..:: photog ::..

Hi! Orange Gearle here with a layout for the Touchy Feely Challenge over in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook page. For this challenge you are to use a lot of TEXTURE (like texture paste, textured paper, mesh, fabric, ribbon, etc).  I decided to add texture by stitching with my machine, adding pop dots, and lots of tangled thread throughout the page. Here's a look at my take on this challenge:

I used the Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor set that is available in the store, here, to create the stripes of color behind the photo, and then stitched after it was dry. This is what all that stitching looks like up close:

As you can see, I popped all those little bits up off the page and added tangled thread under the photos. All of those little bits are from Amy Tangerine's Picnic in the Park Collection that is also available in the Paper Issues store here. 

Here is the story, and a few close ups:

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 ?????, 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.

..:: 2 peas ::..

Hi Friends! I am up on the Paper Issues Blog with a layout for the Streaks and Stripes Challenge over in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} Facebook Group.

I started with white card stock. I drew a heart with a pencil and then I got busy with my Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors to paint a rainbow of fun! When it was dry I stitched around the heart using black thread and my sewing machine. 

To embellish I used the Chasing Stars 12x12 paper from Vicki Boutin's Let's Wander collection and the same paper from the 6x8 paper pad.  I fussy cut stars in rainbow colors and added those to the page.

I typed my journaling and added a title. I also added a few layers of paper behind the photo and a 12x12 paper as a border around the whole layout. I love making colorful pages with pops of black and white!

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

You can find this and all of our current challenges in the July Challenges album in our Facebook Group. You have plenty of time to participate. Play along until August 2, 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.

..:: for the love of summer ::.. Mix It Up Monday

It's one of my most favorite Monday's of the month -- Mix it Up Monday on the Paper Issues blog!

This month you need to grab your water colors (or your child's water colors) and use them on a project. Play along with us, won't you? Get all the details in the July Challenge Album and on the blog!

I started by designing a mosaic heart cut file (which you can grab for free here), and I also had my Silhouette Cameo "cut out" the word summer. Actually instead of having it cut out the word summer, but I designed it to poke holes so that I could use thread to stitch around the title. 

Here are a few close ups:

I made a process video if that's something that you fancy! I'd love it if you'd subscribe to my You Tube channel.

For this layout I used mostly items from the Sunshine & Happiness collection by Simple Stories.  Grab that or any of the other new stuff from the store, and don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: my true north ::

It's a new issue on the Paper Issues blog -- and I got to play along!

The issue, Let's Get Knot-ical. is a great theme for this time of year.  Some suggested theme ideas: anything you can do on the water; use a compass on your project, ship's wheel, sailboat or ocean creatures as embellishments; add knots to your project; beach vacation, Father's Day, etc.  

I used a compass to fit the theme. This layout is all about my One True Love, my True North.

I used products from Pink Fresh Studios for most of my layout, along with some Tim Holtz phrase stickers and watercolors, of course!

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:: buggin' out ::

There's a product spotlight post on the Paper Issues Blog today.  This week we are highlighting the Illustrated Faith: She Blooms collection.  I got to play along with these great photos of my daughter, "buggin' out."

I stitched a circle with white thread, and then went around a couple more times with that hot pink color. I added some chipboard flowers from the 12x12 chipboard elements.

Here are a few close-ups.

I added several layers of patterned paper from the collection under my photos -- and as usual some watercolors and thread.

I added enamel hearts from the collection as well as some stickers and words from the cut apart pieces included in the patterned papers. I put them all around the stitched circle to further emphasize the stitched circle. 

This was a fun collection to work with! There are so many different things in the Paper Issues Store right now!  Check them out, buy a few, and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase!

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

With school and work starting back up, and lots of fall birthday celebrations, many, many lists have been inserted into my Get To Work Book lately and I thought I'd share! We are sharing our lists on the Paper Issues Blog today!

Once again I have to say I love the simplicity and neutral look of the Get to Work Book. It's a blank palette for me to work with each week!  As usual, I pulled out the watercolors for my three blocks along the side and the days of the week across the top.  This has been my go to, and I am still loving it.

This is how I do lists in my planner. I use the three blocks along the left side as my three major categories.  In those boxes I put the "general" stuff I want to get done for the week; each block a different category of my life: home, work, and play. Then, throughout the week, I insert lists of tasks to complete -- these are much smaller, day to day tasks that lead up to finishing the stuff on the far left. For example, in my work block, I have "facilitation". I facilitate many meetings and work sessions throughout the week and there are several steps to make that happen.  So on the week days I add in the smaller steps to make facilitation happen. This helps me break things in to smaller pieces (less overwhelming) and it gives me lots of stuff to check off (which just feels good)!

I try to leave some extra spots to add in to do items as the week progresses -- stuff that I didn't anticipate or sometimes things that are added to the plate. I use a stamp for those little checkboxes, so I stick a few extras in there just in case I'm without my stamp when I'm adding to the list (sometimes I just make a box with my pen, too)!

This week I also added in some stamped leaves and fall sayings (Ali Edwards), just for fun.  And that card?  Don't you love that card?  It's from Paper Issues (order something and you will get one in your package)! In my spread this week, that little fox flips up and there's more "to do" underneath. Something important I should mention: Are you ready to Scrap and Chat with us this Friday in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} group?  It's quite the party, and there are prizes!

Pretty much all of the pretty papers and embellishments on my spread this week are from the absolutely beautiful Cedar Lane collection by Pink Paislee. It is a grande collection! Grab some in the Paper Issues store -- and don't forget to use the code orangegearle for 20% off your total purchase!