Let it Snow....now let it be done... :)

Aloha mai!

Snow snow snow!  

I hope you had a wonderful holiday and that you are enjoying your family and friends this season! 

I wanted to share some snow pictures with you.  It's been an amazing week and a half here in Snowville...um Seattle. 

This is a bowl that k put out to measure the snow fall.  It stuck to the rail, so out it stayed through the whole stormy week. 

 

This was the total amount of snow that we got.  Below you will find a pictures of the park near our Library.  I loved the snow patterns on the wall.  There was enough snow that someone built a snow fort (dome shaped) that had windows and could fit one person in it.  I went in.  It was really cool! 



We went sledding on the hills by our house.  Not too steep or else the snow was just too much, so we didn't really go too fast, but it was really fun!  

But now, we've had our fill of snow and I think that most of us are ready to see it go.  LOL.  

Parking lots are danger zones, everyone seems to need a push with the snow ruts appearing now that it's warming up a little.  Can you believe it snowed again today?  I've gotten really good at reversing and driving-reversing and driving to keep from getting stuck.  

Enough for now.  Have a great one and sorry to be such a stranger.  

A hui hou! 

Switch Plates Anyone?

Aloha Mai!!

My review on Tinkering Ink Retro collection is up at Scrapfriends now.  There are some really great projects by our Review Team members.  I hope you'll check them out here.  I really love this collection, it's full of color and action.  Just what I needed to work with with winter coming along so quickly! 

I have some brief instructions for creating the wonderful switchplates in my review which is the last on the page.  This project was very quick and fun!  LMK if you have any additional questions. 

I just finished updating my website, whew, what a job.  Thank goodness for the wonderful programs with WYSIWYG or I would not survive having to do HTML! 

Today I work on some Ikaika's costume for Halloween.  He will sew most of it, but I will help with the little details since time is short.  Skate America took up a lot of our time this weekend.  And of course we can't start a project too soon before it's needed LOL.  

My Mom loves Kim, Yu-Na, the phenomenal skater from Korea.  I took some photos for her since we were lucky enough to see her skate on Saturday and Sunday.  She shares my birthday which is really cool (of course she's a little younger than me LOL).  I think my Mom will get a kick out of that!  

Have you started thinking about Christmas this year?  It's about that time of the year for Christmas cards...

Better get to work now.  

Until next time...

A hui hou! 

Skate America 2008!

Aloha Mai,

Yay!  This past weekend was wonderful!   Production Sports produced Skate America 2008 in Everett, Wa.  Laura Lee and Steve Baker did a wonderful job with this huge international event and we broke the standing attendance record held by Spokane!!!

The skaters were great, the fans were wonderful, Ikaika had a blast doing some flower sweeping and participating in the Victory Ceremony.  He was lucky enough to hold the Bronze Medal that went to his favorite skater, Evan Lysacek!  Totally cool, and he was on the ice at the same time as Evan was warming up.  I promised not to post that photo though.  :( LOL.

I was able to do some fun volunteer work at the airport, in the arena and in Fan Fest as well.  It was all a wonderful experience.  You can find the results of the competition at Ice Network and if you love Ice Skating, you can even subscribe for a season of video coverage (charge).

Last but not least!!!  I would like to debut my newest creation, an acrylic album large enough to hold at least 10 DVD/CD pages for a total of 20 discs.   The album is shown with black cardstock as a cover page so that you can see the engraving better.  I can personalize the cardstock color and ribbon for you.  

With all the DVD and CD storage of video and photos, I thought that it would be a super idea to have a place to put all of these items.   The cover is laser engraved and the words can be personalized. 

Please check with me about this album for other sports or events.  

Enough for now,  

Thanks for visiting! 

a hui hou!

Flair Designs Merry Little Christmas

Aloha Mai, 

A little Christmas Cheer today.  I was fortunate enough to work with Flair Designs Merry Little Christmas Collection this month.  This tree is one of my projects.  I'm not really a Martha Stewart when it comes to home decor, this is about as close as I get.  You can find my review and how I made this tree here on the Scrapfriends website.  

No school today, so I gotta get moving.  Have a wonderful day! 

a hui hou! 

Playing with wax...sort of

Aloha Mai,

So what have I been doing this week?  I've been playing with product called Rub 'n Buff by AMACO.  It's a wax metallic finish that goes on like paint and shines when you buff it, kind of like when you wax your car.  It's awesome for getting an antiqued look.  My full product review will come out at Scrapfriends before the end of the month, I'll post the link.  Meanwhile, I really like how this little project turned out!  

It's just a little thrift store frame, some Stazon ink and Inque Boutique stamps and home pressed flowers.  I added some Tim Holz alcohol ink on the edges of the glass for fun.  The large flower is a calendula from our yard, and believe it or not I found the fossil leaf outside, it's not from a bag LOL.  Looking at this project brightens my day now that Fall is here and the weather is cold again.  

This week I've been finishing all sorts of projects because next week Skate America is in town and DS and I will be helping out with the event as volunteers.  I'll get to greet the athletes and their support people at the airport and also send them off after the event!  DS will be a flowersweeper (the kids who collect the things thrown on the ice after a skater finishes) and also a helper in one of the award ceremonies!  If you watch on TV, look for him on Saturday night late.  

Well, have a great one!  

a hui hou! 

I've been tagged

Aloha Mai! 

Better late than never ;)  

Rusty Pickle Chef Kathie D. (check out her blog for some stunning work!) tagged me a while back, right in the middle of this wonderful allergy season.  I figure I better get on with the game...Thanks Kathie, sorry so late!!      

So here are the rules:

1.  If you've been tagged, you can put the logo on your blog.

2.  Link the person from whom you received the award.

3.  Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4.  Put links to those blogs on yours.

5.  Leave a message on the blogs you've nominated. 

Here are my nominations:

1.  April Derrick  multi talented designer with Memory Villa, ScrapFriends and Flair Designs

2. Kelly Totally excellent designer who comes up with the greatest combinations of products! 

3.  Lynne Anne super blogger and extremely talented designer at SF

4.  Amy B very talented designer friend I met along the way

5.  Alycia Sanders super mom and ultra Rusty Pickle Chef

6.  Carrie Leavitt of Scrapdango fame

7.  Tammy M of way cool and excellent designer at ScrapFriends

Thank you for the honor I am happy to pass it on! 

Aloha nui! 

3D Punchie Embellishments

Aloha Mai! 

Halloween is coming soon, and here is my latest creation for the season.  It's for a coach appreciation gift so shhhh, don't say anything!  I'll make cards and an index for a perpetual birthday calendar.  Watch for my ScrapFriends review of Cosmo Cricket Haunted Collection coming soon.   

You've seen this card before, well, I wrote up a tutorial for you on how to make easy 3D flower embellishments.   I hope you'll check it out.  I find myself using these flowers on all sorts of projects!  

Tomorrow I will be helping my Kumu (Hula Source or Teacher) move into her new place.  I hope my allergies abate soon.  Yuck, this Fall has been really harsh for some reason! 

See you soon!  

A hui hou!

  

Back Again--at last ;)

Aloha Mai! 

It's been forever it seems!  So glad to be back!

Etsy

My store has been updated with a few creations.  I  hope you will check them out, and maybe help keep me from having to work at McDonald's soon.  ;) 

Summer 

A great time was had by all.  Too short for sure (as usual).  All went well with Hula.  DS is still working on his goal of getting to Juvenile level for skating (one more test).  DH participated in the World Outrigger Canoe Sprints in Sacramento and had fun. 

Fall

We actually got some ripe tomatoes this year!!!  How can that be?  DS returned safely from a trip to Mt. St. Helens with his class.  They had stellar weather and got to see the mountain which is a rare thing in cloudy Western Wa.  

I'm getting over the first Fall cold yuck.  Hopefully I'll be 100% again soon.  The weather transition is so hard on this Hawai'i Girl! 

Righ now I'm busy working with Bob Shives with Cascadian Design Studio (Lazer cutting and engraving) on a donation project for the athletes who will be participating in Skate America. More on that later.  

ScrapFriends

So much to catch up on.  I am a full fledged review team member now!  Hooray!  I will update my sidebar with reviews you can read on some totally cool projects!  Here's a recent one on Flair Designs Spellbound Collection. 

Beginning this month I have been creating and posting layout sketches for the site (4 a month) and will keep on doing it as long as I can.  I hope you'll check them out.  You can find some card sketches by Renee there as well (2 a month).  

Now that I have finally taken the plunge back to blogging, I'll be sure to keep on coming back as I hope you will too.  

Take care and a hui hou! 

Rusty Bottle Rockets Red Glare

Aloha mai! Whoa, it's been a while since I last blogged!  Summer is so packed full of things to do!  Our neighbor has a beautiful cherry tree that we have been eating off of and their Raspberries have come into fruit too.  Kai's corn is growing and we even have some tomatoes so far!  

Among all the other things I've been doing, I finished an album today for the Rusty Pickle July Blog Challenge.  It might not count because it's supposed to be an altered item using their patriotic paper lines.  My original idea fizzled (pun intended), so I decided to alter two pieces of chipboard into an album, added envelopes and a tag, and also altered two pieces of MM metal tags (the ones with the holes around the perimeters into charms for the album.  

Even if it doesn't count, I had fun using the new Bottle Rockets paper! 

Flap Opened:

Flap Opened:

Flap Opened:

ScrapFriends July Bash Update

There are still two more weeks for you to create and post your entry into my "Alter a White Elephant" and "Crazy Insert Journal" challenges.  I hope you'll check them out! 

Mario Bros.

photo by Marianne Oelund

Last but not least, look who came to visit Olympic View Ice Skating Arena!  Mario and Luigi!  Aka my own Ikaika and his good friend Cameron!  They were the hit of the show!   Congratulations to all the skaters. 

Hey don't forget to check out my Etsy Store.  I'll be re-stocking real soon! 

Take care and have an awesome weekend! 

a hui hou!

July Bash @ Scrapfriends.us

Aloha Mai! 

Happy Fourth of July! Even with gas prices skyrocketing and all that has been happening.  I am so thankful for the good old USA.  Happy Birthday America!

Hey, have you heard yet?  There is a month long Crop over Scrapfriends full of excellent challenges to get your mojo flowing! 

But wait, there's more!  Each challenge has an excellent prize... paper collections, peekaboo albums and tons more! 

And...each challenge you complete will give you points towards the a super grand prize!  

You can read all about it here.

Check it out!  Some challenges last all month, some last a week.  

I have a couple of month long challenges I hope you will check out: 

Alter a White Elephant and Create a Crazy Insert Journal

Follow the links here in my blog, but if you get lost, just go to the Game Room>Scrapfriend's Contests>July Bash.  

Be sure to come back an visit me soon because the fun doesn't stop there! 

a hui hou!

Happy First Birthday Paper Trunk!

Aloha mai! 

My all time favorite "local" paper company just turned one today and are having a totally cool Birthday Bash!  Take a look at the Paper Trunk Blog. Man, the prizes are totally awesome!!! 

Hauoli La Hanau!  (Happy Birthday in Hawai'ian) to Carrie and Paper Trunk! 

Best wishes for many more! 

Whoo hoo!  

more tomorrow, I've got challenges galore this month!  I'll update you all soon!

a hui hou!

New Ice Sk8r Albums up on my site

Aloha mai,

It's been a busy time for me with school out and summer starting.  The weather is finally being a little more summer like.  I've also got a little summer cold.  Bummer! 

But despite that, I managed to finish a few Sk8r albums this week in preparation for the Washington State Games in July.  

I've got them up on my website.  I hope you'll take a look and spread the word.  ;)

This weekend Secret Scrapper had a one day crop.  It was really fun with great challenges.  The next one is a three day crop July 11-13!  Hope you can join us!  Here's my challenge from the weekend.  You can do it even though the crop is over.  

Take care and have a great week!  

a hui hou!

The Costume that Never Was...

Aloha Mai,

Here is a quick post to show you a LO I just completed for the Rusty Pickle June Blog Challenge.  I love this paper!  It's the new White Chocolate Bunnies line. 

So, I found this photo lying around.  It was a peek into the past when DS loved to dress up.  I wanted to challenge myself to use only paper so I came up with this paper pieced flamingo design.  LOL.  Okay, so it's not Rembrandt, but I had an awful lot of fun creating it!!!  

Thanks again to another inspiring Challenge from Rusty Pickle! 

My latest ScrapFriends Review is out.  I got to play with Lisa Pavelka's "Claying Around" DVD, her wonderful Magic Glos and Amazing Poly Bonder.  If you have been wanting to play with clay, but just didn't really know how to start...I recommend you check out this DVD!  Look what I did with her instructions, I have NEVER been able to make anything worthwhile out of clay LOL...until after watching her DVD! 

Take care and have an awesome day!!

a hui hou! 

Ice Fest-Come visit me...

If you are in the area, I’ll be at Ice Fest, Seattle Skating Club’s annual Competition this weekend, debuting my Ice Sk8r Albums, so if you are in the area, please stop by.  You can talk story with me and also watch some great/cute ice skating for free!  

I will be there Friday June 6 and Saturday June 7 8:30am-8:30pm

and Sunday June 8 from 7:30am-1pm.   With a few breaks in between (I hope LOL)

OlympicView Training Center
22202 70th Ave W
Mountlake Terrace, WA  98043

BTW, if you love Ice Skating, Skate America 2008 will be held in Everett, Wa in October this year.  Tickets are still available.  Laura Lee (DS's skating buddy's Mum) and Steve Baker (Ikaika's Coach) are producing the event as Production Sports.  They are still looking for corporate sponsors as well, so LMK or contact them directly! 

Thanks for indulging me in a little break from SB projects.  

Speaking of Scrapbooking...Letters, Letters, Letters...Are you ready for some Altered Art Challenges?  Check out my new one at Secret Scrapper. 

That's all for now! 

May your day be sunshine! 

a hui hou!

Fiskateers Slumber Party

Aloha Mai! 

I'm so excited, I took my daily look at the Fiskateer's Blog and found my project up and running! About a month back Fiskateer Lead May sent me some wonderful goodies to play with. I hope you'll take a look. Fiskateers Frame: Heidi Grace Daydream Believer line and Secret Scrapper Frame.

You can find the frame I used at the Secretscrapper site.  I just love this picture of DS when he was little.  The paper bag hats are so in fashion LOL!

This week I'll be busy preparing for the debut of my Ice Sk8r albums at the Ice Fest Competition.  I am not sure how I'll be covering my shifts when DS is skating, but I'll figure something out.  I am hoping to make friends with the people on either side of me and maybe I can get coverage.  ;)

I have this really cool old cabinet that I picked up at the side of the road one day and I'm going to use it for displaying the albums.  I just found out that the table size is really small, so going vertical will help!   I'm going to clean it up and I'll take a picture and post my booth later this week.

 

Catch my latest review on How Do You Glue's Crafter's Card file at the ScrapFriends site.  It's a totally cool and fun item to alter!!! 

 

My Etsy Store has been re-supplied with tons of wonderful handmade items.  Remember that you pay only actual shipping!  I have some great Recipe albums up for grabs.  

That's all for now.  Take care and have an awesome day! 

A hui hou!

May is almost over!

 Aloha Mai! 

Wow, it's amazing!  May is almost pau (done).  This month has been super busy with Hula and life.  I hope that you are all doing well! 

My Etsy Store has been re-stocked with a ton of amazing albums and frames, even some journals!  I hope that you will take a look and maybe find something you like! 

Big news this month was DS being recognized as an example of being a model citizen athlete for his city-state of Athens at the Pacific NW 5th Grade Olympiad of Waldorf Schools.  I was so proud of him.   It's nice when kids can get recognized for being good rather than the naughty ones getting all the attention.  

He also did really well with his egg drop apparatus at the Puyallup Spring Fair.  He brought home a blue rosette for that, and a second place rosette for his altered shoe.  

As for me.  I had my hula presentation at the NW Folklife.  We did a dance and drama about Canoe Traditions and Cultures.  We all got tattoos for the occasion LOL.  Nah, just joking.  They're rub-ons.  

Next week is the an ice competition at our home rink.  I will be a vendor for the first time showing my ice skating albums.  I hope that people like them.  I will be making sample pages this weekend.  

Have a great weekend and I'll try not to be a stranger!  

a hui hou!

Keep In Touch Card Shop- Make an Envelope Album

Aloha Mai! 

I hope you are well and enjoying life!  A few months ago Kelly from Keep In Touch Card Shop contacted me and asked me if I would be a guest designer for one of her kits!  She has a wonderful eye for combining products so I said of course!   You can see the kit she sent me and also find directions for the envelope mini album I created here at her blog.  Don't forget to check out her limited edition kits too!  They ROCK! 

Thank you Kelly for this wonderful opportunity to play with one of your kits!  

Oh, and I have finished the second round of Ice Sk8r Albums and posted them all on my website!  If you know of anyone who might be interested in one of these, I would be grateful if you would let them know! ;)  

Take care!  

a hui hou!