"Inspired to Stamp" Guest DT call + WOYWW

(EDIT: 10th Jan 2017 - Well, still catching my breath!! 😁 I've been accepted for GDT, watch this space!! A big thanks to everyone and your lovely comments to, you are so appreciated)

Hi all,

My desky share today shows multiple desks - with the process of making a card for a challenge. The experienced crafters among you, can just skim down the pickies. ;D
To join with What is On Your Workdesk  Wednesday pop over to Julia's desk for the deskland world wide hop. 

 This card is inspired by this image on Inspired to stamp.

I am not good on some challenges especially photo ones, I loose track half way through!

This is my second card as first one I went on memory and the colour wasn’t right! 
No worries, I still like it and will rescue it later.I took several things from this image:
1. colours - gold, white and coral or peach pink.
2. shapes  - namely spots, floral, and chevrons. So that's what I went with!

This is a card using stamping and wet embossing in various ways:
1. Stamp + wet embossing with stamped image

2. Stamp + wet embossing with an embossing folder

3. Stamp + wet embossing with a stencil. 

Don’t think I’ve used all three methods on one card before!

 I’ve been stamping with embossing since 1990, so a few years :D it still fascinates me.

As I'm playing with wet embossing, first use embossing buddy on plain white card (see how to make one here). Next apply Versamark to top side of Darice Chevron embossing folder (gift from Scrappy Mo - thanks Mo!) very generously, dry emboss, add embossing gold powder and heat emboss.

Plain snippety piece of card, gold embossed to do border scalloped die cuts with my scalloped rectangle die. One day must buy a scallop border, but these do work fine!

Added the two pieces of scallop to border on Chevron folder piece.

Next stamped Hero Arts Background stamp, Flowing Flowers and Leaves, with Versamark then gold heat embossed (used Stampendous Fine detail Gold). As my Coral sheet was textured the stamping was textured. I really loved this, it reminded me of the Victorian era wallpaper, William Morris used this colour with gold. Cut it into a large SB circle and added gold embossed large SB scallop circle die underneath.

Here I am at the "well, have these, what next stage?" next step was thought of as a late night idea, after prayer.

Next day, took a Stamping up mask bought recently on eBay (set of stripes and spots, I really bought it for the stripes). Had a snippet of vellum left over from previous card, and was big enough for background of the card 5 x 7" base. Used embossing buddy generously, then added small square Versamark in the spots.

Next added generous layer of Gold embossing powder (scrap paper underneath to catch the embossing powder).

Doesn't this have punch!!! I love it.
 Vellum can be tricky to adhere if nowhere to hide tape, but no worry of that here.
So adhered it to base, THEN added the chevron strip + stamped circle.

 Don't have much in way of die and stamp sets but bought this one from Simon Says this year, a prayer and hugs set, I love it. I worked out if you try to die cut before stamping it is harder to match, the die matches easily if you do it after stamping. Match it up on stamped image, tape it on with invisible tape and cut.

"prayers" is cut three times, the two white ones have double-sided tape on the back, attach for extra dimension underneath the gold die cut.

Here's a close up of all that embossing! Triple-wrapped some gold edged twine around the chevron piece before attaching.

The assembled card - hopefully it meets the challenge requirements. I enjoyed making it and as I used snippets am off to the playground too. YAY!
Next to the shots from Oz. We're in summer downunder, and the birds were enjoying the nectar from this coral coloured bottle brush outside our kitchen window. Firstly is a Blue faced Honey eater and next the noisy Lorikeet.

Lastly - found out last night our pineapple is sprouting again (isn't it cute?), this is the top from our first baby, now growing a pineapple too! It is a brommeliad. To see our earlier pineapples progress and planting of this top - see here.

Well, I'm delighted to welcome three new wonderful encouragers of this blog ..

Wow! these do some imaginative stamping and card making!

Kathy of http://joyfullymadedesigns.blogspot.com.au/

NanaConnie of http://mygrammysattic.blogspot.com.au/

EmLouise of http://www.creative-em.com/

You will learn much from these clever crafters.. a pleasure to visit..

.... so do pop over to their blogs and give them some encouragement! 

Thanks so much everyone for popping over and saying hi!
And may God bless your day (and especially your Christmas, as we remember Jesus' birth) wherever you may be!

... and dont forget to pop over and join in Bec's Anything Goes December challenge .. you might win the prize :D

Shaz in Oz.x

**"Therefore the LORD Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel.
( Immanuel means "God with us." (Isaiah 7:14).

**This verse above was written 800 BC, over 800 years before Christ, and just one of many true prophecies which accurately foretold His coming.

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

2. Di's snippets Challenge    http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/  
3. Stamping Sensations - Floral Fantasies. http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com.au/2016/12/december-floral-fancies.html

WOYWW + Light in Darkness Snippets

hi one and all,

Yes, it's flown again! My Yorkshire grandmother used to say "time flies", says the monkey, as he threw the clock at the cat!! :D

Firstly to my desk, as it is WOYWW or What is on your Workdesk Wednesday (pop over to Julia's and join in do!).

I'm in middle of upcycling some cards. Am pretty well finished making my 60 cards but thought I'd add a couple of extras. I've also done Christmas letter, and printed off inserts for cards and posted a few overseas ones, so starting to feel organised. I'm using this Memory Box Star mask with some cosmic glitter glue for background to this card.

Over at Cuttlebug Mania the challenge is "Light in Darkness" and when I popped onto Miss Di's blog last night I did a double take!

She was posting the almost identical card to mine for today. She'd also seen Loll's card and pinned it. Great minds think alike.
I loved the title of "Light in darkness" for it reminded me that this what the Lord Jesus is, the true Light... for He said "I am the Light of the World"....
.John 1:5 "...the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. "
 I saw once a verse on a war memorial at Canterbury, it had this verse: "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. "
It was referring to that fact they came through the blitz, but I must admit was a striking reference, for truly they were dark times.

My green is actually a piece of gloss card and I smooched up the excess brushos colour, when I was making these cards - see here. I've actually made about ten of those background  nativity cards, no two are remotely similar. (Snippets used - so off to the playground)
I am totally in love with brusho find it so versatile. And as I discovered last week (see here, Rudolph day post) it looks great on die cuts.

 

 The red glitter card was some American Crafts glitter paper. MB central die called "glowing candles", EF is American crafts, Christmas tradition, Spellbinder Elegant Ovals, ODB Joy to world stamp set silver embossed..
I made some cards with three colours on this on this die layering post - see here.

Well, now to our pickies from Oz. I went for a walk with a friend through our Botanic gardens again.
I've shown you the orchids before but this time thought would share mainly the Brommeliads... so many varieties. There is also a desert room where there are cactus plants in flower and showing one orchid at the end. God's creation is amazing ... so much variety!

A special welcome to the latest encourager of this blog...Linby of Craft by Linby, please check out her wonderful creativity over there and give her some encouragement too.

May God bless each of you this day in all that you do - and thanks for popping over and making my day.. you bless my heart, 

Shaz in Oz.x

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great Light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the Light shined."
 Isaiah 9:2

Joining up to:

1. Di's Snippety challenge - Used snippets on my card.   http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/ 

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

4. Crafty Hazlenut's  Extra Christmas challenge http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/chnc-challenge-extra-for-november-2016.html
4. Stamping Sensations - Christmas greetings. http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/november-anything-christmas.html
5. Light in darkness http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/shine_19.html 
6.http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/chnc-challenge-309-use-sentiment.html. 
Finally managed to join up with Beccys Challenge. https://beccysplace.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/a-month-of-holiday-cards.html

Scrappy Mo's Christmas Challenge - Upcycling!

Well, flying in with quick post of some very quick Christmas cards here.. over at Scrappy Mo's it is Christmas challenge time with Rudolph day. As time was of the essence, I made two quick cards from two cards received last year.. really did not do much to them as they were already very nice.

Really love this card, it says:
" Wise men still seek Him. The first wise men gave Christ treasures from their kingdoms, Today's wise men give Christ the treasures of their heart."
Holley Gerth.I like the One Who is the real reason for Christmas to be on every single card  I make, that's the whole point. Added a star and bling plus gold background to this.

Very simple card this as the glittery dove made it easy. Found my star bling which will add to the stars if I think they look okay.

This is our red poinsettia in the courtyard .. it has been flowering its heart out for three months, here is back here on the 13th July post. it loves this spot!

Just along from it is the pink begonia and there is also a Vinca, I call it a weed flowering plant.. it grows where it wants not where you want it. :D

Well everyone, dont forget to pop over to Mo's for the Christmas card challenge .. this will be ending all too soon, as the year is racing away!

Please say hi - to let me know you've been by! 
May God bless your day wherever you maybe!

Shaz in Oz.x

 
"*For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 

 

* this prophecy regarding the LORD Jesus was written approximately 700 years before Christ came.

Linking up to:

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

Our Daily Bread Stamps + Praying for you Cards.

Hullo there everyone ... as I said on Wednesday had made a bakers dozen, 13 for one family last week, who really needed all the prayers and hugs I could send. So sharing two more. I used quite a number of Daily bread Stamps on them. The first card will enter in this week's Colour Challenge as has those shades in it .. as well as the bonus of their stamp. I hadn't used this "Thinking of You" set much before but found it was perfect for this occasion, so used it a few times.

Love this die-cut of the hearts within hearts (by Impression Obsession) .. those of you who read this blog may remember some weeks back I had to make a wedding card. I went to use my new die, thinking it was this die - but when opened it was not it at all. So had to substitute my plan. You will see that card HERE! I was sent this, the correct die, as well as keeping the other one. :D

This layout I have made before but all three stamps are different, layout is little different. Stamp "sending hugs and prayers" also from ODB - Mini TAGS 3. Watercolour piece was made the same way the two background pieces on cards below were made, or see here. Distress inks, watercolour paper, water spray and glimmermist. Folder is Embossalicious Regency Swirls. Entering this in the Stamping Sensations July challenge which is "Feature a Creature". Butterflies are from Stampendous. Also linking this second card over to Mrs A.s Butterfly Challenge  where it's butterfly + G is for gems, think pearls are gems. http://butterflyspotchallenge.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/34-butterflies-g-is-for-gems.html

As both card have snippets in the little stamped pieces, am including both in the Snippets playground and also in Word Art Wednesday, Anything goes.

Every blessing of the LORD everyone where ever you maybe!

Thanks so much for popping over for peek and chat.. you are really appreciated and will, God willing, call back to see your lovely work, too!

Shaz in Oz.x

"When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I."

Psalm 61:2

In Times Like These
In times like these, we need a Savior
In times like these, we need an anchor
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock
 ....
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the one
This Rock is Jesus, The only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock
.....

(Excerpt of hymn by Ruth Caye Jones )

Bokeh Method with Cards, WOYWW 300+ Snippets Annie's smiles.

Hullo there everyone, well rather weary today after trip yesterday to big smoke - fly down and back in one day, medical but all is well .. 

 I wanted to post this method below as it is really fun method, and also this week if the 300th WOYWW (What is on Your Workdesk Wednesday) ~ share with the desks of the world! It is held over at Julia's Stamping Ground, and whatta trooper Julia is .. 300 WOYWW's!(well bar one in last year when her gall had the gall to intervene) 

Thanks so very much Julia - have learned so much from WOYWW, plus have made so many great friends.

I was actually going to meet up with fellow WOYWW-er yesterday (Thursday) RosA of Emerald city, but pulled out day before, as was too unsure of time element. Planes are easy to miss... :D

Well to my desk a while back. I am trying for the very first time the BOKEH technique (pronounced either /ˈboʊkeɪ/ BOH-kay or /ˈboʊkə/ BOH-kə, Japanese: [boke]) is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens).  

It was the technique of month over at OSA. The best video I found was one just after I did this, by Splitcoasters see here. My page on Pinterest has lots of pins see here

LESSON 1: dont get it too wet or it will dry blotchy like mine.. I used distress inks  on watercolour but worked out afterwards used the wrong side of watercolour paper pad too (slow, very! are some folk :D)
LESSON 2: think re-inkers would be better as in the video but dont have many of those,

LESSON 3:  when you die cut use a heavier quality piece of acetate as you can get, mine was, as was scrap from a lid, but noticed the video she had trouble with that. The white bubbles are overlapped and are done with chalk ink, it is better really if you dry between, I also did the different sizes it three (odd numbers -> better balance) of larger size then five (or so of next size and more of last size. Would not bother with tiny ones again as you cant get them light and dont like that.

The one completed here has extra large Artneko Kanji stamped on vellum and white embossed http://www.artneko.com/displayItem/A149-0003 Beautiful to stamp!

Video idea for this one is here. Stamp on vellum with Versafine jet back, embossed with clear then coloured with two mauve / lavender Brilliance inks. Stamp is Penny Black Slapstick cling  (40-099 Soft wings), from the playground - thanks Di, some time back :D
Verse is a favourite as folk who come here may know is Copyright 2006, bought on Ebay few years ago - by Stampabilities, GR1114. Still not sure I like this particular style of Bokeh method on this card. This is for Sue, for folks who pray for her, she is in hospital in UK, post chemo.

Last of all for today's Aussie images  .. the pineapple which we saw as a baby here down in the backyard, (and bigger, see here).

Taken the day it is was picked/ fell off 28th of Feb, 2015 - it had nearly fallen off, as fruit and top were so heavy and grew tad crooked.

In Front: the top from previous pineapple picked from plant .. see here

Didn't put ruler down very well but roughly 15cm, or 6"

Just pineapple bottom before cutting up - weight 629grams or 1.38pounds. I will add update when cut - it smells the best have smelt!!

Some snippets here so off to the Snippets Playground, as well as Word Art Wednesday .. Yay! and of course WOYWW - even if two days late! And as it is Friday tis time for Friday Smiles so will pop over to Annie's smiles too as this pineapple truly put a smile on my face .. :D

 

Every blessing of the LORD everyone where ever you maybe and thanks so much for popping over for peek and chat.. 

(Mm, am way behind commenting these days so will call back eventually, God willing, however I REALLY appreciate every one who cares enough to comment- thank YOU!)

Shaz in Oz.x 

" Fear not, but let thy hands be strong." 

"Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: Thy blessing is upon Thy people." 

 Zechariah 8:13, Psalm 3:8

 

1. Di's Snippety challenge - Used  a number of snippets on cards. http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au 
2..Word Art Wednesday - anything goes    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au.
3. http://www.vssweetideas.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/watercolor-theme-vsc-challenge-32.html

Nicecrane Digi + Annie's Friday Smiles

Hullo there everyone ..well it's Friday again :D have been MIA as not 100%.

a few weeks ago on a WOYWW post this card was on my desk... see here ..  The dog had digi Bible verse inserted with "Be Still and know that I am God" on Word doc. then printed is Nicecrane dog digi is a freebie (here) from Nicecrane over on Brenda's of "Floral Fantasies". The verse is free digi from Word Art Wednesday.. Used Labels 8 Fleur de Lis for double mount top layer was cut out as shown on this post.. and then gold edged with gold ink, not that you can see that.

 A quick post... wanted to catch up for Annie's Friday's Smiles so sharing some smiles for you... from various sources.

This is for Annie's twinnigans :D mm, not impressed with their titles on their onesies?

Many thanks for popping over for peek and chat - I really appreciate all your kind words, will return your visit sap

May God bless your day wherever you may be, Shaz in Oz.x

I would like to enter this into:

1. Di's Snippets Challenge - Snippets of card used. Woohoo, I may get to play in playground!

2. Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Artneko Large Cranes flying over Water, WOYWW + NBUS Challenge

Edited 13.6.14 - Julia had had keyhole surgery in Spain, hopes to be home by next week.. pray for her for great recovery.. have heard the hospital system there is very good "
Edited 11.6.14  There will not be a WOYWW link today,  Julia, she has been taken ill whilst on holiday and is in hospital. Not life threatening but she is not well. PLEASE do not email her, if you want to send a message, then do it through me.(Jan) May not be WOYWW next week either... Jan xx "
QUOTE OFF Lunch Lady Jan's Fabric Frenzy blog.. see HERE!
 Hullo there everyone..

Welcome to some new friends, to Antoinette, Angela Radford, Gran Margaret, and Louise Ellen. I cant link over to last one, have trouble doing it - is why have not done it for ages -  so sorry. I am sure links are there, but often not straight forward with Google+ etc. - if you kindly join this blog please let me know so can link over.. ta!
 First of all to my desk for WOYWW or What is on Your Workdesk Wednesday, at Julia of the Stamping Ground - do pop over, learn from all around the world!

Left to right: Seagull image ready stamped + watercoloured for card, then in CENTRE is Garfield card made for my nephew a Garfield fan.. See his other cards here . This year decided to do random strips at an angle of orange and black for mounting the comic strip on - saved from Garfield's own birthday which happens last same time each year as Michael's. (have two atc's not shown, sorry! must try and remember for next week forgot to photograph them, from Neet and Margaret - thank you!)

Gift from neighbour, an unwanted CD shelf, now storing stamps and inkpads, all coded and labelled.. Nice!

Finished Garfield card...Stamp HB is SU one + banner die, also with two embossing folders, "Happy Birthday" in blue + orange and black, it kind of looks like tyre tracks is Chevron EF, received as a RAK from our extra generous Maureen, aka Scrappy Mo! thanks dear friend.

This card is for Oriental Garden Mingle with Oriental Stamp Art Yahoo Group.

   I embossed the beautifully etched stamp {http://www.artneko.com/displayItem/A149-0007 A1490007 - Extra Large Cranes flying over Water} **(see tip below) unmounted (NBUS) rubber stamp by Artneko first with black ink with embossing powder. Then water coloured it with Distress inks. Cut it out and mounted on embossing stencil Butterflies. It is an embossing stencil (did it on CB with rubber mat). Hand cut it out (Butterflies by Marianne Design NBUS) after I had inked up with Opalite "Glacier blue". Mounted on Washi (NBUS) paper and blue card, tried to match the paper colours in water colouring of stamp.
 Over at Darnell's playhouse, she's hosting a brand new NBUS challenge. As used NBUS, three lots in fact, am going to enter this card in it.. for those who dont know Darnell's blog NBUS stands for "Never Before Used Schtuff" to encourage us to use up our stash! you have till June 27th to join in! NBUS Challenge #1"Anything Goes" Friendship Theme (card for Mingle for OSA friend so should qualify)

Well, thanks so much everyone for popping over for peek an chat.. will return visit as soon as able... am bit better :D thanks for those who popped over last week...

and may God bless your day wherever you maybe!
Shaz in Oz.x

**(tip from Annette of Artneko) and I find it works a treat:Too many unmounted stamps and not enough Ez mount to mount them?? Use a glue stick on back of plain trimmed rubber stamp, and glue it to an acrylic block (or to a taped down lid of stamp pad if you dont have an acrylic block) and stamp on a firm foam mat .. instant success! so no more Ez mount for me! yesss more money for stash!
.. then write name of stamp on back of rubber and put them in file for ready identifying and ready access after I stamp them in my folder of "What Stamp Is That?" (see here for this, must say it is a fav. tool now!).

Also want to join over with:

1. Di's Snippety challenge - Used snippets on both cards.   http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/ 
2.Word Art Wednesday - anything goes    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au 

3.Stamping Sensation..  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com.au/ 
Animal antics - second card with cranes in flight, and Garfield has stamped emobssed birthday greeting so just qualifies. :D