You're My Hero - DS49

It's Thursday, which means there's a brand-new Deconstructed Sketch (#49) to try. Here it is: 

I love that cluster of shapes and banners! When I was playing around with my card for this month's Diva Dare (which I posted yesterday), I cut some of Verve's new Ribbon Banners out of corrugated cardboard. (The Diva Dare theme is "All Aboard" -- use chipboard, cardboard, and/or kraft.) I didn't use the banners for that card, but thought they'd be absolutely perfect for this sketch. The patriotic theme was inspired by both the Heidi Swapp papers I used and the "You're My Hero" sentiment in Verve's Purely Sentimental stamp set. It's hard to see, but to the left and right of the stamped and white embossed sentiment, I clear embossed rows of little stars using one of the stamps from Super Dad. To give the card some oomph (it's still feeling a little plain), I tied on some red/white/blue Airmail Divine Twine from The Cat's Pajamas and punched the edge of that white panel with a spiral notebook punch (that I'd long forgotten about until I saw these awesome cards by Amy Rohl).

The Deconstructed Sketch girls are bringin' it on strong for this week's sketch. Check out their samples, too. Here they are:

Amber Hight

Arielle Gordon

Donna Wardle

Jen Shults

Jessica Diedrich

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Pam Varnell (later today)

Sheri Gilson

To play along, link up your sketch creation HERE!

April Diva Dare: All Aboard

The Verve Divas kicked off a brand-new Diva Dare last week, and today is my turn to share over on the Verve blog. Hope you'll join me over there!

This month we dare you to make a card, project, layout, or whatever fits your stamping style using this month's theme - All Aboard!   It has been Grand Central Station at Verve lately, since Julee gave birth to two beautiful baby boys and has had her hands full!  So we are challenging you to use chipboard, corrugated cardboard, or kraft on your creation or project!  Can't wait to see how you answer the dare! 

1. Play along with us and link up your new All Aboard creation (posted April 20 or later) to the linky widget on THIS POST over on the Verve blog before 6:00PM MST on Thursday May 3.  One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would  LOVE to see ‘em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section (on the Verve blog, not here) as we share our All Aboard creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing!  Winners will be announced on Friday, May 4th over on the Verve blog

Hope you're having a great week!

TCP April Release Day Blog Hop

It's Release Day at The Cat's Pajamas -- all of the stamps and dies we've been peeking for the past week are now available in The Cat's Pajamas store. We're celebrating the release with a Blog Hop. Did you come here from the talented Carole Burrage? If not, then scoot over to Julie to start the hop and get all caught up.

I'm featuring the new Window CutUps, along with a sentiment from Bloom. The Window CutUps set includes the window frame, as well as four small dies that fit within the window panes, one of them being the flower pot. I cut two flower pots from cork and topped them with layered flowers that I die-cut using the Flower Buttons CutUps. To make the window valance, I used one of the Circus Panels CutUps. I just trimmed down an ivory die-cut to make the rod, then trimmed down three pink plaid die-cuts for the valance portion.

This is also my sample for a brand-new TCPTuesday Challenge, #207. This week, Julie brings us a technique challenge, which is to use handmade flowers in your creation. Play along for your chance to win some TCP! Details in the TCP Forum on SCS.

Be sure to continue along the hop. Your next stop is my uber-talented friend, Jen del Muro!

Enjoy the hop!

TCP Sneak Peek: Quality Time

 

Our final Cat's Pajamas Sneak Peek is a heartwarming one: Quality Time. Isn't little PJ darling?

Visit Alma for links to all of today's peeks. And plan to party with us tonight, 8-10 pm EST in the TCP Forum on SCS.

My heart has just melted over today's sweet set! Reading to my children has always been one of my very favorite things to do with them. I love that little PJ has on his bunny slippers and that they're reading "Beary Potter." I paper pieced the sofa and colored the rest with Copics. Accents include navy blue felt Hearts Trio CutUps topped with buttons and beige linen thread, as well as a heart border done with the new Heart Border CutUps die.

You'll have a chance to win today's featured stamp set just by leaving a comment in the In It To Win It thread. Good luck!

 

Have A Great Earth Day

Did you all see yesterday's Cat's Pajamas Sneaky Peek? If not, halt and go HERE. The mustache trend has arrived at TCP! I think it's a cute (albeit odd) trend and am happy to jump on board! The upcoming TCP release has both The Mustache Set and The Mustaches CutUps dies. I thought it would be fun to use two of the dies to make The Lorax. Initially, I was working on a birthday card for my youngest son, who turns 5 on Tuesday, but I realized I could rearrange the letters of one of the sentiments in The Mustache Set just a bit to create an Earth Day sentiment, and well, today is Earth Day, so why not?

The mustaches (I used two of them for eyebrows) are cut from one of the felt colors in TCP's Mellow Yellow collection. The rest is just made from various circle punches. Easy-peasy. I kept it super simple, with just rounded corners, a sentiment flag, and a black button tied off with Lemon Divine Twine.

Speaking of Sneaky Peeks, you'll be over the moon for today's -- a darling set called Wish. Visit Alma for eye candy and links! And, as always, join the chitchat on the In It To Win It thread on SCS for a chance to win some of the brand-new TCP.

See you tomorrow with our final Sneaky Peek. You won't want to miss it!

TCP Sneak Peek: Aye, Aye Captain!

 

Sneak Peeks of the new Cat's Pajamas release (coming Tuesday) continue today with the adorable Aye, Aye Captain set. I just adore this seafaring bunny -- sweet as can be!

 
I stamped in black, colored with Copics, paper pieced the boat, popped up a second hat, then gave him a home admidst some Echo Park This & That Charming papers. The waves are done with the Wave CutUps die. The yellow bracket is the Big Scallop CutUps die. For an accent, I tied off some rope and placed a life preserver (one of the stamps in Aye, Aye Captain!) behind the knot.

Visit Alma's blog for links to the designers who are posting peeks today. And visit the In It To Win It thread on SCS fpr a chance to win the April 2012 Collection!

Happy Friday!

 

TCP Sneaky Peek: Bubble Therapy

 

A new Cat's Pajamas collection is coming next week, and the Cat Pack is showing peeks all week. Peeks actually began on Tuesday, so we're already on day three. Easiest way to catch up if you need to -- visit Alma's blog, where you'll find each day's list of designers and guests. Also, mark your calendars and plan to party with us on Monday night, April 23, 8-10pm EST, HERE in the TCP Forum on SCS.

Today's set is Bubble Therapy:

Tough life for Sprinkle, eh? I stamped in Versafine Onyx black, paper pieced the tub, made the bubble bath puffy with liquid applique, and added a little color with Copics. The whole image is popped up, too, for some dimension. I love the little accessory stamps in this set and used some extra bubbles on today's card, as well as that elegant little flourish thingy that I placed on the Circus Panels CutUp under the sentiment. See those yummy felt flowers? I made those using a new CutUps die, the Pom Pom Flower. Use this die to make one large flower, or cut it in half to make two flowers, which I did here. Love that versatility. 

Like it? Love it? Gotta have it? Visit the In It to Win It thread in the TCP Forum on Splitcoast for your chance to win the ENTIRE April 2012 Collection! All you have to do is comment ... the more the merrier.

Today's layout came from the new Deconstructed Sketch #48. Love this one (I think I say that every week)! Click on that link to see more sketch inspiration from the Deconstructed Sketch girls.

Enjoy today's peeks!

 

Psalm 29:11

This is another of the cards I made last month while guest blogging for JustRite. My favorite of the three! The stamp set is JustRite's beautiful Cast All Your Cares, and the papers are from the Pretty In Pink collection by Glitz Design.

Here's what I shared on the JR blog:

I think I gasped aloud when I first saw Cast All Your Cares. I just love Scripture stamps, and these verses are some of the best for comfort and encouragement. The artwork is graceful and elegant and works beautifully with the vintage look I so adore. Here, I've stamped the lovely frame image in a neutral ink and the Psalm 29:11 Scripture in rose ink onto ivory card stock and die-cut with a Spellbinders Labels Sixteen die. I layered onto a larger Labels Sixteen die cut that I sponged and stitched. Accents include a Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Accents border, crochet trim, seam binding, mother of pearl buttons and lots of heavy distressing.

 

Stamps: Cast All Your Cares 

Dies: Spellbinders: Labels Sixteen, Fleur De Lis Accents 

Inks: Versamagic Wheat; Ranger Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap and Walnut Stain Distress Inks 

Paper: Papertrey Vintage Cream card stock, Glitz Pretty In Pink 

Embellishments: Zva Creative paper flower, MemrieMare seam binding, Maya Road trinket pins, paper doily, distressing tool, sewing machine, May Arts crochet ribbon and burlap string, mother of pearl buttons

Overjoyed For You - SFYTT

I created today's card using the very latest Verve products, just released yesterday. 

The flower is from Joyful Blooms (an extra from yesterday's card), the blue circular image behind the flower is from Small Celebrations, and the sentiment is from Purely Sentimental. I also worked in one of those awesome Ribbon Banner die-cuts because I just love it so!

If you head to the Verve Store, be sure to check out the current sale, going on now through May 4!

The layout is this month's Sketch For You To Try, which is generously sponsored by There She Goes:

New sketches are posted on the first Saturday of the month. Then, half of the SFYTT sisters post additional sketch inspiration on the 2nd Saturday, and the other half posts on the third Saturday. Here are your 2nd Saturday girls ...

Amber

Becky 

Megan

Thanks for visiting!

Stamps: Joyful Blooms, Purely Sentimental, Small Celebrations
Paper: Papertrey Kraft and Vintage Cream, Echo Park This & That Graceful, Kaisercraft background dp
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Versamagic Turquoise Gem, Ranger Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks
Accessories: Verve Ribbon Banner and Tiny Sweet Scallop dies, MFT doily and border dies, Spellbinders Classic Circle Nestabilities, Kaisercraft black pearls, foam adhesive, May Arts burlap string, sanding block
Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Verve New Release Hop

Today's the day: all of the new Verve stamps and dies are now available in the Verve store.

The Divas are having a release hop to celebrate. Leave comments along the hop for your chance to win the entire release!

1. Janelle Stollfus

2. Charmaine Ikach

3. Laurie Schmidlin

4. Andrea Ewen

5. Maureen Plut

6. Sankari Wegman

7. Amy Sheffer

8. Tosh Leyendekker

9. Amber Hight

10. Teresa Kline

Today, I'm playing with a new set called Joyful Blooms. You may recognize the flowers -- they're smaller versions of the flowers in the popular Great Friend set. Rounding out the set are some wonderful, all-purpose sentiments. And although I didn't use them, there are matching dies -- three of them, for the three different sized flowers!

The layout comes from this week's Viva La Verve sketch challenge. Check out this beauty Janelle put together for us:

Sketch challenge details are posted in the Verve Forum on SCS.

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!





Stamps: Joyful Blooms (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Echo Park This & That Graceful 6x6 pad, Papertrey Vintage Cream card stock
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: Kaisercraft black pearls, Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder, Stampin' Up leafy sprig die and wide striped ribbon, paper doily, sewing machine, corner rounder, sanding block, Papertrey buttons, foam adhesive
Size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

Verve New Release Spotlight Hop - Day Two

It's Day Two of Verve's New Release Spotlight Hops, and we're featuring two stamp sets, one Plain Jane, and an awesome, must-have new die. Be sure to hop around and leave comments for your chance to win the products being featured today!

1. Tosh Leyendekker

2. Teresa Kline

3. Sankari Wegman

4. Maureen Plut

5. Laurie Schmidlin

6. Janelle Stollfus

7. Charmaine Ikach

8. Andrea Ewen

9. Amy Sheffer

10. Amber Hight

I've worked with a fantastic masculine set called Super Dad, along with the coordinating Ribbon Banner die. Such an awesome little set for all your masculine card needs!

The layout is this week's Deconstructed Sketch, #47:

Lots of amazing sketch inspiration from the Deconstructed Sketch Girls. Here they are:

Amber Hight

Arielle Gordon

Donna Wardle

Jen Shults

Jessica Diedrich

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Pam Varnell

Sheri Gilson

Thanks for stopping by -- have a super day!





Stamps: Super Dad (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Papertrey Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream, and Fine Linen card stock; Echo Park This & That Charming 6x6 pad
Ink: Ranger Walnut Stain, Bundled Sage, Antique Linen, and Wild Honey Distress Inks
Accessories: Verve Ribbon Banner Die, Papertrey buttons, The Cat's Pajamas yellow twine, Stampin' Up clip, pinking scissor, distressing tool, May Arts burlap string
Size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"