Winter Wishes

WELCOME to A Perfectly Odd Hop!  We have partnered up with the ladies from Some Odd Girl to bring you something fun and different!

We had the pleasure of meeting some of the Odd Girls at CHA in Vegas, and a collaborative event was an absolute NO-BRAINER!  Would the Odd Girls like to try out some fun tools?  Heck yes!  Does the Perfect Paper Crafting team want to play with some cute stamps?  Sure thing!  And it's a match made in heaven...

Today, both teams come together to bring you a fabulously inspiring BLOG HOP that will run through Sunday, November 17th.  There are 16 stops along the way including the main blogs, and PLENTY of inspiration for you to enjoy, so we hope you have as much fun as we've all had in this little partnership!

If you're not already familiar with Some Odd Girl, you are in for a TREAT!  They offer clear and digital stamps, cut files and new accessories, and they are cute and quirky to boot!  Once you see their unique style, you’ll always be able to spot them!  You should have arrived from Judy's blog, but in case you get lost or distracted along the way, here's the hop order:

Some Odd Girl blog
Perfect Paper Crafting blog
Suzanne BierEva Uyeunten
Alexis Kemp
Pam Sparks
Judy Bagwell
Wendy Ramlakhan
Jenn Cochran
Mary Pat Siehl
Jeanie Witmer
Katie Perry
Roxie Glaza
Kristy Dalman
Jenny Gropp
Leah l’Orange

Using my Perfect Layer tool I created a CAS style card with embossed cardstock and some fun snowflake designer paper from MME Merry Christmas.  I used this sweet polar bear from the SOG Winter Friends stamp set and created a snowdrift with a MFT die to complete the icy scene.

Hop along with us today and leave some blog love for our Perfect Layers Designers and the Some Odd Girl designers to be eligible to win.  Winners will receive a tool of their choice from Perfect Paper Crafting and a 4x6 stamp set of their choice from Some Odd Girl.  Prizes will be selected randomly from comments left on the DT blogs. 

Thanks for stopping by and happy hopping!!

Ice Ice Baby!

Hi Peeps!!  Did ya miss me?!?!  
What started out as a little 2 week holiday break turned into a MONTH long vacation!  

After the hectic holiday's, I just needed some time away.  I've been spending tons of time with my family, reading and just enjoying the every day little things.  I didn't even stepped a foot in my studio.  Every time I had gone in to do some crafting I would just sit there....my mojo had completely disappeared.   I started to worry that it wasn't coming back, because even buying new stamping goodies didn't do the trick.  But two days ago,  I blew the dust off my Copics and sat down to color this sweet Fairy Stardust stamp by Penny Black (Mo Manning)....all my creative juices started flowing again!  :)

For almost a year now my friends Kim and Alisa have been asking me to color this image.  And since our challenge this month at the Ribbon Carousel is Winter Spirit - I thought this would be the perfect time to do it!!   

 I dry embossed the designer paper from Carte Bella (Winter Fun) with a snowflake embossing folder.  Using ribbon from the Ribbon Carousel, I wove blue silk through white crocheted trim and then tied a sweet bow using my Bow Easy.  I used an MFT die to create the flourish which I then covered with Star Dust Stickles and tucked in behind the bow.  The card mat layers were created using my Perfect Layers tool.

 My coloring was inspired by watching the animated movie Monsters vs Aliens with my kids.  One of the main characters has white hair; and throughout the entire movie, all I could think about was how I wanted to try coloring white hair with my Copics.  :)  Not too bad for a first try.  All of the sparkle that you see was created with a Clear Spica pen. 

Copics Used: 

Skin: E13, E11, E00, E50, E93

Hair: W3, W1, BG10

Clothing: BG75, BG72, BG70

 I hope my creation has inspired to you play along with us this month at the Ribbon Carousel Challenge Blog,  Each month one lucky winner receives their very own Ribbon Carousel.  Remember, your creation can be anything you'd like, just be sure you use ribbon, bakers twine, lace, thread...(anything that comes on a spool) on your card or project.  

This card is for the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin - Show us your frills

Mo's Challenge 169 - Embossing 

Craft your Passion - Totally Teal

Without Words - Baby, it's cold outside

Stamptacular Sunday - Fairy Fever

Thanks so much for stopping by today....especially you, Stephanie since I know you've been stopping by each day hoping for a new card.  Sorry to make you wait so long. >

Winter Holly

It's Christmas Eve and I have one last Christmas card to share with you.   

This little cutie is Holly from Wee Stamps for Whimsy Stamps.  I used designer papers from TCP Studio (Winter White Collection) and a doily die from My Favorite Things.  The snowflake covered button is also from TCP Studio.  

The kids have just finished putting cookies out for Santa and are all tucked up snug in their beds.  Meanwhile, their daddy and I will enjoy the quiet, have a drink (or two!!) and finish up all those last minute details before calling it a night ourselves.  I'm so excited about this Christmas.  We will all be home together for the next two weeks....I can't wait for the family time together.  

I'd like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Snow Fun Friends

This Snowman and Penguin digital stamp from Whimsy Stamps was SNOW much fun to color!!  ;)

Honestly, I loved every second of it!!  To create my card, I used designer papers from My Mind's Eye (Merry Little Christmas Collection) a Wilton's doily and crushed silk ribbon from the Ribbon Carousel.

I added a fabric covered button from Karen Foster to the center of the bow.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Naughty is the new Nice!

I created this little Christmas card for my husband using X-mas Hottie from Whimsy Stamps.  After the image had been colored with Copics I fussy cut it and popped it up with foam tape for dimension.  I used papers from Theresa Collins (Family Home Collection) and my favorite part....a strip of simple red crepe paper.  Who knew that party supplies could make such great card making supplies too?!?!  :)  The crinkle from the crepe paper, the fuzzy pom pom trim and the silk ribbon from the Ribbon Carousel give this card so much texture and makes it oh so touchable!!  The sentiment used was a digital freebie from Whimsy Stamps.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

Two Turtle Doves

 It's just a few more days until Christmas, and I'll be sharing with you a few cards that I created and were published in the latest issue of Whimsy Stamps Magazine!!  I love Whimsy Stamps, they have their own line of dies and stamp collections from some of my most favorite companies...so shopping is always so much fun and my cart tends to overflow.  ;)

My card was created using designer paper from Echo Parks This & That Christmas.  The image is called Two Turtle Doves and is part of the Little Cottage Cuties collection by Elisabeth Bell.  When I first began using Copics, I fell in love with Elisabeth Bell's images and designed for her a few years back.   I felt like I had come "home" when I sat down to color this sweet image.  :)  The fence die is from Your Next Stamp which I then used a wood grain embossing folder on.  I machine stitched the paper and image panel and used a white paint pen to create the falling snow.   I finished things off with the gorgeous red silk ribbon from the Ribbon Carousel.  

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Candy Cane Seeds

For our There She Goes challenge this week we'd like to see your Season of Giving themed cards and projects.  TSG offers so many different stamps, and SEVERAL of them feature things that are perfect for this challenge.  It is also There She Goes (Again!) Week, and we are featuring THREE gorgeous stamps sets.

Holiday Tags

Ho Ho Ho

No Peeking

For my project, I used the No Peeking stamp set and Just for You stamp set and dies to create a tiny vile of Candy Cane Seeds.  

The seeds were then delivered to my children by our family's Elf on the Shelf, Holly.  The kids were to plant the seeds into a pot of sugar also brought by the elf.  

The very next morning they work up to find that Candy Cane's had popped up exactly where they had planted the seeds the day before.  :)  

The Trendsetters went all-out this month and made some really spectacular cards, tags and other projects... Take a look HERE and then add your own.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Christmas Smashbook

I'm back with my final There She Goes project for the week and I must admit that this assignment always causes me to break out into a cold sweat.  But then I remembered that it had been awhile since I had added anything to my Smashbook and so this gave me the push I needed to get some of it done.  

Inspiration was found by the sentiment in the TSG Holiday Cheer stamp set I had sitting on my desk.  

It reminded me of my most favorite Christmas photos ever and knew that I needed to add them into my book.  Since I had tons of Christmas papers and other goodies already laying out, I just sort of grabbed a few things and called it good.  :)  The Holiday Cheer sentiment was stamped using Walnut Stain distressing ink and the papers are from Simple Stories, Handmade Christmas collection.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

Frayed Cord Wreath - Tutorial

It's the season for giving and being a Stamper/Crafter that means presentation is everything.  :)  But this time of year makes our busy schedules even MORE hectic.  So I made a few of these easy to create, Frayed Wreaths to decorated the gift bags I will be giving to teachers and friends this year.  

And to show you just how easy it is to do I've created a step-by-step photo tutorial.

With everything seen here...there are MORE than enough supplies to create 10 or more gift bags.

  

             

To finish the wreath off I used a banner from the Just For You die set and a sentiment from the Holiday Cheer stamp set, both from There She Goes.  The bright red cotton twill ribbon & the cording I used to create the wreath are all from the Ribbon Carousel.  The little jingle bells are tied using some twine.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

Elf on the Shelf

Starting last year, I started the Elf on the Shelf tradition for my family.  And although some folks might find them a tad creepy or annoying little things who go and tattle-tell to Santa....here in our house they are an enhancement to the season and keep the excitement of Christmas going each day.

When I first brought up the idea of Santa sending an Elf to visit with us, Nathan and Brooke started fighting right away as to whether it should be a boy or a girl elf.  Knowing that someone would be disappointed, Santa decided to send us twin brother and sister elves....Holly and Jolly!  :)

Holly and Jolly take turns visiting us starting the weekend after Thanksgiving.  They kick the season off in style by bringing a bit of the North Pole with them to sunny Florida with their "North Pole Breakfast".  (You can see my post and photos from last year....HERE)

Knowing that lots of moms out there are looking for ideas to do with their elves, I thought I'd share with all of you Holly & Jolly's 2011 Adventures.  

I hope you and your family are enjoying the Christmas holiday!!

Elves Make Christmas Happen

Did you know that each month at the Ribbon Carousel we give one winner who participates in our challenge their very own ribbon carousel?  And we always make it easy to play along.

This month our theme is

The Holidays

Last year, my little family began the Elf of the Shelf tradition.  I was writing down ideas that I had for our elves on little scraps of paper or post it notes all over the house.  They easily would get lost or thrown away and I was tired of frantically look for them late at night.  This year I decided to be more organized and create a little notebook for jotting my ideas down in.  

I started with a notebook that I found in the $1 bin at Michaels.  I covered it Bazzill Peanut Cluster cardstock and Echo Parks, Seasons Greeting designer paper.  I fell in LOVE with Pixie Elf Lucy from CC Designs and was in luck that I could get it as a digital image. I wanted it to be make it larger so it would be in scale with the size of the notebook.  After coloring with my Copic markers, I then cut the image out and popped it up with foam tape.  The sentiment was computer generated using two different fonts but I don't remember which one's they were now :(  I added some zigzag machine stitching and the last bit of my favorite Satin Pleated Ribbon from the Ribbon Carousel.   

Copics Used:

Skin: E13, E21, E00, E50 (Cheeks R02)

Hair: E47, E44, E43, E42, E41

Shirt: YG99, YG97, YG95, YG93, YG91, YG21

Trim: E43, E42, E41

Stockings & Hat: E18, R39, R37, R35

Jingle Bells: Y26, YR24, Y17, YR31

 I hope my creation has inspired to you play along with us this week at the Ribbon Carousel Challenge Blog,  Remember, your creation can be anything you'd like, just be sure you use ribbon, bakers twine, lace, thread...(anything that comes on a spool) on your card or project.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

Tag....You're It!!

This week our There She Goes Challenge is brought to us by our Trendsetter of the week, ME!  :)

To play along, you just need to make a tag...whether it be on a card or just the tag itself!  I love making tags, especially at Christmas time.  It adds such a personal touch to all those wrapped  packages you will be giving to family and friends.  

I can fuss and fuss over a card for an embarrassingly long time and although you'd think tags would go much faster, they unfortunately are not exempted from my madness.  But once I had settled on a design that I was happy with, things went rather quickly.  

To create my tag, I started with the  Just For You die set and then added an image and sentiment from the No Peeking stamp set. They go together perfectly and are the perfect size for gift tags.  The papers I used are from Echo Parks, This & That Christmas collection....can we say LOVE?!?!    I love it so much that I had to order another paper pad to horde for later.  Some  ivory crocheted ribbon from the Ribbon Carousel & a mini clothes pin finish it off.

Need more inspiration to help you get started? Then stop by the TSG Blog to see the amazing samples that the other Trendsetters have created this week and then play along with us!

Thanks for stopping by today!!