Background Bliss

Firstly - so sorry it's been ages since my last post - we've had school holidays, a family funeral and other yucky stuff and I've just not had much crafting time. Things are getting back to normal (ish) now and I got to spend  half a day playing in my craft room and will be sharing these cards over the next few days. 

To start the ball rolling I am showing you a version of the last technique I shared. This is the alcohol marker pen marbling one. What I did was stamp some stars in white ink and some in versamark which I heat embossed with red embossing powder. I then chopped it up and just randomly put them on some card. Added a few bits of bling which I coloured with Blendibilities. I just LOVE the word dies as part of the Wonderful Wreath Framelits Dies 

by themselves they are $51.95 or team them up with the Wondrous Wreath Stamp Set and you can save on the bundle for only $90.75 

Using Up Those Scraps

This afternoon I had an had a few moments to play in my craft room and decided I needed to do something with all the little bits I had left over after prepping for a class using the Trim The Trees DSP stack. I started with some plain Whisper White card bases and just played - it was FUN!! The card about I used a layout by the ever so talented Amy O'Neill but the others are all my own designs. Some people think I'm mad keeping all those little bits but hey - they made me 4 cards today AND I didn't have to cut any of them, just shaped them. 

Beer Boxes For Father's Day

This Sunday in New Zealand is Father's Day. So I thought a fun easy card and matching box to hold a beer bottle might be fun. This is a very quick and simple project and easy to do. We're making bottle boxes tomorrow at my class. The card actually says @oneraddad - (one rad dad) sorry about the slightly blurry photo - think my camera was busy focusing on the bush rather than the projects - RUDE! lol 

Hope all the fathers are going to be spoiled this Sunday :)

Project Life Scrap Page

Stampin' Up! have joined forces with Becky Higgins' Project Life - a pocket style scrapbooking system. You can get 'kits' that have precut shapes etc that fit into the different pockets but I did this one using just normal Stampin' Up! products - mainly in Real Red and Pacific Point and the Say Cheese stamp set - which I LOVE! BTW this is my son - Aaron who's 19 :) 

thanks for visiting _)

anyone for CRICKET???

I had my monthly class today and we were going to make some cards using the Stocking punch, rather than copying one I had already made Vicky requested a cricket one so between us this is what we came up with! I really enjoyed making this, I am sure I will find someone to give this to - eventually! Maybe I should put it up for sale??

There is still another few stocking punch cards I want to make - just a matter of finding some spare time!! Where does it go??????????????????????

pillow box easter egg stand tutorial

Isn't this just the sweetest way to present a YUMMY Easter egg??

Again it's made with the Stampin' Up! Pillow Box Big Shot die. I have taken photos of how to do it - but again I have used my faux die to make it easier to see the blades on the die.

Start off with a piece card - you don't need to waste card so cut it wide enough to just cover the blades on the left and only up to the lines on the right.

It should come out like this.

Now this is where you need to be careful. You can move the piece of card along the die to get a small box or one a bit longer BUT you must ensure that you keep the card straight on the die as you will be going over the die so ensure your lines all match up, not like how it is placed on the above picture! lol

Now to get the hole in the middle of the box rule lines from corner to corner as per pic.

Now using the 1" circle punch line up the cross inside the punch and punch out.

It should end up like this.

Now put it all together and it will look like this. you could use it for place names for a special Easter meal or just a cute way to present a yummy egg. And it goes SOOOOO well with the awesome new stamp set "EAT CHOCOLATE" which I used on the top picture! This set is from the new Autumn/Winter mini catalogue.

Happy crafting!!!

anyone for cake???

Now this is a FAT FREE cake as it's all made with card stock - Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip to be exact!! I made these cakes for our Regional Training which we had today. Being part of the Stampin' Up! team opens some amazing doors and Regional Trainings are one of those - must do events!

Each piece is a separate box which could be used for mints, chocolates etc. I cut out all the slices then cut some more pieces that went over the top and side and embossed it with the Lots of Petals Big Shot Embossing folder. I punched some Vanilla flowers using the Boho punch but then I distressed them with my bone folder and pulled the card stock apart - it comes away into two pieces and gives each one a softer texture that normal card. I used the words - 'Now & Forever' to place on a small oval so it gave it a wedding theme. To make it look even more cake like and cut strips of Chocolate Chip card stock and using the Petite Petals Jumbo Wheel I rolled the image on - hoping that it looked more like the texture of cake!

When you put 10 together it forms the whole cake. I tied them together with ribbon and placed a larger flower in the middle! I was really pleased with how it turned out. I have now got 21 little pieces of art from other Stampin' Up! demonstrators - that's the cool thing with swaps - you take something the same (21 in this case) and come home with the same amount of different!!
I am looking forward to sit back tomorrow and take in the cool swaps everyone gave me.

Thanks for looking - and if you would like a workshop or a class on how to make your own piece of cakes then email julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz

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

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!!

Just Add Sympathy - JAI #35

this week over on Just Add Ink (click on the blinkie on the right) the theme the current challenge is 'Just Add - Sympathy' so here is my entry. Unfortunately we need to send more of these than we would like so I usually have a few lying around but I wanted to make one using things that I have never used before. So it started by using some Bravo Burgundy card stock and ink. I think it was the first time my Bravo Burgundy stamp pad had ever been opened! I teamed it up some Almost Artichoke which is another colour I barely use which for both of these I don't know why! I think they go beautiful together especially with the Very Vanilla I have used.

The flowers that I have used are the new paper flowers the Stampin' Up! have in the new Idea Book & Catalogue. I sponged them with both the Bravo Burgundy and Almost Artichoke and added a wee pearl (another great new product). The bow is Very Vanilla taffeta and the heart is from the new Level 1 Hostess set called Punch Potpourri.

Did you notice the scallop trim along the bottom of the layered card? That is the new Scallop Trim boarder punch and I wheeled the new Music Notes wheel in Bravo Burgundy too.

The sentiment is from the absolutely must have set called Teeny Tiny Sentiments.

Thanks for visiting my blog and be sure to visit the Just Add Ink blog for lots of other amazing projects.

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!!

welcome to my blog

this is all new to me - luckly I have 14yo to show me the ropes!!!!

A bit about me.

I'm a Independent Stampin' Up! Demostrator and a teacher of paper crafts.

I have a artistic background with mosiacs, sewing, baking and painting. I found my love of papercrafts about five years ago and haven't looked back.

I have a generous husband who seems to cope with our house being turned into a class studio! I managed to score an whole room just for my 'stuff' - I love you Craig.

I have two lovely kids Aaron and Kelly - both at Junior High this year. The last year they will be at school together!!! Very sad although they might not think so. We also are privalaged to share the house with our cat Jerry. He didn't want his photo taken the day we did the black and white one - he was having a bad hair day!

I hope to be able to bring you neat ideas to do with paper crafts and to share some of my creations. I hold craft classes every Monday and will post what we do after each lesson. This week we are making paper tote bags and doing resist embossing.

I am happy to advise you of all Stampin' Up!s latest news and events.

I live in Albany, Auckland so if you a fellow 'jafa' I'm happy to come and share the wonderful products of Stampin' Up! with you and your friends. Its always a fun time stamping and creating together. Just send an email to me at julia.leece@slingshot.co.nz.

We have a brand new Idea Book and Catalogue coming out on the 1st of April so now is the time to book your workshop and be one of the first people to get hold of our great new products.

Looking forward to sharing more with you soon