Stamps Ahead

Well, what weather have we been having here in Australia - on 13th November hail, 20th November was the 2nd hottest November day in history, and today cool verging on cold.  Add to that telecommunication access problems - no local phone no internet since 12th it has been an interesting time - did get back today. I was at a local art exhibition and I rescued an old patchwork kit and I made this - it will be donated.  Now, if I could only draw faces they would be smiling -  I am practicing and will have it down pat before I hand it over next year. I want to share with you some of the photographs from the recent hailstorm we experienced.  It was short and savage.  The leaves you see are from stripped trees in my yard and from a gum tree 2 houses over!!!  A pool of water also congregated and had fun ruining my plants.  Here you can really see the hail coming down. I opened the door to take the photo and was hit on the hand with a piece of flying hail.   No damage to me and luckil

An urgent call out was given for craft goodies for a street stall this Thursday, to raise funds for a school in Kenya.   Here are some decorative bottles I put together this morning.  My sister had the bottles (they are about 2.5" in height and width), maybe old ink bottles that we got from a recycled place here on The Coast.  I have used wooden buttons, papers, lace and ribbon from my stash with some distress ink to age the edges.   Close up - there is six of each design. The bottles are a green colour. Aren't they cute!!!  Thanks for looking,  Margaret.

Today, I completed another layout ready to put photos on when I return from holidays......coming soon.  This was completed for another challenge over at The Memory Nest - Make it Monday 49. Here is another great sketch that can be interpreted so many ways.: I have kept mine rather simple. It is still raining and overcast here today and I could not take the photo outside so there is a little brightness to the left side of the layout that is not there in real life.  I still had on my table the Echo Park Getaway range of papers that I used yesterday, so no-brainer to go with these papers.   I will put title and more embellishments once I have the photos on the layout.   I wonder what fabulous part of the world I will take some photos for this layout - somewhere opulent?  Somewhere baroque?  Thank you for looking, why not head over to The Memory Nest and try their sketches yourself? Cheers, Margaret :)

I am getting a tad excited - my European holiday very shortly.  Christmas markets in Europe, now what is not to like about that.   The tour starts in Paris so I am getting some pages ready for my photos when I return - I know organised - but hey that is me! It is cold and wet here on the Central Coast today, so what a better reason to get some layouts completed.  This one is for a challenge over at The Memory Nest Make it Monday No.48. Here is the sketch, thanks Leslie for another fabulous sketch:                                          I have used some of my stash of Project Life cards and a fabulous paper range called "Getaway" by Echo Park.   Now all I need is to go >>>>>>> take photos  >>>>>>> print photos >>>>>>>adhere to layout >>>>>>journal. Thanks for looking,  Margaret :)

I am getting an early start on a challenge over at Pixels and Paper .  In October we were at Red Rock, NSW and my sister and I went for a walk along the beach, soon after arriving. I stopped to look at the beautiful vistas when all of a sudden in came a wave, I saw it just in time and run for dear life!!!   My sister not so lucky she ended up standing in the water, clicking away and laughing at the same time!!! Here is a close up of the tag I made.  I used 2 blue distress stains, Antique Linen Distress stain then I sponged Antique Photo over it to get a sand like appearance.  White embroidery thread to represent the waves and some pearls and rhinestones for bling. Here is this months inspiration photo from Pixels and Paper - tell us how you were inspired by the photo.  Can you see my inspiration? I took the design aspect and created a sketch layout. I then put my 4 photos across the top.  Below the photos is my tag where the large sofa is, the Sun, Surf and Sand sticker for