Inspired by: Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
Featuring: Pattern #188
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
This week’s challenge to be “Inspired by Tokyo and Cherry Blossoms” is a good one for spring when the blossoms are in bloom. In many ways similar to “Paris in the Spring” with their blossoms, in fact Tokyo even has its own Eiffel Tower, the Tokyo Tower.
When planning a layout to be inspired by a place or thing you may find you need some extra help. I searched Pinterest for ideas that would help me frame a page. I wasn’t sure what my photos would be and I wanted to use the cherry blossoms in a different way than on the Paris page. My board is HERE
And if you’re an Anne of Green Gables fan you might be interested in this board of mine with pins of a very popular Anne in Japan. HERE
With Tami’s poem challenge in April I thought I might find inspiration from a Japanese poem, a Haiku that I could be motivated by. I came across this Haiku by Sharon Peeples that was perfect for a photo I had left over from the baby layout…soon things were pulling together!
the new baby arrives—
counting all the toes just to
make sure
by Sharon Peeples
I knew I wanted a Shoji screen type element on the page; I had one large square photo, and the poem. With that info I searched our Pattern Gallery and chose pattern #188.
MM Pattern #188
Now with photo and pattern chosen it was time to look over all the inspiration pins and see what else I wanted to incorporate. Here are samples from my pinboard:
Inspirations: Tokyo, Cherry Blossoms
Colors: MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
1. Colors: Red, Black, White, Pinks
Nature: Sakura MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
2. Nature: Gardens, Cherry Blossoms (Sakura), bonsai, bamboo
Art: MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
3. Textiles/Art: Origami, Sakura designs in subway art and on manhole covers
Traditions: MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
4. Traditions: Geishas, kimonos, fans, parasols, temples, night life signs
Architecture: MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
5. Architecture: Tokyo Tower (their own Eiffel Tower), influence of nature with lotus flower design, geometric design, clean modern lines
Pop Culture: MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
6. Pop Culture: Sakura flavored candy and pop, Hello Kitty, even Anne of Green Gables!
Typography & Graphics: MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
7. Typography/Graphics: signage, posters, fonts, maps
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
Supply list:
• 12×12 Mosaic Moments Grid Paper Scarlet
• MM Die Set C
• MM 1” squares 4×6 grid die set
• MM paper tiles Light Pretty Pink
• Light pink vellum
• Vellum
• Cherry Blossoms stamp set Rubber Stamp Tapestry
• Balsa wood
• 1/8” Pink ribbon
• Cupcake liner
• Versa Magic Chalk Ink: Jumbo Java, Pink Petunia,
• Brilliance: Pearlesent Poppy, Moonlight White
• Versa Color: Old Rose
• Foam mounting tape
• Font: Lemon Chicken
• Black cardstock for tiles
• Corrugator tool for texture on tiles, and lanterns
Beginning along the top row I cut 5-2.125’ x 3.25” rectangles from the vellum, 5 black for the frames and 5 light pretty pink paper tiles.
The black cardstock frames are created using the layering tile and cutting the centers out.
Stamp the vellum with the stamps, inks and chalks. Be sure to allow them to dry before you proceed. Attach to the back side of the frames.
Place small squares of foam mounting tape on the back of the frames then attach to the pink tiles.
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms stamping on vellum
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms creating the frames
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms detail
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms foam mounting tape on backside of frames
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
Mount the photo on a 4×4 black tile block. On a 3×4 block print the poem. It is arranged in the manner a Haiku is written and the font Lemon Chicken is used.
The 2×3 tiles flanking the photo were a good spot to add fans using cupcake liners. Beginning by cutting the liner into quarters and then trimming away the bottom of the liner. Next, the blooms were stamped in white and petunia pink. I then added the trimmed balsa wood sections and arranged on the tile with liquid glue. A knotted ribbon will hide the spot the pieces come together and are trimmed.
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms fan assembly
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms adding small ribbon know covers the trimmed ends of the fan.
The three single tiles to each side of these blocks is where I thought a lantern would add to the theme. Papers were cut into 1” x 3 1/8” and scored 1” at each end and leave the larger section to the center. Stamp this center section with the branch and blooms. I ran each piece through my corrugator. When you connect the two ends and tape them together your center section will bow. The top and bottom section I’ve added a narrow 1/8” black band.
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms Lanterns assembly begin with cutting and scoring
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms stamp first then run through the corrugator tool
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms fold on scores and mount on grid.
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms corrugated tiles, lanterns and fans
For the black tiles I used the 1” grid tile die and then ran them through the corrugator for a textured tile for all the remaining tiles.
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms
See all our ideas on our Pinterest boards and join us on Facebook for all the up to date info.
Andrea Fisher
MM Inspiration Tokyo Cherry Blossoms