(born under a) paper moon

Scraplifting myself...

2012-01-23T10:48:00.004+01:00

One of the New Years Crop-challenges over @ My Scrapbook Nook was lifting one of your own layouts. I picked this one: *click here to see it, since I'm too lazy to find the blogpost with it* ;)

It felt like a good choice, since it's from last year, which was suggested, and it was made before I started playing with more paints and less flowers. To pick one after would have felt like cheating a little - and not even close to as fun.

So here's what I made:

Most of these things are from the Nook January kit, featuring Lily Bee.
Bling are my faves, from YouDo. So are the stamp pads I've used.
Bird stamps and the stamped "coffee mug rings" are all from Hella Bella Designs - loooove them!
Also: Bazzill OP (my fave), distress inks refills, gesso, alphas from Basic Grey & Lily Bee, Facetten Lack (crackle medium), black pen and a heart shaped golden sticker (yes, golden. It look sblack but it's not.)

Colours are a bit off, as you can probably tell - sorry about that.
I really do long for spring and its more userfriendly kind of light! ;)

There's TONS of journaling there, too. Can't see it? No wonder. I just wrote down all my memories, thoughts and reflections, printed it all out and stuck it to the back of the layout. Yay for me! (I'm usually notoriously awful at journaling on my LOs but this way, I think, I might just get it to work out fine!!)

Thanks for popping by! Have a wonderful week!

I am canvasing the situation.

2012-01-16T07:48:00.000+01:00

(I'm really not. I am just a dork who finds puns amusing.)

I am loving the virtual crop over @ My Scrapbook Nook. Seriously! Two challenges a week = perfectly doable pace, even while you're working too. FAB challenges, too, so you really WANT to play. And did I mention the great prizes? Guess not. But there are some of those too. So I'm not gonna lure you over. Might spoil my chances of winning.
KIDDING!
Come and play! It's a LOT of fun and all the challenges are individual, so you don't "have" to do them all or anything. Just play. Have fun. Create. Record your memories. Crop!

Meanwhile, I'm still making canvases as if my life depended on it, and now I can't decide whether to show you one of my (so far) eleven ready canvases, or if I should share one of my LOs for the crop (because the rest of the stuff I've made is for Inzpira - so you'll have to wait for the magazine to see them! ;)) or if I should surprise you and show you a TAG I made, since I never ever make tags. Ever. Except when Katarina challenges me to, during a Nook crop! ;)

Hmmm... Taking into account that I'm having a TIRED day (DH's boss called at 4:30 to ask him to come to work asap, instead of at 8:30 when he was supposed to, because someone called in sick. Bye bye nice sleep in Monday morning. Hello rise and shine I-need-more-coffee and finish-up-the-LO-I-was-making-morning.)...
I do believe I'm gonna go with my original thought, also explaining the nerdy title of this post.
So: a canvas, just because they have messages that I need to take to heart. Especially this one, especially right now - since I tend to get a "little bit" grumpy when I'm tired... ;)

Sound good? Ok. Here we go!

Inspired by Christy Tomlinson's She Art-class, of course, but I kind of deviated a little. :)

Have a great week!

Deadline day and scrapping in the pauses

2012-01-10T10:53:00.000+01:00

First of all: I want to thank you for the kind, supportive words about my canvas! You guys are the best blog readers a girl could ever wish for! ♥

Today's the deadline for cards to Inzpira Magazine, so I've started organizing my folders and trying to get it all into an easily viewable and similarly named order. In other words, I am knee deep in beautiful cards (not literally, unfortunately) and I LOVE it!
Seriously. Scandinavia has such amaaazing artists! (And if any of you guys out there have yet to send me cards for the sketch or the theme - go for it! You still have this day!)

I'm also taking Jeanne Oliver's awesome class, happily fiddling with my art a'la Christy Tomlinsson and scrapping a little, since there's a crop going on over at the Nook (a.k.a the best forum on the interwebs - with the prettiest gallery, the most supportive, sweet and talented members aaand the best kits).
Just because I can't stay away.
I recently ordered a subscription to the Nook kits for myself again.
It's too tricky to stay away and I need that mojo boost they always bring. I also happened to stumble a little and accidentally click (at least that's what I tell my husband/wallet... ;)) the Valentine's Class which I'm now VERY much looking forward to.

Gone crazy with the classes? ME?
Oh yes. And I love every single little itty bitty second of it. It's so much FUN to learn new things and to be inspired by artists this talented!
My advice to you:
If you do ONE thing for yourself this year: spend a little money on yourself and on your creativity. Try new things! Evolve! It will be money very well spent, I assure you.

That said - here's another thing that makes me a better person. My friends:

Papers: Bazzill and Lily Bee
Flowers: Petaloo
Mists: Ranger Distress Ink Refillers
Alphas: Lily Bee & American Crafts
Other: jenni Bowlin Bingo-chippie, tag, Baker's Twine, lace, pen.

Made for the Nook New Years Crop challenge #1.
I've since cheated a little and added stickles & crackle accents to the #2, stickles to the edges of the flowers and two staplers on each side of the lace... Don't tell teacher! (Kidding!)

This year's off to a REALLY good start!

2012-01-05T12:01:00.001+01:00

So, I told you a while back that I was taking classes at Inzpira, right?
Well, the mixed media class made me want to take MORE classes and I started looking at Christy Tomlinson's classes online. I made up my mind and decided that SheArt would be MY X-mas gift to me (or rather my New Years gift to my mojo...) and so I registered and started watching it yesterday.

SUCH a fun class, and I am SO happy that I had taken the one at Inzpira previously because I had NO troubles keeping up. Now, Christy's classes ARE easy, I'm not saying it's hard to keep up but I know myself and have a tendency to give up if I don't "get" stuff right away so even if Christy is a great teacher - which she is - I'm afraid I'd have been frustrated because everything looks so good and I'd be scared that I couldn't "do that".

I let go of that fear and just jumped right in.

This is my first canvas. I'm very happy with it, actually! I "invented" the quote myself (can you call it a quote if you're not quoting anyone or is that just a sentiment...?) and just went crazy with stamps, stencils, paint, ink, papers and a whole lot of mod podge and gesso...

Ps. Her hair isn't as weird as it looks, it's just shiny. Sorry about that.

Now, I'm just counting down the hours until DH comes home from shopping after work, because I've sent him to get me more canvases. I have a feeling I'll be needing QUITE a lot of them for quite some time, now...!

Best bit? Christy had a giveaway in her blog the day before yesterday, giving a spot on *this class by Jeanie Oliver*. I just knew that I had to take it. HAD TO.
Guess who WON that spot?
I did!!
*squeals in a very undignified and giggleridden way*

I can NOT even begin to tell you how inspired, happy and excited I am right now.
Christy - my mojo LOVES you!

Last day of 2011

2011-12-31T12:51:00.000+01:00

It's been a long year.
Well, I guess it's ben the same amount of days, hours and seconds as a year usually is - but there have been a lot of moments.
The first months of bad news, from-bad-to-worse-situations and trying to keep our chins high and our hearts full of hope. Half a year with nothing but uncertainty, too many bills and too little money to pay them with - while waiting for some answers. The long, dreary periods away from M.
Then, the upwards spiral!
M finally getting the job we were hoping for. Moving with all that brought with it - good and bad. Starting fresh. Getting the new job at Inzpira.

Phew!
Feels like we had enough stuff going on to fill a few years more.

Very little got created.
I was GOING to make a top-ten-post but I realized that I've hardly made enough LOs to make it. Even if I am, actually, very happy with all of the ones I HAVE made this year - I really don't think there's any need to just show them all again...
(Besides, my MOSTEST faves haven't been shown yet, as they are made for Inzpira. You'll see...! ;))

So, instead - here's something I made yesterday.
Not exactly my "One Little Word" of 2012 - but maybe one of my little words?

Preseverance:

Papers: Bazzill, MME, Dream Street Papers (I think)
Washi tapes, ink pads (antique silver, brown, white), glitter (in the Gesso!) from YouDo
Stamps from KaiserCraft
Stencil from Crafter's Workshop
Tons of distress ink refills from Ranger
Other: Gesso, Crackle medium from CC Hobby, Clear Accents, tags, Baker's Twine, doily, decorative scissors, Clock Face from Heidi Swapp, paperclip, staplers, typewriter font from DaFont (I think) and some kind of tag toppers I found in a drawer...

Photo taken in Kalmar, during our "scrapgal-gettogether-weekend" in September 2010. I think it was taken by Camilla?
...Oh - and that's me - being silly and climbing a light post, just because I could. Sane? Not much. Having fun? Oh yes!

....anyway:
HAPPY NEW YEAR, my friends!
May it be all that you wish for - and then a little extra on top. Just because.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

2011-12-23T09:12:00.002+01:00

...um. Autumn?!

It looks like we're having a grey, foggy, rainy X-mas this year.
Oh well. You know what they say? X-mas spirit can't be found under the tree (or outside, on the ground) - it is what you have in your heart.

Thus: Emmy.
You make my heart smile, hun. :)

And speaking of what's in my heart - here's the project I made the other day, that I couldn't show. It was for the Crate December Color Challenge, but they didn't pick it (boo hoo, right? ;))
Nah, I didn't expect it. And did you seeeee those winners and spotlights? WOW! Especially happy to see Lilith and her gorgeous Nook project there. :)

Papers: Bazzill & Crate
Stamp & bling: YouDo
Other: Distress inks from Ranger, Crackle Accents, Matte Accents and Glossy Accents from Ranger, Stickles (also from Ranger - I'm starting to think they should sponsor me... LOL) pin, wing-stickers, tags, lace, 3D-foam, sewing machine

Thanks for popping by!
Have a LOVELY Christmas/Holiday!

...and hey - if you're Scandinavian, do NOT forget to check the last two posts in the Inzpira Advent Calendar. The prizes up for grabs? Deeeeelish!!

Speaking of friends.

2011-12-15T12:00:00.000+01:00

They say that it's good to have friends in high places.
I'd say it's better to have them when you're in a low place.

That's why I'm so grateful for the ones I have. Beautiful souls, each and every one of them. (Including the ones no longer in my life. They've shaped me into the person I am today, and stuck by me through a lot. I'll never forget that - or them.)

Here are two gals that are (luckily) still in my life.
Ever so wonderful, sweet and talented to boot.
Matilda, to the left, is the supremely talented silver smith with the great sense of humour (as wacky, random and sometimes childish) as mine. Super sweet Camilla, to the right, you all probably already know since she's one of the world's most talented scrappers. And I'm NOT just saying that.

Hey, girls!
Thanks for being a part of my life!
♥

Papers: Bazzill, Scenic Route (LOVE this paper! Anyone have a sheet or two I can buy?!), Prima
Washi tape, bling, stamp and silvery ink: YouDo
Flowers, leaves, butterfly & "straw": Petaloo
Other: pins from Maya Road and Panduro, tags, binder's seam, alphas from Cosmo Cricket & American Crafts, Crackle Accents from Ranger, doily and text stamps from Provo Craft (the texts) and the office outlet (the date)

Random notes.

2011-12-12T11:38:00.000+01:00

I have nothing very inspiring or interesting to jot down here, today - and the greyness and wetness of the so called winter outside doesn't inspire me much, either, so therefore - here are a few things that just crossed my mind.

I wish my friends & family lived closer. Yes, I like it here - but it still gets lonely sometimes.
Just 12 days to X-mas (we celebrate on the 24:th in Sweden. Strange? I know. We just kind of adapted our dates from back in the days when we had the ritual winter sacrifice then. Way back. Before we became Catholics, which was quite some time before we became Protestants. Oh well.) and I'm yet to feel Christmassy.
I've been scrapping quite a bit, lately. Finally, my room is close to done and my mojo's caught up with me. It seems to like the A4-format, too. So do I. Way cheaper to buy albums this way. ;)
If you need a similar boost, I sincerely recommend Inzpira's call page. Right now, we only accept entries from Scandinavia - but hey: you can still get your mojo on, right?! ;)
Don't forget to check Inzpira's advent calendar, if you're Scandinavian! Tons of fun stuff looking for new owners, and inspiration galore. :)
I really need to get a haircut.

How's THAT for random, huh? And just because of bullet number one, here's an LO too:

I kind of made it with scraps from another project, that I can't show you yet... But I will. Soon. :)

Paper: Crate
Washi tape and half pearls: YouDo
Flowers & leaves: Petaloo
Alpha: Basic Grey
Other: Crackle Accents, white pen (Pilot), mist, doilies, a heart-sticker, star-pins, postage stamp, lace, staplers and a piece of number cs as a stencil.

Life's progressing rather nicely.

2011-12-07T12:09:00.004+01:00

Inbetween my new membershop at the gym, get-togethers at Inzpira, scrapping/cardmaking and trying to plan around M's VERY tricky and ever changing schedule, I'm starting to feel at home here.

It always takes me some time to realize that I've even moved (you know: the nights when you wake up and almost walks into a wall that's NOT there in your old place...? Reaching for things in the wrong cupboard because... well, it USED to be there? Things like that.) but I'm getting there.
Slowly and surely.

The other day, I longed to go home... and THIS home is what I was thinking about.

Feels good!
Another thing that feels good, is having a sister who's pure awesomeness. One who understands me, makes me laugh, forgives my absent-mindedness and my tendencies to fall back into the perpetually-talking-little-sister-role...
a sister like mine. ♥

Flowers & leaves: Petaloo
Angel & bird are cutouts from a Kaisercraft paper
Alpha: Basic Grey
Stamp: YouDo, Inkido, CatsLifePress, the office-outlet
Overlay: Hambly
CS: Bazzill OP (my faves, no matter how many I try!)
Also: distress inks, half pearls, lace, staplers, Crackle Accents

A day that leaves a lot to be desired...

2011-12-02T16:00:00.001+01:00

This morning, I woke up bright and early and immediately woke up DH. Because I'm nice like that, and I thought he'd be happy to be woken up by me, rather than by the incessant alarm, and after all - I HAD awakened juuust as it gave off its first beep!
Aren't I just the BEST wife ever?!
...or so I thought, for a second or two, before I realized that the phone didn't continue to be lit up - nor did it beep anymore after that initial signal. So... I checked my bedside clock and found out that it was 01:12 in the morning.
Oooops.
Sorry, luv - go back to sleep! Your wife's just being an idiot, once more...

Luckily, he fell asleep immediately again (more or less) whereas I had huge trouble in that department. Not only had I already woken up thoroughly, I now worried that he wouldn't get enough sleep. Great.
I finally slept a few hours, and according to DH I spent most of those punching him... Apparently I channeled Steven Seagal while sleeping. The only upside is that I don't channel jaws and bite people in the face, like some people I know... *cough cough*
;)

So. Come morning I get out of bed again, to the wonderful realization that the cat has not only been on the table (which she is NOT allowed) but she has thrown up all over my book. My new book. The one I'd read 40 pages in. The one that was now heading straight for the trash can. I'll spare you the details... ;)

Let me tell you: that cat was CHEAP, this morning!!

Three hours later, give or take. the postman arrived with a slip. Wohooo! Finally, my day would turn around!
...if only I hadn't, apparently, lost my id-card and, lacking that, couldn't even pick up my package. Spent an hour asking people in the local shops and walking back and forth where I last had it. Nowhere.
Still hoping, though.

So now, I'm gonna get back to scrapping. Because I need to focus on something happy.
Like memories from Mexico. Memories such as this one:

(I actually made THIS layout the other week. I made another one today. I'll show you later.)

I don't remember where the PP's from.
Flowers: Petaloo
Rub-ons: Kaisercraft
Stencil: The Crafter's Workshop
Random goodies (button card, doily, postage stamp) from the birthday gift that sweet Rimna sent me ♥

False hope? I hope not.

2011-11-29T11:01:00.001+01:00

I got some questions in the mail (and a comment here) regarding my "new style".
It's not exactly ground-breaking or overwhelming. It's just that I don't layer as much anymore. At least not as "largely". My current style is still very much me. I'm not straying from the based-on-white with tons of flowers. Just with smaller pieces of paper! :P
It's not exactly new, either. I guess it happened a year back... maybe more?
My only current change is the decision to try more techniques and to go lettersize (...well... A4, actually) - and that's just because I'm tired of having all my LOs just lying around... I came to the conclusion that regular ol' fileholders will do for a4-sized LOs and since I'm a cheapo that's something I'm willing to roll with... ;)

So. With the exception of the Mexico layouts that will still be consistently based-on-white, Petaloo'ed, 12x12 and LilyBee... but apart from that - I'm gonna go with a4 a while. We'll see how long that feels fun!
Here's the first one, featuring the other two Musketeers, Magdalena & Sofia.
Crazy, silly, beautiful, warmhearted, funny, wonderful, amazing friends of mine. Love them!!

LO made after this week's Skissedilla sketch.
Enjoy (I hope)!

It's still me.

2011-11-28T11:06:00.001+01:00

I just renamed the blog.
Seemed "...and in english" was a bit redundant, now that the "original blog" is down (for good, as far as it feels right now) and this is the only blog I post to.
Thus: new name. New look, too!
Like it? I do - I'm actually quite proud of myself for making it on my own.
(Although I had tons of help from makingcuteblogs and the elements were made by Shellyrae - who are both linked to the right - so can't take credit for that bit. I just fiddled with the template, html and settings and voilà.)

I know, I know. People hate purple. I don't - I LOVE purple.
Also: it was time for a design that better reflected my current scrap style. More on that later.
*pats queuing LO fondly*

In other news, DH and I spent a very rainy, quite windy day "across the pond" yesterday. First of Advent, and the arrival of Santa Claus + lighting of the X-mas tree in Axeltorv, Helsingør (Denmark). It wasn't too X-massy at first, but as soon as Santa came speeding towards the shore in his red&white boat and was greetied by the masses and a band of adorable and very talented elf-girlies playing X-mas songs, after which he travelled by way of horse & waggon all the way to the town square (while happily waving to the people, and tossing candy along the way) and lighting up the tree with a nice little firework... Well - add two brand new elf hats (yep. We're childish AND dorky.) plus some soul-and-finger-warmingly hot glögg - and in an instant...
...X-mas feeling arrived.

We made a lot of people grin on the way back, too. I guess they liked our hats.
(Or, more likely, they thought we looked rather laughable. Well - we don't charge extra for making people laugh, in any case. :))

Just to round this post off, here's a collection of photos of DH yesterday:

(My goodness, I love this man!)

...and a sliiightly more traditional one. Santa (can you see him up at the top, to the right?) ligthing the tree:

Hope your weekend was as wonderful as mine!
Now, I'm off to colour some brand new SomeOddGirl-images - because there's a quite lurvely Cyber Monday sale going on. Sign up for the newsletter, to make sure you don't miss out!

I keep up the scrappiness...

2011-11-24T11:00:00.000+01:00

...but don't tell DH it's all just an excuse to not vacuum, ok?! ;)

Yeah, okay - maybe that's not the entire story... But it miiiight have a slight hinge of truth to it?

I love this country. I'm very happy to be a Swede. I am. It's just so dark and grey and gloomy all the time, this time of the year, after all the flaming leaves have gone brown or fallen to the ground, and the X-mas lights haven't come out yet. Especially when there's no snow, because at least the snow (while a nuisance in some other ways) lights up the world and brings that childhood winter feeling...
This foggy greyness makes no one happy. At least not me.
Makes me tired and boring. (Yes. Boring - not bored.)

Oh welll. Enough complaining, riiiight?
So, anyhow. While I'm not baking gingersnaps, vacuuming or mopping the floor - I am dreaming of going back to Mexico. I know I've said that before, and I will most certainly say it tons of times more. Especially now, when one of my colleagues at Inzpira is in Playacar as we speak.
For some reason, she didn't think I'd fit into her carry-on luggage. Weird, huh?

Soooo... I got inspired. Whipped out the Mexico photo folder and got jiggy with it. (Sorry. Veronica Mars reruns made me write that!!) Paired with a Skissedilla sketch - this is what became of it:

Flowers from Petaloo and Webster's (the one I picked apart and used as skeleton leaves)
Washi tape from YouDo
Patterned paper from Lily Bee

Oh! And speaking of sketches - for all the Scandinavian cardmakers out there: check out the brand new card sketch for Inzpira! Deadline is January 10:th - and the cards will go in the April number of Inzpira, which happens to be issue 5.
Go, go, go!
Be Inzpired! Have fun! Create!
...and email me the result - info's in the blogpost *here*! :D

My scrap desk happily reports...

2011-11-22T11:33:00.001+01:00

...that there HAS been action lately!

Of the scrappy kind, no less. Not just avoiding that bunch of naggy still-unpacked-boxes, hanging around Facebook playing CastleVille, in other words!
Aren't you impressed with me...? NO??!
Yeah, me either. But I'm happy about it, still!

Here's my LO, based on the Lily Bee Sketch Challenge 4:

Papers from Lily Bee and October Afternoon.
Flowers & leaves from Petaloo.
Butterfly from Jennie Bowlin.
Swirly text stamps from Heidi Swapp.
Photos from... Mexico. OH how I long to go back!!

Please, disregard the crappy quality of the photo and the somewhat strange colours... I promise: that IS white cardstock. I have NOT strayed! ;)

Inzpira magazine with a Z...

2011-11-16T18:54:00.001+01:00

...and I DO mean that in every single, awesome way possible...!

That?
That's Inzpira Magazine. A really awesome magazine about creativity and its outlets - be it upcycling, scrapbooking, cooking, photographing, setting beautiful tables... and SO much more!

And why am I showing you this? Well - apart from the obvious part, where it's amazing and you need to buy it (It's in Swedish, but you know the saying? "An image speaks a thousand words": ;)) and cherish it and be inspired by it...
...I just landed a spot on the crew - and the news just went live on the blog.

FWEEEE!
No, I haven't stopped grinning yet. I probably look like a fool. Then again: what's new - right?! ;)
Yes, I'm very nervous and extremely excited.
...and to quote the supremely clever Pippi Longstocking:
"I've never done that before, so I'm sure it'll work out perfectly."

Food for thought...

2011-11-14T20:00:00.000+01:00

...and some for my tummy.

I've taken an online class in art journaling, lately. You can see the link to the right of my blog - hanging out with the pretty button for the brand new Nook blog? Yeah - you should check them both out!
Now, the art journaling class is in Swedish, so maybe it'd be a bit hard to keep up if you don't understand our glorious gibbetygook of a lnaguage (... ;)) but I actually think it'd be understandable anyway, because it's based on text and images and quite beautifully simple to follow along. Even for me. That says a lot, by the way because while I've always thought it looked fun to take an online class in art, I never had the nerve. It either seemed to complicated, the list of materials was too long (or hard to get. Even the staples in US, like Elmer's, are sometimes hard for a Swede to get ahold of.)... This time, it was all so basic and fun - and lots of alternatives were listed.

I didn't have all of the materials, still. My crafty corner's been on a diet lately, and lots a considerable amount of weight in the move... but now, at least, I know what I need for my next shopping spree... ;)

Can I show you something for it? Not yet. Will I? Ooooh yes, you betcha! And it was addictive too, so I've got a few more lined up, waiting to be bought/attended/enjoyed. :)

DH's working late tonight. He has this weird non-schedule where he usually gets told on Friday how the schedule for next week is gonna look. Sometimes, we don't know until the day before. Last week was really strange, schedule wise - and he worked two nights followed by a free day (where he slept in, obviously, and thus got quite little time actually "off") and then two eeeeeearly mornings. As in get up at four, at the latest. I think he stayed up for 8 hours that Wednesday, before he had to go to bed.
So, it makes for quite an interesting time, but since my schedule is more or less completely flwxible - we're making it work and trying to reap the benefits.

Tonight, I've made samosas. I tried one (because I'd starve if I'd waited until he got home to eat) and it was deeelicious. We're kind of hooked on Indian food since we moved here, and I decided I should try making some of my own. Did I follow the recipe?
Nopes. I didn't have all the ingredients, and I added a few for good measure...
I just kinda mashed my potatoes and green peas with ground ginger and garlic, tons of coriander leaves, some finely chopped onion, a little bit of lemon juice, cumin and then a spice mix called Chermoula. I also didn't have the right kind of dough, so I stuffed it in puff pastry instead... I guess I'll just call them SHAMosas?! ;)
It ended up super tasty anyway - especially served with Mango Chutney and raita - and I believe s(h)amosas are now my favourite easy-to-make, quick soul food.

Do you have a favourite kind of comfort food, soul food or a particularly amazing (vegetarian) recipe? Share, please! I'm always on the lookout for more fun things to try in my kitchen.

Oh, and yes: I'm gonna tell you my fun secret soo, too...! ;)

Wheeee!...

2011-11-09T13:08:00.002+01:00

Exciting news coming soon...!

*is a tease*
;)

Please, pardon the mess...

2011-10-10T10:11:00.002+02:00

... I'm moving!

We're getting settled in. Had to get wardrobes urgently, since the apartment had a grand total of ONE closet. In the entryway. With nothing but a coat hanger rack in it. (I guess that when they showed M the apartment, during the renovation, and said "we'll put in closets, too" they meant "closet". As in one. Not several. ;))
Kinda tricky to fit our stuff in, then. It's a bit like living in a huge puzzle. Especially considering the fact that our old place is a 3 bedroom plus a spacious livingroom, two bathrooms and a big kitchen and this place is 1,5 bedrooms, one smaller bathroom and a livingroom that's quite a lot smaller than the one we're used to. And no attic. Or storing room.
(We had both, back at the old place.)
But we've chosen to view it as a challenge and an opportunity to get rid of junk and random stuff.
We've cleaned out box after box, tossed more than I care to admit and given TONS of stuff to charity and the purging is still going strong.

So, anyhow.
It's a nice place! For a bigger city, it's kinda calm and quiet - and it's freshly renovated with a brand new kitchen and freshly painted walls. (They used ceiling paint, so it's way more fragile than it probably should, but at least it looks nice.) I really can't complain!

Still getting used to being in a new place. Every morning is an "aha experience".
It doesn't matter. It's smaller and with a lot less storage space. We knew that. It's less quiet and a lot more people. We knew that too. We're together again. We knew THAT and it's all that matters.

...but it sure cuts into my crafting time!
I'll be back as soon as the tiny office is no longer used for storage. ;)

Happy Weddingday...

2011-09-17T10:43:00.000+02:00

...Anna and Jeremias.

You're in our thoughts, our hearts and we wish we could be there.
Love,
Z & M

So this purging...

2011-09-03T16:56:00.000+02:00

...packing and cleaning delio?

Anyone wanna take over? 'cause I'm fed up with it. I've had it to her *motions to a point just above her ears* and I'm really not wanting to do this anymore.
Just. Not. Fun.
At all.

So, while I go grab some cheese & crackers to go with my whine (...!) - I'll just exchange the boring and cardboard box filled reality for a lovely dream of being back in Mexico with DH.
For instance at Chichen Itzá, riiiiight on the edge of the beautiful holy cenote, with all it's interesting (not to mention bloody and pretty creepy) history.
Here:

Flowers? Petaloo, baby!
All the papers are from previous the Nook-kits.

Vacation recap...

2011-08-30T22:25:00.002+02:00

...the almost-short-on-words but heavy-on-photographies version:

So, as I said: I'm back from a weeklong vacation. DH's only vacation in between ending his short-term-job and starting his full-time-job. Same place, though... We used the week to our bestest of advantages, as you'll see.
A week, if used correctly, can be VERY productive!

There was coffee/lunch+tea at Eva's and Millan's. No pictures from either of these - sorry.
Just believe me. It was lovely!
There was a crawfish party. (I had "green crawfish" = artichokes.) The pie was divine. Thank you, Millan!
There was a get-together at Camilla's. Me, Petra and Helena came over, ate her wonderful bouillabaisse, chatted/laughed/hugged/scrapped/watched (I did the watching as I hadn't brought anything. Not even my mojo.) and forced her hubby to snap photos:

(from left to right: Petra, Helena, Camilla and me.)

There was a quick visit with Matilda and her family where we got apple pie that was yuuuummy... No photos there either. Bad, bad, BAD me! *hangs head low*
There was a trip to Helsingør, Denmark, where DH and I strolled for hours, while we took photos of and in alleys:

...visited Kronborg a.k.a Hamlet's castle where we interrupted all the Japanese tourists (and NO - we're not making fun of them. This is a weird tradition of ours, called "princessing". Long story.) with our antics:

At Kronborg, we continued to ogle-and-swoon-and-snap-an-awful-lot-of-photos all over the place buuuut we also had time for an impromptu dance-recital in the ballroom (won't show it, for your own good... LOL! Believe me - it's not pretty... But fun! :D) and even had time for some Shakesperean goofing off:

By the way: the café outside had "coffee to go or not to go". I looooved that!
After this, we went back into the town of Helsingør where we strolled more, snapped a ton more photos, found what seemed to be a Hobbit-door that DH immediately tried to enter (okay - maaaaybe this shot is a liiiittle bit staged...):

...ate Sri Lankean food that was amazing (totally bringing my family-and-friends there, when they come to visit me after we move! :)), had some seriously yummy Gelato (no, we didn't eat ALL the time. It just seems like it...! ;)), had cider/beer at the town square:

(I know, I know: the photos don't "match"... This is what happens when you have a camera each... ;))

Then there was a boat trip back to Sweden and that pretty much wraps up the trip to Helsingør.
There was also a visit to Helsingborg's beautiful "Kärnan" that same night, where we - obviously - enjoyed the history, stories and view and tried our best to immortalize them though the lenses of our respective cameras. Here are a few examples of what that might look like:

What else was there on our vacation/sightseeing/getting to know our new town-trip?
Well... there was a brand new day (magine that!) which was spent in Helsingborg, rather than across the sound.
There was, as I mentioned before, a visit to the "Tropikariet" which is a privately owned and absolutely AMAZING "zoo" with tons of fun animals, all living in areas that are specially designed to mimic their real environments. There are, among others, reef sharks from the Maldives, there are crocodiles from the rainforest nights (yep. It's night in there. They've turned the time around. ...and there are flying dogs that swoop by you if you're standing still... Very cool!) and monkeys from Madagascar.
I'm not sure if we were more fascinated by the monkeys or they by us. This dude, named Bach, seemed to find us interesting enough to dig up a yummy snack (...) and sit down for a looksie. While I'm personally not too fond of the larvae-snack-diet and honestly can't seem to find it as alluring as, say, a bowl of popcorn - he seemed to enjoy the entertainment...:

The Tropikariet also houses lemurs that roam free in their room and steal cameras if you're not careful... Nah - not to worry. They just wanted to play with the pretty string tied to M's camera and... um.. clean the lens of mine. (I am now the proud owner of an EXTREME close-up of a lemur-tongue. I don't think you need to see it, do you? ;))
Oh! And there's a room where you can actually touch dinosaur bones and teeth, which both DH and I were embarassingly thrilled about. I know, I know. I'm a dork.
The room was a bit dangerous though. Poor DH got eaten by a crocodile...!

(He's a dork, too!! :D)
Down in the harbour, DH proved to be SuperMan as he ran super duper fast between three chairs - and of course I have a super duper speedy camera, too. Or maybe these are triplets? Or maybe I'm Goldilock?
There's also a slight possibility that I have Photoshopped this juuust a teensy weensy bit:

(Um... Remember: we're dorks! ;))
Oh! And DH met one of Kato's black knights from "Mio, my son". He also encountered a Cylon that refused to shake his hand. How rude! Of course, DH exclaimed "No more mr Nice Gaius!" and promptly exterminated it...

(Um... Did I happen to mention that we're TOTAL dorks...?! ;))

What else can I tell you? There was sushi and Japanese beer (when in... Rome?! Uhm...) and then a visit to Bishop's Arms. Then there must have been a night or something like that - because before we knew it it was morning and time to go home.
We took the long road. We checked our DH's working place, met some of the trucks/trailers he's been driving, shopped for veggie food from Ekko Gourmet that haven't expanded this "far up" yet, checked out the sights at the Kullens Lighthouse, at Kullaberg:

Some more sightseeing later, we had lunch at "Rut på Skäret" (which looked small and cosy but was quite classy and rather pricey) and then stopped by a café I've heard TONS about - Flickorna Lundgren - for our dessert: Coffee and cake. Chocolate cake. Not the vanilla hearts, even if they're quite famous.
To round off the vacation, there was also a visit to the birthplace/home of scientist extraordinaire, Carl von Linné:

Such an amazing place, with fun surprises in the surroundings... like oversized ants, huge butterflies and... Um... Whatever this strange creature might be?...

So... All in all: A VERY good (and rather geeky/nerdy/dorky) vacation.
Now: back to the real world with all its "slightly" less fun chores, like vacuuming, doing dishes and setting up meetings with real estate agents to make sure we can move.
Got your fingers crossed?
Thanks!

xoxo,

One weeklong vacation later...

2011-08-28T18:00:00.003+02:00

...I'm back home and a bit lonely.

DH is back at work, and we're moving onwards and upwards with our plan to move asap.
I am NOT cut out for this living-apart-dealio. It's four months already, and it's making me nuts. Nutser than I already was, that is. And that's a lot... ;)

Anyhow. We spent a few days in our probably-new-hometown and I have to say that I am positively surprised by how much I liked it. I never spent more than a few minutes/hours/whatever there before, and that was back-in-the-day when I just followed the parental units along and didn't really bother noticing stuff like service personnel, views, museums...
This time I did. ...and I was impressed.
(Impressed and relieved. *phew*)
Since DH and I are total nerds, we spent a bunch of hours at the Tropikariet, a zoo (kind of) with tons of fun animals, like bats, snakes, spiders, scorpions, small monkeys of all kinds, birds, crocodiles and fishes and sharks. It was awesome! I am definitely planning on
1. getting a VIP-pass
2. getting a job there. ;)
You can expect LOs with monkeys, soon!... :P

For now, however, I'm gonna share one of me. Not that there's much of a dfference. Except the monkeys are way cuter. And smaller. And furrier. Maybe slightly cleverer too?
But I digress... Here it is, another one of my four-LOs-in-a-row (from last time DH was home).

Me in Tulum, Mexico:

(Sorry about the blue tint. I am to lazy to re-shoot or re-Photoshop! ;))

As you (probably) know, I've resigned...

2011-08-18T18:34:00.003+02:00

...from all my DT-spots and other assignments.

That still does not mean I love them less. Au contraire!! If I didn't care, I would have stayed, not caring whether or not I did a good job, right?
So... While I'm takig this hiatus, I have every intention of keeping my Nook kits, my Petaloo flowers, my Tickled Pink Stamps and SomeOddGirl-images clos at hand - because I adore them.

Just wanted to straighten out a few question marks I've stumbled across.
So NO, I didn't quit because I was in ANY way dissatisfied with the teams I were on. I took a break because I feel that they deserve better than I could give, right now. That's all.

In short: I'm staying odd.
Are you?

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com
Flower & leaf: Petaloo

Spam comments vs regular ones:

2011-08-12T18:05:00.000+02:00

An approximate ratio of 5 to 1.

Not encouraging!
Since I got the .com-addy I have been BOMBARDED with stupid spam. Especially stupid since the goshdarned spammers don't seem to realize I have to accept comments before they show up...
Anyhow: this brings me to the bad news. I will (for a while) turn captchas back on, so you'll need to enter that annoying word verification-phrase before your comment even reaches my email, thus being in the drawing to be approved.
I'm really, really sorry about the inconvenience! (Especially since I loathe captchas, myself.)
I hope you understand?

Promise to turn it back off if/when I can! Asap!

So, anyway: life is swiftly and rapidly changing. DH and I are in the pre-stages of moving, again, since he finally got a "real" job at the place where he's been working, instead of just a temporary one. I really don't WANT to move, but I also really REALLY don't want to keep living away from him, like this, so moving we'll be.
I'm sure it'll be the beginning of a whole new adventure!
We're also making some changes here and there, for the better, and some things have happened that has made our life a lot easier/better/happier than it's been a while. So - I'm pretty content!

"All" we have to do, now, is to save up for another Mexico trip because BOY do I long to be back?!
(Yes. Yes, I very much do!)

I bet DH longs to go diving on the world's seond biggest coral reef again, too. And this time? I think I'll muster up the courage to go with him. Just look at this - see how close to him that HUGE turtle is?
I'm GREEN with envy. Positively GREEN! *nods*
:)

Flowers and leaves: Petaloo

Have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo,

We're happily re-united again!...

2011-08-08T21:09:00.000+02:00

...my Photoshop and I!

That means that I can finally show you my layouts. Not that 've made any MORE of them since M left for work again (I told you - he IS my inspiration!) but... still!

This one.s made solely from stuff I had lying on my scraptable. And yes, my scraptable IS messy! *giggles*
The photo is from Mexico. This is the Paradise River at the Xcaret Park - and the stairs to the right is where M and I went into the water only to snorkel our way around it. Funny piece of anecdote, anyone? Okay, here goes. Don't laugh. (Okay, laugh. I do!)

About halfway through this river, you pass huge glass windows separating the river from a pool of manatees. Now, manatees might not be the prettiest animals on the face of the planet, but I pretty much adore them They're just so dang COOL!
Too cool for school, as it turns out.
So what do I mean by THAT? Is there a problem with the fact that they're cool? Yes, siree! There is! romise. See, they're just too chillaxed to bother checking out (or even caring about) the ugly, pinkish fishes staring at them from the other side of the glass...
...unless one of these ugly, neon-pink-bespectacled-and-tube-breathing-fishies (me) squeals happily and... Let's face it: quite loudly, at the sight of them!
Suddenly, we had manatees checking us out, up close, and I was so stoked!
Pride is just something that gets in the way of up-close-encounters with manatees, you see! ;)

(But I feel rather bad for the people that might have been passing by just on the edge of the cliff above us. It can NOT have been a very pleasant sound - manatee-alluring or not... LOL)

So... Anyhow. Here it is: the Paradise River:

Flowers from Petaloo.

It's high time for Christmas cards!...

2011-08-07T12:13:00.002+02:00

...um... probably?

I should start making them. I was really good, in the beginning of the year, when it came to making one each week. Then I kinda figured that I'd probably hate them - come December - so I quit. Or maybe I was just plain bored?
I bore easily...! ;)

Ome thing that never bores me, though, is SomeOddGirl digis/stamps. They always make me SMILE!
Like this adorable Love Letter Kaylee that I used for a card over at Molly's Scrapbooking:

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com
Flower by Petaloo, from a MyScrapbookNook.com-kit

What else doesn't bore me? The fab idea to make kits for cardmakers INCLUDING stamps. Sweet n' Sassy stamps has that. Just LOOK at that June kit! Anyone but me drooooling?! :D
(And do check out the example cards by the super talented Jessica Fick. Just scroll down, when you're looking at a kit page, and there they are. SO fab!)

I also don't get bored when I add stamps to my evergrowing wishlist over at There She Goes Stamps. Seriously CUUUUUTE stuff!! I'm a longtime fan of Whimsie Doodles, and if you are too (but prefer "real" stamping over digi) you really should check it out, because they have super duper cute stamps drawn by Melyssa Connolly (who never fails to knock me off my feet!!) and by Torico that I didn't know of before, but who's definitely gained a fan in me! :)

Seriously.
Check all these links. Shop a little. You deserve it!
;)

The other night, when I couldn't sleep...

2011-08-03T10:16:00.000+02:00

...I made up different ways to tell you guys that I'm quitting scrapbooking and closing this blog.

I lay for about an hour, just thinking about how I haven't scrapped in forever, how I don't seem to feel that rush anymore and how it's all just sad. Then, the next day, as my darling husband (home for a visit) sat down to fix my buggy computer, guess what happened?
I happily sat next to him, at the next table, speedscrapping no less than four LOs. All of which I am very happy with!

The time of wonders has not yet passed, it seems!
Apparently, my mojo's not dead or gone. It just misses DH as much as I do. (He IS my inspiration...!)
However, the time for showing said LOs is not here, since I haven't installed Photoshop since my massive reboot... ;)
...but it's coming. Promise!

In the meantime, I'll just show you a card using the adorable SomeOddGirl's Dancin' Mae that I made for Molly's Scrapbooking a while back. Isn't she just TOO lovely for words? She's a clearstamp and she makes me smile, every time I see her! :D

There's a sale in the SOG-shop right now, to celebrate the brand new digi release and the new fantabulous designers, but if you happen to be in Sweden and prefer to use more hands on'y methods (like, say... stamping!), I can recommend Molly's Scrapbooking, that has all the clear stamps so far, at a very good prize!

Oh well. Without further ado, heeeeeeere's Mae:

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl
Flowers and leaves from Petaloo
Papers and other decos from My Scrapbook Nook's kit

Thank you...

2011-07-29T07:54:00.000+02:00

...for a wonderful term!

My term with Some Odd Girl is up and I have decided not to re-apply for the spot even if it kills me a little bit. (I'm also not re-applying for any other spot, as you might have noticed? It's a strange life and right now, my energy needs to be focussed on other things.)

Therefore, as the last challenge-post for this team - we're going out with a big thank-you-bang.
The theme is simply THANK YOU - or tack, gracias, danke, merci or whatever else language you'd like to thank someone in. Just be thankful, make a card that shows it and join the chance of winning my new fave stamp: the pinwheel panda!

The same panda, actually, that I used for my thank you card:

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl

THANK YOU for popping by and reading - and for commenting! :D

Psssst....

2011-07-21T20:43:00.000+02:00

...did you see the GOOD news?

My Scrapbook Nook is currently on the lookout for new designers!
Apply, apply, apply!

There's TRULY no better kit club, and the bosses are darlings - plus: Leah always manages to put together a well rounded team of lovely girls. Some of my best friends are thanks to her.
♥

...and if that's not enough - how's about one fantabulous journaling class, taught by Leah herself?! :D

Reserve your space today! It'll be so much fun, and well worth it, for sure!

Still haven't had enough? Well, then. Here's my last hint: use the code 40% in the shop to get 40 percent off of the add-ons through the 25:th! Yes. FOURTY! Ruuuun! :D

It's about time for an update!

2011-07-16T09:33:00.000+02:00

...don't you think?!

We have a new challenge for you over at the Odd Girl-blog! This week it's about LIFTING the dt'ers. It's a super duper fun challenge - and I decided I'd lift the amazingly talented Asa.
You can see her card *here*

Mine's not even close to as pretty, but at least I got to play with my beloved Panda some more - and I used my July Nook-kit to boot. It is so pretty, filled to the brim with October Afternoon papers like these. Thought they looked PERFECT with the panda!

Oh - and I left some space at the bottom of the journaling spot for a reason: n case I want to add a number... See, it says "congratulations" or "happy birthday" since these sentiments are the same in Swedish. Rather weird? True - but also handy! ;)

Without further ado - here he is, the Pinwheel Panda:

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.
Papers October Afternoon, from the July My Scrapbook Nook kit.
Flowers from Petaloo.

Join the challenge! Get beamed over there asap by clicking *here*!

Hop hop hop with Some Odd Girl!

2011-07-08T15:00:00.016+02:00

Hello and welcome to my bloghop post!
As you're probably aware, Some Odd Girl has just released a new set of fantabulous clearstamps - and in the spirit of funness and partying, we've had a sneak week. It's now time for the grand finale and tha grand finale will be represented by (probably) the cutest stamp I've ever owned:

The Pinwheel Panda!

Soooo, what's the dealio with the hop?
Weeeell - follow the nifty list of links below, and make sure you leave a comment on all the posts before the hop ends the hop ends on Sunday at 11:59 PM EST (timezone converter *here*) to be entered to win the big prize, consisting of...

*drum rolls*

...the whole release!

Okay - so it's about time I show you my card, don't you think? Here he is:

Can you believe the cuteness of this dude?!
Image, of course, ©Kristy Dalman for someoddgirl.com
Have fun, hopping!! :D

Note: I use comment moderation. Your comments WILL show up as soon as I let them through. Don't worry! :)

Sneak week continues...

2011-07-07T10:58:00.001+02:00

...and the list of beautiful clearstamps to buy grows longer.

Riiight?! ;)
Luckily, Kristy has a SALE going on - so pop over to the SOG-blog to oogle and drool over the pretty cards by the DTers, leave a comment for a chance to win - and for info on the sale!

Here's my cards using Photo Kaylee and Tiny Baker Tia

As always, the images are © Kristy Dalman, for SomeOddGirl.com :)
And don't forget:

Iiiit's sneak week!

2011-07-04T15:46:00.001+02:00

Some Odd Girl cordially invites YOU to join!

Today is the first day of the number of posts that'll reveal the brand-spankin'-new Some Odd Girl clearstamps to the world, and believe me: they're CUTE, they're droolworthy and they are amazing quality. Did I mention that they come with sentiments? Because they do! It's like two-for-one (and sometimes even more than two.)

The first sneak shows off the adorable Sweet Thinking Mae.
See more sneaks at the Some Odd Girl-blog, and don't forget that if you leave a comment on the post there, you might just win a stamp of your own!
There's also a SALE going on - so hurry on over and read all about it! :D

image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com

Ps. Also - don't forget to apply for the SOG design team. Scout's honour: that team ROCKS my cotton socks!!

Ps2. Stacey who asked about my colouring: I tried answering on your blog or email but couldn't find any, so here's the response, insetad. I don't use Copics at all, I use distress ink refills for colouring, and sometimes ProMarkers for shading (like around the motif on the card above). Thank you very much for your kind words!

Blindingly bright...

2011-06-30T16:27:00.000+02:00

...at SomeOddGirl!

This fortnight's challenge is to make it BRIGHT!
I think I was probably the meakest one in the team for this particular challenge, as my brights might be a bit pastelly, now that I think about it. (They sure were bright when I started. Wonder how they managed to get this soft?! ;))
Still, my teamies made STUNNING cards to inspire you and it's a LOT of fun to play with the bold papers.

Join us!

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com

Ding ding ding! Winner announced...

2011-06-24T11:47:00.002+02:00

...and there's also a layout and a linky hint or two.

First of all. It happened, this time, that the winner of my RAK was lucky number ONE!

It always seems so unlikely, but Random.org has decreed it and I will abide. ;)
MARLEY!
Please, leave a message to this post that gives me your address - I won't publish it so I'll be the only one to see. (By the way - your cards are wonderful! Oh - and a fun fact: I actually have a friend who comes from Eindhoven, too. :))

Thanks for participating, everyone!

A new giveaway is coming up soon - BUT right now I'm very happily enjoying two days with my DH who's been away working so I won't be online much. Later on. Promise!

In the meantime - here's a layout I made for the Petaloo/May Arts bloghop. You do NOT want to miss out on the hop - fab prizes to be won! Also - don't forget the Color me Crazy-contest.

Have a happy midsummer!

How about a pop of colour?!

2011-06-19T10:40:00.000+02:00

See, that's the new challenge over at SomeOddGirl's challenge blog!

Here's the skinny:

The challenge runs thru June 28th. When the linky closes the challenge is over. Entries that use a Some Odd Girl image (digi or stamp) will get 2 entries into the draw! Twice the chance of winning! All entries must be new for this challenge, no back linking, we do check, and your entry post must be linked to the challenge-blog (http://someoddgirl.blogspot.com) and linked to a specific post (not a generic blog link) or sweet InLinkz will not let you link up until you do. Entries in the comments will not be counted.

Winner of this challenge will be receiving 2 Digis of their choice from the SOG-shop!

So! Get creative!
...and don't forget that there's a DT-call running right noooow... You DO want to apply, I can't stress that enough. It's a fantastic team to be on, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart!

Here's my white+2-card, using one of the sneaks from the July release, the Sweet Thinking Mae-clear stamp:

Image, of course, © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com

So, I don't know if you've seen...

2011-06-14T11:10:00.002+02:00

...the Petaloo contest that starts today?

It's preeetty dang awesome (emphasis on the VERY!)...!

There are three categories, too: best CMC-layout, best CMC-altered project and best CMC-card - so there are plenty of chances to win. "And what are the prizes?", you ask? Funny you should bring that up! I was just about to tell you, actually.
The prizes are as follows:

$100 worth of Petaloo products AND a Designer Fun Pack (flowers and all sorts of things to help you alter and make them up the way YOU want them, to go perfectly with your projects!) and the runners up? Wins a Designer Fun Pack, too!

Awesome?
I told you so! :D

Okay, so maybe you don't have any CMC-flowers at home? You just ran out? Or maybe you just want more to choose from? Well, that's where I come in. I decided to help my darling blogfollowers (via either alternative, by the way) towards winning these fab prizes by offering up a small RAK.

All you have to do is to be a follower of my blog (new or old doesn't matter) and to tell me, in a comment, what you would like to do with the flowers if you won!
Feel free to spread the word about my giveaway AND about the contest, but I am not going to make you. (IF you do, however, please tell me - because if you happen to be the winner, there just MIGHT be a little extra something-something in the RAK when it arrives... ;))

Sounds good?
Great! Now for the RAK:

This kit contains four packs of Petaloo Colour Me Crazy-flowers as well as one Cats Eye Chalk and one VersaColor to help you ink them up. I also tossed in some pretty red, sparkly brads and a red bling swirl, for added flair. Oh, and these's a pack of super cute, sparkly yellow flowers in there too. Not CMCs - just an added bonus. :)

This giveaway runs until Thursday June 23:rd, 4 pm Swedish time (which is 7 am PST, 10 am EST and, I believe, midnight in Australia.) If the winner does not come forward in three days, I will draw a new winner the following Monday.

Now, pun on that thinking cap and tell me what you'd make if you won! Looking forward to being inspired!
Good luck!

At the risk of boring you all to death...

2011-06-11T15:35:00.000+02:00

...or at least into a coma.

(Both of which would be horribly, horribly bad - and if it happens, I hereby reject all liability but promise to send you a postcard to wish you well, at least once. ;))

Here's another Mexico-layout!
This time, it's DH who's getting some dolphin love. Don't they look adorable?!

Now, you all know I'm a huge fan of My Scrapbook Nook, don't you? You also know I love my Petaloo's!
So, if I were to say that the June kit from the Nook contained no less than TWO packages of beautiful Petaloo flowers, would you believe me if I said that I was extatic when the kit came?
'cause I REALLY was!

On the layout above, I've kept mostly to the kit - but instead of just teasing you, I'll just show you the kit.:

Now, isn't that just LOVELY?!
Have a great weekend!

xoxo,

I have this amazing talent...

2011-06-10T13:20:00.000+02:00

...for messing up!

True story. ;)
Today's astonishing feat: mounting a clear stamp the wrong way and thoroughly inking the backside before realizing that... hey - it's not supposed to look like that, now, is it?!
*sighs*
Well, at least I got a giggle out of it, right?!

Here's another one of my sneak pee cards for the new SomeOddGirl-release,
Octee!

Image © Kristy Dalman for Some Odd Girl.

Sneak a peek...

2011-06-09T15:13:00.000+02:00

...at the upcoming SomeOddGirl-release!

We've gotten to play with these babies to be able to tease you all a little... and it was WAY fun! As usual, Kristy's images are super cute and versatile. They always make me so HAPPY and - they're so high quality! Both the digis and the clears ROCK!

Without further ado, here's Beach Babe Kaylee:

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com
...and remember to leave comments on the release posts at the SOG-blog for a chance of winning!

Make it manly...

2011-06-07T09:55:00.000+02:00

...why don't you?

If you're anything like me, you have a lot more girly stamps than boyish ones. You might also own plenty of girlier type papers and embellies, but not so many ones that would fit for boys?
...or so you THINK!
First of all: it's VERY okay to make boy cards and/or layouts with flowers and pastels. Believe me. Works like a charm! Sometimes, the effect is all in the opposites.

Anyhow - not getting into that right now, because I tend to get tedious and chatty and never stop with my theories. As you are probably very well aware? ;)

What I WILL show you, however, is one of the cards I've made, lately, with one of my mostest faves EVER fromm SomeOddGirl. It's a digi and it's Super Tobi!
Isn't he adorable?!

The card is for the SomeOddGirl challenge to make it manly! Will you join us? :D
You're also gonna want to stop by the blog each day for a sneak of the upcoming summer releases. They ROCK!

Image © the amazing Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:
Charisma Cardz Challenges - Something that Flies (because it's SUPER TOBI, you know?)
Craft your days away - Father's Day/Special Man (self explainatory, right? :))
The ABC Challenge - V is for Variety (at least 3 different embellies: flower, pearl maker, ribbon, string, journaling spots and staplers)

Sneaky peeky...

2011-06-03T13:51:00.004+02:00

...of goodnessess to come!

It's sunshiney and lovely, so I'm stubbornly (and, I admit it, medicatedly & SPF'edly) refusing to be hindered by the pollen related sniffles and/or my redheaded genes... Instead, I FULLY intend to pick up this lil tray I've prepared (containing the following: my baby-and-Zarah-safe mug, that doesn't spill even if you are a clutz and tip it over - thank you TONS, Matilda - plus some SOG motifs and my distress ink palette) and go out into the sun for some colouring-of-motifs (if not so much of me) and cultivating of my freckles.

In the meantime, I thought I'd borrow one of Kristy's beautifully coloured sneaks and show it to you.
REAL good stuff is around Some Odd Girl's proverbial corner!
See what I mean?!

Ps. Don't miss out on the new, fun SOG-challenge! Make it manly!

Here's how I've spent my days, lately...

2011-05-30T16:04:00.003+02:00

...in a so-called short-short version.

Sneezing. Eye dropping. Anti-allergy-pill popping. Falling asleep on my desk (due to the previosly mentioned pills, that make me VERY sleepy. ...and yes, Staz On removers work on your face, as well, but you'll probably get a few dry spots and/or pimples. Be warned...). TV-show watching (because reading is too tough on my eyes, and renders my eye drops to run out too quickly). Reading a little anyway (because I have this brilliant new series that keeps drawing me back in). Taking one little stroll with sis and dad on the Blues Festival. One. Because the sounds and the pollen wouldn't treat me nicely. Being away from teh interwebs (because everything takes forever and a day to load and it ticks me off bigtime.) Missing DH. Not-even-a-wee-bit-of-crafting. *cries*
Mr Mojo's fled to more pollenless and all inclusive-places, I'm sure.

So, why do I update?
Because the blog might dry out, otherwise. Yup. Pretty sure it'd happen. It'd wither and die!
I can't have that. It's against my religion or... something.

Thus - an LO from the virtual crop @ The Nook:

Hello there...

2011-05-25T15:35:00.004+02:00

...how are you?

Long time, no see. Again.
No excuses. It just happens.

I thought I'd update with a layout today. This one was made for the virtual crop @ My Scrapbook Nook, where Tanya challenged us to be inspired by a movie poster.
...and yes, my Mexico-LO's DO follow a specific theme, pattern and a colours. ;)

My darling husband (to the left) galloping on the beach, during his very first horseback ride at Rancho Baaxal in Mexico. Love this photo. Love the memories.
Oh, and doesn't he look just SO natural on the back of a horse?! :)

I've used a mix of Lily Bee (leftovers since the Petaloo/Lily Bee bloghop. They sent TONS!) and OA-papers from my Nook kit - all combined with tons of lovely Petaloo, of course!

Time to...

2011-05-19T16:51:00.004+02:00

...make a scene!

Well, not as in publicly and loudly reciting the entire first chapter of "Anna Karenina" and tossing frozen peas across the store - or playing rugby with the cheese in a restaurant while you sing "Tubthumping" at the top of your lungs, or even as in blowing soapbubbles at everyone who frowns in the subway until your throat is sore and the floor is sticky (but prettily rainbow'y...).
This time - at least... ;)

It's all about making scenes over at Some Odd Girl.
The kind of scenes you majke with stamps/digis. Only... Unless you manage to multitask enough to make cards while you're passing the bag of peas?! o_0
Nah, it's probably best to stick with the cardmaking vesrion. More fun and less messy!
Pop by an play!

Digital stamps © Kristy Dalman for Some Odd Girl

A bloghop layout...

2011-05-17T12:03:00.003+02:00

...from me, Lily Bee, Petaloo and... Mexico? ;)

Have you ever looked at a line of paper, and just seen how it was MADE for these special embellishments you have and love? It happened to me, the second I opened my bloghop package from Petaloo and Lily Bee.

I was lucky enough to get a box full of lovely stuff, and I could not have been happier when I saw that I'd been picked to play with their Stationery AND the Picket Fence-line. I LOVE that line - and the flowers and other cute embellies Jeff & Cheryl sent me, just suited them perfectly.

Look:

Isn't that just the perfect fit?!

I decided to make the Canterbury Vine Spray/Teal mimic water drops/splashes, and don't you just love that effect?!

For a full list of what I've used, visit the Petaloo blog post!

Hope you like it - and remember to ALWAYS make a splash!
xoxo,

You don't want to miss...

2011-05-11T12:21:00.002+02:00

...either of these.

I assure you!

First of all, Petaloo and Lily Bee are having a joined bloghop.
What does that mean, you're asking? Well - simple as this: us Petal girls were spolied with not "only" a package of wonderful Petaloo items, but also a nice big batch of Lily Bee stuff to play with! The Lily Bee girls got Petaloo embellies with their usual paper kits.
Then we played, created, swooned and drooled. Actually, the swooning and drooling came first, and lasted for QUITE some time!
But that's just details. ;)

Hop on over to the Petaloo Blog to see the hop posts - and don't forget to check in on the Lily Bee blog, as well! There are nice prizes to be won!

Second: The Nook are hosting a fun crop - celebrating the month of May!
It starts on Thursday and end on Sunday, som there's a plenty of time to craft, crop and join in the fun. As usual, there will be lovely prizes, too!
See you there!

Oh... And this card?
Picked because I hadn't shown it on my blog before (did I mention I'm a bad, horrible, AWFUL blogger...?!) and because the bumblebee/bee is from Petaloo and the yellow paper, the note-sticker are from Nook kits. The stamp is © Kristy Dalman for Some Odd Girl.

Living the dream...

2011-05-08T15:28:00.002+02:00

...in Mexico!

I wish we were back there now.
Yes. I know the sun's shining outside my window and that summer is almost here (hopefully) but I still long to be back there.

Another "imperfect" photo. Another Petaloo layout.
See the entire post *here*.

I've used My Scrapbook Nook's March kit for this LO because it worked so fantastically well with the beautiful flowers I have been given to play with!
So, what flowers DID I, in fact, use?
Ooooh - I thought you'd never ask... ;)

I used:
Petites Mini Rose/Yellow+Gold
Brighton Collection/All White
Color me Crazy/Hydrangea Petals
Color me Crazy/Crystal Center
Dazzler Florettes/Yell+Orange+Fusch+Lav
Velvet Butterflies x 12/Pastels

Lots of Odd love....

2011-05-06T12:17:00.002+02:00

..in one of my very rare posts!

I know, I know. Horrible blogger.
Horrible internetter all in all, actually!
Sorry, luvs. Doesn't mean I've forgotten about you all.

"It's not you. It's me" - just taking a break. Internet vacation. Whatever you call it. ;)

Just to make it up for you, I'll share TWO cards. Both images are ©Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl. The first one, Baby snuggle Kaylee, is from the April 19 release.
Tobi and his puppy is from the clear stamp release.
You knew that, didn't you? That you can now get your SOGgies in clear? Well, you CAN! And there's more coming! :D

Hope you're enjoying the beautiful pre-summer weather as much as I am.
xoxo,

First Ride...

2011-04-26T11:34:00.003+02:00

...with Petaloo!

Text taken from the Petaloo post Click here to read it all!

Back in December, my DH and I went to Mexico for two weeks. It was a dream come true. One I never thought I'd never get to live - but sometimes fortune smiles at you and we got to go for a fraction of the normal prize, so we spent the budget on trips and adventures.

Anyway. Back home, I can't stop fiddling with the photos, like this one, taken by Mikael while riding. It's out of focus and it's not technically perfect in any way, but emotionally? All the more so.

I used my Darjeelings and paired them up with a bunch of other Petaloo flowers for this one - and that pretty, script paper you see behind the corrugated cardboard? That's actually the packaging that I re-purposed.
See, Petaloo has a way of thinking of everything!

I've used:
Darjeeling Collection/Dahlia Mix
Darjeeling Collection/Poppy Mix
Darjeeling Collection/Anemone Mix
Darjeeling Collection/Burgundy Assortement
Glitter Critters/White+Light Blue
Canterbury Rose/Vanilla
Velvet & Lace/Buttercream
Berry Picks/Black
and, of course, the packaging from two of the Darjeeling Collections.

On a side note:
Did you become a Facebook-fan of Petaloo already? See, by liking Petaloo+commenting on the page and (for extra credits) adding this blinkie to your blog, you could win big...
Read all the details in this Petaloo blog post!

Some Odd Bloghop!

2011-04-22T15:00:00.004+02:00

Welcome to the Some Odd Girl Blog for our first stamp release!

If you've just happened upon my blog today and want to join in the hop then start at the Some Odd Girl Blog and follow the hop list. You should have arrived here from the super duper amazing Amy - who is our very special guest for the hop, and who just happens to be one of my absolute mostest faves in the cardmaking world. Seriously. Such a lovely girl, and too talented for words!

Here is our Odd Hop list today:

Make sure to hop and comment on each blog, because everyone who comments on all the blogs will be entered to win the complete 6 stamp set from our May 2nd Release! Also join us back at the Some Odd Girl Blog every day next week, April 25-30, for sneaks on all the stamps and a chance for more winning. All winners will be announced on Release Day, May 2nd, on the Some Odd Girl Blog.

Now hop on over to (my fellow Swede on the team) the fantabulistic and absolutely adorable sweetheart Asa's blog and Stay Odd!

...here's MY card using the upcoming release.
We were supposed to pick our fave but that was just impossible because I am crushing on them all - so I went all eenie meenie moe on them, and this one won out:

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com
Butterfly from Petaloo
Hope you like it!

Time for an LO and...

2011-04-19T18:00:00.004+02:00

...a reflection on focussing!

Text below is copied and pasted from my Petaloo-post.

While it's always important to keep focus on the important things, there just happens to be times when that has to be figuratively speaking instead of literally. Like in this photo of me and two of my very best friends, Anna and Emmy.

It's completely out of focus. Unless you are REALLY interested in the green stuff growing just in front of the lens...
...then again - I don't care. I love the feeling this photo gives me. See, in my opinion a photo doesn't have to be perfect to be perfect, if that makes sense. While learning the basics of photography, sometimes the best photo is taken by your three year old kid and shows nothing but a glittering pair of eyes and a blurry head of hair, or maybe it's the shot you accidentally took between two posed ones, where your dad is laughing at your attempt to direct him, and while his entire right arm is left out of the image, and the background drapery is hanging in all the wrong ways, it's that laugh you'll cherish forever and not the posed photos? Perhaps it's just a photo of feet, because you moved the camera before the photo had been taken - but you'll always remember that party (and those shoes) with a huge smile... It could be any of these shots, and not always the technically speaking good photos that make your heart warm.

This is one of those photos:

See the entire post, and the list of what products I've used, in the Petaloo blog! Hint: there might be more than you think... For example: I re-used some packaging. Can you spot it?! ;)

Thanks for popping by - and happy Tuesday!

So, did you happen to see the sneaks...

2011-04-17T15:20:00.003+02:00

...in the Some Odd Girl-blog?

Aren't they just amazing?
What I love most about the SOGgies is that while they are CUTE, they're not sugary. They have attitude. They make me smile and they make cardmaking a true delight.

Another thing that makes me happy right now is yellow, so I combined the super adorable new tiny baby digi with the March Nook kit, because it had Emma's Shoppe from Crate Paper which was straight up my alley. Best bit? I'm pretty sure Leah planned this, because it goes perfectly with the April kit (featuring Echo Park and Petaloo, among other prettinesses), too! They are SO mixable and you knoooow I'm a girl who loves to mix it up!
(If you're quick, you can still join in on the Nook's Virtual Crop that's happening this weekend, by the way! Fun challenges galore - and fab prizes to be won!)

Anyhow - here's my baby card:

Image © Kristy Dalman for Some Odd Girl
Flower & leaves: Petaloo

Sneaky peeks and...

2011-04-14T13:37:00.003+02:00

...a challenge.

Clean and simple.
When it comes to words that do NOT describe my crafting, clean and simple are very high on the list. On top, probably. However, a challenge is a challenge - and since I love my Some Odd Girls, I tried to make it as CAS as I could, since that's what Kristy double-dog-dared us to do.
This is the result:

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com
Flowers from Petaloo

Play with us!
Challenge runs until April 19th, midnight EST, so you have plenty of time, still.

Also, don't forget to check the sneak peaks at the Some Odd Girl-blog!! The new images follow in the footsteps of their "older siblings" and ROCK!

Pink. It's my new obsession...

2011-04-07T16:01:00.000+02:00

Yeah, pink it's not even a question,
Pink on the lips of your lover, 'cause
Pink is the love you discover.

See? I found a song this week too. And no, it's not that I try to. I think in lyrics, a lot of the time. Thus the often used lyrics/quote/songtitle-journaling on my layouts.
...but it's a fun song!

So. Without further ado - here's this week's Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge:
PINK!

This little chick is the brand NEW Coraline by Tickled Pink Stamps! If you want to get more sneaks from the upcoming release (which rocks), just pop by the "regular Tickled Pink Stamps blog" for some fantaaaastic lookieloos!

Flowers, leaf, script paper - which is really a piece of packaging from the Darjeeling flowers - and glittery heart by Petaloo

Have a great weekend!
xoxo,

Just because...

2011-04-05T12:53:00.002+02:00

...it's spring.

Yes, it IS spring. Even if the sun's currently taking some time off, and the clouds have gathered.
Spring showers bring May flowers - right?! :D

I've got a ton of things happening and don't have much time to spend here - which is the reason for my (yet again) extreme lack of blog comments and blog updates. I'm sure I'll have some time off, soon - and in the meantime, you can check the

Petaloo blog for card posts (not one or two but three of them)
Tickled Pink Challenge Blog for the current challenge (Bling it up!)
Some Odd Girl-blog (where we're still pleating for a LITTLE while longer - 16 hrs and 59 minutes to be precise. *beeps*)
and of course, make sure you've signed up for the Nook's upcoming newsletter which will have all sorts of eyecandy in it!

Those should reassure you, if you're ever doubting my being-alive-ness. ;)

To round this short post off, here's a quick card I made using scraps from the Nook kits (both the March kit and some older ones too. The ribbon is actually from an older kit, as well.), Petaloo-flowers and one of my favourite Some Odd Girl-digis.

Image Kristy Dalman for Some Odd Girl

Ps. Oh! And I've "sort-of-moved" to www.zarischka.com so feel free to update your blogrolls! :D

All I can say is...

2011-03-31T19:23:00.003+02:00

...bling it on!

This week's Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge asks you to bling up your TPS-creations.
If you're anything like me, that won't be a problem.
Bling is my thing!

That's why I went the extra mile to make this card suuuuper blingy!
I know its hard to see on the image, but let me tell you what's glittery/shiny/blinged:
The obvious ones are the alpha, the über cute Petaloo ladybug, the glittered Petaloo flowers (they are actually frosted like that when you get them, with the bling in the middle & all. Super pretty!) and the shiny drops on the scallops and above the flowers.
What you might NOT see is the glitter on the heart she's holding, her eyelids, the rose on her necklace, the stripes on her tee, the button on the skirt, the hearts on the stockings and her black, laquered shoes...

See! I TOLD you. Super blinged.

Image - Lil Valentine Lolita Lilith - from Tickled Pink Stamps.

Feeling up to the challenge!
BLING it on! :D

I don't have a clever song...

2011-03-25T13:16:00.006+01:00

...to go with this post.

Not even, as is usually the case, a far-fetched and almost-entirely-unfunny one.
I could offer you my current playlist, but somehow, I don't think that's really relevant at the moment. Is is? If you REALLY beg, I guess I could give you one. I made this for my super talented and amazingly sweet friend Sasha (who lives WAY too far away!!) after we figured out that we seemed to enjoy the same kind of soft-and-mellow-songs.

So here you go.
I'm just THAT nice, aren't I?! ;)

Anyhow. Pleating. That's the theme for the fortnight's challenge over at SomeOddGirl. (And now you know why, in this case, there's no accompanying theme song. I just don't KNOW a song about pleating. Quilting, I could have done. But not pleating. Unless Dolly's mom pleated a little in that coat of many colours, as well? I bet she did.)
Aaaanyhow. Luckily, thinking of a way to use pleating on a card is way easier than conjuring up a song about it - and here's my result:

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com
Flowers, leaves and bumblebees by Petaloo

As usual, the challenge runs for two weeks and this time, you can use any kind of stamps to enter. The winner will receive 2 images from the shop!
Will you play with us? I sure hope so!

Have a good waffle-day, peeps.
(Yep, for real. It's waffle day in Sweden - so go make yourself some waffles. Blame it on me! ;))

Love,

It cracks me up, sometimes...

2011-03-24T14:04:00.003+01:00

...about music.

When I grew up, I had this really COOL neighbour. He had long hair and torn jeans, and he and his pals would listen to hardrock on the stereo - blasting it for the entire street to hear, while they fiddled with the last one in a long line of transports (well, it's used to be mopeds, but they grew out of that pretty quickly and moved on to cars-or-anything-else-with-an-engine including a bus, an ambulance and so much more) that they picked apart and re-built...

Now, luckily, these boys happened to be real sweethearts, and not the hooligans people tended to think, judging from their profanity-filled-language, Guns n' Roses/Mötley Crüe/Kiss-tees, oil stained clothes or the beers they drank.
They still are.
Nothing much changes. Except the music.
Nowadays, this i probably considered pop, rather than hard rock. ...but me, being a fossil - I remember the days when Ozzy Osbourne was public enemy number one, when music like Twisted Sister or Iron Maiden was the most rebellious and hard hitting you could crank up on your music player.

Back in the days when music came on kassettes, painstakingly (and slowly) copied down from big, plastic, black LP-discs and not via zeroes and ones on the internet.

Oh well.
I'm old.

The reason I even write this is simple: Tickled Pink Stamp Challenges has this fun challenge, this week, called "One for the lads" but in my head - it's been "Me & the boys" since I first saw it, and its theme song, of course, has been Twisted Sister.
Sooo while Li'l Allsorts Pirate Frankie may not have a lot in common with Dee Snider, as far as looks go, here's one... for the boys:

Image: Tickled Pink Stamps
Flowers: Petaloo

The best...

2011-03-21T07:48:00.003+01:00

...of friends.

"A true friend is someone who knows your heart's song - and sings it back to you when you've forgotten the words."
Thanks for singing to me, Anna.
♥

LO made for my gDT-spot at Magdas.

If you came for the Paper Issues hop - scroll down a little, or click here.
:)

Blog Hoppin' with Paper Issues...

2011-03-19T14:18:00.013+01:00

...we're talking FAVOURITES!

Isn't that a happy, promising theme?! :D

Thank you for joining us during this very exciting weekend.
For the next two weeks (March 19th to April 2nd) Paper Issues will be celebrating FAVORITE THINGS!
We have a lot of great projects lined up for you to look through and be inspired by. Many design team members have personal giveaways so please try to hit up every site. Come back multiple times if you'd like! There's no rush!

After you take in all the eye candy and furiously create your own spectacular creation please take a minute to link it up at the main blog post over at the Paper Issues' blog. 1 lucky winner will win a Crate Neighbourhood kit!

See it in all its glory on the Paper Issues blog!

We've divided into teams paper, scissors & glue - and in case you get lost on the way, you're currently almost at the end of team scissors' hop.
These are all of the gals in my team:
1. Chris Aiton
2. Gretchen McElveen
3. Mandy Starner
4. Lowri McNabb
5. Cassie Box
6. Zarah S Peterson <-- you are here
7. Diana Fisher
8. Back to PaperIssues bloghop post
So if you arrived from Cassie's fab blog, you're on the right track! After you've left a comment here - hop along to the amazing Diana, and then you'll be ready for the next team!

Soooo... Favourites?
When I created this card I used several of my faves. I bet you can spot them if you have been to my blog before. ;)
If you haven't - here's a little list:

I love...
...my Tickled Pink digi images!
...Petaloo flowers!
...to tear paper.
...corrugated cardboard.
...chalking edges.
...stitching - especially over text at the moment.
...these colours. (I was inspired by the colours of my Pinterest boards!)
...lace.
...clusters!
...butterflies!
...making cards with quirky sentiments.
...staplers.
...tags and shaped journaling spots.
...Baker's twine!

Here's the result of those faves:

What do YOU love?!
Don't forget to link your creations, using your own faves, up at the PI-post for a chance to win.
Now - hop along to Diana for some eye candy - and have a lovely weekend!
xoxo,

Bad, bad...

2011-03-18T10:29:00.003+01:00

...bad to the bone.

That's me.
At least when it comes to:
1. blogging
2. blogcomments (Yup. Even managed to mark the entire list as read in a not-so-pretty-fit-of-overwhelmedness <--- word created especially for the occasion. Sorry, luvs! Getting back on track riiiiight now. As soon as I finish writing this post.)
3. creating things

Gah. Mr Mojo has taken a temporary hike. The bastard.

I'm hoping he'll be back soon. He should be, because I am literally (well, maybe not. But almost!) swimming in beauuuutiful flowers, with the latest shipment of Petaloo goodies at my desk - and I've gotten the new digis from the upcoming SomeOddGirl-release tooooo, so I am all set for fun and games. I've also gotten the cutest digis from my sweet and übermultitalented friend Kirsty Wiseman, to play with!
Thanks a bunch, K!
You can bet your sweet behind that I'm gonna be using THOSE cuties as soon as my inspo comes back from its extended vaca! :D

Now, for another note - of a more upbeat and inpiring kind (than me whining about my mojolessness, I mean I am even boring myself with it!) is the fact that Paper Issues will be hosting a bloghop on the 19:th and you do NOT want to miss it. Believe me!
Check out the sneaks *here*

Speaking of sneaks... I know these stamps are no longer secret, but that doesn't make them any less adorable. I thought I'd end this everlasting rant with a card I made for a spring-inspiration post at the SOG-blog.
...aaand while we're still on the topic of spring, why don't you join the SomeOddGirl-spring challenge? It's the second ever SomeOddGirl-exclusive challnge, meaning that you have to use a SOG-image to play but the prize is double the usual, meaning FOUR free digis to the winner.
How's THAT for encouragement, huh?! :D

Ok. I'm done now. Here's the card:

Image, Tweet, © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.

Freezing my fingers off...

2011-03-14T15:05:00.004+01:00

...in March.

Score for Mother Nature. None for me.
Nah, seriously. My craft room has been closed for three days (to keep one VERY ribbon-loving cat out of my stash) while we've been away, celebrating my MIL's birthday, and the temperature in here is not exactly cosy and bikini-enabling!
(I am actually considering gloves. No kidding.)
;)

Thus: This is a SHORT post with mostly a card.

The SomeOddGirl-challenge for this fortnight is "Think Spring" and that's exactly why I am taking my new spring SOGgies with me into the (significantly warmer) kitchen for tea-and-colouring-time.
Will you play with us?!
:D

Image, as always, ©Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com
Frog-embellie-cutie by Petaloo

Thanks for popping by!

Added geekery...

2011-03-08T11:04:00.004+01:00

...would make this blog almost impossibly geeky.

Wouldn't it?!
So I guess I won't be going into detail when I say that we've recently fiddled with my computer and how that kinda made me lose all updates in Google Reader? Yeah - let's just say this: If I haven't been paying attention to your recent blogposts, don't fret.
It's not you - it's me!
;)

And to top this boring post off, just because it's too nice weather to be sitting here, rattling away on the keyboard when I could be out *there* cultivating my freckles, I'm gonna show you this LO of my bestest friend's über adorable son Leon, building a snowman.
I made this LO for my gDT at Magdas.

Thanks for stopping by! ♥

It's interesting how...

2011-03-03T02:59:00.006+01:00

...one word can mean such different things.

Like sewer.
Just a side note. ;)

See, this week's challenge at Tickled Pink Stamps Callenges is to sew on your card. Hand stitch if you prefer, or run the card through your sewing machine if you're as lazy as me. Make doodles, straight lines, zigzags or cross stitches. Make them purely decorative or use them to secure your embellies and papers. There are just as many ways as there are sewers.
The crafty kind... ;)

Here's what my card looks like:

Using Cherrie with Rose. She's so cute & SO versatile! :D
Sentiment says "hip hip hooray" in Swedish, by the way. :)

I'm entering these challenges:
~~Wild Orchid Crafts: Anything Goes~~
~~Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes~~
~~Stamp Something: Something with Flowers~~
~~Simply Create: Power of Flowers~~
~~Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Spring - flowers everywhere~~

A springtime kiss...

2011-03-02T14:34:00.003+01:00

...just for YOU!

This is a short post, just to say THANK YOU to each and every person who drops by my blog, and especially the ones that leave a comment. You make my heart smile!

♥

I'm gonna let my very first card with the adorable Sunny Tia from SomeOddGirl's super super loveable March 1 release do the talking for me...:

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl, of course! :)

Pssst!!

2011-03-01T18:55:00.002+01:00

It's release day!

SomeOddGirl spring release is HERE!

Hop on over to the shop for all the beautiful new SOGgies - and keep checking my blog because a brand new card with one (or more) of the new darlings will be up shortly! :)

Amazing grace...

2011-02-28T14:10:00.003+01:00

...or a maze in greys?

Some days, it's a toss up.
This day is not one of those days. Today is a good day.
Wanna know why?

Because I am featured on Scrapidées!
Seen that blog before? If not, you'd better pop on over there now and put it into your faves!
It's amazing! The team rocks and there are so many fun sketches there, too.
I actually got to make my own sketch for the site, which is always fun! I'm thrilled to see the amazing interpretations by the DT and I'd be equally thrileld to see yours, if you use it.
Let me know, ok?! :D

Here's the LO I made for them:

For those of you who, like me, are way more fluent in English than French (I had that text translated. I wouldn't have gotten past "Bonjour, mon nom est Zarah" on my own! *grins*), here's my introduction in English:
Hello,
my name is Zarah, but online I usually go by my (very hard to pronounce) nickname zarischka.
I am a Swedish scrapper who's happily married to the best man on the planet (possibly even in the entire universe) and who's adopted by two cats that crave attention, cuddles and food at any given moment. Especially when it's the least convenient.

I make mostly LOs and cards, depending on my mood, and when I am bored, have dull classes or inspiration strikes me while I'm not at home, I draw sketches. I tried making them in Photoshop but mr Mojo fled immediately so I figure I'll stick with pen & paper!

When I scrap from a sketch I actually very rarely print it out. I prefer drawing it onto my pad. First I draw it just like the original. Then, beside it, I re-draw it in my own way and add elements, take something out and/or twist a little, to make it feel "me" . Finally, I write down who made it, bring it to my very, very messy scraptable and just play until I feel happy with what I made.
That's how my inspiration usually flows the best.

Hopefully, this sketch of mine will inspire you, as well!

Thank you for having me!
xoxo,
Zarah

For this LO I used a mix up of Fancy Pants and MME-papers, plus an abundance of gorgeous Petaloo flowers to illustrate my absolute and utter incapability to wrap my head around mathematics. Yep, that's what the LO is about, actually.
See, there's NOTHING you can't scrap!
;)

Thanks for visiting!

Song sung blue...

2011-02-27T12:12:00.002+01:00

...everybody knows one.

I admit it. I'm not even a closet fan. I love Neil Diamond.
He sort of sums up my childhood in so many ways. If I close my eyes, I can see my mother, dancing, smiling and singing along while doing the dishes, folding laundry or cooking - to Neil Diamond on the record player.
There's so much love and happiness attached to his voice, for me.

...and I love me some blues.
Not necessarily the music, but the colour. I'm a huge fan of blues, greens and browns. I am drawn to the earthier tones of colours, even if I do appreciate the striking happiness that a bold yellow or a bright pink radiates - I'm always going back to my soft calming earth tones.

That's why I was happy when my guest designer kit for Magdas contained a lot of "my colours". Browns, dusky turquoises and greens. Browns, creme white and shabby reds - and then there was the pretty brown of the corrugated cardboard from the actual packaging, that went so well with the papers - I just had to tear it up and use that too...
It's always so much fun to use things someone else picks out, and I like to try and make different stuff with it. That's why I made two summerLOs and one very wintery one, using the same kit. I'm gonna start by showing a sumemry one - just because I am a bit tired of the snow.

Here's Emmy:

Thank you, Magdas, for trusting me with one of your guestDT spots. :)

"A kiss on the hand may be quite continental...

2011-02-26T20:44:00.004+01:00

...but diamonds are a girl's best friend."

Nah. I beg to differ.This girl's best friends are quite a lot more vibrant and alive.
Some are twolegged, some are fourlegged and furry - none are dead rocks with questionable means of being brought to her.
But I digress, and I didn't intend to...

(After all - this is not a political blog! ;))

So why did I choose that title?
Simple! I've been going nuts over this über cute version of that song, Swingcats mix, from the cd Rockabilly Madness. Anyone with Spotify may listen to it *here* while the YouTubers are all invited to click *this link* to hear it.
Makes me happy!
Hope it's contagious!
:)

Another thing that makes me happy, is cardmaking. Especially when I'm using the adorable SomeOddGirls. They just seem to always bring a smile to my face! I also love to make stuff from scraps and snippets, so the challenge for this fortnight suited me perfectly:
handmade embellishments/elements.
Super fun!

Will you join us?!

Image, Hula Kaylee, by and © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.
The white flower is by Petaloo! The pink ones are by me and my ribbons. (Believe me - Anton, the cat, was extremely fascinated by their movement...! Making ribbon flowers while, at the same time, trying to rescue the ribbon from the claws and teeth of one very curious, ribbonloving cat makes it a quite time consuming task! But fun! ;))

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

Tag...

2011-02-25T07:43:00.008+01:00

...you're it!

This weeks Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge requires two things:
Use a TPS-image and make a tag.

Simple, huh?
Especially since Kellie (the sweetheart) is GIVING AWAY the Christmas Frankie digi in preparation for our upcoming monthly X-mas challenge. Not "only" does TPS and its team aim to beautify your cards and crafts, you see - we're also gonna help make your December less stressful!
...because we're nice like that! ;)
(Not to mention - it's gonna be a blast! SUCH fun challenges!)
Come on, join in!

Here's my tag - mounted on top of a card and with the ever romantic Luca halfway off already. I guess he's in a hurry to see his beau? ;)

(And for those of you paying attention - YES I know that my choice of words just kinda accidentally outed Frankie. Didn't mean to... I don't really question my stamps regarding their sexual orientation and I don't intend to start. This was just a temporary brain meltdown on my part - even if he MIGHT be gay for all I know and care... *giggles*)

The gorgeous white flower is from Petaloo. It's from the Color Me Crazy (Mixed Floral assortment) and that miiight just be my new fave set. It's made for altering with inks, sprays and stamps - but as you can see, it's quite stunning just the way it is, too.

I'm entering these challenges:
~~Top Tip Tuesday: Bling it on~~
~~Paper Sundaes: Masculine Colours~~
~~PaperPlay Challenges: Let's Get Sentimental~~
~~Do You Stack Up?: Anything Goes~~
~~Delightful Challenges: Use Your Scraps~~

"Bring on the wonder...

2011-02-24T07:03:00.004+01:00

...bring on the song.

I've pushed you down deep in my soul for too long."
Love that song. Love it. Bones has the best soundtrack, don't you think?

...and while we're "on the subject" - bring on the SPRING!
I'm so so ready for sunshine, street sweepers, daffodils, the scent of spring rain, the crisp new grass, the chirping birds and the happy sight of the first budding leaves...
I long for it all.

Meanwhile, I tagged along with Danni's new challenge over at the Nook.
"Make a yellow/orange/pink card and use at least one button".
Here's what it made me do...:

Not as shabby, muted and flowery as my usual cards, this time either, but it makes me smile because it's kind of springtime'y, and that retiring-and-on-sale SomeOddGirl chicken is just so happy-making! (Yes, I'm currently reading the Uglies-series. It rocks!).
Don't you think?

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
~~Little Red Wagon: Animals~~
~~Stamp Something: Something Funky~~
~~Simply Create: It's bright in here~~
~~The Pixie Cottage: Something Cute~~
Stamping Vacation: No Flowers
~~Card Cupids: Ribbon or buttons~~
~~Annabelle Stamps Blog: Say it in Yellow~~

Do you ever get the feeling...

2011-02-23T12:10:00.007+01:00

...that your brain is filled?

Not just full. Filled.
As if anything else you cram into it, will inevitably push something else out?
I'm having one of those days.

Not gonna go into it. Instead, I'll just keep scrapping. I'm a bit like Dory -and I don't just mean that she has the same attention span I do - that way... Except I don't swim. I scrap.
(Maybe the sea monkey has my brain?! ;))

Anyhow.
Without further fuss and ramblings - here's a card I made for my grandpa who turns 91 amazing years young this Friday.
Hope he'll like it!

"It's your day today!"

I used a Greeting Farm image for this card, and based it on the Mystery Monday CASE, but since I cannot make heads or tails of the rules regarding what stamps qualify and not, and since I wasn't allowed to combine for that challenge, I'm not entering it.

I AM, however, entering the following challenges:
A Spoon Full Of Sugar: Birthday Wishes
Paper Sundaes: Masculine Colours

Edit, edit...

2011-02-21T12:29:00.002+01:00

...and edit some more.

The sad part about vacations is that they end. The good part is that you can re-live them while editing your photos and then scrapping them. The best part of that is that you can edit out things you do NOT want to remember.
Yep, there ARE things like that even on holidays in Mexico, regardless of how strange that sounds... Like, you know, that zit on your forehead in a few of the photos, or the extra nose growing out of your shoulder in one of the images - courtesy of a passer-by...! ;)

I've put off editing my Mexico photos for some time, because it kind of made me sad that I longed to go back so badly.
(How pathetic am I?!)

I'm starting to get over that sadness bump now, and head straight for the "Wow, am I ever happy we got to make that trip??!"

There are photos there that make me burst out laughing, photos that take my breath away for sheer gorgeousness, photos that make me smile and wish for more vacations with the same crazy, wonderful people, and photos that I have to frame and title"paradise".
I'm gonna show you when I'm done. Promise.

In the meantime, here's a card I made for a challenge over at the Nook. We all lifted Sarah E's beautiful card and I have never ever lifted anything that closely before.
Not that mine's anywhere near as cute as hers, but it still makes me smile.

The inchie-bug is by SomeOddGirl and you can get him super duper cheap in the retirement sale section! I drew the speech bubble with the hearts to match.

Thanks for popping by!

The sun is shining...

2011-02-18T10:49:00.002+01:00

...and it's almost the weekend.

It kind of smells like spring. If I close my eyes and ignore the chill, biting the tip of my nose and trying to invade the warm air underneath my knitted hat. There's something extra special about sunny winter days, when the birds seem to think it's already spring - singing their spring melodies at the top of their lungs from the treetops.
I can almost imagine tiny green buds on the birches.
Almost.

There are clouds, I won't deny it, but the skies behind them are blue and I'm pretty sure they all have a silver lining. I just have to look for them.

Have a wonderful Friday, my friends!

Image from Wee Stamps by Sylvia Zet

Challenges entered:
Bunny Zoes Craft: Spring Flowers Everywhere
Charisma Cardz Challenge: Spring has Sprung
Papertake Weekly: Puttin' on the Glitz
I did it creations challenge blog: Bling it up
Make it Colourful: Shadow and Depth
Friday Sketchers: Sketch 142

Um yeah... Does anyone have a clue where I saw that vintage colours+pink challenge I was gonna enter...?! *ditz* ;)

Busy bees...

2011-02-17T07:46:00.002+01:00

...are said to gather a lot of honey?

I'm just wondering if I have to buy it myself, afterward I'm done collecting it? ;)

Between school, meetings, taking the cat to the vet (thus ending up with the extremely unwanted and unappreciated task of cleaning her ears once a day and putting eardrops into it twice, beceause my poor baby managed to get herself an ear infection) and lots of other "fun" stuff, I haven't exactly managed to clean up my scrap space - but I've made a few things. It's called setting my priorities straight and sticking to them! ;)

Cat first. School and meetings second. (Well, they don't collide, so I can make that decision easily!) and scrap third. Fourth place is Battlestar Galactica-time with DH, because that doesn't collide with the others either. If it did, I might have to move it up one spot, because I LURVE my teatime-snuggle-hours with Dh in front of the current TV-show we're watching. As a matter of fact, I'm addicted.
(Fifth spot? Well... the rest! Chores and that boring crap. No jazz there!)

I'm also addicted to good sketches and good friends - so I combined them on this LO.
The photos show Emmy & Anna at the Castle of Aaaargh... No wait - the castle of Kalmar, sorry!.. ;)
I snapped these pictures (among MANY more) during one of our pretty spontaneous and quite unplanned excursions when they visited me in in May last year.
I love these girls, love the photos too.
They make me happy!

The sketch is from Get Picky. Super duper inspiring!
The flowers, leaves & that adorable blingy frog (I turned him into a frog prince with the use of a thicker-M and three half pearls)? Petaloo, baby! Don't you just LOVE them?!

Have a fairy...

2011-02-16T08:51:00.005+01:00

...happy birthday!

(Yes, I finally made up my mind. I had to find it first, because I'd momentarily lost it. It comes and goes at its own accord. Bloody thing...! ;))

There's just a little less than two whole days more to make your birthday card and enter into this week's Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge at the blog. 1 day 23 hours and 27 minutes to be precise. For my card, I used the brand spankin' new Fairy Kira from the Lil Allsorts range. Isn't she STUNNING?

This card is a lot bigger than I usually make them - it's 8x5 and the gorgeous two layer (as in you can use them separately or together - very neat!) flowers are from Petaloo, of course.

I also want to give you a heads up!
There's a 800-fan-giveaway over at the Tickled Pink Stamps Blog - which isn't the same as the TPS Challenge Blog, by the way - so pop on over and take your shot at winning the ENTIRE March release, why don't you?
...and don't forget to join the challenge. :)

Image: Tickled Pink Stamps/Lil Allsorts: Fairy Kira, digi.

A wee crush...

2011-02-16T07:28:00.004+01:00

...to share.

I couldn't decide whether to share a card or an LO with you today, so I went in a completely different direction.
I'm gonna share something adorable that I didn't make, myself. I'm gonna share some fun things you might wanna know. Like how I discovered a super cute new digi stamp company, called Wee Stamps, that needs a little push to be seen and I really think they deserve that push.

Because, in all seriouness, they're fantastic. And not just a wee bit. A whole lot.

Just look at this cutie:

Image completely and entirely not mine. I borrowed it from Sylvia Zet's blog to promote her better, and all credit is hers, of course!

Yep. Definitely gonna have to do some shopping over there. And at Spesch stamps. She designs for them too! Super cute stuff. :)

Stuff I do when no one is watching...

2011-02-14T09:56:00.004+01:00

...would probably look funny on AFV.

You know - things like chewing the snowfall out for messing up my light and making it close to impossible to get a decent shot of my cards & layouts. (Note to self: the snow doesn't care. It's actually even possible that it actually increased its snow-per-minute-and-square-metre-amount, out of spite.)
I also dance to my Spotify playlist, walk around in sweatpants, knitted woolly socks and a hoodie a whole day, drink way too much coffee and ignore the vacuum despite its desperate attempt to get my attention by coercing the cats into shedding more than usual. (Yep. Pretty sure that's what happens around here when I've got my back turned...!)
None of thse things matter much, right now, though - because the only reason I'm blabbering on like this (not that I usually need a reason to blabber) is to excuse my poor photograph of the umcoming layout. Yup. Because I just don't have the patience to wait for a, possibly upcoming, more light/less snow ratio.
I'm lazy like that! ;)

This is Anna.
I bet you recognize her by now.
I know I'm a one-track-record, but she just looks so dang good on photo, don't you think?!

One of these days, I'm gonna continue with my Mexico photo-editing session and after that I will most certainly bore you to tears with images of dolphins, ruins, M&I and palmtrees. Be thankful for Anna, I'm just saying!
;)

(I am.)

Sketch by Creative Scrappers!

A true friend...

2011-02-13T13:01:00.006+01:00

...is someone knows all your faults...

...and still loves you!

They're pretty rare so if you come across one - hold on tight.
Valentine's Day is coming up, and what better thank to take the opportunity to tell your loved ones how much they matter to you? Remember: it's not just your significant other and your kids that make your world whole. If you have a wonderful sibling, amazing parents and/or friends that would walk through fire for you (and, hopefully, vice versa) - make sure they know it!

If you'd miss Valentine's - tell them anyway!
No day is the wrong day for some appreciation.

This card isn't a Valentine's.
It's a "just-because-my-life-would-suck-so-much-more-without-you-card" for someone I love dearly, albeit in a very un-romantice way (even if I kep saying I'd be SO in love with her if I DID swing that way, because she's fantastic!) but it could very well be for several other people who move me, care for me, cheer me up and love me even when I'm blue or bitchy. (Sometimes I'm both. Multitaskingskills. I has them.)

That's why this post is dedicated to all of my friends, world wide.
I love you.

Image ©Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com
Flowers & leaves (a cut up flower) from Petaloo

Ps. The heart charm was trying to escape when I took this photo - but don't worry! I captured it and we had a ..."heart-to-heart"... ;) There's another heart under the image too, a heart shaped doily - so I promise. They're there, justa bit shy! :P

Challenges entered:
Top Tip Tuesday: Frame it
Cupcake Craft Challenges: Seeing Red
Charisma Cardz Challenges: Mythical/Fantasy
Magical Monday Challenge: Love
PaperPlay Challenges: Hearts & Flowers, but not Valentine's
Cute Card Thursday: Hearts & Flowers

Why, yes I DO...

2011-02-12T11:14:00.003+01:00

...scrap, that is.

I just haven't had time to scrap as much inbetween my cards, lately - and the LO's I HAVE been making (there's a bunch) have all been for one secret project/assignment or other. I promise. This hasn't become a card-only-blog just yet! ;)

I'm a bit annoyed with the postal services. (Emphasis on the "VERY".) As I might have mentioned, I was going to make some stuff for Petaloo's booth for CHA! I was thrilled, excited and over the moon with pride! So I waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, we talked about it (I have the sweetest, most supportive & understanding bosses!) and I sent over some of my previous work in a box that was supposed to take a week. Max. I signed for that service, and paid extra to make perfectly sure it'd get there on time.

The box Petaloo sent for ME arrived in their own mailbox yesterday. The one I sent for them took two weeks to arrive and showed up a week after CHA.
"Well, forgive me for not leaping for joy. Bad back you know..." (Scar/The Lion King)
Oh well. I guess it wasn't meant to be, and at least no one had killed or stolen the boxes.
Silver lining, right?

So, anyhow... I thought I'd prove to you that I DO scrap. This LO came together from things lying on my scraptable. Guess that proves I need to start a good spring cleaning in here? ;)
Better get going.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Flowers: Petaloo! :D

Mark my words...

2011-02-11T08:35:00.005+01:00

...it's a crafter's curse.

Oh, you know the one? The one where you've made dozens upon dozens of cute and clever bookmarks for your friends and family - but none for yourself.
The one where your significant other has a fancy, personalized and very nifty (if you may say so yourself. And yes, you may!) little triangular thing that slips over the corner of his book - and that everyone at his office admires.
The one where your best friend has a handmade (by you, obviously!) bookmark that matches the collector's edition Twilight-series you got her for X-mas, much to her everlastng gratefulness and eternal delight.
The one where your kids have magnetic bookmarks that match the cute and loving notes you slip into their lunch box every day...
...while you use a torn out piece from a notebook, an old receipt or possibly a ribbon from your stash.
Know the one?
;)

Well, we're indeed ODD, but we're not strange - so we're looking to change that for you!

This weekend is the SomeOddGirl Digi Day over at PaperCraftPlanet (you'll need to re-register, apparently, because they've switched hosts) and I'm hosting the Early Bird where I'm challenging you to....
*drum roll*
...create a bookmark for YOU!

Here are a few of mine:

(I've no idea why they look so blurry...? Oh well - pretend it's just your glasses that need polishing, ok? ;))

Images, as always, © Kristy Dalman at SomeOddGirl

I like how silent it gets...

2011-02-10T10:27:00.007+01:00

...when it's snowing.

It's so meditative and quiet. I can't say that I hate how the mud and dirt gets covered either (and what's with the dog-owners who seem to think that snow takes away the problem? Believe me: that ain't the case!).

Snow.
Makes it so relaxing to sit at my craft table and make cards, fiddling with an LO and just listening to the silence. No music today. Just the humming of the computer and the occasional call from the cats.

...until I have to step into reality of school, chores and appointments. But for a while longer, I'm enjoying the calm.

This card is using a new digi set I got the other day. She's called Sonny Honeycloud and she's from Pollycraft. Cute as a bug, don't you think?! Love her attitude. The small alpha letters look strange - that's because they're covered with cracle accents that catch the light in a weird way. Did I mention... snow?
(Not the best weather for photographing indoors, but... Whatever. Right? ;))

The card is made for the following challenges:
Pollycraft: Sketch & love theme
Papertake Weekly: Have a Heart
Bunny Zoe's Craft: Love is in the Air
Nordsalten Hobbyklubb: Valentines card with a heart
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog: Hearts a flutter
Stamp Something/Digi Day
One stitch at a time: Do it with digi

So my challenges...

2011-02-07T09:31:00.004+01:00

...are still going strong!

Three out of five are closed now, That means that there are stil two left. One LO-sketch and one card challenge.
The card challenge is to make a Valentine's card and promise to send it. Pretty easy, huh? I've also said that you can't combine challenges, but I do allow one exception, and that's if you're entering this week's Tickled pink Stamps Challenge (to use punches), in which case I am okay with combining.

After all, Kellie sponsors me with a FABBY prize that you do NOT wanna miss out!
A day left to do the challenges.
Jump aboard & have fun!

Here's my card, featuring the luuuurvely Luca. :)

Do you have a little time...

2011-02-05T15:32:00.004+01:00

...this weekend, for crafting?

If you do, I strongly recommend you to swing by the Classes, Contests & Challenges-forum on the Nook's message board, because I am hosting a "25k-party" to celebrate the fact that I am never ever quiet... At least, I don't shut up often enough to make sure I don't reach 25000 posts on one single board! Yup. 25000 posts. And then some, because I've actually managed to pass it with some margin, by now.

Luckily for you, they haven't tossed me out just yet, so that is why I am inviting you all to a crafty party!

There are five different challenges and you can win prizes from (in alphabetical order) My Scrapbook Nook, Petaloo, Some Odd Girl aaaand Tickled Pink Stamps, who have all been generous and sweet enough to sponsor me for this event!
See, I really have THE BEST bosses!! ♥

Here's one of the cards I made, as an example, for one of the challenges.

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.

Lots of fun times to be had, and fab prizes to be won - so hurry on over!
The party continues until midnight pst on Monday, but some of the challenges end midnight PST on Sunday so make sure you get them in order, if you're short on time!
;)

Have a fun, crafty weekend!

Ps. Oh - and if you're a Lifestyle Crafts/former Quickutz fan - head on over to Leah's blog and check out her giveaway!

I have some happies...

2011-02-04T14:49:00.006+01:00

...to share, today!

First of all, I was thrilled to discover that I came in top 3 over at Sketches in Thyme, Paper Sundaes AND Charisma Cardz Challenges!

Isn't that something! Thanks so much to everyone involved in those decisions! IMMD! :D

Another fun newsflash is that I have made my 25000'd post over at My Scrapbook Nook.
See, I'm not joking when I say that I looooove that place...! (Board member and absolute darling Katarina actually did a little math and figured out that I've spent more than a week of typing posts onto that mb... I dunno whether to be amused or scared?! ;))
Anyhow: In celebration of this, I am hosting a party on the message board this weekend!
There will be fun people, challenges and party favours (a.k.a prizes) so you really DON'T want to miss it! If you're the curious type, and I mean - who's not, really - you could also snoop around the other parts of the board to find out more about the new DT who will be announced during the weekend, as well!
Icing on the proverbial cake, huh?
:D

Get your blingiest frock, put on that party hat and prepare your stash - this is gonna be one FUN gettogether!

Third happy of the day, but certainly not least:
I've made my very first project feature post on the Some Odd Girl blog!
It's a paper bag card and shows off the super adorable Valentine's Tobie (I am sooooo loving him!) and if you're interested in how it's made: just pop on over to the blog and check it out!
There's a step-by-step guide and more images.

Hope you like it!

Make yourself a good Friday!

A li'l announcement...

2011-02-03T14:20:00.004+01:00

...to make.

As of today, I'm no longer a guest designer for Tickled Pink Stamps Challenges...
...because I was asked to stay on!
WHEEE!

*does the happy dance*

So, come play with us, won't you? This week it's aaaall about punches - and you can enter using ANY Tickled Pink Stamps Image and Sentiment. If you don't already own one, there are tons to choose from:
* Lil Lolita
* Lil Lads
* Cherrie
* Mollie Mittens and Wilfred Wombat

All listed in the top of the shop. And you know what? They've got digis too, so you can buy it now and start creating almost immediately!
Gotta LOVE that, right?! :D

Here's my card:

Image: Cherrie Mail.

Ps. Check out Kellie's super sale, while you're browsing the store! You won't regret it! :D

If it makes you happy...

2011-02-01T16:05:00.004+01:00

...it can't be that bad...!

Right?
Remember the song?

Two things make me extra happy today:
1. The top-three-spot at Pollycraft that I discovered this morning while I was still trying to persuade my eyes to stay open (a task that is not easily achieved even with a HUGE glass of coffee, but happy news definitely helped!).
2. This post over at Some Odd Girl.

You can see why I'm all starstruck from the company, though, right? I mean... wow!

So yes. It's official.
I'm an ODD girl!
...not that you didn't know, already... ;)

(I don't think I've shown this card before? I heart this Rainy Mae image!)

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com

Remember...

2011-01-30T10:46:00.006+01:00

...to keep flying.

Sometimes, life gets you down.
Sometimes, life knocks you down.
That's when you need your friends the most. Those are the times when you hope, wish and pray for loving arms to comfort and hold you and someone to tell you that things will be alright.

They say that to every cloud, there's a silver lining.

That silver lining can sometimes be a bit tricky to see, but if you concentrate and really look for it, never giving up hope, it'll show up. It's like Dolly Parton said: "The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain".

So hang in there. The next door that opens might be yours.

Image by Pollycraft

Challenges entered:
The ABC Challenge/M is for Magical
Sketches in Thyme/Tuesday Takes #10
Pollycraft Challenge Blog/Black+White+One Other
Paperplay Challenges/Layer it up
Penny's Challenges/Anything Goes

Real magic...

2011-01-29T13:04:00.008+01:00

...is in the soft warmth of a newborn baby.

When I grew up, I had this annoying neighbour. She was constantly being just as smart as me, and there was no way I could out-read her. She read as quickly and sped through the classes at the same pace as I did.
Seriously! How annoying was THAT?... ;)
Since I wasn't exactly the most athletic of kids, or the prettiest one in school by far - that was my forte. My brains and my reading speed. Yes, I know - childish, right?
I guess it can be excused since we WERE actually children...?

Anyhow. This annoying neighbour even managed to "steal" my best friend for a while and I can honestly say I didn't like her much. At all... ;)

Surprise, surprise - turns out she's adorable. As a grown up, the likeness, which was the real reason we never got along, turned into something good. She's a lot like me - and she's witty, she's fun, she's smart and sweet. The real icing on the cake is that she's a scrapper too!
Fun fact: she moved and now lives a two minute walk away from my inlaws' house, which means I can always pop over for a cup of coffee, scraptalk and some meories to laugh at whenever I'm visiting the inlaws and feel like a walk.
Win/win!

Anyhow. She just recently had her second child, a boy who (judging from her daughter) will be just as cute, adorable and amazing as his mother. I'm sooo planning on an impromptu visit as soon as we get our behinds in gear and pop over for a stay at the inlaws.
(Yep, this is my way of letting you know, Eva. Hope you don't mind? *grins*)

Meanwhile, I sent a card. This card:

Because there's NOTHING more magical than a brand new baby.
Image by Mo Manning

Challenges entered:
ABC Challenge/M is for Magical
Papertake Weekly/Sketch
Do you stack up?/Patterned Paper
Delightful Challenges/Have a Heart

Time for...

2011-01-28T07:51:00.004+01:00

...some vintage style LOVE!

This card, featuring the goooorgeous Luca (who is shown in glorious abundance on the Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge Blog this week - I think I prooobably wasn't the only one who thought he fit the theme to a t...? ;)) is supposed to be "Vintage".
The tiny gold crown is actually old for real, and the PP is printed in old style so I think it all turned out pretty vintage looking. What do you think?

Inspired to make your own vintage style card?
Hop on over to the Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge Blog and join right in, why dontcha?
Just remember to use a Tickled Pink Stamp image, to be eligible to play and compete for the prize.
:)

Other challenges entered:
Craft Your Days Away/Love
Creatalicious Challenges/Ribbon + Love
Charisma Cardz Challenges/Love+Valentines
A Spoon Full of Sugar/Valentines
Paper Sundaes/Distressing
Crafty Purple Frog Challenges/Distressing

Ps. Congrats to my sweet friends Leonie & Jeanette who both got a 3 month gDT-spot at the TPSC-blog and Åsa who'll be joining us in March! Wheee!

Today, I'm gonna do something...

2011-01-26T06:58:00.003+01:00

...quite out of the ordinary.

See, I'm gonna use one card and enter it into several different challenges. I've done this two times before, as far as I know. Once for a challenge to do just that (combine challenges during a crop) and once because I wanted to add a twist to the challenge.

This time? Because I can, because it's actually a lot of fun to try and get all these challenges to work with what you're doing - and because I need to make changes. Nothing in particular, just changes. I believe it's good for a person, to step out of their box and do things that aren't within their comfort zone. No matter how you put it, shaking it up is good for the personal growth, I'm sure of it.

(And if you happen to shake it up on the dance floor, that's an added bonus! Ooooh... Now I wanna go out and dance my booty off!... Any takers?! ;))

So - the card?
It's for my cousin and his wife who just had their first baby and the challenges I've entered are listed below.

Image: Mo Manning

Challenges entered:
Our Creative Corner/Three Musketeers Colour Challenge
Stamp Something/Cute Somethings
Craft Your Days Away/Love
Sketchy Saturdays/Card Sketch

I'm here! I haven't forgotten about you...

2011-01-25T09:55:00.003+01:00

...or the blog.

I'm still scrapping and making cards, too - buuut they're all made for people who might see them, or for secret projects of one kind or another, so I usually can't blog them. At least not yet...
However, I doooo still have one card I haven't shown. This is last week's X-mas card for the challenge to make one each week.

The image is by Heather Ellis.
Adorable, isn't it?!

Thanks for popping by!

Your love is...

2011-01-21T12:26:00.004+01:00

...priceless to me.

This week's challenge over at the Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge-blog is to make a card based on a fantabulous sketch by Emma. It's a super duper fun sketch to work from, and the DT-gals all blow me away with their insaaaaane talent.
Hop on over and check it out!

Remember that you can get these stamps in digi, so you can play pretty much immediately when the mojo strikes you (and I'm pretty sure it will hit immediately after you see the sketch - and the prize...!)

My card, featuring the gorgeous Lilith, looks like this:

Thanks for popping by!

I haven't gone nuts, exactly...

2011-01-17T07:06:00.004+01:00

...because they say:

You can't become something you already are.

I just tagged along this challenge to make one X-mas card each week, to reduce stress come December. I'm usually pretty early anyway (see last post) but X-mas cards in January might be a first for me. It's fun, though! Using up scraps, pulling out the unused motifs I printed and just making what I feel like.

This is the card for week one.
I'll show the one from week two later. ;)

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com (who are currently celebrating their anniversay! Hop on over and check it out!)

School starts today.
Luckily, I get to sleep in on Mondays.
...or rather, I could have gotten to sleep in if I didn't want to go up at the same time as DH, who has to be at work preeeeetty early. That's why we both stumble out of bed at half past justfellasleep, blink sleepily at the bright lights and try to function properly while slouching our way down the stairs,towards the coffee maker... It's nice to get that quiet moment together before the day starts, though. Having breakfast and a little time together before we go separate ways for the day.
I wouldn't miss it for sleeping.

However, since it's still bright and early here and I have a few hours ahead before I need to head off to the school bench for another semester of Psychology ("Very peh-sychological!" /From Hogfather), I'm just gonna pop off and continue reading Thorn Queen while cuddled up on the couch with the cats & a huge cup of tea.

Gotta be THE best way to prepare for class. Don't you think? ;)

An interesting fact about crafters...

2011-01-14T07:19:00.004+01:00

...is that they have a completely different kind of time.

Come August, they're busy making Halloween and/or Thanksgiving cards. In September, they occupy their desks with the makings of X-mas cards. In January, all the Valentines cards get made and in February it's time to make Easter cards.

We're a strange bunch...

...but at least we're having fun, right?

Another fun thing to do, is to pop over to the second week's challenge in the new Tickled Pink Challenges Blog, where the theme for the week is
I {heart} you!

Great prize involved, too!
As usual, the only thing you have to think about is that you have to use a Tickled Pink Stamps image. Not a bother at all, I'd say - because they have the loveliest stamps, both in rubber and digi (I really love digi - instant gratification and shopping all at once. Nothing better!).
If you're unsure what stamps are the Tickled Pink range, it's simply the ones in the beginning of the left column. In other words, it's not any stamp sold in the store - but the Cherries, Lil Lads & Lil Lolitas, Pink Pets & Pink Sentiments...
Hope that makes sense!

Anyhow, I'm gonna stop ranting now and leave you with my latest TP-card and my brand new, homemade watermark (just because I got so jealous of the pretty ones the other Tickled Pink gals had and I had a little time on my hands)...

Thanks for popping by & commenting!! ♥
It means the world to me, soooo this card is dedicated to each and every one of you:

i + u...

2011-01-09T12:29:00.003+01:00

...SomeOddGirl.

I also heart my bloodtransfusing and breathenhancing friends (you know who you are), Mexico (dang, I wanna go back there NOW!), my DH (who keeps me somewhat sane and makes sure I get my daily dose of laughter and hugs), my family (including the "brand-spanking-new" chewmonster my sister and her DH are successfully trying to turn into a well-behaved dog) and gorgeous flowers (which is why I'm happy that I've got some Petaloo coming soooon and that I got a GC for flowers from my beloved almostgrandma).

I heart one thing in particular:
Noticing the good stuff and people, and making sure they know they've been noticed.
There's no use not telling people you admire, love and/or treasure them. There might be no tomorrow. Go. Leave those dishes and dustbunnies for another day. Do the things that matter. Show your love, laugh, hug, build snowforts and make snow angels, take lots of photos and have a cup of cocoa with REAL whipped cream and/or marschmallows.
That's what life's about.

Card made for a challenge at SOG, where you are to make a Valentines project without relying on the pinks and reds.
Here's my result:

I am Tickled Pink...

2011-01-07T15:10:00.003+01:00

...to be guesting this brand new challenge blog!

Tickled Pink Stamps happen to be among my favourite stamp companies, and they have sooo many irerstistible digis along with their traditional rubber stamps, too!
As you might have noticed, I luuurve me some digis lately so when Kellie contacted me, a while back, and asked if I wanted to be the first guest designer for the upcoming Tickled Pink Challenges Blog - I JUMPED at the chance, obviously!

And now? It's up - and I'm bouncy as ever!

The first challenge is called "anything goes" (as long as you use a TP stamp/image of course) and you can find it by simply *clicking here*
You miiiight (read:definitely) want to add it to your faves - because there's a LOT of goodies coming up!

Here's my card, featuring the brand new "Cherrie with Tag".
Isn't she adooorable?!

(The sentiment says "big hug!" in Swedish.

Ps. While you're checking out blogs and adding favourites, don't forget to hop on over to the "regular" TP blog where you'll soon see all the new stamps being previewed!

So "what about top 10 LO's?"...

2010-12-30T15:18:00.005+01:00

...you ask?

(Yes, you do. Promise! ;))

Well, since I'm a pushover and can't help but follow in the footsteps of my adrable scrappy friends who seem to be sharing THEIR fave 2010-LOs, here are mine. In no particular order whatsoever, as usual. Just because I'm cool, punky & rebellious like that (or unorganized. Maybe both... ;)):

So, who else is doing this? Let me know, and I'll link you!
Here are a few of my friends who are sharing their top ten LOs from this year:
Anna B
Kristy
Kat
Annelie

Top 10 cards of 2010

2010-12-28T07:08:00.003+01:00

..in some kind of order...

Nah.
In no order at all, actually - but then again, they say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder so I might just as well leave the ranking to the people reading this post, right? Oh, how clever of me! ;)
The first one is previously never shown, just to spice it up a little! :)

This event is hosted by Mrs Weyremaster - so hop over to her blog to see how you enter!

Here are my (current) ten 2010-faves:

Image © Kristy Dalman and then there's a whole lotta Petalooooo...! ♥

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com

Image © Li'l Lolita by Tickled Pink

Image © Tiddly Inks

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com

Image © Kristy Dalman for SomeOddGirl.com

Image © Simply Betty Stamps

Image © Tiddly Inks

Image © Whimsie Doodles

Join in the fun, why don't you?! :D