Well, Spring is here!

Hullo there everyone. First of all a big welcome and thank you to my new Encouragers - that is just what you do, encourage me, so thank YOU!
Things are very quiet on the craft front– craft items all packed away as needs must, but all very busy …jobs inside and out, spring is here!

No workdesk for me today inside - it is out side! My crafty side will get the enjoyment of checking your crafty creations out instead!
For those of you wanting to check the workdesks of the world take a visit over to our Julia's blog and meet the rest of the crew at Julia's Stamping Ground!

  

Have two messy rooms needing sorting, plus the garden to be done. Last week I promised Lisa would post my bottlebrush (or callistemon); as she amazingly told me last week she had tried to grow it in England! So here they are, white one is Citronella, red one is Little John and they are both dwarf varieties. These are in the front garden.

 

I am at present working out the back. There are over 30 roses out there, in the process of feeding, mulching with wet newspaper to help keep weeds down, and then topped with sugar-cane mulch. It is a really great mulch!

The lemon tee is the Aussie variety, Eureka lemon and one of the biggest off this small tree weighed 499gram yesterday (ie nearly half a kilo) - very, very juicy.

Here is the first of the roses to flower (Guitar - pretty orange/apricot, edged pink tones) and as you can see it is not mulched in this bed this year as yet.  The large clear bottle at the right of the rose plant is a unique, deep watering system. 

One is planted at the base of each rose and filled it up with hose so each rose gets 2 litres on watering (old juice containers), delivered deeply to its root. It also means water is not sprayed over plant as we constantly battle fungus diseases in the humid summer.

 

Here is a passion-fruit flower also the first - it has yummy passion-fruit for Christmas and is called Nellie Kelly.

So if I am missing form the blogland for a while you know I am making the most of the great weather we have here at the moment!

Thanks for looking and may God bless your day wherever you may be.

Shaz in oz.x

PS the variation in God's creation is so amazing, isn't it?

WOYWW What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 119

Spring has sprung, Downunder, so my desk today is outside! I am out weeding pruning and tending to the garden. So putting in a few pickies (first one is the beach near here one evening) to give you an idea of what its like and what grows in this neck of the woods. 

The front garden has been pruned yesterday but this gives you an idea of where I am working - have grevilleas out there, and here is pickie of the gorgeous flowers they have- two here one is Honeybird Yellow and the other (orange one) is Birdsong - and yes! the song birds do love them.Also have to get into my roses (out the back due to salt winds). They were  pruned a while back, and shooting beautifully, but need fertilising and mulching. Also pictured some of ground covers out the front, one is another type of grevillea, a prostrate form, called Woolly Grevillea (it is so lovely and soft in foliage).

Plus some bindii out the back I need to hand weed out of the lawn – for those who don’t know bindii (and have no idea whether it is just an Aussie weed?) but it has nasty prickles in the middle of the plant, and you carry these prickles if you walk over it on the soles of your shoes, thongs etc. and so it spreads and if you tread on it with bare feet – ouch!

Have done two card posts since last week (also pictured) for which you will find the deets here and also here.

For those of you who are puzzled why we are looking at work desks (or the garden in my case)... join in the fun take a trip over to the royal hostess, Queen Julia of WOYYW, drop by Julia's Stamping Ground!

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

Shaz in Oz.x
PS For those wanting to know the name of the white embossing folder, bought last year on eBay  - here it is from the post below (link above) with the details on it: " Used the Cuttlebug Winter Wonderland (set of six folders) and love this particular folder in the set, I have debossed it here... With some folders it just seems to work better for them."

Thomas is Two! a Picasso in the making?

Well, the mail-man brought a pleasant surprise the other day and thought I would share it with you.

Some background on it first, a few weeks ago I made this card for a very special boy.

He has appeared on a previous post when he was coming to visit us at Christmas time - see here!

However as his second birthday approached I had a long list of things to do - (what else is new?) and really struggled to make this card, I must admit. However here 'tis!

There is lovely Stampin Up DP and down the right side used my Martha Stewart Layered Arches Punch (I really love it cos it is easy for arthritic hands to use). The blue card frame in centre is Cuttlebug Gracie's Frame.
I cut an insert with Spellbinders Large Labels (which aren’t that large!) to insert the very cute Penny Black stamp (“For You”), coloured with Promarkers and Pearl Chalks. Used Cuttlebug Olivia Alphabet for “2”, made an outline to insert the number by cutting a dark blue and light blue then keeping dark piece for matching frame.
Tip from Ikki's blog: when using alphabets and fine die cuts, pre-stick on the back with DST! Works a treat! 
Since Penny Back's current challenge is Delicious and I always think presents are delicious (so does the pup on this cute image from PB + most suitable in my limited PB stamp range) - I am entering this card in the Penny Black Challenge!

I know that Thomas has received his card/present because look what came in my mail! The cutest little thank you note - I could not post the card on an earlier post because Thomas' mummy is one of the few members of my family who actually look at my blog occasionally (which I really appreciate! :D).
Dear Tommy - thank you so VERY much for this lovely picture. It is hanging on my wall in my kitchen to remind me of you. According to mummy he loves cutting and pasting! I wonder if Pablo (Picasso) would like it, what do you think? A very kind, caring mummy who is soon expecting number two in the family, so I pray God blesses with a safe delivery.
Thanks for popping by everyone and may God bless your day wherever you may be,
Shaz in Oz. x

Red, Black and White - Lili of the Valley Challenge

Well over at Lily of the Valley it is Challenge 111 called "Missing you" and bethought myself of this little cute square by Lily of the Valley, of a bunny who is hunting anxiously at a Christmas mail box trying to see if his missed friend has sent him some mail (oops, maybe it is bird feeder - we dont have them over here and always thought it was letter box, till now). It will do as have very  limited range in Lili of valley.

I must admit I prefer their old way of doing squares where you had an assortment of sizes, rather than the large and one size only that they came in last time I bought a set about three months ago. The newer large squares are too big for standard size cards I like to use at Christmas.
This was from the very first set I bought from Lili of the Valley and have made a few of these to catch up on my Christmas card back log .Used the Cuttlebug winter Wonderland set and love this particular folder in the set, I have debossed it here and rather like it that way for a change. With some folders it just seems to work better for them. Other items were Nesties squares for mounts and a few snowflake brads and some bling.
Thanks so much for looking and may God bless your day wherever you may be,
Shaz in Oz.x

WOYWW What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 118

Another week and another WOYWW or for the initiated it is What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday – where, if we chose, we may have a privileged peek at some clever & interesting desks from all around the globe, so tis a time of learning and fun! It is most kindly hosted each week by our Julia of Julia's Stamping Ground!

Nothing really much happening today as had cleaned all my craft items up so could double mount my bookmarks for my Calligraphy class last night.

For those who did not see it some weeks back when I started the class, I am teaching this term calligraphy to six students (of about 14 years) at our church school. On my desk are five of the six bookmarks which I mounted up last night – you can see my roller cutter in the top back, with coloured card stack and measuring tools. This, Julia, is how I cut it straight – I rule a line duly measured!! Generally get it right.  :D

Oh and for the very observant among you who only see five bookmarks and I have 6 students one student is doing the colouring again as I rubbed it out, he had not listened to instructions– am I mean or what?

Top left are homework sheets to mark and these are going really well. This is a good class even if the teacher is a tad frazzled at the end of each class!

You can also see my ATG gun which was refilled yesterday so I could use it for the book marks. Does anyone struggle each time they refill these things? this time the opening section was jammed and needed a screwdriver to lift it up and out plus watch the video again just to make sure I threaded it right. So good when it works but painful when it does not like a computer.

Now the other things at front of desk and pictured here at right are two examples done with Chrissie's method - on Less is More (link here). I will make into cards but probably not for the challenge, as too much on at present. The one on the right has acetate on it stuck on with glossy accents and one on left is stamped with Sepia Archival ink when molten - multiple layers of Versamark and Embossing Powder.

For those who like my calligraphy there is a new post here and some cards I made this week here.

Well, thanks for looking and happy WOYWW every one, and may God bless your day where ever you may be.

Shaz in oz.x


Here is a closer view of bookmarks for those who would like it.

He Careth For YOU! Yes, God cares, especially when we think He does not!

It is quite some time since I did a post on calligraphy, as I am teaching calligraphy to Year 7 this term at our church school and my calligraphy has been put on the back-burner. 

However as I was praying for a very precious friend of mine who is suffering with cancer at present, the LORD put this verse in my mind and the thought to do this post for you, dear Kaz!

And if my dear blogging friends out there would remember Kaz in their prayers, it would be greatly appreciated!! She has secondary cancer - a very aggressive sort; she is not old and has a young family.

However a huge PLUS, she does know the LORD, so that is a great blessing - and as this verse says:
Casting all your care upon HIM, for He careth for you – and we must not use the old fishing line trick of casting our burdens upon the LORD and then pulling them back. Those burdens are even more important to Him, so let's leave them in His all-wise hands!

 

If you want to see it done in different colours I have posted it before at the end of last year – see here, but this was the original one. This has the built up gold on it - the ones done at the end of last year were comparatively quick (ie photocopies from originals I had done and then painted in gouache, plus flat gold leaf). This original was done for a very dear friend down in Melbourne in 2002 (before digital photography in this house). She is now in a Nursing Home and her daughter has it, but Marg writes me the sweetest notes thanking me for teaching her daughter Patricia to read ( I taught her remedial reading when we were neighbours years ago). It makes you feel old when ones you taught in primary school are now mums and dads!

Thanks everyone for looking and most of all those who are praying for Kaz. May God bless you in your burdens too, and help us to remember this verse as we go about the day!

Shaz in Oz.x

Silver, Glitter, Blue for Christmas + Recycling - Challenges by Two!

 Hullo there everyone! just a very quick post to submit cards for some challenges, first for the LOTV Challenge,  about time I did another one! The competition was a  sketch, see below!

Decided to do a Christmas card as way behind on them! and as I don't have many LOTV stamps - it limits me. However, I do have some of their lovely Cute Squares, so I titivated this one up (from Christmas Animals Set) with some glitter and glue pen, silver Mirri card on Spellbinders Square Scallops, some blue DP paper and blue vellum with Cuttlebug snowflake folder. For the strip below across bottom, I used a Martha Stewart Punch (Layered Arches) top and bottom, and debossed inside silver card with the Cuttlebug Edge (Just My Type)embossing folder, and Cuttlebug Vintage Corners with a brad + bling on the side.
My second card is for the ABC Christmas Challenge, 

and the theme is R for Recycling and Ribbons or Rhinestones. You must create a Christmas project using at least on recycled item and it must also include either ribbons or rhinestones or both.

And on this card (similar to one done before) everything is recycled except the white background card it is mounted on – the white sheeny piece of card stamped and the red cardboard are really beautiful and it along with ribbons and holly are from last year's Christmas bonbons (see link here) – what a stash there was after my sister's Christmas, and heaps more not used yet. :D Used the Christmas Cuttlebug set, Baubles, + Nesties Labels 8, with a very old stamp, bought at $2 shop about 20 years ago!

Thanks for looking everyone and may God bless your day wherever you may be!!
Shaz in oz.x