TCP Wednesday?

Don't you just love the week after Christmas? It's always a great time to reflex and spend time with the family. Just kick back time.

So this week, Toni, Our TCP Tuesday Hostess with the Mostess is doing a Laid Back TCP Tuesday Challenge. Make something that is something "new". Try a new color combo, and new technique. A new TCP stamp you haven't inked yet. What the heck, it's almost the New Year. The time for new things.

You know the drill, people.
Here are the deets.
1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, techinque, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
4. Post your design to the guestbook on this blog by the end of the month. Winner is chosen from the guestbooks each month.
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. Only designs posted to the guestbook will be considered for the Swanky Stamper.
8. 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.

Well, I'm not sure how it happened, but all of a sudden it's just 3 days before Christmas. And me, with just 2 prezzies to get. I usually make my own gifts, but suddenly the clock has run out and it is too late. Can you feel me?

So instead of posting a TCP Tuesday challenge, I'd like to take this moment to wish you all the best this Holiday Season. And to tell you how much I appreciate YOU! I really do. Without out you there would be no blog and no me, getting to live pretty much how I want to live. You complete me.

I have lots of wishes this Holiday Season. Mostly for World Peace and the Brotherhood of Man. But I think I'll settle for people just getting along. And for a healthy and happy year for all of you and yours. For all those that we know and who we will get to know in the near future.

I wish for a year of creative growth and reflection. And one of discovery. Of sticky, gluey fingers and one full of glitter and sparkles. And one full of smiles and sighs and books and afternoon naps. One full of yummy cat stretches and cuddles on the couch. Of loud boisterous laughter and quiet walks on the beach. Of girls' nights out and the very best mystery marathon on TV.

I wish this for you.

TCP Tuesday

Welcome to the TCP Tuesday! Jen is the Hostess with the Mostess on this really brisk wintery Tuesday.

She's doing a sketch challenge this week so you know it has to be great! When you get a chance check out her card and check out the other members of The Cat Pack for their take on this cute sketch.

Play along with us and add your own design to the guestbook at the bottom of the post. You could be eligible to be the next Swanky Stamper of the Month and win 25 smackeroos, that $25 in Cat's Cash.

Here are the deets.
1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, techinque, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
4. Post your design to the guestbook on this blog.
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. Only designs posted to the guestbook will be considered for the Swanky Stamper.
8. 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.

Button Wreath

I'm hard at work, filling orders and making Christmas cards, so I thought I'd give you something to look at. I've been seeing a lot of versions of these button wreaths, so I whipped up a couple to show you what you can do with our Vintage Holiday Buttons, some glue, ribbon, and a coaster.


I start out by carefully drawing a circle in the center of one of my round coasters. Lots of "research" was done in my neighborhood to find just the right shape coaster.


Then I cut the circle out with a craft knife and colored the coaster with the color of the darkest button. Don't forget to color the edges of the coaster. I used a heavy tacky glue that dries clear and ran a bead of it around the center, by the hole. Then I placed buttons in the glue, taking care to cover the edge of the hole.


Fill in with the rest of the buttons.


There may be gaps, but not to worry, you can cover the biggest, most annoying gaps with a top layer of buttons. Don't forget around the edges, too! When in doubt, add more buttons.

Here is the finished project. I looped a ribbon around the wreath and tied off a button with silver thread. This wreath is so much cuter in person. The glue dried after the sun set, so I wasn't able to get a great picture, but you get the idea.


Here is a cream and cranberry one. It was the first one I did. A little shabby chic. I used a felt word and added rhinestones. I just love these wreaths, and they are so easy to make. So festive, no?

TCP Tuesday

Welcome to the TCP Tuesday! Susan is the Hostess with the Mostess this Tuesday.

And she's doing the stamp challenge this week and it's so fun! This week she's challenging you to make a wintery card. You know, the kind that makes you shiver when you are done. That means snowflakes, penguins and snowy sentiments. And the added challenge...? ONLY The Cat's Pajamas stamps are allowed. When you get a chance check out her blog. She's got snow up the wazoo. Check out the other members of The Cat Pack for their take on this challeng.

Play along with us and add your own design to the guestbook at the bottom of the post. You could be eligible to be the next Swanky Stamper of the Month and win 25 smackeroos, that $25 in Cat's Cash.

Here are the deets.
1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, techinque, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
4. Post your design to the guestbook on this blog.
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. Only designs posted to the guestbook will be considered for the Swanky Stamper.
8. 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

I don't know about you, but I am always looking for that small special gift that says "I am thinking about you" and "You are so special, you deserve something made from the heart", but I don't want to spend that much.

So when I saw this Sweetie Nugget Card Box, by Cat Packer, Jen del Muro I knew that this was that special something and that it had to be the Project of the Month for December.


On the outside, it is wonderfully packaged gift. Open it up, and it is a thoughtful card for that special one. But even better...


Open it up even further, and it's a thoughtful gift packed full of sweets or money or embellies or whatever you want. Jen's done it up real purty here with chocolate nuggets covered in handstamped labels. Yummo!


Want to make one? Well head on over to the Project of the Month and download and instruction sheet. If you want to make one, you can find the clear boxes on the site, too.

Swanky Stamper of the Month

Jenny Gropp — Swanky Stamper for December

I don't know about you, but this card makes me want to pull out my Best of Christmas Cocktails, and swivel my hips a bit. But, I'll control myself for now to tell you how much this card makes me smile.

This card is surprisingly simple, if you just look at the layout. What makes this card special is all the added "stuff" that in Jenny's hands just makes this card a standout. From her stitched detail around the edges, to the "sugar" around the rim of the glass to the way she used the Nestablities die as a mask, and outliner and cutting tool. (Did I mention this is a Matchbook card?)

Add, paper piecing, rhinestones, doodling, airbrushing, this card has technique all over the place. But, most importantly, it looks as if Jenny had fun making this card. And it is the reason Jenny Gropp is the Swanky Stamper of the Month.

TCP Tuesday

Welcome to the TCP Tuesday! Joanne is the Hostess with the Mostess this Tuesday.

She's doing a color challenge this week and it's making me hungry! She's challenging you to use light pink, kraft, and vanilla. Yup! Thems ice cream colors. Neapolitan, to be exact. This was my favorite ice cream growing up. Who could resist 3 different taste sensations in one bowl? YUMMO.

When you get a chance check out Joanne's card. It sure is purty! And check out the other members of The Cat Pack for their take on this color choice.

Play along with us and add your own design to the guestbook at the bottom of the post. You could be eligible to be the next Swanky Stamper of the Month and win 25 smackeroos, that $25 in Cat's Cash.

In the meantime, I'm going to be busily filling orders. I'm going as fast as I can, but someone insists on checking every order that goes out.


Here are the deets.
1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, techinque, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
4. Post your design to the guestbook on this blog.
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. Only designs posted to the guestbook by the end of the month will be considered for the Swanky Stamper.
8. 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.