Calligraphy Eamon Sleeps Here, Starry Christmas cards + WOYWW

(Warning - photo heavy post! )
Hi there everyone, As it is Wednesday, I've a desky share - for What is On Your workdesk Wednesday.. pop over to our Julia's desk for the link up, at Stamping Ground!

To my desk, or actually yesterday’s desk, I’m working on finishing some cards here, was very busy so left mine unfinished.

 Christmas is the theme at the moment as realising how quickly the year is flying away... and not all my cards done. I visited a friend for two nights last week and made her some Christmas cards, and some for myself as well, here’s one. I bought ages ago this silver Cosmic shimmer embossing paste and finally used some of it, very pretty. 
Now to some calligraphy...

I also promised a few weeks ago (see back here) to share the calligraphy “Eamon sleeps here” as it’s been opened I can share it now, remember this is a copy, see original post for details on how I did it.

 Will share Eamon’s Card (previewed here), too.

Eamon’s card was made with a mask, a giraffe mask or stencil bought very cheaply a Chinese one .. but to be honest, it’s only worth what I paid for it, as it’s very thin. Embossed first the stencil in cuttlebug. Then inked up with Distress inks, and sealed in with versamark and embossing powder

Creating a scene with masked off giraffes, sky and grass plain, using ink dusters. Then adding various stamps, Darkroom Door tree set and some Stampscapes too, and coloured it with Caran D’Ache pencils.

Now the Christmas card... used a Memory Box starry night stencil, and paste, adding a layered die cut by Kaisercraft (disc.) of star bought on sale, then added some digi verse, are four of these. The verses are by Karen Murray of Word Art Wednesday (link to Karen Murray Word Art Etsy Shop, currently in recess but email her on site, maybe might be able to buy Christmas set)..

 Now to Aussie Shots, image above was taken on my phone this afternoon after dropping car off for service. Water was soooo pretty, high tide at the creek. The one below was taken when out with dad, we had a cuppa a the Clog barn and checked out the garden display. Love the water dragons on white stones near the water, posing as still as statues, water lilies too very pretty.

Thanks so much for all your loving, caring comments, too! I'm improved in health just this past week which is a really great blessing, and received a good report (for me :D) from my Syd Dr's visit too, much answered prayer. God is very good. 
Crafty hugs and may our God richly bless your day in every way.
Shaz in Oz.x 


“So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.” Psalm 79:13 

I would like to link these up to the following challenges: 

1.http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au/

2. http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com.au/2017/11/chnc-challenge-358.html

3. http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.com.au/2017/11/chnc-challenge-extra-for-november-2017.html

4. http://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.com.au/2017/11/challenge-35-optional-themestar-struck.html

WOYWW, Vellum Stamping +Pineapple Picking!

Hi everyone, as the days are rushing past in May.... 'tis Wednesday, again!

Here's my desky share for WOYWW or What is on your Workdesk Wednesday (over here at Julia's and please do join in, too!).
Two current desks to see today!!

Desk 1: More Romanian card work, made a little headway and made two of the dozen, then to right are the left over images, some with Romanian Bible verses on them and some print out of verses and greetings. I hope to have them done by end of week!
Mm, am realising this time next week I need an ATC or two made for then.
No inspiration yet but will come!! Can't rush these things. ;)

This is in centre of desk above (the scroll on right was a newly arrived CCD, took 47 days to get here! a record!). In choosing verses, I've picked ones that suit if one  knows the LORD and also those who do not. This one from Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding."  I was surprised at how long the name for Proverbs was, and mentions Solomon in it, he wrote most of Proverbs but not all of it.

Desk 2, in sunny spot (mornings getting cooler here) in dining room, on fold-up desk.
I'm working on a small text here, hidden so the person concerned doesn't see what it is. It's a small illuminated one. I've just finished layering the gold leaf, so the box on top of the text contains my sheets of 23carat gold leaf on tissue paper.
(you can just see a peek of vine work at right top end of box)
You'll see a small jar with gold metal lid to top right of text which is the Gilding size, which you paint on before applying gold leaf.
There's also a sharp pointed knife to right front for removing Gilding size + gold leaf from where it's not meant to be, some rubbers, small tiny ones for rubbing out small spots, these are next to Gilding papers.
Paints at rear are there, but I'm actually thinking of mixing some brushos to paint it with for new experiment!! :D Watch ,this space!

My card today was made two weeks ago but not shared, for a twenty first obviously.  Used a stamp (PSX from 1995), stamped it on Vellum with Versamark, gold embossed, and coloured it in promarkers.
Fussy cut around image attached to the Spellbinder Fancy Ovals, largest die cut with 300gsm card, softly tinted background while still in die.
Embossing folder background is Tied Together by Couture Creations, pearls added. Lace dies are from Our Daily Bread border die, coloured fine ribbon with promarkers and thread it through once dry. Greeting is a digi, with SB scallops, 21 is from Cuttlebug Olivia Die set.

 

Well we had a special ceremony yesterday... a pineapple picking one! Here is it a week ago when still not quite ripe!

Here 'tis yesterday, picking time. under supervision!
You know it is ripe when you easily pull a leaf out of centre.. just like you test them in the shops and have a good smell test, too :D this one is not as big as others but smells super sweet the one behind will be bigger it grew during lots of rain.
Plant will sucker a new plant and old plant will die. This is the pineapple from a previous baby - I planted the top from it, next to original plant. Saving this top for BiL.

 Ending with two shots from my walk yesterday afternoon, another sunset, if had stayed another half hour would've been even more scarlet, especially with that lovely mackerel cloud as my dad calls them.

On the post below I've and new stamping technique called Retiform.. with some Darkroom Door Ste Sail stamps .. wow, love this technique will be doing it again!

I'm also totally delighted to welcome a new wonderful encourager ..
Maura of Two stamping Sisters - Maura leaves the loveliest comments when she visits as DT for Simon says Monday blog, so very glad she has joined. Thank you!
....  do pop over to give some encouragement too! 
 Well that's if for me today, thanks so much for popping over and please leave a comment too, love to hear from you.
May God bless your day, wherever you may be, happy WOYWW!
Shaz in oz.x  

Joining up to the following:

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

2. http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com.au/2017/05/188-add-sentiment.html

3. Lemon shortbread challenge - anything goes. 

4. Always fun challenge - dry embossing. (with tied together folder)

5. ARTstic Challenge - May Flowers

LOVE that sent Jesus to the cross

Greetings dear folks on this Good Friday.. we remember the ONE Who gave the greatest gift of all.. for those who wonder about  The WHY Good Friday see last year's post here..

It amazes me the changeability of human nature, with the days leading up to trial and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. On the first day of the week (we now call it Palm Sunday) they are crying to Jesus a Kingly welcome:

..... and then all but a few days later, that same crowd are crying when Pilate, in an attempt to let Jesus go, asked :
"What should we do with Jesus? and they cried "Crucify Him!" 
Yet we too are changeable - often we may blow with the wind, or flow with the situation as it is easer than swimming against the tide of public opinion.
Instead let us be Praising Him, the Lord of Glory, our Saviour Jesus!

God had a greater end in view though! God sees what we cannot, and He saw that man needed a way of salvation from their sin.
When we are bowed down with care and trouble there is ONE Who cares and wants to bear it for us... that is why the Father sent His Son, the LORD Jesus!

It was LOVE - LOVE that sent Jesus to the cross
LOVE that made Him stay there, till it says:

"And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." Luke 23:46

Notice that .. He gave up His life ... it was not taken from Him. 

Jesus, God in the flesh, came down to earth to live among men. As Hebrews say : " He was tested in all points as we are, yet without sin."
He was sinless perfect BUT He knows our struggles.. our cares, sorrows. Surely he hath born our sorrows and our grief"

LOOK! See this chapter in Isaiah 53 many, many centuries before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah  drew the picture of the death Jesus would suffer for our sin, on the tree .. read and be amazed at teh detail, and be grateful too - see here

Satan thought He had won a victory on the cross .. he thought  wrongly though... it was God's way of Salvation and Satan's defeat. It was at the cross that the first prophecy about Satan's defeat was fulfilled, one of many. See Genesis 3:15 
As this verse above says - GREATER is He that is in You.. by faith if we have trusted in the LORD Jesus as Saviour we receive the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and lives.. God's spirit is great than any power with which Satan might to seek to deceive us.

This is the verse that led to my salvation many years ago.. read about it here and it summarises what Good Friday means - when the LORD gave up His life for us. His blood is the cleansing power for sin.. but salvation is gift! It is not ours till it is taken..

Praising Him, the Lord of Glory, Jesus!
On this day when we remember the greatest gift of all, when the Lord Jesus laid down His life on the cross, shed His blood for our sin, that we might by faith in Him have life for an eternity in heaven. Hallelujah!
How rich are we in Him! if we know Him as out our own Saviour!

To learn more, do please click on this post here.

Every blessing of the LORD, dear friends upon you and your dear ones on such a special day.

Shaz in Oz.x

My Favourites of 2014

Oh wow!!!! this was soo hard.... to pick only five ... so choosing five cards and one piece of calligraphy.. eh?? 

What am I raving on about? over at Debby's "A Scrapjourney" she is is asking us to chose our top five favourites for 2014 and share them :D so here they are .. and each name has the link embedded to read for more details. Calligraphy first then five cards.

Emily's birthday .. finally I made her the "Emily sleeps here" Blue Wren

Hudson's 1st birthday Bugaboo Elephant

Stampscapes brayer card

Ink resist with white embossing.

Didi's 60th Birthday.

 Sue's card "Trust in Him at all times, ye people, pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:8

 

So that's it for 2014.. 

What a blessing it is... to have hands to craft and crafty goodies to use to encourage or bless others :D

Every blessing of the LORD God be upon you all as we enter a New YEAR... 

May we use it wisely and well.

Shaz in Oz.x
Also want to link up with Lyndal's Favourite things blog hop over her: (ends January 31st)

WOYWW + Calligraphy bookmarks

Well, here is part of the desk today - very much in hurry! Craft room actually is all packed away as having NBN put in there - for those not n Oz it is the new fibre phone and internet lines - we have to upgrade, it is not optional.
I have been wanting this set of Perfect Layers Rulers for while now (they were not cheap) but wow they are fab! (Seen first on Jocelyn's blog - Instead of Ironing blogspot on here lovely cards)
  I have just bought this set from Joanna Sheen ( have free post, even to Oz) as they were the cheapest I could find, on wishlist for sooo long. They really made mounting this set so much easier, and actually made the having to do this the excuse to buy. Still boo-booed twice when could not cut straight because hands dont co-operate, but that is the user not the tool.

These are my students in this years calligraphy class with second project, their book marks; they are now working on their texts - they are years 7/ 8 (about 14 years). This is why have been absent from WOYWW, as have not had time or energy to blog - will be last time I teach a group. Just too draining.

Here is a sunset from the window a week ago when was in Brisbane staying at my family's place - not bad bedroom view is it? In distance is the Brisbane river, not visible as below the tree line.

 First shot shows a subdued scene but second photos is as I saw it - the beauty of the mauve tones of God's creation - the Jacaranda tree in their drive and the sunset light fading in background. 

Click in larger size to see it better.

The purpose of this post is to show my workdesk and link over to Julia's so had better do so - here she is, to peek at all the other folk's desk for What in On Your Workdesk Wednesday, go right over here!!

Happy WOYWW every one and may God bless your day wherever you may be - may or may not be able to comment much, so apologies in advance.

Shaz in Oz.x

PS please dont forget to peek at my blog candy - all welcome to join, please do!!! see post for details please.

PPS. and sorry commenting and internet access is intermittent as being updated to National Broadband Network (NBN) and issues have arisen .. "craftroom-cum-now-computer-room" totally all packed up, while we wait for techno-geeks to work out why it did not go as smoothly as it should have done! I am using the old internet for this post.