Smile And Wave

I Scrapbooked!

A few weeks ago I got an e-mail from the darling Lexi Bridges-a creative mama with a shared love for vintage, playing with paper, and Target runs-inviting me to contribute to a class she is teaching for Studio Calico. For those of you who aren't familiar with SC, it's a scrapbooking kit club that combines product from major companies, exclusive SC designs, as well as non-traditional objects in an effort to keep scrapbooking fresh and innovative. They were one of my favorite kit clubs back in the day when I was scrapbooking regularly and known for their well-styled, on trend kits.

I was thrilled to join in and honored that Lexi had thought to ask me. She's quite talented with the paper! I was asked to contribute a mini book that reflected the class title 'This Is Me'. It's full of Instax, lists, journaling, beautiful paper, wood veneer triangles, arrows, stitching, and even a little woven page. 

The Studio Calico This Is Me class is on sale from now until March 31st and then runs through the month of April. This is Me is self-paced so all class content will be posted in the classroom on April 1st but there will be a class message board and challenges all the way through April. Students will receive a class kit and will all get access to the digital files.

Click here to read more about this class and join in the fun!

I really enjoyed putting this mini book together and using some new supplies. I know I'll always document my life one way or another-be it through scrapbooking, art journaling, instagramming, or blogging. It's like leaving little time capsules for yourself to rediscover and see how much you've changed. Or maybe stayed the same.

-Rachel

Announcing: Life is Beautiful Art Journal E-Course

Elsie and I are thrilled to announce our newest e-course release, Life Is Beautiful! This course celebrates everyday life and is designed to help you use simple products or things you already have in your home office or studio. In this course we create three different journals with plenty of instruction on what kind of focus each topic might have but everything is completely customizable.

We are passionate about the process of putting our memories into big messy books. If this is something you'd like to learn about, read on...

Life Is Beautiful E-Course includes: 

-Instructions for creating unique and personal art journal covers. 

-Inspiration for art journal pages with lots of photos from our personal art journals. 

-27 downloadable journaling pages that you can print at home, plus ideas for how to use them. 

-Three themed books (Everyday Moments, Personal Stories and Loved Ones) with examples from our books for each theme. We share journaling, technique and topic ideas. 

-A bonus "Life Is Beautiful" printable designed by Elsie. 

-E-Course cost: $28 USD You will receive login information to the course after payment. Be sure to include your correct e-mail address when checking out.

Want to sign up, click here to register! We can't wait to see all of the art journals that this course inspires!

Elsie and I have been working on art journals together for over ten years and every time we get together to share prompts and ideas we end up inspiring each other to try different styles or journal in a new way. I treasure having someone who values how important art journaling is for the heart and how satisfying it is to stretch yourself creatively!

We hope everyone that takes this course feels like their investment isn't just in gaining new journaling prompts but in learning something new about themselves as they take the time to document and reflect upon daily life. Thanks for letting us share it with you!

-Rachel

Art Journal All Year E-Course is Here!

 

 We're so, so excited to release our newest e-course, Art Journal All Year! It's the most personal course we've written. It's filled with beautiful textures, photographs, colors and words. It's perfect for anyone wanting to get into the practice of making art journals! 

The course is broken up into 52 Challenges! It's a 'work at your own pace' course, so you choose whether you'd like to take on one challenge each week or they can be done one each day and completed in about two months! It's the perfect course to take with a friend! 

Each session has an Art Challenge and a Journal Challenge. You'll get inspired to dig deeper in your writing as well as the collage art aspect of art journaling. Some of the themes that we focused on throughout the course were vulnerability, self exploration, goals and reflection. 

I've loved collaborating with Elsie Larson on this course. We taught our first art journaling class together nearly ten years ago and we make a good team. I'm always excited about the kind of pages she creates and her use of color and texture in her work. She regularly finds new ways to use product and ephemera to create something fresh and her journaling prompts and shared stories always remind me to dream and give me a fresh perspective.

We hope you enjoy the course. You can begin at any time, but this first week of the new year would be especially perfect, don't you think? Welcome to your new favorite e-course!

Get more info here + sign up here!

xo,

Rachel + Elsie

Paint Chip Art

I was able to capture one of Ruby's favorite sayings these days in this easy paint chip art project. It's an easy way to add color to a child's room or fill a blank wall and can be finished while catching up on your favorite shows on Hulu. I've shared the full tutorial on A Beautiful Mess.

What would you want yours to say?

xo,
Rachel

Blog Party - Vintage Map Place Setting DIY by Elsie Larson

Hello there, Smile & Wave readers!

I'm here today to share some inspiration for a quick and cute table setting! I've been collecting vintage maps like crazy. They're so beautiful and can be used for so many different projects.

For this place setting I used an atlas page for the place mat, napkin ring, name card and swizzle stick garnish. Next time you're vintage shopping, grab a vintage atlas and do some experimenting yourself! Have fun....

Congratulations, Rachel! I love your new blog look. XO, elsie

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I have the best friends! Elsie, this is such a fun idea for making meals at home more fun. Thanks for sharing this fun and easy DIY with my readers.

xoxo,

Rachel

 

 

 

> Making Time for Crafts

>

The kids and I had an afternoon to kill at home while Brett studied for a test earlier this week. We'd already gone for a wagon ride through the neighborhood, jumped on our neighbor's trampoline, read some books, made a mess at lunch time, and watched Pink Panther on Netflix.

I decided it was time to introduce Ruby to the joys of water colors. Sebastian isn't always up for crafting when I suggest a new project but he's always up for painting with water colors. He spent a good ten minutes working on his project this time, which is a good eight minutes longer than he used to. That made me happy.

Ruby took to that paint set like it was an old hobby of hers. I did catch her trying to drink the dirty water, sucking the water off the brush, stealing her brother's paint brush, and painting on my arm but she lasted as long as Sebastian and ended up getting some color on her paper coffee filter.

When we were through I had to wrestle it away for a pic. It was headed for her mouth. I may save it forever.

Sebastian ended up with a stained glass effect which I thought was interesting. I wonder what this type of painting is supposed to tell me about my child.

We got the popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners out of the craft box and made flowers out of the paper coffee filters. I have about a bajillion more from a garage sale that may turn into a garland one of these days.

I need to remember to sit down with the paint sets more often. Ruby is much more interested in coloring than Sebastian ever was (or still is) at her age so it's been fun to encourage that in her. I never had to worry about marks on the walls with Sebastian, though. Thank goodness for Magic Erasers.

Sebastian was so proud of his paper flower when he was done. It was a nice little break from sword fights, couch jumping, karate chops, and crashing block towers.

xoxo,
Rachel