Kool Kitty Musings

Another card

Had time to try my hand at CPS sketch 44 today... using up old scraps too. :o)

• BG Lily Kate papers
• Stickles glitter
• Papertrey stamps
• Michaels flower and a MM brad that dipped in Scrappy glue and glitter!

Off to watch a bit of telly, and may have time to raid more stash tomorrow after the gym. Mind you I really fancy just playing with my Christmas purchases of recent times and making more Christmas cards... shock horror... or maybe I should just make some Christmasy ATCs for the spinner at long last. I should just give up on thinking I'll get any Christmas journal done this year... there is only one day left of it after all... :o\

Time for some photos...

Well it's about time I posted something... even if it's just a few pics of my favourite gift wrap and ribbons of the moment:

They looked very pretty under the tree (and being the eco-friendly wrapper that I am, I managed to get some of those ribbons back after gifts were unwrapped... OK I am a saddo I admit it, but they were too nice to part with - family were happy to hand them back for future use too!). These felt gift bags from Target also looked rather nice under the tree filled with tissue wrapped AC-coordinated gifts:

Very cute, then I decided it was about time I made something. The stickles are still drying before I can add anything more, but I had a ton of duplicate photos left-over from a class at Whim-so-Doodle and decided to do another little mini project with them for Banana Frog. Not quite finished, but hey it's something...

I decided to get using some new stash too, namely these lovely stamps from Gel-a-tins I bought in Florida:

So I also tried to catch up with the Sketch This Card sketches blog and tried my hand at the most recent sketch posted, number 36 - oops missed a few then!

I used all relatively new stash too:

• Creative Café card blank
• BG Mellow papers and old BG chipboard
• Gel-a-tins stamps
• EK Success letter stickers

And at very long last, I finally have a couple of new issues of Scrapbook Trends to read... hm, 3 months waiting for them so I shall have to savour the moment! ;o)

Before playtime can begin...

I must, must, must get ONE thing done and dusted.... and that is to get through the stack of mags that needs to go into the style file.

I am NOT going to get anything creative done until that's cleared from my conscience... and speaking of conscience... Oh dear on the Christmas poundage front. Hm, I seem to have put on more weight than I feared so it's back to finding the willpower again to say no to all these lovely seasonal treats. In reality tho, Christmas comes but once a year and January is really the month in which to restart those resolutions... It would be a rather fruitless task to just not join in with the whole thing...

I've not exactly been a regular at the gym this month, but off tonight for what I hope will be a gruelling session! I will give my trainer specific instructions that she can almost kill me if she wants... :o\ As long as I can can still drive after my session I shall be happy.

Speaking of driving, this year's gift haul was really nice. I got some fab things like a Philosophy gift set of Inner Grace perfume and shower cream:

Final Fantasy III for the DS from my brother (5 hours of playing that already!)

The DS is looking great in the fab pink sparkly case I got from Ang:

Too many sweet things that I'll have to donate somewhere, but mmmm Rafaello chocs (one of my faves)...

And did I mention the Tomtom 720T?

Hm, I should now be able to get anywhere without fail... she says.... it's going to have its maiden voyage tomorrow. :oO Let's hope I finish the style file update by then! And on that note, stack of mags at the ready.... Will also have to print out some pics from here - loving this blog and the new vintage type book!

The final countdown

to the biiiig day... as you can tell by my absence I have been a bit busy... well that or rather lazy! :oP

Anyway, I have been a'baking Polish cakes with ma including this one, Karpatka:

A custardy buttery vanilla creme between layers of choux pastry dusted with icing sugar, presented on my all time favourite childhood "cake" plate. Featuring the tortoise and hare, it is such a lovely plate of those unique fairytale style illustrations I remember as a kid in Polish books (very reminiscent of the artwork by Emily at Blackapple), but I can't take a pic now until AFTER it's all eaten... it's rather rich, so may go the actual-cream-instead-of-butter route next time! But yum all the same. :oD

Yep, plenty to go around!

Then we baked Piernik.... the closest I can describe this to is Starbuck's ginger loaf cake... but so much nicer as it ain't stone cold, and it also has a chocolate glaze/coating. Which is currently setting, but here is an almost done pic:

Apart from that I did my final wrapping today, and made gift tags up to match the American Crafts gift wrap (lime green and the blue filigree one pictured) and bows I bought in AC Moore's:

Tomorrow it's full-scale pierogi, kapusniaczki, barscz and extras production for Christmas Eve dinner - but thankfully not the full 12 traditional dishes of a Polish Wigilia!

And so, since it's rather unlikely I'll be online much tomorrow - ha I may be reading my new Nora book - {chance'd be a fine thing!} I'll end on this little message:

Who'd have thought...

I'd finally be using up some of the massive stash (ok around 15 bundles) of MM Twistel at last.... to tie on little Christmas gifts!

Does anyone actually remember why they bought twistel? It sure comes in pretty colours, but I can't for the life of me think of why I bought so much and in so many different colours. Anyway, at least I don't have to use up precious ribbon on wrapping duty, which is just around the corner now! :oS

Phew...

Managed to get a few cards made today... 15 to be exact!

BG Figgy Pudding papers, die cut and stamp, plus a Papertrey greeting.

My Elsie number - again with probably my fave Papertrey Christmas set! So glad I got it now! hehe

Erm, yeah... fave set... especially with the old KI cardstock!

Love the doodlebug sugar coated brads too!

Have to say I totally agree with the reviews, the Uniball white Signo pen is simply the best white pen ever invented, great for snow effects too! ;o)

Bit of an in your face one this, Hambly ornament rub-on with KI cardstock, AL greeting stamp, and BG Figgy pudding scrolly stamp.

Ki paper through the cuttlebug and glitter galore!

Now one of the best paper purchases this year... I wasn't that keen on Rhonna's Christmas papers this year, but I really like how they can be used on cards. Especially the greetings toppers I purchased in Target on holiday. A few bits of Stickles bling and ta-da!

And yes, my AL birdie set is getting a good work out!

More Rhonna Christmas stash!

Stickles, stickles, stickles... I love the stickles...

Rhonna liked the birds too this season!

And time for more Papertrey baubles!

Yep loving the baubles and the greetings in that set!

So, those are the latest card additions, may need to do more this week of course... But it was sooo nice finally getting productive with my stash! But now, time for bed!

The baubles, baby

I managed to be awol all day yesterday for 10 solid hours of shopping, browsing, aching feet, etc. etc. So had no desire to do anything last night other than collapse on a very soft surface. The Christmas cards still aren't done, but at least the tree is looking all nice with its new baubles:

Love my pink birdie with its perm! So cute in daylight too, but nice and fluffy when lit up at night.

A white sparkly feather bauble, got a bit bedraggled in the suitcase, but still looking pretty!

 

All feathers together!

The fuzzy snowflake tree topper...

And of course my dear little angel lights are back again, many missing their halos now! Rather apt for their owner... :oP

Right, well I suppose I should tidy up a bit here so that I can make a start on some more Christmas cards and stuff... eeek.

Another expensive day!

Well, oh dear, my poor little 13-year old Sony TV finally did bite the dust last night. So today I had to go TV shopping... and £400 lighter... I have been enjoying my wonderful new Sony Bravia - just wish I had a bit of HD tv to watch to see it in its full glory, but even so the picture and sound is just amazing!

Plus I am also in a bit of a Matt Damon movie fest. Been watching the Bourne movies in anticipation of receiving the Bourne Ultimatum from amazon dvd rental, and of course Ocean's Twelve, which I just love - yay Monsieur Night Fox! Saw Ocean's 13 on the plane to Florida, but have got it out from Amazon to watch without all the background plane noise...

Also, as promised, my tree is now up sporting the new decorations I bought in Michaels... but I'll have to post photos tomorrow as my camera battery needs charging! Off Christmas shopping in the morning, wish me luck! :oS

There's nothing like

Being totally behind in style!!

Blimey... I've still not had chance to make anything... had a busy, busy time of it lately and the back hasn't helped, but at least that is on the mend now.

So I hereby decree, my tree is going up Friday night, and then it is Christmas cards and journaling full steam ahead this weekend! Well I need to get my cards sent out Monday.... I don't think I have ever been this far behind at Christmas in my life! :oO

Also note to self, Bath and Bodyworks' Twisted Peppermint set is totally lush, but do not use the body lotion after a lovely hot shower on a cold night, 'cause I am absolutely frozen now! Brrrrr... perfect excuse for a hot chocolate!

Finally!!

I've unpacked and re-homed all those lovely new additions to my stash pile. Alas haven't had chance to sit down and do anything creative with them, feeling too knackered now and a bit sore. LOL

Mind you I did spend some time going through it all, admiring the prettiness... before worrying about where it'd all go!

But all is well, there was just enough room for my KI Christmas scrapbook and card making kits, Elsie Noel scrapbook kit and matching extras, Scenic Route papers, Noteworthy die cut papers from MM with matching flowers and buttons, AC alpha stickers, doodle templates, BG Figgy Pudding die cuts and chipboard, plus papers, AL stamps, Technique Tuesday stamps, KI Pop Culture, MME Bohemia flowers (loved the crocheted ones!), Elsie stamps, new ink pads, stickles, pens, shaped bazzill, and a gazillion card blanks from DCWV... plus other bits n bobs. Oh and the Cuttlebug font plus random embossing pockets... And I bought a new cropping trimmer that seems to cut straight. :o)

Have just unpacked my Papertrey Ink stamps and put them in their cases ready to use, so pretty... it's a shame I'll not have chance to play with them until next week now.

The back is OK, still not great. I tried to get an appointment at the doc's Friday as it'd got worse and walking was really hard, and not being able to straighten up properly was doing me in. No appointments until Tuesday, but the doc rang me back to discuss whether I'd need to get a prescription for the weekend. I'm now on high strength ibuprofen from the chemists alternating with cocodomol and lots of heat! :o) Thankfully got a good night's sleep last night so hopefully this is doing the trick. But no Christmas tree activities until it's all better, as I don't want a repeat of the 2004 Christmas lights saga that put my back out last time!

Anyway, off to relax in front of the telly with the DS Lite... brain training 1 and 2 - I'm improving at last! hehe

Just wonderin'

Will I ever get to actually use all this lovely seasonal stash I bought on holiday??

My back hasn't got better, despite being a bit more spry this morning, it's now spasming... I am going to have to call the docs tomorrow to see if they can fit me in with an appointment tomorrow afternoon.

In the meantime I am gazing longingly at my stash pile that is begging to be re-homed.... and seeing things like this:

At this rate I'll be making cards for Christmas 2008! Boo-hoo... :o(

Anyway, in nicer news I am loving my iPod Nano now that I've got it set-up the way I like... next thing will be to see if it fits ok in the car. I have my first free service coming up so if not will get them to suggest an alternative connection method as I think they've installed pocket thing for a classic iPod, older generation... bit tight for the new ones!

Time for brain training now tho after I apply a bit more tiger balm. ;o)

Home at last

Well I was home at around 8 p.m. Monday night but I didn't have the energy to get online and blog!

And yesterday, well let's not even go there for now... but after sleeping off my jet lag I managed to wrench my back reaching for some mascara and have been in severe hobbling pain ever since. Have red tiger balm and Cocodomol at the ready but have been feeling less than wonderful and really missing unpacking and re-homing all my lovely new stash. :o(

Anyway, the holiday.

It was fab. Simply fab!

I spent all my spending money - and then ripped into the CC for little extras like my new nano and DS lite.... er that wasn't on the shopping list. And oh gosh Bath and Bodyworks and Sephora too...

And the stash?

Well I managed to get a KI traditional Christmas value tin plus the funky card making kit. After that a bit of paper from the Noteworthy line from MM, KI pop culture and some other random sheets of shaped cardstock. Oh and I just love the creative café from Creative Imaginations that they have at the Scrappy Boutique - fabby velvet/felt trims, and gorgeous coloured shipboard. Stocked up on my stamps, oh yes indeed!

The first Sunday we had the day free so started with an ample breakfast at the Market Street Café in Celebration. Yum, then headed off to AC Moore. I love that store... possibly more than Joann's and Michaels put together as they had the KI paper slabs (didn't need those tho) and DCWV scallop cards that I have been after for almost 2 years!! Just my favourite card blanks. Also picked up some American Crafts gift bows and wrapping paper (that'll need ironing as it was too long for my cases and I had to take it off the rolls and fold it up) lots of nice cuttlebug stuff, like embossing plates and the odd die, and the Sizzlet snowflake set... er... other stuff there as well I'm sure.

Monday we had a class and cropping time at the new Whim-so-Doodle store in St. Petersberg. OMG the new store is just beautiful. The class was simply fab. Will see if this slide-show doo-dah will work:

Download whimsodoodle_slide_show.wmv

If not, here's a little montage:

We had a great class at Scrappy Boutique too and Ruban Rouge gave us some amazing make and takes, not to mention yet another tote bag! Oh my I am going to look forward to making those up. Not to mention getting out my stash of new stamps! The ladies were lovely in every store, and I don't think I've ever eaten so much in my life at a crop before... food galore everywhere.

Naturally we had a few trips to Sweet Tomatoes, it'd be rude not to. I am also ready to try some of my festive Yankee Candles. But the place is a tip, and I can't do anything about moving things at the moment with my back how it is... but I really can't wait to look through all my stash again. Oh and I bought some decs for my tree, no idea when I'll be able to retrieve that from its storage place to put up. And my Christmas Journal! Behind already!

Boohoo... well I suppose I'd best go stand under a hot shower for a while now then catch up with the Heroes double bill finale!