50 is just a number

I'm so happy to guest design at CSI in March - the cases to be solved are always kick starting my mojo!

Here is this week's case:

And here is how I solved it:

Patterned papers: Basic Grey (blue), MME (others). Flowers: Prima (large peach colored), unknown (blue).
Journaling card: Jillibean Soup. Alpha: AC,. Lace: Harmonie. Eyelets: unknown

Journaling says: "In a short month I'm actually 50. I Wonder how you really should feel when you hit that milestone? There is so much that hasn't been done yet, especially when it comes to exploring the rest of the world, but luckily it's plenty more time left. May be the 70s are the New 50?"

How I solved the case:
*colors: all used
*Evidence: Stripes & dots, long title, lace, eyelets, stitching
*Testimony: Jornaling directly on the page

Details:

Feel like playing with us? You have until March 26th :-)

Life is a balance....

Do you have photos laying around you want to scrap, or stories you want to tell, and you have no ideas to start? I have had this photo from FIL's funural in August on my desk forever, and I knew what I wanted to say, but I never knew how to scrap it. Then this mood board from Scrap Around The World (SATW) gave me the inspiration I needed:

My FIL was very sick the last months before he died, and it was hard to see him just fade away. For the last weeks we debated almost every day: how long to hold on, and to what, and when to let go?

My FIL was very important to us and the images in the mood board pefect for my theme: he hold the keys to our hearts, the clock was ticking, and there was lots and lots of flowers in the funural. I let the saying in the board be the title of my layout, and as it was the essense of what I tried to express, I framed it and let it be th focal point.

Papers: Websters Pages. Frame:Memory Maze. Flowers: Prima. Cut files: Silhouette studio. Trim, key & pearls: unknown 

Details:

Thank you SATW for the inspiration to scrap this photo and memory!

Life is great (@Jameson)

We have travelled a lot this year, so many of my layouts these days are about places we have visited.
I still collect tickets, maps and other ephermas from our trips, and I include a few of them in some of my layouts - very "old school" scrapping, but it reminds me of why I scrap: to preserve the memories (Side note: I admit I love buying new scrap stuff, too).

In the layout below, the bottom "patterned paper" is a certificate from the Jameson Destillery in Dublin, Irland, a certificate which proves I'm a "Qualified Whiskey Taster". Like I need a certificate to prove it *lol*

Top paper & journaling page: unknown. Epoxy stickers, cork stickers, vellum stickers, washi & brads: Freckled Fawn.
 Bling: Prima

The design comes from this fun sketch at Sketch-N-Scrap ("Inspired by" Sketch #10)

Details:

Do you include non-scrappy items in your layouts, or have you ever done it?

The Last Stroll (The Studio Challenges August 3rd Button challenge)

This is my FIL, who passed away last Wednesday night. He was very special to us as he has lived with us since 1995 - my kids has grown up with him too, not their parents only. The journaling says: "The last week grandpa was alive, he chose to stay at the hospital. There he would get the nursing, and the care, he needed. Cliff visited him every day, and the day before grandpa died, grandpa asked to be taken on a stroll - a wish Cliff gladly made come true".

Background paper: Webster's Pages. Flowers: Petaloo, Prima. Alpha: Jillibean Soup. Buttons: from my stash

This layout is made for The Studio Challenges' button challenge:
Today's challenge is all about Buttons! We want to see the creative ways you use buttons on your layouts!

I very often use buttons on my layouts: as the main part of my layouts are masculine, and masculine embilleshments can be hard to find, I find buttons very handy. I usually scatter them around to balance the design, like on the layout above.

Details:

I just love how many colors and structures buttons come in!

Please head over to The Studio Challenges' blog to see how the rest of the DT has used buttons and to play along.

This month the winner will receive a package of chippies from this month's sponsorA2Z Scraplets.

Happiness is... CSI Special file & Scrap365 feature

CSI excited to reveal the sixth special Case File created for the collaboration with Scrap365,UK's biggest and best scrapbooking magazine.

This special Case File will be open for investigation for the entire month of June. CSI 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, CSI will be selecting five favorite layouts to feature, and those people will be invited as CSI Deputies (guest designers) for August. 

My example, which also is featured in the Scrap365 magazine:

PAPER: My Mind’s Eye, SEI.  EMBELLISHMENTS: Jillibean Soup  – word stickers, Studio Calico – wood veeners, Webster’s pages – large flower, Prima – small flowers , Cre8tive Cre8tions – Flair. ALPHAS: Jillibean Soup . UNKNOWN: Buckle, ribbon, pearls, doilie 

Love can strike at any age, and broken hearts can be repaired – my mum’s, and step father’s, story is the proof! The colours and theme in this challenge were perfect for this photo and story, and gave me the idea for the design.

How I solved the case:
*All colors used.
*Evidence: Stripes, flowers, gold. 
*Testimony: Six word memoir (Happiness is a broken heart repaired) 

Now, please head over to CSI to see the rest of the DT's lovely examples and to play along! You have the entire month to make your creation!

Exploring (CSI #110)

Mercedes, our 16 months old cat, is still very curious. Honstly, I don't thinnk there is any place in the house she hasn't investigated: she has been on top of any cupboard, down in avery drawer, checked out the washig machine, the dish washer and the fridge. And she spots a new box in just a few minuts..

Patterned papers: Basic grey, SEI, Studio Calico. Felt flower: Basic grey. Arrow & metal clip: Freckled Fawn. Badges: Cre8tive Cre8tions. Alpha: Studio Calico. Lace: Prima. Pearls, crown & ribbon: unknown

Close up photo:

Here is this week's challenge at CSI

How I solved the case:
*Colors & sketch: all used
*Evidence: pet accent, crown, fabric (felt), pearls, lace, ribbon/bow, solid background

How are your pets, still exploring the house?

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?

Born On Christmas Eve - CSI special Case File

We at CSI are excited to reveal our third special Case File created for our collaboration with Scrap365, UK's biggest scrapbooking magazine.

This special Case File will be open for investigation for the entire month of December. CSI 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 February.

We hope you will play with us this month. One lucky winner will win the latest copy of Scrap365.


Here are the colors and requirements for this special file:

And this is my take on it, featuring my dog, Scoobie, born on December 24th 2004:

Yellow paper: Basic Grey. Other papers: SEI. Yellow trim: Glitz Designs. Fabric tag: Websters Pages

Not my usual style, but when it comes to anything with pink I totally forget about "Less is more" *lol*

 Details/Close ups:

Large flowers: Petaloo. Small paper flowers: Prima. Resin flowers: Freckled Fawn
Pink trims: unknown

Large snowflake: Indiska. Snowflake brads: unknown.
Pink metal frame & pearls: unknown

Alpha: American Crafts/Amy Tangerine

 How I solved the case:
*All colors used
*Evidence: Flowers, pearls, silver accents, ribbon, snowflakes
*Testimony: Write four random things about your subject:

-Kenel/breed name: Timanka's Christmas Wonder
-Nickname: Scoobie
-Born: December 24th 2004
 -Color: Originally black & white, nowadays more grey & white

Left photo is taken last week, right photo taken in 2008 when she was true b&w.


Now, please head over to the CSI site to see the rest of the DT member's and the GDT member's lovely take on this challenge

Card for a little princess

This card is made for a little girl who will be baptised this weekend:

Pink flower paper: SEI. Brownish paper w/print: Prima packaging. Paper flowers: Petaloo (white), Prima (others).
Stamps: Din Hobby. Pearls, doily & ribbon: unknown

The card is an order, and my buyer wanted a very feminin card. So I wnt for pink and flowers and pearls and everything girlish. Not my usual style but still very fun to make.

Zzz - CSI Case File #96

DS14. As a baby he was an early morning bird, but not any more.

Journaling says: "M has all a teeneager needs in his room - a TV, a computer and a bed. If he had been a kitchen and a bathroom there, too, he would have stayed there 24/7"

Background Paper: Bella Blv. Label stickers: Basic Grey. Other stickers: Glitz Design, Heidi Swapp.
Alpha: Fancy Pants. Rhinestone Arrows: Prima. Rhinestone "flower": Petaloo.
Clock, metal embellies, ticket, ribbon, note paper: unknown

Details:

Here is this week's lovely color combo, and fun ideas at CSI:

How I solved the case:
*all colors used
*evidence: clock, Music sheet, rhine stones, gold metal
*testimony: document a favorite room

What's Your favorite room?

A card - just for fun!

OK, that's not completely true - I got an order from one of my frequent (card) customers, a young carpenter at work - he wanted a card for his MIL who turns 50 this weekend. He gave me pretty free hands to make whatever I wanted, so I made this:

Patterned papers: Webster's Pages (green dotted pp: MME). "What's up": Studio Calico.
Flowers, Pearls: Petaloo. Chipboard: Memory Maze. Numbers: AC. Pebble: Prima
Ribbon: Unknown. Dies: LifestyleCrafts

 Details:

My customer was thrilled when he saw the card, and said he couldn't wait to show it to his wife and give it to his mum. What a lovely feed back.

Do you make Cards for other People, or just for Your own use?

OUAS August challenge: I'll never forget.

It's August 1th today and that means a new challenge at Once Upon A Sketch (OUAS). This month's journaling theme is

"I'll never forget"

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

Here is the sketch which goes along with it:

If you have followed me for a while you know I lost my only brother a year ago, on June 9th 2012. He chose to take his own life, and it honestly came out of the blue. My journaling is about this very morning, how it was like to get such a message, how I reacted, the choices we had to made that day: what to tell the kids, what to tell our family and friends. Of course, I will never forget my brother either, he really was a great brother and uncle, but I felt like doing some self therapy this time - telling how I felt that morning.

Patterned papers & trim: Prima. Cut outs: Glitz Designs. Resin bird & bow: Webster's Pages, Alpha: Echo park. Pins: unknown

Detail photo:

 

Please head over to the OUAS to see the rest of the DT wonderful creations and to see how you can play along!

...and the living is easy...

If my pets knew ONE song, it would be Summertime - and especially the phrase "...and the living is easy..." *lol*

Bacgound paper: Unknown. Other papers: SEI (pimk), Basic Grey (Orange + striped). Trim & flowers: Prima. Pearls: Kaiserkraft. Epoxy buttons: Epiphany Craft. Other buttons: unknown. Stamp: Scrapbooks&Cards. Alphas: AC & BG

Journaling says "It can't hard to be a pet in this house".

Details:

Hand made "flower"



Mixing alphas works great

This layout is my example for this week's Challenge at CSI. Here it is (click on image to enlargen)

I would never ever dared to pick that color combo myself, but it works as a charm! Please head over to the CSI site to see the rest of the inspiring layouts from the DT!

Why don't you give it a try yourself?

Mother and Sons

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. Here is my first example:

Patterned paper: Basic Grey. Chipboards: Memory Maze. Bling: Prima. Flair: Scrapbutton. Pen: Zig. Ink: Ranger

I was sent these chipboard words: Mother And Sons. Actually I have never scrapped about that theme and it was about time to do it. I browsed through my photos to find a photo of myself and the kids, and found a not so perfect one taken in London, UK, this Easter. But it was perfect for my theme. The journaling tells how fun it is to have kids old enough to enjoy exploring city life, too. If I hadn’t had this title in mind when I designed the page, the layout would probably have had the title Tourists and the journaling would probably be about our stay in London. Quite boring and obvious.


Some close up photos:

Chipboard words inked in black

Chipboard number & Word inked in black

You find the Memory Maze shop here.

I'll be back next week with a new example on how to use tiltles as a starting point, but if you want it right now, you find it in my post at the Memory Maze blog.


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