Thursday, October 31, 2013

One Day At A Time...

Hi folks...I'm still battling with Mr Blogger and his "One Day At A Time" atitude to uploading pics...crikey the daily instalments of Creative Chemistry homework are likely to run into 2014 at the rate he's going...


I have to admit it's been quite a while since he singled me out for torture so I'm hanging on in there and hoping he gets fed up of irritating the life out of me and moves on to pastures new...I just hope he doesn't come knocking at YOUR door. But I seem to be winning the war against Mr Nasty Virus...feeling much better again today but hey I'm not letting my guard down anytime soon...once bitten twice shy as they say...I'll be continuing with the "worth it's weight in gold" mega expensive Manuka Honey medication.
In the meantime Happy Halloween Everyone
I'll see you all tomorrow
Hugs Kath xxx

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Creative Chemistry Homework...

Hi folks...I'm back to share some more of my Creative Chemistry Homework...woohoo it's Day 4 Alcohol Inks and this is the one I wasn't looking forward to...there's bound to be stuff that doesn't really float your boat...just like school first time round and way back then it was Maths and Science...loved English and Latin which gave me a thirst for knowledge and a lifetime passion for books...French/Spanish and Geography which gave me a yearn to travel and see the big wide world but I just couldn't get my head around all that Algebra A + B = C nonsense nor did iron filings or bunsen burners set my world alight...perhaps if Mr TH had been my Professor back then I might just have fallen in love with the chemistry of it all.
So with a little trepidation I unearthed the Alcohol Inks and surprise surprise...I rather enjoyed myself...


and after me working my little cotton socks off to finish Day 4...Mr Awkward Blogger had one of his hissy fits and refused point blank to let me up-load any more pics so fingers crossed he's in a more amiable mood tomorrow.
Hugs Kath xxx

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Mission Accomplished Or Not...

Hi folks...if you popped over this morning expecting a "Mission Accomplished" post with lots of sharing of crafty stuff...I'm sorry to say you are going to be disappointed...I've fallen by the wayside with my intentions...more like Mission Impossible...Mr Nasty Virus/Cold Thingy is back...think I took my eye off the ball on that one...apparently the sneaky beggar left temporarily to regroup and recruit some reinforcements so it's back to sore head/runny nose...the barking like a dog cough and uncontrollable sneezing which presents it's own challenges when you get to the old wrinkly stage of life...enough said.
My fun day out at Hobbycraft probably didn't help either...given the choice of where I wanted to demo...right in the middle of the store or at the front door...I opted for the best location to attract customer attention...
but not so good when the automatic doors were more open than closed and the store is right in the line of fire of the chilly Arctic winds blowing in from the North Sea. It certainly hasn't helped either that the Furry Boy's in built alarm clock hasn't yet adjusted to the clock change...don't do mornings at silly dark chilly o'clock.
But hey ho...I thought I might be able to deal with the interloper peacefully...apparently not...WAR has now been declared...no way is this blighter accompanying me on my trip to Birmingham so I'm off to Tesco to splash the cubbyhole stash cash on yet another jar of Manuka Honey and keep up the 3 times a day routine until I'm absolutely positive that I've seen the last of him.
In the meantime I'm soldering on with my Creative Chemistry homework and will leave you with some cheeky sneaky peeks of time spent having fun with gorgeous die cuts and stamps...



and I'll see you all tomorrow.
Hugs Kath xxx

Monday, October 28, 2013

"12 Tags of 2013"...October

Hi folks...Monday morning comes around again...the last week in October and if that wasn't scary enough...Thursday is Halloween...All Hallows Eve...the night that the ghosties and ghouls come out to play and no surprise that Tim chose it as the theme for this month's tag over at "12 Tags of 2013"...
Another adapt and overcome month for me and I will forgive you for thinking that I've played fast and loose with all the ingredients...definitely pulling the old "artistic licence" trick on this one seeing as I didn't have any of those dies and what possessed me to think in what can only be described as a moment of madness that I wouldn't need all the colours of the gorgeous Distress Glitters.  So this month it's Kath's gone off on a tangent again...


but it was great fun to make and I have to confess to having a little giggle to myself wondering if Tim and Mario go out trick and treating which reminds of a fun story involving the Furry Boy's predecessor Ben...the friendliest...most obedient...calmest laid back Goldie on the planet...that is until I opened the door on a dark...wild and windy Halloween night to 2 little ghosts who threw their arms in the air and shouted BOO...blimey even I nearly jumped out of my skin at my gentle giant's reaction...what can only be described as more a primeval scream than a woof came from deep down in his throat followed by a spectacular somersault and a "Linford Christie" sprint behind the sofa where he stayed until bedtime...no amount of coaxing with treats could budge him from his hidey hole and the cute little scary ghosts...they were last seen sprinting down the street faster than their little legs could carry them.  They must be grown men by now and I often wonder if they were left traumatised by their Halloween encounter with the Golden Hound of the Baskervilles.
See you all tomorrow
Hugs Kath xxx

Saturday, October 26, 2013

On A Mission...

Hi folks...a busy fun day out yesterday at my local Hobbycraft...a quick 15 minute drive there and back so no worries about getting lost on manic motorways...the car's been unloaded and the demo kit packed away until next year...crikey the cubbyhole is looking decidedly more spacious and the Furry Boy's got his snoozy space back...
and hey I'm now on a mission to nail the last 2 days of homework from Creative Chemistry 102...there's also a Timmie tag for this month's "12 Tags of 2013" to do and then get back to the pile of long neglected goodies...starting off with a gorgeous pile of die cutting magic from my lovely buddy Paula...
shock horror...4 months of Simon Says Stamp Card Kits...
and the dies that I needed so urgently all those months ago...strange how they haven't as yet made it out of their packaging...
I'll see you all tomorrow...enjoy what's left of the weekend whatever you're doing.
Hugs Kath xxx

Friday, October 25, 2013

Distress Differently

Hi folks...thanks for all your get well comments over the last few days...I'm almost back to firing on all cylinders (she says...touching wood) and making steady progress with my Creative Chemistry 102 homework...time to share Day 3 which is Distress Differently...
I have to say the Smudge Stamping wasn't my favourite technique...after years of trying to perfect the skill of crisp image stamping...second generation wasn't floating my boat...
now this was a different kettle of fish...Tim shared Wendy Vecchi's fabulous Faux Cracked Glass Technique and I was smitten...no slick surface was safe...
 isn't it fabulous on glass...
 it even works on acetate snowflakes...although it doesn't show up very well on the photo
and if like me your pot of Glue & Seal is almost empty...lightbulb moment Multi Medium Matte works too...
 loved the Distress Rock Candy Glitter Technique...
a more subtle glittery finish...

 but for real sparkly knock your socks off blingy bling...
 the new Distress Glitters win hands down...
It's the weekend...enjoy...don't forget to put your clocks back tonight and I'll see you all tomorrow
Hugs Kath xxx

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Layering Stencil Fun...

Hi folks...I'm still here and feeling much better...looks like the combined efforts of Neurofen and a thrice daily Tbsp of Manuka Honey with a sprinkle of Cinnamon Powder are doing the trick...don't want to tempt fate but I have a sneaky feeling Mr Nasty is packing his bags as we speak so time to crack on with the crafty stuff and share my titivated tags from Day 2 of the fabulous Online Classes over at Creative Chemistry 102. Who would have thought you could do so much with what is basically a sheet of plastic with holes cut out...only our wonderful Professor...Mr TH could take the humble stencil to such dizzy heights...
time to make a cuppa...grab a comfy sofa and prepare yourselves for another photofest of the genius that is Tim Holtz...




love this rusted enamel look...




 and my favourite technique from the class...



I'm off to pack up my Fiskars kit for tomorrow's demo at Hobbycraft Aberdeen so if you're in the neighbourhood why don't you pop in and meet Mr Fuse...he's ready to show you what he can do...we would love to see you so come along and have a play.
Hugs Kath xxx

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

The Big Guns Are Out...

Hi folks...the nasty interloper is still here...he obviously can't take a hint despite coming at him from all sides with the big guns. This self medication malarkey is a tad costly...the jar of Manuka honey currently residing in the store cupboard was looking decidedly dodgy...probably years old so I toddled off to Tesco and blimey nearly needed CPR when I spotted the price...14 quid...are you having a laugh...I'd be expecting the all singing all dancing elixir of youth for that price tag but needs must so I stocked up on Neurofen...Lemsip...the said jar of honey and loads of lemons and the only result so far of the hourly hot drink regime is I'm spending more time tootling back and forth to the toilet than in the cubbyhole but hey my kidneys are probably appreciating a good old flush out. They do say "feed a cold and starve a fever"...well how does that work when you seem to be suffering from a bit of both...it's all a bit confusing but I have a sneaky feeling that a cold lasts a week if you take medication and 7 days if you don't. So we've served the eviction notice...are hanging in there and hoping he gets the message...decides to pack his bags and hi-tail it out of here soon.
In  the meantime I'm sharing a Fiskars project which appears in this month's Crafts Beautiful...using the Fiskars Fuse Creativity System...the Favor Wrap Die and my favourite favourite Snowflake...

I know I promised to share my titivated tags from Day 2 of Creative Chemistry 102 today but the member of the cubbyhole crew who is responsible for making sure the battery in the camera is charged up is feeling a bit under the weather so it's been postponed until tomorrow.
I'm hoping to get some catch-up playtime in today and nail some more homework from Creative Chemistry 102 but I'll be taking time out at lunchtime...snuggling up on the sofa with my furry companion to watch my bestest buddy...the gorgeous Dawny P on Create and Craft at 12.00pm strutting her stuff with gorgeous goodies from Lili Of The Valley...make sure you join me and tune in.
Hugs Kath xxx

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Pride comes before a fall...

Hi folks...heavens above I've just noticed it's Wednesday already...half way through another week and no-one was more surprised than me when I realised that 2 weeks today I'll be heading to the airport for my flight to Birmingham and 5 days of Fiskars Fun. The workshop kits have arrived safely and I have to admit to breathing a big sigh of relief on that score...I sure would not have been a happy bunny if I'd had to repeat that particular kitting marathon.
And I haven't been resting on my laurels since the weekend either...a sneaky last minute Fiskars magazine commission popped into my Inbox...that's done and dusted along with the dreaded step-by-steps and I've also been playing catch up with my homework from Creative Chemistry 102...still a way to go to complete the course but hey in this crazy place we call the cubbyhole I was feeling rather chuffed with myself that the techniques tags from Day 2 of Layering Stencil fun were under my belt...
and I'd be moving on to Day 3...but pride comes before a fall...yep...knock knock who's there...a gatecrasher has joined the crafty party...a nasty cold/flu virus has turned up to spoil the fun and he's being a bit stubborn about leaving despite Mr Lemsip and Messrs Hot Drinks doing their best to show him the door. My friends will tell you that I DO NOT do "ILL"...I'm not the most patient of patients...don't mind the odd feeling grotty day but more than that and Mrs Seriously Grumpy is on the warpath.  So if I survive the next 24 hours which by the way I have every intention of doing...I'll be back tomorrow to share...fingers crossed...the tags from Day 2 in more detail...once they've all had a bit more titivation.
Hugs Kath xxx

Monday, October 21, 2013

Still chucking it down...

Hi folks...I'm back to share what we made in the "still chucking it down outside" afternoon class at Kath's Klub at The Papeterie and there's something about the noise of the rain drumming on the roof and battering against the windows that makes you feel all cosy and snug and what better way to spend the afternoon than look out some of my favourite Tim Holtz Dies and embossing folders and play along with lots of crafty folks...
having fun making pine cones...


 getting all glittered up with the delicious Festive Berries Distress Glitter...



 and colouring our embossed Poinsettias with Distress Inks...


and as always my lovely superstar crafty folks rose to the challenge and another 3 cards are making their way into their Christmas Card Boxes. But all good things come to an end... time to brave the horrendous weather and head home...thankfully it's only a short drive which was just as well going by the amount of idiots who were out and about...you know the ones I mean...driving like maniacs on roads awash with water...with no lights on...the "it won't happen to me" brigade. Sadly these morons are the ones who usually manage to walk away from the carnage they cause leaving innocent motorists bearing the brunt of their reckless driving behaviour. But I'm not done with ranting yet...it's official...I hate dark dismal mornings but unless I hibernate from now until March/April or manage to reset the Furry Boy's early morning wake up system...I suppose I'll just have to get used to the first morning cuppa at chilly dark o'clock.
See you all tomorrow
Hugs Kath xxx