Ann's Favorites of 2011: July, August, September..and Mini Blog Candy

Welcome to Day 3 of 2011:  The Year in Review! Today we are looking back at the warmer months of July, August and September. To see the original posts with details, just click on the month and name of the post.  Enjoy today's little excursion through the past!

July - Caroling with The Paper Players

I love the movie "A Christmas Carol" in all its versions, and the stamp set, "A Christmas Carol" evokes memories of that movie for me! The richness of the Mocha Morning paper offsets the simplicity of the embossed image.  Add a beautiful bow and my favorite pearls, and I have card I could stare at for days!  I hope the person who received this card for Christmas feels the same way.


August - School Daze for The Paper Players

I can make clean and cute cards!  I love the bright colors and this adorable Greeting Card Kids image. For the water coloring on this card, I used inks and blender pens. 


September - Field Flowers for The Paper Players

Mmmm...Rich Razzleberry paired with Old Olive looks so yummy.  Plus I love this layout.  Once again, a beautiful bow and pearls place this card right at the top of my choices for September.


I hope you enjoyed our look at the "summer" months!  Although there were no fancy techniques, there were indeed a couple of pretty bows!  


Yesterday I asked which of the "spring cards" was your favorite, and so far the race is too close to call! So how about a little more fun, and a chance for another person to win fifty sheets of 6" x  6" retired Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper? In your comment today, just let me know which of today's three cards is YOUR favorite! I will randomly select a winner from all comments left on this post by Noon CST Sunday.  I will make certain to post the names of the two winners in Monday's post.  Until next time...

Ann's Favorites of 2011: April, May, June and Mini Blog Candy

Welcome to Day Number Two of  2011: The Year in Review! Today we are looking back to the merry months of April, May and June.  To see the original posts with details, just click on the month and name of the post.  I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane as much as I did!


April - Sailing with The Paper Players

One of my favorite stamps from this year's Summer Mini was Sail Away.  Every time I looked at this stamp, it cried out, "Emboss me, Ann!"  and emboss it I did! I found it to be perfect for the emboss resist technique, as was the anchor from The Open Sea.  And boy did I have fun distressing this card! The Color Spritzer Tool, the Seven Sided Tool, and the Waterspot stamp from French Foliage all received a workout!  This was a special card which was sent to a special person.

May - Pals Paper Arts Throws a Wedding

I am always amazed by those paper artists who are able to do fabulous things with punches.  As for me,  flowers are as creative as I get.  For my niece, I designed this Wedding Bouquet card using the Fancy Flower and Five Petal Flower punches.  And no...this one definitely was not mailed!


June - Snow Much Fun

June, with its Idea Book and Catalog pre-order, was a fun month.  From the minute I saw the "So Much Fun" stamp set, I knew that it would be coming to Iowa to live with me.  Pool Party and Calypso Coral were a delightful duo to use.  Of course, hind sight is 20 - 20.  If I were to make this card today, I would have added...can we say it all together now...Pearls!

Free Paper 


I hope you enjoyed this retrospective, and that you will join me Friday for the months of July, August and September!  But for now, which of these three cards was your favorite?   Your comment could win you fifty sheets of 6" x 6" retired Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper.  The lucky recipient will be randomly selected from all comments left on this post through Noon CST Saturday!  And remember to click on the name of the card to take you back to the original posts.  Until next time...

(Note to Bettie:  The information for the card featured on my Christmas post can be found here:  A Wish for Peace.  This card first appeared on The Stampin' Schach back on December 9, 2010.)

PPA Best Dressed List

As 2011 draws to a close, it is time for the Pals Paper Arts Annual Best Dressed List!  This is a collection of our 12 favorite paper creations from throughout the year. One was selected by members of our Design Team for each month from our original weekly picks. Of course, to see the entire list, you will need to visit the Pals Paper Arts site.  

January - Giovana

Clean and elegant are two words that come to mind when I look at this gorgeous card by Giovana.  My eyes are immediately drawn to the sentiment, with its beautiful ribbon treatment.  I love how she snipped out the heart, and popped it up on dimensionals.  The rhinestones, which follow the curvature of the image, are the perfect accents.  Giovana, your card is a timeless classic.  Congratulations on being my choice for the Best Dressed Winner for January.

October - Marlene Peters

"Wow" was the first word out of my mouth when I spied this unique creation by Marlene Peters.   From the spiders suspended inside the "carved" pumpkin, to the curled card stock tendrils, to the adorable tiny "boo" tag held in place by a mini library clip, this card exudes cleverness from all angles!  And the inside is just as cute as the outside, too!  Congratulations on being my choice for the Best Dressed Winner for October, Marlene!

The Pals would like to thank everyone who participated in our challenges in 2011 and invite you to join us next week for our first challenge of 2012.  We have some surprises in store for you! Until next time...

Brody News

Hey...did you see that?  That was me doing the "Happy Dance".  I had so many of you emailing to ask how Brody is doing that I am going to write a very short post to let you know that he is home and is sleeping. The bump on his lip is no more!  After looking at it up close and personal, both of his vets feel that all will be fine! We will know for certain early next week. 

In this picture you can't even tell where the bump was located because his upper jowls are covering over it.  But doesn't he look like one loopy puppy!  Until next time...

Ann's Favorite Cards of 2011 and PPA Sneak Peek

Coming Thursday!

 

As 2011 draws to a close, it is almost time for the Pals Paper Arts Annual Best Dressed List!  This is a collection of our 12 favorite paper creations from throughout the year. One was selected for each month from our original weekly picks. Make certain to join in the fun Thursday to see if your favorites made the list! 

Ann's Favorite Cards of 2011:  January, February and March

Like many of you, my post-holiday time has been very hectic. However, amidst all of the hustle and bustle, I want to make certain that I share with you my favorite cards of 2011 prior to continuing with my Occasions Mini peeks. With that said, here are my faves for the months of January, February and March.  Clicking on the name of the card will take you to the original posts and details.

January -  Nature Walk

 

This card was a collection of so many of my favorite techniques and embellishments:  faux burning, scrunchy ribbon, pearls, distressing.  I fell in love with the Nature Walk stamp set when it was released in the 2011 Occasions Mini, and was thrilled to see it appear in the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog!

February - Vintage Meets Clean and Simple

Vintage met Clean and Simple in my favorite card for February.  It featured the Easter Blossoms stamp set and Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper...two of my favorite items from the 2011 Occasions Mini.  The emboss resist technique and distressing added to the vintage appeal of this card.

March - A Sense of Time

March's card may be my favorite of the year! I designed this card to be given to my son after his recital last spring.  It reflects the passage of time and his love of music.  I loved the depth and texture.  I loved the scrunched ribbon and the pearls.  And I loved the fabulous sentiment, which fit the occasion so well!

Be sure to tune in Thursday for the PPA Best Dressed List!  I will be giving you my choices for the months of January and October!  And I will be certain to give you the latest update on Brody the Boxer and his surgery!  Remember, your comments are important to me!  What do you think of my first three favorite cards of the year?  Until next time...

Coming Soon: The PPA Best Dressed List; End of the Year Blog Candy;  The Rest of Ann's Faves;  2012 Occasions Mini Peeks