holiday inspiration with Crafter's Companion

i have been a MAD card making woman this weekend.  between last night and today, i managed to whip up a SLEW of new cards for the two craft fairs i have coming up next weekend.  these two are among the 15 or 20 cards i made!

this first one uses the new Falling Snowflake E-Z mount stamp set from Stamp-It Australia's Twinkle line, and it's so simple but SO wonderfully customizable.  I. LOVE. THAT.

i opted for a bright and modern look, picking up on the glitter from the papers in the buttons and using silver ink.  i stamped my image on Ultra Smooth Premium White cardstock, and used my Spectrum Noir markers PL2 and HB3, with GB2 and GB7, and StazOn Metallic Silver ink on the sentiment. 

close-up!

simple, right?  and just a smidge of colour.

next up!  i decided i needed some elegance without being overly specific.
these birds are also from the Stamp-It Australia Twinkle - Falling Snowflake set:

stamped on the Ultra Smooth Premium White using Memento Espresso Truffle ink, i went over the whole image with my Spectrum Noir BG1 to age it up a bit, then accented the blue with BGR3 - love the dull watercoloury look it added.  fussy-cut and popped it up and added my accents.

so you've taken advantage of the SALES going on at Crafter's Companion USA this weekend, right?  'cuz WOO HOO, there's a lot of money waiting to be saved!  deals on stamps, cardstock, Spectrum Noir markers and storage, the eBosser, craft sprays, The Ultimate Tool, embossing folders, adhesives...  and shipping!  ANNNND double rewards points!  CLICK HERE to see the whole array of specials we've got going on! 

Some Odd Girl and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L wraps up the hop today!

DAY 5 of our awesome blog hop with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L and HOLY COW, i hope you've been hopping with us because the projects have been AMAZING! 

Thanks for joining our week-long HOP! Stamps and sticky stuff join hands for a fun and inspiring event that runs November 25th through December 1st, and we’ve got 5 days’ worth of stunning creations to share with you while you hop!

Some Odd Girl and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L have been sharing projects on their blogs Monday through Friday, and you must comment on each of the posts along the way (that’s 10 comments you’ll need to make, folks!), you’ll be entered to win some serious swag from both companies! There are two happy boxes of adhesives from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L and two $20 gift certificates to the Some Odd Girl shop to be won!

(there's also a bonus if you comment on ALL of the Odd Girls' blogs who have participated this week!)

here's my project today, featuring Kaylee's Closet Wardrobe (clear set)
with sentiment and cloud from Nouveau Girls Grow (clear)
and using the E-Z runner and 3-D Foam Squares from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

and a close-up of my girl:

so head on over to the Some Odd Girl blog for your complete list of links today, and if you leave your comments for the week's posts, you'll be eligible to win some awesome swag!  :)  happy Friday, chickens, and happy hoppin'! 

Some Odd Girl is hopping with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L!

we're STICKIN' IT TO YA!

it's going to be an AWESOME week at the Some Odd Girl blog!  we've got 5 days of fab creations from the Odd Girls, plus the team over at Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L have rocked the SOGgies, and you can win one of two $20 gift certificates to the Some Odd Girl shop, as well as 2 fun boxes of sticky goodness from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L!  oh, and there MIGHT be something extra along the way, but you'll have to wait and see.  :D

CLICK HERE to get started!  i'll be back later this week to share a project created with my SOGgies and foam squares from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, but i didn't want you to miss your chance!  comment every day (on both manufacturers' blogs) for your best chance to win!  :)  see you soon!

Crafter's Companion USA announces their new teams!

hi everyone!

got some happy news to share today, and i'd just like to say how pleased i am that i was able to stay up until midnight tonight.  this whole getting old thing is getting a little out of hand, when i'm tired at 9 pm ALL THE TIME.  tonight, i am a champion.  uh-huh!

and in true champion fashion, i CELEBRATE!  the announcement was made at the Crafter's Companion USA blog today, and we're gearing up for a VERY exciting start to 2014!  there are 2 teams, and i am pleased to be a part of the inaugural Inspiration Team!  i have some flippin' cool things up my sleeves, and i'm REALLY looking forward to the good stuff ahead! 

in the meantime, i will continue to share my projects that feature Crafter's Companion products, including my Spectrum Noir markers and all kinds of gorje stamps and embossing folders and inks and sprays and tools and adhesives and, well, more.  :) 

that said, there's a brand new SENTIMENTALS release coming out tomorrow, and we've been sneak peeking these beautiful stamps this week.  you like sentiments?  WE'VE GOT SENTIMENTS!  :)

this card uses the new Everyday Sentimentals, and i'm all about the inspirational quotes - this one happens to be a fave. 

i stamped my sentiment on Ultra Smooth Premium White, cut it with a Nestie and inked inside the frame before popping out the cut.  i fussy cut the flourish and laid down some Spectrum Noir BT4 over it, embossed a vellum piece (there are LOADS of awesome embossing folders in the store!), added a fabric brad and some bling, and bob's my uncle!  (i don't actually have an uncle bob, but i used to watch The Uncle Bobby Show as a kid - that Bimbo clown creeped me out).

anywho, pop on over to the Crafter's Companion shop to grab these new sets (there's a slew of 'em!) and check out the blog for inspiration from our awesome team!  :)

Paper Issues and Creative Scrappers teaming up!

so yep, there's a FABULOUS flippin' sketch challenge at Creative Scrappers, and they invited the Paper Issues gang to play along!  there is even a $30 gift certificate to the Paper Issues store up for grabs, for one lucky crafter who joins us!

the sketch is SO. MUCH. FUN. and while they are generally a bunch of scrapbooking goddesses over there, i decided to apply the sketch to a CARD, as i am wont to do.  :)

here's the sketch:

and remember, you can interpret however you'd like...  the triangles don't have to be triangles.  the square doesn't have to be a square.  the arrows don't have to be arrows, and the title doesn't necessarily have to go there.  in fact, the Paper Issues girls had LOADS of cool ideas and translated them into unbelievably gorgeous projects.

i, however, didn't have much room on a little card front to do much except for a pretty direct translation.  here we go!

the papers are from the yummy new Prima "It's All About Me" line, some of which you can still grab by clicking HERE!  :)

the background panel is Heidi Swap paper, misted with some Blush and Seafoam Color Shine, with a BasicGrey Mint Julep chip (framed by more of the Prima paper), and arrows from Studio Calico.  oh, and some twine and my sharpie sealed the deal.  :)

you can grab most of this stuff from the Paper Issues shop, and don't forget to use this!

link up to the Creative Scrappers post by the 24th, and watch their blog all week to see inspiration from the Paper Issues girls!  :)

Crafter's Companion and Xyron teaming up for holiday gift giving!

hiya!  there is a PARTY going on at the Xyron Facebook page and Crafter's Companion blog!  SO much inspiration for your holiday crafting, you may need to take a week off from whatever you do just to craft and get all the ideas out of your head!  :)

i am sharing a project created using the awesome Xyron adhesives we received, paired up with a couple of fab Crafter's Companion products.  BUT...  i am also sharing a photo tutorial on how i made it.

we received a fabulous adhesive kit and were asked to do SOMETHING for the 30 Days of Holiday Projects event!  there are PRIZES!  leave your comments on the Xyron Facebook page and Crafter's Companion and design team blogs to win super sweet goodies from both awesome companies!

so i made SOMETHING...  i altered this box - can't remember what i had in it, but it was probably junk! 

the first thing i did was grab a sheet of 6x6 patterned paper for the inside bottom of the box.  it needed to be trimmed slightly to fit:

next, i busted out my Ultimate Tool for some scoring action.  the scoring part was easy, but because the box is bulky, i trimmed some of the edges where the folds met in order to get a nice, snug fit when i adhered the papers.

et voila!  adhered with the Xyron Mega Runner and it was a great fit!

next, i needed some trims so the cardboard wouldn't look so drab.  i sliced up some shimmery (and flimsy) paper and some ricrac, but i wasn't feeling confident it would all stick down with just the tape runner.  instead, i ran them through the Xyron Sticker Maker for a good, permanent bond:

remember to burnish!  i rubbed down hard on all of the strips (notice how i doubled up to conserve adhesive?  i'm thrifty that way, and it worked great!)

next up, preparing the sentiment!  i had something very specific in mind, and i went pretty simple, with white cardstock and the Die'sire Embossalicious 6x6 folder "Holiday Holly" and ran it on through my C'bug:

simple embellishing here - i punched the corners and inked the edges and the raised surface with a light green chalk ink.  stamped my sentiment from Stamp-It Australia's new Christmas line, Twinkle (this set is Falling Snowflake) on plain white cardstock and inked those edges too:

added the trims and used Xyron Adhesive Dots to adhere my sentiment and the image i'd coloured - this is Sheena's A Little Bit Floral (Lily), coloured up my Spectrum Noir markers (PP1, BP1, BP3, BP7, DR7, CT2, LG3, DG3, OR1, TN7)...  click to enlarge! 

this was the inspiration for my colouring (next time i'll stamp it in a really light colour)...   :)

annnnnnd the finished box!  i can add candies or votive candles or a set of notecards or something cute all nestled in pretty tissue paper.  or maybe even rolls of washi tape! 

LOVED working with the Xyron adhesives for this project - HUGE thanks to our awesome sponsor/partner for this event!  and i KNOW you'll see lots of other amazing inspiration - just pop on over to the Crafter's Companion blog, visit the blogs of the rest of the awesome Crafter's Companion USA Design Team, check out our Facebook page, and visit Xyron on Facebook, and tell them i sent ya!  :)  leave your comments everywhere by Monday, November 18th to win stuff, too, and maybe you'll get the awesome new Xyron 3" Sticker Maker!  (I WANT THAT)  or some other fantastic prize.  regardless, thanks for joining me today, and have a WONDERFUL weekend!  :)

i don't suck at colouring!

'cuz Spectrum Noir said so!  :)  

go, me!  :)  i am an Accredited Colorist!

now i'm just holding my breath to see if i'll get an email from Crafter's Companion by tomorrow, telling me i've been selected for another term on their lovely design team.  cross your fingers for me, 'kay?  :D

New issue at Paper Issues - we are GRATEFUL FOR YOU!

and hello again!  busy Monday for this little orange girl!  i'm happy to be sharing the brand new issue at Paper Issues, and appropriately, it's all about being grateful.  and YES, we ARE grateful for you!  not only do we get a ton of OSS support at Paper Issues with the participation in our themes every two weeks, but because the store has expanded and gotten more and more fabulous because of amazing customers (like me, and like you!).  keep supporting!  we love you!

and i am GRATEFUL FOR YOU.  see?

that there is Kimono Kaylee, a digi from Some Odd Girl, and she's colored up with my Spectrum Noir markers.  some pretty BasicGrey papers behind her (click here to see what BasicGrey products are available at Paper Issues!), a couple of snips of ribbon, stamped sentiment and stamped/fussycut leaves, and DONE. 

so there.  i'm thankful.  and it's nearly Thanksgiving in the U.S.  give thanks, folks.  don't take anything for granted because you don't know what or who's going to be there tomorrow.

participate in our current issue by CLICKING HERE!  read the rules, follow 'em, and you could win this:

and don't forget to use my code for a 20% savings on your WHOLE order at Paper Issues!

Some Odd Girl hopping with Perfect Paper Crafting!

WELCOME!  it's time for.....

A Perfectly Odd Hop!  We Odd Girls have partnered up with the lovely ladies from Perfect Paper Crafting to bring you something fun and different!

We had the pleasure of getting together with Perfect Paper Crafting 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 Perfect Paper Crafting, you are in for a TREAT!  Their tools allow crafters to get perfect placement of their mats and edges, easily shape and layer, and AIRBRUSH for gorgeous effects on their projects!  The Odd Girls enjoyed playing with their Perfect Layers, Perfect Squares, and Perfect Ruler for this little event…  You should have arrived from Jenny’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
Katie Perry
Roxie Glaza
Kristy Dalman
Jenny Gropp
Leah l’Orange


Yep, I'm the LAST stop!  I hope you've enjoyed all the amazing stuff you've seen along the way!  I'm sharing a project that uses the Snow White image (clear stamp) with the Fairy Magic sentiment (also clear), and lots and lots of pretty layers from the Perfect Layers Border Tool #1.  I created 1/8" mats around my image, sentiment, background panel and the little accent panels in behind.  And it was a BREEZE!

And colored up with my Spectrum Noir markers:

Just LOOK at those Perfect Layers!  Exactly 1/8" all the way around.  I love layering anyway, but this just makes it more fun!

So that's it!  You've hopped your merry way to the end, so be sure you've commented on EVERY STOP and you’ll be eligible to win one of TWO prize packs that include one of these tools and a stamp set of your choice! OH, and our fabby partners have given us a special DISCOUNT CODE for you to use at their store!  Visit Perfect Paper Crafting and enter code SOG5% to save on your shopping cart!  (Not to mention the sweet combo deals they offer)

We'll be spotlighting the individual products throughout the week at the Some Odd Girl blog, so drop by tomorrow through Friday for more inspiration!  You have until Sunday at midnight EST to leave your comments, and Some Odd Girl and Perfect Paper Crafting will each draw one winner, to be announced on Monday, November 18th.  Have a Perfectly Odd day, and good luck!

Christmas/holiday challenge at Crafter's Companion!

it's CHALLENGE TIME AGAIN!  we had a little hiccup with the blog in October, so there are actually TWO opportunities for you to enter our challenges right now (one for October, and one for November!)... 

today, i'm sharing the card i made for the Crafter's Companion November challenge, which is Christmas/Winter!  to be eligible to win our awesome prize (£30 or $30 USD to spend at the store!), there are TONS of things you can use...  for complete deets, CLICK HERE and there's a full list near the bottom of the post. :)

i've used one of the super sweet new Makey Bakey Mice stamps (Festive Fun & Frolics), stamped on Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock, and inked my chevvies with Memento Dewdrops (Summer Sky) and the following Spectrum Noir colours:

Mouse - BG2, BG4, BG5
Coat - DR2, DR3, DR4, DR6, DR7
Button - EB3, EB6
Trim - TN1, TN2
Skates - GB7, GB8, GB10
Ice - BGR1, BGR3, IB1, IB2

by the way, in case you didn't know, there's a DESIGN TEAM CALL at Crafter's Companion!  the deadline is TOMORROW (Sunday, November 10th), and i can't tell you how FABULOUS this team is.  what an amazing company and SUCH a great opportunity!  GO FOR IT!  

Falling in love with Spectrum Noir's new bullet tips and Sheena Douglass!

well.  i coloured.  i blended.  i CONQUERED!  i am feeling much more confident with my Speccie skillz, and i am QUITE happy to share this Crafter's Companion card i started just before my vacay and finished this weekend. 

have you heard about the new Spectrum Noir markers?  they're new and improved!  new barrel style, new, more precise, bullet nibs, and interchangeable brush nibs for those who prefer them.  yeah, i'll be investing in a bunch for myself! 

well i have been playing, and i feel like i'm actually getting the hang of this!  you all know pencils are my first loves, but here's what i did using my Spectrum Noir markers, and this utterly, ridiculously GORJE Iris stamp from Sheena Douglass:

stamped it on Ultra Smooth Premium White cardstock, coloured it up, added minimal stuff because i wanted the iris to be the star of the show!  a little Heidi Swapp sentiment, some ribbon, flowers and bling, and voila!

here's a close-up on the image:

and slightly more detail on the flower itself, plus my little cluster:

and here are the Spectrum Noirs i used:

flower - LV1, LV2, PL4
leaves/stem - LG1, LG3, DG3
shadows on flower and leaves/stem - GG4

lots of blending and TLC went into this one, but i am SO impressed with the precision of the new bullet nibs.  you're gonna love 'em, too! 

new embossing folders at Crafter's Companion - LOVE THEM!

Die'sire makes AWESOME embossing folders.  seriously.  fun designs, elegant designs, trendy designs, strange and quirky and right up my alley.  i have never loved my Cuttlebug so much as since i became a design team member for Crafter's Companion.  and i'm not exaggerating!

check this one out...  this is a new Embossalicious 6x6 folder - "Cherry-licious"

SO CUTE!  i embossed some glittery cardstock and brushed white ink over the raised parts for definition.  and i love how realistic the cherries look! 

embossed another little piece so i could cut a pair of cherries out for a totally simple card, keeping the focus on the pattern but not wanting to add too many embellishments.  whatcha think?

love it.  gonna get some mileage out of this folder, for sure!  i love the size, too.  wide enough to cover a larger card surface AND fit through my 'bug!  :)

there are a bunch (and i mean a BUNCH, no pun intended) of new Die'sire folders available - CLICK HERE to see them!

i've got another Crafter's Companion project coming tomorrow, so stay tuned!  been working on my colouring skillz, and i think i'm gettin' the hang of it!