Stamps Ahead

Over at Paper Issues (Friends and Fans) Facebook page there is a challenge every Sunday called Scraplift Sunday. The idea is to draw inspiration from the layout and create your own. And here is my take on the layout from 18th March.  I was firstly inspired by the word 'create' and then sought out photos of our class on board Radiance of the Seas in January, 2019 when my sister and I were on a scrapbook cruise to New Zealand. These photos are of all of us creating in one of our classes at sea. I have used papers and embellishments (except alphas and little ship bottom left) from Set Sail collection from Celebr8.   I used up the leftovers from the kit received on this cruise. The photos were taken by Melissa Kennedy, teacher and owner of Unmistakeable Creations. Here is the Scraplift Sunday 18th March inspiration layout: Why not check out both Paper Issues for layout inspirations and Unmistakeable Creations for future cruises. Thankyou for looking Margaret

The penultimate port on our cruise was Tauranga, and on this day it was also my sister's birthday.   After the ship docked and breakfast we headed to Tauranga via the local tourist shuttle.  Our first stop was definitely always going to be this mural.  I have loved it since I first saw it myself last year and I just had to go there with my sister this year.  Here is a layout I have created with the both of us posing as 'angels': I was inspired by a layout I saw in a 2013 Creating Keepsakes layout to create the almost wing like strips of paper.   I love how the black cardstock really pops the photos. This is a great way to use up scraps of paper that you may have.   We went on to have a walk around the shops, and a great cup of coffee (tea for me) with some delicious slices before heading back to the port and further adventures before the ship departed for Auckland later in the day. Thank you for looking, Margaret.

Here is a layout I have completed for a sketch challenge at Soul Scrappers .   Here is the inspiration sketch. My photo is of The Radiance of the Sea docked in Auckland.  After the completion of my cruise in January that ended in Auckland I met my sister and in the afternoon we took a ferry ride across the water.  Looking back I saw the ship in dock. Now, a funny story (well funny to me).  I got off the ship at approx. 8am and I was heading towards the hotel my sister was staying at to join her for a week long adventure to Bay of Islands.  I arrived to take a taxi to the hotel - the taxi driver informs me "it is just over there - you could walk", so off I trotted with my bags laughing all the way.   Thank you for looking, I am off today onto the water - a ferry ride locally - not quite a cruise but on the water nevertheless!

Here is the title page for my scrapbook layouts from the above cruise.  It was designed by Melissa Kennedy of Unmistakable Creations .  It was the very first layout we created in our classes whilst at sea.  Here I am ready to start the classes and wearing the apron that Melissa gave to each of us.  Papers are from Kaisercraft (with a note that Melissa specifically arranged for the paper with our ports of call to be included in our kit). Thanks for looking, back to creating, Margaret :)

One of the reasons that I joined the Radiance of the Seas cruise that left Sydney on 3rd January, 2018 was that this cruise was a once in a lifetime chance to visit Tonga.  Tonga, featured largely in my childhood, it was a mission outpost and we regularly heard tales of this friendly island in my Sunday School days. Our first port of call in Tonga was Vavau. Settle back sail with me, it is a long post. Vava'u is a group of more than 50 islands, either coral limestone or coral atolls. The main town of Neiafu (known as the Port of Refuge Harbour) is a common destination for yachties sailing the South Pacific.  The waters are known for their clarity, it being said that you can see the bottom at 40 metres. Lots of places to explore tropical forests, limestone cliffs and caves to explore and traditional villages.  Yep, book a tender from ship to Naiafu in the morning and start exploring. The Cruise Compass magazine delivered to the cabin the night before had a forecast of...

Here is a layout I have created for Soul Scrappers random word challenge.  The challenge was the theme of happiness, with 6 words to choose from. The words Good Cheer; Laughter or Laugh; Best Day Ever; Joy; Happy; Smile.  I, of course, selected SMILE. The photo was taken by the ship's photographer aboard Radiance of the Seas on my recent scrapbook cruise with Unmistakable Creations . I don't usually take a good photo, however I was quite pleased with this one taken on the green lit stairs.  I have used a Kaisercraft papers and they fit perfectly with the clean and simple layout I was wanting to achieve. I also did a little bit of cutting with knife blade on the right to cover the photo and a small ship die (that we were given on the cruise).  Thanks for looking, more layouts to follow. Margaret :)