Stamps Ahead

 Yesterday, I had a play with sticky tape and alcohol inks....making tape that looks old! In the photo above you can see where I have used on a quick collage - look top left and up from bottom left. There are lots of videos on how to do this out in social media land, this how I created mine: You need to ensure you use in a well-ventilated area. 1. Layout your sticky tape (any size - I used regular sized) onto baking paper, either close together or apart as I have done. 2. Using alcohol ink - you can use one colour or 2 or even 3 if you want - I used 2 apply over the tape, several times if needed. 3. Allow to dry (remember it is alcohol ink so won't take long) 4. Use.  A hint if the sticky part of the tape is not so sticky when you use on a project just add some glue behind to stick down. 5. You can see what happened when I removed the tape to use on my collage - perfect to be used on other projects. Thank you for looking.  Margaret

Inspired by a You Tube video from Natasha at Treasure Books I decided to have a go at making some whimsical tags.  I had Christmas scrapbook paper and scraps sitting on my table They are all different sizes approximately 3" x 5" in size (7.5cm x 13cm). They did not take long to create.  Great to use in a junk journal as tags, journalling spots or attached with paper clips.  Why not for Christmas tags to add to gifts or hung on a tree. My sister chose the bottom one and she will add to her 2024 Christmas journal. Just how easy is it to get side-tracked I was clearing up my craft stash and came across these papers - of course had to stop and make these tags!  Cleaning up can wait!!!   Thank you, Treasure Books for the inspiration and thank you to my readers - Merry Christmas to you and yours. Margaret Whimsical (adjective) playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way.

 Here are the two other layouts I created whilst on the recent crop evening Inspired by a layout in a long ago Kaisercraft magazine and using up bits and pieces in my stash.  The photos are of Flatford Mill in Suffolk, UK.   John Constable painted his famous painting "The Hay Wain" here. A quick and easy layout - using strips of 6" x 6" (15cm x 15cm) strips of paper cut into random sizes  A great way to use up those paper pads in your stash - use the embellishments at rear of most of the pads for extra decoration.   Photo taken at Clacton-on-sea in UK, when we were visiting our 2nd cousin and we met up with her for dinner.  Thank you for looking.   Margaret

On Saturday 29th November, I went on a 24 hour crop with The Central Coast Croppers Group.  Here is what I created:  My sister and I at what became the start of our "scone journey" through England, Scotland and Wales in April/May this year.  Here we are Windsor Farm Shop, Windsor UK.  I have used Bee Arty "Full Circle" kit.  I did add some of my own stamps, stencil and modelling paste.  Inspired by a layout on Bee Arty Creative Group Facebook paper by Julie Schinkel.  I have used Bee Arty papers from their newest collection - Addicted to Grunge.   Tarrah McLean created this layout and included in our cost were the supplies to create it.  I followed instruction - no diversions!!!  As I type I see that the string of one of the decorations has fallen off - okay need to fix that NOW. We were also set 2 optional challenges - see above.  Now of course, I was prepared to do non-Christmas layouts - luckily there was a fellow cropper se...

My swap partners "blind date with a book" package arrived today, from Adelaide SA. Here are some photos: Brown paper packaging with stamped images, and pockets full of embellishments.                                The book was a 1978 edition of The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. These books are rare to find and so much loved by junk journalers around the world.  Also shown some of the embellishments from the pocket on the wrapping. My swap partner also included a little extra folio of goodness. The photo below shows the inside with lots of tags and pockets. I was overwhelmed to receive all these goodies and have sent thanks to her.  I will spend many an hour going through these looking more closely at each and every page.   Thank you for looking, Margaret

Here is what was in my package to my blind date with a book partner, a long post follows: Book packed in pretty brown paper from my stash.  I have used Tim Holtz Thinlets 662697 die to create the pocks on the front of the package.  Also shown are instructions to book partner and a small bag of additional bits and pieces for her to use. There is a small journal card, a small book, a bookmark (that could be used as a belly band or to create clusters and tucks.  There is also a selection of ribbons and lace I decorated some of the pages in the small book. Stencils had a great highlight to plain pages. Great pianola paper with words and numbers on it. A tuck with a couple of small cards that can be added to the journal. Another stencil to fill a plain page. Front and back pages of book.  This is a great way to use sentiment sheets that often come with paper packs. Folded it is 3" x 4" approx.  Here is the blind date book I sent: Full of quotes - one per page.  ...

I am participating in a "blind date with a book" challenge over at  Junk Journal Fix with SunflowersAndDors!   It is like a regular blind date where you don't know what you're getting until you get there - but with books!! And to make it even more interesting, someone else make the choice for you! Here is my book packaged ready for postage tomorrow to my swap partner in Adelaide, SA. Some hints as to the book I have sent: Inspired by a movie you may have seen and loved. Draw inspiration Words to live by Principles to live by A year-long adventure I will post what is inside when my blind date with a book partner has received her package. Thank you for looking, Margaret

Another layout for the numbers and letters cyber crop with White with 1 Challenges . Challenge 1 BIG LETTERS. In May this year I visited with my friend Kathy in Florida USA.  On 16/5/2024 we went to one of the recreation centres in The Villages where she lives to play Bingo - her regular table players welcomed me and were very interested in Australia, several having visited over the years. It cost US$17 for two cards plus several smaller cards. Very different to how I remember playing Bingo in the past and it took me a bit of time to get the gist of the games.  It was fun and much laughter.  I did not win but Kathy and several of the other ladies were lucky.  We did go back later during my visit again no wins! The only big letters I had in my stash were these from many years ago and as I did not have an entire alphabet had to make some creative adjustments.   Thank you for looking, Margaret

White with 1 challenges , had a Letters and Numbers Cyber Crop last weekend with entries due by today.  Well, it has been a hectic couple of weeks and I could only manage one entry this time around: This was for Challenge 2 - Highlight numbers.   This is my Great Nephew (aged 6.5 years old) and he is showing a great aptitude and love of Maths.  He started school this year and they are not even up to doing Math at the level he is showing.  He has a large book, his Mum (our niece) sets the problems to be solved and he is off.  When we caught up for dinner last weekend he was able to finally get "5" around the right way - so it was high 5's all around.  And, he loves to read as well as you can see by the books on the table - currently he likes books about rocks and science!  Proud Great Aunty here!  The coloured chipboard was a challenge trying to get it to match the shirt - there is 4 layers of different oxide inks and I still not get the colou...

The Scrappy tags workshop I developed was held today and here are the participants tags they created.  I was able to handover $275 to Pastimes Craft Group Ettalong Beach for their continued mission support.  A good time was had by all and a great morning tea (sorry no photos).  This photo above shows the messy mat I made for each participant - a little bit of Oxide Inks though a small stencil in top left corner.. Love that little heart on the house 2nd from right. Thank you for looking and remember 'It's beginning to look like Christmas".  Margaret

 Christmas tags that I have created for a workshop I am leading tomorrow at a local community group: It was fun to put each kit, that participants will receive, together.  I used supplies from my stash so each person's tags will be constructed with different patterned paper. These tags using a stamped edge of stitching rather than using a sewing machine.  I am donating the entire cost of the workshop to the group for their continuing work with mission support. Tags can be used for gift giving, scrapbooking or junk journalling.  Thank you for looking. 

This is what I made on Saturday - I was inspired after watching a great video from Shanouki Art thank you. The video showed how to use a full 12" page of scrapbooking paper.  The video showed how to use a full 12" page of scrapbooking paper. I was so inspired I put my hand on the first piece of Christmas paper I could find (it was not the full 12" as it had been previously cut into) but I went with it.  I have used other items from my stash as well.  Here, are a few other photos: Reverse with small pocket. All the items.   Thank you looking, I will be back shortly with more Christmas ramblings. Margaret "It's beginning to look like Christmas, everywhere you go" - Lyrics by Meredith Wilson  The shops are beginning to decorate, the internet is a "buzz " and YouTube is wild with ideas - ramblings from Margaret Crawford!

Here is a pin I have created this afternoon suitable for wearing as brooch or in a junk journal. For the past week I have been sorting through patchwork fabrics and packing them up into packages for a local charity shop and as I worked through them there was so many beautiful small pieces of fabrics, and it got me thinking what could I do with them. So, I head to Pinterest/Instagram and found some beautiful pins by Anna-Karin Sjoqvist  from way back in August 2019 and from this photo (see link) I created my pin. Of course, I needed to make one immediately as I was inspired.  I have left thank you on Instagram.  Do yourself a favour head over to her site she has so much inspiration - I could have spent hours looking at her work. Thank you, Anna-Karin, I love it and I used some slow stitching on mine and added beads to the pin. I love the frayed look. In all it only took a very short time to make, and I can see me making many more in the future. Thank you for looking, Marga...

I recently purchased from Scrappingclearly a June kit for a Junque Art Book. Yes, that is the spelling of the kit - great name don't you think: Not quite a bound journal that it was supposed to be but more a tag book - why? A couple of happy mistakes! First, I suppose I can own up to not reading the guide all the way through before starting!!! I get to the end of creating each page - why do I still have blank white cards? Reading how to use the binding fabrics - oops that won't work - you may have guessed that I glued front and back pages onto one card and not one card/one page that would be bound together with fabric bindings at end! What to do and then I remember I had a round "thingy" in my stash, so I used hole punch and more of the ring reinforcements for stabilisation, I love how it turned out and the good thing is I now have more pages I can make with leftovers and add to the ring later. A project that combines fabrics, papers and ephemera so beautifully, ju...

This is a layout I have created for White with 1 challenges - this month it is to use Orange (or any of its tones) and to use stamping.  There was a mood board for inspiration. This was the mood board: My inspiration - the windows in the building bottom right. A clean and simple layout.  I stamped the squares and needed to highlight them by going around with a black pen.  I used Abandoned Coral paint for stamping/chipboard and I did check and Coral is an orange tone (it is also in the pink tones but stronger as an orange tone). This mood board is also working, in conjunction, with Soul Scrappers this month so I have also posted to their challenges as well. Thank you for looking, Margaret