Living in pictures.

I haven't posted much lately, been really busy making gifts. I did an ornament swap. Participated in the Reddit Secret Santa event, and made a few gifts for family.

I've been making fun recipes and drinking fancy teas. Decorating my little Christmas Tree and my dogs.

Enjoy
<3 nik

Fancy tea; so dark it looks like coffee. 

Happy "Howlidays" from Payden and Virgil  (Virgil's antlers were to big and slid off)

Mass Effect multimedia art for my Reddit Secret Santa

Minecraft perler art coasters

Meatless Monday at our favorite raw/vegan restaurant

Reddit Alien perler art for my Reddit Secret Santa

All the gifts for my Reddit Secret Santa (not included a flat of ketchup chips sent directly to him)

Cranberries with Blood Orange Vodka. So yum.

Yarn store in Paige, TX.  I explored, and was so inspired and amazed at so much yarn.

"Smashed Potatoes" I saw on Pinterest.  They were a hit with J and Little Bro.

Enjoying local lights is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. 

Perler art in the works.

Happy Holidays

My spoils from the fancy yarn store, Yarnorama!

Doctor Who Mug

If any of you follow my blog, you know that not long ago I made a tea mug and a matcha green tea bowl. I used the sharpie marker method so often seen on Pinterest.

Little bro didn't know they weren't dishwasher safe though. I pulled my tea mug out of the dishwasher and it was a blank canvas again. Sad panda.

So our next trip to Michael's I bought a black and blue glass paint marker. The instructions say it will be dishwasher safe. That same shopping trip J bought this big tea mug (I was jealous he found it first and their was only 1 left) with the intention of using the markers on it.

Well that was months ago and he either forgot (most likely) or could never decide what to do with it. This weekend I had a huge lightbulb moment and freehanded this baby after J went home. I'm surprising him with it tonight.

It is inspired by River Song's journal on Doctor Who. I'm not completely happy with my paint job but I think it's okay for my first time using the markers. My free handing could use more practice too!

Looking back it seems like it was fate that I bought black and blue markers.

Enjoy!
<3 nik

Sharpies + Dollar Store Mugs= Fun

I'm sure you've seen these if you spend anytime on Pinterest. Designing your own mug for yourself or as a gift is fun and cheap. I'm thinking of doing some as Christmas gifts. Finally got around to trying this out for myself.

If you google "Sharpie mugs" you can find numerous tutorials on how to do it. Supplies/Directions are easy:

Sharpie
White ceramic mug

Draw what you want, bake at 350 for 30 min. Let cool, hand wash only.

Could it be more easy? I think if you wash it in the dishwasher though, the design will fade faster or come off completely.

I copied a design I saw on etsy. It always makes me lulz.

Nik <3

Bam! Minecraft shoes!

I know I shouldn't have delayed this post so long, but I was so busy that it took me longer to get them done that I had planned. 

My inspiration came from these shoes here, Kyozokicks.  About 6 months ago they made their way across my Pinterest and across Geekcrafts.com.  It wasn't long after that I decided to do a Minecraft party and had the idea to do my own pair.  I followed this tutorial here, except I used a more puffy type paint.  Little Bro helped me by doing all the gridding, I did the painting. 

They didn't come out nearly as perfect, but I still think they are radical.  J loves them.  He wore them today. 

Supplies:
-Shoes
-Fabric paints in 3 shades of green, and 1 shade of gray/silver, and black
-Popsicle stick
-Pencil
-Can of shoe waterproofer

This was my first time doing anything with shoes, and I am happy with the results.  It wasn't until later that we had a cool surprise when going to bed.  I was glad I could capture a good picture of them later.

Everyone in the house agreed this made the shoes a million times cooler.  If we were ravers we would be so hip happinen'. Or something.  that made me think of this.

Hope you enjoyed!
<3 nik

Pinterest has made me obsessed with embroidery hoop decorating!

My dreams of becoming a world famous blogger have come to a grinding halt since I haven't blogged a single thing in so long.  I can't be the crafting Perez Hilton without tons of updates and news. 

In defense to me though, it's not like I wasn't crafting and creating.  In fact, I was doing so much of it, that I didn't have time to blog.  It sounded like a valid excuse in my head, even if you aren't buying it. 

So I'm trying to come back strong with this post, and then keep the momentum going with all the other stuff I've been doing.  In the past few months I have gotten back into cross stitching pretty hardcore.  My mom tried to get me into this as a kid, but I didn't have the patience for it.  Especially when the thread was always knotting. 

But last year I started back up my doing a really simple yet awesome kit put together by NERDJerk over ob Etsy.  All her stuff is amazeballs, but her kits are super cute, and she does everything herself, even down to screen printing her own packaging. She is one of my all time favorite crafters. 

So then just a few weeks ago my cousin was married, and as a gift I cross stitched her a super cute custom design done by weelittlestitches.  That will be its own blog post soon. 

All this thread and hoop work has started a new obsession in me.  Embroidery hoops.  I went to a random thrift store yesterday and scored 6 different hoops all different shapes and sizes.  And all for about a dollar a piece!  Yes! 

So today I used some cute material I had on hand, and then made a trip to Hobby Lobby to get some more.  I didn't really do a tutorial, only because it didn't seem necessary.  I just got the fabric in there, made sure it was tight and looked nice and then cut the back really short.  I think I will need to add some weight maybe glue and old battery or something in the back of the hoops so that the bottom lays flat on the wall. 

My materials were:
Embroidery hoops
Fabric in your design of choice
Iron and ironing board
Scissors

I also might use some of the striped material and cut it into a heart, and stitch it onto the orange.  Don't you just love that big hoop?!?

All in all I am super happy with how they came out.  I can't wait to rearrange stuff and add stuff to my walls to make them look even more awesome!

<3 Nik

I am literally crazy about making stamps (and Say What?!? A give-away!)

I just wish I could draw better.  That is something I say all the time.  But either way, making stamps is so fun and awesome.  I am especially obsessed with tiny stamps.  Almost all the stamps I've made in the last few weeks have been about the size of a nickel, or smaller.

My first attempt was with an elephant eraser I got at Dollar Tree.  I wanted something that would be pretty easy, and let me practice with the lino cutter.  I got my Speedball lino cutter and the soft printing block at Hobby Lobby.  I went looking around on Pinterest and Google for good tutorials for how to use the lino cutter.  I am still not the best at doing circles.  I need to get an X-acto knife I think.

The elephant stamp was a perfect starting practice.  I added my own touch to it in the middle, and it came out pretty cute. 

I used this as J's Valentine's Day Card

So then I had the stamp making bug, and I spent all my free time at home and especially at work, making tiny stamps.  I came across this website memi the rainbow and fell in love. I was so inspired by her work.  In only a few days I made all these stamps.

Downtime at work is best spent with hot tea and stamp making. 

As you can see, I am obsessed.  I love love love the tiny cupcake.  I attempted to make an Easter egg, and because I'm still not the best at eyes and smiles, it came out looking a little mischievous.  J suggested I make devil horns for it.  I love that I did tiny little devil horn stamps that can be added to just about anything!

That concludes a pictorial view through my latest obsession. 

Guess what else though!?!?  I'm going to do a give-away!!  I want to get some more fans of my blog, I think it will motivate me to do more posts.  I'm going to post at the end of the week all the details and pics of the item to be won!  I'm excited!  [Enter shameless plug] Please tell your friends about my blog!

It's my first time, be gentle

Ahoy-

I feel nervous about my first blog post.  It has to be amazing! life changing! I feel like I am putting a lot of pressure on myself.  I've been wanted to get this blog underway for a long, long time.  I'm no one special.  There are just a few things I'm obsessed with, crocheting, crafting, cooking, yarnbombing, street art, dogs, robots.  Those things can change at any given time.  But for the most part the list just expands. 

I'm not a writer by any means.  Hopefully it will improve over time, and if not, well then I apologize now, dear readers.   I do have passion, and I hope that comes through more than anything else. 

Please come back soon, this is still a work in progress!
Nik

Project for International Yarnbombing Day 2011