I am here, I am HERE!

I feel like a character in a Dr. Seuss book - you know, the one where the little person is yelling up to Horton the elephant? How could it have been a whole week since I posted??  Really, I am here and I even have a card to share!  I know it's been a bit slow on the blog lately, but things are going to shape up very soon!! So many fun things coming, new releases, new challenges, new team members, oh it's all enough to make me giddy!! :) Stay tuned . . .

But for today I have a card for TCP Fan Challenge #4 - I'm telling you, you've got to love fans that organize challenges because they love you so much!!  This week's challenge is all about PENGUINS!!  You know those adorable little penguins at The Cat's Pajamas that a lot of people affectionately call Larry, Darryl and Darryl?  LOL!  They get into some mischief but it's ok because they're cute!

I'm not sure if the picture looks blurry or it's just my computer but . . . I used Love Stinks, mostly because it cracks me up!  (BTW, I currently have a card in the Winter issue of CardMaker Magazine using this very same set!)
I used the CAS Challenge for this week on Splitcoaststampers which was to case a card from mamaxsix's gallery.  I chose this one - very nice!

This might also be a good time to mention that there is a poll going on in The Cat's Pajamas member forum, all about ink, we'd love for you to chime in!   I used Marvy Black ink for this penguin - it's awesome ink for nice solid black penguins!  Thanks for visiting - really, I appreciate it so much!! Have a great day my friends!

 
Cardstock: (White) Neenah, (Hibiscus Burst, Pure Poppy) Papertrey Ink, Patterned Paper: (Love Letter) Echo Park, Stamps: (Love Stinks) The Cat's Pajamas, Ink: (Black) Marvy, (Love Letters) Memento, Accessories: (Divine Twine) The Cat's Pajamas, (Sparklet) Kaiser, Tools: (Heart Rosette CutUps die, Topper CutUps dies, Easy Rosette CutUps die) The Cat's Pajamas

TCP Fan Challenge #3

Good morning! February will be the reintroduction of an "official" challenge from The Cat's Pajamas but until them some of our wonderful fans and friends have been organizing challenges in TCP's member forum at Splitcoaststampers. This week the challenge is to create a banner for Valentine's Day! You can make one to hang in your house or incorporate one into a card or project! Just have fun!

I went with a banner on my card - in fact 2 banners! I used Gimme Some Sugar which has this banner in it. I simply stamped it on patterned paper and cut it out.

Sprinkle wanted in on the act so I used It Had To Be Mew to further the Vday theme.  I also used the Heart Rosette CutUps die behind Sprinkle and the Queen of Hearts CutUps die along the edge.

Come play along if you can, we'd love to see your idea for a fun, lovey banner!



Cardstock: (White) Neenah, (Kraft) Papertrey Ink, (Riding Hood Red) SU! Patterned Paper: () My Mind's Eye, Stamps: (Gimme Some Sugar, It Had To Be Mew), The Cat's Pajamas Ink: (Black Memento) Tsukineko, Accessories: (Rhinestones) Kaiser, (Peppermint Divine Twine) The Cat's Pajamas, Tools: (Queen of Hearts CutUps die, Heart Rosette CutUps dies) The Cat's Pajamas, Copic markers

It's Avocado Arts Time

It's time for the Avocado Arts Pit Crew Too to share another project with this month's set, Perfect Blend!  I've been itching to try this chalkboard technique that has become all the rage and this seemed to me the right time!  I was inspired thinking about those coffee shop blackboards where they have all the specials and different coffees written for you to chose from.

As you can see, I mixed a few Avocado Arts sets to make up my "chalkboard".  A lot of the images are from Perfect Blend, but I also used Avocado Type for the little banner flag and Thoughts and Smiles for the sentiment inside the flag.

It was so fun to mix up the stamps, using white embossing powder for some and Fresh Snow ink for others.  I also used a white colored pencil and a pink colored pencil to add a few doodles.

So, pop over and visit the other girls today, you'll be inspired!  Thanks for visiting today!

Avocado Arts
Teri Anderson
Emily Branch
Kelley Eubanks
Emily Leiphart




Cardstock: (White) Neenah, (Black, Kraft) Papertrey Ink, Patterned Paper: (Love Story) Echo Park, Stamps: (Perfect Blend, Avocado Type, Thoughts & Smiles), Ink: (Fresh Snow) Papertrey Ink, (Versamark) Tsukineko, Accessories: (White embossing powder) SU!, (Rhinestones) Kaiser, (Black Licorice Divine Twine) The Cat's Pajamas, Tools: (Toppers CutUps dies) The Cat's Pajamas, (White & Pink colored pencils) Prismacolor

Special Delivery!

Hello! It's time to give you all a little sneak peek of the Avocado Arts February stamp set.  The whole Pit Crew is posting today so you have plenty of chances to view different bits and pieces of this fun set!   You also have a chance to win one of the fabulous mini sets shown at the bottom of this post - just leave comments as you hop around to the different blogs and you could win!

My card today pairs up the sweet mini tea cup in the January set, Perfect Blend with some postal elements from next month's set, Special Delivery.   There are so many ways to mix & match these fun elements - postage stamps for every occassion!

The little floating heartmallows make super sweet borders and fill-ins and I found that the round "I love you a latte" stamp even worked inside the cancelled postage stamp - woot!!

Here's a list of the Avocado Arts Pit Crew members to visit today and remember to leave comments along the way, they'll pick a winner on the 17th so stay tuned and good luck!  Have a great day!

Avocado Arts blog
Teri Anderson
Emily Branch
Kelley Eubanks
Ashley Harris
Cristal Hobbs
Emily Leiphart
Julie Masse (you are here!)
Becky Oehlers
AJ Otto
Vera Yates
Latisha Yoast 

Cardstock: (Kraft) Papertrey Ink, (White) Neenah, Stamps: (Perfect Blend, Special Delivery, Avocado Type) Avocado Arts, Ink: (Black, Nautical Blue, Desert Sand) Memento, (Barn Door Red, Frayed Burlap) Ranger, Accessories: (Air Mail Divine Twine) The Cat's Pajamas, (Sparklet Heart) Kaiser

eP - Get Altered Challenge!

Good morning !  I'm reposting my Get Altered post from the eclectic Paperie blog over the weekend so that you can get in on the challenge before it's over - you have until 1/16! :)   Hopefully you are all aware of  our 1st great Get Altered Challenge, right?  Just in case, check out THIS post for all the details - there's a prize involved peeps!  Scroll down to the bottom of that post too and check out some of the amazing projects people have made for the challenge, very cool!!

Well, I got some new supplies, put my thinking cap on and came up with a little altered canvas that I hope sparks an idea or creative thought in your brain. Mostly I'm a card maker so this was a bit "out there" for me, but it wouldn't be called a challenge if it was easy!!! Try something new, you might like it! (I will link up all the products I used at the end of the post so bear with me)

Ta da!  This was a process, really I started out with no idea what I was going to do.  I had the cute little 6x6 Burlap Canvas (very cool and something quite out of the ordinary!) and some ultra cool new Faber Castel Gelatos but that's about it.  When we had our blog hop with Wendy Vecchi I was sent this Arts Part Bird but I only used the wings (remember my Hope Angel?) so I pulled that out.  I have to say that it really does look better in person.  The color of the bird is more of a pinky-red (not orangey) and it's shimmery and shiney!

I started by covering the bird with some vintage book pages.  I have the Red collection of Gelatos so I used the little stamp that comes in the package and tried some emboss resisting - it doesn't photograph well but it's there!  I mostly used the red gelato and just rubbed it around the embossed area and spread it around with my fingers and a bit of water.  I also did quite of bit of spraying with a pink glimmer mist.

I covered the wing with some paper from Authentique, toned it down with Picket Fence Distress Stain and then added some gold glimmer mist.  Then I went back over the whole thing and added some sponging with Frayed Burlap Distress ink.  I also added some dots using a pencil eraser as my "stamp".

The tag was made with Grunge Paper, sprayed and ink with the same tools. I added a little rub-on detail in the corner and a stamped sentiment.  I opted to just adhere it right to the canvas without much other fuss except the vintage seam binding I had.  Overall I'm pleased, it's very different for me but I love the vintage feel of it and it really was fun to play with new products!

Ok, you have a few more days to get in on the action - the winner will be chosen on 1/16 - get out there and Get Altered!

6x6 Burlap Canvas	Studio 490 Art Parts - Bird With Wings	Red Gelatos
Lively (Authentique)	Grunge-Paper	Perfect Pearls Mist - Gold
Picket Fence Stain	Distress Ink: Frayed Burlap	Inkssentials Foam Blending Tool
Glue Dots

InLinkz.com

Heads' Up!

Just a note to let you know I have a post on the eclectic Paperie blog today.  I went ahead and Got Altered!! Check it out! :)

TCP Fan Challenge!

We're having a little fan-run challenge over in The Cat's Pajamas' forum on Splitcoaststampers right now.  The TCP Tuesday challenge is being overhauled (perhaps to reappear in a totally different form!) so to fill in the gap our fellow fans of The Cat's Pajamas have organized an ATC challenge!   If you've never made an ATC it's about time!! They are so easy, justs a 2.5" x 3.5" palette - small but you'd be amazed at what you can put on there!  When you're done, you can give it to a friend, display it yourself or even pop it on a card for a sweet focal point!

I've made 2 for this challenge so far, just because they are so much fun!  First up, a wintery version using the new Snow Kisses set from the Winter Release.  This sweet little penguin hanging on a snowflake is one of my favorites!

I used paper from the Winter Wishes collection by Echo Park (that I picked up at eclectic Paperie).  The colors are so pretty, with a pretty bit of plumy/purple.  I colored the snowflake a very, very pale purple and then added lots of chunky snow glitter to it and a Sparklet in the center.  

The penguin was super fast to color and then I added a nice thick layer of Glossy Accents so he shines like a star! :)  You'll also notice I used 2 of the newest CutUps dies, Holiday Toppers (the snowflake edge) and Toppers (the notebook paper edge).

My next ATC was supposed to be Valentine's themed but it took a turn and I ended up making this for a fellow-fan and participant who's under the weather (yes, KJ that's YOU!)!! :)  Hopefully it'll help her feel a teeny bit better!

I used Warm Fuzzies for this one, she's just about the cutest thing don't you think?!! I also used the Heart border CutUps die on this one along with the Button CutUps - love that one!  I'm hoping the bright colors bring a bit of cheer!

So, now it's your turn - head over the TCP Forum and jump right in! We'd love to see what you create with your TCP stamps - or feel free to play along even if you don't have any TCP .. . yet! *wink*!

Avocado Arts January Release!

Good morning!  The Pit Crew Too has the brand new January set from Avocado Arts to share today and I just know you are going to love this set!  Perfect Blend is, well perfect!  We all love our cuppa, whether it's coffee or tea you prefer there's something in this set for everyone!

I chose to use the fabulous to-go cup image included in the set with the border image of x's and o's.  There are several images that can be placed inside the "sleeve" of the cup and this one says "I love you a latte".

My love of washi tape continues - hope you're not tired of seeing it but it just seems to go with so many things! heehee!  After stamping the xoxo border and the hearts in between I added a bit of Glossy Accents to the heart on the cup. I just love how all of these elements work together so nicely!

This set is available now, take a peek at the full set on the Avocado Arts site.  Then, visit these other talented stampers for more views!

Teri Anderson

Emily Branch

Kelley Eubanks

Emily Leiphart

Cardstock: (Kraft) Papertrey Ink, (White) Neenah, Stamps: (Perfect Blend) Avocado Arts, Ink: (Rich Cocoa) Memento, (Broken China, Festive Berries) Ranger, Accessories: Washi Tape, (Glossy Accents) Ranger, (Corner Rounder) WRMK

Release Day at The Greeting Farm!

Happy New Year my friends!!  I can't believe it's really another new year can you?  Eeek, these years go by so quickly!  But this year I have the pleasure of participating with the new release at The Greeting Farm!

"RINGING in a NEW year with five FABULOUS new RELEASES!"

The Greeting Farm wants to wish all of you a happy, healthy, and FUN 2013 and what better way to kick off the FUN part than with some crafty time?  We hope you are just as excited about these five new releases as we are and can't wait to see what YOU create when you get them!

In case you didn't start at the beginning, please visit TGF's Blog!  One of you fabulous hoppers is going to win the ENTIRE JANUARY RELEASE!  Here's the order, all you have to do is comment and then go back to TGF's blog!

TGF BLOG

KIM O'CONNELL

JULIE MASSE (you're here!)

MELISSA ANDREW

AUDREY TOKACH

PAT SERRANO
JESSICA DIEDRICH

back to TGF BLOG to let us know you finished and that you are pumped!

I made my two cards for today using variations on the same colors.  I don't know what the "color of the year" is for 2013 but I have always loved this teal color.  For the Awareness Anya, the teal color stands for Cervical Cancer Awareness.

And this is Sitting Wonderful all fancy in her teal!  I thought the camera dp was a great backdrop for her as she awaits her photo shoot! :)

Thanks again for stopping by today, the next stop on the hop is Melissa Andrew!  We can't wait to see who the winner of the grand prize is!  Good luck and HAPPY NEW YEAR!