A Grateful Time and a Challenge

It's been the same amount of weeks between my last two posts. It seems my time in the studio is still being swallowed up by the other hats I wear in life, but I'm hoping I can say that will change soon!

I'm posting today because, yes, I have a Mix-Ability challenge that I'm hosting, but I'm so excited to also have different news to share! First the challenge and a little bit about my card.

This vibrant card, maybe a little exaggerated from my photo editing tool, is used entirely from my stash. Pretty cool when I think about it. I made a bunch of backgrounds way back when I designed for Technique Junkies using Shimmering Bliss sprays and some even more yummy products, a background stamp. The flowers were made up for my design team days with Stampendous which were extras that I couldn't use on a project. The only thing I needed to do was add a sentiment and then make it work for the challenge. Easy peasy.

I chose the Stitch Effort direction and it was fun adding details to the flowers and then making a large stitch border. I'm so glad I did that so it wouldn't take so long to hand stitch.

Stop on over at Splitcoaststampers Mix-Ability forum to check out the challenge.

MIX564: Last Ditch or Stitch Effort

Supplies and where to find them are at the bottom of the post and now for my little bit of news!

I have recently been added to the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen Team! This has been a dream come true for me and I couldn't be more excited and grateful at the same time. The SCS community nurtured my love for stamping and being a positive contributor to not only that wonderful environment but also to the every day around me.

I'm still figuring out the ropes, but expect to see some more activity from me while I do my best to encourage all those who call papercrafting their homeostasis.😀

Supplies: I provide some product links that are through my Amazon Affiliate, and that means when clicked and purchased in the same session a few pennies are sent my way at no cost to you.

Featured Product(s):

• Laurel Burch Flower Blossom Stamp Set (website)
• Arabesque Background Stamp (website)

Plus:

• So Kind by Avery Elle (no links to share, sorry)
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad (AZ)
• Moonlight White Marker (AC website)
• Size 10 Bedspread Thread
• Paper Piercing Tool by Fiskars (AZ)

I'm a maker who receives goodies chosen by myself for design team work. To see a list of these companies just scroll to the bottom of my blog under FTC Declaration.

100 Days to Go in a Challenge!

The weather is getting cooler and while I don't drink Pumpkin Spice Latte's anymore I can certainly make a likeness to it on a card!

I'm hosting the challenge again on Splitcoaststampers. While I was looking through my inspiration list for challenge options, I decided to see what may coincide around the world, or at least closely, and I found out that September 22 is 100 days from the end of the year!

There are more things on my to-do list than just cardmaking, but I had decided it was far too long since I did some prioritizing of my list and put creating in my studio closer to the top. Well, I was on a deadline to host the challenge so I did have it high on my list, but I intentionally did things that were personally something I wanted to try or do. And that's how the 556th challenge was born. 

My cards checkmark off my list 1) doing a video tutorial, 2) making a stamp set worth of sentiments to have handy, 3) having seasonal backgrounds ready for last minute cards, 4) using some brand new months ago embossing folders, and 5) using some coffee dies!

The background on the "Thankful for You" card was made using Distress Inks and a tutorial by Vicky Boutin during SBF 2023 in September. Go check out that festival. It's full of ideas and supply must-haves (my package is coming!)

The stamp and die-cut sentiments all at once have appealed to me for quite a long time, so when I saw a Hero Art set at my favorite liquidation store (which has closed everywhere, I think) that included both stamps and dies you know I had to get it! The set is called Friendly Messages.

Then it was time to use some supplies I've had so long I don't remember when I got them, but I remember where! My beloved Tuesday Morning store that now no longer exists.

The Fabulous Day Latte card was easy and so much fun! Run a piece of kraft cardstock through the embossing folder and gently rub smoke and citron inks over the raised areas. Make a unique pattern paper for the cup with Marmalade Distress inks and spattered water patted away then add some Forest Moss spatters by watering down ink smudged on a glass surface or nonporous palette with a paintbrush. Blend Forest Moss and Twisted Citron to die cut into the cup sleeve. Die-cut a lid and you're ready to assemble. Oh yes, the sentiment? It was already done when making the first card!

If you want to start mixed media in a simple and approachable way, stop by the Mix-

ability challenge forum and start with any challenge, any time! Here's the challenge for these cards.

MIX556: 100 Days

Supplies: I provide some product links that are through my Amazon Affiliate, and that means when clicked and purchased in the same session a few pennies are sent my way at no cost to you.

Thankful for You, card

Featured Product(s):

• Hero Arts Friendly Messages Die and Stamp Bundle (AZ, SB)
• Distress Inks Mustard Seed, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge, Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron, Lucky Clover (AZ links, SB)

Plus:

• Momento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad (AZ)
• Sakura 0.4 Black pen (AZ)
• White cardstock (AZ)

Have a Fabulous Day, card

Featured Product(s):

• Coffee and Tea Die Set (SB)
• Leaf Embossing Folder (AZ)

Plus:

• Hero Arts Friendly Messages Die and Stamp Bundle (AZ, SB)
• Distress Inks Hickory Smoke, Twisted Citron, Spiced Marmalade, Forest Moss, Rusty Hinge, Walnut Stain (AZ links, SB)
• White cardstock (AZ)
• Kraft cardstock (AZ)

I'm a maker who receives goodies chosen by myself for design team work. To see a list of these companies just scroll to the bottom of my blog under FTC Declaration.

Modern Maker Twist on Cyanotype

The wonderful community of paper crafters and makers who "live" at Splitcoaststampers are the best! I don't have much time to craft this summer, really at all these past few years, but when I do and post them in my Member Gallery it makes my day! The challenges and events that go on throughout the year are widespread and have so much to offer. If you haven't stopped by there and had a look around you should go check it out!

What is even more of a treat is to be a part of the challenge host in the Mix-Ability forum. I'm so tickled every time I jump in there and challenge myself and others to get in my mixed media mindset. 

My last turn I completely forgot! The super sweet host MariLynn jumped in with a challenge to saved the day since I was distracted with my graduating daughter's events. Take a peek in the forum for any and all challenges here

My modern twist on cyanotype is with mono-printing and die cuts! Nothing new for a paper crafter, but I did mix my own version of Prussian Blue paint. Amazingly the same paint was used for my two samples. It's the difference between laying it down thick and then using what little you have left for a light see-through layer. 

I used my vast knowledge of mixing paints my whole life... hah!, and just searched for "how to mix Prussian Blue acrylic paint". Not going to lie, I was in a last-minute hurry with this project and didn't have time to discover the mixture myself.

I used my memory retrieval of Birgit Koopsen's reels(Instagram) on the simple use of stencils as masks. If you wanted to get closer to a look of cyanotype you might try her use of printed magazine pages. Take a look at that technique on the Gelli Plate blog.

Supplies: I provide some product links that are through my Amazon Affiliate, and that means when clicked and purchased in the same session a few pennies are sent my way at no cost to you.

Featured Product(s):

• Gelli Plate (AZ)
• Deco Art paint (Quinacridone Violet, Phthalo Blue, Red Hue)
• die cuts
• I used retired dies but here are a few that are similar
• Tim Holtz Garden Greens (AZ)
• Tim Holtz Wildflower Stems (AZ)
• Lisa Jones Wild Leaves Wreath by Sizzix (AZ)
• Gathered Leaves Ellison Sizzix (AZ)

Plus:

• Brayer (AZ)
• Copy Paper (AZ)
• Cardstock (AZ)
• Nocturne Ink Pad (AZ)
• VersaMark Watermark Ink Pad (AZ)
• MISTI Tool (AZ)
• White Embossing Powder (AZ)

I'm a maker who receives goodies chosen by myself for design teamwork. To see a list of these companies just scroll to the bottom of my blog under FTC Declaration.

A Year and then Some Has Gone By

MIX412 Sample using
Hare In A Hurry and 
Celebrate Birthday

MIX364 Sample using

Cling Dahlia Collage and 

Quest Texture Cube

It's time to reveal a little more about my journey, if you're curious read on. For an explanation of the cards in this post, go to the end of the post. 

In over a year I've scaled back my crafting to essentials and focused on the health of my neck, back and nutritionally everything.  Years ago I tore the cartilage in my hip, had surgery and did barely nothing to get myself back to better than before the injury. About the same time I had severe neck pain that caused reference pain and numbing down to the hand on my dominate side, the side that I use to write, draw, blowdry my hair, etc. I used all my energy and effort to take care of my family and do stamped greeting cards for the design teams I was on. It was a crazy cycle that I didn't know how to end. I just couldn't imagine leaving the hobby that I love to make my body healthier because stamping made my mental health happy, or so I thought. It began to drag me down in every aspect. I tried physical therapy and exercise to get my physical aspect better but repeatedly hurt myself and was setback to the beginning of my efforts. 

It’s now 2023 and I’ve continued towards better health. Shedding weight through a program called Code Red Lifestyle with improved diet and getting pass a lot of hurdles with my body joints, I’m able to do more and more crafting. 

Hopefully you can enjoy some of my cards from the past years that I wasn’t able to post or did post only on my member gallery on Splitcoaststampers. 

MIX404 using
Bring To Life

MIX404 using
Little Monsters

Have a super day crafting, making or just relaxing!

I'm a maker who receives goodies chosen by myself for design team work. To see a list of these companies just scroll to the bottom of my blog under FTC Declaration.