Sakura Secret Keeper

I just love cherry blossom season and to me, there is nothing more symbolic of Japan than the cherry blossom. This spring the blossoms were so stunning that I took photo after photo! I did not want to hide these gorgeous photos in an album, so I came up with an idea that allows me to keep my photos on display. No, not a mini album, really as this Sakura (cherry blossomm) album is a full 12x12. Urban Lily Secret Keeper comes with a 12" x 12" base layout with 2 folding flaps that perform as a cover and 4 separate insert layers with tabs that you can arrange any way you like. Each peice is made of white heavy-weight cardstock so that your finished album can stand upright with ease.
I started by painting the outside of my cover pink and the inside a sky blue. Next, I decorated each flap using washi paper, Bazzill and various pink patterned papers. Before adding the photos and embellies, I checked how I wanted each flap to be arranged in the album. This determined what I would place on each flap - in other words, what is going to show when the album is displayed? My journaling is on the inside flap, so it is not visible at all when the album is on display.
The prima flowers were the perfect finishing touch to my album. I had so many photos, that the entire album came together so nicely.
Click on the link above to purchase your own Urban Lily Secret Keeper and show me what you come up with!

Texas Flower

I just got my new order from Scrapbook.com of Prima's Wildwood Collection - Wood and Mulberry Flowers!
You have to see these flowers to appreciate their beauty. I chose the Safron and the colors and textures are fabulous. My package contained:
1. a lovely, orange-colored straw-fibered flower a bit larger than 3" across
2. a yellow 2 1/2" straw flower
3. a yellow 1 1/2 inch fier flower
4. a yellow 2" petal
5. a yellow 2" blossom made of slliced pods
6. a brown 1 3/4" sead pod flower
7. a 4" long branch of orange dried pods.
Each one is gorgeous with a pretty natural fiber center.
The sliced pod flower is a bit fragile and one of the petals broke apart when I handled it. I layered my flowers on my project, though, so you cannot tell. And since they are natural, I expect them to be fragile.
I am concerned how they will hold up in my album as they are quite bulky and the brown flower has pointy edges. I may have to lay something between the pages in my album to protect the facing page. They might have been better used on the cover of a mini album, but they look so pretty on my 12x12 page, that I couldn't resist them. They come in 6 pretty colors and now I think I need to get some more!

It's time for a Sketch Challenge!

It's time to win another RAK from Japan! Everyone is elligible - simply make a LO from my sketch above. Then:
1) make a comment to anything on my blog and
2) email me your LO, or a link to your LO by June 12.

I promise to have the RAK out to the winner within the week. (You have my Dad to thank for that as he truly taught me to be prompt.) I can't wait to see what you come up with!

So what will you win? It will be something special from Japan, of course!
Happy Scrappin'!

Zama Scrapbooking Event

Look at all the fun we had at the Zama Scrapbooking Event on May 15. We can't wait to do it again in the fall!

National Scrapbook Day Celebration

If you are in the Zama area, please join us at the ACS building on May 15, 7 pm for a National Scrapbook Day celebration! I know - National Scrapbook Day was officially May 2, but we could not get the space until May 15. Better late than never, right?

It's going to be a fun evening with door prizes and refreshments, Make N' Takes from Stampin' Up consultant Windy Joell, and a Creative Memories digital photo storage demonstration by Dee Saari. There will be supplies from Close to My Heart and a Make N' Take with Memory Works products courtesy of Moi!

The entire evening is free and everyone is invited to attend. Hope to see you there!

Click Here for Great Information on Going Green with Scrapbooking

Happy Earthday everyone!

The price of Freedom

My son left for a one year tour of duty in Afghanistan today.

Since taking office in January, President Barack Obama has ordered an additional 21,000 U.S. troops to be deployed to Afghanistan, which will bring the full U.S. deployment there to a total of 60,000 troops, joining 39,000 coalition troops from 43 countries.

I'm very proud of my son, but I think of all the wives and young children who are also making sacrifices. Did you know there are 600,000 American children under the age of 5 who are living with a parent deployed in war? For many of these children, their lives will be changed forever.

I'm every bit as proud of my daughter-in-law and my two tiny grandsons for the sacrifices they must make. It's a sad truth that those who wait, also serve. The boys had such a hard time saying goodbye and on the way home, Gregory asked his mom, 'who will keep us safe now?'
I ache for them tonight as they all look at the empty spot at the dinner table. The evenings must be the hardest time of the day.

My daughter-in-law is going to have to go through so many changes and hardships this year all by herself - in addition to experiencing the stress of sudden separation, constant worry about her husband's safety, and dealing with the chores of single parenthood. And I know the children, as young as they are, are asked to be brave. There must be so much they don't truly understand. I wish I was closer to hug them all. It is hard being half a world away from my loved ones.