Stamps Ahead

The following layout is another I have been delaying getting on paper.  Last year I had the scariest ride in a plane en-route Los Angeles to Memphis, storms made the plane divert to Little Rock, Arkansas. It was indeed a white knuckle ride for me.  I was glad when finally we finally landed in Memphis.  I think my red face says it all.  I have used very old rubons from my stash to embellish the page. LAX to Memphis the scary way!!! These photos were taken in 2010 when I was was teaching at a language college in Sydney and as teachers we taught our class to sing Christmas Carols.  My class did "Santa Claus is coming to town". Having fun - Christmas 2010 This layout was for a colour challenge held on the weekend. Pinks, blues, orange, black and lime green were the colours.  We had to select at least 3 of the colours to use on a layout.   How many times do you take a photo and think the first one is not what you (or others in the photo) wanted a...

As promised in earlier post, here are more layouts I completed the past weekend at the retreat. The first was a layout completed in a blind challenge where you are given the instructions for a layout but don't get to see what it looks like. Christmas 2010 These photos have been laying on my desk waiting for inspiration to put them down on paper.  I think it was the multiple colours of what we are wearing that held me back.  Finally, did the layout.  We have been friends for what seems forever. Us girls all went to the same high school, although none of us really knew each other there.  We have been there for each other through many of life's ups and downs. 2012 This is a photo of my parent's wedding reception in 1948.  I was inspired by a layout in Scrapbook Trends, March 2010.  I cut 1/4" strips of paper, angled off one edge and then applied them to background cardstock (CS).  I was rather uniform in my strip placement (as it seemed to suit ...

After a week and half of illness, I recovered sufficiently to attend this retreat this past weekend.  Here are a couple of photos of the sunsets over Lake Macquarie, where the retreat was held. There was still the smoke haze from bushfires in the area in the preceding week. Thursday @ sunset Friday @ sunset Saturday @ sunset (my favourite) As well as enjoying the sunsets I did manage to scrap some layouts - here is one, with more to follow in later blog posts. Cousins This layout was done in a class at the retreat.  The white CS had Gesso applied, left to dry and then Gelato crayon sticks used for the background (unfortunately it does not come up clear in this photo), the resulting streaks of Gelato's where then diluted with a baby wipe as I went around and around in a circle motion. Washi tape, a stamp of leaves coloured with Gelato's and a titlel complete the page of my cousin Julie and I. There is about 10 years difference in our ages (me being the elder) ...

I have just received an email  from ARTastic  saying that I have been invited as a guest designer in November, for a scrapbooking layout I submitted in September - Elephant Appreciation Day .  Of course,  I said yes.  Love elephants even more now...haha.  I am feeling rather poorly today - head cold etc so this made my day. Margaret

I have bitten the bullet and decided to rejoin Stampin' Up! (r).  It has been a few years and they have special joining offer of $25 at the moment as part of their 25th Anniversary. Are you interested in joining?  This offer ends and all paper work must be in by 21 October, 2013.  For more information go to Stampin' Up!   I signed up on-line and it was easy as to do. Now can't wait to get my goodies to play with.  Put me Margaret Crawford as your upline/demonstrator and I will only be too pleased to guide you through the wonders of paper crafting. Margaret

For several years now I have been making Christmas Cards for our Australian troops overseas.  Yesterday, I attended the yearly event organised by Karen Cumming to make more cards.  It was a great day once again.  Contact Karen if you would like to become involved next year and check out more photos taken yesterday. Me cutting cardstock for a card. Photo by Karen Cumming Some of the ladies who made cards on the day. Photo by Karen Cumming Here are some cards I made this year for this great cause. Some I have ready shown on my blog - check out the following link.  http://margaretlcrawford.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/what-have-i-been-doing-past-month.html Others, I have made from bits and pieces I had in my stash and some used donated product from friends - thank you if you recognise your donation. Santa Suit card which was designed by Karen.