Calligraphy First Birthday, Optical Illusions + WOYWW

Hullo there, everyone, and yes 'tis Wednesday so it’s time to pop over at Julia’s Stamping Ground, where we see desk of marvellous inspiration worldwide.

This desk is actually a few weeks ago as was preparing for a birthday pressie and card. This is an Aussie bird, of course, a Kooka, or more correctly blue winged kingfisher or colloquially called kookaburra.
NOTE: I did NOT draw this image, it’s taken from web.
 I tried unsuccessfully to find who it was by, to give them credit but it wasn’t clear on google image, I suspect it’s an old one. I did very light grey print out of image on good art paper, hand coloured it with Prismas and did calligraphy with dip pen and Calli black ink "Oliver sleeps here".

I wasn’t really well when did this and writing was shaky, but did my best, coloured image with pencils.

Here is a pickie I took of our Kookas on good camera a few years a good.

The card is LOTV Image (a NBUS had for years), used some random DP, with TH EF called dot matrix, edge die is old one by Nellie Snellen, fitted circle die with number on is also from an old Nellie Snellen Lace Circle set (this is smallest die, never knew it cut this shape till made this).
Next two are some quick makes a while ago as needed cards, one old brayered inky stamp, not sure what stamp set, edge die disc ODB, Corners SB square die piece cut up.

Love this Sweet n sassy verse stamp, had pre-stamped.

Its card for a very dear friend. Braid is old NBUS, corners are Lala Land filigree, DP printed from stash.

 

Last card is for a very special mathematical lad in our family, he loves maths like my dad. Dad was the first person in Aust to do the diploma of Mathematics from the London University, by correspondence in early 1960’s.

So I made an optical illusion card for Thomas‘ 11th birthday on 26th Aug. last Thursday.

Digi was freebie that came up in google search of “optical illusion”.

Now Aussie photos, some flowers from our garden, my friend’s favourite colour is red 😁.

This pot plant is a mystery plant, a succulent is all I know for sure, a type of kalanchoe according to Google.

These are taken in our Botanic gardens the other day.

Last is a beach photo, we have had lots of wind lately.

Thanks so much those who’ve popped over for a peek and chat. I loved Le Tour de France Sprint win on Monday leg by our little Aussie sprinter, Caleb Ewan - he wove his way through from 300m out from 18th to 1st, a breathtaking overhead view! 

Praying God’s keeping upon you and those you love,

Prayer hugs, 🙏🤗

Shaz in Oz.x

Thought for day: 

This verse on card above, the full verse is 
“Cast thy burden upon the lord and He shall sustain thee; 
He shall not suffer the righteous to be moved” 
Psalm 55:22 is always uplifting.. because it points us to the Lord, He never fails when we seek Him. Such a comfort and strength in every circumstance, and only ever a prayer away. 
Over here is the first post since heart attack on Christian blog.

Sharing cards with following:

**All cards shared with Word Art Wednesday.. link here.

** NBUS challenge = NBUS= Not Used Before Schtuff  https://mynbus.blogspot.com/2020/09/nbus-challenge-18.html 
Baby card, NBUS is Image, LOTV, DP Unkown, Circle Die, but octagon  with number is NBUS Nellie Snellen.

** https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-76/ all cards.

** https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2020/08/week-587-going-round-in-circles.html 

Allsorts theme chosen by Kath is “Going round in Circles” How I often feel 😁 = LOTV Image baby card has lots of circles or dots, and also the Ocaragon is actually a circle die byNellie Snellen circle die old set, as is NS border die and has dot edge EF is TH Dot Matrix.
**Not sure if can add second card of Optical illusion 11th birthday, but if can, adding it too, as has dots or circles all over it. 
Was hard on your eyes working on this card! Had to cover some of image as made me go cross eyed. 

Mo’s Christmas Challenge + Robin card WOYWW

Hi there everyone,well amazingly we are into our third Rudolph Day of 2020, at Scrappy Mo’s from 25th to 31st March! 'Cos it’s Wednesday, time too for WOYWW or What is on Your Workdesk Wednesday at Julia’s Stamping Ground. 

Now to desks .. cards below.

Firstly my desk this morning, this was after a quickly whipped up Christmas card last night as suddenly realised it was 25th today!!! Want to join in every challenge of Mo’s each month, so had to do it. The card caused most of mess. At back left almost hidden is the finished 70th Robin card, which really love. The rest is what was on desk before started or Christmas card detritus. Had a wee gift card for ages on desk from two Christmases ago, so decided to use it as greeting. Everything took off from there, the CB EF Gracie’s Frame was chosen cos was going to use the nativity stamp, then decided greeting would swamp the small stamp, so then thought of Kaisercraft Star Die or perhaps the coloured Bugaboo nativity images at back, star die won 'cos was easiest! Time short and all that.

This afternoon’s desk here is way more boring. Paperwork (mostly hidden for privacy) is being done ready for mailing as consequence of CV-19! Our church is in shut down like everything not essential. Usually *print off bulletin of our older group and hand out at church. No church = so no hand out.

Am finding this being at home avoiding people is taking more time! Certainly zero spare up my sleeve! Good to be busy.
Being me, can’t mail something without a note, so everyone is getting snail 🐌 mail! 😃.
(*BTW Neet, Eco printer on last week does have scanner).

Well, last week back HERE on last week’s post I shared this card in step by step detail of image creation. Finally happy, two days I was all sixes and sevens in deciding.

When that happens I hide it for a day or two, ie turn it all over, pray and leave ... come back and try again and it usually wonderfully works! The stamps is Sheena Douglass Little Bit Sketchy 2 - Faith.
And what a beautiful sentiment for Today! My sister (who gave me Prismas), is a real critic, and loved it. Cut image with Wonky rectangles largest die, inked up edges with DI diff colours. Happy Birthday Die Is Elizabeth design and greeting is assorted SB circle dies, disc. On this image below you can really see the WOW copper glitter EP. Had for years & still NBUS amazing colour!

The 70 die is free number set with my machine, lots of snippets on this card.

Christmas card is simple, snippets too, as EF piece is left over bit as are Die cuts. Silver red Shimmer card is cheapie, but good one is new sheet.

Now to Aussie shots, or some Aussie and some Brittany spring.

The flowers are from Anne in France’s garden - though we cannot mingle in person we can share beauty over the net!

I do adore both daffodils and tulips (incl. pink flamingo). They don’t really grow well here, but planted my sweet peas for our spring yesterday!

We had a lovely day today but couldn’t enjoy it really except to put washing out early and bring in late cos was so busy. Autumn is really lovely here! We are so blessed.

Here are two beach shots to cheer you up, do love the seagull parade there on the rocks don’t you? 

May our wonderful loving Father God bless your day wherever you maybe, and keep you and all those you love safe and very well!

Thank YOU especially if you have time to comment. I did nearly all last week except Aimslee she’s not WOYWWer. 

Also couldn’t comment on Shoshi’s blog, it said I was locked out of commenting on this blog!!! Wrote nice long comment, but it was gobbled all up!

Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x 🙏🏻🤗

Thought for the day:

Few things I would like to share.

Firstly this one from Anne Frank really put things in perspective!
This hugging Snoopy (virtual hug 😉) Snoopy I loved too.. sending 🙏🤗 hugs your way!

 I’m a real Snoopy fan, and think this is very apt for WOYWW and blogging bonds of friendship.

Last one is designed by young friend here, she has a blog here  but though she sent to me not up there yet. I loved this so VERY often in life I feel OVERWHELMED! When my heart is overwhelmed... then lead me.. ie guide me to the Rock.. Jesus is our Rock. In every moment of life, IF we are anchored in HIM we will HOLD FAST!!! How blessed, here is my Christian blog .. I’ve done some encouragement over there too. 

Linking up to the following:

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

2. Snippets playground,  all card snippets except base. http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com/2020/03/pixies-snippets-playground-challenge-374.html?m=1
3. Allsorts Challenge. Anything in Animal Kingdom .. bird card
4. Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas card challenge. Anything goes. http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/?m=0

Bizzy Becs DT Post: Our Daily Bread Stamps - The Sea single

Hi everyone - big excitement here is my very first mid month post with a tutorial for Bizzy Bec's store blog.
There is also a monthly challenge with a die or stamp prize over here - it is anything goes and is posted worldwide - so do join in please do!

Here is a step by step guide on making a male card - have found they can be tricky, but actually beginning to enjoy them now! I used the Our daily bread Stamp - The Sea Single stamp (link here).

Have the masked image, masked so could extend colouring at bottom of image for reason I will share.
I stamped in Black Onyx Versafine ink and embossed it, did several in case one was a dud but all turned out nicely so bonus! Then I coloured with my Pencils (Prismacolors this time as have several sets) and ink for the sky and the sandy colouring. Used a hand cut cloud mask and Ranger round ink distressing tool (see link here) to get the colouring on the clouds. .

I added some stones from our pebble garden, sand from the side of our house (our house is built on sandy area, very handy crafty wise) .. that's why the teaspoon is there, to spoon on sand. I used embossing paste to attach sand, and Matte medium by Ranger for the pebbles and wee shells from my collection. Some of these came from a visit to Phillip Island in Victoria years ago now, and some from here.

This icecream cardboard box was a great sandy coloured card so used it!

So distressed the embossed card first with distressing tool. Then applied randomly various inks the Tim Holtz Woodgrain Embossing folder by Sizzix. (Link here). Used as you can see some DI as well, Faded Jeans, Spiced Marmalade and Antique Linen (great useful colour this one). I actually just smooched the ink pads directly on and rubbed them around with my fingers but off course less messy to use sponge applicator :D

Use Spellbinder Fleur de Lis Square (link here). I cut largest die for the sea image and cut the pieces of black card into four pieces to make corners.

Here is the finished image, mounted as shown on the flur de lis corners .
Also used * burlap (fringed one side - link here)
Blue card embossed with CB Bubbles Embossing folder. "60" in corner cut with Olivia Alphabet die set (discontinued).
Digi greeting for happy birthday, printed on shiny card. If you use a shiny or really smooth surfaced card you are able to heat emboss it:
1. Smooth over surface to be printed on with embossing buddy (see how to make one here) before printing 2. As soon as out of printer add clear EP and heat set quickly. Die cut with Victorian Rectangles.

Well, I'm delighted to welcome new wonderful encouragers ..
Wow! these do some imaginative stamping and card making!
.... so do pop over to their blogs and give them some encouragement! 
Kaz of http://nightowlcrafter.blogspot.com.au
Alice P. http://volidicarta.blogspot.com.au

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

"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, .." Habakkuk 3:18, 19a

Edit: this card made top three over at Word Art Wednesday out of over  300+ cards - am I thrilled!!

I would like to link over to:

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

2. Roses of Inspiration over at the lovely Stephanie's 
3. Di's Snippety challenge - Used snippets on all of the cards.   http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/ 

Cards for Charlotte ~ Music on Vellum, Ink Resist, LOTV + Penny Black

Hullo there everyone - well have been working for the last four weeks on this order for an elderly lady who wanted these five cards made on behalf of her ten year old great-granddaughter. It was a very specific request - and needed a poem also written for inside the cards. As it is personal and relatively long I wont share it. The styles as you will see are quite varied.

1. She is a Bass clarinettist, and Gran wanted that emphasised so did 3D of digi image I downloaded from Google, added a digiatl greeting to base card. Used SB labels 8 Fleur de Lis, and Sizzix note die. Embossing folder is CB large music one, used on vellum with lovely tinted colour to it... with MS Shell border punch, ribbon from stash and gold pearls.

2. This is Hero arts background stamp with white embossing and ink resist - showing method on my desk tomorrow for WOYWW. Used SB Petite Ovals and multiple Scallops, with rosebud lace and pearl strip.

3. "LOTV All Wrapped up" stamp on watercolour paper used water colour pencils, with glittery highlights. DP is from old stock, the centre embossing in white is from CB Caramello, SB Fancy Ovals for central image, corner in Mirri card with Marianne Corner die. SB Petite oval and SB fancy labels attached to end.

4. Penny Black "You are the Bestest" stamp .. usually see it in orange and greens, but this lady wanted mainly mauve, so used artistic licence on the daffodils :D. This is really not my normal style as used a fussier layout, but again this lady likes fussy. Lots of features I dont normally go for, not sure if like it... love the Primsacolors though, which used on the image. Corners on left are actually part of square Fleur de Lis cut up. SB Hexagons and cut outside the die - see this post on how to do this. Snippet of lace found in sewing cabinet.

5. Another music one on vellum again but with stamped and gold embossed image, from Victorine Originals bought on eBay years ago now. Corners are Gold Mirri snippets CB Vintage corners, "Charlotte" is from Olivia CB alphabet. The SU Itty Bitty banners die was extended for this banner, with a really old unnamed "Just for you" wooden stamp about twenty years old! Lace, bling, and ribbon from stash.

I will comment as able but time online needs be limited, I will do my best. However I really want to thank you so very much for popping over for a peek and chat. May God bless your day wherever you maybe.

Shaz in Oz.x

Would like to join these over with the following:

1. Di's Snippety challenge - Used snippets on all card .. that's me!  - but will enter card 4 and 5.   http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/

2..Word Art Wednesday - anything goes    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au (Card no 2 and 3)

Alcohol Inks + Metal Embossing, Oriental Black + Green mingle, WOYWW 200!

Hullo there again everyone!

Yes, it is time for the 200th (wow, Julia dunnit, truly she did!) WOYWW, or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday - or floor, or wherever you work?! 
Please take time to share your creative space, at our honorable leader's blog, Julia Dunnit @ the Stamping Ground!

My desk ~ playing with inky joy! Saw on a WOYWW desk (Debs ~ see here) two weeks ago about tins and the embossing thereof.

Next day at a friends house and having a teeny tin of coke (200ml size) and much finer than normal cans of drink. I struggle with my hands and have never tried cutting up bigger ones but thought would give these a go..
Voilà! the results, using Cuttlebug Clockworks embossing folder, blending fluid, alcohol inks - Brass + Pesto from Adirondack.

 
The Oriental Stamp Art Mingle "Black + one colour - Green" is the colour choice for April, here is my offering.

Artneko ATC stamp set - Chrysanthemum, and these are on half price sale the moment!

To see other cards using these ATC look here and here.

 The image was coloured with Prismacolor pencils, and PanPastels for background. 

Mounted on Couture creations Victorian rectangle with embossed foil and black  outline. Used brand new Craft Concepts embossing folder called "Silver fern" + wiped it over lightly with white chalk pad, to highlight embossing.. 

{wow! actually found we had a newsagent with a good array of crafty goodies - embossing folders, cardstock, stamps, few dies as well, came out with nice goodies about 15 mins south of here, which is probably just as well :D}  

Added ribbon and two small brads.

I will close with few images of Oz, the first is a beautiful tree in flowering around town, for our autumn.

Golden Penda Tree (see link here) , a native street tree, in flower at the moment.
Very popular and you can see why!!

Sunset at the harbour last week, still folk about in boats it was so lovely.

For those who like illuminated posts there is one down below (or click here). I am the  monthly SAM ( Stamp Artist of the Month ~ click here) over at the Oriental Stamp Art, which was a total surprise! There are so many wonderful stamp artists in the international Yahoo group.

A special welcome to my wonderful new encourager who is also is from Oz - Annette from Oz, a newbie on WOYWW last week!!

Thanks so very much everyone for popping over for a peek and a chat - thank you especially if you do say hullo! 

And may God richly bless your day wherever you maybe,

Shaz in Oz.x

PS Stickeroo blogger who guess correctly was Mrs A. a big congrats will email you asap - see post here .

Black, plus Yellow Card ~ Oriental Stamp Art Mingle

(Sorry wrong link on WOYWW post click here - thanks :D)
Hullo there everyone. 

In later part of last year I joined through a friend the OSA Yahoo group - OSA stands for Oriental Stamp Art ( for more details, click here). 

In Mingles, we send each card to another OSA member chosen in from those who said they will take part, and we receive one in turn.

My friend Anne does some lovely work with it -see here, and here. She inspired me along with Annette of Artneko Stamps to join - see Annette's bundle when it came over here, and if you go to her website here you see she has great stamps and very good price - and SEE some are reduced for sale at the moment!

The image I used was on my desk on WOYWW last week and was coloured using my sister's Prismacolors and the background was coloured with lightly with yellow chalk

The OSA challenge of the current Black plus one colour mingle ~ January is Yellow and so decided to use one of the Artneko atc the Hibiscus - we even have one like this in our garden, above is bloom from it.

The card elements are:

Chinese fishing marker

1. Artneko Hibiscus flower ATC stamp, inked.

2. Black card is actually embossed with Cuttlebug Chinese embossing folder background called Oriental Screen.

3. The yellow and black Chinese/ Japanese paper was free download of older paper scanned from Annette of Artneko on the OSA site. I was very grateful for it.. love it. I have printed in varying colours. Unfortunately some aspects of card dont come out in photos but in the colouring I lightly used black to shade leaves etc, and various yellow.  

I also wanted to share something my brother in law, Greg, found washed upon his beach as flotsam.. I thought it amazing and have had it for years now and he was not sure how old it was.

 It is a Chinese Fishing marker; he said some Chinese staying with them translated it, but he does not think he has it written down.

Decided to take it with the sea in the background at his place. it is attached to bamboo with sturdy looking rope at the side.

Thanks so very much everyone for popping over for a peek and chat, and may God bless your day wherever you may be,

Shaz in Oz.x

I would Like to enter this card in the following challenges:

 Papertake Weekly Challenge - anything goes! 

 Simon Says Challenge - Embrace the old.. the Chinese Paper on this was from old design - alsou under it al thought you cannot se it is an older sheet of art paper in black/gold yellow.

 Stamping Sensations Monthly Challenge -  Friendship, this is going to fellow OSA member. Also the Hibiscus, which inspired this card was a cutting from the plant of someone dear now gone, but not forgotten.

Anything goes Challenge - Just good friends, as above.

The Crafty Bloggers Network - Flowers.  Hibiscus

Crafty Boots Challenge - Black and bright! (Yellow)
Let's Craft and Create - Anything goes 

EDIT: This card also made into top three at Stamping Sensations.
I think awards like this mean so much as they are from your peers, fellow crafters who you admire so much  so THANK you!!