A tisket a tasket a super cute little basket. Jen del Muro works her magic with paper and brings us this easy and fun March Project of the Month. Make one to decorate your favorite bunny's desktop or make a bunch and use them as placecards on your Easter table.

San Jose Convention

Well the San Jose Convention has come and gone. And it was exciting, being the first convention of the year for me. There was some extra excitement, behind the scenes.

A Stamp in the Hand, which runs the show, had reserved a different hall for the convention. (It was the one that we were in last time) Little did they know that the hall had been reserved previously, for a wedding reception. The Hall's peeps had been notified to cancel the reservation for the reception when they took ASITH's reservation. So you can imagine the turmoil that ensued when the bride came in to pay off the hall. CHAOS. ASITH scrambled around to find a new hall just a week or so before the convention.

Luckily, they found a new hall that was nice and big, with better lighting and parking. SCORE!

It was a busy day at the Cat's booth and I got to meet some people I had been wanting to put a face to an email. I met Carol C. (whose last name I wouldn't say for fear of butchering), Makani Lew, who is as warm as the city she lives in. And two mischievous Swanky Stampers, Michele and Tracy. Tracy, who in my head, was like 6 feet tall, because I figured that someone is as cute as a model, must be super tall to complete the package. I was wrong. The gal is cuter than her picture and around my height! And she is a bundle of energy. Yay for short people!

Our next convention is next month in Pleasanton. Come by and say hi!

Shannan Tuebner IV

It's been a real treat to feature Shannon Tuebner this month as our Special Guest Designer.
She has such innovation in her design and has a fresh way of looking at things.

I love this card! What is not to love? It's got everything. Bright colors, texture, stitching and great texture. And best of all a great sense of humor.


We know that life experiences help mold who we are and how we look at things. So we asked Shannan a couple more questions.

What has been your happiest moment?
Goodness that's a tough one!! There are so many! The first that comes to mind is the day I heard my boys playing together and laughing...it was so sweet to hear them having so much fun.

Besides stamping, what is your next passion?
Music. I love most types of music and was a vocal music major in college. Now I just stick to singing in the car. I'm sure people driving by think I'm insane! You can find me rockin' out to anything from Hairspray and the Eagles, to the Potter's House Choir and opera.

So it's all about rockin' out. Rock out everyone.

Holey Moley Monday!

Shannan Tuebner III

Ready for the 3rd installment of Shannan Tuebner? I know we are. So hold on and get ready to be turned on your head.

This week, Shannan has stamped out a card that shows off her witty and bold personality.

This card is striking in its use of color and pattern and uses decorative stitching in a whole new way.

Want a closeup?

Don't you just love how the stitching idea is repeated by the outline of the oval? Love it, Shannan.

TCP Tuesday 46!

It's that time again!

We're switching things up a bit here at the Cat House. Head on over to Karrie's Blog today.

She is the Hipster Hostess with the Mostess for this week. And she's hosting a fantabulous challenge. It's a Cupcake Challenge!

Everyone loves cupcakes! Just pull out your cupcake stamps to play!

Want some even more inspiration? Check out the DT members to the left throughout the week to see their great cards.

Here are the deets. (Lifted from Ana's page.)
1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until {this} Saturday night to complete the challenge.
4. Link your project on this week’s hostess’ challenge announcement. This week you will link your project HERE.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS, or PCP please use the keyword TCPTUES46 for this challenge.
8. Alma (that's me) will post the entries from the week the following Monday on her blog.
9. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.

Holey Moley Monday!

She's BAAACK!

About a year ago, I cast my eye upon a wonderful artist who had a surprising sense of color and design. Her designs were clever and she was fearless. And when I met her at CHA, she turned out to be a charismatic youngster who engaged me with her quick wit and fast talk.

So, of course, I asked her to be a member of The Cat Pack. And she didn't disappoint. She constantly amused and produced designs that caught the eye and teased the mind.

And then, she was lured away by the bright lights of the big country. And I was sad. But like a true mother hen, I wished her all the best and pushed her out of the nest to find her way in the world. And waited. And waited. And waited. Cluck, cluck.

And now.... SHE'S BAAAAACK! YAY! Carole Burrage has rejoined The Cat Pack. We are so happy and excited that she has come back. Now I better get to drawing before she decides to leave again.

Shannan Teubner II

Yee Haw! It's time for another look at our Special Guest Designer for February, Shannan Teubner. With her stamping skills, it's hard to believe Shannan has only been stamping for 2 1/2" years. What's her secret?

What's your favorite stamping technique or tip?

Always use quality supplies! You will be surprised how much that will affect the look of your projects!

What is your favorite color combo? 

That depends on what day you ask me! Right now I gravitate to pinks (of some sort) and browns. But that could change in an hour or two!

What was the first stamp you bought, and what was your last?

I think the first stamp I bought was a $1 stamp from a local big box store. I had a drawer full of those that ended up getting donated to my kiddos' craft box...

The last stamp I bought was the Aged Sheet Music background stamp from CHF.

Here is another very special card by Shannan. She hails front Texas, so it's appropriate that she did a Western Card. She used stamps from our "It's a Western Thing" Clearly Swanky Set. 

With this card, it's easy to admire the details. White Raffia, instead of ribbon, random stitching to mimic a lasso.

But what makes this card so special is her masking and coloring technique. She makes 3 separate stamps look like it is only one. And her coloring is spot on. I especially love the touch of white she adds for the highlights.

Now take a look at the inside of the card. The inside of a card is usually forgotten, but Shannan again shows her attention to details. Repeating the stitching, colors and patterns used on the front of the card, she adds her sentiment and makes it pop with more of the white highlight pen. Just great.

Want more? Come back next Wednesday.

TCP Tuesday 44

It's that time again!

Head on over to Jen's Blog today.

Yup, she is the Hipster Hostess with the Mostess for this week. Jen is doing the Color Challenge. This week she challenges you to use Red, Pink, Dark Gray and Black in your design. Love it!
Check out the DT members to the left throughout the week to see their great cards.

Here are the deets. (Lifted from Ana's page.)
1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until {this} Saturday night to complete the challenge.
4. Link your project on this week’s hostess’ challenge announcement. This week you will link your project HERE.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS or PCP, please use the keyword TCPTUES44 for this challenge.
8. Alma (that's me) will post the entries from the week the following Monday on her blog.
9. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.

Holey Moley Monday!

Shannan Tuebner

If you've ever been to Shannan Tuebner's blog, Pink Tulle with Feathers & Sequins you might think that music plays a huge role in Shannan's life. But it is her wonderful stamped creations that make our heart's sing.

Her bubbly personality and quick wit is more than evident in her playful, inventive designs. So Shannan put a song in my heart when she agreed to be our Special Guest Designer for February.
And we asked her...

What got you into stamping?
A girlfriend gave me a stamped tile coaster, which I thought would be a cheap and easy gift to give for birthdays. Little did I know that a shoebox would take over an entire room in my house. That coaster is now affectionately dubbed "The Million Dollar Coaster".

What's your favorite product?
Stickles! I don't know how I lived without them...


Here's an example of Shannan's playful and inventive style. She created this wonderful Birthday Book that's cute enough for display on your desk or carry in your pocketbook, so that you don't forget that all important birthday.

She used a white pen on the scalloped border to give it dimension. Doesn't it remind you of big, fun, squeaky balloons?

And, I do so love that she used the numbers from the "You Say It's Your Birthday" set, to stamp in the circles of the paper. Stamping on patterned paper makes it your own.


And Shannan thoughtfully made the book complete with pockets for notes and places for lots of stamping. We love that.

Want to see more of Shannan? Come back next Wednesday for even more great stuff. She just gets better and better.

TCP Tuesday 44!

It's that time again!

Head on over to Toni's Blog today.

She is the Hipster Hostess with the Mostess for this week. And she's hosting a yummy Inspiration challenge. She's tempting you with this delicious photo to design a card or whatever. Won't you play along?

Want some even more inspiration? Check out the DT members to the left throughout the week to see their great designs.

Now I want to see yours.

Here are the deets. (Lifted from Ana's page.)
1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until {this} Saturday night to complete the challenge.
4. Link your project on this week’s hostess’ challenge announcement. This week you will link your project HERE.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS or PCP, please use the keyword TCPTUES44 for this challenge.
8. Alma (that's me) will post the entries from the week the following Monday on her blog.
9. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.

Project of the Month

Make a sweet little pedestal to put your favorite treats. Then top them all off with a message that expresses your true feelings. Check out the February Project of the Month.

I started with a plain white cake pedestal from the import store, and made custom rub-ons. Check out the Rub-Onz paper on the website. This project was easy, peasy. The most difficult thing was keeping my props from disappearing.

I'm sorry I'm so late getting this month's Project of the Month out. Between the SuperBowl and my props disappearing... well, I'm sure you understand.

Holey Moley Monday!

Swanky Stamper of the Month

Christyne Kane — Swanky Stamper for February

When I first saw Christyne's entry for TCP Tuesday a great sucking sound could be heard coming from my mouth. Her design literally took my breath away. Then I saw the second entry and the same sound was heard again. Christyne's use of pattern and texture is masterful. And, who can resist a little liquid applique.

Christyne Kane — Swanky Stamper for February