Altered Youghurt Containers

One of my favourite snacks is Turkish or Greek Youghurt sprinkled with honey, nut and dried fruits. Have you ever tried it? It's so yummie and I love the thick texture of this youghurt, not like the thinner one we usually eat around here.These youghurts come in cute little buckets/containers.

Earlier this month DS9 was going to a birthday party to two of the girls in his class. It's quite common around her to invite the entire class, both boys and girls, but it's usally low cost parties with simple servings, and no huge themed parties, so you will not get ruined as long as you can provide the kids with some food and cakes.

On top of this girls wish list was cash. But it's soooo boring to just stuff the money in envelopes, so I decided to make some altered buckets to hide the money in. The youghurt containers were perfect for this purpose. MyScrapbookBook May Kit had lots of cute pink papers in it, and some pink trim, and as I normally don't scrap with pink, these items would fit my idea perfectly.

I added some flowers and more ribbons from my own stash and made these buckets in less than half an hour.

These buckets were a great succes to the girls (and their mums), so I'm happy I took the effort on making them. altered containers like this would be very suitable for boys, too, if in other colors, so I have collected a few more containers to alter for upcoming birthdays.

If you give money as gifts, how do you wrap them?

The lazy blogger strikes again!

We have had the most wonderful summer weather here in the southern part of Norway this week. May be I should be ashamed, but i admit blogging hasn't been high on my priority list because of it. Actually I have piched myself, remembering the lousy summer we had last year, and asked myself: Can it be so? It's still just May - may we have a nice summer this year? Honestly, I think we deserve it, with two cold, grey summers, in a row....

My ScrapbbookNook Sketch Challenge went live on Saturday. Here is how we do: we pick a member layout from the Nook Gallery, one of the designer create a sketch from the layout, and we invite our members to play with the sketch.

Hrre is the sketch fellow DT member Patricia Roebuck designed for us this month:

And here is my example, using the MyScrapbookNook June Grab Bag, featuring Echo Park This & That Collection.

Some close up shots:

Please come over to the Nook Forum to see the original layout, more DT examples, our members' takes on the challenge and how you can earn yourself a GD spot for next month's sketch challenge.


What's the weather like in your part of the world, btw?

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PS, I almost forgot to show you the June Kit, now shipping, featuring Simple Stories Summer Fun Collection and lots of Jillibean Soup fun! Here it is:

Lovely, isn't it?

Making Masculine Cards with Feminin Collections

I'm sourended by men IRL: I'm married to a man, my kids are boys, I work with men, I have a FIL living in an inlaw appartment in our house (but no MIL) - even our budgies are boys. The only feminin creatures in my everyday life is my cat and my dog... When I saw this image of the MyScrapbookNook May Kit I was pretty sure it was going to be a big challenge to use those papers, even if I know Leah (who coordinates the kits) has an eye for finding something for everybody:



Over the years I have developed the skill of finding masculine elements in what seems to be very feminin collections -it could be patterns or colors or anything else. And the May kit was no exception! When I pulled out the sheets and embellishments I found lots of stuff to be used for both masculine cards and layouts.

This month I have a class at the Nook Forum where I explain what I look for in the collection and how you can make lovely masculine cards with this kit: a lot of card makers seem to struggle with masculine cards. You're welcome to visit the class and get some ideas on how to make them!

Here are two examples of the cards I made for the card class - you will find more in the class and in the gallery.

Do you ever make masculine cards?
Does it come naturally to you or do you struggle, too?

The Truth About Motherhood!

Large parts of the world celebrates Mother's day in May (but not the Norwegians, off course. We do it in February...). The scrapping world challenge blogs celebrate Mums this month, which makes me feel pretty miserable when this is how I feel about motherhood right now:

Chipboard: Imaginarium Designs

Oh, I envie the designers with pretty little girls, lots of photos which show love between mother and child and all I have is two spoiled brats and a mother I don't get along with very well... I'm the biggest looser ever!

I could of course pick a photo of one of my kids and tell a story about how much I love them (which I really do), but right now that would not express what I want to say - and as I scrap for recording the family history I find it important to write down how the kids' mum felt about them spring 2012. I wonder if they will remember, in twenty years, our endless discussions about doing homework or if they just will remember the happy days. here I have proof it wasn't sunshine all the time.

Wood Veener: Studio Calico

I got the idea for this layout when I saw the Once Upon A Sketch May challenge and sketch.

Theme: Mum

We would like you to create a layout and interpret the theme "Mum" however you like based on the following sketch. You can journal as little or as much as you like, but your layout must incorporate this theme and the sketch.

Sketch:

My take on the challenge. I have flipped the sketch and moved the journaling , but except for that been pretty true to the sketch.



Patterned papers: MME Indie Chic


Another detail shoot:

Thank you for taking your time to stop by. Would you please do me a favor and make me feel even more miserable as a mum: tell me I'm the only one in this world who feel like this, and that for you motherhood is exactly as the glossy magazines say: all mums have energy to make cinnamon rolls - always.

Have a happy week :-)

Card Kit Swap Creations

We are hosting a card kit swap at MyScrapbooknook (yeah, yeah - I admit it: it's my second home, but honestly: with all the activities going on, and the heart warm atmosphere, you really don't need any other place to hang out *lol*) and I received this super cute card kit from Yasmina:

Oh, before I show you the kit I received I must tell you: Yasmina is from La Reunion. That's one of the lovely advantages of belonging to an international community: you get mail from all over the world - how fun!

I haven't worked with soft colors for ages, so I was excited to see if I could make it.
And I did :-) And I loved it so much I squeesed every inch out of it and even made some small 3*3" cards.

While creating with this kit, I had a peek at the Card Patterns blog and found their lovely Sketch #165. Once again, I couldn't recist a good challenge so I made this card with the sketch:

My Entry for the Card Pattern Sketch #165 Challenge

Here are the other cards I made with the kit:

I regret I put the pink ribbon on the middle section - it should have been on
the bottom one to give more balance. Size 6*6"

3*3" cards part one

3*3" cards part two

Thank you for taking your time to stop by.
Do you ever participate in card kit swaps, btw?

Inspired by Tape Measure Pinspos!

Danni Reid has put up another fun Card Challenge at MyScrapbookNook:


The challenge: create a card inspired by any of the TAPE MEASURE PINSPOS below


Then she has put up a lot of great images to be inspired from (you can find the post and images here).
Her posts are so inspirational and I couldn't recist creating a card for the challenge.

Patterned paper and butterfly from the MyScrapbooknook May kit, brad fro the April kit.
The rest: private property

Where do you find inpiration for cards and layouts? Have you ever used Pinterest for the purpose? Other sources?

The Lift the Person Above You Challenge

Have you ever participated in such a challenge?

When I first started scrapping years ago, I didn't like lifting much - I felt it was like cheating and copying somebody's work. But later I have found it is a fun and great way to learn both design and new tecniques: you take the elements you are attracted to, use them in your own way which fits you style - and voila! you have your own creation. That said, if I ever lift somebody, I am very awere of giving credits to the original designer - anything else would be very impolite, in my opinion.

We had a lift challenge over at MyScrapbooknook a while back and I got to lift Lindsey. here is the layout I chose to lift:

I was drawn to the fat folded border, the colors and the bug on the top.
And here is what I came up with:

My kids on the Mini Cruise during easter break

Lindsey used an embossed backround on her layout. I didn't have any, but I found it to be an important part of the general design, so I spread some buttons over my layout as a replacement.

I guess you can see it is a lift, but it still feels to me as my layout is mine :-)

Do you ever scraplift? If so, why? To learn? Because you like the design? anything else?

Masculine wreath card

Hmmmm. Could it be done? Make a masculine card with a wreath on?

I needed a card for a boy this week.
I had cute wood veeners I wanted to use on it.

I saw this great May 5th challenge at Get Creative: make a card with a wreath on!
My brain was set in work modus immidiately, all by itself *lol*


Here is the card I came up with, and I believe the anser to my own question is Yes!

Do you agree with me?
Is it possible to make a masculine card with a wreath on?

If I make a simple card, does it mean I have a simple mind?

While my layouts seem to develop in all directions right now, using more busy backgrounds and less white space, my card are heading in the oposite direction: the simpler - the better *lol*

Exploring the use of more cardstock, and less papers and embellies, has been a fun journey so far, and I admit I am excited to see where this is taking me...


I bought some fun Wood Veneers (Studio Calico) a few weeks ago - perfect for both cards and layouts.
When I saw Sketch 164 at Card Patterns this weekend, I knew it would be perfect for a tiny wooden car.

So here it is:

Thank you for popping by!
Tell me, what are your favourite style when it comes to cards right now?

Men at work >>>>> Family fun

The kids have wanted a trampoline for a long time, and we finally gave after. We spent some extra bucks on getting on of high quality, and from a manufactorer who can deliver spare parts, and hopefully it will last until they finally moves out :-)

The day the trampoline arrived at the door, the kids were very impatient to get it up, so they starte immidiately. That said they needed some help to do the final assembley, but they got pretty far by themself.

Made with MyScrapbooknook May Grab Bag featuring Echo Park This & That Charming

I admit it - my kids are the ones who use it most, but I have tried it. And so has the husband and the cat:

Made with MyScrapbooknook May Kit featuring Echo Park This  & That Graceful

Do you have a trampoline? If so, do you use it, too?

Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger

On Tuesday I found this Tuesday Trigger called Vintage Vogue over at Moxie Fab World:

And I decided I wanted to play along.
It was something about the golden spots on the skirt  and all the laces that attracted me.

The obvious would probably be to go bananas with soft colors, lots of layers, pearls, laces and ruffles, but I decided to check out if I could do a clean & simple card with the said materials.

So I dug out some rubon spots, pearls, lace, trim and cardstock and a rubon sentiment and came up with this card:

I think the wooden butterfly (Studio Calico) was the perfect accent to give this card the clean look I wanted it to have.

I have had fun making cleaner cards lately - the oposite of my layouts which now have more patterned paper backgrounds and are spread more out than they used to have/be. Interesting.... I wonder where this is taking me....

Thank you for taking time to stop by - it means a lot to me :-)

Hollywood Divas

The title of my challenge at the MyScrapnook May Movie Madness Crop.


These photos are of DS12 and I, waiting for the "Cat in Boots" 3D version to start at the cinema.
Don't we look devine?

All materials from MyScrapbooknook May kit, featuring Echo Park This & That collection

Some details

Legg til bildetekst

The Nook Crop has lots of fun challenges which will get your creative juices flowing. Why don't you go ahead and get yourself some inspiration?

Crop Alert! Card Challenge Alert!

We at the MyScrapbookNook DT are so happy to announce we have a new crop for you!

Are you ready to party?
I hope so because we've got lots in store for you this weekend!!!

It's National Scrapbook Day this Saturday and we are celebrating by scrapping all weekend long!
Lots of fun challenges and prizes and a chance to meet our new designers!!!

Because we love to party we thought we would kick off our premier show a little early and throw out a challenge everyday starting later today.....than the rest of the stars will come out and dazzle you for over 24 hours straight starting bright and early Saturday morning PST ;)


As usual there will be plenty of fun challenges, prizes to win and a heart warm community doing anything to give love and share inspiration.

You don't need the kits to participate, and you don't need to do all the challenges, either. But I promise, if you need to get your mojo started, or some inspiration, this is the best place to be.

You find all the the details on the crop here.

I would love to see you there!

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While waiting for the first challenge to go live, why not warm up with a fun card challenge?

Shellye has designed the May 2nd Quilting Bee CARDS Challenge

where the challenge is to be inspired from quilts found at Etsy and Pinterest.

Here is my take example for the challenge:

 Patterned Papers (Echo Park This & That)  and butterfly (Maya Road) from MyScrapbooknook May kit.

Please head over to see the complete challenge, more examples from the DT and what the forum members will come up with. And if you want to play along, you are more than welcome :-)

Good bye April, welcome May (Card post)!

I can't believe April is already gone. April usually is a nice spring month here in the southern part of Norway, but actually this year's was colder than March. Today is May 1th, and the weather is just beautiful, so let's hope this is a good sign for the rest of the month :-)

April was busy in many aspects, and my little get away has been to sit down and play with some of the fun card challenges Danni and Jessy has come up with at My Scrapbooknook. My plan was to show the cards as the challenges went live, but as I needed to cut down on computer time in April, blogging hasn't been on the top of my priority list. But I intend to let in happen in May: I have seen some sneaks on the upcoming card challenges and they are so much fun!

So I give you a big batch of cards in this blog post today. All cards are made with the Nook April kit featuring Crate Paper Story Teller and below each image you will find a link to the actual challenge. Please head over to see what the DT and forum members have created, too - there is tons of inspiration in those threads!

April 18th: Pinspo Air Mail 

April 23rd: Lift the DT Challenge

April 25th Pinspo Type Writer

April 30th Etsy Inspiration

Do you enjoy maaking cards, btw?

PS, please return tomorrow as we (the Nook DT) have an exiting announcement for you, as well as the first card challenge for May is going live.