Stamps Ahead

Another layout for Soul Scrappers , why not check out their great challenges yourself. The challenge was another nature inspiration. This time focus on your flower garden.  It is winter in Australia, my minimal flower garden was no inspiration, however I had these photos of market day on Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis,MI taken this year.  The photo shows my friend Carol checking out the Dahlias on display.  I loved the reflections on the top of this stall.  What you may not know is that when I was born an uncle of my mother was a Dahlia grower and propagator. He named a new Dahlia after me (Margaret Crawford) , it was a beautiful autumn colour and we had them growing for many years.  Alas, over time they died and the seed was lost forever.  A beautiful memory. I fussy cut one photo to highlight the flowers on the right. A few photos of what my garden looks like at present - it is too cold to get out there and weed at present - beautiful sun but cold! Weeds, weeds and wee

I just don't take good selfies - however, this one I am somewhat pleased with at least I am not frowning but the arms!  I have completed this layout for a challenge over at Soul Scrappers : The challenge was to pick 3 from these - the color blue ( blue background paper, title); use at least 2 different patterned papers (I got this one) ; sequins (red and gold stars); use at least 3 pictures; stars (yep, gold sequins); ribbon (ric rac passes as ribbon does it not); foil.   It was a hot day the day I went to St Louis Zoo in June, it was recommended to me by several people.  This train provided some much need shade as well as transport around the zoo.  Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

Today I have completed a layout for a challenge over at ARTastic challenge blog.   Here is my layout: The challenge was to be inspired by this artwork by Roger Kemp 'untitled' and criteria was to use pen in some way on your layout. I was inspired by the pink colour and the seemingly unplanned nature of the penwork.  Now to be honest this was not my first attempt at doing this challenge.  My first attempt was to draw a grid (like the stand the mermaids are displayed on) and then go from there.  Well, I was not happy with how it was coming together and ditched it!   My photo was taken on Catalina Island, off the coast of California and I took the photo initially for some friends I met on a cruise I took in April 2017 who were Mermaid Mad.  I love the colour of all those dolls together and the fact that they came in all sizes. Now, I am not one those besotted by Mermaids - they are fictitious and I like to deal in reality - I have never watched any SyFy, Game of Thron

Another layout completed for the cybercrop over at Scrappingclearly share and inspire facebook group. This was for a scraplift challenge with a layout by Marelle Jackman in at 6" x 12" layout format. I was drawn to the mixed media elements especially the paints and colourful layout. I started out attempting a 6" x 12" layout however I just could not come to grips with it, so I added this smaller piece to a piece of red CS. My photo was taken just prior to leaving my hotel and heading for Disneyland for the day.   Here is a close up of my detail in the middle piece. I love the transparency of the paint over my inked background of heart shaped bubble wrap. Thank you for looking, have a great day.   Margaret.

Another challenge completed for the Scrapingclearly cybercrop - this time Minimalist. My favourite Disney character is Minnie Mouse. I purchased this sweet treat - a strawberry, coconut, white chocolate and cream macaron for morning tea when I visited Disneyland this past June. Served on a gold paper plate.  I found a lovely spot in the shade, ate my treat and cup of tea and watched the world go by. This layout uses all Kaszazz product.  Papers and stencil from Serendipity range, lace, chipboard, pearls as well as the doily die-cut.  I have sewn down the papers and lace with my sewing machine. This was definitely an unexpected moment in Disneyland. Thank you for looking, cheers Margaret :)

On 10th June this year, I flew from Minneapolis/St Paul to Los Angeles.  It was a perfect day as we flew over the Grand Canyon, Arizona.  I quickly grabbed my mobile phone and took these photos.  Truly spectacular and awesome. I have completed this layout for another challenge over at Scrapping Clearly cyber challenge. This time it was a sketch challenge.  Here is my layout: I searched my stash for the right papers and embellishments, stashbusting, amazing what you find when you look! Here is the inspiration layout: Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

If you are a regular reader of my blog (and I hope there are many, you never know) you will know that I became a Kaszazz consultant late last year.   Kaszazz are an Australian company based in Albert Park, South Australia and they are cardmaking and scrapbooking specialists.   Here is a double page layout (designed by consultant Janene Neale) that I recently held: It uses Ranger Distress Oxide Inks, papers,stamps and chipboard from the Nostalgic range introduced in May this year.  I love everything about this workshop. Here is a closer look at both pages: Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

One more layout before I head back to bed for a nap and too keep warm - okay, I was out late last night at a 6 hour crop -6pm to midnight - and sleep is calling me back. Here is a layout I created last night, for a cyber-crop challenge over at Scrapping Clearly Share & Inspire Group on Facebook. Check them out they have some great challenges at present and you have until 15th July to submit. This double page layout was for "inspired by music" challenge" I, of course, had to use the lyrics to Yellow Submarine written by John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney - my apologies to them as I changed one word - live to TOUR. The photos were taken at Catalina Island, California on my recent holiday - this is a place I have wanted to visit ever since my first visit to USA many years ago.   The submarine tour enabled me to view fish living in the waters surrounding the islands. The submarine did not actually submerge but you got the feeling that it did indeed do just that due

Recently, I shared a layout I created for a challenge over at Paper Issues whilst I was overseas.  I am now back home and finished off the layout. The photo was taken at Fourche Lake in Missouri.  With my friends Carol and her husband David we did a morning tour around several of the areas near to their home.   This area was just so peaceful.  David has been here to fish and camp with their grandkids over the years.   Here are several other photos of the area I took.  Isn't it beautiful. Peaceful indeed and a great place to stop and have morning tea. Margaret

Why the title of this post? More about that later in the post. Who doesn't like a parade.  Here is a double page layout I have created for another challenge over at Soul Scrappers The challenge was? I hear you ask - MUSIC and to document any outdoor concert.  I am convinced that a street parade at Disneyland counts as an outdoor concert - look there is a band!  This day was very hot Anaheim and I found a bench on a porch just right for waiting for the street parade to begin at about 3.30pm...with lots of water at the ready to keep me hydrated. I have gone for very sweet colours in this layout as right across from where I was sitting was the Candy Palace and this was the inspiration for the colours I used. Here are the individual pages so that you can see more detail of the photos. Thank you for looking.  More holiday snaps being scrapped. Check back regularly to see them.  Margaret (an unashamed Disneyland lover).

One of the surprises of my recent USA holiday was to find a bronze statue of Mary Tyler Moore on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, MI.  I watched the Mary Tyler Moore show, when it aired on TV many years ago and this street was featured in the opening credits to the show.  Here is a layout I have created.   Mary Tyler Moore passed away 17 January,2018, she was a strong role model for women during her lifetime. I created this layout for a challenge over at Soul Scrappers to use corrugated cardboard on the layout. About this time last year I was at Paperific , Melbourne and did a workshop with Beck Beattie where she used lots of small stamps on a layout - I loved this technique and have done quite a few layouts since. For this one I used crinkled up plastic wrap and Distress Oxides to create my background then a short spritz of water to smudge them together.   For the cardboard (from a box that I received some goodies in) I tore of the top layer to expose the ridges.  It is no

Yesterday, at my class at a local community group the ladies had a go at using watercolour techniques for cards.  Here are my examples: The 2 cards on the left were made by first lightly misting the watercolour card with water, 'pooling' up the colour and then placing onto the wet card then blowing through a straw to get the pattern.  I first checked if anyone had breathing problems! The 2 cards on the right were made by again lightly misting the card, however this time only top right, apply paint, as before and this time apply more mist to enable to colours to mix and run. Once the ladies had made their fronts the choices were then made as to what colour card and embellishments to add. The ladies made 3 cards with these techniques and I must say the results were fantastic. I want to thank Melissa Frances for the inspiration for these cards as I did a workshop with her when I attended the Great Lakes Mega Meet, Novi, MI in May.  The little boy holding the cake was on