Stamps Ahead

Christmas season is over and it is now time to celebrate 2018 and all that it will bring. I have been busy cleaning up and finishing projects that have been around for awhile as well as preparing for classes to come in 2018. Here are a couple of layouts from this past week: Both of these layouts were from kits by Scrappy Chat Designs that came out last year.  They showcase the use of Ranger Distress Crayons.  The arrow stencil is from Tim Holtz Collection, Stampers Anonymous.  Now I am not generally a user of pastel colours but I think these are great.  I have added some additional wooden embellishments.  I am heading off on holidays shortly and these will soon be filled with photos. Thank you for looking, Happy New Year to you all.   Margaret :)

In the not too distant future I am heading out on a scrapbook cruise and I am participating in a swap of 4" x 3" cards.  We were to make 30 suitable to be put into a pocket page album. The theme of course is cruising, beach, sea etc etc. Here are my cards that I finished making this weekend: And for a close up: I started by using Distress Oxides - faded jeans, fossilized amber and vintage photo applied to white cardstock (CS), then a spritz of water.  Then I added Beach Mobile Stamp (which I loved when I first saw it).  On a separate small piece of white CS I stamped just the word 'beach'.  This I then coloured with alcohol ink Sunflower, I then cut out each letter and applied.  To finish off I took black ink and highlighted the edge of the card. All products are available from Kaszazz. Thank you for looking, Margaret (down on the beach).

This morning, sees the end of card classes at a local community group for the year.  Here, are some candy cane favours I have made for each of the ladies in my group as well as for the organizing committee - about 20 in all.   Quick, easy and simple to put together.  Hope they love them. I used 2 different patterned papers and cardstock to create them.  First, I measured the candy cane to construct the pouch.  Then cut out papers and stitched.  I individually cut out images from left over paper to attach to top of candy cane. I was inspired by a similar holder by Better Homes and Gardens (US) that I saw on-line. I also made these for another group where I also lead card making classes - aren't they cute!  I have used Kaszazz Santa Hat Stamp then coloured in with alcohol inks, cut around with scissors and then attached to circle of green cardstock with a glue dot. I have also put these both of these favours on Soul Scrappers challenge blog - the...

Another challenge over at Soul Scrappers this time to use snowflakes on a card.  I will say at the outset that this is not my original design....long ago I saw a card by My Card Attic (click here to see the card on her blog) on Pinterest and stored it away thinking one day I will make that.  Well the time came - I was short on 'mojo' recently and needed to make cards for the class I lead at a local community group - so finally I got the chance to make this card, with pink glitter paper: Well, I loved the card and just had to make another, showcasing snowflakes, and here it is: The ladies got to make both cards.   I would like to thank My Card Attic and have left her some thanks on her blog. They are fantastic clean and simple cards and would be just right for mass production.   Next year, I will make for Caring Hearts Card Drive - this year's drive has finished (and I did send other cards that I and others have made for this years drive.  Thank y...

Another challenge at Soul Scrappers this time to add a bauble to your card.  Here is my card: My card is very shabby chic looking.  I have used various stamps I have in my possession.  The ribbon on the side I have sewn a straight line with a running stitch -- not paying attention to the fact that each stitch was a different size, gathered and then attached with tape. Non-traditional colours used. Thank you for looking, why not head to Soul Scrappers , join up and make some cards. Cheers, Margaret.

Here, are a couple of cards I have created this year for Christmas.  There is a challenge over at Soul Scrappers to included the word "Christmas" on a card.  I lead a table of cardmakers at a local community group and I put together these cards for them to make in the lead up to Christmas. Here are my cards: This card uses an embossed folder by Couture Creations (that I borrowed from a friend). It has been then sponged with red ink and for those words that I wanted to be highlighted I applied a little heavier ink.  Paper, with fussy cut houses,  is an old Stampin'Up! range from my stash. This card uses markers applied with a little water and coloured onto images from an old Kaszazz stamp set.  When the ladies made this some of them applied some glitter and added that extra sparkle to the card - brilliant idea. This is the card that my ladies made yesterday.  I absolutely love it - and several said I want to keep this and not give it away!!! ...

This morning, feeling creative, I looked at Paper Issues facebook page and found a sketch challenge. Why not check out their website and join their facebook page to participate in some fun challenges. Here is my layout: Here is the sketch: This is a companion page to a layout I completed for their Fall into Line challenge.  I have kept the scrappy look behind the photos - papers/embellishments were changed either because as I used scraps the first layout used all that I had of a particular paper/embellishment or due to the colours of the lights being different colours.   Here are the two layouts together.  Serendipity is a wonderful thing - look at the blue star paper about half way down on both layouts - even though they were completed separately when I put the two layouts together that strip of blue matched!!! Photos are of the magnificent Field of Light display at Uluru, Northern Territory - I loved the rays made by the lights that guided you around the dis...

Another layout today for Paper Issues challenges.  This challenge called "Fall back in time" - use old techniques to create a layout. My layout incorporated torn paper, fussy cutting, a sheet of old rubon alphas and eyelets.  I really had fun creating this layout of Melissa Kennedy, owner of Unmistakable Creations, scrapbook teacher and creative designer for Kaisercraft.  I had the opportunity to attend a class with Melissa in country Victoria recently. Melissa loves fussy cutting and most of her classes include this technique - so this is my homage to her!!! The papers are Kaisercraft.   A close up - what is interesting the eyelets are years old and as soon as I started hammering the paint start of come off - that is how old they are! Before die cuts became to popular and available fussy cutting was the way to go! Thank you for looking, Margaret

Today layout for the Paper Issues challenge "On an angle". Even though if you asked me, I would say PINK is my favourite colour, the truth is I rarely scrap layouts in this colour.   In August this year I attended a Scrapbooking weekend locally and of course, Saturday night was a dress up night - this year "In your PJ's".    Thank  you for looking, Margaret :)

Here I am back with another layout I have completed for Paper Issues weekend challenge, this time the challenge was called "Fall in Line" - layout was to have a line of something on your page - papers, embellishments, photos etc. This is my layout with a photo of Bruce Munro's Field of Light, Uluru, Central Australia. I have kept the layout simple - a black cardstock background with strips of co-ordinating paper from my stash under the photo and rhinestone/enamel dots scattered around. If you thinking of visiting Uluru the Field of Light installation will be available until 31 March, 2018. It is a magnificent display at sunset, you get to walk a path through the lights - truly inspirational and with the starry sky above simply magical. Thank you for looking, Margaret.

It has been a while since I posted, I have been out of action with neck and elbow issues, now on the mend. This weekend I am participating in challenges over at Paper Issues (check them out Facebook - you need to join the group to participate).  The first challenge I have completed is a "Think outside the box" challenge i.e. no squares or rectangles allowed!!! Here is my layout: I have used triangles and one centre circle to hide all the connection points in the middle.  I have made cards using this starburst technique and I though why not try it on a layout. The photos were taken on my walk around Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Central Australia earlier this year. The photos are of the Kantju Gorge first stop on the Uluru Base Walk. I will be back with more layouts from this group later this weekend. Thank you for looking.   Margaret 

Another layout to share with you today, this was for a challenge over at Soul Scrappers . It was a lift challenge where you are given a layout (this time by Melissa Kennedy, see below) and you can take from the lift to create your own layout.  You can be inspired by whatever  you see in the layout...stamping, using stencils, texture paste, sprays, a nautical theme, inks, distressing or anything else that you see in the layout. I decided to not go with a nautical theme but take the basic concept of the layout to create mine.  Lots of stash used.  I wanted papers that had a resemblance to Indigenous design on them. This photo of me was taken after I had completed my 3/4 circuit of Uluru recently.   I was truly exhausted, hot and relieved to have a sit in the shade waiting for the shuttle bus.  It was an experience that I thoroughly enjoyed and getting to see Uluru up close and personal was a joy. Here is the inspiration layout by Melissa Kennedy. ...

Recently I completed several classes with the fabulous Beck Beattie at Paperific 2017 in Melbourne.  Of course, a photo had to be taken - we are scrapbookers after all.  Here is a layout I created this week. I have used some of Beck's Tinby Designs watercolor powders - first I sprayed the white cardstock with diluted powder, I did not like the resulting colours - too pink - so I mixed some of the powder with Gesso and liberally swiped it across the page.  Using bits and pieces from my stash I then embellished the page, ooh yes I also used a script stencil with gesso to give more texture.   Check out Beck's link above to see what she gets up to and what products she in her on-line shop.   Thanks for looking, Margaret :)

Back again today, with a layout just completed for a challenge over at Soul Scrappers : Here is the grid we were given. As you can probably guess I selected the first column downwards. The photos are from the scrapbooking cruise with Unmistakeable Creations earlier this year.  These photos show the group at work in the dedicated scrapbooking area of the convention room on the ship.  I have used lots of left over papers, stickers, embellishments etc and embossing paste shells on the layout. Why not head over to Soul Scrappers and get involved in the challenges they offer. Thank you for looking, Margaret

Yesterday, I drove up to Swansea about 1.5 hours from my home.  Time to sit by the water and take in the suns rays before heading to The Scrapbookers Confetti Box store for a class. Here is the layout I created: Lots of luscious layers.  The photo is of my mother and grandmother out in 1940's.   Following is a close up of some of the layers.  My view of the river at Swansea as I sat before the class started. On the way home, I took a road that I usually say 'one day I will take that road' and called into Catherine Hill Bay a historic mining town.   Such a great day to be out and about - spring in Australia awesome. Thanks for looking, Margaret :)

To say that I loved the sunrise at Uluru on my recent trip would be an understatement.  Recently, I went down to Melbourne for Paperific and did a couple of classes with Beck Beattie . Here are my layouts of course getting home I realized that I used 2 more sunrise photos. This layout is on craft coloured cardstock - it uses Distress Oxide Inks and Distress Inks and lots and lots of layers. This layout uses Beck's Color Crush watercolour powders - check them out at Scrappy Chat Designs . She has added more colours to her range.  This layout after applying the Color Crush that had been watered down and sprayed on we used all those stamps that you might have in your stash to create a unique background.   Big stamps, small stamps, script stamps, etc etc they all can be used. Close up of the background I created. Now a little story - when I got back home I went looking for these two layouts, oh no!!! Where are they I shouted to myself, checked my bags again not ther...

Sharing a few more layouts I created this past weekend at the retreat I attended.  Uluru, Central Australia.  Created with Close to my heart patterned paper and arrow adhesives. The stamps I used for the photo and Australia were borrowed from a friend on the same table. Remember is a Tim Holtz die. I think it came together well. I took these photos to show the rock face at Walpa Gorge, Kata Tjuta, Central Australia. Conglomerate rock - I remember this from school day lessons.   In March this year my sister had friends over from England, and it was decided that we would hire a BBQ boat and enjoy a cruise and BBQ with our cousins as other friends - well what set out as a "3 hour tour" was only 30 minutes in duration due to the weather.  We had been assured by boat shed attendant only light rain - haha, it did not take long for it to pour down in buckets, from every angle. We all got wet, the food got wet, the boat got wet - it was decided to abandon and head...

My last post for today - I need to unpack my supplies from the weekend, have dinner and settle down to watch some television. Another challenge at Soul Scrappers this time my favourite - a Tic Tac Toe challenge. In my last post I shared photos of my camel ride at Uluru Camel Farm - well all was not lost there was this fantastic quintessentially view in the grounds.  Look you can even see Uluru.  I was inspired by a layout I found at Dark Room Door .  Now the challenge grid looked like this: I selected stamping, 3 photos and 2 pattern papers. I also created the background on the white cardstock using Distress Oxide Ink and gold spray.  The windmill stamp is by Kasazz and I have stamped random words also on this background.  My stash provided the remainder of the embellishments. Thank you for looking, more later.  Cheers mates, Margaret :)

Layout completed for another challenge over at Soul Scrappers. This time a 'random word' challenge. For this challenge, a letter is picked from the alphabet and then you are given some random words starting with that letter - you select one of the words and create a layout using that word. So the random words this month - fear....fearless, feisty., fly.....flying, fabulous, family...friend, fresh. I selected fearless and here is my layout. In July, I spent 3 nights at Uluru in Central Australia.  I did lots of interesting and varied things whilst I was there. I contemplated taking a sunset camel ride.....now never having rode a camel, a horse many years ago yes, I decided to do a 15 minute camel ride to see how it went.  Fearless - NO. It took ages to get my legs up and over the beautiful Bonnie and I then held on for dear life, forcing a smile for the camera.  Well, I can say I have now ridden a camel (for 15 agonizing minutes) but that sunset ride - it never became a...

This weekend I was at a scrapbooking retreat local to where I live.  First I want to share with you sunset Friday night. In one word - SPECTACULAR. Look at the reflection on the water. Here is the first layout completed this weekend that I am sharing. Completed for a sketch challenge over at Soul Scrappers . The photograph of me was taken on World Chocolate Day July 2017 and here I am enjoying a cup of hot chocolate to celebrate. The sketch follows. I have used a Kaisercraft emboss resist paper (that does not show up well in the photo but it is embossed with flowers and leaves) and I added watered down Gelato's in two colours randomly onto the paper, I have fussy cut the flowers from a piece of paper I had in my stash, applied lace and some added embellishments. Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

We are expecting record high winter temperatures here today, so why not a bright layout. This is a photo of my sister taken on our cruise in April this year.  My sister is currently overseas and she found a scrapbooking magazine in France and posted it back to me.  She had handwritten a note on a layout she found in the magazine - see below.  (note the other handwriting is mine translating the ingredients for the layout) So I accepted her challenge and my layout is the result.  I used Dylusions Paints and pages from an old dictionary on which to apply the paints.  My stash provided everything else. Thanks for looking, have a bright day, Margaret :)

I was recently asked to lead an advanced cardmaking class, and my mind immediately went I want to do a mixed media card.  It take the participants 1.5 hours to make the card below: Ingredients: Kaisercraft Sage & Grace papers, Tinby Designs Color Crush Raspberry as a spray, heart handmade with paper pulp and painted with white acrylic paint, Stampin' Up! embossing paste through a mask of their choosing, Distress Ink and stamping completes the card. For the heart I punched out a heart onto white cardstock and then applied the paper pulp with my fingers allowing it to dry overnight.  I did make all them before the class.  The ladies got to make a smaller one on the day to use later at home when it had dried. I was inspired by a card I saw in craft stamper magazine February 2016 made by Mona Pendleton and I have emailed her to thank her for the inspiration. This card has multiple layers and requires lots of drying in between each layer - the ladies loved it and for...

Well, it has nearly been a month since I completed a layout - I have been busy - busy good - and also on a short break in Central Australia. Today, I wanted to create a layout, and here is what I came up with, a double page layout. When my sister and I went on a cruise in April this year, I found out that there would be a 'pink' moon on 11 April.  I was excited when on boarding our boat I found out we were on the side that the moon what be appearing. So come 11 April, I was ready with my camera. Unfortunately the sky did not come to the party and the pink I was expecting so why? Why is it called a pink moon?  Off I went to Google and found the following explanation: A pink moon is heading our way Tuesday – but those expecting to see a literal pink sphere sailing above us in the sky may be disappointed. Any full moon that occurs in April is called a ‘Pink Moon’ simply because of the pink flowers, such as North America’s wild ground phlox, which blossom in April and...

I am participating in a swap of Artist Trading Cards (ATC) over at Soul Scrappers  themed Summer Fun.  There are 10 participants. ATC's are little just 2.5" x 3.5".  They are a great way to practice new techniques. Here are the cards I created: Summer to me includes ice-cream and gelato - love the colours. As an aside - who remembers Gelato knitting yarns - same colours and I made many a top with them in the day. Now, how did I create these?  I have had Ranger Oxide Distress Inks (only 6 of first issue colours) for sometime now, and like many I have watched Utube, read blogs, scoured Pinterest but never really put 'ink to paper'.  The time is right.  I have used the inks 4 ways: First I 'smooched' the first ink colour onto my craft sheet, sprayed and then lay 12' square of cardstock on top, then proceeded to do the same with 3 other colours, drying as needed between applications. This is closer to the colours rather than the photos abov...