Thinking of You

Hi reader!  I was able to make a pop-up card yesterday, which I'm sharing with you now.  The pattern is designed by Keiko Nakazawa, from a book I bought from the Japanese Pavillion in Epcot earlier this year.  Ms. Nakazawa is popularly known as an origamic architect, and she has written several books.  I'm trying to link her website, but it doesn't seem to exist anymore.

Anyway, this is not the first time I made a card using Ms. Nakazawa's patterns.  The first one was a Cherry Blossom pop-up card done during National Craft Month.  Here's the second using the "Hydrangea" pattern:

And for more dimension, I colored the petals with Copic markers and the flower center with Shimmerz.

Materials used:

cardstock/dp:  The Paper Copmany, Bazzil, Recollections

image/sentiment:  Stampin' Up

ink:  Tsukineko, Copic

tools:  Fiskars edge punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder, SU punch

embellishments:  brads

misc.:  embossing powder (Tsukineko), pop-up pattern (Keiko Nakazawa)

adhesive:  Scotch, mounting tape

'Til next blog!

Before and After Part Deux

Hello crafty reader!  It was three years ago when I bought my first batch of Copic markers during my last visit in Japan (way lot cheaper over there).  And in June of the same year, I made a couple of pop-up cards, using these markers.  I find it funny that I kept those two pop-up cards all these years.  I have "revived" the first card a couple of months ago (click here to see).  And yesterday, I got the chance to give the second card a better look.

This is how it looked like before:

And this is how it looks like now:

I'm really glad I took that Copic Certification Class last year... lol!

'Til next blog!

Brain Fart

I can't even think of how to start this blog entry.  Well, you may have noticed that I haven't updated my blog as often.  I guess I really am having some type of crafter's block.  Or my craft muse went on vacation to some place warm. 

The past couple of nights, I was just staring at my stamps, trying to squeeze my mind for ideas and of what to make.  The staring didn't work.  I tried to browse through magazines and books, and that didn't work either.

Maybe somebody can invent some sort of candy bar that can spark creativity. 

Anyway, it's that time of the week again - Creative Vision time!  What better way to beat crafter's block by making something that doesn't require a lot of embellishments.

Please visit the Creative Vision blog to see this "simple" and "masculine" project.

Let me try to break this boring spell.  'Til next blog!

Before and After

As I type this blog entry, we're experiencing a blizzard.  Not the sweet and cold one that you eat.  I mean a real one.  And the last time I checked, it's April 19th.  It's technically Spring.  Somebody must have really ticked Mother Nature because she doesn't seem happy... at all.

While I was cleaning my craft desk, I saw this unfinished pop-up card that I made three years ago:

The card front is black, and I never got around to finish the card.  I stamped the flower images with whatever black ink pad I had at the time, and I remember using just "ordinary markers" (in crafters' term) to color the flowers.  Back then, I was already proud of this "achievement".  I figured maybe I can do some touch ups to make it better.

Armed with my Copic markers and tools that didn't exist before, I started working.  First, I used my black multi-liner pen to enhance the lines of the images.  Then I started coloring with Copics.  Here's my pop-up card's new look:

It only goes to show how big of a difference three years can make.  And I give credit to all the crafters and bloggers for all the inspiration and knowledge that they have shared to people like me. 

'Til next blog!

National Craft Month (Day 6)

How was your weekend, dear reader?  I had a relaxing 3-day weekend doing mostly house chores, watching TV shows on the internet and crafting.  Everybody at work sure needed that snow day on Friday to unwind and spend more quality time at home.

My project for today is a Cherry Blossom pop-up card.  I got the pattern from a book I bought from the Japan Pavillion in Epcot. 

Materials used:

cardstock/dp:  Fiskars, Nature Preserve, specialty paper

ink:  Spica

tools:  EK Success edge punch, Spellbinders, craft knife

misc.:  Shimmer Spritz, pop-up pattern (Keiko Nakazawa)

adhesive:  Scotch, mounting tape

Want to join in the fun and maybe win some blog candy in the end?  Click here.

'Til next blog!