Desperate Times...

Hi everyone...if you pop over here on a regular basis you'll probably have realised that I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to being organised...in fact you could say it's an obsession but hey ho each to their own and it works for me to have my crafting week roughly planned out...not set in stone but it does help me to know what I need to be doing on Monday Tuesday etc etc...to keep things ticking along nicely but just like everything in life...it doesn't always go to plan. Tuesday is the day I set aside for my Simon Says Stamp DT project allowing plenty time for photography and writing the blog post...most of the time it goes swimmingly and is done and dusted in one take BUT this week was one of those nightmare exceptions to the rule...

a whole day of struggling to put the ideas in my head on to paper...every attempt was destined for the bin but there's no point in fussing and beating yourself up...that's crafting for you and tomorrow is always a new day. And what do you know...Wednesday dawned sunny and bright and I'd been hit by a creative bolt from the blue in the night...woohoo now we're cooking by gas and feeling happy with the first stage of the project...

but we're not out of the woods yet...we still have lots to do to finish this "strike while the creative iron is hot" adventure. We're twiddling our crafty thumbs impatiently waiting for the Texture Paste to dry...the heat gun is out of the question and with the temperature warmer outdoors than in...desperate times call for desperate measures...said project joined Wednesday's laundry on the line...

and was finished before lunchtime...high fives all around to the cubbyhole crew.

See you all tomorrow...

Hugs Kath xxx

If it doesn't move...it will be labelled...

Hi Everyone...well Storm Katie never did make it this far north although I did take heed of the weather warnings and had a stay indoors weekend...a snuggled up on the sofa with The Furry Boy watching telly kind of weekend. But I always feel guilty when there are loads of jobs that I should be doing and am one of those folks who can't sit down without something for my hands to do...so I hatched a plan...why not...chill out with my feet up and make a start on the cubbyhole storage reorganisation...sorting out the collection of Idea-ology bits and pieces was as good a place to begin as any...currently a "seek but you may not find what you're looking for" thrown in any old way mixture of this that and the other.
I found the perfect containers at £1.49 in my local Home Bargains and set to work on what can only be described as one mega "blimey when did I buy all this stuff" Idea-ology Adventure.

and it was a chance to try out my new TOY...GIZMO...GADGET...officially known as the Brother P Touch Label Maker. Technology and I are never going to be best friends...the user instructions were very basic...in other words...useless but once I'd hopped over to YouTube and watched a video explaining the different functions...I was in "creating labels like a pro" heaven and woohoo 3 containers down and one to go...

This may well become my new "if it doesn't move...IT WILL BE LABELLED" addiction

A huge thank you for all your kind and supportive e-mails and comments here and on Facebook re: yesterday's post...it means a lot to have such lovely friends and I make no apologies for saying this again...you are THE BEST and it's a privilege and humbling experience to be part of such a wonderful caring crafting community.

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

Not an easy decision...

Hi Everyone..Spring has definitely arrived...the days are getting longer...the time of year when you begin to notice all the things that need attention...the garden for starters and then the long overdue household jobs that have been piling up and irritating the life out of me...the list of tasks for April seems endless...a bit of "freshen things up" painting and decorating is planned along with a make-over for my "snuggled up with the Furry Boy" TV space and don't get me started on the cubbyhole where a good old clear out and major storage reorganisation is a matter of priority.
I'll also be working on some exciting new crafty adventures over the next few months so I've decided to give up teaching workshops or taking part in The Retreats at The Papeterie. Believe me...it wasn't an easy decision to make and words can't express how grateful I am to all the lovely crafters who have attended my workshops and Kath's Klub over the years...thank you...thank you...thank you from the bottom of my heart for the fun times we've shared together and the wonderful memories...I'm truly going to miss you all.

Hugs Kath xxx

We Can See Clearly...

Hi Everyone...welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog...thank you for joining us for last week's "Food And/Or Drink" challenge...we hope you can join us this week too...

and the theme for this week is...

WE CAN SEE CLEARLY

use acetate vellum or anything a little transparent or you can use your imagination to think of a different meaning and we look forward to seeing what you all create

I created a journal as a gift for a friend who is a keen gardener and made an acetate cover...protection from those mucky green fingers. I started off by covering chipboard with papers from Tim Holtz Dapper Paper Stash Pad and overstamped with the beautiful floral images from Stampers Anonymous Wildflowers using Black Archival and Hero Arts Cup O' Joe ink pads...

I then dusted the Heat Resistant Acetate with the EK Success Powder tool to get rid of any static and stamped the Wildflower Image with Versamark Ink, sprinkled over Simon Says Stamp White Embossing Powder and heat set making sure that my heat tool was nice and hot before applying to the acetate.

I decorated the acetate cover with Dapper Design Tape...Label Letters and Hex Fasteners...

and decorated a Fragment Charm with Label Letter numbers before fixing in place with Glossy Accents.

I then created pages for the journal from white cardstock and a divider page for each season of the year which I overstamped with Black Archival Ink. I fixed an acetate pocket in place decorated with Dapper Design Tape and alphabet stickers from my stash. I then die cut a matching floral image from white cardstock using Sizzix/Tim Holtz Wildflowers Thinlits and fixed in place on top of the acetate pocket...

I created a spine for the journal using Tim Holtz Idea-ology Substrate Surfaces...decorated with Naturals Black and Cream Ribbon...used the Cropodile Big Bite to punch holes and added Mini Book Ring Fasteners.

You can find all the products I used over at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp online store...just click on the links below...

Why don't you pop over to the Monday Challenge Blog and check out the amazing creations from my very talented Design Team mates and this month's guest designer. As always you all have the chance to win a $50 gift voucher to spend at Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time...1pm UK time...2 pm CET to join in...

You can also follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram

Thanks for popping by and happy crafting

Hugs Kath xxx

InLinkz.com

Happy Easter...

Hi folks...the weather's taken a turn for the worse...apparently Storm Katie is on the way so I'll be battening down the hatches and snuggling up on the sofa with The Furry Boy after doing the grand kiddos Easter Egg delivery run.  Whatever you have planned...we wish you all a very...

Hugs Kath & Buddy xxx

Fiskars Give-Away...

Hi folks...crikey this week has just flown in...it's Friday already...Good Friday in fact...the start of the Easter Holiday weekend...time to decorate and roll your egg or if you're like me...just go to the supermarket and then stuff your face all weekend with the chocolate variety. And don't forget British Summer Time begins on Sunday so don't forget to put your clocks forward an hour...one hour less in bed and no doubt I'll be struggling to cope with The Furry Boy's wonky alarm clock rise and shine at silly o'clock antics again.

And I have a little Easter treat...the first of the Fiskars Give-Aways...

I decided to do it differently this time and choose winners from comments left here and on Facebook over the last week so the lucky winners of a pair of fabulous Classic Universal Purpose Fiskars Scissors...my everyday go to "can't live without" crafting tools are...

prize not claimed

and

Ann Russell

please e-mail me your address girls so that I can get your scissors off in the mail...
and check out what I found on Facebook...the ideal uniform for the cubbyhole crew

Have a Happy Easter weekend everyone and I'll see you all on Monday for a brand new challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog.

Toodle-oo for now

Hugs Kath & Buddy xxx

Pottering Around...

Hi folks...I have to confess I haven't made it back into the cubbyhole yet...too busy enjoying Spring which has definitely arrived...

 it's great to see some colour after the dreary winter months...

 the clematis has taken a bit of a growth spurt and is on a mission to get to the top of the trellis...

 but there's lots to do...shrubs need trimmed back and bird feeders need a bit of a spruce up...

so for the next few days I'll be donning my wellies...pulling on my gardening gloves and getting stuck in...enjoying being out in the "positively mediterranean temperatures" fresh air. I'll be back tomorrow with news of a Fiskars Give-Away...in the meantime enjoy whatever you're doing.

Hugs Kath xxx

Edited to add: the best laid plans have been scuppered by the weather...currently chucking it down with rain...moving on to Plan B. But later in the day...make up your mind up weather...it's now a glorious sunny afternoon.

Positive Thoughts...

Hi folks...I was right...the old body has gone in to major protest mode...right now it feels like I travelled home hanging on to the wing of the plane but hey ho...I'm thinking positive thoughts...Spring has arrived in my neck of the woods and I've been enjoying the sun relaxing in the garden...the Furry Boy has had his stitches removed so we'll be back to our long forest walks today...that should get rid of the creaky old body feeling and until I'm back in the crafty groove again I'm sharing another project from my Shari Carroll Art Journal Journey. You can catch up with Shari's "Fall To Winter" tutorial HERE.
I decided to go with BUTTERFLIES as my theme...a great excuse to use the fabulous new Sizzix/Tim Holtz Detailed Butterfly Thinlits...

I die cut the butterfly twice and used the first negative to sponge Picket Fence Distress Paint to create the large white butterflies and the second negative to create a stitched frame for a focal point. Then I had lots of fun stamping the large butterfly from the Perspective Stamp Set inked with Coffee Archival Ink and the butterfly from the Watercolor Stamp Set inked with Picket Fence and Brushed Pewter Distress Paint.

 adding Film Strip Ribbon...an Adage Ticket...Remnant Rubs and Big Chat Stickers...

See you all tomorrow 

Hugs Kath xxx