Today is Santa Lucia Day in Sweden

On December 13th, in Sweden, they celebrate Santa Lucia Day.  Here is a picture of my daughter when she was the Lucia at my mom's Swedish Lodge in Ventura, California which is an hour north of me.  In this post I share more pictures, story, music and more.  I hope you check it out.  Thanks, Katharine

New Blog to Store Freebie Image Pages

This is my Holiday Gift to my Readers:

I have been creating a blog with all the links for my Freebie Pages.  Most of the stuff I've gotten from the Graphic Fairy.  I also have Calendars and other fun stuff.  Most of them I've already posted on this blog, but here are the links for everything.  Have fun copying these for your collections.  Katharine


P.S.  I'll be adding more so please come back for more.

Find the main link here:

link here

Free Hanukkah Images

Here is a Hanukkah image for you to keep.  I created this at picnic.com by uploading a Star of David, tinting it blue and adding a Menorah and Snowflake stickers.  Then I added the text.  I'm not Jewish but I wanted to create a Hanukkah card.  Go ahead copy this, for free, and enjoy!

Pin It

Pin It

http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/

New Christmas Blog Design

Pin It

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone I'm switching my blog decor to Christmas stuff.  I went ahead and used the header I created for December, 2010 (why mess with something good).  I created that using picnik collage and put in images from The Graphic Fairy (first and last photo), A Carl Larson Christmas image, My daughter as Santa Lucia and 2010 Holiday Barbie.  Then I framed it with holly, like the blog button, and the museum frame.  Then I wrote the name of my blog across it.  Here is what it looks like with out the text.  

I choose the blog stuff I want to use and created a test blog with everything ahead of time.  I chose this stuff in October because I knew that when I came to this time of year I'd be busy or tired.  I created a new blog button too.

I took this image and cropped it square, using the picnik.com program.  Then I framed it with the holly frame and made it smaller so it wouldn't cover the picture.  Then I used the Museum frame over that.  After it was all done I added the text "Kat's Almost Purrfect World" to the bottom of the frame.  Those who have been reading this blog know that I've been using this image for quite a while.  I got it from The Graphic Fairy.  After I chose this image I realized that it was like my daughter and I.  If it was to be realistic the girl on the right would have blue hair and I'd be blond.  I like keeping the image black and white.

In case you are curious, this is what my daughter looked like a few weeks ago.

Pin It

I ok'd the bleaching and blue hair, but I didn't ok the nose ring.  A few months ago she dyed it pink and today she dyed it purple.  Sigh!  She claims to feel better with her hair weird colors.  I just hope she outgrows this phase by the time she graduates High School.


I'm looking forward to a wonderful holiday season with my husband Kurt and my beautiful daughter Natalie.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

Sorry about being gone so long.  To tell the truth, besides being busy, I was unproductive and not inspired to write.  During this time though, I celebrated my daughter's 14th birthday and last week a family miracle happen.  My husband, Kurt and I decided to recommit to each other after being estranged for 10 years.  I never thought this would happen since I had started the estrangement.  One big motivator was the issues we were having with our daughter but we also realized that we'd miss each other when we separated.  We were estranged in the same house.  Separate rooms, separate beds, etc....   Despite this we spent all holidays together with each other's families and would drive to the hospital together when our daughter had been in there.  She has been dealing with depression and has been defiant and anyone who has teens knows how this can be.  What's ironic is that now she is upset because we are on the same side and she can't pit us against each other easily.  He and I have different parenting styles which is difficult under any circumstances but if we're not working together it's a disaster.  Now we are trying to get our daughter back on track and help her deal with stress in a healthy way.


This will be the best Holiday season that we have had in a long, long time.  I don't even care what gifts I get because I got my family again and that is the best gift ever.

New Header and Blog Button for November

Blog Button

In this past week, I've created a new blog button and header for thanksgiving.  What do you think of them?

Header

If you go to this post you will see how I created the images. Most images I got from the Graphic Fairy so I'm going to share this on Brag Monday.

I WON A COPY OF PRINCESS DIANA'S SAPPHIRE RING

I was just informed that I won a giveaway contest at Today's Gold blog. I found this blog by looking at the guest list of Vanessa's A Fanciful Twist's Halloween Party. Since I am the same age that Princess Di would have been I wanted the ring. For those younger folks, she's the mother of Prince William. My daughter reminded me that her friends don't know Princess Di, but know her as Diana. That was when I ran down the hallway and said I won the ring. :) I've having a bad day so I needed something to cheer me up.



Anyways, here is a description of the ring (I got this from Today's Gold's post):

PRINCESS INSPIRED ROYAL WEDDING RING VINTAGE 1980s
* This elegant Princess Inspired Royal Wedding Ring features a prong set Cubic Zirconia Crystal Cut Sapphire oval center stone & 14 Brilliant Cut prong set clear CZ Diamonds ~ Crystals around the main stone which sits a 1/4" above the finger.
* The setting has a silver alloy finish that has the look of silver or white gold & a beautiful Crown Gallery.
* Vintage Circa 1980s. That's right, vintage approximately 30 years old. This is one of the first costume jewelry Princess Inspired Royal Wedding Rings.
* A Beautiful Princess Inspired Keepsake & Collectible that also includes a pretty black velour pull string jewelry pouch. AND if this is not your size: 8 1/2" you can always wear it on your favorite chain or use the included pretty silk lavender tassel cord to turn your beautiful Princess ring into a magickal dowser ~ crystal rings make incredible dowsers. GOOD LUCK...






I'm thrilled and excited and honored to win this prize. Thanks, Lyndy
Read why she chose me:


And The Lucky Winner Is...
KATHARINE DEVINNEY ~ KATS PURRFECT BOUTIQUE
CONGRATS 'KAT' & HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOO!!!
Your sweet comment, beautiful link for my Halloween Party, following me, (I'm following you too) & that you were born the same year as Lady Di, your birth date & you had me at Happy Blogaversary were all the reasons why Lady Lucky picked you... :)


Please go and check out Lady Luck aka Lyndy's blog and see the vintage stuff she sells.

Freebie Thanksgiving Gift Tags

Hi,  I took the image tags from this post and added Happy Thanksgiving and a postage stamp frame.

Click on Picture and then right click to save to your files.

Free Fall Images

Fall Leaf Collage

Print and cut into bookmarks.

Blog post that gives instructions on Wreath.  I used the same wreath to create Halloween wreaths

Halloween 2011 Projects

http://katspurrfectboutique.blogspot.com/2011/09/hello-kitty-halloween-button.html

                       http://katspurrfectboutique.blogspot.com/2011/09/pretty-victorian-turned-into-haunted.html

                       http://katspurrfectboutique.blogspot.com/2011/10/pink-halloween-party.html

Halloween 2010 

http://almostpurrfecthalloween.blogspot.com/2011/09/halloween-before-2011.html

A Pink Halloween Party

Before we all go to Vanessa's Party, I'm having a Pink Halloween Party at home.

At my party we are doing pink Arts & Crafts

Then on our table. Isn't the table cloth cute?

We are going to use these fun party goods.

Look what everyone is getting in their Goodie Bag?

Please Vote for my Craft @ Gotta Create

Hi, I got notice to go vote for my craft at Gotta Create's Bewitching Craft Party. Please vote for mine too. I entered my Hello Kitty Image:

Go HERE to vote.  Thanks!

So CAL Blog Social

I had an amazing time at the SoCal Blog Social.  I took a long time to post this because I was waiting for my picture of Mark and I.

When I first got there it was awkward approaching everyone because we were in the middle of a traffic circle. Beverly, of Flamingo Toes, was so gracious and made me feel welcome. I was given a special tote bag that said SoCal Social on it and a name badge attached to a necklace that Beverly had created for all the bloggers. Right after she welcomed me Mark Montano introduced himself to me. I was amazed and said HI I loved your show "10 years younger" and then said I had just seen his book a few days before I found out that he was the speaker and was excited to meet him. He was outgoing and kind just the way he seems on T.V. We got in groups and went walking around the Orange Circle and there were different shops that were expecting us. All of these shops had a small gift for us. Anything from candles, soap, paper decorations, paint to books. 

We were walking around for two hours we stopped at "Paris in a Tea Cup".  




Since I just had surgery on Thursday it was a much needed break for me.   There I bought a pistachio macaroon and we got 2 pink macaroons in a cute bag, with a tea bag to use later on. I ate my macaroon then and saved the rest for Saturday night. They were so yummy! They gave out small samples of fruity tea and had cute tables outdoors.  We had a mini-blog fest in front.

Like I said, the other day, the Orange Circle is in the old part of the city of Orange and dates back to the 1880's. There were tons of Vintage, Retro and Antique stores. My eyes were blurry after looking at all the "eye candy". At the end of shopping at our special shop we'd go to the register and get our treat. We felt like Trick or Treaters. What was especially great was that we got to shop with Mark and talk to him about what we saw.  He even shared stories about his family.  He is so easy to talk to.


At 3pm we were all tired and hungry and sat down to lunch. After a bit we started to have giveaways. During all of this we got to take photos at a photo booth that was set up for us. It was so fun! Then Mark talked to us about his book, about what it's like to publish his book and how he went from being a Fashion Designer to a Television Personality and Craft Book writer. He was very open and funny and it was like visiting with him in his living room. He told us about his Crafting House that he had built in his backyard to look like his regular bungalow. He said it was going to be published in Casa Sugar and so I can't wait to see pictures.

When it was all over with, Mark gave us his book that came out October 11th called, "The Big Ass Book of Crafts Two". When we were leaving we got a signature from him.  After The Filling Station we were invited to go back to the shop, Heavenly Hostess, where we had Martinis or Seltzer and Cranberry Juice in cute plastic Martini glasses. We played a guessing game and had a raffle. I got Beverly to take a picture Mark and I. 

At this time Natalie and her Dad came and got me and it was back to reality. I blabbed about my day and came home and crashed! Then I woke up at 1AM and was the first person to comment on the SoCAL Social's blog. I can't wait till they have another event like this.