My Mondays Mixed Media Journal Page #4 on 6 July 2026

Welcome to Becca's Heart for Creativity!, a personal crafting blog!

who: Hello, I'm Becca S, a 60+ year old artsy-craftsy Midwesterner! My hubby and I have been married for 30+ years now! And we're starting our 6th year together as fur parents to Mister Bennett. We've been told that his age is either 15 or 16 and that he's a Chihuahua-Miniature Schnauzer mix with possibly some kind of terrier. He's a handsome little guy and gathers new admiring fans wherever he goes! <3

when: Monday = My Mondays Mixed Media Journal Page #4 on July 6, 2026. Blog post was finished at 12:05 am on Tuesday July 7th.  

why: In March 2025 I started a "My Mondays Mondrian Journal Page" notebook and finished that about 2 months ago. Now I've switched to a mixed media art journal that is quirky and sometimes misses the mark a bit but it's a chance for me to experiment for an hour or so and see what comes about. 

what: Today's influence is a little inlet at a lake that my husband and I spent some time at different coves and marinas for a couple of hours this afternoon (Mon/July 6). It's our third time over the past year for us to visit this lake that's 2 hours from our home. The inlet's water was very green and lots of trees' leaves hanging out and/or over the green-looking water. 

how: colored pencils, ink/stamp pad, markers (washable and alcohol); stamping, stenciling, tracing type of stenciling, coloring

1. flower and leaf stamp cluster used in the bottom area + butterfly used 2x = Never Grow Up stamp set by 

2. two leafy stem stamps = from a foliage stamp set by Crafter's Square

3. triangle shape stencil sheet = "Cracked" by Pink & Main

4. dark green and brown irregular lines were border/edge of a stencil ruler = ruler set has shapes, letters, numbers, borders = a very old set found at my mom's house...probably 40-50 years old!!!!

5. colored pencils (3 tones of green, brown, gray, light blue and a reddish-brown) = Marvy Uchida/stash box

6. Grass Green alcohol marker (dual tip) = Arteza

7. washable markers in dark green, brown = Jot 

8. 'live in the moment' text strip ephemera = Dreamer (pack) by American Crafts

9. black stamp pad/ink = Hero Arts

LINK-UPs:

1A. Mix It Up Challenge Blog; new on July 1st & open until Aug 15; anything goes mixed media (opt of shaped card); My art journal page is for AG mixed media w/ stamping, stenciling, coloring, different types of markers and stamp pad ink, 

link = https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/07/miucb-84-anything-goes-optional-shape.html

1B. The Outlawz Anything But A Card; new on July 1; theme is in the blog title; My art journal page has stamping/ink-stamp pad, stenciling with alcohol marker, coloring with colored pencils and stencil tracing using washable markers

link = https://tolanythingbutacard.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-outlawz-anything-but-card-july.html

1C. Love To Craft; new on July 1 & open until Aug 15; anything goes; I'm sharing my mixed media art journal page; it's a very loose interpretation for an inlet cove lake scene just feet away from where my husband and I sat on a picnic table bench looking at the lake about 100 feet the opposite direction! 

link = https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/07/ltccb-93-and-ltccb-92-winner-and-top.html

1D. A Place to Start; new on Monday July 6; anything goes (opt of black and white); My art journal page has lots of greens, a bit of gray and light blue, also some browns to mimic, be a very loose artistic interpretation of a small inlet cove of a lake with the water looking green lots of trees, leaves and other plants surrounding

link = https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/07/challenge-202607-anything-goes-wopt.html

1E. 613 Avenue Create; new on Sunday July 5; anything goes (opt of any holiday); My art journal page is a very loose artistic interpretation of a small inlet cove of a lake with the water looking green and lots of trees, leaves and other plants surrounding the tiny cove

link = https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/07/july-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html

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Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

*DT member only = PRS and Pin-spirational owned by Deanne; CIP owned by Marlene

*owner/DT = CCC; ConBC; AA; HQCB, HQCOLCB, HQFCB, HQFSCAT, and HQLQCB; plus FQCB, FQCCCB, FQGS, FQGGCB, FQHCB. 

 **this is NOT a DT- related project...just for fun

Kleuren met Potloden Challenge Guest DT for 25 December 2025 reminder post

Welcome to Becca's Heart for Creativity blog!

why: The purpose of this posting is to share a Guest DT invite honor from KMP or Kleuren met Potloden or Coloring with Pencils challenge blog. I'm delighted! Most of my participant entries have been my MMMJP entries that are geometric designs in my journaling notebook that are influenced by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian. This GDT opportunity with KMP' sponsor RAM Stamps provided me with this sweet "Girl With Balloon" digital image. Per the title, images submitted are to be primarily colored with pencils. I've added sun, sky and ground to help give an outdoor setting. Reddish hair, clothes in blue, green and pink, the little girl is adorable! She's holding her cat blanket and balloon. 

when: KMP reminder post launches on 25 December 2025. 

what: Project #1 = Girl With Balloon encouragement card

how-to & vendor notes for #1 =

1. white CS was trimmed to arch shape after printing and coloring = Georgia Pacific

2. RAM Stamps digital image emailed to me by KMP to use for this reminder post Guest DT

3. star print paper = Lawn Fawn; freebie with order (I believe or maybe Scrapbook.com)

4. bright blue CS cut to 3.75" wide x 6.75" = Astrobrights/Neenah

5. enamel stars, heart, and dots = same pack by Freckled Fawn

6. sentiment banner sticker = Garden Party sticker book by Maggie Holmes/American Crafts

7. colored pencils = different vendors in my storage box; I added a blue sky (not rain), some yellow sun, little bit of brown tones for ground/road

a. if you look closely at the girl's face, you might see some pink to give her rosy cheeks; to me the cat face/body looked like it was a blankie and not an actual cat or kitten, so I chose pink ears and peach body/fur; her hair has orange, red, and yellow layers to get a tone that would go well with the star print paper....

8. black fine tip marker = Sharpie (for the outlining of the edges for the image and star paper)

9. Guava mini stamp pad = inked edges for the focal and star paper = Lawn Fawn

where #1 will be linked =

1A. Girlz Creative Fun Art of Scrap; new on Dec 25; theme/use at least 1 designer/patterned paper; My card's background for the colored image is a tonal star print paper that has its edges outlined in black

link = https://girlzcreativefunartofscrap.blogspot.com/2025/12/challenge-17.html

1B. Word Art Wednesday; new on Dec 17 and open for 3 weeks instead of 2; theme of anything goes that is God-honoring; My card has a sweet little girl holding her blankie and balloon; card says 'you are so loved'

link = https://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/2025/12/annual-christmas-blog-hop-weeks-730-733.html

1C. Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesdays; started on Dec 3 and open for a few more days; Anything Goes theme; my third entry

link = https://www.simplyellibelle.com/2025/12/ellibelles-crafty-wednesday-december.html

1D. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends; open; Anything Goes; my first entry

link= https://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2025/12/268-december-21-polkadoodles.html

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where to find KMP or Kleuren met Potloden blog post (reminder) link =

https://kleurenmetpotloden.blogspot.com/2025/12/gastdesignerdag-reminder-challenge.html

Guest/winner  badge =

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Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

**this is a non- owner or non-regular DT commitment; this is a Guest DT invite for KMP

* owner/DT = CCC; ConBC; AA; HQCB, HQFCB, HQCOLCB, HQFSCAT; FQCB, FQGS, FQCCCB, FQHCB and FQGGCB

* DT member only = PRS

MTTC #528 Create Your Own Background Theme DT card for 23 February 2024

 Welcome to Becca's Heart for Creativity blog!

Purpose: this posting showcases my DT inspiration project for My Time To Craft challenge blog (which I manage)

When: #528 theme competition starts February 23, 2024 and will last 13 days

What: made a plaid 'paper' and altered a gray with tiny flowers cardstock with a mix of alcohol and watercolor markers to be colorful for a non-traditional Christmas card

closeup of the plaid: some wavy lines and some straight 

Notes:

1. white card base is folded on left side; The Paper Studio

2. lavender text print paper; Hot Off The Press via Paper Wishes website

3. gray with white flowers cardstock ; Stampin' Up

4. four die-cuts and 4 dots (3 in cluster and 1 up near pink flower's leafy stem); Feelin' Frosty collection by ?

5. alcohol markers = Arteza and Nuvo

Where: MTTC #528 main launch posting link=

https://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/02/mttc-528-theme-is-create-your-own.html

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other places:

A. Krafty Chicks; started Feb 22; All Occasions week/rotation; My card is a non-traditional winter/Christmas colored Christmas card

link= https://kraftychickschallenge.blogspot.com/2024/02/krafty-chicks-challenge-704-all.html

B. C.R.A.F.T. challenge; current; theme is Christmas; My card is a non-traditional winter/Christmas colored Christmas card

link= https://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/02/challenge-709-christmas.html

C. Night Owls Create Beautiful challenge; started 2 days ago; Brr It's Cold (show cold/winter/snow); My Christmas card has a snow globe die-cut and there's a snowman inside the snow globe

link= https://nightshiftstamping.blogspot.com/2024/02/20022024-challenge-34-brr-wie-kalt-ist.html

D. Double D challenges; current; theme is patterned paper; MY Christmas card has a gray and white SU patterned paper panel on top of a lavender text print paper (very subtle); I altered the floral print my adding alcohol and watercolor marker 'dots' to fill the teeny flowers in the paper

link= https://daranddiane.blogspot.com/2024/02/patterned-paper.html

E. Word Art Wednesday; week of 2 of 2; theme is anything goes that is uplifting and encouraging; My card is a Christmas wintery wishes card with non-traditional colors

link= https://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/2024/02/anything-goes-weeks-635-636.html

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Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

*manager of these 2 blogs: MTTC and its sister blog, My Time To Craft Christmas

*co-owner/DT of these 2: AACB and CBCB

*owner/DT of these 6: HQCB, HQFCB, HQCOLCB, FQCB, FQGS, and FQCCCB

AACB #70 Anything Goes design inspiration card for 10 May 2023

Welcome to Becca's Heart for Creativity blog! This is 1 of 2 personal paper-crafting focused blogs to showcase my different design team projects.

This posting's focus:  AACB or Ally's Angels Challenge Blog

What: #70, Anything Goes theme all the time 

When: starts May 10, 2023 for almost a month

Show the card: Friendship Bee and Hive card=

Notes:

1. another stash buster and mix of old and new plus some recycling!

2. old stash items: lilac cardstock 5"x6"; dark red wine purple strip; white cardstock panel

3. recycling: gray and white geometric print (tissues box panel)

4. gifted=layered bee sticker, extra sent from a junk journaling swap

5. gifted from a generous artisan friend= Memento ink pads (cantalope, dandelion, lilac posie, tuxedo black, rich cocoa); 4 stamps= posy with leaves, honeycomb/hexagons, hive with a few tiny bees, and the sentiment (I added an 'e' to change be/verb to bee/noun)

6. Freckled Fawn= (newer purchased item) 2 layered sticker labels on the right side

AACB #70 blog posting for May 10, 2023=

https://alessandrasangels.blogspot.com/2023/05/challenge-70-challenge-69-winner-top.html

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other challenge blogs to share/link are:

A. Stamping Sensations (sir stamp a lot); May 2023; stamping focus with option of stencil; MY card has 4 stamps used

link= https://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/2023/05/may-challenge.html

B. 613 Avenue to Create; May 2023; Anything Goes with option of flowers; MY card has some flowers

link= https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2023/05/may-2023-anything-goes-woptional-twist.html

C. Sweet Stampin' challenge blog; about 1 day left; Animals theme; MY card has a bee die-cut stick-on plus some teeny bees above the hive and there were 4 stamps used: hive, honeycomb, flowers, and sentiment

link= http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/sweet-stampin-animals.html

D. Fab -n Funky challenge blog; about 7 days left; Things with wings theme; MY card has a bee die-cut stick-on plus some teeny bees above the hive

link= http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/2023/05/challenge-572-things-with-wings.html

E. The Paper Funday challenges;; started May 3; anything goes (option of embossing); MY card is for anything goes

link= https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2023/05/may-2023-challenge-53-anything-goes.html

and some Facebook groups for sharing are: Mixed Media Creativity, Paper/Paper/Paper and DT Calls, and others if time between another blog post commitment and my husband's eye exam (getting his eyes dilated so I have to drive)...you know...life...:)

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Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

Besides AACB, I'm also involved with these other challenge blogs: CBCB; MIUCB; MLCCB; HQCB, FQCB, FQGS, TFATU, MTTC, MTTCC, THICC, OUAT.

THICC #139 ACG design inspiration card for 2 May 2023

 Welcome to Becca's Heart for Creativity blog! This is 1 of 2 paper-crafting blogs to help me divide my design team showcasing. 

Today's focus: THICC or The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenges blog #139

What: THICC is always 'anything Christmas goes' themes; 2 weeks

When: May 2-May 15, 2023

Show the card: Cozy Winter Wishes at Christmas Time card

Notes:

1. stash busting card with a mix of old and new; old stash items = navy blue cardstock base 4"x6"; gray-blue with white snowflake print, snowflake sticker; colored pencils (orange, green, aqua blue, pink); black detail tip marker (stamped sticks) and a blue fine tip marker (stamped snowflake dots)

2. new to me items= star embossed decorative tape, snowman with bunny friend stamp (Stampin' Up 1997), Memento aqua blue ink pad to make curved lines, Stampin' Up Avocado ink pad for the image [these items were all gifted to me from a fabulous artisan friend]

THICC #139 for May 2, 2023 posting link=

http://thehollyandivychristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2023/05/challenge-139-anything-christmas-goes.html

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other challenge blogs to share/link are:

A. Christmas with the Cuties; Christmas + Cute + hand-colored; my card has a stamped image with some inking to look like snowy weather plus the coloring for the snowman's carrot nose & scarf, the bunny, and then with a detail tip black pen I colored the sticks and coal pieces on the snowman; with a blue marker tip I colored the little stamped snowflake dots 

link= http://christmaswiththecuties.blogspot.com/2023/04/challenge-no-69-themesomething-hand.html

B. A Place To Start; May 2023; anything goes (not the option)

link= https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2023/05/may-2023-anything-goes-w-optional-twist.html

C. Use Your Stuff; current; Inspired by Water theme--- my card has frozen water, i.e. snow--does that count?

link= http://useyourstuff.blogspot.com/2023/04/483-inspired-by-water.html

D. The 12 Months of Christmas Link-up Challenges blog; just started; #100; Anything Goes Christmas (not the option of ornaments/decorations)

link= http://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.com/2023/05/challenge-100-anything-goes-christmas.html

and

some Facebook groups to share/link are: Mixed Media Creativity, Paper/Paper/Paper and DT Calls, The Seasonal Cardmaker; 

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Crafting in the USA heartland,

Becca S

Besides THICC, I'm involved with these other challenge blogs too: FQGS, FQCB, HQCB, TFATU; AACB, CBCB; MTTC, MTTCC; OUAT; MIUCB, MLCCB.