Christmas, Male cards with perfect pearls,Upcycle x 2, + WOYWW

Well, yes! we ARE into Rudolph Day AGAIN, at Scrappy Mo’s from 25th to 31st August!
 Here is my ultra quick upcycle! 

It’s a similar image to last month, back here.
Today’s is the smaller image on the back of the Christmas card, have to love two for one! 

The verse underneath is small, is Digi which says,
”Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift”. 
Amen, thanks indeed! 
EF a gift without cover, 5 x 7 CB, maybe Scribble Frame? Die from Aust co., Scradragon, reduced size.

As it’s Wednesday, for first time in ages - joining over for WOYWW, or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday over at our lovely Queen of Desks, Julia - to my desk a week or so ago.

Those wondering where I’ve been, had heart attack on 26th June. Original post here (following update here).
Am back to my normal but still not blogging lots. 
My post on 27th June, I actually did on my phone, in hospital in Cardio Care Unit, day after heart attack.  Had made my card, couldn’t miss out on Rudolph day! 

Am using PanPastels here on my desk..

 on an icy pole packet, laying down base colours! 
Coloured cardstock to match brusho colours on stained Darkroom Door photo collage stamp. Used gloss card with the brushos, photo paper actually. 

Colours really pop! 
Added to PanPastels some Ranger Perfect pearls and some other pearls too. Folder is TH Grid Matrix. 

Rectangle Die is from Scrapdragon and Aust company.

Happy Birthday stamp is from Lawn Fawn set, banner die is CCD.

Made another card for 27th Aug, but can’t share yet.

Gave friend this card , she needed a big prayer hug, in hospital after bad fall.
Background stamp is Hero Arts, white embossed & brusho resist done ages ago, stamp die prayers set is Hero Arts, too. 

Now some Aust shots, here’s family‘s Eastern Rosella nesting box, just north of here.

They nest from Aug, on 1st Aug they took up residence.. namely, Esta and Ern (= Eastern, 2019 had different couple, Ross and Ella 😊, not around this year).

A birthday card sent to my BiL, in honour on the newly arrived couple.
 (NOT by me, another family member).
Clever, isn’t it? My dad would’ve loved it.

Another bird photo - this is our friendly Kooka (blue winged kookaburra) munching on the branch I’d draped over our fence. He did this til it fell below!

Now some seaside pickies, first is taken by friend, from our big island overlooking the harbour. Then two night time harbour ones.

A daytime one looking south, with a seagull photobombing it!

Back garden.. in its spring clothes, weeded, fed, mulched - the almost 3 dozen rose bushes are bursting in growth.

The lemons picked, a few left, lavender just has few flowers - hours of work, not all by me! Would that the front yard looked better too. In time!
****

May the Lord God be with each of you in your day, and keep you and those you love in His care.

Thanks so much for popping over for a peek and a chat.

Prayer hugs, 
Shaz in Oz.x 

Thought for the day:

This verse means a lot to me, so made a Digi for my iPad screen saver with it. You’re welcome to use (image is sunset at our creek).

Our Heavenly Father is our Anchor in the day of trouble! 

Who said, “Peace! Be still!”, in the midst of a storm? ‘Twas the Lord Jesus walking on the stormy seas.

If it’s buffeting you today, cling to the word of God, let Him be your Stronghold in the day of trouble and your Anchor In the storm. 

Really found it so, in the last 2 months!

 I needed my God in Emergency, in the Cardio Care Unit, with constant “beep-beep”, or having an Angiogram, or at home night after night with pain from cellulitis.

Then I knew Him in ways I never do in quiet waters. 
I am so blessed.

Prayer hugs. 🙏🤗

Sharing these cards below:

**Christmas card with Rudolph day, link above, and also with Hazelnuts Christmas challenge, here.

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

**Snippets used on all cards but linking the Male birthday card with lemonade icy pole packet.

** Also sharing Dandelion brushos prayer card with Simon Says Monday Challenge Beautiful Botanicals 

** Sharing male birthday card with Darkroom Door "Escape" stamp with Allsorts Challenge where it says Summer Fun!

Darnell’s NBUS Challenge, Oxides Blending With Masks + WOYWW

(For Good Friday post -link here)

Well, how are you all going? praying for you all, wisdom, grace for all of us! To keep on keeping on!
YES!!! tis Wednesday, so it’s time to pop over to deskland for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday at Julia’s Stamping Ground!

My desk this morning is looking kinda tidy because I cleaned up some last night. Was working on finished card. The two sets of stamps used are washed, back in stamp sets. The T Ruler on far left was used to keep stamps straight on one layer card. Do like these cards, they’re so quick. 
About 20 mins work, it was in my head for few days, since saw B.’s blog post here, see the second card on her post was my inspiration,  although mine is quite different, B's was gelli pad background she said. The stamp set on the right is by Woodware, it’s such a beautiful stamp. Mask to the left was made was made with scrap card.

Last night’s desk, share steps as have been asked : 
1. Cut out of scrap cardstock (mine cereal packet) with circle die a round mask a bit smaller than chosen stamp.
2. Through circle blend with DI Oxides in graduated colours using makeup brushes.
3. Leaving mask on.
Chose a stencil , mine is “Small Mesh” by Darkroom Door. 
4. Spritz stencil well on back of one side with water.
4. Laid water spritzed side down over the inked masked background for about 10- 20 secs & lift it off. Mine was a fine stencil so pressed it gently down too as wasn't quite flat in places. 
It left a beautiful oxidised imprint.
Allow to dry then remove circle mask like below.

Close up here. 
Stamped Woodware floral stamp on finished card with Onyx Black Versafine, and added clear embossing powder to heat set.
It’s really wonderfully glossy black stamping, this kind of captured it.

Always frustrated when photos don’t match real life! Greeting is Sweet 'n Sassy, Floral Greetings.  Its a really versatile set.

This card was made especially for Darnell’s  NBUS Challenge (NBUS = Never Before Used Schtuff) over here!!! Yay! Thanks, Darnell!
Now to Aussie shots - lots today to cheer folks up!
So many moods in seascapes, our beaches are still open for exercising!
No sunbaking, though.
Some sunshine and some clouds, some down here at local beach and some at Jetty after going to post office to post snail mail!

All taken on my walks each day this week. Some surferboard riders behind those windswept waves! Shark food was my thought!

A bonus of the super moon from Oz.
I was pleased that managed to comment nearly everyone last week. Finding commenting hard as do mostly on mobile phone, iPad now uncooperative with blogger. Rarely use computer as it’s really ancient. Here in Oz is like everywhere, except we are allowed to do essentials like shopping, medical appt and daily exercise. 
Our deaths have more than doubled since a week ago, from 21 to 48. 
For those who think that’s not many, we are large country in area, as big as USA, but population of only 25 million. Our local town has gone from 8 last week to 13 cases. Controls are pretty strict in some ways and not in others. 
I’m actually in part enjoying it, and definitely not ever bored. But really miss my family. Was supposed to be on holidays now too, like lots of folks.
(Edit: Praying a special prayer of blessing for Lynn of One I Made Earlier, a fellow WOYWWer. She just emailed her aunt Gladys' funeral is to be held Thurs. 11.50am their time, 6 in attendance, sadly Lynn's mum, can't go. Praying for all in such case to seek the blessing of the God of all Comfort in the midst of grief).
Hope pray you’re all well, thanks so much for popping over, especially if you stop to chat!
Lord bless you all, praying for you all that the Lord would watch over you and keep you and your dear ones safe, ..” we have no might neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon Thee.”

Prayer hugs, 

Shaz in Oz.x

Thoughts for the day:

Love the heart behind Peanuts and this one especially! I pray this..❤

Two thoughts in all..

“And the angel said He is not here, for He is risen, as He said.”

 This Easter will be strange but the fact of salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus will never change, this promise is eternal by an omnipotent loving Father God. 

🎼🎵 Hallelujah, what a Saviour!🎵
Thank you Lord Jesus.

Linking up with the following challenges:

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

2. NBUS Challenge at https://mynbus.blogspot.com/

3. Penny Black and More April Challenge - Anything goes.

Brushos with Quietfire Design Birthday Die + WOYWW

Well, yes, back again, 😁 and Wednesday, so it’s time to pop over to deskland for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday at Julia’s Stamping Ground!

Now to my first desk, today's as I left it! Couple of images to colour, perhaps, for a friend’s coming birthday, done all February so starting on March, which happen to be all in first week! Thus will be back in time Rudolph day so hopefully can catch up on some Christmas cards. Really lovely weather, may get some beach swims in, too! 
We had two & half feet of rain last week, drying out is good.

Second desk am about to colour some thread for my fourth male card for the year. I’m using Distress inks and Perfect pearls, been using latter a lot lately ... they go so well on male cards, and 2020 is "use up neglected stash" year I’ve decided!

Finished card, I’ve used one of pieces done with Brushos on photo paper (see here), and stamped with Darkroom door phot sea stamp, still have few more male cards coming ahead so this image will make a reappearance. Same but different designs! The background under the stamped image is SB stitched rectangle die which has been coloured with four diff colours of perfect pearls, has amazing sheen, not showing really.

Next are two cards made from one brusho piece on watercolour card using the Elizabeth Crafts Quietfire Design Happy Birthday Die.

Used positive and negative for two cards, both are dry embossed with Embossalicious Regency swirl EF, and the dies for top frame is two of rectangle A6 size from Scrapdragon craft site in Oz, love their dies, very reasonable if from Oz. Bottom is scalloped rectangle by Xcut, extended. 

Last card is the inky one from last week’s desk. Hero Arts Dandelion background, ink resist with Distress inks, “Get Well Soon” by Dienamics (?).

Now Aussie shots, the rain has done the garden wonders! This week our Callistemon Mr Foster (common name bottle brush), is flowering well, it’s newish plant.

It was a food feast for Rainbow Lorikeets, they are clowns, with great antics.

Last photo is beach, where I am today... pretty, pretty isn’t it?

Thanks for popping over particularly if you’ve time for a chat, it’s deeply appreciated. 
May God bless your day wherever you maybe.
Prayer hugs,
Shaz in Oz.x 
Thought for Today:

This is such a comfort  this verse!

Truly we are rich in a Father Who’s understanding of our situation is all wise and perfectly in tune with our needs.This verse also speaks of the magnificent stars.

In the Southern Hemisphere skies at night are amazingly beautiful with the twinkling of the vast array of stars in the Milky Way. Yet this same Creator God sees our innermost ache of our heart and binds up our wounds, if we but seek Him. So thankful!

Linking up to the following:

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

2. Simon Says Monday Challenge  Frame it. Male card framed on SB Rectangle, and Ladies brusho happy birthday,  positive die cut.https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
3. Allsorts Challenge- dies or punches. Get Well card and male birthday and female too. Dies used on all,  http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2020/02/week-559-dies-andor-punches.html?m=1
4. 

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