Well, everyone, it’s desky share time over at Julia’s Stamping Ground. Yes, I’m busy doing my Feb birthday cards. They're in abundance with family and friends, so need to be organised. Today it’s the male cards turn! Last night watched a video which had suggestions for male cards. One to was to keep the design CAS, just what I was doing!
My desk as you can see has watercolour smooching.
This is an old technique. Simply grab water colour paper, water colour pens or ink lay down colour on suitably sized ink block, spritz generously and smooch. Let the ink seep into paper a bit. Spritz the back and top of the paper first, too, it helps it sit flat and take the colour well. If you don’t get enough colour first go, or it doesn't quite look right, you can add more. Let it dry naturally as it looks better.
Then do stamping, I always design a scene for background before jumping into real background papers. Added some textured embossing to cards, too.
This set of Stamps is cheap China set. One of greetings is faulty, crooked words, but otherwise stamps well.
I made four cards in all, but one might go in redo pile, as not keen on it.
Today’s photos are from my visit to northern France in Aug 2018, on the way to see family in Norway. They have a magnificent garden and we visited a castle too. I was so grateful the Lord enabled me to go on this trip.
It was my miracle trip in every sense of the word... as many WOYWWers know.
Thanks everyone for popping over for a peek and chat. You make me smile. I pray every blessing upon you and those you love too.
Hugs Shaz in Oz. X
My new blog over HERE at Wonderful Words of Life. I’d love it if you’d pop over, join and say hi there too. 💕
Today’s photos are from my visit to northern France in Aug 2018, on the way to see family in Norway. They have a magnificent garden and we visited a castle too. I was so grateful the Lord enabled me to go on this trip.
It was my miracle trip in every sense of the word... as many WOYWWers know.
Hugs Shaz in Oz. X
My new blog over HERE at Wonderful Words of Life. I’d love it if you’d pop over, join and say hi there too. 💕
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| Great indeed is Thy FAITHFULNESS! What we need to get us through. 😊 |
Also entering these cards in:
2. Allsorts Challenge
That technique made some really gorgeous backgrounds Shaz, looked a bit like your beach photo! Your overseas pics are beautiful too, wish it was that green here! Have a great week, Cathy x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful male cards, well done with the watercolours block technique and these lovely stamps!!
ReplyDeleteYour photos from Norway are amazing!
They are gorgeous Shaz. I Love the embossing and the beautiful stamp set..Loz
ReplyDeleteAnother set of pretty cards, so different from your other entry......I first learned this smooshing technique from Shari Carroll when she was at Hero Arts - it makes such a unique background, never the same twice! Thank you for sharing your work with us at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge!
ReplyDeleteI just want to tell you I really appreciate you showing us the simple steps nd explaining so clearly. I am new to using water colors and copics so I have no Idea what I am doing . I am used to stamping and layering for cards and I also do calligraphy. so this is going to be really new to me. but I can't wait to do the simple steps here and Lord willing I will get the nack! Praise the LORD gfor your blog and looking forward to blogging with you! THANKS SO MUCH!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch effective backgrounds for the stamps you've chosen Shaz. 2018 was certainly a year for travelling. Glad you managed to find time to visit so many family and friends and lovely photos to look back on too. Happy WOYWW. Sarah #4
ReplyDeletegorgeous cards, all of them! great photos from your trip last year too. Happy WOYWW Helen #5
ReplyDeleteA beautiful scene Shaz, thanks so much for joining in with our 'Make it Masculine' them at Penny Black and More challenge this week.
ReplyDeleteB x
Beautiful backgrounds Shaz, and fabulous finished cards - love that silvery/brown embossed background.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the photos - I love travelling vicariously through other's photos.
Blessings
Maxine
Those Tombows are a real workhorse within our crafty stash, they do the job perfectly creating a wonderful backdrop for your stamped scene.
ReplyDeleteLovely to look back on those photo's Shaz, they hold so many happy memories.
Happy woyww Hugs Tracey #9
Morning Shaz. Some lovely cards there - great little birds in the water in the first one! I like the backgrounds - not something I have ever tried... have to see what I can do when my energy comes back. Lovely photos of your time in France.
ReplyDeleteTake care. God bless.
Margaret #1
The northern France pictures are wonderful Shaz, thank you for sharing them with us today.
ReplyDeleteI just fell in love with your cards and thank you for the reminder of a technique which I had forgotten about but which is so useful and so pretty. You have made some absolutely beautiful cads there - just love every one of them.
God Bless, and take care my friend - Neet 8 xx
Thanks for sharing your lovely backgrounds. Photos are all great. I love seeing the other areas of our world. Flowers, I'd love to have them RIGHT NOW. I've had enough winter and we've been on the good side of not much but COLD. I want to be outdoors walking !! Have a great week Enjoy today.
ReplyDeleteI really love that watercolour technique and the way you transformed it into cards - I'm going to take inspiration from that! Great pics of your travels, love the stripey caterpillar in particular!
ReplyDeleteHugs LLJ 14 xxx
Hi Shaz,
ReplyDeleteI've never tried that technique so I'll add it to my to try list. I love those stamps, they were originally bought out by Stamping Up. You did a great job of the cards. I didn't know you had been to france, I'm sure you had a great time taking beautiful photos.
Love Carol x
Hi Shaz, love all the cards, gorgeous technique! Once or twice I've had stamps- and not the China ones- that have had a crooked sentiment. Ended up taking them off the wood mount and cutting apart so I could level them out. Awesome pics from France, what beautiful weather you had. Agree about Simon, I was never that confident at that age. I was really surprised how young he is. Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #7 XxX
ReplyDeleteGreat work space have a great week xx Jan (21)
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourite verses on your photo - thank you.
ReplyDeleteLove those cards, lovely colours you've used.
God Bless
Christine #24
What a lovely technique, all the cards are beautiful. Makes me wish it was my birthday. I think I recognize that house, I was lucky to visit it a few years back as well.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Joanne
I love those watercolour backgrounds, really soft and delicate, perfect for stamping on. You certainly had a great trip last summer. I am just sorry that I did not get to see you on your visit over here. So many great memories to store away. xx Maggie (Silvercrafter) #18
ReplyDeleteI love your water colour backgrounds and the finished cards are stunning. Take care and have a good week. With love and God Bless, Caro x (#27)
ReplyDeleteLove your watercolour technique, must visit it again sometime and have a play! Beautiful cards as always! I recognise those places! (tee-hee!) The caterpillars did a great munching work on our carrots and turned into stunning swallowtail butterflies! It was so wonderful to meet up with you dear Sis xxx
ReplyDeleteSuper Man ca4d, love the image on the background you have made, thanks for joining us at Allsorts, xxxxx
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love your masculine cards Sharon! The stamps look so beautiful on your watercolored background. So natural and CAS. I don't know which one you aren't keen on, as I am loving them all! Stunning photo's from your miracle trip, I so love the gardens, caterpillars, and castle! I can't imagine taking a miracle trip like that, but so happy that you got to! Hugs, Brenda
ReplyDeleteHi Shaz, I love all the cards. don;t see any that need redoing.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of your trip to France.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Happy WOYWW 503
Sue #2
Oooh, such beautiful backgrounds, they really make the perfect backgrounds for the stamps you’ve used. They’re the type of designs that would work for any kind of occasion. Beautiful photos from Norway too.
ReplyDeleteHi Shaz thanks for popping by. Lovely cards. I recognise that stamp set. It is a copy of a Stampin Up one.( I did have the actual SU one) I think they are suing the company in China as they have stolen the design - apparently they ( and others) steal a lot of designers work - often reproducing them badly and putting smaller designers out of business. Anne x 16
ReplyDeleteChinese stamps dies are also in my experience freebies offered on magazines which also maybe inferior quality the SU set was different, a limited offer that came as hostess gift and has been unavailable for a while now..
DeleteHi Shaz. I had that stamp set, not hostess one. Was in catalogue , I think couple of years ago.I bought it :-) Much sought after.
DeleteI just know there has been a lot of discussion on Craft Forums re AliExpress and others stealing designs. It is just something I feel strongly about, especially in respect of smaller designers. No offence intended. I was just saying incase you were not aware and I did not intend to upset, criticise or offend.
Gorgeous photos Shaz and the cards are so nice too. The old techniques still work to do the job. Thanks for the visit to mine and happy woyww (what's left of it), sending hugs, Angela x17x
ReplyDeleteWonderful watercolor backgrounds for mens card. You made a great scene on each card. Simple as it has to be. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing fabulous photos from France. I love to see pictures from all around the world taken from people who enjoyed to be there. :-)
Hugs, Sonja
love how you colored the background and love the stamps, great texture on the cards too.
ReplyDeleteMore great pics from your vacation, I am glad you were able to do it
Another great technique, and I love the masculine cards that you’ve used it for, they are lovely. Let it dry naturally is the prob fir me, I’m so impatient! Gorgeous pictures from France, I can almost fell the warmth!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are beautiful! What a great idea! Nice summer pics to warm up a cold winter day - lovely! Thanks for your visit, have a great week, Lindart #25
ReplyDeleteYour cards are so amazing...love how you changed each one up a bit. And your photos...simply beautiful! I always love seeing your amazing pictures.
ReplyDeleteHi, Shaz,
ReplyDeleteThose four cards are great and not just suitable for the men in our lives.
And those pic from France are fab.
I'm all very behind responding to visits to my blog last week, the days simply fly by and I often get to the end with very little knowledge of what I have done all day.So the MRI went fine but still a CT to have before I see the consultant.
Chris
Those cards are beautiful, thanks for explaining the technique... I will dive into my (small, compared to some/most deskers) stamp-stash to see if there are usefull stamps to create similar cards as I have some male birthdays in the near future coming up! Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier, happy ~belated~ woyww and have a great weekend! Hug from Holland, Marit #20
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards, Shaz! Thank you for walking us through your process. Garden/ castle pictures are gorgeous! So glad you were able to go. A miracle in deed. Creative Blessings! Kelly #32
ReplyDelete