Gammaldags Jul : MajaDesign

Home For Spring

25 March, 2014 - Altered Items, Gammaldags Jul, Ska Vi Ta En Fika?, Vintage Summer Basics

Hello, dear Maja Fans! I hope you’re enjoying beautiful spring weather at your places 🙂

I don’t know about you, but my creations very often take their origins in small things or elements that pull the creativity trigger 😉 And so was the case with one tiny object I spotted in my local craft store and suddenly felt the urge to finally finish the project I’ve been realising for the last five years (yeah, I’m THAT slow!). I planned to make a home for each season of the year and was only missing the spring one – but no more, here it is:

I used a Stamps Away cardstock base and the Ska Vi Ta En Fika? papers to decorate it. The base was not very precise, to tell the truth, but as I wanted a shabby chic style cabin, it was even better so. So, ready for a little trip around (and a lot of photos? 🙂 )

Let’s begin from the front. I used the fabulous Blommor på bordet paper for the wall and added some “bricks” on 3D dots for dimension. I attached a Tim Holtz hitch fastener for the knob and hung the metal charm keys on it:

I punched some twigs and put them into a paper flowerpot, together with yellow mini roses. A resin bird is curiously looking at them 😉

The side walls are covered with the Ingefärsparon – bs paper – love the plaid! I also stamped some crackles on for a more distessed look. You can also see a “trimmed box” that I made using two styrofoam balls and deep green Flowersoft 🙂

The other side wall features some “wild vine” climbing around the widnow – I used a Marianne Design die to make it:

What do you most associate with spring? Of course, gardening! Planting and sowing, digging and watering 🙂 And here’s my mini gardening plot in the backyard:

I put an inviting sign on the wall…

…”planted” some veggies:

…working hard with my gardening tools – aren’t they the cutest? And that mini watering can was the final impulse I told you about at the beginning of this post 🙂

Let’s not forget the roof – I made “tiles” with a border punch and strips of various papers, layering them with some guipure ribbons, cheesecloth and buttons:

And here’s the nest of the bird perching on the front window sill 🙂

Want to take a peek inside? (quite difficult, as the house is rather small 😉 ):

And so, the spring can settle for good in this little house 🙂 And here’s the whole collection – the Home for Autumn is also Maja Design and you can see it in greater detail here.

Supplies:

Maja Design papers: Ska Vi Ta En Fika? – Ingefärsparon – bs, Blommor på bordet, Favoriter -bs, Cheesecake, Cheesecake-bs, Marzipanbakkelse, Havrerutor; Gammaldags Jul – Vackra packet -bs; Summer Vintage Basics – 1946

Other: house base – Stamps Away; stamps – Lemonade, Making Memories, Kaisercraft; resin elements – Prima, Melissa Frances; punches – Martha Stewart, Fiskars; hitch fastener – Tim Holtz; dies – Marianne Design, Memory Box, Sizzix; bird’s nest, garden sink – Prima; Flowersoft; gardening tools, mini roses, buttons, guipure, keys charm – from my stash.

And that would be all for today – thank you for visiting the Maja blog today, drop in tomorrow as well 🙂

Layout tutorial by Camilla

Posted by Camilla Ekman

16 February, 2014 - Gammaldags Jul, Layouts, Tutorials

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Hi everybody! Today I would like to share a layout photo tutorial with you. I have used papers from the Gammaldags Jul. This is what the layout looks like.

Since I want to alter the Blue Fern Studios chipboard pieces I will be using, I start with those. It takes some time for them to dry. First I ground with white gesso and then add some Distress Paint (scattered straw) and some Shimmerz (golden wheat) here and there. When the colours have dried I ink the edges using fluid chalk ink (dry sand).

To make the chipboards more shiny, I add glossy accent and before it dries I sprinkle some pearls on top.

Now the chipboards are ready to be used on the layout.

I layer the papers Vackra paket and Karamellstrut from the Gammaldags Jul collection on top of each other like this. The edges are inked with fluid chalk ink.

Then I glue down two old book pages and the chipboard circle. I tuck in the photo inside the circle.

Then I add my other two chipboard pieces and two vines to add to the circle.

After that I add a bow to create more texture. And I also add some grey and brown mini roses here and there.

To make it more colourful I add some purple mini roses as well.

As final details I add two shabby chic treasures (corners) and some crystal swirls.

Supplies used: Maja Design Gammaldags Jul collection: Vackra paket, Karamellstrut; Blue Fern Studios chipboards; gesso; Distress Paint; Shimmerz; Fluid chalk ink; glossy accent; pearls; old book pages; flowers; vines; crystal swirls; Shabby Chic Treasures; seam binding

Thanks for watching!

Maturing With Maja :)

Posted by Maja Nowak

11 February, 2014 - Cards, Gammaldags Jul, Life by the Sea, Vintage Frost Basics, Vintage Winter

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Hello Maja Fans and welcome to the Maja Design blog today!

Last time I shared a flowery boy layout. But when boys are growing, you need to forget flowers, I guess – especially when you create things to order. And so recently I’d got two orders for birthday creations on the occassion of boys’ 18th birthday, which is the official maturity age in Poland.

The first one was for a boy (or I should rather say, a young man) who loved the sea and intended to study marine science. As Life by the Sea is my favourite marine collection of all time it was a pure pleasure to create this card:

I chose the collection’s navy blue patterns and added some red accents with washi tape and string that I tied into a sailor’s knot:

I die-cut the age number and added the name with stickers. I also added an anchor charm and some real sea-shells 🙂

I really like the way the card turned out and I hope the birthday man liked it too 🙂

Supplies:

Maja Design papers: Life by the Sea: Nautic, Nautic bs, Drop the anchor, Bottle message bs.

Other: stamps: Crafty Individuals and Lemonade, stickers Glitz, dies Die-Namics, charm, string, cheesecloth, seashells – from my stash.

Another creation was a bit larger and more complicated, as the orderer planned to give the birthday man some money. And for that purpose, I think an exploding box is the most elegant way 🙂

I decorated the cardstock base with a mixture of Maja winter collections – mostly using the Vintage Frost Basics papers – in a way that it looks like a traveller’s chest, with belts and “metal” corners. On the lid I put a mini toy car, chipboard gears and stars that I embossed with silver mettalic ep.

When you remove the lid of an exploding box, it opens up, presenting the inside. In my box I decorated the sides so that banknotes can be slided behind the strips of paper. For example, one side features printed (blank 😉 ) ID card and driving licence as the background for the money. I used the signature strip of one of the papers to decorate it:

Another side shows the name and date of birthday, with a bottle of champagne to symbolise the celebration and legality of drinking 😉

In the centre, I placed a paper cake decorated with gears and a chipboard number (and well, yes, flowers! LOL )

Supplies:

Maja Design papers: Vintage Frost Basics: 11th of December, 13th of December, 15th of December, 16th of December; Gammaldags Jul: Vackra Paket; Vintage Winter: Snowmen

Other: printed images, brads: Rayher, stickers 7 Dots Studio, chipboard shapes Scrapiniec, dies Cheery Lynn Designs, glitter Stickles Ranger; washi tape, flowers, toy car – from my stash.

I hope you liked my boy creations (almost) without flowers 🙂

see you soon!

As You Go Through Life

Posted by Heather Jacob

4 February, 2014 - Gammaldags Jul, Layouts, Vintage Autumn Basics, Vintage Summer Basics

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Hello and a very warm welcome to Maja Design. Heather with you today. For my first February project I am showcasing a ‘Tag in a Pocket’ with rich and earthy tones, perfect for a wedding . The pocket is created from Gammaldags Jul – Karamellstrut and the stacked elements are placed on a foundation of Vintage Autumn Basics . I always like to stitch around the edge of my foundation and then begin placing my Nestabilities diecuts, beginning with the largest graduating to the smallest size. I completed this stack with a thin band of paper and added a heart and a bling brad. Some tiny blooms add the perfect finishing touch. I have used , stripes, spots and floral with some text papers … Maja collections are so fabulous to blend and combine as they all complement each other perfectly, making creating projects a breeze .. sigh x

My tag inside is created with white bazzill . I adhered a piece of paper on the top section, added a circle and some washi tape and a stamp.This quote is one of my faves to use in a card or tag .As you go through life, Keep ten friends by your side . Truth, Courage, Tenderness, Curiosity, Loyalty, Understanding, Laughter, friendship, trust and Love. Always believe in yourself and your dreams . I feel these words can be used for either Male or female, child or adult .. and almost any celebration.

Maja Design materials used….Vintage Autumn Basics No X and bs….Vintage SummerBasics 1891… Gammaldags Jul KARAMELLSTRUT..Gammaldags Jul VACKRA PAKET.

Thanks so much for popping by and looking at my work . I hope you are inspired to create something for yourself or for a celebration . Warm hugz till next time x

Summer

Posted by Heather Jacob

31 August, 2013 - Gammaldags Jul, Layouts, Life by the Sea

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Hello my friends, a very warm welcome to Maja Design . Today I have two layouts created with ‘Life By The Sea’ collection . These papers have such a summery/ nautical feel and for my first layout I had the perfect pic of my ‘Grandie’ with her two friends ready and waiting . ‘SUMMER’ Rarely do I use a patterned paper for my foundation, but for this particular creation I feel it really works and adds to the nautical theme.

My photo is always so important to me . I like to make it the focus on my creations, and blend in the colors and surrounds with the emotion and memories attached to my photo. I use Black and White photos when I feel the colors don’t blend in with my papers of choice. Creating banners are fun and this one is made up of tags, hearts and strips.The thick cotton mimics the ropes used when sailing .Above is a closie of my tags and heart . I love to include the title somewhere interesting, my choice here is to write it on my tag. A cluster of tags here, with lots of layering. The top tag has a Tim Holtz metal piece and a Prima metal number 3. In order to balance out my design I wanted something simple and small to fill this corner. I simply cut a circle and two thin strips which I tucked around the circle, securing them with some decorative brads …The metal circle in the centre, is something I have had for years and at last I found the perfect place for it …..sometimes I buy elements because I love them and it takes me ages to use them … can anyone else relate to this ??

Maja Design collections : Life by the Sea / Landmark, Navigate, Regatta, the east coast, Bottle message . Fika/ Bulle m Blabar ..(the heart and the large tag )

‘UNFORGETTABLE’ another interpretation with Life By the Sea collection.

Above is a layout I created for CSI / 2Crafty in early August . I had lots of fun with gesso and layers. The collection Life by the Sea suggest a nautical energy and I wanted to use this photo of one of our sailing adventures. To me the ocean is made up of many layers and frothy white waves, which I created by swiping white gesso over the paper.adding twine mimics the ropes used on sail boats and the muslin represents waves, white gesso reminds me of the fluffy white clouds and the sails. Again adding lots of elements such as circles, twine, muslin, film strip and measuring tape all mimic and suggest things about our magnificent sailing adventures in the mighty ocean.

– other materials used . 2Crafty chipboard, Tim Holtz metal/film strip, Prima Metal number, Prima stamps ,Tim Holtz Stamp, versa color ink , thick cotton .BoBunny brads, gesso.

Life by the Sea collection – Morning swim, Nautic, Marina Hovering, the East coast – bs, Gammaldags Jul Collection – Julbak .

This is my final Saturday as a GD for Maja Design. Thanks so much for having me and popping here to look at my work . A month of Guest designing here has been a wonderful journey for me, playing with such magical papers .

big big hugz to each of you xoxox Heather-sign