Kool Kitty Musings

Packed and ready to rock n roll!

Well crop! There has been no logic to my packing, the only thing I have that shows some organisation in the chaos of totes is the scrap like you mean it sketch for week 4 and remembering the theme for week 5 is black and white!

Otherwise I have bunged in far too much stuff but I couldn't be bothered with the task of painstaking sorting and thinking, especially since it's such a chore to then put it all back together and in it's rightful place when you get back from a crop.

But in other news, here's a little project to share for the day:

 

It was my turn to share a project of the day on the Banana Frog blog and since it was Friday I just had to get working with those bold bright colours!

Stamp sets used are Greenwich Park and Tag It.

And joy of joys, this is one of my early attempts at Promarker colouring, I know it's nothing complicated or amazing, but it just makes the hedgehog and greeting stand out better.

Just a couple of cards

Nothing special, but I needed to use up some of this green cardstock from American Crafts and what better excuse than to get the old KI out!

 

I had a good spotty satin ribbon spree at Hobbycraft the other night as I am always looking for these ribbons in my ribbon box, yet never finding the right one!

 

Then I had a play with my new Stamp-a-ma-jig and the art of stamping owls - it turned out ok as this was just stamping on some scrap paper I'd coloured in... so ended up just claging them down on a card. I still need some practise on seeing in a straight line, but another card off the list!

 

And more spotty ribbon, yes, plus a use at last for those MM screw snaps!

Still kicking around

It's just been a busy few days is all!

Went up to stay with friends in North Shields for the weekend, lots of guitar hero and vodka, plus nice hot roast beef Stottie sarnie for lunch on Sunday, followed a few hours later by caaaaaake! lol

In the meantime, it's full steam ahead for Florida holiday, Ang and I have decided we're driving down to Gatwick instead of the "cheap" flight option, even with petrol it's going to be easier on the wallet to drive and stay the night before we fly out and keep my car parked at the B&B - Carole's fab recommendation! ;o)

Other than that, work has been keeping me busy and tired, which considering the current economic climate in some areas of translation can only be a good thing, but I've booked my holiday dates in and a 4 day weekend for when I'm off to visit Sarah at the end of March! That'll be lovely!

And as for the cards, well I have invested in some letraset promarkers to colour in some of my stamped images - had a play with those last night, and tonight have been working on a little Banana Frog project which I can't share just yet. Also the paper i bought for stamping on is really good, and looks fab with the Papertrey inks and any dye inks in fact.

Anyway, off to watch million dollar traders and then hop in the shower!

Most interesting..

The KI sneak peeks are out there, must say I will wonder about these themed pads and the sizes they come in, if there are 8x8 options I will definitely be interested! But if only 12x12, they will need to be really good, as I like buying sheets individually rather than in a pad these days.

But I like the potential of the friendship line and the embellishments they are offering, hopefully in the same style of niceness as Festive was, and not like the bloom and other release they had last year, just weren't my kinda KI style!

Not so creative, but a few off the list!

 

I had a play with the new inks, but think I need some better white cardstock for stamping on (the colours are nice but the hot pink still isn't the exact shade I'm after - too plummy), in the meantime I stamped some leaves for the background.... Used up some Life's Journey ribbon from years ago. Then used up some scraps:

I don't like to gripe on my blog

But sometimes you need to let it out.

Today has been a very nice postal day - Feb Scrapbook Trends has arrived in great condition and before the end of the month! The other thing that arrived was my order from Papertrey Ink that I made last week for some ink cubes I've been really wanting to get - especially a good shocking pink one as you'll remember!

When I placed the order I saw the shipping had gone up and everything was going to be shipped priority from now on. But wow, $31.30 to ship 10 ink cubes in a huge box:

I almost missed them as there was more wrapping than product. I left a note at checkout to make sure this was the right shipping, and next thing I knew had a UPS tracking code and was notified they were on their way. Oh well... it would have been great if someone could have said, actually if you take out 1 ink cube it'll be this, or you've got space for x more because my parcel was 1 lb and a quarter of an ounce, if I'd known it was this far under 2lbs I would have added a couple more ink cubes to make the most of that $31! Ideally I would have loved the option of them being sent in a jiffy envelope at cost, but I understand Papertrey have changed their shipping policy for international customers and streamlined everything.

Such a shame as you can't get these cubes anywhere else, and if the gallery of projects is anything to go by they will be fantastic colours on my clear stamps. Let's just hope they are the mostamazinginkpadsintheworldandIwilllovethemforever! :oD

But unless they change their shipping policy or I find someone in the US to ship them to me at cost and the exchange rate improves drastically - notice there are a lot of ifs there - my days of shopping at Papertrey will be over. I wonder how many international customers and fans of their stamps they'll have lost - cos I certainly can't afford to shop there again, even for the lightest stuff they ship! I'm just glad I got the classic "use all the time" sets when I did and haven't hankered after any of the new ones so far! ;o)

Anyway, I suppose I should bite the bullet and put them to the test or Sarah will kill me! hehe

Stop press!

The full sneak peek of Nancy Kubo's new line for Prima has been revealed on her blog - über-cute as always, and I shall definitely be getting me some of that! :oD

The journaling cards I bought last year are perfect little notelets too.

Hello-ooooo, welcome to my wishlist

Oh yes indeedy, the first sneak peeks at a new October Afternoon line are out at their new blog. I will definitely be adding some of this line to my shopping list!

The return of the apples! With cherries this time. :oD

One of those evenings

Where you just want to huddle under your quilt with a good book and then doze off! hehe

I had planned on making a card at least, but I really need to get a move on reading my current library loan(s). Yikes!

Off to the cinema tomorrow night to see Yes Man, should be good. :o)

Just time for a little one...

Using one of the cute stamps Angela gave me for Christmas. ;o)

The lime green works a lot better in real life, honest!

 

I just love these Sassafras letter stamps, they are my favourite dinky alpha stamps at the moment. :o)

Glossy accents

They sure take their time to dry...

   

Had to finally use up that last bit of MM flocked paper before it got crumpled in the bag. I just loved that paper!

You can't really make it out, but I stamped little aqua berries on the greeting/branch.

Back to trees

I keep forgetting I have this chipboard set from Maya Road, mainly because I prefer covering it in paper rather than painting it, and that takes more time! But those chipboard trees are just too cute!

 

I have also realised while searching for the right ribbon for this card, that I don't have any red spotty ribbon thicker than this! Tragic! I could have sworn I did, but nope. And the green paper by Crate seems to be perfect for making trees! LOL

Oh and I've not gone mad, this is a card for sending with Bookcrossing books. :o)

Proof....

Oh, poor Zoe last night, having to put up with my creative inadequacies! She did about five billion layouts while I ummed over this one. I had a LO in my mind, then it just all went to pot, it started off being Lily Kate paper, then it wasn't, next I dragged out more paper, October Afternoon, and tried the Lily Kate again, then I added some MM paper, then dragged out the Lily Kate again - still determined to use it!

In the end Scenic Route came to the rescue and we have October Afternoon, MM and Scenic Route in what looks like the simplest LO in the world, yet due to indecision took an entire evening to create! LOL

Anyway, the whole idea behind it was that I wanted to do Shimelle's week 3 challenge - use chipboard but also finally get these photos scrapped before Becky has baby 2 in oh 7 weeks time! hehe

Had a lovely breakfast with Angela and Becky in the morning and so I was off on my creative plans by the time I got my stash packed to head to Zoe's.

The thing doesn't scan well at all due to the lumpy bits and the scallop white background, so here it is photographed - also not the easiest thing to photograph!

 

 

In the meantime I have a fair few things of a creative nature to get done today, so best get dressed and started! ;o)

Oooh nice

Some more promising sneak peeks:

 

Haven't really bought much Crate in recent times, but I like-eee! :D

This is from Little Sprout (so nice).

Then there is Lillian and there is one particular sheet of paper I need from there!

And one for the little monsters - Orbit.

I saw a fair bit of the AC sneak peeks, but can't say I was hugely won over... Perhaps it'll grow on me, there are the odd few sheets of papers I love, but for me AC is all about colour! And boy do they sell it. :oD

Randomness

Well Have been a bit busy the last couple of days but just wanted to post a shout out to any Pink Martini fans, and those that have never listened to them.

Their NYE concert is up on the NPR website and it is just fab, glad to hear some of the tracks they performed at The Sage as well! And more good news, they are working on their fourth album due for release this September! Woohoo!

And in totally other news, Photobox - I am just loving their little photo boxes they are sending orders in now! How cute! I had to order some prints for a little project this weekend and now have them ready to go. :oD

Busy day tomorrow, breakfast with friends then I need to go to the garage to get my tyres pumped up for the drive up to Zoe's for an afternoon with the girls and scrapping in the evening! Will need to work out what I'll be making at some point and pack accordingly! hehe

Right, I'd best attend to my official duties over at UK Scrappers now, then I need to get Norton installed on my PC. I loved AVG but I am getting too many Trojan hits and malicious cookies that aren't getting sorted properly. {sigh}

I did finally manage it

 

Something using some new stash, it's another card for the 209 but I am desperately in need of a pink ink match for that colour of AC paper - used my nearest one, but as you can see it looks so washed out.

So in desperation I have ordered some ink cubes from Papertrey in the hopes they solve a few colour matching problems!

Oh and this is also a card for the current CPS sketch, #99.

Tomorrow night

I swear I am having tea as soon as I get in, then getting the stash out!

I've not stopped all day today - well except for a little consultation with Tree on msn... hm, and again, it's almost 10 p.m. and I've not managed much other than do some 1911 census research (interesting findings for the acrobat lineage!), have a rather delicious stir fry (cashew nuts and a bit of sesame oil make all the difference and are within my Healthy Extra/syn allowance for the day), and mooch about on the boards.

So tomorrow, the new purchases will be getting a trial run and it's about time I put some DVDs on... and with all this X-files malarkey for the cyber crop I am feeling the need for a little classic spookiness! bwaaaaaaah

Aaaaaaand relax!

Been a bit of one of those days at work today, I had planned to go straight to the gym after, but was out of work late, then needed to get some food in, and then well... it was almost 6 and I thought what the heck, I'll drop into the new Hobby Craft on the way home!

And well, Hobby Craft is Hobby Craft isn't it... it's never going to be somewhere I buy from regularly, but I was rather happy to see some American Crafts remarks cardstock stickers I probably missed the first time round, but would really fit in with my current stash, especially my Metropolitan collection pack of papers! So I got:

• JFK alpha stickers in colour set 1 & 2 and 3 & 4
• Sarah Script alpha stickers in black and white

Also the following item arrived in the post today and I shall definitely be having a Big Bang Theory marathon this week!

If you've never seen it, you are really missing out! :oD

209 in 2009 has begun!

Finally! I have actually managed to make a couple of cards this year, woefully behind in getting my personal challenge on track of course, but still it's a start. So here are cards 1 and 2 of the 209 I plan to make this year!

 

This one is also based on CPS sketch #98! Will do the current one sometime this week.

 

And this one is a bit bright, I don't think I'll ever get my head around using yellow in paper crafting, I just can't seem to make it work, orange no problem, yellow - a headache!

Typepad gripe

Grrr... if you are a typepad user, you will see that typepad is now automatically applying your typekey details to comments on typepad blogs if you are logged into typepad at the time (which I always am on my home PC since that's where I make my blog posts). Instead before you could select your usual name, e-mail and website settings or specify typekey.

But now, the flaming typekey is being used automatically. Well if someone hasn't updated everything in their typekey profile (separate from your typepad about me settings you set on your blog) then your e-mail address/website is not included, often it's just a blank typekey page. :o(

V. annoying! So all you typepad users, check to make sure your typekey settings are up-to-date and there is a way for blog authors to contact/find you when you comment on their blogs. I've just found all this out by commenting on a blog and realising typekey has taken over the world! :oP

In the hustle and bustle

I completely forgot to share my desk calendar for this year - I've still not got a wall calendar as I usually pick these up in the sales! But they have been a bit lacking this year and I've not had time to check out Borders/Paperchase just yet...

But my desk calendar came from Paper Source in Chicago from my ma and it is truly lovely. It's very much in the style of Letterpress products and all the entries are embossed and such lovely designs.

Here is January's - just my cup of tea!

 

Right, I think I am in the right frame of mind to get on and make some stuff now! I had a big clear out of greetings cards last night that I made last year, gave all the ones I didn't want to hold onto to ma for her stash, and now I can make a start on filling up my card box with those 209 cards I planned to make this year. Best get on with card numero uno!

Crossed off the list!

Back on this page I set out my 10 things to do before popping my clogs... well one of them was to see Pink Martini live in concert. I bet you can guess where this is going!

Wish granted Nov. 2007 at the Sage Gateshead in a totally amazing concert - I can't wait to see them live again and hope they're working on some new material! :oD

Only thing was, I wasn't allowed to take photos in the hall. We had an amazing box so close to the stage, but next to me stood one of the ushers or whatever they're called and he had the eyes of a hawk - this is all I managed to snap!

Oh and the scrap like you mean it challenge included hearts, managed to put a few subtle ones on there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Think I might get on with some cards next...

Oliver Swift

So Shimelle's first challenge was to scrap your favourite colour... hm hard to tell these days, but if it's a Bazzill shade, then the KI Green Tea shade is my all time favourite! And colour set 4 in those American Crafts cardstock stickers are my quickly becoming my favourite alpha stickers!!

 

Bit challenging to remember how to scrap in the style of the rest of this album over a year plus on! I had to dig out all the stash for it too... but I can't believe I've still not scrapped my car, it was such a milestone passing my test and getting little Oliver Swift... :oD Mind you he is in real need of a good wash right now from all the salt on the roads!

 

 

 

Thought it was about time

I actually scrapped the two entries I've been planning to add to my "When I Grow Up" journal for yonks!

And cunningly enough, I combined them with Shimelle's current "Scrap Like you Mean it" challenges. I just need to get the photos sorted and will upload in a tick!

Time to draft that wish list?

So it looks like the sneak peeks have started now...

And I have already noted down a few little things that caught my eye.

It looks like the wonderfully talented Nancy Kubo has designed some more scrapbooking items for Prima - I can't wait to see the entire line, but some of those papers are just soooo cute!

The Tiffany's line from We R Memory Keepers looks like it might be interesting...

And there is a cute owl set from My Mind's Eye I rather like the look of. Chloe Lynn looks like the one for me!

Then of course the American Crafts sneaks are starting on their blog Monday.

And in the meantime I some times wish I still owned these:

 

According to the UK Crayola website they don't sell anything over a 24 box of crayons here any more! :oO Shocking, so there's no way I will see that 120 ct crayon box again unless I manage to pick one up in the States! LOL Shame, these were a massive part of my formative creative years - do we ever really stop loving our Crayola crayons?? Hm?

In other news, I picked up some DVDs in the sales today, All 3 Ocean's films (I am rather partial to them) and the entire 10 season box set of Friends. Lots of viewing accompaniment to any crafting this weekend! :oD

Normal life resumes

And this seems to involve a very rigorous PT session at the gym, if I manage to roll out of bed tomorrow I will be amazed as I have a feeling every muscle I never knew I had will hurt!

And after the gym I huddled under my fleece rug on the sofa for some quality time watching Masterchef - wow, they had some amazing quater-finalists... wonder if this is one of those weeks where everyone deserved to go through, but another week we'll get just one "nowt special" semi-finalist in the bunch... Would be a shame if so!

Well I thought I'd share two related pics:

   

Yep, AC galore... I needed a restock of some AC stickers, plus some Woopsy stickers after all that JYC usage! And well, I added to my AC cardstock collection with the Autumn cardstock - the colours are just fantastic and will be a great match for my October Afternoon stash. The first pic? They joy of AC gift wrap and ribbon for a certain birthday girl!

Done, done, done!

I can't believe it - but I have actually managed to finish* this year's JYC project! All prompts done! :oD

The glossy accents are still drying in the little bookplate unfortunately, but here's what the final day looks like:

 

 

I think I'll do a "The End" ATC on the back of that last entry... if I remember.

And here's a pic of the finished spinner:

* OK, fair enough there are still 23+ filler ATCs that I need to add in and I still need to decorate a few of the dividers, but come on! It is essentially done until I fancy dragging out the Christmas stash for a play. ;o)

Just time for a little update

Only had time to do the entry for the 5th, so looks like the last JYC entry of this Christmas will be on the agenda for tomorrow night!

  

 

And my favourite colour combo of the moment - red and turquoise. I was going to do Shimelle's new challenge with that colour combo, but you can see how well those intentions went!

And as for the 209 cards in 2009 - fear not, once JYC is finished I shall be starting on the cards again! :oD

Well it was looking promising...

that I'd get a prompt done tonight, but after taking the tree and decorations down I feel totally pooped! Then I watched Masterchef, and the desire to create suddenly evaporated! LOL

It's amazing how bare everything looks once you get used to the tree being there... loads of space now it's packed away...

But goodbye to the decorations for another year:

Tips for next year

This was more or less the theme of today's prompt... well a great tip is to always write down in your new calendar (last week of November ideally) just where on earth you stashed all those Christmas sale items you managed to pick up and intend to make use of next Christmas!

Usually in my family they don't get discovered until it comes to putting away the Christmas decorations and wrapping, etc.

So ...

 

 

Hurrah!

I've not been up-to-date with JYC since well... a couple of days before Christmas at the very least! LOL

And here we are, the entry for the 3rd of January, today, including a snapshot of the project in question plus stash! :oD

 

Shimelle's prompt did call upon using the stash you've been hoarding a bit too much, so the favourite stash unused so far.... I couldn't fit it all on obviously, but I needed to use some more of those frosty papers from KI Festive. I will miss that line once I finish it all! The stickers and rub-ons are dwindling. :o(

 

 

However, I have totted up that I still need to make 21 filler ATC cards for the spinner. These are the ATCs that slip between entries when I've inserted a black divider card... 21... OMG I will never get this project finished! But perhaps, I can leave the filler cards for JYC 2009! ;o) Or when I need a festive pick-me-up! hehe