Thank you for taking time to visit, and I hope I am even a tiny bit helpful as I have been helped and blessed by so many others. I have been doing Calligraphy since teens, and card making for many years as well. In 1990 I delighted in the joys of stamping with ink and embossing after a trip to Cairns, Qld. In 2009 I discovered the brayer, 2010 the Cuttlebug, also have now taking to reading up on crafting blogs and lo! Here I am, on one of my own.
I live on the coast of eastern Australia. I am a Christian. I trusted in the LORD down here at the beach, amazingly it is not far from where I now live. It was over 50 years ago, after a Beach Mission Service at the age of 12 years
(Sorry for silence - give personal update at end!)😃
Be warned photo heavy post.
Okay it’s WOYWW day again ie desk day, What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, over HERE 😁 at Julia's .. so where’s my desk!?
HERE is current desk… you can actually see some of it! My silence and unwellness found me doing some 2am spring cleaning. Shock, horror! I found on desk a lost die (AKA one from Miss Di of Snippets, which features thrice on this post), clear piece for Stamp-a-ma-jig, AND in box below desk, (now moved into drawer set) - MISSING - mini stamp pad from a set, a set of mini misti rules, set square, etc., 3 masks or stencils, 2 stamp sets all tiny and fell easily into said box. 🤣🤣 BUT yet to find my Pippi butterfly disc., my very favourite butterfly 🙏🙏🙏
One dead heat gun - Milwaukee from 1994, only 28 years young, cost $65 - then a small fortune in AUD. Bought in a garage craft store in a country city on North coast, till then I used my toaster. So this Monday when it suddenly didn’t go anymore mid stream, finished the embossing off on toaster 😂.
How hard it is to get any sort of heat gun here now?! 3 brands only, my choice - Couture Creations when trialled (on its way) will review. WOW heat gun sadly only in USA & UK, Wagner not available either, same as one I had. Saw video on one bought, 🙏 it looks good. Needs to be tough, mine was so well marked.
Absent since 31st Aug., almost 2 & half months lots won’t share today, another day. Today starts with “Thanks so much” by Lil’ Inkers designs die. On desk today - found in clean up, a safe spot on desk. Of course!
A prize in Snippets playground eons ago! Needed thank you cards so its first outing… on washi tape, much neglected, along with peel offs. These are snippets cards too - beauty of die cuts to use up those small white pieces under the washi. The simple scoring with neglected peel offs add a finishing touch. Die is NBUS, so popping over there too.
Snippets of vellum in background on top one, coloured with dye ink to make it stand out. EF (Hessian) is a NBUS, too UK purchase with Margaret for 25p according to ticket in the craft cheap shop in Llandudno, I love the small sentiment stamp blocks bought there too + glitter paper. Red was a snippet, a piece of embossed foil with AI sheet, made for a special card but AWOL when needed so did another, found it in clean up.
Next set of cards, a continuation from last post ink resist. Did try the batik technique with more random folding (top cards) but lost effect. Didn’t remember till after inked first time, not from very beginning. 🙄 I did some more, bottom cards, but wasn’t well then. Totally forgot to do it all.
Figure it’s not meant to be .. this set of cards sees all ladies birthday done till end of year and one needed sympathy card too. The Simon Says hugs and prayers set looks lovely with this. The happy birthday is Sue Wilson sml die set. Oh, the happy birthday stamp silver embossed is a NBUS too, it’s bought about six years or so ago at my second craft show in Brisbane. This is it below, frame of greeting Kaisercraft. Frame on main image is a CCD, background stamp Hero arts disc.
The second two cards are brushos an encouragement card and a birthday card from one piece in snippets drawer.
Must do some more as it’s emptying.
The last set of cards are sixteen Christmas cards. I must say I’m delighted when I see this year a “Christmas card” where Christ is actually included, it’s become a rarity. In 2022 is there is ‘no room for Jesus’? most of you-tube videos, new releases - eg none in Penny Black, & all but a few cards in a challenge, it’s the holly & ivy, elves, dwarfs, or trees, snowy scenes .. not against some of them as do some, too, but almost exclusively? just wonder what Jesus thinks…
On these it is with the Christ of Christmas. Di appears in this card - as this the die she sent me one Christmas as I fell in love with it, so thanks so much Di, it is up there as my very favourite Christmas die. How many did I do before I cracked the design? See to the left of pile - were actually six of 16 😂😂😂 Below - third desk shows how many die sets I went through to find the design.. and last image shows two dies I actually used, the spellbinders circle with a CCD scallop circle die to make the frame!
The brayered background (Kaleidocolor) on gloss cardstock is the quickest, easiest + most effective backdrop whether used with stamps or dies. It just looks great! Bright when done, colour lightens as dries.
Stamped greeting in Gold EP is a 1990s, yes, it cost a lot then too everything stamp wise did! Saved a year for my trip to big smoke, this one was $16AUD then. Most still have price stickers on them.
Had to fiddle with the nativity die (Nativityscape by Sugar Pea), left out one of the palms, so stable didn’t look like it was in the middle of desert. Did a double cut, ie cut front portion, moved along past second tree, added building. Okay once figured it out.
Here’s a bonus card, upcycle for my friend Robin, I always do her a robin card (with a verse of course) if able, was delighted when found this among last years cards, a beautiful sketch. I’m still about six cards short so hope to do a few more + have all done and sent by end of this month?! 🙏🙏 It has dry embossed background, though hurried photo before mailed doesn’t show it well.
Well, definitely enough cards for now.. to Aussie photos.
Loads of flowers, I’ve three dozen rose bushes, so give lots away too, two bunches yesterday.
Here are two bunches I’ve actually kept for myself.
Some seascapes, including a stunning full moon..
As it’s been a La Niña year there is a pineapple in pineapple patch on the way, they’re a bromeliad.. it has very pretty but tiny purple flowers .. here it is up close and here is the sequence. Probably ripe around March or maybe Feb.
Lastly the same parent birds as last post had a clutch of three babies again with three .. but as video description explains not much success again. For video see below or link here.
Here is a still photo, to learn more on them look at post below.
Personal update - the simplest answer for any absence is as always I’ve been unwell, still not great but getting there. An ongoing infection, severe sinusitis from mould in unrepaired section of home since late last year - but THAT is now repaired so much better thank the LORD, with other newer health issues added to my usual. Oh, I am aging too! 😂😂
Thanks so much for popping over, especially if you can stay for a chat, and may God bless you and all those whom you love.
Shaz in Oz.x
Thought for the day:
I thought this Snoopy cartoon had the right analysis on this passage.
2 Chronicles 7:12-15
And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place…
If I shut up heaven that there be no rain,
or if I command the locusts to devour the land,
or if I send pestilence among my people;
If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves,
and pray, and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Now mine eyes shall be open,
and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
Well, tis time for a Desky share for WOYWW - What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, over HERE 😁 at Julia's. Today’s post is full of inky fun, and surprise - with new and old techniques.
Desk 1: at 1am 🙃 two nights ago, as was deciding the design finally for the Double Stamped Vellum technique.
The design eluded me .. so prayed and waited, and looked around. And there it was. The other cards made up for butterfly challenge with snippets (inky pieces were all snippets) was a batik technique Loll did over here.
Tip: re folds in card to do the batik style, I was too “neat” using my bone folder to make nice neat folds, Loll’s are much better in a random arty style.
So here are my cards, the Butterfly challenge has Forest green, so I’m using that (DI Mowed Lawn, with Salty Ocean like Loll did). Stamp is Hero Arts very old unmounted background stamp, unsure of name. Bible Verse is by Stampendous. Bought with Marilyn.
Second technique was one saw on email from Splitcoast Stampers and decided for first time in long time to join in. It’s by Chrissie Stokes and is called Double Stamped vellum .. technique here
Tip: Worked out why I had trouble with stamping on the back.
1. I used similar brand ink as Chrissie, but I dutifully cleaned Versamark off before adding green Certainly Celery by SU. If I’d not cleaned it as Chrissie did it would have been easier!
2. plus method of rubbing over large background stamp as on short video, (with a Chucky tool as Gina K calls it), made the imprint much clearer and defined on vellum in both instance. I foolishly used my mini misti and think old way is much better..
Hopefully I’ll remember next time around. Here’s my card, the SB square frame was embossed to frame over SB Marvellous Square background. The verse stamp ( “And God Himself shall be with them .. He shall wipe away all tears from their eyes..”) is a 1990s disc wood mount (see on desk), all items are embossed in WOW Platinum EP, a beautiful colour- need some more. Also some Sympathy cards, so will be making two of these, then have another design in my head for long remnant of double stamped vellum. Hope to extend MFT Peekaboo die!
This show making again the galaxy sky with silver card embossed with CB Clockworks and loads of alcohol. On this card I only needed one layer of ink, as put way more than on first card - made over here for full technique. I made two background as wasn’t happy with first bottom one, overdid ink, will strip with alcohol and start again. Finished card, using Beccy's images Disc Nuts and Bolts Bots:
Lastly a quick card again using MFT window die and a piece of NBUS gold embossed Cardstock, which I bought with Marilyn in Florida, was perfect for this congrats card (Lawn Fawn word die).
To Aussie photos, some years ago I shared baby plovers or “fluff balls on sticks” as I call them… over here. This was the other afternoon, they were making a racket and when checked why saw three babies but only caught two, .. not seen since. They’re often killed by predator birds sadly.
Here is a close up of them before, have more info too on the link above.
These sunsets were taken from the same spot in our backyard on different evenings, yet sooo different! God’s amazing creation.
Next is a walk view of our latest addition at our creek park for children to play on, its a giant squid or octopus, with long tendril legs which are for climbing and there is a slippery dip from its body top. 😉 Then some more creek views, including a 30 second video (or if not showing see link here.)
Half way through video, as the person throws the dog a ball there is a lightning flash in the stormy sky beyond them. Love the joyful jubilation of the playing dogs!😂
Thanks so much for popping over -
I really appreciate it so much! I will visit as many as I can, but iPad
now blocks all bloggers except those with pop up windows comment boxes.
May God bless you and all whom you love,
Shaz in Oz.x
Thought for the day:
“..and God himself shall be with them..
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away. Rev 21:3b, 4
This is precious promise to cling to… especially apt for a sympathy card as I used above, not in full on stamp, but put in full inside.
It brings so much comfort to those who know the LORD as their own Saviour that one glorious day - ALL these crooked wrong things in this poor broken world will be made aright.
How I look forward to that day and the reality of this precious promise!
Well, a desky share, two actually - many cards of varied techniques, I’ve been busy. To see other desks, please do pop over to Julia’s Stamping Ground and be surprised at how much you can learn .. all over the world!
The first desk is for a three year old.. had used this “Cheeky Monkey” stamp by Kraftin' Kimmie ten years ago here, but thought this card was passé now, so hunted for another idea and came up with this.
My desk shows an assortment of pens for colouring on right, scissor for fussy cutting and shaker elements … however didn’t take photo of card properly with outside photos, was too sunny then AND forgot later on, till mailing it! Oops! Thankfully I’d taken this inside photo, just in case. 🙄 So will have to do.
I did put glossy accents on monkey to make him stand out a bit more, but hard to see glossiness. The background jungle leaf paper was from interweb.
Second desk is my batch bake - I’m attacking my next lot of Christmas cards!
This design changed many times in my head in the waiting. Ended up with two designs, one just once, other multiplied, 16 cards, in Gold white design, a NBUS that “Rejoice!” Die is by Simon Says at post Christmas sale. Love a sale! Thanks to my US friend Marilyn who mailed it to me. The small rectangle is insert snippet from window frame die used on previous Christmas set and on brayer card here. Couldn’t waste it!
Has anyone else noticed how few Christmas cards have the reality of Christmas on them? I was the only one recently in two Christmas challenges I entered.
The Penny Black “Christmas in July” release in the three release videos I watched had not one real Christmas card on it - Jesus banned, it seems, from His own celebration! my heart is so sad, our world is so far from God.
I left comments on the Penny black Release videos as were “holiday cards” not “Christmas cards”.
Here’s the completed set.
This birthday card I’ve made before here, it’s watercolour lifting, and so CASED it, twice actually.
Forgot to photograph one of them too, it was a bit different… better stamping, smoother watercolour paper. Had a busy time as you see.
I made two more lady birthday cards, another mauve shade one, for a dear friend, with a special verse, her favourite sweetpea.
Digi are from web, verse is from Word Art Wednesday where they have new ones free each fortnight. Labels 28 SB are dies, bottom more lacy version of SB 28 are a gift years ago from Magpie, or Glenda on WOYWW.
My next friend’s favourite colour is RED! This is mixture of four different AI on embossed foil card, technique shown in more detail on these posts here and here. This has a NBUS.. the birthday greeting is at last taken out of hiding - happy birthday by Creative Expression (Sue Wilson). Other dies are rectangular ones by Scrapdragon, and flower disc by MB, Blushing Branch. This is my Snippets card as the foil, white card pieces, not the base, were neglected snippets in stash, esp foil had it embossed on desk for ages, but not coloured.
Lastly is a sml text done many times, but new colours! Made as a 60th birthday present, and this card to go with it, is a NBUS nameless stamp, bought in 2012 at Manchester with Neet, at Abbakhan on sml brayered piece done ages ago, but brightened up when had brayer out so went onto a card precut in Christmas set from last post so was very quick make. Will repeat for sure.
Okay that’s it for this week! Busy in our garden at the moment, as it’s roses feed, mulch and sort out time, plus other like citrus and natives.
Have ordered three new roses from S.A, which is always exciting. Like to have about three dozen bushes, and lost a few in our wet weather. It’s being prettied up with some nice edging too, the beds with none at the moment, and a few stepping pavers, as changing configurations a bit. My brother in law is a great help there.
Here’s some other Oz photos, my walks are mostly at the end of the day as you see!
Above photo has the Qantas flight coming into land, it comes in low over the ocean and creek before heading over the headland to the airport.
Just to remind you spring is near, here - some very pretty yellow wattle. Wattle day is August 1st.
Thanks so much for popping over - I really appreciate it so much! I will visit as many as I can, but iPad now blocks all bloggers except those with pop up windows comment boxes.
May God bless you and all whom you love,
Shaz in Oz.x
Thought for the Day:
The verse that was on the sweetpea card, is this favourite - "God is my Strength and Power: and He maketh my way perfect." Also Psalm 18 as well as 2 Samuel 22.
God is our Hope, Help, Strength and Power as Jesus Himself said in John 14:5 "Without Me, ye can do nothing".
"My sufficiency is in God".
This is truly all that keeps me going- my God.
Pray that this blesses your heart, too.
Linking over to the following:
1. NBUS Challenge Never Before Used Schtuff https://mynbus.blogspot.com/2022/08/nbus-challenge-41.htmlA. Christmas card in gold white Rejoice NBUS B. brayer window card with new un-named stamp (it does have a name, its just lost stamp at mo since stamped it, you know what I mean 🙄..) C. Red card Happy Birthday die new
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