A Walk Down The Cat's Pajamas Memory Lane

I am sad to say that this is my last design team post for The Cat's Pajamas. I was aware of the closing down of TCP before it was officially announced,  yet when it happened, I still wasn't fully prepared. I have spent so much time in the TCP world (14 years) that I am not sure how to do without it. I started out in 2010 as a fan by participating in the challenges. Alma asked me to join the design team in 2011 then I transitioned to design team leader later. Mostly I will miss Alma as she is one of the most creative, fun, generous and caring women I have ever known. I have never met her in person but we became fast friends over many late night conversations on messenger over a glass (or two) of wine.

My very first TCP purchase was the Whale of a Time stamp along with the Wave CutUps both of which have been long retired.  I had created this card back in the day but then Alma retired the image before I could share it so it's been in my unposted folder for a long time. As you can tell I am feeling very nostalgic.

My way to say goodbye is to share a few of my very favorite TCP projects created over the years.

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There are more favorites but I had to stop somewhere! Thank you sweet Alma for the many, many years of fun and creativity. It's been a joy to work for you, if you can even call it work!

As a reminder, you have just a few more days to take advantage of the 30% off sale. 

These are a Few of my Favorite {TCP} Things

As we near closing of the TCP doors, I am feeling very nostalgic for some of my favorite characters and dies. Both the physical and the digital products.

Alma has a talent with fonts and her word dies were always so pretty and perfect as the center piece of a card as well as an accent. Luckily she created some of these word dies in the form of digital products. For this card I used the Peace Love Joy from the Holiday Sayings Digi/SVG set and flora pieces from the Oh Christmas Tree Digi/SVG set to create the sentiment and collage of winter/Christmas foliage. The Digi/SVG sets are a hybrid and can be used as a digital stamp or can be cut out with a cutting machine such as Cricut or Silhouette. I placed everything on a background that I used a physical TCP product Dots which was a cut plate but I used it to emboss on the white cardstock background instead. A few sprinkles of green parakeet ink and a trio of sequins finished it up.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas digital stamps and cutables, PTI linen and The Stamp Market cs, Doodlebug sequins, PTI ink

Next up is one of the favorite characters of many TCP fans,  me included, commonly known as the big eared bunny, the bun, the bun bun, the most interesting bunny in the world (due to the many adventures), etc. Illustrated by Zlatoena Designs, this bun has been around the world and back. Freezin' Season has been used by me every Christmas/Winter since it was first released in physical form in 2011. It is hands down my favorite bun image. I placed the image onto a snow bank with a background of patterned paper that came from my old scrapbook stash. I went back to my physical products for this Snowflake which continues to be one of my all time favorite snowflake dies for its retro style. I stamped the sentiment from a retired physical set using hibiscus burst ink and added a couple of smaller diecut snowflakes anchored by enamel dots. 

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

Copics: Bunny-E50, E51, E53, E81, E40, E41; Snowbunny-C00, C1, B32, RV00, R81, R83

PJ the bear was also a favorite character so of course I had to use him again also. I printed the Beary Christmas digi onto Neenah cardstock, then cut out with a circle die and matted with a very old Spellbinders die that has been in my stash forever. Using cardstock pieces from my scrap bag, I created a diagonal background and attached the image piece upon it. Lastly I added a holly and berry piece from the Oh Christmas Tree Digi/SVG set and the sentiment directly onto the card front. 

Products: The Cat's Pajamas digi stamps and dies, Spellbinders die, Altenew and PTI ink, Copic and Caliart Markers

Copics: Bear-E40, E41, E23, E25, R20, R27, BG01, BG02, BG05; Car-C00, C1, C3, R35; Tree-YG61, YG63, YG67; Gifts/Lights-R24, R27, BG01, BG02, YG01, YG23

Caliarts: Car-R105, R107

The images and SVG files I used on these cards are still available to purchase with a 30% discount until the end of the year. Get'em while you can. 

{The Cat's Pajamas} A Candy Cane Christmas

As you have probably read by now, The Cat's Pajamas is closing its doors at the end of the year. Alma has been in business for 23 years. And a remarkable 23 years it has been beginning with physical product then moving on to digital only. I am sad to see it go but also happy for all the life changes for Alma personally. 

Now for my card. I started out by printing the candy cane food truck from the Tis the Season digital set onto a card base using Silhouette software. I did this so I could use it as a guide and also so I wouldn't need a mask in order to blend festive berries and spun sugar distress ink around the truck. I then printed the truck again and the candy cane penguin from the Baby It's Cold Outside set onto Copic X-Press It cardstock. After coloring the images with Copic markers I fussy cut both out. I splattered both images as well as the blending background with a combo of white acrylic paint and water using a fan brush to emulate snow. All images were attached using foam dimensionals but before adhering the truck, I added a piece of acetate for the "window". I trimmed half and inch off the right edge of the card base and attached a piece of patterned paper on the inside edge of the card. A trio of sequins added a bit of sparkle.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas digital stamps, The Stamp Market dp, Ranger Distress ink, Copic Markers

Copics: Van-W00, E40, Y000, Y15; Banner and Trim-R32, R35; Canopy-G00, G02, R32, R35; Big Candy Cane-R32, R35, W00, E40; Small Penguin-C00, C1, YR30, YR31, G00, G02, RV00, R81, R83; Standing Penguin-C00, C1, YR30, YR31, C3, C5, C7, G00, G02, R35

Take advantage of the 30% off all the digital images until December 31. 

{The Cat's Pajamas} You've Been Good

I am sharing another card using a digital image from The Cat's Pajamas October release. Sketchy Santas was a physical product previously but is now available in digital form. 

I resized the santa with tree image and snow flakes using Silhouette software and printed onto Copic friendly cardstock. These images in the set were quite small in the physical set so it was fun to make santa much larger not to mention easier to color. After cutting out the image piece with a circle die, I colored with Copic markers and added some random red dots to accompany the red snowflakes. The sentiment was with a stitched edge die and the image circle was attached using a layer of craft foam, then a few enamel dots were randomly placed. 

Products: The Cat's Pajamas digital stamps, Lawn Fawn dp, Doodlebug enamel dots, MFT die, Copic and Caliart Markers

Copics: Santa-E00, E02, E11, C00, C1, N2, N3, N5; Tree-G12, G14, G17, Y13, Y15, Y35, BG000, BG01, BG02

Caliart: Santa/Ornaments-R105, R107, R218

How are you coming along with your Christmas card making?

{The Cat's Pajamas} Believe

I am sharing another card using a digital image from The Cat's Pajamas October release. So many cute holiday images to choose from, but I managed to narrow it down to the Believe set.

I printed the penguin santa and the chimney with the snow ladened roof line plus the sentiment onto Copic friendly cardstock using Silhouette software. After coloring with Copic and Caliart markers, I fussy cut out. I attached the roof piece onto a dark blue textured cardstock piece, then cut out with a stitched edge die. I mixed some white acrylic paint and water, then tapped onto the background piece as well as the penquin piece using a fan brush to emulate even more snow. I then added the "moon" and the penguin image which was attached using foam dimensionals. 

Products: The Cat's Pajamas digital stamps, Bazzil cs, Copic and Caliart Markers

Copics: Penguin-YR30, YR31, R20; Santa Sack-G40, G43; Toys-YR21, YR24, RV10, R81; Gift Boxes-G00, G02, G07; BG000, BG01, BG02; Chimney- C1, T3, T5; Snow-BG0000, BG000

Caliart: Scarf/Gift Boxes-R105, R107, R218 

It's going to take some Christmas magic for this plump penguin to get down that chimney!

{The Cat's Pajamas} Welcome Back Big Bear

The Cat's Pajamas October release of digital products is available now. Back in the day one of my very favorite TCP sets was Big Bear. It broke my stampy heart when it was retired. So....I was thrilled when Alma brought it back for the latest digital release. 

Using Silhouette software, I printed Big Bear, the signpost from the Beary Christmas set upon which I placed the words from Crossroads Gnome set onto Copic friendly cardstock, then colored with Copic markers. Since my cutting machine is still under the weather I chose to fussy cut out the two images. For the background, I created a snow bank using an older die and embossed a sno cone cardstock panel with an embossing folder. The images were attached to the main panel using foam dots then a few snowflakes anchored with a sparkly gemstone finished it up. 

Products: The Cat's Pajamas digital stamps, Bazzill and MFT cs, Darice embossing folder, Spellbinders gems, Lawn Fawn dies, Copic Markers

Copics: Bear-W00, E81, N2,N3,N5, N7; Signpost- W00, E81, Y02, Y15, Y17, R20G2, R24, R27, BG01, BG02, BG04

{The Cat's Pajamas} Peace, Joy and Penguins

Some of my favorite TCP characters are the penguins. Even though they have been around over 20 years they have such a modern, graphic look to them. The Peace, Joy and Penguins digital stamp was a physical stamp years ago (2013 actually). And although I loved it then I like the the digital version as I can resize it to fit my needs. 

Using Silhouette software, I resized the penguins and printed onto Copic friendly cardstock along with the snowflakes from the Penguin Sleigh digital set. I then cut out with a modern oval die. After coloring with Copic markers, I attached to a sno cone stitched cardstock piece that was embossed with an older Darice embossing folder. The mini sentiment came from a set that happened to be laying on my worktable. A few enamel dots provided a bit more texture. 

Products: The Cat's Pajamas Digital Stamps, MFT cs, Doodlebug enamel dots. Darice embossing folder, Copic Markers

Copics: Penguins-W00, E81, YR30, YR31; Scarf, Hat, Presents, Candy-YG01, YG25, YG17, RV10, R81, R83, W00, E81; Shadows-BG000

Yay, another Christmas card completed!

{The Cat's Pajamas} Ho Ho Ho

Hello all. Have you started on your Christmas cards? I usually make them throughout the year so I am not scrambling to finish in November and December. This year I am way behind and this card represents Christmas card #5. I need to get busy but life events keep getting in my way.

I am intrigued with monochromatic cards so I decided to give it a try with lots of Christmas red. I combined the Santa Gnomie and toy sack digital images, resized and then printed onto Copic friendly cardstock using Silhouette Software. I colored the image with Copic and Caliart markers and then fussy cut out. For the sentiment I stamped the physical version of the Big Holiday Words set using Versamark ink onto a red cardstock panel, then clear heat embossed . The digital version of the sentiments are found here. The image was attached using foam dimensionals and then the panel to the red card base with a layer of craft foam. A trio red sequins added a bit of sparkle. 

Products: The Cat's Pajamas digital stamp, The Stamp Market cs, Doodlebug sequins, Ranger Embossing Powder, Versamark ink

Copics: Skin-E000, E00, E02; Beard-C1; Clothing/Toy Sack-R21, R24, R27, W00, W1; Gloves/Boots-N2, N5, N7

Do you like the monochromatic look? 

{The Cat's Pajamas} Otter Love

Otters are one of very favorite cutie patootie animals. Their sweet little faces and devotion to family make me smile. The Otterly Amazing digital set from The Cat's Pajamas personifies their cuteness. 

I went old school for this clean and simple card. I printed the waves onto sno cone cardstock and the otter, sun and sentiment onto copic friendly cardstock using Silhouette software. The waves piece was cut using an older Nestabilities die dam I the only one who has kept these?). After coloring the sun/cloud and otter images I colored with Copic markers, then fussy cut out. 

After dry embossing the kraft background, the image piece was attached. Lastly the small images and sentiment were attached with foam dimensionals. 

Products: The Cat's Pajamas digital stamps, MFT cs, Darice embossng folder, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Copic Markers

Copics: Otter-W00, E81, E40, E41, E42, E44, R20; Fish-YG01, YG25, YG17, W1; Cloud-BG70, BG10; Sun-Y02, Y13, Y15, Y35

Here is the product I used today:

Have a great rest of the week. I hope you can squeeze in some crafty time. 

{The Cat's Pajamas} A Fin-tastic Day

We will get to fall, winter and Christmas but for now let's prolong summer as long as we can. 

The August The Cat's Pajamas release is in the shop now. And wow, are there some cute, cute images including the one I used today from the Be a Mermaid set. 

Using Silhouette Software I combined the FishFriend (mermaid) and the crab images, resized, then printed onto Copic friendly cardstock. After coloring the image with Copic markers, I fussy cut out. For the background I reprinted onto white cardstock for a guide as well as to print the circles and hair tendrils and cut the piece out with a stitched edge die. I first applied morning dew Nuvo Crystal drops to the circles for a bit of shine  then blended salvaged patina distress ink over around the images with the Nuvo drop acting as a mask so the "bubbles" remained white. The image was attached using foam dimensionals. The sentiment was cut using a older washi tape die and also blended with the same distress ink and attached with foam dimensionals. Pearls were added for the head band and a trio of larger ones in the "water" finished it up.

Products: The Cat's Pajamas digital stamps, MFT cs, KaiserPcraft pearls, Nuvo Crystal Drops, MFT dies, Ranger Distress ink

Copics: Skin-E0000, E000, E02, R20; Hair-BG11, BG13,BG15; Flipper/Halter-YG25, YG17, YG67; Crab/Flower-R20, R22, R27; Fish-W00, E81, T0, T3, YR00, YR02 

I hope your August is off to a great start! Here is the set I used today: