Stamps Ahead

Here are a few more layouts that I created on a recent scrapbook retreat weekend that I attended. The first one is of our old family home in Asquith, New South Wales. This was my grandparents home (you can see them on the front porch) and we spent a good deal of time with them and even moved in when our rented place (one street away) was sold.   So many happy memories of time there. Scrapbook retreat fun - tropical theme.  I smile everytime I look at the right hand photo - it looks as though I am wearing an elaborate headdress!!!   Papers and embellishments from Close to my Heart (CTMH).  Tropical seems to be a current trend in the papercraft world, love the washi tape and the pink adhesive sequins.... Another layout using CTMH products.  The photos are of my sister and I enjoying a high tea at a café that had a special deal.   I love exploring and discovering new places for a high tea - what made this on different? ...

Here is another layout I have created recently.  I have decided to post it for a challenge at ARTastic - I hope they allow more than one entry as I have already done one layout for their May challenge - Scrap the Girls. This photo was taken when I met up with friends that I attended TAFE with many years ago.  We completed the Advanced Needlecraft Certificate at Hornsby TAFE and became firm friends during this time.   But as life goes on we lost contact - until Facebook got us back together 20 years later!..  They caught the train up and we had lunch and much catch up at my home before a walk on the beach.   Again here is the inspiration photo at ARTastic, the criteria Girls Only. I was further inspired by a layout by Emily Pitt found on   Debbie Hodge  from 2013 that I found whilst blog surfing. Thank you Debbie I have left some thanks for you on your blog. Thank you for looking, Margaret.

Today, a layout I completed for a challenge at Soul Scrappers , I hope I have made it in time to submit.  The challenge was the word "Fearless". One of the things I love about travel is that you get to do some things that you may not otherwise do when you at home in your own country.  Several years ago I was in USA - and one the places that I loved was the Grand Tetons in Wyoming.   Now, one of the optional extras was a float down the Snake River - sounds idyllic does it not?  Haha of course it was not.  Here I am kitted out ready to join the cruise in a rubber boat hanging on for dear life.  The views were magnificent and I even let go enough to take some photos.  What else have I braved (or been fearless in saying yes I will do that) in my past - let me see - abseiling down cliffs (another story all together, let me just say not for the fainthearted), rock climbing (the real thing not in a purpose built room), helicopter rides (lo...

Here is a layout I have created for ARTastic  Challenge blog.  Happiness is a birthday dinner for my sister at a local restaurant that is fast becoming a tradition.  It is the third time we have visited on her birthday.  The challenge was to be inspired by this artwork by John Maitland called 7 girls running. The only other criteria was GIRLS ONLY.   Funny, as all our life we have been referred to as 'the girls' - you know 'How are you girls?" "What are the girls doing now?" etc etc I loved the colours and blue being my sister's favourite colour it was a no brainer to use a blue cardstock.  Most of the other papers and stamps come from Close to my Heart (CTMH).  I was inspired by the lineup of girls and I remembered that somewhere I had just the sketch that would be suitable Scrapbook Trends 2012-  so I decided to do a double page incorporating photos that I took -. no dancing though!!!! Thank you f...

Here is a layout I created for a challenge at Soul Scrappers .  The theme was to use a quote from Alice in Wonderland. The other criteria was to use buttons. I will just make it as the closing date is today. I looked up the definition of "bonkers" and was presented with mad and crazy!!!.   This photograph was taken a few years ago in Carcoar, New South Wales.  My sister and I stopped at this garage sale and there were these paddles showing 1st and 2nd - of course, I went a little crazy!!!! Now the story of how this layout came into being.  It started on the weekend when I made this layout To be honest I did not like it....was it the colour? Was it the round patterned paper?  Who knows but I did not feel as though it was something that grabbed me.   This is my 'going bonkers' opportunity!!! So today I took off all the embellishments and the photo and cut the paper into strips and then placed onto a green patterned paper.  I grabbe...

My awesome friend, Casey, is graduating high school this year over in Missouri and I received this invitation. Now, I am not able to attend but I decided to complete a layout.  Casey, I am so pleased to see the awesome man (yes, man) you have become, you are credit to your parents and grandparents who have instilled some wonderful values for you.  I wish you all the best as you start the next phase of your studies.  Oh, and I look forward to some fabulous photos of your graduation. Congratulations. The layout is based on one I saw in a 2012 Scrapbook Trends Magazine - do you have any inspiration books/magazines that you just cannot give away - well this is one of mine, so full of ideas.  After I first completed the layout something was missing and then my friend Jane said try the twine around the top - yes that is what it needed....thanks, Jane. Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

A layout I have completed Soul Scrappers challenge is my 601 blog post and here it is We were to be inspired by and scrap lift this beautiful layout below by Kim Ewins - Maggie and Ethan: The photo is of my sister and I celebrating her birthday in January of this year at what is now becoming a tradition - dinner at a local waterside restaurant for her birthday - 3 years in a row now. I was inspired by what appeared to be two layers of paper, maybe not, but that is how I interrupted the blue patterned paper.  I rolled up several sizes of paper and attached them, here is a close up: I am so pleased that my post  601 is a Soul Scrapper challenge as I love the challenges that they set and how they extend my creativity. Thank you design team. Why not head over yourself - click on the link - and participate. Margaret :)

I found a new challenge blog - another freaking scrappy challenge blog - and their May challenge is to scrap your favourite place.  Here is the layout I created: In my previous post I wrote that I was at a scrapbook retreat this past weekend.  This is one of the pages I created there - it was blind scrapbooking challenge.  I happened to have this photo of Charles Bridge in Prague with me.   Prague is just one of my favourite places and on the morning that I took this photo (in December last year) the fog was just lifting, the air was crisp and the sky was blue. I have used a gold mist randomly on my craft background. The clocks they are a nod to the world famous Astronomical Clock in Prague old town.  Why not click on the link above and enter a layout of your favourite place. Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

Just back from another great scrapbooking retreat weekend.  This time it was at Tocal College in lower Hunter Valley, New South Wales.   Here are some photos of the locals and the scenery for you to enjoy. A beautiful Paper Bark tree - I had a view of this from my position on my scrapping table. Lucky me.

Here is a card I created for a challenge over at Soul Scrappers  to create a card with a transport theme.   I used a patterned paper from Kaisercraft and have fussy cut one of the antique balloon and applied it to the front of the card.   Easy Peasy clean and simple.   Inside another of the images continuing the greeting to "Go explore". A fun bon voyage card.  Thank you for looking Margaret.