Stamps Ahead

 Time again to participate in Calvinball 2025.  Here is the test layout I uploaded What is Calvinball?  In short, Calvinball is a scrapbooking game/challenge based off the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip.  Calvin and Hobbes invent Calvinball where the rules change constantly.  That concept was taken and turned into a scrapbooking challenge many years ago.  It is fun, you get points or you can just participate.  This layout I have entered as a test layout - to check that system works!  I received points for this, as well as posting on socials, using stars (1 point regardless of number of stars on layout) and using green.  Other Day 1 points could have been - if I had used journalling of 100 words plus or using an avocado.  Each day other items are added (or taken away).  Other papercraft projects are permitted as well.   Check out Scrap Happy  for more information.  http://scraphappy.org/calvinball I have also compl...

This weekend Kaszazz released a new January flier and as a team leader I was able to hold a team training day (TDD). I will share layouts and cards I created shortly.  One of the optional activities are that participants can participate in a challenge using criteria set by Kaszazz.  This TDD the challenge was to use any of the Collage Paper Pads.  Here is what I created using Floral Splash Collage Paper Pad. The photographs were taken at Kirkton Park at Polkobin in the Hunter Valley of NSW. It was a my birthday celebration gift from my sister.  It was lovely to take time out and enjoy the hospitality and ambience of Kirkton Park.  Except for the two main background papers everything else came from the Collage paper pad. If you are interested in purchasing any of the Collage paper pads that Kaszazz has in their range please visit my website  www.kaszazz.com/cart?consid=110787  and type into search bar "Collage Paper Pad" and see the range of paper pads ...

 This layout was a challenge at Soul Scrappers  challenge group on Facebook  The challenge was to be inspired by the this layout by Jane Howden  The criteria - use this scape page to inspire your own scrap page.  You may be inspired by the torn papers, the shapes, the tag, fence, the creepy Halloween feel, spider web or pumpkins etc.... Not being a fan of Halloween I did not take that inspiration, however, I did love the background colour and the basic layout of Jane's.   With New South Wales beginning its partial exit out of Covid lockdown restrictions tomorrow, I am sure many people are wondering/imagining "Where to next?" as they think of  possible future travels.  Myself, I can see me travelling more in my own country and my sister is considering a trip to Paris and beyond in 2023. I searched my photographs and found this photo that I took when we both visited Europe 2015. Thank you for looking, Margaret

 Here is a layout I have completed for a challenge over at Unmistakable Creations on Facebook. The challenge was to use these papers created by Melissa the owner of Unmistakable Creations.  I had to download them from the website  and print on white cardstock.   Our mother passed away in 1974 at only 49 years of age.   My memories are strong of the short time that we had with her.  She was a constant inspiration, her life was plagued by ill-health but she always managed to bounce back with a smile and an overwhelming desire to get in the car and drive again.  I do not have many photos and those that I have are gradually being put onto scrapbook layouts.  This photo is of my parents wedding day in 1948 as I could not find a suitable photo of just Mum alone. Anyway, it is apt as both of them helped me to be everything I am today.  Our father passed away in 2007.   The layout uses two stencils available from Kaszazz - Rose an...

What is Calvinball? Taken straight from the web "Calvinball is the craziest, most unpredictable and exciting online scrapbooking challenge.  It is hosted by Scrap Happy"  Click on this link to find about it. It runs for the entire month of March.  Here is my first layout  In January 2019, my sister and I together with our friends Pene and her mother, Karen went on a cruise to New Zealand.  In Dunedin, we hired a car and drove to Larnach Castle.  It was a great place to visit and one of the first things we did is all have a go quoits on the lawn.   Now back to Calvinball - there are points for all the bits and pieces you use on your layouts, art journal pages etc and even non-paper projects.  You can record your points or not, it is up to you.  So how many points did I get for this first layout?  Here goes 1 for doing a single layout 1 for this blog post 1.5 for publicity points 2 for Permanent Points (this will stay up the entire m...

 This layout I created today for a challenge over at Paper Issues (Friends and Fans) . The challenge was to inspired by this monochromatic mood board: The colour of sea foam is muted on my layout and unfortunately it does not show up the colour to its best advantage.  The papers and embellishments (except for pearls) are from 49 & Market -Vintage Artistry - Sky. The photograph is one of many vintage photos I want to get into album as quickly as possible.  Ena was my maternal grandmothers younger sister. Unfortunately, the photo does not have any details on it as to when or where it was taken.    I remember my dad, talking fondly of his Auntie Ena.   Thank you for looking, Margaret 

I have not done much creating in the past 2 weeks or so - my sister had a hip replacement and as I am her primary carer during this time I have been busy visiting her in hospital, shopping, meal cooking being there when needed etc etc.  Now she has some outside assistance so today sat down and created this layout for a challenge over at ARTastic Challenges Facebook page and here is the layout I have created: The challenge was to Focus on the words.  The inspiration was this piece by Australian paper sculpture artist, Renee Farrant, called My tree words worth.                                             I   knitted this triangular scarf during the coronavirus pandemic.  The yarn is Patons Bohemia Carnivale that I have had for a few years.   For the layout I used a piece of Shimelle True Stories patterned paper that I cut in half on the diagonal.  Thi...

This is another layout I have completed for a GRAB5 challenge over at Soul Scrappers . The idea of this challenge was to select 5 items from your stash (the older the better), photograph them, and then create a layout using items you have selected.  Here is my layout and following the items I selected from stash: My photograph was taken at Ala Moana shopping centre in Honolulu, Hawaii at the beginning of December whilst we were on holidays.  These arch type decorations were scattered around the centre. I used 3 of the papers from the paper pack (one I reversed to the kraft side), also several items from the old Stampin' Up! accessory pack from many years ago.  Unopened Kaisercraft wood veneers and paper flowers - both unopened - finally getting used.  Do any readers remember the alphabet rub-ons that I used, very popular and had so many of each letter? Thank you for looking, head over to Soul Scrappers and see the challenges they have. Margaret

Yes, that heat I wrote about yesterday is still with us and today there are strong winds forecast as well - just starting to get them. Just heard sirens, hope it is not fire as it is perfect conditions for bush fires. Here is a layout I have created for a challenge over at Paper Issues - the challenge, called Creature Feature, was to use a pet or animal on a layout. I have no pets, so  chose this photo of an Emu taken in Central Australia 2 years ago. This layout uses all Kaszazz product - paper from Australian collection, stamps from Flora and Fauna collection, die and stamp from Nature Lover collection and the fabulous chipboard leaves, that I love.  Archival Ink in Coffee, Leaf Green and Jet Black complete the layout - oh forgot about the scrap of blue paper from Distress Surfaces that I used. I want to recognise the inspiration for the stamping of the emus was a fellow Kaszazz consultant Yuna. Now, as I was outside taking the photo of my layout - looked up and saw ...

Over at Paper Issues (Friends and Fans) Facebook page there is a challenge every Sunday called Scraplift Sunday. The idea is to draw inspiration from the layout and create your own. And here is my take on the layout from 18th March.  I was firstly inspired by the word 'create' and then sought out photos of our class on board Radiance of the Seas in January, 2019 when my sister and I were on a scrapbook cruise to New Zealand. These photos are of all of us creating in one of our classes at sea. I have used papers and embellishments (except alphas and little ship bottom left) from Set Sail collection from Celebr8.   I used up the leftovers from the kit received on this cruise. The photos were taken by Melissa Kennedy, teacher and owner of Unmistakeable Creations. Here is the Scraplift Sunday 18th March inspiration layout: Why not check out both Paper Issues for layout inspirations and Unmistakeable Creations for future cruises. Thankyou for looking Margaret

Here is a layout I have completed for a sketch challenge over at Paper Issues (Friends and Fans) on facebook. Kaisercraft papers and embellishments.  Photos to be added later. Here is the completed layout with photos added.  The photos are of my sister and I enjoying morning tea in Napier, New Zealand with a plate of mixed lamingtons. Thank you for looking, Margaret 

Today, I am completing a Double Delight Sketch Challenge over at Soul Scrappers and here is my layout:  And a close up of both pages: Here is the Double Delight Sketch from Soul Scrappers: I have left space for photos I will be taking when I visit Disneyland later this year.   The papers are from Simple Stories Say Cheese 111. Thank you for looking.   Margaret :)

I am participating in another challenge at Soul Scrappers this weekend.  This challenge was called Pick 3, more about that later.  Here is my layout: Here is how it works - you get a list of items to choose from and then you must choose 3 of those items to use on your layout or card. You can use other things, but you must use at least 3 of the items from the list below and let us know which 3 you chose. Here is the list and I have highlighted the items I chose: Flowers The colour pink Heart (s) Floral print patterned paper Wood veneer Bling/gems Ribbon The photo was taken about 8 years ago at Tangalooma Resort, near Brisbane in Queensland. I suppose it was just looking for the right inspiration to be scrapped.   I have used many items from my stash to complete this layout and many may recognize some from their own stash.  The patterned paper is from Basic Grey.  I love the words on the embellishments sums up my attitude to life...

I am just back from a South Pacific (including Tonga) cruise that ended in Auckland, NZ, my sister flew over from Sydney to join me there and we had 8 days along the top end coast of New Zealand. One wet day we decided to stay in and scrapbook for the day.   I had just come off a Scrapbooking rruise with Unmistakable Creations and had got her some papers whilst on board. I showed her some challenges on Soul Scrappers and here is what we did. My layout is for their Layout Challenge SC118: I have used Kaisercraft range Whispering Ivy and this paper range was one that we used on the cruise, I have used left overs from the kit supplied to create this layout. The large flower was fussy cut. What is not evident on this photo is under the cluster on middle left there is a white doily poking out.  Photos to be added later. This is the layout my sister created, again using a Kaisercraft range of papers I gave her.  Paris is one of her favourite cities.  Again, photo...

This morning, feeling creative, I looked at Paper Issues facebook page and found a sketch challenge. Why not check out their website and join their facebook page to participate in some fun challenges. Here is my layout: Here is the sketch: This is a companion page to a layout I completed for their Fall into Line challenge.  I have kept the scrappy look behind the photos - papers/embellishments were changed either because as I used scraps the first layout used all that I had of a particular paper/embellishment or due to the colours of the lights being different colours.   Here are the two layouts together.  Serendipity is a wonderful thing - look at the blue star paper about half way down on both layouts - even though they were completed separately when I put the two layouts together that strip of blue matched!!! Photos are of the magnificent Field of Light display at Uluru, Northern Territory - I loved the rays made by the lights that guided you around the dis...