Sale-A-Bration: Bliss Project

Needle Books Revisited | Big Shot Fabric

If you are lucky enough to own a Big Shot, you will know that you can also cut fabric using the original or 'steel rule' dies. I am just so impressed at how easily you can cut modern shapes to create 'today's crafts'. I wanted to create a project for my 'Big Shot Club' that would convey many of the ways that you can take best advantage of the dies, when working with fabric. So, I took the humble needle book and reinvented it with Big Shot Dies. Specifically, I used the 'Top Note', 'Scallop Square' and 'Pennant' Dies, PLUS an assortment of other dies for embellishments, to create my version of a needle book. The irony of this project, is that this is a 'NO SEW' needle book as we used a hot glue gun to put it all together. How about that - non sewers can make a nice gift for their sewing friends!

Customers, who have purchased a Big Shot machine from me, are eligible for 10 FREE Big Shot Club Classes. If you already have a Big Shot or are working towards one, the cost of the class is $10. I will share some photos from the class tomorrow!

It's not just FELT that the Big Shot cuts, tulle is no problem for this versatile machine! The white pom pom trim is not Stampin' Up! but let's just say, watch out for a super cool new trim in the upcoming Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue. Be the first to hear about my catalogue launch by checking your emails and this blog!

Friends 24-7 | Broadsheet Alphabet

Don't you just love the NEW elegant 'In Color' BLUSHING BRIDE! This is my new favourite colour and looks stunning when complimented with black & white. Lots of photos on a scrapbooking page, is not my normal style, so I was really pleased when I was able to incorporate seven photos on one page using a 'collage meets colour blocking' template. 'Friends 24-7' stamp set, served as an elegant accent on my 'Blushing Bride' tiles, whilst white embossed 'Broadsheet Alphabet' Stamps, spell out my title 'On Ice'. The little flowers were created with the 'Boho Blossoms' punch with a basic pearl daintily perched on top.

You can easily recreate this page at home or I am happy to demonstrate this page at your workshop. Enjoy the close up photos and make sure you scroll down the page to view the stamps that I used as well as an ordering option.

Broadsheet Alphabet is available as a clear mount stamp set, which is wonderful as it makes it easy to line up individual letters without the need for a stamp positioner. You also save $16 by purchasing clear mount over wood mount.

120585 Clear Mount 'Broadsheet Alphabet' Stamp Set $61.95

You will also need a 'Clear Mount Block' to use this stamp set and the best block for this is block B, which is only $7.95, still making this a cheaper option to a wood mount set. Of course, you can use block B for other Stampin' Up! clear mount stamp sets.

117147 Block B $7.95

Friends 24-7 is one of those versatile stamp sets that you just keep reaching for as it is so versatile. This stamp set is only available as a wood mount set, which gives it the advantage of being ready to use.

115808 Friends 24-7 $45.95

The best news about these products, is that should you wish to purchase them before March 31st, you will qualify for a FREE Sale a Bration Stamp Set, which you can view via the link on the right hand side of this blog.

The total of these products is $115.85 plus $5.80 postage & handling straight to your door (AUSTRALIA ONLY) You may contact me direct on 0448 896 001 or liz@danichbe.com or use the Pay Pal option below. Please remember to tell me which Sale a Bration Stamp Set you would like for FREE and whether you would like WOOD or CLEAR MOUNT for your free set. If you already have a clear mount block, simply tell me and I will substitute this item for a 'Snail Refill' at no extra cost. When paying via Pay Pal, you DO NOT need to have a Pay Pal account - simply choose the option 'Don't have an account' with the Visa and MasterCard icons under it - there is no need to sign in.

Craft Group Sharing Day

Each week at Craft Group, we have a different theme. This week it was 'sharing day', where craft group members have the opportunity to share a demonstration, a make & take, a show & tell, a plate of food or their company. I would just like to say our first 'sharing day' was really fun and we all took ideas away from our time together. My make & take was this gorgeous card designed by Stampin' Up! and published in our monthly demonstrator magazine - there are so many great ideas to be found in this demonstrator resource and I just knew craft group would love to make this card which showcases a technique where you make your own coloured embossing powder - simply brilliant. Bet you didn't know you can MAKE 'Certainly Celery' embossing powder! I actually have more of these make & takes ready to go, so if you would like me to do this at your workshop, please contact me.

I wont be photographing every craft group share day, as I might get lynched by my fellow papercrafters, but I wanted to celebrate our inaugural share day with some photos!

Marjorie instructed us in making a terrific card which was held closed by an 'origami' style butterfly. She was so patient with me as I struggled with 2 left thumbs! I was really happy with my card as was everyone else, so a big thank you Marjorie.

Kim taught a cool Easter punch art bunny! With Easter not all that far away, this was a great project that we all loved! Thanks Kim! An extra big thank you goes to Kim because she cut out many of the shapes by hand as she didn't have the punches! I could never have done this - one because of my failing eyesight and the other my lack of patience.

Now, who knows who this is? Well if you check out my blog links, you will be able to answer this question! The rather amazing, unique, incredible EYE PATCH sprung up an an idea from last week's craft group, where Kim taught us Sesame Street Punch Art, which led to a conversation about felt punch art and then to of course a COOKIE MONSTER EYE PATCH! The fact that this 'not so mystery person' made the eye patch with one eye, only amazes me more. But I've learned never to be surprised by this person's talents - I learned long ago they are limitless!

OK Kate, don't kill me that I posted your photo, but I simply HAD TO - I mean really how could I leave you out after you shared 2 beautiful 'Emboss Resist' cards with us. They were awesome and I especially loved the 'Sahara Sand' card. Thank you Kate!

Finally, thank you to our participants and providers of morning tea. I hope to see you all again at the next 'share day'. Craft Group is held at the Wynnum Manly Workers Club, Bognor Rd, Tingalpa Tuesdays during school term 10am till 2pm. If you would like to come too, please contact me on 0448 896 001 or liz@danichbe.com

Plain & Simple Scrapbooking

As I am journalling this post, I realise I have cropped the bottom 1 1/2 inch strip of 'Whisper White' at the base of this layout - easy to do when you are photographing white on white. Never-mind, this is about generating ideas and not perfection! My new mantra for completing my scrapbooking UFO's (UnFinished Objects), that gives me permission to 'play' with the products I love & enjoy the process.

What I learned from this simple streamlined layout, is that when you have bold colourful papers, such as Stampin' Up!'s 'Greenhouse Gala' DSP, it is best to use small sections of paper or your layout will look too busy with patterns & colour overwhelming your photo(s).

"Antique Brads' do look absolutely stunning as a border feature, as does the addition of 'Fine Supernova Chocolate' Glitter to the small sizzlit alphabet. The glitter was adhered simply by applying two-way glue pen over the letters and smothering with glitter. As highlighted in a previous post, I used the 'Spritzer' to remove excess glitter.

Spritzer | Tool Tip

Today, I discovered a fabulous 'double duty' use for the 'Spritzer'. Most of us know this tool as the slightly disturbing looking gadget that resembles a 'Snot Sucker' (device that removes boogies from babies noses)

It's primary function, in reality, is a kind of manual air brush whereby you clamp a Stampin Write Marker into the holder so that the brush tip of the marker hangs over the nozzle where air rushes out. When you squeeze the 'Spritzer' chamber, this air sends tiny little particles of ink over your project. Basic translation is that it is kind of like paint flicking using a tooth brush.

So my other use of the 'Spritzer' is to leave the marker out, and simply use the capacity of this tool to blow air. This sure beats blowing excess glitter with your mouth as it probably does not take too much imagination to realize that the potential to add saliva to you project is high - so sorry if the idea of this is gross! The alternative is to brush away the excess glitter with a soft paint brush but this is slow & kind of boring! The 'Spritzer' on the other hand is fast & kind of cool!

I'm always really excited when I discover my tools have 'double duty' and I highly recommend the 'Spritzer' when glittering.

年賀状 | nengajō

What a great idea! My friend Chie makes nengajō or otherwise known as Japanese New Year Postcards each year. Chie has discovered a way of combining her love of creativity and Stampin' Up! products with the time saving scanning & postcard printing, to create her nengajō. Chie included her punch art white rabbit from the recent class she taught at my studio as it is year of the rabbit. If you would like to know more about nengajō, click here for a Wikipedia Link.

I just love this tradition and would love to make my own this year in December for 2012. Would anyone like to join me? Look out for Chie's punch art classes in my upcoming class schedules as well as a nengajō get together at the end of the year.