More candy

I've been so busy I haven't entered any blogcandies lately or updated my candylist for april. I'm sorry about that, I'll try to do better in may :) I still haven't sent out my candy that ended in march *blushing*, but I have put it together so now I just need to put addresses on them. Bare with me.

Meanwhile here is a candy from sweetpea. 5 stamps of your choice! Click the link to go straight to the post.

Sweetpea celebration sale

Sweetpea is one year today and to celebrate you can shop with a 10% discount on ALL stmps, even discounted ones! This is valid for today (sunday 25:th) ONLY.

You HAVE TO go through the link at the sweetpea blog. Just click the link and it will take you to the sweetpea's blog where you'll find the info and futher link to the shop.

Pearly necklace and earrings

A while back when I asked what you would like to see more on the blog most answers were: tutorials, jewelry and scrapbooking. I really took it to heart and I'm trying to make more tutorials. As for scrapbooking I treated myself with a colourprinter for my 30:th. When it comes to jewelry I've been quite busy too. So busy actually that I have a couple of things to show you and it's not just jewelry :) I'll prolong it though and post one project a day. I'm not so much on the net anymore as it takes all my time and energy. I try to be creative instead and now that it's such a wonderful weather I found myself knitting a while on the balcony today!

Anyhee. Here is a set I totally love. I usually wear silver, but this is one of the few gold-coloured items I have. I actually found the necklace pendant at a thrift store (love to shop at those!) It came with the pearls I think, but the necklace was broken. I added the little facetted golden pearls and the pearl clasp. Unfortunatelly it's not so easy finding good jewelry at those shops anymore. I think it has to do with the fact that it's become so trendy to shop at those stores and maybe even due to the econnomy. The only time I have a chance of finding something for what I want to pay is when it's broken and many places don't sell broken things.

When it comes to the earrings I got the beads at a sale (where else, lol) and they had the exact same nuance. It's actually a VERY easy construction, but the result is stunning, don't you agree? I'm working on a pair in purple/pink and silver at the moment. They do get a tiny bit heavy pulling at the earlobe holes which I think looks very unattractive so I'm thinking about fastening them to those stick earring thingies instead, you know those that go right through the hole, instead of the hook. (can't remember what they are called or maybe I don't even know?)

I meant to enter a contest with this set. The contest was to design a necklace and a pair of earrings for Victoria - the swedish crownprincess that is getting married this summer. Well, she wouldn't actually be wearing the winner's design - it was just the theme of the contest. Unfortunatelly I found the contest too late because it said in the rules that about 50% of the items had to come from the shop that organized it. I didn't have enough time to get my things, design something and send in my entry. So instead I designed a set with similar pearls I knew she had in her shop. I mean round pearly beads don't differ that much. So after I sent in my entry she contacted me saying she couldn't find me as one of her customers. I then explained my thought behind it that I did it due to lack of time and said I would be happy to order the similar beads from her shop (so I wouldn't miss the deadline) She answered quite "angryly" and said that it's not how it works and cited the rules to me. I thought it was a bit silly. I mean I understand the idea behind it. It should be fair to everyone, but at the same time she said no to a new customer that would spend at least $20-30. I was a bit perplexed because I thought the whole idea with the contest was to get people to buy more from her shop. I'm slightly annoyed and will take away the link to her shop from my blog. And I'll definately won't buy from her. She didn't have that much to start with anyway. I'm regretting sending it in and giving her the idea. Maybe it's a bit pety, but I can't help feeling this way.

Oh, if you're reading this far and you'd like to see a tutorial of the earrings just leave a comment and I'll see what I can do :)

Jubilee card and some candy I got

Ok, so now the big reveal to show you the card I made for my aunt in law's 70:th birthday. As you might have read my mother-in-law asked for a card for everyone to "ooh and aaah" over so I felt a bit of pressure...You might think it should've been 5 times better than my usual cards as it took 5 times longer to make it. I think it's very pretty and one of my best yet, but maybe not 5 times better ;) I love the slightly vintage look and I made her hair grey to suit a 70-year old. The stamps are sooo wonderful. I couldn't resist getting them and they are one of my favs for sure. I got mine at stamp and create.

I wish I would've taken closer pictures and not so much from above. The right hand photo is when the sun was shining, hence the yellow shade. I'm really proud of how I used the image since I almost always have it as a focal point and white paper around. Here I cut her out and mounted with 3D tape and made the oval rose in the middle the main point.

Grattis - meaning "congrats":

Her name cut out with a qk 4x8" alphabet called Rollerskate. It's cut out in green cardstock and then I added glitterglue "stardust".

 Top right corner has some tags with her age made the same way as her name:

 Flowers from prima's tubes. Got like 20 of them a couple of months ago and haven't used them much. I originally wanted to add more flowers but they either overshadowed her name or the butterfly so I went with one big instead. I wanted it to be even bigger, but didn't have any bigger flowers. For someone that has silly dies like a pitchfork I don't even have any good flower ones...Punches are so expensive here and to ship from the US and qk don't have any pretty ones.

I struggled with the card for a few days and while I left it to think about what it had done (when it was being naughty and messing with me) I made two bookmarks since she loves to read. The ladies come from a 12x12" sheet with different bathing beauties. I just cut them out and laminated them with that plastic you get at bookstores. So easy and they make a great gift. The tassels I had for ages. I've actually been using up a lot of my own stash because as much fun as it is shopping new things I don't have THAT much space (or money for that matter) After a while when you've hamstered a while you tend to forget things you have and when you find them again it's like shopping again, only better, because this time it's free, lol.

 I also want to show you some candy I got from cuddly buddly's  weekly draw. Aren't they too cute? I really won the right week I must say.

Hope you've enjjoyed my project and you're not too disappointed. Before I leave you I want to show you what my place looked after a frantic cardmaking session for 48 hours. It's not like it was supertidy before, but it was definately: "have-people-over-esque". I judge how tidy it is on if I would invite people over. If the answer is yes, then it's tidy enough, if no, then it's time to procrestinate some more :D
So before you feel all guilty for not doing neccessary things, aka BORING, take a look at this and take comfort in the fact that it could be worse (or if your place looks the same: you're not alone!)

 Here's the floor where I use my cuttlebug. All other tables are full...

 And finally here is the "huge" space I worked on after covering all tables. It barely fits a 6x6" card. It's a wonder I pulled it off without any glue or glitterstains on the card.

Sneak peak...

It's already 3.05 am here so it's too late for a proper post. It usually takes me a while to get them done :) Instead I'll just show you a sneak peak of the birthday card I finished today with litteraly minutes to spare. Talk about cutting it short! I'll be back later to show you the whole card. Nighty night.

Don't you just love these stamps? I got mine at stamp and create which I can really recommend. Let Lacey know I sent you :)

Flowers have the sun...pixie cottage challenge #15

I've been struggling all day with a card for my finacée's aunt. She's turning 70 and his mom wanted us to let know so I could "make a card for everyone to ooh and aahh at". (her words, not mine) Do I need to say I totally freaked out and been postponing it for days? I tried starting on it yesterday evening, but noticed I didn't have enough papers. Or inspiration for that matter. So I decided to postpone it for one more day (can't be done with things on time, that would be uncharacteristic of me - shocking!) I went to town looking for some items and inspiration. I struggled for a couple of more hours when I got home until I gave up and asked my fiancée for help. Unfortunately he wasn't too extatic about the colours (red/black) because he thought the black reminded him about funerals...Shouldn't have asked him, lol.

I tried to take the criticism constructively and since I had a hard time with my idea anyway I changed it. It was a good idea, but I will have to work on it some other time. I meant to use Babette from Kraftin' Kimmies and make a whole burlesque look with feathers, net and lace.I think it will be fab if I can pull it off.
Instead I re-saddled and went with another Kraftin' Kimmie stamp and a pink/green theme. As that is my fav colour combo I hope it will be easier. I still struggled so I decided to call it a night. Still have a few hours tomorrow. I'm trying to find a good sketch, but don't like any of the ones I've found.
To be continued...

Instead I will show you my card I made for this week's challenge at the pixie cottage blog which is a sketch and the theme: mother's day/for a special lady. Hope to see your entry there this week. Remember, you don't have to use a pixie image to join.

Sweetpea anniversary bloghop and candy!

Wooohooo! Sweetpea is 1 year!!!

Hello everyone and thank you for joining us in our big celebration. Sweetpea stamps is celebrating 1 year and we have all sorts of festivities planned. Today is a customer bloghop and you should be arriving from Jennifer's blog. If you haven't and want to join the fun from the beginning, start at the sweetpea blog.

I'm so happy to have been on board as a design team member from the start. I remember how it was before Lynette found ching-chou kuik's wonderful world of seafairies and how the blogs exploaded with these images a while after they were released. Thank you for picking me last summer Lynette. It was my first blog DT assignment and I'm very proud to design for you.

To honour the anniversary, sweetpea has released a new special edition stamp called New Year celebration. It will be on sale through saturday 24:th together with some sentiments to match. Here's what I made with the image:

It's a step card which I kind of improvised. I took a sheet of about 30x15cm and folded it in half (the same size I use for standard square cards) Then I measured a bit in from all edges, 3,5cm from the long edge and 2 from the short (front) and 5,5 from the other end (which is the back). Draw a rectangle where you made the measurements. Cut along the long edge where you've made the lines. ONLY along those two lines, don't cut along the short ones. Then you use a bonefolder on the middlepanel to make mountain and valleyfolds to match your needs. I used 2cm (where the sentiment is) then 2cm, 3,5 (where the image is attached) 4,5 and the last one 7cm (the last panel with the birds on it) Hope that makes sense, if not let me know and I'll try to explain with more pics.

Now for the candy:

Lynette (the owner of sweetpea stamps) has generously given me some stamps to give as blogcandy.I will pick three winners that will get a sweetpea stamp and maybe some other goodies that I'll put together. The rules are simple. You can get up to 5 entries: Leave a comment for every entry please.

* leave a comment (must do this)
* sign up as a follower (comment again)
* sign up as a follower at the sweetpea blog (come back here and comment)
* join the customer blog hop by making a birthday/anniversary card (See link above for details. )(come back and leave a link to your post)
* spread the word about sweetpea's celebration.(comment with a link to your post)
* let me know which is your favourite sweetpea stamp.

That's it! I will leave this open until april 30:th and will draw a winner may 1:st. Make sure to come back and see if you won. Have fun!

Your next stop is Micki's blog.

Sweetpea anniversary celebration soon

Don't forget to stop by the sweetpea blog tomorrow, tuesday (well actually it's today here, but you know what I mean) There are festivities going on and beside the candy that you can read about below I will be having one of my own, and I'm not the only DT member that will be giving out rubba... So if you love sweetpea stamps, but can't afford to get any, here's your chance! See you tomorrow.

Customer Blog Hop!
During our one year celebration, I would like to have a customer blog hop. This hop will take place on April 20th. You must make a birthday or anniversary card using one of Sweet Pea Stamp images as your main focus point. You may use other companies sentiments or print up a sentiment using your computer. You will be able to post a link to Mister Linky on the 20th linking it to your blog. I will pick three random winners to receive a free 4" x 5" inch quarter sheet of an image of ching-chou kuik with a couple of birthday/ anniversary sentiments that will be released in the next couple weeks. So spread the word, let's make this hop a big celebration!

Haiti relief stamp

Just wanted to let you know that the stamp from sweetpea raised $342.25 for doctor's without borders. Way to go!

A wonderful gift

I've been so lucky. The other day I got a wonderful gift from Julia - the woman that sewed me that Tilda doll for last year's easter swap. It was out of the blue. I took pics just when I opened it, but can't find them now, so took new ones. Unfortunately I couldn't photograph the 400g chocolate that was included because...well...there's not much left of it, lol. There was also a big Miranda bear card. I really have to go through the pics and see if I can find them. Will have to do it when I'm in less pain though as sitting by the computer hurts more.

Anyhow, here's the wonderful gift she gave me. It's a pouch to hang in the wardrobe with rose potpurri. I'm usually quite sensitive to potpurri scents, but this smells wonderful! Fresh like real roses. One side has an embroidered heart and flowers and the other one a fabric heart. It's held together at the top with a silky cord and attached to an iron heart hanger. Isn't it the cutest thing you've ever seen?
Thank you so much Julia. Sending big hugs and kisses your way.

I've been having a really bad week with a lot of pain, but yesterday I got a couple of hours where I sewed a little. I got these pre-cut squares that are from a Basic Grey line. I was over the moon when I found it. I had no idea you could get BG lines in fabrics! I plan to make a little bag/holder for my quilting mat and the knife/roller. The only problem is that after I was done sewing the squares together the seams "bubbled". I remember reading somewhere on the net how to sew squares together. I couldn't find it so I did like it said in a quiltingbook I have and what has worked before: I first sewed the horisontal squares together. And then when they where 4 strips I added those together. Any ideas on how I should've done it? I've been pressing the seams, but it doesn't seem to help. I'm thinking about re-doing it, but I need to know how to make it differently so I don't make the same mistake twice. You can click the pics to get a bigger image.