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!

Cookie Box Upcycled Into a Baby Gift Container

Recently, I acquired some Japanese cat postcards and thought one of them would be perfect on an empty cookie box to recycle it into a gift box.  I started by just covering the top part of the box that had some designs on it.  I simply traced the box top (leave a slight margin around the box) onto a sheet of printed Japanese washi paper. (Large sheets are available at HM Ben Franklin Crafts.) I glued the washi paper onto the box (with Fabri Tac 3 in 1 glue) and then trimmed the excess paper.
 

Next, I picked out a postcard to glue onto the box top. Amazingly, the postcard fit perfectly on the box.  To add more interest to the box, I tied a cord (covered with Japanese fabric) around the box and glued on some die cut pink vellum paper cherry blossoms.

This box was really a very simple container fashion from a single sheet of cardboard.

Using origami paper with cat designs (from a pack with four different scenes), a Daiso cherry blossom label, and the leftover paper scraps from the box, I fashioned a card and evelope to match the box. I plan to house a little girl kimono in the box as part of a baby gift.  Maybe I can find a kimono that will match the box and card....one made from cat design printed fabric?

Kadomatsu Decorations for the New Year!

 

Kadomatsu displays are traditional Japanese bamboo and twine decorations put on display by the 28th of December and removed on the 7th or 15th of January.  They are supposed to bring good fortune.  After January 15 they should be burnt to appease the gods.  I learned this information from the internet, not my relatives. LOL!  The Kadomatsu in the photo above was made by a friend.  I added the bird/pinecone decoration because I thought it needed more colorful interest. 

I'm not sure that this is a Kadomatsu but it was alongside the other displays in a Japanese department store.  It does look festive and I plan to hang it in our entryway. I probably won't burn it though, too pretty! There were literally hundreds of varieties of Kadumatsu for sale in almost every store we passed.  I just couldn't pass up getting these Rilakkuma Kadumatsu because they were so cute and creative.  They inspire me to think up some new modern versions of Kadomatsu to hand craft...for next year. LOL!