It's time - World Cup!

Okay so anyone who knows me will recognise I may be a little distracted over the next few weeks. Yep it's World Cup Brazil starting this week. Crafty Boots are celebrating all things sport in honour of this fabulous occasion so pop over to join in & see the fab DT inspiration.

I opted for football naturally!

This footy stamp is from Crafter's Companion and it's perfect as it can be coloured to suit any team. This is for an Arsenal fan but I opted for England styling!

Coloured with markers - I love creating the dotty background to enhance the image.

I'm definitely going to colour this Bristol Rovers style at some point.

Take care Zo xx

For our Boys

It's Digi Choosday and as always I'm here to share my make!

This challenge allowed me to make a birthday card for a family friend who turns 16 this week. I chose this fabulous Drummer Troy image from the Work & Play collection 1. because Josh loves his music. I added some music paper and washi tape from my stash. I coloured Troy with my Graph It markers and used the Graph It Shake silver and white pens in the background.

I actually used my Craft Artist to layer the pre-coloured image with the digital image so that I could keep the drums but colour the drummer myself!

Hope you like this - pop over and join in and also see the fabulous DT inspiration.

Take care Zo xx

For Destiny

Hello there, happy Sunday, it's a lovely day here, well clouds with some sun, but still nice! I thought I'd pop by and share this birthday card I've made for my niece, Destiny, who will be 7 this week. 

I love this cute Some Odd girl image Bookish Tia. I coloured her with a mix of Copics and Graph It markers. The papers are from Amy Tangerine and Heidi Swapp. 

The shaped card base is from Dawn Bibby's collection. I've added some embellishments like the candi to finish it off. Hope you like it, I think Destiny will!!

I'm entering it into the following challenges - 

Crafting at the Weekend - Anything Goes

Crazy 4 Challenges - Schools Out

Hiding in my craft room - Freestyle/Anything Goes

We Do Doobadoo - different shapes

Would love to know what you think, leave me a comment, I love to read them!!

Take care Zo xx

Sailing!

SO it's Digi Choosday time again and as always I'm here to share my DT make with you all.

I really enjoyed creating this gorgeous scene from Cherry Blossom collection  and also the  Noah digi  . I used Craft Artist to place the digi image into the scene before printing it out. As the sail was plain I used a pencil to draw the stripes and then coloured the Noah image with my Graph It markers. I added the sentiment and candi to finish it off.

I like creating these toppers - makes posting easier, but it's a pain if you mess up the colouring!! I always print 2 just in case.

I'm entering this in the following challenges - 

A Random Fan - Anything Goes

Party Time Tuesday - Anything Goes

Take care Zo xx

Days out!

It's Tuesday so that means there's another challenge launching over at Digi Choosday!

So naturally I'm here to share my DT make with you all - this challenge allowed me once again to tick off a task on my to-do-list!! 

I have a small journal/Smash book that I have started to fill with photos and memories from days out and holidays, but I had not done anything to the cover. So I found used this girl digi from Candy Doodles to use as we often spend time out just chilling! I covered the front with strips of washi tape and ribbon before adding the image, embellies and charms.

I chose colours that worked with the main image. I matted the coloured image onto some glorious sunshine yellow card. 

I love my charms but often forget to use them - these two are perfect. A suitcase and a camera!!

I'm entering this into the following challenges - 

Challenges for everybody - Anything goes

Ditzie Digi designs - Anything goes

Stamping Sensations/sirstampalot - Anything goes

Take care Zo xx

Citrus anyone?

Happy Friday! It's time to launch another challenge over at Graph It colouring challenge and I'm here to share my DT make. Pop over, say Hi, join in, become a follower and enjoy!

I do love being challenged with my colouring, and sometimes a theme makes me realise that while I have a good number of Graph Its I don't have a full collection. Good enough excuse to buy more?!! Oranges and Lemons/Yellows aren't my thing. I do have some yellows but found I only have one orange. But worry not - I used my warm browns to add the tones and shadows! 

So the image is from Candy Doodles Collection from Polkadoodles. I layered the image on a mix of orange and yellow card, I cut around the image to create a different shape and then I added a couple of brads, sentiment and some washi tape.

The Graph It's I used are - 

Skin = 4120, 4115, 4155, 3120 & 4135

Hair = 3120, 3125, 3150, 3170 & 3190

Jeans = 9100, 9102, 9103, 9105 & 7180

Yellows = 1130, 1150 & 2120

Oranges = 1250, 2170, 3130 & 3170

Background = Neutral greys

Here's some close ups - 

Isn't she lovely? Perfect for any age group I think. 

I'm entering this into the following challenges - 

Delightful Sketches - Hello Sunshine

Milk Coffee Challenge - Mother/special lady

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes/Uplifting

Take care Zo xx

Blue and White!

Good morning, it's Monday and it's my turn to choose the theme over at Crafty Boots Challenges and I chose - 

Blue and White

In honour of my beloved Bristol Rovers. I'm absolutely devastated that we were relegated out of the football league recently. But we will come back stronger I just know it and me and my boy will be there supporting as always.

Right, my project is the cover of my blue Smash book. This book will be about me. I chose this Saturated Canary image as she has a studious look and papers flying that reminds me of me and my family history research!

I coloured her with my Graph It markers and added Glossy accents to her glasses. Complimenting papers and some washi tape finished the cover.

There you go!

Hope you will enjoy joining in with us.

Take care Zo xx

Celebrating Pink

It's time to share my Graph It Markers DT make with you all. Pop over to the main page to see all the details and inspiration!

I coloured up the 'Boobie Love' Saturated Canary image - I wanted to make a page in my Smash book for personal reasons and it suited what I wanted to achieve. I also used my Graph It's to help colour coordinate my mats and layers. My pink card wasn't quite the right shade, so I just went over it with pen. I added a few die cuts to embellish including the hearts from Doobadoo which I coloured black. A strip of washi tape and a sentiment finished it all off for now. I will be adding a few bits to it at a later day.

Graph It's I used are - 

Skin = 4115, 4120, 4135, 4155 + 9404

Hair = 2105, 3110, 3125 + 3140

Pink = 5210, 5130 + 5255

Green = 8220 + 8260

Neutral Greys (Trousers) = 9500, 9501 + 9502

Green Greys (background dots) = 9201, 9203 + 9205

Hope you enjoy our challenges, don't forget our Facebook group where the DT pop in and out regularly so feel free to ask any questions you may have!

Shape, wings & greys

It's Digi Choosday time - and there's a new challenge launching right now!

Head over to see the rules, challenge and fabulous DT inspiration.

 I tried something new this week for our wing challenge, I used the fab Envelope template from Dutch Doobadoo to create a shape on the front of my embossed card which I covered with papers. I coloured the gorgeous Angel character from Emma Canning using my Graph It's - I used Cool Greys for the dot background and then I used Green Greys on the main image, just shows how versatile they are cos I think they look pretty! I added hearts from Doobadoo, gems, washi tape, flowers and ribbon from my stash.

Who would've thought greys could look so pretty?!

I also added the superb Graph It white pen and silver shake pens to this image. Am really pleased with the softness of this.

I'm entering this into the following challenges - 

Addicted to Stamps - things with wings

Crafty Calendar challenge - Things with wings

Hope you join in!

Take care Zo xx

No. 1 Pet

It's Tuesday so that means there is a new challenge over at Digi Choosday. Why not pop over to join in, check out the discount code and see the DT inspiration.

This challenge was perfect for me to finally get round to making the box I wanted to make to store some of Baxter's grooming things. I coloured the gorgeous Emma Canning 'Doggy in Bath' image with my Graph It markers. I took an old biscuit box and covered it with papers from my stash. Then I matted & layered the image and placed it on the front before adding 'No 1 PET' letters and adding Baxter's name.

Such a simple idea and recycling too so it's all good! Now I'll keep those tubes and bottles tidy and it'll stop me having to rummage around in the cupboard.

Take care Zo xx

Finding the new Black!

Morning!

It's time to share my latest Graph It  DT make - pop over to the blog to see the rest of the inspiration and find out about the challenge and join in!!

Don't forget we have a fabulous group on Facebook where we hang out, share our makes and the DT will happily answer any questions you may have.

So greys - people often forget how useful these are. I use them all the time.

I love the different greys you can get in the Graph It range, Green grey is fabulous for shading, backgrounds and, for me, it shouted school uniform!! So I coloured up this Some Odd Girl digi. I used the green greys to colour her skirt, bag, hair band and eyes. I also used them to create the soft dotted background. Combined with warm bold colours the green greys can become the new black!!

I found the coordinating card, flowers and I coloured some white Candi to go in the flowers. I added Glossy Accents to her glasses too.

The Graph It's I used are -

Green Greys = 9201, 9203, 9205 & 9209

Skin = 4120, 4125, 4115, 4155, 3210, 4145, 4135 & 9503 (dark shadows)

Hair = 4170, 4175, 5215, 5220 & 6160

Here's some different angles - 

Look forward to seeing your creations.

I'm entering this into the following challenge - 

4 Krafty Girlz - Anything goes.

Take care Zo xx

Pirate Paper Pieces.

It's Digi Choosday time, and there's a new challenge going on over there so I'd love for you to pop over to join in and to see our DT inspiration. The team work really hard each week trying to use lots of different digi's to inspire you all!

This week's theme was a challenge for me, but I knew I needed to make a male birthday card (for a Rovers fan so Pirate's are perfect!) for this week so I chose the fabulous papers & Pirate images from Bonbon Belles collection. I took all of the elements into CraftArtist to create my main design - layering the elements until happy to print. I then coloured the Pirate digi with my Graph It markers. I then took pieces of the coordinating paper to 'paper piece' the shells and the cuff of his coat. So easy but it does make such a different look I think!

I think this Pirate looks quite dapper!

Take care Zo xx

Floral shadows

I can't believe we are in the second week of April already! I think I need a pause button but hey ho, tis life!

Right I'm here to share my latest Graph It colouring DT make.

Make sure you pop over to the blog to see the rest of the inspiration and to see the challenge details, and don't forget to join in!

I loved this challenge, adding depth to images with darker shadows is something I enjoy doing and I push myself to see what I can do with these amazing pens. I created these 2 bookmarks using a flower image from the gorgeous Dollie Goes East collection. I also added chipboard letters and a heart, all coloured with my Graph It's. I used a brown and a green grey to add the extra shadows - my image shows the flowers coloured before I added the shadow (top right) then after (bottom right) and, of course, the finished project!

The Graph Its I used are -

Reds = 5210, 5215, 5220 & 5245.

Blues = 7125, 7130, 7170 & 7180.

Greens = 8220, 8260 & 8270.

Brown = 3190

Green Grey = 9209

I coloured onto Desert Storm Neenah card as I love the effect it gives. Here's aother look at the flowers - 

I think you can see just how much the added depth of shadow lifts those petals, curls them and makes a flat outline image look 3D.

I took the photos at different times and while the ink was wetter the colours were brighter but dried to a more vintage look like the last picture shows. 

Hope you try this out for yourselves.

Take care Zo xx

It's Oval to you!

It's Digi Choosday time and as always I'm here to share my DT make with you all.

This challenge made me dig out some crafty stash I've not used for a while. I decided to make a set of Easter cards and this allowed me to use my oval dies that I've not touched for ages! I went through my scrap paper pile as well and pulled out enough paper to create the oval egg shapes on the front of each card. I created a simple background using an embossing folder. The characters I used are from Cherryblossom Lane collection & they are also available to download separately as Maisie and Wesley I coloured them both with my Graph It markers. I kept them all soft in tone and Spring like I hope!

Here they are individually - 

I will be giving these to family and friends so I hope they like them!

Look forward to seeing your creations.

I'm entering these into the following challenges - 

Challenges for Everybody - anything Goes

Dream Valley Challenge - Easter

Take care Zo xx

Flower Power

It's Digi Choosday challenge day once more and I'm here to share my latest DT make. Why not pop over to the blog to see all the inspiration and check out the latest discount offer and, of course, join in!!

I decided to use digi images from the gorgeous Dollie Goes East collection to decorate a picture frame. I started out by colouring the stunning girl image before colouring the flowers to coordinate - all with the fabulous Graph It Markers. Once done I put the girl onto some neutral background paper inside then positioned the flowers outside on the wooden frame. I often use my digi images on other projects like this!

Here's a closer look - 

If you are clever while attaching the images you can remove and replace whenever you choose, a great way to accent any room with any colour scheme!

Thanks for popping by, take care.

Am entering this into the following challenges - 

2 Cute Ink - Anything Goes

Cheerful Stamp Pad - Add some flowers

Zo xx

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 fence & lanterns 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 - 

Addicted to Stamps - Make your mark/colouring

Paper Pretties - make your own background

Scrap creations - Make it pastels

Take care Zo xx

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 - 

Anyone for Anya - Masculine

Lainey's Crafty Space - Anything Goes

Flat Friends - Men

Take care Zo xx

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 - 

4 Krafty Girls - Anything Goes

Nutcrackers - Boys, boys, boys

Take care Zo xx