Stamps Ahead

 It is New Years Eve (morning) and I have completed this layout for a challenge over at Soul Scrappers .  The challenge was a Christmas themed layout. These photos were taken on Christmas Day.  My sister came to my home and we had breakfast together. The first unexpected moment - apologies from my sister she left my gift sitting under the tree at her home. No worries, I said, we are heading over to yours after breakfast with our brother and sister-in-law.  The bottom right shows my table decorations, including the beautiful poinsettia I received from the executive of local community group where I lead the card classes. Now about the photos of my sister and I. The mask  was a gift from a friend, so the unexpected moment - I decided a photo of me wearing the fun Christmas mask was required to say thank you and I sent a photo message to her.  My sister, is displaying the Santa with mask decoration I gave her.  We are mask wearers and very aware of protecting others when we are out and abo

 Here is a layout I have created for a challenge at ARTastic Challenge blog.    It is for the final challenge of 2020 (and what a year it has been).  This challenge blog is taking a little break over Christmas/New Year so if you want to play along you have until the end of January, to submit a layout.    The inspiration for this month came from Salvatore Zofrea with Christmas Bells 2011. Criteria was "Anything goes" so surprise us! Surprise...I used a kit and a really old spray bottle of Tsukineko Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution and its cost $USD4.50.  Does anyone remember these inks?                                            A little about my layout.  The photos were taken at my 21st birthday party - I recently recovered them from an old style photo album.   They would be considered 'vintage' as this month I celebrated by 71st birthday!  Wow, where did that time go! I made the outfit I am wearing, a pant suit made from crepe that had a sparkle thread running through i

 This layout I created today for a challenge over at Paper Issues (Friends and Fans) . The challenge was to inspired by this monochromatic mood board: The colour of sea foam is muted on my layout and unfortunately it does not show up the colour to its best advantage.  The papers and embellishments (except for pearls) are from 49 & Market -Vintage Artistry - Sky. The photograph is one of many vintage photos I want to get into album as quickly as possible.  Ena was my maternal grandmothers younger sister. Unfortunately, the photo does not have any details on it as to when or where it was taken.    I remember my dad, talking fondly of his Auntie Ena.   Thank you for looking, Margaret 

Making the scrap fabric cards the other day, really got my fabric on..... here are some mini projects I made last night and this morning. I started knitting and needlework from an early age. For many years I was a patchwork and embroidery teacher, also completing several commission works and selling at markets.  The call of new car and a holiday beckoned me back to the corporate world.  After 10 years I left to care for my father, teach English overseas and become a lover of papercraft and mixed media. Recently my friend was given a card for her birthday by her aunt (I cannot post that image here) that was embellished with a small, 2" or thereabouts, of stitching.   This got my fingers itching to do some embroidery again.   So, off to the internet I went.  I found references to 'slow stitching', sashiko, and boro stitching that inspired me to get out the needles, embroidery threads, scraps of fabric, lace, beads, etc and get started. The following descriptions come from va

 I have created this layout for a challenge over at Soul Scrappers This was for a Tic Tac Toe (TTT) challenge - here is the TTT grid: I chose the centre across.  The papers I have used are from Kaisercraft called Peace and Joy, the matched the photos of my great nephew Oscar so well. These photos show him with the presents that I gave to him at our family get-together last Saturday.  It has become somewhat of a tradition that I give him a Christmas Tee Shirt each year...2020 The Wiggles green Tee Shirt won the day! Oscar is not yet three and already has great dexterity and social skills.  He loves to read, colour in, dinosaurs, The Wiggles and play.   Thank you for looking, Margaret

So what do you do when it is 4am and you wake and remain wide awake?  Of course, Pinterest browsing.   I found Sew Me Something Good blog and there were posts about making cards using fabric scraps and so much more . I have left some thanks for the inspiration. This got my thinking cap on.  Here are a selection of cards I made this morning. For the past year I have been involved in cutting out donated fabric into fat quarters, fat eights for a local op shop. These cards have been made with the scraps of just a small selection of those fabrics - I chose to select Christmas colours.   The construction is very simple: Take a piece of cardstock (cs) and cut it to size you want - I used 9.5cm x 13.8cm.  However, you could cut as squares, rectangles  etc. Cut or tear fabric scraps into any width.  I tore my fabric and left the raw edges to show. Sew onto the cs leaving some fabric hanging from cs.( I lengthened my stitch so it was easier to sew).  Don't worry about perfection it all add

 Recently , I posted a photo of a card I made for a friend who is turning 70 this month.   I loved it but did not think it right for my friend.   So, I have created another one for her.   This one is a little more feminine.                                           I changed up the embossing from black embossing powder to the white and added a bit of lace and pearls.   The inks are again Ranger Distress Inks but this time in softer colours.    Inside, I added my greeting and a few things about the number 70 that I searched for on the internet: 70 years 840 months 3,652 weeks 25,567 days 613,607 hours 36,816,444 minutes 2,208,986,640 seconds *** 70 is only 13 in Scrabble *** Turning 70 is like turning, 21 in Celsius. *** Thank you for looking, Margaret Happy birthday to everyone who has a birthday in December.

A clean and simple Christmas Card.  A challenge over at Soul Scrappers  was to use striped Christmas paper and bling on your card.  . This card was really easy to put together.  I cut papers from the same range, plus some bling glitter paper,  into strips, I did not mind if some were larger than others. I went with the red glitter paper as it fitted in with the coloured strips.  These were then adhered to a backing card stock (cut to same size as the front of your card).  The greeting was die cut from a sheet in the pack and then I die cut a green circle to finish off the card.   Below, are strips cut ready for my next card.  It would equally effective if you put the strips vertically or horizontally as well. Thank you for looking, believe in the magic of Christmas, Margaret

Well, reindeers are not native to Australia, of course they are in North America, Northern Europe, Siberia. However, they are a well loved icon of Christmas - Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, reindeers pulling Santa's sleigh are just two references.   Here is a card that my ladies made in the local community group where I lead the cardmaking:  The card was made using items from stash.   The ladies could add a greeting of their choice inside. This was a quick card to put together.   I am adding this card to a challenge at Soul Scrappers to add a reindeer to on a card. Thank you looking, Margaret

Yes, cards made with a succulent image - I love them.  I needed to make at least 18 cards of the same design for the card class I lead at a local community group. Each lady will also get a small succulent with their card.  Here is what I came up with: As a Kaszazz consultant we have access to a wide range of projects designed and published in catalogues or on their website.  For this card I was inspired by a series of cards created by Allanah May.  I was wanting a Christmas card so I adapted her design to meet my needs. All products are Kaszazz with the exception of the Merry Christmas stamp from my stash. Kaszazz products used are Speckled Frame stamp (this was on of the first stamps I purchased when I first became a consultant), Succulents Un-Cut Set (13 stamps - I used only 1 of the stamps and Allanah May used all of the 6 succulents stamps). The stencil that you can see in the background is from a recently released set of small stencils just right for cardmaking. Thank you for look

 Here is a layout I have created today for a challenge over at ARTastic Challenge blog : The challenge inspiration was this painting by an Australia artist Hilda Rix Nicholas called Picardy Girl.  The criteria was vintage style.  I searched for just what made something vintage - and aside from wine - I found this reference  "Most antique dealers consider an item vintage if it is at least 40 years old."   I decided to use a photo I found when sorting through my photo memories. Rather than tell you what I used from my stash, I think it is important that I share something about the photo. This photo of my sister (left) and I (right) and friends as we were leaving for a ball.  We all would have been in our late teens/early twenties - so definitely made the photo 'vintage'.   My sister and I, of course, went to the hairdressers to get our hair done - just look at the bouffant style, adding inches to our height!  Yes, we had permed hair!  I made the ballgown I am wearing. O

 Yesterday, my sister and I spent a couple of hours making 50 of the decorations below: We made them for a group called "Mainly Music" that (and I quote from the Mainly Music website" weekly sessions are full of songs and rhymes, actions and movement, designed to engage you and your child.  Not only will your little one be deliged by the one-to-one attention you give, but you'll love the way they respond and develop." The Ettalong group give each child a christmas bag filled with goodies, our decorations will be going into those bags.  I selected the music paper from an old Kaszazz range that I had in my stash. These would be great as tags as well for your Christmas gifts. Now on a personal note, I am seriously thinking about replacing my lounge suite (fancy name but you can see why below) and on the back of the music paper, their was old advertisements there was this image - if only that was the cost today (converted to decimal currency, of course).  I am sure

 Here is another 70th birthday card I have created for a longtime friend who celebrates her birthday in December. As soon as I saw this Kaszazz stamp - Scholar - I knew I had to purchase it to make her card.  Her career as a Secretary and typist started when we were both teenagers working for a major bank here in Australia.  The Happy Birthday stamp is also from Kaszazz Word Montage - Be Yourself.  The background has been coloured with Ranger Distress Inks. The card is sparkly, just does not show up in the photo as I sprayed it with pearlised water. Some sequins and stickers (both from my stash) completed the card. Thank you for looking, Margaret. 6 December, 2020  Just letting you know that I have decided that this card was not suitable for my friend..   I have made a more feminine version: It is great to see that the Scholar Stamp also looks great with white embossing powder. Thank you, Margaret

Here is a card I have made for a friend who celebrated her 70th birthday this past week. I used Distress Inks (in my friends favourite colours) to create the background and a spritz of water with Pearl powder in to give it a sheen - unfortunately this does not show up just how shimmery it was in the photo.I then die cut flowers and 70 and attached to card along with the Happy Birthday greeting.  Lastly I added some sparkly rhinestones. Thank you for looking,  Margaret

 A Christmas card using a Colourwash technique.   ]Thank you for looking,  Margaret

Today I been playing with new Watercolours Pans and have come up with these 2 cards.                                                                This card was inspired by a video I watched by Maremi Small Art  I did leave a thank you for her.   Now a little story - the only subject I failed at school was ART - 49 in half yearly and 49 in the yearly. My drawing ability was and I can say it now - horrendous, my grasp of the history of art was strong. So my confidence, or lack of, in my ability as an artist started rather early.  Many years ago I attended a Pastels workshop - the teacher said "I had a very naive style!"  My confidence was not renewed!  Many, many years later I did meet my school art teacher, we were both in the Embroiderers Guild at that time, and I relayed this tale and she said "Margaret, consider yourself passed".    I have found my inner artist over the years as a patchworker, embroiderer and now papercrafter but still that nagging ' I can&#

Here is a layout I have completed today, using Kaszazz stencil Dandeloin, 3 ways - stamping, misting and tracing: I have used Ranger Distress Oxide sprays Peacock Feathers and Dried Marigold  for the stamping and misting. I have also used Ranger embossing powder Blueberry Speckle,  Kaszazz Collage Paper pad for fussy cut flowers, Kaszazz chipboard Beautiful Moments  and the stamp Word Montage - Journal Messages. A word about the embossing powder that I have used to emboss the chipboard word and emboss the grungy dotty stamp from Collage Stamp - Imagine Uncut Set (6426Q). It is very sparkly and unfortunately due to the dullish day here the photograph does not do it justice. The photograph of me was taken during a road trip to Bendigo several years ago.  Thank you for looking, Margaret .

Here is a non-Christmas card I made this morning: Thank you for looking, Margaret

Here are the two cards I have designed for class, using non-traditional colours, this week at local community centre.  Christmas is the theme for the coming weeks until end of term.  Inside of the card.   This Dove of Hope card was inspired by one by Ann Schach . I loved it as soon as I saw it whilst scrolling through the web.  I have left a thank you on her page. I loved that dove die so much I made another card this morning 21st October. I have used Kaszazz stamps - World Background (6419Q) and Word Montage - Christian Christmas (4749M) and Ranger Distress Ink vintage photo. Thank you for looking, Margaret

 Here is a layout I have created today, continuing with the Australiana theme of recent days. I have coloured the chipboard with Ranger Distress Oxide Ink - Barn Door and applied glossy accents to give it a shine.  The kookaburra has been coloured with watercolour pencils and then fussy cut and applied with foam tape.  Thank you for looking, Margaret

I have been making fridge calendars, this time using an Australian theme. Thank you for looking Margaret

Not quite a card (although) it has the same measurements as a card.  I have created a fridge magnet and will be making several more for a local fundraiser next weekend. It is a great way to use up bits and pieces you may have in your stash.  Thank you for looking, Margaret

Here is a layout I have completed for an October challenge at Paper Issues (Friends and Fans ) facebook page.  The challenge is all about the colour black. Stick with an all black palette while minimizing other colours. Black is associated with power, fear, mystery, strength, authority, elegance, death, aggression, rebellion and sophistication.   I took this photo of a leaf with raindrops several weeks ago as I walked to my car.   Take time to enjoy the small moments - that inspire or take your breath away. Onto my black textured cardstock I used Heavy Black Gesso through a stencil and roughed it up with my palette knive to give it more texture.   I finished the layout with a chipboard 'moments" that I coloured with black ink and then applied Glossy Accents over it.  The added addition of some black rhinestones provided the sparkle I was looking for. I have kept the layout simple as the photograph to me is the 'star'. Now, what did I learn about this layout - it is ha

This is a clean and simple layout I have completed for a challenge at Whitewith1 - this time the colour was Mandarin.    This is a photo of my friend, Trish and I in December, last year.  We both have birthdays around the same time and our friend presented us with this cake when we were at her home. I had to go back and look at the photographs after I took a photo of the layout as I thought I got the sun on the photos as it looked blurry - alas,  no the photographs show it was the candles alight that was causing the blurriness - well let's not talk about the combined ages will we!!! I did keep the layout rather clean and simple, I used Kaisercraft Marigold collection and fussy cut the roses then I used a Chinese Orange (sorry no mandarin found) alcohol ink marker for the dots you see.    Thank you for looking, Margaret

I am pleased to announce that a set of 3 cards I designed, using Kaszazz collections Game On and Always and Forever have been just been accepted for publication on the Kaszazz website.  Here are my cards: To say that I am "chuffed" would be an understatement.  I had fun designing and making these cards. The Cheesecloth has been coloured by spraying Ranger Distress Oxide Faded Jeans Spray  onto the cheesecloth and allowed to dry before applying to the card.  Sticky bling rhinestones complete the look and provide a bit of sparkle. By now you may be wondering why I used a tyre track stamp - well, I thought that using the stamp would represent the ballerina dancing in the upward movement that they do so well. I will confess that I have never been a ballet dancer - I did do ballroom and latin/modern dancing a long time ago, even at competition level, so I recognize the skill that dancers of any age, gender and experience take to achieve.  Thank you for looking, Margaret

 These are the 2 cards my class will be making this Friday.   This card does have a secret - it looks like a regular card, however when  you open it - it looks like this, just need to add some greetings now. The next card is a 'step up' from the card that they made last week.  This card was designed by Michelle Smith, a Kaszazz consultant. The camellias have been using a watercolour technique using Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Candied Apple instead of painting you "pounce" the ink on and yes, white areas have been purposely left! Thank you for looking.  Margaret.

This weekend Kaszazz is releasing a new catalogue (can't show you just yet - later today I will).  As part of the weekend I got to participate in a Team Training Day held by my upline, in her home.  We get to see new products, and for a small charge we get a project pack to make up on the day (again, more on that later).   Also, there is a team challenge if you want to participate.  This year was to use any of the Kaszazz Christmas papers, stamps, dies, chipboard etc to make a project.  Here is mine: It is a set of 3 split centre cards.  Here is what I used and I have added product numbers: SB Essentials paper - Olive (4921) SB Paper - Vanilla (1060) SB Pages - White Smooth (7197) Sketchy Kookaburra stamp (6440L) from Greetings from Australia collection Sketchy Emu stamp (6443K) from above collection Baubles and Bottlebrush stamp (6455K) from above collection Bottlebrush Un-Cut stamp set (6451M) from above collection and you get bottlebrush and a leaf stamp Sketchy Santa Hats Un-cu