Rachel a.k.a Captivated Visions is such a talented designer and I am happy to welcome her back. I was able to meet her last year when she traveled all the way from United Kingdom to Las Vegas for Digiscrapapalooza. So many artistic elements that are included in her collections creating a great “art journal” look! Paint, aged and weathered papers, vintage textiles…so many beautiful elements! I love the theme of her contribution this month! Let’s take a closer look at “Yes You Can” that is included in The Digi Files this month:
This is ONE of SEVEN collections you get when you become a member of The Digi Game this month. You also get an interactive Playbook (in PDF and iBooks formats) that has lots of ideas for using the supplies including techniques, tips, and tricks! All of that, including access to exclusive collaborations every four months you are a member, for only $7.50 total per month! Here are some layouts created using Captivated Visions’s contribution:
Layout by Heddy. Supplies: Yes You Can by Captivated Visions; Fonts: The Silver Reed font by Heather (Hess)
Joyce.
Layout by Lauren. Supplies: Yes You Can by Captivated Visions; misc doodles by me; Font: soymilk.
Layout by Ronnie. Supplies: Yes You Can by Captivated Visions; Staple Its Clusters by Pattie Knox; Art Play Palette Word Play (mask) by Anna Aspnes; Vintage Photo Frames No. 18 by Katie Pertiet.
Layout by Jenn. Supplies: Yes You Can by Captivated Visions; Traveling Typewriter.
You can see more layouts created with this kit on our “Team Inspiration” page.
I’m 35 and from the United Kingdom, I live with my husband Simon who is also my best friend and tech guy! I’ve been dabbling in design for four years or more, it’s such a wonderful creative outlet and release for me, I can’t imagine myself ever doing anything else!
My designs have been available at ScrapbookGraphics since October 2012, you’ll find an eclectic mix of design in my shop inspired by Mixed Media and Art Journaling along with digital scrapbook products from my previous store which are more classic in design.
In my spare time I enjoy working in my Mixed Media Journal, and I’ve recently put together a Junque Journal which is getting fatter! If I’m not creating in my studio or on my computer I’ll be watching a movie with Simon, I enjoy cooking and reading too!
STORE
BLOG
I was having a little tidy up at home and came across this cute filmstrip of photos Simon and I took in a booth whilst on a shopping trip. I knew right away I wanted to scrap them so I scanned them in and created this fun Mixed Media Layout. The photo was taken right before we got married, the photo brought back a flood of memories! I used painted areas of the Mixed Media paper as a base to title and date my layout, I also customised the paint work by adding more paint and clipping papers to them!
I stumbled into the Digital Scrapbooking Community around 2009 or so I think, it was after discovering some designers via a signature tag hobby I’d been enjoying for several years.
I tried my hand at a few basic digital layouts shortly afterwards and it wasn’t long before I started to experiment and make my very first kit. I started out offering freebies on my blog and then I started selling Kits from my blog before I joined my first shop!
Many of my designs are as a consequence of creating in my Mixed Media Art Journal. I normally start out just creating a page off the top of my head, experimenting and creating freely, I often work on several backgrounds at the same time, spritzing and painting and stencilling!
I’ve created many beautiful colour schemes and Kit ideas this way and that’s how things normally start but I don’t always make my journal pages into products. I like to create for me first and foremost but that’s where my creativity starts.
Pinterest is a favourite place to sit and drool over inspiration, and I love to follow blogs and flickr accounts of other Mixed Media Artists and follow others Art Journals.
Sometimes it can be as simple as a pattern, a quote or a colour scheme that gives me the design bug but once I get going it’s a free for all and the end result can be totally different!
Computer: I work on a PC that runs Windows 7 64 Bit, an ATI Radeon Gfx, 8GB of Memory and an SSD Hard Drive. I love my LG 21″ Monitor!
Program: I design with Photoshop and Illustrator Creative Suite 3
Camera: My Canon EOS 350D is still doing the job! I also have a Sony Point and Shoot and love snapping on the go with my iphone!
Anything Else: I use an Intuos 4 Tablet and an Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner.
How to create transfers/elements/stamps/rub ons from your kit elements (for your personal use)
This is a fun tip which works great with Mixed Media and Art Journal style creating. If you want to create a distressed and artsy finish to your page this is a great way to change the elements in the kit you are working with to use on your background.
It works best on doodles, Illustrations, Ephemera, flat word art or word bits or non 3d elements or alphas (things that are flatter in design)
This basic tutorial is for Photoshop but could easily be re-worked in Photoshop Elements, it assumes you have a basic working knowledge of brushes.
You will need a stash of Brushes, preferably chunky stamped like brushes that have good surface area but with bits missing from them. (Check out the Mish Mash Brushes or Acrylic Washes available in my shop)
1. Choose the Element or Alpha that you wish to transform into a stamp/transfer, place it on your background.
2. Create a new layer below your chosen element.
3. Pick a brush that is bigger in size than your chosen Element. If you want your finished stamp/transfer to be one colour and not the original colour of your chosen element ensure you pick a colour with your dropper tool prior to stamping your brush.
4. On the new layer that we created below your chosen Element we will place our brush stamp. So with your colour chosen (or not if you are going to use the original element colour) stamp your brush.
5. We will now clip our Element to our brush. Doing this will create transparent pixels in our Element as our Element will only cling to filled areas of our brush. To do this either right click on your Element layer and select Create clipping Mask, or use Alt+Ctrl+G
6. Now we want to get rid of the ugly excess from our stamped layer. To do this you need to create marching ants around the edges of your Element. The easiest way I know to do this is to hold down Crtl and click on the layer thumbnail, you should know have marching ants around your Elements. From the Menu choose Select > Inverse or Shift+Ctrl+I, now with your BRUSH layer active hit delete once.
7. You should now be left with your element, in its original colour that looks more like a stamp/transfer. If you want to further distress it you can select another brush and use the clear mode and erase more of the BRUSH layer. The more you erase, the more stamped your element will become. If you wish to use the colour of your brush for your element just hide the top layer (the original element) or just delete it!
I started out creating some Mixed Media Backgrounds for my journal and they came together so fast, I actually remember it being very early in the morning and there was a storm! It was thundering and raining really hard and I was in my element lol!
I got really excited when I saw these backgrounds coming together, so when I was at a stage where I felt done with the backgrounds I scanned them into Photoshop and created the Celeste Collection!
It’s my favourite because it’s so serene to look at, and the papers are so artsy and hold so much texture. I find it really easy to scrap with, there are tons of layering elements and I’ve already scrapped with it twice!
The Celeste Collection was my debut product during my Guest Spot at Scrabookgraphics before I opened my official store there, and it continues to be my best seller!
I think it’s really versatile because it works for so many different purposes. It can be used as an everyday kit for those that scrap traditionally, but it’s artsy papers and stamped elements also mean it’s ideal for Mixed Media Scrappers and those that love to art journal. I’ve scrapped wedding photos with it, and I’ve seen so many different themed pages made with it. The feel of the kit has a real ethereal tone to it!
Here are some of my favorite products by Captivated Visions:
Here are some more inspirational layouts using Captivated Visions’s products. All of the layouts are linked to the originals with credits.
Now through March 31st, save 30% off Captivated Visions’s store with code TDD-CV-30. (One coupon per person, not valid during sale events or on collaboration products. Expires 11:59pm EST on March 31, 2013).
Go have a look in Captivated Visions’s store! We will randomly select a winner from the comments to win $10.00 in product from her store! (Comments must be posted before midnight EST to qualify)!
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Love this! I feel inspired to try some art journaling. Thanks
I just checked out Captivated Visions…such eye candy for art journalers! So many goodies to love (particularly “Shine From Within”). These products prevent me from being stuck on a art journal page (which I’m new to).
Thanks for the terrific tip and the beautiful kit in the files this month. Your art is beautiful.
I’m really enjoying Rachel’s Artful Digi Scrapping series, and her beautiful Creme Caramel is on my wishlist (thanks for the coupon!)
I love all of your I Believe in… kit… but ?? the I Believe in Beautiful collection! Just awesome!
Thanks for a chance to win!
my 2 hearts changed to ?? above!
I have been inspired to make an art journal LO after seeing Rachel’s beautiful work. What an incredibly talented designer. Thanks for the coupon and the chance to win.
Rachel has so many wonderful designs but I’d especially love some of her overlays, stamps and All Stacked Up products. Thanks for the chance to win.
Rachel’s new My Inner Voice Kit is stunning, but then again, everything she creates is!
Thanks for the fun article. I always enjoy reading and seeing the awesome layouts done with the products.
I just may try art journaling!
Glad you featured Captivated Visions this month. Art Journal/Mixed Media is a style that I have not dabbled in yet but I am curious to give it a shot! Thanks for the chance to win the ten!
What fantastic designs. I have never thought mixed media for me, but this month’s kit is fabulous, and looking at her other products has me rethinking mixed media and me!
Love Rachel’s work and have been a fan for awhile! I love how her creations have evolved in such a short time. Thanks for the chance!
I picked up a few things of hers when she was at Scrap Orchard. I love her style. Can’t wait to use this month’s kit. She has a great way with worn and distressed looks. Love it.
I love her designs and have been a fan for a while. Thank you for the coupon and the chance!
Huge fan! I recently decided to focus on learning the art journaling style and have found excellent and helpful tutorials and examples from Captivated Vision. Thanks for sharing your talent and knowledge.
Been a fan of Rachel’s for a while. Love the art journal style her latest kits have – definitely need to “play” with this style!
Beautiful products, thank you for the chance to win!
I can’t get enough of Rachel’s kits. They make me drool!
I love Rachel’s designs so much! I can get lost browsing her store..so many wonderful kits to choose from!
I am just loving Captivated Visions kits and would love to win the $10 dollar voucher so that I can afford another!
This is my favorite kit this month just because it’s so different than what I get. Am excited about making “artsy” pages. Rachel has such beautiful colors in this kit as well.
Captivated Visions has such a beautiful mix! Thanks so much for the lovely “yes, you can” kit!
I love working with her designs. Thanks for the coupon.
Love her kit! Thank you so much for coupon too.
I love Rachel Jefferies work! I have been gradually adding to my collection but in looking back I only had the add-on for Celeste so I am going to make up for that omission! I love her monthly kits which are more traditional and her mixed media kits which are so unusual! Thank you for your great newsletter than has so many ideas.
Just love her amazing, artsy, original scrapbooking designs!!!
Rachel’s kits are beautiful and unique. I’d love to win!
I’m really enjoying Rachel’s artistic style of kits lately. Would love to have “My Inner Voice”. Thanks for the coupon.
Love all the painty papers!! Thanks for sharing the amazing tip, too. ?
I love your style, Rachel. I visited your store – so many pages of beautiful kits! I am not sure how I would ever choose. Love the many different styles of rosettes, the birds, the painted backgrounds, all of it!
There are so many wonderful kits! I have to say I do love the Celeste collection – it is so versatile and can be used over and over.
These products are amazing!! And the tip sounds so interesting. I am growing to love the artsy style though haven’t played much with it. So inspirational. Thanks!
I love Rachel’s work! Thanks for the opportunity to increase someone’s stash of yours!
Very nice style
Love Rachel’s stuff and don’t have enough of it! Thanks for the chance to win!
One of my all time favorite designers!!! I still need to pick up her last couple releases, thanks for the coupon!
I love Rachel’s style & wish I had the courage to emulate it. I love the tip that she shared and I’m going to try that out today! One small step for man and all that you know! Thanks so much for the chance to win!
Ooh such lovely things, it is like being a child in a sweet shop. I have to take the plunge into mixed media and art journals, you make it so inspiring!
Rachel has always been one of my most admired designers, although I have to admit that I’ve lost her a bit since she moved shops. Sorry Rachel !
I’ll have to drop in again.
I like all of the Captivating 2012 series – beautiful kits. Also My Project Year in Review, Foliferous, From My Journal: Limed Spruce [Value Bundle] , The Joy of Life, abnd I’m Currently – now all officially on my wish list. Thanks for this month’s kit too, the coupon and the opportunity.
oh my, I love Rachel’s style, and I’m still a newbie on the mixed media art journaling, so it’s impossible to pick only one product! but I love her inner voice collection!
thanks for the chance
xoxo
Ferdy
Such a great designer!! I really enjoy her style and her take on AJ-ing! Thanks for the chance to win and the coupon!
I am a huge fan! I LOVE her work and would like to thank you for this chance to win!
I love her style, so beautiful. I usually buy other styles of kits but I’ve really fallen in love with hers this month! Can’t wait to go shopping.
I love Rachel’s products, they are so versatile! One day I am going to brave the world of art journaling and CV products will be how I start
So glad to hear she art journals! I decided to us this kit for my first art journal foray and so when I read that she journals it makes sense why I chose that one
I love Rachel’s designs and drool over them most weeks! I dabble with digital art journaling and her products make it almost easy!
I love, love, love Rachel’s designs. I have never done art journaling but would love to start. I actually keep a tab opened from her blog to check back regularly and see what new “beautiful thing” she has to share. I love all her creations, so I can’t single out anything other than to say I especially like the idea of her word overlays and her great alphas as well as her beautiful mixed media papers. Rachel, thanks for the GREAT tip you gave.
Just found her & love her work. Thanks for the great interview as well
I am a huge fan of Rachel. I have a huge collection, but will be making use of that coupon. Thanks for the chance to win and for the tutorial I’ll be trying later today.
I’m a big fan of Rachel’s designs. It was nice to get to know her better. And thanks for the coupon, I missed last week’s release “I Became Somebody Else” when it was on sale, but now I can go get it…yay!
Amazing and informative interview; I learned so much about her that I didn’t know! Luv it! Her creations are so gorgeous and inspiring! Count me in please!
Loved this kit! As always, “art journal” style kits push me creatively but then I love what I end up with! From Rachel’s shop I liked My Inner Voice, Creme Caramel, and Today Makes Me Happy. I also liked the templates and stacked layers kits. Thanks for the coupon and a chance to win!
So many beautiful designs, she is so talented!
I absolutely love Rachel’s kits. Thanks for the tutorial and generous coupon and, of course, the chance to win the $10.00.
Rachel is one of my favorite Designers.I love her Stuff !!!
Nice to see a Layout from me showing here
Thanks for the Chance to win!
Love Rachel’s designs – I used some of her mixed media papers to cover my daughters school books – just printed them onto sticky backed matt paper after adding her name and subject. They came out really well – especially the ‘Art’ book
o! i LOVE your mixed media creations! i have been searching your store several times now – totally in love! thanks for the chance to win!