Blog Hop, TCP Tuesday, Weekly Winner, Whew!

Hi all! It's release day and I'm so excited about our Winter Collection, I am just bursting. If you've been following The Cat Pack and me during Sneaky Peek Week you know that TODAY is the first day that you can buy any of the goodies that we previewed.

And, as our tradition, we are mixing in our TCP Tuesday Challenge with a fantab-U-lous blog hop!

Julie, the Hostess with the Mostess, kicks off today's events with a wonderful Technique/Supply challenge. Her challenge is to create SHINY Embellishments. If you, come here from Nancy's blog, you have reached the end of your journey. If not, start at Julie's blog and visit each blog on the hop. I guarantee it's worth it.

Here is my card for the Blog Hop. As you know, I've been on a quest to make Holiday cards that I can actually mail without too much fuss or extra postage. So I've been restricting myself to light embellies and using ribbons and bows that don't bulk up the card.

I used our Snowflake Lace Paper CutUps (say that 10 times fast). I love this die because, not only does it cut a pretty doily type shape, but it cuts a slew of snowflakes that I can use for embellies. I cut two of these beauties from silver paper, shiny side facing the cutting mat to get a textured look, and used the the largest clear circle from Jody's Shaker Set as a base. Then it was just a matter of sticking the snowflakes on the adhesive.

I stamped "Joy" from J*lly H*liday" and ran it through an embossing folder. After I put the card together I pleated a little of our new "Tinsel" seam binding and added that, and called it a day. Weighing in at under one ounce, I couldn't be happier.

And I want to make you happy, too. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you all are probably tapped out and could use a little help getting the goodies we've been showing all week, right?

So as The Cat's Pajamas gift to you, we are offering you 15% off everything in the store, INCLUDING the already discounted KittyKat Pack and Poochie Pack. Just enter HAPPY15 in the promo code box when you check out. But, you better hurry, the offer ends on November 30, and it's our last "sale" of the year.

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WEEKLY WINNER

And the Weekly Winner is Noelle McAdams. Noelle played along with our TCP Tuesday Inspiration Challenge and was randomly chosen. She wins $10 in Cat's Cash!

Noelle, please email me for your voucher code.

You could win too! Play along and add your card with the Inlinkz button below. Here are the Deets.

1. Each Tuesday we will give you a challenge.
2. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.

3. Add your entry to the Inlinkz Gallery or upload to the SCS Gallery, using the keyword TCPTUES187 for this week's challenge.

4. TCP stamps are not required for this challenge, but highly recommended.
5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced on Tuesdays who will win a Gift Voucher for use on The Cat's Pajamas website.
6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced the 1st of each month. They will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.

Sneaky Peek #7

Day #7 

J*lly H*liday 

It's Day 7 of Sneaky Peek Week! The final day of our Sneaky Peeks and today we are showing the final set, "J*lly H*liday". "J*lly H*liday" and all the stamp sets and CutUps dies shown during Sneaky Peek Week will be available for purchase on November 29.

When the set was designed, we wanted it to do so much. First, we wanted it to be fun and interactive.

Second, we wanted it to be simple and classic, since around the Holidays, the one thing that we never seem to get enough of is time and money. So we wanted this set to be fast and easy, and one that you could dress up or down, that you could use year after year.

And thirdly, we wanted the set to be able to work with the Big Ticket CutUps and the Stamp Trio CutUps. "J*lly H*liday" is the result. We hope you like it as much as I do.

The set is made up of Holiday words, icons and phrases that you can mix and match. This card by Amy Rohl shows the set off to perfection. She used the Big Ticket CutUps as the base for the stamps and stamped "Jolly" and the ornament for the "O". Then she used the snowflakes from the Snowflake Lace Paper CutUps to dress up the side of her card. The result is stunning.

No less stunning is Jen del Muro's ornament. She used the same word, and a wreath for her "O". And then she used the Anywhere Ribbon Slide CutUps to create this wonderful and beautiful ornament. Take a closer look.

Here is the ornament from the side. I can just picture this hanging from a tree, can't you. It's just breathtaking.

Now here is my card. This card was made with going through the mail in mind. It can be sent in a standard size envie, relatively flat, and it's light. And,  I wanted to send something that a non-stamper would "get". Here I've used "Noel" and the wreath, along with a pretty flourish that also comes in the set.

I used the Anywhere Ribbon Slide CutUps with the Dove Seam Binding. The best thing about the Seam Binding is that it's light and ties into a nice compact bow. And, if it gets wrinkled, it only adds to the look. This release, we'll be adding four yummy new colors of Seam Binding, Tinsel, Cornflower, Cranberry and Evergreen. Perfect for the Holidays.

Want to see more? Then check out Susan, and Lori and see how they used "J*lly H*liday." When you finish at their blogs, head on over to our Forum on SplitcoastStampers and leave a comment on our "In It To Win It!" Thread. You could win the "J*lly H*liday" stamp set just by leaving a comment!

I want to thank Swanky Stampers, Kimberly Gajewski and Stephanie Herbert for playing along with the Cat Pack this release. Their beautiful cards really showed off this collection. We are truly, truly blessed. 

Sneaky Peek #6

Day #6
Raising Cane

It's Day 6 of Sneaky Peek Week! Only one day of Sneaky Peeks after this and it's Release Day! Woot! Woot! 

Today we are Sneak Peeking another set featuring that darling Bunny. It's called "Raising Cane". "Raising Cane" and all the stamps and CutUps dies we are previewing during Sneaky Peek Week will be available on November 29.

 

You're probably tired of me talking about this little guy, but I just can't help myself. He really can be dressed up or down. Look at Lori Tecler's card. Beautifully, but simply colored, Lori adds a little glam by glitzing up the candy cane with glitter.

Julie Masse goes CAS with this sweet little card. And in this case, CAS not only means Clean and Simple but also Classy and Sophisticated. Just a touch of color to the bunny and a bit of bling makes this card shine.

 

And when you want to treat that special someone to something sweet, it's "Raising Cane" and the Bunny to the rescue! Take a gander at these wonderful tags by Nancy Thomas. Tags this special can make even the humblest candy cane a delightful gift.

Here's a closer look. Really so sweet. We think the bunny's ears and candy cane are the perfect place to nestle that sweet sentiment. And did you notice the spiffy Divine Twine? Yup, it's Holiday Divine Twine and we'll have it in 240 yd rolls and 15 yard {Littles}. It's a festive way to tie a tag to a present or embellish a card.

Want to see more? Then check out Jackie, Susan, Jenny and Swanky Stampers, Kimberly Gajewski and Stephanie Herbert and see how they used "Raising Cane".

When you finish at their blogs, head on over to our Forum on SplitcoastStampers and leave a comment on our "In It To Win It!" Thread. You could win the "Raising Cane" stamp set just by leaving a comment!

Sneaky Peek #5

Day #5 

Peeking 

It's Day 5 of Sneaky Peek Week! Wow, we are more than half over with Sneaky Peek Week. Time certainly flies. PJ the Bear is making his Holiday appearance in "Peeking" Having unwrapped a couple of presents before Christmas in my day, I certainly know that look. It's the "What? I was just admiring the bow on this present, really", look. Do you know it? "Peeking" and all the stamps and CutUps dies we are previewing during Sneaky Peek Week will be available on November 29.

 

Even though it's the Holidays, "Peeking" is one of those classic images that you can use all year long. Just by changing out the paper and embellies, you've got a different look, for a different time of year, different occasion. You really can't go wrong with this sweet image for any time where there is gift giving.

Like this card by Leigh O'Brien. She makes make the perfect Holiday card by paper piecing the gift, coloring PJ and tucking in the Snowflake Lace Paper CutUps behind him. A little snowflake embellie from the CutUps and it's done.

Like this gift bag by Nancy Thomas. She does a simple tag but makes it "Holiday" with the color palette. It's a fast and easy way to dress up a gift bag. I know I have a TON of these to make. Want to see more? Then check out Jen, Amy, Carole and Swanky Stampers, Kimberly Gajewski and Stephanie Herbert and see how they used "Peeking".

When you finish at their blogs, head on over to our Forum on SplitcoastStampers and leave a comment on our "In It To Win It!" Thread. You could win the "Peeking" stamp set just by leaving a comment!

Sneaky Peek #4

Day #4 

Freezin' Season 

It's Day 4 of Sneaky Peek Week. Hump day. The bunny is making another sweet appearance in this NEW stamp set, "Freezin' Season". "Freezin' Season" and all the stamps and CutUps dies we are previewing during Sneaky Peek Week will be available on November 29.

One of the reasons to love this bunny is that he is do easy to "do up". Like in this card by Amy Rohl. She stamps the bunny, paper pieces him and then colors him. Paper piecing is an easy way to bring color and pattern to your cards. Then Amy finishes it off with our NEW Snowflake Lace Paper CutUps and a twist of our NEW Seam Binding in Cranberry.

Here is the bunny "done" up simply on this card by Jenny Peterson. By keeping him and his little friend simple you can go all out with the background. She also uses the Snowflake Lace Paper CutUps. The CutUps is very detailed, so you may have to pass it through your die cut machine several times with shims. Unless, of course, you want the look of the center tree. You can run it through without cutting all the way through, or do what Jenny did and through with an embossing pad. Either way works, but using the embossing pad gives you a more consistent look.

And, Jenny uses the Anytime Ribbon Slide CutUps, too. Designed for 1/2" ribbon, you can use it with a smaller width and get this look.

In this easel card by Lori Tecler, she keeps the bunny and company, simple and clean. She doesn't dress him down, but up, in elegance. Love that she uses the Anywhere Ribbon Slide at the "base" of the card with our New Seam Binding in Cornflower.

Want to see more? Then check out Leigh, Nancy, Jackie and Swanky Stampers, Kimberly Gajewski and Stephanie Herbert and see how they used "Freezin Season".

When you finish at their blogs, head on over to our Forum on SplitcoastStampers and leave a comment on our "In It To Win It!" Thread. You could win the "Freezin Season" stamp set just by leaving a comment!

Sneaky Peek Day 3

Day #3 

Best Fishes 

Happy Thanksgiving, to everyone in the United States. I hope you are full of Turkey and relaxing before you start on the leftovers.

It's Day 3 of Sneaky Peek Week and today we are bringing you a stamp set featuring one of my all time characters, Mr. Penguin. Or Larry, as I like to fondly call him. This little guy is wonderful to paper piece or color.

Take a look at this card by Jenny Peterson. It's just darling, don't you think? Just a sweet little image that you can dress up or down. And that sweet bit of ribbon is actually a brand new color of seam binding, Cranberry. Just right for the season and soft as can be.

And you see that pretty cut out under the sentiments, that's our third NEW CutUps, the Gift Card Envie. Not only can you make a gift card with it, but you can do what Jenny did. Take a peek at her tut.

Here's another take on "Best Fishes" by Leigh O'Brien and another look at the yumminess of the Cranberry seam binding with our NEW Anywhere Ribbon Slide. Along with Cranberry, we're bringing in 3 NEW colors, Evergreen, Cornflower, and Tinsel, just in time for the Holidays. And she sprinkled in a couple of snowflakes from the Snowflake Lace Paper CutUps for good measure.

Want to see more? Then check out Julie, Jen, Nancy, Carole, and Swanky Stampers, Kimberly Gajewski and Stephanie Herbert and see how they used "Best Fishes". When you finish at their blogs, head on over to our Forum on SplitcoastStampers and leave a comment on our "In It To Win It!" Thread. You could win the "Best Fishes" stamp set just by leaving a comment!

Sneaky Peek #2

Day #2 

Merry Christmas, Honey 

It's the second day of Sneaky Peek Week. And it's Big Bear's turn to come out and play in this brand NEW set, "Merry Christmas, Honey".

This set and all the sets and CutUps Dies you see in our NEW Fall Collection will be available Nov. 29 on The Cat's Pajamas website.

First, up is Leigh O'Brien. And not only is she showing off "Merry Christmas, Honey" and a snowflake from our Snowflake Lace Paper, but she's showing off another one of our NEW CutUps, the "Anywhere Ribbon Slide" with the tried and true Big Scallop Border. Punched ribbon slides have to be cut on the edge of the paper, with the "Anywhere Ribbon Slide" you can put it anywhere on the paper you are die-cutting, like right above a fancy border like Leigh's done.

 

And even I couldn't resist the call of "Merry Christmas, Honey". I paper pieced the tree and colored the rest. Really a simple card, when you think about it, fancied up with the Snowflake Lace Paper CutUps.

Want to see more? Then check out Julie, and Swanky Stampers, Kimberly Gajewski and Stephanie Herbert and see how they used "Merry Christmas, Honey. When you finish head on over to our Forum on SplitcoastStampers and leave a comment on our "In It To Win It!" Thread. You could win the "Merry Christmas, Honey" stamp set just by leaving a comment!

TCP Tuesday 186 and the Weekly Winner

It's TCP Tuesday and Jen is the Hostess with the Mostess for this week's TCP Tuesday Inspiration Challenge.

Jen always "works" the Inspiration Challenge and this time is no different. Take a peek at her Collage. It's all sorts of snowy goodness layered up with some texture and warm feelings.

What can I say, this challenge called to me so I had to play. I created a transparent card using our Heavy Acetate Sheets. If you haven't tried them, they are super heavy and perfect for card bases. I stamped up the acetate with Stazon Opaque White, and inserted a piece of blue cardstock inside.

Then, I folded white cardstock in half and stamped the bunny from Snow Day (releasing 11/29), colored him and cut him out of the two halves of paper at the same time. (The fold is at the bottom) Then I added adhesive and slipped the card into the fold of the white paper. That way all the adhesive is nicely covered.

A little embossing to the sentiment, tied up with a little silver thread, and I call it done.

How does this collage inspire you? Let's see. Don't forget to add your card to the inlinz button at the bottom of this post.

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WEEKLY WINNER

It's Weekly Winner Time! This week's Weekly Winner is Wendy. She played along with us on our TCP Tuesday Sketch Challenge.

Isn't her card funny? Those little bunnys in their little filmstrip just crack me up.

Wendy, please email me for your voucher code

Here are the Deets.

1. Each Tuesday we will give you a challenge.
2. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.

3. Add your entry to the Inlinkz Gallery or upload to the SCS Gallery, using the keyword TCPTUES186 for this week's challenge.

4. TCP stamps are not required for this challenge, but highly recommended.
5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced on Tuesdays who will win a Gift Voucher for use on The Cat's Pajamas website.
6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced the 1st of each month. They will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.

Day #1 
Snow Day

It's the very first day of Sneaky Peek Week. That means that a week from now is the first day you can get all the goodies in this collection on The Cat's Pajamas website.

Ready?! Snow Days features the ever popular Bunny, except this time instead of riding his bike, or flying his plane, he's taking advantage of a snow day and engaging in a little horseplay. Or should I say, bunnyplay?

Take a look at this soft and pretty card by Jackie Pedro. Who would've thought that a snowball fight could be so elegant? Did you notice the pretty little snowflakes? They all come from our NEW Snowflake Lace Paper CutUps die. It's our riff on the Doily Die. Not only does it cut a wonderful lacy doily, but it cuts out 3 different sizes of snowflakes, too. It's like getting four dies in one.

Now take a gander at this card by Susan Liles. I'm loving the color combo here. Very Sugarplum Fairy.
 
Want to see more? Then check out Leigh, Julie, Lori, Jen, Jenny, and Swanky Stampers, Kimberly Gajewski and Stephanie Herbert and see how they used "Snow Days". When you finish drooling over at their blogs, head on over to our Forum on SplitcoastStampers and leave a comment on our "In It To Win It!" Thread. You could win the "Snow Days" stamp set! Just by leaving a comment!

 Come back a little later to see who the weekly winner and what the TCP Tuesday Challenge is.

It's Black Friday!

Get Sketchy With It

 

When I went to "Art School" and they taught me about good design, they said that if you take a good design, you can turn it on its side, rotate it and if it still looks balanced, you have a good design. 

A good sketch is the same way, you can rotate it, flip it, turn it on its side and it still works as a good design to base your cards on. And a good sketch doesn't have to be literal. You saw how Leigh, our Hostess with the Mostess, flipped her own sketch to a horizontal layout and used the Cloud Border instead of the filmstrip in the sketch.

How about Amy? She changed out the filmstrip for knitting needles and made her main panels much larger.

Jackie had a Beary good time with this sketch. The gal is the queen of the tilted panel.

And Jen, she stayed true to the sketch, but she used a panel of patterned paper and made the embellishment a heart. Sweet!

And newly crowned Dirty Dozen gal, Julie, she shows off some mad skillz with her pretty little card.

And last but not least, Susan, with her lovely pretty card, or pretty love card.

So have at it Stamper's! Let's see what you can do with our sketch this week. I want to see some mad skillz from you. And you could win a $10 voucher on our website. Word on the street? There's a SALE or two coming up AND a NEW Release on Nov 29. An extra $10 is nothing to sneeze at.

It's TCP Tuesday and Leigh is the Hostess with the Mostess for this week's TCP Tuesday Sketch Challenge.

Leigh always does such great sketches and this week it's no different. Check out this little ditty. This sketch, like so many of Leigh's sketches can be turned horizontally and flipped.

Take a gander at Leigh's own card here. See what I mean?

But if you want to see an example of the sketch as it's shown here, just take a look at Nancy's card. Instead of the filmstrip action that Leigh has, Nancy uses the Stamp Trio, and runs them separately up and down the side.


And Jenny didn't use a filmstrip, either. She put a nice wide ribbon in its place. So CUTE!

What will you do with this sketch? Don't forget to add your card to the inlinz button at the bottom of this post.

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WEEKLY WINNER

And NOW for the Weekly Winner! This week's Weekly Winner is Michelle @ elliotstamps! Michelle @ elliotstamps wins a voucher for $10 on The Cat's Pajamas website. She was randomly chosen from all the cards that were entered in last week's food fight challenge. LOVE how she layered up the scallops on just that one side. It really add to the food theme.

Michelle, please email me for your voucher code.

Here are the Deets.

1. Each Tuesday we will give you a challenge.
2. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.

3. Add your entry to the Inlinkz Gallery or upload to the SCS Gallery, using the keyword TCPTUES185 for this week's challenge.

4. TCP stamps are not required for this challenge, but highly recommended.
5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced on Tuesdays who will win a Gift Voucher for use on The Cat's Pajamas website.
6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced the 1st of each month. They will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.

Support

 

Support your local stamp and scrapbook store, or pretty soon they might not be around. 

I just wrote the above line and wanted to add a little more to what I think is a pretty strong statement.

My local stamp store is about 40 miles and a couple of toll bridges away. (Toll is about $10 total) My local scrapbook store is about 20 miles and a bridge away ($5 in toll). My local Michael's is 10 miles away. 

Truthfully, I must admit that my heart goes a little pitter patter when I see a Michael's coupon. 40% off one item. (Lots of restrictions apply) And yes, my local Michael's is much closer. 

But instead of jumping in my car to head over to Michael's I make lists. Lists of stuff that can't be purchased at Michael's, but can only be found at my LSS &S. By not heading over to Michael's once or twice a week, I feel I actually save money in gas and "extras".

And when I make my twice monthly trek over to my LSS&S, I get what is on my lists. Along with other things that can't be purchased at any big box stores or even online: Knowledge. Companionship. And the excitement that comes along when someone else shares the same bit of madness I do. ('Cause let's face it, where else can I get a full on encyclopedia's worth of knowledge about the differences in ink?) Not at the big box stores.

Where can I get ideas and new techniques that the gals at the stamp store have just "discovered"? Where can I get classes to get my creative juices going?

And these stores aren't run by a big corporation, they are run by families and friends. They ARE what the TV calls "the local economy". And unlike so many big corporations, they spend their money in the US, keeping jobs in the US, just when we need them most.

I am so lucky to have places that can do all these things that big box stores can't do. So I'll happily keep making my lists and making my twice monthly treks because they are worth so much more than that Michael's 40% off one item coupon.

If you didn't see yesterday's post, here is a little reminder of something very special we have going on this Friday, and well, the rest of the Friday's in November.

We decided to start celebrating the start of the Holiday Season a little early. So start making your list, there are only 3 Fridays in November to shop.

Will you get the Good Friends set that Julie used for her TCP Tuesday Food Fight card?

Or maybe you need to get the Go Bananas set that Lori shows off to perfection. Whatever you're choice, 20% off your order is a pretty good reason to get them both.

Black Friday

I do love a SALE. And I've been told that you love them, too. Especially, around the Holidays.

So, I decided that we should have one. But, then The Cat Pack thought that a couple would be even better. And, I concurred.

So, this Friday, everything on the website, (except the KittyKat Pack and Poochie Pack) will be 20% OFF. And what the heck, every Friday in November, too.

Remember, the SALE is only on Fridays and limited to stock in hand, so start making your list now. And check it twice. Just like Santa.

FOOD FIGHT!

At least that's what the TCP Tuesday Challenge is for this week. Susan is the Hostess with the Mostess for this week's TCP Tuesday Stamp Challenge and she is gearing up for the holidays already and asking you to use any Cat's Pajamas Stamps that have food in them.

Well, you know I have a great affinity with food, so there are LOTs of our stamps with food in them. But, Susan thinks that might be too easy. So she's adding a twist to the challenge. She wants you to use the Icing CutUps die, too, if you've got it. I like the way the girl thinks.

Check out what I mean. Susan is using PJ from the Give A Little Clear Set and he's got a candy cane and a honey pot in hand.

Leigh knows my heart belongs to anything cake, so her card using A Girl And Her Cake hits the spot.

Nancy totally understands that during the holidays, Candy Canes are one of the basic food groups.

And Jenny uses one of my very favorite stamp sets, Gobble It Up. It's just how I feel come Thanksgiving.

Did you play along in last week's color challenge? Leigh and Amy did. I love that they used the same colors but came up with completely different looks.

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WEEKLY WINNER

And NOW for the Weekly Winner! This week's Weekly Winner is Karrie Baker! Karrie wins a voucher for $10 on The Cat's Pajamas website. She was randomly chosen from all the cards that were entered in last week's Color Challenge. She mixed it up a bit with stamps from Bearing Flowers and A Beary Good Year.

Karrie, please email me for your voucher code.

Here are the Deets.

1. Each Tuesday we will give you a challenge.
2. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.

3. Add your entry to the Inlinkz Gallery or upload to the SCS Gallery, using the keyword TCPTUES184 for this week's challenge.

4. TCP stamps are not required for this challenge, but highly recommended.
5. There will be one randomly chosen weekly winner, announced on Tuesdays who will win a Gift Voucher for use on The Cat's Pajamas website.
6. There will be one winner, The Swanky Stamper, announced the 1st of each month. They will win several sets from an upcoming release and get to play along with us at our Pajama Party and Blog Hop.