Sunflower Studio

SUINK SNEAK PEEKS!

Ready for some yummy treats and something oh-so-sweet?  Well how about the new release stamps sets from Storage Units, Ink & More!  Two new sets are being released on Thursday, January 1st...SWEET THINGS and WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE?  The SUINK design team has been busy at work creating projects using these new sets to give you a little preview so be sure to head to the SUINK blog and view all of the fun new artwork.

I actually made two cards in ONE day.  That's a pretty unbelievable feat for meet these days!  It seems as though the design team was completely enamored with the WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE set - and who wouldn't be! - but I wanted to make sure to give you a preview of the SWEET THINGS set too. 

LOVE + SWEET = HAPPINESS

Look at all of these neat little Valentine-y images!  They're actually separate images within this new SWEET THINGS set.  There are lots of bon bons and candy bars and cupcakes and lollipops too.  Deee-lish!

Supplies:  Stamps - SWEET THINGS set from Storage Units, Ink & More!; Paper - Papertrey White, textured cardstock by Coredinations, patterned paper by Basic Grey; Ink - Tuxedo Black Memento ink; Other - Copic Markers, SU! scalloped edge punch, various ribbon, circle punch, American Crafts brad

LOVE

No wonder the DT is enthralled with these images from the WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE set!  They're just the sweetest little girl and boy.  Paulette Rich Long - the illustrator for these - really out did herself for sure.  I love them!

Supplies:  Stamps - WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE set from Storage Units, Ink & More!; Paper - Papertrey White, textured cardstock by Coredinations, patterned paper by Reminisce; Ink - Tuxedo Black Memento ink; Other - Copic Markers, Spellbinders Heart dies, Janome Sew Mini machine, Martha Stewart ribbon, Dew Drops

TCP TUESDAY #39 - SKETCH CHALLENGE

Did everyone make it through Christmas and come out on the other side?  I hope so!  We had a very nice Christmas with family and friends. 

We - being old and, uh, parents now - have spent the last three years ringing in the new year with our neighborhood friends.  It's great because we don't have to drive AND the kids all come too.  I'm sure it sounds boring to all of you fun people out there but it works for us and we always have a big ole seven course meal that's de-lish!  Can't wait!! Anybody have some amazing New Year's plans out there?

Well, why don't you start the year off by joining us for TCP Tuesday Challenge #39 this week!  Remember that there's that Cat's Cash up for grabs again and the super duper Swanky Stamper title too.  Post your a link to your card using this week's sketch here on my blog by midnight (eastern time) on Saturday, January 3rd.  All entries will be included in next week's Holey Moley Monday slideshow on Alma's blog.  Grab your Cat's Pajamas stamps and start 2009 with a big MEEE-OW!

Here's my version of the sketch...Poochie hitting the local skating pond on a blustery day.  The sketch was created from a card made by the always amazing Anna Wight.  She's such an inspiration!  The patterned papers here are by Heidi Grace, the ribbon by Martha Stewart, and the stamps from the Poochie Christmas (N-7476) Clearly Swanky stamp set by The Cat's Pajamas, of course!

Don't miss out on that sale at The Cat's Pajamas either...today is the last day to take advantage of the 25% discount throughout the entire online store!

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS TO SHARE!

I mentioned a few posts back that I hadn't had much time this holiday season for stamping due to lots of other non-stamping Christmas presents that I was making.  I thought I'd share a collage of most of them.  Thanks to some size 50 Speed (knitting) needles, my trusty Knifty Knitter, and a little sewing class that I took at Jo-Ann's, I made the following...

Mom - a duffel bag, a hat, and a throw
Dad - a hat
Lynn, my sister - a duffel bag, a hat, a scarf, and a throw
Mary Lou (MIL) - a duffel bag and a throw
The Little Boy - a hat (not pictured) and a throw (also not pictured but in bright ORANGE!)
Bill (DH) - a scarf and a hat
The teacher - a throw
Denise - a hat
Debbie (my neighbor who had a birthday on the 20th too) - a throw
Friend A (who hasn't yet received her gift) - a hat
Friend B (who also hasn't yet received her gift) - a hat
and
Holly - a scarf

...plus a few other odds and ends things thrown in. 

I even ordered up some neat little tags to sew into my projects so that they'd know they were handmade.  Very fun....NOW...what should I make for myself!!

I also realized that I hadn't shared some Whipper Snapper cards and such that I did actually get to make earlier in the month.  I'll hopefully post those tonight or tomorrow too.

Edit (12/30/08) - Since a few have asked about patterns, here is that information...

The hats and scarves were made on the Knifty Knitter Looms by ProvoCraft.  The hats on the round looms and the scarves on the straight ones.  It's cheating for knitters but makes such a nice uniform pattern that I couldn't resist.  The patterns come with the looms.  Use your coupons at Mike's or JoAnn's to get a deal!

The pattern for the throws is from Lion Brand yarn - The 6-Hour Afghan.  The pattern here calls for Homespun yarn but when I originally downloaded it a year ago it used Jiffy.  You can adjust the look with your own choice of yarns.  I made one with all Jiffy, two with all Homespun, one with Jiffy and Homespun mixed, and I used three lengths held together of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick for a nice heavy look too.  It depends on what you like.  The fuzzier, thicker yarns do look better though since it's such a big stitch and a more open weave pattern.  Again, I used the size 50 Speed Needles - also from Lion Brand.  Look for these things on sale at JoAnn's and Michaels or use your coupons!

As for the duffel bags, the pattern came from the class that I took at JoAnn's.  I'm sure you could find something comparable in the patterns there.  I'm ready to do some more too so I think I'll take a look through and see what I can make next....I was thinking some curling iron covers and some oven mitts too.  I'm really getting into the sewing.  Maybe I'll see if they have a class to make an actual article of clothing....interesting!

THE CAT'S PAJAMAS - DON'T MISS THE SALE!

SUINK - NEW RELEASE SNEAK PEEK

It's that time again....NEW STAMPS, YEA!  And not only new stamps at Storage Units, Ink & More! but new design team members too.  You must check out this most fabulous new stamping talent as they share their creativity using the January releases from SUINK...

Kristen Catalano

Colleen Wold             

Amber Kroening            

Laura Leonard            

Janna Hull               

Alex Maldonado          

and January Guest Designer Corrina Farrar

They'll be joining the current SUINK DT members:

Mary Jo Price Williams  

Suzanne Dean            

Tori Wild                  

Chat Wszelaki

Carolina Buchting        

and me!

Here's the schedule for the SNEAK PEEKS that started TODAY!  Don't miss out on these cute, cute, cute new images!  You can view the artwork at the SUINK blog and on the designer's blogs.

December 28th

Mary Jo Price Williams, Colleen Wold, and Suzanne Dean

Dec 29th
Kristen Catalano, Tori Wild, and Carolina Buchting

Dec. 30th
Amber Kroening, Laura Leonard, and ME!

Dec. 31st
Janna Hull  and Alex Maldonado

HOLIDAY WISHES!

Happy Holidays Bloggers!  In lieu of a challenge this week, the Cat's Pajamas Design Team is spreading holiday cheer with a little Blog Hop.  Visit here and then click on over and visit Gayle Smith.  Check back here for the sketch challenge next week.

I've been frantically working on my "handmade" gifts for the last few weeks.  I'll share everything with you after Christmas...don't want to reveal the presents to my friends and family just yet.  Most of what I've been making doesn't involve stamping at all.  It's nice to take a little break from one craft and focus on something else for a bit...recharges the creative juices, right?!

This year has been a crazy one and WHERE-oh-WHERE does the time go?  I am thankful for so many things and here are a few...

1.  I am thankful that I have such wonderful family members and that all remain happy and healthy again this year.  There have definitely been some trials and tribulations for a few but we'll get through those as long as we stick together and support one another.  I love you all!

2.  I am thankful for terrific friends - here in my area, back in Illinois and online.  I truly thank the One above for those who listen to me gripe, share their creativity, inspire me and make me laugh daily.

3.  I am thankful to those who are protecting our country - both here and abroad - in these crazy times.  It is because of them that we can go to bed at night feeling safe and sound.

I wish you all A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Digital Christmas card artwork @ www.theshabbyshoppe.com - Holiday Card Collection: Vol. 3

SUINKWWC18 - Holiday Sets/Non-Holiday Cards

The design team at Storage Units, Ink & More! is still working on making those sets really stretch out over the year.  I mean, you buy those holiday sets and then they just sit in a box or on a shelf.  What else can you do with them?  Well....think outside the box and make the images fit for other occasions.

Here's the first thing that came to mind for me....I love this little sledding boy from the SNOW DAY set.  But let's see what he can do on the water.  Can he hang ten?  SURE HE CAN!  I colored his snow clothes a bright "Body Glove" yellow so that he's wearing a wetsuit.  What's he got on his head?....uh...not sure...lets pretend it's the hood for the wetsuit...ha ha.  And his surfboard is a little curvy...but you have to overlook these things and see the big picture.  I think it works!  And I also used the little palm tree from the OH HOLY NIGHT set to create the tropical scene.  See...VOILA!  A great card that you could send from your island vacation to the family back home.  Give it a try!

If you're uploading to Splitcoast or Paper Craft Planet, make sure that you use keyword SUINKWWC18.  Check in at the SUINK blog to see what the other gals came up with this week.

Supplies:  Stamps - OH HOLY NIGHT and SNOW DAY stamp sets from Storage Units, Ink & More!; Paper - textured CS from Coredinations, Papertrey White, SU! Confetti Tan (retired); Ink - Tuxedo Black Memento ink; Other - Copic Markers and Multiliner, Inkssentials White Gel pen, Canson Photo Corners, American Crafts brads, Fiskars Deckle Edge Scissors, computer for sentiment.

TCP TUESDAY #37 - COLOR CHALLENGE

Hello there Cat's PJ's lovers!  Tuesday again....AND, we've changed things up a bit on the design team.  I'm still doing the sketch challenges but the other gals have mixed it up.  SO, we're back to Jen del Muro as the Hipster Hostess with the Mostess again this week and we're onto a color challenge.  Let's use Red, Dark Green, and Sky Blue to create a card with your Cat's Pajamas stamps this week.  You'll need to upload your link so that we can see you card HERE at Jen's blog.  Make sure that you use keyword TCPTUES37 if you're uploading to Splitcoast or Paper Craft Planet. 

He's baaaaack!  Do you think I could go through a whole new season without throwing Ronnie into the mix?!  Here he's ropin' up some snowflakes....yeeee haaaawww!  I also used the layout for Sketch Challenge #205 at Splitcoast for this one.  All of the patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye and the cardstock is by Coredinations.  I also cut some Sizzix snowflakes from a transparency sheet and then sponged the edges with White Stazon.  Now I'm wondering what else I should cut out of a transparency...ha ha!

If you're not familiar with the weekly challenge rules at The Cat's Pajamas, stop in at Alma's blog.  She's got all of the details over there....Swanky Stamper...Cat's Cash....and other fun info!  Plus, check out the Holey Moley Monday slideshow of excellent cards from last week's challenge. 

Happy Holidays!

Supplies:  Stamps - (E-7523) Lassoed and (S-8547) Deck the Hall Clearly Swanky stamp set by The Cat's Pajamas; Paper - Papertrey White, CS by Coredinations, patterned paper by My Mind's Eye; Ink - Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, White Stazon; Other - Copic Markers and Multiliner, Spellbinders Tag die, Sizzix Snowflake die, EK Success circle punch, American Crafts brads, red gingham ribbon by SU!, Martha Stewart Seam Binding ribbon, White Inkssentials Gel Pen

TCP TUESDAY #36 - INSPIRATION

This week's TCP Tuesday challenge is to use this photo as your inspiration.  So it's open to all kinds of interpretation...color, composition, content...we'd love to see what you come up with too!

Jen del Muro is this week's Hipster Hostess with the Mostess.  Click HERE to head over to her blog and leave the link for your card.  Don't forget that new Cat's Cash and the Swanky Stamper title is up for grabs.  Entries are due by the end of the day on Saturday, December 6th.  Please use keyword TCPTUES36 if you're uploading to Splitcoast.  Grab your Cat's Pajamas stamps and get goin'!

I was more inpired by the snowflakes in the photo and the "kraft" color.  I decided to combine this challenge with one of the new techniques in the latest Technique Junkie newsletter - Faux Designer Paper.  I love the layered look of the ink and stamps. 

Supplies:  Stamps - Elegant Christmas from The Cat's Pajamas; Paper - SU! Kraft, White, Burgundy; Ink - SUINK Burgundy, Colorbox Dark Brown Chalk, Versamark, Ranger Distress ink in Walnut Stain and Tea Dye, VersaMagic chalk inks in Malted Mauve, Perfect Plumeria, Gingerbread, and Jumbo Java; Other - Ranger sponge tool, Clear EP, Martha Stewart Seam Binding ribbon, SU! Irridescent Ice EP, buttons by Westrim, brads by American Crafts, Scor-Pal

SUGAR...COOKIE THAT IS!

Okay, you bought those stamps for that other season but now it's Christmas....what can you do with what you've got?  Work 'em into those holiday cards!!

Today and tomorrow, the design team at STORAGE UNITS, INK & MORE! will be showing you some ways to use their non-Christmas sets to create cards to celebrate the season now.  My card uses the KOOKY KOSTUMES set that was released before Halloween.  It's one of my fave SUINK sets (especially since a few of the ideas and sentiments in the set came directly from my brain).  I mean, come on, who doesn't need a stamp of a kid dressed up as a bag of chips?  How funny is that?!?  Here's the little "cookie" girl morphed into a sugar cookie.  I aded the little wavy line around the outside of the cookie so that I could color in the icing and the "chips" became red and green sprinkles.  Do you have this set?  Let's see what you can do with it...and if you don't have it....go on a get it....use it now and you'll be ahead of the game when Halloween rolls around.

Supplies:  Stamps - Kooky Kostumes set by Storage Units, Ink & More!, sentiment from A Muse; Paper - Papertrey White, textured cardstock by Coredinations, SU! and DCWV, vellum cardstock, patterned papers by MME; Ink - Tuxedo Black Memento ink; Other - Copic Markers and Multiliner, Doodlebug and MME buttons, various ribbon.