Thursday, November 29, 2012

Have a Sweet Holiday Season - DS79



Hey there, happy Thursday! It's time for a new Deconstructed Sketch. 

Here's Sketch #79:  


Before I get to my card details, a special announcement:

This week we are searching for our next GUEST DESIGNER, will it be you?? All you need to do is use this week’s sketch, post it to your blog and link back HERE using InLinks by December 5, 2012 at 10 pm CST. The guest designer will be announced next Friday, December 7, 2012 and will design with us for DS81 and DS82 before we break for the Christmas holiday. Good Luck!


For my card, I started out with The Cat's Pajamas new Man CutUps die, and die-cut the little fella out of some brown felt. I glued on some rick rack and stitched on two buttons. The eyes are adhesive flat-back pearls, and the mouth was done with a Viva Decor pearl pen. I tied on a bit of fiber for a scarf. The papers are all from the Simple Stories Handmade Holiday 6x6 pad.  I tied on a sentiment tag with baker's twine and added a pair of rusted jingle bells. The sentiment is from TCP's Homemade for the Holidays. At least 3-4 more gingerbread man projects are in the works on my craft table, so it's a safe bet you'll be seeing this sweetie again and again.


I just realized I completely forgot to add the two circle elements in the bottom right of the sketch (which would be bottom left on my rotated version).

Visit the Deconstructed Sketch Girls for lots more sketch inspiration:


Thanks for visiting!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Cat's Pajamas Blog Hop


The Cat's Pajamas Winter Release is officially available in the TCP store, and the Cat Pack and Swanky Stampers are celebrating with a blog hop. If you've been following the hop already, you should have arrived here by way of Tracy. If not, head over to Lori's blog to begin.



Since it's Tuesday, we also have a brand-new TCP Tuesday Challenge. Lori's challenge is to Go Vintage. I started with some vintage-style Parcel Tags from the City Sidewalks collection by Collage Press. The gingerbread man is TCP's new Man CutUps die. I cut him out of one of the City Sidewalks 8x8 papers, distressed him with some ink, and adorned him with some black vintage buttons. Behind him is a glittered chipboard frame from the depths of my chipboard stash, a cardboard circle, and a lace doily. At the top, I tied on some crinkled seam binding and crochet trim, then added two rusted jingle bells. The tag hanging from the gingerbread man is stamped with one of the sentiments from the new Homemade for the Holidays set. I'm soooo loving this die and set and have quite a few more gingerbread man projects in the works! This one looks so much better in real life. I wish you could see the sparkle on that chipboard!



Your next stop on the hop is one of our fabulously talented Swanky Stamper guests -- Cyndi Bundy

Enjoy!


Sunday, November 25, 2012

TCP Sneaky Peek #6


Welcome to Day 6 of TCP's Sneaky Peek week. Today we're showing off a darling set called Tree-mendous. I can sure relate to this guy. Christmas trees always look smaller than they actually are -- until you're shoving them through the front door! 

For more peeks at Tree-mendous, visit the Winter Sneaky Peek #6 thread on SCS. And for your chance to win this set, go HERE.

For a change-up from my go-to Copics, this time I stamped in Versafine onto heavy watercolor paper (which works so much better with rubber*), then broke out the Tombows and a water brush. A few of the new CutUps make an appearance as well. The Star Rosette is the light blue piece behind the image; the green stars are done with the 3x3 Stars set, and the notebook edge is from the Toppers set.



I had a different color combo going, but my 9-year-old daughter talked me into this bright pink background. I love how cheery it is! The papers are all from Carta Bella's Merry & Bright 6x6 collection.

*This set, like all the sets in this release is a Limited Edition Cling Set. We are making only a limited number in Cling Rubber to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. We started The Cat's Pajamas 10 years ago making rubber stamps and this release is a nod to our roots. While we all love our clear stamps, there is nothing like real red rubber!

Tomorrow is our last day of peeks and our Pajama party (HERE in the TCP forum). Everything you've seen this past week will be available for purchase November 27.



Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, November 24, 2012

TCP Sneaky Peek #5


Happy Saturday, and welcome to TCP's Sneaky Peek #5. Today, we're taking a look at Happy Everything. Not just one bunny, but two bunnies, and plenty of holiday cheer for all! I just love their intertwined ears -- so sweet!

For my card, I stamped the bunnies, colored with Copics, and trimmed them out. Their backdrop is some snowflake-emobssed kraft card stock with some fluffy snow mounds that I made using one of the new Toppers CutUps dies. The turquoise background panel has a fun perforated notebook edge along the top, which I did with another of the Toppers CutUps dies. A simple banner for the sentiment, some Cherry Divine Twine, and a Big Scallop CutUps die-cut stitched to the bottom, provide the finishing touches.



Be sure to check out The Cat's Pajamas forum on SCS to keep up with peeks and giveaways.





And don't miss TCP's awesome Black Friday Special, but hurry, it ends today!



Thanks for stopping by!


Thursday, November 22, 2012

TCP Sneaky Peek #3

Before I get to today's TCP Sneaky Peek info, I wanted to wish a {late} Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans. I hope your day has been filled with blessings!

Peeks continue today over in The Cat's Pajamas forum on SCS. Here's the cutie we're featuring today:

OH yeah! How adorable is this one?!! For design team eye candy, visit the Winter Sneaky Peek #3 thread. Let us know what you think in the In It To Win It thread, and you just may find yourself a winner!

All seven new stamp sets and five new CutUps dies will be available in the TCP store Tuesday, November 27. Or, pick them up EARLY ...


Yep, that's right! A little Black Friday special just for you :)


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

TCP Sneaky Peek Week!

Hi friends, in case you haven't heard ... The Cat's Pajamas is gearing up for a new Limited Edition Release* next week. On November 27, 7 new sets and 5 new CutUps dies will be released. I'm so excited for you to see these awesome new stamps and dies! Sneaky peeks began yesterday and will continue every day until Monday. Take a look at the peeks so far:


Visit the Winter Sneaky Peek #1 thread on Splitcoast for awesome eye candy from the design team and our fabulous swanky stamper guests.



Visit the Winter Sneaky Peek #2 thread for eye candy featuring our favorite long-eared bunny and a sled full of presents.

Are you In It To Win It? Just for chatting with us over at SCS, you could win featured products from the new release! Click HERE to read all about it and to play along!

* So what is the Limited Edition Release all about? To celebrate TEN years in business (how amazing is that?!), this whole release will be done in Limited Edition Cling. I can't tell you how good it feels to be stamping with rubber again! Here's what Alma had to say:

I started making rubber stamps at my dining room table, hand cutting rubber and cushion and attaching them to wood blocks to sell to the local stamp stores where I was teaching 10 years ago. 
So much has happened to stamping in 10 years. But my love of stamping is still going strong. 
So this release, I am excited to celebrate the way The Cat's Pajamas started. With rubber stamps. Not just any rubber stamps. Cling Stamp sets for easy storage and positioning. Perfect for those who love rubber, but also love the convenience and ease of clear. Limited Edition because these stamps are extra special, lovingly assembled at my dining room table. Just like I did 10 years ago. So snap them up, because only a small number will be made. My table is only so big.

Before I go, I'll leave you with an invitation ...




Mark your calendars!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Peace on Earth



Hello, friends, I'm still waiting to get back into my craft room, but I did remember this card that I haven't shared here yet.  I made this for Verve's latest release, which is filled with holiday goodies. The stamp I used is from Peace on Earth. I went with a neutrals + green design, using papers from the Teresa Collins Christmas Cottage 6x6 collection. The trims are from Webster's Pages. Verve's Scroll Die makes an appearance as well. I used it for the music paper accent along the bottom of the vertical pennant element. I would normally think of the Scroll Die for sentiments, but topped with a button, it works as an embellishment too!

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Deconstructed Sketch #78

This week's Deconstructed Sketch, #78, is up! Take a look:


I'm out of commission, stamping-wise, for the next little while -- hopefully not too long! We had some water leaks back during Sandy, including through the ceiling and light fixtures in my stamp room. The repair work is underway, which means some of my stuff has been moved out and the rest is covered with drop cloths. Hopefully, I'll be back in there soon. I'm getting twitchy - LOL!

I'll send you over to Jen Shults for this week's design team samples and to link up if you play along, which I hope you will!

Have a wonderful day and week!


Saturday, November 10, 2012

Filled With Merry - SFYTT


Today I'm having another go at the November Sketch For You To Try (SFYTT), sponsored by Sweet Stamp Shop. A few of the other SFYTT sisters are posting today as well, so be sure to have a look. And please join us by linking up your sketch creation HERE.

The sketch:



The players (this week):

Amber Hight
Becky Carafa
Megan Lock
Kerry Johnson 

I started out with some pretty holiday papers from Echo Park's This & That Christmas 6x6 collection, added a sweet sentiment from Verve's new Merry & Bright set, and embellished with some ribbons, trim, paper pleating, layered snowflakes, distressing, and some washi tape. I love the hint of yellow in that diagonal striped pattern, and decided to add a bit more with the ruffled trim and the bottom layer of the snowflakes. The snowflakes, by the way, are stacked, bottom to top, as follows: first, a Verve snowflake, die-cut using one of the dies in the Snowflake Tidings die set, then stamped in Versamark with Verve's Glad Tidings set and clear embossed; second, a Martha Stewart white punched snowflake, and last a red button tied off with natural jute string.



Thanks so much for stopping by. Wishing you a fabulous weekend!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Joy to the World - DS77



The new Deconstructed Sketch, #77, has been posted. Hope you can join us this week!


For my sample, I pulled out Verve's new Joy to the World Plain Jane. The papers are from the Echo Park This & That Christmas 6x6 pad. I kept everything pretty simple and straightforward. Might have to tinker, as it feels quite plain. A couple of Verve dies made an appearance as well: the Pennant Trim, in Kraft, is tucked underneath the ivory lace trim at the top, and the Classy Label peeks out from underneath the sentiment panel.

Have a look at what the Deconstructed Sketch girls have come up with this week:



To play along, link up at Jen Shults's blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Jillibean Soup Card Kitchen - November

It's been such a whirlwind around here -- general busy-ness, plus the usual seasonal health issues -- that I've neglected to share some very happy news. Remember the Jillibean Soup Card Kitchen guest spot I did last month? Well, I've been invited to stick around and play with their card kits every month. I'm thrilled because these kits are so fun and useful! A big thanks to Kimber and Jillibean Soup!

The monthly Card Kitchen kits include card bases and envelopes, patterned paper, stickers, embellishments, plus eight card ideas with full instructions. With the amount of product included, you can easily make another eight cards with what's left after the first eight. You can purchase the kits individually, or you can save a little and sign up for a kit club membership, where kits are sent each month automatically (at a reduced price). Check it all out at the Card Kitchen website.

November's kit is wonderfully stuffed with goodies from the Winter Tortellini & Spinach Soup line. This is a perfect kit for adding to your holiday card stash. Here's a look at the full kit:




And here's what I did with my eight cards. Everything I used is in the kit, except tools (punches, ink, distressing tool, needle/thread).


The red tag in the background is a custom die-cut. The kraft sleeve is perfectly sied for a gift card. I added some green paper behind the holly cut-out, then topped it with a holly sticker for the "berry." Love, love, love that turquoise background paper with the red cardinals. So deliciously wintry!




Another big red custom die-cut tag on this one. I topped the "O" with a wooden snowflake embellishment from the kit and highlighted the word with an oval frame die-cut. The cottages above were trimmed from one of the Winter Tortellini patterns.




Here's a strip of that cottage pattern that I used for the trimmed out cottages above. The sentiment, so perfect for this pattern, reads "Sending holiday blessings from our house to yours." 



I love this diagonal row of hanging ornaments! The red striped pleating at the bottom was done out of washi tape.



These Doodlebug Designs snowmen are so adorable. I framed them with a cardstock die-cut, added the sentiment label, and a banner made out of tiny alphabet stickers. Isn't that red woodgrain pattern awesome?



This was probably my favorite card this round. The turquoise and pink combo, pulled from the Winter Tortellini & Spinach Soup collection as a whole, is so fun and festive. The sentiment was done with a combination of letter stickes and word stickers. Two more of those fabulous wooden snowflakes, too.



I arranged the little red letter stickers into a tree shape, with a brown striped trunk and a wooden star at the top. Totally inspired by this.



You didn't think we'd get to the end without some distressing, did you? {wink} I couldn't help it. When I saw the "Silent Night" sheet music Bite Size Bit, I couldn't wait to age it a bit with some ink, crumpling and a distressing tool. I like the soothing brown/turquoise/ivory combo, too. Those two little pink flower faux brads at the upper right of the sheet music are just 1/2" circles punched from one of the Winter Tortellini & Spinach Soup patterns. 


That's all for me, folks. To see more November kit inspiration, visit the Card Kitchen blog. Kimber's cards are HERE, and Teri's cards will start going up on the blog tomorrow. Enjoy!


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

TCP Tuesday #235 - Smile!


Happy Tuesday, my friends. It's time for a new TCP Tuesday Challenge over at The Cat's Pajamas, and I'm excited to be hosting! We've cycled back around to a sketch challenge. I hope you'll join us!

Here's my take:


As I was playing around with the sketch and Crate Paper's On Trend collection, I found myself heading in a CAS direction, and decided to go with it. Something a little different from my usual layered, embellished designs. The sentiment comes from TCP's Kick Some Grass set. The partial pink circle was die-cut with TCP's Heart Rosette CutUps die. I just left it flat instead of folding it up into the rosette. The teeny hearts along the border easily pop out for a doily look, but I decided to leave them in and just taped across the back to hold them in place. I did pop out some of the hearts from the leftover half of the circle to dot the "i" and embellish a tiny bit. I always find myself wanting to add "more" to my CAS attempts, so I did a little paper piercing around that green background piece.


1. Each Tuesday we will give you a challenge.
2. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
3. Add your entry to the guestbook on Alma's blog and/or upload to the SCS Gallery, using the keyword TCPTUES235for this week's challenge.
4. TCP stamps/dies are not required, but if you have them, of course we love to see them.
5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced on Tuesdays.
6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced the 1st of each month. That lucky stamper will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.


Thanks so much for stopping by!