ANZAC + WOYWW + Scrappy Mo's Christmas Challenge

hi there one and all, a very quick post today.. as yesterday was ANZAC Day (Australia New Zealand Army Corps) here and in NZ, I thought i would share a photo of four paintings by Thomas (7) and Emily (5). I was really impressed with them, but maybe a tad biased.

ANZAC Day is from WW1 In 1915 on Sunday, 25th April the Australia New Zealand Army Corps landed in Gallipoli, Turkey. Here we achieved nationhood in bloodbath of fighting, the like of which has never been forgotten by both nations.
Lest we forget. Ever so grateful for all brave ones who fight for nations freedom.

Next to my desk (s), as it is WOYWW or What is on your Workdesk Wednesday (pop over to Julia's and please join in, do!).

Okay, everyone .. as it after 25th, we know that means Rudolph day! so here I am this morning going through my pre-prepared stash of Christmas items. Cards images from last year, background and sentiments done to chose just what!!?? I was going to make. on left is almost finished card with brusho resit tag on it. Aimed to print out some Romanian greetings for it.. which you can see below too add to it.

I hope to make a dozen cards for missionary in Romania. She told me what Bible text they use and said of the greeting which I sent her suited. I researched some Romanian embroidery images as thought the ladies might like these. added greetings to them and will die cut them all.

This was piece I decided to go with (made last year), + one of the print out of Bible verses on desk also.Made with CB large EF from Winter Wonderland set, added to top of folder Versamark then clear embossed and heat set.Used Watercolour paper, and sprinkled brushos over it Cobalt and Rose Red).

Didn't add much, verse is by Karen of WAW, bought from her on Etsy. The Snowflakes from RosA (thank YOU!) and Memory Box I think.Sliver thread on bottom, the piece was given to me, ages ag- finally made it to a card.

Now to the Aussie photos -
Eastern Yellow Robin at Campsite at Scotts Head last month.

Gold Coast, Qld. from highest tower, Q2. Cant get over how it has grown from when we went there when young, too big for my liking now.

Taken this evening on my walk - I wish you could've been there! Too many to share now, so much beauty of God's creation. Truly "the heavens declare the glory of God".. Psalm 19:1

May God bless your day everyone.. where every you maybe, and thanks so much for popping over for a peek and chat, you really do cheer my heart!
Shaz in Oz.x

 Verse of day is in honour of those who gave their all for us:

 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Joining up with: 

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

2.  Rudolph day challenge over at Scrappy Mo's

3.  Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge (anything goes/ or for a child).

4.  Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra where it's always 'anything goes

5 New challenge I found called Christmas card challenge http://christmascardchallenges.blogspot.com.au/

Snippety Penny Black Baby Card + WOYWW

hi there one and all, a very quick post today..

Firstly to my desk, as it is WOYWW or What is on your Workdesk Wednesday (pop over to Julia's and please join in, do!).

Finished a card for posting today last night and there are a few hints on my desk, which I did clear last night. Am really happy (s'cuse pun), with my Elizabeth Craft happy birthday die. I had larger one, but find this smaller one bought on 40% off sale is very handy...  a snippet of brayered brusho was cut with it but not used. Other die , SB rectangle die was used not put away, requisite scissors there, plus assorted glues which live on that part of the desk. Drawer set, with top drawer open, which often is when working as use lots in it. Monkeys say hi.. and took it at 12.30pm at lunchtime today, according to clock. Bedtime now here, so wont rattle on.

Have lots of cards to share, all sympathy ones, but not time .. here is one made in hurry about ten days ago! 

Used a pre-stamped (ages ago) Penny Black stamp - hedgie baby image, quickly coloured it with my Tombows. Used Spellbinder to die cut it and chalks to colour it softly around image; also used SU discontinued greeting set for "Happy new baby". Was a baby shower and sex of new arrival not known. Lemon gingham DP embossed with CB baby folder.

 To the Aussie shots - taken over Easter break from family's verandah.. we are very very blessed, in this part of God's beautiful world! The surfers were out enjoying it too.. love the way the clouds are so pretty on skyline at this autumnal time of year.

Well that's it for me today, thanks so very much for popping over for a peek and chat, your comments mean a lot to me. So sorry, but am struggling to keep up with commenting at the moment.. but thank you none the less.
 You are so very much appreciated. ❤❤❤
Shaz in Oz.x

PS I've a really great technique I've explored below .. using dies as a mask.. with gilding flakes, or see here.

 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me."  Galations 2:20

Joining up with: 

1.Word Art Wednesday - anything goes  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au/ 
2. Joining in over at playground used mostly snippets and a spring like PB stamp.. love this one.

3. http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/april-challenge-all-things-spring.html
4. http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/pbsc-april-spring-or-eastermore.html

5. http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/april-anything-goes.html

Use Die as a Stencil + Mixed Gilding Flakes - Bizzy Bec's

Trust you're enjoying a God-blessed, family time this Easter, everyone -  as we remember the greatest gift given, of our Lord Jesus! Who gave His life for us, arose victoriously on Resurrection day.. yes, and He lives that we too might live, by faith in Him! 

To my card .. a peek! 

Am re-visiting the new technique from earlier this month where I've used a die to make stencil.

1. I took the * Pre-order Sizzix Thinlets Mixed Media #2 Die set - used the swirl from this set, and die cut a scrap of cardstock from cereal box, hey presto, disposable stencil!! 👍

2. Then made a disposable sponge, see below - cut folded piece of new cheap kitchen sponge, attached a handle with folded card, stapled on. 😉 Dabbed carefully,. #working from top to bottom. This was very detailed die cut stencil. The spaces where it is bit "floaty" in middle needed more care.

3. Glue used was the Cosmic shimmer flitter glue. Very tacky.
Leave for 20 to 30 mins to set, otherwise flakes don't adhere properly.

 I attach it like I do my real 23 carat gold leaf in calligraphy, lay it loosely over sticky area and smooth it carefully around in circular motion and push it on with very gentle finger tips. Have the Gilding flakes scrubby, but I do not like it.
Then remove excess flakes with soft fairly-sizeable paintbrush, buff the glorious shine well, again with soft pressure, in circular motion (see image). Remove excess flakes, empty into containers.

4. Used more Silver than earlier card, just a little of Egyptian Gold Glitter Flakes. Smoothed it off well, with fingers or brush.

5. With ink duster added the soft shading with Distress Ink Chipped Sapphire ink pad. Oh, this is such a gorgeous colour (**Distress Ink - Available from Bec upon request).
I wanted to highlight the swirl so used water based ink rather than dye ink.

 Used *Pre-order Memory Box Vivienne Butterfly Die, and the inside greeting of *Pre-order Sue Wilson Just For You Ornate Oval Die.

6. Cut both out ... double layering the greeting, and decided to colour the DP with the DI Chipped Sapphire it nice deep contrast.

7. Die cut the sheet with *Pre-order Spellbinder Pierced Rectangles. Truly Bec has the best prices around.. this versatile rectangle set is so unbelievably priced!!! check it out!!! Finished card, added some bling to butterfly but just let the swirl show under the butterfly love dit so much didn't want to cover it up.
I love this card, has a different look to my earlier neutral shaded card Over here!  but shall be doing this again. I do love the effect. .. and minimal cleaning up with disposable home made tools.

Okay, so a pineapple update! the image of smallest baby was taken on 22nd March, three weeks ago. Next on right, was taken a week ago. As you can see we have more than one baby on the way, the first one was first take here -  mid December 2016. I think this smaller baby is going to be much bigger as it started as huge for a baby, due to the mammoth rainfall we've had I am sure.

To see a Pineapple growing from start to end see this post here. Both these new growths are from pineapple which were grown on the mother plant in background of last shot. Each successive top was replanted so have wee patch now!

Thanks so very much for popping over for a peek and a chat...
I really appreciate it so very much if you leave a comment to say you've been by, but I'm way behind on comments due to family commitments. I do apologise for it. Thanks for reading this far - it's a very long detailed post.

Please do pop over  HERE at Bizzy Bec's - ANYTHING Goes Challenge! And pop by Bec's store.. for the month of April she has storewide, a whopping 25% off  her already low prices!! 

 A very special welcome to a wonderful new Encourager on this blog Verna Angerhofer of Verna's Creative Clutter! Don't you love the name of this blog... and oh, she makes lovely creations too!

I pray you're enjoying a God blessed Easter, I'd really appreciate it if you have time to read my Easter post below or Link here.

God bless you all richly in Jesus sweet name,

Shaz in Oz.x

 … Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here: for he is risen, as He said. …             Matthew 28:5b - 6a

Linking over to:

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

The Lord Jesus Gave for us His very all. Do we?

All of Me (Our Daily Bread - here, on Ash Wednesday  2017)   Bible Passage is below - or here

Young Isaac Watts found the music in his church sadly lacking, and his father challenged him to create something better.
Isaac did. His hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” has been called the greatest in the English language and has been translated into many other languages.

Watts’s worshipful third verse ushers us into the presence of Christ at the crucifixion.

“Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all.” —Isaac Watts

See from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down.

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown? 
(... sorry, somehow there is a jump-break inserted here and cant remove it! If you cant see "Read More..." EXCELLENT! but if you can see a break.. please do click read more)

Thanks folks and Thank You, Lord Jesus...

Sorry folks, but I'm not able to answer any of your kind caring comments, at the moment, ...but I give you many heartfelt thanks for taking the time to say hi. You are appreciated.

Praise God for His mercies are very great, so glad of the blessed promises of God being fulfilled, which we remember at Easter time. .




 Our Lord gave Himself freely for us, in spite of our sinful hearts ...  the crowds who cried:
"Hosanna to the son of David", and waved palm branches in the Triumphal entry Ito Jerusalem.... 

... a few days later this same crowd also cried " Crucify Him" ... choosing the sinless Son of God, over Barabas the murderer.  😥
And again a day later, and on the way to the Cross they cast scorn upon Him, and as the Bible says, buffeted Him, and smote Him, calling on our sweet Lord to come down from the cross ... .😖
.
Yet He cried 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. "
That's love. Real love. ❤ God's love is deeper than the deepest sea, wider than the skies above..

As we remember all these things may our hearts are turned with thankfulness to our Lord Jesus' wonderful fulfilment of  all the Old Testament prophecies, foretold so many thousands and hundreds of years before.
May our great God bless you all.
Shaz.x

Bizzy Bec's DT - Stencil from Dies + NBUS

(Please excuse poor quality of pictures, inadvertently had camera on VGA setting, not 8MP!!)

Well, we blink and we're into the fourth month.. April is here! 😊
We've certainly had an excess of April showers, but think the song on April showers is for northern spring, not our southern autumn!
Time, too, for ANYTHING GOES Challenge over HERE at Bizzy Bec's ...please do pop in you might win that monthly prize, which Bec so kindly gives!!!

Warning, picture-heavy, wordy post!!! Loads of step by step. 😊

Trying out two new techniques here, one I've heard of, but not seen step by step. Other is brand new "a let's see if this works?" inky idea! Googled it, but couldn't find anyone else doing it.
First a peek of my card... its a shimmery beauty in neutral shades. Made a simple layout so as to showcase the techniques.

Step 1: make a stencil, with any shape or outline die. Used a cereal packet for this as knew I'd be throwing it out. Step 2: tape down mask on cardstock, cut to size.

Step 3: Took a new cheap style kitchen sponge, folded in half and stapled a handle on the folded sponge - for dabbing Cosmic Shimmer Flitter glue over card, lightly and evenly. Knew from before a) use a throw away sponge (couldn't wash out properly)
b) With stencils: Do NOT apply glue with brush (i) gets too thick (ii) with brush it's easier to go under stencil outline. A light coat with sponge is best.

Dabbed dots of glue in screen holes. Spread it adding more as needed. Then leave for 20 to 30 minutes to set, nice and tacky. If do straight away it's not as good, glue moves as you rub flakes around (mm, wonder how I know?).

Step 4: Add flakes of choice. I put under it a piece of copy paper, to save excess, and pushed the leaves on with finger tips and then rubbed in circular motion to firmly attach them.

Once satisfied, then buff it up to fine finish with a large, flat, soft brush (again circular motion is best). Phew, a gorgeous stencilled outline done!

Distress Inks on Gloss cardstock
Step 5: This was my " let's see if it works?" idea. Techniquely it's not good idea, I suspect, like a lot of things I try 😊 as Distress Inks aren't meant to be used with gloss! They are water based and not quick drying at all on gloss card. I found all it takes is perserverance. Collected the colours thought I'd like. Two green small pads + three ink droppers, see colours on photo one pink, brown and three greens.

Smooched on gloss card  two small green DI pads and splotted the DI reinkers, then brayered away.. yes, just smooched it around with my Brayer ..just a little.
Step 6: Using heat tool I dried the ink.  As they dried enough, I also dabbed with tissue excess off and made some interesting patterns.

Then splattered the gold and pearl paints (Fintec Pearl Watercolors ) over the cardstock and heat dried some more. Left overnight in our airing cupboard to dry. Covered it with cling wrap, but just to protect it more than anything else, as all pattern was already on it by now and set. (note below: colour fades to more subtle shades as it dries properly.)

Final stage: Then assembled the card base, die cut MB fresh foliage die, double- layered it. *TIP* Think I've seen it somewhere else, but couldn't believe how easy this made the layering.
Cut top layer from inky gloss card. Add double sided adhesive to white cardstock, diecut leaf again. Then carefully take off die piece from cut white cardstock. Leave all pieces intact. Peel from the top the sticky layer, and insert the layer the gloss die cut into the tacky shape. Easy peasy! then lift out carefully ... Love it.

Pre-order Frantic Saharan Screen Panel Die
Memory Box Fresh Foliage Die
Impression Obsession Greeting Dies
Distress Inks 
Cosmic Shimmer Egyptian and Silver Gilding flakes. 

Cosmic shimmer flitter glue
Finetec Pearl Watercolors

Shaped the leaves between my finger and thumb, then added the die cut to the base with silicone glue. Used some gold and jute twine, and "thanks " from Impression Obsession greeting die set.
Phew!!!! well done if you've stayed till the end. You wouldn't think a CAS card could be so complicated. 😉
Now dont forget to pop over  HERE at Bizzy Bec's and check out the other DT gorgeous creations.. and pop by Bec's store.. for the month of April she has storewide a whopping 25% off  her already extremely low prices!!

May God bless your day wherever you may be .. and please say hi, so I know you've been by!
Shaz in Oz.x 

"In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them: in His Love and in His Pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old." Isaiah 63:9
{Emphasis mine}

Linking up to: 

Also this card is for the NBUS challenge and the snippets playground .. y'see my NBUS, or acc. to Darnell "Not Used Before Schtuf" is the lovely much admired (by moi) MB Fresh Foliage die and the Cosmic silver glitter flakes (which were sent by mistake, so was sent correct item and told to keep these too 😊). 

Snippets are pieces of cardstock in gloss, white and gold, the white base was new, everything else, including the cereal box is snippety!

1. April Fool's Boo-Boo Hop and NBUS Challenge #11! (no booboo here, but do have one if can join it before 11th)

2.Di's Snippety challenge - Used snippets.   http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/

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

4. http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-37/