Mixed Media Monday ~ Be Joyful Always

Welcome back to my third installment of Mixed Media Monday.  Today's art journal page, is actually a CASE from the very talented Vicky Papaionnou, using items from her newly released collection Create Happiness.

Of course, I added my own spin to her amazing layout using these delightful, stacked teacups from the Pink Dream Ephemera pack. 

  After inking the background using Oxide Inks, I randomly stamped a very old Flora background stamp.  It's so old, I don't even remember the company that made it, but to this day, is still one of my favorite background stamps. I also did some random stenciling using Vicky's Book Stencil

I tucked a vintage post card, from Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Ephemera Pack, behind the teacups and added my verse of the day, "Be joyful always".  I added white gel pen details to the die cuts and black lines around the sentiment to make it stand out.

I can easily get lost in the creation of art journaling.  I hope you enjoyed today's creation as much as I enjoyed the process of making it.

Vicky's entire line of products are so filled with vintage beauty!  I love everything about her style.  

I've linked up many of her products below.  A Cherry On Top Crafts, carries her entire line and she just had a new release, so I hope you'll check them out.  

Entire Create Happiness Line
A5 Stone Paper Journal
Pink Dream Ephemera
Book Stencil
Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Ephemera Pack
A Cherry On Top Crafts

Thanks for stopping by!

Retro Halloween

Hello friends and happy fall!  Our leaves are changing to their brilliant colors, and the temperatures have definitely taken a dive.  I love the colors of fall, but I am not fond of what's coming after.  But I'll stick to the "here and now" and share this quirky card I recently made.  It follows the sketch from The Paper Players Challenge.  

I started with the giant Candy Corn Shaker die from Frantic Stamper, but I opted out of making a shaker card this time.  You can see the previous shaker card I made using this die here.  Instead, I chose to use patterned papers found in my scrap box.

I added the black cat from Elizabeth Craft Designs and a very old button die set from PTI and My Favorite Things.  The little bats are shaker elements from the Candy Corn die set.  This card kind of has a retro feel to me, maybe it's because most of the products I used today are oldies and have been discontinued for a while.  I was feeling sad that my old supplies get overlooked.  

Here's the inspiration sketch:

And you can play along here at The Paper Players

I'll also be adding this card to Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Things That Fall ~ Double D Challenges

Hello everyone!  Today's card is fresh and sweet, and it was made for the new challenge starting up over at Double D Challenges.  The theme of the challenge is "Things That Fall".  

My inspiration came from the falling apples in the top right corner.

I used Sunny Studio Stamps Layered Basket and filled it with apples, peaches and pears from their Fruit Cocktail stamp set.

I absolutely love how the dimension shows up in the stamping, giving the fruits such a realistic look.  

I used Spellbinders Lattice Die for the background.

Here is a list of links that will bring you directly to the products I used today.

And great news!  The Fruit Cocktail sets are currently marked down.

Layered Basket

Fruit Cocktail Stamps

Fruit Cocktail Dies

Sunny Studio Stamps

I hope you enjoyed today's card.  Please visit Double D Challenges to see more amazing inspiration from my talented teammates and join in on the fun!

Here's the prize that will go home to the lucky winner:

Thanks for stopping by!

The Nursery

Hello friends, I wanted to share a card I made using colors for the Color Throwdown challenge. 

I used Honeybee Stamps Rock-A-Bye-Baby die set to create this adorable card.  

I taped the background off and did some ink blending for the floor and the walls, and added some stenciled hearts to the walls using a very old stencil.  But look at the detail these dies have.  You can see the braids in the rug.  It is such a sweet die set.

There's only a couple days left to link up to the Color Throwdown challenge.   I'm getting my card in just under the wire.

You can find this die set at ScrapbookPal

Scrapbook.com

and Honeybee Stamps

I also wanted to share an update on our little grandson.

He's just over a week old and is doing well, breathing on his own.  He lost weight, but put weight back on, so he's now slightly over his birth weight.  He weighs 2 pounds 13 ounces.  He's certainly feisty, as he's pulled the feeding tube out of his nose several times.  I look forward to the day when I can meet him for the first time and hold him.  He's a tiny bundle of joy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Enchanted Garden ~ Spellbinders

Hi friends ~ I'm back today with two more cards using the Enchanted Garden die set from Spellbinders.  Enchanted Garden is part of the Winter Tales Collection that was recently released at Spellbinders.

I had cut so many flowers from each color for my last post that I just had to make more cards.

I embossed the background of my first card with an old FSJ embossing folder called Cozy Knit, but Isuka designed a beautiful embossing folder called Ski Lodge to coordinate with this set.  The puffy Peace sentiment stickers are from Christmas Puffy Sentiment Stickers.  

For this card, I added a sentiment from Layered Mix & Match Sentiments.  One of my favorite sets that you see me use often on my blog.

I like the simplicity of Scandanavian Folk Art design.  I noticed that the style uses a limited color palette, and I find the symmetry to be very organized and calming.   

I enjoyed creating both of these cards and I hope you will check out the full collection and all the NEW ARRIVALS.  While you're there be sure to check out what's COMING SOON. 

Here are some links to some recommended products:

Enchanted Garden

Ski Lodge Embossing Folder

Entire Winter Garden Collection

Layered Mix & Match Sentiments

Christmas Puffy Sentiment Stickers

Spellbinders

*Affiliate disclosure: I only use, review, and blog about products/companies I like and will continue to use. Some of the products shown on my blog use affiliate links. These affiliate links allow me to earn a small commission when products are purchased through those links. *This is at no cost to you!* Please do not feel obligated to use my affiliate links. If you choose to use these links, thank you so much! It helps support my blog and bring new content to you.

Thanks for stopping by!

Winter Tales ~ Spellbinders

Hello friends!  I'm super happy to be introducing you to one of Spellbinders amazing new releases called "Winter Tales Collection".  This entire collection is filled with Scandanavian inspired, Folk Art designs from a "new to me" designer, Isuka Marku.

I instantly fell in love with the Magical Deer die set the moment I saw it. Such a peaceful and majestic deer, don't you think?  

I embossed the background with an old FSJ embossing folder called Cozy Knit, but Isuka designed a beautiful embossing folder called Ski Lodge to coordinate with this set.  The puffy Peace sentiment and gold stars are stickers from Christmas Puffy Sentiment Stickers.  

For my next card, I really wanted to channel my Scandanavian roots, (a large part of my DNA is from Sweden, Denmark & Norway) by adding flowers from the Enchanted Garden set.  

This die set comes with 19 cutting dies and the options for creating the flowers are endless!!

I enjoyed creating both of these cards and I hope you will check out the full collection and all the NEW ARRIVALS.  While you're there be sure to check out what's COMING SOON. 

Here's a list of products I used today:

Magical Deer

Enchanted Garden

Ski Lodge Embossing Folder

Entire Winter Tales Collection

Santa Lane Christmas Kit

Christmas Puffy Sentiment Stickers

Spellbinders

*Affiliate disclosure: I only use, review, and blog about products/companies I like and will continue to use. Some of the products shown on my blog use affiliate links. These affiliate links allow me to earn a small commission when products are purchased through those links. *This is at no cost to you!* Please do not feel obligated to use my affiliate links. If you choose to use these links, thank you so much! It helps support my blog and bring new content to you.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mixed Media Monday ~ Compliments of the Season

Welcome back to my second installment of Mixed Media Monday.  Today's offering is an early Christmas treat I made, just for you!

I began by tearing the edges from a piece of printed scrapbook paper, adhering it to my journal page using Mixed Media Multi Matte Medium.  

Once that was dry, I brushed on three coats of White Heavy Body Acrylic Paint in the center, leaving enough space around the edges so you can still see the gold print, but still allowing it to fade naturally.

I adhered another piece of die cut scrapbooking paper and then started layering the die cut elements.  The flowers and greens are from Spellbinders Santa Lane Floral Die Cut Shapes, and the cutie little instant ancestors are from Idea-Ology Baseboard Dolls by Tim Holtz.

I used a white gel pen to add details to the centers of the flowers and some of the greens.

I hope you enjoyed today's mixed media project as much as I enjoyed creating it.

May your Christmas season be filled with Peace, Love & JOY!

Here's the list of products I've used in today's art journal page:

Stamperia Create Happiness Art Journal

Spellbinders Santa Lane Floral Die Cut Shapes

White Heavy Body Acrylic Paint

Tim Holtz Collage Brushes

Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Baseboard Dolls

Mixed Media Multi Matte Finish

ETA: I'll be adding this project to the Simon Says Monday Challenge, using Die Cuts

Thanks for stopping by!

For This BABY, We Have Prayed

Hello friends!  I'm over the moon excited, to share with you this joyful news, that my daughter Amanda gave birth to a wee little baby boy on September 6th.  YES!  Just yesterday, we welcomed baby boy Swan into the world, via c-section. 

He's a wee little one, weighing just 2 pounds 11 ounces and 15" long, but the staff said he was "feisty".  

As you may or may not recall, my daughter Amanda had another premature baby boy, "Jackson James" back in July of 2019 and sadly, he only lived for five days.  Jackson weighed just over one pound.  Amanda has had a tough time for several years, having lost 7 pregnancies to miscarriage and two live, but premature births (including this one).  We didn't think this day would ever come, that we would have a baby this size and to the term that she was able to carry it.  She made it to 36 weeks and two days.

My heart is overflowing with thankfulness and joy, to finally join the ranks of grand-parenthood.  

And, for even more exciting news, my daughter-in-love, Allison, is also expecting a baby around December 3rd.  Two babies in one year, joining our family.  This is Allison's first pregnancy, and she is doing amazing!  

Truly, my cup runneth over.  By His Grace, and because of His Goodness, I am blessed!

Thanks for indulging me and sharing in my good news.

Thanks for stopping by!

Farm Fresh Mason Jar Card ~ Double D Challenges

Good morning, friends~ It's the first Wednesday of the month so that means it's time for a new challenge over at Double D Challenges.  The theme is "Baa-Cluck-Moo-Neigh-Oink-Quack", or in my case.... "Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!"

I was stumped on what I was going to do for this challenge, as I don't have many farm animal stamps or dies, but I did find this Rooster from Papertrey Ink, that had been sitting in my NBUS pile.  

The card base was made using Honey Bee Stamps Mason Jar Card.  I love the generous size of this die.  It allows plenty of room for this handsome rooster.

The flowers are from Spellbinders Garden Shutters Collection, "Daisy Delight" and the "Picket Fence" is from Amy Design.

Here's a list of products I used to make today's card:

Papertrey Ink Feathered Friends #20 Rooster
Honey Bee Stamps Mason Jar Card
Spellbinders Garden Shutters Daisy Delight
Amy Design Picket Fence

Please stop in and visit Double D Challenges to see what my talented teammates came up with.  Here's the mood board to help inspire you:

And here's what you could win when you play along.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lush Geraniums

Good morning, friends, and happy Labor Day if you're in the US. 

 My grandmother always grew red geraniums in her breezeway.  It was a room filled with windows on both the front and back, so it got lots of sunlight.  I remember a feeling of warmth washing over me whenever I stepped through the door into her home.  

I believe my love for gardening came from her, as I have so many fond memories of her tending to her flower gardens outside in the summertime and caring for her geraniums all throughout the long, cold Maine winters.  

Every summer, I add geraniums to my list of potted plants to put on the patio or in various containers around our yard, but I like to mix up the colors.  The salmon-colored geraniums are among my favorites.  

I used Poppystamps Brilliant Geraniums for today's cards.  I cut so many that I was able to make two cards.  

I added a bit of glitter to the edges of the flowers to make them sparkle and shine.  The Poe Script Happy Birthday die cut sentiment is also from Poppystamps.  I cut it twice out of black cardstock and a matte finish gold cardstock and layered them offset so the black gave the illusion of a shadow.  

I'll be entering one of these cards into the Poppystamps Anything Goes challenge

and the Flower Challenge, since I added some sparkle to the flowers.

  I'll also enter one card into the Simon Says Wednesday, Anything Goes challenge.  

Here's a list of links to the products I used today:

Poppystamps Brilliant Geraniums

Poppystamps Poe Script Happy Birthday

Thanks for stopping by!