In the darkest hour.....

In the wintertime we don't have too much light here in Norway, so why not decorate some candles? Ok, these candles may not be that suitable to light up, but at least they make a great decoration - or gift. They are quite easy to make; just buy some candles and use a little bit of this and that - whatever you please! It doesn't take that much time either.



This old fashioned candy jar was actually a jar that I was supposed to put money in, but since I never got any further than leaving a couple of lonely coins to get bored on the bottom I thought that this jar could get a better life as a light jar. At least you can see that it has a purpose now *lol*

This jar is quite big, more than 30 cm. tall, so you can put several small candles in it or just one big. I've been playing a bit with alcohol ink that has been running down the glass, finding its own way. The bling swirls make a wonderful reflection when the candle is lit in a dark room - actually very romantic....

The jar is also a result of a dare in the Papir i hjertet designteam

Incredible blue eyes.....

The period before christmas - during christmas - and after christmas - just wasn't the most productive time I've had. Almost a month since my last blog update, so: HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all! (blushing)

Ok, let's face it: Not all of us are happy with the way our bodies look - me neither. But: I'm actually very happy with one thing: mye eyes! I bet Victoria Beckham would pour out some bucks to get her hands on them. *ouch* The last challenge on the Papir i Hjertet designteam was about something we didn't quite like about our bodies, so naturally we had to follow up with the opposite!

Some Photoshop playtime, some well used (but expired) creditcards, a little bit of this and that: Voilà! A playful LO about my incredible blue eyes! I honestly think they are my best feature. (Let me know if you don't agree - I'm more than happy to hear a lot of nice things about the rest of me)

Anyone else up for a positive challenge? Show me your best features!

Violence leaves deep marks

This is the most personal LO I've ever scrapped. Actually, I never thought I'd put my behind out on the net *giggle* but in this case I think it's all right;) The designteam at Papir i Hjertet were dared by our wonderful Mona; to scrap a part of our body that we had bad confidence about or just felt bad about. In a way I failed the dare, because I don't have any of those feelings about my now very public bodypart. It'll always remind me of the past, but it can never make the past catch me.



The story behind this LO is that it's showing a part of my life that brought me a lot of pain - both physically and mentally. The journaling tells about my former boyfriend that hit me. "I'll never get a round, nice butt again, but I've actually got a nice life." Why always scrap the sunny part of life? This is just as much a part of as the rest, and it's wonderful to acknowledge that I'm now OK with what happened. Perhaps this could be an inspiration to others who has a story to tell? Remember: You don't have to show it to anyone.

Christmas Inspiration - published in "ViScrapper"

The Papir i Hjertet designteam were so lucky to be asked to contribute in the Christmas edition of "ViScrapper." ("We're Scrapping") Ok, trying to be objective about it: It's one amazing edition! This time the magazine was packed with wonderful inspiration for christmas projects - and of course: our designteam has certainly been a part of that. If you haven't got your hands on the magazine yet, you better hurry up! It's been in the store since november 11th. and many stores are already sold out.

The picture above shows one of my contributions - in this altered old album I'll put my favourite christmas recipes. I guess I'll have to call my grandmother and try to convince her to reveal some of her specialities....



I also altered a big bottle of "Glüwein" for the magazine. I actually don't know how to explain this kind of christmas drink in english, but it's some kind of warm, spicy and sweet drink that you put chopped almonds and raisins in. I just love the smell of it during the calm christmas days.... I planned to give this bottle away for christmas, but I don't know.....it's such a wonderful decoration, and I don't think I'll have the time to make another in time for christmas. (What? Is this egosentric thinking???)

Anyway....if you're looking for even more inspiration, or wonder what I've been using making this bottle or the altered album, you just click your way into the Christmas Gallery at Papir i hjertet;)

Personal and full of truth - strong stories

I want to invite you all in to a special gallery at Papir i Hjertet.
The designteam has made LO's offering personal insight, vibrant stories and heartfelt thoughts about our bodies. You may not find this kind of LO's just anywhere, so they are well worth a good look.

I hope you all will be inspired to make a memory out something personal, a story not told to the whole world. Remember: You may scrap it just for you. Nobody has to see it. But they may - and by that you may have released something beautiful?

These LO's speak for themselves.

Visit our very special gallery and have a wonderful journey with your thougths.

If any of you international viewers wonder what the title or text is on any of these LO's - please just ask. I'll be more than happy to translate and tell you about it.

Hurry up! Great blogcandy in Linda's blog!

Wonderful blogcandy in Linda Salte's blog!
Hurry up!
You have 'till december 4th. to join in. Read all about it in her blog ;)

If you for some reason don't want to join in on the blogcandy, you should take a look in her blog anyway. Linda is a fellow designteam member and a great source of inspiration to me and many others. Don't miss out on either chances;)

3 siblings - "The brick flick"

I can't actually call this a LO, can I?
This is my contribution to the final in LSS where the task was to use and repeat the number 3 on everything exept from the title. Well, I've got 3 kids, so I decided to give them a brick each. (Huh? What hole in the driveway???) The idea behind using the bricks is that you can bulid just about whatever you want with them. So, these photos can be arranged in several ways - they can even make it quite all right as singles.

The bricks are also quite symbolic - you can build a monument with them, and my kids'll always have something built together just by being siblings. No matter how their lives'll turn out, they can rely on each other. (Ok, I may look though, but I'm really soft when it comes to my kids.)



It was not that easy to take an acceptable photo of these bricks. First of all, I've got no professional equipment (just wait 'till I grow up!). I've used some pearl white paint on the bricks and it gave a terrible reflection not matter what I tried. I finished the bricks so close to the deadline of the finals, so there was no daylight left for photographing. Ok, enough excuses - they turned out quite ok after all. So, now I just have to wait and see what the jury'll say. But, after seeing the other contributions in the finals, I've got doubts..... Oh, what the heck! I had FUN doing this one - it made me think alternatively, and that is what I love the most when I scrap!

Little baby bird

This LO actually started as a scraplift of one of Linda Salte's LO`s, but I never got to finish it while I still had it in sight, so when I sat scrapping alone it got some more personal twists. Linda's LO were made from a round, die cut scallop paper; I didn't have that, so I decided to make my own. I didn't care to make it very accurate or symmetric, I just found a black pen and drew it freehanded on some smooth bazzill carton. This is where my "Glove Pelsie style" came to life. *lol*

The LO is about my little boy being just so little - a little bird that still has a long way to go before he'll leave the nest. I wanted to show how innocent and tender he is. I also drew the green bird by hand; inspired by a stamp I orginally wanted to use, but I thought it was too small for the LO.

You may find a list of materials in the november gallery at Papir i Hjertet.

Creative Chaos by Hjertelaget

I just love scrapping together with my designteam! No wonder - the team is a wonderful mix of crazyness, humour, creativity, heart warmth and bubbly laughter. This past weekend we met - for the very last time in the store of Papir i hjertet. Our next meeting will be in the new, bigger and improved house in Skien. It was kind of nostalgic to me - the last time in the place where papir i Hjertet was born. Well, it's just not enought space as it is today - just take a look:



The weekend was just plain wonderful.... It contained a wide range of things: Gypsy music concert, karaoke, chinese food, wine, scrapping and a whole lot of talking and laughing. Starting a layout I didn't have the round, die cut paper I wanted, so I decided to make it! By that my alter ego came to life: "Glove Pelsie!" Well - in a strange mix of norwegian and english that means something like "furry gloves" - which will be my logo when I copycat Love Elsie the best I can. *LOL* The LO I'm talking about you'll find in the Papir i Hjertet November gallery - take a look at it and see if you think I'm a real "Glove Pelsie!"

Change of nickname - please update

I've decided to loose that birdy kind of nickname that has followed me for many years around the internet. Good bye "Hønemor", hello "Tigerlily!"

Some of you have linked to my blog in your blog, so I'd really appreciate it if you could update the name - if needed. I guess that those who follow by blog has to sign up again to get the correct name of my blog on their follower-list.

Thank you for doing that! I promise: No more changes in a while......I think. *giggle*

Something to concider?

Onesie recycling

Another weekend with social scrapping! Also featuring: gypsie music, karaoke, wine,different types of "dots", a lot of laughter and heart sprinkled cake - that's another story better not shared outside the Papir i hjertet designteam ;) *LOL*

Well, I actually had planned to scrap A LOT (as usual) but AS USUAL the hours seemed to contain jetfuel and went away in a supernatural speed. During this weekend I found my alter ego - that is to be revealed a bit later;) *giggle*

This onesie is the result of the 4th round of LSS. We're now just 8 contestants remaining, so it'll be exciting to see who actually will be the Last Scrapper Standing. This time we were supposed to (ab)use fabric. I wanted to scrap ON fabric instead of using fabric on a LO, so I found one of Jarle's onesies that doesn't fit anymore. It was hard to get a photo that really shows the intention and idea behind this work - the circle down to the right is actually a mirror. The title means "How big I am now:". The picture shows Jarle at 3 months, and he's supposed to look in the mirror as he gets older - always able to see how big he is right now; comparing his look at 3 months.

I've dyed the onsie with different types of ink: Luminarte Shimmering Mist, Distress Ink and Posh Rainbow Dye Ink. You'll also see some hand stitched fabric behind the photo along with some lace and fabric flowers. I added some tulle to the hand made hanger to create some kind of nostalgic look.

So: why scrap on plain paper when there are so many possibilities? My head is spinning with ideas - and a hunger for time to put them to life.....

Just plain eatable!

I guess that most of us who have kids (or just love kids) have had that feeling of "wanting to hug them so hard that they'll crush?" Or have been kissing them so much that you have the feeling of eating them? Well, apart from these being quite horrifying images it's very true - or what?

This LO I made this past weekend at the gathering at Papir i hjertet. I wasn't able to spend as many hours there as I wanted, but oh...it was truly a good injection of scrapping vitamins! It has been way too long since I scrapped together with others! (But next weekend is designers weekend, so "husband" and kids will have to do on their own...) It was very clear to me that it was a long time since I've packed the XXL tote - I filled it - and two big boxes that I had to balance on top of it. Me afraid of leaving anything behind??? You should never underestimate the power of multiple choices when scrapping! OK, perhaps I forgot that I was going to scrap at a store....that has just about everything I need.

On this LO I've been playing a bit with alcohol ink and Black magic carton. Ok: that was just to hide the fact that the photo is not exactly my best shot. WTF - who says a photo has to be studio perfect? I actually love it just the way it is!

7 truths about myself:

Du you dare to reveal 7 truths about yourself?

Anne Karin dared me, so I guess I'll just have to dig up some more or less juicy stuff. *LOL*

1: I just HATE doing laundry
2: I think men are more sexy wearing boxers than being naked
3: Purple is my favourite color - battling black...
4: I once was a choir girl for Jahn Teigen
5: I stole Dance With a Strangers drumsticks after a concert
6: I'm terrified when it comes to maggots *YACK*
7: I think Sean Connery is sexy!

....perhaps this could be material for a strange LO about myself?

I also want to dare some other people so reveal some truths about themselves, and here is how it works:

- Link to the person who dared you, tell 7 truths about yourself, dare 7 people and leave a message that they've been dared. You got no choice!

Here is who I dare:

1: Linda Salte
2: Ania
3: Nabon
4: KristinL
5: Calv
6: Shabby Chic Silvia
7: Vigdis

One of my favourite LO's - will you show me yours?

Today I went to Papir i hjertet to pick up my albums that has been at inspirational display in the shop. The albums have been there for more than a year and a half, so it's actually a long time since I've been looking through them my self. The albums contains all my work since I started scrapbooking about 3 years ago, so they are certainly showing me developing and learning. Some of the LO's are just plain embarrasing to look at today *LOL* Well, they have a certain charm anyway.

This LO "The spaghetti boy" is one of the first ones I ever made, and it's not that brilliant when it comes to technique and style, but for some reason it has found a special place in my heart - for some reason I don't quite understand. It's very simple and it contains my very first use og rub-ons and die cut letters.

I hope that some of you that pop in to see my blog will show me some of your LO's that for some reason has hit your heartstring in a mysterious way.

Hugs for the weekend!