One Layer Card

here is the card that I used for my swap for the Creative Inkers team training yesterday. I love doing things that push you a bit further and I set myself a challenge of doing a one layer card. Well it's almost one layer.

The fold is the tri-fold shutter card that I have done a bit latterly. I just sized it down to cut 3 from my Crumb Cake A4. After cutting and scoring it I stamped it with the big En Francis back ground stamp. I had to use my faithful Stampin' ma gig to line up the words so it looks like it's all stamped just once. The scrolly vine from Vintage Vogue was just perfect for the corners and a bit of sponging around the edges all in Old Olive. I used the wreath from the AWESOME Welcome Christmas stamped in Cherry Cobbler. Don't forget the super bundle that Stampin' Up! are having - check out the flyer on the right of this post.

The last little bit was two tags from the Lots of Tags die set that I used thru the Big Shot. I used the single TO & FROM stamp, punched it out with the tag punches, a bit of Old Olive ribbon and she was all done!

Wait till you see what I have to show you tomorrow!! see you then!

third Holiday Line Up card

here is the third and last card that I sent Flo
go check out her blog to see what she sent me - you wont be disappointed.

There are only three stamps in this set so I had to use each of them. The last one is the line up of elves which I just couldn't think what to do with them. Then I remembered my son's Where's Wally books and thought - ah ha! and that is sorta what I did. Although there isn't a 'Wally' to look for. To create the effect I had to stamp the image on to post it notes - I needed two of them. Once cut out this enables you to mask the areas where you have already stamped, thus creating the 'crowd' of elves.
To highlight them even more I used my white gel pen to bring out their eyes, finishing them with a dot for their pupils. I had to include the 'from all of us' sign from the Family Phrases set.
I think it turned out quite effective as I only used Crumb Cake ink & card stock and mounted it on a bit of Whisper White. Normally I like lots of layers but I think simplicity worked well for this card.

If you didn't get a chance to go on the Stampin' Up! Punches Blog Hop yesterday go and have a look now. Just click on the links in the previous post and you will be treated to some AWESOME work and come away with lots of ideas.

I am putting an order in on Monday 1st November so if there are any punchers (or any other Stampin' Up! products) that you MUST have (or lets just say NEED LOL) email me this weekend julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz.

thanks for visiting.

PUNCH ART BLOG HOP

Hello and welcome to the inaugural South Pacific punch art blog hop!!!We are a bunch of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from New Zealand and Australia who love our Stampin' Up!punches. We have gotten together to showcase a selection of the punches you can purchase from Stampin' Up!. We know we will inspire you and encourage you to use those punches in new and beautiful ways. Please leave a comment and let us know what you think to go in the draw to win some yummy scrummy punch art blog candy (offer not available to SU demos).

The way it works is that you go from blog to blog. There is a list at the bottom of this post with all the blogs that are participating. You may have come to my blog from Sally Williams and then go on to Amy's blog.


This is a first for me but it was so much fun coming up with these samples. My punch that I am highlighting is the Two Step Owl Extra Large Punch (118074) which for $41.50NZ/$33.95AUD is GREAT value when you see all the things you can make. This is only a sample of things you can do - if you have come up with other things please leave a comment with a link as we would LOVE to see them.



One of the cool things you can make with the owl punch is ALIENS! I thought I would take it to the next level and have a alien wedding - especially when I found the stamp from the 'A Word for You' (121474 wood mount $46.95NZ/$38.95AUD or 120528 clear mount $37.95nz/$29.95AUD) that just is perfect for this odd couple! lol


This card was one of the easiest card I have ever made. I was inspired to make it after I went to an 80's party for a friends 40th. Her sister Ann made a Pac Man cake - go visit her blog

The next series of photos are gift cards that are going on a friends 12 days of Christmas parcels. Over on Crafters Anonymous we each have a person for whom we buy or make 12 little pressies for them to open for the 12 days before Christmas. Each day had a theme and you will see I have typed in the photos the theme for each day - so you can sort of understand why the card has on it what it does. I thought I would take the opportunity to show case more ways of using the Owl punch.

Here is the list of demo's that are taking part in this blog hop. The hop officially starts at 12pm New Zealand time or 10am Sydney in Australia. As I am not proficient in working out how to set up a blog post to start at a certain day let alone a set time I am starting mine now! lol

1. Karen Southwell - www.kareniescrafts.blogspot.com

2. Carol-Ann Torrie http://queen-of-scraps.blogspot.com

3 Sally Williams http://www.sallycancraft.com/

4 Julia Leece - http://www.juliascards.blogspot.com/

5 Amy http://ladybugsanddaisychains.blogspot.com/

6 Melissa Davies http://beedevinedesigns.blogspot.com/

7 Michelle Dyson http://www.stampinkpaper.blogspot.com

8 Clare Mcilhatton http://craftycowcreations.blogspot.com/

9 Lisa Bullock http://daffyscrapper.wordpress.com

10 Pauline Bennetts - http://paulinebennetts.com/stampede/

11 Tia Routledge http://craftingwithtia.weebly.com/my-blog.html

12 Emma Kirton http://www.emmakirton.blogspot.com/

13 Angie Jones http://angiescraftfusion.blogspot.com/

14 Andrea Buckland http://creatingcardswithandrea.blogspot.com

15 Steph Gray http://stampinsteph.wordpress.com/

Thanks for joining in on the fun today!!

JOY WREATH

I know I promised another Holiday Line card but I will show you that in the weekend! hehe

Today I have made this really cool wreath so I thought I would give it at a quick tutorial. The full tutorial PDF will be available FOR FREE as soon as I can work out how to attach it to here! LOL

Meanwhile you are welcome to email me direct julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

TUTORIAL

Start with a foam ring and cover it with ink using a stamp pad.

Cut 60-80 leaves in two colours using the Big Shot Leaves #2 Original Die.

Adhere the leaves from the outside edge first, then the inside edge. It is best to bend the leaves for the remaining part to cover with your bone folder to help them bend around the ring.

Attached a piece of ribbon around the outside edge and secure with a pin. Attach enough ribbon to hang it from at top of wreath and top off with a bow.

Cut a piece of card stock and trim the edges to create a ribbon look. Using your bone folder again curl the card a bit then attach it to the wreath with Sticky Strip.
To add more detail I added red brads by the leaves to look like berries.


It's that easy!!

Holiday Line Up - card number TWO

this is the second of three cards that I made for a fellow Stampin' Up! demo for a swap. This card only has two colours - Marina Mist and Whisper White. I used my Aqua pen and ink pad to colour the snowmen, which enables you to get light and darker shades. I used the Petals a Plenty Big Shot embossing folder for the texture and the scallop boarder punch.

The style of card is called an 'easel card' so it can lay flat for posting etc but will sit up like this for display. Come back tomorrow for the third card.

Lots of people weren't able to attend the class on these little boxes last week so we have now made the tutorial available for purchase over on Crafters Anonymous. If you are not already a member and would like to join or know more about our ALL CRAFTS site email for an invitation or information on julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

Holiday Line Up

Over on Crafters Anonymous we held a swap where you get a partner and you make 3 cards using one stamp set. My partner Flo asked for Holiday Line Up (although she can't remember asking me! lol) so over the next few days I will blog the three cards that I sent her.

This is the first card. I stamped the reindeer and then used the Stampin' Up! Markers to colour them I even extended the arms and body down as I wanted them to 'taller' hehe

The background patterned paper I made using the Snow Swirled stamp set with Real Red and Crumb Cake ink. I sponged around the edges and then crimped it with the Stampin' Up! Crimper. Added a greeting from Heard from the Heart set and mounted it all on a Real Red base.

Come and visit tomorrow to see another Christmas card using the same stamp set but COMPLETELY different! lol

ok - not really craft related at all but......

I just HAD to share!! hehe

Over the long weekend here in New Zealand we have had the Mustang Convention where all the Mustang owners in the country got together. There was a car show and on Sunday night we had a banquet and prize giving event. Well my husband 2 years ago rebuilt a 1967 Notch Back (also known as a Hardtop) from scratch. We imported a reck from the States and he did everything on it, the body work, the painting, the engine, the interior - everything! He even used my old sewing machine to make some extra stuff!

This weekend was his first National competition and we were TOTALLY rapt to find we (well, we are a couple! lol) WON!!!!! We got 1st in the 1967-1968 Hardtop section. There was even a trophy and all!

The trophy is really hard to photograph as it is clear glass with the words etched into it but I am sure you can still get the idea! lol

Tomorrow I will be back to paper crafting - but thought you might like to see what another part of my family life is. Thanks for visiting.

getting creative!

Whilst looking for something COMPLETELY different at the local discount dollar store I found these hessian wine bags. I decided that they needed something more - so out came the stamps!

I used Stazon ink as it is the best type of ink to use on something that you don't want it to rub off. Stampin' Up! sell two colours - white and black. You can make your own colours too by putting in a few drops of the white ink from a reinker (the reinker comes with the stamp pad for the white) to a small container and add a drop or two of the colour you are wanting to use. Mix them with a dauber and - **insert drum roll** you have that colour. It will be a milkier version but still the same tone.

I used the a flourish from the Elements of Style stamp set and some letters from the Defining Alphabet stamps. You could personalise them with names etc and the make lovely gifts for Christmas or birthdays. I am going to use these as hostess gifts for my next workshop hostesses so if you would like to host a class or a workshop email me TODAY julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

I LOVE how Stampin' Up! products can lend themselves to SO many great projects for everyday life!

teen birthday card

My son had a birthday party to go to and asked me to make him a card - that is fine but I would of preferred not to be asked as I dropped him off to school the day of the party and when I was going out of town for most of the day!! Any I had a few minutes before my ride was collecting me so this is what I came up with.
I quickly brayered some Whisper White with just about every blue in the Stampin' Up! colour range, then stamped some of the stamps from the Extreme Elements stamp set with Whisper White craft ink. I stamped the Extreme Guitar (cause the party theme was 'ROCK STAR') stamp in Basic Black, tore the bottom of the card, stamped some stars from the Extreme Elements in Real Red on Real Red card, pierced a few holes in it. Then I got to use some of the new mini eyelets and used the cool Crop-o-dile to set them. I hand cut the bracket and tied some mini tags I made on with linen thread. The mini tag punch is cool to use, with the Tiny Tags and Teeny Tiny Sentiments stamp sets.


Inside the card I made a small pocket for the gift card (which I had to get after I drop said teenage at school too!!) and stamped some more images from the Extreme Elements set.
I hope next time I have a bit more warning!
Thanks for visiting my blog.

a challange entry

Over on Crafters Anonymous we have a challenge on every second Sunday. These are always fun and they run for two weeks, so there's plenty of time to make something to enter it. And they are not limited to paper crafting either - you can bake, sew, mould, knit whatever!

The challenge this time is - Create a functional holder for domestic use. Your design must include an animal and the colour red.

So I decided I needed a jar to store tea bags - these are for black tea. I am a herbal tea gal but when I have classes etc lots drink 'normal' black tea so I needed a container for it. I think this is much nicer than a cardboard box! lol

I used Real Red, Whisper White and Old Olive card and Real Red, Old Olive and Crumb Cake ink. Stamps were Lovely Letters, Fine Flourish and Butterfly Prints. A bit of ribbon and some leaves from punches (Bird punch & Butterfly) and Stampin' Up!'s Big Shot die - Little Leaves.

Why not come over and join in the fun. The next challenge will start on this Sunday!

Take a Note card

this card is what I made in class today. My class that I have on Wednesday (1st & 3rd of each month) hadn't made the acetate cards that I showed your earlier this month from my Manurewa class below or the original card here.

So today I decided to do a different theme - so I got out my Music Note wheel ($14.50) and black Stazon ink ($18.50) and rolled the acetate. Stazon is a very quick drying ink and perfect for using on surfaces that can't absorb the ink. If you did the same with normal pigment ink it would easily wipe or rub off.

I also used the Notably Ornate ($50.95 wood/$40.95 clear) stamp set to do all the other stamping. I LOVE the bow with the Black Striped 1 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon ($24.50 for 9.14mts) and the beautiful Antique Brads ($13.95 for 20). And of cause I had to use the Stampin' Up! Big Shot - Top Note die, it just makes EVERYTHING better! lol

If you would like to know more about my classes that I run from home here in Albany or would like me to come to your area for either a Stampin' Up! workshop or class email me today julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

Thanks for visiting.

DRESS UP CHRISTMAS PROMOTION

One of the cool things about being part of a great team is that we share things - and one of the lovely ladies in the Creative Inkers team and a sideline of mine works out how to put things on our blogs a lot easier than I could ever try!! SO a big THANK YOU to Karen Rogers - yes you can click on her name and go straight to her blog - something else I learnt to do today - thanks son!
So here is a much better list than the one I did yesturday LOL!! Also I have put the actual flyer on the side of my blog and when you click in it - it will go bigger so you can read it LOL so another thanks to Tia Routledge for that too!! I have such cool friends!!

Description	Wood-Mount Item	Wood-Mount Price	Clear-Mount Item	Clear-Mount Price
Gifted Bundle Gifted Set and Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper	124041	$80.45	124042	$68.45
Welcome Christmas Bundle Welcome Christmas Set and Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper	124045	$83.90	124046	$71.90
Season of Joy Bundle Season of Joy Set and So Swirly Stampin’ Around Wheel	124043	$81.45	---	---
Delightful Decorations Bundle Delightful Decorations Set and Ornament Punch	124044	$88.45	---	---

*Bundles and ribbons available while supplies last

Choose from these ribbons:

Description	Item	Retail Value
Mistletoe Ribbon Originals	116792	$26.95
Sleigh Bells Ribbon	116795	$19.50
Riding Hood Red 1-1/4” Striped Grosgrain Ribbon	113099	$24.50
Real Red 3/4” Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon	115608	$24.50

Just one more tri-fold shutter card!

This one I used the Snow Swirled stamp set along with the Teeny Tiny Sentiments stamp set for the 'Merry Christmas'. To get the white so bright on the coloured card I stamped the image in Versamark and then used White Embossing Powders and my Stampin' Up! heat tool. Doesn't it give a great result! I used textured cardstock for the base which you can now buy in single colours - it's 12"x 12" and you get 6 sheets plain and 6 sheets textured!! The patterned paper (DSP) is Jolly Holiday and the red is Cherry Cobbler.
Stampin' Up! have just announced a great promotion for all your Christmas projects and crafts and one of them include the Jolly Holiday paper.

Promotion Details:
During the Christmas season, you can earn exclusive Stampin’ Up! ribbon in two different ways:
Purchase a gift-giving bundle and receive one FREE spool of ribbon.
Host a $600 workshop and receive two FREE spools of ribbon.

Choose from these bundles:

Gifted Bundle
Gifted Set and Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper
$80.45 for wood mounted & $68.45 for clear mounted

Welcome Christmas Bundle
Welcome Christmas Set and Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper (exclusive for this promotion)
$83.90 for wood mounted & $71.90 for clear mounted

Season of Joy Bundle
Season of Joy Set and So Swirly Stampin’ Around Wheel
$81.45 -wood mounted only available

Delightful Decorations Bundle
Delightful Decorations Set and Ornament Punch
$88.45 - wood mounted only available


*Bundles and ribbons available while supplies last

Choose from these ribbons:
Mistletoe Ribbon Originals $26.95
Sleigh Bells Ribbon $19.50
Riding Hood Red 1-1/4” Striped Grosgrain Ribbon $24.50
Real Red 3/4” Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon $24.50

Contact me ASAP to place your order.

I did it!!!

I got a TOP PICK over on Just Add Ink!! And it's extra special because it was for the PINK & BLING challenge which was to bring awearness to the Breast Cancer campaign which as we all know it needs a lot of support. Go over to www.just-add-ink.blogspot.com and join in the fun - this weeks challenge is Just Add BLUE in support of Anxiety and Depression Awareness Month.


Today's card I am showing you is another tri-fold or shutter card.




and of cause it's another Christmas card. I used Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler along with the Jolly Holiday DSP and the Season of Joy stamp set. I really like using alternative colours for Christmas, can't wait to see what other colours I can come up with!

WELCOME CHRISTMAS!!!

well that's the name of one of the stamps I used to make this tri-fold card. It is often called a shutter card too, who knows why?? LOL
I started with textured Old Olive cardstock and I have added Ridinghood Red, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla. Other stamp sets I used are En Frances and Vintage Vogue.
I got out my much loved crimper tool for the top and bottom and added a bit of ribbon to finish it off.
Isn't it wonderful how all the Stampin' Up! products can work together - I hope to make another tri-fold card tomorrow - come back and see how I get on!

acetate cards from my class

Here are the awesome cards my Manurewa class made on Friday. They have acetate as the base, with the Stampin' Up! Big Shot Top Note die for the main body of the card. We used other die's with the Big Shot to make the leaves and the frame around the words. I love the colours that everyone chose and how they personalised them all differently!
Looking forward to making some groovy Christmas Cards with them next month!

see what my monthly class in Manurewa made on Friday

we had a great night! We made cards as well as these candles but I will post the cards tomorrow.

I just LOVED the style each person took! The lovely candle with the cat in the last photo has a special meaning. You may remember me showing a card I made for a friend who lost her much loved 'Sing' so she made this candle to remember him by.

Everyone had a ball personalising their candles, from bling to initials - LOVE Fiona's F!!

If you would like to know how to do candles like this with using stamps then contact me today to book a workshop or a class at either your house or mine! julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

Just Add PINK & BLING!!

over at http://www.just-add-ink.blogspot.com/ this week's challenge (#37) is just add pink and bling as October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! I can't wait to see what everyone has come up with. I thought I would show you this cool cupcake carry box that I have made. It is big enough to hold one good size cupcake (or a good slice of cake if you prefer! lol)

I used the scrummy new Stampin' Up! Designer Series Specialty Paper called Sweet and Sour which has a nice shimmery look to it, although a bit hard to see in the photo. I teamed it up with Mellon Mambo, Rose Red and Very Vanilla. I used the Just Treats stamp set for both the image of the cupcake and the words on the tag. I have added Dazzling Diamonds to the handle and the tag - because you can NEVER have too much BLING!!



I am offering the tutorial for FREE over on http://www.craftersanonymous.ning.com/ so if you aren't already a member join up before the 21st October. Email me on julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz so I can send you an invitation.







Here are the details:

Please note - the free tutorial will be available after the class to those that attend.



21 OCTOBER 2010

AEST Time: 12.30pm and 5.30pm

NZ Time: 3.30pm and 8.30pm

NSW Time: 1.30pm and 6.30pm



I will be running two classes on this day so be sure to make it along as you wont want to miss this fab project!!!

another baby card

here is another baby card this time using the cute as stamp set Baby Bundle. This set actually has 16 different stamps which is great value for only $47.95 for Clear Mount or $59.95 for Wooden Block Mounted. I used the new Stampin' Up! In Color called Pear Pizzaz which is so soft and divine with the Very Vanilla. The boarder punch is also new - the Scallop Trim Boarder Punch ($36.95 for the boarder & $23.95 for the corner punch) and the Big Shot Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder ($19.50).

The sentiment is punched out with the Word Window Punch and then I mounted it on a piece of Pear Pizzaz punched out with another new item - the Modern Label punch. Lastly a bow in Very Vanilla 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon just to finish it off.

If you would like to order these or any other Stampin' Up! products contact me today on julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

a little different baby card

do you like this style of card? I love it - I first saw this type of card on Splitcoast Stampers http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/ where there is MILLIONS of amazing paper crafts photos and tutorials. I have a gallery there too which you can access by clicking on the Splitcoast Stampers blinkie down on the right column.
I used Bashful Blue and Whisper White, the Stampin' Up! Big Shot Bigz Scallop Circle Die, the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" circle punches and the new Scallop Trim Boarder punch and a couple of silver brads.
The card can stand on its own as it has four wheels, and you can see where the fold is on the left side of the card. To go this all you do is fold some card in half and place the fold just inside the blade of the die before putting it thru the Big Shot system. You can do this with all of the Bigz dies. Contact me today to order and of these wonderful Stampin' Up! products!
I have made a few baby cards lately so I will post those over the next few days.

Acetate Milk Carton Box

isn't this just the cutest! I used the awesome Stampin' Up! Big Shot die - Mini Milk Carton (a Bigz L die) and I embossed the acetate after I cut it out with the Petals-A-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.
I wrapped a belly band around it in Early Espresso and made my own little bit of patterned paper using Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight & Peach Parfait and the Tiny Tags stamp set. Tied a lovely bit of 1/8" Taffeta ribbon in Early Espresso.
Inside I have filled it with mini liquorice allsorts - they are so cute and suit this project!!

Thanks to all the lovely ladies that came to my craft day yesterday, we had a ball and lots of crafting was done! On top of it all my daughter made a new friend too as one of my guests had a daughter of a similar age and they had a ball together!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

all day craft day

just a quick reminder that tomorrow October 6th I am having an open day for crafting here at my place. Come anytime between 9am till 5pm and work on your current project. You are welcome to use any of my toys - whoops tools! lol Just bring your own consumables - adhesive, cardstock, ribbons etc and your lunch but I have done some baking today so lots of yummy morning and afternoon tea!
Don't forget kids are welcome - my daughter Kelly is available for babysitting for a small donation towards her new ipod fund!
Contact me direct for any more details - julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

a no stamping card and box

This week over on Just Add Ink the challenge is a colour one.

So I decided to make a card and a box that has NO STAMPING on them.

I embossed the Rose Red with the Final Press embossing folder. I have sponged all the edges of every layer to give it some depth. I had to include my favorite Stampin' Up! Big Shot item - the Top Note die! The Pumpkin Pie flower is made from two Fancy Flower punch outs and a circle - the small one on the Mini Milk Carton was a lot fiddler to do! lol

So go over to www.just-add-ink.blogspot.com to see all the other fantastic entries.

now for something completely different!

here is a toy giraffe I made for a friend. Apparently a friend of hers had a green spotty giraffe as a child but reckons her mother took it off her way to early and she was traumatised! So my girlfriend wanted to give her one for her 40th birthday - and as she couldn't find one anywhere got me to sew one.

It's been ages since I made anything like this but it was so fun to day (except the stuffing part! lol). Now that I have done some sewing my daughter thinks I should sew her some more clothes! Luckily she can sew herself so she will be doing some too! hehe

I promise we will be back to paper crafts for my next post! lol

christmas is just around the corner

so have you started on your cards?
I have! hehe This is made using the new Ornament punch - the one I used yesterday for the fish bodies! Firstly I stamped a couple of the ornaments from Contempo Christmas and Delightful Decorations in Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive - aren't these colours yummy together???? I did three in each colour/stamp and the punched them out. I folded them in half and then stuck them together to create the decoration. You can still post a card like this because you just put it in an envelope with the decoration open.
Just imagine what a great a Christmas tree would with a whole lot of these?? They are SO easy to make - contact me TODAY to get your Christmas preparations underway!!
julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

fishy card

Isn't the fish so cute?? They are made using the new Ornament punch. The original card I saw was by Vonda Thomas called 'just keep swimming' and couldn't wait to get the ornament punch to make my own. I used the small heart from the Owl punch for the lips and also for the eyes. I used the circle scallop punch for the side fins and the photo corner punch for the tail. I think next time I might use an oval punch with half cut away with a scalloped edge for the tail. The sea weed is from the bird punch too. To create the top of the water I used the square scallop punch, it leaves the water looking edge when you do a line of it. All the punches are Stampin' Up! punches - if you would like to know how you can buy these - or even earn them for FREE contact me today julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz
Thought this card would be great for kids or people who love their fish!!