January TCP Tuesday Challenge #375

1 / 5 / 21

After a December off The Cat Pack is back with a new challenge for the new year. Since January is such a dreary month in the northern hemisphere we want you to Think Spring. Spring colors, theme or holiday. TCP products are not required but encouraged. You have until the end of the month to submit a project and there is a $50 gift voucher up for grabs.

The Cat Pack Think Spring Projects:

Brenda (Big Blooms, Big, Little Alphabet)

Melissa (Folk Art Flowers Bundle, Rectangular Stamp CutUps)

Nancy ( Spring Wreath, Flutter By CutUps)

Julee (Woof, Slimline Basics CutUps, Great Outdoors Stencil)

Christine (Splish Splash, Slimline Basics CutUps)

Here are the details for the TCP Challenge:

Each month a new challenge will be posted on The Cat’s Pajamas blog and our Facebook page.
If you want to play along you just upload your design to The Cat’s Pajamas blog page using the InLinkz button provided.
You are not required to use a Cat’s Pajamas stamp or die but if you have them we would love to see them.
On the day of the next challenge the winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and will receive a Cat Cash Voucher for $50.

We had manyamazing tag entries for the November Challenge and the randomly selected winner was Becca. Please contact admin (admin at thecatspajamasrs dot com) to claim your $50 gift voucher. Congratulations!

Stamped Backgrounds

12 / 29 / 20

Hello everyone. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Like I am sure most of you, I am looking forward to the New Year for more reasons to count this year.

Today’s topic is about stamping your backgrounds which is a great way to get more use out of your stamp sets as well as give your cards different looks. The Cat Pack have several examples to show you.

Julee randomly stamped the cup image from the Alice Bundle, then colored with distress oxide inks. She repeated the image for the main image but this time colored it with clean color real brush markers with similar colors so it was brighter than the background.

Christine is all about flowers and she used them for the background as a focal image.

Kerry used a small image from the Year of the Pig (oos) to clear stamp and emboss for a bit of shine to this layered card.

Nancy (that’s me) randomly stamped the various numbers from the Silly Numbers Bundle, adding subtle interest to a white background.

I hope that you are encouraged to add some stamped backgrounds to your cards.

And don’t forget the inventory reduction sale going on now.

Stretching those Stamps

12 / 20 / 2012 / 21 / 20

Hello everyone. I hope you are enjoying the last bit of holiday prep. Sure, it may look a bit different this year, but it’s still a time of celebration and worship.

Does it make you happy to discover how you can use your stamps in a different way then originally intended? That’s what today’s topic is about. The Cat Pack have some examples for you to think “outside the box”.

Cristena used the helicopter image from the Sending You (a thinking of you set) and converted the hat from the Snapes Alive (a Harry Potter like set for Halloween) to a Christmas hat to create a Christmas card. I wish I had thought of this!

Here is another one when I say, why didn’t I think of that?! Kerry used the drink me bottles from the Alice Bundle on her super fun Halloween card.

By simply using Christmas colors and patterns, Cristena converted the Alpaca Bundle (a generic set) to a Christmas card.

Nancy (that’s me) used the Oh Christmas Tree Bundle to create serene sympathy card.

The Gnome Peeking set was conceived as a Christmas set but Christine so very cleverly used it for a birthday card. Don’t you just love those colors?

Brenda used the sweet Penguin Joy on her planner rather than on a card. Can you visualize years later Brenda’s family looking at her planner and realizing a) how busy she was and b) how very creative she was and c) how much she loved life?!

Julee combined an image from the Grab the Unicorn set (an encouragement set) with Christmas icons to create a Christmas card. Such striking colors!

Kerry created a generic themed slimline card using a Christmas image from the Beary Christmas set by simply clipping away the tree and lights part of the image. Very clever!

Nancy (me again) used the Alpaca Bundle (a generic set) to create a Christmas card.

Always take a critical look at your stamps as you may find a different reason for using them.

Clean and Simple Christmas Cards

12 / 7 / 20

Do you have all your handmade Christmas cards completed and mailed yet? If you are anything like me, the answer is no. And it happens to me every year. I am short on the number of cards I need and I am sending them out way too late. Please tell me I am not alone.

But when I need to create some cards in a hurry, clean and simple is the way to go. The Cat Pack are here to share some of the Christmas cards they have made using this style.

Brenda used a small and easy image to color and dies. She also added a bit of interest with a embossing folder but if you were truly in a hurry that could be easily skipped altogether or substitute with textured cardstock.

Christine created this beauty with a die that she quickly water colored, then added a stenciled background and direct to paper sentiment. I think I need to case this one.

Nancy (that’s me) opened up four different ink pads and randomly stamped two different tree shapes directly onto the card front for a single layer card. The tiny bird image was quickly colored for added interest but if you did not have time to that it could be easily eliminated or just substitute with enamel dots. To make it even easier you could stamp all the trees with fewer colors.

Melissa is our Queen of CAS. On this card, she stamped two coordinating images and then just spot colored. That saved a lot of time and gives her card a real graphic look despite the super cute images.

Nancy (me again) heat embossed these graphic images then added simple strips of metallic paper for the background. If you don’t want to bother heat embossing, you could always use metallic ink instead (Delicata is my favorite).

Melissa’s design philosophy is always less is more.

All of these cards could be easily mass produced. I hope these ideas help you get your cards completed.

November TCP Tuesday Challenge #374

11 / 2 / 2011 / 2 / 20

The November TCP Tuesday challenge is to create a gift tag (s). Tags can be standalone or attached to a gift or card. TCP products are not required but encouraged. You have until the end of the month to submit a project and there is a $50 gift voucher up for grabs.

Christine (Warmest Wishes Bundle, Five Snowflakes CutUps, Wish Tag, Easy Stitched Bow)

Brenda (Oh Christmas Tree Bundle, Gnome CutUps, Spring Tag Duo , Big Little Alphabet)

Cristena (Year of the Rat, Folk Art Flowers)

Kerry (Cooking Bundle, Farm Duo CutUps)

Leigh (Aim High , Wish Tag Duo, Big Little Alphabet)

Melissa (Simply Blessed, Stitched Tree Duo, Stitched Fox)

Wendy (Wish Tag Duo, Double Snowflake CutUps , Joy CutUps, Joyeux Noel CutUps)

Nancy (North Pole or Bust, Holiday Window Duo Die, Five Snowflakes CutUps)

Here are the details for the TCP Challenge:

Each month a new challenge will be posted on The Cat’s Pajamas blog and our Facebook page.
If you want to play along you just upload your design to The Cat’s Pajamas blog page using the InLinkz button provided.
You are not required to use a Cat’s Pajamas stamp or die but if you have them we would love to see them.
On the day of the next challenge the winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and will receive a Cat Cash Voucher for $50.

We had many wonderful fall themed entries for the October Challenge and the randomly selected winner was Mary-Anne. Please contact admin (admin at thecatspajamasrs dot com) to claim your $50 gift voucher. Congratulations!

{Reminder} October TCP Tuesday Challenge

10 / 20 / 2010 / 21 / 20

It is your mid-month reminder for the October TCP Tuesday Challenge which is to create a project with Autumn in mind. This includes autumnal colors, activities or a holiday such as Thanksgiving or Halloween. TCP products are not required but encouraged. You have until the end of the month to submit a project and there is a $50 gift voucher in play for one lucky artist.

More Autumnal Projects from The Cat Pack:

Nancy (Year of the Rat bundle, Big Top CutUps)

Wendy (Simply Blessed Bundle, Stitched Tree Die)

Julee (The World is Yours, Stitched Fox CutUps, Stitched Tree CutUps)

Melissa (The World is Yours)

Post your projects here.

October TCP Tuesday Challenge #373

10 / 6 / 2010 / 20 / 20

The October TCP Tuesday Challenge is Autumn. This encompasses anything Autumn including colors, activities or a holiday such as Thanksgiving or Halloween. TCP products are not required but encouraged. You have until the end of the month to submit a project and there is a $50 gift voucher up for grabs.

The Cat Pack Projects:

Brenda (Follow Your Arrow, Simply Blessed, Going Round & Round CutUps)

Christine (Stitched Tree Die, Stitched Owl Die)

Nancy (Follow Your Arrow, Simply Blessed, Birch Snowglobe CutUps, Blessed CutUps)

Leigh (Follow Your Arrow, The World is Yours, Stitched Tree Die)

Julee (Simply Blessed Bundle, Slimline Basics, Square Stamp CutUps)

Melissa (Simply Blessed Bundle, The World is Yours, Slimline Basics Cutups, Stitched Tree Die)

Here are the details for the TCP Challenge:

Each month a new challenge will be posted on The Cat’s Pajamas blog and our Facebook page.
If you want to play along you just upload your design to The Cat’s Pajamas blog page using the InLinkz button provided.
You are not required to use a Cat’s Pajamas stamp or die but if you have them we would love to see them.
On the day of the next challenge the winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and will receive a Cat Cash Voucher for $50.

We had quite a few fun entries for the September Challenge and the randomly selected winner was Meghan. Please contact admin (admin at thecatspajamasrs dot com) to claim your $50 gift voucher. Congratulations!

{Reminder} September TCP Tuesday Challenge

9 / 14 / 20

It is your mid-month reminder for the September TCP Tuesday Challenge here at The Cat’s Pajamas. The challenge is a simple one to include any animal on your project. TCP Products are not required but we certainly have many animal stamps in our product line. Enter a project by the end of the month for a chance to win a $50 gift voucher to the store.

The Cat Pack Projects:

Christine (Hay Neighbor, Farm Duo)

Leigh (Bunnies at Sea, Wave CutUps, Smile CutUps, Camera CutUps)

Nancy (Beary Christmas, Oh Christmas Tree Bundle)

Kerry (Travelin’ Man)

Julee (Creep it Real, Square Stamp CutUps, The Neighboohood Stencilz)

Cristena (Kickin’ It)

Leigh (Creep it Real, Big Little Alphabet, Numbers Plate, Cloud Border CutUps)

Brenda (Year of the Rat)

Leigh (This Could be Vodka, Big Little Alphabet)

Post your animal themed projects here.

September TCP Tuesday Challenge #372

8 / 31 / 209 / 2 / 20

The September TCP Tuesday Challenge is to create a project that includes an Animal. TCP products are not required but encouraged. You have until the end of the month to submit a project and there is a $50 gift voucher in play for one lucky crafter.

Design Team Projects:

Cristena (Bunnies in Flight, Rectangular Stamp Die)

Nancy (Freezin’ Season, Birch Trees Stencilz)

Christine (I’m Not Fat, Scalloped Duo Die, Grass Die, Birthday Set Die, Great Outdoors Stencil)

Julee (Beary Christmas, Holiday Toppers , Five Snowflakes Dies)

Kerry (Hey Gillfriend , Wave CutUps)

Deborah (I’m Not Fat)

Brenda (Life is Like Ice Cream)

Wendy (Alpaca CutUps, Rectangular Stamp Die)

Here are the details for the TCP Challenge:

Each month a new challenge will be posted on The Cat’s Pajamas blog and our Facebook page.
If you want to play along you just upload your design to The Cat’s Pajamas blog page using the InLinkz button provided.
You are not required to use a Cat’s Pajamas stamp or die but if you have them we would love to see them.
On the day of the next challenge the winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and will receive a Cat Cash Voucher for $50.

We had some very festive entries for the August Challenge and the randomly selected winner was Joanna. Please contact admin (admin at thecatspajamasrs dot com) to claim your $50 gift voucher. Congratulations!

{Reminder} August TCP Tuesday Challenge

8 / 17 / 20

There are still two more weeks to get a Slimline card completed for the August TCP Tuesday Challenge. TCP Products are not required and a $50 gift voucher is up for grabs!

More Slimline Cards from The Cat Pack:

Leigh (Big, Little Alphabet, Little Truck, Blizzard Stencil)

Brenda (Life’s a Beach, Stoked, Watercolor Basics, Beaches CutUps, Four Seasons Duo Dies, Great Outdoors Stencil)

Deborah (Cardinal Duo, Hello Winter)

Wendy (Stitched Fly CutUps, Critters CutUps, Balloon Frame)

Nancy (Alpaca Bundle, Big, Little Alphabet)

Christine (Western Digi Stamp Set, Liners CutUps, Bitty Banners , Great Outdoors Stencil)

It’s your turn! Post your cards here.