Baby Christening Card ~ LOTV image, pearls and lace.

Hullo there every one!

I just loved this card when finished a few weeks ago now - nothing more satisfying is there?
Although I can't say same for photo, I was in a hurry - and somehow pinks are very hard to photograph, aren't they? Yes, it was lovely soft pink on second photo, not peach.

  Used a LOTV image (Lili of the valley) as asked to make a christening card - never made one before. Had bought a set of LOTV baby images on post-Christmas sale, think it was. 
When doing other images in this set before found the Octagons worked really well, so used my Spellbinder set again. Embossing folder is Cuttlebug one, "Love set" (discontinued). 
Greeting set is from Spellbinder fancy label 3 with computer generated details requested by my friend. I happened to have a pearl outline which matched. Corner dies are my absolute fav. set, two of the set are really great - CB Vintage Corners. Added the lovely lace edge
details. Here it is closer up.. to see glittery bits of lovely image, lace and greeting details. My friend was also delighted with the card, and that makes it special for me.
A quick post this time as not 100%, may or may not make it to WOYWW tomorrow, missed last week, but at moment not a good day for me.. commenting is also impaired by health. 
Sorry dear faithful friends, as your comments mean a lot to me and do like to reply to your kindness.
May our gracious God bless your day in every way,
Shaz in Oz.x 

I would like to enter this in the following challenges: 

1. LOTV Lili's little fairies Thursday challenge: Monochrome

2. Di's Snippetty challenge, as lots of snippets in card and lace.
3. Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Cutting an 8'' x 8" Embossing Folder Down To a 6" x 8"

{Warning - Picture heavy post }
Hullo there everyone! Firstly a big welcome to Wonderful Encourager, Jean of My Crafty Corner - do check out her special post ~ an amazing card! 
Well, today sharing a wonderful folder...seen over here on B. of Floral Fantasies  -  her beautiful Aussie card (there it is a lovely stamp too). I just fell in love with the folder, and asked her what it was and found out it was Crafter's Companion Die'sire Embossalicious Embossing Folder - Regency Swirls,

 Did a search, found well priced one here in Oz, with $2.50 post - how good is that??

  BUT!! major problem.. it was 8 x 8" and I don't possess anything bigger than a Big Shot which max. size folder is 6'' x 8".

So what does a girl do?? give up?? well, wiser ones probably would. However I had been looking for the style of this folder for ages. So had a think and pray.. and emailed B. "Hey, maybe I could make it into a 6" x 8" by cutting it down?"

  B. was not discouraging, so perhaps with more bravado than wisdom went ahead and ordered it. Fine - till it arrived and saw how it was hinged. My heart sank.

It had two smaller hinges on either side not all the way across like all of my other folders, and if cut it to just six inches wide, I would loose one hinge.

So left on bench all day kept looking at it and praying.. then came up with the double cutting solution. ie cut it both sides.So took off bit which is generally wasted edge on one side + bit more to move it over so still had hinge. 

*Mm, pity this ex-school teacher could not spell permanent! .

Used metho + soft cloth after cutting to  remove Black Ruled lines with black texta. Used steel edged ruler and knife to get straight line, and to finish off used Kai rubber cutting scissors.

  Used X-cut corner punch to round corner, I prob blunted it a bit. Sanded all rough edges with real sand paper. Craft sanding blocks not strong enough.

 Here are the two pieces of folder embossed and inked up.. dont they look great?

My 6" X 8" folder ~ so wonderful! not perfect but great!! Okay so now it is a "-Mbossalicous" folder - it lost the "E". If you have any questions on this just ask.
One warning - you do need to be very careful cutting it as it can split a little in the wrong direction if you are not careful. So it was rather a case of holding my breath, and praying all would be well, as I did it a few times.

 

Here have embossed white sheet of card then stamped in Versamark and gold embossing powder a few times over to the ultra beautiful gold sheet which used on this upcycled Christmas card. The gold leafed imaged was lifted directly from an old card and framed with X-cut rectangles die and card to match. Am totally in love with this folder and it was all soooo worth it.

Thanks so much for popping, thanks even more if you stop for a chat! I will visit your place too, if time permits :D 
 No WOYWW this week as things are too busy for visiting satisfactorily.
May the LORD really bless your day wherever you may be!    
 Shaz. in Oz.x

I would like to link this card over to the following challenges:

1. Sarn's Christmas Rudolph Challenge

2. Di's Snippets at Pixie's crafty playground... hold that trampoline girls.. here I come!

3. Word Art Wednesday. Anything goes

4. Hazelnuts Extra Challenge - anything goes for July

Hero Arts Versamark PanPastels + Chalk Background

Hullo there everyone! Well, have had PanPastels, etc for while now but not used them with Versamark method. Had a new stamp from Hero Arts background arrived from voucher purchase (okay, spent double the amount of voucher, so that means three items were half price, right? ;D)

So inked up the Hero Arts "Classic Fabric Design" background stamp to have  play with Versamark on regular card, and started to lay down chalks and pastels, as shown on Lindsay's blog here (I only did background she shows). You build up colours as you go.

Here it is at the very beginning. Used cottonwool balls instead of  foam applicators with Pastels and chalks, as they would take the Versamark off.
Love Cottonwool balls have decided for applying these. Quick, easy, light and soo blendable, and cheap! as you can see decided to make another background, too, in blues. Have frosted Do-craft chalks, so used them with the PP, you can use most mediums with them .. have post on tips with PanPastels here, as found it hard to work things out when first started. Hairspray to set chalks - dust off excess first.

I used for both cards the Marianne Marianne Design Creatables Frames - LR0117. For first, the flower was from Marianne Design Creatables Flowers & Leaves - LR0156, backed with vellum coloured with PP, with  small leaf swirl on both. Joy Crafts Vintage Flourishes butterfly on second card, and coloured with Versamark and PP again. I have never had one of these Joy dies before, but they differ from earlier ones. They have easy release foam embedded on die and just a dream to use. Lace edge is Dienamics crotchet edge.

Here it is close up the verse was from Word Art Wednesday and love it! Used both these cards as Get Well cards for two ladies going through the mill and am sure the promise brought their heart great comfort to be reminded that God is our refuge in trouble:

"In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge." Proverbs 14: 26

Many thanks for popping over for peek, and even more if you stay for a chat. I shall endeavour to  pop over to your place, too. May God bless and keep you in your day, wherever you may be.
Shaz in Oz.x
I would like to enter these in the following challenges:
1.Dis Schnippet's challenge ~ all Scnippets of cardstock and even verse was schnippetty too :D both cards 
2. Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes both cards

4.  Stamping Sensations July Challenge- Summer colours second card

3. Our daily bread Challenge - white and ivory or one other colour.

WOYWW 215, et al.

Hullo there everyone!

Half of the week is gone, other half to come ..I feel once you hit August it is rapid descent to end of year! Special welcome  newest wonderful encourager - Kim - met her in the playground :D over at Di's Snippets Challenge - thanks Kimbo, for being a pal!.
Today joining up for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday ~ Chez Julia de le Stamping Ground! {feeling French as watching le Tour de France, as I type this on laptop Tues evening, very late here almost Wed morn. "Allez Froome, allez! vite!" not bad huh! go Brits! :D, they are in les belle Alpes}. I  have some of my French photos on this post here a few days back.

 Desk 1: Shows calligraphy getting ready for school term as teaching five children at our church school for term 3 they are about 14 years. This will curtail commenting, I suspect, so my apologies in advance.  
Desk 2: am working on a new card for my a family member's birthday, also shown in second photo of crafty desk is my new purchase. Last week saw on WOYWW last week, on desk of Ros. C of "Wild Cards on My Workdesk" this set of drawers... I thought: "Ooh, I DO love them, but would be too many $$, IF I could find them!"

My comment as such on Ros's post resulted in an email reply from her. Then in true WOYWW fashion she proceeded to chase up the Mont Marte supplier + where the shops listed  were on site {drawers are really for storing Pastels}. Lo! sourced it HERE!  Book Warehouse in our home town for good price :D very thankful! Shows how amazing WOYWW is -  thanks Ros, you're a real mate! Involved total desk re-organisation, which was good; still not finished.  
Next photo is Pineapple Jam made from our homegrown pineapple. The full update on *home grown pineapple from last week is here. Recipe for jam is here (*for those wondering we ate 2/3, sweet and juicy so made 1/3 into jam, to last longer).

Here also is the last of our wonderful roses for 3 months as it is winter in Oz, we we pruned them last week, will flower again about September here on temperate coast.

Aussie shots when our visitors were here. Took them up to the lookout way above the city and coast in National park.

Recently upgraded with sky walk  to walk out over treetops for spectacular views up and down the coast. First shot you can  see the jetty beach waaaa-aay down in the middle of sea coast.
 Next are the large trees - the tall,lanky gums are huge here, and so are the tree ferns. So lovely to see, God's creation is so enthralling.

Thanks so much for popping, thanks even more if you stop for a chat! I will visit your place too, if time permits :D 
May the LORD really bless your day wherever you may be!     Shaz. in Oz.x

PS More!! amazing French photography today over at my brother's blog (link here - Le Tour de France, 2013). Pete is a tour guide with Bikestyle tours doing  le Tour de France.  
Don't worry, he doesn't do as many as me as he does not have time with wifi.
Today's photos are simply breath-taking, take peek :D and drool - love the lavender!

Christmas Card Upcycled - Die Cut Inside Image

Hullo there everyone! Well, had this ultra cute card from Christmas last year. Decided for Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge, it needed upcycling to make a child's card ~ that was this week's criteria.

 

 So decided to use a die cut inside image.. to see how to do this step by step (as it's bit tricky but not hard), see this step by step post here .. it is so well worth it! 

These are (to me) a new Spellbinder Labels 25, and like them as they are quite big but still fit into the bug! Used with Christmas white embossing folder from winter wonderland set, hard to see tartan 5 x 7" folder and bit of bling with gold paper highlighted edging!
Just love the Aussie animals on this card - there is a bird, Kookaburra, two marsupials Koala (not a bear) and Wombat... and "P-e-a-c-e" ~ "We have peace with God, through (His Christmas gift) the LORD Jesus Christ". Rom 5:1

Thanks so much for popping, thanks even more if you stop for a chat! May the LORD bless your day wherever you may be!

 Shaz. in Oz.x
PS French pickies from trip there in post below :D where le tour was..

Would like to link this card over to:

1. Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge ~ Children's card

2. Hazel's extra challenge ~ for July ~ anything goes

3. Dis Schnippet's challenge ~ all Scnippets :D

4. Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Mont St Michel, Cancale, Arromanches + St Malo

(Warning - Photo heavy post - and WOYWW post CLICK here)

Hullo everyone - as have been enjoying Le tour de France, it just passed through Mont St Michel, Cancale and St Malo. So thought would share photos/memories of these places. This is in brief, don't worry, mainly pickies. As I viewed this scenery again thought of my friend Anne of Brittany as she lives very near here - also known as Anne in France on WOYWW - see here.

Mont Saint Michel - see further info here

In centre, below buildings there are pilgrims crossing the salt marshes. Some were stuck en route and needed rescuing! The salt marshes  is where some of the finest French Lamb is grazed by farmers, quite amazingly I thought!

Water to drink anyone?

Final farewell to Mt St Michel

Arromanches - D-day landings were here + along the coast of Normandy - more info, see link here, Rob's panorama photo on phone.

These formed the Mulberry artificial harbour made and floated across from UK for D-day landings - see here

At Cancale flat bottomed vehicular fishing boat - know the name anyone? {EDIT: From comment by Anne in France: "The boats they use are bisquines and you can have a trip on 'La Cancalaise' as a tourist. Cancale is famous for its oysters"  - which we saw them being shucked before you eat them.. that is fresh..}

Walled cit of St Malo was originally a pirate (Corsairs) city - click for more info.

St Malo is famous for its crepes and galletes (savoury crepes) they were so yummmm!

Panorama of St Malo walls and harbour - small fort not shown to far right.

Le Nautilus Hotel where we stayed for the trip, the walls were about three feet thick, wonderful!

Ah, thanks for sharing some very, happy memories - although it was grey weather, it wasn't wet, a precious God-blessed time with family.

Thanks so much for popping over for peek and chat. May God bless your day wherever you may be! 

Shaz in Oz.x
As mentioned earlier, my brother Peter is over for le Tour de France as Australia's Bikestyle Tour chief guide ~ they ride about 70 or so km of the route each day then watch it en route or at certain location... here is his blog if you adore le tour de France as our family does. He now has wi-fi and has been posting each day.

WOYWW, Ryn's Droplet + Lemon Tree - Eureka

Hullo there everyone - here we are! one blink, 'tis another WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday. JOIN us do, over at Julia's stamping ground!!

So here is my desk and on it some wonderful new card from Ginny of  WOYWW over at Maxam Made.
Some weeks back on WOYWW she had a competition to guess who Ping the duck was, and what he had trouble doing, as it was favourite children's book I guessed correctly along with few others ..

..and lo! here is one hugely juicy prize for me all the way for the US of A! and the lovely Ping the duck card to boot!
Woohoo!! thanks Ginny ..these are some of the ultra super-uber, wonderful Strathmore cardstock she has for sale over here, (bargain prices + free post in USA, folks!!) so very kind of her to send them to me ~ thanks mate! 

Also on my desk is new fav. (pigment) sooo luscious gold ink pad I recently have found, (used on my cards here) called Delicata golden glitz.

Here is a card posted to UK a few weeks back now.
As Ryn's Droplet stamp was gift from Di at Snippet's challenge, I made the first card with it for her. It was stamped on vellum and coloured on the back with Promarkers.       

 
I cut the Cuttlebug Olivia alphabet "thanks" on an angle on base card, without going through the bottom part of letters with die which was tricky. 
Was so pleased when it worked, then discovered it did not stand out enough anyway  :(
Had to overlay with black, so blue "thanks"was now just a shadow. Cut frame with Spellbinders Rectangles.
Another great card with same stamp is here - made by Sandra from "Stamping with Pleasure"  and some more Droplet cards over at Di of Pixie's Crafty Workshop and Snippets fame ~ over here: 

The lemon tree is again loaded and ready for picking. 
If you want lots of big fruit - prune your tree to about five foot, as that is how big our ten year old tree is! Also easier for pest control without spraying. It is always loaded with thin skinned, juicy fruit ("Eureka" variety lemon, it fruits most of year). The biggest lemons have been up to 500grams or half a kilo. 
And for those of you wondering about our "homegrown-in-backyard" pineapple?

Well, link here (or scroll below) to the photos on post from yesterday, with all the details! from start to end..

Thanks so much everyone for popping over for peek and chat, and may God bless your day wherever you maybe!

Shaz in Oz.x

would like to enter droplets card in:

1. Di's snippets challenge, for this week as all snippets, 

2. and to Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes!
3. All Sorts Challenge - Favourite Things - New fav. Ryn Stamp and old fav. vellum, love vellum. 

4.  Stamping Sensations July Challenge- Summer colours

Pineapple Update ~ Plant a Top -> Have fruit again!

Hullo there everyone! Those of you who have been around this blog since Feb. 2013 have seen the Pineapple saga..  Here it is from woe to go!  
Note - picture heavy post.    Pineapple plant with flower, you will notice likeness to Brommeliad flowers?

Plant shot this flower about eighteen months after planting the top of very tasty pineapple and left to itself in the backyard. They dont need much water like Broms.The first two photos were taken 6th Feb. 2013 when flower first showed. It was planted near back fence, which meant it was part sun/ part shade but warm position as the fence gave good radiated heat.

6th February, 2013, after good lot of rain.

Taken three weeks later, about 15cm.

Taken in late April - 3 months later -  30cm

Just before being picked, 25.6.13. Measured on ground over 45cm, about 18 inches

 

Left to continue to ripen after picking, for 10 days before cutting. Weight = 1,421gms or nearly 1.5kg.

Cut on 8.7.13, five months after flower shot. Saved new top for planting.

 

Fruit weight is 788grams - over 3/4 kilo. Cut out the eyes too, dont worry! :D juicy, huh?

Use the top of picked fruit to plant ready for more fruit, as first one was done too. Now have small plantation :D

 

Sucker plant inside the mother plant. Main plant will die off and new one will take over, but I must not remove mother plant too soon. It is same as with Brommeliads.

For more info on care of them and their relationship to Brommeliads ~ look here.
Now you can see the full cycle in this second last picture as the top is what I planted in first place. It was very tasty pineapple of the rough skinned variety here in Oz - they seem to be the sweetest and took I would estimate almost two years to get fruit from top in our temperate climate. It was approx 18 months to shoot, and five months once it shot the flower from whence fruit came.
For previous posts on Pineapple growing see this link here.

My Pineapple Jam recipe - is here, and will make about half of this into jam I think. 

Will see, it may not make it! It tastes soooo sweet and good! God's creation is simply amazing really, isn't it?

Thanks so much everyone for popping over for peek and chat, and may the LORD bless your day wherever it may be.
Shaz in Oz.x