Earthquakes... 2回の地震 :(

Hi everyone!
One more post, today.
TWO earthquakes struck my city. The first one (M3.3) occured this early morning (actually at midnight over 2:00AM.) And the seconds hit us about an hour ago. It was M3.9. Those has been reported that the center of the shock was the sea floor where it was only a few kilometers away from the region we live. I'm so scary. These two remind me of the big earthquake struck us in 2005. But we are　in safe. :)
And I began to check supplies of drinking water, canned and dried foods and flashlights, spare batteries for cell phones etc. again. I forgot to check them out, 'cos we have not any earthquake in a couple of years.

今朝方とほんの先程、震度３クラスの地震が起こりました。特に被害はないのですが、震源がとても近く、直下型なので、縦揺れがひどく、規模からして「本当に震度３だったのだろうか？」と凄く疑問になるくらい恐ろしかったです。
我市は震度１と報道されていますが、２階などかなり揺れて、（観測地点との地盤の差が関係するからですね）、軽い物が落下したりして・・・。怖さもあるけれど、「片付けなくては！」& 「常備品のチェック！！！」と、今改めて思っています。
あの大地震の後、軽い揺れを感じる事は時々ありましたが、今回ほどではなく、何となく過去の恐怖が遠のいていってしまい、最近では災害時用の常備品等のチェックも怠りがちで・・・。
「忘れた頃にやってくる」とは、本当なのですね。先人達の残した言葉にも、改めて敬服です。

Thanks for reading! :)

Beautiful Blogger Award

Hi, everyone! It was too late to post about this...
  My friend, Vanessa ( Wings of a butterfly) gave me this lovely award the other day. It was on July 26th. She is one of the ladies I admire her style.

Love this design! Thank you so much Vanessa!
  It's my turn to present this award to some of my friends. I'd like to give this award to these creative ladies. It was really difficult decision.

          Donna ( three umbrellas )

          Deborah ( Society of Stamp & Scrap-aholics )

          Tiffany ( It's the Stuff I love )

          Alice ( Alice's {Little} Wonderland )

          Naoko ( Bear's Patch )
                    - She has been one of my needlework friends sicne 4-5 years.

Be sure to visit their blogs. I'm sure you are able to meet wonderful creations!
Have a beautiful week!
Hugs, Tomo

GRACIAS (Friday sketch)

Hi, again, everyone!
I really enjoyed, but so tired to cleanse my messy hands! Finally I finished one more card today for Hero Arts 'sketch2' challenge and also for 2Peas, 'Thinking Inking class' week 9. It's Sunday morning here! :(

This is the card, 'GRACIAS'.

Started to think rotating HA Shari's Friday sketch 90 degree. -Her sketches of PDF can be downladed from the URL below:
http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/files/2009/08/sharis-blog-week-sketches.pdf -
'Cause I got some imaginations from Jennifer's card window panel which she showed us at Thinking Inking class part 2 of week 9 video at 2Peas.
And used the method from 'Dry Embossed Alcohol Inked Background'.

This is a closeup photo.

Sanding was really fun! Love the result looks like burnished metal! I would spend alcohol inks a lot from now on.

stamp used:
HA Clear Design Thank You Sayings / CL341
HA Clear Design Feather Grass / CL282

other supplies:
Bazzill Basics CS, Ranger Glossy Paper, Acetate
Tsukineko Brilliance / Moonlight White
Tsukineko StazOn / Timber Brown,Olive Green
Ranger Alcohol Ink / Gold, Silver, Pearl, Lettuce, Aqua, Stream, Eggplant
HA Teal gems, paper flower, ribbon, CB embossing folder

Thanks for looking! :)
Have a beautiful weekend!

Friends (Wednesday sketch)

Hi, everyone!
A couple of days, I had lots of things to do. Finally today (it's midnight here. LOL.) I took my time for creating and I finished a card for Hero Arts 'sketch2' challenge.

This is the card, 'Friends'.

I always think I've been not good at making the circle shaped card. I know I can't make it to posess the good balance. So this card design is almost taking on Shari's Wednesday sketch and her demonstration video. Wanted to find out and get a bit of its tips.
Used the methods of 'Dry embossed Alcohol ink background' from 'Thinking Inking class' week 9 - part2 video.
I wanted try this method! It's the narrow strip that is..., 'cos I began to make a small pieces. (The bigger one was made partly, but I yet to finish it. Will I able to finish it in today???)
The layered paper flower colorings are..., the one is sprayed Perfect Pearls with water, and the other is colored with alcohol ink.
This circle shaped card's diameter is about 3.5" (9cm).

stamp used:
HA SE: Creative Trees / LL230
HA Clear Design Friends / CL351

other supplies:
Bazzill Basics CS, Ranger Glossy Paper, Basic Grey PP
Tsukineko VersaFine / Onyx Black
Ranger Distress Ink / Fired Brick, Vinage Photo
Ranger Alcohol Ink / Silver, Pearl, Lettuce, Aqua, Salmon
Ranger Distress Stickles / Frayed Burlap
Zing embossing Powder / Apricot
Paper flowers, Braid, thread, button, Quickutz 4" dies, CB embossing folder

Thanks for looking! :)
Have a beautiful weekend!

Merry & Bright

Hi, everyone!
Yesterday was a very hot day!
BUT, I rapidly shifted to the wintry design. Is the reason this is the one after I made autumnal card last time? No, no. Haha.
To tell the truth, there's a fantastic challenge 'Winter Wonderland' at Caardvarks sponsored by Hero Arts.

So I made a card for Caardvarks 'Winter Wonderland' challenge.
This is the card, 'Merry & Bright'.

I didn't have the new snowman stamp yet, so this is one of my favorite of last year's.
And this card is also to take on HA Shari's Tuesday sketch. So I'm gonna submit this to Hero Arts.
And one more taking on ..., oh my!
I made this background to use the 'pigment ink resist' technique of Thinking Inking class part 1 of week 9 at 2Peas. I was so interested in this method while watching the video. I haven't ever known pigment inks can use for resisting. So I tried.

This is a closeup photo.

I use VersaCraft white pigment ink with distress inks for resist. The coloring for the big snowman is Liquid Pearls with distress inks and water, and Snow Cap acrylic paint dabber for the sentiment.

stamp used:
HA Design Blocks Big Holiday Words / S5076
HA Clear Design Let It Snow / CL233
Lizzie Anne Designs stamp

other supplies:
Bazzill Basics & American Crafts CS
Tsukineko StazOn / Jet Black, Timber Brown
Ranger Distress Ink / Antique Linen, Broken China, Weathered Wood
Ranger Liquid Pearl / Gold, Baby Blue, Ruby Red
Ranger Stickles / Flosted lace, Acrylic Dabber / Snow Cap
HA Shadow Ink / Soft Pool
Judikins / Diamond Glaze
HA snow shaped felt and metal, Clear gem, Ribbon, thread

Thanks for looking! :)

You inspire me (Shari's Monday sketch)

Hello, there!
This week, Hero Arts artist, Shari Carroll is showing us her beautiful works.
Yestreday, she gave us 4 marvelous sketches to work with for this week.
The PDF file can be downladed from the URL below:
http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/files/2009/08/sharis-blog-week-sketches.pdf.

今週は、ほとんど時間が取れそうに無いというのが事実なのですが、度々参加しているチャレンジ用に、ヒーローアーツ社のアーティストであるShari Carrollさんが、スケッチ（グリーティングカード用のパターン --- 雛形です---）を用意してくださっているので、時間の許す限り作ってみようかと思って、トライしてみました。
雛形は、上のURLからダウンロード出来ますので、興味をお持ちの方はダウンロードされていた方が良いと思います。オススメの貴重品！！！

So I decided to try some and going to join the 'sketches2' challenge.
This is my card, 'You inspire me'.

Made this card to take on her Monday sketch. I love her sketches!
My colors for this card were a little bit shift to autumn colors. The reason is ... I went to 2 department stores yesterday evening and received the Autumn - Winter clothes reserved them in this spring. (I'm really simple minded. Haha.)

The center circle coloring is used Perfect Pearls which I learned the methods at 2Peas Thinking Inking class by Jennifer Mcguire last week. And the background heat embossing is also from her class - mixing Perfect Pearls with clear embossing powder.

This is a closeup.

But I couldn't show you that I used perfect pearls, 'Green Patina' and 'Heirloom Gold' colors with clear embossing powder. I'm sorry! The center circle coloring is also used the same 2 powders.

stamp used:
HA Scallop Floulish / S5152
HA Design Blocks Modern Lines / S5218
HA Clear Design Friends / CL351
HA Clear Design Thank You Sayings / CL341 (Used a leaves stamp only)
Stampers Anonymous Background stamp

paper:Bazzill Basics CS, HA Kraft, Basic Grey PP

Ink & embossing powder:
Tsukineko StazOn / Jet Black
Meories Dye Ink / White
Ranger Distress Ink / Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Embossing Ink
Ranger Perfect Pearl / Green Patina, Heirloom Gold
Ranger Embossin Powder / Clear
American Crafts Zing / Teal Metallic

Accessories:
Basic Grey button, Kaisecraft gems, Kreinik Braid, ribbon,
Prima paper flower, Quickutz Nesting dies

Thanks for looking! :)

地震お見舞申し上げます

本日早朝の静岡県駿河湾沖の地震被災者の皆様へ、心よりお見舞い申し上げます。

このニュースを知った時、私が2005年に遭遇した福岡西方沖地震M7.0の恐怖が蘇りました。今回の地震もほぼ同等規模ですし、台風の余波の大雨も降っているようですので、大変心配しています。
どうぞお気をつけられてください。

To all the victims and their families of the earthquake that struck around Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan this early morning.
I'd like to express my hearty sympathy with you all. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Hugs, Tomo H.

one more card for 'sneakyinspiration' challenge

Hi, there!
Just finished a card for the Hero Arts 'sneakyinspiration' challenge! This card was made inspired by the sneak peek #3 - a bigger flower motif at the left side of the cling stamp.
The choice of colors are inspired by Lisa Spangler's sample shabby chic cards she showed us on HA blog. It's so pretty! I changed it to modern look for my card, not shabby chic. Thanks Lisa for the inspiration!
I'm gonna send this card to one of my friends with gifts. So happy to finish this rapidly!

This is a card, 'You're the BEST'.

stamp used:
HA Dandelion / G4917
HA SE: Artistic Windows / LP128
HA Clear Design Mix & Match Elements/ CL266
HA Clear Design L Artistic Borders / CL322

paper: American Crafts CS, HA Kraft, Vellum

Ink & embossing powder:
Tsukineko Versa Fine / Onyx Black
Zing Embossing Powder / White
Ranger Distress inks / Masterd seeds, Tea Dye
Ranger Liquid Pearls/ Ruby Red, White Opal, Gold, Petal Pink, Baby blue
Ranger Pearfect Pearls / Perfect Pearl, Gold

Accessories: HA Accent Pearls and Clear Circle, MS punches, ribbon

Thanks for looking! :)
Have a beautiful week, everyone!

a Digital e-card inspired by the HA sneak peek #5

Hi, there!
This week, the Hero Arts' new products for Autumn - Winter were revealed! It's sneak peek time! And their challenge is to be inspired by the products will soon be released. But I had a lot of things to do in this weekday, and the deadline is Sunday midnight PST.
So tonight, I made a digital e-card inspired by the sneak peek #5 - red and green, soft pink, blue and orange colors and dots.
I decided to use Sunshine Daisy and Friendship Definition of the Hero Arts brandnew DigiKits. These are freebies. I LOVE this Sunshine Daisy! So many lovely kits are sold at the 2Peas! Just take a look!

This is the results, 'You're one of my nicest thoughts'.

The methods or effects I used are brushes, blends (blendmode:Colorblend, Difference, Multiply, Vividlight, Exclusion etc.), dropped shadows, and gradation overlay.
The outlines of daisies are created to use its brush - by changing the selected areas.

supplies:
HA Sunshine Daisy DigiKit
HA Friendship Definition DigiKit
Prima hybrid digital papers (2 patterned papers)
Tia Bennett DigiKit (stitch)

tool: Adobe Photoshop CS4

*The way of expression for this work can be create to use PS7, CS1, 2 and 3, I think, I use CS4 though.

Thanks for looking! :)

Lucky me!

I won last week's digital weekly challenge by drawing at the 2Peas.
Oh, that was my first post among my digital works. (I rarely or never make digital works except offers on my business.)
The work brought me a fortune was this e-card, 'Hero Arts Tulips'.
Thanks mellypea! and the 2Peas!

Thanks for reading! :)

2 works to use Perfect Pearls by Ranger

Hi, everyone!
Time flies! Today is Saturday!???? LOL. I finished 2 works today for the 2Peas education, Thinking Inking class week 8. Actually I began to create them at the begining of this week, but I couldn't go on to make my time for them.

こんばんは。このところ何だかバタバタ続きで、今週もなかなか時間が取れなかったのですが、ようやくカードとタグが完成しました。実は開始したのは、今週の始め・・・。本当にまとまった時間が取れず、細切れ作業の末・・・という感じです（笑）
今回カラーリングに使用したのは、RangerのPerfect Pearls というマイカパウダーですが、パール入りのチョークパウダーでも、--- いろいろなブランドがある為、製品にもよるとは思いますが --- ある程度似た事が出来ます。マイカパウダー入りと無しでは、輝き方が違う事と、マイカが入っている方が塗った箇所に厚みが出る感じでしょうか。

This is the card, 'You're in my thoughts'.

Made this card to use the technique from 'Thinking Inking Class Week 8', Part 1 and part 2 video by Jennifer McGuire. She showed us many techniques to use Perfect Pearls by Ranger. Truly beautiful works! Just love her works and techniques! If you don't see them yet, please visit the URLs!
This is a closeup photo.

stamp used: HA Design Blocks Dots and Flowers / S5213 HA Clear Design Friends / CL351 HA Clear Design L Artistic Borders / CL322
paper: Basic grey PP, SEI CS
Ink & embossing powder:
Tsukineko Versa Fine / Onyx Black
Ranger Embossing Ink, Clear Embossing Powder+ Perfect Pearl
Ranger Distress inks / Broken China, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick,　Scattered Straw
Ranger Pearfect Pearls / Perfect Pearl, Heirloom Gold, Green Patina, Blue Patina, Forever Red
Accessories: HA Accent Pearls, Prima paper flower, ribbon

And the next, I introduce you is 'the Asian image tag'.

I wanted to make the oriental image tag. So I chose these stamps by Hero Arts. stamp used: HA Clear Design Asian Frames / CL275 
paper: a tag and normal CS (leftover papers) 
Ink & embossing powder:Ranger Pearfect Pearls / Perfect Pearl, Heirloom Gold, Green Patina, Blue Patina, Forever Red, Copper,
Embossing clear powder,
Distress inks / Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint

*This tag actually has brighter colors. Sorry, this photo is not in good condition!
And I used part 1, 2 and part 3 techniques from 'Thinking Inking Class Week 8' video for this tag.

Thanks for looking! :)
Have a beautiful weekend, everyone! =)

3 tags set

Hi, everyone!
I knew I didn't make enough time for creating this week, so I made these tags to use a method from the 2Peas education, and decided to submit this project both Hero Arts 'tag' challenge and Thinking Inking class week 7.

こんばんは。先週に引き続き今週もバタバタしていて、なかなか時間が取れなかったのですが、シンプルなタグを作ってみました。

This is the project, 'Three tags set'

Made to use the tissue paper tecnique on Sticky Back Canvas from the 2Peas,'Thinking Inking Class Week 7', Canvas Part 1 video.
After made the canvas part, I mounted it on the tag, already did the clear emboss resist to use Modern Lines Stamp with several distress inks and sprayed them perfect pearl mist.

This is a closeup photo.

stamp used:
HA AI: Three Designer Leaves / LP132
HA Design Blocks Modern Lines / S5218
HA Clear Design Everyday Sayings / CL342

paper:
Bazzil CS kraft, Ranger CH Sticky Back Canvas

Ink & embossing powder:
Tsukineko StazOn / Timber Brown / Teal Blue
Memories Dye Ink / White
Ranger Archival Ink / Jet Black, Embossing Powder / Clear
Ranger Distress inks / Broken China, Faded Jeans, Tattered Rose,
                    Worn Lipsticks, Shabby Shutters, Pine needle, Antique linen
Ranger Pearfect Pearls / Pearfect Pearl
Ranger Stickles / Waterfall, Eucalyptus, Burgandy, Platinum, Distress Peeled Paint

Accessories: threads

Thanks for looking! :)

Digital kit デジデータ

「今週の始め頃、HAからデジタルキットが発売されたのです・・・。」と書いても何の事だか、日本の方には解りづらいかと思いますが・・・、スクラップブッキング等用のデジタルデータのキットです。 突然の事だったので、ビックリしましたが、ちょっと遊んで作ってみたのが、以下の2点です。
The Hero Arts released the digital kits through the 2Peas website on July 28th! http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/shop/digital-kits/hero-arts/ I was so surprised to see them, and downloaded one of their freebies and tried to make an e-card and a digital layout.
E-card --- e-カード（HTMLメールへ貼り付けるタイプとして作ってみました）

This e-card is all digital.
A half transparant paper strip, sentiment, and the gradation background were made by myself to use Photoshop. And the tulips image was applied BlendMode.Dissolve.
チューリップ、ボタン、花、パールがデジキットの物で、チューリップはディザ合成、花はグラデーションマップ、その他影の位置を調整しています。

Digital layout --- ページ・レイアウト　（スクラップ・ブッキング）

This layout is also all digital. I did many photo editing and applied effects on this.
こちらは、もともと好きなRhonna Farrerさんのデジタルデータを多用していますが、このレイアウトの元になったPhotoshopのデータがなかなか秀逸だと思い、直ぐに使ってみたものです。 この雛形データ（PSD形式）は、以下のページからDL出来ます。*勿論商用不可です。 2Peas Free DigiKit (Photoshop file, Personal use only) .
普段は、オンデマンドの受注生産なので、全てオリジナル作る・・・これが基本になっていて、ましてや、デジタルで遊ぶという事は殆どないのですが、かなり楽しめました。*^^*
短時間で終了するのも良いですよね～。2点合わせて、2時間程！　これらを手動で行なったら、きっと10時間以上かかる？？？　深夜しか時間が取れない事が多いですので、短時間で終わるのは嬉しい事です。 ※上の2点は、ブルーが多いので、モニターによっては色味が変化して映る事があるかと思います。