Mixed Media Blog

My first crafting memory goes way back to about age 8. I had attempted to make a paper mâché tunnel for my brother’s toy train. It must have been too humid or the paper mâché consistency too wet. My mother investigated a rancid cheese smell which led her to the garage where my tunnel was found all soggy and moldy. That was to be followed by many many years of fabulous, creative mixed-media experiments ; some successful and some not so much.

Hot pad holders, embroidered pillow cases, bowls made of melted records, jewelry, Mod Podge, Paint-by-Number, ceramics, dried weeds that burst open in the garage, painted wood ornaments, felt Christmas tree skirt and stockings, candles, cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, sewing clothing, folded magazines and paper bags, home decor, stuffed animals, scrapbooks, wood-mounted rubber stamps and always paper, lots and lots of paper.

Classes of all kinds filled my calendar. Remember Stretch and Sew? Cake decorating, appliqué, wood finishing, and finally scrapbook classes and conventions. Jennifer McGuire (not yet McGuire) was one of my first teachers. She was still an engineer teaching at a local scrapbook store in the evening. She led me to Hero Arts. My stamping obsession began and has never ended.

The dream job finally came in semi-retirement . I was named manager of a scrapbook store. There I was all day long with my kind of people. During those years I met Anna Griffin who influenced my style and encouraged me to design scrapbook pages for her and even teach at conventions. Tim Holtz has been my mixed-media guru beginning with an in-person class.

Now retired in my home studio I spend hours every day exploring what can be done with paper and all kind of mediums. The purchase of Altenew’s Vintage Roses led me on a fabulous journey with AECP and my cherished Altenew friends around the world. I teach virtual classes and will return to teaching in-person in March. My projects are posted on my blog pamspaperddiction.com, FaceBook and on Instagram.

My challenge for this post was to make anything but a card. I ordered cupcake boxes from Amazon and looked through my Altenew stash to see what I might use to decorate the boxes.

Hot Foil Plates, Glitter Cardstock ————–and Craft-a-Flowers are my three favorite Altenew products. Combining them is my objective. I have chosen Tiny Patterns Hot Foil Plate Set ———-and Craft-A-Flower Poppy ————-

The guide provided by Altenew gives us important information. Each die is to be used with a different color. Generally the best results come from following the light, medium or dark colors as shown in the guide. You don’t have to use their colors but using their light to dark suggestions is a good idea. It is designed to show the most depth.

I love to get a little fancy. And there’s no better way to add a little glam than with hot foil. Using pinks, reds, golds and white I hot foiled Tiny Patterns in as many combinations as I can think of.

I hope to meet you in a class. I teach about once a month on Bridget Casey’s Free Saturday Workshop. I also teach the second Wednesday evening of each month. Watch Altenew and Facebook Altenew Fan Group for announcements.