Tuesday 31 May 2011

Catch up

What an amazing couple of days at The Pencil Museum Keswick - they are such lovely people - I met the fabulous Tony Hogan - who is so kind and helpful - and I met another calligrapher - first one I have ever come across.  We had the most amazing chat - I so wish she lived near and could teach me!  I bought an amazing picture of giraffes from the wildlife artist Carole Ann Peart.  There was birthday cake, and clowns, and balloons - it was just the most wonderful weekend.

And they are going to stock a small range of my cards coloured with Inktense - how cool is that?

Then this afternoon - a huge box arrived from David and Brenda over at Craft Obsessions - wow - that is the icing on the cake - thanks so much guys

Now I have tons and tons of work to catch up with because I am out again next weekend

Yours
kitten xx

Monday 30 May 2011

Day off

Monday is kitten's day off

yeah so that was the plan - on my way out from the pencil museum Alex said 'do you want to come tomorrow'?

Like - HOLD ME BACK!!!!

So - back in the pencil museum Keswick for another fun day - do drop in and see us if you about
woooooo - - hooooo

Rest of the week? - aww that will all fall into place!!

Yours
kitten xx

Saturday 28 May 2011

GRRR

Blogger is giving me such grief tonight - it won't keep me signed in - or allow me to comment on the threads.

So I can't get on with anything - grr



Yours
kitten xx

New Site

Hot news - sneek preview

Erica Martin - who used to design the Daisy and Dandelion range - had a new site launching in a few days called Odds and Soxlets

I am on her design team again - will update you as things develop - they are just soooo cute!!!



Yours
kitten xx

Stretch N Bubbles

Sometimes it's nice to just fiddle about!

The Oriental Lady From the Zen collection is a new one for me and I wanted to fiddle about with the side step cards.  These facinate me and I have a frowing heep of master templates that I have made with various fold and cuts.


So I have had a lovely time cutting paper to cover all the bits - and making loads of swirls to add behind her.  I also did a quuick recap of black hair from Suzanne Dean on youtube - and was quite pleased with the way it turned out






Yours
kitten xx

Friday 27 May 2011

Stretch N Bubbles

I don't know about you - but I just LOVE trees

I could not resist this Spring leafy tree - and there are several more to work my way through!






I really, really did have this paperhanging about - it is a prefect match.

I coloured the tree very simply with Copics and cut it out - I cut the top off the trunk and set the trunk flat and raised the top on foam pads - it really does make the difference




Yours
kitten xx

Thursday 26 May 2011

Do You Stack Up? Challenge - #21 Animals

Hey everyone! 
How are you doing? You are excited? Why?? 
Well, maybe because of this post :)?! Yes, it´s true! DYSU Challenge Blog is looking for 2-3 new Design Team Members and a new DT Lead Coordinator! If that aint a reason to be excited ... :D
The Call ends June 2nd and meanwhile we would love to see more of your aaaaawesome creations! No idea what to create today? Not sure which theme you would like to craft about? Unsure which paper to choose?! No problem at all! How about ...
DYSU Challenge 21: ANIMALS *roar*
Get out your animal stamps, your patterned paper or whatever you´ll find to relate to our animal theme this week!
This weeks sponsors are:
Stichy Bear: gives a $10 Gift Voucher for the shop (Stitchy Bear, Floppy Latte, Delicious Doodles images only)

and would you believe it?! Our talented Design Team member Miranda! Miranda gives 2 newly for winner-only made digital images!

Please welcome our Guest Designer

Jennifer Zeeb

My name is Jenn Zeeb, I will be married 20 years on May 25 with 4 kids from 7 (first grade) to 18 (just finished her 1st year in college). I am the PTA president at my youngest son’s school and work 2 days a week at a lunch/coffee shop. 
I have been playing with paper for as long as I can remember.  I started selling for Stampin Up, but stopped because I found out I liked buying and playing a lot more than selling.  Then I started scrapbooking and found out I have a paper hording problem. My husband calls it “kindling” but think I might have to get help one day.  I have met great people both scrapbooking an n card making, so I wouldn’t have it any other way.


Now get inspired by our Design Team over at DYSU

  • our DT would love to leave comments on your blogs, please remove word verification to make this process easier (see right side bar for a how-to guide).
  • only 3 entries per person per Challenge
  • make sure to link back to this challenge and mention it on your blog in your blog post
  • no back linking
  • entries that do not fit the requirements will not be eligible for Winner or Top 3
  • Mr. Linky closes at 2pm on wednesdays

I used the penguins from Stitchery Bear for this.  Have you seen the 'letters to Santa' advertised in the papers around Christmas time - more importantly - have yuo seen the cost of them!!!  So Make your own. I used a fairly heavy weight paper - full A4 size - added the digi and some text for the child to fill in - then creased it Z shape (that's ar the 10cm mark).  They sit nicely in a DL envelope which you can print Santa's address on the front and a smaller version of the digi - I just love digis!



Yours
kitten xx

Wednesday 25 May 2011

New Card

This is one of the wonderful Woodware butterfly stamps that I have just bought (3 in the set).
I stamped and embossed with silver - then I simply coloured in all the circles with a bright blue and a bright green Copic (just the 2 colours) - I filled each space with 3D glaze and left well alone overnight.
 
It is so pretty - it looks like tiny jewels and it has the most wonderful texture.
 
I am waiting fod a new shed to arrive today so I can get my summerhouse area finished - then I will take some photos for you


Yours
kitten xx

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Craft life

I love my crafting - I just love making things.  I have got to the point where I just do what I want with the end in mind and bumble about until it suits me.  I covered that little case the other week and today I needed a note book for the flat I am decorating - just something to scribblein.I did not want to go and buy one and the only one I had knocking about had been used several times over - so I covered it!

I wanted to use up some scraps (ever frugal) - so the spine is covered in one bit - than the front and back - then a thinner strip to cover the join.

It is all neatly tucked over to the inside - and the tag was in the bottom of my 'odds' box.

Super cool new life and look for an old note book

you have a go



Yours
kitten xx

Monday 23 May 2011

Day off

Monday is normally my day off but with all the torential  rain out there - the best thing to do is craft (and I have new Stretch N Bubbles images to play with

So here we go

This cutie little owl - wow - how sweet is he?

Screams wild party animal

well he does to me - but then I am a bit odd ;-)







It is a simple layout - it looks complicated bacause the back ground paper is very patterned - and there are lots of mats cut for the owl to sit on.  His wings may look a bit odd in the scan - it is holographic embossing powder so they are all shiney

Yours
kitten xx

Sunday 22 May 2011

Saturday

I always do the same thing when I have had a few days off - I tidy my dask.  The old goat mucks out his studio when he is mega, mega busy - I do it when I come back after a couple of days and think eeewwww.  I guess when I am working in it - I can't see it!

So that new Tatty Teddy stamp on the front of the Do Craft mag this month?
I love Tatty Teddy - I have several of the figures - and the old goat buys me another every so often.  The one with th teacup was the first pressie he ever bought me aaawwwwwww.  The scan does not really show the gray of the stamped image - it is much cleared than it looks (Memento London Fog) and the added shading in much more delicate - Copic warm greys.  Really cute - will not be getting any mor though - too limited in colouring

Yours
kitten xx

Saturday 21 May 2011

Life

So - what have I been up to today?

Emmm - well sitting on one's bottom and playing Fronierville on Facebook really :-).  I did have a busy morning catching up with a few chores - and I did get involved with sorting out my dask and tidying up a bit.  Then I just got tired!!! And toddled off to amuse myself on-line.

And then watched Dr Who (with princelet - how honered am I :-0)  ) now I am in bed with fidget sharing a couple of sweeties - have you tried those Werther's Originals with chocolate yet?  Well don't - far too yummie for real people to control!!

Will have stuff to share tomorrow - promise!


Yours
kitten xxx

Friday 20 May 2011

Do YOU Stack Up? - DT call

I know you are playing along with DYSU? - how about working with us as well??

Sound good??

Message from our leader Alison -
I’m so excited to announce that DYSU is looking for 2-3 super awesome people to join its design team! Do you love sharing your creative projects with others and love to get free products just for being creative? Then this call is for you! I’m looking for crafty individuals for a 6 month commitment beginning July 1st, 2011! (DT Lead will start training right away)
**Important.. I am looking for ..

one person to be the DYSU DT Lead.. unfortunately our amazing Lead DT Janna is leaving, we wish her the best and she will be missed...
if you are interested in being the DYSU DT Lead then please put LEAD by your name when adding your blog..
As a design team member you’ll get:
-free crafting products each month
-an invitation to our DT PCP group..(DT members only)
-A special DYSU DT Badge to wear proudly on your blog
-you will be able to be included on our hops as well

-As a design team member I expect the following:
-Complete at least 1 project per week with the inspiration given. They can be any combination of cards, scrapbook pages, altered items, or anything else you’d like to create!
-Share the projects on your blog
-spread the word about DYSU Challenges
-Comment on entries
To enter hop over to the Do You Stack Up? Chalenge Blog - and add yourself to linky

- go on - - you know you want too


Yours
kitten xx

Thursday 19 May 2011

Do You Stack Up? Challenge - #20 Cellery, White and Sea Glass Blue

This week at Do You Stack Up? we have a colour challenge

And our sponcers are
The Stamping Boutique - who are giving the winner 5 digis of their choice

Deb's Creations are giving 2 fairies






Squiggle have $10 dollers to spend in their shop up for grabs



I used the apron image from The Stamping Boutique - and I did each one in a different colour to match the theme.  I just happened to have a scrap of scrapbook paper that was the same colours - I almost always end up using the back patterns of double sided papers - strange.




Yours
kitten xx

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Stretch N Bubbles

I am off for a couple of days - so a really quickie

Tri-fold pyramid card - with Saraphena from the SHOP.

These are pre-cut card blanks (I know - How bad am I ;-) ) - but think about putting the image outside the card shape

hmmmmm




Yours
kitten xx

Life

I am going away for a couple of days guys -  don't know what I am doing at the moment and I really have to rest.  I am going to stop over at my mum's old flat - and NO internet - so I will be very quiet

back soon xxx

Yours
kitten xx

Monday 16 May 2011

Day off

Monday is kitten's day off
Been in the hospital all morning for tests - I am fine just stinking headache and totally shattered - in bed now.



Yours
kitten xx

Sunday 15 May 2011

Stretch N Bubbles

Now this is silly fun - seem to be in that sort of mood lately

I saw the Ack  - in the Shop here -
and I thought - huum that would look great cut out-


So I enlarged it to just smaller than A6 and printed it onto white card.  Then I stuck the image onto an A5 card blank with the card fold at the top, along the line of the roof.  I cut around all the animals and the boat - ran a black marker round all the edges to disguisez the join and male them stand out more and roughly added a bit of water colour to the shapes.  I wanted to keep it fairly rough and scratchy

Yours
kitten xx

Saturday 14 May 2011

Scraps

I am an absolute monkey for fiddling with bits and then putting them in my filing tray (and it really is a wooden tray!) - and forgetting all about them.  since I have had a real paperwork blitz today - I had a rummage and clear out of my filing tray too.

I came across this greeting that I had written for something and then changed my mind and kept it for 'later' - and I found a couple of stitched swirl pieces that I had saved.  I found some background paper that had a lot of brown in it - and added the flowers and blue gems to match the background - then matted the stitched piece with gold to match the beads.  The text I matted with gold too and added a few blue gems.

I think it is harder to work up a piece this way round - rather than starting with the paper colours as I normally would - but it's a great feeling to create something new from odd left overs




PS - Blogger had a hitch the other night and lost a whole days postings from every one - so if you thought you saw something - or you entered a challenge - and it's gone - you are not going mad (well not just yet anyway) - blame Blogger!!

Please all check any blog challenge you have entered - including Do You Stack Up?
Yours
kitten xx

Friday 13 May 2011

Stretch N Bubbles

The little lad next door asked me to make him something 'happy' to hang in his window and look at.  Guess he is waking up way too early in these light nights.

I used this Surf dude from the shop HERE


I made 1 image quite large (it is 6") - then I 'copy-ed' it - and 'flip-ed' one of the images - so that you get 2 image that you can put back to back.  Very simple, and quick Copic colouring - he stood and watched me colour it - and chose the colours - but I did draw the line at blue hair!  I put some 3D glaze on the glasses and he is absolutely fascinated by the shininess.

Small tip - if you add your length of ribbon with the fold INSIDE the shape and the 2 ends loose - you can tie it over a curtain pole easily


Very simple - but he is so thrilled with it - bless 'em

Yours
kitten xx

Thursday 12 May 2011

Do You Stack Up? Challenge #19 Add a Tag

Darling blogger ate all the posts over thurs/friday bless 'em - so I am putting back a copy(ish) - can't restore the comments though


Hey hey everyone :)
Thanks so much for a gorgeous purple week! Please check previous post for Winner, Top 3 and upcoming guest designer of challenge #18. Today we have a fabulous new challenge for you:

Add a tag! Any size, any colour, we are more than curious what you will create this time :D

This week´s sponsors are:


Lauretta´s Digi Stamps: 4 images of choice


Lili of the Valley: £10 gift voucher


Robyn´s FetishEITHER 5 digital stamps OR 4 digital stamps and 1 paper pack




Yours
kitten xx

Wednesday 11 May 2011

WOYWW

You are all so kind (hugs) - I am fine - really.  It's just the menopause and fibro/ME - don't really work together - totally flattened me - especially after those really super days of getting on and doing stuff!

I  have had a better day today - the guys went to the vets for their yearly checkup and booster jabs - the palace guard dog has put on 1kg (don't think so!!!) and has the starting of a cataract in one eye (not stressing over that - very small yet and only in 1 eye) - fidget is disgustingly fine.

I did take a snap of my work bench for you today - not much happening - still very sore - but stuff to show.

Those of you who drop in will know I have been redecorating my summer house.  I recovered a small casse that I keep my stitching / repair stuff / scissors / pins in to match the 'green' theme (don't ask me about sizes - I just drew round it and guessed!).  That is the case standing at the back. 


And I have been trying to think of a way to cover the blue bits in the door handles - found this wonderful green glitter card that I am going to cut squares out of to cover it.

Went over to Janet's I know Jane would have a brainwave - and it's perfect.  I have 5 handles - each with 3 blue inner squares and I am going to cover each of them with a piece of this lovely glitter card (looks much better in the bigger photo) so that it matches the rest of the colour scheme

Oh - and I bought a couple of gems when I was there too - well you do - don't you ;-x

Sharing with WOYWW today
It's Do You Stack Up? tomorrow - and I also have some Stretch n Bubbles to share - so keep dropping in

Yours
kitten xx

Tuesday 10 May 2011

life

Guess who's been poorly over the weekend??

Sorry I have been missing - still a bit 'off' but trying to get about


Yours
kitten xx

Friday 6 May 2011

Friday

I tell you what - my weather theory is defiantly gaining more ground!

I was very tired and weary this morning - still awake about 6am and up at 8am though - and it was overcast and rainy.  I did do loads of kitchen cleaning (almost finished now), but I was really struggling to keep going.  Later this afternoon - when all the rain had passed and the sky cleared - and the sun came out - I was much brighter. 

I did not really do tons after lunch (good old fashioned beef and dumpling casserole - I made yesterday), because I was just so weary.  but, I defiantly picked up as the afternoon wore on and improved - and now I am fine again

And the morale is - life is odd!

Yours
kitten xx

New card

How cool is this??
The butterfly is a new Woodware one.  I saw it and hought - ohhh colouring.  I am really getting into single colour bands at the moment - they look so fresh and spring/summer-like.  The swirl is 'my new die' but cut from an inked card that I made to match - it is a green alcohol ink mis with silver - and there is silver in the matting which does not show on the scan.  The strange 'hole-ie' stuff at the back is sequin waste - I love sequin waste!
 And the tiny dots are liquid pearl dots - love liquid pearls too!

Yours
kitten xx

life

just a bit of amazing nonsence before I go and cook the dinner

http://www.nzwide.com/swanlake.htm

Yours
kitten xx

Thursday 5 May 2011

Do You Stack Up? Challenge - #18 Purple

Hey everyone!
Another week flew by so fast and here we are again, sharing DYSU challenge #18 with you! This week it´s all about purple, the colour of dignity, wisdom and balance!


This week´s sponsors:


Copic Marker Scrapbooking: is giving 6 copic ciao marker (North & South America only), Martha Stewart punch (other countries)

Glitterbabe: is giving 2 images of winner’s choice
Stretch N Bubbles: is giving any 4 images of choice to winner and 2 images to each TOP 3!


A FEW RULES
  • our DT would love to leave comments on your blogs, please remove word verification to make this process easier (see right side bar for a how-to guide).
  • only 3 entries per person per Challenge
  • make sure to link back to this challenge and mention it on your blog in your blog post
  • no back linking
  • entries that do not fit the requirements will not be eligible for Winner or Top 3
  • Mr. Linky closes at 2pm on wednesdays

I have used the butterfly from Glitterbabe.  I made them quite small and set them onto an embossed tree leaf background - we have all got somesort of tree / twig / branch type embossing folder - add a few punched flowers - and bingo


Yours
kitten xx

Wednesday 4 May 2011

WOYWW

One of the very, very best things about crafting and art as a life style is all the goodies you get to play with.

My hubby bought me this wooden drawer chest years ago - and it has been screaming out for a proper use ever since

And now it has one - as my flower keeper.

I had a lovely time this afternoon sorting out all my flowers from the big box they were in - now they are all sorted into colour sets - and looking so neat

will upload the images tomorrow - it's getting late and I am tired - and I can't find my camera.

Hay found it in the kitchen - I am so chuffed with my new flower storage
 
adding this to What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday (just a bit late!!)

Yours
kitten xx

Tuesday 3 May 2011

Stretch N Bubbles

Out did myself today - got so involved in this I forgot to put the dinner on!

Now - you have seen this flower before - but this is a totally new version

I wanted to start work on a new project I have in mind and make a wrapper / box that would turn a bar of chocolate into a special present.

I fiddled about for ages with the closing flap and could not settle on how to keep it closed - then I decided to go for a band.  I don't think I have ever done that before - I always seen to use ribbons.  The flower is layered (now that's a surprise!) - and the centre is a pearly green brad that just happened to be the exact same size - only got the one - goodness knows where it came from.  And I made a little tag to match.

 The view with the band slipped off and the flap open.  It is the exact size to slip a decent size bar of chocolate into - great to tart up a baby sitter's gift or the like

oh - the chocie bar? - - emmmm it was yesterday that I went shopping - - and I have put it in a very (very) safe place

Yours
kitten xx

Monday 2 May 2011

Day off

Monday is kitten's day off

and guess what


Bring it on ! ! !

Yours
kitten xx

Sunday 1 May 2011

Life and a new card

I am very gently and slowly working my round the kitchen having a 'serious' clean out.  Today I spent a couple of hours cleaning/restoring the white plastic double glazing units on the back door and kitchen window (inside and out) - and I got serious with the glass so that now you can see through it - and washed the kitchen mat - swept the lower patio and outside the back gate.  I am so chuffed with myself that it's all neat and clean.

And this afternoon - I made a card.  Someone who is moving has given me a bunch of gatefold blanks. That's a bit of a novetly for me - now I have a bunch of something that HAS to be used and is different from stuff I would normally do.

This is my very first attempt.  The whole thing evolved because I had the tag (made it for something else and it did not quite suit) - and I wanted to use it up.  I hate to throw anything away!  The image is a Woodware clear, from a set I have had for ages - used because it had a flower - and HAY look - the swirly green die-cut from my new cutter die.  Told you - will show up in everything.

I have got 10 blanks of this size (square) - and an un-opened pack of gate A6 - so loads of playing to do yet!

Thanks for the card blanks guys - and happy new home

Yours
kitten xx