February Scrap Page

At Crafters Anonymous I joined a group that does a scrap page for every month of 2011. It's great to MAKE you do some scrapping which although was my first love has suffered of late. SO this month I chose to do the Stamp Camp I went to in Rotorua on the first weekend of February.

I used the cool Totally Tess stamp set which was perfect for this! The base is textured Early Espresso, then the DSP is from the Neutrals DSP pack. Punches are scallop boarder and round tab. Mat pack helped to put the faux stitching around the photos etc. Wording was printed on computer.

Please don't forget, if you haven't already donated, please do so to the New Zealand Red Cross Christchurch Earthquake fund here. Every dollar will help MANY people to start to rebuild their lives.

another chocolate box!

of cause all my gift boxes have chocolate in them! This is another clam shell box following the Crafters Anonymous on-line class on Monday night.

I used the yummy Sweet and Sour Specialty to decorate the Chocolate Chip box. My bunny is made from using different Stampin' Up! punches - mainly small oval and different sized circles. Isn't she cute!

I only attached her to one side of the box so when you open the box she stays in tack!

A fellow crafter Flo did the scallop edge on the inside of her's so I thought I would 'borrow' that idea - helps add something to the inside. Visit her blog here to see her version.

I put a Creme egg inside my Easter box - the only wrapped ones I could find are these ones. Usually I get annoyed when stores start stocking the shelves way too early with seasonal treats but this time I couldn't find the wrapped hollow eggs I wanted - typical! hehe

To keep the egg still in the box I have added an insert which holds it just nicely!

I plan to teach this box in one of my upcoming classes so email me for more details. julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

Just Add Ink #56 sketch

I know I have already posted today but I have been crafting today(to keep my mind off the destruction in Christchurch!) and decided to join in with this weeks Just Add Ink's sketch challenge which finishes tonight!.

So here is my card - I made it for my son who (finally) passed his Learners Licence the other day. I have had the cool set 'To a Classic" for a while and haven't had a event to use it for but thought it was perfect for him. I used my lovely markers (again) to colour-in and to be able to use only parts of the main stamp.

Of cause I used the awesome Top Note Stampin' Up! Big Shot die and embossed it with the lattice embossing folder. The colours are Basic Grey, Real Red and Pumpkin Pie which I got from the cool Colour Coach that I mentioned yesterday.

Don't forget that there are now a few ways the we as a Stampin' Community can help those affected in Christchurch. Firstly they need money so donate on line or thru banks - we as a family chose the Red Cross Appeal . Secondly you can join in the card appeal that the team at Just-Add-Ink are organising where you send blank cards to Victim Support, PO Box 2109, Christchurch, New Zealand and they can then use them to assist their work. We all know how wonderful it makes you feel when you receive a hand made card so imagine what the victims in the Christchurch and Canterbury area will feel during this - their darkest hours.

Friends birthday card

This card is for a good friend of mine who's birthday is this week. I used my Stampin' Up! Color Coach to come up with a colour scheme - this is Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette and Soft Suede. The coach is a great tool - not only has it a sample of every colour on the back it has two different colour combinations, so if you want to try something a bit different you just look on the back and presto - there are combos you probably wouldn't of thought of yourself.

The stamps I have used on this is Well Scripted for the sentiment, the Sale-a-bration set Bliss for the background (free with orders over $120!!!) and Notable Ornate for the bird. I made the pink strip above the satin ribbon by punching out the eight petal flower in the tiny punch trio set that's in the current Summer Mini Catalogue all in a row, make for an interesting boarder. I am sure there are other ones that you can make using different punches - would love to see what you can create using punches!!! I also used my piercing too and mat pack to create the pierced boarder on the textured Celery card.

You will see I carried thru the decoration to the inside of the card - just with the same layers, with slightly less sponging and only one background stamp. I think it adds a nice touch!

Thank you to everyone who has contacted us over the last day regarding the earthquake. We are about 2 hours by plane away from central Christchurch and didn't feel the earthquake at all. We do have friends in the area and are pleased and relieved to know that they are all safe. They themselves have extended family and friends that have been effected, including the loss of life, and so all our prayers and thoughts are with them now after New Zealand's darkest day.

Our hearts go out to all those in Christchurch following todays earthquake

I am at the other end of New Zealand to Christchurch so we are all fine -but extremely saddened by todays horrific earthquake. I have been in contact with friends down their and are thankful that they are all ok.

We feel for those who have suffered as a result - we look forward to be able to help out some how in the near future.

Super cyber hugs to you all (((((HUGS)))))

Crafters Anonymous weekly class project

isn't this the cutest box!!! Last night the fabulous Dee Sturgen took the weekly class on Crafters Anonymous and we made this cool clam shell box. It is a very easy project but very effective - thank you so much Dee!!! It is also very similar to a box that Danielle Daws recently did for a UStamp with Dawn project.

I used the Woodland DSP and my favourite Stampin' Up! punch - the owl punch! I had forgotten that there was this cool wood grain paper in the pack but when I found it I knew it was perfect for this more masculine box. Adding the handles and faux leather corners just finished it off. The colours in the papers are Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake (which is what I made the box out of) & Wild Wasabi.

Crafters Anonymous is an all craft site -it's a great place to meet other crafters, get inspired and supported, and generally have FUN!! If you would like an invite email me directly on julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz and I will send you an invite.

I would also LOVE to teach this project to you and your friends at a Stampin' Up! workshop - it's a great way to have fun with your friends, craft, go shopping and earn FREE stamp sets and Stampin' Up! products! Again email me if this sounds like you!

thanks for visiting.

sorry for MIA!

I just realised that I haven't posted anything for over a week now - so sorry about that. I have been spending time trying to find a house to shift to as we have sold ours and the one we were going to buy became not available so we are in a bit of a panic! I also have not been 100% and as a result I had to cancel my monthly class at Manurewa for February. I really missed getting together with these lovely girls and was disappointed not to make it but my week was brightened when I received this card in the mail signed by them all! Everyone had written a something on the hand made card which was sooooo sweet!

The card is a cool gate fold card. Having the large diamond shape on the front which is attached to the left hand gate looks really great! SO a BIG thank you to Janetta, Jackie, Colleen A, Jillian, Linda, Leanne and Colleen - you touched my heart!

Happy Valentines Day!!

well it's the 14th of February so that means it's our cats birthday (happy 9th birthday Jerry) and more excitingly it's Valentines Day! The day we all stop and express our feelings to our loved ones. I really like it now that it is becoming more of a day that we can express our love to ALL those we love - not just our life partners! So to all of you that are always in my heart, Happy Valentines Day!!

But of cause I needed to make a card for my hubby - since he is more to me than just a life partner - he's my best friend. Just lately he's been chief cook and washerupperer!! As I am sometimes too sore and tired to do those duties!

You saw the other day the bag of nuts I have made for him so here is his card.

I wanted to do a simple card that should how I felt. I folded a piece of Real Red in half and cut out the shape of a heart. Punched two Pretty in Pink hears and sponged the edges of them and the big heart to give them depth. I stamped the sentiment 'Always' on Whisper White, cut it to shape, bent it a bit and put it all on the big heart finishing with a bit of bling.

Hopefully he will like it.

favourite childhood memory

Over on Crafters Anonymous we hold fortnightly challenges and for the last two weeks it's been about childhood toys and memories. I struggled a bit with this one - probably because it was SUCH a long time ago that I was a child! lol Also converting memories to a current project required a bit of thought! You can do the challenges in ANY medium you like but of cause I wanted to use my favourite products - Stampin' Up!

So I made this book card. I first saw a lady make one at an open craft day I held and thought it was a brilliant idea - but didn't think to get a pattern off her - so I had to work it out myself. It wasn't that hard actually - just draw a book first and work out where score lines need to be and card trimmed away. I think I will make this our craft project for this coming week at my Wednesday classes (12.30-2.30pm & 7.30-9.30pm). So email me if you would like to come and make some julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

On this one I used Soft Suede and Very Vanilla. Wanted to keep it to only two colours as many of my favourite books as a child were just like that - not like the bright flashy covers of many of today's books. The Lovely Letters alphabet stamps are perfect for creating the title using the Soft Suede ink and the little deer from Forest Friends just finished the cover off (after a bit of sponging of cause!) .

Inside I kept it simple - just used the stamp from the awesome Word Play stamp set that helps to set the scene and tone of the card. I would use a card like this for sending to an old childhood friend.

Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend.

a healthy Easter treat

Here is another cone cellophane bag made to semi look like a carrot - the bow is Old Olive and looks a LOT better in real life. I filled the bag with dried apricots and made a small badge using the Stampin' Up! Fox and Friends stamp set bunny. The sentiment coming from the side of the badge says Happy Easter - again from my favourite set - Teeny Tiny Sentiments!!

A very quick and easy project and it wont add inches to the receivers hips!

something for Valentines

My hubby loves nuts put I DON"T!! (sometimes wrapped in chocolate but I love most things wrapped in chocolate!! hehe) so I thought would make him something for Valentines Day that he would love -esp. as I wouldn't steal it! LOL

So I have recently got these cute cone shaped cellophane bags so I have filled one with Honey Roasted Salted Peanuts (eeewww) and decorated it up a bit. I didn't have a stamp that said what I wanted so I just made my own!

I wrote the words 'I am nuts about you' over and over with a Chocolate Chip marker pen (thin tip) on Very Vanilla card and then punched it out with the Stampin' Up! heart punch. I then used a heart from the Sweetheart stamp set and stamped it in Real Red again on the Very Vanilla and cut it out. After a bit of sponging I layered it on some Real Red and attached it to the bag of nuts with a bit of Real Red ribbon. To finish it off I added the bow out of Real Red 1 1/4" grosgrain ribbon which I think makes the whole project work together.

I better go and hide it before next Monday - otherwise it won't be a surprise!! I have made some more things using these cone bags so be sure to keep visiting!

STAMP CAMP!!!!

This past weekend I went to my very first Stamp Camp and it was AWESOME!!!

We had 5 (yes 5!!!) wonderful teachers who all did a FAB job teaching some great projects (I will show these later this week) and we had time to get to know each other better and of cause LOTS of food!!

The team that went is called Creative Inkers - and we are spread all over New Zealand so lots of the demo's hadn't met face to face before - just on-line so it was terrific to extend our 'cyber friendships' beyond the computer!.

Here are some pictures from the day - I realised I didn't take photos of us eating (we did A LOT of that!!) or our dorms.

Sentimental Journey

I have just looked thru my blog and I don't think I have blogged this card - so if I have I apologise! lol

It is a swap I made for a Creative Inkers swap late last year using a stamp set from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalogue and it's called 'Sentimental Journey'.

I started with Very Vanilla card that I then wheeled the Friends wide wheel in Early Espresso then embossed it with the Lattice Big Shot embossing folder (also from the Summer Mini) and finally sponged the edges. The stamps were all stamped on Very Vanilla using Always Artichoke, Not Quite Navy and Basic Black. To do the tag which I cut by hand, I used a selection of stamps from the 'Taking Care of Business' stamp set. I used marker pens to just ink the bits that I wanted and a Stampin'-ma-jig to place them exactly where I wanted them. This method means you can create completely different images - so why not have a go yourself and see how you can create your own personalized images!!

To complete the card I stamped Riding Hood Red on to the twill ribbon and then put it all together on a Early Espresso card with an Always Artichoke layer.

I was really pleased with the way it came out and so were the girls at the training session as they voted it the "Best WOW" card! Thanks girls!!

These same girls are the girls I am going away with this weekend for a Creative Inkers Stamp Camp in Rotovagas - whoops Rotorua! So I won't be posting till next week - have a great weekend and hope you get some crafting in!!

Ann's birthday card

Today is my friend Ann Will's birthday and so I needed to make a super special card for her.

At first I was making her the one from yesterday and then my daughter said "but it doesn't have cats on it or bling!" which is exactly what a card for Ann needs to have! lol

SO I put my thinking had on and this is what I came up with -

The punch art cat is inspired by Angela Purdie who has some lovely punch art animals on her site. I decided to make it onto a book mark so it makes the card useful!

The card is a tri-folded zig-zag which is SUPER easy to do - just fold a piece of card into three then open up and mark the lower side on the front left edge where you want the lowest part to be and then mark on the right side where you want the card to end and then just cut straight between the two! You end up with perfectly even Zig Zags. I used the lovely new embossing folder from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini - lattice which just lovely for adding texture.

The card base is Early Espresso, the next layer is craft and the sentiment is stamped on Very Vanilla. Just behind that I put a piece of Marina Mist (my new favourite blue!!) which is the same colour I used for the eyes of the cat, and some of the words on the sentiment. I used my markers to colour directly on to the stamp to get the words in different colours - I think it looks very effective.

On the inside I put a bit of Marina Mist taffeta ribbon just to add a touch of colour.

I hope Ann likes it - it covered the 'cats and bling' requirements so should be good! lol

Hope you have an ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS birthday today Ann, get spoilt rotten as you deserve it!

bring on the sunshine!

Sometimes you just need to surround yourself with bright warm colours and I think this card does just that! It uses one of the new colours - Daffodil Delight! It's a lovely shade of yellow (did you know there were some! lol) and here I have teamed it up with another newby - Marina Mist, with a touch of Night of Navy and the ribbon is Daffodil taffeta. To start with I did a bit of sponging, creating the sunset over the water scene - then stamped the lovely big Medallion stamp in Daffodil Delight. I mounted the frame (after I used the Stampin' Up! corner rounder punch) on top of all that. I stamped two stamps from the lovely Just Believe stamp set in Versamark and embossed it with silver. The greeting is from my favourite Teeny Tiny Sentiments stamp sets. For a bit of texture I crimped the Daffodil layer.

It's really nice to have the inside of a card decorated to match the front. You don't want to smother it with decorations where you can't write on it but a subtle (when do I do subtle! hehe) repeat of pattern and here I stamped the same stamps as the front top layer with Daffodil Delight ink to give it a water mark look, and I rounded the corners again.

Don't forget - my first class of the year is tonight at 7.30pm - email me for more details julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

have a look at this

this is what my niece Amber did yesterday with some of the toppers I made her.

The paper flowers were dyed with Stampin' Up! Tempting Turquoise re-inkers.

Isn't it a FAB cake!!! She made it for the international students shared lunch at her school Epsom Girls Grammar.

Tomorrow we will be back to paper crafting! lol But this was too good not to share!