Friends through thick and thin!

Now blogger friends, I apologise for my absence recently. I've neglected you all really but I do plan to start blogging more often. With craft projects and personal stories too. Especially as I'm no longer posting as much for DT work.

So today I'm sharing the birthday card I've made for one of my best friends. This year I'm not making cards for everyone as usual. I'm only making for close family and friends. At the end of the year I'm going to make a donation to my fundraising in lieu of all the cards I've not made. I'm keeping track!

If you want to find out more about my fundraising please check out my page - any donations gratefully received!

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ZoeKirkby

So my card -

I used a pre-cut shaped base card from Craftwork Cards. The papers were freebies. I kept it simple and added flowers, buttons and pearls.

The image is from Some Odd Girl and has to be one of my favourites to colour at present. I coloured her using my Copics.  The dappled background is done using Graph It markers. 

So there you go. I'm off to footy tonight with my mum. Keagan has a riding lesson so my dad is taking him to that. Keagan will listen to the game on the radio at home with Baxter!

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 302

Hello friendly desk dashers.

I've been AWOL I know. Too many things to do, with a body that refuses to work when I need it too! Lol

But I'm back to share my space as per our Queen of desks Julia  states. 

So desk - 

The right side - images piled up & pens.

Window side with pens being used constantly and images. 

The top of my bureau is a mess. Too many bits of stuff going on, oh and coffee. I need coffee!

I think a spring clean is needed, my whole room feels a mess and I don't like it! 

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 300

Woohoo 300 a huge thanks has to go to Julia -Stamping Ground  for coming up with this idea, for bringing us together and for forming friendships that have gone from online to real life. I've not been here since the start but have seen many gone by and it's really a focal point of the week. I may not join in, I may join in but disappear or I may be present and all correct. No matter. I know it matters not.

My desk hasn't changed for weeks, full on notebook making still happening as the order list gets longer! Here's one of the latest to have left my desk.  

I thought I'd share a pic of my other 'desk' taken last night. I was in bed crocheting (I'm making a blanket for a lady who is expecting a little boy) and this little man joined me and laid on my legs. So cute. I do love my Baxter. 

In the background you can see part of the stripey blanket I made for Baxter to lie on, but he always creeps over for a cuddle. Do you like my funky duvet, animal print, my mum bought it for me for Christmas. 

Hope you are all well?

Take care Zo xx

My vibrant new hair!

Good morning all. Thought I'd pop on today to share my new hair pics with you. Those who know me well will know I rarely have a normal hair colour. It's always had an edge. Whether it's the cut or colour but I reckon I've pushed it to the far limits this time. My choice had my dad banishing me from the family home until it toned down!!! (No fear the banishment was soon lifted when I helped him with him Tablet & email!)

Before pictures.

You can see it's darker but with a lighter front/fringe.

So yesterday I went to my favourite local salon where Emily & Rhianna worked all afternoon. First Emily professionally cleansed my hair, removing the previous dye. Stripping it back to a soft copper/ginger. 

Then Rhianna applied red dye, plus some foils with a darker tone to create a soft veil down my longer side. Once that was done, she cut my hair back into the asymmetric style I love.

The result is brilliant. I'm now have vibrant bold red hair. It's a shame as it will fade quickly. Just happens once hair has been cleansed. But I can put another red on top as soon as it becomes too light for me. I will no longer have to dye my roots a darker colour (my natural hair has always been lighter than the dark reds, plus there's some grey.). If I didn't do that I'd have bright red roots with darker ends!!

Here's the finish!

Sorry I've no make up on! You can just make out that there is a slightly darker section across the front and down the long bit. It shows more in real life than in pics.

Here's a before and after comparison.  

So much lighter, brighter and bold. I've had great comments with everyone saying it suits me and my bubbly personality!

Hope you enjoyed my little hair share!

Take care Zo xx

Use a sentiment!

Hello everyone now this is a rare thing for me. I made a DT make and joined in with http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/use-sentiment.html

I've been on the DT since the start but now I'm more of a background member but I'm hoping to join in more this year. So my DT make - 

It's an easel card I made for my niece who turned 13 last week. I used a sentiment to act as the stopper. The image is Some Odd Girl coloured with my Copics. The stippled background is done with Graph It markers.

Most of use a sentiment on our cards and makes so why not join in? Pop over to 

Crafty Boots blog to do so.

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 297

Is it me or have the weeks rolled into one somehow? I apologise for my absence here, the days have tripped me up. Seriously. How do they do that?! 

Anyway thought I'd pop in and share my desk, pop over to Julia's head desk to see what's going on. 

My desk has altered a bit so I thought I'd share. I'm still up to my neck in notebooks and colouring for the long order list I have for Bristol Rovers style ones I'm decorating for my fundraising.

I must make a special thank you to all of you who have been buying items from LLJ (and Jan herself of course!) or supporting me in other ways. It means a lot to me. If you don't know have a peek at my page to find out Zoe's fundraising

Okay my desk

Bit's and bobs plus my niece's card drying.

It's an easel card, she will be 13 so I've gone for an elegant grown up card. 

So the window side, all the pens are there as is my just-delivered-freshly-opened parcel containing the latest thelwell collection. It's all cartoon horses and my family love horses so I thought it would be perfect!

Now for some coffee, more colouring and having a peek at that cd. I will get back to you all this week I promise. I know I've been rubbish with that, but all this colouring is zapping my concentration.

Hope you are all well.

Take care Zo xx

WOYWW 296

Good morning desk dashers!

I'm here early today (well early for me) as my car has gone in for service. So I had to be up and about, thankfully my legs are working today. 

Hope you've popped over to Julia's WOYWW to link up or just to see what this is about. So my desk -

Pens! 

Yep I'm still working my way through my notebook order list, I hate leaving the pens out but it's easier when I need the same ones all the time. 

Now I'd like to shout out and thank the lovely Lunch Lady Jan, who has so far raised £55 for my fundraising. I can't thank Jan and all of you who have bought items enough for supporting me. 

Just raising awareness of the charity means so much but to raise some serious money that will help the charity continue to do their work really does mean an awful lot to me.

Thank you!

Take care Zo xx