Sneaky Peek Friday...

Morning folks...woohooo up with the lark this morning and feeling bright and breezy...the old body clock is back on schedule after yesterday's "chasing my tail" day...strange how a little change to our daily routine knocks us completely for six and although Mr Buble was winking at me with those "come to bed" eyes from my bedside table again last night...I did manage to resist another peek.

I was intending to have another catching up with the DT stuff day but after our morning stroll I'm off to The Papeterie on a rescue mission...this old forgetful crafter left her trusty craft mat on the demo table on Saturday...to be honest I feel as though my right hand has been cut off...can't craft without it and it would be so rude to just cut and run so no doubt a morning of coffee...cake and crafty chit chat will be on the agenda. But I'll leave you with some gorgeous card eye candy...a birthday card from the sweetest bloggy bud..the one and only Terrie B...

and also from Terrie...the cubbyhole's very first Christmas Card...

aren't they gorgeous...

finally...some sneaky peeks of what's been happening in the cubbyhole this week...

and the Annie Sloan Paint's been getting an outing again...

I'll see you all tomorrow over at Penny Black Saturday for No 3 of our Christmas Challenges.

Hugs Kath xxx

Now here's a surprise...

Morning folks....you know what they say....people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones...oh yes once again I opened my mouth and proceeded to stick my size 5's right in it. My observations about the clock change and Mr Furry Boy's sleeping habits of late came right back to bite me on the bum this morning....what time of day is this to be putting in an appearance I hear you ask.   Would you believe I have just tumbled out of bed...holey moley 2 hours later than usual and it's all the fault of this gorgeous fella...the delectable Mr Buble...his new book was last night's bedtime reading...a definite guilty pleasure oogling all those yummy photographs well into the small hours.

The daily routine of the cubbyhole has just flown out of the window...we'll be chasing our tails all day playing catch up...by the time I shower...grab a cuppa...trot around the forest with The Furry Boy...breakfast will now be elevenses...then it's time for our daily Strictly Work-Out with Mr Dyson and before you know it'll be time for the lunchtime stroll....crikey lunch will be afternoon tea and goodness knows what time dinner will be...do you get my drift...today's shaping up to be a "one step forward...3 steps back" kind of a day...OH JOY...

In the meantime...I have a teeny weeny tutorial to share in response to all the e-mails about the Faux Letterpress Technique I did on one of my demo cards...an easy peasy way of giving your card a fabulous textured effect...

All you need is...

an Ink Pad

Embossing Folder
and whatever machine you use for embossing...

Cuttlebug/Big Shot/Vagabond

I prefer to use Tim Holtz Texture Fades because they give a super duper deep emboss but it will work with any make of embossing folder and my ink of choice is a dye based ink pad...

because the surface of dye-based ink pads are hard and perfect for rubbing across the embossing folder.  The important thing to remember is you are inking the debossed side of the folder...the side that is indented...not the sticky up side.  I don't use a brayer because it's easier just to use the ink pad and hey you have to take your brayer apart afterwards to clean it...too much faffing around for my liking but I would suggest a brayer if you are using a Pigment Ink Pad as they tend to be more squishy resulting in a tendency to over-ink your folder.

Once you are happy that you have fully inked the folder...carefully place your cardstock on top and then run it through your machine...

Voila...now I told you it was easy didn't I...

Hopefully I'll catch up with you all tomorrow at my usual silly o'clock.

Hugs Kath xxx

What's On My Workdesk Wednesday

Morning folks...after a weekend of gallivanting...visiting grandkiddies and a lunch day out on Monday...I've got to knuckle down and get back to work.  And of course it's Wednesday...the day of the week when we all throw open our craft room doors and let the world and his wife in for a nose around....aka WOYWW.  The weather here has been a bit pants lately...dark dreary and dismal so it's not such a chore to be stuck in the cubbyhole with lots of DT stuff to do and I have a sneaky feeling that with the wind now blowing cold down from the Arctic we might even have a flurry or two of snow before too long.  A great excuse to stay indoors and get creative with the piles of stuff on my workdesk and here's what's going to keep me out of mischief for quite some time...

yummy Craftwork Cards Project Of the Month Kits...Shabby Vintage and Secret Garden 

and gorgeous Metallique Papers...

but first I need to finish off the cards for the brand new colour challenge on the 20th over at The Ribbon Girls

It's a wee bit early for our morning stroll considering it's still pitch black outside and my Furry Alarm Clock is still snuggled up snoring his head off and dreaming dreams of whatever dogs dream about. And something that's been bothering me ever since the clocks changed...why am I still up and about at my usual 6 o'clock ish but The Furry Boy has now taken to sleeping until 7.00am...has his body clock gone haywire or is he getting in practice for a bit of winter hibernation...time to put the kettle on...grab a cuppa and enjoy the peace and quiet (apart from the snoring that is).

Catch up with you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

Distress Inks...Winter Limited Edition Give-Away

Morning folks...I'm a bit of a numptie at times...would forget my head if it wasn't attached to my shoulders but hey if you pop over here on a regular basis that's something you already know. Mrs "needs a new memory card" was having such fun playing with Timmie's new Winter Ink Pads and embossing folders on Saturday that I completely forgot to take pics of the demo cards apart from these two cuties using Iced Spruce and Festive Berries and adorable snowmen from Hero Arts...Let It Snow Clear Stamp Set...an oldie but still a favourite in the cubbyhole...

Faux Letterpress technique and check out the super duper deep embossing you get with Timmie's fabulous Texture Fades...

Woohoo I love these colours and I know you will too so I've got a special parcel of Timmie gorgeousness to give-away...

a set of Winter Limited Edition Distress Ink Pads and

and

Winter Texture Fades embossing folders

all you have to do is leave a comment here before 9pm on Sunday 20th November and I'll announce the winner bright and early on Monday morning...

some more fabulous birthday cards to share from my lovely buddies....
Charlotte

and Fiona...

and a bumper yummy goodie parcel filled to the brim with delicious tucker which had me drooling all day Saturday at the thought of taste bud heaven....
from our adorable buddy Teen (Tina)

and woof woof...there was also a bag of treats for the Furry Boy from those gorgeous Furry Girls...Poppy and Bella.  Crikey another week flying in...see you all tomorrow over at WOYWW

Hugs Kath xxx

Feeling Good...

Morning folks...it's Monday morning and I'm feeling good...no Monday Morning Blues in the cubbyhole today. Last week was a bit of a toughie...it took this old crafty crone the whole week to recover from the Fiskars fun and games at The NEC and I admit I was as grumpy as sin but I've had a fun weekend...there is no better tonic than lots of laughter and fun with lovely crafty buddies and spending time with my gorgeous grandkiddies on Sunday to get me back on track.

Time to share some pics from Saturday...

all set up for a morning playing with Timmie's new Winter Limited Edition Ink Pads...embossing folders and lots of happy crafters at The Papeterie...

time to trim the tree and get the tinsel out...

a fun afternoon workshop with lots of lovely messy crafty girls...

This was my last demo/workshop day for 2011...it's been a busy old year and time to pack up the demo gear for a while but with lots of worky stuff lined up for 2012 already including more "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" Days and a mega exciting crafty trip away coming up in February...I'll be back in the zone before I know but today I'm off out for a jolly...lunch with a dear friend and a catch-up with all the gossip from the world of "nothing to do with crafting". I'll be back in the cubbyhole tomorrow to play with a pile of yummy DT stuff and feed that old addiction for all things crafty.

Did I mention that I was mega impressed with The Hilton Metropole at Birmingham...I feel it's just as important to give good feedback as it is to complain when things are not up to standard so I filled in the guest comment card before I left for home and then posted a review over on Trip Advisor...going by some of the previous comments...I'm wondering if they really were staying in the same hotel.  And look what arrived in the mail as a thank you from the Manager and staff at The Hilton....woohoo cheers everyone.

See you all tomorrow to share some demo cards...more birthday cards...a super duper yummy parcel and just so you don't feel left out...a festive give-away.  In the meantime...The Ribbon Girls have a gorgeous assortment of Christmas Embellishments to give-away...

so pop over and get your names in the hat...

Hugs Kath xxx

Lest We Forget

Remembrance Sunday...a time when folks all over the world come together to honour our fallen heroes...to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice made by countless brave men and women in wars past and present in the name of freedom and peace...apologies for sharing this card from last year...but I do love these gorgeous poppies from Hero Arts...

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."

The poppy became the symbol of remembrance as it was the only living thing that survived the bloody battles of Flanders during the First World War but once again the politically correct brigade have to stick their noses in and try to ban people from wearing poppies whether it be at work or indeed at national sporting events because some people could see it a political symbol...what utter tosh...the poppy is a symbol of remembrance and respect and three cheers for Prince William for showing true British spirit and standing up for what is essentially the right of each and every one of us...the freedom to choose.

Catch up with you all tomorrow for some demo and workshop pics from Saturday....I'm off to spend a chill out day with the grandkiddies.

Hugs Kath xxx

Penny Black Saturday Challenge Week 177

Morning folks...it's Saturday already...the weekend  is here and it's time to have some fun over at Penny Black Saturday...I loved all the gorgeous entries for the first week of our Christmas Challenges...lots of beautiful Silver and Snowflake sparkly cards...the lucky winners have been announced so pop over and check it out...it might just be YOU.

Week 2 of our Christmas Challenges...

GOLD + PRESENTS

Image: Penny Black...Sweet Snowman
Background created with Hero Arts Large Canvas Stripes embossed with Gold
Ink used for the circle and stars is the fabulous Evergreen Bough from TH's new Winter Collection
Sentiment: Penny Black....Joyous
Stars: Fiskars Punches
Snowflakes: Martha Stewart Punch
Self adhesive gems coloured with Promarker

and the prize this week for one lucky winner who will be chosen at random and announced next Saturday is from our lovely generous friends at...

$20 voucher to spend in their online store 

where you'll find a large selection of our favourite Penny Blacks 

along with lots of other fabulous bits and pieces to satisfy your crafty needs

Where has this week gone...I'm off to pack up the car and set out for a fun day at The Papeterie....demo-ing in the morning alongside my lovely buddy Debbi...guaranteed to be a riot...looking forward to seeing lots of old friends and hopefully make some new and then a workshop with a group of fun crafters in the afternoon.  Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to work I go but I'll be popping over to pay you a visit during the week to feast my eyes on all your gorgeous GOLD creations.

Hugs Kath xxx

Woof woof we have a winner

A very good morning to all my lovely bloggy buds from your bundle of golden deliciousness and before I regale you all with my tales of woe...let me share the good news...yes it's time to announce the winner of those ever so cute LOTV stamps and Spectrum Noirs....hope you are holding onto your seats folks....it's...

CLAIRE

All you have to do Claire is e-mail your address to Mum and we'll get your goodie parcel off in the mail.
But time for the not so good news...all is far from well in cubbyhole land at the moment...we're going through a sticky patch.  Mr Mojo's in a huff...Mum's just a tad grumpy and ME...well I'm the one that takes all the flack but when things get tough I just take myself off to my super duper comfy bed and go into snooze mode leaving the moaning minnies to their own devices.
As you might expect when there's trouble in the cubbyhole there's nothing much to show apart from one of those pesky sneaky peeks...

but we'll be back tomorrow for another fabby challenge joining the gorgeous girls from Penny Black Saturday.  Mum's got her demo morning and afternoon workshop at The Papeterie tomorrow so I just need to get rid of Mr Mojo and I'll be on for a peaceful "do my own thing" kind of day.

Big Furry Hugs & Snuggles

BUDDY xxx

Lest We Forget

Remembering all our fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom and peace
Hugs kath xxx

What A Day...

Morning folks...as you can probably guess from the title of this post...yesterday did NOT go according to plan...in fact the day kicked off with a major malfunction on a piece of vital cubbyhole equipment so there was nothing else for it but to jump in the car and take off to The Papeterie in my slippers and with my hair still in bird's nest mode to get it sorted....thanks girls for the coffee and buttery which brought me back from the brink of insanity...little did I know it would be short lived.  Why is it when one thing goes wrong there's one disaster after another queueing up to irritate the life out of me...one of those "I should have stayed in bed" kind of days.  All those plans to nail the samples went down the swanney and after promising some crafty creations for today...all the pathetic cubbyhole crew could manage are some boring sneaky peeks...

and I wouldn't get your hopes up for tomorrow either...I'm off to the garage this morning to get winter tyres fitted on the car...then I need to hit the shops and stock up on some food or we'll be reduced to bread and water for the rest of the week and by the time I get back to the cubbyhole...well let's just say it's going to be a night of burning some midnight oil.

Remember you have until 9pm tonight to enter The Furry Boy's give-away...he'll be popping by tomorrow to announce the lucky winner...me...who knows...I may well be having a crafty nervous breakdown...just goes to prove this job is no different from any other...good days and not so good days.

Hugs Kath xxx