Finally I can share....

I've been bursting to tell you all this, but had to keep it quiet until the launch show had aired. Anyway last night on the German shopping channel HSE Extra, Hayley West launched the Butterfly digi kits with the Serif Craft Artist Pro software.  

A while ago Hayley asked if I'd like to be part of the Serif DT that she was organising and, of course, I said yes!

It's part of the reason I've been so quiet, I was busy designing and making up over 20 samples that had to be sent to Hayley to take over to Germany for the shows. It was great fun as I pushed myself and the kits to come up with samples that went from simple to advanced in terms of the CA tools I used.

Here are just a few pics of some the samples - 

A door hanging where I inked the blank hanger and printed the butterflies on to acetate. I think it looks fab in the sun!

Each of these started out as a blank page, I added backgrounds and textures, inks, splats etc all digitally to create the canvas, if you like, before layering images and adding texts.  I only added real ink to 2 makes, the door hanger & the hanging which I only inked the edges, the rest was digitally created.  It's a real mix, but I used the decoupage tool, glass, shadow and bevel styles as well as the stamp mode. Not that any of those names will mean much if you haven't used CA, but it's tools that allow the designer (You) to add effects to the basic images.

So there you go, another reason for my quietness, but a good one I think! 

Take care Zo xx

A catch up!

I know I've been quiet again, time just seems to slip by and before I know it another week has passed. Anyway I have been crafting as well as training Baxter who is doing well and has now been left for 20, 40 & 60 mins in his crate successfully. Well he barks when I go not matter what I do, he just knows I'm going out even if I keep the routine the same as training, he just knows. But he is quiet on return and clean and dry in his crate! SO for me, that's success!!

Okay, my makes recently - 

A Sheena Douglas Paint Fusion CD make - love the papers and toppers.

Another using the decoupage.

These pages are in my new Stampin'Up This and That journal. I bought the bundle so all the papers and embellishments match. I'm creating pages with photos from our holidays over the last 8 years or so.

I've been playing in my Dylusions journal too, I saw Dyan create a black background and use white pen so I thought I'd have a go and will fill it in with Zentangle I think. The purple page is just Dylusions ink After Midnight sprayed on and then I put sea salt onto it while wet and let it dry. Always love this technique and the results are fab!!

I'm having to pace myself so I have the energy to spend time with Baxter and also craft. I'm reading Cesar Millan's books, he's the Dog Whisperer/Leader of the Pack, and also have set the Sky plus to record his shows. I've already started implementing some of his ideas and found Baxter responds well!

Right I'm off for a nap, take care one and all!

Zo xx

WOYWW 206

Hello!

I confess I wasn't planning on linking up this week, too many things going on, but then I found myself taking photos of my desk and I thought it would be rude not to use them!

Not much changed this side, more stamps on that pile, pens out and radio on, not that you can hear it.........it's Talksport (Surprised? No, didn't think so!) in case you wanted to know!

More images, yep I'm still printing, but they are new images.

A tag, for me, because it was my birthday yesterday so I've made this to go in my Project 2013 Smash book  (It's on the window sill!) as a kind of book mark but also because I love this image, and in my head I think I look like her, complete with blue hair!!

Okay pop over to The Queen of all desks, Julia to link up, nose and make new friends.

May not get to many of you just yet, having a few issues with Baxter, so am crate training in the hope this will ease his Separation Anxiety, but it's taking baby steps to build his confidence. Any advice?

Take care Zo xx

A Pitcher!

Morning! 

Today I'm here to ask you to pop over to the Crafty Boots blog to see my latest DT make which can be seen HERE

Sneaky peek!

Pretty please pop over and have a look, leave a comment and follow if you would!

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 205

Good morning happy people!

Well I hope you all are despite the sun disappearing and being replaced by wet stuff. Ah well the socks are back on and the Fitflops are pushed aside once more, shame cos I got a pretty turquoise colour on my toes!!

Right desk, go to Julia's Stamping Ground get the idea and take part!

My desk - 

Right side is pretty standard, no new additions there.

So the window side, well it's colouring, I printed off (naughty as I have a huge folder full of printed images!) some of my favourite characters and for some I printed them pretty big. I saw Alyce from Kit and Clowder do a large A4 colouring and the detail she got was amazing, but then all her work is amazing so I thought I'm going to try and take my colouring to the next level. So big is the way to go, to get that detail perfected before I shrink them again!

That's me, sorry for lack of posts, I have been busy making lots of DT projects that I can't share just yet, but will do so when I'm able.

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 204

Hello everyone, it's time to flash the crafty stash and show off our desks once more.

Pop over to Julia's Stamping Ground for all the details and to gain access to the portal of nosiness galore!

Okay my desk -

Full on sunshine here this morning, so much so I have to keep the blind down to stop the brightness and allow me to do some colouring.

On my desk are Saturated Canary stamps that I'm practising colouring, I have DT work to do so I often spend time colouring before I do the final one (practise makes perfect and all that!)

I will attempt to visit lots of you this week, my attempts have been rubbish of late but I have been somewhat busy with my boy Baxter. He has settled really well and is definitely one of the family now, having won over my dad who hated the idea of me getting a dog!

Here's Baxter with his bone on the landing, his favourite place!

Take care and enjoy the sunshine if you have it. Me & Baxter will be going up the garden later to enjoy it.

Zo xx

Stamping for Crafty Boots

It's time again for a new challenge over at Crafty Boots challenge blog and the theme is -

Use a stamped image

The Crafty Boots on-line store has many stamp ranges and lots of fab characters, but as those of you who follow me regularly know, I love Saturated Canary images so it's no surprise that I chose to use the fab Walkie to decorate a Smash page - 

Sometimes my pages are simple, but relate to a theme that means something to me, this is no different. I love to chat, whether on the phone or in person, indeed my friend's husband finds it astonishing that we can chat away for at least an hour no problems!

The page is in my pink smash book, I've not altered it much apart from layering the image on to a doily and then added the wooden stars and felt butterfly. The letters are chipboard from my stash. Very simple but an effective page which makes me smile! 

Looking forward to seeing your entries!

Take care Zo xx