Ahoy Maties! Welcome to the Catty Cruise 2009!

Our Cruise is a blast of creativity by some of the brightest stars of the Stampin’ Up! blogsphere. We are a diverse group of SU demonstrators who love to stamp & paper craft AND we love sharing our ideas with you. Our crew of crafters (Stewards) will give you a treasure map of the great bounty to be found in the new catalog. Our blogs (or ports of call) will feature cards, 3D items, scrapbook pages, etc., using products unveiled in the newest catalog. After you disembark onto one port of call, that blog will help you navigate to the next port of call where you can rejoin the cruise. If you lose your way, you can also visit our home port, Catty Cruise Line.

If you are in the right port of call, you should have just sailed here from the amazing blog by Brooke Stockman, Designs by Brooke. Isn't she amazing? I just love her fresh and up-to-date projects using the new stamp set, "Circle Circus".

Now it's my turn to share some really fun projects with you...so WELCOME ABOARD and when you are finished I will help you steer to the next port of call.

Treasure #1 -
Easy, Elegant & Inexpensive Napkin Rings

Have you ever wanted to add a special touch to your dinner table for some reason...you know...Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthday, or Anniversary? You get the idea. Well, here is a fantastic & easy project to help you do just that.

I made these gorgeous napkin rings in just a matter of a few minutes and you can too. For now, I am only going to share the basic materials you need, but if you check back later this week, I will be sharing a video tutorial on how to make these beauties. They are so simple that you won't believe it. I used my SU Lattice Die, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, & Gable Green CS, a few Sizzlets, half-back pearls, and some mini glue dots...that's all...really.

Treasure #2 - Elegant Package/
Card Embellishments
& the New SU Bitty Box Die

You won't believe how easy it is to make the perfect gift favor box until you have tried the new SU Bitty Box and Envelope Die. Oh my! "What's that on top?"  Well, it's the perfect embellishment for these adorable boxes. I used shrink plastic and the Lattice Die to make beautiful toppers. Don't worry, I will be doing a video tutorial on this project as well. Just check back here in a few days for a complete set of instructions. The boxes you create with this fantastic die are just the perfect size for a couple of those yummy Ghirardelli chocolates or maybe some hand-crafted jewelry...hmmmm...that gives me an idea.

Treasure #3 - Elegant Shrink Plastic Jewelry

You guessed it! I basically used the same technique to craft jewelry that you would be proud to give or wear. It is so light weight that you practically forget you have it on. All you need is your Big Shot Machine, Lattice Die, Shrink Plastic, some jump rings, and a few other tools and you can create fantastic gifts. What's that you say? Of course I will post a tutorial for this one too. Come on...don't you know me better than that!

I hope you have enjoyed you visit. Don't forget to check back this week for tutorials on all of these projects. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Now it's time to move on to your next port of call. Head on over to Vicki Burdick's blog "It's a Stamp Thing", for some amazing ideas featuring the new two-step stamp set "Greenhouse Garden". Vicki is an "ink"credible stamper and I am sure she has something fabulous to share with all of us. Just click on the port hole below and it will take you to the next port.