Doing a happy dance!

Yes you read that right, I'm doing a happy dance! Why? Because I got a new iPhone! An iPhone 4! You'll know from previous blog posts, tweets and my facebook updates that I LOVE my iPhone, seriously, LOVE! Anyway last week Bob new phone and I got his old one. Yeah I always get his hand-me-downs but it's usually an upgrade for me so I am super happy. In this case I am VERY happy!

There isn't a great deal difference between the 3g and the 4, but it's enough for me to be over the moon happy with it. My 3GS was slow. I didn't have that many apps on there, but it was slow, and apps crashed a lot. Especially social media apps which I use a lot. Anyway after Bob spent a little while setting it up how I like it, and backing up my existing phone then moving all the data over I got to play and decided I was in heaven!

Firstly it's fast, very fast. Like! Secondly, it looks so good! Seriously, games are awesome on it ;) So clear! Like! Thirdly: FACETIME! Yes video calling is now an option for me :) I LOVE this! Hardly used it but WOW so cool! Bob facetimed me yesterday and I showed him the mail, and the dogs etc. So fun! LOVE!!! Lastly: much improved camera! Flash and zoom for starters!!! Also self portrait option! LOVE!

All in all, I thoroughly have to say I LOVE my iPhone 4. Only had it 3 days and I wouldn't want to go back to the 3GS! If you have someone you love who is a techie and needs a new phone get them an iPhone 4 for Christmas! Seriously, do it! They will love you forever!

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Crafty Inspiration

Another round up of crafty inspiration from the Web!

Pretty Handy Girl shared a tutorial on making these gift bags! Perfect for the season don't you think? And so easy to whip up too! Great for reusable wrapping, and I am all about being green and thrifty.

Noodlehead shared these half eaten ornaments and they made me chuckle! I love the concept of half eaten gingerbread men on a tree, so fun. Always looking to add humor into the season, so these are great inspiration.

Just Devine Style has this Christmas Card printable on her blog. Simple save, print and send! Simple as. Love the design of the card too, so simple and yet elegant. Stop by her blog to check out the designs available.

The hybrid chick shares a how-to for a project she made, this keepsake box. I love the box, not my style but I love it none-the-less. You can see the tutorial and details on her blog.

Etsy inspiration

Introducing a new section of the Crafty Inspiration with Etsy Inspiration. I figured I'd feature something I found on Etsy and share it each week. I spend enough time on there ;)

As it's my birthday this week I thought I'd give a shout out to Etsy seller 10 Candles who has been so thoughtful and remembered that even at this time of year we December gals still have birthdays! She has these cute reindeer birthday tags listed that I found so cute. Check out 10 candles on Etsy for more party supplies.

Enjoy 

Di

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More health & fitness flashbacks

Back when I worked in the fitness industry in England during the 1990's I decided to hold a charity event, a step-a-thon. 5 hours of sponsored step for the Starlight Foundation. I coordinated with the managers at Queen St Leisure Center in Derby, and they gave me the downstairs function room to hold the charity event. And so I marketed my event, got lots of sign ups then set about planning the details. It was a lot of work but very enjoyable! Each participant got a certificate for completing the event and a t-shirt =)

It's awful that looking back now I cannot even remember the year, let alone the month! I wasn't as good at documenting stuff as I am now and this was the days before blogs (yeah there was such a time, weird to think now huh?). For the timeline I would estimate this at around 1998 -1999. I did the whole 5 hours with a knee support on my left leg as I was having lots of body wear & tear issues during this time, but that's another post for another day!

As I recall there were approximately 20 of us signed up for the event, including my mother! She didn't do the whole event due to health problems but we planned on her doing 3 hours I think, and I remember she completed the whole thing! Go Mom! Many of these girls were class members of mine from Queen St Leisure Center, Springwood Leisure Center and Lady In Leisure all in Derby, UK.

It's funny to look at the photo's of me during this time. This was at my career peak. I was teaching 22 classes a week plus I had a few personal training clients also. Looking at these photo's though and looking at me NOW over 10 years later, I look MUCH better now. Sure I'm not teaching as much but I work out a lot still. The difference is that I don't go crazy EVERY class! I TEACH & I INSTRUCT and I have a better diet. Again all things for another post another day!

In every class, and usually always in step. there is one gal going the wrong way. I love how this gal got caught on camera but totally didn't care! To me this is fitness classes. Just ENJOY it! No-one cares if you go the wrong way, or are out of step. Just enjoy it, have fun and feel successful! Life is way too short to get caught up in the synchronized step classes mentality.

Have you done any charity fitness events?

Step-a-thon? Sponsored event? Ran a marathon for charity?

Share your experience!

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80's themed costume on a budget

I mentioned recently that we'd been to an 80's themed Karaoke party and that I dressed the part on the budget. Today I thought I'd share how I did that. My outfit is below.

• For the skirt, I had a longer black lycra skirt that I hitched up inside and safety pinned in place for the evening. It worked!
• The Leg warmers are actually sleeves I cut off an old sweater, just cut around the armhole and step into them. No need to worry about the edges, it's a one off costume!
• The t-shirt I originally bought for 99c at a thrift store, bright pink it fit my color scheme so I took a pair of scissors to it for  a low slung off the shoulder look. Underneath it I wore a black tank
• The blue 'gloves' are actually childrens leg warmers I picked up at the 99c store, just cut a slot for my thumb and voila!
• I picked up a matching belt at the 99c store, black with pink stitching. Bonus is I can wear this anytime!
• For my hair I opted for a side ponytail, backcombed to hell (teased to you Americans) and lots of hairspray. I added a pink accent to the pony using the cut up neckline of the t-shirt. Waste not want not!
• I wore my black heels I bought previously from thrift store, I love these shoes!

Gloves and belt were 99c each at the dollar store. Bangles: $3.99 and Pink Fishnets: $4.99 from Party City so a total cost of under $11.  We had a great night and I was happy knowing I hadn't spent a fortune on clothes I probably wouldn't wear again. 

If you have a themed costume party to go to this holiday season think outside the box! Hit the thrift stores, garage sales and freecycle and see what you can pick up to celebrate on a budget!

Di

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Blog-versary - 5 years blogging!

Today is the 5 year anniversary of my blogging! It's come a long way, as have I, since it began. Heck it wasn't even called Di Hickman back then, it was still "spot-on creations" named after my craft forum username. How things change eh? I started this blog originally as a place to post my creative stuff, and take part in the blog memes that were hopping around the web. That turned into so much though.

It's funny to thing that 5 years ago I had only had ONE card published, and was wondering if I was a one hit wonder? I also wasn't on any design teams and certainly not any manufacturer design teams! Seems like a lifetime ago.

I thought today that I'd repost the first creative thing I posted on the blog. It was a tag I made for receiving a RAK on 2peas. It actually got picked up for publication by Correspondent Art magazine back in early 2006 and was in their Spring/Summer 2006 publication I think.

So what does the future hold for me and blogging? Well I will still be blogging! However my main focus will be my new website that I am launching later this month, work out with Di. Which will be all things health & fitness related. If you are looking to embark on a healthier lifestyle in the New Year or maybe lose some weight? Then bookmark my new website and come workout with me! I'll be doing fitness video clips so you can do the workout I am doing and posting all kinds of stuff on health, fitness, nutrition and more!

As for this blog, yes I will still be posting. Maybe a little more sporadically but I will be posting! I have thought long and hard about what the future has in store for me, and if I can manage it I'll be creating when I can. Documenting my life in the only way I know how, blogging and scrapbooking. I have to accept that my life has changed so much in the last two years, especially the last year and I am so hoping that by pairing down some responsibilities I can continue with both the fitness and creative work. 

With that said some things have to end, and I have decided to close my digital store at Di Hickman Designs. Sales have been slow and you may have noticed that my digital releases have been pretty sparse this year, and so I just cannot justify the time and energy that goes into keeping that store open. I will still be at Scrapwow, and may even release some new products on occasion but for now that part of my creative life is taking a back seat in the hopes that I can keep both websites open and current AND continue with my design team work as well as manage my IRL fitness career.

So have a cupcake with me in celebration of my 5th blogaversary and here's to another 5 years!

Di

*cupcake clipart from foodclipart.com

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Scrapbooking.com December Article

The December issue of Scrapbooking.com magazine is online for viewing, which means I get to share my project for my article! Yay! I got to play with paper and let me tell you October was a BUSY month for me with my fitness job so this was a much needed creative release :) For my December article I decided that I'd done enough digital and hybrid articles recently so it was time to get tactile and play with paper FULL ON, so I created this...

Yep remember when these were all the craze a few years ago? It's one of the containers by Singer (Walmart buy for around $3-4). I LOVE these containers perfect for holding cards! And I have plenty of cards for this sucker to hold :)

I got all dimensional and added chipboard and dimensional stickers. Not sure if you can tell that well on the photo above, but the swirl is chipboard and the sticker has foam dots on the snowflake. Getting the swirl to adhere to the paper was tricky, lots of tiny glue dots on each 'branch' of the swirls did the trick though.

It think this is is my favorite bit, the holiday wreath sticker with the metal tag. I CANNOT tell you how long I have had those tiny metal tags! Years, seriously... years! I bet I'm not the only one that collects scrapbook supplies rather than use them huh? lol!

And as is the fashion with these tins I decorated the handle with ribbon. Usually not this frou frou but I think these tins really NEED the dimension on the lid to balance the design. I used a TON of ribbon here, mostly scraps from my stash new and old. All thicknesses and designs, and even some sheer ribbon to add some interest. 

I can honestly say this is the first time I am TRULY happy with a project I've created in a LONG time. I've said it before but sometimes we just need to try something different, get out our 'box' and just play! I certainly did that with this project :) You can find full project details, a how to, and full product listing by viewing my article at Scrapbooking.com

Enjoy your weekend!

Di

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Holiday Gift Ideas - make your own list!

So it's not like when you were a kid anymore is it? You tend to get the same freaking things every year, which are usually toiletries, household items, cosmetics, perfume etc, and usually not the brands you like. So why not take the fuss out of the situation and the hassle out of it for the gift giver and make a list. Sure it takes some of the fun out of it BUT you'll get things you WANT/NEED and the gift giver gets to give you something that you'll actually use rather than sit in the closet for a few months/years before being regifted!

When I was making my Holiday Gift Ideas post I used Amazon for a lot of the links as we use Amazon A LOT in our house. We seriously freakin LOVE Amazon! Everything we can order on Amazon we do, including dog food! Yes, really LOVE them! Anyway whilst doing those links I came across the wishlist feature. Have you used this? It's like a letter to Santa but it's to Amazon, and you can share it via email/link to friends and family. How cool is that. I know most sites have wishlists now but as we use Amazon a lot this is going to come in super handy for us!

Anyway I am currently updating my own wishlist with items so I suggest you all get on it for yourselves! Send it to family and friends so they know what you REALLY want for the holidays!

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