Ultimate Crafts Dragonfly, New Die Cut Technique + WOYWW

(Warning - photo overload again today!)

Hi there everyone, yes, it’s Wednesday and World Desk Day.. over at Julia’s, WOYWW for What is on Your Workdesk Wednesday right HERE!! 😊

Few desks again today with techniques. Firstly was working on birthday card, and using the Ultimate Crafts dragonfly die, had two lots of washi paper I liked. Didn’t end up using this design but different layout but decided to add some acetate with DST, and TH rock candy glitter to wings. Did on silver ones, too, made from silver washi tape on card too. Haven’t quite finished that card but share other.

Desk 2 is at ridiculous o’clock last night, really this morning, couldn’t sleep. Up & decided to try this idea over on Verna’s blog, she has link to video on technique (here). So desk shows me with die cut, Holly Berries - Penny Black with a serviette (already in quarters) folded in half, total of eight layers, with sheet of white cardboard underneath. See video by Dave. It took quite a few passes to die cut it right through, as this is detailed die, used metal shim.

Fetched out my old Reeves Watercolour  paint tin from 1971! Good brush 000 and painted away. One thing to note, I did need to glue few bits of compressed serviette (or napkin) onto the cardstock. I think it’s because was ultra smooth surface card, no tooth to surface. I loved this technique! First time I’ve really been happy with this PB die, had for ages. Hollies are so tedious to add gems to or highlight, easy peasy with this. Will repeat! 
Now to three cards made:

Birthday card changed to this, MB Pippi butterfly (for Mrs A's challenge, see below) praying for you card, with Hero Arts prayer Die with washi, stamp comes from Joanna Inspired by Stamping Sympathy set.

Second card is the Dragonfly on largest wonky rectangle die set, in washi mounted, mounted on deep blue. Happy birthday stamp - disc. set by Sweet ‘n Sassy.

Last card is Christmas card. Believe it or not folks, Christmas is coming, yesterday shops had it everywhere! An-nnd Simon Says Monday Challenge is Christmas! used CB Holly Ribbons EF, PB die, with Poppy Stamps “Tidings of Great Joy” Stamp/die set. Used all Snippets but base, sooo off to Snippets Playground over at Miss Di’s. Yay!!

Aussie Photos: Continuing trip (with family member, on other side of Oz) start just off coast of WA.

“Definitely wouldn’t want to be here in Marble Bar in summer and really admire the pioneers of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

Poinciana House was built in 1908, listed with the National Trust. George Miles built it for his wife but she only stayed a year, now a private residence.

Certainly appreciated seeing the ocean again after almost 10,000 kms and a lot of that on the dirt! 
Point Samson is really a beautiful spot... nothing here but a general store, tavern and cafe. The housing is certainly built for the cyclones .... row upon row of screws on the roof and no guttering... doesn’t rain a lot and when it does it’s so heavy the gutters don’t take it! 

We found a front garden of a home, on a walk, with some very healthy Sturt Desert Pea.

Also a nice view up to Cape Lambert, the Rio Tinto iron loading facility.

Cossack is now a historic ghost town, the original trading port before Dampier, also the original port of pearls before the luggers moved north to Broome in 1886. The town was dissolved in 1910 and abandoned by 1950.

Some of the bluestone buildings have been restored, the present museum is by far the most impressive.”

Last photo is of stunning orchid (Oncidium), (in my photo spot courtyard) on loan from neighbour Edward, pray for him please had news this week his cancer has spread throughout, praying for them all in it.

Well, that’s it for today, hope some tips helpful! May God bless your day wherever you may be, and especially thanks if you’ve time for a chat! 
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x
Thought for the day: This month for October there's a very large group of Christians all over Oz who are fasting and praying for Repentance, Revival and Rain rain rain! This is why.

This is mostly up where I live in north NSW, and SE Qld.. all in extreme drought except for coast, fires over the hill still burning. So will for the month of Oct. in my small way be joining in prayer & fasting .. it’s key, repentance revival and rain for Oz! 
When you think one farmer a week reportedly commits suicide each week, due drought severity this is really, really critical. 
Souls need to be saved. See my latest post on this here.

This verse holds key which I incidentally shared three weeks ago, unaware of this prayer challenge. Note the two sets of actions. 
May I do my part! that God can bless.
*** on our part = humble, pray, seek, turn

*** God’s part = hear, forgive, heal

Also joining over with:
1. http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/?m=1 

2. Christmas card.   http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2019/09/chnc-challenge-457.html?m=1

3. Butterfly Challenge Your 6 elements are Magnolia/ *Mandarin/Mint/*Marker Pens/Metal Charm + your *Butterfly. *Used these 3, marker pen on butterfly pearls to make them gold.

4. Tuesday Throwdowns Anything Goes   http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/2019/09/tuesday-throwdown-441-paper-shelter.html?m=1 
5. Penny Black.. something old, neglected. PB Hollies die

105th Birthday, Penny Black, PanPastel Tips + WOYWW

Hi there everyone! What happens to the other 6 days in a week? Am sure there must be more Wednesdays in 2019 than in previous years! 😉
 Yes, time for WOYWW again or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday? Pop over to the Queen of Deskland - Julia of the Stamping Ground. 

My desk this morning. You see I’m tidying up... but in my typical of fashion of attacking several piles at once! There is on right a pile of scissors.  How many hands for that many pair?? On left  some hopeless/ hopeful (take your pick!) samples for the CAS watercolour Challenge with Loll’s technique of paper towel colour lifting. Think her towel must different to mine, it’s very reluctant to yield up any colour it had. See its on top.. it's a deep soulful green, even though tried all sorts of wetting methods, the colour lift  looks "wishy-washy blerk", in my books. Will do as base for something else. 
Reason for disarray? Too many piles of VUF (Very Useful Schtuff). Some have exploding boxes, chez moi it's  stacks, piles here and there.. some have shrunk thankfully.
Now last week had panpastels showed this desk here.

Top Tips with PanPastel (answers to queries).

1. Use good smooth blending cardstock this is key. I use Xpress blending card for copics. 
2.  Chose colours. Always if can have light one in selection. If no light one, use light chalks.

3. Light colour is essential as base of colour, with pastels, ink blending, brayering, etc it’s always best for blendability to have light base coat, kind of like Gesso.

4. Don’t slather all on at once. Like ink, build up layers bit by bit, they do blend very beautifully.
5. Apply with sofft foam blenders esp for PP but I also use makeup sponges and cotton wool balls.

6. PanPastels are much quicker to work with than inks. Very quick to do background, much longer in ink. 

7. To seal or not to seal? Some don’t but I like seal my pastels. Use a good quality hair spray, like you’d use on your hair. (ie not tacky cheap one like I had once). 

** Hair spray also removes the oxidisation of Oxides and makes their colour pop.

8. Have handy a very lightly damp tissue, paper towel, rag to wipe excess off hands. NOT “Wet Ones”, they’re bad for environment, and the children’s future. Very anti “Wet Ones”, as they are called here in Oz.

To my cards... here’s the one I was working on last week. Used same Stampendous 1990’s Stamp verse of Numbers 6.

Penny Black Aspire Floral Stamp done in grey on background too.

Second card.

Wow! I’ve never done a triple figure card before, let alone an 105th card. It’s made to appeal to diminished senses of 105 years, bright, shiny and very textural. Silver frame in foil card is CCD, Distress Rock crytal in sticky paper underneath, two Butterfly is Pippi by MB, several layers, including base with Isabella matching die; SB Petite oval dies for greeting. Stamps are by Sweet ‘n Sassy, silver embossed. 

“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him”. Ps 37:

Think that’s good for all of us, Rest Wait (trust - in next verse) in the Lord but especially when 105 as with this dear lady!
Showing Aussie photos, a few from family member travelling way out west of NSW.

“ Sawn Rocks, pleased to see the green returning in all the new growth since the fires on a visit last year. Such an amazing rock formation! Unfortunately there was a huge number of feral goats which will certainly cause damage". 

The quandong (native fruit - link here) pies at Copley are still amazing. Bought some for the road, also some of their kangaroo pies (they're culled due to over-population, environment can't cope, make excellent lean meat like deer). They are awesome, too! Both have won silver awards in Melbourne, made by a young guy. They also have quandong and choc chip ice cream... yummo!

Our highlight of today was seeing a camel road train in Maree, 3 big trailers full of *camels from WA. The driver came across the Great Central Rd, said it was pretty sketchy in places.

*camels are feral and nuisance in the outback, Afghans brought them over when making rail-line from Adelaide to Darwin. We have largest camel population in world. They will drink whole waterholes dry in one visit. 
Last is sunset on one of their stops. Such vast colour-filled skies!

Well, am out walking, 30 mins today, praise God! So wonderful! 

Yes, might of overdone gardening last week and come down with an infection, never learn! but finished antibiotics today, now all okay. Mercies abounding. You know! often it’s not easy, but God teaches so much more in the rough times than in smooth, easy times, that you’re grateful for them almost. 

Such a blessing to know and trust in our dear Almighty Father. 

Thanks so much for popping over for peek and chat! 
l do so very much appreciate you. I’m sorry, with infection, wasn’t great so didn’t comment on many last week. D.V., will do better this week. 😊 

Prayer hugs for God’s blessing on you all,

Shaz in Oz.x

Thought for Today. Love this!

Linking up to:

* Yess! Def snippets used here so off to the playground.. yipppeee! Save slippery dip please then into duck pond!

http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com/2019/08/pixies-snippets-playground-challenge-358.html

* Word Art Wednesday.

* Penny Black Saturday challenge. PanPastel card.

*Anything Goes or Watercolour option

* Monday Challenge Simon says. 
Birthday theme entering both card for birthdays 105 extra special birthday card though.
* http://mmmchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/08/challenge-102-friendship.html the PB Pastel card was birthday card to encourage a dear friend also.
* https://pathofpositivitychallenge.blogspot.com/2019/08/challenge-71-opt-twist-relaxationaug-5.html to encourage a dear friend. 

Watercolour Penny Black Floral Bouquet + WOYWW

Yes, somehow  it’s Wednesday again.. and time for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday.
Pop over to Julia’s Stamping Ground to check out all the best crafty desks!

 To my desk this morning.

Monkeys hopped down to say hi, have a card in centre - thought I’d finished last night! Then decided stamped verse cream card oval was too pale, so brought down my gold paints by Finetec to colour it up, as used it on original floral piece. In hindsight, wish I’d masked the oval off, sprayed it with golden mist Tattered Angels spray, it would’ve been a nicer finish. However ‘tis done. The piece of watercolour paper with floral has been looking at me for weeks, it is the PB Floral Bouquet Stamp I multiple stamped to get a background sheet. See other uses back here and here, for previous two cards made with one sheet of water coloured PB embossed stamping. The Embossing makes it easy to watercolour and used a mixture of pencils, DI and shimmer watercolours. Often mix like that. 

Here’s the finished card. Used the Spellbinder border die this time and the CB 5 x7 embossing folder “Rosa”. The embossed verse stamp is an unmounted stamp bought ages ago on eBay, maybe Victorine, a US company?

Used SB Petite Scalloped circles for central verse. The corners are CB Vintage corners, a long disc. set sadly.

Well, Aussie photos are two pretty sunsets.

We are really spoilt with some lovely panoramas sometimes! Loved the silhouetted fishermen in this one! 

Still not walking, but that’s due to cold, partly gone, as well as left calf. Right shin is all better, took 2 mths. Patience, waiting is better than not healing tho’! 😊
 I must apologise for not commenting much in past week. Lots of WOYWWers, and other bloggers, have embedded comment boxes. My iPad Safari argues with Blogger. Even though I’m signed in comments are lost on embedded boxes so have to go over to another web browser. It’s extra steps when not well. Pop up comment boxes work just fine. Embedded are very unstable. 

(See this post here, if you want to fix it). So failed miserably last week, will try do better.

Lord bless you all wherever you maybe,

Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x 

Thought for the day.

Today’s verse comes from completed card, the promises of showers of blessing, which the hymn comes from, averse often overlooked but it is full of the promise of God!

Linking card up to:

Word Art Wednesday.

 http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2019/07/pbsc-july-anything-goesoptional-food.html
http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/2019/07/july-summer-colours_7.html
. http://happylittlestampers.blogspot.com/2019/07/hls-july-anything-goes-with-dies.html?m=1

. http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/2019/07/238-here-comes-summer.html

PanPastels meet Penny Black + WOYWW

Yes, it’s here again.. desk day!! It’s WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday... please head over to Julia’s HERE for desks of the world! Several desks as been doing backgrounds with PanPastels.

Desk 1 this morning has a pile of new items, boring really, tape, two pads 12 x12" paper. Was a girl's day out last week (with non Crafters), but I managed to visit the scrapbooking store an hour north 😊 which was closing down so had 50% off everything. To right are PanPastel image with dies, working out what was going to use.

Next desk was starting with pastels, did do some rough smooching on this one, as wanted it to give a bit of texture. The colours and style of background were chosen to match the cover of the book (Heaven, Your Real Home by Joni Eareckson Tada) I was giving my friend. She really loved them both

Here are two pieces made. Larger piece was going to be laminated as a bookmark - then realised, oops! heat embossed the stamped verse, so it couldn’t be laminated!
 So did another smaller one as didn’t have much time left to make it. Also forgot to take photo of it finished. It was double sided same colours both sides but two different verses. 

Made wet Embossed image into simple card, stamped the PB Aspire stamp a few times in Memento grey I think. The verse was embossed in Platinum EP and is a disc. wood mount stamp from early 1990, Stampendous? Die is double stitched Poppy Crafts Rectangles, which I extended to fit my 5 x7 Aust size card. First time I’ve done that will do it again.

Now to Aussie photos. 

Remember the giant lemon 2 weeks ago here? Well, I’ve come down with cold, using lots of lemon/honey so decided to see how much juice this 540g (1.18oz) lemon had? 

Used electric squeezer as it’s way too big for my small hands. 

Answer of how much juice in one lemon? 

200ml or 7oz! 

The lemon was very juicy, as they all are actually. Eureka are a very good lemon, frost tolerant too, ‘cos we grew it in frosty climate as child.

Here are some beautiful grasses with winter afternoon light glinting through them. It really caught my eye when out, and had to click! So delightfully fine detailed grass heads. God’s glorious creation.

This sunrise is the most stunning I recall seeing in a very long time. Don’t see them them often, though. We’ve had very cold weather (for us), frosty in some spots, but am never up to see it. 

Well, that’s it for the day, both legs are healing, ... thankfully, feeling miserable with cold, but good excuse to take it easy, isn’t it?

Thanks for popping over and may God bless your day wherever you maybe.

Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x

Edit to answer queries in Comments:

1. I find good card is the secret to blending well with PP. I use a very smooth card, called  XPress blending cardstock (meant for ink markers) bought here in Oz.

2. I seal PP with good quality (not cheap or tacky) hair spray (just like I do with DoX, etc). 

3. Use damp cloth to keep fingers clean or tissue as they do get messy when working.

Build up colours gradually. And don't give up too soon. Things do smooth out.

Thought for the Day:

 The verse on the card is a Hebrew OT benediction often used today.
The blessing of Almighty God upon such a one as I is hard to comprehend at times, but God’s Love is very great. He delights to bless, unworthy though we are, if we but ask!

Linking card up to:

1. Word Art Wednesday 

2. http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2019/07/pbsc-july-anything-goesoptional-food.html

2. http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/2019/07/july-summer-colours_7.html

3. http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2019/07/week-528-cas.html

4. http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/2019/07/238-here-comes-summer.html

Penny Black Poppy Stamp, Washi Card + WOYWW

hi there everyone! Yes, it’s Wednesday again, *blink* and it’s here!! 

Time for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday.. pop over to Julia’s Stamping Ground to check out much better desks than mine!

My desk this afternoon:

Well as you can see I’ve some inky business going on here, oxides out, two greens + three blues DOx smooched on paper + on mat in random fashion and spritzed water then dried. Going to do some bokeh with it I think (How to do Bokeh Here). Also random tools on desk but no scissors, must be a first!

Showing some cards made last year but not shared, busy with dad, a worthy occupation. First is a washi card, was so glad when found this photo. I'd looked on my blog record in April or so to find how I’d done it as couldn’t recall, it wasn’t there. ie unpublished and had given it away.

The Die is triple cut “Just for you” , the top layer is white card with washi tape matching on top and second layer is gold highlight). Plain card with wide Chinese scene washi on white card too, over gold cardstock and sea-blue, rounded top corners.

Second card is obviously an 80th birthday card, I’ve no idea for whom this card was made! It's Penny Black Dynamic Poppy stamp, inked in Soft beige ink, perhaps Memento, coloured with combo watercolour and coloured pencil highlights. 
Masked then inked the *background of image while still in Creatif Wonky rectangles with variety of DI to match stamp.

 Mounted on embossed Embossaliscious Floral EF, ribbon at bottom, greeting and numbers were die cut out of matching inked cardstock. 

Aussie shots:- after showing lemon tree last week blog post (just below this post), I picked two buckets full of lemons today, probably same amount left on tree, will give most away. 

Largest very juicy lemon was 540g (1.19lb) breaking last year’s record of just over 500g or half a kilo. 

The hibiscus is called Marnie (our name for it). Lovely giant lemon one too, about handspan wide. 

Last one is late afternoon photo of the creek, love the colours.

Legs are getting better, thanks everyone. Time heals.

May God bless your day everyone, where you maybe. Thanks for popping over for a peek and especially if you have time for a chat. 😁

Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x

Thought for the day:

Love this thought.. the words.. my “life is hid IN Christ, IN God.” have been going round and round in my head this past week, there is nothing that can touch us there that God does not allow, to read more see my blog post Here!

Linking up to:

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

2. Simon Says Monday Challenge- PB poppy card and variety of inks used on *background.  https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=17072

3. Sweet Little Stampers Anything Gies Washi card https://sweetstamperschallenge.blogspot.com/2019/06/33-anything-goes.html

4. Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything goes OR  partial stamping http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2019/06/pbsc-june-anything-goesoptional-partial_15.html?m=1