A Proud Mama...the chick or the egg?

First the chick...have to give praise to my youngest since he doesn't get enough...always overshadowed by his big brother.

He was chosen from two school districts (at the seventh grade level) to be invited to a high school summer school pilot program that's geared towards future engineers (be aerospace, genetic, mechanical). WHEW! That was long! LOL!!

Don't know how many were invited but our district alone has about six to seven junior high schools. I had to go in person to register - it's that new. LOL!! So excited for him. He's a little nervous being it's held at a high school setting and he's riding the bus to school (it's at another high school).

I was wondering what to do with the little guy during the summer, big brother is planning on attending both sessions of high school summer school plus a tennis camp. Then we get this invitation in the mail...what timing!

Good job, Hiro!! We are so proud of you!! xo

Now the egg, I published a post on Spellbiners' blog. I made an Egg-shaped card and it turned out like this:



















To find out how to make a perfect shape, check it out HERE!
Thanks for stopping by :0)
MargieH

JustRite Stampers Mega March Blog Hop - Day 3

First of all, A HUGE THANK YOU for all who were kind enough to comment!!! Thanks for taking time and leaving comment :)

Are you on inspiration overload yet?! I am and I haven't even finished Day 1 yet! LOL!! Here is DAY 3 and the final hopping day...


JustRite Inspiration Blog


Debbie Olson


Sherrie Siemens


Beate Johns


Heidi Blankenship


Kathy Jones


Karen Hunsaker


Peet Roeven


Michele Kovack


Cheryl Nelson


Anja Curvers


Kay Sibley


Katarina Menzies


Holly McMillen


Tammy Hershberger


Angela Barkhouse


Heidi Van Laar


Jerri Jimenez


Sarah Parker


Jennie Black


Laura Davis


Ashley Newell


Tanis Giesbrecht


Alice Wertz


Shanna Vineyard


Rae Barthel


Ryann Salamon


Terre Fry


Mona Pendleton


Lisa Silver


Kim Moreno

JustRite Stampers Mega March Blog Hop - Day 2!!

Welcome to my blog!! I am SO excited to show you my project today.

My scrapbook store (Craft Fancy, Arlington Hts. IL) had these huge empty sticker rolls so I took a couple. My first thought was to make a big spool and roll a mini album into it. So I purchased sewing-related pattern papers, brought it home and thought and thought and...THEN JustRite Stampers came out with JB-09730 Stitched With Love Borders & Centers Round 2 3/8" . "Oh, my!" My inspiration wheel started turning and I ended up creating this...



















FOR A BETTER LOOK, PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGE - THANKS!!
With pattern papers from American Crafts, I punched holes with my Bind-It-All and then "stitched" together 4 1/2"Hx12"W strips of papers to make a total of three pages...a real mini! LOL!! And of course, I had to use some of my Spellbinders™ products such as S5-011 Scalloped Edge Frames, S4-214 Eyelets Borderabilities® Petite, S4-235 Fancy Tags, S4-114 Standard Circles LG and S4-116 Standard Circles SM. Other embellishments are from Maya Road (Trinket Pin, Sewing Themed Chipboard) and the buttons are from my stash.




































































Notice that I used almost the entire stamp set on this mini. I had so much fun with this project and I don't even sew!!! LOL! Thanks to JustRite Stampers (esp. Kellie Fortin & Sharon Harnist) for making this project SEW easy to put together. Sometimes you just need a little inspiration to get ya goin'...

30 designers, FIVE shopping sprees each day. No one knows where the prizes will be! Each day of the hop JustRite will have five Mystery Blog Candy Prizes hidden along the hop with a total retail value of $600. JustRite will randomly select five mystery blogs each day of the hop and randomly allocate each of the shopping sprees. For your chance to win, simply leave a little love (a comment) on each designer’s blog including the JustRite Blog. The more designers you leave comments with, the better your chances of winning. Each day’s comments will remain open for three days. A winner from each of the mystery blogs’ comments will be randomly chosen using Random.org. Consult the listing of designers at the JustRite Blog each day (each day’s designers will be different) and start out on your way! Beginning Friday, March 26, summaries of all the winners will be posted on the JustRite Blog.

Good luck to everyone and enjoy all the JustRite eye candy along the hop!

Today during the JustRite Mega March Blog Hop (Day Two) JustRite and its sponsors will be giving away the following five prizes:

· $200 JustRite Shopping Spree
· $100 Spellbinders Shopping Spree
· $100 Stamp Simply Ribbon Store Spree, and
· Two additional $100 JustRite Shopping Sprees!

Blog comments for Day Two will be open until Friday at 6pm EST. On Saturday, JustRite will announce on their blog which five blogs have the mystery candy for Day Two. You will need to go to the JustRite Blog to determine where you need to go to find out if you are one of the five lucky winners.

Here are the list of talented designers who will be participating in Day 2:

JustRite Inspiration Blog


Sharon Harnist


Sankari Wegman


Marianne Walker


Michelle Wooderson


Linda Duke


Barb Schram


Eva Dobilas


Liz Weber


Jeanne Streiff


Lori Craig


Sharon Johnson


Michelle Woerner


Sherry Cheever


Keri Lee Sereika


Lauren Meader


Michele Boyer


Lucy Abrams


Janine Blackwelder


Edna Morrisedie


Deb Saaranen


Melody Rupple


Charmaine Ikach


Michelle Giraud


Amy Crockett


Lydia Fiedler


Kelly Landers


Amber Hight


Margie Higuchi


Mary Pfaff


Debbie Seyer


Thanks so much for stopping by!
Good luck and hope you enjoy the rest of hop!
MargieH

Start of the JustRite Stampers MEGA March Blog Hop!!!

Today is the first of THREE days of JustRite Stampers' Mega March Blog Hop with $600 of product being given away! You'll need start with the JustRite Inspiration Blog for an inspiring project! Then visit each of the following designers' blogs (see below) to see all the inspiration they've prepared for you using stamps from JustRite's January/February release.

Stop back here tomorrow for my blog hop project! In the meantime, ENJOY and be INSPIRED!!!

JustRite Inspiration Blog
http://justritestampers.typepad.com/justrite-inspiration/2010/03/mega-march-blog-hop-day-1-600-worth-of-blog-candy-giveaways.html

Becca Feeken
http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/justrite-mega-march-blog-hop-day-1/

Tosha Leyendekker
http://stamptalkwithtosh.blogspot.com/2010/03/justrite-mega-march-blog-hop.html

Kazan Clark
http://nunutoolies.blogspot.com/2010/03/justrite-mega-march-blog-hop.html

Laurie Schmidlin
http://justgivemestamps.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/03/justrite-mega-march-blog-hop-day-1.html

Kellie Fortin
http://murdocks.typepad.com/polishedtoperfection/2010/03/justrite-mega-march-blog-hop-day-one-600-blog-candy-shopping-spree.html

Amy Sheffer
http://pickledpaperdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/03/justrite-mega-march-blog-hop-day-1.html

Jerri Jimenez
http://jerrikay.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2010/03/23/parchment-morning-glories-and-mega-hop/

Denise Marzec
http://thepaperlandscaper.blogspot.com/2010/03/jr-mega-march-blog-hop.html

Michelle Rodgers
http://michellerodgers.blogspot.com/2010/03/justrite-march-mega-blog-hop-day-one.html

Stephanie Kraft
http://handkraftedbystephanie.blogspot.com/2010/03/justrite-mega-march-blog-hop.html

Sally Lynn MacDonald
http://www.sallylynnmacdonald.com/weblog/2010/03/justrite-mega-march-blog-hop-day-1.html

Cindy Lawrence
http://onehappystamper.typepad.com/stamping_inspirations_wit/2010/03/justrite-mega-blog-hop.html

Jenyfur Pohl
http://torn-paper.blogspot.com/2010/03/justrite-stampers-mega-blog-hop.html

Silke Ledlow
http://silkeledlow.blogspot.com/2010/03/stampers-dream-justrite-mega-blog-hop.html

Carolyn King
http://myblogbycammie.blogspot.com/2010/03/justrite-mega-march-blog-hop.html

Dawn Easton
http://treasureoilerdesignz.blogspot.com/2010/03/mega-march-blog-hop-just-rite.html

Holly Simoni
http://hollysimoni.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/03/justrite-mega-march-blog-hop.html

Julie Overby
http://joverby.blogspot.com/2010/03/justrite-mega-march-blog-hop.html

Karen Maldonado
http://reallifeinpictures.blogspot.com/2010/03/just-rite-mega-march-blog-hop-day-1.html

Colleen Schaan
http://www.distinctivetouches.com/distinctive_touches/2010/03/justrite-inspiration-blog-----becca-feeken-----tosha-leyendekker-----kazan-clark-----laurie-schmidlin-----kellie-fortin-----a.html

Kimberly Crawford
http://kimberly-crawford.blogspot.com/2010/03/justrite-mega-march-blog-hop.html

Karen Taylor
http://creativeyearnings.blogspot.com/2010/03/justrite-mega-march-blog-hop.html

Maren Benedict
http://zanynotcrazy.com/

Eli Harlan
http://frillions.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/justrite-stampers-mega-march-blog-hop/

Linda Beeson
http://pkod.blogspot.com/2010/03/big-mega-justrite-blog-hop-day-1.html

Hoppy Easter!

I had this Valentine's container full of strawberry candy that mysteriously disappeared...I'm thinkin' boys...enough said. HA! So what to do with this container...it was lying in the recycle bin...until I saw this challenge from JustRite Stampers....hmmm...light bulb moment!




















So I covered the sides with one of my favorite paper manufacturers, Cosmo Cricket, and accented with Spellbinders Easter themed items (S4-263 Easter Fun, S4-237 Easter Borderabilities™ Petite and S4-264 Nested Egg). See that cute little chick running around?! The image is from JustRite Stampers Favorite Occasions Borders & Centers Set 1 5/8" (JB-08690) colored in Copic Markers...


















What a fun challenge! A great idea that created something old into something new! Are you a JustRite Stamper fan? Come join the challenge...you still have time! The challenge ends this Thursday, March 18th :0)

What I did Saturday...

Crop For A Cause - Making M.S. (Multiple Sclerosis) A Memory!

I've attended this since its beginnings back in 2007 - the Saturday that my friend, Laura Machonis (founder & coordinator of the event), held this, I was moving into my new home two days earlier! LOL! But I managed to attend, sat by myself in the Sanctuary working on my project and she always had time to stop by and check on me!

For four years I've watched her work hard to make this event a success year after year. She is such an inspiration! So a special SHOUT OUT to Laura and her team for another great year - I think the dollar amount is $14,000 plus! Better than last year :)

I am so proud of her!!!!
Another step closer in finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

This group shot is from us winning "The Princess Room" (aka V.I.P. Room) in last year's auction where we get a private room to crop, a tiara, special tee shirt, unlimited drinks, special door prizes and a "lady-in-waiting" (Hi & thank you, Chris!) at our beckin' call! LOL!! My fellow royals are: (standing) MaryBeth T., Chris R., ME, CJ D. and (sitting) Joyce A. Our Princess MIAs: Renee N. & Fiona R. - we miss you both!!

TaDa Creative Studios 2010 - 2011 DT Announcement!

It’s time for us at TaDa Creative Studios to announce our 2010-2011 Design Team!!! Our decision was very difficult, and we thank all of you that took the time to submit your work!!! We did have several current DT members resubmit to the team, and we are thrilled to still have them onboard.

Our new 2010-2011 Design Team Members are:
Christy Davis
Julie Detlef
Stacey Hansen
Margie Higuchi
Katie Renz
Nicole Stark

We have also created some new positions on our Design Team. These members will be called TaDa Design Team Toppers. They will be like the added sprinkles on top of a really good dessert. Each of them will be guests on our blog once a quarter, and will share their talent as a little extra bonus to the Design Team.

Our 2010-2011 Design Team Toppers are:
Rita Barakat
Susan Dupre
Marianne Luken

And last but not least, we will have a TaDa Challenge Hostess. We are proud and happy to announce that our founding DT Coordinator, Tracey Wilder will be taking on this position. She has shared her talent with us from the beginning, and we are thrilled to have her be an important part of our future team. Don’t be surprised if you see her wearing many more hats than this along the way.

Please note that we will be contacting each of you individually this week, regarding your role on the team. We have many responsibilities to divide up, and we look forward to your participation. Once we decide on each member’s role, we will make a decision on who will be the DT Coordinator for TaDa.

Thank you so much ladies, and CONGRATULATIONS!

SO EXCITED to be continuing with this wonderful manufacturer! Can't wait to see what our new DT members and DT Toppers have in their creative minds! I'm sure I will be inspired by them :) Welcome, designers, and let's make it work....in my best Tim Gunn/Project Runway voice! Heehee!!

For My Japanese Scrappers - March 2010 Schedule

皆さん、
こんばんは。
毎日、寒いですね。
あと数日で3月になり、春が近いかな～と思っていませんか？私も同感です。

月１・２回程度（予約もOKです）、お子様連れのお母さんの為にスクラップのクラスを開く事になりました。ただし、お子様用の物（食べ物・飲み物・おもちゃ等）は各自でご用意願います。お子様には少し危険な物もおいてますので、その点もご理解をお願いします。

＊3月のクラス＆ワークショップ　スケジュール：

1日（月）　１０：００ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ
スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　シャンバーグ自宅
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$5+material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

4日（木）　１０：００ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ
スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　シャンバーグ自宅
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$5+material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

5日（金）　１０：００ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ
スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　シャンバーグ自宅
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$5+material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

9日（火）　１０：００ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ
スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　シャンバーグ自宅
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$5+material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

１２日（金）　　０９：３０ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ　（子供ずれOK）
スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　ミツワCommunity Room
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$6　+　material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

15日（月）　１０：００ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ
スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　シャンバーグ自宅
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$5+material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

31日（水）　１０：００ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ
スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　シャンバーグ自宅
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$5+material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

＊ベーシックツールキットは、12" paper trimmer; scissors, black pen/marker, pencil, eraser, ruler, exacto knife, and adhesive (dry=テープのり & wet＝液体)です。無い方(例えばPaper Trimmer)は、私から借りて下さい。

今後この連絡の不要な方は　お手数ですがお知らせください。

参加ご希望の方は、ミツワ、私の自宅とも私宛にお電話もしくはＥメールして下さい。もし、上記に都合の良い日が見当たらない場合でもご連絡下さい。
ご興味があれば下記Webリンクもご覧下さい。

Spellbinders Wizard Die Cut Machine (Co-Editor, Company Blog): http://spellbinderspaperarts.com/blog/
TaDa Creative Studios (Design Team Member): http://www.tadacreativestudios.com/
Craft Fancy （Margie’s classes）：http://www.craftfancy.com/

スクラップブッキングのスタイルは個人の好みです。是非、ワークショップにはご自身で選ばれた素材をお持込み下さい。レイアウトを決める際には喜んでお手伝い致します！もちろん、各種素材やキットの販売も致しております。紙を加工するカッターツール等もいろいろ揃っています。

ランチやスナック等の持ち込みも歓迎です。

月一回のクラスをミツワの集会場で行います。毎月第2金曜日の午前9時半から午後1時までを予定していますが、悪天候等で学校が休校になった時などキャンセルとなった場合は、そのお知らせをＥメールで致します。ミツワの集会場は卵のコーナーと牛乳のコーナーの間の角に奥に入る扉があります。その中です。少し奥まって分かりづらいところにありますのでご注意下さい。ミツワのクラスではご自分の飲み物・スナックなどご用意いただけると助かります。もちろんお昼にかかりますので、ランチをご持参される方はどうぞお好きなときに取っていただけますのでお気軽にご用意くださいね。

それでは皆さんとご一緒にスクラップブッキングをエンジョイして素敵なアルバム作りができることを楽しみに致しております！

Happy Scrapping!
マージー樋口
Margie Higuchi

Calling All Spellbinders Fan....

Spellbinders® is nominated for another round of When Creativity Knocks' Great Crafter's Tool Hunt 2™ for the Presto Punch™ as your favorite new tool. Don't wait...register today! Vote (once every 24 hours) and you will be eligible to win one of the incredible prize packages they are offering - one of them even includes the Presto Punch™. Good luck and thank you in advance for voting!!

.

On TaDa's Blog...

My altered frame is featured along with some other awesome projects as the DT gets their hands on the new collections (Jock Jams and A Little R&R). Come take a look HERE!

Here's my frame...


















Thanks for looking!

Happy Valentines Day!

I had these darn metal mailboxes from Target for a year. Never had a chance to do anything with them until now (well, at least one!)...a year later! LOL!! Well, better late than never, right?! I used TaDa Creative Studios' Festivus Collection (My Sweet Valentine paper) and Spellbinders Classic & Scalloped Hearts on its front. Loved how it turned out :)















































We had Valentines Day dinner a day early since hubby has to work on Monday...unlike kids who are lucky to get off school for Presidents' Day. It was a good thing we went to Koreana Restauarant at 5:00 pm! Once we ordered, people started to pile into the place. Our clothes are in the wash today because of all the smoke from the BQ - all the BQ tables were full and were smoking up the place! They had to open the door because the exhaust fans couldn't catch up! LOL!! But boy, the food was GOOD!! YUMMY!!

SOooooo I would like to wish my friends and family a wonderful wonderful HEARTFUL day with each other...be good and be thankful for the love you receive and lovingly give! xoxoxoxo

Michele's Sketch Challenge

This is for you, Michele, in honor of your first sketch! LOL!
Here's my take on the sketch...totally different from your layout. All boy and I had this Teresa Collins Collection FOREVER so thanks for the kick in the butt!


















This is my oldest (Taka) when he was in sixth grade with his friends at Wheaton. They have known each other since fourth grade (five years ago) and to this day, they still talk to each other via internet...even though we moved to another town. Matter of fact, they were over last month for a sleepover! LOL!!

CraftFancy Opens Online Store!

Check it out!
Link: http://store.craftfancy.com/

So for those who were jealous of my LSS, can now enjoy the products I buy! LOL!! Congratulations, ladies, on getting it up on the net :)

For My Japanese Scrappers - FEB 2010 Schedule

皆さん、
こんにちは。
毎日、寒いですね。

月１・２回程度（予約もOKです）、お子様連れのお母さんの為にスクラップのクラスを開く事になりました。ただし、お子様用の物（食べ物・飲み物・おもちゃ等）は各自でご用意願います。お子様には少し危険な物もおいてますので、その点もご理解をお願いします。

２月のProjectは少し早めの春のテーマです。１２インチの紙でHandbagを作ります。Projectの費用は＄８（クラス代金・材料込み）です。写真は見本です。































２月のクラス＆ワークショップ　スケジュール：

8日（月）　１０：００ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ
今月のProject、 スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　シャンバーグ自宅
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$5+material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

１２日（金）　　０９：３０ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ　（子供ずれOK）
スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　ミツワCommunity Room
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$6　+　material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

16日（火）　１０：００ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ
今月のProject、 スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　シャンバーグ自宅
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$5+project material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

18日（木）　１０：００ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ
今月のProject、 スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　シャンバーグ自宅
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$5+project material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

22日（月）　１０：００ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ
今月のProject、 スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　シャンバーグ自宅
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$5+project material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

23日（火）　１０：００ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ
今月のProject、 スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　シャンバーグ自宅
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$5+project material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

26日（金）　１０：００ＡＭ－１３：００ＰＭ
今月のProject、 スクラップブッキング & etc.　＠　シャンバーグ自宅
クラス・ワークショップ代金：$5+project material
持ち物：　ベーシックツールキット＊

＊ベーシックツールキットは、12" paper trimmer; scissors, black pen/marker, pencil, eraser, ruler, exacto knife, and adhesive (dry=テープのり & wet＝液体)です。無い方(例えばPaper Trimmer)は、私から借りて下さい。

今後この連絡の不要な方は　お手数ですがお知らせください。

参加ご希望の方は、ミツワ、私の自宅とも私宛にお電話もしくはＥメールして下さい。もし、上記に都合の良い日が見当たらない場合でもご連絡下さい。
ご興味があれば下記Webリンクもご覧下さい。

Spellbinders Wizard Die Cut Machine (Company Blog): http://spellbinderspaperarts.com/blog/
TaDa Creative Studios (Design Team Member): http://www.tadacreativestudios.com/
Craft Fancy （Margie’s classes）：http://www.craftfancy.com/

スクラップブッキングのスタイルは個人の好みです。是非、ワークショップにはご自身で選ばれた素材をお持込み下さい。レイアウトを決める際には喜んでお手伝い致します！もちろん、各種素材やキットの販売も致しております。紙を加工するカッターツール等もいろいろ揃っています。

ランチやスナック等の持ち込みも歓迎です。

月一回のクラスをミツワの集会場で行います。毎月第2金曜日の午前9時半から午後1時までを予定していますが、悪天候等で学校が休校になった時などキャンセルとなった場合は、そのお知らせをＥメールで致します。ミツワの集会場は卵のコーナーと牛乳のコーナーの間の角に奥に入る扉があります。その中です。少し奥まって分かりづらいところにありますのでご注意下さい。ミツワのクラスではご自分の飲み物・スナックなどご用意いただけると助かります。もちろんお昼にかかりますので、ランチをご持参される方はどうぞお好きなときに取っていただけますのでお気軽にご用意くださいね。

それでは皆さんとご一緒にスクラップブッキングをエンジョイして素敵なアルバム作りができることを楽しみに致しております！

Happy Scrapping!
マージー樋口
Margie Higuchi

P.S. Project Supplies - Pattern Papers: TaDa Creative Studios; Dies: Spellbinders

14 Days of Valentine's Day Tags

At Scrapbook News and Review Magazine (SNR), each staff member gets a chance to show off their tag art. The theme? Well, Valentine's of course!

So I am doing one on an image I downloaded at Twisted Papers. I love their images :) With their image, I did a "new" favorite technique of layering the same image as many times as you want...my fellow crafter/artist, Sherry Cheever, showed me!

For more details, here's the thread with my tag and the "how to" steps!
Hope you enjoy it.
TAG YOU'RE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!

Happy Belated Everything!!

OY! I see I needed to update my blog...I've been updating Spellbinders' instead! LOL!

A week ago today I have officially two teenagers in the house! Yes, my baby had his thirteenth birthday so I made his favorite meals ... TONKATSU (Japanese breaded veal cutlet) and Macaroni & Cheese (all homemade and so easy - thanks to The Pioneer Woman!!!).

Then cake but we really don't have a whole cake. I decided a long time ago that each person will get their favorite cake slice ... it makes for a weird looking cake but I tired of the whining. You know kids, they change their mind like they change underwear! LOL! Sooo putting thirteen candles on a slice is a challenge. Instead I made a cake slice topper ... opposed to a cupcake topper.






























Loved how this turned out ... the Nested Owl is new from Spellbinders™ and I also have the Labels Six and the Classic Scalloped Circle. All personalized thanks to JustRite Stampers! And whoooo (sorry, couldn't help it! LOL!) couldn't resist the google eyes to add just the right whismy! Happy belated birthday, Hiro!! xo

Another belated is news about TaDa Creative Studios' releases coming up next month! They usually exhibit at just the CHA-Summer Show so they will be releasing the rest on the blog so be on the look out! LOVE their sneak peeks:


































I am really excited to see the rest of it! These ladies work so hard to design something different - great job!!

OK...it's getting late but wanted the chance to post an update!
Thanks for stopping by! xo

Love My Memories (Jpn SB Magazine)

I think I have mentioned a few times that I have been featured in this magazine. Love My Memories (aka "LoveMemo") is the first Japanese language magazine that is dedicated to scrapbooking and has been publishing for five years.

I am lucky be part of it...interviewed as TaDa Creative Studios' design team member and to feature my artwork for them in the magazine (a whole page and half! WOW!). The second time was covering LoveMemo's Issue #9 Release parties in Japan and the U.S. Cosmo Cricket was kind enough to provide the MnTs for the parties. It was a great success! The Chicago party was at my home and the theme was "Cupcakes and Coffee." Needless to say, I haven't baked any cupcakes since! LOL!!

Now I have been truly blessed and honored that Emi Kume (Founding Editor) has asked me to become a special reporter from the United States to cover (for now) new companies debuting at CHA (Craft & Hobby Assoc. trade shows). So in Issue #11, I had the pleasure of writing up on two companies that caught my eye and interest...Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker LLC and Bella Blvd. Both are based in the Midwest and have some really fresh and cool designs.



































So who will be the next companies I'll cover?! Hmmm....stay tuned! Special thanks to Nikki and Stephanie for giving me the trust and faith in writing their stories! Good luck to them on the upcoming CHA-Winter show!!

Smile!

These are items from TaDa Creative Studios (EIEIO Collection) in which I made a shadow box card...at least I think that's what it is called. LOL! The sentiment is from Technique Tuesday (Ali Edwards design - Simply You).



















The temperature in Chicago on this Sunday morning is 0! YUK! So I pulled out something to smile about...how can you NOT RESIST this silly chicken (Ollie) ?! LOL

Have a good Sunday and make it a GOOD WEEK..we're hitting a heat wave sometime this week (near 40s)! WOOOHOOOO!!!

You wanna get MISTED?!

WHAT?! LOL!!

Most of you are familiar with Tattered Angels' Glimmer Mist and they are these beautiful and glimmery color sprays (so many colors too)! Matter of fact, I have a project that just got misted which you will see in my future blog post..promise! LOL!

Anyways, ever wanted to do more than just mist a piece? Maybe some masking? Or use as an impression on a layout (I used Glimmer Mist on a Tattered Angels' stencil and letterpressed to make this iron gate accent)?






























Well, you can! They just came out with a blog just for that called Educator Blog and I, for one, cannot wait and learn! There's already a post and it's a beautiful project too. Take a look!

Spellbinders Birthday Party - WOOOHOOOO!!

A Spellbinders™ Surprise Birthday Party!!
Guess what, you’re all invited!

The Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) Trade Show is fast approaching and we’re super excited about the new products Spellbinders™ is introducing! How excited? So excited that we’re doing another round of new product reveals, complete with daily prizes!

The Spellbinders™ Surprise Birthday Party!! will begin on January 7, 2010, and will last for a week. Each day 3 of our fabulous Designers will introduce one or more surprises!! Each day 3 lucky winners will win all of that day’s newly revealed product! At the end of the week we will select a Grand Prize Winner!!

Below is the schedule of blogs and the official rules. If you stop by the Spellbinders™ Blog each day we will direct you to the Designers Blogs, and announce the lucky winners.

January 7
Debbie Olson
Julie Overby
Lesa Rapp

January 8
Becca Feeken
Debbie Seyer
Janine Blackwelder

January 9
Heidi Blankenship
Karen Taylor
Cathy Chlebana/Beth Pingry

January 10
Linda Duke
Jennifer Davis
Terre Fry

January 11
Keri Lee Sereika
Kazan Clark
Mary Pfaff

January 12
Karen Hunsaker
Christy Farneth-Kerr
Holly Simoni

January 13
Sherry Cheever
Kimberly Crawford
Sharon Johnson

RULES

Any participant wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders™ Surprise Birthday Party!!give-away must adhere to all of the following rules.

To enter each drawing of the Spellbinders™ Surprise Birthday Party!! between January 7 and January 14, 2010, visit the participating blog and click on the email contest link to open an e-mail window. In the subject line of the e-mail, enter the die template name being revealed on the blog you are entering from and send the email.

Each blog reveal will remain open for 48 hours.

Only 1 entry per blog is allowed and entrant must use the same email address daily to be considered for Grand Prize entry, no exceptions. Please consider whether you will have access to the same e-mail address from January 7 through January 14 and plan accordingly.

After each deadline entry is reached, Spellbinders™ will randomly pick one entry from each Surprise Birthday Party!! event. Winner will be contacted by e-mail within 24 hours of the contest deadline. Winner will have 72 hours to reply to that email to claim the prize. If Winner fails to respond within 72 hours, a new name will be drawn for said prize.

Any participant wishing to be automatically entered into the drawing for the Surprise Birthday Party!! Grand Prize must enter all 21 blog reveals within the specific deadlines of the daily drawings and follow all the above rules.
By entering this contest you give Spellbinders™ Paper Arts permission to publish your first name and the city, state and country you live in on their blog and promotional materials.

Spellbinders™ Design Team members and employees are not eligible for drawings.

We are happy to invite US and international blog guests to this Surprise Birthday Party!!

PRIZES

Daily Prizes –
~ Spellbinders™ will use the web site random.org to choose a winner from valid entries.

~ Spellbinders™ will draw one name from each of the three daily blog reveals. Each winner will receive all three dies revealed on that specific day.

Grand Prize –
~ Participants sending valid entries for each of the 21 reveals will be included in a drawing for a Grand Prize valued at more than $350 .

~ The Grand Prize Winner will be emailed a winner notice on Friday, January 15, 2010, and must reply to the winner notice by 12 noon on Monday, January 21, 2010, Eastern Standard Time.

Any questions regarding this contest should be sent to ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us

Please note:
*Spellbinders™ will only use email information to contact the winner.
*Spellbinders™ will not share this email address with any other parties.
*Spellbinders™ will not use this email information for advertisements or communications other than to contact the winner.
*If you wish to be included in further communications from Spellbinders™, please go to the homepage SpellbindersPaperArts.com and sign up for the newsletter.

What’s the Surprise? We can’t tell you yet!

We’ll see you on January 7! Good Luck!!