2010 Wrap Up - Eye Candy and Blog Candy!

Diane at Rubber 'n Rafters sent me this Stylish Blogger Award - what a great way to end the year!  Along with this award came the instructions to tell 8 things about yourself.  I decided to let my cards do the talking  - thought you might enjoy a look back at some of my 2010 creations  - the good, the bad and the downright ugly!

Let's start with The Good:

1.  Tea and cake are my two favorite food groups.......

2.  I love using Designer Paper on my cards........

3.  I am a minimalist at heart..........

4.  I taught elementary school for over 30 years and when the leaves start to turn I still long to go set up my classroom for the upcoming year.........

5.  I am an avid reader and I love an unexpected twist in a plot - and an unexpected twist in a card.........

6.  I love serendipity - the good surprises!  When I signed up to be a demo, I had no clue where it would all lead - and how many terrific people I would "meet" in cyberspace!  So thanks to all of you for your encouragement, support and friendship.........

The Bad:

7.  I am not artistic at all and have many areas to improve upon - like balance and proportion.  I don't know what is worse that huge out-of-whack bow or that lopsided red flower........... 

And now The Downright Ugly!

8.  Sometimes I just don't know when to throw in the towel and start again!  I use all of my cards and usually make them with a specific person in mind.  I was determined to make a key on this "Congrats on your new home" card.  It is a disaster on many levels -  I never did send it out!

And if you made it this far you deserve a reward!  Leave me a comment for a chance to win the clear mount set - Eggcoutrements.  Trying to make a key just put me over the edge - I have never used the set since!  I'd love to see what you do with it for Easter!  Best wishes for a Happy 2011!

I'll announce the blog candy winner on Wednesday, January 5th!

Pals Paper Arts Best Dressed List 2010!

Pals Paper Arts is proud to announce its Best Dressed List for 2010! This is a collection of our favorite paper creations from the Pals Picks in 2010. I got the honor of starting the list with my favorite pick in January.  It wasn't easy to choose just one - but I did!

 Marlene Peters started the year out right with this wonderful Valentine treat!  Bandit in a Box is a fabulous combination of designer series paper, stamping and embellishing.  And then there is that delightful surprise inside!

More surprises are in store at PPA in 2011 - our new challenges start next week!  In the meantime head on over to Pals Paper Arts to see the entire Best Dressed List from 2010!   

A Merry Christmas........PPA74.....

The closer it gets to Christmas the simpler I want things to be!  Thank you Margaret for posting a sweet simple challenge sketch at Pals Paper Arts this week.  Thank you to Stampin' Up! for making such beautiful designer paper so I could "Deck the Halls" in a snap!  And thank you to Maile Belles our guest designer this week at PPA.  Her work is just beautiful and she likes the simple life as well.  Her blog is called Simply Stamped but I do take exception with that title - I would call it Simply Stunning!

Happy Birthday........to me!

My daughter said last week the day after her birthday:  "Being the Birthday Girl is exhausting!"  Yesterday was my birthday and today I agree with her.  But any day that involves presents and cake is a great one!  I thought I would share with you some cards I received from some of my best stamping pals....

Barb, my walking partner and stamping cohort, sent me this beautiful blue wintry card. The wish really means we wish for those flakes to stay away until we get our morning miles done!

Then the California Girl herself sent me these wonderful dancing flowers!  Yep Patti MacLeith lives in the Golden State - not a flake in sight!

Carla Bazhenow created this buttoned-down beauty that will remind me all winter that there really are flowers waiting under all that snow!

This stylish, classic card with the sweet sentiment came from Mary Fish.  I'm keeping it handy so if anyone in my family gives me a hard time I am going to wave this around  :-)

See you Thursday with this week's Pals Paper Arts challenge........I hear there will be a Celebrity Guest Artist!

A Christmas Greeting......PPA73.....

Pals Paper Arts challenge this week is to use lace on your card.  I put my lace in place under Tiny Teacups set against Jolly Holiday DSP.  May you find time this busy season to break out the lace tablecloth and have some friends over for a steaming brew.......and a cookie or two!

Pals December Hop

Welcome to the Pals December Hop!  If you have arrived from Joanna's blog you are right on track.  Christmas really is all about a birth day so it seems only fitting that our hop has a birthday theme this month.

My daughter's birthday is today so I will be having the family over for dinner.  Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and birthday cake is on the menu. My birthday is next week so there will be another get together.  I have been told that the party will involve pizza, wings and Monday Night Football...........gee I hope there's cake........ 

Recipe: Poppy Parade, Sunny Garden DSP, Daffodil Delight Ribbon, Birthday Bakery Stamp

 

Now hop on over to Mary Fish's blog and see what Birthday Delight she has prepared!

Melanie Collins -- http://www.oopsadaisydesigns.com/

Barbara Chatzkel -- http://www.takeoutpaperarts.com/

Patti MacLeith -- http://papercraftsbypatti.blogspot.com/

Stephanie Uzee -- http://stampinwithsuzee.blogspot.com/

Dawn Gross -- http://dawnsthisnthat.blogspot.com/

Kylie Nicolosi -- http://www.kyliescraftycorner.blogspot.com/

Joanna Munster -- http://www.inspiredbystampin.com/

Linda Callahan -- http://www.stampinseasons.blogspot.com/

Mary Fish -- http://stampinpretty.com/

Sue Bendinsky -- http://www.mycolorcreations.com/


Winter Whites.....PPA 72.....

What a beautiful inspiration photo this week at Pals Paper Arts!  Out of all of those gorgeous images where does my eye go?  To the cookies of course!  I used Crumb Cake and Whisper White in honor of those confectionery delights!  So the plan is to make some tea, grab a few Christmas cookies and browse through all of the wonderful creations made from Winter Whites!

Wish Big! PPA71

When I learned that the amazing Julee Tilman was going to be PPA's Celebrity Guest Artist,  I headed to the archives of Poetic Artistry to trace the roots of Mojo Monday. Mojo Monday made its official debut Sept. 3, 2007 but I discovered that the seeds for Mojo Monday were actually planted earlier that year. Julee held various card contests often based on her sketches.  Using PPA's Challenge Colors, I created this retro look card following one of her pre-mojo sketches.  A sentiment from Word Play fits perfectly - Julee did Wish Big to become successful.  Well maybe it took more than wishing...........lots of hard work, creative artistry and verve!