Stamps Ahead

Long post today - lots of photos to show you. Over at Soul Scrappers they currently have a challenge based around "On the road again....".  Here is my layout: Participants had to have completed a number of challenges at Soul Scrappers, we were then sent the same packet of goodies - the key is how we use these items to make an original page, using most or all of the goodies supplied. Here is the packet I received.  The colour was deliberately kept to brown/neutral tonings so a further challenge was to add some COLOUR I did end up using all the embellishments in the packet.  The most interesting was the plumbers mesh (bottom right on top of the patterned paper).  I had never even seen this mesh before - it was sticky on one side and everything stuck to it!!!  I used this as a mask (using a red ink) on my background paper - I also did put it on the layout you can see it top left.  One of the fun elements I made was a tag from the pattern...

I have been asked to run a silk ribbon embroidery beginners workshop at a local community group.  Here is what I have designed: It uses 5 simple embroidery stitches and some little beads in centre of the flowers. It is in a frame for demonstration purposes - participants can make a small bag suitable for lavender etc if they do not want to frame.  I found this frame at a local op shop - so pretty I knew it would be just right for this project. I am going back to my creative roots - for many years I was a teacher and creator of embroidered articles that were made on commission or sold. It was fun getting back into even if these days it is harder to find supplies than it was previously. Now to design some wool embroidery and this is proving more difficult to source supplies as once again it is harder to find supplies these days. Thanks for looking, Margaret :)

I have been playing around making cards suitable for kids to make.  I came up with these two cards "monster" as a starter. A classic - seen on many websites.  Orange is  background only - it opens up and there is another cookie and a greeting.  For kids I would prep most of the circles - for bigger kids they could do this themselves - with exception maybe of the blue scalloped cardstock that is put through a die cutting machine. For this one I was blog surfing when I found I a card that just rocked - check out sarathings  - I let her know I was inspired by her card to create this one. They use Ranger Distress Stains splashed from high!!!  I did sponge them with tissue after applying the stain so that the drying time was shorted - important here in Australia at present as it is winter. Both cards are very forgiving - the images do not have to be placed just right - important I believe for the kids to make. I love them and I hope you do as well. ...

Today, I have been playing around with a new die, new stamp set and papers and ribbon from my stash..  I have seen the butterfly die used singularly however this card lacked a 'punch' so I decided that it needed a double butterfly - just right!  I used the little pearls - they are more pinker in real life. Thank you for looking, off to 'flutter' some more.  Margaret :)

Last one for today, I promise!  This layout was for another challenge at Soul Scrappers .  Have I told you lately how much I love the variety of challenges that they have - why not register and check them out yourself. Here is the challenge inspiration layout: Another great photo from our recent Book Club road trip to Leura and The Blue Mountains.  This time it is a group shot taken at Hargraves Lookout in Blackheath.   Lots of different product used on my layout, too many to list.  It all seemed to come together when I got out my stash. Now I need to go and create some card designs, have lunch and get warm.  Bye for now, Margaret :) 

Another new challenge site I found recently, whilst blog surfing, was Scrap our Stash  and there current challenge is to create a layout from your stash with each letter of the word BRADS. So here is what I used: "B" button and brads "R" rubons for title and 'be yourself' and ric rac "A" Alpha rubons (so, so old) "D" Die Cut tag "S" Stamp of bird design that was on the cards that Margy made and silver star paper clip. On our book club recent road trip to Leura, I took along some cards for Australian Troops overseas,  that I had created and some of the ladies put them together.  It was Margy's first attempt at making cards.  Such fun times. I think I will be checking out Scrap our Stash more often for challenges.   Margaret :)

I created this layout from a great sketch at Stuck?! Sketches :  These photos, taken at Hargraves Lookout, Blackheath, during our recent Book Club road trip to Leura in The Blue Mountains.  The papers are Stampin'Up!, embellishments Kaisercraft and the alphas from my stash. Thank you looking, it has started raining here so stay dry.  Margaret :)

Firstly, let me say that I have put my layouts individually on this blog, as some relate to different challenges I have entered this month.   The retreat this past weekend, was a good opportunity to just sit and complete them.  The retreat organisers - Creatively Inspired (who advised it was there last ever retreat on the weekend) - had a scrap pack challenge were you are given some paper and you must use it to create a layout or 4 cards using ALL the provided paper.  In this case white cardstock and the papers/tag surrounding my layout - all those pastel colours. A bit about the photo.  When my Uncle George (Dad's brother) passed away in 1996 his wife gave to us an old leather suitcase full of old photos that he had.  This photograph of my grandmother was in the suitcase.  She was born (Fanny Elizabeth Orr - called Lizzie to the family) in Launceston, Tasmania in 1891 and married my grandfather Henry Crawford in 1917.  So she w...

The challenge this month at ARTastic Challenge blog is to be inspired by the artwork by Luka Va called "Bird King" shown below, with the added criteria of wood veneer and/or birds:  I have had this photo of a pigeon on the top of The Empire State Building in New York sitting since a previous visit nearly 5 years ago - just loved it but just could not find the right layout for it - and then Voila this challenge!  I have used up some of my stash - a beautiful fabric bird (there is still one left), some cut outs of colour birds and a strip of patterned paper with birds in a row and a wood veneer arrow stamped black (it is probably the newest item on the page). Here is a close up of the fabric bird. Thank you for looking and why not head over to ARTastic Challenge and make a layout/card or 3D project from the inspiration photo.  Margaret :)  

Another layout completed on the weekend.  This layout was for Scrapbook Challenges Sketch 442. On 21st April, the Central Coast of New South Wales, was hit with the wildest storm and wet weather for years.  Umina Beach was hammered with rain and waves and when I ventured out I was amazed at just what was going on.  The sand eroded from sand banks and oh yes, the sand was blowing all over the roads and into my face.  I think you can see just how cold it was!!!.   So different from my last post which showed the beach in all is beautiful summer glory.  The photo was taken on my mobile/cell phone and was all grainy so I printed the photo onto Very Vanilla cardstock as I hoped it gave that windy and rainy day feel. Thank you for looking,  Margaret :)

After two fabulous sunny days over the weekend, today is wet, miserable and cold and therefore my photo below has not been shown in its true colours - believe me when I say it that the colours are more vibrant in real life. Another layout completed on the weekend and another challenge completed at Soul Scrappers.  Here is my layout and the inspiration follows: The recipe consists of your layout having at least the following ingredients (you can have more or additional elements as well): NO visible journaling - tick - it is on the tag slipped under the photo Kraft/tan background - tick One photo only - tick - photo of wattle growing alongside Umina Beach at least one tag - tick Ribbon or twine - tick - to both Leaves - stamping or embellishment - stamped leaves/dots & dashes from Dylusions Simply Borders set. In addition, I started with a light spray of oil (not really it was a green glimmer mist) and have used embossing and die cut embellishments. I mus...

Another layout completed this weekend.  This time my inspiration was Make in Monday 41 at The Memory Nest  - see sketch below.  I like this clean and simple sketch so much I did a double layout. Here is the sketch: Glorious autumn (fall) colours in The Blue Mountains and against blue skies.  Thanks for looking and why not head over to The Memory Nest and have a go yourself at their challenges, Margaret :) 

The current (ending today) scrap lift challenge at Soul Scrappers and here is my layout: The photo is of my sister and I enjoying morning tea at my favourite beachside café earlier this year.  My layout is not as fussy as the inspiration and I have used a lot of my stash.  The bricks are Molossi chipboard and I have inked with pink ink.  This weekend I was at a scrapbooking retreat and I have lots of completed layouts that I will share with you in coming days. Thank you for looking, keep smiling.   Margaret :)

Last week I made some Christmas cards for the Australian Troops Overseas with a group of ladies from a community group.  This is one of the clean and simple cards I designed for them to make. I have used Dove of Peace stamp set by Heartfelt Creations.  Now, I did not have the coordinating die so it was back to cutting bird by hand and the greeting with a punch.   After stamping and cutting the bird ink was sponged around the bird and greeting - a great way of disguising maybe an imperfect cut!!  The card base is white. Thanks for looking and no I do not think it is too early to start on Christmas cards.    Margaret :)

Back again with another challenge over at Soul Scrappers.  Tic Tac Toe (TTT5) board: My first thought was what is a 'staycation'?  staycation steɪˈkeɪʃ(ə) n/ noun informal noun: staycation ; plural noun: staycations ; noun: stay-cation ; plural noun: stay-cations a holiday spent in one's home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.  Here is my layout - I went with the middle line vertically to record a staycation my sister and I took in October, 2014 to Coffs Harbour, NSW. I have done it as a project life type layout. I have taken out of the plastic so that it is easier to see. Stamp/s - 2 new sets from Inspired by Stamping (I found them on the internet whilst blog surfing - so pleased I did) Seaside and Seaside Sentiments.  The shells from Stampin' Up! By the Seashore. Tag - lift up the lighthouse and my journaling is on the back. Blue - stamping ink as well as in that fabulous sentiment be...

Another challenge at Soul Scrappers was to be inspired by the song "Wild Thing" by the Troggs. We were to use a word....OR a couple of words...OR a sentence...OR even the song title on our layout. I was inspired by the word 'groovy'.  Here is my layout:   Wikipedia defines 'groovy' as a slang colloquialism popular during  the 1960s and 1970s.  It is roughly synonymous with such words as 'cool', 'excellent', 'fashionable' and 'amazing' depending on context. This photo was taken at my younger sister's 21st birthday party in 1972.  I am grooving bottom right.  I made the dress I am wearing.  The photo was sitting for many years in the old style albums - you know the ones that made the photo stick to the backing with what I suspect was not acid free plastic and the photos eventually faded.   I am endeavouring to give them a new home hence my recent fascination with scrapping these older photos. Now I was never a 'wild t...

This layout is for another challenge over at Soul Scrappers - to be inspired by the movie poster for Bridesmaids with the added criteria of brick background; white title; number/s on your page can be title or journaling; bridesmaid photo. Here is my layout: It took me longer than usual to bring this layout together - was it the photo? was it the criteria? was it the colour?  The photo is of me being a bridesmaid at my brother's first marriage in the late 1970's.  We hired our dresses (the bride's sister was matron-of-honour).  I also made the bride's going away outfit - yes readers in the 70's a bride would get dressed in a different outfit as they left the wedding.  Brick background tick.  I used gesso and Kaisercraft Brick template.  Now the gesso stuck to the cardstock and when I lifted it off I got this rough edged looked.  I have sponged ink over the resulting brick design to highlight this imperfection.   I hand-made...

I will be so glad when I get my camera back from repairs.  This layout was completed for a sketch challenge (SC90) over at Soul Scrappers. Here is the sketch: My layout incorporates all the elements but at different angles to suit the portrait photo of my parents during their courting days.  Looking at the photograph I am making an assumption that it was taken on George Street, Sydney near the original Bank of New South Wales (now Westpac) headquarters. I recognise the ornate doors. As an aside - this building played a big part in my working life as I worked for the 'Wales/Westpac' for many years. I have used Kaisercraft "Antique Bazaar" papers and elements on my layout with the exception of the little button bottom right,  a couple of papers on the banner and the twine and brads.  I loved this collection as soon as I saw it and it seems to fit the 'oldness' of this photo. Thank you for looking, time is a great storyteller, Margaret :)