Stamps Ahead

Tomorrow, is the last Friday of term for the class I lead at a local community group.  These are the two cards the participants will be making. This card, designed by me, uses a new stamp from Kaszazz called Gum Books from the recently released Home Sweet Home collection.  The ladies (sorry, no men are in the class) will colour in using their preferred method - I have used since retired Alcohol Ink Markers.   The east coast of New South Wales, where I live on the lower edge, had constant rain over the past weekend and week, so it seemed appropriate that I feature the gum boots on this card.   This card, again created by me, uses a paper napkin/serviette applied with craft glue.  It is not a new technique.  I loved the design on the napkin immediately and I thought 'card'.   The paper napkin, that has a repeated design in each corner, has 3 plies and 2 of the plies are removed leaving the top layer for placing on the card.    Th...

Here is 'my beach' on Christmas Day 2016, taken about 9am as I headed out for the day. The past few Christmas's had seen overcast days but in 2016 a beautiful sunny day. Another layout completed on the weekend retreat. This is a clean and simple layout.  Washi tape x 2 has been applied around the central square. The shell stamp has been stamped on a piece of white cardstock, with Distress Ink Antique Linen applied.  I then cut out the shell and with some simple stamping around it.    Today, looks like a wet and windy one. My cousin and her husband who are staying in a local caravan park will come around today and we are going to make some cards. It is planned that we will be going out on a BBQ boat for lunch but with thunder and rain happening at present that looks like a plan that will not come off.   Enjoy whatever you are doing today.  Margaret :)

Today, I lead several children aged 6 - 12 in making cards for a local church fete later in the year.  As I prepared for today I wanted cards that were easy enough for the kids to make, held their interest, and allowed them some scope with creativity and their own ideas.   I must say the cards they created were fantastic. They created over 20 cards and also a small notepad (no photo unfortunately - to busy helping them!!) Here is photo of some of the finished cards with the designs I prepared for them. The monster card (already packaged up ready for the fete) is one that I love - great for working with kids.   The Crazy Birds Stamps and Die (Tim Holtz) card uses washi tape and the participants had the choice of using coloured pencils or markers to colour their bird of choice. 

Settle back this is going to be a long post.  My sister is currently in France and she emailed me saying she had found a scrapbooking magazine (all in French) and she loved one of the layouts. So she set me a blind challenge to replicate the layout.  She will send me photo of the one in the magazine when I send her these.  Yes I did two layouts - let me show then and then I will set out the instructions she sent. Both photos from our holidays last December.  Can one have too much of Paris? The email instructions and my asides: 1. Imagine a white textured page e.g. raised dots (now I did not have this so I have gone with plain white) and in your mind divide it into 9 equal parts 3 x 3 2. Sew a line of 5 rows (2 to be zig zag) down approx. right 3rd of page.  Note : not all lines have to go to the bottom, at least 2 shorter. (I left some threads dangling) 3. in the middle going across the pages use the gold paint I gave you from Singapore, was it ca...

Here are a few more layouts that I created on a recent scrapbook retreat weekend that I attended. The first one is of our old family home in Asquith, New South Wales. This was my grandparents home (you can see them on the front porch) and we spent a good deal of time with them and even moved in when our rented place (one street away) was sold.   So many happy memories of time there. Scrapbook retreat fun - tropical theme.  I smile everytime I look at the right hand photo - it looks as though I am wearing an elaborate headdress!!!   Papers and embellishments from Close to my Heart (CTMH).  Tropical seems to be a current trend in the papercraft world, love the washi tape and the pink adhesive sequins.... Another layout using CTMH products.  The photos are of my sister and I enjoying a high tea at a café that had a special deal.   I love exploring and discovering new places for a high tea - what made this on different? ...

Here is a clean and simple layout that I have completed for a letter challenge over at Soul Scrappers .  The letter "W" and the criteria was to use Washi Tape. My word W "waiting". I have used washi tape in a number of ways - as strips, journaling on it, and as a pennant.  The banner was so that I could incorporate other colours in the photograph. I took the "double selfie" of my sister and I whilst waiting for the start of Premiers Gala Concert in April, this year - "Puttin' on the Ritz".  One of the joys of being a "senior" is that each year you apply to attend this free concert during Seniors celebrations.  Thanks need to go to our friend, Jan who gave us her tickets as she could not attend.  This is a close up of the pennant banner I made, the first time I have used Washi to create a banner.  The next challenge at Soul Scrappers  is to use the letter "V" and the criteria is Vellum - let me see if I can search o...

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 :)

The Memory Nest Make It Monday No.30 sketch was the inspiration for this layout.  The added twist was to use stamping on the background.  This is another mixed media background that I completed recently, I was not really impressed with my efforts - it used distress inks, paper, acrylic paint, masking with spray mists and yes - it had some stamping on it!!!!  Excellent just right for this layout - so glad I did not toss this one!!! Aurora is the daughter of friends and she recently turned one and I was invited to her birthday celebration at a riverside park.   Now, we of course are not wearing co-ordinating clothing, so I added some cotton lace to matting to tie the two main colours in.  I am reminded of many years ago when cottage craft was all the go (I even taught a class in this) and we made padded photo frames.  I have hand drawn the hearts and some doodling around the edges.   Some Washi Tape and brads sprinkled around for extra ...

This is a layout I have created for my sister - ready for her to add her photos.  A quick layout to complete.  The pennant was created with scraps and should match any colours that she has in her photos.  Washi Tape detail below title, 3 antique type brads and a small amount of ink distressing around edges complete the layout. I was inspired by layout I saw whilst blog surfing and unfortunately (and very rare) I did not take down the name of the person creating the layout - so thank you someone out there and if you ever get to see this layout thank you for the inspiration. Margaret

Okay, so I got motivated to do a few layouts recently, here is one of them.  I recently received mail from New York via FedEx and I excitedly followed its route to Australia.  This layout was fun to put together, lots of primary colour to play with.  I have distressed my papers with mist, the arrows were from punch and then I used the negative space to use on the background paper.   Washi tape and some word bubble dies complete the look.   I hope you enjoy looking at this layout. Now to get back to finishing the other layouts I have started.  Catch you soon, Margaret

I needed to make some simple 3" x 3" thank you cards and it was Washi Tape for me this time. This one uses Stampin' Up! (r) Watercolour Wonder Washi Tape available in Celebrate Every Day catalogue due out 28th January.  This is a sneak peak for you.  The greeting is from the Perfectly Penned set in current annual catalogue.  I loved it so much I repeated with the Retro Fresh Washi Tape available in the same catalogue. As you can see I did not measure the tape, each card is different and I carried the tape over to the back of the card. Don't you just love the flower holder - I found it in a charity shop for $2.00 - love a bargain, and I think it is vintage or dare I say Retro!! Thank you looking and have a great day.   Margaret

The Stampin'! Up! (r) group I belong to is called INKsomniacs and Linda has posted a challenge to create with the theme Summer. I have just received a box of new goodies from SU and of course new things mean I had to have a play. This card features many new products being released at the end of January - so you are having a sneak peek at some of them here.  What to know more you can  contact   me - but be aware spammers you will be deleted with out me reading your emails, I report you and block you.   Now for the story of this card.  The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is called Watercolour Wonder and I have used Crisp Cantalope Cardstock (CS) for card and one of the layers and butterfly.  I first distressed the DSP with distress tool, then the edges of all papers were further distressed with Crisp Cantalope Classic ink. I have used some of the new twine in Sweet Sorbet Accessory Pack that is in the Sale-a-bration catalogue due out 28th Janua...

Thank you to everyone who sent Christmas Cards, texts, emails and gave gifts to me this year.  They are all very appreciated and I love that they keep me connected with friends and family around the world.  I am sharing some of the handmade cards I got this year.   In most cases I do not know who the original card/gift makers were - so please accept my thanks for your creativity. Blue card uses Stampin' Up! (r) Calm Christmas Stamp Set, Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. Shaker card created by Tracey Peters (Missouri USA) using Stampin' Up! (r) Season of Style Designer Washi Tape, Christmas Collectibles Stamp Set, Christmas Ornament Punch This card using a beautiful shimmery card base - I hope I have captured it with my photo. A cute post-it note booklet with pen.  It uses Stampin! Up! (r) punches Mosaic, Scallop Oval, Large Oval and Lattice Big Z die for gold embellishment.  It was created by Deb - sorry I don't know her full name...

The current challenge over at Scrapbooking from Scratch is a 1-2-3-4 challenge.  For this first challenge: use ONE photo you need a TWO word title you need THREE embellishments (I have used rub-ons, pearls, washi tape of crowns) you need FOUR papers This photo captured the exact moment my aunt and uncle, who are celebrating 60 years of marriage this year, were told by their daughters that they had got a card from Queen Elizabeth. Hence the crown washi tape which my sister purchased for me in Hong Kong.. As well they got cards from local, state and federal members of parliament and Governor of NSW and Governor General.  They have had them all mounted in a frame with Queen Elizabeth's in centre. A special day and a definitely a special moment for them.

Paris cards These cards were inspired by Alanna Paterson, I do not have a blog address for her, so thank you Alanna. I have made the card in both Whisper White and Very Vanilla cardstock.  I have used two new in-colours inks from Stampin'Up!(r) - Baked Brown Sugar and Strawberry Slush (what a great name!)  and for the background have used Gorgeous Grunge stamp set and Very Vintage Large Wheel.  The Eiffel Tower is from a no longer available stamp set.  Washi tape was from my stash. Ironically the pink flower ribbon was purchased in Paris many years ago and has obviously been sitting just waiting for the right cards.  I have not mounted the CS with the image I have simply run around the edge with Strawberry Slush. I think the card is very Shabby Chic and Vintage what do you think? Merci, thank you for looking, Margaret.

After a week and half of illness, I recovered sufficiently to attend this retreat this past weekend.  Here are a couple of photos of the sunsets over Lake Macquarie, where the retreat was held. There was still the smoke haze from bushfires in the area in the preceding week. Thursday @ sunset Friday @ sunset Saturday @ sunset (my favourite) As well as enjoying the sunsets I did manage to scrap some layouts - here is one, with more to follow in later blog posts. Cousins This layout was done in a class at the retreat.  The white CS had Gesso applied, left to dry and then Gelato crayon sticks used for the background (unfortunately it does not come up clear in this photo), the resulting streaks of Gelato's where then diluted with a baby wipe as I went around and around in a circle motion. Washi tape, a stamp of leaves coloured with Gelato's and a titlel complete the page of my cousin Julie and I. There is about 10 years difference in our ages (me being the elder) ...

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 .