Watercolour Poinsettia + WOYWW

Hullo everyone, into our second week of year! Guess 2020 isn’t slowing either! As Wednesday time for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, pop over here to Julia’s do.. we’re a friendly bunch! 😊

So my desk.. it’s actually a bit clean for me as cleanup continues! Wow, the things I’ve found. 

Plus need clean area doing the watercolour cards I stamped and embossed last week! 

A QUESTION, please: To anyone out there who has glass mat, are they a good purchase? I’m looking at one (coming birthday), Tonic to be prezact, as they’re in my price range here, and A3 and 12 x 12.

They both have advantages and disadvantages. 

Question: 1. is glass mat good investment?

2. Do you heat emboss on them just fine? 

Angela has an Xcut and she said she does.

Desk is Distress Ink watercolour, I added Tombows to mix to make colours pop more on finished cards.

I’ve managed now to make a dozen Christmas cards of my January two dozen aim, which is good as next week is wipe out with visitors and will be prob MIA.

Finished cards, as you can see they’re quite different from last weeks with same stamp, the stamp Poinsetta CCS set.

Verse is really great one by Stampendous so sharing close up. As you can see did three, slightly different.
Last card is a Snippets card well and truly. All those green pieces were digis. I found when doing search a year or so ago for a person who loves green and found them again in cleanup. 
They looked so good together the card was born, butterfly was digi too.

I added a verse by Stampabilities, a favourite verse of mine which I often claim “WITH God ALL things are possible.” 

I want to especially thank all those who’ve popped over recently to say they’re thinking and praying for us. You are appreciated deeply.
Also loads of unspoken jobs are being done for months. By Aussies, army etc and other nations from overseas, too. Sadly press dramatises it all as if nothing is being done. This is wrong & untrue. This group in grey were called by locals "grey angels" and from army found a lady's jewel box with grandmas jewels intact! 
They've been amazing as are sooo many!
Criticism of our PM is also unjust. Also I want to praise God here, because many are praying as I have for keeping safe of all folks, praying for wind changes, etc.
Many answers given.Time and time again have heard seen tales of amazing protection, especially through wind change.
Much better  illustration & more on drought fires over at latest post on my other blog here. LOTS of past examples to give local context to the current events.

“Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous“ quote of a friend.

The most recent miracle was on Kangaroo Island in the southern ocean of Sth Aust., the Wildlife Park there was suddenly saved by a wind change! I heard it on radio today, plus was on FB in comments on post. 
Also after a recent visit there by a family member, they said today although the fires are really horrible, some wildlife had had to be sterilised due to overpopulation on such a small island. Culling has its natural advantages, although horrible, & some flora depend of fires for regeneration of seeds. 
Also a koala is not a bear! Bears are mammals, koalas are marsupials not mammals.
Quite unique but not cuddly like they appear, they've good claws! And can be cranky, as like to sleep 18 - 22 hours a day!

Now a few images from here, this is the Mother in law tongue flowering, it has such a pretty flower hasn’t it?

Next is beautiful red Brommeliad and behind it pale peach Anthirium growing in our courtyard garden, when I take photos.

The last one is late afternoon taken down at our creek. Lovely reflections.

Well, that’s it for today thanks so very much for coming over for peek and chat. I did most commenting last week but still have few more to do .. struggle sometimes but love to make it around as learn lots.

Happy WOYWW and May God bless your day and keep you an yours safe wherever you maybe, special prayers for next two days as they’re bad fire days, and huge praise for rain fallen in various drought or firey places in last 48 hours, God is gracious.

Hugs Shaz in Oz.x

Thought for the Day:

Wouldn't this make a lovely card? Saw this digi on FB so saved it as it's long been favourite of mine. 
"The joy of the LORD is thy Strength". 
I've illuminated it, and I've always considered Strength is God hence capitals. When life is hard, and there is little joy, then it's  knowing God's comfort, help and grace that joy is found. Truly that then is the joy of the Lord which is Thy Strength!
*****

Linking up to the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. All cards  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au/

2. Poinsettia cards were great fun florals!   https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-fun-with-florals/

3. Simon Says Monday Challenge -   Something new.  "With God all things are possible" stamp on birthday card was on it's very first outing!

4. Hazelnut's Christmas card Challenge. Poinsettia. Anything gies.
5. Merry Little Christmas card Challenge.  Anything Goes. 
6. Hazelnuts patterned Paper challenge. Birthday card  . 

Pressing on in 2020! + WOYWW

Hi there. Yess! It’s 2020, a whole new year to serve the LORD in! 
Did you have an autograph book when young? I did, I remember a number of those four liners put in it with a signature. Especially this:

Your life lies before you, 

Like a path of untrodden snow,

So be careful how you tread it,

For every step will show!
(Edit: Yes, re snow, I lived in town where it snowed, and don't have my autograph book anymore.)

That’s how I usually approach a new year, with a sense of awe and wonder. Not only New Year’s Day but WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, pop over here to Julia’s do.. we’re a friendly bunch! 😊

At my desks - three in all.

Hope you’re not going to groan as it’s Christmas cards. Warning you, aiming to get two dozen made by end of this month. Have half dozen made, + 3 more half done. However the cleaning bug has momentarily grabbed me, note momentarily! First desk is card almost done, with stamped embossed card and colouring with Tombows and assorted water colour pens, see below. This stamp set is CCS picked up months ago not used. Love poinsettia.

Next are brusho background then stamped in Versamark and silver EP.

This desk shows three all stamped, working out how to colour.. prob Distress watercolour!

Made up all very simply.

First two are a single layer card, and other simply mounted.

Two stamps are by Stampendous, Glory to God in the highest (bought with Marilyn in a Hobby Lobby, Sept 2018).

Other is 

Luke 1:12, “For unto us is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” 
The paints have loads of sheen and are a Finetec set.

Well, it’s SUCH a sad new year for many in Oz. It’s so sad, so many fires and so many lost homes and even lives.

Praying much. 
Lord bless dear ones and keep you and those you love safe in 2020.
Prayer hugs Shaz in Oz.x 
🙏🤗
Fire rain update: Praise God! Two days rain over Christmas,  a great gift, put out two fires near us, one 183,000 hectares (300,000+ acres). However two small ones started, and so many, many MANY more fires, lives homes, farms, animals, have sadly been lost.
Oh, dear ones, we need rain in so many places another fireman gone (link here), 3 now, and sadly yesterday more folk lost defending their homes. The fires have been so intense they're creating tornado like funnel of fire that carry the fire in unstoppable path. The ten tonne fire truck was picked up and flipped. It was a miracle the whole fire team wasn't killed. 😥😭😕🙏
Oh Lord, PLEASE may there be a great outpouring of Thy amazing grace and mercy on poor, poor, sinfilled Oz.
Truly as Ezra prayed, our sin has reached up to the heavens (Ez.9:6)!
Forgive us Father, heal us please, send rain soon please! 
Such wonderfully gracious drought-breaking rain all across Oz. Please Lord keep all firies, folk, animals etc safe and let Thy angels of mercy encamp them about in safety. 
For we have no might, neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon Thee.
In Jesus' Name, 
Amen. 

To read more on pressing on! please kindly visit my other blog -https://wonderfulwordsoflifebyshazinoz.blogspot.com/2019/12/2020.html?m=1

Linking up to the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. All cards  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au

2. Christmas card challenge. 

The Christ of Christmas + WOYWW

Yes, it’s that time of year, my favourite time, busy but fun! It’s also time for WOYWW which is will share below.

Christmas is a celebration of Christ’s birth, yet He is often banished these days, out of hearts and homes, stores and public locations.

However we mostly know Christmas is more than an excuse for gifts, family and food.

Mary at this time saw only in part: not as we do looking back - Christmas to Easter, through birth into death, then new life again, the defeat of death, at Christ’s resurrection. 
Seeing it from Mary’s point of view is quite different.
The greater the trial and sorrow, the greater the blessing given from our Father God, for He sees what we cannot.

Christ came in human form, in complete submission to His Father's will.

He yielded to the frailties of human flesh all the way to the cross. 
Mary was told that her soul would be pierced through with the suffering to come.

Luke 2:34-35
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

 This prophecy at Jesus' birth for Israel is still being fulfilled today, and also around the world. This virgin birth  of God's own Son is indeed "a sign which shall be spoken against"! 

Christ is still often condemned, as are His followers out of favour.

So in this celebration:
**May we shine the clear, pure light of Christ's birth, coming as Redeemer of mankind, as Emmanuel. "God With us".
**May only the Lord Jesus Christ be lifted up and no other replica to replace Him, or even be along side Him!

******

As it’s also WOYWW, or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday at Julia’s Stamping Ground.  

My desk earlier! True to season I’m starting to make some more Christmas cards for 2020. Actually really excited as this is the first crafting in a month. Those wondering re health report, I’m much better 😊. Not 100% but well on the way and incredibly grateful at how well my shin healed this time around! Yay! Praise God. 

Using Distress ink pads and Tombow watercolour pens on rectangle ink block. Colouring, spritzing, smooching on paper a number of times to get background. I go over each rectangle about three or four times till colour develops, and am happy.

Used backgrounds several ways.

This first card is a snippet base, odd size as piece white card, sitting on desk. Background I cut down as was messy in smooching and laid on navy snippet then gold rectangle CCD.

The verse is “For unto us a child is born” from Unity Itty Bitty Stamps. 

Washi tape across lower border.

Second card cut in Creatif Wonky rectangle. Stamped silhouette of Escape to Egypt, baby Jesus Stamp is by Nellie Snellen, inked in Versamark + ultrafine gold EP by Stampendous. Added some inky highlights. Mounted as shown.

Greeting by Poppy Stamps Joy to the World.

I’ve made other two up, but differently. I found this stamp difficult on watercolour card, an excellent quality artist pad, freebie from a garage sale, but rough surface not ideal for stamping. Will share later.

Would love to say the fires and drought are all gone, but now in just NSW, an area the size of Wales is burnt. It’s astronomical, almost 1,000 homes in NSW since started in Sept and in last week two volunteer firefighters were killed (young dads, sooo sad) and others injured with burnt falling trees.

 Oh, please, Lord, please send rain soon. We have had rain, showers though and soaking drought breaking rain is needed.

And oh SO many fires, too many, started deliberately! 

That beggars belief. 😢

Lord bless you all dear ones, thank you to so many who’ve sent me cards, I’m sorry to those I missed out. 

Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ, our Lord and our Saviour.
Christmas is remembering this, as able, with God's family, as well as our own family and friends Whom God has given us.
How blessed are we!

O may we walk this Christmas time, and every moment of every day God gives in the presence of Emmanuel "God with us" (Mat. 1:23).
For when God is truly with us, we will live for Him and love Him only.

May the LORD bless your day, wherever you maybe!

Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻🤗🙏🏻🤗🙏🏻

Shaz in Oz.x

How true is this today? And every day? 
Corrie ten Boom is a Nazi concentration camp survivor. She saw it all as a young teen.. her own sister murdered and more. 

Linking up to the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. All cards  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au/
2. Snippets Playground 

Snippets and Scrappy Mo’s Christmas challenge + WOYWW

Well, will try to be brief, not 100% here - more of that later, am here for crafty share. So pop over to Julia’s for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday at Julia’s Stamping Ground! Also linking up with the last Christmas challenge over at Scrappy Mo’s here.

This is actually last Wednesday desk, but no time to share. In middle of making a birthday card for a dear friend in nursing home in Melbourne, using 2010 SU chalks. With fingertip adding little highlight with appropriate colour around embossed edge of die. I chuckled when a video crafter said we have the best ink dauber on the end of our hand, fingers! inks work too, somehow it’s more subtle. 

Surprise with next announcement, I’ve made all my Christmas cards and mailed them!
Yesterday  had my lesion removed from right shin 🙁 and yes, it’s hurting lots. 
I knew it would, and worked like crazy to get all done, now I can lie on bed and read, as must be elevated..

Firstly sharing Christmas cards, these number 15 in total, quick & easy but varied style with a topper.  Love Nativity image and “He is still found of them that seek Him”
 Oh, that all would!
Washi used on most of them, few embossed.

This Christmas card was using a diecut negative as stencil, with DI colours + coloured pencils too, Nellie Snellen Nativity Stamp in Versafine blue embossed and Sweet Poppy die Stamp set Joy to world, white embossed.

Last card is completed birthday card Die is SB Gold labels 8, ODB lace border, Lala land filigree die. Lots of snippets on card - the small piece of digi paper was sitting around for months, in “use it or else” bag, white snippets for other pieces.
Verse is Stampendous Stamp, in Versafine Imperial Purple, embossed. Love verse from Ps 91. Will share at end.

Last images are again local on fires, our fire now controlled (praise God) but still growing, and largest (183,000 hectares = 452,000 acres).

The first image is a new fire started overnight in mountains west of here.

Next is image one of Darryn Michelle’s home late yest, their property was the badly drought affected farm shared a month ago - that’s a storm in background, brought good rain but bad winds lost part of roof but RFS and SES put tarps over it.

Last two are good coming out of bad. 

First is my hometown in high school years, where “Blaze-aid” volunteers are rebuilding fences for farms in some difficult terrain. Hard work working with barbed wire and fencing tools!

Last image shows God’s blessing, a lot of Australian fauna depend on fires for flowering, fires are so much part of environment here. These beautiful Christmas bells used to flower here where live, before homes were built.

For those who think I’m writing this sitting at a computer, don’t worry I’m lying in bed with leg elevated, writing on iPad. To be honest leg wouldn’t let me do other wise. I write all my posts on iPad these days, add images and edit on Android phone. Both on Chrome, Google talks to Google but is limited with Apple, unless download an app.

Well, that’s it for me, I pray with all my heart that soon drought breaking rain is here, we have had some small amounts and larger amounts in needed areas and grateful for it, but praying for much more, presently over 100 fires in our state..
God bless your day wherever you maybe, and keep you and those you love safe,
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x

Thought for the day:

This chapter in Psalms is sometimes called the Christian’s insurance policy.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 

He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Psalm 91:1-2

Linking up to the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. All cards  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au/
2. Snippets Playground using lots on birthday card.

3. Mos Christmas challenge 
4. Simon Says Wednesday Challenge Any thing Goes

Ros’ French 70th card, Snippets + WOYWW

What a difference a week makes. Things topsy turvey here. Many evacuations yesterday in town, north west south of here, due to severe fire threats across North coast,into Sydney, Hunter district.

Mercifully I'm not near timbered bush but beach. Am continuing to earnestly & often to pray for rain, BECAUSE until we have it , this rollercoaster will not go away. Now watching weekend.
“.. a sunburnt country - of drought and flooding rain” to quote a well known poem. For us, a balance would be good.
My desk is distracted today because I am.

Do pop over to Julia’s for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday at Julia’s Stamping Ground!
On the far left is a contemplative pile... or what am I going to do next? I did actually go with top Brusho stencilled piece from few weeks back, as you’ll see below. At back is usual collection, far right you can just see a messy Milwaukee heat gun, that is 26 years old, still going strong! Well remember it cost an astronomical $60 in 1992! Next is mug of black tea which I think I managed to drink hot, not cold! 

To cards, this first card is order by family member in exchange for one of his birthday gift certificates. Ros' 70th birthday card is of her favourite location in France. The image is a painting entitled Beaune by CP Logan (she’s a French lecturer at Uni, so hope the French greeting from Google is right, it’s supposed to say “Best Wishes on your 70th birthday”).

The corners are from SB marvellous Square, 2nd largest die, EF is Embossalicious Regency Swirls.

The second card was asking to be made! I’d fiddled with this from two weeks ago when it was pastel shades, with TH Mosaic stencil (extended) in glittery paste on base card from recycled food box. Not happy .. added more brushos spritzed and dried. 
Die cut frame with Poppy Crafts Double Stitched rectangles, largest die. Added frame to card base, flat then popped up the internal rectangle. 
Used more snippets to multi due cut MB Chloe stem, extended the stem on the second one, the birthday die, is a CCD. When die cut the rectangle piece flattened the stencilled mosaic which I really liked.
Now the Australian photos today.
Sharing past week on the north coast, sadly 150+ homes and three lives lost at weekend. Last night (Tues12) 50+ homes were lost, 3 were just out the back areas of our town.

This is our town 4pm yest.. 

and 7pm at creek yesterday. The blanket of smoke was actually a Godsend, for the blanket meant the winds and temperatures were not as bad as predicted. 
As the cloud went before the children of Israel and kept the Egyptians from attacking, so the Lord kept worse happening yesterday, as it often is in our lives. I heard amazing stories of people who had everything around them go up in flames but some how they did not!! Prayer works, I've (&others) prayed for such miracles.

And so we pray on for properties, human lives and animals. Many are suffering as the next few photos show from FB. This poor kookaburra south of here, is a striking silhouette on a fiery landscape. The firies are simply amazing. I cannot thank them enough.

This Sat night at Nymbodia, is the area north west of here. Our fire is biggest in NSW, fire front is over 1,000km (621 miles) long 150,000 hectares 370,660 acres, burning since mid  Sept. 
Our fire has joined to four other fires, that make up roughly same size again, so over a third of million hectares, or 700,000 acres.
That is incomprehensible to be honest.

This comparison may help comprehension, as roos flee before the flames.
Numbers are out of date already. As one million hectares burnt in NSW alone😥😥😥.

Last one for today, such a pretty cactus flower, they last about 2 days, soo big, roses are pretty at moment too but not had rain either of them.

On other news, start new meds on Fri 😊. 
Also having at another excision on my right shin on Tues 26th, two inches above last one. 
Life is never dull. It will be stitches in three weeks, this time to make sure it doesn’t open, like last one, stitches only 2 weeks, May 15th. At least looks like this one is not malignant, just very fast growing, glad I jumped on it quickly. 
Well, that’s it for me, I pray with all my heart that this time next week I’ll be sharing rain again. At least all the rain of two weeks ago means 
those areas out west aren’t burning, a blessing indeed. It's places that missed that rain that are burning.
God bless your day wherever you maybe, and keep you and those you love safe,
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x
Thought for the day: 
God sends rain, blessings even to the unworthy..

We're a nation of sinners, who've willfully disobeyed God's holy laws (eg "love your neighbour as yourself").
I must continue watchful in prayer for a sinfilled Oz, as this rollercoaster has not ended.. till rain comes in God's great mercy. 
We never ever do deserve any of His blessings.

Do click on this, and read, it's a beautiful prayer. May God keep tgem all safe, and draw them to Himself too.

Linking up to the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. Two cards  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au/
2. Snippets playground  http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com/2019/11/pixies-snippets-playground-challenge-365.html?m=1 card 2 is all snippets except card base. Food packet for Brushos piece.