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 14 October 2020

Christmas Card Distress Ink Masking + WOYWW

 Hi everyone, 'tis Wednesday so it’s time to pop over at Julia’s Stamping Ground, where we see desks, of marvellous inspiration worldwide. 

Couple of desks shared but none of today as scheduled, busy!

This is Tuesday's desk, and am working on another design for my Christmas batch baking. Saw a video by Eileen Godwin, it was nothing like this because don’t have her products, but it was the trigger for this layout. I stamped and gold embossed seven cards with verse, then masked off the side section 5cm wide, and inked it up with DI Bundled Sage, edges but deeper, then layered with same ink the key stamp the Holly from Sweet n Sassy Christmas Silhouettes set. I tried to remember to second generation stamping on these background layers but my brain doesn’t always work on that! 😆 added the background stamp SU French Script in DI deep green.

Then transferred to stamping platform for the layering of inks (Memento Dew Drop) and Tombow markers on the stamp to do two highlight images. Then the fun! To peel off mask. There are seven in this batch so will share when all done next week. I’ve now done 50 cards and would like to do 100, had done 30 before last two weeks, want to give some away as presents. A good early Christmas pressie. 

Now to cards, first ones are from last weeks desk.

Used a MB mask for star in white texture paste, I ran this through my machine with embossing mat to flatten the paste some, to make it much easier to colour ink over top. 

Also it was meant to inlaid, but I just ran die cuts through once added, to make all one level. This is a lot less work, same effect, plus they're well adhered.

Had to stop inking, ordered DI Chipped Sapphire reinker, also needed a larger DI Seedless Preserves. The small cubes  are good for small project but was doing ten of these backgrounds.

These cards are full of snippets so off to the playground, YAY! I love using die cuts and snippets.
Aim to get most of my Christmas cards done by middle of November, I think with mail, I will need to mail very early. Some mail is very slow.

Second card is one for a birthday end of November, but it takes six weeks to get to Norway so better get it in mail this week

Of course, if send early it will only take a few weeks! 😉 This Dragonfly stamp is by Stampman, ( a pressie from Anne in France, thanks!). Used oxides on background, our family lassie loves these colours, not my fav but they are hers. Added a bit of masking at either end in white chalk ink with TH Mosaic mask, just for interest. 

Now to Aussie photos. My garden is still having its spring flush.

This arrangement I did to take to an elderly couple who are pretty much shut in, this was same lady who I made the bookmark for last week. They are really doing it tough. And who doesn't love red, very fragrant roses?  The white flower are the old fashioned gerbera. And used bottle brush for greenery with our Italian lavender.

These are two water pickies taken last week on my walk, stopped at a lookout on walk, and as school hols quite a few on beach looking north and south.

EDIT: Sorry, Mary Anne on WOYWW, I can’t comment on Wordpress, used to be able to but they’ve made it impossible these days. Love your masks.

Well, that’s it for today, and thanks so much if you popped over for a peek and chat. May God bless you all and keep you all safe and well too. 
My love thoughts and prayers are with you all, that you will be kept safe in God’s hands. 
Love and prayers, 🙏🏻🤗 
Shaz in Oz.x 

Thought of the day:
There are so many gems in Psalms.  
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? 
and why art thou disquieted in me? 
hope thou in God: 
for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Psalm 42:5

Psalm 42:5
I love this refrain found in this Psalm in verse 5 and 11, and yet again in Psalm 43:5. 
When we were young we learned the times tables by rote so we can still mimic them today as required.
So God our loving Heavenly Father reminds us that when we are in trouble, our thoughts disquieted within us, that He is our hope, our Anchor,  our Joy when times are tough. 
If you like me were to look back over 2020, we could say with vehemence that it has been quite a year! 
I had no idea on January 1st, 2020 I’d be really ill again in the middle of the year in cardiac care unit. When it happens you think: “No! this is not me.”
But it is ...
Ah! And my God is the One Who is my Peace in such storms, confusion and pain! 
Yes! 
Life hurts! 
However, there is One Who goes before, behind and is with us in it all. 
This is the constant refrain and promise of God’s Word, for all who are willing to believe and seek that assurance through simple trusting faith in our 
Lord Jesus.
*****
This past week I wrote a post on my Christian blog of colour coding the bible, I’ve in the last three months colour coded two whole bibles and a large print New Testament and Psalms.
The latter took 70 hours, the whole bible well over 100 hours each. If you’re interested to see photos and explanation please see this post HERE.

Linking over to these challenges:
**Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. Both cards  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au/
** Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge. Saturday challenge here
** NBUS challenge the Christmas scene is a CCD die is NBUS “NEVER BEFORE USED SCHTUFF”over here at Darnells
** Christmas card has glimmer mist over at Simon Say Wednesday challenge it’s make it sparkle! 



36 comments:

Regina said...

2020 has definitely been a weird year. Perhaps Lord willing, 2021 will be better.
I love the cards you make. My two daughters and I went to a card making party a couple of weeks ago. It was so easy and so much fun! I hope we can do it again some time.
Take care!

Betsy said...

Your Christmas cards are so beautiful Shaz. It was so thoughtful of you to make the bookmark and now take flowers to your friend. What a blessing you are to her. Jesus' hands and feet.
Thank you for the advice on my blogger woes. I'm not sure what's happening with it. I do use an iPad because I bought an app to be able to blog from when my laptop and phone stopped working with blogger. I hope this isn't the end for me. I write the post and just as I get close to the end, poof, it's gone. I tried saving it to draft as I write it and it says it's saved but when I try to go back in, there is nothing in the draft file. I'll keep trying to figure it out.
Take care my dear sister.
Blessings,
Betsy

loz said...

Your christmas cards are gorgeous Shaz. Beautiful birthday card and roses...Loz

Gail said...

Lovely cards!
The dragonfly is wonderful!
My daughter loves dragonflies!
Stay safe!

Sarah Brennan said...

What beautiful cards Shaz, especially the ones inspired by Eileen. What a good idea to colour code the Bible. SO much easier to find references quickly. Stay safe and happy WOYWW Sarah #3

Helen said...

Happy WOYWW Shaz! I haven't started my Christmas cards yet, still a bit early for me (always do them in a rush ha ha!) Take care and stay safe. . Helen #1

Lillianb said...

Happy WOYWDW Love your Christmas cards they are great, what a great birthday card. what a stunning walk to go on I love the sea,

Take care and stay safe,

Lilian B #8

Diana Taylor said...

Your Christmas cards are beautiful - I do love your holly border, it's so pretty. The dragonfly card is stunning, and the colours are very much my favourites too - just lovely!
Hope you have a great week,
Diana xx #10

kiwimeskreations said...

What beautiful blending and masking on your cards Shaz - stunning results too.
Yes, this has been quite the year, and I don't know that I would want to repeat it at all!! That said, through it all God has proven Himself faithful, yet again.
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine

Julia Dunnit said...

Well you beautiful woman, its lovely to see you here and you sound so busy! Beautiful flowers for your neighbour friends, how thoughtful. No spring flowers here of course, but today is bathed in beautiful sunshine and bright skies which makes it a very tolerable chilly! Beautiful cards. The holly seems like a lot of work to me - totally worth it but am admiring your patience in batch making that one! I agree about the post, am trying to get long distance gifts and cards sorted this month. Early is OK, it’s up to the recipients to be strong and save them for Christmas! Stay safe and well please, with closed borders its not as if I can rush over there and boss you into being well!

Twiglet said...

You are a little busy bee Shaz - never a dull moment with you is there. I love your holly designs and your shepherds cards are perfect. The sea pictures just make me wish I was there soaking up the sun, peace and tranquillity of those lovely beaches. xx Jo

Annie said...

I've had a busy morning...been to the hospital for blood tests, back for a late breakfast and then had to shorten 3 the 3 nurses dresses and a pair of jeans before I could start my blog visits...so here I am a little late today.
Really love your cards...well done you for making so many already.
Stay safe and well.
Hugs,
Annie x

Neet said...

Lovely Christmas cards, that holly looks beautiful and I do like the way you have made these cards. But also like the shepherds, the colouring of the background is rather special, I must remember which colours you used.
The birthday card is also lovely even if you do not like the colours. I find it very admirable of you to use colours the recipient likes but you don't - not always easy to work with image or colours you are not fond of yourself.
Love the views and the roses are beautiful.
Stay well and safe my dear friend
God Bless You, Hugs, Neet 14 x

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Shaz, love what you've done with the holly card, I also have the French Script stamp- one of about 3 SU stamps I have, lol. Might try doing this design, it's gorgeous. Thats something I love about Eileens work- you can swap out all the products for different ones, and still get the same beautiful results. She's a lovely lady in person too!Beautiful colours in the dragonfly card, and the Die cut ones have such a rich background. Stay safe, Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #7 X

glitterandglue said...

Hi Shaz. It has taken me all morning to pick up my click and collect order, so I am really late (for me) starting to work down the list - sorry! Lovely, lovely Christmas cards - and some great beach shots today. I'm sure the couple who are currently shut in will really enjoy their posy. Well done.
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #4

Felicia said...

Shaz, I love your layout and those cards are GORGEOUS!! I particularly love the dragonfly one.....I'm a dragonfly freak! LOL What lovely flowers!! We are winding down here in the states into fall and looking at winter, so those sorts of flowers are only found in hothouses now!! Just beautiful!! You beach photos are amazing...that sky!!! I'm glad I'm not the ONLY ONE who can't leave a message for Mary Anne on her blog! I continue to stay frustrated because I love leaving messages! Well, you have a wonderful rest of your week and blessings to you! Felicia #22

My name is Cindy said...

Beautiful Christmas cards, I think lots more people will find themselves better prepared than normal. Yes 2020 has been a year to forget, and we never know what is round the corner. Happy Wednesday, stay well, stay safe, Cindy #21

Karen said...

You are so ambitious! that's a lot of cards to make and they are turning out beautiful. What a thoughtful bouquet, I'm sure they will be appreciated. Your beach photos are wonderful too. Thank you for the scripture and prayers as they are needed in these strange times we are living in.

Caro said...

I love that verse! The photos of Aus are just stunning and I love your Christmas cards. Happy WOYWW. Take care and stay safe. With love & God Bless, Caro xxx (#12)

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Gorgeous designs Shaz i'm very drawn to the holly. Isn't it wonderful when we are inspired by a video or technique and then have a vision to make it our own. Love the Birthday card, you have just reminded me that I need to post one the a friend but only local although with the slow postal service it may take just as long as yours.
Happy WoywW.. Stay safe & take good care, I hope Spring brings you a garden full of Blooms Hugs Tracey #11 xx

Shoshi said...

What beautiful cards, Shaz. I love your masking technique. When I was a new believer I colour-coded my whole Bible (a basic English version that I no longer use) and it ended up looking like a rainbow!

Happy WOYWW and God bless,
Shoshi x #17

Dorlene Durham said...

Beautiful projects. Your posts are always so inspiring. Have a great week. Dorlene #30

Chrissie said...

Your post this time makes me want to do some more stamping and masking... your panel is simply fabulous!
I just love it!
Take care and stay safe!
Chrissie #24

Marit said...

I love your Christmas cards and am intrigued by that 'double brush'... I love how that looks and would lay it to display somewhere!Thanks for your visit to my blog yesterday. In the Netherlands there were stricter rules announced in order to get the covid-number down but I am allowed to stay working at location - pfew! That's a release! Stay healthy and happy! Love from Holland. Marit #2

Chrissie said...

BTW, I only have a Silhouette Portrait cutting machine, it's the baby of the Silhouette range I think, but it's plenty big enough for me. From Amazon it would cost £157, about 287 Australian Dollars... still a lot more than when I bought mine, but I do find it really handy. Any odd sized envelopes which could be cut from a sheet of A4 I can draw and cut using my computer and the Portrait! Any personalisation for cards etc I can add ... names and the like that I might prefer to printing them can also be done. I don't have shares in the company you understand!I don't use it all the time but it does come in handy. I actually prefer the look of die cut pieces, but I don't have dies for everything obviously!
xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Shaz. Sorry I'm late this week, I spent so long outside yesterday gardening that I just got behind with the desk visits. Lovely the cards. Eileen Godwin has some good ideas even if you do adjust it slightly which I actually think is better than copying stuff exactly. Nice photos too. Wishing you a happy belated woyww with hugs, Angela x19x

Shoshi said...

Thank you for your return visit, Shaz, and for your kind words! So glad you enjoyed your visit and that you like the needle books.

God bless,
Shoshi x

Crafting With Jack said...

Hi Shaz, your holly cards are beautiful, my stencilling can be hit and miss, more practice I guess. I just love your shepherd cards those skies are fantastic . I prefer the NIV version of that verse. Sometimes looking at different versions gives me greater understanding.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

God Bless Angela #29

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Dear Angela,
I thank you for your comment. I use only KJV .. A more modern translation with the same text would be NKJV or ESV. These are based on the Majority text, so called because the majority of texts agree with them.
The NIV is based on Vaticanus which was found in Vatican library in 1475 I think it was.
This translation leaves out whole portions or verses. I recently listened to a link sent me via a friend of the Gospel of Mark as read by David Suchet, it was beautiful to listen to, however it ended so abruptly as a narrative, I was left high and dry at verse 8 leaving out rest of chapter to verse 20, this portion included the great commission.. the work of the Spirit at this time after Jesus resurrection, etc.
Other verses left out refer to Christ’s deity and the blood of Christ.
Eg
Matthew 17:21. KJV: Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. ...
Matthew 18:11. KJV: For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. ...
God numerous times tells us not to add or take away from His word so I think this is important .
If I need to study further I look up the inter linear which is the Greek or Hebrew with the English directly above and may also use Strongs concordance, or a word study text.
I don’t see any difficulty in understanding KJV most of the time but definitely dig when there is a need of further clarification.. I’ve read Psalms though over 80 times as used to read it through 2 and half times in year for about 20 years or more.. and once each year in 30+ years since then.

This to me is perfectly plain and does not need modernising words. I love it’s poetic language and think it’s much easier to memorise because it is poetic.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted in me?
hope thou in God:
for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Psalm 42:5

Thank you for your thoughts, I have dear and close brethren who think as you do, I value you deeply in the Lord. Gods teaches us all differently, as we are unique beings in very different places and situations. We are only accountable to Him and none else.
But that’s why I only use KJV. it was taken from the majority text. I did do Greek and a little Hebrew at bible college, so it’s conviction not without much study and comparison.
Once used the paraphrase bible called the Living Bible, not even a translation.. thanks again for your kind encouraging comment.
Lord bless sis. Shaz.x

Darnell said...

You are an artist, naturalist, and a Biblical scholar, Shaz! It is always enlightening and educational and inspirational to visit you! You have been very productive and way to go being at the halfway point with your Christmas makes! I'm trying to get mine done and mailed early, too. I guess the mails are a little slower this year because less people are working in closed quarters doing sorting and such. This has been a historic year, a lesson in slowing down, enjoying the wonders of nature and family and friendship, taking care of ourselves, and most importantly, being considerate of others. I have a feeling the lessons will continue long into 2021. Thank you for sharing with everyone at NBUS! Be safe and keep well! Hugs, Darnell

Helen said...

A beautiful Christmas design - a very peaceful scene.

Thanks for joining us at the Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge.

Helen x

Conniecrafter said...

I think you are on your way to getting all your Christmas cards done on time, these are fabulous!! Yes those little ink cubes are great for small projects but not some much for big ones, love the effect you got from the backgrounds. I love your first of the holly, just beautiful!

Lindart said...

Hi Shaz! Your Christmas cards are beautiful! And 100 cards is quite the goal! I'd be lucky to get 50 done, and that would be 2 years worth! Your garden flowers are gorgeous, how nice of you to think of neighbors who are having a hard time. I'm sure they appreciated them. And it's so nice to see the lovely beach as our temperatures here are dropping so fast! Even snow predicted for north of here today! Sorry I'm so late this week, thanks for sharing, have a great week! Lindart #28

LilArtsyWoman said...

It is always a delight to visit your blog to see your beautiful creations. Thanks for sharing your creative work.

Di said...

Absolutely beautiful cards Shaz. i know the holly design Eileen made and yours is a lovely twist on her design. Love your snippets Christmas cards of course, - beautiful scene and the rich blue background is just Wow!

Hugs

Di xx

Aimeslee Winans said...

Hi Shaz enjoyed the entire post. My fingers too painful to write more. Bless you, XOX

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