Stamps Ahead

The current challenge over at The Lollipop Ladies  is Crocodile sweets with the added challenge of washi tape. See inspiration image below. I fell in love with the colours - very gelato don't you think?  So I went hunting for a crocodile stamp and the only one I could find was a foam rubber stamp (thanks to Fiona who recently donated her excess stash so I could make and donate scrapbook pages to Southern Cross Kids Camps and this stamp was included - more on that later).I randomly stamped the image and then fussy cut 3 other images and applied them with dimensionals.  The Epic Day this and that Designer Washi Tape from current Stampin' Up! (r) catalogue reminded me of caution tape. And the pink eyes are just so cute... Why not hop over to their blog and have a go - prizes to be won if sufficient entries received. Here is the inspiration: Crocodiles ... with the additional challenge of  Washi .

I was awarded a guest designer spot for The Lollipop Ladies Challenge 73 - star lollies with the additional challenge of sparkle.  See photo at end of this post. I was inspired by the randomness of the stars and the colour.  I immediately thought of the photographs I took when my nephew and I went into Sydney to see Vivid Sydney - an impressive light show in May this year.    Double page layout I created my own background with punched out stars, the sparkly stickers for the date title and randomly placed coloured rhinestones for even more sparkle. More detail of the pages and inspiration photo follow. Left hand page Right hand page Sparkly stickers for the date Inspiration photo Thank you for looking and have a "sparkle" week everyone.

The current sweet challenge over at The Lollipop Ladies is to be inspired by Musks with the additional challenge of Dots.  I love musk sticks and musk lollies and I hope I have interpreted the colour challenge sweetly. Here is my card that I made: This is a variation of the card I made for a class I taught earlier this month.  Unfortunately, the light has made the eyelets appear a different colour than pink but I assure you they are pink.  Inside I have placed three punched overlapping circles. Here is the challenge inspiration: Have a sweet week all.

Card designed by Margaret Crawford (c) I was excited  to win a guest designer spot with The Lollipop Ladies recently and I was asked to submit for Challenge #70.  The challenge is Bug Lollipops with the extra challenge of Nature. I was immediately attracted to the Lady Bug in the inspiration photo below. I used Elizabeth craft designs die 711 - Lady Bugs in black and red. The resulting bug is very small and I was perplexed as to how I would adhere the wings to the body - but a Quickie Glue pen came to the rescue.  The nature paper came from the Kaisercraft - Great Southern Land Collection.  The greeting is Stampin' Up! (r) from a long retired set, the words just seemed right for this card. And finally I used dimensional pops to raise the greeting and the bugs to give them the appearance of flying across the card. If you are inspired, why not head over to The Lollipop Ladies  and enter.  I found this quote on-line: I'm sending luck and w...

I have just found out that my layout below, was selected as a Gallery Gem at Scrapbook Challenges for 19-24th May and also won me another guest designer spot at The Lollipop Ladies . You can read all about the layout by scrolling down on my blog or by clicking here I don't do this for recognition (and here is the but) but it is encouraging to think other people like your work. Margaret

I am so pleased to have been selected as a guest designer for The Lollipop Ladies current challenge - here is the inspiration photo. Lollipop bugs with the twist "nature". Why not head over to their website and participate - there is a chance to win a prize as well. My design will be published soon - so excited it is the first time I have ever been asked to do this. And guess what I was asked again to be a guest designer in an upcoming month. Margaret

This layout is for the current challenge at The Lollipop Ladies  is Boiled Lollies with the added challenge of curves.  Here is the inspiration photo. No holiday in the USA or Hong Kong is complete without a visit to See's Candies - this photo of my sister was taken at their Ala Moana store in Waikiki when we were there in December, last year. I searched my stash to find a suitable patterned paper (PP) and I think I was successful in matching the colours and roundness of the boiled lollies. I freehand cut the curved borders. I handmade the flowers by using scallop punch and punching out 5 in PP and 1 in cardstock (CS) then using small hole punch in the middle of each one.  The PP punches were then wet with water and scrunched up and then applied to the CS shape with a blingy brad and manipulated into the flower shape. Here is a close up of the flowers.  I love this technique and they look good on cards, bo...

Yesterday I purchased a new die - Spellbinders Filigree Vase and just had to try it.  This card is for The Lollipop Ladies current challenge of Sour Cola Bottles with glitter twist. The Filigree Vase reminded me of the bottles. I used my Cuttlebug and cut out the bottom vase shape in silver glitter paper (it does not show up clearly in the photo) and used brown cardstock for the filigree overlay and a piece of Kaisercraft paper cut out strategically at a spray of flowers. I gave this card to my cousin and her new husband for their holiday - congratulations to Sandra and Peter. Want to play along with The Lollipop Ladies head to their website I have also submitted this card to current card challenge at Scrapbook Challenges .

Wow, I am on a roll this week!!!  I am submitting this layout for two challenges. 1. Scrapbook Challenges had a challenge inspired by the word -  "TODAY".  They had a sketch (329) back in January, that incorporated the strips down the left side, I filed that in my memory and thought one day I will do that - well that day has come.  The photos were taken at Cracker Barrel Restuarant, in Paducah, Kentucky.   I had been staying with Carol and David (on the left) down on their farm in Missouri, and they drove me over to Paducah, on 20th November, 2012, to spend time with Reta in Paducah. We all had lunch together before Carol and David returned to their home. I found the antique type papers in my stash, and they fitted in with the decor that decorates the restuarant. The thin black strip is from Graphic 45 and it has the word "unique" and description of the word and Cracker Barrel is certainly unique.  It was in Cracker ...

The current challenge over at The Lollipop Ladies  is Mustache Lollipops with a twist of facial hair.I thought about this and the fact that my brother (Graeme) had had a mustache many times over the years and I found these photos that I have used on my layout.  My neighbour and friend, Dianne drew and cut out the mustaches for me to use.    Go the Mo - 1992 - 1994  Here is the inspiration:                                                          

For sometime now I have been reading the blog of The Lollipop Ladies .  As they write on their blog they give you sweet-inspired themes to use in your projects.  Now as one to who has a sweet tooth I have finally been inspired to create a scrapbook page based on their current challenge, this photograph of rock candy plus music (rock music of course)!:  When I was in Paducah, Kentucky, USA visiting my friend for her 90th birthday this past December, we went to a Christmas concert by Annie Moses Band - a great rocking family band.  Can you see how I used the photo above for inspiration? The decorations on this paper (sorry, I don't remember the company name) that reminded me of the rock candy and the notes (that are dimensional stickers I purchased in USA and printed twill tape) wafting across the page have my feet tapping remembering this happy occasion.