..:: and…she's off : woodn't you know it ::..

September was a big month for B.  She learned to ride her bike! I decided to document the occasion using a little Heidi Swapp -- September Skies --  available in the Paper Issues store here.

Don't you just love that title font??  It's a cut by Ashley Horton, available in The Cut Shoppe.

 

I used these awesome wood veneers from Pinkfresh Studio (who just happens to be sponsoring the Current Issue @ Paper Issues) as kind of an anchor for my journaling.  There were several stages of learning to ride her bike, so I wrote a little about each stage.
 

These Pinkfresh Studios wood veneers were perfect paired with the September Skies collection.

I'm linking this up with Paper Issue's Current Issue ::  woodn't you know it.  You still have another week to join the linky party!  Don't forget to link back to Paper Issues to be eligible for some goodies from Pinkfresh Studios.

And don't forget!  If you use the code 'orangegearle', you'll get 20% off your order!

..:: new issue @ paper issues ::..

There is a new issue up at Paper Issues and it's all about one of my favorite things -- FALL.

I took this photo with my iPhone on the way to work one morning.  The colors were lovely and there was a bit of mist, and I couldn't resist trying to capture it.  It was much more beautiful than the photo could capture, but I still love the photo, and thought it was perfect for this issue.  No fall leaves, but man does it look like fall in Iowa!

The issue is officially called "Woodn't You Know, it's Fall.  Some suggestions are to use wood veneer, fall papers, woodgrain paper, etc.  I used fall colors (which are pretty much my favorite), and I thought this bit of flair was perfect for the theme, and the whole idea of this layout.  Also, my alphas are kinda woodgrain-y if you look closely below!

This issue is sponsored by Pinkfresh Studio.  And Oh. Em. Gee, I totally love these new Wood Drop Chevron stickers!  They are perfection, if you ask me! They also completely fit the 'wood' part of the theme, of course!

I always have a difficult time deciding how to adhere those plastic letters!  I love them, but what it the world do you do to make them stick, without being able to see the adhesive??  Well, this time, I think I totally figured it out.  I put them where I wanted them and used a bit of washi tape across the top of the letters.  Then I sewed one line with the sewing machine, took off the washi (carefully) and sewed the second line.  It was easy and totally worked.

Check out the latest issue at Paper Issues and link up!!  Don't forget to link back to PI to be eligible for the awesome prize from Pinkfresh Studio!  And while you are at the PI blog, click on over to the store ( you probably need something). Don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your order!

See you again soon!

:: and…..GO! ::

Hi friends!  I'm up on the Paper Issues Blog today with a new layout spotlighting one of my favorite things -- the Swag Bag!  Have you subscribed yet?

The journaling (around the page in white) reads: "go, beatrice, go. you are always on the go and often in costume. your energy is endless and your imagination runs wild."

A bunch of golden deliciousness in the August Swag Bag!  I paired it with a bit of yumminess from the September Swag Bag and some Glitter Alphas from the Shimelle collection.

It's kinda funny.  I keep thinking I'm going to use the Swag Bag for Project Life, (which would be AWESOME), but as soon as I see it all, a layout comes to mind!  I love layering all of the cards, and fun papers!

I sewed a bunch of the stars included in the swag bag together -- gold and maps (cuz she's going places, yo)! 

I have been receiving lots of goodies in the mail from Paper Issues lately.  You can too! If you'd like to receive a 20% discount, use my code (orangegearle)!  :-)

I'm also linking up this layout with our current issue -- You're Sew Cute, You Keep Me In Stitches! 

..:: sketchy saturday @ paper issues : there's an app for that? ::..

No, there isn't a Paper Issues App (but that's an awesome idea)!  However, there is a new feature at Paper Issues: Sketchy Saturday! You can see the awesome sketch by Jen Chapin on the blog here.  Have I mentioned there is a prize involved????

For this layout I used some awesome papers from We R Memory Keepers : The It Factor, available in the store here.  I cut out some of the speech bubbles from the patterned paper to add a few of the comments that the girls were making while I was taking these papers. I popped them up a bit with pop dots.

I also used these awesome wood drop chevron stickers from Pinkfresh Studio (also in the store).

There are fabulous new things in the store nearly every day (at least that's what it seems like)! Don't forget to use the code 'orangegearle' at checkout to receive 20% off your order at Paper Issues.

I am linking this up with our Current Issue as well -- You're sew cute, you keep me in stitches.  So many chances to win these days at Paper Issues -- and so much inspiration!  

:: new library book ::

Hi friends!  I'm up on the Paper Issues Blog today with a new layout!



This LO tells the story of B. loving that new book smell!  She made us all smell the inside of the book (it was brand new -- the first time it was checked out from the library)! She's hilarious!

When I saw this cute flair from Fancy Pants, I knew I had to use this collection to document this story!

I'm linking this one up to Paper Issues current link party : anything goes. Last chance to enter from some fun yumminess from Whisker Graphics!

Also, there have been a gazillion things added to the store!  Check it out!  And don't forget to use the code "orangegearle" to get 20% off your order!

Until next time!

:: swag bag spotlight : beach love ::

I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today with a Swag Bag feature.

I used some Echo Park papers + the September Swag Bag + some goodies from past Swag Bags to create this layout about my B. at the beach.

"BEACH" is from Echo Park's Creative Agenda, and so is the background paper!  I am loving these colors!

Don't you love that vellum!?

Everything above is available at Paper Issues!  In fact, we've gotten quite a few new things in recently! And just because I love you, if you use the code 'orangegearle' at checkout, you will receive 20% off your order!  I know, right?

See you soon!

..:: Paper Issues New Issue :: anything goes ::..

I'm on the Paper Issues blog today with my first feature in the latest issue!  So. Fun.

I've been looking for a way to document some of the lovely flowers that my One True Love plants for us each year.  This year, he took a bunch of photos (often times it's just me), I think because they were particularly beautiful. When I received my package from Paper Issues for the current issue (did I mention that it starts today?), I knew that these bags, stickers, twine, and tags would go together quite nicely for a little mini book! 

I used one of the bigger bags for the front and back covers (it's just folded around some card stock).  Inside the bag I created a shaker for the cover (totally fun)!

Next, I printed photos of flowers that included an array of colors (2.5 inches by 2.5 inches) and paired the photos with the bags, tags, and stickers from Whisker Graphics. I also used Gelatos throughout the book (one of my favorite things, of course)!

I received some twine in my Whisker Graphics bundle of goodies.  So I used those for some added embellishment on some of the pages and with the tags.

I found some quotes about gardens and flowers to pair up with each photo.

I did use some washi, alphas, and punches from my stash, a few other little items here and there (and gelatos) but all the big stuff you see is from Whisker Graphics.  I love how this turned out!

I had to change my thread and bobbin A LOT for this project.  LOL

The theme for this issue over at Paper Issues is "anything goes" and the sponsor is….you guessed it….Whisker Graphics!  Did you know that you can post old or new projects to each of our issues to be eligible for the prize??  YOU CAN! :-)  Just don't forget to link back to the issue!

OMGoodness…I just got an awesome package from Paper Issues!  Check this out:

Don't forget, if you order from Paper Issues and use my code (orangegearle) you can get 20% off your order! 

:: cotton candy cousins ::

Hi all! Today is my first post over on the Paper Issues blog!  So. Exciting.  It's also the last day to link up with current issue, Mix Tape.  I'm linking up this layout, just in the nick of time.

There are many ways to interpret this issue. I chose to go with a "mix" of collections, and use a song and use some washi "tape"!  This layout is about B, and her cousin L. eating cotton candy (the real story, told with hidden journaling, is all about them sneaking more by going off and hiding in the closet, eating handfuls at a time)! 

Link up by midnight tonight!  Link back to Paper Issues to be eligible for an awesome prize by Hazel & Ruby!

Guess what?  I have a code to share with you!  It gives you (yes you) a 20% discount at the Paper Issues Store! Woot!

See you again soon!

Scrap Your Story :: welcome flowers

It's Friday! You know what that means -- a new challenge!  This week at Scrap Your Story Challenges we are playing with stamps!

I use stamps all the time now that I get stamps from Ali Edwards (@Technique Tuesday) in the mail every month. They are perfect and totally match my style. This layout was no exception. All of the stamps I used were from Ali. Nearly all of the papers and other materials were found in the May Scrapbook Circle kit : My Favorite. Are these papers fun?!  It's early in the month and I've already used most of the papers in the kit!  WOW!

Here are a few close ups:

I used the flower stamp from Ali's "Favorite Circles" stamps all over this page! I love that stamp! It's super simple and can be used for pretty much anything!

This welcome stamp was from "Memories of Home" by Ali Edwards.

In this photo you can sort of see the phrases that I stamped all over the vellum (along with that flower stamp again). The phrases are from Ali's "This Story" stamp set.

The journaling is in a vellum envelope that cut out using my Silhouette Cameo (I've been doing that a lot lately), and I used this blog post for my text. :-) So happy to get this fun story documented!

I hope you play with us this week!

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