Confronting Life!

I admit it.
When we startet 2013 I wasn't very optimistic about the coming year.
In 2012 Life face punched us pretty hard on several occations, and I knew 2013 will be rough, too. There will be losses of loved ones, there will be people around us who expects us to take action when their own lives get complicated, there will be challenges work wise, family wice, with schools etc etc.

I'm normally a person who handles emotional stress good, and I felt bad by being so pessimistic. I decided to work on this and to look for the positive in life and to let my word for 2013 be Thankful. I decided to keep it simple: to take a timeout every Sunday and write down what I am most thankful for that spesific week. There might be several things, but I'm writing down the one thing I'm most thankful for. I'll probably make a kind of Project Life album for it later, but so far the prosess has been the most important to me. And it seems to work.

Anyway: I was looking for a quote or saying which could express my pessimistic feeling, when I stumbled upon this one - and it was a great awakening for me:

That quote was just what I needed to roll up my sleeves and get on with My Life, not everybody else's. 2013 will be a rough year, I know it, but let it come - we can handle it! I dare to say, one of the best days in my life was a Friday night a few weeks ago, where I had the weekly Friday Night Home Date with the husband, we took a look back and said, quite surprised and very reliefed: "2012 wasn't that bad, after all. OK, sad things happened, but we handled it, and survived it, and we are ready for the coming challenges"



Papers: Cosmo Cricket. Bling: Prima. Wood viner stars: Studio Calicio.
Button, ribbon, twine: Unknown

The photo of me in this layout is a pretty good picture of what I wanted to do when the new year started but it facts the bonnet looks better on me when you see my pretty face :-)

Do you ever have those pesimistic moments?

The Boys (MME February Challenge)

Once or twice a year I get overwhelmed by the amount of scrap stuff I have (and I have nothing compared to most scrappers and card makers, I promise you) and clean out. I give away to school and activity centers and enjoy the Having Less.

But there are collections I hang onto and refuse to give away, no matter how tiny the scraps are,  because I love them too much and know I will find  use of them one day. The MME On The Bright Side collection is one of them. I just love the bright, happy colors, and the mix of patterns, and I really wished I had bought more when it was available.

My boys love snow, and spend lots of time outdoors when we have it, even if it isn't huge amounts - they take advantage of every single inch. They sledge, ski and just have fun. They know how to dress outdoors, but for some reason they favourite bonnets are, in my opinions, the ugliest ones there are to buy. But as long as they are happy with them...

I snapped a few photos of them in December when we had the first "real" snow. Even if the photos aren't too good, I love the happy colors in them, and the MME papers was just the perfect match.

Patterned papers, buttons, brad & cut outs: MME. Chipboard: Imaginarium Designs. Ink: Rangers



Chipboard and buttons add dimension to the layout

I got the idea for this layout when I saw the MME February Sketch Challenge. I replaced the three landscape oriented photos with two portrait oreiented ones, but sticked pretty close to the sketch exept for that.

Thank you for stopping by - you know I appreciate it!

For You card - Chic Tags Challenge

I was browsing around blogs this other night and payed the Chic Tags blog a visit. Up on their blog was this great  "Challenge Sundays":

We challenge you to use 7 products or less.

Card stock, adhesive and thread do not count.

I have some of their tags, and the challenge gave me the idea for this card:

I have six products on my card + white cardstock:

• Green patterned paper (MME)
• Polka dotted journaling card (Chic Tags)
• Grey  Day Tab  (Chic Tags)
• Pink Twine (The Twinery)
• Flair (American Craft)
• For You Rubon (unknown)

Don't you love it when you find something online that kicks your mojo?

Hush, don't tell my hubby!

• That I have spent to much on scrapping?
  No, I've been good so far this year (remember, as I have a "Shopping Free 2013" I have only allowed myself to buy four collections)
• That I have spent too much time scrapping?
  No, I haven't. And as our living room is just besides my scrap space, he knows what I'm doing
• That I have a lover?
  No, I don't have one. And I don't think I can handle one either *lol*

So what is my secret?



Flower: Petaloo. Pebble: Prima. Butterfly: Maya Road (?)
Twine: The Twinery. Trim & washi: unknown
 

I have started some secret savings. If I do what I have planned, there should be enough money in the end of the year to go on a small vacation or something else fun.

Here is the deal: you start at Week 1 by saving a dollar (or an Euro, or any other amount depending on the currency where you live.) Week2 you save two dollars, week 3 three dollars etc etc. It should give you about $1500 by the end of the year if you manage to keep up. I have been good so far in 2013 :-)

I needed a box for my secret savings, and I had a container I wanted to use. You may have seen those often used for smoothies, juices etc, the ones with a hole at the top of the bubble shaped lid? I had one which had contained berries so it was easy to clean. But how on earth do you cover such a shape with paper? Then it stroke me: Washi tape!!! And how easy was that! I don't mind that the final surface has some wrinkles, I think it adds a nice structure in fact. I added a flower and an old butterfly I have had around for ages, a ribbon, some twine and a cute pebble, and voila!

I have no idea which manufactorers these washi come from. I have gotten some here,
bought some there and they have all come without packaging indicating origin.

I don't think neither kids or husband will ever look at the inside of this container, as they are used to me having decorated (uninteresting) stuff in my scrap place. And I have made sure it is placed on a shelf the curious kitten can't reach.

Do you ever do secret savings? For indulging yourself or sharing with the rest of the family?

Playing with Washi - The Studio Challenge February 17th

Hi.

Today's the third Sunday of February, which means we have a new challenge for you at The Studio Challenges: Create a layout with no pattern paper and get creative with washi tape.


I don't have many rolls of washi tape, but here are a few ways I thought of using it:

Inspired by a sketch from PageMaps which you will find at The Sassy Scrapper's blog

Use it as patterned paper stripes for your background, cover chipboard with it, make your own paper buttons, make your own flags by attaching washi to ordinary paper clips, cover office paper clips with washi.

Chipboard: Imaginarium Designs. Paper Clip: American Craft
White Cardstock: Bazill. Washi: Unknown. Flair: Cre8tive Cre8tions
Tag: Chic Tags

How do you use washi?
Do you want to show us at The Studio Challenge`s?

Kitty's first snow

Our kitten Mercedes is now 15 weeks old - a fun, cuddly little friend, really adorable which means she's forgiven most of the pranks she does (did I mention flower pots, chasing the dog's tail, using my designer chair as a climbing tree etc etc?).

Winter has been normally cold here, and as she still has her kitten fur only, she can't be much outdoor yet. But she's allowed to go out if one of us humans can be with her outdoor - because of the cold she would probably not survive outdoors if she got lost for more than 12 hours.


She has enjoyed her outdoors stays so far, but she was not too happy about the snow the first time we put her down in it. But as a good Norwegian Forrest Cat/Main Coon mix, she got used to it, and didn't seem to mind too much after a while. I took some snapshots of here walking in the snow for the first time.

I used the Little Yellow Bicycle February Sketch as the base for my layout. I used a mix of three different LYB collections to create it: Twig, Saturdays and Snow. The chipboard is painted and/or inked to fit the colors on the patterned papers.

Some detail shots:

Pins, patterned papers & cutouts w/buttons: Little yellow Bicycle.
Chipboard: Imaginarium Designs. Grey alpha: Basic Grey

Snowflake dies: Quickutz

Mercedes will spend more outdoor time when the days get longer and less cold. I bet I will have great company in the garden when spring comes :-)

Do your pets "help" you out in the garden?

Tak! Merci! Danke! Thanks! Gracias!

Did you know this means Thanks in Danish, French, German, English and and Spanish?
You did?



How come I'm not surprised - after all you're an intelligent woman :-)

Cardstock: Bazill. Chipboard: Imaginarium Designs
Twine: The Twinery. Flair: Cre8tive Cre8tions

I made this card with inspiration from this week's CAS(E) this Sketch #14.

As Valentine isn't really big here in Norway, I chose to make a Thanks card instead. You can't say Thanks enough, can you? A pretty chipboard, a piece of scrap paper, some twine and a flair -and of course a base card - you really don't need much more to make a simple Thanks card.

Thank you for stopping by - you know I really appreciate it!

She who waits for her knight

must remember -

she will have to clean up after his horse.



Cardstock: bazill. Chipboard: Imaginarium Designs.
Ribbon: ScrabookFantasies

I thought this saying, and knight chipboard, was perfect for this week's challenge at CASology:

I painted the chipboard black - added som pinkish ribbon to my base card - and voila! a card.

I think there is some truth in the saying (oh yes, it's one of those days...) What about you?

--------------

Edit February 12th:

I am proud to announce that this card earned an Honorable Mention at CASology :-)

Fifty Shades of Grey - CSI File Case #56

If you expect a review from me on The Book, I'm sorry I have to disapoint you *lol*

This post is about documenting for the future why I was grey long before fifty - and may be why of most of my female friends weren't....

White background cardstock: Bazill. Black overlay: Rayher. Patterned Paper: CSI Coordinates #56. Brads: MME. Flowers: Petaloo, Prima. Butterfly & Hello Bingocard: Jenni Bowlin. Chipboard Alpha: Imaginarium Designs.
Modelling Paste: Panduro. Paper clip, pins, washi & twine: Unknown

The Hello tag behind the photo reveals the true about my stunning hair color, the dark blond with awesome white slings no hair dresser can copy:

I'm too lazy to color my hair, or to be more presice: the after growth....



This layout was inpired by last weeks CSI Case File # 56:

And the CSI DT must have liked it too, as they rewarded me with this badge :

OK, ladies - confession time: do you color your hair?

New The Studio Challenge is up - come and see!

Today is my first reveal at The Studio Challenges (TSC) and I so want to shout from the roof top: Come play with us, come play with us!


If you're not familiar with  TCS, here is a short intruduction:

• Welcome to The Studio Challenge blog! We run fun scrapbooking challenges and sketches on the first and third Sunday's of every month to inspire you. We would love you to join in with us as we love seeing your creations and you could win some great prizes too, just link your layouts up in the side bar. Happy scrapping!

Today is the first Sunday of February, so we at TCS have a challenge for you:
As it's getting close to Valentine's day scrap a page about love and include at least 5 hearts in it.

Here is my example for you:

Moustache paper & stickers: Echo Park. Other papers & stickers: SEI. Trim: Harmonie
Alphas: AC (13), Basic Grey (others). Flair:

Designer's note: By keeping the hearts small, and adding masculine elements as the moustashes, this layout didn't get too feminin, even if the hearts are pink. My oldest son before his very first prom.

Add interest to you page by raising the hearts with 3D foam.

Please visit The Studio Challenges blog to see the other designer's lovely creations and to play along!

Do All Things With Love - OUAS February Challenge

Here is the Once Upon A Sketch February Challenge:

"The month of February is the month we celebrate St Valentine's Day here in Australia and in many parts of the world. Love takes on many forms..relationship love, parental love etc etc. So let's think about what the above quote can mean and how you can interpret it on a layout. You are free to scrap about any kind of love you wish however you like based on the following sketch. 

Ideas for journalling: love for your partner, family , parents ,siblings , children, work, students, craft, music, extra curricular activities. Whatever it is that you do with love !

Your layout must incorporate this theme and the sketch below. 

Please make sure that we see some sort of journalling on your layouts and please tell us where your journalling is . You are allowed to journal in any language but please tell us where on your page we will find your journalling. Remember journalling has to be a bit more than a title, or a generic comment. Hidden journalling is perfectly fine."

The sketch:

Here is my example for you:

Patterned paper, flags & cut outs: Basic Grey. Alpha: SEI. Rubons: Bo Bunny. Patterned brads: MME. Stich stamp: MRMK. Muffin & carrot: MyLittleShopOfWhimsey. Others: unknown

My journalling tells ebout how much dinner taste when it's made with love, not just for the purpose of avoiding hunger.

Do you want to see how the rest of the DT, our special guests designer and special guests, the Meg's garden DT has interpreted this challenge? Or do you want to play along or learn how to win the fabolous prizes? Or do you just need some inspiration?

Please head over to the OUAS blog.

I'd love to see you play with us and to see how you solve this challenge