Unity Stamp - Five Designs For Christmas!

Well it is dawning upon me that the 25^th December is drawing nearer (or galloping might be more appropriate). Card making is in hand for a variety of cards. Here is how one stamp can be used with various mediums and have different looks – so boredom does not set in!
These Unity stamps are great value (pre cut foam mounting at reasonable price) Itty Bitty by Unity stamps, A Child is Born. 

The centre of the first card I have showed before – the method of doing centre stamped image is here in detail. Summary of metallic centre piece is - used Versamark pad + layered up a number of embossing powders (each layer adhered with Versamark) then cook it with heat gun. So it goes Versamark + Embossing powder + cook again.

Used clear embossing powder, pearl, little copper and finally two layers of silver (cooked with heat gun after each layer) to give the gorgeous effect. A fun method to play with! Then stamped in black on clear acetate, & adhered with Dimensional magic. Used Candy Cane embossing folder extended, labels four Nestabilties for frames and ribbon + bling.

The card above right is explained on the post below - or click here 

The next one on left is a brayer card. I ended up sponging too, so you could see the words through the white embossing of stamp. See an excellent example of this method see this exquisite card on Lisa's blog. I was reminded of this method on her lovely Lisa's Craft Garden, see here.

For this I used the Kaleidocolor Blue Breeze Dye ink pad, with Cuttlebug Plus embossing folder Brocade Window, + pearls. The paper I used is lustre white and has a lovely sheen but you cannot see that.

The green, gold, black one is done with the Nellie Snellen Ovals - and needs repeating as little bit of gold lifted when gluing it down. Like the design though, and has Martha Stewart punch in the corner.

The bottom left card is another brayer/sponged card, Adirondack inks + white embossing powder on glossy white cardstock. I also used the left over bit of the frame from the Nellie Snellen Rectangle which I had after cutting the mount for the second card above in blue and silver -thought it was too lovely and different to throw away.

I mounted it on  blue card cuttled with Cuttlebug embossing folder Moroccan Screen.


For those of you who are on the WOYWW blog hop with our Julia this Wednesday when we check out the desks of the world, sorry but I shall be AWOL. Too much on the plate at present. So this post is instead of one then.

For any of you who are my Wonderful Encouragers of this blog - I want to you to join us in some candy, which is a very big THANK YOU for all your encouragement over the past year this blog has been in existence - thank you so much and see this post here.

Thanks everyone for dropping by for a look and a chat! May God bless your day wherever you may be,
Shaz in Oz.x

WOYWW What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 115

Okay so here we are, another week charging ahead while I am struggling to catch up - whoa boy!! Wait for me!

And lookee see! what do I have here? a gorgeous creation – no not mine!! One all the way from the UK again (aren’t I so very richly blessed?)! Yes, ‘tis from the desk of none other the splendorous artist Neil of WOYWW (do check out his blog, it is a picture of creativity). Thanks so very much Neil for all your delicious goodies!!

Neil saw the lovely Lisa’s Craft Stamper which she so kindly posted me a few weeks ago and bethought himself of the one which had arrived at his abode in April, a duplicate – he was told not to send it back, so you can now spy it on my desk below with some of Neil’s lovely laser craft cuts (below right) – oh, these are gorgeous and cant wait to play with them too – Neil’s talent is unlimited as shown in the included card. I love the background stamp on this card– sort of tiger skin pattern in a blur, and the frosted shrink plastic tick tock clocks, and the rest of the lovely stamp work on the topper.

I also have some new goodies from Fat Cats Card Corner – namely the Magical Micas Sweet Treats, and a Nellie Snellen Corner die – also you can also see I am having a play with some methods of using them here. On left is the scrunch up a tissue method and dampen down with water spritzer apply the medium, re-spray and put up to dry (unfortunately the picture does not do the shimmery sheen of the micas justice). If you want to see these methods check this post out here on clever Kate's great blog. I know the crumpled tissue looks very weird at present but think it will card up ok! I also did some smooshing on gloss cardstock with the silvered lilac pieces you see there but they were with alcohol inks.  I thought I might use it with the Chocolate Baroque butterfly stamp which came with Neil’s Craft Stamper.

For those of you not in the know – this is the day of the week when folks from all over the world take a peek at one another’s desk to see just what we are up to – a great time of learning and fun, so do hop over to our wonderful hostess’ blog, at Julia's Stamping Ground!

Happy WOYWW everyone and may God bless you wherever you are..
Shaz in Oz.x 
PS. Hi there every one - the tree and red castle lower left corner are two of the laser cuts which Neil so very kindly sent me - did this post in haste sorry for confusion!

WOYWW What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 114

Well, this past week has just re-emphasised how very wonderful the crafty folk of WOYWW are! After my query last week on finding a larger embossing tan mat, the very generous Elizabeth found one for me somewhere not too far from her, and offered to post it as a RAK (random act of kindness)! Thanks for the offer, dear friend across the seas!

However it was something that Lisa of Lisa's Craft Garden said in her comment which sent me off to our local store (Clark Rubber) to see if they had a rubber mat similar to my 5 x 7 tan embossing mat. Pictured in a close-up on my desk is my black mat (the size of cuttlebug plate). Although not quite as flexible as the tan mat, it works a treat and embosses beautifully as you can see by the sample shown and have used it since on other items. I will just keep it for when need big one but at the grand price of $AUD3.60, it beats about $AUD25.00+ on eBay! 

No more detailed photo of my desk this week as it is actually bare - this photo above was taken on Monday when I was playing before packing up. The piece of embossed quilted tan-coloured card was done with the embossing mat and gutter guard - in case you dont know what I mean see this post here for more details.

For those of you who are wondering why we are looking at work desks...do join in the fun take a trip over to our hostess, Julia, at Julia's Stamping Ground!

 

Here are some cards made this week. First one is a Crafty Secrets Rose stamp, Cuttlebug Roses Embossing folder (which was distressed and rubbed over with White chalk ink pad) and the Blossoms Spellbinder on the background.

I coloured the inked, embossed Rose Stamp image with Promarkers and sprayed with Diamond Dust Glimmer mist. Also used are the Blossom Spellbinders in various layers. Cardstock very providentially came yesterday and it was called Rose Garden! :D

On the second card ( I really love these colours):- the brayered colours on Kromcote paper and method of applying colours are explained on the post here.

Used the Dragonfly K Kingdom Embossing Folder 073 at Fat Cats Card Corner - really great value folders these and love this one. It is on white core cardstock and distressed to pop the embossing.

Also used the discontinued Meadow Stamp Set from Elusive Images, with the square Fleur de Lis Spellbinders in black card.

 The last one was actually made last week for my neighbour's 60th, with the Cuttlebug Plus Brocade Window - how I love this folder! I used the white chalk ink pad on the folder before removing cardstock to give the lovely, velvety emphasis to embossed outline.Then used the Unity Stamp, "Itty Bitties"- Beauty, coloured with Promarkers again and some pearlised paint.
In closing I just want to say my thoughts and prayers are with all where there is unrest and need in their land - from Somalia to London, the LORD knows them all and for them I pray.

Well thanks for peeking everyone, happy WOYWW and may God bless your day wherever you may be, 

Shaz in Oz. x

PS. For all those who sent cards to cards to Sheree in Vancouver Island for Ethyl, she received 29 cards from the kind folk of blog-land, and for those on WOYWW who sent one - thank YOU! 

If you did not receive the email from Sheree about the prize draw please let me know and I will send it to you. It was to be sent out to all who sent cards.

WOYWW What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 112 & our Cadel, WOW!

Another week and we are enjoying some glorious winter weather here for which I am very, very grateful. Took some more beach pickies this week but wont make you all too envious :D I will post some once a month or so.

Wow! What a week for those of us in Oz who love the Tour de France (see my post below for more details - or my brother's blog). Finally a true blue Aussie has won it! He is the first Australian to win since 1903 when it began and Cadel at 34 is the oldest in about 88 years (?) to do so … here is a photo in our local paper, his dad lives up road from here on our northern beaches. Cadel had an early period of his life here, reportedly his first bike at age of 2 (with trainer wheels on it)!

 

Now to the business end of the day, my desk is in a mess of creation… six cards on the go here! Yep, you heard me right… some have been owed for a while but some juicy new goodies from Fat Cats Card Corner – Spellbinder Lattice Rectangles and Nellie Snellen Square Stitch Multiframe dies – wow! I love Nellie Snellen dies; just wish they had one size bigger, as they only seem to go to small sizes for small cards. Their quality and detail is fantastic though. The dies are only peeking at right bottom front of picture did not take it very well, I meant them to be in it.

And you can see some beautifully stamped images at the top from Ros Of WOYWW - some of her lovely gum blossoms. I saw them on her desk some weeks back and now I have some on mine courtesy of her generosity and few bonuses as well. Thanks so much Ros! You will see my finished six cards next week, all being well. Happy WOYWW everyone and for those of you wondering why we are talking about desk contents? Take a trip over to our wonderful hostess’ desk, Julia at Stamping Ground. You will be amazed at how much you can learn and what fun you can have…

May God bless your day wherever you may be,

Shaz in Oz.x

PS My Calligraphy classes were really great. I have wonderful students and we will be working hard which is fun. God is good.

 

WOYWW What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 108 + Pineapple Jam!

Well here comes another week around again! Feel like your world is spinning too fast sometimes?? I do! The calligraphy piece on my desk does not show as much progress as I would have hoped but that is because of life getting in the way - some more card orders, Pineapple jam and Mint sauce and other such domestic chores. However almost all the painting has been finished and the gold leaf now just has to be done; this one has a lot of it so it will take some time!

After numerous attempts I have finally perfected Pineapple Jam! It must be made on fresh pineapple and pineapple juice (all the recipes on the net were with tinned pineapple, but not like the real deal). When Golden Circle stopped making it a few years ago my brother in law was distressed – one of his favourite condiments no longer available. Anyway he has been patient waiting for this batch, so will be pleased to get it and my sisters' to receive the mint sauce. Our mother always made her own so we are totally spoilt by it now – bought is not quite the same.

Have made more than one card this week as orders came but have posted the other three before so wont worry putting them up again. This last one I really like too. I made it on Monday night as was going to my neighbour’s funeral on Tuesday morning and wanted a really special card for her family. They have been our neighbours since Dec. 1973, so a few years you might say! she was in her 90^th year, and really sweet lady.

This card was made with the lovely Stampin Up Pastel card and a Stampin up stamp now sadly both discontinued.  I used the pigment S.U. Pastels Ink Spots and embossed with Iridescent EP. With Caramello Cuttlebug folder, enlarged method (see sidebar), and Labels 2 dies with Labels 2 Nestabling new from Fat cats, I really like the framing of the pictures with the Nesties. A computer generated greeting, with Fancy Tags and Petite Scalloped Small Nesties also to finish off the card.

Unhappily the photo dies not do justice to the bling and Irisdescent EP, these are are much prettier. Tried several ways - no success.

If you want to enjoy a snoop at desks around the world, and learn sooo much, please join in the fun and pop over to Julia’s blog, Julia's Stamping Ground for the best blog hop around! 

Well thanks for peeking everyone, happy WOYWW and may God bless your day wherever you may be,

Shaz in Oz. x PS You may like post below too?

Pineapple Jam recipe (Jo asked for it so here 'tis,  - now 'tis mine, so  no guarantees come with it! )

750g of fresh diced ripe pineapple.
500g of sugar (you may want to cut it back my brother in law likes it rather sweet)
2 cups of unsweetened pineapple juice
i packet of Jamsetta*
 *( I use 50g packet - but it seems to me this varies, so just add as much as it needs, sometimes it seems to set quicker than others, and need less, but needed whole packet this time).

METHOD:
Cook on stove for about 50 mins, a gentle rolling boil. I puree it with a stab hand blender about 50 mins into cooking it carefully as it is piping hot as that is how the jam is here not in big pieces.
Cook it for another 10 mins to settle bubbles, then jar up in warmed jars, if set and it tastes to your liking.
I find most of the bubbles go after you jar up you dont have to lift of scum like other jams.! :)

WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 106

Well, if you look at my desk below today you will see it totally devoid of craft items, as all have been packed away.. Shock! Horror! 

This card is a gorgeous owl one for a friend of mine who adores Owls. It will be the last card for a while. I simply must devote more time to my calligraphy. I love the Stampin’ Up papers I used with this card. Also one of the new items at Fat Cats, Borders1 Nellie Snellen Multiframe DieSet 028  I used on this piece, as well as my Nesties of course, and a very cute owl brad which I had. The stamp is clear one from eBay coloured with Promarkers. (Lisa says below it an Inkadinkadoo owl - thanks Lisa!)

 As you can see I have nearly finished Morti’s mother’s piece which is the small piece in the blue oval - I have yet to do the gold work and re-ink it. You can also see some Copperplate practice as thanks to a UK blogger I have found a great calligraphy Scribbler's site in UK (through Kathleen’s blog - do check it out, she is new-ish to WOYWW! :D) and I have bought some “you-beaut” Walker's Copperplate ink,  Leonardt EF Principal nib and Character original White paper. I am so inspired by my improvement with these new tools to get into some extra practice! We are doing copperplate this term at calligraphy classes, but I have been very disappointed by my attempts until now! 
The Walker's ink is black gall ink and it really reminds me of the ink we used in grade 3 at Primary School. . When I was eight years in Grade 3 the school I went to still used ink and dip pens.  I used these tools with Spencerian (a type of Copperplate) for a year until we moved and then I had to totally change my writing style as they were using very modern Cursive in my new school. I had to forget all I learnt with first script. I so wish I had not lost the use of that copperplate which I learnt for one year only. As a result my "not too nice" writing is nothing like either styles at all!
The large piece to the left on my desk is an order and is inked in ready for laying down of colours, I have done it before so did not have the struggle of planning the layout. :D  It will hopefully be much more advanced next week. 

We have been enjoying (?) flooding rains which closed the Coastal highway to the north and south for day or so, with a tornado decimating a small narrow strip of buildings in small coastal town north about 40 minutes. I am very glad to see a little sunshine today. The coastal low pressure has moved down the NSW coast to wreck havoc down south, our seas are very big at present. I went for a walk to check it all out!

Well, I am off to sticky beak around other desks as the rest of the world catches up to us in Oz. If you are curious why we do this, please do call over to wonderful hostess’ Julia’s blog and check it all out at the  Stamping Ground.

May God bless your day wherever you may be, and happy WOYWW!
Shaz in Oz. x

WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 105

Well, here we are - a whole week after the excitement of last week! How much fun we all had! As I live in Australia I have no exciting pIf from Jo yet. Long way over here! It has not arrived all the way from UK, but the delay just wets one's anticipation, and am very much looking forward to its arrival. I will display it when it comes (still feeling nervous about mine as really wanted to re-do it but not the time to get it done!).

For those of you who are wondering why we are looking at  desks it is all because of Julia our wonderful hostess who thought up this blog hop - do join in our weekly peek and come with me to Julia’s beaut blog -  Stamping Ground.

I have done  a little of my calligraphy this week so the piece of my desk is inked in ready for colouring for Morti, and you can see my calligraphy dip pens to the far right of the picture as I used one of them for part of this, but mostly this past week it has been cards. I am also working on a birthday card - an owl one for my friend, who loves owls and her birthday is coming up! So you can see me colouring an owl (or two) as well as the usual items on my desk!

 Here are the cards - two engagement cards for an order. First one done with pink vellum and Labels 4 frame, plus 3D rose on a Marianne die, coloured in pink pigment ink and perfect pearls, small heart Cuttlebug embossing folder, and lace edge. I used the Cuttlebug Olivia alphabet for the Initials, also coloured and perfect pearls applied.. Second card is done with Cuttlebug Textile texture folder and vintage corners too (also on first one, but different corner) a Fleur de Lis Pendant Spellbinder on Mirri card and also white card with pearl centre.Use for the greeting is a an petite oval spellbinder + scalloped one, mounted on a Spellbinder Fancy tag.

And  I also have another card with the lovely new papers from Fat Cats (Natural Foil Mat Stack 4.5"x6.5" 72 pages). This set of papers  (also pictured on my desk - in the top centre) are perfect male card papers and so was really pleased with them when I splurged on them and they arrived, even better in real life! As I wanted to show off the pretty foiled paper I did a simple design. Mounted it on a white core sheet of Paisley Cuttlebug folder which I distressed, added a little ribbon, cat brad, and  "For You" decoration which had on hand from the cheap shop.The photo sort of captures the pretty foil shades of the paper, especially at the top of the paper where the light catches it!. 

May God bless your day everyone wherever you may be, and happy WOYWW everyone!

Shaz in Oz.x

WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 103

Well here we go flying through another week and rapidly heading toward to the two year anniversary of next week, so I had better get my skates on and finish that pIf, hadn’t I? .. here is some more work in transit on my desk. Today on left side, I am starting a small order for Morti of WOYWW fame, and a surprise her mother; so you can see its beginnings on the left hand side there, all pencilled in waiting for my ink Have finished the one I was working on last week and I  have posted it below. I’m working also on another large one which is an order for a wedding.

I will show it to you next week all being well it is inked in just waiting for colours to be laid down.

It did not take long to get to that stage as I had done it before and did not have to work from scratch, just copy it onto my sheet from the copy I already had here, which makes me very, very happy!!

Now you can see my faithful bug on my desk which is still chugging along and also there are two cards in the process of being made for Fat Cats Card Corner. Both are Crafty Individuals Stamps - one is the lovely Robin or bird one.. I think it is a generic bird, but for this one I decided to make it Robins and stamped it on acetate. I used the Nellie Snellen Doily lace die also on this and the Epiphany Button Studio with the button there. Method explaining acetate stamping and gelly roll pens here, and also did the gorgeous sailing ship the same way. You can see some nautical print outs which are freebies from Far Hill (see side bar link to them) which I think I will use on assembling the Sailing ship card.

Thanks for looking and if you want to know why I am showing you my workdesk - do pop over to Julia's Stamping Ground and share in the fun of our blog hop around the world’s desks! You will learn lot! I have in my brief time sharing each week!

God bless your day,

Shaz in Oz. x













PS just want to apologise to anyone who wondered what happened to their comment, Blogger ate some last week and they are still missing so wasn't cos I deleted them. Poor old blogger has had a rough time lately!
PPS. this morning I finished off the cards so posting them here in their complete state. As we are ages ahead of UK and have a very busy afternoon, I will be late linking over today too. Elements in ship card as follow, DP Kasiercraft, Cuttlebug folder Spots and Dots, Large labels from Nesties extended. Also used an element from Far Hill Digi Freebies mounted on card, cut out and added Glossy Accents.
PPPS. the bubble thing on my desk that Sarpreet asks about is my clip on magnifier I need to use for my calligraphy - as eye sight aint what it used to be!

WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 100

Today is another WOYWW and number 100 … Mind you I have not been here for the 100 of them! I did not even know what a blog was when this all begun. Only discovered blogging just over 12 months ago... 

 Here is the latest update on the text of Ephesians 4 verse 32, still not finished but on the homeward run now. I work in mostly gouache (which I mix on the messy piece of card to the right of the screen - have used this piece for about ten years!). I also use some watercolours as you can see and to make sure I get the blending and colouring right I use a clip on magnifier glass (bottom right). I found this gem at Aldi and love it. I have done most of the colours and using the tabernacle colours here of blue purple crimson and gold.

These were the colours used in the OT when making the tabernacle and in the 1950's book ("Illuminated Texts and How To make Them" by C Willis & G Houghton) I used to learn my illuminated work they give the meaning as described. The top line blue is showing the work of the Spirit (Be ye kind) as the blues shows the Spirit, the  purple and Gold shows God’s deity and God the Father, and the crimson shows the blood and the Son of God so used the crimson for the last line and purple/gold for the middle line referring to God. I pray much about layout and colours. I have yet to put in the rest of the colours on the vine-work and apply the gold leaf. And yes! By God’s grace it will be finished in time for our mother’s day this Sunday (not my mother but a friend ordered it).

I have a new monkey Mrs A.! Here is my latest visitor from the UK - my family were over this week past (boo hoo! heading back today!) and they brought me a pressie of a "Deer" monkey (he has a reindeer jumper) as I have called him, here are the two of them!! And aren’t they just the cutest? they now ride around together in my car and they think it is nice to have playmates!

 

A quick card I did end of last week…I brayered Hydrangea Big Juicy pad with the lovely Leaves & Butterflies K Kingdom Embossing folder 129 from  Fat Cats Card Corner , put it through bug and the sprayed with Diamond dust Glimmer Mist, cut out oval and scallop oval in Magenta pink Mirri cardstock. Mounted on pale pink cardstock and adorned with Marianne Creatables Cutting Dies Butterflies in matching Mirri card and used Orchid craft Roses and pins for extras…oh and forgot! I used the Nellie Snellen border lace doiley die as well on the bottom!

Happy WOYWW everyone and do pop over to Julia’s blog, Julia's Stamping Ground! for the best blog hop around! 

Apologies now if I run late with my comments hop as must simply finish this text first but will get there if a little late!!

Great Prize and Competition at Fat Cats Card Corner + Some Cards...

FatHi there folks, I am  flat like a lizard drinking (as my dad would say) out so this will be a brief post, but wanted to let you know about this great competition at Fat Cats Card Corner- details below.

Please NOTE -there THREE Vouchers to be won worth $100Aussie dollars each!!... and AUD are quite valuable at present !!

So don't miss out very easy competition if you have any Nellie Snellen Multi-frame sets.....

See competition link here , and gallery link is here.   

NEW COMPETITION!!!
Simply make a card or scrapbook page using any of the Nellie Snellen Multi-frame die sets (click here to see what they are) and upload it to our Gallery. 

You could win one of 3 $100 Fat Cats Gift Vouchers. Entries close 15th May 2011.

Just a few cards which were started last week on the WOYWW  page, so thought would let you see the “fait accompli”.  

 

This is a Crafty Individuals Stamp, and showed you last week how background to this was made.

I do so love the detail on these stamps! It is Damask Ducks on a Speedball brayer background (any Dye ink colours you like) brayered on glossy white card in A5 packs, layered on Spellbinder Nestabilities Classic Squares. On each side is cardstock embossed with Blue embossing folder - Dragonfly K Kingdom Embossing Folder 073.

Martha Stewart Deep Edger Blossom Eyelet border is spritzed with Magic Micas purple (mixed in Mini mister) with pearls in the flower centres of this very pretty punch to add a bit of glitz to it. 

Crafty Individual Bird Postcard Unmounted stamp inked on white card and sprayed with paler mixed magic mica. This is then mounted on the pale mauve Quilted A5 frosted papers, these are so very pretty, and mounted further to finish the card,.

The Cuttlebug Plus Brocade Folder is truly a classy act.
Here it is embosses and cuts a window all at once.
Sandwich is A plate + C plate + two shims (one thick and one thin) for my bug They say one A plus two B plates on Provocraft site but it will not work with mine. I chalked it throguh the flap at the top so easy to chalk (with white pad) it with this specially made flap.
 

Then I used Unity Stamps called "Beauty" and I coloured it with the beautifully shimmery Pearlex watercolours (all items for these three cards are available from Fat Cats Card Corner).
 

Thanks for looking, and may God bless your day

Shaz in Oz. x

P.S. I am at present on D.T. for Fats Cats, hence my promotion of their items.