crafty insomnia

Never too early for the holidays...

It's here! The A Muse Studio 2011 Holiday Catalog and Inspiration Guide!  Want to take a look?  Email me for the details! So much good stuff!

TCP Release blog hop and TCP Tuesday #152...

  So hopefully you've arrived here from Toni's blog as part of the Cat's Pajamas new release blog hop!  If you're just tuning in, you can catch the start of the hop by going over to Julie's blog so you don't miss any of the fabulous Kat Pack DT creations.  It's also TCP Tuesday, and this week's theme hosted by Julie is the "Supply/Technique Challenge —Make a Shaped Card".  Oh... a shaped card? Hrm. That is a challenge...

 

Okay, so I didn't really go overboard with the 'shape' concept, but it's not just a rectangular card right? :)  I used the new Cat's PJ set called 'The Tweetest Things' along w/ the matching TCP CutUps Die 'Home Tweet Home'.  Because the dies are a tiny bit smaller than the stamp images, I don't have to kill myself trying to line them up pefectly to match.  Gotta love that.  Added a bit of glitter on the bird/ birdhouse too...

 

This is a really fun set to play with and has so many possibilities!  So head over to Alma's blog to get all the TCP Tuesday details and play along with us!  Maybe you'll be a TCP Tuesday winner! And finally, the last stop on our release blog hop belongs to none other than our fearless TCP leader, Alma!  Thanks for following along and don't forget to grab the latest stamp sets and dies at the The Cat's Pajamas website!

PS. In case you missed the release party last night over on Splitcoast, here's the link: TCP PARTY! You can also checkout the fabulous creations posted on this thread by clicking on the 'paperclip icon' next to Alma's blog the thread in the forum!

Pinwheels....

So we continue on with our Sneaky Peek week for The Cat's Pajamas' new release coming out next week!  It seems like pinwheels are all the rage lately, and TCP is in on the action.  Check out the card I made below with one of the new clear sets 'Field of Pinwheels'!

 
Along with the CutUps Pinwheel die, it's a perfect match for this fun card.  Oh.. and that CutUps Grass die... The Kat Pack has been doing the two-tone grass thing, and I couldn't resist either. I love the dimension it gives with the double layer and double color. 

I hope you'll all join us for the New Release partying happening over on our SplitcoastStampers Forum on Monday, March 28, 8-10pm EST, 5-7pm PST!  It's always a fun time with a chance to win some goodies as well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TCP Tuesday 151 and a sneak peek...

 Yes, it's TCP Tueday time again! (Okay, so it started yesterday...) But hey, you get the whole week to play along right?  And along with TCP Tuesday I am getting to show a sneak peak of one of the stamp sets being released next week from The Cat's Pajamas!  But first, Jen is hosting this week's TCP Tuesday with this Inspiration Challenge!

 

Fun, right?  Well, call me dense, but I guess I didn't interpret the graphic as well as some of my other Kat Pack design team members and kinda just went with the ol' 'color scheme' trend (zzz....)  But hey, I got to use a NEW stamp set! whee!

 
Yeah, this cute image comes from the CATCH MY DRIFT set, just one of eight being released next Tuesday!  I paper pieced the balloons, attached with a bit of foam tape and glittered up the spots.  And... you see that cute embellishment on the front?  That was made using the new EASY ROSETTE CUTUPS DIE... so fun! (My husband thought I bought it like that and just stuck it on the card. hehe!) 

Check out this quick video by Alma showing how easy it is to make these rosettes with the new cutup dies:

 

 

 Okay, so... I guess you've seen two more 'must haves' from next week's release right? Stay tuned for more this week! And if you want to play along with TCP Tuesday, the deets are below!

  

TCP Tuesday 151:
1. Each Tuesday we will give you a challenge.
2. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
3. Add your entry to the guestbook or upload to the SCS Gallery, using the keyword TCPTUES151 for this week's challenge.
4. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced on Tuesdays.
6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced the 1st of each month. They will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.

TCP Tues 150...

 

Better late than never! Just catching up with last week's TCP Tuesday challenge hosted by Leigh!  A very fun sketch challenge to stretch that creativity on.

 
Birthday themes are always my 'go-to' cards, so I busted out one of my favorite TCP clearly swanky sets, 'You Say It's Your Birthday' for this quickie card (that's making me think about eating a cupcake right now!)  There is still time to play for this week's challenge so head over to Leigh's post for all the details!

And... The Cat's Pajamas will be starting sneak peeks on Tuesday 3/22 for the new release which will be available on Tuesday 3/29!  woohoo! New stamps and dies! Are you readY?

Uh oh! No TCP Tuesday...

Okay, more like 'this space intentionally left blank' kind of TCP Tuesday.... so Alma has deemed it 'RETRO' TCP Tuesday, where the challenge will be to create any card using any of the past TCP Challenges as your jumping off point. There have been a lot of challenges, 146 to be exact.   I chose one that wasn't really 'RETRO' as it only goes back to last month, but since I didn't play then....

I'm going with TCP Tuesday 147... using the fabulous color combination to the right.  I noticed a bunch of you played for this challenge and came up with some really great creations!  Here's my card... 

I really dig those nesties and then sponging in the open areas before removing the die...

So now it's your turn.... If you want to check out the past TCP Tuesday themes, head on over to Alma's blog and click the TCP Tuesday category to check out the various challenges.  Pick on you like and get to it!  Don't forget to use the keyword TCPTUESRETRO to upload your card to Splitcoaststampers as well.

Stamps: TCP Tweet Hearts

Die: TCP CutUps Heart Trio

Embellies: Aqua Divine Twine

TCP Tuesday 148

  Yep, it's Tuesday... TCP Tuesday that is!  Today's challenge is hosted by Susan Liles and it's a Stamp Challenge!  That's right... use stamps to wish someone luck or for St. Patrick's Day (Yes, folks, it's already March! eek!)  So... It's all about the green and the four leaf clovers, and of course PJ the bear! (Just ignore the crooked photo and pretend the card is straight!)

 

TCP stamp sets:  Nightie alpha, Beary Good Year
TCP CutUps die: Big Pinking Border

Want to play in this week's challenge? There are now FIVE ways to win a faboo prize!  Go over to Alma's blog to checkout how to play along and WIN!!!

Here comes February...

...Because technically this week *is* the last full week of January right?  Really? eek. So not ready to move into the 2nd month of 2011 yet. (I can't even remember to write '2011' on my checks!)  But alright, if we must, at least we have a fun holiday coming up to look forward too....  Can't get away from the Valentine/Love bombardment I feel when I go out shopping these days.  (Let's not discuss the Easter stuff I saw at Michael's today either.)  Crafty blogs are loaded with red/pink goodness and all that February 14th has to offer.  I'm so glad Alma included a Sprinkle image in the latest Cat's Pajamas release and a much larger sized one too!  Just perfect for featuring on this card using a set of nestibilities I've been hoarding forever.  Fun technique to sponge on color before pulling the die away from the cut out...  I dream of making more Valentine's in time to mail them out... I suppose it's still a possibility with a smaller likelihood everyday... but I will contine to think about it. ;)  Hope you're finding time to stamp too!

K-0718 It Had To Be Mew 
 

 

The Cat's Pajamas new release...

 

While I was out of town this past week, The Cat's Pajamas had a super release with some fabulous new images for the new year!  Hopefully you caught the fun with last week's sneak peeks and over at Splitcoaststampers with the Cat Pack design team members Monday night for the reveal.  Much fun was had by all!  I've busted out a few cards and hope to get a few more done *before* February 14th.... maybe some might even make it out my front door! (Well, perhaps I shouldn't be too ambitious. ;)  I used the 'Ewe Complete Me' set to create the above card... Such a cute pair.  And after four bows, I finally got a hang of which way to tie them so they'd end up all facing the right way!

 
Love that PJ the bear showed up in this new set called 'Honey Bear' and in a little larger size too.  I stamped him on craft cardstock and pieced his tummy and heart with printed red paper.  Added some color pencil accent for shading. And those bees! I think they are the cutest... Perhaps I should have added a few more... hm..

You can head on over to The Cat's Pajamas website to see all the latest releases, plus some really fun dies and some cool 'air mail' baker's twine!  You can also access all the blogs of the 'Cat Pack' and see their creations as well... don't miss it!

After Christmas Sale!

 
 
 So maybe you were good and didn't buy EVERYTHING you wanted from The Cat's Pajamas during the year... well, I think *now* is the time to reward yourself with a little after Christmas shopping, no? 

Starting 12/26, The Cat's Pajamas is having a Year-End Clearance thru the 31st!   25% off everything except the Poochie and Kitty Kat pack, but includes already discounted sale items. (retail and online only.)  And I hear if you head on over to Splitcoaststampers, there might be a special TCP banner code that could get you an additional 10% off!  (That would make some of the discounted sets only $5.20! quantities limited.)  woohoo!  Go shopping!