All because of M&S

It's going to be a frantic kinda week at Chez Kath.....I need to get several weeks of DT work under my belt .....and it's all because of M & S.   They sent me an e-mail at the beginning of the month....a 40% off furniture sale....well you know me folks....a sucker for a bargain.   To be honest I have been thinking for some time that we need to replace the sofas in the little sitting room at the back of the house....that's sounds a tad posh....believe me it ain't....it's the chill out room....the family room....the den...the snug....the TV room.. call it what you will .....where I can put my feet up and relax with a coffee.....watch the birds in the garden or on the odd occasion watch TV...me on one sofa....."The Budster" on the other.  I love these sofas...they are so comfy and covered in Lindsay Tartan......well I am Scottish......but they have to go.....

after years of being commandeered by my beloved Golden Buddies.....they have seen better days....so in a moment of madness....I went online and ordered brand spanking new ones and they arrive in 3 weeks not a big deal....I hear you say...BUT hubby has now decided that we should replace the patio doors....radiators...decorate.....get a new carpet and  it has just snowballed from there......new curtains....new lamps.....OMG what have I done.....I don't have time to do all this stuff.
Of course the guy with all the bright ideas is sem-retired.....BUT just happens to be working at the moment....so you've guessed it....who will be tossing aside her crafty hat for my.......

Project Manager

Procurement Manager

Painter & Decorator

Chief Cook & Bottlewasher

Dog Walker

General Dogsboy

HAT

for the next few weeks....yes you've got it one.....LITTLE OLD MOI.  Will keep you all up to speed with the progress or not and beware you may be seeing some cards with speckles of paint....normally I have more paint on my hair than on the walls.
And 2 lovely awards from two lovely and talented girsl Suzanne...and Dawn thanks so much for thinking of me....girls....I really do appreciate it....now I am supposed  to pass these on ....but you know me by now....I can't choose out of all my bloggy buddies so I am awarding this to all my blog stalkers oops sorry... followers....grab them both  and show them with pride on your blogs..with lots of love from me.

I am expecting a visitor today.....Debz is popping by to pick up her Blog Candy Give-Away....I am so looking forward to meeting one of my bloggy buds....well off to get my Crafting Hat on and get using up some of this new stash.  Will be back just later with another give-away and  the winner of Blog Candy Fest Give-Away No 5...wonder who it will be......Hugs Kath xxxxxxx

Postie's Been

It's just like Christmas all over again.....the Postie has been with lots of delicious goodies...my monthly kit from My Creative Scrapbook and once again it is jammed pack full of delicious stuff...WeR Memory Keepers Whiteout Collection...the kind of stuff you don't want to use..."the put away and take out occasionally and admire sort of stuff".

And then my naughty naughty....purchases from "The Glitter Pot"....some real bargains here folks....Penny Black and Hero Stamps.....half price....some stamps are to follow....out of stock.....and some Basic Grey goodies too.

Just got my Docrafts and Craftwork Cards stuff to come......I've been so naughty but that's IT....no more spends for a while....so please don't anyone tell me about any more online sales......it's gonna be great fun playing with all this yummy stash.....BUT WHERE AM I GOING TO PUT IT ALL.
A little reminder....Blog Candy Give-Away No 5 closes tonight at midnight...will be back tomorrow to announce the lucky winner and for all you late night folks.....Clare Curd is launching the TSV on QVC tonight at midnight.....wonder what that will be.....oh dear fingers crossed....it's nothing that I want.
I am not a big TV fan but hey Sunday nights....I LOVE.....Ski Sunday....is back on....a wonderful wildlife programme about elephants and....YES.....DANCING ON ICE.....I just love this programme and last night it was the turn of the girls....way....hey.....that means we get to oogle all the gorgeous male professional skaters.....and my favourite has to be DANIEL.....BOY IS HE SEX ON SKATES.....too early in the morning for thinking those thoughts me thinks.
Busy busy week ahead....I need to really get stuck into my DT work and get ahead of myself  because..has Kath bitten off more than she can chew.....back tomorrow with the saga....make yourselves a cuppa before you log on.  Well off to walk "The Budster"....and it's horrendous out there...high winds and lashing rain.
Catch up with you all later.....Hugs Kath xxxxxx

"The Crafty Pad " Challenge

Well here we go folks....my first challenge on The Crafty Pad as guest designer.....and can you tell I am excited.. The challenge this week is to use "Nice and Bright Colours to Cheer Us Up" and let's face it the weather is so dark and dreary.....we all need cheering up......but the mornings do seem to be stretching a bit and Saturday morning was lovely and light and bright and hey ho....managed to get a half decent pic.
Decided to go with these gorgeous papers from "My Mind's Eye".....they are so sunny and bright and remind me of summer.....roll on.

Papers: My Mind's Eye....Dreamy 2 Collection

Core'dinations: Cappuccino

Image: Crafty Pad...."Faith Coy"

Flowers: Poppicrafts

Alphabet: Adorn-It....Tiny Whoopsy Red

Color Fontz Rub-ons

I loved using this beautiful stamp and it was perfect for a bit of decoupage.......if you are not familiar with Debbie's fabulous range of stamps....they are excellent quality and stamp beautifully....nice clean crisp image....love to see what you create this week and look forward to popping over to have a look.   Hugs Kath xxxxxx

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Week 32

Morning all you Penny Black fans....fabulous response once again to the colour challenge last week..it would seem I am not the only one who loves Pink and Brown and great creations once again...well done everyone.
The challenge this week on Penny Black Saturday is.....and I'm sure you will love this one too

LET'S GET DOTTY

Another of my favourites...I must confess I am a real dotty girl....as you can probably tell from my cards and I just had to play with some of my fabbie new Penny Black stamps....oh I know I am supposed to be on a Stash Ban.....but hey these were mega bargains.....and what crafter worth their salt can resist a bargain.

Papers: Pink Petticoat.."Big Bloomers" Collection

Image: Penny Black..."Hugs" Clear Stamp Set

Flowers: Prima

Ribbon: American Crafts

Rub-ons: Doodlebug - All Mixed Up Small

Another fabulous prize this week for one lucky winner

6 x 6 Paper Pad (50 sheets) from Paper Cellar

Black Magic Core'dinations Colour Core Cardstock

So go and look out your dotty spotty papers and have lots of fun.....can't wait to see what you create this week and will be popping over for a look......Hugs Kath xxxxx

Sale of the Century

For all you crafters out there who live in the Saughall area or within driving distance and who like a bargain....the lovely Dawny P is helping out her friend Eloise once again...a MEGA....MEGA SALE of crafting goodies and everything must go.....so get yourselves over to Saughall Methodist Church from 1.00pm - 3.00pm tomorrow.  For more details click HERE

More Funky Daze and a Little Toot

Boy...oh boy....am I just about tearing my hair out trying to get piccies of cards....the weather here is so dark and dismal..you wouldn't believe how many tries I've had....and this is the best of the bunch.   Need to get my Funky Daze samples off in the post to Anice today.....

A little reminder of a date for your diary.....Anice will be appearing on Ideal World on 27th January at 11.00am.....a premier show for "Funky Daze"......so if you have already bought it....tune in for some inspiration and see the fabulous samples made by the Design Team....if you haven't bought it yet....what are you waiting for...pop on over to "FUNKY HAND'S" website and get your CD.

And a little toot from me......I was asked by the lovely Debbie from "Crafty Pad" if I would like to be guest designer for 3 weeks on their challenge blog......would I.....oh yes please....I love her new range of Faith stamps and she kindly sent me some to play with....and they are fabulous....really good quality and a joy to stamp with.  So look out for me on Sunday with my first challenge card.  

Well off to hot foot it to the post office with Anice's samples and all the image swaps for the lovely gals at Funky Hand.......postie has just been with lots of parcels.....oh yummy.....will share with you later.

Hugs Kath xxxxxx

P.S.  to answer a question from Elaine....I have never had a problem with the ink smudging when printing papers...I print onto either 280gsm cardstock or 200gsm paper....don't know if that helps.

Tag You're It Week 41

Morning Taggers...... I am a little bit later today.....would you believe that this "up and at em gal" had a bit of a lie in this morning....even "The Budster" didn't stir until about 8.30...what a couple of lazy good for nothings.
The challenge this week on Tag You're It has been set by our lovely team mate Anne and is......

Sugar Candy Kisses

Can I let you into a little secret....I have been scratching my head big time with this one but then a little snippet of an idea came into my head and here is the result......

Background Paper: Pink Petticoat "Little Fleurs" Collection

Ice Cream Cone......Core'dinations

Ribbon: American Crafts

Alphabets: Adorn-it

American Crafts Foam Thickers

Don't know if I am entirely happy with this one.....it does look miles better in the flesh but as all you crafters know at the moment....trying to get a half decent piccie ain't easy....even with my mega bucks new camera.

Can't wait to see what you all create...so get your thinking caps on folks.....Hugs Kath xxxxxx

Arty Girlz Challenge # 68

The challenge this week on Arty Girlz is "Button It" and I so love using buttons on my cards.   I am feeling really guilty because I can't remember the last time I was able to join in with all the lovely folks at Arty Girlz.....this is one of my favourite challenge blogs.......but I'm back...maybe they didn't notice I was missing.

Papers & Buttons:  Basic Grey "Granola Collection"

Image: Basic Grey Granola Bitsy Stamp "Butterfly"

Well folks off to walk "The Budster" and it's teeming it down out there....so lots of muddy feet to be dried off when we get home and then it's "carry on crafting" for me ...lots still to do....but catch up with you all for tomorrow's challenge on Tag You're It.......Hugs Kath xxxxx

2 Sketches 4 You Sketch 17

Morning folks....it's challenge time....yes I did manage to get one done and of course it's sneaky peek Thursday again.

The sketch this week on 2 Sketches 4 You is from the lovely and talented Laura...great cards once again from Laura and the DT. They are looking for their new Spring DT at the moment...so even more inspiration coming our way.

Not entirely happy with this one....think I may have gone a little bit overboard with the distressing distressed.....it looks positively heartbroken.....and the dull grey day hasn't lifted my spirits either or the piccie for that matter.

Cardstock.... Core'dinations

Papers & Sentiment Topper: Pink Petticoat....Old Fashioned Girl

Ribbon: American Crafts

Brads from my stash

Can you believe it's Thursday already.....where are the weeks going....so it's sneaky peek time again.

Well folks that's all for now...will be back later with another challenge card....just need to go and take a piccie...that is if it ever gets light enough....oh roll on Spring....catch up with you all later...Hugs Kath xxxxxx

A few pics.. a BIG Confession..and a Huge TOOT

Morning folks....well a bit of a mixed bag today.....been busy beavering away in my cubby hole but all DT stuff and nothing I can share at the mo....but there is something I want to share.......I am such a sucker for cute animal pictures and these just melted my heart......

It's a hard life but how tired can you be to fall asleep in your dinner

He is so sorry....wonder what he did

Well folks I too am looking a bit sheepish and have a little itty bitty confession to make....my New Year Resolution not to buy any more stash just went out the window...completely...not just a little bit...A LOT ....and do I feel a bit like this little fella........NO.....SIREE.... I DON'T...all these online sales...what's a girl gonna do......"The Glitter Pot"......fabulous Hero Arts and Penny Black Stamps at 50% off....."Docrafts" with Basic Grey stuff at insane prices and "Happy Stampers" with 20% everything for the whole week....how could I resist......and why should I be the only one feeling guilty...if you have any sense get yourselves over there and grab some bargains.....PLEASE and then I won't feel so bad.

Wooo....hoooo....a huge TOOT..ER..OOT..ER..OO for my Funky Hand Team Mate Jozza...she has just been chosen to be on the DT for the fabulous Kirsty Wiseman.....how lucky are you girl working with that gorgeous lady....can't wait to see your creations with Kirsty's fabulous new products.....WELL DONE GIRL!!!

Get on over there and give her a big bloggy hug.

A simple little Chez Kath card which is winging it's way to Millport with some goodies for my bloggy bud

Off to get some more crafting done folks......makes sense...if I am working....then I can't be spending online at the sales.... can I !!! Back tomorrow with maybe a challenge and some sneaky peeks.....

Hugs Kath xxxxx