Thank you for taking time to visit, and I hope I am even a tiny bit helpful as I have been helped and blessed by so many others. I have been doing Calligraphy since teens, and card making for many years as well. In 1990 I delighted in the joys of stamping with ink and embossing after a trip to Cairns, Qld. In 2009 I discovered the brayer, 2010 the Cuttlebug, also have now taking to reading up on crafting blogs and lo! Here I am, on one of my own.

I live on the coast of eastern Australia. I am a Christian. I trusted in the LORD down here at the beach, amazingly it is not far from where I now live. It was over 50 years ago, after a Beach Mission Service at the age of 12 years

Wednesday, 30 March 2011

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 95

For those of you who like calligraphy posts, I thank you for your patience, AND I did do one on Monday see here…

And how quickly the weeks roll by and I think the scariest thing is that we now have 25% of 2011 gone!! and we in eastern Australia end daylight saving this weekend so summer is really gone and winter on it s way! 
And where is another WOYWW to check out.
Yes! For those of you who are puzzled why we are looking at work desks...To join in the fun take a trip over to our very own royal hostess, Julia, and drop by Julia's Stamping Ground!
 Well this week I have some very exciting goodies to share. In the front you will see a couple of cards which I have just finished off as apart of an order and a very particular order for a very dear lady in her 80’s - the blue baby easel card is for her latest great grandson and the other is an male encouragement card for a young man in his early 20’s. Her brief included the instructions they were to be pretty cards ( and heaps more instructions).. So I ask you - how do you make a pretty card for male??

To see full instructions on these two cards just scroll below or see post here. The brayer work pictured was done with Stampscapes demo-ing to a friend here on Monday, and on the left I have started another clock card as back up for male possibly my brother's birthday... at the rear of the desk you can see my newly arrived set of Caran D’Ache Aquarelle arrived on Monday from Spain, an answer to prayer!..

Talk about doing an excited dance around the room when I realised they were here at long last (my friend who was here brayering wondered what had happened to me?!). 
The picture on the easel card was done with my sister’s Prismacolor watercolour pencils, with the stumps for blending and White Spirits or Gamsol as they call it in US - here it is called White Spirits. And it was really fun to do. (I have been asked how you do this - you see a great video from HeroArts HERE. ) 
However with my calligraphy I have used Caran D’Ache (for example the text at the top of the blog title I did with the few Caran D’Ache pencils I had - just like these). I have used all sorts of pencils and I believe these are the best I have ever used. I have wanted this set for over twenty years. My sister who just recently has gone into pencils and uses them in drawing encouraged me to invest in a set at long last, a set of 80- she is going to order cards to help pay for them (kind sister)! You can see some stamped out hedgie images, some stumps all ready to colour with at the rear right of the picture.

Now I am off to peek, may God bless your week wherever you are and thanks so much for popping by,
Shaz in Oz. x

39 comments:

HarmonySweetpea said...

Beautiful cards Shaz. The recepients will love them... well the great grandson will when he's older at least. 25% of the year gone. That's scary when you put it like that. This year is flying! Have a wonderful week xo

Helen said...

I think the cards are pretty! You have had a busy time.

Franka Benjaminsen said...

That's the problem... How to make a wonderful card for a male. But you did it. Great!!
Love the brayer picture too.
xFranka

MvM-design said...

Nice desk , thanks for sharing!!
Love your cards!!
Happy Wednesday;-)

Neet said...

Hi (again) Shaz

Love the baby easel card and I think the male cards are super. I love anything to do with time and these are no exception.
You certainly did the brief proud!
Hugs
Neet x

Kate said...

Lovely cards :0) we are just going in to summer here, looking forward to some nice weather after a horrid winter lol.
Kate x

HeARTworks said...

You did a good job on the "pretty" cards for a guy I think! I like the detailing!
Patsy from
HeARTworks

Anonymous said...

Wow, Shaz! Lovely cards today!

Hugs
Anthea

SDCrafts said...

Those two cards for men are just right, Sharon! Well done. And yes, we are 25% through 2011 and have just entered summer time here. So sad - light evenings plus; cosy snuggle-down ones, gone. The weather is erratic so crafting is still a huge compensation. Just as well, much to be done.

thanks for letting me see your desk!

Shirl #98
this week (I'm slippin')

Neil said...

Hi, Just love the cards you've made, pretty and masculine too, not easy to pull off but you have! (feel free to post the spare one off to me! Have a blessed day!

Glenda said...

Oh Shaz, these are wonderful! The male cards are very pretty....mission acomplished! I love all the extras you included...everything just works so well together! Well done, my friend!

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

Those metal cards immediately made me think of Shaz Silverwolf, as they have a similarity to her style in some ways. However, they are still recognisably you. It is amazing how we are influenced by others to think in different ways, and we all naturally pick up bits from everyone we see. They are lovely cards, and thank you for sharing that technique with the gutter guard. Must have a go at that one. (See you are influencing me)

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

PS. forgot to say, that easel card is really pretty.

Anonymous said...

25% of the year gone!! That's very, very scary when you put it like that! Great cards on show this week, and I love your calligraphy post, how long would a piece like that take you from start to finish? Love the idea of putting the gutter guard through the bug! No WOYWW from me this week, work got in the way again, but intend visiting a few desks still!

Hugs
Brenda

Morti said...

Gorgeous cards Shaz - you have the fleur de lys nesties - am so envious!!

Thanks for joining in the blog candy!

Minxy said...

Super cards.. love the fancy die cutting/punching on the cute one.. and the others well there grungy, what's not to love about that!
StAy InKy
hUgS MiNxY #48

jude said...

Your cards are absolutely gorgeous,and think youve done beautiful job with the male ones.Ihave trouble doing male cards as i like homemade and prima flowers too much.Cant really on male cards.Anyways have fab creative wednesday with those lovely pencils
hugs judex6

Hettie said...

Those are FAB cards you have made there! Love them. Gonna check your other posts now. Thanks for sharing!

karen said...

Your cards are fantastic! I think your customer will be well pleased!
Good for you for getting the pencils you wanted! So you don't use water and paintbrush on them? It sounds like you do a more professional style of colouring with them.
Thanks for visiting me! Happy WOYWW!
xoxo Kaz (aka Karen)

Elizabeth said...

Hi Shaz, reason to celebrate indeed - those pencils look fab. Your cards are lovely too - though I have to agree that it's not so easy to make a pretty card for a male recipient. No offence to men but it's my experience that they don't usually do pretty :) Hope you have had a great WOYWW day and your week will be good too. Elizabeth x #96

Anonymous said...

Hi Shaz. Your cards are awesome as usual. I'm intrigued by what you said on the blending of the pencils with spirits???? Do you color with the pencils, then wet the stump in the spirits, then rub it over the pencil to get a watercolor effect? Thanks for stopping by my desk and happy WOYWW. :-)

Cauliflower Cupcake said...

These cards are exceptional - all of them. Good for you!
Happy WOYWW
Rebecca (41) x

Mrs A. said...

I have a 24 set of water colour pencils by Papermania but to have a whole box of eighty would be just heaven. I have used baby oil to blend with but not tried white spirit so thanks for the tip. Have also invested in some stumps for blending as well Hugs Mrs A. #16

Twiglet said...

You have been busy! Great cards. Have a good week - no doubt it will fly by again!

Carola Bartz said...

Beautiful cards, all of them. I like the brayer picture the best!

Scrapcollectr said...

Oh so pretty those cards for males! You got it right. I can't imagine the woman wouldn't be pleased! I need a demo on using "stumps"... I bought them long ago and never found out what to do....just blend?
Congrats on the pencil purchase...they look very inviting!
*smile*
#103

Marjo said...

Love all your cards Shaz, gorgeous each one. One of these days I will have to try a brayer...gotta buy one first..lol

Thanks for the peek and sharing. Have a great WOYWW

Hugs Marjo #22 oops thats 23

okienurse said...

Very beautiful cards you have created. Love your desk and all the color! I wish I had more water color pencils. Thanks for sharing. Vickie #83

Dragon said...

Great desk and fab cards this week Shaz... Pity you for winter, but we have had it this year band are heading for summer thank goodness. Have a good week
Frankie
xx

sandra de said...

Gorgeous cards and I think you have achieved a really beautiful male card.

Mrs A. said...

Hi Shaz,
Have just looked at the tutorial on your side bar and love the way the different colours build up the intense on the blue jumper and using baby oils too. Thanks for this. Oddly enough Penni is also this week using pencils and shows her box of Prismacolour pencils. I went for a snoop to maybe purchase but nearly fell off my stool backwards when I saw the prices nearly £100!! Good job Monkey was there to catch me!!Lol.So its back to my packet of 24 colours and my old bottle of baby oil. Sigh!!!
P.s. Don't know why you have only got 45 followers cos your blog is great.

Ciara said...

25% gone? Oh my goodness!

Your cards are brill and I agree, making a pretty card for a chap is definitely a tricky one. You've done well to get the balance just right.

Fab pencils, I bet they'll keep you going for a while :-)

Trish said...

I have seend these cards IRL and they look even better than the pics....if possible,fantastic work Shaz

lisa said...

Where does the time go although thankfully we have just gone into British Summer time so are definitely going the right way. I don't like going the other way so you have my sympathies.
Your cards are stunning. I love the baby card and the other two are beautiful, the texture on them is brilliant.
Hugs Lisa #126

Kezzy said...

Oh wow your cards are stunning, loving your desk full of inspiration. I have the full set of prismacolour pencils but still practicing with them lol. Xx

Elaine Harding said...

Love your time pieces. TFS xx

Susan said...

Gorgeous work as usual Shaz!
Susan xxox
http://stamponme.blogspot.com/

Nicky said...

Love you cards - hope you have sorted your ATG gun I love mine and it sticks fine - make sure you have the tape tight (tip from U Tube lol)

Sarn said...

Great desk and cards! FAB.
Hugs, Sandra (No. 66)

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