New goggles, much needed (CSI file #159)

This is my last layout as guest designer ("Special Investigator") at CSI in March, and here is the case to crack:

If you know me, you may have noticed I hardly ever use ink or paint or anything wet or messy, just because I don't have the patience for it. But this time I just kept adding like I was payed for it, and I loved how it turned out :-)

Patterned papers: unknown. Grid stamp: Kaiserkraft. Stensils: Thecraftersworkshop (grid), The Paper Bakery (hearts/circles). Rubons: Hambleys. Wood accents: Freckled Fawn. Epoxy heart; Heidi Swapp. Dymo: Dymo. Jewels & brad: unknown

How I solved the case:
*all colors used
*Evidence: Doodling, jewles, feathers, mixed media, grid pattern, rubons, love accents (the hearts)
*Testimony: Document things you love about you

Journaling says: " I love how I still challenge myself and go out of my comfort zone: I still ski and I have picked up equisterian again"

Ink & paint & my beloved dymo:

 Doodling:

  Rubons:

Feel like playing with us?

Wild dolphins

This summer we have had visitors no one can remember have seeing here earlier: wild dolphins

Patterned paper: American Craft (Project life). Vellum shapes: Studio calico. Alphas: Jillibean Soup (red), Basic Grey (blue). Buttons and ric rac: unknown. Flair: The Paper Bakery

Journaling says; "On irregular times wild dolphins have visited Aarefjorden this summer, not the regular harbour porpoises, but the real common dolphins. J & H were lucky and got to swim with them, and lots of us could watch them from either land or boat."

Details:

I don't do Project Life, but the AC Nautical PL collection is perfect for any layout featuring our life by the sea

 Instead of inking up the edges of the cards (to make them pop more), I have oulined them with a black pen. Not perfect lines, but it softenes up the straight design.

I haven't scrapped much this summer. We have had the most lovely, warm summer ever,  it has been too nice to scrap, and we have been busy just enjoing the time off. This means I have tons of photos to scrap, and I needed some fresh ideas to get me started again.

I was browsing for inspiration when I stumbled upon the sketch blog Sketch-N-Scrap and their skethches made it so easy get going. The layout above is made with the August 1th sketch by Lisa Hidy:

If you are in need for a sketch for inspiration, I strongly suggest a visit to the Sketch-N-Scrap blog - they have lots of great sketches for both layouts and cards!

Triangles - The Studio Challenges June 22nd

The latest challenge at The Studio Challenges: Create a layout using lots of triangles

I have a crush on creating with busy background papers ATM and by using large triangels as mats, the layout looks less busy.

All materials except alpha, stecil & ink: Pink Paislee. Alpha: AC, Stencil: The Paper Bakery

 Using repetitive patters always work when it comes to pagedesigns, so I have triangels other places too to get the more uniform look: inked with a stencil and some larger pink paper ones.

The journaling tells about our cat mercedes who was completly gone for ten days earlier this summer. We finally found her trapped in our neighbours greenery...

Now, please head over to The Studio Challenges' blog to see what the rest of the DT has come up with and to play along!

Arbeidsuke (work practise week) - The Paper Bakery Sketch #26

Two weeks ago DS14 had "work practise week" and he stayed with me to test what a construction engineer's week was like. He was with me on loooooong meetings, we were out on our construction sites, the marine ones, too, and he did one of the most important jobs on a Friday: operating the waffle maker to keep the staff happy :-)

Papers, stickers & chipboards: various The Paper Bakery Kits (featuring Studio Calico, Bella Blvd, AC)Studio. Alpha: Crate Paper. Washi & brads: Freckled Fawn. Brown stars: Pretty Little Studio. Buttons: Europris

In his opinion the best part was to be out on the sites and the worst part to get up at 6am - we usually start work at 7am :-)

Details:

Young man at work :-)

Brads, washi and stickers

I stll love using buttons

Lately I have challenged myself to use busy bacground papers instead of white cardstock or neutral ones. I'm happy how it turns out, even if the layouts get more busy.



I found the inspiration for the design from this fun sketch at The Paper Bakery:

I have stuck pretty close to the sketch's overall design except for replacing the half circles with squares and the trinagles with buttons. But you'll fin the triangles in other places on my layout!


Now tell me, how have you (scrap) challenged yourself lately?

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?

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!

Hidden (The Studio Challenges March sketch)

It's time for a new sketch over at The Studio Challenges:

This sketch inspired me to pull out ink and stamps and PLAY!

My dog, Scoobie, isn't the brightest. She knows she's not allowed on the couch, but she thinks that if she hide her head, I can't see her.

Why the husband doesn't tell her to get off, is another story...


Detail galore:

Stamps:  Close to my heart (stitches), Stampin' Up ("flowers"): Flair: Freckled Fawn. Mask: The Paper Bakery

Patterned Papers, alpha & stickers: Basic Grey. Journaling cards: Jillibean Soup

Large Flower stamp: Club Scrap. Enamel dots: MME

Please link up your layouts to TSC blog by 13th April to be in with a chance of being our guest designer!

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?

The Artist - CSI case File #108

Good morning peeps!


Here is this week's challenge at CSI:

And here is my take on it, featuring a clay head DS14 made a few years ago. We has it diplayed in our living room, but with kids, cats and dogs running around, I will not be surprised if it gets ruined some day. If the any discussions are up about what the clay head looked like, we here have the evidence.

Background paper & chipboards: Simple Stories. Other papers: Echo park. Rubon Basic Grey.

Alpha: Studio Calico. Flair: The Paper Bakery. Pen: Signo. Buttons & washi: unknown

 Details:

Pen work:

This is how I solved the case:


*Colors: all used
*Evidence: News print, rubons, pen work
*Testimony: Document what your art means to you. Honestly: I don't concider myself an artist, so I have documented DS14's art instead.

Do you want to play with us this week?