Step-Ladder Calendar

 Welcome back to our last day of previews for Release #26!  I'm so happy to see everyone subscribing to our YouTube channel and happy to find other YouTuber's out there that use our stamps!

Just wanted to thank our guest designers Christine and T-chan for making great projects!  Thanks ladies!  Check out their channel here...

And don't forget to check out our Design Team's projects:
Debi:
Eva:
Rina:
Rina'sYouTube:

I just wanted to share my calendar project today.  I first saw this basic design at Stamps and Memories in Aiea.  They had a sample of this type of calendar but each panel had one month and you would have to turn the calendar over in July to see the rest of the year. I simplified it since I first started making these and I'm much happier with this design.  Instead of having to flip the calendar over, I just add all the months onto one side.  Here's what it looks like when its hanging.

I decided to separate Mitsuyo and the crane again so that they are dancing on each side of the year.

Here's a better look at the crane...

I hope you enjoyed our previews from this release!  Please check out my video for more information on this project.

Here's the link to my video:

Ai-Chan Easel Calender

 Hello There!  I'm back with more Release #26 goodness.  But before I share my project, let me just announce who our guest designer(s) is for this month!!!  Can't wait to share with you!  Click here to see who it is...

And we have another fun announcement!  We have a new Design Team Member who will be a regular here at Sister Stamps... Check her out here....  and here....

Soooo excited!

And don't forget my old faithful and amazing designers Debi and Eva!  Linda is taking a short break this release but will be back for our next one.

On to my project!  I go inspired by my friend Karen who always makes cute calendar gifts to give away with her Christmas cards.  I think one year she made these easel calendar cards for everyone.  Love that idea!  So I copied her and made one using Ai-chan.

Got the washi paper from Hanko Designs and the 2015 from Island Scrapbooking.

And here's what it looks like when the easel is in place.  It sits up nicely on your desk!

Here's what the card looks like before you open it.

Yay!  I am final able to upload the link directly into my post! (yes, baby steps people).  Watch my video for more info on my project.

 

 

OK peeps.. don't forget to check out our design team and guest designers projects!  See you tomorrow!

It's Ai-Chan!

 Hey Everyone!  I'm back with another blog post.. YAY!  And I'm at an undisclosed location today with an amazingly fast internet connection!  Man... I want something this speedy at home!  Crossing my fingers that our internet connection at home is restored tomorrow.

OK enough about my internet problems.. right?  You want to hear about our next release!  Meet Ai.. our girl taiko player!  She was named after someone that we met in Japan that works at Miyamoto which is well known for their taiko and supplies.  It's definitely my husband's favorite stop whenever we go to Tokyo.  Ai actually lived in Hawaii for awhile and speaks good English, so she offered to translate for my husband when he took a taiko class while on vacation.  She also plays taiko too, so I thought this was the perfect name for this image.

True story:  we did not plan on releasing a taiko girl image.  I remember that after we released our boy taiko image- Yoichi, I received an email requesting a girl taiko image.  I passed that request onto my sister for consideration and she came up with Ai.  Love it!  I think it's pretty cool that there are a lot of girl taiko players.. maybe even more than men!

My project today is a tag that I made featuring Ai-chan.  This tag was cut from a Sizzix set that was in the similar shape of a drum, so I naturally bought it in anticipation for creating projects for my husband.  Though, the shape itself was really long, so I knew I had to cut it down a bit.  I ended up cutting about 1/2" from each end.  I also cut one more of the same size in an ivory color for the skin.  I trimmed that down but 1/4" off each end, and then cut off about 3/4" to make the skins.  The longer edge was cut free hand in a wave-like pattern to replicate the taiko skins.

Here you can see the skins better.  I added on a double row of tacks that they use to secure the skins in place.  This was done using a black enamel that gives a glossy raised look.  I like how it came out.

Finally, I decided to add a sentiment to the tag.  This can be used to give a gift or add to a lei.  The enjoy sentiment is a die from Papertrey Ink that came with other sentiments.  Love the handwriting look of it- looks very asian to me. :)

For more information on this tag, please check out our YouTube Channel.

Please check back tomorrow to see what our design team has been up to and meet our guest designer!

Oh!  And don't forget to enter to win our blog candy giveaway for this stamp!
1)  Leave a comment on THIS POST; and
2)  Tell me what kind of videos you'd be interested in seeing on our channel.

Meet Mitsuyo!

All I can say is "Phew!".  In case you are unaware... I'm suffering from internet withdrawals!  Ha ha ha ha ha!  Yes, I'm addicted to the internet and didn't realize just how much until we lost service this past week.  I thought it was ok until I realized that I wasn't going to be able to post anything for our newest release!

Now that I have temporary internet access (aka Starbucks), I'm able to share at least one project with you.  Please be patient as my posting schedule may be off due to my ability to access the internet.  Let's just pray that I can regain internet access by mid week... (right Oceanic?)

Until then, here's my first introductory post... meet Mitsuyo!  My Aunty's middle name is Mitsuyo and I recently got to spend some time with her earlier this year.  She is awesome!  She is older than my mom but still acts really young. I think this image captures her young spirit!

Let me give you some background on this image...  My sister and I were discussing possible images for upcoming releases.  One of the images we discussed was having a crane image for our growing collection.  She did some research and came up with this cute rendition of the dancing cranes.  Instead of the crane dancing with other cranes, she made the crane dancing with Mitsuyo.  Click here for more dancing crane images...

On to my project... I have been immersed in craft fair prep over the last couple of months.  One of my main things I specialize in is calendars.  Every year I try to make different types of calendars to offer variety.  This is my newest calendar that I came up with this year.  Last year, I made these in a 12" x 12" size.  While I still make those, I decided to add a 8 1/2" x 11" size this year. Although the image comes where the girl and crane are connected in one image, you can always split them up as I have done here...

Here's a better look at the crane.  I accented it's wings with gold Smooch (my favorite for gold accents).

Forgot to mention that the washi paper used is by Hanko Designs... you can find this and a large variety of washi paper on their website.  (Thanks Hanko!)

I have more project shares coming up the rest of this week so check back soon to see my other creations.

Oh yes, and don't forget to check out our YouTube Channel!  Here's the link- please subscribe for additional project information, upcoming release, giveaways and more!  So excited to finally have another way of sharing stuff with all of you!

Here's the link to my project video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dknC00zZrio

And... if you would like a chance to win our Mitsuyo stamp:

1)  Please leave a comment below on THIS POST; and

2)  Tell me if you've already subscribed our our Sister Stamps Channel on YouTube!?  

Release #26- November 1, 2014

Phew!  Finally made it to a Starbucks (thank you Starbucks!) to do some of my posts!  As mentioned in an earlier post, I'm offline right now at my house, so my posting schedule may be somewhat irregular.  Thanking you in advance for your patience in this matter!! :)

So, I can finally share our new images with you!  Yay!

We are very excited to share these two new girl images with you!  Please check back throughout the week for introductory posts, project shares, guest designers and other surprises!  See ya soon!

Release #26 Coming Soon!

Ok you are probably wondering why there is no picture if the new releases?  Yeah, I'm disappointed too.  I'm having technical difficulties at home and am trying to figure out how to post all the projects and new release info this week!  I may be heading to Starbucks all week just to use their internet.  Right now I'm posting from my phone.

Enough about my problems.  I still will try my hardest to upload something soon, but my posts may not be right at midnight HST.

I apologize for the confusion and hope to be up and running soon!  Thank you for your patience!