Stamps Ahead

I am on the penultimate challenge over at Scrappingclearly .   Here is my layout: I had the opportunity to teach English in China in 2008 (check out my posts for this year by clicking 2008 on front page) and I must say this was one of the most special desert plates I had when I was there.  The challenge: Of course, I did go for the green and gold (with a touch of brown). When I was out in my garden today there was another little touch of green and gold - Crocus plant blooming. Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

I am anticipating a busy few days over the next week as Easter approaches - visiting family and friends visiting.  So I am taking this opportunity today to catch up on a few layouts and challenges. This layout is for a challenge over at Soul Scrappers called 'From Screen 2 to Scrap". Here is my layout, the photo was taken on a visit to Kunming/Dali, Yunnan Province, China on 2 October, 2008.  In 2008 had the opportunity to teach Business English for a year at Xiangtan University in Hunan Province, China.  On spring break, and other holidays I travelled to many places in China. I was drawn to this man threshing wheat by hand - I suppose we get so used to seeing machines being used here in Australia that I marveled at this man's daily routine (see stamp under photo which is strobing in this photo - wonderful sun streaming in today).   The patterned paper was sitting on my table from another layout and I was drawn to what appeared to be wh...

More photos that I have been wanting to put on a layout for some time! I was thrown by the colours of my top - just could not get a CS to match - so put them away until now. I did crop the photos down and that helped me see a layout. Now about the photos. Soon after arriving in Xiantang at Hunan Institute of Engineering (HIE) as an English teacher, I was asked to prepare a presentation for English Corner (where the students organise an evening where they had entertainment etc). I was asked to talk on why a student should study in a foreign country and I was told I could 'sing' as well. Well I love to sing, and have been in several choirs in my time but not before this crowd!!! I decided to give them a taste of Aussie slang - I prepared a bag with whatever Aussie I had with me - I would put on my 'sunnies', throw the 'lollies', put on my 'lippy' and put up my 'brolly' and more. The students loved it and had many a laugh - often during my year at ...

I am a casual TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) teacher and in February I taught a study tour of students from Nanjing in China. We did several excursions together and one was to Bondi Beach. It was great watching the students enjoying the waves. I stayed back, watching them like a hawk, as I did not want us to end up as an episode of 'Bondi Rescue'. Oh, and I also collected all their jackets, watches, bags etc as they made it further into the water. I have been doing more scrapbooking and will post more pages shortly.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up Artwork: Margaret L Crawford This page was inspired by a layout I saw in Creating Keepsake magazine of June 08 "Do you have a pair of shoes that reminds you of a certain time in your life?" I purchased my walkers (I do not call them "joggers" as I have never jogged in my life!). These shoes were purchased at a Ross Dress for Less somewhere in the United States a few years ago. I loved the colour, I loved the price and I love the little bit of glitter they had. If they could talk they would tell you about the hills, mountains, streets, lanes, paths they have traversed. They finally called it a day in China this January - well worn and well loved. Scrapbooking does not always have to be about people, why not scrap the everyday and the memories they create.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Date: 13th September, 2008 Location: Daniel's Patisserie Shanghai, China This stamp from Sale-A-Bration set "Yummy" says it all "A little Yummy for your Tummy" - yes yummy, delicious, fabbo, scrumptious and many more words to describe finding a bakery - no a real French patisserie. I stayed for so long enjoying the food prepared by a wonderful French chef. Not even the rain on the day dampened my excitement. The owners were fantastic, they had only just opened the day before and treated me like one of their family (well a cash paying family member!). And I took some goodies back with me to enjoy later. The bright colours of Bali Breeze Designer Series Paper were just right - this was a bright and fantastic day and one not to be forgotten easily.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford It is hot in Sydney, so I have the air-con on and I am trying to catch up on scrapping my photographs (read many) of my time in China and other times. I have completed 5 pages today. Here is the page of the morning it snowed in Xiangtan. I have used 2 of the current "in colours" - Groovy Guava and Blue Bayou, and the snowflake is from stamp set "Occasionally". Tonight there is a cyberstamp with the INKlings, watch for more creations later. Keep cool, Margaret

Jayne, my very talented and generous SU upline has set herself a challenge to do more scrapbooking this year. Jayne here is my version of one of your pages. It is a 6" x 6" page, no stamping and it is another quick and easy page to complete. It would have been quicker if I had a punch with me. This was my mammoth walk to Moon Hill, Yangshou in November, you can see Moon Hill top right square. Reminder - was 800 steep steps up and 800 steep steps down!!!. Images: (c) 19990-2009 Stampin' Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford

It has been cold here, and apart from the occasional trip into the city to get supplies and going to class today (Sunday I know) twice only to find no students (aaah!!!) I have stayed in the warmth of my bedroom. The last two days I have done some stamping - here is a card and a scrapbook page I have made. The photograph of me with the fresh flowers, on my head, was taken in Yangshou, the ladies make these and sell them for 2RMB each. I bought 2 and together with the students we had a fun time, posing and taking photographs of ourselves. Images: (C) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (R) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford

It is Christmas Eve or will be in about 12 hours, classes will finish for this week, and I am headed for Crowne Plaza, Changsha this afternoon to spend Christmas there. I am meeting Jan and Brian for Christmas Dinner (6pm) in the hotel dining room. Here is a little Christmas sack and Candy Canes I made up for them . Images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford My sister sent me a Christmas Pack of goodies (this is where the Candy Canes were found) and this will be coming with me as well. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, A Happy Holiday Season and have a happy time.

I awoke up this morning, looked out of the balcony door and what did I see - Snow!!! Look you can see the snow falling. Okay not enough to make a snowman! but snow nevertheless and it is cold, cold, cold.

Here are a couple of Christmas photos from China. More later. Enjoy your day. Margaret

Many years ago I saw this technique and I have searched the internet, but could find no references. And I am not sure now whether this was how they did it. Anyway for my 3rd challenge for this evening I went with a 6" x 6" scrapbook page. You need two copies of a photograph. Cut or punch out 1,2, or 3 focus points on one of your photos. Matt this with a very small matt - too large and it will overpower the final page. Use Stampin' Dimensionals to raise the image off your other image. Place over the corresponding image on your photo. Stamp or use rub-ons to finish of the page. Done. What this photo does not show is that your cut/punch images are raised of the page creating a 3D effect . Enjoy. Images: (c) 1990 - 2008 Stampin' Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford

Tonight, I am participating in a cyberchallenge with my SU group, The INKlings, Alana is setting the challenges tonight, it is also her birthday - Happy Birthday Alana. Our first challenge was a colour challenge using Bali Breeze DSP from new mini - alas I have not got mine yet, so I pictured what a hotel in Bali would have hanging on their wall. Here is my contribution. Images: (C) 1990-2008 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford The second challenge was to do a scrapbooking page based on a card sketch found at SCS . I turned the sketch around to fit the picture taken last week on LiJiang River, Yangshou. I had had my photo taken by so many students at this early stage of the trip, that for this one I decided 'model pose'. Well all week students would say 'model pose' it was fun and a good memory. Images: (C) 1990-2008 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford

Please head over to my China blog to check out some pictures of my recent trip to Yangshou and Guilin. Here are a couple of photographs to whet your appetite. I have gone to the local Kodak shop here in Xiangtan and will scrapbook asap.

I am just back from a long weekend in Shanghai, China and before I went I 'googled' scrapbooking Shanghai. A great surprise there was an on-line store, Scrapbook Studio 1 , so I emailled them. The reply also said she had a store that opened limited hours and yes she would be open between 2pm and 5pm Saturday. I caught a taxi out from my hotel, and of course I was early and whilst waiting for the shop to open, next door there was a fabulous French bakery/cafe that had only opened 2 days previously. The most magnificent Smoked Salmon Baguette and vanilla slice and I was welcomed as one of the family to the shop. Then time for the scrapbooking shop to open - Laura imports all the goods from USA (even those made in China) for the local market. I got a cutter and some great papers with Asian themes and a few other things. Here are some photographs of both shops and me eating, of course in the cafe. Good food and a papercrafting fix - what else does a girl need on a miserable wet Sa...

I can't believe that I have made two cards in two days here in China. It has been so hot, I think sitting in my bedroom/office with air-con on has made me get creative. Here is a card I have made and sent off to a good friend in Kentucky (hi Reta if you are reading this). Instead of stamping this time I have used some SU rub-ons from the Urban West collection. There is a little bit of stamping I used the Paisley background stamp. Posting mail from China is an experience all of its own - you go to the post office and once you have been able to let the service assistant know where you want to post the letter to - she (and it is always a she there are no males) will weigh it and give you the stamps required. She will make sure that you have the addressee details in bottom right and my details in top left, and you have to have an envelope that they will give you - you cannot use your own envelopes!. Oh and I found out today if you want to send mail to a Chinese address (as I did) you ...

Today in China it is Teachers Day - when I arrived in class this morning the students had written "Happy Teachers Day" on the board. And I later received, from another class this bunch of flowers. Well I got a further surprise when I went back to teach my 2nd class of the day my students from all 3 classes presented me with a bunch of flowers also,they are show on the right. I can't believe how blue the sky is looking in the picture on the right - it sure is not blue and I have never seen it without a haze, my camera must have compensated. To all the teachers throughout the world - Happy Teachers Day to you.

I have finished my first week of teaching here in China. I teach 3 classes (7A - 32 students), (7B - 30 students) and (7C - 31 students) and have each class 3 times a week. Each period taught is 45 minutes and are in 2 period blocks. I have ventured out to other shopping areas near the university. Today it has started to rain and it is cold, and I have needed the heavy overcoat I brought with me!!!! The lessons this week have mainly been introductory. I asked the students to get together and ask me some questions. These included: What music/books/films did I like; what made me want to come to China; will I be going to the Olympics; where have I travelled to; and the best Did I believe in true love!!! Of course!!!. On Tuesday night I participated in a cybercrop with the INKlings - good to get out some of my stamps I brought with me, I would have like to have bought more with me, but alas my suitcase was already overweight. I made a card - still not able to get photographs ont...

Well I have arrived here in China. The weather was quite cold when I arrived but has now evened out to warm days and a not so cold nights. In fact, tonight I do not have my air con heat on. I start teaching tomorrow Monday. This weekend ventured outinto the streets by myself - even crossed the streets like a local. Not a mean feat - buses, taxis, motorbikes, pushbikes pay no attention to pedestrian signals. I think green means go faster and try to hit as many crossing the street as you can. I bought a scarf today 25yuan (Chinese currency) and it works out at $3.77 Australian. For $1 Australian you get 66yuan. So living is relatively cheap. Until I work out this blogging here in China, I am unable to post photographs. Bye for now, Margaret