It's my week...

...as a guest designer at the You Do blog. I have had tons of fun working with their products, and here's just a couple of things I've made. Please, visit their blog for more projects and information about them.

//Jenny

Graphic 45 Design Team 2013 Audition

Didn't see that coming, huh?

A few months ago, I got a package with some brand new Graphic 45 papers. I opened it, and it hit me. You know, that scent of new, freshly printed Graphic 45 papers. I swear, there's no other brand out there that smells even half as good as Graphic 45. It wasn't just the scent that hit me, but also the notion that I need to give it another go, and try to get on that design team once again. So, here goes. I'm taking the plunge.

I've got seven brand new projects to showcase for this audition. The first one is a layout with a mixed media background, featuring Once Upon a Springtime.

Next up is a layout, also with mixed media background, where I've used papers from the Olde Curiosity Shoppe Collection, and some metal decorations from the Staples Collection.

 The next one also features papers and cut out butterflies from the Olde Curiosity Shoppe Collection:

I have two canvases to show too, the first one fairly simple with Once Upon a Springtime:

The second canvas is embellished with some metal flowers and chipboard buttons from the Staples Collection, and letter stickers from the Olde Curiosity Shoppe Collection.

I just had to make a spread in my art journal too, with some G45 stamps, and various Staples stickers. The patterned papers are from the Curtain Call collection. I had no idea where I was going with this spread when I started, but it turned out a tribute to Graphic 45. That's what I love about art journaling - when you start you never can tell where it's going to end.

 And last, but not least, a clean & simple-style card, featuring papers from Curtain Call and Le Cirque. Voila:

 It IS a bit scary, putting myself out there again, but I simply can't miss out on this chance. Graphic 45 is one of the best DTs to be on, and even though I know the chance is very slim, the dream of making it came true once, proving that amazing things can happen, so what's there to lose?

Have a fabulous day, everyone, and I would really appreciate if you could spend at least a couple of seconds of it keeping your fingers crossed for me. Thanks :)
//Jenny

My Heart of Joy projects

I participated in Inzpira Magazine's Heart of Joy contest earlier this year. I really loved the challenges, and I ended up in 8th place in the contest. That made me really proud, and I just realized I haven't showed you any of the things I made for the challenges. So, here goes.

For the first challenge, I created a spread in my art journal, made from an old schoolbook. I went a little crazy with my mists and pens, and I used quite a lot of techniques with paper, for instance drawing, fussy cutting, paper weaving, etc.

The birch tree was actually in the book when I started. I coated the pages with gesso, but I made sure not to leave the tree, because it fit so perfectly into the theme for my pages, and I really liked it.

I cut out a hole in the page, and kind of lifted it a bit with 3D-dots from the page behind. That's where I placed my photo, of the farmhouse. I also coated all of the embellishments with gesso, to make them blend in and stand out at the same time.

For my second project, I went bezerk with a big canvas. First, I covered it with pages from an old bible (yeah, blasphemy, I know... but to my defence, it was falling apart already). Then I started layering - multi medium, modelling paste, gesso, acrylic paint, watercolor, mists, aluminum foil, masks, embellishments, metal, chipboard etc...

I also covered the edges and worked my way around them using even more paints and inks, and embellishments. There is a lot of texture on this canvas, and I relaly like how it turned out. It still sits on the shelf above the couch, where I photographed it, and I think it will stay there.

And for my third project... well, let's just say I'm not happy with that one. Not at all. It didn't turn out the way it was supposed to, but I didn't have any time left to make something else before the deadline. I just felt wrong, somehow, and wasn't happy at all about sending it in. So, I'm not going to bother you with it...

OK, it's time to hit the sack. Today has been a long day filled with things to do, and tomorrow will just as intense, I suppose.

Good night!

Scrappy 2013

OMG, January just flew by, and I've been way too busy to update the blog for a couple of weeks! But tonight I just have to share a calendar I made for a challenge at Svensk Scrapbooking's New Years Crop.

It's just an ordinary notebook that I've decorated a little bit to use for writing down calls, challenges and crops I'd like to take part in. I see them on the web, and I decide to participate and maybe I even scribble something down on a piece of paper, which sorta disappears in the mess in my studio. Most often I forget all about it, and when I finally remember, or find that note again, it's way past the deadline... Well, no more, because now I have this little book to help me remember!

Eh... to be honest... I'm not sure where I have the book right now, but it's somewhere here in this mess... Well, that's who I am ;)

Have a nice Sunday, everyone!

The princess

We're still chillin' today. Little man is still a bit tired after being sick, although he's pretty OK now.  Luckily, noone else has caught the bug so far, but we're not in the clear just yet. So, please keep your fingers crossed for us.

I have a layout for you today, also this one with a background made from stamping in wet texture paste. I have a marvellous set of stamps from Unity Stamps, with ledgers, letters and phrases, and they turned out to be just about perfect for this purpose. I've been misting away on this one too, using different blue and green shades of glimmer mist, and I've also used some acrylic paint to create the blue dots.

I've made this layout after a sketch from Lillblomman (she has the most fabulous sketches, that girl!) The motif is of course my little princess Agnes, when she still had long hair that we could curl. She cut it all off a couple of weeks ago (no point in trying to persuade her not to, when she had put her mind into it), and even though I miss her long hair I think she looks fabulous in her new short bob.

Here are a couple of close-ups. Above, I have used a piece of a fiber glass stripe, you know the ones you put in between the plaster boards to prevent cracks after you have filled and painted the walls. Oh, having an ongoing renovation at the other house sure comes in handy when looking for new ways to create interest and texture on scrapbook pages.

Here you can see how the stamp works with the texture paste. The effect really doesn't show until you have misted the page, but I really love how it turns out, and i'm sure this is a technique I will be using a lot in the future.

Have a nice Friday, and a nice weekend everyone!

Chillin'

Today is a day for chillin'. My little man has caught a stomach bug, and even though he's through being sick (i hope) we still have to stay at home. So, we're just chillin' with the telly, the iPad and the computer. Oh, well, I'm all over the house as usual, picking up something here, wiping off something there, putting away stuff and all those other little things that mothers do. Once in a while, I pause by an ongoing art project, and once in a while, I'm by the computer printing photos, checking my emails or, like right now, updating the blog.

This little lady was also chillin' on New Year's Eve, in her very best dress (all satin, tulle and glitter, you know), and, as most of the photos I snap of her, this photo ended up on a layout. I went for a vintage feel this time, although I see myself straying away from that more and more, and I used an amazing technique I caught from one of the Creative Jump Start Summit 2013 videos.

 

I have used texture paste and stamps to create my background, plus a fair amount of gesso and glimmer mist. I really love clustering embellishments and knick-knack together on my layouts, and I love that I can make them blend in, whatever color they were from the beginning. This is such a great way of getting rid of what you have got lying around and never use.

The pretty papers are from Riddersholm Design, and the background stamps are from You-Do.

Creative JumpStart 2013



I happened to join in with Natalie Kalbach's Creative JumpStart 2013, and so far, there's been some amazing input there. After watching today's video, this is what I did, using masks and different techniques to create the background. I know, the photo isn't all that great, but you'll forgive me for that, right?

My studio is such a mess right now, and I suppose I will have some serious cleaning up to do before the next video is posted tomorrow.

Have a great night, everyone!

Let's live a colorful life

Here's another challenge from the cybercrop at Mollys. The challenge was to be inspired by this photo, and the twist was not to add anything straight.

I chose to make a full spread in my art journal, where I was inspired by the colors, and the building. I primed the pages with gesso, built up some texture with a brick wall mask and some texture paste, and then I used Distress reinkers to paint my brick walls. After that I added some embellisments, more gesso, and glimmer mist in various colors. I also mixed up some mist of my own from the Distress reinkers to fully match the colors of my brick walls.

I also added some crackle accent, doodling and my fav little stamp, and voila, a spread that is totally unlike me, but it was extremely inpiring to make, and it made me go even further on another art journal project, which I'm extremely happy about, but that I cannot show you just yet. You know, how one thing leads to another, and then you are suddenly sitting in a room which is covered in mists and paints, and you find yourself covered in it too...

I think I'm finally going to go put together that other art journal that I've been thinking of making for ages. I've got the cover all ready, just need to add some pages to it... Luckily, there are still a few days left of the Christmas break, so I have plenty of more time for being creative.

Saturday!

Hello, world!

What are you all up to this amazing Saturday? Myself, I'm listening to fab music from David Guetta, and looking out my widow on all the fabulous fall colors that are taking over the world, while preparing for Inzpiramässan tomorrow, the scrapbooking fair in Helsingborg, where I will participate in KiAs Butik's booth. We'll be off in the middle of the night, and so... uh... coffee will probably be a necessity all through the day.

Anyway, I thought I'd share a layout I did just because. And I haven't made a layout just because in... like... forever. Just DT stuff and such things. However, the other day it happened. I got into business with linen fabric, dictionary pages, washi tape, acrylic paint , kraft paper and whatnot.

This girl has turned six, and she's now a big schoolgirl, and suddenly she has developed quite a lot of attitude. Although, I really love that she has, because I know she will be able to fend for herself in situations where we can't be there for her, and that's a comfort.

Have a great Saturday, everyone!

Friends

Here's a little mixed media piece for you today, with a pair of fabulous angel wings I got in my last DT-kit from Scraplagret. The cuties on the photo are Agnes and her best friend.

I wanted to make something special out of the wings instead of hiding them on a layout, so I glued them onto the back om the frame. And these girls are sweet as angels (some days, at least), so I thought it was a good idea.

So, that's all!
Have a great Monday, everyone!

//Jenny

My second art journal page!

I'm back with a very short post for you today with another spread in my art journal.Yes, I am getting braver like that.

I've used some papers and elements from the Fleamarket collection from Riddersholm Design, and tons of blue glimmer mist.

OK, that's all. I have a busy day tomorrow, so I'd better hit the sack!

Take care!

Oh, and by the way... I do appreciate a little comment once in a while, so I can check back with you, and see who's visiting ;)

Another She-art canvas

It's Friday again, and even though the weather is a bit so-so today, it feels like it's going to be a good day. I have this weekend completely open, haven't decided on anything yet, and that feels great. I might start up a project at the farm, or I might just stay at home and try to catch up on everyday chores, where I'm a bit behind, to be honest. But the fresh air and high skies at the farm seem very alluring at the moment. So, we'll see.

I made a she-art canvas with elements from the Huntington Garden collection, from Riddersholm Design, and that's what I have to show to you today. I really like the balloon theme in the collection, and I wanted to use it on my canvas somehow.

I ravaged my stash for little things to add to this canvas, to make it more interesting, and then I covered it all in white acrylic paint. I love making these things! I just don't know where to put them all.

 

So, have a nice Friday, everyone, and a great weekend.

 

//Jenny

My first art journal page!

Yes, I did check my temperature. No, it's not too high. I just remembered how fun it is to write on this blog.

OK, so a while ago, I was brave enough to share my first art journal page at Scraplagret's blog. And now I think I'm brave enough to share it here too. My art journal is in fact an old school anthology, which had been outdated and was about to being thrown away. I rescued it, because the paper in it was fairly thick and sturdy, and I thought the bookprint pages would make a great background to my art journaling attempts. So, to make it even more sturdy, I glued the pages together in pairs, and I also removed a few pages to prevent the book from getting too thick. I will glue and remove even more pages later, as I hopefully fill the book up with paint and other pretty stuff.

I then primed the pages with white acrylic paint, and got down to business with masks, mists, ink, pens, glue and even more white acrylic. This is how it turned out:

Have a nice day, everyone, and happy crafting!

//Jenny

How about doing something about this ol' blog?

Hi. It's me. I'm here. I'm alive. And I'm going to try to kick this blog back into existence again. I have so much to share, both scrappy things, homey things and other artistical endeavours I have attempted. I have spent all summer doing things at the farmhouse, and trying to think outside the box when it comes to interior designing on a budget. Do I really need to buy a fancy shoe rack, or can I build one out of reclaimed wood, that actually fits underneath the stairs? The kids can't reach the coat hanger - can I build one for them with things I already have? Oooh, I so want one of them fancy subway signs I have seen on Pinterest - now, what about those plywood sheets P brought home the other day, and some paint? Things like that, you know. So, I have created. I have scrapped. And I have painted a few rooms too. I have even put in some carpet this summer, all by myself. I'd love to share the results, if there are some people out there still reading this blog.

Anyway, I'd like to start with some scrappy items. I have dabbled a bit with mixed media this summer, and last month I created these two items for Scraplagret. First up is a layout, where I have used a few fun techniques to create texture. I have used thin fabric, doilies, tons of acrylic paint, mists and inks to make a mess, if nothing else. And what a blast it was!

Then, after I'd done that, I thought: Why not venture into the unknown world of She Art too, while I'm at it? So I did. And this canvas is what came out of that whim.

Believe it or not, I actually also started an Art Journal! But you will have to wait for a couple of days for the first pages of it. Because I intend to keep this blog alive! I might have to change the whole layout of it, and maybe even its name, but it will be up and running. I was a bit embarrassed the other day, when I spoke to my friend Kristin, who runs KiA's Butik, and we sorta touched on the subject of blogging.
"Oh, I haven't updated mine in ages", I said.
"I know", she said. "Not since June 24."
That made me realise that there still may be people reading it. And the purpose I had with starting this blog years ago was to make an attempt to inspire others with what I do. What's the point in creating something if you are only going to hide it away?

So, keep your fingers crossed, good people. The blog might be alive for many years to come...

//Jenny