We're Closing our Doors

After 23 years of being in business The Cat's Pajamas is closing our doors. I've always said that we'll stay open as long as we have something to say. Do I really have anything more to say? To be honest, probably not. 

During this journey, I've been blessed to have met so many of you and made lifelong friends. I've learned so much about myself and what one can do with a little encouragement and determination and, of course, support from some really awesome people. 

My design teams have been the best in the business and I am so grateful to them and Nancy Thomas, my right hand kitty. They've made The Cat's Pajamas what it is.

So, from now until December 31st we are offering 30% off our website. We will be closing this site and our Etsy Shop so please make sure you download all your purchases. 

Have a wonderful life and journey to your next adventure.

Alma aka Ms Meowy

 

Be there, or Be Square!

It's all about the paper

And the paper. And, the colors, that is. You don't need to spend oodles on embellies to make a great card! This month's challenge is an Anti- Embellishment challenge. Twine, buttons, gems are all "Out" this month. And, stamps and paper are in. I know that "some" of you MUST embellish, so you can use AN embellishment. Or Two. But, that is it. Challenges are meant to be hard. So, when you accomplish the challenge you deserve a pat on the back. 

Look, at Jessica's card above. Her bright happy colored paper just make this card. Her sentiment is just perfect and is really the star of the card.

  

 Wendy's card is birthday card that is just perfect for the man in your life or even a teen. Her colors just "pop" and the message is clear and true.

Lisa's contemporary card is stylish, yet complex, with her sophisticated color scheme and embossed paper and stitching.

  

Nancy's card is beautifully colored and perfect for the season. And perfect for the boy whose favorite show is "The Walking Dead. Is it just me, or does anyone else think that zombies wishing you happy birthday are hilarious? 

Check in a little later with Susan and see how she solved this challenge.

You've seen what can be done with this challenge. Now, let's see what you can do. Here are the Deets.

1. The First Tuesday of the Month I will post a challenge on this blog. That’s right! Here!
   The challenge will also be posted on our Splitcoaststampers forum and on our Facebook page
2. If you want to play along you just upload your design right here on this page using the InLinkz button. (The challenge button will be posted on the right hand column of this blog so you don’t have to search around)
   If you want to display your pretties on Splitcoaststampers using keyword TCPTUESOct13
3. The Challenge will be a month-long challenge and you can play as many times as you like during that month.
4. Cards and projects must have at least one Cat’s Pajamas Stamp or CutUps die in the project.
5. On the First Monday of the Month a winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and crowned Swanky Stamper.
6. The Swanky Stamper will not only be acknowledged as the Swankiest Stamper for that month, but will also receive some of the stamps from our next release and get to play along with us at our Pajamas Party and Blog Hop. AND… They’ll even get a special spot in the Gallery highlighting the project that won them the gig AND as snazzy badge to display on their blog.
7. The winner will be announced the First Monday of the month on Splitcoaststampers, Facebook page and this Blog

Have you played, yet?

  

The Challenge: Anti-Embellishment.

Limit your embellies to no more than two. You are not allowed to use twine, buttons or gems. Can you do it? This challenge puts the emphasis on the stamps, inks and papers. And, the embellishment you choose will shine! That is, if you choose to use one at all.

 Lori Tecler's sweet card, above, featuring Traveling Man, is all about the stamps, paper and coloring. This challenge is not about spending money to create.

Kelli Hull's pretty card really makes me think bubbles. With her embossed paper and sweet coloring, it's a wonderful way to remind someone to take some time for themselves.

  

How about Kimberly Gajewski's Hello Pumpkin card. Her paper piecing and stitching make this a favorite of mine. It's so homey.

  

Noelle McAdams pushes the limit a bit with her embellies. But, I really think that the group should be considered one. I'm loving her paper choice to go with the Under the Stars stamp set. 

 The Cat Pack really pushed themselves for this challenge? How about you? Are you up for the challenge?    

October Swanky Stamper

Tricia Traxler— Swanky Stamper for October

It's the first Monday of the Month and it's time to announce the NEW Swanky Stamper of the Month!

Paper piecing was September's TCP Challenge. And, these soft and pretty cards using Bearing Flowers just touched my heart. It's no wonder. They were created by the same fabulous artist. The color palette and choice of papers are unexpected and so pretty. The paper piecing, just lovely in its simplicity.

   

Doni High's lovely card was also a standout. Her wonderful choice of paper and the Away We Go 

stamp set are just perfect together. 

   

Chris Veneruso's paper and paper piecing on the Hello Pumpkin set are just terrific. Bold, fall colors are the theme here, and they feel so festive and warm. Just like coming home.

   

And, Indy's fantastic mix of textures and patterns are so interesting with the Aye, Aye Captain set, it just makes me tingle all over. I just loved this challenge. I hope that you try this technique. It's truly a wonderful way to use different papers and create interest in your projects. And, don't forget to join us in our October Challenge.

Flipping over you

If you've been playing along with us for the past TCP Tuesday Challenges, you know that I've been been trying to challenge myself with these challenges and think outside of the box. And, whenever possible, I try to make cards that I can mail and actually use. So, this month's Anti-Embellishment Challenge was perfect for me.

The challenge, is to restrict the use of embellishments to no more than two. And, if you use them, no twine, no buttons and no gems. ACK! Three of my favorite things. So I had to really put on my thinking cap and I came up with this Flip card using our CutUps Dies and Oh Chute!

I even decorated the inside. And, my one embellishment, the star brad! I can't believe how EASY it was to make. Crazy Easy. Don't believe me? Check out the video!

Now what can you do with this challenge?

October TCP Tuesday Challenge

It's the first Tuesday of the Month! Which means it's TCP Tuesday! That means it's challenge day!


Last month was the Paper Piecing challenge. This month it's an Embellishment challenge. Well, actually an anti-embellishment challenge. I know that I love me some embellishments. Twine, buttons, gems. And, I heavy up on these to make a card. And, that it what happens. The card gets really heavy. And bulky. And hard to mail. So this challenge is about using minimal embellishments. No more than two. And, none of the three items I mentioned above. No twine, buttons, or gems. That means that the rest of your card needs to really "Sing".

Check out Lisa's card using Sheepish. Her choice of paper, the Inside Pinking CutUps and the stitching really make sense in this card. And the simple staples in the corner bring your attention to the sentiment.

   

Wendy's fun card features Good Friends and uses a shape she cut from her Silhouette. And, the embellishment? The knob on the TV.

Now this is not an easy challenge for those of us who love embellies.  This is a hard challenge. So hard that I still have my thinking cap on.

 Let's see what you can do. Here are the Deets.

1. The First Tuesday of the Month I will post a challenge on this blog. That's right! Here!
   The challenge will also be posted on our Splitcoaststampers forum and on our Facebook page
2. If you want to play along you just upload your design right here on this page using the InLinkz button. (The challenge button will be posted on the right hand column of this blog so you don't have to search around)
   If you want to display your pretties on Splitcoaststampers using keyword TCPTUESOct13
3. The Challenge will be a month-long challenge and you can play as many times as you like during that month.
4. Cards and projects must have at least one Cat's Pajamas Stamp or CutUps die in the project.
5. On the First Monday of the Month a winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and crowned Swanky Stamper.
6. The Swanky Stamper will not only be acknowledged as the Swankiest Stamper for that month, but will also receive some of the stamps from our next release and get to play along with us at our Pajamas Party and Blog Hop. AND... They'll even get a special spot in the Gallery highlighting the project that won them the gig AND as snazzy badge to display on their blog.
7. The winner will be announced the First Monday of the month on Splitcoaststampers, Facebook page and this Blog

DING Ding DiNg!

It's the LAST Tuesday of the Month! And, if you haven't played yet, I hope you do soon! If The Cat Pack hasn't inspired you to paper piece, yet, then maybe todays postings will!

Susan makes my heart soar with this SWEET card! I'm loving how she took the sentiments from Fly High and made them her own by using our Coolvetica alphabet to add the word "and". That Susan is a clever Miss. Just the ship is paper pieced, but a little goes a long way!

Nancy has me dropping everything with her perfectly paper piecing chute embellished with some pearly pearls.

How about this bit of delicious sweetness from Jessica? She paper pieces the cupcake wrapper, but, what I can't stop looking at is the Chevron that uses to create that texture in the back panel. 

Julie creates this adorable card with At Your Service and paper pieces the bow and soup bowl. But, she does some super fancy tricks with the Luggage Tags, overlaying the Chevron CutUps. And the border at the bottom is the Queen of Hearts, border die. It cuts two patterns at once, and she used both for a super pretty border.

Lastly, Lisa paper pieces the apron on PJ. Next to her fantabulous coloring, the apron is a perfect accompaniment. And, that sewing? It's definitely something I will be casing.

Now, you've seen what we did with the challenge. Let's see what you can do.

Here are the Deets.

1. The First Tuesday of the Month I will post a challenge on this blog. That's right! Here!
   The challenge will also be posted on our Splitcoaststampers forum  and on our Facebook page
2. If you want to play along you just upload your design right here on this page using the InLinkz button. (The challenge button will be posted on the right hand column of this blog so you don't have to search around)
   If you want to display your pretties on Splitcoaststampers using keyword TCPTUESSept13
3. The Challenge will be a month-long challenge and you can play as many times as you like during that month.
4. Cards and projects must have at least one Cat's Pajamas Stamp or CutUps die in the project.
5. On the First Monday of the Month a winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and crowned Swanky Stamper.
6. The Swanky Stamper will not only be acknowledged as the Swankiest Stamper for that month, but will also receive some of the stamps from our next release and get to play along with us at our Pajamas Party and Blog Hop. AND... They'll even get a special spot in the Gallery highlighting the project that won them the gig AND as snazzy badge to display on their blog.
7. The winner will be announced the First Monday of the month on Splitcoaststampers, Facebook page and this Blog

Welcome Lisa Henke

I first noticed Lisa Henke, several years ago when she first entered our TCP Tuesday Challenges. Her cards were clean, and scrappy and interesting. Of course, Lisa was quickly snapped up to be on other design teams. But, that didn't stop her from using our stamps and dies and impressing the pants off me.

She has great attention to detail. Like this card using Sugar, Sugar and our Lacy Floral Doily CutUps. LOVE all the pearly centers and the pretty trims.

Or this colorful card using Take Off and our Big Pinking CutUps. 

And remember what I said about attention to detail? This sweet tag is just so charming using our Rolled Nest CutUps and Nesting Stamp set. Just adorable.

So, when a spot opened up on The Cat Pack, it was time to pounce! And, Lisa said "yes". I'm so glad she is joining us.

Have you gotten a piece of us, yet?

Paper Piecing, that is. This month the challenge is to Paper Piece. And, the Cat Pack has pulled out all the stops. Paper piecing is an easy technique, but looks hard. So, if you want an in depth look at how paper piecing is done, Noelle has done a great tutorial. Here is her sweet card. 

She makes everything look so easy. How cute is this card using Hello Pumpkin, the Framed Up, Bitty Banners and 3 x 3 Stars CutUps? Very!

Susan uses an oldie, but goodie sets for her boootiful card. And, shows off a great coloring technique on the pretty witch's hair.

This sweet card by Kimberly is just awesome. She did just a touch of paper piecing, but it really makes all the difference.

Lori's yummy card shows you how the paper piecing can really pull a card together. It can mean the difference between a pretty card and a pretty fantastic card.

Now, you've seen what we did with the challenge. Let's see what you can do.

Here are the Deets.

1. The First Tuesday of the Month I will post a challenge on this blog. That's right! Here!
   The challenge will also be posted on our Splitcoaststampers forum  and on our Facebook page
2. If you want to play along you just upload your design right here on this page using the InLinkz button. (The challenge button will be posted on the right hand column of this blog so you don't have to search around)
   If you want to display your pretties on Splitcoaststampers using keyword TCPTUESSept13
3. The Challenge will be a month-long challenge and you can play as many times as you like during that month.
4. Cards and projects must have at least one Cat's Pajamas Stamp or CutUps die in the project.
5. On the First Monday of the Month a winner will be chosen from the previous challenge and crowned Swanky Stamper.
6. The Swanky Stamper will not only be acknowledged as the Swankiest Stamper for that month, but will also receive some of the stamps from our next release and get to play along with us at our Pajamas Party and Blog Hop. AND... They'll even get a special spot in the Gallery highlighting the project that won them the gig AND as snazzy badge to display on their blog.
7. The winner will be announced the First Monday of the month on Splitcoaststampers, Facebook page and this Blog

Welcome Kelli Hull

Well, you know it was inevitable. Kelli Hull has been playing along in our TCP Tuesday Challenges for a long time. And, for a very long time I've had my eye on her and her blog, Stamping with a Dream. 

Kelli's enthusiasm for TCP and her wonderful sense of humor is what made me notice her. Her fun, and unique cards are what sealed the deal. If you missed her cards for the last release, you missed a lot.

Here is a card she created using "Fly High" and our some of our CutUps. Love the bits of sparkle here and there and the glaze that she used for the face and carrot shield. So cute.

Kelli has a way of looking at cards and stamps in a way that I envy. They are clever, sometimes classic, sometimes funky, but always fun. You never know what Kelli will stamp up and I always surprised. And, in a good way.

Like this classic card using our "Lacey Butterfly" and "Words of Love" set. Who would of thought to cut out the butterfly, and sparkle and then replace it? Um. That would be Kelli.

I'm so glad that Kelli is joining the pack. Welcome, Kelli.