..:: what's in my planner : fancy pants ::..

Yay for Christmas week!  I'm using items from the Fancy Pants -- Wish Season collection this week (and a Paper POP) -- both available in the Paper Issues Store.

This week the Product Spotlight on the Paper Issues Blog is the Fancy Pants Wish Season Collection.  I've made a layout or two with it already -- and I'm using it in my December Daily. For this spotlight, though, I grabbed the puffy stickers, die cuts and some paper from the 6x6 pad and got busy. I turned circles into ornaments, and squares into boxes. My week wouldn't be complete without some water color (actually Gelatos with a water brush).  This week I used the Gelatos to wrote "joy" and added some color to the days of the week.

As always I am using my Get To Work Book by Elise Cripe. I did cut off the original binding and it fits in my A5 filofax perfectly!

New things are coming into the Paper Issues Store quite frequently -- have you checked it out lately? When you pick up your next order, don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

Merry, merry, merry!  See you soon!

:: christmas wishes ::

It's round two for the Owl I Want For Christmas issue on the Paper Issues Blog -- and I'm super excited to participate! 

This layout includes photos from B.'s letter writing and drawing for Santa this year! The whole story is housed in my December Daily, but these photos were extra cute and needs a layout devoted to them!

I used circles and triangles cut from Fancy Pant's Wish Season collection. I added several little puffy stickers from the same collection and some Heidi Swapp Color Shine for the win. Those little curved banners are from the die cuts that come with the collection as well.  I'm pretty sure that red and white striped paper is my fave (I've used it on several projects, and I may have to buy more)!

So what is Owl I Want for Christmas all about? Here are a few ideas to get you started (use one or use them all). Feel free to use any product you'd like.

• Show us your projects about December holidays and/or your holiday traditions.
• Share a project with an owl on it.
• What's on your holiday wish list?
• Has a child in your life lost any teeth (that may be all they want for Christmas)? Show us those cute toothless smiles or projects about the Tooth Fairy. 
• Download the Remember December free printable from the Paper Issues store and use one or more of the cards on your project.

Check out what the other DT members have created -- and link up with us to win!

What do you want for Christmas? There are quite a few new items in the Paper Issues Store -- don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: family leaf walk ::

Happy Thanksgiving! This is a layout that I created for the Paper Issues fall crop that we had in early November. I made so many layouts. There was inspiration everywhere!  Here is a layout I made for my challenge (use some orange).  If you missed the crop this time, don't worry another is coming up in the spring! And if you just can't wait, (and you can't) we have a Scrap and Chat coming up after the first of the year!  Woo hoo! #allfunthings

Since this story captured here is all bout appreciating family time (even in the form of homework), I am linking this layout up to the latest issue at Paper Issues -- Let Me Espresso My Gratitude. 

I used mostly items from Swag Bags, past and present.  The November Swag Bags are in the shop, grab one here. Don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

See you soon!

:: happy & blessed ::

I absolutely love Sketchy Saturday at Paper Issues. It's one of my most favorite projects to work on!  This month was no exception! I decided to use Simple Stories Pumpkin Spice collection for this layout about picking out our pumpkin this year!

Here is a look at Becki Adams's fabulous layout (I love the fall layout with non-traditional colors), and the sketch based on the layout.

There is still plenty of time to play along!  Check out this blogpost for details and how you can win (or be featured on IG or Facebook). I am also linking this layout up to the current issue on the Paper Issues blog -- Let Me Expresso My Gratitude.

There is so much awesome in the Paper Issues Store right now!  Check it out, grab some fun, and don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

Have a great Thanksgiving! See you soon!

:: breathe ::

So, life got crazy and we bought a new house!

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle we are watching beautiful fall sunsets.

We are spending all of our "down time" sprucing up our current house, organizing and recycling items in preparation for selling.

Somehow through it all, we are trying to remember to breathe.

There are several layouts I have created recently but haven't had time to share --  so they will be coming soon!

:: dream, imagine, & explore ::

This past weekend was the Paper Issues Fall Online Crop.  There is still time to play (if you click that link), but I thought I would share one of my favorite layouts that I made during the crop.

I made this layout for one of the challenges that encouraged the use of a BIG title.

The title tells much of the story, but this little bit of journaling tells the rest!

Most of the items I used were from the Maggie Holmes SHINE collection.

And I pretty much cannot make a layout these days without using a bit of flair from {a flair for buttons}.  The {a flair for buttons} shop was also one of our sponsors! Check out the flair Shelley made just for PI here.

See you soon!

..:: pumpkin spice : what's in my planner ::..

Hi friends! There is all kinds of yummy Pumpkin Spice by Simple Stories up on the Paper Issues blog today!  I used it in my planner this week...

I used my 1" and 1.5" circles punches and punched out a bunch of my favorite papers from the collection.  I also added some word and circle stickers #ftw. 

A little bit of doodling usually makes it into my planner, along with water color pencils. (I'm super excited about date night this week)!

Thanks for stopping by!  This past weekend was the Paper Issues online crop and because of all the inspiration, I made a bunch of stuff and will be sharing it here, soon.  All of the challenges are open through midnight Nov. 14, there is still time to play!  Check out the challenges here.

..:: cedar lane : what's in my planner ::..

It's time for the Plan on It challenge on the Paper Issues blog. This month's challenge is a mood board.  Here is my week:

Here is the challenge mood board:

Here are a few close ups showing what I did this week:

I used a bunch of things from the Pink Paislee Cedar Lane collection for this week's spread.   I used mostly 6x6 paper pad, die cuts, and the washi tape book.  They fit the challenge mood board so well.

Did you know there is an online crop this weekend with prizes?  Check out the details here. Be there or be square.

See you soon!

:: mad hatter ::

It's Pinspire Me Monday on the Paper Issues blog and I love this challenge! Here's my take:

This photo shows off my daughters crazy personality. She's reading her assigned reading (which isn't always her favorite thing). She spiced it up a bit on this night -- she came out with two hats on, sunglasses, and a cape! Love these moments captured. 

Here is the Pinspiration that Leah came up with to inspire us this month.

Don't you love it!  I saw all that black and white with pops of aqua and red, and then boom!

Here are a couple of close ups:



I started with papers from Pink Paislee's Memorandum collection, added in some Crate Paper's After Dark.  Of course I used some watered down gelato in the back ground. :-)

These days a layout isn't complete without at least one (or two, or three) flair buttons from {a flair for buttons}.

Click here for a free cut file.

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

hello november.

What's in my planner: I love using stickers and embellishments from collections that I have purchased for scrapbooking. It just works for me. I purchase many collections (my motto is 'buy all the things') and I always have stuff left over.  The 6x6 pads are perfect because the patterns are smaller than the 12x12 papers, but I also love to use the branding strips from the larger papers, the embellishments (like die cuts or vellum pieces), and the stickers (even the alphas)!  This month I used items mostly from Simple Stories Pumpkin Spice collection. I added some washi tape from my stash and I used water color pencils to highlight a few items through the month.

Grab this collection, or anything else you may need (buy all the things), from the Paper Issues store and use the code 'orangegearle' at checkout for 20% off your purchase!

:: 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!