Last Skelekitty Stamp of Approval of 2009

Anything I say about my final SKSoA recipient of the year will only dilute her awesomeness, so just check her out the super cute, Jack Russell Terror loving, pink wearing, B-Movie watching, tiki cocktail drinking, subversive embroidering, retro, craftiness of Pam Pedersen yourself.

You will SO thank me!


Blog - Faster KittyKill! Blog! Blog!
and
KittyKill's photos on Flickr


I'm giddy just thinking about hitting the "publish post" button.

Oh, and if you have any SKSoA nominees for 2010, please drop me a note and let me know, won't ya?

WIN!

Want to know what success is?  It's when someone you know dresses up as you for Halloween!  Our neighbor 'Tana made her very own Skelekitty costume this year, with a skelanimals hat and the help of her mom in the makeup department.

Of course you KNOW this earns her a most sincere SKSoA!  Ya hear that 'Tana?  You have Skelekitty Stamp of Approval bragging rights!


I wonder if there are more SK inspired costumes to come next year.  Oh, and I'm still waiting to see that first Skelekitty tattoo (though Santana isn't allowed to get one for at least another 7 years).

Yours Truly on Crafty Chica's Inspiration Friday

Guess WHO was featured on Kathy "Crafty Chica" Cano-Murillo's blog today?? She even "outed" Krissi (about her unnatural relationship with glitter).

Diary of a Crafty Chica: INSPIRATION FRIDAY: Skelekitty!


I've noticed a new kitty on the crafting scene - and she literally is...a kitty! This friendly feline has her own web site, a blog and gobs of personality. I was recently able to grab hold of her and ask her a few questions before she sprang out of my hands to go back to her owner's art room. Can you say finicky? By the way, her owner is the talented Krissi Sandvik.

CraftyChica.com: Tell me how you came to be, Miss Skelekitty? Did you get shortchanged from your nine lives?

Skelekitty: Heck no, my nine lives are just beginning! I was introduced to the world in the summer of 2006 when Krissi donated the very first Skelekitty piece a local kitty rescue's annual fundraising auction. Krissi has always loved animals and became fascinated with the Day of the Dead celebration when she lived in San Francisco's Mission District. She thought the spirit of Dia de los Muertos (that is, celebrating the lives of loved ones) fit in perfectly with a kitty adoption organization. Pretty soon, people started asking to see me in more art, so Krissi created a whole line featuring me and my skelecritter pals called Skelekitty and Friends.


Q: And now you are a rockstar kitty - you have a line of stamps in your likeness! Tell me, how did you decide on the poses for the stamps? Did you get final say?

A: Well of COURSE I have final approval on all of my images - I'm a kitty who's definitely not shy about speaking her mind! The stamps were chosen by the nice lady who runs Stampa Fe art stamps in Santa Fe, New Mexico - she picked her four favorites to start off with. The response to the stamps has been so positive, you may be seeing some brand new Skelekitty stamps (and maybe some other skelecritters) soon.


Q: Tell me about your owner, I hear she is very crafty!

A: She sure is - she's always gluing something to something else and started Sacramento's coolest FREE craft night, Scary CRAFT's Night of the Creators. Even her MAIL is crafty! Here is a tutorial!

In addition to her paintings, she makes quilts, reconstructed clothing, shrines, jewelry. Krissi has always loved language and writing and has started to play with photography too! She especially enjoys a challenge where she has create outside of her comfort zone.

Q: How does having a pet helps a person's creativity?

A: Animals are wonderful muses because they are so loving and funny. One of the most popular pieces was inspired by a hungry kitty rubbing against her human's legs when they come home at night.

The antics of Krissi's kitties and dog are often the inspiration for paintings. Anyone who has ever lived with a cat or dog (or small children) will be able to relate to "The Two Sides of Skelekitty."
Q: Will you share your favorite pieces by your owner and how she made them - I'm sure you sat and watched every moment of their creation, right?

A: I imagine everyone expects the portraits of me are my favorites, but they'd be wrong! Like Krissi, my favorite pieces tend to be ones where she experimented by using her favorite imagery within a not-typically-Krissi themes. Painting The Roses Red, which was created for an Alice in Wonderland themed show, is a good example.


I also like the pieces she makes with a real sense of irony, like her "Diet Shrine" art quilt.

Krissi Sandvik. I must share that she told me she never was a fan of glitter until she went on the Crafty Chica cruise and became converted. I think this picture proves that! Krissi is a mixed media artist based out of Sacramento, CA. Visit her blog to see more of her work at http://www.krissisandvik.blogspot.com/

Would you like to submit an article for Inspiration Friday? Click HERE for the guidelines. -SUBMIT your piece with INSPIRATION FRIDAY in the subject line and email to kathy[at]craftychica[dot]com


Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

Skelekitty & Friends' Shop is Now Open on Etsy

Hey there skelecats and skelekittens - I finally got around to opening up my very own shop on Etsy called "Skelekitty and Friends." Although Krissi will continue to carry prints & merchandise of me and my friends in her store, my online store will be your ultimate one-stop skelecritter shop!

I worked yesterday afternoon to post the most popular skelecritter prints ($16 each), and some are even available with custom hand embellishments ($25 each). Shipping is free on your second print (up to five), and be sure to ask about a discount on multiple print/card purchases, too.

I'm photographing and posting more original art - it just takes me a little more time than it takes you humans on accounta my lack of thumbs. Not only are existing pieces still going up on the site, but Krissi is busy working on two new paintings already - I think she's taking advantage of how fast-drying acrylic paints are in this weather.

HEY KIDS!!!! IT'S A GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

In the meantime, head over to Etsy (where it's free to register and shop) and add my shop to your favorites and you will be entered into a drawing to win an embellished print of the Angel Kitty from Love Cats:I'll choose the winner next Friday, July 24th from those who publicly "♥" my shop (yeah, that means you secret admirers won't be entered, so ya gotta 'fess up!).

I hope you've got something hip and cool planned for the upcoming midsummer weekend. I'll probably just put my paws up, grab a cold drink and snooze, occasionally checking into see how many people "love" me! (skele-kidding).

Summer skele-love,

SK

In Print

Howdy gang! I got home from a kitty-prowl the other day to find a package in the mailbox from Guadalupe's Fun Rubber Stamps in Santa Fe (they make and carry the line of Skelekitty rubber stamps).


Hmm! Santa Fe local hot-spots publications. I wonder what's inside?


OOH!! Lookie!

And Lee also sent me this cute hang-tag bookmark she made using some cool techniques AND two of the Skelekitty stamps!


Be sure to send photos of YOUR Skelekitty stamped projects and I'll post them here with a link back to your blog or home page.

If you don't have your Skelekitty rubber stamps yet, what are you waiting for???


Available NOW! StampaFe.com 505-982-9862.
$13.80 each (get a discount if you buy the full set).

New SKSoA Recipient: Oblinaknit!

I became aware of Oblinaknit during late April when Krissi started participating in the facebook DaVinci Mode 30-day creative challenge (thank you Stacy McQueen, THE Craft Whore for starting that challenge!).



Amy's creativity is seemingly unending - she knits, creates beautiful jewelry, sews adorable wristlet pouches and is just a darn funny and mighty supportive chica. Oh, and she loves cats - which is reason enough to award her the coveted (not really) Skelekitty Stamp o' Approval!


I hope you'll check out the various places on the interwebs where you can find Amy, her kitties and her creations.

• Oblinaknit page on facebook
• Oblinaknit Etsy shop
• Oblinaknit blog
• Oblinaknit on Twitter
• and Oblinaknit.com (of course)
  

SK at the Santa Clarita Craft Lab Marketplace!

Sorry it's been so long since I blogged.

As you know, Krissi took me along with her on the 2009 Crafty Chica creativity cruise and we had a blast! She officially sold out of the supply of rubber stamps she had featuring yours truly, so I'm hoping she'll be reordering soon.... She also premiered her new line of Loteria cards (embellished with glitter and plain), which were a HUGE hit!


After the cruise, we stayed three extra days in beautiful San Diego with Fearless and Shuka and their people, Alisa and Ann, where, thanks mostly to the prodding of Ann and Alisa, Krissi pimped out my stamps to a few cool scrapbooking stores. She even carried on with the retail store pimpage once she got home, and we shall see what comes of it....


Then just the other day, she heard from our pal Cyndi of the Santa Clarita Craft Lab asking about carrying the Skelekitty stamps in her new "Market Place!" She wants to start bringing in some unique kits and supplies from indie crafters (no finished projects at this point) and I jumped all over it like ... well, like a skelecat on a skelemouse! Besides, we certainly fit the bill - you don't get much more "indie" than a girl with a sewing machine, a laptop and a skeleton cat.




For those of you who don't know about the Santa Clarita Craft Lab, it's an AWESOME place! They offer some fun mixed media classes that you just can't really find anywhere else. Take, for example, this class on embellishments called Counting Crows:

All of the classes there are taught by seriously creative and fun folks and it's amazing to see what the students create. Check out their current classes here.


So maybe you aren't into group classes and just need some time away from the house? You can rent some space and craft a Wednesday or Thursday away for only $15 (and that includes use of their ample collection of tools)! Here's a sampling of just some of what they have on hand:

• Cricut Expression Die Cut Machine
• Cuttlebug Die Cut Machine
• Sizzix Sidekick Die Cut Machine
• An Assortment of Dies
• 2 Sewing Machines
• Sewing Notions, Iron & Board
• Pasta Machine
• PolyClay/Craft Oven & Tools
• Xyron Sticker Maker
• Zutter "Bind-It-All" Binding System
• Heat Gun, Glue Guns, Fiskar Hand Drill
• Woodburning Tool
• Soldering Tools & Temp Control
• Paper Trimmers with Designer Blades
• An Assortment of Other Hand Held Tools
• Assortment of Punches
• The "Power Punch" Tool
• PLUS adhesives, papers, doo dads, embellishments, buttons, brads, eyelets, beads, ribbons, fibers, yarns, lace, trims, card stock, rubber stamps, inks, paints,brushes, & more!

In addition to all the cool toys ... err, I mean TOOLS, they also have a knitting/crochet lounge. DUDE, SERIOUSLY! A KNITTING/CROCHET LOUNGE!


Just look at all that hot pink.... Yummy.

Here's another idea: why not let Santa Clarita Craft Lab host your next birthday, mothers' (or fathers') day, graduation or office party? You bring the cake and the guests, and they take care of the private studio space & instruction, all crafting supplies, plates/forks/napkins, and soft drinks/juice/water.




If you're like me and live too far away for a regular visit, you can drop by the official blog and keep up to date on all the crafty news that's fit to print.

Of course, I'll let you know the very SECOND that Cyndi has the shelves stocked with the red rubber representations of my cute image. Until then, stay cool and skele-crafty!

SK

Oh, and YES, Cyndi and the Santa Clarita Craft Lab have DEFINITELY earned a Skelekitty Stamp of Approval for this one!

Blackmail

OK gang, so Krissi and I are off to San Diego for the Crafty Chica art cruise and then for a few extra days in the S.D. with some artsy friends Alisa and Ann.  That means I probably won't be posting much, if at all, until after the 22nd, but Krissi will Tweet from the ship for sure!  Until then, please enjoy some blackmail photos from Krissi's past - she refused to pack my catnip, so I'm making her "pay."

These photos also serve to answer the age-old question, why doesn't Krissi ever want to go out? (A: She used up all of her partying in her teens and twenties.)



P.S. Note to self: Yoli got flagged and searched by airport security for the "suspicious embellishments" in her carry-on; I'll be sure that Krissi packs the glitter in checked luggage.

Quick Notebook Tutorial for Cool Cats

While reading the daily e-mail from CRAFT magazine, I saw this awesome tutorial for a quick craft that will come in handy for just about everyone - a mini notebook:

HOW TO - Make a Five Minute Notebook

See, there's lots of things you can do in 5 minutes! Make Les Plus Beauxx's beautiful five minute notebook to jot down inspirations or special notes to yourself.

Now I know what to do with all of the paint chips Krissi has scattered throughout the house!

Stamps in Stock and a new Print

The initial order of Skelekitty rubber stamps arrived from Santa Fe yesterday and are available for purchase on Krissi's Etsy site at $14.00 each or a set of all 4 for $50. If you don't have an Etsy account (it's free to join and shop, so you should!), just e-mail Krissi and tell her which and how many stamps you would like to order and she'll send you an invoice, easy as pie.


"Play Time" - Skelekitten with yarn


"Always Time for Love" Skelekitty with heart


"Welcome Home" Skelekitty rubbing skeleton legs (with cool shoes)


Skele-sirena - Skelekitty as a mermaid

She has also created a new print and made it available on Etsy. It's the angel-kitten from her original mixed-media piece, Love Cats in an 8x10" (well, 10x8" really) print.

She looks a little like me, just with wings and fur.  The print is only $15 (plus CA tax if you're a resident). She's a perfect holiday gift. Not "into" kitties (GASP!)? There are several other works available as 8x10 prints too, so check it out.

Stamp Details and A Fellow Kitty in Need of a Home

Howdy cats and kittens. Here is some more info on the NEW line of rubber stamps of yours truly that I posted about yesterday:

• Prices are $13.80 per wood-mounted red rubber stamp
• A 10% discount is available on full set of 4 stamps purchased from Guadalupe's Fun Rubber Stamps /Stampa Fe Art Stamps.
  
• Be sure to request the discount as we're in the early days here!
• Krissi will have some available for local sale, but not for a couple of weeks. If you're in a hurry, give Guadalupe's a call!
  

Word on the street is that the town of and visitors to Santa Fe are absolutely loving these images, and folks are starting to snap 'em up like a kitty with canned tuna. This news makes me one happy puss!

Thanks to all of YOU for your support and encouragement. I know that I'm only here because you like me (you really like me).

-------

Some of you may have read about Chip and Allyson at Body Tribe - the gym where Krissi works out. What you may not know is that both Chip and Al are also mucisians, art lovers (and Al is an artist) and, above all else, animal lovers. Here's a video Chip posted of a kitty whose luck is turning around since Chip found him. If you think you might be able to improve it even more, drop them a line at chip[at]bodytribe[dot]com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3wXXdXmhYE

Skele-purrs,

>^..^< SK

The First of the Stamps Are IN!

I just heard that the first of the rubber stamps featuring yours truly are AVAILABLE at Guadalupe's Fun Rubber Stamps in Santa Fe, NM (just off the plaza)!

I understand from Krissi, who received an e-mail from the owners today, that they have on hand three of the designs (with the fourth in production as we speak): skele-sirena (me as a mermaid), "Welcome Home" (me rubbing legs) and "Play Time" (skelekitten with a ball of yarn).


For those of you who, like Krissi & myself, are not fortunate enough to live in Santa Fe, despair not! The Stampa Fe online catalog will be updated soon with these designs & prices for online ordering. In the meantime, you can contact Guadalupe's Fun Rubber Stamps directly by telephone at 877-982-9862 and order yourself up some stampage! Krissi is waiting to hear back on the pricing (we should have it tomorrow and will post it ASAP).

Of course, we'll also be sure to let all of our local friends know when we have them available in Sacramento. In the meantime, I'm trying to think up a good prize for folks who use these stamps in their art/crafts for trades, swaps, gifts, their walls, etc., so be sure to take lots of pics as you create! Maybe some Skelekitty bottlecap jewelry??

Skele-scritches,

SK

p.s. I also heard a rumor of a 10% discount for anyone who orders all four stamps through Stampa Fe/Guadalupe's Fun RS, so be sure to ask about it.