My Scallop Envelope Bigz Die Box

I've been offline for awhile now trying to help get my preschool classroom ready.
I haven't been near my craft table except to try to organize, only to make more of a mess. *sigh*

Anyways, I had this in my head all night long and finally got an hour to be able to put it together!
I don't know if it's already out there or not... I think it's a really nifty box and I hope you like it!
It's super easy to put together!

Let me know what you think!



Here's the Scallop Envelope after I ran it through the Big Shot:


You will need 4 of them.
It's best to use Scor-Pal tape to attach the tabs to each other, scallop side up. I have used snail adhesive but it doesn't hold the box closed and it will fall apart eventually.

It's easier if you bend the tabs down and attach fold to fold to get that perfect alignment.


All in a row! Just attach the end to the other end and you have a cube!


You can leave the panels flat like the picture above or you can attach the end tabs together and get a set of panels, two together, like the picture below.

Flatten to adhere the DSP 2-3/16" x 12"


Flatten the opposite direction to crease all sides of the DSP.


Turn over and fold in the bottom, one on top of the other. Tuck the last end under and it will hold nicely. I lifted each loose end and added double sided tape (glue dots work great) to each tab to secure them down. I did the same with the long tabs along the inside of the box. I don't think it's necessary, but I did it anyways... it looks nicer.


Decorate the front and add some ribbon...


Add a little treat inside...



Happy stampin'!
Jane

Welcome home, Jana!

Okay, so it's been a couple of weeks... LOL!
WELCOME HOME, JANA!

I finally met Jana in person when she arrived here and let me tell you, she is just as sweet in person as she has been online. I'm glad you are back here now so that I can get to know you better, Jana! :) You can check out her awesome work over at Jana's Creative Pursuits in Stamping. I just saw that she made a super cute onesie! I'm going back to comment in just a few minutes!

Here's a card that I made for Jana:




A close-up of the window before I attached it to the card:


I have a little "toot" to share. :)
I belong to a Yahoo group for Scor-Pals and this card was part of a "Flap Card Challenge". It was selected to be put on the Yahoo home page! I'm just so pleased as punch over this! lol! The cards submitted for these challenges are all fabulous. Thanks, Scor-Pals!

hugs,
Jane

First Day of Kindergarten!

Yesterday was the big day! Ken is officially in Kindergarten!
I wanted to get this post up yesterday but was emotionally and physically drained.
Needless to say, it was just a really long day! lol!

I have a bookmark and a flap card to share, but before I post those later tonight, I wanted to get these photos up from the first day of Kindergarten.

You will see that his best bud, Spud, has decided to keep him company on this very special day.

Ken and his dear friend just found out they are going to be in the same Kindergarten class!


New backpack and outfit from Obaachan and Ojiichan!


Walking together with our neighbors to school!


Meeting Mrs. M. for the very first time!


The proud parents!


Hope everyone had a terrific summer and a wonderful first day back to school!

Calling All Nor-CAL SCS'ers! A Work Of Heart Studio Gathering!

Calling all Northern California SplitcoastStampers!
Come out, come out, where ever you are!

Check it out!
SanJoseLady has posted a thread at SCS for a gathering in September for us!
Northern CA/Bay Area (in San Jose) Get Together

Where? A Work of Heart Studio
When? September 13/14 or 20/21 or 28

Here's what SanJoseLady has posted at SCS:
The owners of the shop are waving the listed fee for the use of their studio, we can have the room for free, as well as use of their non-consumables. You can bring your own consumables or purchase consumables at the shop. They will allow us to bring in food - whether you all decide to bring your own food and drinks or send me checks ahead of time for a Costco run, if you want me to make a costco run please post a comment, I would imagine that $5 per person will allow us to get snacks and drinks.This is an informal relaxed gathering, just a chance to meet other local stampers and SCSers, and you can either bring a project you're working on (like Christmas cards!) or bring nothing and use whatever the studio can offer. You would only pay for consumables.

WHAT A DEAL!

I've posted that I am available only on September 13th or 14th, but please don't let that stop you from going another day. I will be sure to visit if the event happens on another weekend!

Let's get together, okay?

Walking down memory lane...

I just got an email from a friend from when I was on PaperCrafts message board.

Cindee wanted to let me know she had started blogging and had scrapped a picture of when we got together back in 2006.



I just wanted to share it with you...

layout by Cindee Campbell Ellenbarger

In the picture, starting at the bottom left and going clock-wise: Debbie, Mary, Cindee, Lindsey, me, and Lucy. We met up for a card class at Stamper's Warehouse in Danville back in June, 2006.

You can visit Cindee at her new blog, CindeeQ's Crazy Busy Life.

Monday's Fun Day Winner, Stampendous Pails, and few pictures to share..

WOW... I am two full weeks behind in posting a single thing because of two back-to-back weekend bowling tournaments up in Reno. It was exhausting, but SO much fun! I have a few pictures to post, but first...

JANET (jib)!
You are my Monday's fun day winner!
Email me your address and I will mail you the stamp set right away!

Stampendous Pails!
Check out my next class at Memories Live On:


You get to choose which pail you would like to make. Each pail comes with your choice of My Favorite Letters by Stampendous, coordinating card, coordinating notecard, coordinating Post-its, and a couple of other treats.

















Hope you can join in on the fun!
Don't forget to reserve your seat in advance!
For more details, please check out the calendar at Memories Live On.

The following are pictures from our trips to Reno.
Like I said up above, both were for bowling tournaments. The first one was our annual Japanese American bowling tournament that Kevin and I bowl in. The second one was a Junior/Adult bowling tournament at the Reno National Bowling Stadium... Ken's very first bowling tournament. We are so proud of Ken. He bowled above his average of 45 every game. He bowled without getting frustrated or losing his temper... always cheering his friends on. Best of all, my parents were able to join us for this trip and were able to watch their grandson bowl in the huge stadium and spend the 4 days with us in Reno.

First weekend up in Reno:

Fishing with the McNicholas Family


Fiona, Keiji, Ken, and Emily... the fantastic four!


The Matsumoto "boys"


Me and my boys



Second weekend up in Reno:

Oba-chan and Oji-chan with us!



A view of The National Bowling Stadium from our hotel room!


Ken bowling... can you believe he's only 5 yrs old?


Mommy bowling


Mommy and me!


Rhino Page (25 yr old PBA bowling phenom!) and the boys!


Keiji was a little hungry. I ordered him some spaghetti...


He liked it... A LOT!


Hugs,

Challenge Thank You Card & My Asian Heritage Shop Talk

I made this card with two challenges in mind... the Scor-Pal Top to Bottom Challenge and JulieHRR's DTGD08 Challenge.
Sandra... thank you for your friendship and thinking of me!





* Note - The butterfly is holding the card closed.

Stamp: Garden Flower / Fleur du jardin (Inkadinkado)
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red, Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers: Barely Banana, Apricot Appeal, Almost Amethyst, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Whisper White
Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals, Dew Drops, mini glue dots, Quickie Glue Pen (Sakura), Dazzling Diamonds
Techniques: Rock-n-Roll, Gate Fold


One of my favorite sites to visit since discovering it recently is "My Asian Heritage". They had featured Amy from Tsuruta Designs earlier in the month and I have been going back ever since!

I am really honored that Angela took the time to showcase my blog on their Shop Talk feature. Thank you, Angela and Ivy! Please stop by and check out the feature! SO cool! :)


Speaking of which, I have been tagged by Angela to go over the last 15 years of my life. Wow... 15 years. Okay... think back on the last 15 years of your life. What would you tell someone that you hadn’t seen or talked to for 15 years? How would you sum up your life? You get 10 bullet points. A list of 10 things to summarize you. At the end of your list, tag 5 more people and send on the love.

Well, to stay with Angela's theme, I have decided to list 10 Asian-related tibits from the last 15 years of my life. Here you go!

1) Favorite mini-snack: Arare ~ あられ crunchy, bite-size rice crackers flavored with soy sauce. Perfect snacks when you are on the go!
I used to eat these all the time too That's right! Chocolate covered Pocky Sticks! Yum! I can munch on those all day long! Pocky also has a fun site (althought it's all in Japanese) where I found free dance lessons for my hip-hoppin' 3 year old. Just click on "Enjoy Street" and "Street Dance Lesson" and you too can learn to "lock, pop, and hip hop"! lol!


2) Favorite sweets: Japanese mochi 餅 , manju, and mochi ice cream.



3) Favorite Asian country: Japan ~ I visited but it has been more than 15 years since I have been over there... MANY years more.


4) Favorite drink:




5) Favorite Asian goodies store: I love to shop at this stationery store... very similar to Kinokuniya, which is another favorite of mine. You can find reviews of MaiDo here.

MaiDo
378 Santana Row, #1125
San Jose, CA 95128
Ph. 408.213.1985

Here at Maido Stationery, we import and carry a wide array of products from Japan, from fine stationery to dolls and gift boxes made from beautiful, traditional Japanese washi paper. Many of our products are one-of-a-kind and rare items that are difficult or impossible to find anywhere outside of Japan.

Our stock of high-quality paper notebooks, as well as our extensive selection of writing utensils will satisfy all of your stationery andschool supply needs.

We also carry many unique character items and toys from San-X that are tremendously popular with both our young and adult customers alike.

Looking for a nice room decoration or relaxing aroma-therapy products? Come check out Maido's lines of Japanese incense and interior decorations.

Whether shopping for the perfect school supply or looking for a great gift idea, Maido is your one stop for high-end, unique, fun, and beautiful stationery and gift products from Japan.


6) Memorable vacation: Aloha! 4 years ago, Bruce and Beth got married at Turtle Bay and I got to be one of their unofficial wedding coordinators. First long plane ride with our little almost 1 year old.

No... we are not related to the Matsumotos' of the Matsumoto Shave Ice



Ko aloha makamae e ipo




7) Memorable work experience: I used to be a English / Japanese speaking travel agent for Kintetsu International Travel at the San Francisco and San Jose branches.


8) Good effort but... I have not been on top of teaching my boys Japanese. They seem to understand me for the most part but they don't speak it. I will be probably be sending them to Japanese school on the weekends and they don't know it yet! lol!


9) Guilty pleasure: It used to be Karaoke when our good friend owned a beautiful Karaoke studio.


10) Best experience ever: Getting married at Hakone Gardens and the births of my 2 boys.

May 5, 2001



Ken - March 2003




Keiji - February 2005




Thanks for walking down memory lane with me!