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 29 January 2020

Mo's Christmas Challenge + Brushos Watercolour Techniques + WOYWW

(Apologies for long post! Sharing techniques, some queries last week + tips. 😊)
Hi there everyone, can’t believe it’s nearly Feb, not ready!
The first Rudolph Day of 2020, at Scrappy Mo’s from 25th to 31st Jan. 'Cos it’s Wednesday, time too for WOYWW or What is on Your Workdesk Wednesday at Julia’s Stamping Ground. 
Now to desks, Christmas cards below.
This isn’t much to look at yet. Blending mat showing how little brusho sprinkled for background - Cobalt, Sandstone, Yellow.
Spritzed water generously.
Then swish watercolour paper through.. till happy. 
“If you’re not happy, it’s not finished!!”
Good WOYWW motto that.
Gloss is not as brilliant, luscious as the photo paper is (see  Here - Edit: BTW it won top 3 at Word ArtWednesday last week which means I'm not the only one who liked it!). 
Wasn't keen this on plain gloss card once started colouring. So decided to layer on more brusho. Dab off with tissue anything you dont like.
My theory is most folks quit too soon, have seen it in brayering, also colour work like Brushos, AIcohol Inks etc.
I know Shaz Silverwolf is our Chief Enabler!
Anyhoo! yours truly came across this video here, re Sookwang tape, same as ScorTape (they sell it to ScorPal) direct from from Korean company, cheaper for non US folks.
Etsy link is here, with FREE post! Bought this sample pack. Sizes were cheaper than CraftOnline.au. Has quick post too, apparently.  
Birthday coming up, have ordered glass mat! 
Everyone gave thumbs up when I asked 3 weeks ago. Was blessed, suddenly $7 cheaper when checked CraftOnline, grabbed it before they changed their mind again. 😊  
Tonic 12” x12” (really 13 x13), best for budget + use, 1/3 price of Tonic TH mat, couldn’t justify it.
Size good, I use inches mostly which it is.
Bought last night a set of Gansai Tambi watercolour! Hooray! They’re apparently more opaque than regular artist watercolour. Gouache is opaque watercolour, I do hope they will be similar. Probably why they’re described as creamier. I use gouache in ornamental calligraphy, bugs me how tubes dry out. Blown budget now, on buying ban for while, can’t even use “I need tape” excuse!
*****
Now to my Christmas cards, reminded myself of design years ago, so made 4 more.
Kaisercraft Star multi cut, the bauble 5 x 7” EF is from CB Winter wonderland set. Used digi Christmas greetings already ready printed, and made four. Now have 16 Christmas cards done, wanted 24 by now, but birthday card time now, will do in Feb.
Now to Aussie shots, from visit to Kiama, south coast in late Oct.
Herbe, common name here, Veronica, I love it.

Pink grey parrots are Galahs eating grass seeds.
Clivia nestled in the trunk of Moreton Bay Fig.
Kiama is a seaside town. Sadly bad fires on south coast, Blue & Snowy Mountains, so still need rain and prayer.
Well, I’m a really really bad blogger ☹️ cos it is summer here, busy last week full of appointments and visiting or visitors last few days, I’ve missed putting out many comments again. A struggle at night, not been 100%, just one of my chronic conditions making noises. 
So am VERY, very sorry!
 Answer TO DIANA: I’ve not a problem at all with messiness with Brushos. I’ve tiny holes in top of them, sealed with a pin in them. So sprinkle is controlled.
Use junk mail in large size sheets and make the mess on the paper, which absorbs excess colour and water, pick it up junk mail holus-bolus and bin it in greenwaste bin as can put rolled up veggie scraps in there.
May our wonderful loving Father God bless your day wherever you maybe, and keep you and those you love safe, thank YOU especially if you take time to comment.
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x
Thought of the Day:
27th Jan 2020. 
75th Anniversary of Liberation of Auschwitz.
"When Soviet soldiers poured into Auschwitz in January 1945, they encountered warehouses filled with massive quantities of other people’s belongings. Most people who owned them were already dead, murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust’s largest extermination & concentration camp.
.. the camps that made up Auschwitz seemed silent and abandoned at first, soldiers soon realized they were filled with people—thousands of them, left to die by SS guards who evacuated the camps after trying to cover up their crimes.
The emaciated prisoners hugged, kissed and cried. “They rushed toward us shouting, fell on their knees, kissed the flaps of our overcoats, and threw their arms around our legs,” remembered Georgii Elisavetskii, one of the first Red Army soldiers to step into Auschwitz. After five years of hell, Auschwitz was liberated at last."

God gave you and I a free will
 He did not make robots,  but He made a perfect world which we have in sin corrupted. So very sad things happen.
The shortest verse in the Bible shows how our sin just doesn't hurt us, others but God too. Let us never forget these things
Linking up to the following:
1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. All cards  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au

27 comments:

Sarah Brennan said...

Looks like you've taken up Shaz's enabling mantle this week Shaz lol. Love the Brusho backgrounds and the Christmas cards are fab. Brilliant Oz photos too. Praying for rain where it is still needed. Happy WOYWW. Sarah #2

Helen said...

well enabled this week! love the brusho work - and those gorgeous Christmas cards! hard to believe it's nearly February! Helen '#1

Crafting With Jack said...

I really must try the brushos on glossy card (did I say that last week?). I think I will make myself a list :) Lovely Christmas cards. Happy WOYWW Angela #8

kiwimeskreations said...

loving your unbridled use of the brushos Shaz - I must try to be more generous with them, and also and use that spray and drag technique.
Your Christmas cards are a delight
Blessings
Maxine

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Wow! you've been busy. Great fun with the Brushos. Loving your photos too, it's such a gorgeous place. Wishing you a very happy woyww, Angela x15x

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Shaz, love the Christmas cards, I'm on stars too this week! Great job with the Brushos,cool backgrounds. That mat was a great price, I'm still not sure how much I like mine, other than it's easy to clean up. Tims has inches too as well as mm, I might be in a metric country, but I still think and work in inches. Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #3 X

Annie said...

I really enjoy seeing how you make your backgrounds....so much work goes into what everything else goes on top of...so clever.
Hugs,
Annie x #12

Lunch Lady Jan said...

I do love Brushos, if I did card making a lot, they're what I would use all the time! You really don't need that much and yet the effect is fantastic. I', sorry to hear you're not 100% at the moment, hope you starte feeling better soon.
Hugs LLJ 11 xx

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

You have been so busy with brushos! Beautiful Christmas cards, too!
Here in Italy we celebrate the liberation from Nazism. Also kids at school study the facts about Auschwitz and the other concentration camps, because this will never happen again!!!
Lovely photos from Aussie nature. Prayers for rain when it is needed!
Hugs

Betsy said...

Beautiful, beautiful cards Shaz. Although I don't understand one word of how you make them, I can appreciate the final result. :-)
I've read so much this week about concentration camps, the people in them and even those that worked there and carried out the atrocities. Unfortunately, people haven't changed. I have also read there are over a million muslims in such camps in china. Is it true? I don't know, but I fear we humans will never learn and never change. Here in the US, many young people have never heard of concentration camps. And some who have heard, are being taught in colleges by professors that it NEVER happened! Oh my! May God have mercy on all of us if we continue to stand by idly and let history repeat itself. "Jesus Wept." And I think He still does.
Blessings and love my dear sister.
Betsy

Julia Dunnit said...

Lovely cards Shaz, so not ready to look at my Christmas stamps for a while! I think you’re right about the brushes, and general ink applications....more is better and I think it really does help build up the opacity of the bright colours. Am loving the look on photo paper and am equipped with quite a lot of that...had it for yonks...never quite got into printing our own photos, could never get them satisfactory. I recently read the Tattooist of Auschwitz and the follow up about Cilla, aged 15 who was rescued by the Russians at Auschwitz, then tried as a collaborator because she was forced into sex work for the guards. The Russians sent her without notice, on a cattle train to Siberia for fifteen years hard labour. Don’t hear about that part of the liberation too often, do we. Staggering.
Gosh how I wish for your summer to climax in a series of breathtaking thunder storms and for you all to experience a long wet Autumn. Here I am in 25 degrees on a balcony on a sunny Canary Island...we’ve been out and about today and went to a self sufficient vineyard. The obvious signs of climate change here are sobering. I know we all have to contribute and do our bit, but we need law changes too now...it’s not going to happen voluntarily. Oh gosh, what a depressing note to finish on...I don’t mean to!

Caro said...

Loving the brusho work (yes you do need more than you think for depth of colour) and the Christmas cards are gorgeous. Lovely to see the Galah's on the grass. Still praying for rain for you all. Whenever I think of the atrocities done in the holocaust, i think that Jesus Wept is a very apt Bible verse. I am sure that He still does over so much that goes on in our world. Happy WOYWW. With love and God Bless, Caro xxx (#9)

Brenda said...

It always amazes me at how little of the power one needs when using Brusho's or similar powders. I think you could be right in that some of us, meaning me, might quit a little to soon! Last play I was pretty pleased, so another play date is in line I think. I do love Score Tape, but it is pricey to me, so I went with another line of tape. Glad you are able to get it cheaper to you! How my goodness you will love the glass mat!!! I have one and I love it when getting inky-well just love working on top of it at anytime, but especially when using inks, Brusho's, etc...Your Christmas cards are so CAS and beautiful Sharon! I love the white and silver together. The parrots are interesting looking-loving their pink and grey color combo, flowers and herbs are so pretty too. Beautiful views as always and looks like a beautiful summer days! Prayers still coming your country's way for rain and fire control! No need to be worried about visiting and commenting-enjoy the summer and hopefully that chronic condition will stop making noises soon! I know all to well what that is like. Big Hugs, Brenda

StampinCarol said...

Love the Brusho work! Reminds me of Ken Oliver's Color Burst powders. And your Christmas cards are gorgeous! I really enjoy your scenic photos and your history info.
Have a wonderful and blessed week!
Carol N #20

Heidi MyLittleStampingBlog said...

Beautiful Brusho cards and Christmas cards. I love the CAS look with the embossing on white for the Christmas ones. I already had 4 brusho but then was gifted a whole bunch from a friend who was downsizing. I am excited to try some things with them!

scrappymo! said...

Your Rudolph CArds are so lovely. The star is amazing!!!

Thanks for the local photos...I always enjoy those...but sad to hear the fires are across the water.

Thanks for taking part in the January Rudolph Days Challenge.

loz said...

Fabulous background colours with your brushos Shaz. ( I have yet to use my brushos)... Beautiful christmas cards and photos. We have a lot of pink and greys in our park...Loz

Conniecrafter said...

Your card is so pretty, love the gold against the pretty white embossed background!
Glad you are enjoying your summer, continued prayers for more rain!
I am sorry I can't read what you wrote after the picture of the shaven hair, I just can't see well anymore.

MiamiKel said...

OH this is a delightful post - from the beautiful brusho colors that really give it a magical background! It's always a delight to see what the art will allow to happen. Such a gorgeous detailed card - I love your photos from about town!

Karen Letchworth said...

Hey Shaz, thanks for stopping by Word Art Wednesday to share your art and leave a comment. I just wanted to let you know that I double checked under the Settings, and I definitely have it set as Pop Up Window, and it not Embedded. So, I'm not sure why you're having troubles with it, but still sorry to hear that.
I'm always so grateful for the art you share with us. We serve an awesome God who blesses us in so many wonderful ways. I'm grateful for you, my sister in the Lord.
Karen

Lindart said...

Must try this with my new Brusho's! Thanks! I love what you have done with them, and the experimenting and discoveries are so much fun! My heart wept at the last photo you posted of the rings and hair.So much evil happened then, I hope it never returns. And we must always remember. Thanks for sharing, have a great week! Lindart #23

Anonymous said...

I love the embossed background on this lovely Christmas card! The silver and white are very elegant. Thank you so much for playing along with the Rudolph Days Challenge.
Linda

Sandra de said...

Hi Shaz, I am always amazed at the intensity of colour in a little sprinkle of brushos. You have done a lovey job in mastering and taming them and once a gain produced gorgeous cards. I continue to have problems with my computer since switching over to NBN and despite calls to NBN, my service provider, apple and taking my computer to an apple store there is no solution!! Every other computer in the house is fine. I have given up and stick to the iPad. Just have to work out how to do a blog post on the iPad. Take care of yourself in this heat/dust/fire summer.
Sandra de

Shoshi said...

I love your experiments with Brushos, Shaz, and what fun you must have had playing with them. I haven't done a lot with mine, because shortly after I got them, I got a set of Infusions which work the same way, but have much subtler colours and flecks of brown in them so they are more grungey. I must get my Brushos out again, I think.

I was very moved indeed by your Holocaust memorial tribute and Thought for the Day, and the verse from John's Gospel, the shortest verse in the Bible, which speaks absolute volumes. He weeps still...

I love your Aussie pics, as usual. So nice to have a snapshot of where you live, so different from the UK.

God bless you, Shaz, and I hope you are as well as possible with your health.

Happy belated WOYWW and God bless you,
Shoshi x #16

Gail said...

What a wonderful post!
Love the cards!
I have never played with brushos......
Next time I'm anywhere near a craft store, I'll check them out!
The pictures are fabulous, still hoping you get rain!
Hope you are well!

Di said...

Wonderful cards Shaz - beautiful work as always. And I have that very same glass mat if it's clear with white backing. It's a perfect size, great for measuring and easy to clean. I still work in inches too! Love your photos as well.

Hugs

Di xx

Shoshi said...

Thank you for visiting my blog, Shaz, and for your good wishes and prayers. I have always clung to Rom. 8:28 as my watchword verse throughout my Christian life!! I know everything will be OK in the end but I am glad I called them out on this. I had a reply to my email and they are taking up my complaint but it could be as long as 2 months before I get any decision on the matter! I emailed again, reiterating the need to expedite my operation because it is unreasonable to expect me to be on the end of a 9 month waiting list when getting on it in the first place was delayed through a fault in their system. All I can do for now is wait and see what the outcome is.

God bless,
Shoshi x

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