Happy Birthday Lindsie and No Peeking!

Well, today is the last day of November--WHAT??? I know. I can't believe it either. Today is also my middle girl's birthday. Lindsie turns 11 today! I can't believe that either. For being a tiny 4 lbs., 7 oz. (two months early), she's grown into a beautiful young girl. Happy Birthday, Lindsie!


Getting to be that age, Christmas is fun, but she's getting pretty curious about her gifts. I thought this card was super fitting for her age and I'm going to give it to her with a little somethin' somethin' in it for Christmas. A gift card of some sort? NO PEEKING!


Anyway, onto the card...I'm squeezing this card in for Jen's November Sketch For You to Try. Check out how to play and the EASY sketch right HERE on Jen's blog.


I used the new Peeking stamp set from The Cat's Pajamas for this, paired with some fun colors inspired by some of my favorite Christmas paper this year from My Mind's Eye. Of course, I had to add a little Kraft in there!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Stamp and color things that are inherently "brown" on Kraft cardstock. I love Papertrey's Kraft especially for this. I have an order due to arrive any second. For real.

Stamps: Peeking (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Kraft, Pure Poppy, White (PTI), Sour Apple (MFT), 12 Days of Christmas (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Accessories: Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Bracket Die-namics (MFT), Star Punch (Fiskars), Seeing Spots Embossing Folder, Sewing Machine/Thread, Copic Markers, Silver Brads, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

TCP Tuesday 187 and a TCP Blog Hop

Well, last night all the new winter stuff from The Cat's Pajamas was released. YAY! That means today we have a fun "after party" Blog Hop which happens to coincide with our weekly TCP Tuesday Challenge! More YAY! (Hi Bonnie.) If you came here from Leigh's blog, you're scootin' right along. Otherwise, trek on back to the beginning over at Julie's blog. Ok, now that we've got that out of the way, time's a wastin', so let's get to gettin'...


Julie is our Hostess with the Mostess and she always has a fun "technique" challenge. This time it's pretty broad and easy, so I don't expect any hesitation from ya'll in your playing along. Just create shiny embellishments for your holiday card. Use glitter, glossy accents or whatevs! Yooooo can doooo it!!!


I used the new set, Merry Christmas Honey. For my shiny embellishment, I used Dazzling Diamonds from SU! on the garland and star. Super sparka-lay in real life. I also layered a Snowflake Lace Paper doily back behind the main image panel and finished the card off with some Cranberry Seam Binding Ribbon (crinkled with a little water and dried with my heat gun) and Christmas Divine Twine. Swoon....!!!!


Ok, I've got to go and get some more lights for our Christmas tree. Eight strands is NOT enough and since 2 other strands aren't working, I have to grab a couple more for Eric to finish them up tonight. That will make Day 3 of just decorating the Christmas tree! Ack! It's a big tree.

Ok, ya'll's next stop on the hop is the talented and oh-so-fabulous Jen!! Be sure and give her some special love--she's had a rough week with a sick kiddo!

BUT FIRST, SPECIAL NEWS: As a Christmas gift to ya'll and the last sale of the year, The Cat's Pajamas will be offering 15% off your entire purchase until the end of November. That INCLUDES a discount off the already discounted price of the Kitty Kat Pack and the Poochie Pack. Just use Promo Code Happy15. Merry Christmas!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Notice there is no separate sentiment panel on this card. Stamp it directly onto the main image panel for a change and to make your life easy.

Stamps: Merry Christmas Honey (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: White, Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, 12 Days of Christmas (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Aqua
Accessories: Snowflake Lace Paper CutUps Die (The Cat's Pajamas), Scallop Square Nestabilities, Sewing Machine/Thread, Copic Markers, Sponge, Quickie Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds (SU!), Rhinestone Brads, Cranberry Seam Binding Ribbon (TCP), Christmas Divine Twine (TCP), Button, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: 5.25" Square

*H J*Y!! Another Sneaky Peek

Well, I'm back today with another Sneaky Peek at one of my favorite sets from this Merry Winter Release from The Cat's Pajamas. Take a look!


The stamp set is called J*lly H*liday. Yep, ya'll read that right...the little asterisks fill in where the "O's" should be. That's because that clever Alma has been up to her usual clever self and created this stamp set with fun little winter icons to use as the "O-fillers"!


I decided to use the Stamp Trio CutUps die as a backdrop for the "J*Y" stamp from the new set. I actually had to mask off each letter in order lengthen the word and center them in each stamp section, but it wasn't hard at all. I then colored the peppermint and punched it out with a circle punch and popped it up on top of a heart frame from the Heart Trio CutUps die. "O" and see the little twine? That's some of the new Christmas baker's twine also coming TONIGHT from The Cat's Pajamas after the Pajama Party right HERE on SCS---I LOVE IT!


Ok, remember I mentioned yesterday in THIS post about the Anywhere Ribbon Slide CutUps die and that I would show ya'll something way fun with it today? Check out the candy cane stripes ribbon background I made! I just started somewhere in the middle of that white card front, placed the die diagonally and cut. Then I just staggered the die for each row and cut again and again. Weaving the ribbon through was so easy and didn't take much time at all! Basket-weaving anyone?

Be sure and check out more inspiration and peeks by heading to Alma's blog, Dancing in Pajamas today and every day through next Tuesday to see what else is new and FABULOUS!!

Don't forget to visit us in the TCP forum on Splitcoast HERE. All you have to do is comment there to be IN IT TO WIN IT and you could win this stamp set!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Once I had all the ribbon woven through the card front, I just folded the ends over to the backside and taped it all down. Scotch Tape is your friend. Or as Buzz Lightyear calls it, "Multi-directional bonding strip".

Stamps: J*lly H*liday (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Sour Apple (MFT), Pure Poppy, White (PTI)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Accessories: Anywhere Ribbon Slide, Heart Trio and Stamp Trio CutUps Dies (The Cat's Pajamas), Copic Markers, White Gel Pen, Christmas Twine (TCP), Red and White Grosgrain Ribbon, Multi-directional Bonding Strip, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

Another Sneaky Peek from The Cat's Pajamas

Well, I hope all of ya'll had a great (and yummy) Thanksgiving and wrapped it up with a relaxing weekend afterward. We went to my sister's house Thursday, Friday I prepared everything for a birthday party for Lindsie (turning 11!) that happened yesterday at the bowling alley, followed up by a sleepover for 6 girls (minus one--didn't feel so well)! Whew! I'll be glad when Monday rolls around. The girls will be back in school and I can go shopping and enjoy the quiet for a change while the holidays get rolling.


Today I have another Sneaky Peek from The Cat's Pajamas. This time the Cat Pack is featuring the new set, Raising Cane. Isn't that a fun play on words for a set with a Candy Cane? I love it! That Alma, she's clever like that.


In October, when I went to Houston for a scrappy/stampy trade show, there was a cute treat bag similar to this one done up for 4th of July with the wire tinsel handle, so I thought it would be cute to make this version for Christmas and uber-cute to use stamps and dies from The Cat's Pajamas!


The bunny rests on top of a flower made from the Easy Rosette CutUps die and I also used the NEW Anywhere Ribbon Slide CutUps die available on Monday night after the Pajama Party which will be right HERE on Splitcoast. The beauty of this die is that you can place it anywhere and it will cut slits to weave ribbon, etc. rather than just a punch that only reaches so far away from the edge of your paper. You'll see more of what I mean with my peek tomorrow. Wink!


Be sure and check out more inspiration and peeks by heading to Alma's blog, Dancing in Pajamas today and every day through next Tuesday to see what else is new and FABULOUS!!

Don't forget to visit us in the TCP forum on Splitcoast HERE. All you have to do is comment there to be IN IT TO WIN IT and you could win this stamp set!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Make a fun treat bag like this one. I simply folded a piece of paper in half, sewed three sides (including the folded side), and trimmed the edges with pinking shears. Just make sure you use your Anywhere Ribbon Slide CutUps die before you sew the edges. Don't ask me how I know this. I don't want to talk about it.

Stamps: Raising Cane (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy (PTI), Silver Glitter Paper (AC), Chocolate/Ivory Dots (Canvas Corp)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Accessories: Anywhere Ribbon Slide and Easy Rosette CutUps Dies (The Cat's Pajamas), Sewing Machine/Thread, Circle Punch, Pinking Shears, Copic Markers, New Leaf Ribbon (PTI), Red Wire Tinsel, Hot Glue, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: Approximately 4" x 4.5"

It's Beginning to Look a LOT Like...SNEAKY PEEK WEEK from The Cat's Pajamas!

Well, today kicks off an entire week of can't-live-without-it stampy goodness. That's what I'm talkin' 'bout--SNEAKY PEEK WEEK from The Cat's Pajamas! So turn on your Christmas tunes, sit back and take a little time each day to check out what's coming your way just a short week from now.

It wouldn't be a Tuesday without a TCP Tuesday Challenge as well. Jen is our Hostess with the Mostess and she's put together a winter wonderland of an Inspiration Challenge! Check it out:



And finally, here's what I came up with, focusing on the wintery feel and the pinks/tans/whites found in the pictures.



Today's SNEAKY PEEK features a set called Snow Days starring that fabulous flop-eared bunny buried in snowballs!



Here he is up close, hoarding his snowballs (teehee). The Snowflake CutUps die on my card isn't new, but will surely be a must have if you don't already own it as it goes well with this entire release!

Well, I'm off to take my mom to yet another doctor's appointment, shop for Thanksgiving dinner and start putting together a birthday party for Lindsie that happens this Saturday with 10 little girls, bowling and a sleepover. Is it Monday yet?

Be sure and check out more inspiration and peeks by heading to Alma's blog, Dancing in Pajamas today and every day for the next week to see what else is new and FABULOUS!!

Don't forget to visit us in the TCP forum on Splitcoast HERE. All you have to do is comment there to be IN IT TO WIN IT and you could win this stamp set!