Wednesday, June 29, 2011

All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge - Punches and Dies

I hope your day is as bright as this card. We are well into our summer weather here in Alabama and I wanted my card to reflect that. I created this for All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge which is to use your "punches and dies." 

I combined two Sweet November stamps Darby from the Darby and Lulu set and Sonata from the Briar and Sonata set. I stamped both onto Copics X-Press It cardstock, then cut out with a Spellbinders Nestie, sponging ink lightly around the edges before removing from the die. As per usual I colored with Copic Markers (specific colors listed below). All patterned paper is from the Echo Park Summer Days 6x6 pad. I didn't use any punches on this but I sure used the dies including Spellbinder's Circle Nestabilities, The Cat's Pajamas Grass CutUps and My Favorite Things Sun and Rainbow Die-Namics.


Products: Sweet November stamps, Echo park dp, The Cat's Pajamas CutUps, My Favorite Things Dienamics, PTI buttons, Twinery Twine, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers

Copics: Skin-E00, E000, E11, R20; Hair-R32, R35, R37, R39; Eyes-B01, B04; Clothes-BG10, BG11, BG53, Y0000, Y11, Y15, Y17

I hope you will join in on the challenge. There is a great prize being offered and in order to be eligible to win, your project must include a stamp that is sold in the All That Scraps shop whether it is any of the wonderful in house designs or from the various other stamp companies that ATS carries. Be sure to link up your project with Mr Linky by next Tuesday at 10PM EST and only one entry per person please.

Have fun!

Monday, June 27, 2011

TCP Tuesday 165 and New Release Blog Hop

Woohoo, today is release day for The Cat's Pajamas! All eight of the fabulous new stamp sets and four new Cutups dies are available now from The Cat's Pajamas shop

It's been a fun Swanky Stamper week. I've really enjoyed working with a great group of designers. This may be my last day as a Swanky Stamper but it certainly won't be my last TCP project. I've had so much fun with this selection of stamps and CutUps and I want to thank Alma for including me.


Since it is release day that also means a blog hop. I hope you arrived here from Amy's blog where I am sure she had something beautiful and creative for you to see. If not, head on over to Leigh's blog to start at the beginning. Leigh is this week's TCP Tuesday challenge hostess which is one of her fabulous sketches.

I decided to break out the Up, Up and Away set again. I stamped the image onto Copics X-Press It cardstock and colored with Copic markers. I added some paper piecing for the kite portion and then cut the entire piece out. It seemed rather natural to use the My Mind's Eye Lime Twist Fly a Kite 6x6 pad and I combined it with a sheet from Echo Park's Summer Days pad for one of the layers. I placed a dimensional dot underneath the kite portion as well as the bow at the tail end to give it a sense of movement. Some bling, buttons and ribbon and it was done.


Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamp and CutUps, My Mind's Eye and Echo Park dp, May Arts ribbon, Doodlebug jewel, Spellbinder Nestabilities, Copic Markers


Copics: Bows-YG01, YG23, YG25, R24, R27, R46; Penguin-YR12, YR16, YR18

Now to continue the blog hop, please click on over to Jackie's blog. I know she has something awesome to share with you.

{The Cat's Pajamas Sneaky Peek - Day 7} Kick Some Grass


It is the last day for Sneaky Peeks of the new stamp sets and dies from The Cat's Pajamas. Tonight you are invited to join us at a Pajama Party at Splitcoast Stampers at 8-10pm EST. The new items will be available for sale on Tuesday, June 28 at midnight eastern time. We will also be blog hopping Tuesday morning for more projects with the new sets and TCP Tuesday. So please make plans to do some chattin', shoppin' and hoppin' with The Cat's Pajamas crew.

Today's new stamp is "Kick Some Grass". The name alone makes me smile. The Bunny really gets around! After several adventures this week, flying an airplane, riding a bike, then hot air ballooning, just sitting in a field of flowers, contemplating life is a nice respite. The image was stamped onto Copics X-Press It blending cardstock, colored with Copic Markers and then cut out. I combined it with an American Crafts Dear Lizzie sticker to add to the whole relaxation theme. I don't know if you can tell but I scrunched up the trees together a bit so that the banner strung between them would pop up a bit. The sentiment is also from the set although I parsed it bit and stamped it down rather than across so it would fit inside a circle.   


Products: The Cat's Pajama's stamp, My Mind's Eye dp, American Crafts ribbon and tree sticker, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers

Copics: Bunny-RV00, RV10, RV13; Grass/Stems-G40, G21, G24; Flowers-R81, R83, R85, R89


I'll see you tonight at Splitcoast Stampers for the pajama party and afterwards I'll be participating in the blog hop.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

{The Cat's Pajamas Sneaky Peek - Day 6} Away We Go


After the day off yesterday I am back with another The Cat's Pajamas sneak peeks. Today's feature is "Away We Go". I have already mentioned my love for The Bunny. That's my name for him since he doesn't really have one. Kinda like The Donald but with much better hair. This time he is floating around in a hot air balloon. Attending the Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico is on my bucket list so I was eager to ink up this stamp. And wouldn't you know it, one of the My Mind's Eye Lime Twist pads (Out of the Blue) has a hot air balloon pattern sheet. I wasn't going to argue with destiny. I stamped the image onto Copics X-Press It blending cardstock, colored with Copics and then cut out. The new Cloud Border CutUps is making another apperance and this time I stamped my sentiment on it. I cut off the last cloud in the border and layered it over the balloon. I placed a pop dot underneath one of the bunny ears for that blowing in the breeze look. For the border strip I used one of my favorite TCP dies, The Big Scallop.


Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamp and CutUps, My Mind's Eye dp, Crate Paper brads, PTI buttons, Copic Markers

Copics: Bunny-C00, C1, C3; Balloon-Y21, Y23, Y26, G20, YG23, YG25, BG10, BG11, BG53, R22, R24, R27

 

Please head on over to Alma's Dancing in Pajamas blog to see the full list of designers participating today. I'll see you back here tomorrow with the last TCP sneak peek. We're getting so-o-o close to the release date! I hope you will join us at for a Pajama Party at Splitcoast Stampers at 8-10pm EST on Monday night to celebrate the new release. There will be lots of talk, some prizes and even more projects.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

You Make Life Sweet

Happy Saturday to you. It's going to be a busy day here as it is our neighborhood garage sale. As soon as the sale is over, a truck from a local charity will pick up everything that did not find a new home. So hopefully by the end of the day I will have a nice clean basement and a few extra dollars.

Today's card is for this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club sketch challenge (MFTWSC25). I stamped the Pure Innocence Make Mine a Double onto Copics X-Press It cardstock and then drew her some socks with a Copics Multiliner pen. I then colored with Copics and cut the image out. The patterned paper is a combo of Pink Paislee and Echo Park.


Products: My Favorite Things stamp and Die-namics, Echo Park and Pink Paislee dp, Ki Memories ribbon, PTI button, Twinery Twine, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers
 
Copics: Skin-E000, E00, E11, R20; Hair-E33, E35, E37; Clothing-R32, R35, R37, B000, B01, B04; Ice Cream-R81, R83, YR01, YR12

I'll be back tomorrow with a The Cat's Pajamas sneak peek.


Friday, June 24, 2011

{The Cat's Pajamas Sneaky Peek - Day 4} Up, Up and Away


Happy Friday! I'm back today with another The Cat's Pajamas sneak peek. Today's projects feature "Up, Up and Away". You just can't have a TCP release without a penguin! He was stamped onto Copics X-Press It blending cardstock and then colored with Copic markers. I cut the image out with a Spellbinders Nestie with a bit of out of the box, or in this case out of the circle action. I expanded on the kite theme by making a much bigger one as a background panel. And did you notice the clouds? I used the new Cloud Border CutUp although I did cut it in two and positioned them around both kites. All patterned paper is from the Echo Park Summer Days 6x6 pad.


Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamp and Cutups, Echo Park dp, Doodlebug jewels, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers

Copics: YR01, YR12, YR14, YG21, YG13, YG25, BG70, BG10, BG11, R32, R35, R37

 

Please head on over to Alma's Dancing in Pajamas blog to see the full list of designers participating today. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

{The Cat's Pajamas Sneaky Peek - Day 3} Wheel Love


Well no one fired me after yesterday's TCP sneak peek project so I appear to be let loose on the world for another. Today's projects feature Flutter By and Wheel Love. I am showing you "Wheel Love" today. I absolutely love these bunnies in any shape or form and usually one or two from each release finds their way into my stamp collection. I don't know how that happens! And look how cute this little guy (or girl) is on his bike. I stamped him onto Copics X-Press It blending cardstock and colored with Copics. After cutting the image panel out with a circle Nestie, I sponged around the edges with ink while it was still in the die. I kept the overall design simple as I really wanted the main image to shine against the primary colors of the Echo Park paper. I carried through the "wheel" theme with more round objects via buttons attached with brads. Plus I broke up the sentiment so it would fit onto a circle shape.


Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamp, Echo Park dp, PTI buttons, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers

Copics: Bunny-C00, C1, C3, C5; Bicycle-R22, R24, R27, N1, N5, N7; Basket-YG21, YG23, YG25; Flowers-Y21, Y23, Y26
   
Please head on over to Alma's Dancing in Pajamas blog to see the full list of designers participating today. I'll see you back here tomorrow with another TCP sneak peek.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

{The Cat's Pajamas Sneaky Peek - Day 2} Bearing Flowers

***Scroll down one more post for this week's All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge***


Good morning. I am so excited to be helping Alma and The Cat Pack with sneak peeks of the latest and greatest The Cat's Pajamas collection. How did I land this gig you ask? I was the May Swanky Stamper which means I not only scored some totally awesome new stamps and CutUps but I can also play along with the design team this week. If being a Swanky Stamper is something that interests you too, check out the details here. Afterall, you gotta be in it to win it!

Today's sneak peek features the latest version of P.J. the bear from the new "Bearing Flowers" set. I wiped away the flower portion of the image before stamping onto Copics X-Press It blending cardstock. After cutting the image with a circle Nestie I sponged around the edges with ink while it was still in the die. After coloring P.J. with Copic Markers, I then made a dimensional flower using the new and fabulous Rosette Sunflower CutUps, using pop dots to attach. The patterned paper is a mix of new (Echo Park Summer Days) and old (Ki Memories and Autumn Leaves). The Ki alphabet paper is one of my very favorite pieces of paper ever so I hoard it like crazy since it can't be replaced. Only something as cute as P.J. would make me cut into it. The bee brad on the flower is something I've had in my stash forever too. I love the sentiments in this set and had a hard time choosing which one I wanted to use.

And while I am at it, I'm using this card for this week's TCP Tuesday (TCPTUES164) which is - get this - use any TCP bear in your project. Hmm.....I don't think that was a coincidence!



Products: The Cat's Pajamas Stamps and CutUps, Echo Park and Ki Memories dp, May Arts ribbon, PTI buttons, Spellbinders Nestabiliites, Copic Markers

Copics: Bear-E50, E51, E53, N1, N5, N7, W00, W1, W2, W5; Leaf/Stem-G40, G82, G85
   


Please head on over to Alma's Dancing in Pajamas blog to see what the very talented Cat Pack have to show you! I'll see you back here tomorrow with another TCP sneak peek.



All That Scraps Wednesday - Pinwheels

It is time for another All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge. There is a great prize being offered and in order to be eligible to win, your project must include a stamp that is sold in the All That Scraps shop whether it is any of the wonderful in house designs or from the various other stamp companies that ATS carries. Be sure to link up your project with Mr Linky by next Tuesday at 10PM EST and only one entry per person please! Today's challenge is to use to "incorporate pinwheels" in your project.

Pinwheels always have that wow factor because they look hard to make but in fact are easy peasy to create. I made it even easier by using The Cat's Pajamas Pinwheel die to make mine. What can I say? I'm lazy card maker! Here is a pattern if you don't happen to have the TCP die.

I'm going back to my first Sweet November love with this beauty Chanter Heartsong. When I first discovered these stamps I had no idea that they were created by an old acquaintance of mine from the Lifetime Moments message board which is now closed. We found our way to each other again through blogland and, lucky me, I'm designing for Amy now. The whimsical nature of the stamps is what drew me in and by stalking Amy's blog, she taught me that hair doesn't have to be the usual colors thus the pink hair on Chanter. I used some really old paper with this. It is the Heather Bailey collection from Autumn Leaves. I had always loved her fabric so when the paper came out I grabbed it up. I only have 3 partial pieces of it left and I'm hoarding every little morsel of it. The pinwheel stem is a plastic straw from my kitchen drawer.


Products: Sweet November stamp, The Cat's Pajamas Pinwheel CutUps, PTI buttons, Kaisercraft jewels, Martha Stewart paper doily, Copic Markers

Copics: Skin-E000, E00, E11, R20; Eyes-BG10, BG53; Hair/Clothing/Wings Trim-RV10, RV32, RV34; Clothing-YG01, YG13, YG23; Wings/Shoes-Y0000, Y11, Y15

So get to work on those pinwheel projects! Have fun!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Hearts and Flowers

It is such a busy time for us. We had family visiting this past weekend for Father's Day plus two of our granddaughters are visiting for a couple of weeks. On top of that we are participating in the neighborhood yard sale this Saturday and I still have pricing and sorting to do for that. But I did find an extra hour to make this card for The Cat's Pajamas Tuesday Challenge (TCPTUES165) which is a color challenge of Cotton Candy, Lipstick Red and Aqua. I stamped TCP Bear Hugs Copics X-Press It blending cardstock and then colored with Copic markers, paper piecing the heart. I love these colors but in moderation so I placed everything against a white background. I also used a couple of different CutUps including the Heart Trio and Flower Buttons.


Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamp and CutUps, My Mind's Eye and October Afternoon dp, American Crafts ribbon, Kaisercraft pearls, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers

Copics: BG0000, BG10, BG11, R00, R30, R32




Thanks for stopping by.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day

Today's card is a Father's Day card for my husband. Although I never really understood  the "owl" phase in scrapbooking products,  I did really like this big owl stamp from Hero Arts. I stamped him onto Copic X-Press It blending card and then colored him with Copic markers. It took a while because I colored each little feather one a time since I was afraid I would mess up the color pattern I wanted if I colored ahead. No time lost though since I did it during one night of insomnia. I emulated the argyle shape in the pattern paper with a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the main image panel. All pattern paper is from the My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose "Hattie" 6x6 pad.


Products: Hero Arts stamp, My Mind's Eye dp, PTI button and sentiment, My Favorite Things Die-namics, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Copic Markers

Copics: BG70, BG72, BG75, Y21, Y23, Y26, E40, E41, E42, W2, W5, W7, YG91, YG93

As always thanks for stopping by.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

A Swanky Blog Hop

Welcome to the Swanky Blog Hop! I hope you arrived here from Megan's blog. If not, head on over to Julie's Stampin with Julie blog to start at the beginning.

A group of The Cat's Pajamas fans and designers recently participated in an ATC (Artist Trading Card) swap over in the The Cat's Pajamas forum at Split Coast Stampers. Part of the fun in making these is the challenge of the canvas size which is 2.5x3.5 inches. My hardest decision was how to narrow it down to which stamp I wanted to use. I finally decided on an oldie but goodie, Big Sprinkle. I stamped her onto a simple patterned paper background with Nick Bantock Lamp Black ink and then heat embossed with Black Diamonds embossing powder making Sprinkle all sparkly. I colored in the nose pink and the eyes a teal blue with Copic Markers. The basic design elements and color scheme were the same although I moved the Heart Trio CutUps around a bit and varied the papers. I finished them off with a felt button cut with the Flower Button CutUps and then tied with twine. All the paper came from my bag of scraps. 



Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamp and CutUps; PTI cs and felt, Kaisercraft Rhinestones, Divine Twine, Copic Markers

I also made an extra one for our sweet hostess Linda. The set is What a Blast and I stamped it onto Copics Express-It blending cardstock, eliminating the pinwheel portion of the image. I colored with Copic markers, paper pieced the belly portion and then cut out. I used the Flower Button CutUps to replace the pinwheel image in order to add texture.


Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamp and CutUps; My Mind's Eye dp, PTI cs, buttons and felt, Copic markers

Copics: E50, E51, E53, E55, B01

Now please head on over to Julie's Kreative Jewels blog to see her fabulous ATC.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge - Inspiration

It is time for another All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge. There is a great prize being offered and in order to be eligible to win, your project must include a stamp that is sold in the All That Scraps shop whether it is any of the wonderful in house designs or from the various other stamp companies that ATS carries. Be sure to link up your project with Mr Linky by next Tuesday at 10PM EST and only one entry per person please! Today's challenge is to use the inspiration photo provided below for your project.

I love inspiration challenges and for this one I primarily related to the colors of the dishes. The last time I used this Penelope image I used more earth tones so it was fun to break out the more springtime colors. As per usual I stamped the image onto Copics X-Press It cardstock, colored with Copic markers and then cut out. I used the edge of a 12x12 diecut paper for the border.


Products: Sweet November stamp, Ki Memories and Little Yellow Bicycle dp, My Favorite Things Die-namics, Kaisercraft jewels, PTI buttons, Fiskars border punch, Copic Markers

Copics: Skin-E000, E00, E11; Hair-E51, E53, E55; Clothing/Eyes/Mushroom spots-YG0000, G20, G82, B91, B41, B32, Mushroom-Y0000, Y11, Y15

Have fun with the challenge. Thank you for stopping by.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Sweet November Review Preview

I don't have much time again today but I did want to let you know that the
Review Preview of the June Sweet November Mermaid release is going on over at the All That Scraps blog today and I am joining in this month.

I chose Sandy Breakwater to stamp again. I really wanted her to have a different look this time around so I went with a completely different color scheme and changed up the coloring technique with her hair. Not too sure about the hair but I do like the beachy colors of the Echo Park Splash paper.   



Products: Sweet November stamp, C.C. Designs sentiment stamp, Echo Park dp, Magnolia DooHickey die, The Cat's Pajamas Wave CutUps, Kaisercraft jewels, Twinery Twine, Copic markers

Copics: Skin-E000, E00, E11, R11; Hair-E50, E31, E25, E37; Eyes-B41, B32; Lips-R22, R24; Top-B000, B01, B04; Tail-YR12, YR16, YR18

Check out the All That Scraps blog for more projects featuring the June Sweet November collection. And don't forget that all of the new Mermaids are now available in the All That Scraps store along with all the other Sweet November stamps!


Monday, June 13, 2011

Musical Girl

This will have to be a short and sweet post.  My to do list is a mile long.

Today's project is for this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club sketch (MFTWSC23). I actually thought the sketch perfect for the Pure Innocence girls but I decided to go against the grain and stamp Who's That Musical Girl instead. I stamped the image onto Copics X-Press It blending cardstock and colored with Copic Markers and then cut out with a Nestie layered on top of another Nestie. I really thought about paper piecing her top but I decided I would rather have the image classic and refined. All the patterned paper is from one of the Webster's Pages Christmas collections last year. The twill came from my vast stash and was the last piece.


Products: My Favorite Things stamp and Die-namics, Webster's Pages dp, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers

Copics: Skin-E000, E00, E11; Top-E40, E41, E42; Skirt-R32, R35, R37, R59; Bench-N1, N5, N7; Shadows-BG70, G0000

I hope your week is off to a great start.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Pinwheel Love

Today's card is for this week's The Cat's Pajamas Tuesday Challenge (TCPTUES162) which is to include fabric. I love fabric and have a drawer filled with fat quarters even though I haven't sewn a stitch in a couple of years now! Once a collector, always a collector I guess. For this card, I used the What a Blast stamp set.  He's new-ish and although I stamped him for an ATC and also the pinwheel portion of the image on last week's TCP Tuesday card, I still consider him as not being used since I hadn't made a full size card yet. I segregate my "I haven't used 'em yet" stamps so that I turn to them first when I start a card. I'm happy that P.J. will be mingling with the rest of the stamp population after today. I stamped him onto Copics X-Press It cardstock swiping away the pinwheel portion of the image. He was colored with Copics after paper piecing his tummy. For the fabric challenge, I fused together two pieces of fabric and then cut out with the Pinwheel Cutups. My Cuttlebug didn't cut all the way through (I think because of all the layers) but the markings were distinct on one side so it was easy to finish them off with scissors. I actually think using fabric for the pinwheel will make it easier to mail. 

I am double dipping on challenges since I also followed the June Sketch for You To Try. 


Products: The Cat's Pajamas stamp and CutUps, My Mind's Eye dp, Twinery Twine, American Crafts brad, PTI cs and buttons, Sandi Henderson fabric, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers

Copics: E40, E41, E42, E44

That's it for me today. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend!