Kenny K scores with Stampin With The Dragon

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Today sees the beginning of the next challenge at 

Stampin With The Dragon

with the theme of 

SPORTS/CREATE A CREATION WITH A SPORTS THEME

and sponsored by kennykdownloads

The prizes 

3 digis for 1st, 

2 digis for 2nd 

1 digi for 3rd. 

and don't forget a prize to be the guest design Team member. 

ABOUT KENNY K DOWNLOAD:

The man ....

I wielded a mean crayon in my early days growing up in the Bronx, but made the quantum leap to the Mac at my first art studio job in 1990, and have been working as a digital artist ever since. My previous work experience includes seven years in consumer and pharmaceutical ad agencies as a photo retoucher and Mac production artist, a season at MTV Animation, and many, many freelance illustration and Flash animation jobs. These days when I'm not beating the hell out of my bass with the rest of the hooligans in my bands Almost Famous and Air Dogs, I'm hard at work here at my home art studio in Pearl River, NY. 

In addition to the digi stamps and forthcoming downloadable content available here at KennyKdownloads.com, much of my other existing work is available for personal and commercial licensing; check out the Licensing section at KennyK.com for more info on my existing properties - and feel free to browse the rest of the site, where tons of my illustration and animation work are on display! PSPers, taggers and digital graphics hobbyists, please see CILM's website for Terms Of Use (TOU) and info on available Kenny K tubes and tube packages.

My name is Elena (a.k.a "Elena K" or "Lady K") and I am the feminine touch of KennyKdownloads.com. I have been producing events and party planning for over 6 years in NYC and am a crafter at heart - I love anything creative, both handmade and digitally produced. I even ventured into business for myself starting a homemade basket company back in 2000; I eventually realized it was the creation that I loved, not the business side. My next leap of faith was to put my natural creative talents to use in the corporate world. Nothing like planning big events in New York on a big budget! Loving it ever since.

Kenny and I have been looking forward to collaborating on a project together since we got married, and we are finally moving on it now with KennyKdownloads.com! While Kenny continually cranks away producing his amazing art, I'll be here on the site to keep things running smoothly, as Kenny pops in when time allows.

Elena and Kenny K

So here is my DT inspirational piece with the digi very kindly supplied by Kenny K

This is some old male papers from stash layered with some vivid turquoise papers using a MS border punch and an MSE sentiment.  

Don't forget to pop over and see what the other teamies have created.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges

Anita Be Stampin Challenge - Anything Goes

High Hopes Stamps - One for the boys

Enjoy your day

Kate 

x

Un bicchiere di spumante miei cari

Buona sera a tutti, nel paese di blog

oh sorry got carried away, good evening to you all in the land of blog and no I am sorry to say I am not fluent but just love the assistance of Mr Google translator :) he is way cool and it caught your eye though didn't it :)

This is something I have played with for a few weeks now, glass painting and this is my first creation.  All right this is not a glass, but one of those disposable plastic glasses if that makes sense. It was the best thing to practice on really, trust me.  The outlines are from Hobby Craft and they are there to assist you in your glass colouring.  There are several types of glass mediums I got the pen style.  I have previously done stain glass window creations with my husband Matt, but this on a smaller scale is so much more difficult. I used my copics for some sections but you have to use the very strong colours or it does not show.  Unfortunately I do not think that this will go through the dishwasher and would not dare to wash it either.  But it was fun to practice on.

Here is the reverse

So colourful don't you think

Well thought I might enter this into the following challenges

Woodware USA - Anything Goes

Dream Valley - Things with Wings

Ellephantastic - Anything but square or rectangle

Wild Orchid - Wings

I would like to say thank you to all my lovely visitors who have left such inspirational comments, I love them all

Hugs Kate 

xx

Eggciting!!!!!!

Good evening to you all in the land of blog

I came home from work today and had no DT pieces to create, so decided to create something for Easter with my favourite little critters, yes you got it my little House Mousies :) (OK Mice)

I spotted the sketch at the Sketch and Stash challenge and I was away with it, pure relaxation time :)

So here is my creation

I converted back to the good old fashioned easel for this one.  I used a textured mint green card and believe it or not some vintage style papers that were free on a magazine I picked up, they are so pretty, not sure who they are by though sorry.  The bows and ribbon from a local department store, the little roses from Hobby Craft and the little pearls from stash.  Marianne Creatables used for the corners and Nellie Snellen Ovals for the image frame.  A decorative nesties tag holds the "Eggs" individual letter stamped sentiment.

So I am entering this into the following challenges

Sketch and Stash - Sketch (neglected stamp over two year old)

House Mouse - Easter 

Craft Your Passion - Two mice

The Crazy Challenge - Easter

Die Cut Dreams - Easter

Make it Monday - Anything Goes

OLLB - Happy Easter

The Pink Elephant - Easter

Blog a Doodle - Girly

Stamps R Us - Easter

Woodware - Anything Goes

Aly's Sunday Challenge - Bunnies

Crafty Hos - Pastel Pink and Spring Green

The Crafty Pad - Spring

Creative Inspirations - Easter

Creative Inspirations Paint - Chocolate

Let's Ink It Up - Easter Creations

Sparkles Forum - Easter

I would like to say hello to my new followers and thank you to my lovely visitors for the inspirational comments.

Have a great day tomorrow

Hugs Kate xx

A New Challenge at Our Vintage Affair

Good evening to you all

I bet you have all had the most amazing weekends, how could you not with all this lovely sunshine :) shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh maybe I should keep quiet or it might go away.

Anyway enough of my waffling, this evening is the beginning of the next challenge at

Our Vintage Affair

Today is a Tag Challenge

A TAG FOR YOUR EASTER PRESENT.

but you must use the provided image

Here is my design team inspirational piece

This tag has been created with my deckled edge rectangle nesties.  I have over stamped this with some swirls I recently bought from Grimsby Crafts.  The image was one that Polly found us isn't it sweet.  The ribbon and pearls are from our fabulous sponsor this month Inkido and the flower and feather are from stash.  The whole creation has been distressed with vintage photo and sprayed over with a fine gold glitter mist.

Do pop over and take a look at the rest of the Design Team pieces as they are gorgeous.

I would like to enter this creation into the following challenges

2 Sisters - Easter

Crazy 4 Challenges - Brown Green and Vanilla

Sugar Creek Hallow - Vintage Easter

Delicious Doodles - Ribbons for Easter

Paper Cutz - Bunnies, lambs, chicks or Easter eggs

Phindy's Place - Easter

I would like to say hello to all my new followers and thank you to my lovely visitors who take the time to leave such wonderful comments

Hugs Kate xx

Flippin Men

Wow what a lovely today it has been, hoping it has been just as sunny and warm where you are also.

I spent the first half of the day, weeding in my lovely raised bed.  I happened upon a couple of Lily Beetles and then disposed off them quickly.  I managed to trap myself a very large splinter, ouch it was painful.  Then my son's friend came and fitted our new upstairs loo, which very nicely leads me onto this creation actually.

Thursday saw a friends birthday, and I could not resist returning to some very very very old stash, which I think suited him so well.  So I created this humorous creation for him, he dutifully arrived to see us yesterday to pick up his card.................yep he loved it too.

So here is the creation

I am sure you will all have seen these at some time or another.  It is a Flippin' Men creation by La Pashe.  The centre panel is acetate and the image is decoupaged onto the acetate.  I am not a huge fan of peel offs but think they do have their uses and this is one of them.  I used some silver bicycle chain style strips to edge the aperture, along with some scroll corners. If you have not seen these before then here is what makes them so special

 The decoupaged reverse of him sat on his little loo reading his paper with the page 3 pin up, Class!!

I would like to say hello to my new followers, and thank you to the many lovely comments I have received from my wonderful visitors.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges

Crafty Ann's Challenge - Raise a Smile

Fairy Knoll Fun - Egg or Oval - I went with the Oval

Fairy tale - Happy Birthday

Well I do hope that tomorrow is as lovely as today was 

Hugs

Kate

xxx

My Fine Feathered Friends

Good morning to you all, in the land of blog

Today sees the next fabulous challenge at

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

the theme this week chosen by the very talented Andie is

Our Feathered Friends

Here is my Design Team Inspirational Piece

The base layer and contrast colour is a textured mint green card with Papermania Capsule Mono Collection yellow papers to contrast.  The circle is a small grand circle.  The image is from Mark's Finest Papers, one of my winnings.  The stamp around the edge of the image plate is from Secret Crafter Shop. The corners are Marianne dies. I have distressed the edges in Peel Paint distress ink, The ribbon, pearls and roses are from my stash. The image is coloured with copics using the cool, neutral, toner and warm greys to get the white shade.

Don't forget to pop over and take a look at the beautiful work created by my teamies for this challenge

I would like to enter this into the following challenges

2 Sisters Challenge - Spring
Daring Cardmakers - Draw a bird (stamp/paper piece) sorry cannot draw but here is my stamp
Digi's With Attitude - Easter
If The Shoe Fits - Spring
floweretstamplar - Easter
Wags N Whiskers - Ribbons and Pearls
Crafts 4 eternity - photo inspirational

Hello to my new followers and thank you to all my wonderful visitors that leave such inspirational comments

Hugs and Enjoy your weekend

Kate 

xx

A Little Festive Holly Ring

Good morning to you in the land of blog

Today is team Kate's turn to host the

Winter Wonderland Challenge

and the host this week is the very talented Linda

the theme she has chose for this week is

Photo Inspirational

We are sponsored by the fabulous

Please pop and take a look at the rest of the creations by my wonderful teamies

Here is my design team inspirational piece

The base layer is some red mirror card, on top of this is some black card.  The image is a topper photograph that has been backed with some Woodware double sided sheeting and then cut into equal squares.  These squares are then placed carefully onto more black card and this gives it that old fashioned window effect.  I then cut a circle with my grand nesties and the callibur and added lots and lots of embossed holly leaves to create a Festive Holly Ring.  I added some large red pearls for the holly berries and a little red bow.  I added a tag for the sentiment, hoping it would look like a letter to be posted in that frosted post box.  

I would like to enter this creation into the following challenges

Anything Goes - Pearls

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Paper Playtime - Anything Goes

Christmas Inspirations - A Christmas Scene

Craftyhazelnut's - Foliage

I would like to welcome my new followers and say thank you to those of my visitors that leave me such wonderful comments.

Hugs Kate xx

A Little Bit Of Easter Magic from Stampin with the Dragon

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Oh Friday, thank heavens it's Friday - I love a Friday which means I can spend some quality time in my Beach Hut.

Today I would like to introduce you to

Easter Egg Fairy

Such a pretty image and available in the Dragon's Den at Dragon's Lair Designs

Don't forget the challenge is still on at Stampin With the Dragon

Bring on The Spring

Here is what I created with this gorgeous image

The base layer is mint as is the contrast colour.  The papers are from my stash not sure on the flower one sorry but the greens would be Papermania Capsule Mono Collection.  The image plate has been distressed with Tattered Rose and over stamped with swirls. The little roses are Wild Orchid and the little stem pearls from a local department store.  The pink ribbon is also Papermania.

I would like to enter this creation into the following challenges

AliFactory - Easter

Craft Us Crazy - Easter

Meljens Design - Easter

The Rubber Cafe - Easter

Flutter By Wednesdays - Open Challenge

Simon Says Stamp - Spring Colours/Easter

Digital Tuesday - Easter Parade

Everybody Art Challenge - Easter

OLLCB - Happy Easter

The Pink Elephant - Easter

Stamp with Fun - Easter

Stamps R Us - Easter

I would like to welcome my new followers and say thank you to those that leave me such wonderful comments as they pass, really appreciate them :)

Cya shortly for the new challenge at Winter Wonderland

Hugs

Kate 

xxx

Just a stroll on the beach

Good evening to you all in the land of blog

Today I get to showcase for you on behalf of Grimsby Crafts, another fabulous image from the new stamps that have just arrived in, the designer here is Faye Whittaker and the stamp name is "Lifebuoy".  

Here is my take on this

I have created a tilted easel circle card, using my Grand Callibur and grand circles, sort of getting addicted to the grand as you may have gathered.  The base colour and contrast is lemon yellow, the paper are Prima, also available at Grimsby Crafts.  The image frame is a grand circle wrapped in ribbon.  The flowers are from Hobby Craft.  The sentiment and pearls from Grimsby Crafts.

Here is a close up of the image coloured in copics

Just a fabulous image to colour and lots more available in the shop too

I would like to enter this into the following challenges

A Spoon Full of Sugar - tons of texture

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes optional something new

The Crazy Challenge - Just add flowers

HLSC - A Shaped Card

House of Gilli - Ribbons and Pearls

Kaboodle Doodles - Let's Get Girly

Karen's Doodles - Fancy and Feminine 

There She Goes Clear Stamps - Only Circles and Ovals to be used

There's Magic In The Air - Flowers

Quirky Crafts - Twisted Easel

I would like to welcome my new followers and say thank you to my lovely visitors that leave such inspirational comments

Enjoy your evening

Kate

xxx

Dare to Dream!!!!! at Grimsby Crafts

Good evening to you in the land of blog

Every Thursday I take a trip to Grimsby Crafts and most weeks I end up buying something new :)  Last week was no exception, well actually I went on the Thursday and again on the Saturday and both times, found some delish new bits.

So without making you wait to long, here is what I created with this lovely Nellie Snellen "Smookie"

This is a tilted easel with a magic pearl frame.  The base colour and contrast is a navy blue and the lemon papers are Papermania Capsule Collection Mono range.  The sentiment on the stand is MSE the one on the inner return is available from Grimsby Crafts and it fitted this image beautifully.  The beads are from a local department store.  The flowers from Hobby Craft.  I have used nesties through the grand for the image plate surrounds and the image plates themselves have been distressed with Tim Holtz Mustard seed and over stamped in the same with a little cosmic star stamp.  Marianne Creatables have been used to add the sprigs and scrolls around the flowers.  The ribbon is from my stash.

I would like to enter this cheerful number into the following challenges

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

The Crazy Challenge - Just Add Flowers

Creative Stamp Friends - Swirls

Critter Sketch - Fancy Folds

Happileigh Scrappin - Shaped Cards

Lexi's Creations - Monochromatic

Magical Monday Challenge - Pearls and Swirls

There's Magic in the Air -Let's Use Flowers

Woodware USA - Monochromatic

Dream Valley Challenges - Things with Wings

OSAAT - 3D

Hello to my new followers and thank you as always to my visitors for their wonderful comments

Have a lovely evening

Hugs

Kate

xx

La Belle Femme ............ 30th Birthday

Good evening to you all in the land of blog

I have had a lovely weekend, and the weather of course assisted in this.  It is lovely to craft in my Beach Hut with the sun shining down and to watch everyone working in their gardens.

On Friday evening a work colleague of mine was going out to celebrate her 30th Birthday, so I popped around to see her before she headed out on the town.  Today is her birthday and I hope she had a great night out and enjoys this very special event in her life.  

I created her a Grand Callibur birthday card, and this time used another of the fabulous Kanban image packs available at Grimsby Crafts.  This time I wanted to use my new copics in the deep reds and I know that this can cause massive bleeding issues, but it just had to be done.

The base layer and contrast is black and the papers are actually Christmas papers however with no sign of holly, snowflakes or santa so they worked so well.  I used the grand circles and grand circle scallops.  Some tiny copic coloured pearls, some platinum glitter glue, a lush burgundy ribbon, one large gold pearl, some feather boa and some burgundy roses.  The top sentiment is from the Kanban pack but the bottom one and inner is computer generated

"Red Hat £50.00

Red Dress £100.00

Feather Boa £30.00"

Inside

"Being Happy About Turning 30

Priceless"

Here is a close up of the image

The image plate has been distressed with Tim Holtz tattered rose and over stamped in the same using some new gorgeous swirls from a swirl pack new in at Grimsby Crafts.  

Now I often get asked how big is the card then???

So here is a normal 15cm x 15cm card in front of the Grand 21cm square card

The grand square is perfect for those special occasion cards and I love making them.

I am entering this card into the following challenges

Card Cupids - Dots and/or Stripes (I have gone with the stripes in the main)

Catered Crop - copics, and the circles

The Crafty Pad - Flowers

Allsorts - Bloomin Blossoms

Catch the Bug - Anything Goes

Wag's N Whiskers - Ribbons and Pearls

I would like to say hello to my new followers and thank you to my lovely visitors who take the time to leave me such wonderful comments.

Enjoy your week

Hugs

Kate 

xx

Flutterby's Dance at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

Morning to you all in the land of blog

Today brings us the new challenge at the 

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

this week the theme has been chosen by the "Boss" the lovely Wendy owner of the Secret Crafter Shop

she knows how to pick a good theme and I really enjoyed creating this one, the theme is

Butterflies

(yep as many or as big as you like)

here is my design team inspirational piece

The papers are Prima and the pretty lace runs around the edge of the front of the card.  The flowers are hand made from cuttlebug floral dies, from the same papers as the butterflies, these are sprayed with water, scrunched up, opened out carefully and left to dry.  When dry the brad is put through the centre and then the edges are distressed, the leaves are made the same way.  The tag is another stunner specially made for me by the very clever Janette.  The butterfly punch is by Woodware and available here at the Secret Crafter.  I have added a liquid pearl body in gold

The sentiment is an MSE and the sentiment has been distressed with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo and today I did not get my copics out :(  

Please pop over and see the rest of the teams great inspiration for this challenge.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges

Card Makin Mamas - Embellish It

Delicious Doodles - Mother's Day

The Stamp Man Challenge - Anything Tim

Delightful Challenges - Flowers

Dutch Dare Card Challenges - Distressing

Paper Crafting Journey - For the Lady In Your Life

Paper Play - Mother's Day

Pixie Dust Studio - Fluttering Wings

Ladybug Crafts - Flowers hand made

Edited thank you Sam

Just for Fun - Anything you Fancy

I would like to say hello to my wonderful followers and say thank you for those wonderful comments, and say Hi to my new followers and thank you to everyone for such lovely comments

Enjoy your weekend

Hugs

Kate 

xx

Vintage Easter Decoration

Good evening to you all

This evening brings you the next challenge at

Our Vintage Affair

The theme 

A Vintage Easter Decoration for your Easter Tree

A new month also means a new sponsor and our sponsor this month is 

Inkido

and the prize

Inkido were very kind to provide the ladies of the Design Team with some of there gorgeous items.  You will see us all using them throughout the month of April.

Now I don't actually and never have made an Easter Tree, when the children were young, I use to hide the Easter Eggs (chocolate ones) around the house, and then use talc powder (Johnson's Baby of course) and a cotton wool ball, to create the Easter Bunny foot prints that lead from their beds to each of the chocolate locations.  I know other ideas locally are to hide eggs in the garden for the children to find, although in my garden think the mice might find it too enticing and they would be all gone in the morning.  So I decided to make an Easter Basket and fill it with those lovely little chocolate sugar coated eggs (by the way they are not there now, I sort of ate them)

Anyway enough of my waffling and here is my design team creation for the theme

This little basket is based around a circle box I had but the lid was a little damaged.  I rolled the paper around the box and then cut little slits all the way around the top and bottom to make a nice fold in at the top and bottom.  I then added a circle of the same paper to the bottom to hide the mess.  I used my new MS punch from Grimsby Crafts to edge either side of the handle and glued this in place.  I added some lovely lace around the top of the basket again this can be obtained from Grimsby Crafts.  The little roses are from a local department store and on this occasion I have painted them with some glitter water paint in a lovely pale pink, just in a few places, not all over.  I then punched out with my Woodware butterfly punch three butterflies, I painted these with Tim Holtz crackle paint and left them to dry before bending them to shape and adding some liquid pearls to the body.  I place three single roses at the sides of the handle and one on the top of the handle and placed a little butterfly at the side of each.

Here is the little butterfly, I also added a little of the glitter paint to them.

If you would like to join in the challenge don't forget to pop over and see the other fabulous creation by my other team members.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges

Colour Create - Pastels and Optional Easter

Craft Us Crazy - Easter/Spring

Crafty Purple Frog - Anything but Square

Pals Paper Arts - Punches

Pixie Dust Studio - Fluttering Wings

Shelly's Images - Getting Punchy

Creative Craft World - Easter

A Spoonful of Sugar - Easter

Sweet Stamps - Easter

Karen's Doodles - Easter 

I would like to welcome my new followers and say thank you to those lovely visitors who take the time to leave me such inspirational and wonderful comments

Enjoy your weekend

Hugs Kate

xxx

A Boozy Bear for Xmas Shhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! do not disturb............

Good morning to you all in the land of blog

Today team Marianne are showcasing their Design Team Inspiration for the new challenge at 

Winter Wonderland

and the host this week is Denise who chose the theme of

Teddy Bears Christmas

(to use a teddy bear on your Christmas Creation)

As most of you know I just have to create at least one Christmas card each week, and last week created not one but two. one for my other Design Team.  This week I am back to my norm so here is this weeks creation, a typical male image. 

The base layer and contrast colour is a deep read pearlescent paper and the designer papers are Dovecraft Noel Glitter Stack, available here from the Secret Crafter.  The ribbon is from the Hobby House late last year and the image is from Di's Digi Downloads

The image is coloured in copics, I recently got my new range from Grimsby Crafts and oh boy they are a fabulous new addition.  I have some lush new deep reds and this just makes the shading even easier.  I have used my new toner and neutral greys on the furry hat, blending down with my cool grey to soften the edges.  I have also used a white gel pen for the highlights and a clear glitter sakuro pen for the baubles.

I would like to welcome my new followers and also thank those of my lovely visitors for their wonderful comments, I love them all.

I would like to enter this creation into the following challenges

Cooking It Up with Katie - Sparkle, Shine and Shimmer

For Fun Challenges - Christmas Is Here

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Masculine

Craft Your Passion - Bear

Incy Wincy - Sparkle and Shine

Stamping Scrapping - Sparkle

Hugs

Kate

xxx

What can you do with Virgin V!!!!!!!!

Good evening to you all in the land of blog

Today brings the next challenge at

Stampin with the Dragon

This challenge will run from 1ST OF APRIL UNTIL THE 14TH OF APRIL

this  challenge we are supporting and being sponsored by

STORE WEBSITE: http://aspiretothrive.com.au/

Here is a little bit about Aspire To Thrive

Aspire To Thrive Children's Charities (was Incy Wincy Children's Charities - hence the challenge blog name) was started by a group of dart friends here in Elizabeth and Salisbury ,South Australia - who wanted to give something back to the community. A group of us have continued to do through out the last 2 years and we have been shown the amount of difficulty our society has towards children with special needs. There are a lot of charities out there who help children with terminal illnesses so we thought we could aim more towards learning and behavioural difficulties.

We are in talks now with a local kindergarten to see what we can do to help them. This would be a wonderful project and I hope with all my heart this goes ahead.

We have found an official home base now and are going from strength to strength.

ALL our work is voluntary and we get no ongoing assistance from anyone. We have gotten a few tiny grants to help with uniforms and equipment, for which we are grateful.

Our shop at www.aspiretothrive.com.au are donated drawings and ALL money (minus paypal costs) go directly into the charity.

We are grateful for any sales, help or donations (cards etc for our stalls)


please pop over and give them your support.

The theme this challenge is

USE A HOUSE HOLD ITEM AS A TECH

(this threw me a bit - but it actually means use something in the house for your creative flair i.e a hairdryer instead of a heat tool or as I have here, used make up instead of distress ink)

The winner of this challenges will receive  $10 Voucher to Aspire To Thrive Shop

So now you want to know what you can do with Virgin V eye makeup??

This is my design team inspirational piece

The lovely distressed edging around the image frame is Virgin V in a brown tone and being a creamy powder it really worked quite well, I edged the computer generated sentiment in the same.

The base layer and contrast colour is a cream pearlescent paper, with GCD Studios Paris Nights paper for the layers.  The music on one of the papers picked up by the black ribbon and the flowers in black, brown and cream to match the colours on the card.  The image is coloured in copics alone on this occasion.

I would like to say hello to my new followers and thank you to my regular visitors and especially those that visit and leave me such lovely comments, allowing me the opportunity to hop back over to see them too, so thank you

I am entering this creation into the following challenges

Amber's Crafts and Stuff - Flowers

Fab N Funky - Shabby Chic

Clear It Out Challenge - Flowers

Tuesday Throwdown - Flowers

Lexi's Creations - Ribbon

NettieG's Digital Gems - Roses

Hugs and Happy Weekend to you all

Kate

xx