Back in the saddle

Fifteen year ago I left equestrian when I got pregnant with my oldest son - the huge belly was too much to carry when riding. Then we moved, got a new child, built a new house, changed jobs et etc - and I never got back on track again. Until this late fall.

Background paper: Kaiserkraft. Other papers: ClubScrap (green), October Afternoon (blue). Selfie-frame: Pebbles. Brad w/cutout: MME. Other cut outs: October Afternoon. Silver ruons: Pink Paislee. Alpha: AC. "Keep the wild..." sticker: Bella Blvd. Kraft envelopes w/chevrons: unknown

Journaling says:
"After a fiften year long brake, I found myself back in the saddle again. I knew I would be rusty, but could never imagine I would be so frightened - frightened to fall of and hurt myself again. But With Lille-Klompen (the horse's name) everything is safe and nice and fun!"

Details:

The saying on this sticker was perfect for this layout :-)

Fuzzy handcutting from an old October Afternoon collection:

Doing a page about myself back in the saddle first came to my mind when I saw the March mood board at Scrap Around The World:

I picked up elements like the horse (obvious?), the natural colors and the teal, and then the chevrons.

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

I have wanted to do this layout for a while, but I finally got my but in gear when I played at the Paper Issues Online Crop this weekend. One of the challenges goes like this:

Kelly's Design Team Challenge

I am challenging YOU to scrap yourself. This must be a new, never before seen project (Layout or Project Life Spread only). You can use any product you like and make it any size you like. I want to see your face on the layout and hear something about you. (Even if it's just in the comments) 

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

Both challenges are still open - feel like playing with any of them? Or maybe both?

December Lights

 The jetty where I live, on a December aftenoon

Cardstock: Bazill. Alpha: Lily Bee. Button: October Afternoon. Patterned papers, silver snowflake & fiber: Unknown

Journaling says:" It's almost never white and pretty in December: the days are often grey and it's hardly any light even mid day. But then there are those beautiful days with the magic light you only have in December. Those days you remember that soltice is close and that winter soon is over."


Close ups

Journaling card and paper banner: American Crafts

Modelling paste snowflake. Stencil: Color box/Clear Snap

Snowflake cut file: Silhouette

The inspiration for this layout is from CSI Case File CC4:

How I solved the case:

*All colors used (the blue is in the button)
*Evidence: Stripes (paper stripes), snowflakes, silver metal, 3 of something (fiber), texture paste (small snow flakes)
Testimony: Winter writing prompt #11 (link on CSI page)

Thank you for stopping by! What does December look like in your part of the world?

The Studio Challenges January 18th challenge: Clear up!

Today's challenge at The Studio Challenges is a simple challenge:

 As its the new year we want you to do a bit of clearing up! Whats sat on your desk? Are there photos, papers or bits and pieces that have been sat there for ages waiting to be scrapped but you never seem to get around to using them? Now is your chance to use them and clear your desk!

Here is my take on the challenge:

Background paper: AC/Amy Tangerine. Others: October Afternoon (blue), Echo Park (grey), MME (brown). Cardstock: Bazill, ClubScrap. Clear frame: Freckled Fawn. Cut files (bricks & alpha): Silhouette Studio. Long Brads: AC

I have had this photo of my oldest son (15) on my desk since July (!). It's taken on a boat trip/mini cruise, when he and his brother fought & were bored almost all the time (the is a story about WHY, but I'll leave that for another time). They finally desiced they could buy themselves a set of lego each to kill time and keep peace - luckily you're never too old for lego :-)

Details:

The "lego bricks"are my own designs, cut with the Silhouette Cameo, but you could easily make them by using an ordinary paper trimmer and a hole punch.

Are you ready for some clearing up? 
Grab your papers and photos and head over to The Studio Challenges blog for more inspiration and to play along!

Smile and say cheese - large photo challenge at The Studio Challenges

Today, at The Studio Challenges, we want you to create a layout that focuses on the photo: 

Please use a photo that is bigger than standard 4" x 6" size on your layout. How big can you go?!

Thes guys below are my two sons during a session with two professional photographers at a cruise earlier this fall. When I picked this photo as one of my favs, the photographers though I was crazy - was this something to keep? I knew it would be perfect for telling the story about the session and I love how this layout came out.

Papers: Echo Park (with cameras), October Afternoon (with caption). Vellum: Studio Calico. Brads: MME (Black), Eyeletoutlet (camera). Washi unknown. Hemp: my grocery store

Details:

I do apologize for the slighty angled image - I need to practise on taking good shots of my layouts :-)

Do you want to play with us?

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!)

-----

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

Love you - not! (The Paper Bakery Sketch #25)

My boys are 11 and 14 years old. Normally they are the best friend, but it's coming more visible that there is an age difference: there is one teenager, and one teenager wannabe and they are going on each other's nerves sometimes. Mostly it's about calling each other, but on occations they get into physical fights (sounds familiar?):

Patterned papers: MME, October Afternoon. Wood pieces & epoxy arrows: Freckled fawn. Brads & enamel dots: MME. Cut outs: Chic Tags. Flair: The Paper Bakery. Chipboars: Imaginarium Designs (Love You), Memory Maze (call out). Alpha: Basic Grey

 Details:

The papers are a true mix of left over papers from previous The Paper Bakery kits - I love how well they worked together, even if from different manufactorers !


I found the design for this layout at The Paper Bakery, sketch #25:

As my background paper had plenty of circles, I chose to substitute the circles in the sketch with smaller items as wood hearts and enamel dots, and I sprinkled them over other parts of the layout too, to balance it better.


Hands down - do your kids fight, too, or is only mine?

DYI Softgun Masks Dudes (CSI special file 365-5)

The CSI DT is excited to reveal our fifth special Case File created for our collaboration with Scrap365,UK's biggest and best scrapbooking magazine. 

This special Case File will be open for investigation for the entire month of April. We will have a new Scrap365 Case File every other month, with the publication of a new issue of the magazine. After this Case File closes, we will be selecting our five favorite layouts to feature, and those people will be invited as CSI Deputies (guest designers) for June. 

Here is this month's special Case File:

And here is my example for you:
(DS11 and his buddy got the idea they would make their own soft gun masks from plaster strips..)

Papers: Panduro (red stars), Lemon Owl (printed). Masks: The Paper Bakery. Stamp: Kaiserkraft. Cut outs: Panduro. Files/deviders: Chic Tags- Alphas: October Afternoon (grey stripy), Basic Grey (grey solid), AC/Amy Tangerine (grey trasperent), Simple Stories (red solid, yellow tiny type), Cosmo Cricket (red tiny type). Sassafrass Lass: Red large

How I solved the case:
*All colors used
*Evidence: Stripes, buttons, paint, string, circus themed products, triangles
*Testimony: Journaling as a circus ad

I hardly ever paint on my pages, but on this one I went far out of my comfort zone :-)

Now, head over to the CSI site to read all about this months fabolous prizes, to see the rest of the DT's wonderful examples and to play along! Remember, you have the rest of April to play along!

M@14 - The Studio Challenges' M challenge

The requirement in our next challenge at The Studio Challenges is easy:

M for March - make a layout using the letter M! It could be the title or anything being with M!

This is my son M. He's fourteen. As a toddler he was the Early Morning Bird, but that has changed. If he was allowed to, he would probably sleep all day long (sounds familiar?)

Petterned papers: Pebbles (plaid), Basic Grey (black/teal striped), October Afternoon (grey chevron, cream with teal/grey stripes). Wooden numbers: Freckled Fawn. Patterned chipboard: October Afternoon. Alphas: AC. Mask & badge: The Paper Bakery. Pen: Zig. Duct tape stickers: Pebbles. Stamp: TC Stamp maker

Details: painted wooden numbers, duct tape sticker, paint, stamping etc. I think the clocks on one of the patterned  emphasized my theme perfectly!

The paint splatters are made with a mask (The Paper Bakery) and a pen :-)

Please head over to the The Studio Challenges blog to see what the rest of the DT have come up with and to play along!

Forget- forgot - forgotten (CSI #109)

It seems like our family always forget something at home when we're going places, stuff which usually is easy to replace, but you still need to go out shopping for them: socks (Paris), lip balm (London), toothbrushes (any place and it's the kids who  forget them) etc etc.

When we went on our ski brake a  month ago, I was so busy remembering the kid's tooth brushes, that I completely forgot my own. And hubby his. Youngest kid managed to even forget his winter jacket...
This is what the journaling in this layout tells about.

Background paper: Scraphouse. Other papers: LYB, MME, BG, AC. Cut outs: October Afternoon, Glitz Designs. Tags: Chic Tags, Fancy Pants. Flair: The Paper Bakery. Paper clip arrow, epoxy stickers & fabric badge: Freckled fawn. Overlay frame: MME. Alphas: WP, OA, AC. Photo anchors & brads: unknown

Close ups:

..

Here is this week's challenge from CSI:

How I sold the case:
*Colors: all used
*Evidence: Stack something (papers on botm left side), silver accents
*Testimony: Frame your story


Are you good at remembering anything when you leave the house?

Hello snow (Chic Tags sketch challenge)

We still haven't much snow in my part of Norway, which means we have to seek it if we want to go skiing.
Last weekend hubby and youngest kid went up with a friend to his cabin in the mountains, and there surely was snow there!

Background paper: Dotted papers (on snowflakes) & Tags: Chic Tags. Crochet doilies: MME. Chipboard:
Simple Stories. Flocked snowflake brads: Freckled Fawn. Alphas: Websters pages (lilac), October Afternoon (brown). Dies: Lifestyle Crafts

Will you believe me when I say this is NOT a black/white photo? If you study it carefulle you will discover that the sticks are brown and the lamp post with some blue in it :-)


Close ups

Cut out snowflakes are made from a chic tags packaging

The banner pieces are made from a journaling card, cut in three.

I usually scrap with 3*4" photos, but it was perfect to use a huge one to ephasize the beauty of all the snow. I got the idea for this layout from this sketch at the Chic Tags' blog:

I definately will use oversized photos again!
Do you ever do it?

How to make Christmas cards all year round

Some times I have too much scraps, and I find them perfect for making cards. For the past year I have had Christmas cards in mind while going through my pile of patterned papers - some of them make wonderful seasonal cards, even if they not are in traditional colors and patterns.

I have showed some of my non traditional reindeer cards earlier, today I'll give you ornament cards (all size 4"x8"):

 

Background paper: Basic Grey. Bulb paper: unknown.
Laces: Prima. Doilie: SEI. Bow: Freckled Fawn
Ribbon & Pearl: unknown

At the YouDo blog they are running  Crazy Christmas challenges. One of them is to use non traditional colors on Christmas cards. Here is a few other cards without green and red:




Background paper: unknown. Bulbe paper: Sassafras Lass
Lace: Prima & Websters Pages. Bow: Freckled Fawn
Ribbon & bling: unknown



Black/Brown background paper: Echo Park. B/W striped paper:
 Heidi Swapp. Bow: Freckled Fawn. Trim: Prima
Overlay: unknown



Background paper: October Afternoon. Bulbe paper: MME
Bow: Freckled Fawn. Trim, bling & twine: unknown

Background corrugated paper: Fancy Pants. Bulbe paper, burlap
& patterned paper: unkown. Alpha: Studio Calico

I have used a ornament die (Lifestyle Crafts) for all the bulbs, but you could use a circle cutter for the same purpose. I also use smaller dies if I want multiple ornaments on my card - they give me more flexibility when it comes to the design. As you see, I have pretty much repeated myself design vise on the cards above.

What do you think: is it a good idea to use non seasonal papers for Christmas cards?

My Favorite Month (OUAS December challenge)

Look at this great sketch created by Nadia Canizzo for Once Upon A... Sketch:

Journalling Theme: "My favorite month"

 

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)

Even if I love December with advent, Christmas and all the family time, I admit I love July even more:

Papers: Simple Stories. Colored stickers: October Afternoon.Word stickers & tab: Bazill.
Flair: Marens Landhandleri. Buttons: Angels Craft. Alpha: I don't recall :-)

This is the very last layout I'll make as a DT member at OUAS, at least for a while. Originally the DT term was for one year, but due to Nadia having a baby etc, the term became half a year longer. It has been a lovely journey to be a part of, but now it's time to close that door and open new ones :-)

Please head over to the OUAS blog to see the current team's wonderful examples and to play along!

Movember (For The Studio Challenges November Sketch)

November is Movember, you knew that, didn't you?
My husband is trendy, and of course he lets his moustache grow the entire month:

Background paper: Club Scrap. Other patterned papers, tags &banner: Pretty Little Studio.
Ribbons & buttons: unknown
 

 Details:

Flags, metal Clip & washi: Freckled Fawn 

Alpha: October Afternoon. Moustache flair: ScrapButtons

Flair: Freckled Fawn

This layout is my example for this great grid sketch over at The Studio Challenges:

You will recognize the over all design with the squares etc from the sketch, but I added a tag with the main photo, a banner an replaces the circles with tags.
Do you want to be our guest designer? Head over to The Studio Challenges blog to see more, and of course to see the rest of the DTs very creative takes on this sketch.