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 28 August 2019

Pop Up Slider Card + Blogger Tips + WOYWW

(Warning.. photo heavy post)
Hi there everyone, today sharing a blogger tip at End of this post - on how to link multiple cards from one post to any blog challenge site.
It’s Wednesday so time for WOYWW or What is on Your Workdesk Wednesday over at Julia’s at the Stamping Ground! To my desk!
Taken yest., about to start a Rudolph Day card, for Mo’s Christmas Challenge (here) that runs from 25th to end of each month. In centre I’ve a very pretty card received last Christmas for upcycle? Left a stamp set may use. Stamp and dies at back centre  standing up are waiting to be used. 😉
Far right is card shown on last week’s post (should be in mail). Under it, a pile of card bits left from making pop up Mario Kart card for very special 10th birthday!
Here’s the various stages of pop up slider card, I accidentally cut through too much but repaired it! 😉 
To cut rectangle you use rectangle die BUT don’t cut one end.. misjudged, cut just a bit. But all fixed!
This is other side of pop up slider mechanism scored + popped up; always seem to forget one part in steps. This time forgot to put writing piece that goes inside before attaching to base. Oops! Removed from base and corrected. For previous tutorial with great video link see here.. on video the crafter eyeballs it ... no measuring! Love it. ❤️
Finished card... *flat, (partially 3D'ed the image, it's courtesy of Google)
and *close up (font used is Mario Kart font, free from DaFont site),
then *popped up.
Below is Rudolph day card, a very simple upcycle! (*flower on Rudolph card is a Waratah NSW floral emblem, Sturt Desert Pea below is SA floral emblem)
Now to Aussie shots, continuing tale of special folk in centre of Western Australia. *Skip these if like.
Called into Sandstone after had been out to London Bridge.
Apparently London Bridge was wide enough for a horse and buggy in years gone by ... I wouldn’t be game to walk across it today 😳 The mauve wildflowers added to the colour palate of the landscape... very pretty! 
Set up camp between Sandstone and Mt Magnet. Needed to put on tea. 😋 Corn meat, white onion sauce, baked veggies... who says food on the road isn’t tasty?
Mt Magnet was much smaller than I imagined. It only has a population of around 500.
Next photo is out of order, from yest, these are Sturt Desert Pea, a stunning red bloom, the display went on for more than 20 km (12.5 miles)!! It’s spring wildflower time in WA. 
***Apologies to Marit,** last week I commented on all folk, but her. I tried three or four different ways and times to comment, but Wordpress blog insistence that my comment was spam each and every time, even if edited altered comment, caused me to give up. Sorry! 
Tip for Multiple Linking on Challenge Blogs.
 I complained to Linky folk and received a simple tip to solve it. Seems to work on all variety of link sites
Card one do normal link for first link
Second card you just add directly to the end #3 if more do #4 #5 and so on for some reason you don’t do #2.
So mine would be:
Card 1 https://calligraphycards-shazinoz.blogspot.com/2019/08/stencilled-oxides-and-butterfly.html
Card 2 https://calligraphycards-shazinoz.blogspot.com/2019/08/stencilled-oxides-and-butterfly.html#3
And next one #4, so on, hopefully that helps solve multiple linking from one blog post issue. 

Thought of Day:
Well, God bless everyone and thanks so much for popping over for peek and chat, may God richly bless you and those you love,
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz. Xx
Thought of Day:
This verse really encourages me to keep on keeping on, it WILL be worth it all. He fails Not. He picks us up when (not if) we do.
*https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-clean-and-simple-3/ Christmas card is CAS. Dry embossed background, popped up Upcycled card from 2018, ribbon with die cut Digi verse hand edged in gold to match image. Rounded corners..done!
https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/ S is for... Slider card!.. for Thomas' double  figures 😁 birthday!! And S is .... for Scarlet Waratah flower.
* Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge. http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2019/08/chnc-challenge-452.html?m=1

Wednesday 21 August 2019

Stencilled Oxides and Butterfly Challenge + WOYWW

Hi there everyone, yes, it’s Desk Day.. time for Julia’s WOYWW or What is on Your Workdesk Wednesday over HERE!! 😊
My Desk this morning is a tad out of kilter. That’s base of desk lamp - a dying breed of fluoro desk lamps from 1970’s. Dad used it for painting or for working by, in craft room many years and much used before at other desks. Yesterday it went to the light shop, as it had suddenly gone kupput! 
The man chuckled when he saw it was being held together by sticky tape, quite literally. I’d taken it five years ago to another friend who had repairs business, but since retired, and he mended it 😆 taping the piece holding connectors together. Anyway light shop-man duly repaired it with same method and sold me new globe and told me to bring it back if any issues. Just for record he sells lights not repair them, but he knew dad well as he was his framer of his paintings for years in previous business. 
I am working on card but can’t share, sorry, till late this month. My desk monkeys with WOYWW badges sit on lamp base at far rear right of my desk, usually out of view. Need to put them all back that’s my first WOYWW PiF from Jozarty, + the cross in my pocket she made me. Also a dumfing from Jo from 2015.😊
This is the card I was working on last week (on last week’s desk below or Here! shows it being inked). I really love it, the Oxides give it such pop and blend well, used Darkroom Door Stamp, and Hero Arts praying for you set for stamped greeting. Mrs A’s Butterfly Challenge, has letter J for Juicy Orange, Jade Green, Jasmine, Jute, Jewels, Joy fold, but will stick to colours with butterflies. 
Both stamped pieces + base with sponged Oxides on TH Dot stencil were all snippets. White card base was not, yay! so off to the Snippets playground!
Now to my Aussie photos, you can skip these if you like, from someone travelling across Oz. Commentary as follows:
Can certainly see why this at Kalgoorlie is called the superpit... the mining vehicles have to be seen to be believed.
In it’s heyday there were 93 hotels and 20 breweries 😳 in Kalgoorlie (big gold mining town). There are around 20 hotels now and some are being or have been restored to their former glory.
Gwalia which is a former gold-mining town just out of Leonora. Today, Gwalia is essentially a ghost town, having been largely deserted since the main source of employment, the Sons of Gwalia gold mine, closed in 1963.
There is a museum open and also Hoover House which serves a great afternoon tea on it’s veranda. This is a beautiful home, a mansion in its era. It cost 6 times the average house of the time. Herbert Hoover who was the mine manager at the time later became the 31st president of the United States.
This photo is bit out of order but so pretty - between Sandstone and Mt Magnet.
This map of Australia shows what a journey across the centre would look ... certainly not as crow flies!
From Wikipedia: “The distance between the east and west as the crow flies is 4,030 km (2,500 mi), or 3,685 km (2,290 mi) from north to south.”
Well, that’s it for me today, was better last week in commenting but not good enough! Hope to do everyone, God willing, this week.
 I’m working through a new mobile. Nearly all info transferred over, been a learning curve using its new features. Old faithful mobile keeps shutting down, that’s sure sign it’s in way out. Do blog posts + all photos on my mobile devices these days, + all commenting! Hence issues with some website settings.
Happy WOYWW everyone, and may God bless your day wherever you maybe. Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x.
Thought for today:
Yesterday I was praying with a friend, by phone, She is having a rough time, and as we prayed, she prayed this verse. It was so apt for her situation that thought I’d share it here, that it may bless you also, in any storm we do need a shelter.
In the storms of life we can be sure the Lord Jesus will be there for us IF we but seek Him! 
He alone can still the wind and waves and say: “ Peace! Be still!”
Thank you Lord Jesus.
Linking up with:

Wednesday 14 August 2019

Watercolours with Inkblock, Butterflies Oxide +WOYWW

Yes, surprise! It’s Wednesday again, time for Julia’s WOYWW What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, over HERE!! 😊 
Desk day, or in my case several desks! First Desk: this morning
Mrs A’s Butterfly Challenge, this fortnight is letter J - J for Juicy Orange, Jade Green, Jasmine, Jute, Jewels, Joy fold, but will stick to colours with butterflies. A Darkroom Door stamp on white card inked & heat embossed in my “use-it” bags (ok, it hadn't made the bag yet, was just sitting on side desk😆) Loll used her Oxides -> thus this idea was born, have finished colours and looks fab. 
*When made up will add as edit to bottom of post, DV. For some reason Wednesdays are extremely busy, so yet to finish it.
Desk 2: Watercolour ink block card  - double extended the TH Sizzix EF. Varied inks for smooch with Memento Rich Cocoa and Brilliance Copper, mixed together as smooched. Swipe VERY lightly so ink doesn’t go into lower grooves.
Kraft base, decided to change design, this is my sixth card in this style, varied ink block stamped images (step by step explained HERE), or maybe seventh lost count. 
Desk 3: Decided to re-layer watercolour block imprint for bit more depth. So here am re-inking on block spritz and press into right spot.
Finished card, diecut with Wonky Rectangles by Creatif, inked up so DP from old pad to go underneath, then mounted on the timber base, Brown card under it, on side added brown ribbon on top of kraft woven ribbon, brad from stash. Done, yess! 
Now to Aussie picks for this week, in Central Oz courtesy of travelling family. It’s a wide brown land, sadly many in need of RAIN, please Lord. 
On the Lassiter Highway to Uluru... the Mt Connor view point. 
Salt pan which is across the road, from first view.
Left early and drove out past Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock). 
Had breakfast at Kata Tjuta ...certainly breakfast with a view.
Crossed the WA border, on the Great Central Road!
Overnight camp at “Behind the Ranges” opposite Gil’s Pinnacles. Now on WA time. The landscape is just stunning... such a picturesque drive!
Surprised at the mountain ranges, particularly the beauty of the Rawlinson Range, the red colours with the green vegetation and contrasting with the blue skies! Was expecting the flat country that have driven through for so long.
These photos are really nothing to the real colour dynamic one can see with human eye, any camera is a poor imitation of God's amazing creation - the human eye.
That’s it for today’s share, thanks so much for popping over for peek and chat, may God bless your day wherever you maybe.
Prayer hugs,
Shaz.x 
Thought for the Day:
Just two verses to ponder, how blessed we are, so rich by faith in our God!
Linking up with:

Wednesday 7 August 2019

105th Birthday, Penny Black, PanPastel Tips + WOYWW

Hi there everyone! What happens to the other 6 days in a week? Am sure there must be more Wednesdays in 2019 than in previous years! 😉
 Yes, time for WOYWW again or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday? Pop over to the Queen of Deskland - Julia of the Stamping Ground. 
Julia of the Stamping Ground.
My desk this morning. You see I’m tidying up... but in my typical of fashion of attacking several piles at once! There is on right a pile of scissors.  How many hands for that many pair?? On left  some hopeless/ hopeful (take your pick!) samples for the CAS watercolour Challenge with Loll’s technique of paper towel colour lifting. Think her towel must different to mine, it’s very reluctant to yield up any colour it had. See its on top.. it's a deep soulful green, even though tried all sorts of wetting methods, the colour lift  looks "wishy-washy blerk", in my books. Will do as base for something else. 
Reason for disarray? Too many piles of VUF (Very Useful Schtuff). Some have exploding boxes, chez moi it's  stacks, piles here and there.. some have shrunk thankfully.
Now last week had panpastels showed this desk here.
Top Tips with PanPastel (answers to queries).
1. Use good smooth blending cardstock this is key. I use Xpress blending card for copics. 
2.  Chose colours. Always if can have light one in selection. If no light one, use light chalks.
3. Light colour is essential as base of colour, with pastels, ink blending, brayering, etc it’s always best for blendability to have light base coat, kind of like Gesso.
4. Don’t slather all on at once. Like ink, build up layers bit by bit, they do blend very beautifully.
5. Apply with sofft foam blenders esp for PP but I also use makeup sponges and cotton wool balls.
6. PanPastels are much quicker to work with than inks. Very quick to do background, much longer in ink. 
7. To seal or not to seal? Some don’t but I like seal my pastels. Use a good quality hair spray, like you’d use on your hair. (ie not tacky cheap one like I had once). 
** Hair spray also removes the oxidisation of Oxides and makes their colour pop.
8. Have handy a very lightly damp tissue, paper towel, rag to wipe excess off hands. NOT “Wet Ones”, they’re bad for environment, and the children’s future. Very anti “Wet Ones”, as they are called here in Oz.
To my cards... here’s the one I was working on last week. Used same Stampendous 1990’s Stamp verse of Numbers 6.
Penny Black Aspire Floral Stamp done in grey on background too.
Second card.
Wow! I’ve never done a triple figure card before, let alone an 105th card. It’s made to appeal to diminished senses of 105 years, bright, shiny and very textural. Silver frame in foil card is CCD, Distress Rock crytal in sticky paper underneath, two Butterfly is Pippi by MB, several layers, including base with Isabella matching die; SB Petite oval dies for greeting. Stamps are by Sweet ‘n Sassy, silver embossed. 
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him”. Ps 37:
Think that’s good for all of us, Rest Wait (trust - in next verse) in the Lord but especially when 105 as with this dear lady!
Showing Aussie photos, a few from family member travelling way out west of NSW.
Sawn Rocks, pleased to see the green returning in all the new growth since the fires on a visit last year. Such an amazing rock formation! Unfortunately there was a huge number of feral goats which will certainly cause damage". 
The quandong (native fruit - link here) pies at Copley are still amazing. Bought some for the road, also some of their kangaroo pies (they're culled due to over-population, environment can't cope, make excellent lean meat like deer). They are awesome, too! Both have won silver awards in Melbourne, made by a young guy. They also have quandong and choc chip ice cream... yummo!
Our highlight of today was seeing a camel road train in Maree, 3 big trailers full of *camels from WA. The driver came across the Great Central Rd, said it was pretty sketchy in places.
*camels are feral and nuisance in the outback, Afghans brought them over when making rail-line from Adelaide to Darwin. We have largest camel population in world. They will drink whole waterholes dry in one visit. 
Last is sunset on one of their stops. Such vast colour-filled skies!
Well, am out walking, 30 mins today, praise God! So wonderful! 
Yes, might of overdone gardening last week and come down with an infection, never learn! but finished antibiotics today, now all okay. Mercies abounding. You know! often it’s not easy, but God teaches so much more in the rough times than in smooth, easy times, that you’re grateful for them almost. 
Such a blessing to know and trust in our dear Almighty Father. 
Thanks so much for popping over for peek and chat! 
l do so very much appreciate you. I’m sorry, with infection, wasn’t great so didn’t comment on many last week. D.V., will do better this week. 😊 
Prayer hugs for God’s blessing on you all,
Shaz in Oz.x
Thought for Today. Love this!
Linking up to:
* Yess! Def snippets used here so off to the playground.. yipppeee! Save slippery dip please then into duck pond!

*Anything Goes or Watercolour option
* Monday Challenge Simon says. 
Birthday theme entering both card for birthdays 105 extra special birthday card though.
http://mmmchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/08/challenge-102-friendship.html the PB Pastel card was birthday card to encourage a dear friend also.
https://pathofpositivitychallenge.blogspot.com/2019/08/challenge-71-opt-twist-relaxationaug-5.html to encourage a dear friend. 
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