Power of Hope Vellum Lantern

I love the look of paper lanterns and when I saw the Power Of Hope stamp set, available for free during Sale-A-Bration, I immediately thought of making one. I looked at some paper lanterns I had left over from attending the Auckland Lantern Festival in previous years and attempted to copy them in miniature.

I used a piece of petal pink vellum 5" x 4" (12.7 cm x 10 cm) for the little lantern and stamped the images in Memento back ink all around it between two 1/2" (1.25cm) score lines.

After the ink dried I cut 1/4" (0.5 cm) slices between the top and bottom score lines to create the curved lantern effect. I then glued the lantern sides together, overlapping one of the 1/4" (0.5 cm) slices.

I used a couple strips of petal pink cardstock 1/2" x 5" (1.25 cm x 12.7 cm)  to give it stability on the top and the bottom.

I hung a petal pink Best Dressed Tassel using gold thread at the bottom of the lantern. This also created a way to hold the battery-operated tealight. I also used a 1/4" x 6" (0.5 cm x 15.24 cm) piece of petal pink cardstock to create a handle at the top. 

Using three flowers from the Seasonal Layers Dies, I die cut the petal pink cardstock and vellum to decorate the little lantern, thus hiding my joins on the top and bottom strips.

I love the way this lantern came out and it was so easy to make. If you'd like to make one yourself, have a look at my video for instructions.

If you make a lantern I'd love to see it. Please post your pictures in the comments or on my Facebook page.

#Vellum #Lantern #Tealight #PowerOfHope #KeepCalmAndCraft #ComputerAndCraftDesigns #StampinUp #creativetherapy #StayHome #SaleABration

Mailbag Makes -- Craft Anywhere You Want!

I love teaching others how to make things with papercrafts. I have weekly classes in my home and participate in annual events with my upline, called Crafternoon. I have even started making videos to show people all over the world how to make things with Stampin' Up! products.

However I know that some people just can't make it to a class because the timing isn't right or they live too far away. Maybe, like me, they love to watch videos but unless they have the materials at hand they never make the projects they watch. My Pinterest is full of projects I'd love to make, but sometimes it takes too long to prepare the materials. I have the same problem when it comes to cooking -- the prep work takes too long and what I really enjoy is the eating!

So I have come up with a solution to those problems -- papercraft projects already prepared and ready to make mailed out to people which I am calling Mailbag Makes! I will do all the prep work and I will mail you all the pieces needed to make the project. You will get a link to a video of me showing you exactly how to create the featured papercraft. That way you can make the item(s) anytime and anywhere you like as you'll have everything you need ready and waiting for you, except for the stamps and ink.

Each month I will create a different project, ranging from cards to scrapbooks, home decorations, gifts, bags and boxes. The Mailbag Make will include all the cardstock, paper and embellishments you need to make the project. The price of the Mailbag Make will vary each month depending on how many supplies are need and it will not include the featured stamp set or inks, however you can purchase them for an extra fee or just use what you have at hand.

I am starting this offer with an antique-looking Memory Book. You can use this as a scrapbook by attaching your favourite photos to the pages or you could also use it as a diary because it includes 12 printed calendar months. Have a look at my preview video below to see the inside of the book and for more information on what's included.

Just contact me to order your Mailbag Make if you live in New Zealand, unfortunately I am unable to send products outside of my country. Next month I will have another project for sale as a Mailbag Make so check back then or join my email list so you can be notified as soon as the next one is available.

#KeepCalmAndCraft #ComputerAndCraftDesigns #StampinUp #creativetherapy #StayHome #MailbagMake #Scrapbook #DesignerSeriesPaper #MiniBooklet #MemoryBook #CraftHappy #PhotoAlbum

A Bouquet of Paper Tulips

I've been having so much fun with the new Tulip Builder Punch which is part of the Timeless Tulips Bundle from Stampin' Up!

I started off stamping and then punching out the flowers and leaves to give dimension to my cards but then I decided to take things to a another level with three dimensional flowers.

It is so quick and easy to make adorable tulips with this punch.

You can stamp the cardstock before punching or just decorate them using other techniques such as sponging, embossing, water colouring, blending, spritzing, or colourong with pencils or pens. You can also combine several of these techniques to add even more colour and depth to your tulips.

Tulip Builder Punch

To make these 3-D tulips all you need is some cardstock and the Tulip Builder Punch. You should punch out five flower pieces from a 2" x 6" piece of cardstock. Score the centre of each flower from the tip of the middle petal and fold each one in half lengthwise. If you want to decorate the flowers, you should do this now before gluing the sections together.

To decorate the tulips you will need some additional items besides just cardstock. Depending on the technique you use you may need some ink, pencils, pens, sponges, embossing folders, or daubers.

Glue all five flower pieces together to form the tulip, making sure you place a wooden skewer in the centre for the stem. You should colour the skewer with Stampin' Blends before attaching it to the flower. Punch out two leaf pieces from Garden Green cardstock and glue them together on the wooden stem. You could attach a banner with a sentiment to the stem if you wish.

Have a look at my video below to see how to put the flowers together along with other tips for decorating the tulips. I show samples of cards I've made at the end of the video as well as how to stamp the reverse image on a leaf using the Stamparatus.

If you like these tulips check out my other videos and blog posts using this stamp set!

#KeepCalmAndCraft #ComputerAndCraftDesigns #StampinUp #creativetherapy #StayHome #TimelessTulips #SaleABration #3DFlower #Stamparatus

Magic Colour Slider Cards

I've seen lots of videos of magic colour slider cards online and I have been wanting to try this technique for a long time. I finally found a stamp set that lends itself to this technique; the Dressed To Impress Photopolymer Stamp Set. The solid outline images are perfect for colouring in which is why I used them for my cards.

I modified the way I made my cards from those I'd seen online so that they aren't too bulky. Most videos I watched used dimensionals to pop up the front so that the window sheet slid more easily. Also the videos I watched didn't make cards, per se, they only made the fronts which did not open however you could write your message on the back.

After a long night's thinking -- which is why I don't get much sleep -- I came up with an idea to use designer series paper on the front to hold the sliding mechanism. I also didn't like that the space was left blank after pulling the window sheet up to reveal the coloured image, so I decided to stamped on the rest of the window sheet which turned it into a hidden message!

I created my first card with the lipstick image and the sentiment that fits it perfectly -- Be As Bold As Your Lipstick! I chose a colour combination to match the Stampin' Blends I used for the lipstick: Rich Razzleberry, Lovely Lipstick and Smoky Slate. I used the layering ovals for the cutout and to make a frame in Lovely Lipstick. I also used white embossing powder for the sentiment on the front of the card and the little arrow on the pull tab. The inside of the card has a sentiment from the Stitched All Around Cling-Mount Stamp Set.

Once I completed my first card I had lots of ideas to do more cards so I decided to create a video showing how to make one. My second card used the shoe stamp and the matching Best Dressed DSP. This time I chose Granny Apple Green, Lovely Lipstick and Purple Posy for my colours which match some of the colours in the DSP.

The video (below) shows how to make the card and mentions the dimensions however I had to make a few adjustments since this was a landscape card which I hadn't tried to make before. In the video I explain how to figure out measurements for different sized apertures.

Here are the measurements I used for both cards:

*** Standard A6 card size base = 14.8 cm x 21 cm scored at 10.5 cm (5-3/4" x 4-1/8")

*** Whisper White cardstock (two pieces -- inside and front) = 14.3 cm x 10 cm (5-5/8" x 4")

*** Designer Series Paper = 14.3 cm x 10 cm (5-5/8" x 4")

*** Whisper White cardstock for insert = 14 cm x 8 cm (5-1/2" x 3-1/8")

*** Window Sheet for insert = 14 cm x 8 cm (5-1/2" x 3-1/8")

*** Scrap piece of cardstock for the sentiment on the front, the aperture frame, and the pull tab.

You can see a list of the products used under the description on my YouTube video.

After making this video I realised I didn't have to stamp the second image on the window sheet since I could have just cut it out of the white cardstock and glued it to the window sheet instead because you won't be seeing the bottom of the white insert.

I now have another idea for making a different magic colour slider card which will use less window sheet so . . . watch this space!

#KeepCalmAndCraft #ComputerAndCraftDesigns #StampinUp #creativetherapy #StayHome #Stamparatus #DressedToImpress #MagicColorCard #SaleABration #LovelyLipstick

Stampin' Spots Come To The Rescue!

I was creating some cards with my Stamparatus for a customer order and the coloured ink pads I needed to use were very 'juicy' which is a common problem with new pads and sometimes due to humidity.

I tried to make the card a few times with light pressure and scraping the ink to one side of the pad, but I still got too much ink on the photopolymer stamp and thus smeared the image. The only other solution I knew of was to scrape off the excess ink or dab the ink pad onto paper which I don't like to do as it wastes the ink.

Then I remembered I had some Stampin' Spots which are perfect for use on the Stamparatus as you don't get ink all over the plates when you ink up your stamps. Fortunately I had some un-inked Stampin' Spots so I dabbed them on top of the 'juicy' parts on my ink pads. This served two purposes -- it removed the excess ink from the pad and created an inked Stampin' Spot which was perfect for use with the Stamparatus.

In the end I was able to create several identical cards quickly and easily, plus I removed some of the excess ink from my full-size pads. This was definitely a win-win!

#ComputerAndCraftDesigns #StampinUp #creativetherapy #PaperCraftIdeas #HandmadeGifts #HandmadeCard

Stamping Outside the Paper!

I know the title of my blog is Papercraft Addiction, but sometimes I need to do crafting without paper. Crazy thought, I know! However I did used ink and stamps, so it's still a hand-craft.

I watched a video online and then attended my upline's technique class to learn how to stamp on to a ceramic mug. The main things you need to know to do this technique are that you use StazOn ink and bake the mug at 180 degrees Celsius for at least 20 minutes to make the ink stick to the mug. You can then colour the image with Stampin' Blends and re-bake it to fix the ink to the mug. However I am not sure the image would stay on if you wash the mug in a dishwasher, but I don't have one so I can't test that theory.

At the class I attended I was able to get a good image after only a couple tries and then I was asked to help other students as I seemed to have mastered the technique. I was so impressed with how easy it seemed that I went out and bought 10 mugs so I could make some to sell at my monthly craft markets.

Well, I don't know what happened from when I learned the technique to the day I tried to stamp my own mugs because it seemed so simple before, but when I was doing it at my own home I kept having problems. Fortunately I could wipe off the ink before it dried and try, try, try, try again!

I think my first problem was that I attempted to put too many images on the mug in one go. The mug kept slipping and smearing the images. I then decided to only use a couple of stamps and eventually I got an image that I was happy with. I thought I had finally figured out the correct pressure, angle, and speed, but no! I continued to wipe off more ink than I kept on the mugs.

I would say this technique is best for patient people or stubborn ones like me, as I was determined to get all 10 mugs stamped! My frustrations were increasing as I couldn't understand why it had been so easy the first time I did it only the week before.

I learned a lot from my mistakes though, like the images don't go on straight because the mug is curved. That is why most of my sentiments are at quirky angles, but I think it looks like it was meant to be that way. At least that's my story and I'm sticking with it!

Finally with multiple adjustments in stamp placement . . . trying it while standing . . . trying it while sitting . . . rolling the mug from the left . . . from the right . . . and even backwards . . . I was finally able to get all 10 mugs stamped and baked.

The next step was to colour them. Although after having so much trouble stamping the images I was afraid of messing them up, but I persevered. I used the Stampin' Blends to colour each mug. I started with the easy one -- the panda holding a balloon. Then I coloured the daffodils and discovered that even though the mugs had been 'heat set' in the oven the Blends would smear the black ink if I rubbed too hard or too long in one spot.

After a bit of a learning curve, I finally got the hang of how to colour each mug without ruining the image. I even found out that the Color Lifter works like an eraser to remove the ink, even the black ink which had already been baked on. It was really handy in fixing some of the smeared images. And if I didn't like the colour/shade I used I could go over it with a different colour and the previous ink would come off.

So here are the final, coloured mugs which I hope to sell at my markets. I am a bit worried that the images will come off when the mugs are washed so I think I will add a note to them saying they should be gently hand-washed.

Since I didn't use paper maybe I should change the name of my blog to Stamping Addiction or Try Try Again Crafting or Trying Crafter or just Stubborn Crafter Who Won't Give Up! What do you think?

#ComputerAndCraftDesigns #StampinUp #creativetherapy #PaperCraftIdeas #HandmadeGifts

OnStage Live in Auckland!

Last week I attended Stampin' Up!'s OnStage Live event at the Sky City Convention Centre in Auckland. This was the first 'live' OnStage that I was able to attend since becoming an independent demonstrator two years ago. I have been to four one-day OnStage events in Auckland previously which were wonderful, however this three-day live event was beyond fabulous! I had so much fun seeing all the products, making new friends, watching the various presentations, playing with new stamp sets, and receiving lots of swaps and gifts.

I even got to meet Sara Douglass (CEO) and her mother Shelli Gardner (co-founder) who were so funny and inspiring with their talks and stamping presentations. They worked really well together and showed that everyone makes mistakes when stamping, which just proves that our crafts are hand made!

I felt so motivated from the moment I arrived at the event. I got to share the experience with my one of my downline, Caz, and lots of ladies from my upline since we all stayed in rooms in an apartment near Sky City. It was also exciting to meet so many like-minded people who had traveled far and wide to come together and share their passion. I had lots of fun at registration swapping and chatting with demonstrators (about 600) from all over New Zealand and other countries.

I will be creating another blog post soon showing the hundreds of beautiful swaps I received, once I have a chance to sift through them all. As soon as I got home from Auckland I had to get back into the 'working world' so I haven't had time to look at all of my swaps.


I can't wait for the new catalogue to begin on June 4th, however there are a few other goodies being released sooner to whet the appetite. There is going to be a special Paper Pumpkin kit which Shelli Gardner helped create and is called Hugs from Shelli. It will only be available while stocks last and goes on sale on May 15th. This kit is perfect for beginning crafters as you get everything you need (except a clear block) to create 12 cards in four different designs. Have a look at this video for a sneak peak and contact me if you'd like to get you hands on one!

There is also a special product medley kit which will only be offered in the month of May while stocks last. It is called Everything Is Rosy and you can see the items included in the kit in this video. This is a non-traditional kit because it includes lots of products which you can use to create a medley of different items however there are no specific instructions. This is great for casual or avid crafters because there aren't instructions so you can create whatever you want and are only limited by your imagination or by Pinterest and YouTube! 😉

There were lots of other great presentations and emotional talks over the three days. They were all very inspiring and have given me a lot of great ideas for my business. I was even chosen to go on the stage to play a game with fellow demonstrators. We were each given a sign to use as our 'buzzer' when answering questions. My sign said 'Booya!' which I shouted out many times as I am very competitive. I managed to win a stamp set for my team of three participants by answering the most questions' however my enthusiasm was noticed by all and from that pointed on I had the nickname of Booya. At least I won't be easily forgotten! 😆

I am now a bit sad that OnStage is over but I was having way too much fun and needed to get back to reality, although I was able to bring some of the fun home in the form of free gifts and prizes! I have so many new things to play with that I think I will be able survive until the new catalogue is released in June. I now feel even more motivated to Share What I Love! 💖

#ComputerAndCraftDesigns #StampinUp #creativetherapy #PaperCraftIdeas #HandmadeCard #Swaps #OnStage #AucklandOnStage