The Ribbon Girl November Colour Challenge...

Hi folks...another month flying in...the third Sunday of the month already and it's time to head on over to join The Ribbon Girls for this month's Colour Challenge. Christmas is just around the corner don't you know so it's no surprise that the chosen colour is...

RED

a great excuse for me to play with some of my new Tim Holtz goodies and raid my Ribbon Girl stash of gorgeous flowers...

as always there is a fabulous prize for one lucky winner...

a set of 3 Marianne Design Dies

and a £10 voucher to spend online at The Ribbon Girl

I don't know about where you live but here it's a definitely a "stay indoors and craft kind of a day"

See you all tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

InLinkz.com

WD40 to the rescue

Hi folks...I'm not quite back in the groove but feeling cheerier after my day out yesterday with the girls...I can always rely on my "tell it like it is" mates to cut to the chase with a few home truths...apparently I'm one step away from the knackers yard...I've failed this year's MOT...the chassis is busted and the engine needs a lot of work to get it ticking over sweetly again so I hope they're saving their pennies for this year's Christmas pressie...an appointment with a top Harley Street Cosmetic Surgeon or more realistically for their budget...a year's supply of WD40.
The awful weather doesn't exactly help either...silly o'clock pitch black...rain like stair rods and blowing a hooley morning strolls with my Furry friend have turned this already creaky jointed crafter into a grumpy old woman...one dripping wet "shake it all over the hall" dog and his "water running out of the arse of her breeks" companion return home to dry out before doing it all over again at lunchtime but I don't have a hot line to the man in the sky controlling the tap so it's a grit your teeth and get on with it situation.
But you could say that every cloud has a silver lining...it's perfect weather for crafting so The Furry Boy and his Mum will be heading for the cubbyhole to watch the rain run down the window...all cosy and warm...one of us getting to grips with the crafty list...the other snoring his head off snuggled up to the radiator.
So life isn't so bad after all and I'm looking forward to another fun play day with some of Tim's new goodies...

and I'll see you all bright and early tomorrow for a brand new Colour Challenge over at The Ribbon Girls.  Enjoy your weekend whatever the weather

Hugs Kath xxx

Back In The Groove...

Hi folks...apologies for one rather misleading blog post title...I am NOT...as much as I would like to be...back in the groove but I may have hit on a plan to make that happen...I'm abandoning the DIY stuff...putting the crafty stuff on the back burner for today and heading off with the "always come to the rescue cavalry" Friday Girls for a pamper day...

I'm hoping that a good old workout with those massaging magic hands followed by a yummy lunch and a chill out afternoon drinking coffee and catching up with the latest gossip will do the trick...fingers crossed it works because it's last chance saloon and there ain't no PLAN B.

The cubbyhole is looking rather sad...it's been de-shelved and needs a major polyfilla session before painting can resume...

 can't believe how mucky the walls are...

but this "everything has to be done right now" tired old crafter has had a big wake up call...problem is...my brain thinks I'm 21...the body knows differently so I've had to admit defeat...after all Rome wasn't built in a day...this particular make-over is going to take much longer than anticipated and I suspect it's going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better...yes...the Superwoman Project Manager was a tad too optimistic and got the completion date totally wrong BUT no point in getting my knickers in a twist...you win some you lose some...it will get done EVENTUALLY she says confidently.

In the meantime I'm hoping to get back to the crafty stuff tomorrow...finishing off a tutorial post for Inspiration Journal...

having fun with this month's DT makes and get cracking with the workshop makes for this month's Kath's Klub at The Papeterie...hard to believe this is our last get together of 2014...the take-home items are an extra special Christmas treat...some lucky crafters will be going home with the fabulous Christmas Nostalgia Stamp Set from Tim Holtz...a Distress Spray Stain and Canvas

I'll see you all tomorrow...hopefully with renewed energy...back in the groove and raring to go.

Hugs Kath xxx

Crafty Elves Required...

Hi folks...I'm feeling completely bogged down and well and truly crafted out...can't seem to gee my ginger and get on with the list of things to do...there's been much sitting around drinking coffee and not even the goodies from Birmingham have persuaded me to get my crafty hat on again. Top of the shopping list were those "can't live without" cubbyhole essentials...the 3D foam pads...Cosmic Shimmer Glue...Mini Blending Tool pads and a new Craft Pick...a pokey tool to you and me...his predecessor has seen better days...obviously he's been poking around where he shouldn't have been. A big thank you to David and Brenda at Craft Obsessions for very generously re-stocking my supply of the fabulous Stick It and to Fiskars for my smart new craft mat.

and of course I couldn't resist adding to the cubbyhole's Tim Holtz Bits and Bobs Collection...

and a stroll over to MDF Man to stock up on more of these fabulous storage boxes...I'm still amazed that I managed to sneak them past the eagle eyes at check-in and on to the flight as hand luggage...

and after seeing the gorgeous samples on the Powertex stand...I couldn't resist purchasing some bits and pieces to have a little dabble...

but when that is likely to happen is anybody's guess...the DIY bug is calling again and after helping hubby to put together Storage Unit 2 yesterday...I've been busy unpacking...sorting and stacking the shelves....the good news is the garage is now decluttered again...

the not so good news is the two-tone cubbyhole is getting on my wick but before I can start painting again...the rest of the units will have to moved and seeing as they're well and truly anchored to the floor by the weight of all the craft stuff...I'm suspect I may have to empty them first...to save hubby ending up in hospital with a hernia and that's not a task that's filling me with joy right this minute.

What I really need is a little army of crafty elves with big muscles who are dab hands with a paintbrush...many hands make light work...The Furry Boy will be on hand with lots of furry snuggles and I'll be very happy to keep you topped up with lots of coffee and cake...so applications in writing please...addressed to The Cubbyhole"

Hugs Kath xxx

With A Little Help From My Friends...

Hi everyone...the old body seems to be slowly getting back to normal after my adventure to Birmingham...it's probably the older you get...the longer it takes you to bounce back scenario kicking in again...yesterday it was my back...today it's my legs so by the law of averages...tomorrow it will be my feet and by Friday I should be back to cooking by gas again. But it's amazing how you get through 4 busy days with a little help from your friends and it's worth every niggly little ache and pain to meet up with them all again...

the lovely David & Brenda from Craft Obsessions and their Stick It Chum...the fabulous Ken Oliver

the lovely Julie Hickey 

and my Sizzix hero and workshop next door neighbour...the lovely Pete Hughes

and the folks who managed to dodge the camera...the gorgeous Hels Sheridan...Marion Emberson and the crew from WOW...my fiskars Buddy Lynne...Kim Costello...Chris and the lovely gals at Practical Publishing and Jenny and the gang at Pebeo. It's great to know you're not alone when it comes to the aches and pains...we're all in the same boat and the topic of conversation first thing every morning was which part of our anatomy was hurting the most. Big thanks to all my lovely blogging buddies who popped by to say hello and it was fabulous to meet up with my fellow Tim Holtz stalker Jenny again and to finally meet the lovely Julie Brooks and Neil Burley and a big thank you to Lynne and Jenny for the beautiful birthday cards.

Of course a trip to Birmingham wouldn't be complete without our twice a year carvery treat with our lovely buddy Rach and a meet-up with my bestest crafting buddy...my adorable friend Enfys who joined Hina and I for my birthday dinner...great company...fabulous fun and delicious food...

so delicious in fact that Hina and I returned for second helpings on Saturday night.

And last but not least...a huge thank you to the 240 lovely folks who joined me for the Fiskars workshops...we had great fun...they were superstar crafters each and every one...

and without them...I would have been twiddling my thumbs and talking to myself for 4 days.  An extra special huge thank you to Beverley from Trimcraft and the amazing girls from Colemans Craft Warehouse for all their help and support.

Can you believe that I haven't got round to unpacking the crafty purchases yet and can't for the life of me remember what goodies persuaded me to raid the stash purse this time round so when I share them tomorrow...it's probably going to be as big a surprise to me as it is to you.

Hugs Kath xxx

News from The NEC...

Hi folks...I'm not feeling so chirpy this morning...suffering a little bit from the day after the day after syndrome...I feel as though I flew home hanging on to the wing of the plane and I'm missing the company of all the lovely crafty folks who joined me for 4 days of busy Fiskars workshops and all my crafty buddies.
I do love the Christmas Hobbycraft Show...the NEC certainly go the extra mile to get everyone in the Christmas spirit with their beautiful displays...

and well done to the quartet who kept us entertained for the whole 4 tapping our feet and singing a-long days...

and the usual Christmas paper sculptures at the entrance to the show were replaced by beautiful creations to commemorate the centenary of the start of WW1...

and as always...at 11.00am on Sunday morning the bells toll and for 2 minutes the NEC goes silent in remembrance of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of peace and freedom...it's so moving that in such a vast building you could hear a pin drop in the eerie silence and it gets me every time...a very touching and emotional mark of respect for our fallen heroes.
But before the crafting fun can begin...it's Set Up Day...time for the Fiskars Dream Team Elves...our lovely Commander In Chief Caroline...my fabulous Fiskars buddy Hina and yours truly to get to work unpacking tools and getting the workshop area ready...

with a little help from lots of coffee and the yummy delicious macarons that Caroline brought all the way from Paris...

and before you know the job's a good un and I'm good to go...

More news tomorrow

Hugs Kath xxx

"A Vintage Journey" Guest Creative Guide..

Hi folks...I can't tell you how excited and honoured I was to be asked to join the lovely girls over at A Vintage Journey as today's GUEST CREATIVE GUIDE...a little bit nervous too and what on earth was I going to make for the theme...

BOUNTIFUL HARVEST

After much deliberating whether it would be a mixed media canvas or journal...an altered art extravanganza or decorating a configurations box...an idea popped into my head BUT would I be able to translate it on to paper so to speak. I'm always very critical of my own work...I think that's just something that all us crafters suffer from but on this occasion I have to say that I'm rather pleased with how my Bountiful Harvest Pot Pourri Sack turned out...

I won't deny that stitching the hessian/burlap together to make the sack was definitely a challenge...one that nearly had me throwing in the towel but you know me...not one to give up at the first hurdle...where there's a will there's a way is my motto and thankfully it turned out alright on the night...

if you want to see how it all came together...hop on over to A Vintage Journey for a little step-by-step journey...needless to say I'm not sharing the pic of ME stamping my feet in frustration...I confess to having a little hissy fit when the hessian got stuck in the foot of the sewing machine requiring the patience of a saint and the skill of a neurosurgeon to detangle it.

See you all tomorrow with news from The NEC...

Hugs Kath xxx

Oh Christmas Tree

Hi folks...it's Sunday already and the 9th day of the month...not many weeks left now before Christmas. Today I'm sharing the cards I made with the fabulous Ornament Tree die from my lovely buddy Paula...

Paula has a fabulous tutorial on her blog on how to create a Triangular Christmas Tree Card so hop on over and check it out.

I can't believe it's the last day of the show...time flies when you're having fun and as usual it's been an absolute blast...I'll be sad to say goodbye to my Fiskars buddies and crafty friends but I am looking forward to heading home tonight to my own cosy bed and how I've missed my adorable furry hot water bottle. I'll see you all tomorrow to share what I made for an exciting "how chuffed was I to be asked" Guest Design Spot.

Toodle oo for now

Hugs Kath xxx
Remembering all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom