HotchPotch Ehhh??

February Tea Swap 2012 - Part 2

2012-02-15T02:23:00.000-08:00

Got the swap from Josie on Monday and had almost forgotten about the swap when Í opened the envelope :o)

Nice little detail with the pocket that contained a personal note.

When opening the card, pockets for the teabags appeared

Not two but three teabags, all accompagnied with quotes underneath. One can not become anything than happy when receiving a creation like this :o) Thank you Josie.

February Tea Swap 2012 - Part 1

2012-02-14T00:47:00.000-08:00

This time Fran called for February's Tea Swap with the optional theme is: Valentine's Day; Optional Colors are: Red and Pink. When I signed up, I had absolutely no idea about what I was going to create as Valentine's Day is not big thing locally. My swap partner for this month was Josie, who I know from PaperCraftPlanet, and the same person who initially tipped me about this montly teaswap.

Made an iris fold heart-card, where the paper used in the heart is tea bag wrap - not too many have red wraps here, so going for a multicoloured heart - sentiment is from the CreativiTEA set from Taylored Expressions.

Then I remembered seing a tutorial on how to make a heart box over at SplitCoastStampers: Why not make a chocolate style heart box for the tea, that I was to send? Teapot stamp I received from a friend who found it at a garage sale - hearts stamp is from Panduro Hobby

I just hope, that Josie thinks, I got the Valentine's theme covered :o)

What Direction Is My Path?

2012-02-13T11:11:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I am just wondering what direction my life is going? Am I even taking the right way? Could I take it in an more creative direction instead of pushing papers? Know my job offers me a great deal of travelling but is it worth the sacrifice?

Amazing how tiny imprints in the snow left behind by a bird can fuel one's thoughts..........

Above

2012-02-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

The other night I passed this while shopping after work. Remembered that my iPhone has a camera and walk back to snap this photo. Have been looking at it several times, and my mind always wander as that word ABOVE trigger my imagination.

Does it trigger yours??

Have You Ever Had One Of Those Days....

2012-02-07T00:23:00.000-08:00

.... where you see something that looks absolutely scrumptious, and you buy it, since you had already promised yourself to buy a little something to enjoy when you do all the things on your enourmous to-do-list?

I purchased these three the other day, from a bakery where I noticed cupcakes in Copenhagen for the first time a few years back. Was in that area anyway, so decided that it was time to give those a try. Left to right vanilla, caramel and mint.

YUCK!! Nothing but dissapointment - tried to take a bit of all three of them, but incredible dry and un-eatable - the vanilla and caramel had the same cake and absolutely not fitting the topping. This bakery is located at the busiest shopping streets of Copenhagen, where a lot of tourists passes that bakery daily - a lot of them were having a hot bevarage (temperatures are still freezing cold) and a cupcake on the side, and it was not until after I got home, that I realised that there had been a lot of un-eaten cupcake leftovers on the tables.

I dare to write, that those cupcakes you can sometimes get at the baked goods isles at your local supermarket are a lovely treat compared to these horrible cupcakes.

Snow

2012-02-05T13:48:00.000-08:00

Woke up this morning with the faint sound of shovels working. When listenen, there was no doubt in my mind! Snow! :o) Jumped out of bed and straight to the window: wonderful, white snow. It is still freezing cold outside, but ventured out on a ½hour walk.

Number of bird feeders has increased, and now two places in the park, supplemented on apples and loafs of bread hanging on the trees. Saw a man busy with refilling the birdfeeders, and gave me a big smile when I said "thank you" to him..... do not think that many people remembers to do so.

Today's photos taken with my iPhone so not the usual photo quality

Rubber Duck Cake - Trial And Error

2012-02-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

Purchased the cake pan a few months ago, as I simply had to own it... was then put on a shelve, as Christmas cookie cake cutters were in use for season.

Chocolate duckie after it is taken out of the pan......... looks funny, but seing the colors on the photo I actually like it. It looks a bit "mysterious" to me, but cake needs to cool down before fondant is mounted, as the cake would otherwise be sweating.

Note to self: remember to buy white and black fondant to make proper eyes (cheating here, as eyes are paper). First time ever working with fondant, so surprised about the result........used two different brands of fondant, on very sticky but the other easy to work with.... think I am ready to make the cakes to be served "in public" next week :o)

Blimey! It Is Cold Outside!

2012-02-04T08:51:00.000-08:00

Blimey.... loved that word since an English teacher used that a lot... he was then still trying to master simple Danish words since he had just arrived 3 weeks before the semester started.

It is cold outside as we are getting a cold current that originated in Siberia all over Europe now, so today is declared day for indoor activities only at my place........ if you even plan to venture outside, you look like a mix of the Michelin Man or a MarshmellowPuf due to the extreme layers of clothes needed to stay fairly warm. My computer is next to one of my windows, from which there is an extreme draft at the moment so catching up with my weaved hearts blog later, as I have been making them every day as planned.

Discovered that this week's challenge at CCEE stampers was to make a card, that includes a snowman and some scallops....... somehow reminding me of Sandra Juto's mindblowing pictures of her icecovered windows (mine does not look like that despite the coldness and draft coming from my windows.

Next thing that jumped into mind was Tuesday Morning Sketches #131:

This is the card that my frosty mind came up with:

Ingredients.
Designpaper is Christmas Magic Winter Cold: Snow Crystals from Puppy Designs
White watercolor paper
Snowman stamp is a frebie from a UK magazine
Sentiment from Penny Black's Xmas Snapshots
Ink. StazOn Jet black
COPIC B34 Manganese Blue
Snow Flurries Die from Tim Holtz
Blue and silver paper are scraps from paper bags.

Mirrored the snow flurry die on the water color paper, and decided to "trace" the edges a little with the blue COPIC to enhance the frosty touch.

Sanctuary

2012-02-02T00:47:00.000-08:00

Do you have a santuary, where no everyday thoughts are allowed? Where you just forget any sorrows and let your mind wander? I have found some in unexpected places, and cherish every moments and thoughts that have been spent there.

Seoul, South Korea

Do You Have....

2012-02-01T13:19:00.000-08:00

something that was intended to be used, but you are clinging on to it refusing to use it, since it is just soo nice??

I got one of those things from a colleague last year, since she know that I am amazed by a peacock's colors, feathers.... the peacock's appearance in general. She know that I like being crafty, so the purpose of this was clearly to include it on a project.......but NO!! do not want to part with it :o)

Wanna see??

So which item is your "soft spot"??

Smile

2012-01-31T00:21:00.000-08:00

Now you are smiling too, I hope ;o)

What??!! Already....

2012-01-30T04:57:00.000-08:00

It amazes me how fast times flies by, and today my monthly MS treatment was scheduled. Nothing is on my agenda tonight except for relaxing and indulging in a cupcake (Italian almond) and a chai-latte. Most times a little Ben&Jerry icecream would also have been part of my post-treatment self-treatment, but with the cold cold weather outside, I opted for something a little warmer :o)

Multitasking

2012-01-29T11:04:00.000-08:00

Multitasking today. No because I have to, but because I can :o) Feeling the creative mojo flushing back again. Finally I managed to get my heart blog up-to-date with the weaved hearts and now just a little more than halfway to reach my goal.

While updating the blog, I watched the Danish handball team win the European tournement, thus also qualifying for the olympics in London later this year........ :o)

Snow Time

2012-01-29T01:52:00.000-08:00

Heard that little inner voice early this moning "Hey Ho! Get up and go!".... yes, I know that it is Sunday morning, but there was a machine outside that just hummed "snow...snow...snow" - not much, but just enough to cover the ground.

Ahhh, the fresh smell of snow and the crispy sound of new snow under your feet when walking = one of my favourite times.

Was given some good news during the week, received some wonderful creations from crafty friends and was also out a couple of times with good friends - all needed after a couple of weeks, that drained me from positive energy. Not quite back to my usual self, but think I am on the right track.

A Warm Thought From A Fellow Blogger

2012-01-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it is a bit scary how something arrives just at a moment, when it is needed - as if somebody had a vision of me needing just that :o)

Have encountered a lot of crafty women via the blogworld, and today I got this card from Rosemary, who had made me laugh and smile countless times reading her blog. When I walked to the postoffice to pick up my mail, I was actually thinking about the need of getting a thicker/warmer knitted hat, as temperatures are freezing at the moment during daytime and even worse during nights. Imagine my huge surprise when I found this next to the wonderful card (is that a doily or a doily die cut?):

A super-soft knitted hat, that is absolutely perfect for this cold weather - and it even breaks the spell of me usually having black knitted hats (guess it is a kind of comfort zone)... together with a lip balm, that is also very much needed in this type of weather.

Rosemary, guess you are smiling seeing this last photo........and the blue one is almost empty, and that is the only kind we can get here, so did not know there are types/flavours as well. Thank you soo much for this wonderful surprise, truly speachless here!! :o)

Something Blue - January Tea Swap 2012 - Part Two

2012-01-26T12:18:00.000-08:00

Maybe you saw the tea swap, that I sent to Gill, on my blog this Monday but you should see what she sent me - and I received it Monday in my mail.

If you are thinking: "Did I miss her birthday?!", the answer is "No" - but this month's theme is celebrations. There are a lot of colors that I like, but blue is by far my favourite, so huge smile on my face when realising that the envelope contained more than a card and tea:

Creations made by Gill :o) The creativity in the group that Fran summons every month is incredible, and I am gratefull that a fellow crafter tipped me about these monthly swaps. Those earings are so delicate - and love how the pattern on the little picture matches the sachet - Thank you again Gill!! :o)

Happy Chinese New Year - Year of the Dragon

2012-01-23T00:28:00.000-08:00

When Fran called out for the January Tea Swap, she gave us two options of for the card, that is to follow the two tea samples sent to the assigned swap partner: The optional theme is: "Celebrations"; Optional Colors are: Blue and silver (or white).

I just knew, that I had to do a card in connection with Chinese New Year and at the same time, the tri-fold technique has been lurking in the back of my head ever since I got a wonderful Christmas card from Karen using that technique.

Not the optional colours, but staying true to the colores used when the Chinese celebrates their New Year (also known as Spring Festival)

Was wondering for days, how to include a dragon on the card, as the New Year also marks the entering into year of the Dragon. The Order of the Opus Gluei Challenge #122: Take a picture, it will last longer gave me just the idea, so this is one of the rare occations where I use one of my photos in a card.

Never tied stamping on vellum before, and remembered that the description on a StazOn inkpad said "Appropriate for all surfaces" - so tried it on the "Ni Hau!" stamp, which is the chinese for "Hello" and it worked

This is a Chinese never ending knot.

The former type of Chinese coins. If you have 3 Chinese coins tied with a red string in your purse, it is believed, that you will never be without money. True, but I don't think that I can purchase anything with those locally.... and yet I actually have 3 Chinese coins with red ribbon in my purse :o)

This is a copy of the original photo, that I used on the card's front. At the grounds of Gyeongbokgung (Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven) in Seoul, South Korea, you will find the all animals of the Chinese zodiac depicted as statues in a circle with this representing the Dragon.

I hope that Gill will like my card and the two teasamples with liquirice tea I sent to her (and yes Claire, there are others than me that like a cuppa liquirice tea).

Relections on Closed Doors

2012-01-22T04:27:00.000-08:00

Browsing through the few pictures I took yesterday, I realise just how much one's mood influences the things that are captured with a camera - closed doors/gates were a dominant eyecatcher for me.

Still marked by the opinions thrown at me last week, that also includes: You are single, hence you have nothing by free time, when the workday ends. Or: you live alone - hence hiding for people in general. What!?! They didn't even want to hear if could prove them wrong.

Maybe I am single but that does not keep me for travelling or going to restaurants alone. Nor from going to cinemas or exhibitions alone neither grap my camera and go for my photowalks and occationally bumping into people, that shares my interest for photography and hence exchanging good opportunities for a nice photo. So many of those throwing those annoying opinions at me are scared of going to the cinema or restaurant alone not to speak of travelling alone. Why is it, that they want to spoil my mood??!!

Reading yesterday's blogpost and the above, made me remember when Starbucks printed people's words on their paper cups - I really miss them, as there were some wise words on them. One in particular I wrote down in the moleskin notebook that is always in by (hand)bag: The Way I See It #17:

The world bursts at the seams with people ready to tell you you're not good enough. On occasion, some may be correct. But do not do their work for them. Seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal. Don't take it personally when they say "no" they may not be smart enough to say "yes".

Keith Olbermann
Broadcast journalist and
Best of MSNBS's Countdown with Keith Olbermann

When One Door Closes....

2012-01-21T12:29:00.000-08:00

Another one opens up......

Well I just hope that that door appears soon......

Had the most crappy week so far, where my escape from reality has been turning off my phones completely, photographing a little bit (despite constant remarks about the things I photographed from someone only appreciating tourist photos, telling me that my photos are odd), making some cards for good friends and just sitting in candlelight alone watching a good movie on the tv....

Thus forgetting all about people, who take me for granted..... who doesn't think that I have a life since I am single and living alone.... people that declares that I am not open to change, while they want things done, as they did in their previous employment..... close family members who are only here for a limited time due to irreversible illness.

The door in the photo appeared to me to day, but despite it not opening up for me, it spoke to me with it's shattered paint etc. - I long for a change, but guess I have to be patient a little bit longer.

Eyes Everywhere

2012-01-17T00:42:00.000-08:00

Ever get the feeling, that somebody is looking at you while walking? :o)

Birdy NamNam

2012-01-16T00:28:00.000-08:00

In a nearby park, one tree is filled with both store bought and homemade bird feeders. This allows people passing close-by to get a very up-and-close look at the sparrows who are joyfully eating and tweeting.

Books Coming to Life

2012-01-15T05:39:00.000-08:00

So that's what they do, when a bookstore is closed at night :o) I LOVE THIS!!

Larry Crowne

2012-01-15T01:19:00.000-08:00

When I comes to movies with Tom Hanks, then I am usually "sold" without even reading reviews. He is so diverse - but do not think that we will ever see him casted as a cruel person. In my book he is the James Stewart or Cary Grant of our time.

In the first minutes of the movie, he ia laid off from his job then entering an unknown future as unemployed. He is naturally shocked and is basically told, that since he did not have any other education than high school, then he was not in the line for promotion hence not somebody the store chain (an equivalent to WalMart etc) wished to employ. Looked for a job, but failing like so many others when there is a financial depression going on.

He remembers, that he was told that he lacks education and decides to look up a local college. Being a bit vulnerable by the situation, he is also open to some mind manipulation and is pushed into Julia Roberts' class by the college dean. He gets young college friends, since he is driving a vintage scooter and they see that there is something within Larry just awaiting to come out. He on the other hand, also in his way teaches some of the bewildered young college students about some aspects of life. Julia Robert's character, professor Tainot's immediate reaction to Larry being friends with some of the young students is, that he is probably after some "young ass", perhaps not realising that he is trying to fit in.

It is a comedy, but it also makes you think about a lot of aspects in your own life. How would you react, if you lost your job? Are you concerned, if you fit in or not? Are lifechanges overwhelmingly scary or do you face the changes with an open mind? Are your perception of people's actions openminded or judgemental?

Eventhough I felt good when leaving the cinema, those questions were on my mind, but not in a disturbing way. If you see the movie, you might recognise something about the humour, wit etc. - you will recognise Tom Hanks' fingertouch in it, but also Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Weeding), who is his co-writer on this movi - hopefully they will make another "joint venture" in the future :o)

Sherlock Holmes 2

2012-01-14T23:50:00.000-08:00

When it comes to Sherlock Holmes, then I am totally sold, if there is a new tv-series, film etc. about the detective, that I believe most of us know either from a book or a movie.

So, I just had to wander to the nearest cinema and succomb into another world.... or in this case: time. One of my friends is quite upset with Sherlock Holmes being made into another movie, as there is only one Sherlock Holmes in her world, played by Jeremy Brett.

Well times are changing, and despite the fact ,that I like Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes, I find Robert Downey Jr to be a good interpretation given that they have added some extra effects to the movie - and yet aren't those effects true to the time, when the movie is supposed to take place? They have "simply" adjusted to demand of extra special effects, to get a new generation to see the stories about Sherlock Holmes. Is it not good, that you can actually chose between various interpretations of the stories after your liking of genre?

When I saw the movie, a lot of the movie audience were actually some where from the mid 50s to the 70s - some of them accompagnied by younger generations of their families, all of them laughing just as much as the rest of us and also leaving the cinema with smiles on their faces. Is it not the point to go into the cinema to be entertained? And seriously, if you dislike the interpretation before even seing it, why be upset? Find some other movie that is more your liking and be happy, that there are movie genres for everybody to watch.

And me? Oh yes, I was one of those leaving the cinema with a smile on my face and happy that someone took his/her time once again to interprete those great stories writting by Sir Conan Doyle :o)

Rubber Duckie Day

2012-01-13T00:09:00.000-08:00

Big smile on my face, when I discovered that January 13th is the Rubber Duckie Day :o)

Big duckie is actually a radio, that I stumpled across at Urban Outfitters, and it was "just" one of those must-haves - it works, so I can listen to morning music while showering. The rewindable duckie is a travel buddy - one never knows if there is a bathtub in the hotel room. Buttom to the left duckie is a keychain/light - if you activate the light he QUACKS!! The littlelest (does that word even exist?) one is just miniature.

I have a 5th duckie (not on display here) - a soap duckie, which I have never taken out of the wrapping, I know I will just start using it, if I did....

Have an idea, what you are thinking now - and my answer is "No, I never think that I will ever grow up - But please don't tell my parents ;o) **LOL*

From Book to Movie: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

2012-01-12T13:33:00.000-08:00

Whenever there is a book, which I really loved reading, that is being made into a movie, I am always hesitant about going into the cinema and see it: Will it encapture what held my attention in the book? Did they cast the right actors for the book's characters? Is it true to the book.

Was a bit late on getting started at reading Stieg Larsson's Millenium books - frinds had been talking about the books for more than two years when I finally picked up the first one. Still a bit hesitant and wondering what the hype was all about and convinced that reading the book would take far longer than the long-haul flight I had to do. Ahmmm I was soo wrong about that - I forgot time and place and read the book from cover to cover in less time than the durating of that flight... bummed that I had brought #2 with me as well, and the 3rd had just been translated to my language. Two days after I returned home, the two next book was aquired and awaiting to be read :o)

Originally it was planned to make the first book into a movie, and the next two into a mini tv-series, but the movie's succes in Scandinavia convinced the moviemakers, that it should be 3 films. Saw all 3 at the cinema and just loved Noomi Rapace as Lisbet Salander... the actor playing Mikael Blomkvist seemed a little bit off... Locally the film had subtitles though a majority of us have no problems understanding the spoken English.

Last Sunday I went to the cinama to see the remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tottoo, which have received mixed reviews locally. I am a bit ehhh about the remake, albeit I think that Daniel Craig was a much better cast as Mikael Blomkvist than the Swedish actor, Michael Nyqvist, sames goes with Christopher Plummer and Stellan Skarsgaard (oh well the latter is Swedish ;o) ) - but Noomi is still the best Lisbeth...

Always interesting to see how a non Scandinavian would interprete the book and our way of living, but this one was a fair job. A tad wierd though seing all the actors run around in Sweden speaking English while trying to pronounce the names with as much Swedish way of pronouncing them as possible......

Spicy Lobstertail Soup

2012-01-10T14:53:00.000-08:00

..... or Spicy Crayfish Soup. Maybe you remember me blogging about this - and here is the promised recipe:

Ingredients (serves 6)

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 teaspoons curry

2 onions - chopped in small pieces

1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 fresh)

1 teaspoon sambal oelek

2 cans chopped tomatoes

2,5 deciliter water

2 boullion cubes (chicken)

200 grams choppedpeaches from a can (in own juice)

½ can coconut milk

400 grams lobster tails or crayfish tails (a mix of both is good too)

Fry the curry, onion, garlic and sambal oelek in the oil.
Add the chopped tomatoes, water, boullion cubes, 2 deciliter peach juice and let it simmer for about 15 minutes (at low temperatures)
Blend the above into a thick soup and let it boil for a few minutes
If you are making this dish in advance, remove it from the heat - and reheat it a couple of minutes
Add the peaches and the coconut milk just before serving the dish

Serve dish with kroepock (prawn crackers).

Tip - if you or one of your guests think, that the dish is too spicy, gently add a little of the leftover coconut milk.

BON APPETIT !!

Hey Ho, Time To Go

2012-01-09T14:10:00.000-08:00

These are not my words, but words read on the second page in a biography I bought two days ago - a warm and exiting biography about a Danish tv journalist, which I will post more about within the next week or two. Went into the cinema yesterday morning, and during the credits at the end of the movie, those words just ran through my head.

Must admit, that I would honestly never have thought that this movie would have much more impact than "just" be a feel-good movie that would entertain me for two hours - making me forget about some bad news received during the weekend.

The movie made me realise, that I lately might have been a bit at a standstill - It was the first time in almost a year, that I went to the cinema (this weekend alone: 3 times!! :o) ) compared to 1-2 times a month previously - haven't seen a exhibition (art/photography) in more than 2 months = have missed some great ones *SIGH* ... and my work has lately put quite a damper on my mood and energy.... and my weight: have gained some kgs that needs to be eliminated.

So have already written down some premiere dates of movies, that I want to see - dates of some photo exhibitions coming to town soon - signed up for a "lecture" by the mentioned book's author etc - ' cause "Hey Ho, Time to Go" - and blog about it afterwards.

New Beginnings

2012-01-01T00:50:00.000-08:00

Entering a new year means one thing: have to buy new calendar pages for my mini Filofax and insert important info.

It has almost become a ritual, as I use some of my crafty mini stamps to illustrate events/celebrations/holidays - along with transferring important dates from previous calendar into the new one. Usually this is done end of November, but this time I used the very last day to update the new calendar.

The markings of various events etc. has become quite international because of my work, friends and the participation at PaperCraftPlanet - but then again this is was is making my calendar unique, a reflection of what I do during a year, and which cards to send that needs to be sent. A calendar like this in a bag - that is a very personal thing and for me a lifeline.

I do remember most of my New Years, but one in particular stand out. 30 years ago, I had received a calendar with horses (new postcard picture every month) and I remember saying "Happy New Year!" at the stroke of midnight, then running to my room to change the page to January 1982

December 31st - New Years Eve

2011-12-31T10:54:00.000-08:00

Amazing how fast 2011 has run by, and in a few hours we will greet 2012 welcome. Spending this New Year's Eve alone - I said no to invitations, as have been working 4 days this week, and need the weekend to relax, since work calls again on Monday as does the monthly MS treatment. Spending it alone however does not imply that I do not do New Years traditions :o)

6:00 PM Queen Margrethe II's annual speach on TV

Change of guards at Amalienborg Castle

Seriously considering if I should go down to see the change of guards, if I am home on New Year's Eve in 2012 since I live 15-walking minutes from the castle.

2011 (just aired)

Noticed last year, that the queens speach to the nation in UK is on Christmas Day - but here we have our queen's speach tonight. A lot of New Years Eve parties start at 6:00 PM where the guests, equipped with a welcome drink, gather before the television sets and watch the queen on tv.

Many bets are placed regarding the contents of the speach: Will she mention the world's economic situation? World hunger? Some of the nature disasters through the year? Or the typical question at my parent's house: Will she mention the navy/the men at sea?

My New Years Dinner this year: Spicy lobstertail soup with kroepock (prawn crackers). Why have I never made this before? It tastes scrumptious - had two portions - and is fairly easy to make. I made some alterations to the original recipe, and will share it with you in the new year. Come to think of it - this could be an excellent starter if holding a New Year's party. Traditional New Year's dinner in Denmark is steamed cod with potatoes and mustard sauce - I like cod, just not that version of it.

You might notice the glass of bobly next to it - it is ASTI - and is part of my tradition. See champagne is often less stong than redwine, and by drinking the same thing all night and not mixing it with strong drinks, you don't get so wasted New Year's Day - always do this no matter if I am attending a New Year's party or simply staying at home.

11:40 PM Dinner for One

I can almost hear your thoughts now "Didn't she have dinner a couple of hours ago?!" Well this is one of THE most important Danish New Year's Traditions :o) TV is on again with this 15 minute long sketch shot in 1963 (but written back in the 1930's) making everybody laugh or join the dialogue, since we Danes know it very well. Have introduced it to a lot of non-Danish colleagues in the shipping business, at first they are skeptic, but before it ends: they are hooked to. One year the Danish national television chose not to air it: big mistake!! People got very upset and demanded it back. And since most people turn on the TV to hear the bells of Copenhagen Town Hall, it's being aired just before that.

12:00AM: HAPPY NEW YEAR

Well just one more absolutely Danish New Year's tradition - the Danish kransekage (wreath cake) which is made of marcipan, eggyolk and flour. Usually they are wreath shaped, and made into small towers, but spending the New Year's alone I went for the smaller version (will most likely not be able to eat both of them).. a very sweet taste but goes well with champagne.

Happy New Year

A prosperous 2012

Me Time

2011-12-26T11:13:00.000-08:00

Let's just say, that me-time was needed today, as yesterday's events reminded me, why I have been travelling during Christmas the past two years. Me-time includes lots of Christmas movies, tea, Ben & Jerry ice cream and some Thai style food with the leftover turkey from Christmas Eve.

Have received a lot of Christmas cards this year - some of them I have mentioned on Paper Craft Planet, since they were sent from fellow members over there. However 3 cards stood out a bit - not necessarily because I cherish them more than the rest, that I received.....

From a colleague that usually never creates her own Christmas cards:

From Dori - the first swap partner I had on Fran's monthly teaswap - she has seen my blog about coffee cups (not posting there often, but intend to change that in 2012)

Look at this detail: when I opened the lid, I found a Christmas note a a teasample :o)

From Karen at Meadering...One Moment please, a fellow blogger with MS and also a passion for photography, I got this card:

When folded out it looks like this. Have always admired those cards and now I own one...snowflakes, poinsettias, red, green.... my kind of Christmas :o)

Hope that a lot of you have received a lot of cards from family and old friends, friends you might have met through the internet (blogging, creative sites etc.), colleagues or even from someone you have not heard from in a long time.

December 24th - Christmas

2011-12-24T01:06:00.000-08:00

It is time for me to say:

Merry Christmas

The last candle has been lighted today, as we celebrate and exchange gifts on Christmas Eve

From the moment a child opens his or her's eyes today, the impatient question continued over and over again: "Is it night soon?!" To help the parents, the tv stations are airing several kid shows, movies and what have you about Christmas in order to "kill time" for the impatient family members.

If I am in Denmark: I always become Anne-6-years-old at 4pm as I will be in front of the TV watching the annual Disney Christmas show: Mickey Mouse trying to decorate his Christmas tree constantly teased by two wellknown chipmunks, Lady and the Tramp and the Bella Notte seranade, Cinderella getting her nice dress done by the mice and birds, Pinnochio and the list goes on. Did I mention that my older brother finds his inner child too and joins me in front of the tv? *LOL*

The menu of the Christmas dinner variates a bit depending on where in Denmark you live. At my parents' house both the roasted pork and duck are served accompanied by potatoes, sweet potatoes, hot red sliced cabbage, red currant gel and gravy.

Then dessert: ris á la mande - cold rice pudding, with almonds+whipped cream+vanilla, and hot cherry sauce. Most almonds are chopped into small pieces, then some bigger ones to tease and most important: a whole almond. The trick is not to reveal the whole almond until everybody at the table are stuffed due to the hunt of the almond - people are guessing by people's facial expression whether they have the whole almond or not, or asking the cook whether he/she remembered the whole almond or maybe playing the trickster with one of the almost whole almonds saying "Oh, I think I chewed some of the whole almond". The one with the old almond gets a gift - traditionally it is a marcipan pig with a red ribbon, but some families chooses different items as a gift.

We are almost at the great finale of the evening - but first the families gather in a circle around the Christmas tree and goes around singing the Christmas carrols. At first most kids just want to have this over and done with so they can get the presents, but soon it will be them choosing all the Christmas carrols making it seem for the parents as it goes on forever and ever..... the last Christmas carrol is the same in most families: after the first verse the circle is broken and the chain is lead by the one of the youngest famility members dancing/running trough the whole house/appartment visiting almost every room.... when the Christmas tree is finaly reached, then it is time for presents

All that is left for me to say today in my own language is:

God jul or Glædelig jul

Hope you have enjoyed the insigt of some of the Danish Christmas traditions :o)

December 23rd - Rice Pudding

2011-12-23T00:46:00.000-08:00

Rice pudding with a hvidtøl

The majority of families in Denmark will have rice pudding with small plumb of butter (in the center) and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar for dinner tonight. They will make a huge portion so that there will be leftovers - the leftovers are used for the dessert at Christmas dinner tomorrow night, where it is mixed with whipped cream, vanilla and almonds thus becoming ris à la mande. Both rice pudding and ris à la mande taste scrumptious, but my stomach will disown me, if I attemt to eat the dessert - buhu :o(

However there is another use of the rice pudding left overs, called klatkager (plumb cakes), that my stomach does accept. Rice pudding with some eggs, flour and vanilla added and then cooked on a pan just like one would create pancakes, these are just in a smaller version, and the taste resembles pancakes a lot.

Klatkager (plumb cakes) made from leftover rice pudding

December 22nd - Christmas Spirit

2011-12-22T00:32:00.000-08:00

Hamburg, Germany

Bremerhaven, Germany

Rottach-Egern, Germany

Shanghai, China

Copenhagen, Denmark

Nothing beats the possibility to capture some Christmas spirit with a camera - all captured in 2011 :o)

A Gary Larson-ish Christmas

2011-12-21T13:39:00.000-08:00

When B mentioned the Christmas song "Grandma got run over by a reindeer" the other day, my mind immediately went over to TheFarSide cartoons by Gary Larssoon (how I miss those *SIGH*) and suddenly remembered this mug that I purchased close to 20 years ago.

It makes me laugh even more looking at it now compared to when I puchased it, since it was before becoming a frequent flyer. Think this is just an example of my sometimes quirky humor and yet it is soo me :o)

December 21st - Christmas Books

2011-12-21T13:26:00.000-08:00

Small selection of my Christmas books

Christmas books :o) Love them and have so many of them now, that I can not re-read all of them during the month of December like I used to do. A timeless classic is always Charles Dickens and despite the fact, that it has been translated to Danish (my native language), I still prefer to read it in English.

Bookmark that I received earlier today from Josie, whom I got to know via PaperCraftPlanet

December 20th - Honningkagehjerte (Honey cake Heart)

2011-12-20T00:38:00.000-08:00

For me, Christmas is not approaching until I have eaten a honningkagehjerte (honey cake heart).... and it has to be one with a glossy picture of Santa.

The actual size of this one is the size of my palm, but they come in bigger and smaller sizes also. For me this is the size it has to be. Basically is a honey cake covered with dark chocolate and it is scrumptious. I only eat one per year, making it that much more special to eat. Besides we are swamped in so many types of Christmas cookies during the month of December, so one better not eat too many of just one kind :o)

December 19th - Christmas Music

2011-12-19T00:14:00.000-08:00

This little guy sings "Jingle Bells" when I shake his hand - had him for a couple of years now, and he is always earning his spot somewhere in my appartment.

Just a few of my Chrismas CD's (Bridget you might spot something that will make you scream if you look closer *LOL*). They been played many times during CreativeSaturdays with one of my best friends, simply to get us into holiday spirit, if we had a Christmas card theme.

Just like I shared, what some of my favourite Christmas movies are, I will share some of my favourite Christmas songs.... and this list is not close to being complete:

Jingle Bells

Bing Crosby: White Christmas

Wham: Last Christmas

Woody Herman: Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Deck the Halls

Silent Night

Chris Rea: Driving Home for Christmas

Frank Sinatra: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

So what are your favourite Christmas songs?

December 18th - 4th Sunday of Advent

2011-12-18T10:14:00.000-08:00

4th and last Advent ligth was lit today telling us, that Christmas is just around the corner. Sadly the weather forecast says "No white Christmas this year" *sigh* for once I hope they are wrong.

December 17th - Æbleskiver (apple slices)

2011-12-17T09:52:00.000-08:00

Another Danish tradition: æbleskiver. One should think, that they contains slices of apples, but that was in the old days. The best way to describe them is a similary to pancakes, just fluffed since they are made in a special æbleskive pan and you dip them in jam when eating them. At Christmas functions they are often served with glögg, the Scandinavian version of mulled wine.

In the period up to Christmas you can buy them frozen, and either heat them up in the oven, in the microwave or in the special pan - the best result you get when using the pan.

December 16th - Christmas Beer

2011-12-16T14:20:00.000-08:00

In 1981 Tuborg launched the Tuborg Julebryg (Tuborg Christmas Brew), and it has almost become an "institution" amongst our Danish Christmas Tradition. With its volume of 5,6% I for obvious reasons did not taste it until 10 years later - however I was familiar with the commercial :o) It is one of my favourite beers.

These beers are currently in my kitchen - the two middle ones have a vol of less than 2% and is a hvidtøl (also known as nisseøl.), that are consumed well with our risengrød (has some similarities with rice pudding), that we have a lot during the month of December with a dash of butter and cinnamon/sugar. The beer to the far right is a Christmas ale, that fits our Christmas dinners and Christmas lunches and is the stongest with vol 7,5%

December Tea Swap 2011 - Part 2

2011-12-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

When I weaved heart #35, I knew that I would use this fold on the December Tea Swap, that Fran called out in November. I guessed that the thme would be about Christmas, and the colors she announced were: red, gren, whilte, silver and gold - did not use the gold, but included the others. Have use the Bugaboo digital stamp a lot lately, but it is so versatile, as I believe the cuppas can contain the hot drink of your desire.

The box template was found on Waltzing Mouse Stamps frebie section, and the red on the box (not the heart) is a reused red paper bag - inside I put a bag of Pickwick's Winter Tea, one bag of Fredsted's Christmas Tea and added a bonus bag Fredsted's Earl Grey, as I found out that the receiver, Kim, loves Earl Grey.

Fran actually gave us the option of replacing the card with handmade tags, and figured, that these tags could cound as handmade, since the photos, have been captured by me.

December Tea Swap 2011 - Part 1

2011-12-15T15:40:00.000-08:00

Today I received the December tea swap from Kim, a lovely Christmas themed card, with a lot of inspiring details. Lace and ribbon - I rarely use them, as I can't quite grasp them, but after having seen Kim's use of both, I got new inspiration to try on some future cards - in awe of the use of red and white.

Need to find myself a die, that can cut Christmas tree branches like these (maybe next year)... the die sort of reminds me of a bird's foodprint and yet reminds me about what they are: tree branches. So not only did I receive some tea to try out, but also a card full of inspiration.

Thank you Kim :o)

December 15th - Fröbel Star

2011-12-15T15:17:00.000-08:00

Albeit the Fröbel star originates in Germany, many Danes know how to fold this star and often believe, that this is a Danish tradition - I myself did not know about the origin until February this year. In most homes you will see various versions of the folded paper star: One year my mum folded 2 golden stars for every window in the house and it looked great, and everytime a car passed the house the light from the cards reflected in the windows/stars making them twinkle.

I just realised a couple of hours ago, that my interest in papercraft actually dates back to the age of 5, when I learned how to weave a simple heart and to fold Fröbel star.

December 14th - Poinsetias

2011-12-14T00:35:00.000-08:00

Normally I would have bought at least one poinsettia on December 1st, but travel was marked into the calendar, so waited until yesterday to buy them. Have to have at least one poinsettia every year and this year was to be no exeption.

Lately my head has been spinning a bit about Chistmas songs - we have various plants/trees etc. that they sing about: Christmas tree, misteltoe, holly etc. But do you recall any soongs, where they sing about a poinsettia??

December 13th - Saint Lucia

2011-12-13T00:58:00.000-08:00

...or perhaps you know her as Saint Lucy?

For us her name symbolises light ("lys") during these short, dark winter days (sunrises about 9am and decends about 4pm) which is why you a lot of places will see young girls/ladies all dressed in white gowns holding a lit candle in their hands singing a praise for Saint Lucia while walking slowly. The girl in front of the cortege is wearing a green wreath with 4-5 lights on her head depicting Saint Lucia.

In Denmark the tradition dates back to WWII: inspired by the Swedish tradition, the Danish people started this as a silent protest against the Germans, who occupied our country for little more than 5 years.

Whooops how did my picture end up here ;o)

At my old school, it was tradition for all the girls in the 5th grade to be part of a Saint Lucia cortege walking through the school ending up at a common room - when we reached the common room the whole school started singing Christmas carrols. Most Danish schools have their traditions on these day - all with Saint lucia corteges.

Apologies for the poor photo quality of the Saint Lucia cortege - pictures taken mid 80s by someone not very interested in photography - and recently scanned in order to get them in "digital" version.

Signs

2011-12-13T00:21:00.000-08:00

December 12th - Starbucks Annual Christmas Mugs

2011-12-12T14:56:00.000-08:00

Guessing this picture reveals how many years, I have been collecting the annual Christmas mug from Starbucks - just got the 2011 (the one to the right) edition earlier today. Did a post on Starbucks' Christmas Mugs last year too, which just seems to underline my facination about them.

December 10th - Christmas Movies

2011-12-12T14:21:00.000-08:00

During the season of Christmas I always scout the tv-programme for Christmas movies - do not have the time to see them all, but they are running in the background when I am home.... there is just something about them that gets me in the holiday spirit every time.

"Home Alone" - yes this is one of my favourites - if you are tired of Kevin MacAlister, then don't see the movie, but let it run in the background so you'll hear the music :o) I either hear it or see it, but is is on my Favourite Christmas Movie List.

Other titles on my list:

White Christmas

Snow Wonder

Snow Globe

The Grinch

Miracle on 34th Street

The Holiday

Love Actually

Home Alone 2

A Christmas Carrol (especially the Patrick Stewart version)

Scrooged

So what is your favourite(s) when it comes to Christmas movies?

Due to travelling, this post is late

December 11th - 3rd Sunday of Advent

2011-12-11T01:51:00.000-08:00

We got the advent light tradition from our Swedish neighbours, so what is more appropriate than this iron candle holder from IKEA with mooses runing around the candles.

December 9th - Christmas Cookies

2011-12-09T00:28:00.000-08:00

These 3 magazine covers arrived at my place within one week - first one is a weekly magazine for women, and the last two, the free magazines of two major supermarket chains. Made me crave for some of the local traditional Christmas cookies, but since I am not going to be home much during December, I have decided against making my own batch of cookies.

So what is traditional Danish? I am giving you the Danish names - just try to google them, and you might get some good descriptions/recipes:

Klejner
Vanille kranse
Pebernødder
Honninghjerter

December 8th - Christmas Stamps

2011-12-08T07:22:00.000-08:00

The Christmas stamp is also a wold wide tradition that originates in Denmark (1904). The Christmas stamps are not real postage stamps in Denmark, but instead a stamp where you support the sponsering of a camp for obese children when purchasing a Christmas stamp. Back in 1904 the cause was children with tuberculosis. They come in sheets with 10, 30 or 50 pieces, and often the stamps have individual motives on the sheet.

Found a couple of the stamps depicting our weaved heart tradition :o)

December 7th - Snowmen

2011-12-08T06:36:00.000-08:00

Waking up this morning in a different place than I was really supposed to be. Something just jolted my mood to be full of Christmas spirits: The sight of snow covered mountains when removing the window drapes = the sight of winter wonderland :o) Then daydreaming of making snowmen and other things no and no thoughts about today's plans: travelling and arriving far east.

What is not to love about snowmen?! Some would say, that they love the sweetness of what a snowman stands for - have they encountered snowmen like these perhaps?

Usually not craving for chocolate, but spotting these Italian chocolate snowmen changed my mind

Posting this a bit later than expected, but went a whole day without internet connection while travelling.

Destination: China

2011-12-06T12:21:00.000-08:00

In China, you must know, the Emperor is a Chinaman, and all whom he has about are Chinamen too. It happened a good many years ago, but that's just why it's worth while to hear the story, before it is forgotten. The Emperor's palace was the most splendid in the world; it was made entirely of porcelain, very costly, but so delicate and brittle that one had to take care how one touched it.

"The Nightingale"
H.C. Andersen

December 6th - Weaved Hearts

2011-12-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Weaved hearts - on of the most famous Danish traditions worldwide, as I have seen them in more and more countries the past couple of years. The first known weaved heart was created in the colors of green and yellow by Hans Christian Anderson, the famous fairy tale writer, as a small gift to a little girl. Later on the traditional colors became red and white and is seen a lot of places at the moment back home in Denmark.

A lot of stores offers pre-cut hearts and this is just an example of the other color combinations, that you can try.

My second blog has both a basic how-to on weaving hearts but also reflects my pursuit of folding 366 different ones within a calendar year - just before I started the blog, I realised that I could easily find 250+ patterns, and are still stumbling accros new patterns.

This was in a Danish magazine a while ago, and reminded me of the heart patterns that I am currently trying out

December 5th - The Holidays Are Coming

2011-12-05T00:17:00.000-08:00

If this reminds you of the line in a Coca Cola commercial, then you are absolutely right. Initially I thought of showing you the different Coca Cola labels I have collected the past few years with Santa Claus, but a lot of plans were turned upside down the past two weeks. But no matter where I am, the Santa is still looking at me from my beverage :o) Maybe you find it to be a weird tradition, but I always look forward to see a new Christmas label on the Coca Cola bottles.

Coca Cola Christmas 2011 bottle - Denmark

Coca Cola Christmas 2011 - German can

December 4th - 2nd Sunday of advent

2011-12-04T00:18:00.000-08:00

Time to light the second candle - but only for a brief moment, as I left the house 7am this morning to go travelling and I have company. the Christmas travelmascot I bought last year :o)

December 3rd - Christmas Tea

2011-12-03T16:16:00.000-08:00

Whenever the Christmas teas arrive in the stores in the fall, there I am to pick a few of them up. Have some favourites, but new ones always find their way into the shopping basket - 3 of them depicted in this post. Wouldn't you agree that the boxes themselves scream of Christmas? Hmm the heavenly smell of´the spices from the steaming cup of tea next to me :o)

December 2nd - Christmas Cards

2011-12-02T02:58:00.000-08:00

Until 2006, I purchased every Christmas card that I sent. Always scouted for nice cards when travelling, so my cards would not be the ones typically sold in Denmark.

If you have seen my blog before, you might know, that I now created every Christmas cars that I send to family, friends and colleagues. Think all of them would be utterly dissapointed if I ever returned to the store cards again - except if my MS was causing inability to create them.

Know that not everybody creates their own cards, so store cards are welcome in my mailbox at any time: it is the thought that counts :o)

This year I have already been blessed with 3 Christmas cards, all of them from abroad (yay just before I go travelling) which makes me smile when I spot them:

From Claire

From Ali

From Karen

Are they not wonderful? :o)

Struggling to get half of this years cards done before the shipping deadline to abroad addresses - especially since I will soon be travelling.

December 1st - Calendar Light

2011-12-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

December 1st, and my calendar light is lit for the first time. Candles is a big thing for us Danes as it is part of our "hygge" (lots of people have tried to translate it with one single English word, but no such word exist, as the word is many things at once).

We are counting to 24, as our Christmas is held that night, and you will find a calendar light in most homes - one of our biggest traditions.

Another tradition is the TV Christmas calendars, which will entertain especially the kids daily until the big night - some of my childhood favourites are "Jul i Gammelby" (Christmas in the Old City) and "Jul på slottet" (Christmas at the Castle) which is being broadcasted every December. About 20 years ago an adult TV Calendar was run the first time "The Julekalender" (The Christmas calendar) which is a hilarious mixture of Danish and English (we are taught English at an early age in school) which I just saw again earlier this evening.

1st Sunday of Advent

2011-11-27T01:07:00.000-08:00

The first light in the advent calendar is lighted today - wow Christmas is knocking at our doors soon.

One of the biggest sign locally is, that the big Christmas tree at the towns square is being lighted today and will spread some Christmas joy for all the holiday shoppers until Christmas is over. Some kids, and even some adults too, enjoys getting advent gifts which means they will open up the first one today - that particular tradition is not in my family but then we have another one starting December 1st. Locally people starts decoration on either first Sunday of Advent or December 1st, depending on which one is first in the calendar.

Most families will also start lighting the outdoor Christmas decorations today - and the past 10 years a few houses have attracted a lot of special attention as they do it the American way :o)

Last year I counted down the days until Christmas with some of the trees in Happy Xmas tree held in Copenhagen 2010 but this year I wanted to do something a little different yet in the spirit of Christmas. During the days of December I will give you a little insight of what a Danish Christmas is like seen through my eyes and family traditions - you may find a lot of similarities to your own traditions.

Hope you will enjoy my Christmas "journey" starting December 1st :o)

P.S.If you are wondering, why the shutters on my windows are closed, it is because we are having stormy weather today.

Giving Thanks

2011-11-24T00:52:00.000-08:00

To those of you living in or from the US:

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We all have different things to give thanks for, and the way we do our thank yous often variate :o) The welcome home card I usually leave for the owners when house/appartment sitting is my part of saying thank you: I got a sort of mini-break from home and I was temporarily an animal "owner" again.

Most of the times the owners give me a little something from their travels, that they figure I would like (they are usualy never wrong), just look at this one - Is it not cute??

Looking forward to cat-sit again in a few weeks from now :o)

Agnes Cupcakes

2011-11-22T00:04:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know. Agnes Cupcakes is a dangerous place, as the mere sight of the scrumptious cupcakes persuades you to buy a cupcake. When I purchased one to-go the other day, the cupcake box was sealed with this sticker, that immediately triggered my imagination:

The Lily of the Valley stamp "Never Too Old for Cupcake" was perfect for a card.

The brown background paper is from an Agnes Cupcake paper bag, and the sentiment was to be just words that fuelled the idea for the card - and orange is a color you will see inside the cupcake boxes and paper bags. Color of the cupcake frosting could be no other colors than a light brown, symbolising my favourite flavour: liquirice :o)

There are two outlets of Agnes Cupcakes in Copenhagen, and today my favourite one will receive this card with my thanks for their scrumptious cakes. Why? How often to we forget to show appreciation for something we like? Often "just" taking it for granted, that you can always buy a good cupcake - well someone decided to bring cupcakes to parts of our city.... guessing that someone has a strong passion for her business, which as brought smiles on my face when eating the cupcakes.

Upcycled For Christmas

2011-11-21T00:05:00.000-08:00

When I went to the craft fair a couple of weekends ago, I heard a lecture about creativity. Quite interesting that financias crisis always seem to spur peoples creativity, but also the tendency to start reusing instead of buying new things constantly. It is not "IN" to buy-and-throw-away - but it is "IN"/trendy to reuse items, and create something with your own hands. Insert a little laughter here, when I claim, that I have not been untrendy the past 5-10 years, I have merely been ahead of time.

Got this box with something inside a couple of months ago, and decide to save the box, as it had potential for being upcycled. It just so happended that I this week realised, that I was in need of a box, hence the mentioned one getting a purpose.

An old friend of mine, who also loves receiving letters in the post, celebrates her birthday next Saturday. Wanted to give her something personal, that I know she will make good use of : homemade Christmas cards.
Had thought of stamping a lot of images to use on the cards, but the purchase of the die Reindeer w/Antlers gave me an idea and a chance to use a lot of the redish/white designpaper from Panduro hobby.

Maybe these seem simple, but I like them all and actually have a hard time parting with them. Have considered, if a sentiment should have been stamped on them, but decided agains it, since the birthday girl is to send these to receivers ,who speak various languages (just like her). Included some of my gifttags to the box and some of this years Christmas stamps in the box.

Hope she will like the box and the items inside.

Christmas Mojo

2011-11-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

Where is the mojo when you need it? Even tried to put on a Christmas movie, but could not concentrate on Christmas cards, but got a few other cards done instead. Browsed through some scrap paper and suddenly I remembered Mojo Challenge 215 - seems like my December is going to be turned upside down so need to finish those Christmas cards soon.

Goal is to use a Danish Christmas heart in all the Christmas cards this year, so this card is no exeption. Only thing is, that they are weaved of glitter paper and thus difficult to photograph due to the reflection - so this card looks like it has uneven edges even though they are perfectly even.

The "Let it Snow" sentiment/paper was a freebie in PaperCraft Inspiration Magazine - the other papers are from Panduro Hobby. The heart is the 77th heart in my pursuit in folding one per day :o)

Hot Chocolate Cuppa Swap - Part 2

2011-11-15T15:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I received my Hot Chocolate Cuppa Swap from Niamh - did not get around to post about it, as I fell asleep very early in the evening on my couch, woke up 4½ hours later only to go to bed. Sleeping pattern lately have been anything but usual.

The swap Niamh sent me also included some chocolate - guess anything in my life is unusual these days, as I had eaten it, before taking pictures (I do not eat chocolate often) - from a local chocolate place in her area- Scrumptious :o)

Cadbury hot chocolate? Did not know, that existed - despite having encountered Cadbury chocolate lots of times when travelling to London (a friend of mine always gets a big batch, since she brings me tea from her travels to London)... It is cold at the moment, so always time for something steaming hot, when I get home from work.

Thanks for the lovely card Niamh, and the hot chocolate :o)

Hearts And Snow

2011-11-13T14:34:00.000-08:00

Time for another Christmas Card, using primarily the Danish colors (red and white) and the weaved heart. This heart is just like the 41st I did, in my ongoing pursuit of weaving one heart per day. To make all the cards different, I use different hearts and get help from various challenge sketches, to make the card - today's choice is the latest from Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge:

All papers (design + glitter) + double adhesive tape are from Panduro Hobby, white ribbon from Søstrene Grene, red snowflake ribbon from Michaels, heart template designed by Knud Vægter, freebie sentiment stamp from a magazine, COPIC 100 Black, Versa color 82 black (ink) and foam tape from Tiger Stores.
Entering my card into the following challenges:

CropStop Challenge #45: Flag Colors
Floweret Stämplar Challenge #8: Julkort / Christmas Cards
Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #143

November Tea Swap 2011 - Part 2

2011-11-13T00:39:00.000-08:00

Fran called out for the November Tea Swap, and this months theme was Fall/Thanksgiving or the colours orange, red and brown. Was not home, when I created this card, so had brought limited supplies, but still managed to create this card for Brenda:

Inside I made this details, so the teabags (YogiTea: Licorice Mint and Pickwick Winter Tea) would not fall out of the card when opening the envelope:

I was just happy that I could actually create a card with the little amount of supplies that I had put in my travelling bag.

Snowmen On My Mind

2011-11-12T11:37:00.000-08:00

Think it was the cold weather today, that made me think of snowmen - no snow yet, but we have frost during the nights now.....brrrrrr!! When outside today, I tried day dreaming of steaming hot tea, hot chocolate etc. but somehow my mind kept wandering back to the freebie stamp Duck Snowball Warrier! on Dude Time Doodles blog and their latest challenge.

Inspiration to the card design was needed, and stumped across Sketch N Stach Challenge 74 - some wrapping paper I bought years ago, with the intent of using it as design paper instead, could be perfect as the background. Then adding some snowflakes, which was stamped by a friend - and the let it snow banner, was made of scrap white paper and stamped with a freebie from a card magazine.

Entering it at Card For Men Challenge 23: It's Nearly Christmas too :o)

November Tea Swap 2011 - Part 1

2011-11-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

Received the November Tea Swap from Brenda today - it landed in my po box all the way from Hawaii.

It took some attempts with my camera, but finally managed to capture all the nice details in the card - this months theme was autumn. The background reminds me of wintertime, where the dusk arrives earlier making the days shorter. Today was a clear sky here in Copenhagen, but that also meant that it was very cold.

When I got home, hot beverages was required, if wanting to be warm.

Thanks Brenda, for this nice surprise :o)

Veterans' Day

2011-11-11T03:11:00.000-08:00

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe
o you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
John McCrae

Vintage Car: The VW Bobble

2011-11-08T00:36:00.000-08:00

Did you know, that if a car is more than 30 years old, it is considered a vintage car? Does this apply to humans too?? Ok, they lauched a new version of the VW Bobble a few years back, but for me a Bobble is only the original one, that was popular when I grew up. These are spotted in my neighbourhood:

Knitted Christmas Balls

2011-11-07T15:05:00.000-08:00

Last year, knitted Christmas balls became very popular in Norway and now the book that fuelled the trend has been translated to Danish, English etc. As a teaser some of the Danish magazines have shown how to knit reindeer Christmas balls - but wanted to do some testing, if I was to choose between the two different reindeer patterns. Not the right yarn to use for the Christmas balls, but good enough when trying the patterns.

Can not really decide which one I like the most, so just maybe I am going to make a pair of Christmas balls, and then decide.

Flower Power

2011-11-07T00:25:00.000-08:00

If you see a sign like this, what comes into your mind?

Taking a step backwards, and you feel like you have stepped back to the late 60s

Love when something on the streets make you smile big and just take away any grumpy thought you might have had the second before spotting something like this.

Mr Snowman

2011-11-06T14:39:00.000-08:00

When I saw Tuesday Morning Sketches #118, I had and idea about which things to use on the card, but then completely forgot all about the sketch due to running around trying to make ends meet... until Claire posted her card with the cupcake girl - love that card :o)

When I spotted the three buttons on the sketch, I though of some newly launched shaking stickers from Panduro Hobby, that would be perfect for the snowman stamp from Simply Gorjuss - redid the colouring of the stamp a bit, but luckily advise from both Claire and Birdie was within reach as this is the first time I have tried to do something vaguely close to shadows..... still a long way to learn how to make the best use of my COPICS.

Ended up with this card, which my niece is going to get for her birthday in December.... just like her aunt, she loves snow and snowmen :o)

Yarn Bombing

2011-11-06T00:13:00.000-07:00

I couple of weeks ago I passed this - stopped when back.... smiled big and was happy, that the camera was in my bag that day

A lot of details to be spotted and only makes you wonder, how much time it actually took to knit this bicycle??

This type of street art is called yarn bombing, and this bicycle was comissioned by the local city council of Frederiksberg to create smiles on people faces. Other bicycles similar to this one, was placed around the city but I have so far only spotted this one.

Was not the only one, that was taken by surprise when spotting this bicycle. Creating smiles on everybodys faces and they all managed to find cameras or mobile phones in their bags so they could capture and share this fun moment with friends and families.

Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Cake??

2011-11-05T06:08:00.000-07:00

I was actually about to finish this post, while also catching up on blogposts, emails etc. from the previous days, when I spotted a post on Claire's blog. Wait.... me an expert on cupcakes?? Oh well, I did make this post for fun - and I have actually signed up for a cupcake course :o)

Like so many others, male cards often makes me wonder for a looooong time on how to even make one for that person, but since a HouseMouse stamp founds it's way to my home, several ideas have come into mind. Made this one earlier today the husband of one of my good friends, and he definately has a sweet tooth.

Well needed this card in a hurry, so no time to redo it - and would have altered the width of the brown pice of paper behind the ribbon (which is actually mint green - but only had my mobile phone at hand when taking the picture) to be a bit smaller.

Smile

2011-11-05T05:37:00.000-07:00

Ever seen the Chaplin movie "Modern Times"? Nat King Cole sang the song "Smile". I always have the lyrics inside my head when watching faces like these:

Words of Inspiration

2011-11-04T00:03:00.000-07:00

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows will fall behind you.
Maori Proverb

Words of Inspiration

2011-11-01T00:49:00.000-07:00

Me, many moons ago on my very first bicycle

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.
Albert Einstein

Hot Chocolate Cuppa Swap - Part 1

2011-10-31T09:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween everybody :o)

OK this tin has nothing to do with the swap, but this is an heirloom - I know that it is 50+ years old and I persuaded my mom to let me have it when I moved away from home. Well was the only one drinking hot chocolate anyway.. and it is stil used for it's designed purpose :o) One of my favourite things.

This post is about a hot chocolate swap, organised by Josie over at PaperCraftPlanet, where I was to send hot chocolate enough for ..... tada.... two cups to Niamh. Just had to open my cupboard and pick my two favourites VanHouten Choco Drink (Fairtrade) and Nestlé Choco Hot Creamy.

That was the easy part, then on to create a homemade card, to send with the hot chocolate samples. Oh that caused a minor headache, as I discarded two ideas in the process and finally came up with this.

Leafy background is a digi freebie from Spyder's Corner and the cuppa stamp is from Bugaboo Digi Stamps.

As I had already discarded an idea of creating a double card, I needed some kind of pouch for the samples. Had some handmade paper at hand with "scratched" edges, so decided that it was to be the main "ingredient" of the pouch decorated a bit with a scrap of the leafy paper and the cups again - merely downsized. That would create a rustic look.

Here is the pouch when opened.

The "ribbon" or the "string" used is actually made of paper, to the right is how it looked when I purchased it, at the left it is smoothed out.

By the way: added a chocolate bonus - not an eatable one but also a drinkable one without being hot chocolate: a bag of Choco tea from YogiTea.

Klee and Cobra

2011-10-30T00:36:00.000-07:00

Paul Klee

Eugene Brands

Went up to see the exhibit a few weeks ago was wonderfully surprised by the exhibit. Had a lot of outbursts when seeing the individual paintings to the amusement of others.... But "Hey!" was by far not the only one who did that.

I like the idea of reconnecting with your childhood way of depicting items, forgetting boundries and just express what is in your mind. The last photo (painting by Eugene Brands): What comes into your mind when seing it? Mine was "Look, Mr Potatohead"..... one the custodians addressed me with a smile saying, that I am capturing the essense of CobraArt - expressing what comes into mind without any kind of filter.

Could have shown you picture after picture after picture, since a lot of them spoke to the inner child and gave me a happy feeling.... might just revisit the exhibit while it is showing :o)

The Pursuit of Creative Inspiration

2011-10-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

Guess that pursuit never end :o)

Went across the country today for a daytrip to the biggest creative fair - suppliers, bloggers, designers, various creative arts were gathered. I have returned home with a bag (both physically and mentally) of inspiration. Heard 3 lectures about creativity: about how to find, recognize, share(blogging) appreciate creativity

Looking back, it is the second time this month that I have travelled in that direction to find some new creative input - seems like IT is happening over there: courses, lectures etc. We might have some of the exhibitions around our capital city but when it comes to "ground level" art, opportunities to get inspiration are found elsewhere.

Meet Sheila the Paper Toy

2011-10-28T00:33:00.000-07:00

Is she not adorable?

She comes from this set of paper toys created by Djeco - and as soon as I eyed this set, I had some ideas for birthday surprises for some friends that are very fond of these animals.They would have a great smile on their face receiving a paper toy like this, since I believe they would be reminded of some part of their child hood.

Also purchased a set of owl paper toys from Mibo, that just might get a permanent residence at my place :o) Feels great to connect with that inner child again.

Crazy Art

2011-10-27T00:25:00.000-07:00

Was in a bookstore the other day when I passed this.... wait a minute.... my caught the title and I went back to pick it up. Within two splitseconds, I had written down the title, name of the author and the ISBN number.

Now you might be wondering "Why did she not buy the book when she saw it?" - well I have reached my booklimit for this month, but have already preordered for next month.

Believe the book cover pretty much gives you hint about the wonderful contents of this book, and my weird mind needs to see inspiration like this once in a while :o) Crazy art? For me it is cool art.

Happy Diwali

2011-10-26T00:17:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year when travelling to India, I noticed this on a Coca-Cola bottle... followed by a "off course". Diwali is of great importance in India (if you go to Singapore, you will see it is called Deepawali there), so it is a natural choice to have it on their bottles. This label is now part of my India scrapbook pages :o)

In the western world, it is likely that you will soon find the 2011 holiday edition of the Coca-Cola bottle - for me that beverage have always had a special place in my heart, and I love Christmas. I have actually saved the labels from the past 10-15 years with different Santa pictures on them and always look forward to the one in the current year.....another sign, that "the holidays are coming".

Cheers and Happy Diwali

TLC - Tender Loving Care - Part 3

2011-10-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

If I told you, that the deer on the picture below was made of chocolate, would you believe me???

Choccywoccydoodah

Name of a chocolateria in Brighton, England, and the series on TLC (also aired on FoodChannel, SkyChannel, Virgin Channel etc) takes you inside the world of chocolate and shows the skulpture-like pieces of art, all eatable, as they are made of the thing, that I rarely eat myself. Chocolate lover or not - you can not help falling in love with some of these wonderful creations, but I will take a bite of chocolate cake anytime.

Whenever I am in London, I check if the time is there to visit a city outside London by train - hopefully next time I will be able to go to Brighton just to catch a glimse of their window decoration, that is supposed to be a seight itself.

I Just Couldn't resist....

2011-10-24T10:48:00.000-07:00

Could not resist a cupcake today from Agnes Cupcakes since it was time for the monthly treatment at the MS clinic - a HALLOWEEN cupcake with a nice cinnamon taste :o) You know what else I couldn't resist? .... Well, when I described Agnes Cupcakes delicious cakes after my first encounter, Claire bugged me for details to decide, if they were indeed scrumptious looking.... Well - here you are Claire :o) *LOL*

A Little Girls Dream

2011-10-24T00:30:00.000-07:00

Think all girls at one point have had a moment, when they dream of the weddingdress they would wear on the big day, once they have grown up to be an adult woman. But I could not help myself laughing when I saw this online article about wedding dresses mad out of...... balloons :o) (My blogpost yesterday, that briefly mentioned a wedding dress made out of a cupcake, made me remember the article). If a child tells her parents, that she wants to get married in a wedding dress made out of balloons, do you think the mom's reply would be like this: "Honey. The dress is not made of balloons. It is the style or shape of the dress that is called a balloon dress" -just imagine her face, if her daughter presents a photo like the one below

Who gets an idea like this? How on earth can you mount that many balloons without busting them? Do you have to use a special type of balloons? As much as I am in awe of looking at creations like this one, I would not dare to put anything like that on my must-try-some-day-list

In my neighbourhood lives a party/event clown, and how cool would it be, if his clownsuit was made out of balloons?? Yes, Yes I know, my weird brain at work again, or maybe just my inner child shining through.

Seems like Westin Hotel and Resorts are dreaming about balloon beds - wow does that not look absolutely cozy and soft?? :o)

Witches Brew

2011-10-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

Three things fuelled the idea for the 3rd card today: Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 140, the Opus Gluei Challenge: Something Wicked This Way Comes and this remarkable comment made by a little girl yesterday in the city: "Mum aren't the witches only working in the summer, because I can't see their bonfire anywhere?!" She was referring to our tradition Skt. Hans taking place every year on June 23rd.

Plenty of Pumkins design paper and black ribbon from Panduro Hobby, COPICS 100 + 04, punch from Martha Stewart, black Versa Color and witch stamp from Inca Stamp, stirred with scissors and double adhesive tape in a witches pot, and you might end up with something like this.

Let's Go Bowling

2011-10-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

Needed a little help - had coloured Barb from InStyle stamps long ago (one of those unfinished card projects), but needed help on the card layout. CPS challenge 241 offered the needed inspiration with this sketch:

The receiver has her birthday coming up soon, and our friendship goes back to fun evenings at a previous employer's bowling club. Barb is just like her: always smiling and long hair - red is her favourite color (her lucky color) so figured Barb needed a lucky blouse.

I dreaded, that this would become a last minute project to finish the night before her birthday - but once again a sketch challenge saved me from that situation :o)

What's Bakin'?

2011-10-23T05:16:00.000-07:00

Whoops!! I challenged Claire to do the Sketch Saturday Challenge, since it is sponsered by Mo's Digital Pencil - and I have seen her colourings of one of Mo's stamps for Christmas cards. She was not quite happy about the creative process (messages were going back and forth across the North Sea last night), but that card she made, gotta be a little girls dream :o)

This is the sketch that is challenging us this week:

I had purchased some digistamps at Mo's earlier this year, but had yet to use them. What's Coking'? ...... It suddenly occured to me, that the little stamp is also suitable for a What's Bakin'? theme, and then I could use something bought ages ago, and.....

TLC - Tender Loving Care - Part 2

2011-10-23T00:55:00.000-07:00

CupCake Sisters

Onlike CakeBoss, I have read about these two baking sisters before watching the reality show on TLC. An online article described how they were making a cupcake wedding dress and I was intrigued. Untill then a cupcake was merely a cake and no hanky-panky about that.

The two sisters Katherine Kallinis (former eventplanner for Gucci) and Sopie LaMontagne (formerly employed in the finance sector) quit their jobs and opened DC Cupcakes in Georgetown, DC, USA. Well a cupcake is much more than a cupcake, and I can not wait to see the next episode :o)

Browsing though the October 2011 issue of Oprah Magazine, and I saw this little add - DC Cupcakes supporting the fight agains breastcancer:

TLC - Tender Loving Care - Part 1

2011-10-22T00:27:00.000-07:00

TLC a new addtion to the tv-cable package. Did not think much about that news, but when flipping channels the other day I was immediately hooked. Normally I dislike reality tv due to all the drama, backstabbing, gossip etc. - only exception is Project Runway, do to the peak into creative peoples' minds and the process of creating something fabulous in a short period of time. But a reality show with a sceene like this photo, lured me into staying tuned at that channel - and they aired 3 reality shows in a row that caught my full attention.

Fascinated by scooters, and then to see a wedding cake, with the bride and groom riding a scooter in front of the wedding cake shaped like the Tower in Pisa ?!?! WOWZA!!

CakeBoss

Reality show about Buddy Valastro and his family/team from Carlo's City Hall Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA, creating the most elegant, creative, awesome etc. cakes to all sorts of occations/celebrations.

If I saw one of those cakes in real life, I would be busy photographing all the details to help me remember that creation in front of me, and most likely forget to taste the cake - bet there must be a wonderful display at their shop window too. Next time I visit NewYork a trip to that shop is a definate must-do.

Inspiration From Origami

2011-10-21T00:40:00.000-07:00

As I have mentioned before, I can not resist picking up a free newspaper or magazine and get some kind of inspiration. Yesterday I discovered two adds, that were both inspired from origami:

The free newspaper URBAN

Free magazine from Magasin (department store)

The paper crane and the paper plane - both origami that are easy to fold, but look at the great effect. For instance it never occured to me, that one could fold a paper crane from a newspaper page, but that is the capture of a child's mind: anything goes or no boundries :o)

It is small details like this, that makes me want to pick up that free litterature, as I often find something catching my attention.

Everywhere I Go......

2011-10-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

I see THE face of Halloween: Pumpkin Jack. Everytime I see one, my mind is humming some of the songs from "The Nightmare Before Christmas".

JUGS gave us some requirements in their 106th challenge: use the colors: black, orange, green and purple.

Thought it to be a perfect chance to use to Halloween'ish digis from Beccys Place.

Where's the green? You might ask. Well look at the stems of the pumpkins :o) Pumpkin design paper is Halloween from Panduro Hobby, stribed paper was a wrap on some double adhesive tape, maple leafs are from a craft store in Hamburg and the little Pumpkin Jack is actually from a cheap set of earrings from Søstrene Grene(when I purchased them, I had already eyed the possibility of altering their purpose).

October Tea Swap 2011 - Part 2

2011-10-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

Time for me to show the card, that I sent to Colleen in this month's tea swap, since she has already received it. The optional card them this month was: Halloween or the colors of orange/purple/black. Locally we celebrate Halloween different than in the US, however our Tivoli garden will be dressed up for the American way during next week, since it is the school children's fall vacation.

What does a Halloween themed napkin......

...and a tea bag tray have in common??

They were inspiration for the Jack'O'Lantern teapot on my card - created a pouch to hold the two tea samples, that I sent Colleen (Earl Grey and African Rooibos)

Included a little ornament from Panduro Hobby with a black ribbon.

Hope I captured the spirit of Halloween

Bureaucrats

2011-10-20T00:23:00.000-07:00

Just hearing/reading that word, and it seems awful...maybe that is because we associate it with something bad. This word is also the title of a photo exhibit with Jan Banning's photos - he was a winner at the 2004 World Press Photo - presenting some stong facts.

From Jan Banning's photo exhibit "Bureaucrats"

Jan shows us 50 bureaucrats from various countries (US, China, Russia, India, Yemen etc.) at their workspace - some workspaces are very spartan but that only reflects what one can "expect" of that person's salary... Still one get surprised when one reads the fact under each photo.

Imagine working more than 40 hours a week and get less than 25 USD in monthly salary. Or as a newly employed person not knowing what your salary is going to be. Maybe you have not seen your salary for months and still you keep working.

It put things into perspective and makes you appreciate what you have.

Sunflowers

2011-10-19T00:22:00.000-07:00

To brighten up my appartment, I occationally buy a bouquet of flowers. Only flower bouquets I receive from others go into one vase only - those I buy I divide into several bottles and mini-vases to spread the joy and colours a little more.

This time of season calls for sunflowers - I love them! They goes into bottles, that I find colourful and nice - the milk bottle is an heirloom that is 60+ years old.

One of the two shelves in my appartment that is not cramped with books.

The other shelf right above my computer corner.

When it is off season for sunflowers, I sometimes walk to a museum, where I can admire the Danish painter Michael Ancher's painting "Girl with Sunflowers"

To Sweeten A Day

2011-10-18T00:58:00.000-07:00

The other day I went to see a photo exhibit, that had excellent reviews in various newspapers, but only to get really dissapointed. I am sure that those photos are great, but did not get to see them as the access to that "gallery" was an obstacle: Either a ladder or impropmtu stairs made by wodden pallets, each step 3 pallets high. Got halfway up when my newly operated knee refused to go any further :o(

On my way home, I passed a cupcake place, that I have wanted to try for a few weeks now - and since I did not get to spend entrance fee on the exhibit, I exhanged the ticketmoney with two cupcakes.... it was my vacation time, so a little extra would not hurt.

When you buy the cupcakes to-go, it is no problem as you get them in a box like this at Agnes.

There were two kinds of cupcakes, that caught my attention, so why settle with just one :o)

Liqurice

Italian Almond

Two cupcakes in my place last... two days :o) And they were scrumptious!! I do not usually treat myself with cakes, so not worried about my weight, and eventhough they were heavenly I will not stop by very often. By only doing it once in a while, they remain more special.