Hi, I'm Di Hickman and welcome to my blog. I'm a group fitness instructor and personal trainer. When not working out I'm usually working on some crafty projects or down at the thrift store picking up some bargains. This is my personal blog so there is a mix of health & fitness, crafts, sewing, thrifting, and personal posts. I update daily so make sure you check by often, subscribe in a reader or sign up for email updates
Thought I'd share some crafty stuff today, namely a card I made a couple of months ago for the June/July edition of Ready Set Create Magazine.
In this issue I just had one card (busy busy with fitness) but I managed ONE and even at that I sent it to Jen late and she graciously found a spot for it. Love Jen, she's so understanding :) Anyways this is my card from this issue.
Close up shot. This card used CTMH papers with Prima embellishments and Boxer stamp. I love the black and white, with the hint of tan (which looks very creme here on the photo) It's a very classic look, good for anniversary's or graduation cards.
Very Vernal is a page kit made with no particular theme. This kit would be great for ANY occasion! The color palette is green, pink and purple with a mix of pastel and bold hues. The kit includes: 6 textured solid papers; 7 patterned papers; Metal look embellishments: brads, photo anchors, circles; staple flower bursts in coordinating colors; ribbons; Scrap for Hire Ok! Available at Di Hickman Designs or my Scrapwow store
Very Vernal Too is a page kit made with no particular theme, it was made as an add-on to my Very Vernal kit but could also stand alone as a page kit. This kit would be great for ANY occasion! The color palette is green, teal and purple with a mix of pastel and bold hues. The kit includes: ribbons. 5 textured solid papers;5 patterned papers; Metal look embellishments: brads, photo anchors, circles; staple flower bursts in coordinating colors; Scrap for Hire Ok! Available at Di Hickman Designs or my Scrapwow store
I also made this freebie, available for a limited time! This 12x12 quick page is made with my Very Vernal Kit. The download includes the flattened PNG file with clear "window" to insert your photograph. Scrap for Hire Ok! Available at Di Hickman Designs or my Scrapwow store
So one night last week after we'd had dinner at the mall, we went to Forever 21 to see what they had and to hopefully buy something fun and 'trendy'. What happened was upon us going through the doors it seemed we entered a timewarp back to the 80's, just like in Hot Tub Time Machine! It seemed like EVERYTHING in the store was 80's retro! Now I loved the 80's, heck it was my era, the music was great, but the fashion? Well it wasn't so good the first time around, but now they want to do it again?
Romper suits? These should just be BANNED, they should all be burnt in a huge pile then never mentioned again! They suited NO-ONE in the 80's and they still don't now.The reason the model looks pissed of is cos she know's there is no way in hell this thing is going to look good on her! Fashion disaster!
Hammertime! WTF were they thinking? That's all I have to say about these really! Except maybe: SERIOUSLY???? Hahaha sorry now you have the MC Hammer song in your head huh?
Another fashion disaster! There were a lot of skirts like this and dresses! (Shudder) Yep tell you what, for all of us with hips and butts lets draw MORE attention to our lower width by adding ruffles there! Unless you are a twig this does not look good, hell even if you are a twig this doesn't look good! Save this for bridesmaids dresses, they are meant to look ugly!
There were so many more fashion horrors instore but it seems they are not on their website, I guess they are transitioning to Fall/Winter season clothes. But trust me if you go in right now it's like 80's flashback all over again!
The only look I liked from Forever 21 retro fashion flashback is the punk look. Yep the Olivia Newton John rocker chick look is back at Forever 21. Or the Joan Jett look I guess depending which era you prefer? Which is maybe where all this trend is from due to The Runaways movie being this years music DVD. (good movie aside from poor acting skills again by Kristen Stewart - why do they keep giving her movie rolls?)
If you want the skin tight vinyl leggings for your rock chick look then Forever 21 has them, only a good look for those with decently skinny legs!
Also with leather look biker style Jackets to match, I would have bought one of these, but they didn't have one in my size, the small is pretty small!
Coupled together it'd be just like Joan Jett or just like Olivia Newton John in Grease right? You know the scene! The end where she goes rocker chick on John Travolta's ass for "the one that I want" song.
They have some off the shoulder numbers at F21 but I was disappointed not to see the type in the video above that ONJ wore. I used to have one just like it in the early 80's, you know... when it was first fashionable!Most the off the shoulder stuff now is baggier which may work too, more on that in another post.
So what say you to the 80's retro? Good? Bad? Or ok if selectively chosen?
Thrifty Thursdays will be a regular feature as there is nothing much I love more than traipsing round thrift stores for bargains. Recent bargains for August are this black bag and shoes found at Goodwill. The thing I like about Goodwill is pretty much everything is the same price. Shoes are $2.99 Boots are a set price, belts a all a set price, and bags all one price. Makes it super easy to shop, plus no tag marks.
The bag was $2.99 and is just an over the shoulder bag with adjustable strap. The strap doesn't alter much but it could go shorter as a clutch or handbag rather than over the shoulder I guess. More importantly it's non-leather, important for us Vegetarians!
The best bargain though was the shoes! I LOVE these shoes! Super happy I decided to pop into Goodwill this day. They are 1/2 size too big according to the inside print but they fit just perfectly, guess they were sized small. I like the stitching detail (same on bag), the peep toe (good for showing off pedi and nail polish unlike my toes in photo) and I love that they are versatile wearable with skirts/shorts and jeans/pants.
Have you picked up any bargains lately?Read more...
So I keep saying I am tidying, reorganizing and purging my craft room, but for some reason it just never seems to get completely finished. Things have gotten worse and worse really since I started back into fitness as I now have some fitness equipment in here and really could do with making room for more. Even though I haven't bought any new craft supplies what I have seems to be growing as it's disorganized.
Recently I came upon the "on my desk" blog where creative folks share their desks, offices and basically their creative space. I can spend hours looking at other peoples rooms/houses, it's like a peek into another world, or reality TV. Anyway if you like to check out other peoples creative space for idea's on how to tackle your own mess then definitely check out this site, or maybe even submit your own space?
I am hoping I get inspired to clear up my space! It's not quite as bad as the pic below as I tidied up since this was taken back in May, but it is bad. I think some streamlining is in order! Purge and reorganize the create & clean up - repeat
How is your creative space? Organized? or is it a complete mess like mine? Some say that disorganization is a sign of a creative mind, is that you or are you organized with a place for everything and everything in it's place?
As I mentioned I've had a bit of an extended break, but not just from blogging from digital designing too. But I am back baby! I've been rethinking the whole digital thing and going back to simple basics and what I LOVE to design... that means more templates. I've decided to retire the old templates and just start over with a simpler preview and plan on revamping my stores accordingly.
Here is my newest template 12x12 School Template #1 (8 1/2 x 11 template coming soon!). This template is 12x12 layered PSD template for use in photoshop, elements, PSP. For other programs I have included the full set of PNG files. This template is school themed with "Back To School" title wordart but could be modified for other themes too! The element on the right is customizable for 1st - 12th grades and all grades are included in the download. You can buy this template at my stores for just $1 throughout August!
So as you are probably all aware my life has taken a change this year and it's left me with a little struggle as to what to do with this blog. Honestly the creative stuff has kinda dropped a little out of my life and I've been wondering what to update the blog with as I tended to try and keep it pretty much scrapbooking/cards etc but I figured that since the blog is just Di Hickman I can pretty much take it with my life in general... so that's what I am gonna do.
So for the blog future you'll see:
some creative stuff - as and when I can share (hopefully gonna get back on track with those posts!)
fitness updates - I'll be keeping the majority of this on my fitness blog but will post a recap here. I will post race reviews etc though!
book reviews - I love reading! So I'll share books/magazines I've been reading. Maybe movies too!
Daily happenings - my life is pretty boring day to day but occasionally out of the ordinary things happen, like the Press Event earlier this month, pool parties, vacations etc. (speaking of vacation in Sept! whoohoo)
Thrifting/Shopping - I love shopping but only for thrifted things, being in a thrift store is like a huge jumble sale! Love it! I am trying to get more into non-thrifty shopping too though. Something I have to psych myself up for but I am trying! Also trying to be more girly and do the cosmetics/skincare sharing too.
Sewing - repeat after me: must use sewing machine! Must use serger! Must make time for this every month!!!
General STUFF - sometimes I just go off into a tangent about stuff, could be news, recent purchases (lots of those lately!), advice, recommendations, and general thoughts and ramblings lol.
Basically more ME and not just creative me :) Ok better get off here and go make some dinner!
movie being this years music DVD. 
right? You know the scene! The end where she goes rocker chick on John Travolta's ass for "the one that I want" song. 
bought for me by the love of my life cos he knows it's one of my favorite movies! 
Definitely worth it!
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