Mother's Little Helper

Happy Campers

Hi, friends. How was your weekend? Mine was great. We had a bestie from Claremore come down and stay with us Friday evening, showed her our new hometown on Saturday, and then on Sunday the husband and I went to a church off our beaten path to hear a sermon given by a wonderful friend who was subbing for the regular minister (he did an awesome job -- go Dell!). To top all that off, Sean's been ever so diligent at his grill this weekend, and I'm anticipating some mouthwatering barbequed ribs and corn on the cob as I type this. Life is good!

(I'm still trying not to get in a funk about the fact that Truman is leaving in 16 days...)

Earlier today I saw a cute pic on Instagram where one of my local friends (whom you would love; she is so, so funny and cool. One of my favorite peeps I've met since we've moved) posted a picture of a trio of tents set up in her backyard. Her son and friends had a little impromptu camp out, and it inspired the card I created for this week's Mojo Monday.  Take a look:

That's some summertime fun, right there! Not only does it use this week's Mojo Monday sketch, but it also qualifies for the current TCP Tuesday Challenge from my longtime friends at The Cat's Pajamas (challenge = Anything Goes) and I'm going to enter it in TCP's Summer Blog Hop.  All ingredients are listed in the In Linkz area below.  As far as card details are concerned, the only perhaps less-than-obvious thing I did was stamp the image first on my background patterned paper layers, then again onto Ultra Smooth alcohol ink cardstock.  After coloring the image with Copic markers, I fussy cut it out, then adhered it to the patterned paper layer.

You'll definitely want to play in this week's Mojo Monday challenge (#409). Not just because it's a great sketch, but because it's the first sketch of the month, which means... PRIZES!!!  For every fifty entries, one lucky participant will be randomly selected to win the Verve stamp set of his/her choice.  That definitely beats being poked in the eye with a sharp stick, doesn't it?

Head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for more details about how you can play along, then go visit the other memebers of Mojo Monday's design team for further inspiration.

• Julee Tilman (Owner)
• Justin Krieger
• Lori Tecler
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Wanda Cullen

Thanks so much for visiting, and go make this Monday a fun day! :)

Mojo Monday Sketch # 409	TCP - Under the Stars	MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rounded Rectangles	Taylored Expressions - Pinking Circle Stacklets	Memento Tuxedo Black
Echo Park Happy Camper	Stampin' Up Card Stock	UltraSmooth Premium White Card Stock	Copic Sketch Markers	MISTI
Jody's Foam Boosters

InLinkz.com

TCP's Vintage Holiday *Limited Edition* New Release Blog Hop!

Welcome to the *late* edition of The Cat's Pajamas' VINTAGE HOLIDAY/Limited Edition/New Release Blog Hop!!!  (<--- quite the title, don't you agree?  Not sure everyone else is referring to it in such a wordy way, but you know me: I'm windy.)  The hop begins at the oh-so-prolific/productive/pleasant/puppy-lovin' LORI's blog, and if you're hopping along in order, you should have hit me via that vivacious, vibrant bon vivant, CHRIS VERNUSO.

Now, when the challenge to make a vintage card was issued, I quaked in my boots.  Me and vintage?  We go together like buttermilk and vodka, which is to say: not at all.  Still, a challenge is supposed to be challenging, no?  So, I comtemplated what vintage means to me: distressing, inked edges, and shabby chic are the first things that came to mind.  I grabbed the most vintage looking Christmas paper I had in my stash - Cosmo Cricket's Dear Mr. Claus 6"x6" pad - and went to work.

Here's what I came up with, using the adorable new TREE-MENDOUS set, and our newest line of CutUps dies, the TOPPERS:

I just love that fun little tinsel/garland - perfect with the sentiment!  I found a few spools of it in a gift store in Missouri.  I'd never seen it before.  Wouldn't it be perfect to decorate a Barbie Dream House? (I should have had a daughter...) Before I get even further off track, here's a detail shot, so you can get up close and personal with Mr. Bear...

Now, when I first saw the Toppers, I have to admit, I was a bit mystified.  The unfamiliar scares me like fire scared the cavemen.  But, since it was my duty as a member of the Cat Pack to figure these futuristic gizmos out, I reluctantly did so.  And now, in the words of Buddy the Elf,

 

TOPPERS are GENIUS!!!  You're going to have to play with them a bit, but once you get started, the possibilities are truly endless.  As you can see on my card, I used the scallop with holes for the text printed paper layer, and then the scallop without holes for the dark green border around it.  I also decided to play around with the regular scallop to created the green background panel behind the image, and for my sentiment panel in the upper left-hand corner. 

By the way, I'm thinking that when our illustrator Zlatoenia drew this image, she must have had me in mind.  Have you ever seen my Christmas tree?  It's 9.5" tall even though my ceilings are only 9" high.  Here's a pic of it from last year:

The 8.5" tree I first ordered just didn't seem big enough for the room, so what was I to do?  I mash the top of this one and put two stars up near the top (because, again, one just doesn't seem like enough...). 

Speaking of enough, my goal this year is to take the sentiment I used on this card as a personal mantra for this holiday season.  Not in a snarky way, but more in a 'don't sweat the small stuff' kind of way.  I don't know about you, but I always try to cram SO MUCH into this time of year that I often fail to enjoy it - I merely survive it.  In other words, I'm my own worst tinsel tangler.  But, no more!  This year, I'm going to have FUN, damn it!

 

I'll let you get back to the FUN of this fabulous blog hop, where your next stop is none other than the fantastic TRACY FALCO!

Don't forget to hit up The Cat's Pajamas store just as soon as you're done hopping - those exclusive LIMITED EDITION rubber cling sets aren't going to last long, and you NEED the new dies.  Just sayin'! :)

Pumpkins & Pirates

Good morning, Glories!  (I'm writing this at 6 a.m., which is why I say 'morning,' but if you happen to be reading in the afternoon or evening, please substitute 'morning' with whatever time of day is appropriate.  That probably goes without saying, but typing it out gets my rusty fingers going...)

My stamps from The Cat's Pajamas have been feeling pretty neglected, and I fear Sprinkle (TCP's feline mascot) is about to give me a nasty case of Cat Scratch Fever (try to get that song out of your head, now; you're welcome!) if I don't show 'em some love.  This week's TCP TUESDAY challenge - a color challenge hosted by the loverly Lori Tecler - is the perfect opportunity to show Sprinkle & crew that I haven't forgot them. 

Here's what I came up with...

I used the oh-so-fun HELLO, PUMPKIN set featuring everyone's favorite penguin trio, and paper-pieced the pumpkins and Larry's scarf.  Then, I fussy-cut around the image and popped it up on foam boosters on top of a Jenni Bowlin Mini Bingo card that I've had in my stash forever.  Another stash-dweller -- the Imaginesce jack-o-lantern brad -- was rescued from oblivion to adorn the paper flowers made with TCP's Button Flowers CutUps dies.  The sketch is this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch (#170), courtesy of spider-lovin' Karen Giron. :)

Yesterday was Pirate Day at Carter's school.  It's Red Ribbon Week; an annual campaign for alcohol/tobacco/drug/violence/frog-licking, etc., prevention.  I'm not sure that prior to this week Carter had an awareness of tobacco or drugs (can't say the same for alcohol, as Mama does like her wine), but he does now as he came home Monday full of facts about the dangers of drug use and addiction.  And even though we just had a week full of dress-up days (or as I call them, "distractions") for Homecoming week -- not to mention that they're allowed to wear their Halloween costumes to school next week -- little Blackbeard, to your left, set sail. {Can you tell Mama thinks dress-up days are a PITA and basically a waste of a school week?  I thought perhaps I was being too subtle... ;)}

If nothing else, Carter did come home with an AWESOME pirate accent and two actually funny jokes (as opposed to most of his repertoire, which are of the painful knock-knock variety).

Q: Where to Pirates like to shop?

A: Tarrrgh-get!

Q: What's a Pirate's favorite restaurant?

A: Arrrgh-by's!

Q: What's a Pirate's second favorite restaurant?

A: Carrrghl's Junirrrgh!

 

Carrrgh-ter's a chip off the old block, is he not?!  Well, I'd better get going -- gotta get ready for "Crazy Hair Day."

 

Supplies used - Stamps: Hello Pumpkin from The Cat's Pajamas; Paper: patterned paper from Echo Park's Dots & Stripes - Homefront and Pebbles' Seen & Noted (6"x6"), Intense Kiwi (Prism), Basic Gray (SU!), Orange Fizz and Perfect Panels (MFT); Ink: Marvy Matchables Black; Accessories: TCP CutUps Dies (Pinking, Flower Buttons, banner from Easy Rosette), Copic markers, Jenni Bowlin Mini Bingo Card, Imaginese brad, foam boosters from Jody Morrow's Sticky Stuff Store.

Moony Mojo Monday

Good morning, friendlies!  I've got a lovely little combo of a card to share with you this Mojo Monday.  I was a little stuck on exactly how I was going to do it, but I'm pleased with what I ended up with.  Don't you love it when that happens?

First things first: here's this week's Mojo Monday sketch, created by that lovely ray of Virginia¹ sunshine, Teresa Kline...

I love it when the Mojo sketches have a big focal point - makes it so much easier to insert my beloved cartoon-y images. :)  This is such a great, classic design, it may just wind up in my Go-To sketch file. 

I combined my Mojo sample with the current TCP TUESDAY challenge (brought to you by The Cat's Pajamas).  My dear buddy, SUSIESTAMPALOT (aka Susan Liles, Sus, Sus-a-palooza, and the Birthday Bowling Queen) is this week's Hipster Hostess With the Mostess, and she's come up with a doozy of a Stamps/CutUps challenge: use any stamp that starts with the letter "M" for May.  And for the CutUps, use the Pennant Die (none of the dies start with M!). As Susan explains, "The stamp SET doesn't have to start with "M", just the stamp or something within the stamp.  Like the penguin holding a Margarita, the little girl holding a Mug, obviously the MUSTACHES, Merry Christmas, the bunny riding the Moped, the Monkeys, the bunny on the Mushroom, all the bears have Muzzles, Music--now ya'll get the idea?"

Got it, sister.  For my M 'mage², I chose the bunny on the moon in the brand new WISH set.  I wasn't sure exactly how I'd get the pennant die to fit in with the Mojo Sketch, but I played around with it an came up with something that I think works³.

Isn't that image cute?  Lovey!  I paper pieced the moon and colored the bunny with Copic markers, then fussy cut the image out and popped it up with foam boosters on the starry background paper.  Notice the way the card is opening - I usually cut my card base from cardstock then score it with a top fold.  I was doing a little LONG OVERDUE cleaning of my craft room this weekend, and came upon a stash of store-bought, pre-scored white card bases.  I figured that since I'm on a white card base kick these days, I might as well use them up.  Hence the side-fold.  Top folds are much easier to photograph/balance, but I do feel nice and green not letting these card bases go to waste.

Head over to the Mojo Monday blog to see how you can participate in this week's challenge, and be sure to visit the blogs of my fellow Mojo Makers for further inspiration:

• Debbie Carriere
• Julee Tilman
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Stephanie Kraft

You've still got a few hours to get in on the TCP Tuesday Stamps/CutUps challenge (see this post on Alma's blog for all the details).  Still, even if you don't finish it today, it can get you thinking about the TCP Tuesday challenge that will be issued tomorrow (a little bird told me it's going to be a sketch challenge...).

Alrighty, I'd best be going.  I have a little man in the other room demanding that I help him organize his Lego Star Wars minifigures.  May the force be with you!

 

Footnotes

1. Virginia is my home state - I born and raised in Alexandria until I was a sophmore in high school, and then I lived there once more for a year and half as a newlywed. Gotta love the Old Dominion! Truman - my 15 year old - did break my heart a little bit yesterday (on Mother's Day, no less!) when he told me he had no interest in going to college at UVA. I grew up wanting to go to school there, but fate had other plans for me... I've always hoped one of my boys would end up a Cavalier.  Guess I'd better get to work on Mr. Carter... 
2. Get it? "M 'mage"?! As in "image"?! *chortle!*  Like Ralph Malph, I still got it! Speaking of Happy Days, do you remember when Potsy would say "Funny as a crutch, Rich"? I never understood that. Is he saying that crutches aren't funny? Okay. That I get.  But why does he think "Funny as a crutch" is a snappy comeback? He's such a Dren... (remember that?  When Joanie had a crutch on Potsy and would write love notes to him addressed to 'Dren' because its 'nerd' spelled backward?  Man, I watched way too much TV as a kid... Just think if I'd had all the channels kids today have? Or Netflix?!  Oooh...)
3. And by 'works,' I mean that I actually think it looks like it goes with the card and wasn't just tacked on there to fulfill a challenge requirement. Even though it was.
   

A Fan-STACHE-tic May Sketch For You To Try

Happy Cinco de Mayo, mi amigas!  I hope today brings you mariachi music, guacamole and margaritas!  What I'm certain it will bring you: a brand new Sketch For You To Try!  Olé!

 (Note: that small introductory paragraph used four - count 'em, four - exclamation points.  One for each brief sentence.  I fear I've used my exclamation quota up for this entire post in a single outburst; I've shot my punctuation wad, so to speak.  And yet, I know I'll type a few more exclamations as this post goes forward.  Despite knowing that exclamation points should be used rarely and with discretion in good writing, I like 'em and use them with what some might call "annoying frequency."  Can I help it?  I suppose I could, but here's the deal: I write like I speak, and I'm an enthusiastic gal. Besides, it's my blog, and if I want to use dozens of exclamation points per post, that's my and Bobby Brown's prerogative. When Bobby tells me I have to lay off the exclamation points, I shall do so willingly.  Until then: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

So, um, where was I?  Oh yeah! (<--- exclamation point) May's new SFYTT!  This month, the SFYTT is sponsored by SKIPPING STONES DESIGN.

With all of the hullaballo surrounding Carter's surgery over the past couple of months, I was distracted and forgot to submit my choice for a sponsor set.  However, I know from seeing SSD images all around the stamping blogosphere that they have tons of beautiful and fun stamps in all sorts of styles.  Definitely check them out - you'll be glad you did. :)

Here's the new sketch Jen's put together to challenge and inspire you this month - I'm pretty sure I'll be adding it to my 'Go-To' sketch file...

And here's what I made with it, using The Cat's Pajamas' F-U-N & fabulous new THE MUSTACHE SET:

In addition to The Mustache Set, I also used TCP's funky new MUSTACHES CutUps die to cut the big mustache out of felt.  I liked that furry 'stache so much, I decided to thread a strip of felt through the lower sketch strip, using the oh-so-innovative-&-creative MUSTACHE SLIDE CutUps die.  (I can't help but giggle when I think of the name of that die.  Then my mind starts to wander, and I start singing in my head "Why don't you come with me, little girl, on a magic mustache slide?")

Look, Ma!  It lays flat for easy mailing!

My color scheme was inspired by this week's TCP Tuesday Color Challenge, hosted by the lovely Lori Tecler:

For info about how to play along in this week's challenge, see THIS POST on Alma's blog. Other card supplies include patterned paper from Pink Paislee's Hometown Summer 6"x6" collection, Prism's Intense Kiwi cardstock, Marvy Matchables black ink, Cuttlebug Argyle embossing folder, Tim Holtz mini stapler, Corner Chomper, and foam boosters from Jody Morrow's sticky stuff store.

You'll definitely want to visit JEN'S BLOG to see how The Sketcher Herself and our Designer of the Month, ANNIE ROSENSTIEL, used this month's sketch.  And it goes without saying you'll want to visit my superlative SFYTT Sisters to see what sort of splendor they've created for your viewing pleasure. 

Amber Hight
Amy Sheffer
Becky Carafa
Jen Tapler
Jodi Collins
Kerry Johnson
Megan Lock
Susan Liles

and our newest Sister, Tracy Shultz!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I must take leave to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride...

 

TCP New Release Blog Hop - Bubble Therapy!

Hello, hello!  It's The Cat's Pajamas' New Release Blog Hop time, in addition to being TCP Tuesday.  Our Hipster Hostess With the Mostess this week is my sweet friend JULIE MASSE, and she's got a Supply/Technique Challenge for us to create HOMEMADE FLOWERS!

As our Challenge Hostess, Julie is starting off today's blog hop, so if you didn't start there, you may want to head back to the beginning so you won't miss one beautiful thing.  If you've been a good little hopper, you've come my way via my oh-so-sweet and talented Dirty Dozen teammate, CHRISTINE OKKEN (we served on the SCS DD together in 2008 - good times!).

If I told you what a long and grueling week this was, I would not be lyin'.  In addition to the internal angst that accompanies having your seven-year-old undergo 5+ major orthopedic surgeries, I have the external aches that go with sleeping on one of those impossibly uncomfortable hospital fold-out chairs for the past five nights.  You know what I could use right now (in addition to a Xanax drip and gallon-sized premium margarita)?  A little BUBBLE THERAPY! 

Fortunately, Sprinkle is looking out for me...

Glamour puss Sprinkle lounges in a paper pieced tub with a Copic airbrushed background.  Her bubbles were made fluffy with liquid applique.  The sentiment was heat embossed with white detail embossing powder - see what I mean?

And I fulfilled this week's challenge using my brand new POM POM FLOWER CutUps Die.  It makes such a yummy, fluffy flower - I lurve it so.

Okay, gang.  Be off - I've got a bed to fold out and try to catch a few winks on before a nurse comes in here with a flashlight & meds (that should be right as I doze off...), and you'll want to see what sort of breathtaking wonderfulness my favorite Pickler, AMY SHEFFER, has to inspire you! 

And don't forget to head on over to The Cat's Pajamas website when you finish the hop, for all of the swanky new goodies are waiting for you to give them a good home and put them to use.  :)

Commemorating You {Redux}

redux: (adjective) brought back, restored, revived

 

Yesterday, I revealed to you - for the first time, in the history of mankind - a card made with the new COMMEMORATING YOU set from The Cat's Pajamas.  Scroll down to yesterday's post if you don't believe me; nevermind... I'll just show you:

Why, you might be asking, am I showing you the same card, two days running?  Surely you know I have an excellent reason for that: it's TCP Tuesday! Though said card was created as a sample for the current Mojo Monday sketch, it was also constructed with this week's TCP Tuesday Inspiration Challenge in mind.  In common parlance, it's what we call a "two-fer."

Behold!

Jen is our TCP Tuesday Inspiration Challenge Hipster Hostess With the Mostess, as well as the concept designer of COMMEMORATING YOU (Alma - TCP's owner and FEO {Feline Executive Officer} used her incomparable graphic design skillz to translate Jen's idea into stamp form). For details about how you can play along in this week's TCP Tuesday challenge {and be eligible to win FAME & FORTUNE as our next SWANKY STAMPER}, head on over to Alma's blog.

Here's a closer look at the 16 images and 17 sentiments that come in COMMEMORATING YOU:

How would you like to get your paws on Commemorating You, free o' charge?  That got your interest, didn't it?  All you have to do is leave a comment on today's IN IT TO WIN IT thread in The Cat's Pajamas' Member Company Forum on Splitcoaststampers and you'll be eligible to win.  Easy-peasy, no?

I'll be Sneaky Peeking another new set tomorrow - see you then!

Good Things Come

I'm alive! Were you beginning to wonder? Yeah, it's been a weird couple of weeks, I've gotta tell you. I recovered(-ish) from the flu just long enough to pack Truman to go to Vancouver, BC, for Spring Break while the rest of us headed to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas for several days with my in-laws. The weather was wonderful, the resort was very nice, and we had a good time, but I'm still not back to 100%. Energy levels are low, low, low. But, it's a new week, and I'm an optimist. This week I WILL get back to normal! (I'm convincing myself.)

Ready to see the latest Mojo Monday sketch?  Here you go...

Last Monday of the month, you always have the option to make it round or square.  As for me?  I went with a square, and paired it up with the current TCP TUESDAY Challenge (#202) which is a technique challenge to create something using a little Grass With Class.  Here's what I came up with:

I used the SUGAR, SUGAR set (don't you love the bunny's big ol' belly?) and my classy grass was created with TCP's Grass Cut-Ups die.  For more info about how you can participate in this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge, see this post on Alma's blog.

And, of course, you'll want to hit up the Mojo Monday blog for all of the details about how you can play along in this week's challenge. 

For further takes on this week's sketch, visit my fellow Mojo Makers

• Debbie Carriere
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Stephanie Kraft

Thanks for stopping by to visit me. Have a wonderful Monday!

TCP New Release Blog Hop!

Howdy, friends!  Whether you know it or not, you're in the middle of The Cat's Pajamas' New Release Blog Hop!  If you've been following along, you've come to me from my buddy-pal-and-life-long-friend AMY's blog.  If you haven't, and you're interested in seeing all of the latest and greatest stamps and dies from the swankiest stamping company in the universe, then you'll want to start at the very beginning.  As Maria Von Trapp sings in the introduction to "Do Re Mi," the very beginning is a "very good place to start," and our very good place happens to be JULIE'S blog.  She's our Hipster Hostess With the Mostess for this week's TCP TUESDAY Technique Challenge, and she's challenged us to EMBOSS on our cards.

Wanna see what I've got up my sleeve?  Presto!

I used the ADORABLE new WARM FUZZIES set, the latest from TCP's OuOu Illustrations. I just love this cute little gal in her bulky scarf and sweater.  And look - she has a little blue bird of happiness on her head.  Mind you, if a bird planted itself on my head, I'd be freaking out.  I've got a weird dislike of most birds, though. I think it stems back to being chased and pecked by a chicken when I was three years old, and multiple viewings of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" at an impressionable age.  But no matter - this gal's a cutie full o' charm, no matter which way you slice it!

Most of the Bird Girl is paper pieced, though her skin, hair and bird are colored with Copic markers.  I used QuikKutz Geometric Circles embossing folder to emboss the white background layer, then embellished with some black Zva crystals, my trusty corner rounder, and black satin ribbon.  The sketch is the current one from Card Positioning Systems.

Next stop on the hop is the always-awesome JEN!  Have a great day, and don't forget to shop 'til you drop when you finish the hop at The Cat's Pajamas website, where you'll find all of the stamps and dies from this fabulous release NOW available. :)

 

Mojo Monday # 218

How's this for an oxymoron: Happy Monday!  I don't usually mind Mondays all that much (they're often a respite to us SAHMs, you know) except for the fact that I have class tonight, which makes for a very long day.  For the last year, I've had classes until 10:00 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday evenings, and by the time I commute home, it's 10:30 or so.  I'm so glad that the schedule has me getting out of class by 7 p.m. next semester.  Only two more weeks of this late night stuff! 

 

So, where was I going before I hijacked my own train of thought?  Oh yeah - Monday!  In that esoteric little niche known as the Stamping Universe, Monday is not merely 'Monday' -- it's MOJO MONDAY!  And thus I have the latest, greatest weekly sketch challenge for your inspiration and edification.  Take a look...

I combined this week's sketch with the current TCP TUESDAY CHALLENGE, a Technique Challenge hosted by JULIE to create SHINY EMBELLISHMENTS for a holiday card.  Check it out...

I used the sweet new FREEZIN' SEASON set from The Cat's Pajamas, and my sparkly embellishment was made by covering TCP's gorgeous Snowflake CutUps die with Stardust Stickles  It's hard to tell from my photo, but the snowflake is truly very sparkly.  Here's a little tip I use when trying to make Stickles 'spread out' (it's kind of thick) and dry faster: take a water brush, and spread the Stickles around a bit.  You get the sparkly, glittery effects, without the muss and fuss of glitter, and without the eons of dry-time normally required by Stickles.

Here's a close-up of Mr. Bunny and his friend, where you can see the sparkle marginally better:

Want to see more samples using this week's Mojolicious sketch?  Then go visit my fellow Mojo Makers:

• Debbie Carriere
• Julee Tilman
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Stephanie Kraft

You'll for sure want to play this week because it's PRIZE WEEK - if your card is deemed one of the Mojo-est Of Them All, you'll be eligible to win a FREE stamp set from VERVE STAMPS!  Check out the Mojo Monday blog for all of the details about how to play along.

I'd better skeddadle.  Miles to go before I sleep, and all that good stuff.  Later, gators!

TCP Tuesday ~ Two Ways

Do you ever watch Top Chef? Inevitably once during the show, some cheftestant will say, "I'm serving scallops (or whatever) two ways..."  Well, I'm serving up this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge two ways.  But first, did you realize that it's

I know!  Aren't you thrilled?!  Been pinching yourself since yesterday, haven't you?  Me, too! :) Be sure to stop by ALMA'S blog every day through Release Day (Tuesday, Nov. 29th) for a nifty graphic of that day's Sneaky Peek set and links to all of the Cat Pack-ers showing it off.

So, this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge is an Inspiration Challenge, which means the incomparable Jen del Muro is our Hipster Hostess With the Mostess. I always LOVE the evocative images Jen selects to get our creative juices flowing, and this week is no exception:

So many ways you can go with this one... but I chose SNOW!  And I used yesterday's Sneaky Peek set, SNOW DAYS, two ways, as I mentioned before. 

Here's my first version, for those of you on Santa's nice list...

Notice Mr. Bunny's snowy background.  That was created using the new SNOWFLAKE LACE PAPER CutUps die, which you are definitely going to NEED.  I also used it to create the background paper in the detail layer, along with raspberry swirls, made with the yummy ICING CutUps die.

    

Nice kids, you can quit reading now.  I don't want to offend your delicate sensibilities.

********

Okay, naughty peeps.  Now that it's just us, I can show you my permanent version of this card.  On occasion, Alma gives me a glimpse of the upcoming images and I brainstorm various sentiments.  Here's the above sentiment as I originally submitted it...

(To create 'my' version of the sentiment, I inked up the 'BALL', stamped it out, drew an 'S' with pencil, went over it with a black pen, and then inked up the exclamation point and stamped it after the 'S'.  Easy peasy!)

You may be asking "But who would you ever send that card to?"  The better question to ask, however, is "Who would I NOT send this card to?"

Wanna play in this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge?  Then see THIS POST on Alma's blog for all the details.  Just entering a submission will put you in the running to be The Cat's Pajama's next SWANKY STAMPER, which means free stamp sets from our next new release and the opportunity to participate in Sneaky Peek Week, and the New Release Pajama Party and Blog Hop.  In other words: stamping FAME & FORTUNE!!!

+

Okay, turkeys, I must trot.  But I'll see you tomorrow - aka Thanksgiving, here in the U.S. - with another Sneaky Peek.  Have a good one!

Sneaky Peek Week Starts... NOW!

Doesn't that graphic set your heart a-flutter?  If Sprinkle's poking her head out these days, it's usually because The Cat's Pajamas has a new release headed your way.  Ergo, it's time to HAPPY DANCE! 

And, as every TCP lover worth his/her salt knows, Sneaky Peek Week always starts with the current TCP Tuesday Challenge.  My sweet, funny, insanely talented friend SUSAN is this week's Hipster Hostess With the Mostess, and her stamp challenge is to HYPE THE TYPE! Use any alphabet or sentiment stamp. 

Susan's challenge gets me to thinking: have you noticed over the last year that Miss Meowy has illustrated several sets that have a more elegant, graphic look and feel to them?  Alma's obviously well-known for her smart and sassy illustrations of cats, dogs, penguins, and bears.  But with sets like Love Letters, Simply Said, The Tweetest Things, and Nesting, she trades "sassy" for "classy" and shows us her sleek and sophisticated side. 

It's time to add one more entry to the "Class Act" side of TCP's stamping ledger: let me introduce you to ADMIT ONE!

Tell me that stamp doesn't make you want to shout, "What possibilities!"  When I saw the "Golden Ticket" line of text, I knew just what I had to do: make a Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (WW&TCF) inspired card for my eldest son, Truman's, next birthday...

WW&TCF is one of our favorite movies.  I couldn't wait to share it with him, as it's definitely my favorite movie from my own childhood; I know there are more than a few of you out there who can relate.  The Chocolate River, Three-course-dinner Gum, Golden Eggs, Fizzy Lifting Drink, Everlasting Gobstoppers... you know what I mean.  And after countless viewings, snuggled up together under a blanket in the family room, Truman does, too.  It's up to a mother to educate her child, is it not?  

As you can see (thanks to the numbers from the Coolvetica alphabet set) from the card, Truman will be 15 on his next birthday.  If you look closely at his golden tickets, you can also spy the date.  See what I mean...

I really think Truman will get such a kick out of this card - I can't wait to share it with him!  (Although I can definitely wait for his last birthday before he can legally drive... where's my baby and who is this almost-man calling me "Mom"?!)

In addition to the Admit One stamp set, I'm giving you a Sneaky Peek of two new dies coming out in this release: BIG TICKET and CIRCUS BORDER!  Yep, they're fab, and you NEED them.  Hear me now and believe me later.

Are you seeing what I'm meaning?  You're smart, so I'm thinking you do. 

Well, that's it for my personal Sneaky Peek today.  Fortunately for you, Alma's got a whole lovely list of direct links to Cat Pack-ers showing off Admit One on her blog, so go see what my incredible team-mates have made to inspire and delight you.  While you're there, you'll also find all the info you need to play along in this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge and thus be eligible to be our next SWANKY STAMPER.

I'll be back tomorrow for another Sneaky Peek.  Hasta mañana, Oompa Loompas!

Just Fluttering By...

¡Hola, mi amigas!  ¿Como estas?  Me?  I'm bueno, but tengo sueño.  (Translation: I'm good, but I'm sleepy.  Aren't you glad you have a blog to visit that not only provides you with crafty goodness but also educates?  What's that?  Not really?  Well.  Fine.  I throw up my hands!  I would rant further, but as I said: tengo sueño.  And thanks to me?  You know what that means.  De nada.) (Look it up, smarty pants.)

So, so, so.  It's late Tuesday night as I write this, but I was BOUND AND DETERMINED to get something put up for your viewing pleasure this Hump Day.  The ol' fingers have been a bit slippery where certain designing balls have been concerned of late.  I'd go into more detail, but - say it with me, now - tengo sueño.

Anywhoodle (<-- not sure how/if that translates into Spanish; if you know, fill me in), I've got two delightful challenges to share with you today.  Just one card, but two challenges.  A two-fer, if you will.  And if you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you know Mama loves a two-fer almost as much as she loves Sour Patch Kids, Deadwood, or Howard Stern.  That's "a bunch" for those of you who've stumbled here by accident or for the first time. 

First off, let's see if you're ready to RUMBLE with the COLOR THROWDOWN! Broni (the Quicker-Picker Upper, herself) is this week's challenge hostess and here's what she's throwing down...

A perfect Indian summer palette, don't you think?  I decided to pair it up with this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge, which is a sketch challenge, hostessed by my favorite LOBster in the whole wide world, the one and only Leigh O'Brien.  Here's the sketch she's challenged us to work with:

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

I used the Flutter By set from The Cat's Pajamas and instead of flags, I die cut a couple of TCP's Mini Exotic Butterflies out of white paper and airbrushed them them with a Copic Marker (YR00).  See those pretty stick pins?  They're from Jillbean Soup, and I picked them up while walking the Tulsa Creating Keepsakes convention with the FABULOUS Megan Lock!  I can't tell you how excited I was to FINALLY meet Megan!  She's lived in Oklahoma for several years now, we were on the MFT design teams together and we've been on Jen's SFYTT team for a couple of years together, too. At long last, we made a date to get together, and though it was definitely worth the wait, I wish we'd done it years sooner.  It felt like meeting an old friend. :)  She and her SWEET, PRECIOUS, PERFECTLY BEHAVED, ADORABLE baby girl Emma are nothing short of spectacular, and I can't wait for our next get together.  We've vowed to tour each other's craft rooms.  Which means I'd better get cleaning...

So, where was I?  Um... how about a few more card details?

• Mr. Bunny was colored on Copic X-Press blending card stock with Copic markers and his net was paper pieced.
• All of the patterened paper comes from Crate Paper's new Farmhouse 6x6 pad.  LOVE!!!
• The banner at the bottom was made using Spellbinders' Ribbon Banners and then airbrushing with Copic Marker YR00 while the die cut was still in the die.
• Lots of foam boosters from Jody Morrow's Sticky Stuff Store.  Can't live without those, as you know. 
  

Interested in playing in this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge?  Then headover to THIS POST on Alma's blog for all of the details.  And for more colorful eye candy and instructions regarding how to participate in this week's Color Throwdown, head on over to the Color Throwdown blog, where you'll find samples from my CTD home girls and our September Guestie, who just happens to be one of my ALL-TIME FAVORITE stampers and company owners.  This gal?  A true CLASS ACT, in every sense of the word.  Just for kicks and giggles, I'll list all of this week's participants to see if you can suss out who I'm referring to.  I know you will, because all of my readers are intelligent, noble, kind, and beautiful.  And because you are all these things?  Stop by these gals blogs and leave 'em some love.  After you leave ME some love, of course, because you know I LOVE to hear from you. 

• Broni Holcomb
• Barbara Anders
• Danielle Kennedy
• Julee Tilman
• Laura Pryor
• Kristin Eberline
• Tammy Hershberger

Okily-dokily, peepages.  I'm hitting ye ol' hay.  ¡Hasta luego!

 

Felt Up Mojo Monday

That sounds a little naughty, doesn't it? It's actually pretty innocent – I'm combining the current TCP Tuesday Challenge (use FELT in your design) with this week's Mojo Monday Sketch.  Here's the sketch:

And here's what I made, using The Cat's Pajamas' Hello Pumpkin set, one of my favorite Halloween images.  I love the penguins, of course, and there's something about that happy jack-o-lantern that just makes me smile.  See what I mean?

There's still one more day to particpate in this particular TCP Tuesday challenge; another challenge will be posted tomorrow.  Don't forget, every time you play along, you become eligible to be our next Swanky Stamper, and you also have the opportunity to randomly win $10 in Cat Cash.  For all the details on how to play along, see this post on Alma's blog.

Head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for instructions of how to particpate in this week's challenge, as well as for visual inspiration from the rest of the Mojo Monday design team. And for up close and personal descriptions of their lovely creations, head on over to these talented ladies' blogs, and leave 'em a little love for giving papercrafters at least one reason to like Mondays.

• Julee Tilman
• Debbie Carriere
• Maria Gurnsey
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Stephanie Kraft
• Teresa Kline

Hope your Monday is Mojolicious! :)

Supplies used:

Stamps: Hello Pumpkin by The Cat's Pajamas; Paper: Neenah Brilliant White #110, Cosmo Cricket Matilda 6x6 pad; Ink: Marvy Matchables Black; Accessories: Big Scallop and Pinking CutUps dies from The Cat's Pajamas, Ivory Linen Thread (TCP), TCP Felt from the Orange You Glad and Green With Envy collections; PTI ribbon & button, Copic markers, foam boosters from Jody Morrow's Sticky Stuff Store.

In Flight

I couldn't resist this week's TCP Tuesday Color Challenge.  Tori is our Color Challenge Hostess With the Mostess, and she put together this delicious combo:

Is it the yummiest?  I've had an idea for the new Lacey Butterfly CutUps die that I had yet to put into action, and then I found some adorable new Doodlebug Designs patterned paper at Simply Scrapbooks (my awesome LSS) this week, so it came together lickety-split.

Some of the most striking butterflies have a lot of black markings with intense color - Monarchs are the ones that immediately come to mind, but there are so many others.  Once again, I'll show you one of my favorite home decor items, an anniversary gift from my husband that we selected on vacation in Ouray, Colorado several years ago:

Lots of black amongst their wing colors, with unexpected pops of pink, green, orange, yellow, aqua, blue, purple - you name it!  Thus, I was inspired to cut out a trio of Lacey Butterflies in black cardstock and back them with TCP Tuesday's colors of orange, melon, and green.  I added a little strip of Heidi Swapp bling to their middles (bodies?) to make 'em extra swanky (as befitting anything related to The Cat's Pajamas, a.k.a. the world's swankiest stamp company).

Here's a close up of the sentiment treatment and hand-stitched border (y'all know I love my embroidery floss...):

I used a one of the dies from Spellbinder's Double-ended tag trio to cut out the tag in white cardstock, then sponged in the orange using Adirondack Sunset Orange ink.  Then, I stamped the sentiment from the Take Off set and tied it off with embroidery floss.  That delightful patterned paper from Doodlebug Designs (which is the first name in CUTE when it come to patterned paper and accessories, IMHO) is called 'Fruit Cocktail', and I think I'm going to have to go back to get more sheets of it to hoard because I am officially in LOVE!

Here's a sideview of the card, which is long note sized (3.35" x 6.5"):

While this sentiment reads "Let's Fly Away", I've had a MAJOR event occur this week, which reminds me how fast time is flying through my fingertips.  My oldest son, Truman, will be a freshman in high school this fall.  He's now taller than I am and is morphing from a boy to a man, right before my eyes.  I'm sure some of you moms out there understand what I mean when I say that I have missed this boy since the day he was born.  Unlike Carter, I've always had some innate understanding that my time with Truman was fleeting and therefore precious.  Not that Carter isn't precious to me -- y'all know WAY better than that -- but there has always been this sense of the ... temporary with Truman.  He reminds me of this Stephen Sondheim lyric from the Broadway musical, Into the Woods:

How can you say to a child who's in flight
"Don't slip away and i won't hold so tight"...

Guide them then step away
Children will glisten
Tamper with what is true
And children will turn
If just to be free
Careful before you say
"Listen to me"

The song is "Children Will Listen" and I guarantee, I cry a RIVER every single time I listen to it.  Best song about parenting ever written, bar none.

Anyway, what happened this week to cause this gush of emotion?  Truman got his braces off, and aged years in just a few short hours.  See what I mean...

Before:

And, after:

Since I'm wallowing, how about a little musical number to further set the scene?  Here's the wonderful Maria Friedman's rendition of "Children Will Listen" from the Sondheim at 80 BBC special.  Get out your tissue and enjoy!