Stamps Ahead

I recently designed and made-up kits for a craft group. I included instructions for the leaders to follow. Here they are: And the extra - a card that could be for any occasion - birthday, congratulations, Christmas I have not made many cards since I finished up teaching classes so it was fun to get out supplies and to get creating. Thank you looking, Margaret

Here is a Christmas Card I have made using JOFY for PaperArtsy JOFY 107, I loved the look of this set as soon as I saw it.  I have used only a portion of the largest stamp in the collection and coloured with alcohol markers. Now a serendipity moment - I had decided to use Gold KindyGlitz (as it was on my table from a previous card) and it went 'gloopy' on me.  My first thought "NO !!!!" waste of a card but then the thought that I would smoosh that gloop around and added more and got a lovely glittery background. The card below, hopefully shows you the glittery background. Thank you for looking, Margaret

Today, I have made a card using a stamp from JOFY from PaperArtsy 102.  It is not a Christmas stamp, however I was drawn to the colours on the packaging to make a Christmas card. I also made a small gift card - this was my practice piece before I started on the main card.  I also used bits and pieces from my stash. I coloured with alcohol ink markers. Below is the packaging for the stamp set.  I can see more uses for the set. Thank you for looking, Margaret

 I created these 3 cards for another challenge over at Soul Scrappers Challenges The challenge? A lot of Christmas collections these day come with cut apart sheets.   You may use a few of these for your Christmas layouts but inevitably you will be left with a number of leftovers along with small paper scraps. The challenge was to use these to make THREE (3) Christmas cards. I used papers from DCWV 2018 Blue Noel collection. In there is 2 papers like this above - I had used one partially previously.  My grandmother would say I 'gussied' ( Smartened up, in a showy or garish way)   them up by adding Gold Kindyglitz, gold sequins and some of the printed cardstock with Gold Glitter included in the papers collection. Why not head over to Soul Scrappers Challenges by clicking on the link above and having a go at the scrapbook challenges and this month there is also 6 card challenges. Thank you for looking, Margaret

A longer than usual post today. I was recently asked by a friend, also called Margaret, to design six Christmas cards for her to make this year.  Here are the cards and more about the request below. Due to an operation on her spine and then an operation on her right thumb and index finger with Margaret still recovering from her operation on her right hand fingers and having physio she has been told not to use this right hand for several more months - very hard for a right-handed person.   Eager, to get back to making cards, with her left hand of course, for family and friends this Christmas and being able to colour in, use a tape runner and get her husband to help with if needed. It was a great exercise as it made me think, as I made each card, if it was appropriate for her to make.  Several times on each card I would use my left hand - not my dominant hand!  I did the die cutting and stamping for each card, I also offered alternate instructions for her to consi...

 Where does this inspiration for the card below come from? and the inside once you lift the card out of the flap top right: On the 24th June I blogged about an interactive birthday card  that I created for the card group that I lead at a local community group.  One of the ladies commented that it would make a great Christmas card.  Therefore, my inspiration has come from revisiting that card.   I did watercolour the images however any colouring medium will work. Thank you for looking, Margaret

 Another, Cute Owl spam card.  This time a Christmas Card.  Kaszazz has released a $49.95 Stamp Value Set - Cute Owls (7992), this is the largest stamp in the set. There is a total of 9 owl stamps, ranging from small to largest owl.  There are also some cute greetings in the set.I have coloured with Kaszazz Watercolour pans (7632)  Thank you for looking, hoot hoot, Margaret

I have begun creating Christmas cards for Rural Aid christmascards4farmers 2021 campaign.   I have want to go with an Australian theme for most of the cards I make.  Here is one of the designs I am using. Aren't they cute! The card has a'smooched' background and it means every card is different.  I have used Ranger Distress Oxides in candied apple and mowed lawn - however, any combination of red and green inks will work.  You can also use non-Christmas colours.   I have used Kaszazz Sketchy Emu (6443K), Sketchy Santa Hats (6445H 2 stamps) and Greeting (from Word Montage-Merry Christmas 6 stamps) .Thank you for looking,   Margaret

So what do you do when it is 4am and you wake and remain wide awake?  Of course, Pinterest browsing.   I found Sew Me Something Good blog and there were posts about making cards using fabric scraps and so much more . I have left some thanks for the inspiration. This got my thinking cap on.  Here are a selection of cards I made this morning. For the past year I have been involved in cutting out donated fabric into fat quarters, fat eights for a local op shop. These cards have been made with the scraps of just a small selection of those fabrics - I chose to select Christmas colours.   The construction is very simple: Take a piece of cardstock (cs) and cut it to size you want - I used 9.5cm x 13.8cm.  However, you could cut as squares, rectangles  etc. Cut or tear fabric scraps into any width.  I tore my fabric and left the raw edges to show. Sew onto the cs leaving some fabric hanging from cs.( I lengthened my stitch so it was easier to sew)....

A clean and simple Christmas Card.  A challenge over at Soul Scrappers  was to use striped Christmas paper and bling on your card.  . This card was really easy to put together.  I cut papers from the same range, plus some bling glitter paper,  into strips, I did not mind if some were larger than others. I went with the red glitter paper as it fitted in with the coloured strips.  These were then adhered to a backing card stock (cut to same size as the front of your card).  The greeting was die cut from a sheet in the pack and then I die cut a green circle to finish off the card.   Below, are strips cut ready for my next card.  It would equally effective if you put the strips vertically or horizontally as well. Thank you for looking, believe in the magic of Christmas, Margaret

Well, reindeers are not native to Australia, of course they are in North America, Northern Europe, Siberia. However, they are a well loved icon of Christmas - Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, reindeers pulling Santa's sleigh are just two references.   Here is a card that my ladies made in the local community group where I lead the cardmaking:  The card was made using items from stash.   The ladies could add a greeting of their choice inside. This was a quick card to put together.   I am adding this card to a challenge at Soul Scrappers to add a reindeer to on a card. Thank you looking, Margaret

Yes, cards made with a succulent image - I love them.  I needed to make at least 18 cards of the same design for the card class I lead at a local community group. Each lady will also get a small succulent with their card.  Here is what I came up with: As a Kaszazz consultant we have access to a wide range of projects designed and published in catalogues or on their website.  For this card I was inspired by a series of cards created by Allanah May.  I was wanting a Christmas card so I adapted her design to meet my needs. All products are Kaszazz with the exception of the Merry Christmas stamp from my stash. Kaszazz products used are Speckled Frame stamp (this was on of the first stamps I purchased when I first became a consultant), Succulents Un-Cut Set (13 stamps - I used only 1 of the stamps and Allanah May used all of the 6 succulents stamps). The stencil that you can see in the background is from a recently released set of small stencils just right for cardmaking....

Here are the two cards I have designed for class, using non-traditional colours, this week at local community centre.  Christmas is the theme for the coming weeks until end of term.  Inside of the card.   This Dove of Hope card was inspired by one by Ann Schach . I loved it as soon as I saw it whilst scrolling through the web.  I have left a thank you on her page. I loved that dove die so much I made another card this morning 21st October. I have used Kaszazz stamps - World Background (6419Q) and Word Montage - Christian Christmas (4749M) and Ranger Distress Ink vintage photo. Thank you for looking, Margaret

This weekend Kaszazz is releasing a new catalogue (can't show you just yet - later today I will).  As part of the weekend I got to participate in a Team Training Day held by my upline, in her home.  We get to see new products, and for a small charge we get a project pack to make up on the day (again, more on that later).   Also, there is a team challenge if you want to participate.  This year was to use any of the Kaszazz Christmas papers, stamps, dies, chipboard etc to make a project.  Here is mine: It is a set of 3 split centre cards.  Here is what I used and I have added product numbers: SB Essentials paper - Olive (4921) SB Paper - Vanilla (1060) SB Pages - White Smooth (7197) Sketchy Kookaburra stamp (6440L) from Greetings from Australia collection Sketchy Emu stamp (6443K) from above collection Baubles and Bottlebrush stamp (6455K) from above collection Bottlebrush Un-Cut stamp set (6451M) from above collection and you get bottlebrush and a leaf ...

So today, I am trying something new for me - completing a one-sheet (12" x 12") of paper to make 14 cards.   I went with a Christmas theme. Here is what I made: With a one-sheet wonder you follow a recipe.   Here is the recipe I followed given by Lucy Jones, my Kaszazz upline:  I went with a Christmas theme (never too early) and the cards use all Kaszazz product.  Papers and stamps from Christmas Morning collection and stamps from Tis' the season collection. All dies are still current. A little secret - it has taken me 1 day to get my cards together!  I thought it would be quicker, and I enjoyed the process of using my stash to create the cards.  I went looking for my dies - saying (to myself) I know you are here, where are you, finally found exactly where I put them last time!!! Here is a close up of some of the cards - I have a ready collection of cards ready for when my community card classes do start up again.   Than...

My last card classes for the year at local community groups this week.  Here is a card I  designed for upcoming Thursday class.  It is a pop up card that will fold flat for postage.  I found the pattern for the base card on the internet.  This is what the card looks like on the side. I am adding this to Soul Scrappers challenge to use a poinsettia on a Christmas card. The papers, sequins and alcohol pens are all available from Kaszazz and the stamps are Kaisercraft. Thank you for looking, Margaret