Kool Kitty Musings

52 Card Challenge: Week 35

I hope everyone who's going a Bank Holiday weekend is enjoying theirs.

Unfortunately with my current work project I have spent all weekend working so far with little chance for anything else.

But today's a day off that's for sure! :o)

If you're feeling crafty, check out this week's prompt:

 

Amazingly enough I have managed to make a card for it using some new stash:

 

Cardstock: American Crafts, PTI, Stampin' Up
Dies: My Favorite Things, Papertrey Ink
Stamps: Waltzing Mouse Stamps, Papertrey Ink
Pearls: Prima
Other: 3D foam pads, Corner Chomper

 

So I've interpreted squares as a square card base, sweet as cute and well, there's always a bit of 3D foam knocking about on my cards! hehe

Happy creating!

Customs paid...

 

All £2.46 of it plus £8 handling fee!

Now I just need to find some time to make something. ;o)

It's still work, work, work here and not much else.

But I've just put Gnomeo and Juliet on which came from Lovefilm the other day as a bit of a surprise and then it's X-Factor later... hm. Exciting eh?

But I am looking forward to a bit of unwinding. :)

Feeling Krafty

Fran has set a wonderful dare over on the DCM blog this week.

You need to make a card that features at least 3 natural items such as wood, burlap, twine, and of course kraft!

My card features a few upcycled things!

 

Paper: MME
Stamps: MFT, PTI
Dies: MFT, PTI
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Button: Crate Paper
Rose: Wild Orchid Crafts
Lace: The Ribbon Reel
Other: Clothes tag, fabric sample swatch, pattern wheel, distresser

 

There is indeed a Mantaray clothing tag on that card - I love Mantaray tags, they are made from this really thick, distressed card and the fonts and artwork on them are very vintagey. I also used an M&S fabric swatch that resembles burlap plus there's twine and kraft galore. :o)

Happy creating!

Birthday spoils...

I must admit my birthday has definitely crept up on me this year... I blame it all on the past few manic weeks with work.

But I had an impromptu visit from the family today whilst working from home and there are a couple of things I can't wait to try!

I got some lovely silver jewelry from my mum including some owl earrings... very apt.

Also the long awaited box of Mally items to try:

 

Hm, what could be in there?

 

Well it looks like a lot of nice little items to try. I already have a Mally Mascara which is indeed bullet-proof - but there's a bit of everything in here including a really good brush by the looks of it.

 

I also finally have a proper pinny for my baking adventures. I have been on the hunt for the right apron for a while - all the ones I'd seen and tried weren't so good up top. This 50's style pattern must have been designed with homely housewives in mind as it fits perfectly.

 

And it now resides in its new spot ready for some baking action - whenever that might be!

 

After everyone had left and I got back to work but also put on my new Pierces CD - have had it in the car for a few little runs out, but wow, totally blown away and so glad I got the CD version rather than just downloading it as I can have it on loop in the car for the next how ever many months! hehe

Right, I'd best have a look inside that little box of Mally-goodness and try a few things out. ;o)

52 Card Challenge: Week 34

Happy Monday!

Here's this week's prompt - one that looks nice and friendly:

 

And guess what? Shock, horror... I've actually made a card... well a little notelet:

 

Cardstock: PTI
Paper: Echo Park
Stamps: PTI and Waltzing Mouse Stamps
Die: PTI
Punch: Martha Stewart
Bling: Prima

 

For my choice of... I went with stamping to try out my "new" WMS banner stamps for the background to the greeting - very handy indeed. :)

A little creative catch-up

Managed to get a card made for the 52 Card Challenge prompt that called for kraft, autumn and twine.

 

Papers: October Afternoon
Dies: Sizzix, Spellbinders, PTI
Stamp: PTI
Button: PTI
Twine: The Ribbon Girl
Other: Corner Chomper

 

Hopefully those OA Weathervane papers are sufficiently autumnal for August! ;o)

Right, I'd best get some other things sorted ready for the coming week. Managed to tick off a few creative things today before it's back to the grind tomorrow.

It's beginning to feel a lot like - a cold!

Ugh, this has not been the best of weeks stress-wise. And on top of everything else I've been getting very little sleep and quite a few nosebleeds...

And now - it looks like I finally have got that cold-which-I-sincerely-hope-will-not-progress-to-full-on-flu!

I really don't need it now as for the next month plus I am going to be full on at work and putting in a lot of extra hours.

Ho-hum.

Any crafting will probably be taking place on a Sunday if nothing else conspires against me...

I'm hoping the secret remedy to getting me half back to normal will be a combination of these two:

 +  

So just a heads up that my blog may be a bit on the quiet side through the rest of the month and most of September. The cobwebs will be setting in just in time for Autumn! hehe

Mind you I have a bit of unwinding I can do over the weekend - my Lovefilm movies have arrived including Tamara Drewe which seemed to have really good reviews:

 

One to savour over the weekend I think.

Right, off to fire up the kettle and snuggle into the sofa for some Eli Stone catch-up!

52 Cards Challenge: Week 33

Morning all!

I feel rather guilty about posting this week's prompt given that yesterday was the sunniest day I've seen in a while and I feel like I've returned to summer mode after all the cold rain...

 

I'm thinking a couple of autumnal shades ought to do it, but it doesn't have to be a full on autumn affair!

Not sure when I'll get my card made as I am currently eating through any spare hours in the day around work engrossed in French Relations and then onto re-reading Well Groomed... I will soon shut up about these books - promise! But I just love it when you can truly get engrossed in a good read. ;o)

ETA: Here's the card for this prompt finally made:

 

The details are here. :)

OK, so I bit the bullet

 

And finally decided to start French Relations this afternoon - am half way through and really enjoying it. So I amend yesterday's comments - French Relations is a must, followed by Well Groomed and then Kiss and Tell!

If only there were more hours in the day as I would love to finish it before having to take a break for a day at work before I can get in a few more chapters in the evening. LOL

Eight hours later....

  

And I've finished it. :o(

Alternated between that feeling I love with a truly great read - can't wait to read on but don't want it to end!

Anyway, I give it 5 stars.

I would recommend that you definitely read Well Groomed first at least to have a better background for Tash and Hugo - I've read a few reviews that say Kiss and Tell is fine read as a stand-alone but I think if you don't read Well Groomed you really won't have a true appreciation of the back story and characterisations and it is a really good book that leads up to this! You will really miss out if you don't...

I still have French Relations (book 1) on my to be read pile after countless years because I accidentally read Well Groomed first and have never managed to go back and try reading it because I just loved Well Groomed too much... ;o) 

So yes Andrea, this one definitely gives Jilly Cooper a run for her money - hope you enjoy it, but read Well Groomed first!

I may be gone some time...

 

I picked up this from the library yesterday and started it late last night. It's the sequel to my all time favourite Fiona Walker book - Well Groomed. So nice to be revisiting the lives of Tash and Hugo (looking like there will be plenty of ups and downs) - it's 896 pages long so I may have my nose buried in it some time! Best get the bean bag out. ;o)

So Kawaii...

There's a seriously fab dare up on the DCM blog this week - it's time to get your cute on, or should that be kawaii on!

This week we're making a card that celebrates Kawaii - all things cute and bright and Japanese. :)

My main bit of Kawaii inspiration came from a little badge I received in an old Poppy Ink kit many moons ago. Anyway, what I ended up making didn't come out anything like what I thought I was going to make. lol

 

Papers: Echo Park
Stickers: Echo Park, Cosmo Cricket, American Crafts
Badge: KungFuCowgirl
Dies: Papertrey Ink
Twine: The Ribbon Girl
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Ribbon: May Arts
Other: 3D foam

 

I mean, what else are you going to use a toaster badge on right? ;o)

Happy creating!

One bright spot in this gloomy world...

I'm setting the V+ as soon as I can...

 

because the Great British Bake Off is back next Tuesday on BBC 2 at 8 p.m.

I've had to stop watching the news because the more I see the more disgusted and sick I feel. So many innocent normal people losing everything they have worked so hard for. Being terrorised in their own homes and businesses. And for what?

Truly shameful.

52 Cards Challenge: Week 32

Welcome to another Monday and another prompt!

 

This week's prompt must have been meant to be for my cardmaking needs as I needed to make a baby card for a little girl. :)

Anyway, here's what I came up with using some papers from my little Echo Park Victoria Gardens set.

 

Papers: MME, Echo Park
Stamps: PTI
Dies: PTI, Spellbinders
Ribbon: Pebbles Inc
Seam binding: The Ribbon Girl
Lace: The Ribbon Reel
Buttons: PTI
Twine: The Ribbon Girl
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: Sewing machine, distress sander, 3D foam

 

It's difficult to see the inking in the photos, but I sanded back the main background paper and used cream ink all around to age it a bit before sewing a border round.

Anyway, happy creating!

Since it's been raining - a lot ...

It's been a weekend mostly spent indoors.

I actually finished a card I sort of started at the crop:

 

Paper: My Little Shoebox
Stamps: PTI
Dies: PTI
Seam binding and twill: The Ribbon Girl
Felt: PTI
Punch: Martha Stewart
Button: Making Memories
Twine: The Ribbon Reel
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: Stickles, Copics, 3D foam

 

I also finished a couple of books that need to go back to the library and watched this while trying to be creative, but watched the movie more than I made anything!

 

It was very good, even better than I thought it'd be. ;o)

The afternoon after the night before...

Had a fantastic "last ever" crop at the shop last night. So sad that it was the end of a cropping era, but we are hopefully relocating to a new crop location or two - fingers crossed!

For the occasion I tried my hand at a red velvet cake... now... this is a cake I have heard much about, but never tasted, let alone made!

 

The end result hid many a minor disaster (aesthetically-speaking)....

And here's what was left in the box I toted home:

 

If anyone wants a slice, you're more than welcome! :oP

It was very nice if a little well done in places, but I think I am going to stick to the cupcake serving option in future! Less stressful!

After my late night out (didn't get to sleep until around 3 a.m.) I feel like I am 5 hours behind everyone else... and the weather is very depressing. But since I didn't make anything last night really, I'd best start unpacking and maybe playing with a few of the new purchases from this week.

So glad!

So here I am briefly popping in to share my card for this week's DCM dare - August has crept up on us and as it's the first Friday of the month we're focusing on the flowers of the month.

Poppies and gladioli!

Now, I have to confess, I was quite tempted by poppies...

 

Especially after finally seeing them out in the wilds of Northumberland.

 

So pretty...

But it was actually my jug of glads in the kitchen that had me itching to create a card using the colour tone...

 

I'm still in a very peachy mood, and buying flowers is no different!

So I got out the new stash and got creating with a peachy, linen and cream colour palette.

 

Stamps: Waltzing Mouse Stamps, PTI
Paper: Fancy Pants
Ink: Pink Grapefruit Versamagic, Vintage Cream (PTI), Versafine black
Seam Binding: The Ribbon Reel
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: Distress Stickles, 3D foam, distress sander, Corner Chomper

 

I had a good play with the Cameo Maker and oval frame stamps I bought in my little haul from WMS - the best wishes and little heart are from PTI as I needed something teeny but noticeable to add the last elements in. And those rose distress Stickles were the perfect colour match and I am amazed I actually managed to stamp the background so it's more or less straight!

And I suppose those spiky leafy accents in the frame and background stamps are sort of gladioli-like... ;o)

Almost the weekend!

 

Time sure is flying at the moment - the weather has been mostly glorious this week. Why wasn't it so beautiful when I had my two weeks off work eh?

Bit difficult to enjoy it from a seriously hot office at work. :o(

However I am hoping Saturday will have some lovely sun to enjoy.

I have some pics I need to go through from a couple of Staycation outings.

But since I seemed to be in a bit of a stash shopping mood last week, I decided I needed some new stuff to go with the stamp purchases!

 

I think any packing for tomorrow night's crop will be revolving around this little stash. I am so happy with the MME pads in particular as the designs in the Away We Go pad are by none other than my fave MME designer - Zoe Pearne, lots of chevrons and fab background designs and even a bit of woodgrain. I'd not been able to find pics of the contents of these pads so I am really happy with what I went with. The Lost and Found 2 pads are lovely too - lots of card ops there! And the Echo Park one will be nice to play with, I bought the 12x12s of my fave designs as a back up plan.

And speaking of tomorrow night's crop, there's a cake I need to go and try level - hopefully it's cooled by now and once the frosting is done I can finally pack for the crop... maybe. ;o)

52 Cards Challenge: Week 31

Welcome to a new month and another Monday!

The prompt this weeks looks nice and friendly:

 

So friendly in fact, I've already made a sample to go with it. ;o)

 

Papers: My Mind's Eye
Die: Spellbinders
Stamp: Waltzing Mouse Stamps
Seam binding and twine: The Ribbon Girl
Lace: The Ribbon Reel
Button: PTI
Rose: Wild Orchid Crafts
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Other: Distress sander, sewing machine, 3D foam, Distress Ink, Crackle Accents, Distress Stickles

 

A lot of the stitching I did got covered up, but I tried the tricot stitch to stitch the seam binding on and quite liked that. Unfortunately the Memento ink I used for the stamp ran a bit when I applied the crackle glaze, but it doesn't look too bad. I don't really want to use Staz-on on my clear stamps, but is that the only ink that works OK with Crackle Accents?