The Cat's Pajamas - New Release Hop!!

Hello!!!
Welcome!! If you've arrived her from Susan's blog then you are on the correct hop!!!

I'm Meredith Winston and I'm SO excited to be hopping with the amazing team at The Cats Pajamas!!! I was BEYOND honored in October when I was named TCP's Swanky Stamper of the month!! After that I was asked if I'd like to participate in the New Holiday Release Blog Hop in November! I said YES immediately!!

These clear acrylic stamps are simply fabulous and ink beautifully. Out of all the GORGEOUS sets that are available I chose to create a Hanukkah and New Year's Eve card.

There are many stamps in this particular set and I chose to use 4 of them on the same card!!! (a bit tricky but totally doable!) I started with traditional Hanukkah colors of blue, white, silver and/or gold.

The card size is 5x7. I wanted a LOT of room to groove and play. The card base is a slice of SU! Night of Navy. The second layer, measured down 1/4" is basic white cardstock. The next piece down is silver cardstock that I created into a background paper. I used the beautiful dreidel, stamped in Brilliance Pigment Ink in a medium blue. I embossed the dreidels after stamping and heat set them. I LOVE creating my own background paper because it REALLY allows you to make something that is perfect for the project at hand.

I then stitched this newly made background paper to the white layer below using white thread in a zig zag stitch.

I set my card base on my Basic Grey magnetic mat and proceeded to maneuver around stamps, different shapes, colors, trying to come up with a really great layout. I decided to use the Star of David as my secondary background, stamped in silver heat embossed with silver embossing powder. I stitched this to a piece of gold cardstock. I did this panel twice and laid them in opposing corners of the card vertically.

I then set to what I wanted to use as my main focus in the card and that was the beautiful Menorah. I stamped it in Brilliance Black Pigment Ink and heat set it. I then colored the flames on the candles gold. I matted this on SU!'s tempting turquoise and gold cardstock. I used 3-D foam squares to give this more presence as the focus of the card.

I knew I needed a few more things. So I sat back and stared at it for a while until lightening struck! I had just bought sheer turquoise ribbon with white polka dots and plain sheer gold ribbon. I couldn't decide what to use so I stitched the two together and used them both in a simple knot. I then added the Light The Way sentiment on gold cardstock - 2 opposing corners rounded and matted on silver cardstock. I then trimmed the same opposing corners on the silver cardstock and pierced both sides for a little extra detail. I ran the edges of my black ink pad along the silver cardstock to add a bit of shadowing.

I sat back again and loved the card. But it was STILL missing something. It took me until the next day when I came back to it that it hit me. I knew I had some vintage buttons that were my Great-Grandmother's sewing basket. These are special to me because my Nana has been gone for 27 years now and I still have her sewing basket and all of its contents. So I dole them out sparingly. But they were too perfect NOT to use on this card!!! I used my hot glue gun to really adhere them really well. I definitely don't want them popping off and getting lost!
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My second creation is this super shwanky (I think ;) NYE card! It's a 4x4" card with a card base of metallic navy blue cardstock. I then pulled out a scrap of this black/grey/whiteish toile paper. I stitched it to the card base with white thread in a zig zag pattern. I stamped NYE Sprinkles in Black AND Silver Brilliance Pigment ink. I stamped him first in silver and THEN in black so he has a cool shimmer to him. I then embossed and heat set him. I colored his hat using my Elmer's brand fine tipped gold paint pen. I inked the edges with Brilliance Gold Pigment Ink and heat set that as well. I stitched him with a straight stitch to a piece of black cardstock and used the swirlies from the new NYE set to ink in Versamark and then heat emboss with silver embossing powder.

My last touches include sheer gold ribbon tied through the card with a black, vintage leather button that is from my Great-Grandmother's sewing basket. I tied it on with a piece of gold cording. It's very simple but I LOVE how it came out!!
I hope you do too!!!! All of the new holiday sets from TCP are simply AMAZING. You MUST run and get yourself a bunch of sets!! Did I happen to mention that they ink up like a DREAM???? They are really unbelievable in quality.

I am SO honored to have been able to hop with this amazing team and fabulous company. Thank you ALMA!!!!

Next on the hop list is: Joanne!!! =)I am beyond excited to be on such a fabulous hop with Jo!! Not am I inspired by her and always in AWE of her work...we happen to be bestie's in real life!! We are so lucky to live only 10 min from each other! YAY!

But I digress!!

Here is the entire list in case you get lost along the way!!

Susan
Toni
Ana
Julee
Jen
Amy
Leigh
Tracy
Meredith --- That's ME!
Joanne
Alma

XOXO