WOYWW 241

Hello desk dashers!

I'll challenge you to spot the difference on my desk this week. But before I start dap over to Julia's Stamping Ground to join in, link up or just see what all of this is about.

Here's the photos -

I took this one yesterday to show you - my project 2013 smash book, filled to perfection. I never missed a week so it's a good record for us to look back on. I put it away and got out what is now on my desk.

Right hand side.

Window side. Oooh just notices the reflection of my taking the photo in the PL pockets. How cool is that! I'm going to do Project Life style this year as I feel it will be easier for me to keep up with as I did struggle with my smash book during spells when I was not so good.

This is my 1st week layout. I really love the idea of PL and its ease of use.

Don't forget to look out for the 'spot the difference' I'll give you a clue, it is something that you always see on my desk week in, week out!

That's it for me. I will say I did finally go to the doctors and have had my meds tweaked and had a fasting blood test to make sure there isn't anything else going on other than my conditions. Especially as I've been so bad of late. But here's to finding out for sure and hoping for a better 2014!

Take care my friends. Zo xx

It's a Boy!

Good morning, it's Tuesday again which means another Digi Choosday challenge launches over on the Polkadoodles blog. 

Here's my project - 

So for this challenge I couldn't resist using this gorgeous Teddy Bear I coloured him with a mix of markers including the fab Graph It's  I kept the project simple and used up some of my offcuts of card. I embossed them using some folders from my stash. Simple matting and layering and the sentiment finished it off.

I really enjoyed colouring this bear, I reckon he/she would look fab in any colour, in fact I may do that!

Here's some close ups -

Look forward to seeing your entries!

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 240

Good afternoon, I'm finally here. I confess to sleeping all morning and then sorting chores etc but I have now taken photos. 

As always pop over to the amazing Stamping Ground - home of WOYWW for all the details to join us desk dashers. I see there is to be another crop, I will certainly try my best to get there again as I have loved every one so far!! I'm not far away so if anyone wants to come but needs to stay over I'm sure I can persuade Keagan to give up his room for the weekend!! 

Okay desk - 

Right side.

Window side. 

Sharing this angle to show off my gorgeous banner my fab friend Stephanie-Emma made me.

And as I type I have this little fella on my lap. Yep Baxter wants to join in this week!

All in all, my craft room is a mess. Needs major sorting so I plan on doing that this year. I'm going to get rid of stuff. Right that's me. Keagan will be home soon. 

Happy New Year, to those I've not 'spoken' to already!!

Take care Zo xx

New beginnings!

Well good morning - I'm back on this first Tuesday of 2014 to share my latest Digi Choosday at Polkadoodles DT make with you all.

For me, the New Year gives me chance to wipe the slate clean and come up with new ideas & plans. So I made this sign to go in my craft room to remind me - I used the new and gorgeous Dollie Daydream collection. Two of the sentiments created the background paper (both referring to shoes!) and then I used the stunning shoe which I printed three times so that I could decoupage it. I coloured each part using a mix of markers including Graph It's.

I added some ribbon and coloured some Candi to match. 

So my plan this year - to take each day as it comes and bring more colour into my life not just in my colouring!

Oh and shoes. A girl can never have too many shoes after all!!

Take care Zo xx

Birthday Wishes in January

Morning!

I'm back today to share my Crafty Boots DT make, the challenge is simply ANYTHING GOES! So fill your boots (ha get it?!!) and use those Crafty Chrimbo pressies as much as you wish!

I checked my calendar and saw I needed to start my birthday cards so I got started and made this one using a Saturated Canary image and some papers etc from my stash.

This image is 'Tea and a Book' and I love her!!

I've challenged myself to use up my old stash in 2014. I think, now, afterward trying nearly every type of craft I know colouring is my thing so I'm going to use up the paper kits, sell or give away other things I don't use. I will be doing a blog candy post soon so pop back often!!

Take care Zo xx

Christmas Card Keeper!

So today over on the Polkadoodles blog I've shared my first ever tutorial as a DT member. I'm a little nervous about it so I'd love it if you could pop over and leave me some love, or here!!

So here it is for you guys too -

 As it's the start of the year, most of us are tidying away the Christmas decorations and cards. As crafter's we all (I assume) receive gorgeous handcrafted cards from our crafty friends and, if you are like me, I can't bear to hide them away in a box what alone get rid of them. So I've made a Christmas card keeper that can be filed into Project Life or into a journal or folder. 

In order to make this you need two paper bags and some papers and embellishments to decorate, along with some ribbon. I chose to use papers and embellishments from the fabulous 'Home for Christmas' collection.

I started by preparing my two paper bags - 

I cut off the handles and glued the bases together.

As the two bags are going to lie like pages (like a bag album) I spent time making sure I could fold the bags backwards and forwards once the glue had dried.

Burnishing each fold/line.

Once happy I set about decorating my base. As I used two bags there are obviously two pouches to hold cards and four sides to cover so I printed off enough papers and embellishments to cover all the areas.

The bag bases create the spine so I also decorated the part that's inside. I may stick one of my bigger cards to this spine, creating another "page" if you like. It's important when covering the bags that you don't glue the openings together as this is where you keep your cards!!

Here you can see a small card popped inside the bag. My idea was to create a project to keep those special cards and I feel this is a great way to do so. Once each pouch is full you could clip it together or punch a hole and secure it with some extra ribbon. I haven't done this yet as I haven't taken down my cards!

As you can see in the top photo I punched two holes in the spine and tied some ribbon through, I could leave it as a separate album or pop it into a folder or journal. The finished project measures 8 1/2 x 7 inches.

I enjoyed preparing this tutorial for you and hope it provides a little inspiration.

Happy New Year everyone!

Take care Zo x

Our Favourite DT make from 2013

Happy New Year!

Hope you all enjoyed the Festive period but are now ready for 2014. I know I am!

Anyway, for this week's Polkadoodles challenge we were asked to go back and choose our favourite DT make from 2013.

Now for me, this was easy - A) I was a newbie DT so didn't join until later in the year and B) I knew straight away what to choose!!

 It had to be my santa hanging.

Here's what I said at the time - 

"For this challenge I decided to set myself a task of using the digi images from the amazing Home For Christmas CD  to create a wreath. I chose the fabulous Poinsettia and the super santa. I took both into Serif Craft Artist and digitally manipulated the images - flipping to face the opposite way & changing sizes - positioning them around a rough circular shape. Once happy I printed it off and coloured every single image with a mix of markers including some Graph It markers. I chose more contemporary colours to match my home decor and once coloured I attached a ribbon."

Here's some close ups - 

I proudly put this up in my kitchen and am reluctantly going to take it down. I spent too much time colouring this for it to hide away all year. Maybe I'll hang it in my craft room........

Take care Zo xx