Stamps Ahead

 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

 Here are the two other layouts I created whilst on the recent crop evening Inspired by a layout in a long ago Kaisercraft magazine and using up bits and pieces in my stash.  The photos are of Flatford Mill in Suffolk, UK.   John Constable painted his famous painting "The Hay Wain" here. A quick and easy layout - using strips of 6" x 6" (15cm x 15cm) strips of paper cut into random sizes  A great way to use up those paper pads in your stash - use the embellishments at rear of most of the pads for extra decoration.   Photo taken at Clacton-on-sea in UK, when we were visiting our 2nd cousin and we met up with her for dinner.  Thank you for looking.   Margaret

On 16th July, this year my sister and I visited Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northern UK.  Here I am climbing the steps onto the city wall that overlooks the Clyde Estuary. So much history. This layout was completed for the August challenge over White with 1 challenges on Facebook. The challenge was to be inspired by this mood board - Slate Grey with a splash of another colour. I was inspired by the top middle photo of what looks like brick tiles - perfect for my photo, my splash of colour of bit of green to represent the moss on the walls. Thank you for looking, Margaret

 A layout I completed for cyber challenge No 3 at ARTastic Challenges blog  The challenge was to be inspired by the names of the main streets of Hollywood - the ones we associate with all the glitz and glamour - Rodeo Drive, Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. I have been to Hollywood many times (sorry, not bragging many of the organised tours I have done in USA end up in Los Angeles (LA) and a stop at Hollywood is included, on this occasion in May 2018 I was staying in Los Angeles before flying to Detroit and then onto Missouri.   As I had visited the main sights I decided that before I left home I would investigate if any scrapbook stores were in the Hollywood area.   Well, I found Once upon a page in Burbank, so off I set.   I left my hotel in LA by bus to travel to Hollywood and Vine to catch three (3) yes 3 buses to my destination in Burbank.   On my layout I have noted what I wrote in my travel diary that day....

 Here is my layout for Week 5 - Friends challenge at Mystical Scrapbooks.  Here is the inspiration for this challenge Now a confession - I have never watched an episode of Friends!  True.  My memories of Friends was visiting the set on a tour of Warner studios in Los Angeles a few years ago where we were given secrets to how they filmed the coffee shop.  In a recent post I wrote of when I first met my friend Reta from USA. This photo was taken when she visited with me in Sydney in 1995 and we got together with other friends that we made on our European tour in October 1990.   Reta passed away on 23 February this year aged 99.  A wonderful Southern lady that I will miss but will be forever in my heart. I again raided my stash for papers to use, found some Stampin' Up! 6" squares that I felt met the criteria for rainbow and some gold glitter paper.  The heart I popped under the wood veneer Sydney Harbour Bridge (The bridge is in the background...

Here is a layout I completed today for a challenge over at White with 1 challenges.  They currently have a 'water' cyber crop.  Challenge 3 theme was "Children having fun with water" and the colour to use was either blue or green. I have gone for a minimalist design inspired by the beach ball I am holding in the photo of my sister and I taken when we were much, much younger.  The papers come from various collections in my stash on a white background (even though in the photo it appears blue).  Thank you for looking, Margaret

Here is a layout I have created for a challenge for Soul Scrappers Challenges For this months ONE word challenge was to chose from the aplphas "M", "W" or "U" for the title. Okay, so I used two words but they both start with M!  I went with a minimalist/clean and simple layout as I wanted the star to be the photo of my great-nephew and his dog Sebastian. I must say it was one of the hardest to put together - finding the patterned papers was the hardest. Thank you for looking, Margaret

White with 1 winter cybercrop challenge No1 was to use the colour Smokey Blue/Grey and fabric.  Here is my layout  My photograph was taken during a Danube River dusk/evening cruise in Budapest.  It was winter and it was cold!!  This cruise is one of the highlights of my travels across the world.  You may recognise this as the Parliament building. On the way back the building was illuminated and that is another 'wonder' moment. I have used Kaszazz stamps from Destinations collection and a small amount of paper from Writers Block Collage pad.  The fabric is calico that I sprayed with Dylusions Pure Sunshine ink spray then lightly washed and allowed to dry. I also frayed the fabric and used the threads as to give added wistfulness to the beautiful scene. The background is texture paste coloured with Stormy Sky distress oxide ink. Thank you for looking and remember - never lose your sense of Wonder - wherever and whenever we can!   Margaret

 Way back on 8th May, 2007 I started this blog.  It has been a journey of change and experiences that I never ever thought I would have.  Thank you to those who have read my blog and I hope there are still some out there who do.  For my 1,000th post my scrapbook layout is about change. Like the quote here, that I found on the internet - If I never changed from how I did things back in 2007 I would not have grown as an artist, teacher or indeed as a person. I have been retrenched (not the worst thing in the world as it turned out), travelled extensively, had my own business, worked in a call centre or two, went back into a financial role, left became a carer, and then working in China teaching English for a year. Moved to Central Coast of NSW.  Finally, retirement! Retirement - never!!  Not afraid of change!!  This week, I even started a Facebook group so that ladies in my classes can share what they have been doing and connect during the lockdown here ...

Today, I am participating in a Winter Cyber Crop at White with 1 challenges .  Here is my layout: The challenge was to be inspired by the photo below using colour of your choice and to include stitching I was inspired by the grid pattern and the sashing lines on the photo.   In September, 2019 I took a holiday to Uluru - and one of the things that I did was go on an early morning sunset tour of Uluru.   I have loved these photos but could never get the inspiration to do justice to them on a scrapbook layout.  This was the challenge for me to use them.  There is a fabulous quote (anon) that is very apt as Australia works it's way out of our pandemic lockdown: May every sunrise bring you hope. May every sunset bring you peace. What is not too clear on my layout is that I have placed a very old metal embellishment "HOPE"  top left that I found in my stash.  Thank you 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.  Sunfl...

The 3rd and final Easter challenge over at White with 1 .  Here is my layout: Why 280 Degrees West as the title?  Last night, I looked out my side door and saw the most beautiful colours - quickly got my camera and headed out to take some photos. I then moved to smaller garden area I have facing west - therefore 280 degrees west refers to the compass direction from which I took the photo. I also managed to photograph the flowers blooming on my Camellia tree.  I must say it was the first time I have used the compass on my phone - much easier than trying to read an old fashioned compass!  Now the challenge was to use: 5 circles  4 stars 3 word title 2 patterned papers 1 photo To be honest this challenge took a little longer than the others as I searched my stash for just the right embellishments to use. Here is another photo from the sunset last night taken from the other garden area I have. "Sunsets are not only beautiful, but they also have so much meaning....

 Here is a layout I have completed for another Easter Challenge over at White with 1 The challenge?  Choose one colour from the Easter egg wreath and create a page that must have leaves on it like in the wreath.   I choose the pastel green colour. Now, I rarely wear or create with pastel colours, so this was a challenge. As you can see, I do not have a photo on my layout. Recently, I came across a photo of me that was taken at Hotel Nikko, Darling Harbour in the early 1990's.  The outfit I wore was the colour I have selected. I purchased it at a then well known dress shop in Gordon, NSW.  It was a brocade jacket with a soft floaty skirt.  Where is the photo?  Somewhere in my stash, I recently came across it and probably put it in a safe spot to quickly find later to scrap!!!  These challenges finish shortly and I wanted to be sure I got my challenge in.  I will find it!! The flower and leaf dies and papers are from Kaszazz.  The oth...

 Here is a double layout that I completed today.                            It was made using Kaszazz Home Sweet Home Collection of papers  - Scattered Posies and Pretty Posies, and also used is Olive SB Essential cardstock also available from Kaszazz.  The layout was inspired by a layout completed by Jo Collingwood, a Kaszazz consulant, that was published by Kaszazz.   I have modified the layout to suit my photos. I have given thanks to Jo for the inspiration.  Also, I completed the actual layout for my sister this past week, as she too loved the layout design. The photos are of my sister and I when we went for breakfast at a local nursery - Impact Plants and Cafe, Empire Bay recently.   Their garden was full of the most wonderful colour that really 'popped' after recent rain. Thank you for looking, Margaret 

Each month Kaszazz hold a challenge for their consultants (scrapbook, cards, off the page, etc are all considered), with the opportunity for the submission to be selected for including on their website.   The challenge this month was to use Embellishment - Feathers (6).   Here is what I have created: As you can see I have used 3 of Feather embellishments - you get 6 of the Feathers - 2 each of each design. For the background I have used Distress Oxide Inks - Wilted Violet and Peeled Paint.  I have used the stamp and die combo -Tribal Feathers.   The papers are from Kaszazz collection Nature Lover.  I finished of with Sticky Gems - Pearls around the wreath I created.  This is quick to put together layout. The photo is of my great-nephew and I - he was just 9 months here and will shortly be celebrating his 3rd birthday.  Thank you for looking, Margaret

Yesterday, I invited several people to come and play using Kaszazz Spring Meadow collection. I am a Kaszazz consultant so these projects use all Kaszazz products. The ladies either made a card or a single scrapbook layout. This is a longer than normal blog post so please grab a 'cuppa' and follow along with me.   Here, is what I designed for them. The challenge for me was to design two projects (one for the cardmakers and one for the scrapbookers) using the same technique.  This scrapbook layout features SB Paper - Spring Meadow, cut into a 10cm strip and SB Essentials Chestnut cut into 1" strip, scrap piece for flower/leaf outline and a photo mat for a 6" x 4" photo. SB Essentials Mushroom used for leaf. The background and flower has been created by 'smooching' together randomly Spun Sugar and Iced Spruce Distress Oxide Inks. Stamps used are Floorboard Background (on Mushroom die cut leaf) and These are they days.....and flourish stamp from Collage Stamp...

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 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

In January, 2019 on a cruise to New Zealand, one port of call was Dunedin.  We hired a car and headed for Larnach Castle.   On arrival, there was a piper welcoming us.  I loved the stone staircase into the Castle and the weathering of years on the lions. Yesterday, we met up with the friends that we travelled with on the cruise and Karen bought along a large punch that she had and I punched out the white frame you see.  I used Distress Oxide Sprays to match the colours in the photos.  A clean and simple layout. Margaret Crafting in the time of coronavirus.

It has been so hot here in Australia today, no doubt the news will tell us it was a record breaking heat. So after leading the card class I have each Friday at a local community group I quickly put together this layout. This is a clean and simple layout that uses Kaszazz stamps and papers from the Christmas Morning collection. A great way to use up scraps - these were left over from a double page layout I have created and will publish later - it is for a scrapbooking workshop I am leading at the end of November. The photo (of me) was taken 5 years ago when I visited an evening Christmas Market in Germany with my sister. Thank you for looking, Margaret.