MMMC #27 - TRAVEL

AUGUST! I can't believe we're nearing the end of summer already, but hopefully you've had some great vacation time! The August Mixed Media Monthly Challenge theme is TRAVEL... create any mixed media project that's inspired by traveling. Have fun!

We have a very special guest this month, Lindsay Weirich from The Frugal Crafter! She is also our prize sponsor, offering a FREE SPOT in her newest Crafty class called Mix It Up Mixed Media! There will also be a 50% off coupon code available for the MMMC players... check the MMMC blog to get it!!

Alright now for my project! This is one of those art journal pages that starts out with a pretty focused theme (travel) but goes in a very different direct... I guess I just had the ocean on my mind!

Well I started with a collage of travel-themed pattern papers (Travel Girl by October Afternoon), and that's about as far as that went :)

I blended several shades of blue Gelatos over the page, then used Iced Currant Gelatos over a Design Memory Craft Stencil. I also used a polkadot stencil to add some Copper Texture Luxe modeling paste.

How great are these fish stamps?! They are from the talented Fred B. Mullett and are so unique and fun to use. I fussy cut the stamped image and gave it a very thin coat of Faber Castell Design Memory Craft Glaze. Once the glaze dries it gives me a non-porous surface to easily blend Gelatos and Stamper's Big Brush Pens.

I used letter stencils from the Stencil 301 Collection and my Black Stamper's Big Brush Pen to spell out my quote - Only dead fish go with the flow.

Can't wait to see your Travel creations! Make sure to enter your project in the MMMC gallery by August 31st!

Faber-castell Gesso

Faber-castell Glaze

Faber-castell Textural Accents, Glass Bead Glitter Gel, 100ml

Pitt Artist Pen, Black, Set Of 4

Faber-castell Mixed Media Stencils, 101 Collection

Faber-castell Mixed Media Stencils, 301 Collection - Lettering

Faber-castell Gelatos Designer Set, Pastels

Gelatos Mist Maker Tool Kit

Faber-castell Gelatos Designer Set, Metallics

Faber-castell Gelatos Designer Set, Brights

Gelatos Gift Set, 34pc

Collapsible Water Cup

Pitt Big Brush Pen, White

Faber-Castell Texture Luxe Paste, Copper

Pitt Big Brush Pen, Orange Glaze

Pitt Big Brush Pen, Cobalt Blue

Faber-Castell Texture Gems, Ice

Current Issue - Gleam Catchers

It's time for a card! The current issue at Paper Issues is something a little different... Gleam Catchers. There are so many interesting ways you can interpret this issue, but here are a few ideas:

• Use shiny elements like glitter, shimmer mist, sequins, silver, gold, etc.
• Use stars as an embellishment or the word "star" in your title.
• Create a project that has a Southwestern design, maybe even use a dream catcher.
• Use photos that show the catch lights (gleam) in the subject's eye.

I definitely opted for the SHINE factor with this card. I mean, the sentiment is 'hello sunshine'! I also included shimmer, gold paste, and clear accents to her sunglasses.

All of the papers and embellishments are from the fabulous Simple Stories 'Sunshine and Happiness' collection. The bold gold arrows were created using a stencil from Faber Castell Design Memory Craft Stencil 101 Collection, along with the gorgeous Texture Luxe paste in Gold. I also added a thick coat of Clear Texture Gems to the girl's sunglasses to add some more shine.

You can grab your own Sunshine and Happiness goodies at the Paper Issues store! And use the code RWKRAFTS to get 20% off your entire purchase! BOOM!

Super Zoo-per Day

There is a new Mix it Up challenge at Paper Issues today! The theme for the month is WATERCOLOR! My mixed media layouts are usually pretty messy, so I wanted to go mixed-media-simple on this one. You'll see...

I kept my watercoloring to a minimum this time. I die cut some beautiful flowers from watercolor paper, then colored them with my Peerless Watercolors to match my papers. They are so simple and delicate but still make an impact on my layout!

These photos are from a recent trip to The National Zoo in D.C. I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to see PANDAS! My favorite animal since birth :) 

My ZOOPER layout uses papers and embellishments from the new "Sunshine and Happiness" collection by Simple Stories. You can get the entire line at the Paper Issues store, and make sure you use the code RWKRAFTS at checkout for 20% off!!

Sketchy Saturday!

Double Rainbow, oh my god!

Welcome to another challenge favorite over at Paper Issues... Sketchy Saturday! The team had a lot of fun with this sketch and you get to play along, too! Personally, a sketch is always the best inspiration boost for me when scrapping.

I love a good sketch that puts my Silhouette Cameo to good use! My workplace sent its employees on a Baltimore Harbor Cruise as part of an end-of-the-school-year party. Once the thunderstorms stopped it was a beautiful boat ride... and we got a DOUBLE RAINBOW to show for it! 

So here's me, on a boat, with two wonderful teachers I worked with last year. The large stars and the title are cut from my Silhouette. The gorgeous woodgrain paper is from Simple Stories (yes, you need it) and the embellishments are from Pink Paislee "Solstice".

Remember to stock up on all these gorgeous summer collections before they're gone! Make sure to use the code RWKRAFTS for 20% your entire order at PaperIssues.com

Pinspire Me - Planner Edition

Time to print out those gorgeous summer photos! You're going to want to play along with the July Pinspire Me mood board challenge at Paper Issues!

I love every single thing on this mood board. But my eye immediately went to WATERMELON! I couldn't help it.

I also did something completely, totally, way beyond what I usually do. I'm entering a planner spread to this month's challenge! All of my stickers (from Sugar Peas Papeterie on etsy) are watermelon themed, I was obsessed. 

I also paired the planner stickers with some darling summery stickers from the new Sunshine and Happiness collection by Simple Stories. They meshed perfectly together!

My final addition to any planner spread is some vinyl PaperPOPs or clips by Parker On The Porch! I love my newest ones, the watermelon lemonade jar and the coconut beachy drink! Cute cute cute!

Get your own PaperPOPs (cuz you ain't gettin mine!) and Simple Stories embellishments at PaperIssues.com! And use the code RWKRAFTS for 20% off your whole order!

Oh Say Can You See?

I hope you and your loved ones had a beautiful, fun, and safe 4th of July weekend! I'm still in the patriotic mood and it definitely shows in my layout today! My family and I visited Fort McHenry last week, the birth-place of The Star Spangled Banner. Obviously I had to go all red, white, and blue in this page!

I was also inspired by the newest Take 5 Tuesday at Paper Issues. I used the color red, the color white, the color blue, a star (lots of stars!), and patterned paper as my five things.

Making the background was my favorite part. I used an old star stencil and dot stencil to get the pattern. I mixed Faber Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos® in Red Cherry and Snow Cone with some Design Memory Craft Whipped Spackle to get the red and blue colored modeling paste. I also die cut some tiny stars out of denim paper to mix in with my stenciling. 

Embellishments are from Bella Blvd and the patterned papers are from Lawn Fawn :) I loved the background so much that I didn't want to add too much 'stuff' that would cover it up.

You can purchase all your favorite scrapbooking supplies at PaperIssues.com and get 20% your entire order with code RWKRAFTS woohooooo!!!