Stamps Ahead

The next to last challenge over a Scrap Girls Retreat at home was simply "Get Messy" - here is my layout: Now get messy I did, the kitchen (aka the workroom), the layout all got messy.  First of all I used Tinby Designs Colour Crush watercolour powders to create the background. Now of course, I could not find a spray bottle that had a fine mist, so I had to use one that had only one spray coming out of it.  Never mind I like the result.  Finished of with bits of co-ordinating papers and threads from my stash.  Now I mounted the photograph, of sunrise at Corindi Beach, with foam tape, it fell onto the layout and an angle and of course it would not lift off, and then to boot it buckled on the page. Well and truly messy!!! I enjoyed the process. Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

Here is another layout I have created for the Scrap Girls At Home Retreat challenges they have been running. Just waiting for the first day of summer and then I will take a photo and adhere. Here is the challenge inspiration: Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

This layout is for another challenge over at Scrap Girls at Home Retreat.  This time it was a blind scrap, you are given requirements for layout and then instructions to follow.  This photo was taken at Yandina Nutworks, in Queensland.  My friend Mel and I could not resist having our photo taken. This is a close up of the some of the layering of papers.  The patterned paper is an old Stampin' Up! (r) range and it was suitable for this as the images are Australian.  And I chose papers that could be loosely interpreted as 'nuts'.  These put your face in boards followed me around my Queensland holiday - 3 in all. The first one in Redcliffe, the next at Maleny Dairy and finally this one at Nutworks.  And of course I have photos of each time on this blog in previous posts - I hope you have the time to scroll back and find them.  Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

Continuing on with the theme of my last post - time to create. This time it was on my recent holiday to Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia.  This layout was created for a sketch challenge over at Scrap Girls at Home Retreat.  They are celebrating 11 years of being in business - Congratulations. One of things that I took with me was all the bits and pieces required to make cards with my friends daughters.  They had such a fun time making the cards - we made them over two days. Another little hint, I did the faux stitching on the larger circle by tracing around a bread and butter plate. Here is the challenge sketch. Thank you for looking back with more soon, I promise, Margaret :)

Another challenge completed for Scrap Girls at Home Easter Retreat. We were to be inspired by this mood board. How was I inspired?  I loved the colours (not normally colours I would use) and also the bunch of flowers in the face.   Textiles have played a major part in my life and I was mesmerized by this beautiful costume. My photograph of  the Anna Pavlova (the world famous ballerina) costume was taken at The London Museum.  The colour of the dress is actually white - however as I could not use my flash it has come out slightly dull in colour.   The costume was designed by Madame Mayna and worn by Pavlova 1923-1925.   I will add a small amount of journaling on the pink strip.  The papers were by Kaisercraft and the flowers by Melissa Frances.  I can just see Pavlova receiving the flowers at the end of a dance program. Thank you for looking, Margaret "The right to happiness is fundamental." Anna Pavlova.

I have participated this evening in a blind scrap challenge at Scrap Girls.   Here is the layout I have created: A little about the photo, it was taken in Berlin after a particularly windy afternoon.  I was walking down the street and found this winged horse on the ground.  Well, I all could do was smile!!!  A fallen decoration taking a rest and we all need a rest some time!!!  He was restored the next day with all his lights glowing.   The challenge required us to draw circles onto white cardstock,  I put the strokes onto the larger circles to represent the lights on the horse.    The little heart came from the cover of my 2015 diary - reuse, recycle and  rejoice. Here is a close up of some of the details of my layout. Thanks for looking, I hope you are enjoying your Easter break and get some time to do what you like to do and also find time to rest. Margaret :)

Another challenge - this time a blind challenge - where you are given a list of requirements and then instructions to complete your layout.  Here is my layout. We were to gather together - 1 small landscape photo; 1 x 12" square piece of patterned paper (PP); 1 x 10" piece of PP; 1 x 7" x 8" piece of PP, Washi tape - two patterns; flair, buttons or flowers; sequins or bling; alphas for title.  I followed the instructions to put together however I did reverse the small washi tape sequences to the left and right of the 10" square PP as I had another persons head to the bottom right of the photo that I needed to cover with embellishments - haha. My journal is tucked under - you might just see it to the left and it says: "Engelberg, Switzerland. One of the activities that Heather was looking forward to was this ride.  We sand, we waved, we enjoyed........". Heather (in red) is my sister. Note: the PP is proving difficult all three have glitter on ...

This weekend I am participating in an "at-home" retreat on their Facebook page.  They have several challenges that you can complete and some Bingo games.   Here is my layout for the Challenge 2. The photographs were taken at a restaurant/beer hall in The Vienna Woods - I naively thought we were headed to a forest!!!  Am sure there were woods somewhere close but we did not see them, it was night as we headed out of Vienna into what seemed just like an outer suburb.  There was this accordion player who played for our group - all night - he was a character.  I loved his playing and got into the spirit of the evening - singing along and providing some antics - I am not sure what song he was playing but it had a great beat and just called for some fun times. My title - I do not drink alcohol what you see is a glass of Diet Coke.  As my sister, says "it is only Diet Coke - imagine if she did drink alcohol!!" Back to the layout - we were required to d...

What is a blind scrap?  Well,  you are given a list of things needed to complete a layout and then instructions to complete your layout. This weekend Scrap Girls Retreats   hosted one that you could do at home.    The list of things/instructions needed was - 1 12" x 12" cardstock as your base 1 12" x 12" patterned paper (cut about 1/2' off and then cut into 2/34" strips) 1 9" x 4" patterned paper 3 buttons (tied, of course) 1 large die-cut or flowers 1 piece of lace or similar 1 strip for journaling alphas for title sequins for sparkle 2 x small doilies or similar Breaking of rules is okay...........I deviated by not using lace and using ric-rac and twine (lace would just not be appropriate for this layout) no flowers and no doilies but I did use die-cuts.  The paper and die-cuts are from Kaisercraft Sandy Toes range.  The photos of my sister were taken at Red Rock, NSW when we visited there in late September/early October thi...

Challenge Two was a sketch challenge - see sketch below. 23rd June, 2013 I applied the SOLD sign following the sale of my home - it was the coldest day for a long time but I was warm in the knowledge that I had sold.  This was my second property purchase and had been my home for 24 years.   It did take some time to sell, however I kept calm and knew that the right purchaser would come along.  I have taken this photo of my layout at night and it does not really capture that the cardstock is Stampin'Up! Strawberry Slush - a mush more pinker colour than the photo does justice. Now to complete it's companion page - the purchase of my new villa on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Thank you for looking and thank you to Scrap Girls for interesting challenges over this Easter period. Margaret :)   

Challenge 4 was to be inspired by a layout at Words or Whatever  (WOW) and to use a WOW product on the layout.  The only WOW product that I own is a template called Lou's Flowers - here is my layout: I remember this day 22/4/96 distinctly - my Dad had just picked some of his beautiful roses and I said "I want a photo." He waited as I went and found a black jumper for background and took the photo.  It has taken me 19 years to finally give it a proper home in a scrapbook!!! Now this layout is not really about the roses - it is more than that.   The photo shows my Dad's strong and caring hands and that is even more important given that he passed away Easter Saturday 8 years ago aged 87. The photo does not clearly show the WOW product I used - so here is a close up of the tag (my journaling is on the back of it) and embellishments I made. I had intended to use the Studio 490 white texture paste as backg...

So I am doing the challenges out of order - I know.   Challenge 5 was to make something with the scraps left over from completing the challenges. Here is my card - can you see where I got my scraps from? Yes they are from the pastel challenge.   I had lots of torn scraps, my brad container was still open and my sewing machine was still up.  A quick and easy card to complete - I did sew the strips onto a green piece of paper, see right to give it stability.  Inside is a smaller piece of patched papers that I could slip a gift card into or a tag or note. My favourite form of patchwork is doing this strip patching in fabric - I would tear fabric and expose some of the torn edges - so I suppose I am going back to my patchwork days in doing this card. Thanks for looking.   Margaret :)

Challenge 3 was to take this mood board and inspire you to make a layout: And here is my layout: As a family we would regularly holiday at The Entrance on the Central Coast of New South Wales. This photo shows from left, my mother, sister, me, and my brother at the swimming pool at The Entrance.  The back of the photo has identification of the photographer/photograph number so I can only think that in the 50's they took photos of people enjoying the sun.  I tried to google the photographer but alas nothing there.   My sister and I still talk about those swimsuits - they were shirred with elastic and I tried to replicate that with the sewn down pink washi tape on my layout. I made the mini pinwheels from 1.5" squares.  I am trying to save a number of old photos from old albums hence the black and white photo.. And some of the detail: I like a challenge that gets me out of my comfort zone - I don't usually use pastel colours. 

A blind scrap is where you are given a list of what you need for your layout and then bit by bit the steps to complete the layout are given.   Here is my layout - light not the best at nearly 11.30pm. These photos were taken in January 2011 when my friends from Missouri visited me here in Australia.   This day we went to The Blue Mountains - and this stop provided them with their first real view of the magnificent Megalong Valley.  Next stop was The Three Sisters and for them a walk down into the valley.  They loved this part of Australia and still talk about this trip to this day. The papers/alphas and stickers are from the Take A Hike collection by Simple Stories.  The rest from my stash!  I have only just purchased these papers and they were perfect for this long time not scrapped photos.  Thank you for looking.    Margaret

 Scrap Girls is having an Easter At Home Retreat on Facebook - all the fun of a retreat in your own home!  A Tic Tac Toe is the first challenge.   Here is my layout.  My sister was nominated for a Lifeline Central Coast Steel Magnolia award this year - she is in the middle of the photo below.  The award is made to a woman who has overcome adversity and has significantly contributed to the community. She did not win the overall award however the recognition of her nomination is proof enough of her good works. I have used Kaisercraft Tea Break Collection (rather appropriate as photos were taken at an afternoon tea); Kaisercraft Bubbles template; Studio 490 metallic gold embossing paste; Stampin'Up! buttons. Now a blast from the past I coloured the circles and edge of background paper with CHALK - yes, I still have that old standby from when I first started scrapbooking and cardmaking. Here is a close up of the embossing paste.  It is a we...