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 .

Another birthday card made for my brothers 60th birthday.  Inside is a gift card for a movie and meal for 2. This card used some patterned paper that I have had in my stash for years.

It is my brothers birthday today, and I made this card for him.  I love many of the Tim Holtz products and this card uses two - texture embossing folder and Ideaology Numerals.  I have used a core cardstock that I have sanded back to reveal the Kraft core.  This is technique that I love to use and it is good for male cards. A clean and simple card full of heartfelt wishes for his birthday.

Sunday we are getting together for a friends birthday. Here is the card I have made her. I had the Cuttlebug embossing folder and Blushing Bride CS/ribbon out from yesterday's card, so I just continued with them. The set I have used is a new Stampin'Up! (r) set called Strength and Hope, I was drawn to this set because of its message and as well SU is donating $2 from each set sold to Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Inside the card and on the envelope I have stamped the message and scroll. For the front scallop/circle embellishment I was inspired by a card by Sandi Maciver in US. If you are looking for a demonstrator to support this cause then simply visit the Stampin'Up! website.

What have I been doing? Well for the past month or so I have been making 15cm x 15cm ( 6" x 6" for my USA friends) scrapbook pages that I have made for children who attend camps for abused children here in Australia. It has been fun and I must say slightly addictive - a 20 page album grows quickly. Tomorrow I am off to a friends 60th birthday celebration and here is a different kind of birthday card I have created for her. I followed instructions found the pixie cottage I have used a sheet of vellum for the envelope and created a card from some embossed paper left over from a previous card. Some lace and a flower from my stash finish the envelope wallet. Thank you for reading, have a great weekend everyone - celebrate everyday.

Well, here is it's January again. And that means it's my sisters birthday. If you have read my blog for a while you will recall that she likes blue, shabby chic and all things Paris. Here is the card I have created for her this year. My birthday gift to her was I paid for 5 nights accommodation in Paris during trip she took there in September last year and this card pays homage to that trip. The clock face was one she picked up in the Paris markets.

This week was my birthday and I got some fabulous cards and wishes. I wanted to share with you all a card I received from Laura in USA. Laura made the card and it is just beautiful. I love the colour, the detail and the design. Thanks to everyone who sent me wishes.

I recently blogged a photograph of a card I gave my brother for his birthday. Here are some photographs taken at his birthday dinner. I love that we are all smiling in these photos - "Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it." ~Author Unknown. And that the words on the paper (that I bought in USA last year - not sure if it is available in Australia) just seemed right to describe my brother - I have used some hardware to highlight some of the words.

Images:(c)1990-2010 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork:Margaret L Crawford It is my brother's birthday this week and here is the card I have made for him. He is a carpenter so the faux woodgrain technique seemed just right. And this year his daughter, my sister and I have all put in to get him 2 two Gold Class Tickets (and a box of chocolates) as his gift so "enjoy" was just the right sentiment. Yes the edges are roughed up (including the edges of the card) to add to the rustic feel of the card.

Front and opened Images:(c)1990-2009 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork:Margaret L Crawford Side view and open Images:(c)1990-2009 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork:Margaret L Crawford Today is my sister's birthday and I have made her a card in her favourite blues - if you regularly follow my blog (and thank you for doing so) you know this is her favourite colour. I have seen this type of step card on several blogs - it is not new, but I loved the 3-D effect that the accordion folds give. I have used various techniques - watercolour paper flowers, flowers from Pretties kit, punched flowers, rhinestone brads, a stamped die-cuts andrub-ons that are not now available from Stampin'Up! but they suited the card just right. She can remove all the elements and put onto a scrapbook page later if she wants to. Happy birthday, Heather and enjoy the year ahead. It is going to be a hot day in Sydney today - so keep cool all, I am headed out to brunch later for Heather's birthday.

Artwork: Margaret L Crawford I arrived back in Sydney this morning. I was aboard a Qantas Airbus, my that plane is large. I treated myself and upgraded to Premium Economy and due to circumstances beyond my control, I spent most of the trip in Business Class watching movies (as the controls did not work at my allocated seat). One of the classes that I did at the Great American Scrapbooking Convention in Arlington, Texas was with Kim of Rusty Pickle - we made a great little scrapbook - but more of this in a later post. Here is a card I made for a friend's husband who had a surprise 70th birthday in Denver last Saturday night. I used the left over corrugrated card numerals from the Rusty Pickle class and some old Stampin' Up! (r) papers. I gave the card a rough texture look by stamping the edges of the numerals. More photos later.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford It is my sisters birthday today and instead of creating a card I decided to make her a 15cm x 15cm scrapbook page in her favourite colour blue. The idea is that she can put a photograph taken today on the page. On the back of the page I have made a pocket (that I put a little something in) but she can use this later to put in more photographs or memorabillia from today. Happy Birthday.

One of the teachers is celebrating a birthday tomorrow, here is a card I made for him. I bought limited stamp sets that could be used for a male, so I have used Level 1 hostess set - A Little Bit of Happiness. I taped over the words 'thank you' for stamping into Versamark, took the tape off, stamped onto watercolour paper and then using Watercolour Wonder Crayons painted the images. I stamped several of the images onto the Olive Green card. He has recently built a new home and has started his roof top garden and is it now Autumn this card seemed appropriate. Images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin' Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford

Here is a card I have made for a friend's 13th birthday tomorrow. I have used the Classic Stars Wheel and yes the panel is on crooked - this was done on purpose. To embellish I used the large star punch and a now retired piece of patterned SU paper (this was the one I wanted to use as it was a masculine card) and several stamp sets - 'For You' from One of a Kind (from the current Spring Mini-catalogue, notice how the star covers the flower on this stamp!), Short Order Numbers and Calendar Cues. Jaydn - have a great year ahead and welcome to your teenage years. Images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin' Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford

My present to my sister, Heather, on her birthday was a luncheon cruise on Sydney Harbour. Here is the scrapbook page I have created. I have used Stampin' Up! Simply Scrappin' At Home kit to complete the page. Inspiration, for the page, come from a sketch in the October 07 issue of Creating Keepsakes. Enjoy. Images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford. The second photograph of The Sydney Harbour Bridge was taken from our boat "Sydney 2000" on the day.

Today, is my sister's birthday. Here is the card I have made especially for her. Her favourite SU colour is Bashful Blue , and her favourite decorating style is Shabby Chic. I have used Carte Postale and Leaves al-a-carte jumbo wheel. I hope the little bird reminds her of the Blue Bird of Happiness brooches we had as kids. Happiness always, Heather - love Margaret. Images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin' Up Artwork: Margaret L Crawford

This is the card I made for my neice's birthday last week. I have used the Wild Rose (108960) stamp set and Recollections Designer Series paper for this card. I do love Cranberry Crisp Classic Ink with Mellow Moss Classic Ink together. Images: (c) 1990-2007 Stampin' Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford

Stampin' Up! ® release their new Spring Mini Catalogue on 1st August. There are some great stamp sets and accessories available. If you email me, with your details, I will send you a copy. You can then order by email or by getting together with your friends. Here is a card I made using one of the sets - Polka Dots & Paisley and the new Jumbo Wheel Petals. Images © 1990 - 2007 Stampin' Up! ® Artwork Margaret L Crawford.

It is my brothers birthday tomorrow, here is the card I have made for him. Happy Birthday. All images © 1990 - 2007 Stampin' Up! ® All artwork by Margaret L Crawford unless otherwise noted Stamp Sets: Artfully Asian (108738) & Everyday Flexible Phrases (108785) Cardstock: Marigold Morning, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla Ink: Basic Brown Other: Watercolor Wonder Crayons (to colour leaves), Mini Glue Dots (to attach leaves)