The Cat's Pajamas Release Blog Hop

Welcome to the blog hop for the latest release from The Cat’s Pajamas. This release features 7 new stamp sets and 3 new CutUps dies joining the TCP lineup. You should have arrived here from Susan’s blog. If not, head over to the start of the hop at Alma’s blog so you don’t miss a thing!

I made this card for the hop and for this month’s TCP Tuesday KISS challenge. I used the new Summer Sentiments set along with two of the new CutUps dies—Luggage Tags and Talk to Me. If you want to join in on this month's challenge, you can find all the details on how to play along--and the fabulous prize!--here.

I used a blue luggage tag die cut as my focal image panel. It’s stamped with the wave and sailboat images and the “surf’s up” sentiment from the Summer Sentiments set. To give the tag some dimension, I die cut a cloud using the CutUps Talk to Me die and attached it at the top of the tag with some foam tape. I added a little red ribbon to the tag, securing it with a button and red baker’s twine. The tag is set on a piece of light blue dotted patterned paper. To bring in a little red, I used a strip of red grid patterned washi tape as an accent on the top left side of the patterned paper panel.

I shared this card at Monday’s Pajama Party in the TCP forum on SCS, but wanted to be sure to show it off here, too. It’s based on the current sketch from Retro Sketches and features the bunny from the new Aim High set.

The bunny’s colored just a bit with Copic markers. He’s set inside a silver frame that’s adhered to a star patterned paper panel. The frame’s accented with a pair of washi tape strips. When I cut the frame, I made sure to leave enough room to stamp the set’s “have a star-spangled day” sentiment along the bottom. A trio of teeny crystals underneath the words adds a little sparkle to match the sentiment.

To continue the hop, head on over to Emma’s blog for more new release inspiration.

Materials Used-Surf's Up Card: 
Summer Sentiments stamp set, CutUps Luggage Tags and Talk to Me dies, Divine Twine red baker’s twine (The Cat’s Pajamas); Versafine Satin Red and Deep Lagoon inks (Tsukineko); Pacific Point cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Sea Glass cardstock (Avery Elle); Down by the Shore 6x6 paper pad (Fancy Pants); red grid tape (Love My Tapes); red grosgrain ribbon, red button (Michaels); foam tape

Materials Used-Star-Spangled Day Card: 
Aim High stamp set, Neenah white cardstock (The Cat’s Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black and Versafine Onyx Black inks (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Real Red cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); silver paper (Target); Stars and Stripes 6x6 paper pad (Doodlebug Design); red chevron washi tape, clear crystals (Michaels); silver washi tape; foam tape

Sunny Days

Here's a clean and simple design for this week's Fusion challenge.  I used my new I Like You set from Reverse Confetti again along with both the sketch and elements from the inspiration photo.

To mimic the gift wrap in the inspiration photo, I adhered a strip of gray dotted patterned paper to a kraft card base.  The "I like you and sunny days" sentiment is split up and stamped above and below the patterned paper strip in orange ink--I pulled the orange color from the writing on the tag in the photo. 

To bring in the shape of the pom pom sprigs on the gift, I made a layered sun element by combining an orange pinking edged felt circle and a big orange button.  The button's tied with orange twine for a whimsical touch.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers:  Reverse Confetti I Like You stamp set, Tsukineko Memento Tangelo ink, Pebbles Cardmaking Basics1 paper pad, Pollika felt, Hemptique Spring Bloom twine

other:  Desert Storm cardstock (Neenah); Pumpkin Pie cardstock (Stampin' Up!); pinking circle die (Spellbinders); Orange Zest button (My Favorite Things)

Little Monster Birthday Set

*****Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my post for this week's Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge.***** 

It’s been three years since the Clear and Simple Stamps Daily app first made an appearance on the crafting scene. Each day the app features a brand new project complete with instructions and photos. You can save to your favorites for quick reference, and search through previous months for even more inspiration.

In celebration of the CSS Daily App, we have 25 days of inspiration. That’s right we are bringing the App to the blog! Each day the design team will feature fun projects and for an added bonus we will have a coordinating project on the app – it’s a great way to see even more fab inspiration using your Clear and Simple Stamps.

I created a fun and colorful monster themed birthday ensemble perfect for a little boy. The ensemble includes a card and a matching gift bag with a tag--everything you need except a gift!

Here’s the card, featuring Spike from the Little Uglies set. I die cut Spike’s body from orange dotted patterned paper, then stamped the matching image on the die cut piece. The eye, belly, and spines are paper pieced with some green patterned paper for a little contrast. I used foam tape to attach the creature to a light blue dotted background. The “our little monster is turning” sentiment is stamped in Creamiscle Cardigan ink on a white strip and attached to the card so it extends out from underneath the image. A little strip of green dotted tape anchors the sentiment. I used a Favor Flags die cut to make a little flag for the creature to hold with the number that finishes off the rest of the sentiment. The flag is folded around a toothpick and adhered to the cardfront. I stuck a bright lime green “2” sticker on the flag.

The coordinating bag uses many of the same design elements for a cohesive look. I covered the kraft bag with the same blue dotted paper. To break up the blue a bit, I ran a strip of green dotted tape across the panel and added a green button tied with orange baker’s twine as an accent. I used the Tags 1 die and one of the scaled down versions of Spike found in the Taglines: Uglies stamp set to make a coordinating tag to hang from the bag’s handle. The “for my little monster” sentiment is stamped beneath the colored image.

Here’s a little peek at one more monster-themed project that I created to coordinate with the card and bag. You’ll find it exclusively on the CSS Daily app.  And, you can find all the info about downloading the app right here.

Materials Used:
Little Uglies and Taglines: Uglies stamp sets, Creamsicle Cardigan and Perfect Little Black Dress inks, Creamsicle Cardigan, Trendsetter Blue, and A Blanc Check cardstock, Copic markers (YG01, YG03, YG25, YR12, YR15, YR16,Y35), Little Uglies, Tags 1, Favor Flags, and Shapes: Circles dies, Divine Twine orange baker’s twine (Clear and Simple Stamps); Little Girl—Gingham Baby designer paper (Echo Park); Soft Shades-Double Dot Designs 6x6 paper pad (Bo Bunny); green button (Michaels); Limeade Fantastic Thickers (American Crafts); kraft gift bag (Hobby Lobby); green dotted tape; toothpick; foam tape

Paper Smooches SPARKS May Cool Shades Challenge

This week's Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge is a Cool Shades challenge based on the color scheme seen above--red, kraft, navy, and teal.  The color scheme definitely lends itself to a nautical theme, but I went in a completely different direction for my card.

I used the farmer image from the Green Acres set as my focal image.  She (I added pigtails to make her a girl!) is colored with Spectrum Noir markers and cut out, then adhered to a teal panel with dimensional dots.  To fill in the open space, I added a pair of die cut fluffy white felt clouds.  I layered the panel on a kraft card base along with a red and white gingham patterned strip.  That gingham pattern says "country" to me!

The "hay there" sentiment is from the Sentiment Sampler stamp set. I did a little creative stamping, replacing the "e" in "hey there" with the "a" from one of the other sentiments in the set to get the punny sentiment.  I used more dimensional dots to attach it to the card.  To add some texture, I made a little tab from a piece of red twill and slipped it underneath the raised panel.

Be sure to check out the challenge blog for all the details on this week’s challenge. Here are the rest of the team members sharing projects today:

Ashley Marcu
Jessica Davis
Nina Yang
Savannah O'Gwynn

This is my last official post as a member of the SPARKS DT.  I've really enjoyed my time on the team.  Thanks to Kim and to DT coordinator Savannah for having me!

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers:  Paper Smooches Green Acres and Sentiment Sampler stamp sets, Crafter's Companion ultrasmooth white cardstock, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Love Letter inks, Spectrum Noir markers (CR1, CR8, CR9, CR11, TB3, TB4, TB5, TB7, GB1, GB3, GB4, CT1, EB1, EB2, EB3, EB5, FS1, FS4, FS9), Doodlebug Design Stars and Stripes 6x6 paper pad, Pollika white felt, May Arts red twill, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

other:  Real Red, Taken with Teal, and Pacific Point cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Desert Storm cardstock (Neenah); CutUps Cloud Border die (The Cat's Pajamas); circle punches (EK Success)

Golden and Gray Thank You

Here's a quick, scrappy card for today's SCS featured stamper challenge.  It's based on this sweet baby girl card seen here.

I needed a thank you card, so I switched up the card's color scheme to a trendy gray and golden yellow one using small square scraps from a pad of patterned paper.  The squares are arranged on a gray mat, then layered on a golden yellow card base using foam tape for dimension.  I cut a doily in half and attached that to the cardfront extending out from beneath the top of the panel with the patterned paper pieces.

The "thank you" sentiment is from the My Favorite Things Pretty Poppies stamp set.  It's stamped in gray on a notch-ended strip.  I adhered it to the patterned paper panel and accented it with a black die cut bow.

Materials Used:
Pretty Poppies stamp set, Steel Grey cardstock (My Favorite Things); Memento Gray Flannel ink (Tsukineko); Harvest Gold cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Carolina Breeze 6x6 paper pad (Teresa Collins); Mini Bow Trio die (Clear and Simple Stamps); paper doily (Wilton); foam tape

Good Catch

Here's a super simple card based on this week's sketch from CAS(e) this Sketch.  Once I came up with my idea for the layout, it came together in less than 10 minutes.  Love when that happens!

I made the fish from the Clear and Simple Stamps Beach Bum set my focal image.  The fish was stamped on orange cardstock and cut out, then attached to a blue card base with foam tape.  I stamped the "ur a good catch" sentiment underneath the fish, then arranged a bunch of silver sequins above and below the fish as bubbles.  I mixed in several different sizes of sequins to add a little interest to the simple design.

Material Used:
Beach Bum stamp set, Perfect Little Black Dress inks, My Style Blueprint and Creamsicle Cardigan cardstock (Clear and Simple Stamps); silver sequins (Michaels); foam tape

Aim High

Sneaky peeks for the upcoming release from The Cat’s Pajamas continue today with a look at the new Aim High set. I used this week’s Mojo Monday sketch, flipped around just a bit, to show off the set’s fun bunny image.

The bunny image is shaded just a bit with Copic markers and cut out using the out of the box technique so that the rocket portion of the image extends beyond the panel’s edge. I layered the bunny image and the “aim high” sentiment on kraft panels, then arranged them on a multicolored striped panel adhered to a light blue card base. The panel’s busy pattern is broken up a bit with a piece of red grosgrain ribbon edged with a light blue strip I cut with TCP’s CutUps Inside Pinking Border. I added just a bit more of the red grosgrain to accent the sentiment panel.

Don’t forget to stop by the “In it to Win it” thread in the TCP member company forum on SCS to chat with the Cat Pack and other TCP fans. Each day, one lucky commenter will be chosen to win one of the sets from the upcoming new release! For more sneaky peeks, stop by to visit these Cat Pack members:

Kimberly
Nancy
Noelle
Wendy

Materials Used:
Aim High stamp set, Neenah white cardstock, CutUps Inside Pinking Border die (The Cat’s Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black and Versafine Satin Red inks (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Real Red cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Sea Glass cardstock (Avery Elle); Desert Storm cardstock (Neenah); 24/Seven 6x6 paper pad (Simple Stories); red grosgrain ribbon (Michaels)