Tuesday 30 November 2010

New card

This is the other pug image I drew for my friend.

The backing paper is a double sided one.  I do like to use double sided pages because I always feel that they co-ordinate well.  This time I am not really sure - I feel the blue is a bit too heavy, and perhaps a red / yellow combo would have sat better.

Well - you live and learn!  - love the pug though :-)



Yours
kitten xx

Sunday 28 November 2010

Tidy up

I am making a serious effort to clear my bench off.  I seem to have grown little piles all 'in work' again - and my chair is covered too.  I want to get everything off and dusted before Christmas so I can start the New Year fresh.  I have even been trowing away some old bits that are past their best or I will never finish up.  All those curly sheets of sticker sheets with only the grotty ones left? - - slowly going.  I have to do it one or two at a time so I don't get over stressed - I have kept stuff for years and years

Yours
kitten xx

Saturday 27 November 2010

New Challenge Blog

http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/

Starting in January - just what you need to keep you buys after Christmas.  Wa have loads of fab sponcers lined up - and, yes, I am on the design team.

So add it to your follow links - and join us soon

Yours
kitten xx

New Card

I have been drawing pugs for a friend who is nuts about them
Pugs will be added to the shop after Christmas (or email me and ask) - this one is ordered

Yours
kitten xx

Friday 26 November 2010

Life


Remember this???



Well I have worked so hard



And there is HUGE improvement

I have a couple more things to do - but I can't tell you the relief that it's normal again.  And now the shelving is all back - the room is so much bigger
- and tiry-ier


Yours
kitten xx

Scrapbook idea

I haven't done any scrapbooking for ages - I don't really get the time - and I am always short of space to spread into. 

Then while I was unpacking the boxes for the living room I found some old school photos of my faverate little monsters, in a very horrid mount and frame.

So I printed out some of my Stretch n Bubbles monster digis - and dug out some paper and got cracking.

 
It takes me ages to do a page just because I don't do it enough.  I have stoped for the day because I am tired - but I just wanted to show you the direction it was going - and the difference that a bit of effort can make.  It would be lovely if there were more scrapbook pages used as pictures



Yours
kitten xx

Wednesday 24 November 2010

Hand drawn

I was asked to draw an affenpinscher terrier by a doggie friend.  Never heard of it - and very little reference, just a couple of breaders sites.



It's nickname is the monkey terrier because it has a short, round snout - pushed up a little.

I just hope this is something like it

Got a couple of pugs to do now

Yours
kitten xx

Monday 22 November 2010

Sunday 21 November 2010

Challenges

Just to prove I can do traditional - this is the same Stretch n Bubbles that I did in the pink last time.  Get the image HERE

I am putting it into the Cute Card Thursday Challenge - which is a sketch this week



Yours
kitten xx

Saturday 20 November 2010

Stretch n bubbles

I am making a serious effort to do more gent's cards.  They always seem to get left out with all the girly stuff out there - and there are some really great male images
 This little chappie is from Stretch n Bubbles HERE

And it's a really versatile image.  Next I am going to make him up with a star background - 'you are a star'


But in the meantime

It is not as complicated as it looks.  There is an embossed layer (rubbed over with ink to make the embossing really pop) and behind it, a very busy, colour bright layer -  both are matted.

I was stuck for some sort of embellishment - it needed a 'something' - and it's hard to keep it still bloke-ish - but add something.  I found the candle chipboard detail in my odds box and added a spotty brad in the other corners


Yours
kitten xx

LIFE

Twas the night before Christmas,
He lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house,
Made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney,
With presents to give,
And to see just who,
In this home did live.

I looked all about,
A strange sight I did see.
No tinsel, no presents;
Not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle,
Just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures,
of far distant lands.

With medals and badges,
Awards of all kinds.
A sober thought
Came through my mind.

For this house was different,
It was dark and dreary.
I found the house of a soldier,
Once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping,
Silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor
In his one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,
The room in disorder,
Not how I pictured
A true British soldier.

Was this the hero
Of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho.
The floor for a bed?

I realised the families
That I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these soldiers,
Who were willing to fight.

Soon, round the world,
The children would play,
And grownups would celebrate,
A bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom,
Each month of the year,
Because of the soldiers,
Like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder
How many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas eve
In a land far from home.

The very thought brought
A tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees,
And started to cry.

The soldier awakened
And I heard a rough voice,
Santa, don't cry,
This life is my choice.

I fight for freedom,
I don't ask for more.
My life is my God,
My country, my corps.

The soldier rolled over,
And drifted asleep,
I couldn't control it;
I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours,
So silent and still,
And we both shivered
From the cold night's chill.

I did not want to leave,
On that cold, dark, night,
This guardian of honor,
So willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over,
With a voice soft and pure,
Whispered, carry on Santa,
It's Christmas day - all is secure.

One look at my watch,
And I knew he was right.
Merry Christmas, my friend,
And to all a Good Night.

This poem was written by a Peacekeeping soldier stationed overseas. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favour of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to all of the service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

Yours
kitten xx

Friday 19 November 2010

Commissions

I have had a request from some of my doggie friends to draw an affenpincer.  New one on me that!  Did an internet search and found a couple of images to copy.  It's a very small terrier - curly wire hair - with a scrunched up nose and big eyes.  Often nic-named the 'monkey' terrier.

That's going to be a challenge

Yours
kitten xx

Challenges

Pardon me for being absent - I have been getting the living room back to normal and cleaned - then there was a Christmas fair.  The living room is nearly finished - I am unpacking all the dvds and selling loads on musicmagpie

I am going to take it easy the rest of the week and do some challenges.
First on the list - http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/11/pink-elephant-tpe-88.html - it's a sketch this week.

Remember my Stretch N Bubbles teapot?
You can get it in the SHOP HERE

I used to to copy the sketch - not done a lot of work from sketches so I have a way to go before I get my confidence.

The papers are from the Do Craft yellow capsule collection


Yours
kitten xx

Sunday 14 November 2010

New Idea

I had this idea ages ago - but I needed a nice teapot to go on it.  Then I fould this in the Stretch n Bubbles SHOP



Perfect for what I wanted.








This is a Christmas gift idea - a folder with tea bags tucked in it



I have put the details of how to make it on my website because it's much easier than trying to cope on here




So do go over and have a look and make one for yourself








Yours
kitten xx

Saturday 13 November 2010

Stretch n Bubbles

I don't know about you lot - but I have a really bad habit of only doing Christmas cards in red and green.  I don't know what or why - but I always reach for those colours.  So - today I decided to 'force' myself to use pinks/purples.

This wonderfully detailed tree (which is just great for straight colouring in when you want a break from all that shading!) is available in the SHOP - HERE


I was not sure what to do with it - other than I knew I would love all the 'colouring in' bit



So what do you think?  - Different or what?  - Choose some background papers first - then decide what size you want the card (this is 5 1/2" square) - then make your colouring suit the papers.  This is Copics with added gems - liquid pearls - Copic glitter pens (don't ask me to spell it!) - ribbon - and a couple of tags I have had hanging about for years


Yours
kitten xx

Friday 12 November 2010

Life

We have had a damp problem in the living room since last Christmas.  Huge problems - the wall was running with water - had a builder out - had another builder out - even had the waterboard out to check the mains were not leaking.  So out came all the shelving units, the wooden floor, skirting and the telly, dvd, video, etc etc - and we have been living in an open cast mine ever since.

Last weekend the damp proof was finally injected -  and all damaged the plaster has been striped and replaced - and the end is in sight.

Now we have a wall that it all one colour - the right colour too!  I have spent most of the day clearing and moving stuff.  We have the floor insulation to replace and the wooden floor to re-fit - bet that will be fun.  Then we can get the shelving back.

I know it's sad - but I can't tell you how excited I am.  It is SUCH a relief to start getting a living room back - it has been a total nightmare, I can't tell you how depressing it has been.  I am gee-ing the guys up so that it's all ready for Christmas - there is still loads to do - so it's going to be a bit of a nag-fest to get it all done.  I have decided that we are going to have new tree decorations this year AND we are going to treat ourselves to a wii to celebrate.  Looking round for the best deal now.
Yours
kitten xx

Thursday 11 November 2010

Stretch n Bubbles

At last I got some work done!  Between the dogs colds and my cold I am pretty shattered. 

 I did get my desk tidied and I used this wonderful new Santa image from the Stretch n Bubbles shop to make a modern Christmas card






 
 Black and white is still really trendy for Christmas, and if you have a serious number to make - this is the perfect idea.

The image is printed on a thick really white laser copy card, matted with silver mirri and then black pearl - and set flat on the card.

I don't do the minimal look - and I don't very often work with black and white - but I have to admit that I quite like this and I might do a dozen for my own use



Yours
kitten xx

Monday 8 November 2010

Shows

My ferret show yesterday - Cumbria Ferret Rescue

I think the biggest thing I learnt was just how docile and good tempered ferrets are - and how little they squabble.  Yeah - in't that just the opposite of their public profile.
There were well over 120 ferrets (some had driven for hours) in the hall - all in their cages (some up to 8 in a cage) - being handled - swung about - passed back and forth - sized against each other - washed - brushed - kissed and snuggled - (yep - they happily dumped them on me to cuddle as well).  They were man handled - passed about from owner to steward - to judge for marking - back to steward - everyone cooing and cheering all along the way.  Only twice did I hear a spat break out between 2 ferrets - and only twice did I see the teeth come out (one was very minor - the other did draw blood) - I call that totally amazing.

All the little critters were full of themselves when they arrived - all active wanting to meet and great old friends and family - after they had all been through to the judges they were totally shattered bless 'um - and tucked themselves in to bed to sleep.  They all piled up on top of each other - and they were so tired that sometimes they would turn over and fall out of bed - and not notice.

Sales wise it was not a huge success.  Not sure if they did not like my images or if they just did not twig what I was doing.  Well, I am prepared to stick with it for a while - the rescue guys work so hard - and I tell you - you can really see it - not like those big charities.  I bump into them all through the summer - we will just have to see how things go next year

Anyway - I am going to chill for a few days and get my head together

Yours
kitten xx

Saturday 6 November 2010

Shows

I need you all to send huge good vibes my way tomorrow.

Cumbria Ferret Rescue asked me to work with them to raise funds - and it is the biggie huge show that I have been getting ready for on Sunday


kitten xx

UK Art Raffle

This months UK Art Raffle is now live and ready

http://ukartraffle.blogspot.com/

The theme is
And scatter the sky with my blazing heart.(taken from - fireworks - by Amy Lowell)
It spits and sparkles in the stars and balls,

I made a book covered with some wonderful silver foil and glitter patterns.

I loved it as soon as I saw it and have been dieing for an excuse to use it.  The book is bound with red wire - red on the inside of the covers and several fibres on the wires.  I seem to be into books at the moment


You can interpret it in any way you feel - using any medium you like.  How to join in instructions are on the Raffle blog




Yours
kitten xx

Life

I had a lousy night last night.  The dogs have a touch of kennal cough - and of course the were barking at the fireworks all evening which made their throats even more sore.  They were coughing all night - poor little fidget was sick a couple of times.

so far they are both asleep.  I will pop along to Pets At Home in a while and get them some cough medacine


Yours
kitten xx

Friday 5 November 2010

Stretch n Bubbles

Kids love things with their name on don't they?  Here is a quick - simple idea for the playground bunch and very cheep too (really important when you have loads to do)

This little darling is Gumble and available HERE



So I made a door / coat hook hanger.

I cut a 4" Strip of card and covered the bottom part with an amazing 'alien' pattern paper from Crate paper (don't know if it's still available - but this was a wonderful series with space ships, aliens, planets and things).  I just drew round my pencil sharpener to get the circle and trimmed the card to match


I have entered this in to The Pink Elephant - red, blue and yellow challenge as well
Yours
kitten xx

Tuesday 2 November 2010

Stretch n Bubbles

I was lying in bed thinking - like you do - and I thought - how would it work if you printed the notebook cover FIRST - then use the paper to cover the board instead of sticking on the image?



This darling monster is from Stretch n Bubbles HERE

There are several monsters to choose from - collecting them all!





So I made the cover - and made up the book.

There is a technique to making a proper book cover - must do a how to on it - it really is worth the effort to get it right.

I used reds - red hinges and the inside of the cover is covered with a red wood effect paper - so perhaps boys might like it too.


Inside are 20 sheets of matching cream card.

Yours
kitten xx

Monday 1 November 2010

Day Off

Monday is kitten's day off

We have had our little house today - jeepers she has grown.  She has doubled in size and now takes up all my lap space - fidget NOT at all keen on that!

But - it's just magic - off they go up the garden to play.  It's funny really - we have a huge garden because we have half of  next doors garden (because they hated gardening) - now we have their dogging going berserk with ours in what was their bit of garden.

Well - I could not leave them and go off to my summer house - so I have spent the afternoon catching up with my site listing and Internet jobs (and playing my cafe game with my mates - shhhh)

Yours
kitten xx