Library Workshops for the Summer Reading Challenge

I spent a lot of last week at different libraries around Cambridgeshire, making pop-up mythical creatures with children, as part of the Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge activities .  I had a great time and was really impressed with all the different creatures that appeared! Here's a small selection of the dragons, mermaids, unicorns, gorgons, minotaurs and yetis that were made:

 At Buckden library, the young volunteers had made a great poster for the event too!

Big thanks to Anne, Sue, Jakki, Joy, Isabelle, Ann and Sharon from Cambridgeshire Libraries for all their help and enthusiasm over the week, and to everyone who came and did such a good job of making pop-ups!

Histon Feast Pop-up workshop

Last Saturday I spent the day at the Histon and Impington Feast running a pop-up workshop with the lovely Marion Lindsay (who took some of the photos below).  We were in a tent on the school playing field - the weather was a bit wet and windy to start with so we wondered whether we'd have many participants, but we shouldn't have worried!  Here are a few pictures from the event:

Four hours later we were exhausted, but so impressed with all the pop-ups that were made!  Thanks to Richard Young from Cambridgeshire Libraries and for the Histon Feast Committee for inviting us to do the event.  And big thanks to Marion too! 

And the Winner is....

Congratulations to lucky number 58 (as picked by the random number generator), Catherine Friess, who entered my giveaway via twitter.  Thanks to all of you who entered here, on facebook and on twitter...it's been lovely to have such a positive response!

Pop-Up Weather

This was my first attempt at using Vine and features hand modelling by the very lovely Marion Lindsay!  I have converted to a gif in my new phase of experimenting with technology :)

My 2nd attempt at Photoshop Animation!

And it's out today!!!

My first attempt at Photoshop animation….

This is my first attempt at making a little animation in photoshop!
Stop Sticking, Stan! is out tomorrow :)

Great Big Giveaway! 3 New books out on May 8th

It's been a while since I've blogged - so I thought I'd come back with a big giveaway!  In a couple of weeks time, Egmont UK will be publishing 3 new books of mine and to celebrate I'm running a giveaway here on my blog, on my Facebook page Nicola Killen Illustration and on twitter too @nicolakillen.

The prizes:  All three books: My Pop-Up World Weather, My Pop-Up World Things That Go and Stop Sticking, Stan! AND an original piece of artwork signed by me.

How to enter:  Either follow this blog and leave a comment under this post; like my Facebook page and share a post about this giveaway; or follow me on twitter and retweet a post about this giveaway.
If you do all three you will be entered 3 times so you will increasing your chance of winning!

The winner will be picked at random after the closing date which is 8pm BST on 8th May 2014.

More information about the books:

Stop Sticking, Stan!  Stan loves collecting things.  Odd socks, buttons and feathers are a few of his favourite treasures.  One day, when Stan has been extra good, his parents give him a sticker…but, of course, ONE sticker isn't enough for Stan.

It comes with a free sheet of stickers at the back of the book - just like the ones Stan uses!

My Pop-Up World   My Pop-Up World is full of fun things to discover and explore with a pop-up on every page.

Things That Go In this book, have fun with cars, planes, rockets and trains!

Weather  In this book, have fun in the wind, rain, sun and snow!

Stop Sticking, Stan!

I received the first copy of my next book Stop Sticking, Stan! a few days ago.  There is a free sheet of stickers in the back of each book - they match the stickers that Stan plays havoc with….I have been finding it very hard to resist tearing them out and sticking them everywhere.  I think the book is a little more autobiographical than I realised!