I'm a compulsive storyteller, a life documenter and a bit of an essayist. Someday, when I pass on, my kids will sort through my things and find a complete history of my life and probably, their lives too. No one will have any trouble plotting my story, because I have been documenting it since I could hold a pencil. This desire to document my life easily lends itself to scrapbooking - and in my quest to personalize my story, I quickly transitioned to mixed-media.

It's my story. I get to tell it and I am driven to share it - and no one gets to tell me how I share it. That's the cool part. There is no wrong way to share your story. There is no wrong way to scrapbook. And there is no wrong way to create a mixed media piece.

detail of mixed media tag

mixed media tag

There are design things a person can do to make a piece more pleasing to everyone, Yes. But if you are pleased with your work, then that is really what matters. Art journal blogs, scrapbookers, and mixed-media artists everywhere will tell you the same thing - It's your story, tell it like you want to.

Your art story can be told on all sorts of surfaces: paper, wood, canvas or anything that can hold a coat of paint. If your surface will hold your medium, you can tell your story on it. I've worked on paper, wood, canvas and plastic - my surface is as important to me as what I put on it.

You should know that not all mediums act alike. This is a biggie. Combining oil based, water based, and pigments with or with/out binders is a little tricky. As long as you know what each medium will do and how it reacts, you'll be fine. There are tons of easy ways to find out how to use your supplies - googling your questions being the number one source - the second is to just do- play with what you have, mix it up, discover what works on your own journey.

This is a collage of the many stages of a Lady I've been working on. I used collage techniques, gesso, acrylic paints, and water soluble oil pastels, water soluble crayons and stablio pencils I didn't like the face on the bottom right, and kept working at it until I got to the face on the upper left. It's still not finished, but I'm good with it here for awhile.

My local stores carry some of the things I like to use in mixed media. Some. Most stores have paint and canvas and papers. But Mixed Media incorporates a huge variety of elements that my local walk-in stores seem unable to provide. Also, some media is expensive, such as good paint or good pastels.

It takes time to build a good "library" of materials to use for mixed media. I've been working on my "craft library" for about twelve years.

It's best to use a coupon and utilize sales. Jo-Ann's has some of the best online sales, while Blick and Utrecht offer online prices that almost always beat Amazon.com prices.

And this is where you find out that there are two kinds of mixed media art stores. Dick Blick Art Materials and Utrecht Art Supplies do not carry many scrapbook/mixed media supplies, if any, and to my opinion only grudgingly. You won't find them fully stocked with the new Prima Marketing Mixed Media lines, Tim Holtz Ideology, or Dina Wakley Paints. Stencils are fun to use in mixed media, but there is an amazing variety of them that just aren't available through the traditional resources.

For these kinds of products I shop Joann"s, or a few little online shops where the personal attention to my order and my questions offsets the little shop prices.

I've shopped at:

The Kraaft Shaak - The best customer service. You are always an individual and opening orders is like Christmas!

Blue Moon Scrapbooking - great selection, fast service, free shipping for orders over $50

A Cherry On Top- good sales, good selection, fast service.

Canvas Corp Brands.- Limited to their brands, but all my favorite things are there, like Tattered Angels paints, 7 Gypsies, Canvas Corp papers, fabrics, canvases and hundreds of surfaces.

Any guess what I've wanted for every Christmas and Birthday for the last 12 years?

If your new to telling your story through art and mixed media, don't feel like you have to own the whole rainbow before you start, you don't need to. There is a lot you can do with just three or four colors. But I do warn you. Craft shopping is a little teeny bit addictive.

Have you ever wanted to dip your fingers into some Mixed Media play? Do you play already? Have you played with Mixed Media with your kids? (Maybe you have but you didn't know it!)

Mixed Media is a great way to tell your story. I would love to hear in the comments how you are using it to tell yours!

Ladies and girls, females and women, we have a WINNER.

WINNER, WINNER CHIcKEN DINEnR

Well, y'all will have to make your own chicken dinner- but we do have a winner. If you didn't see it announced yesterday over at Domesticraft.com you should click on over there and see. I'll wait.

Are you back yet? (is this just too silly and cute for words?) I wanted you to head over there for another reason. Because Nancy is doing another giveaway. ANOTHER ONE! And we are not done yet. NOPE. Not one bit. NOT done being generous. Not done being thankful. Not done with doodles, art journaling or sharing our hearts. This is a 21 Day journey and by-golly, we got 21 days of gratitude in us to share with every reader who comments, shares their own words, or says howdy.

(and yes, I am aware I was being redundant and I just pretty much said the same thing three ways. I thought I would be extra descriptive and give you more ideas on what to do to win something.)

I belong to a very wonderful g+ community called the Kraafter's Kommunity. This months challenge to win this really cool canvas art bag is to color something.. As apart of my art journaling I've been doodling and coloring stuff. If you are looking for a Kraafty Group of Kraafty Individuals, I totally recommend this great group. We laugh, we share, we post our projects and get immeasurable amounts of encouragement. If you join them make sure to say Dapoppins sent ya. Ya'hear?

There are several really great g+ groups and I would totally steer you in the right direction if you asked me. And no I don't get paid for that. If you want to pay me that is fine with me. Just send more craft supplies and gift certificates. My contact info is on the sidebar.

Thank you all for your sweet, positive comments. Your response my post about my Grandma Angel and working to overcome my own fears of rejection have been so beautiful and kind. You make me feel good about my writing, about my sharing and about the direction I am going. If you need anyone to cheer you on or want a word of encouragement, or just someone to read your words, feel free to send me an email or fill in that contact gadget on the sidebar. Seriously. No one should have to feel alone in this day and age when communicating on the internet is so easy.

We are also thinking of forming A Gratitude Girls Cheer League group on face book. (working title. That may be a bit over-the-top) Invite only. So if you want an invite you will need to let myself or +Nancy Gaines know.

Okay. Check the blogs on TUESDAY. More giving away. More of everything. Maybe a even Glitter Bomb!

Oh and, what do you think of my doodles?

I have really been focusing on my creative side here on the blog so far in 2015 - Not to worry, I will get back to some Children's literary explorations in March- But there have been some personal (non-nanny) opportunities that are just kinda taking over.

Being apart of a creative crew for Canvas Corp Brands is one of those.

If you do any scrapbooking, memory keeping, or scrap-related mixed media you would have heard of Canvas Corp Brands/ 7 gypsies/ and Tattered Angels.

7 Gypsies did grunge and vintage BEFORE Tim Holtz came along. Way before. And they are still doing it very well.

Tatered Angels was doing color mists when my sixteen year old was a baby.

And Canvas Corp does - well they do so much. Paper packs, tiny clothes pins, things made from canvas and burlap. At least one of their products can be found in every craft store you walk into.

To be on their Creative Crew is HUGE!

It's a big stinkin' crafty deal!

And Their CREW is huge.

For a family run company, they have a huge lot of wonderful, diverse designers. The company wants to remind people about their diverse range of products, and the best way to do that is to have a lot of different craft bloggers posting about Canvas Corp products. The company has been very generous with their product too, so that all the designers can have a chance to show it off.

I am so incredibly grateful to be one of the team.

Our very first challenge was to create personal, meaningful 4x4 canvas in our style.

I think by now a child holding an umbrella is self explanatory for Dapoppins. I used golden gel medium, golden bead gel medium, paper, a FabScraps chipboard child and LOTS of Tattered angels mists. I layered the mists with the gel medium.

Cell phone photo shows the shine a little better...

Now I need you to do something for me. Go to the Canvas Corp Brands Creative Studio Blog, find my canvas and VOTE for me.

I know there are about ten or twenty other canvas's you might want to vote for. They are interesting, and diverse and so cool. BUT find MINE and SAY "I love that Dana S. aka Dapoppins!"

I would be ever so grateful if you did.

Click photo to go to Canvas Corp Brands Creative Studio

Thank YOu.

Altered Cigar Boxes

My Mixed Media Adventures!

I very blessed to work with children, to have children, and to be surrounded by children. About fifteen children participated in my wedding in 1995. Fifteen children who walked up the isle in a parade of red, white, and black colors, throwing huge handfuls of rainbow hued confetti at over three hundred guests. At THEM. Every guest sitting near the isle was covered in confetti. Stuck to their eyelashes and lost in their hair. Down shirt fronts and piled in laps. Guests at my wedding were literally dripping with colorful tissue confetti.

Can you picture it? So hilarious.

My gift to the guests.

I am grateful to have that kind of fun and laughter in my life everyday.

My last born child came into the world in 2004 and she is much cuter, sweeter, has better hair, and is way smarter at math that I am. And even though she hasn't been a baby for many years, I am still finding little bits of baby stuff around the house.

My junk drawer still has her binky in it. There are baby teeth stashed in multiple jars and containers. There are little pieces and memories scattered everywhere because let's face it - I am not an organized person.

Is there help group for this? > probably, but don't sign me up. I don't need another thing to NoT get done!

I need a box - or two for some of this stuff. A Memory Box!

Dapoppins's Simple How To:

Get a box.
Paint it with Gesso.
Glue some paper pieces on it.
Paint the pieces in pastel Tattered Angel colors.
Spritz on some Tattered Angles
Paint on Golden Gel Medium
Spritz more Tattered Angels
Add some texture
Repeat last five steps until you feel finished.
Embellish as needed.

Memory Box, Baby, Pastel Colors, Tattered Angels, Dapoppins

I used gesso, Golden gel medium and Tattered Angles paints to create these boxes. I was experimenting and I'm not sure how the experiment turned out. . I'm not sure they are finished - but I don't have the hardware in my stash right now to take them to the next step.

I do, however love the colors and the messy, grungy textures. The textures all come from the gesso and gel medium, the color all comes from Tattered Angels paints.

Tattered Angels Paints are so fun to play with. They were one of the first Glimmer Mists on the scrapbook market, the first to take scrapbooking into the mixed-media realm. I know there are lots of mists and paints out there now, but fifteen years ago the only mist paint with shimmer in it that I had heard of was Tattered Angels. Adding shine and sparkle to paint in a spritz bottle was such a fantastic idea that now everybody does it. But I don't think anybody does it better.

Tattered Angels has one of the largest most diverse lines - there are several types! Not just shimmer and flat! but different lines to meet mixed media and DIY needs. (I will go into that in another post.) You will be hearing a lot about how much I love these paints and need MORE of them in my life over the next year.

For the Canvas Corp Brands February Color Challenge I used these colors and types-

High Impact White Metallic

High Impact Metallic Silver

Glimmer Glam Golden Goddess

Chalkboard Canary

Glimmer Mist Vintage Pink

Glimmer Mist Pearl

Glimmer Mist Key Lime Pie

Glimmer Mist Thatched Roof Cottage

Glimmer Mist Jack Frost

Plain Jane Stained Glass Aqua

Plain Jane Simply Orange

You can find them HERE in the Paint Shop.

It's a new year. Are you challenging yourself to Create Fearlessly? What would you make with a Cigar box? - Be on the look out because I plan to give these ones away - what would you put in a memory box?

Tattered Angels Mists, Card, Valentines Day, The Heart of Gratefulness

You Matter.

Whoever you are. Where ever you are. Because you are alive. You matter.

One of the core values of my personal faith is that in spite of our individual actions, beliefs, thoughts and feelings there is Someone Greater at work who declare's "You Matter."

As apart of the New 2015 Canvas Corp Brands design team I was sent this card with some beautiful Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Sprays. My first February challenge is to make a Valentine Card and give it away to someone who doesn't expect it.

Now if you have read any of my posts since January, you know I'm all about Creating fearlessly yet I will be honest, I was quite intimidated by all the other design team examples. Canvas Corp Brands has recruited a huge team of seriously talented crafters and designers. I am blessed, excited and slightly overwhelmed at being apart if this incredible crowd. I had no idea how I could make my card pretty and yet stand out in a good way from the rest of the team.

After several tries, in the end I just had to power forward and go with my gut. I tried to think of something that would be memorable.

Valentine for A Stranger

I met the recipient for my Valentine Card during the rush hour commute home.

After a long day. And I'm starving.

This is not wise. I don't recommend it.

I do ridiculous things on an empty tummy, such as go grocery shopping and come home with a eighty dollars of snacks but not one thing I can use to make a meal for my family, unless you think M&M's and pretzels make a good dinner, then it's okay.

Or instead I stop for a supremely not-quite healthy meal paid for using all the change on the bottom of my purse, because I'm thrifty like that.

A couple of times on the drive, I've stopped at a local McDonald's. I was lured by the inexpensive three bite hamburgers and the One Dollar Diet Coke.

Okay. It's only ONE DOLLAR! What diet coke addict can resist that?

Anyway, a couple of times there has been a man in very well worn clothes that scream, "I sleep outside!" standing just at the corner of the restaurant holding a sign that says something about, "Spare change, anything helps." He is scraggly. He smells like wet pavement. He looks so sad, worn, and tired that it's hard to look him in they eye.

I don't know his story. I don't know if he is just down on his luck, has a mental problem, or dresses this way for work- I could drive away. I think I might have driven past him many times. But twice I gave him my change and I grabbed his hand and prayed for him.

Poor guy. I think I scared him. He jumped like I'd hit him with electricity. I should have asked his permission first but it is one of those times I just acted on impulse. In my head I am thinking, "My dollar in change is not going to help him. I should do something more."

Prayer is the most powerful thing I have to give him.

When this challenge came up, despite all the people I know, he was the first person I thought of. I need to find him again and give him this card. I need to get out of my car and talk to him. I want to grab his hand again and pray for him. I need to share this experience with my kids so that they can see, so they can know that this man with the hurt in his eyes - he matter's. He has value.

So- for the month of February I will have this card in my car and stopping often at the McDonald's to see if he is there - I'm not sure he will be. I'm not sure when or if I will ever see him again. I am pretty sure he isn't used to crazy ladies in Mom van's slurping giant diet Cokes who want to pray with him. But, what can being nice to this stranger hurt? This is my year of living Fearlessly, living outside the box, learning new things and meeting new people.

Can you think of a stranger who might be encouraged with a special card? Let me know in the comments if you give a card to someone who isn't expecting it - I'd love to hear about it.

Keep checking the blog this month to see what happens- I will let you know.

Now for a Contest!

Win Gift Card for Tattered Angels, Win Dapoppins, Win 50$

1. Create a Valentine board on Pinterest (if you don’t already have one)

2. Find 3-5 of your favorite Valentine cards on the Canvas Corp Brands Blog Crew Chalenge Post Here! and pin them to your Valentine board using the

hashtag #myfavoritevalentine

3. Place a link to your pinboard in the Canvas Corp Brands Post Comments.

Also In February-

The Heart of Gratitude, February, Blog Party,

February is the month of love and families are gearing up for hearts and candy. This year my friend, blogger Nancy Gaines of Domesticraft.com and I are going to change our thinking and go on a 21 day journey exploring the Heart of Gratitude in our lives and in our family's life. Join Us! There will be giveaways, art, laughter, glitter, paint and more! Keep an eye out for an Face Book event invite so you can be in on all the fun!

Welcome to Party Tuesdays!

You didn't know it was a Party Tuesday? Well it is! On Tuesdays I get to share my design example for Party Time Tuesdays - On Tuesdays I get to explore my inner creative and be fearless!

Decembers sponsor for Party Time Tuesdays is Heather Hudson of My Artistic Adventures. She has a really fun selection of vintage-ish downloads and I couldn't wait to play with them.

My Artistic Adventures

Digital and Paper Designs

This download was a set of tags. I just printed, embellished with a bit of embossing powder and inked edges, made a little fabric flower with some gold leaves and that little heart, added ribbon and done!

If you like playing with paper, give Heather a visit, and hop on over to Party Time Tuesdays where there is a weekly challenge with wonderful prizes (like something form Heahter's store!)

Now if you have been visiting my blog at all lately you know that I committed to sending out Christmas Cards this year. ~~Maybe never again~~. I decided to use up some of the supplies I had on hand - here is some more proof that I have been following through!

Every card is different. I've just looked what was in front of me, and start putting things together. Some of them I like better then others. But after the ~~15th~~ 50th card, it no longer matters how close to satisfied I am with them, it's more about just getting them done and in the envelops.

So far I have about 10 that are not fitting into envelops. But that's okay, I can just make envelops. Right?

Well, maybe.

Well, it's the thought that counts, right?

I hope to have the ones I committed to send in the mail by this Saturday. Then, I can work on the family ones. I don't have a big family and friends list, but since I gave cards to strangers this year, I kinda feel obligated to do something for the relatives and the friends that are still sending me cards.

Is there something you feel obligated to do during the holidays? Something that you might enjoy, but you feel like you should do anyway - even if you don't enjoy it? (Like decorating?) Let me know I'm not alone in the comments!