:: project life : week 6 ::

Hi!  Today I'm sharing 2015: Week 6!

:: week 6 left ::

This week I dug into my huge stash of Project Life core/mini kits.  I was feeling a bit watercolor-y (totally a word), so I grabbed Amy Tangerine's Plus One mini kit and the 6x6 paper pad from the collection and got busy!

:: week 6 right ::

I got out my gelatos and a water brush and "painted" the words Friday, Saturday, Sunday on that 3x4 card.  This was mainly just to add some color, but also the stuff on that page is from those three days, too.  I also painted the "here we go" which was originally white. I also had a story to tell without a photo -- so guess what I did?  I told the story (on the Today card) without a photo.  :-) This is how it looks all together:

:: week 6 spread ::

As always I love working with products that Amy Tangerine has designed! The 6x6 pad had little cards in it like the "xoxo", "so this happened" and "brand new".  I cut those up and added them as embellishments to the cards. I love the way that turned out!

The Plus One 6x6 paper pad is still available in the Paper Issues store if you are interested.  Don't forget to use the code orangegearle to receive 20% off your entire purchase!

Thanks for stopping by.  See you again soon!

:: project life : week 5 ::

Welcome back!  I'm here today with another Project Life share -- this time week 5.

:: week 5 left ::

My week started with a visit to the hospital!  Not for me, but for my older daughter, my "Number 1", H. The photo of her in the hospital bed at the top flips to the right and there is another photo and private journaling underneath.  She is doing much better!

:: week 5 right ::

Snow, work, sunsets, and a little paint on the carpet. All documented!  The photo of my B. and her friend, (and neighbor) A. outside in the snow flips up to reveal another photo and some journaling.  I didn't need to hide it, this was just a way to get another photo and some extra journaling in!

journaling flip

Since I am not subscribing to Studio Calico's PL kits anymore, I've decided to use up some of my stash some weeks.  This week I grabbed one of my favorite collections (Echo Park's Creative Agenda) and used mostly items from that.  I have used so much of this collection already, so I really only have partial pages of patterned paper left -- just enough to fill up this week with color -- and I was able to use up some of the chipboard and sticker embellishments, too! This is what the spread looks like all together:

:: week 5 spread ::

There is still some Creative Agenda available in the Paper Issues Store if you are interested!  Don't forget to use the code orangegearle for 20% off your entire purchase!

Thanks for stopping by!

:: project life : week 4 ::

Hi!  I'm here today with Project Life :: 2015 sharing!

:: week 4 left ::

I used mostly items from the January Studio Calico PL kit. When the kit came there was a dog card and a cat card -- we have neither.  But one night during this week a lost dog showed up at our house and spent a little time with us while we located her owner!  Lovely coincidence! I'll take it!

:: week 4 right ::

 More cousin time for B. and a date night for us. Awesome!  This is what the spread looks like together:

:: week 4 spread ::

I am way behind on sharing PL -- but at least my 2015 album is current!  Look for more PL sharing during this week as I catch up on sharing!

:: namaste : vampire lotus ::

Hello!!!  I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today with a product feature.  I absolutely loved working with the Kiss Kiss collection from Crate Paper!

On the way home from a birthday party -- Bea won some bright pink vampire teeth.  At one point I looked back and saw her in a lotus pose, with the teeth. She cracks me up!  

The paper in this collection is just gorgeous, and so are the tags and other ephemera!

I used a bunch of the vellum-y (totally a word) goodness for this layout. And gold. Of course, gold.

A few splatters of paint to pull it all together.  This was a fun one!  Stop on over to the blog to see what the other PI girls have done with this collection!

Use the code orangegearle at checkout in the Paper Issues Store to receive 20% of your entire purchase.

P.S. I'm also linking this one up to Paper Issues latest issue : Hip to be Square!

:: his & hers :: Paper Issues New Issue Monday

It's new issue Monday over on the Paper Issues blog!  For this issue I got to work with one of my very favorite things -- flair from {aflairforbuttons}! Scroll down to see a couple of extra goodies for this issue…..

This layout started with the multicolored flair you see above. I saw it, and went with it. Lots of color. Lots of circles. Lots of fun do dads from past Swag Bags.

I found a simple circle cut file from the Silhouette store (here). I resized it so that the circles would be about an inch (this works for the flair and I can use my 1 inch circle punch for the fun stuff behind the circles).  I grabbed some current and past Swag Bags and a few other things from my stash and added color all over the place! I even grabbed a couple of gelatos and a water brush for two of the circles.

And then I got to layering under the photo.

This was fun and came together quickly!

So here are the details of the Hip to Be Square issue:

Suggested link up ideas: use 3x3, 4x4, 6x6/8x8/12x12 paper, photos and other square elements, use a grid design, use paper that has squares on it, favorite room in your house, quilt-like patterns, show off current scrapbooking trends (chevron, bokeh, woodgrain, arrows, etc.), square dancing, square root, baked goods because bars, brownies, etc. are cut into squares, city block, square brackets, square knot (scouting or boating), game boards like chess, checkers, Scrabble (and online variations), a square meal, use A Flair for Buttons products

I know when you look at my LO you may see circles, can you see my squares?  ;-)

So here is what you get!  If you link up you could win an assortment of flair from our sponsor, A Flair for Buttons!:

There is a free cut file in the store to go with this issue (awesome)!  AND, if you use the code IHAVEISSUES15 at check out, you will get 10% off at A Flair for Buttons etsy shop!

And finally, as always, pick up what you need from the Paper Issues store and get 20% off anything by using the code orangegearle at check out!

❃ have more firsts ❃

This background is created by me with papers, paints and stamps. The words are from Ali Edwards' kit club brushes.

My One Little Word this year is DO. I knew I really needed an action word this year. There are so many things that I need to accomplish! As I was searching for my word, I sat down with a pen and paper and made a list of things that I really wanted in my life, or to accomplish, and a list of things that I wanted to eliminate in my life. When I did this I had "DOs" and don'ts. Then it hit me…DO is the perfect word for this year.  That was in December.

Also in December I received my first Story Kit from Ali Edwards. The theme was "Firsts".  When I saw the stamp set, I knew that I really wanted to start a project. Instant inspiration to do. In fact, I almost changed my word to 'firsts'  when I saw it.  But I quickly realized that first is a great match with do. So, a project was born.

I have challenged myself to have more firsts this year.  This year, I will be intentional about creating opportunities to do something for the first time each month.  I anticipate that I will have firsts that are simple, easy, and risk free like going to a new restaurant for the first time.  But I am hopeful that I will also take some real risks, put myself out there, and create new experiences for myself, and maybe even a few new experiences with my family.

I've started my firsts and will be sharing them here soon and as the year progresses! So exciting!


If you want to know more about One Little Word, visit Ali Edwards site, here.  If you are interested in receiving her story kits and/or stamps, you can find that information here.

:: project life : week 3 ::

I'm on the Paper Issues blog today with a product spotlight.  For week 3 of my Project Life album, I used a kit that I purchased from the Paper Issues Store called the Becky Higgins Desktop Kit.  Here is a look at the left side of my two page spread.

And the right side looks like this:

That photo in the upper right flips up to reveal another photo and some journaling that I wanted to be a bit more private.

Here are the two pages together -- without the insert:

This was a birthday week for our nephew -- and he just happens to be Bea's best friend. Here is what it looks like with the insert (you can see the front)

Here are the two inserts (front & back):

And here is what it looks like when that insert page is turned:

I enjoyed working with this kit!  There are several PL kits available in the Paper Issues Store here.  Don't forget to use the code orangegearle at check out to get 20% off your entire order!

Thanks for stopping by! I will be back soon to share week four!

:: SWAG bag spotlight ::

Swag Bag Spotlight time over at the Paper Issues blog! Here's my contribution.

When I saw this paper in the February Swag Bag, I knew I had to use it right away!  I love those pinks and oranges!

Then I saw the flower frame and the orange + paper and about lost it (looks kinda red in these photos, but trust me it's an awesome orange)! 

The wood veneer potty people, lips and hearts, all from the bag.  LOVELY.  I love the flowers and all that woodgrain together (there are even woodgrain flowers in that patterned paper).  It's perfect for a LO like this because it's both feminine and masculine (in my opinion).

I absolutely loved working with this Swag Bag!  (Pssst….I heard the February ones will be in the shop tomorrow -- and there are several others to choose from). Remember, if you'd like to purchase anything (or everything) from the Paper Issues Store (there are so many new products right now), use the code orangegearle for 20% off your entire purchase!  Also, make sure you check out what some of the other PI girls did with their Swag Bags (here)!