First challenge on the promarker blog

I got so excited about the promarker blog two weeks ago that I made a card straight away. I didn't realize they started the first challenge last week, lol. But I couldn't use my card since I had already posted it for another challenge and this one couldn't be combined with others. And as usual I barely made it since the duedate is tomorrow, lol. I was so good on time for once and I couldn't even show myself off, lol.

Here's my card after some difficulties. It was one of the cards laying around half done. I wanted to "get rid" of them since the papers I had put out are occupying my space too much (and bleaching in the sun).




The stamp is a hÄnglar from the latest clubkit. Promarkers I used:

saffron (for the face)
maroon
turquoise
forest green (leaves)
pastel green (shade on wings)

Text is printed from the computer. I have a bunch of quotes in different sizes and styles laying in a big jar. It's a great way of adding text fast - a really great tip. You just see which text fits on your card and you're done. No more of the same "happy birthday" and you don't need as many quotestamps :)

June blogcandy

Time for another month of candies :) Did you win anything this month? I won some papers, yey!

Wendy is celebrating reaching 10,000 hits with some great tools for your crafting. Ends 1:st 3pm CST.

A passion for papertrey are giving the most amazing candy to celebrate 10,000 hits. It's a set of stamps that you can't buy. Only open for european entries. Winner will be chosen 1:st.

Hemma på landet is giving away a very cute juicepress in porcelein. It's a swedish blog, but you can always use the translator that's located on her blog. Candy ends 1:st.

Hemma hos lilla mig has sewn and embroidered a very beautiful bag. I would love to use it in my wardrobe for scarves or underwear. Candy ends 1:st.

Anna is yet another person who has hit the 10,000 mark. She's offering promarkers and stampin' up stamps among other things. The more entries she'll get the bigger the candy. Sign up before 1:st.

Marlene has some stamps from the Greeting Farm in her candy. She will pick a winner friday 5:th.

Katarina is celebrating her 200 post. Ends 4:th.

Nutshells are celebrating the launch of their new blog. Ends 5:th, 6pm GMT.

Christine is having a secret candy. woooo...Ends 5:th.

Bev's blog has gone over 300,000 hits! Can you believe it? Ends 5:th.

Lorraine is celebrating her first blogoversary. She has some great things to give away. Ends 8:th noon GMT.

Carole has two gorjuss girls stamps in her candy. She's also giving away a pouch she made. Candy ends 8:th.

Cathy is turning 40 and she's celebrating big. There are some lovely items in her candy. Ends 8:th.

Desire is celebrating 20,000 hits! There are a bunch of stamps and embellishments in her candy. Ends 8:th.

Robyn has a great giveaway if you like to sew. Among other things there is a great dollpattern I'd like to try. Ends 8:th.

AnnaMaria is giving away two candies. One of them is an adorable bunny. Winner will be drawn wednesday 10:th 6pm EST.

Sue has three reasons to celebrate and she does it with a fab candy. Ends 9:th 5pm.

Sonia is offering a secret candy for june. She promises it will be worth it :) I think the candy ends at the end of june, but you will be able to see the candy around 15:th.

Crafty girls is hosting a giveaway to celebrate Sarah Fielke's new adventure - a website with everything you can think of related to sewing. If you're into sewing make sure to join the giveaway and check out Sarah's blog.

Jorid is celebrating 20,000 hits with this lovely cakedisplayer as the candy! Ends 11:th.


Maria is celebrating 15,000 hits with a very cute teabox. Candy ends 10:th.

Shari has some very cute easter stamps from taylored expressions in her candy. Ends 11:th.

Jacque has made an amazing Magnolia set in yellow/blue. Ends 11:th.

Melissa has embellishments, papers and a big shot (!) in her candy. The lucky person will be drawn friday 12:th.

Lacey will be having two winners in her "end of school/75,000 hits" candy. Ends 11:th.

Lorelie is celebrating her 100 sale on etsy with some cardmaking treats. I think the candy ends 26:th, but I'm not sure.

Rach is giving away one of the new Whiff of joy stamps. The realease of the new line "women's delight" will be out june 14:th. Ends thursday 11:th 9pm.

Kadie wants to know why you like to craft. Up for grabs are some dies to use with your cuttlebug :D Me like. Ends 11:th.

Bev is also giving away stamps from the new Whiff of joy release. Ends 11:th.

Inky impressions are hosting a candy. Let them know which of their stamps is your fav and you can win a big pile of goodies. Ends 12:th.

Suzanne is celebrating 200,000 hits and needs you to tell her about your most exciting and humorous day. Ends 12:th.

Venezie bags - which has an amazing etsyshop by the way - is having an amazing candy to help crafters get their craftingspace to be inspirational. One winner will get the whole loot of items offered. You have to go and check it out. Ends 12:th.


Zonnenplume has the cutest Magnolia candy she's made herself in order to celebrate 10,000 hits. Ends 13:th.

Tanya has a huge candy with papers, stamps, embellies and other great stuff. Ends 13:th.

Adele is opening her own webshop with her fav items, among them charms and other embellishments. It's called Quixotic Paperie. To celebrate she's offering a candy. Ends 14:th.

Sarah has some lovely Anja stamps in her candy together with some other stamps. Ends 14:th.

Donna is celebrating her 100:th visitor with some men-themed candy. Ends 14:th.

Nikki wanted to get 100 followers and now she has over 500, lol. I guess many wanted to join her candy :) Drawing will be on the 15:th.

Jeanette is offering some goodies to celebrate her blogoversary. Ends 14:th.

Anne has a great K&Co box for you to win. Winner will be drawn 14:th.


AK has a great interior and fahionblog and now she's giving away a secret candy. The candy will be something in the same style as her blog. Ends 15:th.

Donalda has a candy for her faithful followers. Ends 15:th.

Rach has a very cute Magnolia in her candy. Winner will be chosen monday 16:th 7pm.

Gisela is celebrating 30,000 hits with a great candy. Ends 15:th.

Mina is giving away some of her fav things. I'm sure those things are your fav too :) Ends 15:th.

Diecut dreams is a new challenge blog that will start monday 15:th. To celebrate the launch they are having a candy. Ends 15:th.

Emily has an enormous candy - oh how I would love to win it :) Ends 16:th.

Heather is offering some stamps from Scrapmagasinet - one of them is a beautiful stamp you can personalize. Ends 16:th.

Sanne is having her first blogcandy to celebrate 400 hits. Ends 16:th.

Sue is celebrating her 17:th wedding anniversary and she's offering a great candy. Ends 18:th 5pm EST.

Cindy is celebrating her 2:nd blogoversary and she will be having a candy for three weeks until her b-day july 1:st.

Marie is celebrating 3000 hits on her blog with one Close To My Heart stamp set of your choice...any size! Wow, hurry thought because the winner will be drawn the 18:th.

Suzette is thanking her visitors with a great candy. Ends 19:th.

Cheri is celebrating a bunch of things, but mostly reaching 5000 hits. Her candy ends 20:th.

Miamikel is giving away a travelcandy to celebrate her upcoming trip. Ends 19:th 8pm EST.

Jennie has some candy too. She has some stamps and other great things. Ends 20:th.

Eulanda is thanking her visitors for 8000 hits. Her candy ends 21:st.

Shawne is an illustrator for clear dollar stamps and she's celebrating her second month of new stamp releases for her new line Studio 313 Creatons by Shawne available at Clear Dollar Stamps. Candy ends 20:th.

Anita has a candy and if you know german you can figure out what she's offering ;) All I figured out is that it ends 20:th.

Stacie has a great giveaway - a heated mousepad. It's great for those of you that have problems with your wrists (I know I do) Unfortunately it's only open for US. Ends June 19, 2009 at 11:59 pm EST.

Hazel has reached over 40,000 hits and is celebrating with some great cardmaking items. Ends 20:th.

Net has a lot of yaddayaddayadda as her candy, lol. Ends 21:st.


Mariska is celebrating her GDT spot. Ends 21:st.

Anne Kristine is celebrating her first blogoversary and for having almost 90,000 hits! Ends 21:st.

Andrea is celebrating 25,000 hits. Ends 21:st only for German residents.

Clare is having her 7000 hits giveaway. She has even included a gift made by her. Ends 10am 22:nd.

True is celebrating making three designteams! Here's a pic of what you'll get. Winner will be chosen 22:nd.


Martine is celebrating becoming a stampin' up demonstrator. She has loads of goodies. Ends 22:nd 12pm GMT.

Vanni is celebrating reaching 2000 hits (I'm there too soon I think :) Her candy ends 22:nd.

The stamp man has a candy if you live in the UK. Ends 22:nd.

Michelle is celebrating 75,000 hits. Let me telly ou - if you're a pink cat studio fan - this is the candy for you. Winner will be chosen 24:th.

Chris is celebrating 100,000 hits. Ends midnight 23:rd.

Ginger is an amazing bear making artist and she is giving away one of her wonderful bears as a celebration of her 25:th year as a bearmaking artist. You have to check out her bears, they are amazing! Candy ends 24:th. Here's the cutie you can win:


Jan is actually giving away a bind it all in her candy! The draw will be on july 1:st so hurry!

Lisa is celebrating both her blogoversary and for reaching 10,000 hits. Her candy ends midnight 30:th.

Carolyn is celebrating the end of school with a big candy. Ends at the end of june.

Michelle is also celebrating the beginning of summer with a great summer candy. Ends 30:th.

Shirley is giving away a $25 giftcertificate to impression-obsession as her candy. Winner will be chosen july 1:st.

New challenge blog

Have you heard about this new challenge blog? It's called the next level and will launch on june 1:st. But it's more than just a challenge blog. Here's what they have to say about themselves:

The Next Level is the exciting new concept of Dawn (All Pink Girl) and Ann (Madgesty - Love to Create) probably better known as blog name Madge. Our aim in designing this new informative style of blog is not only to produce really creative Weekly Challenges that are not tied to any specific brand, but also to explore new avenues, ideas and techniques with a completely fresh approach.

The Next Level will not only be a fun and informative place to hang out for card crafters and scrapbookers of all levels, but it is hoped that it will also become a valuable source of information, hints and tips, tutorials, downloads and much more. We want to cover the craft of traditional card making but also add in a touch of digital, not too much to scare anyone away, but enough to explore the magical world out there at your fingertips for anyone wanting to venture.

To celebrate the new blog they are offering a great candy, or what do you think?


To go directly to the candypost click HERE.

See you there!

Candy card - being a grandma

Alex aka eisbären is having a great blogcandy with a twist. You need to either make a card following her sketch or write a joke/anecdote that will make her laugh out loud. Since I'm not good at telling jokes (can never remember them) I thought I'd make a card. Here's the sketch she made:


I've been wanting to make a card for a friend of mine that became a granny not too long ago. This sketch was perfect for the image I had in mind. I wanted to use a stamp that makes you think of children. I think my friend can be the girl and the new baby is the doll :) The baby is a girl so maybe it will show my friend how her granddaughter will play with dolls in a not too distant future.

I used some great patterned papers I just recieved from scrapaddicted. I got really disappointed with the order though since she was out of the stampscrubber pad I wanted. I made the order because of that and in the end the cost of the cardstock was the same as if I had bought it in my local store. So no luck there but I did manage to get some really cute buttonbrads that I have used on fabric for my stuffed animal clothes. You can see one of them on the flower. The flocked blue brad is also from that order. I ordered a secret decoration set and they were among there.
I like the way the word "celebrate" is in focus. It was totally by accident, lol. I like these papers with texts because it gives me a quick way of adding text and adds more interest to the card.


Stamp is from Sarah Kay. The text is written on the computer and then cut out with my oval nestie. Promarkers used to colour the image:
apple and lime
cool aqua
pastel yellow
ivory (dollface)
saffron (girlface)
carmine

I also used some of my old fashionsketching pantone pens. The pink I used is very similar to promarker's "blossom".
Around the image I used ice grey 1.

Oh and for the first time ever I used my sewing machine to sew in paper. How fun was that! But I sew from the wrong side so when the needle poked through the paper it raised it a bit. Think it looks much better than it does on the other side (not that you can see, but it's too flat) Now I just have to hope that my friend doesn't decide to look around here before the card reaches her. I'm so used to e-mails and things going so fast I can't believe it will take a week before she gets it. And that's when I have sent it! I still have it here and I'm always sooo slowpokey to send stuff off.


Today I went to my local store JP hobby since they had 25% off in the whole store. My little cousin is graduating from high-school next week and I want to make a nice card for him. Well, actually I want it to be a mindblowing card, lol. It will be a challenge since blue/yellow/white might be quite hard especially since I'm no fan of blues ;) So I looked around the shop and got myself some really nice things:
*A magnolia stamp I've been wanting since february - the cupid Tilda from the Valentine collection
*Pearl decorations
*papers for the grad. card - blues and distressed look is not really my thing, but I thought it would be great for a guy.
*matching blue flowers for the card
*maya road suitcase chipboard album - this time I HAVE to make something with it.
*tiny buttons for my sewing stuff
*rickrack ribbon for sewing aswell

What do you think of my loot?

hÄnglar sale

I've gotten a couple of request from people around the world about the hÄnglar stamps. I have a couple to sell, but I don't know what would be the best and most fair way of selling them. Previously I have sold the ones I don't want on Tradera which is a Swedish equivalent to e-bay. The only problem with this is that I didn't accept international bids because I had so many problems every time with people bidding and not paying. The thing is that I don't just want to sell them, but I want to offer them for those of you who have no way of getting them otherwise.

I think it's rather unfair to decide who to sell it to (it seems like a lottery and some just don't have luck) So I thought an auction would be better, but that way they would only go to the ones with a lot of moolah to spend :)

I have not come up with any good solution for this yet. If you have any suggestions of how to make it fair let me know. Post here or send me an e-mail.

Motivet stamps

Motivet is a stampcompany that is run by swedish Stephanie Barbary that currently lives in Canada. "Motivet" is the swedish word for "the motif". They have just released this line of stamps in april and I'm in loooove. I adore cute animals and they can't get much cuter than this, or what do you think?



Until may 31:st you have a chance of winning the seven new stamps shown above. All you need to do is put a link to their post, post the pic on your blog and write a comment on their blogpost. For exact info check out
this post.

Next sewing project

Thought I'd show you what I'm up to next. A couple of years ago (or maybe it was many years ago, can't remember, lol) I found a pic in "Crafts beautiful" that showed a beautiful quilted bag. It was a bookreview about handmade quilted bags. I found this issue the other day and wrote up the title of the book. I searched in my library and they had it! My library is the best! We even have a bunch of english craftmags.

Remember some of the great fabrics I bought together with my rotary cutter, mat and ruler? I decided to make a bag out of them for a summery bag. I needed 36 10x14cm squares and wasn't sure how to approach it. First I just cut out approximately that square and measured afterwards. It was soooo tiresome since each square took forever. I started planning instead and decided on 4 squares in 9 different fabrics. After deciding that I made it a bit easier and made a long piece that was 14cm high and started cutting at 10cm. The only problem was that I forgot I needed 4 pieces and made just 3 of each fabric. Sigh. I think I had made over half when I noticed that.

Surprisingly enough I didn't get too frustrated. I thought it was a bit annoying and I wanted to start sewing, but it wasn't too bad. Earlier I think I would've put the tools away and hidden the sewingmachine :)

Here is the result of a few hours I think it took me to cut them out.




The thing I get a bit worried about is that the edges fray a bit. I've used cottonfabric and I was wondering about the fraying, but the lady in the sewing store said it was made for quilting? I thought quiltfabrics didn't fray at all?
I tried to sew the edges exactly with the same seamallowence, but it was hard. These don't matter much because they won't be aligned the way that they need the points to be crisp. But if I want to make something with exact squares I think I might be disappointed. I really need everything to be exact. If something wouldn't align perfectly I would toss it which would not let me learn by trial and error. Hmmm, maybe this isn't a hobby for me after all, lol.
I'm having a blast though seeing how all the squares come together into one piece. I've put together the front of the bag, now I just need the back. Don't know when I will be able to finish it though since I need a lining and I haven't one in the colour I want (don't want to make a third bag with green lining, lol. I'll tell you about it some other time)

Here's how the first part looks:

New promarker blog and a spoon full of sugar b-day

EDIT: This card is only for the "a spoon full of sugar challenge blog". I will make a new one for the promarker blog since the entry for them can't be combined with any other challenges.

Do you know there is a new challenge blog for promarker lovers? I found it the other day and I'm really happy I did. There is a blog for copiclovers and I have been wanting to join in. But since I only have promarkers I couldn't :( It never occured to me to look for a promarker blog, lol.

I'm still sewing but I have a couple of half done cards on my table and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to finish some of them. This one have been waiting to be finished forever. I used the promarker blog's "no theme" and I also decided to join in on a spoon full of sugar's challenge. They are celebrating their first birthday so the theme was "celebrations". I decided on a b-day card since those are the ones I use the most. While working with the card I came up with the corny "happy bird-day" that I thought was very suitable. So this is what I come up with when I don't have a sketch to follow:




I used my new hÄngel from the latest kit and my brand new nestie. I embossed the scalloped nestie with an embossingfolder from cuttlebug making sure I have at least a bird visible. I then dabbed some distress ink on the raised parts. On the pink panel I used some new birdstamps I bought recently and stamped them with distress ink. The text is computer generated, the hÄngel coloured with apple, sky blue and pastel pink. Did you notice the black brad I put in the birdhouse to make it pop?

No fat muffin

I promised to show you what I've been up to lately with my sewing. I borrowed four Tilda books in the library and have been testing some of the things in there. I must say I've been getting quite frustrated with the instructions in these books. Some of the things are explained a lot (which are quite simple) and then the rest you just have to figure out for yourself. I'm new to the whole stuffed animal-decoration thing, but I have been sewing a lot of clothes. And even though I'm not a seamstress I understand in what order some things need to be put together. I'm not sure if the person that wrote the instructions have made the items they are describing, because I can't make it add up. Yesterday for instance I was sewing a collar that was way too long for the neckline and even though I made the neck bigger it still didn't fit. I postponed this little thing for three days because I couldn't make it work. Finally I just did it my way. From now on I think I'm going to skip the instructions and do my own thing.

Ok, so I'm not sure if there is even anyone who visits anymore, but here is one of the items I made. It's a little cupcake that I'm using as a pincushion. It looks good from a distance, but the bottom and sideseam is totally "fubar-ed". The whole thing just didn't add up! Don't think I will be making more of those, at least not as described in the book. Same goes for the dress with a collar I was fighting with yesterday.



I'm hoping to put up some of these items on etsy (the ones that turn out well of course. The misfits I'm keeping for myself, lol. I would be ashamed to send it to someone, less charging for it!). It would be fun to find new homes for my items. I can't keep them all :) I have a great bag that needs a closing (is that the word?) and a very cute make up bag that needs the same. And I have a bunch of finishing touches on some other things. I hope I will have time to finish them before the weekend because my mom will be visiting and then I can't have the mess allover the floor like I have now. It's messy to be artistic, lol.

Not the best pic of the muffin. I will try to take more detailed photos tomorrow so you can see all the mishaps, lol.

New online shop

I wanted to let you know about a new online shop I have found. It's called Timbroscrapmanina and is owned by a woman named Barbara. She has a great selection of the latest "must haves" such as Sarah Kay stamps, cuttlebug items and of course a bunch of embellishments and papers. There are known brands like Tim Holtz, Basic Grey, making memories and a lot lot more. The page is in italian and you pay in euro, so it's great for us who live in europe. I haven't shopped there, but I thought I'd let you all know about it. Never hurts to have an extra place to shop :)

Now on Barbara's blog you can enter a blogcandy if you hurry (I'm not sure I'll even make it). She has a big candy to give away as a celebration to her new online shop. Good luck!