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

Friday 24 June 2016

Watercolour Painting with Distress Inks + Friday Smiles

Hi there one and all. 
Yes, time has passed since posting, been fighting tooth issues again, result = root canal. Had the card below on last week's desk but decided not to share it till it was okay.
It is for dear lady in her eighties called Iris, hence the iris flowers. I bought the Digi from "Beccy's place" over here.
I struggled in colouring this image - because although it came coloured I wanted to colour it. This is my third and final attempt - success - yay! First I tried Tombow watercolour pens, too strong on fine image. Next I tried pencils .. same result fine detail of image lost. So lastly you see me trying Distress ink I've smooched it on white piece of laminated card rather than block, so you can see colours. Used two mauve/ purple, and three green with blue. DI Blue Denim was used on both purple and green for shadows.
I shaped the flowers as love the 3D look, although doesn't really show that clearly - see here to show I do it. I did this with a single layer.. a cheat's way :D
Was really happy with this card, love it - it really does make me smile that it finally worked!
Used ODB Beautiful Borders die, threaded ribbon through which was died with ink. Stamp is also ODB Mini tags. Folder is Couture creations Tied together. Ovals dies are Spellbinders
Elegant largest oval die

and Stitched Oval dies by Cottage Cutz.
Instead of photos today from downunder I thought I would share some pickies of when I visited Iris in April 2012 in Lincolnshire, UK.
H
er home Beck House was built in 1265, the same time as four other buildings - of these only hers and church remained. She lived there from 1965 till 2013, when she moved to a bungalow. So here are some more Friday smiles.







I really enjoyed my time with Iris, even though it was wet like it often is in UK for some of the time.
I reached a milestone today on my blog. I share a snip of it below, over 200,000! quite astounding actually! :D a big smile there.

Well, looks like (at the time that I write this) the Brexit has gone through. Do pray for all concerned as to what this will mean over there as have many dear to my heart in UK.
Thanks so much every one for popping over for a peek and chat!
May God bless your day wherever you may be

Shaz in Oz.x 

PS dont forget, Saturday 25th, time for Christmas Challenge over at Scrappy Mo's Rudolph day. Gotta get my skates on! :D

 "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry". Psalm40:1
Linking up to: 
 1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au
 

2. Di's Snippety challenge - Used snippets, on die cuts.  http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/
3.  Cuttlebug Mania -  'Midsummer'  include flowers/floral wreath + some die cutting and/or dry embossing.
4.  Our Daily Bread Challenge ODBDSLC275 Pop it up or add dimension - Irises done in 3D style.
5. Friday Smiles 175 over at Annie's 
6. http://beccysplace.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/june-challenge.html

33 comments:

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Absolutely gorgeous photos of England. What a wonderful home Iris lived in. We have nothing like that in the states. In fact, there were no "states" in the 13th century.

That was a beautiful card, too. Really everything made me smile. Have a lovely Friday and weekend.

Annie said...

Fab pics....the sun is shining here this morning. Thanks for linking up. Really appreciate your efforts.
Hugs,
Annie x

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Your card is gorgeous, I love Irises and have some growing in my pond. The house is lovely too and it must have been hard for her to leave it. We live in Lincolnshire and the area looks very similar but not sure where exactly this is. We live very close to Lincoln itself and there are many becks running through the villages. As some parts of Lincolnshire are very flat it's a way of controlling the water to prevent flooding. Hope you have a lovely Friday with lots of smiles, Angela x

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Your card is so sweet! You have coloured the iris so well, great shades and 3D look! Love the embossed background with the lace!
I enjoyed the photos of your friend's old hause, such a beautiful place!

Kathyk said...

Smashing pix, FABULOUS make and well done on passing 200,00 pageviews ... here's to the next 200,000!

Kathyk

Lisca said...

Oh what a beautiful card! I can imagine you are pleased with it. And the real Iris will love it!
Thank you for sharing those lovely photos of your visit to Iris some years ago. Typical old English.
Happy Friday!
Blessings,
Lisca

Di said...

What a beautiful snippets card Shaz! So delicate and very English for a lady also named Iris! Love your photos too :)

Hugs

Di xx

Marilyn Mathis said...

Your iris card is beautiful! They are such lovely flowers and you colored them so well. Loved the pictures of England. Old houses are so fascinating. Would love to visit and see them. Hugs.

Chris Olsen, Glowbug said...

What a beautiful card!! I just love the coloring of those irises, the beautiful dies, and the elegant textured background you created. The recipient will love it!! Your photos are gorgeous as well!! There is no canvas more beautiful than God's natural beauty in nature!!! Thanks for joining us at ODBD!! Have a blessed weekend!!
hugs,
Chris

Petra-loves-paper said...

your card is absolutely lovely, well done on your colouring! Petra DT Beccy's Place

TLady said...

Your card is BEAUTIFUL!!!! ;) I LOOOOOVE all of the embossing & the LOVELY COLORED flowers!!! I also LOVED the many pictures of the UK. I've never been & enjoy seeing pictures of far off places. ;) Yes, we'll be praying for the UK as they take this path for their country! GOD BLESS YOU & YOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

Betsy said...

Your card is beautiful Shaz. As purple and lavender are my favorite colors, it's one of my favorites. Thank you for sharing the pictures of Beck house also. Here in the states it's hard to imagine a building that old. It's beautiful. It must've been difficult to leave her home of so many years. Thank you for sharing with us.
Blessings, Betsy

cuilliesocks said...

Hello Shaz, your painting of the blooms is gorgeous, it's a beautiful card, lovely design.
Super photos, and my goodness that's an old house, thanks for sharing them.

Yes, difficult times ahead for the UK, and for us Scots in particular as we prepare for a second independance referendum, Scotland spoke as one voice to remain in the EU, thanks for thinking about us, Kate x

Carolyn said...

Stunning card Shaz. I want to try that! I also enjoyed the photos of the Beck house and Iris. Thanks for sharing your technique with us.
Hugs,
Carolyn

Brenda said...

What a stunning card for a sweet woman named Iris Sharon! I love how your iris's colored up, even if it did take you three attempts, you got it to work out the way you wanted it to. Your Iris is looking very good for her age! I love that home of hers, and for it to be so old and only her house and the church standing-well that is just amazing! Does she still own the home today since she moved?? The scenery is just breathtaking. Congrats on the milestone Sharon, that is amazing!!!! Hugs, Brenda

Faye said...

Wow, Iris is a very lucky lady to have such a talented friend who will send special cards like this one. It is stunning! Imagine living in a house that has stood the tests of time for so many hundreds of years! Your photos were such a joy to see. Have a blessed weekend.

Kathleen said...

That is one stunning card Shaz, love it and what gorgeous photo's of a really lovely English village.
Enjoy the weekend.

Kath x

mamapez5 said...

Such a beautiful card. You did well with the distress inks. I have the pads and the pens, but I am never really happy with the results. My copic markers and other alcohol pens are still my go-to materials for colouring. I like the lace border too.
I also liked the very 'English' photos taken when you visited your friend. Kate x

kiwimeskreations said...

What an amazing image and so beautifully coloured, and mounted Shaz!! A stunning card. I am sure Iris will love it.
Thank you for the photos too - it is amazing to see houses that old and still being lived in!
Blessings
Maxine

Natalie said...

So glad you didn't give up on coloring the iris, it turned out gorgeous! I'm sure your dear friend loved it. Thanks for sharing those wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing with us at Word Art Wednesday!! Have a blessed weekend!

Helen said...

gorgeous card! the photos of Beck House are wonderful - what a beautiful place for someone to live. Brexit has (naturally) dominated the news ever since .. can only imagine the upheaval that is to follow...oh boy!) thanks for the birthday wishes. xx Helen

Cara said...

Your card turned out beautifully, the experimenting to get the right effect was definitely worth it. Cara x

Neet said...

Just adore your card - what a fantastic job you made of it, no wonder you were smiling when you stood back to look at it.
Loved all your smiles, it looks lovely where your friend lives, what a beautiful place, hope that her bungalow is not to far away from where she used to live.
Thanks for sharing smiles.
Hugs, Neet xx

Beccy said...

All that extra work was worth the effort Shaz, your card is absolutely beautiful! I love the softness you achieved with the distress inks as well as the gentle variation of colour. The background embossing, die cuts and pearls are fabulous and work beautifully with the flowers, I'm certain Iris is going to love it. Beautiful.
Cheers,
Beccy

aussie aNNie said...

Beautiful card using Beccy's Place image, love the colours used too. Thanks for entering in our current challenge.xx Beccy's Place Challenges [aNNie]

Conniecrafter said...

Oh my goodness that is just a beauty and I am so sure she was very pleased with it, glad you didn't give up on it :)
Hope all that is going on over there doesn't kick them in the behind and hurt a lot of people, guess it is going to be wait and see kind of thing.

Brenda in IN said...

I'm glad you kept trying on this card because it is just beautiful. Iris will love this card and you thinking of her. The home looks so well maintained for its age. Wow, 1265. The church is lovely too. That's a lot of pageviews and I'm sure you have inspired so many people with your wonderful cards and uplifting words as well as pictures from your part of the world.

Maarit at Violets Corner said...

A very pretty card Shaz, lovely pics from your trip to Lincolnshire.

Love and hugs
Maarit

Berina RGA said...

Beautiful card!! Love your coloring!! Lovely pics form your trip!!
-Berina
Moxie Craftie

Craftychris said...

Beautiful card, gorgeous watercolouring with the fab Distress Inks. The embossing and die cutting is fabulous too! Loving your photos, i bet you had a lovely visit! I am very disappointed about the Brexit vote - I want to stay in the EU! Very worried about the implications! xxx

Megan J said...

Hi Shaz, a beautiful card and gorgeous pics of England, not sure what was happening with the comments on the Rudolph day card, I had three regular comments (not google+) overnight. Thank you for visiting and well wishes... Megan

Karen Letchworth said...

Thanks for sharing these amazing pictures, Shaz. Your card is absolutely stunning. Thanks so much for sharing it in our challenge. I'm so grateful to have you play along, and I hope that you will join us again real soon.
Have a blessed week, and God bless you!
Karen Letchworth
Word Art Wednesday
www.karen-mycuprunnethover.blogspot.com - I'd love to have you stop by and say hello sometime.

CherylQuilts said...

Oh, dear Shaz, what a beautiful card, and I love your Distress Ink watercoloring. I've done a bit, and I shall keep working on it. I loved seeing the photos of the UK and love the house Iris lived in. It's amazing that the Beck House was built that long ago and still stands. It shows they built it well. It's beautiful, and I love the flowers you've shared as well. It must have been a wonderful trip and time with her. Congratulations on passing over 200,000 page views! You are loved dearly, my friend! Hugs!

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