WOYWW, Male Birthday cards 2yo & 13yo, house moving Snippets + NBUS

 Hi everyone, about time I did another craft post and warning I've lots of card to share. 

The first card is an oldie but a goodie - using a LOTV stamp called Patchwork of Balloons.  I've a number of LOTV stamps and printed coloured images sheets I bought, but as I'm out of touch with UK scene I didnt realise Lily Of The Valley or LOTV was out of business. For WOYWW at Sarah's Craft Shed (What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday) I'm sharing my desk, I've stamped image!

 Testing Prismacolor shades on rough stamp on back of card. Proper stamping on other side. This card is a CASE from Debby Yates see HERE. Debby also no longer blogs. Loved her work.

It's a 2nd birthday card for Chester. Used same papers, snippets left over as previous makes. Now to my second male cards for a 13y.o using an optical illusion found online. I die cut a vertical happy birthday, shadowed in gold like the 13 in top right. It was harder than you think to get this sorted! 😂

My dear friend's birthday in April, her name is Robin! the base was an ink block smooch then stamped with NBUS but Disc Darkroom Door Robin. Coloured in promarkers. Die corners are snippets of black from edges from an ancient Spellbinders square die. Card below that is Disc Penny Black Flower Cascade stamp, fussy cut out. Coloured in pencils then Stickles on top, Jo Rice style - squirt on inky mat, and add to image with an old shimmer pen, and keep it just for Stickles. Rectangle die set is NBUS PB Semi-Circle stackers, yet a Rectangle set!

 This is a Lavinia card, masked the inked and stamped. An encouragement card for a dear friend. ODB verse stamp disc.

And a last card, a house moving card a Bugaboo image, I found out they closed down last year too!

I was really sad this family were moving as they were the loveliest neighbours. Someone has bought the house and no idea what they're building there. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

 Now to Aussie photos - taken on walks, but no beach walks at the moment.   I've had an SCC taken off my left shin 5 days ago. I must rest it for a while. Have another SCC on left arm to come off too. At least it was only 2 this time. 😄

Vibrant purple Morning Glory down at the beach. 

This is where I go swimming in high tide, like this photo. 

Love walking on the dog beach!

Thank you very much for your patience. I had no idea how many cards I'd done, and I've more to share! But halved the post. I have a lot in a few months. 

May God bless you wherever you maybe,

Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻🤗

Shaz in Oz.x 

Thought of the Day  

 This is the verse on my encouragement card.

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my Salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the LORD JEHOVAH is my Strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.

Another verse came to mind as I pondered this one... Psalm 56:3 - What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.

David knew all about fear, and trusting in God, in fighting the bear and lion and Goliath, the Philistine giant. We maybe facing a giant in our life, or a lion or bear, but the same Almighty God is with us, with our Jesus we are NEVER alone. Praise His name. 

Linking up to the following Challenges:
 1.Allsorts Challenge blog In the Garden - or Anything goes. 
A number of mine are in the Garden but will enter the Penny Black stamp. 

2. Snippets Playground first card made from snippets as made this card twice before with exact same two sets of 12x12, took some finding this time so put them together 😂 

3. Word Art Wednesday is HERE!! all cards. 

4. NBUS Challenge Never Before Used Schtuff. Robin is a NBUS as is Dies on Penny Black stamp card. 

5. And lastly Darnell's I.D.E.A.S challenge. Week 3 is Embossing ! So will enter 2.yo male, house moving, Penny Black Floral and Robin cards, all so varied, but some embossing! great to support challenges. 

Resurrection Day - "He is not here, for He is risen as He said."

 Well, today is Resurrection Day! We who believe celebrate the Resurrection of our Saviour after the GREATEST DEFEAT in history, the Lord Jesus' death on the cross (*BTW Easter varies its date because it  is celebrated at the time of the Passover, based on the Jewish Jewish calendar (explanation here). 

Then it truly looked to the followers of the LORD Jesus that Satan had won and their Saviour, the One Who they thought would rescue them Roman rule, was dead on the cruel cross.  

But to God - a GREATER PICTURE was in view... as I am a Christian, and a crafter I wanted my card to reflect this "GREATER PICTURE". 

Looking through my verses I thought the one we most often quote in trials Romans 8:28, was surely it!

If ever a time in History the our wise God worked ALL things together for Good, it was at the Resurrection. Satan's victory was utterly defeated, he no longer had power over death, and we had the promise of eternal life by simple childlike faith in Jesus as our Saviour for our sins.

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

 Curiously I've done this card twice in last 24hrs. I'll show the first one at the end, I realised my mistake after I did it. A Resurrection Card needed to reflect the colours of the glory of that Resurrection morning, when Jesus rose again in Victory.

This Hymn "Christ Arose!" (link here if not available below) Truly this reflects that victory Christ has wrought. 

After all if there is no resurrection then the whole of Christianity is in vain as Paul put it himself realized this when he wrote:

1 Corinthians 15:14-16

" And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
 

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
 

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:"

 

 Yet God is true, His Word is true and to be trusted. Praise God, Jesus is indeed risen as He said.

Praying much that all everywhere would see the truth, see Jesus and His gift of salvation and a heavenly home.

For there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.

Hell is the punishment for our sin's curse. 

Jesus spoke 4 x more on hell than Heaven His Home because He loves us so much and wants no one to go there. 

I am forever grateful I saw this at 12 years old, and trusted in Jesus as my Saviour from sin! 

How I rejoiced with great joy on that day I was saved.

Well, as promised this is the first card done with this verse in the same Elements inks as the card on Good Friday post. Pretty but not right for Resurrection 🌄Morn (nor perhaps for poppies I also thought). The stamps are from Lavinia. 

Now for my traditional Aussie photos

 Firstly two from garden and two beach photos for those who need their sea fix. 😄 First in the courtyard garden we have a red anthirium, and below that miniature bicolour snapdragons. 

Thanks so very much popping over on this the happiest day of the year, and thank you too if you are able to comment, it's much appreciated. Also there is a very different post over on my Christian blog for Resurrection Sunday today, and I'd love you to visit it - see HERE

May God bless you wherever you maybe,

Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻🤗

Shaz in Oz.x 

 

Linking up to the following Challenges:

 1.Allsorts Challenge blog- Springtime or Anything goes. My cards both fit Springtime perfectly, but linking no 1 card. I've used Lavinia stamps Buttercups,  Poppies, Butterfly and Ferns, and DI inks.

Verse is Our Daily Bread set 1. Disc. 

2. Word Art Wednesday is HERE!! 

3. NBUS Challenge Never Before Used Schtuff. The Lavinia stamps, on first card I finally inked one of Lavinia Silhouette Butterflies which are NBUS 😀

4. And lastly Darnell's I.D.E.A.S challenge. Week 1 is Inky and I used lots on this inky card. 

Our Suffering Saviour on Good Friday

It seems it doesn't take long for it to be Easter once we've passed Christmas! And today we celebrate Good Friday and we are looking simply at why today is truly Good in this post. 

 Joni Tada Eareckson shared the following video. In it she  shares that the LORD Jesus in the gospels spoke four times more about hell than heaven - heaven is Jesus' wonderful home that He wants us all to have... and hell is to be shunned!

He knew all too well the horrors of it and He wants no-one to go there.

https://youtube.com/shorts/aahNMH5WXkw?si=ZMO_De-EuKI626Qc

So much so that He suffered and died on the cross on the first Good Friday for our sins. It was love, His love for us that kept Him on the cross, suffering the agony of death for  us. The greatest agony was being separated from His Heavenly Father when He bore our sins, when Jesus cried, "My God, My God Why has Thou forsaken Me?". And greatest blessing to us was when He cried, "It is finished!", and "He gave up the ghost." Then Salvation's work was truly done, finished. We cannot do anything else to gain it. We can never earn heaven by what we do. If we could, there would be no point to Jesus dying on the cross.  I think this verse on this card explains it.

Isaiah 12:2

... "God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation." Truly salvation bought on the first Good Friday with His cry, "It is finished." Yet foretold years before in books of prophecy like Isaiah. 

Now sharing some Aussie photos. As we look let us remember Christ is not only Saviour and King, but our Creator as well. 

Isaiah 40:28
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

Well, thanks so much for popping over for a peek and a chat, I pray for God's blessing on you, wherever you  maybe. You might also like to pop over to my Christian blog post, too, here. It's totally different. 

Shaz in Oz.x 

 Linking up the card with the following Challenges:

1.Allsorts Challenge blog- Springtime or Anything goes. My card fits Springtime perfectly . I've used Lavinia stamps Meadow grass, Buttercups,  Poppies and Ferns. The bird stamp is a stampcapes and stamp verse is Our Daily Bread set 1. Disc. 

2. Word Art Wednesday here! 

3. NBUS Challenge Never Before Used Schtuff. The Lavinia stamps Buttercups and Meadow grass are NBUS 😀

4. And lastly Darnell's I.D.E.A.S challenge. Week 5 is Stencils and I used a moon stencil or sun, take your pick, on this inky card. 

 

 

 

WOYWW + DI on Tissue Embossed +Darkroom Door Shells Male Cards

(Warning photo overload!)   

As it's Wednesday, let's join up with WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday over at Sarah' Craft Shed.

Sharing two desks & 2 techniques firstly, Distress inks on Tissue paper, added to white card by spray adhesive, then embossed with 3D Embossing Folders assorted. Technique seen on Loll's blog, original link here (Group of Seven Cardmarkers).

Next brayer gold acrylic paint on top to catch highlights.

A number of cards and styles here, plus one below. 

Snippets card. 

Above this is NBUS, or anew folder, a gift from my friend in France This one was inked up on the reverse of the embossed side for a totally different look.

These are my male cards for this year, a few variations and more to come using Darkroom Door Seashells Stamp. Key one was by Helen Conolly on Pinterest link here.. hopefully. 

"The Black Shells were stamped and allowed to dry first - masked and then all the other images applied using the distress inks. Once they had dried a water brush was used to spread the colour around to give a watery background." 

 I did it differently colour wise to her, and I used Versafine Onyx black and heat embossed it, easier to colour, still masked them though when doing background colour wise to her. This was Helen's: 

Now to mine, similar technique and similar main Shells but colours different . I used different papers as found it worked differently on different papers. It was really fun. Water colour paper (second example) was much more vibrant than others which used Mixed media card, which the colour spread a whole lot more. I preferred working with it.

Used Sue Wilson pinpoint Embossing Folder Ocean Waves. Highlight in Glacier blue Opalite pad.

Now I'm sharing a number of extra cards made mainly as encouragement since last blogged in January. My health is up and down and as its summer it's busy. I had a visitor in January (yay!) and went visiting just 30mins away in Feb (++yay!).

 

This is a sympathy serviette card. Use Spray adhesive to attach the serviette, top layer only, remove the other two tissue layers. SB border scallop die on side. It's meant for A2 card but I managed to stretch it some by die shifting and cutting. A2 really bugs me. 😉

Now to the Aussie photos, really photo overload this post, thanks for your patience. I've blogged all this on my phone, including resizing photos, so it takes patience this end, too! The first three are all near here in same locality on my daily walks. The last one is too, sunset on the creek,  I love the amazing sky. Number 4 is on the drive out to my sister's with my brother. Very family month this month. 

Well, that's well truly photo overload here, thanks so very much for popping over for a peek and a chat. And if you haven’t read my last post please do, where I share the HAPPIEST day of my life for my 60th spiritual birthday, in other words I trusted in Jesus as my Saviour 60 years ago on 4th January, 1966. See link here 

 Praying God's blessing upon you wherever you may be,

Prayer hugs,🙏🏻🤗   

Shaz in Oz. X

Thought of the Day  

The LORD is good, a Stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knoweth them that trust in Him. Nahum 1:7

This verse has always meant a lot to me. There are some verses that grab hold of you and then you grab hold of them!  This is one. I remember about 1992, writing that verse in shaky calligraphy with a black texta on my white foot cast as I'd broken my right ankle. It was all I'd allow written on plaster cast... that "the LORD was my STRONGhold in the day of trouble", and He knew I was trusting in Him! It was a witness everyone saw, especially those treating me at the fracture clinic. 

It's even richer to me today as I age, my body is wearing out, truly I tell Drs who I see it's a miracle I'm still here, including a new specialist in past week! It's God's marvellous grace. I am praying all who read this will seek the LORD Jesus as their Saviour as I did when 12 yrs old. Truly He makes life worth living,  He alone promises sins forgiven and a home in heaven.

Linking up with the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday Challenge - here 

2. Snippets Playground Challenge - second card which has Peekaboo windows die with a small amount of embossed sheet, it had a mistake on the top of sheet, so I came up with this idea, used left overs to die cut "happy birthday" too. 

3.NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) seashells stamp set from Darkroom Door. And the 3D folder used on some of first cards is a NBUS gift from a crafter in France. 

4. Darnell's IDEAS board. First week is INKY!! Or more properly I = Ink/Color Medium so definitely my first technique.  

5. Allsorts Challenge blog https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-844.html?m=1 Winners and bows or anything goes. Under Anything goes I'm entering the Darkroom Door Seashells 90th birthday card. Could be a winner too as this is winner date for my Uncle. His goal was to be oldest lived in his family! 

Sixty years ago! + Snippets, Allsorts, etc

 I wanted this special memory to be the first post for 2026.

"If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1: 7-9

 

I learnt these verses simply to win a book prize at Christmastime sixty years ago, but I gained oh, so much more.

On 4.1.1966, after received my book prize, I was walking back to the tent with my sister’s teacher. It was then called the Children's Special Beach Mission (CSSM). They came there each Christmas, an interdenominational outreach run by the Scripture Union.

As we walked, I was asked if I knew what these verses I’d learnt meant.
Being young, I had not really given it deep thought, but as we walked she explained how Jesus had died for all our sins, including mine on the cross so that we could go to heaven, and asked me if I would like to take Him as my Saviour.

I remember standing by the road, at the top of the path to the park below. A crossroad in every way; I stood thinking about it.
I found it amazing to realise that Jesus had died for me, for my sins!   
My reply was yes! So we walked back down into the park.

Here I prayed and asked the LORD Jesus to be my Saviour all those years ago.

I remember I was told that the angels were rejoicing in heaven over a soul coming home to Him ( Luke 15:10). My mother burst into tears when I went back to the tent and told her. This was unusual, my mother rarely cried.

Years later I asked mum why, she said because you looked so happy.

And I was.

I went down to the beach ~ and sang at the top of my voice those simple mission songs!!

The promise of my home in heaven was what I had found; a Friend Who would never leave me nor forsake me! No wonder I was so happy. I have found joy where joy would not be possible, in the simple faith of a child believing God and His word. 

Many folks come to the Lord in later years.  

It matters not when or where but simply that we take His gift of salvation. 

A gift isn’t ours till we’ve received it.

"For the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23b

This is my card for challenges, re snippets and all links are shared below. Time Warp Wife has name on this beautiful image of my favourite bible verses that led to my salvation.

Thank you so much for popping over and commenting if time permits on my story of happiest day of my life. God bless you and keep you in the days ahead till He comes again as He promised. 

Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x 

Linking up with the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday Challenge - here

2. Snippets Challenge - my Snippets were two fold, A."Thinking of You" was double backed with beige card from muesli bar.

B.all blue card from inside the big blue rectangle, as didn't have a lot of this perfect matching blue, used bits, see image below.  

3. Allsorts Saturday Challenge - where its Winter Animals  and Anything Goes

4. New to me Challenge Moving Along With the times - Using either Stencils or Dies, I used Dies. 

 5. Love to Craft where its Anything goes  both these were found via Brenda of Floral Fantasies.

(Please if you've time to pop over my other blog HERE sharing photo of today's beach mission and other details of this story.  ) 

Emmanuel "God with us" NBUS, Word Art Wed Snippets Challenge Allsorts

 Matthew 1:20-25
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
 [21] And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. 
[22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 
[23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 
[24] Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 
[25] And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Do you think we ever grasp the length, depth and breadth of our Saviour's name, given Him hundreds of years before.
.." they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is "God with us." Matt. 1:25
Or in Isaiah 7:14
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
 Isaiah wrote his prophecy over 700 years before the birth of Christ. As Matthew said: " Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet," Yes, the prophet Isaiah in 7:14. So many prophecies of Jesus made by Isaiah, the most well known perhaps apart from this prophecy of virgin birth, was Isaiah 53 and the Suffering Servant. 
The “Why” Christ came is the emphasis of Isaiah 53. 

Christ, born to die that we might live. "By Whose stripes we are healed". 
1 Peter 2:24
"Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed." 
Christmas is dear to my heart, but just after Christmas on 4th January is my spiritual birthday. This Coming year 2026, it's my 60th spiritual birthday, how blessed am I to have known Jesus as my Saviour 60 years, and what a miracle it is that I am still here!!! Truly God's ways are past finding out.
 We worship a God of miracles, the virgin birth was a mighty miracle. It must have been extremely disconcerting to Joseph to have had such a dream:  

"the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."
Yes, this truly was the Immanuel "God with us", that we worship at Christmas time. Here is a beautiful image of the real story of Christmas - from the manger to the cross. Why Jesus came (digi uncoloured sent on card sent by dear Marilyn, verse by WAW). 

The baby Jesus in the manger in the shadow of the cross.

Matthew 1:21 
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 

I pray God's richest blessing upon you and your loved ones this Christmas time. 
 May we all take time to remember the real reason of Christmas, the LORD Jesus Who came to die for our sins that we might have a heavenly home by faith in Him. 

Love You, and THANK YOU, Lord Jesus!

Just quickly two Aussie photos ,  a very Christmas coloured bromeliad and a local beach - we've had lots of sunshine .. but welcome rain yesterday- a real blessing! 

Thanks too for popping over and if you are able to comment.
Prayer hugs, 🙏🤗
Shaz in Oz.x 

 If you are not sure if you are a Christian, a Christ follower, please read this post here 
- Who or What is a Christian?

Linking up with the following: Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes 

Snippets playground  Snippets are small A2 pieces coloured backgrounds , I'd been given a number of them years ago. The turquoise was my favourite, have orange and brown left! 😉

NBUS by Darnell = Never Before Used Schtuff  never used this digi before ... I scanned and cropped it to fit on an A2 topper, with the white ink highlighting the holly EF. Coloured images in promarkers then added glossy accents highlight.  

ALLSORTS CHALLENGE  which is Create a Scene which this card does, and would also fit with anything goes.