..:: just a boy ::..

Just a boy and his dogs making dreams together.  That's a long title, but I love it. I'm playing along with the Pawsitively Pets challenge at Paper Issues. The challenge is to use more than one kind of alpha/font.  I used (kinda) 4: alpha stickers, two different cut files/fonts, and a phrase strip! This layout of my grandson and his two puppies sleeping met Crate Paper's Cool Kid collection and I love the outcome!

Yep, that's a shaker. As soon as I saw the star sequins in this collection I knew I had to make a shaker!

Almost always....a bit of flair from {aflairforbuttons}.  Here's a little bit closer up look at all that stitching.

Crate Paper has done it again with this collection. I simply love them. Grab some here, or any other paper needs and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your purchase.

..:: let's roll ::..

It's time for a bit of (P)Inspiration!  Here's my take on the August mood board at Paper Issues.

Here's a look at the gorgeous mood board. 

I took inspiration from the colors (specifically black, white, grey, with pops of pink and yellow) and the "transportation" theme of this beautiful board. The new Cute Girl collection by Crate Paper was perfect for this!

I treated each square like a little mini-layout. This one I used yellow acrylic paint by Dylusions as part of my base layer!  Here is a close-up look at the other sections.

Details of how to play along with us this month can be found here on the Paper Issues Blog. 

Crate Paper also has a Cool Kid collection that is perfect for more of a boy theme. Grab some of Crate Paper's latest collections at the Paper Issues store today and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your order. (PS, there are tons of other things in the store, and the code works for all of it)!

:: queen for the day ::

Have you been playing along with the Paper Issues Spring Crop (click link for details)?  There are all kinds of challenges, and even more fun.  And did I mention that there are Gift Cards to the Paper Issues Store up for grabs?

My challenge -- Bling me up Scotty -- is to put a little bling on that thing!

My bling is lots of gold, some Color Shine, sequins and glitter!  Check out what everyone is talking about by clicking on this link and joining the Paper Issues {Friends and Fans} Facebook group so you can play along!

I used items from Pink Paislee's C'est La Vie collection and some bits from Maggie Holme's (Crate Paper) Bloom collections.  Get either of those and so much more from the Paper Issues Store and use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase!

:: hey, snow day ::

So, we had this "big snow" predicted.  As always, the meteorologists were saying, "It's too early to tell" and then (not so usual)  "It could be as much as 16-17 inches."  We haven't had a snow day this year so we were all rooting for the big snow to happen (except the people who have to shovel it).  Instead we got our snow day with just a bit of snow.  But it was enough for a snowman!

She was pretty proud of her work.

I used the February sketch at Paper Issues, some Crate Paper Hello Love, a few items from the January SWAG bag, and some flair from my stash to put this one together.  Here's my take on the sketch.

The sketch and details can be found here. Check it out and play along!

There are a bunch of new items in the Paper Issues store.  Check 'em out, and when you check out, use the code 'orangegearle' 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!

:: be awesome ::

Have I mentioned how much I love Crate Paper?  Have I shared my love for their Wonder collection? Yes, Yes, I have, but I'm sharing again. This time as part of a Product Spotlight over on the Paper Issues Blog.

I also used a Scraplift Sunday Layout by Jen Boumis as design inspiration.  

You can participate in ScrapLift Sunday, Card Sketch challenges, Sketchy Saturday sketches, PinSpire Me Mondays, Lets Plan On It challenges, and oh so much more on FaceBook, in the Paper Issues {Friends & Fans} group.  If you aren't a member - why aren't you????  

Grab some Crate Paper or just about anything else at Paper Issues Store, use the code for 20% off.

:: wonderful, brave, & happy spirit :: new issue monday

It's New Issue Monday on the Paper Issues Blog!  This issue is All About that Face! I'm linking up this layout for sure!

I couldn't resist this photo of our sweet B. That face! She was so excited about the first day of swimming lessons!

And what about that Crate Paper??  Holy smokes!  I am in love with the Crate Paper Wonder collection, and it was perfect for these photos. There are tons of new products in the store. Grab some Crate Paper or anything else and don't forget to use the code orangegearle for 20% off your purchase!

More details on the issue: As you can probably guess, this is all about photos. Whether they include faces or not, we want to see macro photos/close ups, portraits, team photos, selfies, funny face photos, "bad" photos, vintage photos, group photos, Instagram photos...You get the idea, right?  Download August's free printable, The Beach is Calling, from the Paper Issues store and use one or more of the cards on your project.

Link up your projects for a chance to win a $20 gift card to the Paper Issues Store!


See you soon!

:: chip off the old block ::

It's New Issue Monday over on the Paper Issues Blog!  This issue, sponsored by Paper Issues, is called  Chip Off the Old Block. I grabbed some Crate Paper Confetti and created something to link up for the issue!

For the "chipboard" I used alphas words and arrows from the Confetti collection (You don't have to use chipboard -- check out the bottom of this post for other ideas for this issue)!



And just for fun I used a bunch of the little bits found in the Ephemera Hardware Pack from the same collection.

Stop by the blog to see what the other ladies have created for this issue!  There is still some Crate Paper Confetti in the shop -- along with a bunch of other goodies.  Don't forget to use the code orangegearle for 20% off your entire purchase!

Some ideas for this issue:

• Use chipboard on your project. You could even use blocks, as in squares of paper, a grid design, etc.
• Create a project around the words "board" or "bored" — activities that keeps kids from saying, "Mom, I'm bored", board games, a cruise vacation (because you're on "board" a ship), add in a surf board, etc.
• Show us a project that has to do with family traits, because they're a "chip off the old block". 
• Download July's free printable, Color My World or August's free printable, The Beach is Calling, from the Paper Issues store and use one or more of the cards on your project.
• Download the free printable, Chip Off the Old Block, our very own Danielle designed for this issue, and use one or more of the cards on your project.

:: soaking up the sun and relaxing ::

It's Cut-It-Out Saturday over on the Paper Issues blog.  Do you know what that means?  It means FREE cut files and a LINK party!!  Can I get a woo-hoo?!?!

I love all these, don't you?!  Perfect for summer! For my layout, I stuck with the "soaking' up the sun" because it totally fit my photo.  :-)

Soakin' up the sun must be followed up with relaxing.  ;-)

Charlie captured this photo of Bea and I totally love it.

I used mostly Crate Paper Poolside for this layout, along with a bit of October Afternoon's Summertime collection,  Visit  The  Paper Issues Store to grab some of these goodies for yourself.  There are also a bunch of new items hitting the store often!  Don't forget to use the code orangegearle to receive 20% off your order!

Thanks for stopping by.  Make sure you check out the Paper Issues Blog for more inspiration and a chance to win! 

:: Our Adventure : a mini book ::

Hi! I am up on the Paper Issues Blog today sharing a mini book that I made about our adventures to the Indiana Sand Dunes. For this project I used mostly Crate Paper's Journey Collection.

I repurposed a very small clipboard for this mini by taking off the original clamp and replacing it with a Tim Horton two ring binder piece. I cut my papers and printed my photos in a variety of sizes (mostly the same width but varying lengths) to create a bit of extra texture and interest.

I worked on this project over a period of time.  In order to make it as easy as possible I stuck with one basic collection, pulled items that matched the collection and/or theme from my stash, and then placed everything in a tray (from Target).  This was so helpful. I was able to work on this project just about anywhere because I put everything together and I could just grab the tray and go (to another house, another place within our home, etc).

I simply love all of the gold and transparent pieces in this collection!

Sometimes I chose to print a photo or two (usually a favorite) a bit larger and let it just be a page on it's own (with a few embellishments -- digital and/or traditional).

One of my favorite things about creating mini books is including the ephemera that is part of the story.  An example: I created a few pages with "pockets" in them and included all the ephemera (like the room key, or a receipt).  I did most of my journaling on tags that I was able to place in pockets throughout the book, shorter stories were handwritten on journal cards or labels.

 

I had a blast creating this mini book!

If you would like to purchase the Crate Paper Journey collection, or all the things, click on the links and head over to the Paper Issues store!  Make sure you use the code orangegearle for 20% off your entire purchase!