Tis the Season - DS82

I'm back, friends, with my sample for this week's Deconstructed Sketch, #82. I turned it on its side because I really, really wanted to make something with this new-to-me Cat's Pajamas stamp set J*lly H*liday, and the horizontal panel worked best. (And I tilted that focal panel just for fun!) The papers are from the Echo Park This & That Christmas collection (a mixure of 6x6 and 12x12 papers). Some of the new TCP CutUps dies make an appearance as well. The notebook edge along the top is from the Toppers CutUps set, and the curvy landscape and snowflake edge are from the Holiday Toppers CutUps set (love these!). The scallop and reverse scallops are both from Queen of Hearts CutUps.

Here's the sketch again:

And here are links to the Deconstructed Girls' creations:

• Arielle Gordon
• Donna Wardle
• Jen Shults
• Kadie Ensley
• Lori Boyd (Lori is out this week)
• Sheri Gilson
• Tracey Pickersgill
• Joni Wilson, Guest Designer

Okay, so here's the thing, despite it being the season, I'm having a hard, hard time being jolly after last week's Sandy Hook tragedy. Tears flow often, and when they're not flowing, they're ever close to the surface. Like all of you, my heart is broken and aching for the victims, their families, and the community. I'm reminded of something a pastor once said at the funeral of another too-young victim of tragedy. He shared, "I'm going to have to wrestle with you on this one, Lord." But he also said, "I'd rather wrestle with God than wrestle alone." Exactly.

Peace and love to all.

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:

• Amber Hight (Amber is on break)
• Amy Sheffer 
• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff, Guest Designer
• Donna Wardle
• Jen Shults
• Kadie Ensley
• Lori Boyd
• Sheri Gilson
• Tracey Pickersgill

Thanks for visiting!

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!

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!

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.

• Check the Winter Sneaky Peek #5 thread throughout the day for more Happy Everything eye candy. 
• Visit the In It To Win It thread for your chance to win Happy Everything.

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

Thanks for stopping by!

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 :)

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!

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!

Sweet Caramel Apple Thanks

For this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge (#232), Julie Masse, our hostess, is challenging us to make a shaped card with a Fall theme. To the Silhouette store I immediately headed, where I found this darling caramel apple shape. To make it into a card, I cut two of the green apple pieces and adhered them together along the top (where the mini popsicle stick goes in).  I tied on some chocolate brown raffia with a red button and Cherry Divine Twine, then stamped up a quick "you're sweet" tag using sentiments from TCP's Honey Bear stamp set. So super quick I almost feel like I cheated! But a perfect way to say thanks to one of teachers at the elementary school for making my daughter's day with a "caught being kind" recognition last week.

We'd love to have you play along! Here are the details:

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 Inlinkz Gallery on Alma’s blog or upload to the SCS Gallery, using the keyword TCPTUES232 for this week’s challenge.
4. TCP stamps are not required for this challenge, but highly recommended.
5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced when Alma posts the TCP Tuesday Challenge who will win a Gift Voucher for use on The Cat’s Pajamas website.
6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced around the 1st of each month. They 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!

Count Your Blessings - DS73

Since it's already been Thursday for two days this week, how can it really be Thursday again today? Ever have weeks like that? Must be the Columbus Day holiday on Monday that's got me confuzzled. The upside to having a week of Thursdays is that my Deconstructed Sketch sample was done for one of those other Thursdays, i.e. early - woohoo! 

So here's the awesome sketch this week, designed by Sheri Gilson:

I took some liberties, a few more than I would have liked, but I think you'll still see the sketch in there. The maple leaf is a Spellbinders die-cut, the blue fringe trim and the velvet maple leaf trim are from my stash (maybe Making Memories?). The grass and the striped scallop were done with CutUps dies from The Cat's Pajamas (Grass and Big Scallop). The bear image is from A Beary Good Year by TCP. And the papers, including the word banner strip and the little "count your blessings" sentiment, are from the Simple Stories Harvest Lane 6x6 pad.

Take a peek at what the rest of the Deconstructed Sketch girls have come up with:

Amber Hight

Amy Sheffer

Arielle Gordon

Cresta Woodruff, Guest Designer

Donna Wardle

Jen Shults

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Sheri Gilson

Tracey Pickersgill

My card doubles as my sample for this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge (#231).

 Jen del Muro is our hostess, and has put together this inspiration board:

I was inspired by the overall Fall theme and warm earth tones. So cozy!

To play along with DS73, click over to Jen Shults's blog.

To play along with TCPTUES231, click over to the challenge thread on SCS.

Now remind me again ... what day is it?

Tween Boy Birthday

I haven't set foot in my craft room since Friday, so I've got nothing new to share today. However, I was tidying up my iPhoto library and ran across some cards that I made a while back but never shared here. Today's is a card I made back in April using TCP's awesome mustache dies and companion set. This was for my oldest son's birthday, which was at the end of August. Not only did I forget to post it here, but I forgot to give it to him until a few days after his birthday. Oops!

The mustache is die-cut from cork using The Cat's Pajamas Mustaches CutUps die. The sentiment stamps are from TCP's The Mustache Set. The papers and that tag element are from Echo Park's Times & Seasons collection. The striped piece along the bottom was die-cut with TCP's Big Scallop CutUps die.  Last, I added some personalization with the number flags, which I cut from one of the Times & Seasons patterns. I kept it on the simple side to fit that difficult recipient - the tween boy. Seriously, does card-making get any harder? Good thing it's for one of my own -- he *has* to like it. Or pretend to, anyway :)

You're Magic! TCPTues230

Happy Tuesday, friends. It's my turn to host the weekly TCP Tuesday Challenge, which means it's sketch time. Here's what we're playing with this week:

I inked up the darling bunny in the hat from Presto!, colored with Copics (the E40's), and paper-pieced the hat. The papers are from Echo Park's For the Record 2 6x6 collections ("Documented" for everything but the hat, which uses a pattern from "Tailored").

Hope you'll join us this week!

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 TCPTUES230 for this week's challenge.
4. TCP stamps/dies are not required, but if you have them, 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.

Have a great Tuesday!

Ticket To My Heart

I'm back, this time with my sample for this week's Deconstructed Sketch #71. This week's sketch is brought to us by Lori Boyd:

More samples from the Deconstructed Sketch Girls:

Amber Hight

Arielle Gordon

Cresta Woodruff, guest designer

Donna Wardle

Jen Shults

Jessica Diedrich

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Sheri Gilson

Tracey Pickersgill

This is also my sample for this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge #229, "We're Partial To Penguins," hosted by Susan Liles. She's challenging us to combine any penguin stamp with either the Ticket or Ribbon Slide CutUps dies. I used the penguin from Up, Up and Away and combined him with a "ticket to my heart" that I created with various stamps from Admit One. I *love* Admit One -- it's so much fun creating custom tickets! For this one, I included the date of my husband's and my 19th anniversary, coming up in November. In hindsight, maybe I should have put the actual wedding date? The colors are awfully girly, but oh well! Aren't the men in our lives used to that?

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 keywordTCPTUES229 for this week's challenge.
4. TCP stamps/dies are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. (Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp/die, like this week)
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. They will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.


Thanks for stopping by!