Inspired by Penny Black Day 2...

Hi folks...Day 2 of my "Inspired by Penny Black" makes already and today I'm sharing another of my favourite favourite Penny Black Stamps...

Venetian Summer...

this gorgeous image reminds me of my very first visit to Venice...not only was I overwhelmed by the beautiful architecture and all those iconic images...the Canals...the Gondoliers...the Rialto Bridge and St Mark's Square but amazed by the Venetian women...very chic...each and every one turned out like a fashion model...elegant...beautifully dressed and highly perfumed which was a welcome distraction from the rather pungent canal smells that assault your nostrils on a baking hot Italian Summer's day...

And despite this gorgeous lady being a very girly image...I couldn't resist giving her a little bit of a Tim Holtz Grungy make-over...

I have to confess to not being the best colourer in the world and up to now I've sometimes struggled with the whole water colouring Distress Marker technique...don't you just hate when the paper begins to pill the minute it's wet and the whole blending thing turns into a nightmare...well let me tell you if you've been having a hard time...invest in some of  the Distress Watercolor (check out the US spelling) Cardstock from you know who...

I could wax lyrical and use every descriptive adjective in the dictionary but all you really need to know is I think it's FABULOUS so why don't you give it a try and let me know what you think.

I know some of you will have seen the next project before...my DT box for the September Penny Black Saturday Challenge but just in case you haven't...another way to use this gorgeous image...

Monday was floral...today's been girly...tomorrow I'll be sharing some more of my favourite favourite Penny Black stamps and I hope you can join me for some "Cute Critter" fun.

Hugs Kath xxx

Inspired by Penny Black...Day 1

Hi folks...here we go...the first day of a week of sharing "Inspired by Penny Black" makes...I had great fun playing with the gorgeous parcel of goodies that Penny Black and the lovely Jill Foster kindly sent me and to be honest it was difficult to know which stamps to play with first but being a huge fan of anything floral...it had to be...

Field Of Poppies

can you believe it's the last day of September...it's officially Autumn now so I thought I would go with an Autumn inspired palette of colours...lots of Distress Ink blending with a little bit of splattering to create depth and those Flutters Creative Dies from Penny Black are just so cute...

Can you tell that I love the sentiments from the "Simply The Best-Edge to Edge" Transparent Set...perfect for using along the edge of a card or if like me you want to get maximum mileage from your stamps...get a nice pair of sharp scissors (Fiskars of course)...trim to separate the words and then hey presto...you can use them as you like...

 finally a sepia toned card with a little Distress Ink water-colouring...

I'll be back tomorrow to share what I made with the gorgeous Venetian Summer Cling Stamp...one of my favourites.

Hugs Kath xxx

Oh Christmas Tree...

Hi folks...I'm planning on having a lazy Sunday at home day ...snuggled up on the sofa with the Furry Boy exercising the old brain with the Sunday crosswords and the next episode of Downton Abbey in the evening but first I need to unpack the workshop supplies from yesterday's Kath's Klub at The Papeterie...another fun day spent in the company of lovely happy crafty folks.  In the morning we decorated these cute wooden trees...

using Tim's fabulous Distress Stains and gorgeous snowflake stamps from Hero Arts...

and lots of Glamour Dust

the finished trees...

and woohoo a chance to play with Tim's brand new Distress Glitters which are just so gorgeous...

 and after a break for lunch and a crafty natter...we set to work decorating a Christmas Cracker box...

Thanks as always girls for your wonderful company...I'll be back tomorrow and hope you can join me for a week of Inspired by Penny Black makes.

Hugs Kath xxx

A confusing old week...

Hi folks...it's been a confusing old week...our never two days the same weather's been up to it's old tricks again...sunny on Sunday...raining on Monday...foggy and cold on Tuesday...back to sunshine again before wrapping up the week with more rain...it's been a week of decisions...whether to hang the washing on the line or just throw it in the dryer...should I put a sweater on instead of flicking the switch on the central heating.
I struggle on a regular basis to know which day of the week it is...the disadvantage of working from home I suppose is that one day is much like the next but this week my brain has been even more fuddled than normal...making Penny Black makes for next Monday on Tuesday...Tuesday and Wednesday's cards on Wednesday etc etc...wandering around the house asking myself  "what day is it" and I'm sure hubby is wondering if it's time to book the old nursing home. But I think I'm back on track...hopefully...yesterday was Friday...a fun day out with the girls...no we didn't end up at the cinema but that's a whole other story...so today must be Saturday.
I'm off to pack up supplies for today's Kath's Klub classes at The Papeterie...I know at this midnight hour I'm last minute Annie again but I got a little bit distracted...woohoo Autumn TV is back which means lots of cosy snuggled up on the sofa evenings watching Strictly and Downton Abbey.
But I'll leave you with the last (I promise) Penny Black sneaky peeks...

and there's been more happy happy DT mail deliveries from Craftwork Cards and The Ribbon Girl along with a treat for the canine member of the cubbyhole crew from his little pal Haggis.

See you all tomorrow
Hugs Kath xxx

Guess What...

Hi  folks...I'm sure you can guess what I'm going to say...yes it's yet more of those sneaky peeks...

and I'm sure that all you Penny Black lovers out there will recognise the image on this card...if not think elegant lady in a gorgeous Italian location and talking of elegant ladies...the Friday Motley Crew are still debating the venue for today's "kick up our heels" day out...the majority want to go and see the new film about Diana and her heart surgeon lover...I'm not so sure...it certainly isn't getting rave reviews...how accurate is the story going to be when really only 2 people ever knew the truth and Hasnat Khan has always maintained a dignified silence about their relationship...not sure they have chosen the right actress to play the part of the princess we all loved either but I may be out voted...hey I'm not rocking the boat nor biting the hand that feeds me...I'm quite willing to compromise my principles for the sake of a free lunch.

And whilst I'm sharing my lack of principles...I may as well confess to my ever worrying lack of willpower and tell you that happy happy mail's been arriving at the cubbyhole again...yes I'll definitely be on the naughty step when the cubbyhole crew see this...

all very necessary in the pursuit of art...don't you know and how was I going to resist the "15% off everything whilst we're on holiday" e-mail that popped into my Inbox from the lovely Brenda and David at Craft Obsessions and there's more "couldn't resist" goodies winging their away across the pond as we speak from Simon Says Stamp...yes I've well and truly overspent on the crafty budget this month so it's just as well I'm not the one buying lunch today.

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

Sneaky Peek Thursday...

Hi folks...just when I was thinking I was sorted for a week of "just having fun" me crafting time...I got a rude awakener when an e-mail arrived from Fiskars confirming my hotel reservations for the NEC...blimey it was a "bring me back down to earth" moment when I realised that 6 weeks today will be the opening day of the show and guess what...I haven't even given prepping workshop kits a second thought so I had to abandon yesterday's inky fun and dash to The Papeterie to order up the card and papers I will need to get that particular production marathon up and running.
But I do have some sneaky peeks of what I managed to make before my playtime was so rudely interrupted...

once that order is ready to pick up...chaos and production line mayhem will descend on the cubbyhole...prepping 240 workshop kits has a habit of taking over the cubbyhole crew's every waking hour so if the planned "Inspired By Penny Black" week of makes is going to happen...I'd better get a move on.

See you all tomorrow
Hugs Kath xxx

What's On My Workdesk Wednesday...

Hi folks...crikey I can't remember the last time I joined in the fun over at Julia's place...that worldwide WOYWW phenomenon where lots of lovely crafty folks from around the globe gather to invite us into their crafting spaces so here's what's on the cubbyhole workdesk today...

kitting up for the afternoon class at Kath's Klub at The Papeterie on Saturday and naughty naughty but I'm sharing a little sneaky peek of the Christmas Cracker Box we're making...

and if I can persaude the cubbyhole crew to get a move on...maybe I can have some me crafting time for a change with the gorgeous goodies that Penny Black sent me to play with...

I've been itching to get these guys acquainted with an ink pad and if nobody upsets the crafty apple cart...I'm hoping to share a week of Penny Black Inspired makes with you all next week.

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

Christmas Scrapbook...

Hi folks...wow it looks like we're having a bit of an Indian Summer and it's strange but very true that when the sun is shining it seems to put a whole different perspective on your day...it's a pleasure to be up bright and early...getting the laundry out on the line and whizzing around with Mr Dyson before setting off for our morning stroll...the best way to start the day.
I'm knee deep in stuff that I can't share with you just yet...the story of my life at the moment but I've been digging through the archives and backing up photo files and lo and behold it's amazing what you find...a project I did months ago and because I couldn't share at the time...it got forgotten...a Christmas Scrapbook Page Fiskars asked me to make featuring the AdvantEdge Punch System for display leaflets available in Staples Stores in Norway don't you know and what better papers to use than the Nordic themed "Christmas In The Country" by Papermania...

But it's back to the production line and who knows I may just manage to sneak in a few little peeks tomorrow...it's high time I was paying a visit to all the lovely folks over at WOYWW...it's been far too long since I popped in to share what on my workdesk.

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

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