Rain Puddles Design

It's fall and all I can do is think about how exciting and nervous I am, the new classmates in our class this year and how much fun we are going to have! I hope you all are settled into your fall routine and can have a few moments or crafting or relaxing and if we are lucky a little of both! My card is for a challenge, drum roll please, that I'm joining because I have time! No, the right wording is that I made time. Which makes me even more happy. I'm not sure where the transition happened from my physical aches and pains keeping me from doing cards to where I just didn't make the time and all my supplies sat around collecting dust.  I hope I can make the change more often! The challenge for this next week over at the Mix-Ability challenge is Seeing Stars ! Jeanne has the cutest little card, so you'll want to drop in to see hers and all the other projects, but hey why not just put some time aside and make a project to add to your gallery! Supplies : I provide some p...

MIX699 So Very Happy We have continued the weekly Mix-Ability Challenge on Splitcoaststampers even though I haven't been posting here on the blog for a very, very long time. Splitcoaststampers community continues to be a positive source of creativity in my life even if my time is limited for being in the studio. Here's my thought. What if people out there miss the plain style of gathering and supporting each other in our creative time? I have to take a deep sigh of contentment and then let you know something. If you are curious about stamping, scrapbooking and watercolor. Or if you are in search of a papercrafting community that encourages you and gathers in some simple challenges, we have the place you are looking for! MIX700 Bee Present I join in the mixed media challenge mostly. It's my favorite style of creating when I have a chance. I also have a rotation in the hosting there, too! The first card in this post is one from last Friday where I challenged us to use pennant...

I went on a little adventure for a few weeks and looked through websites and printables on how to make paint dots swiped on paper turn into a birthday cake with candles, and houses, ghosts or cats. I did so many swipes on my phone trying to find something that would work for the classroom I am an assistant in for free art. I decided I was done swiping on my phone and needed to just start swiping paint on paper! Some of my first tries were fun and quickly got muddy because I kept trying to fill all the holes. In the end I stayed with primary colors so that wouldn't happen. It ended up looking like a glorious sky, so I went with a silhouette card. This was definitely worth sharing in a challenge, so I made one! Come and play along, add it to your member gallery with the keywork in the challenge and we'll be able to see it in our challenge gallery. MIX639: SqueeeeeGee Art! Supplies : I provide some product links that are through my Amazon Affiliate, and that means when clicked and...

I'm dropping a fun challenge on the blog today, because it has been a while since I've been here and I wanted to share a fun mixed media card from the challenge. I hope you are all doing well, and still getting into the crafting space more than I have been. If you are ready to jump into the challenge, here is the link. MIX633: Leprechaun Lure I wanted to use the new (to me) Crocheted Mandala embossing folder on my project so I worked around it. Ironically I ended up with only a little strip of it on my card BUT I love the details of the folder. The rest of the steps are down below in the instructions section. Hope you are inspired to try something like this card or even a technique I used. Have fun!  About supplies; Find what you have on hand for these supplies and always look for the best price for your needs, but for convenience to you, I spent the time linking products with my Amazon Affiliate account below. This means when clicked and purchased in the same session, a few p...

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 d...

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)...

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...

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 sta...

Happy Good Friday! I’m stepping out into socials with my turn hosting in the Mix-Ability forum. I hope you’ll stay a while, indulge my seemingly high threshold for doing things the hard way, and take something to spark your creativity! I have been eyeing this traditional technique for a few months wondering if there is a way to use my paper crafting supplies to do the same thing. I came across a post by a UK artist who uses drypoint etching as the "stamp", but today I'll share how I tweaked her idea to work with a cling-mounted stamp. I'm not going to lie, it took me several passes to get the technique for this one card down, but if I had the chance I would probably make more! Here are some pros and cons, plus tips to help you decide if you want to try it! Pros: Debossed design similar to an embossing folder Spot of color technique Use your diecut machine for stamping Cons It's a process of art, not a quick project I'm sure there is another con, but it's s...

On your MARKers! What a clever title, right? It is a challenge coming up with things to start off with, but this time it was easy. The phrase is actually the title of my latest hosting gig on Splitcoaststampers. I'm currently slowly working on organizing my art supplies in the re-remodeled room from last year's water leak catastrophe. That means that I've got to go easy on pulling out my supplies. Honestly, it's still a scavenger hunt every time I need a main supply like, let's say, Mono Liquid glue.  Okay, so on to my card and link to go join in on the challenge. Play along in the challenge,  MIX524: On Your MARKers!  over on Splitcoaststampers Mix-Ability Challenge Forum . 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) : Crayola Markers ( AZ ) Plus : Cardstock (white - AZ and choice of 2nd color or...

It's a weird feeling to say it is December and weeks away from 2023. And even more to look back and see just how few posts I've done. My health is doing better, and my crafting space is almost ready to be moved into for the second time (a long story that I may or may not have mentioned in previous posts). Aside from all of that, I'm glad to be able to say I'm still hosting in Splitcoaststampers Mix-Ability challenge and today is my challenge. It always seems like I'm trying to find a quiet and serene place to recharge during the last three months of the year, so I decided to make it part of the challenge.  MIX516: It's Snow Quiet I did a search for winter sky watercolor and did a tutorial which came out really not good, so I searched again and found this tutorial by Projects with Kids , and it was E.A.S.Y. easy. Give it a try! Mix-Ability Forum Supplies : I provide some product links that are through my Amazon Affiliate, and that means when clicked and purchased...

It's fall in my area, and I'm struggling between the fun bright colors of summer and the brilliant shades of fall, but somehow I managed to grab a set of muted pastels for today's project, and it came out better than I had wished! I'm sharing this project with a celebration of a crafting company that has decided to close its doors after 10 amazing years of products and community! Reverse Confetti's Choose Joy and coordinating Confetti Cuts are front and center on my card and it was so much fun to put together! This card is a challenge card for Splitcoaststampers Mix-Ability Forum, and it starts on Friday with MIX508 Common Thread or Knot ! 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) : Choose Joy by Reverse Confetti ( FS ) Choose Joy Confetti Cuts ( FS ) Plus : White Cardstock ( AZ ) Kraft Cardst...

Hooray! It's Friday! And it's a new Mix-Ability challenge on Splitcoaststampers ! Lots of exclamations so far in this post because it is a BIG deal! The challenge has hit its 500th challenge, and we are celebrating with the 5-0-0 up all over the gallery and internet! A post from all of the Mix-Ability hostess can be read here . It’s so interesting to read how each of us decided to lead a challenge.  I have two cards to share today. The first one has some of my very favorite monoprinted and freestyle background paper. The sentiment is made with Lawn Fawn's Giant Hooray die on cardstock painted with metallic gold paint.  Pretty much a party on a card!  The other card is a lot of fun because I started with a printer printout background and added paint layers. The sentiment is from a super sweet photopolymer set by Jane's Doodles called "You've Got This." By this posting, it is sold out, bummer, but there are a ton more adorable and fun options on their websi...

Happy Friday, friends! I'm stopping in so randomly, but I want to share with you a fun technique and a challenge! I came across this mixed media technique called Leaf Stamp Art , go try it out! I added some spatters to make it more spontaneous for my card. Now the reason for my card is a new challenge! I'm hosting the Mix-Ability Challenge on Splitcoaststampers forum. It's a great chance to try a bit of mixed media and turn it into a little gift to mail to a friend! I confess, I’ve been on low-profile mode for a very long time, it’s obvious with my supply list, but I stopped by Your Next Stamp blog and saw they had a link party! Please drop over there to look at the gallery and check out the newest release. Their bubble gum cat is adorable!! That's it from me! Enjoy your weekend and get crafty if you can! 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...

Hi friends! I was so fortunate to drop into my art studio and get some fun sentiment cards done. It just gives me warm fuzzies when I can do that. Today these cards are for the Splitcoaststampers challenge forum, Mix-Ability! I have three cards to share that came together rather quickly for two reasons. I have a pile of monoprints ready to use and three new die cuts that I was so happy to get at a local, walk-in-the-door craft store! I'm so glad they are still open! Lawn Fawn has quite a few "Giant" Lawn Cuts that make for a jiffy card session. I have Giant Sending Big Hugs, Giant Thank You, and Giant Happy Birthday. Each one of my cards attempts to create a vignette. I say attempt because art and mixed media specifically can be jolted into different directions.  Sending Big Hugs is a monoprint on deli paper inspired by the amazingly talented Birgit Koopsen. I made a vignette or transition by painting whirling lines. I meant to cut the paper along the lines, but when I re...