Stamps Ahead

In the not too distant future I am heading out on a scrapbook cruise and I am participating in a swap of 4" x 3" cards.  We were to make 30 suitable to be put into a pocket page album. The theme of course is cruising, beach, sea etc etc. Here are my cards that I finished making this weekend: And for a close up: I started by using Distress Oxides - faded jeans, fossilized amber and vintage photo applied to white cardstock (CS), then a spritz of water.  Then I added Beach Mobile Stamp (which I loved when I first saw it).  On a separate small piece of white CS I stamped just the word 'beach'.  This I then coloured with alcohol ink Sunflower, I then cut out each letter and applied.  To finish off I took black ink and highlighted the edge of the card. All products are available from Kaszazz. Thank you for looking, Margaret (down on the beach).

Just back from a cruise around the South Pacific and Fiji on the Explorer of the Seas.   I was part of a scrapbooking group Unmistakable Creations organized by Melissa Kennedy. We avoided Cyclone Cook.  Here is the ship at anchor Mystery Island.  And here am I, in the Conference Room that was our scrapping destination for classes on the at sea days and whenever we wanted to wander down. Classes were led by Melissa and we created so many fabulous pages.   It was on Level 2 of the ship. Before the cruise it was decided that we would participate in a 3" x 4" project life type card swap.  We were to make 36 and they were swapped during the afternoon of our first day at sea. Techniques I used were acrylic painted background, stamping, and doodling. We were also to make a name tag to place into our lanyard. Both of these are now headed to my cruise album, that I am working on now that I am back on dry land.  Thank you for looking....

Images:(c)1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford I took the photo at Manhattan Beach, California on my recent holiday. I had to get ready 25 of these for this weekends "card in a box" - okay not technically a card - but with 12 made up to swap and the remaining for participants to make up, I wanted something quick and easy. Enjoy.

Images:(c)1990-2009 Stampin'Up(r) Artwork:Margaret L Crawford Another new set in the upcoming SU spring mini is Sense of Time. I loved this set the first time I saw and I had lots of visions floating in my head. One of them was to use the shattered glass technique that I found here in a swap with our INKlings group. I hope that I have not spoiled the "just opened" thrill of getting new cards for those participating in the swap.

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 recently participated in a 15cm x 15cm scrapbook page swap. Here is mine. The journalling tag slips in behind the photograph. The stamp sets used were: Kanji (108851) for the symbols and Stamp of Authenticity (108920) for the tag. Images © 1990 - 2007 Stampin' Up! ® Artwork by Margaret L Crawford

I recently participated in a card swap where we were required to make suitable to be given to a male. Here is my card, it could be used for a birthday or Fathers Day. Enjoy. Images © 1990 - 2007 Stampin' Up! Artwork by Margaret L Crawford Stamp Sets: Stamp of Authenticity (108920), Artifacts (108739), Weathered Background (108948), Expressive Flexible Phrases (108786) and Rough Texture Wheel (107464) I used my favourite Stampin' Up! tool the paper distressing tool from Cutter Kit (106958) - just love those roughed up edges. The inks were, Really Rust Classic Stampin' Ink (102549) and Basic Brown Classic Stampin' Ink (104315).

Another of my cards that uses the Stampin' Write markers to colour an image. Stamp sets used were Heartfelt Thanks (108835) and Expressive Flexible Phrases (108786). I originally made this card, in Bashful Blue ink, for a swap with The INKlings group. The Lavender Lace ink looks just as delicate. All images © 1990 - 2007 Stampin' Up! ® All artwork by Margaret L Crawford unless otherwise noted

Here are 2 cards that I made as part of a swap with The INKlings group. Images © 1990 - 2007 Stampin' Up! Artwork by Margaret L Crawford Left - Wild Rose Set & saying from Artfully Asian Set Right - Artfully Asian Set & background is Rough Texture Jumbo Wheel