Margaret Moody

PPA Best Dressed List of 2011

It's hard to believe that 2011 is almost over and we're starting a new year so soon!  That means it's time to announce the Pals Paper Arts Best Dressed List for 2011!  This special group is composed of 12 top Pals Picks from the entire year!  One was selected by the PPA Design Team for each month of the year from the original weekly Pals Paper Arts Artists Picks.

I was given the task of choosing my favorite from the winners chosen for the May challenges.  I chose the card pictured above, created by Jen Mitchell.  It's easy to see why this simple yet elegant card was chosen as a Pals Pick for the PPA92 Color Challenge featuring Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, and Poppy Parade!  I love the mix of two-toned flowers created with two-step stamping!  The flowers really pop against the Pear Pizzazz background!  I love Jen's clean and simple style!

View the rest of the PPA Best Dressed List for 2011 by clicking here!

PPA Picks and Best Dressed!

Be sure to visit Pals Paper Arts today to find out who the Pals Paper Arts Artists Picks are for last week's "Tag! You're It" challenge (PPA125)!  One of the winners might be you!  Then, join us tomorrow at PPA for the reveal of the Pals Paper Arts Best Dressed List of 2011!  I can't wait!  See you Thursday!

Tag! You're It! - PPA125

A handmade tag adds an extra special touch to any gift, so I hope you'll join us for our "Tag! You're It! Challenge (PPA125) at Pals Paper Arts this week!  Make one, two or more for those last-minute packages at your house or make a few to stash away for next year! 

My Crumb Cake tag features a pretty sprig of mistletoe that was made using the Little Leaves Sizzlits die. Each leaf was rounded off with scissors to create a more authentic look.  A score line down the center of each leaf creates a vein and adds dimension.  Add a few berries, a pretty bow, and a stamped sentiment and you're good to go! 

Use your favorite paper crafting brands and supplies and add your tag to the PPA mix!  Our challenge is not exclusive to Stampin’ Up! products only!  Click here to see all the great tags made by the PPA Design Team and get all the details on how to play at PPA! 

If you like my mistletoe tag, please leave me a comment!  I love hearing from you!  I can't wait to see what you create!

All supplies are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted:

Stamps:  Delightsful Dozen, Tags til Christmas
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla card stock
Ink:  Old Olive Classic ink; Cherry Cobbler, So Saffron, Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Markers
Tools:  Big Shot die cut machine, Little Leaves Sizzlits die, 1/2" Circle Punch, 1/4" Circle Punch, Tag Corner Punch (retired), scoring board, stylus, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Extras:  Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Natural Hemp Twine, Mini Glue Dots, Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive

A PPA Sneak Peek!

Teasing you with a little "sneak peek" at my creation for this week's Pals Paper Arts challenge!  Check back tomorrow (Thursday, December 22nd) for the full reveal!  In the meantime, click over to PPA and check out the Pals Paper Arts Artists Picks for last week's sketch challenge!  One of the winners might be you!  See you tomorrow!

A Simple Sketch Challenge

I've designed a "Simple Sketch" (PPA124) for you to try for this week's challenge at Pals Paper Arts!  A sketch makes a great starting point and nothing is "set in stone"!  Flip it, turn it, or use it just as it is drawn!  Dress it up or down!  The choice is yours!

I used dies, a punch, and adhesive rhinestones to create my red and white flurry of flakes that are featured!  The seasonal sentiment was stamped and punched out, then embellished with a few blingy berries and leaves!  The embossed snowflake background in Lucky Limeade is the perfect contrast to the band of red and white striped ribbon!  Cheerful, bright, and fun!

Use your favorite paper crafting brands and supplies and "play along" with us at PPA!  Our challenge is not exclusive to Stampin’ Up! products only!  Click here to see the inspiring creations of my fellow PPA Design Team members and for details on how to play!   I can't wait to see what you do with the sketch!

All supplies are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted:

Stamps:  Christmas Greetings
Paper:  Lucky Limeade, Real Red, Whisper White card stock
Ink:  Real Red Stampin' Write Marker
Tools:  Big Shot, Sizzlits Snowflake Set #2, Snowflake Punch, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1/16" Handheld Circle Punch, Snow Burst Textured Impressions embossing folder, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Extras:  Red adhesive rhinestones (my embellishment stash), Real Red 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive

PPA Sneak Peek!

I'm hoping this sneak peek of my card for the Pals Paper Arts challenge will bring you back tomorrow for the full reveal!  In the meantime, visit PPA to view the Pals Paper Artist Picks for last week's challenge and find out who won the incredible Mega Blog Candy Blowout!  Who knows??  It might be you!  See you tomorrow!

PPA123 - Fashion Inspiration Challenge

We're "Puttin' on the Ritz" this week at Pals Paper Arts with a Fashion Inspiration Challenge (PPA123)!  We're hoping to inspire you to "play along" with us this week and offering an enticing opportunity for those who do (more info below)! 

My black and white card was inspired by the photo of the impeccable Fred Astaire, a dancing legend of both stage and screen!  I attempted to channel both Fred and Ginger in my card, hoping to evoke an image of glitz, glamour, and a bit of Broadway!  The element from Style Beautiful was stamped, embossed, and watercolored to mimic an antique brooch or an ornate theater decoration from an era gone by!  Smart pinstriping was added, giving a nod to the fashions of yesterday, when people really dressed their best!  A pleated band of cardstock in black features three black brads to mimic the buttons on Fred's spats!  Completing the classic fashion ensemble is the embossed sentiment featuring the perfect retro-style font!

It's time for PPA's annual Blog Candy Blowout; our biggest giveaway of the year!  Play along with us at PPA this week and you'll have a chance to win this incredible blog candy package! Click here for more details and also see what my fellow PPA Design Team members and this week's featured artist have created!  I can't wait to see what you make!

All supplies are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted:

Stamps:  Style Beautiful, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White card stock; Patterns Stack Designer Series Paper - Neutrals Collection
Ink:  Basic Gray, Black pigment ink
Tools:  Clear embossing powder, heat gun, 3/16" Corner Punch, Paper Snips, Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Blender Pen
Extras:  Designer Buttons - Neutrals Collection, black mini brads (my embellishment stash), Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip

Another PPA Sneak Peek!

Enticing you with a sneak peek at my card for this week's Pals Paper Arts challenge!  I hope you'll stop by tomorrow for the full reveal, plus some exciting news about a great opportunity!  In the meantime, check out the Pals Paper Artist Picks for last week's challenge by clicking here!  See you tomorrow!

PPA122 - Celebrity Color Challenge

We're hosting a Celebrity Color Challenge (PPA122) this week at Pals Paper Arts featuring the talented Canadian stamper, Angela McKay!  We asked Angela to use the seasonal color trio of Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, and Very Vanilla to create a card for the challenge!  This is the perfect color combo for making cards for the upcoming Christmas season!

For the challenge, I created a border of holiday greenery using the Little Leaves Sizzlits die adorned with a few punched berries.  I stamped a neutral toned strip of embossed houndstooth (love this pattern) with watermark ink to enhance the texture!  Matching seam binding ribbon (even though it appears very red in the photo) tied in a simple bow adds the perfect finishing touch!

We want you to "play along" at PPA using your favorite paper crafting brands and supplies!  Our challenge is not exclusive to Stampin’ Up! products only!  Click here to see the inspiring creations of my fellow PPA Design Team members and for details on how to play!   I can't wait to see your beautiful card!

All supplies are Stampin' Up!, unless otherwise noted:

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand card stock
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Versamark Watermark, Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write marker
Tools:  Big Shot, Little Leaves Sizzlits die, Textured Impressions Houndstooth embossing folder, 3/16" Corner Punch, Circle Punch - Punch Pack, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Extras:  Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive