Sunday, November 28, 2010

Challenge #26-Jaydee's Paper Player Plus Challenge: Wet Embossing

Hi there and welcome to the Paper Player Plus challenge. The Players all hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving.

We loved seeing what you did with Nance's great sketch challenge last week and congratulations to all our winners. To see the winners, please click HERE.

It's my turn to host the challenge this week. The challenge?

Don't forget, although we use only Stampin' Up! products for our inspiration cards, you are welcome to use ANY BRAND for your creations.

Now, let's check out the great inspirations the Players have for you this week.

Nance Leedy - Canopy Crafts





Ann Schach - The Stampin' Schach


Anne Marie Hile- Stampin' Anne

Now, it's your turn! We can't wait to see what you do with the sketch. Just add a direct link to your new project with Mr. Linky by midnight Friday, December 3rd (PST) to be in the running for "A Cut Above" and "Headliner" choices. The Players can't wait to visit your creations.
All we ask is that you put a link on your blog page back to our challenge this week. If you don't have a blog and are loading to a social media site, please use the keyword PPC26.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Winners for Challenge #25--A Sketch Challenge

The Paper Players had a lot to be thankful for this week--a big thank you to all who joined us in Challenge #25! We know it was a busy week for many and we are so glad that you could join us. Your cards using Nance's sketch were fantastic! So, let's see who were selected as this week's "A Cut Above" winners!


Ann's Choice: Vicki Burdick

Vicki Burdick's cards are always stunning, and this week proved to be no different! She blew me away with these clever and unique textured pumpkins! I loved her interpretation of the sketch, as well as that fabulous scrunchy ribbon. The curly stems, the balanced brads, and the scalloped border...what is there not to love about this perfect Thanksgiving card? Congratulations, Vicki!

Lesley's Choice: Angela from Stampin' Away

I chose Angela's pretty holiday card because I just loved the colour combo she used! The clean and simple layout looks terrific with the snowflakes and the sentiment. I think this card is lovely and she executed Nance's sketch beautifully!! Congratulations Angela!!


I just loved how Julie used the sketch to create her adorable hot cocoa gift box! Her mix of papers and texture is so warm and cozy with the gorgeous stitching she added. That cute little penguin is the perfect touch, too. This gift presentation would instantly warm the heart of anyone who receives it! Congratulations, Julie!


I loved the circle and butterfly elements on Susie's card - and I especially loved the bling. The repetition of the circle elements added so much to this clean, simple and stunning card. Congratulations, Susie.

And our "Headliner" this week is....

Nance's choice: Linda Callahan

Oh my goodness, Linda's card took my breath away! Linda's cards are always crisp, elegant and created with an inspiring attention to detail. This stunning creation is no exception. Those beautiful leaves just POP off all the lovely green and brown and her frayed ribbon treatment is the perfect touch. Congratulations, Linda!

To all of our winners...don't forget to grab your badges from our sidebar! And everyone, please join us again tomorrow for a Paper Players Plus challenge with Jaydee!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Challenge #25 Nance's Sketch Challenge

Hi there Paper Players, Nance here! A big shout-out to everyone who participated in Ann's Color Challenge last week. We are amazed and inspired by you each week and so glad that you continue to play with us. If you're looking for the winners, check this post HERE.


This week we hope to inspire you with a sketch challenge! Everyone loves a sketch right? It's the perfect place to start and here's what I have sketched for you. I hope you like it!


Any shape will substitute for the circles: snowflakes, ornaments, hearts, buttons are just a few that come to mind. You can flip the sketch too as I've done! Let's see what the design team has created for your viewing pleasure this week:

Nance Leedy: Canopy Crafts



Lesley Croghan: Always Playing with Paper


Anne Marie Hile: Stampin' Anne

Ann Schach: The Stampin' Schach

Now, it's your turn! We can't wait to see what you do with the sketch. Just link up your project with Mr. Linky by midnight Friday, November 26th (PST) to be in the running for "A Cut Above" and "Headliner" choices. Happy Thanksgiving wishes to all our friends in the United States!



Saturday, November 20, 2010

Winners for Challenge #24---A Colour Challenge

The Paper Players would like to send a big "Thank You" to all who joined in Challenge #24! So many lovely cards were created using Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler and a neutral. The Design Team certainly had their work cut out for them this week. Let's see who were selected as this week's "A Cut Above" winners!
Jaydee's Choice: Diane's Christmas Bauble
I loved the use of the leaf die, the ornament punch, the 5 petal punch and the snowflake punch on Diane's card. I love the dimension that all of these elements gave to this card. Fabulous card. Congratulations, Diane!


Nance's choice: Lori Rider
I chose Lori's fabulous clean-and-simple card because despite the fantastic CAS layout, there are so many interesting details that make her card sing!  The subtle background DSP, stamping on the DSP and the beautiful coloring of the bells make her card a true "cut above"!  Congratulations, Lori!


Anne Marie's Choice: Nikki from My Crafty Corner
Nikki really highlighted the 5-Petal Flower Punch on her card! Her layered and scored poinsettia are gorgeous and I loved the way she used the "Dasher" stamp to accent her sentiment. Her mix of patterned papers and crochet trim just complete this classic, holiday card. Congrats,  Nikki! 


Lesley's Choice: Jen Mitchell: I Create
I chose Jen's card because I loved the way she inked her main image on Cherry Cobbler cardstock rather than on white or vanilla paper.  Her card is contemporary and sophisticated.  The crumb cake backdrop looks so fresh and clean. It stood out for me!  Congrats Jen!


And now for our Headliner, Ann selected this beautiful card:


Ann's Choice: Jade B.
I selected Jade's stunning card as my choice for several reasons. First of all, I loved the unique design. What could be cuter than this Christmas present layout! The textured Cherry Cobbler forms a wonderful base for the rest of the card, and her hand-stamped designer paper is so vintage! Don't you just love it? Of course, the perfect touch is the ribbon, with its layered tag attached! Congratulations, Jade, on a perfect card! Thank you for sharing it with The Paper Players!


To all of our winners...don't forget to grab your badges from our sidebar! And everyone, please join us again tomorrow for a fabulous Sketch Challenge designed by the very talented Nance!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Challenge #24---A Color Challenge

Welcome to another Paper Players Challenge! Last week you delighted us by participating in our Snowman Challenge. What adorable cards you created! We can hardly wait to see what you create this week using a trio of colors sure to delight those of you who are working on your holiday cards:



As always, if you do not have these exact colors, feel free to substitute with similar hues. Of course, there are a variety of colors that you can use as your neutral. Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Gray and Crumb Cake are just a few that immediately come to mind. We are sure that you can think of more!

Before we get to the Design Team Work, we want to say "Happy Birthday" to our very talented Guest Designer Anne-Marie Hile!!! If you get the chance, please be sure to head on over to her blog and leave her some birthday cheer!!! Happy Birthday Anne-Marie!!!

The Design Team did a wonderful job with this tantalizing color combination! Let's take a look at their Inspiration Cards:
Ann Schach---The Stampin' Schach

Anne Marie Hile- Stampin' Anne

Nance Leedy - Canopy Crafts

Jaydee

Fabulous, right? So...now it's your turn. We can't wait to see your linked creations right here! This week's linky will close on Friday, November 19th at Midnight (PST). We love to read your comments, so please leave us a little comment love and let us know what you think of this week's inspiration projects. Happy crafting!

Winner's for Challenge #23-Snowman Theme

What a fabulous week at the Paper Players! You came, you saw and you played your best snowman and we appreciated everyone's work! There were "snow" many wonderful snowmen out there and you displayed them beautifully!! Yep, I said it, "Snow" many wonderful snowmen....Hehehe!

The Design Team has chosen their Cut Above Choices for this challenge, I know they would have had a difficult job of this with all the cute snowmen we saw this week.



Nance's choice: Christina Cobb

I chose Christina's snowman because I love the non-traditional color scheme she used and the little details she added with the embossed snowflakes and trio of buttons. Great job, Christina!


Ann' Choice: Heidi's Happenings


There were so many wonderful cards from which to choose, but its rich, earthy colors kept drawing me back to Heidi's stunning card! I loved the mix of floral and striped papers, and the buckle embellishment. And what could be cuter than a carrot-nosed snowman, serving as a cardinal's perch! Congrats, Heidi!


Anne Marie's Choice: Kim Lampone

There were so many beautiful snowman-themed projects this week, it was so difficult to select just one. I picked Kim's card because I really liked the clean design which allowed all of the cheerful colors she added to the adorable snow-gang to really stand out. The glitter frame around the image was such a fun detail, too. Congratulations, Kim!



Jaydee's Choice: Chrissie's snowman
I chose Chrissie's Clean and Simple snowman because I loved the amount of white space that left the eye to totally focus on the wonderfully colored snowman. I also loved the small amount of embossing on the background layer. A fabulous clean and simple card. Congratulations, Chrissie.

And now, for our Headliner....



Julie Marshall-Stamping Impressions

I chose Julie Marshall's adorable snowman card because of the wonderful layers she used. I love the scalloped circle, the way she cut out the sentiment and the cute designer paper. This card is so pretty, I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. Congratulations Julie!!

To all of our winners this week, please grab your badges for your blogs. They are located in the left sidebar for you.

Tomorrow we are back with an awesome Colour Combo from the fabulous Ann Schach. We hope to see you again.

Smiles,
Lesley and the Paper Players Design Team

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Challenge #23-Lesley's Theme Challenge

Wow! What a fabulous list of entires last week. Over 200!! We loved that you shared your many projects with us! Thanks to everyone who participated. If you are looking for last week's winners, please click HERE.

November is almost a week old and I hope everyone remembered it is "Fall Back" time and that the clocks needed to fall back one hour on Midnight Saturday (last night).  Christmas is near! All the sweet images and themes associated with the Spirit of the Season are upon us. One of my favourite winter images is a Snowman! I am in love with the many shapes and sizes they come in!

So for this week, I am challenging you to use a Snowman on your card or project!


You can use any snowman you have! Use a stamp, punch some circles and make your own or show us a scrapbooking page with a snowman on it!! We just want you to pull out the snowman stuff and get creative! Use more than one snowman if you want!

Here is my card!  I decided to create a tent topper card!


The Design Team has been enjoying the "snow" too and have built some adorable Snow People for you to see. Let's see the mounds of fun they have created! A BIG welcome to Anne Marie Hile as November's Guest Designer, this is her first challenge with us as a Guest Designer. We are thrilled to have her on the team for November!  Isn't her card SO cute?

Anne Marie Hile- Stampin' Anne


Ann Schach---The Stampin' Schach


 Nance Leedy - Canopy Crafts

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Challenge #22 Winners-Anything Goes

Hey Players! WOWZA, we were blown away with 200+ entries for our "Anything Goes" challenge last week...you made it one of our best yet! Thank you for participating and sharing your crafty talents with us each week--it makes us so happy! Both LeAnne and Jaydee are away this week and so Ann and Lesley have each chosen 2 cut above winners! That way, we still have 4 Cut Above Winners and 1 Headliner!
Now, let's see who the Ann and Lesley have spotlighted as "A Cut Above" this week:

Ann's Choices


I selected this lovely card by Veronica as one of my choices for "A Cut Above" because of its elegant simplicity. I loved the rich color palette of red and green, and the scrumptious red bow was the perfect touch! A classy card! Congratulations, Veronica!
This beautiful card by Leanne, of Creations by Leanne, was another of my choices for "A Cut Above". I loved its intricately cut background, with the "pop" of blue peeking through. The distressing and the pearls were the perfect touches on this fabulous fall card! Congratulations, Leanne!

Lesley's Choices

I chose this pretty box created by Kerin because I love how rich the Very Vanilla cardstock looks embossed and surrounded by the vivid Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke colours. The pearls look amazing in the centre of the handmade poinsettia. What a cool idea!!! This project is stunning! Congrats Kerin!



I chose these cards created by Ann because I love the beautiful collaged background paper she created using stamps! The colours are beautiful and the way she has used the set is both creative and imaginitive! These would make a wonderful gift set for a friend!

Now for our Headliner!

As the hostess for this challenge, I have the honor of choosing this week's "Headliner". Y'all gave us so many choices that it was difficult to pick just one! But, I found myself coming back to one in particular...so without further delay, the Headliner this week is....Nancy Lempinen!!

Headliner pick: Nancy Lempinen


Nancy's entry just takes the cake this week! (Sorry couldn't help it!) The cake slice boxes in and of themselves are wonderful--oh the patience!--but it's the details in this project that elevate it to Headliner status. I love that she used chocolate paper and decorated each slice with a delicate flower and repeated that element in the center with the beautiful flower. The polka dot ribbon is a luxurious touch and if all of that wasn't enough, she packaged it in a bakery box with a doily for the perfect gift ensemble! Fantastic work, Nancy...Congratulations!

We hope to see you back for our new challenge that will post on Sunday November 7th--you'll want to break out the scarves and mittens!

Thanks!
Nance