Stamps Ahead

Here is a clean and simple card to celebrate the birth of a new baby boy.  I am sending this to my sister-in-laws son and his wife who have just welcomed a little bundle of boy joy into the world 2 weeks ago. The card uses Kaszazz It's a Boy Un-cut Set (4 stamps - the two you see, a sweet little elephant and a drum).   I have coloured with alcohol markers bright colours.   I did stamp the little hearts onto the greeting as well. Change the greeting and you would have a card suitable for a birthday. Thank you for looking, Margaret

 Here is a clean and simple layout I created today: In May this year, a friend, Sue and I attended a High Tea in Terrigal, NSW.  It was a fundraiser for the  Sarah Joyce Project . Sarah is an inspirational young lady on the Central Coast who was struck down with Meningococcal Disease and despite constant hospital visits has become an advocate for spreading the word about the disease.  The High Tea was organised by The Lions Club of Wyoming/East Gosford. The sign we are holding says "Keep Strong". The layout uses paper and stamps from the Kaszazz Floral Splash Collection.  The stamps are Cultured Quotes (6507Q), Sketchy Blooms Un-cut Set (6331Q 7 stamps), Scribbly Burst (6492L).  For the title I used Texture Paste coloured with Ripe Raspberry and the word Strength from Stencil A4 - Destiny. The SB Paper is called White Wash.  I stamped the flowers and fussy cut them, added a dash of brown ink in the centre and few small pearls to the centre.  Sunflowers are Sarah's favouri

I have begun creating Christmas cards for Rural Aid christmascards4farmers 2021 campaign.   I have want to go with an Australian theme for most of the cards I make.  Here is one of the designs I am using. Aren't they cute! The card has a'smooched' background and it means every card is different.  I have used Ranger Distress Oxides in candied apple and mowed lawn - however, any combination of red and green inks will work.  You can also use non-Christmas colours.   I have used Kaszazz Sketchy Emu (6443K), Sketchy Santa Hats (6445H 2 stamps) and Greeting (from Word Montage-Merry Christmas 6 stamps) .Thank you for looking,   Margaret

Today, over at Unmistakeable Creations, Melissa set up a lockdown blind scrap challenge.  Here is my layout: A blind scrap is when you are given steps to create your layout in timed intervals - about 15 minutes between each instruction.   The first instruction was to use white cardstock, 3 patterned papers one of which needed to be the oldest in  your stash.  I used 3 patterned papers from this kit that has lain dormant in my stash for ages - I must have used some of it in the past as several of the papers were not in the packet.  Melissa tells me it is from 2008!   Then came the remainder of the requirements - 3 photos 7cm x 10cm one of which must include yourself.   The step that gave me the most time to complete was making the 5 embellishments that were to be handmade - I had fussy cut some of the images; made suffolk puffs from tulle and using a fluffy fancy knitting yarn that I attached to a round punch. This was a fun lockdown activity. Thank you for looking, Margaret

 Here is a card I created yesterday,  The stamp is a long retired Magnolia stamp.  The magnolia is not hand coloured...I stamped the image onto 2 patterned papers - one green (total stamp) and on the 'pinky' colour (just the flower).  I then fussy cut each of these and layered the flower onto the green leaves.   I made another version of this card and instead of Happy Birthday I changed to 'Thinking of you' with this card being sent to a friend doing it hard at the moment. My area is still in lockdown and will be until end of the month, after that who knows!  Take care all, stay safe. I see more creating in my near future. Margaret 

 Todays lockdown project - wooden decoration/gift tags and key rings. My sisters church is having a fair later in the year and these are destined for the craft stall.  Each item was cleaned, stamped and sealed.   For the stamps I dug into my stash for smallish images.  I will admit that the bits of wood/rings have been sitting around for me to get stuck into - today was the day!!! Close up of some of the decorations/gift tags. Close up of some of the key rings. Thank you for looking,  Margaret  

My area is currently in lockdown, due to Covid Delta virus outbreak in Sydney area.  So what have I been doing - why exploring of course!  No, not in a plane, or in a car, or on a bus or train....but exploring Pinterest!   I came across tea bag art...why not give that a try I said to myself!  Here is what I came up with... In my searching I came across  The Crafters Workshop Blog  post by Patty using black gesso and texture paste on these little miniature works of art.  I have left her a thank you for the inspiration. Firstly, I need to dye the tea bags.  I only had the square bags on hand.  I placed 4 of the tea bags into boiling water into a cup (just like making a very strong cup of tea) and left them to steep through.  When I decided they were ready I carefully opened the bags and disposed of the tea onto the garden and then I put under cold water to remove any remaining tea.  I then allowed them to dry.  I loved the result so had another go with 4 more bags - this time one broke i

There is currently a challenge over at White with 1 challenges  - white with Midnight Black and to use one of more of stars, frames or black pen.   Here is what I created: Why you might ask "has she forgotten to add a photo"....no that is the actual photo I got when I took a photo of the full moon/lunar eclipse on 26th May this year.  There were so many fabulous photos taken by others and posted on social media but mine...well!   And to think I stood outside in the cold to get this photo. Earlier in the night there were stars in the sky so my layout references that time. I used a very old piece of black spotted paper, to represent the moon, and Thicker alphabet from my stash  I used a star stencil with Black Gesso to create the small stars and die cut the larger stars. Thank you for looking, Margaret Added 15 August, 2021: I am excited to say that I won a Guest Designer spot on the September White with 1 challenge blog - so getting my ideas together - so check back at the end

Kaszazz recently released a set of 4 animal skin stencils.  I was able to to create with them pre-release and here is what I created with the Snake, Giraffe and Leopard skins, there is also a Cheetah skin:  I put out a request to my friend Kathy in Detroit, Michigan to take some photos of animals in zoos near her as I knew I would not be heading to a zoo anytime soon.  Kathy will shortly be starting as a volunteer in Detroit Zoo once they re-open following Covid restrictions.  Papers and stamps are from Kaszazz Resort collection. Close up of Snake skin page. Close up of Giraffe skin page. This card of a Snow Leopard was created using the Leopard skin stencil. The stamps are also available from Kaszazz - Leopard and the greeting is from Party Animal Uncut set (5 stamps). Remember as a Kaszazz consultant you can order from my website  www.kaszazz.com/cart?consid=110787 .  All orders over $99 will be delivered free to your address.  Don't like on-line contact me and there will be a ve