:: hello ::

It's new issue Monday over on the Paper Issues blog!  This issue is sponsored by Scrapbook Circle, so I spent some time with their March Kit!  Details below about how you can participate and win a kit for yourself!

The theme is "Prints Charming's Beautiful Papers", and aren't these papers fabulously beautiful?! I just love the bokeh background patterned paper by Webster's Pages!! I used this free cut file from Paper Issues to make the star confetti.  This photo is of my daughter and I making a sand castle (actually it turned out to be a shamrock sand castle)!

I've been a little addicted to vellum lately -- and so I used a bit down the center to tone down the pattern just a little…and of course, machine stitching nearly always makes it onto the page!

See that bow? It opens up to reveal another photo, and the journaling (typed on vellum). 

Would you like to play along for a chance to win this awesome kit (I only scratched the surface, there are several more layouts I will make with this kit, trust me)!?  Here are the details (and check the link to see what the other DT members made):

Prints Charming's Beautiful Papers: charms, prints of all kinds, subway art, Disney trips, castles, stamping, animal and paw prints, pets, animals, princes and princesses, dress up, use your favorite patterned papers, especially the ones you've been hoarding. Go ahead, cut into them and showcase them so you can enjoy them and document a memory, use Scrapbook Circle kits

Can't wait to see what you make! See you soon!

:: project life : week 3 ::

I'm on the Paper Issues blog today with a product spotlight.  For week 3 of my Project Life album, I used a kit that I purchased from the Paper Issues Store called the Becky Higgins Desktop Kit.  Here is a look at the left side of my two page spread.

And the right side looks like this:

That photo in the upper right flips up to reveal another photo and some journaling that I wanted to be a bit more private.

Here are the two pages together -- without the insert:

This was a birthday week for our nephew -- and he just happens to be Bea's best friend. Here is what it looks like with the insert (you can see the front)

Here are the two inserts (front & back):

And here is what it looks like when that insert page is turned:

I enjoyed working with this kit!  There are several PL kits available in the Paper Issues Store here.  Don't forget to use the code orangegearle at check out to get 20% off your entire order!

Thanks for stopping by! I will be back soon to share week four!

:: daddy & me ::

Hi!  Today at Paper Issues we are spotlighting the Bella Rouge collection from Pink Paislee!  I am loving this collection so much that I've made quite a few layouts with it already (Those alphas especially are to die for)! 

For the journaling on this layout I used a direct quote from my daughter.  She said this when she was looking at the photo which was taken a few days before. I love the idea of using direct quotes on my pages -- I do it a lot in Project Life, but I loved using it here as well.  And did you notice the type??  I used my new-to-me typewriter!  So. FUN.

Aren't these papers fab??? In addition to the collection, I also purchased It Adds Up from The Cut Shoppe.  I thought that this lovely cut file by Ashley Horton went with the background paper perfectly!

I backed a few of the + with yellow patterned paper (from the collection) and I stitched all over the thing. Gah! I  love stitching -- especially messy stitching!

I absolutely love the ephemera pack that goes with this collection! It comes with paper die cuts and acetate -- I used both -- because fun!

Try this | Try using a quote from someone else in your layout.  So often we journal a story from our point of view, which is wonderful, and it's also nice to hear from someone else in the family! An easy way to make this happen is simply to show your child, significant other, friend, parent, etc. a photo that they are in and ask them to tell you about how they were feeling, or what they were doing when that story was happening; that photo was taken.  I will surely do this again!

Check out what some other members of the Design Team at Paper Issues did with the lovely Bella Rouge collection from Pink Paislee by hopping over to the Paper Issues blog here. 

Want to grab some Bella Rouge??  Click on over to the store and snatch some yumminess!  Remember to use the code orangegearle at check out and you will save 20% of your order! 

See you soon!

:: action figures after dark ::

Happy new year!!!  Hope you had great celebrations with those you love! There's a new issue up at Paper Issues today -- all about Popping the Cork -- and it's sponsored by Elle's Studio!

I absolutely loved working with Elle's Studio Hello 2015 collection (and a bit of older Elle's studio, too) for this layout!  

The issue is all about  Pop-ping the Cork: Your project can be about New Year's Eve, bubbles, POPcorn….CORK embellishments, colors POPping of the page, Pop fly, and so much more. Get the details here.

See the cork?  Well, this collection has a some great cork embellishments, and the Calendar Cards are AWESOME (you will see those calendars pop up on my blog soon, pun intended).

Each of the calendar cards have journaling space on the back of them, as well.  Awesome.

There are also some great stamps in this collection.  I was able to use a few.  

Stop by Paper Issues blog and check out this latest issue.  Link up to win some goodies from Elle's Studio!

While you are there, click on the store.  There are so many new products being added every week! Don't forget to use the code orangegearle for 20% of everything you purchase!

See you soon!

..:: Swag Bag ::..

Hi!  I'm up on the Paper Issue Blog today with a couple of layouts that I made with the December Swag Bag. One of the things I love to do with all the goodies is create tons of layers with the included cards.

This story is all about Bea and her art!  We had an art day together, and she made all kinds of things -- one of which is actually included on this layout!  (See the far back reddish-pink layer?  That's hers)!

See that die cut right behind the bow?  That's one of Jen Chapin's FREE cut files, available here.)

  

So believe it or not, I made this layout about a fall visit to one of our favorite parks using the same kit I used with the first layout. I'm telling you, these kits are so versatile.  One of my favorite things included in the kit is that piece of polka dot burlap that is in the top left corner.  I liked it so much, I had to buy a whole sheet of it from the Paper Issues store!

I'm kinda digging the fox trend.

And I love this wood veneer!  Once again Cassie Box completely outdid herself when she put together this kit!

A Paper Issues Swag Bag subscription would be an awesome Christmas gift, just sayin'! :-)  And if you use the code 'orange gearle' you will get a 20% discount off your entire order!  

Thanks for stopping by!  See you soon!

:: sketchy saturday ::

I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today with a layout inspired by another fabulous sketch by Jennifer Chapin.  Here is my take on the sketch:



And here is her sketch.

If you play along, and you link up, you can win a $10 gift card to the Paper Issues Store!  Spoiler alert: there is also a free cut file to go with this lovely sketch.  Sherri Funk, another PI girl made it and shared it for you all!  While you are in the store you may want to pick up some of the new Bella Rouge collection by Pink Paislee.  I had so much fun using it for this layout!  Here are a few close ups.

Don't you love these alphas that are part of the collection???  They are to die for (and there is a paper that looks just like it, too)!  

There is a washi booklet in this collection that has different strips of washi tape and washi shapes.  Love it! See the banners with the hearts?  They are in the booklet!  I also used the cover of the booklet and pretended it was patterned paper!  See the circles that have text on them?  I cut those circles from the front and back cover of the book of washi shapes.  :-)  Then I used a little gelato and a water brush to highlight the words I wanted to highlight.  

This was a fun sketch -- don't forget to play along for the chance to win!  And don't forget to use the code 'orange gearle' to save 20% next time you are in the shop!

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back tomorrow with two more layouts to share!

..:: birds of a feather : latest issue at Paper Issues ::..

I love new issue Mondays! Our current issue is "Birds of a Feather, Flock Together" and it is sponsored by Ruby Rock-It.  Here is my take on the prompt, using Ruby Rock-It's Country Cookin' collection!

B. and her cousin truly are 'birds of a feather', two peas in a pod; and they love spending time together!

Check out the current issue and DT inspiration here.  There are so many ways to interpret this issue! Won't you join us?

:: halloween cards ::

Cards?  Did I say cards??  Yep. Outta my comfort zone for today!

There's a new issue up at Paper Issues this week -- "Witchin' You a Happy Halloween", sponsored by SRM stickers.  One of the things that I love about Paper Issues link parties is that they really are open.  You can get the details for this link up here.  You will see that it doesn't even have to be about witches or Halloween -- so many options!

I'm not a theme-y kinda gearle when it comes to scrapbooking, and I am certainly not a card maker.  But when I saw this awesome collection by Simple Stories called Frankie and Friends, I had to have it all (well, most of it anyway).  I may not be a theme-y gearle, but I do have Paper Issues, yo!

I started by cutting one 12x12 piece of kraft card stock into 4x6 inch strips.  I used these for my base.  Then I grabbed my Halloween Swag Bag (from Paper Issues) and the Frankie and Friends collection and got to work.

The 3x4 cards that come on a 12x12 sheet in the collection are so cute and simply perfect for what I was going for.

I think this one is my favorite:

If you want to grab the Frankie and Friends collection, or anything else, don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' to get 20% off your entire purchase!

I'm working on Week in the Life this week (my first attempt)!  More on that one coming soon!

:: it's a horse of a different color ::

It's Pinspire Me Monday over at the paper issues blog!  Corri found this great color palette on Pinterest, and asked us to use it as inspiration for a project!  I took on the challenge.

Not only do I love these colors together, I also love that water color look.  So I grabbed a white piece of card stock and my gelatos and got busy:

I started with the background.  First I slathered a bit of gesso on the white card stock to prep it a bit.  I only put it through the center of the page, where I knew the gelatos were going to go.  This helps the color move across the page a bit easier.  If you are interested I did do a video showing a few techniques I use often with gelatos (it also talks a bit about gesso).  I created a bit of texture by not smoothing the gesso out when applying. After it dried, I applied the gelatos, and moved and blended the colors with a water brush.

While that was drying, I grabbed some patterned papers from Heidi Swapp's September Skies collection (they go PERFECTLY with the color palette).

As you can see, this paper is a lovely blue, with white (and black) flowers of various sizes.  It's beautiful on it's own.  But I wanted to add a bit of color.  So I grabbed the above gelatos and painted some of them with a water brush!  I think you can see it in this photo (along with the texture created with the gesso under the color on the white card stock).

I was going for the look that Amy Tangerine has in some of her watercolor inspired patterned papers, so I didn't really "stay in the lines" while I was painting, I got a bit messy with it.

While that was drying, I grabbed another piece of white card stock and added some color with more gelatos and a water brush.  I used this piece of paper to cut out (freehand) the letters for the word "COLOR".

Finally I used a few more scraps of that same paper and made the triangles.  Of course I had to add some stitching and pop dots.  ;-)

If you'd like to play along with us over at the Paper Issues blog, click here for details.

If you are interested in gelatos, Heidi Swapp's September Skies, a water brush, or anything else that suits your fancy, check out the Paper Issues Store.  Don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' to receive 20% off your order!

Did you see the Cut It Out Saturday link party????  It's a new feature at Paper Issues -- and Jennifer Chapin created an awesome FREE cut file!  AND if you participate and win -- you could snag the November Swag Bag!   I hope to be back soon with a layout to share that I made with this file, it's a great one!

See you again soon!