:: just spokin' ::

I'm up on the Paper Issues Blog with a product spotlight!

When I took this photo of my daughter, I knew the After Dark collection from Crate Paper would be the perfect papers to help tell this story.

I started by adding some watered down, orange, gelatos to add a splash of color to the background paper.  Just for fun I added some peach Heidi Swapp Color Shine.

I loved the bats from the ephemera pack, so I designed a cut file of bats to add as my next layer.

I backed some of the bats with patterned paper from the 6x6 paper pad, and others I left open to let the orange shine through.  I also used the 6x6 paper pad and a few pieces from the ephemera pack to create layers behind my photo.

I stitched everything down with black thread, including the little strips of paper at the top and bottom of the layout.

I wanted to tell the story and I needed a place to put it that wouldn’t take away from the design of the layout, so I hid it behind the photo in a vellum envelope that I cut with my Silhouette Cameo. I added a couple of other tags to the envelope, just because! Pop dots pop that photo right off the page to help keep the focus on the photo, even with all the other stuff going on around it. I also think it adds a bit more texture.

To finish this one off, I grabbed some cards, tags, and vellum shapes, also from the After Dark collection.  I added a couple of flair pieces from {a flair for buttons} and placed the title (and subtitle).

Don't forget to stop by the Paper Issues Store and grab some awesome from the store!  While you're at it, use the code 'orangegearle' and get 20% off your order!

Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you have a fun, safe, and spooky Halloween!    

:: happy fall y'all ::

Good Morning! I'm up on the Paper Issues Blog today with a project for the latest issue Fan-actics!  Around here we are big fans of fall.

Most of my papers are from the Simple Stories Pumpkin Spice collection, which I have just loved working with!  The colors are unbelievably rich and completely fall! I believe that orange paper is from Crate Paper's After Dark Collection, which I will highlight in an upcoming post!

Here are a couple of close ups!

I wrote a quote around the outside of the leaf "Every leaf speaks bliss to me, Fluttering from the autumn tree." - Bronte

Here are a few ideas if you'd like to play along for a chance to win a gift certificate to The Paper Issues Store!

• Tell us what or who you're a fan of, whether it be a sports team (or a particular player), TV show (or a particular actor), an activity, a guilty pleasure, something you collect, a scrapbooking manufacturer, etc.
• Show us your Halloween projects.
• Download the Favorite Time of the Year free printable from the Paper Issues store and use one or more of the cards on your project.

Grab yourself some Pumpkin Spice -- Christmas is in the store, too!  Use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: love this ::

Each Sunday in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group we feature a layout and encourage you to Scrap Lift it!  This is my take on the most recent ScrapLiftSunday layout by Aleksandra Gadji.

I used a bunch of Pink Paislee's Cedar Lane collection -- they were perfect for this sunset layout!

Grab Cedar Lane and anything else you may need for your paper obsession at the Paper Issues Store and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: love that bling ::

It's a Sketchy Saturday FEATURES day on the Paper Issues blog.

Here's my take on the sketch using Dear Lizzy's Documentary collection.

This layout is based on a project by Jen Chapin that she made for Crate Paper.  Paper Issues turned it into a sketch, a challenge, and a chance to win a gift card to The Paper Issues Store (check out the details here).   Here's Jen's project, and the sketch:

There is still plenty of time to get in on the action! You have until November 12th to add your project based on the sketch to the Challenge Album in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook group!  

Grab some of the newest items in the world of pretty papers at the Paper Issues Store and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your order!

:: today and everyday is a blessing ::

I absolutely love product spotlights on the Paper Issues blog!  This spotlight is no exception.  We grabbed Pink Paislee's Cedar Lane collection and got busy!

From the Cedar Lane collection, I grabbed a couple of patterned papers, the ephemera pack, and the 6x6 pad.  I also grabbed some bits from the September Swag Bag, and created this layout about the perfect marshmallow roasting with family! 

Seriously, this PaperPOP (available here) by Parker on the Porch is perfect for this LO!  (Don't tell anyone, but I may have had this particular little guy in mind when I took the photo)!

Be sure to check out the other projects on the blog!  There are new items in the Paper Issues Store -- so many beautiful things -- check them out, grab what you need and use the code 'orangegearle' to save 20% off your entire order!

See you soon!

:: what a BEAuty ::

Fun. Colorful. Used a lot of stuff.  Got to play.  #winning.

What a BEAuty (<<< see what I did there?).  Quite a bit of Amy Tangerine Finder's Keepers made it on to this layout. Amy Tan's stuff always matches that water color look, which I happen to completely dig. 

Lots of layers, which mostly came from cards in SWAG bags, and I added a flair from {a flair for buttons} that matched perfectly (and reminds me to breathe, which is helpful). 

The story is simple. It's about a girl, dressed like her favorite fairy, watching Batman (and sometimes, she is Batman -- mostly on the weekends).

A splash of color all over the background -- made by me, using gelatos. I love me some gelatos. 

I'm sharing this one with the ladies over in the Paper Issues {friends & fans} Facebook group. They are really a fun group of peeps. Each month there are tons of challenges and ways to play along (and possibly win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store). I based this layout on the Scrap Lift Sunday challenge. Each Sunday a layout is posted, and we get to lift it! This past week's layout was create by PI girl Mary-Ann Maldonado.

Pop in and check out all the goings on! If your looking to purchase some of the new goodies in the Paper Issues Store -- don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

:: a silly climber ::

It's (P)inspire Me Monday on the Paper Issues blog today and I got to play along this month!

For this layout I grabbed some Pink Paislee Memorandum and some flair from {a flair for buttons} and got busy. Here is the (P)inspiration:

I took my inspiration from the colors and the circles.

Are you (P)inspired?? Play along with us here!

..:: october : what's in my planner ::..

So yeah, I love my Get to Work Book.  Here is my October spread.

Colored pencils #FTW

Stamps, markers, and colored pencils, oh my!

 Last year's Elle's Studio Halloween collection. Eek! I love.


Until next time!