Life's Little Pleasures

So... did everyone get their stamps yet?  If not, you can check out any of our retailers listed on our sidebar to see if they still have them in stock.  These seem to be going really fast- had to fill some re-orders already!

Just wanted to share another card from Aunty Jan.  I thought this Masa card was so cute!  I guess the chickies thought so too since they are back again. 

Can I just say that I love that she added grass to the scene!  She paper pieced Masa's kimono using washi paper.  I love all the details too... she used Doodlebug rick rack stickers and punched some butterflies using a Martha Stewart punch.  The Easter paper is by Best Creation and the sentiment stamp is by Stamp Oasis.  She stamped the sentiment on vellum so you could still see the paper behind it.  Love it!

I don't think you can tell from this photo, but the eggs and butterflies have a touch of glitter.. just enough to make it sparkle.  Thanks Aunty!

Masa Easter Basket

 Hi Everyone!  Did you see who our Guest Designer was for this Release?  It's my idol... Donna of 3 Umbrellas!  I love Donna's work and have been such a big fan since I first saw her work.  She has gotten me to buy many many stamps that I don't think I normally would have.  Maybe I should call her the "Enabler"!  Nah- only kidding!  Let's just say Donna's work has really inspired me to simplify my projects.    PLUS Donna loves bunnies just like Akemi (and me).  Since I knew she loved bunnies, this release was just the perfect fit for us.

So today's project was inspired by this youtube video tutorial on Origami Easter Baskets.  I thought this would be the perfect project for this image.  It really wasn't that hard to do and you could also use it as a box by not putting on the handle. 

There's those chickies again!  Getting into mischief in the origami Easter basket!  hee hee hee. 

 

  

Here's a close up of Masa and the bunny.  I just love that bunny image!

Be back tomorrow with another Akemi project to share with you!  Don't forget to check out Donna's and Debi's projects for today!

Introducing... Masa!

 So are you liking our new release images?  Hope you are enjoying them so far.  Our last image for this release is a little boy named Masa.  Masa is named after one of our friend's son.  He is a good kid that listens and doesn't give any problems.  I guess this image reminded me of him since the image is being nice to the bunny.  The real Masa is always nice to Akemi even though he is much older than she is, and takes the time to include her, when others his age would probably think she's a pest.

Masa is our only true Easter image.  The rest of the images in this release can be used for other things, but the eggs just make unmistakeably Easter.  Although, I'm sure you could do some altering and change it up a bit so that it wasn't so Easter-ish.  Hmmmm, got myself thinking now!  Hopefully I can come up with something soon to surprise you.

 On to the project... I'm not sure why, but for some reason, these milk cartons remind me of Easter.  Is it because Robin Eggs always come in cartons?  Whatever it may be, I felt compelled to match up Masa with the carton. This particular carton was cut from a Sizzix Pro die, which is larger than your standard pint sized milk cartons you get with school lunch.

After I colored and cut out Masa, I popped him up using some pop dots.  Then I looked at the carton and the top looked to empty.  I tried going through all my dies and punches to see what would work and I settled on this banner stamp set by Lawn Fawn.  Inside the flags, I stamped "Happy"... mainly because "Easter" wouldn't fit (not enough space on the face of the carton). I think it worked out OK.

Here's a close up of Masa and the bunny... since the carton was green Doodlebug paper, I decided to go with yellow grass instead.  The grass was punched out using the Martha Stewart grass boarder punch- one of my absolute faves!  Afterall, aren't Easter baskets filled with grass that is all different colors?  Even though I tend to buy green grass, I see it come in pink, purple, and yellow too.

Ok I gotta share a funny Easter story with you.  One year I must've been REALLY bad. I don't recall what it was exactly that I did, but I remember being told that I was soooo naughty that the Easter Bunny would probably not come that year... I guess I WAS bad since he never showed up!  What a bummer.  Believe me, I was really good every year after that!

So, now that you've met all of the new releases, time for more candy!

1.  Follow the directions on the Akemi introductory post.  Remember to leave a comment on this post by 2/29/12 11:59pm HST.
2.  Tell me what your favorite Easter or Spring memory is. I can't wait to hear!

Coming Soon- Release #6!!!

Can you believe that we are at Release #6??!! It seems like we just started selling stamps a month ago, but now we are at our 6th release!  I know we are still around in large part because of all of you out there, so just wanted to say "Arigato" before I show you our Release #6 images...


So I'm sure you have already peeked at these kiddies already no?  Well formal introductions start tomorrow, so check back soon to get the scoop on these characters.

Oh and don't forget... each Introductory post will include some candy, so don't forget to enter!  See you soon!