Stencilled Stamped Challenges - Friday Smiles, Twofer, NBUS, Butterflies, Snippets Playground,

Hi there everyone! Sooo sorry I’ve been soo silent, but was rather unwell in February, then busy catching up and had a visitor last week. Talk about God’s perfect timing, I was well and the weather was wonderful.😃 A total contrast this week.. more of that anon! I’m  popping into share my Two-fer!

Don’t die of shock but I’m joining in with Darnell’s Two-fer challenge as well as her NBUS, AND Mrs A.'s butterfly challenge this really must be a record for me, I’m so bad at challenges.😆 These are my Two-fers! I will share below. Firstly my desk!

I’m starting the Two-fer on the left, this is a male “Get Well card”, for my nephew. He smashed his kneecap in eight places! Ouch! All wired up, a bad crash - so thought he might need a “Cheer me up!”. I’ve actually painted the background (below the Sunflower mask) a watercolour blue wash, dried it, then stencilled in grey DI in new “Hexagonal pattern” stencil by Caravelle Studio, made in France! Who’d have thought?

To be honest most is lost unless you look closely, can see it a bit through oxides and elsewhere IRL. Used Hero Art “Hugs & Prayers” set.

Interesting thing with two cards, I used same colours, one in DI on plain white card other with oxides on heavyweight watercolour paper. Results oh so different! 

On this card my NBUS is my hexagon stencil, a birthday pressie.. BTW dear, kind Darnell, your lovely, most surprising birthday card arrived safely Downunder, and been duly admired by one and all... thank you.❤️🤗 So VERY kind when you aren’t well.

The second card has a couple of NBUS, too. This is an embossed resist background of the SU French Script background stamp in WOW, White Linen EP - my fav white powder. Added Sunflower (no name stencil) in DI. Two NBUS - Simon Says dragonfly die (love his iridescent cardstock wings) and the Happy Birthday greeting, cheap stamp set picked up from Spotlight.

The last card is by Darkroom Door Butterfly collage stamp, again done with Gansai Tambi watercolours, seem to love them at mo. The die is by Impressions Obsession greeting set. The EF is Regency Swirls Embossaliscious. Now to the Aussie photos, a combo.. some from last week - perfect!

Then a couple from today... it’s been extremely wet we’ve had over 210mm or over 8” in the last two days. Joining up with Aussie photos OVER HERE to Annie’s Friday Smiles, my friends definitely had big smiles when we went swimming at these lovely spots, so VERY blessed to have such weather.

TODAY at 5pm: Seas are big, brown-cream, foamy-frothing and windswept waves. No understanding it though - I saw a man fishing in the debris and flood-filled creek on an outgoing tide. THAT is about as bad as you can fish. 

Well, that’s it for today... thanks so VERY much for stopping by, and especially if you have time to say hi. 

I'm sorry I'm struggling a little in comments, do often visit folks, but on mobile comments often difficult. This is second time I’ve written post (& majorly re- edit this 2nd attempt when photos and text jumped around)! On Wed night I accidentally deleted almost the whole post.😑😉

Loads of thanks and gentle prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x 

Thought of the Day:

Are there things you love to read more than once, in my youth I wore some books out because I loved them so much. This bible passage is one of those .. it’s really a picture of contrasts, for troubled times..

*Hiding me in His safe place the secret of His tabernacle

contrasts with

*He set me upon a rock. 

Does that make sense? .. yes, something that is secure is upon a rock, and if God has me there upon the rock AND hidden in the secret of His tabernacle... 

I cannot be more safe!

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Psalm 27:5,7-8 

And truly then safe in His everlasting arms , I cry unto Him, and I will seek His face, seek the One Who loves me so VERY much. 

Praise His glorious Name above all names.. 

Linking up with following Challenges:

1. Two-fer Challenge... your choice. https://twofercardchallenge.blogspot.com/2021/03/reminder-twofer-card-challenge-36-your.html

2. NBUS challenge- the dragonfly, HB stamp set: Hexagonal Stencil: Darkroom Door Butterfly Collage https://mynbus.blogspot.com/2021/03/nbus-challenge-24.html

3. Snippets card - http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com/2021/03/pixies-snippets-playground-challenge-398. all my cards have snippets, kind of my thing.. but think most snippets are on dragonfly card. 😃

4. ButterflyChallenge.  https://butterflyspotchallenge.blogspot.com/2021/03/154-spin-butterfly-wheel-with-k-for.html see my butterfly card -  the letter is K and I’ve chosen kobi = light pink and Kombu Green = dark sage.. of course a butterfly or two actually!

5. Word art Wednesday Anything goes!  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ Chocolate Baroque - what we love! Stencils of course, so no 1 and 2 .. love butterflies too, but currently definitely addictive stencils, so 1 and 2 cards. https://www.welovechocolatebaroque.uk/2021/03/march-i-love.html

Shaz ill - Blog in Recess. "..as for God His way is PERFECT ". Ps 18

Linking up also to Butterfly Challenge, + WOYWW.
 As of Fri 26th June life took another health turn.
I don't know the way, but God does.

I do know I must rest,  though, so all prayers appreciated,  especially that my other chronic conditions will behave. 😊  Here is new health condition (heart attack, with heart failure, hopefully recoverable) - See link.

Just sharing some cards for Mrs A's Butterfly Challenge -  entering Mrs A, but not for marvellous prizes, thank you! 
Used loads of snippets... also joining there for fun only, Miss thanks. 

Number of cards for special friend's family.. last Fri 26th.

May God bless you all, and may you seek the One Lord God alone Who carries us through every dark valley..
Who not only saves us by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ from our sin and our sin's consequences,  but oh, He is with us in the hardest and longest days.
He holds my hand.

Commenting prob not at all, but praying for you all yes, which is far better.

Loving Prayer Hugs,

Shaz in Oz.x

He promised to NEVER to leave me, to NEVER to leave me alone ... beautiful indeed!

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

Stencilled Oxides and Butterfly Challenge + WOYWW

Hi there everyone, yes, it’s Desk Day.. time for Julia’s WOYWW or What is on Your Workdesk Wednesday over HERE!! 😊

My Desk this morning is a tad out of kilter. That’s base of desk lamp - a dying breed of fluoro desk lamps from 1970’s. Dad used it for painting or for working by, in craft room many years and much used before at other desks. Yesterday it went to the light shop, as it had suddenly gone kupput! 
The man chuckled when he saw it was being held together by sticky tape, quite literally. I’d taken it five years ago to another friend who had repairs business, but since retired, and he mended it 😆 taping the piece holding connectors together. Anyway light shop-man duly repaired it with same method and sold me new globe and told me to bring it back if any issues. Just for record he sells lights not repair them, but he knew dad well as he was his framer of his paintings for years in previous business. 
I am working on card but can’t share, sorry, till late this month. My desk monkeys with WOYWW badges sit on lamp base at far rear right of my desk, usually out of view. Need to put them all back that’s my first WOYWW PiF from Jozarty, + the cross in my pocket she made me. Also a dumfing from Jo from 2015.😊

This is the card I was working on last week (on last week’s desk below or Here! shows it being inked). I really love it, the Oxides give it such pop and blend well, used Darkroom Door Stamp, and Hero Arts praying for you set for stamped greeting. Mrs A’s Butterfly Challenge, has letter J for Juicy Orange, Jade Green, Jasmine, Jute, Jewels, Joy fold, but will stick to colours with butterflies. 
Both stamped pieces + base with sponged Oxides on TH Dot stencil were all snippets. White card base was not, yay! so off to the Snippets playground!
Now to my Aussie photos, you can skip these if you like, from someone travelling across Oz. Commentary as follows:

Can certainly see why this at Kalgoorlie is called the superpit... the mining vehicles have to be seen to be believed.

In it’s heyday there were 93 hotels and 20 breweries 😳 in Kalgoorlie (big gold mining town). There are around 20 hotels now and some are being or have been restored to their former glory.

Gwalia which is a former gold-mining town just out of Leonora. Today, Gwalia is essentially a ghost town, having been largely deserted since the main source of employment, the Sons of Gwalia gold mine, closed in 1963.

There is a museum open and also Hoover House which serves a great afternoon tea on it’s veranda. This is a beautiful home, a mansion in its era. It cost 6 times the average house of the time. Herbert Hoover who was the mine manager at the time later became the 31st president of the United States.

This photo is bit out of order but so pretty - between Sandstone and Mt Magnet.

This map of Australia shows what a journey across the centre would look ... certainly not as crow flies!

From Wikipedia: “The distance between the east and west as the crow flies is 4,030 km (2,500 mi), or 3,685 km (2,290 mi) from north to south.”
Well, that’s it for me today, was better last week in commenting but not good enough! Hope to do everyone, God willing, this week.
 I’m working through a new mobile. Nearly all info transferred over, been a learning curve using its new features. Old faithful mobile keeps shutting down, that’s sure sign it’s in way out. Do blog posts + all photos on my mobile devices these days, + all commenting! Hence issues with some website settings.
Happy WOYWW everyone, and may God bless your day wherever you maybe. Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x.
Thought for today:
Yesterday I was praying with a friend, by phone, She is having a rough time, and as we prayed, she prayed this verse. It was so apt for her situation that thought I’d share it here, that it may bless you also, in any storm we do need a shelter.

In the storms of life we can be sure the Lord Jesus will be there for us IF we but seek Him! 
He alone can still the wind and waves and say: “ Peace! Be still!”
Thank you Lord Jesus.

Linking up with:

* Word Art Wednesday

* also http://pathofpositivitychallenge.blogspot.com/2019/08/challenge-71-opt-twist-relaxationaug-5.html?m=1

* and http://theartisticstampercreativeteam.blogspot.com/2019/08/august-creative-challenge-anything-goes.html?m=1

Watercolours with Inkblock, Butterflies Oxide +WOYWW

Yes, surprise! It’s Wednesday again, time for Julia’s WOYWW What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, over HERE!! 😊 
Desk day, or in my case several desks! First Desk: this morning

Mrs A’s Butterfly Challenge, this fortnight is letter J - J for Juicy Orange, Jade Green, Jasmine, Jute, Jewels, Joy fold, but will stick to colours with butterflies. A Darkroom Door stamp on white card inked & heat embossed in my “use-it” bags (ok, it hadn't made the bag yet, was just sitting on side desk😆) Loll used her Oxides -> thus this idea was born, have finished colours and looks fab. 
*When made up will add as edit to bottom of post, DV. For some reason Wednesdays are extremely busy, so yet to finish it.

Desk 2: Watercolour ink block card  - double extended the TH Sizzix EF. Varied inks for smooch with Memento Rich Cocoa and Brilliance Copper, mixed together as smooched. Swipe VERY lightly so ink doesn’t go into lower grooves.
Kraft base, decided to change design, this is my sixth card in this style, varied ink block stamped images (step by step explained HERE), or maybe seventh lost count. 

Desk 3: Decided to re-layer watercolour block imprint for bit more depth. So here am re-inking on block spritz and press into right spot.

Finished card, diecut with Wonky Rectangles by Creatif, inked up so DP from old pad to go underneath, then mounted on the timber base, Brown card under it, on side added brown ribbon on top of kraft woven ribbon, brad from stash. Done, yess! 

Now to Aussie picks for this week, in Central Oz courtesy of travelling family. It’s a wide brown land, sadly many in need of RAIN, please Lord. 

On the Lassiter Highway to Uluru... the Mt Connor view point. 

Salt pan which is across the road, from first view.

Left early and drove out past Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock). 

Had breakfast at Kata Tjuta ...certainly breakfast with a view.

Crossed the WA border, on the Great Central Road!

Overnight camp at “Behind the Ranges” opposite Gil’s Pinnacles. Now on WA time. The landscape is just stunning... such a picturesque drive!

Surprised at the mountain ranges, particularly the beauty of the Rawlinson Range, the red colours with the green vegetation and contrasting with the blue skies! Was expecting the flat country that have driven through for so long.

These photos are really nothing to the real colour dynamic one can see with human eye, any camera is a poor imitation of God's amazing creation - the human eye.
That’s it for today’s share, thanks so much for popping over for peek and chat, may God bless your day wherever you maybe.
Prayer hugs,
Shaz.x 
Thought for the Day:
Just two verses to ponder, how blessed we are, so rich by faith in our God!

Linking up with:

* Word Art Wednesday
* * https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-add-a-die-cut/
* https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=17551 Midsummer Blues - Sea watercolour card
* http://mmmchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/08/challenge-102-friendship.html
https://pathofpositivitychallenge.blogspot.com/2019/08/challenge-71-opt-twist-relaxationaug-5.html
* By the seaside Artistic stampers http://theartisticstampercreativeteam.blogspot.com/2019/08/august-creative-challenge-anything-goes.html seaside card
* https://pathofpositivitychallenge.blogspot.com/2019/08/challenge-71-opt-twist-relaxationaug-5.html

Snippets + Tim Holtz Mixed Media Swirls Die - Two Ways

Hi there everyone. Have just made two more cards for birthdays or thinking of you cards, going to share how snippets make great cards. Was going to be quick card but in my usual way I’ve complicated it a tad.

First card was this one, it’s with left overs paper-pieced from card 2. Yes it was tedious I did an impression on white card so then like jigsaw just had to work out shape, had DST on back which helped. 

And yes, I lost one teeny bit which I did a cheats job on and recut it. The greeting Die is CCD and double layers. The lovely rose Kaisercraft pad was a bargain buy after Christmas sales, finally used! Greeting stamp Gold EP is by Sweet Sassy “Wait on the LORD” clear set, disc. But may find one like I did, was my birthday pressie to myself in Feb 😊 also available as digi I think. 

Added to this three little punched butterflies from more snippets. All card practically is snippets so off to the Snippets playground, yay! 

Next card uses negative of die cut and the same greetings but different feel. The regal gold braid is stick-on courtesy of Shaz Silverwolf in 2016. Not much left now. Repeated Gold EP stamp on white snippet, gold snippets for double mount too.

Close up of detail.
The Aussie shots from earlier in year, a lovely sunset this evening was walking. It's cooler here now and sister at Hall's Gap drove through snow yest. It’s much warmer here, but still cool for us. 

Well that’s it for today. Praying every blessing upon you in your day, and thanks for coming over and especially thanks if you have time to say hi.

Hugs Shaz in Oz.x 

Thoughts for the day. 
Going to share two quotes ... love them both. The first reflects the command the LORD gives us:
 “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 
Giving thanks comes from a grateful heart. 

I’d like to join up with the following:

1. Butterfly Challenge F is for FLAP FOLD... not used ..but I did use French Rose, Flax, Firebrick red and Flowers with Butterflies

2. Snippets challenge -used on both cards Lots of snippets used so over at Snippets Playground.. yay off to merry go round, will try to avoid Duck pond though! 

3. Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
4 http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/05/may-in-english-country-garden.html  English country garden theme on both cards.

5. Add something metallic. Gold EP on stamped greeting on both cards.. gold braid on second card.
 https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=16481