WOYWW Calligraphy Gilded Tissue, Pineapple Smiles!

Mm! It is now past Wednesday, however I've still a desky share - or What is On Your workdesk Wednesday.. pop over to our Julia's desk for the link up, at Stamping Ground!

I started this post last week for WOYWW, but became ill, so will utilise it.. but edit somewhat!

This week's desk, my practise with dip pen and ink for Eamon sleeps here (what bugs me is in my practice I wrote Eamon perfectly but froze halfway through his name looking at space thinking, eek! Not going to fit it in, and messed up ... should have taken deep breath, prayed then continued!!)
Must admit was nice to be doing dip pen work again, must get back into it.. Have finished it but wont share it yet although they dont look at my blog.

Second desk, this is a direct copy of kookaburra, I edited image (not sure of source, as downloaded about four years ago). Removing colour from image, making it a very pale pencil sketch, printed it in draft on sheet to outline and colour. Used other images for guides also as you can see.

Tip for fellow crafters with white pens. Firstly I do not recommend Signo which have heard others recommend..  always gets clogged -> unusable, in end, so now in bin. Before it was binned however I did the following process, which DID work on Gelly Roll white which do like (it has never to my memory clogged).
BUT lid was accidentally knocked off as pushed in and probably out of drawer which it is in, so not on tight. Result->dried up!

Method. Boil up water, as if making a cuppa! (mm, do one at same time!) place in cup, then add white gelly roll, with tip down.. without lid on it.
Heated the water twice (removed pen to reheat in microwave), then left it overnight. This afternoon in answer to prayer, + above method, it works just fine. 
Nil response from Signo. I know other folks recommend it but I did not like this one.

EDIT to above tip: While ever it was submerged in water ie moist, as shown, the pen works, but once lid is put on and is put away it returns to unusable state.
So I'm just re-immersing it as shown in image each time I need to use it at the present. This doesn't take long, just add really warm water allow to cool about twenty mins, then it seems happy to write away.

Technique of crumpled tissue and embossing .. to see technique look here! A favourite technique - this sheet was one done on this post.

Used SB Fancy (majestic or royal something?) Circles, with memory Box Blushing branch die. Love this verse. It is from WAW, was sent to Mrs D. via Margaret of Glitterglue. "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." He fails not!

NOW TO THE ... Aussie shots ... be warned photo heavy!!!

Pineapple, patch, four plants, in total, the one at front has new baby and it is the one with flowers below. Pineapple ready for picking behind it and it has sucker growing up from it as new plant after this is picked the mother plant dies.

Another baby there are two suckers here and one has shot a fruit.. they are brommeliads and at this stage in the flower you can see that.

Picked pineapple about a foot or 30 cm long, that is a ruler at front.
Below: Test whether a pineapple is ripe in shops and on plant by whether you can easily pull out the centre leaf.

 

1.332kg with skin and top, peeled below it is 776g or 3/4 a kilo of fruit and yes it is sweet and very nice. We were having a family BBQ so it went down very well!

 

 The roses are flowering downunder as spring has really sprung so here are some bunches in house.. I also take them to family in nursing home. This red bunch and pink was particularly fragrant as they are all strongly scented.

 Well, its almost into Friday here in about six hours so going to join up with Annie's Friday smiles too, lots of smiles here!

Thanks so much every one for popping over for a peek and chat!May God bless your day wherever you may be. 
  Will do my very best in commenting, and truly appreciate your visits! 

Shaz in Oz.x  

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee: yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.” Psalm 57:1

Linking up to:
1. Annie's Friday Smiles  

2. Di's Snippety challenge - Used snippets on card, all but base card.(mm just realised already joined, der!

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

4.http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-thinking/

card for Mrs D was a cheer me up praying/ thinking of you card after her very nasty fall.

Distress Inks + Sizzix Thinlits Mixed Media #2

Hi there friends! time for another DT post for Bizzy Bec's Online craft store.
Here's a peek...

 

Time for inkiness again.
Items used - all are Pre-order from Bizzy Bec's!
Distress Inks -Mustard Seed, Fossilized Amber, Dried Marigold, Cracked Pistachio, Fired Brick

Impression Obsession hugs die

Spellbinders Labels 28 - used largest die 

Pre-Order Sizzix Thinlits Die -Mixed Media #2
Watercolour paper

 

 Tested this die combination on a scrap cardstock before launching into my good cardstock, to get position and size correct. Then marked it on the main card piece with pencil, and rubbed out later.

Using the Distress inks as listed above, smooched them generously over the water colour cardstock do more than you think you'll need as I had to re-ink it. Then spritz the back of paper with water so it stays flat, while you add water and glimmer or shimmer mist to top of ink. allow to dry.
Flatten inky watercolour paper, as it buckles. May put a telephone book on top, if time to wait, or run through your die cutting machine with embossing mat which is what I did to flatten it.

Now working on top sheet for card I wanted some light spatters so decided to use my brush and ink mat for this stage. Same colours used and light spatter was tested first on scrap trial run, I am pleased thus far .. this floral die was one I thought I wouldn't use in this set, but like it after all. :D

Layering up hugs die three hugs, from scraps + double sided tape, used my usual system of adding layers while still in base sheet.. to keep it all in place.

Finished card - popped it up on foam tape, added pearls as wanted them to compliment the shimmery card stock on base. I'm not an orange girl at all so quite new to be liking such card colours!
Hope you like it too!

Now don't forget to pop over  HERE at Bizzy Bec's and check out the other DT gorgeous creations, and please do join in ANYTHING GOES AUGUST CHALLENGE - to win that prize.
Pop by Bec's store, too, for her great bargain prices.   

Also wish to apologise for tardiness in commenting, been VERY busy here, see below! garden time! Winter rapidly passing into spring means many jobs to be done .... as you can see it is almost drought-like here, not much rain at all grass etc suffering, so we're mulching well indeed! Done back yard, but now need to do front!

 Pineapple patch... our large pineapple is growing and almost full size. The plant in front is sucker from plant behind, just transplanted two weeks ago. Has a baby coming already, just peeking out...

Thanks so much every one for popping over for a peek and chat! 
May God bless your day wherever you may be.
Shaz in Oz.x

..." there is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside Me."
Isaiah 45:21b

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

2. http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/pixies-snippets-playground-week-289-and.html  Used lots of snippets

WOYWW, Vellum Stamping +Pineapple Picking!

Hi everyone, as the days are rushing past in May.... 'tis Wednesday, again!

Here's my desky share for WOYWW or What is on your Workdesk Wednesday (over here at Julia's and please do join in, too!).
Two current desks to see today!!

Desk 1: More Romanian card work, made a little headway and made two of the dozen, then to right are the left over images, some with Romanian Bible verses on them and some print out of verses and greetings. I hope to have them done by end of week!
Mm, am realising this time next week I need an ATC or two made for then.
No inspiration yet but will come!! Can't rush these things. ;)

This is in centre of desk above (the scroll on right was a newly arrived CCD, took 47 days to get here! a record!). In choosing verses, I've picked ones that suit if one  knows the LORD and also those who do not. This one from Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding."  I was surprised at how long the name for Proverbs was, and mentions Solomon in it, he wrote most of Proverbs but not all of it.

Desk 2, in sunny spot (mornings getting cooler here) in dining room, on fold-up desk.
I'm working on a small text here, hidden so the person concerned doesn't see what it is. It's a small illuminated one. I've just finished layering the gold leaf, so the box on top of the text contains my sheets of 23carat gold leaf on tissue paper.
(you can just see a peek of vine work at right top end of box)
You'll see a small jar with gold metal lid to top right of text which is the Gilding size, which you paint on before applying gold leaf.
There's also a sharp pointed knife to right front for removing Gilding size + gold leaf from where it's not meant to be, some rubbers, small tiny ones for rubbing out small spots, these are next to Gilding papers.
Paints at rear are there, but I'm actually thinking of mixing some brushos to paint it with for new experiment!! :D Watch ,this space!

My card today was made two weeks ago but not shared, for a twenty first obviously.  Used a stamp (PSX from 1995), stamped it on Vellum with Versamark, gold embossed, and coloured it in promarkers.
Fussy cut around image attached to the Spellbinder Fancy Ovals, largest die cut with 300gsm card, softly tinted background while still in die.
Embossing folder background is Tied Together by Couture Creations, pearls added. Lace dies are from Our Daily Bread border die, coloured fine ribbon with promarkers and thread it through once dry. Greeting is a digi, with SB scallops, 21 is from Cuttlebug Olivia Die set.

 

Well we had a special ceremony yesterday... a pineapple picking one! Here is it a week ago when still not quite ripe!

Here 'tis yesterday, picking time. under supervision!
You know it is ripe when you easily pull a leaf out of centre.. just like you test them in the shops and have a good smell test, too :D this one is not as big as others but smells super sweet the one behind will be bigger it grew during lots of rain.
Plant will sucker a new plant and old plant will die. This is the pineapple from a previous baby - I planted the top from it, next to original plant. Saving this top for BiL.

 Ending with two shots from my walk yesterday afternoon, another sunset, if had stayed another half hour would've been even more scarlet, especially with that lovely mackerel cloud as my dad calls them.

On the post below I've and new stamping technique called Retiform.. with some Darkroom Door Ste Sail stamps .. wow, love this technique will be doing it again!

I'm also totally delighted to welcome a new wonderful encourager ..
Maura of Two stamping Sisters - Maura leaves the loveliest comments when she visits as DT for Simon says Monday blog, so very glad she has joined. Thank you!
....  do pop over to give some encouragement too! 
 Well that's if for me today, thanks so much for popping over and please leave a comment too, love to hear from you.
May God bless your day, wherever you may be, happy WOYWW!
Shaz in oz.x  

Joining up to the following:

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

2. http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com.au/2017/05/188-add-sentiment.html

3. Lemon shortbread challenge - anything goes. 

4. Always fun challenge - dry embossing. (with tied together folder)

5. ARTstic Challenge - May Flowers

"Inspired to Stamp" Guest DT call + WOYWW

(EDIT: 10th Jan 2017 - Well, still catching my breath!! 😁 I've been accepted for GDT, watch this space!! A big thanks to everyone and your lovely comments to, you are so appreciated)

Hi all,

My desky share today shows multiple desks - with the process of making a card for a challenge. The experienced crafters among you, can just skim down the pickies. ;D
To join with What is On Your Workdesk  Wednesday pop over to Julia's desk for the deskland world wide hop. 

 This card is inspired by this image on Inspired to stamp.

I am not good on some challenges especially photo ones, I loose track half way through!

This is my second card as first one I went on memory and the colour wasn’t right! 
No worries, I still like it and will rescue it later.I took several things from this image:
1. colours - gold, white and coral or peach pink.
2. shapes  - namely spots, floral, and chevrons. So that's what I went with!

This is a card using stamping and wet embossing in various ways:
1. Stamp + wet embossing with stamped image

2. Stamp + wet embossing with an embossing folder

3. Stamp + wet embossing with a stencil. 

Don’t think I’ve used all three methods on one card before!

 I’ve been stamping with embossing since 1990, so a few years :D it still fascinates me.

As I'm playing with wet embossing, first use embossing buddy on plain white card (see how to make one here). Next apply Versamark to top side of Darice Chevron embossing folder (gift from Scrappy Mo - thanks Mo!) very generously, dry emboss, add embossing gold powder and heat emboss.

Plain snippety piece of card, gold embossed to do border scalloped die cuts with my scalloped rectangle die. One day must buy a scallop border, but these do work fine!

Added the two pieces of scallop to border on Chevron folder piece.

Next stamped Hero Arts Background stamp, Flowing Flowers and Leaves, with Versamark then gold heat embossed (used Stampendous Fine detail Gold). As my Coral sheet was textured the stamping was textured. I really loved this, it reminded me of the Victorian era wallpaper, William Morris used this colour with gold. Cut it into a large SB circle and added gold embossed large SB scallop circle die underneath.

Here I am at the "well, have these, what next stage?" next step was thought of as a late night idea, after prayer.

Next day, took a Stamping up mask bought recently on eBay (set of stripes and spots, I really bought it for the stripes). Had a snippet of vellum left over from previous card, and was big enough for background of the card 5 x 7" base. Used embossing buddy generously, then added small square Versamark in the spots.

Next added generous layer of Gold embossing powder (scrap paper underneath to catch the embossing powder).

Doesn't this have punch!!! I love it.
 Vellum can be tricky to adhere if nowhere to hide tape, but no worry of that here.
So adhered it to base, THEN added the chevron strip + stamped circle.

 Don't have much in way of die and stamp sets but bought this one from Simon Says this year, a prayer and hugs set, I love it. I worked out if you try to die cut before stamping it is harder to match, the die matches easily if you do it after stamping. Match it up on stamped image, tape it on with invisible tape and cut.

"prayers" is cut three times, the two white ones have double-sided tape on the back, attach for extra dimension underneath the gold die cut.

Here's a close up of all that embossing! Triple-wrapped some gold edged twine around the chevron piece before attaching.

The assembled card - hopefully it meets the challenge requirements. I enjoyed making it and as I used snippets am off to the playground too. YAY!
Next to the shots from Oz. We're in summer downunder, and the birds were enjoying the nectar from this coral coloured bottle brush outside our kitchen window. Firstly is a Blue faced Honey eater and next the noisy Lorikeet.

Lastly - found out last night our pineapple is sprouting again (isn't it cute?), this is the top from our first baby, now growing a pineapple too! It is a brommeliad. To see our earlier pineapples progress and planting of this top - see here.

Well, I'm delighted to welcome three new wonderful encouragers of this blog ..

Wow! these do some imaginative stamping and card making!

Kathy of http://joyfullymadedesigns.blogspot.com.au/

NanaConnie of http://mygrammysattic.blogspot.com.au/

EmLouise of http://www.creative-em.com/

You will learn much from these clever crafters.. a pleasure to visit..

.... so do pop over to their blogs and give them some encouragement! 

Thanks so much everyone for popping over and saying hi!
And may God bless your day (and especially your Christmas, as we remember Jesus' birth) wherever you may be!

... and dont forget to pop over and join in Bec's Anything Goes December challenge .. you might win the prize :D

Shaz in Oz.x

**"Therefore the LORD Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel.
( Immanuel means "God with us." (Isaiah 7:14).

**This verse above was written 800 BC, over 800 years before Christ, and just one of many true prophecies which accurately foretold His coming.

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

2. Di's snippets Challenge    http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/  
3. Stamping Sensations - Floral Fantasies. http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com.au/2016/12/december-floral-fancies.html