Valentine Shaker Mini Calendars

Last year my last two calendars turned out really well.  They were shaker calendars.  I decided to use my three remaining mini calendars and recreate last year's shaker calendars so I can mail them out to friends. However, I can't find the stamp set that I used so I had to substitute other cute images. I know that I will eventually find the stamps I used last year and I am satisfied and pleased with this years mini shaker calendars.

To make a shaker calendars, you will need a 12" x 4" piece of  double sided printed card stock.  Fold the panel at 4", 8", 9" and 10". Use a suitably sized heart die to cut out a window.  Glue a piece of acetate behind the heart opening.  Using foam tape, form a wall around the heart window and along the edges of the calendar front.  Partially fill the section of the calendar with the heart window before securing a panel behind the window. Fold and tape the calendar frame closed.  Add calendar and a cute fussy cut character.  Mini shaker calendars seem complicated but I assure you they are super easy to make.  You really can make a bunch with very little effort...but first you need the mini calendars. I purchased mine at HM Ben Franklin Crafts. Hurry, you still have time to craft your own mini calendars!

Dim Sum Body say Party?

 Here is another card I made while away from my home craft table. I used another a cute Dandelion Designs stamp set, Thinking A Bao You.  Since I didn't have my heart shaped die or Big Shot machine with me, I had to freehand cut the heart opening for the shaker element.  Like making an elementary school Valentine...fold paper in half and then cut out a heart shape.  I traced this heart onto the rainbow pastel card stock from 6x6 Lawn Fawn paper pack. Then I carefully cut it out...very easy.  I didn't have cellophane or foam adhesive strips so I put the heart confetti in a small ziploc baggie.  Next, I taped the baggie behind the heart opening and adhered the whole thing to the card blank.  Stamping the bamboo steamer with partying bao buns and coloring them was easy peasy.  I hand fussy cut the bao filled steamer and stamped words.  They were glued down and small puffy sticker hearts were added.

For the inside of the card, a large bao, words and sticker hearts were added.  It was fun to try making a card without the usual supplies I had at home.  I had to think outside the box (craftroom) a bit and learned that fancy tools are not necessary to make a card worthy of mailing to celebrate an occasion. If you feel the need to craft while traveling or want to start up a simple, basic card crafting area in your home, try getting a few basic craft supplies from HM Ben Franklin Crafts.  It won't be expensive, but will certainly provide you with many pleasurable moments and result in a creative release for your talent.  Varoom, varoom.... look out....crafter on the go!

'GAL' Chenille Bear

 While away from home, I decided to take a chenille kit with me so I could make something cute during my down time.  I chose this kit because I loved the pastel colors of the chenille pipe cleaner.  It was super simple to make this bear espeially after my husband used Google translate to print out the instructions in English.  Actually though, the diagrams in the instructions were pretty clear and I probably didn't need the translation.  When away from your craft area for a long time, you might try taking a few of these chenille kits with you.  It is really satisfying to make something cute from just a few supplies and some glue (I used a bit on the eyes and nose to secure them.). I am really happy with the end product and have already pack more chenille kits in my suitcase for the next trip. Busy craft hands make for a happy heart!

(Sorry that the colors of the fur don't show up well in the top photo. You can see in the photo of the supplies that the chenille has  really pretty pastel colors.)

Thank You 'So Matcha' Card

Recently, while away from my home craftroom for an extended period of time, I decided that I really needed to craft something or I would go crazy.  I had the brilliant idea to try to fashion some greeting cards with a minimal amount of supplies so I headed to the closest HM Ben Franklin Crafts.  I piurchased a package of Paper Accents blank cards and envelopes, House Mart Thank You sticker pack, Dandelion Designs Boba Love stamp set, a Forever in Time puffy heart sticker package,  Angels Craft  Dual Tip Markers (neutral and pastel sets), Memento espresso truffle ink pad, and a Lawn Fawn Rainbow Ever After 6x6 paper pad.  The Dandelion images are so sweet and it is fun to stamp and color them in before fussy cutting them.  I adhered the images to the card with foam dot adhesives (oh yes, got those from HM Ben Franklin Crafts too).  It was very satisfying to make this card even though I didn't have my usual supplies to choose from. I think I will keep these supplies in my suitcase for future crafting craziness while traveling. Maybe I should design an 'On the Go' Travel Crafting Kits for crafters who can't bear to stop crafting even while traveling.  Does that make me a craftaholic?

 

Maneki Neko 2026 Stand Up Mini Calendar

This year calendar making was a little delayed due to trips I took in late fall and early winter.  When I saw the maneki neko (Lucky Cat) PhotoPlay 12x12 printed card stock, I knew I had to buy some from HM Ben Franklin Crafts.  Unfortunately, I bought short for calendar making if I wanted to make the design go all around the calendar base.  By making the base from a solid colored card stock, I was able to conserve the Lucky Cat paper and only using a 3-3/4 square of the printed card stock, I was able to make all the calendars I needed.

Here is a look at the side of the calendar.  You can see that it is a simple design made from a single piece of solid colored card stock cut to 4 x12 inches.  The strip of paper was folded at 4", 8", 9"and 10".  Double stick (Heiko) tape or Fabri-Tac glue was used to assemble the calendars. I added two folded origami cranes to this calendar because there were not too many Maneki Neko faces showing.  Also the cranes give the calendar more dimension.

 Here are three calendars that don't have the cranes because they are going to be mailed and the cranes may make them too thick to be mailed with regular postage.  Using stickers makes the calendars even faster to construct.  The mini 2026 calendars are now being sold at HM Ben Franklin Crafts. There are ten calendars per package so be sure to get enough before they run out.  Making mini calendars is very satisfying and the calendars make great hostess gifts or add-ins with your family newsletter. Now that the all the Christmas gifting/wrapping/decorating/cooking are done, take some time to unwind and make some mini calendar 'just because' gifts.  Have a wonderful crafty 2026!

Fruitcake Shortbread Cookies

 I'm still obsessed with any holiday dessert that has 'fruitcake' in its name.  I started with a Martha Stewart recipe but as usual with all recipes I try; I tweeked it a little.  This recipe was super easy and didn't involve any unusual ingredients.  I put my own mix of dried fruit in because I had some diced Japanese dried fruit, green dried kiwi ( for color) and chopped in some dried apricots.  I shaped the log of cookie dough into a large rectangle before hardening it in the refrigerator.  Because I love the shape of Big Island cookies (great for dunking and chocolate coating), I tried to emulate their rectangles.  Overall, these fruitcake shortbread cookies turned out pleasant looking and tasted great.  The MS recipe yields only two dozen cookies so I will be making more batches for gift giving. Perhaps adding macadamia nuts would be tasty and add some crunch.  In 2026, I vow to never be satisfied with what is but always look for what can be!   

Toji Shrine Fair

I had the pleasure of attending the Toji Shrine Fair this past November. (The fair is held every month on the 21st.).  As we usually do, we started by buying persimmons from a booth at the front gate.  We bought about a dozen really sweet and crisp fruits and several bags of delicious dried persimmons.    

We meandered down the dirt paths and tried to swivel our heads to be sure not to miss a single thing.  Of course the booth displaying handmade wooden cooking utensils caught my attention.  I purchased two fistfuls of beautifully grained spoons including the newest one, the 'saimin' spoon.

Next I spied some gorgeous handmade purses which incorporated fabric from silk kimonos and embroidered obis.  Of course I couldn't resist getting some artist designed bags for gifts (including one for me).  I also purchased some kimono fabric for a mere $2 which I plan to use on my own hand sewn purses.

The area of the fair that always makes me excited and where I spend the most time and money is the flea market area. In the alley ways you can find an assortment of used and antique items.  I always discover a good deal on crafter/artist made bowls, vases and other ceramic pieces that I love to collect. Often times I discover one-of-a-kind art pieces being sold by dealers just trying to clear out their homes.

As we leave the fair we realize that we haven't eaten anything so we nibble on roasted chestnuts, grilled bamboo shoots, mochi, takoyaki (octopus) balls and other delightful treats.  Oh yes, in case you  decide to attend the Toji Shrine fair in the future, you can rest assured that there is even a really nice, clean, many stalled bathroom in the fairgrounds.  Everytime we've attended the fair there has been a small,cute theater prduction outside for the public to enjoy for free.  All in all the shrine fair is probably the best thing we visit on our trips to Japan....in fact we plan our trips around the 21st....but then we are not the normal toursists. LOL!