I came in the night before to help set up....they didn't need my help. They had at least a hundred volunteers here!! Holy Cow!






This is the main hall where the congreation have their services - it's huge!






And here are my tablemates! Loads of laughter & fun! Thankful to know them and to call friends! Miss you all already!



Then it was tennis for the boys - thank goodness I can take them at the same time and the same place! Hopefully that will last for a long time! LOL!! I really like the coaches at Schaumburg Tennis Plus (STP) - a park district facility!


Taka returning a serve...he's improving and has gone to Team Schaumburg II. A jump from starting tennis (after a 2.5 year "break") in the late summer of '07 at summer camp to last month from Team I to Team II. These players are aiming to be on the high school tennis team or already on the team.





Hiro just started with the beginner's class. He also has been playing when we lived on the east coast but it has been several years since picking up the racket. He has been enjoying his sessions and I am happy for him!



As for me, I continue to teach basic scrapbooking to my Japanese friends. The Reflections project is a big hit - I am happy to report! It is the altered mirror that I had mentioned about in a previous post. For April's project, I know what to make...just need to make the sample! A minor detail! LOL!! Will post when I finish :0) Here are some of the mirror projects....

















Aren't they wonderful?! Makes me so excited to see other's style on one little idea! I love this job! LOL!!!

OK....off to bed! Will post more often! Thanks for visiting!

A little "TaDa" moment...

Well, I had this square mirror, some TaDa Creative Studio paper (their signature line), Prima flowers and Ranger's acrylic dabber paint (Mountain Rose)!

And this is what happened!













Actually this is a sample for my Japanese scrappers. It's their March "Reflection" project. This picture will be included in their newsletter that I will send out tomorrow but thought I'd post a sneak peek :0)

Guess you can tell I'm SO READY FOR SPRING!!!!! LOL!!!

Thank you!!!

A couple of thank yous are in order...

First, to my friends - thank you for your good wishes for being selected to the TaDa Creative Studios' design team! Can I just say "I'm so stinkin' excited?!" LOL!! Can't wait to get the first designer's package from them :0)

It arrived today!!!! My prize from my MayaRd/RangerInks guru, Wendy Vecchi! I was about to leave to pickup my oldest DS from junior high and I hear the doorbell. The mail carrier was admiring the box - low & behold, Miss Wendy done some wonderful designing on my address! It was so beautiful that I opened the box from the bottom! LOL!!!!!!!!!!



I think you'll agree it was the right choice!


And then I continued to open the package and I see this!

Isn't this the most beautiful thing you ever seen?! I had been admiring this item from her blog but NEVER expected this to be in MY home!

So Wendy if you're reading and you realized that you sent this by mistake...uhuh, IT'S MINE!!! TOUGH! LOL!!! The details of this piece is just incrediable and I LOVE crackle paint! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!

And that wasn't enough, she included her BEAUTIFUL limited edition business card (she handmakes her business cards but not for long - you're going to be so popular, you'll need to have them printed - seriously!)!!! You see it resting against my (new) laptop! PLUS she sent me a flat blossom CB book, some awesome ribbons (colors that I don't have and including the scallop ric-rac & sheer ribbon) and the sheer People keychain - all of course from Maya Road! Thank you, Wendy!!! I cannot wait to meet you @ CHA-Summer!! But hopefully we can meet sooner ;0) xoxo

Guess What!!!!

One hint...









Got the email Friday morning to be invited to this wonderful company's design team - their first! WOW!!

Oh, I replied yes! LOL!! Can't wait to get started! So excited!

I had a basic scrapbook class for my Japanese students...I tried to explain why I was excited but I don't think they get it...yet. LOL!!

Thank you, TaDa, for the opportunity!!

When visiting LaserLine (#1425) @ CHA...

Grab one before they run out...love these papers from TaDa Creative Studios! Isn't this ad cute?!










Have a great Saturday - keep warm! We're expecting snow AGAIN!!!
I should've hopped on that LaserLine semi going to CA!! LOL!!! OY!

And the winner(s) are...

Wendy*, Debbie & Jen!!!

I looked in my boxes and saw that I had a couple more acrylics that I can giveaway :0) so CONGRATULATIONS, ladies!! Please email me with your mailing address (please give me a few days to mail out - thanks!).

* There's seems to be 2 "Wendy"s...the lucky one posted this:

wendy said...
congrats margie! i will definitely check these out at the show next week. :) the etchings sound very cool.

(Wen, is that you?! LOL!!! Email me when you get back from CHA so I can send off!)

I can't thank you all enough for all the comments! I plan to forward them to LaserLine and maybe we can make it a reality @ CHA-Summer!

Have a great weekend everybody...looking forward to seeing all the blogs, videos and write-ups regarding CHA!!

LaserLine CHA #1425!!!!

OK! I'm coming up for air! LOL!!

Have been designing, proofing and making samples for our newest product line, ACRYLIC (shaped) ALBUMS!!! Yeah! Also you can choose whether you want acrylic or chipboard too!

So I thought I'd share some peeks with you all!

This is how they came to me...protected. Easy to remove and prevents scratches :0)

This set is called Triple Layers...could be a wedding cake, a VERY BIG birthday cake or a stack of luggage. I used Ranger Ink dabbers, Sakura's Pen Touch (Quick Dry Opaque White Ink), LaserLine's Valentine chipboards ("love," heart cake topper), Prima flowers/bling, Anna Griffin patterned papers and various ribbons. LOVED how this turned out!!!

This 8x8 album has an etched feature. They sent me the "Yellowstone National Park" cover - they have a few to choose from. Of course, they can custom etched any title you wish too! These are available as single pages (cover pages) so that you can mix or match acrylic & chipboard pages! I used the acrylic cover and the rest are in chipboard.

I used Ranger Ink's metallic dabber (gold) over the etched part and then wiped the excess paint off. Let dry each layer...I did this twice. Patterned papers are from We R Memory Keepers...perfect for this theme!

I won't be making the trip but my stuff will...heehee! Come see the rest at LaserLine's booth (#1425) - I have been very lucky to work with such nice people!

Oh! To commerate this fun line, I'd like to do an acrylic shaped giveaway!! Don't know which shape yet...I haven't dug my way out of my mess in the dining room! LOL! But I know I have something to giveaway (I have a pile of LaserLine stuff - LOL!)!

Just post why you would like an acrylic (you know...."just because" "like to try something different" or "looks like you have different shapes that I would like to try"....). Will have one of my boys draw a name on Friday PM (Feb 8th) when my samples are on its way to California (sniff-sniff)! LOL!!

Mix Media fans...

a new book! I was taking a break this morning from all the CHA stuff and saw that fellow Heart In Hand member & instructor, Catherine Matthews-Scanlon, published a book!

The good news is that she's kindly giving away two copies on her blog! So go over here and get all the details! Her stuff is AMAZING!!










OK...break over! Back to work!! LOL!!

MIA....

but there's a reason! I'm up to my eyeballs with CHA-Winter (Craft & Hobby Association trade show) preparations but I PROMISE I will do a sneak peek SOON!

Well, once I get my samples together! LOL!! Yes, Miss LaserLine Lisa, I am working it! HAHAHAHA!!

One hint....ACRYLICS! Heehee!!

OK....back to work!

Back tracking to December...

I need to wish my oldest DS a happy (belated) birthday! He is now officially a TEENAGER!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!

Although I'm always after him about (almost) everything, he is generally a good kid...eh, guy. Since he is the oldest and my first, he is my guinea pig (like I was!)!! Hey, it goes with the job, what can I say. But I am lucky that he is who he is and we can talk about everything...yes, even girls! LOL!!

We celebrated his birthday at one of favorite restaurants, DARUMA and it is no surprise that this is a Japanese restaurant! LOL! They have always done something special for all our birthdays (yes even the parents!). They even went through the trouble of having all their wait staff sing for him which I knew he hates! Heehee (evil mom laugh)!!

Here's a couple of pictures:




Isn't this nice?! And no advance warning either - WOW!!






A little embarrassed while being serenaded to...



Happy birthday, my "little" teenager (well, he's not all that little - he's 5'5"? and wears size 9 shoes! YIKES!!)!!!

Now to figure out how to make a page about this...

Happy New Year!!!!

Can't believe another year has gone by....

Although 2007 had its ups and downs, I truly have been blessed with many friends and family who supported us so THANK YOU!!!

May 2008 bring bigger and better things for everyone!

I'm sitting here, listening to all the fireworks popping up in the dark sky while the snow is falling! LOL! The things people have to do to celebrate even in this snow! More power to them!

Called my family and the in-laws a couple of hours ago to wish them a happy new year as they are going into the afternoon hours of new year's day. DH is also over in Japan...he is assisting his home temple with new year's services/ceremonies which last about a week. I was able to catch him just as he was coming back to his mother's house after 7 hours of various events. With jet lag and not being used to things, he's on 3 hours of sleep. He'll be passed out soon! LOL!

I have been enjoying some quiet time with the boys...between them playing with some new computer games, etc. We went out and bought a bunch of books from Barnes & Noble today before the snow started to fall. Let's hope they'll be able to finish some of these books...school starts this Saturday (Japanese school) and then on Monday...busy, busy!

While they play with the computer games, mom is off to create some products for CHA (Craft & Hobby Assoc. trade show)....but kinda got side tracked with PRIMA's paintable papers!!!! LOVE them! Got only one done and I was able to break open a bottle of Radiant Rain (LuminArt) - a shimmering mist...I had this collecting dust for the longest time :0P

What do you think...

Don't laugh too hard...that's me in that get-up! That wig must've weighed at least 30 pounds! But it was worth it!




OK...off to bed and tomorrow is the Univ of IL v.s. USC game! Not sure who I'm rootin' for but it's been a long time for UofI to go back to the Rose Bowl :0)

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!!!

OY! Sorry haven't updated in awhile...

Have been posting daily on Frozen Memories' blog for their Twelve Day of Christmas sale! If you are in the area (Bartlett IL), please stop by and see what they've got! But do it soon, they closing for the holidays starting from Sunday, Dec 23rd. I need to get there and grab some PRIMA items that they have! YEAH! Need to play with the paintables!

What's going on with my life?! Man, the holidays and driving the boys around to their after-school activities. Have you try to drive around the Woodfield Mall area to get to tennis?! OY!

CHA-Winter is upon us (CHA=Craft & Hobby Association trade show/similar to the Hobby Show in Japan). So I am busy trying to sketch ideas from head to paper...I hope my friends at LaserLine can read or figure it out! LOL!! What's in the future? Hmmm...hint: more chipboard and ACRYLICS!!!!

Plus I have been teaching scrapbooking and related classes here at home in Japanese! What fun and it's challenging but it keeps me on my toes. Next year (or should I say next month), I plan to hold a monthly workshop on the second Friday at Mitsuwa Market in Arlington Hts. IL from 9:30am to 1:00pm. Unfortunately it's short but I have kids to pick up after school. But better than nothing, right!

I have been truly blessed with a healthier family this season...esp. after my DH's illness with Hunt's Syndrome and my bed-ordered rest during spring break...I am THANKFUL that we are OK! As most of you know, we are Buddhist so Christmas to us is more like family time - reflecting on how we spent the year and how we appreciate the fortune of good family, friends and memories/experiences.

Hope that you and your family are doing well and enjoying the holidays! Please take the time to just sit back and reflect...it can be so hard during this time of year but just take that moment for yourself :0)

OH! I wanted to post this Christmas tree that I made (aka scraplifted from 2Peas...such talent over there!)....

Happy Birthday, Dave!!!

Well...actually, it's belated since Japan is ahead of us! LOL!
But wanted to wish him a happy birthday anyway!

He is one of the most kind-hearted person I know! With all the demands at work and my parents depending on him the most, he is a trooper!

So dear David, here's to you! Hope you had a wonderful day!!

xoxoxoxo

A second post in one day?!

Well, I wanted to try and make up for lost time! LOL!!

So in keeping with the season, I wanted to show a Christmas layout I did from leftover paper...what do you think?

The pattern papers & stickers are from Reminisce..too cute! I was going for how many pictures I can put on a one-page layout. The smaller pictures were edged with Ranger Ink's metallic dabbers in place of a mat.

The papers and stickers from Reminisce can be found at my favorite scrapbook store - Frozen Memories in Bartlett IL!

My 7 Random Facts....

OK....my friend, BeckyC, has gotten me out to post this - LOL!! Thanks, Miss B!

1. I LOVE the holiday season!

2. I HATE eggnog = YUK!

3. I LOVE "Miracle on 34th Street" & "The Christmas Carol"

4. I HATE the cold! We just got 5+" of snow dumped on last night & this morning.

5. I LOVE how the houses are decorated outside! We don't have landscaping at our new house (new construction) so that's in next year's budget.

6. I HATE the crowds during this time...even at the grocery store it's crowded! LOL!

7. I LOVE that we reconnect with friends & family through calls, parties and holiday cards!

OK....I tag everyone that's posting or lurking on my blog! LMK by leaving a comment so I can see what fun facts I learn about you!

A warm fall day...

since my hubby had the day off on Monday, we went on a "date" - a hike around Spring Valley. It took an hour but there were lots to look at....just LOVE fall colors! I took my DSLR and wanted to share few photos that were taken:















Aren't some of the colors just beautiful....we had such a wonderful walk. The weather was just perfect - high 60s! Thanks for the date!