Stamps Ahead

Images:(c)1990-2009 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Last night, Carol set the challenges, her 3rd challenge (I am yet to do challenges 1 & 2) was to use a technique called 'direct to rubber" where you use your SU markers like colouring pencils onto your stamp. I have used another new set from the summer mini Razzle Dazzle. For the background I used the ever popular Weathered Background stamp. Enjoy.

Images:(c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork: Merryl Blacker Here is "Sydney" snowman. He arrived in my mailbox this week in his special packaging - to keep him from melting perhaps!!! My friend Merryl created him (her original idea) using a Sweet Treat Cups (which has been filled with blue M&M's), a special padded envelope and 4.4cm circle punch available in Stampin'Up!(r) summer mini catalogue. Very cute.

Images:(c)1990-2009 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork:Margaret L Crawford My niece is turning 21 shortly and I have made her invitations for a dinner she is organising to celebrate this milestone. Of course I did not cut and emboss the frame - I used a die cutting/embossing machine for this. I love the ribbon bow using ribbon available from current SU mini catalogue - it is wide and soft.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford. The INKlings challenges this month are being set by Alison B. The first challenge is a Christmas card using no red or green. Here is my take on it. The stamp is from the just released Spring Mini set called Tree Trimmings. I have tried to make them look like they are swinging on the tree. Our 2nd challenge was to use the colours Riding Hood Red , Pacific Point , Pumpkin Pie, and Black or Gold. Now these are not colours I would normally use. I used another new set from Spring Mini - Sense of Time. I stamped the clock face on the blue CS and then with the orange strip and smaller second hand I crumpled the paper and then stamped over with Riding Hood Red Ink to get that distressed look.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin' Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford This months cyberchallenges with The INKlings were set by Ryn. Her 2nd Challenge was to use the colours - Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Basic Black and Very Vanilla. I have used the stamp set Circle Circus and the greeting comes from a new set in the soon to be released Spring Mini catalogue - Great Friend.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Date: 13th September, 2008 Location: Daniel's Patisserie Shanghai, China This stamp from Sale-A-Bration set "Yummy" says it all "A little Yummy for your Tummy" - yes yummy, delicious, fabbo, scrumptious and many more words to describe finding a bakery - no a real French patisserie. I stayed for so long enjoying the food prepared by a wonderful French chef. Not even the rain on the day dampened my excitement. The owners were fantastic, they had only just opened the day before and treated me like one of their family (well a cash paying family member!). And I took some goodies back with me to enjoy later. The bright colours of Bali Breeze Designer Series Paper were just right - this was a bright and fantastic day and one not to be forgotten easily.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Here, I am back with two of the sets from my previous post. I have used the greeting "Thanks" as this is appropriate for all those assisting with people affected by the worst natural disaster in Australia. I have used similar layout for both cards. The first card uses Bodacious Bouquet - you get 9 stamps in this set. I have used current in-colours River Rock and Purely Pomegranate and a little bit of Stampin' Glitter from current mini-catalogue. The second card uses - Live Your Dreams. You get 8 stamps in this set, including a stamp suitable as a journalling box when scrapbooking. Thanks and the little butterfly, on the first card, are from this set. Thinking of others, Margaret

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.

In an earlier post I wrote about the challenge set by Jayne to use layout from p17 of current SU mini catalogue. Here is the card I received from Jayne. She has used the Always set available in the catalogue. Her message on one of the circles - celebrate spring. Thank you Jayne. Images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin' Up! (R) Artwork: Jayne Mercer Spring is coming so I have also been trying out my new camera and here are some photographs I have taken, on the macro lens, of flowers around my garden.

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

Last night I participated in a cyberspace challenge with the INKlings. Here are my efforts. Challenge No 1 - Gift card completed in 10 mins with colour not usually used . I used Real Red/Garden Green (I did not even use these colours at Christmas) - Stamp Sets Pocket Fun and Friendship Blooms. The frog is a tag so that he can jump up and down! Challenge No 2 - card sketch from Splitcoast Stampers using patterned paper. I used Spring Showers patterned paper and stamp sets Best Bar Codes and Lots of Thoughts. Challenge No 3 - use colours Vintage Violet, Cool Caribbean , Ruby Red and Chocolate Chip . I used stamp set Friendship Blooms. Friendship Blooms and Lots of Thoughts are in Sale-a-bration & Best Bar Codes in Summer Mini Catalogue. Images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Why not challenge yourself today - email me the results (of one/or more of the above challenges) and I will post here on my blog as well as send you a surprise in the mail, ...

This is a card I have created from another stamp set available in the Summer Mini Catalogue. This time I have used Easy Elegance (111235 set of 4 $39.95). I have applied Stampin'Write Markers direct to rubber, spritzed with water and stamped onto the fabulous Stampin' Up! watercolour paper. And I just love the blue hydrangeas from my garden. Images: © 1990-2007 Stampin'Up! ® Artwork: Margaret L Crawford The quote is not very visible in this photo but it says: "How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it". George Elliston . I "googled" the author of this quote - George Elliston and it shows that she was born in Kentucky in 1883 and what an extraordinary life she led. She was a reporter for the former Cincinnati Times-Star for over 40 years. At a time when most newspaperwomen were forced into writing for the society or cooking sections, George Elliston was a hard-news reporter covering crime, murder, and local tragedies. She was known for going to...

I have been making cards for fund raising for a group that I gave a demonstration to on Saturday. This is one of the cards that I made, this time I have used some of my non-Stampin' Up! ® stash of background papers and ribbons. I know this would hardly have made a dent - but it is a start. The Stamp set is Wishing You (110245) set and I used the verse stamp inside the card. This set in the mini-catalogue is only $39.95 and you get 6 very versatile stamps that can be used not only for Christmas cards. That makes it only $6.66 per stamp. Enjoy Images © 1990-2007 Stampin' Up! ® Artwork Margaret L Crawford

Just right for your Christmas in July. For a fun addition to the table I have made serviette rings. I have used stamp set "Wishing You" from Stampin' Up! ® mini catalogue just released. Have a good weekend. Images: © Stampin'Up! ® 1990-2007 Layout: 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.