Stamps Ahead

I created this layout for a challenge over at Soul Scrappers Challenges The challenge is a sketch challenge, here is the sketch that formed the basis of the layout - you could flip it or rotate to suit whatever photos you had, as long as could see the sketch. The photos are of my great-nephew, not yet 4, and were taken today, Easter Sunday, by his mother. My sister and I had got together a few Easter surprises for him that we posted to his home in time for Easter, and you can see my gift in the photo on the left. He loves books of all kinds. Little Golden books were a favourite of mine as a child and I read them constantly - I remember The Twins (always reminded me of my sister and I, we are not twins but just 13 months apart, and dressed alike) and also Dr Dan the Bandage Man (I think because this one had a band-aid in it) and I hope that my great-nephew gets lots of enjoyment out of reading his Easter ones.   I have used papers from my stash on this layout. The chipboard is ...

Here is a card I made today to send to my cousins daughter who now lives in England.  She recently purchased her own 'end of terrace' home. Butterflies hold a significant importance in her life, so I just had to incorporate one on the card. A card like this is a great way to use up scraps of paper, instead of the chipboard a simple greeting could be added. All papers and chipboard (7916 Home Sweet Home) are from Kaszazz Home Sweet Home collection.  Thank you for looking, Margaret

 Here are the projects I created using the newest release from Kaszazz - Serenity  3 small gift cards 3" square. Products used: 6675K Just Because Lily Un-Cut (3) set, 6681M Enjoy your Day Girl Un-cut (3) set - greeting used, 8040 Stencil - Triangle Cluster A set of 4 mixed media cards 6" square. Products used 8039 Stencil - Organic Shapes - Large, 6688L Organic Spots stamp, 6691H Small Organic Dashes stamp, 6689LLarge Organic Dashes stamp, TDO72683 Distress Oxide Inkpad - Prize Ribbon, 8069 Chipboard - Organic Branches, 8038 Vellum Stickers - Serenity (32 stickers, 2 of each). A close up of each card follows Below is an 8 pages journal I created with papers and embellishments left over from various projects.  I will post a separate blog post showing the individual pages. Serenity is a great range and would be great on travel photos, masculine layouts, and mixed media. Some of the paper  is above. Thank you for looking.  Margaret

One of the projects I was working on over lockdown here on the Central Coast of NSW, was a journal for a friend, Jo, who was earlier in the year was gifted a selection of papers, maps, serviettes, a coaster etc. and Jo then subsequently gave them to me to see if I could do anything with them.  Here is what I came up with (a longer than normal post of photos follows) - a fun journal project. For the journal I used a Kaszazz chipboard mini-journal kit (7795) comprising 6 chipboard pages and 3 hinged rings. I created each page differently. Front covered with a serviette napkin, embossed with texture paste, inks and a cluster made with bits and pieces from my stash.  Throughout the journal  you will see tulle featured.  The tie closure has been made with torn calico and the hinges decorated with torn calico and tulle. I also used this project as an opportunity to try out new techniques to me.  On the left you can see a snippet roll I made.  These two pages have...

Here is a layout I have created for a Tic Tac Toe challenge over at Soul Scrappers Challenges   The challenge was to select a line from the grid below - I selected die cuts, doiley and clock. I found the old Heidi Swapp clockface overlay when I was searching for anything clock related in my stash.  The paper I used is retired from Kaszazz collection Papillon. The chipboard heart is available Kaszazz (Scribbly Shapes 7949) as are the die cuts (Papillion 7914). The die cuts had a white outline so I cut around them and chopped into some to add there is also a large amount of fussy cutting on the embellishments.    The photograph is of my parents on the day they got engaged in 1947 and was taken at Luna Park in North Sydney, New South Wales. I loved the wording on the overlay and it is one of my favourites "life is not measured in minutes but moments". Both of my parents are no longer alive and it is memories and moments that you remember. Thank you for looking, Margaret...

I was thrilled to be able to hold a Team Training Day, today,  to introduce the new Kaszazz collection to team members and customers can attend.  These are my layouts and cards that were designed by Robyn Owen - each participant pays for receives a kit that allows them to make these, including instructions. Also, I created the following.  The first is a collage of scraps of paper I had left over with stamps, stencil and chipboard from the collection.  The photo, was in a suitcase of photos, that belonged to our uncle and was given to us by his wife following his death.  It contained a lot of family photos and our father was alive at the time and he was able to identify many of the people in the photos.  However, this one I cannot find any reference to - on the back it has a photographers mark in Lismore, and to my knowledge we had no relatives in Lismore area.  I love the photograph as it appears to have been painted with colour as was done in the past...

Here is a layout and card I have designed using all Kaszazz products.  Each month Kaszazz put out a challenge for all consultants to design a project using a certain criteria.  For March it is to use the 3 SB (patterned papers) from the Coastal Oasis collection. I have only used products available from Kaszazz. The stamps I have used are River Bank Un-cut set; Sea Shells; and the greeting on the card is crom Word Montage-Paradise.  I have used half a sheet of Sea Shells chipboard.  I have used Princess Gold embossing powder on the chipboard and the stamp images - don't forget that you need and embossing ink and I have used Distress Inkpad - Clear Embossing.  The chipboard has been attached with Distress Collage Medium. Do you remember being challenged to chant this rhyme/tongue twister: 'She sells sea shells by the seashore" and repeat 5 times.  Did you know it has been around for over 100 years. The story itself goes back even further than that, almost a c...

 A Christmas card using a Colourwash technique.   ]Thank you for looking,  Margaret

Today I been playing with new Watercolours Pans and have come up with these 2 cards.                                                                This card was inspired by a video I watched by Maremi Small Art  I did leave a thank you for her.   Now a little story - the only subject I failed at school was ART - 49 in half yearly and 49 in the yearly. My drawing ability was and I can say it now - horrendous, my grasp of the history of art was strong. So my confidence, or lack of, in my ability as an artist started rather early.  Many years ago I attended a Pastels workshop - the teacher said "I had a very naive style!"  My confidence was not renewed!  Many, many years later I did meet my school art teacher, we were both in the Embroiderers Guild at that time, and I relayed this tale and she said "Ma...

Here is a layout I have completed today, using Kaszazz stencil Dandeloin, 3 ways - stamping, misting and tracing: I have used Ranger Distress Oxide sprays Peacock Feathers and Dried Marigold  for the stamping and misting. I have also used Ranger embossing powder Blueberry Speckle,  Kaszazz Collage Paper pad for fussy cut flowers, Kaszazz chipboard Beautiful Moments  and the stamp Word Montage - Journal Messages. A word about the embossing powder that I have used to emboss the chipboard word and emboss the grungy dotty stamp from Collage Stamp - Imagine Uncut Set (6426Q). It is very sparkly and unfortunately due to the dullish day here the photograph does not do it justice. The photograph of me was taken during a road trip to Bendigo several years ago.  Thank you for looking, Margaret .

 Here is a layout I have created today, continuing with the Australiana theme of recent days. I have coloured the chipboard with Ranger Distress Oxide Ink - Barn Door and applied glossy accents to give it a shine.  The kookaburra has been coloured with watercolour pencils and then fussy cut and applied with foam tape.  Thank you for looking, Margaret

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 ...

The penultimate challenge over at Cocoa Vanilla Studio International Scrapbook Day Celebration. Who says you only scrap people, homes, scenery etc.  I love flowers and the Peace Rose has a special significance to me. Here is my layout: The challenge was to create a project using 5 elements chipboard.  I have use beautiful and moments chipboard from Kaszazz.  I stamped with pink ink the chipboard pieces and then applied glossy accents. die cut title.  I found a packet of Cocoa Vanilla Studio Die Cut Ephemera in my stash - as luck would have it as I only thought at beginning of challenges I only had 4 sheets of patterned paper from their collection.  I used the word sweet. a flair button.   A little hard to find in my stash - I don't have many of these, but did find the heart flair that was just right - how old it is I have no idea. enamel dots were placed around the layout in 3 colours of pink. and something fussy cut.   I fussy cut a from a pa...

I wrote yesterday that I was completing a couple of layouts for my sister of her recent holiday.  Here is the one I have completed for her of a fishing village in Norway (unfortunately at this stage I do not have the name but it was at the top of the Artic Circle). My sister will need to complete the journalling.   I used a sheet of Kaszazz paper from Indigo Blue collection (no biggie using this colour as blue is her favourite colour).   I have used 3 stencils and texture paste on the background - the grid is from Kaisercraft, adventure is from Gabrielle Pollacco called Wanderlust and the other words are from a favourite of mine by Tim Holtz. Chipboard is from Kaszass and I have coloured by first applying gesso over the words, then using diluted Spectrum Noir aqua pen Azure Blue and then I finished off with Glossy Accents over the word. The embellishments came from my stash of Kaisercraft papers and they added just the right accent I need to complete the lay...

A layout for the "It's 5 o'clock somewhere" challenge at Paper Issues (Friends and Fans) facebook page: The challenge was to create a paper project using 2 alpha fonts; chipboard - I used Kaszazz chipboard and coloured with Plum Archival Ink; Florals; Patterned paper only; black and white photo. Papers and stickers are from Kaisercraft Treasured Moments collection and flowers and wood veneer from my stash. About the photo - in February US-owned General Motors announced it was pulling the plug on its Australian operations and this saw the end of on our most iconic brands.  The 160 year old Holden name, as much a part of our cultural fabric as meat pies, football and kangaroos. Our family car, at one stage, was the one in the photo - it had a pink strip along its side - sorry don't know the model number. The photo shows from left - me (aged about 15); my sister (aged about 13) and our brother (aged about 10) in the drivers seat.   It was taken in the backyard ...

In my post yesterday I shared a single page layout I had created.  I have now added a pocket page to make it a double layout. Close up of the pocket page.  Photos from top right - enjoying dinner, enjoying lunch, enjoying Pearl Harbour parade after dinner.   Isn't that what holidays are all about - enjoyment!  Close up of the main layout. Once again, I have used Kaszazz Resort Collection stamps and papers.  All products used are available from Kaszazz and yes, I am a consultant. Thank you for looking, Margaret

Here is a shabby chic layout I have completed.  The photo was taken on my birthday in December whilst in Hawaii.  I have used papers and stamps from Kaszazz Resort collection and all other product used is also Kaszazz.  I started by laying the frame, without any adhesive, onto the striped paper and using pencil marks to indicate where it would lay.  I then cut strips to each of the marks and distressed the edges. See below. A half sheet of blue Designer Paper was then placed behind the distressed edges. The next step was to mix a small amount of Leaf Green Archival Ink into texture paste and then apply though Leaves stencil.  Moving to different angles as I progressed.  I also lifted some of the texture paste from areas between each leaf. For the Flourish Frame I first used white embossing powder (note I did emboss it twice). and then I applied Broken China Oxide Distress ink and then whipped over with a tissue to get affect. For the Flourish Frame ...

This is the 21st layout I designed for the Kissi fundraising event yesterday.  It uses paper and stamps from Kaszazz Christmas Morning collection.   All product is available from Kaszazz.  The ladies used stamp ink to colour their chipboard pieces. Again another layout that enables many of those Christmas photos to be added. A good time was had by all and they all enjoyed learning new skills - even those that have done many scrapbooking classes with me. Thank you for looking, Margaret.

Yes, that heat I wrote about yesterday is still with us and today there are strong winds forecast as well - just starting to get them. Just heard sirens, hope it is not fire as it is perfect conditions for bush fires. Here is a layout I have created for a challenge over at Paper Issues - the challenge, called Creature Feature, was to use a pet or animal on a layout. I have no pets, so  chose this photo of an Emu taken in Central Australia 2 years ago. This layout uses all Kaszazz product - paper from Australian collection, stamps from Flora and Fauna collection, die and stamp from Nature Lover collection and the fabulous chipboard leaves, that I love.  Archival Ink in Coffee, Leaf Green and Jet Black complete the layout - oh forgot about the scrap of blue paper from Distress Surfaces that I used. I want to recognise the inspiration for the stamping of the emus was a fellow Kaszazz consultant Yuna. Now, as I was outside taking the photo of my layout - looked up and saw ...

I recently led a group of ladies to complete this double page layout.  The brief was double page, masculine and not to complicated.  Here it is: The layout was inspired by a layout by Julie Nankervis, also a Kaszazz consultant, in the current Kaszazz catalogue. I made several changes to suit the requirements of the group I was leading.  The layout uses papers and stamps from Kaszazz Distress Surfaces collection. Distress inks used for stamping. The star chipboards were coloured with Distress paint and this was also mixed into Texture paste used to make the bricks.   These are also available from Kaszazz. The ladies really enjoyed completing the layout.  It is versatile and could easily be used for travel photos as well as for the males in your life. Thank you for looking, Margaret