..:: our joy ::..

Hello Friends!  I am up on the Paper Issues Blog today with a layout for you using today's sketch! I absolutely love all of the sketches that Paper Issues has -- and the FREE cut files. I used the Stitching Star Galaxy cut file for this layout:

Here is the sketch that I was inspired by:

Like I said, I started with the cut file and grabbed Cocoa Vanilla Studio's Merry and Bright collection! This photo isn't really a Christmas photo -- but it was taken during the season -- any chance to use this beautiful collection -- I'm taking it!

I fussy cut the letters J-O-Y from one of the 12x12 patterned papers, and added some Nuvo drops to the letters and across the page just for a little extra. 

I made a video of my process if that's something that suits your fancy:

What a fun challenge! You can find this and all of our current challenges in the December Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until January 3 for a chance to win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store. Shop the store using the code OrangeGearle for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: making a list ::..

Hello Friends! I am up on the Paper Issues Blog today with a layout for the Makin' a List, Checkin' it Twice Challenge! This challenge is using two photos and some sort of list. This is what I came up with:

I am using products from Pretty Little Studio Christmas Cheer Collection.  I love that this collection actually has a die cut that matches the challenge title! 

The list I made on my computer and printed it out on white card stock -- and then cut it into a tag shape.

I love the black and white with all the pretty pops of color. I went with using them ALL, and added hearts in all the colors to my page. Here are a couple more close up photos.

What a fun challenge! You can find this and all of our current challenges in the December Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until January 3 for a chance to win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store. Shop the store using the code OrangeGearle for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: on the hunt ::..

Hello! I am up on the Pretty Little Studio Blog with this layout about catching frogs!  I am using the lovely Miss Sadie Rose collection. Here is my project:

When I saw the lovely scalloped "simply perfect" paper, I knew I needed to fussy cut it! So I did! I fussy cut a few strips, and overlapped them to create layers. Then I ended up cutting them into blocks to place on either side of my photo.

I also cut out a few flags from the Sadie flags and added one to my photo. Here are a few more close ups of my project.

This story is about my daughter searching for frogs in a pond. I love that this "tomboy" memory is captured with this feminine collection. I love the flowers and colors -- and I also love the focus of the photograph. Such a fun collection to work with!

Thank you so much for stopping by and I will see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: hello fall ::..

Hello Friends! I am up on the Paper Issues blog today with a layout for this weeks Scraplift Sunday! Here is my take:

And here is the original by Kat Benjamin:

I started with white card stock, and added some Distress Oxides and water to make my paint drips. I tried to match the Simple Stories Cozy Days Collection -- which is what most of the papers and embellishments are from!

I used some of the tags that were already in the collection -- from the Journal Bits and from the tag cut apart 12x12 sheet. 

I also cut some tags from pattern papers and I even cut my photos into a tag shape. To help unify all the different colors and patterns I put a white hold reinforcer on each of the tags, so they were the same. I added embroidery thread to some of the tags for pops of color.

I fussy cut some leaves out of one of the patterned papers and added those across the "white space" at the bottom of the layout. This was a fun one to make!

This was a super fun challenge! You can find this and all of our current challenges in the November Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until December 6, for a chance to win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store. Shop the store using the code OrangeGearle for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: this is fall ::..

 Hi Friends! I am up on the Paper Issues blog today with this week's Scraplift Sunday!  I had so much fun making this one. Here is a look at my layout:

And here is the inspiration piece by Lacy:

As you can see, I took this super fun summer layout, and fall-ed it up! I stuck with the same basic design with just a few changes. Here are a few close ups.

I stitched around the squares, similar to the inspiration piece, but I made it messy, because that's more my style! I also added like tangled thread behind each letter.

I am using the Cocoa Vanilla Studio Daydream collection (you can still get some of it here) and some Distress Oxides (also available here). This is a look at the specific inks that I used:

I did a fun technique!  First I applied gesso to the page and then I "stamped" the ink pad right onto the page. It created an imperfect square. Then I used some water and a brush to soften the edges of the squares and blend the inks. So. Fun!

You can find this and all of our current challenges in the August Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until September 6, for a chance to win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store. Shop the store using the code OrangeGearle for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: placement day ::..

 Hi Friends! I am up on the Paper Issues blog today with a layout for the Head of the Class challenge! I chose to tell this story about my daughter receiving her placement and teacher name in a new building for the 2020-2021 school year. Usually the students find out on the last day of school, but this year was different because of the school building closure. Here is a look at how I documented this important story.

We knew that placements would come in the mail, and thought it might be this day, so we went to the mailbox together. I took a couple of photos of her excitement. To be honest when I printed them out the first time, I accidentally printed them in black and white.  So I reprinted them in color and I ended up liking the four photos together! Happy accidents are the best kind!  Here are a few close up shots of the layout.

I used items from the Strawberry shake collection by Studio Tekturek. I love all of the bright colors! I added some stitching with my sewing machine and some Nuvo Drops in pink!

You can find this and all of our current challenges in the September Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until October 4, for a chance to win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store. Shop the store using the code OrangeGearle for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by, see you again soon! XO o.g.

..:: love this lagoon life ::..

Hi Friends! I am up on the Paper Issues blog with a Keep It Sketchy layout for you! Here is a look at my mixed media fun!

And here is a look at the sketch that I used for inspiration:

As you can see I pulled the fun rainbow of mixed media from this layout, as well as the basic design. To start, I grabbed some white card stock and prepped it with gesso. When the gesso was dry I added seven different distress oxides (see below) straight to the page -- then added water and watched it slide down the page!  

Once the distress oxides were dry I went back in with a blending tool and a heart stencil and added some hearts over the top, using the same colors. I love how this turned out!

I added some heart clusters across the page for more embellishment. I tried not to add too much because there was already a lot going on. I did add some pops of black because that's my jam. Here are a few more close ups.

This was a really fun layout to make. You can find this and all of our current challenges in the August Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until September 6, for a chance to win a gift card to the Paper Issues Store. Shop the store using the code OrangeGearle for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you again soon! XO o.g.