Muses from Katie

Countdown has begun

2006-08-05T16:02:00.000-07:00

We now have a date and time for our new guys delivery.
Carter will be born at 11.30am on August 11th.
So in less than a week we will be a family of 5.
We have been baby shopping as he didn't have anything, but now he came ride safely home in the car and have a place to sleep.
Everyone is getting excited, and a little nervous I would suspect, and are counting down the days.
He is going to be a big baby, 9lbs at least I would think so those newborn clothes won't last long! LOL
I may not get a chance to update until after the birth so wish us well and I'll post his photo when I get back from the hospital.
Katie

Wow! Where is the time going?

2006-07-07T10:17:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it's 3 weeks since I updated.
So much for my challlenge to keep up to date! LOL
Things are moving at a cracking pace here and we have the packers here today and Monday to load our life into boxes.
It is the start of that 10 days of "no mans land" of moving, driving, closing, and unloading.
But in 2 weeks we will have been moved in for 4 days and should be able to sleep a little easier.
We are spending our last night in KC at the Great Wolf Lodge so at least the kids can let off a little steam.
Everything is going great with the pregnancy apart from the fact that I am HUGE! I feel like a whale and this guy is measuring 4 weeks ahead and the thought of 6 more weeks like this is not one I relish. But he is strong and healthy and I know his best place is still inside me cooking away until he's "all done".
I did manage a couple of layouts in the midst of the move so I'll share those.
Then I think it will be adios until we get settled in until I can update from the hotel.

I hope you are all having fun!
Katie

Great Garage Sale Batman!

2006-06-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

We didn't have a lot to sell as we have donated a ton of stuff to Goodwill and the Salvation Army.

But since 9am this morning we have sold:

Cultivator
Snow shovel
Vacuum
Go Cart
Bunk Beds
Love Seat

All we have left are the kids bikes (they will get new ones when we move) but we have decided to bring them in and go to the movies instead.
So we are off to see Cars and enjoy a very large popcorn and Nachos! LOL

Katie

5 new sets of wooden letters for you to see

2006-06-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

This is a sneak peek of this weeks letters!

I am going to work on a set for our new house tonight and these are bigger letters, 9 inch, and I'm looking forward to making something for us instead of something to sell.
These are keeping me busy while I wait for the inspections and then I can book the movers.
We have a neighborhood garage sale tomorrow and Saturday and also a Cub Scout activity on Saturday at a local small water park which should be fun!
Katie

Updated house news!

2006-06-13T16:57:00.000-07:00

It's all systems go!
Our buyers agreed to the counter and their inspection is set for Monday at 1pm.
The sellers of the one we want agreed to our offer without countering (big thud) and our inspection is set for Monday too!
We are closing on the new one on July 13th and this one will close the next week so in a month we will be on our way to Texas!
As soon as the inspections are over I'll be booking the movers and then it will all up to them.
It is a huge weight off our minds to get this all sorted and to take to next step on this journey we call life.
Katie

We have lift off!

2006-06-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

We countered back on the written offer we got and they accepted so the house is sold!
Now we just need to hear back on the offer we made on the we want.
Then we can hire the movers and get going!

Katie

More house, less creating today

2006-06-09T08:35:00.000-07:00

We have an offer on our house and I'm expecting another with an hour!
So by lunchtime today I'll have made a decision!
Also dh has made an offer on a house in Dallas so very soon we can pack up and go!
It is a little stressful to say the least but it will be so worth it when it's all over.
I had a doctors appointment yesterday and everything is going fine with the baby. My blood pressure is great, this surprised me as I thought with everything going on that it would be affected.
This "little" guy is still growing like a weed and now is measuring a full 4 weeks ahead! And he is taking everything I eat for himself as I actually lost 1 1/2lbs in the last 2 weeks.
The doctors are not worrried and I'm sure I will be thankful to not have those extra pounds to get off afterwards.

On the creating side I've almost completed the mirror for my daughters bedroom. It has been fun and I'll share photos as soon as it is finished. Of course it will never hang in this house, it will go straight into a moving box!
I really will have to stop any creating very soon as I'm hopefully interviewing movers next week and so my stuff will be packed up until after July 6th.
But I am determined to finish the mirror!
That's it for today.
Hope you have a creative weekend!
Katie

Todays creations

2006-06-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

I have been busy with some new words and will share them here first!
I have also started an altered mirror for my daughters bedroom. I took the pillowcase into the scrapbook store and matched up papers. I'm also going to do her name in wooden letters in the matching papers. The mirror is not ready yet but should be in the next few days.
Once you try altering wood items it is very addicting!

Todays words

On the home front we are selling our house and the market seems to have picked up! YIPPEE!! In the first week we saw 6 people (including 2 open houses) and then in the next week 1/2 we have seen 11 people have a showing tonight and tomorrow too! The one tomorrow is promising as it will be the 3rd time the lady has been so she really must be interested (we hope anyway).
Our move to Dallas can get underway as soon as we have an offer on this house.
I hope you enjoy todays creations and as usual HAVE FUN CREATING!
Katie

A great sealer for altered work

2006-06-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

Some people notice that no matter how long you leave Mod Podge to dry that it can still be "tacky" to the touch and show fingerprints, pick up dust etc.

I had been using a regular decoupage brush on sealer on top of the mod podge as a final coat (or 2).

But it takes more time than I wanted it to so I went on the search for something else.

I am now hooked on a spray glaze from Hobby Lobby.
It is called "Triple Thick Clear Glaze" and is made by Crafts Etc which is Hobby Lobby's own brand. It is $4.99 for a 12oz can.
You need the window open and protection on your surface when you work. You spray a "wet" coat (so more than a light coat) and then leave it to dry.

It takes only a few minutes to do, a few minutes to dry and you need only 1 coat!
I would suggest testing it on speciality paper, but I test that paper with all coatings even Mod Podge as the results can be not what you want.
I still use one coat of Mod Podge over the base paper first as I feel it helps with adhesion but this spray "top coat" is a great time saver and gives a great finish.
As always I add the embellishments, ribbons etc after all the coats of sealer as that is my personal preference.

HAPPY CRAFTING!

Altering Instructions

2006-06-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

Have fun!

I like to use Mod Podge on these. It works well and is cheap! I save my Perfect Paper Adhesive for less "porous" projects.

I'll break it down into steps.

1. Choose papers (worry about embellishments later but have some theme in mind)

2. Trace the letters backwards on to the back of the paper.

3. Cut the letters out of the paper with scissors or exacto (or both).

4. Brush Mod Podge with a paintbrush on to the wooden letter in a fairly thin even layer.

5. Working quickly add the paper letter to the wooden letter and smooth with a brayer or a ruler.

6. Leave to dry.

7. When dry add a coat of MP to the top of the paper. Keep the strokes all in the same direction and make the layer as even as possible.

8. Leave to dry (maybe an hour)

9. Use a brush on sealer (any will do just one that says it is for decoupage will work) and add an even layer with brush strokes all in one direction. You can use matte, gloss or semi gloss, it's your choice. Mine gives a semi gloss finish. Let this dry (as per sealer directions) and add another coat. Then I like to add another to make 4 coats (1 MP and 3 sealer).

10. When it is all completely dry (I like to start one day and leave over night) turn the letter paper fave down on a cutting mat. Use your exacto and trim any excess from the edge of the letters. Use a piece of sandpaper if you have rough inside edges.

11. Add embellishments, ribbons, rub ons etc. Rub on's are hard to apply after all the coats so you may want to add those before all the sealer (direct to the uncoated paper).

That looks like a lot of work but it isn't, I just broke it down into lots of steps to make it easier to follow.

I use this technique on all paper to wood applications. If you have a joined up word instead of individual letters then you can photocopy the word and make a template so that you can cut the paper easier.

OK, it's been a while

2006-06-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been 6 months since I updated this blog.

Bad me!

I really am going to start to use this more and I'll be adding photos of my scrapbooking/crafting stuff as I do it as well as news about us.

I'm crafting on a small scale right now as my scrapbook room has been moved to the garage as we are moving soon and the house shows much better without all my ribbons, papers, embellishments, etc etc all over the breakfast room!

I've been enjoying doing some altered crafts, especially working with wood. It is great to work with, forgiving (you can paint over mistakes or sand them off and start again) and just "feels right" to me at the moment.

I've altered photos frames, words, letters and have a few other items ready to do that I'll share as I complete them.

Here are ome of my latest things

This was a gift for my son's teacher. The letters were decorated and sealed and then I glued them to the shelf with a new favorite of mine called "Gorilla Glue".

That stuff sticks anything and sticks it really well!

This was a custom word I did for a great customer of mine and I love how it turned out!

I used Basic Grey Phresh and Phunky papers and I want to keep it just for me!

In a short while I'll post the method I use for altering wood items so you can try it for yourself!

Another day, another dollar!

2006-01-19T07:43:00.000-08:00

Muses from Katie I'm sitting here trying to find my creativity again. It comes and goes and when it goes I have no idea when it will come back! I have so much "stuff" that surely creating something should just "happen" but it doesn't. I'm going to shower and check out a few magazines to get some inspriation. Oh, but there's laundry to be done too and a trip to the Post Office.
Ahhhh, life.......

OK, I'm tagged so here we go!

2006-01-18T11:59:00.000-08:00

Ground Rules: The first player of this "game" starts with the topic "5 Guilty Pleasures" and people who get tagged need to write a blog entry about their 5 Guilty Pleasures as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose the next 5 people to be tagged and list their names.

My 5 guilty pleasures. I actually don't have to think hard to get these which must mean that I'm not feeling very guilty about them! LOL

1. TV. I am a television addict. There I've admitted it. I have loved the "telly" since I was a child and still do. Most days when I'm in the house on my own the boob tube is on. Whether I watch it or not the urge to turn it on is too strong to ignore.

2. Internet. An extension of the TV for me. In fact I even have a TV tuner on my PC so I can watch Tv and surf at the same time. My Mum hates the fact I surf so much and can't understand the concept of online friends and message boards instead of real people!

3. Chips. Any salty snack really. I find it very hard to sit and watch TV in the evening with something to nibble on. Of course my waistline doesn't thank me for this.

4. Naps. I'll admit that sometimes I take a nap in the afternoon before the children come home from school. I do feel guilty about this but I am a great believer in listening to my body and if it says sleep then I say sleep!

5. Books and Magazines. I spend far too much money or reading material but I love to read. I always have and have said I'd be happy to die with a book in my hand.

OK, so those are my guilty pleasures and I have fulfilled my tag obligation!

Now it's time for me to tag.
And I tag:
Mamichelle!

Today is an exciting day!

2005-08-24T13:22:00.000-07:00

First of all it is my dh's birthday. Just a very ordinarty b'day with cards and gifts and cuddles from the kids in bed this morning. I took him to work and came home to work on some eBay stuff. I get a call and don't recognize the name or number on the caller ID. It turns out to be the owner of Scraptalk.com and I got a place on her design team!!!!!! I entered just a day or so before the deadline and don't go there very often so I felt sure I wouldn't be picked. But she had 250 people apply and choose 15 (I think) and I was one of them!!!I was so shocked and will admit to doing a little happy dance.
So now I have to make time to scrap for me as opposed to just doing things for eBay. I'm looking forward to playing with all the new products and I will do my best to be as creative as I can.
So I need to celebrate with a pink drink as I am now a Pink Lady!
But it will have to wait until later as I have to fetch dh from work after his after work birthday drinks!
TTFN

Some thoughts about home.

2005-08-05T14:38:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that the Summer break is almost over.
My Mum has visited from England for 6 weeks and went home 2 days ago. It is always so hard when she leaves as we have no family here and even after more than 8 years the tug from home is still strong. I love my life here but somewhere deep down I still miss home and the things I grew up with. Life over there has changed but many things are still the same. I love being English and wouldn't give that up for the world.
People tell me my home is very English in style and I love that. I still read English news sites everyday and drink English tea. A little bit of Blighty sitting in the Midwest of the US.
Anyway, my homesickness is only bad for a few days and then although I miss home I don't get so maudlin about it.
Another cup of tea and I'll be fine.
TTFN

Schools almost out

2005-05-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

One more week to go and then 12 weeks of ......
I'm sure I'm not alone in dreading 12 weeks of sibling arguements, squabbles, quarrels and general upset noise.
2 children only 17 months apart are a handful to say the least. Lego, Knex, Barbies and Polly, all help for a while but in the end the only peace comes at bedtime!
Oh well, the warm weather will help so they can wear themselves out.
This is the summer we plan to have both of them learning to swim (properly), ride bikes with no training wheels and perfect the art of tying shoelaces.
In the years to come I know I'll hark back to these times with a yearning for the innocent times that they are but at the moment it is still a whole summer of noise, dirt and everything that comes with it!

After a visit from the ice cream man

2005-04-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

Georgia always makes a mess with her ice cream and this was no exception.
But the photo is one of my recent favorites. This was taken a week ago.

I really like taking photos in black and white, they show up emotion whilst masking the flaws.

The year of the Flip Flop and the wonder of Base Coat

2005-04-21T06:27:00.000-07:00

I just have to say I think that 2005 will be the Summer of the flip flop.
Call them flip flops, beach shoes, thongs, slides or simply sandals but they will be on your feet this summer if you are of the female persuasion (I have to say that as I'm not a fan of mandals).
In the past 2 weeks I have added:
1 pair of Earth Shoes (slides but with backs in)
2 pairs of suede slides (pink and blue)
1 pair of green flip flops with sequins
and
1 pair of aqua flip flops with flowers

This is in addition to the ones I had left from last year.
Now I will admit that none cost more than $25 a pair and none have a name (Coach, Brighton etc) but they are cute and with my new pedicure I didn't want to keep my toes covered.
It's going to storm today but oh well, I'll just get wet feet!

Talking of nails I was introduced to a new base coat yesterday called Stickey by Creative Nails and I have to say it is the best! The salon was out of stock but I found out I can get it from Walgreens so I'll be paying a visit really soon.

It is certainly the time to get out feet out a their winter hiding, give them a scrub and a fresh coat of polish and let our toes breathe!

Enough of my jabbering today.

A House Full

2005-04-02T13:30:00.000-08:00

At the moment we have house guests, a new co worker of my husbands who has moved from CA. Their movers don't get here for a few more days so at the moment we have 4 adults and 4 kids, ages 4, 5, 6 and 7.
McDonalds was a nightmare with kids screaming everywhere.
Walmart not much better.
Now at least the Imaginext is occupying them for a short while.

The first entry

2005-04-01T12:48:00.000-08:00

Well I suppose you have to know a little about me.
I'm Katie and Englishwoman living the US Midwest, KCMO to be exact.
I'm married, have 2 children, Nathan is 7 1/2 and Georgia is 6.
I'm a SAHM who supplements the family income by selling handmade scrapbook items on eBay. My life is very much like yours apart from me being an alien, a legal one just Sting sang about in New York.