kerning is tough - practice

Kerning can be a pain! I am right in the middle of a logo designing project and I am getting cross eyed and brain wrecked trying to get the letters neatly lined. It is challenging and fun, but a pain! 

Here is a fun way to practice the art of spacing.

(Screen shot from Kerntype, the kerning game)

It is Friday! Hooray! Hope you'll have a great weekend!

origami love

I really love origami as an artform, as craft and as mindblowing creativity source. And of course to look at. I got inspired by two great messengers of origami inspiration to make some decorations for our livingroom. I thrifted a coat hanger last year and it serves as a perfect display for the gems i folded. I also tride using one half of an origami creation as a shade for a lamp. With a safe light bulb it works well!

Have a look at:
Design And Form
MiniEco
to find incredible diy inspiration. That's where I got mine!

Scroll down for direct links to my favourite origami gems!

Here are direct links to my favourite origami shapes I've tried folding:

Cardboard Diamond

by Weekday Carnival

 (photo courtesy of Weekday Carnival)

 Paper Diamond

by design and form

(photo courtesy of design and form)

Origami ball

by design and form

(photo courtesy of design and form) 

Paper Gems

by Min Eco

 (photo courtesy of minieco)

Fold away and have a great week!

Sofie

DIY birthday party hats (with free downloads)

It is silly, I admit it, but when it comes to planning birthday parties for my kids I get more and more excited for every year that passes. I am no fullblooded party arranger yet, but I might have some potetial.

In early May we had the bliss of celbrating our first born wee E. Kindergarden kids and their parents were invited. Nothing special at all with the party, we played outdoors and then went indoor for sandwiches and cake.

But I wanted to make something the kids could craft and take home from the party. I read the Oh Happy Day blog regularly (look out for flood of crafty inspiration!) and found a party hat template I wanted to use.

I decided om an animal theme; wee E has got a plush squirrel and he got to play the lead part in this.

This was the road sign from the subway to our house. The squirrel also got to decorate the invitations.

Then I drew some more animals to decorate the hats. If you'd like to organize an animal themed party feel free to download an use these drawings! I trust you download them for PERSONAL USE ONLY. They are not to be sold.

Happy crafting and happy birthday partying!

book of puzzles + free downloads

I love to see my kids enjoying solving puzzles. I loved puzzles as a kid.

The great joy is when the kids love solving the puzzles I designed!

This is the book I had the honour of making together with Fontana Media, containing collected puzzles from years of drawing. It is mainly sold to schools and perishes, hence the price.

If you, like me, love spoiling the kids with books or pages of puzzles I'll treat you with four pages (not included in the book) to solve and colour together with your kids. These are in Swedish and English. Click on the picture to be linked to the download page!

Om du gillar att lösa och färglägga pyssel själv eller tillsammans med dina kids får du här fyra sidor att ladda ner och printa. Klicka på bilden så länkas du till nedladdningssidan.

Have a good Tuesday y'all!

DIY bean bags

Way back I made bean bags together with the kids. The bean bags were a birthday gift for a boy turning three. It is a simple and fun project.

Cut out squares of fabric, two pieces of each fabric. Pin them right sides facing and sew along the sides, leaving an opening. Thanks to that opening you'll be able to turn your bag right side out and fill the bag with beans.

One bag turned right side out. See the opening?

I used a funnel to get my beans, or peas as I used, into the bags. In Finland they are called ärtpåsar, which is Swedish for pea bags. It wasn't the best equipmen, the peas got stuck on their way down through the funnel. Had I left a bigger opening in the fabric when sewing I could have filled the bags easier. You learn from experience.

The kids helped me with the peas.

Close the opening with sewing some stitches by hand and voilà:

 The fabrics are second hand.

me likes Unga Scenkompaniet

 (screen shot from www.ungascenkompaniet.fi, design Jakob Nylund)

My good friend Annika Åman and her friend Alexandra Mangs form a new independent theater group called Unga Scenkompaniet. They are teaming up with my dear friend the producer Johanna of Jokowski. I like what they are doing!

I had the honour creating their logo.

Check out their home on the net and their Facebook page and get updated on what they offer.

(screen shot from Facebook)

himlaliv - me on TV

You can see "my" episode of Himlaliv on SVTPlay for another 27 days!

Only thing that feels awkward is that I wear old glasses, but I, and hopefully you too, can live with that.

Big up to Maria Stratton, the choir Blessed Mess is singing her beautiful song "Du har en mening" in the program.

All the best!

an indoor tent

It was mid summer and it was roasting outdoors, so we stayed inside and made a tent.

childhood scenery

Our lekstuga in Kronoby.