Stamps Ahead

Images:(c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Don't you just love finding new ideas? I do. Card 1 - I found these flowers on a U-Tube SU video. They use the scallop punch, a bit of glue add a rhinestone brad to the centre. Cards 2 & 3 - My SU friends in USA received convention swap cards with this technique (I do not know who orginally came up with idea - but thank you) This weekend I am heading away for a stamping/scrapping/eating weekend and I will be demonstrating how to make the flowers. My next post will show the 6" x 6" scrapbook page I created for a swap during the weekend.

Some images: (c)1990-2009 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork:Margaret L Crawford Drawing inspiration from a layout in Scrapbooking Memories, Vol10 No6 here is a 12"x12" page of Sadie (the wonderdog). Sadie is the beloved pet of Sharon and Gary in Colorado. Now most people know that I am not a 'doggy' or even a 'pet' person but this little dog sure wins over hearts. Each morning she would bring one of her stack of toys to show me. She is wearing her 4th of July outfit purchased at Walmart . The front door is one of her favourite spots to wait for her family, for her post delivery lady or friends to walk by. Cute.

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.

Images:(c)1990-2009 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Why not consider using a "non-traditional" stamp set for Christmas Cards. I have used Circle Circus. These cards (and a few others) are heading to camp - Camp Quality that is.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford I found this technique at SCS and I just had to try it. It is called Faux Grid and it reminds me of the Pen and Ink technique used in Folk Art. You use your SU markers to colour direct on the tiles and images. I had a play with the technique this morning. There is a little bit of glitter (bling) on the flowers and the ears of the roo. I am very pleased with the results.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Ryn's 3rd challenge was using a sketch from Pagemaps. I have changed the arrangement a little, so that the greeting does not impinge on the flower image. I have used "Inspired by Nature" and the greeting is from a hostess set "Best Yet". A little bit of Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Ribbon just ties (no pun intended) all together. Did you know that you could also get free hostess set by getting together with your friends and have just $300 in sales and you get $30 of product free as well. With more sales you could get more product. And I will come and we can make cards and have a lot of fun. I love what I do and I love sharing it with others.

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. In 2005 I went on a scrapbooking cruise and I met some great people. Two of them are pictured here - Sharon (middle) and Diane (left). They live in Denver, Colorado and I was fortunate enough to spend time as a guest in Sharon's home and I got to visit with Diane whilst there. These photographs were taken at the birthday celebration for Sharon's husband. Enjoy, Margaret

One of the classes that I took at The Great American Convention (GASC), in Arlington Texas was a class with Kim from Rusty Pickle (Hi to Kim if you are reading this). It was a Play Day concentina book using file folders to create pockets with lots of tags to put in the pockets. I decided to make the book a record of my first day at the convention - 4th June and I have put pictures and bits and pieces from the day in there. The day started very early following an 11 hour plus road trip from Missouri -4am snooze in the car in the convention carpark - 8am with Kim's class, 9am the doors opened so that we could shop and look with the many vendors there. I did several make and takes with some new products on the market. Lunch at noon and then more shopping and looking. At around 4.30 I started to flag (check out the photo of me with my hands on my head) and decided to wait until my friends joined at about 5pm (thanks to Laura for taking this photo!). Then back to our motel to check i...

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Is it too early for Christmas Cards? Never. I am currently making up some Christmas Cards to be given to Camp Quality for them to use as they wish. You cannot see in this photo, but I have a little bit of glitter on the cards and I might add all over the bench, the floor and my clothes!!! And now all over my computer! I have used stamp set Christmas Classics. These cards were quick to make up.

Whilst I was away there was a cyberchallenge with The INKlings group, Fiona set the challenges. The first challenge was a sketch from Clean & Simple Stamping, here is my take on the layout. I have used Best Wishes and More and the greeting is from Upsy Daisy and Raspberry Tart DSP which I love. Images: (C) 1990-2009 Stampin' Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford

Artwork: Margaret L Crawford I arrived back in Sydney this morning. I was aboard a Qantas Airbus, my that plane is large. I treated myself and upgraded to Premium Economy and due to circumstances beyond my control, I spent most of the trip in Business Class watching movies (as the controls did not work at my allocated seat). One of the classes that I did at the Great American Scrapbooking Convention in Arlington, Texas was with Kim of Rusty Pickle - we made a great little scrapbook - but more of this in a later post. Here is a card I made for a friend's husband who had a surprise 70th birthday in Denver last Saturday night. I used the left over corrugrated card numerals from the Rusty Pickle class and some old Stampin' Up! (r) papers. I gave the card a rough texture look by stamping the edges of the numerals. More photos later.

Here I am in Texas. Sitting here with 7 others ladies (Carol, Laura, Tracey, Gaylen, Leisha, Susan, Vicki) looking at our purchases today from the convention. Lots of oohs, aaah's, and where did you get that going on. I have been doing classes and will share some of my creations soon. Bye for now. Margaret

Images: (c)1990-2009 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford I am just home from my weekend in Canberra. The above photographs show me pointing to a card I had on the display boards at convention. It is a small love note card/envelope using French Script background stamp and Embrace Life stamp set. I have highlighted the flower with some chunky clitter and to round out the bling - a rhinestone brad. The next photographs were taken prior to the conference dinner last night. One (a little bit) serious and one not so serious. Considering I was not feeling 100% I am pleased with them. Congratulations to all INKlings team members who won awards and especially to our leader, Jayne , for her 10th place in Demonstator of the Year and for making it to the incentive trip for the 3rd year in a row.

Today I am playing with a new stamp set Build-a-roo. The little kangaroo comes with lots of greetings and little bits to add - Joey (baby Kangaroo), flower stem, gifts, more flowers and hearts. Here are 2 cards I made today. Enjoy mates and friends from around the world. Images:(c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up!(r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford The first one (I have called her Watercolour Roo) also uses the Banksia stamp from Blooms away, to keep the Australia theme going. Got to love the little joey stamp that comes with it. The second one (a.k.a. Raspberry Roo) uses paper from Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper (DSP) and yummy Riding Hood Red ribbon. This was the easier card to make, as I simply stamped the roo image onto the DSP in Riding Hood Red ink, cut it out and adhered to cardstock. I can see a full series Blue Roo, Green Roo, Yellow Roo etc etc

Images: (c) 1990-2008 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork Margaret L Crawford Last night was The INKlings annual rewards night.I was not a winner but congratulations go to our friends who were rewarded by our leader, Jayne, for their efforts at building their SU business. I did however, prepare a quick technique for the evening. Using Inspired by Nature stamp set (fast becoming my favourite set of all time) I created a scrapbook page and card fronts using a watercolouring technique that I played around with. Want to know more details why not email me. Enjoy

Images: (C) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Today, The INKlings got together for a day of stamping. We all took along a "Card in the box" - this is where you take along all the supplies for each person to make your card. Here is my card. It is a very simple to construct card using Inspired by Nature stamp set and Friendly Words Jumbo wheel. Photography: Margaret L Crawford Nature sure does inspire you - here are some photographs of the Tibouchina (blooming with its beautiful purple flowers) in my front garden. I can see a card coming.........watch this space. Margaret

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Dani's next challenge was to think of a number between 1-10 then another number between 1-10, then go to the page in current catalogue that matches the combined numbers, and create a card or scrapbook page from an image on the page. I chose 8 (my birthday) and 8 (today's date) = 88 and on this page is a great stamp set Bloom Away. You get 3 images of iconic Australian flora images - Banksia, Waratah and Gum Blossom. I watercoloured the Gum Blossom image and based the card on the other card layout on page 88.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Dani is hosting this month for The INKlings cyberstamp. The first challenge was to use the colours Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery and Taken with Teal. I have used new products available from Stampin'Up! new catalogue. Stamp Set is Fifth Avenue Floral and the striped background paper is from Urban Garden Designer Series Paper.

Images: (c) 1990-2009 Stampin'Up! (r) Artwork: Margaret L Crawford Serendipity - good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries I have been catching up on on scrapbooking this weekend. I came across this photo of me taking in a Tasmanian sunset in 1995 (no I am not that far behind!!). The stamp says - A perfect moment is Serendipity. I thought about the embellishments to use with this photo and in the end I just went with simple - the photo is the main focus. I hope you enjoy this sunset and perfect moment in time. The serendipity - the sunset, rediscovering the photo in files and finding just the right quotation.