Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz

WOYWW 17th Anniversary, Snippets, NBUS, IDEAS, Allsorts

2026-05-13T00:30:00.060+10:00

As it's Wednesday, it's time for What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday over at Sarah's Craft Shed here! Its our Anniversary, and we are sharing if able some ATCs given us by our beloved Neet. Well, in April 2012 I met Neet for the first time - see post here and then Neet gave me my very first ATC, and a necklace with it (see photo from 2012 post). I had no idea what ATCs were.

Alas dont have original, we met up with Doone, Jozarty and Anne of Anne's Stamp Pad, none are still blogging. Neet arranged our meet up in Manchester. At our 2018 Sept crop in Llandudno Neet, made me an ATC Folder which I still have (as its on display in my craft room) and this is it with Neet's ATC from that crop. There are only 4 made of it by numbers on back. So privileged to have one.

I made an ATC in memory of our Neet who loved Lavinia so I made it in Lavinia stamps and inks. It’s going to someone special.

To my desk - see below. I dont know if it's just me?? but I find some die sets have ZERO instructions, and you're left to work out how to assemble as best you can! This lovely Iris set is one of those. I found by searching a post for Poppy Craft Iris die (a NBUS).

I had some beautiful hand made purple paper, but it needed shaping + texture added in colouring. After trying loads of pencils, chose the Staedtler Fluoro pink, perfect (one borrowed from my sister's many pencils), with gold opalite ink added before pencil, gold pearls, and shaping tool. The die set actually comes with two different irises, so if you want 3 flowers you need two the same. It gave me brain strain assembling the two so thought no way I could do just one and so am doing another two. The only reason I persisted was because it was for dearest Iris, of Lincolnshire, who's now with the LORD. I wanted to send it to her daughter for first birthday without her beloved mum. So 🙏🏻🙏🏻 praying it's a blessing to Vicki (mailed it yesterday). Background is black card, double embossed front and back with EF Poppy Crafts Rustic Wood, then splattered with gold paint. Leaves in gold mirri card.

Phew, finished card! It was worth it in end. I actually made 3 more Irises as going to make one for another friend in August, who loves irises.😄

These cards below are done with the same technique used last week, see here.

Double embossing with Poppy Crafts Rustic Wood Embossing Folder, the smooched inky colours. Sizzix Real Vibes greeting set. Same as Iris card.

And closing here's another Lavinia card, full of NBUS, in memory of Neet. I love the ODB verse "God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD is my Strength and song; He has become my salvation. " Isaiah 12:2

Now to a few Aussie photos, a red flower (cyclamen and begonia) collage from the courtyard. Followed by some recent beach views on walks when well.

Thanks so much lasting this far!

May God bless you wherever you maybe,

Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻🤗

Shaz in Oz.x

Thought of the Day

"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:" Deut 33:27a.

In times of stress and strife there are certain verses you cling to and this is one. I run to those everlasting arms for shelter and refuge. Our Heavenly Father understands like nobody else does, and as He is eternal He sees the things in the dilemma that we cannot see, and we rest in Him.

Nothing, not a thing happens to the child of God that does not first pass through His hands, He sees the length depth and breadth of our burden and promises to supply our need.

Sharing with the following Challenges:

1. Allsorts Challenge Monochromatic or Anything goes - yellow Lavinia card. Stamps are NBUS Lilium, Bee, think its Hum? And field grass. Verse is Disc. Stamp ODB from set 1. inks Lemon drop (NBUS) Sahara Dune on splatters, and yellow sparkly Posca in colouring.This is going to a special person. Loved these colours and stamps.

2. Word Art Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes - all cards here!

3. Snippets card, the iris card, teeny snippet of gold used, the handmade purple was part of a sheet, snippets left as shown.

4. Darnell's NBUS Never Used before Schtuff challenge Iris die, stamps - lilium and bumble bee, plus lemon drop ink.

5. And since I made a rare ATC I'm linking it up to the Tag and ATC Challenge. The theme is just add pink and definitely not pink here, but adding it under Anything goes 😄

6. And lastly Darnell's I.D.E.A.S challenge. Week 2 is Dies and yes there's dies! Iris card, + two birthday cards.

WOYWW, Vale Neet, Snippets NBUS, Darnell's IDEAS challenge

2026-05-06T07:48:00.004+10:00

For my WOYWW What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday post at Sarah's Craft shed here! I've altered my prepared post as I've some photos and memories to share of a beloved WOYWWer, first of all our beloved Neet. For those who dont know, our beloved Neet passed peacefully on 29/4/2026, see last post on her blog by hubby,

Card done for Chas, Jo Rice by Lavinia (here) a great favourite of Neet. Greeting stamped with Sweet n Sassy.

I met Neet a number of times in my visit to Manchester in 2012, I memorably met her first of all at Bootes, she was so tall, and I so short. We clicked, as one was apt to with Neet, we met up with 3 other WOYWWers who no longer blog, and visited various crafty locations in Manchester with great glee. Next rendezvous was at the famous Llandudno crop run by Margaret on Sat 8th Sept 2018. Photos from then...

L to R: two Shaz's, Neet Hickydorums, Lunch Lady Jan. We were all so absolutely excited to meet together. This was a miracle trip for me. Next the group of lady WOYWWers, followed by husbands who graciously also came along.

This link takes you to the post I wrote on Crop in Oct. 2018 on my return, and you'll see Neet's ATC book she made me and Shaz Silverwolf's memory folder ofiicrip, which arrived the day before I left UK for Florida.

Next an abbreviated WOYWW post, will share the rest, God willing, next week. This is a technique by Jo Simmons on YouTube here. I didnt do it like her example. I embossed a card for ink smooshing with a textured embossing folder (Poppy Crafts Rustic Wood - a NBUS) on wrong and right side (ie double embossing, once each side). The original technique was emboss with a 3D folder, then run through on die cutting sandwich to make it more of 2D folder impression. Found I didn't like it and discovered emboss on both sides looks best- by accident on this folder.

I then smooshed ink colours on with ink smoosher AKA NB Crafts (link here) Here I'm using her mini smoosher but used both.

For my sister in laws birthday, in her colours.

For my sister's birthday, today! 🎂
Another May birthday. Snippets of blue embossing rescued to a card (another Poppy Craft folder, found in a snippets hunt, with various other ink coloured EF). Ink is Faded Jeans Oxide, Sweet n Sassy bible verse stamp, which I heat embossed in DI Prize Ribbon Oxides, same shade but teeny bit deeper. Love this verse!

BTW TIP: set Oxides with good hairspray or water if smooshing, or of course heat emboss, as here.

Now to a few Aussie photos..

Not walking much, still recovering from Skin cancer excisions. Last stitches out yesterday! Yay! Am God willing here today at my sister's for her birthday 🎂, enjoying this view. (Scheduled this!)

A VERY pretty outlook, here's a couple of others, from walks end of March... I love these seagull reflections. Click on photo..

I'm looking forward to getting back to my longer walks, had a few shorter ones. So blessed 🙌 to live here. Thanks so much lasting this far, many birthdays in beginning of 2026, more to come!

May God bless you wherever you maybe,

Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻🤗

Shaz in Oz.x

Thought of the Day

Psalm 27:14 is the verse on my Snippets card, ❤️ a real favourite from late Oct.1978, when my beloved Yorkshire nanna passed, so apt indeed with Neet's passing! God alone gives comfort and assurance at such times.

We struggle to wait on the LORD.

Our Heavenly Father, like our earthly Father, gives us 3 answers to our requests and prayers - Yes¹, No² or Wait³.

I speak more in depth on waiting in prayer on my recent Christian blog post - link here.

Truly waiting is resting on the all wise will of our Heavenly Father.

God sees what we cannot. He loves us deeply and He wants the very best for us.

Linking up to the following Challenges:
1.Allsorts Challenge blog Anything but Square - or Anything goes. Sympathy card, all stamps and inks are Lavinia, except sympathy greeting which are Sweet n Sassy. disc.

2. Snippets Playground - the snippets blue embossed piece, out of my Snippets bag of ink embossed folder card, and was actually that size, just neatened it on one end. Scallop die was from another snippet and coloured in same ink.

3. Word Art Wednesday is HERE!! all 4 cards.
4. NBUS Challenge Never Before Used Schtuff. (Poppy Crafts Rustic Wood - a NBUS)

5. And lastly Darnell's I.D.E.A.S challenge. Week 1 is Inky.. plenty of that here. All are inky.

WOYWW, Male Birthday cards 2yo & 13yo, house moving Snippets + NBUS

2026-04-22T00:00:00.048+10:00

Hi everyone, about time I did another craft post and warning I've lots of card to share.

The first card is an oldie but a goodie - using a LOTV stamp called Patchwork of Balloons. I've a number of LOTV stamps and printed coloured images sheets I bought, but as I'm out of touch with UK scene I didnt realise Lily Of The Valley or LOTV was out of business. For WOYWW at Sarah's Craft Shed (What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday) I'm sharing my desk, I've stamped image!

Testing Prismacolor shades on rough stamp on back of card. Proper stamping on other side. This card is a CASE from Debby Yates see HERE. Debby also no longer blogs. Loved her work.

It's a 2nd birthday card for Chester. Used same papers, snippets left over as previous makes. Now to my second male cards for a 13y.o using an optical illusion found online. I die cut a vertical happy birthday, shadowed in gold like the 13 in top right. It was harder than you think to get this sorted! 😂

My dear friend's birthday in April, her name is Robin! the base was an ink block smooch then stamped with NBUS but Disc Darkroom Door Robin. Coloured in promarkers. Die corners are snippets of black from edges from an ancient Spellbinders square die. Card below that is Disc Penny Black Flower Cascade stamp, fussy cut out. Coloured in pencils then Stickles on top, Jo Rice style - squirt on inky mat, and add to image with an old shimmer pen, and keep it just for Stickles. Rectangle die set is NBUS PB Semi-Circle stackers, yet a Rectangle set!

This is a Lavinia card, masked the inked and stamped. An encouragement card for a dear friend. ODB verse stamp disc.

And a last card, a house moving card a Bugaboo image, I found out they closed down last year too!

I was really sad this family were moving as they were the loveliest neighbours. Someone has bought the house and no idea what they're building there. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Now to Aussie photos - taken on walks, but no beach walks at the moment. I've had an SCC taken off my left shin 5 days ago. I must rest it for a while. Have another SCC on left arm to come off too. At least it was only 2 this time. 😄

Vibrant purple Morning Glory down at the beach.

This is where I go swimming in high tide, like this photo.

Love walking on the dog beach!

Thank you very much for your patience. I had no idea how many cards I'd done, and I've more to share! But halved the post. I have a lot in a few months.

May God bless you wherever you maybe,

Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻🤗

Shaz in Oz.x

Thought of the Day

This is the verse on my encouragement card.

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my Salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the LORD JEHOVAH is my Strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.

Another verse came to mind as I pondered this one... Psalm 56:3 - What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.

David knew all about fear, and trusting in God, in fighting the bear and lion and Goliath, the Philistine giant. We maybe facing a giant in our life, or a lion or bear, but the same Almighty God is with us, with our Jesus we are NEVER alone. Praise His name.

Linking up to the following Challenges:
1.Allsorts Challenge blog In the Garden - or Anything goes.
A number of mine are in the Garden but will enter the Penny Black stamp.

2. Snippets Playground first card made from snippets as made this card twice before with exact same two sets of 12x12, took some finding this time so put them together 😂

3. Word Art Wednesday is HERE!! all cards.

4. NBUS Challenge Never Before Used Schtuff. Robin is a NBUS as is Dies on Penny Black stamp card.

5. And lastly Darnell's I.D.E.A.S challenge. Week 3 is Embossing ! So will enter 2.yo male, house moving, Penny Black Floral and Robin cards, all so varied, but some embossing! great to support challenges.

Resurrection Day - "He is not here, for He is risen as He said."

2026-04-05T00:00:00.004+11:00

Well, today is Resurrection Day! We who believe celebrate the Resurrection of our Saviour after the GREATEST DEFEAT in history, the Lord Jesus' death on the cross (*BTW Easter varies its date because it is celebrated at the time of the Passover, based on the Jewish Jewish calendar (explanation here).

Then it truly looked to the followers of the LORD Jesus that Satan had won and their Saviour, the One Who they thought would rescue them Roman rule, was dead on the cruel cross.

But to God - a GREATER PICTURE was in view... as I am a Christian, and a crafter I wanted my card to reflect this "GREATER PICTURE".

Looking through my verses I thought the one we most often quote in trials Romans 8:28, was surely it!

If ever a time in History the our wise God worked ALL things together for Good, it was at the Resurrection. Satan's victory was utterly defeated, he no longer had power over death, and we had the promise of eternal life by simple childlike faith in Jesus as our Saviour for our sins.

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

Curiously I've done this card twice in last 24hrs. I'll show the first one at the end, I realised my mistake after I did it. A Resurrection Card needed to reflect the colours of the glory of that Resurrection morning, when Jesus rose again in Victory.

This Hymn "Christ Arose!" (link here if not available below) Truly this reflects that victory Christ has wrought.

After all if there is no resurrection then the whole of Christianity is in vain as Paul put it himself realized this when he wrote:

1 Corinthians 15:14-16

" And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:"

Yet God is true, His Word is true and to be trusted. Praise God, Jesus is indeed risen as He said.

Praying much that all everywhere would see the truth, see Jesus and His gift of salvation and a heavenly home.

For there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.

Hell is the punishment for our sin's curse.

Jesus spoke 4 x more on hell than Heaven His Home because He loves us so much and wants no one to go there.

I am forever grateful I saw this at 12 years old, and trusted in Jesus as my Saviour from sin!

How I rejoiced with great joy on that day I was saved.

Well, as promised this is the first card done with this verse in the same Elements inks as the card on Good Friday post. Pretty but not right for Resurrection 🌄Morn (nor perhaps for poppies I also thought). The stamps are from Lavinia.

Now for my traditional Aussie photos

Firstly two from garden and two beach photos for those who need their sea fix. 😄 First in the courtyard garden we have a red anthirium, and below that miniature bicolour snapdragons.

Thanks so very much popping over on this the happiest day of the year, and thank you too if you are able to comment, it's much appreciated. Also there is a very different post over on my Christian blog for Resurrection Sunday today, and I'd love you to visit it - see HERE

May God bless you wherever you maybe,

Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻🤗

Shaz in Oz.x

Linking up to the following Challenges:

1.Allsorts Challenge blog- Springtime or Anything goes. My cards both fit Springtime perfectly, but linking no 1 card. I've used Lavinia stamps Buttercups, Poppies, Butterfly and Ferns, and DI inks.

Verse is Our Daily Bread set 1. Disc.

2. Word Art Wednesday is HERE!!

3. NBUS Challenge Never Before Used Schtuff. The Lavinia stamps, on first card I finally inked one of Lavinia Silhouette Butterflies which are NBUS 😀

4. And lastly Darnell's I.D.E.A.S challenge. Week 1 is Inky and I used lots on this inky card.

Our Suffering Saviour on Good Friday

2026-04-03T00:00:00.005+11:00

It seems it doesn't take long for it to be Easter once we've passed Christmas! And today we celebrate Good Friday and we are looking simply at why today is truly Good in this post.

Joni Tada Eareckson shared the following video. In it she shares that the LORD Jesus in the gospels spoke four times more about hell than heaven - heaven is Jesus' wonderful home that He wants us all to have... and hell is to be shunned!

He knew all too well the horrors of it and He wants no-one to go there.

https://youtube.com/shorts/aahNMH5WXkw?si=ZMO_De-EuKI626Qc

So much so that He suffered and died on the cross on the first Good Friday for our sins. It was love, His love for us that kept Him on the cross, suffering the agony of death for us. The greatest agony was being separated from His Heavenly Father when He bore our sins, when Jesus cried, "My God, My God Why has Thou forsaken Me?". And greatest blessing to us was when He cried, "It is finished!", and "He gave up the ghost." Then Salvation's work was truly done, finished. We cannot do anything else to gain it. We can never earn heaven by what we do. If we could, there would be no point to Jesus dying on the cross. I think this verse on this card explains it.

Isaiah 12:2

... "God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation." Truly salvation bought on the first Good Friday with His cry, "It is finished." Yet foretold years before in books of prophecy like Isaiah.

Now sharing some Aussie photos. As we look let us remember Christ is not only Saviour and King, but our Creator as well.

Isaiah 40:28
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

Well, thanks so much for popping over for a peek and a chat, I pray for God's blessing on you, wherever you maybe. You might also like to pop over to my Christian blog post, too, here. It's totally different.

Shaz in Oz.x

Linking up the card with the following Challenges:

1.Allsorts Challenge blog- Springtime or Anything goes. My card fits Springtime perfectly . I've used Lavinia stamps Meadow grass, Buttercups, Poppies and Ferns. The bird stamp is a stampcapes and stamp verse is Our Daily Bread set 1. Disc.

2. Word Art Wednesday here!

3. NBUS Challenge Never Before Used Schtuff. The Lavinia stamps Buttercups and Meadow grass are NBUS 😀

4. And lastly Darnell's I.D.E.A.S challenge. Week 5 is Stencils and I used a moon stencil or sun, take your pick, on this inky card.

WOYWW + DI on Tissue Embossed +Darkroom Door Shells Male Cards

2026-03-04T00:06:00.011+11:00

(Warning photo overload!)

As it's Wednesday, let's join up with WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday over at Sarah' Craft Shed.

Sharing two desks & 2 techniques firstly, Distress inks on Tissue paper, added to white card by spray adhesive, then embossed with 3D Embossing Folders assorted. Technique seen on Loll's blog, original link here (Group of Seven Cardmarkers).

Next brayer gold acrylic paint on top to catch highlights.

A number of cards and styles here, plus one below.

Snippets card.

Above this is NBUS, or anew folder, a gift from my friend in France This one was inked up on the reverse of the embossed side for a totally different look.

These are my male cards for this year, a few variations and more to come using Darkroom Door Seashells Stamp. Key one was by Helen Conolly on Pinterest link here.. hopefully.

"The Black Shells were stamped and allowed to dry first - masked and then all the other images applied using the distress inks. Once they had dried a water brush was used to spread the colour around to give a watery background."

I did it differently colour wise to her, and I used Versafine Onyx black and heat embossed it, easier to colour, still masked them though when doing background colour wise to her. This was Helen's:
Now to mine, similar technique and similar main Shells but colours different . I used different papers as found it worked differently on different papers. It was really fun. Water colour paper (second example) was much more vibrant than others which used Mixed media card, which the colour spread a whole lot more. I preferred working with it.

Used Sue Wilson pinpoint Embossing Folder Ocean Waves. Highlight in Glacier blue Opalite pad.

Now I'm sharing a number of extra cards made mainly as encouragement since last blogged in January. My health is up and down and as its summer it's busy. I had a visitor in January (yay!) and went visiting just 30mins away in Feb (++yay!).

This is a sympathy serviette card. Use Spray adhesive to attach the serviette, top layer only, remove the other two tissue layers. SB border scallop die on side. It's meant for A2 card but I managed to stretch it some by die shifting and cutting. A2 really bugs me. 😉
Now to the Aussie photos, really photo overload this post, thanks for your patience. I've blogged all this on my phone, including resizing photos, so it takes patience this end, too! The first three are all near here in same locality on my daily walks. The last one is too, sunset on the creek, I love the amazing sky. Number 4 is on the drive out to my sister's with my brother. Very family month this month.
Well, that's well truly photo overload here, thanks so very much for popping over for a peek and a chat. And if you haven’t read my last post please do, where I share the HAPPIEST day of my life for my 60th spiritual birthday, in other words I trusted in Jesus as my Saviour 60 years ago on 4th January, 1966. See link here

Praying God's blessing upon you wherever you may be,

Prayer hugs,🙏🏻🤗

Shaz in Oz. X

Thought of the Day

The LORD is good, a Stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knoweth them that trust in Him. Nahum 1:7

This verse has always meant a lot to me. There are some verses that grab hold of you and then you grab hold of them! This is one. I remember about 1992, writing that verse in shaky calligraphy with a black texta on my white foot cast as I'd broken my right ankle. It was all I'd allow written on plaster cast... that "the LORD was my STRONGhold in the day of trouble", and He knew I was trusting in Him! It was a witness everyone saw, especially those treating me at the fracture clinic.

It's even richer to me today as I age, my body is wearing out, truly I tell Drs who I see it's a miracle I'm still here, including a new specialist in past week! It's God's marvellous grace. I am praying all who read this will seek the LORD Jesus as their Saviour as I did when 12 yrs old. Truly He makes life worth living, He alone promises sins forgiven and a home in heaven.

Linking up with the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday Challenge - here

2. Snippets Playground Challenge - second card which has Peekaboo windows die with a small amount of embossed sheet, it had a mistake on the top of sheet, so I came up with this idea, used left overs to die cut "happy birthday" too.

3.NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) seashells stamp set from Darkroom Door. And the 3D folder used on some of first cards is a NBUS gift from a crafter in France.

4. Darnell's IDEAS board. First week is INKY!! Or more properly I = Ink/Color Medium so definitely my first technique.

5. Allsorts Challenge blog https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-844.html?m=1 Winners and bows or anything goes. Under Anything goes I'm entering the Darkroom Door Seashells 90th birthday card. Could be a winner too as this is winner date for my Uncle. His goal was to be oldest lived in his family!

Sixty years ago! + Snippets, Allsorts, etc

2026-01-04T05:18:44.235+11:00

I wanted this special memory to be the first post for 2026.

"If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1: 7-9

I learnt these verses simply to win a book prize at Christmastime sixty years ago, but I gained oh, so much more.

On 4.1.1966, after received my book prize, I was walking back to the tent with my sister’s teacher. It was then called the Children's Special Beach Mission (CSSM). They came there each Christmas, an interdenominational outreach run by the Scripture Union.

As we walked, I was asked if I knew what these verses I’d learnt meant.
Being young, I had not really given it deep thought, but as we walked she explained how Jesus had died for all our sins, including mine on the cross so that we could go to heaven, and asked me if I would like to take Him as my Saviour.

I remember standing by the road, at the top of the path to the park below. A crossroad in every way; I stood thinking about it.
I found it amazing to realise that Jesus had died for me, for my sins!
My reply was yes! So we walked back down into the park.

Here I prayed and asked the LORD Jesus to be my Saviour all those years ago.

I remember I was told that the angels were rejoicing in heaven over a soul coming home to Him ( Luke 15:10). My mother burst into tears when I went back to the tent and told her. This was unusual, my mother rarely cried.

Years later I asked mum why, she said because you looked so happy.

And I was.

I went down to the beach ~ and sang at the top of my voice those simple mission songs!!

The promise of my home in heaven was what I had found; a Friend Who would never leave me nor forsake me! No wonder I was so happy. I have found joy where joy would not be possible, in the simple faith of a child believing God and His word.

Many folks come to the Lord in later years.

It matters not when or where but simply that we take His gift of salvation.

A gift isn’t ours till we’ve received it.

"For the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23b

This is my card for challenges, re snippets and all links are shared below. Time Warp Wife has name on this beautiful image of my favourite bible verses that led to my salvation.

Thank you so much for popping over and commenting if time permits on my story of happiest day of my life. God bless you and keep you in the days ahead till He comes again as He promised.

Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x

Linking up with the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday Challenge - here

2. Snippets Challenge - my Snippets were two fold, A."Thinking of You" was double backed with beige card from muesli bar.

B.all blue card from inside the big blue rectangle, as didn't have a lot of this perfect matching blue, used bits, see image below.

3. Allsorts Saturday Challenge - where its Winter Animals and Anything Goes

4. New to me Challenge Moving Along With the times - Using either Stencils or Dies, I used Dies.

5. Love to Craft where its Anything goes both these were found via Brenda of Floral Fantasies.

(Please if you've time to pop over my other blog HERE sharing photo of today's beach mission and other details of this story. )

Emmanuel "God with us" NBUS, Word Art Wed Snippets Challenge Allsorts

2025-12-24T21:40:00.009+11:00

Matthew 1:20-25
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
[21] And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.
[22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
[23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
[24] Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
[25] And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Do you think we ever grasp the length, depth and breadth of our Saviour's name, given Him hundreds of years before.
.." they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is "God with us." Matt. 1:25
Or in Isaiah 7:14
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Isaiah wrote his prophecy over 700 years before the birth of Christ. As Matthew said: " Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet," Yes, the prophet Isaiah in 7:14. So many prophecies of Jesus made by Isaiah, the most well known perhaps apart from this prophecy of virgin birth, was Isaiah 53 and the Suffering Servant.
The “Why” Christ came is the emphasis of Isaiah 53.

Christ, born to die that we might live. "By Whose stripes we are healed".
1 Peter 2:24
"Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed."
Christmas is dear to my heart, but just after Christmas on 4th January is my spiritual birthday. This Coming year 2026, it's my 60th spiritual birthday, how blessed am I to have known Jesus as my Saviour 60 years, and what a miracle it is that I am still here!!! Truly God's ways are past finding out.
We worship a God of miracles, the virgin birth was a mighty miracle. It must have been extremely disconcerting to Joseph to have had such a dream:

"the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."
Yes, this truly was the Immanuel "God with us", that we worship at Christmas time. Here is a beautiful image of the real story of Christmas - from the manger to the cross. Why Jesus came (digi uncoloured sent on card sent by dear Marilyn, verse by WAW).

The baby Jesus in the manger in the shadow of the cross.

Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

I pray God's richest blessing upon you and your loved ones this Christmas time.
May we all take time to remember the real reason of Christmas, the LORD Jesus Who came to die for our sins that we might have a heavenly home by faith in Him.

Love You, and THANK YOU, Lord Jesus!

Just quickly two Aussie photos , a very Christmas coloured bromeliad and a local beach - we've had lots of sunshine .. but welcome rain yesterday- a real blessing!

Thanks too for popping over and if you are able to comment.
Prayer hugs, 🙏🤗
Shaz in Oz.x

If you are not sure if you are a Christian, a Christ follower, please read this post here
- Who or What is a Christian?

Linking up with the following: Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Snippets playground Snippets are small A2 pieces coloured backgrounds , I'd been given a number of them years ago. The turquoise was my favourite, have orange and brown left! 😉

NBUS by Darnell = Never Before Used Schtuff never used this digi before ... I scanned and cropped it to fit on an A2 topper, with the white ink highlighting the holly EF. Coloured images in promarkers then added glossy accents highlight.

ALLSORTS CHALLENGE which is Create a Scene which this card does, and would also fit with anything goes.

Christmas Cards Abound, WOYWW, NBUS, Snippets,

2025-11-12T00:00:00.195+11:00

Well, as we know, the months are are flying by. I'm into my batch card making for Christmas card, I've three main designs using old and new stamps but all are definitely inky. As it's WOYWW, What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday (see over at Sarah's here, I'm sharing a view of my current desk.

To the right are some very old Unity Stamps, a nativity set, partly under the card I'm making, not attached. It has a **NBUS Lavinia large holly, ** Elements Sahara to background it also NBUS, and stamped holly in versafine Twilight. Did try Green Shady Lane on one but curiously preferred Twilight. I hand-cut the tags as dont have a large enough tag die. I get 6 out of an A4 sheet.😄 that's great economy! The back two cards are partly made up sets, both in older stamps especially the one on left using the MFT Peekaboo die. Nativity stamp from 1990! I managed to make almost 70 cards so been busy. My recent leg cancer ops slowed me up especially one of the skin cancers, on lower left shin, was a reaĺ whinge bucket! It was an unexpected excision. My right cheek excision was 4cm long and no picnic either! 😁 however my cards are on the homeward run now, with a few assembly steps on one set then putting inserts in and mailing overseas, ASAP!

This the MFT frame Peekaboo die with 1990s nativity, wood mount and ODB bible verse. I love that MFT peek-a-boo die! (Thanks Marilyn!) Allsorts card - Christmas challenge. Link below

** NBUS Holly from Lavinia the verse is a very old Stampendous stamp.

This is the Unity Nativity stamp set about 15years old. Also using two Lavinia stamps , pine branch is **NBUS, and small holly.

**NBUS Lavinia *small robins, *pine branch and holly. Made for my friend, her name is Robin.

Loved these, simple design using old Stampendous verse from Luke 2:11, a star die and snippets of gold glitter card and ribbon..

This below is Snippets Sympathy. The snippet of gumleaf serviette has been sitting for ages, added silver snippets in decorations.

This is the technique from last post, double inking and double embossing, needed in a hurry for a 50th birthday. Last card has double **NBUS. AI or Artist Impressions Isaish 41:31 and Stampendous Greeting, "I'm praying for you". An encouragement card made on one of those hand cut tags.

To some Aussie photos.. a beautiful spring beach day. I drove there as was when I wasn't well... but still can view this so very blessed. Then followed by my spring roses from my garden, I love them!

Well, it is a really bumper post, today, but it is that time of year. I'll be glad when I've finished my last Christmas card for 2025... I am almost there! 😁

Thanks so much for popping over for a peek and a chat, I pray God's blessing on your day, wherever you are

Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻🤗

Shaz in Oz.x

Thought of the Day.

Well, I am grateful after the past few weeks that I have the LORD as my Saviour.
(This is the verse on a number of my cards).

And because Jesus is my LORD and Saviour I really do love Christmas time, and that's why I continue the practise of mailing out cards even when many are saying its too time consuming, expensive, etc. Yes, it's really worth doing well for Jesus' sake. Think how much He on the cross He suffered for us all.

Praying for you, hopefully I'll be back again next month too.

Linking up with the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday Challenge

https://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/2025/10/weeks-720-721-anything-goes.html?m=1

2 Snippets Playground - the serviette gumleaves card 🍃

3. NBUS Never Before Used Schtuff **cards as indicated (thoughts and prayers are with Darnell and Mister, for hubby's continued healing in God's mercy).

4. Allsorts Challenge Christmas cards or Anything goes, certainly have some Christmas cards this time.

5. Beccy's Christmas Card Challenge Month of Holiday cards .

Layered Embossing, WOYWW, NBUS, Snippets, Allsorts.

2025-10-15T06:08:00.008+11:00

Well, as it is Wednesday, I'm linking over to What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday at Sarah's Craft Shed.

Here is my desk recently after a crafty session inspired by the double embossing video link below.

Jo Simon's video Layered Embossing

I so liked this layered Embossing I made a number of cards, 2 x pink (one in DL, other 5x7), 1x blue, 1x purple, 1x yellow. So you ink a little then stamp SU French Script, then plainer patterned Embossing folder and Floral Bouquet Altenew which was highlighted with white pigment ink. I used a *NBUS Greeting set by Sizzix, very versatile.

Also Miss 14 had a birthday, this cute *NBUS Beccysplace.com image (a discontinued digi) was used plus some snippets of designer paper.
And Mister 10 loved his shaker card with the pun on it. Its a *NBUS Lawn Fawn stamp set plus Darkroom Door scales background stamp.
Now to some Aussie photos its spring here and so sharing some roses from my garden, some Rainbow Lorikeets eating grass seed, and the stunning sea view at my sister's.
Thanks so much for popping over for a peek and a chat, I pray God's blessing on your wherever you are
Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻🤗
Shaz in Oz.x

Thought of the Day.
I'm going through a rough patch at the moment 3 skin excision in 5 days, two on my lower leg and one more on face to go on Thursday. So verses like this bring me great comfort. Jesus carries my burdens, without Him I can do nothing.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Linking up with the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday Challenge https://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/2025/10/weeks-720-721-anything-goes.html?m=1

2 Snippets Playground - Mister 10 shaker card , snippets of white on stamped images and shell background.

3. NBUS Never Before Used Schtuff **cards as indicated (thoughts and prayers are with Darnell and Mister, for hubby's healing in God's mercy).

4. Allsorts Challenge Anything Goes or use Christmas Colours. Miss 14 Beccy Digi card with 3D a little Birdy told me it was your birthday

5 Simon says challenge Add some text. Yellow Floral Bouquet card. French Script stamp in background

WOYWW, Snippets, NBUS, Allsorts, Simon Says

2025-09-17T00:00:00.005+10:00

This is a continuing catch up, skim if in a hurry, it's more for my records than anything else and yes, I'm finding blogger clunky to do, like some others, but this is a post actually done on my Android phone, it's better than Apple, as blogger is Google programme, it doesn't like Apple!

To my desk (for WOYWW over at Sarah's). A number of cards in making, Lavinia was discovered in last 12 months and did a few orders directly to Lavinia mostly as was cheapest in product and good post to Oz. Not done one since April though.

You'll see these further down, the black background was changed in final make! First a 90th card for a dear friend, this is a direct case from Jo Rice. I love her videos, especially her florals. (*NBUS Greeting and stamps, not poppies)


Snippets Card, background is made with alcohol inks and embossed background, die is MB discontinued you can see my Snippets left over. A card for my sister.

Baby congratulations card, I had this image Penny Black stamped and coloured in my stash, DP from old pad added for background. Ribbon and greeting from stash.
Lavinia poppies, did it as large longer piece and cut it. Case from Jo Rice, from memory. Verse, a beautiful one, is a NBUS from Scrapbook.com. This card is the other end of the DL card it was done on. Verse is Sweet n Sassy with a typo on it... a lovely verse none the less.

A Lavina card, stamps are NBUS, think a partial CASE from Jo Rice. NBUS stamps used here. This card is in Allsorts under Flowers..
This is the one that on my desk shot had a black background and was portrait not landscape! Like it much better this way, love that verse, the lavender are Lavinia NBUS, for a very dear friend who loves mauve.
This is by Darkroom Door stamps disc, another one made up similar to ones in February.
Finally the wedding card mentioned in last post. This is Simon Says layer it up challenge, bottom card, house mouse image is disc., have gold layer then cuttlebug plus folder disc.and gold initials, plus greeting gold embossed with computer print out on shiny card snippet.

Now to Aussie photos, very grateful I can walk again.
As mentioned in last post its spring here, this is a banksia two doors away from me. They've perfect spot for it as they're hard to grow. Next is purple Tibouchina do love it, also in a neighbours yard, around corner taken, on a walk.
This is creek where I walk when I can, these were pelicans but they've moved on since then.
Now two beautiful sunset photos from down at the beach on another walk.
I love the clouds reflecting on wet sand 😍. God's creation is amazing.

Thanks so much for popping over, praying 🙏🏻 God's blessing and keeping upon all who come this way, may you seek Jesus while He maybe found.

Prayer hugs 🙏🏻🤗

Shaz in Oz.x

Thought of the day:

Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

I am so very thankful I found Jesus and trusted in Him as my Saviour at 12 years old, very many decades again now. I definitely would not be here (health wise) without the keeping power of my loving Father God. He allows hard things in our lives to draw us closer to Him. We are richer through them, hard though they be.

Linking up with the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday - poppy cards (2 with bible verses)

2 Snippets Playground sister's birthday card

3. NBUS Never Before Used Schtuff **cards as indicated

4. Allsorts Challenge plants trees flowers or anything goes. Flowers as indicated above.

5 Simon says challenge layer it up, wedding card as described.

Catch up Post, Snippets + NBUS

2025-09-04T18:49:00.004+10:00

I've not posted since Easter (April) mainly due to health. I have followed some other bloggers through follow it and commented on some 😉

This is a catch up post for my records.

This was for a May birthday and blue white is wide NBUS washi tape and greeting die.

This is a mixture of Lavinia stamping and the flowers were masked with masking fluid before the coloured background was done. Stamps are NBUS.
This was obviously a six year old birthday card, images a NBUS, Lawn Fawn. Have another birthday 10 year old, this month and plan to use another NBUS Lawn Fawn set as shaker.
Another nonagenarian birthday, had two of them this year. Lavinia stamps, NBUS, kind of cased from Jo Rice video.
This is my Snippets card, its for Mister 16 y.o. but mauve brayered Stampscapes piece from Snippets drawer was cut down to remove some poor stamping, with black snippets frame and snippets greeting dies, both disc. it made a nice card or I liked it and so did recipient, so thats good..
Now to Aussie photos.

It's Spring here but this red poinsettia has been flowering since winter. The second photo is of plants bought with a friend at our local nursery, I lost my white Iceberg bush rose so replaced it. The red azalea was bought for my friend she loves red and had perfect spot for it.
Now to some mandatory beach shots I am walking most days now so very blessed, these are from last week, including the Willie Wagtail which I love.
Praying for all who visit this blog to know the Living Saviour, and may your day be blessed, thanks especially if you take time to comment.

Prayer hugs,🙏🏻🤗

Shaz in Oz.x

Thought for the Day:

This verse is on my mind.

"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." It is from Psalm 118:24 emphasizes gratitude and joy for each day given by God.. it's a verse that's on a present for my friends who are getting married on Saturday. It's a miracle of God's and answer to much prayer they're getting married. Indeed to God be the glory. That's part of what I wrote on their card, I've not posted it yet. Praying Gods blessing and joy upon you, may you rejoice in the LORD also.

Linking up with the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday Washi card, Shaker card, poppies and Dandelion card, and Stampscapes card.

2 Snippets Playground - Stampscapes card.

3. I.D.EA.S - Ink and colour medium - Dandelion and poppy card, Mister 6, Stampscapes

4. NBUS Never used before schtuff.

5. Allsorts Challenge with birthday, Mister 6 shaker card

Resurrection Day - "He is not HERE, He is risen as He said", Snippets card, NBUS, IDEAS

2025-04-20T06:17:00.044+10:00

Well, it's a bumper post today - it's the most important day on the Christian calendar when we remember and celebrate the day our Saviour the LORD Jesus Christ defeated Satan and death by His resurrection from the dead. We worship a living Saviour, no other religion worships a living God.

How do we know Jesus was truly raised from the dead, seeing as we aren't from 1st Century history? It's verified not simply by the bible, but by historical research from that era eg. Josephus a Jewish historian.

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1:16

The disciples, or apostles, themselves were eyewitnesses to this event and Jesus appeared alive after His death to over 500 people at one time.

As the Apostle Paul wrote:
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas (Peter), then of the twelve:

After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

And last of all he was seen of me (Paul) also, as of one born out of due time."

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

This card is to send to dear one who needs encouragement, the verse is a favourite of mine.

"When my heart is overwhelmed within me, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I."

That Rock of course is the LORD Jesus, may He be our Anchor in the storms of our life. The golden rose paper I bought with Marilyn in Hobby Lobby in Florida in Sept. 2018, and I've finally cut into the 12 x 12 sheet, it's a gorgeous NBUS, the snippets are the gold cardstock which is diecut, and also the piece the cream card from which the verse is diecut.

To close with a few Aussie photos, I've had a visitor and we drove to the first two photos at a local beach, the third is the Cosmos in front yard, then one from our creek a short walk from home, so blessed to live here, lastly a rose collage :

Today's roses, two were struck by my father in 1974! The scarlet Queen Elizabeth, and peach rose, My Choice, above it.

Praying for all who visit this blog to know the Living Saviour, and may your day be blessed, thanks especially if you take time to comment.

Prayer hugs,🙏🏻🤗

Shaz in Oz.x

Linking up with the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday

2. Snippets playground

3. I.D.E.A.S - dies

4. NBUS Never used before schtuff.

5. Allsorts Challenge with Anything Goes.

Good Friday - “He must suffer many things and be rejected..” Why? All for us.

2025-04-18T06:00:00.014+10:00

As we look to another Good Friday I have in March read through the four gospels colour coding a new bible (a present for someone, it's such a blessing). It struck me as I read the gospels how many times the LORD Jesus prophesied or taught his disciples that His death and suffering was coming and would be a fulfilment of God's words. Here are two of them. The disciples were clearly forewarned, yet it went over their heads, as it does with us so often.

Mark 8:31

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Luke 9:22
Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

If Jesus had not died there'd be no salvation bought for us, as sinner's needing a Saviour. How empty and meaningless our life would be! a living death.

*Seven sayings of Jesus on the cross appear in the four gospels but no book has them all.

They show His compassion, His humanity and His suffering.

"Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

Luke 23:34
"Then said Jesus, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.' And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.."

"I thirst". John 19:28

"After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst."

"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me".

Matthew 27:46
"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

"Into Thy hands, I commit my Spirit."

Luke 23:46
"And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."

"It is finished."

Salvation's price was paid in the full.

John 19:30
"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."

So today is Good Friday, and it's called GOOD Friday because Salvation's price was paid in full on that day. May we remember, and be grateful and look to the happy end to this salvation story. Satan was defeated on this day, although he thought he had won in killing the LORD Jesus. Yet in reality Christ gave up His own life, for it said clearly .."He gave up the ghost." Satan was never in control it was all in the pattern God had planned.

This was planned before the foundation of the world, salvation by the pure faultless Son of God. Only Jesus blood can wash away all sin. This text was one that led to my salvation - it hangs in our loungeroom as a reminder of this great salvation. The blood of Jeaus cleansing us from sin, as we ask for Him to save us as I did at 12 yrs old see here for full story of my salvation

Praying God's blessing on your and yours, may many seek the LORD while He maybe found.

Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻🤗

Shaz in Oz.x

* the other two sayings were His care for His mother who He entrusted to the care of the apostle John. John 19:27

linking the hand done Illuminated text up with Word Art Wednesday

Soccer Pop Up, House Mouse, Quilting Cards + WOYWW + Snippets, IDEAS

2025-03-26T00:00:00.001+11:00

Well, it's time for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, pop over to Sarah's at Sarah's Craft Shed, Head Desker of WOYWW! here is my latest desk as I'm working on a 1st birthday 🎂 card!

I was told to use BRIGHT colours so that's what I'm doing with an old set of SU papers. The house mouse image is done in alcohol markers then added glossy accents. The colours were best match to the papers. The image was die cut outside the image, to see how to do this see this post here and here! Finished card is last card shared.

This card below was made using this video as a template, however if you’re wanting specific measure and guide video it’s very difficult, it’s a six minute card video AND to make it did not take anywhere near six minutes!

The outside front of card from web, image above this is inside.
Basically I followed a rough idea then did my own template. My colours weren't quite the same and my white gelly roll pen didn’t work like hers did, so did thicker lines! Despite all hiccoughs, it met the need of a soccer or football card for mister 12. If anyone saw my desk two weeks ago they'll see this card underwent a great change from original thoughts!

This next card is received by my friend she loves purple. the Folder (Cuttlebug Plus, with white chalk ink highlights) and stamp set are both disc. years ago, stamp set is Chocolate Baroque.

Here's a couple of birthday cards as done with quilt die see back here, it makes 3 cards which is quite handy. The washi paper bought in Japan by my sister last Nov is really great with this design. Love them all. This CCD die was unused for years till I came across a video using a different quilting die but not as nice a one as this one.

They're made using a CCD happy birthday die and on second card a SB labels shadowed in matt gold used on cards and the washi paper.

Here's Chester's 1st birthday card. Phew! I think it meets the criteria of bright colours, also used glossy accents on various images. Stamps are all from House Mouse balloon set.
To Aussie photos. I'm not walking or doing much exercise at moment as I've a lower leg skin infection. Since I'm on high cortisone it may take possibly months to heal. All prayers welcome.😊

These photos were taken on a walk shortly before my lower leg infection, the close up shows a clever surfer catching a wave.

Thanks so very much for popping over for a peek and a chat, prayer hugs 🙏🏻🤗 Shaz in Oz.x

Thought of the Day

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

This is a favourite verse of mine. In troubles and stresses we really need a refuge, and the strength to carry us through that trouble... our God indeed is a very PRESENT HELP in trouble.

I often say to my friends where would I be without Jesus?... without Jesus, I'd be lost, I'd not have the promise of a home in heaven and I wouldn't have His wonderful present help in my troubles. Leg infections might seem small, but small things may impinge in a big way on day to day living. I couldn't believe how quickly it flared up. But I have my Jesus as my Saviour from sin... and as my very PRESENT HELP in this AND every trouble. Praying that you do also. May God be with you in ALL your burdens. 🙏🏻❤️

Linking up with:

1. IDEAS over at Darnell's Anything goes- soccer card, plus quilt cards.

2. Snippets cards 1st birthday card (link here) has used snippets - yellow card, white card images stamped on, stripped and other multi patterned piece (see desk for start, as none were full sheets).

3. WAW - Word Art Wednesday linking up all to 5 cards.

4. Allsort Challenge- Anything goes or feminine purple floral card with Chocolate Baroque stamps.

Pop Out Birthday Cards, Double Stamped Vellum, WOYWW, + Snippets, NBUS.

2025-03-12T08:06:00.014+11:00

Well it's time for WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday, pop over to Sarah's at Sarah's Craft Shed, Head Desker of WOYWW!

Today's desk, I’m attempting to work on a card for Hudson Mister Twelve who loves cricket… I think I’ll use this “new to me” stamp and Distress inks for background, with a main digi image of cricketers.

This next part of post was actually started in late 2022, and never published! It’s for Miss Eleven (who’s now 13!). As you possibly guessed her then favourite colour was purple! BUT this was NOT "take one" of it, this embossed AI coloured silver foil is "take three". Was delighted with first go, loved it … showed it (not to child), to be told “oh, nooo pink of any tone, but purple.”

Okay, so no. 1 cleaned off foil, but no. 2 was ditched not right, too - strip off colour again!, phew again! happy with take three. NOT a good start. Hiccoughs did continue, due to me not 100%, it ended up rushed, but finished at end, arrived sadly a day late, I was too slow...

This card is for Mister Seven (now 9). I actually bought the set for Miss Eleven as she’s very tall like her parents, Eamon not so much, but saw this - another pop out design by Jennifer McGuire and could see it working with this set. Stamp set is NBUS, think by MFT?

For the next card, I had a small snippet of the double stamped vellum left - so enough for this card saw technique on Splitcoast Stampers, I do love it. You simply stamp on back of vellum with dye ink (SU Certainly Celery) one way then when dry, stamp on front with versamark and platinum EP in this instance. MB Swirl and Isabella die (layered with schparkly EP) both Disc I think. Window aperture was extended as its peekaboo small die. Looks great extended. I’m entering this is Darnell’s new linky, her IDEAS challenge, this week 2 is DIES, see here!

I've 2 other cards today made March 2024, and unblogged. Last year in early April we had a new baby boy arrive in our family. I was very unwell so had to make the card from snippets and couldn't add details of birthdate, weight, length etc. Anyway here is little Chester's baby card from his birth on 2nd April 2024. Yes, Chester's 1st birthday is almost here that's when I found I'd not shared this. I'm stumped for it as wanted to use hedgie set. Will see what else is there in stash!

You can't see it easily but it had dots background on white base, plus CB Baby EF was used on checked blue card. It is disc. as well as baby hedgie stamp set by PB, ribbon is blue baby footprints bought eons ago. This is another from snippets at same time, unblogged. (Do have current cards made but can’t share them yet.)

“Birthday” rectangular die has since gone AWOL 🙏🏻 (still have “happy”, thankfully!). Smooched snippet with blue/ purple is possibly oxides? Swirl long die is CCD and swirl EF is Embossaliscious. All SNIPPETS - off to playground, except base. (The long die goes over a piece cut to same size as rectangular die, for those wondering how it’s done.)
I've a rash of female April, May birthdays, a 1 y.o. and 12 y.o boy to make. Oh, for enough hours in a day.
Now to Aussie photos…

Stormy skies here because yes, we’ve had bucket loads of rain, a spin off from Cylcone Alfred, a recent unwanted guest (400km north of here) causing many issues especially in Brisbane and environs. Worst were the many trees down with flooding caused massive blackouts, my niece and family still without power.
A video (see here if not showing) by Greg in Oz (BiL) up on Northern Tablelands, shows some of the water overload.
Another one of a lyrebird also by Greg in Oz. Or view here if not visible, also on northern tablelands. Put both up full volume, to appreciate it, especially falls video.
The lyrebird's tail is shape of a lyre when opened, see here. It's a great mimic the most distinctive call is the whipbird. As they're Aussie bird calls you probably may not recognise many.
Thought of the Day:

Think many up north especially would appreciate these verses but to be honest I really do today and every day. There's a hymn I need Thee every hour. Where would I be without the LORD? Not here, of that I’m sure!
1. Linking over first five cards to WAW Word Art Wednesday- over here.

2. Adding first two cards to NBUS challenge as they use a new stamp set, by MFT Happy birth- yay!

Darkroom Door Emboss resist + WOYWW + NBUS + Snippets

2025-02-19T06:00:00.060+11:00

Well, believe it or not for the first time since Christmas, I’m sharing a blog post. And since it’s a Wednesday, it’s time for What on Your Workdesk Wednesday or WOYWW over at Sarah of Sarah's Craft Shed, Head Desker of WOYWW.(maybe late linking its a special day out here at my sisters where I am for few days.) Below is my dining table which is cooler than craft room in our summer. There are three February cards in process of being made. I sent two away unphotographed! As you’ll see the 6 x 6” Darkroom Door NBUS stamp “Scales” was stamped four times to cover an A4 sheet then cut into three which gave me three DL cards for the three birthdays. I bought the Darkroom Door stamps before they closed down April 2024, sadly. The scales background and Filmstrip were coloured with Distress inks … on the Scales background - see Rachel Grieg’s video, start at 10.35mins approx. Just loved the effect, though I didn’t have Rachel’s colours.

This is a NBUS and years old, a CCD. Paper from Disc pad, greeting from same pad. I made two more cards as the die cuts enough paper pieces for three cards.

This is the one card on desk not sent off yet, background is done on Tim Holtz watercolour smooth side, the Filmstrip was done on Bristol. I tried three papers it was by far the best. Greeting is an Amazon set, by Origarch.


"Snippets" card made in a hurry for a present to go to newborn, colour chosen because present was the cutest crotcheted lemon giraffe. Penny Black hedgie and bee coloured already, the image in snippets drawer, as was the sentiment, "it’s a girl!" and background Daisy was in reject pile, embossed not used. Only cut the celebrate die, out of snippets of course. Ribbon Daisy pattern to match!

This card is made out of photo paper coloured with distress re-inkers, embossed then brayered gold acrylic paint followed by MB gold die cut and stamped embossed verse, both disc. items.

My sister & hubby went to Japan in Nov '24, bought me some washi and mulberry paper, so made these two cards, the top one shows the texture and colours are beautiful. I also made this less traditional style of quilting in washi with gold matte card. It’s her birthday this month I’m still not sure which I’m going to give her. Probably both and write in one and give her the other to use.

Now to Oz photos.

Went for swim down here at the jetty a few days ago, swim when I can … it is truly beautiful, lovely summery weather in Oz. The beach above it, is the dog beach where folk can walk their dogs and let them go for a dip. It’s not a safe beach to swim at unless you’re a very strong surfer, which I’m not.

in January I had a friend staying with me, this was our favourite swim spot very safe at the Rock Pool.

Below is grevillea Moonlight which the rosellas love, but they’re very shy and I’ve never been able to photograph them. They’re finishing flowering, then will get a good prune.

Thought of the day:

I have Illuminated this verse for a very dear friend so I must have a photo of it somewhere. Perfect peace truly is found by trusting and resting in Jesus.

"Thou will keep him in PERECT PEACE whose mind is stayed on Thee."

How I need to remember that, how we all do! Every moment of every day.

Thanks so much for popping over for a peek and a chat. May God bless your day wherever you maybe be.

Shaz in Oz. X

Linking up with:

Snippets Challenge - Any Celebration Baby card says Celebrate!

NBUS challenge - Quilting cards x 4 (3 pinks and 1x washi) plus Darkroom Door cards

Word Art Wednesday - Cards as linked up

Christmas 2024 Christ our Saviour has Come! + WOYWW + Snippets + NBUS

2024-12-25T00:00:00.008+11:00

Well, 2024 has simply evaporated! And I haven't blogged since Oct! Happy Christmas everyone, and as it's Wednesday- happy WOYWW, popping over at Sarah's Craft Shed. Here is my desk, posed a few days ago - Darnell's is the Joy to the World, above it is Mrs A.s, Neet has the Jesus, Mary and Joseph silhouette, she's used all Lavinia stamps, and Chris D has the one next to Neet with the beautiful star. The others aren’t bloggers, but beautiful too.

This is a NBUS stamp set, the sub greeting. The JOY die is Christmas washi die cut. Linking up to Allsorts Challenge - Use your dies, sub greeting were die cut too. I made all sorts of these but only took this photo! BELOW: This blue in this Solar paste card is NBUS too, other colours are Lunar paste ( on black rectangle die cut,disc then used disc. EF. Below are my Lunar and Solar paste cards, you certainly get some different colours, I've used the Lunar paste before but the blue solar paste is a NBUS, (Never used before Schtuff) so I'm off to HERE - Darnell's NBUS challenge.

Everyone of these cards in the next two photos could be called Snippety but I'll chose the one in middle above which has "Christ is born " stamped in gold over a Shepherd scene. They were all upcycled cards. Very handy. The greeting are either digi or stamped. I made 76 cards, but gave some away. Linking some of 76 to Word Art Wednesday


The top left card tells us the importance of today. Jesus was God's greatest gift to us for through Him we have salvation and the promise of eternal life, if we trust in Him as our Saviour, which I did at 12yrs old down at our creek, see photos below. May we remember in all the gift giving to give the best we can to Jesus as it's His birthday, may we give Him our heart ❤️..

These are the beautiful flower boxes taken up in town, I'm glad I took them a week ago, when up there a few days ago the hot dry weather had frazzled some of them.

These are some of my flowers, the Christmas cactus on left, and some of my roses on the right.


Some of our Sunshine 🌞 on my walks. I am very blessed to live where I do. This bird below is a King Parrot, in our rose garden, I think he was eye-ing off the green tomato also growing among roses. Here, may we always remember: I borrowed this image from Betsy, Life of a Queen because it said what is often left out at this time of the year. Our greatest Gift is Jesus, may we give our greatest gift back, our heart. Praying this as our blessing in full today. Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x	r

WOYWW 800 in review + Snippets

2024-10-02T06:00:00.061+10:00

(I unusually did this early as have medical entertainment today, found out after doing it we were if possible to share our first WOWW post. Mine is HERE January 2011. Oh, it took me back, over a decade!)

Well, I've heard through email 2nd of Oct is a very important date... our 800th WOYWW! Hurray! So even though I've not blogged since June, I'm going to attempt a catch up share and reminisce as requested by Sarah at Sarah's Craft Shed, Head Desker of WOYWW.. this year Sarah kindly replaced our former Queen of Desks, Queen Julia.

My desk shows some current cards and also my first item for my first anniversary from 2011! (I joined Jan 2011). We had a PiF or Pass it Forward then instead of ATC. My PiF was from Jozarty who had as I recall a round craft table with a strawberries 🍓 cloth on it, then as her craft interest changed it had a metal top then Jozarty went into making exquisite sewn bags with detailed embroidery.

My PiF was a kind of key chain, labelled with WOYWW icon, and is always on my desk, at the back, along with monkeys and their WOYWW Badges, WOYWW sign + lighthouse light pull from 2018 crop. I'm unsure of Jozarty all these years later. My most exciting adventures with WOYWW was when I met up with WOYWWers in UK. Neet and Margaret were the two instigators. I think the most exciting was my visit in 2018 to Llundudno. I met Shaz Silverwolf who's sadly no longer with us.

From WOYWW crop with dear kind Magaret I received many ATCs. Tag was from Sarah (I think). I loved it.
Neet have me the gorgeous ATC holder above and glasses case from dear Jan and bear from Annie, spare ATC is Heather.

Here's the ATC cover that Neet made me for that crop and Shaz brought me a huge bag of crafty treasures too. I then met up with Sarah and lots of other WOYWWers. Margaret took me all over! to even see my friend Iris who lives near where Margaret's now living in Lincolnshire.

It's Spring in Oz, & I've picked in last 2 days 8 bunches of flowers, 5 of roses 3 of sweetpeas ... sharing a few here.

There are still more out there. I've 3 dozen roses, and I now have more help paid for by a government package as I couldn't manage otherwise. My health is very poor these days. God is good and kind to me though and I'm well looked after. I'm still crafting and learning new techniques. I just rarely come onto blog land to share. I'll share new cards now as my blog is also my creative record for myself. Some panpastel cards with PB Aspire stamp, Lavinia stamping and also a disc Bible stamp. Birthday cards too.

A surfer handcoloured free digi and die cut card for Eamon who's 9, I loved the purple card on this I used perfect pearls in interference violet on top of purple ink. It was WOW. Eamon loves purple.

As does Emily who's 13, loves her ballet and she has brusho deep blue and purple background with unamed stamp on it, greeting is celebrate die cut and digi. Inside I did photos of Emily over last 12 years and a poem. It was very special. Just adding cards now since June, sorry for overload as I said this is my record, a wedding card and other special ones.
This is glittery but photo won't pick it up. Lavinia, new stamps as are pair of birthday cards below, also NBUS Lavinia stencils.

SNIPPETS CARD, mostly kraft like packaging from freezer goods, coloured with inks and Lavinia red brick stencil (a NBUS), the gold bronze in back ground is heat and dry embossed CB cogs folder. Gold cogs and number 5 are years old and heat embossed. Linking to Snippets Challenge here.

Now to Oz photos! Mostly nearby.

I've just realised I've laser surgery on cataract today so glad I've done this early. I maybe late in comments, depending on eyesight.

And NOW thought of the day.

Living as I do with precarious health, I've become very conscious of life's brevity and to make every moment count for Jesus. I don't want to be ashamed when I stand before Him as my Judge. I want to be always ready .. "ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh ". Matt. 24:44.

1. As well as Snippets with link above in post, I'd like to link up to:

2. NBUS Challenge here red brick stencil by Lavinia is new on 5 y.o birthday, the ballet stamping on 13.y.o also, and are Lavinina stamps in mauve encouragement card with bible verse.
3. Allsorts Challenge 800! A hearty congratulations, to Brenda and crew... how amazing is that 👏👏👏 exactly the same as WOYWW 800!!

See over here Anything goes so linking the 13 y.o birthday card which uses brushos and NBUS stamp.
4. I'd also like to link these cards over to this wonderful challenge - Word Art Wednesday- Anything goes. Linking the 5 cards as chosen, I think it's best I can do, hopefully ok. I'm struggling doing this post so hope this is okay.

God bless and have a great day everyone. Shaz in Oz.x

Birthdays + Snippets, NBUS + WOYWW Moved to Sarah's from Julia's

2024-06-12T15:29:00.009+10:00

Well, I've had a long hiatus due to two ill periods. On 20th March, I had a lower shin skin graft for a skin cancer. I was still recovering from it when on 12th April an overly friendly virus arrived that hung around for two months. Was very ill in April. Two months later am pretty much over it, praise God. Grateful Easter was early I was still able to post at end of March.

I hopefully will make this brief?! Apologies as is difficult! It's WOYWW or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday I need to show a desk! Several as made a host of cards before op on 20th March, thankfully made cards all the way to July!! Just as well, I didn't know I'd be so sick but God did. The mantle for WOYWW has passed in May from our wonderful Queen of Desks Julia of the Stamping Ground to Sarah after 15 glorious years! So pop over to Desks of the world here at Sarah's Craft Shed hopefully I did it correctly!

Sarah & I met at crop in Sept 2018. She is a most wonderfully talented crafter, I'm extremely grateful for her willingness to take over. I'm sadly sporadic in my attendance to WOYWW but love to pop in when health permits.

Desk 1 & 2 shows making of ladies cards with a new set of stamps and dies. A dear friend gave me an Amazon voucher for my birthday, so using Origarch greeting set and painting up flowers stamped with my new Prima metallic accent watercolour paints, another birthday (from Feb) present. 😊

The next desk is card being created for Mister 11 who happens to love Cricket, is brilliant at it playing well above his age . As his birthday is 11yrs the stumping with two stumps standing still showed an 11!

Here's finished cards...

These are mostly birthday cards for April and May. I 3D'ed a Google image here.

For a dear friend who loves RED! EF is by Altenew. Stamp set a NBUS.

It was a certain sisters very special birthday, everyone was there but 😔 I was too unwell to be there in person sadly. At least I'd made a special card.

This snippets card was a reject brusho piece in reject drawer. Was accidentally debossed with clear ink.. instead of embossed so I then brayered it with gold acrylic paint and made frames of image and greeting to match it. All but base snippets, frames are with cereal box card, painted.. My favourite verse stamp. "With God All things are possible."

A vellum card painted with Prima metallic on reverse with and frames to match.

Now to Aussie photos. I'm sorry not many as life has been quiet. Firstly a pineapple in our pineapple patch.

Next is a Harleqin beetle, very pretty but actually a pest to citrus.

However he escaped. 😊

Also the white with pink tips camellia flowered for the very first time.

Lastly the requisite sea view, I had to go all the way back to Feb 20th for this.

We have had stunning weather like this for our winter but I've not been out and about. No walking since March. I enjoy it in our courtyard each day though.

Finally the end of my marathon WOYWW post with Sarah. I'm glad I can meet up with all my friends still so thank you very much to Sarah and Julia, you're both on my prayer list each day.

May God bless your day wherever you maybe and keep you safe. Happy WOYWW 😊.

Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x.

Thought for the Day:

This verse has always meant a lot to me especially in times of trouble with ill health. It's a blessing to remember that all things work for our good, God's good, in the long run and our Heavenly Father is our stronghold in our troubles, no matter what. Yes, my anchor will hold in the storms of life!

I'd like to link these up with the following:

1. Snippets challenge Green gold butterfly card, snippets listed in post.

2. NBUS Never before used Schtuff - the floral cards, the stamp set is new as is the greeting set and paints.

3. Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes, five cards, red and prayers card in floral and rest as shown on blog.

4. Allsorts Challenge blog - Flowers or Anything Goes. (red floral). Greeting set is by Origarch and flower die set is a CCD from 2018. Ie no name brand. The embossing folder background is by Altenew paints by Prima Metallic.

"He is not here, for He is Risen, as He said". (+ Snippets, NBUS, Allsorts Challenge)

2024-03-31T10:22:00.009+11:00

First of all, though, thanks to all who care enough to pop over and say Hi. Things are very topsy turvy health wise this past month and look like being that way for a while. Sorry I wont perhaps be as active at returning comments,.

Dear Ones, well today is a day of great rejoicing as my title shares.

Can you imagine the great sorrow of the women and disciples upon the first day of the week?

They thought all was lost - Jesus was dead upon the cross of Cavalry, and buried in stone tomb!

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

²And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
³And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
⁴And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
⁵And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
⁶He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
⁷Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
⁸And they remembered his words," Luke 24:1-8 (emphases mine)

I think this image of an empty tomb encapsulates the work of the cross the death, burial and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ, the Son of God our sin-bearer on the cruel tree at Calvary - there the LORD Jesus died for you and me!
How rich we are in Jesus if we truly know Him as our own Saviour from sin and love and serve Him..
A hymn came to mind as I think upon today, Resurrection Sunday, and as verse 2 says the day of Hus appearing will come at last - one glorious day He’s coming back again! for He promised (John 14: 1-6)! I so look forward to His coming AGAIN!

It is I serve a Risen Saviour... may it bless your heart as it did mine.
I serve a Risen Saviour by A J Ackley
I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He's always near.

Refrain:
He lives, He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart!

2 In all the world around me I see His loving care;
And tho' my heart grows weary, I never will despair.
I know that He is leading thro' all the stormy blast;
The day of His appearing will come at last. [Refrain]

3 Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind. [Refrain]

To Him alone be all the glory, honour and praise, with much thanksgiving for Resurrection day!

Shaz in Oz.x

Hymn sung below by Mennonite Youth choir link HERE if not showing

Now to some cards, as most of my cards are snippety, its always hard to pick a snippets card. The first one is the most snippety!

Green piece was a watercolour piece done ages ago, added versamark ink on EF & accidentally debossed with poppy stamps folder, so could not use it as intended.

Recently saw it in "use it!" box desk. Thought, Mm, brayer the beautiful gold acrylic paint over the top, see what happened!? This is it!

The frame was already cut to right size! that's God's goodness! from a natural coloured cereal box, painted it with same gold acrylic paint. Verse was stamped & gold embossed ages ago, a wooden Stampendous stamp, a favourite verse of mine - "WITH God, ALL things are possible." Mtt 10:26 Frame is a Kaisercraft die. MB butterfly Pippi disc.

Links below to challenge.

Next card - is with vellum, I was given some Prima metallic accents paints for Feb birthday, I've really enjoyed making a lot of cards with them. Have many in wings which hope to share in months to come as health permits.
The frame, punch butterflies (Kaisercraft large, small unknown) and back of embossed vellum were painted with these paints, the frame and one above are Scrapdragon brand, an Aust online company. CB embossing folder disc long ago. Again my favourite bible verse stamp. Used NBUS Prima Iridescent watercolour paints!

Two more cards, I made a number of these, with this NBUS flower stamp die set.
This is an encouragement one with Hero Arts hugs and prayers.

The floral stamp set is disc., though a NBUS! as is mixed Oligagarch (sp?) greetings stamp die set, that was bought recently on Amazon!

No longer available! I think the EF on background is Altenew 3D folder from memory. Added light spatter in colours used to paint them, with a bit of the gold as well.
These are all NBUS so will pop over to Darnell's challenge.

Linking up to the following:

1. Snippets playground with green card here

2. NBUS Challenge here

3. Allsorts Challenge over here CAS or Anything Goes encouragement card is a favourite and it's CAS

4. I'd also like to link these cards over to this wonderful challenge- Word Art Wednesday- Anything goes http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/2024/03/anything-goes-weeks-641-642.html?m=1

Illuminated Work + Why is Good Friday Good?

2024-03-29T16:59:00.005+11:00

Hullo there everyone!

Hanging on my bedroom wall is a printed Illuminated text. A lot of my texts are similar to it as is the book I learnt from see - here it is.

Isn't it a beautiful verse?

It is the true reflection of what occurred on Good Friday all those years ago. On a rocky hillside, in sorrow and pain, a young Man shed His blood on a cross - a shameful, sinful death.

WHY?

Years ago (over 50) I well remember my sister's teacher and I were on a beach hillside near where I live now, and she asked if I knew why Jesus had died?

I said, " No."

.. and so she told me He had died for my sin, and the sins of everyone.

Now I was a child.. and you may wonder - how a child can have sinned?

.. but believe you me, there was not argument at all from me on that point.

I knew I had done wrong.. and that was sin.. but that Jesus had died to take away my sin totally blew me away.

That memorable day, when I saw Jesus on the cross for my sin, has lived evermore for me in these words of this hymn.

There Is A Green Hill Far Away

There is a green hill far away, without a city wall,

Where the dear LORD was crucified, Who died to save us all.

We may not know, we cannot tell what pains He had to bear,

But we believe it was for us He hung & suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiven, He died to make us good,

That we might go at last to Heaven, saved by His precious blood.

There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin,

He only could unlock the gate of Heaven, and let us in.

Oh, dearly, dearly has He loved, & we must love Him too,

And trust in His redeeming blood & try His works to do.

By C.F. Alexander

This is a hymn from my childhood - link here or see below.

Jesus is our Living Redeemer, Saviour and Friend - if we have sought salvation in Him, the Lord Jesus.

"God sent His Only Begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him."
1 John 4:9

This is why Good Friday is Good.

By faith in Him we have the certain hope of life forevermore with Him.

For more see here - Who or What is a Christian? or see sidebar.

The Easter story. The gift of His transforming love. The reminder of what Jesus has done for us.

His sacrifice brought us life.

Taken from a Dayspring e-card

There is sadness in the story. There is pain in the story. There is death. But there is more. The whole story includes the beauty of Easter.
The triumph.
The joy.

I would dearly love that all who read this might know that Beauty, Triumph, and Joy.. in Jesus.

I would like to close with a very early Illuminated text done in the early 1990's.

(sorry, it is very poor "best-can-do" enhanced image - bad flare from old camera, etc. not digital.)

The observant among you will realise it's the verse done on the header of my craft blog.

It is also on the very first post I did on my craft blog, back here, better photo there too of different one.

(I have done it four times now, three different colours, and one was duplicate of one on the header.

This, the original is the one and only one done in Aluminum leaf - very hard to work with but will not tarnish like silver leaf.)

May we all take time to ponder the importance of these words of the Lord Jesus, as He speaks to each of us - it will help to keep life with a real perspective.

"What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?"

Mark 8:36

Zip, zero, zilch is the answer...

The whole world will profit us nothing.

This is the whole key to Easter... Eternity... and what counts for eternity.
May we live this truth.

May God richly bless you wherever you maybe and thank you SO much for making my day - being real encouragers!
Shaz in Oz.x

Personal update:

This post was originally done here here on my other blog, I'm not well so I'm not up to writing new posts at the moment. When I am quiet that is the usual reason.

However when we look at what Jesus suffered for us at Calvary, none of our suffering, though severe at times, can compare to those moments when (in the garden of Gethsemane) Jesus "sweated as it were great drops of blood, saying, "If it were possible ley this cup pass from me, nevertheless not My will but Thine be done."

AND when Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, WHY hast Thou forsaken Me".

It was at that moment our sins were on Jesus on the cross, and God the Father turned His back on God the Son.

Depths of spiritual and physical suffering none but Jesus know.(see Isaiah 53 for prophecy of all this)

All for us!

Would like to join these over with: Word Art Wednesday - here

Male cards Shells 3D Embossing multi technique + Serviette Card + WOYWW + Snippets

2024-02-07T15:02:00.027+11:00

Warning- photo overload... again!

Well, true to my promise (or hopeful promise), this is my next monthly post! And believe you me, WARNING - loads of cards here, mostly so I remember what I've done! Lots of male cards early in year so try to use one idea as leaping off point, this time every card is different. Link each of techniques used. Several desks to share at Julia's WOYWW - What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday.

Desk one with gessoed embossed foil (see link here) Don't have gesso so used watered down texture paste, worked just fine. The 3D EF was bought from Poppy Stamps, but was originally Sizzix 3D EF, both called "Shells". Male cards for 2024 but are different techniques so far! From this technique I learnt how to lightly brayer a fine layer of gold acrylic paint, so used it on a number of various techniques as the gold highlights it beautifully. NOTE: first time I did it made gold layer too thick. It's not shown in video technique, but prayer with trial and error won out. Don't give up too soon on a technique - I've learnt the hard way.

Desk 2 shows the embossed watercolour with DI then brayered gold highlights on top.

First card was this new technique (Splitcoast Stampers link here), it looks better in some lights/ angles than others.

Alcohol ink on Alfoil (kitchen aluminium foil variety) backed on heavy cereal box card (NOTE: attach foil with tape, so doesn't move about). Texture is from a shell 3D Embossing Folder. At end brayered on top to highlight with very thin layer gold acrylic paint to catch the highlights. Greeting diecut out of another similarly coloured piece of foil on card.

Above watercolour technique on card 2.

Card 3 and 4 were actually brusho snipppets and used this technique blogged here with black Versafine on Embossing Folder (EF). One brayered with gold acrylic highlights and the other copper highlights.

This fifth card instead of black used on EF (Embossing Folder) tried a blue Distress Oxide, Peacock Feathers (?) you always have to do several lots of inking on folder no matter how inky your pad is, 3 to 4. Liked this one and while it was still wettish, added some iridescent EP but doesn't show much. Will try this again, was the last technique tried! 😍

Last male card is again alfoil technique, my very first attempt where messed up paint application (so bit more golden!) but still managed to rescue it. The greeting is stamped on thin layer of cork too.

This is all male cards but first one, as it was already in Brisbane!

What was interesting is how varied this 3D folder could be made!

Next is a group of ladies cards all made with Serviettes, two are glittery.

One was blogged in last post but share a new card. The two glitter ones have DST with TH Rock candy glitter on them, all with assorted die cuts - most of mine now are disc. The purple one with butterfly is for my friend who loves them both! My new favourite easy way to adhere very top layer of serviette to card is with spray adhesive. It's way easier! Last card (phew).

It's a Golden Wedding Anniversary card, the creamy Diecut was a gift from Marilyn in US, so coloured it with Gold Perfect Pearls. Greeting on computer, but frosted card meant had time to heat emboss in gold EP.

Now to some Aust photos.

The scene ones are from friend on FB post but are from here.

The rose is Apricot Delight (I think, lost label?) in garden at various stages. It has been as very hot here - just as it has been very cold in northern hemisphere. My nephew in Norway had great fun (not!) digging their car buried in very deep snow!

Thanks so much for popping over and saying hi, may God bless your day wherever you maybe.

Prayer hugs,

Shaz in Oz.x

Thought of the day:
"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 29:18

Do you ever look at the way your country is going and despair... things are so different NOW!

Or so it seems, yet this verse was written by King Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived (who fell into folly despite his great wisdom).

Depite this, God's word is truth. This truth reverberated then in Solomon's time, in Jesus' day hundreds of years later and now our day two millennia later!

.. but surely it can be encouraging!

I am but one, but if one walks in obedience to God's Truth and teaching, God promises us we will be happy in it, not necessarily for it though!

Or as Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

AND I AM thankful in it, despite the daily struggles - I am so very blessed, especially in counting my blessings and name them one by one.

Praise Him!

Linking up also with:

1. http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes! All cards I've made as linked.

2. What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Over HERE at Julia’s

3. Snippets playground 😃 over HERE! Male Card (fifth) with Peacock Feathers, it was a brushos Snippet on back of a cereal box made ages ago. Loved how it turned out.

4. NBUS Challenge. The Alfoil Technique is new = never used before Schtuff, as is the Shell folder too. Link here https://mynbus.blogspot.com/2024/02/nbus-challenge-59.html?m=1

5. Allsorts Challenge - anything goes option - Serviette card with glitter, purple and butterfly!

Lunar pastes,+ 3D Embossing folders, Serviette Card, WOYWW, NBUS, Snippets

2024-01-03T14:54:00.010+11:00

Warning! Photo overload!

Well, here is 2024! That happened in a blink?!! now rocketing through the 2020's, I decided, God helping me, was going to blog once a month. So here is January! I am not sure how long it will last.

As it is Wednesday & is desk day! See "What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday", over HERE 😁 at Julia's .. so where’s my desk!?

This morning I was doing some old fashioned stamping with a Stamp-a-ma-jig, even though using an unmounted stamp (a very annoyingly made unmounted stamp - crooked on front image to back, but beautiful so I persist). Doing the old way is safer in having it straight, and shock horror! I'm making Christmas cards for 2024. I don't want to be as behind this year - last year was appalling. Next desk!

This is yesterday's desk, with Mister 14, we had great fun playing with lunar pastes, brayered on with embossing folders and die cuts, these are four cards he made! three with blue green lunar paste and deep blue solar paste for extra brilliance on turquoise, and purple orange and ? on other card. Dies all disc. but two folders 3D are NBUS & first use, floral (poppy stamps) and geometric Altenew folder (two cards on last image)
Desk no 3!

Now to my cards since last shared, quite a few. Some are remakes, needed a number of cards for a present for a very special lady, but first one is complete NBUS as used spectrum noir iridescent pens - see above desk, with a Poppy Stamps 3D Marigold Embossing folder. Both were Christmas presents. Saw technique on this video HERE, but I don't have right gold ink so did it on gold frosted cardstock, much easier. 😆

These are card techniques have been done before, some watercolor and stencil techniques. Designs though are slightly different to previous shares.

Last two cards are out of my snippets drawer for “cards in a hurry”, the gumleaf birthday is a serviette card (alas only had one of these serviettes sooo beautiful), with SB border die and the watercolour sailboat is using gloss card with markers added ink colour, plus later blending, stamping a Darkroom Door stamp for male 80th card, verse stamp is Stampendous.

Now to Aussie photos, some roses, a one day cactus flower and fuchsia.

Last photo is your beach fix, on a walk some time ago.

I was horrified how long it I since I've taken photos, life has been too busy. I have a welcome summer visitor in ten days, so won’t be around much for rest of month, hence joining on first WOYWW.

It is officially 12years since I first joined WOYWW! Yippee!

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

PS if you're struggling to comment on a mobile device like I was, select use Web version, it usually fixes all but embedded comment boxes that don't have anonymous activated. Those ones are impassable on mobiles.

Thought of the Day

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Psalm 90:12.

Tomorrow is the 4th January, 2023 and 58 years ago was the most momentous day of my life!

After learning this passage:

(1 John 1: 7-9: "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.")

I was walking back to the tent with my sister’s teacher (yes, we camped here annually for over 20 years, near the beach where I now go swimming).
It was the Children's Special Beach Mission. They came there each year, run by Scripture Union, or CSSM as we called them...

My sister’s teacher was asking me as we walked back if I knew what these verses meant.

Being 12, I had not really given it deep thought, but as we walked she explained how Jesus had died for all our sins, including mine on the cross and asked me if I would like to take Him as my Saviour. ?

To which I said yes, and so here is the spot (today’s photo) of where I prayed and asked the LORD Jesus to be my Saviour all those years ago. It is kind of hallowed ground to me. I remember I was told that the angels were rejoicing in heaven over a soul coming to Him, for forgiveness of sins.

My mother burst into tears when I went back to the tent and told her.
Years later (in my 20’s) I asked her why, she said because you looked so happy. And I was. I went down to the beach and sang my head off!!

The promise of my home in heaven was what I had found, and a Friend Who would never leave me nor forsake me! No wonder I was so happy. I have found joy where joy would not be possible, in the simple faith of a child believing God and His word, and He has never EVER failed me.

Linking up to:

1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes, all three cards http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au

2https://mynbus.blogspot.com/2024/01/nbus-challenge-58.html the Marigold 3D is NBUS, as are Thomas’ two cards with NBUS EF.

3. Allsorts challenge Anything Goes Allsorts

4. Linking over to Snippets playground with the Snippets drawer sailboat 80th card, as all snippets except card base.see here

“In the Fullness of Time, He came..” + Snippets Challenge + WAW

2023-12-24T19:14:00.008+11:00

Christmas is a celebration of Christ’s birth, yet He is often banished these days out of hearts and homes, stores and public locations… some even substitute X for Christmas calling it Xmas.

X is an unknown quantity but Jesus is never that. For He is our LORD, our Saviour and coming King.

There are many prophetic passages promising Jesus would come, starting with Genesis 3:15 - man sinned, so our loving God promised a Saviour.

Another promised our coming Christ oft forgotten is of His second coming: the promise given by the angels when Jesus went back to heaven after His resurrection … .

“… HE SHALL COME AGAIN, IN LIKE MANNER AS YE SEE HIM GO into heaven”

Acts 1:11

As in the fullness of time, ie God’s time Jesus came the first time, He was born, died and rose again - Paul says here:

.. but when the fulness of the time was come,

God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

to redeem (save, buy back) them that were under the law...” Gal 4:4

With Christ’s coming there were a few faithful ones in total expectation of the promised Messiah.

They were not surprised in unbelief that He should come as a babe not a conquering King was to rescue them from the Romans.

Here’s a list of five but I’m sure there are more:

Elizabeth - the mother of John the Baptist was believing (though Zacharias, his father was struck temporarily dumb for his unbelief) Luke 1: 5-26, 40-45

Mary - Luke 1: 26-80

Joseph - Matthew 1:15-25, 2:13-23

Simeon - Luke 2:25-35 faithful prophecies were made by Simeon, to Mary.

Anna - Luke2:36, 38, at 84 yrs, she’d long waited, in expection.

Two gospels tell of Christs birth.

Matthew gives it from Joseph’s perspective and dealing in angel appearances and Magi coming; Luke is Mary’s perspective, each also share their respective genealogies.

Are we likewise expectant that our beautiful LORD Jesus Christ will come again, AT ANY DAY, as promised?

"THEREFORE BE YE ALSO READY for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.” Matt24:24

Will Christ find us ready longing for His coming as these faithful ones were at Christ’s first Advent? I pray so with all my heart, perhaps it might be today!

At Christmas time may Christ not be left out - but may we ALL remember the most important gift is not UNDER THE TREE,

BUT WAS PLACED UPON THE TREE TO DIE for our sin.

Praying earnestly that the real reason of Christmas shine brightly in your home and heart.

Just sharing some cards too, partly so I remember what I've made 😆😅, and sent out! The multi coloured cards are done on black card with Lunar Paste then embossed with various folders.
Most of my cards this year were recycling, which is what the second one in this list here is, stamped with "Jesus is the reason of the season". Stamps are mostly wood mounts from 1990s.
May God richly bless your Christmas day wherever you maybe! And thank you so much for popping over especially if you’ve time for a comment, you are much appreciated.
I’m with family and enjoying a lovely low key day. God is very good to me.
Prayer hugs,

Shaz in Oz.x

1. Linking over to Snippets playground with the Recycled card, as all snippets except card base.see here

2. Linking over to Word Art Wednesday for first five cards. link here