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?