Swimming Through Tears: Mixed Media Card

Swimming Through Tears

As of late, I feel as though the theme of my posts have been a bit melancholy. So today I am keeping with it.

Life is good, but busy. I have an article coming due here very soon and I took several hours today to sit and write. As I was writing, the direction of my article took a very different turn than originally planned. You know- when you’r in the moment and the words just flow regardless of whether or not they all make sense. As I was writing, my thoughts somehow focused on my grandparents and the very specific ways that they influenced me.

My Grandfather was the one that taught me to paint. Taught me to go out of my comfort zone when it came to darks and lights. He used to say that it is better to over work it then under work it when it came to shadows. I always struggled with that aspect of drawing and painting. As I sat there writing and re-reading it aloud to myself, I started crying. It has been a little over 11 years since my Grandfather passed. I was crying over the memories that I had forgotten. The memories that I didn’t even know were memories. Sadness overwhelming me because I realize how short a lifetime really is. How sad is it that our lives can be forgotten so quickly and even by those that were a integral part of it.

While, I may have been more emotional than usual today, I realize here and now that all the ‘busyness’ that I get caught up in and the crafty ideas that I allow to consume me, none of these things will count when I am dead. No one will care that I had a blog, or that my journals were published, that my head was full of amazing ideas that never made it to paper, or that I worked extra hard to clean my house before people came to visit. In the end, all that we remember are the times that others invested into our lives and the memories that we made just being together.

So, my word of advise for today is to spend some time making memories and creating influential encounters so that when you pass on, people not only have nice words to say about you or your accomplishments but they have a emotional connection, a memory that they want to hold onto. And making them shed some tears would be great too. Because, lets face it, we all want someone to feel miserable over us when we die. 😉 I certainly do.

Creating the Card

Last week I put together this background and was none too pleased with the outcome. The other day I sat down and felt inspired. I had all these lovely stamped images (PaperArtsy) sitting around me so I cut them out and glued them on. And Wa-la! A finished card using table scraps.

It’s Tea Day

Thank you for reading my long and very drawn-out thoughts today. Hope you had a cup of something yummy to drink as you read my post, especially if you are playing along with Elizabeth. This was my AMAZING Goodwill find last week.  $158 worth of Teavana loose tea, tea tins and rock sugar all for… $2.97. Brand new, of course. I haven’t tried any of them yet because… “Hi, my name is Kate and I am a Tea hoarder.”

Happy Tea Day,

Kate

Challenges Entered:

Love To Craft: March Anything Goes

A Inky Mess:Challenge 18 Anything Goes

 That’s Crafty: Spring Into Action

Crafty Creations: Anything Goes

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A Shiny Christmas: Mixed Media Christmas Tag

Shiny Christmas

As I sit in my favorite sunken in spot on the couch, I am watching a episode of Supernatural with the hubby and enjoying the shine of the Christmas lights twinkling through my house. I love the extra glow that the Christmas lights make when they reflect off the silver and gold mercury glass baubles on my tree. Isn’t Christmas the coziest time of the year?

Making Tag #8

Inspiration

Linda over at the Funkie Junkie is almost finished with her 12 Tags of Christmas while I am only on tag #8. You can See Linda’s #8 Tag HERE. I am taking my inspiration from her lovely embossed background,  pastel colors Broken China and Worn Lipstick as well as the metallic silver. Her amazing store, The Funkie Junkie Boutique is sponsoring this challenge.

Making the Tag

Now that I look at it, it needs more foliage. But sometimes you don’t want to go back and re-due it.

So, I painted my background with Spun Sugar and Broken China Distress Paint. I embossed in silver over the embossed background. The stamped image is from Lynne Perrella and the ferns are from I Am Roses. The sentiment is also from a Lynne Perrella stamp set and the background was painted with worn lipstick Distress Paint. I added a bit of lace and Stickles to finish off the tag.

Thank you for stopping. And a Happy Tea Day for those of you joining Elizabeth.

Kate

Challenges Entered:

12 Days of Christmas Tag #8: The Funkie Junkie

Christmas Is Coming: Mixed Media Card

Holly Leaves and Snow

Thanksgiving was full of amazing food and conversation. The next day we went to Walmart because we always shop for blu rays when they are on sale. After that, I dug out my Christmas decor and decorated to my hearts content. It took me several hours, lots of glitter and hundreds of pine needles to sweep up! Sounds like fun, huh? Maybe I will share some of my Christmas decor in another post.

What is your favorite Christmas decoration?

I am a bit behind on my tags/cards for the 12 Tags of Christmas over at The Funkie Junkie so I am going to share two today.

First up is my Card #5. You can see Linda’s tag HERE. The inspiration for my card was drawn from the framed vintage Santa and the holly leaves on Linda’s tag.

Making Card #5

I started off by spraying my background paper with Lindy’s and PaperArtsy Infusions. I stenciled the background before embossing it with snow flakes. My vintage Santa was stamped and framed. I stamped several holly leaves on patterned paper, layered them and added Stickles and liquid pearls.

It’s Christmas

Here is my tag #6. You can see Linda’s tag HERE. My inspiration from Linda’s tag was drawn from her doily and the snow. I used a doily stencil in the background and embossed with white around the edges to look like snow.

Making Tag #6

I used texture paste through a stencil and painted with fresco finish paints and daubed it with green and gold ink. I stamped over top with a script stamp. The kids are cut out of a Artistic Outpost stamp. The peach maple leaves and white flower centers are from I Am Roses. I added some black thread and a white die cut border.

Check out Linda’s Boutique.

Thanks for stopping by.

Kate

Challenges Entered:

12 Tags of Christmas(Tags #5 & #6): The Funkie Junkie

I Am Roses: November Challenge  (STDA15, ZQL4 – 700 )

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge: Anything Christmas Goes

 

 

 

When the Sky Rains Pearls: Mixed Media Christmas Card

Raining Pearls

As I sit here, I can’t think of a topic to discuss that goes with the title of my post. Maybe that is because at the moment I am very distracted by the Hallmark Christmas movie I am watching. And my brain is exhausted because I have used up all my brain cells sewing this week.

So, I will leave you with some pictures of my very simple Christmas card.

 

Creating The Card

Inspiration

My fourth card for the 12 Tags of Christmas over at The Funkie Junkie sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique. You can see Linda’s tag HERE. I have taken my inspiration from Linda’s embossed holly background, pearly snow and the silhouette.

The Process

I used book paper for my background and embossed it with green holly leaves. I haven’t taken out my umbrella man in many years so this was the perfect opportunity to use him. He has been cut from black card stock with an underlying silver metallic. I decorated the umbrella man by using gold ink, a unity stamp and covered it in clear embossing powder.

Thank you for stopping. I know it is not my usual journal page but I haven’t had a lot of time or inspiration as of late. I appreciate you sticking with me. Have a great weekend!

Kate

Products Used:

Challenges Entered:

#4 of 12 Tags of Christmas: The Funkie Junkie

The Merry Christmas Challenge: #43 Anything Christmas

The Crafty Addicts Challenge: #42 Anything Goes Christmas

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Mixed Media Card

A Most Wonderful Time

I am having a very productive week due to extra crafting time. I haven’t done much paper crafting though. I have been making another dress for my little sweetie to wear for Thanksgiving. And this time I even made a matching purse. I found some lovely lace off of Amazon to embellish the bottom of the dress.

She will be the best dressed at the thanksgiving table!

Creating the Card

Inspiration

My background was inspired by Linda’s third tag for her 12 Tags of Christmas sponsored by her Funkie Junkie Boutique. I loved her red and white candy cane stripes. I started out trying to make stripes by dripping paint but it didn’t quite turn out as expected so I painted the stripes with a brush. I also love the white lights on her tag so I added some dyed crochet thread and added liquid pearls to look like string lights.

The Process

The base is craft paper and then I layered my stripe background. I am always trying to use up old scraps so the circle die cut is a leftover that has been embossed with music notes. The stamps are from PaperArtsy. I absolutely love this cloche with the ornaments. I added paints to color the images and added some liquid pearls.

And today I am playing along with Elizabeth for Tea Day. As you can see, it is a cloudy autumn day. But as always, I am sipping tea!

Challenges Entered

12 Days Of Christmas #3: The Funkie Junkie Boutique

The Holly and Ivy Christmas: #19 Anything Goes

Christmas at Sweet Stamping: Anything Christmas Goes

The Merry Christmas Challenge: Anything Goes/Christmas

Skating Through The Holidays: Mixed Media Christmas Card

Skating Through The Holidays

Wow! I cannot believe the holidays are upon us. We are practicing our church Christmas cantata in earnest and I am starting to make holiday dinner plans! This time of year is always exciting, especially when I browse through Pinterest, but it also tends to be very overwhelming. I don’t handle stress very well so while I have huge aspirations for holiday entertaining and decor, stress wins out and my family usually has to settle for one kind of cookie instead of a buffet of sweets.

But that’s ok. At this time in my life I rather spend time enjoying my little people. Instead of trying to be a supermom in the kitchen and having a magazine worthy home I want my kids to remember me as being happy during the holidays instead of a crazy monster. I wish I could have the perfect balance but let’s face it, we all have more to do in life besides focus on holiday fun.

So, instead of stressing this year I am going to try and enjoy the blessings in my life, focus on the true meaning of Christmas which is Christ’s Birth and plan in a few fun events.

Creating The Card

Inspiration

Over at the Funkie Junkie, Linda is having her 12 tags of Christmas sponsored by her store the Funkie Junkie Boutique. I am very behind but better late than never. Here is my week #2 card. You can see Linda’s week #2 tag HERE. My inspiration for this card was her beautiful textured background which reminded me of embossing and the snowflakes.

The Process

I used a brown grocery bag as my base. I then layered a embossed  piece of cardstock, applied a gesso wash and some sprays. My embellishments include a die cut frame, Tim Holtz pinecone leaves, fiber, roses and stamps from Artistic Outpost’s Skating Emporium.

Thank you for looking. Have a great Weekend,

Kate

Challenges Entered:

12 Tags of Christmas: The Funkie Junkie

Simon Says Stamp: Snow White

The Holly and Ivy: Anything Christmas

Christmas Card Challenge: #25 Anything Christmas

Creative Inspirations: Sparkle

The Little Boy With the Knit Cap: Mixed Media Christmas Card

Knit Caps and Stockings

Speaking of knit caps, I can’t believe how cold it got this week. The leaves are gorgeous shades of golden, red and orange and we finally have the weather to match. I makes me so very thankful for a warm shelter!

And speaking of knitting, I don’t know if any of you knit but every year around this time I think, “Oh yeah, I was going to make Christmas stockings.” I rush and make one before Christmas and then loose interest because I know I have a whole year before we need the next one. Well, I made two last year and one the year before. Since we are a family of 5 that leaves me with 2 left to make. Last year my husband requested camouflage yarn for his stocking. I said NO WAY! That redneck trend does not fit into my Boho Christmas decor. Much to my dismay when I went online to look, I found that they do sell camouflage yarn.  The one below is the prettiest camo available but still too dark for my taste.

So, I pulled out my yarn bin yesterday, in an attempt to be productive and my hubby chose a very soft and pretty Navy Blue for his stocking. If you are interested, I am using this free Knit Cable Stocking pattern by Red Heart. I have found it quite easy and it stretches to allow room for lots of goodies! That was the number one criteria for my hubby. Haha. You can tell he likes his boxes of movie theater candy from the dollar store.

Creating the Card

Inspiration

It has been AGES since I have created a card. Ok, not really but a few months. I have been spending a lot of time browsing blog land lately and I came across an old friend, Linda over at the Funkie Junkie. I haven’t kept up with her lovely art since taking a blog break but now I am back and amazed all over again by her neutral color palette, textured backgrounds and elegant style!

She is hosting her annual 12 Tags of Christmas and I thought I would play along this year. I am going to be sharing mostly cards but maybe a few tags. The Funkie Junkie Boutique sponsors this challenge.

Part of the challenge is to be inspired by something on Linda’s tag. For her week #1 tag, I was inspired by the color palette (brown and green) as well as the greenery and sparkly snow.

The Process

To make the card, I took a torn piece of book paper, stamped with embossing ink, applied PaperArtsy Infusion granules and spritzed the background with water. Once dry, I adhered it to the card background and stamped. Lastly, I layered my stamped images.

And I am playing along with Bluebeard and Elizabeth for T Day. Don’t mind my messy side table. I am in the middle of a lot of books with little time to read.

Thank you for stopping by and Happy Tea Day,

Kate

Challenges Entered:

The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas: Tag #1

That’s Crafty Challenge: Forever Floral

Christmas Card Challenge: #24

 

A Vintage Little Darling: Mixed Media Card

Crazy Kicks In

Just when I though life couldn’t get more busy I was looking over my weekly calendar and I have something going on everyday this week. Something besides regular life. I have a baby shower at the end of this week so I am frantically putting together a practice cake. It is going rather slow and I am wondering if I am going to get the practice cake done before I have to start the real cake. I am trying my hand at one of those beautiful naked cakes, something I have always wanted to try. It is only two tiers but 4 cakes all together. Along with a cake, I am making a banner, guest book and in charge of games. I found a rather humorous game that is new to me. It is called ‘Crap Happens.” You take 4-6 diapers and melt different chocolate bars inside the diaper. The guests then have to guess what kind of chocolate bar each diaper has inside. I love this idea because it look like real poop! Even at 33 years old I can’t contain a giggle when someone says poop.

As you can see I am slaving away making cake, games with chocolate and mixed media crafts. Haha! So, with limited crafty time this week I only have this card to share.

Creating the Mixed Media Card

The Challenge

In my few minutes to craft this week I decided to keep it simple and make a card. My goal was to clear up a bit of the mess on my worktable. I think a neat work space is a dream because lets face it…who can create when everything is put in it’s proper place? So, I challenged myself  to only use items on my work table for this card. The image was taken from an older project  that was collecting dust. And the stamped sentiment was leftover from a previous project. It feels so good to use up scraps.

Tea Day

And while I am typing this post, I am drinking tea and my elderberry syrup is simmering away on the stove, making my house smell like Christmas (cloves, cinnamon, ginger). I love making my own medicine especially now that the school year is here. My kids always end up sick once school starts so we use a lot of elderberry syrup. And did I mention that it is yummy?!!

Happy Tea Day!

Kate

Challenges Entered:

Creative Inspirations Challenge: Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread Challenge: Anything Goes

A Bit More Time To Craft: Anything Goes

It’s A Baby Boom: Mixed Media Cards

Baby Blessings

There seems to be periods in life where everyone I know is pregnant and having babies. While that time for me is past, I love that my friends and family are still going through these exciting times. That newborn smell, the chest snuggles, little sighs, whimpers and off course the miniature clothes still send my mommy hormones into a frenzy!

After losing one precious baby of my own, I feel as though I will never again take the ability to get pregnant or carry a child for granted. So, being in the presence of tiny people always brings a tear of joy for the gift and miracle of life but also a tear of sorrow for Faolan, my sweet baby residing with Jesus.I think now I am also a bit more sensitive to those around me that don’t have children possibly because they have lost some or are unable to conceive. But despite all this, baby’s are a joyous event! And there is NO reason not to be happy for new life.

Speaking of baby showers, what is your favorite handmade or store bought gift to give?

So, here is how I made the cards. 😉

Creating the Mixed Media Card

The first card was made using patterned paper as the background. I added several paints and gesso in the background. Once the paint dried I add a floral stamp over top the background, despite the floral background paper. I dipped my gesso lid in gesso and stamped that in the background and outlined it with a black pen. Lastly, I added a die cut and stamped a sentiment.

The second card is relatively simple. I stamped a Japanese wave and added a painted Tim Holtz heart chipboard. The sentiment and baby image is by Pink Persimmon. Lastly, I added Tim Holtz Pine Cone Roses and some fiber.

Thank you for visiting. And don’t forget to tell me your favorite gift to give to new baby’s.

Products Used:

Challenges Entered:

Craft Stamper: September Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft: September Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft- #52 Anything Goes

We Love 2 Create- Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes

 

The European Tourist: Mixed Media Pamphlet Card

The European Tourist

Since my card is European themed I guess I have to talk about Europe. Only, I don’t have a whole lot to say because I have never been there. But, Europe is certainly on my bucket list along with a very long list of other places to visit. I copied a few things from my bucket list to give you an idea of what I had in mind.

• Visit Scotland – stay in castle, see the ‘Highland Games’, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
• Visit England- see the Crown Jewels, Buckingham Palace, take a Harry Potter filming tour, eat in a tea room, Egyptian Collection at the British Museum, 21B Baker Street, Jane Austen’s Home, Bookshops
• Visit France- Walk to the top of the Eiffel Tower, Mont St-Michel, Nice, D-Day Beaches, Luxembourg Gardens, Louvre,
• Visit Ireland- Cong Village (Quiet Man location), Kiss the Blarney Stone, eat in a Pub, Long Room at the Trinity College Library
• Cruise the Mediterranean
• Ride a Gondola in Venice

Since I have never been to Europe I would love to hear your suggestions, to a future tourist, of where your favorite or most memorable spots are. They don’t have to be in the countries I mentioned. They can be anywhere because guess what…my list is really long! And I don’t mind making it longer. 😉

 

Creating the Pamphlet Card

This project was created for the Aall and Create ITAC’17 European Challenge.  I was especially inspired by Dee Dee Catron’s Pamphlet. I made my own version of a pamphlet card using the same technique for assemblage as demonstrated in Dee Dee’s video.

The Cover

I covered my card with various old European book texts and advertisements. I stamped the background with a map stamp and a Japanese wave stamp for texture. A number and letter stencil was used in the background. Fresco Finish and Distress Paints in various Blue‘s were dripped in the background. I stitched around the edges with a sewing machine. I then started layering all my embellishments. The bottom layer is Seth Apter’s new stamp by PaperArtsy, followed by book paper, a few modern die cuts, Tim Holtz Chipboard and an Artistic Outpost stamp with a face.

Related European Art: French Inspired Wall Hanging,  Artistic Outpost in Paris , Mind the Gap Mail Art, British Tea Canvas, Cheerio Card,

The Inside

I kept the inside relatively simple. I cut out a Tim Holtz cabinet card die cut and used it as a pocket. The vintage housewife is from Lost Coast Designs. She is surrounded by UmWow Studio chipboard circles and a few other embellishments.

Thank you for looking! And don’t forget to leave me suggestions of your favorite European spots or spots on your bucket list.

Kate

Challenges Entered:

 Aall and Create: Challenge 1: Europe  #itac17 #AALLtournament2017 #aallandcreate

Creative Artiste: Challenge 29 Anything Goes

Crafty Creations: #348 Anything Goes

More Mixed Media Challenge: Anything Goes

Frilly And Funkie Challenge: On the Cutting Edge

Hop into Spring with Mixed Media Tags

Mixed Media Easter/ Spring Tags

 

Here are a few more Spring tags. The backgrounds are made using stamping, ink sprays and Distress Inks. The roses were made using the Tim Holtz Pine Cone Die. I used a few die cuts and some tissue tape in the background as well. All the items I used are below.

This tag has a bit of vintage lace in the background that was sprayed to achieve the colors I wanted.

More Spring Project Inspiration on My Blog.

Click on the picture to view the Spring themed Project.

“Tea, Madam?”

Mixed Media Lynne Perrella Card

Lynne Perrella just happens to be my most favorite stamp designer over at PaperArtsy. Her stamps are vintage, unique and very fun to color. I color all my images using Tim Holtz Distress Markers.

All I do is use the marker on a non-stick mat, add some water to the  Distress Markers and my paint brush and then I paint my image. Just make sure you are using a Archival Ink Pad as this keeps your image from bleeding as you paint. These  Ink Pads by Ranger are my absolute favorite!

I used embossing, stamping and spray inks in my background. A few of the embellishments are vintage trinkets that I received from a friend.

Don’t you just love that tea cup on her head? If only I could get away with wearing a hat like that!

Spring Brings Bunnies

Spring VS Easter?

I have a few cards to share along the spring theme. I hesitate to say Easter themed as Easter to me is not about bunnies and eggs, it is about Christ’s resurrection from the grave. That being said, I love bunnies and a good Cadbury egg (caramel/creme filled). Just thinking about it makes me want to head out to Walmart right now to grab some.

Above is a spring themed door hanging. I stitched around the outside and used a few Tim Holtz Stickers and roses from his Sizzix Bigz Die – Tattered Pinecone. My base is a plain old paper bag!

Bunnies Are Cuddly?

My favorite part of this card is the background stamping and vibrant color using Dyan Reaveley’s Dylusions Ink Spray, Fresh Lime . It definitely reminds me of spring. And what a great bunny! He is a lot cuter than most of the white rabbit stamps I have. This one looks very cute and cuddly. I used one of my favorite Spellbinders Nestabilities Floral Ovals Die in the background to frame out the bunny.

As long as I can remember my youngest son has been obsessed with bunnies. It doesn’t matter if it is a paper bunny or a stamped bunny, he wants to hug it and sleep with it. For Christmas he received several ‘user manuals’ on how to care for bunnies. Has he read them…probably not. But sometime soon my husband plans on building a bunny hutch and we are going to start a bunny family. I just hope we don’t end with a Snowball (The Secret Life of Pets ) or my son might come out scarred for life.

Another card that I really like the background. Drippy paint is my thing but so are the bright colors. I used a wood grain stamp in the background and just added a few K&Company Layered Butterflies and other die cut transparencies I had laying around.

What is your favorite part about spring?

Mine is the blooming flowers, emerging sunshine and shedding of winter clothes.

Thanks for stopping,

Kate

Happy Spring Cards

 

Time Is Short So Hurry, Hurry, Hurry…

I have not been making a lot of cards lately because of time constraints. Whenever I have a chance to create, I spend most of it art journaling or chasing my toddler. One of my best friends is so inspirational as she sends a card out for every holiday. I on the other hand am lucky to get a card out on time for birthdays. Shame on me but I missed most of my friends birthdays this year. Thankfully they are understanding and I don’t think they will hold it against me.

Mixed Media Cards

It took me several days too complete these but I got two new cards made!! I used a few Spring themed stamps that were gifted to me (Thanks, Patti K.!).

 Background: Fresco Finish Paints, gesso, Stamps, 7 Gypsies Paper

Focal Image: Stampin Up Stamps (Flowers and Bunnies), PaperArtsy (Single Flower)

Thank you for stopping!

 

 

Hearts For My Man

Masculine Card

Recently, I wanted to show my husband some love by making him a special card but I didn’t want it to be girly. I have this problem often as I love flowers and pretty images. I didn’t want to dig out all my Tim Holtz images so I challenged myself to use what was on my desk. Here is what I used:

• a piece of paper with some left over colored spray,
• a heart stamp
• colored pens

First, I stamped the hearts, cut them out and glued them down. Next I doodled with some pens and that’s it! I put it in a transparent envelope and I had a romantic yet masculine card for my man.

Who says that cards need to be complicated?

Favorite Masculine Makes

If you need some inspiration, here are a few of my favorite masculine makes from the past.

Go Team

Birthday Card for Tim Holtz

Man Genius

Tim’s September Tag