Eric's Fund

Once in a while, someone you don't know in person, someone whose life you get to share through her blog or her art, makes you feel special, by just allowing you a peek into her life. By sharing the brightness of her personality with you.

That person shares so much of herself, giving you crafting tips and bursts of wit that have you spewing over your morning coffee when you eagerly go to her blog each morning, that you feel like you know her, and she you. And that if you saw her on the street, she would give you a warm hug, tuck your arm under hers and take you to lunch at Chili's. She is part of what makes your day special.

This is how I feel about my friend and Design Team Member, Susan Liles. Except I know her. For real. And she is as real as the person you imagine. Smart. Funny. Creative as all get out. Warm. And so willing to give of herself.

Except this time, she needs my help. Your help. Her husband, Eric, has been battling a very aggressive form of cancer for the past few months. He is the bread winner of the family and he is out of sick time at work while he goes through round after round of chemo. And, of course, the medical bills are piling up and figuring out how to pay those bills is something you just shouldn't have to deal with when you are trying to get someone better.

If you are interested and able, donations can be made to them via PayPal using the "Donate" button on her blog. If you would prefer to donate anonymously or have any questions, you may contact Sheila. Every bit helps. Especially your prayers and encouragement!

TCP Tuesday 114

Welcome to the TCP Tuesday! Leigh is the Hostess with the Mostess on this glorious Tuesday.

She's doing a sketch challenge this week and it's just like Leigh, cute and unique! 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 all this week.

Play along with us and add your own design to your Splitcoast Gallery using keywords TCPTues114 or to your blog and then use the Inlink button at the bottom of the post to add your design to this page. You could be eligible to be the next Swanky Stamper of the Month and win 25 smackeroos, that's $25 in Cat's Cash.

1. Each a week one of The Cat Pack will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, technique, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
4. Post your design using the Inlink Button at the bottom of this post. Your design must be linked and visible to this blog post to be considered.
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 this blog post 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.

It's Divine!

And it's Twine!

I first saw these spools of Twine months ago and fell in love with the colors. Black Licorice, Aqua, Green Apple, Cherry, Cotton Candy, Orange, Lemon and Oyster.

I knew I had to have every color.
















4 ply, 100% cotton, bio degradable and made in the US. This twine is as yummy as the colors.

So yummy that Martha Stewart featured it in her June 2010 Living Magazine.

We know you'll find a dozen uses for it, and at $15 for a spool of 240 yds, you'll have lots. Check them out here.

Love it or love it?

TCP Tuesday 113

It's Tuesday! And Susan is the Hostess with the Mostess this Tuesday. And her challenge this week is a Stamp Challenge. And this week Susan is challenging you a 'bet. Okay, that's a pun. Susan is challenging you to use one of our alphabet stamps in your project this week.

I have to say that I love our alphabets a lot. They are not too big and not too small, they are jussst right for cardmaking and scrapbooking. And they really have The Cat's Pajamas attitude, too. If you can't find a sentiment you want, these alphabets will help you spell it right out. And with feeling.

So check out Susan's project here. Pretty nifty, right?

Check out the other members of The Cat Pack this week for their take on this stamp challenge.

Just add your own design to your Splitcoast Gallery using keywords TCPTues113 or to your blog and then use the Inlink button at the bottom of the post to add your design to this page. You could be eligible to be the next Swanky Stamper of the Month and win 25 smackeroos, that's $25 in Cat's Cash.

Here are the deets for the challenge.

1. Each a week one of The Cat Pack will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, technique, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
4. Post your design using the Inlink Button at the bottom of this post. Your design must be linked and visible to this blog post to be considered.
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 this blog post 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 with graduation season here, I'm are always looking for new ways to wrap a gift card or small gift.

Designed by Jen del Muro and done up in the grad's school colors this Project of the Month is a great bag that will make our gift stand out on that crowded graduation gift table. And it's a purse for goodness sakes. What's not to love? Click here to get the downloadable instructions.

Swanky Stamper of the Month

Julie Masse— Swanky Stamper for June

There is so much about this card that is so very right.

The use of wood in the button and in the paper. The colors of the bear, and the papers. The unexpected use of newsprint (see that "Hello" in the lower right corner?). The bold scallops that echo the wood button. The furriness of the twine. The grass. So many things about this card are so right. So much to love. I guess that's why Julie had to be Swanky Stamper of the Month.

Julie Masse— Swanky Stamper for June

TCP Tuesday 112

It's Tuesday! And Joanne is the Hostess with the Mostess this Tuesday. And her color challenge this week is Plum, Vanilla and Chocolate. YUM! For some reason, these colors remind me of a grape popsicle and ice cream.

I had a lot of cake this weekend, so why I am talking about ice cream is beyond me, since I like my cake, like I like my martinis, straight up, no frills. Though I have been known to partake in a full stake of stuffed olives, my cake is usually decadent enough.

Okay, enough fantasizing. Check out Joanne's card here. Yummy, right?

Check out the other members of The Cat Pack this week for their take on this color challenge.

Play along with us and add your own design to your Splitcoast Gallery using keywords TCPTues112 or to your blog and then use the Inlink button at the bottom of the post to add your design to this page. You could be eligible to be the next Swanky Stamper of the Month and win 25 smackeroos, that's $25 in Cat's Cash.

Here are the deets for the challenge.

1. Each a week one of The Cat Pack will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, technique, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
4. Post your design using the Inlink Button at the bottom of this post. Your design must be linked and visible to this blog post to be considered.
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 this blog post 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.

Don't forget to come back at Noon PST today to see who won this Month's Swanky Stamper. You can only win if you play.

TCP Tuesday

Got Wood?! Amy is the Hostess with the Mostess this Tuesday.

She's doing a supply challenge this week and she wants you to get wood. That's right, she's challenging you to use WOOD in your project. (What did you think? naughty, naughty). She's our resident trendsetter. So wood is probably the next hottest material. Check out her card for this challenge.

And the other Cat Packers have joined Amy in a SURPRISE blog birthday hop for me to kick off my birthday week!! And hopping along with them are some pretty heavy hitters including Julee from Verve Stamps and my BSF, Kim from My Favorite Things. But, I won't spoil the surprise.

Start with Amy and make your way back here and join in the celebration.

Play along with us and add your own design to your Splitcoast Gallery using keywords TCPTues111 or to your blog and then use the Inlink button at the bottom of the post to add your design to this page. You could be eligible to be the next Swanky Stamper of the Month and win 25 smackeroos, that's $25 in Cat's Cash.

Here are the deets for the challenge.

1. Each a week one of The Cat Pack will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, technique, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
4. Post your design using the Inlink Button at the bottom of this post. Your design must be linked and visible to this blog post to be considered.
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 this blog post 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.

=

Our little girl is growing up so fast.

Our little Joanne is turning 500. 500 thousand, that is. That's right. The counter on Joanne's Blog, "...just a little something..." will be turning 500,000. Soon.

And she's celebrating! And giving away stuff. And not just any stuff. Gift Certificates from The Cat's Pajamas AND My Favorite Things. But she's not just giving it away without a challenge! No! Not our little Joanne. She's making you work for it.

She's doing a "Sketch Plus Three" Challenge. You have until 9:30 AM EST on May 31st to enter. Check her out. I'm so proud. **sniff, sniff**

TCP Tuesday

It's Tuesday, so it must be TCP Tuesday . Toni is our Hostess with the Mostess for this challenge, and she has an inspirational challenge for all of us. She wants you to use this photo and design something inspired by it. Love the black and white stripes amid all those other stripes.

It's been pretty soggy lately in Cali. So this picture is a little California dreaming on my side.

Want to play? Just use Toni's picture as a jumping off point and go for it. You could win $25 in Cat's Cash!

You can only win if you play. Want some inspiration? Check out the Cat Pack all this week for their take. Create your masterpiece and upload it to the guestbook by the end of the month to be eligible to win.

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. Only designs posted to the sketchbook are eligible for Swanky Stamper.
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.

Please upload photos of your designs to the guestbook. Please leave comments in the comments section for all to read and enjoy.

TCP Saturday

All orders are packed up and waiting for the mail guy to take them away, so I thought I'd play along on this week's TCP Tuesday sketch challenge that Leigh hosted. So I thought I'd use my very favorite image this time of year, "Bee A Girl". It's in the set "Hearts and Flowers" along with the sentiment.

I mixed it along with some Cosmo Cricket paper, but when it came to the teal cardstock the one that I had was too light to add any contrast. So I pulled out the old Copic markers and did a couple of swatches on the colored cardstock.


Pretty nifty trick, no? I made sure that I colored into the wet marker to avoid streaks and I just colored the edges that would show around the circle and the layer under the sentiment.

I love that I didn't have to go out and buy a single sheet of paper, 'cause I never come back with just that.

TCP Tuesday

Welcome to the TCP Tuesday! Leigh is the Hostess with the Mostess on this glorious Tuesday.

She's doing a sketch challenge this week and it's is so cute and unique! I love the idea of a round card. But it doesn't have to be round, ya know. You can put it on a square card, or scrapbook page. 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 all this week.

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.

You can only win if you play. 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.

You Sick Thing Challenge

I was so happy that for the current TCP Tuesday Stamp Challenge Susan chose the "You Sick Thing" Clear set. This is a set that can be used again and again. I thought that it was also a great challenge to use The Project of the Month". One side features this cough syrup.


And the other side this cup and saucer with a soup packet.

So the first thing I did was search for a mug for soup packet and I was lucky enough to find a snack set at my local Japanese store. I made a couple of changes to the pattern of the Project of the Month to accommodate their size.


I used RubOnz to create a rub on decal for the cup and saucer. I used my Marvy Markers to color the stamp and "huffed" it to transfer the ink to the matte side of the transfer sheet.

Since everything transfers backwards, I made sure not to ink up the words. Instead, I stamped a piece of tracing paper with the word and turned over the paper and traced the backwards "Soup" on the transfer paper with a black marker. Then I colored it up. If you use markers, you can't really get good blending. But you can with colored pencil, so I did pencil for most of the coloring, even the red checks and stripes.


Then I followed the directions for making the rubon. It's pretty easy. But make sure not to touch the sticky part of the transfer. It might transfer to your fingers. Don't ask me how I know.

Then I gave them 4 thin coats of Envirotec. It makes the rubons hand washable.

I topped the container with some rolled flowers. They take the place of real flowers that I would normally bring to my sick friend. And used my markers to color the striped ribbon. I love doing this. It can really change the look of a ribbon.

I also used my new dies from My Favorite Things to cut the clouds on the cough syrup side from felt and the big scallops on the topper.

PS. For those who have asked. My nail polish is called Funky Chunky and it has little black disks in it. It looks like snakeskin when it goes on. Make sure you forgo the top coat.

Project of the Month

Cinco de Mayo signals the start of Margarita season and the perfect party accessory is the Mucho Margaritas To Go pack. This festive carry along is a take along pack with separate compartments for Tequila and Mix. Topped with salt, just add ice and it's a party waiting to happen.

Here's a picture of the top of one of the compartments. Open, of course.


And I've done the product testing so I know it works like a charm.

This Project of the Month is a great hostess gift or instant party maker. Arriba!

Virtual Convention

Be there, or be square!

TCP Tuesday

It's Tuesday, so it must be TCP Tuesday. Our most fabulous Hostess with the Mostess is Susan Liles. And she is challenging you to use any of our stamps from our You Sick Thing clear set.

This is one of the sets that I go to again and again! It's a happy set with happy images that help both you and the receiver smile. Want some inspiration? Check The Cat Pack links on the side throughout the week.

Did you want to play? Don't forget to add your design to the guestbook.

Want to be Swanky Stamper?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.

Swanky Stamper of the Month

Julie Dinn— Swanky Stamper for May

There are always so much really great designs to choose from each time I have to pick a Swanky Stamper. This time was no exception. But this card by Julie Dinn has everything I love. Great color, great use of embellishments (see the flocked brad) paper piercing and a great mastery of patterns. Yup. This card has got it all.

Julie Dinn— Swanky Stamper for May