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Sunday, February 5, 2017

Playing in Puddles

I don't know how I ever survived Rochester, honestly. It was so rarely sunny there, and now I completely lose my furry mind if there's one cloudy day every quarter here. If a cloud even goes across the sun for a MINUTE, I freak out. It's funny how you get acclimated to things.

It has been a greyer than normal "winter" here, and as I've suffered through these uncharacteristically sunless days, my cards have gotten brighter and brighter.

Made me wonder if some of my favorite painters painted their surroundings, or painted what they wanted them to look like. I've certainly never seen as much color in the world as Van Gogh or Monet showed us. What pretty places.

I'm taking part in the month-long hop featuring the Mirror Image stamp from So Suzy today, and so I thought I'd paint the sky that's in my head.

What's funny is that even though I hate rain (and really all forms of water outside of ice cubes), I absolutely ADORE making puddle reflections on my cards with mirror image stamping. (Here are some earlier mirror image stamp creations with a puddle and a pond with Lovely as a Tree) It's just fun. Especially when I can make them super colorful. And I know everyone loves the Beautiful You stamp set, but let's face it - I love it the MOST. Don't even pretend you love it as much as I do. DO NOT SASS ME.

So while I was falling asleep the other night, I came up with this design - at first, I wanted there to be multiple puddles behind her, but there wasn't enough detail to pick up her reflection well, so I settled on this design instead. I colored her in with a fine paintbrush and the pen white ink listed below.
LINKS TO ALL SUPPLIES USED


I love how bright it is - wouldn't you want to be standing in front of that wall of light and color? Just makes my eyes happy.

This is surprisingly easy to do. So of course, I made you a little video. As a BONUS, during the video - I did NOT edit out the part where Maddie brings me a mouse, and makes her super weird little "I brought you a mouse" noise. It's hysterical. She's still mad at me for not throwing it for her during my voiceover. It's sitting there on my floor right now - a small, furry, blue and white ball of feline injustice pointed right at my face. She loves to play fetch. Sorry Maddie! So enjoy her cameo in a tutorial! 

This video is now part of my Master Class on Shadows & Reflections.

You know what will make YOUR eyes happy? Happy as Maddie with a mouse? The list of prizes you can win in the Mirror Image Event this month. True fact - Suzy's mom is the one who makes the Bunkie Bags! They are adorable!


  • 3 - MISTI's in your choice of Original or Mini
  • 4 - $25 Gift Certificates to The Ton
  • 4 - $25 Gift Certificates to So Suzy Stamps
  • 1 - Memory MISTI Tote (sss)
  • 2 - Regular MISTI Covers (sss)
  • 2 - Mini MISTI Covers (sss)
  • 2 - Bunkie Bags (sss)
All you have to do to be entered is comment on each of the blog posts in the event throughout the month. Suzy has a full list at her blog.

Leaving you with a few random things. Making a Food Wishes recipe this weekend for blue cheese dressing that involves freezing and then grating the blue cheese. I'll let you know how that goes. And yes, blue - I'm not French, and in fact, blue cheese came BEFORE the pretentious "bleu" cheese, which appears to be a counterfeit word that has made its way onto labels everywhere. Fascinating rundown on that story here. Do not mess with me and my BLUE THINGS.

Now that my friend Michelle has hers, I can now reveal the cutest thing I've seen in a while - the Hello Kitty Taco change purse!


https://www.loungefly.com/brands/hello-kitty/loungefly-x-hello-kitty-taco-coin-bag.html
If that's NOT the cutest thing you've seen all week you might already be in heaven. Better ask around.

Go make some pretty puddles!

Loveyameanitbye.

120 comments:

  1. Love that card! The colors are definitely happy, especially since it's been such a gray winter here too.

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  2. I think this is a fabulous card.....the colors are vibrant and you used my new favorite images. You couldn't make me smile more. Thanks for a great video. I am loving this technique.

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  3. A fabulous card Lydia ... those paints are so vibrant, beautiful. I had to keep pausing the video though, you have to stop making me laugh in the middle of it!

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  4. Your videos always entertain and inform. I love Maddie's participation. I am going to believe that the mouse she brought you is a stuffie and not a breathing mouse.

    Meg

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  5. Very pretty card... and the sentiment is awesome!

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  6. Beautiful card. The sky is gorgeous.

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  7. Love the blending for a rainbow effect! Makes you smile on a rainy day!

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  8. Love the effect the blending of the colors gives to this card! Make you smile even on a rainy day!

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  9. This is so beautiful! Thank you for the video. It always helps me to see how to do a technique.

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  10. Lydia, that card is me. We don't know each other, but I need to tell you how happy your card made me. My husband died in an accident yesterday, at about 1am, on his way home from work. They think he had a heart attack and crashed into the back of a semi.

    We would have been married 40 years this May. He was my best friend, and we loved each other, no matter what! He is the umbrella over my head, and all the beautiful colors that surround me.

    Thank you, you've made me feel a little better this morning. ❤️

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    Replies
    1. Oh Mardi! I am so sad to hear that. You have all my prayers and hugs. I hope that time brings you peace - your words mean the world to me. xxoo

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  11. It's always a good idea to play in the puddles. Love your colors and what you did with the reflection!

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  12. Lydia I love listening to you because your voice is so calming. Your colors for your card are just gorgeous and I am very much enjoying learning how to mirror image stamp. Thank you for sharing your thought process.

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  13. Love the mirror image technique along with the watercolor.

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  14. Beautiful card! I love the colors!!! Thanks for sharing!

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  15. What a gorgeous card, I love this mirror image look.

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  16. Oh my goodness!!! What a breathless card!!! Love so much the mirror image stamping!!! <3

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  17. Really pretty card. It's nice to see multiple ways of using the mirror image stamp.

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  18. Beautiful card Lydia, thank you for the video and the acetate tip, that will help me a lot.

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  19. Awesome card! Love those rainbow colors! Great use of the Mirror Image Stamp!

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  20. This is stunning. I could use watch your videos for hours on end.

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  21. Your card is absolutely beautiful. I love the mirror image.

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  22. Love, love, love the bright colors. The puddle is super cool.

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  23. what a lot of work and what a beautiful outcome. thank you for another technique for the mirror image stamp

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  24. What's not to love about Hello Kitty. Great card, This is fun new tool/stamp.

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  25. The vibrant colors are beautiful. Thanks for another take on this technique.

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  26. Beautiful card and great video.

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  27. Beautiful, colorful card. Thanks for sharing how you used the acetate. I like the sentiment too and how you colored her in white.

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  28. This card is incredible! I love it so much!

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  29. Fabulous card, love the "feel" of the card. Great video showing your process and tips. Waiting to hear more about the grated blue cheese :)

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  30. What an amazing card, just beautiful! Thanks for a very inspiring video!

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  31. I love your cards! They always give you a feeling of peace and calm... thank you for the tutorial and for the chance to win great tools :)

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  32. Wow, just wow! That is one cool card and a great way to show why this tool is necessary!

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  33. Absolutely stunning card. Thank you for your fantastic tutorial. I'm definitely going to use acetate in the future to get the placement right. Thank you for the great tips.

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  34. This is such a cool card. I love the woman with the umbrella image, & I think the puddle reflection was just inspired.

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  35. Beautifully made card. Love it!

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  36. What a beautiful card. Love the sentiment.

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  37. What a pretty card! Thank you for the great video - I can't wait to try this!

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  38. Wow! Gorgeous card! Love how you did the reflection ♥

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  39. This just makes my soul happy! What a wonderful image and I love that you did the reflection in the puddle! Absolutely magical and awesome! TFS!

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  40. Love the rainbows w of color ! What a great way to make a rainy day happy!

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  41. That is so cool!!! Really like your use of the mirror imaging, and that sentiment is AWESOME! Love encouraging cards!

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  42. Fabulous! Love the cat and mouse insertion... I recognize that sound from when my cats brought me gifts too! True story... I let the cats outside one morning and on the mat outside the door was a dead mouse... alongside the dead mouse was a note that said "Get cash!"!! Lol I had obviously dropped the reminder note (to stop at the bank) from the previous day and not known it and our cat, Stormy, had dropped off one of her prizes from the night before! I took a picture of said dead mouse and note and posted it to Facebook with a comment of, "Should we be afraid?" lol

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  43. What a colourful card. Love how you did the reflection, thanks for the tutorial.

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  44. I too thrive in sunshine but love a good water feature! A puddle should reflect the beauty around it and yours does that perfectly. Beautiful card Lydia.
    Thank you for the Bunkie Bag mention :) It was wonderful seeing you again at Creativnation this year. Hugs! Denise

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  45. Beatiful card. I love all the happy colors for the sky and the puddle. The white ink on the image is the perfect finishing touch for the lady with the umbrella. Your video tutorial was great. I am definitely going to have to try some mirror image stamping!

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  46. Beautiful card! I love the reflection. Would never have thought of that.

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  47. Gorgeous stamping
    and coloring!
    Carla from Utah

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  48. Beautiful card, such a wonderful idea that you decided to create!!

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  49. W O W!!! Mirror image used a reflection! Too Cool! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  50. Oh, wow. Id love to receive a card and sentiment like that! What a great idea and design

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  51. Wow, your card is SO COOL! I love the bright colors and sweet sentiment :)

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  52. Your card is so amazing. I will have to start with basic mirror imaging and one day venture with watercolors. Thanks for sharing.

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  53. Super sun project! Thanks for the tutorial. The mirror image stamp is amazing!

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  54. What a beautiful card. I think of a rainbow after a shower except it's covering the whole sky, I love it!

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  55. That is really a beautiful design. Love the vibrant colors and the emphasis on the puddle really makes a great statement.

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  56. Your card is absolutely stunning! I love the cheery colors you used and how you made the lady have a shadow image by mirroring the stamp.

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  57. Beautiful colors. Cleaver idea to create the reflection

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  58. Gorgeous card, beautiful colors and FUN video. Thanks for the inspiration:)

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  59. Love love this card! Reflections are so neat on a card. Thanks for the instructions and sharing your work!

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  60. Wow. Very clever idea! Thanks

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  61. Oh, to have your talent, this is beautiful!

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  62. I love love love the idea of a reflection - you have opened a new world to me - gotta get that stamp before it is out of stock!

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  63. Your sky makes my heart happy! And these are fabulous!

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  64. So unique and so different! Just wow!

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  65. Wow!!! Absolutely GORGEOUS and thank you for the sharing your tips and tricks.

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  66. Beautiful Lydia, love the mirror image technique.

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  67. This is an amazing card! The colors are so vibrant (wonderful blending), and I love the puddle you created!

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  68. Woow, this is amazing! Love the whole card design!

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  69. Totally in love with this card; I really have to try this! Gorgeous!
    ~God bless~

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  70. the colors in the background really glow.
    Wonderful to be able to mirror them in
    the "puddle".
    Fantastic card.
    thanks for sharing.

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  71. Lydia, your card is lovely! I love how the puddle reflects the colorful sky and the woman! Your video was so helpful in teaching how to do it and how to make the mirror image of the woman! I can't wait to try this method myself. I also loved your quote "It's like a secret diary of all your stamping activities and you should be proud of it..." about the mirror image rubber stamp. Thanks for sharing.

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  72. OH my goodness... I have this stamp set and I have to say this is my favorite card to date!!!! It is absolutely breathtaking!!!

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  73. Love that stamp set. Your card is gorgeous! Thank you for the video.

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  74. Beautiful card! Love the watercolor and the brightness of the sky. Great job!

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  75. I absolutely love your card, not only is it stunning, it is very unique! I just love the reflection of the women along with the gorgeous sky you created mirrored in a puddle, brilliant and very cool design! Your video tutorial was extremely helpful too.

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  76. Absolutely beautiful card-love the choice of stamp, sentiments & colors!

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  77. Yes, I would love to be standing in front of that wall of colour! Your mirroring of the image adds such impact to your card. Gorgeous! Thank you for the video; so enjoyed watching the magic unfold...
    ~carol

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  78. This card is amazing! Love the colors and mirror image! You rock for having a video of your process in how you made this.

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  79. You have such a creative mind. That's a natural reflection yet it isn't one I would think to do with this stamp. The waercolors just added so much to the card. Love it!

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  80. What a fabulous card! I really like the reflection and the bright colors.

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  81. Wow! That sky is incredible!! And having just a bit reflected in the "puddle" is a fabulous idea! Awesome card.

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  82. Thank you for sharing your video - your card is beautiful! The colors you chose are vibrant and lovely, really makes the reflection pop!

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  83. So much talent!!! That is an awesome card!!!

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  84. wowie! such a stunning card :) love it! thanks for sharing

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  85. So amazing! This is a stunner! Thanks so much for the inspiration!!

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  86. This I should such a happy card, full of bright colors! I want to walk along with this gal!

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  87. I love this puddle card! It's beautiful and I'm sure would warm the heart of anyone receiving it. You've given me some great ideas - excited to play with my mirror image stamp when it arrives in the mail!

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  88. Great card, love the vibrant background!

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  89. This card is amazing! Beautiful colours.

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  90. Oh wow what an amazing card! Can't wait to watch your video!

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  91. The bright colors are beautiful! Great job!

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  92. I am loving this technique! This is just too cute. TFS!!!

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  93. I really like how you contrasted the rainbow colors and the grey. Very pretty card

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  94. Wow, I love the colors and the card.

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  95. OMG you just crack me up!!! What's wrong with a drunk lady in the rain!!!! Lov this card.

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  96. This is a beautiful and stunning Card! Thank you so much for the informative video. You are so talented! Love your colors.

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  97. At first I was not aware of how you water colored and then stamped, but now I am in AWE

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  98. I'm with you on the whole rain thing but my goodness isn't that puddle amazing!!

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  99. I'm with you on the whole rain thing but my goodness isn't that puddle amazing!

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  100. Lydia! This is such a stunning card!!! Love your use of water colors to bring such color and life to this card. The white crayon was perfect. I need this stamp! Thank you for sharing your creativity.

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  101. Love Love Love this card!!! Love how you used the mirror image stamp to do a reflection in the water, love the beautiful colours in the background and how you blended them to look hazey, like things do in the rain. Most of all, though, is that lovely sentiment!! I need it!!

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  102. This is such an amazing card. Love it! Thanks for the video, great technics.

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