Smile And Wave

Awesome With Bing in Denver!

So, WAY back in June I co-hosted a special event that Alison Faulkner of The Alison Show put on with Bing. It was one of a handful of parties across America that this fancy lady was organizing, along with local creatives and vendors in each city, to share a bit about her story and message to embrace your talents and potential and share it with the world.

It was not only one of the most fun evenings I've had since moving to Colorado, it was a bit dreamy to get to hug Alison's neck. I've been a fangirl of hers for a few years and have been so inspired by her ability to make things happen for herself whilst encouraging other women along the way!

The event was held at a beautiful venue in downtown Denver and Melanie of You Are My Fave added her magic with all of the beautiful decor and styling. I was so thrilled to have the chance to hang out with both Rebecca Caridad and Heather Grey throughout the evening as they were both able to contribute with florals and photography. I also got to meet a few lovely ladies I'd only known through Instagram and blogs!

We had dinner from a taco truck followed by gourmet ice cream and popsicles from local artisans whilst chatting about blogging, motherhood, shopping, etc. We each had our photo taken by Mountain vs. Plains and were turned into illustrations that we were later able to take home as favors. 

We had a lovely session with Alison and learned a bit more about Bing's tools for bloggers before I took the figurative stage and walked everyone through warping their looms and adding fringe before getting their weave on. It was my first time doing a teaching event in awhile and I found myself thinking in blog tutorial mode. Everyone was gracious when I gave them the wrong instructions on doubling their fringe length and we managed to get things figured out in the end. It was lovely watching their woven pieces take shape and knowing a few had found their new favorite hobby!

At the time Smith was about three months old and sweet Brett had him and the big kids downtown at our hotel with a bottle of my milk-a bottle that he decidedly refused to take so that he had more time to cry. Brett handled it like a champ so that I could have this four hour stretch with some fantastic gals doing what I love. It left me feeling so refreshed and a bit more connected to something that gets a little lost between diaper changes and midnight feedings. Let's all clap for Brett. 

I'm so thankful I got the opportunity to do something a little outside my 'I have a new baby and don't get out much anymore' comfort zone because it was so, so fun and I would've missed out on hugging that sweet Alison's neck!

Moral of the Story: If you're invited to share about something you're still learning how to do yourself and you're pretty nervous about how it might all come together, but your heart beats a little faster at the possibility of how exciting it might also be, go ahead and commit.

You won't be sorry.

Even if you have a slight wardrobe malfunction all night and your seemingly modest dress no longer covers that nursing cleavage. It'll all still be great. 

See for yourself below.

Thanks, Bing, for sponsoring our evening of fun and thanks, Alison, for bringing me along!

 

-Rachel 

 

Co-Host: Melanie Blodgett of You Are My Fave @youaremyfave and

Rachel Denbow of Smile and Wave @smileandwave

Florist: Rebecca Caridad @rebeccacaridad

Photographer: Heather Gray @heatherthegray

Popsicles: Aiko Pops

Portrait artist: Paul Michel of Mountain vs Plains

Venue: Blanc Denver @blancdenver

Videographer: Modern Atelier @modern_atelier

Awesome With Bing and The Alison Show Sneak Peek

Just got to see the images from the Bing event last month. Full post with details on all the dazzling gals (and a few guys) that made it so wonderful coming soon. Aren't those flowers and that banner just about perfect for a summer soiree? 

We've been busier than usual this summer with projects, activities, and a big trip on the horizon that has me making my lists and checking them twice. Disneyland for the first time as a family and we can't wait. 

I hope you're having a lovely summer. There's so much more Instagramming going on than blogging so feel free to follow along at @smileandwave. See you soon!

-Rachel

Photo Credit: Heather Gray

Why I Love Art Journaling

I was digging through a box of loose journal pages in preparation for this post and stopped to read each and every one. It doesn't feel like it's been as long as it's been since I made these two different journals but it's been seven and five years! The first grouping above was made for an online class that hasn't been available for awhile and documented how I was feeling about our last summer as a family of three back in 2009. Sebastian was about to turn three and I was a few months pregnant with Ruby. I remember feeling much more whimsical of heart and I think it's really special to look back at my thoughts as a mama of one. 

I'm still really drawn to the aesthetic of these pages. I love all the white with black letting and summer colors. I used a lot of found papers and cut out shapes to create fun collages. I had a lot of polaroid film left but must've run out after this because I haven't seen any for years. 

I still love so many things from those lists but had forgotten about some of the things I'd written down, such as my fear of all the garden snakes in our backyard. There were always (harmless) snakes in our big, beautiful backyard and I almost let it keep me from getting out there to enjoy it. I also often worried that someone would call Child Protective Services or at least really judge me for letting Sebastian run around naked outside at age two. It's so funny to think about how I'm not going to care one bit when Smith pulls off his diaper to run through the sprinklers. I guess some worries fade with each new addition.

This round of pages is from 2007. Brett, Sebastian, and I had just moved back in with my family after our apartment complex in Seattle was being sold to turn into condos. We were apartment managers on the weekends and got free housing plus pay and both worked part time through the week but the new owners didn't need us and we weren't going to be able to find anything else to work out with our schedules and budget so we had our stuff put in storage and moved in with my parents.

They were so generous to let us stay with them for so long but I remember feeling a little defeated moving home and running into high school friends and being in a hard place financially. It's reflected in one of my pages below. I remember one afternoon I was out to lunch with my dad when he spotted someone I used to know from school and I desperately hoped I could avoid eye contact so they didn't ask me what I'd been up to the last six years.

I can look back now with the confidence and humility that comes with age - knowing that we all have different stories, unmet expectations, plans that may not have gone accordingly, or experiences that have been greater than we could've imagined. I'm not sure I would've remembered some of the raw emotion and insecurities from my twenties had I not put them on paper in such a way. 

As I mentioned in the trailer for my 52 Weeks of Art Journaling E-Course, I hope these journals I've made over the last twelve plus years will give my kids as much as they gave me. They were a creative outlet, a chance to experiment with new techniques, a reason to take pictures of myself and the kids, a place to vent and question, a record of likes and dislikes through the years, but most of all they allowed me to get to know myself better. When my kids are walking through a frustrating time in their life they'll be able to see where I struggled and be encouraged. I hope they see all the simple joys we knew as well. 

They say children learn valuable lessons through play. I think the same is true when you have a medium that you love. I'll always love art journaling for the safe place it's been to make pages that are meaningful to me without the pressure of keeping up with trends or creating with others in mind. Some pages I'm really proud of and others I just needed to get out of my system but they're all for me. 

If you've purchased my latest Art Journaling E-Course and have completed any pages you feel excited about sharing you can add the hashtag #52weeksofartjournaling to your pages on Instagram or via Twitter. I'd love to see what you've done with the prompts and challenges!

Your turn. What do you love about art journaling? How'd you get started? If you've never tried it before have you ever wanted to? I'm all ears!

-Rachel

52 Weeks of Art Journaling (Giveaway and FAQ)

I've had a few of the same questions about my newest E-Course, 52 Weeks of Art Journaling, so I'm sharing FAQ and answers and offering the first round of giveaways on my blog today. 

Q: What kind of projects are you offering in each post?

A: Each post (one per week or tackled at your own pace) offers a jumping off point for your page. Often times you'll sit down to create something and not know where to start. These jumping off points are sometimes very specific and other times have a little more room for you to figure out how to incorporate it.

For example, I have one week labeled 'CORK!' that was included to get you thinking outside of the box in regards to materials you use when you journal. I showed (see above) how to use cork roll and an x-acto knife to make a bold statement on your page. Each post offers written directions on how the technique was achieved and step-by-step photos on the more challenging pages. At the end of most posts I also share an alternative option for that technique to help you see how else you can use it in future pages. 

Q: What supplies will I need for this course and where can I get them?

A: One thing I love about art journaling is using basic supplies in creative ways so I'm not spending a lot of money on specialized items that I won't use up or that will be dated in six months to a year. Many of the supplies used for this course were purchased from big box craft and hobby stores such as Michael's, Hobby Lobby, or JoAnns. You can also find supplies on Amazon, etsy, office supply stores, hardware stores, garage sales, thrift stores, flea markets, or your crafty stash. 

You'll need a binder or album to store your pages as well as chipboard, card stock (think solid colored scrapbook paper), a paper cutter, photo splits or glu-dots to adhere photos and papers, acrylic paint, writing utensils, photos or scans of photos, alpha stickers in your favorite fonts, balsa wood, a cork roll, pages from your favorite catalogs or magazines, found papers such as wallpaper or ledger paper, and any other items you may want to include. You can spend as little or as much on supplies as you want depending on your personal style. 

Q: What kind of prompts are included and do I have to pair the same prompts and techniques that you do?

A: I've included 52 techniques as well as a list of 52 prompts. A few examples of the prompts are 'The Honest Truth', 'Wish List', 'Three Things', 'Craving', 'Growth', 'My Happy Place', and '#WIDN'. Think of it as the theme for your journaling. You can use it as a literal title on your page somewhere or just as the theme for what you want to share. Most of my pages are lighter on the journaling because I was going for a more graphic look. However, you can get as real and personal as you'd like! 

I paired my prompts and techniques up as I felt inspired while I was creating each post and my contributors were able to choose from a few combinations in order to share something they were excited about. However, you don't have to use the same exact combinations. You don't even have to do the technique posts in the same order listed in the course. As stated before, each post is a starting point for your creativity. It offers an example of something you can copy down to the last detail but is also meant to give you inspiration for making it your own. 

Q: Is there a place where we can see the work of other students in the class?

A: I've created the hashtag #52weeksofartjournaling for those who wish to share their work on Instagram or Twitter. I think it's a great idea to be able to connect with others taking the class to get an idea of how many different directions each post can be taken and to be inspired by their work. That said, I always appreciate links back to the course and trust that course information will only be used for personal enjoyment. 

Q: I'm really busy right now but want to take the course. Is there an expiration date? 

A: You're in luck! Once you purchase the e-course you have access to it through our private blog and can also download the pdf version. It won't expire so you can take it at your convenience. It's also a great gift idea or something you can purchase with a close friend and work on together.

Q: Is this e-course different than the other art journaling e-courses you've done in the last few years?

A: All of the posts in this course are new and fresh. Even if you've taken every single art journaling e-course I've ever offered you're getting new techniques and an evolved style, and as always, more opportunities to strengthen your own style and creativity!

I'm offering five lucky readers the chance to win their own copy of 52 Weeks of Art Journaling! 

All you need to do is leave a comment below for your chance to win one of five copies. Easy! Just remember to be sure there is a way for me to contact you if there isn't a link back to your own blog. GIVEAWAY WILL CLOSE MARCH 28th.

I'll be sharing a bit more about how I got into art journaling and some examples of my pages throughout the last twelve years (gasp!) in the coming week so stay tuned. Also, if you just can't wait to see if you'll be one of five winners you can purchase my e-course here. 

-Rachel

52 Weeks of Art Journaling is Here!!!

My first e-course of 2014 is here!

52 Weeks of Art Journaling has had a lot of love and emotion put into it these last few months as it started out as another idea and developed into something special. I've designed this course to offer 52 different challenges and 52 journal prompts to be mixed and matched to give your creativity a jump start.

This course is for anyone who loves the idea of documenting life with plenty of room to explore not only their day-to-day but reflect on specific seasons. Thoughtful prompts allow for rambling ideas, expressing all the emotions, noting the hard things, and looking to the future. There are step-by-step tips on how to get the look shared in each challenge but there are also ideas on how to take things in different directions and ways to customize your own pages. 

I'm joined by a team of talented contributors, including: Tina Aszmus, Kara Haupt, Mandi Johnson, Elsie Larson, Marcy Penner and Amy Tan. All of these women have been developing their own unique styles and have had their influence on the scrapbooking and art journaling world for the last seven plus years. They each bring their own unique blend to the table to share how they've interpreted their journal challenges.

This is a ‘work at your own pace’ course. There are no due dates and the course never expires. The sessions are broken into 52 weeks (plus maybe a few bonus weeks!), so you can enjoy a full year of art journaling inspiration. Of course, if you’re feeling more ambitious you can do one challenge each day and complete the course in about two months. Either way, it’s an incredible way to kickstart creativity!

Are you ready to make something you'll treasure forever? Head over to the new A Beautiful Mess Shop to find out more and get started with 52 Weeks of Art Journaling.

-Rachel

P.S. Thanks so much for sharing in my excitement over the last few weeks as I've mentioned this e-course on Instagram. These e-courses are always great to work on because I learn so much myself as I'm developing them and I'm thrilled that I finally get to share it with you!

P.P.S. If you're having trouble getting the shop to load keep hitting refresh. Elsie's just shared that the response to the shop has been so great it has bogged the site down and they're working to fix it ASAP. Thanks!

 

It's Almost Here! 52 Weeks of Art Journaling

After weeks of making and then a few weeks of polishing things up, my first e-course of the year is almost ready for you to enjoy! 52 Weeks of Art Journaling is exactly that, 52 challenges and prompts created by myself and a handful of some of my favorite contributors, designed to give you the opportunity to learn more about yourself and the creative options available to you as you document your journey over the course of a year. It's less about keeping an account of weekly activities and more about experimenting with paper, color, feelings, and reflecting on what season of life you're in. 

It will be exclusively available on the brand new A Beautiful Mess Shop which is launching very, very soon! I'm so excited to share more about this first creative project of the year! Stay tuned.

-Rachel

P.S. For any past art journaling students: we added a special discount code to our previous two art journaling e-courses. Right at the beginning of the course-you can't miss it. Just log into your past course to get that special discount. :) If you need help logging in email support at: support AT redvelvetart DOT com

E-Course Sale Ends Oct. 1st

Last chance to take advantage of the 25% OFF sale! These are not only great for developing your own interests in sewing, decorating, journaling, etc. but they make excellent Christmas gifts for your creative friends. 

Check out Baby on the Way, Style Your Space, Modern Patchwork, as well as two art journal courses available here.

-Rachel

E-Course Sale: Everything 25% Off

There are a variety of great e-courses in case you're interested in picking up a new hobby or just learning a bit more about something you're already testing out. I've written three: Style Your Space, Baby on the Way, and Modern Patchwork and co-written two with Elsie on art journaling titled Art Journaling All Year and Life is Beautiful.

Here's the discount code: HAPPYAUTUMN (This is case sensitive, be sure you don't add a space before or after the discount code) 

You can get more info and shop all our e-courses here. 

A few announcements about our e-course program:

*Did you know you can download each course as a PDF? We added this feature to all our e-courses this year, because it was requested so often by students. Even though the courses never expire, you do need internet in order to access them. Unless you print them! A little warning though: The courses are pretty long. We tried to create files that presented the courses unabridged, but as condensed as possible. But if you do plan to print make sure you have enough paper and ink. 

*A Beautiful Mess (where I host my e-courses) will be revamping the e-course program in 2014. We are super excited about this! They will be creating new editions (with new information) of many of our most popular courses. So if you'd like to take the current version now is a great time to buy, because they won't be available too much longer. Plus they are on sale! 

Now's the time to get yours and start in on making those Christmas gifts!

-Rachel

(Even though we may not be selling the current editions of our e-courses in the future they will still be available to past students. As long as you have your log in details you will always be able to access your course. If you ever have trouble accessing a course please email us: support AT redvelvetart DOT com)

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

E-COURSE SALE

There's a special summertime sale running on all Red Velvet e-courses right now! Use the code SUMMERSALE at check out to get 25% off any Red Velvet E-Course. If you've been wanting to purchase Style Your Space, Modern Patchwork, Baby on the Way, or Art Journal All Year now is the best time to buy! Offer available until August 1, 2012.

-Rachel

*image c/o A Beautiful Mess