LoveFest 2013

Hi all, as you read this I hope to be peacefully sleeping off 2 redeye flights in 48 hours in my own bed.

My grandpa passed away last week, so that turned my sister's bridal shower into: big shower for 19 people at my house>get on a plane 10 hours after that>layover in Phoenix>then to Chicago>one night there>then back to Denver (through Phoenix again of course, nothing can be simple when you need it to be, I'm finding!) My flight is scheduled to land 1230am on Tuesday morning. The truth is though, headache/hassle or whatever, I just knew I needed to be there. I knew that if I didn't go, I would always regret it. Sometimes we have to do something difficult, particularly if it's unmistakably right.

And, this is TOTALLY right, so I'm not complaining really. Since hubby had surgery a mere two weeks ago, I am still just really tired and typing this before I've even left town for all this adventure, so I'm sure that won't improve soon. Thank goodness for being able to schedule posts or I wouldn't "be here" at all! Anyway, I am sorry I haven't been around much, the last two weeks have been crazy, oy. I hope to be back to craftiness real soon, and my sister's shower was really unique and fun, and I've got lots of pics to show you soon!

It is LoveFest 2013 over at Splitcoaststampers! Today is TCP Day, and we have a really fun challenge, it's an inspiration challenge, check it!:

I LOVE these colors, they are so "now" and fun, and Spring-like! I am sooooo ready for Spring, how about you? I've always loved yellow, it's such a happy color. Here's my card:

I took off the texture of the pavestones in the middle photo, then of course the yellow, gray, black, and the way the patterns play off each other inspired me to use a few different text-print papers to play off each other. I used The Mustache Set, and the following CutUps: Mustaches, and Circus Panels.

That is all for me today! If you can play along with us at Splitcoaststampers, please use keywords TCP and LOVEFEST2013F, I hope you can! :)

xo, Noelle

For the Bride....

Hi all! Happy Valentine's Day! I apologize again for my absence. What a week! My kids are still rotating through that traditional beginning of the year virus/crud. I've had it too, and hubby is doing much better, but still not fully recovered from his surgery he had a couple weeks back. Anyway, I did need to make my sister a card for the shower I'm having for her soon! :)

No challenges, I just dry embossed a piece of SU! Gumball Green card stock with a Tim Holtz EF. I die cut that white panel and stamped with Gumball Green, Tempting Turquoise, and Blushing Bride (seemed like an appropriate color choice!) The stamps and dies are all Papertrey Ink.

I wrapped some ribbon lengthwise around the card front. I created a little loopy bow with the same ribbon and topped it off with a sweet pink OA button threaded and tied with some Aqua Divine Twine.

Speaking of wedding stuff, when my sis was staying with me last week, we managed to get the fronts of her wedding invitations done, and then even whipped up 100 quick thank you notes to match. She's having a small wedding, but she is having this big shower and you know that people send gifts even though they can't make it.

For the invitations, we bought premade cards at Archiver's, they were the green color she wanted and a pretty trifold style. She is having the wedding in a rose garden and wanted to use the rose stamp as her motif (SU! Fifth Avenue Floral). We heat embossed them with a sparkly white embossing powder that was (also appropriately named!) the color: "Bridal." The thank you notes were a simple white flat card (no fold) and we rounded the corners and stamped the rose in green and a simple "thank you" sentiment (from TCP Simply Said).

Well that's it for me today! Hopefully next week I'll have a bit more crafty time! :) 

Big hugs, Noelle

An American Girl Day scrapbook page (CQC176 and TCPTUES)

Hi all! Sorry I have been so absent, my sister is visiting from CA and I am getting ready to have a bridal shower for her this coming weekend (....we were calling it a "sprinkle" but with 19 people, I'm thinking maybe we should just use the term "shower" after all!) I am taking lots of pics of all the fun things I've made for it and will be showing you more of that next week.

This is my first TCP challenge as a Cat Packer! The February TCP Tuesday Challenge to make "what's old new again!" You can use a TCP product that you haven't used before, or you can use a TCP product in a new and different way.

This is also for this week's ColourQ challenge! This is a very girly palette, and *BY FAR* the girliest scrapbook page I have ever made in 15 years of scrapbooking! LOL, did you ever think you'd see all that PINK and flowers hanging around here? Yeah, me neither ;) But I have to say it is really cute and I know my niece will love it. I am going to frame it and give it to her. Since I don't have girls of my own, this was a really fun day, and I hope to make a tradition of taking her shopping and to lunch for her birthday every year. :) Here's the palette:

For the TCP "old is new again" challenge I did the following:
*Used CutUps and some TCP letter stamps on my page, I generally use them for cards.
*Used the bird's nest CutUp to make felt roses instead of nests.
*Used a letter set (Coolvetica) that was previously uninked for the title and Jadyn's name.
*Used the Heart Trio CutUps to make the felt leaves for the felt flowers.

You can link up YOUR TCP "old is new" project right here (on the top of the sidebar).

I also used the following older sketch for my layout jumping off point. I didn't follow it exactly, but pretty close. :)

I was really glad to use some older SU! DSPs on these. That sweet pattern with the little girls on it and the sewing motif (large scalloped circle behind the photos) is SO cute! I've only used a tiny bit of it once, it was perfect for this page. The border stickers, all papers, and mini flower stickers are all SU! and quite a bit older. The background paper is actually Rose Red, I didn't have anything but ink in Raspberry Ripple.

Here's the CutUps I used:

*Toppers
*Heart Border
*Lacy Floral Doily
*Circus Panels
*Sunflower Rosette
*Rolled Nest
*Heart Trio

Here's the link to the Coolvetica alphabet set, this is a really great alphabet set, I'm so glad I finally used it. I love how clean it is!

Some detail shots:

and that is all for me today! Hope you will come play at both the February TCP Tuesday Challenge and this week's ColourQ!

big hugs, Noelle

TCP Tuesday is BACK, and better than ever! :)

Hi folks! The new, and *improved* TCP Tuesday challenge will go LIVE today! Check it out, I hope you can play along! I will be showing some things next week and later this month with my own take on the "what's old is new again" challenge! :)

big hugs! Noelle

We're BAack!

That's right! After a long hiatus, TCP Tuesday is back. Only, we've changed it up a bit. 

We've heard that sometimes a week isn't enough for each of the challenges. That you just get warmed up "in your head" and BAM! it's time for a new challenge. That it's hard to know where to find the challenge. There are so many challenges out there TCP Tuesday stopped feeling your love.

Okay! 

So, here's the scoop. 

1. The First Tuesday of the Month Alma will post a challenge on her blog. 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 on Alma's blog 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)
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 Alma's Blog

You don't have to rush to get a challenge done each week. And you can play as many times as you wish. One sweet entry can win you the whole shebang.

Are you asking yourself "do I have to use TCP stamps"? Well, we're a little partial to the stamps, and it is a TCP Tuesday challenge. KWIM?

So, to kick off the NEW TCP Tuesday off will a BANG, we are having a SALE! 25% off the entire website, limited to stock on hand. So what are you waiting for? C'mon and PLAY


The challenge for February is: 

Are you ready for the first TCP Tuesday Challenge of 2013? I am. 

This challenge is a supply challenge. I am challenging you to bring out your existing TCP stamps and dies and use them in a new and creative way. If there is a Birthday Set, change it out so it can be used as a Holiday set, and vice verso.

If there is a TCP stamp set or die that has been challenging you so much that you haven't used it, I'm challenging you to pull it out and use it!

If you've only used our stamps and dies for cards, we are challenging you to use them in a scrapbook page, on a home decor project, to decorate a gift. Whatever. 

GO HERE to link YOUR TCP TUESDAY CREATION!! :)

And I know this is a lot of info at ONCE, but guess what, there's also a SALE :) Go here to check it out! 

The Bottom of My Heart (CQC #175)

Hi all! Hope you had a great weekend. I am way behind on blog stuff, so if you commented, I am so sorry, I will be back around in blogland very soon! I was kept busy caring for my recovering-from-surgery hubby, a sick 12 year old, and dealing with the 2 other kids and the house. Ah, the glamorous life of a mom, I tell you! ;) 

Thank YOU from the bottom of *my* heart for your kind words about me joining the Cat Pack, it's a really exciting new venture for me, I am still pinching myself! 

Speaking of which, I will be back in an hour with the NEW (and improved!) TCP Tuesday Challenge! 

Today we have a new ColourQ challenge! Here is the palette:

I don't mind tellin' ya.... this one was really really hard for me! I ended up doing a lot of white, and I think I must have ripped this apart at least three times, what a mess.

Getting those washi tape lines just so was part of my frustration.... I kept thinking they were even, then I'd go to lay down my nesties and realize, they weren't! Fortunately, washi tape peels off pretty easily! 

I sponged the edges of that main white cardstock panel with the Pink Pirouette ink on a sponge. I also used some pink pastel to add some shading to the white nestie after I cut it and stamped it. 

I made the mat Tangerine and the card base is actually Melon Mambo, I didn't have any Pink Passion. I stamped the stamp also in Melon Mambo ink, colored the heart with an orange marker, and added some Diamond Stickles to the heart, and a few other little spots on the stamped image. 

The only Cherry Cobbler came in on the card by me matting the stamped nestie with a larger one cut from the Cherry Cobbler color. 

I hope you can come play with us at the ColourQ this week! I would love to see what you can come up with! :)

hugs, Noelle

BIG NEWS! :) (aka Anything Is Possible Card)

Hi all, Hope you are having a great day so far. I am so excited to share today that I have been asked to become part of The Cat Pack Design Team! When I started blogging going on 3 years ago now, I so admired the work of the Cat Pack. I also fell in love with all these gorgeous stamps they were using! I thought if I could hone my skills to be even close to these talented women, that I really would have come a long way as an artist. When I got Alma's email, I almost fell over. I never thought that I would be good enough to actually *join* such an amazing group of artists (not to mention a very awesome group of women). It was..... probably the happiest moment I've had since I began this creative journey of sharing my paper art. I am so proud to join this group and to help represent my favorite stamp company, The Cat's Pajamas.

I think we all have those things that we assume will "never" happen. We are sure we will never be good enough, talented enough, attractive enough, kind enough, strong enough, smart enough and so on.... I have to say that getting that email last week helped shift my perception. I want to always be a student of life, continually striving to be better than I am today. And there's nowhere to go but up from wherever you are right now. It doesn't matter the journey, we are always capable of improving and getting better. It doesn't matter what disappointments we have encountered, what losses we have faced. I always have a choice to move forward and make myself better. I always have the option to grow from where I was yesterday.

So, today's card is hopefully an inspiring one to you, too. I LOVE the sentiment on this set "Anything is possible." I used "Soar" cling rubber stamp set, as well as the CutUps: "Star rosette" and "holiday toppers" all from The Cat's Pajamas. I also used some October Afternoon "Rocket Age" papers and sticker.

So, I look forward to sharing with you, dear readers, some awesome product and fun techniques. Biggest hugs and I will "see" you back here very soon. :)

xo, Noelle

You Rock! (SPARKS challenge & RS #48)

Hi all, hanging at home these days quite a bit. I needed to make a birthday card for a friend of Collin's. His friend is really into rocks, and so I thought I would make a rock card :) I have this Cuteasaurus set from Paper Smooches and it has the rock stamp. The sentiment is from Sentiment Sampler.

This card is for two challenges, the current Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge, to use the following inspiration photo to kick off your design....

It's also for the current Retrosketches #48, here is the sketch...

Here's my card again, I used only scraps for the patterned paper. I am so loving on my scraps basket since I cleaned it out last weekend. :)

I had some new washi tape from PeachyCheap.com, boy that site is dangerous!

I used my TCP Grass and Cloud Border CutUps to create the little scene using more scraps. The rock was stamped and fussy cut, then popped up with a 3D dot. This is a small card, 4 1/4" square.

Well that is all for me today. I have a BIG announcement tomorrow, so check back in if you can! :)

hugs, Noelle