Margaret Moody

PPA119 - Holiday Theme Challenge

At Pals Paper Arts this week, we're hoping you will join us for a Holiday Theme Challenge (PPA119)!  We're featuring papercrafted creations for the upcoming holiday season from the PPA Design Team and this week's featured artsit, Joan Norris! 

I picked a few elements from the inspiration photo at left to work with for the challenge.  My Christmas card  features sprigs of berry-laden greenery against an embossed houndstooth background!  Basic black and white paired with traditional seasonal colors of red and green make a crisp and clean statement!

Everyone is invited to play the PPA challenge using your favorite paper crafting brands and supplies.  Our challenge is not exclusive to Stampin’ Up! products only!  We're also offering the chance to win a great Blog Candy package too if you play with us this week at PPA!  For inspiring ideas and directions on how to play, click here!  What are you waiting for?  I can't wait to see what you create!

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

Stamps:  Grateful Greetings
Paper:  Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, Whisper White card stock
Ink:  Basic Black Classic ink; Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Marker
Tools:  Big Shot die cutting machine, Sizzlits Little Leaves die, Owl Punch, 1/2" corner rounder, Textured Impressions Houndstooth embossing folder, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Extras:  5/8" Basic Black Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Sticky Strip

PPA115 - Fall/Thanksgiving Theme Challenge

It's still fairly warm in Texas, but the change of season has brought us some more manageable temperatures!  We're truly thankful for days with temps in the 80s, instead of our usual 100s (seriously)!  As the weather turns cooler (I'm thinking positively), our thoughts turn to the Fall season (or Autumn, if you will) and the upcoming observances of Halloween and/or Thanksgiving!  With that in mind, Pals Paper Arts is hosting a Fall/Thanksgiving Theme Challenge (PPA115) this week and we're asking you to join us with your season-inspired creations!

I obviously didn't use the colors featured in the beautiful inspiration photo at left, but the theme certainly inspired the use of the Autumn Splendor stamp set (one of my favorites)!  If you're one of my regular followers, you know I like to blend classic and clean with bold and unexpected!  This quick and easy card in this untraditional color combo does just that!  I've been waiting for the perfect opportunity to pair Pool Party and Soft Suede on a card (love the two together)!  The results?  Clean, simple and elegant!

Need a little nudge?  Check out the contributions of my fellow PPA Design Team members and this week's featured artist, Nicole Watt.  Get all the details here for how to "play at PPA" and take a peek at the nice Blog Candy package we're offering a chance to win!  I can't wait to see what you create!

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

Stamps:  Autumn Splendor, Grateful Greetings
Paper:  Pool Party, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla card stock
Ink:  Soft Suede
Tools:  3/16" Corner Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, scoring board
Extras:  Linen Thread, Early Espresso button - Designer Buttons/Neutrals Collection, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Mini Glue Dots

PPA110 - Halloween

It's time for another challenge at Pals Paper Arts and I think you'll find this week's theme of Halloween to be very "bewitching"!  I LOVED Halloween as a child and I still do!  I have so many great memories of trick-or-treating with my younger brother throughout our neighborhood when we were growing up!  I can't tell you how many times I chose to be a witch year after year!  I loved the costume (especially the hat) and, what can I say, witches had power! It gave me an excuse to boss my little brother around (not that I ever really needed one)!  Ha!  We had so much fun together!

Today's card features the perfect witch's hat against a spooky spider web from the Wicked Cool stamp set!  The background paper showcases a bevy of black cats and highlights the "wicked" two-color sentiment!  The Rich Razzleberry bow complements the colors of the pleated paper medallion and together, they add a touch of regality to the card (every witch is the queen of her castle)!

It's time for you to "cast your spell" and join the fun at PPA!  We're also offering the chance to win some great blog candy!  Check out the contributions of my fellow PPA Design Team members and this week's featured artist, Sandra Conner!  I'm sure you'll find their creations "wickedly" inspiring! 

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

Stamps:  Wicked Cool
Paper:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla card stock; Frightful Sight DSP; Tangerine Tango & Rich Razzleberry -  Bold Brights Patterns Stack DSP
Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Basic Black Stampin' Write Markers
Tools:  Scallop Border punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Curly Label Punch, 3/16" Corner Punch, scoring board
Extras:  Rich Razzleberry 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, green adhesive rhinestone (my embellishment stash), Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Mini Glue Dots, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive

Pals Paper Arts 100th Challenge

Pals Paper Arts is celebrating its 100th challenge in the papercrafting world and we'd like to invite you to help us celebrate this important milestone!  In celebration of our 100th challenge, we're asking you to "play along at PPA" and create a card showing us your favorite technique!  Distressing, watercoloring, dry embossing, heat embossing, masking, paper-piecing, just to name a few! 

I couldn't pick just one favorite technique, so I picked one of my favorites...embossing!  The embossing shown on my set of thank you cards was quick work with a Big Shot and the Elegant Impressions Textured Embossing Folder!  Add a little faux ribbon made from DSP and a simple sentiment stamped and punched from white card stock and you have a simple yet elegant set of cards to give away as a gift or keep for yourself!

Speaking of give aways, if you play along with us this week, you not only have the chance to be chosen as a Pals Paper Arts Artist Pick, but the chance to win our huge BLOG CANDY BLOWOUT package!  Each member of the PPA Design Team will be contributing to that Blog Candy Blowout package and a picture of my contribution is shown at the right.  Be sure to visit the blogs of each PPA Design Team member to see what else you could win if you play along with us this week!  What are you waiting for!  Get out those supplies and get busy!  I can't wait to see what you create!

My BLOG CANDY contribution includes:  A bundle of 75 sheets (6"x6") of Patterns Designer Series Paper (retired) in assorted colors; 1 package of Vintage Type Rub-Ons; 1 roll (15 yds) of 1/4" wide Apricot Appeal Grosgrain Ribbon (retired); 1+ yard of 1/2" wide Crushed Curry Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon

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

Stamps:  Sincere Salutations
Paper:  Baja Breeze, Regal Rose, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Whisper White card stock; Patterns Stack Designer Series Paper (Brights Collection & Subtles Collection)
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Regal Rose, So Saffron, Certainly Celery Stampin' Write Markers
Tools:  Big Shot Machine, Elegant Impression Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Decorative Label Punch, 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch
Extras:  Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive

PPA51 - Theme Challenge

It's Thursday and that means it's time for another challenge at Pals Paper Arts!  We're well into summer too and that means it's time for weddings!  In honor of the wedding season, we're hosting a Wedding Theme Challenge (PPA51) this week at PPA! 

QUESTION:  What were your "wedding colors"?   Just for fun, please leave a comment under the comments section and tell me what your colors were!  If you're not married or didn't have a wedding that required you to pick colors, tell me what colors you would choose! 

My wedding colors were soft yellow and peach (definitely not what I would choose today)!  Cream and light green are supposed to be a "hot" color combo for weddings this year, so I paired Very Vanilla and Certainly Celery with Sahara Sand for my wedding themed card!  If you follow my blog regularly, you know I love working with bright and unusual color combos!  I don't consider this an unusual color combo, but I do think it's very pretty for a wedding!  You might also notice that I've featured this layout before and I think it lends itself well for a wedding card.  When it comes to weddings, my preference is classic and traditional (very Martha Stewart)!  This card combines many beautiful but simple elements, resulting in a card that exudes understated elegance!  I like how it turned out and I hope Martha would be proud!

Speaking of Martha, our own Martha Stewart is this week's Featured Artist!  Click here to see Martha's and the PPA Design Team's inspiring ideas for weddings!  Make your own wedding themed creation and post it at Pals Paper Arts before 12:00 Noon CST on Tuesday, July 20th!  Who knows?  You might just be a Pals Paper Arts Artist Pick, so get busy!  Don't forget to post your wedding colors in the comment section, too!

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

Stamps:  Bella Toile, Because I Care, Sincere Salutations
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery, Sahara Sand
Ink:  Certainly Celery, Crumb Cake
Tools:  Big Shot (Sizzix), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Slit punch (retired), Tag punch, 1/4" Circle punch, 1/16" Handheld Circle punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Extras:  Certainly Celery 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Mini Glue Dots

PPA47 - Theme Challenge

Yay!!!  It's Thursday and that means it's time for another Pals Paper Arts challenge!  Summer's almost here so were hosting a Summer Theme Challenge (PPA47) at PPA this week!   Snowcones, flip flops, water, and of course, the sun comes to mind when I think of summer!  My Summer-themed card features a whimsical sun and billowy, floating clouds against a bright blue sky!  What do you think of when you think about Summer?  Check out more Summer-themed creations from the Pals Paper Arts Design Team and this week's Featured Artist, Kylie Nicolosi!  They're sure to put you in a Summer state-of-mind!  What are you waiting for?  Come play along at PPA!

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

Stamps:  Hello Again
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Summer Sun, Only Orange, Whisper White card stock; Flock Together Designer Series Paper
Ink:  Real Red Stampin' Write Marker
Tools:  Large Star Punch, Star Punch, Fancy Flower Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Curly Label Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Sizzix Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Die, Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Paper Snips
Extras:  Pumpkin Pie 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, orange adhesive rhinestones (my embellishment stash), Playground Designer Buttons (Real Red), Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive

PPA43 - Theme Challenge

It's time for another challenge at Pals Paper Arts and this week we're hosting a Memorial Day Theme Challenge (PPA43).  We all have much to be thankful for and the upcoming observance of Memorial Day is the perfect opportunity to honor the memory of those who sacrificed their lives in our nation's service.  Originally called "Decoration Day", when graves of fallen soldiers were decorated by women's groups across the South, I decided to decorate my card with a "medal of service" that I created using a wreath image from the Together Forever stamp set and the Seeing Stars set.  I stamped my own background paper using another star image from Seeing Stars and added the perfect quote from Of the Earth. 

Need more inspiration?  Visit Pals Paper Arts for more ideas from the PPA Design Team and this week's Featured Artist, Martha Stewart.  Create your Memorial Day themed project and submit it at PPA via Inlinkz before 12:00 Noon CST on Tuesday, May 25th.  I can't wait to see what you make!

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

Stamps:  Together Forever, Seeing Stars, Of the Earth
Paper:  Night of Navy, Real Red, More Mustard, Very Vanilla, Kraft card stock
Ink:  Night of Navy, More Mustard
Tools:  1/4" Circle punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch, Star punch, Paper Snips, Cutter Kit, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Extras:  Mustard mini brads (my embellishment stash), gold star brad (my embellishment stash), Stampin' Dimensionals

PPA37 - Theme Challenge

Spring is finally here and we're celebrating its long-awaited arrival with "flowers" for the theme challenge (PPA37) this week hosted by Pals Paper Arts!   Today's card is a birthday card that features "lollipop" flowers made easily and quickly using various sizes of circle punches!  Don't worry about centering the smaller circles perfectly inside the larger ones; the "off-centered placement" adds to the charm of each individual flower!

Now it's your turn to make a card!  Visit the Pals Paper Arts challenge blog for inspiration from my fellow PPA Design Team members, where you'll find more inspiring flower-themed cards!  Did I also mention we're giving away a blog candy this week?   Share your card at PPA via Inlinkz before 12:00 Noon CST on Tuesday, April 13th and you might be a Pals Paper Arts Artist Pick or win the blog candy package!  What are you waiting for?!!!  Play along at PPA and let your creativity bloom!  

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

Stamps: Well Scripted
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, Bermuda Bay, Pixie Pink, Pink Passion, Melon Mambo, Only Orange, Old Olive, Summer Sun, Whisper White card stock; Pumpkin Pie Textured card stock
Ink:  Old Olive
Tools:  3/4" Circle punch, 1" Circle punch, 1-1/4" Circle punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch; 5-Petal Flower punch, Paper Snips
Extras:  1/2" Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon, assorted buttons (my button jar), Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip

Ready, Set, Snow!

Can you guess what the theme is for this week's Pals Paper Arts Theme Challenge (PPA27)?  If you guessed snowflakes, you're right!  My card today features the snowflake image from the Best Wishes & More set from Stampin' Up!, one of my very favorite sets to use!  Two different patterns of Designer Series Paper compliment the rhinestone-enhanced snowflake and the hand-cut "banner-style" sentiment!  Sheer and shiny Whisper White Organza Ribbon looks as pretty as new fallen snow, adding to the fresh and cool style of the winter-themed card!

Visit Pals Paper Arts for more cool and inspiring designs created by the PPA Design Team!  Come "play along" with us and add your snowflake-themed creation via Mr. Linky before the challenge closes at 12:00 NOON CST on February 2, 2010!  I can't wait to see what you make!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!  Another Pals Holiday Hop is coming your way in February!  Join me and my fellow Stampin' Pretty Pals on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 5:00 AM CST for another great blog hop showcasing Sale-A-Bration products!  Don't miss out!  Mark your calendar now!

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

Sketch:  Kristina Werner (Make A Card Monday)
Stamps:  Best Wishes & More
Paper:  Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper, Flock Together Designer Series Paper; Tempting Turquoise and Whisper White card stock
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise
Tools:  1-3/4" Circle punch, Scallop Edge punch, Corner Rounder punch, Paper Snips, Hobby Blade & Refills
Extras:  5/8" Whisper White Organza Ribbon, adhesive rhinestone (my embellishment stash), Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip

No Stamping Required

Save your ink!  No stamping required on this fun and festive holiday card!  I actually made this card for last week's Pals Paper Arts color challenge (PPA15) using Ruby Red, Basic Gray, and Taken with Teal.  I was so busy last week, I didn't get it posted before the deadline!  I realized it would work for this week's Christmas Cheer theme challenge (PPA16) and decided to share it with you today!  I used my creative license to substitute Real Red for Ruby Red and used my Big Shot, a snowflake Sizzlits die, a few punches, a rub-on sentiment, some shiny rhinestones, and a print from the Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper pack to complete the entire look!  Clean, simple and ever so festive!  Spread some of your own holiday cheer and make a card to share for PPA16! 

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

Stamps:  None
Paper:  Real Red, Basic Gray, Taken with Teal, and Whisper White card stock; Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper
Ink:  None
Tools:  Big Shot, Sizzlits Snowflakes Set #2, Modern Label punch, Corner Rounder punch
Extras:  Adhesive rhinestones and rhinestone brads (my embellishment stash), Real Red 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Chit Chat Rub-Ons, Stampin' Dimensionals