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!!!

Free to Dream Canvas

Happy 4th of July! I created this red, white, and blue canvas just for today :)

I used a lot of fabulous Fabel Castell Design Memory Craft products to put this canvas together. I started by coloring the canvas with Gelatos® in Red Cherry, Coconut, and Blueberry, then spraying heavily with water to get the pigment to run. 

I mixed Whipped Spackle with Red Cherry Gelatos® and Blueberry Gelatos® to get red and blue modeling paste for my stars and polka dots. Once the Whipped Spackle dried I stamped some Unity stamps using my Stamper's Big Brush Pens as ink.

My favorite new product from Design Memory Craft is the Texture Luxe™ pastes! I used the Pearl Texture Luxe™ mixed with Glass Bead Glitter Gel to get an extra shimmery modeling paste. I used that paste mixture over with a stencil from the 201 Stencil Collection... so gorgeous once it dries!

The sentiment uses some old chipboard alphas that I painted with Design Memory Craft Chalkboard Paint, then covered with Glass Bead Glitter Gel (can you tell I have a thing for glitter!?).

I finished the canvas with this Unity stamp on old sewing pattern tissue.

Happy 4th of July and may you be free to dream :)

I'm now offering my projects for sale directly off my site here! This canvas is available for $30 plus shipping :) Thank you for supporting rwkrafts!

Free to Dream mixed media canvas

8"x10"

$30 plus tax+ship

Hashtag WineTime

This summer has been beyond amazing, and it's hardly even started! I am loving summer in Baltimore (so far!) and especially when my parents came to visit. We spent every single evening sitting in the backyard, drinking wine, and watching the fireflies. It was summer perfection!

Today's Forecast: 99% chance of wine. Well, it should really say 100% but that's ok :) That is just ONE of the very fun July Printables created by Danielle that are now FREE in the Paper Issues store! I colored the letters to match my layout and the darling new Simple Stories collection "Sunshine and Happiness". 

You're going to have to get your scrappy hands on this Simple Stories collection... and lucky for you there is a 20% off coupon! Use the code RWKRAFTS at checkout and you'll receive 20% off EVERYTHING! Even the brand new Simple Stories line! Happy shopping :)

MMMC #26 - Reach for the Stars

Hello July! I can tell this is going to be one AMAZING month and I'm happy to be kicking it off with The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge and this fun new theme: REACH FOR THE STARS! You really need to visit MMMC to what the design team created... everybody interpreted the theme differently and it makes for some stunning projects! 

We are so excited to have the super talented Seth Apter as our July Guest Designer. He works with the gorgeous mixed media magazine Cloth Paper Scissors, he's an artist, and he also designs products like stamps and stencils. Truly he is a rock star and we are thrilled to have him!

He is also sponsoring our July prize! One random entrant will get Seth's beautiful stamp set!

Ok just one last thing before I *finally* get to my project... we are welcome a new Design Team Member! Clare Messenger is joining our team and you MUST view her first project HERE! It's gorgeous!

Now it's my turn!! I used the theme to have fun with a July 4th inspired art journal spread

My family and I had just visited Fort McHenry in Baltimore, where The Star Spangled Banner was written. That trip inspired the theme and the quote of my page: 

Through the clouds of the war the stars of that banner still shone.

The background of my page is created with Design Memory Craft Gelatos® in Cotton Candy, Blueberry, Snow Cone, Coconut, and Red Cherry. Once I colored the Gelatos® on my art journal, I sprayed the entire page with A LOT of water. I really wanted the pigment to move, mix, and flow through the page.

I used an old rubber star stamp from Unity and some red, white, and blue acrylic paints to 'stamp' the image throughout the journal. I found a lot of star wood veneers in my stash, sprayed them with navy mist, and glued them onto my page.

Thanks for spending your summer day with me! I can't wait to see your projects fill the Mixed Media Monthly gallery!