Mother's Little Helper

Monkey Lovin' SFYTT

Another super-duper cute image from TCP's brand new Hearts and Flowers set -- isn't that little monkey adorable?!  I'm especially attached to this image as one of my pet names for my boys has always been 'Monkey.'  I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't like just any monkey, though.  (I'm on the record as being anti-Changito.  Sorry, can't help it.  Don't try to change my mind.  We'll agree to disagree.) (Michele. ;))  But this monkey?  I heartily endorse! 

This is my sample for Jen's Sketch For You To Try for today.  At first -- because I was bound and determined to use this image -- I grappled with it, but in the end, I likey!  I'm sure you'll find plenty to likey to when you head on over to Jen's blog for the sketch and to see her and February Guest Designer Jody Morrow's samples.  ({{{Jody!}}}  We'll miss you!!!)  Then, be sure to visit the blogs of my spectacular SFYTT Sisters for what are bound to be beautiful creations:

Susan Liles,
Amy Sheffer,
Amy Rohl, and
Kelly Lunceford

Do you have any big plans for the weekend?  It's going to be cold here this weekend, so I'm planning on doing a little hibernating.  First, I'm going to be work on cleaning the Stamp Hole, transferring all my cardstock to my new *big* four-drawer filing cabinet.  Next, I'm going to show my new MFT stamps some love.  So be on the lookout... I've got one word to describe the new releases coming next week from MFT: SWEET!!! 

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Hearts and Flowers by The Cat's Pajamas
Paper: Creamy Caramel, Cool Carribean, Real Red (SU!), 130 lb. Fabriano Hot press watercolor paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Nestabilities, Photo corner punch, Copic Markers, grosgrain ribbon, paper piercer, Jody's foam boosters, button brads by Spare Parts

It's Here! It's Here! Hurray!

What's here, you ask?  Why, Spring Release Day at The Cat's Pajamas!!!  Can I get a 'Woo-hoo'?!  Thank you very much!

Ho-hum, you say.  Stamp companies have releases everyday.  What's the big deal? 

You know what I say back? (Yes, I do realize I'm having this conversation with myself, but bear with me.) I say, "Not The Cat's Pajamas!   TCP only has quarterly releases; that means I can only do this particular happy dance four times a year.  Four times in 365 days -- that's roughly 1% of the calendar year.  This makes a day like today a rare and wonderful thing."

How does TCP show that kind of restraint with fabulous images like this one up their sleeves?
As one in desperate need of greater self-discipline, I cannot answer that question.  All I know is that you NEED to visit the TCP gallery for this latest release and see all the cute, cute, cute stuff The Cat Pack has put together in one fell swoop.  If you can do that and resist The Kitty Kat Pack, well, then you're a better person than I... Either that, or you have no taste, and I know that can't be the case because you're reading my blog which tells me you're quite intelligent and discriminating.  (Discriminating as in 'selective.'  Not as in 'bigoted.')

Well, I must leave you now to continue my quarterly TCP revelry!  (You're welcome to join me, you know.)  See you tomorrow for Jen's Sketch For You To Try -- and yes, I will still be enjoying my glorious *new* TCP stamps!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Hearts and Flowers by The Cat's Pajamas
Paper: New Leaf & Summer Sunrise by PTI, Basic Black (SU!), Fabriano 130 lb hot press watercolor paper, patterned paper from DCWV Premium Pet Stack
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic Markers, Copic airbrush system, Making Memories brads, Nestabilities, grosgrain ribbon, foam boosters

Gettin' JiFFy With It!

It's time for another Just For Fun Challenge with my pals Michele, Lori, Alli & Julie, and this month, we also have a new name for ourselves.  I think it was Lori who first referred in a group email to us as the 'Jiffy Girls,' and it stuck!  Maybe we need to get satin embroidered jackets now, like the Pink Ladies...

Just to review our little challenge procedure, one of us picks out a stamp for all of us to use, but before she reveals it, another member of the group sends out patterned paper to everyone in the mail.  Once the paper is in the mail, the stamp choice is revealed.  Thus, the paper picker and the stamp selector have no idea what the other is choosing, and then all of us have to use the image and the patterned paper in our projects.  Then, we each post our projects (I like to call 'em projects just in case I get a wild hair to do something other than a card) to our blogs on the same day at the same time and surprise each other with what we come up with.  Fun, fun, fun! 

Anyway, this month Julie sent some darling paper from Cosmo Cricket's new 'Girl Friday' line (I love ALL Cosmo Cricket paper -- it's my favorite brand, in fact -- so I was thrilled to see it show up in an envelope from Indiana), and Alli picked out the sweet stamp: Bluebell Bittybloom by Stamping Bella.  This is my first image from of Stamping Bella's Chichiboulie line -- I don't know how I've resisted this long because they are too, too much fun to color!  Everyone had been telling me about them for so long, I just dug in my heels out of stubborness.  Kinda like I am about the Twilight series.  I mean, if it's that popular, it can't be good... (so says the part of my brain that has remained unchanged since I was fifteen...)

Ready?  Here goes nothin'...
She looks so sweet and innocent with her basket full of cherries, doesn't she?  (Still waters run deep.)  I colored her with Copics and then masked her and airbrushed the background.  Her shirt is paper-pieced with the back side of the striped paper.  I guess that's it... Oh, alright.  The sentiment?  I couldn't resist it!  I was looking all through my sentiments for a non-boring one, and then I feasted my eyes upon this one by River City Rubberworks that I hadn't used in a while... The next thing I knew, it jumped into my hand and began stamping itself.  Y'all know I have very little self-control when it comes to these things...

Be sure to visit the rest of the Jiffy Girls to see what they've come up with!  I'm sure they'll have gorgeous creations and that none of them will assault your delicate sensiblilities.  So go visit
Alli Miles,
Julie Campbell,
Lori Craig, and
Michele Boyer

and heap them with praise for their talents and condolences for having to put up with the likes of me, okay?  Thanks!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Bluebell Bittybloom by Stamping Bella, sentiment by River City Rubberworks
Paper: Buttercream Choice Cardstock (TE), Raspberry Fizz (PTI), Taken With Teal (SU!), Fabriano Hot Press watercolor paper 130 lb, Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Adirondack Raspberry
Accessories: Copic Markers, Airbrush system, Prima Obsessions flower, PTI ribbon and buttons in New Leaf, circle punch, embroidery floss, Jody's foam boosters

It's TCP Tuesday!

Hola muchachas!  It's been quite a while since I've served as Hipster Hostess With the Mostess, but when Leigh requested a substitute to come up with a sketch challenge for this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge, I raised my hand like Arnold Horshack (now there's a cultural reference that dates me).  I typically rely on other people's sketches because I don't like to think that hard.  But sometimes (to prevent total brain atrophy) I actually do sketch things out. 

Enough jabber -- ready for the sketch?  Here it is!
And here's my sample using said sketch and one of the sweet new images being released this Friday...
Most of the image was watercolored using reinkers, but for her skin and face, I relied on my trusty Copics.

Be sure to visit the various members of The Cat Pack to see what they've come up with -- I know that Jen, Susan, and Karrie will for sure be playing along.  How about you?  Do you want to take our challenge?  Here are all the TCP Tuesday details if you do:

1. Each a week one of the The Cat’s Pajamas DT Members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme/inspiration, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until {this} Saturday night to complete the challenge.
4. Link your project on this week’s hostess’ challenge announcement. This week you will link your project on THIS POST. 
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword TCPTUES47 for this challenge.
8. Alma will post the entries from the week the following Monday on her blog.
9. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.

You got that?  I know you do.  I work off the assumption that anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis is necessarily smart, talented, and gorgeous.  Have a great day, dahling!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Hearts and Flowers by The Cat’s Pajamas
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie Collections
Cardstock: Fabriano hot pressed 130 lb. watercolor paper, Summer Sunrise & Aqua Mist (PTI), Suede Brown Dark (Prism)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Adirondack Espresso; VersaMark Dazzle – Champagne; Adirondack Re-inkers in Sunshine Yellow, Aqua, Ginger, Espresso, & Meadow
Accessories: Nestabilities, Copic Markers, flower trim, Jody's foam boosters, watercolor brushes & water

Egg-cellent Penguins!

That Alma -- she's done it again!  I can't wait for y'all to see the new sets being released by The Cat's Pajamas this Friday.  The images are just fabulous, covering the gamut from sweet to swanky.  (That's a big gamut, you know.)  Here's a little Easter-y somethin'-somethin' I put together to show off that fun little trio of TCP Penguins as they appear in the new Spring Fling set:
  Here's a close-up of the jar-topper, so you can get a better look at this fun little crew...
It's all I can do to keep from inhaling those yummy Hershey chocolate eggs inside the jar.  To take my mind off that delicious, creamy milk chocolate, let me tell you a little bit about the details.  The main image was heat embossed with black detail embossing powder and then colored in with Copic Markers.  The patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Honey Pie collection.  The circles and scalloped circle were cut out with Nestabilities, and I added a little piercing detail around the edges of the scallops.

That's about it for now!  Join me tomorrow as I'm substitute Hipster Hostess with the Mostess for the TCP Tuesday challenge -- see you then!

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Spring Fling by The Cat's Pajamas
Paper: Georgia Pacific white card stock, Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMark
Accessories: Jar, Hershey's Chocolate Eggs, Nestabilities, ribbon, black detail embossing powder, paper piercer, Jody's foam boosters, Copic Markers

Life Is Good!

More sneaky-peeks from The Cat's Pajamas -- are you ready?!  Can you handle it?  I think you can!  Here goes...
Isn't Poochie a cutie in his wee carrot car?!  Love it!  And I love today's Sketch For You To Try, too.  Nothin' new there -- Jen always does a great job doing the hard part for us!  I don't know about you, but I love having a sketch to build a card around.  Then I can conserve my brain power for areas that need it.  Like contemplating American Idol (surely Anoop will get a wild card spot) or wondering who's going to win this week's finale challenge on Top Chef.  Will Carla continue the roll she's on, or will Stefan get his game back?  Please, please, don't let it be Hosea.  He's too whiney...

I shall save the pondering of these pressing matters for when I'm not on your dime.  Instead, let me tell you a bit about this particular card.  All stamps are from TCP's new Spring Fling set, which will be released this coming Friday.  I stamped Poochie, his flower fumes, and the mushroom border on kraft cardstock and then colored them in with Primacolor Pencils and odorless mineral spirits.  The sentiment is stamped on a tag created with Spellbinders Double Ended Tags die.  The patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Honey Pie collection.  Last but not least, Poochie's wheels are buttons from Basic Gray finished with a little embroidery thread.

Head on over to Sketch Mistress Jen's blog to see what she and February Guest Designer Jody Morrow have cooked up for you, then be sure to visit my SFYTT Sisters

Susan Liles,
Amy Sheffer,
Amy Rohl, and
Kelly Lunceford

for more yummy interpretations of the sketch.  Wanna play with us?  Then be sure to link your creation to Jen's Mr. Linky thing and to use 'SFYTT' as one of your keywords if you upload to an SCS gallery.  We'd love to give you props!

I think I'm going to try to get a little more shut-eye.  DH has a cold and was hacking away all night, disturbing my much-needed beauty sleep.  Think the kids'll let me rest peacefully?  Nope, me neither... Have a good one, friends!

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Spring Fling by The Cat's Pajamas
Paper: Kraft (PTI), Honey Pie Collection (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Nestabilities, Spellbinders Double Ended Tags die, corner rounder, Prismacolor Pencils, Odorless Mineral Spirits, Blending stumps, black brads from Making Memories, Jody's Foam Boosters

MichelleH, Come on Down!

After plugging the numbers into Random.Org, it spat out
78!!!

MichelleH wrote: "Fantastic samples! 'Drinks well with others' is my fave sentiment - it so fits. I'm glad you're back with the MFT crew!!!"

Thanks, MichelleH!  I'm glad to be back.  And I'm glad to inform you that you're the lucky duck who won the brand spankin' new Twisted Too set by My Favorite Things!  Be sure to email me your full name and mailing address so we can get you your set ASAP.

Thanks to everyone who entered and left such sweet comments.  Y'all definitely gave me warm fuzzies!

Hide your peeps & carrots!

Because there are some hungry hungry hippos kitties and bunnies just waiting to gobble them up in this soon-to-be released set from The Cat's Pajamas!!!  Take a look at these sweet swipers from the must-have 'Beans, Bunnies, and Peeps, Oh My!' set...
The look in that cat's face just cracked me up when I first saw it -- he looks like the cat that ate the canary, don't you think?  Thus, when I bumped into these feathers in the craft department at Wal-Mart on the same day I had planned to get him inky, well, it was a no-brainer! 
Next up we have one of Bugs' sneaky sons.  Hopefully he'll avoid the fate of Peter Rabbit's father; I'd hate to see some bunny so cute wind up in one Mrs. McGregor's pies...

I was in a Prismacolor Pencils kinda mood when I made these -- I think the softer look of colored pencils (as opposed to Copics) suits both the images and the patterned paper (from Crate Paper's cute Baby Bee collection).  They were blended with Sansodor (a brand of odorless mineral spirits I found at Hobby Lobby) and blending stumps.

This is just one of three sets that the amazing Alma will be releasing on Friday the 27th, therefor members of The Cat Pack will have lots of tempting eye candy over the next week!  Woo-hoo!

And don't forget... you have until tomorrow at midnight to comment on this post and win some Twisted Blog Candy! 

Stuffed Tabby
Supplies used:
Stamps: Beans, Bunnies and Peeps, Oh My! by The Cat’s Pajamas
Patterned Paper: Crate Paper Baby Bee Collection
Cardstock: Neenah Natural White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; VersaFine Onyx Black
Accessories: Nestabilities, Prismacolor Pencils, odorless mineral spirits, blending stumps, twill, foam mounting tape, feathers from Wal-Mart, sewing machine

Smelling Carrots
Supplies used:
Stamps: Beans, Bunnies and Peeps, Oh My! by The Cat’s Pajamas
Patterned Paper: Crate Paper Baby Bee Collection
Cardstock: Neenah Natural White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Adirondack Brights Sunset Orange
Accessories: Nestabilities, Prismacolor Pencils, odorless mineral spirits, blending stumps, grosgrain ribbon, foam mounting tape

Let's Twist Again!

Surprise!  It's me! Did you arrive here from my fabulous girlfriend Jody's blog?  Have you figured out the news?  My prodigal self has returned home to Mama Kim and all of my MFT Sistahs!  If you didn't come from Jody's blog, you'll want to click on over to Kim's and start this Oh-So-Twisted MFT Blog Hop from the very beginning.  I assure you, you won't want to miss a thing on this Very Special journey!!!  (You know by now that when I say 'Very Special,' I mean it as both a compliment and a warning, right?  Caveat emptor, peeps!  In other words...
)

Coming back to My Favorite Things is truly like coming home for me.  So many of my BSFs (Best Stamping Friends) are part of MFT; suffice it to say that it feels absolutely right to be back with my tribe.  And what could be a more appropriate moment for my return than with the release of Twisted, Too?  If ever a set and a stamper were a match made in heaven, it's me and this one!

So, without further adieu, let me show you a couple of things I've made with this unique set of sentiments, intended to be used to say just the right thing... when the right thing may be so WRONG!

Here's a phrase I've been DYING to have made into a sentiment for what seems like ever!  Good thing I know someone who owns a stamp company and has a sense of humor...
I created this little wine-topper-tag (what DO you call these things?  Anyone know exactly?) using one of my favorite Who's That Girl sets, Meet Me At The Cafe.  See the little wine bottle?  It's an (almost) exact replica of my favorite every-day wine, Pepi Pinot Grigio. Both the wine bottle and the glasses were covered with Ranger Glossy Accents to give them a glassy appearance and texture.  A little paper piecing, some coloring with Copics, some repeat stamping with a tiny clover (in case I need to give it away for St. Patrick's Day) on some buttercream cardstock to create the awning, and there you have it!  Piece o' cake!

Next, I have a Very Special (this is the last time I'm going to remind you to perk up when I say 'Very Special', by the way) tribute to one of my dearest stampin' buddies.  It's kinda funny because a lot of people think we don't like each other since we tend to give one another a very hard time.  But she really is one of the very first stampers I ever PM'd with on Splitcoast.  Since then we've been on several design teams together, hung out in person a few times, and this past CHA, we were even roomies.  We kid, therefore we love.  Cammie-Toe, this one's for you.  Love ya!

  (Those cherries on the ribbon are intended as a remembrance of things waaaay past for Cammie...)  One thing to note: I heat embossed the letters in China Red embossing powder on black cardstock.  If you're using embossing powder, you really can't use a heat tool and hot-fix crystals; the heat tool will end up smearing the 'set' embossing powder.  So, in order to make the 'Bet blingy, I used Heidi Swapp bling that came on a line of adhesive, cut each crystal out individually, then set it in place. 

Thanks for hanging out with me and all of my Twisted Sisters!  Have you liked what you've seen or do you think we're lending to the decay of all that's good and decent in this world?  Well, if you fall into the former camp and you're in the mood to do a little Twisting yourself, have I got a deal for you!  Just leave a comment to this post by midnight CST Friday, and you might just find yourself the winner of this oh-so-versatile Twisted, Too set!  I'll announce the winner on Saturday morning. 

(I can't do it Friday night, you know, because I've got tickets to see someone HUGE: Bob the Builder LIVE!!!!  How's that for a little whip-lash?!  From Twisted, Too to Bob the Builder in nothin' flat!  I'm fairly certain this is one of the few blogs in the stamping world that can make that claim...)

Oh, and if you fall into that latter camp?  Feel free to pray that I mend my wicked ways.  But with the company I keep (you did view the entire Blog Hop, didn't you)?!  Ooftie!  That's one tall order!!!

BUY THE WAY: Twisted, Too is available to you immediately, as are two new, exclusive-to-MFT 6" x 6" paper packs (Spring and Summer), designed especially for card making by the fabulous Stephanie Fizer!  And if you want the whole she-bang (<--- that word definitely looks twisted...), you can get Twisted, Too, both paper packs, and the new Spring adornment crystals (oh, how I love the hot-fix crystals!!!) by ordering the Twisted Too Bundle for $43.80 (which qualifies you for free shipping).  Woo-hoo!

Supplies Used:

Drinks Well Wine-Topper-Tag-Thingy

Stamps: Twisted Too, Meet Me at the Cafe (MFT)

Paper: Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron (SU!), Buttercream Choice Cardstock (TE), Chatterbox 'Happy Flourish' patterned paper, various other patterned paper for clothes 

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Wild Wasabi (SU!)

Accessories: 1.25" hole punch, Creative Memories Scalloped corner punch, ticket corner punch, Martha Stewart edge punch Copic Sketch & Spica Markers, Ranger Glossy Accents, Making Memories trim, button, ribbon, foam mounting tape, Jody's Foam Boosters, SU! Word Window punch 

URA...

Stamps: Twisted, Too, Bling Bet (MFT)

Paper: Real Red, Basic Black (SU!), Solar White Choice Cardstock (TE)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Real Red & Garden Green (SU!), VersaMark

Accessories: Nestabilities Labels 4, Powder Keg China Red embossing powder, Offray ribbon, hole punch, ticket corner punch, Jody's Foam Boosters

We Have a Winner!

Thanks to all who participated in the blog candy celebration for Our Craft Lounge's BIG release this past weekend!  I plugged the number of participants into Random.org's random number generator and the lucky number it spat back out was...
  100!!!

The 100th commenter was Traci, who wrote:

"This set is so cute! Thanks for the chance to win"

Well, Traci, you're very welcome!  Enjoy your Pea-Nut Bunny! 

And to all of you losers non-winners, don't despair!  I've heard a rumor there's going to be more blog candy given away around here in the next few days, so be on the lookout...

Pink Elephants & Playboy Bunnies

With a title like that, you know this is going to be a 'very special' blog post.

A couple of days ago, Cambria (one of dynamite duo behind the *relatively new* stamp company Our Craft Lounge) asked if I would like to help OCL by playing with some new images and giving away some blog candy.  "OF COURSE!"  I immediately responded.  "Great!" she said, "How about using Pea-Nut Bunny?"

"Sure!" I said, though inside, I kinda groaned.  Because I didn't want to seem weird, I couldn't tell Cambria an ugly truth about me.  And that is: I'm prejudiced.  For philosophical reasons, I'm not a fan of elephants.  However Cami & Joy are both so sweet, and I truly want OCL to go gang-busters and thrive and sell millions of stamps and make stampers happy everywhere with their sweet images.  Thus, I had to put aside my childish, small-minded ways.  And, in a demonstration of classic overcompensation, I created not one but two -- TWO -- cards with Pea-Nut Bunny using today's SFYTT!

But just because I've opened my mind doesn't mean I've become a different person altogether...
Do you remember all of the old cartoons that showed drunk people seeing pink elephants?  According to Wikipedia, 'seeing pink elephants' is a euphemism for drunken hallucination.  And remember that scary scene in Dumbo where Dumbo accidentally drank some moonshine?  No? Well, check it out...

As I was coloring Pea-Nut Bunny pink, I was trying to decide whether Pea-Nut is a boy or a girl.  I still haven't made up my mind, but I did think his/her stance was rather coquette-ish, and, call me pervy, but when I see bunny ears and a bunny tail, my mind starts to wander...and I think of Kirstie Allie in the made-for-TV movie, A Bunny's Tale.  It's based on the true story of how Gloria Steinem -- yes, that Gloria Steinem -- as a young journalist infiltrated the scene at the Playboy Club and wrote an expose of what went on behind the scenes.  They were, of course, harassed by the customers and management, always told they needed to lose weight, and so on.  They play it every so often on Lifetime, and it's one of those I just have to watch whenever I happen to stumble on to it.  Yes, I am a person of discriminating taste... ;)

Anyway, I'm thinking Pea-Nut be would be in big trouble when she had her weekly weigh in, and I know she'd/he'd have a difficult time mastering the strange, straight-backed, knee-bending drink delivery the Playboy Club required of the Bunnies.

But she might be able to redeem herself with all of those fabulous tricks she can do with her trunk and cocktail peanuts... Please note her fancy French mani/pedi.

I have to admit, I'm now VERY glad now that I was given Pea-Nut Bunny to play with -- I've had so much fun, you can consider me converted!  I'm not so sure, however, what's going through Joy & Cambria's brains at this moment...

Moving right along!

As I mentioned earlier, I used Jen's Sketch For You to Try for today with both of these cards.  I *LOVE* this sketch -- it's definitely a go-to from now on for me.  Be sure to hop on over to Jen's blog to get the sketch and see the samples she and February SFYTT Guest Designer Jody Morrow created, then be sure to visit my SFYTT Sisters,

Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Kelly Lunceford

and Susan Liles

And, if you haven't posted a comment to this post to win your very own Pea-Nut Bunny, you still have time.  I won't cut off the comments until 10 p.m. CST tomorrow night, then I'll announce who won on Monday.

Have a great {pink elephant-free} weekend!  Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Friday the 13th = Your Lucky Day!

Why is it your lucky day?  Not only is Our Craft Lounge releasing 28 new sets -- 28! -- each and every one of those sets is being given away across the stamping blogosphere! 

How 'bout a little Pea-Nut Bunny?  Isn't he somethin'?!  Pea-Nut has become one of the most popular of OCL's recurring characters.  And isn't that little rabbit too cute?!  I'll have a couple of samples with this set to show you later today, but in the meantime, leave me a comment on this post for a chance to win your very own Pea-Nut Bunny.   Then, head on over to visit my buddy Cambria's blog for a full list of all the stampers giving away OCL stamps today. 

And for those of you who just want to get the stamps in your hot little hands immediately -- heaven knows I understand you types, being an instant gratification gal myself! -- then click on this link to head to Our Craft Lounge and to view and pick from among the 28 sets being released today.  28!  It boggles the mind to think of all that new rubber, doesn't it?!

Cats, Peaches, and a Single Herb

Yesterday I alluded to the fact that I have more good news to share, and this time it's completely unfettered by any sort of limitation or restriction.  Don't you love full-fat good news?  I know I do!

Wanna hint?  I'll give you a choice: I can either give it to you in the form of an interpretive dance, or I can show you a card.  You say you want the card?  Good choice...
Here's what I made for this week's TCP Tuesday challenge -- a color challenge selected by this week's Hipster Hostess With the Mostess, Jen del Muro.  Go to Jen's blog for all the deets about how to play along.

Well, have you figured it out yet?  I'll give you another hint.  See the watermark?  Surely you're now getting warmer...  Here's the final clue: look at my sidebar and notice that I have brought my 'I Design For...' typelist out of storage.  Yep!  That's right!!!  I'm once again an official member of The Cat Pack (also know as The Cat's Pajamas Design Team)!!!! 

Now, this isn't the 'big secret' that I referred to in my post about leaving the CHF DT.  I had hoped to be able to tell you sooner than later about that, but that particular timeline has been extended a bit.  To be painfully honest, I'm kicking myself for ever even mentioning it, but I didn't want anyone to get the wrong impression about my resigning from CHF (a great company comprised of people for whom I have the highest regard). 

Finding myself with more time on my hands than I had expected -- and you know what they say about idle hands -- my fingers were getting itchy and I missed the structure, camaraderie, and new-rubber/polymer excitement of Design Team work.   Fortunately, one of my great stamping friends is a cool chick named Alma de la Rosa, who just happens to own the swankiest stamp company in the whole wide world: The Cat's Pajamas!  Thus, I am re-united with my beloved Sprinkle and my pals in The Cat Pack who know me well and like me, anyway.  Peaches & Herb were right: it does feel so good!!!

(Note: Did you know that there have been FIVE Peaches throughout the years but only one Herb?  Fun fact to know and tell!)

Okay.  Enough about all of my various gyrations and Peaches & Herb.  Let's talk about the card.  I created a little scene of Native American Sprinkle heading for the well-lit tee-pee of some lucky Tom, with the flirty 'Your TeePee or Mine?' sentiment from the Havin' a Pow-Wow set.  I figure Tom's inside his tee-pee, spreading out a few rose petals and getting Barry White going on the CD player... then, Sprinkle will walk in through the flap, and he'll see the papoose on her back and be all "Oh... you brought your kitten!  That's...uh... that's just great!"  If he's smart, he'll realize he needs to pet the kitten to get the cat. (That's a paraphrase, by the way, of a saying of a formerly-confirmed-bachelor friend of mine.  He always used to say "You've got to pet the calf to get the cow."  Nice, huh?  But that was before he became a Class Act and was transformed by the love of a good woman...  Maybe Sprinkle will do the same for Tom.  Keep your fingers crossed!)

Supplies used:
Stamps: Havin' a Pow Wow by The Cat's Pajamas
Paper: Basic Gray, Basic Black, Pirouette Pink (SU!), GP White, unknown patterned paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic Markers, Nestabilities, ticket corner punch, brads by Queen & Co., grosgrain ribbon, Jody's Foam Boosters.

Good News/Bad News

What kind of person are you?  Do you want the good news first or the bad news?  Or would you prefer a picture to start the ball rolling? 
This is one of the projects I whipped up for the Spellbinders Design Team Call.  I used a heart shaped die from Spellbinders' Decorative Photo Corners to create a little four-leafed clover. 

So here's the good news!  On Monday, I received an email letting me know that I was one of the Top 24 Finalists for the Spellbinders 2009 Design Team!  Here's a list of the other gals who made the initial cut.  According to the email I received, we're all to be sent something (what do you you want to bet its a die of some sort?! ;) ) and use it to create either a card or layout, and then they'll make their final selection.

Ready for more good news that's also (relative to the previous good news) bad news?  I simultaneously found out that we have a very special family event on the exact same weekend as what would be the mandatory Spellbinders 2009 Design Team retreat in Phoenix, AZ, as very specifically described in the DT Call.  *Sigh!* 

What to do, what to do? 

Actually, it wasn't that hard.  Family first, right?  Right!  After all, with such wonderful products, Spellbinders is going to be in business for a long, long time, and there will be other DT calls.  But I've only got one family and one chance to make these memories.  And with Truman aging exponentially daily, I've got to make every one of them count.  (Are you one of those moms like me?  I've been 'missing' my kids practically since I gave birth to them!  I wish they could stay little and with me forever.  Hmmm... maybe I should see if a fertility specialist would implant a zillion embryos in me and have octuplets?  I bet that'd cure me!  Have you been watching those interviews?!  Oh my word... someone is a wee bit off her rocker.  But I digress...)

Anyway,  I contacted Spellbinders, explained my situation, and requested that they remove me from further consideration; they have graciously agreed to do so.  I'd like to dedicate the above card to all of the gals remaining in the Spellbinders DT call -- good luck, girlies!  And thanks to Spellbinders, too, for giving me the opportunity and validating my work.  I've always loved your products, and I'm a bigger fan than ever! 

Come see me tomorrow, okay?  I promise I'll have PURE good news to share with you!!!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Faux Ribbon (PTI), Pretty Pattern Backgrounder (CHF)
Paper: Snow White Choice Cardstock (TE), green Core'dinations cardstock
Ink: Adirondack Brights Clover
Accessories: Nestabilites, Spellbinders' Decorative Photo Corners' Die, Grosgrain Ribbon, bling-y shamrocks from Stampers, Ink, sewing machine

Chocolate Kissing {SFYTT}

I just can't shake it!  The brown-pink-kraft color combo has me by the short hairs, what can I say?
This is my belated sample for Jen's Sketch For You To Try for this week.  I *LOVE* this MFT image (Who's That E-Girl?) and can't believe this is the first time I've gotten her inky.  I'm also DYING for the newest MFT sets released this past week to arrive in my mailbox, including E-Girl's sister, Digital Girl (she's sitting at desk, typing on her Mac) and 'Bling 'Bet -- MFT's first alphabet set, which also happened to be conceptualized by none other than the aforementioned Jen del Muro!  Man, stamping is one circular, incestuous little world, is it not?!

Are you wondering why I'm late?  Well, I do have a couple of good excuses.  First, Truman had a basketball game this morning at 8:30 a.m.  It was a nail-biter, but the Hillcats (Truman's team) pulled it out in the final few seconds.  Yay!  Then, Bruce Springsteen -- who is coming to TULSA on April 4th, believe it or not! -- tickets went on sale online this a.m.  Fortunately, I was able to get a couple -- hurray!!!  I'm so, so excited!!!!!  I {heart} the Boss!

Back to bid-ness... All of the patterned paper is digital paper from My Favorite Things 'Chocolate Kiss' pack (have you hopped on the digi-paper bandwagon yet?  You need to if you haven't, and Jody Morrow has a great tutorial in the MFT forum on SCS if you need a primer).  Speaking of Jody -- one of my BSFs, you know -- she's also this month's SFYTT Guest Designer!!!  See?  Told you it was an incestuous little world...

Be sure to check out Jen & Jody's fabulous samples on Jen's blog, then see what the other amazingly talented SFYTT team members have created for your viewing pleasure:

Amy Rohl,
Amy Sheffer,
Kelly Lunceford,
Susan Liles,
and -- sniff, sniff -- in her last appearance as a SFYTT sample maker, the one and only Shannan Teubner.

We'll miss you, Shannan!

If you want to play with us -- if?!  Of course you do! -- then be sure to link your work back to Jen's blog (she's got one of those Mr. Linky thing-a-mabobs now), and if you upload to your SCS gallery, use SFYTT as one of your keywords so we can lavish you with praise.

Have a great weekend!  Me?  I'm off to the laundry room...

Oh, and as for my card?  Almost everything was paper pieced, with the exception of the carpet and the walls, which were colored with Copics.  The 'carpet' was then laid using Cocoa Fun Flock.  (Note that she's blurfing on an iBook...)

Supplies used:
Stamps: Who's That E-Girl by My Favorite Things
Paper: PTI Kraft, Suede Brown Dark (Prism), Snow White Choice Cardstock (TE), Blush Blossom (SU!) Chocolate Kiss Digital Paper pack (MFT)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Brown
Accessories: Nestabilities, Cocoa Fun Flock, Copic Markers, eyelet trim, Basic Grey Bittersweet buttons from Paper Addiction, hemp, Jody's Foam Boosters