Seeing in the New Year!!

It's New Year's Eve! I love the start of a new year. A fresh start. A clean slate. Time to write up our diaries and calendars and look ahead. But before that there is always the excitement of waiting for those Big Ben bongs!

Over on the Polkadoodles Blog we have a new Digi Choosday Challenge for you. Why not pop over and join in. Maybe your new years resolution could be to join in with our challenges!!

 I love the thought of a New Year party, though I confess I'm always tucked up in bed long before midnight having had a quiet evening at home. So I decided to pretend I was hosting a party and designed a few items using the gorgeous Classic Hearts/Wedding collection to design an invite and a place card. I also used the fab Emma Canning Cute as a button image to make a bottle charm/hanging to be put on the person's favourite bottle or on their glass!

As you can see I added a real button, this adds weight to the charm. I just loved the idea of putting someones name on their glass/bottle!! 

Hope you all have an enjoyable evening and I hope to see you in the New Year!!

I shall be launch a blog candy thing as I'm nearing 200 followers so pop back to watch this space!!

Take care Zo xx

Birthday Wishes

Hello, it's Christmas Eve!! I'm so excited about the big man visiting tonight and I hope I have been a good enough girl!!

Anyway today I'm sharing my latest Digi Choosday DT make, why not pop over to the Polkadoodles blog to see what the new challenge is all about and join in!!

Birthdays always seem to be forgotten around Christmas, but not by us! Here's my card using the gorgeous Emma Canning Birthday Wishes I have coloured her in seasonal colours and even coloured the candle glow! I kept the card clean and simple - a spot of sparkle on her leggings and some colour matching embellishments along with the stamp which is a Polkadoodles sentiment finishes it all off.

The photos don't quite capture the sparkly leggings as well as they are in real life. You'll just have to take my word for it!!

Merry Christmas everyone, enjoy your festivities!

Take care Zo xx

Merry Christmas one and all!

I won't be about much so I thought I would post this now - 

Hope you all have a wonderful time.

I have scheduled some DT posts but other than that I won't be about.

Take care.

Zo xx

Born on Christmas Day!

Exciting times, not long till the big man comes. I know I've been a good girl this year so I'm hoping for some lovely presents!

So today sees a new challenge over on the Polkadoodles blog and as always I'm here to share my DT project.

 As I have a friend with a birthday on Christmas day this challenge was perfect for me! I used the gorgeous images from Studio 12 - Picknix Garden collection and I created this topper in Serif Craft Artist where I used digital brushes to add snow over the images. Once printed off I added some sparkle to enhance the winter feel of it, and some ribbon too. Simple matting and layering finished it all off.

This was very easy to do, but I think it makes an effective card for a Christmas birthday!

Thanks for popping by, I will be offering some Candy in the New Year once I reached 

200 followers so keep popping by!!

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 237

Hello!

I'm finally here. Spent time on the phone complaining about my internet connection or rather, lack of. It keeps dropping out. My supplier has been bought out and since I was transferred I've had problems that I didn't before!! 

Anyway while I'm connected I'm uploading my desk - 

Piles of images to colour, pens, radio and the Snowman scrapbook that I've put together ready to add this year's Christmas photos. Huge bottle of glue and Ebosser present as always!

There isn't anything here apart from usual tools as I haven't done any crafting yet today. 

The not-so-tidy area between desks -  you can see lots of stuff that I keep to hand. 

So that's me, dash over the Stamping Ground to join in the the other desk dashers!!

On a personal note, those of you who know me will know this year has been a real struggle with my conditions, anyway I have recently been assessed by OT who have supplied me with various pieces of equipment to help and they are also referring me to be considered for a wet room which will make showering so much easier and safer for me! So that's good news.

I won't be about much now so I wish you all

Merry Christmas!

Take care Zo xx

HO HO HO

Morning!

Well I'm back today to share my latest DT make for Digi Choosday - Polkadoodles. Why not pop over to the Polkadoodles blog to see all the details, fab DT inspiration and to join in!

This week I used the gorgeous Bauble Gown digi by Emma Canning as my main image to create a place card for my Christmas table. I coloured her with a mix of markers including Graph It's and added letters that I coloured to match as well as the sentiment ticket to finish it all off.

I coloured her dress in a traditional manner but I am definitely going to play around with different colours, after all you can buy Christmas trees that are black, white, even pink so I guess there isn't a limit of colours to choose from!

Look forward to seeing your entries.

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 236

Well good evening desk dashers!

I have been missing for a couple of weeks, through my conditions flaring and pushing pain limits that tad higher than norm, to just no time what with trying to catch up on life when my body allows me to be normal and go to the bank and buy Christmas presents!

So my desk - 

Normal, pile of digi images to colour with pens, radio and Ebosser present. The purple board is to make envelopes because I never make cards to fit normal sized envelopes so have to make them!

More images to colour. I'm so predictable!!

That's it - pop over the Julia's WOYWW post to find desks much more interesting than mine!!

I'm later today than normal because I was having this done earlier - 

Me, in a hairdressers, having colour put in my hair! Shock. I usually colour it myself and only have it done professionally about once a year!!

I will share the after pics when I have time and the right light to show it properly! But basically I had high and low lights put in to break up the main colour.

Take care Zo xx

Food Glorious Food!

Happy Digi Choosday to you!

Yes I'm back to share my latest DT make and you can find all the details of the challenge and see my fellow DT members gorgeous creations on the Polkadoodles blog!

For this card I used the fabulous Emma Canning Christmas Pudding as my main image. I also used papers from the stunning Angelberry collection to create the background. I added some ribbon from my stash and also added the Christmas tickets which are also from the Angelberry collection. Simple matting and layering and a few gems finished it all off.

I'm loving these colours, and this image was fantastic to colour too. Here's some close ups - 

Thanks for popping by, look forward to seeing your entries.

Take care Zo xx

Crafty Boots does Christmas!

Morning! 

2 weeks & a bit to the big day. I'm happily counting down using my Dr Who advent calendar!

Anyway today I'm back to share my DT project for the Crafty Boots Challenge

and as appropriate it's based on Christmas.

My make is a card for my boy, Keagan. 

I used 2 Some Odd Girl characters for the main images which I coloured with markers. The background is some Black Magic Coredinations that I embossed with snowflakes. I sanded it to get that fab look. I added a die cut snowflake (Die is from Diesire from Crafter's Companion) Card Candi and gold card to finish it all off along with a Merry Christmas ticket and 'Son' letters. Simple. 

Except I couldn't leave it and decided to spray Glitter varnish over the top to make the colours pop and to make the rest sparkle!!

The photos don't really do it justice, the bold blues and sparkly blacks looks fab and it will sparkle a treat in different lights!

Take care Zo xx

A little gift.....

Hello, I'm back today to share my latest DT make for Polkadoodles. Pop over to the fabulous challenge blog to see all the details and to be inspired by my fellow DT members!

 I've made a small gift card set using the gorgeous Home For Christmas collection. Many of my friends have younger children so this makes a perfect gift for them as they always send 'Auntie Zoe' a thank you card! I took papers and embellishments from the collection into Serif Craft Artist to design the note cards and to print paper to cover the box. I love recycling packaging & this box was perfect! I think it was the base of a small bubble bath set. I tied ribbon around the gift and finished it off by adding tickets from the cd tied on with twine.

It was very easy to do but makes a fab inexpensive gift for anybody.

I'm very tempted to make up some more of these sets and put back for next year!!

Thanks for popping by and I look forward to seeing your entries.

Take care Zo xx

Bringing a little Christmas Cheer......

Morning!

I'm back as always on a Tuesday to share my Digi Choosday - Polkadoodles DT project. Pop over to the Polkadoodles challenge blog to see all the details and my fellow DT inspirational projects.

This week's DT challenge made me think of shopping. The happiness of hearing Christmas songs in the shops and, if you're a bit daft like me, the enjoyment of trying on Christmas jumpers & accessories!! So I used the fun Emman Canning Deer Girl image and some papers from the Angelberry Collection to make my project. I took them into Serif Craft Artist Pro to create this double sided folded jotter. It's a list or a reminder where I'm going to write down what I still need to buy when I go Christmas shopping! Once printed out, I coloured the digital image with a mix of markers including Graph It's. I think it's much more fun than a normal jotter!

 

There you go - simple but fun and full of Christmas Cheer!!

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 234

Afternoon. I was missing last week, all okay just needed to step back from the world a bit and do what needed to be done. Rest. Spot of craft. Rest. You get the idea.

So my desk - 

Right side - Pens, with lots of space after I took the plunge and sold my Spectrum Noirs. I love my Copics and use them the most so by selling I was able to buy more Sketch markers.

Window side - my Project 2013 smash book at the back and some colouring going on at the front.

This double page covers last week, yes a whole page dedicated to Dr Who. It's not finished yet I want to journal some more.

Now these amazing resin Dr Who characters were sent to me by the lovely talented Kyla (Li'l Pidge) They are perfect for me to embellish my page I have coloured K-9 & the Dalek but the Tardis Kyla coloured to perfection for me! Thanks again Lovely!

This little chap will probably find his way onto Keagan's Christmas card!

Edit: 15.20 had to share this photo I have just taken. Baxter often sits on my lap while I craft, he lies out and snoozes but today he decided to climb onto my desk to look out of the window!

Hmm not sure I will allow this often!

As to Christmas cards, well I cheat I'm afraid, I buy some Charity cards and only make for close family, friends and crafty peeps! The rest get a bought one. I send nearing 100 and I just can't make them all anymore.

Right, I'm going to rest up but I will be back over the next few days to have a look at your desks.

Take care Zo xx

Celebrating Thanksgiving

Morning!

Back to share my latest Digi Choosday DT make with you all. Don't forget to pop over to the main Polkadoodles blog to find out about the new challenge and to link up and join in.

I took inspiration for this challenge by reading up on Thanksgiving and learning about the parades, music and traditions. I thought I'd create a album cover ready to add pages full of those photos people take during celebrations. I used Emma Canning's Band Camp image to represent the music and parades. I coloured her with a mix of markers including the fabulous Graph It's. I used paper, washi tape & elements from my stash. That's the beauty of digital images you can make them work with whatever you have! As you can see I went with the tradition red, white and blue. The paper wasn't the right colour but I coloured over the stars with my pens to match the digi image. Worked a treat. The stars also help to represent the American anthem.

Hope you like this make and I want to wish all my American followers a very happy Thanksgiving.

Take care Zo xx

Story Book Characters

Morning!

Over on the Crafty Boots blog there's a new challenge and we've been challenged by the lovely Sandra to make something with storybook characters. I chose to use my Angie Delarie digi's 'Red Riding Hoods Land'. I simply coloured the characters and then attached a paper clip to the back. These then make simple bookmarks or characters that can be used in a theatre type play scene. I used to do that as a child, colour characters and then play out stories with them. That's where the idea came from - my own imagination - fancy that!

Look forward to seeing what you all come up with!

Take care Zo xx

The Holly & the Ivy!

Good morning & happy Friday to you all.

I'm back today to share my latest Polkadoodles DT make as there is a new challenge launching over on the Polkadoodles blog, so why not pop over, see what's going on and join in!

So this week, I took our DT challenge literally! Firstly we were also asked to make our creation based on a Christmas carol. I thought long and hard about this and decided my carol inspiration was 'The Holly & the Ivy'! Then it said 2 CD's, so sure enough I used the gorgeous 'Home For Christmas' cd together with the fabulous 'Angelberry' collection, but then I also took 2 old CD's to make the main bases of my decoration. I printed off papers & embellishments, which I layered for a decoupage effect, from both collections to cover the cd's and I also printed the beautiful digi image of the Angelberry Peace angel which I coloured with a mix of markers. Once everything was dry I glued each part to some Christmassy ribbon. I also die cut some ivy using a die I have, I kept it pearl white but rubbed some gold gilding wax to accent the embossing.

Some close ups -

I'm really enjoying challenging myself to make different things and this was different for me, I wouldn't have made such a piece, so I say have a go! You never know what you will come up with.

Take care Zo xx

Just Create!

Morning!

I'm back today to share my latest DT make for Digi Choosday over on the Polkadoodles blog. Pop over to see all of the wonderful DT creations and to find out more about the challenge and don't forget to join in!

This week I set about making something I've wanted to do for ages. A sign for my craft room door! I took a MDF 'Create' word and decorated it with gold paint, once it was dry I painted Tim Holtz crackle paint over the top, I'm sure you could also colour the MDF with Pan Pastels. I created a wire coil using my wire coil gizmo to attach my image which was matted and layered a number of times on colour coordinating card. The image is Emma Canning's Colour Me Happy digi which I coloured with a mix of markers including Graph It's.

I love this image and reckon it suits me a treat!

Sorry I've been quiet of late. I'm having a bad spell with my conditions and finding it hard to concentrate for too long and am in a lot of pain. So I'm sleeping a lot and resting.

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 232

I was supposed to start this post with Good Morning, but I can't, my desk-a-dashing friends, because it's now the afternoon.

Keagan didn't go to school today, he's feeling a little unwell, lots of it about, so once the phone call to school was done, yours truly thought, I'll just have another half an hour............

Yep you got me! That half an hour lasted for nearly 2 so by the time I got up and managed to shower it has now past noon! 

Okay enough talk - dap over to Julia Dunnit's for the discovery of desks, link up & off you go.

Thankfully I took photos last night before I went to bed because, as I do I tidied up and my desk is now empty and that would be boring. I've acquired a reputation of being 'one of those tidy crafter's' and now I know why, I keep sharing photos that I take first thing therefore my desk is always tidy!

Fear not, here is the WIP proof - 

Okay so usual suspects, plus my Project Life card box open, there a A4 pic of me and Keagan on the wall taken at my Graduation back in 2010. I found it behind another photo when I changed out pictures.

So Ottlite fully functioning showing up my PL album with lots of photos.

Shelves looking colourful!

Closer view shows old photos. These are actually photos of photos cos the originals are still in mum's album which she kindly let me borrow. (Yes she used corners and not stuck them in!) The baby/little girl is me! I've decided, after watching Sunday Scrappers show on Create & Craft on Sunday, that I will use this PL album to make a record of my life for Keagan plus by doing it now I can still, thankfully, ask my parents about who/what/where etc though mum has kindly written some details into the album!

So there you go, a longer post than planned but I'm sure you'll forgive me.

I do hope those affected by the recent events in the Philippines soon receive the help they dearly need. It's always difficult to imagine what it must be like, I just can't get my head around it to be honest.

Thanking you all for the kind comments last week following my fall, I'm okay now, last week was a bad one, but it's gone so we move on and it really isn't a big deal when you see what others are going through.

Take care Zo xx

A Time to Celebrate!

Well this week I chose to celebrate a very important occasion in my life for the latest challenge over on the Polkadoodles blog for Digi Choosday.

 My Graduation. 

Way back in 2003, I was made redundant (This was before my health took a turn for the worst) and I decided to do something I've always wanted to do and that was get a degree. The Open University suited me and how I wanted to work so I started on a 6 year long journey of study. I studied for a BA Open (hons) degree choosing a wide range of subjects & a varied path to get to my 2:1. 

The personal achievement I gained from completing my degree is something I will never forget. Thankfully Keagan's school were understanding and allowed me to take him out of school so that he could attend the ceremony with me and my parents which took place in the grand Town Hall in Cheltenham in May 2010.

I wanted to celebrate this achievement with pages in my Smash Book so the latest challenge was perfect!

I used the fantastic Emma Canning Graduation Celebration image to embellish my pages. I coloured the image to match my robes using a mix of markers including Graph It's.

Here's some close ups, I look a lot younger, but then it was 3 years ago. In that 3 years Keagan has grown a lot and now towers over me!!

Such lovely memories to cherish. 

Looking forward to seeing your projects of celebration.

Take care Zo xx