"12 Tags of 2014" September...

Hi folks...I'm back to share my tag for this month's...

"12 Tags of 2014"

and the Furry Boy was spot on...yet another adapt and overcome...much huffing and puffing and many rejects in the bin tag that somehow ended up as a card. To say it didn't go according to plan is putting it mildly but hey ho I'm not going to bore you with the many trials and tribulations of this particular meltdown project but I think I completely lost the plot when I added that little bit of Garden Greens in the corner...

this is also my 2nd Design Team project for Inspiration Emporium...my take on this month's challenge over at Inspiration Journal..."Fall Is In The Air"...there's a fantastic $50 gift voucher for one lucky winner to spend at Inspiration Emporium and if you use my code "allthatglitter" at checkout...you will get an extra 10% off and hey cool shipping rates too...US $5 and International $10...so why not pop over and join in the fun.
Yesterday was definitely a...you win some...you lose some day and this "been there done it and got the T-Shirt" crafter has had more than her fair share of those but it's only paper after all and who's going to know if you chuck it in the bin and start over...well my Bin Man for one...who's definitely not going to be too happy on Monday morning but I leave you with the thought that tomorrow is a brand new day.

See you all later

Hugs Kath xxx

Hey...Look At Me...

Hi everyone...it's your gorgeous bundle of golden deliciousness checking in to keep you up to date with this week's news...

and hey check out the new slimline look me...I'm feeling rather pleased with myself after Monday's weigh in...I was slimmer of the week at Fat Club...that means a gold star and a treat from the vet and a big hug from my Mum...my waist is down by 2" which is more than can be said for some people and my collar has had to be moved up a notch. This is "body beautiful" me ready to head home after my daily lunchtime adventure to my favourite favourite place...the FOREST...excuse me sticking out my tongue but I'm rather out of breath after an hour or more of kicking up my heels...running my socks off...just enjoying all the things that us dogs love to do.

There's lots of sniffing to do...listening out for my bunny chums is a must but the pesky red squirrels who live here are driving me crazy...cheeky little beggars and no mistake...they scamper around teasing me and the minute I join the game...they race up the nearest tree...sit on a branch way out of reach and call me names...

but I also have to look out for my Old Mum...you wouldn't believe how many times I have to back track and check that's she still bringing up the rear...

and my two legged companion sure found crossing this log a bit of a challenge...pity I wasn't in charge of the camera to capture my Mum's "almost landed in a muddy wallow" moment

Oops...oops...oops I got a bit of a rollocking for leaving the wooden walkway to plough through the much more fun mud...

 and yet another one for taking the "A to B" straight line is definitely the quickest route back to the car...

but just between you and me...it goes in one ear and out the other. But before you know we're heading home and I'm looking forward to snuggling up on the sofa for my afternoon nap and looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow...it's a dog's life right enough.
Today I'll be having a rummage around in the cubbyhole looking for some declutter goodies for my give-away parcel but I need to find some ear defenders first...there's lots of huffing and puffing going on...apparently the Timmie Tag is not going according to plan...blah de blah de blah...I've heard it all before.

See you all again soon

Big Hugs and Furry Snuggles

Buddy xxx

Cards and Crafts for Christmas Give-Away

Hi folks...you're not seeing double so don't go adjusting your screen...

my complimentary copy of Cards and Crafts for Christmas has arrived from Practical Publishing and that means there are now two...so one is going spare and it could be yours...
I will post internationally so no worries if you live in Arizona...Zanzibar or Timbuctoo...if you would like to have this fabulous book with 104 Festive Makes...Christmas inspiration in abundance and an extra special parcel of cubbyhole declutter goodies from The Furry Boy popping through your letterbox...leave your name with Mr Inlinkz before 8pm on Friday 12th and I'll be back bright and early the following morning to announce the lucky winner.
And there's more good news...said Furry hooligan has lost another .6kg and is now down to 42kgs...wow this Fat Club Diet seems to be working...

they do say that losing weight is all about rethinking your eating habits...educating your stomach to eat less and I think His Nibs has finally got the message...for the first time in 8 years he was fast asleep snoozing as I tucked into my breakfast toast yesterday...no more drooling and adorable brown eyes watching my every mouthful but now that I no longer have to share I may well have to enquire at the vet if they do a human variety of this miracle weight loss food.

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

An InLinkz Link-up

Sneaky Peek Time...

Hi folks...Monday morning...the start of another crazy busy week and with everything I'm working on at the moment being either MAG MAKES or DT PROJECTS...this is yet another one of those sneeky peek blog posts.  I've had great fun making the Fiskars/Eclectic Elements projects for the Simply Homemade commission...

and woohoo...they're done dusted and packed up ready to take to the Post Office... 

but before we can move on to the next item on the crafty list...I need to sit down at the computer and psyche myself up for my favourite task...well the job's not finished until the paperwork's done.. so it's going to be a "bring on the coffee and big girl knickers" step-by-step instructions kind of a Monday morning.

And what a lovely surprise on Thursday...the Friday Girls had seen my hooting and tooting Cover Girl announcement and decided to surprise me with my very own "hot off the press" copy along with yummy cake...a coffee and a catch up girly chat was just what I needed after a busy day. "We knew you'd be unbearable until you got a copy-so we took a trip to Tesco to get you one"...they've noticed then that patience is not one of my virtues. Thank you girls...this was very sweet and thoughtful of you and the cake was delish too...love you lots.

I'll be back tomorrow to share how the "Fat Club" hooligan gets on today at Weigh In and woohoo we've got something special to GIVE-AWAY.

Hugs Kath xxx

Firing Up The Melt Pot...

Hi folks...wow what a week...lots of excitement and crazy crazy busy but this motley crew have just nailed the last project for The Retreat at The Papeterie now less than 3 weeks away...we've been cooking by gas and firing up the Melt Pot...

 and for all those lucky Retreaters...a couple of cheeky sneaky peeks...

and today is going to be a feet up...chill out with the Sunday crosswords lazy kind of a day before it all kicks off tomorrow again...enjoy your weekend whatever you're doing.

Hugs Kath xxx

I'm so excited...

Hi folks...in the words of the song by the Pointer Sisters...I'm so excited and I just can't hide it...at last I can share my beyond excited news...I've been invited to join the Inspiration Emporium Family ...a wonderful friendly bunch of fabulously talented crafters...a dream design team indeed. I was thrilled honoured flattered to be asked and a little bit terrified too but faint heart never won fair lady so the answer was a great big YES and I'm so looking forward to this exciting journey with my fellow new kids on the block team-mates...

BOBBI

KARIN

PAMELA

YVONNE

and the bestest news of all...my fabulous friend and crafting buddy ANNE will be keeping me company too...so here we go with my first team project for the September Challenge over at Inspiration Emporium's blog...Inspiration Journal...

FALL IS IN THE AIR

I covered a tatty old canvas with Burlap Paper...frayed the edges for that hessian sack look...added a panel cut from a goodie delivery box and highlighted the raised corrugated bits with Picket Fence Distress Paint...

I coloured the grunge paper Tattered Leaves with Distress Paints...applied a generous coating of Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint...the killer here is the waiting for the magic to happen drying time and to highlight those magic crackles I rubbed in Walnut Stain Distress Stain and heat set...one of my favourite favourite Tim Holtz techniques...

adding lots of bits and pieces of Idea-ology to complete the project...

Why don't you join the fun and share your Fall/Autumn project over at Inspiration Journal...who knows you may be the lucky winner of $50 to spend at the Inspiration Emporium online store. Most of the supplies I used can be found at Inspiration Emporium. Follow the links below and use my code allthatglitter to save 10% if you go shopping...US Shipping is always  $5 and international shipping is just $10!

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

Back To School...

Hi folks...it's back down to earth and back to the day job after OUR Cover Girl debut yesterday and thank you for all our lovely comments...I say "OUR" because...come off it...you and I both know the real star of the show is my cute little feathered friend...wrinkly old faces do NOT sell magazines so I'm just tagging along...enjoying our moment in the spotlight and not expecting to hear from Vogue anytime soon.
And I'm still in Fiskars mode...sharing the Back to School Project Of The Month I made for the September newsletter...the brief was to decorate a satchel using the Fiskars Fuse Creativity System and the Marquis Die and Expansion Pack so I took myself off on a little shopping trip to find a satchel...there were lots to choose from...cute ones and themed ones but they were either plain and very small or huge with gaudy patterns so I hopped across town to Hobbycraft where I bought 2 plain "cheap as chips at £1.99 each" burlap canvas type bags and headed home for an "adapt and overcome" adventure.

I chopped a piece out of one bag...covered it with fabric using Heat 'N Bond and stitched around the edge to create a faux flap held in place with strong Fabric Glue. I cut out straps...stitched around the edges and decorated with buttons.

the banner letterpress plate from the Marquis Expansion Pack die cut from hessian and fabric and decorated with chipboard letters...

The clock letterpress plate from the Marquis Die cut from Woven Paper and  the letterpress plate from the The Mini Design Set Flower Die cut from felt and decorated with brads.

Why is it you don't notice until you upload the photos that there's a pesky corner not stuck down...nothing that a quick press with a hot iron won't fix and yet another demo bag is snuggled up with the rest of his Fiskars brothers.

And tomorrow is the "sharing mega exciting news" day...woohooo
Hugs Kath xxx

Hoop-de-doo-de-doo news...

Hi folks...I'm feeling very very hoop-de-doo-de-doo this morning and it's all thanks to my favourite Fiskars birdie...I love this little guy and use him at every opportunity...

you may remember way back in May...I was recovering from a memorable trip to Hobbycraft...doing battle with numerous ticket machines...replacing a flat tyre before I could get out of the car park and head home with the necessary purchases to make a start on a great big 10 project Fiskars Christmas Marathon commission...

but it's not hard to feel inspired when you're working with great products and before you know they're all done and ready to be mailed to Practical Publishing to feature in the 2014...

Cards and Crafts for Christmas Book...

and woohoo was I excited excited to see that my Christmas Wreath featuring my favourite birdie made the cover...a hoop-de-doo-de-doo moment indeedy...can this wrinkly old crafter now add COVER GIRL to her CV...I wonder.

on sale today in selected craft stores...newsagents...supermarkets and the More Mags website...I can't wait to get my copy because it was so long ago that I can't for the life of me remember what the rest of the projects look like. A very big thank you to the Editor of Simply Homemade Diane Grimshaw for inviting me to take part and to Fiskars for letting me play with all their fabulous products but I fear I may need to lie down in a darkened room because I've got even more mega exciting news to share with you soon.

Hugs Kath xxx

More Tim Holtz Christmas...

Hi folks...I'm sharing another card from "Christmas With Tim Holtz" at Kath's Klub...

this time showing that you don't have to use the whole stencil on your project....create background panels by stencilling onto a painted background...or ink up the stencil with Versamark...heat emboss with White Detail Embossing Powder and then colour with a Distress Ink Pad. Die cut some circles to decorate with Remnant Rubz - Numbers...

a little tip for using only part of your sentiment stamps...cover the part you don't want to stamp with Washi Tape...ink the stamp and remove the washi tape...this little piece of wisdom only works if your stamp is clean in the first place...yes I've been there...done it and got the T shirt. And Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without a good old sparkly dash of Distress Festive Berries glitter.

But I'll be jumping back on to the production line conveyor belt this morning...planning a "knock that crafty list on the head" kind of a day and there's EXCITING NEWS coming soon...woohoo news in fact.

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

From One Extreme To The Other...

Hi folks...after Sunday's mega "eyes out on stalks" and why can you never find a thimble when you need one...sewing marathon...I'm thinking that I should stay in my comfort zone and concentrate on "no stress-easy peasy" card making so I'm sharing one of the "Christmas With Tim Holtz" cards we made at Kath's Klub on Saturday at The Papeterie...a chance to play with some of Tim's new Christmas goodies...

Christmas Blueprints 4
Handwritten Holidays

Holly Bough Stencil

a quick and easy card...great for the mass production Christmas Card making line and it's not going to cost a fortune to mail either. And before you ask...the stamp I used for the side panels is one of my favourites..Envelope Pattern from Hero Arts which goes rather nicely with the cross hatching on the holly. I've fallen in love with the Handwritten Holidays stamp set...they will definitely be this year's go-to Christmas Sentiments.

There's been a rare occurence in the cubbyhole...I've had a brainwave in the pin cushion department...one of those inspiration bolts from the blue. I was determined to make some sort of pin cushion for the Fiskars/Eclectic Elements magazine commission and woohoo I think I've cracked it...I've ditched the over-egging the pudding version and in a moment of divine intervention...came up with a much simpler...made in 30 minutes...why make life more complicated than it needs to be solution. Don't you just love when a plan comes together...if only it happened more often.

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx