My Forgetful Valentine

Morning folks....I recently received an e-mail from Emily at Most Wanted...the lifestyle blog of Vouchercodes.co.uk. They are running a challenge ahead of Valentine's Day and would I like to join in the fun and create a Valentine inspired tutorial for their.....

well you know me...never one to duck a challenge and I knew the very thing.

It just so happens that I had loads of the new Hero Arts sitting on my desk......now there's a surprise and the perfect gift for my absent minded husband would be a desk calendar to jog his terrible memory.  Would you believe he once committed the most heinous of crimes of forgetting my birthday....only happened once and I'm sure you can guess why.
So here we go folks....and apologies in advance for the pic overload....perhaps a cuppa and a comfy sofa might be a good idea.....

Stamps: Hero Arts

Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks 

Cut A4 card White Cardstock to 14.5cm...score and fold to create a square easel card.

Cut 2 pieces of Kraft Card 14cm x 14cm..stamp with S5433 Large Canvas Stripes inked with Frayed Burlap.  

Ink edges with Brushed Corduroy and fix as shown

Cut watercolour paper to 14cm x 6.5cm and 12cm x 10cm...stamp with CG138 Ledger inked with Frayed Burlap....punch with Spiral Border and ink edges with Brushed Corduroy

  fix as shown

 Create a heart shape...I was too lazy to fire up the Cricut and just drew it freehand....stamp with S5433 Large Canvas Stripes inked with Stormy Sky....stamp sentiment from CQ280 - My Type inked with Versafine Black Onyx and Heart Icon from CL488 - Type inked with Frayed Burlap...decorate with Vintage Seam Binding tied in a knot.

 Create small notelets and hold together with Tim Holtz Hinge Clip

 Fix heart to front of card using 3D Foam Pads leaving space at the top to place the notelets

 Stamp the typewriter image from CQ280 - My Type twice onto watercolour paper....cut out the first image leaving a small border.....cut out the parts shown from the second image

 Using the solid Circle Icon from CL488 - Type inked with Brushed Corduroy stamp circles as shown overstamping with letters in Versafine Black Onyx from CL492 - Typewriter Letters

 Cut a slit with a craft knife along the edge of where the paper would fit into the typewriter and slide the second stamped image in...curl the paper with a pencil and fix in place with 3D Foam Pads...also fix the keyboard with 3D Foam Pads

Punch out the remaining letters and fix in place with 3D foam pads....

to the left hand side fix a calendar pad

I hope you've enjoyed my little tutorial and if you want to join in the challenge the deadline is 11th February...you can find out all details HERE.  I'm off to put the kettle on and relax after wrestling with Mr Blogger to get all these pics uploaded...what do you bet he doesn't get many Valentine cards.

I do believe The Furry Boy will be joining you tomorrow....oh yes he's been having a rummage again.

Hugs Kath xxx

The Best Laid Plans

Morning folks....after weeks of working on demo and workshop stuff....the intention was to take off the "work hat" and have a little fun making some challenge cards but hey things didn't quite go according to plan and in the words of Rabbie Burns...."the best laid plans o' mice an' men gaun aft agley".
You may remember on Friday I set off on a little trip to Simply Create with the intention of buying just what was on my crafty list....so why is it the minute I step through the door my eyes hone in on anything that is new....and boy was I smitten when I saw this Hemp Cord.....

Perhaps a crafty chat...a coffee and a muffin with my lovely buddy Anne will distract me....not a bit....I was in "must have it" mode so ignoring the little man on my shoulder I threw caution to the wind and stocked up....9 metres of each colour on a card...an absoute snip at the price.
But enough of my willpower problems....back to the real reason for my shopping trip.  Just wanted to say a big cubbyhole thank you for all the lovely comments on my Hero Arts Week...so I threw all the names into Mr Random Thingy's hat and this cute cling set from Hero Arts 2011 catalogue......

and a selection of the Hemp Cord will be winging it's way to......
ALI
e-mail me with your address Ali and I will get the goodies off in the post tomorrow.

The other reason for my trip out to Simply Create was to pick up the parcel of goodies that my lovely buddy Tina brought along to the Demo Day.....in the hustle and bustle of packing up sadly it got left behind....check out the gorgeous cheer me up card....fabulous felt flower brooch and yummy chutney.....there were 2 jars but the beetroot chutney has gone down a storm with hubby...I knew I should have hidden it.....thank you so much lovely lady for your kindness....

 big hugs and snuggles to you and your Furry Bundles...

But there is a distinct lack of challenge cards....well we can blame it on another Furry Bundle....yes that sweet snuggly bundle of golden deliciousness decided he needs his very own customised set of cards to send out with his give-aways....what on earth is the world coming to..... 

all his own design and coloured in with the Aquamarkers that my lovely buddy Debbi gave me to play with.....oh dear I feel another crafty spend coming on.  And if you would like to receive one of the Furry Boy's exclusive cards then you need to join him bright and early on Tuesday morning because he has been rampaging through the cubbyhole filling his boots again.

Another of my new addictions....Seam Binding is back in stock at The Ribbon Girl in lots of gorgeous colours....

so get yourselves over there pronto because this stuff is much in demand and disappears like hot cakes.  The Ribbon Girl Blog are having a Seam Binding Give-Away on Tuesday 1st February so make sure you pay a visit to check it out and the lucky winner of Colour Challenge 4 will be announced tomorrow.

I'll catch up with you all bright and early tomorrow when I'll be sharing a fun project along with a tutorial and I've been playing with the Hero Arts again.

Hugs Kath xxx

Penny Black Saturday Challenge...Week 136

Morning folks....how quickly Saturday comes around every week and of course that means it's time for another challenge over at Penny Black Saturday.   Thanks for sharing all your crafty bargains or purchases with us last week and hey gorgeous gorgeous creations as always....pop on over and see who's won the delicious ribbon from FR Ribbons.
The challenge this week is a fab sketch from our lovely teamie PAULINE and I know how you all love your sketches....so can't wait to see what you come up with for this one.  After a few weeks of working with Hero Arts creating backgrounds with stamps it was time to delve into the cubbyhole mountain of patterned papers and one of my favourites at the moment is from MME.
A whole quarter of a 12x12 used on this card and at this rate I have a way to go before I make any kind of dent in this old paper mountain.

Papers: MME...Lost And Found

Image: Penny Black 4036K...Poppy Poem

Vintage Seam Binding coloured with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink....The Ribbon Girl

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

Lace....Hero Arts

Bling from stash

Sentiment: LOTV....Set 7 Circular Sentiments...For You

And the prize this week from

PB Stamps

15% off lifetime discount voucher

pop on over and have a browse....you may be there for some considerable time..

thousands of gorgeous Penny Blacks to tempt you all together with great customer service from the lovely Dick and he has a very very special offer on at the moment on those fabulous dies that we all love

Can't wait to see what you all create this week....will be popping by to pay you all a visit...in the meantime have lots of fun crafting and make sure you join us at Penny Black Saturday next Saturday....we have a special super duper treat for you all.

Hugs Kath xxx

Hero Arts Week....Day 5

Morning folks....the last day of my Hero Arts Week and I've kept my favourite stamps sets until last....

 a little sneaky peek of a project....I'll be sharing with you on Monday

the new love of my life.....gorgeous seam binding from The Ribbon Girl

jazzing up a notebook from Asda...which cost the princely sum of 13p.

 a little tip from the cubbyhole.....to get that little bit of extra mileage from your stamp sets.....certain sentiments lend themselves to a little bit of snipping....

 just make sure that you use extra sharp scissors and cut carefully between each word but they will fit snuggly together again on your acrylic block if necessary...

and for those who have been asking for pics of Saturday's Demo day.....well I never had a chance to get the camera out.....these come courtesy of Kirsti...my lovely Simply Create teamie....

Hope you have enjoyed sharing some of my favourite Hero Arts from the 2011 catalogue....thanks Hero Arts for the TWEET.....I'll see you all tomorrow for another fab challenge over at Penny Black Saturday and if all goes according to plan....I may just have a challenge card done for Sunday.    But it's time for our morning stroll and then I am off on a little trip to pick up a little surprise for one lucky cubbyhole visitor.

Hugs Kath xxx

Hero Arts Week...Day 4

Morning folks....hey it's Day 4 already of my Hero Arts Week and today it's all about flowers...a virtual flower fest in fact....

a slightly different version

I love this little cling stamp.....great for making your own customised backgrounds...

Small Solid Flower

Well that's it for today folks....catch up with you all tomorrow for the final day of my Hero Arts Week.

Hugs Kath xxx

It's Your Favourite Furry Boy

Morning folks....sorry I've been neglecting all my favourite bloggy buddies but the crafty girl's been hogging the computer and I've had to stamp my feet and throw a hissy fit to get on this morning because I have some fabby news to share with you all.  First of all 2 very special girls are celebrating their birthdays today....my lovely buddies DEBBI and JENNY....so time for a little sing song folks....all together now....

Happy Birthday To You

Happy Birthday To You

Happy Birthday Dear Debbi and Jenny

Happy Birthday To You

My invitations to the party must have been lost in the post....so if there is any cake going you know where I am girls

And we've been given an award by the lovely SUE...well I  say we....but I know that she really means ME but sent it to us both just so the crafty girl didn't get the hump....very diplomatic of you Sue. Thank you so much Sue....just goes to show you have impeccable taste and to be honest I 'm surprised that I don't get awards more often considering my contribution to this crafty blogging thing...of course there are rules attached but.have you ever known me to play by the rules and no way could I choose out of all the lovely bloggers out there....so on this occasion I will pass.  

And finally....the news you have all been waiting for......the winner of my little give-away is....

SAGGISOO

And all you gotta do is e-mail me your address and I will make sure that Mum hot foots it to the Post Office with your goodies.  Time for my morning stroll and then back home for a power snooze I think before I hit the cubbyhole for another rummage.....the Crafty Girl will be back later with Day 4 of her Hero Arts Week.

Big Hugs and Furry Snuggles 

BUDDY xxx

Hero Arts Week...Day 3

Morning folks....already it's Day 3 of my Hero Arts Week and something a little bit different.....I recently found some M&S photo frames hiding in the cubbyhole during one of my tidy up days.....so I decided to have a little Hero Arts fun with the photo mount....perfect for a demo sample showcasing a variety of different stamp sets....

you could fit it back into the frame but I rather liked it free standing attached to the backing board

slightly different version that I made at the demo day at Simply Create

and this time I attached the photo mount onto the front of the frame....

                                                  friendly flags                  live life                    blossom art

                                                                           Design Block..Dots & Flowers

TH Distress Inks....Stormy Sky....Brushed Corduroy

See you all tomorrow for Hero Arts Day 4.....in the meantime a little sneaky peek...

and The Furry Boy will be popping over with some bloggy news and the winner of his Penny Black give-away

Hugs Kath xxx