Stamps Ahead

It has been a rather drab and dreary weather lately here in Australia, so why not a couple of cards to make you feel happy.  Created with one of my all time favourite Stampin Up! (SU) sets Inspired by Nature, it has a date of 2004 on the stamps.  Every year I like to get this stamp pad out and think of ways to use it.  It has two sides this is one side and the side has daisy type flowers.  This year I went with the grasses side.   I was inspired by a card I saw on Splitcoast Stampers that in turn was inspired by a card by Jayne Mercer - ironically Jayne was my SU upline when I was a demonstrator with them. The greeting on the side is also another old SU favourite. A new stamp set and dies to play with from Close to my Heart (CTMH) and the set is called In Full Bloom. CTMH created this set especially for card makers and so the greetings are smaller that the larger ones they do for scrapbooking.    I really love the set and there are more little ima...

Earlier this month I completed the sale of my home and the purchase of a new one.  I have settled in now and have just about unpacked all my cardmaking/scrapbooking supplies. Today, I taught a cardmaking class at a local craft group and here are the cards I designed especially for the class. Whilst waiting for all attendees to get to the class, I like to get students to make a gift card of some sort.  This week it was a 3" x 3" card. They made only one card.   The butterfly stamp is from Penny Black and the flower card is Stampin' Up! (r) (SU) Elements of Style set.  You stamp across the card, fold, add a bit of bling and a greeting - a quick and easy card. The next card, of which there are many variations around in blog land, uses punched edges (or decorative scissors) to create a ruffled look to the card.   This design could be used for birthday, wedding or thank you cards.  It is a simple card but it does take a little time to punch all the edges....

I recently bought 3 bottles of Alcohol Ink, as I had seen them used and was interested to give them a go. Well today, I was over at Jennifer McGuires blog and she had a video on how to use these inks on watercolour paper. Now, I think I was a little heavy handed with my application of ink/blending solution (you should see me make a sponge cake!!!) but I still like the effect that my background achieved. I did not have any metallic Alcohol Ink so I used some Perfect Pearls to give a shimmery glow. I think this would make a great masculine birthday card - what do you think?

Images:(c)1990-2010 Stampin'Up(r) Artwork:Margaret L Crawford Our INKlings cyberchallenges have began for 2010. Tonight our leader, Jayne is setting the challenges. Our first challenge is to use SU punches to make a paper flower and use it on a card, scrapbook page or 3D item. I have used the round scallop punch (each flower has 3 punched scallops), cut a small way into each scallop and then pushed back to create a 3-D effect then I added a rhinestone brad to the centre of each flower. I used my markers to colour the leaves and then spritzed with water before adding to card. Challenge 1 completed.

Images:(c)1990-2010 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork:Margaret L Crawford Rhonda's 2nd challenge was to create a card or project with a set that evokes a sense of caring/ thoughtfulness/ love. This card is for a friend who is heading to Mombassa, Kenya for a month and has volunteered to work in an orphanage. I love the quote by Mother Teresa just seemed right.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Ryn's 3rd challenge was using a sketch from Pagemaps. I have changed the arrangement a little, so that the greeting does not impinge on the flower image. I have used "Inspired by Nature" and the greeting is from a hostess set "Best Yet". A little bit of Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Ribbon just ties (no pun intended) all together. Did you know that you could also get free hostess set by getting together with your friends and have just $300 in sales and you get $30 of product free as well. With more sales you could get more product. And I will come and we can make cards and have a lot of fun. I love what I do and I love sharing it with others.

Images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork Margaret L Crawford Last night was The INKlings annual rewards night.I was not a winner but congratulations go to our friends who were rewarded by our leader, Jayne, for their efforts at building their SU business. I did however, prepare a quick technique for the evening. Using Inspired by Nature stamp set (fast becoming my favourite set of all time) I created a scrapbook page and card fronts using a watercolouring technique that I played around with. Want to know more details why not email me. Enjoy

Images: (C) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Today, The INKlings got together for a day of stamping. We all took along a "Card in the box" - this is where you take along all the supplies for each person to make your card. Here is my card. It is a very simple to construct card using Inspired by Nature stamp set and Friendly Words Jumbo wheel. Photography: Margaret L Crawford Nature sure does inspire you - here are some photographs of the Tibouchina (blooming with its beautiful purple flowers) in my front garden. I can see a card coming.........watch this space. Margaret