Happy Tuesday, everyone! It's been so long since I participated in a TCP Tuesday challenge that I think Sprinkle1 may be ever so slightly miffed at me. Yes, I do sing her praises constantly in the {mostly} weekly Cat's Chat2, but that's not really good enough for her. Like my children and Janet Jackson before them, Sprinkle's philosophy is "What have you done for me lately?"
Another reason I've been itching to break out my Cat's Pajamas stamps? I've got NEW ONES! Stuff y'all have never seen before. And it's always fun to show off the latest and the greatest, don't you think? In fact, you know what today is? The beginning of SNEAKY PEEK week! That's right! If you go to Alma's blog every day for the next week, you'll find a preview of the eight new images and two new CutUps dies, as well as daily links to Cat Pack design team members who are showing off the new sets. The new sets and CutUps will be released one week from today -- January 18th. As usual, every single thing is top notch and you're going to want it all. I'm not biased -- it's just THAT GOOD!
But let's get back to today's TCP Tuesday challenge. Jen is this week's Hostess With the Mostess, and she's put forth a supply/technique challenge to use ribbon in a non-traditional way. In other words? NO BOWS!
That's a toughie for me; virtually every card I make has ribbon tied in either a simple knot or bow. Ribbon is definitely my go-to, comfort-zone embellishment. But, in the spirit of TCP Tuesday, I've hurled myself out of my box, and here's what I put together:
I made a background panel by layering various ribbons in shades of my desired color scheme. Don't you love that *sweet* new image?! It's called Spring Rain and will be available with the rest of the new Cat's Pajamas releases next Tuesday, January 18th.
I submitted a few sentiment ideas to Alma for this release, and by far, this sentiment is my favorite: 'The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow.' Y'all know I'm a HUGE fan of Broadway musicals, and the very first one I ever saw was 'Annie.' Like all girls of a certain generation, I wanted to BE Andrea McArdle3 and used to warble to the 'Annie' cast recording at the top of my lungs. I still sing 'Tomorrow' all the time to my boys, much to their chagrin. My 'Annie' affection renewed itself lately after catching a documentary on Netflix called 'Life After Tomorrow,' a whatever-happened-to about the girls (now women) who played the orphans in the Broadway and touring productions of the musical before it closed in 1983. If you're an 'Annie' or Broadway fan, you'll definitely want to check it out; it's available to watch instantly. (Yay! Love my instant Netflix queue!)
So, back to the card. My conception of it grew after I'd laid down the ribbon and started coloring the image. I decided to add a little pinch of pink so that the Yo-Yo Yellow and Tempting Turquoise wouldn't be quite so blinding. I rummaged through an old box of thread that used to belong to my mom and found this pink, so I decided to rethread my sewing machine. I think the pink thread adds a nice little *pop!*
I paper-pieced the Rainy Gal's umbrella, and colored her in with Copics. Her rain slicker and boots were given a coat of Glossy Accents to make them appear sufficiently waterproof. I kinda think this little gal looks like a Muppet, don't you? That's fine by me because I *LOVE* the Muppets. Good thing you aren't here in person with me, or at this very moment you'd be treated to my vocal interpretation of "The Rainbow Connection." Count your blessings!
I used Jen's January Sketch For You To Try. You can check out the sketch and a link to how you can participate on my sidebar. And, if you want to participate in this week's TCP Tuesday challenge and be eligible to win FAME4 and FORTUNE5 by becoming our next Swanky Stamper, then head over to Jen's blog for all of the details on how to play along.
As for me, I think I'm going to slip on my headphones and play my newly purchased CD of the 'Annie' original Broadway cast recording. (If you want one for yourself, you can find a link in my Amazon Associates widget on my sidebar.) I warn you in advance: I can't help but get a little choked up on 'Maybe'...
Maybe far away/Or maybe real nearby/He may be pouring her coffee/She may be straightening his tie...
Footnotes:
1. In the off-chance that you just stumbled onto this blog due to Googling "Master Cleanse" or "TCB" (I seem to get a decent number of hits from such searches), you may not be aware who Sprinkle is. So I will inform you: Sprinkle is the mascot of The Cat's Pajamas stamp company. See her beautiful feline face on the blog button to your left? That's her. Her image has been stamped hundreds of thousands of times by stampers the world over. She can be a bit of a diva, but I am and always will be her humble servant.
2. Cat's Chat is The Cat's Pajamas newsletter, for which I am the writer/editor. If you're a subscriber, you should have received a new issue this morning. If you're not, what's WRONG with you?! Email me, and I'll forward you the latest edition, then go to The Cat's Pajamas website and sign up for a FREE subscription.
3. Broadway's original Annie. Check her out as she sings 'Tomorrow' on this 'Annie' Christmas special that aired on NBC in December of 1977:
Find more videos like this on Annieorphans.com
4. Fame, in the form of the bitchin' title of "Swanky Stamper for February, 2011", a big ol' spread devoted to you on The Cat's Pajamas website, in an edition of Cat's Chat, and on Alma's blog. You will also receive an exclusive blog blinkie heralding your incredible achievement. Not bad, huh?
5. Fortune, in the form of $25 in Cat Cash you can spend on The Cat's Pajamas website.
Darling image, Carole...and I love the sentiment too!! You've done an awesome job with the challenge, and your ribbon background looks great!! Your little pops of pink are perfect, as well as your fabulous stitching!!
Posted by: Rose Ann | January 11, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Fabulous, Carole. I LOVE the bright colors and PINK to tone down two colors, brilliant. And the slicker is pretty sweet, too.
Posted by: alma de la rosa | January 11, 2011 at 01:13 PM
Awww, adorable, and she does have a muppet-esque quality to her; something about the mouth I think. Great out-of-the-box ribbonerie too.
Posted by: jessicak | January 11, 2011 at 07:11 PM
I just lost my first comment...aaack!
Ok, lemme see if I can recall, or at least "summarize":
You and me is soul sistahs--love me some Muppets (remember when they were on Saturday nights?!), anything Annie, and my boys, er, ah...singing to my boys, ha!
Love your card...the colors are just Spring wonderful!
Amy
Posted by: Amy Rohl | January 11, 2011 at 08:50 PM
Super cute. I love the shinty raincoat and rain shoes (what the heck are they called?). Cute and bright.
Posted by: Jody Morrow | January 12, 2011 at 04:44 PM
Carole this is pure sunshine! Love the shiny coat and the bit of pink added in - super card!! :)
Posted by: Julie L Masse | January 13, 2011 at 07:07 AM
How cute is this?? I love Annie, and that sentiment is so me right now!!
Posted by: Jessie/knightrone | January 14, 2011 at 01:26 AM