The Crafting Cafe - new month, new challenge

There's a new theme and challenge over on the Crafting Cafe blog..... this month the design team are working with the theme 'Shades of One'......
There are 2 great sponsors for the challenge too.....
Here are the cards I made for my inspiration post....

and here are a few extra that I made...

We would love it if you would come on over and join in the challenge with us.

Happy crafting
Nikki x

I'm entering the following challenges,

• 613 Avenue Create - anything goes
• Fairytale Stampers - anything goes using a digi
• Scrapbook blessings - anything goes.... really anything
• Scribble and Scrap - always anything goes
• Through the Purple Haze - anything goes
• Crafting at the Weekend - anything goes

Welcome little one...

A very good friend of mine and her family welcomed a beautiful little girl into their family, so I just had to make them all cards to say congrats.
Little baby Olivia made it into the world and she is just beautiful.
Here are the cards I made for the family,
this one is for mum and dad....

this one is for the doting grandparents....

and this one is for my friend - now anyone who knows Lins, knows that she is not girly at all..... so this card suited her!

I love making these types of cards as I know they become a keepsake that Olivia will get to see when she is older.
What crafty things have you been up to?
Happy crafting
Nikki x

My WOW! monochrome challenge project....

Today it's my turn over on the WOW! challenge blog to post a project.
The theme for this month is 'Monochrome'...

Here is the project I created....

 and a few close ups for you...

I loved making this card. The black looks striking with the white cardstock.

Pop on over to their challenge blog here to see the powders I used and to join in with the challenge.
We'd love to see what you create...

Happy crafting

Nikki x

We will remember them....

It's been a manic few weeks at work and last week was the busiest of the year for me..... one person doing the job of 5 at times.... But hey, I got through it and am still smiling..... just! lol
There is a new challenge over on the Crafting Cafe challenge blog.... it would be great if you would pop on over and join us. This month we are having a photo inspiration challenge - use the photo as inspiration for your project (colour... design.... emotion behind it).....
I made this card based on the photo.....

And today this was very apt as my son and I went to the Drumhead Service in Edinburgh.
It was an honour to be able to attend the service to remember all of those who lost their lives in any war. It was also lovely to see all the veterans there.
I'll post some more projects as I make them. So important to always remember the ones whose fought so hard to give us the wonderful live we have.

What crafty things have you been up to?
Happy crafting
Nikki x

Turning 40

I thought I would share a few commission cards with you today.
Turning 40 for both the ladies....

 The card for Donna had to be purple with a difference, not cute or flowery....

Both the ladies loved the cards. It's always nice when you get feedback and you find out they liked the cards....
The weather here is cooling down a little so hopefully I will be able to craft a bit more over the coming weeks.... so many projects that I want to create...
Whatever you are doing today... have fun!
Happy crafting
Nikki x

No#1 Teacher

Our schools up in Bonnie Scotland have been finished for quite a while.... but in the last week before term ended I made quite a few thank you cards for some wonderful teachers.....
Here is just one of the cards I made........

I appear to have lost both my desks under the mound of crafty things on them..... I am sorting out and changing the study this year.... now I just need to find some time to box everything up so that I can sort it all....... can you imaging how long it will take - I have to empty the entire room!!!!!
Think that will be my September plan...... lol
The sun here is making it far too hot to be able to do anything at the moment......

Whatever you are doing..... have fun!
Happy crafting
Nikki x

The gift of time

It's my turn for the inspiration post over on WOW! today and this is what I have created....

 Our theme is Time and the lovely people at WOW! towers sent me some of their newest coloured embossing powders to play with.... they are yum!!!
Pop on over to the WOW! blog to see the list and links for the newest powders that they have.
And why not play along too..... we'd love to see what you create with your embossing powders and the theme of time..

 I've also added a little tutorial on how to create fab splatter background effects using your embossing powders. Great fun and fantastic for all kinds of projects.

I'm busy with about 200 cards for a crafty commission at the moment (look out for the samples appearing in a well know garden centre chain......)....... so I apologise for not being on the blog as much at the moment...
Normal services will resume very soon.
I do appreciate you popping by and sticking with me.

Happy crafting
Nikki x

Do Crafts Monday

What a beautiful day it is here in Bonnie Scotland.... the sky is blue and the washing is out on the line. I just love it when you can get the washing out..... one of my favourite smells in the world is that fresh clean cotton smell...
As today is Monday I thought I would share my Do Crafts Monday post with you all...
One of the Territory Managers from Do Crafts is leaving to go on to pastures new and all of the other TMs have made her a goodbye card. When I was talking to my TM i said it would be nice if they created a nice display book for the cards rather than just giving her a pile of cards.......Trying to describe what I was talking about was quite difficult so I decided just to make it....
Here is the star book that I made....

There is twine on each of the spines of the card so that each little card can be threaded through. I thought this would be a lovely was to present the cards and make it more of a keepsake gift, but as it's a star card it's also a nice way to display the cards.
Loads to do today.... but I'll be back soon to do some blog hopping and crafty things....
Have a great day!
Happy crafting
Nikki x

A little altered art project

The project that I want to share with you is a prezzie that I have made for my son...... He hopes to be moving to his new place over the summer and I know how much easier it is to do your shopping with a list....
So, this is what I made for him....

This project started life as one of the large Do Crafts pegs, the paper I used to decorate it was the front cover from my Heritage Press paper pack.

 And I loved the idea of the message peg so much that I just had to make him a matching notebook.... I might go back and decorate the pen too!

 Here is a close up of the peg.....

 And this is how they go together.....

I thought this would make a great stocking filler...... and an ideal little gift for the man in your life.... (or woman for that matter).... fit perfectly onto a desk too........ and looks really good with photos in it.

What creative things have you got planned for the weekend?
Happy crafting, whatever you do.....
Nikki x

Follow up on my sneaky peek...

Hi everyone,
At last with the new launch of Do Crafts products about to hit the shops I can share some of the makes with you all....
I have been working with some of the newest dies that are being launched on the 1st July - and there are some 'crackers!' that are coming out.
I can already feel my purse groaning and the amount I may well just have to buy!!!! Well you know what it's like..... I need them!!!!

First of all we have the cracker die..... this is A4 in size...... (I used the poinsettia die for decoration, I like it in the white....)

 As well as traditional Christmas crackers I thought this would look great in birthday paper for a birthday party favour, a perfect way of creating a male themed box for a small gift or miniature....... or velum for a wedding favour....... Watch this space as I will be creating some of them very soon.

 The poinsettia die makes a very pretty wreath...

 And I think this has to be one of my favourites.... the bauble die.... Sooo pretty....

I'll be making some more as I have quite a few ideas for them.
There are now only 182 days to go, so I'd better get busy......... Christmas is a coming..... lol
Happy crafting x
Nikki.