Christmas Rose

Here's another card I've designed for Arkivet. For the frame I've used Arkivet's stamp "Wish upon a star" which I think creates a beautiful and subtle background. For the flower I've used paper from Webster's Pages. Accordion flowers are sooo popular now and there are many different ways to make them. On Arkivet's blog I show the way I think is the easiest.
I'm entering this card for Mark's finest paper and at Sweet Stampi'n, where they want you to use snowflakes!!!

Here's another accordion flower card I've made. It was featured on Cards Magazine blog in September along with other very beautiful flowers so if you want more accordion flower inspiration go: HERE!

Father's day card!

Scarplagret has a challenge this month to use autumn colors with a twist of turqoise + 2 stamps. See their inspiring pic below.

Birthday cards!

These small Birthday Crads are for Wee Memories challenge this week. I've used Hero Arts stamps from the set; Birds and Branches

Let it snow!

Let it snow is the challenge at pennyblack friends saturdaychallenge.
Thanks to Brenda, I'm also entering this card for Penny Black at Allsorts !! Great place! Check it out!

Everything but the kitchen sink!

Everything but the kitchen sink has a colour challenge and here's my entry:

Mini-Notebook and Pencil

I've had this cute little book of nail files in my handbag for forever - don't know why really because I think you can tell that manicure is not one of my priorities in life o-: .

Anyway, a while ago I looked at it and thought the simple constuction, the way it closes was really neat and perhaps it would work fine for a little notepad so I decided to try. Here's how I made it:

I used patterned doubblesided cardstock from Webster's pages' Christmas pad. Cut a 6 (15,2cm) x 2 3/4 (7cm) big piece  and folded it at 3/4 (2cm) and at 3 1/2 (9cm)

I cut 10 pieces of 2 1/2 (6,5 cm) x 2 1/8 (5,5 cm) white 80g paper.
Decorated them with stamping ( I used part of Arkivet's "Wish upon a star" stamp). Fastened them under the top fold with a stapler.

Wanted a little pen to go with it and thought first of the ones that you get at the golfcourse - but then I found a pencil from IKEA (that I seem to be collecting every time we go there o-: ) that would go great with it , but since this would make a nice stocking filler or present in an advent calendar I had to cover the logo!!!

Guest Designer for Arkivet!

I'm so excited to tell you that I'll be guest designing for very nice scrapbooking/papercraft shop here in Gothenburg;  Arkivet for November. In the middle of October I got a bag full of goodies from Tarja and I think she'll be posting the creations I've sent in to her on Arkivet's blog on Mondays or Thursdays throughout the month. Check it out!! I'll be posting them here too eventually!

Here's a little sneak peek for you though: A CANDLE GIFT which is both easy and cheap to make.
I've used two of Arkivet's fantastic stamps "Njut av varje ögonblick" and "Wish upon a star" which are both useful for so many occasions. For the bag I've used left over cellophane, the candles are decorated with strips of paper from Webster's pages' Christmas pad.

Wildflower seeds card



New sketch at Get Sketchy!

I made a card with seedpackets - the one on the inside has actual flowerseeds in it.

Vintage Hot Air Balloons

New Challenge at Embellish Magazine - vintage
and I'm also entering this card for Betsy Veldman's challenge to use something vintage and both the fabric and the lace I've used are from my grandmother so I thought it would fit perfectly.

From EM page:
"This challenge requires you to create a vintage project using the color challenge. Vintage is a new trend in interior design and of course paper crafting. A vintage style can be showcased in a variety of ways, including inking edges, using old buttons, crocheted embellishments, and adding other antique elements. Projects can include color by using cardstock and/or patterned paper, instead of by coloring stamped images. Don’t forget that a vintage style can be incorporated into other paper craft ideas, including scrapbook layouts, mini albums, and other altered art.

The main colors are highlighted in Polaroid inspired color swatches. Keep the colors of your project as close to the colors in the challenge image. Remember, colors can be incorporated into your project in more ways than cardstock.

*White/Cream may be used as an additional neutral color."

Lucia Card for PTI Blog Hop

Inside

In Sweden Lucia is celebrated on the 13th of December and I thought this would make a nice card for this Blog Hop at Papertrey Ink and introduce this holiday to those of you who perhaps haven't heard about it before.

For this card I've used:
Stamps: PTI Wonderful Whimsical, Signature Christmas + Lucia (Panduro)
Ink: PTI Snow White, Dark Chocolate, Tea dye Cham
PTI Bitty Dotts Basics 2008
Baker's Twine, White Organza

St Lucia was a young girl who was martyred, killed for her faith, in 304AD. The most common story told about St Lucia is that she would secretly bring food to the persecuted men in Rome, who lived in hiding in the catacombs under the city. She would wear candles on her head so she had both her hands free to carry things.

St. Lucia's Day is celebrated by a girl dressing in a white dress with a red sash round her waist and a crown of candles on her head. The crown is made of Lingonberry branches which are evergreen and symbolise new life in winter. She goes from house to house early on Lucia morning serving coffee and Lusskatter (buns flavoured with saffron and dotted with raisins) while singing a beautiful Lucia song. (see link below) Schools normally have their own St. Lucias and towns and villages also choose a girl to play St. Lucia in a procession where carols are sung.

A national Lucia is also chosen. (see pic of last year's lucia below) Lucias also visit hospitals and old people's homes singing a song about St Lucia and handing out 'Pepparkakor', ginger snap biscuits.

Recipe for Lucia Buns (Lussekatter)

1 stick butter (8 Tbsp.)

1 1/3 c. milk

pinch saffron

3 Tbsp. yeast

2/3 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs (1 in dough, 1 to brush)

4 c. flour

raisins for garnish

Directions:

Melt butter in a small pan over low heat. Add milk and saffron and heat until about body temperature.

Mix milk mixture and yeast and let sit about five minutes. The yeast will dissolve and start to foam. Add the sugar, salt, one egg, and about half the flour. Knead the dough on a floured surface, adding flour to make a smooth dough. Let rise in a warm place about half an hour. Punch down, and then form into buns. One traditional shape is to make a rope of dough about six inches long (about 15 cm) and then form it into an S. Lay it on a parchment-lined baking sheet and tuck raisins into the curls of the S. Let rise again in a warm place, about half an hour. Brush the risen buns with beaten egg. Bake at 400 degrees F (225 C) about 15 min., until buns are golden brown.

Link to a video with the Lucia song: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk0FyZqNp5Q

Cardpositioning systems

At Cardpositioning systems they have this sketch to follow for their challenge.
And here is my take on it:

Case Study with Stitches

Here's my take on this week's case study! And at Mark's finest Paper they challenge you to use stitches - so I did!!!

Halloween Sweets

Here's my entry - inspired by this great Martha Stewart pic that is the challenge this week at papercraft star. I think my little goody bags would go well on that table. For the little bags I've re- used eco friendly paper that I've glued together and passed halfway through my papercrinkler   - so they are super environmentally friendly!!!
Halloween is also the theme at everybody-artchallenge and also at wee memories

 

Happy Halloween!

At  Oh Alice their challenge is called " Dictionary of nonsense" this week and together with CARDS Creative and Simon says stamp call for Halloween cards and for The shabby tea room's challenge for vintage Halloween cards it inspired me to make this one:

Congratulations!

This week's curtain call at Stacy's Stamping Stage has beautiful autumn colors that I love - still since I combined this with the challenge at Stamps R Us where the theme is all nature this ended up being a quite summery card!!!

Holiday Mail

Here's my take on Colour Q's latest challenge:

Happy Birthday!

 Dutch Darecard has a  Birthday Bash challenge,
and at Paper Pretties they want you to use an animal!
and for Cupcake Inspirations this is the inspiring picture so here's my entry: