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, 13 May 2026

WOYWW 17th Anniversary, Snippets, NBUS, IDEAS, Allsorts

As it's Wednesday, it's time for What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday over at Sarah's Craft Shed here! Its our Anniversary, and we are sharing if able some ATCs given us by our beloved Neet. Well, in April 2012 I met Neet for the first time - see post here and then Neet gave me my very first ATC, and a necklace with it (see photo from 2012 post). I had no idea what ATCs were. 
Alas dont have original, we met up with Doone, Jozarty and Anne of Anne's Stamp Pad, none are still blogging. Neet arranged our meet up in Manchester.  At our 2018 Sept crop in Llandudno Neet, made me an ATC Folder which I still have (as its on display in my craft room) and this is it with Neet's ATC from that crop. There are only 4 made of it by numbers on back. So privileged to have one.
  I made an ATC in memory of our Neet who loved Lavinia so I made it in Lavinia stamps and inks. It’s going to someone special. 
 To my desk - see below.   I dont know if it's just me?? but I find some die sets have ZERO instructions, and you're left to work out how to assemble as best you can! This lovely Iris set is one of those. I found by searching a post for Poppy Craft Iris die (a NBUS). 
I had some beautiful hand made purple paper, but it needed shaping + texture added in colouring. After trying loads of pencils, chose the Staedtler Fluoro pink, perfect (one borrowed from my sister's many pencils), with gold opalite ink added before pencil, gold pearls, and shaping tool. The die set actually comes with two different irises, so if you want 3 flowers you need two the same. It gave me brain strain assembling the two so thought no way I could do just one and so am doing another two. The only reason I persisted was because it was for dearest Iris, of Lincolnshire, who's now with the LORD. I wanted to send it to her daughter for first birthday without her beloved mum. So 🙏🏻🙏🏻 praying it's a blessing to Vicki (mailed it yesterday). Background is black card, double embossed front and back with EF Poppy Crafts Rustic Wood, then splattered with gold paint. Leaves in gold mirri card.
Phew, finished card! It was worth it in end. I actually made 3 more Irises as going to make one for another friend in August, who loves irises.😄
These cards below are done with the same technique used last week, see here

Double embossing with Poppy Crafts Rustic Wood Embossing Folder, the smooched inky colours. Sizzix Real Vibes greeting set. Same as Iris card.
 And closing here's another Lavinia card, full of NBUS, in memory of Neet. I love the ODB verse "God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD is my Strength and song; He has become my salvation. " Isaiah 12:2
Now to a few Aussie photos, a red flower (cyclamen and begonia) collage from the courtyard. Followed by some recent beach views on walks when well. 

Thanks so much lasting this far!
May God bless you wherever you maybe,
Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻🤗
Shaz in Oz.x 
Thought of the Day  
"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are  the everlasting arms:" Deut 33:27a.  
In times of stress and strife there are certain verses you cling to and this is one. I run to those everlasting arms for shelter and refuge. Our Heavenly Father understands like nobody else does,  and as He is eternal He sees  the things in the dilemma that we cannot see, and we rest in Him. 
Nothing, not a thing happens to the child of God that does not first pass through His hands, He sees the length depth and breadth of our burden and promises to supply our need.   

Sharing with the following Challenges:

1. Allsorts Challenge Monochromatic or Anything goes - yellow Lavinia card. Stamps are NBUS Lilium, Bee, think its Hum? And field grass. Verse is Disc. Stamp ODB from set 1. inks Lemon drop (NBUS) Sahara Dune on splatters, and yellow sparkly Posca in colouring.This is going to a special person. Loved these colours and stamps. 

2. Word Art Wednesday Challenge Anything  Goes - all cards here!

3. Snippets card, the iris card, teeny snippet of gold used, the handmade purple was part of a sheet, snippets left as shown.  

 4. Darnell's NBUS Never Used before Schtuff challenge  Iris die, stamps - lilium and bumble bee, plus lemon drop ink. 
5. And since I made a rare ATC I'm linking it up to the Tag and ATC Challenge. The theme is just add pink and definitely not pink here, but adding it under Anything goes 😄

6. And lastly Darnell's I.D.E.A.S challenge. Week 2 is Dies and yes there's dies! Iris card, + two birthday cards. 

 

22 comments:

Anne said...

Such stunning cards Shaz, the iris one is so elegant, well done for putting it together so beautifully! The handmad paper makes all the difference, bravo!

Helen said...

Good to read your memories of Neet and her atcs. Your cards are gorgeous. Happy WOYWW Helen #1

BJ said...

Adore irises and your card is stunning. I actually have 3 flower stems on my pond irises this year so I'm really pleased about that. Your ink smooching looks a lot like watercolour, love it. Hugs Bj#7

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Happy 17th WOYWW!! Thank you for all your friendship and support over the past few years, how lucky are we to have met xx. Your memories of Neet are wonderful especially seeing the ATCs and gift she gave you. Your ATC is stunning and how lovely you used Lavinia stamps, Neet’s favourites xxxx
Your cards are stunning, I love the dramatic irises so much but also the cards with the coloured paints on white, beautiful.
Hope you have a good day, love to you as always,
Hugs LLJ 3 xx

ukmaryanne said...

Happy Happy Anniversary to all desk-hoppers
Thanks for 17 years of inspiration and friendship!
What a lovely tribute to Neet. Your card is gorgeous, and I really need a closer look at the ATC folder - so many people have referenced it and tha must have been a crop I missed :( Love the Aussie photos too - stunning views!
Roll on, Week 936
Mary Anne (8)

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

It's difficult to believe Neet has really gone, she was so special to everyone. Love the ATC she made and yours too. It was a pleasure to have met up with you. Beautiful photos, it's raining here today though we need it as it's been very dry recently. Have a nice woyww, hugs Angela x10x

Annie said...

Thank you for your love and friendship over the years. It’s a special group to be part of. Your Iris card is stunning…so perfect. Love the other cards too. We all have special memories of our dear friend Neet…so will be sorely missed missed.
Hugs,
Annie x #6

Linby said...

Your bee card is so beautiful and a lovely tribute to your friend. I'm so sorry for your loss. Thanks for taking part at Allsorts.

Sarn said...

A lovely iris card.
Enjoy WOYWW anniversary.

Thanks for coming to play in the Snippets Playground. See you in the treehouse later. X

Barb Finnical said...

These are lovely cards and photographs, Shaz! It was also fun looking at your post from 2012. Isn’t it wonderful that we can go back in time like that and reminisce. And congratulations on your 17th anniversary for that blog as well! Thanks so much for playing along with us at Word Art Wednesday. We appreciate your participation!

Julia Dunnit said...

Vickie will love the card and your thoughtfulness.it really was worth the battle, the irises are quite lovely…beautiful paper.
What a nice tribute ATC too, Neet would very much approve and be so modest and flattered about it wouldn’t she. Lovely to see some Aussie shots Miss Shaz, those big beach skies are good for the soul!

Ellibelle said...

Lots of beautiful creations and wonderful photos in today's post. I totally agree with you on the use of some die sets, in fact it's keeping me from using some of mine (too much thinking involved LOL). But I think you used this one so beautifully and perfectly.
Thank you for sharing the gorgeous flowers and bee card with us at Allsorts. A perfect make in memory of your crafty friend.

My name is Cindy said...

Beautiful cards and atcs Shaz and Neet would have lovedthe tribute one. Good to see you.
Happy Anniversary, love n hugs Cindyxx #11

Darnell said...

Another wonderful tribute to dear Neet, Shaz, and I loved seeing the ATC folder, ATCs, and necklace! I, too, had no idea what an ATC was! Your iris card was worth the trouble and strife! I'm sure she will treasure it and be so appreciative of your thoughtfulness! I, too, appreciate that you used the I.D.E.A.S. Calendar and how much you inspire everyone to use their NBUS! Hugs, Darnell p.s. And thank you for sharing more beach photos!

Twiglet said...

Happy 17th WOYWW anniversary. We are so lucky to have had years of friendship and to actually have met up with each other occasionally. I loved your memories of Neet. - so typical of her caring, sharing ways. She will be sadly missed. Your cards and artwork are so lovely. Thanks for sharing.x x Jo 🌈

Lynnecrafts said...

Happy WOYWW Anniversary! Your iris card is stunning and there are a lot of other beautiful cards there too.
Hugs
Lynnecrafts 5 xx

The Rev. Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

Your Iris ATC was worth all the time and effort your took putting it together. I'm sure your late friend's daughter will cherish it. Happy WOYWW Anniversary!

Di said...

Gorgeous snippets card Shaz - along with the others you made. Wonderful Oz photos too!
Hugs
Di xx

Anne said...

Wow Sis! Such beautiful cards, such inspiration in colour, design and techniques. How lovely to remember Neet by sharing her art blessings too. So precious. Deut.33:27 is a place of rest, hope and refocus. I pray that it will be a source of hope to many. TFS xx

Sarah Brennan said...

Such a lovely ATC for the anniversary Shaz - a great one from Neet with a folder as well. Love the irises. Stay safe and happy 17th WOYWW anniversary. Sarah

pinky said...

That's a lovely way to remember your friend. I am sure your beautiful ATC will be treasured.
Thanks for playing along with us at Tag-along (and ATC's).
Pinky

Susan Renshaw said...

Lovely tribute to Neet and you cards are all stunning!
happy WOYWW! Susan also in Aus

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