:: 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!

:: 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!

:: SWAG bag spotlight ::

Swag Bag Spotlight time over at the Paper Issues blog! Here's my contribution.

When I saw this paper in the February Swag Bag, I knew I had to use it right away!  I love those pinks and oranges!

Then I saw the flower frame and the orange + paper and about lost it (looks kinda red in these photos, but trust me it's an awesome orange)! 

The wood veneer potty people, lips and hearts, all from the bag.  LOVELY.  I love the flowers and all that woodgrain together (there are even woodgrain flowers in that patterned paper).  It's perfect for a LO like this because it's both feminine and masculine (in my opinion).

I absolutely loved working with this Swag Bag!  (Pssst….I heard the February ones will be in the shop tomorrow -- and there are several others to choose from). Remember, if you'd like to purchase anything (or everything) from the Paper Issues Store (there are so many new products right now), use the code orangegearle for 20% off your entire purchase!  Also, make sure you check out what some of the other PI girls did with their Swag Bags (here)!

:: sewing with dad ::

Hi ! I'm up on the Paper Issues blog today with a layout that I created using Dear Lizzy's Serendipity collection and the January Sketch by Jen Chapin. 

I love the aqua, navy and pinks in this collection! If you limit the pink and add a bit of the yellow included in the collection you can get a more masculine feel to your layout, too. I love the versatility of this collection!

I also used the free cut file from the shop that is based on Jen's sketch -- which made this come together quickly.

Pop dots and stitching to add interest and texture. I also added a few things from my stash (most of which were actually from past Swag Bags).

I love these alphas!  Gah!  I may need to purchase some more!

And finally, it's all about the story. I used my new-to-me typewriter with some vellum to document the story that goes with these photos. I added the vellum over the patterned paper and sewed it in to place. The vellum helps tone down the paper a bit so that the text is more visible.

You can link your layout based on Jen's sketch to the Paper Issues blog, too. You could win a gift card to the Paper Issues store.  While you're there, you can use the code 'orangegearle' for 20% off your entire purchase.

Thanks for stopping by!  See you again soon!

:: project life : title page ::

Hello!  I kind of did this backwards.  I was working on my title page and my first week of PL at the same time, and I am sharing them backwards. Please forgive me! ;-)

I decided that this year I would use a 6x12 page for my intro.  I actually took a regular 12x12 "a" style page, and just cut it in half on my paper cutter!

This is what it looks like over week one's LO.



And here it is "open" so you can see the back:



I worked on week one and the title page at the same time, so I was able to use a few things in both to tie them together. I thought this was important because I was only using a 6x12 for the title page, and because I knew the back side of the title page would be seen when looking at Week 1. So, I brought the gold into week one and I used Elle's Studio cork on both the title page and Week 1!  As a result of that last part I am linking this up to the Current Issue at Paper Issues -- Popping the cork.

A few close-ups:



I typed on vellum and then stapled it to the card.  Added the "us" from the Open Book collection, and a 3x4 card.

Pretty much gold is everywhere, eh? So I went with it! These cards are from Theresa Collins WRMK edition. I cut two 4x6 cards to about 4x4 (above and below).  Then I grabbed a couple of the clear photo overlays from the Desktop PL (Becky Higgins) edition. I machine stitched the cards to the overlays and added some sequins on either side.

 I didn't use any photos on my title page! That may seem strange, but I kinda like how it turned out!

See you soon!

:: bea you ::

Hi!  I had so much fun with the Pink Paislee Bella Rouge collection, I had to make another layout with it  -- and with a little bit of sparkle! 

The "Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle" card and this photo of my daughter being silly were the inspiration for this LO. I decided the card needed a little extra sparkle so I added some silver glitter embossing powder.

The 3x4 cards in a grid layout came together quickly…add a little stitching and bling and another story is in the books!

If you want to grab some of this fab collection, stop by the Paper Issues Store and use the code orangegearle for 20% off your entire purchase.  There are new things arriving all the time!!!

Thanks for stopping by! 

:: 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!

:: 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!