Best of 2024~

Hi there!
Hope you all had amazing FAMILY time!!  We did!
Christmas is a special time of the year. We keep it simple and
soak up all the time with our family that we can! 
I was hoping for some creative time but that didn't
happen.  
Looking through my blog posts, for 2024, these nine were the 
favorites (by the number of page views).

I created for Blue Knight Stamps, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, Creative Worship,
Topflight Stamps, Clear Scraps and Buttons Galore and More
 (links are in the side bar).

Thanks for stopping by!!
Connie
crafty_mercer
Crafty Goodies Facebook Page

I Will Make Room For You ~ mixed media art journal page.

Hi there!
Today I'm sharing a mixed media Art Journal Page using
stamps and stencils.  The inspiration came from a song.
It really spoke to me.  

I used stamps and stencils by Creative Worship Stamps. I will list them at the
end of this post.  Distress Oxides inks (watered down) and acrylic paint is 
what I started with.

I added vintage book text pages to both sides of the journal page.  The background
is a mix of stencils and stamps.  The larger / focal images are stamped out,
colored and then cut out.  

Stamps & stencils included by Creative Worship Stamps are:  Teeny Alpha,
Funky Textures 2, Authentic faith, Typewriter Background, Books of
the Bible Set, Worthy King Alpha, Fantastic Flower, Brick Wall, Leaf Fronds,
Cross Stitch and Stacked Arrows. 

Thanks for stopping by!
Connie
crafty_mercer
Crafty Goodies Facebook Page

RubberStampMadness Magazine Holiday Issue 2024~

Hi there!! 
Today I'm sharing a card that was 
published in the Holiday Issue 2024 of
RubberStampMadness.


The call was for a beach themed card so I created
with some stamps by Blue Knight Rubber Stamps.  They produce 
many scenery type stamps. 

Products used:
Blue Knight Rubber Stamps: Path to the Barn, Birds ll, Choose Wisely,
Daring Adventure Stamps & Dies and One Line Sentiments/lucky you.
Other: embossing powder, Panpastels and adhesives by
Scrapbook Adhesive by 3L.

Thanks for stopping by and checkout
RubberStampMadness.  It is a great
publication for paper crafts.

Connie
crafty_mercer
Crafty Goodies Facebook Page 

Palm Trees with Blue Knight Stamps~

Hi there!
Today I'm sharing a card using Palm Trees by 
Blue Knight Stamps. 

The card focus is on the Palm Trees so I left most of the scene white. 
The jeep is an add in stamp and works perfect for this scene.

The Palm Trees are colored with Panpastels.  The jeep is from the
Daring Adventure Stamp & Die set.  The fisherman is from the
Silhouette Sportsman set.  The sentiment is One Line Sentiments/
happy any day. The Sun/Moon Circles Stencil is used behind
the mountain.  The flock of birds are part of the stamp. 
All adhesive is by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.
Thanks for stopping by!

Connie
crafty_mercer
Crafty Goodies Facebook Page

Forest Stream & Mountains with Blue Knight Stamps~

Hi there!
Today I'm sharing a card using 
Forest Stream & Mountains by Blue Knight Stamps.
It is another stamp from the NEW release.

I really loved creating with this scenery stamp.  It has perfect placement for
add in stamps.  The Flock of Birds and the Silhouette Sportsman are
examples of add in stamps. 

The scene is colored with Panpastel and then speckled with
white acrylic paint.  The sentiment is One Line Sentiment/
happy any day.  Also used is the Sun/Moon Circles Stencil
behind the mountain. 
All adhesive is by Scrapbook Adhesive by 3L.
Thanks for stopping by!

Connie
crafty_mercer
Crafty Goodies Facebook Page

Small Squirrels with Blue Knight Stamps~

Hi there!
Today I'm sharing a card using the Small Squirrels 
which is a set on its own, but goes with the 
Forest Animals / Racoon set. 

This set is two sizes smaller than what is in the Forest Animals/Racoon set.
The card shows all three sizes of the Squirrels.  This set isn't listed on the
website but is available.  Just enquire through the website.

The card is stamped on white cardstock and colored with
Panpastels.  The Squirrels are added into the scene. 
Products used: Path to Barn, One Line Sentiments/
friends rock., Forest Animals/Raccoon, Birds ll,
Sun/Moon Circles Stencil and Panpastels. 
All adhesive is by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.
Thanks for stopping by!!

Connie
crafty_mercer
Crafty Goodies Facebook Page 

Eagles & Foliage plus Die with Blue Knight Stamps~

Hi there!
Today I'm sharing three cards using the fabulous 
Eagles & Foliage stamp & Die by Blue Knight Stamps.

This was a fun stamp to create with and the Eagle Die is a 
must have. 

I used the Dictionary Page Background Stamp to add
interest and thought the foliage would look great stamped
over the text.  The Eagles are stamped and then I used
the coordinating Die to cut them out. The color is
Distress Oxide inks.

This card is using Distressed Oxide inks for the background and
then the foliage is stamped with the coordinating oxide inks.
The Eagle is stamped and then the Die is used to cut it out. The Eagle
wings are highlighted with Panpastels.
The sentiment is from One Line Sentiments/blessings.

I used the Old Glory stamp (flag) and colored with 
Distress Oxide inks.  The large Eagle is stamped and cut out
with the Die.  The words are from the God Bless America
stamp set.  All adhesive is by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

Thanks for stopping by!
Connie
crafty_mercer
Crafty Goodies Facebook Page

Silhouette Birds & Grass with Blue Knight Stamps~

Hi there!
Today I'm sharing greeting cards using 
Silhouette Birds & Grass, from the recent NEW 
release, by Blue Knight Stamps. 

The cards are similar, in the way they were created,  but the end results is
two unique cards! 

The bird image is stamped on the Night Sky 3 pattern paper
and the fence die is from The View from my Yard Stamp &
Die.  The sentiment is One Line Sentiments/blessings
The fence is colored with Panpastels.  The card front is
speckled with white acrylic paint for a completed look.

On this card the background is a vintage sheet of book
text.  It is wrapped with fabric with an added button.
The extra elements are the same as the card above.  One is
stamped on pattern paper and the other on vintage book text
for two different looks!
All adhesive is by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

Thanks for stopping by!
Connie
crafty_mercer
Crafty Goodies Facebook Page

Celebrating 50 Years with an Art Journal Page~

Hi there!!
We recently celebrated 50 years of marriage and I 
wanted to document that achievement with an
art journal page.  I used 23 plus different stamps, stencils
and inks to tell our story. 

Looks like a hot mess but it was fun to put it all together.  I used a lot of
this and that and guess what , it all worked beautifully together.

I started adding color to the page and blending it all.  Distress Oxide inks
were used for this.  I then added some spirts of water to distress the page.
Stamps and stencils were added to the background.

I placed an acrylic sheet over the art journal page and stamped the fence in
to make sure the placement was perfect.  Then I stamped it on the page.
It is colored with pan pastels which is fast and easy to add color to an image.

The elephants are stamped on white cardstock, colored with pan pastels 
and then cut out.  The easel is also stamped. colored and cut out.
White acrylic paint is smeared on the page to lighten areas that I got
to dark.  Such and easy fix.

I had some fun mixed media stamps that were perfect to add some
interest to the elephants. The sentiments are stamped out (some of the 
words are computer generated) and then added to the page. I
speckled the page with white and black acrylic paint. 
Products used: KatzelKraft: Elephant Van Gough, Elephant Watson,
Los Numbers, Ephemera, Bidules & Things, Spiral Borders, Barriove (bench
& fence) and Les Accessories. Darkroom Door: Number Medley, Hearts,
Sketched Alphabet and Sm. Sketched Alphabet.  These products are carried 
at Topflight Stamps.   Creative Worship: Faith Wordfetti, too, Vintage
Type Alpha, Foliage Silhouettes and Leaf Fronds Stencil.  Scrapbook
Adhesives by 3L: Dual Tip Glue Pen, 3D Foam Strips and E-Z Runner
Grand Repositionable Dots.  Links to the companies are in the side bar.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Connie
crafty_mercer
Crafty Goodies Facebook Page

Vintage Button Tags with Buttons Galore & More~

Hi there!
Today I'm sharing some vintage inspired chipboard tags
embellished with buttons by Buttons Galore & More (affiliate link).
The chipboard tags were pre made that I found in my stash.

I love the paper dolls, so I added those in and then embellished with
buttons, twine/ homespun fabric and a cheerful sentiment strip.  These
will be fun on a gift package or the Christmas tree. 

To complete the vintage and distressed look, the tags are 
speckled with white and black acrylic paint.  The added snowflakes

 are from the Mix Upz/Pastel Blizzard.

The sewing buttons cam be found here.

The sentiment strips are by Creative Expressions (found at Topflight Stamps)
and adhered with 3D Foam Strips by Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

Remember to get 10% off your button order by 
using CONNIE10 when you check out!!  

Thanks for stopping by!!!!
Connie
crafty_mercer
Facebook page: Crafty Goodies

A Re-Purposed Lamp Shade~

Hi there!
Today I'm sharing a re-purposed (bare) lamp
shade.  I had the idea to use it as a display piece
for my mixed media tags. (I have another post with this lamp shade)
 Original Post HERE.

I lifted the lamp shade up by positioning it on the top of a large
wooden spool.  For now that is the way to will stay but I might need
something taller if I have more tags to add and start using the bottom
of the shade.

I used some clips, from my stash, but I do think a paper clip would work also.
My tags are chunky so they hung all wonky but I like the look.:):)

Before I added the tags to the lamp shade, I kept them on a large
"o" ring (and that worked great too).  I like this because I can see them better.

Thanks for stopping by!
Connie
crafty_mercer
Facebook page: Crafty Goodies

He's Got The Whole World In HIS Hands with Creative Worship Stamps~

Hi there!
Today I'm sharing an Art Journal Page called 
He's Got The Whole World In HIS Hands using
Creative Worship Stamps. The inspiration for this Art Journal Page was
 the little world stamp on the Thrill of Hope stamp set. 
  You never know where you will find inspiration for art at :):)

The background is created using Distress Oxide inks, vintage map, collage medium'
stencils and stamps.  I put the color down first and then added in stencils
and stamps.  This is the part where I figure out the words I want to say and 
that is the hardest part for me, but once that is done it comes together
quickly. 

The upper right corner is an example of the old map used like a collage 
paper.

The bottom left corner is more map.  I keep adding little images and mixed
media stamps until I get a good balance.  The words are stamped out, color is
added and then attached to the journal page.  I have highlighted with
white acrylic paint.  

The world image is stamped out on white cardstock, colored and
punched out with a hand punch (from back in the day).
Creative Worship products used to create this page are: Foliage Silhouettes,
Botanical Branches, Grunge Elements 3, Grunge Elements 2, 
Typewriter Text BG, Vintage Type Alpha, Texture Tiles 1, Thrill of Hope,
and Worthy King Alpha.  Stencils are Lines & Crosses mini and
Mixed Up. 

This my last project as a guest designer for Creative Worship.  I just
wanted to thank Korin and Esther for having me. 
Always love the message the stamps represent so much !!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

Connie
crafty_mercer
Facebook page: Crafty Goodies

He said Art Journal Page with Creative Worship Stamps~

Hi there!
Today I'm sharing an Art Journal Page using the
Refresh My Soul set by Creative Worship Stamps.  I was
inspired by our recent trip to Sedona Arizona. The cactus
 was perfect!!! 

Coloring the page is the starting point.  I use Distress Oxide inks and add
in the colors.  The cactus images are stamped, colored and then trimmed out.
I set those aside until I'm finished with the background.

The words are mostly stamped out but the bible verse is computer
generated.  When all my pieces are colored and ready I start
adhering the images to the art journal page.  When it is
complete I go back in with more stamps and stencils.

The stamps used are : Vintage Type Alpha, Worthy King Alpha, 
Going Postal, Sew Many Stitches, Mini Marks 1,
Typewriter Text BG, Refresh My Soul and the Diamond Tile
Stencil. 

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Connie
crafty_mercer
Crafty Goodies Facebook Page

Nativity Scene Tag with Buttons Galore & More~

Hi there!!!
Today I'm sharing a mixed media tag using the 
super cute Nativity Scene Novelty buttons by
Buttons Galore & More (affiliate link) along with stamps.

I started with a blank tag and added Distressed Oxide inks (watered down) to
create a background for the stamps.  I used background stamps and a
focal stamp that helps tell the story of the Nativity Scene buttons used on 
the tag.

Added to the bottom corner, a piece of homespun fabric and some black
stitch work.  The Nativity Scene buttons are stitched to the tag.
The words are added and a tag tie, for the top of the tag, along with
buttons dangling (large blue button from Low Tide Set). 

Remember to get 10% off your button order by 
using CONNIE10 when you check out!!  

Thanks for stopping by!!!!
Connie
crafty_mercer
Facebook page: Crafty Goodies

Art Journal Fodder with Creative Worship Stamps ~

Hi there!!
Today I'm sharing some Art Journal Fodder.
I had a blast creating and expanding this idea
of Fodder for an Art Journal.  Creative Worship Stamps
are so perfect for this. 

I started by decorating a tag front and about 2" of the bottom back of the tag.
That is the part that will be folded up. 

The tag folder (to hold the art journal fodder) Is folded up and adhered
with dimensional adhesive.  The focal images are from the
Vintage Love stamp set.  They are stamped, colored and adhered to a 
large paper clip.  I added extra images from the Grunge Elements 3 set.
These are fun and a great look for holding pages while creating or
marking pages in your art journal.  

Other sets used in this project are: Mini Tag set & die, Faith Wordfetti,
Texture Tile 1 and Lines & Crosses Mini Stencil.
Thanks for stopping by!

Connie
crafty_mercer
Crafty Goodies Facebook Page 

Bible Markers with Creative Worship Stamps ~

Hi there!
Today I'm sharing a Bible Marker project using
 a tag as the pocket, to hold hold the markers. Makes
for a cute set for gift giving. I used Sketched Florals, Your Story
and To-Do-List by Creative Worship Stamps. 

I started by adding color to a tag with stamps and inks.  Using the
Your Story set I made a pocket, to hold the markers, for the front of
the tag. 

The pocket is stamped (Your Story) and decorated with images from
the Sketched Florals set.  The markers are about 1" x 4 1/2" in size and
fit in the pocket on the front of the tag holder. The words are from
the To-Do-List Stamp Set. I used dimensional adhesive to adhere the
pocket to the tag front  Buttons are added to the top of the marker
strips.

Thanks for stopping by.
Connie
crafty_mercer
Crafty Goodies Facebook Page