Snippets Scraps + WOYWW ~ Last of 2014

Well, everyone we are skating by out of 2014 and rapidly into 2015, aren't we?? Older ones say the years are flying faster that is for sure. To the point as not much time - here is my last WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday over at Julia's blog we peek at desks of the world ** for messes (in my case) and creativity joys in others! To my messy desk. (has been tidied a little since then but more needing done).

On a mission here - to use up scraps and snippets or left over items from 2014. So yes!! am making Christmas cards with more of those silhouette circles and having fun with some NBUS dies. BTW rumour has it that is another NBUS challenge on, so saving these cards for that. Two in front right have been finished since taking photo at 1.45pm.

This is the Bible verse stamped and embossed, then dusted with ink and fussy cut out for top of Gold embossed SB Fancy Oval. I felt the LORD wanted me to use this verse for my friend. Used two DI for the ink dusting.

Purpose of this card was to use scraps. All die cuts are that + tried out a new $5 Spellbinder. My dear friend Marilyn of Sharing Simple Things blog in US emailed that Scrapmart were selling spellbinders for $10 and $5. I ordered three SB through Marilyn - when they came there were six!! (she said they multiplied on the way but I know who multiplied them :D thank you, very dear kind friend). This Decorative Wrought Iron die was one of the gifts. Was double cut in  two 200gsm card together then embossed in gold and rubbed with wax in green gold to give a verdigris look on bottom and right. Flowers have had for years, unused. Was really disappointed with this photo looks much better IRL. Love the die ad have other ideas for it.

This card is also for friend Sue in UK who is fighting cancer she loves butterflies that's why they are on both cards. The Pippi butterfly is actually gold not brown inked. :(  ribbon is tiny snippet, and inked ODB stamp "Lifting You up in prayer" was inked ages ago, as was this printed Digi Rose image. Was part of an old advert for Tulip soap and removed the Tulip soap writing :D

My Aussie photo for today is the beautiful sunset last night .. after I went down the beach for great swim... after trip to dentist :D
This sort of stunning beauty always reminds me of Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." If you tried to paint those colours it would look fake.

Thanks so much every one for popping over for a peek and a chat, may God bless your day wherever you may be, and keep you safe at this very busy time of year!  

Shaz in Oz.x 

I pray that in 2015 that in all our hearts and in all things He may have the pre-eminence.

" He (the LORD Jesus) is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the pre-eminence." Colossians :18

**linking over to these challenges: 

1. Di's Snippety challenge - Used  a number of snippets on cards. http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au 
2..Word Art Wednesday - anything goes    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au.

My Favourites of 2014

Oh wow!!!! this was soo hard.... to pick only five ... so choosing five cards and one piece of calligraphy.. eh?? 

What am I raving on about? over at Debby's "A Scrapjourney" she is is asking us to chose our top five favourites for 2014 and share them :D so here they are .. and each name has the link embedded to read for more details. Calligraphy first then five cards.

Emily's birthday .. finally I made her the "Emily sleeps here" Blue Wren

Hudson's 1st birthday Bugaboo Elephant

Stampscapes brayer card

Ink resist with white embossing.

Didi's 60th Birthday.

 Sue's card "Trust in Him at all times, ye people, pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:8

 

So that's it for 2014.. 

What a blessing it is... to have hands to craft and crafty goodies to use to encourage or bless others :D

Every blessing of the LORD God be upon you all as we enter a New YEAR... 

May we use it wisely and well.

Shaz in Oz.x
Also want to link up with Lyndal's Favourite things blog hop over her: (ends January 31st)

Top Five Christmas cards for 2014

This year I decided to make standard sized Christmas cards and I must say when it came to the posting of them it made it heaps easier .. so here in no particular order are my five favourite cards for Christmas this year... although one lot were saved for next year as want to make more of them... :D and over at Debby's there is a challenge to share your fav. Christmas cards...

 Embossing and cutting folder is by Marianne dies, used up snippets of card with holly from Joanna Sheen Signature die. The stamp is from Our Daily Bread heat embossed with red embossing powder. see post here.

All my cards have reference to real reason of Christmas somewhere so even though these were some masking cards of snowy scenes I put verses referring to the coming of Christ to be our Saviour on each card, digi images. Plus was using a NBUS Never Used Before Schtuff -  made with stamp set had for ages (Sheena Douglas) never used - perfect for this. see post here for further explanation + video used in these cards.

Used these Pass it On cards for toppers for Christmas, with differing backgrounds.. thought of doing this one with Memory Box Star mask. It has all these different sized stars on it. Used gold embossing paste and mixed gold glitter with it for extra sparkle... really love it.  see post here and here and here

This one has to be my favourite, with CAS look. Folder is Marianne Designable DS0908, poinsettia die is by Britannia and has great detail, I wish all dies were this good! The stamp is Our daily Bread Christmas Blessings set, and I gold-embossed the edges of card + where designable shows through - see post here.

Using five strips of JOY! Christmas tree border die", one on right is in gold vellum, then found some more gold card snippets for second one.. stamp is an Itty Bitty stamp from years back "For unto us a child is born". Was good to dust this "JOY! Christmas tree border die" off. see post here for more info.

Well, that's my five fav... off to join over with Debbie of Scrapjourney who is sponsoring this idea of sharing our favourites. I rarely comment on her blog but get her every post via email and love to see what she is up to. Her ability to produce such beauties always blows me away, a post a day is too much for me and even once a week sometimes.

May God bless each of you this holiday time and may He keep you safe in His care, thanks so much for all your wonderful encouragement you are truly appreciated.

Shaz in Oz.x

Snippets + The Riches of the Magi

Christmas greetings, everyone, from Downunder – where it is summery, bright and glorious, I love it! I love Christmas too, because I love the Christ of Christmas.

We are mostly, if we have ever sung carols, we are familiar with the story of the Wisemen {μαγοι, (magi in Greek)}. They of course came on a journey of many miles once they saw the star sparkling so brightly in the eastern sky. (Micah 5:2) 

They were obviously familiar with the promises of a King “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.” (Matt 2:1–2)

They came bearing three kinds of gift.

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

These three gifts Gold, Frankincense and myrrh would have made Joseph and Mary instantly rich. This was some time after the birth of Jesus, shown by highlighted words above, they were in a house and Jesus no longer a babe. 

The riches were needful to support them for flight into Egypt, Joseph being warned by the LORD in a dream to flee ~ before King Herod’s command to kill all male baby children under two.

However the real treasures of Christmas were not the gifts of the Wisemen. Rather the Treasure was found in the One Who chose a Manger for His bed.

The LORD Jesus, He is the True Gift ~ and also the True Light, as opposed to the Star.

In Him alone, by faith in His death upon the cross for you and for me, we can rejoice in eternal life with Him.

These last two Snippet cards tell of God's greatest gift:

 "The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" 1 John 4:14 

 May the dear LORD bless you and your dear ones with this Hope, this Peace in Jesus this Christmas time, and keep you in His care for the coming year, till He comes.

Shaz in Oz.x 

Cards are all snippets pieces taken from rejects and turned into cards. The white based one is debossed because I managed to get red ink on embossed side :D as you do!  Yay! so  I am off to the Snippety playground to play... 

1. Di's Snippety challenge - Used  a number of snippets on cards. http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au 
2..Word Art Wednesday - anything goes    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au. 

3. Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - anything urgent for Christmas  http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com.au/
4. Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra blog  

WOYWW + Great Cards from Crafty Pals

{Warning Picture heavy post ..}

Hullo everyone ... yes WOYWW again.. been absent for few weeks of late but back today so that is good. Nice to be back! and Deere is my crafty desk after all WOYWW stands for What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday!! and we all link up over at Julia's desk at the Stamping Ground! to share our crafty fun!!

My desk ( or fold up camp table) is in the lounge room... cooler plus the cricket is on and so can craft whilst watching the test with Australia and India :D its at the 'Gabba Cricket ground this week which is in Brisbane and boiling hot there - 35+c but cooler here thankfully. On my left is a card from Shelley, with a whole lot of lovely die cuts - what a lovely gift!
On my right is my cardmaking with more of those round Christmas images. I bought some more as liked them so much, hunted through my dies to find different ways of using them... like a fleur de lis SB - hardly ever used dies!! gotta love that!

Shelley's (My Creative Rumblings) clever card - embossing paste + gold rub on is my guess?

This year's makes - on my last desk showed using these circles Christmas images and SB scallop... with different layouts. Had enough cards for this year but had ideas - want to formulate them before I forget!! Love the way you can put them in sequence to tell the wonderful Christmas story of God's gift to us through His son Jesus - like lower left is "Emmanuel" and then the meaning of it - "God with us"

Superb Blackboard card by Anne in France

Ultra cute LOTV card by Di of Snippets fame!

Lovely diecuts on this card of Mrs A. ( last two were a total surprise in today's mail ~ how kind!) and she decorates card's inside as beautifully too.. thanks so very much my dear, dear crafty friends!

Last two are my Aussie shots of the day our Rainbow lorikeets doing acrobatics while eating the nectar on the Bottlebrush blooms - view from kitchen window, taken through the glass yesterday.

{Special thoughts and prayers for all who have been affected by the siege here in Sydney, two brave folk lost their lives to save others. Praying God's blessing upon all affected}
Thanks so much every one for popping over for a peek and a chat, may God bless your day wherever you may be, and keep you safe at this very busy time of year!  

Shaz in Oz.x 

  ^"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."      

Luke 2:11 - 12

** the top set of my cards - linking over to these challenges:

1. Di's Snippety challenge - Used  a number of snippets on cards. http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au 
2..Word Art Wednesday - anything goes    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au. 
3. Simon Says Monday Challenge - anything goes http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/

4. Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - anything urgent for Christmas 
5. Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra blog 

Our Daily Bread Christmas Challenge ~ sort of!

Hullo everyone ... yes - surprise!!!! am back again!

Now in my typical manner I made these cards, then the two week challenge (think that would be long enough!?) expired few hours ago but going to post them anyway - if the storm outside doesn't beat me :D 
It is summer here in Oz and really loving it... not too hot where I live, cos we are near the sea. 
To the card, or actually cards:

This card came to me one sleepless night! Love the elements, these have to be some of my favourite quality crafty items. Folder is Marianne Designable DS0908, poinsettia die is by Britannia and has great detail, I wish all dies were this good! The stamp is Our daily Bread Christmas Blessings set, and I gold-embossed the edges of card + where designable shows through, (it is very hard to get matt gold cardstock here and did not want to over-use what I have, also it then matched the stamp embossing. It is Ranger ultra fine BTW and it really great colour wise) added some pearls and ribbon left over bits.

As you can see really made three, if you have everything out for it and it is Christmas cards you might as well multiply. The first one is the bottom one here. I made two mistakes on it:
1. I stamped upside down (did not read my inked TOP on stamp through clear mount, der!) 2. It was not inked on "S" of " "Sending love and prayers" so had to hide that with poinsettia. :D

Thanks for popping over everyone for peek and chat.. sorry, I will comment as time permits :D but really appreciate your thoughtfulness to comment.
May God bless your day wherever you may be.

Shaz in Oz.x

PS have heaps of cards to share but dont have time to blog them at the moment.. 

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23

** these cards am linking over to these challenges:

1. Di's Snippety challenge - Used  a number of snippets on cards. http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/

2..Word Art Wednesday - anything goes    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au.

3. Simon Says Monday Challenge - anything goes http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/

4. Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - anything urgent for Christmas http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/chnc-challenge-207-urgently-needed.html
5. Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra blog 

WOYWW + Verse for Christmas Card Inserts

Hullo there everyone, well another quick post to link over to WOYWW for those not in the know it is What is On Your workdesk Wednesday.. pop over to our Julia's desk at the Stamping Ground!

Now to my desk:

Desk Front: card fronts with gold or silver ink edges, ribbon bling, scissors,glues Back left: production line of punched silhouette images, Monkeys - of course! minding glue and WOYWW sign under pile of cards already made. Right: more images to punch, poem of card inserts printed off and sheet of card about to rule it up for the silver and gold scallops circles. Love my T-bar ruler. Pegs for holding glued ribbon in place.
This isn't my main desk, this table found on roadside pile, fold up camping table and is often in main part of room as big space there for it.. Main desk is narrow and good for single card making but not mass production like this. I had brain frieze - when yesterday a card recount, a shortfall indeed! not sure what happened with first count fortnight ago! Eeek! so prayed - LORD popped an idea into my head. These silhouettes were to be for envelopes, but now this with several layouts.

This is first prototypes in silver and gold.. I will no doubt not make them all like this will vary .. cant stick to one pattern but will use the Holly CB folder for all of them with inked edges as have done that and ribbon somewhere. * these cards entered in challenges below :D

This is my insert verse in card below .. finally finished verse yesterday, was struggling this year... I am not a poet, I write doggerel, as does not have true meter and rhyme but do it simply to share a message of great import to me.. all cards I make are finished with this sort of insert.

Outside of this card shared before...

 Here is what is written on the insert .. free to use, if you wish. Other verses from 2013, 2012 maybe found here and here.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour,

Which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

The Reality of Christmas?

Is it those pretty snowy scenes of the northern sphere?

Or the jolly, rosy-cheeked, red-suited man others hold dear?

What do we see at the very heart of Christmas time?

Look, SEE - it is the “Christ” of Christmas-mine.

                     C is the for the Christ child who came, of whom angels sing,

                                                 H is the Hope of a Home in Heaven, He alone can bring, 

                R is the Risen Christ, Who died on the cross for me, 

                    I  is for I, who need to trust in Him alone - to be free! 

                          S is for my Sins He bore, instead of me, on Calvary’s tree

                     T is Time – that all will give account on judgment day

So let us look! See! Truly seek Him, while we may.

S.L.G. ~ 23.11.14

EDIT: try as would could not get acrostic to go straight down as it should but you can fix it up not on original.

Here is the photo from Oz today.. not taken today as we are enjoying some very welcome rain, best for a long time but not drought breaking yet. I really pray for farmers the need it so very much, hardest dry spell for long time.

Thanks for popping over everyone for peek and chat.. sorry, will have to comment as time permits :D but really appreciate your words.

May God bless your day wherever you may be.

Shaz in Oz.x

PS have heaps of cards to share but dont have time to blog them at the moment.. 

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory... Ephesians 3: 20, 21a

 

** these two cards am linking over to these challenges:

1. Di's Snippety challenge - Used  a number of snippets on cards. http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/

2..Word Art Wednesday - anything goes    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au.

3.http://stampingforpleasure.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/rudolph-day-november-2014.html

Time for Friday Smiles over at Annie's!

{WOYWW post below ~ thanks! :D}
Hullo everyone - tis Friday so time for Friday Smiles today over at Annie's, wasn't going to link over this week - so busy, but this mail arrived. While was first puzzled .. then little cross.. then I laughed ... so thought would share it with you!! :D

YESSS!.. I was expecting a Spellbinder die, as label clearly says .. (more of them you might say??)

And what was sent?? a calming collar ... okay so I needed calming, that was evident!! and indeed to be stopped from talking and chewing so much :D too.. Obviously they made a mistake and have already sent another, which will take two weeks to get here or so.. .. if had a dog it might be handy. Now to find a victim for it :D no, not me! My neighbour has four dogs, mm....

Okay it is summer over here and one is very aware of the need to watch this ..summer foods do make it easier :D

Some days feel a little more like this than ought to :D beached seal or whale :D

Thanks for popping over everyone for peek and chat.. 

Happy Smiles day!!

May God bless your day wherever you may be.

Shaz in Oz.x

"A merry (cheerful) heart doeth good like a medicine... " Proverbs 17:22a

WOYWW Golfing card + Pineapples again!

Hullo there everyone yes a day late with this post again.. but as was told before better late than not at all :D Have been away and to be honest can tell the end of the year is coming cos the pace seems frenetic .. doesn't it?? For those not in the know .. this is desk time of the week, or rather Wednesday is .. over at Julia's for WOYWW or What is On Your workdesk Wednesday

My desk has very little happening, as have not crafted for over a week. However the images printed off there on Inkjet coated 108gsm paper ready to make some cards, as over at Christian Card Makers on Facebook the theme for this fortnight is roses.. hence all the roses printed. I do love my new inkjet coated paper bought this a week or so ago for printing, had run out :D. Also have some wee bottles of glue in front there (three), on left some Christmas making detritus. Of course the monkeys say HI!! and the tape at back on my drawer set is piled up with my tape stand - made out of foam base covered then some bamboo skewers all taped together, about eight, and then poked in foam base.. hey! presto tape holder :D

I have a number of cards made and not shared; this is one made for dad's only sister's 80th. She is a mad keen golfer, and so made 3D golfing lady card.. I changed the image  bit; found it through Google, could never find who drew it, so I am sorry if have erred in doing this. When printed it off was very poor image so redrew lines changed a little then rescanned it and printed it out for 3D. I did some paper piecing as you will see. Used X cut Victorian rectangles for die base.

OKAY.. yesss!!! another pineapple .. this is this plants second one... for those who are often here will member the first one back here..

and this one  is the top from first pineapple it is growing slowly and will have on about twelve months .. perhaps. I think it is rather a miracle really .. and yes it was just a shop bought pineapple, the first one.

Well thanks for peeking everyone, happy WOYWW and may God bless your day wherever you may be, Shaz in Oz. x

1. Di's Snippety challenge - Used  a number of snippets on cards. http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/

2..Word Art Wednesday - anything goes    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au.

Just 'cause + a Christmas card or two!

Hullo everyone in a rip-roaring hurry here so wont waffle :D

Over at Christian Cardmaker's (CCM) group on Facebook, (run by Ginny - see her blog, and email her, if you want to know more about it) has some really great digi's that just call out for you to make some cards so here are some made this week.

I just love this verse... and good to remember when I am full of negativity. Spellbinders rectangles and cuttlebug folder which you can barely see. A birthday card for a friend next week.

Remember the batik patterns? well, we had a batik week and this was one of them available to print.. lovely isn't it? a WAW digi Bible verse.

This Digi Bible verse is from WAW, too and love it ... "the LORD is my Refuge, my Fortress, in Whom I will trust" Amen! Balloons are this weeks theme @ CCM. A great male image, focal image is raised but you cant tell. Tim Holtz distressed folder all inky.

Ten days ago I shared two dozen cards (here), most were made with these card toppers for Christmas, with differing backgrounds.. thought of doing this one with Memory Box Star mask. It has all these different sized stars on it. Used gold embossing paste and mixed gold glitter with it for extra sparkle... really love it.

As wont have time again this week to post... or so I think at this stage... here is my image from Oz for this week. My bunch of Kardinal roses (yes, spelling looks wrong but that is how they are spelt). All but one of these were off one rose bush and four of the six were on the one stem, pretty amazing, eh? I love God's marvellous creation!

I will comment as able may take til next week to get there :D

Thanks so much every one for popping over for a peek as chat, may God bless your day wherever you may be!  Shaz in Oz.x

Linking cards up to:

1. Di's Snippety challenge - Used  a number of snippets on cards. http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/

2..Word Art Wednesday - anything goes    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au.
3. Our Daily Bread - bi-weekly challenge anything for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  Christmas cards