over alls???

aren't these the cutest overalls you have ever seen??

Sorry they are 'scans' not real photos but I can't got a replacement camera yet for the one I lost in Sydney! Anyway these are what you can make at the next class which is on June 14th as next Monday is Queens Birthday Weekend so it's a public holiday. The basic pattern is the same but you can decorate them how ever you like for what ever the occasion is. It could be a baby one, a gardening one or my favourite the builders one! The tools in his belt are from the stamp set Totally Tools - one of my favourite sets! Great for masculine cards which so many people like me find it hard to do. You could do a mechanic one too with other tools in the set! The gardening one has flowers in her pocket which you may not see on the photo. And the baby boy has a rattle. These are all stamps! There are some many cool stamps set the Stampin' Up! offer for EVERY need. Contact me today if you haven't got your own Idea Book & Catalogue email - julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

We have a great special to offer you tomorrow which is only available for one week so come back tomorrow to see what's on SPECIAL!

Join the Stampin' Up! family for on $299!!!!

Become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator today and get your customisable Starter Kit with a variety of products to help you jump start your creativity for the special price of just $299 (normally $379)!The retail value of this $625.
You can enhance your kit by adding scrap booking products with our Stampin' Memories add-on for only $90.
So email me today at julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz to begin a fun and flexible career with Stampin' Up! or simply enjoy getting a fabulous product discount. You can swap and change the stamp sets for any equal or lesser value, change the colours of the stamp pads (except the Basic Black stamp pad) and card stock.

After meeting all the wonderful demo's and home office staff at our convention in Sydney the other week, I want everyone to be part of such a great community of people. I am so touch by all the demo's who have contacted me offering their pictures after they read I lost my camera! This is just the type of thing that makes you so proud to be part of such a kind and ethical company.

This promotion only runs till 31 July 2010 so you need to contact me as soon as possible.

happy crafting!

I'm back!!!

hehe
I had the most amazing time in Sydney - we just got back at 2am this morning! Plane was an hour late and by the time we got thru with all our shopping......... LOL

I lost my camera over there unfortunately so I have no photos to share with you, so pleased I had taken off all my pics off the memory stick before I went! But once I get access to other peoples photos I will post some.
I have to spend some time with the family and catching up around the house (you would be amazed at how much stuff needs to be done! lol) so it will be a day or two before I have something to post for you, so keep checking back!
The Stampin' Up! convention was amazing, I have come back with so many ideas and inspiration. The best part was meeting other demos, and the SU staff etc. Neat to be surrounded by like minded people! Oh and I got a surprise by finding out that I got in the top 10 of New Zealand demos! I was blown away!! I feel chuffed as this was my first full year, I have only been a demo since Feb 09. SO thank you to all my lovely customers and wonder down lines who helped to get to this point!! Also the other wonderful demos who have helped me along the way. Ok 'Oscar' speech over! blahahaha
see you again soon.

My convention Swaps

I am flying out to Sydney today for the annual Stampin' Up! convention. Part of the fun when Stampin' Up! demos get together is we do 'swaps' How it works is you make so many of so many of one thing and you 'swap' them with other demo's items. So I am taking 100 of these little wee handbags and will come home with 100 different samples which will be great to be able to show all my customers different ideas. Everyone have different styles and of cause different products so it gives a great variety.

Lucky for me these handbags lie flat so makes travelling with them very easy. I am taking them on as hand luggage as I would be so upset if they got lost with my bags! I just hope the little brads in them wont cause me delays at airport security!! They are made from a 6"x6" piece of DSP instead of the 12"x12" DSP I usually use.

So I wont be posting anything till I get back next Wednesday as I don't know what Internet access I can get and I am not clever enough to preload posts before I go. But keep popping in just in case!

more scrapbooking

it's still scrapbooking month so I thought I would show these two pages that I have done over the last few days. The first one uses the lovely papers from the Autumn-Winter mini. I wanted the yummy dessert to be the focal point and all the rest embellishment. My favourite part is the three little buttons which I have put a close up photo of. I love the tiny tag punch and matching stamp set, again out of the new mini. I still feel it 'needed something else' but couldn't pin point what - any suggestions appreciated! hehe

The second one is very bright for me, Pixie Pink does that! LOL I mainly did it to do the flowers, for my classes this week. These were done with punches and the circle scissors. And yes I do know I have the year wrong in the 'GROW" page hehe

see you tomorrow

1 inch circle punch flower

isn't this one of the lovelest flowers you have seen on a card (even if I do say so myself! lol)

it is made using a 1" circle punch, there are some cool 'tricks' to get it looking like this... not going to give away those just get! hehe

This is another flower that I will be sharing how to do at my class tonight. Still time to reserve your seat. If you can't make it why not book an at home workshop where you and your friends can all make this card! contact me at julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

thanks for popping in so I can share my passion with you!

plenty of pansies

this weeks class we are making flowers - all sorts of flowers.

There are so many different types you can make out of paper, they can go on cards, scrap pages or a 3D item.

These pretty ones are one of the easiest things to make - believe me!! You will be surprised at just how easy they are!! I have used the scrummy top note die with the Old Olive card stock, then run it through the Big Shot again in the polka dot embossing folder. The leaves are a Big Shot die too. Finished off with a Elegant Eggplant bow. I decided that this card didn't need a sentiment - I thought it would distract from the flowers. I hope the friend that I made this for will enjoy it as much as I did making it.

Contact me via julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz to reserve you spot at my class this week. I wont be having any classes on the 24th as I will still be in Sydney for the Stampin' Up! convention. I will look forward to sharing with you all the new info and exciting things I will learn while I am away. Plus the 100 or so cards etc that I will be 'swapping' with other SU demos. I will tell you about those tomorrow.

thanks for visiting

friends scrap page

I got to do another scrap book page the other day and I had fun trying new things.

First was stamping with bubble wrap! oh that is so cool. I used Stampin' Up!'s white craft ink. I wrapped some bubble wrap around a large wooden block so the back of the stamp was now the stamping side of the bubble wrap, then just stamp like you would any type of stamp.

The second was to use the sticky notes letters. They are precut shapes that are made out of Stampin' Up!'s awesome sticky strip. I placed the letters 'friend' where I wanted and then coated them with blue chunky glitter (another cool Stampin' Up! product).

I even used some Garden Green card stock which might be a first! hehe and I love the background of Kraft which has been released as a pack in the latest mini catalogue - perfect for 12"x12" pages.

The two girls (my daughter in the white and her cousin and close friend in the green) had a ball playing with the blow up dolphin at the beautiful Kai Iwi Lakes in the north of New Zealand during January.

Don't forget that the tutorial for the top note stepper card is still available, just click on the BUY NOW icon.

thanks again and happy crafting!

more top note stepper cards

we had fun at class this week making these. I spent quiet some time working out the template which I will make available to purchase once I set up Paypal on my accounts. The black and white card is using the lovely new level two hostess set called Asian Artistry, the soft suede one is using a new set called Pendent Park, and the Regal Rose one is Vintage Vogue of cause! lol

I love how you can create a scene over the 3 steps.

thanks for popping by and if you would like to purchase a tutorial ($5.00NZ) for these cards I have a Paypal link on the top left side of my blog. Any other questions email me on julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

tulip trio

I love the simplicity of these tulips - and when you find out how simple they are to make you will agree with me! they are made up out of the wings from the new Two Step Bird Punch!! cool eh! I made the leaves by punching bits with the wide oval punch. Just cut the stems with scissors, stamped the greeting on a strip of vellum, sponged abit and ta-duh its all done!

If you haven't ordered your two step bird punch contact me today julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

thank you so much fellow crafters!

I have been honoured with some awards from some of my lovely paper crafting friends! Thanks you ladies. One of the things with receiving these awards is to tell ten things about yourself that you haven't shared before, so here goes!

1. I am a chocoholic ( ok most of you know that already!)

2. I am a shopaholic (again you all know that! lol)

3. I dislike gardening - love to look at gardens, just don't like getting out there and doing it!

4. I never eat nuts except when they are covered in chocolate, but walnuts and pecans would be the worst!

5. I am the youngest of three, I have 2 older brothers. My husband Craig is exactly the same!

6. I was born in Whakatane and lived for 3 years in Melbourne, Australia when I was a child.

7. I have travelled around the world (22 years ago! lol)

8. I have IBS (and other crappy medical issues! lol)

9. My favourite colour is white - don't argue that it's not really a colour!

10. I can't spell - oh yeah you all know that already too! lol

bonus - I don't really like spiders, flying, driving on gravel roads, peanut butter (sorry Jacque hehe), horses, snakes, skivvies, channel surfing, sailing, broad beans...... the list could go on! lol

Please visit my friends blogs, the best way to do that is go to the NZSU site by clicking on the link on the right - they are so awe inspiring!

more top note cards

here are two more cards made using the top note die and my fabulous Big Shot machine.

I used the wonderful Medallion stamp on the first one. This is such a useful stamp. The black flower is from another hot set at the moment - Vintage Vogue. The top note die puts those cute stitch marks on the card which I have just drawn faux thread with my trusty black journerling pen. I then just hand cut the black card underneath, which you probably guessed as its a wee bit wonky! hehe And don' t you just love all the Baja Breeze, I am so glad that this colour is now going to be a core colour so we can enjoy it for years to come.

On the second card I have used the new level two stamp set. I stamped the image with Versamark then used white embossing powder. You need to remember to rub the card stock that you are wanting to heat emboss with the little anti static pillow - Embossing Buddy. This takes the static out of the card and helps the embossing powder stick only to the Versamark, not spotted all over the card. This gives a much clearer embossed image. I made a small frame and then sponged on the inside to create the background image on the Top Note die. I love the effect that this gives. I have used some of the Urban Garden DSP and one of the lovely Stampin' Up! buttons, sorry I can't recall which pack it came out from as I mixed all mine up! whoops! hehe. Just a bit of Linen Thread to finish it all off.

I am getting excited as in two weeks time I will be in Sydney to attend the Stampin' Up! Convention 2010. This will be my first convention, so spending two days with fellow demonstrators is going to be mind blowing I think! I hope to come home with so many cool ideas and ways to help make your paper crafting experience even better! I have the last weekend in May free for a workshop so why don't you contact me to book the first workshop after the convention and benefit all the information and enthusiasm the convention will bring. And don't forget I still have the offer of a free stamp set for all orders in May over $100.

SO there's lots of reasons to get your friends together. Contact me on julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

thanks for visiting.

ps. there is no prize for spotting my spelling mistakes! LOL

top note die stepper card

I am in LOVE with this die!!!

this 'stepper' card is made using it, you have to fold the card a special way and then the whole card goes thru the Big Shot. It took a LOT of trial and error to work it out, trust me! hehe

I used Whisper White, Mango Mambo and Certainly Celery. The stamp set is Cottage Garden, one of my favourites from the last mini Autumn-Winter Catalogue. I have put Dazzling Diamonds on the flowers cause you can never have to much BLING!!

If you would like to learn how to make this card come to my class on Monday 10th May. Remember classes are 12.30-2.30pm and 7.30-9.30pm and are only $NZ15. Contact me on julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz if you want more information.

more pillow box die projects

here are two more projects using the versatile Stampin' Up! pillow box Big Shot die.

The first one is full of chocolates and could be hung anywhere. It could be used for a gift from the tooth fairy or a gift for Santa on Christmas Eve!

The second is a envelope that I created to give a different way to open it. I would love to show you at a workshop or a class how to make these. Contact me to book a date.

This next photo is what I found when I went into my craft room to craft this weekend. The young fella is called Jerry, he's a 7 year old Britty short hair and very much the lord of the house!

I did some scrapbooking finally!!!!

Had a lovely afternoon doing some scrap booking today. It was so cool to get back to my first love paper craft. These are two of my close friends - I hope they don't mind me sharing them with you!. heehee

In the first layout I wheeled vellum to create the patterned vellum, I used Going Grey textured 12x12 card stock as a base, used my much loved Top Note die for the white feature, Just for You stamp set, some hardware, ribbon and flowers.

The second one is also on textured card stock, this time So Saffron, Good Morning DSP, some Chocolate Chip & Old Olive card stock, some punches, stick notes, and to finish it off - chunky glitter! Gotta love anything with glitter eh!

thanks for visiting my blog - see you back soon.

cheers

Julia

medallion magic

here are two cards I have made using the fab new stamp called Medallion, it's a background stamp so its pretty big but very very yummy! the first one I stamped the card stock with the script stamp from Rustic Rooster and then I stamp the Medallion stamp on with Versamark and then clear embossed it, that way you can see the scrip through the stamp. I then sponged which only goes on the card where it's not embossed. This is called 'resist embossing'. I have never used Blush Blossom before and as it's one of the colours that is being retired in September I thought I needed to use it while I can. I matched it with Baja Breeze and really pleased with the results.

With the second card I inked up the entire stamp with Baja Breeze and then sponged directly onto the stamp with Pacific Point just on the ends of the stamp. My photo isn't the best to show it, it was getting dark by the time I took the picture! hehe. I have just added some of the lovely felt flowers and a button (all Stampin' Up!) and it's done.

This stamp is only $39.95 which is great value for the size and versatility of it. I am putting an order in on Sunday at 6pm New Zealand time so if you would like me to add your order to it let me know asap. julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz