Welcome little one...

I am expecting a new niece or nephew this year...... exciting times...
This is the card that I have designed to welcome the little one and congratulate my sister and her husband...

The card isn't finished completely yet as I need to wait for the little one to arrive to add the gems onto the body and the final details.
I love the fact that we don't know what this little one will be.
The best surprise I got was when Kris was born and I was told "it's a boy.... ten fingers... ten toes".... a magical moment....
I'll share the card again when the little one has arrived and the card is finished.
Nikki x

A Creativity download

As a member of the Do Crafts Creativity club, every week I get some free downloads.... Yummyness and free - perfect!
A few weeks ago this was the image and backing paper that was given to us.
I love owls and all things owly so I just had to download them and get playing....
I made a few projects, but this is the one I want to share with you today.

Working with a digital image or print sheet can seem a bit daunting at first - but go for it! Think of the card in little chunks and before you know it you will be of and running.
I'd love to see what you create - leave me the link to your blog on this post and when I get back from my work conference I'll pop on over and leave you some love.

Nikki x

Feeling blue...

but in a good way!
I have started on the Christmas cards! woop woop - at this rate I might even get them finished in time... lol
Here is the card I made,

I loved this little image - I think he is a L.O.V image but I'm not 100%. What I do know is that he is just yummy!
I am getting my things ready for a week away with work..... I have blogged a few posts for while I am away, but I'll be back as soon as I can.... I have a lot of tutorials that I want to share with you, there is a blog hop coming up on the 1st July and I have some candy to give away.....
Hopefully this heat gets cooler soon - sorry, I know a lot of you love it but I am like a wilting flower... heat and I just don't mix!
I hope you have all had a great and creative weekend...
Nikki x

I am entering this into the challenge over on http://thecraftypad.blogspot.co.uk/ 
The challenge over there is to create a card using the colours of your countries flag.... so my card works well with the good old red, white and blue!
Why don't you pop on over and join in too.

White on white...

Christening card.

 Some of the details in a little close up...

I bought some new dies this week (lots of leaf shapes) and decided to test some of them out by making a white on white card.
I love the gentle detail that they help give to the card and I can see me using them a lot!
What made them even better was that I got free P&P so bought another die with the money I saved!!!! Happy days....
This is the card I will be teaching this weekend to some ladies....
Off to get some more stuff ready for work for next week.
I'll be away all week at a conference - hopefully the sun stays out so I can get to paddle in the sea while I am there (although it will not be the first time I have paddled in the rain! lol)
Have a great day, whatever you are doing x
Nikki x

If you go down to the woods today....

you will indeed get a surprise!
These beautiful carvings are in the local woods beside were I live.
Aren't they lovely!

The attention to detail is amazing - I would love to have the owls in my garden!
They are such a lovely find as you are walking through the woods.
I have been a bit MIA over the past week as I have been out in the garden and enjoying the sunshine.
Next week will be very busy as I am heading off to Bournemouth for the Do Crafts Designer conference, then I am shooting off to St Albans for another meeting.
It's all go at the mo!
Hopefully I will get some lovely pics while I'm away to share with you...
Back to the sample making today though...
Enjoy your day!
Nikki x

A very special person....

my Mum..... she is so very special - she is always there and always has been.....
Never judging and always listening...
If I have been half the parent that she has then I have done a wonderful job!
She has been my rock when I have needed her and would drop everything to be with any of us.
One of the things I consider myself so lucky for, is that more than a Mum.... she is also a friend x
With this in mind, this is a card I made..

 

 

I am loving all the sun this week....perhaps I am not getting as much papercrafting donw... but the garden is looking great and I am getting loads of vitamin d if nothing else....
What are you up to with all this sunshine...?

Keep an eye out on my blog.... there's a blog candy for my blogoversary....... not long now....
Nikki x

A Do Crafts Demo...

I am so lucky to get to craft as a job.... it's a job I love and I get to meet some really inspiring people and I have made some wonderful friends.
Friends who have helped me get through some incredibly tough times in my life - crafting really has allowed some very special people to come into my life. For this I will always be grateful.
I have even started a crafting cafe group on facebook, where a lot of these people come and support each other - it's a wondeful place where even more friendships have been made.... If you would like to join us there then contact me on facebook.
Back to the demo my title talks about....
Now I am lucky enough to live in bonnie Scotland but that does mean the area I cover is rather large and can mean a very early start.... (I am partially sighted and disabled, so public transport - unless my wonderful son takes me, is how I get there.......).
These pictures were taken at a visit to Cardwell Garden Centre....... in Gourock - if you are ever in the area make sure you pop in.... wonderful shop - mad staff...... you know this to be true Faye!!!....

 I always have soooo much fun here - but beware .... my demos are very interactive! You will be given things to do and if you tell me you can't stamp, I will step to the side and get you to have a go......
Well as I always say, I can help you fix it if I know what you are doing wrong.
All of these ladies were a pleasure to teach.
So much laughter was had that even when I think about it my sides start to hurt!
And they always look after me too - Honeymoon slices (oh my.... to die for!) and chocolate cake...... well I need to keep my energy up to keep up with them all! lol

I love these photos, they make me smile.... happy memories!
Nikki x

Odds and Soxlets digi

Erica from Odds and Soxlets has had her sketch pad out again and had been working on some more digis..... Pop on over to her blog and have a look.... so many yummy things for you to buy over there.....
I was lucky enough to be sent some her images to work with....
Here's one I made last night,

Here are some more pics of the card coming together - I used 13 different shades of promarker to get the shading right.
Sooo much fun - I love using digis and stamps as it allows me the time to then spend a night colouring in! lol

 Today it's raining buckets outside so it's just the perfect day for crafting...
Inky fingers and lots of creating to do .....

Happy crafting....
Nikki x

Crafting with Kanban....

The cards I wanted to show you today are a couple I made yesterday.
Having some time off from demos etc, although strange, has been really good for me as a crafter as it has meant I have the time to have a good look at the crafting things I have around me (and there are a few! lol)..... and I get to have a play...
Here are the cards I made using some Kanban products....

I love Kanban toppers and kits. They are always of an amazing quality and great fun to work with.
I think they are very cute images.
(So glad my nieces are too young to be on my blog yet - as guess who may well be getting these for their birthday! lol).
I'm working with some great digis today - they will be revealed in the coming days... and also got some bits and bobs for WOW to do today....

I hope you have a fun craft filled day today..... what are you up to?
Nikki x

A little gift for Dad

This is my project that is featured in the latest Creativity magazine....
 I designed a little wine holder (it holds 2 little bottles of wine)..... the wine holder then sits inside a little bag.
I used the Do Crafts bookprint paper and stamps to create it.
The great thing about these papers and stamps is that you can used the country on them to match the place the wine is from.
Full instructions on how to make it, including templates are in the Creativity magazine.
Let me know if you make one and I will pop over to your blog to leave you a comment.

Be back soon with something else to show you....
I've been playing with some Kanban goodies....
Happy crafting
Nikki x

Cute or what!!!

I am lucky enough to be on the Design Team of the uber talented Erica Martyn....
This is the info about her from her fab website Odds & Soxlets - 

Erica Martyn

Since a young child I have always been creative with a passion for drawing and making things! After studying art & design and theatre studies at college in Hampshire, I then furthered my education by moving to Liverpool to study theatrical costume interpretation alongside attending a professional dance school.

This was 14 years ago now and over this time I have been very lucky to have explored many different creative roles, including being a theatrical costume interpreter for theatre and television, dance teacher and personal trainer for a variety of leading UK health clubs alongside being a graphic designer for a UK property developer! In 2007 I joined the design team for a Dorset art & crafts distributor and worked as a graphics designer, illustrator & creative designer on a number of leading crafting brands.

Since having my son back in February 2010 I began to work on developing my own design studios so that I could combine being a full time mum with my passion for art, design & illustration. ‘Odds & Soxlets’ was founded in May 2011 with my sock creations and illustrations and has now developed into my creative design house for all my character creations and illustrated works of art!

‘Odds & Soxlets’ is a small business based in the town of Verwood in Dorset run solely by myself in my spare time around caring for my young son (1.2.2010). The future looks bright for ‘Odds & Soxlets’ and I have many plans to develop the business over the forthcoming years.

Now recently I saw that Erica had been working on a special project with someone else and I was amazed at the wonderful results!

 

 How amazing would that be to have a set for your childs day....

The cake was created by,

 

Cake Pop Corner – Delicious little cakes on sticks, our cake pops add to the fun and excitement of your party, event or any other special occasion. Also ideal for children's party bags!

Founded by Joanne King in 2011

‘’Based in Christchurch, Dorset my home-made cakes are crumbed and mixed with frosting then creatively turned into these amazing little cakes on sticks, so moist and delicious! Available in chocolate or lemon they are lovingly prepared and decorated by hand with many beautiful, fun and attractive designs to choose from, or if you have your own 'pop' idea for your event I'd be only too happy to discuss this with you.

Our cake pops are fun and different and your guests will love them!

All are individually wrapped and tied with a ribbon, making them ideal for wedding favours or children's party bags, or they can be left unwrapped and ready for you to display for immediate enjoyment during your event. We can advise on display ideas or provide stands and tastefully decorated displays at extra cost or refundable deposit.

Not only great for parties they are also a real treat sent as a gift box, again for any occasion from a new baby arrival to a special thank you to someone, the ideas are endless!

Visit us at www.cakepopcorner.co.uk to use our order / contact page or join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cake-Pop-Corner/114916325263917 ‘’

I know Erica designed the background and header for Jo's website too.

Both very talented ladies.

I just wanted to share this with you all.

Why don't you pop on over to both sites, have a look and see what they have for sale today.

Happy shopping!

Nikki x

The big reveal

So...... here is the project I have been working on this weekend that I have been dying to show you all!

I had so much fun working on it, and there are still a lot of bits that I want to add to it...... It was definitely a work of love. I can see me making lots of them! (I thought they would make a great gift for people - you could theme the house to whoever you were giving it to).
I made this one from a wooden box but I will be working on a paper version too - watch this space....
So for this one,

 This is the wooden template that I bought.

 I covered the whole thing with purple artiste acrylic paint (from Do Crafts). It took a couple of coats to make sure it was covered.

When that was dry, I covered the whole thing with artiste crackle glaze - left this overnight to dry and then added white artiste acrylic paint.

The crackle effect works best if you have a thick top coat of the white paint on it.
As the paint drys it splits and cracks, revealing the purple underneath.
At this point you decorate it however you want.
Each little section has a different story behind it.

Here is the house again as it is at the moment....

 I'll post another picture later when I have finished some more of it.
Hope you like it
Nikki x

What to do....

when you have a weekend off - well that one is easy! Get creative.....
Yesterday i worked in the garden, it's so nice to see it finally starting to come together - my own little patch....
Charlie Dimmock has nothing to worry about, but I am enjoying it.

It has been nice to be able to just craft for me this weekend too.
I am doing a post tomorrow on my project that I have been working on - I love it!
Today I thought I would show you these cards,

This afternoon I am colouring in some digis, ready for me to get creative with over the next week or so.
What are you up to today?
Happy crafting,
Nikki x

PS - not long now until it's my blogoversary!!!! I will be holding another blog candy and challenge for this. I hope you'll take part. x