It's Hogmanay...

Hi Everyone...it's Hogmanay...when Scots across the world say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new. Back in the day the house would be cleaned from top to bottom...it was the only night of the year that us kids were allowed to stay up all night to take part in the old tradition of first footing...visiting family friends and neighbours with a bottle of the water of life...a lump of coal...shortbread and black bun to bring luck to the household for the coming year...wonderful memories of a sing-a-long round the piano at one neighbour's house...a big bowl of Scotch Broth in another...left-over Turkey sandwiches in the next and as dawn broke...breakfast in whichever house you found yourself before returning home for the traditional New Year's Dinner of Roast Beef and all the trimmings and no matter how many people were in the house at the time...all were welcome to join the feast...crikey that must have been a logistical nightmare for my Mum...planning for 10 and ending up with goodness knows how many happy but very hungry revellers. Sadly it's a tradition that's all but gone replaced by what is now normal on any Saturday night...the drunken city centre behaviour and the nemesis of this dog owner...the dreaded fireworks. I really don't want to spoil anyone's party but Mrs Bah Humbug will be praying for some atrocious lashing rain and howling gale Scottish weather so that the well into the small hours WW2 barrage turns into a great big damp squib.
I'll also be passing on the cleaning part of the tradition...instead I'll be tackling a far more important task...transferring birthdays...hot dates etc from the 2014 calendar to a brand new one...

mind you this still does NOT guarantee that I will turn up for important appointments on the correct date and seeing as it's unlikely that a tall dark stranger will be ringing the doorbell at midnight...the Furry Boy and his Grumpy Old Mum will be tucked up in bed as soon after midnight as is deemed socially acceptable.

Have fun whatever you have planned for tonight and we'll see you all in 2015

Hugs Kath xxx

Life in the fast lane...

Hi Everyone...it's your "living life in the fast lane" crafty person signing in...the upcycled project is in the bag and of course I can't share it with you because the cubbyhole is currently in "Fiskars" Top Secret...Keep Everything Under Wraps...Lips Are Sealed mode but I've managed to sneak in a little bit of cubbyhole make-over stuff...the grotty old cork noticeboard has had a bit of a face-lift...

thanks to Multi Medium Matte and Tim's Tissue Wrap...I was a little worried about how wrinkly it looked but hey presto once it was dry...magically all the wrinkles had gone...probably too much to hope that it would work on the old physog...

and a trip to The Range to get some extra festive decorations for the Christmas Table paid dividends when I found the perfect storage baskets...

next task on the list is to persuade hubby to fit some shelves under the workdesk to store my Fiskars trimmers...

but where is my Furry Partner I hear you ask...well apparently the family room sofa is going to be today's favourite snoozy place...Santa ain't going to be too impressed after man handling this luxury...super comfy...very heavy piece of kit down the chimney.

But I must away...we're on a crafty roll...see you later

Hugs Kath xxx

Too much of a good thing...

Hi folks...the Christmas celebrations are behind us and in a few day's time we'll be heading for a brand new year...yes crazy to think it will soon be 2015 and that age old question rears it's head again WHERE DOES TIME GO...time for me to head back to the cubbyhole before I get used to this "too much of a good thing" couch potato lifestyle...oh yes I've fallen prey to the temptation of cosy "feet up" afternoons watching telly...Watership Down and such like...

 and over-indulging with lots of cuppas and mince pies...

it's time to hit my workdesk again...don my Fiskars hat and get cracking on the "to do" list...top priority...make lots of samples with the new 2015 products...

the problem is Mr Mojo hasn't yet returned from his Christmas break but I did have a little kachink lightbulb moment when I was tidying away the Christmas gift packaging...sometimes inspiration comes from the strangest places but can the cubbyhole crew work their magic on this "destined for the bin" scarf hanger and transform it into an amazing upcycled project...

only time will tell...see you later...
Hugs Kath xxx

2014 in Cards (Part 2)

Hi folks...deep breath and here we go with Part 2 of my favourite cards and projects for 2014...

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

and a cheeky colourful extra

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

and finally my Christmas Memories Album...

I have to confess it was hard choosing my favourites from 2014...not because there were so many but some months it seems there was more waffling than crafting and if you fancy sharing your favourite makes from 2014...please leave me a comment with a link so I can pop over for a look.

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

2014 in Cards (Part 1)

Hi everyone...well can you believe Christmas is over for another year...it was lovely to spend time with my family but I'm looking forward to getting back to the normal routine after all the mania that goes with the holiday season especially the whole over-indulging "just can't resist" food thing. I left the Christmas table 2 days in a row absolutely stuffed and swearing I couldn't eat another thing and yes...you've guessed...an hour later I was stuffing my face with cheese biscuits and chocolates and I wonder why I now look and feel like a beached whale.
And it's time for what has become another annual tradition...a look back in time at my favourite cards and projects from 2014...click on the pics for more info on each project...

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

Halfway through the year and after the uploading and linking marathon...I need matchsticks to keep my eyes open so I'm heading up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire with the Furry Boy but we'll be back tomorrow to share July to December.

Hugs Kath xxx

Santa's Been

Hi Everyone...it's your favourite bundle of Golden Deliciousness just popping on to say I hope you are all having a very Happy Christmas...

and woof...woof Santa's been...

and didn't he do a great job...he's probably sitting on his comfy armchair with his boots off enjoying some festive cheer while Rudolph and his mates have a well earned rest with lots of crunchy carrots to munch on. I got some soft toys...lots of treats and woof...woof...my new bed for the cubbyhole...it must have been a real logistical nightmare to get this big boy down the chimney...

but hey I'm a bit tuckered out after all the Christmas excitement so I'm off to bed now to recharge the old batteries...ready for a "do it all over again" day with the kiddos...the grandkiddies are coming for more feasting...present opening and hooligan fun. 

Enjoy the rest of your Christmas Holiday and I'll see you all soon

Big Hugs and Christmas Snuggles

BUDDY xxx

Merry Christmas Everyone...

Hi folks...woohoo it's Christmas Eve...I survived the mania of last minute shopping at M&S...I'm planning a lazy couch potato kind of a day and tonight The Furry Boy and his Mum will be off to bed early...snuggling up all cosy and just like everyone else on the planet excitedly waiting for Santa to pop down our chimney.  We would just like to wish you all a very special...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and a big thank you to all for the beautiful cards and good wishes and to all the lovely folks who have visited my blog this year and left comments...we love to hear from you. We hope you all have a wonderful happy and fun Christmas with those you love...enjoy all the fabulous food and worry about the diet later and that all your Christmas dreams come true.

Lots Of Love & Christmas Hugs 

from Kath & Buddy xxx

It's A Wrap...

Hi Folks...as they say in showbiz circles "It's A Wrap"...we're finally done and dusted with the Christmas grub preparations...just one more washing up session...

and just like at the end of every big production...we'll be having our own little wrap party tonight...yes me and my faithful furry partner...

who's been there every step of the way and licked the kitchen floor clean goodness knows how many times will be chilling out tonight...a glass or two of something festive for me and a tasty "hang the diet" treat for The Furry Boy...stocking up on some fortification...chilling out and preparing myself for that annual free for all...the last minute bits and pieces shop at M&S and if last year is anything to go by...it's going to be BEDLAM.

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

Christmas on a grand scale...

Hi folks...the annual trip to my local garden centre is as much a tradition as Christmas Day lunch...a chance to lose myself in a wonderland of all things Christmas...a couple of hours relief from the stresses of the Christmas preparations. I have to say I was a little disappointed that Santa wasn't at the front door to welcome us this year but hey ho...he's probably too busy...

there was a LOT of RED going on...

 and this reminded me of a Victorian parlour...

followed by a little bit of a rustic Nordic theme and a nod to Tim Holtz perhaps with the ice skating boots. I loved this cute St Bernard but crikey you would have needed a little snifter from his brandy barrel if you'd seen the price tag...cheaper to buy the real live version I think.

 and hey if you really want to go completely over the top with Christmas

 why not decorate your car...

 could this be this year's Christmas outfit...

 with matching decor of Gold Silver and Black...

or just plain Gold and Silver...

And it's back to the kitchen today...the final push to get all the Christmas grub organised but I fear the old willpower will be put to the ultimate test...temptation is everywhere...especially the ham I bought from Aldi at a third of the price that Costco were charging and half the cost from M&S and it's absolutely very very more-ishly delicious.

Toodle-oo for now

Hugs Kath xxx