Sending Smiles {Purple Onion Designs}

Since I haven't had much of a creative spark I've been spending some time in my kitchen decluttering and reorganizing instead. So there is some good coming out of a lack of mojo! I do manage to get to my craft table occasionally and today's card is one of them.

I stamped Flora (an owl) and Toadstool Cluster onto a circle panel and then used a Copic Multiliner pen connect the two images to create a forest floor. Even those these were winter images I decided to make them more early spring by adding a mossy ground. After coloring the scene with Copic Markers I prepared the background by cutting white textured cardstock with a die from the Simon Says Wavy Scallop Stitches set and stamping the sentiment from the Love Bug Sentiment set using Blue Jay ink. I slipped patterned paper from an older My Mind's Eye pad
underneath the cardstock to complete the background and then attached the image using a layer of craft foam. A couple of enamel dots finished it up.

Products: Purple Onion Designs stamps, My Mind's Eye dp, PTI and Bazzill cs, Doodlebug enamel dots, MFT die, Memento ink, Simon Says die and ink,  Copic Markers
Copics: Owl-C00, C1, C3, C5, W00, E81, YR30, YR31, Y35, B41, B32, B34; Stump-E30, E31, E33, E57; Toadstools-R20, R22, R24, E50, E51, E53; Moss-YG0000, YG91, YG93; Shadows-BG70, BG0000, BG000


See the Purple Onion Designs blog for more inspiration. Have a great weekend!

Hello {Purple Onion Designs}

I have been struggling a bit with my creative endeavors. Sometime before Christmas I really lost my creative spark and I am just now getting back to normal. It happens to everyone but it's alarming when it goes on so long.

I used the spotlight technique to stamp the Perch branch and Sweetheart owl onto a Neenah cardstock rectangle and the innermost piece cut with the Pretty Pink Posh Decorative Tag 1 die. The frame of the diecut was cut from Hibiscus Burst cardstock. After coloring with Copic Markers, I attached the oval framed piece with craft foam. The sentiment from the Helen's Hand-Everyday Sentiment set was stamped directly onto the image panel which was matted onto True Black cardstock.  A few clear sequins provided the finishing touches.

Products: Purple Onion Designs stamps, Neenah and PTI cs, Pretty Pink Posh and  Lil Inker Designs dies, Verve sequins, Memento and Simon Says inks, Copic Markers
Copics: Owl-E40, E41, E42, E44, YR30, YR31, W00, E81; Heart-RV00, RV10, RV11, RV13, R85; Branch-W00, W1, W2, YG0000, YG61, YG63; Shadows-B0000, B000

See the Purple Onion Designs blog for more inspiration.

{The Cat's Pajamas} TCP Tuesday Challenge

If you attended the pre-release Pajama Party on The Cat's Pajamas Facebook page you have already seen today's card. If you don't attend those things, you are really missing out. We have fun chatting, play games for prizes and the Design Team shares additional projects featuring the new release. 

I stamped the image from the Owl You Need is Love set onto a piece cut with the matching free Cutables that Alma provides with each release and then colored with Copic Markers. It's a rarity that I color an image without knowing what paper I was going to use but that is exactly what I did. In fact, I colored it during the Alabama vs Clemson National Championship game to help calm the nerves. So if you see mistakes just ignore them and say Roll Tide!

I knew I would find some pinks and red in the Doodlebug but to my surprise I also found the light woodgrain paper which I used for the background. I stamped the sentiment directly onto the background using Vermillion ink and then attached to the card base with a layer of craft foam. The owl image was attached to the red circle also using craft foam slipping the flourish cut with the Heart Swirl CutUps underneath.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, Doodlebug dp, PTI cs,Memento and Ranger Ink, Copic Markers
Copics: Owls-C00, C1, C3, C5, YR30, YR31, R22, R24, R27, RV00, RV10, RV11, RV13; Leaves and Branches-YG01, YG61, YG63, E30, E31, E33, E35

As a reminder, the TCP Tuesday  "Anything Goes"challenge is in full swing.. The challenge runs for one more week and The Cat’s Pajamas stamps are not required.

The January Blog Hop provides another chance to create and win. It does require the use of at least one TCP product and you can submit the same card for TCP Tuesday also. A win-win!

The Cat's Pajamas New Release Blog Hop and TCP Tuesday

It is release day for The Cat's Pajamas! All four of the new stamp sets and five fabulous new Cutups dies are available now in The Cat's Pajamas shop. Don't forget that the Always CutUps is free with a $65 purchase or you may purchase it outright.

We are celebrating the release with a blog hop. If you came here from the very talented Christine's blog, then you are right on track. If not, then start at Deborah's blog to follow along.

Along with the January Blog Hop it is also the first day of the TCP Tuesday (TCPTUES306) Anything Goes Challenge. See the full details on The Cat's Pajamas blog which is also the last stop on the hop.

I stamped one of images from the Just Let it Happen set onto a stitched panel and then colored with Copic Markers. I added a strip of patterned paper and used the Love Topper to cut a border from red cardstock and then anchored it with a button/twine combo. The sentiment was stamped directly onto the background panel. Easy!

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and die, Doodlebug dp, Simon Says cs, PTI cs and button, Divine Twine, Versafine ink, Copic Markers
Copics: W00, E81, R22, R24, C00, C1, C3, N1, N3, N5, E30, E31, E33, YG61, YG63, YG67, R30, R32


I hope you have enjoyed all the sneak peeks, chatting and the shopping over the past week! To continue the blog hop, please pop on over to Lori's blog.  

{The Cat's Pajamas Sneak Peek} Always CutUps

We've reached the last day of The Cat's Pajamas sneak peeks. The Pajama Party is tonight (Monday) on our Facebook page. Right after the party the new stamps and dies will be available for purchase. See more information at the bottom of the post.

Today we are spotlighting the new Love Topper and Always CutUps.

I have another super easy CAS designed card. I used the Lacey Heart CutUps to emboss onto a white textured cardstock panel and then added a small heart cut from patterned paper with a die from the Nested Heart CutUps. I used the Always CutUps to cut from two layers of plain white and one from gold mirrored cardstock layering them together on the background. The Always die is free with a $65 purchase or you may purchase it.

Here are some details you need to know:

1. All the new stamps and dies will be released on Tuesday,  January 19th.

2. Are you IN IT TO WIN IT? For a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to The Cat's Pajamas store, leave a comment on each of the sneak peek posts, including The Cat's Pajamas blog. A winner will be randomly drawn and will be announced on the TCP Facebook Page the following day.

3. Save the date for the Pajama Party on Monday, January 18 from 8-10pm EST.

Here are the other Cat Pack participants today: Brenda, Wendy, Deborah, and Wanda Cullen, Guest Designer

And here are the new products I used:

{The Cat's Pajamas Sneak Peek} Kitschy Kitchen

You are in for a treat today as we are featuring the fun and retro Kitschy Kitchen set. This stamp set is so cute I can hardly stand it!

I stamped the skillet, spatula, toast and egg images onto pieces cut with the matching free Cutables that Alma provides with each release and then colored with Copic Markers. After stamping the sentiment with Black ink onto a kraft panel, I layered the images across the panel using foam tape. I attached the image panel onto a patterned paper background using craft foam. A couple of heart shaped enamel dots filled in some blank spaces. This is going to my my hubby's Valentine's Day card.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps, Doodlebug dp and enamel dots, Memento and Simon Says inks, Copic Markers
Copics: Skillet-W00, E81, C1, C3, C5, C7; Toast-E30, E31, E33, E35, E57; Eggs-W00, E81, Y0000, Y13, Y17; Spatula-W00, E81, C1, C3, C5, R22, R24, R27

Here are some details you need to know:

1. All the new stamps and dies will be released on Tuesday,  January 19th.

2. Are you IN IT TO WIN IT? For a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to The Cat's Pajamas store, leave a comment on each of the sneak peek posts, including The Cat's Pajamas blog. A winner will be randomly drawn and will be announced on the TCP Facebook Page the following day.

3. Save the date for the Pajama Party on Monday, January 18 from 8-10pm EST.

Here are the other Cat Pack participants today: Brenda, Wendy, Julie, Christine,  Lori and Wanda Cullen, Guest Designer

And here are the new products I used today:

Here is the stamp set I used today:

{The Cat's Pajamas Sneak Peek} Conversation Hearts

Welcome to another day of The Cat's Pajamas sneak peeks. Today we are debuting the Conversation Hearts stamp set along with the Stacked Hearts CutUps.

I cut out three of the stitched hearts from patterned paper and craft foam. Using the hearts as a guide I stamped various sentiments onto a textured cardstock background using Slate ink. I then clustered the hearts and a trio of enamel dots around the sentiments for my usual clean and simple card.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, Studio Calico dp, Bazzill and PTI cs, Doodlebug enamel dots, Simon Says ink

Here are some details you need to know:

1. All the new stamps and dies will be released on Tuesday,  January 19th.

2. Are you IN IT TO WIN IT? For a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to The Cat's Pajamas store, leave a comment on each of the sneak peek posts, including The Cat's Pajamas blog. A winner will be randomly drawn and will be announced on the TCP Facebook Page the following day.

3. Save the date for the Pajama Party on Monday, January 18 from 8-10pm EST.

Here are the other Cat Pack participants today: Brenda, Wendy, Deborah, Jessica and Wanda Cullen, Guest Designer

And here are the new products I used today:

{The Cat's Pajamas Sneak Peek} Lacey Hearts CutUps

I played hooky yesterday but I am back today with another The Cat's Pajamas Sneak Peek.

I started out by messy smooshing and dabbing of watercolors onto a Strathmore watercolor piece using Ranger Distress Festive Berries ink. I then used the new Lacey Hearts CutUps to cut from white cardstock and attached it the panel over the watercoloring. I stamped the sentiment from the Words of Love set using Versafine ink.The panel was attached to the card base with craft foam. A few clear and white sequins finished up another clean and simple card.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and CutUps, Strathmore watercolor cs, Verve and Teresa Collins sequins, Versafine and Ranger Distress inks

Here are some details you need to know:

1. All the new stamps and dies will be released on Tuesday,  January 19th.

2. Are you IN IT TO WIN IT? For a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to The Cat's Pajamas store, leave a comment on each of the sneak peek posts, including The Cat's Pajamas blog. A winner will be randomly drawn and will be announced on the TCP Facebook Page the following day.

3. Save the date for the Pajama Party on Monday, January 18 from 8-10pm EST.

Here are the other Cat Pack participants today: Brenda, Wendy, Julie, Christine, Jessie and Wanda Cullen, Guest Designer

And here are the new products I used today:

{The Cat's Pajamas Sneak Peek} Just Let it Happen

Welcome to the first day of The Cat's Pajamas sneak peeks! Over the next seven days The Cat Pack along with our special guest designer, Wanda Cullen will be showcasing four new stamp sets and five new CutUps. This is a really fun release so let's get started with the new Just Let it Happen set.

I stamped one of the images onto a rectangle background using Versafine ink which I heat set and then colored with Copic Markers. I used a Sakura Gelly Roll pen on the candy wrapper images to give them some sparkle and shine and added some pink pearls to Sprinkle's collar. Using the new Love Topper, I cut a bottom border from white textured cardstock, stamped the sentiment and then layered a patterned paper heart onto it. A few buttons finished it up.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, PTI dp and cs, Kaisercraft pearls, Sakura Gelly Roll pen, Versafine ink, Copic Markers
Copics: Candy Box-W00, E81, R20, R22, R24, R27, R00, R30, R35; Candy Wrappers-E30, E31; Shadows-C00, C1

Here are some details you need to know:

1. All the new stamps and dies will be released on Tuesday,  January 19th.

2. Are you IN IT TO WIN IT? For a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to The Cat's Pajamas store, leave a comment on each of the sneak peek posts, including The Cat's Pajamas blog. A winner will be randomly drawn and will be announced on the TCP Facebook Page the following day.

3. Save the date for the Pajama Party on Monday, January 18 from 8-10pm EST.

Here are the other Cat Pack participants today: Brenda, Wendy, Deborah, Julie, Christine,  Lori and Wanda Cullen, Guest Designer

And here are the new products I used today:

The Cat's Pajamas TCP Tuesday Challenge

It's another year of  TCP Tuesday challenges at The Cat's Pajamas, It's  "Anything Goes" and runs for two weeks.  The Cat’s Pajamas stamps are not required.

Unfortunately I needed a sympathy card for a church member so I combined it with the challenge. I started out by messy watercoloring onto Ranger Distress Watercolor cardstock using Blueberry Sky and Simply Chartreuse inks. I then stamped the sentiment from the Hang in There set onto vellum using Versamark ink and then white heat embossed. I sewed the vellum sentiment onto the background and attached the piece to the card base with craft foam after adding a Blueberry Sky mat.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamp, Bazzill Vellum, Ranger and PTI  cs, PTI inks, Versamark ink

Here are the details:

1. Every other Tuesday a new challenge will be posted on The Cat's Pajamas blog as well as on our Facebook page.
2. If you want to play along you just upload your design to The Cat's Pajamas blog page using the InLinkz button below.
3. You must have your project posted by the Monday, 11:55 EDT before the next challenge to be eligible to win the Cat Cash.
4. Cards and projects are not required to use a Cat’s Pajamas Stamp or CutUps die but if you do the Cat Cash amount increases.
5. On the following TCP Tuesday, the week's winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and will receive a Cat Cash Voucher for $10 or $15 if a TCP product is used.

Shine On....

...you crazy diamond.  If you are a Pink Floyd fan you will know that song. And my son is a fan, even though they are my era and not his.

When I told you on Christmas Eve that I was taking a week or two off from the blog, I had no idea that it would be the 8th of January before I posted again. It's not that I haven't been crafting. I have. I've been working on The Cat's Pajamas release which I can't show you until Tuesday. It's totally worth the wait. Just sayin'.

Back to Pink Floyd....this card was created for my son's December birthday using images from the WPlus9 Sparkle & Shine set. So yeah, this isn't a new creation so I am still a slacker. I started out by stamping the various gem images directly onto Ranger Watercolor cardstock using Versamark ink which was clear embossed. I then water colored the background with Blueberry Sky ink. I cut a few more gems cut with the matching Sparkle & Shine Companion dies and then watercolored all the gem images with Zig Watercolor Brushes. I cut the word from gold mirrored cardstock and a few layers of plain white cardstock using a die from the Sparkle & Shine Trio set, stacking them together dimension. I collaged the word die and gem images together adding a few metallic sequins, then the panel was matted onto Blueberry Sky cardstock.

I finished the inside with a computer generated sentiment along with a PTI stamped sentiment both topped with a 'diamond.'

Products: WPlus9 Stamps and dies, Ranger Watercolor cs, PTI cs and ink, Michael's mirrored cs, Zig Clean Color Brushes

I promise to have something newly created Monday. Have a great weekend!