Stamps Ahead

Here is my 2nd Blind Scrap challenge that I completed with Hillbilly Shenanigans prior to last weeks virtual retreat. I will admit I got a little confused with mat placement and I hear you say 'you have 3 matted photos!' there was originally only 2 matted photos. Well, as Michael Crawford (no relation) would say "I had an oopsy" with some stamping, so rather than toss the lot decided an extra photo would cover it up! I used some last remaining sheets of Kaisercraft Magnolia collection that had the flowers and leaves that required fussy cutting. Photos are from my trip to UK last year from top right Stoke-on-Trent, Chester and Jane Austen Museum in Bath. Thank you for looking, Margaret

Over the next 3 days I am participating in a virtual scrapbook event. Here is the layout from the class I did today. The retreat is being hosted by Hillbilly Scrappin' - The Great Papercraft Caper Virtual Retreat. The tutor for this class was Jo Johnson from 3Quarter Designs and the collection is called Mocha Fix. The photos were taken when my sister and I were in Bath, UK last year and we headed out for breakfast on our 2nd day to a local cafe - I know not 2pm as my clock face shows on the layout - a little bit of creative licence.  My sister loves her coffee, and I am a tea drinker. She gave the coffee a thumbs up!  Thank you for looking, Margaret.

 This layout has been created as the result of a challenge - create a layered embellishment suitable for a boy and then use on a layout. One of the things I have been doing recently is going through my stash trying to use it up or donate or send for recycling or donation.  I found in my stash as I was doing this the leftovers of CeleB8 Take Note collection (many years old). I firstly made the embellishment Using Kraft cardstock and my We are Memory Keepers Envelope board I created a 6" x 4" envelope and then decorated it layers of the bits and pieces in the kit and finished up with some white splatters. I used a magnet to create a closure for the envelope. Also, I found a small book that I started many years ago so this I put in the envelope - just put a piece of chipboard to make it easier to remove from the envelope. The photo on the layout is off my great nephew on his first day back at school in 2025.  Thank you for looking, Margaret

 A Clean and Simple scrapbook layout with the challenge to use no tools - no scissors, no rulers, no cutters, no die cut machines, you get the picture. Glue and tape allowed.  Here is my layout I can't tell you how many times I said "Margaret you idiot - you can't use scissors, etc".  I have just about finished the 49 and Market Art Options Spice papers and embellishments. Okay, I was not strong and did buy another kit of the paper and embellishments!!! I love it so much. I was tempted to use black pen to outline the layout - but alas a pen is a tool! The photo was taken at Cody's Restaurant, The Villages, Florida - my friend Kathy (right) invited a friend of hers who lives in both Australia and US to join us and we spent much time talking and eating. Thank you for looking, why not try to challenge yourself to use no tools. Margaret #calvinball #calvinball2025 #scraphappy

On Saturday night I participated in a Blind Scrap Challenge via video and here is layout I created during the blind scrap and another I made on Sunday. This was the layout I completed during the blind scrap challenge video.  I used a favourite paper collection - Marigold from Kaisercraft.  On Sunday, with the benefit of more time, I was able to listen again to video and I must confess, take some notes and I completed this layout.  This time I used 49 and Market Curators Botanical collection.  My sister also participated and here is her layout  For the challenge there was a mood board, and we were to use this to inspire us to use the colours indicated on the card and we were given instructions beforehand on cutting papers.  Look at all those circles in the photo! Thank you for looking, Margaret #calvinball #calvinball2025 #scraphappy

 Twice in one day! This time the layout is sunrise in Sydney, taken from my cabin window on Level 3, at 6am on the 9th February, 2025.  How special were these views - the start of a magnificent day ahead.  This layout truly uses bits and pieces from my stash - I cannot tell you how long I have had the chipboard clockface!  If you read yesterday's post, you see my reference to using Project Life cards - well one more has been reduced from my stash. Thank you for looking, Margaret  #calvinball #calvinball 2025 #scraphappy

The Sydney Opera House is one of my favourite buildings in the world. It has inspired me over the years in my artistic endeavours.  Therefore, leaving Sydney on a cruise is always a perfect opportunity to take more photos! Grid style using up 4 project life cards from my stash - so many more to go!  Do they multiply in the drawer! I have added this layout to Calvinball 2025 - still time to check it out if you are after a fun scrapbook challenge - there are "rules" but they are subject to change at anytime!   Thank you for looking, Margaret.   #calvinball #calvinball2025 #scraphappy

 This is a layout showcasing the group of ladies and I on our Unmistakeable Creations cruise - Scrapbooking with Jen and Melissa. Fun time was had by all. I have used 49 & Market Art Options Spice collection that was in the gift bag we received from Melissa.  I have loved using this collection, the colours were just so 'me'.  I have enough left over of the papers and embellishments to make a mini book/journal.  I did use some bits from Kaisercraft Bombay Sunset that was on my desk.  This layout I have added to Calvinball 2025 challenge - for more information head to http://scraphappy.org/calvinball. Thank you for looking, Margaret

Nearly 12 months ago I travelled to USA and I spent part of my time there with good friends "The Baxes".  Here we are at Cracker Barrel waiting for our dinner to arrive The layout was completed for an optional early bird challenge prior to Hillbilly Shenanigans- The Great Papercraft Caper - Virtual Retreat later this month.  Admission to retreat is now finished however they are having another Mixed Media virtual retreat later this year. This challenge required us to use this sketch to complete a layout and we were free to interpret it however we liked - flip it, rotate it, or take just a few elements that inspired! I used Celeb8 Bon Appetite paper and embellishments (except for background red and the larger polka dot papers) from my stash. From memory I have these papers, at least, since 2020! As I am participating in Calvinball 2025 I have also added this layout to Scrap Happy .  Check out Calvinball - a fun papercraft event happening this March - just click on the link ...

Another layout- double this time.  The objective was to finish a layout that was started before 1st March, this year. This is the story of two parts.  Firstly, the layout was started in February 2020 in a workshop with Jenny Hislop at Scrapbookers Confetti Box in Swansea NSW.  It was not completed so I set about finishing it today.  It is an interactive layout with many flips.  Secondly, about the photos.  In November and December, 1990 I spent time in the United Kingdom and a 35-day tour of Europe. On returning home I placed all the photos into an old-style photo album and overtime they faded and some even became unable to be seen properly.  So, a couple of years ago I removed them from the album with the idea that I would put them into a scrapbook - but like so many ideas it went on the back burner.    The left-hand layout I put United Kingdom photos in and on the right photos from Europe trip.  Of course, I had quite a few left over...

 Time again to participate in Calvinball 2025.  Here is the test layout I uploaded What is Calvinball?  In short, Calvinball is a scrapbooking game/challenge based off the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip.  Calvin and Hobbes invent Calvinball where the rules change constantly.  That concept was taken and turned into a scrapbooking challenge many years ago.  It is fun, you get points or you can just participate.  This layout I have entered as a test layout - to check that system works!  I received points for this, as well as posting on socials, using stars (1 point regardless of number of stars on layout) and using green.  Other Day 1 points could have been - if I had used journalling of 100 words plus or using an avocado.  Each day other items are added (or taken away).  Other papercraft projects are permitted as well.   Check out Scrap Happy  for more information.  http://scraphappy.org/calvinball I have also compl...

 Well, I have been on a roll.  Here is another layout created for a challenge at Soul Scrapper Challenges : The challenge HEARTS...anything goes as long as you have at least SIX HEARTS on the page, you are good to go!   Heart bubble wrap and hand cut hearts - got it covered!  The photo shows a drawing my great nephew did recently when I spent some time with him.  Remember he is only 6!  I was drawing stick figures until only a few years ago and I am not 6!  I created a pocket on back of layout to put his original drawing in. I did find a quote that I want to share with you and that I have recorded on the layout that seemed appropriate for his artwork.   "Creativity is a lot like looking through a kaleidoscope. You look at a set of elements the same ones everyone does but then reassemble those floating bits and pieces into enticing new possibilities." Rosabeth Moss Fenton Thank you for looking, Margaret

 This clean and simple layout was created for a challenge at White with One . We were to be inspired by one colour in this mood board and it was to be a summer theme.  The photo is of my amazing great nephew and taken on New Years Eve 2024. Now if you squint into the Kiwi drink, top right I was inspired by the 2nd layer of colour that just happened to match the sunset in the photo.   I firstly sprayed 2 sheets of white cardstock with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Grape Ape (a very old bottle in my stash).  The second sheet I cut into strips and used punch on one edge of paper and then I simply scrunched up the strips before adhering to the layout alternating sprayed and white. My arthritic fingers were not happy I am sure - but I persevered! Thank you looking, Margaret

Summer 2024 I was visiting my friend Kathy, and we visited Disneyworld on one hot day.  Here is another layout I have created for a challenge at Soul Scrapper Challenges This was a Tic-Tac-Toe challenge and here is the grid I selected 3-word title, summer theme and bold patterned paper.  We arrived as Disneyworld on opening and walked and walked all over Epcot, not to mention riding the rides and lunch Disney style - the heat was getting to us, so we decided to hop onto the monorail and head to Disney Polynesian Resort for some much-needed air-conditioning, putting up our feet and relaxing before heading out again.   I have used Kaisercraft Bombay Sunset collection for this layout. If you look closely at my photo in the middle, you will see I am wearing an ice-scarf a necessary accessory on this day.  Thank you for looking, Margaret

Layout for another challenge over at Soul Scrappers Challenges . The challenge ONE word either "O", "K" or "W".  I chose "O" for Ovation. On 31/1/25 I boarded the Ovation of the Seas for a scrapbooking cruise to South Pacific.  This photo was taken in Hobart - what I hear you say, "when was Hobart in the South Pacific!".  With Vila rebuilding from earthquake in December, 2025 and with cyclones in South Pacific there was a change of destinations - Airlie Beach, Queensland and then down the coast of Australia to Hobart. For this layout I decided to use circle die cuts and anything embellishment in my stash that had a circular shape (except for the film strip chipboard I was excited to find and Royal Caribbean image) continuing the "O" theme.  The challenge was to use only ONE word - no other words, word strips etc allowed.   Thank you for looking, Margaret

 Literally 'on board' the board game Sequence played on board the Ovation of the Seas. Layout completed for Soul Scrappers Challenges  from Screen 2 Scrap challenge. This month the challenge was to be inspired by the movie Wicked (okay, I have never seen the movie - am I the only one). The criteria for layout Use only pink and green (some black and white allowed). I used papers from 49 & Market Grove collection and Kaisercraft High Tea Collection. Add something that can fly - I used butterflies 2 x Photos. Tick A bit about the photos.  The two ladies in the top photo - Lyn and Jen - were on my recent cruise and in our group - Jen led a class on making a Christmas book (more on that in a later post) and they introduced me to the game Sequence. We played in Vintages Bar on 5th level of the boat.  These photos were of my first time playing and Mel was also interested so looked on and together we got the gist of the game.  I played several times more, often for ...

I am back from my recent cruise - more on that below.  Here are some layouts I have created using 49 & Market ARTOPTIONS SPICE collection.  This collection did not form part of the classes on board however was included for us to use as and when we pleased. Photo taken whilst creating in the conference room, Level 13 of Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas. Photo taken by photographer on board the ship.   Ready for my photo to be added.  The base layout paper when placed the way I have, had butterflies upside side - simple remedy add butterflies from embellishment pack over them!  Now the cruise - arrived at Sydney Terminal to board only to be told that due to Vila still recovering from the earthquake in December we would be heading to Airlie Beach instead. No worries understood completely and feeling for the people of Vanuatu who rely on the tourists so much.  Before leaving Airlie Beach, we received an announcement from the captain that due to cycl...

I love making accordion books - they are great as gifts or for recording your own thoughts. Here is one I have created from scraps from Unmistakeable Creations - A Grand Legacy Collection - Card/Elements  pack and some of the 12" x 12" (30cm) cardstock.  Book measures 4" x 4" and has 6 pages with both front and back of each page decorated. Lots of tags, collage, pockets and much more.  Photos follow. Above is the back page and below it has a flap that opens for photos etc. Thank you for staying with me - click on Unmistakeable Creations link above to see the entire Grand Legacy Collection. Margaret

 I am leaving a jet plane-----no I am leaving on a South Pacific cruise.  It is a scrapbook cruise with Unmistakeable Creations . One of the fun things to make are ATC's to swap and here are mine  We swap ATC's with each person (it is optional to participate) however I like to give one even if a person is not participating.   We do make them at little bigger than regular ATC's so that they fit into a pocket style page.  For mine I have used the following: a neutral kraft coloured cardstock. Edged with Distress Ink. torn corrugated card (mine came from a cut down delivery box). Edged with Distress Ink. tape I made with Distress inks and stocks (you will find this on the right-hand side of each ATC) tea dyed cheesecloth (was white but I dyed in a cup with hot water and about 5 tea bags, left for a while, removed and washed, then dried. 8 images from Darkroom Door and 3 images that have been in my stash for ages - sorry can't remember name, maybe Precious Mome...

This week I am departing on my scrapbooking cruise with Unmistakable Creations . We had been provided with a small mini canvas and easel to create a name tag.  We could use any technique and here is what I created. It will sit on our table in our conference room onboard. I wanted to try a something I had not done before, so off I went to internet to do some research and found Ranger Distress Glaze resist technique.  I must say I loved the result and I added a small cluster to top right so that I could incorporate my name and to cover up and area that I was not all that happy with. I used the following products: I sprayed the canvas with Dylusions Ink Sprays - Calypso Tea, Peony Blush, Vanilla Custard several times onto the canvas until I was happy with the result, drying in between and dabbing with a paper towel if too much water. Allow to dry. Note: I did not gesso the canvas beforehand. Next, I used Ranger Distress Glaze through a stencil in places on the canvas. I must conf...