COFFEE anyone?? My latest Ustamp with Dawn project

Yesterday my project was featured on the latest round of Ustamp with Dawn & friends. The theme is "COOL MOVES" and all the projects are cards and have some sort of unique 'moving' feature. It is an AWESOME round and it's not to late to join as it's only just started.

My main card is a 'shaker' card and I filled it with semi ground coffee beans and pierced the 'window' so not only does it 'shake' but it smells too!! and a yummy smell at that! hehe

Each card is decorated on the inside and has a matching envelope.

This card is 3" x 6" so I made an envelope to match. I pulled apart an envelope and used that as a template.

Again I made the envelope for this one, adds a real WOW to the card. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and remember there is still time to join this Ustamp with Dawn and Friends Cool Moves round HERE

angel watching over you

here is more product from the upcoming Autumn-Winter mini catalogue. The wings are from a Big Shot Bigz die called Elegant Bird - but as soon as I saw them I thought they would make beautiful angel wings!!! I haven't had a lot of time to play with all my new toys so haven't come up with lots of ideas for it yet but watch this space! hehe.

The DSP is Attic Boutique, isn't it pretty! and the stamp is two stamps from the set that goes with the DSP called Rue Des Fleurs, it has so many awesome stamps that I can't wait to play more!

See you tomorrow!!!

"THANKS- for the support" card

hee hee I know this is a bit cheeky but I love these type of cards! This paper is new in the Autumn-Winter mini catalogue that starts on Sunday 1st April. The hearts are embossed above the red and it's so "lush" (using a teenage term! LOL) I coloured the thin ribbon with the Poppy Parade marker pen to match. The Stamp (well it's two stamps actually) works perfectly for this type of card. I haven't made one of these for a while so thought it was fun to revisit them.

The bottom bit is the 'back' of the card! lool

FAT FREE EASTER EGGS!!!

Aren't these the cutest little eggs you've ever seen!! They are made by covering egg shaped foam and little pieces of fabric. I am working on another project with this new fabric called Twitterpated, and had some little scraps which I am SOOO pleased I didn't throw away! I used the Stampin' Up! glue stick to attach the fabric to the eggs. Added some ribbon which finishes it off but I had to colour some of it to match. I have done a ribbon share with the pleated ribbon and only had the green and blue, so I used my Blushing Bride marker pen to colour some Very Vanilla ribbon - perfect!!!

I used some more fabric on the card plus a few more products that are coming in the new Autumn-Winter mini. Bet you can't wait to play with new toys!! hehe

thanks for visiting! :)

I'm being published in a quilting magazine!!!! YEEEHAAAAA

I submitted all of these projects (which I have posted before) into a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator competition and I was selected!! Along with the way more talented than I Deb Speijer - visit her blog HERE

I might end up making another project as I have to send it in to be professional photographed at the magazine, and I want them not to laugh at my lack of sewing/quilting skills!! hehe The projects had to be made out of either the Christmas Candy Cane or Timeless Portrait fabric so I need to put the thinking cap on again.

Meanwhile I am still doing the happy dance! thanks for visiting my blog!!

more little snippets of fun

This is the hostess gift I gave to my host for the last workshop. It was along the lines of the make and take we did but I used a different Sale-a-bration stamp set and this one included envelopes. Stampin' Up! sell a selection of different sized envelope for all your cards. Of cause they have the fabulous stamping surface that we love.



I have had a FANTASTIC day today playing with all the new Stampin' Up! products that will be released on the 1st April in the new Autumn-Winter mini catalogue. Can't wait to show you over the next few days/weeks.

happy crafting!!

A little bit of loveliness!

I designed this set for the make and take at my workshop last week. Many of the ladies hadn't done ANYTHING like this before so I wanted it to be simple and achievable. I demonstrated the little box made out of the scallop envelope die and then we all made the four cards.

We used the Sale-a-bration DSP and the colours that went with that. They stamped, punched, cutted and snipped! It was a great success and we have another workshop booked for next month! I got some of the inspiration for these from a "using up scraps" presentation that Delys Cram showed us at Stamp Camp - thanks "D"!! click HERE for a link to her stunning blog

Last nights class on Crafters Anonymous with Anne Brignall

Firstly sorry for delays in my blogging - I've been sick with sinus and found it hard to craft but I finally went to doctor today who gave me some antibiotics (the first time in over 10 years since I had some!) so hopefully my crafting mojo arrives soon. I did make this yesterday for our online class last night - I kept it simple for obvious reasons! lol This is a new stamp set and DSP from the upcoming Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue that comes out on the 1st April. I am having a launch class on the 1st April so if you would like more details email at julia.leece@vodafone.co.nz

The card fold is new to me, Anne picked a good one I think! The white card pulls out for you to write your greeting on it. I think it's nice to have something from the usual!

happy crafting!

All Blacks!!

isn't this a lovely card! I wish I had designed but that credit goes to Lisa Bullock who gave it to me at Stamp Camp. There is a story behind it - on the team forum there was a list of who was going to camp with numbers beside the names so we knew how many people were going. I noticed a blank space on number 43 and asked who was it for. Another member asked was it for a mystery guest and had hoped it was for Richie McCaw who is the Captain of the New Zealand world champion rugby team (the All Blacks). I said I would prefer Sonny Bill Williams who is a freakishly amazing player with lovely muscles adorning his godlike body! blahahahaha So Lisa thought she could make our wishes come true by giving us these cards. The inside of my card is below - isn't it funny!

The card itself is stunning! using a die for the white piece and some lovely fussy cutting on the red flowers. The fern is very special - it's from a retired set - as the Silver Fern is the New Zealand symbol.
I have linked to Wikipedia on the highlighed names to help my non New Zealand readers. Thanks Lisa for not only putting a smile on my face at camp but for producing such a stunning card!! xx

discovered an error in receiving your emails

I have just discovered that when people reply to my news feed it doesn't come to my normal email address julia.leece@vodafone.co.nz but to a gmail one which I don't use. I have gone back the last 4 months and replied to those - I wanted to apologize for not doing so earlier. You must think I am very rude! Please accept my sincere regrets that this has happened and I will get my wonderful teenage son to redirect the emails to the above account. I LOVE receiving your comments - so thanks for your support with my Stampin' journey! xx

Birthday cards from my car mates

Card from Narelle

Card from Pam

Card from Paula

When we went to Stamp Camp we car pooled and my lovely car buddies gave me these lovely cards. The first one is from Narelle and Narelle drove my car all the way there and back as I can't drive that long! The next from Pam who is just signed up as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and didn't have any SU products. Then the third was Paula's who also made the bag that's in the last photo with all those chocolates. In the bag from Paula there were 3 bags and the rest where from other people at camp. Funny how everyone knows I LOVE chocolates! hehe I have more cards and gifts for tomorrow - see you then!!

STAMP CAMP!!!!

Since Friday I have been away in Rotorua (aka Rotovagas! lol) for our annual STAMP CAMP! there were 50 of us Stampin' Up! demos from one of the big teams in New Zealand at this fun camp. My car of four crafters left on Friday morning and stopped for a nice lunch on the way. We also stopped in Gordonton for coffee and a shop at the local Grandmothers quilting shop. I was like a kid in a lollie shop! hehe We ended up with dinner at the local 'golden archers' along with half the other attendees of the camp!

The camp started at 7pm on Friday with our first presentation - a one sheet wonder by Rachael with some fun ice breaker type games lead by Shona (the AMAZING lady who arranged the whole camp) and Lisa (all the way from Christchurch!). On Saturday we started at 9am after a short queue at the showers! lol We had a punch art class by Vicky, a mini album from Ria, a rubbed stone and embossing project by Heather, a creative challenge by Lisa and a wonderful presentation by Delys on how to use scraps! The New Zealand National Manager Emma came and shared some great tips on using new product which was very cool! Saturday night was free so a car load of us went for a soak in the local hot pools and an early night.

Sunday started with a packing up and cleaning party of the dorms and then we had our final class by Bev making a fantastic masculine project. We had some training tips from Rachael and Jacque (the boss) finishing with a lunch and the sad part of the camp -saying goodbye to everyone!

I made lots of samples to show you but as I haven't unpacked yet (hee hee) I haven't taken photos of them yet but will soon!

As Friday was my birthday I was SPOILED beyond belief by everyone at the camp.

Here is a pile of the chocolate (candy's) lollies I was given - I do have a big soft spot for Pineapple Lumps - a true New Zealand sweet!! I got showered in lovely hand made cards so I will share those over the next wee while too.

Thanks for visiting my blog - I promise there will be some creative projects to see tomorrow!! hee hee

I love my blankie!

Sorry I can't show you any new paper crafting projects - I've been sick all week and have spent the whole time under my new blankie on my lazyboy chair! I made my blankie from tshirts that I cut up. Most have memories attached to them. I lined the back of them with white polar fleece so it's nice and snuggly. I started out making one for my son and next thing I knew my daughter AND husband started pulling out tshirts as they wanted blankies too! So I have made 4 in total, yesterday my mother visited me and started talking about me making her one and I said I needed a break from them! lol
This one (above) is my husbands - I cut his 40cm x 40cm and as his tshirts were mostly 100% cotton it was very easy to sew.
This one is for my daughter (she will be 15 this year) and I cut hers all 30cm wide and various lengths as her tshirts were smaller. I put a lot of embellishments on hers. Each tshirt has stamping on them!! I just used Stazon ink and ironed to set them. It washes fine no probs!.
This one is my sons one, the first one I made - his ones are 35cm square. They all seem to love them too and I can see them lasting for many years to come!

I am starting to feel a bit better today which is just as well as tomorrow (my birthday heehee) I'm supposed to be going to my Stampin' Up! teams Stamp Camp in Rotorua (aka Rotavagas! hehe). I would HATE to miss it!! I will have lots of lovely new projects to show after this. Thanks for visiting my blog :)

Cup of tea anyone???

Last night on Crafters Anonymous's online class we had a guest tutor - Tania Cordie, and she came up with this great project! It almost looks real doesn't it! lol The class was only for the cup so I added the the saucer myself to finish it off! I stamp the image in with Rose Red and coloured the leaves with two shades of green markers and the flower with the two lightest pink markers. The gold is actually the brushed gold card stock.
But one of the types of china/pottery I like is Clarise Cliff (too much Antique Roadshow perhaps! LOL) and so I had to have a go at making a Claris Cliff inspired cup! lol All coloured in with markers - just like colouring in as a kid! lol
now I need to make a nice cup of herbal tea with honey to help ease my sore throat - my beloved son felt he should share his cold with me - bless him!

I've been designing for Ustamp with Dawn and friends again!

I was privileged to be invited to design a project for Ustamp with Dawn and Friends for their Big Shot round. This idea came to me in the middle of the night - got to make those moments work for you! hehe Bright colours aren't usually the go to for me but it was great to step out of my comfort box for this one.

It's a fun gift box that you could give a young lad or lass to celebrate their first day at school. I used a lot of the awesome Stampin' Up! Big Shot dies, altering some of them from the 'usual' product. It's great to think 'what else can I use this die for?'. It's not to late to join in the fun at Ustamp with Dawn and Friends - there are projects released every day and of cause you can access the past Big Shot projects too!

I am busing designing for the next Ustamp round so keep a look out for those!

thanks for visiting!