Hi There! This blog will no longer have any new post or activities. Please click here to go to my NEW blog, as I've depleted all the memory on this one. I hope to see you there! I will, however, continue to keep this blog up, as there are tons of ideas and tutorials that you may want to search through. When you are done searching here, please head on over to my new blog and visit me there. Aloha, Teri

Friday, April 30, 2010

A Greeting of Aloha

After I made Rita's birthday card, I thought that I'd better make another card to go with some island goodies that I was bringing up for her. This is the card that I made. I just love this set even though it's already retired. I don't keep too many stamp sets that have retired, but these Hawaiian themed sets are hard to come by. I love the classic hula girl. A close up...
Here's the inside of the card...
Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Short post today, I'm feeling a bit under the weather. Gotta make sure that I don't get sick! Thanks for stopping by today!

A Night of Aloha with Sterling and Shelli

Happy Aloha Friday! I posted a few photos a while back from Cindy's Night of Aloha, but I wanted to post the rest of the photos and just didn't have the time to do so. Hope you don't mind seeing these so after the fact.
My upline, Cindy B. won a workshop of a lifetime with Shelli Gardner (co-founder of Stampin' Up!) to come to her workshop here in Hawaii. How thrilling is that? Cindy was also honored at a gathering for being one of the few winners of this workshop. As one of her downline, I was invited to attend this memorable event at The Waioli Teahouse in Manoa. Here's Cindy giving her opening speech.Before the dinner, we were all able to take photos with Shelli and her husband, Sterling. OMG! I'm so short!
I took photos of my girls with the Gardners...here's Wini...
and my GF Myra...girlfriend, you looked so lovely all dressed up and ready for your hula! Thanks for driving us that night!
My DL Becky...everyone is so tall! haha!
Here's Karen doing the hula...
The yummy buffet...
My UL Cindy and GF Norine...
My GF Pam. Thanks Pam for the awesome slide show! Don't know how you do it!
Group photo with Shelli...
The goodies we all got to take home. Thanks to the ladies who worked so hard to prepare these beautiful gifts for us! Loved the cupcake in a jar and the special order pineapple cookie!
This cookie was super ono (delicious!).
We had a super time that evening. Congrats Cindy and thank you for a wonderful evening! It was such an honor to sit at the same table with Laura, Berd, Norine, you and the Gardners...

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

A Birthday Card for Rita

Thanks for all of your well wishes for Dad. It's just scary because we don't know what each day will bring, but we have learned that we will take it one day at a time and we will live each day to the fullest!
Before I left for my vacation, I really lost my mojo...I wanted to create so bad, but just couldn't bring myself to do it! The night before I left, I forced myself to make a birthday card for Rita since we were going to meet up. Here's what I ended up making. I was excited to use this embossing folder that I just ordered from SU. It's not a new folder, but I recently used it at Cindy's Hana Hou event and loved it! I wonder why I never ordered it?? I used a sponge to add some color and added some bling in the center of the flowers. Image is by TGF that I've been wanting to ink up for a while now. The sentiment, Wishes, is from my favorite stamp set called Fundamental Phrases. Punches used - scallop oval, large oval and small heart.
Here's a close up.
And here's the inside of the card. I used a MS punch for the edges. Sentiment is from a retired SU set.
I haven't gone back to work yet. Today, a PT came over to check Dad out to make sure that he is stable and to show us some exercises to strengthen his legs. It's comforting to know that he's in good hands. It's the weekend for me even though it's a Thursday. Furlough Friday tomorrow...enjoy the long weekend if you are on furlough tomorrow!

Bloggers Connect!

Hello blogland! Sorry that I was not able to post for the last week. Before I share some fun and exciting photos from my vacation, I wanted to say that I had a whole line up of posts but wasn't able to finalize the posting before I left for my vacation to Vegas with my sister and BIL. The morning of the day I was leaving, I noticed that my Dad was not behaving normally. He wasn't answering my questions and just stared at me with that "blank look". I was looking at him and it looked like his mouth was a little droopy and when he spoke to me, there was a slight slurr to it. The thought crossed my mind, but I was in disbelief to think that maybe he suffered a stroke? When my sister came to pick me up to go to the airport, we tried to hug Dad to say goodbye, but he refused. He was very honory and said No to everything we offered him. Eric finally convinced Dad that he needed to go to get checked out. Hours later, when we arrived in LV we got the phone call with the news that Dad did suffer a small stroke. Test after test and a few days later, Dad was released from the hospital. The miracle of this is that Dad can still walk, talk, function pretty normally except every once in a while, he gives us the blank stare or just cannot remember. That's the part of the brain that the stroke affected. Still, I am so thankful that we still have him here with us, although anything can happen in the days ahead. We are still meeting with PT's and appointments with a surgical team to determine if Dad is a candidate for surgery. Thanks for being patient with me and reading the above...on to something fun.
The last week, my sister and brother-in-law treated me to a trip to Las Vegas. The last time I was in Vegas, was for a Stampin' Up! Convention! This vacation was just for some R&R and I was thrilled to find out that one of my blogger friends all the way from Massachusetts was going to be in Vegas the same time as me! Rita and I became friends about three years ago through blogland! Can you believe that? Rita's blog is called Rita's Little Corner...please pop on over to show her some Aloha! Since Rita and Dan were staying at the beautiful Palazzo Hotel on the strip, we drove over to meet her. We stayed at the Main Street Station downtown. Here's a photo of the beautiful Palazzo!Here's a photo of me and Rita. We met in the lobby, it was beautiful!
Here we are in the hotel restaurant eating some very yummy but sinful dessert...
We walked around the hotel. This hotel is connected to the Venetian.
Look at all the yummy sorbet
It was so nice to walk around to see all of the fancy shops!
Me and my sister, Cheryl.
It was so nice to finally meet one of my blogging friends. I can't wait for you to visit us here in Hawaii Rita!! We will definately get together to craft!
I'll have more photos to share with you...more photos from Vegas and a couple of cards I made for Rita.
Thanks for sticking with me through a week on no posts!! Thanks to those who emailed me to check up on me! Love you guys!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Tutorial for little basket/purse

Happy weekend! Today, I will share some instructions for the cute little basket/purse. I think I will call it a purse because it no longer looks like a basket with these alterations. When this die first came out, I was so excited and introduced it to my downline and customers at my open house. Needless to say, it wasn't as easy to put together as I thought. That's because the bottom of the basket is round and it was hard to shape (for me anyway). I'm so happy to see this altered version to make a purse/basket easier to create it with just one extra piece of cardstock. I can live with this change except I need to re-purchase the die since I sold it to someone who said she would take it off of my hands - LOL! The joke was on me! For purposes of this tutorial, I used a So Saffron colored cardstock so you can see how it's done. You will need a piece of cardstock cut at 5X7. With the 5" at the top, score at 2" and 5". Turn the cardstock so that the 7" is at the top and cut at 2" UP TO THE 2" SCORE MARK AND CONTINUE TO CUT FROM THE 3" SCORE MARK DOWN TO THE EDGE OF THE CARDSTOCK. I hope this illustration helps explain what I'm talking about.
Attach the cut out purse front and back pieces to the cardstock piece in the middle sections as shown below.
Fold in the sides of the cardstock piece so that one side looks like this. Repeat for the other side. I used my 1/2" circle punch and snipped off the tip of the edge of the paper so it won't show through the handles. It should look like this:
When you put it all together, it should look like this:
It's a side view of the basket. (Did you see my green fingernails?? LOL! on a sidenote, I read in the Honolulu Advertiser that greens and purples were the latest Spring nail colors!) The finished basket with the fun and easy flower to make looks like this:
Thanks for stopping in on your busy weekend! I hope you are all doing something fun! I'm busy packing my suitcase...going to Vegas with my sister next week for a much needed vacation! Hope you enjoyed this simple tutorial. As soon as I get my hands on this die again, I'll be making more.

Friday, April 16, 2010

By the way...

I forgot to mention a few things regarding the one card swap. Typing up my last post was emotional for me because I know that I will have to re-prioritize all of my responsibilities which may come down to cutting down even more things! Anyway, while I thought about posting these extra thoughts about the OCS, Linda already beat me with her posting about the May OCS. So, if you would like to sign up to be a player in the monthly OCS, please pop on over to Linda's blog HERE and post a comment to sign up!
As you know, every time I don't have a card to share, I have to share a photo of my sweetie Mochiko. Here she is resting on the arm of a chair...if only I could switch places with her! Aaahh, the life of a cat! I am working on a tutorial to make the cute little purse using the basket & bloom die and a piece of cardstock. I'm also hoping to share information about the COLOR RENOVATION that will be taking place beginning with the brand new 2010 - 2011 Idea book & catalog. I can't wait!! I'm sure some of you have already viewed the colors on other blogs. See what I mean about having so many things to do??? Okay, enough for today. Happy Aloha Friday and don't forget to sign up for the one card swap with Linda!!
A little "toot" for my BFF Tamiko...she is having a challenge going on right now and the prize is a nestie die! Whoo hoo! Swing by her blog HERE to get the deets!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Bittersweet

I know all of you all LOVE the monthly one card swap. I do too! I am so grateful to all of YOU for the support you've shown me for the last year. Can you all believe that it's been one year? I can't! Well, if you know me personally, you know that my life has been spinning in circles with all of the events happening in my life and it's actually driving me crazy to keep track of everything that I'm responsible to do. Yeah, I'm admitting...super woman is no longer super and I'm actually starting to feel extreme pressure. I know, get to the point! This post is to announce that the April OCS will be the last swap organized by me - boo hoo! BUT GOOD NEWS! I am passing the torch to two of my best buddies, Linda and Kyoko and they will continue our wonderful monthly one card swap. I have shared all of the data files with them (your info and the swap lists from last year til current) and I am trust them with all my heart that they will take good care of all of you. If you enjoyed being a player in the one card swap, please continue to play!
As you know, the OCS is also a chance for me to "play" with other images other than my beloved SU...Here is a card that I sent to my GF Michelle for her bday. Whew! This was a tough decision to make, but I know that for my sanity, I needed to "pass the torch"...I'm still working on reorganizing my life to stay sane! Thank you for all of your support and love and I'm looking forward to becoming a "player" now! yippee!! Thanks Linda and Kyoko for being my best buddies and helping me out with this fun swap!! Love you.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Baskets & Blooms new look and some raks!

I was so lucky to get invited to my upline's house last week Friday for a Hana Hou gathering. Cindy lives on the other side of the island from me, but Wini and I made the drive and we had so much fun. The gathering included a delicious meal prepared by Craig Ikeda whose wife Eve is a demonstrator. What a bonus for us! Thanks Craig! We also got to make 4 cute projects and this one was my favorite! This cute bag was created using the XL Sizzix die called Baskets & Blooms and the basket part was created using a 5X7 cardstock. I love it! So, I have to share with you my story with this die...I was so excited when this die was released, I HAD to buy it. Creating it was another story because of the round base, I had no patience to assemble the round bottom for this basket. What did I do?? I sold this die to my girlfriend, that was it. Now, I NEED to buy another die because I simply LOVE this basket and the easy assembly!! I'll share with you the measurements and do a mini tutorial soon. The flower was created punching out 5 scallop circles and spritzing it with water. I love this flower, don't you? Many thanks to these ladies for the awesome raks...sorry I'm so late in posting my appreciation...I will have more thank you's soon...it takes me forever to get my act together!!
From Kim Yu
From Colleen
From Joy U.
From Vina
Thanks so much for your kindness and generosity!! Sharing another mini cake soon with some revised measurements for the lining of the bitty box!!

Monday, April 12, 2010

April 2010 Class Projects

Wow! A beginning of another new week! Sorry for the missing posts but that's how it usually goes during class week. For those of you who know me best, know that I'm the kind of person that works better under pressure. I knew that I wanted to make cards this month featuring the Sweet Pea felt flowers, and I knew that I wanted to do some kind of 3D project, but of course, that idea didn't materialize until a week before class! Are you surprised?? I'm always on the lookout for cute projects and this one was shared with me by Wini. This cute tote bag was not created by me, but by a very talented SU demonstrator by the name of Becky Roberts. Some of you might know her blog, Inking Idaho. If you haven't checked out Becky's blog, you might want to head on over to get some inspiration!
The paper for this tote needed to be created using heavy weight DSP or cardstock and I really wanted to use a DP. This was the only one left in the catty and it's called To The Nines... side view...
inside...acetate pockets to hold the cards
Here's a close up of the flower we put on the outside pocket. It was made using 10 flowers punched with the large flower punch. We used the Sending Love DSP for it and I must say, I love how it turned out! NOTE to the kits that were picked up by an someone attending the class...I will have to punch out and mail you the flowers, I totally forgot!!
We made three cards (envelopes included). Here's card #1. This Square Lattice embossing folder will be available for purchase starting May 1. This product is featured in the Summer Mini Catalog, Love it!
Here is card #2.
And card #3 was the sneak peek card I posted last week...
Thank you to everyone who attended the class this past weekend. If you ordered a "to go" kit from me, I am waiting for additional supplies to complete your kits, but will send them out ASAP! I will be back on a regular posting schedule this week - sharing another tea light cake I baked this weekend and some news about the monthly one card swap. Thanks for all of your sweet comments and for your patience in my lack of posts these past few days.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Sneak Peek card

Thought I'd share one of the cards that we will be making this weekend at my class. The cards that we will be making will be featuring the Sweet Pea felt flowers which I just love using! The project will be a cute purse/cardholder created by a very talented demonstrator Becky Roberts. If you signed up for the class or a kit "to go" you will not be disappointed! Photos of the all the class projects will be posted next week after the class.
Thanks for your visit today. BTW, I wanted to make an announcement and give credit to a very talented gal who created the cute mini tea lights birthday cakes. Her name is Suzy Kawamoto and she was the gal that gave Lianne of Cute Stuff the cake...thanks Suzy for your inspiration!
Also, come back for some changes to my monthly one card swap and some exciting news from Stampin' Up!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Put on your aprons and let's bake a cake!

Thank you for all of your comments on my cake that I posted yesterday. I had so much fun making it and it really wasn't too hard. Thanks to Lianne of Cute Stuff for sharing with me the idea. I decided to post a tutorial on how to "bake" a cake so you can see that it is pretty simple.
So here is what you will need to make this cake...marvy scallop circle punch, the I Top punch (is that what it's called??), one tea light, 5 small roses, 5" of ribbon, a cardstock strip 1/2" wide, 5" long, adhesive.With the I Top punch, punch out one (I used the SU Spring Fling DSP).
I used my crop-a-dile to punch out a hole in the center using the large hole punch.
Add glue (I used craft bond) to the back of the shape.
Position over tea light and smooth evenly, holding firm til glue sets a little.
Put sticky strip on both the ribbon and cardstock strip.
Wrap cardstock strip around tea light.
Wrap ribbon around the tea light over the cardstock strip.
Here's what it looks like so far - easy huh?
Punch out one scallop circle and then punch out a couple of circles using a 1/4" circle hand punch. This is for the switch for the tea light.
I used a pencil to trace around the tea light to get placement when I glue it down.

Put craft bond glue on the back of the tea light.
Glue down the tea light to the scallop circle making sure that the switch shows through the hole.
I added tiny pearls to the scallop circle.
I used mini glue dots on the backs of the tiny roses (cut off stems). Glue all 5 roses to the cake right up against the candle.
Your cake should look like this. I added some bling to the cake too.
Here's my finished cake. I used the SU XL Sizzix Bitty Box die to make my box for the cake and it fits perfect!
Hope you had fun baking with me! I got my tea lights and I Top punch from Cute Stuff. Please stop by to see Lianne and be sure to tell her that I sent you there! Thanks Lianne for sharing this cute and fun project with me. I can't wait to make more of these cute cakes. They sure make special birthday gifts!!