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You know when you’re a scrapbooker and a crafter and you always make loads of pretty things to give to other people? It’s the best thing, ever. It makes your heart beat. But sometimes it’s even a liiittle bit better when someone makes something handmade for YOU. Like when your sweetheart spends the better part of an afternoon making something like this for you on Valentine’s day:
Being a Valentine’s card from a boy gamer to a girl gamer, that is rather a strong message. I know my heart is a’fluttering today.
(He cut this by hand. Seriously! Who needs a Cricut?)
Hope you had a great feb 14th! Love and respect. And chocolate.
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Today’s prompt for the 365 project was to create something out of paper. But not to use scissors, or glue, or draw on it. And it did possibly not have to be origami. Huh. I though a lot about what I was going to do. Fold something? Rip something apart? Make paper flowers? Make a pile of crunched up paper balls from my gazillion unfinished drafts and burn it?
In the end I went for a simple solution, even if the thing itself didn’t feel easy. I took out a piece of paper and started writing about my grandfather. I have a photo of him and our family dog, looking out over the sea, breathing it in, like they often did. None of them are with us today and I miss them sorely.I’ve wanted to do some journaling about this photo for some time, to try and catch some memories, so this seemed like a good time for it.
I wrote the journaling in Swedish, but have tried to translate it here. Bear with me though; English is not my native language:
Throughout my childhood he was a part of my summer holidays, my grandfather. My whole family got in the boat and went out to the island, and there he stood waiting for us on the jetty. My grandfather. He raised his cap and waved and smiled; a big, sincere smile. It was a strong certainty I felt as a child that he was genuinely happy to see us. You stepped onto the shore and you knew you were loved.
He was a great animal lover, which became apparent for instance when all the birds on the island followed him around wherever he went. He always kept a piece of cheese in his pocket to give them as a treat, and called for them and talked to them constantly. They flew after him and sat on his shoulder when he was working in over at the shed or down by the water. If you were lucky you got to feed them too, and it could happen that they landed and ate directly from the palm of your hand. But only if grandfather was present. It was as id they were doing it as a favour to him.
There were other animals that followed him around, of course, they all did. Like the foxes. He kept feeding them our leftovers, and they would snoop about to see what he was up to. But only when things had calmed down and grandmother and grandfather were alone at the cabin.
Whenever you came to visit grandpa always had a story to tell. It was like an update about the neighbourhood, about the foxes and birds and badgers. In return, I got to tell him what was up with my own pets.
He was always very happy when we brought any of our pets out to the cabin. He spent an entire summer taking care of, and talking to, my pet bunny, one year when we were travelling a lot.
My grandfather and our family dog, Chief, was like two peas in a pod. It was like they had a constant conversation going on whenever they met. They both loved the island, the cabin, and the sea. They both enjoyed life to the fullest out there. And grandpa always had a piece of cheese, or maybe a meatball, to share.
I had a completely scrappy weekend! On Saturday I met my friend Andrea at an art supplies shop to buy some pretty papery goodies, and then we spent almost 9 hours in complete frenzy scrapping a wedding album for her sister. And we finished it! And made it look awesome! It’s just something about adding all the photos into a context and a complete story that makes them just a little bit more amazing to look at.
Sunday I spent with my dear mom, making Christmas cards. It was ages since we did something together just her and me, so I felt really grateful we had the chance to schedule that day in. She made so many pretty cards, I just had to sneak some photos of them and share. We have completely different styles, so it’s always surprising and fun to see how she’s gonna end up using her supplies!
We ended the weekend with a nice dinner, my mum, dad, Jed and I, shared a bottle of wine, talked about crafty things. I’m lucky to have a family that indulge me, they let me go on and on about my ideas and plans. I feel like I talked their ears off. Maybe I should get out of my crafty corner more….
I have started making some Christmas ornaments, and of course the most fun is to make something for your family. I decided to make these little hearts for my mum and dad to put in this tree, and I wanted them to look a bit vintage, so I painted the hearts in several layers of paint and then sanded the edges down a bit. When I decoupaged them I added some crackle glaze on top.
The photos are of me and my brother when we were growing up, and there is also one of our old family dog, who we all miss dearly. I thought this would be a nice way to add some memory keeping to our Christmas, and something a bit different than a mini album or a scrapbook page. There are so many fun ways to preserve those memories!
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And so I will!
There are seriously few gifts that mean so much as something someone made themselves. Time is precious for everyone, to use your time to think, plan, and make something with someone else in mind is, for me, a very big compliment. I’ve been meaning to post a picture of this for the longest time now, this beautiful knitted comfort shawl that Hanna made me. I love the colours, the pattern, the shape, I can’t believe she put so much effort into it! I wear it whenever I feel a bit chilly (which I do every so often in my old crappy apartment) and it’s The Perfect Gaming Shawl.
Thank you Hanna, I don’t know if I said it enough!
 Photo very sneakily taken by Jed Here is more pictures of another one hanna nkitted, go see! And another one :) I wish I could knit… (She has tried to teach me, maybe it’s time for another try).
It is a bit frustrating before the holidays, I really want to spend days and days crafting and doing fun projects and X-mas gifts for my loved ones, but there is just too little time. Suddenly there’s only a few days left. It’s just ironic that the time when one has the most cheer and enthusiasm to do something there is just NOT enough time to do it. I need to win a lottery or something so I can take December off!
I sent out all my X-mas cards in time though, and even managed to take a few photos of them, even though they don’t look all that good. Taking photos of projects during winter is not the easiest thing to do in Sweden. Good daylight conditions is pretty much out from October to April. But I cranked up the ISO on my camera and turned on all my X-mas lighting and my living room and almost blinded myself with little desk light, so hopefully some of them can be posted here. Soon. As soon as I find time!
I did NOT do as well as our friend Malin however, who has been making her own candles AND made a whole crate of beautiful X-mas cards to send out. Amazing! I’ve seen her craft in person a couple of time now, she just goes for it, she is so efficient and still manages to make both fun and beautiful projects. I bet her friends and family will be pleased to get one of these:
Colour me impressed!
My boo is a very crafty and creative person, I don’t think a day has gone by when he hasn’t had a good idea. He’s just an inspiring person to be around! He is the kind of person you can explain an idea too, he’ll understand it and show an interest and then give you good feedback or more ideas. Among other things he is great with graphics, he is a great photographer, and the other day he built new shelves in all my wardrobes from scratch! So there you go, could I be boasting more? ;)
Well, the other day he said: “It’s my mum’s birthday soon, maybe we should make her a card?”. And we did! Or, HE did, I was just the assistant, really. He explained what he wanted to do and I provided means to do it. He highlighted the pattern on the paper with copper embossing powder, and added some skeleton leafs to make it more autumnal. This is the result:
I’m a proud girlfriend!
As I mentioned Tricks and I planned a small crafty get together with some friends. We had cupcakes, drank loads of tea, and crafted the hell out of that Saturday. Most of us made christmas cards, but Tess sewed a cuddly collar/scarf that she designed after an animated character! I hope she puts up a how-to on her blog, it looked awesome! All in all it was an excellent way to spend a day; I took a few pics, and promised I’d post them here, so here goes:
You know how it gets, when the lazy days of summer are over and weather gets a bit chilly. At least for me, it means I want to cuddle up inside and go crafty crazy! I have so many ideas but so little time… somehow I have got to start making more time for myself and my crafting plans ;) It’s like cheap therapy after all.
Tricks and I have had a couple of scrapbook days during summer, and also organized an all-girls crafting day for a couple of friends. Everyone brought their stuff, some brought things for scrapbooking and card making, a couple of people brought their sewing machines, and all in all it was a very good day. I forgot to take any pictures though! Doh…
However we have a new day planned in a few weeks, so I’ll make up for it.
I’ve been taking a lot of photos lately though, during various vacations this summer (Italy, Greece, Scotland, England). Maybe I should post some here… I’ve been working on some layouts with some of the photos, it’s a lot of fun! Tricks has been taking a sewing class! She bought some wicked fabric the other day for a dress, can’t wait to see the result!
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