That time of year

Well folks, it's that time of year again. Time for family and friends and cats and dogs. Time for just being together. So I will be taking a little blogging break until the end of the year. Hopefully, I will be able to show you just what we've all been so hush-hush about.

Merry Christmas to Tracy, and Toni, and Julee, and Leigh and Janis. Katie and Karrie and Ana and Gayle. Merry Christmas to Steph and Dave and Cat and Johanna. Sharon in NE and Brenda and Kim and Robert .

Merry Christmas to All. And to all a Good Night.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Sorry I've been MIA for so long. Busy working on the Summer Release set in my head. (Yes, it is that time that I mumble incoherently and scramble for bits of paper whenever I come up with an idea.

Then I start drawing. I'm also thinking about next Winter's Release which should come right after Summer. And Fall? It's in there too.

And I've been stamping, but I can't show you yet, since it's for my Secret Santa. And if I post it here, it will cease being a secret, dontcha know.

So I thought I'd show you a coupla cards I received in the mail.
First, this one from Katie. I love how she pulled the colors from the paper. You can't see it in the scan, but she added glitter to the muff and fur bits for that extra glam.

Then I got this card from Brenda in Hawaii, that just cracked me up. Santa Poochie surfing! And she used the swirls from the Clearly Swanky Sets for the waves. Christmas in Hawaii. Super fun!

Project of the Month

Did you all check out the great Project of the Month for December? It's the great Penguin Nugget Box that Julee Tilman did.

Because I am getting a little tired of Christmas (yes, yes I know, but I have been thinking Christmas since July) I decided to take the same template and do a baby favor. Because the template is also online it makes it super easy.

I used Cosmo Cricket paper, and the Rectangle Nestabilities for the top part. I stamped "Sweet Peas" and "Welcome Little One" in Versafine Smokey Gray. For the labels I used the same ink and stamped "Budding Baby". With the small square Versafine pad it was easy to not ink the ribbon that is on the stamp.

Then I colored the images with pencil, marker, and the Stardust glitter pen. The finishing touch was to stipple in Distress Ink. I used Tattered Rose and Antique Linen.

And at the end of the day, there is even a couple of extra nuggets as my reward.

Snow in San Francisco

Did anyone see the super cute snowglobes over at Karrie's blog? I knew I had to make one. So I got Mocha working on getting me a couple of empty small cat food cans, and I worked on the other parts.

It seems pretty straight forward, because I had these directions. But it turned out I needed these. Which are slightly different, dontcha know? So I finally finished the globe and when the glue looked like it was dry, I turned it over. Surprise! It wasn't.

This is my second attempt. Sheesh, that Karrie makes everything look so effortless.

Santa Baby!

I've been a slug about stamping this week which may have something to do with eating 15 lbs of food on Thanksgiving, and clearing out another 15 lbs of leftovers yesterday. (Leftovers all gone!) So I decided to post one of my favorite cards from last year.

I decided to go a little mod with this crazy little Santa. So I used untraditional orange, light blue and green as the color combo. I stamped the Santa and sentiment in Versafine Deep Lagoon and "Balls" in Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue. I love how it looks white and frosty more than blue when it stamps out.

Black Friday

I hope everyone had a safe and filling Thanksgiving day. And now Black Friday. The day that everyone goes out and buys 1 gift for someone else for every 2 for yourself. (Well, at least that was how it worked for me.)

Me? I'm going to try and walk off the 3000 calories that I know I ingested in one sitting, by taking a nice long walk. Finished off with a nice long nap.

But before that, I'm going to call my sister and ask for her Sweet Potato recipe. Yumm!

Have a safe Friday, everyone.

A Success!

Thank you all for making The Cat's Pajamas SALE a success. Anthony and I have been as busy as little bees getting them out. We hope to have every last one of them out no later than Tuesday. Some of you may even have them in your hot little hands.

I've been on a soup kick for the last couple of weeks. And with the SALE and all, I can totally relate. This one involved several trips to the stamp and fabric store for the perfect ribbon. I stamped "Ruff Day" and "Chicken Soup" in Versafine Majestice Blue. I like how this turned out. But if I microanalyze it, perhaps I should have used a different saying.

SHOP NOW!

Fine Print: This sale is for internet orders only. Mail orders will be returned. Shipping is based on order totals prior to discount. Only one discount given per order. Discounts cannot be combined. Sale begins 12:00 AM PST 11/16/07 and ends 12:00 AM PST 11/19/07.

Just Jack

Okay. One more card to tempt you all to come to the SALE at The Cat's Pajamas tomorrow through Sunday.I made this card for a sketch challenge I give The Cat's Pajamas DT members every 2 weeks. It's more for me, really, than them, since it gives me an excuse to stamp. You can see the original sketch on Katie's Blog.

I used paper from The Great Paper Company and Die Cuts with a View. As well as rub downs from Die Cuts. (In my day we called them rub downs, okay?) And stamped the Jack in the Box and saying in Versafine Smokey Grey.

Don't forget the SALE starting tonight! I'll be pulling the switch for the 25% discount at midnight PST!

But First...

I could tell you about the Big SALE that The Cat's Pajamas will be having starting Friday, November 16. But Leigh's already told you about that. I could tell you that you'll get 25% off your entire order. But Toni's already told you that.

So instead, finally, a card. This one I did following a sketch that my Design Team did. And, of course, mine is late.


I scored the acetate and used Stazon Opaque White Cotton to stamp the Dot Circle, Small, Large and Medium Circle Snowflakes. When everything was dry I folded the inked side to the inside.

Then I used Versafine Onyx Black to stamp "Naughty or Nice?" and "Candy Cane Kitty". Then a bit of layering magic with my Basic Grey Figgy Pudding stash, and Voila. Then I colored in with Sakura Stardust pens, Marvy Markers and color pencils.

This wasn't my first shot at this though.

I had spent all day on another design featuring Skating Poochie. I was hoping to use them for Christmas Cards. But alas, while running the finished layers through the Xyron I realized that I had run them upside down. All 2 dozen of them. With glue on their pretty little faces.

Luckily, Anthony took pity on me and took me out for a Roast Beef dinner. Then I came home and did these. I like them so much better. Amazing what a good piece of meat will do.

Whaz upppp?

One of the things I love about Mocha is that she reminds me so much of my dearly departed ferret, Punky.

Punky was such a curious little boy, that each time he came home from being out, he would check the entire house for anything that was out of place. Mocha is the same way. Though she can be a bit neurotic. Here she is coming out of the dryer. Mind you, this is one of those dryers that is on top of the washer.

Okay. Stamping news.

I have updated the gallery at The Cat's Pajamas with some absolutely BRILLIANT (yes, I said BRILLIANT) work by some of our Design Team.
And if you haven't see the Project of the Month, featuring the awesome Give Thanks Crackled card by our own Toni Armstrong, you must get yourself over there. Now shoo!

Ahh!

Sometime during "Heros", I stretched out and realized that the new Winter release was in the most capable hands of someone else.

After a month or so of research, drawing, procrastination, fiddling with and more fiddling with, I finally sent the artwork for the new release to the clear stamp manufacturer and the engraver.

During that month my life virtually grinds to a halt. Bills are left to the last minute, the house cleaning gets left by the wasteside. Email? What is that?

I walk around thinking about nothing but what I am going to draw. Then feverishly looking for something to scrawl on and with, when I do. The most common word to come out of my mouth is, "Huh".

And now it is over and a deep calm comes over me. Until I see those bills, and that email and that house. Ugh. That house.

Such is my life.

Yeah Baby!

Have you checked out Katie's blog? Her blog hits just reached 20,000! Yay, Katie!

And to celebrate she's giving away some blog candy. Yup. Yup. Yup. What could it possibly be? Oh it's looking clear to me now...

Now get on over to Katie's blog and see how to win!

Oregon

A week or so ago, Anthony and I took a long weekend to drive up to Oregon to visit family and check out the wonderful colors that make up the Fall. Living on the Coast of California most of my life, I never really get to see how beautiful a real Fall is.
We drove up to Crater Lake and stopped and saw this river and waterfall. Driving up the mountain the foliage was everchanging. We kept seeing these trees whose yellow leaves fluttered and danced among the tall trunks of pine.

And when we climbed higher we saw little bits of snow, dusting the trees and rocks. (Sorry, no pictures. Travelin', you know.)

And what did we see when we got to Crater Lake. Not Crater Lake. Snow. And lots of it. Almost knee high. Wheeee!

Pretty, no? I have only been in snow twice, and never this clean and deep. Here is another shot.
Then we went to Jacksonville. Such a lovely town. The area we went was chock full of buildings like this.
I just love, love, love the old advertisement painted on the side. The town was very old west and totally put me in the mood for some drawing, which I've been doing, and doing, and doing.

Busy, Busy

Sorry I've been a bit quiet. I've been working on the Spring line. And then not working, and then working. (You people out there that know me, know what I'm talking about.) I can't tell you what it is, but I can give you a one word hint.

I have found time to take a perfectionist quiz that Julee linked to on her blog, though. Check it out.

You Are 77% Perfectionist

You are a true perfectionist. You are both demanding of yourself and others. While it's great to have goals and standards, they don't need to be sky high!

Are You a Perfectionist?

And for some yummy TCP eyecandy, check out Leigh's blog. Fantastic.
Oh yeah. And the one word hint...."YeeHaw!"

Almost Here!

I'm happy to announce that Poochie Christmas will be arriving via the man in brown on Monday! Yesss! I know that many of you have been waiting patiently for this set and I do appreciated you! I truly do! Once I get the sets I will personally pack each and every order and make sure it gets to the Post Office that day. With any luck you'll be stamping by the end of the week.

Think snow

Here is a card I've been working on this week. I worked on it a bit and then had a good sleep and came back and reworked it a bit.

I'm liking how it came out. I used paper from Die Cuts with a View and Provo Craft. I used Brilliance Graphite Black my old standby, the Marvy Marker and Sakura glaze pen. But the part I like the most is the embossed white stripe. It is the first time I've actually used one of the many Cuttlebug embossing folders. I really like the result. Very clean embossing and super simple.

San Jose Convention

Last weekend we were in San Jose doing our last stamping convention of the year. We revamped the booth a bit. There is still a litte tweaking to be done, but I think it is coming along. Here is what it looked like before the doors opened.
We were lucky to get Tracy Falco, one of TCP's oh so talented design team members and her Mom, Bin demoing for us. They were amazing, as usual. Hi Tracy! Hi Bin!When the doors opened we were SWAMPED! Here is a picture of the booth in the late afternoon. The convention was held in a new venue this year and there were so many happy stampers! I didn't get a chance to shop much, but I did get to meet up with some old friends and make new ones. And isn't that what conventions are all about?

Peek-A-Booooo!

When I saw Julie's mummy creation on her blog, I was in love. And I knew that I had to do something like that for TCP spider and Ghostly Mummy. So here is the outside of the card.
And here is the inside. I just love it. And it wasn't so scary to make—after I figured it all out. I've got the instructions right here, for the October project of the month. Boo!

Kitty Found!

A wise woman once said to me "Now, now, don't give up hope so easily!! My little Hobbes went missing for a little over a week when I lived in Reno and he came home to the Mama, so just keep positive thoughts Alma!! Sending you kitty wishes for your little Mocha to come on home!! :) "

Thank you for all the kitty wishes! They worked! My brother came home tonight and said he heard meowing from the house for sale next door. Sure enough, when I got there she was meowing and crying. I called the telephone number on the for sale sign and soon we found her huddled under the stairs. It took about half an hour and a bunch of treats to get her out.

My guess is that she wandered in while they were preparing for the open house and got locked in. And when all the looky-loos came tramping through she got frightened.

The first thing she did when she got home was dig into her carpet and scent mark the door jamb for about 5 minutes. Yeah! It's good to be home.

Mocha

Thank you for all your kind wishes and thoughts about Mocha. She still hasn't come home.
I keep thinking that it was a good thing that she had just had all of her shots, including rabies. And that the flea stuff I put on the back of her neck will be good for another 3 weeks. That maybe this soft, cuddly little girl, who had just that morning cuddled with me under the covers, was a little pissed off because I had just bought her a pirate costume to wear for Halloween.

I keep thinking that I should have let her in the last time I saw her, but I wanted her to enjoy the last fading days of summer.

Anthony, just thinks that she was a drifter, and it was time for her to move on. She had run away from a couple of people, a couple of times. Maybe it was time for her to be a cat again. Chasing birds and stalking mice, instead of settling for the occasional fat fly.

Have you seen Mew?

Mocha has been missing since Saturday afternoon.

I left her in my backyard while I took my walk. She had settled in to watch the gopher hole. When I got home she was gone. By nightfall I was worried. By the next I was saddened.

Yesterday, we contacted "Home Again" network and let them know she was lost. We put up flyers and talked to children, mailpeople and anyone who was out. We called and called. Now all we can do is wait. Have you seen Mocha? We miss her terribly.

Sketch Challenged

I've been trying like the dickens to get a good shot of this card that I did for last week's sketch challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers. But there was always something wrong with the shot. Out of focus. Bad lighting. Great big giant hair in the picture. This shot was the best I could get, though it is a little blurry.

I wasn't sure if I could work the sketch, but I must say that I am liking how this one turned out.

The patterned paper is from Brenda Walton's Neopolitan Scrap Pad that I've been itching to use since I got it. And I used the Versafine Vintage Sepia to stamp the Cat with Flower and color pencils to color in.

Gobble. Gobble

Well, I don't know about you, but I am constantly struggling to get out of the card design rut. So when I saw this card that Beate Johns did for a sketch challenge, I knew I had to try it for the swap that Jennifer is hosting over on Splitcoast.

So I used the Pilgrim Poochie, Acorn, and Gobble stamps with my very most favorite ink, Versafine. And I used Marvy brilliant yellow, ochre and brown for the stippling/sponging effect. Finished it off with a little sparkle around the Pooch with a Sakura Stardust pen.

I hope the girls in the swap like it.

It's a Swap thang!

'Tis the season to be swapping. Not only is Katie (all-time fab DT member) hosting a swap. But so is Jennifer over there on Splitcoast Stampers!

Since all your orders are winging their way to you, don't you want to show off your cool new creations? Gives you an excuse for buying them, dontcha know? "But, Honey, I need the stamps for these swaps I am doing."

C'mon. Don't you want to play? You know you do.

Check 'em out! Sign up and stamp away. Whhhheee!

Katie's Swap
Jennifer's Swap

All out!

Thank you everyone for making the new Holiday release such a success. We were deluged with orders on Friday and worked through the Holiday weekend to get them to the Post Office when it first opened on Tuesday. So everyone who ordered should be getting something in the mail soon.

Hopefully, the stamps will inspire you to start your Holiday cards, or join a swap! Katie, one of our illustrious Design Team Members is hosting one. Check out all the details on her blog.

Welome Ana

A great Jedi warrior once said "There...is...another." And he wasn't kidding. And neither am I when I say we have added a new member to The Cat's Pajamas Design Team. Ana Wohlfardt! Yay! (sorry, I couldn't help myself)

Ana has a mastery of pattern and texture that is unmatched. When trying out for team she had so many wonderful samples that I had to show the one that did it for me. It was the second design I looked at. Can you say "Wow"?! I did. So many times.

So welcome to the team, Ana. It's great to have you on board.

Welcome Leigh!

Did I mention that we have ANOTHER Cat's Pajamas Design Team member to announce?! None other than the most fabulous Leigh O'Brien! Yup that's right. Woo Hoo! When a couple of spots opened up on the Cat's Pajamas Design Team, I had to ask her if she would be willing to try us. Imagine my jaw dropping to the ground when she said she would. Here is a glimpse at one of her great cards. I hope to get the rest of them on the website, in the gallery soon, once I stop drooling.

Welcome, Leigh!

Finally!

Ta DAAAA! The new website is finally up and the new Holiday images are up, too! I tried to make it easier to navigate and give you more to look at when you get there.

Did you check out the Project of the Month?! Just click on the "Project of the Month" at the top of the page at the website and you'll be whished away. I designed this page so that you can save the page to your desktop and print it. It fits on an 8.5" x 11" paper. This month's Project of the Month is by Tracy Falco.

So cute and easy even I had to try it. Here's a square version with my penguins.

Here is the inside. I added glitter and changed out the Snowflake confetti for a Snowflake brad, cause I'm a little rough on the opening and closing.

Quick and easy.

P.S. I've gotten a couple of emails letting me know that people can't see the new site. Just empty the cache in your browser, and have at it

How could we forget Karrie?

Well it's not easy. Though Karrie Baker just joined our Design Team, she has become a standout member, with her fun and easy style and, shall we say, cerebral approach to design.

Check out this card by Karrie. Fun and lively, there's a lot going on but, like a maestro conducting a symphony. Karrie makes it all work.

Welcome to The Cat's Pajamas Design Team, Karrie! We're lucky you could come out and play!

Welcome Katie!

I am so very happy to announce that Katie Stilwater is now a member of The Cat's Pajamas Design Team!

Katie has a clean, funky style that I couldn't resist. She can take simple elements and make beautiful music with them. Just look at how she mixed patterns in this card and even added a saying to the top of a pattern. In lesser hands (uh, mine) it could have been a mess, in Katie's hands, magic.

Welcome, Katie. We are happy to welcome you to the team.

P.S. Katie used one of the new Holiday stamps available at The Cat's Pajamas Friday. Check out the gallery to see even more of her fab designs.

It's Friday!

And you know what that means?

I think there might be some serious blog candy being given away on Toni's Blog if you posted a comment on her blog, letting her know what your 3 fav TCP stamps are.

And if Sharon in NE is really nice to Karrie, there might be something going on at her blog today. Ya nevah know! Tee! Hee! ROTFL.

Toni, Toni, Toni

Did you know that Toni has got her hot little hands on some of our new Clearly Swanky Sets. AND she's giving them away?

Can you say BLOG CANDY, babeeee?

Skate on over and take a peek!

I wonder which set she is giving away? I'm not telling

Stacks and stacks of stamps

Well the samples from the Design Team have been trickling in at a steady pace and boy are they cute. My days have been spent making up stacks and stacks of our new Winter Designs and working on updating the website.

Are you a golden oldie?

I must be the only person who has not seen this Thriller video. Posted on YouTube and seen also on Keith Olberman's show, this video just cracks me up!

I was sitting at Denny's the other day and there was this 3 year old singing along with the "Golden Oldie" piped through the sound system. It was Thriller. I, of course, am old enough to remember when this first came out.

The video was the talk of the town. We would rush home and watch MTV until it came on. We were wowed. That was like 20 years ago? Long enough to make it a "Golden Oldie", I guess.

Also on the sound system came, "Shake your Bootie" by K.C. and the Sunshine Band and "Dress you up" by Madonna. And yes, I remember when these first came out too. I guess that makes me a golden oldie, too. Who woulda thunk it?

Summertime

Since summertime in San Francisco means wet drizzly fog, I stayed in this weekend and worked on the new website while dreaming of sunny days and sipping margaritas. Ah, the life.

So I thought I'd post this wonderful card by the incomparable Toni, for a bit of summertime dreaming.

The card uses stamps from the Spring collection (and paper from Memory box. So cute. Maybe a little glitter on the edge of the glasses? Come on? What's a margarita without salt? Olé!

Wonderdog

I've been working uber hard on the new website and realized that Underdog, the movie, is coming out soon. So I thought I'd post this uber cute card the most talented Toni. Toni emailed me one day when I first started TCP and hooked me up to the world of Design Teams. And the world have never been the same since.

She has been with me since the beginning and I have been so lucky to be even a teeny, tiny bleep in her life. Her energy and spirit is amazing.

Not about stamps

People like to make fun of my hometown of San Francisco.

We are a small town, really. Just 42 square yards, we are an eclectic, tolerate town that swells to 2 million on an average work week.

When I graduated from college, I was lucky enough to land a job at a small ad firm in Los Gatos, CA. It was run by a teacher at San Jose State, George Coakley. He had already founded one of the most successful agencies in Silicon Valley and even was one of Gary Dahl's partners when he launched the Pet Rock.

He filled his new firm with eager new graduates from San Jose State. Of course, being fresh out of school we didn't know diddly. But we did a little bit of everything at the agency.

One day I was answering phones and the gentleman asked to speak to George "about our tennis date". It was Bill Walsh. BILL WALSH. George was quite amused at my wonder. (Turns out Bill and George used to be college roommates at SJSU and there were lots of stories about their hi-jinx...)

For years, growing up in San Francisco, people would make fun of our sports teams. Panty-wastes. Fairies. Our football team was especially abysmal. Each year, after a losing season, we would shake our heads and sigh. Resolutely, putting on a brave face. "Next year," we would say, year after year "Next year".

Then, this svelte, dashing, grey haired man became coach.

He would pick up players that were talented, but passed by by other teams. These players were like San Franciso, we thought, not looked at seriously, but they had a lot of heart.

And then, at last, because of this man and his players "Next year" became this year. Finally, we were winners. And we kept winning. All because of this man and his vision. I remember one unbelievable playoff game, Jerry Rice caught a pass and ran down the sideline with seconds to go to win the game. Bill Walsh actually skipped off the field.

When we won our first Superbowl crowds flowed out onto the streets and cars stopped on the roads. We all danced in the streets and no one cared. The city in all its quirkiness and quirky people celebrated. For just a few bright shiny moments we weren't Panty-wastes or Fairies. We were winners.

So much joy. So much excitement. So much pride. So much. So much. And it all started when a
svelte, dashing, grey haired man became coach.

Brunch with Tracy

Yesterday I had brunch with Tracy. Tracy has been a member on TCP design team since it started and believe you me, I feel so lucky to have her.

She has so much energy, just a fruit punch will get her going. She's been a stamper forever and her designs are always so tight and clean.

Here is just one example of how talented she is.
This card uses so many of our new Summer Design, but still comes across as simple.

Lucky, no? Lucky, yes?

Thank you!

Thank you for all your kind comments about my brother. He is doing fine. Taking his meds, though not adjusting to the other part of the prescription, exercise and watching what he eats. I'm working on that part.

Finished up my taxes and Harry Potter. Twice. Okay, I read it 2 and a half times. I had to hand it over to Anthony to read so I could at least have someone to talk to about it. If only he would read faster.

Somehow

Just checking in. So many things happening. Doing a bit of "housekeeping" over here at TCP. Working on a new web page, retiring stamps, making up sample stamps for the DT. Going full speed ahead.

But, everything came to a full stop last Tuesday. Last Tuesday, my brother had a heart attack. After a 3 day stay in the hospital they told him he had a weak heart muscle, needed to exercise more, eat better.

My brother is 13 months older than I. Though we were close when we were young, we ran in different circles. He is smart, smart. So he skipped a grade and went to schools that could teach to his smartness.

Let's just say...I wasn't so smart. I was an artiste. I hung out with friends and rebelled against the establishment. I almost became a punk, but couldn't fathom why you would pierce a cheek with a safety pin.

I knew he was always there. A bit of stability. Solid. And now I know he his is not so solid. Somewhere along the way he got old. We got old. How did that happen?

Like Butter

In my lifetime I have gone through many a paper cutter.

First, and oldtime wood guillotine that shifted the paper I was cutting, so I would never get a square cut.

Then a flurry of paper cutters, some rotary, some trimmers. A few Fiskars were tried. Then a bright green Cutterpede. All had me running back to my old Exacto and ruler.

My current favorite is the Dahl Vantage Trimmer. A guillotine, yes. But not just any old guillotine. An updated fancy schmancy one that can actually cut a square cut.

What is your favorite, and why do you like it?

Gayle to the rescue!

Check out this oh-so cute card by Gayle, the newest member of our design team. This was one of the samples she did for the Ventura Convention. It was this card that made did it for me. I knew I had to have her join the team.

She used the Sakura glaze pens to color the stamped image (Relaxing). Cut out the image and used foam tape to mount it atop Memory Box paper. She used a clip punch to make the "sunbursts" and added them to the corners.

The white swirl is actually a rub-on. I love how she stamped the "Ring of Flowers" and then placed "Hot Stuff" onto two lines. Cut out and ribbon added, this makes a cute tag to finish off the card.

Nice work, Gayle!

Chili Cheese Dogs, here I come!

I got sooo much done today, and it's not even 1:00 yet. I love when that happens. Finished pricing and creating the labels for the Holiday stamp designs.

Now, as a treat, we are going to get some chili cheese dogs and fries. When we lived in SoCal we could make the trek to Pink's. If the need for chili cheese dogs and fries was bad and we were on a budget, we settled for Weinerschnitzel. Since we moved to SF we have been in dire need of a good fix. So we are going to Nation's. Lacking in the Pink's atmosphere, and Weinerschnitzel pricing structure, but you still get lots and lots of goop on your dog and it's so much closer! Yum! And we are off.

Happy 4th!

Happy Fourth!

Gayle Smith did this wonderful card featuring some of our Summer Designs. I thought it was perfect to share for the 4th of July Holiday. What is a 4th of July without Barbecue?

This card just cracks me up! I love that she stamped out the Chef's hat and added it to the Dancing mustard container. She used Sakura Stardust Pens for that extra shimmer that you see on the buns.

When I was designing the Dancing Food I must have redrawn the design 20-30 times. I couldn't decide what type of food to use, which should be boys or girls, what type of expressions they should have. So many decisions. Originally the mustard girl was an onion. Cute, but it just didn't work in the design. I kept the image though. She may come up again in another collection.

Finally!

Someone gets us crafters. I could not say it any better. Crafters unite!

Jam-packed week!

SOOOOO many things happening. So many good, that they have to be tempered with the not so good. But most of the time I've been smiling from ear to ear, and pinching myself, just to make sure I'm awake.

First, I got the new plates for the Holiday stamps in record time. And, as we speak the Fed Ex guy is knocking on American Art Stamp's door and delivering them to be pressed! Lots of cute images. Even some Thanksgiving.

Second, da da da DA! We're getting clear stamps! Yup. I sent off the first of (I hope) many designs to be made into clear stamp sets. All the new holiday designs (except the Thanksgiving) are going to be made into 3 lovely new sets. I get so excited that sometimes I forget to breathe.

Thirdly...we got new catalogs. I must say they are quite lovely and printed on beautiful stock and oh so cute. I'll start sending them out to the stores in a week or so. And once I figure out pricing they'll go on the website for sale.

Now, a couple of words to describe the not so good part of this week.
Root Canal
Lawyer
Automobile

Ventura Convention

So many things happening over here at The Cat's Pajamas. Some good, some bad. Soon, soon, I'll let you know what is going on. But to tide you over, Anthony finally downloaded the pics from the Ventura Convention. Here are some of the highlights.

This is the calm before the storm. Right before the doors open, there is still time to polish up the booth a bit. I like the shabby chic look of the booth, but I feel the need for a change. Next time you see us, we'll be even chicer, and not as shabby.


That's Hilde from Stonebridge Creations in the booth. What I love about conventions is meeting all the stamper's, but also meeting the other people in the booths. Plus, at this one I got to see all my old friends again. Gosh, darn it, I miss Ellie, Nina, Charmaine and Christie already.

Here's Gayle! She's a member of TCP design team member and demo person extraordinaire! How can so much talent and knowledge be in one person? Ya got me!? Hi Gayle!


Here I am, looking much larger than life. This time we gave out yummy cherry lollies. Gotta keep that sugar up for some serious shopping. Note the signage? Unfortunately, no one noticed that someone had walked away with one of our wonderful samples. Next time we are cementing them down.

Even though it was a small hall there were a lot of shoppers and great vendors.
And great demo people. Here is Anthony and Dee Gruenig at the Sunday International Booth. Dee is always so gracious when we see her, and this time was no exception. She is one of Anthony's favorite personalities and luckily I didn't mess up this shot of him and Dee together, or he would have killed me.