So far....

Liking the new look....
New header - go me... I've worked out how to get it to fit the whole blog.... lol
New colours......
New layout....
New fonts....

Still working on it, but it's getting there.

Thank you for being patient with me while I do the new look x

Nikki xxx

Blog will be under construction for a while.....

Blog posts will be up and running again as soon as possible - I will have plenty to share with you by then! lol
I am going to be updating the blog - well it's time for a change..... watch this space!

Have a wonderful Christmas - I hope Santa is good to you all.
See you in the new year - wow ....... that will be 2014!!!

Thank you for following me through my crafty journey - lots more to share with you all next year...

Happy crafting...
Nikki x

Been a stamping...

Here are a couple of cards from my demo in Inverness last weekend.
It was great to see those of you who could make it along - and yes I am working on those tutorials as we speak!!!
Watch this space x

I love the set of butterfly stamps - there are dies that match them as well....
Another busy busy week here, trying to finish off all the projects I have started but not completed.....
I will have them done in the next couple of weeks - clean slate in the new year and I plan to start it with no half done projects.......
Hope you are all surviving the madness!
Nikki x

Circle baubles

Hey everyone, sorry I've been a bit MIA over the past few weeks.... the time has just flown by!
Here is a card that I made at my last demo - I used the Art Deco papers from Do Crafts and punched out lots of little circles.
Taking them 3 at a time I folded them in half and then stuck them together.
When you attach them to the card you can see that you get a really good 3d effect. It's great because although you get a really dimensional card - it goes flat for going into the post!!!! Yay - no extra postage!!!

I'm off to Inverness for the demo tomorrow, it's been a long time since I came up to see the ladies up there.
Inverness has always been a favourite of ours as a family, the Highlands of Scotland have something truelly magical about them.
If you ever get the chance - visit! And make sure you bring your camera....
I'll be back next week to show you all the other things I have been making recently.... have a great weekend.
Happy crafting
Nikki x

Floating on a cloud

Here is one of the little cards that I made at the demo yesterday.
It's very simple to create the cloud background - just use a scrap of paper and some ink.....
I'll do a quick tutorial on it very soon.

Until then, here is the card...

The stamp is one of the new ones from Do Crafts - check them out at your local stockist...
Happy Sunday to you all, I'm off to watch some Surprise, Surprise..... I love that programme, although I always end up in tears.

Nikki x

Using up all the scraps...

I know that most crafters are very very thrifty! I'm like that too.
I made this star using a selection of all my little scraps and my circle punch.

Taking the scraps and making all these little flowers took a while, but it keeps your hands busy and it's great to have a box of them ready to go. They are often used on my cards and gift tags too.
Both sides of the star are covered.
I really like the finished look and it looks really pretty in the Christmas lights as the gold embossing sparkles.
Today I am getting my bag packed for the demo tomorrow, I'm in Craftworld - so do pop by and say hello if you are in the area....
Happy crafting
Nikki x

21st celebrations

No not from me! lol - I wish!!!!!
These cards were commission cards from a lady at my work that I created a couple of weeks ago.

Now I can show them to you.....
Here are the cards I made,

The little butterfly punch is a favourite of mine - it's the mini butterfly palm punch from Do Crafts.....  perfect for this kind of card....
The lady I made them for really liked them and she said the birthday girl loved them.
They were passed around the party -it's always nice to hear that someone has really loved the fact that someone made cards for them. Even better when they like the cards you have made!
I think I will always love that buzz......
Sorry for the quiet spell on the blog - I have been (and still am) suffering from the Norovirus.... signed off for another week too...... so over it now! lol....
What crafty things have you been up to? Remember to pop on over to the Crafting Cafe blog to join in with their challenge 'Winter Blues' it would be great to see you join in or even just pop by and have a look at the wonderful entries so far..... it's very inspiring!

Happy crafting
Nikki x

Road trip...

At the end of last month Kris and I went away to Center Parcs for the weekend.
It was wonderful to get away from every thing and just chill for a few days.
We went to Whinfell - a beautiful place..... and best of all, we took the pupsters with us...
Here are a few piccies of what we got up to,

This was us stopping for a break and a quick walk half way there..... Daisy is keeping an eye on the geese that are just behind me.....

 Kris and I settled into the villa - I seem to look a bit manic in this one! lol

 Crazy golf - I lost!

 Some fabby food.....

 And of course, we just had to have a go at the paint your own pottery..... this was my attempt...

 Pre being fired in the kiln...

And after the kiln...

It really was a great long weekend - although it was over far too quickly....
Back soon with some more crafty things to show you.
Nikki x

Ever had a week that just vanishes!?!

Well that was my 'last week' - I've just never stopped!
So, sorry that there has been a lack of posts over the past week - lots of projects have been made and I have lots to show you over the next couple of days/weeks so normal service should be resumed! lol

Over on the Crafting Cafe there is a new challenge - Winter Blues is the theme.
It would be amazing if you would pop on over to the blog and join in the challenge with us.
There is a prize this month of 4 digis - we are sponsored by the wonder Lindsay from LEJ Designs.....

Here are the cards I made for the challlenge

and of course, a few close ups for you.....

I loved this challenge - I took the theme to be exactly what it said and I only used blues...... I really like the way they turned out.
What crafty things have you been up to?

Happy crafting
Nikki x

My WOW! post...

Today it is my turn over on the WOW! dt.... I really love working with the embossing powders.... great fun watching them melt!
I've done a little tutorial over on the blog to show how it all got put together, but this is the finished card...

 I love these foils too - great to add to any project...

What ever you are up to today, have fun!
Happy crafting
Nikki x

A little bit of .....

Forever Friends......
And some news.....

First of all here is the card I wanted to share with you ....

 This card is made using some of the lovely spots and stripes jewel collection - and look! there's purple!!!!
I would love it if they just brought out a completely  purple collection.... ooh - i could have a lot of fun designing that collection! lol

 Here are a few close ups for you..... i do love those buttons.....

This card has been very popular at my demos.....
My other news is that my term on the Do Crafts Design Team has been extended...... it's a 6 month term, so watch this space for some projects with the Creativity downloads as well as blog posts and Creativity essentials projects......
Pop on over and see the galleries of all the dt here

What crafty things are you up to today?
Happy crafting
Nikki x
I'm entering this card into the spots and stripes/ anything goes challenges over at the
Stamping Chef
Do Crafts Blog 
7 Kids College Fund

Kurecolor

from Kuretake. Zig alcohol based dyestuff ink....
I thought I would put these pens to the test this week and see what they were like to work with.

They coloured wood really well (the leaves on this card) and gave a very good cover - they dried really quickly too so I was able to finished my project without having to wait for hours for things to dry (always a bonus in my book!).

I loved the cover on the paper flower (this flower was already patterned and I wanted to see if I could get the ink cover that I wanted on top of this design - and I could!).
I also used them to edge the paper, this worked well too.....

Only downside - now I need to get more of these pens as only have a few!!!

How to make a Minion...

Lol.... no not a million..... it's not a typo.... I really meant how to make a Minion...
I love love love these little guys and so far this year I think I might have made a million Minion things! lol
I was asked last week if I made up templates for these to sell, being a crafter through and through, I thought instead of that, that I would create a tutorial that you could follow if you wanted to make one.... simples....
I've tried to keep the steps and photos down so that it is easier to follow....
Here is how you do it!

 This is what you will need... Your card blank ( I have used an a5 card blank as my base), coloured card in black, yellow, blue, grey, white and red/brown. Ink and you choice of adhesive...

 You will see here the pieces I have cut from the card stock.
From the black - a large piece that is 1cm smaller that your card, a 2cm strip of card - this must go from edge to edge on your minion, 2 small circles - I used the Do Crafts palm punch, small circle and an arch - this will become his smile.
From the blue - a large rectangle (these are the dungarees, but the size will change depending on your finished card size) and 2 strips of card that are 2cm wide. A semi circle - this will be the pocket.
From the yellow - this needs to be cut 1cm smaller than your black background.
White - 2 circles, these will become the eyes.
Grey - 2 circles the same size as the white ones.... this time cut away the centers as they will become the glass frames.
Brown - 2 circles - I used the large Do Crafts palm punch for these.

Let's start to put him together...

 Layer your large yellow and black pieces together as shown.

 Lets add our pocket and dungarees..... Ink around the edges of the pocket to make it stand out a bit more.

 Now the strip of black cardstock - check the position of this before you fix it into place - the eyes will go onto this section.

 Follow the pictures to make the eyes and then fix them into place.

 To finish the card I added the name of the person who is getting the card. You could also leave the pocket open to pop a gift card in.
When you are happy with your Minion, glue him onto the white card base.

I'd love to see your Minion if you make one.
If you do, please make sure you tell me about it so that I can pop on over to your blog to take a look...
Happy craftin
Nikki x

1st of the month... sooooo....

that means there is a new challenge over on the Crafting Cafe blog (are you a member of the Crafting Cafe group on facebook - very friendly place to share your blog posts and join in with some crafty fun)...
So today is the launch and the theme this month is 'Anything Goes'... nice and easy for you all...
We are sponsored by the fabby Stamping Dragon Designs....
There is also a Design Team call running for this month, come on over and join in with the fun!
Here is my project for this month,

I love this little dragon, he is soooo cute!
Working with digis is great fun as you are in control of the colouring so you can make it work for any person and any colour scheme.
I'm away to do some more colouring today..... double demos this weekend...
Happy crafting
Nikki x