Thursday 31 May 2012

Do You Stack Up - #74 Under the sea


* $10 Gift Certificate 

* Winner’s Choice of 3 Digis

* $15 Gift Certificate

The sea and beach themes are one of my favourites - I had a ball with this!!!!!!!

I am just re-discovering mixed media work - prompted by my sessions with Ester Gundry - and the wonderful new space I have available to work in now.

These just blow my socks off! - based on small canvas (from The Works)  - the canvas is painted with cream - then inked and over painted - stamped .  The solid blue you can see in the bottom corner is one of the new Cor'denations glitter papers stamped with silver swirls.  The seahorses are  from Sweet and Sassy Stamps (Sally seahorse) - inserted 5  images on my page - then made them all different sizes - and flipped a couple so that they faced the other way.  Cut them out - then shaped them to a lovely rounded shape and layered over each other.  And I made the felt flowers by just cutting a spiral in felt and rolling it up.  The wonderful thing about canvases is that you don't have to worry about how much things stand out - in fact - the more the better!  The blue 'sand' is one of those Beadazzled pots - looks super.


Yours
kitten xx

Tuesday 29 May 2012

Shop talk

The guys have promised that they will sort out the Internet this week - so I should be able to get back to nattering away like a lunatic again ;-)

I have finally got all the boxes unpacked and sorted out - I am not on a second sorting to work out what is going where.

There are loads of small embellishment goodie bags at small change prices - and I have cleared out and bundled a lot of card blanks - INCLUDING 3 panel aperture ones.  I know stitchers in particular are always on the look out for these.  Again in small 4/5/6 packs around £1 - £1.50.  All sorts of finishes of card - including a wonderful holographic glitter and several pearly look ones

The card candi is proving to be very popular with you all - I shall be doing a top up order in the next couple of weeks - just as soon as the new animal print ones arrive in the wholesalers.  Yes - animal prints - they are just magic.

The storage boxes that are designed for the Candi work really well - I have one and there is one out on 'test'.  They are all held very securely so they won't get muddled (or spill all over the floor :-0 )

I do have a few storage boxes left - I will be getting more when I re-order Candi

Yours
kitten xx

Thursday 24 May 2012

Do You Stack Up Challenge #73 - A little bird told me



Last week was a real challenge wasn't it - we all had our brains worked with that one :-)

This week we are in a spring mood and we want to see the birdies

Meljen's Designs - http://www.meljensdesigns.com/
* Winner Choice of 4 Images


Robyn's Fetish - http://robynsfetish.com
* Winner’s Choice of 5 Digital Stamps



I had a 'free' week this week - meaning I did not get assigned an image.  I usually do use something from one of our sponsors - but this time I wanted to do something totally different - so I made a load of paper origami cranes and made them up as a mobile for my son - he loves it and actually has it hanging up in his room.

I will put this post right as soon as I get home on Thursday - I promise

Yours
kitten xx

Tuesday 22 May 2012

Shop talk

I picked up some super little alterable items at the wholesaler last week.

This fab little calico tote is really thick heavy fabric - and it's only £1.50 - you could paint or stamp on it - you can also stitch on it for a really different effect

Also - a couple of really strong little boxes to decorate. - Square - and round - only £1.20 each.  These are really solid - you could layer loads of paint with no warping troubles


I also picked up some more ribbon sorting boxes - these are just magic for storing shorter lenghts - and you can have 2 or 3 smaller bundles pushed through each hole - so you can organise loads.  It is made from corrugated card - so it's light weight - and you could even tear and distress for an amazing effect. - Just £3.00


so go on - get altering!

Yours
kitten xx

Sunday 20 May 2012

Do You Stack Up - Design team call

Hello everyone - this is a special post because we are having a DT Call to fill our 2012 Term 2.

We are looking for *four* special girls who can Stack It Up with us! This is going to be a short & fast call, so if this is something you would be interested in...link up!!

What is required of you?

-create a project each week for our challenge using the challenge theme that week
-meet deadlines or communicate in advance if there is something preventing you from meeting your deadlines

-commenting on blogs; each dt member has blog #'s that are assigned to her, you must comment on your blog numbers. You may comment on others that you love and inspire you, but your numbers are a minimum and your responsibility to cover.

-be an active member on the DYSU Papercrafts Planet forum group

-have a wonderful positive attitude and a love to push yourself to create outside the box

What you will receive...

-first an amazing bunch of ladies to work with...these girls are so supportive in the crafty world and your personal world...This is truly a DYSU family.

-you will get free products each week (some will be digital products, some will be physical products depending on the sponsor/s that week)

-DT badge

-you will get to help pick the Top Three each week

-experience of a lifetime :)

Your term will start on June 1st to Dec 31, 2012. If at that time you and everyone feels like you are a great fit for the DYSU team and wish to stay on for another term, you'll have a chance...:) So what are you waiting for? Link up to your blog, and we'll be visiting you.

This call will end on May 25th (as we have physical product that needs to be shipped out to the new members)
Happy crafting & Good luck to all!
Yours
kitten xx

Window display

Please forgive the poor picture - I took it to late in the day and the sun was in the wrong place

The focus of the window display this week has been 'For the Guys' - yep - back on my kick to get cards for the chaps out there.  It's wonderful too have a window to design again. I trained as a window dresser back in the1980s - I even won a couple of prizes!


Dead chuffed with it for a first try - can't decide whether to do a baby feature - or on on the alterables - picked up some wicked things to alter at the wholesalers this week


Yours
kitten xx

Saturday 19 May 2012

WOW - radio

WE were on the radio!!!!

I was just stirring up the spag bol - like you do - and Eddie Mair said ' it's not often we get an email from a kitten and a goat' - wow - that's us

Shouted up the garden path the the goat

here is the catch up link


we start at 16.32 (ish) so you don't have to listen to it all

Ps - I am sure they have done something to the recording - I don't really sound this sexy!!!!

Yours
kitten xx

Thursday 17 May 2012

Do You Stack Up Challenge #72 - Landscapes



Welcome back to DYSU for another round of fun! Did you guys have fun with the Use a Flower challenge last week? It's time for another challenge and this week we're asking you to Create A Landscape! 
So, get your thinking caps on, and lets see your interpretation of landscapes!

We have 3 wonderful sponsors this week:

Copic Marker Scrapbooking
* 6 copic ciao marker (North/South America), Martha Stewart punch (rest of the world) 

Pink Cat Studio
* Winner’s Choice of 5 Digis



The Ribbon Reel
£10 Gift Voucher


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 bet you don't use the Copic Marker Scrapbooking site as a resource for Copic work!  Well just have a rummage about and you will finds loads of information and ideas.

This is a scene of theirs with several hot air balloons and some country side.  Just to show you how you can pick and choose - I have printed the scene twice (different sizes) and cut our just the balloons.  They are raised on foam pads over a cloud pattern paper - and I cut the greeting to look like a cloud.
Yours
kitten xx

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Shop talk

This weeek  My big aim is to get all the Zutter Bind-It-All stock sorted.

As you may know I am now an agent for these - mainly because I use it al so much and really love it.  I have had huge problems getting the larger sizes of wires for months now so the only way round it was to go it alone.

It is fairly complicated (for me) to get all the stock sorted out.  I like to sell the wires as singles - who wants a box of 6 of a colour?  Only me!

So stay tuned for all the different board sizes being listed on the site - and more stock will be added to the wires as I unpack and re-count them.



It's all in the Bind-It-All section of the shop


Yours
kitten xx

Sunday 13 May 2012

I am at home - having a very chilled relaxing day today after all the business of yesterday.

I am trying to be very careful with myself - and the old goat keeps telling me off every time I go and do anything.  I have nearly cleared out the old office - I am going to turn it in to a quiet reading area for when I am on my rest days.  I still have the bench built in - so I will still be colouring ink tense cards for the Pencil Museum ;-)

I have catching on with the net stuff - playing my game on face book - spending money at the wholesalers (that is soooo much fun!)  - doing my commenting on the DYSU Challenge blog

I have just picked up this weeks freebie from Bugaboo - really super image for summer (or zodiac card - must get full use of everything!)

Got a pan of Pork and ratatouille on the go - with new potatoes

And that's my day - early night and shopping in the morning

Yours
kitten xx

Saturday 12 May 2012

Shop

Wow -wow - WOW - first full week of trading in a 'real' shop.

I guess I had not really taken in just what an impact it was going to have on my personal life - I have been totally over whelmed by people just 'dropping by' to see what it was all about.  We have opened fairly low key - those of you who really know me understand just how poorly I have been and how gently I have to take things until I get my strength back - so we have not had a 'bells and whistles' launch.

Anyway - this week I got my paper stacks sorted. 1 stack of 12" and 2 stacks of A4 (need more trays of A4 though for all the parchmarque)

AND

The old Goat was here sketching today - because - - -

The sign had arrived - how cool is that sign!!!
That is exactly what the old goat drew made up on some sort of fibre board and it's our sign.

We have not made  huge opening fuss yet - I have to look after my health and be sooo careful - but we have had several customers and loads of interest from people - crafters who know their way about - totally new starters - artists wanting to hire the window - business contacts who had not really realised just what we do.

I don't think it had really sunk in that this venture would fill a gap in the town and be really welcomed - feeling the love guys

Yours
kitten xx

Friday 11 May 2012

Friday

I have had to schedule my blog post this week - the IT guys have promised that I will be on line at the shop sometime this week.

So if you are reading this - I am still not online and have not been able to add anything in the way of gossip - so here is a pretty picture instead!!!



Yours
kitten xx

Thursday 10 May 2012

Shelly's images - Carousel - Let's be happy

Shelly's Blog - HERE
Shelly's Images shop - HERE

this week we are being happy with this wonderful merry-go-round horse.  I can remember when these were still very much part of the fair and circus - now they are really rare and a bit of an attraction in them selves.

So what makes me happy? - inks - my cuttlebug - Copics - bright colours - coming up with a new idea.
I think I have broken my tagger though :-(

The plunger won't push through the plastic bit anymore - it's fine when it's empty - just the plastic the keeps getting stuck.  That's why I am not a gadget fan


Do join us with this weeks challenge on the BLOG

Yours
kitten xx

DYSU Challenge #71 - Use a flower

What do we all love?

Flowers - that's what!


Welcome back for another round of fun! Did you guys have fun with the Circles challenge last week? It's time for another challenge and this week we're asking you to USE A FLOWER!

We have 3 amazing sponsors this week:

Inspired Stamps - $15 Store Credit
 

 
Digi Darla - Winners Choice of 5 Digis
 
The Greeting Farm - Winners Choice of 1 Clear Stamp Set


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 loved this image - Gardening Grace from Digi Darla - I think it could be used for so many occasions with so many colour options.  I started with the paper that I wanted to use - that made me go for the purple theme.  The mat is one of the new pearl colours - Dark Purple - all I did was add sets of 3 dots using my white gel pen - looks so neat

Yours
kitten xx

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Scrapper's Delights

Scrapper's delights - SHOP
Scrapper's Delights - BLOG
This little darling is HERE

I am really getting into stamping and colouring onto patterned papers to make a background.  The fairy is cut close and raised over the background - and the flowers are die cuts - much prefer die cutting my flowers to match.

I love the way this has turned out - it's really dimensional


Yours
kitten xx

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Tuesday - shop talk

Back to work - yipppeeee

This weeks game paln is to get the paper tray stacks sorted - and all the 12" pearl card and the Core'dinations costed and up for sale - and the range of 100% re-cycled A4 card stock organised - plus the normal pearl card

it's all going to be listed int he shop - under PAPER & CARD

I do not have internet at the shop yet - so this weeks blog will be a bit sketchy.  The IT guys have promised to get it all up and running sometime this week - so bear with me until we iron out the glitches

Yours
kitten xx

Monday 7 May 2012

Sunday 6 May 2012

sunday - pickies!!!!

We opened and traded yesterday - woooo hoooo

Yes - actually did take a little money - and had several people in for a browse - welcome all

So - this is us - have not done a huge window display as the electricians are coming in the next couple of days to fit spotlights for the display

Some of us have made themselves really at home.  Such a super star - little Henry - so good with the customers - just pops himself into his new bed and waits until mummy is free again to cuddle





Yours
kitten xx

Friday 4 May 2012

Shop update

HUGE progress!!!

The electricians came in and did the safety check this morning - all fine - couple of bits they are going to do for me and a new lighting track coming next week for the window display.

More pickies
my work area starting to come together


 The display shelves and slat wall filling up.


Henry is taking to shop life like a duck to water - he loves it. I got him a super bed in TK Max reduced from £50 (yeah - as if!!!!) down to £20 (much better) - it's really think and warm.

I will be opening for the day tomorrow and hoping for a customer or 2.  From next week the shop will be open Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 4pm.  The IT guys are putting in the broadband at some point mid week - so I should be up and fully functional.

There is still tons to do - but I am going to plod along slowly and concentrate on each little area at a time


Yours
kitten xx

Thursday 3 May 2012

DYSU Challengs #70 - Circles



 Welcome back for another round of fun! Did you guys have fun with the CASE challenge last week? It's time for another challenge and this week we're asking you to USE CIRCLES!

We have two amazing sponsors this week:

Crafty Sentiments - Winner's Choice of 4 images


Folded Paper - Winner's choice of 3 digital stamps




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.
This image is Stampunk Alyssa from Folded Paper.  Thetop layer of clock work / cogs are on the same digi from Folded Paper so you get lots to experiment with.  I copied the cogs 3 times - made them different sizes and roughly overlapped them to get a bigger feature.

I wanted to have a go at this image because I have never done a steampunk look.  The background paper was a scrap in the left overs box - it was a gents paper - strong man or someting like that.  I love all the shadows and texture.

Yours
kitten xx

Shelly's Images - Spring Chic - Don't punch me

Shelly's Blog - HERE
Shelly's Images shop - HERE


I just had to make a new baby card with this - it's so sweet.

I thought it would make a really unusual baby card - and keep it in yellows so that it could be for either
There is no punching - everything is hand cut.  The background has been embossed with Swiss Dots - but the other way round so that the bumps go inwards - just a bit of a change


Do join us with this weeks challenge on the BLOG
Yours
kitten xx

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Srappers Delights

Scrapper's delights - SHOP
Scrapper's Delights - BLOG

I can't believe that we at this time of year again!  Exams and graduations - my son is taking A* and a re-take of something - I loose track.

This is an older image set from Scrapper's Delights - but it's the sort of thing you pull out year after year.  The thing that I love about digis is that you can always change them to give them a new look.  All the background squares are from 1 12" sheet - different sections had different patterns on it - so it all matched super.  I coloured the scroll and cap with Copic cool greys added a ribbon and made a tassel to match.

I love the way it turned out
kitten xx

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Quick update

As I speak - my office is disappearing into cardboard boxes - frantically trying to finish my last projects and hand onto the bits I use the most.

Recent pics - the kitchen / store room is finished.  So much cleaner and neater

The display is starting to go into the shop - all the floors are sloping so the Goat has to make stands for the units to sit on to make them look straight :-)


This is the original beam at the front of the shop.  It is over 300 years old - there is not much left of it - but I bet it could tell some tales.
off to find more boxes!!!

Yours
kitten xx