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

Wednesday 31 July 2019

Snippets for Scrappy Mo’s Christmas Challenge + WOYWW

Yes, back again quickly with another card, just in time for Scrappy Mo’s July Christmas challenge.. as today is 31st July, ooops! But at least I’ve managed to join every month, often with multiple offerings a blessing cos am into three dozen now for Dec. 😊 now to desks as it’s time for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Pop over to Julia’s Stamping Ground to check out all the best crafty desks! To my desk this morning Desk 1.
This was earlier today, I’m getting ready for PanPastel background so have out pastels, sponges, and Xpress-it card which is lovely and smooth for it. Always best to lay down a light colour down first before adding more, makes it easier, with inks, pastels etc. here used light mauve.
Desk 2 this is PanPastel part finished and heat embossed the Numbers verse from few weeks back (here - answered **PanPastel questions** at end of  this post) by Stampendous. I used the T section of the Stamp-a-ma-jig to make sure I’d lined up wooden stamp correctly, with the measure twice stamp once technique!
Here is the offering for Mo’s challenge...
An upcycled Card, I started it on 25th would you believe, did bit each day and finally done by 31st! The verse “For unto Is A Child is Born” is by Unity an Itty Bitty Set, used SU Oval punches for the greeting. 
A few Aussie photos today, firstly sweet pea in our garden, it’s totally confused, it thinks it’s 1st Sept and spring not 31st July, and winter. The plant normally grows to 5 feet+, it's less than 2 feet.. and flowering.
The rest, are courtesy of a travelling family member, firstly a double rainbow from their beach view campsite this afternoon.
Secondly a lovely (thankfully from a distance) lace monitor lizard also near their camp. Amazing markings.
Lastly ‘tis some fairy penguins from a visit at end of last week to Preservation Park (caring injured mammals, etc), when their grandies were in town.
Well, that’s me for today. I’m a lot better I think, but not counting my chickens really. Praising God and so thankful, legs are ok wondrously and am able to walk and even work in the garden, starting the roses on this Monday! just in time for winter work, eh?!!
Pray you’re all well, and thanks so much for popping over for a peek and chat. May God richly bless you wherever you maybe!
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x
Thought for Today
Our God is never weary! This really grabbed me this week, I’m up to Isaiah, in reading my bible through in a year.
Isaiah 40:28-29 
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Wednesday 24 July 2019

Watercolour Penny Black Floral Bouquet + WOYWW

Yes, somehow  it’s Wednesday again.. and time for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday.
Pop over to Julia’s Stamping Ground to check out all the best crafty desks!
 To my desk this morning.
Monkeys hopped down to say hi, have a card in centre - thought I’d finished last night! Then decided stamped verse cream card oval was too pale, so brought down my gold paints by Finetec to colour it up, as used it on original floral piece. In hindsight, wish I’d masked the oval off, sprayed it with golden mist Tattered Angels spray, it would’ve been a nicer finish. However ‘tis done. The piece of watercolour paper with floral has been looking at me for weeks, it is the PB Floral Bouquet Stamp I multiple stamped to get a background sheet. See other uses back here and here, for previous two cards made with one sheet of water coloured PB embossed stamping. The Embossing makes it easy to watercolour and used a mixture of pencils, DI and shimmer watercolours. Often mix like that. 
Here’s the finished card. Used the Spellbinder border die this time and the CB 5 x7 embossing folder “Rosa”. The embossed verse stamp is an unmounted stamp bought ages ago on eBay, maybe Victorine, a US company?
Used SB Petite Scalloped circles for central verse. The corners are CB Vintage corners, a long disc. set sadly.
Well, Aussie photos are two pretty sunsets.
We are really spoilt with some lovely panoramas sometimes! Loved the silhouetted fishermen in this one! 
Still not walking, but that’s due to cold, partly gone, as well as left calf. Right shin is all better, took 2 mths. Patience, waiting is better than not healing tho’! 😊
 I must apologise for not commenting much in past week. Lots of WOYWWers, and other bloggers, have embedded comment boxes. My iPad Safari argues with Blogger. Even though I’m signed in comments are lost on embedded boxes so have to go over to another web browser. It’s extra steps when not well. Pop up comment boxes work just fine. Embedded are very unstable. 
(See this post here, if you want to fix it). So failed miserably last week, will try do better.
Lord bless you all wherever you maybe,
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x 
Thought for the day.
Today’s verse comes from completed card, the promises of showers of blessing, which the hymn comes from, averse often overlooked but it is full of the promise of God!
Linking card up to:

Wednesday 17 July 2019

PanPastels meet Penny Black + WOYWW

Yes, it’s here again.. desk day!! It’s WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday... please head over to Julia’s HERE for desks of the world! Several desks as been doing backgrounds with PanPastels.
Desk 1 this morning has a pile of new items, boring really, tape, two pads 12 x12" paper. Was a girl's day out last week (with non Crafters), but I managed to visit the scrapbooking store an hour north 😊 which was closing down so had 50% off everything. To right are PanPastel image with dies, working out what was going to use.
Next desk was starting with pastels, did do some rough smooching on this one, as wanted it to give a bit of texture. The colours and style of background were chosen to match the cover of the book (Heaven, Your Real Home by Joni Eareckson Tada) I was giving my friend. She really loved them both
Here are two pieces made. Larger piece was going to be laminated as a bookmark - then realised, oops! heat embossed the stamped verse, so it couldn’t be laminated!
 So did another smaller one as didn’t have much time left to make it. Also forgot to take photo of it finished. It was double sided same colours both sides but two different verses. 
Made wet Embossed image into simple card, stamped the PB Aspire stamp a few times in Memento grey I think. The verse was embossed in Platinum EP and is a disc. wood mount stamp from early 1990, Stampendous? Die is double stitched Poppy Crafts Rectangles, which I extended to fit my 5 x7 Aust size card. First time I’ve done that will do it again.
Now to Aussie photos. 
Remember the giant lemon 2 weeks ago here? Well, I’ve come down with cold, using lots of lemon/honey so decided to see how much juice this 540g (1.18oz) lemon had? 

Used electric squeezer as it’s way too big for my small hands. 
Answer of how much juice in one lemon? 
200ml or 7oz! 
The lemon was very juicy, as they all are actually. Eureka are a very good lemon, frost tolerant too, ‘cos we grew it in frosty climate as child.
Here are some beautiful grasses with winter afternoon light glinting through them. It really caught my eye when out, and had to click! So delightfully fine detailed grass heads. God’s glorious creation.
This sunrise is the most stunning I recall seeing in a very long time. Don’t see them them often, though. We’ve had very cold weather (for us), frosty in some spots, but am never up to see it. 
Well, that’s it for the day, both legs are healing, ... thankfully, feeling miserable with cold, but good excuse to take it easy, isn’t it?
Thanks for popping over and may God bless your day wherever you maybe.
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x
Edit to answer queries in Comments:
1. I find good card is the secret to blending well with PP. I use a very smooth card, called  XPress blending cardstock (meant for ink markers) bought here in Oz.
2. I seal PP with good quality (not cheap or tacky) hair spray (just like I do with DoX, etc). 
3. Use damp cloth to keep fingers clean or tissue as they do get messy when working.
Build up colours gradually. And don't give up too soon. Things do smooth out.
Thought for the Day:
 The verse on the card is a Hebrew OT benediction often used today.
The blessing of Almighty God upon such a one as I is hard to comprehend at times, but God’s Love is very great. He delights to bless, unworthy though we are, if we but ask!
Linking card up to:

Wednesday 10 July 2019

Snippets with Bokeh technique + CAS .Alcohol Lift + WOYWW

hi there everyone, I only seem to blog on Wed these days! And since it’s Wednesday, it’s time for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday.. pop over to Julia’s Stamping Ground to check out all the best desks .. you learn soo much! Warning its addictive...in the nicest way.
My desk this morning:
Well, there slightly to left underneath the A4 Courture Creations GoPower Pro plates is  a green corner of start of a yupo card and new stamping technique of Alcohol lift over at the CAS mix it up July Challenge. Their samples though needed an Alcohol lift ink pad which I’ve nowhere to buy except online. Not intending to do that at moment. However found easy way via older Jennifer McGuire video (here.. it’s alcohol lift with Ranger Archival soft grey ink). 
Desk monkeys have hopped down to say hi again, next to Crop lighthouse and WOYWW frame. Monkeys live on desk lamp base at back. Also at middle right is white ink applicator used with Versafine white chalk ink to make Bokeh technique, coloured stencil die cuts of random sized circles. The  base sheet is on last weeks desk back here. I loved how both cards came together, share below.
First card is the Bokeh base, used oxides on last week’s desk, made frame with ovals (Cottage Cutz Stitched Ovals ). Used two largest dies, adhered a piece of the scrap inked card with Bokeh sheet under frame, AND have enough for another card😊. Dies were used to make oval frame around inky background below.
😊 Memory Box Blushing Flower branch cut twice, then adhered over the coloured oval frame. Added the Hero Arts hugs and prayers set, stamped “sending hugs and prayers” greeting.
Second card with alcohol lift technique, if you had right ink pad you wouldn’t get the faint grey tone, but more white. TIP: Think you need to use stamp positioner with this technique as need to restamp a number of times to lift alcohol ink. Since this is translucent yupo I think this is fine. Stamp is Hero Arts Delicate leaf cluster (also used here). Love it’s oriental dreamy look. This alcohol ink yupo sheet was failed one, ie I didn’t like it, so cleaned it off with isopropyl alcohol as you can with yupo, and reinked. 
To do the lift just inked up stamp with Light grey Ranger Archival to lift of the outline of the stamp. Acc to Jennifer McGuire it is only ink that works (apart from newer release alcohol lift ink pad). Only one I tried, very glad I had a mini pad. Stamping greetings deep blue Versafine using Inspired by Stamping sympathy set by Joanna, think it’s disc. sadly. Lovely set. Used Creatif Wonky Rectangles for frame mount. 
Aussie photos were taken on Monday when visiting, as you can see we’ve been enjoying lovely winters sunshine .. you get softer hues at this time of year.
Lovely crisp clarity too, second zoomed shot has a yacht on the middle of skyline. God's creation is amazing. 
Well, that’s it for today, may the LORD bless you all wherever you maybe. Thanks so much for popping over especially if you’ve time for a chat.
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x

Thought for the day:
Love this verse. 
Yes! "..the Lord he is God: .. he  made .. us..  we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." 
How blessed are we? Very!
Joining up with the following:
Used Snippets on both cards so off to the playground... ah, I bags a swing in the sunshine .. 
http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com/2019/07/pixies-snippets-playground-challenge-356.html

Wednesday 3 July 2019

Penny Black Poppy Stamp, Washi Card + WOYWW

hi there everyone! Yes, it’s Wednesday again, *blink* and it’s here!! 
Time for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday.. pop over to Julia’s Stamping Ground to check out much better desks than mine!
My desk this afternoon:
Well as you can see I’ve some inky business going on here, oxides out, two greens + three blues DOx smooched on paper + on mat in random fashion and spritzed water then dried. Going to do some bokeh with it I think (How to do Bokeh Here). Also random tools on desk but no scissors, must be a first!
Showing some cards made last year but not shared, busy with dad, a worthy occupation. First is a washi card, was so glad when found this photo. I'd looked on my blog record in April or so to find how I’d done it as couldn’t recall, it wasn’t there. ie unpublished and had given it away.
The Die is triple cut “Just for you” , the top layer is white card with washi tape matching on top and second layer is gold highlight). Plain card with wide Chinese scene washi on white card too, over gold cardstock and sea-blue, rounded top corners.
Second card is obviously an 80th birthday card, I’ve no idea for whom this card was made! It's Penny Black Dynamic Poppy stamp, inked in Soft beige ink, perhaps Memento, coloured with combo watercolour and coloured pencil highlights. 
Masked then inked the *background of image while still in Creatif Wonky rectangles with variety of DI to match stamp.
 Mounted on embossed Embossaliscious Floral EF, ribbon at bottom, greeting and numbers were die cut out of matching inked cardstock. 
Aussie shots:- after showing lemon tree last week blog post (just below this post), I picked two buckets full of lemons today, probably same amount left on tree, will give most away. 
Largest very juicy lemon was 540g (1.19lb) breaking last year’s record of just over 500g or half a kilo. 
The hibiscus is called Marnie (our name for it). Lovely giant lemon one too, about handspan wide. 
Last one is late afternoon photo of the creek, love the colours.
Legs are getting better, thanks everyone. Time heals.
May God bless your day everyone, where you maybe. Thanks for popping over for a peek and especially if you have time for a chat. 😁
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x

Thought for the day:
Love this thought.. the words.. my “life is hid IN Christ, IN God.” have been going round and round in my head this past week, there is nothing that can touch us there that God does not allow, to read more see my blog post Here!
Linking up to:
1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes     http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au  
2. Simon Says Monday Challenge- PB poppy card and variety of inks used on *background.  https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=17072
3. Sweet Little Stampers Anything Gies Washi card https://sweetstamperschallenge.blogspot.com/2019/06/33-anything-goes.html
4. Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything goes OR  partial stamping http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2019/06/pbsc-june-anything-goesoptional-partial_15.html?m=1
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