New sketch challenge at The Studio Challenges

Today we have this fun sketch by Valerie for you at The Studio Challenges:

My take on it:

Cardstock: Bazill. Patterned papers: MME. Cutouts/tags: Crate Paper. Hearts cut file: Paper Issues. Heart chipboard border: SA Crafters. Fabric ticket: Websters Pages. Alpha: Basic Grey. Stamps: Close To My Heart. Pearls: Kaiser Craft

I turned the sketch 90 degrees to fit my photo better and to give room for the big, long title.

The photo is featuring my DS12, licking the remains of strawberry coulis on his plate. Title says "Simen + strawberry coulis = true". If you don't know about coulis, check it here: it's just lovely with meat, such as veal!


Details:

Stitch stamps, even on the heart in upper left corner

Heart Cut file, chipboard border, fabric ticket, pearls

Come on over to The Studio Challenges blog to see the rest of the DT's loevly take on this sketch and to play along!

Why Christmas almost got cancelled..

Because Mercedes killed Santa...

Patterned papers: Glitz Designs, AC, MME. Brads: MME. Dies: Lifestyle Crafts. Alphas: Echo Park, Crate Paper

This layout is made for the latest challenge at The Studio Challenges:

As its so close to Christmas we want you to create Christmas layouts, easy right?! But there is a little twist, we want you to use non traditional colours for your layouts! Which colours will you pick?

I figured a depressive photo and theme needed depressive colors *lol*

And yes,  I know there is  a typo in the title - I just din't have time to make it up before the release! Can you find it?

Need inpiration to scrap Christmas photos, but not a fan of traditional colors? Please head over to The Studio Challenges blog to see the DT's take on the challenge, and to play with us. You have until Jnauary 4th (2015) to play along!

Strong? - The studio Challenges selfie challenge

The latest challenge at The Studio Challenges:

Selfie 

As it seems to be such a craze at the moment, create a layout using a selfie picture! (A photo you took of yourself, there may be other people in it you but you must have taken it and be in it!)

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Over the past two years, I have been through to so much - excuse my French here - shit:  issues caused by others but which I have had to deal with, if not both my family life, my finances and my sanity would be endangered.  I have been asked why I just haven't crawled into bed and pulled the blanket over my head, refusing to get up, or how it comes I haven't broken down.  I guess it is becuase I'm mentally strong - or is there another explanation?

Background paper: Crate Papers. Flower patterned paper: Basic Grey.Chipboard: October Afternoon. Cut outs: Chic Tags. Flair: The Paper Bakery. Resin badge & grey striped overlay: Freckled Fawn.

The very long title is printed on a A4 transparancy and the edges covered with paper strips to make them less visible. The ledger pattern on the background paper also helps out.

Please head over to The Studio Challenges to see the rest of the DT's fabolous examples, and to play along

Launched (Creative Scrappers sketch #268)

Spring came early this year, and we had some lovely warm days in April. I live at the seaside, so it's often windy her, but we even had a week without wind and with sun.

DS11 decided it was time to get his boat back on water, but this particular afternoon I didn't have time to help him. But he had four strong buddies with him and they managed to pull the boat trailer by hand down to the sea front and launch the boat. Actually a car wouldn't have helped this early afternoon: we have a concrete ramp we use for launching boats, but this day the tide was so low, that a car would have had  to back all the way out on the sand bottom - and it would probably be stuck.

Here are DS11 and his brother on his way home:

Background paper: Webster's  Pages. Other papers: SEI, Sassafras Lass, LYB, Crate papers. Banner: Teresa Collins. Badges: The Paper Bakery. Wood pieces & epoxy stars: Freckled Fawn. Alpha: AC. Anchor: unknown

Details:

I found inspiration to this layout from Creative Scrappers sketch #268:

The six circles draw my attention, but I deciden to put my photo to the right of them. So I have streched the sketch to fit my needs, but I'm still happy with the result.


Have you had an early spring, too? or a nice fall if you are on the opposite part of the globe?

Curious, me? CSI #94

This is Mercedes, our Maine Coon/Norwegian Forrest Cat mix. She is one year old today, btw - happy birthday, kitty - and probably the most curious cat there is.

Black CS: Bazill. Patterned papers: MME (red), Crate Papers (yellow). Cut outs &sticker borders: Crate Papers.
Alphas: Basic grey (red), AC (black). Flaire: Cre8tive cre8tions.Label: Sturdio Calico.  Anything else: unknown.

On this photo I was soaking my feet in a bucket to do a pedicure, and off course she had to check out what I as doing :-)

This week's case at CSI:

 How I solved the case:

 *All five colors used
*Evidence: Cat accents, black background, silver metal (star)
*Testimony:Journal from Your pet's point of view. Journaling says: "No, not curious. Just afraid to miss anything. Mercedes 10 months, August 2013"

Don't you love that color combo?

Scrap Battle Part 2 - I made it :-)

As you may now, I'm participating in the competition The European Scrap Battle.
I made the first cut, and made this layout for Part 2, where we were supposed to use a one word title to tell why we scrap. Here is my take on the challenge:

Background paper: Studio Calico. Other papers & cutouts: Lemon Owl. Button: MME. Small polaroid frame & pearls: unknown. Twine: The Twinery. Fiber: AC. Alpha: Crate Papers

Size: 6"x12"

Left part:
Title: Histories

Right part:
Journaling: "Yes, it is fun to play with pretty papers and embellies. But my true drive is my wish to tell our stories: 100 layouts = 100 stories

 



 

I made it this time, too, and I'm now battling in round 3.My entry for the next battle is submitted, but I can't show until late nex week, when the voting is over. Wish me good luck :-)

In Cloud Nine - Hubby at Desigual

August was my last month at the Memory Maze DT and this layout was made for my final post for this great, Australian  chipboard manufactorer :-(



As you may know, I took my Family to London, UK, this Easter Break. We had a blast, and there was only one shop I really wanted to visit: Desigual - I just love their happy clothes. I think it became hubby's favourite shop too, when the shop keeper offered him a cold beer while he was waiting for me trying outfits.

Non Memory Maze products used: CS (Bazill), shopping bag (Desigual), cut outs (Crate papers), alpha (AC), Badge (the Paper Bakery), Ink (Ranger), stamp (Kaisercraft), sewing machine, pen

 

The background is made from the paper shopping bag received in the store. It's rather busy, so I used the biggest chipboard piece from a corner set to tie the center cluster together. The chipboard is covered with gesso, inked up in blue and stamped with a grid stamp.

Isn't Desigual the best shop ever?

OUAS September Theme: Lucky

Hi!

It's September 1th today, and as usual the beginning of a new month means a new challenge at Once Upon A Sketch (OUAS).


Here is the September Sketch:

Journalling Theme: "Lucky"

You are free to interpret our theme any way you like but please make sure your layout is based on the sketch above and includes some journalling (hidden journalling is fine)

My example for you:

Papers: Crate Papers, Webster's Pages. Stickers & buttons: Webster's Pages. Calendar Card: MME
Envelope: Studio Calico. Alpha: AC. Ribbon: unknown

The journaling is about how lucky you feel when you finally get fish (not clever, not smart, just lucky, as you do the same tricks every time, and sometimes you get fish, other times nothing). Earlier this summer it has been DS13 who has gotten all the fish, this time it was DS10's turn.

Have you felt lucky lately and feel like sharing it with us at OUAS? Head over to the OUAS blog to see more examples from the DT and see how you can win some fabolous prizes!

Conquering Mt Bitihorn - CSI #87

The Norwegian mountains are great for hiking - this summer my youngest son even joined me conquering on of the peaks, Mt Bitihorn.

Patterned papers: Studio Calico, WRMK.  Pink Frame: Elle's Studio. Dark frame: Crate papers. Flags: Søstrene Grene. Aplhas: Studio Calico (pink), Jillibean Soup (teal). Buttons: unknown. Stickers: MME. Cardstock: Bazill. Rubon: Basic Grey

Wow, it was a tough trip: very steep - but we made it :-)

I have no idea why Blogger puts this up rotated :-)

This is my take on CSI Case File #87:

This is how I solved the case:

• All colors used
• Evidence: Map print, flags, arrows, word stickers, rubons
• Testimony: Writing about a trip, wandering journaling

Did you get any ideas for your next layout?

Come sparkle with The Studio Challenges!

We have a new challenge for you at The Studio Challenges:

Glitter, today's challenge is all to do with anything that glitters! Twine to dig out your gems, sequins and glitter, we would to see how sparkly your layout can be!

Oh boy, guess who can do glitters and sparkles! Me!

Glitter Cardstock & alpha: American Craft. Patterned papers & cut outs: Lemon Owl. Tab: Crate papers. Pleated polkadot trim: The Paper Bakery.Bird trim: Websters pages. Others: Unknown

Is the theme on my layout familiar *lol*?


Please come over to The Studio Challenges blog to see the rest of the DTs sparkly creations and to play with us!

A tip on how to use 6*6 background chipboards on cards.

I often feel using an entire 6*6 chipboard on a card makes it look heavy.
Cutting the chipboard in several pieces is a good option for both stretching your supplies and to give more air to the card.

Here is two examples on how I cut a chicken wire chipboard (Memory Maze) in to and used on two different cards:

Chipboard: Memory Maze. Papers: Studio Calico Card Kits. Cut outs: Crate Papers.
Pin: Webster's pages. Bling & ribbon: MME.

Chipboard: Memory Maze. Papers: Studio Calico Card Kits. Cut outs: Crate Papers.
 Bling & trim: MME.

Do you, like (lazy) me, make two cards at a time while having the supplies out? I find that so time effective rather than creating cards one by one - I often get ideas for the second card while creating the first one.

Please come back on Saturday when I show how I used this sketch, original designed for a layout, for a card.

Teenagers!

Do you have them? I do!

Chipboard title: Memory Maze. Papers: Basic Grey (Background), Studio Calico (others). Die Cuts: Crate Papers. Flair: The Paper Bakery. Acrylic button: Epiphany Crafts

In my DT post at the Memory Maze blog in June, I talk about where to find inspiration to tell the real stories, and one place is in words/titles. Often the title is thought of late in the creative process while scrapping, but the title can be the perfect starting point, too. In this blog post I will show you  my third example.

 

Inked in green and then drawn with a Brown pen

The title is the starting point for this layout. The journaling describes what teenagers are like, and the  photos are just illustrations to emphasize the theme.  I think this layout sums up my teenage son’s year better than if I made one layout showing him and his buddy on the trampoline and one with him gaming, with matching titles.


Some close up photos:

Memory Maze product used:

ID I0026

While creating - when in the process do you come up with your title?

Closer to 50 than 40

Yepp, it's the truth...

I remember when my father turned 50. I thought he was so old! I'm sure I'm not as old as he was at my age!

All material except white cardstoch (Bazill)s: The Paper Bakery April Scrapbooking Kit (Papers WP/Alison Craft + AC/Dear Lizzy. Alpha: Jillibean Soup. Die Cuts: Crate Paper. Feather: Bella Blv. Washi: Prima.  Flair: The Paper Bakery)

Some details:


Btw, the paper with arrows is from Studio Calico's April Card Kit
Photo taken by scrapping buddy  Petra Offrell/Pysselpetra at her place  

Journaling says: " I might as well face it: I'm closer to 50 than 40. I can see retirement hitting me fast! But as it seems as "The 60YOs are the new 50YOs", there might be lots of good years ahead."


As you might know, there are two DTs at Once Upon A Sketch (OUAS), team A and team B, which alternate every second month. I'm on team B, and May is Team A's month, so I'm not up on the OUAS blog this month. But I couldn't resist plying with this month sketch and theme, and the layout above is my take on the challenge.

Sketch:

Theme: Numbers!!!

This month, we ask you to include a number , ANY number, on your layout. It has to be VISIBLE on your layout and it can be in your title or part of your journalling. It can be a date, an age, a house number, an anniversary, the number of children you have, the number of pets ....anything you like. But please make sure that there is some explanation through your journalling, somewhere on your page or blog about what this number means to you.

 

I replaced one of the photos with a tag, but still did stay pretty close to the sketch. And yes, I journaled about numbers - my age.

 

 

What do you say? Do you want to give the challenge a try?
Please head over to the OUAS blog to see more fabolouse exambples from the DT and to see who this month's sposnsors are!

Spring? - ( New challenge is up at The Studio Challenges!)

Hello!

Thank you for stopping by (this poor, neglected blog)!

As in large parts of Europe, we have had a cold, late spring. While the farmers around had the carrots weeds in the gound this time last year, today the ground is frozen. Neither the winter jackets or boots aretucked away yet and I haven't even started trimming the bushes in the garden. But actually, it's quite normal for early April - it has been like this many years before. We just seem to forget if we have had one year with early spring...

Chipboard painted with acrylic paint.

But the kids doesn't care much. They have had the trampoline up all winter and jumped the entire season. They have shuffled of the snow, put on wool socks, and jumped away. It's rather interesting seeing them jump with winter jackets, bonnets and mittens :-)

So when is it really spring? Is it on a certain date? Is it at a certain middel temperature? Is it when you can jump in a t.shirt only or wear crocks? The photo on this layout made me ask myself these questions (this is my journaling, too).

Patterned papers: Basic Grey, Crate Papesr. Chipboard: Maya Road + other unknown. Alpha: AC

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This layout was made for this week's challenge at The Studio Challenges (TSC). This week we have a color challenge for you:

The DT has whipped up some lovely creations to inspire you, and we have a new sponsor for April, Bellaboo, so why don't you come over to the TSC blog to play with us?

A new badge and a layout to share

It's now official: I'm part of The Studio Challenges DT :-)

My first reveal will be on Sunday February 3rd, and I promise you - we have lots and lots off different, fun and inspiring  challenges coming up in the future! So pay the The Studio Challenges blog a visit, have a look at the previous challenges, and don't forget to follow us so you don't miss any of the fun!

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And I finally have a layout to share:

Patterned papers: Crate Papers (backgruond paper), Sassafras lass (heart paper), MME (other papers)
Chipboards: Maya Road (snowflakes), Imaginarium Designs (swirls). Alpha: Cosmo Cricket
Diamond shape stamp, embossing powder, buttons, dotted washi tape, snowflake brads: unknown

I pulled out an old stamp with diamond shapes on and wet embossed the pattern. I haven't embossed on pages in ages, but obviously I hadn't forgotten how to do it. I often use my chipboard raw, or paint it, but this time embossing them gave the perfect look for my theme

Some close up photos:

The diamond shapes are made with a stamp and embossing powder, the swirl is embossed, too

Circular chipboard covered with dotted washi.

I found inspiration for this layout in CSI Case File #55:

How I solved the case:
Colors: All colors used + neutral background
Evidence: Diamond chapes + circles
Testimony: Journalling six interesting things about my subject (you will see this option on the CSI blog)

The photo of DS10 is taken during a break while skiing in the Norwgegian ski resort Kongsberg, and my journaling is about skiing and the resort itself.


So I pulled out old stamps and my embossing powder - something I haven't done in ages. Have you done something "old" lately?