Scrappy Mo's Christmas Card Challenge, Butterflies + Snippets Playground! Yay!

Hi there everyone, can’t believe it’s nearly March, one sixth of year - gone!!

The second Rudolph Day of 2020, is almost over at Scrappy Mo’s - 25th to 29th Feb, funny having leap year isn’t it? Also Friday so popping over to join in with Annie's Friday Smiles!

No desk this week, not much commenting done either so didn’t join in WOYWW. Time is not waiting for me, a beautiful  summer in Oz and life is very, very busy. Was away last week, so catch up this week!
Only one card this time.

All snippets bar the base. The lovely wreath topper was off a last year’s card, it had red glittery touches so added the similar red glitter card to base, also red glitter base to verse. The beautiful verse is one of Karen’s from Word Art Wednesday digis, and it was only a snippet from an A4 sheet of printed verses (must do some more, nearly out).

Love God’s Word on God’s Son’s birth celebration cards. The angels did sing tidings of great comfort and joy... to lowly shepherds in the field, curiously not to wandering kings on camels, coming with gifts for the King of Kings.God loves to honour the lowly. Hence a lowly shepherd lad became a king, King David.
The embossing folder is A6 one from CB Winter wonderland set.

Second card is inspired by one of Loll’s, see here, (issue is Loll used single fairly open  image with matched dies, I had neither), fairly poor CASE, I think. However, know my friend who loves purple and also butterflies will love it. It’s her birthday today, happy birthday, Jen! Gold embossed stamps - flowers, butterfly and greeting is from Sweet 'n Sassy Floral Greeting set by Gracielle Designs. Coloured in Tombows with shimmer.

Now to Aussie photos, firstly two down at the Jetty not walking as much as like but get there sometimes.

I swim down this end of Jetty where grass heads are also picturesque. Love the lights on these. Last one is of a rather boring grey bird on walk to Jetty post office to post some mail.

This grey bird is cheeky fellow, a Butcher bird, they're a small member of kingfisher family, but they have the most amazing repertoire in their music, love their call. Listen here! It really makes me smile! (Link here if video doesn't work)

We have a pair in our yard. Rather cheeky on my clothes line following me expecting meat. No, not from me, provide native plants, a clean full bird bath, with garden full of worms. Hunt their own, I tell them.
Well, that’s me for the day, I’m sorry if not good at getting around, I’m trying my best, and will catch up on some.
Hope you’re keeping well, and pray God’s keeping upon you and all those you love. 
Hugs and prayers, Shaz in Oz.x
Thought of the day:

Well, this verse has long been favourite of mine, in fact Isaiah is fav. book one of mine.
However, this verse, very very often has the last part of the verse and “YE WOULD NOT” is left off. 
This is whole Verse:
 “For thus saith the Lord God, 
the Holy One of Israel; 
In returning and rest shall ye be saved;
 in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: 
and ye would not.”

Yes, the returning and rest, quietness and confidence are our strength!
 .. but not if we would NOT! 
Oh Lord, please keep us usefully surrendered to Your ways, not ours!
*****

Linking up to the following:

1. Butterfly Challenge Of six elements, I chose butterfly, thistle colour (pale mauve) teal green (on very inside of leaves), with two of something - flowers stamped out, then part fussy cut twice.  

2. Snippets playground, all first card snippets except base.   http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com/2020/02/pixies-snippets-playground-challenge-372.html?m=1
3. https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-70/
4.Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. Both cards.  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au
4. Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas card challenge. Anything goes.  http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2020/02/chnc-challenge-478.html?m=0

Brushos with Quietfire Design Birthday Die + WOYWW

Well, yes, back again, 😁 and Wednesday, so it’s time to pop over to deskland for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday at Julia’s Stamping Ground!

Now to my first desk, today's as I left it! Couple of images to colour, perhaps, for a friend’s coming birthday, done all February so starting on March, which happen to be all in first week! Thus will be back in time Rudolph day so hopefully can catch up on some Christmas cards. Really lovely weather, may get some beach swims in, too! 
We had two & half feet of rain last week, drying out is good.

Second desk am about to colour some thread for my fourth male card for the year. I’m using Distress inks and Perfect pearls, been using latter a lot lately ... they go so well on male cards, and 2020 is "use up neglected stash" year I’ve decided!

Finished card, I’ve used one of pieces done with Brushos on photo paper (see here), and stamped with Darkroom door phot sea stamp, still have few more male cards coming ahead so this image will make a reappearance. Same but different designs! The background under the stamped image is SB stitched rectangle die which has been coloured with four diff colours of perfect pearls, has amazing sheen, not showing really.

Next are two cards made from one brusho piece on watercolour card using the Elizabeth Crafts Quietfire Design Happy Birthday Die.

Used positive and negative for two cards, both are dry embossed with Embossalicious Regency swirl EF, and the dies for top frame is two of rectangle A6 size from Scrapdragon craft site in Oz, love their dies, very reasonable if from Oz. Bottom is scalloped rectangle by Xcut, extended. 

Last card is the inky one from last week’s desk. Hero Arts Dandelion background, ink resist with Distress inks, “Get Well Soon” by Dienamics (?).

Now Aussie shots, the rain has done the garden wonders! This week our Callistemon Mr Foster (common name bottle brush), is flowering well, it’s newish plant.

It was a food feast for Rainbow Lorikeets, they are clowns, with great antics.

Last photo is beach, where I am today... pretty, pretty isn’t it?

Thanks for popping over particularly if you’ve time for a chat, it’s deeply appreciated. 
May God bless your day wherever you maybe.
Prayer hugs,
Shaz in Oz.x 
Thought for Today:

This is such a comfort  this verse!

Truly we are rich in a Father Who’s understanding of our situation is all wise and perfectly in tune with our needs.This verse also speaks of the magnificent stars.

In the Southern Hemisphere skies at night are amazingly beautiful with the twinkling of the vast array of stars in the Milky Way. Yet this same Creator God sees our innermost ache of our heart and binds up our wounds, if we but seek Him. So thankful!

Linking up to the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. All cards  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au

2. Simon Says Monday Challenge  Frame it. Male card framed on SB Rectangle, and Ladies brusho happy birthday,  positive die cut.https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
3. Allsorts Challenge- dies or punches. Get Well card and male birthday and female too. Dies used on all,  http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2020/02/week-559-dies-andor-punches.html?m=1
4. 

Stampscapes With Lawn Fawn Puffin Anniversary + Male card + WOYWW

‘Tis Wednesday, everyone! so off to WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, pop over here to Julia’s do.. we’d love to see You! Have some good news but will share at end. Desk 1: this morning.

Making a bright get well card, for an octogenarian having knee replacement! I made the base on this post here - was White heat embossed Hero Arts Dandelion background Stamp, Ink Resist done with Distress inks. Her fav. colour is anything really bright, thought this one worked well! Impression Obsession “Get Well Soon” die, a sample test run on middle, layering done with SU colours, have few sheets were perfect colour, plus two spools of ribbon suited too, was really blessed! Image at rear made few weeks ago is ready for next card.

Second desk working still on the Lawn Fawn Puffin anniversary card, on right are two trial runs with Stampscapes background stamps. On left assembling on actual heart base, the white dish held tiny weeny fish + hearts coloured + cut out, tad fiddly but can never justify expense of dies! Front black cardstock snippet, figuring greeting strips.

Loved this card, here’s end result. Stampscapes background. All other cards with this set had icebergs and such but puffins live on cliff tops not icebergs hence my background, researched scenery  first. Happy anniversary from Sweet ‘n Sassy Floral greeting set.

Stitched heart dies for image base, at bottom of card - triple scoring with more hearts around greeting. Loads of snippets here, so off to Snippets Playground.. wonder if it's puddle jumping there too?!

 This is scrap card from iceblock packet,  embossed TH Dot Matrix EF set, used Versamark and Perfect pearls or Magicals by Lindy's Stamp Gang, Dairy Milk chocolate.😋

Male card for friend's dad birthday next month. He’s same age as my dad would’ve been. The stamp set is CCS, and was ink block background, which was bit messy. So die cut with wonky rectangle set, and coloured it with Tombow watercolour pens to cover messy bits, restamped images and spritzed with glimmer mist, finally happy!

This card is of PB poppy Gold EP stsmp, on brusho background with gloss card, painted with shimmer watercolours.

Last card is a direct case of THIS last year, love Ranger Rock Candy background added to white card for loads of crackly glimmer, what a great verse, Rest in the Lord, AND WAIT  patiently for Him Ps 37. That's the hard bit.

It’s for dear friend who’s 70, and she loves purple, shimmery and butterflies.

Now to Aussie shots, two of our beach and Sandhills, this How I remember it as kid here, love seeing it. ❤

Pretty flowers with native grasses up along banks. 

Now to good news... we have had such HUGE answers to prayer folks! 
I’m sure you’ve heard but here’s summary from local point of view.

Nearly all big fires out in NSW with big rains, except down very far South Coast, and Snowies Mtns praying they will soon! The peat fire at Yamba and Port Macquarie OUT, both needed fresh water (ie rain), burning for months, much to give praise for!!

Today, in NSW only 24 fires, almost all controlled. Map shows diff number because white are other incidents, trees down, vehicle fire, etc, blue are fires. At one stage for about a month were 160 fires in just NSW.

In first week Nov there were (map above) 16 emergency fires at once in our NSW north coast!! We were surrounded by them. [16 x Emergency = too late to leave, protect yourself, family, etc. in situ. Lots of prayer that night, had car packed. Will never forget it.]
Huge fire north of Syd. Wollemi Nat park fire (over 1,000,000 hectares, from memory), was deliberately lit Nov 2019, NOW out along with ALL fires in Blue Mountains. Also in Blue Mtns Jenolan Caves house saved from fires last month, had a flood yest.
Just like drought 1911 it was saved from fire, then flooded 24th Feb 1911. 
History repeats - was manager's comment!
Praise for drought + fire relief. 
Many inland have had some good rain BUT also many areas missed out so praying on for them!
*****
 May God bless mightily in physical rain in those places, but also spiritually in many hearts!

Still not well in myself, BUT had clean bill at skin Dr, today, Yay! 

In hard times though, God teaches so much more 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, haven’t quite caught up with all, hope to! 😊 

Prayer hugs for God’s blessing on you all,

Shaz in Oz.x

Thoughts for Day: 

This is what WOYWW means to me:

This rain has made many glad, and this verse expresses it well.

Linking up to the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. All cards  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au

2. Crack it up over at SSMC. Use crackle paint, cracked glass/ porcelain, broken pieces. Used on background 70th birthday, TH Rock Candy, beautiful fractured subtle crystal effect I love it. 

https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=19291

3. https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/ Anniversary Card

4. http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/2020/02/february-animals-birds-and-butterflies.html  Anniversary Puffin card, and Male scene card.
5. http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2020/02/pbsc-february-anything-goesoptional.html Optional love is in the air PB poppy card.

Brusho Cards + Stampscapes Meets Lawn Fawn + WOYWW

Hi there everyone 😊

Yesss, it’s Wednesday, time too for WOYWW or What is on Your Workdesk Wednesday at Julia’s Stamping Ground. 
Please join us do, we're a friendly bunch!

Now to my desk(s):

First desk last Friday is trying out my early birthday pressie. Tonic glass mat, EVERYONE was right, they're great to work on! Raised rear drawer set by reshaping box mat came in. So can still open drawer now not flush with desktop. Love the white background, it shows up stray ink etc., for easy clean up. No longer use wet wipes as read they're mostly non-degradable, 100 years to break down (11 billion used per yr in UK read here). Use old paper servettes or old cloths like "olden" days! 😊 Sew up all old towels, teatowels, even singlets for beautiful soft cloths, maximising worn items, as my mother did, old ways make total sense.

Microfibre cloths have micro-plastics too, so I wonder if  good for waterways, too?

Anyhoo! Today’s desk, I’m learning how easy this mat is to clean up discarded old paper serviette easy clean! I’ve used Stampscapes to create a background scene for the ultra cute puffin set from Lawn Fawn. NOT a Valentine's card, but anniversary card, order from family, for 9th so better get cracking, but stamps only just arrived. This effort was at 2-3am this morning when was up with noisy chronic condition, it’s still not settled. Pray so by next week. When things are out whack they’re out of whack, suspect tonight will be repeat but is getting better.

Now to cards, this first one is February one and it’s off already to Japan, thought this die cut looked oriental, with chrysanthemums and dragonfly.

The orange background is card off home-made jelly plate (recipe on sidebar). Didn’t have sufficient coverage as was clean off piece so added Brushos, had lovely glimmer from glitter paint. The die is NBUS CCD, the stamp is 1990 Stampendous woodblock.

Second card is also Brushos.. background was last week’s post (Here!). Where reapplied more Brushos cos not happy.

Totally love this washy colour variation now, used PB Poppy stamp, and coloured with glimmery paints, as well as brusho colours mixed (Cobalt, Yellow, Sandstone). Used Scrapdragon A6 dies, two sets to make frame, birthday stamp is from Sweet 'n Sassy floral set.

Now to Aussie shots, first the beach this afternoon! That’s rain out to sea and, yes we’ve had some.

In for much more acc to Bureau, pray it is so, PRAYING especially over the hill to Western Slopes and Plains drought areas, + firegrounds, they look promising (see Here!)🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

 Next photos still on today’s walk..

Very pretty flowers, an Aust native hibiscus in bright yellow, also comes in mauve. It is more of very large shrub or small tree, than regular hibiscus.

Here is a PPP, Pretty Petunia Patch, do love petunias they make you smile.

Next is a peach Frangipani, with a pink crêpe myrtle, what an amazing colour combo!

Managed last week, in spite of everything, to call on everyone who called on me, I think. Actually go through withdrawals when can’t make visits! 
Love you all out there, appreciate you soooo much, many of you are on my prayer list each night, too!

May 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 for the Day:

Applies now! ❤ love it - "THIS I recall to my mind, THEREFORE have I hope"! Lam.3:21 
*****
WITH GOD = WITH HOPE!

Linking up to the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. All cards  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au

2. Floral Frenzy over at SSMC. Both cards https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=19289

3. https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-69/ both cards.