Some Odd Girl - Hol-ODD day Hop

Welcome to our first Some Odd Girl Hol-ODD-day Blog Hop!

We're taking this hop to show some love for all our Oddies this holiday season but having a hop that includes our customers! So take a hop thru our list and make sure to leave comments at every stop because the Odd Girls have some prizes to give away but you have to complete the list to be entered. We are starting HERE and ending up at KRISTY's blog and I am SURE along the way you'll see some amazing projects!

**** You should have arrived here from the SOG blog – if you just happened upon my blog today, please go back to the start HERE and hop along. Should you get lost in cyberspace along the way, below is the list of all participants (the ODD girls are listed in red)  ****

 Some Odd Girl 

 Kimmy  - YOU ARE HERE

 Margie 

 Andrea 

 Leah 

Corry

Sally 

Yvonne 

 Meredith  

Tanya 

Robin Mc 

Jennifer 

 Donna  

Marcie 

Asa 

 Zarah 

Tanya 

Mary 

Denise 

 Robin F 

Diana 

Jan 

Cassie 

Kellie 

Kristy 

At the moment I am in a card-making slump and it really grinds on me...,so I have been trying to find a way to get me back into the swing of things and I have found that creating tags is definitely the way to go for my right now. They are quickly done and if I am really stuck for a card I guess I can always use the tag and stick it on to a card, right?

So, I took RAWR TOBY and went to town *giggles*

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I have one RAWR TOBY to give away to one of you – so be sure to leave a comment to be in with a chance to take Toby home.

Our hop runs thru December 1 at 6pm EST. The Odd Girls will have their winners posted December 2 on their blogs. Are you still here? Get to hoppin!

Your next stop will be at MARGIE’s – check out what lush ODDness is waiting for you there.

Thank you very much...

You must have been living on Mars if you don't know by now that I have lost my ability to create cards. This total blackout even stretched as far as not being able to colour images anymore...

I know - shocking!

I am still not back into the swing of things but have found that if I do tags, my creativity seems to show her face for a short while. At least it was enough today to create this tag for the recent {{Allsorts Challenge #80}} - Monochromatics.

Excuse the colours in the photo - even thought they don't look it, I can guarantee you that ALL of them (bar the white cardstock to host the sentiment) are in fact some form of lilac/purple.

I made use of the current {{FREEBIE}} at {{Some Odd Girl}} - if you wanna grab yourself a piece of turkey, you better be quick as this one will only be available for one more day!

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4610

Yah, that title took me aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaages to come up with....but seriously, it's kinda clever (in a stupid way)

When I created the following layout with my own {{November Kit}}, I was stumped for a title - somehow I wanted to reflect that I had lost so much weight over the last two years and that I am pretty much keeping it off as well - which at my age starts to get more and more difficult, because the pounds just keep clinging to your hips once you pass the magic 40...

So, I thought why not tell it like it is; a size 10 at the age of 46 is quite an achievement!

** click on image to enlarge **

Ingredients:

Papers: My Mind's Eye, Dream Street ** Stickers: American Crafts Thickers, October Afternoon ** Clock Face: downloaded from the www ** Rub Ons: Kaisercraft ** Bakers Twine: Supply Owl ** Other: Bling, Pearls, Pens, Cosmic Shimmer, Artisan Element - Pink Paislee

Freaky

Whilst my card-mojo is still suspiciously absent, I am happy to say that I am still scrapping like a looney :)))

Here's another layout I created from my own {{November Kit}}.

We are always amazed at the sheer size of some of the plants you will find in the {{Shanklin Chine}} - it's one of our favourite places to go to late summer, because in the evening everything is dark and only coloured spotlights are shining on the foliage - spooky but wicked at the same time.

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Ingredients: 

Cardstock: Bazzill ** Papers: My Mind's Eye, Dream Street, Scenic Route ** Stickers: Sassafras Lass, October Afternoon ** Rub Ons: Kaisercraft ** Mist: Cosmic Shimmer ** Other: Butterfly & Circle Punches

Sniffs

{{THIS}} 

made me teary....

I *heart* that girl 

(and the {{orange one}} which comes with the package...)

There is yet another wicked SALE going on at {{Some Odd Girl}}. The Tinies are one of the firm favourites amongst the ODD shoppers, so you'd be a fool to miss {{this offer}}:

Need some Tia-inspo? Check out the {{Tinies-Gallery}}

Oh and there is more!

Hmpfh

< whine-mode-on >

Well, the card-mojo still has not returned - yes, I did create the below card but I am still not happy. Not happy at all. It took me two days to get this far but in the process two other attempts again were ripped up and thrown in the bin. 

That is not good news.

I tried everything - knitting, eating, sleeping, reading but to no avail - I crank out layouts and minibooks like it's going out of style tomorrow but cards? They hate me right now *sigh*

< whine-mode-off >

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Ingredients:

Cardstock: Papermill ** Papers: Imaginisce ** Digital Image and Sentiment: Some Odd Girl ** Brads: Imaginisce ** Pens: ProMarkers ** Tools: Making Memories Edge Distresser; Martha Stewart Border Punch ** Other: Embroidery Floss; Pearls; Bling; Distress Ink

By the way: {{Snow Kitty}} is available in the 99c sale right now :))

Challenges entered:

CPS Sketches #194

Crazy 4 Challenges #64

Before I forget - Have you heard about the {{Some Odd Girl}} Hol-ODD-day blog hop?

Click on the image at the top right hand side of my blog sidebar to get the deets. You can be part of it and have ODDles of fun with us :))

SOG - Style Challenge #9 - Windows

I am so glad I created my card for the recent {{Some Odd Girl}} challenge before my mojo-slump, because I actually think this is one of my better ones. I made use of the super cute {{Snowman}} image - I *heart* him

This week we are challenging you to create a window card - get all the deeds {{here}}. You don't have to take the theme literally like me and create a "proper" window complete with curtains....as long as we can see the inside of your card through an opening, it will count.

Oh and yesterday I had some exciting news {{here}} - I was blown away that the layouts I showed you {{here}} were considered good enough to make it to the final audition list. I mean, did you SEE all the names on there? It oozes lushness and I am already incredibly happy to have come that far. If my name is not on the list of the chosen team tomorrow, I am not going to be sad or upset but remain grateful that the judges liked my work enough to put my name forward.

Upsy Daisy Designs - DT November PT III

I had a real blast this month with my {{ Upsy Daisy Designs }} projects and I think I am not finished...somehow I can't stop creating with the last two lines, they get my mojo flowing like nothing else.

Our second assignment for this month was to make use of the funky {{ Square Brads }}. I love them a lot because they are so different to the majority of brads on the market but at the same time, I find them difficult to use. So I was more than happy with this challenge as it pushed me out of my comfort zone (i.e. choosing round brads over squares).

** click on images to enlarge **

Ingredients:

Papers: Upsy Daisy Designs - #AVA012. Extreme, #AVA013. Grind; #ND015. Inspire ** Rub Ons: Upsy Daisy Designs - #UDD186. It's A Girl Thing, #UDD0123. Basic Brown Alpha ** Brads: Upsy Daisy Designs - #BRD313. Vogue ** Stickers: Rusty Pickle, Dymo ** Other: Punches, Pens

I decided to use some {{ Rub Ons }} and doodle along the outline of the brads to make them blend with the overall designs of the page. You know what - I think I found a new love: square brads.

Huey Lewis and the News pretty much said it all those years ago: It's Hip To Be SQUARE :)

I totally suck....

...at making cards these days.

Honestly, this is not a post to generate comments to pick me back up - neither is this meant as a pity party. I just have to face up to the fact that my cards are anything but great lately. I am truly "carded" out.

Why? I have no idea as I enjoy making cards but recently I started to dread them - it takes me on average THREE full days to make one card. I used to be able to create them in three hours for crying out loud and now the first two attempts generally end up in the bin.

The mean thing is that I really WANT to create cards, especially when I see gorgeousness like {{this}} or {{this}} - how can you not want to do something similar? But then I just sit their surrounded by my stash and end up looking at it in contempt.

Look, look - this is the only thing I could come up with for an over 70 year old dude for his birthday....that is not even cool for a 7 year old...

Cardstock: Bazzill ** Papers: Imaginisce ** Stickers: October Afternoon ** Punch: Fiskars ** Bling: Kaisercraft

And the next one just feels like there is something missing - this is my third attempt at a holiday card and I am still not happy. Maybe I just have the November blues...hmmm

Cardstock: Papermill ** Papers: Imaginisce ** Sticker: Cosmo Cricket ** Digital Stamp: Some Odd Girl ** Pens: ProMarker

Regardless, the holiday card will be entered into the following two challenges:

Get Sketchy #64 - Sketch

Creative Inspirations #47 - Anything Christmas/Winter

Tell me, what do you guys do when you are unhappy with about every single card yo create? I really appreciate any suggestions you may have for me.

A selection of layouts

Oh I have been kissed by the Muse lately - I could easily create one layout and one card per day, but as my evenings are now mainly spent knitting I generally go into creative overdrive on the weekends.

Last weekend was insanely productive: 4 layouts and three cards within two evenings..not bad.

Here are the latest three - all pictures had been scrapped before but I wanted to do them again. So I show you the before and after.

** click on images to enlarge **

Tooth Fairies- created in 2009

Cardstock: Bazzill ** Papers: Teresa Collins, K&Co ** Stickers: Jillybean Soup ** Pearls: Prima Marketing ** Pens: Zig Millenium

Checklist - created in 2010

Cardstock: Bazzill ** Papers: Teresa Collins ** Stickers: Making Memories ** Pearls: Quixotic Papiere ** Stamp: Hero Arts ** Pens: Uniball Signo

Words - created in 2008

Everything: Rusty Pickle (apart from ink/paint)

Fireworks Night - created in 2010

Cardstock: Bazzill ** Papers: Teresa Collins ** Stickers: Making Memories, Rusty Pickle, Dymo ** Pearls: Quixotic Papiere ** Other: Embroidery Floss, Cosmic Shimmer ** Pens: Uniball Signo

Santa Rocks - created in 2006

Cardstock: Bazzill ** Papers: KI Memories ** Stickers: Rusty Pickle, Dymo ** Plastic Alpha: Heidi Swapp** Rub Ons: Making Memories ** Pens: Uniball Signo

The Magical Season- created in 2010

Cardstock: Bazzill ** Papers: Teresa Collins ** Stickers: Rusty Pickle ** Pearls: Quixotic Papiere **  Pens: Uniball Signo

So watcha think -  The new ones are much better, no?

Well, I prefer the 2010 layouts and because I don't scrap for posterity but purely for my pleasure, I have no issues taking my old layouts apart and re-do them whenever I feel like it. But I do like to keep the pictures of how I used pictures before, just to see my progress over the years.

Upsy Daisy Designs - DT November, Pt II

Last month, Mr P's stepsister got married and we wanted her to get a real pretty card from us. Seeing that her favourite colour is Aubergine, I was sure that we would not be able to find anything in a card shop that would fit the bill.

But you can always rely on {{ Upsy Daisy Designs }} to have the perfect papers for your special projects. What better paperline to use than {{ Enchanted }} with its awesome texture and rich & regal colours. Once I decided which of the papers to use, the card pretty much created itself...and the recipients loved it - mission accomplished, me thinks.

By the way - you can get any of the Enchanted papers at the {{ Upsy Daisy store }} at sale prices right now - only CAD$ 0.79 per sheet. What an amazing price!

** click on image to enlarge view **

Ingredients:
Papers: Upsy Daisy Designs - #ED016. Whimsical, #ED015. Regal, #ED013. Magical ** Cardstock: Staples ** Other: Martha Steward - Borderpunch; Inks; Pearls

I am weak...

...weak with NO willpower whatsoever - I would like to blame {{Zarah}} for my return to {{the Nook}} and the re-introduction to their awesome monthly kits, but she did not press the subscription button for me, right?

You may recall how determined I was to use up at least 12 of my {{self-created Kits}} before I would succumb to another subscribed one, but alas I only lasted three kits long *bangs-head-on-wall* and now this beauty is on its way to me:

It would have been rude not to order it, wouldn't it?

And I promise I will still play with my other stash too *quickly-crosses-fingers-behind-back-just-in-case*. 

That's why I have another layout here created from my {{November Kit}} - I love how it came together...I think it is one of my favourites for this year, even if I say so myself :)

** click on image to enlarge **

Ingredients:

Papers: Dream Street, Making Memories, My Minds Eye ** Stickers: October Afternoon, Sassafras Lass, American Crafts ** Buttons: My Little Bit Of Whimsy ** Other: Punchinella, Emboridery Floss, Bling, Pearls

Not only did I let Z enable me to sub to the Nook Kits but she also showcased a card {{here}} which I loved so much that I went shopping at {{Simply Betty}} and had fun with some of the punky images.

** click on image to enlarge **

Ingredients: 

Cardstock: Bazzill ** Papers: SEI **  Digi Stamp: Simply Betty "Tootsie" ** Sentiment: Sarah Paris ** Button: My Little Bit Of Whimsy ** Pearls: Quixotic Paperie ** Pens: ProMarkers, Uniball Signo

Speaking of being weak - how much discount does it take to make you get weak? What about 25% off??

Yeah, thought so - {{Some Odd Girl}} are having a {{Mae day Sale}}. 

Go grab' em while they're hot and don't forget to "gobble" up this months {{FREEbie}} while you are there :)

Last but by no means least, I also have a card to share for the recent {{C.R.A.F.T. challenge #75}} - making use of dry embossing. I haven't used my Cuttlebug for such a long time and this challenge was a welcome excuse for me to rekindle my friendship with the bug :). I also used another one of the upcoming {{Some Odd Girl}} releases - isn't Santa cute??

** click on image to enlarge **

Ingredients:

Cardstock: Papermill ** Papers: Rusty Pickle, Vintage Bookpage ** Stickers: Rusty Pickle, Jenni Bowlin ** Digital Stamp: Some Odd Girl ** Other: Pearls, Pens, Cosmic Shimmer 

October 2010 - A Summary

October 2010 Summary

The Good

Favourite Gadget:

My new canon printer had quite a few jobs to do this month - mainly my beloved SOG digi stamps :)

Favourite Song:

For some reason, I have been in a total AC/DC mood this month and Jailbreak played over and over again on my iPod

Favourite TV show:

I really am  not a fan of all this reality show crap, so it is nice to see that some TV stations bring us some worthwhile series, like Downton Abbey. It is based on the old series {{ Upstairs/Downstairs }}, which was known as "Das Haus am Eaton Place" in Germany. I remember that our whole family sat together on Saturdays to watch the programme - good times.

Favourite Beverage:

Ever since I came back from my Norwegian voyage I have been totally into Mai Tai's...a wonderful re-freshing cocktail - but beware, you get drunk quick and the following hangover is not easy to shift 

image taken from: http://www.damonandamy.com

Favourite Food: 
I have found a new love Humus...I never knew that chickpeas could  be so tasty :)

Fitness:

I finally started to exercise again...let's hope I shift the remaining 5 pounds which cling to my hips

The Bad

Health:

Somehow my nosebleeds increased again, during the last two weeks of October I had one almost every day, so I guess I need to the see doctor again

Stash Challenge #9 - Backgrounds

Today is challenge day over at the {{ Some Odd Girl Challenge Blog }} again - AND if that wasn't excitement enough, it is yours truly who posed this weeks theme (yay, me).

Hop over to the blog and play along with us - to the theme of backgrounds. You know that the winner receives a FREE image of their choice from the shop and the top two favourite cards win loyalty points (which in return can be exchanged for FREE images, if enough points are collected).

I chose {{ Chilly Penguin }} from the upcoming winter release to create this chilly card :)

Oh and just to whet your appetite - THIS is the new release...I truly love all the images and have been shopping like mad already. I know it's mean to rub your noses in it, but only five more sleeps and you can own these beauties too

Create Your Own Kit - November 2010

I can't believe this is my third Kit I am using already this year - my old stash is slowly getting a slight dent and I am pleased I kick-started myself in using up my old stash.

This month I have gone for the more blue hues, as I find them easier to scrap and to prove the point - I already finished one layout from the Kit.

** click on images to enlarge **

Ingredients:

5 sheets of 12 x 12 double sided papers from MME, Scenic Route, Dream Street Papers

3 sheets of 12 x 12 cardstock from Bazzill

2 sheets of stickers from American Crafts, October Afternoon

Various embellishments including journaling cards

Ingredients:

Cardstock: Bazzill ** Papers: Dream Street, MME ** Stickers: American Crafts, October Afternoon, Making Memories ** Rub Ons: Kaisercraft ** Other: Pins, Flatbacked Pearls, Buttons, Flowers, Cosmic Shimmer; Paint


Oh and before I sign off:
 Happy Anniversary
to us...12 years and counting

Upsy Daisy Designs - DT November PT I

It is that time of the month again (no, not THAT one....) - the monthly Sketch for {{ Upsy Daisy Designs }} is going live over at the {{ Daisy Diaries }}. I am especially excited to see the work from all our new DT members.

This is the layout I created but if you want to see the original sketch and some other inspirational layouts, you will just have to hop over to the blog :))

** click on the image to enlarge the view **

Ingredients:

Papers: Upsy Daisy Designs - #AVA015. Summit, #AVA016. Wipeout, #AVA013. Grind, #AVA012. Extreme ** Stickers: Rusty Pickle, Dymo, Making Memories ** Other: Punches, Pearls, Ink