Stamps Ahead

I have just returned from a 4 day/3-night cruise to Eden on the South Coast of New South Wales. One of the fun things we can participate in is to create Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) to swap on the cruise.  Firstly, I used a collection of spray inks to create backgrounds, then I cut them up into 3" x 4" cards.  This size is smaller than regular ATC's for ease of displaying in our scrapbooks. I then applied strips of black cardstock to left side. I wanted some more texture on the ATC's so I used the spray inks on white cheesecloth, allowed it to dry and then cut and distressed the cloth.  These I placed behind the focal points and greeting on each card.  I used Tim Holtz idea-ology Paper Ladies and Chit Chat stickers on my cards.   If you look closely, you may be able see that I have displayed them on a very old metal travelling box that belonged to my grandparents.  Here are some close up. I loved the last image - ready to embark on her voyage of discov...

Hillbilly Scrappin' has a virtual retreat called Merry & Bright Downunder coming up.  There was a warm-up challenge before the event starts.  The challenge was  ... " create something merry… without using traditional Christmas colours".  Here is what I created We could make a small background, tag, journal page, card front - using no red, no green, and no snowflakes! Think Aussie summer colours, beach days, faded eucalyptus, ice-cream pastels, sunburnt skies..or anything not a usual Christmas palette.  There was an optional extra challenge to add one that that says Aussie Christmas - a gum leave, thongs, flies, maybe a cold drink ring mark on the page.. interpreted however you wanted.  As you see I created a square card front. I must admit that I sat on this challenge for at least 3 weeks - nothing would come to me - and then this morning I went to my Colour Cube box and selected a card that inspired me. I loved the leaves strung along the line and the ...

Here is a layout I created for a challenge at The Hut Creative.  Challenge was to use envelope/s and some script on layout. This layout, of me at the Jane Austen Museum in Bath UK last year, using papers that I have cut down from larger sheets.  I have also included some very old clear stickers, tape I made, rhinestones and fussy cut butterflies.   I am old enough to remember using pen and ink in Primary School, long before we were introduced to that new invention - the biro.  To this day, I still have a bump on my middle right finger from using the pen!!  This was the first thing I thought off when visitors could sit down at desk and write some Jane Austen quotes or memories of the day. Thank you for looking, Margaret A quote from Jane Austen "My  style  of  writing  is  very  different  from  yours.  Oh!  write,  write." This  quote  emphasizes  the  individuality  of  wr...

 This past week I worked on two projects during a free on-line event with Making Zen Studio. Firstly, I completed a workshop with BB Henry to make this Textured Snippet.  I made mine small 3" x 1 (8cm x 2.5cm). I used fabrics from my stash - the pearls were part of a lace piece I used - I removed the and sew them on individually.  Various suggestions were given on how I could use it - a hair barrette was one not sure about that one, I feel certain I will use either as an embellishment for my junk journal or as a small gift card.   It was fun to create and I see more in my future. The second project I completed was a workshop with Heidi Iverson, Mini Button and Loop Pouch. Again, a small project finished at 3" (8cm) square.  Slow Stitching using Japanese fabrics (except for red) from my stash. Thank you for looking, Margaret 

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 are 3 fun and colourful whimsical houses I created this morning. I used some bright papers and cut the whimiscal shapes and attached to cardstock with glue stick and then I machine stitched around I was inspired by a photo my friends, Jenny and Lyn took in August in Qaqortoq, a Southern Greenland cruise port. They have been on 3 month journey around the world and this was one of the ports they called into. Here is the photo they took and served as my inspiration - the colourful houses stood out to me Thank you for looking, Margaret