Layout for ScrapFit....

The challenge is to make a project sharing your favorite holiday memory or tradition or best holiday surprise... My daughter just loves the garland for the tree... this picture was taken on her 2nd Christmas but even this year (her third Christmas) she was right back playing with it again. 

Layout for That's just so Cute

Here is a layout that I did for the challenge blog That's Just so Cute... the blog is in Norwegian but you can translate it with Google translator.... You had to use the sketch below, use mist or paint and have at least 2 lines of journaling... I am going to try and get out tomorrow when it is light and retake pictures of my resent layouts.... (no sun but we do have a couple of hours of light) So here it is....

Layout for Artful Delight

Here is my layout using the sketch from Artful Delight... If you havent checked out the store and kit club yet... you are sooo missing out.  On top of everything else their is a giveaway right now and you can win a, American Crafts Zap!  Just click here for the giveaway..... you have until Jan 6th to enter the giveaway...
We still have the dark time of the year and the sun does not come above the horizon... so still stuck taking pictures of my layouts inside with a flash.... I cant wait to get some better pictures soon!

Here is the ZAP heat gun....

Does anyone want this???????

Would anyone like this TRADE IT THURSDAY???????

Would anyone like to trade this for something from your stash.... You can trade me anything(doesnt even have to be scrappy items) just email me or leave a comment and let me know that you would like this....

Sorry.... and a winner

I just wanted to apologize that I had not posted my giveaway updates for the last couple of days.  First I was sick and now it has turned into a sinus infection... on top of that we had early Christmas visitors... my in-laws came for a few days to say Merry Christmas.  Everything is updated now and tomorrow will be the last post.  


Second I wanted to announce the winner of my RAK from the My Paper Treehouse Blog Hop..... which is Bernice.... your prize is in the mail.... thanks to everyone that hopped with us!

Last Dollie Challenge of the year....

This is a sketch challenge.... I just love Kristy's sketches... I dont know if I am going to continue on the Design Dollie DT... I reapplied but have not heard back... so keep your fingers crossed.  Take a break from the Christmas hustle and bustle and join us for our great challenges this week.

Layout for the Paper Treehouse Studio Blog Hop Challenge...

Here is my layout for the Paper Treehouse Studio Blog Hop Challenge... you still have time to hop and do the challenge.  We have  wonderful prize for the hop and an additional prize if you complete the layout.  Click the link here for more information.  Click here if you are looking for my Blog Hop Post.... you will need to comment on that post NOT here if you want to be entered in to win the Grand Prize from Artful Delight....

Paper Treehouse Studio Blog Hop

God's Fingerprints Blog Hop 

Dec. 15th-19th

Have you enjoyed the hop so far...or have you just found it.  If you havent started at the beginning click here.... Dont we have an awesome design team?  I hope you are enjoying the hop, seeing some wonderful layouts and reading some inspiring stories of what God is doing in each of our lives. We have a ton of RAKS, a Grand Prize and another prize for someone that completes the Blog Hop Layout Challenge.  Wow!!!!


Here is my story for you.... I became a Christian when I was a child but in Jr. High School I remember really committing to follow him.  I have really tried to live a life that glorifies our Lord.  It doesnt always mean that I accomplish that but I really try.  I also really have a heart for missions and helping others.  I have done several mission positions abroad (Europe, Africa and Mexico) I live in Norway right now with my husband and daughter but we are not here with a mission organization.  My husband took a job here flying the air ambulance.  It is so very different from the life I know in California.  Just because we arent here with a mission group it doesnt mean that God doesnt have a reason and a purpose for us being here.  We know that God lead us here... we have had a lot of bad days though.... wondering why here?  We havent been able to find a church or bible studies or any of the christian community we were use to.   Norway has a State Church and unfortunately not many people attend it on a regular basis.  Many of the people dont see a need for God in their lives they just see church and God as a tradition.  On the bad days I remember that he promises me that He will never leave me or forsake me.... and He wont give me more than what I can handle.... He is such a good God!  So we continue on living for him and trying to be a light for him here above the Arctic Circle.  How long will we be here?  Where will we go next?  I dont know but God has a plan and is doing very special in my life!  God's Blessings for each of you and have a very Merry Christmas!

This is one of my all time favorite layouts so I just thought I would share it with you... 

 We have a wonderful sponsor for the Blog Hop and she is offering a super prize!!!!  I just love this prize so much... Who is the sponsor well known other than ..... Artful Delight!

Artful Delight has  the most wonderful kits each month for a great price.  You wouldnt believe everything you get in the kit..... it is full of the newest and greatest scrappy items.  Artful Delight will also custom order you any scrappy item you would like to get your hands on for no additional charge.  Please stop by and see Artful Delight and dont forget to tell them that we sent you....

I also have a RAK for someone that leaves a comment on this blog post... want to know what it is....

Last but not least we have a Blog Hop Challenge for you.  At each of the stops on the hop the DT members will have a different item that you need to add to your layout.  When you have all the items create a beautiful layout and link it at the My Papertreehouse Blog by Sunday Dec. 19th by 11:59pm PST

Here is the item from me that you need to add to your layout  this quote by Elisabeth Elliot,"I have one desire now - to live a life of reckless abandon for the Lord, putting all my energy and strength into it."

Next you will hop to Elizabeth's Blog .She is an amazing women of God and a super super super talented designer!!!!

Dont forget you need to leave a comment on each of the blogs and collect the different items for the Blog Hop Challenge Layout.   All layouts and comments are due by

Sunday the 19th 11:59pm PST.

Don't forget to stop by the My Paper Treehouse Blog on Monday to see our special surprise....

For this Design Dollies challenge you need to use yellow black and silver.  I had to have a birthday card so I thought hey I bet I could make one using the Design Dollies Challenge.  Dont forget to stop by the challenge blog and join in!

Trade It Thursday until Dec. 23rd

This time I have pulled together some really fun stuff... Like usual I just have doubles of this stuff....

Here are some close ups of everything

What do you get:

6 pieces of double sided My Minds Eye So Sophie papers
5x5 My Minds Eye Canvas
3 My Minds Eye Transpariences (Love, Far&Away, Other things may change us, but we start and end with family...)
Pink Paislee cardstock stickers color licorice
Sandylion Rouge de Garance inspiration Designer Fabric Brads
2 Heidi Swapp Black Chipboard frames


So do you want this? 
Basically just leave a comment with a description of your trade and link to a picture if that is possible.  In two weeks a winner will be chosen and then we will exchange addresses. This trade will ship from Norway and you can choose to either ship to my Norway or California address.  Sometimes the shipping is only a 2 or 3 dollars more to ship it to me here in Norway and I really hate having to wait until I get back to Cali to get my package.   If you need more details you can check the link in my sidebar.  Any questions email me or leave a comment...
You can offer anything you would like for the trade!!!! Yes anything!  If you are wondering about some things that I would like... I am really into vintage embellishments, charms, dictionary or music pages, game pieces, labels....  I would love some flowers too... handmade flowers or Prima or basically any flowers are great!  Homemade embellishment are the best!  Basically I just want to share the stuff that I am not using.  I am not so concerned with what I get back.... 


Do you want to trade but this isnt your cup of tea... let me know what you are looking for (and what you have to trade)... I have a huge box of stuff set aside for Trade it Thursday... I can try to pull a trade together that you would like.... 

Don't forget if you are sporting my Trade It Thursday button you get a little something extra

This trade will ship from Norway and will end Dec. 23rd at 11:59pm PST

everybody worldwide is welcomed!

XOXO layout for December

Hi everyone I just wanted to share my DT layout for December over at XOXO.  The picture is of my niece and I think the title so describes her.  She is the most lovely child and I miss her sooooooo much.  Please stop by XOXO... it is really easy to enter.  All you have to do is scraplift one of the DT's layouts.  You have until Dec. 31st to enter.  Also there is a DT call going on so if you have ever wanted to be on a DT or just want to be on one more apply.  You only have to do 1 layout a month so it is really easy peasy! 

Trade it Thursday ends tomorrow!

DOES ANYONE WANT THIS?

You can trade me anything literally anything for it.... I would love vintage items, crop-a-dile or a prima flowers or handmade items.... but truthfully you can offer ANYTHING.  Just email me or leave a comment here.

ends tomorrow midnight PST

Design Dollies- Element Challenge

This weeks element challenge at Design Dollies is titled This Little Light... you should create something with a candle on it.  Seems simple but I didnt have anything with a candle on it.  Nothing! So I decided to make a candle out of felt... I wanted to make a Christmas card....so well it isnt the greatest but it is done! I also made a little of my own glam varnish (Tattered Angels make a whole line of great ones).  I wanted it to be finer glimmer than what is in the TA glam so I mixed glossy varnish with some Perfect Pearls.  It was perfect.  I painted it over the cardstock Santa tag.   It really makes it look cool... but unfortunately you cant see it in the pics. I also used stickes to add a little glitter to the holly berries and leaves.  I think this is just one of those projects that are better in person! Have fun with this weeks challenges over at Design Dollies!

Design Dollies Challenge- Elements

This Design Dollies challenge was to use layers.... I love layers.... Sometimes I realized that I have layered so much that I can no longer see the elements underneath...oops!  This layout is titled Nydelig which means beautiful in Norwegian.  I wish that you could see the page in person because the leaves are so pretty some are shimmery while others have really heavy glitter on them.  I also used silver Perfectly Pearls and painted the butterflies after I punched them out of the prima packaging that the branch came in.  I also used some white feathers at the base of the branch.  Dont forget to try out the challenge for yourself over at the Design Dollies Challenge Blog.

Dollie Challenge- Colors

This week I actually did two challenges again for Design Dollies... the first was to use the colors brown and gold.  I made this canvas for my husband for the Norwegian Father's Day.... I took the picture at an angle so that I could try and capture the gold on it without loosing the picture/text on the canvas.  It seemed that either the camera just picked up the gold or just picked up the picture/text.  Basically when I finished making it I used gold Perfectly Pearls and put gold shimmer all over.  In the picture you can glance it in the corner.  I used a gold plane and the feathers to represent my husband and to represent my daughter flowers and charm (drawing by her).  A couple of months ago I had my daughter draw on a piece of shrink a dink and then I cut out shapes and shrank them to make charms that I could use on my layouts.  My daughter will be 3 in March and more than anything she loves to draw.  

Sometimes I dont feel like such a great mom and wife.  I let me husband and my daughter yet  I totally believe what this verse says " And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)  God is my strength and when I fall He is there to brush me off and encourage me to keep on keeping on!  This project reminds me of how blessed I am to have a wonderful husband that not only is there for me but it is a WONDERFUL father.  When I fail God has given me a husband that encourages me and when Lars is down I try to be there for him.  Karianne really is blessed to have him as her father.

Karianne's layout....

I just love my daughter and it is so fun for me to see that she is creative!  She loves to draw and create things and she is only  years old.  She can sit and draw for hours.  She started drawing people when she was only 2 years 4 months old. We couldnt believe it!  She wanted to make a picture like mommy does.  So I gave her some  matching scraps  that were already cut, a picture, buttons, flowers, ribbon, stickers, gel pens and letters. She placed everything I monitored the gluing so that she didnt use half the bottle to glue down a flower.  The only thing I really had to help her with was the title so that she would  spell something.  Actually she picked out two alphas and told me she wanted one on top of the other.... okay.  So here is her creation that she made at 2 1/2 years old.... I now I am bragging but really I am just so very proud!

Here's another Dollie Challenge...

So yes I actually did two challenges this week... this one is a sketch challenge so you have to use the sketch provided by the talented and oh so lovely Kristy.  I rotated it and left out the banner but used a flower instead... It was a quicky because I am trying to get ready for Thanksgiving... I am having 24 poeple at the table this year... crazy!  Many of our friends here in Norway wanted to be at a real Thanksgiving!  It is sad but we actually couldnt invite everyone... Maybe next year I will have a bigger house and then I can cram a few more bodies in!!! Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

Dollies Challenge

So I liked this challenge so much that I did it even though it wasnt my assigned challenge for this week... This is for the elements challenge and you are asked to use beads, brads and keep it simple.  Simple isnt in my vocab... actually I really tried but I kept coming back over a span of three days and adding stuff... I still think I should add some paint.  I dont know this is just one of those layouts.... If you would like to give the challenge a try head over to Design Dollies!!!!
You might not be able to tell because once again it isnt the greatest picture but I beaded around the whole edge of the layout.... Used rhinestone brads on the side of picture with the buttons and plastic roses.  I also sewed little tiny banners with the yellow alphabet... (very hard to tell)  They are really cute on the original.

I was very inspired by the Paper Tree House challenge Kingdom of God.... Seeing sights like the Northern Lights puts you in awe of what God created.  It is amazing and so special... it's like God Painting a picture.  The Kingdom of God is right here and we are part of it... you can see Him in the beautiful world he created or in the birth of a new baby... and even in the hard times those little miracles are there if you are looking.  

Trade It Thursday until Dec. 1st

Since I havent gotten a taker I figured I would leave this trade up for two more weeks... I know there must be someone out there that would like the stamps and copics... Both scrapbookers, stampers and cardmakers can use it!  Without further ado here it is

Here are some close ups of the stamps, copics and ink pad

What do you get:

5 sets of stamps from Martha Stewart, Hero Crafts, and Sandylion (brand new)
4 Copic Markers (never used... I use promarkers and I won these)
Autumn Leaves Black Stampology Ink Pad (new)

So do you want this? 
Basically just leave a comment with a description of your trade and link to a picture if that is possible.  In two weeks a winner will be chosen and then we will exchange addresses.  If you need more details you can check the link in my sidebar.  Any questions email me or leave a comment...
You can offer anything you would like for the trade!!!! Yes anything!  If you are wondering about some things that I would like... I am really into vintage embellishments, charms, dictionary or music pages, game pieces, labels....  I would love some flowers too... handmade flowers or Prima or basically any flowers are great!  Homemade embellishment are the best!  Basically I just want to share the stuff that I am not using.  I am not so concerned with what I get back.... 


Do you want to trade but this isnt your cup of tea... let me know what you are looking for (and what you have to trade)... I have a huge box of stuff set aside for Trade it Thursday... I can try to pull a trade together that you would like.... 

Don't forget if you are sporting my Trade It Thursday button you get a little something extra

This trade will ship from Norway and will end Dec. 1 at 11:59pm PST

everybody worldwide is welcomed!

You are so Silly. Challenge for Design Dollies

***** For some reason this never posted even though it was scheduled to... well here you go anyhow...*****

This week at Design Dollies I got the privilege to do and example for the element challenge... the theme is You are so Silly.... I had another idea when I started with this layout but in the end I ended up with this..... I really wanted it to be sillier.... oh well.... So because of that I am going to not only use my new layout I created but here is an older layout to and it fits so well....  Please head over to Design Dollies to enter the challenge.  All the challenges are so great this week and  we would love to have you play with us in the dollhouse!
Here is the new one....

Here is the older one

Another layout....

So I created this layout for two different challenges.... First I found the most amazing site... it called The Paper Treehouse.... the is basically a ministry for a lady named Nana.... Everything is centered around God and what He is doing in our lives.  I love scrapbooking and since God wants to be part of all we do I love the encouragement to show my relationship with Him through scrapbooking.  There are challenges every week as well as local classes that are held.  She also has a kit club and other fun stuff.  It really is worth checking out!!!!
The challenge that this layout was created for was to think about God and who He is in your life.  I know that God is always there and sees the full picture.... I gotta live by faith and trust that He has his reasons.  I may never know why something happens the way it does but as long as I am following Him I know that he has a plan. The picture was taken the first day Lars worked at New Mexico Airlines.  He loved that job but was forced to quit after only 3 months when the management were doing immoral and cruel things to their staff. At the time it was hard to understand why God was leading us away from that job and back to flying cargo but He had his reasons.


Second the Hippity Hop Blog hop is going on this weekend.... Basically it is a hop featuring some of the best challenge blogs out there....You start at Sassy Little Sketches and hop your way from there.... Each stop will give you another element that you need to add into your layout.  In the end you have to use a sketch, lace, mist/paint/ink, texture, and three of the same thing.  I used mist on the layout... my texture is at the bottom where I used flocking over the hearts..... the three of the same thing is the rub on dots on the picture....and of course there is a little lace under the picture.  


I included an upclose picture of the flowers so that hopefully you can see that the flowers have some dimension to them.... thanks for looking and have a great day!

Does anyone else notice....

Every time that I post a pic to the blog it gets darker than the original file on my computer.  I try to lighten it but then the original is too light..... any ideas how to change this.....


Any tips on getting better pictures?  I always have a problem with the photograph that is on the layout.  When I take a picture of the layout the photograph gets fuzzy and details arent clear as  in the original... what I hate the most is when the eyes of the person/people just turn black. I see all these pictures of layouts and the details are perfect .... how do they do this?  Is it the type of camera used?

I would love to hear any ideas....

Card for Wee Memories challenge

I have a card to share.... you know I still want to set up another blog to just put my cards on... I just havent had a chance to get it up and going.... Anyways here is the card.... I made it for the challenge at Wee Memories.  You are suppose to make  a birthday project.  It was just perfect since I needed a b-day card the next day.  The stamp is from Bugaboo and looks like the family that was having the birthday.  Since I knew she would get a kick out of  the quote I opted for it instead of the tradition birthday sentiment.  Here you go...

Design Dollies Challenge for ths week!

This week I have a sketch to show you and what I did with it... Remember to head over to Design Dollies to join all the challenges this week. (there are 3 total)  You can win an awesome prize so why not try a challenge or three...


Here is the sketch....

Here is my take:

I'm a lipstick chick!

So I got an email from Lynette Davis a few days ago asking if I would like to be a lipstick chick!  Isnt that just fabby???? If you wondering what a lipstick chick is well.... It is part of the design team for XOXO challenge blog!  If you havent checked out XOXO you are soooo missing out.  As part of the DT it involves only one layout a month so easy peasy... but the real fun is for you!  All you have to do is scraplift one or more of the DT's layouts..... I told you it is easy and fun!  The prizes are always so great and I just love all the sponsors!  Well here is the first layout I did for them.... I dont know if it is on the blog yet but it will be shortly!