Whenever I travel I like to take a lot of photos and collect maps and other odds and ends from my trips and then keep them in a travel journal like this one. The photo map on the cover is put together like a puzzle using photos from the states we've traveled to and when we visit a new one we just add that one on top of the patterned paper one that's holding it's place. I used my ScanNCut to create it by cutting out pictures from our travels and scrapbook papers into the state shapes.

Supplies:

ScanNCut Machine and Accessories

ScanNCut Font Converter

ScanNCutCanvas

Cut Files: Title, Map

3 pieces of patterned paper

1 piece of black cardstock

Photos

Adhesive

Pencil

Black Pen

White Pen

Ribbons (optional)

Journal

Instructions: (for video instructions click here.)

Follow the video instructions or follow the step-by-step ones below. 

1. You can download entire title HERE, or create your own by following these steps:

• Open the ScanNCut Font Converter, choose your font and type out the words and then save them. If you are using different fonts in your title create and save them separately.

• Open up ScanNCutCanvas, click on the “Import File” button. Select the font file you just created and open it. Depending on the style of font you used you may need to weld the letters together or group them to move them or resize them.

• Add a rectangle or other shape around the words and then cut out your design on black cardstock.

2. In ScanNCut Canvas, open the public domain map of the United States, resize it if necessary and then send it to your ScanNCut machine using ScanNCut Transfer or a USB. Cut out three versions of the map using three different colors and patterns of scrapbook paper.

3. Resize your photos smaller and print them out. Delete the states you don't have photos for. Fill the mat with photos and then scan it in. Move each of the state shapes over the correct photo, zooming in if necessary to place it in the perfect spot on the photo. Cut them out.

4. Use a pencil and one of the negative pieces of the map cardstock to trace the outline of the United States onto the front of your journal. Use adhesive to assemble each of the state photos or patterned paper in the correct place.

5. Embellish the cover with doodles, travel quotes and ribbons.

 Happy travels!

Disclosure: Erin is a paid consultant and has received  products from Brother to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely her own and based on her use of the products.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy from these links it won't cost you a penny more but Erin will make a little bit of money (not enough for a pony). 

As a mixed media artist there are very few projects I do that don't have some Gelatos® on them!  I just love them. They are so rich and creamy that they blend really well with or without water so it's a great way to add translucent color to your work.

Done on cardstock and gesso

Lately I've been really into making my own pocket cards for scrapbooking...here's a peek into some backgrounds I made with the Bright set of Gelatos onto 3"x 4" cards.  Keep in mind, these are just the backgrounds I can still add doodles, paint, ephemera, and other embellishments to them.  

Done on patterned paper with embossed stamping

Done on patterned paper

Done on textured cardstock with a stencil and sprays of Gelatos + water

I think this might be my favorite Gelatos set!  I'm all about bright colors and these ones are great to use individually and to mix!

 Check out what's included in this set and ideas on materials you can use it on in this video:

Disclosure: Erin is a paid consultant for Faber-Castell and has received  products from them to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely her own and based on her use of the products.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy from these links it won't cost you a penny more but Erin will make a little bit of money (not enough for a pony). 

Are you like me with a bunch of scrap papers left over from scrapbook pages, and extra pre-cut pocket cards just waiting to be used? I'll admit, in the past I've thrown out perfectly good scraps and given away pocket-cards I knew I was never going to get around to using...because really how many “best day ever” cards can a girl have and use? But now I've decided to stop buying cut back on the amount of artsy stuff I'm buying an make do with what I already have...hello, I can paint over those best day cards or even just use them to practice new techniques on!

So in order to use up the stuff I have I started cutting down white textured cardstock scraps  to 3" x 4", which is the perfect size for pocket cards. Now originally I used these papers for testing out some  fun products for Faber-Castell and wound up having a bunch of them with the same stencil pattern gesso'd onto them. So today I'm sharing with you what I did with two of those cards...you can check out this short video below to see the process of how I created them.

As I said, I started by using a stencil and applying gesso over it. After I removed the stencil I let the gesso dry.

 Next, I rubbed some Gelatos® from the Bright collection over the gesso and activated it with a wet paint brush.  I love how easily the color spreads and how well the colors blend together.

Easy peasy! Now I have a great background to work with in my pocket page scrapbooking.

Next up is another white cardstock card that had the same stencil & gesso technique done to it. Once it was dry I just used my handy-dandy fine point Sharpie pen to outline the raised portion of the gesso.

Notice it's NOT perfect! Perfection is over rated.  ;)

Once I finished outlining the sectioned I just made quick hash marks down each of the "aisles".

It's not even or straight...which makes it perfect in my book. While you probably can't see it in this photo, the gesso texture is really cool in real life.  It would be fun to mix in some colored paint or Gelatos in the gesso too to give it another look.

How are you stretching your supplies and making authentically YOU art to use in your projects? I'd love to hear your ideas so comment below.

Disclosure: Erin is a paid consultant for Faber-Castell and has received  products from them to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely her own and based on her use of the products.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy from these links it won't cost you a penny more but Erin will make a little bit of money (not enough for a pony).