Kool Kitty Musings

Before I head off for the day...

Here are a couple of projects recently posted on the Banana Frog blog...

Something seasonal:

That kitty from October Afternoon can look very spooky with a couple of bling crystals as eyes.

And today's project of the day on the Frog Blog is this rustic retro Christmas card:

I really cannot get enough of kraft and vintage cream ink at the moment.

Anyway, Fantastic Mr Fox was very good indeed. Definitely recommended!

Right, I'd best get dressed and get going, off to IKEA today, hopefully to return with furniture this time!
 
 
 

Creative times...

Had a bit of time this afternoon to make two very important cards - which I hope will arrive with their recipients before next weekend, postal strike permitting... :oS

This one is using one of the sketches for the October cardmaking challenge over on UKS:

All KI of course...

I even used a chipboard accent for the inside:

Then the next card also uses KI birthday papers, plus that trick to flick the back of your project after applying Perfect Pearls or indeed any 3D glue really works - no more pointy bits!

Here's a close-up:

See how flat the "pearls" are now?

Anyway, after that I am feeling quite itchy to get the Christmas stash out and make a start on this year's pile of cards, but now really isn't a good time to go searching for all the Christmas paraphenalia... there's always tomorrow! hehe

I finally watched Benjamin Button last night (very good indeed) and Henry Poole is Here this afternoon (not so taken with it and did a lot of fast forwarding) - so those are two DVDs ready to post back to Lovefilm tomorrow.
 
 
 
 
 

Could it be??

Why yes! I have actually made something. ;o)

I needed some creative outlet and well, can't beat a bit of October Afternoon!

And of course those cute little rub-ons from Nancy Kubo - love them! 

On the house front, well the floors went down yesterday and now have a week of resting for the glue, etc. But my word, they look amazing and not a creak to be heard! Will try and get some pics this week before they get varnished stained and varnished.
 

On a related note...

Well I won't bore you with too many house details now as I need to vamoose and go round and seal the decking we cleaned yesterday (4 hrs of hard washing and brushing and coating in really hot sun!) but apparently it was well worth it as it has come up much nicer now it's dried out. But have to go round in a bit to start on sealing the wood... or staining it... not decided which yet...

But, here's a little project I just uploaded to the Banana Frog blog:

It uses the "It's all about Documenting" set.

Also here's my creation for September's colour focus challenge:

The heart is stamped using the Perfect Paisley set:

Then glossy accented.

And back to the house... I looked at the painted lining paper with my turquoise paint samples... looks like I will be taking down the broken blind in the main bedroom at some point and replacing it with voile and thicker curtains, this should really bring in a lot more light.

I am going for a feature wall in Javan Dawn 2, then the other walls will be Javan Dawn 5. That should help with the illusion of light and space yet still give me some zinging turquoise to enjoy!

The bed was delivered yesterday along with my table and chairs, the conservatory looks so much more homely with them in.

Had plans to paint the bathroom today, but while the weather is good like this, best to do the outdoors stuff first.

A roofing guy is coming round next week to look at the guttering at the back that needs fixing/replacing and the roof - seems to be a cracked roof tile to replace and then the loft will need installing. Not been up there but apparently there's a lot of space for... er stuff. ;o)

Heck knows when I will actually get back to making some cards again!

Right I'm off!

Just a quick post

Here's a card I made for the current CPS sketch (#131) using October Afternoon papers, BG chipboard, and a Papertrey Ink greeting:

I added a bit of 3D glitter paint to the flowers as well:

And here's a card using up some scraps... KI Pieces of Me, such a shame they never released more in this style:

Glossy accents on the flower, still drying...

Bank Holiday Weekends

I always feel you need to make the most of these - yet always end up relaxing away the time, rarely packing them with loads of manic activity!

So far I have managed to tick a few things off my more boring to-do list, had a Medium viewing marathon, read half my current re-read book, raced over to Homebase to purchase another cake stand in their 20% event (there were just 3 left), and posted my project of the day over on the Frog Blog:

If you fancy making these easy peasy notelets, check out this post.

I have some stuff to write up for a few projects, but think I will leave that until tomorrow. In the meantime I'm going to get back to my book, and at some point watch Bride Wars. I am also crossing my fingers that Next will still have the crockery I want at a reduced price - and that they will still actually have it in stock as it's not on the website! :oS

And now for something nicer...

I got back into the card sketch swing today, well that was after going to visit the (stray) cat that my brother and his house mates have temporarily homed while they look for the owner/find a new kitty home... Milo, very nice young cat and aw.... if there is no home for him I am sure he'd be moving in with Kizia (not sure how she'd feel about it as she has been in a snit all day). But I digress... must stop thinking about that as it is likely Milo will be moving in somewhere else....

So yes, the card... from this week's sketch over at CPS (#129):

Going for a more manly birthday card...

KI Friendship line...

I had the sudden urge to get using some of the stash I had at my disposal and make something for this month's card challenge of at UK Scrappers, namely to make a simple card...

Well this is as simple as I left it:

Yay, I now have a set of rub-ons that rub on properly thanks to the folks at KI for sorting my issue with the faulty set I bought.

Then I had some off-cuts and well, one thing led to another:

I must confess that blue background paper is one of my favourites in the set...

 

And so are the trees on this one - warning it's a bit bright!

Love the goggly eyes on the birdie sticker:

 

All in all it's been a rather nice day, finished Black Hills, started rereading Face the Fire (about to return to that), watched a few episodes of The Closer I hadn't seen yet, and made a few cards... a nice lazy Saturday. :o)

Dangerous impulses brought on by works in progress

So I spent the best part of Saturday night at Zoe's covering this little BG album in BG Blush - I am both happy (it looks lovely so far) and sad (I have no full sheets of Blush patterns left). I am really trying to resist googling the availability of Blush collection packs as I am starting to feel nervous at the thought of no longer having any of these papers. Gulp. I spent the best part of an hour online looking for a 6x6 pad of this paper on the off chance it is languishing in the corner of some retailer's shop... But no... not much luck there... then oh half an hour ago I noticed that one of the retailers had a number of Blush sheets reduced so I went and snapped up what was left that I liked, including a few sheets of the above red on pink pattern!

I spent less than £10 so think that was warranted, but if anyone spots the 6x6 pad anywhere give me a shout! I could still do with it. :oP

But I have also been good... I made a little card for a recent new arrival, just need to get it sent off! :o)

Back to life... Back to reality!

Whew, well that holiday certainly passed by quickly - almost feels like we were never away. And I shudder at the thought of going through all the photos I took and deleting the naff ones... but plenty of fodder for future pages (should I actually decide to scrapbook again!) and maybe the odd mini-book. hehe

But in the meantime, here are some card projects I made before going on holiday but couldn't yet post. First up some cards for Crafty Templates, who kindly invited me to guest for their July kit:

 

 

 

 

When it came to the ice cream template, well I just had to use those Pieces of Me papers from KI!

 

 

And last but not least....

 

 

And another project posted while I was away, was my project of the day for the frog blog - tips and instructions are here:

 

 

And that's it for now... have made a little order for some mini chipboard books but really need some more - especially BG and Cosmo ones, I have plans to actually get a holiday in a mini-book rather than gradually get pages in a normal album - and since I have only managed 1 page from my Chicago holiday last year, that might be a wise decision!

Pitter Patter...

An excellent excuse to get those Crate Little Sprout papers out, as one of the girls in our office building is going on maternity leave this Friday so have made a little card for her - hopefully it is sufficiently neutral as I'm not sure whether it's a boy or a girl.

 

I have also filled a little mini jam pot that used to contain Tiptree blackcurrant jam with those cute little QuicKutz tags, I can never be bothered to go and cut them especially and the mini greetings stamps from Papertrey are the ideal size for them, so I now have a good little stash of them to hand. :o)

Am also slowly catching up on my DVDs, looks like I am making very good use of my Lovefilm subscription this month - have had a DVD to watch almost every day so far, but have a hankering to rent a copy of Madonna's Confessions tour since I watched the Sticky and Sweet Rio concert last night on Sky. Hm... may go and add that to the list and who knows, maybe Lovefilm will send me it one day!

Lazy Sundays

The days are passing so quickly and I've not been at the computer much while the weather has been so lovely. And one way to enjoy the weather is to sit out with a good book, shame about the slight sunburn though!

Nevertheless, I managed to finish off a couple of books today - well I started and finished the latest Katie Fforde and now can start on my next read!

But when the weather turned stormy I caught up on my DVD list and made a few cards, one of which is this one for the current CPS challenge - I am so behind on my challenge cards too now! Yikes!

 

I finally used up that last piece of dotty white/green ribbon as well!

 

The addition to liquid pearls continues...

Right I am off to tidy up and get started on my next book.

Even in the frozen north

It is TOASTY out there! :oO

If it weren't for the midgies I would still be sat out in the garden reading away it's that warm.

But there are blood-sucking midgies out there and so I am indoors trying to keep cool and think cool thoughts, but also update this here blog with the Project of the Day I posted over at the Frog Blog...

So, by now it will be obvious that I have become slightly re-addicted to Liquid Pearls, well especially red liquid pearls - who knew they were so nice...

 

Red and turquoise still my fave combo!

 

But I almost crippled my hand trying to squeeze out the Sticky Fingers equivalent of Liquid Pearls - shame their bottles are so stiff!

 

Right I think I am due for a return of the Stickles addiction!

Not been abducted by rock-and-roll lovin' aliens...

Nope, just busy with a lot of work, other stuff... and hey, summer sun! :oD

But I have managed to make a minimal amount of cards, but they're nothing to write home about!

 

Still loving my Mommy and Me rub-ons, but how to make those decorative pins look nice and not like implements of torture!

 

Have even delved into really old stash that needs using up, one day it will all be gone:

Wish I had more of the images from those chipboard embellishments and less of the words...

 

Just having some fun with Tim's edge scorer:

 

And finally using some of those beige AC stickers:

 

And last but not least, couldn't resist giving some Kraft cardstock the dotty treatment:

 

And always nice to have matching brads from Lasting Impressions - yum!

Frustration thy name is...

KI Friendship rub-ons!

 

Well so much for some fun creating today. I sat down to try using these rub-ons again before contacting KI re the problem, and as you can see, I didn't get that far!

Hopefully this is a unique problem to this batch and not a new "feature" of KI rub-ons as I've never had an issue with them in the past.

Ho-hum...

So the card I did finally make did not feature the rub-ons I wanted to use and instead looks like this:

 

Nothing spectacular but I was feeling rather ticked off after battling the rub-ons!

 

So that marks card 100 of 209 - need to do a bit more catching up to be on target again...

But think it's back to the Sims 3 now!

Last but not least...

The rest of the cards!

 

Really simple, but I just love the colours and that paper!

 

And obviously there was need for another Nancy Kubo rub-on!

 

And there is always room for a stonking bow!

 

I really made use of that loaned out top-note die as well and cut a mini stack from scraps and other random bits and pieces!

Some more...

 Since I've not managed to make anything since getting back from the weekend away, here are some more cards!

 

Cuteness and glitter, can't go wrong!

Those border punches at work!

 

Still loving those red liquid pearls - yummy!

 

Last one for today...

 

Of course there had to be an owl in there!

Yikes!

Playing catch-up again, as I have had a few busy days since last posting.

Been out both evenings, first to Kabbabish for dinner, then last night to see Angels and Daemons at the Cinema - good job it was Orange Wednesday as they've put ticket prices up to £7 now..

Anyway, onwards with some more cards!

 

Once again, Nancy Kubo journaling cards - so useful!

 

And of course some co-ordinating rub-ons!

 

Back with the Sassafras stamps.

 

Equal opportunities cardmaking - that's what it's all about!

 

Or not, I needed to use up the rest of that sheet of paper!

 

And thickers - mmmm

 

Always a struggle sympathy cards, but I thought the papers were quite fitting

 

And that Papertrey stamp was the perfect fit.

 

Finally used some of my new Basic Grey diddy stamps, but have to say the quality was rather lacking, all the inks I tried just bubbled up on the surface, never had that happen with BG stamps.

 

You can see how yucky the impression is compared to the Papertrey greeting... so you live and learn!

Random card-i-ness

 So here are some more of the creations...

 

A fine smattering of glitter on the Prima flowers:

 

And there was no way I could miss out on using my Nancy Kubo journaling cards in some way, especially on a father's day card:

 

I really like those KI glittery alpha stickers, no glitter all over the place like with the Doodlebug ones...

 

But yep, really love these journaling cards:

 

And especially on Kraft, with good old loopy Doodlebug (sans glitter!).

 

And definitely some space for October Afternoon and cute Sassafras Lass stamps!

 

I even used up a few of those lovely matt brads from Lasting Impressions:

Just another 110 to go!

Well I had a wonderful weekend away with the girls, lots of chatting, rooting about in the stash and hurrah I managed to catch up on my cardmaking!

But one thing I learnt this weekend... the new KI rub-ons from the Friendship line are rubbish quality and do not rub-on at all! I ruined 1 card trying to apply the cute birdies to it and was totally disheartened. Just nowhere near to the quality they once were, but their glittery alpha stickers - fantastic! :D

So here are a few cards from the weekend, will upload more later.

 

So this was the post-rub-ons damage control card after wrecking one of my Martha tags...

Operation kitchen sink packing!

Well the time has come to get my stash sorted for my weekend away with some of the girls - I have zero planned, zero energy to think about planning what to make, and zero prepared...

So it will be the kitchen sink approach and I must get it done tonight as I have a very hectic two days ahead before going up to the cottage after work Friday!

But where to start... dies, cardstock... embellishments, ooer.... I may need to get some boxes at the ready to carry it all in!

Oh and I forgot to post this card for the June colour focus challenge on the Frog Blog:

 

Cute huh? I shall definitely be packing some Mommy and Me!

Banana Frog project of the day

Here's my project that I posted to the Frog Blog yesterday. :o) Stamp sets used were All about Documenting and Paper Chains:

 

Got to say I am a fan of this colour combo!

 

Also, here's my project from the May Colour Focus feature:

I have a "layout" to finish off later today that I started at Zoe's last night, but got some to-do list stuff to get off my plate first before I can sit down again to play, mind you the weather is looking promising for today it has to be said!

Quick catch-up

The other night I finally managed to sit down and make something, things have just been a tad hectic recently... but here we go:

 

I went to town a bit on the stickles and liquid pearls but I rather like the effect on the tree. :o)

 

Then I checked out the latest recipe challenge over at Sketches by Tamara (#50), this week it was to use:

• Hardware
• Notebook paper
• Dry embossing

  

All the elements are there and I finally used one of those fab kraft corrugated cards and my silver forest friends rub-ons.

Right, I'm off to watch the tail end of the Apprentice (blimey what a show tonight, it's always hilarious on the shopping channel task...).

Mmmm pink and lime...

There's something very satisfying when working with this colour-combo - and I love the shade of lime in the Urban Prairie line... yum!

So with that in mind I decided to give these colours an outing for this week's recipe challenge over at Sketches by Tamara:

 

But can you spot the elements? Well they're all there...

• Chipboard - check!
• Buttons - check!
• Flowers - sneaky check!

 

Right, Apprentice time!

Monday...

So I managed to finish my book today and was left with some spare time on my hands and decided to check out this week's sketch over at Mojo Monday while I finished season 1 of Friends in the great big box set marathon... A nice combo indeed!

 

I even broke out my Little Sprout papers and rub-ons!

 

Now I just need to get a few things put away and I can watch tonight's Ashes to Ashes! :oD

And finally...

A couple of cards from today, this one is for the current CPS sketch (#116):

 

Certainly didn't turn out quite how I imagined... anyway... the with some left-overs I made this one too. :o)

 

I love those journaling cards from Nancy Kubo - and they look cute cut in half too. hehe

American Crafts in overdrive!

You can always count on some serious colour with American Crafts, I love their cardstock and the colours but find it really hard to then combine those fab shades in the Tropical pack with other paper lines in my stash... so I didn't bother!

Instead I looked to the AC paper pile...

First up with a simple card for the current sketch challenge over at Sketches by Tamara (#95):

 

And yeah, I find it hard to resist using those Hambly rub-ons on little brown paper bags...

 

Then while I was at it, I used the other half of the cardstock to make another card - quick and simple is the name of the game!

 

Those Martha tags were a good buy! Very useful.

Just a quick project flood...

Some of the cards I made yesterday - nothing particularly great about these I think my creative juices are running low at the moment which is a damn shame considering all this lovely stash around me - perhaps my head just isn't in it right now - but hopefully I'll be back on track again soon, after all am cropping this Friday evening so need to think of something to do! :oS

 

Good old American Crafts - finally using up some minimarks and trying out my cute Sizzix birdie!

 

Then before it went downhill... I got out those lovely Mommy and Me rub-ons, oh they are just lovely...

 

Aw bless...

 

Then I hate to end on this one, but I'm not feelin' the love with this card:

 

Mostly because the stamped greeting smudged after it was attached - grrrrrr!

Finally...

I've started my Friends Marathon - had the full series boxset since the late January sales and still hadn't had chance to sit down and get them on the DVD player.

So in the land of multi-tasking I've got up to season 1 episode 3 and made a card whilst watching!

 

This one's for this week's recipe challenge (#48) over at Sketches by Tamara.

The challenge was to use red, round and ricrac. :o)

Just can't give it up!

... October Afternoon apples and the Detours line in general! I just love it. :o)

And what better excuse to use some of my fave bits than for the current card sketch challenge on the OA blog:

 

Oh and of course any excuse to use that border punch!

 

Right, time to watch Ashes to Ashes!

Just the one today

Too much faffing around to actually achieve anything constructive today, but here's a card for this week's CPS sketch (#115) - lots of BG Blush still to use up! :o)

 

And using up a chunk of left-over Narratives die-cut paper. :o)

 

Right off to tidy up, and get back to my book - or maybe I need to sort my gym kit out for tomorrow... decisions...

And the rest...

Here are the other cards I managed to make yesterday - any excuse to play with the new stash and gadgets!

 

The cut-out chipboard is actually a page from this mini-book by Colorbok which seems to be based on The Animals of Farthing Wood - the line is called Friendly Forest, and was all on clearance at Michaels. I picked up the photo mount pad, flocked stickers, chipboard book, journaling cards, silver rub-ons and some of the chipboard embellishments. So plenty to be getting on with!

The rest on this one is scraps except the Martha tag.

 

Then I made a card for the current recipe challenge (#47) over at Sketches by Tamara, it called for pink, a butterfly and glitter!

 

I managed to use up some old MM twine and play with some new October Afternoon paper (mmm arrived yesterday) and the new EK Success notepad punch. Love that!

 

And for this month's card challenge on UKS I needed to add some texture so those new flocked stickers were most handy!

 

They really are lovely, but I think that was the loveliest one on the sheet apart from the birdie one, and the background tag is a journaling card from the same line.

Border punches deployed again!

 

And last but not least, I didn't fancy chucking away the scraps, so made a little notelet:

Hurrah, one item off the list!

Ever wanted to get rid of some of those many, many Queen and Co. sequins and brads in your stash? Well I saw a card in Card Trends where a letter was filled in with brads, and that got me to thinking about how I can use up all my Queen and Co. brads and mini sequins in one fell swoop! And ta da, it is done! I have no more Queen and Co. brads and only a small smattering of teeny sequins left. :o)

 

I even managed to combine them with some old Rob n Bob paper and a sticker! Oooh, all that work putting those brads in while I was watching the last 2 episodes of North and South (mmmm Richard Armitage does brooding hero so well) were worth it just to have an empty embellishment jar at the end of it!

The new plan

So while I was trying to squeeze the new stash into its new home yesterday I decided something definitely needed to be done about the old stuff! Nothing drastic... I'm talking small steps here, so small they may hardly be noticeable to anyone else! But I will be endeavouring to at least use up 1 old item each week or make something from scraps since it may be a bit of a challenge to use up an entire sheet of paper! :oO

So in response to this new little personal goal, here's a card for Mojo Monday's week 85 sketch using KI scraps plus a chance to play with new punches and dies, and finally break open my Pink Paislee alpha stickers!

 

And look, I even went with some liquid pearls! No matter how much you may kid yourself, I don't think anyone will ever truly finish a bottle of these in their lifetime.

 

And on that note I'd best get stuff tidied up around here...

Just a little play

So - yesterday I was feeling all ready for a bit of creativity today - I even tried to beat the jet lag by staying awake until near midnight! A miracle in itself...

But I ended up sleeping in until almost midday, well that and catching up on some TV I'd missed!

Then I got in the mood to sort some baskets of stuff out to find room for the new stash, and that certainly took longer than expected! So roll around 6 p.m. and I finally made this for the current CPS sketch (#114).

 

Some new stash in there, the Martha doily punch (yum!), Papertrey buttons (I really needed some nice brown buttons in smallish sizes), Papertrey stamp, Martha library pocket, and a restock of that flocked MM paper, oh and at last a Kraft card blank!

 

Also while I was away, this little resist project was posted on the Frog Blog:

 

Right, well all that remains is for me to try and keep awake enough to watch Ashes to Ashes, but it's definitely time for the PJs! Back to work tomorrow... eek.

Something old...

For this week's Mojo Monday card - but alas I can never make this Lilykate papers look all that funky...

 

Ah well... plenty more papers in the collection pack to try again! And soon I am seriously going to have to get sorted for Florida, just over a week to go! Tomorrow I may nip to the Cheque Centre for some cash - but the rate still isn't spectacular! Ho-hum, but the hairdresser's is booked, have ordered my zoom lens for the camera before the price sky rockets again... and I will have to get packed this weekend or at the very least get my clothes sorted (and try them on to make sure they still fit! :oS

Just a quick update

It's been such a lovely day outside and on Animal Crossing (oops!) and I've only managed 1 card so far, for the current Mojo Monday sketch #81 (nothing like leaving it until the last minute!).

Slightly overdid it this morning with traditional Polish Easter morning breakfast, so much so that the Easter eggs haven't even been unwrapped, not a single one... plus I ended up having a nap (inadvertently) after the vodka... :oS

But anyway, here is the card, Sunday roast is almost ready so doubtful I'll manage any more this evening after that! Ha!

 

I do love that background paper from SEI and wish I had more, but c'est la vie!

Chickies!

I almost forgot that I had these Pink Paislee stamps for Spring and hadn't used them until today! shocking eh?

But here's an Easter card for the UKS spring sketch challenge. :o)

 

Rather cute with those American Crafts papers:

Since it's getting on a bit...

And I've still not got dried my hair after getting out the shower almost an hour ago (amazing how you can get sidetracked by e-mails etc.) I've not got time to make a card tonight (but I will be stroking my new Cosmo Cricket stash.... mmmmmm).

So I thought it fitting I share a couple of projects I posted on the Frog Blog the other week, these were using the Build a Bloom set to create your own scallop borders:

 

Amazingly the perfect blue colour match as one of those dodgy KI ink pads, can you believe they thought that blue was Boogieboard?? Never mind, it matches that 7Gypsies blue perfectly so I finally found a use for it. hehe

 

I also used the build a bloom set to create a grassy background for my likely-one-and-only Easter card:

 

I do love my Maya Road chipboard trees, they look so lovely covered in paper as well as paint! And promarkers are great for colouring in the trunk v. quickly!

 

And last but not least, here's my card for this month's colour focus challenge:

Right off to smother on the Bath and Bodyworks cream *trying to make space for new additions* then catching up on telly and knitting... maybe....

Sidetracked

I was kind of sidetracked this afternoon when making my cards as I was watching Cranford on Virgin's TV choice service and so glad I managed to watch the entire series in one go! Kleenex was definitely needed in the last episode, but I got slightly distracted along the way when I was supposed to be making these...

First up a card for Becky's new addition:

 

I love those Nancy Kubo journaling cards - so handy for cards like this because they are totally cute!

 

Next, I had a browse of the current sketches that are out there, and tried to come up with something for this week's CPS sketch (#110) and I wanted to keep it simple...

 

Well, I don't think it gets much more simple than that, but I love these Hambly rub-ons for simple card accents. :o)

 

The SEI Allie's Wonderland cardstock sands back so nicely that I had to get the papers out to play with too:

 

I used my newest Paperchase purchase on this one, little kitty embellishments:

 

And last but not least, the current Daring Cardmakers challenge is to feature fruit on your card, well definitely a time to get out the October Afternoon apples:

  

I even used one of my Suki labels and stamped an apple and greeting on it. You can't really see in the pic, but I shortened the front a bit for the decorative edge to stand out more:

   

I still have some Banana Frog projects to upload here, but will save that for another night this week - musty tidy up now! :oO

When paper is too nice to cut up...

Don't do it!

 

Well, only if you have a second sheet to cut bits out of!

 

Oh yes, those handy little 6x6 Sassafras Lass pads, with paper like that, why slice it up? :o)

Well the time has almost come for tonight's apprentice, need to get my gym bag packed then will settle down to watch and cringe my way through it - and will get the knitting out! Perseverance is the name of the game...

From the Stash Attic, back oop north!

Home from my wonderful long weekend down at Sarah's and finally getting to play in the stash attic! Man I have to admit to having a bit of a lump in my throat when I drove away from her place this afternoon - I didn't want to come home just yet and got a bit teary when Madonna came on! Could have done with an entire week there and wish I was still there in the run-up to scrap fever (oh they are all going to have such fun)!

And I am missing Mr Bauer and Miss Cupcake, and even Missy Ginger!

I made good time on the drive, just 4 hours either way this time - didn't end up stopping at all - good job the ipod was on full shuffle. 

Friday night we got the knitting out, put on a few DVDs and I was also introduced to the delights of Animal Crossing on the Wii - I so don't need another "hobby". But it's a good job the price of turnips had gone up by Saturday morning!

Then Saturday after Debbie arrived we set off to Tiptree for a cream tea lunch (yum!), jam shopping and Yankee Candle sniffing, followed by 3 hours of browsing in The Cheap Shop at various crafty things (bought a new set of bamboo needles) and then back to Sarah's to "scrap" - except we ended up doing some knitting (except for Debbie who went and actually did some paper crafting!) and I don't know what happened or how it came about but all 3 of us ended up on Singstar on the playstation until after midnight - it was such good fun, but they really need to bring out a showtunes one and I cannot wait to do the Abba one again! I will have to practise my harmonies better. LOL

Miraculously we still had our voices Sunday morning ready for the lace knitting workshop with Sarah's knitting group.

Well I tell you, I think I need to reevaluate my relationship with knitting - I seem to have regressed rather than improved.

I got to Sarah's on Friday with a 1/2 finished knitted loopy bag in the boot, by Saturday night it had all been ripped back and the plan was to restart it on circulars as the front and back just weren't matching in tension... the lace knitting workshop on Sunday got off to a good start, after a few wobbly bits I was doing ok until I needed to introduce the pattern... well, that all got ripped back twice and Debbie started it off again for me Sunday afternoon so I could get to a point where I could introduce the pattern in again... then Sunday evening something bad happened with the restarted lace shawl that Debbie need never know about in detail (as she would kill me that I managed to screw it up again), the centre stitch kind of relocated and Sarah fixed the problem for me. But... I am contemplating a full rip back and just following the pattern step by step and counting it....

So yes, do I really have a future in knitting after all this? Hm, I don't think so...

Which is why, this morning after we got dressed I returned to my comfort zone.

Cardmaking:

 

And someone was quite adamant about getting a new card before I was allowed to leave - awwww I thought the gracious hostess needed an owl for the attic.

And we seem to have become card pals as I was sent off with this little cutie:

 

So here I am sitting with one of my new Yankee Candles burning in the background, bags of stash needing unpacking, knitting possibly needing to be ripped back totally... and wishing I'd also managed to have that bubble bath with the Elemis frangipani cream! But alas I am off for my lowly shower with the Body Shop equivalent and will get the knitting out before hitting the hay! LOL Back to work tomorrow.

Catch up and TV

Sundays are becoming a regular ole catch-up day for cardmaking - and this one is no different...

Here's my interpretation of sketch #87 at Sketches by Tamara:

 

Once again delving into the scraps! A bit of Scenic Route this time. :o)

 

Next up, this week's recipe challenge (#40):

 

The challenge was to use at least 3 patterned papers, stars and staples...

 

Then I spotted that the latest CPS sketch was up (#108):

Again with the old stash... I don't think I used anything squeaky new on this little lot. :oO

And as for TV... When oh when will the United States of Tara come to our UK screens??? From what I've seen it's an ace show, and what's not to love about a regular fix of John Corbett - I've missed him on regular TV ever since Aidan and Carrie broke up - mind you one of their big fights had to be the most hilarious thing in the entire history of SATC.

October Afternoon...

I am getting slightly impatient with them over their new release... just when is all that lovely stash going to be available to actually buy??

In the meantime I have had to content myself with using a combo of my favourite paper lines, including bits n pieces from Destinations! Yummo!

This card is in response to the March card challenge over at UKS:

 

One of the many scallop matchbook cards I *had* to buy in Florida last time as I loved them so much, only thing is I've hardly made a dent in the pile!

This is a first!

Managed to actually do a Mojo Monday card sketch on the Monday it got posted! :oO So here is my interpretation of challenge 78:

 

A special card for a certain little munchkin who will be needing some smiles later on this week - the badge is detachable so I hope this will cheer her up when she gets it. :o)

 

Just seen I have an exciting e-mail through about our agenda for Florida! Woohoo!! I cannot wait but seriously need to get in gear with stuff, first of all that Esta form.

Woohoo!! Finally some productivity!

I had the radio on, managed to have two DVDs playing in the background (The Illusionist and some Renee Russo big family comedy... I forget the name), went out and about with my new camera in the garden... and still managed to be slightly productive this afternoon whilst keeping an eye on the slow cooker!

And... I was on a scrap mission with these cards too - not cut into any new sheets of paper or cardstock - left-overs only!

First up CPS sketch #107:

 

Some of that lovely Crate paper in preparation for next Sunday!

 

Then I spotted a scrap of that SEI foiled paper - too nice to add anything to that paper I like it so much. *Ü*

 

Then I checked out the current dare over at the Daring Cardmakers blog - ready, steady, cook! To use 3 different papers, at least 1 button, chipboard, ribbon and any additional element...:

 

I love a bit of October Afternoon, and finally used one of those birdie chipboard accents I've been lugging about in my tote to every crop since I bought them. LOL

 

After that I had a peek at the Mojo Monday blog to see if there was a sketch I'd missed, yep, the current one (#77)!

 

I love those Chatterbox journaling accents...

 

Then I went by the Sketches by Tamara blog, and had a go at sketch #86:

 

Lots of rub-ons on that one, Hambly and MM!

 

And last buy not least, Inspirational Card Sketches sketch #7:

 

Quite like how the Chatterbox journaling thingy goes with those AC papers:

 

Well here ends another Sunday evening, and boo hiss the last Larkrise tonight with JD riding off into the sunset! Gaaaah! I hope since they've left the door open for him, he may come back in series 3 and hopefully, finally... he and Dorcas will finally be on the same page at last!

Clean and simple?

Now and again I love just stamping for stamping's sake - no paper, no bits and no pieces. Just stamps and ink.

 

And I finally got out my Hero Arts Asian Elements set - and of course my favourite little font, those Sassafrass stamps!

Pitter patter...

In preparation for Friday's baby shower I have made a card for the mummy to be, so Becky, if perchance you are reading this, look away now!

I will deflect slightly by posting a tag idea that was posted on today's Frog Blog - today's featured stamp set was retro squares, I used the circle stamp from the set to create this gift tag:

 

Each of the circles on the stamp was inked up with a different coloured ink dauber - finally a use for them! ha!

And also, if you've not seen - check out this month's challenge at the Frog Blog - it's all about your favourite set of Banana Frog stamps. So many to choose from! :oD

Right, I think that's enough space... so here's the card for Friday - it was also inspired by CPS sketch #106:

 

Can't beat vintage KI - and I finally made a teeny dent in the MM safety pin and alpha bead stash! Yes, a minimal dent... but it's one fewer in the storage box!

Back in the swing of things...

I looked up some current challenges and sketches and decided to go with the current recipe challenge over at Sketches by Tamara, recipe 39 called for a project featuring black, a punched border, and a button trio...

 - check!

 

Checkity-check!

Best go get my gym bag packed now, then I must stay awake to watch big bang theory! :o)

MIA

I've just finished up a number of projects for Banana Frog that I can't post just at the moment... buuuuut I have managed to chip away a little at the 209 in 2009 checklist!

 

Just a teeny tiny bit... this one was for the recent colour focus challenge over on the frog blog - stamps used were Pharmacy, Scribble Flowers, and Make a chain.

 

Also I grabbed a pack of card blanks out of a box today and decided I'd use up the rest of the pack rather than put them back!

Prepare for some very simple and er... samey cards:

 

 

 

 

So there you go, that kind of makes up for my lack of creativity this past week, and the fact I spent most of yesterday rereading Glory in Death...erm.

Also, I did have a play with my new 55mm 1.4 lens but need to try it out more - still need to load my photos to the PC for a better look, so may well do that whilst watching Lark Rise to Candleford later, it is still one of my many weaknesses! But hey, why not broadcast it to the world... :oS

Oh, and I never did manage to see that Renee Zellweger movie this week, we were supposed to go after dinner at chiquitos Wednesday night, but well, we were there for almost 2 and a half hours - food was delicious, but there was no way we're doing 3 courses again! I say this now of course... but I have finally had fried Mexican ice cream and tried the Quesedillas but am still addicted to their Chimichangas! And the margaritas ain't half bad either...

Anyway, next of the agenda - tea!