Crystal and Akiko

Proud Teacher

I am so excited to announce that my student from PDA, Amanda Cleghorn, was chosen for this year's top 22 of So You Think You Can Dance Canada.  Amanda is an incredible student, an amazing dancer/performer and an even more beautiful person.  She will be dancing tonight on CTV at 9pm EST.  Hope you'll be watching with us and please show your support and vote for her every Monday!  I am so proud of you Amanda....MUAH!!

Click HERE to join Amanda's facebook page

Here is her audition for the show
 

 

A QUICK LAYOUT TO SHARE

Not one of my fav LO's, but it was definately a quick one.  Ben and I were at sea this day on our honeymoon, for some reason I didn't get many pics ;-)  I still have to add some journaling to the box on the right.  I used Stampin Up's "ornament punch" to make the black petals and the "heart to heart punch" to create the rich razzleberry flower in the center.  I LOVE SU PUNCHES!!!!
 

 
SUPPLIES
Paper (Stampin Up!):  Basic Black, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry
Paper (Other):  Dollarama glitter paper and textured cardstock
Stamps (Stampin Up!):  French Filigree & 2009-2010 SU! Hostess Level III (now expired)
Inks (Stampin Up!):  Basic Black & Rich Razzleberry
Punches (Stampin Up!):  Ornament, Heart to Heart and Scallop Border
Cricut Cartridge:  Zoobaloo
Other:  Michaels ribbon, Dollarama flower, brad & feather

GIVEAWAY WINNER

Congratulations ELAINE!!!  The random generator from random.org has choosen you as the Eggcoutrements Clear Mount Stamp WINNER!!!  Please send your email to crystalandakiko(at)gmail(dot)com so you can get your goodies =)

Thanks to all who played...now vote for Amanda!....smiles

Giveaway

Don't forget about our Giveaway going on over HERE (scroll to the bottom for deets)

Tah tah,

A Dash of This, A Sprinkle of That...

...and we're pregnant!!! <GRINNNN>  How I have been DYING to tell you!  Thanks for playing ladies and way to go Dawna =)  After a year and a half of trying to get the recipe just right...it FINALLY worked!  Check out this little cutie at 3 months along...

I love how he/she is already sticking his/her tongue out at the camera....strike a pose baby!  We are as happy as sheep jumping over the moon, hehe.  I am now 5 1/2 months along and loving every moment with my little buddha...lol  or as Akiko would call it, my little "mini".  On December 24th, 2010 we are expected to deliver our "mini".  I loooove Christmas...but now it just got a million times better =)

When I found out, I literally ran home from work, whipped up a card in less than 5 minutes and gave it to my hubba as he was on his way out the door.  At first he didn't get it, I mean....hello!  Baby on the front of the card saying "hello daddy", two positive pregnancy tests on the inside and a message saying "just a little note to let you know that I'm on my way.  Love Me & Mommy"  He reads the whole thing, looks at me with confusion, I look back with a massive grinn and a silent well?  He decides to read it again and POP, it clicks....YAY!!!  We celebrate with this quick photo and off he runs to work.  One of the happiest moments of my life =)
 
Now telling the family.  Being a crafter I had no other choice but to spill the news thru a sweet little note; so I made up these cards with the fabulous "Wild Card" cricut cartridge and passed them off to our parents and siblings one by one.  Being the first grandchild & nephew/niece on both sides of our families....I can tell you the reactions were priceless!

   

  
 
While I have this perma-grinn on my face, let's celebrate and do a GIVEAWAY?!  Wahoo!  We have this Easter clear mount stamp set that was used once.  You would never even know it has been used, it looks brand new.  Unfortunately, Akiko and I can't use it in our classes since it's expired so why not give it away? =)  Leave a comment anywhere on our blog from now until 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, August 22nd and WIN!  (winner pays shipping fees) good luck

EGGCOUTREMENTS CLEAR MOUNT STAMP SET

100th Post Giveaway Winner & Pun Fun

YAY!  It's win-winna time!  Should I announce the winner of our giveaway first?  Why not!

Using the random generator from Random.org comment number 12 was chosen which means LIZA HENDERSON is our 100th Post Giveaway Winner.  Congrats Liza!  I will email you.  Thank you to everyone who played along with us, we will continue to give away freebies so keep leavin' us some love!  It warms our hearts to make you smile =)

Now back to my honeymoon!  I really liked how this turned out.  It started as one of those layouts where I had no clue where I was going with it but once I pulled out my brand new Pun Fun stamp set from Stampin Up! everything started falling in place.  This stamp set rocks my world - it's so stinkin' cute and don't know why but makes me wanna have babies....hahaha

I coloured the whales with Stampin Pastels and hand-cut waves out of foam.  The white wavey part was actual done with a Fiskars wave ruler - fun.  Love love love using buttons!

 

 

 

 

 
SUPPLIES
Paper:  Whisper White & Crushed Curry from Stampin Up! and Designer Paper from Costco
Stamps (Stampin Up!):  Pun Fun and Hostess Level III
Inks (Stampin Up!):  Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Crushed Curry and Orchid Opulence
Punches (Stampin Up!):  Scallop Circle
Other:  Stampin Pastels from Stampin Up!, Ribbon, Buttons & Foam from Dollarstore and Martha Stewart Stickers

100th POST CELEBRATION GIVEAWAY!

"Happy 100th Post, Happy 100th Post, Congratulations crystalandakiko.coooooom.......HAPPY 100th POST!"

Can you believe its our 100th post today??? WOOHOOOOO!!!

Crystal and I were shocked at how fast this has creeped up on us.....Its crazy! We are so excited to have made it this far (so far, lol) and are looking forward to our 1,000th POST :)

To celebrate our excited-ness, we want to have a little giveaway. What am I saying.....THIS IS A BIG GIVEAWAY!!!!!

 POST A COMMENT ANYWHERE ON THE BLOG - multiple comments if you like - and we will select a random winner next week. Get your comments in now, because this is our best giveaway yet!!!!

And what are we giving away, you might ask? ONLY THE BEAUTIFUL WOOD MOUNTED VINTAGE LABELS STAMP SET BY STAMPIN' UP!!! Co-ordinates with the punch, this label stamp set is to DIE FOR!

ALSO DON'T FORGET - The Sale-a-bration ends on March 31st, so be sure to get your orders in before then so you can get some freebies!!! Spend $65 and get a free product. What could be better?

I WAS SO EXCITED TO post a HOW-TO VIDEO today - it is a video I have been wanting to do for a very long time, I was saving it for a special occasion like today - but my computer has decided to reject my vids....again!!! What is up with that??? :(

So instead I am posting a 3D cupcake box that I made for one of our classes :)

I got the template from a wicked template-tress named Kelleigh Ratzlaff, her templates are available at The DigiChick blog. It is the cutest box ever, with lots of room to play with your creativity to make the ultimate cupcake!

 
 
 I will post the video as soon as I get techie and figure out my comp problems!

 

GOODIE GIVEAWAY WINNER! And...The Never Ending 3 O'Clock....my 2nd LaYouT

WHO SHALL TAKE HOME THE PRIZE?????

First off, thank you to all who left us comments on our blog. We really do appreciate all the support, it really feels like we have a little family growing here, and we love it! So thank you so very much, and continue to keep in touch with us!

THE WINNER OF THE PUNCH AND MULTIPACK PAPER IS..........Louise Luna! Congrats!!! I will be emailing you to find out your information. Thanks for playing!

ARE WE THERE YET????

Yep, this is my second layout - my first 2 page spread! This is a hilarious story about my flight to Japan. Its a really, really long flight to Japan - including layovers it took us over 24 hours to get there! So we were quite delusional.

But one thing was for sure, 3:00pm kept popping up as we continued through our travels....read the blurb in the picture to get the run down - Its hilarious!

 

GOODIE GIVEAWAY!!!! And..... MY FIRST LAYOUT....OH MY

ITS TIME FOR ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!!!

Post a comment anywhere on this blog over the next two weeks and we will draw a random name to win a FREE CORNER PUNCH and a pack of 8 1/2 X 11" multicolor paper!

It could happen at any time in the next two weeks, and it could be you!

 

No where to run, No where to hide...it's Akiko's FIRST LAYOUT!!! (Horror scream)

Well, as promised, Here is my very first LAYOUT! EVER! I had NO paper, No stamps, NO NOTHING....eeek...a bit scary! But I think its important to look back and see your creativity and skills grow and transform. What a fun process!

My sister gave me the Japan stickers for Christmas, and I used Crystal's letters, flower punch, tag punch and gold brads. I got the ribbon and corner stickers from Dollarama! I printed the date on paper I got in Japan from the 100 yen store (Japanese dollar store). Thanks to all for the donations! LOL

Giveaway worth $322....whaaat?!

I know!!!!  A giveaway worth $322????  Geez...I really love you guys <wink>  We're giving away TWO FREE Toronto Raptors tickets over at the 2some Dance blog.  Should you, for some reason, want to WIN them....haha, take a stroll over to my 2some Dance blog and leave us a comment.  A random winner will be chosen.  I love freebies! 

So...this isn't as exciting as my giveaway, but was skippin' around some photos and found these from my mom's b-day back in October.  I LOVE making and receiving homemade gifts!!!!  I wanted to make something special for her so here's what my kooky self came up with:

Magnetic Board - Bought canvas mounted on a frame, adhered magnetic sheets onto canvas, covered with designer paper, embellished with flowers and cricut cut-outs.  The magnets are actually hooks that had a sticky backing to glue to your wall.  I scraped off the sticky stuff and VOILA!  You have magnets!
RECIPE
Paper:  K & Company "Belle" collection
Embellishments:  Stampin Up! ribbon, Prima Flowers & Leaves, Dollarstore rhinestones & pearls
Cricut Cartridges:  Storybook and Alphalicious

Coordinating Card - of course, how could your card not coordinate?! haha  Embossed with cuttlebug folders and lightly brushed across a darker ink pad to pop the embossed image.
RECIPE
Paper (Stampin Up!):  Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White & Bermuda Bay
Paper (Other):  K & Company "Belle" collection
Stamps (Stampin Up!):  On a Pedastal
Inks (Stampin Up!):  Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry and Real Red
Other:  Stampin Up! Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin Up! Scallop Border Punch and Martha Stewart Glitter

HAHAHA....yes, this is exactly how eccentric she is...luv it!

Giveaway Winner & Gift Card Holder How-to Video

I'm early for our date!  Well, better early than late again...hehe

It's Christmas next week, AHHHH...so sorry for posting the winner so late, got carried away with all the holiday baking LOVE IT!!!  I never get to bake too much since the hubby doesn't eat sweets...I know!!! who doesn't like sweets right?  I'm taking advantage of the holidays and baking my life away till next year, haha.  Okay moving on....yes...the winner!  Congrats Tyler.  I will email you.

Tonight is just full of wonderful things.  Was spoiled once again by my students at Performing Dance Arts.  They give me the most generous gifts for Christmas, so lucky!  I love creativity so wanted to share a couple photos of shtuff they made for me.  DELICIOUS home made cookies & stunning chocolate sleigh from Karissa and an ADORABLE ring & dance pic by Clarissa (interesting their names are so similar) n e who, loved loved loved all the gifts from yall chicos & chicas at PDA, THANK YOU!  Muah!


What to do with those refill alcohol inks you have?  Try emboss resist!  So much fun creating your own colours with inks.  This video will show you how to use these super easy techniques and make a Top Note Slider Gift Card Holder in the meantime.  These are PERFECT for this time of year!

SUPPLIES:
Paper (Stampin Up!):  Whisper White, Dusty Durango & Old Olive
Inks (Stampin Up!):  Crushed Curry Refill Alcohol Ink & Basic Black Classic Ink
Stamps (Stampin Up!):  Polka Dots &
Punches (Stampin Up!):  1/2" Circle & Large Oval
Tools:  Stampin Up! Top Note Die Cut, Stampin Up! Stamp-a-majig, Stampin Up! Heat Tool, Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Applicator & Felt Pads, Cuttlebug, Stampin Up! Bone Folder, Dollarstore Bead Tray
Other:  Stampin Up! Clear Embossing Powder, Stampin Up! Sticky Tape, Stampin Up! Silver Brads, Prima Flowers, Dollarstore Ribbon, Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Blending Solution, Sharpie Olive Green Marker

More baking tonight and maybe a little eating of the baked goods too =)

Winner coming soon....

I'm so sorry for my tardiness :(  I will be posting the Winner of the stamp set at 5:00pm today, along with some photos and another How-to video (this one is great for the holidays) So be sure to check back then.  How will I make it up to you?  I know!!!  We'll be doing another giveaway....so leave us a random comment =)

See you at 5:00pm...it's a date! ;-)