Can you believe it's that time of year? Spellbinders Paper Arts is looking for a few good INTERNATIONAL designers for their Design Team!! Are you crazy about Spellbinders as much as I am?! Then this is for you...HINT, HINT to my Japanese friends! LOL!!
I am VERY privileged to be a part of this wonderful company and I hope that you will give it a try. You may think they are asking a lot but what you get in return is PRICELESS!! In product: Spellbinders products and Cross Promotional Partners products. In soul: great team of uber talented artists to bounce off ideas, great support from our wonderful DT coordinator (she is a wonder of creativity) and great support from our SMART social guru and her band of cohorts! What more can a person need?!
We left on Wednesday (10/20) from O'Hare Airport and flew straight to Tokyo (NARITA Airport) - 12 hours...sigh. The plane was packed! One of cabin attendants was from Schaumburg and his daughter graduated from Schaumburg H.S. A funnier story: she was on the tennis team (my son is also on the tennis team)! LOL!! Small world!
The boys before boarding the LONG flight...we walked around the Terminal before heading to the gate.
These are our seats - we decided to sit in the back so that we can stretch our legs. We were smiling BEFORE the flight - HA!
10/21 in TOKYO!! We are about to board the NARITA Express train that goes into TOKYO Station around rush hour (I said a little prayer before we hit our destination) - if anyone knows about Japan's rush hour, you can understand why. LOL!!
When we finally got to my mom's, we paid respects to this guy (his picture is hiding behind the white flowers)...my wonderful father at our family alter. His favorite flower is white orchid...can you tell?! LOL!!
Then we had some dinner with my family at NISHI AZABU's TORAJI (Korean BBQ) - great food and great company. It was nice to see the family together again. I think it's been six years! WOW!
A great excuse to get Grandmother Fujii with all her grandkids - love this picture!!
Across the street we go to Hobson's Ice Cream Parlor - can't believe it's still here! It was there before I left for Japan about 20 years ago! There was always a HUGE line for ice cream!
And that is the end of our first day in Japan! Oh, we woke up (except for Taka - that kid didn't have any signs of jet lag! LOL!) and we shopped at 7Eleven at 2AM! LOL!
Scrapbook News and Review Magazine (SNR)'s Holiday Sampler issue is in the works. Would you like to show off your holiday projects in the issue? You have a chance to but you won't know until you submit.
Check out their Holiday Sampler Calls. You'll have to submit quick. Their deadline is next Monday, November 1, 2010 to be featured in the Holiday Sampler issue (debut on November 28, 2010).
You can send in projects or layouts from Christmas Past or get a jump on Christmas now. There is something for everyone - scrapbooking, cards, mixed media, color challenges, sketches, digital and so much more!
Spellbinders' Stacey Caron (President) and Kim Hupke (Director of Education) also took an overseas trip - a meaningful one to Haiti to visit with some very special people. It is full of information, heartbreak, appreciation and most of all, love.
As I have said many times over and over, I am so proud to be part of the Spellbinders Family. They not only know how to craft and think of innovative ideas but they also have a heart.
There are four entries. I hope you take the time to read these inspiring insights and comment your thoughts on the posts - I'm sure they would love your feedback.
My family and I just got back from Japan. As most of you know, my father passed away last month and we had his memorial in ITAMI (near Osaka) at the family temple. I haven't downloaded the pictures yet but will share when I get a chance.
What I do want to share is a review on TaDa Creative Studios' newest product lines introduced at Summer Craft & Hobby Assoc. (CHA) Trade Show. The review is from Craft Test Dummies (dot) Com. You've seen my take on the Gingerbread house but look at how they made their version. VERY cute! So take a look at what they had to say and leave comment too!
If you’ve been searching for a perfect set that give class and elegance to your Christmas gift packaging, search no more! Today, Flourishes is introducing a brand new set, "A Gift for You," that will fit the bill! Spellbinders™ is thrilled to be joining in on the fun!
This set was designed to coordinate with Flourishes best-selling Christmas stamp sets and of course, Spellbinders Die Templates! "A Gift For You" was drawn and designed by Marcella Hawley. It offers eight (8) different tag styles and eight (8) different sentiments to fit inside!
With this set, I created a gift and tag set. The image I used in my tag is compatible to S4-290 Labels Fourteen #4 (smallest size die is #1).
I created the gift tag first by stamping all the images onto cardstock. The top part I stamped in green. With Copics, I colored the ornaments and highlighted with glitter. After it dried, I cut the piece to use as a dimensional accent.
Next, I lined the images up with S4-290 Labels Fourteen #4 (tag) and #5 (foil mat) to cut/emboss. Note that I embossed the foil with I2-1005 Impressabilities Circles and sanded. Beautiful! Then assemble all the pieces of the tag with foam tape.
I found an online tutorial on how to create a box. If you do a search, you will find many. Before assembling the lid, I stamped the Poinsettia image.
Then I cut/embossed S4-219 Nested Poinsettias. I bent and curled the petals. Then poked a hole through the flower and the lid, and secured with a yellow brad.
Here's a separate look of the box and tag. An idea for the tag is to punch a hole and thread a ribbon for a hanging tag. Hope you enjoyed my project!
Blog Hop Prize: Would you like to win this set? Simply leave a comment on this Flourishes Blog Post (comments here are appreciated but will not count towards a prize entry) . Flourishes will draw a winner and announce this Saturday, October 16th, in their Winner's Circle. Good Luck!
Spellbinders and Impressabilities are a trademark of Spellbinders Paper Arts, llc.
Nestabilities is registered trademarks of Spellbinders Paper Arts, llc.
First of all, I cannot believe it's October and 10 days in! SO many things to get done before we travel to Japan for my father's memorial and entombment.
Since today is 10-10-10, I thought I'd come up with 10 Random Thoughts...
1. My latest Spellbinders Blog Project
2. 2010 SHS Homecoming Court (Taka is second to left)/Photo Courtesy of SHS website
3. Day Trip to Downtown Chicago with Fiona
4. One of my favorite banners & displayed @ CraftFancy (IL)!
5. My youngest brother, Dave, mom and me @ Sushi Roku (CA)
Welcome to JustRite Stampers’ newest Wednesday feature: 12 Weeks of Christmas Blog Hop #4!
Every Wednesday up until Thanksgiving some of your favorite designers will be joining the JustRite design team for a series of Christmas blog hops to showcase their entire Christmas Collection!
Mark your calendars for Wednesdays at 9am U.S. Central Standard Time for great Christmas gift, card and project ideas, starting at the JustRite Inspiration blog! This week, it's the Spellbinders™ Design Team!
Of course, in the mix are some of my favorite Spellbinders™ die templates. I shaped the card with S5-025 Labels Seventeen #6 (the smallest size die is #1) and used the same set to frame the sentiment (die #4) and its foil mat (die #3).
For its mat, I cut/embossed S4-114 Standard Circles LG #2 and used a cool product from MuddPuddles.net. It started as a wet paste and when it dried, it became artificial grass! Love it! They also have it in sand, snow and many other variations. When dried, I edged it with dark green ink.
The last embellishment was the flower I created by winding a pleated ribbon on a cardstock circle with Zip Dry. Then afterwards, I adhered the matted holly image on top of the flower.
I inked the edges of the other elements and assembled the layers as shown below for a finished card.
For once Homecoming in this household was an exciting event as our oldest son became his high school's sophomore class (male) attendant? prince? - what do you call these guys (other than the Homecoming King)?! LOL!!
We only had female attendants with male escorts of their choice (boyfriend, friend, father...). So this is something quite different for me. More confusing for my husband - they don't have this kind of event in Japan! LOL!!
I went to the Coronation yesterday. When the Emcee called Taka's name as the most voted for the sophomore class. It didn't register with me or him! He went to line up with the rest of the nominees instead of center stage! LOL!!! It was a FUN day for him.
Either way, I am SO PROUD of him!!! Never knew he was THAT popular! LOL!!
Congratulations, Taka! I'm sure Grandfather is looking over you! xo
Hello all!
I've been off for a good reason but miss being back in my old routine.
Going back to the reason...my dear sweet father passed away during the Labor Day weekend (Sunday, Sept 5th) in Los Angeles. My family and I are sadden and heartbroken BUT we realized that he had a WONDERFUL LIFE - all 84 years of it!
Ittoku "Bud" Fujii
January 1926 - September 2010
Things About Dad:
- Born in Shanghai, China
- Was one of six siblings
- Father (my grandfather) was an international lawyer
- From kindergarten, wanted to be an international businessman
- Graduate of prestigious Tokyo University
- Named PANASONIC and now the whole company (Matsushita Electric
Corp.) was renamed to PANASONIC worldwide
- Help phrase PANASONIC's tagline "Just Slightly Ahead Of Its Time"
- Started his own company (import/export-related) in his late 50s
- ALWAYS thinking about business! LOL!
- Married to mom for 50 years (they celebrated this year on May 23rd)
He will be sorely missed especially by my mother. She is holding up as best she can but I think it will hit her when she returns to Japan and the dust settles a little. It is interesting that the day he passed (Sept. 5th) was the same day he first took my mother to the U.S. - a little fact that my brother shared with me.
Although I have been apart from my parents for over 20+ years, my father was always there when I needed him especially when it came to my career decisions. I am proud of how he changed things in the Japan corporate world then and how it has evolved now.
Many, many thanks to all the emails, cards and expressions of sympathy from all of you. Words cannot describe how touched my family and I are. THANK YOU!!
Spellbinders Listed as One of America’s Fastest Growing Companies
Peoria, AZ – August 31, 2010 — Spellbinders™ Paper Arts, LLC, an award-winning inventor, manufacturer and marketer of cutting edge tools for crafters, announced today it has been named to the Inc. 500, a list of the fastest growing private companies in America. With an extraordinary three-year growth rate of 673%, Spellbinders Paper Arts is ranked 446 on this year’s list, No. 5 in the Phoenix Metro area and No. 25 in the Consumer Products & Services category. With over 27 million businesses registered in the United States, the Inc. 500 list represents the top-tier businesses in America today.
“Fast growth at any time is a big achievement; fast growth during the past few years is just short of miraculous,” said Inc. editor Jane Berentson. “The Inc. 500 consists of these just-short-of miraculous companies, the ones that through ingenuity and ambition have increased revenue, hired employees, and grown fast in difficult economic times.”
Each year, Inc. magazine ranks U.S.-based, privately held companies according to percentage growth. The fastest-growing list is an exclusive ranking of entrepreneurs nationwide – a group Inc. magazine refers to as the most important segment of the U.S. economy. “It is an honor to be included in this year’s Inc. 500 list and recognized for our entrepreneurial achievements,” said Stacey Caron, Spellbinders’ President. “Our focus has always been on manufacturing innovative, quality products for crafters. This confirmation of our success is the ultimate recognition of our efforts to grow a business that is both rewarding and fulfilling.”
Spellbinders embraces Web 2.0 marketing methods. They have assembled a team of the best designers in the industry to share their expertise online through a variety of web communities.
About Spellbinders Paper Arts
Spellbinders entered the craft and hobby market in 2003 with the introduction of the Wizard® Universal Craft Tool and a unique, patented collection of dies unlike any introduced before - or since. Always on the cutting edge in introducing innovative tools to the market, the Grand Calibur™ and Presto Punch™ are the company’s latest offerings for crafters. Spellbinders product lines include more than 250 patented and patent-pending products, allowing crafters, hobbyists, artists and teachers to create one-of-a-kind, beautiful paper art projects. Visit http://www.spellbinderspaperarts.com/ or e-mail info@spellbinders.us for more information.
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Copyright 2010 Spellbinders Paper Arts LLC. All rights reserved. Spellbinders and the Spellbinders logo are trademarks of Spellbinders Paper Arts LLC. Spellbinders product specifications are subject to change without notice. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
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Some CHA stuff...I'll be adding more...just trying to catch up! LOL!
I found this video of myself demostrating the newest product from Spellbinders, The Grand Calibur and The Grand Nestabilities! This is my first video so I'm a little nervous - don't mind me but mind the newest toy!!! I love it!!
Click on to the above links to get more detailed product information. Things I did not mention: load up S4 die templates in one platform to save time esp. during the holiday seasons (aka those homemade cards), plastic body but the important gears inside are metal, right-handed/left-handed crafter friendly and more pressure than the Wizard.
A little birdie (coughCAROLcough) told me that my LSS, Craft Fancy (Arlington Hts., IL) has ordered them!! So if you live in the Chicago area, check it out when they will ship early October!
TaDa Creative Studios was picked by "When Creativity Knocks" (WCK) folks for a contest! Nine paper companies were featured by WCK during Summer CHA (Craft & Hobby Assoc.) Trade Show.
"The Great Crafters' Paper Cut" Contest is at WCK's site HERE (this is the link directly to TaDa). You will need to register as a member (FREE) in order to vote. If you like TaDa's The Big Top Collection, please vote for us! It is a FUN collection. Here's what I did with my stash...a birthday wagon which was displayed in the booth full of circus candies!
One side of the wagon with "popped" images
The other side with a birthday sentiment - Die cuts from Spellbinders
Hi all!
I know it's been WAY TOO LONG since I posted but I do have a reason (well, a couple of them)...
First reason: CHA (Craft & Hobby Assoc.) trade show and SuperShow CHA Consumer Show back-to-back. Loads of work but lots of fun...it was so good to see friends that I can only see at these shows. I am sorry to have missed a lot of my friends too. Here are some pictures that were taken:
CHA
Spellbinders Sign - I don't get lost at CHA! LOL!
Spellbinders - Beth hard at work (I did take a pic of you! LOL!)
Spellbinders - Holly in lights! With Gina K Designs :0)
TaDa Creative Studios Booth - Super Cute!
TaDa Creative Studios - The Big Top Collection! One of my favorite!
CHA Consumer Super Show
Chicago's First Consumer Show - Getting Our Tickets
My friend ChrisR - thanks for driving & for motivating! LOL!
Jessica Sprague - My first digital page! For you, Chrissy! LOL!
Second reason: During CHA/Super Show, my father was hospitalized and had two surgeries to take care of his spinal cord (both were successful). When he caught Pneumonia and couldn't break his fever, it was decided that I fly out to LA to be with my parents. I was able to get a flight out the next day and off I went. He is doing well but has to go through weeks? months? of rehabilitation to get back his daily routine (or as much of it as possible). My brothers and I were most concerned about our mother so I stayed out there for three weeks to support her in whatever she needed.
I wanted to thank Spellbinders™ and TaDa Creative Studios for their understanding and concern for my father! Couldn't have been more luckier to have such kind and thoughtful people to work with! Gratitude especially to my blog author team members, Beth and Holly (click HERE for the GinaK Designs video), for their patience while I take care of my parents! xo
Featured on Today's Spellbinders Blog - THANK YOU!!
OK...a third reason: BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enough said.
Be on the lookout as I will post something fun about TaDa Creative Studios SOON!
