Watercolour lifting, Shaker Card, Christmas, NBUS, Snippets + WOYWW

 Well, a desky share, two actually - many cards of varied techniques, I’ve been busy. To see other desks, please do pop over to Julia’s Stamping Ground and be surprised at how much you can learn .. all over the world!

 The first desk is for a three year old.. had used this “Cheeky Monkey” stamp by Kraftin' Kimmie ten years ago here, but thought this card was passé now, so hunted for another idea and came up with this.

My desk shows an assortment of pens for colouring on right, scissor for fussy cutting and shaker elements … however didn’t take photo of card properly with outside photos, was too sunny then AND forgot later on, till mailing it! Oops! Thankfully I’d taken this inside photo, just in case. 🙄 So will have to do.

I did put glossy accents on monkey to make him stand out a bit more, but hard to see glossiness. The background jungle leaf paper was from interweb.

Second desk is my batch bake - I’m attacking my next lot of Christmas cards!

This design changed many times in my head in the waiting. Ended up with two designs, one just once, other multiplied, 16 cards, in Gold white design, a NBUS that “Rejoice!” Die is by Simon Says at post Christmas sale. Love a sale! Thanks to my US friend Marilyn who mailed it to me. The small rectangle is insert snippet from window frame die used on previous Christmas set and on brayer card here. Couldn’t waste it!

Has anyone else noticed how few Christmas cards have the reality of Christmas on them? I was the only one recently in two Christmas challenges I entered.

The Penny Black “Christmas in July” release in the three release videos I watched had not one real Christmas card on it  - Jesus banned, it seems, from His own celebration! my heart is so sad, our world is so far from God. 

I left comments on the Penny black Release videos as were “holiday cards” not “Christmas cards”.

Here’s the completed set.

This birthday card I’ve made before here, it’s watercolour lifting, and so CASED it, twice actually.

Forgot to photograph one of them too, it was a bit different… better stamping, smoother watercolour paper. Had a busy time as you see.

I made two more lady birthday cards, another mauve shade one, for a dear friend, with a special verse, her favourite sweetpea.

Digi are from web, verse is from Word Art Wednesday where they have new ones free each fortnight. Labels 28 SB are dies, bottom more lacy version of SB 28 are a gift years ago from Magpie, or Glenda on WOYWW.

My next friend’s favourite colour is RED! This is mixture of four different AI on embossed foil card, technique shown in more detail on these posts here and here. This has a NBUS.. the birthday greeting is at last taken out of hiding - happy birthday by Creative Expression (Sue Wilson). Other dies are rectangular ones by Scrapdragon, and flower disc by MB, Blushing Branch. This is my Snippets card as the foil, white card pieces, not the base, were neglected snippets in stash, esp foil had it embossed on desk for ages, but not coloured.

Lastly is a sml text done many times, but new colours! Made as a 60th birthday present,  and this card to go with it, is a NBUS nameless stamp, bought in 2012 at Manchester with Neet, at Abbakhan  on sml brayered piece done ages ago, but brightened up when had brayer out so went onto a card precut in Christmas set from last post so was very quick make. Will repeat for sure.

Okay that’s it for this week!  Busy in our garden at the moment, as it’s roses feed, mulch and sort out time, plus other like citrus and natives.

Have ordered three new roses from S.A, which is always exciting. Like to have about three dozen bushes, and lost a few in our wet weather. It’s being prettied up with some nice edging too, the beds with none at the moment, and a few stepping pavers, as changing configurations a bit. My brother in law is a great help there.

Here’s some other Oz photos, my walks are mostly at the end of the day as you see!

Above photo has the Qantas flight coming into land, it comes in low over the ocean and creek before heading over the headland to the airport.

Just to remind you spring is near, here - some very pretty yellow wattle. Wattle day is August 1st.

Thanks so much for popping over - I really appreciate it so much! I will visit as many as I can, but iPad now blocks all bloggers except those with pop up windows comment boxes.

May God bless you and all whom you love, 

Shaz in Oz.x

Thought for the Day:

The verse that was on the sweetpea card, is this favourite - "God is my Strength and Power: and He maketh my way perfect." Also Psalm 18 as well as 2 Samuel 22.

God is our Hope, Help, Strength and Power as Jesus Himself said in John 14:5 "Without Me, ye can do nothing".

"My sufficiency is in God".

This is truly all that keeps me going- my God. 

Pray that this blesses your heart, too.

Linking over to the following:

1. NBUS Challenge Never Before Used Schtuff  https://mynbus.blogspot.com/2022/08/nbus-challenge-41.htmlA. Christmas card in gold white Rejoice NBUS  B. brayer window card with new un-named stamp (it does have a name, its just lost stamp at mo since stamped it, you know what I mean 🙄..) C. Red card Happy Birthday die new

2. WAW Word Art Wednesday - http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/

ANYTHING Goes each new card.    

3. Happy Little Stampers Anything goes with Dies https://happylittlestampers.blogspot.com/2022/08/hls-august-anything-goes-with-dies.html?m=1 *Monkey Shaker card - die is stitched rectangle die, I think * Red - alcohol ink card * sweetpea card * Christmas card - Gold and White * watercolour lifting card *brayer card with window die frame

4. Snippets Challenge - red card, all snippets but base. https://pixiessnippetsplayground.blogspot.com/2022/08/challenge-434.html?m=1

5. http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2022/08/week-6889.html Monkey Shaker Card anything goes with an option create your own background.

5. Christmas cards x 2 linking to:

http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2022/08/chnc-challenge-606.html?m=1

Christmas Stamp Relief Snippets + Masking Stencil + Window card + WOYWW

Okay it’s WOYWW day again ie desk day, What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, over HERE 😁 at Julia's .. so where’s my desk!? Actually it's four desks, over a few weeks!

 Desk 1: Happened to come across this video by Christine Stokes (link here). Chrissie used 5 layers of toilet paper = snippets, I used four (forgot one layer). I think I'd use serviette next time, I've done this with serviette and die cutting, although didn't wet it, added card base too - See it here. Very successful too.  

Snippets card (and a NBUS, as definitely never used loo paper on a card before!😂)

Added shimmer paints to define the letters, NOEL, this large wooden stamp was a gift from Ginny Maxam in US. Extended in shimmer green the quite small rectangle die .. cut it thrice to make green scalloped strip base.

Desk 2: Masking was inspired by a GinaK Insta movie - this is HERE closest I can find to it, as she used a stencil and masking on it.

Ahh, one I watched, here tis! Both are great five min videos, anyhoo 😂✅

Next desk 3 for Christmas cards, brayering. (Desk 4 is bonus background done while had brayer out - for brayering background file, note colours do fade some)

Video on this background below done ages ago here.

It's an idea that popped into my head as I was waking up one morning, seen the window die the day before in an old blog post, plus stamp was using too in other set! Adding another very old sentiment stamp from early 1990s. Decided it needed another appearing. Most of my crafty stash these days may be labelled DISCONTINUED. But still too many NBUS, think next set of dozen Christmas cards must use some NBUS. 

The embossing of "Christ the Savior is born" is two tone, gold and platinum EP. 

Loved effect, not that it's very visible in photos.. 

These are roughly A2 cards, as can get two of them and one larger 5 x 7” out of one A3 top quality 300gsm white cardstock sheet. Three cards out of one sheet is very economical. 

Thankfully I’ve a new ream and a half of it left, as probably very expensive now, as thought it was when bought it years ago. So a dozen each in two designs, plus 1 in NOEL stamp = 25 cards, roughly a third of number needed. 

Give some as presents at Christmas. 

We’ve had some lovely clear days with stunning winters skies, this very short video is one taken and shared on the day I was out walking.

It was very cold about 4.30pm, the dogs didn’t notice cold, but swam joyously with the swiftly, moving creek tide. One more obedient than the other, he took the longest route possible! 😂

Took some still photos, too. Different days, my dad loved to paint these skies, see one of his here.

This is a photo of him (in 1970s) painting up on top of lookout above our coastline, it’s the only one I have of him painting ... 

A memorable day, I took it on my first proper camera (a Ricoh), circa 1975. 

Well, busy with birthday cards too, but share another day. Started also another dozen Christmas cards, so almost caught up when done, as was way behind. July 25th reminder helps me get skates on.

Thanks so much for popping over - I really appreciate it so much! I will visit as many as I can, but iPad now blocks all bloggers except those with pop up windows comment boxes.

May God bless you and all whom you love, 

Shaz in Oz.x

Thought for the Day:

I think this is very hard today... to 

"BE *STILL" 

and 

"*KNOW that I am God.."

two deliberate actions with a liberating result.

For then we are free to love and worship God, Who loves us so very much.

Stillness brings peace and rest, contentment .. as we rest in His everlasting arms.

Joining up to:

1. Word art Wednesday Anything goes! http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ 

2. Snippets playground https://pixiessnippetsplayground.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-433-christmas-in-july.html toilet paper card = snippets card.

3. Rudolph day - Scrappy Mo’s Christmas challenge https://scrapsoflifebyscrappymo.blogspot.com/2022/07/july-rudolph-days-challenge.html

4. Crafty hazelnut Christmas challenge http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/

5 NBUS = Never Used Before Schtuff = loo paper on a card before.. a NBUS technique that’s for sure, and it will be having another outing too as itching to do a blue or purple version, maybe with silver? https://mynbus.blogspot.com/2022/07/nbus-challenge-40.html

Beccy’s Digi + Acetate Alcohol Technique + WOYWW

 Sorry folks. Things have very busy, am slower so things take longer - you know the story! 😄 Been making lots of cards, but not sharing.. here's a quick post for Desky share for WOYWW - What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, over HERE 😁 at Julia's, the first one for 2022!

Today sharing my desk from few days ago. Yes, you can see new calligraphy textas, permanent, yay! and paint pens, as I needed to go to Officeworks - dangerous!

I've been asked to teach some younger family the calligraphy course I've not done for years! So it is going to be most interesting as some is planned to be on Zoom! I have done the intro and lesson 1, while Brisbane family are here over Christmas/ New year. 

Next are some cards done not shared.

These are a set of easy and light cards, for overseas mailing. I made quite a few of these using a Christmas topper, a pass it on card. The golden rectangle frame is an unused, NBUS Bo Bunny set from memory. Had for years, waiting for the right card!

Then are some of the alcohol an acetate cards, these are the two Christmas designs, the dies are old CCD, the acetate alcohol ink technique was shared back here. The verses are Digi I’ve made myself, and used SB older dies fir those. I’ve a lot of discontinued items, crafting for decades.

 The last card is for challenge at Beccy’s place.. see here!

Special birthday was due quite a while back now, so using also a new to me Beccy’s Digi, it was bought on a flashback sale, I think. Miss 10 loves her ballet, and pink, so the idea was to make this cute image into a spinner card.

However, I was really unwell at time (tooth infection), so did best I could. Created image too large, tricky with the mice to spin around with Ellie. 

Realised too late to manage to resize, reprint, recut out two shapes in my unwell state.

It morphed into this simpler design. Still loved it but was disappointed, it would’ve made a great spinner card. Greetings are on computer.

 

Now to Aussie shots, it is summer here and some lovely skies these were taken by family member up at my sisters, you can see the contrasts.

My flowers are magnificent and this is one of multitude of rose bunches this season, the rains and extra TLC have contributed to them.

Very blessed.

Thanks so much for popping over especially if you have time to say HI. I will do my best to return your kind encouragement.

 

May God bless you and all whom you love, in 2022. Especially praying for blessings abounding in health dept. - for us all! 

Prayer hugs,

Shaz in Oz.x 

Thought for the Day:

Today this verse popped into my mind, as I opened my mail with a loving missive from a friend. 

"Iron sharpens iron; 

so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." 

Proverbs 27:17

I love the book of Proverbs, next to Psalms in OT.

There are 31 chapters, so I used to read one chapter, the first on first of  month, etc (x 12 in a year), for about 20 years. So a lot of times!

Read a Proverb a day, you get to know them well! 

I love this verse.

It talks of how we all influence … or rub off on one another - either for good or not! To my mind this is the same for all in blogland and my wonderful friends here.

 

This year my aim is to blog more, God willing! 

Time will tell.

Joining up to:

1 Word art Wednesday Anything goes! http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ 

2. Joining with the NBUS Challenge .. three NBUS - Never Before used Schtuff link Here! See Christmas card toppers, used a new die set.and the image from Beccys placeis NBUS too

 3.  https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-its-time-to-party/ Simon Says Wednesday challenge - using Beccys elephant h skier dancer. 

4. Simon Says Monday Challenge - Something New using the first set of Christmas cards, due set is new, and Beccys Image

5.  http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/ Crafty hazelnuts Christmas card challenge, all Christmas cards. 

6. http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com/2022/01/craftyhazelnuts-patterned-paper-january.html

Hazel's patterned paper challenge too for Beccy card.

7. https://peaceonearthchristmas.blogspot.com/2022/01/peace-on-earth-challenge-7.html new to me! 

 A Christmas challenge called Peace on Earth.. Anything Goes as long as it’s Christmas. Both Christmas cards sets.

 

Christmas 2021 - God Leaves the Best til Last.

 The Christmas story is probably the best known of all ALL Bible stories. Everywhere the Word of God it has been shared. The crux of it is Christ’s first coming is as the babe, Jesus, for He was born to die as our Saviour.

*****

Meditating upon this story, I wondered if ALL of the heavenly hosts were there rejoicing? or a select multitude of heavenly host to serenade the arrival of the LORD Jesus? 

In any case, they made a lasting impression in eternal matters on humble hearts! For God’s word is eternal and so was their announcement!

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:13-14 

Glory to God in the highest.

Peace, goodwill to ALL men.

Well, we certainly need that today “PEACE, GOODWILL TO ALL” 

- as in the time of Jesus’ birth. 

Jesus was born in troubled times, as today. 

Roman rule is little like the rule of today. There were distinct classes strongly separated in Judaism, and Romans and non-Romans. Jesus came to break down those barriers with PEACE, GOODWILL TO ALL!

I wonder what the baby Jesus would think of it all today, as newborn of today? As a babe seeing faces in masks, not learning proper facial recognition… NO! let’s not go there. 😷🤔

Instead, let us focus on our beautiful Saviour’s First Advent. 

Yes! There is more than one Advent. 😃❤️☝️

Thank the LORD for that! 

That is the brightest part of this story, you know!

This is NOT a one off! JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!

YAY! He IS coming again!

(See verses here Luke 2:10-38)

As we look at this story it’s really a story of Willing and Waiting Hearts.

The Anticipating Cast:

**Elizabeth and Zacharias parents of John the Baptist. (See Luke 1:5-25 here)

Elizabeth is Mary’s cousin. They’d long prayed for a son, but it was impossible. Until God’s miracle and John was born! “they were both righteous before God” v.6

**Mary and Joseph (Matt. 1:19-21 and Luke 1:26 -56)

Like Zacharias and Elizabeth they were “just” and “blessed, highly favoured” .. these are waiting, anticipating, believing Old Testament saints.  

**Shepherds Luke 2:6-18 

**Wise men Matthew 2: 1-13 

These believed “as it was told them”, so many do not do so today 🙏🙏🙏

**Simeon and Anna Luke 2:21-39

These last two are truly remarkable! 

Both are “righteous before God”, both for many decades we’re praying waiting with such anticipation for the Promised Messiah. 

Both had been told of God that they would see Him! These are Simeon’s words when this promise was fulfilled. I love this!

Luke 2:29-33 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

“A LIGHT to lighten the Gentiles and the GLORY of Thy people Israel.”

********

Am I, are we willing joyfully awaiting?

Waiting right now, today, this moment for our coming King. 

For our LORD Jesus’ Second Advent?

 HIS COMING IS AS SURE AS THE DAWN

Do we walk daily in the light of “Perhaps today?” 

Because truly perhaps 🤔  it IS TODAY! 

May we be ready waiting as we’re Elizabeth, Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, Wise men, Simeon and Anna, who waited so long too. 

For joy, today perhaps it is that He returns for the second time? 

Amen even so come, Lord Jesus!

 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Rev 22:20

Bless, LORD God of glory, bless us ALL, in spite of our great sinfulness. 

This Christmas time, may we remember afresh the promise of your coming again. May we daily desire to walk in the light of Your Son’s Return for His own, looking forward with anticipation as they did so many millennia ago.

Oh Father, please save souls today, all over our poor, sad world today, for ETERNITY’s sake, please, in Thy great mercy, for Thy Eternal glory. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Thanks to all who pop across to read this blog and Thank YOU, especially if you’re able to leave some love and encouragement.

Prayer hugs,🙏🤗

Shaz in Oz.x 

I’m sorry I’ve been so quiet … various reasons, time just seems to shrink!

Just sharing a few cards, one at top is a simple upcycle with a stamped verse in Gold EP, it’s a set by Colorado Craft Co. 

Belo card is showcasing a scrap piece of acetate, with inks on the back, with die cut rectangle frame and two Simon Says dragon flies also in scrap card. The stamp “happy birthday” is by Lawn Fawn “too much to say” set. Acetate technique done here or just scroll below.. have more to share of them too.

The second image the red zygo cactus isn’t in flower now, was a wee while back but so Christmassy. 

If you are not sure if you are a Christian, a Christ follower, please read this post here - Who or What is a Christian?

Joining up to:

1 Word art Wednesday Anything goes! http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ 

2. Snippets cards, and look, it is the grand prize draw. Do join in Do!

http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com/2021/12/pixies-snippets-playground-challenge_0458224053.html