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When you make a conscious choice to be happy, no one can take it away from you because no one gave it to you: you gave it to yourself.

A quote from April Green's - Bloom For Yourself Journal

Tuesday 25 March 2014

A Deer Friend!

It's Tuesday which means it's Digi Choosday challenge day so pop over to see the details of our latest challenge theme and to see my fellow DT's inspiration. Plus there's always a special offer especially for you on a Tuesday.

There is also our Facebook page where we all pop in and out so feel free to shout if you are after a certain image or even if you want to ask how to use your digis in different ways. 

As soon as I read the challenge theme I knew I wanted to use the Emma Canning - Deer Friend image  which I coloured with a mix of markers. The image is perfect for many an occasion. I created the background using papers and elements from the Animals/nature bundle  which I took into Craftartist to digitally layer and edge. I added some lace and flowers with Candi to the project to finish it off.

Here's some close ups - 


Hope you like my card and feel inspired to join in!

I'm entering this into the following challenges - 

Take care Zo xx

Friday 21 March 2014

Pretty Pastels

It's Friday so I'm here to share my latest DT make for Graph It colouring challenge blog, pop over to the main blog to see all the details and inspiration. Don't forget to join in too!!

I really enjoyed this challenge as those of you who know me know I usually colour bright, bold colours so I had to rein myself in a bit to colour pastels! I used this pretty girl character from Candy Doodles collection.   I created a simple white background using the fabulous fencelanterns from the Doobadoo range as well as some pastel coloured flowers, gems & Candi from my stash.

The Graph It colours I used are -
Skin = 4120, 4135, 4145, 4150 & 3120
Hair = 4150, 5140, 6160 & 3190
Shoes = 5115, 5120 & 5130
Jeans = 9100, 9102, 9103 & 9105
Top/hairband = 4110 & 1210.

I also used my blender with all combinations to lighten and blend where necessary.


Here's some close ups - 


I must try to colour pastels more often as I really love the look of this card. I've never gone over the top with papers etc. I think I use all my energy colouring the image that I forget about everything else! BUT I like using an image this way as I think the white space can be used to great effect at times.

Hope you like this - don't forget to pop in to our Facebook group, the DT are always about to help with your colouring questions - Graph It Markers we love seeing your creations too.

I'm entering this into the following challenges - 
Take care Zo xx


Tuesday 18 March 2014

For the Boys

Happy Tuesday everyone - and that means it's Digi Choosday! Check out the main Digi Choosday blog for inspiration and discount codes and join in to win fabulous prizes also!

Usually Male/boy's cards are challenging, but the new Emma Canning's Digi images make it so easy. I used this fab Web Surfing image, I used papers & embellishments including Washi tape from my stash. I also used a piece of Denim material which is from the fabulous Doobadoo range. To add extra interest I added the super white pen from Graph It and the stunning Silver Glitter shake pen.

Here's the card - 



Perfect for that male relative/friend young or old!

I'm entering this into the following challenges - 

Take care Zo xx


Friday 14 March 2014

For my Uncle

I'm back today to share my latest Graph It DT project, all of the details are on the main Graph It Challenge blog. Pop over to join in and see the other DT inspiration.

Now before I start I want to announce my winner from week 7's Floral/Whimsy challenge where anyone who commented on my post were in with a chance to win a prize from Graph It. I will need the winner to email me their snail mail to -

zoekirkby@o2.co.uk

my random winner as picked by my boy is......
Alison  - Alison's Crafty Bitz and bobs

Congratulations Alison, please email me asap to claim your prize.

Onto this week - 

So for this card, I used my Graph It's to create some of the background as well as colour the main image. I used inks to start the background but then used my Graph It's through a stencil to build depth. 

I started with a light colour to start.

I think it looks effective through the stencil.

Then I added a darker colour.

I blended the two before drawing round the bricks.
It's a great way to create background even if you don't have any other inks. The Graph It's work fabulously!

Here's the card - 
The image is Emma Canning - Web surfing which is perfect for those boys young & old! I added extra accents from my stash.
The Graph It's I used are - 
Skin = 4125, 4115, 4155 & 3210
Hair = 3125, 3150, 3170 & 3290
Laptop/background = 9100, 9102, 9103 & 9105

As you can see I stayed with the same pens throughout to create the background and on the main image. The cool greys are super male colour tones!

I'm entering this into the following challenge - 

Take care Zo xx





Wednesday 12 March 2014

WOYWW 249

Good afternoon!

It's that day where we creative people decide to share our spaces via the phenomenon that is Julia's Stamping Ground so I won't dally no more.

Here's my desk - 


I took the pics first thing this morning but only just getting round to sharing. Right side - usuals there plus that blue folder I'm supposed to sort through but as yet haven't. Lots of digi images ready to play with.

So there's pens, stamps and a tray with upside down stamps, in there to be sprayed with Stick and Spray stuff to adhere them to my Rock-a-block. Blind still down cos I was in my PJ's!


Shelves looking neater, I took it all off and had a dust!

So that's me - right, time for coffee, then I must wrap my uncle's present as it's his birthday today then I need to get on with some cards. All will keeping an eye on Cheltenham festival (horse racing) as Keagan loves it all and we have had a little bet on a few. Nothing major mind, all 50p £1 each way bets!! We won't be rich put it that way!!

Take care Zo xx

Tuesday 11 March 2014

Get Girly!

Morning!

I'm back to share my Digi Choosday DT make. Please pop over to our main Digi Choosday blog to for all the details and to see other inspiration.

So this week I've gone all pretty for our challenge, I've used this gorgeous, pretty girl digi from Candyland CD as my main focus. The papers etc are from my stash. I must point out the fence & white leaves too as they are fabulous and you can buy these and other Dutch Doobadoo products from Polkadoodles.
I've added flowers, buttons and used a punch to accent, and coloured the image using my markers. Here's a closer look -


Looking forward to seeing your entries, go on have a go, you never know you may get to win one of our fabulous prizes.

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges - 
Take care Zo xx


Friday 7 March 2014

Me & My Mum

Good morning - it's time to share my latest DT make for Polkadoodles  challenge, pop over to the blog to find out more details and to join in! The DT team love seeing your entries.

So we had this photo taken at my parent's Ruby Wedding anniversary meal and I love it, so it was a perfect choice for me to create a scrapbook layout for this challenge. I used the gorgeous Studio 12 Picknix collection 1 (mainly the home set). I took the images into Serif Craftartist to create this layout using background papers, embellishments (our fav things - coffee, cake & chocolate!) and a frame. I spent time digitally layering embellishments, adding shadows & effects. Once finished I saved it as a JPEG so that I can then print it out at my leisure to put into my memory book.


My mum hates having her photo taken so to get such a lovely one as this is a treasure!

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges - 

Take care Zo xx

Wednesday 5 March 2014

WOYWW 248

Well I'm here.....just......not been feeling great so have been sleeping alot. But I managed to get into the craft room earlier to take pics.

As always if you are wondering what I'm going on about, then you need to visit Julia - Queen of all desks to suss it all out.

Here's mine - 
So the right side, during a better moment I tidied the huge pile of mess that was under the desk and between. Now, apart from the over spilling bin, this area is neater and I can get my hands on what I want easier.

So right side desk = usual.

Window desk = a card I've recently made and my blue folder that I want to sort through. It holds stamps but I don't use them so am going to sort to sell/give to crafty friends.

A new addition. My old trusty Ottlite broke :( I thought it was the bulb so ordered a new one. But it isn't. It was the unit so I ordered this new slimmer fold-down-able version. 

Right that's me; meds are wearing off, I am eating salt and vinegar crisps to help with the nausea (yep pain gets bad it makes me feel sick) and resting up. So will be later than normal getting round but I will. Before next week anyway!! :)
Take care Zo xx

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Spring!

Morning - I'm back today to share my Digi Choosday DT make. As a DT team we want to share our projects using different digital images & kits. The main Digi Choosday blog is where you can see all the inspiration and find out about the challenges. We love seeing your makes!

So this week's challenge - my favourite flower is the big daisy like Gerbera. So I was drawn to this flower bundle - so many flowers and leaves! I printed out my chosen flower a number of times in different sizes and chose a simple colour combo of soft lilac & sunny yellow. I embossed the daisy background using a folder ran through my Ebosser before arranging my flowers, adding some letters and coordinating card to mat my topper to finish it all off. Simple but effective I think. 

Let me know what you think.
Here's the pics  - 



I hope my mum will like this as a card from my boy.

I'm entering this into the following challenges - 

Take care Zo xx


Monday 3 March 2014

Green!

Morning - I'm back to share my DT make for the Crafty Boots Challenge blog and this time the theme is Green/St Patricks day.

I used this opportunity to colour a new digi image I bought and I spent some time trying new techniques for colouring the hair. I am pleased with the overall effect but wish I could learn to colour quicker!!




The image is fairly large so I kept the card simple. I spent too long colouring to take away from it with lots of embellishments!!

I'm entering it into the following challenges - 


Take care Zo xx