Stamps Ahead

My present to my sister, Heather, on her birthday was a luncheon cruise on Sydney Harbour. Here is the scrapbook page I have created. I have used Stampin' Up! Simply Scrappin' At Home kit to complete the page. Inspiration, for the page, come from a sketch in the October 07 issue of Creating Keepsakes. Enjoy. Images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford. The second photograph of The Sydney Harbour Bridge was taken from our boat "Sydney 2000" on the day.

Today, is my sister's birthday. Here is the card I have made especially for her. Her favourite SU colour is Bashful Blue , and her favourite decorating style is Shabby Chic. I have used Carte Postale and Leaves al-a-carte jumbo wheel. I hope the little bird reminds her of the Blue Bird of Happiness brooches we had as kids. Happiness always, Heather - love Margaret. Images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin' Up Artwork: Margaret L Crawford

The first page is one that I created in July - I got the idea from Creating Keepsakes July 07 magazine. I have used Stampin' Up! (r) stamp set "It's a Date". This is a great challenge - my bits and pieces on the table in front me. There were some photos of my China trip, some planning for my USA trip in September 07, parts of train tickets, tv programme, calendar entry, etc etc. A fun project - why not try it today yourself. Some images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin' Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford The next page is Merrilyn and I (hence the paper covered "M") on her wedding day in October. I have known Merrilyn (a friend's daughter) since she was born, and I helped at her home on her big day - making cups of tea, sandwiches, painting the fingernails of the flowergirl - that sort of thing. The third page is from my September 07 USA trip. Again, this page was inspired by a layout in Creating Keepsakes January, 08 magazine. I was inspired by the titl...

Last week I taught an English class to a group from China. Here is a photo that I took of some of the group having fun in a park in Sydney. I had organised a picnic, with sandwiches, lamingtons and fresh fruit - they even tasted passionfruit from my garden. After lunch they played a game of bocce. A enjoyable day. More later. The reflections on a city building caught my eye, as I was driving to the classroom on one of the days - can't remember which day!

Here are two cards I created this afternoon from stamps sets available during Sale-A-Bration. Images: (c)1990-2007 Stampin' Up (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford.

Today I am catching up with a group of friends to stamp. This is my project I will be sharing them. Images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford You could use any of the small stamps that you have in your collection. I have made them before using Dream Come True (108780) and the cute bird from Wild About You (108958). Make them for school fetes - inexpensive and fun, the kids will buy them for their friends. I have seen similar erasers sell for $4.95 in a speciality stationery shop!!!

The last challenge on Friday night was to use a technique called Reverse Masking . Not sure that I like the technique all that much. What do you think? Thanks for looking in. Margaret. 1st card uses - Carte Postale (from Summer Mini) and Label Classics. 2nd card - uses Wild Rose, Label Classics and saying is from Friendship Blooms a Sale-A-Bration set. Images: (C) 1990-2008 Stampin'Up! (R) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford

Last night I participated in a cyberspace challenge with the INKlings. Here are my efforts. Challenge No 1 - Gift card completed in 10 mins with colour not usually used . I used Real Red/Garden Green (I did not even use these colours at Christmas) - Stamp Sets Pocket Fun and Friendship Blooms. The frog is a tag so that he can jump up and down! Challenge No 2 - card sketch from Splitcoast Stampers using patterned paper. I used Spring Showers patterned paper and stamp sets Best Bar Codes and Lots of Thoughts. Challenge No 3 - use colours Vintage Violet, Cool Caribbean , Ruby Red and Chocolate Chip . I used stamp set Friendship Blooms. Friendship Blooms and Lots of Thoughts are in Sale-a-bration & Best Bar Codes in Summer Mini Catalogue. Images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Why not challenge yourself today - email me the results (of one/or more of the above challenges) and I will post here on my blog as well as send you a surprise in the mail, ...

My Sale-A-Bration stamps arrived today. And they are die-cut! How fabulous - just push out, remove adhesive paper and add to wooden block. Attach the stamp label. How easy. Now to play. Images (c) 1990-2008 Stampin'Up! (r)

Today I had occasion to recall such a day (Thanks Sharon) that always brings a smile to my face. In 2005 I was on a scrapbooking cruise on the Royal Caribbean - Rhapsody of the Seas. After leaving Galveston, Texas we made our way around the Caribbean islands. Here are the pages a bit closer up. The journalling reads: Margaret aka Mermaid After swimming with the stringrays and snorkelling in the Grand Caymans, it was time to make our way back to shore. Nearing land, the ship rocking, I decided to put on on my clothes ready for landing (no I was not naked! before this I had on swimmers). I still had my aqua shoes on. Well what a laugh the entire top floor of the boat had . The aqua shoes made it harder to put on my clothes, they stuck to the material. I ended up putting both legs into one leg of the pants!! Had I lost weight swimming/snorkelling ! I look liked the after pictures that you see in weight loss photos. No everyone decided I looked like a mermaid , and decided to snap the expe...