Monday, August 31, 2015

MMMC #16 - COLORFUL Photo Inspiration

It's no secret that September is my absolute favorite month of the year! Leaves start to change, air turns crisp, the squirrels are busy, and most of all it's my birthday month!! So I had to help make this month's Mixed Media Monthly Challenge a little special... we're welcoming one of my favorite mixed media artists to guest design with us: Julie Balzer! Make sure to visit the Mixed Media Monthly post to see her amazing creation and how she was inspired by our photo inspiration!


Here is our photo inspiration challenge! I was inspired by the variety of colors and the circles throughout the photo.


I chose to tone down the colors and make them more pastel. I used a lot of Gelatos that I diluted with water to get a lighter color. The design of my art journal page was inspired by Dina Wakley and Julie Balzer.



The cool image is from Stampotique called "Minkygirl". I colored her with Faber Castell Pitt Pens using colors drawn from the photo.



In one of her classes, Julie Balzer taught a really neat handwriting/journaling technique. I gave it a shot on my page and I think it's warming up to me... you write whatever you want pretty sloppily and then you write your next line half on top of the line above it. What I ended up writing is pretty personal, but it's incredibly difficult to read so I like it that way ;)



Can't have a challenge without a PRIZE! There is a pretty awesome one up for grabs. Brave Girls' University is opening its doors September 1!! Angela Magnuson is the owner/creator of Unity Stamp Co and she's also a Brave Girls' Club contributor. She is giving away a one month membership to the BRAND NEW Brave Girls' University!! Make sure to check out this great new online course!



You have the entire month of September to enter your photo inspired mixed media projects! Check out what the rest of the team created (including Julie Balzer's project!) over at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!




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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

For Fox Sake! - Unity Happy Hour

Here we are for another Unity Happy Hour Hop! It's also the new day for a NEW Unity Be Inspired Challenge and Sentiment Kit.



This fox sentiment is my new absolute favorite! I followed the Be Inspired Color Challenge for this card. The fox was colored with Copics and fussy cut. Then I just layered a lot of pattern paper from DCWV "Modern Meadow" stack which fit the challenge perfectly.





Make sure to go through the happy hour hop to see more pretty inspiration!

We have TWO amazing Unity filled prize packages to giveaway. Leave a comment on EACH blog in the hop (including the Unity blog) for your chance to win. The winners will be announced Monday night on the Unity blog.






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Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Unity Happy Hour!

Hello! I am still unpacking and unboxing and organizing and ugggh but I just HAD to join in with today's big Unity Happy Hour party! So many new releases, sales, clearance items, PLUS a very fun event happening over on Facebook... make sure you join here! There will be a fun chat with all the Unity girls, games, and of course tons of PRIZES :)


I wish I had time (aka knew where all my supplies were cuz they're hiding in moving boxes) to make a cuter card, or even more cards, but this is as good as it gets at the moment! Thankfully I NEVER packed up my Copic markers, so I used those to color in these adooorable Halloween cuties. I absolutely love love LOVE this set!




Here is the proof haha. It will be an amazing space once it's finished! 


Now go check out all the new goods at Unity Stamp Co! Don't forget to join our facebook event for even more fun :)






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Sunday, August 2, 2015

August MMMC - GET TEXTY

I am a day late with my Mixed Media Monthly Challenge post; please forgive me! I have been in the long, boring, tiring, but exciting process of moving into our first home! And with new moves comes multiple days without internet connection :) So I write to you all from my newest Starbucks location.


For the month of August we're asking you to GET TEXTY with your mixed media projects. Be sure to link up to the MMMC gallery for a chance to win a $25 gift card from our wonderful sponsor: ELLEN HUDSON LLC!



My project incorporates a LOT of very very old alphabet chipboard pieces that I 'borrowed' from Lynn Kopas' stash. ;) 


The canvas is 8"x10" in size and filled from edge to edge with alphas. Here's a peek at the process...


Since the challenge is all about text, I started by adhering a layer of old book pages all over the canvas and let it dry.


Little by little, I started to adhere the chipboard alphas using matte medium. This process took some time but I love the final look of the canvas being 100% covered.


The next step is to cover everything with gesso. I was careful to get into all of the nooks of the letters. I let the gesso dry completely and then added another gesso layer to be sure everything was coated.


Now comes the fun part! Spray spray spray your heart away! This is the part where I always get so carried away that I forget to take process photos. The canvas went through a lot of different color schemes before I was happy.


I finished the canvas with some word thickers by American Crafts. I also gesso'd these and then painted them gold. Once they were adhered to the canvas, I added a thick layer of Glossy Accents for some extra sheen.





Thanks for joining in with me and checking out my TEXTY project! I can't wait to see what you all create with this fun theme for the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge :)






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