Feeding the wild birds - CSI #52

Hello friends.

I know it has been quiet on this blog in December, and I haven't been very active in cyber world either.
Do you want to know why? It's very simple - I have taken off anything scrappy to enjoy the season and to spend time with my family doing what we wanted to do when we were off. And it has been great, but I admit I'm itching to scrap and make cards again.

I also admit I have done some scrapping stuff behinds the scenes, like solving the CSI December challenges, and  working on a new personal blog. Yepp, I'm moving! My blog needs a makeover, and as the oldest posts are from 2008, so I thought I might as well create a completely new one.

So from January 1th 2013 you will find me at Hilde - The Paper Addict. I'm still working on the details, but the blog is open for you to have a sneek peek and to sign in as a follower. From mid January I will close the old Scoobie-blog for new comments, but the blog will still be there.


As you may have noticed I have been guest designing at CSI the entire month of December. I love the challenges and the color combos which forces me to try out new combinations, and I know I will continue to solve the cases in 2013.


Here is this week's case to be solved:

I just love the classy color combo!


And this is how I solved it:

Another layout where the materials are a true mix of different manufactorers. I THINK the background paper is MME, but isn't sure as the label was cut of, the alpha is from SEI,  the overlay from Hambley, but the rest I have no idea about.

How I solved the case:

• Colors - all five used
• Evidence: wood/woodgrain (Washer and baground paper), twine, kraft paper, burlap, eyelets, washer
• Testimony: handwrited journaling, documenting a gift (figurative - we give something to the wild birds to during the season, not only the humans and domestic pets)

Don't you want to give this challenge a try? Here is where to find it!

Scoobie - 8

I can't believe my puppy is eight years old - I still remember so well when we drove and picked her up.
Scoobie is born on december 24th, so her breeder name is, not surprisingly, Timanka's Christmas Wonder.

She still has the puppy in her, and she is the most happy, loving dog there is. Here she is:

Papers: Tilda

 Some close up photos:

This layout is my example for the CSI File Case # 51:

Evidence: Metal, filigree, rhinestone/pearls
Testimony: six word memoir

Don't you love this week's colors and challenges?

Celebrating Saint Lucy's Day

... or Saint Lucia's Day as we say in Norway.

From Wikipedia: "For the traditional observance of the day, school children form processions through the hallways of the school building carrying candles, and hand out lussekatt buns. While rarely observed at home, parents often take time off work to watch these school processions in the morning, and if their child should be chosen Lucia it is considered a great honor. Later on in the day, the procession usually visits local retirement homes, hospitals, and nursing homes"
You can read more about this tradition here.

All manufactorers unknown - this a true mix of stuff found in my scrap boxes :-)

Saint Lucy's Day is on December 13th. In our school, it is the fourth graders who do the processions, and last year it was my youngest son's turn.

    As you may know I'm guest designing for CSI this monthe, and this is my example for CSI Case #50  The color combo in this challenge was just perfect for my photos and the theme and it was great to finally have them scrapped!   CSI Case File # 50:  

Colors: OK Evidence: Ribbon, wood, shimmery/shiny items Testimony: Documenting holiday tradition     Do you celebrate Saint Lucy?

It smells like Christmas is here!

One of my favourite months is December. I love the lights we put up everywhere to decorate, and I love the traditional dishes we eat.

One of my absolute favourites is the Norewgian traditional dish Pinnekjøtt.

Here is how Wikipedia describes it:
Pinnekjøtt is a main course dinner dish of lamb or mutton. Pinnekjøtt is a festive dish typical to Western- and Northern Norway, served with puréed turnip and potatoes, beer and akevitt....  ...The preparation of pinnekjøtt uses a traditional method for food preservation utilizing curing, drying and in some regions also smoking as means of inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms. Although lamb is today available fresh or frozen all year round, pinnekjøtt is still prepared both commercially and in private homes due to the flavour and maturing the preservation process gives to the meat.
Before cooking, the racks are separated into individual ribs by cutting a sharp knife between the bones. The ribs must then be soaked in water in order to rinse out the salt and reconstitute the meat. Today pinnekjøtt is available in most supermarkets before Christmas, smoked or unsmoked, ready cut and sometimes also soaked, ready for cooking

If you want to learn more, here is a link.



Journaling: You know it's close to Christmas when you smell Pinnekjøtt in the house.



Some close up photos:

Patterned papers: MME, Studio Calico. Aplha: Websters pages
Buttons, tiles, twine & silver embellies: unknown. Tabs/cards: Chic Tags

My source for inspiration is this CSI case file:

Colors: OK
Evidence: Mosaic, silver metallic accents, border punch
Testimony: Document something kitchen related



What's you favourite dish during this season?

I'm guest designing for CSI in December!

If you have followed me for a while, you may have noticed I really enjoy doing the CSI Case Files (challenges). They push me out of my comfort zone and get me to scrap topics I never had thought of as well as using color combos far from my usual favourites.

So I was beyond thrilled when Debbi Therani asked me to guest design for December *lol*


Today is the day when my first GD layout is up, and here is how I solved case File #49:


Title: The Count down

Journaling: The Advent calendars ar important to the kids - you need to know how many days there are lft to Christmas Eve, right? And one $2 chocolate calendar from the grocery shop isn't enough - oh, no: there need to be one small gift each day.

Some close up photos:

The materials used for this page is a true mix of manufactorers, all taken from my large pile of stuff.

Here is the case to be solved:

 

How I solved it?

• Colors: as shown
• Evidence: numbers, rhinestones, buttons, twine, semi crircle nothes, Chritmas/winter accents
• Testimony: documenting a holiday tradition

What do you say - isn't this case file inspiring?
Why don't you jump right in and give it a try?
And remember, there are printables ("Coordinates"), up for grabs, too, in case you want some new stuff!

Link to case file #49: http://csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com/forum/topics/case-file-no-49-case-closes-on-december-16-2012

Please head over to see the full reveal of Case file #49 and all the inspiring examples from the DT and GDTs!

House rules - CSI file #47

Have you ever concidered visiting me and my family? Beware that we have house rules!

Did that scare you?
Don't be scared, they are very easy, just like the journaling on this layout says:


We really don't have many house rules guests need to have in mind - maybe three?

*this isn't a hotel so you need to tidy up yourself
*our butler's name is Do-It-Yourself
*guests are like fish - after three days they smell

And as our kids some times behave like they are guest in this house, the rules go for them, too."




Patterned papers: CSI Coordinates, MME. Rubon house: Maya Road. Rubon swirls: Hambley
Journaling cards: Chick TagsAlpha:AC. Ribbons, buttons, mesh, key & twine: Unknown


Do you have house rules?

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I admit it: I some times run out of ideas/topics to scrap about, but the CSI Challenges ("Case Files") always push me in the right direction. My brain start work as soon as the challenges go live, and for the past three months I have scrapped stories I never had thought of. It's easy to think we just want to remember the vacations and happy days when we browse the albums in thirty years, but these "out of the box" themed layouts will surely bring back memories of what our real life was like, the everyday life.


This goes for CSI case file #47, too:

 

The CSI printables ("coordinates") was fabolous this round, so I didn't even bother to dig into my pile of papers - I just grabbed the printable papers and used them - how easy is that?

This is how I solved this case:

• Colors: OK
• Evidence: Patchwork pattern, mesh (golden, behind photo and house), flourishes (rubons)
• Testimony: Etiquette guide (the house rules)

I also admit I'm happy and proud to find this layout on the CSI Watch List this week:

Tell me: do you ever run out of ideas/topics to scrap about, or is it just me?

18 things to do before I die

Are there things you really want to do but haven't got round to yet? I have a long list...

Some of them should be quite easy to tick off my list, because they are not very time consuming or expensive - it's more a kind of getting my butt in gear. Like taking a class in flower decoration, which I started on last week. I had had in my mind for years, but finally took the plunge when one of the local florists had an ad for it. I really enjoy it, and some details of my first decoration is shown on the layout below.

Then there are other things that have to wait. Like seeing kenguroos in Australia. It's not like something I can to in an afternoon, and I will certainly need some more money than I use on a class at the florists. But if I start saving...

Title: 18 things to do before I die

Background paper & journaling spot: CSI Printables. Frame: Imaginarium Designs
Ribbons: Scrapbook Fantasies. Tiles: Harmonie. Glitter pins: Marens Landhandleri
Alpha: AC, Webster Pages & Glitz. Wire: my florist. Buttons: unknown

The got the idea for this layout when I saw CSI File Case # 46

Evidence: frames, translucent element (some of the tiles), something that shimmers (glitter pins).
Testimony: 18 things - a list of 18 things I want to do before I die.


One thing I really like about the CSI challenges, is that they have a set of printables (or coordinates as CSI call them) along with each challenge. It's both backgrounds, tags/spots, word art and other embellies you can print out. For my layout I printed out one of the backgrounds on matte photo papers as well as a sheet of tags/spots. I used one of them only, but spent the remaining parts for three super cute cards I'll show you later this week. If you're curious about these printables, here is the link to Challenge #46 - scroll to the very bottom and on the left hand you find the printable files.


So what's on your list - what do you want to do before you die?

Favorite room

Do your family have a favorite room in the house? In my family it's the kitchen: everything seem to happen there: School work, eating, cooking, it's the game zone, computer room, the pets' sleeping area, where we party, read etc etc.

It' nice to have a place where both family and friends gather, but it gets incredibly messy because of it, too. Like when the kids bring friends and they leave their jackets on the chairs instead of in the wardrobe. Like when DS10 has messed up his own room so badly, that he need the kitchen table for creating one of his giant paper projects. Or like when DS13 and his gang uses the said table as a gaming spot, and just leave it all there when they decide it's time to do something else.

I found inspiration for this layout in this week's CSI challenge:

My evidence is the woodgrain background paper and the buttons, my testimony is documenting a favorite room.

What's your family's favorite room?

Hospitality

I admit it - some times I get tired of having other's kids around all the time (at least it feels like all the time), especially when school is out. During those periods I never know how many there are for dinner, or who is staying over.

But on the other hand - it feels good that the kids like it at our house. They do have house rules to stick to, and they can't stay for weeks: it's like my wise, old father says: fish and guests stinks after three days *lol*
And as oldest son just turned into a teenager, having them around here give me a feeling of having a little more control.

Alpha  and background paper: BG. Other patterned papers and bracket overlay: MME.
Cheese cloth, ribbon & butterfly: unknown

Kids + a friend sleeeping on the porch in May

The inspiration for this layout as found at the CSI blog:

Here is how the challenge blog CSI describes this mont's theme: In November, our thoughts turn to the holidays and getting together with family and cozying up in our homes, so our theme that will tie our Case Files together this month is "Coming Home."

Here is how I solved the Case file #44:
Colors - all five used:
Evidence: Flowers (on patterned papers), transparent element (bracket overlay), something woven (cheese cloth)
Testimony: Document what you love about your home (the hospitality)


CSI Case file #44 closes today, but Case file #45 is open for investigation another week, so please head over to get some ideas on how to scrap your family and home.

Hair Cut Day - CSI Case File #43

My boys needed a hair cut a few weeks ago - here they are at the hair dressers:

Patterned papers: Crate Paper, MME. Cardstock: ClubStamp. Layered Stickers: MME.Ruobons: Jenni Bowlin, Kaiser Craft. Alpha: American Craft. Tab: Chic tags. Chipboard Scissors: Maya Road

Close up photos:


Pager Runners: Charms' Creations



The idea for this page came when I saw the CSI Case File #43:

Colors: all five used.


Evidence: Damask, Rubons (Bottom circle border, botton grid border, small black stains randomly over the layout,

Testimony: Formal letter: Letter of recommendations - I recommend this hair dresser to anyone :-)     Why don't you head over to CSI to check out the newest color challenge, #44?   

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Do you need a fun sketch to get you started? This is the November sketch at Once Upon A Sketch:    

  This month's theme: Anything Goes. Yup, anything :-) As long as there is some journaling involved, and the sketch is used, you are may to link up your creation to the OUAS blog and get a ticket to the lottery with awesome prizes from our sponsors. To read more, and see some stunning examples from the DT, please visit the OUAS blog.

Do we see your creation there?

No Family Secret (CSI Case #41)

As many of you already know, my brother chose to take his own life in June. The family has been open about the cause of his death all the way, hence the title on this layout.

Patterned papers: MME, Cosmo Cricket. Alpha: Basic Grey. The rest: unknown

Translated the journaling says: "It must have been much harder back when suicide was a shame and no one ever talked about it. I still believe going out in public, telling that K killed himself, was the best. People who didn't know he had had tough days, could understand, and we, who was left back, got all the support we needed."




I found the inspiration to this layout from CSI Case #41:

Colors: All colors used - the grey is in my background paper, even if it migh look a bit browner, due to light conditions.

Evidence; Texture (Cheese cloth), gold element (two flowers), ruffles

Testimony: Journaling about something NOT a secret - this might be stretching the criteria a bit too far, but I'm still happy with my page and story.     Thank you for stopping by  - I'm working on paying you a visit, too :-)

New Bikes (CSI Case File #40)

We knew both boys had new bikes high up on their wish lists after the summer holidays - DS9 had slowly outgrown his, and DS12's need expencive new spare parts to be functional and reliable. But buying new bikes were not high up on their parent's priority list, they knew, even if we had talked about may be getting new ones when the seasonal sales started.

How happy were they when grand dad (my FIL) offered them new bikes as presents for their birthdays later in Ocober and the beginning of November/ early Christmas presents! They could pick one each and were allowed to start using them even before their birthdays!

Papers: BG & MME. Wood veeners: Studio Calico. Stamps: Club Scrap
Alpha, buttons, twine & metal rings: unknown

Clear Button: Epiphany Crafts

The kids are pretty clever: they assume grand dad probably will have forgotten all about these presents when Christmas arrives (have in mind, he's only 80 years old), just as he forgot about the trampoline he bough in May which should be an early birthday present *lol* I know they have worked on new wish lists...


This layout came alive when I saw this week's CSI Case File:

I just love the color combo and the evidence/testimony part. My evidence: ribbon, dots and banner - the testimony: Birthday prompt - my journaling is the short version of what I wrote in the beginning of this blog post.

Thank you for stopping by - your visits and comments really mean a lot to me!

Lesson learned!

Some times I wonder if we totally have failed as parents, and that our kids haven't learned anything from us. Like last winter when a neighbour called at our door, told us they had flat tires, and that they had reason to belive our kids was involved in putting up a row of nails across our street.

My kids were involved, and so was one of the boys next door. And there was a total of three cars with flat tires. When we asked the kids WHY? they said they just wanted to hear the funny sound from tires beeing penetrated by spikes, like they had seen/heard on films. Obviously it never occured to them that tires got broken from this and that somebody had to pay for it.

Luckily just one of the cars had to have all tires changed, the rest of them could be fixed, but this prank ended up as a $1000 one. Lucky for me the kids had savings, but for them it meant they could kiss new iPads good bye....

I do hope they have learned their lesson...
And I'm going to show them this layout when their first borns are here, just to remind them about what parenthood also is about *lol*

Real nails - the ones they used...

The color combo, and idea for this layout is from CSI Case File #39:

Evidence:

• Rubons (Swirl in right corner under photo, green "stitching" and printed alpha down the left side of the photo, white arrow)
• Map print (under photo)
• Stars

Testimony:

• I have journaled about a lesson learned - a short version of the story on top of this post.

Colors & Sketch

• All five colors are used + white (= neutral according to the rules) and a hint of brown on the journaling spot under the photo (less than 10% accent colors are allowed according to the rules)
• The sketch is used.

What do you say, did I nail this challenge?

Easy like a Sunday Morning

For Septemberthe challenge blogs OUAS and CSI and has teamed up, and this is how this week's challenge look like:

This week I have a layout up at the challenge blogs for inspiration, featuring my darling cat Ponky:

She really is an easy cat: cuddly, fond of people, kind - but may be too fond of little birds and mice.

Woodgrain patterned paper & kraft paper: Harmonie. Blue Patterned paper: Webster's Pages.
Off white/grey patetrned pater: Studio Calico. Chipboard: Imaginarium Designs.
Flair: AFlairForButtons. Bling: memories. Corrugated shapes: Jillibean Soup-
Twine: the Twinery. Bow/flower: Maya Road. Brad: MME

How I solved the case:

Colors & sketch: OK - all used

Evidence: Flowers, branches, birds, woodgrain, newspaper print (on the brad)
Testimony: Documented a pet and used the lyrics from the song as the title of the layout


Do you want to give this challenge a try?
Please visit the blogs below to read more and to see all the fabolous prizes that they offer!

OUAS

CSI