Stamps Ahead

Last night Melissa Kennedy of Unmistakable Creations held a class called Perfectly Incomplete.  Now Melissa lives in Victoria and I live in New South Wales - so I decided to work on my own incomplete masterpiece at home.  Here is what I did and further explanation follows this photo, and it is somewhat a long post: Class description - play with mixed media products you may not use. For those doing a page for an art journal we will be focusing on a theme for a bit - Accepting ourselves as we are faults and all and BEING UNMISTAKEABLE CREATIONS as well as hopefully creating some.  Bring along a QUOTE that means something to YOU based on the song Masterpiece by Jessie J.    I chose the words "Got a way to go, but it's worth the wait."  Google the song to see the full lyrics. I decided to go with an art journal - something I have seen quite a lot of on the internet etc, and never had the 'guts' to start one.  Here is what I started with Dyl...

Okay, so having found somewhat of my 'Mojo' back I have decided to put this layout into a challenge over at Challenge Yourself  blog: These are photos of my sister (right) and myself (left) on the deck of Explorer of Seas during one evening on ourrecent cruise. They were difficult to decide just what to do with them - as we did not co-ordinate our outfits (haha) and the deck was so 'out there' with its colours.   In the end I decided as the photos were so busy to go with a busy paper that includes many of the items in the challenge photo below.  I felt the photos in the challenge were definitely 'feel the ocean breeze'.                                        All papers and embellishment are Kaisercraft.  Maybe I will get some time over the weekend to do a more subdued...

Well readers, this week my "Mojo" decided to have a holiday.  So many things going on - not the least a migraine that really saps energy.  I needed to design and make one more card for a class I lead on Fridays - 14 ladies.  Everything I looked at in books, on Pinterest, in Google to me were too hard, too simple, too ????.    I regularly participate in challenges on Soul Scrappers and today when I checked there was a card by Karen Findlay (Design Team member) and it sparked me into action. Here is my card: After finishing it, it still needed something and so the final card will have the star embossing also on the blue star inset. Thank you Karen for sparking me into action.  I have left you a message of thanks on Soul Scrappers. Now that I have found that "Mojo" let's hope it continues as I still have a few challenges I want to create for. Margaret.

Today I created another layout from our cruise in April.  Here my sister and I are dressed for a cocktail party that our group had on our final evening of cruising.   I was inspired by a 2013 layout by Marie-Pierre Capistran   that I found whilst web surfing. Thank you for your inspiration and I have left her some thanks on her blog. Using Distress Stains I diluted them and applied to paper with brush in long random strokes.  A Mason Jar Stamp by Heartfelt Creations was then added when the ink had dried.  At the same time as painting I also painted onto a scrap of paper to use for embellishments.   Splotches of the paint were added randomly. I do not usually work in pastel colours and overall I love the result.  I just need to add some journaling. Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

For today's layout I was inspired by a layout by Gillian Nelson (Studio Calico) that I found whilst browsing Pinterest - as you do for creative idea starters.  This photo of my sister was taken whilst we were walking around Mystery Island, Vanuatu on our recent cruise.  I was inspired by Gillian's layout (and I have left her thanks of course for the inspiration) I loved the rhinestones leading your eye through the photo - I have used enamel dots and I loved how the photo was extended with the strips of patterned paper at the bottom.  I raided my embellishment stash to finish off my layout. I made my layout 12" square. Thank you, Gillian for your inspiration.  Thanks for looking, Margaret :)

Today, I am sharing several layouts I have created on my return from recent Royal Caribbean scrapbooking cruise to South Pacific and Fiji with Unmistakable Creations and led by Melissa Kennedy.  More to come including some of the layouts we created when the ship was at sea. It was my sister's first cruise.  Here we are at Circular Quay - our brother met us for a cup of tea before we boarded and helped to carry our bags to the drop off point. Professional photo of us as we boarded the Explorer of the Seas.   For this layout I applied Gesso, with my hand and fingers,  to the blue background paper.  One of the finds of our cruise was the beautiful Mare Island.  It is the second largest of the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia. We were on the first tender off the ship and got to explore and walk the beach before the rest of the boat descended onto Yejele Beach. It was great to have the ocean breeze as we wandered on the white sands. Anothe...