:: 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!

:: TIME :: amy tangerine product feature

It's time for another product feature on the Paper Issues blog!  Today we are using Amy Tangerine's Rise & Shine Collection!

The story that I am documenting today is about the passage of time.  The photos of B. with the binky were taken two years ago at Morgan Creek park.  The other photos were taken this year at the same park, climbing the same fence.  The park is a go to place for us, and apparently climbing the fence is a favorite (but if you follow my blog and stories of B. you know that climbing anything has always been a favorite)!

The templates for the cut file came from an Ali Edwards story kit, and when I saw all the lovely colors and patterns in this collection, I knew I wanted to use them with this cut file! So. Yummy.

I added stitching and I journaled around the biggest circle.

The layout wouldn't be complete without a flair from {aflairforbuttons}! I used a piece of flair from this batch.

Seriously loved working with these patterned papers! 

Grab some of your own at The Paper Issues Store!  Don't forget to use the code orangegearle at checkout for 20% off your total order!

:: look mom, i'm rich ::

Have you documented Easter, yet?  I'm getting to it.  Today I'm sharing a layout inspired by a quote heard from my daughter on Easter at my parent's house.

I just love those alphas from Amy Tangerine's new line.  I grabbed some patterned papers from her new Rise & Shine collection, too, and came up with this layout!

I love the colors in this collection! I thought they went perfectly with this photo and story! My mom always puts a little money in the Easter Eggs for the kids. After they find all their hidden eggs, they go through the loot on the living room floor.  She told us how rich she is.  In the journaling for this LO, I agreed with her. 

And since she can always find joy, I just had to add this flair from {aflairforbuttons} -- and another in the upper left corner of the layout.  The colors and sentiments match this layout perfectly.  You can grab some from Shelly's shop, here.

I'm linking this up to the Eggs-cellent Add-ventures link party at Paper Issues!  One more day to enter old or new projects and be eligible for a $20 Gift Certificate from our sponsor, 17turtles!

See you soon!

:: 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!

:: Making it Merry: Latest Issue at Paper Issues ::

We are Making It Merry over at the Paper Issues blog!  Check it out!

As soon as I received the Gossamer Blue "Get Happy" collection in the mail, I knew I was going to use it for the core of my December Documented album. Such fun colors and designs! 

Here is a look at my day 7:

Pretty much everything you see here is from the Get Happy collection -- I did add a couple of things, here and there from my stash. 

left side

For this day I decided to highlight one of my favorite parts of the season, the gift wrapping!  My day 6 is on the opposite side of the above and so I started by filling the 2x2 spots with little bits. (the six snowflakes were already there from day six, along with the arrow).

right side

I used my silhouette to cut out the text, then added enamel dots from the collection in all of the "holes". I tied it up with the same string that I used on my packages and added a tag as if the page was a package itself.

The wreath stamp is from the Get Happy collection, and I stamped it directly on the photo and added in the enamel dots for little berries. The awesome flair is from {aflairforbuttons}, and I added it on the outside of the pocket.

There are lots of ways to play along with this issue; Making it Merry: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, handmade gifts, gift ideas, ornaments, holiday decor, how you celebrate the holidays, holiday traditions, holiday menu, traditional foods, decorating the tree, lighting the menorah/kinara, cookie baking, gingerbread houses, things that make you happy, use Gossamer Blue products.

Play along, share your project with us and you just might win Gossamer Blue's Main December kit:

Woo hoo!  If you want to grab a few Gossamer Blue goodies (or any other goodies) from the shop, don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

Hope your holidays are merry, bright, and filled with love and family!

Scrap Your Story :: Beatrice @ bat

UPDATE:  I'm linking this up to Paper Issues Feb. 7, 2015 Issue Hip to Be Square (I used square photos and some {aflairforbuttons} flair.

It's FRIDAY!  Scrap Your Story Challenge blog has a new challenge posted! This week we are all about childhood!

This week I was fortunate enough to be able to hang out with a friend and scrap & chat all afternoon! Love getting that time to catch up, and share some creative juices! I had the basic idea of this page (and even some of it created) before we met, but it was so awesome to be able to say, "What do you think of this....or this...or..."! I think we each created 2-3 pages that day -- we must do it again soon!

Most everything came from Jillibean Soup :: Irish Farm House Soup collection pack.  I added some wood veneers, washi and "today" flair from A Flair For Buttons.

For the painted stars in the background I made a stencil using my Silhouette Cameo.  Then I used Tim Holtz Distress paint (Antique White) to paint the stars on. Best part: I used blank stencil "paper" (did you know you can purchase that at Michael's?) to create the star stencil, so I can use it over and over again!

Fun!  We are off to a great adventure this weekend!  I am going to attempt my first "Smash" book to document the trip! I'll update you soon!

Scrap Your Story :: growing love

UPDATE:  I'm linking this up to Paper Issues Feb. 7, 2015 Issue Hip to Be Square (I used square photos and some {aflairforbuttons} flair.

It's FRIDAY -- and you know what that means -- another challenge at Scrap Your Story Challenge blog! Ready to play along? This is a "theme" week -- and the theme is "favorite(s)".  You can interpret that anyway you wish, as long in your journaling or title we can see that you are sharing something that is a favorite!

I have the word "favorite" a couple of places on this layout.  First I used an Amy Tangerine stamp that I got at Target and stamped "You are my fave" all over a piece of patterned paper.  Then I used one of Amy Tangerine's templates to make a speech bubble with a heart in the middle.  The second place, also involved stamping.  This time it was an Ali Edwards stamp "SUPER favorite" that I stamped over some Elle's studio tags (all supplies are linked below). Most of the rest of the supplies came from the Lucky You Scrapbook Kit by paperissues available here. And of course there is flair from {a flair for buttons}!

This photo was taken on the anniversary of Mikaela's death. It was a difficult day for us all. My daughter Hollyanne came over just to be with us for a while, and I was ever so thankful. I journaled a bit about that, but also about how B. was obsessed with her baby belly! Either way, I wanted the journaling to be hidden. I'm really happy with how this one turned out!  Love that green/yellow combo! Hope you play along with us this week at Scrap Your Story Challenges!


Supplies
Crate Paper :: Party Day :: Happy
My Minds Eye :: Collectable :: Remarkable Smile Grin
American Crafts :: Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm :: 6x6 paper pad
American Crafts :: Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm :: Wild Hearts
Studio Calico :: Here & There :: woodgrain thickers
Glitz :: Color Me Happy :: 6x6 paper pad
Glitz :: Color Me Happy :: woodgrain paper
Glitz :: woodgrain washi tape
Jillibean Soup :: Sunshine Resin Sugar Picks
Studio Calico :: Sundrifter :: flowers and leave wood veneer
My Minds Eye :: Collectable :: Remarkable Day Decorative Buttons
My Minds Eye :: The Sweetest Thing :: enamel dots
a flair for buttons :: arrow 1 flair
a flair for buttons :: lovely words flair
TCW :: Minivine mask
Elle's Studio :: Day to Day tidbits
American Crafts :: Amy Tangerine :: stencils
American Crafts :: Amy Tangerine :: authentic phrase stamp
Technique Tuesday :: Studeio AE :: super fantastic
Heidi Swapp :: Color Shine :: Mustard
Heidi Swapp :: Color Shine :: Mint Green

Scrap Your Story :: let's go fly a kite

It's Friday, which means another reveal day at Scrap Your Story Challenge Blog!  It has been so exciting to see what everyone has be linking up!  Hope you link up this week!

This week the challenge is to use some cork on your layout!  I used cork letters for "fly a KITE", and I also punch a circle out of cork (it's behind the "B" ormolu flair).

I stepped out of my comfort zone a bit this week and did some hand stitching on my layout. I've done (and am addicted to) machine sewing -- but I've never used a pattern, poked holes, used a needle, the whole shebang! In a Scrapbook Circle Add on kit I got this awesome stitching kit from Amy Tangerine's Yes, Please line.  So, I used 'em! Then I dry brush painted a little bit of spray ink to add a little more color and show off that stitching a bit (it was a little lost with all that lovely chevron).

Lovin' me some flair from A Flair for Buttons!  I also added a spot for hidden journaling.  I used some washi tape to add some color -- the actual journaling spot is kraft. Then I used an Ali Edwards stamp "Tell the Story", which comes from the March Studio AE stamp set "This Story" available at Technique Tuesday.

Some layers, more AE stamping, and Amy Tangerine stitching.  :-) 

Did you know that Scrap Your Story has a facebook page??  Check it out here.

I'm also linking this layout up at Paper Issues :: Up In The Clouds! 

Scrap Your Story Challenge #4 :: iCousins

It's Friday which means a new challenge is up at Scrap Your Story Challenge Blog! It has been so fun to participate in these challenges over the last month. If you haven't checked out the challenges yet, you should give it a looksy. As a reminder the challenges go like this...

Week 1: Use it
Week 2: Theme
Week 3: Sketch
Week 4: Technique

This week's challenge is to do some embossing somewhere on your layout...dry...heat...doesn't matter, whatever works for you, just give this technique a try!

Here's my reveal:

And here's the sketch I used:

I flipped it a bit.  This sketch is the March Sketch over at Scrap Happy, a community of scrappers that are....well, happy :-).  And welcoming.  And fun. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I recently joined the Scrap Happy community. I will likely mention them again, since so far so good with the happiness! LOL

The close-ups :

I incorporated the challenge (embossing) in two ways. First of all I heat embossed the three vellum circles. I used a mask and VersaMark embossing ink, and then white Zing! embossing powder (and my heat gun).  (By the way...I totally stole this idea from an Ashley Horton sneak that I saw on Instagram! I'll link to her layout when it goes live later this month)!

The second way was on the journaling spot. I used both white Zing! and some clear embossing powder around the edges, and then the clear only for my journaling lines. I like this look and I'll probably do it again!

Almost everything else I used came from the Scrapbook Circle February Kit! I really enjoyed working with the Glitz Color Me Happy line included in this kit. It's so bright, colorful and...well....happy. I also ordered the two add-on kits, one of which included the awesome blue card stock used in this layout! The awesome circle cut behind the main photo is from the Silhouette store (background lace circle by Karla Dudley). The letters are fabric Thickers, that I misted with peach Heidi Swapp Color Shine. And the flair, oh the flair....you guessed it A Flair for Buttons!

Scrap Your Story Challenge #1

Welcome to my little orange space! If you are here for the One Little Word blog hop -- it can be found here!  But I would love it if you would check this challenge out too!  ;-)

On Monday I announced that I was selected to be part of the Design Team for the Scrap Your Story Challenge blog, and today is the first reveal!  Here is my layout for this challenge :

The challenge this week is to "use" just one photo.  Easy peasy!  I have done several "one photo" layouts recently (which is actually kind of unusual for me), but I wanted to add my own little challenge for myself into the mix. So, I decided to use one big photo.  I don't have a 12x12 printer, or easy access to that, so I just made it as big as I could (printed at home)!

Since B. is in the bathtub, I wanted to make something look "water-ish" (that's a word, right?)!  I took a strip of paper and some strips of vellum and cut them all wavy-like, then I stitched over them in waves as well.  FUN!  Another fun element is the "peek a boo"cutout.  I did this with my new Silhouette Cameo (and a little help from my iPad).  It's my own handwriting that I converted into a cut file.  If there is an interest, I could easily do a tutorial on how I made that happen.  Leave me a comment saying you'd like it, and I will!

Here are a few more close up shots:

I hope you all join in the challenge.  Look for all the details and how to link up, here.  Each week a "top three" will be chosen from the entries, and at the end of the month one lucky participant (chosen from all participants for the whole month - which means if you do all four challenges, your name will go in four times!) will will the following prize:

Whether this is your first visit to my blog or you've visited before, I would love to have you back! You can follow me by clicking "join this site" in the sidebar.  Comments always welcome!

Supplies Used :: 

pebbles :: seen and noted :: checklist

pebbles :: seen and noted :: take note

jillibean soup ::country pumpkin chowder :: cream style corn

technique tuesday :: studio AE stamps :: super fantastic

a flair for buttons :: my life words 2 :: fun

october afternoon :: midway :: designer brads

freckled fawn :: wide chevron washi :: aqua

freckled fawn :: chevron washi :: orange

freckled fawn :: wood chips :: speech bubbles

Claudine Hellmuth Studio Semi-Gloss Acrylic Paint -- classic teal

Studio Calico :: Mister Huey Spray :: pinstripe

lilybee design :: this and that :: cardstock alpha stickers

Tim Holtz :: Tiny Attacher

Martha Stewart :: 1.5 inch circle punch :: all over the page

Grafix Vellum Paper

StazOn Ink :: Jet Black

Xyron Tape Runner

Singer Tradition Sewing Machine

:: remember today ::

Last week we had a snow day.  I took a zillion pics.  I grabbed my favorite one and scrapped it -- it's the first photo that I took 2013 that I used for a layout (not counting Project Life).

Journaling reads : "After Snowball fights and sledding in FRESH SNOW, you must have HOT CHOCOLATE!"  I took this journaling straight from a post that I posted to Flickr.  I'm not sure if you can tell or not from the pic, but my favorite part is how I cut a journaling card in half and put one part on top of the photo and the other part at the bottom for the date stamp. Then used an exacto-knife to cut the banner out (it's actually part of the journaling card) and stamped "sweet love" across the top of the card.

For this layout I used my January Scrapbook Circle kit (and a few items from a past kit or two), some flair from A Flair for Buttons, Studio AE January Stamp, and a few little tidbits from my stash. This is the first time that I have participated and submitted something to CSI (Color Stories Inspiration). This is the case file:

I used the colors, of course.  My pieces of evidence are hearts, diecuts and punches.  For the testimony I added a heart to my journaling spot.

Another first for me, I did a little distressing (I used the edge of my scissors) around the edges of my photo mat.

 For a little dimension, I added pop dots to one side of my journaling strips.

I'm pretty happy with the final product.  Pretty simple, but I like it!

Coming soon :  Project life share, and an update on goals (new and ongoing).