Mixing it Up...

a bit for this week's challenge over at 4SS. The idea was to create a layout using products from 5 different manufacturer's on the same page. I love mixing my stuff anyways and this was a fun way to get motivated to do so. My product listing is as follows: Basic Grey - pp, Collage Press - pp, Cosmo Cricket - letters, Making Memories - paint and small notebook paper, 7gypsies - small cardstock sticker (tag).

To create the base for this layout I did some painting with a dry brush on my 12 x 12 sheet to wash out a bit of the crazy pattern a bit before placing my papers and other elements down.

I also let some of my drips run by holding my paper verticly for a bit (until paint was dry). I then just added my layers of papers and did some random stitching with my sewing machine. The narrow strip of patterned paper over my journaling is actually a flap that can lift up so that the reader can than read my journaling in it's entirety.

The photo challenge this week was to capture something that's from your hometown. I'm still thinking about what it is that I'll be doing for this one. I have a couple of ideas but haven't settled on anything just yet. Will share when I do though, assuming that I'll get the chance to get out and get some shots within the next couple of days.

This summer has been flying by ridiculously fast it seems. There has been a part of me that has been itching to get back to something that was more creatively me again. If that makes any sense.
Last year's Mini Art Journal challenges with Emily were so inspiring and really made me take the time to spend on creating something that was just mine, I think that this series of prompts may just be the thing that I have been itching to get back to. I've been toying with the idea of starting my own series of prompts as well...we'll see if that actually comes to fruitation though. Sometimes a creative nudge is all that you need to get back to where you need (or want) to be.