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

3 months today...

and it will be Christmas! Whoop whoop!
So today I thought I would share a Chrimbo card with you....lol
This is made using some of the latest ranges from Do Crafts....
I've paper pieced the stamp...

 The little flowers have been made using vellum.
Here are a few close ups for you....

I just adore these little buttons.... and the leaves around the flowers have been made using a snowflake palm punch.
The weather here is horrible today - a perfect day for staying inside and crafting.... shame I have to go to work really! lol
Hope you are having a craft filled day wherever you are x
Nikki x

WOW! post is live

Well it's my turn over on the WOW! blog to post today...

This is the project that I created for the theme this month........

And a few close ups to show you too....
I knew the minute the theme came up just what I wanted to do...

It's amazing with a little bit of sparkle just how you can breathe new life into some old chipboard shapes that you have got lying around....
We would love to see what you create, embossing powders are so much fun to use and there are so many techniques to do with them.
Why not enter this months competition. It would be great if you could pop on over and join in with us today..

Here's the powders that I used to create my card

WOW! Ruby Romance Embossing Glitter

WOW! Metallic Gold Rich Regular

WOW! Metallic Brass Sparkle Embossing Glitter

Happy crafting

Crafting with Kuretake

For those of you who follow my page on facebook -(it's here by the way...lol) you will have seen a doodle sheet that I created this week using a selection of pens from Kuretake.
They have an amazing range of pens for every occasion.
Well, I promised to share some of the things I made, so here you are....

I made this bookmark...

and this card ....

So far that is...
So many other things I want to make, but that will have to wait for another day.... today I am working on a few commissions and tomorrow I am playing with a new toy that arrived last night....
Watch this space about that one.... I'll be blogging about it very soon...
Happy crafting
Nikki x

Making Minions...

After the last Minion card I made I was asked to do another one and a game.... so....
I have created this card

and this pin the eye on the Minion game....

There were soooo much fun to make.
I've been asked a couple of times now if I would make a template to sell for people for these, but ..
I love to share my crafting and templates would be a lot of work to create and get the stuff for, then to have to sell them... soooo
Watch this space!
This weekend I will create some tutorials for these with all the measurements (for free - cause I love to share my craftyness! lol)..... and then you will be able to make them until your heart is content....
Happy crafting
Nikki x

Long weekend weather

Typical....
September weekend comes around and the weather takes a turn for the worse.... I think autumn is here with a bang and with the chill factor, winter will not be too far away...
As all of you who follow me on facebook will know - the Chrimbo countdown has reached the 100...... only 14 Saturdays to go!!!!

Love, today I am doing some demo prep - it's perfect weather for crafting...
Here is the card I wanted to share with you today..

I 

I used the new Do Crafts circle cutter to create the shape of the card - simples.... and I love the speed that it creates circles...... lots of uses for that one for me!!
The little critter is from the Country Companions 'Winter Wishes' range.
I'm loving the finished look...

More samples to make now - so I'll be back tomorrow with another one to show you.
Have fun, whatever you are up to this weekend...
Nikki x