The Cat's Pajamas September Release and Blog Hop

It is release day at the The Cat's Pajamas! Three new stamps and four new dies are now available in The Cat's Pajamas shop. We are celebrating the release with a blog hop. If you arrived here from from the very talented Christine's blog you are right on track. If not, then start at the beginning on Michele's blog because you don't want to miss anything.

First up is a card featuring the new Sugar Skull CutUps for a day of the dead card.  I cut the main skull from white linen and a Stick It layer, then the individual face pieces from cardstock scraps in black, pink, blue, yellow and green. Having the Stick It layer really made it much easier to assemble. The sentiment from the new Faboolous set was stamped directly onto the soft stone card base. I used the previously released Heart Swirl to cut from green cardstock and then added some leftover flower pieces as well as another flower cut from the previously released Under My Hat CutUps. The sugar skull was then attached with a layer of craft foam.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, PTI cs, Stick It, Simon Says ink

My next card is a clean and simple Christmas card. It is difficult to show how sparkly the silver paper makes this. Plus frankly it was rather dark the day I took this photo. I used a die from the Oval Scroll Duo CutUps to create the cutout from a linen cardstock piece, then backed it with silver metallic cardstock. I stamped the sentiment from the new Christmas Seals in the center using pure poppy ink. I then added a small bow cut from the same metallic paper using a die from the Presents CutUps and a few of enamel dots. The panel was backed with a layer of craft foam and attached to a soft stone card base.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, PTI cs, Michael's metallic cs, Doodlebug enamel dots, PTI ink

Now hop on over to our newest addition to The Cat Pack Kerry's blog.

Here is the full blog hop lineup in case you get lost along the way:

Michele

Christine
Nancy (You are here)
Kerry
Wendy
Brenda
Deborah
Lynn
Alma@The Cat’s Pajamas

The Cat's Pajamas TCP Tuesday #350 Reminder

Today's card is my second one for the TCP Tuesday #350 - Fall Challenge. And since the theme is fall I used some of our new Halloween themed products for this week of sneak peeks which will be released on September 25. 

I used the adorable new Portrait of Mew CutUps to cut the label from white linen card stock and patterned paper plus the cat from black cardstock. I stamped the jack o'lantern from the also new Faboolous stamp set, colored with Copic markers and then fussy cut out. Both the cat and the stamped image were attached to the label using foam tape. I prepared the background by stamping the awesome sentiment also from the new Faboolous stamp set in black and summer sunrise ink directly onto the card base. I added a strip of patterned paper at the bottom, then attached the stamped and diecut image. for a clean and simple Halloween card.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, My Mind's Eye and PTI dp, PTI cs, MFT and PTI ink, Copic Markers

Copics: YR12, YR16, YR18

You have until September 30 to submit a project for this challenge so you have plenty of time. Link up here. You do not have to use TCP products and there is a $50 gift voucher in play for one lucky random winner! 

The Cat's Pajamas September Sneak Peeks

It's The Cat's Pajamas Sneaky Peek Week!  We are celebrating both Halloween and Christmas with three new stamp sets and four new dies. The Portrait of Mew CutUps is a free-with-purchase die set. All the new products will be released on September 25 in the TCP store.

I am kicking off the first of seven days of Sneaky Peek week. Each member of the design team will be taking turns sharing creations. Check The Cat's Pajamas blog everyday to see who is on the schedule.

First up is a Halloween card. I stamped up the ghost from the new Faboolous stamp set onto Copics X-Press It cardstock, colored with Copic markers and fussy cut out. I then created the tag shape from cardstock and patterned paper using the fun new Halloween Tag Duo CutUps which was also cut out the sentiment and spider. This is a great die set! The ghost and spider were attached to the tag using foam tape for dimension. After adding a strip of patterned paper to the bottom of the card base I added some ribbon in the tag hole then attached it to the card front. After adhering the diecut sentiment I stamped the bat image from the new Faboolous stamp set directly onto the card base and added a couple of enamel dots.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, Reverse Confetti dp, PTI cs, Doodlebug enamel dots, May Arts ribbon, MFT and Simon Says ink, Copic Markers

Copics: W00, E81

You can see another Halloween card created from the new products on the TCP Tuesday Challenge reminder posted later in the day.

For this card, I used an image from the hilarious new Better Not Pout set. If you are looking for traditional Christmas images and sentiments, this set ain't it! After coloring the image with Copic markers, I fuss cut out. I cut a label from white linen cardstock and patterned paper using the also new Portrait of Mew CutUps and topped it with the stamped image using foam tape. I created a tag shape using a die from the previously released Holiday Window Duo CutUps, cut from linen cardstock. After embossing, a strip of patterned paper was added to the bottom and a hole was punched at the top in order to tie lime green twine. After adding a strip of patterned paper at the top of the card base front, the completed tag was attached as well as the sentiment stamped with hawaiian shores ink onto the oval from the new Portrait of Mew CutUps.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, PTI dp and cs, Quickutz embossing folder, Doodlebug enamel dots, Hemptique twine, MFT and PTI ink, Copic Markers

Copics: C00, C1, C3, C5, YG01, YG03, YG06, E21, E23, E25, R22, R24, R27, BG000, BG01, BG53

Since it appears that I have never met a Christmas stamp set that I did not love, my handmade Christmas cards are generally all different because I need to use the many I have purchased. But just because you make your own Christmas cards does not mean you have to recreate the wheel each time especially if you have a lot of them to make. Even using the same central image or die you can still produce a card that is unique for your special recipients. For this group of cards I used the new to the shop Round Tree die set as my focal point.

For the first card I created a shaker by cutting the Round Tree branches from birch printed patterned paper then used the second solid Round Tree die to cut from smokey gray cardstock and sandwiched them together with acetate and a filler of the new to the shop sequins for a shaker. A trio of birds The shaker was then matted with green parakeet cardstock and attached to the card base. The sentiment from the previously released All is Bright set was stamped directly onto the background panel using pure poppy ink. A strip of patterned paper at the bottom and lime green twine tied at the  finished it up. 

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, PTI dp and cs, Simon Says cs, Hemptique twine, PTI ink

For the second version I cut the Round Tree branches from white linen cardstock panel, then used the second solid Round Tree die to cut from sno cone cardstock and backed the branches with it. I stamped the sentiment from the also new Christmas Seals set directly onto the panel using pure poppy ink. I cut a bird from pure poppy cardstock using a die from the previously released Window CutUps and attached it to the branches with foam tape. Twine tied at the top added to a trio of red elements.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, PTI cs, Divine Twine, PTI ink

For the final card, I cut the I cut the Round Tree branches from white linen cardstock panel, then used the second solid Round Tree die to cut from dark indigo cardstock. After stamping the sentiment from the previously released All is Bright set was stamped directly onto the background panel using pure poppy ink, I added "snow falling" using a white gel pen to the backing. The pieces were sandwiched together using a layer of craft foam. Several birds were cut from pure poppy cardstock using the previously releasedThe Birds Cutupsand attached to the branches. Twine tied at the top finished it up.  

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, PTI cs, Sukura gel pen, The Twinery twine, PTI ink

Check back later for a TCP Tuesday reminder post where I also use some of the new products!

For a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the store, comment on each of the designer's blogs on a daily basis including mine today and also on my Instagram account @nancyhthomas. Winners will be announced on The Cat's Pajamas Blog and Facebook page each day.

Here are all the new products:

Also new but not used in this post: 

Joy

I had good intentions of playing along with the Papertrey Ink Create Along With Us Challenge. and although I finished the card yesterday I did not get photographed and blogged on time.

I was inspired by Laurie's striking card here. 

I stamped the Beautiful Winter Berries in green parakeet, pure poppy and ruby red and then cut out with the matching dies. I used the Mix & Mat Snowflakes die to cut from white linen cardstock. I added a backing to a card base cut from soft stone patterned paper, then attached the diecut over it using foam tape. The winter berries images were also adhere with foam tape. I used the joy die from the One Liners set to cut from gold mirrored cardstock for the sentiment. 

Products: Papertrey Ink stamps and dies, PTI dp and cs, Michael's metallic cs, Altenew and PTI ink

I'll try to make the deadline next time. Until then, The Cat's Pajamas sneak peeks tonight!

Sitting Here Thinking of You {Purple Onion Designs}

Today's card was created using the sketch from this week's Freshly Made Sketches (#354).

I cut the strips of paper from patterned paper and matted onto a sand cardstock panel. The sentiment from the Purple Onion Designs Essential Thoughts set was stamped directly onto the card base using espresso truffle ink. After coloring up the sweet Purple Onion Designs Cedar (fox), I fussy cut him out and attached to the panel using foam tape.

Products: Purple Onion Designs stamps, Lawn Fawn dp, Reverse Confetti and PTI cs, Memento ink, Copic Markers

Copics: W00, E81, E97, E99, E19, BG0000, BG000, BG01

I hope you've had a great weekend. It's gorgeous but hot as per usual here in Alabama.

Color Throwdown Challenge #509 (guest designer)

I was selected as the featured stamper for a Color Throwdown challenge from a couple of weeks ago so I am now the guest star for the day for the new challenge. Color Throwdown #509 features some beautiful colors of red, orange and blue. What do they say to you?

I stamped the images from the Reverse Confetti S'More Love set onto Neenah cardstock, cut out with the matching dies and then colored with Copic markers. To prepare the background, I used The Cat's Pajamas Balloon Frame to create a cutout from white linen cardstock and then backed with patterned paper. The sentiment from a Lawn Fawn set was stamped using pure poppy ink and then the images were attached using foam tape. I used a double layer of the foam tape for the campfire.

Products: Reverse Confetti stamps and Dies, Lawn Fawn sentiment stamp, Reverse Confetti dp, PTI cs, The Cat's Pajamas die, PTI and Memento ink, Copic Markers

Copics: Penquins-N1,N3, N5, W00, E81, YR31, YR23; Hat-W00, E81, B21, B23, B26; Scarf-R20, R22, R24, R27; Campfire-YR31, YR23, YR04, R24, E23, E25, E27; S'more- W00, E81, E21, E23

Check out the challenge rules and link up your project here.

The Cat's Pajamas #350 Challenge

I hope those of you who celebrate had a great Labor Day weekend. I actually mostly "labored" on Labor Day. I have a puppy who hasn't quite figured out the places he is suppose to use the bathroom so I had some floors to clean up. Enough said.

The September TCP Tuesday challenge is Fall. That means fall colors, fall themes, activities, etc. I always think of sunflowers in the early fall, especially in September so I broke out a stamp set that hasn't seen ink in a while, Bearing Flowers. I stamped the bear onto Copics X-Press It cardstock, substituting the stamped flower with a flower created with the Sunflower Rosette CutUps. I cut out the image with a stitched die then colored up the bear with Copic Markers, adding a strip of patterned paper at the bottom of the rectangle. After adding a patterned paper border at the bottom of the card base, the image piece and diecut flower was attached using a layer of craft foam. The sentiment was stamped onto a small oval and I slipped a small leaf cut with a die from the Leaves CutUps. 

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, Doodlebug and Lawn Fawn dp, Sakura gel pen, Memento and Simon Says ink, Copic Markers

Copics: Bear-E40, E41, E42, E44, W00, E81, R20; Stem-G40, G43

Here are the details for the Challenge:

• Each month a new challenge will be posted on The Cat’s Pajamas blog and our Facebook page.
• If you want to play along you just upload your design to The Cat’s Pajamas blog page using the InLinkz button provided.
• You are not required to use a Cat’s Pajamas stamp or die but if you have them we would love to see them.
• On the day of the next challenge the winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and will receive a Cat Cash Voucher for $50.