Saturday 29 December 2012

CSI # 52 "Lost & Found" and Happy New Year!

10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 ... almost a brand new year with blank pages to fill. Thank you for this marvellous 2012 when so much happened, wonderful things and sad moments. In other words - Life is what happened!

January brings a couple of scrappy changes for me. I am saying farewell to The Color Room, my first scrappy love that has a very special place in my heart. I am forever grateful to Lydell Quin and Janine Kocswara for inviting me to the TCR family and for so many years of inspiration, friendship, generosity, loyalty and warmth. Without TCR I would not have been able to make the journey I have and for that I will always love you guys! To my beautiful friends on the DT - once a friend, always a friend!

As most of you know by know, I have an amazing new experience starting in January as one in the first DTs ever of Blue Fern Studios in the US. I am superthrilled to be part of the fantastic journey of BF that is starting now. I couldn't be more convinced of that their gorgeous chipboards will snowball out and around the globe at super sonic speed. 

I have stellar world-renowned DT mates on Blue Fern, with Valery Serfozo holding firmly at the helms of DT co-ordination, amazingly talented Michele Singh as designer and Lesley Kammerdiener as the engine of all this marvellous unravelling now - Blue Fern will have a success story seldom parallelled in the industry!

Before I share my page for Color..Stories..Inspiration case file # 52, I will make a recap of my fave 16 pages from this year. Couldn't narrow them down to only 10 as each and one of them means something special for me and my scrappy journey.

There is no doubt about it, these are all "Eila pages". I am very happy to have found my style in 2012 och really look forward to discovering little new details to add to my projects in 2013. Here goes!


Pages made for Color.. Stories.. Inspiration;

19_Letters In The Sand 4000 px main


32_Soar 3000px main

 34B_Nothing 3000px main

 44_Home 2500px main


Pages made for The Color Room;

 #115_Packing Bunny 3000 px main

#126_Teen Room 700px main


Pages made for Prima;

Prima AUG2012 PPP 2500px main



Prima June BAP Eila Sandberg 1000 px

 Prima PPP SEPT2012 main 2500px

 Eila Sandberg Prima SEPT2012 BAP Immeasurable 1000px main version 2



Prim NOV2012 PPP Turtle Doves main 1000px

 Prima BAP NOV2012 main 1000px


Pages made just for me, as gifts or as GDT;
 #122_Dream Come True 3000px main

 #121B Daddy Cool 3000 px main

 15NOV2012 OUAS Where Angels Tread 1000 px main

 Winter 1000px main

And now we've finally come to CSI case file # 52;




As usually Michele Singh has created gorgeous co-ordinating printables, check them out!


THE SCHEME (USE ALL 5 COLORS)

  • Red Ribbons  - deep cranberry red, taken from the package on the left - 164.58.62
  • Winter White - creamy white, taken from the painted polka dots - 255.252.243
  • Coal - black, taken from the tag on package #1 - 40.38.39
  • Brown Paper Packages - taken from the brown paper packages, of course! - 216.195.152
  • Gifted Gray  - taken from the wood in the background   - 193.181.165
EVIDENCE (USE AT LEAST 2 ELEMENTS)

  • wood/woodgrain
  • twine/string
  • metal-rimmmed tags
  • paint
  • kraft paper
  • newsprint paper
  • tags
  • circles
  • burlap/gauze
  • number stickers
  • eyelets
  • washers
TESTIMONY (USE AT LEAST 1 ELEMENT)

  • Document a gift (literal or figurative).
  • Write your journaling on tags and tie it to something on your page with twine.
  • Handwrite your journaling.
  • ...brown paper packages tied up with strings...document a few of your favorite things, likethe song.
  • Choose a prompt from here.
  • Label different things in your picture with numbers and have your journaling explain each number.
  • Make a layout as a gift and write a letter to the recipient for your journaling.
  • Inspiration Words: gift(ed), favorite, remember-- use these as inspiration for your journaling, not just as a title.

We trust we've left enough clues for you to solve the case!

The deadline for completing Case File No. 52

is Sunday, January 6, 11:59 p.m. EST.

Thus, you have a week plus the two weekends to complete your layout.

(See count-down timer on the right-hand sidebar of most pages.)
We can't wait to see what YOU create!

Here is my take, I've called it "Lost & Found". You will understand why when you read my journalling.

 52_Lost & Found 800px main
Papers are from Simple Stories collection Life Documented and one of KaiserCraft's Christmas collections 2012. The polka dotted one is from Graphic45.

 52_Lost & Found - 2
Subtle background masking/modelling paste and stamping.

 52_Lost & Found - 3
The greatest gift of all - you. I thought I had lost love when I divorced from my first husband back in 1998 and was left with a heart shattered in pieces and no hope for finding love again. But love did come back into my life when I met Bengt, the man I married in 2000. 

This gentle man with beautiful trusting blue eyes, incredibly strong yet sensitive hands and a courage like that of a lion, loves with a steady flame that nothing can quench. I know that he would give away the last food he has, the last pennies he owns, the clothes off his back and sacrifice his life without hesitation if anything or anyone would threaten his little family. The only thing he needs in return, is to be loved back. I have never met a more loyal and trusting person than him. Because of him, my life is beautiful and I am rich beyond money. 

Getting mushy here but this is the way I truly feel about my soul mate and greatest love.

 52_Lost & Found - 4
Bengt is a fantastic listener, you can tell him everything and anything and he will not judge. The record player is a symbol for that gift and also for the fun we have when listening to music and he grabs me in the kitchen for an unexpected swirl.

 52_Lost & Found - 5
The evidence I have used are; string/twine and kraft paper (the little parcel). My numbers are not stickers, I've used a metallic one from Tim Holtz on the parcel and stamped ones throughout the background of the page.

 52_Lost & Found - 6
The chipboard flower was first misted in Tattered Angels Black Magic and Graphite before randomly embossed in gold and then touched up with Stickles Gold.

Before I sign off, here's a sneak of the next CSI case file # 53, soft soft and dreamy romantic spring colours;


I am currently trying to sort out my January and will be creating madly behind the scenes, so my apologies in advance for being a wee bit absent here on my blog and online during the next few weeks. During the Holidays I have spent in average 4 hours every day online commenting, I fear it is far far from enough and some of you may think I've forgotten you entirely. Rest assured, I haven't!

I will be back next Saturday here on my blog.

Edith Lovejoy Pierce
We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.

Happy New Year to you all!

Thursday 27 December 2012

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT! NEW DT OF BLUE FERN STUDIOS

FINALLY I can let the cat out of the bag!! 

While I was sleeping, some really fantastic news was announced over in the US; a brand new chipboard company revealed the names of its first DT ever!



I promise you you will be absolutely bowled over by their exquisite chipboards, so elegant and so refined. They are all designed by the fabulous Michele Singh who also designs marvellous dreamy shabby sketches, check out for yourselves ladies; Design Honey by Michele Singh

The owner of this fantastic company is beautiful and incredibly sweet Lesley Kammerdiener, well-known owner of the wonderful kit club C'est Magnifique in the US.


 

Wednesday, December 26, 2012



Announcing...


Today's the day!!  We are so pleased to announce our very first design team!!

This was probably the hardest scrap-related thing we have ever had to do.  The submissions were unbelievable and we had such a hard time deciding.  What an incredible journey we had from blog to blog and I beg each of you that didn't make it this time to try out again next time as we can only have a small number of designers and we could have easily added another 50 of you to the team!

But, decide we did, and here is our very talented list of ladies in alphabetical order!  Look to this blog over the month of January for more information about each one of them!
 
Camilla Ekman
Eila Sandberg           - that would be me!
Irene Tan
Irina Gurshak
Iris Babao Uy
Jennifer Snyder
Joyce Lawrence
Kelly Foster
Lisa Gregory
Mona Pendleton
Patter Cross
Svetlana Austin
Vibeke Harila


And I also would like to introduce you first to Erin Blegen who will not only be on the DT, but also in charge of marketing and our wonderfully organized DT coordinator, Valerie Serfozo. 

Welcome to Blue Fern Studios, ladies!!!

Pinch me ladies pinch me!! Just look at the line-up, talk about scrappy talent!! I am so thrilled and so honoured to be working alongside them and cannot wait to create with the amazing chipboards! Now just waiting eagerly for my DT pack that's on its way over the big waters.

Lesley, thank you so so much for your confidence!

Toodeloo! xoxo 

Saturday 22 December 2012

CSI # 51 Tannenbaum and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It is Saturday and we have 2 days to go before it's Christmas. Santa's sleigh will swoosh nicely on the roof toops of Stockholm, plenty of snow here!

This will be my last post before I take a short Christmas break. I will be back next Saturday again.

Time to share Color..Stories..Inspiration case file nbr 51 that was released last night US EST! Happy and fun colours, just like a bowl of iced rainbow cookies!



 THE SCHEME (USE ALL 5 COLORS)
  • Magenta Baubles - fuchsia, taken from the glittery ball on the bottom - 185.61.121
  • Pink Frost-ing - ballerina pink, taken from the pink cookies - 250.205.228
  • Sugary Snow - off-white, taken from the white cookie - 247.247.245
  • Blue Christmas - sky blue, taken from the blue glass ball at the top - 173.219.234
  • Jack Frost - teal blue, taken from the matte blue ball on the right - 103.166.183
EVIDENCE (USE AT LEAST 2 ELEMENTS)
  • circular objects
  • snowflakes
  • glitter
  • beads
  • rhinestones or pearls
  • texture paste or similar medium
  • dry or wet embossing
  • metal
  • something filigree, like lacy laser die-cuts, border punches, lace cardstock, etc.
  • something shiny
  • doodling/ pen work
  • puffy paint
TESTIMONY (USE AT LEAST 1 ELEMENT)
  • Six-word memoir (inspired by the snowflakes' six sides)
  • Add rhinestones to your journaling spot.
  • Use all five senses to journal.
  • Choose a prompt from here.
  • Write your journaling as a recipe.
  • Inspiration Words:  sparkle/shine, best, decorate, --use these as inspiration for your journaling, not just as a title

And this is my take - "Oh Tannenbaum";

 51_Tannenbaum 1000px main
The backing paper is from Swedish Maja Design.

 51_Tannenbaum - 2 
The tags are fussy cut from Swedish Pion Design's Christmas collection 2012.

 51_Tannenbaum - 3 

51_Tannenbaum - 4 
I have used different stamps under the embossed ivory bubbles; script, music sheet, postal stamps, sentiments, snowflakes. Tiny splatter in teal. Everything looks quite subtle when photographed, but comes across a lot stronger IRL.

Evidence used on my page are; snowflakes, glitter, beads, embossing, something filigree (the die cut teal ornament), metal (the keys), rhinestones and pearls (the swirl in the cluster), instead of puffy paint I have used snow texture, and something shiny (Stickles in Stardust and Diamond).

 51_Tannenbaum - 5 
Dimensional sticker angel from Norwegian Tilda and a chippie flourish under it.

 51_Tannenbaum - 6 

 51_Tannenbaum - 7
Seeing our tree decorated and sparkling the evening before Christmas Eve, presents waiting under it, is really such a joyous moment no matter how many times I've seen it before. 

Hearing the traditional Christmas songs that I always play while putting up the decorations and tasting the glögg (very strong alcoholic mulled wine) and eating the Finnish cake that we have while dressing the tree, are traditions that we keep from year to next. 

Traditions from my childhood home accompanied by new ones that I have incorporated over the years and made ours, memories that Emelie (my husband's daughter) brings with her to her own home now that she is an adult. So many little things that are the essence of Christmas but most of all, it's being together and sharing.

Hyvää Joulua!
God Jul!
Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia!
Vrolijk Kerstfeest!
Joyeux Noël!
Gledelig Jul!

A Very Merry Christmas to you all!

 xoxox Eila

Wednesday 19 December 2012

OUAS December "Scents" and Winners!

Happy Hump Day! never thought I would actually be able to say that as my blog posts normally go live on a Tuesday and Friday/Saturday!

On this beautiful and cold Wednesday I am really so happy to reveal the winners of my small take-aways.

The winner of the 1st prize is LINDA EGGLETON, Australia!!

Instead of sending the flowers and fel heart back over the oceans to Australia where they came from, I have agreed with Di Garling that Linda can contact her to choose an equivalent prize from Di's Just Fabulicious store. Linda - I will contact you shortly to give you more details!

This means we have 5 winners instead of 4 as the original 1st prize now goes to MAJA STOKK, Sweden!

The winner of the 3rd prize is KEREN TAMIR, Canada! 

The 4th prize goes to MARIANNE JOHANSSON/SKORPIONEN, Norway! 

and the 5th prize goes to JASMINE SHAE, Australia! 

Congratulations ladies and thank you so much for your beautiful comments! Could Maja, Keren, Marianne and Jas please contact me with your postal addresses: eila.sandberg@telia.com. Thanks!

On this happy note and without further ado, here is the OUAS December challenge:




Theme:  It's December...




We would like you to create a layout and interpret the theme "'It's December.. " however you like based on the following sketch. 


Ideas for Journalling: We know that not everyone celebrates Christmas in December, but if you do we would love to hear all about it. If not, then tell us anything that you like about December..celebratory on not! 


Your layout must incorporate this theme and the sketch below. 

Please make sure that we see some sort of journalling on your layouts and please tell us where your journalling is . You are allowed to journal in any language but please tell us where on your page we will find your journalling. Remember journalling has to be a bit more than a title, or a generic comment. Hidden journalling is perfectly fine.






** The deadline for this challenge is midnight December 31st Australian Eastern Standard Time . The Design Team will vote and the Top 5 layouts PLUS Top 5 featured layouts will be announced soon after the challenge has finished.

** In order for your layout to be considered as a winner, we need to see evidence of the sketch TOGETHER with the journalling theme and some journalling which includes more than just the title, date of event etc. Hidden journalling is perfectly fine, but please do tell us where on your layout it is. You are also welcomed to journal in your own language. 

**This is an international blog, so anyone can enter



**You are free to combine Once Upon A..Sketch challenges with other challenges. We don't mind at all!!!



**You are allowed to enter only layouts  for our challenges



**Post your creation on your blog or an online gallery and link it on the right hand side of this blog using the Link tool. Please provide a direct link to your post, not your entire blog.If the link tool is down, please leave a comment on the comments section and link your layout there.



**You may enter as many times as you like






**Also, please consider turning off word verification for comments on your blog.

Our main sponsor for December is the gorgeous Swedish manufacturer Maja Design 

Here is the link to Maja Design's website -  Maja Design

Our other sponsor for December is once again the beautiful online store called The Trinket Track. 

For ideas on how to use our embellishments visit the blog  http://www.thetrinkettrack.blogspot.com.au/ 

and our store address is  http://www.thetrinkettrack.com/ 

Now here are our permanent sponsors for 2012. For more information please see the sidebar over at OUAS.








And this is my take on the sketch - "Scents";

OUAS 15DEC2012 Scents 1000px main
All papers are from KaiserCraft's 2011 and 2012 Christmas collections.

 OUAS 15DEC2012 Scents - 2
Love the golden Christmas angels with their trumpets from the 2011 collection that I have fussy cut. Dimensional sticker is from MME's 2011 Christmas collection. Prima and Petaloo blooms, Tim Holtz numbers.

 OUAS 15DEC2012 Scents - 3
Also this dimensional sticker is from MME's 2011 Christmas collection. There's the stamping in black, I have used it in gold at the bottom between the houndstooth strips and under the fussy-cut bow n' ribbon.

 OUAS 15DEC2012 Scents - 4

 OUAS 15DEC2012 Scents- 5
The title of my page is inspired by all the scents of Christmas beginning with the Swedish glögg aka spiced alcoholic mulled wine that is served as from the first advent Sunday up to Christmas. The hyacinths that I love to fill up our home with and that give that very special sweet scent of Christmas to me. The scents of baking, ginger, cardamon and cinnamon, clover and sweet saffron. And then topping everything off, the scent of pine from the Christmas tree and all the lit candles. For me, it's all about the scents.

The photo is by the Finnish photographer that I have mentioned many times before.

 OUAS 15DEC2012 Scents - 6
More from the MME 2011 Christmas collection.

 OUAS 15DEC2012 Scents - 7
The red/gold hounds tooth patterned stripes are washi tape. I have stamped in gold between both strips and drawn lines with a gold pen under and above each strip. The effect is quite lovely IRL.

 OUAS 15DEC2012 Scents - 8

 OUAS 15DEC2012 Scents - 9

 OUAS 15DEC2012 Scents - 10

With this barrage of photos I've finally come to the end of this post. Thank you so much for bearing with my ramblings!

I have one more blog post to share before I take a short break over Christmas. I will be back on Saturday to share my page for Color..Stories..Inspiration case file nbr 51. Just look at these yummilicious colours!

I did get some extra me time and made a few Christmas cards that have now been sent to some very dear friends around the globe. I won't say Merry Christmas - not just yet.

Till Saturday toodelipip! xoxox Eila