Monday, February 28, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 28: Finally



No, not finally, that this is the last post/entry to ThingADay 2011, rather that I finally mastered the origami paperframe, that I challenged myself with.

A how-to in Korean (guess who do not speak Korean) where I had to rely to pictures, several papercuts later (must be Band-Aid's biggest customer right now) and I got this... this part is over, now I need to attache the picture and then...

Sunday, February 27, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 27: Knitted Chick


Some days ago, I started this project. I had hoped to do more than a prototype today, but 5 cards and some domestic must-do's took more time than expected

I found the pattern last year on Anjie's blog and quickly bookmarked her post for a to-do project. I opted for a prototype in "plain" yarn (sock yarn actually) as I was a bit worried about attaching the beak, the eyes and the sewing. The beak needs a little more adjustment when it is to be attached to future chicks.

Already knitted the body of 3 fluffy chicks that are now to be sewn etc... and they are only the beginning :0)

Saturday, February 26, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 26: Mornings and Coffee :o)



Mojo Monday Challenge #179 - Yet another excuse to use my Taylored Expressions' stamp set Let's Do Coffee, accompagnied by a sentiment from the Ginger's House blog, which I found Ginger's blog trough a fellow crafter, Bridget.

One less birthday card on my card-to-do-list :o)

Friday, February 25, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 25: Something thorny

Used and old pattern from CraftCreations - something I saw back in 2003 and saved on my computer for later use. Dug into the box with crafty leftovers and found some burgundy and green "paper" with a velvet-like surface - applied them to white plain card stock.

I made 10, all slightly different - will make a box and buy a small black inkpad and two stamps with the words "invitation" and "thank you" - then they should make a fine little present to somebody, who is usually not crafty.

My day had some nasty thorns - and I just realised the comparison, when I took photos of todays creations.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 24: Winding Cards


Browsed through some books today to get additional inspiration - have plenty ideas already for cards, but some of them need the "finishing touch". Deecided that today was about trying out some new techniques.

"Winding Cards" was one of them

TAG 2011 - Day 23: It only takes....


...two skeins of BigWoll and size 12 (mm) needles - and then about 3 hours of knitting :o)

Easy pattern bought on a trip to Sweeden - did not take much translation, and now I own a loop that can help me keep warm in this **COLD COLD** weather.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 22: Reused



If I just made this: How can it be reused?

Well made a similar one a couple of weeks back - only difference between then and now is, that I added a sentiment. Card is to be given to one of my oldest friends who are stopping by my city tomorrow.

Monday, February 21, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 21: Home Decor


A while ago I realised that it had been a while, since I had flowers in my appartment. The usual green plans does not grow properly in my appartment: when I am travelling they lack both water and natural light during daytime.

Since then, I have made sure, that flowers will be in my appartment - and it does not have to be expensive one: "just" some added extra color to my place. Yesterday I found these (20 pieces in total now split in 3 "vases" around the appartment) for approx 2$.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 20th: Just Go With the Flow

I really did not plan to do any card challenges today.... instead something that would involve the yellowish knitting from the other day. But one glance at today's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 105 changed it all: an idea popped into my head demanding to see the light of day.

Almost about to publish this post, when I read Rosemary's post - and she freaked me out! The theme of my card was definately inspired by Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books, that I love reading over and over and over again. Hence also submitting it to Order of the Opus Gluei - Challenge #91: Well Read (Books, Books Books) after having read her post.

Supplies used:

Stamps from Creativi TEA stamp set (Taylored Expressions)
Valentinoise cardstock (beige)
Design paper: VintageBeauty
Gold pen-touch
Touch: Le Plume II - No. 10


Saturday, February 19, 2011

TAD 2001 - Day 19th: Paper Angels


A 10-year old girl went "WOW!!" when we saw the how-to directions on the nicest paper angels - provided by Maria.... and it did not take her long to realise, that just by looking at the how-to, she could actually make some of these herself.

It took her less than 5 minutes to persuade her "aunt", that that was going to be today's creative object - albeit shopping for some of the supplies was needed for the project. Horray for the hobby supply store being only a 15-minutes walk from my appartment :o)

With the inspiration of Christmas music, I made these angels - The girl, she went home with more than 20 homemade paper angels :o)

Folding Frame Card

This week's Tuesday Morning Sketches #81 is all about using the folded frame technique.  I have made cards before using this technique, and this time I opted to make one for my surplus of cards - always good to have a spare card lying around: You never know, when you are gonna need it :o)




TAD - Day 18th: Folded Box

Struggling to come up with the "right" idea for a card challenge involving folded frames - I suddenly remembered, that just maybe a folded frame could be the top decoration of a folded box.

Maybe the colors aren't exactly matching, but I like the outcome - and things being to machy-matchy can be a bit booring.


Thursday, February 17, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day17: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like....


.... no no not X-mas.... but what could it be??  :o)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 16: Will This Ever Be....


...the shield on a patchwork turtle toy?

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 15: Ribbet-Ribbet

Going back memory lane to my childhood, to the days when I made these in less than 5 minutes during train rides :o)

Making a few of them tonight as they are to be included in a surprise for a person very much into frogs (hobby).

Shamus in a Double Challenge


The Dude Time Doodles Challenge: FEB Freebie challenge was all about using Shamus (the freebie digistamp) in a card - and I just could not resist combining it with Just Us Girls' Technique challenge: spotlight. Have not used that technique before, so extra challenging into the unknown.

In real life: this card has straight edges, but the camera would not "catch it" properly :o(

Monday, February 14, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 14: Key To The Heart


Ever had the feeling, that you believed, that you had one particular source of inspiration... that is until you realised, that something you've forgotten all about was the true inspiration?

Well since I saw this challenge, Crazy 4 Challenges C4C74, I wondered, if I could make a card for it. I subscribe to the Martha Stewart Newsletter - Craft of the day - and I couldn't resist this idea. Red ribbon, a Fiskars hole punch & eyelet setter, while cardstock, copics, red ink and a heart stamp from a no-name stamp set from Tiger and I was on my way. Enlarged the stamp on my copier and got the draft to the heart.

When I had almost finished the card, I realised the true source of inspiration: a cheap heart necklace bought 6 years ago in London - sadly it makes a weird coloring on my skin now, so can not use it any longer. I have hold on to it, as I hope, that I one day can afford, that a jewelery maker can make one exactly like this in silver.....

Happy Valentines Day.

Hearts 1:1

Happy Valentine's Day

If you know me in person, you would know that Valentine's Day has never meant much to me (being or not being in a relationsship: my viewpoint is the same) - instead I have teased other people and simply asked "Well did you forget about my birthday yesterday?"

Then again: people knowing me know, that I would never spoil their great day, when a loved one has surprised them with something from the heart :o)

Last year (November) a friend of mine was hospitalized at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark. On my way from her room, I found a exhibition just next to the main entrance. A local photographer, Agnete Schlichtkrull, has photographed street art in Copenhagen - all of them with different shapes of hearts during a period of two years. Some of her amazing photos were on display (you can actually buy them as postcards etc from her gallery in Copenhagen) and was able to make most people smile.

You can find overview with some of her heart pictures here.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 13: Do You Know the Muffin (Wo)Man?



Do you know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Do you know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane.
When you wake up with an English nursery rhyme like this, you know, that you should make birthday muffins for your colleagues (yep another year) to bring to work tomorrow :o)

The recipe is one of the easiest ever - and since you use oil and not butter, it is not as heavy as some muffins are - and where berries is mentioned, you can use whatever you want like chocholate chip, nuts, fruit etc.
My favourite is either apple+cinnamon or chocolate chip.

200g (7 ounces) berries
150g (5,2 ounces) sugar
1 large egg
1 tbsp. vanilla
1 dl (½ cup) sunflower oil
1½ dl (3/4 cup) milk
2 tbsp baking powder
250g (8,8 ounces) wheat flour

If you are using berries, make sure that you drain them for juice.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, then gently add the berries. Use paper cups (chose some who match the occation or opt for a not so cheap batch from stores like DollarStore, Tiger, PoundEmporium etc. - mine was found at Ikea for a bargain price)

Bake 20-25 minutes in preheated oven at 180 Celcius (350 Fahrenheit) - a batch makes 12 muffins. Cool them off before eating.

Just looked up the nursery rhyme, and it is actually mentioned in a Jane Austen book - is that a hint, that I should spend time on my couch reading something by her? Something only a few of us realise - a muffin in the old English days was nothing like the cake we know so well. Needless to say - I made more than one batch, so I will treat myself with one now.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 12: Work in Progress

Ok.... I put a project aside today - it simply would not come out as I wanted it too....Buhu....Need to think a bit more, on how to do that one - I put it aside to let the idea mature.

Instead I started doing a bit of knitting for... well that is to be revealed later, as I need to buy some items to complete it... at least I did some knitting today.

Friday, February 11, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 11: Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 103

Another day - another card challenge. Inspiration (sketch) came from the blog The Sweetest Thing I had put down a copy of the sketch challenge in my moleskin notebook, and forgotten all about it until this morning, when watching the remaining 15 minutes of "The Jane Austen Book Club" movie - I fell a sleep on the couch yesterday when watching it (it was getting late)

The first meeting of this bookclub took place in a Starbucks Coffeeshop and that somehow inspired me to this card - and I just realised, that I have been using the same stamp series from Taylored Expressions all week.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 10: Saturday Sketch Challenge

Sometimes the card challenges on various blogs doesn't really catch my attention - they often have to lurk around in my head before I suddenly get ideas.

These days however, the challenges that immediately catch my attention/interest are lining up in a queue - today I did Saturday Sketch Challenge from Paper Craft Planet (PCP). This card just presented itself into my mind when I saw the sketch, and is going to be used for a birthday... in November :o)

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 9: Eat Your Handbag

How do you even show your friends, if you pass by something that you really want to share with others.... but alas - you forgot your camera ??!!

Well in my case I have to remind myself, that I am actually always carrying a camera, as my iPhone has one :o)

I passed by this confectioner's shop and saw this wonderful handbags, that you actually want to eat......

Bon appetit!

P.S. click on the picture, I you want to view a bigger version of it

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

TAD 2001 - Day 8: Sharing My Heart With....

... well I am not that into Valentines Day - mainly since my birthday is February 13th. And there's no significan other in my life at the moment.

Which means that I will share my heart.... well this crochet heart with readers/other bloggers :o)

The first time I used a crochet hook was half a year ago - but with this tutorial from Teresa, I could challenge myself once again....still work in progress - as in I still have a lot to learn, in 2-3 more attempts, and I should get it right...maybe too much stuffing and yarn not thick enough?

Monday, February 7, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 7:Crisp Bread

Today does not have to do with scissors, tape, paper etc.

But flour, oil, sunflower seeds, dried pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, wheat flakes, salt, baking powder, linseed...

Would have been cheaper just to buy Wasa crip bread at the supermarket - but this way I can decide exactly what goes inside.... and it helps my stomach being on the right track.

YumYum :o)

Sunday, February 6, 2011

CPS Challenge #204

3rd post today - well, I had inspiration so I just went with the flow.

Today's new CPS sketch looks like this:


When seeing it, I immediately thought of coffee houses, coffee rings on the table.... Grey and brown colors could be like your mind when you have just gone out of bed - after the alarm clock pulled you away from nice dreams... after the first cup of coffee, colors may come back into your mind while getting ready for a new day.

To here's my interpretation - soon to be shipped off to the ace reporter of a weekly newsletter:



Spotted the chance to use my Taylored Expressions' "Let's Do Coffee" stampset, and the "what's brewin'?" sentiment was perfect for a reporter always cooking up a new story.

TAD 2011 - Day 6: Paper Cranes

Inspired by the story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes + a blog request from last year, I suddenly realised, what theme to use to a "Get Well" card. I actually do not know the recipient, but his roomie is a fellow crafter.

I folded a few paper cranes, and decided to make an additional one of paperscraps and use it as main embellishment on the card... I found a picture, that I have saved from a magazine a while ago, and decided, that I would be perfect for the background

Words of Inspiration





Behind the Smile - Encore

The quiet courage
so many MSers show
just leaves me in awe.


People have no clue
how much sadness lies hidden
behind a bright smile.


This challenge is tough.
We all make the best of it.
Sometimes it's too much.


Saturday, February 5, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 5: Everbody Can Fold A Star....



.... or maybe not ?!

When you learn something as a child, you automatically believe, that it is something the whole world know how to do....  It is not until years later, that you face the reality.

Foliding a paper star - Fröbel Star - is something you can do in less than 5 minutes, granted you know how to do it. When searching the net to find the how-to-instructions earlifer today, I learned not only the real name, but also that it was an invention of Friedrich Fröbel, that believed in challenging the mind of the child when learning something new - he was the one who invented kindergarden.

The silver one is folded of bought paper strips (smaller than those I usually use) - and the other one is my attempt of making my own paper stripes out of paper (the coin for size comparison is the US coin, a dime).
In the process, I discovered two things. 1) The thicker the paper, the wider the strips need to be, 2) Make sure, that both side of the paper will fit the purpose, as both sides will be revealed when folding it.

Hmmm....and now I will be on the lookout for suitable paper to make my own paper star strips.

TAD 2011 - Day 4: Pillowboxes


Remember, when you were a kid, at the most fascinating thing about some presents was actutally the wrapping/boxes they came in? It even warms my heart to this day, when I see family or friend's kids react the same way.

As an adult, I have actually realised, that I can still be exited about the wrapping.... "Oh I need to save this - it could be very good in some creative project some day" - sounds familiar?

Well was about to throw out a catalogue, when I realised that there were some cool full page pictures inside that wouldl be perfect for that pillowbox stensil, that I bought last year, but hadn't used.... until now that is :o)

P.S. Found out, that I didn't submit this yesterday, I must incidently have hit the draft button instead... Mr. Sandman did the entertaining last night after a very looong day at work.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 3: Influx from Asian Culture

Happy Chinese Lunar/New Year :0)

Well, the card of today is somewhat inspired by the Chinese New Year, but is actually more to do with the Japanese culture.

Decided to try out a origami kimono (my first attemt) and wanted an red, Japanese style background. The solution was to attach part of a napkin with decoupage laquer to my cardstock, and the kimono is made of imported Japanese paper. The sentiment is the kanji sign for "beauty" to embrase my fondness of Japanese kimonos.

Happy New Year - Xīn nián kuài lè

新年快樂
Xīn nián kuài lè
Happy New Year
Happy Chinese New Year - and welcome to the year of the rabbit. If you are in China or other places celebrating the Chinese New Year, you will experienced that a lot of things are closed for the next five days, due to the big celebration. The Chinese New Year is the biggest tradition in the Chinese culture.

A few basics about the traditions:

Fireworks
Get ready for a lot of fireworks - and it going to be noisy
Fish
Lucky Chinese New Year symbol.
Oranges
Receiving oranges when leaving the host's house is a symbol of that house sharing good luck with its guests.
Red
Symbolises good fortune and joy
Red envelope
Given especially to kids and young people - somewhat equal to Christmas presents, as this envelope contains money


I was lucky to be in China, when we entered the year of the Ox (my Chinese zodiac). I have celebrated Chinese New Year with friends and know a lot of the traditions connected to this special occasion, thus making the Chinese experience much more colorful and interesting.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 2: Irish Folding....Ehh... I Mean Iris Folding

Can't upload this directly on the posterous site - so I have to email it...yesterday the picture came out really bad on the website, so I only had the chance to edit it here.

Well enough about site problems - today I opted for a card for the upcoming Skt. Patrick's Day.... Couldn't find a template for a good trefoil, so I created my own. Hope the recipient will like it, as Skt.Patrick's Day is her day.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

TAD 2011 - Day 1: Tag You're It


Day one of the Thing-A-Day challenge...

I have decided, that I have too many projects that all suffer under my procastination - the excuse: Well I can always do that - it really takes no time, and I rather challenge myself with a bigger creative idea.

Last X-mas I created the gift tags in very last minute - using rubber stamps, paper and copics.... well not exactly something that showed me, except for the fact, that they were homemade for the occation. This year is going to be different so I already started doing something X-massy... sorry... but this idea has been luring in the back of my head.

The inspiration is from Sweet Paul's blog - but spiced up with a personal touch. The pictures are taken by me during the second half of 2009, and I added some rivets and instead of the plain white string - I went for something typical Danish (the red/white string) and I might blame it on my genes :o)

It came out even better than I hoped.... going to create some more of these and give them to some friends, who might want to use them.