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
Well, it's time for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, pop over to Sarah's at Sarah's Craft Shed, Head Desker of WOYWW! here is my latest desk as I'm working on a 1st birthday 🎂 card!
I was told to use BRIGHT colours so that's what I'm doing with an old set of SU papers. The house mouse image is done in alcohol markers then added glossy accents. The colours were best match to the papers. The image was die cut outside the image, to see how to do this see this post here and here! Finished card is last card shared.
This card below was made using this video as a template, however if you’re wanting specific measure and guide video it’s very difficult, it’s a six minute card video AND to make it did not take anywhere near six minutes!
The outside front of card from web, image above this is inside.
Basically I followed a rough idea then did my own template. My colours weren't quite the same and my white gelly roll pen didn’t work like hers did, so did thicker lines! Despite all hiccoughs, it met the need of a soccer or football card for mister 12. If anyone saw my desk two weeks ago they'll see this card underwent a great change from original thoughts!
This next card is received by my friend she loves purple. the Folder (Cuttlebug Plus, with white chalk ink highlights) and stamp set are both disc. years ago, stamp set is Chocolate Baroque.
Here's a couple of birthday cards as done with quilt die see back here, it makes 3 cards which is quite handy. The washi paper bought in Japan by my sister last Nov is really great with this design. Love them all. This CCD die was unused for years till I came across a video using a different quilting die but not as nice a one as this one.
They're made using a CCD happy birthday die and on second card a SB labels shadowed in matt gold used on cards and the washi paper.
Here's
Chester's 1st birthday card. Phew! I think it meets the criteria of
bright colours, also used glossy accents on various images. Stamps are
all from House Mouse balloon set.
To Aussie photos. I'm not walking or doing much exercise at moment as I've a lower leg skin infection. Since I'm on high cortisone it may take possibly months to heal. All prayers welcome.😊
These photos were taken on a walk shortly before my lower leg infection, the close up shows a clever surfer catching a wave.
Thanks so very much for popping over for a peek and a chat, prayer hugs 🙏🏻🤗 Shaz in Oz.x
Thought of the Day
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
This is a favourite verse of mine.In troubles and stresses we really need a refuge, and the strength to carry us through that trouble... our God indeed is a very PRESENT HELP in trouble.
I often say to my friends where would I be without Jesus?... without Jesus, I'd be lost, I'd not have the promise of a home in heaven and I wouldn't have His wonderful present help in my troubles. Leg infections might seem small, but small things may impinge in a big way on day to day living. I couldn't believe how quickly it flared up. But I have my Jesus as my Saviour from sin... and as my very PRESENT HELP in this AND every trouble. Praying that you do also. May God be with you in ALL your burdens. 🙏🏻❤️
2. Snippets cards 1st birthday card (link here) has used snippets - yellow card, white card images stamped on, stripped and other multi patterned piece (see desk for start, as none were full sheets).
Today's desk, I’m attempting to work on a card for Hudson Mister Twelve who loves cricket… I think I’ll use this “new to me” stamp and Distress inks for background, with a main digi image of cricketers.
This next part of post was actually started in late 2022, and never published! It’s for Miss Eleven (who’s now 13!). As you possibly guessed her then favourite colour was purple! BUT this was NOT "take one" of it, this embossed AI coloured silver foil is "take three". Was delighted with first go, loved it … showed it (not to child), to be told “oh, nooo pink of any tone, but purple.”
Okay, so no. 1 cleaned off foil, but no. 2 was ditched not right, too - strip off colour again!, phew again! happy with take three. NOT a good start. Hiccoughs did continue, due to me not 100%, it ended up rushed, but finished at end, arrived sadly a day late, I was too slow...
This card is for Mister Seven (now 9). I actually bought the set for Miss Eleven as she’s very tall like her parents, Eamon not so much, but saw this - another pop out design by Jennifer McGuire and could see it working with this set. Stamp set is NBUS, think by MFT?
For the next card, I had a small snippet of the double stamped vellum left - so enough for this card saw technique on Splitcoast Stampers, I do love it. You simply stamp on back of vellum with dye ink (SU Certainly Celery) one way then when dry, stamp on front with versamark and platinum EP in this instance. MB Swirl and Isabella die (layered with schparkly EP) both Disc I think. Window aperture was extended as its peekaboo small die. Looks great extended. I’m entering this is Darnell’s new linky, her IDEAS challenge, this week 2 is DIES, see here!
I've 2 other cards today made March 2024, and unblogged. Last year in early April we had a new baby boy arrive in our family. I was very unwell so had to make the card from snippets and couldn't add details of birthdate, weight, length etc. Anyway here is little Chester's baby card from his birth on 2nd April 2024. Yes, Chester's 1st birthday is almost here that's when I found I'd not shared this. I'm stumped for it as wanted to use hedgie set. Will see what else is there in stash!
You can't see it easily but it had dots background on white base, plus CB Baby EF was used on checked blue card. It is disc. as well as baby hedgie stamp set by PB, ribbon is blue baby footprints bought eons ago. This is another from snippets at same time, unblogged. (Do have current cards made but can’t share them yet.)
“Birthday” rectangular die has since gone AWOL 🙏🏻 (still have “happy”, thankfully!). Smooched snippet with blue/ purple is possibly oxides? Swirl long die is CCD and swirl EF is Embossaliscious. All SNIPPETS - off to playground, except base. (The long die goes over a piece cut to same size as rectangular die, for those wondering how it’s done.)
I've a rash of female April, May birthdays, a 1 y.o. and 12 y.o boy to make. Oh, for enough hours in a day.
Now to Aussie photos…
Stormy skies here because yes, we’ve had bucket loads of rain, a spin off from Cylcone Alfred, a recent unwanted guest (400km north of here) causing many issues especially in Brisbane and environs. Worst were the many trees down with flooding caused massive blackouts, my niece and family still without power.A video (see here if not showing) by Greg in Oz (BiL) up on Northern Tablelands, shows some of the water overload.
Another one of a lyrebird also by Greg in Oz. Or view here if not visible, also on northern tablelands. Put both up full volume, to appreciate it, especially falls video. The lyrebird's tail is shape of a lyre when opened, see here. It's a great mimic the most distinctive call is the whipbird. As they're Aussie bird calls you probably may not recognise many. Thought of the Day:
Think many up north especially would appreciate these verses but to be honest I really do today and every day. There's a hymn I need Thee every hour. Where would I be without the LORD? Not here, of that I’m sure! 1. Linking over first five cards to WAW Word Art Wednesday- over here.
Well, believe it or not for the first time since Christmas, I’m sharing a blog post. And since it’s a Wednesday, it’s time for What on Your Workdesk Wednesday or WOYWW over at Sarah of Sarah's Craft Shed, Head Desker of WOYWW.(maybe late linking its a special day out here at my sisters where I am for few days.)Below is my dining table which is cooler than craft room in our summer. There are three February cards in process of being made. I sent two away unphotographed! As you’ll see the 6 x 6” Darkroom Door NBUS stamp “Scales” was stamped four times to cover an A4 sheet then cut into three which gave me three DL cards for the three birthdays. I bought the Darkroom Door stamps before they closed down April 2024, sadly. The scales background and Filmstrip were coloured with Distress inks … on the Scales background - see Rachel Grieg’s video, start at 10.35mins approx. Just loved the effect, though I didn’t have Rachel’s colours.
This is a NBUS and years old, a CCD. Paper from Disc pad, greeting from same pad. I made two more cards as the die cuts enough paper pieces for three cards.
This is the one card on desk not sent off yet, background is done on Tim Holtz watercolour smooth side, the Filmstrip was done on Bristol. I tried three papers it was by far the best. Greeting is an Amazon set, by Origarch.
"Snippets" card made in a hurry for a present to go to newborn, colour chosen because present was the cutest crotcheted lemon giraffe. Penny Black hedgie and bee coloured already, the image in snippets drawer, as was the sentiment, "it’s a girl!" and background Daisy was in reject pile, embossed not used. Only cut the celebrate die, out of snippets of course. Ribbon Daisy pattern to match!
This card is made out of photo paper coloured with distress re-inkers, embossed then brayered gold acrylic paint followed by MB gold die cut and stamped embossed verse, both disc. items.
My sister & hubby went to Japan in Nov '24, bought me some washi and mulberry paper, so made these two cards, the top one shows the texture and colours are beautiful. I also made this less traditional style of quilting in washi with gold matte card. It’s her birthday this month I’m still not sure which I’m going to give her. Probably both and write in one and give her the other to use.
Now to Oz photos.
Went for swim down here at the jetty a few days ago, swim when I can … it is truly beautiful, lovely summery weather in Oz. The beach above it, is the dog beach where folk can walk their dogs and let them go for a dip. It’s not a safe beach to swim at unless you’re a very strong surfer, which I’m not.
in January I had a friend staying with me, this was our favourite swim spot very safe at the Rock Pool.
Below is grevillea Moonlight which the rosellas love, but they’re very shy and I’ve never been able to photograph them. They’re finishing flowering, then will get a good prune.
Thought of the day:
I have Illuminated this verse for a very dear friend so I must have a photo of it somewhere. Perfect peace truly is found by trusting and resting in Jesus.
"Thou will keep him in PERECT PEACE whose mind is stayed on Thee."
How I need to remember that, how we all do! Every moment of every day.
Thanks so much for popping over for a peek and a chat. May God bless your day wherever you maybe be.