The Best Laid Plans

Morning folks and why is it when you have your day all planned out.....does it never work out that way.   After 2 days of being missing from the cubbyhole.....I had great plans yesterday to have a little play with the gorgeous goodies I received from The Ribbon Girl but the world and his wife had other ideas....yes lots of visitors...endless cups of coffee and lots of chatting and although it's lovely to see old friends why does everyone call on the same day instead of spacing it out over the week.....by the time I got back to the cubbyhole around 3.00pm.....my crafty brain had given up the ghost and turned to mush......so only managed a couple of simples I'm afraid...

Some errands to run this morning but I am determined to have another play this afternoon...there are so many gorgeous bits and pieces I can't wait to get creative with....so if you are intending paying a visit this afternoon folks....think again....I am out and just to make sure I am locking the door..disconnecting the doorbell and taking the phone off the hook.

Catch up with you all tomorrow......Hugs Kath xxx

Toot toot....what a hoot....

Morning folks.....back with some fun pics from the Save The Children event at Simply Create...big thank you to all the lovely folks who came along to help Jacqui raise lots of money for this worthwhile cause...big hugs to all the lovely fun crafters who joined me for make and takes...we had an absolute hoot....lots of chatting...drinking coffee with a little bit of crafting thrown in....great to spend time with friends old and new and as always a huge hug for my lovely buddy Anne....who kept everything running smoothly and everyone entertained.....everyone should have an Anne in their lives....a true star....thank you matey.

"mad as hatters" crafty folks taking a break to have a yummy lunch....

 busy make and takers

and sorry my lovelies...there is no hiding from me and my camera

and here is what we made.....

but the best fun of the day.....the crafty addicts queueing up to splash their cash

I'm back at Simply Create on Saturday 2nd October for a demo day 10.00am until they throw me out...usually about 4.00pm and I shall be playing with the yummy new Hero Arts Christmas stamps...and probably having lots of inky fun with Tim Holtz Distress Inks....so mark the date on your calendar folks for what promises to be a real fun day out.....no booking necessary...just turn up.....we would love to see you. Off for my morning stroll with The Budster....I have hardly seen my snuggly bundle of golden deliciousness this weekend.   I arrived home on Saturday to another yummy parcel from The Ribbon Girl....so it's going to be a ribbon and button day in the cubbyhole....gotta go play so catch up with you all tomorrow.

Hugs Kath xxx

All I Want for Xmas

Morning folks and no I haven't totally lost the plot....ALL I WANT FOR XMAS....is the brand new download from Funky Hand......available to buy from HERE....16 backing papers in 2 colour collections and 8 new Christmas Themed Digi Stamps all designed with Anice's usual attention to detail...lots of Christmas deliciousness...all you need to get started on those Christmas cards.....love this gorgeous snowflake and those polka dots are one of my favourites....

Busy busy but lots of fun day yesterday at Simply Create....will be back tomorrow to post some pics and yes my lovely crafty friends from yesterday....be worried....very worried.   What am I up to today.....feet up and relaxing...not quite.....little Sis has roped me into doing another Car Boot and by the time you are reading this I will be preparing to set off with matchsticks to keep the old eyes open.....so let's hope the weather stays dry and I manage to offload some more of the Chez Kath Tat......catch up with you all tomorrow.

Hugs Kath xxx 

Penny Black Saturday Challenge....Week 117

Morning folks.....one of those days when the weather hasn't quite made up it's mind what it's going to do but it's Saturday and that means  time for another challenge over at Penny Black Saturday.    Big thank you's to all those who joined in the "Summer Lovin" challenge last week and wow you all came up with fabulous creations...so pop over and see who the lucky winners are chosen at random.....who knows it may just be you.

This week we have a colour challenge for you

PURPLE CREAM & BROWN

and if like me using the colour purple sends you into panic mode....fear not folks....pop over and see the fabulous creations from my lovely teamies for some inspiration

Background created with Hero Arts: Large Canvas Stripes and TH Distress Ink...Dusty Concord

One of my favourite Penny Black images.....Whispers

Papers: Delish Designs...Bistro Collection

Stampin Up: Soft Suede

Flowers overstamped with Hero Arts: Tiny Jubilee Dots

Sentiment: Penny Black.....Hugs

Fiskars: Scalloped Circle Punch

Tim Holtz Alteration Die...Scallops

Buttons from stash

and we have 2 fabulous prizes this week for 2 lucky winners who will be chosen at random

from

4061K Hedgy Gift

4046K Join The Party

why don't you pop over to Penny Black and check out the fabulous Christmas 2010 Collection and if you sign up to join the Penny Black Club....you will get first peak at all the new releases.

Can't wait to see what you all create this week.....will be popping over to pay you all a visit for my weekly Penny Black treat.   I'll be setting off soon for my fun day out with all the lovely crafters at Simply Create....and yes I have packed the camera...so who knows I may have some fun pics to share when I catch up with you all tomorrow.

Hugs Kath xxx

Loads of Sneaky Peeks

Morning folks....bit disappointed that my lunch out yesterday was cancelled....two of my chums have come down with summer colds so we decided to postpone it for a few weeks...but it wasn't all bad news...the sun came out and it turned out a fabulous day which I spent in the garden.....cutting the lawn and having a general tidy up and oh yes there was a bit of sitting around and drinking coffee involved too.....not too many more summer days on the horizon...so let's enjoy each and every minute while we can.
And look what arrived in the post....my yummy delicious DT parcel from The Ribbon Girl.....can't wait to get playing with all this gorgeousness and I even have plans for the beautiful pink tissue paper...so watch this space

Today is going to be a non crafting day....need to get the energy levels topped up for all the fun and games tomorrow at Simply Create....and if you fancy coming along to join in the fun....the more the merrier....in the meantime I will leave you with some sneaky peeks

Hope the sun is shining wherever you are and will see you all tomorrow for another fabby challenge over at Penny Black Saturday

Hugs Kath xxx

Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge

Morning folks...summer seems to have disappeared again here....now there's a surprise but the good thing was it kept me in the cubbyhole yesterday and I managed to get lots of stuff done including a little something for this week's challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show which is.....

SHOW YOUR LAYERS

and I had great fun making yet another wall hanging thingy for the cubbyhole using fabulous products from 2 giants in the craft industry....Tim Holtz and Hero Arts....and don't they go well together...a marriage made in heaven

MME - Chipboard Book Cover

Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby Papers

Grunge Alphabet

Tissue Tape

Adage Tickets

Distress Inks..Brushed Corduroy & Aged Mahogany

Hero Arts: Antique Engravings

Music Background Cling

Twill Ribbon & Lace

Pearls from Hobby House

And what's on the list to do today......well to be honest I am stressed just thinking about it before I have even left the house.....some cards to post and what used to be a quick a "stick on a stamp" and "pop in the postbox" job on the way to our morning stroll...now involves a drive to the Post Office...standing in a mile long queue of folks either renewing their road tax which seems to take an age or like me they are checking whether their mail will fit through the slot....can never bring myself to chance it just in case the recipients end up having to fork out the excess plus the exorbitant £1 handling charge and in this modern world we live in....this is called progress.

Then it's off to get a passport photo....oh yes one of those beauties that make me look like a deranged desperado who has escaped from the nearest old folks home....wonder if they do airbrushing...then home for a cuppa and a comfy chair before I tackle filling out the application form....well it's a government department so it's guaranteed to be a nightmare...and shock horror...the crafty piggy bank will be relieved of £70 just to renew a passport....daylight bliddy robbery if you ask me....think how much crafty stash that would buy.....I feel a lie down in a darkened room coming on.

But all is not lost I am meeting up with some old ceramic chums for lunch and I do love these girly chatty lunches which last until about 4pm.....well we have lot of news to catch up on....but must dash and get those pesky little jobs out of the way first....before it's time to get all scrubbed up for my afternoon out.....catch up with you all tomorrow for some sneaky peeks.                  

Hugs Kath xxx

Get Funky Challenge - September

Morning folks.....can't quite believe it's the first of September already and time for another challenge over at Get Funky.    The challenge this month is from our lovely teamie Kathy who just happens to have a birthday this month and she has chosen as her theme.....

Fabulous Funky Floral Fantasy

flowery papers and any old flat flower just won't cut the mustard....Kathy wants to see a flower or flowers with more than 3 layers....dimension...dimension....dimension

I think I was having another of my numptie moments....mis-read the challenge....well what's new about that and had to add my dimensional flower as an after-thought

 and here is the after-thought in all it's dimensional glory

Papers Funky Hand...."Now That's Funky"....Man's World Collection

Pearls from Hobby House

Sentiment: American Crafts Foam Thickers

Button and twine from stash

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment over at Get Funky with a link to your entry and hey you have one whole month to get creative....who knows you could be the lucky winner of a £20 voucher to spend at Funky Hand.....and if you pop over to Get Funky....you will see lots of brilliant inspiration and fabbilicious creations from my lovely teamies.   Since my last post....I've been chopping away in the cubbyhole in my dressy gown and the kits are done and dusted....The Furry Boy and I have been for our morning stroll and yes I did change my attire....off to grab a quick cuppa and a slice of toast...then it's back to the cubby to get creative for this week's challenge over at Simon Says Stamp And Show.....it's such a hard life being a crafter......catch up with you all later.

Hugs Kath xxx

What's on my Workdesk Wednesday

Morning folks...yesterday turned out to be one super duper sunshiney day....yippee summer seems to have returned and the sun is definitely shining in the cubbyhole this morning....I have a grin on my face like a cheshire cat....Jacqui e-mailed me yesterday to say I'm on the brand new Design Team at Simply Create....over the moon or what....can't wait to get to know my lovely teamies and get stuck into playing with lots of gorgeousness from my favourite crafty store.....so excited about this new adventure.
Lots to do today so let's cut to the chase....time to share what's on my workdesk and to play along at WOYWW....this is fast becoming a real must-do...but hey I am not alone....judging by the number of crafters taking part each week there are more than a few nosey parkers out there who just love a rummage around in other folks' crafty spaces.
I'm in the middle of kitting for the "make and takes" at The Save The Children  "To Crop Or Not To Crop" event on Saturday organised by the lovely Jacqui at Simply Create.....not my most favourite job but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do......nearly done.....just one more set of kits and that's another job ticked off the list......and if you live locally why don't you pop along and join in the fun which reminds me I've still got to learn the lyrics...brush up on the choreography and polish up my dancing shoes....bet that's got you all wondering !!!

and I know what you're thinking.....it's Miss Goodie Two Shoes and her ultra uber tidy desk again but all is not as it seems......the untidy bit of the cubbyhole you don't usually see....

before you think we have a new member of the family.....it's just that untidy canine leaving his furry toys lying around again....and absolutely no point in tidying up until the cutting bonanza is done then it will be time to call in the Cavalry.

Where is my crafty helper when I need him......true to form The Furry Boy has deserted his post to have a laze around in the sun and if I didn't have so much to do....I might be tempted to join him....

back soon with my card for the brand new challenge over at Get Funky......hope the weather is gorgeous where you are and have fun whatever you are doing today

Hugs Kath xxx

A bit of this and that.....and fabbie news !!!

Morning folks.....and what is the weather going to do today....don't know about where you are but it's been positively arctic up here in the top right hand corner of the country....I am seriously thinking about looking out my thermal vest and for our doggie strolls...the cosy gloves..and just when you least expect it the sun decides to put his hat on and all the layers have to come off again...is it summer...autumn or winter....who knows.
I have some faberoonie news to share with you all......I did promise myself some time ago that I wouldn't take on any more Design Team work....but my willpower has just flown out of the window.....sometimes an invitation comes along that you wouldn't turn down in the month of Sundays.....well not if you are a ribbon and button fanatic like me...the lovely Andrea and Mary have asked me to join their design team....I am going to be a RIBBON GIRL.....and I like the "GIRL" bit.

and without any hesitation whatsoever the answer was YES YES YES....well would you have been able to resist the chance to play with lots of gorgeousness....I thought not...so I rest my case and remember it is a GIRL'S prerogative to change her mind once in a while. Click on the logo to pop over to the Ribbon Girl online shop for a browse and I dare YOU to resist temptation.

What's on my "to do list" this week.....would you believe that the cubbyhole is in Christmas mode.....lots of ideas whirling around in my head and I am off to play with some yummy goodies which crash landed in the cubbyhole last week.

I have a sneaky feeling this is going to be my favourite Hero Arts Christmas stamp this year

 a little sneaky peek of my DT card for tomorrow's challenge over at Get Funky

But it's time to brave whatever the weather decides to throw at us today and set off for our stroll.....me all wrapped up cosy and warm and The Budster....well he already has all the insulation he needs...catch up with you all bright and early tomorrow for another nosey around WOYWW and a brand new challenge over at Get Funky

Hugs Kath xxx

For the Boys

Morning folks....yesterday didn't quite turn out as planned.....the weather was horrendous...started off blowing a gale....freezing but dry...could it get any worse....oh yes...halfway round our morning stroll it started  chucking it down and not just any old rain.....the monsoon variety and we arrived home drenched....me feeling rather sorry for myself with my grumpy face on and Buddy not giving two hoots.....he doesn't do grumpy.
After a warming cuppa it was off to the cubbyhole to finish off the cards for Postpals....

and Buddy had to join in too

but life has a way of putting things into perspective and I was well and truly brought right back down to earth with a huge bump when I popped over to Postpals to choose who I was sending the cards to.....we are all guilty of mumping and moaning about the petty little things that annoy us in our lives and forget that there folks facing far more traumatic events.    I spent the morning reading all the children's stories and it's heartbreaking to see all their happy smiling faces when they have so much pain and suffering in their young lives.....poor Buddy didn't know what was happening.....me crying and him licking my face trying to make it all better.  A truly humbling experience and I'm sure you can find the time to make even one card and bring a moment of joy into a child's life.

Hugs Kath xxx