A warm welcome to all my visitors,

Thank you for taking the time to come and look at my blog, I really do appreciate it. I would love you to leave me a comment, even if it’s just to say Hi. It means I can come visit you!

All my designs are original, so copyrighted to me. If I have been inspired by someone elses work, I have named them in the post, and where able, I have provided a link.

Please feel free to use my designs for inspiration, I just ask you to credit me, and provide a link back to my blog.

Thanks, Shaz XX

Wednesday 16 January 2019

WOYWW #502-The Work In Progress Edition.

Bit of a mess today, stuff strewn everywhere.  Can't show yet what I'm working on, as it's a commission card. But, it's Wednesday again, which means we all head off over to Julias place, The Stamping Ground and share our desks in all their glory.
 You may notice the shiny new Glass Media Mat, the Tim Holtz/Tonic one. Lots of great features, not least of which is that it's Black! Unboxing & review HERE, if anyone's interested.

 I did make a hit on my UFO's, I would say dent, but it's more of a pinprick, to be truthful.
9 cards made so far, and the post is HERE. That's Part 1, but we'll be well into double figures by the time I get them all used up. I'll only worry if it looks like I'm going to hit 3 figures!



More on the review front in this post,HERE. You may have heard about Picket Fence Life Changing Brushes. Or not. But if you have, and had considered them, go read this post first.
These are the $50 (£40) brushes- yep, you read that right. 


This set (right) is the £7.99 version from E-bay.
Professional Make Up Brushes. And yes, they are the same thing, as a lot of ladies on SCS were saying. And that's confirmed by a lady who commented on my post, saying she bought a set of the Picket Fence Brushes, and some of hers have 'Foundation' and 'Eyeshadow' on the handles! 
And even the E-Bay sellers are cottoning on to the fact that crafters can be stung for as much as you can get- my set cost £7.99 on Friday, on Monday when I went back there to get a link, they'd gone up to £12.99. American ladies said they were seeing the same thing too. But it still beats $50.
 So, I think I'm done, Oohh no, just remembered something. A couple of Saturdays ago we popped up to Amelias Crafts, as they spent the Christmas Holiday remodelling the shop, with a new layout, so they had a big re-opening. They were giving out raffle tickets for a prize draw, and  yesterday( Tuesday) I got a call to say my ticket got picked out, and I've won a place at a Tracy Evans workshop in September! Apparently, she designs and creates for Aall & Create, so that should be an interesting day.
 Which now does just leave......And Finally.......

Actually, I think it's my Enabler In Chief who gets left unsupervised!

24 comments:

Sarah Brennan said...

I have been reading your reviews with interest Shaz. Congratulations on the place at the workshop, Tracey does some fabulous work. Happy WOYWW. Sarah #2

Claire said...

Oh I wish there was a craft store near us where I could be left unsupervised...
Happy WOYWW :)
Claire, no. 3

Neet said...

How wonderful to get a free workshop with Tracy - you are one lucky lucky lady.
Thanks for all the enabling - the research you do is second to none and we can always rely on a very honest judgement from you.
Have a good week you two - Hugs, Neet 4 xx

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Had read reviews Shaz, but thankfully don’t think I need a glass mat.

I never ever cut like that, I don’t have enough oomph to do it, guillotine is only way!
I’ve a mat like your old one but don’t even use it to cut with. I’ve Inkyliscious brushes also that do the trick.
Love your UFOs awesome work and wonderful news on your win! So pleased. 😊
Treasure your enabler. 😆 Happy WOYWW.
Hugs Shaz in Oz. X #11

{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}
{Wonderful Words Of Life - Shaz in Oz}

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Hey, that's an excellent prize to win - you'll really enjoy that workshop! Those brushes look really weird with their offset handles, do you use them for crafting or make-up? Or possibly both?! *grin*. Well done on making that dent in the UFOs, every little helps!
Hugs LLJ 12 xxx

Annie said...

It always annoys me how the same product has different prices....try calling something a 'Wedding' item and the price doubles! Well done you on your win.
Your and finally... really made me chuckle. I'm at my best in a material shop when I'm left alone...in fact it's usually where Jo and I go while the men are at footy!
Hugs,
Annie x #13

Caro said...

One day I will buy a glass mat - yours looks fab and the review was great. I love all your completed cards, very impressive. Congratulations on your win as well. The funny made me smile. Thanks for sharing. Have a lovely week. Love and God Bless, Caro xx (#19)

glitterandglue said...

Morning Shaz. No, I hadn't heard about those brush sets - but what a rip off!!! Getting stung is a totally appropriate description! - Glad you managed to get yours so cheaply. Love all those UFOs - they look so very good. I've not posted this week, as I am post-op recovery and don't have a functioning grey cell in my body yet!!!
Take care. God bless you both.
Margaret

craftyani said...

Like the idea of those brushes will have to look how much they are on Ebay.es or AMazon.es the Spanish aren't into crafting like the British?Americans so could be cheap. Ani 24

Christine said...

Interesting post about the brushes .... have to be on our toes all the time!!
Thanks for sharing about Amelias, will try to persuade PJ to go over and have a look.
Super cards you're turning out.
Have a good week
Christine #25

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

Yippee for the free workshop! I hate it when retailers take advantage of us thinking they can get more money for the same product, just because we're addicted LOL! True, those brushes look a helluva lot like make up brushes! Thanks for your visit! Have a lovely week! zsuzsa #21

My name is Cindy said...

You always do such good reviews Shaz!! I also am tackling the WIP box, but mine is almost certainly in triple figures! To be honest, I haven';t even managed to finish the Crimbo WIPS yet and I need to get a wriggle on as I am determined that the Christmas stuff goes away at the end of Jan!! Well done on the craft class, Aall have only just come to my attention but I'm liking what I've seen so far - I'm sure you'll have a blast at the workshop!! Happy WOYWW Cindy #27

Diana Taylor said...

I love your cards Shaz, they are all stunning - the mosaic in particular caught my eye - what a great idea for a more masculine card.
I am not even going to look at the brushes, as up until just now I didn't know that I might not be happy with my blending tools!!
Congratulations on winning a place on the workshop, that should be fun - I hope you have a great week,
Diana xx #18

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

Your enabler in chief is probably worse than you for failure to resist temptation from what I can see. Well done for winning in the raffle. I have not got down to Amelia's since they reopened as I was at a workshop that day, and they year is starting to gallop away agai. The toast rack is so useful and stops a lot of the avalanche situations, but it needs to be plastic or wood to avoid scratching your craft stuff. Have a good day. xxx Maggie #1 or '7

Stacy Sheldon said...

Hi Shaz, Yes, I groaned when I seen the makeup brushes being sold for 50 and just said no and then caved on a set from Amazon ( that was like 5.00 the first time around and 9.00 the second time around) yeah, they are totally tracking us.
mine have plain black handles so, I have been just rubbing some ink on printer paper and taping it to the handles so I don't have to wash the brushes and I'm using them with my oxide inks. so far so good. ~Stacy #31

PS that white spot on the mat is really handy for rubbing or scribbling inks on to pick up with paint brushes too.

Lindart said...

I've been contemplating the glass mat for awhile now, but hard to pay so much for it! I am going to check out your review on it. Thanks for the reviews on both these products, though I have never heard of the brushes! Your cards look beautiful! You are so talented! I love the mosaic look. Have a great week, Lindart #31

Elizabeth said...

Hi Shaz, messy is good! Love your new perfectly black glass mat. The cards you've made with the UFOs are beautiful and so handy to have too. As I mentioned on my blog today, I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos this last week and I spotted a demo on those brushes. I can't believe the price - what a rip-off! I'll stick to the brushes I already have. I need that money to pay for my next quilting course. Congratulations on the win - sounds like a very nice prize. It's definitely me that's left unsupervised in the craft shop - Alan heads to the coffee shop while I pour over the goodies on offer. Have a great week. Elizabeth x #26

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Shaz, loving the glass mat but as I've already got an old one just can't get one of those unless it has an accident and gets broken Lol! You mentioned Tracy is doing a workshop, hope you manage to take a few photos and show us what you've made. Have a lovely creative week and a happy woyww, Angela x10x

StampinCarol said...

I checked out your review of the T H cutting mat. Have to admit I just ordered one on Amazon as it dropped in price for me!! Should have it about this time next week! Love your quote, had a laugh! I don't think I have any more UFOs left. I love your pinprick of cards! Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!
Carol N #29

Julia Dunnit said...

Yeah, we all blame our partners for something, although I could never blame Bart for craft enabling!!! Your UFO cards are tremendous, am super impressed that you’re still doing them...makes me feel better about the size of my pile! Wouldn’t it be funny though, if they did number in the three figures, I mean, we do actually have a lot of stuff to turn into erm, other stuff!! I did wonder why you were showing us make up brushes, but I get it now. Fantastic example of the rip off of cross over products...we’ve seen plenty let’s face it.

Marit said...

Thanks for the review on the Tim Holtz mat, I read your blogpost and pfew, it's not for me... fortunately 'cause I don't have the budget to buy it anyway. I, too, have some 'make up brushes' laying around but don't use them much, I'm not an inky/pastel/distress person after all and throwing paint around can do with an old brush.Good luck with finishing the UFO's left! Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day, enjoy your week! Marit #22

Twiglet said...

Well done on the workshop win - nice to know someone who actually wins in raffly type stuff! I love the . . . and finally too - yes Annie and I went to our local fabric emporium but for once neither of us bought anything - should we seek advice for our problem! lol. xxx Jo

Shoshi said...

I must say you do write good reviews, Shaz! I always learn something from your blog. That set of brushes looks beautiful - they are such a gorgeous shape, aren’t they. You are getting some nice results with them, too. I can’t understand how they think they can get away with charging £40 for a set, though, and very well done getting a set so cheap! It proves you really have to shop around, doesn’t it. Thank you for your visit, and glad you like the scarf. I’ve just got to finish the other end now. As for Ruby, we’ve come up with a strategy for the spring - plant lots of cat mint around the garden to encourage her to stay in! It should distract her from constantly trying to get out. Sorry to be so long visiting - it’s been a busy time lately and I’ve not had much time for blogging, and haven’t been near my desk for weeks!

Happy belated WOYWW,
Shoshi #16

Annie Claxton said...

HI Shaz, sorry I'm so late! I have wondered about those brushes - BLIMEY what a swizz, thanks for the tip, I'll check them out on eBay. Sometimes I feel bad going for cheap versions of things instead of supporting the company which designed them, but when you see this kind of thing it just makes me cross.
Your no-longer-UFOs are looking great :o) Have a lovely creative week! Annie C #17

An End of an era

An end of an era

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