Stamps Ahead

Well, I did finish all 6 Australia Day challenges over at Scrappingclearly .  Here is my layout for the final challenge The photograph is of a friends granddaughter and was taken when we all went to a park in Queensland. I have loved the bright colours of Isabelle's skirt and top and was just waiting for the right time to put it onto a layout.   Well, this challenge below Now, I am going to admit that I found this one to be the most challenging for me - I did not have any leather or cork or such and the colour of the challenge board had me thinking neutrals.  So I went off in search of what I could use, I found some calico and twine I had previously dyed with Tinby watercolour powders - YES and then found some hessian (or burlap as they say in USA), that had a previous life as a wrap around a bottle, with pink lace on it - perfect for the photo.  Perfect and together with some old old stickers that co-ordinated I completed the layout.    O...

I am on the penultimate challenge over at Scrappingclearly .   Here is my layout: I had the opportunity to teach English in China in 2008 (check out my posts for this year by clicking 2008 on front page) and I must say this was one of the most special desert plates I had when I was there.  The challenge: Of course, I did go for the green and gold (with a touch of brown). When I was out in my garden today there was another little touch of green and gold - Crocus plant blooming. Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

Time for challenge no. 3 over at Scrappingclearly .  Here is my layout: The challenge was to create an inspirational layout inspired by famous Australian landmark.  I have been fortunate enough to be able to travel to many places in the world and flying back into Sydney over the Sydney Harbour Bridge says "I am home". As I was creating this layout I was reminded of the John Williamson song "Give me a home among the gum trees" (written by B.Brown and W.Johnson).  So of course, I had to use some of the lyrics and added my own touch.  The layout design is a favourite 'go to' Simple Stories sketch. The photographs of "The Bridge" or "The Coathanger" as it is often called were taken many years ago, Barangoo had not been started (or even approved for construction I would think), it will be interesting to see if in the future it becomes an iconic landmark of Sydney. Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

Another layout completed for Scrappingclearly  Australia Day challenges (2 out of 6 completed for me so far). This time, it was a sketch challenge, here is my layout:  Here is the sketch layout: A little about the photo of the koala.  When I was on holidays on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland last year, I set about looking for a toy koala, that was small and was made in Australia.  Eventually, I found this little guy at Maroochydore and he needed a rest before he was packed up and sent to Michigan in the United States of America.  The shows the detail of the gold embossing ink I applied over the corrugated paper. I tried to use papers and embellishments that tied in with the tree itself. I separated some of the corrugated paper to mimic the lost bark on the tree. The flag pennants and stripe paper had some Spun Sugar Spritz spray Spun Sugar to give it more texture. 2 layouts down 4 to go before Monday - I will do it. ...

Australia Day here in Australia today.   I am participating in some on-line scrapbook challenges run by Scrappingclearly and here is my layout for their first challenge: Create a layout using product from any or all of these Australian Companies - KaiserCraft, Flutterby Design, Cocoa Vanilla. My layout uses all product by KaiserCraft: In December, 2015 my sister (in the photo) and I spent some time in London - sightseeing, visiting a family member, shopping.   On this day we were headed for the Museum of London, and we found this little park area just down the street from the Museum.   Loved the plinth and we had fun posing around it. I have used KaiserCraft 13th Hour collection of papers, chipboard, stickers, and rubons.  Now, a little about this collection.  Do you love a bargain?  Well I do, and I came across this collection at a bargain price on-line - when I got it - you guessed it I did not like it, seemed dark, halloweenish, ...

Below is a layout I have created for ARTastic Challenge Blog - Inspiration photo for this months challenge follows: This photo of me was taken on 2 November, 1990 when I was on a 35 day coach tour of Europe. I am wearing my Ken Done top purchased at his shop down in The Rocks area of Sydney.  Boy, did I feel special wearing it, and also showing off  an Australian artist at the same time.  If I remember correctly I got lots of comments from people I met. Here is the inspiration photo from ARTastic for this month - Ken Done's Sydney night.  The criteria was a city theme.  Now, technically Boppard is a town and municipality on the Rhine River in Germany not a city BUT I had the photograph above sitting around just waiting to be rehoused (it was previously in a very old non acid free album) so it seemed appropriate for this challenge.  Ken Done's first solo exhibition was held in Sydney in 1980. Since then, he has held over 50 one-man shows, inc...

Earlier this month I posted some photos  of cards I made for a local Making Music group.  I have had fun creating some more and here are two cards made using distress inks and white embossing powder. The stamps came from a give away in a magazine and I thought to myself at the time - I will never use these.  It just goes to show 'never say never'. These cards could be used for either a boy or a girl, what do you think? Thanks for looking, Margaret :)

2016 saw me delve a little more in Mixed Media for scrapbook layouts and cards.  I was able to attend several classes by the very talented Beck Beattie  firstly in Brisbane and then Melbourne.  That's right have need will travel.  Her inspiration layout will be at end of this post.  Here is mine: The first inspiration from Beck's layout was the placement of the patterned papers.  I have yet to journal. Some adventures of my own with Embossing paste with a circle design, flourishes that I die cut in white and then stamped colour onto.  Most favourite discovery of mine - I was looking to do flowers and could not find just the right embossing folder, stamp etc the aha moment - earlier in the week I was using paper table napkins to create my own tissue paper - hey, why not use a paper napkin with the die cut. Mine just happened to be embossed already.  How special are these flowers - look at all that texture.  Love it. I used the napkin ...

Today, I am sure there will more weather records broken, so hot at 6am and just getting hotter.  No better reason that to be staying indoors with the air-con on (I am lucky to have it and will just pay the bill when I get it!!)   I have been playing along with CreativeKady  who has been creating tags. The first in her series was to make your own tissue paper.  My finished tag: First you need tissue paper (I did not have any white and I was not heading down to shops to get any in this heat) so another option was to use the second ply from a dinner napkin.  Then gather stamps together and using black waterproof ink stamp randomly,  Then select portion to use, apply to tag using matt gel medium.  Let dry. Finally, I sponged on Ranger Distress inks to colour my tag. After I tidied up the edges I ran a black Gelato around the edges and smudged with my fingers.   I did apply a layer of Faber Castle Glaze on top (and boy did tha...

I have been asked to make some birthday cards for children aged 1 - 4 for a local group called Mainly Music.  Here are a some I have created so far.   Ahoy - the pirate card uses product from Close to my Heart including stamps from Pirate Birthday and papers, which I is now I believe no longer current.   I have stamped and coloured with my Stampin'Up! markers. The butterfly, from Kaisercraft, has been heat embossed with white embossing powder and then sponged with a pink stamp ink. Thank you for looking, keep cool in the heat.   Margaret

Today, I lead several children aged 6 - 12 in making cards for a local church fete later in the year.  As I prepared for today I wanted cards that were easy enough for the kids to make, held their interest, and allowed them some scope with creativity and their own ideas.   I must say the cards they created were fantastic. They created over 20 cards and also a small notepad (no photo unfortunately - to busy helping them!!) Here is photo of some of the finished cards with the designs I prepared for them. The monster card (already packaged up ready for the fete) is one that I love - great for working with kids.   The Crazy Birds Stamps and Die (Tim Holtz) card uses washi tape and the participants had the choice of using coloured pencils or markers to colour their bird of choice.