Sites of the week

…and new stamps {and CutUps} dies are now available from The Cat’s Pajamas.

Did you make it to the release party on the TCP forum on SCS? I popped in for a little while, but I have to say that I was totally drained after running from Nic’s doctor appt. and then to get a chest x-ray and to the pharmacy a couple times after getting a call that it may be pneumonia. What a Monday! Here’s to a better rest of the week!

As the title of this post suggests, this is a HOP! If you didn’t come here from my friend, Carole’s blog, take minute to rewind to the beginning so you don’t miss a bit of all the new goodies from TCP.

I have had a lot fun with all the new goodies from TCP! I have a couple more projects to show. First, this cutie patootie bunny hanging out in an Easter basket asking for some more SUGAR, SUGAR on a card I made for the new TCP Tuesday Challenge…embossing! Check out all the details with this week’s Hipster Hostess with the Mostess, Julie.

Sugar, Sugar…

I also used the new Eggs in a Basket and Grass Cutups dies {wrapped with Divine Twine}…

I {heart} the new Eggs in a Basket CutUps die! I used it again {along with the new Heart Rosette CutUps} on my ATCs that I did for a TCP swap…

As I said above, I am drained from a {very} long day, which was after a {very} long night filled with Nic coughing {and coughing!} and thunder loud enough to shake the house. Fortunately, it did not wake Ellie who is **not** a fan of thunder. So, I am keeping the chatter to a minimum, heading to bed {can you tell I am pre-posting?} and sending you to the next stop along the hop…

LORI’S BLOG!

It’s the first Saturday of the month and that means that it is time for another SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY {aka SFYTT}. This year brings 12 new sketches, new and returning sponsors and a whole lotta fun stamping inspiration!

You may have already noticed the new post time…11am EST. Also there will be more uniform posting throughout the month. I will be posting the {monthly} sketch each Saturday along with links to the SFYTT Sisters that are posting that day. Just so you know how it will work…All of the Sisters will post on the first Saturday of the month, then 1/2 will post on the 2nd Saturday and the other 1/2 will post on the 3rd Saturday and then we all come together again during the last week {not necessarily the last Saturday for all of the designers} of the month. Clear as mud? LOL! Hopefully, this will help SFYTT Fans know when and where to seek and find inspiration and samples.

Starting last year we introduced a monthly sketch along with monthly sponsors. Same thing goes this year! And, to kick off the new year in super swanky style, The Cat’s Pajamas is the January SFYTT sponsor {YAY!}…

The January 2012 SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY…

If you keep up with my blog, you know that I am also lucky enough to be on the TCP Design Team and we are in the midst of sneak peeking the newest release and today we are featuring the set, Bunny Side Up, which I paired with the new Lacy Floral Doily as the circle panel…

Bunny and doily detail…

Sentiment and orange acrylic flatback embellishments…

In addition to fun monthly sketches and top notch sponsors, we will also continue to have SFYTT participants chosen to be the DESIGNER OF THE MONTH {more details outlined in the graphic below}. This month, I would like to introduce you to SFYTT and TCP fan Christyne Kane…

A little about Christyne in her own words…

Hello, my name is Christyne Kane and I am super excited to be January’s Designer of the Month for SFYTT! I’m currently a graduate student working on my PhD in biotechnology. I am also mom to two wonderful dogs, an Australian Shepherd (Bud) and a Border Collie (Myth), and a cat (Kaiya). I’ve enjoyed stamping in my spare time to relive stress and indulge my creativity for 6 years. It all started one holiday break from college when my mom went to a stamp party and brought home all these wonderful toys; I was hooked!! When I’m not working on my degree or crafting, my interests include training and competing my dogs in dog agility. I look forward to seeing all of your beautiful creations this month using Jen’s fabulous sketch!

Don’t you just love her card using the Birthday Bunny set from The Cat’s Pajamas…

Now, I know that this post is getting to be a little out of control in length, but I need to share a few more things before signing off. First, the details…

Second, links to the SFYTT Sisters and TCP Design Team with more SFYTT inspiration and samples for you to check out…

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

Julie Masse
Lori Tecler
Amy Rohl {posting Sunday}

Alma has more TCP inspiration and release information on her blog, along with links to those sneak peeking the Bunny Side Up set today.

On more thing before I get to the link system for your creations… Are you an SFYTT fan on Facebook? Click the link on my sidebar to become a fan! Thanks!!

Last, but not least by long stretch is where you can play along with us and enter to win that FABBY PRIZE mentioned in the details above. Enter your SFYTT creation here…

TGIF…I think! I’m hosting a 2 year old’s birthday party tomorrow and prepping for it today. When I say prepping for it, I mean I have neglected housework all week so that the house will be “freshly clean” and I still have cupcake toppers to finish and a few other things to,um, start on…hmmm, maybe I shouldn’t be on the computer right now!

I’m going to push that to-do list aside for now and let The Cat’s Pajamas‘ Sneaky Peek Week continue now…

Today the design team is featuring the new set, WARM FUZZIES. This is another set from OuOu Illustration for TCP. I love this line and this set has warmed my heart…

Detail shot…

Seam Binding Ribbon tied off with a button and Linen Thread…

Embossed pattern paper {Sizzix embossing folder}…

Sentiment flag…

Full set reveal…

Also used on this card is the Big Scallop CutUps die {previously released}…

Ok, now I am off to check off some things from my birthday boy to-do list {eek!}. Be sure to check out Alma’s blog for some more TCP inspiration and a full list of today’s peekers. And, don’t forget that Alma is giving away a set a day to someone that posts on the IN IT TO WIN IT thread on the TCP forum on SCS. Happy stamping and good luck!!

We finally go the rest of the Christmas decorations down last night! I am trying to make a point of all the Christmas decor being put away before Nic’s birthday so that he feels that there is a clear separation between birthday and Christmas. Any of you December/January moms have advice on this subject? My mom has a December birthday and growing up none of the Christmas decorations made an appearance until after her birthday, so I am trying to go along with that way of thinking in hopes that his birthday will be a celebration all by itself. I know my “thoughtfulness” on this will be lost on the 2 year old, but I know that I am putting the effort forth…at least.

It’s tough to be in a birthday frame of mind when all I have piled on my desk is pink, red and white. If Halloween is my favorite holiday to create for, I must say that Valentine’s is a super duper wuper close second! I love all the girly colors and details and there are so many cute puns to work with, too! I already have the stuff for Nic’s shovel “I Dig You!” Valentines…so cute {and totally not my original idea!}.

Of course, I will be sharing pics of those once they are all made, but today I have something better to show you…more NEW stamps and CutUps dies from The Cat’s Pajamas! Today is Day #2 of Sneaky Peek Week and it’s beginning to look a lot like Valentine’s with this new bunny set, Feelin’ Cupidy…

It’s been a while since I created a large-ish 3d paper project, but I was inspired by the shadowbox that Amy Rohl {my Christmas Secret Sister} gave me. You can see pics of her project HERE on her blog…so cute, right? I am one lucky chickie to have that in my possession! I was about to turn it into a Valentine’s shadowbox when…lightbulb {said in Dr. Gru’s voice}. Why don’t I make my own shadowbox from paper!?! With a little trial and a little more error, this is what I came up with using the new Feelin’ Cupidy set {along with some other new stuff!}…

The sides aren’t as super straight like I wanted them, but it works for me. I’ll try to perfect the design in the weeks to come, though! Let me walk you through each of the boxes for now, though.

Cupid himself mounted on the new Heart Rosette CutUps die…

Sentiment from the Feelin’ Cupidy set, along with a heart from the Heart Trio CutUps die set and a Bingo card that will be discussed a little more in detail as Sneaky Peek week continues {wink wink!}…

Banner on the top left box, using sentiments from the Feelin’ Cupidy and Gimme Some Sugar {peeked yesterday} sets…

Banner on the opposite side with hearts cut from the Heart Trio CutUps die set and adorned with a button tied off with new Peppermint Divine Twine…

****Pennant banner created by cutting the new Queen of Heart CutUps scallop die in the center of the scallops and mounting the sentiment letters {from Gimme Some Sugar set} on circles…****

Lots of hearts cut from this CutUps die set…

Want more peeks at all the new goodies coming out next Tuesday? Check out Alma’s blog daily for a full list of Cat Packers posting their creations.

Before I break the record for longest blog post, I am going to cut myself off here. Well, almost here. Don’t forget to check out the IN IT TO WIN IT thread on The Cat’s Pajamas’ forum on Splitcoast each day for a chance to win the set being sneak peeked that day. You gotta be IN IT TO WIN IT!

What a great way to start off a new year…with new stamps! The Cat’s Pajamas is on the brink of releasing 7 new stamp sets and 4 new CutUps dies! We’re just a week away from the release and Sneaky Peek Week starts today with a set that I designed, Gimme Some Sugar! No, I didn’t draw the final product, but this is a set that I sketched out and submitted the sentiments for a couple months ago. I love Alma’s genius ability to transform it into this fun set.

Gimme Some Sugar…

Full set reveal…

While the set design is mine, the inspiration came from this trio of pics for this week’s TCP Tuesday challenge {click for larger view}…

Detail pics of the banner included in this set…

Heart embellie created with the Heart Trio CutUps die, button and NEW Peppermint Divine Twine…

One of my favorite parts of this release is this 2-in-1 CutUps die, Queen of Hearts. It utilizes the negative space, giving you 2 border dies {love the TCP innovation on this one!}…

Want more sneaky peeks and inspiration for this challenge? A full list of peekers and challenge details can be found on the TCP/Alma’s blog. Happy Stamping!