christmas card | 2012

I love sending Christmas cards almost as much as I love getting them. Usually I also love making them and most years I go old school and make them by hand with glue and glitter and actual pretty papers.

I had big plans for our Christmas cards this year. I had the coolest photo shoot planned for the husband and I, and when the snow arrived I was quite giddy to get it done. But alas, the husband wasn't as gung ho as I was, and the one day where we was actually at home during the daylight hours, I was so stressed out with getting a bunch of other stuff done that we missed the slot. I was totally bummed. I suspect he wasn't. Ha!

So, this left me with one other option - this since I had waited so long to start those damn cards that handmade was out of the question unless I wanted to give up a week's worth of sleep to make them - and that was to go digital.

So digital, not a huge problem for me, really. I quickly designed a postcard style card with a big graphic greeting on the front, and a more personal note on the back. I wanted something retro looking but still very graphic and clean. I also needed something that was easy to alter as I needed versions in three languages (Swedish, English, and Italian). I also wanted several Swedish versions.

Here is one Swedish version, with a line from a traditional Swedish Christmas song.


with the back


And here is the English version with a traditional sentiment


with the back

(Supplies: Sleigh Ride kit by Crate Paper from AC Digitals)

I printed the front and the back on seperate sheets of paper and then attached them to eachother, thus giving me a super thick card. I also decided to go large and made them 14,85cm x 21cm (half of an A4 sheet).

I love how they turned out. Granted, they aren't traditional at all, but then again I don't mind stepping out of the box for the sake of good looks.

I would love to see your cards, if you want to share them!

laying it out | digi holiday card

Friends, I want to share with you a digital card I created with some super pretty new brushes by Nancie Rowe-Janitz that are released today at JessicaSprague.com. I will likely use it as a back up for friends who wont get a Christmas card.


(Supplies: Holiday Magic Photo Masks by Nancie Rowe-Janitz)

The photo was taken by moi last New Years Eve when I was confined to the house due to a nasty stomach bug and had to ring in the new year by myself. During the small bursts of energy I set up a small photo set and shot a few photos. The bottle stayed unopened, though. Let's hope that this year won't end the same was as last year.

class | invitations and announcements

(Click on the image to go directly to the class)

Did you know that Jessica Sprague is offering a new design class all devoted to invitations and announcements?

Class starts October 1, 2012 and in class, Jessica will guide you through ten projects over three weeks. As always with Jessica's classes there will be video lessons, as well as step by step tutorials, a downloadable kit, and knowing Jessica, lots more.

If you want to get into making invitations and announcements then I think this is the perfect opportunity! Even though I do that kind of work all the time, I will be there because frankly one can never learn too much or get too much inspiration.

Sign up today, why don't you?

laying it out | winter scene

I must be crazy doing winter pages in the dead of the summer. But as soon as I saw the splatter brushes by Liv Esteban, I knew I wanted to do something grungy and wintery.

I took these pictures on a walk after work last winter. The geese were still roaming the parks. Don't they ever go away? The canals were frozen but we had no snow. I remember that it was really cold, but also pretty.


(Supplies: Splatters Vol. 1, Beach Party (JessicaSprague.com 5th Birthday Freebie) by LivE Design, It's a Start Templates 8 by In the Making Design)

laying it out | summer joys

Even though there still is a bit to go before I get to have some time off for a summer holiday, and even though this hasn't been the best summer in memory, I'm in a summer kind of mood. I let that reflect in my two layouts this past week.

The joy in this picture of my nephew jumping into a pool makes my heart sing despite the fact that you can't see the huge smile on his face or the squeal of delight that he let out at the time.

(Supplies: Port Beach Facebook Timeline Template 2, Country Lane Elements Pack by Paislee Press, Retro Collage Alphabet by Designs by Dani, Beack Party Freebies by LivE Designs and Lori Whitlock)

Nostaliga caught me off guard the other week and I had a strong longing for the turqoise waters, the lush green hills, the warming sun, and the fantastic seafood of Cinque Terre. I had to put it into a layout.

(Supplies: Take Me Away Kit by Designs by Dani, Free Spirit Paper Pack by In the Making Design)

laying it out | rich colours

If there was ever any doubt, judging from about 80% of my layouts, my favourite colours are brown and blue. Granted I mostly clad myself in black, but for most other things few colours can even compare. So why not go with what I know best, eh?

I shared with you the photos I took of my MIL's little fire cracker of a dog. I thought they would make an excellent base for a layout.

(Credits: Blossom in Aqua Paper Pack and Blossom Solids Paper Pack by Samantha Walker, Note to Self Full Collection and This & That Full Collection by Echo Park, Stella Elements Pack by Pink Paislee, Stiched in Wite by Anna Aspnes)

I shot a picture of my little nephew a while ago, and even though his face isn't in the shot, I really like it. I have been looking for an excuse to scrap it for weeks now.

(Credits: Knockout Wood For Reals and Baker's Twine by Splendid Fiins, Blossom Solids Paper Pack by Samantha Walker, Note to Self Full Collection by Echo Park, Marrone Paper Pack and Kickin' It Full Paper Pack by In the Making Design, Stiched in White by Anna Aspnes)

OK, so now, back to the salt mines, I still have about 25 paper roses to make! Hee!

wonderful wednesday | moments

It's time again for a chance to enjoy the wonderful midweek (personally, I'm kind of wishing it was Friday though) with the chance to to pick up one of my products at 50% off over at JessicaSprague.com.


(Click on the image to go directly to the product in the shop)

Grab the chance to also pick up some more fabulous products by the other fabulous designers right here.

custom alphabet poster | take two

I finished the second comission for an alphabet poster over the weekend and got a positive response yesterday. This one asked for black and grey on white, with a slight romantic feel. Here is the result.



The client asked me to make it big so that she could have it printed as a really huge poster. I think it's going to look smashing.

facebook fan freebie | timeline

Lovelies, I just put up a small freebie on my facebook page. Hop on over to grab it! Make sure you like my page, and then click the "Fan exclusives" tab on the left.
Love ya!

hybrid | handmade christmas gifts

So I took this class on JessicaSprague.com that had me super inspired to bust out the glue and actually make something tangible for once. It was the Mouse, Paper, Scissors Give class that Jessica team taught with Heidi Swapp. The class objective was to create hybrid gifts, just in time for the holidays.

The first gift I made was a calendar for my mother. She has been asking me for years to make her one with my photos, and I have honestly dreaded it a little because I think the calendars you order from online photo sites are dead boring. But Jessica and Heidi got me excited again. Now, their style is a bit (ok, a lot) more frilly and elaborate than mine and my mother's, but that wasn't a problem at all. I just adjusted to fit and it was a done deal.

The calendar is like a book that holds not only a calendar for each month but also a note pad and pen.








For this project I used digital papers from my Get Happy Paper Pack as well as some Bazzil cardstock, and my Almanac Template Pack. The book thingy was included in the class kit, but could easily be recreated. I also used a clip to hold the calendar sheets, and a notepad that I had in my stash.

The second gift was a little tin of "to do" help for my sister.
(Please excuse the lack of quality in these photos, they were taken at 6.30 am the day there were to be given, and there was very little light at that time)






Now this project was super easy to create. I designed a cover for the tin with paper from the Moments Paper Pack and some brushes and fonts, and for the inside lid with paper from the Valpoicella Paper Pack. I also made some notecards, and lastly created magnets by gluing designed cirlces using the same papers, brushes and fonts and then attaching the magnets on the back. After that I simply added a small pen and the project was finished. I have to say, I like hybrid when the bulk of the work is done digitally! Hee!

The third gift was supposed to be something entirely different, but I had a glue meltdown (pun intended) and had to switch gears. For my other sister I created a subway style poster that I framed.
(This photo was also taken that early morning, so again, please excuse the bad photo)


The poster features the places and dates where and when my sister and her boyfriend were born, met, got engaged, and now live. I love, love, love how this turned out. And it was so easy to make as well. Want to make one of your own? Jessica and Heidi has made a little mini class for this one that is available right now. Check it out! The frame, if you are interested is from IKEA - where else?

So that was the extent of my craftiness this Christmas, not counting spending about two weeks on wrapping all the gifts. Perhaps next year if I start a little earlier I will be able to do more?

Oh who am I kidding?

CT girls are pretty darn cool

Why you might ask? Well for one they make really pretty layouts with stuff I design. Do I even need another reason?  Just look

By Erin S

Erin used a template from the It's a Start Template Set 2, papers from Be Berry Paper Pack, and swirl from La Storia Elements Pack.

by Antonia























Antonia used the 7 Days in May Template.

by Jennifer P

Jennifer used photo frames and tag from Mandarin Breeze Elements Pack

New in store - OBW in da house!

For One Buck Wednesday I have a brand spanking new template and QP combo for you guys to snatch in my shop over at JessicaSprague.com. And while you're at it, take a look at the fifteen other products up for grabs by my fellow designers. Awesomeness!

Thankful Template & Quickpage
(click on the image to go directly to the product in the shop)

It's dirt cheap for today only and then goes back to its regular price tomorrow.
I will be back later today with some beautiful works by the creative team using this product.

Happy hump day everyone!

Alphabet posters

For the christening of our nephew, and our friends' little girl - they were both christened at the same time in the same church - I created two posters inspired by this post in general and this creation in particular.

I am so happy with the outcome. I love the fonts I used and that they are personalized for each baby. I really do hope they will bring joy for years to come for these two kids.

Elias


Linnea


I used my Glassy alpha and my pearl buttons from the Make a Splash Elements set as well as an onslaught of fonts and brushes. If you have questions about a certain one, please contact me.

I had them printed with Crimson.se and was so pleased their service and prices as well as the quality of the print. The upload process was really user friendly and they offered a lot of "extras" for those without an editing software. They had lots of different size options to choose from. I had both posters delivered in two days (ordered them at different times). Everything is printed on Fuji Chrystal Archive Supreme paper. I will defenitely use their services again.