Mother's Little Helper

Gifty Girl

Last month, My Favorite Things started offering MFT Kits: Just Add Color!  Each month, a new kit is revealed which includes an exclusive, unreleased stamp set and all the items needed to complete a special project.  The only thing the purchaser needs to add is color!  I just love this idea; these kits have become my go-to birthday present for all of my crafty friends. 

This month we have the Gifty Girl Kit, which includes:

-- 6 Shopping Tote Die Cuts ($6.00 value)
-- 1 Package Perfect Paper Panels (24 panels) ($3.95 value)
-- 2 yards Red/White Polka Dot Ribbon in 3/8” ($2.00 value)
-- 2 yards Black/White Polka Dot Ribbon in 3/8” ($2.00 value)
-- 50 Silver MINI Round Brads ($2.50 value)
-- 50 Red MINI Round Brads ($2.50 value)
(brads are packaged in an adornments case)
-- Exclusive, UNRELEASED Gifty Girl MINI stamp set ($9.00 value)

All for only $25.00!  Joanne has a super-cute sample of the kit all put together in this post, so you can get a good idea of what your project could look like using the kit contents.

I don't have any of those handy-dandy shopping tote die cuts (yet!), so I improvised and put to use one of the nesting wooden tote bags I've been hording for I don't know how long...

The Gifty Girl image was stamped onto a Perfect Paper Panel, then masked so that I could stipple Ruby Red ink on the background to create a brick wall (the 'mortar' was drawn by hand using a ruler and dark gray Copic marker).  I colored in WTG (Who's That Girl)'s flesh and shoes, as well as the sidewalk, with Copic markers, then paper pieced her dress and gift bags.  I could help but add a tiny bit of tissue to the bags for extra dimension.  The bags looked to plain on their own, so I added a tiny heart punch to reinforce the sentiment and add a dash of color.   

I painted the box with white craft paint (I use the Folk Art brand that you can buy for $1 or so at Wal-Mart), then I added panels of black polka-dotted paper and kraft to all of the sides. 

To create the bow embellishment, I 'bunny-ear' tied a bow in black saddle-stitch ribbon.  Then, I threaded a piece of twine through two holes of the button, put it on top of the bow, wrapped the twine around the box handle, threaded the ends through the other two holes, and tied a basic knot.  No glue or Glue Dots necessary to keep the bow where it belongs!

I think this will be a wonderful little container to house a gift card for our babysitter who is heading back to college next week.  She has been such a help and blessing to me this summer, and I'm going to miss her terribly...

*sigh*

Come back tomorrow -- I'll have a little somethin'-somethin' for Bella-riffic Friday AND some non-stamping related fun news to share about an adventure I'm embarking upon!  I'll give you a little hint...

Supplies:
Stamps: Gifty Girl Mini set, exclusive to August MFT Kit by My Favorite Things
Paper: MFT's Perfect Paper Panels, Kraft and Bitty Dot Basics (PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ruby Red (SU!)
Accessories: Small nesting wooden tote bag, white craft paint, Copic markers, True Black Saddlestitch Ribbon and Pure Poppy Vintage Button (PTI), twine, heart punch, stipple brush, tissue paper, Jody's Foam Boosters

HOW about a sketch for TCP Tuesday?

It's time for another TCP (The Cat's Pajamas) Tuesday Challenge, and I'm your Hipster Hostess with the Mostess this week.  You know what that means -- a sketch challenge!  As I was drawing the challenge for this week, I became enthralled with a new shape I discovered in Microsoft Word (I am extremely low-tech, but plan to change that one of these days.  In the meantime, I draw all my stuff in handy-dandy user-friendly Word...) -- a rectangle with rounded corners.   Check it out:

So get out your corner rounders and get funky with a long note (3.25" x 6.5")!  Here's my sample:

  I'm planning to send this to a friend of mine who is recuperating at home after a terrible zip-line accident.  She was playing in her folks' backyard with her kids, and went down the zip-line.  The kids use a harness when they go down the zip-line.  Not grown-ups, however -- thus, when Mom lost her grip mid-flight, she went boom and ended up breaking four ribs and puncturing a lung.  She was in the hospital for a few days and is now confined to a hospital bed in her living room for several weeks.  It's going to be months before she fully recovers.  My husband bruised his ribs in a bike accident a few years ago and said it was the worst pain he's ever felt; I can't even imagine how my poor friend is coping.  Lots of painkillers, I imagine...  The moral of this story: beware of zip-lines!

Enough cautionary tales.  Let me tell you how you can play with us. 

Here are the deets. (Lifted from Ana's page.)
1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme, 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 HERE!
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. She/he 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 or PCP, please use the keyword TCPTUES71 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.

Can't wait to see what you'll come up with!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Havin' a Pow-Wow by The Cat's Pajamas
Paper: Basic Black & So Saffron (SU!), Solar White (Neenah), patterned paper: Boy Doodle Dots by SEI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: corner rounder, Copic markers, paper piercer, buttons (from TCP's Candle Sprinkles buttons and PTI), Jody's Foam Boosters

Mother Button Son-of-a-Basket! part 1

First off, let me explain the title of this post.  See, at the CHA Supershow in Orlando, FL, weekend before last, a few of us from the MFT/TCP crowd spent a wee bit of time and money at the Paper Trey Ink booth.  On Friday, the first day of the retail show, the line to get in the Paper Trey booth was CRAZY.  To say that it moved at glacial speed would be an understatement.  We'd been up late the evening before and were all a bit punch-drunk and giggly from just standing around, so we started using the names of Paper Trey products as curse words.  I believe it was Christina who came up with one of the best: "Damask!"

Anywhoodle, once finally in the booth, we did our Damaskedest to enable each other.  "You need that.  Really," was uttered countless times.  The one set we all agreed that we needed was Vintage Picnic, and then Leigh came up with the great idea of having a challenge to get us actually inking our purchase up (novel idea there -- inking a stamp set we bought, LOL!).

So there's the backstory.  Here's a little more, regarding my particular challenge submission.  In my house, I have a wall hanging with little minature plates depicting a tree throughout the seasons.  Someone (I'm not mentioning any names, but it wasn't me...) broke one of the plates, and now my once cute wall hanging looks... shabby.  Still, I haven't taken it down because it's such a narrow panel of wall where that nail is driven, nothing else fits there, and I don't want an empty nail hole.  You know what I mean.

Looking at all of the seasonal variations in the Vintage Picnic set got me thinking, and I had a little 'A Ha!' moment -- I could create little seasonal basket vignettes to replace the tree plates!  So, I opened up my Craft-a-Board from Ellen Hutson's to give it a little more heft and got started.  I began with my favorite season, Autumn, and here's what I came up with:

 And here's what it will look like in display on the plate rack:

Pretty cute, no?  I hope to show you one more of these per week until the entire project is finish.  Stay tuned!

And in the meantime, go visit my fabulous friends and see how they've stuffed their baskets... (We've decided that could sound dirty, but I promise you'll see nothing but good clean fun. :) )

Amy Rohl
Christina Fischer
Joanne Basile
Kirsten DuBosque, and
Leigh O'Brien

See you tomorrow with a swanky sketch for TCP Tuesday!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Vintage Picnic by Paper Trey Ink
Paper: plaid from Cosmo Cricket's Mr. Campy collection, Natural White (Neenah), Soft Suede and More Mustard (SU!)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI Vintage Touch Tea Dye Duo
Accessories: Craft-a-Board, Nestabilities, EK Success Circle cutter, brown twill, Copic Markers, Jody's Foam Boosters

Sweet 16th

Sixteen years ago yesterday, I married my college sweetheart and best friend.  Unfortunately, we weren't able to celebrate our anniversary together -- he's currently an Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow and has been traveling through China and India for the past week and a half.  Which is cool.  For him. While he spent our anniversary visiting the Taj Majal, I spent it chauffering children hither and yon and putzing around the house. 

At least he sent me flowers... (my favorites, stargazer lilies)

No pity parties for me, though -- last night I got together with two dear girlfriends for a little noshing and catching up.  The husband of one is currently deployed in Afghanistan, so I couldn't feel too sorry for myself.

Hubby will be home tomorrow, so our celebration will only be belated by a few hours, and I'll give him the card I made for today's Sketch For You To Try:

Image ('Kissieface') and sentiment are by Stamping Bella, and I colored them in with Copics.  'My' dress was paper pieced, and every thing else is pretty self-explanatory.

While the cat's been away, the mice have been kinda messy.  We'll be spending today getting our act together, cleaning and laundering and what not.  Hopefully you have a more fun day in store, and if it includes a little stamping time, be sure to use this week's nifty sketch, which you can find on Jen's blog along with samples by Jen and this month's Guest Designer, Megan Lock.  And of course, you need to stop by my SFYTT Sisters sites for even more inspiration:

Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Kelly Lunceford, and
Amy Sheffer

Have a good one!

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Kissieface and sentiment by Stamping Bella
Paper: Solar White (Neenah), New Leaf & Raspberry Fizz (PTI), patterned paper - K & Co.'s Berry Sweet
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers, felt heart, PTI Vintage button, cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder, edge punch by Martha, gingham ribbon

I'm Just a Girl Who Caint Say 'No'

If I had to choose a part to play in the musical 'Oklahoma!' (of which I am quite fond, for obvious reasons -- it's set in my hometown of Claremore, and based on the play Green Grow the Lilacs by one of Claremore's favorite sons, Lynn Riggs; a main road in our town is Lynn Riggs Boulevard.  Any other fun facts you'd like to know and tell about Claremore, Oklahoma?  Didn't think so...), it wouldn't be Lori. Even though Shirley Jones was so sweet and young and pretty in the movie, and later became Shirley Partridge and was in-real-life mom/step-mom to two teen heart-throbs...  I don't care if she's the star; I'd much rather be Ado Annie, as Annie gets one of the best numbers in all of musical theater to sing:

I'm just a girl who caint say no
I'm in a terrible fix
I always say 'Come on, let's go'
Just when I oughta say 'Nix'

I have to say, I identify with Ado Annie.  I'm game for almost anything.  I find dares somewhat irresistible, and I have a hard time saying 'No' when a fabulous offer comes my way.

And when THE Stamping Bella asks if you want to be a Bellarific Babe?!  Tell me, just tell me: HOW does one say 'No' to that???  One -- if by 'one' you mean 'me,' and I do -- does not.  One jumps up and down and is thrilled and says "YES! YES! 1,000 x YES!!!"

So, guess what?  Emily's announcing it on her blog today: I'm officially a Bellarific Babe -- a BABE!  Take that, you unrequited loves of my youth who couldn't see beyond my glasses, braces and tragic perm! Eat your hearts out!  I'm very excited to join Em's team of wonderful stampers, made up of friends both old and new.  And I honestly feel like the most fortunate stamper in the whole wide world to work for what must be the trifecta of cool stamping companies.  *pinching myself!* (To which myself responds: 'ouch!')

Here's my first Bellarific Friday creation as a Babe, based on a sketch by Paulabella Williamson:

I thought it would be appropriate to Okie-fy my debut. ;)  Giddy-upabella and her cream-colored pony (mmmm.... crisp apple strudle... focus, Carole!  Focus!) were colored with Copics and then masked off to sponge in a trail in Sahara Sand, and airbrush a Copic B00 sky.  I was inspired by yesterday's SCS Ways to Use It Challenge (Just Pleat It) to add the paper pleats on the bottom.  (Gracias to my pal Amy Sheffer for her fabulous paper pleating tutorial, which you can find here.)

Be sure to visit Em's blog to check out what all the other Bellarific Babes have put together with this sketch, and to see all of the submissions by the Sistahood.  There will be eyecandy and enabling galore!

And in closing, may I quote the Bella herself and say to all of you: MWAH! 

See you tomorrow with a sample for Jen's Sketch For You To Try!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Giddyupabella and Howdy from Stamping Bella
Paper: Enchanted Evening, Summer Sunrise (PTI), Natural White (Neenah), patterened paper from Graphic 45
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Sahara Sand (for ground)
Accessories: Copic Markers & airbrush system, Eclipse Masking tape, grosgrain ribbon, twine, conch, Nestabilities Labels 1, Jody Morrow's Foam Boosters

Whatever Floats Your Boat...

I love that sentiment!  And these images...
Both the sentiment and the images are from The Cat's Pajamas brand-new By The Sea set.  It's definitely one of my new favorites.  Every single one of 'em makes my heart go pitter-patter!  *Sigh!*  As a stamper, it doesn't get better than playing with images you absolutely love. 

This little number was actually created a couple of weeks ago as a sample for my Dirty buddy Bev Rousch's Dare to Get Dirty Challenge, Sew Unexpected, to use sewing on a card.  I hand-sewed a blanket stitch around the orange layer.  You don't need to have a machine to sew on your cards -- just a needle, some thread (for hand-sewing, I prefer to use two strands of embroidery floss; I have a ton of different colors from my past-life as a counted-cross-stitcher), and a little patience.  It's actually kind of soothing to me to do a little hand-stitching.  Unlike machine stitching, in which I'm always holding my breath, afraid I'm going to screw up and have to start over...

Other details about this card.  You know that song by Landon Pigg that's in the AT&T commercials?  The one that goes "I think that possibly, maybe I'm falling for you..."  (I just Googled it and found out the title of that song is 'Falling In Love at a Coffee Shop.'  Learn something new every day!) That's the way I'm feeling about this Kraft chipboard Circle Cut-Out Mat from my pal Jody's Die Cut shop.  I actually created the entire card around it (from the layout, to rounding the corners, to using kraft as a base layer, etc.).  Just know you're going to be seeing more of these as I'm bound and determined to push them to the limits of their versatility! (Which I am predicting will be limitless, so again, I warn you: you will be seeing a lot of these from me...)  This is one of my favorite cards I've made in a long time.  I'd like to give myself credit, but I'm afraid it belongs to the Alma for drawing such fabulous images and the CCOM (Circle Cut Out Mat is too long to type out over and over again, although I just did. *sigh*).

Breaking News!  Check out the list of my Cat Pack Cronies on the sidebar.  See a familiar-yet-new-to-TCP name on there?!  Yep, the adorable, Preppy (yay!), and oh-so-talented Joanne Basile is joining the litter!  Jo, you need to know, is a great friend of mine.  We even shared a bed at CHA this past weekend.  (That fact is not nearly as interesting as it sounds... it was king-sized and neither of us are snugglers, so there was a gulf of un-mussed bedding between us.)  Sprinkle is so excited at the mere idea of being lavished with Jo's buttons & bows, and sweet, fresh designs! 

Supplies used:
Stamps: By the Sea by The Cat's Pajamas
Paper: Kraft (PTI), Orbit Orange (Wasau), Natural White (Neenah), patterned paper from Cosmo Cricket's Lil Man collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Chipboard Cut Out Mat and Foam Boosters from Jody Morrow, embroidery floss & needle, TCP's Candy Sprinkles Buttons and Candy Sprinkles Ribbon, Copic Markers, Nestabilities, twine

A Haunting Hop!

Here I am -- your last stop on the MFT Blog Hop!  You did start with Kim and hit all the stops, coming my way via my AMAZING friend, Amy, didn't you?  If not, go back now -- you don't want to miss a thing!

I am so excited about this MFT release -- it's definitely filled with some of My Favorite Things!  I love books, trees, chocolate, and of course, Halloween.  My oldest son's birthday is on Halloween Eve, so we've had our fair share of Halloween-themed parties, and I have oodles of Halloween decorations that I put up every October 1st.  It's just such a fun time of year, and I'm thrilled to have this new image of Who's That Girl handing out Halloween candy...
First, I stamped out the scene on one of MFT's Perfect Paper Panels.  I drew in the sidewalk and masked off the characters and sky before stippling Going Gray (SU!) ink to make 'concrete'.  Next, I colored in WTG and the Trick-or-Treaters with Copics, adding a little tennis-shoe-like detail with a Copic MicroLiner on the kiddos' shoes.  The very hip child in the Flopsey costume got a fluffy tail via Liquid Applique.  Then I paper pieced WTG's dress and bowl, cut out the images, and glued them to a back ground of Moonstruck paper by CTMH (Close To My Heart).

Last year I purchased this Cuttlebug Skeleton Scroll embossing folder, but never got around to using it.  I was determined to do so today, so I pulled it out and used it to emboss the Moonstruck paper.  CTMH paper has a white core, so after embossing it, I lightly went over it with a sanding block and the scrolls and skellies popped out in white.  Other embellishments include MFT's Gem Brads and black Perfect Plaid ribbon.

Since I'm the last stop on this hop, I have the privilege of handing out a little blog candy!  Mmmm... CANDY!  That gives me an idea -- why don't I give away a little chocolate?  As in the new Chocolate Bunny (Flopsey) set?!  Just leave me a comment, and I'll draw the winner at 9 p.m. EST Wednesday night (during the MFT New Release Cocktail Party in the MFT Member Company Forum on Splitcoast).

See you at the party tomorrow -- your official invitation is below! ;)

What: My Favorite Things New Release Cocktail Party
Where: Here, in the MFT Member Company Forum on Splitcoaststampers
When: Wednesday, August 5, 2008 -- 8 - 10 p.m. EST
Why: Sneak Peaks, Prizes, Eye Candy, Contests, Chatter and just plain F-U-N!

BUY THE WAY: Here's the skinny on all the *new* stuff being released by MFT on Wednesday, August 5th...

Trick or Treat with Who’s That Girl $15.95 (WTG set)
Chocolate Bunny (Flopsey) $9
Grow Love $15.95
I {Heart} Books $17.95
Spooktacular Ribbon Nest & matching Adornments crystals

Weekly Spotlight: Diamond Glaze and Flock
HTDT Tutorial: DT Tips & Tricks
First 50 (free gift to first 50 customers): Memento Dew Drop Collection, week 6! color: Dandelion
Hook up: Purchase the August one-click collection at a 10% discount: $52.95 (retail $58.85)

Supplies used:
Stamps: Trick or Treat (WTG) by My Favorite Things
Paper: Perfect Paper Panels (MFT), Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black (SU!), Moonstruck (CTMH), Cricut Doodlecharms patterned paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Going Gray (SU!)
Accessories: MFT Adornments gem brads, MFT Perfect Plaid Ribbon, Copic Markers, Liquid Applique, Cuttlebug Skeleton Scroll embossing folder, sanding block, stipple brush, Nestabilities, Jody's Foam Boosters

SFYTT-Topper Twofer!

Good Saturday morning!  (I'm actually writing this post on Tuesday -- believe it or not! -- because on Saturday morning, I will be in Orlando attending the CHA SuperShow with dozens of your favorite stampers.  I say that not to rub it in.  As I've told you before, CHA is totally over-rated.  You are having much more fun right where you are.  I promise!  Seriously -- wish I could trade places with you right now.  What I wouldn't give at this moment for some kids to pick up after and some laundry to do...  YOU are the lucky one.  Remember that!)

(Excuse me while I try to keep a straight face.  *think about washing dishes and picking up dirty socks* *think about feeding  Okay.  Better now.  Moving right along...)

Today I'm combining two challenges: first, as on every Saturday, I have a sample for Jen's Sketch For You to Try.  Today is also the first of the month and that means it's time for a Flower Soft Design Team Challenge. 

This month, Jen Buck challenged us to use a Flower Soft Topper.  What's a Topper, you ask?  Well, it's a paper scene that gives you the ability to add dimension through layering images with foam mounting tape; in the United Kingdom (Flower Soft is actually a UK company, although they do have a US branch) they call this process 'decoupage.'  In certain paper crafting circles here in the U.S., it's referred to as 'paper tole.'  Me?  I call it 'popping stuff up on foam tape.'  Because I'm just fancy that way...

Ready for me to stop telling and start showing?  Okily dokily...
Isn't that a precious scene?  It's from Flower Soft's Window Shopping Toppers pack, which gives you enough supplies to decoupage/paper tole/pop up on foam tape three projects each of two different scenes.  I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but I've added the LIFE-CHANGING Polar White Flower Soft to the window panes & ledge, on the ground, and on the hat, cuffs, and collar of the little girl's coat.  While I'm talking about this stuff, I just have to say: if you only buy one new embellishment this paper crafting season?  Polar White Flower Soft is THE one to get -- I'll let you know when I find a link selling it.  It should be available any day now.

Please note the personalization on the tag added to the gift basket -- I figure if I get this off now, it will for sure be the very first Christmas card my new baby niece will receive in her life! :)  Wouldn't it be cool to have the first Christmas card you ever received?  That would be worthy of putting out every holiday season, don't you think?  I'm thinking so...  Might just have to inform her parents of that great idea... *giggle*

And here's a view of all the different layers:

You can also see where I backstitched around the artichoke border layer with red embroidery floss to give it a homey little touch.

Ready to see what the other Flower Softies have done with their Toppers?  Me too!  Be sure to check out the following talented ladies blogs as you're blurfing around this fine day:

Valerie Stangle
Deb Saaranen
Charmaine Ikach
Niki Estes
Jennifer Buck
AJ Otto
Sharon Johnson

And don't forget to go to Jen's blog where you'll find not only this awesome sketch but also the identity of this month's Guest Designer!  They'll both have samples to inspire you, as will my fabulous SFYTT Sisters (one of which -- Amy Rohl -- I'm rooming with at CHA as you read this! :) Though I promise: we're not having nearly as much fun as you are.  Scout's honor.  Not that I was ever a Girl Scout.  (I was a Blue Bird one year -- you eventually become a Camp Fire Girl if you stick with it long enough.  Which I did not...)  So scoot on over and visit my home girls

Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Kelly Lunceford, and
Amy Sheffer

Back to the grind and drudgery that is CHA.  *sigh* 

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Wonderful Wishes by Verve
Paper: Flower Soft Window Shopping Toppers, Red Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke (SU!), patterned paper by Daisy D’s and Sweetwater (snowflake)
Ink: Red Riding Hood Red (SU!)
Accessories: Polar White Flower Soft, foam mounting tape, Nestabilities, paper piercer, embroidery floss, Making Memories poinsettia, gem brad, ribbon, Cuttlebug tag die

Just For Fun!

Low and behold: it's time for another JiFFy (Just For Fun) Challenge!  This month, Michele selected and sent out the patterned paper ('Sun Dress' and 'Strawberry Patch' from Basic Grey's Lemonade line), then Lori revealed her image selection: Daisy  by Sugar Nellie Stamps. 

And here's what I came up with...

Isn't she sweet?  I was just in the mood for her too, what with all the news of little girls in my world (my dear friend Rachel just found out she's having a little girl, as I reported last week, then over the weekend, my sister-in-law gave birth to baby Blair Elizabeth.  She's the first granddaughter for my in-laws, and we're all looking forward to having a little princess to spoil).  I colored Daisy in with Copic markers, then highlighted her here and there with an opague white pen.  The edges of the image layer were lightly sponge-inked with a Rose colored Colorbox pigment ink.

I can't wait to see what the other JiFFy gals have come up with!  As you blurf today, be sure to visit

Michele Boyer
Lori Craig
Julie Campbell, and
Alli Miles (who will be posting a bit later today -- she's been under a mountain of dirt... when you visit her blog, you'll see what I mean!)

Supplies used:
Stamps: Daisy by Sugar Nellie; sentiment by A Muse
Paper: Crushed Curry, Purely Pomegranate (SU!), Natural White (Neenah), Strawberry Patch & Sun Dress (Basic Grey)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Colorbox Rose pigment
Accessories: Nestabilities Labels 1, sewing machine, Copic Markers, SU! Crushed Curry ribbon, opague white pen, Jody's Foam Boosters

A Splash-y SFYTT...

Keep your fingers crossed that by the time you read this, Carter, Rachel and I are safe and sound in the loving, hot & sweaty arms of Oklahoma!  Good-bye mid-70's temperatures... I'll feel you again in oh, say, October... *sigh*

Changing the subject...

Here's what I came up with for Jen's Sketch For You To Try for today...

Isn't Sprinkle the swankiest mermaid you've ever laid eyes on?  Sorry, Darryl Hannah, but it's true. 

It's a little bright, but remember, I've been a bit limited in my cardstock wardrobe of late, and only had these two shades that would go with that ribbon I wanted to use (one of TCP's new embellies -- the buttons are by TCP, too). 

Oh, who am I kidding?  I'd make something this loud even in the comforts of my stamping studio.  Where I'll be SOON!  Woo-hoo!  Have I mentioned how happy I am to be going home?!  At least for a few days... (I leave on Thursday for a little jaunt to Summer CHA.  Which will be fun, but I can't get my head around it at the moment, since I'm actually writing this from my hotel room in Michigan on Thursday a.m....)  (Are you having a hard time following my random train of thought?  *sigh*  Me too...)

Back to the card!  I felt like the yellow panel needed... something, so I stamped off a pattern with the starfish and nautilus images (also from the new TCP By the Sea set, as are Sprinkle and the sentiment) in Amber Colorbox Pigment ink.  Sprinkle was colored with Copics and her water-y background was shaded with Prisma colored pencil and blended with odorless mineral spirits.

Be sure to swim on over to Jen's blog, where you can find the sketch and samples by Jen herself and July Guest Designer Regina Mangum.  Then, feel free to use any stroke you prefer (back, breast, butterfly, or freestyle; heck, do the whole Individual Medley if you so desire...) to make your way to my SFYTT Sister's sites for their sure-to-be-special takes on today's sketch:

Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Kelly Lunceford
Amy Sheffer

Supplies used:
Stamps: By the Sea (S-9668 CL) from The Cat's Pajamas
Paper: Solar Yellow, Orbit Orange (Wausau), Solar White (Neenah), patterned paper from Cosmo Cricket's Snorkel Collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Nestabilities, yellow brads from Pink Hedgehog Papercrafts, Jody's Foam Boosters, Copic markers, Prisma colored pencils, odorless mineral spirits, TCP Candy Sprinkles buttons & ribbon, hemp

Food, Glorious Food!

As I hinted yesterday, I have a YUMMY Dare to Get Dirty challenge for you that has just started on Splitcoaststampers! 

This year, several of the challenges are based on previous Dirty Dozen gallery themes.  I selected one that's near and dear to my heart from February, 2007: Good Enough to Eat!

Who doesn't love food?!  And what paper crafter doesn't enjoy creating food themed cards, invitations, gifts, home decor, recipe cards, and so on?  If you want to see the specifics of my challenge, check it out within THIS forum on SCS.  I hope you'll play along!

And here's a peek at my sample... I not only used food in it, but I was inspired by food to make it as well.  First I'll show you, then I'll explain...
I ran across a package of Pixie Stix the other day at JoAnn's -- hadn't seen those in forever!  Later that same day, I had some fries from Halo Burger (it's a regional Michigan hamburger chain... oooftie!  Is it GOOD!  I love their slogan: 'Seven days without a Halo Burger makes one WEAK!'), and it came in a kind of unusual shaped container.  Which always gets me thinking...

Anyway, here's my version of it -- perfect for housing Pixie Stix!  Tell me this wouldn't cheer up a little sickie?!  And isn't that image too, too adorable?!  I so love the The Cat's Pajamas' Penguins!  The image is brand new, from TCP's just released You Sick Thing set. 

Have you already ordered this month's Kitty Kat Pack?  It includes all 3 new stamp sets (You Sick Thing, By the Sea, and Fun in the Sun) for $38.40 (they retail individually for $48).  There are 35 images and sentiments in those sets, which means at the Kitty Kat Pack price, you're only paying roughly $1.09 per stamp.  And TCP images and sentiments?  Way, way, way better than any dollar stamp you'll EVER find!  Just sayin'...

In non-stamping news, by the time this post goes live, I'll hopefully be all packed up and hanging out for the last time this year at EuroPeds with Carter and our friend/PT Rachel who's been spending the last few days with us.  (She's preggers, btw, and just found out it's a GIRL!  Little Abigail!  (After Abigail Adams... Rachel's good people...) We're working out the details of the betrothal, and should have everything nailed down soon.  I demand a HUGE dowry for the hand of my handsome little guy.  I'm sure you understand...)

Anyway!  Shortly after noon-ish EST, we'll be hitting the road for home sweet Oklahoma.  We'll drive straight-through and probably arrive at my front door around the crack of dawn on Saturday morning.  I'll be one tired mama by then, but boy, will it be wonderful to get to sleep in my own bed!!!  And see my oldest, whom I haven't hugged sinced he left for camp on July 7th.  Too, too long. 

I'll still be back on Saturday morning with my sample for Jen's SFYTT.  In fact, I'm headed that way to write my post right now...

Supplies used:
Stamps: You Sick Thing by TCP (N-9672 CL)
Paper: True Black (PTI),  Solar white (Neenah), Blush Red Dark (Prism), patterned paper from American Crafts' Celebration collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Nestabilities, Foam Boosters and redline adhesive (Jody Morrow), Copic Markers, Black Glaze pen, Pixie Stix

Are you ready to get Dirty?!

Because DARE TO GET DIRTY '09 has started!  Every year Splitcoaststampers celebrates the 'birthday' of the Dirty Dozen by having Dirty Girls past and present come up with challenges for an entire weekend!  They are always fabulous, and it's so much FUN!  In fact, it's arguably the best time you'll have stamping all year!

I've come up with one of the challenges, myself.  I can't tell you what it is yet, but I'll give you a hint: it's YUMMY!

If you're interested in playing along, head on over to THIS forum on SCS.  That's home-base for all the challenges and chatting.  I'll see you there!

And be on the lookout for my challenge.  It will be posted both here and on SCS at 11 a.m. tomorrow.  If you need any more enticement, here's something to whet your appetite: two of your favorite stampers -- my favorite Amys: Amy Rohl and Amy Sheffer -- have made samples for my challenge so you KNOW the eye candy will be awesome!

Let's Go Surfin' Now!

Welcome to The Cat's Pajamas first Blog Surf!  We're combining our Surf with this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge, and the lovely Leigh O'Brien is serving as our Hipster Hostess with the Mostess.  As such, she's the first in line; hopefully you started with her and arrived here riding the wave of Jen del Muro' s fabulousness.  If not, hang ten back that way -- you don't want to miss any of the gnarly goodness! 

Leigh put together a fun, summery inspiration challenge -- check it out:
As you might be aware, I love love love bright colors, so taking the color scheme from the flip-flop fabric, I came up with this little number...

I used a GLUE 4 section shallow tray to create a home-decor project celebrating summer fun!  First, I painted the tray with white acrylic craft paint, then gave the top a couple of coats of Plaid's Extreme Glitter paint in turquoise -- very shiny!  Next, I hand-tied and adhered 75 buttons (count 'em!) to the frame. 
But the stars of the show are all of the images from the new Fun in the Sun Clearly Swanky Set, being released this Wednesday.  Sprinkle and Poochie are participating in various summer-y activities, and in each incantation, they've got a touch of the new TCP Glitzy German Glitter Glass -- so chunky (in a good way ;) ) and sparkly! 

There's Poochie on his surf board... Sprinkle relaxing in her pool with a tasty glass o' lemonade...

Here's Sprinkle once more, Hula dancing babe that she is...

And, last but not least, Poochie is stylin' and profilin' with his board and his super-cool Hawaiian shirt.

In addition to Fun in the Sun, TCP will be releasing two more Clearly Swanky sets on Wednesday -- You Sick Thing (must have for all those get well cards we all need to make from time to time) and a delightful set of all new images, By the Sea. 

You can -- and I suggest that you do -- buy them when they come out on Wednesday, but wouldn't it be even better to get them all for FREE?  Yep!  That's what I thought!  All you need to do, then, is leave a comment on every post in the Blog Surf (Alma will select a winner at noon on Friday).

And don't forget to play in the TCP Tuesday challenge with us for a chance to be the next Swanky Stamper and win $25 in Cat Cash ($ to spend on the TCP website)!  Leigh will have all the details on her blog.

In the meantime, though, I know you'll want to continue your sufin' safari by heading over to the one, the only, the beautiful & tubular Tracy Falco!!!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Fun in the Sun by The Cat's Pajamas (to be released on Wednesday, July 22, 2009)
Paper: Solar White (Neenah), Lunar Blue, Magenta, Solar Yellow (Wasau)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: GLUE 4-section shallow tray, white craft paint, turquoise Plaid Glitter Extreme paint, buttons, hemp, Copic markers, TCP Glitzy German Glass Glitter, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder, Jody's Foam Boosters

The Cat Pack Doesn't Hop...

... it surfs!  Stay tuned...

Chicken Soup-y SFYTT

I just love everything about the card I'm about to show you.  Not because of anything I did, mind you, but because of the sketch and the image I used.  The sketch, of course, is Jen's SFYTT.  She makes the best sketches, don't you think?  This week's is as versatile as ever and has a mod & funky feel to it.  PERFECT for The Cat's Pajamas images.  (You know there's a 25% off sale at TCP going on as I type and you read, don't you?  Bargain bonanza!)  The image I used is one of my ALL-TIME FAVORITE TCP images -- in fact, it was one of the first ones I ever bought (in rubber, at Stamper's Ink in the Kansas City area on one of our trips up there to see Carter's pediatric orthopaedist.  That's a fantastic store, by the way, if you're ever in the area), loooooong before I could have ever dreamed of being on the Design Team.  I still kinda have to pinch myself about that... I'm a lucky stamper!

Anyway, enough yappin' -- here's my sample for today's SFYTT:
I just love that big chicken, maxin' and relaxin' in that bowl of soup as if he were in a hot tub.  Too, too funny!  And the great news: this image has been resized and is now part of the You Sick Thing Clearly Swanky set that will be going on sale this Wednesday, July 22!  Can I get a woot-woot?! 

Now head on over to Jen's blog to get the sketch and see what she and July Guest Designer Regina Mangum have put together, then make your merry way to my oh-so-spectacular SFYTT Sisters' sites for their takes on today's nifty sketch:

Susan Liles
Amy Rohl, and
Kelly Lunceford
(Amy Sheffer is hitting the road for a little vacation time, but she'll be back next weekend.  Safe travels and good times, Amy!)

As for this weekend?  Not exactly sure what Carter and I have up our sleeves.  I have a lot of design work to get in the can, but we've GOT to take advantage of this amazing Michigan weather and get outdoors, so I figure we'll try to hit the Detroit Zoo one day, and Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad (a re-creation of a late 1800's village with a working narrow-gauge engine; Carter will be ALL OVER that train, let me tell you) the next.  In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for visiting me! :)

Supplies used:
Stamps: You Sick Thing by The Cat's Pajamas (N-9672 CL)
Paper: Blush Red Dark (Prism), True Black (PTI), Natural White (Neenah), patterned paper from Cosmo Cricket's Lil' Man collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic Sketch & Spica markers, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Circles embossing folder, button, emroidery floss, Marvy silver pen