Pals Holiday Hop

Welcome to the Pals Holiday Hop. If you arrived from Carla's blog you are on the right path. Thought you might like to see what Santa has been busy making in his workshop using his new Big Shot and some Dashing Designer Paper. Here's a preview of what he will be putting in the stockings at the Callahan's this year.

Husband John is a skier and this tag from the Two Tags die makes the perfect wrapping for his SPF 6000 Chapstick.

Gram heads to Florida every year right after the holidays. She will get a paperback and this bookmark also made from the Two Tags die. It might remind her of the snow she is missing (not!) while she reads on the beach. Magnet strips are applied to each end of the tag so that the bookmark will grip the page.

Son Michael loves to make things from duck tape. (Click on his name to see one of his creations - yep that's him in the picture.) Santa made his gift card holder from authentic duck tape and cut it out with the Top Note Die. The gift card is from a local hardware store to buy what else - more duck tape!

Son-in-law Mike is a pilot so it is only fitting that his gift card holder has a flying reindeer on it. Pilots spend a lot of time hanging around waiting at airports like everyone else. This gift card will keep him supplied in coffee for a while.

Daughter Erin is the only family member who reads the blog so Santa won't be telling what is in this box. It is made from the #2 Box die and is large enough to hold a variety of interesting things!

Looks like the Big Shot has become one of Santa's favorite tools. It certainly seems to make holiday wrapping quick and easy! Now if I only knew what Santa will be putting in my stocking..............

Melanie's blog is next so hop on over and see what holiday treat she has for you! Don't forget to leave us a comment or two along the way.

Holiday Hop Line Up:

1. Kris Kilcoyne (Kween Bee Kreations)
2. Carla Bazhenow (Carla's Scraps)
3. Linda Callahan (Stampin' Seasons)
4. Melanie Collins (Oops a Daisy)
5. Mary Fish (Stampin' Pretty)
6. Tricia Gillam (Soul Stamper)
7. Jill Gregory (Stamping Heart)
8. Kim Lampone (Stamp, Scrap and Get Kreative)

9. Kalshelia Lloyd (Stampin' Fabulousity)
10. Regina Mangum (The Stampin' Bean)
11. Margaret Moody (Margaret Moody)
12. Debbie Pierce (Stampin' Sunshine)
13. Ann Schach (The Stampin' Schach)
14. Gina Shaw (Cards by Gina)
15. Lourdes Torres (Cozy Crafty Corner)

Thanksgiving KISS..........PPA18.........

Happy Thanksgiving! The Holiday Season is here.........keep it simple..........enjoy!

Designer Paper Up!...........WSC......

I love Designer Series Paper! I buy it - hoard it - spread it out on the floor to look at it - color code it and save every last scrap of it. I love it when I read how many of you also hoard your DSP - makes me feel so normal! When I start a card I usually pick the designer paper first and work from there. Last night I chose Holiday Lounge and followed Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. I vowed no stamping - just paper playing. I have a very talented stamping friend who keeps encouraging me to stamp more and smudge more and color more. So I broke down and stamped the sentiment. (I can hear her groaning as she reads this.) She always tells me "Linda, the company is not called Designer Paper Up! - it's Stampin' Up!"

Newton's Law..........PPA17......

Margaret Moody sketched this wonderful design for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge this week. It is always amazing to me how many ways a sketch will be interpreted. I stayed pretty true to the sketch and embossed the snowflakes from Christmas Punch in gold on Very Vanilla squares. But when it was time to snap the picture, this card just refused to stand up straight. After a while I just gave up - who am I to defy gravity? Sorry Margaret - I tried!

No Frills - No Bows - No Problem.....

My husband volunteers at our Little League Field and has spent the past few weeks helping to get everything ready for winter. Two young guys helped him repair some equipment so he is sending them gift certificates and wanted thank you cards to go with them. Well let me tell you he has more requirements than a Splitcoast Challenge - keep it simple, no frou frou, no ribbons, no swirly stamps, no bows. No bows? Now he's talkin' my language! Autumn Traditions designer paper paired up with Soft Suede designer paper worked nicely with just a bit of twine. Hope these pass inspection in the morning!

Christmas Cheer...............PPA 16............

Oh come on now - just channel ZZ Top in a Santa suit................

Holiday Hop........Dinner is Served..........

If you are lucky enough to get an invite that looks like this, stick that turkey back in the freezer and head to someone else's dining room! Autumn Vine designer paper and Compliments to the Chef stamps combine for a perfect Thanksgiving Dinner invitation. If your luck holds out you might even find a cute little box of chocolate next to your plate made from the top note die. This box holds peanut butter cups because the hostess ran out of mini musketeer bars.

And make sure you mail a thank you note the next day as you head out to start your Christmas shopping!

Thanks for hopping by. Your next stop is Mary Fish's blog. Hope you get to visit us all - don't forget to leave a message or two along the way...............

1. Kris (Kween Bee Kreations)

2. Carla (Carla's Scraps)

3. Linda (Stampin' Seasons)

4. Mary (Stampin' Pretty)

5. Trish (Soul Stamper)

6. Jill (Stamping Heart)

7. Liz (DIY Paper Creations)

8. Kim (Stamp, Scrap, Get Kreative)

9. Kalshelia (Stampin' Fabulousity)

10. Regina (The Stampin' Bean)

11. Margaret (Margaret Moody)

12. Debbie (Stampin' Sunshine)

13. Ann (The Stampin' Schach)

14. Gina (Cards by Gina)

15. Lourdes (Cozy Crafty Corner)

3 Colors - 3 Musketeers.....PPA 15.....

Taken with Teal, Ruby Red and Basic Gray! Whew, when those Pals throw down a challenge they do it right. You don't want to know how many mini Musketeer bars were consumed making this card with those colors. Just couldn't seem to make those colors get along! And then there's the bow. I have watched Mary's video so many times I could recite it right along with her - yet I remain bow-challenged. A few more Musketeer bars and a pile of ribbon on the floor and that's all I could do. I am getting ready to offer an all expense paid trip to upstate NY to anyone who is willing to tutor me in bow art! So that's it - I am done in - and headed to the couch with another Musketeer bar or two. But never fear, I recover quickly - I'll be back in time for the Hop on

November 10th!

Clean and Simple...........Mojo 111........

I just love clean lines and a simple look. That's also why I loved Mary Fish's tip on same color layering! I did it with textured white after I stamped A Tree for all Seasons in soft suede. I added a loop of soft suede ribbon and put it all on Autumn Traditions designer paper and a base of Ruby Red. This Mojo Monday card is my farewell to fall. The trees are bare and the last of the leaves have been hauled away from our yard. After my clean and simple speech you would think that would make me happy - well it doesn't because snow showers are predicted for tomorrow. Guess that means Mother Nature has headed south and put Old Man Winter in charge again up here. But now that I think about it there is something so clean and simple about a fresh snowfall.............