:: new library book ::

Hi friends!  I'm up on the Paper Issues Blog today with a new layout!



This LO tells the story of B. loving that new book smell!  She made us all smell the inside of the book (it was brand new -- the first time it was checked out from the library)! She's hilarious!

When I saw this cute flair from Fancy Pants, I knew I had to use this collection to document this story!

I'm linking this one up to Paper Issues current link party : anything goes. Last chance to enter from some fun yumminess from Whisker Graphics!

Also, there have been a gazillion things added to the store!  Check it out!  And don't forget to use the code "orangegearle" to get 20% off your order!

Until next time!

:: too hot for blading ::

Today is my last post as a Guest Designer at Scrapbook Circle.  If you are a follower of my blog you know how much I love these kits!  I am so honored that I was asked to be on the GDT this month, and, as always, I have really enjoyed working with this kit!  Each month I am amazed at how beautifully Lisa (et. al) pulls together these papers and embellies to make a perfect kit!

This month a two pager was born!  (I haven't done these for a while, but I have done a few lately)! We celebrated my daughter's birthday (the second celebration) with my extended family on the hottest weekend of the summer!  B. got some great gifts; among them, roller blades!  We practiced a bit at Grandma and Grandpa's house (they are the ones that purchased the skates) and then after returning home, she practiced a bit more!  IT WAS SO HOT!  We even had to have a clothing change in between skating because there was a bunch of water play in between!

The challenge at Scrapbook Circle was all about stitching!  So. Awesome. that I was asked to do that!  I love stitching, as you know. So I got out my machine and stitched all around the page.

But, to live up the challenge I also did a bit of hand stitching!  Here are a few more close ups (and they include a lot of GOLD; I am so loving this trend)!

I would like to thank Lisa and Tessa at Scrapbook Circle for welcoming me in to the Scrapbook Circle Family this month!  I had a great time!!!!

Until next time!  :-) O.G.

:: toni from designs : new flair shop ::

Hi friends!  A friend of mine just opened up a new Etsy shop, and she gave me some flair to play around with!

This flair is from her back to school set!  It was the inspiration for most of the colors in my layout!

I grabbed the colors from the flair (and added one from B.'s dress) and found ink in my stash.  I used Ali Edward's new stamp set, on textured white paper and stamped on the diagonal across the page. Viola, patterned paper.

I also stamped on the insert between this two page layout to pull it together.

(more awesome flair from Toni)!

This LO is really a few stories that happened the same morning.  The morning that B. turned five, happened to coincide with her first day of AK (alternative kindergarten) and she got an awesome present!  So I put the stories in the middle in a 6x12 pocket, so I had more room for photos!  :-)

Thanks Toni for letting my play with your new flair!

Toni will be adding new flair to her Etsty shop every Monday!  You can follow her here:

Blog :  http://tonifromdesigns.blogspot.com
IG: tonifromdesigns http://instagram.com/tonifromdesigns
Twitter: @ToniFrom https://twitter.com/ToniFrom]
Pinterest: Toni From http://www.pinterest.com/tonifrom/


PS.  I'm also linking this one up to the Current Issue at Paper Issues!  Anything goes!  Have you linked up yet?

:: swag bag spotlight : beach love ::

I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today with a Swag Bag feature.

I used some Echo Park papers + the September Swag Bag + some goodies from past Swag Bags to create this layout about my B. at the beach.

"BEACH" is from Echo Park's Creative Agenda, and so is the background paper!  I am loving these colors!

Don't you love that vellum!?

Everything above is available at Paper Issues!  In fact, we've gotten quite a few new things in recently! And just because I love you, if you use the code 'orangegearle' at checkout, you will receive 20% off your order!  I know, right?

See you soon!

:: sharing secrets ::

Hi!  I'm on the Scrapbook Circle blog today with a new layout using the Here + There September kit!

A. (our neighbor) and B. enjoyed so much outside time together this summer!  On this particular day, I caught them telling secrets and giggling with each other while having a coloring party on the blanket in our yard.

There were so many awesome GOLD goodies in the kit this month, including these Scallop Boarders from Pinkfresh Studio!

I love that the phrase, "We Have the Best Stories" was included on the My Minds Eye Market Street stickers (in the "This Place" September add on kit).  It fit this story so perfectly!

Until next time…..

..:: Paper Issues New Issue :: anything goes ::..

I'm on the Paper Issues blog today with my first feature in the latest issue!  So. Fun.

I've been looking for a way to document some of the lovely flowers that my One True Love plants for us each year.  This year, he took a bunch of photos (often times it's just me), I think because they were particularly beautiful. When I received my package from Paper Issues for the current issue (did I mention that it starts today?), I knew that these bags, stickers, twine, and tags would go together quite nicely for a little mini book! 

I used one of the bigger bags for the front and back covers (it's just folded around some card stock).  Inside the bag I created a shaker for the cover (totally fun)!

Next, I printed photos of flowers that included an array of colors (2.5 inches by 2.5 inches) and paired the photos with the bags, tags, and stickers from Whisker Graphics. I also used Gelatos throughout the book (one of my favorite things, of course)!

I received some twine in my Whisker Graphics bundle of goodies.  So I used those for some added embellishment on some of the pages and with the tags.

I found some quotes about gardens and flowers to pair up with each photo.

I did use some washi, alphas, and punches from my stash, a few other little items here and there (and gelatos) but all the big stuff you see is from Whisker Graphics.  I love how this turned out!

I had to change my thread and bobbin A LOT for this project.  LOL

The theme for this issue over at Paper Issues is "anything goes" and the sponsor is….you guessed it….Whisker Graphics!  Did you know that you can post old or new projects to each of our issues to be eligible for the prize??  YOU CAN! :-)  Just don't forget to link back to the issue!

OMGoodness…I just got an awesome package from Paper Issues!  Check this out:

Don't forget, if you order from Paper Issues and use my code (orangegearle) you can get 20% off your order! 

:: the butterfly whisperer ::

I'm up on the Scrapbook Circle blog today with a new layout using the September Kit Here + There and a sketch by Diana Fisher!  I stayed pretty true to the sketch this time. I mean, why mess with a good thing?  I love Diana's sketches; they always inspire me!

Here is my take on her sketch:

I threw in a bunch of my favorite things for this one….stitching, layering, photos of my B, etc.  I also did a bunch of fussy cutting (those butterflies are not a punch, they are from patterned paper by Crate Paper)!



I used one of the scraps leftover from all the fussy cutting for a little extra texture and fun (and another chance to layer a bit)!

It has been so fun working with Scrapbook Circle this month!  You'll see a couple more projects that I created as part of the Guest Design Team pop up over the rest of the month! Check out the sketch on the Scrapbook Circle blog here!  And play along with us, it's such a great sketch!


Since I'm showing you my "mad fussy cutting skills" I couldn't resist linking this one up with Paper Issues current issue!  There a couple more days to play along on this issue before a new one starts on Monday (spoiler alert, I'm on that issue)!

Hope you are enjoying your September!  As for me and mine -- we are off to St. Paul to see The Replacements play for a hometown crowd!   Yessssss……

:: Scrapbook Circle Guest Design Team ::

Hello!  Happy Friday! I am so excited to be up on the Scrapbook Circle blog today with my first layout using the September kit (Here + There)!  This month's kit is full of yummy goodies from Crate Paper (Notes & Things), My Mind's Eye (Market Street), Pink Paislee (Solstice), American Crafts (Shimelle and Homemade), Studio Calico (Brighton Pier) and more, including some Scrapbook Circle Exclusives!

I stuck with Shimelle's new line for the main patterned paper and added some from the coordinating 6x6 paper pad, as well as her alphas. The "word" background paper is from the Homemade collection at American Crafts.  I added some stitching, some stamping with the exclusive stamp set, a tag from the Notes & Things collection, and some stickers from the kit.  This is a simple layout, but I like how it turned out!

I will share more creations from this kit soon! Grab  The Here + There kit at Scrapbook Circle while they are still available!


See you soon!