:: you & me ::

I'm up on the Rubber Cafe blog today with my favorite card that I made using the December kit! I love that dragonfly! Also, I got to use my gelatos, which always makes me happy!  Check out how I put this one together here!

:: Making it Merry: Latest Issue at Paper Issues ::

We are Making It Merry over at the Paper Issues blog!  Check it out!

As soon as I received the Gossamer Blue "Get Happy" collection in the mail, I knew I was going to use it for the core of my December Documented album. Such fun colors and designs! 

Here is a look at my day 7:

Pretty much everything you see here is from the Get Happy collection -- I did add a couple of things, here and there from my stash. 

left side

For this day I decided to highlight one of my favorite parts of the season, the gift wrapping!  My day 6 is on the opposite side of the above and so I started by filling the 2x2 spots with little bits. (the six snowflakes were already there from day six, along with the arrow).

right side

I used my silhouette to cut out the text, then added enamel dots from the collection in all of the "holes". I tied it up with the same string that I used on my packages and added a tag as if the page was a package itself.

The wreath stamp is from the Get Happy collection, and I stamped it directly on the photo and added in the enamel dots for little berries. The awesome flair is from {aflairforbuttons}, and I added it on the outside of the pocket.

There are lots of ways to play along with this issue; Making it Merry: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, handmade gifts, gift ideas, ornaments, holiday decor, how you celebrate the holidays, holiday traditions, holiday menu, traditional foods, decorating the tree, lighting the menorah/kinara, cookie baking, gingerbread houses, things that make you happy, use Gossamer Blue products.

Play along, share your project with us and you just might win Gossamer Blue's Main December kit:

Woo hoo!  If you want to grab a few Gossamer Blue goodies (or any other goodies) from the shop, don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

Hope your holidays are merry, bright, and filled with love and family!

:: it's about the journey ::

Hi friends!  I'm back on the blog at the Rubber Cafe today with a new card made from their December Kit of the Month: Take Flight.

I used some of the patterned papers and card stock to create a mosaic for the back ground and then added the stamped balloon and sentiment. Check out my full post (with supplies) here!  I have really enjoyed playing along with this kit this month!

Thanks for stopping by!  See you again SOON!

:: brown paper packages tied up with strings ::

 Hi!  Just popping in to show you a few photos of my packages this year!  Each year I love choosing a "theme" or color to use when wrapping the presents under the tree.  I don't need them to be exactly alike, but I do enjoy the idea of them "going together" and acting as part of the decorations of the season.  This year we are all about red in our house…

We are also all about diy.  Almost every ornament on this tree, Bea and I made together over Thanksgiving break.  

I started with simple red/white twine (in bulk from the $1 spot at Target) and wrapped it around the plain brown paper. Used white card stock in my Big Shot to make the tag (Sizzixs die, with coordinating stamps), and added the "B" with the same twine -- using Amy Tangerine template for the letter.  Finally, on many of the packages I punched red, 1/2"circles out of washi tape and attached to the twine.

More stitching templates from Amy Tangerine for the "+" below Bea's name, more twine, more washi dots. The star at the top is from the dollar spot at Target (burlap and fabric, comes in a 3 pack).  I stamped Bea's name using Freckled Fawn stamps.

Rinse, repeat (only this time I didn't add the washi dots, instead a punched out washi stars and added them to the tag)!

An abundance of stars have joined us in our house this season!  On several of the packages, I stitched a star on the wrapping paper before wrapping.  Bea has enjoyed this, and wants to help.  She has actually become fairly skilled at stitching stars.

 

Even Snowflake the Elf has gotten in on the action.  

See you soon!

:: hello, i love you ::

Hi!  I am so excited to share the first card I made for The Rubber Cafe, featuring the Take Flight Creative Cafe Kit.  For this card I used the word 'hello' from the Soaring Above stamp set included in the kit, as well as the sentence "I love you" included in the bonus add-on set, Winging It. I also used several of the yummy patterned papers and a piece of awesome, smokey card stock.  For all the details check out my post at The Rubber Cafe!

..:: Swag Bag ::..

Hi!  I'm up on the Paper Issue Blog today with a couple of layouts that I made with the December Swag Bag. One of the things I love to do with all the goodies is create tons of layers with the included cards.

This story is all about Bea and her art!  We had an art day together, and she made all kinds of things -- one of which is actually included on this layout!  (See the far back reddish-pink layer?  That's hers)!

See that die cut right behind the bow?  That's one of Jen Chapin's FREE cut files, available here.)

  

So believe it or not, I made this layout about a fall visit to one of our favorite parks using the same kit I used with the first layout. I'm telling you, these kits are so versatile.  One of my favorite things included in the kit is that piece of polka dot burlap that is in the top left corner.  I liked it so much, I had to buy a whole sheet of it from the Paper Issues store!

I'm kinda digging the fox trend.

And I love this wood veneer!  Once again Cassie Box completely outdid herself when she put together this kit!

A Paper Issues Swag Bag subscription would be an awesome Christmas gift, just sayin'! :-)  And if you use the code 'orange gearle' you will get a 20% discount off your entire order!  

Thanks for stopping by!  See you soon!

:: sketchy saturday ::

I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today with a layout inspired by another fabulous sketch by Jennifer Chapin.  Here is my take on the sketch:



And here is her sketch.

If you play along, and you link up, you can win a $10 gift card to the Paper Issues Store!  Spoiler alert: there is also a free cut file to go with this lovely sketch.  Sherri Funk, another PI girl made it and shared it for you all!  While you are in the store you may want to pick up some of the new Bella Rouge collection by Pink Paislee.  I had so much fun using it for this layout!  Here are a few close ups.

Don't you love these alphas that are part of the collection???  They are to die for (and there is a paper that looks just like it, too)!  

There is a washi booklet in this collection that has different strips of washi tape and washi shapes.  Love it! See the banners with the hearts?  They are in the booklet!  I also used the cover of the booklet and pretended it was patterned paper!  See the circles that have text on them?  I cut those circles from the front and back cover of the book of washi shapes.  :-)  Then I used a little gelato and a water brush to highlight the words I wanted to highlight.  

This was a fun sketch -- don't forget to play along for the chance to win!  And don't forget to use the code 'orange gearle' to save 20% next time you are in the shop!

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back tomorrow with two more layouts to share!

:: exciting news ::

I was asked to be a part of The Rubber Cafe design team for the month of December!  I am super excited to be a guest designer with this talented group!  I received the December Creative Cafe Kit of the Month -- Take Flight -- yesterday and it's packed full of colorful goodies!  They announced on their blog early this morning!

You can take a look at the full post here.

Their kits contain stamps, embellishments and pretty papers and card stock that I will be using to make….

...wait for it….

CARDS!  I know, right?  Not my normal.  I am so looking forward to stretching my card making skills!  This is going to be a fun (and busy) December!

✮☆★ 2014 December Documented ★ ☆ ✮

Hello! Are you ready to begin that crazy month of December??? Or maybe your crazy started last week?! Either way, I'm glad you are here!

Once again I am going to attempt to start and finish (and share) my version of "December Daily". I've purchased various (expensive) kits over the years, but this year I've decided that I am using items from two main sources:

1. Gossamer Blue's Get Happy collection
2. The Merry Memories Limited Edition SWAG bag 

(both linked above and available in the Paper Issues store -- and 20% off with the discount code 'orangegearle')

My goal is to live, enjoy, and document the season. My hope is to be able to share my progress over the course of the month here on the blog. In that order. But that doesn't mean I won't be sharing things. I have a bunch of DT assignments this month (YAY!) so I will be sharing those here for sure.  If I have time to take photos and share my DD I will also do that!

{my process} Some people totally prep their DD.  I cannot.  I have no idea why.  It sure seems like there would be significant advantages to doing so. But alas, I don't really work that way. This year, though, I have been able to make a few more things in advance and I definitely have a flexible plan. I'm using a Handbook from Studio Calico -- 6x8 -- with a bunch of different page protectors!  Some I've "made" and some I'm using as-is. I also made a Photoshop 6x8 template for those days where I have a ton of photos that can be easily put into a photo collage. Here are a couple of my "prep" pages! I apologize in advance for the less-than-stellar photos.  I had to take them at night!  Also they are on a dark table, and I'm using a bunch of see-though elements, so you will see the table! ;-)  Finally, as I finish each page, I will likely stitch many of these pockets closed so that the fun little items won't fall out!

 title page (front)

For my title page I decided that I really wanted to use see through elements.  Most of the items on both the front and the back of my title page are from the two sources linked above.  I am also throwing in a few items here and there from the Gossamer Blue Gramercy Road and On My Desk collections (both of which I keep going back to the shop and ordering more of)! A couple of trends that you may notice as I share today: sparkle, color, see-through elements, wood veneer.

title page (back)

The above page protector is one that I altered.  Originally it was a 12x12 that had four, 4x6 pockets (two at the top and two at the bottom) and twelve, 2x2 pockets in the middle. I cut the top left corner (a 4x6 and 1/2 of the 2x2s).  This gives me a rough 6x8 page.  As you can see there are extra holes punched.  They didn't quite line up, so I used one of the page protectors meant to go in the album as a guide to punch holes in the right places (I used my crop a dile).  The original page protectors came with the Just Add Color PL kit.

day one 1/2 page (front)

As part of my "plan" I would like to add (usually) smaller inserts to signify a new day.  To do this, I had to alter some page protectors! The above was originally a Project Life 12x12 page protector that had nine 4x4 pockets.  I just cut it up, fixed the holes and ended up with a 4x8! The back of the "believe" card will contain journaling about Day 1 (I think).

day two 1/2 page (front)

Another altered page protector for Day 2 (I'm noticing a theme here).  I used the same process as my title page, except I cut this one to 4x8 instead of 6x8.  I added washi for fun, and to strengthen where I needed to punch new holes (because I messed up the first time)!

day two 1/2 page (backside)

Day 2 will likely be my tree day, so I added a bunch of tree things.  :-)  Two stars for "2", and some fun confetti that I punched out of Doodlebug vellum and added some sequins for good measure. The tree at the top is a wood veneer piece that came in the Get Happy collection.  I embossed one side with red embossing powder and the other side with gold. That little wood veneer frame is something that I found at Michael's (spoiler alert, you will see more of those).

So, I think you get the idea of the "fun" pages at least.  Most of my photos and journaling will go in more standard page protectors (the ones that came with the Handbook)!


More fun things coming to the blog soon -- check in Tuesday for some news!