Mixed Media Monthly Challenge for October

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog has been such a fun thing to be a designer for. I have enjoyed coming up with new ideas to use supplies and "mixing up" the media! I hope you can participate in the October challenge.

The October challenge is to use ribbons! I have always loved using ribbons in my scrapbooking and cardmaking. In my heavy paper crafting days, I had a tendency to collect and hoard ribbon, including keeping even an inch of scrap or lace trim. I'm sure some of you can relate! When I found out our challenge for October was ribbons, I was so happy.

Our sponsor for this month is May Arts. They are awarding our challenge winner with three spools of fall inspired ribbon.

My project for this challenge is a 11" x 5.5" wide piece of lumber. I collaged papers on it, then added fabric flowers and ribbon. The gold leaves is actually ribbon, and I also used a bit of green cotton trim. Flowers are always in fashion, right??

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have been inspired to participate in the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge. Link up your projects on the October challenge post here. We can't wait to see what you create!

Happy Birthday, Rachal!

It's Rachel's birthday and we are having a birthday card hop! 

Rachel is the wonderful co-director at the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog. The girls at Mixed Media  Monthly Challenge Blog want to wish Rachel Kleinman a Happy! Happy! Happy! Birthday! We all created cards for the occasion. 

Here's mine! 

I used some papers and embellishments from an older Cupcardstogo Card Kit, corrogated papers, and a Kim Hughes stamp. 

If you are coming to this page from a non-hop link, then back track to Lynn's page to see the previous card.

The next card on this hop is on Lalo's page. 

If you would like to wish Rachel a Happy Birthday, hop over to her blog and leave her some birthday wishes.

Thanks for stopping by!

September.....

I have to say... I'm just not ready for summer to end, and technically it's still "summer" until September 23rd, but, as my previous post said - I'm just not ready. (sigh)

Nevertheless, my calendar is full of activities and events that include art, theater, family and friends and other adventures. It's going to be a new season...

This past month has been a heavy, heavy, heavy one. We lost a precious, precious lady - my sweet mother-in-law in early August. She is buried about 10 feet away from our grandson,who we lost nine months previous. I'm thankful for my faith, and I have no doubt that she and he are having a wonderfully sweet time in heaven along with others that have welcomed them. August was also our grandson's birth month. We spent his one year birthday releasing balloons into heaven. It may seem silly because we know they won't reach heaven, but it's therapeutic for the family, and I believe that there is a tiny window in heaven and that his grandmother was holding him up so he could get a peek......

So... just maybe it is, afterall, the right time to turn the calendar page.

Which brings something FUN! The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog has been met with a huge amount of participation! Thanks to everyone who has created for it. If you haven't heard of it, or haven't joined in - check it out! We have a fun challenge for September and a fun sponsor. Our challenge is for you to create something using mixed media techniques, using this photo for your inspiration.

The design team has had so much fun with this inspiration. I was inspired by the colors as well as the flower.

I used various patterned papers, die cuts, stickers, fabric, stamps, ink, paint and tape on wood for this fun creation.

Link your project inspired by the photo before the end of September at the MMMC website. A random winner from all entries will receive a $25 gift certificate from Ellen Hutson !

Thanks for stopping by and happy creating!!!

The Summer of the Sun

Or sand....

I don't want this summer to end. I have been forever spoiled by beautiful beaches and magical sunsets. 

I visited the beaches of Fort Morgan, Alabama for a few days at the end of July. If you have never sat on the beach until the sun sets, please put it on your list. Golden glows on the waters is magical.

Back at home the next week, the August art crawl was so well attended that it was mind blowing. Sugar Gallery was out of food and beverages in the first 90 minutes.

The tv station even came out.

I can't believe that summer is almost over. As I write this, our students are in their first week of school. 

And in the studio, I'm still in the coastal mind. 

Sun and sand. 

Need to find a cure.

August Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!

August is the month of the "last hurrah's" for summer. (We don't even really want to think about the fact that many schools start mid-month. (bummer).

But the team at  Mixed Media Monthly Challenge have a fun challenge for our creative folks. This monthl our challenge is to use modeling paste (molding paste) along with stencils. How fun is that. Modeling paste (Golden Paints call their brand molding paste) is so fun to use. If you aren't familiar, it's a thick creamy substance that creates a textured ground for painting, collage or sculpture. It dried opaque white, stiff and hard. What's extra cool about it is that you can add your paint with it and make it any color you want!

In my challenge, I used a paper collage background and let it dry. I wasn't sure what I was going to do as far as the image, but I left for a week on the beach. When I came back, I was still in coastal living mode, that I added Bahama Blue to the modeling paste and randomly used some stencils.  I used a palette knife to spread it out. I don't cover every single inch with the paste while using the stencil. I like the mystery of unfound edges in my application.

 I let it dry for several days (It should dry in an hour or two). I worked on another painting because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do on this piece. After about a week or so, I had a friend that wanted a beach painting for her place on the beach, and I knew just the thing.

I painted this beach bungalow on it. You can still see the texture of the paste and the patterned papers peeking through. It's much more interesting in person. I had so much fun, I'm doing a few more.

So if you are new to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge, here is what to do - and there is a chance to win a prize! Create something (card, layout, craft, art, etc) and include modeling paste and stencils in your creation. Post a link to the image on the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge August Post (there will be a place to upload your link), and follow all the directions on your post. A random drawing will select one winner and that person will win a gift certificate from our sponsor Eclectic Paperie! 

We can't wait to see what you create! Thanks for stopping by. You have all month to create and upload your image.

My Visit to Grayton Beach

I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a week in a huge beach house on Grayton Beach. Need I say more?

It was more than a "week at the beach". My daughter went with my friend's youth group, and I tagged along to cook the meals (well, most of them) for 13 youth.  I can't say anything but what an adventure to stay for 7 nights in a three-story house with these kids. We had a craft project for a children's shelter and on another day we went to a homeless mission to cook a meal and help in their clothing shop. The youth were amazing to get to know. They helped me in the kitchen, and we had many laughs over lots of silly things.  I cried when we walked the streets of Grayton singing Hillsong United's "Oceans", while their leaders prepared a special surprise for them at the house. It was a week like no other in both mine and my daughter's life, and got closer to one another over the week as well. God never disappoints. Here are some photos that need no words.

I entertained myself while on the beach by posting "celebrity" photos on my instagram. My friend were sad when my trip was over because they were getting a kick out of the, so I will be going on another trip soon, so if you like quirky stuff, follow me and see what this busy beach girl is up to this summer.

On the drive home, I had the idea to create a painting from the "Oceans" (Where Feet May Fail) song. Here is the painting, which I named "Take Me Deeper". It's mixed media. 

I am still painting more island / beach themed art. I''m currently taking commissions until August 15 for beach themed art (or any art, but right now my mind is on salt and sea). Thanks for stopping by!

Springtime in Paris Mixed Media

I had so much fun working on this piece. I have had Paris on my mind since this spring, so when I started my "Let It Go" mixed media class, I made a collage background using papers that made me think of springtime in Paris.

The Paris inspired piece is the larger one with the "lady" image.

I painted my design on it, and started painting on the background for my students.

 It was going so great. Then I left it behind while I went on to other projects and paintings. But, alas, Paris is still in my heart! I picked it up last weekend and, at least in my mind, I was there - in Paris.

I shared an in-progress piece on my facebook page and within the hour (it seemed) I had someone wanting it. I shipped it to California a few days later. It always makes me so happy when a painting speaks to someone and it finds it's way "home". It's even a bigger honor when your art is in an avid art collectors home, hanging in the collection of noteworthy French artists! I wish I could tour that home!

Thanks to my readers, those that follow my facebook page, and better yet - my collectors. Life is good today...As I write this blog, I'm enjoying some of the bluest waters and sugar-white sands in our great nation - the Gulf Coast, half way between Panama City Beach and Destin,

I'm soaking the sun, breathing salt-water air, and enjoying the great company of merry hearts.  I'm posting photos on my facebook AND on my Instagram. Follow my Instagram Here.

And mixed media artists - don't forget to take part in the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge blog this month. We have TWO prizes to randomly give out from DieCutsWithAView - our July sponsor. Thanks for stopping by and happy creating!!