Just Add - Material

this weeks Just Add Ink's (JAI#31) challenge is to add some sort of material to your crafting project so I made this brooch. It is made using a die through the wonderful Stampin' Up! Big Shot, isn't it fabulous that you can cut fabric using the Big Shot - this is the Flower Folds die which is a new die in the new Stampin' Up! Ideas Book & Catalogue that goes live on Wednesday!!
You can cut up to 8 layers of fabric at once with these Bigz dies. It's a great tool to use for anyone who's interested in fabric - quilting, clothing whatever! I have made a handbag to using a die through the Big Shot. All the fabric I cut for this flower was cut with just ONE trip through the machine.
If you would like to know more contact me today julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

Every Moment is special

Every Moment is the name of the stamp set that I used for this stepper card that is one of the new stamps in the new Stampin' Up! Ideas Book & Catalogue which goes live on this Wednesday. It has the daisy, the butterfly, the sentiment and another lovely stamp with a bird on a bush of rushes.

To stamp the three daisy's on this I had to make a mask to ensure I didn't stamp over another stamped image when I was creating the posy of daisy's. To make a mask you stamp the image on to a post-it note then cut it out. This means you can place and replace it over and over again.

I used Soft Suede for the background card and the Top Note Big Shot Die to create the shape. The other card is Very Vanilla. The button is Always Artichoke and is also cut out using a Sizzlet die the Stampin' Up! sell for the Big Shot Die cutting and embossing machine. The ribbon is twill and the thread is linen.

This Stepper Card tutorial is available to purchase on the right hand side of the blog.

Yesterday I was in Hamilton New Zealand for a Stampin' Up! Regional Seminar which was great fun. Every time that Stampin' Up! demonstrators get together we do 'swaps' and this was my swap. Swaps are where you make an amount of the same card/project and you swap with each other. This is awesome cause you come home with a bunch of different projects and different styles. It gives you great ideas and it gives me something different to show my classes and customers.

There is so many great reasons to become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator so if you are thinking about what to do with your spare time contact me today julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

Wonderful Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper - NEWSPRINT

I am in love with this awesome product that Stampin' Up! have got in the new catalogue. This newsprint DSP (Designer Series Paper) is Basic Black and Very Vanilla and so yummy to work with. I covered this box with the DSP and then added bit of yumminess using Vanilla Confetti card and Very Vanilla card with Basic Black ink. I used some Hodge Podge hardware, some Vanilla ribbon, some brads, three pearls and some stamps - Sense of Time, Artistic Etchings (brand new set) and Priceless. I even managed to get a bit of the new embossing folder - Vintage Wallpaper.

I really enjoy covering boxes and things and this paper makes the the crafting so much better!

Don't forget the new Ideas Book and Catalogue goes live on the 1st of September - but in the meanwhile for the last week of the old catalogue Stampin' Up! have announced some more AMAZING discounts.

Contact me today if you would like to put your order in or to get more information - julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

Item # Page Description Discount Discounted NZ Price
116342 42 Big Bold Birthday 50% $ 31.98
116408 100 Seeing Spots 50% $ 17.98
116344 121 Big Deal Alphabet 50% $ 45.98
116208 126 In Color card stock (A4) 50% $ 8.63
105538 127 Bold Brights Stampin' Write markers 25% $ 51.71
105537 127 Soft Subtles Stampin' Write markers 25% $ 51.71
105540 127 Rich Regals Stampin' Write markers 25% $ 51.71
105541 127 Many Marvelous Markers 25% $ 209.96
105550 128 Bold Brights Classic Stampin' Spots 25% $ 37.46
105551 128 Earth Elements Classic Stampin' Spots 25% $ 37.46
105539 128 Earth Elements Stampin' Write markers 25% $ 51.71
105552 129 Rich Regals Classic Stampin' Spots 25% $ 37.46
112042 132 Urban Garden Designer Series paper 50% $ 9.98
112041 134 Bella Rose Designer Series paper 50% $ 9.98
107305 152 Oval Large punch 50% $ 17.98
113692 152 Eyelet border punch 50% $ 17.98
109043 152 Scallop Circle punch 50% $ 17.98
113694 152 Heart to Heart punch 50% $ 17.98
112082 152 Wide Oval punch 50% $ 17.98
112091 152 Scallop Edge punch 50% $ 17.98
113693 152 Full Heart punch 50% $ 17.98
104310 155 Crafters' Tool Kit 25% $ 68.96
112004 1-3/4" Circle punch 50% $ 17.98
116629 Butterfly punch 50% $ 17.98

changing how stamps stamp

OK here is another sneak peek at a new stamp set called Every Moment. This stamp is a line drawing stamp - meaning it is not a solid stamp but I have made it one by colouring inside the stamped image with a marker pen, making it a silhouette, cool eh! Means you can get lots of different looks from a single stamp set - great value like always with Stampin' Up!'s products.

I sponged the background before stamping the images. I used glossy white card for the background, then layered it with Whisper White and then on a Basic Black card. Added some Old Olive ribbon and brads and the sentiment is also from the Every Moment stamp set.

I used the wide oval punch and a tag die from the Big Shot Lots of Tags set.

Thanks for visiting my Stampin' Up! blog.

another Just Add Ink Challange #31 and it's a goodie!!

over a http://www.just-add-ink.blogspot.com/ there is another challenge (they do one every week). It's great to help you get some inspiration or to help you make yourself keep to a dead line - and they always use Stampin' Up! product.

This week it was to use Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Kraft so this is what I came up with. I love using the products that I ordered during the pre order time. That's such a cool thing about being a Stampin' Up! demo - you get to have things before everyone else - not to mention you get them at a great price!! I used the Artistic Etchings and Baroque Motifs, the new Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder for the Big Shot and I {Heart} Hearts stamp and matching punch. The card itself is a easel card, makes a nice change from the usual style of card.

So if you haven't ever entered a challenge have a go - you don't have to have a blog to enter either.

Thanks for visiting

what we did at Albany, Auckland, New Zealand today

Today I had a team training event and one of the cards I 'had' to share was one that Jacque my upline, taught us at her level one team training.

Here is the one I did today. I used the cute Fox & Friends stamps plus the Inspired by Nature for the grass. The leaves are a Stampin' Up! Big Shot die and the alpha is Defining Alphabet. The card is Pacific Point & Whisper White.

This type of card has two pockets in the front that you can pop tags into. Be a great idea for a gift card - maybe for Father's Day which is only two weeks away! They are just like a 'normal' card that opens up so you can write on them inside if you didn't want to write on the tags.

Here is the Vintage Vogue one that we made at yesterday's training. Isn't it scrummy????

We did water colouring, sponging, wheeling - all sorts!! Do you love the flowers?? contact me today to book a workshop so I can come to your place and spend a fun few hours with your friends sharing how easy these are to make.

PLEASE NOTE:

there is only 10 days left to order products from the current (09/10)Stampin' Up! Ideas Book & Catalogue plus the Autumn Winter Mini Catalogue so email me today julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

New Stampin' Up! Ideas Book & Catalogue Sneek Peek

this card shows quite a few of the new products that will be available in the new Stampin' Up! Ideas Book & Catalogue which goes live on 1st September. The embossing folder that I used is called Vintage Wallpaper and isn't it scrummy!! I have gone over it with my brayer which just puts ink on the raised surface. The round Rose Red image is from a stamp set called Artistic Etchings and the word 'for you' is from a set Cute by the Inch. I also used the three heart punch, the word window punch and the Lot's of Tags Big Shot die. For the Rose Red heart I pre embossed the card with the Polka Dot embossing folder. All our dies and embossing folders go thru the fabulous Big Shot (made by Sizzix) which we sell and many of the products are EXCLUSIVELY Stampin' Up! products. Even the cute pearl is new in the catalogue!

I find the Big Shot much easier to use than other similar machines as I have arthritis in my hands. It has a easier handle to use and a longer base plate making it really stable and great for using the longer dies. Of cause many of the dies can cut thru fabric which makes it a great tool for quilters and sewers.
If you would like a FREE workshop to see the Big Shot in the flesh contact me today to book - julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz
The BIG SHOT will make your card making, scrap booking, quilting or any craft projects AWESOME!! Team it up with Stampin' Up!'s ink pads and rubber stamps and it's a marriage made in heaven!!

Hail in the tropics

I know these pics aren't the usual thing I show on my blog but yesterday we had at least three hail storms, the last was pretty heavy (no where as heavy as the Melbourne hail storm I was in in March!) so I thought I would share them with you.

It didn't seem really cold either but with my inflammatory arthritis I don't notice the cold so I am no judge!

Tomorrow we will be back to normal with crafts :-)

have a great day!

Fathers Day Suit Cards

here are two cards I made yesterday following an online class by the lovely Anne Brignall over on www.craftersanonymous.ning.com. The are very similar because I made one and thought I had done something wrong so I started again, in the end I rescued the first one! lol

My kids won't be able to use these for their dad as he doesn't wear suits! I think he would freak if he had to wear a tie to work! They have a polo shirt with the company logo on so that is much easier! lol

Don't forget I have classes today at 12.30-2.30pm & 7.30-9.30pm and we are making the cards in the previous post.

Thanks for visiting.

Just Add Ink #30 Helping Hudson Challenge

Over at Just Add Ink they are running a really cool challenge this week. It's to co inside with the Helping Hudson Appeal which is a fundraiser for a wee 2 year old boy called Hudson who has a raft of medical issues. The idea is to raise funds for a posh set of wheels to help Hudson get around on his own. They are selling bundles of craft tutorials which many Stampin' Up! demos have donated - including me! It's a great opportunity so pop over to their sites and see what you can do to help.

So the JAI#30 challenge is "wheels" so you can use anything either with wheels on it, or made using wheels which is what I did. I used the Classic Star Jumbo Wheel on both cards. These cards both have the an insert in it which holds a gift card. I made these masculine as it's coming up to Fathers Day here in New Zealand. Also these cards are one of two masculine projects that we are doing at Wednesday's class this week.

I started with a Kraft base - this colour is being renamed to Crumb Cake which is going to take a while to get used to calling it! I love how Old Olive looks with it. The stamp set I used for the salutation is from the set Greetings Eight which is currently on sale for $29.90 (that's 50% off!!) as it's retiring at the end of August. SO contact me today if you would like to order this cool set - you would hate to miss out!

The other card has a Bashful Blue base and Riding Hood Red accents. The small star punch is also retiring so it's another thing to you need me to order for you today!

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

lovely handbags!!!

on the second Friday of the month I do a class at Manurewa. One of the two projects we made this week was Becky Roberts Chic handbags. Don't they all look great! Don't you love the great room that we have to craft in! A double garage all set up with loads of paper craft goodness! and yes those green bowls on the table did have pineapple lumps in them - my crafting lollies of choice! hehe

You can purchase the tutorial to make these bags (there are three different bags) on Becky's blog here -http://inkingidaho.blogspot.com/2010/06/sneak-peek-overview.html or if you would like me to teach them to you email or phone me today! You can see the other bags I made in an earlier blog post.

Happy crafting!

now for that boy turning 15!!

Are you like me a think cards for teenage boys are a mission????

In New Zealand you can apply for your learners licence and then start to learn to drive on the road. But you must display a "L" plate. SO a friend of mine has a son who turned 15 today so I made him this card. It is all made using punches except the triangle trees and the road!

I used Real Red, Basic Grey, Basic Black, Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Glorious Green, Sahara Sand, More Mustard & Chocolate Chip. Punches used - wide oval, large oval, small oval, 1/2" circle, 3/4" circle, word window, slot. I sponged the edges of the road with Sahara Sand and used my favourite white gel pen for the road markings and the Black journalling pen for the "L" and the number plate.

If you would like to learn how easy punch art is contact me to organise a class or workshop.

something for the kids

I love this wee robot set called 'Lots of Bots' - it has such cute stamps. I made this card super fast which is sort of what you need to do when giving cards to young kids. They really aren't great appreciators of your time and effort when making cards. But if there is a nice picture on a card they will stop for at least 5 seconds to look at it! hehe

I really do enjoy 'colouring in' stamps, it must take me back to my childhood days. It is soooo relaxing - and using the wonderful Stampin' Up! Blender Pens it's so easy to get great results. The Blender Pens allow you to pick up a touch of colour from your stamp pads (the lids not directly on to the pad themselves) and paint like a water colourist! IF you would like to see how easy it is to use these great tools contact me today to find out how I can show you.

I used Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point and Real Red on this card. Don't you love how a bit of crimped card stock can just lift a project! Come back and visit later this week to see another card for the slightly older child that I have to show you.

Have a fabulous Wednesday!!! xx

Just Add Ink - Challenge #29

I am so pleased I managed to get some crafting in today. And even happier that I was able to do the current challenge on Just Add Ink (see blinky on right). This week the challenge is a colour challenge.

I just think these colours are lovely together, a real romantic combination. So I knew I had to do something shabby chic'! I used the beautiful Fresh Cuts stamp set, firstly inking it up with the Always Artichoke and then cleaning off some of the ink over the flowers then sponged Rose Red directly on to the stamp. I stamp this onto Very Vanilla. I re inked the stamp again in Always Artichoke and stamped it on a scrap piece of Very Vanilla and cut out the leaf branch.

The words '{thank you}' is from the Occasional All stamp set and I mounted it on a piece of kraft that I die cut using my LOVELY Big Shot with the 'Lots of Tags' Sizzlits die that is in the current Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue. This mini only goes to the end of August which isn't that far away so contact me ASAP if there is anything you NEED to order, along with anything from the Last Chance list (did you see the discounted products in the previous post?)

I am pleased how the card came out - I hope you like it to, thanks for visiting my blog.

do you love discounted products????

if you do this is the list for you! Stampin' Up! have put out a long list of items that are being retired but amongst the nine pages of items some of them are discounted 25% and 50% - gotta love that!. So here is the list of items that have been discounted.
Listed in green 25% off
Product Listed in red 50% off Product
Stamp Sets
* p 28. Spotlight on Christmas - now $35.23
* p 29. A Holly Jolly Christmas - now $42.71
* p 34. You and Moi' - now $24.98
* p 55. Thats Funny - now $37.46
* p 65. Once upon a Time - now $29.96
* p 67. Just Jawing - now $40.46
* p 76. A Beautiful Thing - now $26.21
* p79. Bloomin' with Beauty - now $41.96
* p 83. Embrace Life - now $40.46
* p 86. Playful Petal - now $47.21
* p 99. Good Friend - now $47.21
* p 101. Game Night - now $29.96
* p 103. Cute Cues - now $18.71
* p 109. Tres Chic - now $29.96
* p 121. ABC Alphabet - now $47.21
* p 140. Wow Flowers - now $21.71
* p 141. Starring You - now $21.71
* p 76. Its Beautiful Wheel - now $14.21
* p 101. In the Cards Wheel - now $10.46
* p 34 A Happy Heart - now $24.98
* p 53 Best Wishes and More - now $28.48
* p 57 Greeting Eight - now $29.48
* p 93 Only Ovals - now $23.48
* p 97 Enjoy Every Moment - $31.48
* p 105 All Scallops - now $33.48
12X12 Cardstock - now $12.94
Basic Gray, More Mustard, Real Red, Bravo Burgundy & Handsome Hunter
Stampin' Write Markers - now $5.06 each
Brilliant Blue, Creamy Caramel, Gable Green, Glorious Green, Green Galore, Lovely Lilac, Only Orange, Pixie Pink, Really Rust, Ruby Red, Summer Sun, Yoyo Yellow, Almost Amethyst, Barely Banana, Bordering Blue, Handsome Hunter, Lavender Lace, Mellow Moss, Pale Plum, Sage Shadow, Taken with Teal
-Cameo Coral, Apricot Appeal - now $3.38

Stampin' Around cartridges
Stampin' Around - now $8.44
* Creamy Caramel, Lovely Lilac, More Mustard, Old Olive, Ruby Red, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Mellow Moss,
Jumbo Stampin' Around - now $12.19
* Glorious Green, Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red, Always Artichoke, Ballet Blue, Bravo Burgundy, Certainly Celery, Mellow Moss, Night of Navy

Designer Series Paper - now $14.96
* Haiku
* Raspberry Tart
* Holiday Treasures
* Windsor Knot
* Pink Flamingo - now $9.98

Miscellaneous
* Simply Scrappin kits - I Wish
* 2U Simply Sent card elements
* Thanks X2 Simply Sent card elements
* More Thoughts Simply Sent
* No One Like You Simply Sent
* Blooms Again die cuts
* Floral Fusion
* Floral Fusion Too
* Letter Sticky Cuts
* Sweet Sticky Cuts
* On Board Lots of Letters
* Rich Regals Brads
* Antique Brass Build a Brad
* Square Metal Edge Tags
* Blooms Die Cuts
* Chunky Sprinkles Stampin Glitter

Ribbons
* Pacific Point 5/8" striped ribbon
* Pig Tails Ribbon Originals
* Pink Pirouette 5/8" striped ribbon
* Riding Hood Red 5/8" striped ribbon
* Tangerine Tango 5/8" striped ribbon
* Bashful Blue 1/2" striped ribbon
* Old Olive 1/2" striped ribbon
* Pumpkin Pie 1/2" striped ribbon
* Pretty In Pink 1/2" striped ribbon
* So Saffron 1/2" Striped ribbon
* 1" Bashful Blue double stitched ribbon
* 1" Chocolate Chip double stitched ribbon
* 1" Rose red double stitched ribbon

Punches - now $26.96
* Boho Blossoms
* Scallop Square
* Scallop Oval
Although all the punches are on the Last Chance List they are mostly being reconfigured to the new flat style. Five punches are being retired though
* Small Star
* Trio Flower
* Double Rectangle
* Horizontal Slot
* Slit

If you are interested in seeing the whole list of retiring products email me on julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

Chinese screen card

here is another fun card to make. It's a Chinese door card made with vellum and the awesome square punches from Stampin' Up!. I used the Circle Circus stamp set which is SUCH a handy set to use for all sorts of great projects - from oriental inspired to masculine ones. I also used the lovely level 2 hostess set Asian Artistry which only has a few weeks left of being available. If you have a workshop or orders totally over $700 you can have this set for free - not to mention the minimum of $80 worth of free product of your choice!
So contact me before the end of August to take advantage of this deal. julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

Birthday Cards

Here are two cards I have made last week for two teenagers that I send cards to.

The first one is made from the cute set Sip by Sip - perfect for a coffee loving gal like Allie (that's who the card is for). This set will not be available after the 31st August as it is retiring. So if you want it (115866 $49.95) contact me ASAP to ensure you don't miss out. I also used some cool Rub Ons on this card, which are a fun way of adding colour to a project - Stampin' Up! have 3 sets of Rub Ons which will also not be available after the end of the month. As you can see a lot of items wont be available when the current Ideas Book & Catalogue ends at the end of the month. SO make sure you contact me if there is something that you have had your eye on. Many of the items are reduced by 25-50% so contact me julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz and I can email you the Retirement List.

Also if you would like to pre-order your copy of the new Ideas Book & Catalogue (due to launch on the 1st September) then contact me today. I have had a sneak peek at some of the products and you are going to love it!!!

The second card is made using a stamp set that isn't or hasn't been available in New Zealand but it is just to cute not to show you. It is a very simple card - which is great for teenage boys who don't really take in the 'artisticness' of a card. Sam is into computers (not many teenage boys aren't eh! lol) and also loves his cat so you can see why I just had to use this stamp set!

Sorry I didn't post over the weekend - we had one of those weekends where nothing went as planned! But things are calming down today so lets hope the week just improves - I wish you all a great Monday and thanks for visiting my blog.