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?

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?

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?

Cardabilities Sketch #62 is up!

Hello fellow card makers!

Today is the day when Cardablities Sketch #62 is up:

And here is my take on it:

Monster stamp & Happy Birthday background stamp: SK Digis
Patterned papers: MME. Twine: the Twinery. Square sprout: Jillibean Soup
Alpha: AC, monster eyes: unknown

Did you notice all the cute monsters? They are made with digital stamps from the Cardabilities October Sponsor: SK Digis, as well as the "Happy Birthday" background.


SK Digis have a lovely range of digital stamps, all of them available in both .jpg and .png format.
Please visit the shop to see all the stamps :-)

Now please head over to the Cardabilities blog to see what the rest of the DT have to inspire you, and to learn how to win some goodies from SK Digis :-)

More simple Christmas cards

Do  you ever see something on the world wide web that inspire you so much that you want to sit down and create immidiately?

Usually, while browsing challenge sites etc, my brain is put in work modus, and ideas grow for a day or two, but with this sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch, ideas came popping up at once.

I  have saved this sketch to use it on  later occations, but what first came to my mind was making a super simple Christmas card.



Patterned paper: Kaiser Kraft. Card stock: Bazill.
Felt Snowflake & Merry Christmas sticker: unknown

 This may be not very traditional Christmas Card colors, but I liked it.

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Then, yesterday, Dynamic Duos came up with this cool color combo:

Working with monochromatics (same colours in different hues -light/dark) usually set me off, but I thought I would give it a try. I used a vanilla base and bow (neutrals are allowed according to the rules at Dynamic Duos), and here is what I came up with:

Patterned paper: MME. Cardstock: ClubScrap. Ribbon & sticker: unknown.
Deer dies: Lifestyle Crafts

Another simple Christmas card!   

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 Please come back on Tuesday when a new Cardabilities Sketch is released, to see my example and to learn more how you can play along :-)

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 :-)

Christmas Card Galore!

Yepp, I know - I'm early with my Christmas cards this year :-)
But I was bored last weekend, and wanted to create, so I thought - why not?
I'm selling some of my cards at work, so I need to start early to have them ready in the middle of november.

When it comes to cards, my style is even more mixed then while scrapping. I enjoy both the hard thinking of getting CAS design to work, and to use layers and more embellies on vintage cards. And then there are those card who has no particular style - they are just ---- cards :-)


Today's cards are traditional card - traditional colors and themes.




Patterned papers: MME. Ribbon: unknown



Patterned papers: Harmonie. Wooden deer: unknown

Patterned papers: Little Yellow Bicycle. The rest: Unknown

Patterned papers: MME. Button, glitter trees and twine: unknown

Do you make your own Christmas cards?

OUAS October Challenge: Team B reveal is up!

Hi scrappers!


The sketch challenges at Once Upon A Sketch are monthly, and the October Sketch was originally launched at October 1th with DT Team A's lovely takes on the challenge. To make sure you are given inspiration through the entire month, DT Team B revealed their creations on the 15th.


Not do we only have a lovely sketch to get you started, we have a a quote to take inpiration from, too.

The challenge:
We would like you to create a layout based on this quote. You can interpret it ANY way you like. There is no wrong or right way to interpret this quote but your layout must incorporate something from this quote AND the sketch below. Please make sure that we see some sort of journalling on your layouts and please tell us where your journalling is . Hidden journalling is perfectly fine.

Here is my take on the October challenge:




Chipboard clock, alpha & Cloud: Imaginarium designs.
Patterned papers: Harmonie (background), unknow (yellow dotted). Rubons: Bo Bunny. Flairs: AFlairForButtons. Ribbon: MME. Washi tape, transparent cloud & buttons: unknown



Some detail photos:

Legg til bildetekst

Please head over to the OUAS blog to see all the wonderful DT examples, learn how you can be our guest designer for them month of December, and to see our fabolous sponsors and the lovely prizes that are up for grab this month.

Do we see you there?

Cardabilities Sketch #61 is up!

Good morning, fellow card makers!


Cardabilities Sketch #61 is up today:

And here is my take on it:

Monster stamps: SKI Digis. Patterned papers: MME. Flags: Søstrene Grene.
Twine: Pink Paisley. Buttons & monster eyes: unknown

Did you notice all the cute monsters? They are made with digital stamps from the Cardabilities October Sponsor: SK Digis, as well as the "Happy Birthday" background.


SK Digis have a lovely range of digital stamps, all of them available in both .jpg and .png format.
Please visit the shop to see all the stamps :-)

Now please head over to the Cardabilities blog to see what the rest of the DT have to inspire you, and to learn how to win some goodies from SK Digis :-)

As white as snow!

My legs!

We have had the worse summer, ever. I heard a report the other day that said June-July 2011 there were 41 days with temperatures higher than 20 degrees celcius. This year we have had 20 only! Brrr.... There hasn't been much rain, actually, just cloudy, windy and cold.

Two weeks ago we had a sunny day, and I took off to the local beach - just to discover it was a cold wind there. And I left after less than half an hour... But I did take a photo of my pale legs so I could document my feeling about this summer.

All materials except doilie from MyScrapbooknook July Kit, featuring MME. Alphas from previous kits

Close up photo

Made with the sketch at MyScrapbook July Sketch Challenge

But guess what! As you read this I'm sucking up sun at lovely Corfu, Greece and eating lovely Greek food!
I so need it - this spring has been so rough on us so a total escape is very welcome.

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Did you notice the doilie on this layout? It's an old, authentic one. I have more of them in my posession, and I want to share some of them with one of my readers. Please come back on Sunday to see all about  this giveaway!

Thank you for stopping by :-) What's the weather like in your part of the world?

Two simple cards

Today I have two simple cards for you.

The first one was made on saturday: I was home all alone with just one sick kid, sleeeping, and I was bored. There was this challenge on an FB group and it was perfect timing for playing. The challenge was quite easy: use five circles (referring to the Olympic games which just had started) and white space on you project.

I came up with this card:

Circle stamp: Club scrap. Patterned papers on butterfly: MME. Patterned base card: SEI, Cardstock: Bazill. Twine: The Twinery. Button and butterfly punch: unknown

The next card is made to celebrate one of the board members at My Scrapbooknook, Sophia. I used the Nook July Kit and Grab Bag to create it.

Base card: Bazill. Patterned Papers, trim, flower sticker & button: MME, Journaling Sprouts & Alpha: Jilli Bean, Twine: The Twinery. Border Punch: Martha Stewart

Have you made any cards lately? Can I come over to have a look?

We have teamed up again - multiple ways :-)

Over the years as card maker and scrapper, I have learned to know lots of amazing people, all around the world. Some live far away, some pretty close, and it's always fun to meet these people IRL.

One of those I have know for years is the Swedish scrapper Petra (Pysselpetra in the scrapping world). She lives a five hours drive from my place, so we don't get the chance to see each other too often. She and her family stayed a night at the Scoobie Mansion in March, when they were heading for a ski resort in the Norwegian mountains, and last week we got to meet again: her family had rented a cabin just an hour from our house, on the Swedish coast. So I brought husband and kids, and off we went to see her and her family

And what do you do when you meet a fellow scrapper? You document it on photos! You don't want to miss the opportunity to make (another) layout, do you?

This time Petra and I chose to do a twist on creating layouts about our rendez-vous. We swapped photos, decided to use one or some of the same ones, create at the same time, and then do a twin blog post about it! A challenge just for the two of us.

Here is my take on the challenge:

Patterned papers and brads: MME, Mask: Crafter's workshop, Mist: StewardSuperior, Raw chipboard: Imaginarium Designs, Butterfly Stickers: Jenni Bowlin, Cardstock & twine: unknown

A close up of some details:

And here is a sneak peak of Petra's layout:

Now please head over to Petra's blog to see her layout and what she did with our photos! I'm sure she doesn't mind if you leave her som love :-)

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I got the idea for my layout when I was bloghopping at Scrapbook Kits With A Difference, where Petra is one of the DT members. Not did they only have a blog hop they had a fun recipe challenge as well.

Here are the required ingrediences (my check out in red):

• 3 photos OK, counting: 1-2-3, 1 cardstock OK, grey in background, 2 patterned papers OK, the yellow I cut stripes from and the blue one I cut flowers & circles from, a wet medium (eg. paint, gesso, spray mist) OK, green mist, a mask (purchased or home-made) OK, a big one with flowers and butterflies, raw chipboard OK, in the middle, behind the photos, 5 buttons (or brads) OK, 5 brads, 3 rows of text OK, mine is hand written, but they didn't say I couldn't *lol*, twine (or string) OK, small bow on left side, and 2 butterflies OK, I guess the misted ones didn't count so I added to black ones too. Flowers, ribbons, and bling, are all optional (I chose not to use any of these).

I can't remember the last time I did a recipe challenge. Thank you SKWAD for providing us with this fun one!

CAS card - Dude

I have been playing and made some cards over the last few days.

• Cards for Myscrapbooknook: cards for challenges and member birthday cards - but none of them can't be shown yet :-(
• I won a cute stamp set from Close To My Heart over at Scrapping Everyday Miracles, but as I'm doing a twin blog post with Sherri, who won the same stamps, these cards can't be shown yet either.

So I have pulled out embossing powder, ink pads, papers, flowers, bling and you name it. And I played. But after working with all that stuff I got the urge to do a Clean And Simple card again.


The challenge blog CAS-ual FRIDAYS is a great source for ideas and inspiration when it comes to CAS cards. This week's challenge is no exception: CFC61: Use strips of color or pattern in your Clean And Simple creation.

So I cut up some strips from a paper, colored a wood veener, added some letters and voila! A card!

CS: Bazill, Paper: MME, Wood veener: Studio Calico, Alpha: AC, green paint: Ranger/Adirondack

I love the optical illusion arranging the stripes gave. It looks like the "arrows" are wider in front than back, but they are not - the strips are the excact width all over. The space between the stripes are all the same too, and at a 90 degree angel from the ends of the card, even if it doesn't look like that.

With two boys in the house, this masculin card will be out out the house quite soon, I guess.

I'm curious as always, so I want to know: when was the last time you made a masculine card?

New Chick In Town!

I got this cute little budgie baby a few weeks ago. Isn't she adorable?
Her name is Kiwi, because of her color, and she is now about two months old.

I want to tell you something funny about budgie colors - they aren't always what they look like. Actually, Kiwi is probably a blue bird, genetecly, not green. But because of the amount of yellow she looks green (you know what happens when you mix yellow and blue, don't you? You get green). If you have look at her, closely, in bright light, you do see the blue. Funny, isn't it?
Unfortenately, she's not to fond of human beeings, so I doubt we will ever get her completely tamed. But she is good company to our other budgie, and that's the most important!

DT work for MyScrapbooknook, featuring the June kit + Grab bag

What is your favourite color today?

The last farewell

3 1/2 weeks ago we burried my only brother.
We kept the service very private, only the closest family was present (but in lat August we'll have a new service for the rest of the family and friends).

I found the colors in the MME Indie Chic Citron collection perfect for the photo of my parents and I taking a laste farewell with my brother. I chose to keep this layout very simple (may be too simple when looking of it afterwords, but what the heck - it's made for me, and I can recall this sad day even if it's simple, when looking at it).

A background paper particialle flower printed, a few stickers from the same collection, and then some cut out flowers from a second paper, was what I needed to create this layout, along with a ribbon and an aplha.

All matearials from MyScrapbookNook July Grab Bag

Thank you for taking your time to stop by - I really apreciate it!