WOYWW, Coke Tin with Alcohol inks + Cuttlebug; Jemac stamps

{Warning - lo-n-ng post}

Hullo there everyone..

Welcome to WOYWW (What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday - do pop over to Julia's *here* to the crafty learning zone).  I have been meaning to share this for ages now, but been absent due to being poorly (see previous posts).
 I had wanted a stamp for back of my cards to save me writing details all the time on the back. Saw one on Jocelyn's blog ages ago now, and contacted the Aussie company. Have a luffly new stamp made here in Oz at Jemac stamps - a wonderful company, who are very helpful. They offer to make a stamp to your order ( eg.here and here). I actually sent them one of my watermarks and they were willing to to do it, even sent me a sample image. It would have cost a little more. However chose a simpler design, used watermark lettering, but one of their images ('cos gumnuts & gumleaves are so Aussie). May post overseas too, just ask, their post here was very cheap.

Cuttlebug Clockworks folder + Alcohol inks.

Beautifully etched rubber, so easy to get right every time. Maybe wood mounted too, chose "easier to clean" plastic mount and handle. No discount for promo, just like to let others know.

The focal point of this week's card was actually started ages ago now on the April WOYWW post (see back here) with a coke can die cut embossed and coloured with alcohol inks - some of you might remember. Had the potential card element sitting on my desk for ages wondering just how to feature is as did not want to cover it up. Then one day the perfect scenario dawned on me. Clockwork folder means clocks, clocks mean passing of time and who do I like to rib the most about getting older? a certain family male member, of course! so perfect opportunity was Monday, this week - his 60th no less! 

Used Perfect Pearl and Versamark colour the clockwork pieces, and the 60 and then used Dimensional magic to gloss them up. The background folder is Tim Holtz Dot Matrix think it is and distressed a little too. Printed a coloured sheet of card first as did not have right shade, so I guessed a Photoshopped piece then deepened a little after embossing. The sentiment, an acronym, is computer generated and printed on background of clock faces. Used Spellbinder labels 8 and 4 think it is (?)

The poem written below was inside (always do this for special birthdays, write a poem). First part was written after walking on beach, had some grains of wet sand on my finger, studying them wet tiny but wonderful in sunshine, talking to LORD, and then it just rolled out:

 Grains of sand, wet,

 Gleaming, glistening, glittering,

 Glinting in the sunlight on seashore.

Beauty caught in single grain,

Individual glory sculpted by an Unseen Hand.

 Such are the sands of time – present, passing!

Never to be caught again ....

SLG 12.8.13

(Edited out personal bit)

How precious are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them,
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.

Psalm 139:17-18

 

A beautiful beach ten minutes north of here, on walk with my dad last week, he is going to paint it...

This is zoomed in ultra close to the headland in the far, far middle distance in shot above this one. So you can see what aview they have up there living on that headland. I have friends who live there.

Our front garden at  Honeybird Yellow Grevillea - best one you can buy, flowers all year around compact and birds adore it.
Happy WOYWW everyone - very sorry limited blogging as health allows - but thank you so very very much if you take the time to say hullo.
Your words really bless my heart, may God bless your day wherever you may be,
Shaz in Oz.x
PS would like to link this up to:

1. Allsorts Challenge - Use your new stash (clock pieces and coke tin, never done it before though not strictly from stash :D)

2. Di's Snippets Challenge - Snippets of card used + die cut. Woohoo, I may get to play in playground!

3. Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

About Art Accents ATC Iris ~ Brayered Cuttlebug folder

Hullo there everyone! Back again with post from drafts, done ages ago now. On a WOYWW post in June I was working on this card, using the bearded Iris ATC stamp (Stamp - see here) from AAA (About Art Accents). On this desk shot (here) was trying out several methods.

It was for a very dear friend, Iris, who is in her eighties and lives in the Old Blighty in Lincoln. I visited her last year and so enjoyed my time there. I made this present (click here) - also an Iris with calligraphed verse to take over to her.

This card was stamped in white on black card then coloured with my Art (Caran D'Ache) pencils. Used 5 x 7 Cuttlebug Kassie's Brocade embossing folder brayered in SU Lavender lace ink pad for the background. Mounted image on Double layered Crafts-Too (Labels 2) Nesting die. Edged with some braid used for first time and toned in so well, with punched white card edge of Arrow EK Success punch.

Still as not 100% so not blogging much at all; I had to cut back the calligraphy teaching to once a fortnight (see last post). Not managing to teach the weekly lesson, so maybe able to pop on here more often. Now hope to finish a card for a four year old :D  - and, God willing, possibly back for WOYWW tomorrow.

Many thanks for popping over for peek and chat. I  may or may not be able to reply to comments but each and every one of them really cheer my heart, so I thank you very much!

May God bless your day wherever you may be, Shaz in Oz.x

I would like to link over to following challenges:

1. Allsorts Challenge - Use your new stash  (braid)

2. Di's Snippets Challenge - Snippets of card used with images + die cut. Woohoo, I may get to play in playground!

3. Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

4. Papertake Weekly - Occasion - Birthday.

Blue + White Card ~ Give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good...

Hullo there everyone..

 Well just dropping in with quick post to let you know I am not going to be blogging for wee while. I am not sure how long, possibly a few weeks, Lord knows. 

Some folk have been asking so thought should let you know. I still hope to pop by when able, but just very low key.

Some of you may recall I am teaching a class on Thursday the calligraphy course I do. They are years 7/8 at our local church school. While only five teens are doing the course, have found I am very unwell this time around. The spirit is willing, but the body not so.

Rather than give this particular class up, (as told to do by family/ friends), after prayer I am cutting back on everything else. I also have decided (with the LORD) in the long wakeful hours to make it the last time I will teach it to a group - one on one maybe okay.

Saying farewell to this aspect of teaching is a real sorrow of heart.. “the LORD giveth,and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job charged not the LORD foolishly” Job 1:21, 22

So spake Job, (in the oldest book in the Bible), he was one who gave up much, but how much more did the  lovely LORD Jesus, Who gave His very life blood for us, and our salvation from sin.

God knows - He understands as no-one else does. His way is perfect. As he says in His word above - "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good".  

He does know best.. and gives grace for the way.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts on the post before this one, dear friends, and most of all for your prayers.

Thanks so very much for popping over for a peek and chat – you do cheer my heart so, may the dear LORD bless you all, Shaz. x

 Card is made with a Bible verse stamp unnamed and many years old + Marianne dies corner frames, Spellbinder Fancy labels 3 I think it was.

I would like to enter it in Di’Snippet challenge (Used snippets) and Word Art Wednesday.
{EDIT: I re-did card as "Thinking of you" card and this how it became - verse is from Word Art Wednesday}

Baby Christening Card ~ LOTV image, pearls and lace.

Hullo there every one!

I just loved this card when finished a few weeks ago now - nothing more satisfying is there?
Although I can't say same for photo, I was in a hurry - and somehow pinks are very hard to photograph, aren't they? Yes, it was lovely soft pink on second photo, not peach.

  Used a LOTV image (Lili of the valley) as asked to make a christening card - never made one before. Had bought a set of LOTV baby images on post-Christmas sale, think it was. 
When doing other images in this set before found the Octagons worked really well, so used my Spellbinder set again. Embossing folder is Cuttlebug one, "Love set" (discontinued). 
Greeting set is from Spellbinder fancy label 3 with computer generated details requested by my friend. I happened to have a pearl outline which matched. Corner dies are my absolute fav. set, two of the set are really great - CB Vintage Corners. Added the lovely lace edge
details. Here it is closer up.. to see glittery bits of lovely image, lace and greeting details. My friend was also delighted with the card, and that makes it special for me.
A quick post this time as not 100%, may or may not make it to WOYWW tomorrow, missed last week, but at moment not a good day for me.. commenting is also impaired by health. 
Sorry dear faithful friends, as your comments mean a lot to me and do like to reply to your kindness.
May our gracious God bless your day in every way,
Shaz in Oz.x 

I would like to enter this in the following challenges: 

1. LOTV Lili's little fairies Thursday challenge: Monochrome

2. Di's Snippetty challenge, as lots of snippets in card and lace.
3. Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Cutting an 8'' x 8" Embossing Folder Down To a 6" x 8"

{Warning - Picture heavy post }
Hullo there everyone! Firstly a big welcome to Wonderful Encourager, Jean of My Crafty Corner - do check out her special post ~ an amazing card! 
Well, today sharing a wonderful folder...seen over here on B. of Floral Fantasies  -  her beautiful Aussie card (there it is a lovely stamp too). I just fell in love with the folder, and asked her what it was and found out it was Crafter's Companion Die'sire Embossalicious Embossing Folder - Regency Swirls,

 Did a search, found well priced one here in Oz, with $2.50 post - how good is that??

  BUT!! major problem.. it was 8 x 8" and I don't possess anything bigger than a Big Shot which max. size folder is 6'' x 8".

So what does a girl do?? give up?? well, wiser ones probably would. However I had been looking for the style of this folder for ages. So had a think and pray.. and emailed B. "Hey, maybe I could make it into a 6" x 8" by cutting it down?"

  B. was not discouraging, so perhaps with more bravado than wisdom went ahead and ordered it. Fine - till it arrived and saw how it was hinged. My heart sank.

It had two smaller hinges on either side not all the way across like all of my other folders, and if cut it to just six inches wide, I would loose one hinge.

So left on bench all day kept looking at it and praying.. then came up with the double cutting solution. ie cut it both sides.So took off bit which is generally wasted edge on one side + bit more to move it over so still had hinge. 

*Mm, pity this ex-school teacher could not spell permanent! .

Used metho + soft cloth after cutting to  remove Black Ruled lines with black texta. Used steel edged ruler and knife to get straight line, and to finish off used Kai rubber cutting scissors.

  Used X-cut corner punch to round corner, I prob blunted it a bit. Sanded all rough edges with real sand paper. Craft sanding blocks not strong enough.

 Here are the two pieces of folder embossed and inked up.. dont they look great?

My 6" X 8" folder ~ so wonderful! not perfect but great!! Okay so now it is a "-Mbossalicous" folder - it lost the "E". If you have any questions on this just ask.
One warning - you do need to be very careful cutting it as it can split a little in the wrong direction if you are not careful. So it was rather a case of holding my breath, and praying all would be well, as I did it a few times.

 

Here have embossed white sheet of card then stamped in Versamark and gold embossing powder a few times over to the ultra beautiful gold sheet which used on this upcycled Christmas card. The gold leafed imaged was lifted directly from an old card and framed with X-cut rectangles die and card to match. Am totally in love with this folder and it was all soooo worth it.

Thanks so much for popping, thanks even more if you stop for a chat! I will visit your place too, if time permits :D 
 No WOYWW this week as things are too busy for visiting satisfactorily.
May the LORD really bless your day wherever you may be!    
 Shaz. in Oz.x

I would like to link this card over to the following challenges:

1. Sarn's Christmas Rudolph Challenge

2. Di's Snippets at Pixie's crafty playground... hold that trampoline girls.. here I come!

3. Word Art Wednesday. Anything goes

4. Hazelnuts Extra Challenge - anything goes for July

Hero Arts Versamark PanPastels + Chalk Background

Hullo there everyone! Well, have had PanPastels, etc for while now but not used them with Versamark method. Had a new stamp from Hero Arts background arrived from voucher purchase (okay, spent double the amount of voucher, so that means three items were half price, right? ;D)

So inked up the Hero Arts "Classic Fabric Design" background stamp to have  play with Versamark on regular card, and started to lay down chalks and pastels, as shown on Lindsay's blog here (I only did background she shows). You build up colours as you go.

Here it is at the very beginning. Used cottonwool balls instead of  foam applicators with Pastels and chalks, as they would take the Versamark off.
Love Cottonwool balls have decided for applying these. Quick, easy, light and soo blendable, and cheap! as you can see decided to make another background, too, in blues. Have frosted Do-craft chalks, so used them with the PP, you can use most mediums with them .. have post on tips with PanPastels here, as found it hard to work things out when first started. Hairspray to set chalks - dust off excess first.

I used for both cards the Marianne Marianne Design Creatables Frames - LR0117. For first, the flower was from Marianne Design Creatables Flowers & Leaves - LR0156, backed with vellum coloured with PP, with  small leaf swirl on both. Joy Crafts Vintage Flourishes butterfly on second card, and coloured with Versamark and PP again. I have never had one of these Joy dies before, but they differ from earlier ones. They have easy release foam embedded on die and just a dream to use. Lace edge is Dienamics crotchet edge.

Here it is close up the verse was from Word Art Wednesday and love it! Used both these cards as Get Well cards for two ladies going through the mill and am sure the promise brought their heart great comfort to be reminded that God is our refuge in trouble:

"In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge." Proverbs 14: 26

Many thanks for popping over for peek, and even more if you stay for a chat. I shall endeavour to  pop over to your place, too. May God bless and keep you in your day, wherever you may be.
Shaz in Oz.x
I would like to enter these in the following challenges:
1.Dis Schnippet's challenge ~ all Scnippets of cardstock and even verse was schnippetty too :D both cards 
2. Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes both cards

4.  Stamping Sensations July Challenge- Summer colours second card

3. Our daily bread Challenge - white and ivory or one other colour.

WOYWW 215, et al.

Hullo there everyone!

Half of the week is gone, other half to come ..I feel once you hit August it is rapid descent to end of year! Special welcome  newest wonderful encourager - Kim - met her in the playground :D over at Di's Snippets Challenge - thanks Kimbo, for being a pal!.
Today joining up for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday ~ Chez Julia de le Stamping Ground! {feeling French as watching le Tour de France, as I type this on laptop Tues evening, very late here almost Wed morn. "Allez Froome, allez! vite!" not bad huh! go Brits! :D, they are in les belle Alpes}. I  have some of my French photos on this post here a few days back.

 Desk 1: Shows calligraphy getting ready for school term as teaching five children at our church school for term 3 they are about 14 years. This will curtail commenting, I suspect, so my apologies in advance.  
Desk 2: am working on a new card for my a family member's birthday, also shown in second photo of crafty desk is my new purchase. Last week saw on WOYWW last week, on desk of Ros. C of "Wild Cards on My Workdesk" this set of drawers... I thought: "Ooh, I DO love them, but would be too many $$, IF I could find them!"

My comment as such on Ros's post resulted in an email reply from her. Then in true WOYWW fashion she proceeded to chase up the Mont Marte supplier + where the shops listed  were on site {drawers are really for storing Pastels}. Lo! sourced it HERE!  Book Warehouse in our home town for good price :D very thankful! Shows how amazing WOYWW is -  thanks Ros, you're a real mate! Involved total desk re-organisation, which was good; still not finished.  
Next photo is Pineapple Jam made from our homegrown pineapple. The full update on *home grown pineapple from last week is here. Recipe for jam is here (*for those wondering we ate 2/3, sweet and juicy so made 1/3 into jam, to last longer).

Here also is the last of our wonderful roses for 3 months as it is winter in Oz, we we pruned them last week, will flower again about September here on temperate coast.

Aussie shots when our visitors were here. Took them up to the lookout way above the city and coast in National park.

Recently upgraded with sky walk  to walk out over treetops for spectacular views up and down the coast. First shot you can  see the jetty beach waaaa-aay down in the middle of sea coast.
 Next are the large trees - the tall,lanky gums are huge here, and so are the tree ferns. So lovely to see, God's creation is so enthralling.

Thanks so much for popping, thanks even more if you stop for a chat! I will visit your place too, if time permits :D 
May the LORD really bless your day wherever you may be!     Shaz. in Oz.x

PS More!! amazing French photography today over at my brother's blog (link here - Le Tour de France, 2013). Pete is a tour guide with Bikestyle tours doing  le Tour de France.  
Don't worry, he doesn't do as many as me as he does not have time with wifi.
Today's photos are simply breath-taking, take peek :D and drool - love the lavender!