With Heartfelt Sympathy {Purple Onion Designs}

The year is almost half over and I still haven't got myself in cardmaking gear yet other than just design team releases. It's been a long time since I've created something for a challenge so I got busy yesterday creating this card for this week's Color Throwdown (ctd496) challenge to use black, aqua and white.

I stamped one corner of a Neenah cardstock using an image from the new Floral Corners set which is part of the new Spread Kindness stamp collection illustrated by Stacey Yacula for Purple Onion Designs. I colored the flowers but not the leaves of the image with Copic Markers and then stamped the sentiment from the also new Kindness Sentiment set. I created a frame for the image panel by stacking two stitched dies. After attaching to the card base on a slant, I added twine and a trio of enamel dots for a clean and simple sympathy card.

Products: Purple Onion Designs stamps, My Mind's Eye dp, PTI and Neenah cs, The Twinery Twine, Doodlebug enamel dots, Simon Says dies, MFT ink, Copic Markers
Copics: W00, E81, B0000, B000, B01

All the new stamps are here. Remember you can get special pricing until June 22; details are here.

Spread Kindness {New Purple Onion Designs}

The wait is over for the new Spread Kindness stamp collection illustrated by Stacey Yacula for Purple Onion Designs! The entire collection consists of 26 stamps featuring Stacey's whimsical critters as well as more classic type images.

For a limited time only, the Spread Kindness collection can be purchased at discounted prices:

Purchase the entire Spread Kindness collection (26 stamps) for $105.00, which is a 30% savings.
Purchase the animals & coordinating stamps (18 stamps) for $71.00, which is a 20% savings.
Purchase the traditional images & florals (8 stamps) for $48.00, which is a 20% savings.

The special pricing is available until Friday, June 22. Of course you can always purchase the stamps individually.

There is also two new sentiment sets available one of which I used on both of the cards I am showing you today.

I stamped the Large Floral Wreath onto Ranger Wendy Vecchi cardstock. With a bit of masking I also added Gracie (bird) and the Nest image to be nestled in the flowers. After coloring the images with Copic Markers, I cut the panel with a stitched die. I prepared the card base with a simple patterned paper border at the bottom of the card base. Lastly, I added liquid pearls on the berries and, a trio of rainstones around the bird and a small bow cut with a die. The sentiment from the Kindness Sentiment set was stamped in the center of the wreath for a clean and simple card.

Products: Purple Onion Designs stamps, Doodlebug dp, PTI and Ranger cs, Ranger Liquid Pearls, PTI Rainstones, Waffle Flower and MFT die, MFT ink, Copic Markers
Copics: Bird-W00, E81, B41, B32; Nest-W1, W2; Leaves-G40, G43, G46; Flowers-Y0000, Y11, Y17, R00, R01, R05, B0000, B000, B01; Shadows-BG70, BG10, BG000

For my second card, I stamped the branches from Floral End Notes at each end of a stitched rectangle panel. I stamped the two tiny flowers onto Copics X-Press It cardstock, colored with Copic markers, then fussy cut out. I added to the branches with a dimensional dot. The sentiment from the Kindness Sentiment set was stamped in the center of the panel. I prepared the background panel by using a scalloped die and patterned paper. The sentiment panel was added with a layer of craft foam.

Products: Purple Onion Designs stamps, PTI dp, PTI and Ranger cs, MFT and Reverse Confetti dies, MFT ink, Copic Markers
Leaves-YG01,YG91, YG93; Flowers-R01, R20, R22, R24

I will have more projects using this release over the next couple of weeks. But of couse,you can see many more projects from my team mates on the Purple Onion Designs blog.

TCP Tuesday #347

It's time for another monthly challenge here at The Cat's Pajamas. The theme for June is Outdoors and you have the rest of the month to submit. 

I decided to use an image from the new Live More set released in May. After stamping it onto Copics X-Press It cardstock it cut the stamped image with a die from the Spring Tag Duo CutUps although I shortened it from it's regular size. I prepared the background using patterned paper and attached the image piece with a layer of craft foam. The sentiment from an older set was stamped directly onto the patterned paper. A couple of enamel dots finished up a CAS card. 

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, Doodlebug dp, PTI cs, Doodlebug enamel dots, Memento ink, Copic Markers

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.

The Cat's Pajamas May Release Blog Hop

It is release day for The Cat's Pajamas! Four 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 Michele's blog then you are right on track. Otherwise start at the beginning on Deborah's blog.

I stamped the image from the new Live More set and colored with Copic markers and cut out with a hexagon die. The sentiment from the Simply Said sentiment set was stamped below the image. I used the new Grass CutUps (which is new to the shop although not exclusive) to cut the grass from patterned paper and attached to the bottom. The finished panel was then attached to the card base.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and die, Doodlebug dp, PTI cs, Doodlebug enamel dots, Lifestyle Crafts die, Memento ink, Copic Markers
Copics: Mouse-C00, C1, C3, R00, R01, B41, B32; Bird/Flower-B41, B32, W00, E81, Y11, Y17, G40, G43; Cactus-G40, G43, Y11, Y17, B41, B32; Cart-W00, E81, N1, N3, B41, B32; Ground-W00, W1; Shadows-BG10, BG000, BG11

Now hop over to The Cat's Pajamas blog for all the details regarding this release. And of course, get on over to the TCP Shop to check out all the new goodies.

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

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

The Cat's Pajamas May Sneak Peeks

It's The Cat's Pajamas Sneaky Peek Week! We have four new stamp sets, four new dies, one of which is an additional free-with-purchase die set, which will be released on May 29 in the TCP store.  A different designer will showcase their projects over the next 7 days and I am kicking things off.

For my first card I stamped the front stone cardstock panel with the small paw prints image using stone ink for a tone on tone look, then stamped the sentiment in vermillion and cut out with a stitched die. I partially cut a cutout for the image using one of the dies from the Holiday Window Duo set. I stamped the image from the new Pawprints set directly onto the card base, masked and then stamped the "floor" using an image from the TuTu Much set. After coloring with Copic Markers, I tied a bow around the top portion of the cutout on the sentiment panel and then added an enamel heart.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, PTI and RC cs, May Arts ribbon, Doodlebug enamel heart, Ranger and Memento ink, Copic Markers
Copics: Dog-W00, E81, C00, C1, C3, C5, E21, E23, R20, R22, R24; Shadows-BG70, BG10

This card features a sweet image from the new Whee set. I stamped the image, masked it then stamped the sentiments three times and a second one below the image and cut out with a stitched die. After coloring the image with Copic Markers, I added some sparkles with a clear Sakura Gelly Roll Pen on the crown. The panel was lightly flecked with gold Gansai Tambi Starry Colors. Before attaching to the panel to the card front using a layer of craft foam, I wrapped it in gold thread and added a gold bone using a die from the Goodies set.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and die, Doodlebug dp, PTI cs, Michael's metallic cs, Memento ink, Copic Markers
Copics: Dog-E50, E51; Crown-Y0000, Y11; Pillow-RV0000, R81

My last card of the day is definitely die centric (by the way our May TCP Tuesday challenge is to use dies on your project). I cut the tag using a die from the Spring Tag Duo set, then embossed it with the Dots CutUps. The new Camera die provided the centerpiece of the tag cut from various brightly colored cardstock, the last piece on a dimensional dot. The new Smile CutUps was used to cut the sentiment which was cut twice and stacked together for dimension. After assembling the card front using a strip of patterned paper, linen cardstock and a border cut with one of dies from the new Eyelet CutUps (which is the free with purchase die), I attached the tag. The second sentiment from the Banner Days set was stamped onto a banner cut with a die from the Ribbon Banners CutUps and placed over the tag. A few enamel dots finished it up.

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

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. Be sure to stop by Michele's blog tomorrow but of course you can always check the TCP blog to see who is scheduled each day.

Here are all the new Products:

TCP Tuesday #346

It's time for another challenge here at The Cat's Pajamas. We are challenging you to use your dies. You have the entire month to submit. 

I used mostly dies on this spring card. I cut the main frame from patterned paper using the Spring Tag Duo CutUps, then cut the leaves portion again from green patterned paper and also the bird. After assembling the frame I attached it to a patterned paper background. The sentiment from the Simply Said set was stamped onto a banner shape cut with a die from the Ribbon Banners set. 

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, Avery Elle and Doodlebug dp, PTI cs, Michael's brads, PTI ink

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.

The Cat's Pajamas April Sneak Peeks

It's The Cat's Pajamas Sneaky Peek Week! We have three new stamp sets, three new dies and a free-with-purchase stamp set which will be released on April 24 in the TCP store.  Julie, Michele and Brenda have already shown you some fantastic projects in previous sneak peeks. These ladies were a hard act to follow but I tried my best.

First up is a Father's Day card featuring the hilarious new Welcome to the Funny Farm set. I stamped the first sentiment in pure poppy ink, then the row of penguins and second sentiment in a Copic friendly black onto a stitched panel. I had fun stamping the various accessories onto the each of the penguins selecting the fish tie, bow tie, glasses, mustache and beard and then colored all images with Copic markers. The panel was attached to a soft stone card base.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps, PTI cs, PTI and MFT ink, Copic Markers
Copics: Penguins-W00, E81, C1, C3, C5, YR31, Y21; Accessories-B41, B32, YG000, YG91, Y13, Y35, R20, R22, R24, V12, V15, V17, E23, E25

Next up is a card featuring the new Asian Spring set which can be as simple or artsy as you want to get. I created the image background by cutting a circle from watercolor cardstock and watercoloring with a Zig Kuretake Clean Color brush marker to represent the sky. I cut the mountains using a die from the also new Mountains CutUps set and the same circle die. After watercoloring with another Zig Kuretake marker, I stamped the image using black ink and then attached to the first circle. I prepared the background with a combo of patterned paper and a white cardstock strip to ground the image piece which was attached with a layer of craft foam, The sentiment from the Simply Said set was stamped below it. I know I say it every time but I love the classic and simple sentiments on this set.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, Echo Park dp, PTI and Ranger watercolor cs, Simon Says ink, Zig Kuretake Clean Color Brush Markers
Zigs: Blue, Mid Green

The most interesting bunny in the world is back and this time he/she is a graduate. I always seem to need at least 1 or 2 graduation cards a year. I stamped the bun from the new Change the World set onto Copics X-Press It cardstock, colored with Copic markers and then fussy cut out. I stamped the sentiment onto a white circle, then nested it onto a yellow cardstock piece cut with a die from the Fancy Flip Frames. I prepared the background panel by using the notebook die from the Toppers CutUps. The stamped bunny was attached using foam tape for dimension.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, PTI cs, MFT ink, Copic Markers
Copics: Bunny-E50, E51, E53, R00, R01; Diploma-W00, E81; Hat-C1, C3, C5; Gown-Y13, Y17, YR21

Do you remember the free stamp with purchase I mentioned earlier? Well here it is with this card. It's a small but dynamic set. After stamping the wine glasses using black ink, I stamped the inside with raspberry ripple and summer starfruit ink then cut out with the matching die from the new Wine & Martinis CutUps. The word sentiment from the also new Cheers CutUps was cut out three times from hawaiian shores cardstock, then layered together for dimension. I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set in black onto a white linen stitched panel and a wine "splash" from the Watercolor Basics set using raspberry ripple ink. I then attached the wine glasses,  the word sentiment and an enamel dot.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamps and dies, PTI cs, MME enamel dot, SU and MFT inks

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. Be sure to stop by Deborah's blog tomorrow but of course you can always check the TCP blog to see who is scheduled each day.

Here are the new release products: