Stamps Ahead

Here is a layout I have created for a challenge over at White with 1 challenge blog - the challenge colour was S izzling Pink.... how could I resist.....one of my favourite colours. Here is my layout: The photo (very over exposed) was taken on 90mile beach in New Zealand in January - it was awesome to the extreme being there.  The skies were fabulous and the beach was beautiful with 4 wheel drive cars using the beach as a road.  Even a coffee cart was on the sand for those that needed their coffee fix. I have used all Kaszazz product on this layout, with the exception of acetate onto which I stamped the Large Vintage Clock then cut it out and the hearts that you can see - for these I used Wild Honey Oxide Distress ink (Quickly becoming a favourite ink) pressed into some bubble wrap that I received with hearts not spots! Close up of the inks..the blue applied with crinkled plastic wrap. Close up of the acetate clock, cheesecloth, lace, and glitter/metallic washi ta...

It has been so hot here, so why not stay indoors with the air-conditioner on and complete some layouts and cards for upcoming classes and workshops. This layout is for a Kaszazz workshop that I am leading in April - I know so early.  The ladies wanted a double page layout suitable for boys or heritage.  All Kaszazz product used. I was inspired by a single page layout by Lisa Bridgeman, Kaszazz consultant.  She had her layout published by Kaszazz however it was not current as hers used discontinued product.  Thank you Lisa for your inspiration.   Lots of Ranger Distress Ink, stamps and even some words from a stencil - Strength and Discover - I first sponged with Spiced Marmalade ink and then put the stencil back over the work and slightly to the right and this time used Vintage Photo ink to give a shadow effect. Thank you for looking, Margaret.

Here is the title page for my scrapbook layouts from the above cruise.  It was designed by Melissa Kennedy of Unmistakable Creations .  It was the very first layout we created in our classes whilst at sea.  Here I am ready to start the classes and wearing the apron that Melissa gave to each of us.  Papers are from Kaisercraft (with a note that Melissa specifically arranged for the paper with our ports of call to be included in our kit). Thanks for looking, back to creating, Margaret :)

One of the reasons that I joined the Radiance of the Seas cruise that left Sydney on 3rd January, 2018 was that this cruise was a once in a lifetime chance to visit Tonga.  Tonga, featured largely in my childhood, it was a mission outpost and we regularly heard tales of this friendly island in my Sunday School days. Our first port of call in Tonga was Vavau. Settle back sail with me, it is a long post. Vava'u is a group of more than 50 islands, either coral limestone or coral atolls. The main town of Neiafu (known as the Port of Refuge Harbour) is a common destination for yachties sailing the South Pacific.  The waters are known for their clarity, it being said that you can see the bottom at 40 metres. Lots of places to explore tropical forests, limestone cliffs and caves to explore and traditional villages.  Yep, book a tender from ship to Naiafu in the morning and start exploring. The Cruise Compass magazine delivered to the cabin the night before had a forecast of...

Here is a layout I have created for Soul Scrappers random word challenge.  The challenge was the theme of happiness, with 6 words to choose from. The words Good Cheer; Laughter or Laugh; Best Day Ever; Joy; Happy; Smile.  I, of course, selected SMILE. The photo was taken by the ship's photographer aboard Radiance of the Seas on my recent scrapbook cruise with Unmistakable Creations . I don't usually take a good photo, however I was quite pleased with this one taken on the green lit stairs.  I have used a Kaisercraft papers and they fit perfectly with the clean and simple layout I was wanting to achieve. I also did a little bit of cutting with knife blade on the right to cover the photo and a small ship die (that we were given on the cruise).  Thanks for looking, more layouts to follow. Margaret :)

I am just back from a South Pacific (including Tonga) cruise that ended in Auckland, NZ, my sister flew over from Sydney to join me there and we had 8 days along the top end coast of New Zealand. One wet day we decided to stay in and scrapbook for the day.   I had just come off a Scrapbooking rruise with Unmistakable Creations and had got her some papers whilst on board. I showed her some challenges on Soul Scrappers and here is what we did. My layout is for their Layout Challenge SC118: I have used Kaisercraft range Whispering Ivy and this paper range was one that we used on the cruise, I have used left overs from the kit supplied to create this layout. The large flower was fussy cut. What is not evident on this photo is under the cluster on middle left there is a white doily poking out.  Photos to be added later. This is the layout my sister created, again using a Kaisercraft range of papers I gave her.  Paris is one of her favourite cities.  Again, photo...

I have had time to play around with Dylusions Ink Sprays and new to me Kaszazz products. Here is the layout I have designed inspired by a layout by Jess Williams for Kaszazz.   I have not been able to find any links for her, so if you are reading this Jess, thank you. Photo to be added. Lots of Dylusions Ink Spray - Pomegranate Seed, Dirty Martini and Slate Grey and stamping with Dylusions Paint - White Linen.  Everything used is available from Kaszazz and yes, I recently became a consultant! I am planning on running a class with this layout shortly. Close up of the spraying and inking. All products used available from Kaszazz. Happy Days in  2018.   Margaret :)

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 :)