Sunshine, Snippets + WOYWW

Well, another quick post. Amazingly it is Wednesday again, so desk share time with desks of the world over at Julia’s At the Stamping Ground. To my desk this morning. It changed a little but not much.

There are some of the Bugaboo ATV Nativity images coloured (I love Bugaboo) months ago but being made into cards. I've cut one more out and dusting around the edge of it. Need to make bases chose verses then assemble. I'm only third of amount I need this year. I think some will be getting bought ones. In midst of sorting Christmas letter and overseas ones. Hence not many cards done.

Here's one I made earlier 😉 yes it's my last birthday till next year and already posted along with another but can't share it. This is total snippets, long ago printed Nicecrane digi image mounted on scraps with verse from print out courtesy of Karen of WAW. She does a grand job.

Now to Aussie shots.. lots of sunshine for you. We went down to the jetty. Here's the marina. 

There was a baby stingray in the marina water. There's "No Fishing" and simply masses of baby fish. A real nursery! 😊

Also was huge carnival for outrigger canoe race. They went out into open ocean around an island or two then back in again. If you scroll in you see them better. Also a cormorant flying into catch a fish in middle just above those lovely rocks. God's creation is amazing!

Well, that's my share for the day. I'm truly sorry but am a bad blogger at moment, am so time poor. Had visitors now doing catch up. It's not a usual year this year. However am starting this week to not feel so poorly so that's a plus. Not much nausea at all.

God bless your day dear kind friends, thank you so much popping by and saying hi.

Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x

I’d like to link up with the following:

** http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes.

** Anything Goes at Simon Says https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-56/

Today's blessing from the Lord. Often we can trace God's hand of mercy in our life, other times the reasons are not so clear till layer down the track. As the hymn says "It will be worth it all when we see Jesus".

Snippets Christmas + Last challenge at Scrappy Mo's for 2018

In all the busy-ness I have managed to do a few Christmas cards. As its 25th! Eek, one month till Christmas... now it’s really hitting home! Time for Christmas card challenge from 25th to 30th November, Canadian time - over at Rudolph Day or Scrappy Mo’s Christmas card challenge over HERE!

A couple of snippets, used a sheet and die cut three Nativity scenes with die from Miss Di.. yes two cards made, not three, cos I lost one! Guess it will turn up, it’s on the base so slipped in somewhere!

The third card is also shippet as it’s an upcycle with an old card from couple of years ago and extended SB die used on bottom to make it long enough.

Last card to share is total snippets too all but bases, it’s made with snippety tag from over at Loll's last tag challenge

Quick post today so to end I will share some of our Aussie sunshine. We've had lovely spring weather.
The water tower has quite a view and yes, whales are seen from here during annual migration.

 A bird's eye view down below. Sometimes seagulls are quite comical and the group on lookout certainly were. Had visitors so out and about a lot.

This water was incredibly beautiful.
May the Lord bless and keep you all in your busyness too. Thanks for popping over and being a blessing.
Hugs
Shaz in Oz.x

I’d like to link up with the following:

** http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes.

** http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2018/11/week-495-inspired-by-song.html?m=1 2nd last card "We three Kings of Orient are."

** http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/2018/11/november-get-ready-for-christmas.html
** And of course pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com/2018/11/pixies-snippets-playground-challenge-340.html?m=1
And today's blessing from the Word. Really it's all about counting our blessings, not the sad or not nice things in our day. That encourages us so much.

WOYWW Illuminated calligraphy + Snippets makes

Well, another quick post. Amazingly it is Wednesday again, so desk share time with desks of the world over at Julia’s At the Stamping Ground. To my desk, not today some time ago. I was doing an Illuminated piece for my friend with my water colours. I’ve decided I like gouache best as wasn’t 100% happy when it was done. I shared completed work yesterday see here  or scroll down.

The desk today is a little boring and not much different to some others, but here tis anyway.

It’s tidied a tad, on left are some Christmas Stamps partly out of view, not done with yet, and card almost done right next to them at back, in front of it is a background I’m thinking about using. Mm, 25th looms and the last Rudolph day over at Scrappy Mo’s until 30th Nov. Watch this space!

A few cards I’ve done .. one is a Christmas card and a couple of birthday cards which are made totally with snippets. ie embossed sheets, precloured images and verses already done and thrown together. That is fun. Am using things up. 😊

Lastly is the Aussie shot today of a very sunshiny view with wattle flowering in foreground taken a couple of months back on a memorable day. In that scrubby growth are blue wrens hard to photograph but, oh so cheeky!

Well that’s me for the day. May God bless you every one!

Thanks for popping over and saying hi, you are REALLY appreciated!

Shaz in Oz.x
The verse for the day! 

One of my favourites, yes have lots of them! 😉 but tis great to remember when my strength runs out I’m not depleted, for God says “My grace is sufficient for thee, my Strength is made perfect in weakness.”

I’d like to link up with the following:

** http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

** http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2018/11/week-494-cas-christmas.html

** http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/2018/11/november-get-ready-for-christmas.html
** https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-glitters-gold  Christmas card.

Middle Verse in Bible = TRUST God.

Dear ones, today's post is something I shared with another struggling friend in an incredibly hard spot. 

It blessed me and thought others might blessed by it, too. It's a timeless lesson on trusting God come what may, no matter what we see. My friend doesn't look here..

An illuminated text I made recently for a precious friend & her family. This verse is the middle verse in the Bible. "It is better to TRUST in the LORD than to put confidence in man." Psalm 118:8

Many before us have walked hard, seemingly cruel, grief-filled paths and even walk them now.

We walk in a sin-spoilt world.

We are torn by our own sinful nature, which ruled in us before we became Christians, and continues now. The world that tells us to stick up for our rights, what we want matters!

This is simply not true. 

We are, as Isaiah 64 says:

.."we are all as the unclean thing .. and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
We are not our own.
If we have trusted in Jesus as our LORD and Saviour, we are not our own.

We are bond servants, slaves to Christ's will .. NOT our plans, wills or our desires.

We are bought with a price from the slave market of sin at salvation, bought by the blood of Christ.

Job is the oldest book in the Bible.

Job contains the oldest picture of full extent of human suffering.

In chap.1 after all their children their wealth were lost, Job's wife said, "to curse God and die".

Job replied: "thou speakest as the foolish ones speak. 

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.

Blessed be the name of the Lord."

**He gave an incredibly Godly answer.

Yet in spite of the completely wrong judgement by his four friends, that Job's sin caused his loss, Job was roundly condemned by God because he justified himself as righteous, with his replies to his friends.

When confronted by his holy, truly righteous God, Job cries (Job 42):

 "I repent in dust and ashes".

That's where we need to be.

All the things that befell Job were  seemingly unjust, cruel and horrid.
It is just the same for you and I.

Cruel, horrid and oh so painful.
Life really hurts.

But we must see our hearts as God sees them and be truly sorry or as Job said, repent in dust and ashes.

Hate our sin, not our situation.

That's what God wants of us.

Spirit-sight of a situation.
See as God sees.

We are very blessed with so many silver linings in those grey clouds.

Very blessed.

We need to focus on that blessing and not our grief, sorrow or loss of health, family or income, etc. Of course, it's easier said than done.
But God's help is but a prayer away.

For we can be sure..

God has a higher end in view.

He sees IN our situation, what we cannot see.

He sees in you what you see not.

He wants to glorify Himself in and through us all.

Trust Him.

He faileth not.

Satan loves to lie and torment. We need to listen to God's word not those lying torments.
I'm praying for all who read this.

If you're confused..  perhaps reading this post here may help 

We need to trust in God's wisdom not our own.

Trust God.

That's key. 

TRUST HIM when dark doubts assail you,

TRUST HIM when your faith is small, 

TRUST HIM when to simply
TRUST HIM, is the hardest thing of all.

Found in brayered snippets drawer this piece using SU Daisy Silhouette set. Love it. Snippets blue background embossed with Swirls EF. Verse digi from stash. Verse shows us to rejoice is the way to go to peace. 

I will be glad and rejoice in Thee, I will sing praise to Thy Name..

A peek from my walk yesterday. There is in photo a real tranquillity. Let us remember .."we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom 5:1b

Sorry this is long and wordy. If it blesses one, it's been worth it.

Prayer hugs,
Shaz in Oz.x

Linking up with:
1. http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes! 
2. https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-glitters-gold
Illuminated text. Middle Verse Ps 118:8. Has 23 carat gold on it.
3. http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.com/2018/11/thank-you-so-much.html
Thanksgiving. = First thanksgiving was praise to God fot His provision. This verse is on blue card with Ps 9 vs2.

Twelve Tags of Christmas with Loll!

Going to be brief hopefully! Am a fan  of Loll's blog and each year she's had this tag challenge. I could prob count on one hand the number of tags I've made! However found yesterday an unfinished Distress Inked manilla tag smooshed with ink, when first trying DI.
So!!! Here tis! My entry for Loll's Twelve Tags of Christmas!

It surprised me how an item in my reject pile can produce something I really like!  Distress Ink red/ orange with dark drips of unknown colours, dry embossed with Sizzix Dot Matrix EF, wet embossed in spots adding Gold EP. Die cut tree and star die in Gold, backed tag with gold card added gold ribbon. Now made into a card but too dark to photograph, as only do in daylight.

Very grateful to receive an honourable mention in the tag challenge! Wow! Thanks Loll. 😁

A washi tape card with scoring on either side of mounted washi strip. The CB disc thanks die was cut 3 times and off set for shadow. Top layer was with washi on cardstock and DST on back. 

Snippets card, see last post for another two. This is emboss ink resist with disc. Hero Arts Floral vine? stamp. DI used on background colours on layering base sheets also. 

Aussie Shot: Our local beach was very crowded 😁 on a windswept day.. love the delicate sand sculpture carved by wind.. pity I put my footprint just there!! This is 7 mins walk from where we live.

Okay that's it, I'm sorry, I'm way behind on commenting. I hope to catch up soon.. a common refrain these days! Then today is halfway through November!!
God bless you and all you love, in all  that you do.
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x
Thanks especially if you say hi!

How amazing a part of God's creation is the sea in all it's moods... may we see beyond and look up.. to HIM!

Linking up also with:
1.  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes! 
2. Monday Simon Says Thanks or Thanksgiving - washi
 https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=14731

3. https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-glitters-gold/ (tag)
4 Over at Allsorts is Poppies or the colour red so entering tag.
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2018/11/week-493-poppies-andor-colour-red.html?m=1

Brusho Ink resist Dragonflies + WOYWW

Hi all, hopping over to join in for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Pop over  too, at Julia's at the Stamping Ground!
To my desk!

As you'll see I'm making a Brusho mess! I save on clean up by working on junk mail it collects excess colour and water nicely. I cover up under and around desky area with it.
Then the pesky little brusho powder which strays is picked up with junk mail and put in recyling once dry! It's just more colour than original junk mail! 😊 *dragonfly stamp on left pressie from Shaz Silverwolf, on right from Ann in France.

Snippets are good. Needed one for a greeting to match chosen piece!! And so hunted in brusho snippets bag for a greeting piece!

Greeting is Elizabeth Craft design HB, frame is wonky stitched rectangle Creative set, cut and mounted as frame. Embossalicious EF. Birthday card for overseas family member.

This next set of cards are all makes from half finished stash. The Hero Arts stamp was clear heat embossed like two dragonfly but Distress inks applied instead of brushos for resist. The SB Fleur de Lis rectangle used with disc. Greeting stamp.

The next two cards were made out of one background. I reused the Elizabeth Crafts Quietfire design HB on second card. Layers on both cards were white purple and turquoise card from scraps. The one below has Embossalicious Swirls EF on it, a favourite folder.

Here you can see the layering each layer is offset by 1mm approx. to give shadow effect. I use DST when die cutting which makes this quite easy.
Last a thanks card... I love this verse yet how rarely do I use it or even apply it to my heart amd give thanks to God for all His kindness to me!

Aussie sunshine from last Sunday drive.. had a flat battery so drive for recharge! Then bought new one next day! 

Found this very intersting today! Have 3+ dozen rose bushes and use companion planting to combat pests. One bed has mint (yes, its an insect repellent and aerates soil too, as constantly pulling it out - it escaped from a pot!) Other beds have lavender growing as does lemon tree. Deters stink beetles on lemon.

This rose was given in a pot, too late for me to plant here (in memory of my darling dad 😊).  It had aphids crowding all over its new buds. I'd pruned a bit of lavender so lay pieces over buds in hope the aphid covered buds might be helped.
I know this works, but was still totally shocked at the success. See sick looking few aphids! Each bud was covered a few days ago! Love the minimal effort and no spray. Thought others might like this tip!
Well, loads of jobs here, better wriggle on!!
May God bless your day everyone! Thanks so much especially if you pop over for a peek and a chat!
Shaz in Oz. X

Our Creator God is magnificent in His creative works. It truly is awesome, in its original meaning, as we look around us. A Designer at work is clearly evident..

Eccelsiates 3: 1 -11 has a thought provoking passage, which is very well known. This begins with:
" To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: "
and am sure most are familiar with it.
This verse .." made everything beautiful in His time.."  to me is a highlight pointing to the great hope and promise of things to come ....
One day this creation, which is spoiled by sin, pain, death and sorrow, will be new again. Those rose aphids I'm sure had a good purpose in the original creation before Genesis 3 and sin ocurred! For at creation God said, behold everything is good. So everything must have been a good purpose before Gen 3.

Linking up also with:
1. . http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes! 
2.  https://alwayshappybirthday.blogspot.com/2018/11/november-challenge-birthday-anything.htm
3. Simon says Thanksgiving.. last card..https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-thanks-thanksgiving/
4. Monday Simon Says Thanks or Thanksgiving - last card.
 https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=14731

One Hundred Years of Poppies - Lest We Forget

Today is 11th November, 2018. At 11am Paris time (10 hours after Aust.) 100 years ago in Compiègne NE France, WW1 - the war to end all wars ended. A Centennial Remembrance day is worthy of a blog post.

MB poppy die, Stamp set Inspired by Stamping, Creations Rectangle set Sizzix Dot Matrix EF DP snippets as were all cardstock, but base. 

Above card win over at Simon Says Stamp Wed Challenge HERE!, 

Oft quoted poem"In Flanders Fields" is a war poem in written during the WW1 by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. He wrote it on May 3, 1915, after the funeral of friend and fellow soldier.
The poem & poppy are prominent Remembrance Day symbols throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, particularly in Canada, where "In Flanders Fields" is one of the nation's best-known literary works. The poem is also widely known in the USA, where it is associated with Veterans Day & Memorial Day.
Poem and more information found here.
Our family had one special uncle of my dad's who died in World War 1.

He was Charles, as was dad, curiously, and both were artists. See dad's work here.
I've uncle Charlie's sketchbook see below.

As you can see he had some skill with a pencil. He was killed a year and one month after he left NZ (Fern Hill); and a year and one month before the end of the war. His grave is in Belgium. He was 22 years old. As my dad only saw his NZ family once when he was four, he knew very little of them.. which is sad. So we really know only what his sketchbook tells us - that he had a sympathetic eye .. and also there are politically orientated jokes in it as well.

Possibly one of his four sisters.. but no idea really.
This verse below in Isaiah came to mind as I thought on the great sacrifice of so many in this war and even still goes so sadly today.
Many mother's father's gave the ultimate gift, their own son or daughter.
Our Heavenly Father likewise gave His only Son for us and these men women in generations before. The gift of His Son was that we might have eternal life through faith in Him, and know peace in the life to come. (Rom 6:23, 5:1)
These who gave their life in WW1 etc gave that we might know peace in this life.
God sees and weeps with us over our sorrows. The shortest verse in the Bible is "Jesus wept" in John 11:35. Jesus sorrowed over Lazarus' death, even though He knew He would soon raise Lazarus from the dead.

"... they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." Is 49
This verse in Isaiah is speaking specifically of Israel and Jerusalem, but it extends to all who are His by faith in Him too. "...for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted." Is. 49:13b
One day the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6) the Lord Jesus shall come and peace shall indeed reign (John 14).

 So let us each pause and remember and give thanks for the men and women who gave their lives that we might live in freedom. 
The following words were written by Rudyard Kipling in part of poem oft sung:

"God of our fathers, known of old,

   Lord of our far-flung battle-line,

Beneath whose awe-ful Hand we hold

   Dominion over palm and pine—

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget—lest we forget!

In the morning and at the going down of the sun, 

We will remember them.

Lest we forget.

Shaz in Oz.x

So very thankful!! This card won the Wednesday challenge at Simon Says voucher... very blessed!!
Linking up also to:
1. SNIPPETS playground Card all snippets.
2. Word Art Wednesday. http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
3. https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2018/11/week-493-poppies-andor-colour-red.html
4. https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-thanks-thanksgiving/ we are very thankful for all who gave their all for us, & as my card says: " Remembering with you the life of someone so dear."