Stamps Ahead

Here is a Christmas card I have designed: All the products to make this easy to create card are available from Kaszazz. The Festive Birds stamp is a new Christmas stamp released for Christmas this year.   I fell in love with it when I first saw it. I have used Distress Oxides, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, waterbrush pen. The final touch a little bit of Alcohol Ink Marker Deep Yellow for the top bird. And, I took a great leap and submitted this Kaszazz for consideration of projects they publish so that other consultants get inspiration. Thank you for looking, Margaret

This morning, sees the end of card classes at a local community group for the year.  Here, are some candy cane favours I have made for each of the ladies in my group as well as for the organizing committee - about 20 in all.   Quick, easy and simple to put together.  Hope they love them. I used 2 different patterned papers and cardstock to create them.  First, I measured the candy cane to construct the pouch.  Then cut out papers and stitched.  I individually cut out images from left over paper to attach to top of candy cane. I was inspired by a similar holder by Better Homes and Gardens (US) that I saw on-line. I also made these for another group where I also lead card making classes - aren't they cute!  I have used Kaszazz Santa Hat Stamp then coloured in with alcohol inks, cut around with scissors and then attached to circle of green cardstock with a glue dot. I have also put these both of these favours on Soul Scrappers challenge blog - the...

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 :)

The next layout was for sketch challenge at  Soul Scrappers . Here is the challenge sketch that we were to be inspired by: The photos are of me singing Christmas Carols at the local community group (Pastimes) where I am the currently table leader for the card table.   A wonderful group of ladies.  These were taken at the break up party last November.  The musical note paper and the Kaisercraft music stamps were just calling out to be used on the layout.  Thank you for looking, Margaret :)

This weekend I went on a scrapbooking retreat, fairly local to me.   I completed a couple of layouts for some challenges as well as other layouts and 36 artist trading cards, which I can't share just at the moment.  Here is the first one for The Memory Nest . Here is the challenge layout: A little about the photo.  My sister made me an advent calendar for Christmas 2016 - It was a mini-muffin tin and inside she put lots of little surprises for me to open each day.   I have used some of the embellishments on the layout.   Here is a close up of the string of Christmas icons. Thank you for looking, I will be back soon with the other challenge I completed on the weekend. Off to dinner now.  Cheers, Margaret :)

Today, a layout for White with 1 , the colour this month is Green Flash. I went for a flash of Green using Dylusions paint applied onto the white cardstock.  The photograph is of my sister (left) brother (middle) and me (right) taken at a Bebarfalds store either in the city of Sydney or maybe Ryde where they had a store. That company is long gone.  I have put the photo into a Memory Protector Flip Flaps from Close to My Heart as the back of the photo has some interesting facts. Don't  you just love the name Smiling Snaps.  The writing is our mothers and it was given to our paternal grandparents for Christmas 1957.  My sister and I were as children always dressed alike - we did not mind - our mother made all our clothes. Under the flap I have put some information: I hope you enjoy seeing this 'blast from the past'.  Thank you for looking, Margaret

LOAD Challenge has a facebook page that I came across where we are challenged to do a LOAD monthly challenge... LayOut A Day... not to hard... cards, layouts.. let's get them done!!! Christmas and New Year - check Sister out of hospital and rehab. hospital - check Scrapbook layouts started again - check Pages for SCKC (Southern Cross Kids Camps) started - check My sister arrived home from hospital and subsequent rehab hospital on 21st December, Christmas this year was at her place.  This pages shows the swimming noodles I have her and my sister-in-law who kindly bought and made lunch for us.  The swimming noodles!!!  Well my sister and I have started swimming each day in a local heated pool.  Good for her and good for me. Showing the double page layout.   Now the Christmas title looks a little tilted - no alcohol was involved (I don't alcohol - except alcohol markers!!!!) just my bad.......... I used glue to adhere an by the time I reali...

This layout was inspired by an article by Georgina Heald "Layer upon Layer" in scrap365 magazine Aug/Sept 2013 p50-52.. This layout features Collage layering and it is a great way to use up old paper scraps, however I diverted from this and used co-ordinating papers from a Kaisercraft range. First cut out strips of paper of different widths(I used at least 6 papers) then weave them to form a grid (now unfortunately you cannot see my weaving as I had a 6" x 8" photo), secure them to background patterned paper, and then apply Gesso all over the papers. You can see some of the original paper colours in the triangle shapes.  This is a good way of softening your background.  For me as I was wearing predominately pink so it bought the colours more into line.  Below is a close up of the paper strips after Gesso applied and dried before adding embellishments. I went to my stash to find anything that would complete the layout.  I used glimmer mi...

Earlier this month I completed the sale of my home and the purchase of a new one.  I have settled in now and have just about unpacked all my cardmaking/scrapbooking supplies. Today, I taught a cardmaking class at a local craft group and here are the cards I designed especially for the class. Whilst waiting for all attendees to get to the class, I like to get students to make a gift card of some sort.  This week it was a 3" x 3" card. They made only one card.   The butterfly stamp is from Penny Black and the flower card is Stampin' Up! (r) (SU) Elements of Style set.  You stamp across the card, fold, add a bit of bling and a greeting - a quick and easy card. The next card, of which there are many variations around in blog land, uses punched edges (or decorative scissors) to create a ruffled look to the card.   This design could be used for birthday, wedding or thank you cards.  It is a simple card but it does take a little time to punch all the edges....

Tabitha had a challenge, over at Scrapbook Challenges , to use your stash.  Santa arrives on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii. December 2012 I have used cardstock (CS) that I have had for ages. I have not used the white CS previously as I was just not inspired until this photo taken in Waikiki, Hawaii last December. The christmas tree was from a card I got last year that I could not throw away. I had 3 star brads sitting lonely in a container - why? The rub-ons are old making memories style, remember when they came in a plastic container on a holder and you got many, many rub-ons. Unfortunately the rub-ons appear to have lost some of their stickyness over the years as they tended to separate as I was rubbing them onto the paper.

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.

Just sharing with you some of my Christmas celebrations.  My sister came for breakfast, before we headed out to Christmas lunch at our brothers place.  I made coconut and raspberry pancakes. I found the recipe online, basically it is a standard pancake batter with added coconut and raspberries (fresh or frozen). The recipe called for coconut essence to be added but I did not add as I did not have any, and I am not sure it would have been necessary. They were yummy served with fresh double cream and additional raspberries.  The plate was a gift from my friend in US. This is the card I gave my sister for Christmas. She has booked to tour Highclere Castle, where they film Downtown Abbey, in April.  She has booked for afternoon tea as well, so I made this card - the main images came from the web, I printed on cardstock and then adhered to card front.  I put some more images in the middle together with some money for her to enjoy the afternoon...

Firstly, this card design was popular with the ladies of the local craft group, who have been making Christmas cards for the troops for the past 4 weeks.  Together they completed 286 cards that I will deliver to Paper Lady, Karen ,who founded and co-ordinates this initiative, on Saturday.  Contact her if you would like to be involved. Closing date for 2012 is 2nd November. Secondly, here are some photos of the some of  ladies creating their cards this week. Thank you to all the ladies involved.  Margaret

There are many blogs that have Clean and Simple Cards but I have gone for a clean and simple scrapbook layout. Last December, my sister (bottom left) and I were in Vence, Provence, France and we went for lunch at this restaurant, "Le Passe Muraille", in the old town on Christmas Day. Lunch was in the 700 year old cellar of the restaurant, it had a very jazz feel to it. There was about 13 people in the restaurant and there was Christmas music playing in the background. People in France celebrate Christmas Eve and so the old town was very quiet. We had the set menu of 38 Euro each. Menu de Jeuner de Noel Champagne and blackcurrant liqueur (Welcome) As a non-drinker I had Diet Coke. Small bread entrees - pate, cheese, bacon etc (See plate in the photos) Scallops and seafood 2 Fish with rice and cauliflower Goats cheese with salad Meringues Buche de Noel I hope that you have enjoyed this layout as much as we enjoyed out meal, well with the excep...

Today,I headed to Rozelle to finish off making my Christmas cards for the Australian troops. Paper Lady has been organising this effort and all cards will head overseas for the troops to send back to their families. You may remember an earlier post when cards I made last year made it to Jordan and I got a lovely thank you postcard from the troops there. Here I am creating. the cards and close up of three of the cards I made today. Images: (c) 1990-2010 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford

Wow, has it been cold in Sydney Town today!!! This photo of my sister was taken in 2008 whilst she was on a European Christmas Markets tour - it was taken in front of Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas Shoppe in Rothenburg, Germany. I love this photo of her and the colours of all the presents on top of the vehicle. It also reminds me my visit there about 20 years ago and wandering about in wonder of all the fabulous Christmas trees, ornaments etc. The tag, tucked in under the photo, has the journalling. Not your traditional colours for Christmas and I had the gold embossing out from yesterdays layout. A bright layout for a cold day and evening to come. The inspiration for this page came from Scrapbook Trends, December 2009. I am nice and warm tonight - I am blessed that I can be, however others, in completely different circumstances to me are not as blessed. You can help - I'm participating in The 21 Challenge to raise funds for Open Family Australia to help at-risk and homeless young ...

Images:(c)1990-2010 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork:Margaret L Crawford Here I am on Christmas Day relaxing. My sister printed out this photo into A4 size. I have used flowers and rhinestone brad from Pretties Kit for embellishment, together with a circle of the paper that matches the scallop and strip of paper from Urban Garden DSP, and the greeting comes from stamp set Good Cheer. Check out the challenge set by Stampamemory here.

Artist: Laura Bax (USA) I love all my Christmas cards that I receive and I wanted to share one that came in the mail from a friend in the USA. The greeting "Hope your holidays are as peaceful as ours!" Cute as, thanks Laura and family. If you are celebrating in snow or or heat my message is the same - Have a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

Images:(c)1990-2009 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Do you love a sale? Well, Stampin' Up ! is having a sale until the 24th January. The card I have made above uses one of the stamp sets that are in the inventory sale. Happy Christmas, Mate is only $28.46 plus postage. I love this stamp set, in addition to surfing Santa there is a kangaroo delivering presents and a koala sitting on a candy cane. If you would like to see what else if available, just click here , and if you would like to order anything just email me. Happy Christmas, Mates.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford My secret Santa has arrived. Okay, so I showed no restraint and ripped right into it. Thanks SS. You can see a 2010 calender using one of the new stamp sets (For Everything) in the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini catalogue . I now have some new stamps and accessories to play with on Christmas Day. If you want to order anything in there, just email me.