Ruki Duki

2011-12-08T15:06:00.001+01:00

This years homemade ornaments. Together my daughter (7) and I made 8 pieces and even my son (9) did one.

Winter Berries

2011-11-10T13:43:00.000+01:00

Soon I'll go hunting for red berry branches and hope for som snow again this year.

Ideas for decorating with your vintage glass ornaments

2011-10-27T01:06:00.001+02:00

Winter Wonderland

2010-12-09T00:06:00.002+01:00

A christmas landscape in my cabinet.
It was featured in a Danish magazine last month.
I somehow miss it now, but it was made in august and I just couldn't keep it back then..

Gift Wrap Ideas

2009-12-17T00:33:00.003+01:00

A few gift wrap ideas from a feature I did for a Danish magazne. I find it surprisingly dificult to come up with a whole series of different gift wrap ideas that will match, but not be just variants of the same theme. But this time around I found a method that seems to work. I started out looking for all matching papers in dark purple-redish shades in my stash. Then went for the accessories. Glass beads, pieces of jewlery, silk flowers, stickers, feathers.....anything as long as the colours were right. Then the ribbons seemed easy to find.

2009-12-15T00:40:00.003+01:00

I made this wreath of heavy alu wire, thin wire, white feathers, white feather birds, silver ribbon and a bit of

box

Cotton Flower Wreath

2009-12-15T00:33:00.002+01:00

This wreath is made of red branches, cotton flowers, spruce and thuja.

Christmas Craft Ideas: Piggy Ornaments

2009-12-13T23:01:00.002+01:00

Pink or grey cardstock, old music sheet paper & metal wire for hanging

Christmas Craft Ideas: Ice Cranberry Lanterns

2009-12-13T22:59:00.002+01:00

Christmas Craft Ideas: White Paper Doilie Cones

2009-12-13T22:56:00.003+01:00

Round paper doilies folded to a cone, white flower ribon for handle

Christmas Craft Ideas: Squirrel Ornament

2009-12-13T22:53:00.003+01:00

Sequins, a bit of wire and a squirrel from an old book glued onto cardstock. Oh, and a bit of glitter too.

Cristmas Craft Ideas: Snow Lanterns

2009-12-13T22:07:00.002+01:00

Paper, paper lace, glue and sugar....

Tutorial for Newspaper Flowers

2009-02-21T00:07:00.009+01:00

I was wondering if I should start blogging a bit again. I decided recently (I thought) to take a break and was so surprised to see it was two years since my last post! Wow, probably not one single reader left.

These pictures are from a story in a Danish magazine out there now. All ideas are based on news papers combined with other papers. Photos are by Jakob Valling.

I like the flowers most. At the bottom you can see kind of a tutorial photo if you want to give it a try.

I love to work with old book pages, sheet notes and news papers etc.

As soon as I had finished this photo session, I wanted to do one more. I just had too many ideas for this two page story. So I have asked traveling friends and collegues to bring home news papers from exotic countries. I'm so exited to see what it will bring.

Christmas Project # 15 - The Favorite, a Pegasus-Unicorn!

2006-12-15T10:11:00.000+01:00

My son, aged 4, finally did a christmas ornament!

He creates about 100 animal sketches a day and it is impossible to make him change subject. So every time I asked him to do christmas stuff, he refused.

Until he got this idea himself. "Mummy, a pegasus has wings just like an angel. And we can decorate it with a corn so it becomes a Pegasus-Unicorn".

I cut it for him and was in control of gluing, he added the glitter.

Oh, I enjoy that ornament!

And if he wanted, he could make enough to cover that white branch we have. But nope, "no more", he says.

Christmas Project # 14 - Felt Stockings

2006-12-13T03:27:00.000+01:00

I have a huge collection of ribbons. I love all of them and find great pleasure in matching them with fabrics. But, I find it very unsatisfatoctory to know that even if I start sewing and crafting with them now, I'll probably not have used them all by the time I'm 95! Unless..... I make a project that needs just a little bit from each!

This is how my stocking project started. After I made 50 different ones, I felt very contented and ....very ready for another project.

Christmas Projects # 13 Tags from Vintage Books. Or not?

2006-12-11T15:03:00.000+01:00

Am I bad?

I'm not sure if I should post this or not.

But, let me confess: I make craft projects where I use pages from old books. Many projects. Very old books.

Like these tags with illustrations taken from a 150 years old book with descriptions of every major city and it's buildings in this country. Sheets are very thin, so I glue it to card board, cut it, decorate it with white paint and glitter and finally trim it with mat silver ribbon or tassel. I have a crush on these colours and textures together, sigh... And, ehm... pangs of conscience because I ruin this book.

My vague excuse is that this book was going to end its days in the waste bin. It belonged to an illustrator friend of mine. He was clearing up his studio and took this to an antiquarian who rejected it. Then asked me if I wanted it.

Christmas # 12 - We Want a White Christmas!

2006-12-10T17:37:00.000+01:00

In this country we can never be sure to have a white christmas. So this year we captured a snowman, put him in a jar along with some snowy weather and secured with a lid. And voila: White Christmas!!

Christmas Project # 11 - Wallpaper Range

2006-12-09T23:46:00.000+01:00

A stack of beautiful printet wallpaper from here made it into this series of cones (again, I must have at least 75 by now), woven hearts, paper covered boxes, cards and a bunch of tags made with my heart shaped puncher.

The photos are taken in my own kitchen and were published in a Danish magazine last month. I noticed that the magazine had retouched my wall tiles away. Hmmm, something to think about...

Christmas Project # 10 - Glass Ornaments

2006-12-04T23:47:00.000+01:00

Whenever I see clear glass ornaments, my fingers are itching to decorate them.

These are painted with enamel paint and outlined with glitter. Of course.

Christmas Project # 9 - Cones

2006-11-27T00:33:00.000+01:00

This project is actually from last year. However, I still do these cones as I really love the combination of antique book paper and the sparkling spangles! The cones are made of rectangular sheets , which give them a peak where I can add a handle. I think that way of making a handle, makes them hang more beautiful on the tree than if I make the side-to-side handles.

Oh, and the wooden tool in the front? I found it on a flea market. I'm not sure what it is for. Some says it's a gardeners tool, others that it is a confectioner's tool to make cornets for whipped cream. Anyone knows? Anyhow, it's a very helpful tool for folding paper cones. Productivity increased by 400% when I found that one.

Christmas Project # 8 Forrest Ornaments

2006-11-19T23:21:00.000+01:00

These ornaments are made of cones with white acryllic paint on the leaves and an animal fastened with wire around the belly.

I snatched the critters from my son's drawer with literally hundreds of animals. But only as long as the photo shoot lasted. The morning after I made the ornaments, the hare and the pheasant were reported missing! And they are not even among his favorites at all. I still wonder how he knew..... I, of course promised to look for them and dismantled the ornaments right after photos were taken.

Christmas Project # 7 - Pixy Clogs?

2006-11-08T21:07:00.000+01:00

Recently, I was asked to do a contribution to an international Christmas book. One of my first suggestions was to do something with red pixy clogs. And I was so surprised to be told that it wouldn’t work because pixies (and their clogs) are only a part of the Danish Christmas tradition. Really?? I had no idea!
Anyway, I had already made a few projects with them, so here are 3; a wreath, a badge and a candlestick. Tell me, is this completely strange for my - possible -non Danish readers??

Christmas Project # 6 - Captured Snowbird

2006-11-07T00:07:00.000+01:00

This little bird is captured in a glass ball with painted snow dots. Bottom is filled with washing powder, a white painted twig is pushed through the hole and the bird is suspended from the lid.

Christmas Project # 5 - Bird Lantern

2006-11-06T23:58:00.000+01:00

I guess Alicia’s cagelets inspired me when I wanted to decorate these lanterns.
I dotted them with white acrylic paint before adding a bit of ribbon, a bird, some toadstools (of course) and a twig of spruce. Right after the photo was taken, a smell of toasted/melted toadstools appeared. These candles where too big! Use small tea lights!!

Christmas Project # 4 - Glitter Pine Cone Trees

2006-11-05T16:54:00.000+01:00

Christmas or not, I rarely waste a chance to ad glitter to my crafts. So here are some of natures innocent pine cones painted with white, pink and green before they are poured over with clear glitter. To make the look like little christmas trees, I secured a little star at the tip. They are placed in a baking tin along with tea lights and glass ornaments.

Christmas Project # 3 - Marzipan Toadstools

2006-11-05T00:35:00.000+01:00

I just love toadstools. From a design point of view, I mean. Not to eat the real thing, of course. But I do love to eat marzipan. So I was quite curious to se if marzipan toadstools would work out as little decorative goodies. They where surprisingly easy to create and they didn't even stick together in the cellophane bag. I used half plain marzipan and half marzipan with red food colour. Shaped stem and hat with my fingers and simply pressed them together. White dots are added with white glazing. Bon appetit!

Christmas project #2 - Angels

2006-11-03T11:59:00.000+01:00

Who says that only the beautiful can be good, gentle and devout??

I'm Back!

2006-11-03T11:26:00.000+01:00

Finally Christmas time (well, almost...) so I can get myself started again! Because I do craft for magazines, where deadlines are 2½-8 months before publishing, my projects are always "out of date".
But now, it's the perfect time to show some of the projects, I've been working on earlier this year. Here is one: A ribbon filled stocking as a gift for a friend who loves sewing. The stocking is cut in translucent pink (back) and clear (front) vinyl and then sewn together on machine. Ribbons and hanger are sewn first to the front.

Souvenir

2006-05-26T01:29:00.000+02:00

I took me around 10 years to collect all the bits & pieces from the beaches around the World. One little souvenir brought home from each vaccation. Finally they hang on my wall and bring me memories of India, Bali, Africa, Egypt, ... and I love the colours!

Rubens 4th Birthday Party: 1,2,3,4......over!

2006-05-19T13:21:00.000+02:00

Hats are made ...

...table is set ...

... sweet chirping around the table...

....and bye bye...

Cool link!

2006-05-16T10:35:00.000+02:00

I just love the newspaper generator link seen at Snowbears blog. So far I have used it for an invitation for my son's birthdayparty to put up in the kindergarden. But the ideas are endless...

More Showing Off!!

2006-05-03T23:54:00.000+02:00

So, Pam was kind enough to ask for more of Rubens drawings (Thank you, Pam!).
To be honest, I would love to share this phenomenon with you.
As you might see, even if we take away the biased mothers pride, it is quite unusual for a child to draw animals like this starting before his second birthday. Or what? Am I just a foolish mother?

Well, here they come. A whole lot! I have listed his age and his own pronounced title to the drawings. He will be 4 years later this month.

1 year+11 months: "Foals." (He always insisted that they were foals, not horses.)

2 years+ 1 months: The artist doing "Foals" on our house.

2 years + 2 months: "Donkey and zebra"

2 years+2 months: "Dangerous Foal."

2 years + 4 months: "Ruben on the Horse" (Himself)

2 years + 5 months: "Rearing horse with wings"

2 years + 5 months: "Snail" and "Dog with spots"

2 years + 10 months: "Whales"

2 years + 11 months: "Elephant spraying with dust"

3 years + 5 months: "Buffalo leaving the water. No! It walks"

3 years + 11 months: "Kangaroo with young one"

Special Delivery!

2006-04-30T23:25:00.000+02:00

I have got mail. It made me speechless for some days. I wish I could describe the whole experience in my own language. Because this is something special! But you will have to deal with my limited vocabulary in English.

Super inspiring Theresa proposed a love-of-glitter-and-paper swap and it was my very first. But what a swap! I send my package early and she got mine before sending hers. I'm glad I did so. Otherwise I would have felt so sheepish when I saw what I got in return.

There was beautifully wrapped packages containing a signed copy of her oh-so-lovely! Snowbear book, lots of her sweet artwork, both printed and one-off, a super nice selection of patterned paper, a calendar, real vintage die cut scraps and all kinds of christmas details for paperwork.

And there was a freaking cool christmas stocking package including every little christmas thing I could dream of; spangles, American X-mas stamps, two fine pipecleaner characters (did you do those, Theresa??), gold and silver leaves, ribbons & glitter trim (ouuuu!!), handmade tags and stickers, beads, a fantastic snowman garland and more!!

I am so absolutely fascinated by the fact that someone living 1000's of miles away and whom I have never met and only known since beginning of this year, can send me such a personalized and appreciated gift! Not even my family or close friends understand theese little nuances in my world of paper, glitter, vintage stuff and christmas crafts. Amazing!!

Thank you so much, Theresa! It was a great experience.

Mummy's Boast

2006-04-17T23:39:00.000+02:00

My son, almost 4 years, has a special talent for drawing animals. He did his first recognizable horse before he was two! Since then he has spend at least 1 hour of drawing every day. Using if possible a notebook per day. My little suitcase for special drawings to keep for Mum & Dad has grown into two packing boxes!! Well, today I catched this turtle at his (money saving) drawing board. Isn't it cute?

Bye Bye Easter

2006-04-17T22:45:00.000+02:00

It was a pleasure!

WANTED!

2006-04-10T22:40:00.000+02:00

Does anyone know where to buy beads like these???
I found these from a company in the Czech Republic, but they only do wholesale at a minimum quantity of 1000 €!
Apparently they are called hollow beads, but since this was my only match after 1½ hours searching, I can imagine there must be a more precise description.
They are (if you didn't already notice...) like the ones used in antique christmas ornaments.

Egg Styles

2006-04-07T15:11:00.000+02:00

How would you like your egg this year?

Natural?

Feminine?

Dangereous?

Colourful?

Childish?

Sparkling?

Fresh from Nest?

Vintage + Kitch?

Another

2006-04-05T21:28:00.000+02:00

I made one more altar to celebrate the summer...when it comes.

Is comes along with the pink one shown below in an "here-is-an-idea-if you-really-have-that-much-time"-article that will show up in a Danish magazine in june.

Easter so far

2006-03-31T22:48:00.000+02:00

This is what I have made for easter so far. Actually made for a magazine so ..... a little more safe and controlled than what I really want! Hope I find time to create -and post- some more wild things before easter.

2006-03-23T23:39:00.000+01:00

An empty cardboard box is all my children need to be happy and occupied for ...not hours, but quarters of hours. It's been like that for five days now. Incredible and not always that easy!
It takes me less than two minutes to cut a barn door and a window.

2006-03-23T12:58:00.000+01:00

My magazine editor is going to see this summer altarpiece tomorrow. I have no idea if she will like it or not!

2006-03-21T22:44:00.000+01:00

I like to give and to get flower bulbs for the garden. The packaging, however is often so ugly that it isn't suitable for a gift. I tried with this redesign for a package of "scented lily's".

Anyone have other ideas?

Good old days...

2006-03-15T08:03:00.000+01:00

Did you know there is a website full of antique die cut scraps to print ? For free, I mean.

They might be a little too romantic for me. But the whimsycal animals are so great! I wanted to make something with them for a long time.

And here is the result; a makeover of my childrens IKEA table. I printet out on a normal deskjet printer. If anyone wants to try, I can recommend to dab a bit of glue or lacquer on the picture front side. They can then stand the brush strokes when you countinue with layers of lacker.

It is such a rewarding pleasure to hear my kids talk when they have a little meal at the table. They distribute the animals between them, talk about them, ask questions ("why does that elephant wear a dress?"..) and play roles inspired by them.

Stuff

2006-02-28T12:30:00.000+01:00

Inspired by Kath's post I dare showing a photo from my super messy craft office. Agree that sometimes there are so many unfinished projects and materials waiting to be used that it ..... well...takes away creativity. ...
Only for a while though.
Unfortunately, the things I do right now are not really relevant to show on this page: I do tons of christmas stuff! Why? Because they are meant to be shown in some magazines next christmas and should preferably be photographed now while the snow is here. Merry christmas! It is reaaly difficult to explain this to my kids...

Happy Birthday...

2006-02-20T18:00:00.000+01:00

...to Pia, my good collegue and friend who turns 40 today! We have just visited the Stockholm Design Fair together . We were thrilled about all the products in lovely spring colours. This bouqet of 40 homemade flowers for her is trying to catch those colurs.

More Uhuu...

2006-02-10T21:20:00.000+01:00

Ruben wanted an owl picture for his room as well. So here comes his less gilrly version...
I love every time I get to use that pattern paper .

UHUUUU...

2006-02-05T22:49:00.000+01:00

Theese night owls got very strong coffee this evening. That explains the (according to my husband) insane look in their eyes.

My Prize Chicken

2006-02-03T17:57:00.000+01:00

My Trendy Mother in Law!

2006-02-01T15:52:00.000+01:00

At my 79 years old Mother in Law's house I saw a pillowcase. It was the hypest, coolest bedlinen pattern I had seen for a long time! And ...I was really wondering how she could be so trendy, considering not only her age, but also the fact that she lives in a sleepy village in Jutland (Denmarks countryside) while I do my shopping in Copenhagen and sorroundings.

Well, of course, the pillowcase happened to be an original from the 70's.....

Anyway she gave it to me and I have now tranformed it into a softie for Rubens teddy and some pantalettes for Kirsten.

The pantalettes are made with a beginner friendly pattern from onion.
The giraffe is freestyling...

Does anyone know a place for nostalgic sewing patterns for kids?

Do You see what I see?

2006-01-21T23:35:00.000+01:00

Is this the cutest bird feeder in the world?

I found this little mansion it in a Swedish interior magazine. Both my sister and my daughter got one for christmas. And it works! The birds are really going there.

If you click for a larger version of the photo, you may notice that the house has it's own bird house just next to the front door. Cute?

The company has a variety of styles, even a 1950 "funkis" villa!

Winter Flowers

2006-01-21T12:11:00.000+01:00

I make theese flowers of paper, wire and glitter.
Good to look at while waiting for the real ones to show up in the shops...I mean garden.

15 minutes of fun

2006-01-20T00:32:00.000+01:00

Why does a household only need one box of matches? To decorate one is such a nice I-must-finish-something-before-going-to-bed-project.

Can you hear the sound of silence?

2006-01-20T00:06:00.000+01:00

This tree with the bird feeder and christmas lights is just outside my window. My family is asleep and snow is tossing down. Oh, I like that sound!

From our New Year Party

2006-01-19T00:26:00.000+01:00

The table, the window + snow and my 16 mths. daughter with a homemade hat created by a 9 years old guest. She loved the hat. What a lot of fun it is to make things like that to a little girl!!

Scrap, glitter and stars

2006-01-18T12:05:00.000+01:00

wainting to be cut out for cards and tags.

Anyone knows a good site with vintage b/w photograps of children?

My favorite 2 min. decor

2006-01-17T10:04:00.000+01:00

Oh, no. I must put away my christmas things now...

I found this doll ornament in he supermarket this year. The star is made of thick wire wrapped with tinsel and the ornament it fastened with a ribbon.

Well, maybe it took 7 minutes, but no more.

2006-01-16T18:48:00.000+01:00

My "new thing" is to make DIY craft ideas for the magazines. I just love doing that.
Theese pictures are from the christmas edition of "Isabellas" a danish magazine with a concept similar to Martha Stewart Living.

I'm in love with the combination of glitter and old stuff as you can see..

2006-01-16T18:07:00.000+01:00

Theese are paintings I do for little children. I got the idea 3½ years ago when I got my first child and since the I have painted around 250 of them!! For the moment I'm taking a break from that!

I you want to see more of them, you are welcome to take a look at http://www.babyfanter.dk . The site is in danish only, I'm sorry, but the pictures are there.

2006-01-16T17:57:00.000+01:00

My first blogging ever!

I have been so fascinated by the crafty blogs around that I just had to get started myself! Because who knows....maybe I'll get i blog-contact with some of all theese people...

This will be about crafts and crafts and crafts... If I can fir´gure out how to do a blog!

Watch out!