Happy Anniversary!

Before I get to my post, I just wanted to announce who our guest designer is!!!!  This FAMOUS lady is STAMPING ROYALTY.. any guesses?  Let's just say I was flattered when she found us and thought she'd be a great addition to the SS family!  Please check out her blog here and give her some love... 

And don't forget to check out Debi's blog!  She's been a busy girl and made some neat projects just for you!  And we also have the Chinese Zodiac team back with some neat stuff featuring our year of the dog and year of the rooster stamps.  Please check out Laura, Patti, Eunice and Linda to see what they've come up with this time!

You are probably thinking.. what the heck?  Why is she saying Happy Anniversary?  And why is Miyako on the project? 

You guessed it... it's my anniversary present to my husband.  We've been married 12 years!  Crazy.  Time sure flies and now we are really growing old together!  This box was the wrapping to the present I made for him.  I thought Miyako was fitting since she was holding a heart.  She's not just for Valentine's day! This is a view of the top of the box.

And here's a side view...  I used the Graphic 45 Bird Song paper.  Love it!  And the cherry blossoms are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Here's what was inside....

It's Yoichi!  I made a film reel using the new Tim Holtz Picture Wheel (viewmaster) die.  This project was totally inspired again by Live Love Scrap.  Check out her video here...

First I cut two of the picture wheel using chipboard and then 4 of the same using more Graphic 45 Bird Song paper.  I love this kanji paper!  I decided to mod podge the paper onto the chipboard, so its a bit glossy. Then I distressed the edges using my distress inks.

Here you see Yoichi that I colored and cut out. What you don't see is that I mounted him on some acetate so he's a bit stronger and will stand up.  Added more cherry blossoms by Wild Orchid Crafts next to him.

Here's a better shot of the film strip.  I cut the border using another Tim Holtz film strip die using more Bird Song paper.  Then I printed up some photos from our recent Japan trip and placed them into the strip.  I also added a strip behind it so that the pictures could be mounted onto the strip.  Sizzix needs to make a coordinating die for the back of the film strip yah?

Here's a close up of the film strip.  Here you can see all the small photos I printed.  I think you might be able to also use photos from an index print?  Not sure though as I haven't tried that.  I only print on my computer.

My husband loved this present.  I'm glad since it's almost like a mini album of our trip to Japan.  We had so much fun that I thought that's what he would like the best.

Hope you are enjoying our release so far! Don't forget to check out our guest designer and the rest of the designers that have prepared special projects just for you!  See you tomorrow!