WOYWW What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 117

Well here we are another week and another Wednesday and for the curious among you, I have the cards today with the last two weeks experiments - the Magical Micas on tissue, and the Dreamweaver Embossing paste, plus a ring-in as it was for an order and so whipped up a favourite of mine, a brayer card. 

However I am running ahead of myself! 

On my desk you can see that I am not really doing anything terribly interesting. I buy large sheets of cardboard (ie poster size at local Newsagent, etc.) and then use my "T" ruler to divide it into 4 sheets then cut it up with my roller cutter (on the left). It means I get nice colours  for backgrounds mounting mainly, at a reasonable price

On the right of the desk are two book marks made by my calligraphy students, one bookmark peeking above the other. They are to be trimmed, mounted and laminated.

The first card is one of my Embossing paste cards. The rest in Christmas Stencil on my desk last week are on the post below or click HERE. This rose  is made using an el-cheapo stencil I bought for $2 years ago in 1990's at a $2 shop, it was in early days of card making. That shop closed long ago. Also used pre-embossed cardstock, and cut Nesties labels 9 to make a frame around it, plus green cardstock.

 For those of you who missed the tissue with Magical Mica post, see here. I  thought it would card up well and pleased with the result if not with the photo. Unhappily you simply cannot see the sheen of actual micas on the tissue in a photo - however the shimmer of micas is lovely IRL. I have used Crafty Individuals Discovery Ship with this and Curvy Rectangle Nesties. The brass coloured photo corners led me to colour the image the way I have. Also have used some of the micas on the webbing on the card and in the picture - and did 3D with another ship on top and used Dimensional Magic on it as well (not that this is really visible!).  

The brayer card is using Stampin' Up Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue - you load both up on brayer and ink up the Kromcote glossy cardstock (for brayer tips see early Brayer links on sidebar, under Brayer). Used Stamping Up discontinued stamp set (from eBay) Asian Artistry, and also Stamping Up embossing folder, Lattice, plus a K Kingdom Dragonfliy. I inked the lattice pale blue cardstock with slightly darker blue shade and distressed the dragonfly folder on white core cardstock to make the embossing pop. 
Then added two brads. These were the wrong colour so used a black Texta to change them. Used labels 4 Nestie to frame it. However I forgot to mount it properly so it was not finished quite how I meant it to be - too late once taped down though, so will make it again properly another day.

For those of you not in the know – this is the day of the week when folks from all over the world take a peek at one another’s desk to see just what we are up to – a great time of learning and fun, so do hop over to our wonderful hostess’ blog, at Julia's Stamping Ground!

Happy WOYWW everyone and may God bless your day wherever you may be!

Shaz in Oz. x

Dreamweaver Embossing Paste. Build it up!

Hi there everyone - well thought it about time to post some of these cards I have been making and these three are to go into Crafty Hazel's Christmas cards competition  which is called - build it up!! and for some of you who may have seen my WOYWW post of last week you will know just how I have started the first part of building up these three cards!

For those of you not familiar with Embossing Paste method check out my post last week where I explained with some tips on doing it and links to show you how it is done... it is fun! and Shazsilverwolf sprinkles glitter on it to even greater affect! This card uses the Dreamweaver stencil and paste and Labels 9 plus the Martha Stewart punch Layered Arches.

 The next card is done with a distressed Cuttlebug folder Christmas Holly Ribbons, a large one - really like them! It has the Martha Stewart Deco Shell corner punch, Nesties Scalloped squares, and Labels 3, with Daily Bread Christmas greeting.

The last card in this set for the competition is done with Lattice Spellbinders - and have extended it to three times its length by using Ikki's method, see here. I also enlarge my embossing folders in the same way, see this post here. Used Holly embossed vellum mounted on green cardstock, plus black card. 

Thanks for looking and may God bless your day whereve you may be,

Shaz in Oz.x

WOYWW What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 116

Well very hurried visit to WOYWW this week have made cards but will post them later as time permits, I'm running round like a scalded cat at present…

My desk shows a new item discovered with WOYWW at the blog of our very own Neet some weeks ago (do check out her gorgeous cards using this technique on this post linked on her name, she emailed me a "how to guide" - ta, Neet!) and I took a while to get around to ordering some, as I have to think about these things you know! but here is my first effort using the Dreamweaver paste and it is fun! 
Tips of Use: 
1.Put on a decent amount of paste on and move quickly, minimise number of times paste is spread around.
2. light and even strokes (as if spreading butter) so it is not forced under the stencil. 
3.Don't spread too thickly. Remove as much excess as possible without too much working of it. 
4. I am not claiming to be an empert but found it easier NOT to use tape as most seemed to the first one I watched just held it down firmly and I found this worked best, otherwise found it tended to smudge a little no matter how hard i tried as I removed it.
On my desk you can see the stencil, embossing paste, spatula, a necessary tool, and items done last night – if anyone wants to know how to do it check out this You tube video – or this one - or you may want to look for some others, there are some good ones.

For those of you not in the know – this is the day of the week when folks from all over the world take a peek at one another’s desk to see just what we are up to – a great time of learning and fun, so do hop over to our wonderful hostess’ blog, at Julia's Stamping Ground!

Happy WOYWW everyone and may God bless your day wherever you may be!

Shaz in Oz. x
PS. Note to self - if buying this scrummy paste on eBay again, make sure they pack it well!! This one was squashed badly on the bottom, (minimal packaging and plastic flexible jars dont mix!) and paste popped out and and oozing from top - sealed pinched corners with nail polish. :D 
PPS my kind seller refunded me although I was not looking for it just wanted her to be aware of need for re-inforcing.

WOYWW What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 115

Okay so here we are, another week charging ahead while I am struggling to catch up - whoa boy!! Wait for me!

And lookee see! what do I have here? a gorgeous creation – no not mine!! One all the way from the UK again (aren’t I so very richly blessed?)! Yes, ‘tis from the desk of none other the splendorous artist Neil of WOYWW (do check out his blog, it is a picture of creativity). Thanks so very much Neil for all your delicious goodies!!

Neil saw the lovely Lisa’s Craft Stamper which she so kindly posted me a few weeks ago and bethought himself of the one which had arrived at his abode in April, a duplicate – he was told not to send it back, so you can now spy it on my desk below with some of Neil’s lovely laser craft cuts (below right) – oh, these are gorgeous and cant wait to play with them too – Neil’s talent is unlimited as shown in the included card. I love the background stamp on this card– sort of tiger skin pattern in a blur, and the frosted shrink plastic tick tock clocks, and the rest of the lovely stamp work on the topper.

I also have some new goodies from Fat Cats Card Corner – namely the Magical Micas Sweet Treats, and a Nellie Snellen Corner die – also you can also see I am having a play with some methods of using them here. On left is the scrunch up a tissue method and dampen down with water spritzer apply the medium, re-spray and put up to dry (unfortunately the picture does not do the shimmery sheen of the micas justice). If you want to see these methods check this post out here on clever Kate's great blog. I know the crumpled tissue looks very weird at present but think it will card up ok! I also did some smooshing on gloss cardstock with the silvered lilac pieces you see there but they were with alcohol inks.  I thought I might use it with the Chocolate Baroque butterfly stamp which came with Neil’s Craft Stamper.

For those of you not in the know – this is the day of the week when folks from all over the world take a peek at one another’s desk to see just what we are up to – a great time of learning and fun, so do hop over to our wonderful hostess’ blog, at Julia's Stamping Ground!

Happy WOYWW everyone and may God bless you wherever you are..
Shaz in Oz.x 
PS. Hi there every one - the tree and red castle lower left corner are two of the laser cuts which Neil so very kindly sent me - did this post in haste sorry for confusion!

M.I.A - Folk Who Sent Cards to Sheree for Ethyl

Just received an email from Sheree, she is waiting for two winners to contact her- I will paste an excerpt of her email below:

Cactus flower & Bromeliads in our courtyard garden.

Sheree writes:

"I haven't received replies from the following people and will be redrawing for prizes on Tuesday, August 16th. The winners that haven't contacted me are:

1st Prize - F. Arnold, South Africa

5th Prize - Sandra Elliott, United Kingdom

If anyone out there knows these two ladies... Give them a holler and have them write back before it's too late!

Extra! Extra!!

Jo from www.jozartdesigns.blogspot.com has graciously offered a prize as well!! I'll be announcing the winner of this prize on Tuesday as well. You should check out! I really like her style and our craft rooms look very similar. " Thanks Jo!

So there you are - if anyone knows these ladies please let me know asap, and better still suggest they contact Sheree as they would have contacted her originally by email to know where to post the get well cards for Ethyl - last report of Ethyl was that she was about to undergo yet another lot of surgery. For those not in the know Ethyl passed out and fell into a fire in Canada some time back now.

Blessings on your week everyone,
Shaz in Oz.x
PS. MIA means missing in action, not sure if it a common term now? Sheree's blog is on my sidebar, or click here Vancouver Island Craft Junkie. 

17.8.11 Update Email from Sheree:

"It's been another busy day but I did as I promised I would do... Draw names for candy that wasn't claimed!  Now for the drumroll......

The winner of the 1st prize candy is ...

Nancy D. From B.C.!!

The winner of the 5th prize candy is....

Sandra How from Australia!!

Okay girls... E-mail me and let me know your address as it should appear on the package!

There was one more draw made this evening.
             Jo from...www.jozartdesigns.blogspot.com Stamp Artist for www.stampattack.co.uk

Has graciously offered some candy to a lucky winner as well!   I'm not sure what will be in the package but, I know it will be something fantastic!  Everyone should check out her blog and website.  She's one fabulous lady!!  (and her work table looks exactly like mine which gives her four thumbs up in my book!)

Update on Ethyl!

We spoke with her husband today and it looks like she'll be coming home soon.  She's tired of the burn unit after two months... Who wouldn't be?!

The last surgery she had just over one week ago is not taking as well.  The skin they harvested from her scalp for use on her face is shrinking.  Not a good sign!

As soon as she's able, Ethyl will be returning by plane to Campbell River and then on to the ferry for Quadra Island.  I'll be meeting them either at the airport or the ferry so she can open all the cards on the way. 

I'll e-mail and post about her return home when it finally happens.

Once again, I would like to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.  I was able to peek at a couple of cards but 90% of them are sealed.  The ones that I happened to peak at were truly works of art!! 

People like you don't come along very often.  When something is needed, most shy away.  You can all be proud because one fabulous lady is going to feel so much love when she opens her package.  All of your prayers and good wishes won't be wasted!!"

WOYWW What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 114

Well, this past week has just re-emphasised how very wonderful the crafty folk of WOYWW are! After my query last week on finding a larger embossing tan mat, the very generous Elizabeth found one for me somewhere not too far from her, and offered to post it as a RAK (random act of kindness)! Thanks for the offer, dear friend across the seas!

However it was something that Lisa of Lisa's Craft Garden said in her comment which sent me off to our local store (Clark Rubber) to see if they had a rubber mat similar to my 5 x 7 tan embossing mat. Pictured in a close-up on my desk is my black mat (the size of cuttlebug plate). Although not quite as flexible as the tan mat, it works a treat and embosses beautifully as you can see by the sample shown and have used it since on other items. I will just keep it for when need big one but at the grand price of $AUD3.60, it beats about $AUD25.00+ on eBay! 

No more detailed photo of my desk this week as it is actually bare - this photo above was taken on Monday when I was playing before packing up. The piece of embossed quilted tan-coloured card was done with the embossing mat and gutter guard - in case you dont know what I mean see this post here for more details.

For those of you who are wondering why we are looking at work desks...do join in the fun take a trip over to our hostess, Julia, at Julia's Stamping Ground!

 

Here are some cards made this week. First one is a Crafty Secrets Rose stamp, Cuttlebug Roses Embossing folder (which was distressed and rubbed over with White chalk ink pad) and the Blossoms Spellbinder on the background.

I coloured the inked, embossed Rose Stamp image with Promarkers and sprayed with Diamond Dust Glimmer mist. Also used are the Blossom Spellbinders in various layers. Cardstock very providentially came yesterday and it was called Rose Garden! :D

On the second card ( I really love these colours):- the brayered colours on Kromcote paper and method of applying colours are explained on the post here.

Used the Dragonfly K Kingdom Embossing Folder 073 at Fat Cats Card Corner - really great value folders these and love this one. It is on white core cardstock and distressed to pop the embossing.

Also used the discontinued Meadow Stamp Set from Elusive Images, with the square Fleur de Lis Spellbinders in black card.

 The last one was actually made last week for my neighbour's 60th, with the Cuttlebug Plus Brocade Window - how I love this folder! I used the white chalk ink pad on the folder before removing cardstock to give the lovely, velvety emphasis to embossed outline.Then used the Unity Stamp, "Itty Bitties"- Beauty, coloured with Promarkers again and some pearlised paint.
In closing I just want to say my thoughts and prayers are with all where there is unrest and need in their land - from Somalia to London, the LORD knows them all and for them I pray.

Well thanks for peeking everyone, happy WOYWW and may God bless your day wherever you may be, 

Shaz in Oz. x

PS. For all those who sent cards to cards to Sheree in Vancouver Island for Ethyl, she received 29 cards from the kind folk of blog-land, and for those on WOYWW who sent one - thank YOU! 

If you did not receive the email from Sheree about the prize draw please let me know and I will send it to you. It was to be sent out to all who sent cards.

WOYWW What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 113

Well, my desk is in its usual mess for this week's blog hop-- for those of you who like to learn and have fun at the same time, do pop over to our dear hostesses'  blog and desk, Julia at Stamping Ground!

The first card shows two of the new goodies from Fat Cats Card Corner – Spellbinder Lattice Rectangles and Nellie Snellen Square Stitch Multiframe dies – wow! I love Nellie Snellen dies; just wish they had one size bigger, as they only seem to go to small sizes for small cards. I loved the combo with the lattice dies too. Also used on the card is the Unity Stamp called Itty Bitties - Beauty.

 On my desk you can see my bakers twine from Jo - and dear, kind Jo also sent a lovely little bookmark tag. My first lot of baker's twine, I have not seen it here so will be fun to play. The UK Craft Stamper mag. is from equally kind Lisa. What a buzz it was to have it posted all the way over here! Smiled all day! Thanks Lisa - when I saw the words "Bless You" (top right) on the front cover I felt like yelling it from the rooftop! I sent up a prayer of blessing instead and for other givers from WOYWW, too. Even a welcome comment below is free to give and a blessing too! :D
See how generous WOYWW friends are? There were stamps from Ros in Oz last week... howzat? There are two cards below made with the stamp on the front of Lisa's magasine.

As promised last week I would show the cards I had started on last week's blog.

My second card is one of my favourite mediums: the brayer and Stampscapes stamps. I have done this card before, you can find the recipe on this post here. I also used a new folder - the Tim Holtz Dot matrix embossing folder and have used it debossed here, I am really going to love this folder! Used Nesties, labels 4 in black and small oval in blue for computer generated greeting.

My friend loves mauve - or purple! so for her birthday card a brayer card is made on glossy cardstock (Kromecote is best), using the lovely Spellbinder Lattice Rectangles. 

I love this die set. I think they are very versatile and used the brayer and some discontinued Elusive Images Meadow stamp set bought on eBay.Then I made two more cards using the brayer stamped insert - the Doodle stamp from Lisa's Craft Stamper.

 When she generously offered to send me one (after I made a comment on Elizabeth's blog), I thought at first she was sending one of her old ones. Then she told me it was a current one. This card has the daisy Cuttlebug folder - distressed on white core card, and the Martha Stewart Doily Lace Punch (courtesy of Trish of My Daily Dose Blogspot who kindly came and did some punching here one day with me - what fun!).
The next card has the same centre - using the Riveria Kaleidocolor Ink Pad.

Also used the Nellie Snellen Square Stitch Multiframe dies, the Marianne Small Butterfly die,  and  K Kingdom Leaves and Butterflies Embossing Folder.

 Happy WOYWW everyone and may God bless your day wherever you may be!

Shaz in Oz.x

 PS. Does anyone know if you can buy a tan mat bigger than 5 x 7? This is the size of mine and all the ones which I have seen for sale. If so, what size is it please? Thanks everyone. 

PPS. thanks for all your tips have really helped and found one thanks - but not sure may try some other rubber mats just in case! For those who dont know what tan mat dont mean heat one - I mean an embossing one for machine.. sorry for mix-up..BIG thanks! x