New YT info: My Japan Lifestyle - Intro

Hey guys, so in case you didn't know... I have started a new lifestyle channel about Japan (myjapanlifestyle).  I am so excited!  The biggest part was probably just filming my intro.  Now the hard part is over, it's all fun and games from here on in.  I also show a clip of the big snowstorm we had a couple weeks back.  There really was a ton of snow and it just kept coming.  Plus I talk a little bit about this and that.  I am open for suggestions on things I could talk/vlog about.  And if you could thumbs up my video and subscribe, I would much appreciate it.  Thanks!! 

Bethany's Valentine Challenge

Yay! BAcraftygirl is having a challenge!
If you haven't already seen her video or want to check out the guidelines, watch her video here:

So, I love the colour purple and knew I could make cute cards for this.  Though only one was required, I made two.

Card number one:

I used my Copic 0.08 Multi Liner to draw the dashed line.

Close-up of the butterfly

Just loved this saying:

The tinsel string tied at the top for added sparkle.

Card Number Two:  

Close-up on the butterfly:

I used wire and attached it to the back to make his antennae.

I used the same saying here and added glitter glue to the heart.

I tied some American Crafts Twine to the side of the card.  More purple!

Oh, don't forget to watch my video and like, comment, subscribe!  

So now you know my fav colour is purple.  What's your fav colour?

Products Used:  Giddy Bugs - Paper Smooches, American Crafts - Twine, Beautiful Project Life Stamp  - Two Peas x Hero Arts, Stickles (Crystal Ice, regular prism colour), Studio G Glitter Glue (purple), Tinsel String, Copic Markers (BV0000, 000, BV01,02,04), Copic Multi Liner 0.08, Ink (Memento Tuxedo Black, Brilliance Graphite Black, Memento Rich Cocoa), Wire, Cardstock

Stickles Ice Versus Stickles

After wanting to compare the regular Stickles and Ice Stickles, I tried two types out and  decided to share the results with you guys.  I ordered this particular Ice Stickles from simonsaysstamp.com.  After looking online to decide which of the Ice Stickles to order, I decided on the Crystal Ice bottle.  The regular kind of Stickles comes from the three pack at Michael's (gold, prism, green) and I used the prism bottle which is the actual same colour as the Crystal Ice.  

Here is a picture of the Ice Stickles close-up.  (If you click on the pictures, you can view them even more close-up.)  The pieces of glitter are a lot chunkier than the regular kind, so it comes out a lot thicker.  And it's really shiny!  

Stickles is finer, smoother, and the end result is pretty much flat.  But it is sheer and a little more subtle with a strong resemblance to fairy dust.

  

Check out the two side by side:  

Ice Stickles Versus Stickles - before drying

Ice Stickles Versus Stickles - after drying

All in all, I think both of them are great for different things.  This butterfly looks cute with either Stickles!  If you want something a little more sparkly, I'd go with the Ice Stickles.  If the intended result is subtle and elegant, I would go with the plain Stickles.  Which one do you use?  What do you think?  

Products:  Stickles and Ice Stickles - Ranger, Giddy Bugs Stamp Set - Paper Smooches, Beautiful Project Life Clear Stamp - Studio Calico x Hero Arts Two Peas in a Bucket Exclusive

Japanese New Year's Card 2013

開けましておめでとうございます。  

Akemashite-Omedetou-Gozaimasu!

Happy New Year!

2013 is the Year of the Snake.  Only two more years and I will have completed a full rotation of the 12 years in Japan.  Time flies when you are having fun!  :)

In Japan, people often send out New Year's postcards that are usually delivered on New Year's Day.  If you get a card and didn't send that person one, it is customary to send a card in return.  If you buy your stamps and postcards in advance, you will get ones with a lottery number on them and when the new year comes, the recipient has a chance at a lottery to win prizes.  I have never won.  LOL. 

Though most people often print their cards at home or order them, I have always made them myself (since I started stamping that is).    Here is the postcard I created.  I attached it to a cardbase with some washi paper for an elegant, but cute Japanese card. 

I chose the word stamp because of the cute snake face inside the し and the cherry blossoms that were combined with the kana.  The image stamp was picked because I liked all the elements - the rising sun, Mount Fuji, kanji, and the snake wrapped around it all.  And I am glad it did choose it because it was fun to embellish. 

The back was stamped with my personal name stamp that couldn't be more appropriate.  Love this kimono-dressed girl! 

Were you born in the Year of the Snake?  I'm a monkey!  (No kidding.)

Don't forget to check out my process video, subscribe, and leave a comment! 
[Process video on my YT:  makescrappygoodness]

Products used: 
Paper (Postcard, MFT Wild Cherry, Japanese Washi Paper), Stamp (Kodomo no Kao), Ink (Kodomo no Kao Sakurasaku, Tsukineko Brilliance Graphite Black, Stampin Up - Blushin Bride, Chocolate Chip, Poppy Parade), Stickles (Lime Ice, Cotton Candy), Glitter (Martha Stewart Carrara Marble, Limeade), Water Pen

Sometimes All We Need Is A Little Pink

A small pink ball of goodness! Omg, it was so good. I don't care about the dye, sugar, or calories that I will be working off later. For now, all we need is a little pink. With each bite it makes me believe that romance exists and that I, too, can have my cake and eat it.  (^o^) ...(Wipe crumbs away.)  What yummy pink treat will you enjoy this week?

Project Life 2013 Begins!

This year brings another year of Project Life for me.  How will my process and take on it evolve this time...we'll just have to wait and see.  But before last year was through, I jumped on the list for Studio Calico Project Life kit.  Two weeks into January when my first kit arrived, I couldn't have been more excited.  I did not take a picture of it, but I did do an opening video with all my first reactions on my tshernjpan YouTube channel.  

 I couldn't be more thrilled to start my project life 2013 with a brand new kit.  Combining things I already own with a few new is the perfect recipe for success this year.  Here is the overall look of my finished cover page. 

Creating my cover page was so fun and easy because I had stuff that I loved and knew would work for me.  I used two 4x6 cards (though I think the one was meant to be folded into a 3x4), the transparency piece, and almost the entire stamp set (it was love at first sight). 

  

I even used the advertisement card they sent and embellished it for a super sweet 3x4 card.

My fellow YouTuber friend from Hawaii, sweetcraftychick, sent me a Quikutz Japan die and I thought this was the perfect place to use it!  Love how I was able to use design paper for the map of Japan.  The geo locator stamp came in this month's stamp set came in handy!  :)

  

Keeping with the theme, I added some authentic Japanese washi paper.  If you look closely, you can see it has rows of hearts running vertically up and down.  :)
After printing my photo out three times, I finally decided on the sepia tone one to give my cover page a more ''serious/professional'' look.  It went really well with my New Year's card I made which was cream. 

Here's to an maintaining a good pace and creating an awesome Project Life 2013!

Check out my process vid on YouTube!

  

Products used:  

Studio Calico Project Life Kit of the Month (January 2013)
Paper:  White Cardstock, Basic Grey Olivia, Washi
Ink, Stamps, & Dies:  Brilliance Graphite Black, Stampin Up (Poppy Parade, Blushin Bride, and Chocolate Chip), Kodomo no Kao Sakurasaku, Versafine Majestic Blue, Ali Edwards Home Stamp Set, Studio Calico, PaperTrey Ink Heart Border, Quikutz 2x2 Japan, Komodo no Kao Sparkle Embossing Powder
Embellishments: Stickles, Martha Stewart Glitter, Amy Tangerine Puffy Stickers, Studio Calico Wood Veneers, Badge, Washi Tape 
Pen: Copic multiliner  

Layout Share: Girlfriends Rock and Scrappinnwrappin 2000 Subscriber Giveaway Challenge

Yay for besties.  They are there for you whenever you need them and they support in ways no one else can.  Whether it's finding something special or lending an open ear, they can never ever be replaced.

This past Christmas, my YouTube bestie sent me a super sweet box full of special goodies.  The box itself was decorated with fun snowflake washi tape and cute die-cute snowflakes.  When it came time for cleanup, I couldn't just throw everything out, so I kept the pieces I loved and used them in a layout that would remind me how special it was.  Here's that layout:

A close-up of the snowflake.  You can see the UPS mark in the background.  I just kept the tape from the box and added it to the kraft paper to recreate the look.

I used a stitched fabric brad from Basic Grey's Out of Print collection.  I also used some leftover tissue paper to layer under the photo.

The next layout was the one that I made for Cheri's 2000 giveaway challenge  (YouTube scrappinnwrappin).  Check on the video link below to see the giveaway guidelines.  

This picture was actually from my boyfriend's birthday.  But the colours in the photo work well with valentine colours.  Looking back in time, I found out this picture was taken in 2006.  My roller date stamps don't even have a 2006 year on them.  So I just stamped his birthday and left off the year.

Using my copic multiliner, I drew lines around the entire layout and added an ''xoxo 2006'' to the corner.  The paint splatter was created using a water pen and a watercolour palette. 

I really wanted to use my PTI heart border for this layout and I wanted it to stand it.  Then the idea came to me to  used a gradation of valentine colours.

Two types of thickers were combined for the title.  I wanted to added a bit of sparkle along with the shiny alphas to make it pop.  My boyfriend never buys me cake for my birthday, lol.  I also wrote my journalling right under the title using my multi-liner again.  

Check out my video of the LOs here:

Check out Cheri's 2000 Subscriber Giveaway Challenge here:

Products Used:


Girlfriends Rock:  Kraft Cardstock, SEI Tumble Dry Spray Ink, BG SEI Out of Print Stitched Fabric Brad, Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch, AC Christmas Roller Date Stamp, PP Portfolio Alphabet Stickers, Tissue Paper, Rhinestones.

Eat Your Cake:  White Bazzil Cardstock, AE Roller Date Stamp, Copic 0.05 Multi-liner, PTI Heart Border, Thickers: Primrose and Sunrise, Watercolour Palette, Rhinestones.

Happy 2013!

Hello, everyone!  It's now 2013 and so begins another year full of possibilities and opportunities.  What good things are ahead of you this year?  I personally think this year is full of possibilities and opportunities like other new years, but the difference is, I am feeling the magic.  I feel change.  I love seeing other wonderful artists post about their projects they make, as well as the lives they live.  So my goal is to polish my photo-taking skills and post pics that are inspiring and best represent my work.  This year will be the time to shine. (Not just scrappy related, but I have a lot of other things on the go too).  I vow to enjoy my whole year to the fullest and strive for excellence. May we support each and continue to grow, personally and professionally.  Happy New Year!
 -Sherri

Stay tuned for some upcoming photos from my new year vacation in the next post!!