Stamps Ahead

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&#